PASADENA, CA–Critics are often exposed to all manner of cold blooded creatures on the TCA press tour. It was true Wednesday at several sessions, but especially at the National Geographic Wild press conference for Wild About Snakes. A live python was brought out after the session to pose with critics. The four-year-old snake weighed around 40 pounds and besides posing with critics got some camera time with rocker Henry Rollins (a snake enthusiast) and a couple of other experts.
ESPN had a session celebrating their new series Year of the Quarterback. (It’s following their excellent “30 for 30” deal.). There was no sign of Kenny “The Snake” Stabler at the session but former 49ers QB and ESPN football analyst Steve Young was there, along with favourite target Jerry Rice. Young offered some thoughtful answers to questions about football stars, like Brett Farvre, who stick around too long. He kinda suggested his old pal Rice might have stayhung in a year or two past his prime.
College football commentator Brent Musburger was a no-show, but ESPN sportscaster Erin Andrews made the scene, although she was barely recognizable until you squinted and pretended to check her out through curtains.
The TCA Day One evening event was hosted by Comcast, the cable giant that is taking control of NBC Universal. President and CEO Ted Harbert looked pleased to be heading back to New York to run the business end of NBC and stated he was a big Jimmy Fallon fan. Harbert’s old squeeze, Chelsey Handler, seemed kind of stand offish as she accepted praise for her book “A Horizontal Life” and the return, in Canada, of her late night talk show Chelsey Lately.
Red carpet watchers Joan and Melissa Rivers hinted they might be making a surprise return to The Apprentice this spring. Rivers was recently in Toronto, a favourite city
Former Hugh Hefner prop Holly Madison was in the house, as was Ryan Seacrest, who dashed and fled. Spoke with former Cosby kid Tempest Bledsoe, who would tower over the Cos these days. The six-footer hosts something called Clean House for Style.
A couple of critics who spoke with Kardashian step dad Bruce Jenner said he pretty much told the rich and famous Kardashian kids to skip college. This should not be too tough a loss for Harvard and Yale.
TOMORROW ON TOUR: Oprah gives every critic a new car as she promotes her new OWN channel.
TOMORROW ON TOUR: Oprah gives every critic a new car as she promotes her new OWN channel.
