Satellite TV leader DirecTV is taking aim at rival Dish Network’s ad campaign again, but this time it’s not in the court room. It’s on TV via a new commercial which brings back Alex Trebek’s old game show To Tell the Truth.

In the commercial, shown below, Trebek once again hosts a panel made up of reps from DirecTV, Dish Network and one rep generically called “Cable.” Trebek asks which of the three basic television packages offers the best value. The cable rep answers, “We offer the best value in entertainment,” which gets a skeptical response from the panel. The Dish rep says that “we offer the same TV as DirecTV for less,” which the DirecTV rep asks “does the same” mean including AMC, Animal Planet, Bravo and FX.

As expected, the panel votes with DirecTV.

When asked why DirecTV has directly responded to Dish Network, Paul Guyardo, chief sales and marketing officer for DirecTV, said it was time to “change course.”

“DirecTV historically takes the high ground,” says Guyardo. “But we felt we’d gotten to a point where there was so much misleading advertising in the marketplace that we had to set the record straight.”

Last month DirecTV sued Dish Network over its “Why pay more?” ad campaign, which claimed it offers the “same programming” as DirecTV. Bryan Kraft, senior analyst at Cross Research in Livingston, N.J., said those ads had bitten in to DirecTV’s market share. “That’s the big reason they’re doing it,” said Kraft. “They let those ads stay out there for a while to see what impact they’d have, and they did have one.”

The complaint alleges that Dish Network is making an “apples and oranges” comparison between DirecTV’s “Choice Xtra” package and Dish Network’s “America’s Top 120″ package.
In the lawsuit, DirecTV claims its package has more channels and several popular channels that aren’t on the “America’s Top 120″ package.

A couple of weeks ago, Nip/Tuck ended on FX, culminating in its 100^th episode being its last.  It had a great run and for anyone who was a fan, it was definitely one with many twists and turns.  While I thought it was a slightly strange final episode, it was a perfect ending for what was truly a unique series.  It was really the first show in recent memory that pushed the TV-MA rating, showing sex and allowing swear words.  Also, the change of venues from Miami to Los Angeles helped the series to stay afloat for a couple of years while writers figured out how to tie up the series.

The trademark “tell me what you don’t like about yourself” was not only a question asked by Drs. McNamara and Troy to their clients, but also to the viewers as well.  It seemed like each episode resonated with me on some sort of personal level, no matter how extreme it was.  Sure each episode of every show has some sort of theme, but rarely does it have a theme related to the morality of a person and also is channeled in an entertaining way.  The title is so fitting, they were always nipping and tucking not only their client’s looks, but also their own lives.

Two best buddies who went into business together of making people feel better about themselves—sounds like everyone’s dream job.  To work with your friend, make lots of money, hook up with the hottest women in the city.  But were they really happy?  The show delved into their feelings for one another and while they had everything, at the same time they had an emptiness inside of them.  Christian never really had a great relationship with any woman due to his playboy lifestyle and his own self-loathing.  Sean was married to Julia but resented her for caring for their children.  Sure he loved her but Julia periodically messed around with Christian, giving rise to sexual tension.  Christian always wanted what Sean had and was unbelievably selfish.  In S&M, there’s always a dominant and a submissive and in this case, Christian was the dominant.

The show also goes into the complexities of modern day life.  The definition of “family” has gone from a husband, wife and two kids to men and women having out-of-wedlock children and cheating on each other.  That’s just the sign of the times and the show encompassed that perfectly.  Matt, which ultimately was Christian’s son with Julia, was a total loser right from birth and showed that he would never change.  Kimber, Christian’s on and off again wife, was a porn star desperate for any attention and was the definition of trailer trash.  No matter what events transpired in any of the characters’ lives, they always reverted to who they were.  Beneath all the plastic surgery and the “I’m going to change” claims, you always knew that in the end, it was all about themselves and finding the right result to suit their needs.  No matter how much they “nipped and tucked” it didn’t matter because the crux of a person is everlasting.

The show was so screwed up at times which was part of the reason why it was so addicting.  You knew that at the end of each episode there would be a twist and an a-hole move pulled by someone.  It was a truly ingenious show and one that will be missed by many.  That being said, the first episode of Justified aired the other day and it could be the next hit for FX.

Most television viewers aren’t aware of a rather huge battle that is going on Washington.  It’s one of those back page stories in the newspapers that we might glance at but really don’t read.  On one side sits the television broadcasters and on the other FCC.  Both are fighting on a portion of the wireless spectrum that is up for grabs.  The FCC’s new National Broadband Plan was introduced, shrinking the overall domestic spectrum by about 40%.  While the spectrum is mostly for cell phone use, there is about 300 MHz of spectrum that has been set aside for over-the-air broadcast.

I know what you’re saying, that most people don’t watch over-the-air broadcasts anymore.  But still, some part of the spectrum is better than none at all.  Besides, over-the-air is the magic F word…free.  Plus, who knows what type of technology might evolve in the next few years that could potentially utilize that part.  The FCC at last count says that only 10% of the population still watches over-the-air programming.  What’s even crazier is that only about 36 MHz of the spectrum is used in a typical broadcast for a market of less than a million viewers.  So that gives rise to a difference of over 250 MHz that is going unused.

Of course television broadcasters are far from thrilled about the implications.  It could mean a loss of channels for some, especially in remote areas and smaller markets.  It could also mean better cell phone coverage for some.  Even though it is only a 10% market share, companies can always use the extra market in order to gain a leg up on the competitors.  The FCC is offering incentive programs for voluntary recues of spectrum, but I’m sure that unless forced, companies will not give up what they think is theirs.

A couple weeks ago we told you about Craig Ferguson’s homage to Tom Snyder which included taping the entire episode of The Late Late Show sans an audience. But, according to Radar Online, it had nothing to do with Tom Snyder, but more to do with saving some money. Their inside source claims, “They have 100 seats, of which 10 are reserved for house guests, and 30-40 members are through requests for tickets. The rest of the seats, about 50-60, are each paid for by the show. At around $20 per person, that’s almost $1,000 per hour-long taping, which is one expensive laugh machine.”

Its actually not uncommon to pay audience members. Chelsey lately, The Newly Wed Show, and many other shows pay some audience members so they can fill every seat for every taping. The pay is usually a flat rate of $50. Though these shows do have free seats available, they pay to fill the remaining spots.

Most paid audience members are actors registered with casting companies and are booked through those companies, but some are hired via Craig’s List or other websites, like On Set Productions. Everyday Craig’s List has dozens of listings for paid audience members posted under “talent” in Los Angeles. Most listing don’t give out the show names because the idea of paying audience members is still taboo, but nearly all of them are popular talk or game shows.

You can get free tickets to Craig’s show via his website too.

The first image of Betty White and her co-stars from the new sitcom, Hot In Cleveland, have hit the web, reinforcing the comedienne’s current reign as the queen of pop culture.

TV Land announced yesterday that the former Golden Girls actress had signed on to Hot in Cleveland, which is expected to premiere in June. She’ll be playing the snarky yet adorable Elka Ostrovsky, who works as a property caretaker of the home being rented by three L.A. women of a certain age.

“The talented Betty White is the finishing touch to this outstanding sitcom ensemble,” TV Land president Larry W. Jones said in a statement. “Betty’s illustrious career spans more than 60 years and makes her one of Hollywood’s most iconic and sought after actresses in television today. Her lively role as Elka in Hot in Cleveland is what viewers love to see from her – an amazing sense of timing and fantastic comedy genius. We are confident audiences will love her in this project, TV Land’s first foray into scripted television.”

The sitcom also stars three other TV veterans, Valerie Bertinelli, Jane Leeves and Wendie Malick.

Last night, White appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno where the actress, who is always a good sport, “showered” with Hugh Jackman for the show’s opening. You can check out the skit int he video below (along with Jimmy Kimmel and David Letterman discussing their role in Jay’s return to The Tonight Show).

Charlie Sheen has returned to work on Two and a Half Men after a brief stint in rehab.

Reps for the show and Sheen said that he returned to the set Tuesday to resume production on the sitcom’s final four episodes of the season. The network ordered a total of 24 episodes.

Production on the show, which is TV’s #1 sitcom, was suspended for three weeks when the actor announced he was entering rehab as a “preventive measure.” It is still unknown where he did his rehab or what exactly it involved.

Sheen’s time off did not greatly affect the show’s production schedule, as CBS already had three episodes completed at the time of his announcement and they were scheduled to have a week off in March anyway so there was a minimal impact on the rest of the cast and crew.

On Monday, Sheen pleaded not guilty to domestic violence charges stemming from his Christmas Day arrest. He will return to court July 21.

President Barack Obama will appear on Fox News in an attempt to rally last-minute support for the health care reform bill.

Special Report’s Bret Baier will sit down with Obama tonight at 6 pm for an interview regarding health care. After the interview, a panel will analyze Obama’s responses.

Obama has been criticized for avoiding the notoriously conservative network in the past, and it may be for good reason. In a nationwide poll of those who said Fox News was the network they watched most for information about politics, 79 percent said they disapproved of how the president is handling his job overall, and 86 percent said they disapproved of how he is handling health care specifically.

In the same poll, 72 percent of Fox viewers said that the president is spending too much time on changing the health care system and 69 percent said the US can’t afford to fix its health care system now. While most Fox viewers, 59 percent, described themselves as conservatives.

“We welcome the opportunity,” Baier wrote on his blog. “We’re going to try to really get some specifics from President Obama on a number of different topics.”

Obama has made appearances on the channel in the past, including a highly publicized interview with Bill O’Reilly just before the 2008 presidential election.

The House of Representatives is expected to vote on the health care bill later this week.

All I can say is, it’s about time.  DirecTV and Comcast have finally reconciled one of their differences, finally allowing the Versus network to air once again on DirecTV.  The feed will began today, maybe even in time to catch the NHL hockey game.  While the terms of the deal weren’t disclosed, to me it doesn’t really matter.  After all the U.S. versus Canada post-Olympics hype, viewers were clamoring for more hockey.  But with only one nationally televised game each week on NBC, you were relegated to watch your local team, if you were fortunate to live near one of the the 30 NHL teams.

But for die-hard fans like myself, the Monday night game (sometimes double headers as the playoff race nears and even games on Tuesday) acts like a NFL Monday night knockoff.  Sure it falls far below the ramifications since I don’t have an NHL fantasy team, but I do enjoy watching the greats in the sport compete.  To block off one of the four major sports in North America was sacrilege.  Of course there is a catch that DirecTV subscribers have to have a certain level package in order to receive Versus.

The potential revenue that the NHL presents might be one reason why DirecTV finally decided to pony up the cash.  The other reason would be the first live UFC event on the channel.  MMA is blowing up these days, leaving traditional boxing in the dust.  That is a huge moneymaker since each major fight entails lots of money being exchanged (as in betting).  I am extremely glad for those subscribers who have stuck with DirecTV and waited them out for this.

Guy Fieri, who hosts the  Food Network shows, Guy’s Big Bite and Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, is known for his enthusiasm on the road and in the kitchen.

And that zest for life is exactly what makes him a perfect fit for his new gig, Minute to Win It, which debuted last night on NBC. On the show, Fieri hosts contestants who perform seemingly simple, but actually difficult,  tasks within one minute. “I really have to keep it in check. There are moments where I want to run right out there and put the ball in the thing for them or yell, ‘Try your left hand!’” says Fieri.

But, Fieri also explains that its worth the stress because  he always wanted to host a talk show.  “I think anyone that grew up in the ’70s and ’80s grew up with Bob Barker and Wink Martindale and I think that was just always … when you were a game show host, you were the man of the hour,” Guy told TV Guide. “I never in a million years would have believed this is the opportunity that I got, but knowing my personality, knowing my attitude and knowing my energy, I can’t believe it’s not one of the first things I ever did … To be on the Food Network and then to get a call from NBC and get this opportunity has just been monumental, and especially a game show that fits me so well.”

Fieri also thinks his new show will hold up against other classic game shows.  “The one we most recently have in our mind and that had such a great host was Deal or No Deal. Howie Mandel is the real deal. For me, coming off the heels of that and knowing that some of the players from that team are now on the team for Minute to Win It, I think it’s going to rock. I think it’s going to become cultural. I think people are really going to embrace it … For instance, my restaurant, Tex Wasabi’s, we have a whole Minute to Win It challenge going on on Sundays already. The show hasn’t even aired and they’re already doing challenges where people are coming and participating. I think it’s going to take over.”
Guy added that ti was a combination of things that keep him in interested in the show. “It’s a combination of everything. The live audience and contestants that have a chance to win a million bucks is just an overwhelming feeling … I think the common denominator of all my shows, particularly Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives and Minute to Win It, is these people. Whenever you get to change somebody’s life or watch it and see it happen, it’s amazing. These aren’t Rhode Scholars, these aren’t world class athletes, these are just all-American folks living the all-American dream, coming out to participate and game and maybe walk away with a million bucks. To be the facilitator or portal of that is my kind of game.”

You can catch Guy on Minute To Win It on NBC Sunday at 7 pm.

Sunday night, the cast of Glee met with 2000 fans during the closing night of the PaleyFest in Beverly Hills, and not only did fans get to participate in a Q & A, they also got a sneak peek at “Hello,” the next episode set to air April 13.

Here’s are just a few of the secrets the show’s creator and cast spilled during the panel:

Ryan Murphy, the show’s creator said that Puck and Rachel will reunite.”Yes, they will get back together. But the great thing about Puck is he’s a bad boy, so he has an affair with almost every girl on the show.”

They’re going to be performing some Lady Gaga on the show! “We’re doing an episode that’s a tribute to theatricality. We reached out to Lady Gaga and she said, ‘Yes, I’d love to be a part of it.’ So we will be doing Lady Gaga this season,” said Murphy.

Jane Lynch will be voguing! “I’ve worked with Madonna before,” Murphy explained. “I admire her greatly and I’m friends with her a little bit socially. I called her up and wrote her a letter and said we want to write up a tribute to you, and she said yes and she cooperated in every way possible. We do 10 songs altogether. Jane is going to do ‘Vogue.’”

And, as if we didn’t already know, Neal Patrick Harris is awesome. “We’re filming right now with him and Joss Whedon. He plays a high school rival of mine,” said Mathew Morrison. “Two years older than me. He got all the girls and the good songs. He’s on the school board and trying to take down the glee club. We have two duets, Aerosmith and Billy Joel.”