In yet another bid to take over the world, Oprah Winfrey and her Harpo Productions announced yesterday a three-year deal to make movies, documentaries and TV series for HBO.



Just call it HBOprah!

Bad news for ABC, where Oprah has worked for 15 years, with her Oprah Winfrey Presents series focusing largely on movies positive or inspirational in tone. The most recent was an adaptation from a Mitch Albom book "For One More Day," about a drunk about to commit suicide who is saved by the ghost of his mother.

Another Winfrey production, "Their Eyes Were Watching God," starring Halle Berry, was the most-watched TV movie in 6 years at the time of its 2005 airing on ABC.

ABC reportedly wanted to extend their deal, but Harpo Films believed HBO was a better fit.

Maybe Miss O wants to try some more risque material. "There are natural limitations to being on network TV .. which HBO is not concerned with," said Harpo Films president Kate Forte.

The HBO deal has nothing to do with Winfrey's huge agreement with Discovery Communications for OWN -- the Oprah Winfrey Network -- that will debut next year, replacing the Discovery Health Network.

The woman is unstoppable! Maybe next year she'll try for something even bigger, like getting the next President of the United States elected -- oh right, she's already done that too!

Kudos to you Oprah -- may you continue to use your powers for good.

Top Chef got off to a fast start last night by eliminating a contestant for the first time after the Quick Fire Challenge. The Quick Fire Challenge is tasked of the chefs at the beginning of each episode and is, just as it sounds, a short-timed challenge where each contestant must create something to impress the guest judge.
Last night's challenge was somewhat different. As tasked by Top Judge Tom Colicchio, each chef had to complete the first of 3 technical challenges, beginning with peeling 15 apples with a knife (no peelers allowed). The first nine finished were safe, the rest had to do the second challenge - Brunoise the apples. This was another new culinary term for me, but basically Brunoise is just a fancy way of dicing the apples. Something the remaining competitors attested to as being difficult. Again, the first 4 finishers were safe from elimination.
The remaining four were tasked to cook something to impress Tom, who would make the final decision. Oh, and when will these people learn? Don't they watch the show before auditioning? Left for elimination were Lauren, from Savannah, Ga., whose hubby is in Iraq; Patrick, 21-yr.-old CIA student; Leah, a sous chef; and Rhadika, whose parents are from India. Rhadika impressed with her pan-seared pork with apple chutney, while Leah was saved by her scallops with apples.
However Patrick and Lauren both opted to make salads - SALADS! The judges never go for the easy-way-out salads! A salad is what single-handedly cost Marcel the title of Top Chef in Season 2!
So, it was curtains for Leah, who said disappointedly as she left, "I didn't even get to see the Top Chef kitchen."

The remaining contestants were paired up by choosing knives enscribed with different neighborhoods of NYC, each with a specific ethnic food type. After spending their first evening bonding, during which Stefan and Hosea had a heated fight over vinaigrette, everyone was sent to their neighborhoods to shop for foods. Each had to prepare a single entrée to compete against their neighborhood partner at Judges Table. They had two hours to cook.
Stefan beat Ariane for his Middle Eastern dish, Dan beat Pat in Chinese cuisine, Hosea trumped Carla for Russian faire, James bested Richard for Greek, Leah topped Melissa in Italian, Eugene beat Alex for Indian, Jill won over Rhadika for Jamaican and Jeff beat Fabio for Latin cuisine.
Each losing contestant was fair game for elimination. At Judges Table Eugene, Stefan and Leah were congratulated for being the judges' favorites, with Stefan being chosen as the winner. He receives immunity next week.
Ariane, Patrick and Carla weren't as lucky, making the bottom three. CIA student Patrick was told to pack his knives and go, apparently his black noodles were the judges' bane!
Unfortunately last night didn't provide any good comments from the judges (Judges' Table, like the judging on Project Runway, is usually my fave part), however, gay contestant Richard provided a little comic relief with his crushing on judge Tom Colicchio.
"Tom is cute!," he proclaimed, adding he'd like to take him out for a beer.

The Cute Colicchio
Important Note: As told by the judges last night, only once in the history of the show did the winner of the first challenge NOT go on to win Top Chef. If memory serves me right, that would be Season 3's Trey, who was ousted after the dreaded Restaurant Wars challenge. So keep an eye on Stefan - I'm also watching Eugene, he seems impressive.
Top Chef repeats tonight at 9 p.m. on Bravo, right after an encore presentation of this week's Real Housewives of Atlanta.For more on Top Chef, visit http://www.bravotv.com/Top_Chef/season/5/best_of/index.php

BTW, last night's PBS season debut of Monarchy: The Royal Family at Work was really good. It told of the Queen's U.S. visit from the British POV, which is always interesting. Make sure to mark next Wednesday night for the second episode, featuring preparation for the Queen's birthday celebration! For info visit http://www.pbs.org/opb/monarchy/

On TV tonight: You already know what's at the top of my viewing list - CBS, 8 pm, Survivor: Gabon. The conniving and scheming is getting deliciously evil - who's going home tonight?

Jen Aniston
The next biggest thing, I guess, is Jennifer Aniston's guest appearance on NBC's 30 Rock at 9:30 pm. She'll be stalking Alec Baldwin's character. Aniston stops by The Oprah Winfrey Show today as well. Check local listings.

Another big one for NBC is tonight's episode of ER - Dr. Mark Greene (Anthony Edwards), who died in 2002, will make an appearance. No, don't think ghosts, it's apparently in flashbacks.
And, according to TV Guide, Noah Wiley says that he, Eric LaSalle and, are you sitting down?, George Clooney will all be back for the series finale in May. (Clooney, schedule permitting, of course.) For info visit http://www.nbc.com/ER/

Ooooohhhh Clooney!
Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew continues at 10 p.m. on VH1. I have nothing new on this one, but I think last week's episode airs at 9 p.m. and features the Doc's interview with Rodney King about "the beating," if you know what I mean ...For more info or to watch visit http://www.vh1.com/shows/dyn/Celebrity_rehab_2_with_dr_drew/series.jhtml?source=globalnav

The Mean Girls
And remember back when Lindsay Lohan was a sweet, beloved actress (no? Think hard). Well I thought she was totally cute in the remake of Disney's The Parent Trap. Anyway, before she got all spoiled and went off the deep end (and got a girlfriend), she starred in a funny, teen flick called Mean Girls. Written by SNL alumn, 30 Rock star/creator and Sarah Palin impersonator-extraordinaire Tina Fey, and featuring a hilarious turn by Rachel McAdams, this little film is a gem worth watching. It airs tonight on ABC Family at 8 p.m.

Survivor Recap/Weekend Watch tomorrow

Hi everyone, sorry about yesterday, I was home sick. Sick of election coverage (just kidding). And so we say farewell to a 2 1/2 year election campaign, whatever will we do now? I have only one thing to say - Bow to the Power of Oprah!!


Let's get back to mindless TV viewing shall we?
The only thing I watched other than election coverage last night was Bravo's Real Housewives of Atlanta. Hey, I needed something light to loosen up, OK? And the be-otches were in full form last night! It seems that a drunken NeNe got in a limo and spouted off some song she made up about Kim and her "singing" career, and oh-no-she-didn't, Sheree told Kim all about it. NeNe had the gaul to say that Kim's only singing because Big Papa's paying for it (I know, who'd have thunk it).
Things went back and forth as they do, and by the end of the episode, Kim had texted NeNe and told her to "never call her again." (oh no, not that!) It looks like the shenanigans continue well into next week's ep. To watch or for info visit http://www.bravotv.com/Real_Housewives_Of_Atlanta/season/1/index.php

On TV Tonight: I know it's sweeps, but there really isn't too much out interesting me on Wednesday night. I'm giving up Lipstick Jungle, just can't get excited about that one any more.
Private Practice seems to be in ratings trouble, so if you're a fan, start watching!
Dancing with the Stars results show was pushed back to tonight at 8 p.m. due to the election. And CBS offers up its usual line-up of cops and law dramas with new eps of Criminal Minds and CSI: NY.
Dirty Sexy Money will air a new show tonight, so if you were one of the unfortunate that missed last week's ep because of the World Series win, better hit the ABC website and catch up.
http://abc.go.com/primetime/dirtysexymoney/index?pn=index

I'll be watching FX's Sons of Anarchy, which has to be getting to the end of its season soon. It premiered back in August afterall. I'll miss it when it goes, however, last week there was a nice little teaser for Nip/Tuck, which finishes season 8 sometime in January.
And I think there's a new ep of South Park on at 10 p.m. on Comedy Central. Couldn't find any preview info though. http://www.southparkstudios.com/


Twilight Alert: OK gals, set your DVRs, The Insider syndicated entertainment show has proclaimed it Twilight Week and will air a special interview with Robert Pattinson tonight.
For those of you who've been living under a rock, Pattinson is the 22-year-old British actor who will bring vampire Edward Cullen to life on the big screen Nov. 21. For a look at Monday's Twilight moment, visit
And speaking of Pattinson, he'll be making an appearance over on MTV's TRL tomorrow (Thursday), that you won't want to miss.
Yeah, just another excuse for me to post hot vampire photos ...



Vampire Pattinson

For more info on Twilight, visit http://www.twilightthemovie.com/

And speaking of the World Series, Game 5 Conclusion (Wednesday) came in at the top of the Nielsens rating list at 19.84 million viewers, followed by CSI (Las Vegas) with a neat 19.1 million.
Dancing with the Stars two shows came in at 3 and 4, while NCIS topped out the Top 5.
The Simpsons Treehouse of Horror packed in 12.4 million viewers making it the show's best ratings in five years and one of the most watched programs Sunday night (16th).


Erica Hahn checks out of Seattle Grace
In news I'm proud to pass on: Shonda Rhimes finally wised up and is ending the lesbian relationship between Erica and Callie on Grey's Anatomy (not that there's anything wrong with that!). Brooke Smith, who portrays Erica Hahn, will make her final appearance on tomorrow night's episode. According to Rhimes, the show's creator, Smith's character simply did not have good chemistry with her co-stars. Hmmm, maybe I'll start watching again. http://abc.go.com/primetime/greysanatomy/index?pn=index

And Simon Cowell has been dumped! The NY Post reports today that his girlfriend of six years, Extra contributor Terri Seymour has said good-bye to the American Idol meanie. It seems that those cross-Atlantic intercontinental relationships just don't work out.


By the way - just one more week until Top Chef returns! Yay - Tom Colicchio!

Culinary Colicchio

And, (since I got my Twilight fix in above) -- just for you Elfman -- another delicious photo of Top Chef's hostess Padme Lakshmi, enjoy! If you just can't wait visit http://www.bravotv.com/Top_Chef/season/5/best_of/index.php