Author: Shirley Halperin

If you’ve found yourself hooked on Catfish: The TV Show, you are not alone.

The MTV series, which premiered on November 12 and became the network’s highest rated debut since 2007, looks at the complicated world on online relationships, focusing specifically on those who’ve never met, never mind consummated.

Without giving too much away, it’s fair to say that things on Facebook and other social networks, are not always what they seem — the guy you fell in love with, could be a girl; Miss Teen USA Kari Ann Peniche? More like Miss Average from Anytown, USA.  

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The brainchild of New York native Nev Schulman, who himself fell victim to a Facebook façade when he developed a crush on a sexy young blonde named Megan and later discovered that the person he had been messaging with was actually a dowdy and middle-aged woman named Angela (he made a movie out of it), and filmmaker Max Joseph, a friend since childhood, Catfish is a fascinating look at the psychology of love — both perceived and real, the latter usually buried deep within a web of lies, exaggerations and distortions.

It’s enough to sour anyone’s appetite for schadenfreude, but at the same time, strangely heartwarming. Credit the soft-spoken Schulman, who patiently holds the desperados’ hands before, during and after the big reveal: the couple’s first real-life encounter.

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The Hollywood Reporter sat down with Nev, who proudly boasts that he now has a girlfriend, and Max for a candid conversation on the pros and cons of online dating and what they’ve learned about themselves and about human nature from the Catfish experience.

Watch the videos above and below…

Nino Munoz / FOX

It seems the great X Factor experiment is over.

Sources tell The Hollywood Reporter that Britney Spears is destined to be a one-term judge on the Fox show. Although no official word has been handed down by execs to the talent (creator Simon Cowell, for one, is still on holiday somewhere off the coast of St. Barts), an X Factor insider says the writing was on the wall — Spears was not going to be asked back and so she will not return for season three.

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Blame the double-digit dip in ratings and a case of mismanaged expectations for her anticipated exit, which TMZ first reported with the headline, “I Quit, Y’All!” By several accounts, her performance on the live shows simply underwhelmed and the constant criticism — especially from the media, both traditional and social — was starting to bother the show’s top brass. Spears’ deal with X Factor brought her around $15 million, THR had previously reported.

Fox had no comment. The network has already given the green light to season three, and at Tuesday’s executive session at the Television Critics Association gathering in Pasadena, Fox entertainment chairman Kevin Reilly complimented Spears on her performance. “I think Britney did a really good job,” he told reporters, adding that he would like her to return, but also acknowledging, “Maybe some people were waiting for more drastic displays of some nature that never came, so for those expecting that, it didn’t happen. … She’s just an interesting figure who’s lived a unique life, and I thought she brought some of that.”

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To be fair, Spears did have her moments: like the time she told contestant CeCe Frey, “Sorry, I just don’t get it,” without flinching (the song: self-pity anthem “All By Myself”); and who can forget her funny faces collage, stitched together for the finale? If only Spears could expand her vocabulary.

With L.A. Reid’s previously announced exit, that leaves two seats to fill next season, and another judges’ hunt for Fox, Syco and production partners FremantleMedia to sludge through.

At TCA, Reilly noted that Cowell “hasn’t even talked about any of this going forward.” Indeed, it looks like this wheel is grinding to a halt, but Spears still has her highly lucrative career. The singer is currently in the studio with will.i.am working on a new album.

Lacey Rose contributed to this report

Frank Micelotta / PictureGroup / Fox

Year after year, Idol Worshippers the world over hope for a twist, a turn or something new to add to a decade-plus formula. Well, it looks like we got it this year thanks to the judges’ panel’s two new additions, Nicki Minaj and Mariah Carey, who are certain to keep viewers, contestants and producers on their toes. 

Journalists attending Tuesday’s Television Critics Association confab in Pasadena got their first taste of the season to come, and it had plenty of bite. 

Here, five things we learned about Idol in the year 2013…

1. Fox is putting all its eggs in the diva basket: Despite an effort to downplay the drama of November’s leaked cell phone video, network brass are convinced that the new panel will “invigorate the show.” So said Fox president of alternative programming Mike Darnell in a passionate defense of why Idol remains “the king of shows.” Said Darnell: Yes, there are too many of these shows on the air and they’re all taking each other down a little bit. But this is … the only one that makes stars and people keep coming back to it for that reason.” Fights aside, he continued, “There is passion in this group. They disagree on the talent and how to approach the talent. It’s not just the girls, it’s everybody.”

PHOTOS: ‘American Idol’ Season 12: Mariah Carey, Nicki Minaj Search for a Winner

2. Tie-breakers are tricky: Despite the producers’ best efforts to balance the judges’ opinions, veto and golden ticket power seem to be an issue. As executive producer Nigel Lythgoe explained, in every audition city, when the vote was split two and two, they would alternate which of the judges “would carry the vote across.” Be the experiment turned out to be incredibly predictable. “It didn’t work because whichever way that particular judge voted, they continued to vote that way [and] not send them through, so two people were always pretty angry about that.”

3. Nicki Minaj has no problem saying no: “Idol was a show that I had watched since the first season,” said the rapper and hitmaker. “When I see them say yes to someone who didn’t need to be there, it makes me want to jump at the TV. It hurts my soul. … I didn’t really have a problem saying no because we’re looking for the best of the best. I remember watching from home, I didn’t like when [judges] would be overtly passive — we’re here to do a job. I don’t put someone through because of a great story or because there’s something going on that may make people cry.” Carey, on the other hand, seemed to struggle with rejection. “I had a tough time with [saying ‘no’] because as a kid, you get turned down a lot,” she said. “It’s tough to get that rejection. We’ve all felt it.”

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4. Nothing breaks the ice like a sex tape joke: Despite TCA members’ repeated attempts to assess what exactly happened during the North Carolina flight, Carey and Minaj weren’t giving much insight. As for how they ultimately reconciled? Minaj joked that she had the group “watch my sex tape,” while host Ryan Seacrest added, “Fondue — we all shared forks.” Ultimately, it looked as if the girls still had some issues to iron out. Witness this exchange about the feud: 

Minaj: “We’re professionals.”

Carey: “It was sort of one-sided.”

Minaj: “No, it wasn’t.”

Carey: “At least we can agree on my shoes.”

5. WGWGs? Check. Lythgoe readily acknowledges, “We had a real spate of ‘white guys with guitars.'” To tackle the problem, the show will be dividing potential finalists by gender, putting through an equal number of guys and gals until they reach the Top 10. Also new: a “nominate a loved one” option, which Randy Jackson helms during auditions, giving several lucky auditioners a jump to the front of the line. But ultimately, it’s about giving the contestants time to develop and find their own voice. Said Jackson: “Last season, Jessica Sanchez didn’t really blossom until the Vegas round.” This year, 276 were put through to Hollywood Week, but while plenty got close, only a select few will make it to the live show. To that, said Carey, “If you see they’re that close, you feel for them. Minaj’s take: “It’s just life — it’s reality.”

Twitter: @shirleyhalperin