Philbin to fill in New Year's Eve
BURBANK, Calif.-- A week after suffering a mild stroke, Dick Clark remained hospitalized, and his spokesman announced that Regis Philbin will fill in as host of ABC's "New Year's Rockin' Eve 2005."
"It'll feel strange watching it on TV but my doctors felt it was too soon," Clark said in a statement Monday. "I'm sure Regis will do a great job, and I'm thankful he was able to step in on such short notice."
Clark suffered the stroke Dec. 6. Publicist Paul Shefrin wouldn't identify the hospital or say if there had been any paralysis.
"Things get a little better every day," Shefrin said. "His brain is 100 percent."
The 75-year-old entertainer, who went from hosting "American Bandstand," "Bloopers," and game shows to producing awards ceremonies, has been host of a New Year's Eve special for 32 years.
"It's the greatest 'temp job' in the world," said Philbin, cohost of the syndicated daytime talk show "Regis & Kelly."
Philbin, who will host the show from New York's Times Square, will be joined by singer Ashlee Simpson, who's hosting the West Coast part of the special.
Besides Simpson, performers include Big & Rich; Ciara; Earth, Wind & Fire; Good Charlotte; and Billy Idol.
Last male captures 'Survivor: Vanuatu'
"Survivor: Vanuatu" traveled a long and winding road to get to a showdown between two contestants who work on the nation's highway system (or did before they became media celebrities). In the end, Ohio native Chris Daugherty, 33, a highway construction worker, defeated Twila Tanner, 41, a Missourian in the highway repair business.
After episode after episode of speculation as to whether the female alliance would be able to hold together, the winner was the last man left in the game.
The votes of the "Survivor: Vanuatu" jury, cast months ago, were revealed by host Jeff Probst on CBS in a live (on the East Coast at least) reunion show.
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Barton to explore alternative lifestyle
Wherever Mischa Barton goes, lesbian subplots seem to follow. During a much-discussed run on "Once & Again," Barton's character found halting young love with Evan Rachel Wood's confused teen. In the indie feature "Lost and Delirious," Barton's character was shocked to discover that her friends played by Piper Perabo and Jessica Pare were more than just friends. Barton is expected to explore alternative lifestyle choices again in January, when Marissa Cooper finds love in unexpected places on Fox's "The O.C."
The drama's creator, Josh Schwartz, confirmed to Out.com that next month will see some unexpected changes for Barton's character, who has had emotionally distant relationships with Chris Carmack's Luke, Benjamin McKenzie's Ryan, and Nicholas Gonzalez's D.J. during the show's run.
"Marissa's at a point in her life where she's trying to find herself," Schwartz told the site.
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Anderson returns in Fox comedy
Pamela Anderson is returning to television in a comedy that has received a six-episode commitment from Fox -- even though the pilot script isn't finished.
Fox took the unusual step of picking up the show sight unseen to end a bidding fight with ABC, the showbiz trade papers report. The concept has Anderson as a former bad girl trying to shake off her habit of falling for the wrong kinds of guys.
Steven Levitan ("Just Shoot Me") is writing the yet-to-be-finished pilot script and will serve as an executive producer on the 20th Century Fox TV show.
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Globe on NECN
Here's what's happening on "Around the Globe" today on NECN:
12:30 p.m.: "Globe at Home" -- Classical music writer Richard Dyer and Joel Cohen, music director for the Boston Camerata, talk about "A Mediterranean Christmas."
4 p.m.: "Around the Globe"
6:30 p.m.: "New England Business Day"
8 p.m.: "NewsNight"
Schedule is subject to change.
Talk of the dial
7 p.m. WUMB-FM (91.9) -- "A Taste Of Chanukah." Guests: Morton Shames, cantor; Chasia Segal, humorist; guests demonstrate how to make potato latkes.
Other radio highlights
9 a.m. WCRB-FM (102.5) -- Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 22; Haydn's Symphony No. 95.
