Debra Messing, Kelly Osborne, Isaac Mizrahi, Miranda Kerr, Pharrell Williams, Kenneth Cole, Molly Sims, along with diva Muppet Miss Piggy, will highlight the launch of two new “Project Runway” spin-offs on Lifetime Nov. 3.

“Project Runway All Stars,” which premieres at 9 p.m. on that night, will also include memorable contestants from the flagship series, like season eight runner-up Mondo Guerra, season one’s fourth-place finisher Austin Scarlett and season five third place finisher Kenley Collins.

The all stars will be competing for the most lucrative prize ever in the “Project Runway” franchise: an exclusive boutique at Neiman Marcus, $100,000 in technology and office space, $100,000 cash from L’Oreal Paris, a feature spread in Marie Claire, a one-year guest editorship at Marie Claire and a sewing and embroidery studio.

“Project Runway All Stars” is hosted by supermodel Angela Lindvall, with designers Isaac Mizrahi and Georgina Chapman as judges and Marie Claire editor Joanna Coles as their mentor. Miss Piggy, Kerry and Williams are among the season’s guest judges.

Following the “All Stars” debut, Lifetime will premiere “Project Accessory” at 10 p.m., hosted by model/actress Molly Sims. Twelve designers will try to whip up the most stand-out fashion accessories in hopes of winning the $100,000 grand prize to start their own line.

Sims, designer Kenneth Coles and InStyle magazine editor Ariel Foxman will judge the belts, shoes, bags, jewelry and other fashionable accoutrements, with Messing and Osborne among the new show’s judges.

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There’s no denying that musical television is having its day in the sun. With shows such as “Glee,” “American Idol,” “The Voice” and “Dancing With the Stars” among the most popular in primetime, it’s no surprise that networks are greenlighting more music-based programming.

Buzzed about in the coming fall season is NBC’s “Smash,” which boasts a team of heavy hitters behind it, including Steven Spielberg as co-executive producer along with Craig Zadan and Neil Meron (producers of “Chicago” and “Hairspray”), renowned songwriting duo Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman (Broadway’s “Catch Me if You Can,” “Hairspray”) and playwright Theresa Rebeck, who also is head writer.

The show, which will begin airing midseason with “The Voice” as its lead-in, goes behind the scenes of a Broadway musical based on the life of Marilyn Monroe, and stars Debra Messing and Christian Borle as the musical’s creators and songwriting team. “American Idol” alumna Katharine McPhee plays an aspiring young actress-singer vying for the title role, and Anjelica Huston stars as the musical’s producer.

“It’s essentially a workplace drama and the center of it is about the making of a musical,” explains Rebeck, who is mining her own life as inspiration for Messing’s character. “It’s a very dynamic, interesting and complicated world. I think it’s a world that has a lot of interest for America. It’s sort of like ‘The West Wing’ with music because that world had really intelligent, passionate people in it.”

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I haven’t forgotten Debra’s birthday yesterday (August 15th) I just haven’t been near a computer before today. So here’s a little belayed birthday wish to the wonderful Debra Messing!

With the wheels starting to fall off the Glee juggernaut following a disappointing second season and the news that three of the show’s biggest names won’t return after the third season, the stage is ripe for the arrival of a new pretender.

Enter Smash, the let’s-put-the-show-on-right-here tale of a Marilyn Monroe musical and the disparate band of losers, dreamers and outright schemers who hope to bring it to Broadway, which is arousing interest among UK television channels.

The new drama certainly boasts a top-notch pedigree: the cast includes Angelica Huston as a seen-it-all producer, Debra Messing as one half of a frazzled writing duo, Jack Davenport as a suitably saturnine director, the 2006 American Idol runner-up Katharine McPhee as a hope-filled ingénue and Broadway star Megan Hilty as the musical’s would-be-star.

As if that weren’t enough it’s co-produced by Steven Spielberg with Craig Zadan and Neil Meron (the producers of Chicago and Hairspray), written by acclaimed playwright Theresa Rebeck (Omnium Gatherum, The Understudy), directed by Spring Awakening’s Tony-award winning director Michael Mayer and will feature songs written by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman (the duo behind the musical version of Hairspray).

Indeed, the American network NBC is so confident of success that it’s not only already signed a record deal with Columbia for the soundtrack similar to the label’s deal with Glee but has also handed it a prime launch date. Smash will start on Monday 6 February, the day after the network airs the SuperBowl, and it will no doubt use plenty of its precious SuperBowl ad space to remind viewers to tune in (more…)

On the 100th anniversary of her birthday, Lucille Ball is still a front runner for the title of the greatest comedienne in TV history, alongside greats like Mary Tyler Moore, Isabel Sanford, and Betty White. And while I Love Lucy ended its initial run back in the ’50s, Ball’s influence is still obvious in many of today’s top TV comics — from SNL vets Tina Fey and Amy Poehler to sitcom stars like Debra Messing. But do any of these ladies deserve to be called the new Lucy? (Apologies to beloved EW vet Michael Slezak, who begged us back in 2006 never to crown a new Ms. Ball.) Here’s a case for each nominee, along with her Lucy-est moment.

Debra Messing
Sure, there’s the red hair, the old-Hollywood features, the goofy-wide smile. But Messing has more than just a physical resemblance to Lucy. She’s also a top-flight slapstick comedienne who can pratfall and spit-take with the best of them. Her Lucy Moment The writers of Will & Grace had to be thinking of Lucy when they wrote “Das Boob,” the episode where Grace’s water bra springs a leak at an art gallery.

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