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Just what we needed, more entertainment TV news

Published Wednesday, September 29, 2004 by seanlmccarthy | E-mail this post

Well, I just finished watching an episode of Pat O'Brien's new show, The Insider. Instantly I felt refreshed. Because, after all, we don't have enough half-hour entertainment "news" shows to promote all of the various movies, TV shows and CDs that are coming out each week. And I have had it with all of the fluff on Entertainment Tonight, Extra and Access Hollywood. Finally! Someone to give us the real "insider" info on Britney's "wedding." Then again, perhaps the TV people merely are trying to catch up with all of the new blogs that pop up each day, saying exactly the same thing as the blogs before them, linking us all together in one vicious circle. Argh!

Although, to be fair and balanced (hardeharhar), these infomercials probably will differ in ways other than their interchangeable hosts and correspondents. The Insider serves lord Paramount, Extra promotes Warner Bros., Access Hollywood promotes anything NBC, and Entertainment Tonight is a Paramount production. Wait. That's two Paramounts. What gives, Paramount? Too much self-promotion for one show? Apparently, since the company (a Viacom arm -- not a nipple ring, so don't get excited) calls The Insider a spin-off. Except you cannot really call it a spin-off since it's covering the same exact stories. Oh bother! You tell 'em, Pooh bear.