"Sopranos" Put on Ice; Emmy Nominations

July 2006 news

Delayed drama: James Gandolfini's knee surgery is putting him -- and his show -- on the disabled list. HBO had originally planned to start The Sopranos' sixth and final season in January, but announced mid-July that there probably won't be any new episodes until March. Apparently the network would rather take on college hoops fans than NFL aficionados.

Topsy-turvy Emmys: Speaking of The Sopranos, it received only seven Emmy nominations this year, an all-time low. Also getting less love from the Academy was last year's freshman sensation Desperate Housewives, which only got one nomination in a major category. All was not lost for some tried-and-true shows, though, as departing fave The West Wing scored four major nominations. Click here for a rundown of the major nominations.

Moving on up: House star Hugh Laurie was snubbed by the Emmys, but did get recognized by his employers. His contract for Fox's medical drama was extended for one more year, and when the show returns, Laurie's paycheck will be in the vicinity of $300,000 per episode. For that kind of money, Laurie can buy his own awards, and a mantel or two to put them on.

Filling in: Jay Leno (right) is famous for his chin, but his thumb will be more important for his latest guest spot. The Tonight Show host will substitute for Roger Ebert on the August 5-6 episode of Ebert & Roeper while the film critic recuperates from cancer surgery. Meanwhile, while the talk show/gossipfest The View searches for a replacement for Star Jones Reynolds, it'll get temporary hosting help from four reality personalities. American Idol runner-up Katharine McPhee and Dancing With the Stars winner Kelly Monaco, Dancing judge Carrie Ann Inaba, and Shannon Doherty, whose Breaking Up with Shannon Doherty premieres on Oxygen in August.

In memoriam: June Allyson, who starred in several MGM musicals and comedies before turning to TV, died July 8. Also signing off were funny guy Red Buttons (July 13), whose career started in the Catskills and ended on ER; Kasey Rogers (July 6), of Bewitched and Peyton Place); and film/TV character actor Jack Warden (July 19).

-- A. Wu