America's Got Talent Back with a Big Bang

In its triumphant return after the 2008 Olympic Games, “America’s Got Talent” (7 p.m. Tuesday, NBC) offers up 10 of the top 40 contestants.

That much closer to the million dollar prize, they crank up the intensity.

“Wipeout” (7 p.m. Tuesday, ABC) is back with a paramedic, a professor, a fire dancer, a retired pilot, a professional surfer and a figure-skating coach taking on Butt-Kicker, Big Balls, Topple Towers, Donut Stack Swing, Teeter Totter and the Floating Block Maze.

Your Ad Here

At the age of 10, Alexandra “Alex” Pyles has won 14 world titles, entered the National Blackbelt League’s Hall of Fame and accumulated a wall full of trophies. This week, she gets to show off her skills in mixed martial arts, including various forms of karate, on national television.

Alex is a quiet little girl with sandy blonde hair and a shy smile—and, based on the moves she demonstrated in the ring at her family’s gym earlier this week, the ability to kick my tail if she wanted to. She is one of the finalists on “America’s Got Talent,” NBC’s popular talent show. The series will begin its Los Angeles round of competition at 8 p.m. EDT Tuesday.

“I decided to get into martial arts when I was a baby,” she said. “My dad was doing it, and I liked it. When I did it I felt really good.”

Her father, Dean Pyles, runs Elite Combat Martial Arts and Fitness in Galax, and she grew up watching him teach classes and enter competitions. “She’d run around punching and kicking and stuff,” Dean Pyles recalled. “By the time she was 3 she was doing splits and kicks and she did a demonstration…. People just went wild over it.”

At 5, she won her first trophy, which her father said “was 6 feet tall, and she wasn’t hardly 3 feet tall.”

She is a movie buff and is particularly fond of movies starring Jackie Chan, Jet Li and Sylvester Stallone. She describes “Rocky” as her all-time favorite film and hopes to be an action-film star when she grows up. She also likes fishing, swimming and bike riding. “She’s super-active,” her dad said.

So are her sisters: Whittany, 17; Chelsea, 13; and Hylea, 5. They all study martial arts, and they are looking forward to seeing their sister compete.

“I think it’s incredible,” Whittany said. “We even get to go out and see everything she sees.”

Despite the age difference, could Alex take Whittany in a fight? “Probably,” Whittany said with a laugh.

“I think it’s amazing,” Chelsea said. “I hope she wins it. No matter what, we’ll all benefit from it. She does really good at it. And, yeah, she could definitely whoop me. But I don’t want her to.”

“I love my sissy, and I hope she wins it,” said Hylea.

Last year, the family gathered each week to watch “America’s Got Talent,” an “American Idol"-like competition show that features singers and other performers, including puppeteer Terry Fator, last year’s winner.

“There’s a lot of talents and I like to see talent,” Alex said.

Plus, her skill at martial arts has an added benefit: “My talent can maybe save someone some day,” she said.

“She wants to show kids they can study martial arts and have fun, and also learn self-defense and get into shape,” Dean Pyles said. “She wanted to raise child-safety awareness. She’s real soft-hearted and real shy-seeming until you see her compete…. She just decided she wanted to help get the word out.”

“As soon as she saw the show last year, she said that’s what she wanted to do,” said her mother, Heather Pyles. “I just went and looked everything up on the Internet and started filling out papers.”

With help from sponsors, the family took Alex through the first rounds of auditions and went out to Las Vegas earlier this year, where she competed against about 200 acts.

She made the cut, and now she is one of 40 finalists who will show off their skills over the next few weeks. The competition will be shown Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Alex’s competition includes singers, impressionists, dancers, drummers, a magician and an Elvis impersonator. They compete before three celebrity judges, and then viewers vote for their favorites.

“America gets to narrow that down,” Dean Pyles said, “and we’re hoping we can get the support of the local area.”

The family flew to Los Angeles this week to prepare for Alex’s first round of competition, which will likely be on Tuesday’s episode.

The auditions, her mother said, were “extremely exciting and overwhelming.”

The experience, she said, has “just been fantastic ever since. It’s gotten better and better.”

When the auditions started, Alex said, “I was a little nervous. But I believed that I could do it and I was ready. I went and put everything I could into it.”

“America’s Got Talent” (8 p.m., NBC): The Olympics are over and now it’s almost time to award some medals on “America’s Got Talent.” The summer’s biggest hit returns with an episode that has 10 of the Top 40 acts hitting the stage to showcase their skills.

“World’s Funniest Commercials 2008” (9 p.m., TBS): Kevin Nealon and his wife, Susan Yeagley, are your hosts for the “World’s Funniest Commercials 2008.” These are those rare clever and hilarious ads that you don’t want to skim over with your DVR.

“Greek” (9 p.m., Oxygen): The freshmen’s devotion is put to the test when they learn if they have been accepted into their fraternities and sororities.

“The Janice Dickinson Modeling Agency” (10 p.m., Oxygen): “The Agency” is back for its fourth season. But there are changes ahead in this reality show. Dickinson, the self-proclaimed “world’s first supermodel,” has a new business partner. A new business plan to move from commercial to high-fashion clients. New headquarters: no longer a Hollywood storefront but a mansion in the Hollywood hills, complete with a newly designed master bedroom decorated by brother-of-Madonna Christopher Ciccone. Finally, Dickinson has a new scheme for keeping her models-in-training in tow: They will reside in this mansion with her.

Dancing with the Stars Season 7 New Cast

The cast for Season 7 of "Dancing with the Stars" was announced this morning on ABC's "Good Morning" with a few surprises. Mainly, reality TV celebutante Kim Kardashian -- who had been rumored for days to be on the show -- actually suffered an injury (she cut her foot on Sunday night, but it was not severe enough to keep her out of the competition.)

"I will be able to dance," she proclaimed! Whew, wouldn't want to disappoint the male viewership.

Here is the list:

Kim Kardashian, reality TV star

Cloris Leachman, Oscar-winning actress

Misty May-Treanor, Olympic beach volleyballer

Maurice Greene, Olympic sprinter,

Lance Bass, former N' Sync star

Rocco DiSpirito, TV chef

Warren Sapp, NFL star

Toni Braxton, Grammy award-winning R&B star

Cody Linley, "Hannah Montana" show

Ted McGinley, veteran actor "Happy Days"

Your Ad Here

Brooke Burke, actress/TV personality

Jeffrey Ross, celebrity roaster and comedian

Susan Lucci, "All My Children" star

"Dancing with the Stars" premieres at 8 p.m. Sept. 22 on ABC-TV, followed by a performance show on Sept. 23 and the first results show on Sept. 24.

Meerkat Manor

A friendly TV reminder for meerkat lovers: Tonight marks the series finale of "Meerkat Manor: The Next Generation."

We hear family history repeats itself when tragedy strikes at the Whiskers burrow and dominant male Zorro goes missing in action.

Channel and time: Animal Planet, 8:30, 9 and 9:30 p.m.

Magnum PI - 80's TV Revisited

I just read that Magnum PI may be coming back for another swing at the bat thanks to Digital TV.

It was about Thomas Magnum (Played by Tom Seleck), a former US navy seal for ten years. While he works as head security in the Estate of millionaire Robin Master, Magnum moolights as a private investigator. Magnum lived the life of luxury driving fast cars and boinking fast women. Magnum's chief advesary in the show was Former British Army Sergeant Jonathan Higgins who was the caretaker of the Robin Master Estate. "Higgins" had a few Doberman guard dogs who he figured would be enough to replace Magnum. Aside from many woman, Thomas Magnum's constant companions ad helpers were TC (A helicopter Pilot ad Rick (a Local con artist and general shady character) Similar in style to the now popular Burn Notice, Magnum narrates his way through the entire show, giving the viewers insight into the life of a Hawaii Playboy private investigator.

David Hyde Pearce explores Alzheimer's - Featured on PBS

PBS will present a special evening of programming focused on Alzheimer's disease on Sunday, August 3 starting at 9 p.m. ET (check local listings). The programming starts with a national encore broadcast of the Emmy-Award-winning THE FORGETTING: A Portrait of Alzheimer's, followed by a new half-hour discussion, The Future of Alzheimer's, moderated by actor and Alzheimer's champion David Hyde Pierce, which features a panel of medical experts and scientists discussing the latest developments in Alzheimer's. Together, the programs approach the subject of Alzheimer's in a unique manner, balancing the scientific quest to eradicate Alzheimer's disease with heartfelt, first-hand stories of families whose lives have been ravaged by it. Produced by Twin Cities Public Television, and made possible by public television viewers and PBS, along with major funding from MetLife Foundation, both will be available in Spanish through the SAP channel.

"The Forgetting can make a real difference in the lives of millions of people across the country, by providing valuable insights into the nature of Alzheimer's," said Rob Henrikson, MetLife president, chairman, and CEO. "This program tackles the Alzheimer's crisis in a powerful, moving way, and MetLife is proud to support this important program."

Your Ad Here

The number of people living with Alzheimer's is quickly rising, and is expected to increase dramatically as the Baby Boom generation ages. Over five million people in the U.S. have been diagnosed with Alzheimer's, including one in eight persons over age 65, meaning that 19 million Americans have a family member with the disease. The impact on families can be devastating -- physically, emotionally, and financially -- as caring for persons with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias is more demanding and time-consuming than other caregiving, and takes a heavier toll on work and family life. The financial impact of caring for someone with Alzheimer's is often huge: nursing homes average $42,000 a year, and can run $70,000 or more in some areas, but more than 7 out of 10 people with Alzheimer's disease live at home, where family and friends provide most of the care, thereby adversely affecting their earning capacity.

Enhancing the documentary is a comprehensive interactive website that is designed to serve as a center for resources, support and materials for Alzheimer's patients, their families and caregivers. For more information, visit www.pbs.org/theforgetting/ after July 29.

MetLife Foundation has supported Alzheimer's disease research and outreach activities for more than 20 years. The Foundation has awarded over $11 million in grants through its Awards for Medical Research in Alzheimer's Disease program, and has also provided support to the Alzheimer's Association for initiatives including caregiving videos, resources for the Hispanic community and the Safe Return identification program. For information about MetLife Foundation, please visit www.metlife.org.

Your Ad Here

THE FORGETTING: Portrait of Alzheimer's and THE FUTURE OF ALZHEIMER'S with David Hyde Pierce are produced by Twin Cities Public Television. The executive producer is Naomi S. Boak. The producer and director of THE FORGETTING is Elizabeth Arledge. The producers of THE FUTURE OF ALZHEIMER'S with David Hyde Pierce are Ron Fried and Lorraine Kreahling. The documentary is based on the book, The Forgetting: Alzheimer's: Portrait of an Epidemic by David Shenk. The editor is Doug Quade, with cinematography by Erich Roland. Original music is by Mason Daring. Gerald Richman is executive in charge

For more information on Alzheimer's

The Mole Revealed and Season Overview

Let's take a look at who won, who the Mole was, who lost, how the Mole fooled everyone, and what clues were scattered throughout the season.


Craig is the Mole!
Mark wins the money!
Nicole loses!

I guess it would have been equally great if Craig had won and Mark was the Mole, but this was perfect too. Even though Craig was the Mole, he wasn't evil or nasty about it, which makes this outcome even more satisfying. And Mark? What a great player. He was incredibly smart in the challenges, physically great (who can forget his work on the treadmill?), and did just enough to make people think he might be the Mole (I thought he was guilty for the first few weeks).

Your Ad Here

What's most interesting is that Mark almost didn't make it to the final three. Because others (including Paul) suspected Craig early on, Mark actually tied on the quizzes three separate times, and only moved on because the others were slower in their finishing times. That must have been a kick in the head to the other players (especially Victoria). Quite fascinating is the fact that Craig's trip to the hospital was actually real. I wonder how many people thought Craig was the Mole because of this trip? He was probably suspected by a couple of players, but not for reasons he could have controlled.

As for the clues to who the Mole was...well, they ranged from rather obvious to completely obscure and impossible to see. The letters CRG behind Mark in the prison cell, looking back, were really obvious. But longitude and latitude for San Diego (Craig's town) hidden in the logo? Four letter "I" icons behind Clay that pointed to the only guy with glasses? The area codes of the final three hidden in a scene? Gah, that's really hard stuff to figure out, but you'll be damned sure I'm going to look for that stuff if there's another season (it's very cool that a couple of the audio oddities we picked up on - the alien sound and the baby crying - actually were clues, though the baby was a clue in a different way than we thought).

Your Ad Here

And what about another season? This finale proved that this is a reality show that really does deserve to be on the air. It proved that there can be a clever reality show that the viewers at home can actually play along with, one that's a little more civilized than the other reality shows, regardless of how nasty and annoying one or two of the contestants can be. I really hope we see another edition next season.

Australian Comedy Hit Kath and Kim Set to Come to America

THE producer of Kath & Kim has hit back at claims the US version of the hit comedy is set to bomb.

Some American critics have suggested that the translated series, set to be screened on NBC, would be the first show of the new US television season to fail.

"I don't care that NBC has set a premiere date of October 9, I don't care that it stars Molly Shannon and Selma Blair," said critic Amy Amatangelo of the TV industry website zap2it.com, "I say Kath & Kim will never see the light of TV."

Television analyst Horizon Media, which publishes a list of odds each new TV year betting on which series will survive, then listed Kath & Kim as one of the most likely to fail.

Last week the British newsletter Popbitch posted links to clips from the new series. The response was overwhelmingly negative.

Your Ad Here

But Rick McKenna, executive producer of the Australian Kath & Kim starring co-creators Jane Turner and Gina Riley, said the US series was progressing well and had the full support of its American broadcaster.

"The irony is the same week that report [saying Kath & Kim would be the first to fail] came out, NBC saw the pilot . . . and, based on what they'd seen, ordered another seven episodes.

"That sort of puts those critics - who haven't even seen the show - in perspective."

Major changes have been made to the original format to fit the new market - Magda Szubanski's character Sharon will be replaced by a gay man - but McKenna said the result was always intended to be a new imagining of Kath & Kim, not a copy.

The Kath & Kim US version is scheduled to premiere in October.

So you think you can Dance Winner announced

The two-night, four-hour So You Think You Can Dance season finale started last night and concluded earlier this evening... The finale included a reunion of some of the favourite dancers from the first four seasons and encores of some of the best routines of the current season... The Jonas Brothers as well as the cast of Criss Angel Believe also performed...

At the end of it all, it came down to 2 guys: Joshua Allen and Twitch Boss!! 3rd place finisher (who you voted THE HOTTEST) Katte Shean walked away with $50,000 for being the top girl this season, after Courtney Galiano was eliminated at the beginning of the finale!!

Last Comic Standing Winner announced

AND THE WINNER IS..... The Very Sexy and Beautiful Iliza Shlesinger has just been crowned the Princess of Comedy in the TV Hit Last Comic Standing. Iliza showed her grit many times as she kept being sent to the lions pit on several of the final episodes of Last Comic Standing. For more on the Very Beautiful Last comic Standing Iliza Shlesinger

Big Bang Theory Back with the very bangable Courtney Henggeler

With the new season of Big Bang Theory upon us, the beautiful Courtney Henggeler is back. There are still very few pictures of this Buxom Brunette Available but you can be sure to find the pictures of Courtney Henggeler that you want on here.

Here is another picture of Courtney Henggeler to keep you going.

For more on Courtney Henggeler

"Fab Five: The Texas Cheerleader Scandal" Cashes in on America's Obsession with Cheerleaders and Sex and sex with cheerleaders

Nothing says mainstream America like the apple pie aura that surrounds the idyllic sports setting: All-American jocks playing for the glory of their alma maters and the wholesome, not-to-be-denied exuberance of the cheerleaders that cheer them on. That is the image touted by most. And that is the image that sells. But the flip side of that image sells just as well or better. Lifetime cable network chose the flip side and broadcast their original movie, "Fab Five: The Texas Cheerleader Scandal" to appeal to that lucrative seamier side. That side would include provocative images of cheerleaders, sexually suggestive images, and scandalous acts. Because for every cheerleader movie like "Bring It On", there is a corresponding sexually suggestive or outright pornographic movie as well (and, more often as not, far more examples of the latter).

"Fab Five: The Texas Cheerleader Scandal" tells the story of the McKinney North High School (Texas) cheerleader squad that basically did as they pleased until they were confronted by their cheerleading coach, Emma (played by Jenna Dewan), whose character is loosely based on the actual coach, Michaela Ward. Disciplining the cheerleaders were a problem at the school because one of the cheerleaders, Brooke Tippit (who is modeled after Karissa Theret and played by Ashley Benson, who has actually starred in a "Bring It On" movie), was the daughter of the principal, Lorene Tippit (Linda Theret, played by Oscar-winner Tatum O'Neal). The cheerleaders' out-of-control behavior leads to a showdown.

In real life, Michaela Ward resigned when little was done to discipline the girls, who posted suggestive pictures of themselves on MySpace.com showing glimpses of their underwear and mimicking lewd acts with candles in a condom store, among other disruptive acts perpetrated on school grounds. Ward took the story to the press and the Dallas-suburb school became the scandal of the nation. Linda Theret resigned. The offending girls were removed from the cheerleading squad.