When Jason Priestley was cast as a guest star on Thursday night's "My Name is Earl," airing on NBC at 8 p.m., the character's name was Brandon. But the powers that be quickly decided it was too cute for Jason to play someone with the same name as the character he made famous on "Beverly Hills, 90210" -- so they changed it to Blake.
To celebrate Fox Home Entertainment's April 1 DVD and Blu-Ray Disc release of the wildly successful 'Alvin and the Chipmunks,' the famous furry trio joined several A-list celebrities and their families at a party and charity concert event in Hollywood Thursday.
When Joy (JAIME PRESSLY) gets married on Tuesday night's "My Name Is Earl," airing at 9 p.m. on NBC, she tries to make sure that her something old isn't her ex-husband Earl (JASON LEE), so she doesn't send him an invitation to her wedding to Darnell (EDDIE STEEPLES). She even goes so far as to invite Randy (ETHAN SUPLEE), Earl's brother, with the warning that he can bring "anyone but Earl."
To add insult to injury, Joy sets the date for her walk down the aisle on Earl's birthday, and invites all his buddies so he has no one to celebrate with. Of course, that means Earl has to crash, and when he does, something goes wrong and he has to add ruining Joy's wedding to the list of wrongs he has to right.
"My Name is Earl," NBC's quirky comedy about redemption, is getting a lot of good buzz, due in part to its charismatic leading man JASON LEE ('Almost Famous'). Jason stars as Earl, a low-rent crook, who decides restitution for his past crimes is what he needs to get his life in order. His inspiration comes when he wins $100,000 in the lottery, loses the ticket and then finds it again.
While watching CARSON DALY on TV, Earl is introduced to the idea of karma and decides it is one worth pursuing. But even as he makes up his list -- more than 250 wrongs to be righted -- he finds it difficult to walk the straight and narrow and stumbles -- one step forward, two back -- in his attempts to set his house in order.
Coming up for mid-season is the sitcom "Thick and Thin," which is the story of a formerly overweight young woman (JESSICA CAPSHAW) who's learning how to feel comfortable in her newly svelte body, while dealing with her overweight mother (SHARON GLESS) and sister (AMY HALLORAN). For Sharon, this particular show has a resonance, since weight is an issue that she has had to deal with as an actress.
"After 'Cagney & Lacey,' I put on a lot of weight, and the reaction in Hollywood was horrible," she recalls. "It's one of the reasons I want to do the show, because I've been there and back. I've been all over. They handle it so beautifully on the show, and it's also very funny. I asked my husband, I said, 'Why is everybody going after me? Tyne Daily and I are the same size.' He said, 'Honey, they can't forgive the blonde. You broke their heart.'"
There's an old showbiz expression, "Dying is easy, comedy is hard," so with just a few months until the networks launch their fall 2005 schedules, ET spoke to Inside TV Senior Editor DEBRA BIRNBAUM to find out just how the new comedies are stacking up.
"I think we will see sitcoms coming back and it is a welcome relief for the fall schedule," says Debra. "There are a lot of exciting sitcoms coming down the pike following on the success of 'Two and a Half Men.' I think people are looking for a reason to sit back and laugh after the success of shows like 'Friends,' 'Frasier ' and 'Sex and the City.' People really miss those shows and they are looking for a replacement.
BradBesseyET: Jon Gosselin brought roses to Kate today as they arbitrate the end of their marriage in PA.
ETNOW: Taylor Lautner on Kristen Stewart: We Have a Similar Relationship to Jacob & Bella http://www.etonline.com/news/2009/11/81249/index.html
ETNOW: Taylor Lautner says now that 'New Moon' is out he's ready for Thanksgiving, "family, food and football." RT @BradBesseyET @OfficialTL
ETProdSharlette: TWILIGHT-NEW MOON breaks all records. Midnight crawlers brought in 26.27 Million last night. WOW congrats vampires and wolves, ET has it!
BradBesseyET: Taylor Lautner says now the wait is over for Twilight: New Moon, he's ready for Thanksgiving and "family, food and football." @OfficialTL
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Catch Hollywood's brightest stars out on the town!
Donning their most dazzling duds, Hollywood's loveliest ladies and sexiest studs descended upon legendary hotspot the Chateau Marmont for the 14th annual GQ Men of the Year bash. Take a look at Hollywood's biggest names as they light up Los Angeles!
GQ's page-turning "Men of the Year" issue hits newsstands Nov 24.
