Which Cold-Country TV Market Might Get the 2014 Super Bowl?

While the Super Bowl is usually played in warm weather cities like San Diego, Miami, Tampa or New Orleans, the NFL is poised to look further north for 2014.

The New York Times reports that the NFL may reward the New Jersey Meadowlands sports complex with the 2014 Super Bowl. 

The new Giants/Jets stadium will host the event, which would be the first time the biggest NFL game of the season was played in the top TV market.

The announcement could be made in May 2010. Dallas is scheduled to host in 2011, followed by Indianapolis and New Orleans. 

-- Allison J. Waldman

ABC Announces Partial List of 2010 Oscar Advertisers

ABC announced Friday a partial list of advertisers who have bought spots during the 82nd Academy Awards, airing live on March 7.

The companies include Ameriprise, CBS Films, Hershey, Microsoft, McDonald's, JC Penney, Kimberly-Clark,  Church and Dwight, Samsung, Summit Entertainment and Walt Disney Pictures. 

Also included on the list is Hyundai, who have a bit of finagling to do with its advertisements as the voice of Hyundai's ads, Jeff Bridges, is nominated for "Crazy Heart." 

The Wrap points out that Oscar ad rules force Hyundai to select its ad time carefully, as an ad with Bridges' voice cannot air within one hour of the category he's nominated. The Academy says it's to show a complete separation between ad and broadcast content.  

Expect even more names to be announced next week at the date draws closer.

-- Allison J. Waldman and Andrew Krukowski

Animal Planet Doubles Down on 'Pit Boss'

Animal Planet is ordering an additional 14 hour-long episodes of "Pit Boss," B&C reports.  

The unscripted series follows "Shorty" Rossi, a little person and former convict, who is now involved in rescuing abused pit bulls in the Los Angeles area.

"Boss" premiered earlier this year, and its sixth and final episode of the first season is set to air on Feb. 27. The second batch of episodes are slated to air this summer.

--Andrew Krukowski 

Carell, Fey, Stiller, Cohen to Present on Oscarcast

The stars of NBC's "The Office" and "30 Rock," respectively -- Steve Carell and Tina Fey -- will be among the presenters on ABC's telecast of the Oscars, March 7, reports People magazine.

Sasha Baron Cohen, who was reportedly the producer's top choice for host of the show but rejected by the network, will also be presenting. Ben Stiller and Jason Bateman are also slated to be at the podium.

The Oscars will be hosted by Fey's fellow "30 Rock" star Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin. 

-- Allison J. Waldman

'The Office's' Craig Robinson Lands 'Last Comic Standing' Gig

"The Office's" Craig Robinson has been chosen by NBC to emcee the latest edition of "Last Comic Standing," reports The Wrap.

Robinson plays Darryl, a sarcastic attendant who heads up the Dunder-Mifflin warehouse in Scranton, on "The Office." 

"Comic" is returning to NBC this summer following a two-year sabbatical. Robinson is taking over from Bill Bellamy, who hosted the show's last season in summer 2008. 

--Allison J. Waldman

Roger Ebert to Make Rare TV Appearance on 'Oprah'

Film critic and former television personality Roger Ebert will make a reare on-air appearance as a  guest on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" on March 2, according to the Boston Globe.

Ebert is unable to speak because of complications from cancer. However, he will use a computerized voice to communicate with Oprah.

Winfrey has credited Ebert with her success, saying that Ebert pushed her towards moving her Chicago-local show into national syndication. 

-- Allison J. Waldman

'Idol' Over Olympics in Ratings ... Yet Again

A special Thursday night "American Idol" continued to surpass the Winter Olympics coverage on NBC in adults 18-49 ratings, tvbythenumbers.com reports. 

"Idol" posted a 6.4 rating in the 18- to 49-year-old demo in the 8 o'clock hour versus the Olympics 4.4 rating. Following "Idol," "Kitchen Nightmares" racked up a 3.5 rating in the same demographic, the second-highest rating for the series. 

NBC held on to a 5.8 rating in the 18-49 demo for the night, which is off 17% from last week and 28% from the same Thursday of the 2006 Torino Olympics. 

CBS' "Survivor" was also in the mix at 8 p.m., grabbing a 3.7 rating, dipping 5% from last week. Finally, ABC's disappointing "The Deep End" washed up with a 1.1 rating for its season finale. 

-- Andrew Krukowski

Rock and Romano Booked for 'Sykes' Roundtable

Fox's "The Wanda Sykes Show" has landed some of the largest comedy names in the show's short history for Saturday, The Wrap reports. 

Chris Rock and Ray Romano have been booked for Sykes' panel discussion, along with "Curb Your Enthusiasm's" Cheryl Hines and Colin Quinn.

Sykes is also unveiling a pre-taped interview with comedian Eddie Izzard. 

-- Allison J. Waldman

BBC America Sets Debut Date of New 'Doctor Who'

BBC America will unveil the newest incarnation of the sci-fi hit "Doctor Who" when the show premieres on the network April 17.

The new "Who" is actor Matt Smith, taking over for David Tennant, who last played the Doctor at the beginning of the year.

Smith is the 11th Time Lord to be zipping through time and across the universe in the TARDIS, and he'll have a new traveling companion, Amy Pond,  played by Karen Gillan.

-- Allison J. Waldman

Andrew Koenig’s Body Found; Father Says It's Suicide

Father Walter Koenig held a teary press conference Thursday night to announce that the body of his son, “Growing Pains” actor Andrew Koenig, had been found in a Vancouver park, the Los Angeles Times reports.

Koenig, who made an appeal to those who are depressed to reach out before making any final decisions, said that “My son took his own life."

The younger Koenig had been the subject of a police search after going missing Feb. 18. His parents and friends had also been combing Vancouver’s vast Stanley Park and one team found the body.

--Elizabeth Jensen

‘Idol’ Bleeped After a Contestant Lets Loose

“American Idol” didn’t have a technical glitch Thursday night; it had to bleep about four seconds of audio for broadcast standards, EW.com reports.

The offender wasn’t an ousted contestant, however. A source told EW that it was contestant Alex Lambert, who had just been told he was staying and retro rocker Tyler Grady was going home.

Fox confirmed for EW that “the audio was dropped by broadcast standards due to language.”

--Elizabeth Jensen

Guess Which Show Accounts for Greatest Number of FCC Indecency Complaints?

Tim Doyle, a reporter for consulting firm SNL Kagan, filed a Freedom of Information Act request to find out which shows get the most complaints at the FCC, the Los Angeles Times reports.

The winner? Not so surprisingly, it’s Fox’s “Family Guy.” A March 2009 episode of the animated show accounted for nearly 200,000 of the 1.45 million pending complaints the agency had at the end of last year. Other episodes of the show also received numerous complaints.

Another 150,000 complaints stemmed from a Fox football game in which a crowd shot caught an obscene message on a fan’s shirt.

--Elizabeth Jensen

Michael Mann Turns to Longtime Colleagues to Cast HBO’s ‘Luck’

Michael Mann has brought in two of his longtime collaborators to star in the pilot of “Luck,” a horse-racing drama that he and David Milch are putting together for HBO, reports The Hollywood Reporter.

Dennis Farina, a cop who turned actor three decades ago when Mann cast him in the 1981 film “Thief,” will play a chauffeur and security man who goes in on a track gambling plot. Farina also starred in Mann’s TV series “Crime Story” and his film “Manhunter.”

John Ortiz, who appeared in Mann’s film adaptation of “Miami Vice” and his recent “Public Enemies,” will play a trainer with a shady reputation who is also roped into the scheme.

--Elizabeth Jensen

Comcast, NBCU Execs Agree to Meet With Union About Merger

Comcast’s Brian Roberts and NBC Universal’s Jeff Zucker said they would meet with the Communications Workers of America about the proposed merger of the two companies, B&C reports.

The union’s president, Larry Cohen, has complained about Comcast’s labor relations. Roberts defended them at a House Judiciary Committee hearing where he and Zucker agreed nonetheless to the meeting.

--Elizabeth Jensen

NBC Has Lots of Olympic Viewers but by Some Measures They’re Not That Attractive

NBC’s Winter Olympics coverage is drawing large numbers of viewers, but if they had been sold on a demo basis, advertisers wouldn’t have been so happy, reports The Hollywood Reporter.

The games, Nielsen numbers show, are skewing older, with viewership among the 55-plus crowd some 82 percent higher than the national average. Luckily for NBC, the games are sold on a household basis, not demos.

--Elizabeth Jensen

Tired of NBC’s Olympics Tape-Delay? Solution May Be Coming in a Few Years

NBC may be drawing big TV crowds to its Olympics coverage, but not all viewers are happy at having to watch events broken up and on tape-delay.

Relief could come in 2014 and 2016, reports The New York Times. ESPN, which is expected to mount an aggressive bid for the winter and summer games those years, says it would drop tape-delays.

“I don’t think nonlive is sports fan-friendly,” John Skipper, ESPN’s executive vice president for content, told the paper.

--Elizabeth Jensen
 

Will Big TV News Cuts Mean the End of Beautiful Reporters?

ABC’s massive job cuts this week portend an era where TV news reporters are hired less for looks than for their ability to do all their own reporting, shooting and editing, the New York Post reports.

"There's no question [news] people will be hired based on their multimedia skills as much as their presentation skills," industry consultant Steve Safran, editor of lostremote.com, told the Post. With high salaries soon to be a thing of the past, he said, "This changes the paradigm of desirability from hiring someone who's good-looking and can read to someone who's well-rounded and can present.”

--Elizabeth Jensen

ESPN Sets Up 3D Testing Lab in Orlando

ESPN has set up what it calls “a real-world testing ground" for 3D television at its Orlando Innovation Lab, Multichannel News reports.

The network plans to introduce a 3D service this summer starting with the World Cup.

The network is inviting tech companies to experiment with the format at the Orlando facility, Multichannel said.

--Elizabeth Jensen

More Football Comedy for Spike

Spike has already ordered a second season of its football-themed comedy "Blue Mountain State," just seven weeks into the show’s original run, reports The Hollywood Reporter.

The show about three freshmen on a Midwestern football team got a 13-episode order for Season Two.

One of the three stars, Sam Jones, however, is unlikely to return next season after his October arrest in a federal drug sting.

--Elizabeth Jensen

NBCU Slammed for Lack of African American On-Air Diversity

At a House Judiciary Committee hearing, Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Los Angeles) let NBC Universal head Jeff Zucker know how unhappy she is about what she says is a lack of African American actors and shows on NBC, the Los Angeles Times reports.

"Is there some assumption that black programming is not profitable?" Waters asked Zucker. When he tried to point to the network’s history of such shows, she said, "That was then and now is now," and added, according to the paper, that "Black viewers deserve the kind of content they feel good about. ... I don't understand why you don't pursue it and why you don't do it."

--Elizabeth Jensen

NYC Police Probe Parking Pass Used by Seinfeld’s Driver

Jerry Seinfeld’s driver had a police placard he shouldn’t have and now the New York Police Department wants to know why, the Associated Press reports.

The parking placard was supposedly turned in at the end of 2007, but Seinfeld’s driver, a retired police officer, displayed it in the comedian’s car when he needed to park so he could escort Seinfeld through a crowd.

The comedian’s spokeswoman said Seinfeld wasn’t aware of the placard but is nonetheless taking responsibility. The police are investigating.

--Elizabeth Jensen

Andrew Koenig's Parents Explain Why They Walked Away From a Planned Appearance on 'Larry King Live'

Walter Koenig has told TMZ why he and his wife decided to walk away from an appearance on "Larry King Live" on Wednesday night, Feb. 24th.

Koenig, who played Chekov on the original "Star Trek" series, was scheduled to appear on the show to make a plea that his missing son, actor Andrew Koenig, 41, contact his parents if he can.

According to TMZ, "Andrew Koenig's parents claim they bailed on Larry King last night because they felt the show was being 'disrespectful' by pushing back their live interview several times on last night's show."

Furthermore, TMZ said, according to well-placed sources, "The Koenigs were told they were supposed to go live at 6:30 PM PST -- but the interview was pushed back after [King] decided to [first] cover the breaking SeaWorld whale tragedy."

Walter Koenig told TMZ that when it was finally time for he and his wife to go on the show they didn't feel there was "enough time to do credit to what we had to say." He added that "We felt it was disrespectful."

The interview was to have been live, via satellite, from the Koenig's hotel room in Vancouver. When they decided not to appear on the show they asked the crew to leave the hotel room, which the crew did.

--Chuck Ross 

Joan Rivers Returns: More of the Meshuggenah Who Have the Whole Megillah

Joan Rivers will return for a second season as host of her own reality show, TV Land has announced.

"How'd You Get So Rich" has it's second season premiere on Wednesday, May 5th.

Said Rivers in a statement: "I'm thrilled to be back on “How'd You Get So Rich? It's so much better than hosting ‘How’d You Get So Poor?’...and when I say ‘Rich,’ I mean RICH. People that Oprah will borrow money from. People that will use Dr. Ruth as a paperweight and people that when their computer breaks Bill Gates comes by to fix it."

--Chuck Ross

SyFy's Hit 'Warehouse 13' Comes Back in July

 SyFy announced today that "Warehouse 13" returns for a second season on Tuesday, July 13.

The show is coming back with 12 new episodes which will air without reruns throughout the summer.

The quirky dramedy has pulled in some viewership records on SyFy, holding the most-watched series telecast in the network's history for an episode aired last August. 

-- Allison J. Waldman

Why Delko Is Really Coming Back to 'CSI: Miami'

 Last week, actor Adam Rodriguez tweeted his fans that he would be returning to the CBS hit drama "CSI: Miami" for all of next season, and it turns out that return is all about writing and directing, reports Entertainment Weekly.

CBS had walked away from contract negotiations and the actor stuck to his demands which have now been met. Rodriguez was coy about saying that CBS backed the Brinks truck up to his house, but seemed more interested in having a larger hand in the writing and directing side of "CSI: Miami."

One of the bonuses in Rodriguez's new deal is the opportunity to write and direct at least one episode.

-- Allison J. Waldman

'Friday Night Light's' Actress Joins Pilot of Legal Drama

One actress is moving away from the lights of Dillon, Texas to the glitzy neon of Las Vegas, serving as an associate lawyer.

Young actress Jurnee Smollett, who's a regular on NBC's "Friday Night Lights," has landed a key role on the CBS pilot "Defenders," reports Entertainment Weekly.

The actress will complete the last season of "FNL," which shoots this summer, before moving on to the CBS legal drama… if it makes it beyond the pilot stage.

-- Allison J. Waldman

'Idol' Blows Away the Olympics, Yet Again

Two hours of the top 12 men singing were a major draw on Fox's "American Idol," giving the network a sizable win in the Nielsen ratings.

"Idol" posted an 8.7 rating in the 18-49 year old demographic, according to TVbythenumbers.com.

That was well-ahead of NBC's coverage of the Winter Olympics' 4.9 in the same demographic and time period. For the night, NBC averaged a 5.2 rating in the demo. 

All other TV shows were reruns for the night.

-- Allison J. Waldman

Grammy-Winner Patti LaBelle Disses Some 'American Idol' Judges

Patti LaBelle knows a things or two about vocalists and she doesn't think all the judges on Fox's "American Idol" are qualified to assess singing, according to an article in USA Today.

LaBelle wouldn't give specifics on which judge or judges she had a problem with, but said that some judges shouldn't be on the show.

If LaBelle criticism is aimed toward non-pro judge Ellen DeGeneres, as it seems to be--all the other judges are connected to the music industry--it should be noted that DeGeneres has been very upfront that she is judging the singers as a fan and that she has no technical expertise in music.  

LaBelle also contended that the criticism of the singers has been too mean.

LaBelle is the voice behind hits like "Lady Marmalade," and "On My Own," a duet she sang with Michael McDonald.

--Allison J. Waldman and Chuck Ross

Cop Drama 'Sugarloaf' Gets the Go-Ahead From A&E to Go to Series

A&E liked what it saw in the pilot "Sugarloaf" and is jumping back into the scripted drama waters with that cop drama, the network says.

Starring Matt Passmore, Kiele Sanchez and Carlos Gmez, production will commence shooting in Miami for a summer 2010 premiere.

The network has committed to 13 episodes of the show about a Chicago detective who is railroaded off the force and relocates in a small Florida town where he becomes the head of the police.

Fox Television Studios is producing the show for A&E Network

-- Allison J. Waldman

Locke and Ben From 'Lost' Want J.J. Abrams To Work on a New Show for Those Characters

While the creators of "Lost" have announced that there will be no spinoffs from the series, actor Terry O'Quinn is interested in teaming back up with co-star Michael Emerson, reports TV Guide.

O'Quinn is interested in a new program that would have their characters, Ben Linus and John Locke, as suburban teachers who moonlight as hit men.

O'Quinn has been trying to convince writer/director J.J. Abrams to get involved with the potential new show.

-- Allison J. Waldman

More Music Guests for Leno's Return

The guest list continues to grow as Jay Leno’s “Tonight Show” return lineup has added more musical acts, the Associated Press reports.

In the first two weeks, in addition to last year’s “American Idol” runner-up Lambert, Leno will be joined by Adam Lambert, Robin Thicke, Ben Harper, Ryan Bingham and Lifehouse.

--Elizabeth Jensen

Showtime Launches HD Interactive Sports Application

Showtime Networks is teaming with Verizon to launch SHOWTIME Sports Interactive.

During the live telecast of "Strikeforce Challengers," a mixed martial arts telecast on Friday, February 26 at 11 p.m., Verizon’s FiOS TV customers will get a chance to try out the new system.

The system will allow viewers to vote in interactive polls, see real-time stats, play trivia games, and access fight calenders, during the telecast right on their televisions. 

-- Allison J. Waldman

Conan Has Gone Nuts

Conan O'Brien announced to the world yesterday that “Today I interviewed a squirrel in my backyard and then threw to commercial. Somebody help me.”

The significance of this is the method O'Brien used to make this pronouncement: he tweeted it.

With time on his hands, the unemployed former “Tonight Show” host has joined Twitter, the New York Times reports.

And within the first three hours of his first tweet about interviewing the squirrel O'Brien had 100,000 followers on Twitter.

His Twitter bio reads:  “I had a show. Then I had a different show. Now I have a Twitter account.”

--Elizabeth Jensen

Hollywood Parlor Game: Who Pays if Sheen is Unable to Make 'Two and a Half Men' for an Extended Time?

A  guessing game has begun in Hollywood over who might be financially liable if Charlie Sheen has to take an extended absence from “Two and a Half Men,” reports The Hollywood Reporter.

Sheen this week checked himself into rehab. He also faces felony and misdemeanor assault charges from a domestic incident involving his wife on Christmas Day.

Sheen, THR says, likely has a “morals clause" in his contract for the show, which could leave him financially liable for any losses caused by his behavior. Insurance policies also often include a “key man" provision, but the show’s policy could exclude known issues, and Sheen has previously had known substance abuse issues.

--Elizabeth Jensen

The Onion's Take on Tiger Woods' Recent TV Announcement; Some Will Find it Funny and Some Will Find It Over-the-Top Offensive

According to the Onion, the news parody and satire specialists, this was what Tiger Woods had to say recently when he made his first public TV announcement since scandal first rocked his world on Thanksgiving day:

"In an announcement highly anticipated by sex fans around the world, Tiger Woods told a small gathering of reporters, family, and lovers Friday that the most dominant fornicator on the planet would soon return to sex."

The Onion account continues, "Woods said that during his brief time away from sex, he couldn't stop thinking about one day resuming his daily regimen of sexual intercourse with random women who look vaguely like his wife, only skankier."

You get the idea. You're either going to find it funny or offensive. Perhaps both. The Onion parody gets VERY graphic in its sexual descriptions, so don't click on the link to it if that kind of parody offends you. Here's the link.

--Chuck Ross

3D Capable TV Sets Arrive at Sears in March; Guess the Price of the 46-inch Model

[UPDATE: This item originally said that the Samsung sets on sale at Sears next month would be the first 3D sets available in the U.S. This information is from the article to which this item links. As our first two comments say, however, a Mitsubishi 3D set has been available as well. So we have amended our headline and item to take out any references that the Samsung sets will be the first 3D-capable sets sold in the U.S.--Chuck Ross]

In March Samsung 3D capable TV sets will be available at Sears., the New York Post reports.

Two models will be available, one 46-inches, one 55-inches.

The 46-inch TV will go for $2,599; the 55-inch set will be priced at $3,299, the report says.

Glasses will be required to get any 3d effect. And the only 3D programming, initially, will be exclusively from DVDs. And those DVDs won't be available until the spring, the report says, adding that a 3D disc of the hit movie "Avatar" is expected in November.

DirecTV has said it will have a 3D channel up and running later this year. Also, "ESPN says it will be ready this summer to broadcast some World Cup soccer games in the new format," the report says.

--Chuck Ross

Is ‘Ellen’ Benefiting from ‘Idol’?

Most of the major syndicated programs did well ratings-wise in the week ended Feb. 14 but one did exceptionally well, and that was “Ellen DeGeneres,” reports B&C.

Perhaps not coincidentally, that was the host’s first week as an “American Idol” judge.

The show hit a new series-high for the week, gaining 12 percent in the ratings week-to-week. The show was also up 26 percent from a year ago.

--Elizabeth Jensen

Parents of Missing Andrew Koenig, Who Have Been Making the Media Rounds Pleading for Their Son's Safe Return, Walk off Larry King's Show Moments Before They Were to Go On-Air

The parents of missing "Growing Pains" actor Andrew Koenig walked away from Larry King's show on CNN on Wednesday, Jan. 24,  just moments before they were going to go on-air.

Coming back from a commercial break King said that the parents, who were in a studio In Vancouver, had left with no explanation. Andrew's dad is Walter Koenig, the well-known actor who played Chekov on the original "Star Trek" TV series.

According to an account of the incident as reported by USA Today , "News of the Toyota hearings and the SeaWorld death pushed them to the final five minutes and Larry came on to say, 'Folks, for some reason. They left the studio in Vancouver. We checked them out. They were prepared to go on. I said hello. They said hello. We said we'll be on in two minutes. They said fine and they got up and left for reasons unknown.' "

The USA Today report continues,"Afterward, King was sill confused, saying on Twitter: 'Still not sure what happened with the Koenigs. I talked to them in the break and told them they were on next. Then they left...' "

--Chuck Ross

Attention Actresses: If You Think You're as Good as Helen Mirren, Have Your Agent Contact NBC

One of Helen Mirren's signature roles was playing the lead in the British TV series "Prime Suspect."

NBC hasn’t been able to find an actress to take the lead role in its remake of that show, so the project is being postponed until summer, reports The Hollywood Reporter.

According to the report, the NBC version, written by Hank Steinberg, who created "Without a Trace," is about "a fearless female detective as she investigates complex mysteries in a politically loaded big city."

--Elizabeth Jensen

Cop Dramas Rule in Fall Pilots

The networks appear to be betting that cop dramas will be hot come fall, reports The Hollywood Reporter.

The four major networks have ordered 22 pilots about some aspect of law enforcement, whether the CIA, FBI, U.S. Marshals or just plain cops, THR says.

The orders follow success this season of CBS’ new “NCIS: Los Angeles" and last year’s “The Mentalist," along with ABC’s "Castle."

In other genres, there are five legal drama pilots that have been ordered, but just two medical dramas.

--Elizabeth Jensen

Annual Beta Survey of Basic Cable: Operators Rank Two ESPN Channels as Most Valuable; Guess Which Network Ranked No. 3

Beta Research's Annual survey of cable operators one again ranked two ESPN channels in the top two postions of most valuable basic cable networks, according to Multichannel News.

ESPN ranked No.1 with operators ascribing a value to the network of 93 cents a month. ESPN2 was second on the list at a valuation of 53 cents a month.

According to the report, No. 3 was the Disney Channel (42 cents), followed by Fox News Channel (40 cents), "Discovery Channel and TNT (36 cents apiece); CNN (35 cents); USA Network (34 cents), NFL Network (33 cents), Nickelodeon/Nick at Nite and TBS (each at 32 cents); and The Weather Channel (31 cents)."

--Chuck Ross

Discovery Communications Has Partnered With Oprah and Hasbro. Is The Company Now Looking to Partner with Ben SIlverman and Barry Diller on One of Its Channels?

Barry Diller and Ben Silverman want to buy a piece of one of Discovery Communications' cable channels, the Los Angeles Times reports.

The two media entrepreneurs have proposed a joint venture with Discovery for FitTV, the Times said, citing a source. The small channel, which is available in just 50 million homes, has big plans for growth.

Recently, as part of our TVWeek special report naming Discovery the Cable TV Programmer of the Decade, we interviewed Laura Michalchyshyn, who was put in charge of FitTV in December. Here's what she said:

"I am now running FitTV. Which is really interesting because Fit is a channel that, right now as we all know it, is kind of about wellness, exercise, getting in shape. It’s a channel that, in the future, is an opportunity for Discovery. And that’s one of the key messages from David [Zaslav, Discovery CEO]—that this is a channel that he sees as having great growth potential. So we’re gonna spend the next while, probably six to 12 months, strategizing. It’s so new, I can’t even tell you what it will be, but there are some great opportunities and ideas for what Fit could be in the future."

Ben Silverman, when he ran his former company, Reveille, produced a fitness-related show, "The Biggest Loser," which is a hit on NBC.

Furthermore, the Times told this anecdote to illustrate Silverman's interest in fitness: "[O]nce, while Silverman was having lunch at the Burbank eatery Mo's, he sent a hapless waiter back to the kitchen when he attempted to serve Silverman and his party gourmet burgers with buns. Silverman said with disdain: 'Do we look like people who eat buns?' "

 --Elizabeth Jensen and Chuck Ross

Nielsen: U.S. Ad Spending Dropped 9 Percent in 2009

U.S. ad spending dropped about 9 percent last year, according to Nielsen calculations, with network TV, syndication and local markets being hit among the hardest, B&C reports.

Spending dropped to $117 billion in total in 2009, from $128.6 billion in 2008. Network TV was down 9.9 percent, and syndication was down 14.7 percent. Spot TV in the top 100 markets was down 16.1 percent and a bit less percentage-wise in smaller markets.

By contrast, there was brighter news in cable TV, which was up 14.8 percent. Spanish-language cable did even better, growing 32.2 percent.

--Elizabeth Jensen

FCC Has Plan for TV Stations to Make Money

The Federal Communicatons Commission has a plan that could put cash into the hands of broadcasters, says B&C.

The FCC is going to propose a voluntary plan that allows broadcasters to turn in part of their spectrum and get a share of the proceeds.

The "Mobile Future Auction" was announced Wednesday by FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski. The agency’s plan for increasing the nation’s broadband capacity is due to be given to Congress on March 17, according to the B&C report.

--Elizabeth Jensen

‘Daily Show’ Correspondent Lands Primetime Pilot

Following in the footsteps of Steve Carell, Ed Helms and Rob Corddry--all of whom worked at the "Daily Show," at one time--a current “Daily Show” correspondent has landed a role in a primetime pilot, reports The Hollywood Reporter.

Jason Jones has got the lead in ABC’s comedy pilot “How to Be a Better American," where he’ll play a dad leading his reluctant family on a quest to be better people.

--Elizabeth Jensen

'Star Trek' Star Makes Plea for Missing Son Andrew Koenig; Also, Last Person to See Koenig Doesn't 'Have a Good Feeling' About His Disappearance

The woman who was the last person to see missing actor Andrew Koenig says she doesn't 'have a good feeling' about his disappearance, US Weekly reports.

According to US,  Jenny Magenta said " 'There's a small part of me that feels he just decided he wanted to live in the bushes or the mountains and not deal with people anymore.But there are a lot of classic signs -- things that he has done in the past couple months -- that point to the possibility that he’s taken his own life.' "

Koenig, 41, is best known for playing Boner on "Growing Pains."

Separately, Andrew's father, Walter Koenig, who played Chekov on the original "Star Trak," has made an emotional plea to hear from his son, People is reporting.

Koenig said, ""I just want to know you're okay. If it means you just want to stay here [Vancouver, British Columbia], that's okay. You don't have to come back. Just let us know that's your intention."

Andrew Koenig was last seen in Vancouver on Feb. 16, and that's the last date there was any usage of his phone or ATM account. 

People also reported that Andrew had moved out of his apartment in Venice before going to Vancouver.

--Chuck Ross 

Moonves Renews Contract with CBS

CBS president and CEO Leslie Moonves has signed a contract extension that will keep him at the Eye through Feb. 22, 2015, the Los Angeles Times Company Town blog says.

Moonves' re-up keeps his annual salary at the same level--$3.5 million--but continues to allow him to be eligible for performance-based bonuses, along with payouts based on how well the company's stock performance is. In 2008 Moonves received a bonus of $9.5 million.

Says the blog, "Moonves will be 65 when his new pact expires, but since his boss, CBS Chairman Sumner Redstone, is 86, it's unlikely that age will be a factor in whether he gets another extension."

"Moonves' original contract was set to expire in 2011. 

--Andrew Krukowski

Report: Former 'Baywatch' Star Will Be 'Dancing With the Stars'

The announcement isn't official yet, but once again there is major buzz that one of the stars of "Baywatch" is going to be a competitor 0n ABC's "Dancing With the Stars," reports In Touch Weekly.

And once again, the rumors are that that star is Pamela Anderson.

The official "Stars" cast announcement is taking place March 1 during the finale of "The Bachelor: On the Wings of Love." 

However, dancer Maksim Chmerkovskiy told the magazine that Pamela Anderson is definitely in the group. The tenth season of "Dancing With the Stars" premieres on March 22.

--Allison J. Waldman

'Idol' Reclaims Top Ratings Spot, Trouncing Olympics Coverage

Recovering from a rare second place finish last Wednesday, Fox's "American Idol" returned to form by taking first place in the Tuesday night ratings, according to TVbythenumbers.com.

"Idol" posted an 8.9 rating in the 18-49 year old demographic yesterday, off 2% from last week. Year-to-year, "Idol" is down around 7% in the same demo. 

Despite the slip, "Idol" completely overtook NBC's Winter Olympics coverage, which posted a 5.0 rating in the 18-49 demo when it went head-to-head with "Idol." NBC averaged a 5.4 rating for the night. 

Compared to this time in 2006 during the Torino Winter Games in 2006, the Vancouver Olympics are ahead in ratings (6.9/19 vs. 6.4/16 in adults 18-49) and total viewers (25.2 vs. 21.0 Mil).

Meanwhile, ABC's "Lost" gained 2% from last week to post a 4.6 rating in the 18-49 demo, while "The Forgotten" held steady at a 1.7 rating. 

-- Andrew Krukowski

Emmerich's '2012' TV Sequel Explodes

Directore Roland Emmerich's now has doubts that the TV sequel to his Earth-destroying blockbuster film "2012" will get made, reports MovieWeb.

Emmerich's plan to make "2012" the next "Lost" was too costly and complicated for TV. The show would have followed survivors of the movie trying to rebuild Earth in Africa. 

 "It was just too big for TV, what we wanted to do," Emmerich said. "Grey's Anatomy" producer Mark Gordon is looking to try and lower costs to get the show produced, but Emmerich said he isn't at all confident the show will get made. 

-- Allison J. Waldman

Casey Wilson Lands Pilot After Being Pushed Out of ‘SNL'

Casey Wilson, who was pushed out of NBC’s “Saturday Night Live” at the beginning of the season, has landed in a pilot, reports The Hollywood Reporter.

Fittingly, she’s signed to play one of the four friends in the ABC comedy  pilot “Happy Endings,” which follows a couple who broke up moments before getting married and how they are dealing with their friends now that they are no longer an item. 

--Elizabeth Jensen

Letterman Counters Leno's Return To 'The Tonight Show' Next Week With His Own Star Line-up

Jay Leno has booked a number of celebrities for the debut week of his return to "The Tonight Show" starting  Monday night. Guests include, among others,  Matthew McConaughey, Jason Reitman,  Morgan Freeman, Meredith Vieira, Sarah Palin, Shaun White, Lindsey Vonn and Apolo Anton Ohno.

Now comes word fron the New York TImes that rival David Letterman will counter next week with the likes of Jerry Seinfeld, Mitt Romney, Matt Damon and Tom Brokaw, among others.

--Chuck Ross

Why 'American Idol' Is in Trouble

This week we're down to the final 24 "American Idol" wannabes, and TVWeek Open Mic blogger Chuck Ross sees trouble on the horizon. Click here to read why.

--Tom Gilbert  

Storm of Controversy: ESPN’s Kornheiser Gets Two-Week Suspension for Calling His Colleague a ‘Holden Caulfield Fantasy’

ESPN suspended “Pardon the Interruption” host Tony Kornheiser for two weeks for comments he made about the wardrobe of another ESPN host, Hannah Storm, the New York Daily News reports.

Last week, when the “SportsCenter” host wore a fitted red sweater, a plaid skirt and nearly knee-high red boots, Kornheiser called it “a horrifying, horrifying outfit,” adding, "She's got on red go-go boots and a Catholic-school plaid skirt. … Way too short for somebody in her 40s or maybe early 50s by now. She's got on her typically very, very tight shirt. She looks like she has sausage casing wrapping around her upper body.”

According to other media accounts Kornheiser then added, "She's what I would call a Holden Caulfield fantasy at this point."

Kornheiser, in announcing his own suspension, called his remarks both “intemperate” and “stupid,” adding that "It seems to me without any question that I broke the rules, and this is the punishment that's come."

--Elizabeth Jensen

'Idol' Contracts Reveal Financial Terms for Contestants; Kris Allen Got at Least $650,000 from Show, Not Including the 'Idol' Tour

Copies of last year’s contracts with “American Idol” contestants filed in a California state court give a glimpse into just how much money the top contenders can make, The New York Times reports.

Last year’s winner, Kris Allen, earned at least $650,000 from the show, the contracts showed, which is the minimum for a winner and doesn’t include any income from the “Idol” tour.

According to the Times' story, "Including performance fees and merchandising royalties from the 'American Idol' tour, as well as other opportunities, winners have never failed to earn less than $1 million in the year or so after the contest, people close to the show say."

Finalists who reach the Top 5 this season are expected to win nearly $100,000 from the show before the tour, and could make three to four times that if they get a record deal from the show’s producers, the paper says, while the Top 12 contestants will make at least several thousand dollars.

The contracts were filed under laws that mandate entertainment-industry deals with minors be subject to court oversight. The show’s producer, 19 Entertainment, declined to discuss the details with The Times, but said the contracts were “deliberately structured […] to ensure that artists can cross the threshold of success, and that they have all the support necessary to achieve their dreams.”

--Elizabeth Jensen

Cable Operator To Offer Service That Will Allow Subscribers to Move Content, in Real Time, From Computer to TV

On of the biggest changes in hardware in recent years has been the ability of new TV sets to include the ability to hook up to the Internet.

Now comes word that New York cable operator Cablevision plans to offer a service that will allow users to move content from computers to their TV sets in real time, the Los Angeles Times' Company Town blog reports.

Called PC to TV Media Relay, the service will let users move Internet video or photos or other computer screen content to the TV set with a mouse-click. There are no wires or cables; the system works with a single computer software download. Customers must subscribe to both the company’s cable and broadband offerings.

--Elizabeth Jensen

ABC News Announces Cutbacks of 25 Percent of Staff; With the Departure of 300 to 400 People, ABC News President Calls Cuts a 'Fundamental Transformation' of News Division

ABC News said it will reduce its news-gathering staff by 300 to 400 people, which is about 25 percent of its staff of about 1,500 people, The New York Times reports.

The cuts will be made by offering buyouts, and if necessary, laying off employees.

ABC News president David Westin is billing the cuts as a “fundamental transformation” of the news division, noting in an internal memo that “The time has come to rethink how we do what we are doing.”

He told the Times in an interview that the cuts are a result of the changing economics of the business, and, “It’s better for the organization if we embrace change rather than get dragged into it.” He told the paper that “as I looked out over the next several years I could not in good conscience say that things are going to get better and there’s going to be a big turnaround in broadcast revenue. As a result I concluded we needed to move now.”

According to the Times' report, Westin said, “I frankly don’t think it will be particularly noticeable for viewers.”

In conclusion, the article quoted Jason Samuels, an associate professor of journalism at New York University and a former senior producer at ABC. The professor "said Tuesday’s move 'makes sense,' but added, 'ultimately the pressure to continue churning out network quality news with a pared-down staff is a recipe for burnout.' "

Talent Getting Squeezed by New Network and TV Studio Deals

So-called “test deals” are helping TV studios and networks trim costs this pilot season, to the dismay of the talent side of the business, reports The Hollywood Reporter.

Talent is being asked to sign contracts for pilots and series even before the auditions, giving them less leverage. Some of the concessions being asked include cutting what had been a residual for the first primetime rerun; that fee is now at times considered to be included in an actor’s salary.

--Elizabeth Jensen

Kiefer Sutherland Returns to '24'

It took two weeks rather than one, but Kiefer Sutherland has returned to the set of Fox’s “24,” the Associated Press reports.

Production was shut down for two weeks while the show’s star recovered from treatment for what the L.A. Times has said was a ruptured cyst. No broadcast delay is expected from the production disruption.

--Elizabeth Jensen

Peter Chernin Scouting a Cable Channel Acquisition

Former top News Corp. executive Peter Chernin has hired three business development executives for his new company and has his eyes set on acquiring a cable channel, the Los Angeles Times reports.

Cable channels that are thought to be for sale include the Gospel Music Channel, arts network Ovation TV, the Tennis Channel and music network Fuse.

The Times was not able to say exactly which cable network or networks has caught Chernin's eye.

Among his new staff members working on possible acquisitions is Jesse Jacobs, a former Goldman Sachs banker, the paper says.

--Elizabeth Jensen

C-SPAN Joining Cablevision’s Request to Overturn Must-Carry

C-SPAN is supporting Cablevision’s request that the Supreme Court overturn must-carry rules, calling them “a relic of the past,” B&C reports.

According to the article, "The cable public affairs channel, which must compete with those TV stations for channel space, has long argued that the fact that broadcasters have a guaranteed carriage right while channels like C-SPAN have to compete for what space is left violates the First Amendment."

Furthermore, the article says C-SPAN argues that programmers today have an expanding number of options for getting their programming delivered, making the rules unnecessary.

According to the C-SPAN website, "C-SPAN is a private, non-profit company, created in 1979 by the cable television industry as a public service. Our mission is to provide public access to the political process. C-SPAN receives no government funding; operations are funded by fees paid by cable and satellite affiliates who carry C-SPAN programming."

--Elizabeth Jensen and Chuck Ross

Tough to Handicap Judges in Rehearing of FCC Imposed Fine on CBS For Janet Jackson Breast Reveal

The leanings of the judges were hard to read in Tuesday’s appeals court re-hearing of the FCC-imposed CBS 2004 Super Bowl indecency fine, B&C reports. The case is about Janet Jackson's famous "wardrobe malfunction" during the halftime show, wherein viewers caught a fleeting glimpse of one of her naked breasts.

Among the issues debated was whether CBS’ intent should be a factor in the fine, as well as the definition of expletive, B&C said.

After the hearing CBS issued this statement, according to B&C: "We are hopeful the Third Circuit will again recognize that the 2004 Super Bowl incident, while inappropriate and regrettable, was not and could not have been anticipated by CBS. This remains an important issue for the entire broadcasting industry because it recognizes that there are rare instances, particularly during live programming, when despite broadcasters' best efforts it may not be possible to block unfortunate fleeting material. Such a decision by the Court would help to restore the policy of restrained indecency enforcement the FCC followed for decades."

--Chuck Ross

Cable Execs Say Ad Market Rebounding (and What That May Mean for the Upfront)

Cable executives speaking before the Hollywood Radio & Television Society said Tuesday that the ad market is starting to rebound, reports The Hollywood Reporter.

MTV Networks president Van Toffler put it in blunt terms, noting that “The economy has kind of sucked the last couple years." But he said the current scatter market “is really robust. People wait a little longer than they have in the past, but we feel the money is coming in this quarter."

Scatter prices were higher than upfront prices, Discovery COO Peter Liguori agreed.

Generally speaking, when the scatter marketplace is as robust as it's been, it means that the upfront market will also be strong, as advertisers rush to lock-up prices that they hope will be at a discount to scatter prices moving forward.

However, what makes that rule-of-thumb somewhat less of a factor this year is the continuing tough economy. If marketers think we'll sink further, they may want to wait and take their chances in the scatter market during the next year anyway. 

--Elizabeth Jensen and Chuck Ross

Charlie Sheen Enters Rehab, Taking Leave of Absence From 'Two and a Half Men'; Move Surprises CBS and Warner Bros. TV

Charlie Sheen, who's had a rough time personally since he was arrested on domestic violence charges on Christmas day, has asked for a leave of absence from his hit sitcom "Two and a Half Men" to enter rehab, according to a number of media reports.

News of the request came via a statement from Sheen's publicist after he failed to show up for work on the sitcom Tuesday morning, Feb. 23, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The report says Sheen also didn't show up on Monday, "but that didn't raise as a flag as he reportedly not always shows up that day."

The report says that Sheen entering rehab and requesting a leave of absence from the show came as a surprise to both CBS and show producer Warner Bros. TV.

Sheen has continued to shoot the sitcom this year despite his well-publicized personal problems.

"Two and a Half Men" was scheduled to shoot episode number 19 of 23 this week, the report said.

Sheen is reportedly the highest paid actor on TV, making $800,000 an episode.

--Chuck Ross

TV REALLY Everywhere: Sen. Al Franken Wants NBCU, Comcast TV Shows on the Internet, Available to Anyone

Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) wants Comcast and NBC Universal to promise to put all the TV shows of a combined company online, the Los Angeles Times reports.

In written questions to the two companies, which are seeking regulatory approval for Comcast’s proposed takeover of NBCU, Franken also asked for assurances that all those online shows would be available to anyone, and not just Comcast Internet subscribers, the paper reports.

Franken, a tough critic of the proposed deal, didn’t ask that the shows be made available for free.

--Elizabeth Jensen

iTunes Gets the Jump on 'American Idol' Music

The partnership between "American Idol" and Apple's iTunes store took a new turn today. For the first time ever, when the finalists are whittled down to the Top 12, there will be new innovations added to the store, as well.

The theme for the shows will be revealed early on iTunes including playlists of original songs by the original artists from which the contestants may choose and which fans can preview and download.

In addition, beginning tonight, viewers will be able to pre-order "American Idol" performances from their favorite contestants exclusively.

As with last season, performances will be available for download exclusively on iTunes the day after the televised performance,

-- Allison J. Waldman 

Olympics Remain on Top in Monday Ratings Despite Slipping 25% From Last Week

Two hours of ABC's "The Bachelor" from 8-10 p.m. offered somewhat of a challenge to NBC's reign in the ratings, as the second Monday of the Vancouver Olympics ticked down from last week. 

Thanks to the Vancouver Winter Olympics, NBC averaged a 5.2 in the 18-49 demographic between 8 and 10 p.m., compared to 3.9 rating for the ABC reality show, according to TVbythenumbers.com.

Yesterday's Olympic coverage dropped by 25% from the previous week, and is off 21% from the same night four years ago during the Torino Winter Olympics.  

Also scoring in the 8 o'clock hour was CW's "One Tree Hill" with a 1.0 in the 18-49 demo.

At 9 o'clock, a new "24" on Fox logged a 2.8 which was only good enough for fourth place, but better than CW's "Life Unexpected" with a 0.9.

With no new competition at 10 p.m., the Olympics scored a healthy 5.6 rating in the 18-49 demographic.

-- Allison J. Waldman

Mariah Carey, Morgan Freeman, Jamie Foxx, Tyler Perry Among Celebrities Set to Appear at Awards Ceremony

It's award season, so the stars are out. Mariah Carey, Morgan Freeman, Jamie Foxx, Tyler Perry are amon those that are scheduled to show up when Fox telecasts the NAACP Image Awards on Friday, February 26, from 8-10 p.m.

Anika Noni Rose and "CSI: NY" star Hill Harper hosting the event.

Airing live from the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, other celebrities schedule to join the show include Lenny Kravitz, Regina King, Taraji P. Henson, Myrlie Evers Williams, Adam Rodriguez, Sherri Shepherd, Mo’Nique, Morgan Freeman, Sandra Bullock, Gabourey Sidibe, Alfre Woodard,  Mekhi Phifer and Tatyana Ali.

There will be two special awards presented, one to Tyler Perry -- the Chairman’s Award -- and the Vanguard Award to Wyclef Jean.

-- Allison J. Waldman

FX Renews ‘Archer’ for Second Season, Increases Episode Order

The animated spy-spoof “Archer” is coming back for a second season on FX, B&C reports.

The show hasn’t yet finished its debut season, but with three episodes to go, it is drawing an average 1.2 million total viewers. The second season order is for 13 episodes, up from ten in the first season.

"Archer" debuted in mid-January with strong numbers, posting 1.8 million viewers, and took the prize as FX's top comedy premiere in adults 18-34 with 786,000, according to the Futon Critic.  

--Elizabeth Jensen and Andrew Krukowski

New Show from 'Def Comedy Jam's' Russell Simmons For Cable, But Not HBO

"Def Comedy Jam" producers Russell Simmons and Stan Lathan have a new series, but, unlike ''Jam," it will not be on HBO, reports The Hollywood Reporter.

Their new series will feature up-and-coming stand-up comics and will be on Comedy Central. JB Smooth will host the six half-hour episodes.

It’s the first time Comedy Central has worked with the producers.

HBO's ‘Def Comedy Jam,’ helped launch the careers of Dave Chappelle, Martin Lawrence and Bernie Mac, among others.

--Elizabeth Jensen

Cowell Wants Internet Service Providers to Cut Off Users Who Continually Download Content Illegally

Music producer and "American Idol" judge Simon Cowell is urging British parliament to adopt tougher anti-digital piracy efforts, including a rule to punish chronic offenders, reports The Hollywood Reporter.

Cowell was one of the signers of a letter to Parliament lobbying for a “three-strikes” rule against those who keep downloading illegally, which would allow Internet Service Providers that they could cut off users who repeatedly download content illegally.  Other signers included Working Title co-chair Tim Bevan, Paul Greengrass, the director of "United 93," and author Terry Pratchett.

Among those fighting the proposals are Internet service providers including Virgin Media and Carphone Warehouse, THR says.

--Elizabeth Jensen

Jane Kaczmarek and Adam Arkin To Star in ABC Pilot

Jane Kaczmarek ("Malcolm in the Middle,")  has been brought on board to star with  Adam Arkin ("Sons of Anarchy") in an ABC pilot, reports The Hollywood Reporter.

The sitcom, "Who Gets the Parents" has Kaczmarek and Arkin divorcing after 30 years of marriage, as both take a larger interest into the lives of their adult children.

-- Andrew Krukowski

Twentieth's 'Don't Forget the Lyrics' Moves Towards National Syndication

The new syndicated game show "Don't Forget the Lyrics" is poised for a major roll out later his year with clearances in 65% of the market, reports B&C.

The RDF USA produced and Twentieth Television syndicated gamer has cleared in the top 20 markets including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, San Francisco, Boston and Dallas.

Mark McGrath, formerly of the band Sugar Ray and Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution's "Extra," will host the program, and it will be teamed with Twentieth's "Are You Smarter Than A Fifth Grader" in many parts of the country.

-- Allison J. Waldman

Palin to Guest Star on ABC Family Show That Deals With Teen Pregnancy

ABC Family's hit series "The Secret Life of the American Teenager,' which deals with teen pregnancy among other issues, will get a very high profile guest star this summer when the show comes back for season number three, ABC Family has announced.

The guest star is Bristol Palin, daughter of former Alaska governor and Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin.

"Bristol Palin is the most famous teenage mother in America. We're thrilled to have her join us, and I think she will bring additional attention to the issues facing teen parents that we've been exploring for a couple of seasons now," said series Executive Producer Brenda Hampton in a statement.

According to ABC Family's release, "Palin will be playing herself, as one of Amy's (Shailene Woodley) friends at a music program for teen mothers."

Bristol Palin commented in a statement, "I am thrilled to be on this show and to be a part of a program that educates teens and young adults about the consequences of teen pregnancy.”

--Chuck Ross

Reports: Supposed Sightings of Missing 'Growing Pains' Star; Friend Says Star Gave 'Warning Signs' That Not All was Well

A police appeal for help has turned up multiple tips of sightings of former "Growing Pains" star Andrew Koenig, who has been missing in Vancouver, TMZ reports.

Police told TMZ that they have received numerous reports from the area, and are still looking “for a living person.”

Separately, Koenig  "may have given ominous warning signs before vanishing in Canada last week, a friend of the actor told the New York Daily News.

According to the Daily News, "Brooklyn-born filmmaker Lance Miccio said Koenig returned a book and other personal items to his doorstep and turned down two new editing jobs before leaving to visit friends in Vancouver."

To read our initial report of the disappearance of Koenig, 41, click here.

--Elizabeth Jensen and Chuck Ross

Lifetime Cable Shakeup Coming in Wake of Ratings Woes

Lifetime, the cable network aimed at women, is headed for a management shakeup as it tries to regain its ratings momentum, the Los Angeles Times reports.

The network’s recent efforts to add more sizzle to its programming failed to catch on, and the primetime audience drop has been enough to take the network out of the ranks of the top five cable networks among women younger than 50, the paper reports. Even the splashy and expensive purchase of rights to Bravo’s “Project Runway” didn’t pay off with more than just solid ratings.

A former marketing executive at the network, Brent Poer, tells the paper the problem is that “There were a lot of people at Lifetime who wanted our viewer to be hipper and more fashionable," but that was not who the audience was.

Chief executive Andrea Wong has already left the network and Nancy Dubuc, the head of History Channel, is expected to take on the role.

--Elizabeth Jensen

CBS Asking Affiliates to Pay for Programming

CBS is asking its affiliates to pay for programming, according to TVNewsCheck.

In an interview with CBS Affiliates Relations President Diana Wilkin, our good friend who runs the editorial product on TVNewsCheck, the veteran journalist Harry Jessell, says Wilkin claims "that most, if not all, the CBS affils have accepted the fact that they they will have to pay to air 'NCIS,' 'The Big Bang Theory' and 'Survivor.' Some have already cut deals, she says, declining to discuss terms."

When Jessell asks Wilkin if these payments for programming are a function "of the  retransmission consent dollars that the stations receive," Wilkin replies, "Are we specifically tying our agreements to a retrans share? No we're not. But we believe that CBS represents a substantial portion of the retransmission consent fees that stations and groups receive."

--Chuck Ross

Oh My: 'Weeds' Creator Says to Lionsgate We're 'In Bed' and 'Going All the Way'

“Weeds” creator and executive producer Jenji Kohan has a new development contract with Lionsgate, but it’s how she chose to describe it that makes it newsworthy, the Los Angeles Times reports.

"Having gotten to second base with Lionsgate in my former 'under the shirt but over the bra' deal, it's a thrill to now be in bed with them and going all the way," Kohan said in a statement announcing the new deal, adding, "Let us hope our creative offspring make us both proud and happy for years to come." She added that she’s talking business only, the Times said, so everyone should get their “minds out of the gutter."

In addition to “Weeds,” Kohan is currently developing a new series for the pay channel Epix called “Tough Trade,” about a country music dynasty.

--Elizabeth Jensen

Lawsuit Fails to Stop DVD Release of ‘Jersey Shore’

The release of MTV’s “Jersey Shore” on DVD is expected to proceed today, after a lawsuit failed to shut it down, TMZ reports.

Stephen Izzo—who was laid flat by the show’s Ronnie in one episode of the reality series—argued in a civil lawsuit that the show was profiting off the alleged attack, for which Ronnie was charged with assault. Izzo’s suit is for invasion of privacy and also argues that the show made unauthorized use of his likeness and image.

The judge in the case ruled that the DVD release could go ahead because Izzo’s face isn’t recognizable during the run-in.

The two sides are due back in court on March 5.

--Elizabeth Jensen

‘Kardashians’ Finale Sets E! Viewing Record

The season finale of "Keeping up with the Kardashians" set a viewing record for E!, reports The Hollywood Reporter.

The show drew 4.8 million viewers Sunday night, making it the network’s most-watched program ever. The number was about six times the network’s primetime average, THR says.

--Elizabeth Jensen

Indecency Alert: Janet Jackson Super Bowl Case Appeal to be Heard (Though Not Seen) on C-SPAN

The Third Circuit Court of Appeals will let C-SPAN broadcast the audio from today’s oral argument in the re-hearing of the case of CBS versus the FCC over the fine for Janet Jackson's 2004 Super Bowl halftime show, B&C reports.

C-SPAN says it will air the audio Sunday, and perhaps earlier if there is time in the schedule. It will also air on C-SPAN Radio on Wednesday and on the network’s Web site.

--Elizabeth Jensen

Walmart Makes Major Video Distribution Acquisition

Walmart, the largest retailer in the world, has made a major video distribution acquisition.

It's acquired VUDU, the service, started in 2004, that distributes movie and TV shows. The deal was first reported by The New York Times.

In a story about the deal in Bloomberg's Business Week, it said, "Buying VUDU pushes Wal-Mart further into the online territory dominated by Apple (AAPL), Amazon.com (AMZN), and Netflix (NFLX), and helps the retailer compensate for weakness in demand for CDs and DVDs sold through brick-and-mortar outlets. "The one area of Wal-Mart's business that's under threat is digital," says Sucharita Mulpuru, an analyst Forrester Research (FORR)."

The Business Week article also says VUDO "sells and rents downloadable movies and TV shows that can be viewed on such Web-connected devices as Blu-ray disc players and some LG televisions."

--Chuck Ross

Guess Which Networks Were Winners and Losers in TV Ad Sales in 2009

Examining new full-year data from Kantar Media (formerly TNS), Brian Steinberg of Advertising Age reports on 2009's winners and losers as far as national ad sales is concerned.

On the broadcast side, ad revenues were down at ABC, CBS, CW, NBC and Fox in 2009, the report says. Comparatively, in 2008 only NBC and Fox had ad revenue increases, due to the Bejing Olympics and Super Bowl, respectively.

On the cable side, most cable networks were also losers, though ad revenue winners included E!, FX, Syfy and USA, the report says.

To read the entire story, click here.

TMZ Sued Over Interview With Michael Jackson's Ex-Wife

TMZ was sued for broadcasting an interview with Michael Jackson’s ex-wife after the singer’s death, reports The Hollywood Reporter.

The interview was with Debbie Rowe.

The lawsuit was filed in California District Court by F. Marc Schaffel Prods., which claimed to own the interview from 2003. Portions of it aired then but other parts didn’t until TMZ ran them last year after Jackson’s death.

The plaintiff claimed the interview contained valuable footage that was stolen and confidential.

The footage at one point was in the hands of the Santa Barbara County Sheriff and TMZ at one point claimed that it got the footage from them, but later said its source was confidential, according to THR.

The article says that last month Schaffel also sued Fox News for airing the interview.

--Elizabeth Jensen

Sarah Palin, 'The Jersey Shore' and Jamie Foxx Lined Up for First Week of Leno's New 'Tonight Show'

When Jay Leno resumes the reins on "The Tonight Show" March 1, he plans on bringing on some magnetic stars to boost the ratings, reports Entertainment Weekly.

Oscar-winner Jamie Foxx has been booked for the first night, and former Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin will be guesting on Tuesday night. Olympian Shaun White is also going to be on with Palin, and Wednesday night will be filled with the cast from "The Jersey Shore," who are assisting a Jaywalking segment. 

Simon Cowell, Judd Apatow and Dana Carvey are also booked for later in the month. 

-- Allison J. Waldman

One of the Most Sought After Actresses in Hollywood Has Chosen Her Pilot

One of the most sought after actresses this pilot season has been one of the cast members of “Ugly Betty," which is ending its run.

Actress Becki Newton has been in much demand for pilot season, with a reported 11 offers.

Now, reports The Hollywood Reporter, she’s made her choice. She’s signed on with “Love Bites,” an NBC dramedy. She’ll play a virgin social worker.

--Elizabeth Jensen

Star Power to Brighten Scripps Upfront Plans

Scripps Networks Interactive will bring out the stars for the 2010 upfront presentation for its channels April 20 in New York, according to B&C.

Giada De Laurentiis from Food Network, HGTV's Candice Olson and Travel Channels' Anthony Bourdain are all slated to appear at the presentation.

After New York, Scripps will go to Chicago, Detroit, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Dallas and Boston with a roadshow version of the upfront for buyers and clients.

-- Allison J. Waldman

ABC's 'V' Plans on Birth of a Lizard Baby

Fans of the original 'V' mini-series will recall that the birth of the lizard baby was perhaps the show's biggest highlight, and ABC plans to recapture that magic moment in the episodes that air when the show returns on March 30, reports TV Guide.

According to Scott Rosenbaum, the show's executive producer, the birth will occur before the program's season finale, and there will be “an understanding of what could be coming.”

-- Allison J. Waldman

‘Modern Family’ Takes Home WGA Honors for Best New Series Writing

The Writers Guild America Award for best new series writing went to ABC’s “Modern Family” on Saturday night.

But the top drama and comedy series winners were familiar names: the already much-honored “Mad Men” won in best drama, and “30 Rock” took home the top comedy award.

For more winners and TVWeek Open Mic blogger Hillary Atkin's take on the ceremonies, click here.

-- Elizabeth Jensen

'Boss' Doing Well Against 'Housewives,' While Winter Olympics Continue to Dominate Ratings

NBC continued to score well in the ratings with its coverage of the Vancouver Winter Olympics, but there were interesting results among the other shows as well, including CBS's "Undercover Boss" significantly beating ABC's "Desperate Housewives" in the 9 o'clock hour, reports TVBythenumbers.com.

"Boss" averaged a 4.8 rating in the 18-49 demographic over the hour, compared to "Housewives'" 3.7. "Boss" was down 8% from last week, but its bookends of "Amazing Race" at 8 p.m. and "Cold Case" at 10 p.m. were up slightly (4% and 10%) week-to-week, posting a 2.9 and 2.3 rating, respectively. 

NBC won the hour with 6.2 rating overall, and a new "American Dad" on Fox earned a 2.8 rating in the 18-49 demo.

Earlier in the night, at 7 o'clock, the Olympics averaged a 4.8, well ahead of ABC's "America's Funniest Home Videos" with an average 2.1, better than CBS's "60 Minutes'" 1.8 and Fox's overrun of NASCAR and a new "'Til Death" collecting a 1.4 average.

At 8 o'clock, the Olympics averaged a 6.3 rating for the hour. Fox's "The Simpsons" and "Cleveland Show" earned a 3.0 and 2.8, respectively. ABC's "Extreme Makeover Home Edition" landed a 2.5 average in the 18-49 demo, up 32% from last week.

Finally, the 10 o'clock hour was dominated by the Olympics with a 5.5, while ABC's "Brothers & Sisters" trailed with an average 2.5 in the 18-49 demo.

-- Allison J. Waldman

Comic Vet Belushi Cast in CBS Hour-Long Legal Pilot

Comic Jim Belushi has landed a dramatic role on the new CBS pilot "Defenders," according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The CBS Studios pilot is an hour-long drama about two volatile Las Vegas defense attorneys. Belushi will star as one of the duo, Nick Mancini, a dedicated lawyer with a serious drinking problem and a troubled marriage.

-- Allison J. Waldman

Univision Launches New Online and Mobile Initiative

The digital division of Univision Communications Inc. today announced its plans for a new online and mobile outlet to launch later this year called "Novelas y Series."

The Spanish-language media company will set up "Novelas y Series" on Univision.com and as a mobile destination. The new venue comes on the heels of "Vidas Cruzadas," a very successful telenovela by the company that was made just for the Web.

The new "Novelas y Series" channel will include top drawer third-party content from Azteca America, RCN Television and Dori Media Group, as well as original programming from Univision Interactive Media.

According to Kevin Conroy, president of Univision Interactive Media, "The launch of the 'Novelas y Series' channel will expand the deep multimedia experience that Univision offers to today's Hispanics, reaching them wherever and however they consume content."

-- Allison J. Waldman 

Can NASCAR Fans Sing and Dance?

The Speed cable network is about to find out if NASCAR fans are able to sing and dance, B&C reports.

The network is launching a talent search show called “Fast Track to Fame,” on March 1. Over 10 episodes, the show will audition for acts, in coordination with the NASCAR schedule.

NASCAR owner and driver Michael Waltrip will host. His brother, Darrell, is on Fox’s NASCAR announcing team. Speed is owned by Fox parent News Corp. and Fox Sports’ new TV production unit is producing the show.

--Elizabeth Jensen

One of the ‘Idol’ Top 24 is Subject of Complaints Over a Past Venture

Todrick Hall, who last week made it into the top 24 “American Idol” contestants this season, isn’t so popular with parents whose kids were supposed to star in a musical production of his that failed, the Associated Press reports.

Hall wrote and directed "Oz, The Musical," and put on small productions using local kids. But an attempt to take it to a national level failed, and parents whose kids were supposed to take part are complaining they never got refunds for the performance fees they paid.

Hall confirmed the account to the AP; Hall’s financial backer said he was responsible for the financial side of the production, not Hall.

--Elizabeth Jensen

Actor Who Played Boner on 'Growing Pains' (And Who Is the Son of Actor Who Played 'Chekov' on Original 'Star Trek') Is Missing

Andrew Koenig, 41, who played Boner on the 1980s sitcom "Growing Pains," is missing, according to a number of media accounts. 

Andrew is also the son of Walter Koenig, 73, who played Chekov on the original 'Star Trek' series.

Walter Koenig told local LA TV station KABC that his son has been depressed.

According to TMZ, Andrew was last seen in a bakery in the Stanley Park area of Vancouver in Canada on Feb. 14th.  

The LA Times version of the story can be found if you click here.

Olympic Gold Medalist Lets It Rip: A Very Un-PC Lindsey Vonn Jokes About Tiger Woods' Situation and Apology

The winner of the Olympics gold medal for the women's downhill last Wednesday, American Lindsey Vonn, was reportedly very eager to hear Tiger Woods' televised confessional statement last Friday, but she missed it.

Then, according to an article by Sean Gregory at Time.com, "When a member of her Vonn-tourage tells her that Woods gave a few friends hugs after ending his statement, she cracks, 'They're like, 'Yeah, you're awesome, you go have that sex.' "

Gregory's article continues, saying that those who heard Vonn's remark laughed, and "Then she describes a skit she would want to perform if asked to host 'Saturday Night Live': picture Vonn at Woods' podium, blue backdrop and all. 'There's something you don't know about me,' Vonn says in a faux solemn, apologetic voice. 'Tiger, you're like my idol, and I too have a sex problem.' More laughter [from those in the room with Vonn]. 'That would be freaking funny.' "

Vonn, like Woods, is married. In the New York Daily News reporting of the Time.com account they said several people who witnessed Vonn's remarks did not think Vonn knew her remarks were being recorded. Time reporter Gregory told the Daily News that Vonn did not say her remarks were off-the-record.

Finally, the Daily News wrote: "Perhaps the most delicious irony of the episode is that Vonn, like Woods, is managed by IMG, the same talent agency that devised Woods' carefully scripted performance on Friday."

--Chuck Ross

The Compromise that Looks Like It'll Get Betty White to Host 'SNL'

With half a million petitioners wanting Betty White to host "Saturday Night Live," it looks like NBC is paying attention.

The concern that longtime "SNL' guiding light Lorne Michaels has is the ability of White, 88, to carry the entire show alone as its host, according to scoopmeister extraordinaire Michael Ausiello at EW.com.

Says Ausiello, "White would not be hosting alone. Rather, I hear SNL is putting together a 'Women of Comedy' episode that would team the former Rose Nylund with several of her younger contemporaries. Ex-SNL MVP Molly Shannon is on board, I hear, and feelers have also been put out to Tina Fey and Amy Poehler. (An NBC spokesperson insists no one has been confirmed at this time.)"

--Chuck Ross

Why TV Folks Are Paying Attention to the Debate Between Apple and the Nets: The Potential. Thus Far Consumers Have Downloaded 10 Billion Songs From the iTunes Store, But Only 375 Million TV Episodes

Here's the question on the table: If iTunes cut the price in half of most TV episodes, would it increase buy rates exponentially.

That's the subject of Brian Stelter's piece in the New York Times.

According to the article, "What would make the iTunes sales more significant? That is where pricing science comes in. In conversations with networks, Apple representatives have cited 99 cents as the magic price point that brought digital music sales into the mainstream. The company says the same price could propel TV sales, according to the network executives. But the networks have little data about what effect 99-cent sales would have, making them more apprehensive about a change.

And a TV executive gave this analysis to the Times: “ 'If you took five things at Wal-Mart and sold them for a nickel, they’d sell really well, because they’d stand out. But if you took everything in the store and made it a nickel, nothing stands out anymore. Essentially all you’ve done is lowered the value of your content.' "

--Chuck Ross

Warner Bros. Oscar Nominated Hit Will Go To On Demand and PPV Same Day as It's Released On DVD

Warner Bros. will distribute it's its big Oscar-nominated hit film simultaneously on DVD, pay-per-view and on-demand, according to Multichannel News.

The film is "The Blind Side," which has grossed about 240 million at the box office. The film's star, Sandra Bullock, is an early favorite to nab the Best Actress Oscar for her performance in the movie. And the film itself--based on a true story--is nominated for Best Picture.

--Chuck Ross

Fun With Numbers: What Market is No. 1 Among the Top-25 Metered Markets in Olympics Ratings (Hint--It's in the Midwest). And Guess the Biggest Market That Doesn't Get any Snow With the Highest Olympics Ratings

The No.1 market amongst those that are metered with the highest ratings for the Olympics for the first nine days of the Games is in the Midwest, according to Nielsen Media Research.

That city is Milwaukee. And the biggest city where it doesn't snow that's doing the best with the Olympics thus far is San Diego.

Here's the entire list of top 25 metered local markets ranked by how well they are doing during the first nine days of the Olympics:

 TOP 25 METERED MARKETS (Nine-Day Average):
1. Milwaukee, 23.1/36
2. Denver, 23.0/38
3. Salt Lake City, 22.5/38
4. Seattle, 21.3/39
5. Minneapolis, 21.0/36
6. St. Louis, 19.9/31
7. Columbus, 19.7/31
8. San Diego, 19.2/32
9. Portland, 19.0/35
10. West Palm Beach, 18.9/26
11. Cleveland, 18.4/29
12. Nashville, 18.2/26
13. Kansas City, 18.0/27
14. Boston, 17.8/31
T15. Phoenix, 17.5/29
T15. Providence, 17.5/29
T17. Austin, 17.3/28
T17. Tulsa, 17.3/26
19. Washington, D.C., 17.2/28
T20. Sacramento, 17.1/31
T20. Cincinnati, 17.1/26
T20. Oklahoma City, 17.1/26
T20. Ft. Myers, 17.1/27
24. Richmond, 16.9/26
T25. Chicago, 16.7/27
T25. Indianapolis, 16.7/27

--Chuck Ross

FCC To Investigate Mark Burnett Kids Quiz Show

The Federal Communications Commission has opened an investigation into possible violations of federal rules in conjunction with "Our Little Genius," produced by reality-king Mark Burnett's company, according to The New York Times.

The parent of a child who had interviewed for the show--but then did not get on it--lodged a complaint with the FCC alleging that a member of the show's production staff reviewed with the contestant and his parents a list of potential topics and "gave specific answers to at least four questions that the child either did not know or about which he was unsure," the Times says.

The letter of complaint was dated Dec. 17 and received by the FCC on Dec. 22. It was released Friday by the commission after a Freedom of Information Act request by the Times.

Per the report in the Times, "the letter states that when the child said that he didn’t know the British system of naming musical notes, he was told by the production staff member the names of four specific notes that 'he needed to know,' including semibreve for whole note, crotchet for quarter note and quaver for eighth note. 'He told us that it was very important to know that the hemidemisemiquaver is the British name for the sixty-fourth note,' the letter says."

--Chuck Ross

Star of 'Battlestar Galactica,' '24,' To Play Detective in ABC Pilot

A former member of the cast of "Battlestar Galactica," who is also a major player on '24' this season, is also starring is a pilot for ABC, reports The Hollywood Reporter.

Katee Sackhoff was Kara "Starbuck" Thrace on "Galactica," and currently plays Dana Walsh, a CTU data analyst on '24"

According to the article, "The producers of '24' are tightlipped about any plot twists on the real-time action drama, but it's understood that Sackhoff's story line would allow her to take on a new series for next season even if "24" was to return for a ninth cycle."

In the pilot, from Richard Hatem Sackhoff plays a detective.

--Chuck Ross

NBC Sets Yet Another Time Buy For a Friday Night Movie with P&G and Walmart

NBC has set yet a second back-door pilot with two of TV's biggest advertisers, both of whom are trying to encourage more family-friendly viewing, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

This second project is called "The Jensen Project," and, like the first project that was announced, "Secrets of the Mountain," it will take place in the mountains.

According to THR, "The Jensen Project," is  "set in 1988, [and] revolves around 12 geniuses who move to an isolated spot in the Allegheny Mountains to form the Jensen Project. For 20 years, the group spend their time inventing ways to fix the world's problems and then share their discoveries freely and anonymously with the world. But when a few decide to take their latest invention, cash in and make names for themselves, it launches a cross-country race as the others try to stop them."

The cast includes Kellie Martin, Brady Smith, Patricia Richardson and LeVar Burton.

Like "Secrets," the movie is a time buy by Procter and Gamble and Walmart.

--Chuck Ross

More Than Half of All Americans Watched the Olympics Through Its First Nine Days; Primetime Alone Has Highest Winter Olympics Viewership for a Non-U.S.-based Games Since the 1994 Tanya Harding/Nancy Kerrigan-fueled Games in Lillehammer

Through Saturday night, Feb. 20th, "More than half of all Americans (162 million) have watched the Vancouver Olympics on the networks of NBC Universal through the first nine days of the Games; five million more than watched the first nine days of the 2006 Winter Games (157 million), according to data available today from The Nielsen Company," NBC Sports said in a press release on Sunday, Feb. 21.

In addition the release said, "The 26.3 million average viewers for the first nine nights of the Vancouver Games is the most for a non-U.S. Winter Olympics since the tabloid-fueled Lillehammer Games (38.7 million). The 26.3 million is nearly 6 million more and 28 percent higher than the average viewership of the first nine nights from Torino in 2006 (20.6 million)."

--Chuck Ross

Former 'Desperate Housewives' Couple Are In Pilots for ABC and CBS

One of the more infamous couples from 'Desperate Housewives' have found new life in upcoming pilots, one for ABC and the other for CBS, The Hollywood Reporter reports.

According to the report, "Nicollette Sheridan is set as the lead opposite Ant Hines in his comedy pilot presentation for CBS."

The actor who played her husband on "Housewives" in season three, Neal McDonough, "will star opposite Virginia Madsen on ABC's dramedy series "Scoundrels," according to the report.

--Chuck Ross 

Potential Game Changer: Test Finds Addressable Ads Cut Ad Skipping by a Third

The results have been nothig short of phenomenal in a test of addressable ads in Baltimore, Adweek reports.

Veteran reporter Steve McMClellan reports that the test showed ad skipping was reduced by 32%.

The test was done by Comcast Spotlght in a Comcast cable system, in conjunction with media agency Starcom MediaVest Group. There were five advertisers in the trial; the only two that have been identified are Walmart and Walgreens.

According to the report, "The trial used technology from Invidi to deliver different ads within the same cable network commercial breaks to different household groupings, based on segmentation data provided by data-management firm Experian."

--Chuck Ross

National Survey Says 60% of Those Who Saw a Portion of Tiger Woods' Statement Thought He was Sincere; 31% Said Perception of Him Now More Positive, 17% Said Perception of Him Now More Negative

In a quick national survey today, 60% of viewers surveyed said Woods' apology was sincere, reports HCD Reseach.

In a press release about the survey--which was taken by 1,090 people who were shown a video clip of the statement--HCD said, "Viewers were split on whether Woods’ statements changed their perception of him, with 52% reporting that their perception of him had not changed; 31% indicating that their perception had changed in a positive way; and 17% indicating that their perception of him had changed in a negative way. In addition, the majority of viewers (64%) reported that Tiger Woods’ apology was sufficient."

HCD said "the male and female viewers’ sincerity levels were fairly consistent,” with one major exception.

The exception, according to HCD, "occurred when Mr. Woods made comments denying the presence of any domestic violence, during which men perceived him to be less sincere than women in regard to those statements.”

To view a video of Tiger Wood's entire statement, click here.

To view a video of the comments of golfer and commentator Nick Falco, and what he found puzzling about Tiger's statement, click here.

--Chuck Ross

Tiger's Lack of Specific Golf Plans Bad Sign for PGA Ratings

Tiger Woods apology this morning didn't mention any specifics about a return to golf, which could be a major issue with PGA viewership, tvbythenumbers.com says. 

TVBythenumbers.com points out that Tiger's injury in 2008 that for took a major bite out of viewership levels during the entire season. Year-to-year, the 2008-09 PGA season was down 46.8% in total viewers versus the 2007-08 season with a playing Tiger Woods.

It's still yet to be seen if viewers will return to watching Tiger play in spite of the controversy he has found himself in.

-- Andrew Krukowski

Quote of the Week

Our quote of the week comes from an interview by our friend James Hibberd, who runs the terrific Live Feed blog for The Hollywood Reporter.

In an interview this week with Shari Anne Brill, the research and programming guru who recently left Carat, Hibberd asked: "What about CNN? Is there any way [for it] to overtake Fox News?"

To which Brill replied, "Smarter people need to be having more kids. I don't know how else you can overcome it."

--Chuck Ross

Why this Week's Ratings for 'Grey's Anatomy' Were the Lowest Ever For the Medical Series

NBC's coverage of the Vancouver Winter Olympics continue to dominate the Nielsen ratings on Thursday, besting an all-new night of ABC dramas, according to TVbytheNumbers.com.

At 8 p.m., the Olympics netted a 6.2 in the 18-49 demographic, outdistancing CBS's "Survivor" with a 3.9, and ABC's sinking-fast rookie legal drama, "The Deep End" with a 1.1.

And thanks to the Olympics, ABC's "Grey's Anatomy," even though it managed to climb to a 3.7 at 9 p.m., that rating was a series low. The Olympics remained on top with a 8.3 in the 18-49 demo. Fox's "Past Life" eeked out a 1.1.

At ten o'clock, the NBC coverage of the games had a 6.8 in the 18-49 demo, well ahead of a new "Private Practice" on ABC, which collected a 2.8.

-- Allison J. Waldman

ABC Pairs 'Lost' With Return of Sci-Fi Show

Commencing on March 30, ABC will schedule a double-hour of sci-fi/fantasy thrills when "Lost" will air back-to-back with "V," reports columnist Hal Boedeker in the Orlando Sentinel.

"Lost" will continue airing at 9 p.m, followed by "V" at 10 p.m.

ABC will show eight episodes of "V" without interruption for the remainder of the season.

-- Allison J. Waldman

Is This What It's Come To? William Shatner Cast in 'Sh*t' Pilot

Actually this is a good thing. William Shatner is making the bold leap from playing a lawyer who says crazy things, to playing a dad who says crazy things.

CBS has greenlighted the comedy pilot "Shit My Dad Says" (hmm, we guess that's just the working title)  now that William Shatner has been cast as Dad, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The series is being executive produced by "Will & Grace" creators David Kohan and Max Mutchnick, but it comes from unique source material, the Twitter account of creator Justin Halpern, who used the things his father says as fodder for his Tweets.

Since he began writing online in August, he's signed up 1.16 million followers.

-- Allison J. Waldman

Comcast's Roberts and NBCU's Zucker Are Heading Back To D.C.

On Thursday, February 25, Comcast Chairman Brian Roberts and NBC Universal president Jeff Zucker will appear before the House Judiciary Committee to discuss the Comcast/NBCU joint venture, reports Multichannel News.

In the past few weeks, Zucker and Roberts were also part of House and Senate meetings. The meetings made headlines after Minnesota Senator and former NBC employee Al Franken took Roberts to task for seemingly arguing both sides of the constiutionality of the FCC's reach. The discussion between Roberts and Franken can be viewed here.

The title of the meeting at 10 a.m. on Thursday is "Competition in the Media and Entertainment Distribution Market."

-- Allison J. Waldman and Andrew Krukowski

Guess Which TV Service Provider is Planning a Single DVR That Can Hook Up to Eight TVs, and Showing the MLB All-Star Game in 3D This Year

How's this sound: the launch of whole-home DVR service that would hook up as many as eight TVs to a single DVR, and the ability to see this year's Major League Baseball All-Star game in 3-D.

That's just some of the plans outlined by the new CEO of DirecTV, Michael White, during a conference call with the media to lay out his plans for the company in the year ahead, reports Multichannel News.

At the top of White's agenda will be to meet the goal that DirecTV be the "absolute best" TV experience for customers.

In addion to expanding the company's DVR and 3-d capabilities, he spoke about  more mobile tools via DirecTV Cinema; and a vast expansion on the pay-per-view front.

Mr. White told the media, "We intend to continue to create innovative products and services that lead our industry and create loyal customers for life."

-- Allison J. Waldman

Fox Sets May Finale Dates for 'Idol,' 'House,' '24'; 'Glee' Finale in June, After the May Sweeps

It's time to start prepping the DVR for the end of May as the 2009-10 broadcast season winds down.

The season finales for some of the top Fox drama series have been set, starting with "24" wrapping with a two-hour, back to back episode block on Monday, May 24 from 8-10 p.m. reports The Futon Critic. The site says that all of the dates have been confirmed by Fox.

Interesting, freshman series "Glee" will come to a finish on Tuesday, June 8, at 9 p.m., almost two weeks after the end of the May sweeps.

Fox's top rated drama, "House," will come to a close on Monday, May 17, at 8 p.m., while "Bones" and "Fringe" shutter on Thursday, May 20, at 8 and 9 p.m. respectively. As for non-dramas, the biggest finish is the annual "American Idol" closer. That'll be Wednesday, May 26, at 8 p.m. and will run beyond the usual 2-hours -- it'll be 127 minutes long and run on the last night of the May sweeps.

-- Allison J. Waldman

Tiger Statement Today: 'Up to Me to Start Living a Life of Integrity.' He Repeatedly Apologizes; Attacks Media

Tiger Woods finally spoke publicly today about the scandal that has rocked his life. He continually apologized and took responsibility for his actions. He asked that his fans not give up on him.

He also attacked the media for not leaving his wife or kids alone.

Woods reitereated that what has happened to him is a private matter between him and his family, though he acknowledged how his actions had also upset his fans, friends and business partners.

The one specific incident he addressed concerned press reports that his wife, Elin, had attacked him on Thanksgiving night. He said that wasn't true.

He also acknowledged that he had in-patient therapy for 45 days, from some time in December until early February.

Woods also said that here on out the way to judge him won't be based on what he says, but on how he behaves. He said that previously he felt he could behave anyway he wanted.

He did not state a date nor the name of a tournament when he would return to play professional golf.

To watch Woods' entire statement, click here.

--Chuck Ross

Live, on Stage: Conan O'Briiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiien!

As part of his settlement with NBC, Conan O'Brien is contractually prohibited from appearing on TV until Sept. 1, but that doesn’t mean he can’t perform live, on stage, the N.Y. Post’s Page Six reports.

So O’Brien is considering appearing in a series of live stage shows to keep him in the limelight.

One venue that could be a possibility is New York’s famous Radio City Music Hall, a source told the Post.

The irony there is that Radio City is located directly across the street from O'Brien's former employer, NBC.

--Elizabeth Jensen

Cowell: Howard Stern Has NOT Been Approached to do 'Idol'; Also, Cowell Says Look for a Woman to Win Show This Season

Simon Cowell said in a press conference call that while Howard Stern clearly wants a job judging “American Idol,” he doubts anyone has really asked the shock jock about taking on the post, TheWrap reports.

"I'm fairly certain there hasn't been an approach at any time for Howard to do this show," Cowell said, adding that his replacement needs music business experience, either as a performer, executive or manager, and Stern “doesn't fit any of those criterion."

Cowell also dismissed reports that he and Ellen DeGeneres aren't getting along.

Meanwhile, the Associated Press reports that, after the show’s run of male winners, Cowell said there’s “definitely a better chance of a girl winning the show this year, certainly, than last year."

--Elizabeth Jensen

Sarah Palin is Not Giving Up the Spotlight, So Tina Fey Says Look for More of Her Impersonation as Well

The 2008 Republican V.P. candidate Sarah Palin is still in the limelight, so she’s about to get more razzing from her Emmy-winning impersonator, the Associated Press reports.

Tina Fey told the AP that she is likely to reprise her Palin character when she hosts “Saturday Night Live” in April. Fey won a guest actor Emmy after the four Palin impressions she did on “SNL” in 2008.

"It's inevitable that we'll try it, at least," Fey told the AP, although she cautioned that it might not make it on the air.

--Elizabeth Jensen

Gosselin House Finally Sells—At a Loss

The celebrity factor didn’t help Jon and Kate Gosselin when they tried to sell their house—or maybe that was the reason it languished on the market.

People.com reports that the Gosselins’ first house in Elizabethtown, Penn., where much of TLC’s “Jon & Kate Plus Eight” was shot, has finally sold after almost a year on the market.

The five-bedroom house went for $258,000, after being priced initially in March 2009 at $325,000. The selling price was $22,000 less than the Gosselins paid in 2006.

--Elizabeth Jensen

Guess Which Huge Food Network Stars Will Have New Shows on the Spinoff Cooking Channel

Scripps Networks will launch its Food Network spin-off, called the Cooking Channel, on May 31, The New York Times reports.

Among the shows on Cooking Channel—which will take the channel space of the Fine Living Network --will be new series from Food Network mainstays Bobby Flay and Rachael Ray.

The lineup of the new channel, the paper says, is an entertainment-oriented departure from the company’s originally announced plans to focus more on information and instructional programming.

--Elizabeth Jensen

Haitian-American Wyclef Jean Co-Hosted the Big Telethon for Haiti; Is His Charity Getting as Much Money From the Fundraiser as It Deserves?

The group behind the "Hope for Haiti Now" telethon has decided how to allocate the first $35 million of the $66 million raised so far, and one of the six beneficiaries is getting only a nominal sum.

Although singer Wyclef Jean was a co-host of the two-hour TV event, Gawker notes that his troubled Yele Haiti Foundation is getting an initial disbursement of just $1 million, compared to the $6 million to $8 million for each of the other five beneficiaries.

In the wake of the Haitian earthquake, Yele Haiti has been the subject of reports questioning its financial management.

Oxfam America and Partners in Health will each get $8 million of the initial telethon funds, and the American Red Cross, Unicef and the U.N. World Food Programme will each get $6 million.

--Elizabeth Jensen

'Past Life' Has Had its Last Reincarnation

Fox has announced that the recently launched reincarnation drama "Past Life" has been canceled, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The show came in fourth in Thursday night's ratings, prompting the move by Fox.

For the next three weeks, Fox will show fresh episodes of "Kitchen Nightmares" in the Thursday timeslot vacated by "Past Life."

Sometime in the future, the remaining episodes of "Past Life" will be aired.

-- Allison J. Waldman

Moonves Says CBS Is Looking for More Than Just Low Single-Digit Increases During This Year's Upfront

Leslie Moonves, CEO of CBS, is very bullish about this year's upfront marketplace.

"We're not just looking at low single-digit increases at the upfront, because our numbers are going to expect more," said Moonves, according to an Ad Age report. "We believe in our product, and we believe in the strength of our network and our programming."

Moonves made the comments on a conference call with investors.

According to the report, "Mr. Moonves said during the conference call Thursday that the scatter market is going well. 'I don't think I've ever seen scatter that's going at these numbers, and frankly, it is a terrific marketplace, where our sales guys are begging us to give back promo time for ad sales,' he said."

As opposed to the upfront market, wherein advertisers buy advertising in advance, scatter refers to the buying of ad time at any time during the year, as needed, on a day-to-day basis.

--Chuck Ross

Is CBS Cutting iTunes Price of Some Shows to 99 Cents?

CBS has signed on to Apple’s plan to cut prices of TV shows sold through iTunes, and will drop the price of some of its shows to 99 cents, MediaMemo reports, citing a comment from CEO Leslie Moonves on the company’s earnings conference call.

But after Moonves made the comment, unnamed sources backpedaled and said that while CBS is open to the idea, there are no imminent plans to drop prices, MediaMemo reported.

MediaMemo said it’s going with Moonves’ on-the-record comment, which was: “There are certain shows that will be sold on Apple for 99 cents.”

--Elizabeth Jensen

Steven Seagal Returning to A&E

“Steven Seagal: Lawman” will come back for a second season on A&E, reports The Hollywood Reporter.

This time around, the network ordered 16 episodes of the reality show, up from 13 the first season. The show remains set in New Orleans, and this time, filming took place during Mardi Gras.

--Elizabeth Jensen

Comedy Central Coming to House of Blues

Comedy Central and Live Nation will launch a monthly stand-up showcase called "Comedy Central's House of Comedy Live from House of Blues," reports The Hollywood Reporter.

As part of the agreement, the network also plans to tape two one-hour stand-up specials from House of Blues.

The two have already been collaborating, with more than 1 million fans turning out to Comedy Central-branded tours since 2003, Live Nation said.

--Elizabeth Jensen

Was an 'Idol' Final 24 Contestant Ejected From the Show for Lying?

It pays to be as truthful as you can on application forms, as rumors swirl that an "American Idol" contestant has been bounced from the show for failing to be upfront about his musical experience. 

A source close to one of the "American Idol" contestants, Chris Golightly, told the Associated Press that he has been dumped from the show because of a problem with veracity. He has been replaced by Tim Urban, People reports, citing a Fox press release.

Reportedly, Golightly failed to disclose that he had a music contract, a no-no for "Idol" competitors whether or not the contract was being enforced.

-- Allison J. Waldman

Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered: Classic '60s Sitcom--the Enchanted 'Mad Men' of Its Time, Debuts on TVLand

One of the most beloved sitcoms of the '60s comes to TVLand beginning March 1. And one of the characters is an Adman so impressive it took actors to portray him.

We're speaking, of course, of "Bewitched," starring Elizabeth Montgomery as everybody's favorite stay-at-home mom/witch, Samantha Stevens, and, as her adman husband, Darrin. Darrin was first played by DIck York and, later in the series, by Dick Sargent. 

TVLand will air a "Bewitched" marathon on Saturday, March 20 and Sunday, March 21. However the show will air daily, starting at 5 p.m., starting March 1.

--Chuck Ross

Oprah Brings Together Oscar Nominees James Cameron, Penelope Cruz, and 'Avatar' Stars on Her Upcoming Primetime Special

Oprah Winfrey will bring together Oscar nominees and winners to interview one another during "The Oprah Winfrey Oscar Special," airing on ABC at 10 p.m. on Wednesday, March 3. 

Stars like Halle Berry will sit down with Penelope Cruz, while Ben Affleck will talk with Jeremy Renner, who is nominated for his role in "The Hurt Locker." 

Director James Cameron will chat with the three stars of his blockbuster "Avatar," Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana and Sigourney Weaver. "Avatar" is nominated for the Best Picture category, which made headlines by expanding the amount of nominees to 10. 

The Academy Awards airs on ABC on Sunday, March 7 at 8 p.m. EST or 5 p.m. PST. 

--Andrew Krukowski

Betty White Still Waiting for That Call as NBC Rolls Out Post-Olympic 'SNL' Hosting Details

Despite a massive Facebook campaign that is growing in size, Betty White has been passed over for hosting duty, again, for "Saturday Night Live's" return from its Olympic hiatus on Feb. 27. 

Instead, singer-actress Jennifer Lopez will be hosting, as well as handling the music side, NBC announced today.  

This will be the second time Lopez has performed as both host and musical act on "SNL." She will be promoting her new album "Love?" which is due out in April.

-- Allison J. Waldman

PBS Tops Fox News as Most Trusted News Outlet, Poll Says

The annual GfK Roper Public Affairs & Media poll released its results today and PBS was named the most trusted name in news, as well as one of the most trusted institutions in America, reports B&C.

When asked to assess PBS' news and public affairs programs, 40% of Americans responded that they trust the network a "great deal." Fox News was trusted a great deal by 29%, a bit better than CNN at 27%.

When it came to qualifying the news coverage as liberal, mostly fair or conservative, 40% of respondents said PBS was mostly fair.

Both NBC and ABC received 33% mostly fair from those surveyed, then CNN with 31%, NPR with 29%, Fox News with 25% and MSNBC with 24%.

-- Allison J. Waldman

Senator Feingold Pens Pointed Letter to NBCU, Comcast

Democratic Senator Russ Feingold has penned a letter filled with tough questions for Comcast and NBC Universal, following a Capitol Hill hearing two weeks ago with NBC Universal President Jeff Zucker and Comcast Chairman Brian Roberts regarding a proposed merger, B&C reports. 

The letter asks both companies if they are willing to divest their Internet TV interest, tie cable rate hikes with the rise of inflation and cease the practice of bundling channels. 

"Mr. Zucker and Mr. Roberts," Feingold wrote, "it is common practice now to require a television distributor like a rival cable company to carry several less popular cable channels in order to get a cable channel that they and consumers really want. Would you be willing to stop this practice and agree to offer fair rates for individual channels?"

Despite the protests by Sen. Feingold and Minnesota Sen. Al Franken, the merger is likely to get government approval. What is unknown is the conditions that may be placed on Comcast by the FCC. 

--Andrew Krukowski

'American Idol' Takes Ratings Silver for the First Time in Six Years

Lindsey Vonn's downhill skiing gold medal run on NBC lured enough viewers away from Fox's "American Idol" to have it place second in its time period, a feat that hasn't happened in six years, The Hollywood Reporter says.  

The Associated Press says the last time "Idol" wasn't first in its time period was in May 2004, when a special Monday edition was trumped by an episode of NBC's "Fear Factor."

"Idol" has consistently captured its time period for the last 222 episodes, but a stellar Wednesday by Team USA (six medals on Wednesday, three of them gold) allowed the coverage to best the singing competition, which posted a season low 6.9 rating in the 18-49 demographic last night.

NBC's 9 o'clock Olympic coverage landed a 9.0 rating in the same demo, and drew in 29.4 million viewers for the night. 

--Andrew Krukowski

'Nine Lives' Gets Another Potential Life With NBC

Steven Spielberg's "Nine Lives," a miniseries developed four years ago for SyFy that was quietly axed, may get its own shot at another life, the Hollywood Reporter reports.  

NBC is taking another look at "Lives," which follows a group of people who can reconnect with loved ones in the afterlife through the use of near-death experiences. Spielberg serves as executive producer, along with Justin Favley, Les Bohem and Darryl Frank.

NBC is considering bringing the Spielberg project back as a broadcast series. 

Bohem is also the writer of the project, and is looking to retool the script it for a wider broadcast audience. 

--Andrew Krukowski

GLAAD To Honor Wanda Sykes With Kolzak Award

Wanda Sykes, co-star of the CBS sitcom "The New Adventures of Old Christine" and the star of the Fox Saturday late night show "The Wanda Sykes Show," has been chosen by GLAAD (Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Discrimination) to receive the Stephen F. Kolzak Award at the 21st Annual GLAAD Media Awards in Los Angeles on April 17, according to Deadline.com.

In addition, Drew Barrymore will be honored with GLAAD's Vanguard Award.

Both are being recognized for their fair, accurate and inclusive representations of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in their work.

-- Allison J. Waldman

'Octomom' to Make Guest Appearance on 'The View'

Nadya Suleman, the Octomom, is set to appear on ABC's daily roundtable discussion show, "The View," Wednesday, Feb. 24, the Associated Press reports. 

A frequent topic during the show's Hot Topics segment, Suleman's octuple birth grabbed international headlines last year, as her eight newborns were joining her other six children.

The births sparked debate and criticism over public assistance going towards Suleman's expanding family. 

--Andrew Krukowski

'Better Off Ted' Shuffles Closer to Punching Out for Good

The likelihood of ABC picking up the irreverent single-camera office comedy "Better Off Ted" for another season lessened after a casting announcement at NBC today.

The sitcom's star, Jay Harrington, has been cast in the NBC pilot "Nathan Vs. Nurture," reports Variety.

The new comedy casts Harrington as the title character, a super-successful heart surgeon who discovers he was adopted, then meets his biological siblings who haven't achieved his lofty standards.

"Nathan" could lose Harrington's services if ABC opts to renew "Ted," as it is considered in the second position on Harrington's slate.

-- Allison J. Waldman

The Promo For Leno's Return to 'The Tonight Show' That You Won't See (and the One You Will See)

NBC on Wednesday ran its first spot promoting Jay Leno’s return to latenight on March 1 and it is essentially a reworking of the campaign that launched his ill-fated move to 10 p.m., USA Today reports.

What might be even more interesting is the promo for the show that NBC decided not to do. The network considered, then rejected, a spot that would have shown the 10 p.m. experiment as a dream, USA Today says.

It’s accompanied by the Beatles lyric “"Get back to where you once belonged." The promo spot is embedded below.

--Elizabeth Jensen

What Will Tiger Say on Friday? Here's Our Guess

This week's $64,000 question: What will Tiger Woods say to the media on Friday? TVWeek Open Mic blogger Chuck Ross has an idea. Click here to read it.

--Tom Gilbert

What Jennifer Aniston, Madonna, Courteney Cox, Gwyneth Paltrow, Kate Hudson and Shakira Have in Common, and What It's Got to Do with TV

Here's a celebrity A-list: Jennifer Aniston, Madonna, Courteney Cox, Gwyneth Paltrow, Kate Hudson and Shakira.

What they all have in common is personal trainer Tracy Anderson, who they are all either using or have used.

The CW is developing a reality show focused on Anderson, reports The Hollywood Reporter.

The show, from Ryan Seacrest Prods., will follow Anderson as she trains celebrities.

The network also has another reality show in development, this one a scavenger hunt program called “Lost Weekend.”

One or both of the shows could end up on The CW’s summer schedule, THR says.

--Elizabeth Jensen

'NBC Nightly News' Gets Biggest Audience in More Than Four Years: Guess Why

On Wednesday Feb. 10, the “NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams” had 11.89 million viewers, its biggest audience in more than four years, B&C reports.

The reason: It was the day of a major snow storm on the East Coast..

For the week, the program had an average 11.04 million viewers, far above its norm. Meanwhile the show’s weekend editions pulled even bigger numbers, thanks to the opening weekend of Olympics coverage. “Nightly News” drew 12.36 million viewers on Saturday and 13.92 million on Sunday.

--Elizabeth Jensen

TLC, Jon Gosselin, Settle Lawsuits; Show With Kate Gosselin Still Planned

TLC settled its breach of contract lawsuit against its former star Jon Gosselin, the Associated Press reports.

No terms were disclosed. The former “Jon & Kate Plus 8" dad was sued by the network last fall, when TLC claimed he failed to honor an exclusivity contract by appearing on other networks.

His countersuit, which has also ended, attacked the network for what he said was a violation of Pennsylvania child labor laws regarding the filming of his kids.

A TLC spokesperson told the AP, "We have announced that we're working on a show with Kate.That's all that's in the works at this time."

--Elizabeth Jensen

Three Current TV Execs Leaving Sony

Three Sony Pictures TV executives: Jeanie Bradley, EVP, U.S. current programming; Debra Curtis, VP, current programming, and Rose Lee, Manager, current programming, are all leaving the company, The Hollywood Reporter reports.

Bradley's departure had been previously reported. 

According to THR, the departures are part of Sony Pictures Entertainment's companywide layoffs. "SPE said this month that it will lay off 450 staffers, or nearly 7% of the Culver City studio's worldwide work force of 6,800 employees," THR reports.

Furhermore, the report says, "With Bradley, Curtis and Lee gone, there is only one Sony TV current executive left -- vp John Westphal -- raising questions whether the studio might shift some or all current series responsibilities to its comedy and drama development teams."

ABC and NBC have previously eliminated their current TV divisions, the article says.

--Chuck Ross

Former ‘Idol’ Winner Returning to Show Next Week to Help Raise Money for Haiti

A former “American Idol” winner will sing on the show next week as part of an effort to raise funds for Haitian earthquake recovery, the Associated Press reports.

The former winner is Kris Allen, who won the "Idol" crown last season.

It’s Allen’s first appearance on the show this season. The money will go to the Idol Gives Back Foundation, which will give it to the U.N. Foundation’s Haitian projects. The show is also planning an “Idol Gives Back” episode for April.

--Elizabeth Jensen

TV Pitchman Gets 30 Days in Jail

TV pitchman Kevin Trudeau got a scolding from a judge and 30 days in jail, after he successfully rallied his fans to overwhelm the judge’s email inbox with testimonials of support, Reuters reports.

The judge feared a safety threat and Trudeau apologized and told fans to stop. The pitchman has been battling in the courts for several years over his marketing of supposed cures for various problems. He was before U.S. District Judge Robert Gettleman for revised sentencing after an appeals court threw out a multimillion judgment against him.

--Elizabeth Jensen

Oh, Come On: Spike Greenlights Golf-Themed Pilot with a Sex Addict Character Named Tiger, But Net Insists Idea Predates the Real Scandal

Spike TV gave the greenlight to a golf-themed series pilot with a sex-addicted Tiger character, but insists that the character was thought up well before Tiger Woods’ recent marital troubles, reports The Hollywood Reporter.

“Back Nine” stars John Schneider (“The Dukes of Hazzard”) as a washed-up former golf star who still competes in small-time tournaments. He has a longtime caddy named Tiger who is a sex addict.

The network said the series has been in development for nearly a year, and the Tiger character was in the early script well before Woods’ troubles came to light in November, THR reports.

--Elizabeth Jensen

Evan Bayh Picks Surprising Venue for First Live Interview About His Senate Departure

Even Bayh is skipping the traditional Sunday talk shows in deciding where to explain his abrupt decision not to seek reelection to the Senate this fall.

Instead, he will give his first live talk show interview on the topic to the women of ABC’s “The View,” the network has announced. The appearance will take place Monday, Feb. 22.

As to why he's leaving the Senate, Bayh has said, "There is too much partisanship and not enough progress -- too much narrow ideology and not enough practical problem-solving. Even at a time of enormous challenge, the peoples’ business is not being done,”

--Elizabeth Jensen

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100218/ap_en_tv/us_tv_the_view_bayh

Top Murdoch Adviser Joining Rival Time Warner; Report Says It's the Beginning of a Shakeup of Senior TW Management

A former top adviser to Rupert Murdoch at News Corp. is joining Time Warner, the New York Post reports.

Gary Ginsberg spent 11 years advising Murdoch on communications before leaving the company last November.

According to the Post story, "Ginsberg, 47, will advise Bewkes on a wide range of corporate issues, including oversight of marketing and corporate affairs. Sources said his appointment is just the first stage of what will ultimately be a restructuring of Time Warner's senior-management ranks under Bewkes."

The Post also noted that Ginsberg was not being brought in to replace Ed Adler, Time Warner's longtime chief of corporate communications, who announced last week he was leaving the company. 

 --Elizabeth Jensen

Tiger Woods to Address the Media on Friday

Tiger Woods will issue a statement to the media this Friday, Feb. 19th at 11 a.m. in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, Bloomberg reports.

Woods intends to "apologize for his behavior, and discuss his past and plans for the future," the report says.

Bloomberg was among a small group of media outlets that was emailed this news, which came from Woods' agent, Mark Steinberg, and his spokesman, Glenn Greenspan.

Bloomberg reported that the ground rules Woods and his handlers have set up for the meeting have stated that only a small group reporters will be allowed to attend, who will comprise a reporting pool. No questions will be allowed, and the encounter is not supposed to be videotaped.

Besides the reporters, the rest of the attendees will be comprised of "a small group of friends, colleagues and close associates," Bloomberg reported that the email said.  

Then, in a telephone interview with Bloomberg, agent Steinberg said, "“Tiger feels as though It’s time to make amends and to publicly do that. This has all come together quite quickly.”

--Allison J. Waldman and Chuck Ross

Time to 'Scrub' Up for the End of a Fun TV Series

ABC will air two episodes of "Scrubs' in March--on March 10 and March 17, both at 8 p.m., and many expect it will likely be the end of the unconventional medical comedy.

 "Scrubs" has been rumored for cancellation since ending its eighth season last year, but was miraculously renewed for a ninth season with a heavy amount of retooling. The Hollywood Reporter gives the medical comedy a 5% chance of a renewal for a 10th season. 

ABC's reality series, "Supernanny" is also coming back in March. The 100th episode will air Friday, March 12 at 8 p.m. with back to back shows, marking the end of the show's sixth season.

-- Allison J. Waldman & Andrew Krukowski

A New 'Friends' for NBC?

The writers of the indie hit "500 Days of Summer" have had their pilot "Friends with Benefits" picked up by NBC, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The pilot, from 20th TV and Imagine TV, was passed on by ABC before NBC picked it up.  

"Friends with Benefits" is the story of five friends searching for the real thing in love and relationships, but settling right now with the perks of single life, like friends with benefits.

Screenwriters Scott Neustadter and Michael Weber are fine tuning the script. David Dobkin ("Wedding Crashers") will direct the single camera comedy pilot.

-- Allison J. Waldman

'Funny Or Die,' the Internet Comedy Network, Is Coming to Cable

The Internet comedy network created by Will Ferrell and Adam McKay, "Funny Or Die," is making the jump to television, reports the Associated Press.

HBO will begin broadcasting "Funny Or Die Presents" on Friday, February 19, at midnight. The program comes as part of the 2008 deal between the Internet site and HBO, in which HBO invested $10 million in the web site.

-- Allison J. Waldman

Brit TV Hit 'Top Gear' Getting US Adaptation...Again

Last year, NBC had the idea of adapting the British TV hit show "Top Gear" for American viewers with Adam Carolla as one of the stars, but the pilot failed and "Top Gear" remained in neutral.

Today, Jalopnik.com is reporting that "Top Gear" will get another go in an Americanized version on The History Channel. The network is commited to at least 10 episodes, and Carolla may still be connected as one of the three hosts the article says, citing "sources."

-- Allison J. Waldman

Why the White House Says President Obama Would More Likely Appear on 'Jon Stewart' Than the 'Colbert Report' (The Reason is Not Complimentary To Stewart)

White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs revealed that President Obama would be more likely to go on Comedy Central's "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart" than the network's "Colbert Report," according to Time Magazine.

Gibbs said that when it comes to interviewing, Colbert has the edge. "I have yet to see a politician best Stephen Colbert in an interview on his show. I mean, he's really, really good."

-- Allison J. Waldman

'Jersey Shore' Character Trademarking Her Name

One of the colorful characters on MTV's recently renewed reality series "Jersey Shore" has filed for a U.S. federal trademark for her nickname, according to The Smoking Gun.

Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi, has decided that she would like to be the world's only legal "Snooki.

Fellow "Jersey" cast member Michael "The Situation" Sorrentino went the same route earlier in the month, approaching the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for a trademark on his nickname, the Smoking Gun also reports. 

-- Allison J. Waldman

FX Delays Premiere of Comedy Starring Louis C.K.

FX is pushing back the premiere of its new comedy ‘Louie,’ B&C reports.

The hourlong show was to have debuted in April, but will now premiere in June, so it can be paired with the return of the drama “Rescue Me.” “Rescue Me’ will air at 10 p.m., leading into the show from comedian Louis C.K.

--Elizabeth Jensen

NBCU Pushing Value of its Olympics Ads

Just four days into the Olympics, NBC Universal is touting data that show viewers are responding well to ads running in the games coverage, perhaps in a bid to sell out any remaining commercial time, The New York Times reports.

The company said there were big spikes in online Google searches Friday night for two movies--“Green Zone” and “How to Train Your Dragon”-- advertised during the opening ceremonies, as well as a spike for Sun Life Financial, another advertiser.

--Elizabeth Jensen

'American Idol' Reigns Over Olympics On Tuesday Night

It was American Idol beating the Winter Olympics in the ratings on Tuesday night, Feb. 16th, according to TVBytheNumbers.com.

From 8p.m. until 10 p.m., 'Idol' averaged a 9.1 ratings in the 18-49 demo. The Olympics on NBC averaged a 5.1 rating in same demo. \

A new episode of ABC's "Lost" at 9 p.m. came in third to "Idol" and the Olympics with a 4.5 rating, off slightly from last week. But ABC's "The Forgotten" at 10 o'clock drew only a 1.7 in 18-49 year olds, significantly down from the "Lost" lead in.

-- Allison J. Waldman

Leno’s New ‘Tonight’ Will be Minus a Key Player

Jay Leno’s new “Tonight Show” will be missing a key element from his old version, reports The Hollywood Reporter.

Kevin Eubanks, the show’s bandleader since 1995, is negotiating his departure from the show. He’ll be there for the March 1 debut, but will leave “within months,” THR says.

Announcer John Melendez will no longer provide the voiceover, but he’ll continue on the show as a writer.

Various media outlets say that the news about Eubanks leaving was first reported by Los Angeles radio station K-EARTH.

--Elizabeth Jensen  

HBO Puts Its Programming on the Internet. You Can Visit the New Site Now——One Analyst Says Site is So Good It 'Makes You Want to Throw Out Your Cable Box'

HBO is preparing to launch a web site called HBO Go where its cable subscribers will have access to streamed versions of its series and movies, The New York Times reports.

The web site, now in beta testing, has much more content than HBO makes available on HBO On Demand, currently works for Comcast and Verizon FiOS subscribers, but the company is expected to open it up to others.

Says the NY Times article, "Richard Greenfield of Pali Capital noticed HBO GO in late January, and was immediately impressed. 'Spending 30 seconds with HBO GO makes you want to throw out your cable box with its awful video-on-demand interface and your nonsensical cable remote,' he wrote."

To go to HBO Go, click here.

--Elizabeth Jensen

Report: NBC O&Os Try to Rebound in Daytime: Unloading 'Deal or No Deal,' Working on New Newsmagazine Show

In an extensive article about how the NBC owned-and-operated stations are rejiggering their daytime schedules to improve their ratings, TVNewscheck is reporting that some shows will be dumped and some added.  

According to the report: "At the end of this season, the NBC O&Os are unloading NBCU game show 'Deal or No Deal' (although that has not been confirmed) and Warner Bros.' low-rated talk show 'Bonnie Hunt.' "

The article also says, "In addition to 'Ellen' and "Nate [Berkus,]"  NBC Local Media a few months ago picked up NBCU's off-cable hour 'Real Housewives.' It will likely add a topical newsmagazine that the NBC O&Os are developing in conjunction with the team behind NBCU's 'Access Hollywood.' "

--Chuck Ross

Geri Wang Named President of ABC Ad Sales

Geri Wang has been promoted to President of Sales & Marketing, ABC Television Network, it was announced today.

Wang replaces Mike Shaw, who retired from the post at the end of last year but who continues to act as a consultant to ABC for this year.

With Wang now running the ad sales show at the ABC network, that means, for the first time, women are in charge of the ad sales operations at the same time at the three oldest broadcast networks, ABC, CBS and NBC. JoAnn Ross is in charge at CBS, and Marianne Gambelli at NBC. Of the three networks, ABC was last into TV--it first began broadcasting 62 years ago this coming April.

Wang has been senior VP of Primetime Sales for ABC, a postion she's held since 2000. She joined the network in 1990.

In making the announcement, Anne Sweeney, co-chair, Disney Media Networks & president, Disney/ABC Television Group, said, in a statement, “Since joining the company in 1990, Geri has proven herself to be a fierce advocate for ABC, someone who understands the value of our network and who has developed the skills and relationships necessary to ensure that value is fully recognized by the marketplace. She’s earned this promotion and I’m thrilled to have her as part of my senior team.”
 
Wang will report to Sweeney.

Wang "will be responsible for sales and integrated marketing efforts for all dayparts of the ABC Television Network, including ABC Primetime, ABC Daytime, ABC News, ABC Late-Night, ABC Interactive and Sales Development. She will also oversee Disney/ABC Unlimited, the cross-platform sales unit of the Walt Disney Company, as well as sales and integrated marketing efforts for SOAPnet," according to the announcement.

--Chuck Ross

New Season Of Deadliest Catch May Include Footage of Captain Phil Harris in Hospital Soon Before He Died

The upcoming season of Discovery’s “Deadliest Catch” will feature Capt. Phil Harris’ final voyage at sea, but it may also include footage from the hospital as he unsuccessfully tried to recover from a massive stroke, EW.com reports.

Harris died Feb. 9.

The show’s executive producer, Thom Beers, told EW that when Harris came out of a coma on Feb. 2, “he was trying to talk. He couldn’t, but he was motioning with his hand to my producer and camera man. We said we want to give you your space and get out, and he wrote on a piece of paper. It said, ‘No, we need a great finish to this story.’”

Harris’ family will decide whether the footage will air.

On Saturday, Discovery will run a 15-hour marathon of the show as a tribute to Harris.

--Elizabeth Jensen

Planned Mini Series from Co-Creator of '24' About JFK Draws Fire

JFK loyalists who have read scripts of an upcoming History Channel miniseries about President John F. Kennedy are trying to shut the production down even before filming begins,  The New York Times reports.

The mini is a project of Joel Surnow, a political conservative who is one of the creators of Fox’s “24.”

Former Kennedy adviser Theodore Sorensen says the scripts he’s seen contain errors of both “fact and emphasis,” the Times says. Liberal filmmaker Robert Greenwald is fighting the proposed film with an Internet video of his own featuring scholars who criticize the upcoming Surnow project.

According to the Times' report, Greenwald says that  “Anyone has a right to do whatever they want. I would never suggest that History channel doesn’t have a right. What I’d suggest is something called the History channel should not be doing political propaganda.”

The screenwriter for the mini-series, Stephen Kronish, told the Times "that he was 'not out to destroy the sacred cow' of the Kennedy presidency, but that in being faithful to history, the mini-series would necessarily contain elements that might upset Kennedy adherents."

--Elizabeth Jensen and Chuck Ross

Drama Pilots Show More Diversity in Casting Leads

Four of the most high-profile drama pilots this season feature non-Caucasian actors as their leads, reports The Hollywood Reporter.

The four shows are CBS' "Chaos," CBS' spinoff of "Criminal Minds," NBC's "Undercovers," and Fox's "Breakout Kings." 

By comparison, only one of last year’s drama pilots featured a minority actor and the previous year, there were none, the report says.

--Elizabeth Jensen

Video: 'Family Guy' Under Fire For Portrayal of Woman (Whose Mom was the Governor of Alaska) with Down's Syndrome: See Reaction by Sarah Palin and, Separtately, by Regulars on 'The View'

NBC and KRON in San Francisco Once Again Talking Partnership

NBC is in what B&C calls “advanced negotiations” to partner with Young Broadcasting's KRON, the former NBC affiliate in San Francisco which is now affiliated with MyNetworkTV.

The possible shared technical services agreement was revealed in documents filed last week related to Young’s bankruptcy proceedings.

In 1999, Young outbid NBC for the station, paying the huge sum of $823 million. Two years later, NBC moved its affiliation to KNTV in San Jose, which it later acquired for just $230 million, and the value of KRON plummeted.

According to the B&C article, "KRON would presumably operate out of KNTV headquarters should the deal be worked out. NBC Local Media apparently isn't the only network-owned group interested in a management role at KRON. 'The negotiations with NBC have progressed," reads the brief, "and there is at least one other network interested.'

Fox Business Hires CNBC Correspondent Gasparino

Fox Business Network signed correspondent Charlie Gasparino from rival CNBC to a multi-year contract, the Los Angeles Times reports.

The former Wall Street Journal reporter is one of the network’s biggest hires so far. Gasparino is known for breaking stories, but also for getting into sharp-tongued on-air spats with his colleagues.

--Elizabeth Jensen

New Lawsuit Claims ‘Biggest Loser’ Trainer Promotes ‘Toxic Cocktail’

“Biggest Loser” trainer Jillian Michaels has been sued for the third time in a week and this suit alleges that the diet pills that bear her endorsement contain a “potentially lethal” ingredient, TMZ reports.

Kathy Hensley’s class action lawsuit claims that the ingredients in "Jillian Michael Maximum Strength Fat Burner," including citrus aurantium, and combine in a potentially “"toxic cocktail."

Michaels defended her products last week.

--Elizabeth Jensen

CW Announces Five Returning Shows

The dead live on at the CW, at least in the case of "Vampire Diaries."

According to B&C, "Diaries" has been renewed by the CW, as have four other programs: "Gossip Girl," "90210," "Supernatural" and "America's Next Top Model." The ratings-challenged "Melrose Place" was not on the list of renewals.

-- Allison J. Waldman

Survey Says Not Everyone on the Internet After All

In a National Telecommunications & Information Administration survey of 50,000 people, 30% of the respondents said they are not using the Internet either at home or on the job, according to B&C.

The data, commissioned by the NTIA through the Census Bureau, shows that the poor, seniors and minorities continue to lag behind other groups in adoption, B&C said. It also shows that broadband adoption is up from 2007, from 51% of all households to 64%.

-- Allison J. Waldman

NBC's Olympics Take Monday in Nielsens

It was a good night for NBC's coverage of the Winter Olympic games on Monday, with the 8-11 p.m. broadcast averaging a 7.2 in the 18-49 rating, and over 25 million total viewers, according to TVbythenumbers.com.

ABC's "The Bachelor" collected a 3.8 in the 18-49 demo at 8 p.m., and even better with a 4.3 in the 9 p.m. hour. A new "24" on Fox at 9 p.m. trailed wth a 2.7, ahead of CW's 0.9 rating for "Life Unexpected."

The rest of the night was filled with reruns.

-- Allison J. Waldman

NBC Doubles Up Premiere of 'Minute to Win It'

When the new NBC game show "Minute to Win It" premieres March 14, the network will present a double dose of the game, running it from 7-9 p.m, NBC announced today. 

Food Network star Guy Fieri is the host of the new show, in which 10 contestants are challenged to do normal task while the clock is running, with the goal of ultimately conquering all the challenges to win the $1 million prize.

-- Allison J. Waldman

No Performances by Best Song Nominees on the Oscarcast

The producers of this year's Academy Awards broadcast, Adam Shankman and Bill Mechanic, have reportedly decided not to ask the best song nominees to perform their songs during the show, reports Deadline.com.

Instead of a live song performance, the nominated music will be interspersed with footage from the associated films.

In addition to that change, Shankman has decided to add variety to the telecast in the form of dancers from the TV show "So You Think You Can Dance."

-- Allison J. Waldman

March to Bring Spike Vs. USA Network Wars

The Monday night broadcasts of professional wrestling will return to the mats in earnest in March, when Spike TV's TNA Impact! will go up against WWE on USA Network, reports Multichannel News.

Spike TV's two-hour wrestling show will air every other Monday beginning March 8 at 9 p.m., competing directly with WWE and World Championship Wrestling on USA Network.

-- Allison J. Waldman

Report: Canary Exiting 'All My Children'

March will mark the end of David Canary's tenure on the ABC soap "All My Children," reports TV Squad.

Canary, a five-time Emmy winner for his role as twin brothers Adam and Stuart Chandler, has decided not to renew his contract with the network because he doesn't want to live in Los Angeles where the show is now being filmed.

ABC has yet to confirm the exit, but the creator of the show, Agnes Nixon, says that it's true.

-- Allison J. Waldman

Betty White Throws It Back to Lorne Michaels

The Facebook campaign to get Betty White to host "Saturday Night Light" has reached the veteran actress and she's stunned by the online support, according to the Los Angeles Times.

The 88-year-old "Golden Girls" star said that she is up to the challenge, but the ultimate decision rests with "SNL" producer Lorne Michaels. It's coming up with a musical guest that'll be tough for White; she has a long wish list.

-- Allison J. Waldman

Adult Swim Expanding Again

The Cartoon Network has decided to beef up its primetime programming, reports MediaWeek.

Beginning in January 2011, Adult Swim, the Cartoon Network's late-evening animation fare, will kick off the night at 9 p.m. instead of 10 p.m. This the second time Adult Swim has expanded. In 2009, the programming block switched from an 11 p.m. start to 10 p.m.

"Aqua Teen Hunger Force," "Robot Chicken" and "The Venture Brothers" are among the cartoons shown during the Adult Swim sector.

-- Allison J. Waldman

Complication in Case Against Charlie Sheen

The felony and misdemeanor case against Charlie Sheen just got more complicated, TMZ reports.

Sheen’s wife, Brooke Mueller, entered rehab for substance abuse, TMZ says.

That could affect the criminal case against Sheen because of the he-said, she-said nature of the case, in which Mueller claimed her husband threatened her with a knife on Christmas Day. He denied it. TMZ says Mueller had been drinking before she called 911 and the rehab stint could speak to her credibility.

--Elizabeth Jensen

Fox Adds a Bit of Suspense to ‘Idol’

In another change to “American Idol” this season, Fox will drag out the reveal of the semi-finalist lineup over two nights, the New York Post reports.

In past years, all of the 24 were revealed at once. But this week, a few will be revealed tonight, after final solo performances, with the remainder announced tomorrow night.

--Elizabeth Jensen

Barbara Walters Quits Oscar Specials: 'I'm Sick of Them'

Barbara Walters' ABC Oscar night specials are as close to an institution as it ever gets on TV. This year's editon, to be seen next month, will be No. 30 for her.

And, it will be her last one, Walters revealed on "The View" on Monday, Feb. 15, according to numerous news accounts.

Walters told viewers, "I think I'm sick of them," the Los Angeles Times' Show Tracker blog reported.  "I feel I've been there, done that. 29 years is enough."

Reported the Times, "When grilled by her co-hosts about why she was pulling the annual telecast, which performs well with viewers and is well-respected in the industry, she said she felt she had been doing the same thing for 29 years."

The special, seen Oscar night, this year features interviews with Oscar nominees Mo'Nique and Sandra Bullock.

--Chuck Ross

Viewers Complain About Graphic Luge Crash Video

NBC announced over the weekend that it would no longer rebroadcast the graphic video of Georgian luger Nodar Kumaritashvili’s fatal Olympics training accident, after numerous viewer complaints, the Associated Press reports.

All three major broadcast networks showed the video on their Friday newscasts and NBC aired it at the beginning of its Olympics opening ceremony coverage. NBC also put the video on its web site.

--Elizabeth Jensen

Color NBC's Opening Night Olympics Ratings Gold

 NBC's opening night coverage of the Olympics on Friday, Feb 12, drew the second-largest audience for a first night of a Winter Olympics since 1994, according to the Los Angeles Times' Company Town blog, citing figures from Nielsen Media Research.

The coverage drew an average of 32.6 million viewers. The opening of the 2002 Winter Games remain No. 1 in the past 14 years. Those games were held in the U.S. (Salt Lake City), and drew an average of 45.6 million viewers.

According to the report: "Four years ago, an average of 22.2 million viewers -- 10 million fewer than Friday night --watched the opening ceremony when the events were held in Turin, Italy. NBC said a total of 67.5 million people in the U.S. watched all or some of its prime-time telecast from Vancouver on Friday."

--Chuck Ross 

CBS’ ‘Undercover Boss’ Proves to Be Good Olympics Foil

CBS’ “Undercover Boss”—or at least the episode focused on the Hooters chain—proved to be a strong counterpunch to NBC’s Olympics programming Sunday night and could be a hit in the making, TheWrap reports.

The episode brought in 15.28 million viewers and impressive demographic ratings, giving the network its best demographic performance with a regular program at 9 p.m. Sundays since November 2005, TheWrap notes.

--Elizabeth Jensen

Madonna to Make Appearance on Seinfeld’s Show

Twice-divorced Madonna will put in an appearance on “The Marriage Ref,” the upcoming Jerry Seinfeld-produced reality show for NBC, the Associated Press reports.

The program, which is getting heavily promoted during the Olympic Winter games, features celebrities trying to sort out couples’ conflicts.

No details on Madonna’s appearance were available.

--Elizabeth Jensen

Jack Bauer Felled by a Cyst

Fox’s ‘24” shut down production because star Kiefer Sutherland needs to have surgery for a ruptured cyst, reports The Hollywood Reporter.

He’s expected to be out until the end of this week. The delay isn’t expected to disrupt the broadcast schedule.

--Elizabeth Jensen

MSNBC, Fox News Offering Platform for Potential Future Candidates

Television news and politics has always been a revolving door, but it’s spinning even more these days, The New York Times reports.

Fox News’ paid political analysts currently include Sarah Palin, Mike Huckabee and Newt Gingrich, all of whom are thought to be potential Republican presidential candidates. MSNBC had Harold Ford Jr., now a potential Democratic Senate candidate in New York, on its payroll until recently. CNBC’s Larry Kudlow is currently the focus of a movement to draft him to run for Senate, as well.

Critics complain that the networks are giving free exposure to potential candidates, giving them an unfair advantage with the voters, and that the networks are opening themselves up to possible conflicts of interest.

--Elizabeth Jensen

Will Mobile Help Save Local TV?

Local TV broadcasters in Washington, D.C., and elsewhere are hoping that a new mobile TV technology will provide a boost to their sagging fortunes, The New York Times reports.

In April, eight local D.C. stations will start broadcasting in the new mobile format that works with portable TVs, as well as cellphones and laptops with adapters. Some 30 stations nationwide have installed the signal equipment.

Dennis Wharton, a spokesman for the National Association of Broadcasters, predicted the mobile technology “will provide a renaissance for over-the-air broadcast TV.”

--Elizabeth Jensen

Best Picture, Director Oscar Nominee’s Next Project is for HBO

One of this year’s nominees for Best Picture and Best Director at the Academy Awards is turning to television next, TheWrap reports.

Kathryn Bigelow, who directed “The Hurt Locker,” will direct the pilot for HBO’s “The Miraculous Year” series. She’s done TV before, including episodes of "Homicide: Life on the Street" and "Wild Palms."

The potential HBO series comes from John Logan, who wrote the scripts for "Gladiator" and "The Aviator," among others. HBO describes the series, TheWrap says, as "an examination of a New York family as seen through the lens of a charismatic, self-destructive Broadway composer."

--Elizabeth Jensen

Satellite Wars: DirecTV Files Suit Against Dish

The two biggest satellite television providers, DirecTV and Dish, are at war over commercials, reports Multichannel News.

DirecTV has filed a suit against Dish Network claiming false advertising in the Dish commercials. Dish Network's commercials say that for $39.99 a month, it can offer the same programming as DirecTV. DirecTV's suit claims that is misinformation.

DirecTV is asked for an order compelling Dish Network to pull the ads or correct the errors.

-- Allison J. Waldman

'Survivor' Off to a Fast Start in the Nielsens

CBS' latest edition of "Survivor" -- "Survivor: Heroes Vs. Villains" -- got off to a brisk start in the Thursday night ratings, pulling a 4.6 and 4.5, respectively in the first two hours, according to TVbythenumbers.com.

NBC's "Community" and "Parks & Recreation" both netted a 2.3 in their halves of the 8 o'clock hour, besting ABC's "The Deep End" and CW's "The Vampire Diaries" which both earned a 1.5.

Trailing the second hour of "Survivor" was ABC's "Grey's Anatomy" with a 4.3 in the 18-49, ahead of NBC's "The Office" and "30 Rock" with a 3.7 and 2.9, respectively. Fox's "Past Life" had a 1.4 and CW's "Supernatural" eeked out a 1.0.

CBS surged to the top of the 10 o'clock hour with "The Mentalist" getting a 3.6. ABC's "Private Practice" stayed close with a 3.2 in the 18-49 demo.

-- Allison J. Waldman

ABC Counters NBC's 'Parenthood' With '20/20' Special

NBC may have hoped that the premiere of the Ron Howard/Brian Grazer production "Parenthood" would be up against ABC's ratings-challenged "The Forgotten," but the Alphabet network has switched out that show for a "20/20" special, reports The Wrap. On Tuesday, March 2 at 10 p.m. (ET), ABC will air "20/20: Before They Were Famous," a celebrity-inspired hour that shows stars the way they were in their youth.

-- Allison J. Waldman

Rain, Snow and Cold Equals a Boom in Weather Channel Numbers

The intense winter weather has been trying for Americans and for information about what's going on, they've been turning to The Weather Channel, setting new records across multiple platforms, the network reported.

On February 9, 2010, there was a single day record set of 178 million page views across digital platforms, weather.com, The Weather Channel Desktop and The Weather Channel Mobile, including mobile Web and downloadable applications available on iPhone, Android, BlackBerry and Palm devices.

That figure shatters the previous single-day record, 147 million on January 7, 2010. In the midst of the nasty winter season, weather.com has had its four highest traffic days ever. That said, The Weather Channel was No. 1 in cumulative reach across three days, reaching almost 50 million total viewers from Feb. 8-10.

-- Allison J. Waldman

'We Are the World' Remake for Haiti Premieres In Time for Winter Olympics Opening

The all-star remake of "We Are The World," a benefit recording to raise money for Haitian earthquake relief, will premiere tonight in full at 7:30 p.m. (ET) on NBC, reports Yahoo.

The video, which includes superstars Barbra Streisand, Tony Bennett, Celine Dion, Pink, the Black Eyed Peas, and more, was recorded a little over a week ago and filmed by director Paul Haggis.

The production was rushed to make tonight's Winter Olympics opening. There will be a way to Download to Donate after the premiere, with the song and video available on iTunes and YouTube. All proceeds will go to the We Are The World Foundation.

-- Allison J. Waldman

BBC America Continues 'Being Human'

After a hit season on BBC America, the network is bringing "Being Human" back for two more seasons, the network reports. A BBC AMERICA co-production, "Being Human" was a fan favorite and a sensation at Comic-Con. The three main characters, Russell Tovey, Lenora Crichlow and Aidan Turner play George, Annie and Mitchell, three seemingly normal young people who are, in fact, a werewolf, a vampire and a ghost. The second season will premiere late this summer on BBC America, with the third season following shortly.

-- Allison J. Waldman

'Ugly Betty' Finale Will Be Family-Oriented

Since ABC has announced that this will be the final season of "Ugly Betty," there's been speculation that the series finale will end with a bang, and now star Ana Ortiz has confirmed that there will be a big production in the last show, reports Digital Spy. Spoiler alert -- stop here if you don't want to know what the big family event will be...

Okay, here goes: Hilda will get married. She was on Disney's "D23" and when asked what will happen to her character, she said, "There's going to be a wedding... That's exciting. I can't wait to see what that entails. Hopefully since it's our last season, they'll really pull out the stops and give her a really nice wedding. We'll see!"

-- Allison J. Waldman

Baldwin Attacks NY Post Photographer; Baldwin Pal Pins 'Media Circus' on Ex-Wife Kim Basinger

Alec Baldwin attacked a New York Post photographer, yelling “This guy! This guy!,” as a crowd of reporters and police watched, the New York Daily News reports.

Furthermore, a source who the Daily News says is a pal of Baldwin's told the paper (referring to Baldwin's ex-wife, Oscar-winning actress Kim Basinger): "This is another example of Kim's sickness. Alec came back from the hospital and there were cameras outside his house at 2 a.m. Gee, I wonder how they found out?"

Baldwin was apparently upset with the media attention on Thursday, Feb. 11th, the same day that he was released from the hospital after being rushed there because his daughter called 911. His daughter reportedly told 911 that her dad said "I'm going to take some pills. I'm going to end this." Baldwin told police when they arrived that he had only taken a sleeping pill but they took him to the hospital anyway. He later put in a day of work at “30 Rock.”

When he got home and found the press waiting for him, the Daily News says, Baldwin grabbed photographer Tim Wiencis by the neck. Police pulled him off and no charges were filed.

--Elizabeth Jensen and Chuck Ross 

Venus/Mars: Check Out These Differences in How Men and Women Ranked Super Bowl Ads

In a national survey, striking differences have shown up about how men and women ranked the ads during the Super Bowl.

In its survey, HCD Research not only found differences in how men and women ranked the ads, but they discovered that overall, women rated the ads 3.3 point higher than men did.

Here's a comparison of the top 5 Super Bowl ads, as ranked by men and women, all over 18-years-old. A spokesman for HCD Research said that 3,000 people participated in the survey.

'Sesame Street' Mainstay Hit by Car

An actress who has been on “Sesame Street” since its 1969 debut suffered a head injury after being hit by a car, the Times of Trenton reports.

Loretta Long, 71, plays Susan Robinson on the program. She was in stable condition at a Trenton hospital Tuesday night.

--Elizabeth Jensen

Kate Winslet To Star in Mini-Series Based on Oscar-winning Classic Movie

Kate Winslet will star in an upcoming mini-series that's been green lit by HBO, reports The Hollywood Reporter.

The mini-series is "Mildered Pierce." Based on a James M. Cain novel, it was made into a classic film noir in1945, starring Joan Crawford as a single mother during Depression-era Los Angeles. Crawford snared the Best Actress Oscar for her tour-de-force performance.

The mini-series will be made by Todd Haynes, who previously has shown a greaet feel for the period in his 2002 feature "Far From Heaven." Production starts in April.

--Elizabeth Jensen and Chuck Ross 

Smackdown! WWE to Launch Cable Network

World Wrestling Entertainment hopes to have a cable network dedicated to pro wrestling up and running in about 18 months, Multichannel News reports.

Chairman Vince McMahon told investors that the company has been doing due diligence on the project. He said it wouldn’t infringe on current cable and broadcast programming, on USA Network and MyNetworkTV, but would instead provide marketing for them.

--Elizabeth Jensen

Live Better: Walmart Partners with P&G to Make NBC Family-Friendly TV Movie

In an effort to promote family-friendly viewing, two of TV's biggest advertisers, retailer Walmart and packaged-goods company Procter & Gamble will jointly produce a TV movie, according to the Wall St. Journal. (Since the WSJ is firewall-protected, we are linking to this free story about the deal written by Reuters.

The movie, "Secrets of the Mountain," is scheduled to air on NBC in April, the article says.

Both companies will air commercials during the airing, and "the film will include product placements for both, the Journal said, citing executives."

The movie is about a single mom who moves with her kids to a cabin on a mountain. The movie "highlights values such as generosity, honesty and togetherness that Walmart and P&G executives say are in short supply on television, according to the report."

--Chuck Ross

Discovery Planning Tribute to ‘Deadliest Catch’ Captain, Phil Harris, Who Died This Week

The sixth season of Discovery Channel’s “Deadliest Catch” starts in mid-April and Capt. Phil Harris will be a big part of it, the New York Post reports.

Shooting on the season had already been completed before the captain of the Cornelia Marie crab fishing boat died of a stroke this week.

A Discovery spokesperson, commenting about the tribute to the Post said, "It will probably air as part of the new season or at the start of the season."

--Elizabeth Jensen

Reminder: No TVWeek E-Newsletters on Monday, Feb. 15, President's Day

TVWeek is closed on Monday, Feb. 15th, for the President's Day holiday. We will resume publication on Tuesday, Feb. 16th.

Have a good holiday weekend! 

It's Our Valentine's Day Weekend--This Has Nothing to Do With TV--Feel Good Story of the Day

As many of you will fondly recall when you look at the video clip, below, didn't we love it when we saw Woody Allen's "Sleeper" in the early 1970s and his character wakes up in the future to learn that hot fudge sundaes are actually high in nutritional value.

So here we are, just about on the eve of the most wonderful chocolate holiday of the year--Valentine's Day--and a study has just come out that says after reviewing previous data, chocolate, especially dark chocolate, may help in preventing strokes!

According to Dr. Gustavo Saposnik, who is the director of the Stroke Research Unit at St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto, Canada, he found two studies that support his conclusion.

In an article about this in Business Week, it says that in one study "the stroke rate was 22 percent lower in people who ate chocolate once a week, and [another study] reported that death from stroke was 46 percent lower in those who ate 50 grams of chocolate once a week."

Online Video Site Veoh Shuts Down, Files for Bankruptcy

Web video company Veoh laid off its remaining employees and filed for bankruptcy, PaidContent reports.

The site, which had raised $70 million from backers including former Disney chief Michael Eisner, had struggled, like others, to figure out how to monetize consumer interest in web video.

--Elizabeth Jensen

‘Biggest Loser’ Trainer, Who Has Been Sued, Defends Her Diet Supplement

“Biggest Loser” trainer Jillian Michaels responded to a false advertising lawsuit filed against her by defending the diet supplement that carries her name, the Associated Press reports.

In a statement to the AP, Michaels said: "My reputation and credibility are of the utmost importance to me. This baseless lawsuit is entirely without merit and is being handled by my legal team." She also said that she stands behind all her products.

In her lawsuit, Christie Christensen claimed that "Jillian Michaels Maximum Strength Calorie Control" didn’t help her drop weight, as advertised. A second federal class-action lawsuit was filed Thursday against Michaels.

--Elizabeth Jensen

'Ellen' Renews with NBC O&Os Through 2013-2014 Season

The NBC TV station group has extended its contract for Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution's "The Ellen DeGeneres Show," renewing the program for an additional three seasons, the syndicator has announced.

The deal keeps "Ellen" on NBC owned-and-operated stations through 2014, and removes her as a candidate to fill the time periods on the ABC O&Os being left vacant by a departing "Oprah Winfrey Show" at the end of the 2010-11 season. 

Speculation has thus increased that ABC will move "The View" into those time-periods.

Cost of the deal wasn't revealed. However, as Joe Flint notes in his Los Angeles Times Company Town blog, "Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution sells 'The Ellen DeGeneres Show' on a cash-plus-barter basis. In other words, TV stations pay cash and also give up a portion of commercial time in return for the show. Warner Bros. declined to comment on terms of the deal. One industry insider with knowledge of the daytime talk business said NBC paid between $250,000 and $300,000 per-week for the show in its current deal. NBC's price tag was a little less than what other stations in big cities paid."

Interestingly, Flint says that OWN, the Oprah Winfrey Network that is a joint venture between Winfrey and Discovery Communications, was also interested in acquiring the DeGeneres show. OWN is schedule to launch in January, 2011. Before the renewal, the deal with the NBC stations was set to expire at the end of the 2010-2011 season.

--Andrew Krukowski and Chuck Ross

Cable News Channels Drop Scheduled Programs to Cover Clinton's Hospitalization

The hopitalization Thursday afternoon of former President Bill Clinton drew immediate wall-to-wall coverage on the CNN, MSNBC, and Fox News cable channels

All the channels were reporting that Clinton had experienced chest discomfort and then had two stents implanted in one of his coronary arteries.

Clinton had quadruple bypass surgery in 2004.

--Chuck Ross

Will 'SNL' Listen to Fans and Have Betty White Host?

A grassroots campaign began last week to get "Golden Girls" star Betty White on "Saturday Night Live" as host, and as of today, 188,000 fans have signed up via Facebook, reports the Associate Press.

The airing of White's Super Bowl Snicker's commercial, chosen one of the best by critics and the Annual USA Today Super Bowl Ad Consumer Poll, has boosted the Facebook campaign. Still no comment from Lorne Michaels or NBC.

-- Allison J. Waldman

In Hopes of Increasing DVD Sales, Disney Shortens Theatrical Window for 'Alice in Wonderland'

In an attempt to boost sluggish DVD sales, Disney has informed theater owners that it will release its films sooner to the home market on a case-by-case basis, starting with March's "Alice in Wonderland," the Hollywood Reporter says.

"Alice" will be made available on DVD three months after its release in early March, about four weeks sooner than industry standards. Walt Disney Co. Chief Executive Bob Iger said he doesn't believe this move will undermine the theater industry, but rather boost the studio's bottom line. 

The Los Angeles Times points out that its in everyone's best interest to boost DVD sales, as DVDs fund studios in producing big blockbusters, which in turn drive up box office sales for theaters. 

It's Disney's belief that putting "Alice" out on DVD via industry standards would push the release into the summer, a time when families are vacationing and out-of-doors, and less inclined to purchase home videos. With the shortened time frame, "Alice" is set to hit store shelves in early June. 

--Andrew Krukowski

Ion Acquires Programming It Hopes Viewers Can't Refuse

Ion Television has announced some major programming acquisitions, reports B&C.

 The network has acquired "The Godfather" movie trilogy from Paramount Pictures. 

Furthermore it has licensed shows from Twentieth Television and Warner Bros. Television Distribution, including two seasons of  "Shark" with James Woods and four seasons of the syndicated legal reality show "Texas Justice."

According to the article, "Ion climbed out of bankruptcy in December, wiping away $2.7 billion in legacy debt and preferred stock claims. At the time, Chairman/CEO Brandon Burgess said Ion had $150 million in "growth funding" to acquire programming and build the Ion brand."

-- Allison J. Waldman

NFL Network to Air Arena Football Games

The NFL Network has acquired the broadcast rights for the 2010 Arena Football League season, reports B&C.

Starting April 2, the NFL Network will broadcast one live primetime AFL game every Friday night throughout the season. The package includes televising the AFL playoff games and the ArenaBowl Championship game in August.

The NFL Network will provide talent in the booth and on the sidelines for each broadcast, while the AFL is in charge of selling advertising inventory.

-- Allison J. Waldman

With One of Its Main Lead Actors in a Sitcom Pilot the Future of 'Numb3rs' Is In Doubt

One of the main actors on CBS's crime drama "Numb3rs," David Krumholz, has been tapped for the lead in a pilot for a  Fox sitcom from Ron Howard, according to Entertainment Weekly.

There's been speculation that CBS will cancel "Numb3rs" this spring, which seems more likely now with Krumholz attached to this new project.

The sitcom pilot, from Howard and Brian Grazer's Imagine Production Company, is about an Internal Revenue Service office.

-- Allison J. Waldman

Wednesday Ratings Show More 'Idol' Dominance

The group singing on "American Idol" proved the strongest Nielsen draw on Wednesday night, but ABC and CBS found reasons to be satisfied, too, reports TVbythenumbers.com.

In the 8 o'clock hour, Fox's "Human Target" led the way with a 2.5 rating in the 18-49 year old demographic. ABC's special "Charlie Brown's Valentines" and "The Middle," however, averaged a 2.75 for the overall hour in the 18-49 demo. CBS's "New Adventures of Old Christine" and "Gary Unmarried" scored a 2.3 and 2.4 respectively. NBC's "Mercy" snagged a 1.8.

"American Idol's" 9 o'clock hour surged to a 9.5 in the 18-49 rating, down 5% from this time last year. ABC's "Modern Family" was second at 9-9:30 with a 4.2, but "Cougar Town" slipped to a 2.8 from 9:30-10. CBS's "Criminal Minds" had a 3.8 for the hour.

CBS's "CSI: NY" took 10 o'clock with a 3.6, twice as much as a repeat of NBC's "Law & Order: SVU" with a 1.8 in the 18-49. Despite being a repeat, "SVU" did 18% better in the time period than the average "The Jay Leno Show" in the same time period. ABC's "Ugly Betty" was just a tick back with a 1.7.

-- Allison J. Waldman

ABC Gets Second Dose of 'Shaq' Attack

NBA star Shaquille O'Neal impressed ABC enough last summer with his series "Shaq Vs." to warrant another season, reports Variety. The Media Rights and Dick Clark Productions reality series, in which Shaq puts himself in sports situations outside of basketball to challenge his prowess, has been asked to make six new shows for this coming summer season.

-- Allison J. Waldman

Report: Alec Baldwin Rushed to Hospital; Later Released

Alec Baldwin was rushed to a hospital in Manhattan last night, according to a report by NBC's flagship TV station, WNBC.

Says the report, "When medics got to Baldwin's Upper West Side apartment, he agreed to go to the hospital where he was treated and released after about an hour, sources told NBC New York."

The 911 call about Baldwin, 51, was made by his daughter, Ireland, the report said, quoting unnamed sources, adding that she made the call after "she couldn't rouse the actor."

Baldwin stars on NBC's sitcom "30 Rock."

--Chuck Ross

New 'Hawaii Five-O' Finds Actor For the Role Jack Lord Made Famous

CBS’ “Hawaii Five-O” remake has found its new Detective Steve McGarrett, the part Jack Lord made famous.

Alex O'Loughlin, who previously starred in CBS’ “Moonlight" and this season’s short-lived “Three Rivers,” will play the role, the Hollywood Report says.

--Elizabeth Jensen

‘Biggest Loser’ Trainer Sued for False Advertising

Jillian Michaels, the tough trainer who is one of the stars pushing the contestants on NBC’s “The Biggest Loser,” was sued by a woman for alleged false advertising, the Associated Press reports.

The California woman, Christie Christensen, said in her lawsuit that she bought a diet supplement called “Jillian Michaels Maximum Strength Calorie Control" and it didn’t work as advertised to cut her appetite or cause her to drop pounds.

In the suit filed Tuesday in Los Angeles, Christensen is seeking class-action status for the case. She’s also suing manufacturers Basic Research and ThinCare International, which make and market several Michaels-endorsed diet products.

ThinCare, which offers a money-back guarantee on the product, said in a statement that "Not only have placebo-controlled, double-blind, published clinical studies been conducted on the active calorie-control compound in Jillian Michaels Maximum Strength Calorie Control, but that research was reviewed by some of the leading weight-loss experts in the world before Jillian would put her name on the product.” Michaels' publicist didn’t comment.

--Elizabeth Jensen

Report: ‘Friday Night Lights’ Out; Canceled After This Season Wraps up Production

It appears to be game over for "Friday Night Lights” after its fifth season production wraps in June, EW.com reports, citing sources.

EW says the cast was informed so they’re free to look for other work after June. An NBC spokesperson said no official decision had been made, however.

Because of the complicated production of the show, viewers will still have plenty of new episodes for a good while, depending on where they watch it. The fourth season of the show ends its DirecTV run tonight, Feb. 11, but it doesn’t debut on NBC until April 30. The fifth season starts on DirecTV in the fall, and may not be seen on NBC until 2011.

--Elizabeth Jensen

Unexpected: My Space CEO Resigns After Nine Months

The CEO of News Corps' My Space, Owen Van Natta, has resigned less than 10 months on the job according to a number of media outlets.

"Van Natta's departure comes as the media conglomerate struggles to reshape MySpace, a former giant in social networking that has been overtaken by Facebook and confronts new challengers such as Twitter," read the account in the Los Angeles Times.

That article continues, "MySpace's rapid decline also illustrates the perils of placing big bets on digital media, where websites can quickly rise and fall by the mouse clicks of fickle users."

--Chuck Ross

Apple to Test Half-Price Charge for TV Shows on iTunes

Apple is expected to test a price drop for episodes of TV shows downloaded through iTunes in April, which is when the company’s iPad tablet hits stores, the Financial Times reports. [Note: The Financial Time (FT) has a firewall and might ask some users to register and/or pay to see this story.) A free version is available at PCWorld.

Episodes now cost $1.99 in most cases and some would drop to $1. [Some media outlets are saying the drop will be to 99 cents.) Apple--and whatever participating media companies it gets--will be looking to see whether a lower cost results in more sales.

The FT says it’s not clear which networks have agreed to the new lower prices. Apple didn’t comment to FT about the story.

--Elizabeth Jensen

The Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN), With Oprah's Message of Empowerment—Live Your Best Life—Likely to Spread Internationally

The Oprah Winfrey Network--OWN--will probably be also seen in international markets either in whole or in programming segments.

That's the word from Mark Hollinger. Hollinger works for Winfrey's partner in OWN, Discovery Communications. An 18-year veteran of Discovery, he recently moved from being the company's Chief Operating Officer to President and CEO of Discovery International Networks.

With Discovery's announcement of its year-end financials yesterday, it's appropriate that today we end our exhaustive 11-part special report about the company with an extensive interview with Hollinger.

Our special report has accompanied our honoring Discovery as the TVWEEK Cable TV Programmer of the Decade.

In yesterday's financials, Discovery revealed that in this toughest of recessions the company is up 5% in ad revenues for the year, and up 2% in the last quarter.

Furthermore, according to Discovery, "Adjusted Operating Income Before Depreciation and Amortization (“OIBDA”) grew to $390 million, an increase of $28 million or 8% versus the fourth quarter a year ago, mainly driven by a 42% increase at International Networks."

That's quite an impressive number for International, and makes our interview with Hollinger, who runs International, all the more timely. To read what Hollinger has to say about the international prospects for OWN and all of Discovery's International operations, click here.

--Chuck Ross

'60s Stalwart TV Show 'The Big Valley' Headed to the Big Screen. Guess Who Might Play the Matriarch of the Barkley Clan (the Role Played by Barbara Stanwyck in the TV Version)

It looks like "The Big Valley" will become a feature film, and an A-list Hollywod actress is in talks to star in the movie, reports The Hollywood Reporter. 

Susan Sarandon is in conversations to play the role of family matriarch Victoria Barkley, originally played by Barbara Stanwyck. The Western aired on ABC from 1965-69.

--Elizabeth Jensen

Franken Tries to Channel NBCU/Comcast Rage Into Campaign Cash

Minnesota Democratic Senator Al Franken has already turned last week’s outspoken criticism of the Comcast-NBC Universal merger into a solicitation e-mail for donations to his campaign chest, B&C reports.

At a Senate hearing last week on the proposed merger, Franken aggressively questioned NBCU President Jeff Zucker and Comcast Chairman Brian Roberts on their intentions.

His email to supporters this week said, according to B&C, that "Combining a company who provides programming and one who provides the pipes that carry said programming would almost certainly be a raw deal for consumers and independent content producers alike," adding, "Click here to represent your opposition to this merger by supporting the vocal opposition (me) with a small, secure grassroots donation today!"

--Elizabeth Jensen

New Blow for NBC Olympics Plans

NBC has already said it will lose $250 million on its upcoming Winter Olympics coverage. 

Now it has to worry that one of the U.S. stars of the games won’t be taking part, the Los Angeles Times reports.

Lindsey Vonn, the United States’ top female skier, said this week that she has a severely bruised shin after a training accident and may not compete.

She was one of the few U.S. star athletes taking part.

--Elizabeth Jensen

New Showrunners for ‘FlashForward’

ABC found its new showrunners for "FlashForward" and there are three of them, our friend Joe Adalian reports at  TheWrap..

They are Jessika Borsiczky, Lisa Zwerling and Tim Lea. They replace creator David Goyer, who is stepping aside but staying as an executive producer.

The show also had one episode trimmed from its season order, which will now total 22 instead of 23.

--Elizabeth Jensen and Chuck Ross

'Glee' Casts Former 'SNL' Star

"Glee" has cast a "SNL" alum and star of "Superstar" as an enemy of Jane Lynch's Sue Sylvester character on the show, reports Entertainment Weekly.

It's Molly Shannon. Shannon's character, Brenda Castle, is described as an alcoholic and pill-popping astronomy teacher that will be at odds with Sylvester. Her appearances are slated for May. 

-Andrew Krukowski

Groping News of the Day: ABC Renews Summer Reality Series

ABC is ordering more episodes of one of last summer's more interestingly-themed reality shows,  reports TV Guide.

It's the unusual couples show, "Dating in the Dark."

"Dark," which has potential matches getting to know each other in a darkened room, is tentatively getting six more episodes slated for a second season summer run based on the success in the show's first season.

-- Allison J. Waldman

'Entourage' Struggles for Ratings on Basic Cable

Despite paying $600,000 per episode for the cable syndication rights of HBO's "Entourage," Spike's airings of the Hollywood insider comedy aren't blowing up the ratings versus its time slot last year, reports the Hollywood Reporter.

Airing on Tuesday nights with back-to-back episodes , the show has drawn an average of 630,000 viewers, off 15% from repeats of "Ultimate Fighter Unleashed" that aired in the time slot last year. 

In the adult 18-49 year-old demo, however, the show is up 4% compared with "Ultimate Fighter."

-Andrew Krukowski 

'Idol' Ratings Sing With Ellen

The much ballyhooed debut of Ellen DeGeneres on Fox's "American Idol" Tuesday, Feb.9, lifted the show 12% to a 10.1 in the 18-to-49-year-old demographic over last week's episode.

The increase also coincided with the program's first episode in Hollywood, which tends to increase ratings, making the Ellen effect on the numbers harder to nail down. Versus last year's first Hollywood episode, last night's episode is up 1% in the 18-49 demo. Furthermore, the show drew more viewers--27.7 million--than it has since its season premiere.

At 9 p.m., Fox debuted "Past Life," which ranked fourth in the hour with a 3.1 rating. ABC led the 9 p.m. hour with "Lost" at a 4.9 rating, off 11% from last week's season premiere. 

At 10 p.m., CBS took the hour with "The Good Wife" (3.1), followed by ABC's "The Forgotten" (2.0). NBC's last episode of "The Jay Leno Show" trailed the hour with a 1.8 rating. 

Fox won the night in the 18-34 and 18-49 demos, as well as in overall viewers.

-Andrew Krukowski

Ben Silverman Raids Media Agency Starcom; Steals Major Talent

NBC's former top programming exec, Ben Silverman, who formed a joint venture with Barry Diller's IAC called Electus, has hired veteran entertainment-marketing specialist Laura Caraccioli-Davis away from media agency Starcom, Advertisng Age reports.

According to the article, "Mr. Silverman formed Electus in 2009 with the idea of putting into stronger practice an idea he has long preached: tying advertisers into extremely close relationships with particular pieces of content."

For further details, including who is replacing Caraccioli-Davis at Starcom,  please click here and read the Ad Age story.

--Chuck Ross

Is It Legal for TVLand to Entice Viewers With These Seductive Words: Denny Crane?

One of TVLand's recent acquisitions starts airing on the channel during a marathon this coming Monday, President's Day, Feb. 15th.

It's 12 hours of "Boston Legal" TVLand has announced.

The David E. Kelley show received multiple Emmy nominations, and wins for James Spader, Candice Bergen and William Shatner portrayal of Denny Crane. 

The marathon includes a hodgepodge of episodes, including the pilot and the series finale.

-Andrew Krukowski 

TV Guide Net President, Who Stepped Down Last Week, Gets Another Topp Job

Ryan O’Hara, who stepped down as TV Guide Network president late last week, has announced his newest gig, B&C reports.

O'Hara is headed to Topps, the trading card and media company, as its new president and CEO.

Topps, which is owned by former Disney CEO Michael Eisner and Madison Dearborn Partners, wants to expand the media and interactive side of its business.

--Elizabeth Jensen

MTV Networks and RealNetworks Spinning Off Rhapsody America

Viacom's MTV Networks and RealNetworks will spin off their digital-music subscription joint venture Rhapsody America, Multichannel News reports.

RealNetworks currently has a 51 percent stake and operating control of the venture. It was founded in 2007 and had 700,000 subscribers as of Sept. 30, down 100,000 subscribers from the first quarter 2009 figure.

--Elizabeth Jensen

‘Deadliest Catch’ Captain Dies

One of the real-life stars of Discovery Channel's popular "Deadliest Catch" has died after suffering a stroke on Jan 29th, the Associated Press reports.

Phil Harris, 53, was the captain of the fishing boat Cornelia Marie.

Sons Josh and Jake Harris issued a statement through the network that said: "It is with great sadness that we say goodbye to our dad - Captain Phil Harris. Dad has always been a fighter and continued to be until the end. For us and the crew, he was someone who never backed down."

--Elizabeth Jensen

Video: Leno's Last Show Gets 'Punk'd'

Writer-Director Garry Marshall Wants to Make 'Laverne & Shirley: The Movie' and You'll Never Guess Who Want to Play the Leads

Writer-director Garry Marshall ("Valentine's Day," "Pretty Woman") wants to remake the popular classic sitcom, "Laverne & Shirley," as a feature film, he's told "Extra."

And guess who told "Extra" that they want to play the leads: Jennifer Garner and Jessica Biel.

When "Extra" asked Garner if she and Biel wanted to play the parts in a movie version, Garner said, "Are you kidding? We're dying to do it!"

As for the possible participation of original cast members Penny Marshall (Garry's sister, who played Laverne) and Cindy Williams (Shirley) in the film, Garry Marshall told  "Extra" jokingly, "My sister Penny and Cindy are gonna have a guest cameo. They're gonna walk "schlemiel, schlemazel" -- or they're gonna get tired in the middle and sit down."

--Chuck Ross

The Peeping Tom Who Spied On and Taped ESPN's Erin Andrews Had Other TV Women in His Sights

He didn’t go so far as to tape them, but Michael Barrett, the Illinois man who taped secret videos of ESPN’s Erin Andrews, ran background checks on other female sports reporters and television personalities, according to a federal sentencing memorandum that The Smoking Gun has posted.

The women aren’t named in the document. The court filing also says that Andrews is seeking about $335,000 in restitution from Barrett, a request that the prosecutors are supporting given the emotional distress he caused her. Prosecutors are arguing for Barrett to get 27 months in prison when he is sentenced March 8.

--Elizabeth Jensen

Looks Like 'Jersey Shore,' Like Many in the Northeast This Time of Year, is Going South

One of the more interesting parlor games of late is where MTV's "Jersey Shore" will relocate for season two.

It looks as if Miami's South Beach is a good guess, Movieline reports.

According to the report, MTV has rented a house off Lincoln Road and is renovating it for the shoot.

An MTV spokesperson told EW, “We haven’t confirmed the location yet.”

--Elizabeth Jensen

Famous "Zipless" Sexual Encounter Coming to TV

One of the most famous--and controversial--books of the 1970s, Erica Jong's "Fear of Flying," is being developed for TV.

The Sundance Channel is moving into scripted programming, and one of the projects it's developing is an adaptation of "Fear of Flying," according to B&C.

Published in 1973, it's about a married woman who has an affair. The character describes her encounter as a "zipless f_" and the term entered the popular culture.

The first scripted series for Sundance, however, beginning later this year, will be a six-hour miniseries called “Carlos,” about the international terrorist Carlos the Jackal. It comes from French director Olivier Assayas.

--Chuck Ross

Worried That a Scene in 'South Park' Breaks the Law in Mexico, Airing in Mexico is Being Delayed While Govt. Permission is Sought

MTV canceled the airing, this past Monday, Feb. 8th –in Mexico only--of an episode in which a caricature of Mexican President Felipe Calderon appears in front of a Mexican flag, the Associated Press reports.

The network said it hasn’t gotten government permission to show the episode, noting that there is a law stating that the flag must be handled with respect. Interior Ministry spokesman Luis Estrada said the government hasn't received a request from MTV for permission to air it.

The fine for violating the law is 52,590 peso ($4,900).

--Elizabeth Jensen

USA Network’s New Schedule of Originals Hits Some Bumps

Two of USA Network’s prime-time originals are showing a downward trend after a scheduling shift in January, Mediaweek reports.

“White Collar” drew 2.89 million viewers last week in its new Tuesday 10 p.m. slot, down 39 percent from the 4.72 million viewers on Jan. 19, the mid-season premiere. “Psych,” in its new Wednesday 10 p.m. slot, had 2.86 million total viewers last week, which was 35 percent off its Jan. 27 showing of 4.38 million.

Demos were also off, according to Nielsen figures.

--Elizabeth Jensen

Reports: News Corp. In Talks to Sell Sports Network Fuel TV To Viacom

News Corp. is in talks to sell its action sports network Fuel TV to Viacom.

The story was first reported by the SportsBusiness Journal.

However, a follow-up report by The Hollywood Reporter says News Corp. and Viacom aren’t close to completing a deal, as the SportsBusiness Journal article suggested.

THR says that according to its sources, the two sides haven’t yet progressed to settling on a price. The companies declined to comment to THR.

--Elizabeth Jensen

New Comic From Creator of 'Spider-Man' Has TV Version Planned for Fall

The creator of "Spider-Man," Stan Lee, has a new comic in the works, and a TV version is being developed, reports The Hollywood Reporter.

The new comic is called “Super Seven,” about seven aliens who are befriended by Lee himself after they are stranded on Earth, the report says. 

Archie Comics will publish it, and Andy Heyward's A Squared Entertainment will develop it for TV and online, with a fall launch planned. For many years Heyward ran DIC before he sold it.

--Elizabeth Jensen and Chuck Ross

'Mad About You' Star Might Be Returning to NBC

One of the stars of "Mad About You" has a new sitcom for NBC, according to Nikki Finke at Deadline.com.

The network is reportedly interested in the latest pilot developed by Paul Reiser, who starred in "Mad About You." That hit sitcom ran on NBC from 1992 until 1999. 

- Allison J. Waldman

Jay to Dave: Thanks for Inviting Me to Appear in Your Super Bowl Promo

Appearing on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" helped Jay Leno's image a bit, but the commercial during the Super Bowl has done even more and Jay is thanking David Letterman for making it happen, reports the Associated Press.

During the penultimate "Jay Leno Show" on NBC Monday night, Leno said of Letterman, "He was very gracious. We talked about the old days. We told some jokes. It was really good to see him."

Leno also said, " 'whatever happened [between us] in the last 18 years disappeared' when the two comics got together for the shoot. 

-- Allison J. Waldman

Which 'American Idol' Winner Will Become the Next 'Sesame Street' Character? (Guess Quick, Before He Cheats)

You know you're a cultural phenom when "Sesame Street" turns you into a Muppet character, and the latest person to get this honor will be one of the winners of "American Idol."

It's Carrie Underwood, who will become Carrie Underworm, reports USA Today.

She recorded a song for the children's show and will appear on February 11, as a bright orange annelid with long blond hair.

-- Allison J. Waldman

A Long-Anticipated Movie Version of '24' is One Step Closer to Reality—Screenwriter Has Been Hired

The heroics of "24's" Jack Bauer could reach the big screen, as Twentieth Century Fox has tapped screenwriter and director Billy Ray to pen a film adaptation of the exciting thriller series, reports Variety [caution--Variety now has a firewall and some of you may be asked for a paid subscription to see the story]. 

Mr. Ray, writer of "Breach," "Shattered Glass," "State of Play," and "Flightplan," among others,  is working on the script, which will set the story in London.

According to the Variety article, "Insiders cautioned that a '24' feature is still very much in the preliminary stages. There are a number of factors influencing how quickly it moves ahead, including the fate of the TV show.

"Fox doesn't have a deal for a ninth season of "24" and hasn't yet decided whether to order another season. Insiders said the network is waiting to see this week's ratings before making a decision, but the betting is that this season will be the final one."

The TV series is expensive. On the fiip side, Forbes reported last year that only "American Idol" charged advertisers more for commercial time than "24." This season its ratings are down about 10%. The show draws about 11 million viewers, compared to about 13 million last year.

Creatively, the show is still a powerhouse. Besides Sutherland firing on all cylinders, Annie Wersching's performance this year, reprising the character she introduced last season--FBI agent Renee Walker-- is already looking like an award-winning turn.

Thus, as the article notes, the producers of the show may choose to shop it to another network if Fox doesn't want to renew "24" for next season.

The script for this movie came through star Keifer Sutherland, who's also an executive producer on the show, the article says.

According to an earlier interview Sutherland did with Entertainment Weekly, the star said, "that he’d love to do a movie ('It would be a two-hour representation of a day') and thinks the TV show can actually be done at the same time. 'I actually tried to convince a few people of this. In a media world that is changing unbelievably fast, a television series can either act as a great trailer for a film, or a film can act as a great trailer for a television series. And I think the first person who actually does that is going to change the way television interacts with feature films.' "

-- Allison J. Waldman and Chuck Ross

Move Over, Howard: Madonna's Manager Possible Simon Replacement

In what is quickly becoming the most coveted chair in show business, Fox insiders have said Madonna's manager Guy Oseary is in the running to replace Simon Cowell as the next "American Idol" judge, reports the New York Daily News.

This comes just days about Fox was reportedly going after shock jock Howard Stern to take over when Cowell exits after this season. Other names being considered are Oscar-winning actor Jamie Foxx and former Sony Music chief Tommy Mottola.

-- Allison J. Waldman

Jaytalking Helps Boost Oprah to Top of Syndie Ratings For First Time in 10 Weeks

Hot topics, a birthday celebration and snagging Jay Leno for a sit down helped CBS Television Distribution's "The Oprah Winfrey Show" to the top of the syndication ratings for the first time in ten weeks, besting fellow CTD show "Judge Judy," reports B&C.

The "Winfrey" show had a 15% boost from the previous week to a 5.5 average for the week ending January 31, with the high-water mark at 6.2 rating on Jan. 28 for her interview with Leno.

-- Allison J. Waldman

CBS's 'Big Bang' Hits New Ratings High Monday Night

It was a hot night for CBS in the ratings, especially in the nine o'clock hour as "The Big Bang Theory" vaulted to a series high 6.0 rating in the 18-to-49-year-old demographic, according to TVbythenumbers.com.

CBS' "Two and a Half Men" also enjoyed a boost, posting a 5.7 rating in the 18-49 demo, a three-year high.

To kick off the night, Fox won from 8-9 p.m. with "House" collecting a 5.1 in the 18-49 demo, ahead of ABC's first hour of "The Bachelor" which had a 3.8, tying it with CBS's "How I Met Your Mother" but beating "Accidentally on Purpose's" 3.4.

NBC's last airing of "Chuck" before the Olympics generated a 2.2, twice as good as CW's "One Tree Hill" with a 1.1.

From 9-10, CBS dominated. The second hour of "The Bachelor" gave ABC a 4.4 in the 18-49 demo, more than Fox's "24" with a 3.2, NBC's "Heroes" with a 2.0 and CW's "Life Unexpected" getting just a 0.9.

At 10 o'clock, CBS's "CSI: Miami" enjoyed a 3.9 in the 18-49 to win the hour. ABC's "Castle" collected a 2.5, and the penultimate episode of "The Jay Leno Show" managed a 1.2.

-- Allison J. Waldman

ABC TV Station Affiliates Mad About Company Moving Live Sports to ESPN

ABC affiliates are complaining about a corporate decision to move some live sports events that they thought belonged to them to ESPN, reports Mediaweek.

Most recently, ESPN said it is picking up eight fall NASCAR races that were originally set for ABC. Earlier, the network gave up the Rose Bowl to its cable sibling, beginning next year, and this year’s British Open.

Station executives complain that the moves will cost them ad revenue, and their ability to promote other shows, particularly to men.

--Elizabeth Jensen

Yes, Howard Stern is an A*Hole, But He's the Right Choice to Replace Simon Cowell on 'Idol'

Or so says TVWeek Open Mic blogger Chuck Ross. To read why he thinks so, click here.

(I think my colleague Ross may have finally gone too far and his mom is going to be unhappy with him...)

--Tom Gilbert

Kate Gosselin Defending Herself to Her Kids

Here's an interesting twist: Kate Gosselin is defending the way she's been raising her kids--not to the media--but, surprisingly, to her kids themselves.

It will come in the form of a book of letters address to her kids, according to People. com

Gosselin, former star of TLC’s “Jon & Kate Plus 8,” is releasing “I Just Want You to Know: Letters to My Kids on Love, Faith and Family” on April 13. She said in a statement that "Each day the thought crosses my mind that when they get older, my kids are going to look back and think about how they were raised," adding, "I know they will have a lot of questions about things that may not make sense because they were raised so unconventionally. I don’t want them to grow up and wonder; I want them to know without a shadow of a doubt how much I love them and how much every sacrifice made was worth it for them."

Her first two books were New York Times bestsellers.

--Elizabeth Jensen

The Executive Who Will Help Guide Discovery on Its Most Ambitious Project Ever, and How She'll Do It

Carole Tomko is one of Discovery Communications' hidden weapons. She may not be as high profile as Henry Schleiff of Discovery Investigation, or new company COO Peter Liguori, but she's in charge of a very important part of the studio, Discovery Studios.

In the penultimate interview of our special series honoring Discovery Communications at our TVWeek Cable TV Programmer of the Decade, Tomko not only tells us what the Studio is all about, but, in addition, she explains her role in the most ambitious project Discovery has undertaken in its 25-year history: "Curiosity: The Question of Life."

To read this absorbing and enlightening interview, please click here.

--Chuck Ross

Charlie Sheen Charged WIth A Felony; 'Men' Producers Fret Over the Possibility of Jail Time

It's nervous time for the producers of the hit cash-cow "Two and a Half Men," reports Scott Collins of the Los Angeles Times' Show Tracker blog.

The star of that show, Charlie Sheen, at a Colorado court proceeding Monday, was charged with felony menacing and misdemeanors for assault and criminal mischief in the Christmas day incident involving his wife.

If Sheen is unavailable at some point to tape "Two and a Half Men," that article says, it could cause major headaches, "because the network and Warner Bros., which makes the show, have banked so heavily on the series, in its seventh year, lasting at least through the 2011-12 TV season. 'Men' over the years has become expensive to produce, in large part because of Sheen's high salary. In 2008, a TV Guide survey ranked him the highest-paid actor on TV, making $825,000 per episode, or nearly $20 million per year."

--Chuck Ross and Elizabeth Jensen

CW to Premiere New Reality Show After ‘Top Model’

Both of The CW’s upcoming Wednesday reality shows will get special premieres behind a 90-minute episode of “America’s Next Top Model,” reports The Hollywood Reporter.

"High Society," following the life of socialite Tinsley Mortimer, will debut March 10, while "Fly Girls," about Virgin America flight attendants, will debut March 17. They’ll return in their regular time periods, back-to-back at 9 p.m., on March 24.

--Elizabeth Jensen

Super Bowl Sets Another Record—for Clutter

The Super Bowl had the most viewers of any TV event ever, but it also set another record, for the ad clutter,  the Associated Press reports.

Commercials accounted for about 48 minutes of the game, which was almost three minutes longer than last year, which was the previous record, research firm Kantar Media said. There was more than the usual number of 15-second ads, as well.

--Elizabeth Jensen

FX Bets on Originals

News Corp.’s FX is ditching the usual cable strategy of airing a few original series in a sea of off-network reruns, and instead making a bet on lots of original programming and top-tier theatrical movies, Multichannel News reports.

The network has 11 original scripted series launching in the next year--six shows returning for new seasons and five newcomers--and more than 100 commercial-television movie premieres set for the next two years. Among them is “Avatar,” the worldwide box-office gross record-holder

--Elizabeth Jensen

Oscars Get Social Media Makeover to Attract Younger Viewers to Its TV Broadcast

Last year's broadcast of the Academy Awards was the third lowest-rated broadcast in the show's history.

With the nominations of such crowd pleasers as "Avatar" and "The Blind Side," audience numbers should increase dramatically this year, but the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences are not taking any changes.

They are going whole-hog into social media this year, reports Advertising Age. Facebook, an upcoming iPhone app, you name it.

With rigorous analysis and interviews with all the key players, this excellent piece by Andrew Hampp explains the longterm strategy behind the Oscars' social media push, as well as its tactical execution.

--Chuck Ross

Howard Stern Confirms That He's Being Considered to Replace Simon Cowell on 'American Idol'

Last week rumors about Howard Stern being considered as the next "American Idol" judge to
replace the departing Simon Cowell next season, have a basis in fact, reports The Wrap.

The shock jock said on his radio show that Fox has contacted him and he's interested: “There’s not a better job on the planet than judging that f—ing karaoke contest," the report quotes Stern as saying.

-- Allison J. Waldman

'Paul Sr.: Mikey, get your fat ass upstairs and find my drill bits. Mikey: I want you to apologize for calling me fat. Paul Sr.: I apologize. Now get your fat ass up there and find my f-ing' bits!' End of an Era: 'American Chopper' Canceled

The trip is over for TLC's reality series "American Chopper," according to TVbythenumbers.com.

 The last episode is Thursday, February 11. The program, which chronicled the Teutuls, a family that makes custom motorcycles, began on the Discovery Channel in 2003 and moved to TLC in 2007.

“The Teutuls will always be a part of the Discovery family and we congratulate them on a tremendously successful series run,” said TLC in a statement confirming the series' end.

-- Allison J. Waldman and Chuck Ross

Huh? Toyota Dealers Pull Ads Off Some ABC Affiliates; Dealers Are Mad About 'Excessive Stories' on Toyota Problems

Talk about your mixed messages. Embattled Toyota, trying to reassure the public that it's concerned about safety issues and will fix its cars that have been found to have a potentially deadly acceleration problem, has pulled TV ads off TV stations as a punishment for reporting the story, ABC News reports.

The ads were pulled from ABC affiliates in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina and North Carolina. Those states have 173 Toyota dealers that make up Southeast Toyota. The ad agency used by Southeast Toyota is 22Squared in Atlanta.

According to the ABC News article, the ad agency "told ABC affiliates last week that the shift was due to 'excessive stories on the Toyota issues.' The dealers shifted their commercial time buys to non-ABC stations in the same markets, 'as punishment for the reporting,' according to an ABC station manager." 

The agency tried to talk Southeast Toyota out of the move, the story says, adding that "ABC News and [investigative reporter Ross began reporting on the problem of 'runaway Toyotas' last November in a series of stories that preceded the large recalls ordered by the company, and apologies for quality shortcomings as well as misstatements about the extent of the defects."

The president of Southeast Toyota did not return ABC News' calls by the time ABC News ran the story.

--Allison J. Waldman and Chuck Ross

'Friday Night Lights' Star Cast on ABC Pilot

One of the stars of "Friday Night LIghts" has been cast on a pilot for ABC, reports Entertainment Weekly.

With the prospect that his character, Matt Saracen, is being written off "Friday Night Lights," actor Zach Gilford has been cast on the ABC pilot "Matadors." according to the EW report.

The potential ABC series is about two warring Chicago families, both in the legal field -- D.A.'s vs. defense attorneys. Zach going to be a young man from one side who fall for a girl from the other side -- very "Romeo and Juliet."

-- Allison J. Waldman

SNL Kagan Report Confirms How Bleak TV Station Revenues Have Been

There's a new report from SNL Kagan that shows a huge drop in TV station revenues from 2003-2009 of more than $5.5 billion, reports B&C.

The money went from $24.6 billion to under $19 billion.

The good news is that Kagan predicts that by 2013, the situation will be improved to the level of $21.7 billion. Kagan also anticipates an increase in retrans fees and online revenue.

-- Allison J. Waldman

Record Smashed! The Super Bowl was Watched by 106.5 Million, Breaking the All-Time Viewing Record Set by 'M*A*S*H' Finale

Twenty-seven years ago, in 1983, Sally Ride become the first U.S. woman in space. Pitchers Nolan Ryan of the Astros and Steve Carlton of the Phillies both broke Walter Johnson's 56 year record for most strikeouts. "Terms of Endearment" won the Oscar for Best Picture.

And on Monday night, February 28, 1983, 105.9 million Americans gathered around their TV sets to watch the finale of "M*A*S*H."

Now 27 years later, that viewing record has been surpassed by Sunday's Super Bowl, which was watched by 106.5 million viewers.

With the advent of increased cable TV programming and the Internet, and video gaming, many thought that the we'd never see an audience again get to a size that could break the record set by the finale of "M*A*S*H."

But as Bill Carroll, vp director of programming at Katz TV Group, told James Hibberd of The Hollywood Reporter's Live Feed Blog about this year's Super Bowl breaking the viewing record, he said, "It's not surprising. When you have a once-a-year event, particularly suited to HD, with little to no competition on broadcast or cable, while in this economy it's mostly watched from home, with a blizzard on the East Coast, it would be more surprising if the game did not set a record."

--Chuck Ross 

A&E Narrows Pilot Pick-Ups to One Choice

A&E is considering the picking up the pilot "Sugarloaf," after passing on the drama pilot "The Quickening," according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Says THR, "Sugarloaf," from Fox TV Studios, "stars Matt Passmore as Jim, a Chicago cop with a sly sense of humor who getssss kicked off the force after being shot and wrongfully accused by his ex-captain of having an affair with his wife. After receiving a payout, Jim moves to a small Florida town and joins the state police."

-- Allison J. Waldman

Bob Schieffer's Take on the Importance of Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert

Veteran CBS newsman Bob Schieffer talks about how the times they are a-changin, in an interview with B&C,

For example, B&C's Marisa Gutherie asks him what he thinks about Jon Stewart and if he's taking the "mantle" from more traditional newscasters such as Schieffer.

According to the interview, here's Schieffer's resoponse: "Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert are to television what the editorial page cartoonist is to the editorial page of newspapers. The editorial page cartoonist is the only person at the newspaper who is allowed to lie. I see Stewart and Colbert, both of whom are friends of mine, as editorial page cartoonists. A lot of time by taking something beyond where it is, it helps you to drive home a point and really understand the truth. Do I think they pose some threat to the republic? I do not. But I think if all you watched is Stewart and Colbert, I'm not sure you could call yourself well-informed."    

-- Allison J. Waldman

Video: The Best Super Bowl Ad This Year, as Rated by USA Today's Annual Consumer Poll

The best ad on the Super Bowl this year, as rated by consumers in USA Today's annual poll, was not a beer commercial, nor an auto spot.

It was Mars' ad for its Snickers brand, starring Betty White. See it below.

The rest of the top 10, according to the USA Poll, in order: Doritos--dog puts shock collar on owner; Bud Light--house built of beer cans; Budweiser--clydesdale befriends steer; Coca-Cola--sleepwalker finally gets Coke; Audi A3 TDI--Green police; E*Trade---baby talks to girlefriend; Budweiser--human bridge; Bridgestone--whale of a spot; Monster--fiddle playing beaver makes it big. To see these and ALL of this year's Super Bowl ads, our sibling publication Ad Age has them if you click here.

Cutting O'Brien Out of Poster in Lobby was One Thing--Has NBC Gone Too Far With This Further Excising of Conan?

NBC appears determined to erase any hint of Conan O’Brien’s “Tonight Show” tenure, AllThingsD reports.

According to the report, NBC.com in recent days has removed all seven months of O’Brien episodes as host of "The Tonight Show," and Hulu, the video site which NBC co-owns with Fox and ABC, has taken them down as well.

NBC declined to comment. O’Brien clips are also being removed from YouTube, AllThingsD says.

--Elizabeth Jensen

Video: The Three Most Unlikely People You'd Ever Think Would Make a Promo Together: The Super Bowl Promo for Letterman's Show (and How It Came to Pass)

Video: In Our Opinion, the Best Promo Shown During this Year's Super Bowl

In our humble opinion here at TVWeek, while the promotion for Letterman's show was the most unexpected, strartling promo that CBS aired during this year's Super Bowl, the one that most tickled our funny bone was the following (the one for "How I Met Your Mother" with Neil Patrick Harris holding the sign was a close second):

Consultant Frank Magid Dead at 78

Frank Magid, whose Frank N. Magid Associates grew from its 1956 founding into one of the preeminent advisors of local radio and television stations nationwide, died over the weekend, after a battle with cancer, B&C reports.

Magid, 78, was retired from the consultancy firm, which has also advised all of the major networks at some point.

--Elizabeth Jensen

'Lost's' Daniel Dae Kim Gets Role in Another Series Set in Hawaii (OK, so what is it that the rest of us are doing wrong?)

“Lost” star Daniel Dae Kim looks to be staying in Hawaii for his next role, reports The Hollywood Reporter.

He’s been cast in one of the lead roles in CBS’ remake of “Hawaii Five-0," playing Detective Chin Ho Kelly, who was played by Kam Fong in the original.

--Elizabeth Jensen

Chiklis Signs on to ABC Pilot

Michael Chiklis may have found his next role after his Emmy-winning run in “The Shield”: He’s agreed to star in ABC’s drama pilot "No Ordinary Family," reports The Hollywood Reporter.

The show is about a family whose members have superhero abilities. Chiklis will play the father.

--Elizabeth Jensen

CEO Exits Cable Network

For the second time in less than a week the head of a cable network has announced her or his departure.

After months of rumors, Andrea Wong said Friday that she’s leaving her post as president and CEO of  Lifetime Entertainment Services, TheWrap reports. As previously reported, last week Ryan O'Hara said he was leaving his post as president of the TV Guide Network.

Her replacement, TheWrap says, is most likely going to be Nancy Dubuc, the president and general manager of the History Channel. There are still issues to be worked out, however, including whether Dubuc will continue to run History, as well as Lifetime.

Wong had been expected to leave since A&E Television Networks, which includes History, acquired Lifetime last August.

--Elizabeth Jensen

'The View's' Latest Formula for Success

"The View" on ABC apprears to have a new formula for success, and it's not briging in a particular celebrity guest.

The show is increasingly venturing into politics, and viewers are responding, the Los Angeles Times reports.

Politics used to be a forbidden topic in the fashion- and celebrity-driven world of daytime TV, but “The View” has successfully broken that mold and plans to continue to increase such content.

Recent topics have included gay marriage, controversial comments made by White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, where the Sept. 11 terrorist trials should be held, and an analysis of the President’s State of the Union address.

--Elizabeth Jensen

‘FlashForward’ Gets Yet Another New Showrunner

“FlashForward" will get its third showrunner, as co-creator David Goyer steps down from running the series, reports The Hollywood Reporter.

Goyer (“Dark Knight”) will focus on his feature film work, although he’ll still be involved with the ABC TV series, which returns to the air March 18. The original showrunner, Mark Guggenheim, left in October.

It’s not clear yet who will replace Goyer, THR says.

--Elizabeth Jensen

Henry Winkler Joins Cast of Cable Show

The Fonz, Henry Winkler, is joining the cast of a popular cable show, Multichannel News reports.

The brothers at the center of USA’s “Royal Pains” will no longer have an absentee father: Winkler is joining the cast for the second season, playing dad Eddie R. Lawson. 

The character will reappear in the brothers’ Hamptons lives, but his motive will be unclear. The show returns to the schedule in the summer.

--Elizabeth Jensen

Super Ratings for Super Bowl: Highest in 23 Years in Metered Markets!

This is just off the press, from CBS...All of the following, including the "NOTE" is a press release from CBS. With these record numbers in the metered markets, there is a good liklihood that the game will be the most-watched, ever. Until we get those numbers, last year's Super Bowl, between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Arizona Cardinals has that record with 98.7 million viewers:

Note: Nielsen fast affiliate data released at 11:00 AM, ET is not time adjusted and will not reflect CBS’s actual Sunday’s time adjusted fast national ratings that will be available from CBS later today.

CBS Sports’ coverage of Super Bowl XLIV featuring the NEW ORLEANS SAINTS’ 31-17 win over the INDIANAPOLIS COLTS on Sunday, Feb. 7 (6:30-9:45 PM, ET), earned an average overnight household rating/share of 46.4/68, the highest-rated Super Bowl in the metered markets in 23 years (1/25/87; 47.8/68; CBS Sports’ coverage of Super Bowl XXI – Phil Simms-led New York Giants’ win over Denver).

This year’s 46.4/68 is up +10% from last year’s 42.1/65 (Pittsburgh-Arizona) in the metered markets.

The Super Bowl XLIV rating/share peaked at 50.6/71 from 9:30-9:45 PM, ET. Following is a breakdown of the ratings by half-hours.

(All times ET)

6:30-7:00–41.5/65 8:30-9:00–48.0/69
7:00-7:30–45.0/69 9:00-9:30–49.8/70
7:30-8:00–46.3/69 9:30-9:45–50.6/71
8:00-8:30–45.3/
Top 10 Rated in the Metered Markets

1. New Orleans 56.3/82............................................ 6. Dayton, Ohio 53.7/73
2. Washington, D.C. 56.0/73                                     7. Norfolk, Va. 53.1/72
3. Nashville 54.4/73                                                    8. Knoxville, Tenn. 52.0/65
4. Indianapolis 54.2/80                                              T9. West Palm Bch, Fla. 51.8/69
5. Columbus, Ohio 54.0/74                                       T9. Pittsburgh 51.8/67

* * * * *

CBS’s premiere of UNDERCOVER BOSS averaged a 20.3/33, the highest post-Super Bowl lead-out since 2006 (ABC; Grey’s Anatomy).

O'Hara Departs TV Guide Network

TV Guide President Ryan O'Hara has relinquished his post to pursue "a new opportunity in New York," reports B&C.

Since assuming the position in 2005, O'Hara led a change in programming that included acquiring off-network showings of "Ugly Betty" and "Curb Your Enthusiasm," in addition to creating original programs.

"We have a strong leadership team and a focused strategy to build TV Guide Network into a branded celebration of entertainment and fandom, so this is the right time for me to move on to another new entrepreneurial opportunity that has arisen," O'Hara said in a statement. "I enjoyed my eight years at TV Guide tremendously, and I believe the trajectory of the business has never been better. It is in perfect hands with Lionsgate and One Equity Partners."

-- Allison J. Waldman

Video: Michael Jackson Doctor Negotiating to Turn Himself In

Will Meloni Walk Away from 'Law & Order: SVU'?

Is it possible that NBC will be taking another high-profile hit with a big-name star? Perhaps, if Christopher Meloni follows through on his plan to exit the network's top drama, "Law & Order: SVU."

According to Australia's Courier-Mail, the actor said in an interview that a dozen years as the same character is enough.

"The writers will have fertile ground to figure out how to arc him [the character Elliot Stabler] out to another place—whether it's this world or the next." Meloni said he was ready to move on to film and theater work.

The Courier-Mail said reps for Meloni and NBC did not reply to requests for comment.

-- Allison J. Waldman

'Grey's Anatomy' Scores Thursday Night for ABC

ABC had a winning Thursday night in the Nielsen ratings, with "Grey's Anatomy" leading the way, according to TVBytheNumbers.com.

From 9-10, "Grey's" had a 4.45 average in the adults 18-49 demo, ahead of NBC's "The Office" and "30 Rock" with a 3.8 and 2.9 respectively. CBS' "CSI" averaged a 3.25 in the 18-49 demo, while Fox's "Fringe" remained close with a 2.65 average, and CW's "Supernatural" rounded out the group with a 1.1.

Kicking off the night, Fox's "Bones" had a 3.3 average 18-49 rating to remain on top from 8-9 p.m. CBS' special "Surviving Survivor" netted a 2.4 mean rating. NBC's "Community" and "Parks & Recreation" had 2.2 and 2.3, respectively. CW's "Vampire Dairies" garnered a 1.85 average rating, and ABC's legal drama managed just a 1.3 for the hour.

At 10 p.m., it was neck and neck with ABC's "Private Practice" and CBS's "The Mentalist." ABC won with a 3.35 average rating for the medical show, compared to 3.3 for CBS' Simon Baker show. "Jay Leno" had a 1.15 rating.

-- Allison J. Waldman

Wink Martindale Has a New Gameshow

Veteran gameshow host Wink Martindale is coming back to TV with a new program on GSN, reports TV Squad.

Martindale will be manning the podium for "Instant Recall," a gameshow premiering March 4 that tests the memories of participants.

Martindale's last TV game was "Debt," which ran on Lifetime from 1996-98. Martindale's most famous game show was "Tic-Tac-Dough."

-- Allison J. Waldman

Is This the Best Super Bowl Ad We'll See?

Ad Age's Ken Wheaton goes so far as to say that this print ad is the best Super Bowl ad ever.

Do you agree?

(The company that makes this product, McIlhenny Company, is based in Louisiana.)

'That '70s Show' Vet Joins Cast of ABC Sitcom Pilot

Actress Laura Prepon, best known from her tenure on Fox's "That '70s Show," will be part of ABC's sitcom pilot "Awkward Situations for Men," according to The Hollywood Reporter.

She will play Danny Wallace's American wife Meg, while Wallace will play himself, a British comic struggling to fit in with life in the States.

-- Allison J. Waldman

Kate Gosselin to Return as 'View' Guest Host

While her TLC reality show future remains undetermined, Kate Gosselin is getting another opportunity to guest host on ABC's "The View," reports the Baltimore Sun.

She'll appear on the show March 11. She previously was a co-host on "The View" in September for three shows.

-- Allison J. Waldman

Three New Cast Members Join ABC's 'V'

When ABC's sci-fi drama "V" returns to the network on March 30, there'll be three new characters on the show, reports TV Guide.

Nicholas Lea, best know for being Krycek on 'The X-Files,' is going to be Erica's ex-husband, while Lexa Doig will play a doctor who is treating Valerie, and Charles Mesure has been cast as a Resistance fighter.

-- Allison J. Waldman

A&E Sets Debut Date for Kirstie Alley Series

"Kirstie Alley's Big Life," the actress' return to series TV, will premiere on A&E with back-to-back episodes on Sunday, March 21 at 10 p.m.

The reality show will chronicle Alley's attempt to get back in shape from the "Fat Actress" days.

-- Allison J. Waldman

Report: Sheen To Be Charged With Felony

Charlie Sheen will be charged with felony menacing in the alleged Christmas Day attack on his wife in Aspen, Colo., TMZ reports, citing law enforcement sources.

TMZ says he’ll also be charged with misdemeanor assault.

Sheen is due in court Monday. His lawyer didn’t comment.

--Elizabeth Jensen

OMG: Fox Reportedly Wants Howard Stern as 'Idol' Judge When Simon Leaves

Producers of the most popular series on TV, Fox's "American Idol," have been interested in having controversial shock-jock Howard Stern replace the ascerbic Simon Cowell, according to the New York Post's Page Six.

Cowell leaves the show after this season. He is reportedly making $40 million to $50 million a year.

According to the Page Six story,  a source that was somehow connected to 'Idol' said, "It's one of the few shows that could compete with Stern's $100 million-a-year Sirius contract, and 'Idol' bosses think he'd be even nastier than Simon. They know he would be great TV and would clash with the other judges such as Ellen DeGeneres and the contestants. 'Idol' will do what it takes to sign him."

The article then quotes a second source who said the talks about Stern possibly joining 'Idol' were intended as a ploy to pressure Sirius XM Radio to re-up with Stern. Stern's current contract expires next January.

Finally, the article quotes Stern as recently saying on his radio show, ""I was approached by a major TV network to take over a TV show and leave here and do that next year -- and I did turn it down . . . I'm not even sure if I want to be working. I'm waiting to see what happens."

The article said Fox declined to comment about the story when asked to by a Page Six reporter.

--Chuck Ross

Sparks Fly as Sen. Al Franken Grills Comcast, NBCU Execs

Former NBC star Al Franken, now a Democratic Senator from Minnesota, put Comcast Chairman Brian Roberts and NBC Universal President Jeff Zucker through a grilling during a Senate hearing on Comcast’s proposed takeover of NBCU, B&C reports.

With his aggressive questioning, Franken—a former writer and performer on NBC’s “Saturday Night Live”--made it clear he didn’t think the merger was a good idea, suggesting that any promises the companies made about serving the public interest couldn’t be trusted.

For example, according to the report, "Franken argued that while NBC said back in the early 1990's that allowing networks to own a financial stake in prime time would not edge out independent programmers, that had been the result. Zucker countered that of 18 new pilots, seven, or 39% were not affiliated with NBC, which he said was a large percentage. Which means 60% are, Franken countered."

And Franken intimated Roberts might have misled him in a meeting they had to discuss the merger; Roberts replied that it had been a misunderstanding.

C-SPAN covered the hearing, and if you click here you can watch it. It's about two hours long. If you're interested in the fireworks between Franken, Roberts and Zucker, that starts at about the 1:20 mark.

At an earlier House subcommittee hearing, Roberts and Zucker talked up the deal’s benefits, arguing that a larger company could be more innovative, and would continue to protect its competitors’ access to programming and distribution. Roberts also reiterated that there are no plans to move NBC and Telemundo off broadcast to cable.

--Elizabeth Jensen and Chuck Ross

Video: Fireworks or No Fire When Jon Stewart and Bill O'Reilly Confront One Another? We Report, You Decide

Two of the smartest political TV commentators went mano a mano this week, when Comedy Central's Jon Stewart appeared on Fox News' Bill 'OReilly's "The O'Reilly Factor." The interview was shown over two days. The video below is from last night's show (Feb. 4). In it, O'Reilly posits this mind-boggling hypothetical scenario: That he's going to run for president and wants Stewart to be his VP. 

To see the first part of the interview, which ran on Feb 3, click here.

NBC Considering Dumping West Coast Tape-Delay for Emmy Show

With the rise of Twitter, Facebook and mobile news apps that spread the word about awards show winners instantaneously, NBC is giving serious consideration to scrapping tape delays and airing the Emmy Awards live across all time zones, when it broadcasts the show on Aug. 29, B&C reports.

The network did the same with the Jan. 17 Golden Globes awards show, which it had previously held for tape delay in Western time zones.

NBC and the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences declined to comment.

--Elizabeth Jensen

Epix Picks Up Another Cable System

New pay TV service Epix, which has struggled to get distribution, is being added to Charter Communications systems in May, the Los Angeles Times reports.

The pick-up will give it access to an additional 16 million subscribers.

--Elizabeth Jensen

The U.K.’s ‘Merlin’ Headed to Syfy

Syfy has picked up basic cable rights to the first two seasons of the U.K. series "Merlin," which will join the lineup in April, reports The Hollywood Reporter.

Season one aired on NBC last summer. The BBC is producing a third season for the U.K. which starts airing in the fall.

--Elizabeth Jensen

Kenny Rogers to Mark His 50 Years in Music With a TV Special

Country music star Kenny Rogers has been in the music business for 50 years so he plans to celebrate by lining up his famous friends for a TV special, the Associated Press reports.

Dolly Parton, Allison Krauss, Lionel Richie and Wynonna Judd are already on board for the concert, which will tape on April 10 at Connecticut’s Foxwoods casino.

Which network it will air on will be announced later. Rogers’ TV movie “The Gambler” is still one of the genre’s highest-rated ever.

--Elizabeth Jensen

Is There a Hollywood Blogger Who’s the Model for This HBO Series?

HBO is developing a half-hour comedy series about a powerful and tough female showbiz blogger, reports The Hollywood Reporter.

According to the report, "It comes at a time of booming Internet showbiz journalism as a number of veteran Hollywood print reporters, including Nikki Finke, Sharon Waxman and Anne Thompson, have migrated online."

Called “Tilda,” the series comes from Oscar-winning writer-director Bill Condon (“Gods and Monsters”) and Cynthia Mort, creator of HBO's "Tell Me You Love Me." It’s Condon’s first TV series writing project; he’s also set to direct if the pilot gets picked up.

--Elizabeth Jensen

Pop Stars’ Father Developing Show for Nick

Joe Simpson will turn his experiences raising pop stars Jessica and Ashlee Simpson into a comedy series for Nickelodeon, reports The Hollywood Reporter.

Simpson, who was a psychologist before becoming his daughters’ manager and a producer, is teamed up with producer Tommy Lynch (Nick’s "South of Nowhere," "Romeo!")

--Elizabeth Jensen

Advocacy Ad Boosting Interest in All Super Bowl Ads

The Super Bowl’s first advocacy ad ever—from the anti-abortion Christian group Focus on the Family—is boosting interest in all the ads that will air during Sunday’s game, The New York Times reports.

Contents of the ad haven’t been disclosed, nor has its placement during the game. Advocates for both sides of the abortion issue have focused attention on the spot. Surveys by Nielsen, among others, have shown that the ad is the most-discussed of all upcoming ads in the game.

--Elizabeth Jensen

Sinclair Adding Digital Music Network

Sinclair Television Group is picking up TheCoolTV, a music network, to air on its digital multicast channels in 34 markets reaching 24 million homes, B&C reports.

The new network, which airs live concerts and videos, incorporates a local element in its content with local partnerships. No start date was given.

--Elizabeth Jensen

Hot off a Video Bay at Fox: First Look at 'Idol' Promo With Ellen in It

ABC News Content Now on Hulu

Material from ABC News broadcasts is being made available online on Hulu, the network has announced.

Hulu will offer long features and a variety of news content from ABC News programs including "Good Morning America," "World News With Diane Sawyer," "Nightline," "This Week," "20/20" and "Primetime."

In a statement, ABC News President David Westin said, "We're happy to be able to provide our audience with another way to watch ABC News. We look forward to sharing our reporting with users on one of the top video destinations on the Internet."

-- Allison J. Waldman

'Saving Grace' Returning Sooner Than Expected on TNT

"Saving Grace," the TNT drama series starring Holly Hunter, will return for its fourth and final season sooner than anticipated, reports The Futon Critic.

The cop show comes back at a special time, 9 p.m. on Monday, March 29, with back-to-back new episodes. The following week TNT will resume running the show in its regular timeslot, Monday at 10 p.m.

-- Allison J. Waldman

Frances Reid, 'Days of Our Lives' Matriarch, Dies at 95

One of the original members of NBC's long-running soap opera "Days of Our Lives," actress Frances Reid, died Wednesday at the age of 95, reports Entertainment Weekly.

As Alice Horton, a beloved character on the show and matriarch of its core family, Reid was a mainstay on the program for more than 40 years.

In recent years, due to declining health, Reid had appeared on the soap less frequently, but was referred to often. 

In a statement, Ken Corday, executive producer of the soap, said, "This is a very sad day, indeed; not only for me personally, but for the 'Days of our Lives' family and the entire Hollywood community. From day one until she taped her last scene, Frances epitomized the past, present and future of the show. Frances was truly one of a kind. Her class cannot be matched and her shoes cannot be filled… we will miss her all the rest of our days.” 

-- Allison J. Waldman

'Idol' Still Tops the Nielsens, Even at 9 p.m. on Wednesday

The shift to 9 p.m. on Wednesday night didn't slow down the juggernaut of Fox's "American Idol," which scored a 7.7 in the 18-49 demo, making it the top show of the night, according to TVbythenumbers.com.

In the 8-9 p.m. hour, CBS' special about "Super Bowl's Greatest Commercials" was No. 1 with a 2.9 in the demo, ahead of Fox's "Human Target" with a 2.4 and a new NBC installment of "Mercy" with a 1.6. However, in the second half of the hour, at 8:30, a new episode of ABC's "The Middle" jumped into second place with a 2.7 rating.

"Idol" was dominant from 9-10 p.m. with that 7.7, but CBS' "Criminal Minds" had a solid 3.8 in the 18-49 demo, while ABC's "Modern Family" and "Cougar Town" brought in a 3.9 and 2.9, respectively. CW's "Gossip Girl" eeked out a 0.2.

The 10 p.m. hour went to CBS' "CSI: NY" with a 3.4 in the 18-49 rating. ABC's "Ugly Betty" managed a 1.5, which was ahead of NBC's "The Jay Leno Show" at a 1.2.

-- Allison J. Waldman

'Earl' Actor to Star in ABC's 'Mike & Molly' Pilot

A comedian who had a recurring role on "My Name Is Earl" will star in the pilot for the new Chuck Lorre CBS sitcom "Mike & Molly," according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Billy Gardell will portray the title character Mike, a hefty police officer who meets the girl of his dreams at an Overeaters Anonymous meeting.

A plump actress to play Molly has yet to be cast.

-- Allison J. Waldman

'Scrubs' Actress Lands on ABC Pilot

One of the leads on "Scrubs" has landed the starring role on ABC's new Arianna Huffington/Greg Malins' pilot "Freshman," according to Entertainment Weekly.

Sarah Chalke will play a freshman member of the U.S. Congress who's good at her job, but bad at romance.

--Allison J. Waldman

NBCU Offers Free Olympics Preview for All Cable Operators

NBC Universal will make a free preview of its Vancouver Winter Olympics coverage available to any cable operator through the company’s sports cable network, B&C reports.

The programming will consist of a countdown show, highlights and updates, but not any actual competition.

--Elizabeth Jensen

Former Reality Star Now an ‘Entertainment Tonight’ Special Correspondent

Melissa Rycroft, who started in TV as a contestant on “The Bachelor” and then became a contestant on “Dancing With the Stars” is now special correspondent with “Entertainment Tonight,” People reports.

Her first assignment was this week. She’ll cover parties, award shows and premieres. Rycroft also does some reporting for “Good Morning America.”

--Elizabeth Jensen

Goodbye to Comcast, Hello to a Much Catchier Brand Name

Comcast is rebranding itself in 11 markets beginning next week, Multichannel News reports.

The country’s largest cable operator will now start referring to its services—TV, Internet and phone—under the name of Xfinity. It plans to convert the name in the rest of the country’s major markets where the company operates by the end of the year.

The changeover is similar to that which Cablevision Systems made a few years back, when it renamed its services Optimum. Comcast will remain the company’s corporate name.

--Elizabeth Jensen

TNT May ‘Know Drama’ But It Didn’t Know This One

TNT proved that its slogan “We Know Drama” doesn’t always apply, reports the Los Angeles Times.

Parent Time Warner said when it disclosed its fourth-quarter earnings that it had to write down $104 million on TNT’s ill-fated purchase of reruns of CBS’ “Without a Trace," which didn’t live up to expectations.

The cable network paid about $1.4 million per episode for the FBI drama, which ended its CBS run last year as ratings faded.

--Elizabeth Jensen

Report: Tiger Woods Might Return to Golf in a Few Weeks; If So It Could Be Windfall for NBC, Golf Channel

An Australian newspaper, the Herald Sun, is reporting that Tiger Woods' return to golf may be as soon as later this month to play in the Accenture Match Play Championship in Tucson, Ariz. The paper only quotes as its sources of this information "strengthening whispers."

Reacting to the story, the Arizona Daily Star quotes Wade Dunagan, executive director of the Match Play event, as saying: "We don't know anything officially yet, but wouldn't that be nice? It would mean we'd get Tiger on his return two years in a row. Very cool."

Dunagan is referring to the fact that Woods chose the Match Play event last year as his first golf tournament after he had been out for a number of months due to surgery.

If Woods does indeed make his return in the tournament, it would most likely be a ratings windfall for both Comcast's Golf Channel and NBC. The Golf Channel has exclusive coverage of  the tournament on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, Feb. 17-19, and then splits coverage of the event on Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 20 and 21, with NBC.

One of the ironies of Woods' picking the Accenture sponsored tournament as his first one since the Woods sex scandal broke would be that Accenture is one of the companies that dropped Woods as an endorser.

Woods has a long history with the Match Play tourney. It was Woods' idea to move the tournament to the Jack Nicklaus-designed course at the Ritz Carlton Dove Mountain Golf Club in Tucson after a few years of bad weather during the tourney at its old home at the La Costa Resort and Spa in Carlsbad, Calif., according to the official website of the tournament.

--Chuck Ross

Actress Goes From ‘Lost’ to ‘House’

A former star of ABC’s “Lost” is headed to Fox’s “House,” EW.com reports.

Cynthia Watros will play an ex-wife and new girlfriend of character Wilson for at least several episodes.

--Elizabeth Jensen

HBO Wants More ‘Big Love’

HBO’s "Big Love" drama about a polygamist Mormon family will return for a fifth season, reports The Hollywood Reporter.

Just four episodes into its fourth season, the series is drawing 13 percent more viewers than last year, despite tough competition from the NFC Championship and the Grammy Awards. The creators have said the show is going to get "deeper and darker" later this season.

--Elizabeth Jensen

Comcast Turns to Ex-NBCU Executive for Merger Advice

Comcast has met several times with a former top NBC Universal executive for advice on which executives to keep when its takeover of NBCU is completed, the New York Post reports.

Randy Falco, who spent 31 years at NBC before becoming CEO of AOL, has been helping Comcast in an unpaid capacity so the company will be able to move quickly once the merger gets regulatory approval.

The Post’s sources said Falco’s role could possibly evolve into an executive position once the deal is done. Neither side commented.

--Elizabeth Jensen

Mo’Nique to Host Comedy Special for Showtime

Mo’Nique, who recently added Oscar nominee to her credits, will host Showtime’s upcoming comedy special, reports The Hollywood Reporter.

The star of "Precious," who got a best supporting actress Oscar nomination and won the category at the Golden Globes, will host "Shaquille O'Neal Presents: All-Star Comedy Jam." It tapes Feb. 13.

--Elizabeth Jensen

Pamela Anderson Headed to ‘Dancing With the Stars’

Former “Baywatch” star Pamela Anderson will be a contestant on the next season of ABC’s “Dancing With the Stars,” reports RadarOnline.com.

It’s Anderson’s second recent foray into non-scripted TV; she was also featured in an E! series last year.

--Elizabeth Jensen

Big Change in Letterman’s Writers’ Room

The writers’ room at CBS’ “Late Show With David Letterman” has made a major change, The New York Times reports.

The program has now added a female writer, Jill Goodwin, to its staff, making it no longer a purely male bastion. Goodwin, who has been on staff at the show since 2001 and was considered in line for a promotion, was most recently an assistant for the writing team.

--Elizabeth Jensen

Disney/ABC’s Pedowitz Leaving After Nearly Two Decades

Mark Pedowitz, a veteran executive at ABC and parent Disney, is leaving the company after 19 years, reports The Hollywood Reporter.

Pedowitz started at ABC in 1991 as senior VP of business affairs, rising through the ranks to head up ABC Studios. For the last year he has been a senior adviser to Anne Sweeney, who is co-chair of Disney-Media Networks.

He’ll set up a first-look deal at Warner Bros. TV.

--Elizabeth Jensen

This Ain't a News Story. Sorry, We Already Miss Conan and All Those Latenight Jokes

This is NOT a news story. And we apologize for this in advance, but we already miss Conan and all those latenight jokes.

So here it is. Our own TVWeek short monologue:

(After waiting for your applause to die down):

Thank you. Thank you. So first NBC says it was messing with latenight as a solution to the pressure it was getting from affiliates due to the fact Jay Leno was a poor lead-in to their local news.

Then they said, well, it's also because Conan's ratings were lousy.

Today NBC claimed, no, the real reason we're having all this trouble is because something's messed up with our electronic throttle system.

And then it only got worse for NBC today when a high-ranking member of the Obama administration urged viewers to stop watching the network until the problem was fixed. Of course he later retracted the statement, but still...

--Chuck Ross

Tetris Headed to TV

The popular game Tetris is now going to be available on television, reports The Hollywood Reporter.

Satellite TV’s Dish Network will be the first to offer the game as an interactive TV service, playable using the remote control. It will cost $2.99 per month.

--Elizabeth Jensen

Sports Could Hang Up Comcast-NBCU Approval

Sports programing could end up being the the major bone of contention between Comcast, NBC Universal and critics of the merged companies as regulators assess the joint venture's impact on consumers, Reuters reports.

The news service quoted American Cable Association President Matthew Polka as saying smaller cable companies fear that Comcast, the country's largest cable operator, will raise fees for its sports channels.

The ACA does not oppose the deal, but is seeking to protect its members, which include cable companies operating in small and rural markets -- and wants them pay the same carriage fees for Comcast-owned channels as Comcast would.

Comcast, which declined to comment for the Reuters story, owns the sports channel Versus and the Golf Channel. NBC has NBC Sports and a number of sports properties, from professional football to the Olympics.

--Tom Gilbert

Duggar Brothers (of TLC Show Fame) Help Save Life of 6-Year-Old in Auto Accident

Two of the Duggar brothers--featured in the popular TLC reality show "19 Kids and Counting"--helped saved the life of a six-year-old girl involved in a three-car auto accident, People.com is reporting.

Josh Duggar, 19, and his brother, John, 20, are both volunteer firemen and administered CPR on the child.

According to the People article, the six-year-old girl, "Maddye is now in critical condition at Arkansas Children's Hospital in Little Rock – the same hospital where Josh's premature baby sister, Josie, is in intensive care. The Duggars met up with Maddye's grateful family Tuesday night in a hospital lobby."

--Chuck Ross

Randy Jackson Sued Over 'America's Best Dance Crew'

"American Idol" judge Randy Jackson, the executive producer of MTV's "America's Best Dance Crew," and MTV are being sued by Dwight McGhee, who asserts that the idea for the show was his, reports TMZ.com.

In the the lawsuit, filed last week in L.A. County Superior Court, McGhee said he pitched a show called "International Breakerz League" about a dance crew to MTV in 2004. Four years later "ABDC" premiered and McGhee contends it's too similar to be a coincidence.

McGhee is seeking $2 million in damages.

-- Allison J. Waldman

Reports: Couric May Be Forced to Take Pay Cut; CBS Denies

CBS News has been making cuts to save the bottom line and even Katie Couric make be forced to take a salary reduction, reports the Drudge Report and the New York Post

Insiders are reportedly ticked off that Couric is making $300,000 a week. One disgruntled producer was quoted by Drudge as saying, "She makes enough to pay 200 news reporters $75,000 a year! It's complete insanity."

CBS News and Sports president Sean McManus denied the report, however, telling TVNewser, "There hasn't been one single discussion about altering Katie's role or adjusting her contract ... Not one single discussion with anyone involved in the decision-making process."

Reportedly, Couric currently makes $14 million a year for her anchor duties on the CBS Evening News and contributing to "60 Minutes."

--Allison J. Waldman

Subscription Revenues the Highlight of 2009 for Time Warner

Time Warner released its fiscal 2009 earnings results today, with subscription revenue from its networks' distributors being the highlight amid slackening DVD sales, advertiser cutbacks and a post-election-year ratings slide for CNN, B&C reports.

For the year, Time Warner's networks unit posted a 10 percent increase in subscription revenue, a 3 percent decline in advertising revenue and a 10 percent fall in revenue from content sales, such as HBO DVDs.

Subscription revenue was up 11 percent in the fourth quarter, while ad revenue was down 4 percent and content revenue was off 22 percent.

-- Allison J. Waldman

Major NY Station to Start the Day a Half-Hour Earlier

As the saying goes, there are just not enough hours in the day.  So the solution one New York station has come up with is to get a start each morning a half hour earlier.

NBC's flagship O&O WNBC-TV in New York will begin broadcasting 30 minutes earlier each morning, starting the day at 4:30 a.m., reports B&C.

Effective March 1, "Today in New York" with Michael Gargiulo, Darlene Rodriguez, Chris Cimino and Megan Meany will begin running daily on weekdays from 4:30 a.m. to 7 a.m.

-- Allison J. Waldman

'Lost' Returns With Nielsen Zing; Date That ABC Will Air Final Episode in Series Announced

The much-touted and promoted return of ABC's "Lost" help the network earn some strong
numbers in the Tuesday night Nielsen ratings, averaging a 5.6 in the 18-49 rating over the two hour, 9-11 p.m. slot, reports TVbythenumbers.com.

Separatey, ABC has announced that the final episode of "Lost" will air on Sunday, May 23, from 9 pm to 11 pm, ET. A series recap will air that evening from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Back to Tuesday night's ratings: At 8 p.m., Fox's "American Idol" continued to be dominant, getting an 8.85 average rating in the 18-49. CBS' 'NCIS" collected a 4.4, while the rest of the hour were reruns and a "Lost" clip show.

Nine o'clock was a "Lost" victory, averaging 5.65 for the hour, over Fox's "Kitchen Nightmares" which had a 3.9 mean rating. NBC's "The Biggest Loser" had a 3.7, ahead of CBS' showing of "NCIS: LA" with a 3.6.

"Lost" from 10-11 averaged a 5.5 in the 18-49, over "The Biggest Loser" with a 3.7 and CBS' "The Good Wife" with an average 2.6.

-- Allison J. Waldman

'MacGyver' Creator Ticked About 'MacGruber' Movie

A comedy sketch on 'Saturday Night Live' is one thing, but a feature film is quite another -- and the creator of 'MacGyver,' Lee Zlotoff, wants to stop the March release of the film that mocks his TV show, "MacGruber," according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Zlotoff retained film rights to "MacGyver" when the show went off the air in 1992, and his representatives have issued cease-and-desist letters since the feature based on the "Saturday Night Live" segments featuring cast members Will Forte and Kristen Wiig was given a go.

Relativity Media, which is producing the Jorma Taccone-directed film, and distributor Universal declined to comment, THR says.

-- Allison J. Waldman

NBC Moves Swiftly to Excise Traces of Conan

NBC wasted no time in getting rid of traces of Conan O’Brien, Gawker reports.

The company has cut the picture of its former late-night host from the lobby mural at its New York headquarters at 30 Rock, and replaced him with--who else--Jay Leno. But Leno no longer gets a giant picture elsewhere in the mural.

The site has the picture evidence.

--Elizabeth Jensen

Oscar Nominee Headed to ABC’s Summer Schedule

An Oscar-nominated actress will play the lead in ABC’s “Scoundrels,” a comedic drama series the network plans to air over the summer, reports The Hollywood Reporter.

Virginia Madsen (“Sideways”) will play the matriarch of a criminal family trying to go straight, in the remake of the New Zealand series "Outrageous Fortune."

The series will get an eight-episode run. ABC earlier adapted the New Zealand show in a 2008 pilot (called “Good Behavior”) and cast Catherine O’Hara in the role.

Madsen’s most recent TV role was on USA Network’s “Monk.”

--Elizabeth Jensen

Beefed-Up Newscasts for Four Telemundo Stations

Telemundo began airing enhanced local newscasts in four markets—Dallas, Houston, San Jose and Phoenix—this week, B&C reports.

The Spanish-language network said late last year that it planned to increase its local news investment.

Among the changes are the additions of several newscasts that will solicit community participation.

--Elizabeth Jensen

Fox, ESPN, Possibly Others Planning Bids for Next Round of Olympic Games

Fox and ESPN plan to bid for U.S. broadcast rights to the 2014 and 2016 Olympics, and CBS and Time Warner are considering a joint bid, Bloomberg reports.

They are jumping in just as current rights holder NBC has said it will lose about $250 million on the Winter games later this month in Vancouver, due to the high cost of rights and a stagnant ad market.

NBC has held the Olympic rights for a decade.

--Elizabeth Jensen