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DWTS's Joey Fatone and Lisa Rinna The New Joan & Melissa
There is life after "Dancing with the Stars!" TV Guide Network announced today that they just signed ex *NSYNC'er and current host of NBC's "The Singing Bee", Joey Fatone, to co-host its Red Carpet programming through 2008 with Lisa Rinna.
Both stars of course hoofed it up on "DWTS" in separate turns around the ballroom dance floor. . Lisa in season two and Fatone last season. They will team up for the first time together in September for the Emmy Awards and in addition will cover the Academy Awards, Golden Globe Awards, Grammy Awards and Screen Actors Guild Awards together.
Rinna was hired to replace Joan Rivers and her daughter Melissa on Red Carpet patrol in April 2007, which had me saying hallelujah. I can't vouch for Joey's red carpet interviewing skills but Rinna is a different story. She was hired by Access Hollywood two years ago to be a special fashion correspondent first at the 2006 Golden Globes, then the Oscars and later the 2006 Emmys. Let me tell you the lady did an amazing job, which should come as no surprise considering she was nominated for a Daytime Emmy for her now cancelled talk show, "Soap Talk." She was personable, fun, funny and most importantly knew who every star was that came up to talk to her (or at least faked it really well). This is not something I can say for Joan Rivers. Being in this business where I interview celebrities practically on a daily basis, I pride myself on knowing a little bit about a lot of people. I do my homework. I study the lists of nominees so I know what they were nominated for and in what category. I know who came just to be a presenter, who came just to show support or who came as part of a nominated film or TV show. I would hope that any entertainment reporter would see this as part of their job.
When it comes to awards shows, 99 percent of the time I'm actually on the red carpet. I get to see everyone up close and personal but it all goes by in such a flash that I always Tivo the red carpet coverage on both E (Joan and Melissa's former home prior to TV Guide) and TV Guide. Yes, I'm that pathetic. I'll come home, change out of my fancy dress and heels, get in my pajamas, order a pizza and start watching all the red carpet coverage. It's so frustrating to see someone who has been doing this for decades mangle someone's name or worse, have no clue who they are. Over the last few years, Joan has butchered celebrity’s names, asked them about the wrong TV show or movie or incorrectly asked about their nomination when they were not even nominated. Everyone is entitled to their mistakes but it was getting a bit out of control. I believe both Joan and Melissa wear IFB's in their ears, a device used so that producers can talk to them during their interviews. So, there really is no excuse for asking Catherine Zeta Jones about her first Oscar nomination in 2001 when she wasn't nominated that year.
I actually used to be a huge Joan Rivers fan. I loved her talk show and even read her book, "Enter Laughing." You have to wonder what happened to that woman who was funny without being completely rude and insulting. Maybe it was all that plastic surgery. Some of her red carpet zingers used to make me laugh, now I cringe. Don't get me wrong. I love to dish and gossip about what people are wearing but I don't think you have to be mean or nasty. Here is a woman who will tell someone to their face they look beautiful and then completely bash them the second they walk away. Of course, I have no clue whether or not this is the reason TV Guide would not re-sign Joan and Melissa. They could have been happy with them and not happy with the money they were asking to re-sign. Either way I say good riddance. Let's hope Lisa and Joey do their homework.
I agree with you. I know Joan and Melissa were going for a comedic angle with not remembering and confusing people, but it got lame. And fast.
I have never been a big Joan Rivers fan, her style of comedy I never could appreciate. So I am saying this as an objected observer.
I for one was embarressed for her when she made those very obvious and awkard mistakes, and I believe her way of protecting herself from embarassment was to be mean and nasty. It is not unusual for someone her age to forget things, even things they have known for years. Short term memory is the first thing to go in alzheimer patients. So in her line of work, with all the new stars and all the new movies and t.v shows out every year, her not being able to remember may be a sign of a more serious issue. I think before we jump on the criticism wagon, we may want to think about if WE have all the correct info and if our story is straight.
Hey, I'm a Joan River's fan. Never saw the TV Guide show, too bad, was it that bad. Maybe it is because she is getting older.