A heavy hitter on the big screen and small, Queen Latifah is no stranger to hosting a talk show, and now she's preparing to do her thing in daytime again. Will Smith's Overbrook Entertainment has teamed up with Latifah's Flavor Unit Entertainment and Sony to bring the queen of hip hop back to daytime in 2013.

The recently announced deal was driven by Latifah's Flavor Unit co-founder Shakim Compere and Overbrook’s Miguel Melendez, who will serve as executive producers of the upcoming syndicated talker, along with Latifah and Overbrook's James Lassiter, Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith.

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“Here at Overbrook, we have known and admired Latifah for over twenty years: dating back to our music days, to her first television role on ‘The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,’ and years later when she worked with Jada on the film 'Set it Off," Melendez said. "This forum is the perfect place to showcase Latifah’s tremendous range of talents & unique ability to connect & inspire people.”

Latifah is one of many names trying to "connect" with Oprah Winfrey's former daytime fan base. She'll find the daytime market quite congested when she arrives, unless new and up and upcoming talkers like "Anderson," "The Chew," "Dr. Drew's LifeChangers," "The Revolution," "Steve Harvey" and "Katie" have already failed by the time she kicks off in 2013.

Like Katie Couric, Latifah does have and advantage over the competition: This isn't her first run as a daytime hosts. Her syndicated talker "The Queen Latifah Show" ran from September 1999 until August 2001 and welcomed some of the biggest names in hip hop, while also taking on every day issues. Here's a look back at a clip about racial profiling.
 

 

Ava ... babysits?

 

When Reagan (Christina Applegate) and Chris (Will Arnett) have a romantic night away to reignite the spark in their relationship, who steps in for baby duty with Amy? That's right. It's Reagan's boss, Ava (Maya Rudolph), who ends up connecting with a single dad (guest star Jason Lee) along the way. Catch this new episode on Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET/PT on NBC.

 

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In the meantime, watch as Reagan tries to convince Chris that leaving Ava in charge is a good idea ... on their first night away from baby Amy. What do you think?

 

"Up All Night" airs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on NBC.

 

Kardashian mama and manager Kris Jenner may be part of "The Talk" crew, but she high tailed it over to "The View" and "Today" this morning to defend Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries' wedding fairytale gone wrong -- and hawk her new book, of course. Daughters Kourtney, Kimberly and Khloe are also heading to daytime soon.

Bing: Watch more clips and full episodes "Today"

 

Kris Jenner made the rounds in daytime Wednesday, Nov. 2, to promote her book "Kris Jenner ... And All Things Kardashian," but it was all about Kim and Kris' 72 days of marriage and divorce.

 

On "The View," Mama Kardashian went so far as to say she wasn't there to talk about her daughter, but then went ahead and did so, even tearing up as she opened up to Barbara Walters and her co-hosts about how hard it was to go through this drama is such a public space (as she was promoting her book!). 

Bing: Watch clips and full episodes of "The View"

"It's a tough time for the family and for Kim and for everyone involved," she said. "It's really hard to go through this on such a public stage."

 

When Joy Behar asked about the blender she sent Kim and Kris as a wedding gift, Jenner laughed it off. She also sidestepped talking about the infamous engagement ring, but she did answer the big money question.

Jenner admitted there was a lot of wedding-related money coming in for the clan, especially for the E! wedding special, but reminded the hosts of how lavish the affair was. She was also quick to remind viewers that just because you see a number or factoid in print or online, doesn't mean it's true.

 

"Kim definitely made money [but] when it was all said and done, Kim had to pay a lot of money," Jenner told them. "The money that she made went to the wedding. She still owed money to make her fairy tale dream come true. 

 

"Did they net or gross any amount of money?" Jenner added. "Absolutely not." 

On "Today" (interview posted above), however, Jenner caught herself as she was saying "we" didn't profit from the fairy tale wedding and pics, saying instead that "they" didn't profit. Hmm...

 

Jenner kept her cool during her visit to the NBC talker, sharing some of the same sounds bites about the money and her support of and advice to her daughter. She also spoke to the backlash over the breakup. 

 

"It makes me feel sad that some people are reacting that way," Jenner told "Today." "Certainly wasn't a sham. Certainly wasn't for TV. We have enough going on on our show that we don't have to make things up. She felt she was in love with him. It was an amazing time... I had no idea there was a problem, at the time. It saddens all of us."

Kim, herself, is set to visit to "The View" on Wednesday, Nov. 16, along with sisters Kourtney and Kimberly. The girls will presumably be promoting the newest Kardashian spin off, "Kourtney and Kim Take New York."

MSN TV hopes they stick to talking about that, or anything but the wedding disaster. Thus far, the media blitz seems to support allegations that, whether or not the Kardashian/Humphries​ marriage and breakup were a scam, the announcement was timed for Jenner's promotional tour and, well, it's enough already.

"The View" airs weekdays on ABC. "Today" airs weekdays on NBC.

 

Since news broke that Regis Philbin was leaving "Live! With Regis and Kelly," there has been plenty of speculation about who will replace him, but the time for speculation is coming to an end. After 28 years as host, Reege's final day is Friday, Nov. 18, and Jerry Seinfeld is the first guest host lined up for the temporarily renamed "Live! With Kelly." 

 

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"Jerry is a great friend of ours, and a friend of Kelly's, and it doesn't hurt that he's an entertainment icon," executive producer Michael Gelman said in a statement. "It's a great way to kick off the new beginning of our show."

Fans may recall the revolving door of hosts after Kathie Lee Gifford's 2000 exit, which ended when "All My Children" alumna Ripa was permanently given her seat. In that same vein, Regis' name will be removed from the show title as the show tries out a stream of new co-hosts. Front-runners for the new "Live! With Kelly and ____" have been her hubby, Mark Consuelos, Bravo host Andy Cohen and Ryan Seacrest. But word is it's still anybody's game.

 

While Ripa tests out her chemistry with a stream of Hollywood men, daytime fans can also expect some shakeups to the show, which will be tweaked to match her style. 

Bing: More about Kelly Ripa

As the first "Live!" post-Regis co-host, Seinfeld will sit down Monday, Nov. 21, through Wednesday, Nov. 23, to chat with guests Jason Segel, Kim Cattrall, Howie Mandel, "Naked Chef" Jamie Oliver and the one and only Miss Piggy.

Then, it's on to the next. The search for a permanent successor will continue ...

"Live!" airs weekdays in syndication.

 

 

Many "General Hospital" fans see Dante and Lulu as a match made in heaven, and Dante can't wait to share the news of their secret engagement. Lulu, however, may not be able to get past her fears to make the big announcement, let alone make it to the altar. Julie Berman talks to MSN TV about her character's commitment issues, whether or not Lulu and Dante can get past them and her own dream for a fabulous Port Charles wedding.

Bing: Watch clips and episodes of 'General Hospital'

MSN TV: Sonny's bon voyage dinner for Kristina seems an ideal time for Lulu and Dante to announce their engagement, but Lulu is getting more and more nervous about the whole thing: What's going on with her?

Julie Berman: She loves him, but she's not sure she wants to marry him, because of his career and her fear of completely investing in someone she can lose. Then that falls into her other problem with marriage, as an institution itself. She's grown up with a lot of questions about marriage and whether it's really special, really means anything or is necessary.

Obviously, relationships in Port Charles don't last, so she's right to feel skeptical, but deep down in her heart, she would love to get married and have it last forever. There are a lot of things she needs to accept, including the potential for things to not end happily ever after, and that's hard for her.

Did Lulu's chat with Sonny send her over the edge?

In all honesty, he of all people honed in on what was going on and called her out on it. She spoke with Maxie about her fears, but it was very vague. She didn't want Sonny to be the one to give her advice, but a lot of what he said is exactly what she's thinking. If she's too afraid to get married, she should end this now and not drag it out any longer.

What will it take for her to move forward?

Lulu and Dante have no idea. That's the problem. There's the option that Dante takes a desk job, so she feels he's a bit safer, but Dante might start to resent Lulu for the rest of his life. It's a tricky situation, and it's also not easy to talk about as a couple. The question of "How much do you love me?" comes up, [but] that's not what it's about. Personally, I think it's about accepting that life is going to deal you cards and you've got to let the chips fall where they may, but it takes time to accept something like that, because it's not how she's wired.

The Spencers are, however, wired for addiction, and Lulu has been turning to alcohol a lot lately…

I don't think they've been very subtle with that idea. (laughs) It seems to be an easy check out for her when things get a little overwhelming, especially with all the confusing feelings she has right now over her relationship. The alcohol is just a quick fix. She doesn't think there's a major problem with it, but it's not normal for her, so she's being a little secretive about it.

Which sounds like a problem in the making: How do you feel about possibly playing an alcoholism story down the line?

I always love playing that kind of stuff. The only thing I worry about is how it will be executed. We've seen this alcoholism story many times, with many characters. I would hate for it to be an obvious, repetitive beat. I would love to play it if it was compelling and a little different than what we've seen before.

Would you like to see Lulu overcome her fears and get to the altar?

That would be awesome. I would love to have a huge wedding, because it would be cool to say, "Yep, I had my soap opera wedding." That's a goal I hope I get to attain, but these days, you never know what's going to happen with the future of soap operas. My time might run out.

Does that sentiment change the way you approach story?

No, no. I think about that, but when I go to work, I'm doing the work like every day is my last day, and that's how it's been since I started. There's a big level of commitment to every script I get: whether I feel I have 20 years of two days, I'm committed to making everything wonderful.

What can you tell us about the new rumors about you're leaving the show?

I don't even know how these rumors start. My first thought is, "Who is the person that comes up with this stuff and what joy does it bring to them?" So no, I'm not leaving. I'm still on the show and I'm very happy. I've always enjoyed working on the show, and we have a great cast right now. It makes it fun to go to work.

Back when you first came to "General Hospital," did anyone take you under their wing?

Not really. I was pretty comfortable, right out of the gate. I didn't need a lot of hands on guidance. Some of [the newer cast members] get it and it almost screws them up, so I'm happy I didn't have that. Over time… I do have those kinds of people at my disposal now. I can go to Tony (Geary), Jane (Elliot) and Laura Wright. They have worked in this medium for a long time, and I value their opinions. They're people I love and value a lot in my life.

Before we let you go, fans are dying to know when you and Dominic Zamprogna (Dante) will have an event. Anything on the agenda?

We don't have anything set. We've talked about it, and truly, it's difficult. My lifestyle is becoming a bit more overwhelming and crazy, because I have this job and a [dog bed] side business, as well. It's not as easy as is used to be to pick up and schedule things in advance. I know fans are crazy about it happening, but at this point, I can't guarantee anything. That's just the way life is, unfortunately.

"General Hospital" airs weekdays on ABC.
 

Catching a predator is awesome. Publicly humiliating him may be actionable.

According to this report in The Hollywood Reporter, a federal judge in California has refused to dismiss a lawsuit filed against NBC by Anurag Tiwari, a former Sun Microsystems engineer who claims that being ensnared on a 2006 episode of the show violated his rights to privacy and inflicted undue emotional distress.

"To Catch a Predator" traps alleged child molesters by working with members of a watchdog group who -- posing as minors online -- lure suspected pedophiles to a house for sexual activity. Once the suspects arrive, Chris Hansen pokes his head out of a back room to ask what they're doing. Police arrest the suspects as they exit.

NBC claims that these events are news stories, and that the First Amendment allows news stories to be broadcast with impunity.

That may not be so, according to U.S. District Court judge Edward Chen, who ruled last week that it "was not necessary" for cops to wait until after the Hansen confrontation to arrest Tiwari or to arrest him "in a sensational way," or for NBC to film Tiwari -- who was nabbed in Petaluma, Calif. -- being cuffed and questioned.

If the suit succeeds, it could jeopardize the format of the show.

The judge did, however, reject a portion of Tiwari's suit claiming defamation -- on the grounds that he was engaged in an apparent felony. (Eventually, he was convicted of a misdemeanor, which was reduced to an infraction as part of a plea deal in exchange for dropping his appeal.)

No trial date has been announced.

 

 

"I don't know if I want to live, or if I have to, or if it's just a habit." – Andrea

It's inevitable that in the world of "The Walking Dead", everyone will have to confront the issue not such of whether they want to live, but how they want to live. How many of the rules, ethics, and morals of the old pre-zombie world do you carry over and cling to in the current one? How many of them are even feasible? And most important, which ones are the ones that make us humans worth surviving in the first place?

 

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On Sunday night, Lori grapples with the basic question of why they are fighting to keep their son alive in this environment, as she begs Rick to tell her why it isn't better to let Carl die and be spared whatever fresh horrors are in store for all of them. Meanwhile, Andrea is still struggling to find a reason to keep going after Dale's paternal instincts fail to move her to embrace life. And in the most gut-wrenching decision of the series so far this season, Shane doesn't hesitate to sacrifice Otis in order to escape back to his friends with the medical supplies.

Although it was clear from the first in media res scene with Shane in the bathroom that something unspeakable had taken place back at the high school, it was still pretty shocking to see actual deed, and the subsequent scuffle between the two men as the zombie horde closed in. Of course, the circumstances were heightened by the fact that Shane wasn't just saving himself; he was saving Carl by proxy. But this is obviously going to traumatize him for a while, and probably make him further estranged from all of the others in the group.

Most of those others are slowing making their way back to one cohesive group, with the arrival of Glenn and T-Dog at the farmhouse. The search for Sophia continued out by the traffic jam, with a deepening connection between Andrea and the now strangely charming Darryl. The interplay between these characters is a lot more enjoyable, maybe because they are all just discovering each other and don't have the shared history that Shane, Lori and Rick do. They are in the here and now, not replaying old roles and re-opening old wounds. It's enough for them to just live to see another day, and keep the best parts of themselves alive for an uncertain future.

• Why didn't Shane kill Otis outright instead of wounding him in the leg? It would have been kinder, and I'm pretty sure we've seen zombies gnawing on freshly dead people.
• I'm sure this story doesn't have time for conventional romances, but Glenn and Maggie have some sparks. So do Darryl and Andrea, if they can get past the puking.
• Carl's seizure was pretty disturbing – good job, littlest actor.
• Thanks for reading, y'all.

Are you a fan of "The Walking Dead"?  Sound off on MSN TV Facebook.

 

"The Walking Dead" airs Sundays at 9 p.m. ET/PT on AMC.