Category: TV (71-80 of 81)

Dec 8 2010 05:22 PM ET

'Pretty Little Liars': Four new books on the way, starting in July

Author Sara Shepard will add four new books to her Pretty Little Liars series, starting with a July 2011 release, EW has learned exclusively. The new books — from Alloy Entertainment and HarperCollins — will bring the total in the series to 12. Though the number was originally capped at eight, the ABC Family show based on the young-adult mystery series — which follows the aftermath of a popular girl’s disappearance — has been a ratings success and renewed interest in the books. The first new installment, Twisted, will be on sale July 5; Shepard’s The Lying Game was just released.

Nov 30 2010 03:02 PM ET

Kara DioGuardi is writing a memoir: Five topics we want her to address!

Tags: , , TV

kara-dioguardiImage Credit: Frank Micelotta/Getty ImagesShe won’t be on your TV screens when American Idol returns for its tenth season in January, but Kara DioGuardi will be coming to bookstores everywhere shortly thereafter. A spokesperson for It Books (a division of HarperCollins) confirms with EW that the songwriter/TV personality’s memoir, A Helluva High Note, will hit shelves on April 26, 2011. (The news was first reported by Radar earlier today.) The tome won’t only cover DioGuardi’s two-season stint on Idol, but also “her life and career as a producer, songwriter and artist,” according to an It Books publicist. Fair enough. But as a relentless critic of DioGuardi’s performance during Idol‘s eighth season who grew to rather appreciate her during season 9, here are five topics I’m hoping she’ll address:

* Her American Idol gaffes: DioGuardi’s first Idol season was punctuated with cringe-inducing zingers — referring to “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing” as “early Aerosmith”; mislabeling Studio 54 as “Studio 57″; harping incessantly about “package artists” — and if she’s game (and self-deprecating) enough to tackle her worst moments on the show, then Helluva High Note might just be worth reading.
* The “No Boundaries” debacle: READ FULL STORY »

Nov 23 2010 09:00 AM ET

'Kardashian Konfidential': I read it so you don't have to

Confession: While I might have read Kardashian Konfidential so you can avoid the latest in celebrity book ventures, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want to read it. As a matter of fact, I offered. Somebody call MTV because True Life: I love the Kardashians. So naturally, I had to read Kourtney, Kim, and Khloe’s sisterhood autobiography (out today).

And even if you don’t care for the Kardashian clan, there’s no denying that they aren’t everywhere you look. (As I write this, Kim is hosting a special on ABC. See? They’re everywhere.) Konfidential — part memoir, part self-help –has the sisters reflecting on their childhoods, talking about their relationships, and sharing their beauty and style tips. A seemingly ridiculous concept for a group of people who are basically famous for being famous. Yet it’s all relatively endearing coming from this bunch, and a must-read for any true Kardashian fan. ”We’re not actresses or performers. We are business women, sisters, a mother, a wife, entrepreneurs, fashion designers … And we didn’t set ou to be celebrities. We’re just living our lives, and our claim to recognizability is that we do it in front of the cameras, and people like watching it.” Well said, ladies.

Here are some of the book’s highlights:

  • Their momager, Kris, was always highly involved in their lives. (Not surprising.) Kris was Kourtney’s Brownie troop leader, so the girls often compare those experiences to Troop Beverly Hills. Picturing Kris at Phyllis Nefler = Priceless.
  • Kim, who always wanted to be on reality TV, wanted to make an audition tape for The Real World. (She never got around to it.)
  • Kourtney was on another E! reality show series, Filthy Rich: Cattle Drive. (How did I miss this?!)
  • The ladies mostly ignore talk of anything negative (no chapter on why Kim ran off and got married at such a young age), but they do talk about the O.J. case. Their dad, Robert Kardashian, was one of O.J.’s best friends in college, and later became one of the lawyers on Simpson’s infamous trial. Fun fact: The white Bronco car chase started at the Kardashian home.
  • The book is full of copies of handwritten notes, letters, and cards. I couldn’t begin to tell you about them all, but my favorite was the copy of the contract Kim’s late father gave made her sign when she got a new BMW on her 16th birthday. The seven-part contract included a stipulation that if she ever smoked cigarettes or marijuana or drank alcohol her car would be taken away immediately. (Maybe spoiled, but down-to-earth.)
  • Kathie Lee Gifford is the godmother of the Kardashian’s half-sisters, Kendall and Kylie.
  • Kim says “When no one in your family likes a person, there’s got to be something to it.” She’s referring to her early divorce (which she doesn’t really discuss in the book), but all I could think of was Kourtney’s baby daddy, Scott. (Scott talk is avoided, as well.)
  • When Khloe married Lamar Odom, she dropped her middle name (Alexandra) and legally became Khloe Kardashian Odom.

I wasn’t really that interested in the advice portion of the book, but they do give various makeup and style tips. As far as I’m concerned, there’s no groundbreaking advice to pass along. (But then again, I’m a pretty frumpy person. So if you’re interested in styling your closet to perfection, than maybe you should check it out.) I was, however, intrigued by one tip which I just might have to try: Khloe’s go-to product? Vaseline. Once a week, she recommends you slather it onto your feet, and then put socks on. Wear them for about an hour, and walk away with smooth feet.

What do you think, Shelf Lifers? Do you have any interest in reading Kardashian Konfidential? And are you, like me, on the Kardashian bandwagon? Or are you sick of this famous fam?

Nov 16 2010 12:22 PM ET

Chelsea Handler gets her own imprint and a three-book deal

chelsea-handlerImage Credit: Jason Merritt/WireImage.comGrand Central Publishing has given comedienne and late-night host Chelsea Handler her own imprint, Deadline reports.  It makes sense, considering that Handler has written three books already, all of which have sold like hilarious, readable hotcakes—Are You There, Vodka? It’s Me, Chelsea and her latest Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang both spent weeks numbering in the double-digits on the bestsellers chart. Handler already has a three-book deal for the new imprint, Borderline Amazing / A Chelsea Handler Book, the first of which, titled Lies That Chelsea Handler Told Me, is set to release in May 2011.

While Chelsea Lately may not get quite as many eyes as her competitors, being a successful enough writer to garner your own imprint at a major publishing house is no mean feat. I’m sure Chunk is quite proud of his owner.

Nov 11 2010 04:11 PM ET

'True Blood' Exclusive: Here's your First Look at the graphic novel cover!

true-blood-comic-bookHere it is, True Blood fans! EW is proud to exclusively reveal the cover to the new graphic novel True Blood, Vol. 1: All Together Now, which is the hardcover compilation of all six issues from the first comic book series set around HBO’s buzzy hit. It seems to be about what you’d expect from such a thing, right? You can’t really go wrong with Sookie, Bill, and Eric—even if they are in graphic form.

In terms of All Together Now, beside the new cover, bonus content in the compilation is set to include sketches and a cover gallery of all the issues’ separate covers. The book hits stands Feb. 8, 2011. It’s a ways off, of course, because there are still two issues of the comic book series to be released between now and then.

But, readers, what do you think of this cover? Does Sookie look like the Sookie we know? What of Bill? And Eric? Lemme know in the comments below.

Tanner on Twitter: @EWTanStransky

More on ‘True Blood’ from EW.com:
Ever tempted to skip around in a book series like ‘True Blood’?
‘True Blood’ Central on EW.com

Oct 12 2010 01:59 PM ET

Top 5 Stoner Movies That Don't Feature Any Actual Weed-Smoking: As chosen by the co-author of 'Reefer Movie Madness'

Reefer-Movie-Madness“18 months. 660 movies. 1 definitive book.” So promise Shirley Halperin and Steve Bloom, co-authors of the new tome Reefer Movie Madness: The Ultimate Stoner Film Guide, which in addition to featuring reviews of assorted cinematic “joints” also boasts “Stony Movie Picks” from Jason Mraz, Andy Milionakis, Adrianne Curry, and Kings of Leon drummer Nathan Followill. Also included? Informative guides to “Far-Out Acid Flicks,” “Foreign Stoner Films,” “Trippy Spaceships,” “Smoking Animals,” “Smart Stoners,” “Will Ferrell Movies To Watch Stoned,” “Stoner Cops,” “Stony Dream Sequences,” “Stony Mockumentaries,” and “Ganja Girls.” Wow, I think I’ve gotten a contact high just writing that list.

But can we really trust anyone who would pen a stoner film guide to count accurately up to 660? Or 18? Or 1? Actually we can, given that Halperin is a former EW staffer. What we can’t do, on the other hand, is promote or condone the smoking of what I believe the kids like to refer to as “the Mary Jane wacky backy.” Which is why we asked Halperin to recommend her Top 5 Stoner Movies That Don’t Feature Any Actual Weed-Smoking.

You can check out her list after the jump.

READ FULL STORY »

Sep 1 2010 03:56 PM ET

'Dancing with Stars' but not authors

dancing-with-starsImage Credit: Craig Sjodin/ABCABC announced the newest cast of Dancing with the Stars Monday night, and today they released the couple pairings for the show’s 11th season. (At the time of this post, EW.com readers had voted Jennifer Grey and Derek Hough as the couple to beat! Fellow ‘stars’ watch your backs!)

Anyway, it has come to my attention that DWTS keeps neglecting one important genre of stars—authors! Author Ally Carter took to her blog to comment on this travesty. In 11 seasons with more than 100 stars, none of them have been authors. (This does not count the stars who have book deals, like reality mom Kate Gosselin.)

Even if you don’t watch the show, it’s hard to avoid the casting news each season. And if I’ve learned anything at all by watching week after week, it’s that the producers use the term ‘stars’ loosely. I get it. Dancing with the People You’ve Probably Heard About in the News, Regardless of Star Quality was never really a viable name choice. So I won’t hold that against the ABC powers that be. But I’m not sure I’m comfortable living in a world where Bristol Palin is considered a ‘star’ and a best-selling author is not. And that has nothing to do with politics.

Carter points out that this might be a mere coincidence and not a direct snub of the writers of the world. And she’s right. Maybe J.K Rowling has no interest. Maybe EW’s own Stephen King isn’t quite ready to break out his dancing shoes. Whatever the reason, it doesn’t change the fact that authors are very notably missing from each DWTS lineup.

What author would you want to see strut their dancing stuff in an effort to claim the coveted mirror ball trophy? And who knows? Maybe ABC will take note and make the “write” choice next season. (Sorry. Couldn’t help myself.) Head to the comments below!

Aug 17 2010 10:10 AM ET

'The Vampire Diaries' prequel novel: An exclusive cover peek

vampire-diaries-novelWhile Damon from The Vampire Diaries is busy tearing up the polls in EW’s official Sexy Beast competition, the show’s other bloodsucking protagonist is set to get a series of prequel books named after him. HarperCollins Children’s Books and Alloy Entertainment have announced that they will be releasing Stefan’s Diaries #1: Origins, the first in a planned trilogy of novels that will shed sunlight on the vampire brothers’ long, troubled history, including the Civil War-era romance that turned them against each other. The CW series, like fellow hyper-sexualized-neckbiter show True Blood, was based on a run of novels, and although it doesn’t appear that original author L. J. Smith will be penning this new trilogy, her creations have come full circle back into book form. The first entry of Stefan’s Diaries is scheduled to hit bookstores in November.

Fans of the show, what do you think? Will you still be gripped by the characters without all the brooding, occasionally shirtless eye-candy? How about those of you who read the original books?

Jul 12 2010 04:12 PM ET

Harvey Pekar, a great writer, comics innovator: His splendid American life is over

Harvey Pekar was one of the most important, idiosyncratic, and eccentric writers that the comics medium has ever produced. He ushered in a new age of autobiographical realism to comic books and graphic novels, writing scripts that were illustrated by artists such as R. Crumb, Gary Dumm, Dean Haspiel, Drew Friedman, and Rick Geary. He enjoyed a brief period of TV stardom as an occasional guest on David Letterman’s NBC talk show, and his READ FULL STORY »

Jun 29 2010 12:37 PM ET

Rob Lowe to write a memoir; how long before the rest of the Brat Pack follows suit?

Rob-LoweImage Credit: John M. Heller/Getty ImagesWe’ll soon be getting the Lowe-down straight from the actor’s mouth. Rob Lowe, currently aboard the good ship Parks and Recreation, is set to pen a memoir about his life and a career chock-full of comebacks (and at least one notorious sex tape). Henry Holt and Co. has set the release date for Stories I Only Tell My Friends as May 2011, and claims the book will be written entirely by Lowe without the aid of a ghostwriter. Judging by his history of leaving TV shows after only a few seasons, Holt had better hope he doesn’t quit halfway through the memoir to move on to writing a sci-fi novel or something.

What do you think, Shelf-Lifers? Interested in having a Lowe profile? Or are you holding out for a collected volume of life lessons from Judd Nelson or one of Lowe’s other ’80s costars? (Demi Moore’s is already in the works.)

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