Bravo announces the return of The Rachel Zoe Project

It's official folks. Rachel Zoe, Taye, and all the drama of watching a human stick dressed in a monstrous fur jacket is returning. Here they are spotted recently in NYC. Taping maybe?


Bravo is having a stellar year thus far, and plans on expanding its Real Housewives series into New Jersey. Badda-Bing!

The Hills Update: Blondes vs. Brunettes Battle

We should really rename The Hills to “The Worst Couple on TV Ever.” Yes, last evening, the whole show seemed to revolve around our Barbie and Werewolf, aka Heidi and Spencer Pratt.

But before we dive into that car wreck, we need to turn our attention to teeth. Kelly Cutrone’s teeth. They look like they have not been brushed in a few years. Maybe the last time she brushed them was when she realized that she didn’t need to shower anymore either. She has started to morph more and more into an extra in the background of a Metallica video circa 1990. You know, “Wherever I May Roam”-type thing.

Stephanie comes floating into People’s Revolution to interview for an internship. Upon meeting Kelly for the interview, Stephanie shuddered, but luckily passed it off as being “nervous for the interview.” Nice one, Steph! The best part is when she hands over her resume in a plain white envelope, like she was handing over her mail.

On to the Blondes vs. Brunettes! Spencer and hired wingman (already forgot his name), head to a new hot spot while Heidi and Stephanie hit up Glendale’s hottest spot, Katsuya. Warning - Producer moment: Stephanie somehow figures out the one place Spencer will be on a Tues night with his nameless friend. Heidi storms in like a blinding hurricane of blondeness and confronts her equally blonde werewolf as to why he is on a double date with Gina Gershon-wanna be aka Bar chick. The one thing I took out of this scene was that LA chicks get catty! Gems included “Do you even own pants?” and “Are you wearing fur? You’re such a whore.” Brilliant.

Enough with the Pratts! Let’s get a cameo for Whit.

Funny or Die's Quiet Asian Syndrome

QUIET ASIAN SYNDROME - watch more funny videos

ESPN launches local sports sites - starting with Chicago

Well, if local newspapers weren't feeling it enough, ESPN has now entered into the online space, threatening players such as the Chicago Tribune and recently bankrupted Chicago Sun-Times.

http://espn.go.com/chicago

One could argue that this is the icing on the cake as the advertising sales team that is so used to selling such a large site as ESPN.com could make more on their advertising inventory than Chicago Tribune's ad sales teams. It all has to do with the scale of the inventory that they could package. Even run-of-site ads could then include this new local version.

Ideally, advertisers would see the value of this local site and then pay a higher CPM for getting on an ESPN branded local site.

Suhweeet Sighting: Tyra Banks

Walking back from a birthday brunch in Tribeca, when lo and behold, a really tall person with an even taller boyfriend. It's Tyra Banks! My friend, J, kept on hitting me on the shoulder, and I said, "Oww! Why are you hitting me?" but I spotted them as well.

Tyra has been getting a lot of heat lately for being the choice talk show that Palin's kid's baby daddy wanted to be interviewed on. Uhh, what about Oprah? So you think some payoff was involved? Tyra Banks show denies such charges, but pay-to-say is always happenin in media.

The Hills Recap: LC is lame, Speidi is lamer!

Well, we were blessed to get a double dosage of The Hills this week. The (not-so) triumphant return of LC gave us quite a few moments, while others were focused more on the virus known as Speidi.

First, let’s figure out who’s idea it was to get a bunch of rich LA kids together on a boat? Did MTV foot the bill here? How does that work exactly? For some odd reason, Heidi has self-invited herself to this party. (ok, we are all now a teeny bit more knowledgeable about “reality-TV” which must mean that the producers somehow coerced her to go and make a fool of herself).

Sidenote: Is Heidi’s hair a wig?

Meanwhile, Spencer has somehow decided to hit on a squeaky sounding bartender who has no problems taking down the patron. Flirting ensues, and I was a bit disappointed that Jamie Foxx’s “Blame It” didn’t play during the scene. She was clearly planted there as well.

Spencer has no friends – as obvious in his creepy 70’s-stached friend at the bar. I think he was randomly just sitting there and the post-editor wrote a fake name and “Spencer’s Friend” underneath it.

Cameron texts his ex (for some reason) who reminds me now of Brooke Hogan. Heidi then calls Spencer, and Spencer in a drunken stupor, REALLY wants to show everyone how he can beat up a Tobey Maguire look-a-like at a bar called Dice. “Just touch me man!” Hmmm, he does give him a good pop on the chin. Never saw a head snap back like that on TV. Remember before you fight someone to look them in the eyes. If they look as crazy as Spencer’s you’d best duck first.

I think this represents a new low to this show. It has now revolved around two people we all can’t stand, while rumors of Audrina getting HER own show have been confirmed. It’s a bit too much now. Sort of like the Bravo-approach to a successful show. Oh, people liked Project Runway? Hmm, how about Top Chef? How about some Top Model show? How about some hair cutting show? How about an interior design show? REALLY? Why not stop with The City and leave it at that! (Same thing with the Real Housewives of (fill in the city). I’m boycotting once they decide to film The Real Housewives of Cincinnati).

Previews for following weeks proved to be intriguing, but seriously, can we get The City II back and cut The Hills short this time around?

Michael Jordan vs. Magic Johnson

Ok - that is not really happening tonight, but can you imagine? I know we all saw this in the 1991 NBA Finals, but let's face it, MJ was still jumping over people and Magic was definitely on his slide downwards to retirement.

From the wires:
Super fans Jordan, Magic expected at title game April 6, 2009
Associated Press
DETROIT (AP) -- Magic vs. Michael for the title again?
It was suggested Monday that if the national championship game were tied after overtime, Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan should decide the outcome with a game of 1-on-1.
Both Hall of Famers -- Jordan was elected Monday -- won national championships for their teams and are expected to be in the stands cheering on their schools. Jordan's jumper from the left wing lifted North Carolina past Georgetown for the 1982 title. Johnson led Michigan State over Larry Bird and Indiana State three decades ago.
Jordan got the better of Johnson in the NBA, leading the Bulls to the first of their six titles with a five-game victory in the 1991 finals.
Talk of a rematch brought out the trash talk in the notoriously competitive Jordan.
"You really think he can beat me?" Jordan said. "He couldn't beat me in the finals at all."
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EMOTIONAL BOOST: Michigan State's run in the NCAA tournament has provided a welcome emotional boost to the economically struggling state, Gov. Jennifer Granholm said Monday.
"Not to put more pressure on them of course, but they really have become a symbol for our state," said Granholm, who wore a green Michigan State sweat shirt under her dark business jacket Monday at the state Capitol in Lansing. "You know, a symbol of what can happen when you work really hard. As (coach) Tom Izzo says he's got a blue-collar team, and all they do is work, work, work. It's a great statement about them, certainly. But it's a great, uplifting moment for us."
Granholm said the Final Four will have an economic benefit to Detroit but that the overall benefit to Michigan -- which had the nation's highest unemployment rate in February at 12 percent -- is hard to quantify in dollars and cents.
"I think really, this is so much more for us about a psychological impact," Granholm said. "I know that I speak for 10 million Michigan citizens in saying thank you to this team, thank you to coach Izzo, for really being Michigan's team and Michigan's 'uplift' during this very, very tough time."
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NEXT GENERATION: Michael Jordan took a moment to greet Ty Lawson after the North Carolina junior won the Bob Cousy Award as the nation's top point guard.
"You ready?" Jordan asked Lawson, putting his hand on his shoulder.
Jordan said he wouldn't speak to the team before the game, noting that he didn't do so before the Tar Heels beat Illinois for the 2005 title.
But if he were?
"These are the games that are a lot of fun because the expectations are a lot higher," Jordan said. "The stakes are a lot higher. But that's what you live for. That's what's fun about it. I'd tell the guys just go out and be who you are and have fun."