Long-Running Game Show Hit With Lawsuit

A poplular CBS game show has been hit with a lawsuit, according to The Hollywood Reporter’s Hollywood, Esq. The suit, filed Friday, contends that the show, “Let’s Make a Deal,” makes it difficult for people with disabilities to get on the show as contestants.

Two wheelchair-bound fans of the show, Arnie Pike and Christie Rudder, filed the suit against the show’s producers, CBS Broadcasting and FremantleMedia claiming that they had to negotiate their way across busy streets and up slippery ramps in their attempt to appear on the show, suffering embarrassment and being treated unfairly, the piece reports.

Citing the Americans with Disabilities Act and California's civil rights laws, the plaintiffs contend that the show failed to provide full and equal access to facilities and services. In the court documents, the plaintiffs tell of not having a parking facility for their handicap van, no accessible place for them to buy food, no handicap toilet and wheelchair ramps that were dangerous to use.

Furthermore, inside the studio, they were separated from other audience members and shunted into an "extremely dark" area that offered obstructed views because of cameras and equipment. The pair have sought an injunction that orders the defendants to alter their facilities, an injunction to shut everything down until the producers comply, and monetary damages.

CBS had yet to comment for the story while a Fremantle representative wasn't available when the publication made inquiries.

Court documents reportedly show that Pike and Rudder have a history of filing similar lawsuits against fitness clubs, hotels, beaches, grocery stores and libraries -- and Pike filed a suit against ABC's "Dancing with the Stars."

J-Lo Hinting Around About Leaving 'Idol'

Singer-actress Jennifer Lopez is making noises like she's had enough of "American Idol," reports People magazine.

On Tuesday's "The Ellen DeGeneres Show," when asked whether she would be back next season as a judge on the Fox singing competition show, Lopez said, "I don't know. I enjoy it. I really do enjoy it. [But] I miss doing other things. It really does lock you down."

J-Lo wasn't just referring to her professional life. She was also speaking of her new beau, Casper Smart, and 4-year-old twins. "Now they're getting more mobile,” Lopez said. “They're about to go to school. I just don't know. I don't know."

Brutal Ratings Night for One of the Big Four Networks

One network had an especially tough night in the ratings Tuesday, with two shows hitting all-time lows and the network’s average rating in the key demo placing it a distant fourth for prime time -- and for a change, it wasn’t NBC.

The struggling network was ABC, which saw “Cougar Town” and “Dancing with the Stars” both hit historic lows. “Cougar Town” aired back-to-back episodes during the 8 p.m. hour, and both episodes averaged only a 1.0 rating in the key 18-49 demo in Nielsen overnights, according to TVbytheNumbers.com. The 1.0 was off 33% from last week’s 1.5, and an all-time low for the series.

The “Dancing” results show followed, pulling a 2.2 -- down 8% from a week ago and an all-time series low for a results show.

The network’s night did finish on an up note, with the “Private Practice” season finale at 10 p.m. rising a hefty 29% from the series low set a week ago.

For prime time overall, CBS was the winner with a 3.2 average rating in viewers 18-49, topping NBC (2.8 average) and Fox (2.8). ABC barely held off Univision for fourth place, averaging a 1.7 to Univision’s 1.6.

Total viewers saw CBS well out front with 16.1 million to 8.6 million for NBC. ABC pulled ahead of Fox, drawing 7.8 million to Fox’s 6.0 million. Univision had 4.1 million.

CBS’s “NCIS” season finale was the top show of the night with a 3.5 average rating in 18-49, just ahead of the 3.4 for NBC’s “America’s Got Talent” -- the best number of the season for NBC in the time period. Fox’s back-to-back installments of “Glee” had to settle for a 2.4 and a 2.5, down from last week’s 2.7.

TNT, TBS Take Wraps Off Development Slates

TNT and TBS previewed their wide-reaching development slates today, with projects involving everyone from Steven Bochco to Norm MacDonald and Tom Clancy to Matthew McConaughey, Deadline.com reports.

TNT’s development lineup includes “two drama projects originally set up at the broadcast networks this past season, David Baldacci/Shane Brennan’s ‘King And Maxwell,’ which was at CBS, and Howard Gordon/Jeffrey Nachmanoff’s ‘Legends,’ which was at NBC,” the story reports. “It also features an competition reality project from Matthew McConaughey and ‘American Idol’ executive producer Nigel Lythgoe searching for the best unsigned bar band.”

TNT also has an untitled Steven Bochco murder mystery project in development, along with “Tom Clancy’s Homeland Security.”

TNT plans a network record nine original series for this summer, the story reports. Among them: the revival of “Dallas” and TNT’s first reality-competition series, “The Great Escape.” Two other unscripted shows, “Boston Blue” and “72 Hours,” have also received the go-ahead, along with the medical drama “Monday Mornings.”

The report adds: “TBS’s original series are being developed to be compatible with the cable network’s two marquee off-network acquisitions, ‘The Big Bang Theory’ and ‘Family Guy.’ Coming down the pike from the first group are the upcoming comedy series ‘Men at Work,’ ‘Sullivan & Son,’ ‘Wedding Band’ and the recently picked up ‘Cougar Town.’”

Also in the works for TBS are the recently greenlighted “Deon Cole’s Black Box” and “Who Gets the Last Laugh?,” along with a competition show with the working title “King of the Nerds.” On the development slate are two comedies from Conan O’Brien’s production company and a talk show hosted by Norm MacDonald that will focus on pop culture and social media, the story reports.

Two of Three Judges on ABC's 'Duets' Have Kind Words for 'X Factor's' Britney and Demi ... but Not John Legend!

John Legend, getting set for his role as a judge and duet partner on ABC’s upcoming singing competition “Duets,” was less kind than his castmates when asked about “The X Factor’s” new judges, Britney Spears and Demi Lovato.

E! Online reports that Legend essentially said Spears and Lovato can’t sing.

Asked about the addition of the two pop princesses to the Fox singing competition, Legend said: "You know it's interesting. It should be very interesting. I don't have much to say. It's interesting when people you know who are judging singing competitions when they aren't really singers. It's interesting."

Legend’s fellow “Duets” judges Kelly Clarkson and Robin Thicke were more generous.

Said Thicke: "Oh come on, everything Britney does, she excels at. Demi is a lovely young lady, and I'm sure they'll do nothing but make the show a lot more fun to watch."

Clarkson added: "I'm excited for both of them. I'm a big fan of both of them. Both of those girls are super sweet. I think it's fun for them too to just be more out in the public eye again. I think those two are two you really want to root for and you really want them to succeed, so I think that's exciting."

Clarkson noted that the addition of Spears and Lovato could help “X Factor,” which fell below ratings expectations in its first season. "Obviously they are both performers so ... I think that show really needs it. I don't think everybody latched onto that show like they thought they would."

Who's the New Queen of All Media? TV and Music Fixture Surges to Top of Most Powerful Celebrities List

A familiar singer and actress has been named the most powerful celebrity, surging 49 places from her position on last year’s Forbes list, the New York Daily News reports.

Topping the just released list is Jennifer Lopez, who knocked Lady Gaga out of the No. 1 spot. Placing second on this year’s list was Oprah Winfrey, followed by Justin Bieber.

“Propelling Lopez’s meteoric rise was the $52 million she earned since last May and the high-profile platform she received as a judge of TV’s ‘American Idol,’” the story reports. “Just a few years after suffering album and film flops, Lopez scored lucrative endorsement deals with companies like L’Oreal and Gillette. She also has a line of clothing at Kohl’s and a top-selling fragrance.”

Forbes noted that Lopez, 42, is also a master of social media, with 6.6 million Twitter followers and 12 million Facebook fans.

Criteria for the annual Forbes power list include entertainment-related earnings, media visibility and popularity in social media.

Winfrey earned more than anyone else on the list, $165 million, but remained in the same spot she had a year ago, No. 2.

Bieber also held his same spot from last year, No. 3, earning $55 million.

Rihanna came in at No. 4, with $53 million in earnings, while Lady Gaga slipped to No. 5 with $52 million.

The rest of the top 10, followed by their earnings in the past year:

6. Britney Spears ($58 million)

7. Kim Kardashian ($18 million)

8. Katy Perry ($45 million)

9. Tom Cruise ($75 million)

10. Steven Spielberg ($130 million)

Actor From 'Terminator 3' and HBO's 'Carnivale' Reported Missing

An actor known for a string of film and TV roles including “Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines” and the HBO series “Carnivale” has been reported missing, TMZ.com reports.

Nick Stahl, who took over the role of John Connor for “Terminator 3,” was reported missing Monday by his wife, the story reports. In a missing person report filed with the Los Angeles Police Department, Stahl’s wife, Rose, said she last saw Stahl, 32, on May 9.

The report notes: “Sources tell TMZ ... it is believed Stahl had been frequenting the Skid Row area of Downtown Los Angeles recently ... and there are concerns he may have gotten himself involved in some bad stuff.

“Back in February, Nick's wife had filed court papers, expressing serious concerns that Nick may be using drugs ... and sources say she fears drugs may have something to do with his disappearance.”

People magazine reports that the LAPD confirmed today that Stahl is still missing.

People adds: “In February, Rose allegedly filed court papers saying the couple had been separated since January, and asked a judge to limit Stahl's visitations with their 2-year-old daughter, Marlo, to eight supervised hours per week.”

Stahl had a breakout role as a child actor in the 1993 movie “The Man Without a Face,” and has also appeared in “Sin City” and “In the Bedroom.”

Nick Stahl

CBS Unveils Fall Schedule, Adds Four New Series to Lineup

CBS announced its 2012-13 fall schedule today, including pickups of four new series, CBS News reports. CBS, which presents its upfront pitch later today, also announced that it will end the 2011-12 season as the most-watched TV network for the ninth time in 10 years.

CBS News reported: “The following shows will make their debut on the network in the fall: ‘Elementary,’ a contemporary take on detective Sherlock Holmes in New York City, starring Johnny Lee Miller and Lucy Liu; ‘Vegas,’ a drama inspired by a real-life sheriff and his battle with a mobster in 1960s Las Vegas, starring Dennis Quaid and Michael Chiklis; ‘Made in Jersey,’ starring Janet Montgomery as a smart first-year lawyer with a working-class background practicing at a prestigious New York City firm; and ‘Partners,’ a comedy about two very different life-long best friends and business partners, starting David Krumholtz and Michael Urie.”

In a statement, Nina Tassler, president of CBS Entertainment, said: “These new series feature a great range of bold concepts, rich characters, big stars and fresh faces. From a new take on Sherlock Holmes to an epic battle for control of 1960s Las Vegas to a working-class point of view in a prestigious law firm, the dramas each have a unique style and sensibility. And, our new comedy ‘Partners’ fits perfectly with the CBS Monday night tradition of relationship comedies with a lot of heart and humor.”

The network tweaked its schedule to create a new Monday comedy night, with the new show “Partners” and “2 Broke Girls” fitting between "How I Met Your Mother" and "Mike & Molly."

CBS said its margin of victory for the season in total viewers is the widest by any network in 23 years.

Here’s the fall schedule released today by the network:

CBS TELEVISION NETWORK

2012-2013 PRIMETIME SCHEDULE

(N=New, NT=New Time, all times ET/PT)

MONDAY

8:00-8:30 PM HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER

8:30-9:00 PM PARTNERS (N)

9:00-9:30 PM 2 BROKE GIRLS (NT)

9:30-10:00 PM MIKE & MOLLY

10:00-11:00 PM HAWAII FIVE-0

TUESDAY

8:00-9:00 PM NCIS

9:00-10:00 PM NCIS: LOS ANGELES

10:00-11:00 PM VEGAS (N)

WEDNESDAY

8:00-9:00 PM SURVIVOR

9:00-10:00 PM CRIMINAL MINDS

10:00-11:00 PM CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION

THURSDAY

8:00-8:30 PM THE BIG BANG THEORY

8:30-9:00 PM TWO AND A HALF MEN (NT)

9:00-10:00 PM PERSON OF INTEREST

10:00-11:00 PM ELEMENTARY (N)

FRIDAY

8:00-9:00 PM CSI: NY (NT)

9:00-10:00 PM MADE IN JERSEY (N)

10:00-11:00 PM BLUE BLOODS

SATURDAY

8:00-9:00 PM CRIMETIME SATURDAY

9:00-10:00 PM CRIMETIME SATURDAY

10:00-11:00 PM 48 HOURS MYSTERY

SUNDAY

7:00-8:00 PM 60 MINUTES

8:00-9:00 PM THE AMAZING RACE

9:00-10:00 PM THE GOOD WIFE

10:00-11:00 PM THE MENTALIST (NT)

Which Series Tops the List of This Season's Highest-Rated Canceled Shows? It's a Short-Lived Comedy That You May or May Not Remember

As the broadcast networks unveil their fall schedules this week, it's becoming clear that ratings weren't the be-all and end-all this season, reports EW.com's Inside TV.

Just take a look at Fox, which renewed "Fringe" with only 4.2 million viewers but canceled "Terra Nova," which drew more than 10 million viewers. In that case, one obvious issue was the expense of producing "Terra Nova." But other issues have come into play, including how passionate fans are about a series, a difficult time period and even if network executives like the show.

Among the top-rated canceled shows this season are:

"Rob." The CBS comedy drew 12 million viewers and a 3.7 rating among viewers 18-49 to earn the title of the season’s top-rated cancellation, managing to get only eight episodes on the air. "If NBC had a freshman comedy with a 3.7 average, it would run the show five nights a week this fall," the story says. "The issue here was Rob Schneider’s comedy was shedding too much of its massive 'Big Bang Theory' lead-in, and was trending the wrong direction."

"Terra Nova." The Fox drama drew 10.1 million viewers and had a demo rating of 3.6. EW reports: "Cost was a factor, but so was the network’s belief that midseason addition ‘Touch’ would be the network’s next big hit. (It wasn’t.)"

"Alcatraz." The show drew 9.6 million viewers and a 3.4 rating among 18-49. "The ratings on 'Alcatraz' keep sinking while the show, unlike other J.J. Abrams-produced dramas, wasn’t hugely engaging for viewers,” the story observes. “A second season would have likely seen a ratings drop into serious red-line territory."

"House" (Fox) and "Desperate Housewives" (ABC). They earned 8.7 million viewers (with a 3.3 rating in 18-49) and 10.4 million (3.5), respectively. The story notes: “Their conclusions were more like dignified retirements than cancellations. Both respected long-serving solid veterans of the broadcast game whose cost/benefit scale finally tipped."

"How to Be a Gentleman." This CBS show drew 8.7 million viewers and a 2.8 rating. "Short-lived. Critics didn’t like it, and it didn’t pull its weight."

Also noteworthy: CBS’s unmemorable “Unforgettable” matched “Rob’s” 12 million total viewers, but pulled only a 2.5 average rating in viewers 18-49, while CBS’s long-running “CSI: Miami” got the plug pulled despite 10.8 million viewers and a 2.5 demo average.

Movie Widely Acclaimed as One of the Best of All Time Will Stream for Free on Facebook

A movie widely considered to be one of the greatest films of all time will stream for free on Facebook later today in celebration of the film's 70th anniversary, reports The Washington Post.

That movie is "Casablanca."

The film will be streamed at Warner Bros.’ Official Casablanca Facebook Page, starting at 7 p.m. Eastern and Pacific time. Click here to be linked to the page.

Viewers can watch the movie once per Facebook account and must start their viewing before 9 p.m. Pacific time, the story says.

The movie, released in 1942, stars Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman, and is considered one of the greatest love stories of all time.