PASADENA, Calif. -- Critics are often exposed to all manner of cold-blooded creatures on the Television Critics Association press tour. It was true Wednesday at several sessions for Day 1 of the midseason event, but especially at the National Geographic Wild press conference for Wild About Snakes, where a live python was brought out after the session to pose with critics. The 4-year-old snake weighed around 40 pounds, and besides posing with critics got some camera time with rocker Henry Rollins (a snake enthusiast) and a couple of other experts.
ESPN had a session celebrating their new seriesYear of the Quarterback. (It's following their excellent 30 for 30 docuseries.). There was no sign of Kenny "The Snake" Stabler at the session, but former 49ers QB and ESPN football analyst Steve Young was there, along with his favorite target, Jerry Rice. Young offered some thoughtful answers to questions about football stars like Brett Favre who stick around too long. He kinda suggested his old pal Rice might have stayed too long at the show.
College football commentator Brent Musburger was a no-show, but ESPN sportscaster Erin Andrews made the scene, though she was barely recognizable until you squinted and pretended to check her out through curtains.
TCA's Day 1 evening event was hosted by Comcast, the cable giant that is about to take control of NBC Universal. Comcast Entertainment Group President and CEO Ted Harbert looked pleased to be heading back to New York to run the business end of NBC and stated he was a big Jimmy Fallon fan. Harbert's old squeeze, Chelsea Handler, seemed kind of standoffish as she accepted praise for her book A Horizontal Life (and the Canadian return of her late-night E! talk show Chelsea Lately).
E! red carpet watchers Joan and Melissa Rivers (who also premiere Jan. 25 in the WE docusoap Joan & Melissa: Joan Knows Best?) hinted they might be making a surprise return to The Apprentice this spring.
Former Hugh Hefner prop Holly Madison was in the house, as was E! news presence Ryan Seacrest, who dashed and fled. Spoke with former Cosby kid Tempestt Bledsoe, who would tower over the Cos these days. The 6-footer hosts something called Clean House for Style.
A couple of critics who spoke with Kardashian stepdad Bruce Jenner said he pretty much told the rich and famous docusoap Kardashian kids to skip college. This should not be too tough a loss for Harvard and Yale.
Read more from Bill Brioux at TV Feeds My Family.