It looks like America is tiring of recent tabloid magnets Jon and Kate Gosselin. Monday night’s episode of TLC’s “Jon & Kate Plus 8” averaged only 4.3 million viewers — down from the nearly 10 million viewers who watched the May 25 season premiere and off nearly 1.5 million viewers from last week. Our long national nightmare could be over.
Better news for TNT, with Monday’s season premiere of “The Closer” (Kyra Sedg wick) snaring 7.1 million viewers — basic cable’s big gest scripted-series audience this year — and for Disney Channel’s “JONAS,” which hit a series high in kids 6-11 (1.7 million) last week.
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Dancing With the Stars” hoofer Tony Dovolani has inked a deal to star in the up coming indie comedy “Pump ing Up,” about a bodybuilder (played by Dovolani) and his pals. Co-stars include Clint Howard (Ron‘s brother) and ‘KTU’s Goumba Johnny; it shoots later this year.
More actors: “Starr Report” reader “Jackie” wants to know more about Nicholas Campbell, who stars as a cru sading coroner (and ex-cop) in “Da Vinci’s Inquest,” seen weekends on Ch. 7. “Inquest” aired on Canada’s CBC from 1998-2005. Campbell, 57, has won three Gemini Awards (Canada’s Emmy) and was in “Cinderella Man.”
John “Cha Cha” Ciarcia, meanwhile, is in Philly today shooting a spot with Danny DeVito for FX’s “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.”
And E!’s Denise Richards was at the 77kids by american eagle “Denim Decorating Booth” at the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foun dation’s picnic. She also hosts this month on medium John Edward‘s new site, infinite quest.com, launching Friday.
Last, but not least:
* Tonight’s emcees: Ch. 5’s Julie Chang (Lighthouse event); Ch. 2’s Cindy Hsu (Asian American Business As sociation Awards) . . . TV judge Jeanine Pirro is hon ored tonight by the Israel Can cer Research Fund . . . “The Early Show’s” summer concert series (from the Intrepid) starts Friday with Lionel Richie and Akon.