NBC Announces the Cast of I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!

NBC announced today casting for its new groundbreaking live summer television event “I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!” premiering Monday, June 1.

Cast members will include: Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt (stars of MTV’s “The Hills”), NBA great and TV personality John Salley (”Best Damned Sports Show Period”), supermodel and TV star Janice Dickinson (”The Janice Dickinson Modeling Agency”), 2007 “American Idol” contestant Sanjaya Malakar, actor Stephen Baldwin (”The Usual Suspects”) and professional wrestler and beauty queen Torrie Wilson. Additional celebrity contestants will be named soon along with the hosts of the show.

“I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!” is the ultimate “Swiss Family Robinson” as 10 celebrities will be dropped into the heart of the jungle to face fun and comedic challenges designed to test their survival skills. America is the puppet master, controlling their favorite celebrities by putting them into challenges and tasks to win food, supplies and luxury items. In each episode, friendships will be tested, hilarity will ensue and viewers will decide which celebrities stay or go. The last remaining star will be crowned King or Queen of the Jungle, winning a substantial cash prize for their favorite charity.

In a unique scheduling move, “I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!” will air at 8 p.m. over four weeks in June. The new series will debut as a two-hour television event on Monday, June 1 (8-10 p.m. ET) and will follow with broadcasts on Mondays through Thursdays (8-9 p.m. ET) for the first three weeks. During the fourth week of June, the series will be telecast Monday through Wednesday (8-9 p.m. ET) with the finale on Wednesday, June 24 (8-9 p.m. ET). (courtesy of NBC)

Sanjaya to Star in New Ad for Nationwide

COLUMBUS, Ohio–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Nationwide announced today that the next star of the Life Comes at You Fast advertising campaign is Sanjaya Malakar, former contestant on “American Idol.” Sanjaya will follow in the footsteps of Kevin Federline, Fabio and MC Hammer, who appeared in previous Life Comes at You Fast commercials.

“I’m thrilled to star in one of Nationwide’s Life Comes at You Fast ads, because I really love the campaign,” said Malakar. “My experience on American Idol was is a great example of how life really does come at you fast. The ad is a funny take on the serious subject of planning for retirement.”

In the spot, Sanjaya visits a monastery in India to seek advice and he is told that he needs a retirement plan, and some work on his hair.

This is the third year Nationwide created advertising specifically targeting the South Asian market. The Sanjaya ad is one of six new spots that will specifically target the South Asian market.

“The rapidly growing South Asian market is very important to us,” said Tariq Khan, Nationwide’s vice president for Market Development and Diversity. “The creative work in these print ads and TV spots reflect traditions and situations that South Asians can relate to.”

In keeping with its unique campaign, the ad will use humor to make an important point: Life Comes at You Fast – often before you realize it. Whether it is getting married, having a child, buying a new home, or saving for college or retirement, advance preparation is important, especially when it comes to insurance and financial planning.

“The Life Comes at You Fast concept was created to remind people that they need to think about preparing for tomorrow,” said Steven Schreibman, vice president of advertising and brand management for Nationwide. “Sanjaya’s ad reminds consumers that they need to be prepared for life to change, because change is inevitable.”

American Idol News Bites & Gossip

- According to an interview that Blake Lewis gave radio station WAPE in Jacksonville, Florida, Sanjaya Malakar was put through with his sister because they thought that it would be “cute” to have a brother and sister on. When, he was cut later on, they decided to give him another chance, expecting that he would be cut before making it to the actual show.

- Some ex-Idols have a bone to pick: Kelly Clarkson is upset that songs from her CD were leaked before the album was actually finished, and Carrie Underwood is annoyed when the media ask questions about her break up with Chace Crawford.

- David Archeleta’s voice coach calls in several times a day from Salt Lake City to take him through voice exercises. Is that cheating?

- Danny Noriega is working on his own YouTube channel. Why?

-There’s an article in USA Today about former Idol contestant Nikki McKibbin, who talks about her lastest album, and how she literally took a swing at reality tv diva Omarosa.

-Unlike last season, where they didn’t want the elimination of a contestant ruin the “feel good” vibe of Idol Gives Back, this week somebody’s going home.

- Always and forever a diva, Randy Jackson’s buddy Mariah Carey taped her Idol Gives Back segment rocking a blinging microphone.

- Clay Aiken’s new cd, On My Way Here is set to drop on May 6:

- And finally, Miley Cyrus admitted to OK! magazine that she has never seen American Idol:
“I think it’s something you have to really get into from the beginning and I just don’t have time!”
Yeah, because if you miss a show, you won’t have a clue why these people are singing. What does she think it is; LOST?
Miley will be performing on Idol Gives Back, but I’m pretty sure she doesn’t know why.