IAmATVJunkie.com is a Torchwood Spoiler Free Zone Until July 20

Chris Noth Leaves "Big" Spot For Jeff Goldblum to Fill on Criminal Intent

No more Chris Noth on Law & Order: CI, he's gone.

Nellie at THR.com reports that he's being replaced by Jeff Goldblum, who did some police work for NBC last season on Raines before it went the way of (fill in name of show you miss).

Noth, btw, is doing Speed the Plow in London with Kevin Spacey.

In Spacey news, he's wondering why the BBC keeps doing 13-week commercials for West End musicals disguised as reality shows but nothing for the schedule at his Old Vic Theatre.

You know why, Kevin? Because people like musicals and Long Day's Journey Into Night should never have a reality show component to it. Eugene O'Neill would spin like a top in his grave.

"Big" is In, Sex Ready to Go

And I should have a job writing headlines for a living.

Hollywood Reporter:

Carrie Bradshaw and Mr. Big's happily ever after (or lack thereof) will play out on the big screen.

After weeks of speculation, Chris Noth has closed a deal to reprise his iconic character from "Sex and the City" in the upcoming feature based on the hit HBO series.

Man, I just wish they would finish making the thing and get it out there so that everybody can be disappointed in it and dismiss it out of hand, already. I'm tired of hearing about it.

Also, I would much rather see Christina Aguilera play Samantha as a drag queen than see Kim Catrall. Wouldn't you?

(There's some quick pics of Christina tacked onto the front of this sketch, but then you'll see it, just chill, my guys and gals.)

LINK

"Yeah, puns!"

Law & Order: Criminal Intent Stars Balk at No Raise

Here's the bit from the Hollywood Reporter article on this I didn't know:

Series cast members normally receive a 5% salary bump every year, which could be higher for stars on established shows. Studios have been pushing to make that standard raise tied to the show's license fee increase, which generally is lower. In the case of "CI," producers face new economic realities of producing a high-production-value drama with marquee stars on a cable budget because the series has been moved from NBC -- where it aired for six seasons -- to USA Network, with a second window on NBC.

So, what we're talking about is a five percent increase that doesn't seem to be written into contracts that was just assumed previously. Well, that just sounds like something that I would want to get in writing from the get-go.

I've never really understood lead actor contracts anyway. If they've negotiated a particular salary, how do they manage to renegotiate before that contract is up? Could you imagine if you tried that at your work?

Plus, the ratings aren't the strong numbers they once were for NBC, and about the move to USA, doesn't it automatically make the show the most expensive one of the cable network?

Don't get me wrong, I'm all for wealth distribution. This situation just seems frought with peril.

Ratings -- There is No Accounting for Taste in These United States

And what is it that we learn from last night's overnight ratings, boys and girls ...

• Older people just couldn't follow the many storylines and characters in Heroes, and more than likely never will.

• Joey Fatone, despite anything you want to say about his constant mugging for the camera and his need to be loved by millions, is an entertainer who draws an audience. I actually watched a few minutes of this last night, and like I have said before, it's not something that I'm thrilled about, but it is a very watchable show with the exception of the moment when Bruno gives someone a "10."
• Lance Bass, who, btw, is doing a music-themed reality show with Logo, has absolutely nothing else to do on Monday and Tuesday nights.
• Some people will watch six epsiodes of Two and a Half Men in a row, no matter what the rest of the country is doing.

• NBC was probably right to push Law & Order: Criminal Intent off onto USA for its first run. It just doesn't have the power it once did.
• The Bachelor is still on TV. No, I swear to you it is. Look, it actually came on last night after Dancing ... and lotsa people watched it. No, I have no idea why. Yes, it will be a quandry that I live with to my dying day.