Longoria Shops. And Shops. And Shops Some More

Talk about your shopping sprees! Although a marathon shop like the one Eva Longoria did Wednesday 26 April 2006 may just be how “the other half” lives. She spent a few hours yesterday shopping for dresses at Harmony Boutique in Beverly Hills that she could wear to the NBA Playoffs and was also shopping for spring essential items like t-shirts and light weight pants. Longoria accessorized the clothing with gemstone earrings and necklaces.

1. Tricia Fix dress $264

2. Sweeties Dress with attached Belt $129

3. Dress by Tart with Turquoise on strap $159

4. Brooch dress by Karen Zambos $339

5. Studded top by Plenty $89

6. V-neck top with gold buttons by Tart $69

7. Shawl Wrap by Fifi Tee in White $105

8. Linq V-Neck Tee (3 colors) $68/each $204.00 total

9. Linq Tank Top (4 colors) $58/each $232.00 total

10. Augustine Blue Everyday Jacket $159

11. Gilber Gilmore Pants (3 colors) $219/each $657.00 total

12. James Top by NAO designs $160

13. Black and Gold Polka dot dress by Voom $239

13. Linq Skirt (2 colors) $128/each $256.00 total

14. Robyn Rhodes Scarlett Large Green Quartz Necklace $138

15. Robyn Rhodes Traci Blue mother of Pearl Square Necklace $206

16. Robyn Rhodes Liz Blue Chalcedony within a hoop earring $110

17. Robyn Rhodes Jessica Pink Chalcedony Double Hoop Earring $90

18. Robyn Rhodes Felice Coral hoop earrings $156

Longoria on Oprah

On April 28, 2006, Eva Longoria was on The Oprah Winfrey Show. The topic of the show was Flattering Clothes for all Figures.

Longoria said, “The best pair of jeans any woman can own is J&Company. They lift your butt, they suck in all the fat and they are stylish because they have embroidery and they custom make jeans with numbers on the back pocket. I have number 9 for Tony. They are just great. They are slimming to any figure.”

Longoria owns over 50 pairs of jeans from J&Company, at both her Los Angeles and her Txas Home. She recently purchased jeans for Tony, Ken Paves (hair dresser and Jessica Simpson's "main gay") and Jessica Simpson! "Gabrielle" also wears J&Company's Beverly jeans on Desperate Housewives.

Starlets love Jeweler Martin Katz!

Gabrielle Union (left) wore Martin Katz jewelry at two event: the Barneys New York and Nina Ricci Dinner and Fashion Show to Benefit the Rape Foundation and the US Weekly Hot Hollywood Awards on April 26, 2006: Sapphire drop earrings 5 carat each micro set in platinum with sapphire borders - $49,000.00, Sapphire and diamond line bracelet set in platinum 20 carats each - $69,000.00.

Also at the US Weekly show, Jaime Lynn Siegler (above right) wore Martin Katz jewelry: 4ct each pear shape diamond drop earrings - $210,000.00; Yellow gold and diamond bangle - $25,000.00

Elisha Cuthbert (above, center) also wore Martin Katz jewelry to the Barneys New York and Nina Ricci Dinner and Fashion Show to Benefit the Rape Foundation – April 26, 2006 in Beverly Hills: Diamond “slice” earrings, with two flat diamonds that weigh 26 carats total and framed with 600 micro-set diamonds - $65,000; Two diamond and platinum baguette bracelets 3.5 carats each - $7,500 each

Pickler Not Picked on Idol

By ERIN CARLSON, Associated Press Writer

America: Simon got it wrong. Though judge Simon Cowell recently predicted she would be among the final three singers left standing on "American Idol," Kellie Pickler became the latest victim in Wednesday's viewer voting.

The 19-year-old North Carolina native's goodbye slimmed the number of "Idol" contestants to five. The winner will be named May 25, 2006.

Cowell, who once called the bubbly blonde a "naughty little minx," said on Tuesday's program that her rendition of the Righteous Brothers classic "Unchained Melody" was "bland."

"You were like a robot," he said.

In a surprise, typically lenient judge Paula Abdul also offered tough criticism: "I don't see you raising the bar each week. At this point it was about greatness, and I didn't see that in you."

Paris Bennett, 17, had the next-lowest vote total despite good reviews from judges for her soulful take on "The Way We Were."

Wednesday's elimination show featured a performance by guest coach Andrea Bocelli, who sang "Because We Believe" from his latest album, "Amore."

Nearly four years since its debut, "Idol" continues to rule the ratings. It has attracted 25 million to 33 million viewers each telecast this season.

Host Ryan Seacrest said on Wednesday's program that viewers called in nearly 48 million votes.

30 Years of Flyin’ Like An Eagle

On June 27, 2006 Capitol Records will release 30th Anniversary Edition Fly Like An Eagle by the Steve Miller Band. Fly Like An Eagle is one of the seminal rock albums of the 1970’s and, thirty years hence, its hits are still staples at classic rock radio. The original album has been re-mastered for the CD and is presented in 5.1 Surround Sound on the accompanying DVD.

“With the Surround Sound mix, people will finally hear the album the way I originally intended it to be heard,” says Miller, noting that it was originally recorded for quadraphonic sound systems. The DVD also contains an exclusive interview with Miller on the making of the record and a two-hour concert.

Filmed in September 2005 at Shoreline Amphitheater in Mountain View, CA, the concert footage was taken straight from the live recording made for the giant screen close-ups the night of the show. The result is an undoctored snapshot of the current day Steve Miller Band. Highlights include a 20-minute version of “Fly Like An Eagle” with guest guitarist Joe Satriani and appearances by George Thorogood, Paraguayan gypsy fiddler/harpist Carlos Reyes and classical composer Nolan Gasser, who accompanied Miller on piano for the Nat King Cole classic “Nature Boy.”

To celebrate the release of this remarkable collectible package, which also features three previously unreleased bonus tracks, the Steve Miller Band will be launching a tour on May 25, 2006 in Sonoma, CA that will keep them on the road into November.

“We just love to play,” says Miller. “This tour will be a blend of everything – we’ll do our greatest hits, some acoustic stuff and we’ll also be mixing in a lot of jazz and blues.”

After the success of 1973’s The Joker, the Steve Miller Band’s first Platinum album, Miller took some time off and retreated to a home he had purchased on a remote hilltop in Marin County, outside Novato, CA, where he built a recording studio. It was there that he spent months scrupulously overdubbing Fly Like An Eagle and its successor, Book of Dreams. (The albums had been recorded at CBS Studios in San Francisco.)

Originally released in May of 1976 against the backdrop of America’s bi-centennial celebration, Fly Like An Eagle proved to be a career-defining album for the Steve Miller Band. “Steve Miller had started to essay his classic sound with The Joker, but 1976's Fly Like an Eagle is where he took flight, creating his definitive slice of space blues,” says allmusic.com critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine. With over four million albums sold to date, Fly Like An Eagle is the Steve Miller Band’s biggest-selling studio album. It spent nearly two years on the Billboard 200, peaking at #3 and yielding the Top 40 singles “Rock ’N Me,” which was the band’s second #1 single (following 1973’s “The Joker”), the title track, which reached #2 on the pop charts and #20 on the R&B charts, and “Take the Money and Run,” which peaked at #11.

The three bonus tracks on the CD provide a revealing glimpse at the evolution of these songs, including an early, bluesy demo of “Fly Like An Eagle,” recorded in 1973, a slow version of “Rock’n Me,” recorded in 1976, and an acoustic version of “Take the Money and Run” sung over an early version of “The Joker.” These “draft” versions offer clear insight into Miller’s creative process and are the first fruits of archival work by former Steve Miller Band guitarist Dave Denny. Denny’s task is an ambitious one for, as the DVD’s compelling concert footage demonstrates, Miller is not an artist content to merely replicate his hits – through the decades, he and his band have continually experimented with the material, taking the songs to new heights.

Initially a fixture in San Francisco's "Summer of Love" scene as leader of the Steve Miller Band, the Texas-bred singer, songwriter and guitarist used his blues/rock roots to transcend the psychedelic trend and develop his own enduring sound. In the ensuing decades, Miller has toured consistently and seen his songs covered by artists as diverse as Smashing Pumpkins, deftones, Seal, Run-D.M.C. and k.d. lang. The band’s Greatest Hits 1974-1978 has been certified 13-times Platinum. Cumulatively, the Steve Miller Band has sold 23.5 million records total since its 1968 Capitol debut, Children of the Future.

Upcoming tour dates are as follows:

Steve Miller Band – 2006 Tour Dates

5/25 Sonoma, CA Sonoma Jazz Plus, Field of Dreams Park
6/24 Murphys, CA Ironstone Amphitheatre
7/8 Muskegon, MI Muskegon Summer Celebration, Heritage Park Landing
7/10 Lansing, MI Common Ground Festival, Adado Riverfront Park,
7/12 Walker, MN Moondance Jam 15, Hwy. 200 & Onigum Rd.
7/14 Costa Mesa, CA Orange County Fair & Expo, Pacific Amphitheatre
7/18 Highland Park, IL Ravinia Festival, Pavilion
7/21 Cheyenne, WY Cheyenne Frontier Days
7/22 Minot, ND North Dakota State Fair, Main Grandstand
8/3 Paso Robles, CA California Mid-State Fair
8/7 Sturgis, SD Rock’N The Rally, Glencoe Camp Resort
8/17 Danbury, CT Ives Concert Park
8/18 Augusta, ME Augusta Civic Center
8/19 Hyannis, MA Cape Code Melody Tent
8/20 Gilford, NH Meadowbrook Farm
8/23 Vienna, VA Wolf Trap/The Filene Center
8/25 & 26 Boston, MA Bank of America Pavilion
8/28 St. Paul, MN Minnesota State Fair
9/2 Kelseyville, CA Konocti Harbor
9/3 Salem, OR Oregon State Fair
9/16 Pierre, SD Vietnam Vet’s Festival
9/17 Hutchinson, KS Kansas State Fair
9/29 Selma, TX Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
9/30 Houston, TX Cynthia Woods Pavilion
11/4 Phoenix, AZ Arizona State Fair

Additional dates to be announced.

Modern Girls' Life Lessons

As the television version of your big sister, Style Network’s “Modern Girl’s Guide to Life” is the ultimate 30-minute cheat sheet for today’s woman. From the short-hand guide to planning the perfect wedding, to assembling a well-stocked toolbox, “Modern Girl’s Guide to Life” has done the research and can show you how!

Author and trend expert Jane Buckingham, along with fellow ‘Modern Girls’ Eva La Rue, Claudia Jordan and Jess Zaino, return as hosts to provide a weekly treasure trove of practical advice. These savvy women bestow their experiences and wisdom on viewers, examining beauty and fitness, travel and home improvement, major life events and day-to-day chores in order to help make our every day lives simpler.

Upcoming premiere episodes, which air Fridays at 9pm et/pt on the Style Network, include:

“Modern Girl's Guide to Bikini Season” – Friday, April 28 at 9pm et/pt

That time of the year looms for most women, the moment you must unveil your hibernating body on the beach. There is no denying it… bikini season is here! But don’t worry, Style Network’s “Modern Girl’s Guide to Life” is here to help, dedicating an entire new episode to the one and only Bikini. From tips to finding the perfect bathing suit to flatter your body type, to the full lowdown on new tanning technologies, to what are the “in” suits this season, this special episode is overflowing with helpful hints and valuable information to prepare for summertime in style!

“Modern Girl's Guide to ‘I Do’” – Friday, May 5 at 9pm et/pt

In this episode, the ‘Modern Girls’ take a look at weddings from both sides of the veil! We dive into the cutting edge of celebrating our nuptials in high style, while also acknowledging the wedding jitters of the family, friends and everyone else who is there to celebrate with you. Whether you're on a budget or have cash to burn, “Modern Girl’s Guide to Life” gives brides-to-be the inside track on how to have the wedding you've always dreamed of.

“Modern Girl's Guide to Motherhood” – May 12 at 9pm et/pt (Mother’s Day Special)

It takes a full nine months of preparation before you are ready to welcome your new baby and a true ‘Modern Girl’ wants to look good the entire time. You have always been able to handle a full day of work and a night of partying on top of it, so how hard can one baby be? The ‘Modern Girls’ find out the inside scoop on why it truly takes a village to prepare for childbirth. You will need help dressing your newfound body as well as your newfound baby. Your house is like a mine field ready to explode until a professional tells you how to baby proof it and you never knew that there were things called Aerial Gymnastics or baby massage. Some much to learn and so little time!

Something New on DVD

The romantic comedy Something New arrives on DVD May 16, 2006 from Universal Studios Home Entertainment. Something New is a film about a woman who knows where she’ s headed in business but has lost her way in affairs of the heart.

The cast is headed by Sanaa Lathan (Alien vs. Predator, Love and Basketball) and Simon Baker (Land of the Dead, The Ring Two), with Blair Underwood (Sex & the City, Rules of Engagement), Mike Epps (Roll Bounce, The Honeymooners), Alfre Woodard (Desperate Housewives, The Forgotten), Donald Faison ( " Scrubs, " Remember the Titans), Golden Brooks (Girlfriends, Beauty Shop), and Taraji P. Henson (Hustle & Flow, Four Brothers). In her directorial feature debut, Sanaa Hamri delivers a romance with a twist.

Two worlds collide as Something New unfolds against the luminous backdrop of multicultural Los Angeles. Kenya Denise McQueen (Sanaa Lathan), a beautiful, high-powered career woman, knew exactly what she wanted in a man, but with her busy life, she didn' t think she'd ever find it. While Kenya and her girlfriends, Cheryl, Suzzette and Nedra, are having fun and looking for love, she finds herself unexpectedly falling for a man (Simon Baker) outside of her social circle. The DVD is priced at $29.98 SRP. Preorder close is April 11, 2006.

More From Something New

Something New bonus features:
* An Introduction To The Film By Blair Underwood
* The Dos and Don'ts of Dating Introduced By Blair Underwood - How close are men and women in their concepts of dating? In this humorous featurette, hear what the cast of Something New has learned in their years of being on the dating scene.
* The Making of Something New - Behind-the-scenes with interviews from the cast and crew.



Synopsis

Kenya Denise McQueen (Sanaa Lathan) appears to have it all - beauty, brains and a prestigious job at a top accounting firm. She also has a long list of requirements for the type of man she wants to marry, but she's not having much luck finding someone who fits the bill. Dispirited after hearing that over 42 % of African American women never marry, Kenya impulsively agrees to a blind date with Brian Kelly (Simon Baker), a sexy, free-spirited landscape architect, who isn't exactly what she pictured for herself. While not the man she had in mind for romance, she hires him to fix up the yard of her new house and finds herself irresistibly drawn to his earthy, laid-back charm. When she finally meets her theoretically perfect match, corporate attorney Mark (Blair Underwood), Kenya is further thrown into confusion. Everybody has an opinion, from her trio of girlfriends Cheryl, Suzzette, and Nedra (Wendy Raquel Robinson, Golden Brooks, Taraji P. Henson) to her socially prominent parents Joyce and Edmond (Alfre Woodard, Earl Billings). Ultimately, Kenya must decide between the relationship everyone expects and the romance no one expected. For more information: www.somethingnewmovie.net.

Foxworthy Gets New Series

CMT has signed Jeff Foxworthy to a 12 episode series, Foxworthy’s Big Night Out, featuring Foxworthy performing stand-up and sketch comedy, and live musical performances from country music stars. The show will premiere in September on CMT.

Taped in front of a live studio audience in Atlanta’s Alliance Theater, Foxworthy’s Big Night Out begins production in June. Each half hour episode will give Foxworthy a new platform to showcase the all-American comedy for which he has become famous. A cast of comedic talents, special guests, and country artists will join Foxworthy in comedy sketches and each episode will feature country stars performing their latest hits on the show which is geared for the whole family.

Jeff Foxworthy is the largest selling comedy recording artist in history, a multiple Grammy Award nominee, and the best selling author of 19 books. He starred in and executive produced the television series Blue Collar TV, which he also created. The television show came about due to the success of Blue Collar Comedy Tour: The Movie, which has sold more than 4 million units. The sequel, Blue Collar Comedy Tour Rides Again, has exceeded 3.6 million units in sales. In March of 2006, the Blue Collar boys reunited to shoot Blue Collar Comedy Tour: One for the Road at the Warner Theater in Washington, D.C. Foxworthy also has an HBO special and two Showtime specials to his credit, in addition to hosting the CMT Music Awards for the last two years. His syndicated weekly radio show, The Foxworthy Countdown, is carried in more than 220 markets across the United States.

Foxworthy’s Big Night Out is executive produced by Fax Bahr and Adam Small, of Bahr-Small Productions, whose credits include In Living Color, Mad TV and Blue Collar TV. Jeff Foxworthy serves as host, executive producer and writer. J.P. Williams, who also produced Blue Collar TV, numerous comedy specials and several feature films, serves as executive producer. Paul Villadolid and John Fitzgerald serve as executive producers for CMT. The deal was brokered by Abel Lezcano of Del, Shaw, Moonves, Tanaka, Finkelstein,& Lezcano.

Babyface Shares Wings

Spotted: Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds took a date for a cozy lunch at Mr. Cecil’s California Ribs in Sherman Oaks, Calif. The couple shared buffalo wings and a chicken Caesar salad. We hear they also left an “amazing” tip.

Bassett and Mitchell Choose Rodo

The stars of the film 'Akeelah and the Bee' Angela Bassett' (L) and Keke Palmer pose (in photo, left) at the film's Los Angeles premiere in Beverly Hills, California April 20, 2006. Palmer plays Akeelah, a young girl from South Los Angeles who tries to make it to the National Spelling Bee. Bassett plays her mother and Laurence Fishburne portrays a teacher who coaches her for the spellings in the film which opens in the U.S. April 28. Bassett carried the metallic silver “Claudia” ($685) clutch with a Swarovski crystal clasp from Rodo’s Autumn/Winter 2006 collection. REUTERS/Fred Prouser

Actors Radha Mitchell(L) and Jodelle Ferland (in photo, above right) attend the premiere of TriStar Pictures' "Silent Hill" at the Egyptian Theatre on 20 April 2006 in Hollywood, California. The horror thriller "Silent Hill" took the top spot at the North American box office this weekend, raking in an estimated 20.2 million dollars in ticket sales, according to industry estimates. Mitchell carried Rodo’s “Ester” clutch ($640) to the premiere of “Silent Hill”. The cylinder black Burma suede clutch with Jet black Swarovski crystals by Rodo is a part of the Autumn/Winter 2006 collection. Mitchell’s shoes were black satin with Swarovski crystal detailing which is a part of Rodo’s Spring/Summer 2006 collection. Mitchell also wore
a pair of onyx and black diamond drop vintage earrings - $7,500 from Martin Katz. (AFP/Getty Images)

Kim Raver at Harmony Boutique In Beverly Hills

“24” Star Kim Raver shopped to her hearts content at the Harmony Boutique in Beverly Hills on 24 April 2006. She purchased the items listed below. Raver was looking for clothing to take with her to Europe next month.



1. White and Warren 100 % Cashmere Wrap in green $165
2. Jonquil silk and lace Cami: $174
3. Shawl Wrap by Fifi Tee in White $105
4. Shawl Wrap by Fifi Tee in Green $105
5. Shawl Wrap by Fifi Tee in Brown $105
6. Tank by Sharon Segal $65
7. Tank by Sharon Segal $59
8. Tank by Sharon Segal $65
9. Tank by Sharon Segal $59
10. Blue Polo by LinQ $64
11. Green V neck by LinQ $68
12. Celebrity White Bikini by CeaSwim $90
13. Jade Princess Black Bikini by CeaSwim $90
14. Scandal Sunglasses by Dita $175

O’Dell Hosts Miss USA

Miss USA 2006 hosts Nancy O'Dell, left, and Drew Lachey, second from left, introduce the contestants for the Miss USA 2006 pageant Friday, April 21, 2006 in Baltimore. Miss Kentucky Tara Elizabeth Conner, 20, was crowned Miss USA. O’Dell wore a turquoise satin spandex floor length gown from Nicole Miller’s Spring Summer 2006 collection. www.nicolemiller.com (AP Photo/Chris Gardner)

Hines in Nicole Miller

Cast member Cheryl Hines arrives at the premiere of 'RV' at the Mann Village theatre in Los Angeles April 23, 2006. The movie tells the story of an overworked executive (Robin Williams) who persuades his wife and children to go on a cross-country RV trip. The movie opens in the U.S. on April 28. Hines wears a pink metal lurex halter dress ($465) from Nicole Miller’s Spring Summer 2006 studio collection. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni

Bocelli on Idol

Andrea Bocelli, whose voice has transcended all languages and spoken to the hearts of millions around the globe, will perform “Because We Believe” from his platinum album “Amore” on the American Idol results show Wednesday, April 26 (9-9:32 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed) on Fox. On tomorrow’s performance show (Tuesday, April 25, 8 -9 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed), the finalists will sing classic love songs after receiving guidance from Bocelli and the Grammy-winning producer of “Amore,” David Foster, and one of the contestants will sing one of Foster’s songs. The show will feature highlights from the finalists’ first meeting with Bocelli and Foster, who gave them advice as they prepared to perform their songs.

Born in the Tuscan countryside near Volterra, Italy, Bocelli was shaped by the region’s traditions and his parents’ insatiable thirst for their son’s success. Opera greats such as Mario Del Monaco, Beniamino Gigli and Franco Corelli set a high standard for Bocelli, fueling his musical passion and increasing the intensity with which he pursued his dreams. In albums such as “Romanza,” “Songo” and “Andrea,” Bocelli brought his boyhood dreams of becoming a world-renowned singer to life. He became the top-selling classical recording artist in history, selling nearly 50 million albums worldwide to date.

“Amore,” Bocelli’s newest release, was recorded under the Tuscan sky at his home studio. The album’s concept came from “Amore” producers Foster and Humberto Gatica, and co-producer Tony Renis. The result is a pairing of some of the most beautiful love songs of the world with arguably the most romantic voice in the world. Featuring guest performances by Christina Aguilera, Stevie Wonder and Kenny G, “Amore” also includes the classic “Besame Mucho,” the Olympic theme “Because We Believe” and a heartfelt rendition of “Can’t Help Falling In Love.”

Producer and songwriter Foster is a 14-time Grammy Award winner with an unprecedented 43 Grammy nominations. Over the course of a stellar three-decade career, he also has received seven Juno Awards, an Emmy Award and three Oscar nominations. He has worked with some of the biggest names in the music industry, including Barbra Streisand, Josh Groban, Celine Dion, Whitney Houston, Madonna, *NSYNC, The Corrs and Natalie Cole.

Scrubs Third Season on DVD

The Complete Third Season of Scrubs will be released on DVD on May 9, 2006 from Touchstone Television and Buena Vista Home Entertainment. Twelve different bonus features include gag reels, exclusive unaired scenes, alternate lines, and much more.

Zach Braff stars as J.D., a medical resident at Sacred Heart Hospital, where the staff is bizarre and the laughter is contagious. Joining the rumpled J.D. are fellow residents Turk (Donald Faison, “Clueless”) as J.D.’s college buddy who is part of the more elite surgical group, and the beautiful but socially awkward Elliot Reid (Sarah Chalke, “Roseanne”). Scrubs’ talented cast also includes the surefooted, sarcastic and competent Dr. Cox (John C. McGinley, “Office Space”), the terrorizing janitor (Neil Flynn, “Mean Girls”), the diminished, self-involved Dr. Kelso (Ken Jenkins, “The Sum of All Fears”) and the feisty Nurse Carla (Judy Reyes, “Oz”).

Big Love Renewed; May Episodes

HBO has renewed the hit drama series Big Love for a second season, it was announced today by Carolyn Strauss, president, HBO Entertainment. Filming of new episodes will begin this August, with debut set for 2007.

"Big Love is a unique and remarkable series," said Strauss. "The second season will offer more of the terrific storytelling that has gripped critics and subscribers this year."

Big Love tells the story of Salt Lake City native Bill Henrickson, who balances the needs of his three wives - Barb, Nicki and Margene - their seven kids, three houses and his home improvement stores. Bill Paxton, Jeanne Tripplehorn, Chloë Sevigny, Ginnifer Goodwin and Harry Dean Stanton star in the series, which will be executive produced next season by Playtone's Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman, series creators Mark V. Olsen & Will Scheffer, and David Knoller.

Kicking off its first season March 12, Big Love currently debuts new episodes Sunday nights (10:00-11:00 p.m. ET/PT), immediately following new episodes of "The Sopranos." The series has already sparked a host of rave reviews, with People hailing it "the best new show of the year," while the Wall Street Journal called Big Love "sharp, seriously compelling drama." The Washington Post described the series as "adventurously outrageous," and Time termed it "fascinating...first-rate drama."

Big Love is produced by HBO Entertainment in association with Playtone and Anima Sola Productions; created by Mark V. Olsen & Will Scheffer; executive producers, Tom Hanks, Gary Goetzman, Mark V. Olsen & Will Scheffer, and David Knoller.

Big Love - May Episodes

Episode #9: "A Barbecue for Betty"
Debut: Sunday, May 7, 2006 (10:00-11:00 p.m. ET/PT)
Other HBO playdates: May 9 (11:00 p.m.), 10 (8:00 p.m.) and 11 (midnight), and June 2 (8:00 p.m.)
HBO2 playdates: May 8 (9:00 p.m.), 13 (9:00 p.m.) and 20 (8:00 p.m.)
Bill (Bill Paxton) celebrates being "free and clear" from Roman (Harry Dean Stanton), but the Prophet's meddling might not be over. Nicki (Chloë Sevigny) drops a bombshell on Bill, hoping for forgiveness but fearing the worst. Don (Joel McKinnon Miller) falls hard for a woman named Betty (Melinda Allen). Bill vents to Sarah (Amanda Seyfried) after a run-in with the law. A vote-obsessed Margene (Ginnifer Goodwin) leaves a "Chad" hanging.

Written by Jill Sprecher & Karen Sprecher; directed by Julian Farino.

Episode #10: "The Baptism"
Debut: Sunday, May 14 (10:00-11:00 p.m.)
Other HBO playdates: May 16 (11:00 p.m.), 17 (8:00 p.m.) and 18 (midnight), and June 2 (9:00 p.m.)
HBO2 playdates: May 15 (9:00 p.m.), 20 (9:00 p.m.) and 27 (8:00 p.m.)
Barb (Jeanne Tripplehorn) gets an unwanted visit from her sister Cindy (Judith Hoag), who strongly disapproves of the family's polygamist lifestyle. Meanwhile, as his feud with Roman intensifies, Bill attempts to infiltrate the UEB Priesthood Council. Ben (Douglas Smith) gives his girlfriend Brynn (Sarah Jones) a token of his affection, and is offered a much more significant one in return. A depressed Margene botches her chores, sees a friendship end, and is transformed at Teenie's (Jolean Wejbe) baptism.

Written by Lance Black; directed by Michael Lehmann.

Episode #11: "Where There's a Will"
Debut: Sunday, May 21 (10:00-11:00 p.m.)
Other HBO playdates: May 23 (11:00 p.m.), 24 (8:00 p.m.) and 25 (midnight), and June 2 (10:00 p.m.)
HBO2 playdates: May 22 (9:00 p.m.) and 27 (9:00 p.m.), and June 10 (8:00 p.m.)
The Henricksons' public stock is rising, as Barb finds herself a finalist for Mother of the Year, and Bill is asked to become the newest member of the Salt Lake City Leadership League. Meanwhile, the wives mull over custody scenarios in their separate wills, but are chastened for their subterfuge when Hatcher (Lawrence O'Donnell) spills the beans to Bill. Rhonda (Daveigh Chase) arrives from Juniper Creek for a histrionic spring-break stay, prompting sympathy from Sarah and Heather (Tina Majorino). And Holloway (John Ingle) finds that keeping secrets from Roman carries both risks and rewards.

Story by Eileen Myers; teleplay by Mimi Friedman & Jeanette Collins; directed by Alan Poul.

Big Love is produced by HBO Entertainment in association with Playtone and Anima Sola Productions; created by Mark V. Olsen & Will Scheffer; executive producers, Tom Hanks, Gary Goetzman and Mark V. Olsen & Will Scheffer; producers, Bernie Caulfield and Karen Sprecher & Jill Sprecher; supervising producers, Jeanette Collins & Mimi Friedman; staff writers, Dustin Lance Black and Eileen Myers; casting, Junie Lowry Johnson, C.S.A. & Libby Goldstein.

The Sopranos - May Episodes

Episode #74: "The Ride"
Debut: Sunday, May 7, 2006 (9:00-10:00 p.m. ET/PT)
Other HBO playdates: May 9 (midnight), 10 (9:00 p.m.), 12 (10:00 p.m.), 13 (12:15 a.m. ET/11:00 p.m. PT), 28 (9:00 p.m.) and 31 (11:00 p.m.)

HBO2 playdate: May 8 (10:00 p.m.)
Christopher (Michael Imperioli) makes a surprise announcement; Paulie (Tony Sirico) pays a price for cutting costs at an Italian Street Fair; Tony (James Gandolfini) embraces the "old school."

Written by Terence Winter; directed by Alan Taylor.

Episode #75: "Moe n' Joe"
Debut: Sunday, May 14 (9:00-10:00 p.m.)
Other HBO playdates: May 16 (midnight), 17 (9:00 p.m.), 19 (10:00 p.m.), 20 (1:00 a.m.) and 28 (10:00 p.m.), and June 2 (11:00 p.m.)

HBO2 playdate: May 15 (10:00 p.m.)
Tony leverages Johnny's (Vincent Curatola) misfortune into a domestic upgrade; Bacala (Steven R. Schirripa) suffers vision impairment.

Written by Matthew Weiner; directed by Steve Shill.

Episode #76: "Cold Stones"
Debut: Sunday, May 21 (9:00-10:00 p.m.)
Other HBO playdates: May 23 (midnight), 24 (9:00 p.m.), 26 (10:00 p.m.), 27 (12:45 a.m.) and 28 (11:00 p.m.), and June 3 (11:30 p.m.)

HBO2 playdate: May 22 (10:00 p.m.)
A frenzy of borrowing money hits the crew; Carmela (Edie Falco) waxes philosophical on a trip with Rosalie (Sharon Angela); Meadow (Jamie-Lynn Sigler) relocates.

Written by Diane Frolov & Andrew Schneider; directed by Tim Van Patten.

The Sopranos is a production of HBO Original Programming, Brad Grey Television and Chase Films; executive producers, David Chase, Brad Grey, Ilene S. Landress, Terence Winter; co-executive producers, Henry J. Bronchtein and Matthew Weiner; supervising producers, Diane Frolov & Andrew Schneider; producers, Martin Bruestle and Gianna Smart.

Pamper Mum at Kinara

This year, for Mother’s Day, give Mom the ultimate gift of getting primped and pampered like a celebrity at West Hollywood’s most sought after rest and relaxation destination for Hollywood’s elite, Kinara Spa. Don’t spend hours strolling through the mall trying to find that typical Mother’s Day gift. A customized Kinara Gift Certificate is sure to be a hit at the brunch table that Mom can use toward a custom spa treatment, at Kinara Cadeaux boutique or Kinara Café. Kinara Gift Certificates make the perfect indulging gift that will please the body and soul.

Olga Lorencin-Northrup, co-owner of Kinara and esthetician to the stars, makes personal recommendations for ideal Mother’s Day treatments:

To get that ultimate motherly glow, Lorencin-Northrup recommends Kinara’s signature Red Carpet Facial. This customized facial’s ingredients are tailored to skin’s needs including a skin analysis, custom herbal steam or pack, deep pore cleansing, exfoliation, relaxing face, neck, and shoulder massage, muscle firming treatment, custom blended mask, antioxidant treatment for hands and custom blended moisturizer. This treatment also utilizes amino acids to gently exfoliate, brighten and smooth skin without side effects. After very light extractions, a blue algae mask is applied to deeply hydrate. A serum of caviar or green tea extracts puts a finishing touch on this beautifying treatment. Fifty-five minutes: $150

Growing up, the touch of Mom’s skin is what comforted us most. Kinara’s Bora Bora Body Scrub is a deeply relaxing total body treatment that leaves skin feeling incredibly smooth and silky. This Bora Bora Scrub begins with an invigoration of the skin to increase blood flow using a combination of brushes and hand techniques. The carefully blended scrub mixtures of Hawaiian Brown Sugar, sea salt, kelp, and essential oils of Sandalwood, Cedar wood and Mandarin are applied with loofahs to gently and thoroughly exfoliate skin from head to toe. After the scrub, Vichy showers cascade warm water over the entire body, gently rinsing exfoliants and dead skin cells away. Specially formulated moisture-rich creams are then applied with a gentle massage to reinvigorate the new skin layers. Perfect for regenerating fatigued skin. Fifty-five minutes: $110

The ideal complement to the Bora Bora Body Scrub is the intensive and effective treatment of the Shea Butter Wrap, designed to detoxify, cleanse and hydrate skin. This super-hydrating wrap improves elasticity and suppleness to the skin. It is excellent for overstressed, overexposed and post-pregnancy skin. The specially formulated blend of African shea butter and aloe comfrey solution leave skin with a revitalized, refreshed, silky, and radiant glow. Fifty minutes: $120

To give Mom the ultimate Mother’s Day gift that she will be sure to remember, a Gift Certificate the Island Serenity treatment package will give her five-hours of the deepest relaxation and indulgence. The Island Serenity package includes the South Seas Soak, an aromatic bath with tropical fruits enzymes in combination with sandalwood, cedar wood and mandarin oil creating a fragrant bath rich in antioxidants, Bora Bora Scrub, Custom Massage to suit your desires, Kinara Custom Facial with ingredients custom blended per skin type, VIP Manicure using alpha hydroxy acids, phospholipids, Vitamin E and Squalane to deeply penetrate cuticles and hands, VIP Pedicure using AHAs, marine extracts, mineral salts and the finest essential oils to exfoliate, nourish and smooth rough, dry skin. Mom can also enjoy lunch and beverages anytime with the Island Serenity treatment. Five-hours: $565

Now that Mom’s had her day at the spa, she can stroll through the Kinara Cadeaux, where she can take a piece of her spa treatment home with her, taking her back to Kinara Spa heaven whenever she pleases. To extend Mom’s spa-glow, Lorencin-Northrup recommends Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse, a sublimating golden dry oil created to be a modern beauty enhancer without being a cosmetic. This luxurious multi-purpose golden dry oil brings radiance to the skin and a glossy shine to hair. Quick to apply with an ideal beauty intensifier that combines the skin care moisturizing benefits of Huile Prodigieuse (nourishing, repairing, moisturizing, soothing), with an added subtle sheen to the face, décolleté, shoulders, arms, and legs. Leaves no sticky residue on the skin and safe for fine evening attire, providing subtle tanning effects and leaves hair with a lustrous shine. The result? Mom glows like a goddess. Price: $39

Mom can take her body scrub treatment home with Kinara Cadeaux’s Pure Fiji Starfruit Sugar Rub, an exotic mingling of floral notes and tropical fruit with a hint of the fresh sweetness of apple. This natural exfoliating and moisturizing treatment is formulated with fresh sugar cane crystals, containing naturally occurring alpha hydroxy to gently buff away dry skin cells, polishing the body clean and unclog pores. Added to this formula are the deep moisturizing powers of cold pressed virgin coconut oil and exotic nut extracts to nourish, hydrate and protect the skin, leaving it glowing and healthy. Price: $42

Kinara Gift Certificates are presented in signature Kinara packaging. Certificates can be made out for any dollar amount or for specific treatments and packages and are redeemable at the Kinara Spa, Kinara Café or Kinara Cadeaux. Gift Certificates can be purchased at Kinara, ordered online at www.kinaraspa.com, or by calling the spa at 1-800-370-8268.

Kinara consists of a day spa, café and boutique located in West Hollywood’s design district at 656 North Robertson Boulevard. A favorite of celebrities and LA’s most powerful complexions, it is a refuge open to all who seek nurturing experiences and better skin. Kinara Skincare products are exclusively distributed at the K inara Skin Care Clinic and online at www.kinaraspa.com. To make an appointment, call 310-657-9188.

Ace Out

The Top 7 finalists performed their favorite standards from Rod Stewart’s “Great American Songbook” series. Last night, it was revealed that Ace Young received the fewest votes after Tuesday’s performance show, ending his quest to become the next American Idol. Young, from Los Angeles, CA, sang “That’s All.” Next week, international superstar Andrea Bocelli will lend his talents to the IDOL finalists as they perform classic love songs on Tuesday’s show. In addition, Bocelli will perform live on Wednesday’s results show.

This season to date, American Idol also shows incredible growth compared to the same telecasts last year, increasing +12% among Adults 18-49 (12.7/31 vs. 11.3/29), +10% among Adults 18-34 (11.7/32 vs. 10.6/30), +4% among Teens (9.4/29 vs. 9.0/28) and +14% in Total Viewers (30.6 vs. 26.9 Mil).

Next week, television’s hottest show gets even hotter when the Top 6 finalists (Paris Bennett, Chris Daughtry, Taylor Hicks, Katharine McPhee, Kellie Pickler and Elliott Yamin) compete head-to-head again on Tuesday, April 25 (8 p.m. ET live/PT tape-delayed). The performance show theme will be “Classic Love Songs.” Tune in the following night to watch Andrea Bocelli perform, and find out who receives enough votes to stay in the competition and who must go home on the American Idolresults show Wednesday, April 26 (9-9:32 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed) on Fox.

AmericanIdol.com

Pig Olympics

Piglets compete in swimming after being thrown into the water during the Pig Olympics in Moscow April 15, 2006. Four-legged athletes from seven countries compete on Saturday and Sunday in disciplines such as running, swimming and svineball - a ball game played with the snout. REUTERS/Thomas Peter

Big Dino

In an undated photo provided by Professor Rodolfo Coria, a dog sits by a replica of the head of a Mapusaurus roseae at the Carmen Funes Museum in Plaza Huincul, Argentina. The dinosaur was discovered in the Patagonia region of Argentina and appears to be one of the biggest meat-eating dinosaurs known. (AP Photo/HO/Prof. Rodolfo Coria)

Electra in Lhuillier

Carmen Electra poses for the press to promote her film 'Scary Movie 4' at a photo-call in Berlin Tuesday, April 18, 2006. The movie will be screened in Germany on Thursday, April 20, 2006. Electra wore a a dress by Monique Lhuillier, a java Chantilly lace ruched v-neck cocktail dress. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)

Niecy on The Tonight Show, Tonight!

BeansTalk friend Niecy Nash will be the Special Guest Correspondent from the Boston Marathon tonight, Thursday, 20 April 2006 on NBC’s “The Tonight Show With Jay Leno” at 11:35 p.m.

Nash hosts “Clean House” – New Episodes air Wednesdays at 10 p.m. on Style, and of course, stars in “RENO 911!” – Tuesdays & Thursdays at 7 p.m. & 7:30 p.m. on Comedy Central (see story below). www.niecynash.com

Comedy Central Summer: Reno 911 is Back!

This summer, there’ll be fresh laughs on Comedy Central, and one of BeansTalk’s favorite guilty pleasures, “Reno 911” returns (we’re so excited!).

NEW SERIES

"Dog Bites Man"- Premieres Wednesday, June 7, 2006 at 10:30 p.m.

Local news just got a whole lot funnier (and this time it's intentional). Expect nothing ordinary as Comedy Central delves deeper into the world of the traditional half-hour narrative with the ten-episode series Dog Bites Man. It’s an outrageous, part improvisational, part mockumentary, single camera show featuring a group of dysfunctional fake newscasters interacting with real people. The cast includes improv experts Zach Galifianakis, A.D. Miles, Andrea Savage and Matt Walsh.

"Legends" - Premieres Sunday, June 11, 2006 at 9 p.m.

With "Legends," Comedy Central is developing a new type of documentary series, one that takes an inside look at the legends of comedy as told through the voices of comedy insiders and those that worked with and knew each legend intimately. We're overhauling the traditional "biography" format to present a series of specials celebrating the careers and lives of comedy's pioneers, juggernauts and biggest successes. "Legends" will be a modern tribute...a journey, an exploration that goes deeper into each legend's on-stage persona and off-stage personality with every individual, hour-long episode retaining its own style and flavor, just like the legends themselves. The premiere episode "Legends: Rodney Dangerfield" takes an inside look at the man who never got any respect, as told through the voices of comedy insiders and those that worked with, and knew him intimately.

NEW SPECIALS

"Jamie Kennedy: Unwashed" - Premieres Sunday, June 25, 2006 at 10 p.m.

Jamie Kennedy (seen above right), successful author and movie star, brings it all to the table in the Network Television Premiere of his stand-up special "Unwashed." Catch Kennedy as he takes on Hollywood, plastic surgery, Catholicism, drugs and relationships. Plus, don’t miss his laugh-out-loud impressions of the porn industry, language barriers on international flights, first time sex and psychotic ex-girlfriends.

RETURNING SERIES

"Chappelle's Show – The Lost Episodes" – Premieres Sunday, July 9, 2006 at 9 p.m.

"RENO 911!" - Premieres Sunday, July 9, 2006 at 10:30 p.m.

The Reno police force (above, left) is back in action for a fourth season! Find out if Dangle and Garcia freeze to death, if Deputy Wiegel's serial killer husband gets a lethal injection and what happens when Jones and Garcia are transferred to the Reno mounted patrol in 14 new episodes of the hit comedy series. The new season features guest stars Paul Reubens (aka Pee Wee Herman), Carrot Top and Oscar Nunez ("The Office").

"Mind of Mencia" - 8 episodes of the second season premiering July 9, 2006 at 10 p.m.

Shot in the studio and on location, “Mind of Mencia” is based on Mencia’s unique point of view of the world including such topics as ethnic stereotypes, race relations, immigration, war, patriotism, capitalism and family and is presented with brutal honesty and unrelenting provocation. The show includes Mencia’s comments on pop culture and current events, man-on-the-street interviews, commercial parodies, as well as interaction with the studio audience.

Maher Friday

Real Time With Bill Maher continues its fourth season Friday, April 21, 2006 at 11 p.m. on HBO. Featured on this week's show as roundtable guests are commentator Heather Higgins and Gen. Anthony Zinni; Ill. Rep. Rahm Emanuel is an interview guest.

Other HBO playdates: April 23 (1:05 a.m.), 24 (10 p.m.) and 26 (midnight).
HBO2 playdates: April 21 (1 a.m.), 22 (11 p.m.) and 23 (7 p.m.).

Man Rediscovers Gift Fruitcake From 1962

AP Tue Apr 18, 11:27 PM ET

Lance Nesta did what many people do when receiving a fruitcake — he set it aside, only to rediscover it more than 40 years later in his mother's attic. Nesta couldn't resist taking a peek at the cake, still in its original tin and wrapped in paper.

"I was amazed that it hadn't changed at all," he said.

Nesta's two aunts sent him the fruitcake in November 1962 while he was stationed in Alaska with the Army.

"I opened it up and didn't know what to do with it," Nesta said. "I sure wasn't going to eat it, and I liked my fellow soldiers too much to share it with them."

As best he can remember, he packed the cake with the rest of his belongings and shipped it home to Waukesha when he left the military a few years later. He recently rediscovered the boxed fruitcake in the attic of his mother's home in Waukesha.

His mom had given him advance warning of the fruitcake back in 1962.

"She knew I hated the damn things, but she said she didn't have the heart to tell my aunts, who had already mailed it," he said.

The cake arrived wrapped in brown paper with a red "fragile, handle with care" sticker on it. The cake itself was contained in a round blue tin printed with the words "Old Fashioned Fruitcake."

"Now it's just old," Nesta said.

While looking at the cake's container this week, he noticed the listed ingredients included rum and brandy.

"If I had known back then that it had rum and brandy in it, I would have eaten it," he said.

For the record, BeansTalk actually likes fruitcake -- well, the actual cake kind with apricots -- not the kind pictured.

That ‘70s Show Retrospective

Fox bids farewell to one of its longest-running series with the retrospective special That ‘70s Show: The Final Good Bye Thursday, May 11, 2006 (8:37-10 PM ET/PT). The special celebrates 200 episodes and eight seasons by taking a look back at some of the most memorable moments from the show.

That ‘70s Show: The Final Good Bye features interviews with all the cast members and director, as well as past guest stars such as Brooke Shields, Bruce Willis, Luke Wilson, Lindsay Lohan and The Rock. It will also feature exclusive behind-the-scenes footage and up-close-and-personal segments taped with many of the cast. Additionally, the special will include outtakes from classic episodes and never-before-seen clips rescued from the editing room floor. The special will also give viewers an inside look at the final week of taping the show, including some of the funniest and most touching moments as the cast brings their eight-year journey to a close. The series finale and 200th episode of That ‘70s Show airs Thursday, May 18, 2006 (8 -9 p.m. ET/PT) on Fox.

Brad Lachman Productions is producing the special. Bonnie Turner, Terry Turner and Mark Brazill are creators/executive producers of THAT ‘70s SHOW, and Marcy Carsey, Tom Werner, Dean Batali, Rob DesHotel and Mark Hudis are executive producers. Note: This is one of BeansTalk's all -time favorite shows and we watch it on the DVR daily. Seriously.

Sigh: Saturdays with Sean Bean!

Every Saturday night this summer, BBC America takes viewers on a sweeping two-hour journey to a new land, a new battle, and a new set of potential love interests with the epic romantic war saga Sharpe. Created by novelist Bernard Cornwell and starring Sean Bean (Lord of the Rings, North Country), Sharpe chronicles the victories and loves of the legendary fictional Napoleonic war hero, Richard Sharpe. BBC America is showing the complete fifteen-episode series from the first episode, Sharpe’s Rifles, through to the U.S. premiere BBC America co-production, Sharpe’s Challenge, shot in India. Sharpe’s Rifles premieres Saturday, May 27, 2006 9 p.m. ET/10:00 p.m. PT.

Sharpe’s Rifles begins in 1809 when Sharpe is a scrappy Sergeant. After bravely saving the life of a distinguished Captain, he is quickly promoted to Lieutenant and charged with a company of men slated for a rescue mission in Portugal. Throughout June, BBC America features channel premieres Sharpe’s Eagle, Sharpe’s Company, Sharpe’s Enemy and Sharpe’s Honor. In July and August, BBC America features channel premieres, Sharpe’s Gold, Sharpe’s Battle and Sharpe’s Sword and the brand-new, never before seen U.S. premieres Sharpe’s Regiment, Sharpe’s Siege, Sharpe’s Mission, Sharpe’s Revenge, Sharpe’s Waterloo and Sharpe’s Justice.

September brings the U.S. premiere of BBC America co-production, Sharpe’s Challenge, shot entirely in India. The fate of an empire rests in one man’s hands in Sharpe’s Challenge. Two years after the battle of Waterloo, dispatches from India warn that a local Maharaja is threatening British interests. Wellington sends Sharpe to investigate on what turns out to be his most dangerous mission to date.

SHARPE

Synopses

Episode one – Sharpe’s Rifles

Portugal 1809 - After saving the life of a distinguished Captain, Sir Arthur Wellesley, Sergeant Richard Sharpe is rewarded with a promotion to Lieutenant. His first mission is to go behind enemy lines to locate a missing agent, James Rothschild, who carries badly needed funds for the British army. Sharpe is given command of the 95th Rifles under Captain Murray, but soon finds that they are an undisciplined bunch, and neither Murray nor the men of the Rifles are prepared to accept Sharpe's command as “proper” officers are not raised from the ranks. After Captain Murray is killed in a surprise French attack, Sharpe is left in sole command. Two Spanish allies, Major Blas Vivar and Comandante Teresa, offer to lead Sharpe to Rothschild at Casa Antiga. There is no sign of Rothschild upon arrival and Sharpe becomes increasingly suspicious of his Spanish companions. He discovers their real mission is to transport one of Spain’s holy relics to Torrecastro to inspire an uprising against the French. Sharpe’s Rifles is sponsored by American Honda Motor.

Sharpe’s Rifles premieres Saturday, May 27, 9:00 p.m. ET/10:00 p.m. PT.

Episode two – Sharpe’s Eagle

Spain 1809 - Colonel Sir Henry Simmerson arrives with his new regiment, the South Essex. Wellesley decides to keep in Simmerson's good graces by arranging for the South Essex to blow up the bridge at Valdelacasa. Aware that Simmerson is incompetent, Wellesley orders Sergeant Sharpe to see that the mission is a success in exchange for a promotion to Captain. Simmerson is infuriated to learn that Sharpe is not a gentleman and was raised from the ranks by Wellesley. In revenge, he orders Sharpe to train his men to fire three rounds a minute by nightfall, or they will be flogged as punishment for failure. Sharpe manages to succeed, which infuriates Simmerson even more. The following day, Simmerson orders Captain Lennox to lead the South Essex across the bridge in the attempt to chase away a small French patrol. However, an ambush by the French cavalry brings a rescue attempt with Sharpe in control. Will this mean further promotion and even more enemies? Sharpe’s Eagle is sponsored by OppenheimerFunds, Inc.

Sharpe’s Eagle premieres Saturday, June 3, 9:00 p.m. ET/10:00 p.m. PT.

Episode three – Sharpe’s Company

Spain 1812 - After victory at Ciudad Rodrigo, Wellesley (now Duke of Wellington) sets his sights on Badajoz. Sharpe is reunited with his love, Teresa, and learns that he is the father of a baby girl — but he’s alarmed to learn the baby is in Badajoz. As new men arrive from England, Sharpe discovers his old nemesis, Obadiah Hakeswill, is among them. With his speciality of preying on soldiers while being servile towards the officers, Hakeswill was responsible for having Sharpe flogged for a crime he did not commit. After attempting to rape Teresa, Hakeswill realises her affection for the Sergeant and uses her in a wicked game to get back at Sharpe. With his captaincy in tatters, Sharpe's fears soon turn to the safety of Teresa and their baby daughter. Sharpe’s Company is sponsored by OppenheimerFunds. Sharpe’s Company is sponsored by OppenheimerFunds, Inc.

Sharpe’s Company premieres Saturday, June 10, 9:00 p.m. ET/10:00 p.m. PT.

Episode four – Sharpe’s Enemy

Portugal 1812 - The Spanish village of Adrados has been overtaken by a horde of French, Spanish and British deserters and they have taken two English women hostage, Sarah Dubreton and Lady Isabella Farthingdale. Captain Sharpe is assigned the task of delivering the ransom, much to the disgust of Sir Augustus Farthingdale. Sharpe and Harper enter the convent where the women are being held and are confronted by two French officers. Sharpe learns one of the officers is the husband of Sarah Dubreton and they are on the same mission. To Sharpe's dismay, he learns that Hakeswill is involved and he has increased the ransom price, giving Sharpe five days to come up with the extra money or the women will be raped. Nairn receives information that the French intend to invade Portugal from Adrados and decides to thwart the plan. Sharpe is promoted to Major and given command of the 60th Rifles in order to secure the safety of the women and prevent the French from taking the town. Sharpe’s Enemy is sponsored by OppenheimerFunds, Inc.

Sharpe’s Enemy premieres Saturday, June 17, 9:00 p.m. ET/10:00 p.m. PT.

Episode five – Sharpe’s Honor

1813 - In an attempt to remove Sharpe from the British ranks, French forces create a plot in which Sharpe is unjustly portrayed as an adulterer and murderer. A Spanish Marques, who insists Sharpe forced his attentions on his wife, challenges Sharpe to a duel. Sharpe protests that he has never met La Marquesa and is innocent of any wrongdoing, refusing to apologize. The duel goes ahead and just as Sharpe holds his sword against the Marques’ throat, Nairn steps in and insists this is just friendly sword practice. Later that night the Marques is murdered and, the following day, Sharpe is arrested. Witnesses testify that Sharpe was the murderer and he is sentenced to death. However, in the middle of the night, Harper is reunited with Sharpe and they are given the task of capturing the beautiful La Marquesa so the British can discover the enemy’s next move. Sharpe’s Honor is sponsored by OppenheimerFunds, Inc. and Audi.

Sharpe’s Honor premieres Saturday, June 24, 9:00 p.m. ET/10:00 p.m. PT.

Episode six – Sharpe’s Gold

Summer 1813 - An angry Sharpe goes in search of the British infantry who failed to prevent the French retreat from a recent battle. He discovers that the infantrymen are deserting and is unable to prevent their retreat. Meanwhile, Ellie Nugent, a relative of Wellington, rides into camp accompanied by her mother. They are searching for Ellie’s father, who has gone missing while looking for Aztec gold in the hills nearby. Wellington refuses to help them and orders them to return home. Wellington has more serious problems to contend with as he is running short of men in the army and has agreed to exchange 52 captured deserters for rifles. Sharpe is ordered to make the exchange and is followed by Ellie and her mother. Sharpe’s Gold is sponsored by American Honda Motor.

Sharpe’s Gold premieres Saturday, July 1, 9:00 p.m. ET/10:00 p.m. PT.

Episode seven – Sharpe’s Battle

September 1813 - While in the Spanish hills, Sharpe and his men come across a scene of devastation in the town of Casa Antiga. The town has been sacked by the fearsome French commander, Brigadier General Guy Loup and his Wolf brigade. One of Sharpe’s men rescues a young woman from two of Loup's soldiers and they are arrested. When Loup rides into town demanding his soldiers are released, Sharpe refuses and has them executed in front of him. Loup vows revenge. Sharpe’s Battle is sponsored by American Honda Motor.

Sharpe’s Battle premieres Saturday, July 8, 9:00 p.m. ET/10:00 p.m. PT.

Episode eight – Sharpe’s Sword

The Franco-Spanish Frontier, 1813 - A carriage travelling through the Spanish countryside is ambushed by French soldiers and a young nun flees in terror. Later, the soldiers themselves are attacked by the English and the French colonel kills his captain and trades uniforms. The French soldier claims to be Captain Dumas and surrenders himself to Sharpe. Sharpe is suspicious, but before he can question Dumas further, Colonel Berkeley of the South Essex accepts the man’s parole. A terrified, young nun emerges from the woods and attaches herself to Sharpe. Struck dumb with fear she is unable to tell Sharpe who she is or what has happened. Sharpe’s Sword is sponsored by American Honda Motor.

Sharpe’s Sword premieres Saturday, July 15, 9:00 p.m. ET/10:00 p.m. PT.

Episode nine – Sharpe’s Regiment – U.S. PREMIERE

June, 1813 - South Essex is seriously short of men and when Wellingtion is informed that there are no recruits available, he orders Sharpe to go to England to investigate. When Sharpe and Harper arrive in England, they are informed that there are 700 men waiting for them in Chelmsford, but on arrival, he finds the barracks deserted with no sign of his missing regiment. Later, while visiting an old friend, Harper and Sharpe are attacked. They decide to feign death, assume other identities and enlist in order to get to the bottom of this mysterious situation. Sharpe’s Regiment is sponsored by American Honda Motor.

Sharpe’s Regiment premieres Saturday, July 22, 9:00 p.m. ET/10:00 p.m. PT.

Episode ten – Sharpe’s Siege – U.S. PREMIERE

Winter 1813 - Wellington is informed by the debonair Comte de Maquerre that Bordeaux is ready to rebel against Napoleon. Wellington's master spy, Ross, is suspicious and tests Maquerre by suggesting that they use his own castle as a base. Maquerre reluctantly agrees, but informs them the castle is in Napoleon’s hands. Wellington appoints Colonel Bampfylde to lead the attack on the castle with Sharpe in support. Sharpe, newly married to Jane Gibbons, is outraged that he has lost his command to Bampfylde. However he’s soon distracted by an outbreak of yellow fever to which Jane falls victim. Sharpe’s Siege is sponsored by American Honda Motor.

Sharpe’s Siege premieres Saturday, July 29, 9:00 p.m. ET/10:00 p.m. PT.

Episode eleven – Sharpe’s Mission – U.S. PREMIERE

France 1813 - The war is entering its final stages and the French formulate a desperate plan to capture Wellington's master spy, Major General Ross. Sharpe is ordered by Wellington to accompany Colonel Brand, who is intent on destroying the French’s main powder supply in the caves of Rocha. Wellington and Ross are both suspicious of Brand’s apparent loyalty, but they do not reveal this to Sharpe. Their suspicions are well-founded as Brand secretly meets with the French and makes plans for capturing Ross. On the home front, Sharpe’s wife is showing signs of being bored with army life and enjoys the attentions of a young poet.

Sharpe’s Mission premieres Saturday, August 5, 9:00 p.m. ET/10:00 p.m. PT.

Episode twelve – Sharpe’s Revenge – U.S. PREMIERE

After the last battle has been fought, the Peninsula war is finally over for Britain and her allies, but the action does not end here for Sharpe. He is framed by his long-time enemy, Ducos, and accused of stealing Napoleon’s treasures. Sharpe is also abandoned by his wife, Jane, who returns to England, where she meets the handsome Lord Rossendale. On the run now from both the English and the French, Sharpe must find a way to prove his innocence.

Sharpe’s Revenge premieres Saturday, August 12, 9:00 p.m. ET/10:00 p.m. PT.

Episode thirteen – Sharpe’s Waterloo – U.S. PREMIERE

Sharpe has settled down to an idyllic lifestyle with Lucille on her French farm, when the news of Napoleon’s escape from Elba compels him to return to the army to fight at Waterloo. There, he joins the forces of the Prince of Orange. Reunited with his Chosen Men, Sharpe abandons the inept prince and organises the defence of key British positions on the farm of La Haie Sainte.

Sharpe’s Waterloo premieres Saturday, August 19, 9:00 p.m. ET/10:00 p.m. PT.

Episode fourteen – Sharpe’s Justice – U.S. PREMIERE

The war is over. Sharpe returns to England with his reputation restored. He is ordered to the North of England to command a local militia force in his hometown, which is troubled with unrest. Sharpe soon finds himself torn between the gentry and the locals, while discovering secrets from his own past. Sharpe also has the chance to confront Jane, when Lord Rossendale inherits a mansion near where Sharpe is stationed.

Sharpe’s Justice premieres Saturday, August 26, 9:00 p.m. ET/10:00 p.m. PT.

Episode fifteen – Sharpe’s Challenge – U.S. PREMIERE

The fate of an empire rests in one man’s hands in Sharpe’s Challenge. Two years after the battle of Waterloo, dispatches from India warn that a local Maharaja is threatening British interests. Wellington sends Sharpe to investigate on what turns out to be his most dangerous mission to date. This two-part BBC AMERICA co-production is shot entirely in India.

Sharpe’s Challenge premieres Sunday, September 3, 8:00 p.m. ET and concludes on Monday, September 4, 9:00 p.m. ET.