- Sunday, July 29, 2012

The stars of “Modern Family” have reached new contracts to keep working on the Emmy-winning comedy, ending a dispute that had threatened to spill over into a courtroom.

A 20th Century Fox spokesman confirmed Friday evening that the deals had been reached and that shooting on the ABC series’ fourth season will begin Monday.

The deals cover stars Sofia Vergara, Ed O’Neill, Julie Bowen, Ty Burrell, Eric Stonestreet and Jesse Tyler Ferguson.

Five of the actors sued Fox on Tuesday, asking a judge to rule their contracts on the hit show are illegal and should be invalidated.

Mr. O’Neill joined the case later in the week.

Executive producer Christopher Lloyd said the lawsuit wouldn’t have interfered with production but it is “great to have that not hanging over our head.”

He said there would be no ill will on the set because the situation was resolved quickly and the show has a “charmed setup.”

“Modern Family,” a popular comedy that airs on ABC, has won Emmy Awards for outstanding Comedy Series the past two years.

Several of the stars, including Mr. Burrell, Ms. Bowen and Mr. Stonestreet have won individual Emmys for their work on the show.

The show was recently nominated for 14 Emmy Awards, the most of any sitcom.

The lawsuit, which claimed the actors’ contracts were illegal because they bound them to the show for more than seven years, will be dropped.

Exact terms of the deal were not released.

Former dancers returning for all-star competition

“Dancing With the Stars” is repeating some steps for its fall season.

An “All-Star” edition of the ABC competition show will bring back 12 former rivals including Pamela Anderson, Kirstie Alley and Bristol Palin.

Former ’NSync member Joey Fatone and gymnast Shawn Johnson — who won season 8 and is one of six former winners of the show — will also be returning, ABC announced Friday.

Other contestants include:

• “General Hospital” star and Season 1 winner Kelly Monaco.

• Former 98 Degrees boy-band member and season 2 winner Drew Lachey.

• Super Bowl champ and season 3 winner Emmitt Smith.

• Olympic medalist speed skater and season 4 winner Apolo Anton Ohno.

• Indianapolis 500 winner and season 5 winner Helio Castroneves.

• “The Bachelor” star Melissa Rycroft.

• Actor Gilles Marini.

In a break from the past, viewers can vote online for the 13th contestant from three former contestants: actors Kyle Massey and Sabrina Bryan and celebrity stylist Carson Kressley.

“This is about giving the viewers a treat, and breaking the rhythm of the show,” said executive producer Conrad Green during a session of the Television Critics Association conference.

“Dancing” returns on ABC on Sept. 24.

’Joy of Painting’ mashup joins Mister Rogers video

On the heels of PBS’ hit Mister Rogers video mashup, a second public TV favorite is getting the star treatment.

PBS said Thursday it has posted a video remix with clips from “The Joy of Painting” instructional series, featuring Bob Ross.

The “Happy Painter” remix is from John Boswell, who created the “Garden of Your Mind” video tribute to Fred Rogers. That mashup of clips from “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” has been viewed nearly 6 million times on YouTube.

“The Joy of Painting,” still seen in repeats, aired on PBS from 1983 to 1994 with its bushy-haired, mellow-voiced host. Ross died in 1995 of cancer at age 52.

The two PBS Digital Studios mashups are the start of a “PBS icons remixed” series that’s intended to get people talking about public TV and to support their local PBS stations.

Mr. Boswell, also known as Melodysheep, has done auto-tuned video pieces featuring prominent scientists including Neil deGrasse Tyson and Carl Sagan.

’GMA’s’ Robin Roberts preparing to take medial leave

“Good Morning America” anchor Robin Roberts is planning to take a medical leave around the end of August for her bone-marrow transplant.

But during her absence from the ABC morning show, she’ll be getting a little help from her friends, she said Thursday.

Ms. Roberts listed Barbara Walters, Diane Sawyer and Katie Couric among her “wonderful, wonderful friends at ABC News” who will be subbing for her. Others mentioned: talk-show host Kelly Ripa and panelists from the ABC talk show “The View.”

Ms. Roberts announced last month that she has MDS, a blood and bone-marrow disease once known as preleukemia.

On Thursday, she told reporters gathered for the Television Critics Association conference in Beverly Hills, Calif., that her leave would “most likely” start at the end of August or early September.

“It’s fascinating-slash-scary how to prepare yourself for something like this,” she said, appearing by satellite from ABC’s studios in New York. And when asked how she’s feeling, she replied, “I do go through moments of fatigue.”

Green Day’s Armstrong to mentor on ’The Voice’

NBC’s “The Voice” is adding a high-powered rocker to the mix.

NBC said Thursday that Green Day vocalist and guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong has joined the talent contest as a mentor to Christina Aguilera’s team this coming season.

In a statement, Mr. Armstrong said he and his family are fans of the show.

“The Voice” has won over viewers because “it’s not molding artists, it’s just giving them a little bit of guidance and direction without giving them a complete makeover,” he said.

Besides, Mr. Armstrong said, working with Ms. Aguilera is “a lot of fun.” He started taping Wednesday on “The Voice,” which has been in production for season three since June.

As the talent contest field grows more crowded, shows are competing for big-name music stars. “American Idol” is adding Mariah Carey as a judge, and “The X Factor” signed Britney Spears and Demi Lovato.

“The Voice” returns Sept. 10.

That’s good timing for Green Day: The band has three albums coming out in quick succession, with the first, “Uno!,” to be released Sept. 25.

In addition to Ms. Aguilera, the show’s coaches include Cee Lo Green, Adam Levine and Blake Shelton. Carson Daly is the host.

Compiled from Web and wire reports

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