NBC Brings ‘Sound of Music’ To Life

It looks like NBC is building on their recent campaign to bring Broadway and musicals to the forefront. According to a press release, NBC is teaming with Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, the production team of SMASH, to bring television viewers a live version of “The Sound of Music,” based on the Broadway musical.

NBC Entertainment chairman, Bob Greenblatt said in a statement,

“It is our supreme pleasure to broadcast — live — a new version of the seminal Broadway musical ‘The Sound of Music’ for a whole new generation. There used to be a tradition of broadcasting musicals live back in the 1950s and we’re thrilled to do it once again with a musical that has been a family classic for five decades. There is no more talented and creative producing team than Craig Zadan and Neil Meron to bring Rodgers and Hammerstein’s final – and most beloved – collaboration to network television in this groundbreaking live telecast.”

Zadan went further to say that remaking the movie would be “artistic blasphemy.”

“What we want to do, instead, is to give audiences a completely fresh experience of this great Tony Award-winning stage musical in the form of a classic television event, combined with the spontaneity of a live performance. And all of the actors will be singing live; there will be no lip-synching to pre-recordings.”

The event will feature the songs fans are familiar with, as well as lesser known versions of songs from the Broadway musical. NBC is hoping this will revive a tradition of old – staging a full live Broadway production on television. Casting is not yet underway, but plans to begin casting are underway and casting will begin shorty. An air date will also be released in the new future.

What’re your thoughts on this? An epic event or an epic fail? Will you be watching this event or are you turned off by the fact such an iconic film will be brought to life on television? Sound off below!

Friday Yak Roundup: Adele Preggers, TomKat Split, & More

The entertainment world is abuzz with a number of stories this morning and we thought the best way to bring them to you was in a special edition of a Friday morning Yak Roundup. We have a little bit of everything from the music world, Hollywood gossip, anchor replacements and more, so check it out below!

Adele Pregnant With First Child |

Yup, early Friday morning, Adele posted a special blog update on her official website, titled “I’ve got some news.”

Im delighted to announce that Simon and I are expecting our first child together. I wanted you to hear the news direct from me, obviously we’re over the moon and very excited but please respect our privacy at this precious time. Yours always, Adele xx

Of course, we are over the top excited for Adele, one of the strongest, most unique and talented vocalists of our time. Best wishes to her and Simon and here’s to a happy and healthy pregnancy!

Meet the Cast of SyFy’s Face Off

TomKat No More |

After 5 years, Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes will be divorcing. Many might have thought this was an inevitable moment in Hollywood history, while many are floored by the news. “This is a personal and private matter for Katie and her family,” Holmes’ attorney Jonathan Wolfe said in a statement. “Katie’s primary concern remains, as it always has been, her daughter’s best interest.” After an Italian wedding in 2006, Tom and Katie have been at the forefront of many celebrity bloggers and Hollywood gossip. They have a 6 year old daughter, Suri, together. This was the first marriage for 33 year old Holmes and the third for Cruise, who turns 50 on Tuesday. He was previously married to Mimi Rogers and Nicole Kidman, with whom he has two children, Isabella, 19, and Connor, 17.

Stealthy TODAY Replacement |

As has been the buzz, Ann Curry is OUT of NBC’s The Today Show. And as has been the speculation, her replacement? Savannah Guthrie. With no mention of a new cohost combo, viewers of the Today Show noticed the stealthy cohost replacement early Friday morning. The program opened with Guthrie and Lauer behind the news desk with no mention of missing cohosts (Curry). Looks like NBC is keeping things classy with this change over. On Friday afternoon, NBC ended the speculation with this comment in a press release.

“As soon as Savannah joined NBC News she was a standout, reporting for every franchise in the news division and rising through the ranks. She has a one-of-a-kind combination of sharp wit and approachability, and our viewers value her journalistic skills and legal background just as much as her humor and charm. She can effortlessly go from interviewing the Secretary of State to jumping Olympic-sized hurdles on the Plaza. I’m thrilled to welcome Savannah as our newest co-anchor, and along with Matt, Al and Natalie, we’ve got the best morning team in the business.”

Fashion Star Host OUT |

Elle Macpherson, host of NBC’s reality show Fashion Star, has stepped down from her duties for the show’s upcoming second season. With this news, the show will also be parting ways with one of it’s retail partners, H&M. In an interview with the New York Post, Macpherson notes “I have been involved with Fashion Star from the beginning and am very proud to see it come to life, not only in America but globally. The show is in great hands, and although I will not be hosting this season, I will still be very involved [as an executive producer and] will be reviewing the format for the upcoming season.” The show, expected to debut in early 2013, is not expected to part ways with judges Jessica Simpson, John Varvatos and Nicole Richie.

Christina Applegate Back as SYTYCD Guest Judge |

As announced via twitter on Friday afternoon by executive producer Nigel Lythgoe, Fox’s best reality competition series, So You Think You Can Dance, will be bringing back Christina Applegate as a guest judge some time this season. No word on her episode’s air date. SYTYCD just revealed this season’s Top 20 (and what a great bunch they are!) with Zooey Deschanel joining Lythgoe and Hot Tamale Mary Murphy. The series will be taking a break for the 4th, but will be back with the first LIVE show on July 11 at 8/7c!

It’s All Smiles at THE VOICE |

When The Voice closed season 2, things were not all bubbly behind the scenes. Tensions were reportedly in the air between mentors Adam Levine and Christina Aguilera. Levine recently told MTV that things are now much better between the pop rocker and the songstress. “We bickered a little bit in the beginning, to be totally truthful, we had a little bit of a rough start, just kind of all getting to know each other,” Levine mentioned of his bond with Aguilera. Things seemed to really heat up with Levine’s finalist (and ex-Mouseketeer) Tony Lucca singing “99 Problems,” which Aguilera found “derogatory.” Levine has cleared the air saying that he loves her, “she’s the best, and we’re having a fantastic time as of late on the set.” The Voice is currently filming the blind auditions for season 3, set to premiere Sept 10 on NBC!

Details Emerge on Big Brother Canada, Eh

As we previously reported, Big Brother is moving to the north! It is about time and we’re honestly surprised it has taken that long, but our Canadian friends can now get a shot at being a houseguest and vying for the prize! We’ve got some new details that have emerged about Big Brother Cananda …. BUT FIRST, a few details about Big Brother 14 (US) for our Canadian friends. We know Canadians have had Big Brother After Dark in Canada for a few seasons now, but news broke today that BBAD will air 7 days a week on Slice from 2am – 5am. Now, we’re not sure if this will be LIVE or just delayed coverage that we’ll get on Showtime Too in America.

Don’t Forget To Enter To Win Your BB14 Feeds for Free!

According to Shaw Media, casting for Big Brother Canada is set to begin in July … as in next month! Casting will last until January 2013. That’s a long time, if you ask us, but that will give Canadians a good shot at getting in the house! According to Shaw Media, promotions for casting will kick off on TV on July 12, the same day Big Brother 14 premieres. Online casting submissions kick off August 10 and a cross country casting tour will begin September 24.

The house will be set in Toronto and construction will kick off in September. There will be both indoor and outdoor areas of the house. Big Brother Canada kicks off February 18, 2013 and will air in a similar format to Big Brother US. There will be 3 one-hour installments per week. The season will last a total of 10 weeks. Two of the episodes will be pre-taped, while one will be LIVE each week, likely an eviction episode.

So what do you think our Canadian neighbors up north? Which among you will be submitting your casting tapes for your shot at Big Brother famedom?

Happy 200th, SYTYCD – A Look Back At Some Iconic Routines

How do you begin to even name off the top dance routines from the last 199 episodes of So You Think You Can Dance? Ever since the show kicked off with season 1, there has been routine after routine that has stood out in the eyes of many fans. In looking back at the iconic reality competition series, we thought of counting down our favorite 10 or 20 routines. Then we realized that was impossible. It rarely is a challenge to rank performances from a reality competition series. Usually everyone has their favorite, but we couldn’t pinpoint just one. And that’s not because there isn’t a routine worthy of being named a favorite. Rather, how do you just choose between routines that hit you so personally and to the core? It’s like choosing your one and only favorite child.

If we wanted to, we could rank some of the top routines from each choreographer. No other show has the distinction of so much talent behind the scenes to showcase the talent right on the stage. We could go by choreographer. We could go by genre. We could go by season. We could go by male vs. female. We could go by routines judges have claimed to love in the past. The possibilities are endless. So, instead of wracking our brains to rank and pit some of the best of the best against each other, we’re just going to take you down memory lane and post some of our personal favorites.

Tonight, on the show’s 200th episode, Season 9 names the Top 20 that will no doubt have us glued to our TVs. If you ask me, a milestone like 200 episodes is a perfect outlet to name the 20 contestants that will work hard through blood, sweat, and tears and win the hearts of Americans this summer. So, without further adieu and in no particular order, with every line, leap, swag, buccness, and hot tamales, here are some of our favorite SYTYCD routines. Be sure to let us know your favorites down below in our comments and don’t forget to watch tonight’s Top 20 reveal at 8/7c on Fox!

To kick it all off, enjoy this 200 Moves in 200 Seconds clip garnished by the people at Fox. We recommend not even looking for your favorite, but rather to just enjoy the fluidity of the clip and marvel at the moves. Make sure you click on through to see all of the others!

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BREAKING: Lohan Found Unconscious, Transported to Hospital

UPDATE: Lohan’s rep blames this on “dehydration and exhaustion,” as Lindsay was up all night filming for her movie. Her rep denied the use of any drugs or alcohol playing a role here. Lohan was reported up all night filming, went back to her hotel room at 8am to sleep. When production tried to wake her up, they were unsuccessful and called 911. Lohan is reportedly returning home and will be back on set later today.

This is a developing story, but ABC 7 KTLA in Los Angeles has reported that trouble actress Lindsay Lohan has been found unconscious at Ritz-Carlton in Marina del Rey. She has since been transported to a local hospital by paramedics. Paramedics were called at 10:15 a.m. PST. Details of the story will likely be flooding in and we’ll do our best to keep you updated. So stick to this page and we’ll post updates as they roll in. So far, a “friend” has said that she is doing fine and will hopefully be released soon.

Lohan is currently filming Lifetime’s Elizabeth Taylor bio-pic “Liz & Dick.” It’s no secret the troubled past this actress has had with drugs and alcohol. She has been in and out of rehab multiple times and was recently taken off of probation from a DUI case in 2007.

Report: Ryan Seacrest Eyes Dick Clark Productions

It was only a matter of time. Reuters is reporting that the American Idol host plans on making a bid to buy Dick Clark Productions. The production company named about Seacrest’s mentor was recently retained by Raine Group. A number of bidders, including Ryan Seacrest Media, is rumored to be placing bids to purchase the company.

In addition to American Idol, Seacrest had dabbled his hosting abilities in a number of different forums, including a radio countdown, a morning show on a local LA radio station, E! News and red carpet specials, as well as New Year’s Eve Specials with Clark. Seacrest also produces the E! reality show Keeping Up With The Kardashians and will move to contribute to NBC’s The Today Show and summer Olympic coverage from London.

In addition to the Golden Globes, Dick Clark Productions produces other awards shows, including the American Music Awards, dancing reality competition “So You Think You Can Dance” and “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve.”

Clark, who founded the company in 1957, sold his majority stake to Mosaic Media Group in 2002. Dick Clark Productions is now owned by Red Zone Capital, the private equity firm of Washington Redskins owner Daniel Snyder.

Judge Denies CBS’s Request for TRO Against ABC’s Glass House

Update: Judge Feess noted during the proceedings that “CBS has not convinced me that they will succeed in their copyright claims…CBS seeks to protect the idea of a show of contestants in a house where cameras are running…you can’t copyright that…. I don’t know if Glass House will have any effect on Big Brother… It will continue to go forward and be successful.” CBS Scott Edelman says ABC took CBS’s #1 summer show and copied it. Citing Wikipedia as a source showing other shows similar to Big Brother, the judged joked back and said he thought Big Brother was “just Survivor in a house.” Edelman argued, “The voyeuristic feel is the embodiment of the expression of Big Brother and found on both shows.” In regards to the deposition of producer Kenny Rosen, “We thought the record that was developed was extremely compelling,” Edelman said. “We clearly have violations of a [non-disclosure agreement] and violations of trade secrets.” The judge responded, “I am not persuaded the adult appetite of viewers for Big Brother (will change).” He went on with some personal comments, “I thought after one or two reality shows we would never see others. Audience fascination with these shows is well understood even if some of us can’t understand it.” Judge Feess also wanted to note that “The closer we get to nonfiction (programming), it’s more difficult to argue copyright infringement.” It seems networks can still attempt to sue for copyright infringment but that they shouldn’t expect a victory.

ABC has incurred a short-term victory. In the ongoing lawsuit that we have been keeping you updated on, early Friday morning, U.S. District Judge Gary Feess temporarily denied CBS’ request for a temporary restraining order against the ABC series. The Glass House, set to premiere Monday June 18 at 10/9c on ABC, will live on – at least for now. The hearing is still in session, as lawyers from both sides are arguing their points in front of the presiding judge.

Read as CBS Outlines how The Glass House is a Copycat

As we have been reporting, CBS claims that ABC and The Glass House contains private, confidential and copyrighted information from the reality summer hit, Big Brother. ABC denies these allegations, stating that the production values of The Glass House are not trade secrets and that Big Brother is actually a “stale” franchise.

This lawsuit has been clogging the internet since May. Fans of the CBS hit have been hinting at wanting live feeds for the behind the scenes battle in the lawsuit. Sadly, there is no such luck. While the Glass House premiere is just days away, Big Brother is set to hit airways July 12 at 9/8c on CBS! We, of course, are chatting up both shows and more in our FORUMS, so join us! Also, be sure to consider buying your Early Bird Superpass Feeds for Big Brother 14 through the Yak! It’d mean a lot!

And The Most Watched TV Show In The World Is…

The International Television Audience Award for a Drama TV Series, which recognizes the most watched television show in the world, was presented at the 52nd Monte Carlo Television Festival this week. This year, the honor belongs to CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, which airs on the CBS Television Network. Including this year’s recognition, CSI has been given this honor 5 times in the last 7 years. The award is based on data from Eurodata TV Worldwide, which measured ratings in 2011 across five continents. CSI‘s competition this year was, ironically, it’s counterparts in Miami and NY. The original CSI had more than 63 million viewers worldwide, giving it the claim to fame. In recent years, CSI: Miami and House have also won the award.

Desperate Housewives was the most watched comedy television show in the world.

CSI will be back in the fall for it’s 13th season. CSI: Miami has been cancelled, as has Desperate Housewives. So does this news surprise you? Did you expect another show to grab the honor?

CBS: “Glass House” Copycat “Conversational Pool/Spa Segment”

Really, CBS? We’re going to get that detailed here? As we near the hearing tomorrow morning in the never-ending CBS v. ABC Big Brother/Glass House battle, CBS didn’t waste any time on Thursday releasing an eleven page document pointing out just how ABC has copied the CBS reality staple. Copyright expert, Jeff Rovin, reviewed Glass House footage from the past few days of live feeds and makes the case that the new ABC reality show is a copycat of CBS’s long running summer hit.

Read The Document (Provided by THR) Here

The claim mentions that everything from camera angles to “conversational pool/spa segments” to hair and set color to drapery and pillow colors is the same as Big Brother. In the document above, Rovin notes that “ABC and its creative team have introduced virtually nothing new in the way of staging, camera work, setting, narrative, wardrobe, or anything else that comprise the expression of Big Brother…Given all the possible expansions ABC could have introduced to the reality television genre, the producers clearly chose to replicate what CBS has spent more than a decade refining and perfecting.”

As we have been covering the live feeds in our YakkityYaks forums since they began two days ago, fans of Big Brother and viewers of The Glass House have been making comments on our site, Twitter and other social media sites. But the action behind the scenes has been much more provocative and entertaining that what we’re seeing on camera. While ABC has moved the cast in, started the game, continues to advertise and is set for a premiere on Monday night (at 10/9c), the ruling tomorrow might have other plans. As we previously reported, the judge is rule on whether or not a TRO will be in effect at CBS’s request.

In the document, Rovin has gone so far in comparing images of a blond woman from The Glass House and specifically Big Brother 10. “From the costuming to the hair color to the set color to the lighting, the look and feel of this clip from Big Brother ten is clearly indistinguishable from Glass House,” he noted about images taken from both shows.

Come tomorrow, we will have more concrete information regarding the fate of ABC’s The Glass House. Until then, we want to hear your thoughts on this whole case? What do you think of the moves CBS and ABC have taken in regards to this lawsuit? Are you tired of hearing about this case? Did you check out The Glass House feeds this week? Sound off below and in our FORUMS!

Blake Shelton Admits 2 Seasons of ‘The Voice’ Per Year Is Too Much

Blake Shelton, fresh off Season 2 of The Voice, is busy working on a recently announced Christmas album, touring the nation promoting Red River Blue, preparing for season 3 of The Voice, juggling married life and writing new music. If that sounds like a lot, that’s because it is. Even Blake thinks so. The reigning ACM and CMA Male Vocalist of the Year and judge of NBC’s popular singing competition (who mentored winner Jermaine Paul) has come out to note that two seasons of the show per year might be a bit much. With production on season 3 kicking off today, Blake has been feeling the extra pressure.

In an interview with Country Weekly, Blake tells them that “At some point, something’s gotta give at some point. And I don’t like it. I’ve been very vocal with the network and Mark Burnett’s production company. It’s like, ‘Man, this sucks.’”

Blake will be joining Christina Aguilera, Adam Levine, and Cee Lo back in their special red chairs for season 3, but questions are arising whether a new batch of artists will be around for season 4 should it air in January of 2013. Shelton went on to say that ”The reason that you want the four of us is because we’re viable artists right now, current..and we can’t do both if we do back-to-back seasons.” He went on, “I’ve been hammering them about it, but we are gonna do this fall. We’ve already committed to that … and I look forward to it. I love it, and I can’t imagine not being a part of ‘The Voice,’ ever.” Balancing the show with his music career and marriage is tough. ”I mean, I’d love to do it from now on, but it just needs to work in a way that I can still [tour] and do that at the same time,” says Shelton. “So, something’s gotta give, you know.”

Shelton is currently atop country music charts with his new single, “Over.” The Voice will be hitting Memphis, TN (July 7-8), Minneapolis, MN (July 14-15), New York, NY (July 21-22), Dallas, TX (July 28-29) and Los Angeles, CA (Aug 11-12) looking for THE VOICE in America. If you’re interested, more details can be found on NBC’s The Voice official website.