Exclusive HBO Photos From Inauguration Celebration - WE ARE ONE

[photos courtesy of HBO and Image.net]

Updated: HBO Announces Inauguration Performers

The Presidential Inaugural Committee (PIC) is pleased to announce the producers and initial talent lineup for WE ARE ONE: THE OBAMA INAUGURAL CELEBRATION AT THE LINCOLN MEMORIAL, the Opening Celebration for the 56th Presidential Inaugural, to be presented exclusively by HBO on SUNDAY, JAN. 18 (7:00-9:00 p.m. ET/PT). The event will be free and open to the public, kicking off the most open and accessible Inauguration in history.

Updated 1/16:
New musical performers include: Jon Bon Jovi and Mstr.Sgt. Caleb Green (US Army).
New readers include: Ashley Judd, Kal Penn, Forest Whitaker and Tiger Woods.

Musical performers scheduled for the event include Beyonce, Mary J. Blige, Bono, Garth Brooks, Sheryl Crow, Renee Fleming, Josh Groban, Herbie Hancock, Heather Headley, John Legend, Jennifer Nettles, John Mellencamp, Usher Raymond IV, Shakira, Bruce Springsteen, James Taylor, will.i.am and Stevie Wonder. Among those reading historical passages will be Jamie Foxx, Martin Luther King III, Queen Latifah and Denzel Washington. The Rt. Reverend V. Gene Robinson will give the invocation. Rob Mathes will be the music director and arranger for the backing band, which will support all of the artists. Additional performers will be announced as they are confirmed.

"Our intention is to root the event in history, celebrating the moments when our nation has united to face great challenges and prevail," observed George Stevens, Jr. "We will combine historical readings by prominent actors with music from an array of the greatest stars of today."

Best Part of the Superbowl? THE COMMERCIALS!

SUPER BOWL'S GREATEST COMMERCIALS 2009, an interactive entertainment special hosted by Jim Nantz, Lead Play-by-Play Announcer of THE NFL ON CBS, and co-host Daisy Fuentes, will be broadcast Saturday, Jan. 31 (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.

The 10 greatest Super Bowl commercials will vie for the number one spot. Viewers can now go to www.cbs.com/superbowl to watch them and vote for their favorite. This year, the top three picks will be revealed during the show and, in a special vote on www.cbs.com/superbowl, viewers will decide which commercial will take home the ultimate title.

Viewers will also be able to catch a sneak peak of this year's most highly-anticipated commercials before the big game as well as get a behind-the-scenes look at how their favorite spots are made. In addition, the special will retire one of the most legendary commercials of all-time — the reigning champion, Coca-Cola's "Mean Joe Greene" spot, which has been the "Super Bowl's Greatest Commercial" winner for the past six years.

Stephen Colbert Wishes You A Merry Little Truthmass

This year, a great American holiday tradition is born – watching "A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift of All!," Stephen Colbert's one-hour original musical holiday special premiering Sunday, November 23 at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT on COMEDY CENTRAL.

In the special, Colbert is on his way to perform with Elvis Costello in New York City but is trapped by snow in his cabin in upstate New York (bear country). Luckily, his friends Feist, Toby Keith, John Legend, Willie Nelson and Jon Stewart stop by to help him celebrate the season.

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Heat Miser and Snow Miser are Back!

This year ABC Family proudly presents the new original animated special, “A Miser Brothers’ Christmas,” premiering Saturday, December 13 (8:00 – 9:00 PM ET/PT) and based upon characters originally appearing in the Rankin-Bass Christmas classic, “The Year Without a Santa Claus.”

Mickey Rooney returns as the voice of Santa Claus and George S. Irving returns as Heat Miser in a tale of how Santa throws out his back and is unable to deliver gifts for Christmas, threatening to ruin Christmas for children all around the world.

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Ricky Gervais Takes Over HBO This Weekend

Ricky Gervais, Emmy(r)-winning star of the acclaimed HBO series "Extras," makes his American TV stand-up debut when RICKY GERVAIS: OUT OF ENGLAND - THE STAND-UP SPECIAL is presented SATURDAY, NOV. 15 (9:00-10:15 p.m. ET/10:00-11:15 p.m. PT). Taped in summer 2008 before a live audience at the WaMu Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City, the special includes material from his three sold-out British stand-up tours, featuring Gervais' unique take on such disparate (and often politically incorrect) issues as fund-raising, fame, nursery rhymes, Nazis, moronic friends and obesity.

Other HBO playdates: Nov. 15 (12:45 a.m. ET/12:10 a.m. PT), 18 (1:00 a.m.), 21 (8:30 p.m.), 24 (9:30 p.m.) and 30 (2:00 a.m.), and Dec. 3 (11:30 p.m.)

President Elect Obama's Speech

We interrupt our regular TV writing to share our witness of history with our readers with two great speeches that ended the historic 2008 Presidential election.

McCain's Speech

We interrupt our regular TV writing to share our witness of history with our readers with two great speeches that ended the historic 2008 Presidential election.

TheTwoCents 2008 Holiday Special Guide

It's that time of year again! Huge balloons going down Manhattan streets, a glowing red nose, a magic hat, a Red Rider BB Gun, angels and a whole lot of white beards.

The Holiday Special Season is upon us! As info comes out about air dates, networks and the such, we will update this post. Simply click on that colorful Holiday Guide button on the right hand menu and you'll go right to this post from now all the way till Dick Clark and Ryan Seacrest count down to 2009.

ABC Loves Halloween

Tonight ABC will air "It's The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown" at 8pm EST.

Also, ABC.com is providing viewers with online video costume tips to look like characters from their favorite ABC series.

Do you feel a flashback coming on? Want to get in touch with your inner tough guy? Then check out ABC.com’s online video tips on how to transform yourself into the likes of Ray Carling, the ‘70s no-nonsense NY detective from the 125th precinct, or if it’s more of a domestic goddess vibe you’re feeling, learn how to become Bree Van de Kamp, the always proper and perfectly coiffed housewife from Wisteria Lane.

New video costume tips for other ABC characters will be posted daily at www.abc.com through Halloween.

[photo: ABC.com]

Rosie Brings Back Variety

Emmy Award-winning talk show host, producer and TV personality Rosie O'Donnell will return to television on NBC with "Rosie's Variety Show" an hour-long variety special featuring a wide array of celebrity guests, musical acts, comedy skits and a giant primetime giveaway for both the in-studio and home audiences – all for a live broadcast on Wednesday, November 26 from 8-9 p.m. ET (the night before Thanksgiving). The announcement was made by Craig Plestis, Executive Vice President, Alternative Programming, Development and Specials, NBC Entertainment.

"We are excited to have Rosie back on TV at NBC," said Plestis. "Together with Rosie, we are reinventing the variety show. This special will be first and best since it will be live and the audience will never know what will happen next."

Said O'Donnell, "This is a dream come true for any performer. Old time variety, live from New York with a nod to Ed Sullivan, Carol Burnett and memories of Sonny and Cher."

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[photo: NBC]

News Year Eve TV Programming

We all need to keep our dates open for our favorite New Years Eve Specials, now don't we?

So, we here at TheTwoCents are more than happy to spread the New Years love! Here's what we have so far! If you don't see a favorite of your here, shoot us an email and we'll try to find when it's on for you!

Monday, December 31st
10:00PM (ABC)
"Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve"
For the 36th consecutive year, “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve” will lead America into the New Year when Dick Clark and Ryan Seacrest host. The American tradition of Dick Clark counting down to midnight will once again take place during the three-and-a-half hours of specials from Times Square in New York City. This year will include special performances from both New York and Hollywood. Additionally Marysol Castro, “Good Morning America Weekend’s” weather and features correspondent, will return to report on other happenings in and around New York City.

11:00PM (FOX)
"New Year's Eve Live"
Join the celebration live from New York City’s Times Square as Cat Deeley counts down to 2008 on FOX. Deeley, reprising her role as host, will take a look back at the year’s most memorable moments in pop culture and introduce live performances by some of the year’s hottest musical artists. During the broadcast, TALKSHOW host Spike Feresten will report from the heart of Times Square to conduct his signature “man-on-the-street” interviews with partygoers. As 2007 comes to a close, Deeley and Feresten will bring in the New Year as the world-famous New Year’s Eve ball makes its descent into Times Square .

11:35PM (NBC)
"NBC's New Year's Eve With Carson Daly"
Carson Daly will be on the east coast this holiday season when he and "Last Call" executive producer David Friedman produce "NBC's New Year's Eve with Carson Daly" live from Times Square in New York City. Expanding on the success of last year's music-filled event, this year's celebration will begin at 11:35 pm (EST) and ring in 2008 with performances by Grammy winning artist Lenny Kravitz, among others.

Tuesday, January 1, 2008
11:00AM (HGTV)
"Tournament of Roses Parade"
The other networks carry the parade too, but only the Home and Garden Network shows it commercial free!

Movies That Rock Performances

Performances have been announced for MOVIES ROCK, a new entertainment special celebrating the powerful relationship between music and film, to be broadcast Friday, Dec. 7 (9:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.

The performances are:

· Beyoncé singing "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" from the movie "The Wizard of Oz"
· Mary J. Blige and John Legend singing "As Time Goes By" from the movie " Casablanca "
· Nicole Scherzinger singing "Diamonds Are A Girl’s Best Friend" from the movies "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" and "Moulin Rouge"
· Jennifer Hudson singing "Somewhere" from the movie "West Side Story"
· Chris Brown singing "Jailhouse Rock" from the movie "Jailhouse Rock"
· Carrie Underwood singing "The Sound of Music" from the movie "The Sound of Music"
· Usher singing "Singin’ in the Rain" from the movie "Singin’ in the Rain"
· Fergie singing "Live and Let Die" from the movie "Live and Let Die"
· John Williams performing a film score compilation
· Queen Latifah performing "Big Spender" from the movie "Sweet Charity"
· Elton John singing "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" from the movie "The Lion King"
· Marc Anthony singing "Mrs. Robinson" from the movie "The Graduate"
· will.i.am, Busta Rhymes, LL Cool J and Eve performing a "Shaft" compilation from the movie "Shaft"
· Tony Bennett singing "White Christmas" from the movie "Holiday Inn"

The first annual MOVIES ROCK is a two-hour live event television special that will celebrate every dimension of music’s leading role in moviemaking, from singing starlets to scene-stealing rappers, to directors whose indelible musical tastes redefine the way we listen to music and watch films. The Entertainment Industry Foundation will be a beneficiary of the project.

Barbara Walters' 10 Most Fascinating People of 2007

Controversial radio personality Don Imus has granted his first interview since being fired last April to Barbara Walters for “Barbara Walters Presents: The 10 Most Fascinating People of 2007,” airing on THURSDAY, DECEMBER 6 (10:02-11:00 pm, ET), on the ABC Television Network. During the interview, Mr. Imus fully discusses his reactions to what has happened to him since leaving broadcasting following his racially charged comments about the Rutgers women’s basketball team.

The special also includes interviews with sexy Spice Girl Victoria Beckham, her soccer superstar husband David Beckham, former President William Jefferson Clinton, MySpace media moguls Tom Anderson and Chris DeWolfe, Emmy Award winner Katherine Heigl, pop superstar Justin Timberlake and Academy Award winner Jennifer Hudson. The Number One Most Fascinating Person of 2007 will be announced on the program.

Now in its 15th season, “Barbara Walters Presents: The 10 Most Fascinating People” has consistently been one of the highest rated specials of the year.