'Amazing Race' Producer Poisoned to Death

A producer for CBS's "The Amazing Race" was found dead in his hotel room, the apparent victim of a poisoning, reports the Daily Mail.

Jeff Rice was a freelance producer who worked on creating challenges for the CBS show in Africa. His female assistant was also poisoned, and was hospitalized in a coma. The incident took place in Uganda.

Rice and his aide, who were not working for "The Amazing Race" at the time, had apparently had an encounter with local thugs in which Rice refused to give up their belongings.

FoxNews.com reports that Uganda police are still investigating the case.

Rice was an experienced TV producer, having worked on Animal Planet's "Whale Wars" and the South African version of "The Biggest Loser." The current season of "The Amazing Race," which began airing Sunday, included Rice's work.

CBS has not commented on Rice's death. Jerry Bruckheimer Films, which produces "The Amazing Race," told the newspaper it had no knowledge of the incident.

NBC's 'Biggest Loser' Suspends Production After Contestants Walk Off the Set

The remaining contestants on NBC's "Biggest Loser" have reportedly walked off the show and are threatening to quit, reports TMZ.com.

The mutiny happened this week when the contestants learned that the producers were considering bringing back previous contestants to compete, the story notes. The current contestants, to protest that decision, decided together to walk off the show in the middle of shooting an episode, the story says.

The show has shut down production for at least a week, the piece adds. NBC and "The Biggest Loser" didn't immediately respond, the story says.

Report: Whitney Houston Had Deadly Drug Cocktail in Her System

The late Whitney Houston had a lethal combination of drugs and alcohol in her system when she died at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, the New York Post reports. The drugs included Valium and Xanax, according to the report.

The coroner is awaiting final toxicology reports to find out which of the three substances was the major contributing factor in her death, the story notes. While she was found submerged in a bathtub at the hotel, it's believed that her heart stopped beating because of the sedatives and alcohol, not from drowning, the piece adds.

Final results should be available in the next few weeks, according to the article.

Late-Night Talk Show Host Gets Contract Extension

A popular late-night talk show host has had his contract extended until 2014.

A press announcement today said, "TBS has extended the popular late-night series 'Conan' through April 2014, demonstrating the network's solid commitment to the Emmy-nominated show and its host, Conan O'Brien."

The release added, " 'Conan' has enjoyed three consecutive months of audience growth. In January 2012, the show was up 27% in total viewers compared to October 2011, while adults 18-34 were up 18% and adults 18-49 up 21%. Already in February, 'Conan' is showing an additional 12% growth among adults 18-34, 11% among adults 18-49 and 8% among total viewers. In 2012, 'Conan' has averaged 1.1 million viewers, with 407,000 adults 18-34 and 702,000 adults 18-49."

In a statement, O'Brien said, “I am excited to continue my run with TBS because they have been fantastic partners. This means I’ll be taping episodes of 'Conan' well into the Ron Paul presidency.”

The press announcement adds that O'Brien "has amassed 5,020,000 followers on Twitter, more than any other late-night host. Video clips from 'Conan' presented through TeamCoco.com, viral players and YouTube attracted more than 83 million video views in 2011. And the Team Coco Facebook page has drawn more than 1.8 million fans, nearly doubling the page's January 2011 figures."

Oscar Hopeful's Very Special Mentor, and the Best Saturday Afternoon Ever

This story -- which you can read if you click on this sentence -- is told by TVWeek Open Mic blogger Chuck Ross, and it's most likely not what you expect.

'Heroes' Actor to Star in Frank Darabont TNT Project

Frank Darabont, who executive produced the first season of "The Walking Dead," has cast one of the stars of "Heroes" in a starring role in his TNT drama pilot "L.A. Noir," reports Deadline.com.

“Heroes” alum Milo Ventimiglia will likely join "The Walking Dead" actor Jon Bernthal, who is in negotiations for another lead role on the TNT crime drama, the story notes.

Ventimiglia will play Ned Stax, an ex-Marine who served with Bernthal's character during World War II but who is now a lawyer working for the mob, the story says. The project is based on the book "L.A. Noir: The Struggle for the Soul of America's Most Seductive City," the piece adds.

Fox Readying New Show From 'American Idol' Producer

Fox is close to a deal with "American Idol" producer FremantleMedia North America for a new show that's based on a U.K. hit, reports EW.com's Inside TV blog.

The network is already casting for a version of the dating show "Take Me Out," which features a single man trying to impress 30 single women standing at lighted podiums, the story says. If they lose interest, the women switch off their lights. If the man survives and avoids a "blackout," the remaining women compete until only one is left, the story adds.

Fox is considering a summer debut, according to the piece. Both Fox and FremantleMedia declined to comment, the story adds.

Late-Night Talk Show Loses Director After 17 Years

After 17 years on the job, the director of one of the broadcast channels’ late-night talk shows is exiting the show, Deadline.com reports.

Brian McAloon is leaving CBS’s "The Late Late Show" and its production company, David Letterman’s Worldwide Pants, the story reports.

McAloon was the only person to direct the late-night show, overseeing it through three hosts, the story says. McAloon started off on Letterman's "Late Night" on NBC and moved to "The Late Late Show" in 1995 when it debuted with Tom Snyder as its host, the piece adds.

He directed more than 3,400 episodes in all, including the entire run of Snyder’s successor, Craig Kilborn, according to the story.

He's leaving as current host Craig Ferguson is finalizing a deal to shift to a larger studio. McAloon will be replaced by his longtime assistant director, Tim Mancinelli, the story adds.

Adele Unleashes Her Inner M.I.A., Flips the Bird on Live TV

Singer Adele apparently channeled M.I.A. during a live awards broadcast, flipping the bird after the show cut off her acceptance speech for British Album of the Year Award, reports TheWrap.com.

Adele was speaking Tuesday at the BRIT Awards when she was cut off to make time for Blur's performance at the end of the show, the piece reports. M.I.A. gave the finger during this year's Super Bowl halftime show.

"I was held up with my voice and troubles but the album kept walking without me. I flipped the bird for the suits at the BRITS who cut me off. Sorry if I offended anyone but it was for them, not for the fans," Adele said, according to the story.

Here’s a clip of the incident:

'X Factor' Contestant May Get Nickelodeon Show

A former contestant on "The X Factor" may get a show on Nickelodeon, reports the New York Post. The television network is working on a comedy pilot for 14-year-old Rachel Crow, the story says.

"We are in the early stages now,” Crow said, according to the story. “We haven’t figured out exactly what we will do with the show yet. I want it to be definitely very ‘Rachel.’ Something that shows who I am and who I want to be.”

Crow will appear in five episodes of Nickelodeon's new comedy program "Fred: The Show,” the story adds. She will sing two songs and play Fred's best friend, with the episodes scheduled to air later this spring, according to the article.

Crow, whose mother was addicted to crack cocaine, finished fifth in "The X Factor" and was a fan favorite, the piece adds.