Another New Show Appears to Be in Peril After Ratings Plunge

Two networks in particular got good news and bad news in the ratings Wednesday night, based on overnight Nielsens. The newest installment in NBC’s “Law & Order” franchise premiered to solid numbers, but the second episode of the network’s new spy show “Undercovers” dove into dangerously low ratings territory.

It was good news/bad news at ABC as well, with the Emmy-winning comedy "Modern Family" delivering the highest ratings of the night while the rest of the lineup struggled, according to TVbytheNumbers.com.

At 8 p.m. CBS's "Survivor" averaged a 3.45 rating in the 18-49 demographic for the hour, ahead of Fox's "Hell's Kitchen" with a mean score of 2.8 in the same demo. ABC's "The Middle" and "Better With You" had a 2.4 rating and a 2.1, respectively, in the top and bottom halves of the hour in the 18-49 demo, but NBC's new J.J. Abrams spy saga "Undercovers" managed only a 1.6 average rating in 18-49, just a tad better than CW's "America's Next Top Model," which logged a 1.3 average.

At 9 p.m. "Modern Family" led the night with a 4.5 rating in the 18-49 demo, while ABC’s "Cougar Town" in the bottom half of the hour collected only a 2.9 rating in the 18-49 demo. CBS's "Criminal Minds" averaged a 3.55 in 18-49, and the second episode of "Hell's Kitchen" netted a 3.05 rating for the hour. NBC's "Law & Order: SVU" had a 2.65 average for the hour in the 18-49 demographic, and CW's "Hellcats" was last at 0.95 in the 18-49 demo for the hour.

The 10 p.m. hour was won by the "Law & Order: LA," which premiered with a rating of 3.1 for the hour in the 18-49 demo. CBS's "The Defenders" had a 2.5 in the 18-49 demo, ahead of ABC's "The Whole Truth" with a 1.3 average rating in 18-49 for the hour.

CBS was the top-ranked network overall Wednesday, with Fox second, NBC third and ABC settling for fourth despite “Modern Family’s” success.

Will Unaired Episodes of 'Lone Star' See the Light of Day?

It would be going to far to describe this possibility as a new life for the canceled drama "Lone Star," but Fox may at least let the program’s niche fans see the unaired episodes in the near future on the network, reports TheWrap.

Fox has already slated reruns of "Lone Star" to air Saturdays at 11 p.m. It is possible that the net might burn off the remaining episodes that are in the can in that same time slot, according to the report.

According to the article, Kyle Killen, the creator of "Lone Star," said he was unaware of a late-night, online, or on-another-network option for his show. Told about the late-night possibility, Killen reportedly commented, "Sounds like you might know more than I do at this point."

U.S. Senate Passes Bill To Limit Volume on TV Ads; Bill Previously Passed U.S. House

Late Wednesday night (Sept. 29, 2010, "[B]efore adjourning until November 15 – the Senate passed by unanimous consent a bill that would require the FCC to regulate the volume of TV commercials that can be many times louder than the TV program itself," ABC News reports.

Officially, the bill is called the Commercial Advertisement Loudness Mitigation (CALM) Act. To view a copy of the bill, click here.

Furthermore, the article says, the bill "will now move on to the House, which passed similar legislation last December. If minor differences between the two measures can be ironed out, a final bill could be sent to President Obama during Congress’ lame-duck session in November."

Character Actor Who Delivered 'Chinatown's' Most Famous Line Is Dead at 94

A character actor who delivered some of the movies’ most memorable lines died in his Southern California home Wednesday at the age of 94, the AP reported.

Joe Mantell was a familiar face on film and television, as well as an Oscar-nominated actor for his role in the 1955 feature "Marty."

Mantell, who appleared in dozens of films and on more than 70 television shows, such as "The Twilight Zone," had a penchant for snagging great movie lines. In "Marty," his line, "Well, what do you feel like doin' tonight?" captured the theme of the movie. And in 1974's "Chinatown," Mantell summed up Jack Nicholson's frustration with the case by declaring, "Forget it, Jake. It's Chinatown."

TCM Puts Together Movie Marathon in Tribute to Tony Curtis; Here's the Full Schedule

Turner Classic Movies (TCM) has announced that it will televise a 24-hour Tony Curtis marathon Sunday, Oct. 10, as a tribute to the star, who died Wednesday at 85.

Additionally, the network will post an audio podcast on its Web site beginning Friday that will feature a 1999 interview Curtis did for TCM with network host Robert Osborne.

Calling Curtis “a longtime friend of TCM,” the network noted in a press release that the legendary actor appeared on TCM many times and made an appearance earlier this year in the first-ever TCM Classic Film Festival.

Here is the full schedule for Sunday’s marathon (all times ET):

6 a.m.: Beachhead (1954), with Frank Lovejoy and Mary Murphy
7:45 a.m.: Kings Go Forth (1958), with Frank Sinatra and Natalie Wood
9:45 a.m.: The Vikings (1958), with Kirk Douglas, Ernest Borgnine and Janet Leigh
11:45 a.m.: Operation Petticoat (1959), with Cary Grant and Dina Merrill
2 p.m.: Who Was That Lady? (1960), with Janet Leigh and Dean Martin
4:15 p.m.: Sex and the Single Girl (1964), with Natalie Wood, Lauren Bacall and Henry Fonda
6:15 p.m.: You Can’t Win ‘Em All (1970), with Charles Bronson and Michèle Mercier
8 p.m.: Sweet Smell of Success (1957), with Burt Lancaster and Martin Milner
9:45 p.m.: The Defiant Ones (1958), with Sidney Poitier and Theodore Bikel
11:30 p.m.: Trapeze (1956), with Burt Lancaster and Gina Lollobrigida
1:30 a.m.: The Great Race (1965), with Jack Lemmon and Natalie Wood
4:15 a.m.: Don’t Make Waves (1967), with Claudia Cardinale and Sharon Tate

JetBlue Adds NFL Package to Its In-Flight TV Lineup

National Football League fans who fly on JetBlue will be able to access the exclusive NFL Sunday Ticket roster of games every Sunday starting this weekend, Oct. 3, Multichannel News reports.

The airline currently offers 36 DirecTV channels on its flights. The NFL Sunday Ticket offerings will take the place of some channels.

Along with the game broadcasts, pregame and post-game action will also be shown.

Three-Time Emmy Winner Returns to TV for Kids' Show

A three-time Emmy winner is returning to television to host a TLC show about children that's called a modern version of the old Art Linkletter show "Kids Say the Darndest Things," according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Brad Garrett, best known for his role as Raymond’s brother Robert on “Everybody Loves Raymond”--for which Garrett won three Emmys and received two additional nominations--will emcee a show that will incorporate studio and location segments as well as content from viewers.

The show is being produced by "American Idol's" Ryan Seacrest.

Nancy Daniels, senior VP of production and development for TLC, said of the project, "This show is the next evolution of family entertainment on TLC. We are thrilled to have Brad Garrett on board. His comedic instincts and enthusiasm for the project are going to put this series over the top. And, at the heart of this show are the candid and unfiltered reactions from kids, which makes this a perfect fit for the network."

Report: Katie Couric May Return to 'Today,' as Meredith Vieira Expected to Leave the Show

Katie Couric may return to her old stomping ground on the "Today" show when her "CBS Evening News" contract expires in May, reports the New York Post's Page Six.

The article adds the spot is expected to open up because "Today" co-host Meredith Vieira is expected to leave the program to spend more time with her family.

While Couric had been talking with Jeff Zucker, who had been her producer at the show before he became CEO of NBC Universal, his departure from the company doesn't rule out the move for Couric, the story says.

Another Show May Be Headed for Cancellation--or Will It Be Rescued By Time-Shifted Viewing?

The Los Angeles Times' Joe Flint takes a look at whether another show is in trouble or whether its ratings are an example of how viewers are changing the way they watch programs.

The program is NBC’s “Parenthood,” whose audience has plunged by 25% to 5.3 million viewers an episode, with this week's show pulling an average of 4.8 million viewers, the story says. That's relatively close to the numbers pulled by Fox's "Lone Star," which was the fall season's first casualty.

Viewers in the 18-to-49 demographic dropped by 22%, the story adds.

"But it may be a little too soon to throw in the towel on the Braverman family," Flint writes, pointing out that NBC noted last season that ratings in the 18-to-49 demo rose by 31% when counting viewers who watched the family drama on digital video recorders within seven days of its airing.

For this season, the debut of "Parenthood" jumped almost 30% after adding in three days of recorded viewing, the story points out.

Veteran News Anchor Launching Daytime Talk Show

 A familiar face to prime-time cable news viewers is launching a daytime syndicated talk show, reports James Hibberd at The Hollywood Reporter's TheLiveFeed blog.

Anderson Cooper, the host of CNN’s "Anderson Cooper 360," reportedly has closed a deal with Telepictures Productions and Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution for a program that would debut in the fall of 2011, the story says.

The show wouldn't have a hard-news focus, but would have a topical format that would cover stories from pop culture to news items. Cooper would also act as an executive producer of the program, the article adds.

Because the deal was coordinated among Warner Bros., Cooper and CNN, it is said to be complex; it allows for Cooper to continue hosting "360," the article says.

The goal is to debut the show as daytime queen Oprah Winfrey leaves for her own cable network, according to the piece.

Tony Curtis Dead at 85: Girls Swooned at His Good Looks and Critics Made Fun of His Bronx Accent; But He Had the Last Laugh as He Portrayed Terrific Characters in Films Such as 'Some Like It Hot' and 'Sweet Smell of Success'

"Tony Curtis, the Bronx tailor's son who became a 1950s movie heartthrob and then a respected actor with such films as 'Sweet Smell of Success,' 'The Defiant Ones' and 'Some Like It Hot,' has died," reports the Associated Press and CBS News. He was 85 and died Wednesday night, Sept. 29, 2010, of cardiac arrest at his Las Vegas home, the report says.

One of Curtis' last public appearances was when he introduced his film "Sweet Smell of Success" earlier this year as part of the TCM's Film Festival at the famous Grauman's Chinese Theater in Hollywood. 

In the film, Curtis played a smarmy Broadway publicist named Sidney Falco. With dialogue by Cliford Odets and Ernest Lehman that is sharp and sarcastic, many critics say it's Curtis' best role. 

While Curtis' career was mostly on the big screen, he was nominated for an Emmy in 1980 for playing producer David O. Selznick in the TV movie  "The Scarlett O'Hara War."

According to the AP report, "His first wife was actress Janet Leigh of "Psycho" fame; actress Jamie Leigh Curtis is their daughter."

In one now forgotten incident, TVWeek has seen a kinescope of a wonderful piece of TV history from the old TV show "Person to Person" from the 1950s. In this popular show, CBS newsman Edward R. Murrow, would, on live TV, interview guests in their homes from Murrow's New York studio. Just as Murrow was about to interview Curtis and his wife Janet Leigh in their Beverly Hills house, Murrow's feed to the house from New York went out. So for the first half of the interview a clearly uncomfortable Curtis does his best interviewing both himself and his wife until Murrow's feed kicked back in.

The AP report says that "In 1958, 'The Defiant Ones' brought [Curtis] an Academy Award nomination as best actor for his portrayal of a white racist escaped convict handcuffed to a black escapee, Sidney Poitier. The following year, he donned women's clothing and sparred with Marilyn Monroe in one of the most acclaimed film comedies ever, Billy Wilder's 'Some Like It Hot.' "

In the parts of the movie where Curtis is trying to seduce Monroe, he did a spot on imitation of film star Cary Grant that both audiences and critics loved.

Says the AP report: "In later years, he returned to film and television as a character actor after battling drug and alcohol abuse. His brash optimism returned, and he allowed his once-shiny black hair to turn silver. He also became a painter whose canvasses sold for as much as $20,000.

According to the report, "Curtis was born Bernard Schwartz in the Bronx in 1925, the son of Hungarian Jews who had emigrated to the United States after World War I. His father, Manny Schwartz, had yearned to be an actor, but work was hard to find with his heavy accent."

" 'I'm not ready to settle down like an elderly Jewish gentleman, sitting on a bench and leaning on a cane,' he said at 60, the AP reports. 'I've got a helluva lot of living to do.' " 

Here's the trailer for "Sweet Smell of Success""

The Importance of Arthur Penn's TV Roots and a Challenge to Leslie Moonves, Josh Sapan, Charlie Collier, Bonnie Hammer and Their Industry Colleagues

TVWeek Open Mic blogger Chuck Ross explains the importance of Arthur Penn's TV roots. Penn, the director of the popular, undeniably influential movie "Bonnie and Clyde," died this week.

Ross connects the TV (and Broadway) dots of Penn's life, and then comes up with a very exciting and appealing challenge for Leslie Moonves of CBS, Josh Sapan and Charlie Collier of Rainbow Media and AMC, Bonnie Hammer of NBC Universal Cable and USA, and other top TV executives today.

To read this provocative blog entry, please click here.

'Pushing Daisies' Creator Taking on a Monster Project: Updating a Classic Sitcom

"Pushing Daisies" creator Bryan Fuller is working on a project for NBC that may get fans of classic television shows excited, reports EW.com's The Ausiello Files.

NBC has ordered a pilot of the project, a remake of "The Munsters," which is described as "Modern Family" meets "True Blood," the story says.

There's also a rumor that director and producer Guillermo del Toro ("Pan's Labyrinth" and "Hellboy") is considering a behind-the-scenes role in the project, the story adds. It doesn't specify what type of role he may take on.

ABC Works Out Innovative Inventory-Swapping Ad Plan With Affiliates

In what could be a groundbreaking change the decades-old system of how networks and affiliates share advertising revenue, ABC is implementing a new program that will allow the network to exchange inventory with its 200 affiliates throughout the year, reports Nellie Andreeva at Deadline.com.

Traditionally, the networks sell the bulk of their national inventory in the upfront and scatter markets, while affiliate stations receive a small, fixed number of units, the story says. But with the Inventory Exchange System, ABC will be able to hand off some units to stations, which can then sell the commercial time locally at a profit, the article says.

"ABC will put aside a small amount (5-6) of extra units, most of them in prime real estate like ‘Grey's Anatomy’ and ‘Modern Family,’ that will be made available to affiliates starting with the current election period. ABC will put a premium on the asking price for each market through a computer program whose patent is pending. If enough affiliates opt in (I hear the threshold is about 50-60%), the IES will go into effect and the unit will be transferred to the stations," Andreeva writes.

Jack Black Sitcom Greenlighted by NBC

A comedy pilot from actor and comedian Jack Black has been picked up by NBC, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The project is based on A.J. Jacobs' nonfiction book ""The Guinea Pig Diaries: My Life as an Experiment,” and was made with a pilot order-with-penalty deal, the story says.

The show will focus on a man fixated on self-improvement through difficult experiments that put a strain on his family. Josh Goldsmith and Cathy Yuspa of " 'Til Death" will write, the story says.

'Last Comic Standing' Judge Dies at 44, Five Days After Hospitalization for OD

"Last Comic Standing" judge Greg Giraldo has died at age 44, five days after he was hospitalized for overdosing on prescription pills, reports TMZ.com.

Giraldo passed away in a New Brunswick, New Jersey, hospital with his family by his side, the story says. The overdose wasn't a suicide attempt, the article adds. Aside from his role on "Last Comic Standing," Giraldo was also known for his celebrity roast appearances.

New Reality Show for Paris Hilton, Whose Life Is No Longer 'Simple'

Paris Hilton will star in a new reality show for the Oxygen Network, which she hopes will change the public's perception of her as a ditzy blonde, the New York Post's Page Six reports.

She won't take on the same persona as on "The Simple Life," in which she played a campy version of herself, the story says, citing an unnamed source. Instead, the new program will look at the "new Paris and her life," which the source says "is sometimes quite amazing."

Cameras weren't following the heiress when she was arrested in August, but the show could tape her carrying out her community-service sentence, the story says.

Hilton's representative didn't respond, the article adds.

To Avoid KCET-TV Breaking Away from PBS, Four Los Angeles-Area PBS Affiliates Mull Forming Consortium

The four Los Angeles-area PBS affiliates gathered on Wednesday to discuss a restructuring plan that would create a consortium between them, in an effort to keep KCET-TV from breaking away from PBS, reports the Los Angeles Times.

The plan would call for a consortium between KCET, Orange County's KOCE-TV, the Inland Empire's KVCR and the Los Angeles school district's KLCS, the story says. The stations would look to save money by reducing overlap in areas such as fundraising and programming.

KCET, the biggest PBS station with nearly 9 million viewers, has been facing financial stress, leading its executives to warn it may sever its PBS ties and become an independent station if it's unable to lower its $7 million in annual programming fees to PBS, the story says.

If the consortium plan succeeds, it would put the four public TV stations on equal footing, rather than the typical PBS model of having a primary station and one or several secondary stations, according to the article. One issue for PBS, though, is that the plan would likely reduce the amount of programming money it receives, the story points out.

"Both sides have too much to lose" if KCET breaks from PBS, said KOCE-TV's President and Chief Executive Mel Rogers after the meeting. "If I were betting, I wouldn't bet that KCET would leave PBS," he added.

KCET's chief executive, Los Angeles-area TV station veteran Al Jerome, couldn't be reached for comment about the discussions, the story says.

Will 'Law & Order: Los Angeles' Help Refresh Both the 'L&O' Franchise and NBC?

With a similar format to the original "Law & Order" show, which was canceled this year, the new spinoff "Law & Order: Los Angeles" is aiming to refresh both the franchise and NBC, reports the Los Angeles Times.

The new program, which debuted Wednesday, brought a sharp reminder to creator Dick Wolf of the demise of his original creation, the story says. Even after the program was canceled in May, he held out hope that it would be picked up by another network. But soon he accepted that the original program wasn't going to continue.

"Not having it continue was the ultimate disappointment. Nobody expected it to be canceled. Hundreds of people who worked on the show were thrown out into the street without much warning. That really hurts," he says.

But having the Los Angeles-based spinoff of the show, which the article says is a sunnier version of the original, made the decision to cancel the original much easier, says Angela Bromstad, president of NBC's prime-time entertainment. "I felt we had really explored that world completely, and it was hard to make it seem fresh. This is an important brand for our network, and this is a way we could make it work," she tells the publication.

While the show maintains the original's "ripped from the headlines" approach to storytelling, it also adds a few Los Angeles touches, such as references to the tabloid Website TMZ and brighter visuals, the article adds.

While the original's format rarely ventured into the detectives' personal lives, "Law & Order: Los Angeles" will feature one cop's wife, played by Teri Polo, prominently, the article says.

Britney Episode Lifts Fox's 'Glee' to Series-High Ratings; ABC Finally Has a Hot New Show

ABC had its best ratings of the young season for a new show on Tuesday night despite going up against a Britney Spears-fueled episode of Fox’s “Glee,” TVbytheNumbers reports.

ABC’s “No Ordinary Family” had 10.5 million total viewers and a 3.1 rating in the 18-49 demo in the 8 p.m. hour to become the network’s first new show of the season not in ratings trouble. “Glee,” meanwhile, had 13.3 million viewers and a 5.8 rating in the 18-49 demo, airing its eagerly anticipated Britney Spears episode in the time slot and finishing as the top-rated show of the night in the 18-49 demo. CBS’s “NCIS” also aired in the hotly contested 8 p.m. hour, attracting the night’s best numbers in total viewers with 18.7 million but settling for a 4.0 rating in 18-49.

The first hour of NBC's "The Biggest Loser" averaged 2.4 in the 18-49 demographic at 8 p.m., while CW's "One Tree Hill" netted a 0.9 for the hour in the same demo.

At 9 p.m. CBS's "NCIS: LA" logged a 3.7 average rating in the 18-49 demo for the hour, tied with the results show of ABC’s "Dancing With the Stars." Hour two of "The Biggest Loser" climbed to a 2.95 average rating in the 18-49 demo, while Fox's new sitcoms "Raising Hope" and "Running Wilde" scored a 3.2 rating and a 2.1, respectively, in the 18-49 demographic. CW's "Life Unexpected" managed a 0.75 average for the hour in the same demo.

The premiere of CBS's "The Good Wife" at 10 p.m. was the top drawer with a 2.5 in the 18-49 demo for the hour. ABC's "Detroit 1-8-7" had a 2.2 average in the same demo, and NBC's "Parenthood" trailed with an average of 1.95 in the 18-49 demo for the hour.

'Bonnie and Clyde' Director Arthur Penn Dead at 88 After Making Mark in Movies, TV

The director of acclaimed films "Bonnie and Clyde" and "The Miracle Worker," Arthur Penn, died Tuesday at his home in New York at the age of 88 from congestive heart failure, The New York Times reports.

Penn was one of the pioneers of the Golden Age of television in the 1950s, directing teleplays for shows such as "Playhouse 90." After success in television, on Broadway and in the movies, late in life Penn returned to TV to executive produce NBC's "Law & Order" with his son, director Matthew Penn.

Arthur Penn was nominated three times for Oscars as best director, for “The Miracle Worker” (1962), “Bonnie and Clyde” (1967) and “Alice’s Restaurant” (1969), but never won the award. He received an Emmy nomination for “Playhouse 90” in 1958 and another as part of the producing team behind “Law & Order” for its 2001 nomination.

He also directed “Little Big Man” (1970), “Night Moves” (1975) and “The Missouri Breaks” (1976), among many other films.

Arthur Penn is survived by his wife of 54 years, Peggy Mauer.

Conan's New Show Gets International Distribution

Conan O'Brien's new TBS talk show has signed a deal for global distribution, reports TheWrap.

Rolling out "Conan" worldwide will be Warner Bros. International Television Distribution. In the U.S. the show bows on TBS on Monday, Nov. 8.

“There is no question that Conan’s new late-night show is one of the most highly anticipated new series coming this fall in the U.S.,” said Jeffrey Schlesinger, president of Warner Bros. International TV.

New MSNBC Show Improves Time Slot Numbers, Tops 'Maddow' Lead-In

A heavy promotional push for MSNBC’s new prime-time show paid dividends for the network, which saw the show improve on its lead-in and increase viewership for the 10 p.m. time slot, The New York Times reports in its Media Decoder blog.

"The Last Word with Lawrence O'Donnell" drew an average of 266,000 viewers 25 to 54 years old for its debut Monday, the story says. That's up from the average of 250,000 in that age range who tuned in for "The Rachel Maddow Show" at 9 p.m., while "Countdown With Keith Olbermann" at 8 p.m. averaged 232,000 viewers in the demographic.

The new program drew an average of 928,000 total viewers. But the real test of the show's success is whether it can outperform the ratings of the "Countdown" repeat that previously filled the 10 p.m. slot, the story points out. According to its debut ratings, "The Last Word" succeeded, as the repeat of "Countdown" had drawn 196,000 viewers in the demographic in the most recent quarter, the article says.

Fox Juggles Schedule After 'Lone Star' Cancellation

Fox continues to tweak its prime-time schedule after announcing Tuesday that it is canceling the low-rated “Lone Star” after two episodes, the Akron Beacon Journal reports.

Besides moving “Lie to Me” into “Lone Star’s” Monday 9 p.m. ET slot, the network had pushed back the season premiere of “Human Target.” Previously set to return Friday, Oct. 1, at 8 p.m. ET, the show will instead have its season two premiere on Wednesday, Nov. 17, at 8 p.m. ET.

“Human Target” did well in the Wednesday 8 p.m. time slot last year, ranking No. 1 in the time period in adults 18-49, adults 25-54, teens and total viewers, according to the story.

Slow-Motion Pioneer, Developer of Hand-Held Video, Dead at 86

A tech wizard who pioneered slow-motion instant replay in the 1960s and developed the first broadcast-quality hand-held cameras has died, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Robert Trachinger, who spent 35 years at ABC and won two Emmys, was 86. He experimented in the 1960s with black-and-white slow-motion videotape, and developed the forerunner of today's electronic news-gathering cameras. His innovations helped ABC Sports become a broadcasting leader, and the National Association of Broadcasters honored him for his work on the development of videotape.

After two years as the director of program development and operations at ABC Sports in New York, he became an executive producer at KABC-TV in Los Angeles in 1966.

He returned to the network and was named vice president of ABC Television in 1978, and later was put in charge of broadcast operations and engineering for the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, the story says.

Three Stars of 'Deadliest Catch,' Upset at Being Sued By Discovery, Quit the Show

Three stars of Discovery's reality program "Deadliest Catch" have quit the program, including Capts. Jonathan and Andy Hillstrand, who were sued earlier this month by Discovery for allegedly not working on a planned spinoff special, reports The Hollywood Reporter's THR, Esq. blog.

The Hillstrands, as previously reported, were sued by Discovery for allegedly not fulfilling their promise to create a special called "Hillstranded." 

The brothers were joined by Capt. Sig Hansen in quitting the show, saying they are "unable" to continue work on the show because of the litigation.

"We have been through a lot over the past year and, unfortunately, given the current situation with Discovery, we are unable to continue participating in 'Deadliest Catch,'" the three men said in the statement. "It has been a fantastic ride, and we wish the best to all of the amazing and supportive 'Catch' fans we have met over the years."

In Rolling Stone Interview, President Obama Calls Fox News 'Destructive'

In an interview with Rolling Stone magazine founder Jann Wenner, President Barack Obama was asked his opinion of Fox News. The answer? The network's point of view "is ultimately destructive for the long-term growth of a country that has a vibrant middle class and is competitive in the world," according to the article.

Obama notes that as president, he's sworn to uphold a free press. But he likens Fox News to the newspapers of William Randolph Hearst, "who used their newspapers very intentionally to promote their viewpoints. I think Fox is part of that tradition — it is part of the tradition that has a very clear, undeniable point of view. It's a point of view that I disagree with."

Is 'Chuck' a Goner After Pulling in NBC's Lowest-Rated Non-Friday Scripted Show Performance?

Has "Chuck" finally come to the end of living on the bubble after pulling in the lowest-rated non-Friday scripted show performance on NBC last week. That's the question posed by TVbytheNumbers.com

"Unless it can move up in the coming weeks, it’s finally headed for cancellation," the story says. Other shows in similar shape to "Chuck" are "Undercovers" and "Community," although the rest of NBC's scripted lineup looks to be out of danger from cancellation, the article notes.

GLAAD Reveals the Most Gay-Friendly Show on TV

The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, in its 15th annual "Where We Are on TV" report, has named the most inclusive television program currently on air, reports the Los Angeles Times' ShowTracker blog.

HBO's vampire drama "True Blood" is the show, as if features six regular and recurring lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender characters, according to the report.

"Thanks to its large cast (and often sexually ambiguous vampires), HBO's 'True Blood' is the most inclusive program currently on television," the report says. Across 84 scripted series, LGBT characters account for 3.9% of all characters in the fall network television season, an improvement from 3% last year, the report says.

ABC, for the fifth straight year, has the highest percentage of LGBT characters, while CBS showed the most improvement. That was partly due to "The Good Wife" character Kalinda Sharma being revealed as bisexual, the article adds.

Report Reveals Features on the Next iPad, Due in June

The next version of Apple's iPad may debut by June 2011 reports Bloomberg News, citing a report from the Goldman Sachs Group.

The new version is expected to be thinner and lighter, the article says, and  will have a built-in camera and mini USB port, according to analysts Henry King in Hong Kong and Kevin Lu in Taipei

The analysts said that the creation of a smaller 7-inch iPad hasn't been finalized, the article adds. A spokeswoman for Apple declined to comment.

ESPN Names New Marketing Executive

ESPN has named a new marketing executive, the all-sports network has announced.

"ESPN has named Carol Kruse, a global brand marketing executive with more than 20 years of experience, as its senior vice president, marketing," the company said in the announcement, continuing, "Kruse, who has been with The Coca-Cola Company for nine years and has led its global interactive marketing team as vice president for the past three years, will begin her new duties with ESPN on October 25, reporting to Sean Bratches, executive vice president, sales and marketing for ESPN. She will be located in the company’s New York office."

Kruse's responsibilities will be "developing and managing all aspects of the ESPN brand including domestic television, broadband, digital, mobile, radio and print media assets, as well as building upon the company’s award-winning creative that includes the iconic 'This Is SportsCenter' campaign," the announcement said, adding, "Also, the position calls for a strategic marketing focus on ESPN’s social networking strategies."

At Coke Kruse and her team developed the "My Coke Rewards" program, the announcement said.

'Star Wars' Movies to be Re-Released in 3D to Theaters; Plus the 3D TV Angle

It's been an open secret for quite some time in Hollywood that George Lucas was going back and retrofitting his 'Star Wars' movies for 3D release.

Citing unnamed sources, The Hollywood Reporter says the first 'Star Wars' release in 3D will be "Phantom Menace" in early 2012. THR writes, "After that, each film would be released in order at the same time in consecutive years, depending on how well the first rerelease does."

Lucas has picked the 2012 date, the article says, again, citing unnamed sources, because by then the number of theaters capable of 3D exhibition will be what he considers significant.

The article goes on to say, "Also pushing the timetable is a potential breakthrough in 3D TV technology. With Samsung penetrating the market with 50,000-plus 3D-equipped sets and Sony recently sending its version to market, the home-viewing experience could be primed for 3D DVD versions of the films by the time the new 3D theatrical releases have run their course. Lucas purportedly is lining up the theatrical rereleases as a lead-in to the ultimate home-viewing experience. Beyond that, the property would launch to other 3D media."

Barry Diller to Resign as Chairman of Live Nation; Other Diller-Related News

Barry Diller is resigning as chairman of Live Nation. The news was first reported by Kim Masters at The Hollywood Reporter.

Live Nation "was created in January by the merger of Ticketmaster Entertainment, the world’s largest ticketing company, and Live Nation Inc., the biggest concert promoter and artist-management company," Bloomberg BusinessWeek reports.

The BusinessWeek article also notes that "Diller, 68, was chairman of Ticketmaster and became chairman of the merged company. Diller is also chairman and CEO of IAC/InterActiveCorp."

In other Diller-media news, the rumors are flying that the Diller bankrolled "The Daily Beast," with Tina Brown at the helm editorially, will somehow merge or combine forces with Newsweek. The latter found a financial angel recently in the person of Sidney Harman, the 92-year-old founder of harman/kardan hi-fi equipment.

According to the BusinessInsider, "Daily Beast editor Tina Brown continues to wave off rumors and speculation that she's interested in becoming the editor of Newsweek. But the rumors and speculation are starting to look a lot less like rumors and speculation.

"Both Keith Kelly [of the New York Post]  and John Koblin [of the New York Observer] are reporting this morning that soon-to-be Newsweek owner Sidney Harman and Daily Beast bankroller Barry Diller of IAC are in "serious" talks to combine the two publications with Brown at the helm."

The BusinessInsider article continues, "A 'NewsBeast,' as insiders are calling it, would account for Brown's rather vague batting down of suggestions that she might take over the Newsweek editorship. She's made statements recently like 'I'm not serious about the Newsweek thing' while asserting that 'I'm serious about The Daily Beast. I'm committed to my Daily Beast.' In other words, she's been choosing her words carefully in case the merger scenario plays out."

Madison Avenue Shops Pony Up Big Bucks to Advertise on Hulu Subscription Service

Hulu has signed up "a handful" of advertising sponsors pledging significant monies to air their ads during the debut of the online-television site's subscription service, reports the New York Post.

Each of the sponsors is be paying $2 million for ads on the new Hulu service, the article says.

The service, called Hulu Plus, will be widely released in October, although it's available now on an invitation-only basis, the article says.

For their $2 million, advertisers will get a larger presence across a TV show's complete episodes, instead of the handful of episodes that Hulu now provides on its basic service, the story says. Hulu Plus, which costs $9.99 a month, will debut with every episode of 45 hit shows such as "Glee" and "Modern Family," as well as a library of older hits, such as "Buffy the Vampire Slayer."

Hulu declined to comment.

So Who's Watching TV News at 4:30 a.m.? In Boston, Potential Audience of 375,000 Viewers Draws Four Stations

The Boston Globe looks at the early-morning television environment given that four local stations and cable networks will soon be battling it out for the 4:30 a.m. crowd.

New England Cable News and WBZ-TV started offering the pre-dawn news last spring and will be joined this month by WFXT and WCVB-TV, the story says.

The potential audience?

According to Nielsen, there are 375,000 potential viewers in the Boston area at that time. The piece looks at what the newscasts provide, which seems to be the same formula at each station, the story says.

"WEATHER/newsfiller/newsfiller/newsfiller/whiffofsportsorbusinessreporting/advertising/WEATHER/newsfiller/newsfiller/whiffofsportsorbusinessreporting/advertising/WEATHER. That’s right, weather three times in the half hour, even if it’s the weather in New York (tornadoes!) or in Bermuda," the article says.

Sam Raimi Sells Hourlong Projects to Fox, ABC and CBS

Stars Road Entertainment, run by Sam Raimi and Joshua Donen, has sold hourlong projects to Fox, ABC and CBS, reports Nellie Andreeva at Deadline.com.

The deals come after the company shifted its focus on primetime TV with a first-look deal at Sony TV and with the hiring of CBS' Robert Zotnowski as head of television, the story points out.

All thee projects are produced by Sony TV and are a mix of relationships brought in by Zotnowski with TV writers and film and comic book talent brought in by Raimi, Andreeva writes.

The ABC project is about a top female prosecutor in Los Angeles, described by Zotnowski as a "female vigilante with a law license," while the Fox project, called "Smokers," is about a documentary crew that follows workers dedicated to eliminating alien threats in outer space, the story says.

The CBS project is called "Lancaster" and follows a Scotland Yard detective who works with the Los Angeles Police Department, the article adds.

What Color is Your Canoe? David Verklin Hopes His is Gold: Long-Awaited Interactive Cable TV Platform Finally Being Pitched to Advertisers

Canoe Ventures' first interactive TV product has finally arrived, MediaDailyNews reports.

According to the article, "Marketers can place overlays in spots that prompt viewers to click-through and request a coupon or sample. [Canoe CEO David] Verklin said Cablevision's AMC and Comcast's E! and Style are teed up to run the spots now, while the Discovery Channel and two NBC Universal cable channels are anticipated to be ready by year's-end."

The story, by our friend, reporter David Goetzl, continues, "So far, the 'request-for-information' spots can only be delivered into some homes served by Time Warner Cable and Comcast. Verklin would not release the number, but it is likely no more than 15 million. Next year, Canoe aims to be able to stream spots into households served by TWC, Comcast, Cox, Cablevision, Charter and Bright House -- all part owners of Canoe.  Networks license the technology and then sell it to advertisers. Canoe then shares in the proceeds of a deal."

Verklin started with Canoe in 2008.

Goetzl also spoke to Verklin: "If I had to do it all over again, I would've spent more time explaining the complications of the infrastructure challenges we faced," [Verklin told him, adding that] Canoe has data showing that the simple appearance of an overlay on screen during an ad raises brand recall -- even if a viewer takes no action. "There's value to an unclicked banner," he said.

First Show Canceled in New Season No Surprise: Fox's 'Lone Star'

Though the critics liked it, the public stayed away in droves--thus Fox has canceled "Lone Star."

According to James Hibberd at The Hollywood Reporter, "Only 4.1 million viewers showed up for the 'Lone Star' premiere [on a very competitive Monday, Sept. 20th]. More crucially, the show drew a 1.3 adults 18-49 rating, making it the lowest-rated show on a major broadcast network that night. Fox gave 'Lone Star' a second chance last night [Monday, Sept 27], but viewership sank to 3.2 million viewers while its demo rating fell 23% to a 1.0."

Added the article, "Combined with a sizable drop for "House" this year, the shows gave Fox a 60% lower average rating for the first night of the season compared to last year."

 "Lie to Me" will replace "Lone Star" starting next week.

Hibberd also wrote that some questioned whether "Lone Star' really belonged on cable and not broadcast. However, he quotes Fox Entertainment President Kevin Reilly as saying that the reason shows such as AMC's "Mad Men" don't pull bigger audiences is that they don't have big broadcast network marketing machines behind them.

Broadcast Premiere Week Crowns a Clear Ratings Winner

One network is clearly ahead of the pack after the ratings have been tallied for broadcast TV’s fall premiere week, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The winner is CBS, which took the top spot both in total viewers and in the 18-49 demo, the story reports.

Among individual shows, NBC’s “Sunday Night Football” was No. 1 in the 18-49 demo, while “Dancing With the Stars” topped the list in total viewers, TVbytheNumbers.com reported.

NBC’s numbers were up the most from last fall’s premiere week, rising 4% to help the network place second overall in total viewers and up 8% for third in the 18-49 demo..

Fox dropped the most, 16% in adults 18-49, and wound up in fourth place both in total viewers and in the 18-49 demo. ABC also dropped substantially, 15% in the 18-49 demo, despite strong results for “Dancing With the Stars,” but managed to place third overall in 18-49 and second in total viewers.

Results of Oprah-Judge Judy Smackdown Are In as Ratings Arrive for Syndie's Premiere Week

Results are in for the fall syndication season's premiere week, and a lot of interest has been generated in how Oprah Winfrey will compete during her show’s final season.

In her anticipated clash with “Judge Judy,” Winfrey’s talk show was the easy winner, pulling in 7.2 million viewers to “Judy’s” 6.1 million and winning in households with a 5.3 rating to a 4.3, TVbytheNumbers.com reported.

At the top of the syndie list, “Wheel of Fortune” maintained its usual No. 1 position, but “Two and a Half Men” topped perennial No. 2 “Jeopardy!,” the story reports.

“The Ellen DeGeneres Show” slipped to No. 32 in viewers with a total of 2.8 million.

Controversial Reality Star Had a Near-Death Booze Incident While Taping the Show

A story has come to light about another incident involving a reality star who is known for attracting trouble. RadarOnline.com reports that Snooki Polizzi, one of the stars of MTV’s “Jersey Shore,” was hospitalized in Miami for alcohol poisoning following a wild booze bender that occurred during a taping of the show.

Polizzi apparently suffered a serious overdose of alcohol at a South Beach nightclub, Dream, last May. She had to be carried out of the club by the show’s producers, according to the report. Polizzi was taken to a Miami hospital and treated, then released. The event has been described as a near-death incident.

The MTV crew and cast kept the story under wraps until now.

'Dancing' Lifts ABC to Another Monday Ratings Win; Two New Shows Get Bad news

The good news for ABC and CBS is that Monday night remains strong for both networks, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Fox, on the other hand, has reason to be concerned about its critically acclaimed but ratings-challenged "Lone Star," which did even worse in its second airing than it did in its feeble premiere.

NBC, meanwhile, saw a troubling decline for its featured new fall series, “The Event.”

At 8 p.m. the first hour of ABC's "Dancing With the Stars" averaged a 4.3 rating in the 18-49 demographic, while Fox's "House" had a mean score of 3.7 in the 18-49 demo for the hour, TVbytheNumbers.com reported. CBS's "How I Met Your Mother" and "Rules of Engagement" collected a 3.8 rating and a 3.2, respectively, in the same demo. “Mother” was up 6% from its premiere. NBC's "Chuck" trailed with a 1.95 average for the hour, and CW's "90210" had a 1.05 average in 18-49.

The 9 p.m. hour was won by the second hour of "Dancing With the Stars," with a 5.3 average rating in the 18-49 demo. CBS's "Two and a Half Men" and newbie "Mike & Molly" earned a 4.8 rating and a 3.7, respectively, in the same demo. NBC's "The Event" delivered a 2.9 in the 18-49 demographic, down a hefty 19% from its premiere.

"Lone Star" fell off considerably from its first half-hour to its second, never a good sign. The new Fox show had a 1.6 rating and a 0.9, respectively, for the top and bottom of the hour in the 18-49 demo. CW's "Gossip Girl" tallied a 1.0 for the hour in the same demographic.

CBS's "Hawaii Five-0" won the 10 p.m. hour with a 3.5 average rating in the 18-49 demographic, ahead of ABC's "Castle," which had a 3.4 rating and a 2.9, respectively, in the 18-49 demo. NBC's "Chase" was last with a 2.1 rating in the 18-49 demo for the hour.

ABC was the overall winner for the night, followed by CBS in second place, Fox in third and NBC in fourth.

What Do Tom Waits, LL Cool J, Bon Jovi, Neil Diamond, Donna Summer, Alice Cooper, Joe Tex, Darlene Love, Donovan and the Beastie Boys Have in Common?

A diverse group of musical artists now have something big in common.

The New York Times in its Arts Beat blog reports that the latest slate of nominees has been named for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and the list includes Tom Waits, LL Cool J, Bon Jovi and the Beastie Boys.

Also among the 15 nominees: Neil Diamond, Donna Summer, Alice Cooper, Joe Tex, Darlene Love, Donovan, Dr. John, Chuck Willis, Laura Nyro, the J Geils Band and Chic.

The inductees will be selected in December, and the induction ceremony is set for March 14 in New York.

CBS News the Big Winner at News & Documentary Emmys; See Full List of Winners

CBS News led the way at the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences’ 31st Annual News and Documentary Emmy Awards Monday night, taking a total of seven awards.

CBS’s “60 Minutes” snagged four awards, and “CBS Evening News With Katie Couric” took three.

NBC News and PBS were close behind with six awards for NBC and five for PBS.

The full list of winners appears here.

Some New Shows--Not All--Get Good News When DVR Viewing Is Added to Ratings

The New York Times' Bill Carter looks at the effect digital video recorders are having on the television season's first week of ratings, pointing out that many new shows are looking better once post-broadcast viewing is added in.

For example, NBC's new drama "The Event," on which the network has a lot riding, had an initial strong rating, a 3.6, among viewers 18 to 49 years old, and that grew to a 4.3 rating when viewing for three days was added in, the story says.

CBS’s “Hawaii Five-0” is looking like the biggest new hit of the season, the story says, and that perception was only enhanced when DVR viewing was added in. The show jumped from an already strong 3.9 rating in the 18-49 demo to an even better 4.7.

Returning shows also got a benefit: Fox's "House" initially had a slightly disappointing rating with a 4.2, although that jumped to a 5.1 once time-shifting was included.

Time-shifting didn't help Fox's "Lone Star" much, the article points out: That show's 18-to-49 audience grew from a 1.3 rating to a still tiny 1.5 rating after time-shifting.

'O.C.' Star, Exec Producer Join Forces Again for NBC Project

A new pilot in the works for NBC will reunite one of the stars of “The O.C.” with one of that show’s executive producers, Deadline.com reports.

The pilot is called “Ghost Angels” and teams former "O.C." executive producer Josh Schwartz with former "O.C." actress Rachel Bilson. The show is described as a a supernatural romantic comedy about an L.A. woman who can communicate with the dead. The ghosts help her and she helps them.

The hourlong dramedy could be a go for NBC in 2011, if the pilot passes muster.

Show About Polygamist Family Sparks Felony Investigation

The idea of doing a reality TV show about a real polygamist family--perhaps inspired by the fictional clan on HBO's hit drama "Big Love"--seemed to be a good one for TLC, until the authorities got involved, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The Lehi, Utah, police announced Monday that the patriarch and star of "Sister Wives," Kody Brown, who has four wives and 13 children, is being investigated for felony bigamy. Lt. Darren Paul told People magazine that charges have not been sought yet.

"At the conclusion of the investigation, the evidence will be forwarded to the Utah County Attorney's Office for review and possible prosecution,” Lt. Paul said, according to the story.

The investigation was apparently launched because of the publicity generated by the show, which premiered Sunday. Bigamy is a third-degree felony in Utah, but prosecutions are rare, according to the report.

Paltrow's Guest Turn on 'Glee' Confirmed--And Her Workload on the Show Will Be Hefty

As previously reported, Oscar-winning actress Gwyneth Paltrow has been in talks for a guest spot on Fox's hit musical series "Glee." Now her appearance has been confirmed, and she is expected to sing at least three songs, possibly four, reports US Magazine.

Co-creator Ryan Murphy confirmed that Paltrow has been cast for a stint as a substitute teacher at McKinley High, and that they've arranged for her to sing three or four solos.

Her character also attracts romantic interest from Mr. Schuester, Matthew Morrison's character.

Murphy directed Paltrow in the feature film "Running with Scissors," and it was that relationship--and her love for the TV show--that led to her going "Glee."

"She is a friend of mine and I admire her,” Murphy said. “I said, 'If I write a part for you, will you do it?' And she said, 'Yes!'"

Boos Could be Heard When Palin Visited 'Dancing With the Stars,' But Evidently Boos Were Not For Her

Former Gov. Sarah Palin visited "Dancing with the Stars" during Monday night's episode, but just before host Tom Bergeron sat down to talk with her, the studio audience erupted into booing, reports the Los Angeles Times' ShowTracker blog.

According to the article,  ABC said the booing wasn't meant for Palin, but instead was directed at Jennifer Grey's scores from the judges (she received three 8s from the judges, although her routine with partner Mark Ballas was an audience favorite). The timing of the boos caused many viewers posting on Twitter and elsewhere to conclude that the razzing was meant for Palin, the article adds.

Palin's interview with Bergeron was a model of diplomacy, with Palin raving about the show as a whole and opting not to promote her daughter Bristol, who is competing on the program, according to the New York Times' ArtsBeat blog.

When Bergeron asked her to name her favorite dancer, Palin eventually got around to plugging her daughter, however "Oh my goodness, they’re all amazing. They really are. This is great. Bristol’s not up yet. Bristol the pistol, yeah, that’s who we’re rooting for," Palin said.

Owner of Segway Company Mistakenly Drives His Two-Wheeled Segway Over Cliff Into River, Killing Self

"Jimi Heselden, the British millionaire who owned the company, accidentally drove a Segway off a precipice and into a river, according to police in West Yorkshire, England, where he had his estate," Bloomberg reports, adding, "He was pronounced dead at the scene, and the two-wheeled vehicle was recovered from the water.

Heselden was 62. No foul play is suspected, the article says, explaining, "Heselden crashed into the River Wharfe in West Yorkshire while riding around his estate on Sept. 26, said Neil Wardley, a police spokesman."

Heselden had purchased the Segway company earlier this year.

According to the article, while there have been safety concerns about the Segway, "More than 500 organizations worldwide now use the transporters for policing and security, according to the company. Consumers make up 60 percent of sales, with 350 retail outlets in 80 countries. Forty-four states allow Segways to operate in the same spaces as walkers and bikers, according to the company.Segways have built a fan base among sightseeing tour groups and enthusiasts such as Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak, who participates in a Segway polo league."

The article also notes that "In 2003, President George W. Bush was photographed leaping from one of the vehicles after losing control of it in Maine. In the same year, the company recalled all 6,000 of its transporters after a safety report found operators risk falling as batteries ran out."

However, the article quotes Brian Huber of the Electric Tour Co. in San Francisco, which owns 48 Segways, saying, "Segway crashes are rarer than bicycle accidents. When they do happen, they typically result in the same kind of scrapes and bumps that bike riders get, he said. Still, the transporters can instill an inflated sense of confidence, Huber said."
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George Lopez and Wife Ending Marriage After 17 Years and One Kidney Donation

George Lopez, the host of TBS' "Lopez Tonight," is ending his marriage with wife Ann Lopez after 17 years and one kidney donation, reports People.com.

The couple, who were married in 1993, drew attention in 2005 when Ann donated her kidney to her husband, the story says. George, 49, told the publication then that, "I can't pay her back, but what I can do is make her as happy as she thought I would when we first got married." The couple has one child, Mayan Lopez, the story says.

Is the Next Cool Music Channel Going To Be on Broadcast and Not Cable?

Is the next cool music channel going to be on broadcast and not cable?

Cool Music just completed a deal with Lin Broadcasting, putting "the eclectic 24/7 music network in a total of 53 markets and extends its reach to approximately 30% of all U.S. TV homes, according to Cool Music COO David Hampe," reports TVNewsCheck.

According to the article, "LIN Media has picked up the CoolTV multicast network in 11 of its 17 markets encompassing six million TV homes..."

Other broadcast groups that have picked up the service are Sinclair and the Journal Broadcast Group, the article says, adding that "CoolTV is customized for each market to reflect the local demographics and music scenes."

Joe Comparato, Cool Music CEO, in a prepared statement said, according to the story, "It’s our ability to deliver a unique viewer experience to each market that creates the local radio-on-TV style.”

Murder Most Popular: 'Dexter' Ratings Highest Season Premiere for Showtime in 15 Years

It's true. Do not adjust your TV set: The fifth season premiere of "Dexter" on Showtime on Sunday, Sept. 26th, 2010, was the best season premiere of a Showtime original series in 15 years, the network said.

About 1.8 millin viewers tuned in for the original broadcast on Sunday, with another 575,000 watching the later, same-night rebroadcast.

So what was the show on Showtime that did so well 15 years ago? It was the then revival of the classic TV series "The Outer Limits."

Syndicators Already Thinking of 2012

With most stations' plans for 2011 either set or firming up, syndicators are gearing for 2012, reports Paige Albiniak in B&C.

According to the article, "2012 is the next time when important slots could open up. One of those potential slots is currently filled by CBS Television Distribution’s 'Rachael Ray,' whose contract ends in 2012. 'Rachael Ray' airs at 10 a.m. in the highly rated post-'Live With Regis and Kelly' slot on two of the country’s strongest stations: ABC-owned WABC New York and WPVI Philadelphia. Some syndication executives wishfully think that show, whose ratings aren’t as strong in other markets, may end its run; others say that the worst-case scenario is that ABC decides not to renew it and it moves to other stations. Still, if either of those options occurs, a key time slot may open up."

The article continues on to say that some station groups want to replace syndicated shows with local ones in certain time periods. " 'Stations are always looking to find ways to economically take advantage of the resources they have and to not have to do multi-year deals for syndicated product,' Bill Carroll, VP of programming at Katz Television Group Programming tells B&C. 'Whether that’s ultimately a trend will depend on how successful any of these group efforts turn out to be.' ”

As the article concludes it quotes one syndication executive saying, anonymously, "We need to develop new and different shows, and there are opportunities out there to incubate them. We need to try to fi gure out what those shows might be, and then produce and price them at a level that understands today’s economics.”

'The Wire' Creator David Simon Tapped for One of This Year's Prestigious MacArthur Grants, AKA 'Genius Awards'

"The Wire" creator David Simon was named as one of this year's 23 fellows of the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation -- a prestigious honor also known as the "genius awards" and which carry a $500,000 gift, reports the New York Times.

Simon was one of 10 winners who work in the arts, while 13 focus on the sciences, from an entomologist who studies and protects the honey bee to a biophysicist who focuses on the hydrodynamics of jellyfish propulsion, the story says.

Simon, 50, says he was grateful but "I have a vague sense of not belonging," adding that past winners had accomplished "tangible things to improve conditions." Yet he says he believes the MacArthur honor will help push the discussion of ideas in his television shows, including the current HBO program "Treme," from "the entertainment pages to the op-ed pages," the story says.

"One overt argument that ‘The Wire’ was making is that the drug war is amoral and untenable,” he adds. All the fellows will receive $100,000 a year for five years, without any strings, the article says.

Holy $#*! CBS Looks To Develop Another Twitter Feed Into Another Sitcom

CBS is developing a new comedy based on another Twitter feed, following the successful debut of its Twitter-based comedy "$#*! My Dad Says," reports the Hollywood Reporter's The Live Feed blog.

The new project is based on a Twitter feed called "Shh ... Don't Tell Steve,"  the story says. The premise of the feed is that a roommate is secretly tweeting about the behavior of his unemployed, drunken roommate. It' draws more than 15,000 followers as of today, Sept. 28, 2010.

Sample tweets include, "Shelly stopped by. Asked Steve to put on pants. Steve: "I don't wear pants when I'm sick. How long have we known each other?" and "Steve called in sick to work saying he ate a "bad batch of wings" He DID eat a ton of wings but it was the Beam and Cokes that did him in."

If the project makes it to the schedule, the article makes that joke that it could be paired with "$#*! My Dad Says" as a kind of Must-Tweet TV.

The project is being produced by CBS TV Studios and Ashton Kutcher's Katalyst. CBS is also developing a second project, called "Murses," about two male nurses, which is from CBS TV Studios and New Wave, the article adds.

Larry Dunn, the Popular Publisher of Multichannel News and B&C, Is Leaving Pubs

Larry Dunn, the popular publisher of Multichannel News and B&C, is leaving those pubs, Multichannel News reports.

According to the article, "Dunn, who joined Multichannel News in 1991 as an account executive and became publisher of the two magazines and their related properties in 2007, will be joining newspaper publisher Newsday as senior vice president of advertising sales."

The story continues, "Dunn will be succeeded by Louis Hillelson, a seven-year veteran of the brands who formerly held the title of associate publisher for B&C and Multichannel News. Hillelson will report to NewBay president and CEO Steve Palm."

NewBay acquired the two publications--along with the trade This Week in Consumer Electronics (TWICE)--in December, 2009, from Reed Business Information.

According to the Multichannel News article, Dunn who is from Long Island, NY, where Newsday is based, starts his new job in early October. 

“I am excited about the next chapter of my career at such a powerful brand as Newsday. After 20 years, I have loved every minute, to be just a part of this great, growing industry,” said Dunn, according to the story.

Newsday was purchased in 2008 by Long Island-based cable operator Cablevision Systems Corp.

Cablevision won a bidding war with Rupert Murdoch's News Corp for the property, paying $650 million for the newspaper, buying it from the Tribune Co.

More Shows Renewed by USA Network

A trio of shows were renewed by USA Network, meaning the network's entire programming lineup will return next year, reports the Hollywood Reporter's TheLiveFeed blog.

The renewed shows are "Royal Pains," "White Collar" and "Psych."

"It's a wonderful validation that the shows are working," says Jeff Wachtel, USA programming president, according to the story.

USA plans to debut one or two new dramas next year, as well as to expand into genres such as comedy or unscripted shows, to help round out its lineup, the article says.

"Royal Pains" will return for between 16 to 18 episodes, while "White Collar" and "Psych" will come back with 16 episodes.

Brad Womack to Return to ABC's 'The Bachelor' After His 2007 Stint, When He Decided Not to Pick Either of His Two Finalists

Brad Womack will be returning to ABC's "The Bachelor" for a second chance at picking a mate, following his 2007 appearance when he decided not to pick either of the show's two finalists, reports the Hollywood Reporter.

The 37-year old is now a "better person" who is "more ready than ever to start a wife and family," ABC said in a press release, the story adds. The news was announced during the network's "Dancing with the Stars" broadcast on Monday, when Womack appeared in person.

BlackBerry Maker Unveils PlayBook--Its Tablet to Compete With Apple's iPad

BlackBerry maker Research in Motion unwrapped its tablet computer on Monday, seeking to woo business customers who might otherwise opt to buy Apple's iPad device, reports Bloomberg News.

Called the BlackBerry PlayBook, the device has a 7-inch screen, smaller than iPad's 9.7-inch screen, and is also lighter and slimmer than Apple's product, the story says. RIM said that the device will go on sale in the U.S. in early 2011 and in other countries in the second quarter, although it didn't disclose a price for the device.

The company is trying to get its product to consumers before competing tablets are introduced by Hewlett-Packard, Samsung Electronics and Motorola, the article adds. Aside from the smaller size, one difference from the iPad is that the PlayBook's browser is compatible with Adobe's Flash technology, giving customers the ability to view a wider range of video content from the Web, the article adds.

Gloria Stuart, Who Played the 100-Year-Old Rose in 'Titanic' and Guest Starred in Dozens of TV Shows, Dies at Age 100

Gloria Stuart, who was nominated for an Academy Award for playing the 100-year old Rose in James Cameron's "Titanic," has died at age 100.

Stuart, who was a star during the 1930s and then took an almost 30-year hiatus from acting in Hollywood from 1946 until 1975, died in Santa Monica, CA on Sunday, Sept. 26, 2010, of lung cancer.

When "Titanic" opened she was 87-years-old, and she remains the oldest actor nominated for an Academy Award.

Upon her return to acting in 1975, Stuart guest-starred in numerous TV shows, from "The Waltons" to "Murder She Wrote" to "General Hospital" to "Touched by An Angel." Her last acting role was in 2004.

According to Susan King in the Los Angeles Times' 24 Frames blog, Stuart "went out in fine style -- in a bed she had built decades earlier from two life-size merry-go-round horses."

No One in Hollywood Would Make This Up: Monday, Sept. 27, Was the Hottest Day in Los Angeles Since Records Have Been Kept; But What the Top Temperature Really Was Will Never Be Known Because the Official Thermometer Broke!

Downtown Los Angeles reached a temperature of 113 degrees on Monday, September 27, 2010 at 12:15 pm, the highest temperature officially recorded in downtown Los Angeles since the Weather Service began keeping records in 1877.

However, what the top temperature was at that location--on the campus of the University of Southern California-- for the day will never be known, because the thermometer broke, reports the Los Angeles Times.

According to the article, "Shortly after that banner moment [of 113 degrees], the temperature dipped back to 111, and then climbed back to 112. Then at 1 p.m., the thermometer stopped working. The weather service office in Oxnard rushed an electronics technician 60 miles southeast to the USC campus to repair the thermometer, which is actually a highly sensitive wire connected to electronic equipment. Because of the snafu, officials said it's possible Monday's temperature actually was hotter than 113 — but they might never know."

The prevous record of 112 degrees was set on June 26, 1990, the article said.

Bill Patzert, a climatologist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in La Cañada Flintridge told the L.A. Times, "Five days ago, we saw some of the lowest daytime temperatures we've seen in 50 years. And today was a once-in-a-century day. So anybody that thinks Southern California doesn't have weather, we definitely have had a major exhibition by Mother Nature in the last five days."

Football Great George Blanda--Who Had One of His Greatest Seasons at Age 43, and Who Helped Build the Popularity of Football as a Star of the AFL--Dead at 83

George Blanda, who helped popularize modern professional football through his extraordinary 26-year playing career, has died at age 83, according to numerous media reports.

ESPN blogger Bill Williamson writes, "George Blanda was Brett Favre without the waffling. Blanda was the quintessential old-school NFL player. He played until he was a month shy of his 49th birthday as a kicker. He played quarterback well into his 40s. He won games quarterbacking and kicking on the same day, including a wonderful run in the 1970s. He was an Oakland Raiders’ legend, who played a staggering 26 years in the NFL."

For years Blanda was the quarterback of the Houston Oilers of the old American Football League, where he helped build the popularity of that league.

Blanda was reportedly the first person picked in Fantasy Football, when it was invented in 1962.

Blanda's dream season was probably the five games at the end of the 1970 season when the 43-year-old Blanda replaced injured Oakland Raider quarterback Daryle Lamonica. 

In the first of those five games he threw three touchdown passes in a winning performance. In the following four games, the Los Angeles Times writes, Blanda "kicked a 48-yard field goal in the final seconds to forge a 17-17 tie at Kansas City. Threw a tying touchdown pass with one minute, 34 seconds remaining, then kicked the game-winning 52-yard field goal in the final seconds of a 23-20 victory over Cleveland. Threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to Fred Biletnikoff in a 24-19 victory over Denver. Kicked a 16-yard field goal in the final seconds for a 20-17 victory over San Diego."

Blanda's coach that year, John Madden, told the L.A. Times, "It got to the point where when he'd come in [the game], the whole team would go, 'Here comes George. We're going to do it now,' Then pretty soon all the fans started believing, and they'd all go nuts. And then the topper is when the opponents knew it. It was like, 'Oh no, here he comes.' "

Blanda's dream season ended in the AFC championship game that season, when Oakland lost to the Baltimore Colts, who then went on to beat the Dallas Cowboys in the fifth Super Bowl.

Football Carries NBC to Sunday Night Ratings Win

Overnight Nielsen numbers from Sunday night continued to reinforce American TV watchers’ love affair with football as NBC's "Football Night In America" was the clear ratings winner of the night, according to TVbytheNumbers.com.

CBS kicked off the night with an overrun of its late NFL game at 7 p.m., logging a 5.7 rating in the 18-49 demographic. That was ahead of the pregame for "Football Night in America" which had a 2.0 rating in the 18-49 demo, and the first half-hour of the season premiere of ABC's "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" which was last with a 1.2 in 18-49. In the bottom half of the hour, CBS's NFL overrun and the start of "60 Minutes" combined for a 4.5 rating in the 18-49 demo, while the Jets vs. the Dolphins on NBC began with a 3.3 rating. The last half of "Extreme Makeover" rose to a 1.7.

At 8 p.m. the NBC game had a 5.2 and a 7.0 in the 18-49 demo for the top and bottom half-hours. CBS's pairing of "60 Minutes" and the season premiere of "The Amazing Race" averaged a 3.55 in the 18-49 demo for the hour. The season premieres of Fox's "The Simpsons" and "The Cleveland Show" racked up a 3.7 rating and a 3.1, respectively. Another installment of "Extreme Makeover" drew a 2.3 rating and a 2.7 for the two half-hours.

The 9 p.m. hour was won by the NBC football game coverage, with a 6.35 average rating for the hour in the 18-49 demo. Fox's season premiere of "Family Guy" was an hourlong episode that netted a 4.5 average rating in 18-49. The season premiere of ABC's "Desperate Housewives" trailed, but had a good 4.15 rating in the same demo for the hour. Lagging was "Amazing Race," which averaged a 3.65 in the 18-49 demo.

NBC won the 10 p.m. hour as well, with the NFL game ending the night with 6.3 rating in 18-49. CBS's season premiere of "Undercover Boss" aired for most of the hour and had a 3.65 rating in the same demo, while ABC's return of "Brothers & Sisters" managed a 2.95 rating for the hour.

Exec Behind 'Big Brother' Leaves Endemol

Paul Romer, the creative executive who teamed with John De Mol to conceive and bring "Big Brother" to television, is departing Endemol, reports Deadline.com.

Romer was an executive producer on "Big Brother" and shepherded its launch in the U.S. on CBS as well as in the Netherlands.

He's being replaced by a team of execs who will form a creative board, including company President Marco Bassetti; Tim Hincks, CEO of Endemol UK; and David Goldberg, chairman of Endemol North America.

Katy Perry's Puppet Adventures Continue on ... 'The Simpsons'? That's Right

After her appearance with a "Sesame Street" Muppet was cut from the show because she wore an outfit that was too revealing during the duet with Elmo, singer Katy Perry will guest-star in an episode of "The Simpsons," reports EW.com's PopWatch blog.

Perry will guest-star in a holiday episode of the animated program, appearing as herself in a live-action segment of the show alongside puppet versions of the “Simpsons” characters, the story says.

“In the wake of Elmo’s terrible betrayal, the Simpsons puppets wish to announce they stand felt-shoulder-to-shoulder with Katy Perry,” series executive producer Al Jean said.

The episode, called "The Fight Before Christmas," will air Dec. 5 on Fox and will feature Perry as Moe's girlfriend. Perry's guest-appearance was taped in mid-September, before the brouhaha involving the Muppets, the story adds.

Selleck vs. Smits in Friday's Battle of New Dramas: It's No Contest

Last Friday's premiere of Tom Selleck's new CBS police drama, "Blue Bloods," saw the show get off to a good start, scoring the top rating of the night, according to TVbytheNumbers.com.

Selleck's hour drama collected a 2.2 in the 18-49 demographic, improving on the lead-in of "CSI: NY" which had a 2.0 in the 18-49 demo.

Jimmy Smits' legal drama on NBC, "Outlaw," had its first appearance in the time period opposite "Blue Bloods" at 10 p.m. EST, and managed only a 1.1 in the 18-49 demo.

Reality Show Contestant's Body Found in Hudson River

The body of a man who was featured on a popular reality TV show was found Friday floating in New York’s Hudson River, the New York Daily News reported today.

The body was reportedly that of Joseph Cerniglia, 39, a New Jersey chef and restaurateur who once appeared on the Gordon Ramsay cooking show “Kitchen Nightmares.”

The cause of death is reportedly under investigation, although authorities do not suspect a crime, according to the story.

Police answered a 911 call about the body not long after they received another call reporting that a man was seen jumping from the George Washington Bridge, according to the story.

Cerniglia was the chef and owner of the Campania restaurant in Fair Lawn, N.J.

'Lost' Star Finds Role on Sitcom

One of the biggest stars of “Lost” will make a guest appearance on a popular CBS sitcom, DigitalSpy.com reports.

Jorge Garcia, best known as Hurley on “Lost,” will appear on “How I Met Your Mother,” the story says. Garcia will play Blitz, an old college buddy of Ted (Josh Radnor) and Marshall (Jason Segel).

The appearance is slated for the Thanksgiving episode.

Nielsen Launches New Ad Measurement Tool for the Web

Coinciding with the beginning of Advertising Week in New York, Nielsen today announced a new ad measurement product called Online Campaign Ratings service, reports The New York Times.

The Online Campaign Ratings program is aimed at providing ad data from online sources that will be akin to Nielsen’s television ratings. In the fourth quarter, Nielsen will test the service in the U.S. market.

Commercial use is anticipated in 2011.

Sony Pictures TV Names Kalouria to Key Post

Sony Pictures Television announced today that it has picked veteran studio exec Sheraton Kalouria to take over the position of senior VP, programming business development.

He will report to the Zack Van Amburg and Jamie Erlicht, the company’s presidents of U.S. programming and production.

“Sheraton has a sharp eye for creating opportunities and a keen sense of what works for both outside partners and the studio,” said Van Amburg.

Kalouria had been running a private consulting and branded entertainment practice that helped media companies launch new businesses.

“Kalouria will identify and execute partnerships that leverage current SPT productions as platforms for promotional alliances, merchandising, and other related entertainment productions,” the company said in a press release. “He will generate incremental revenue from the studio's productions in the scripted, unscripted, serial and talk arenas. With the studio's unscripted series, he will maximize the brand value of the shows by aligning them with relevant brands and companies that share a common target audience.”

Dr. Phil's Son Launches Gossip Debunking Site

Jay McGraw, the son of TV talk show star Dr. Phil McGraw, wants to set the record straight about gossip and rumors, according to the New York Post.

Jay, who created the daytime medical show “The Doctors,” is launching a Web site, rumorfix.com, which aims to correct erroneous celebrity rumors. In recent months some of those false rumors have targeted his own parents, who were said to be divorcing when they put their house up for sale--only to move to a bigger house in the same neighborhood, the marriage still intact.

The site has reportedly already confirmed the news about Katy Perry's clip being dumped from "Sesame Street" and corrected the rumor that "Kate Plus Eight" was being axed by TLC. The site has since gone inactive but has a “coming soon” notice posted at the url.

Just in Time For the Holidays, Prices of Flatscreen TVs Will Plunge As Glut Backs up Inventory

Just in time for the holidays, prices of flatscreen televisions will plunge because of a glut of inventory following a sluggish year, reports CNN.com.

Manufacturers have been resisting lowering prices, with the average price for LCD panels actually increasing in July. But prices began dropping in August, with the WorldCup failing to sell more of the TV sets than TV makers had thought.

As a result, prices for the TV screens will be about 5% lower by the end of the month than they were a year earlier, the story says, citing research firm DisplaySearch. Prices will fall even further in October and beyond, with prices expected to bottom out at about 12% below 2009 prices, the article adds.

Report Says Who'll Be Replacing Max Weinberg as Leader of Conan's Band

The person who will take over band-leading chores from Max Weinberg when Conan O'Brien's new show debuts on TBS in November has been chosen, reports the St. Louis Riverfront Times.

It will be Jimmy Vivino, who had been part of Weinberg's long-time band on Conan's NBC show. Vivino is a guitarist and keyboard player the article says. He also arranged many of the numbers the Weinberg band played on Conan's show.

In an interview with the St. Louis newspaper Vivino says, ""I'll be leading the band, and James Wormworth will be playing drums now. He played half of 'The Tonight Shows' and a good quarter of the 'Late Night' shows," Vivino says.

Weinberg had been with O'Brien since O'Brien started at NBC in 1993. Weinberg was also able to continue his chores as the primary drummer for Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band.

As previously reported, Weinberg was not part of the band that accompanied O'Brein during his summer comedy tour, and was not expected to continue with O'Brien when the comic signed his deal wth TBS.

Would You Pay $30 to Watch Movies Right After They Leave Movie Theaters on Your TV? Cable Operators and Studios Are Mulling Option

Will consumers pay as much as $30 to watch films at home soon after they leave the movie thaters? Sony Pictures, Warner Bros. and Walt Disney are in discussions with the largest cable operators to offer consumers that option, reports Bloomberg News.

The studios are talking with In Demand, a partnership with Time Warner Cable, Comcast and Cox Communications, the story says, citing an interview with In Demand Chief Executive Bob Benya.

Disney is likely to test consumer demand for such a service by using a single film, although the company hasn't decided on pricing or the window between the film's release and its cable release, the story says.

Disney declined to comment on the plan, the story says. Disney is also talking about streaming films on devices such as Microsoft's Xbox and Sony's PlayStation 3, the article says.

According to the article, "Sony Corp. tested the market with users of its Bravia TV by offering the Will Smith movie “Hancock” in 2008 and the animated film “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs” in 2009 for $24.95. The Tokyo-based owner of Sony Pictures hasn’t announced plans for another movie through its TV sets.Time Warner Inc. Chief Financial Officer John Martin told the Goldman Sachs conference in New York last week that the company’s Warner Bros. studio expects to begin tests on the service later this year. He said he expected the offering to be priced at $20 to $30 per viewing."

TVWeek remembers a time, about a decade ago or longer, when John Malone, then running the nation's largest cable operator, Tele-Communications, Inc., floated the idea of charging cable subscribers $30-$50 to see a movie, but that was to see them before they were released in theaters, while the current plan is a big charge to see movies after they leave theaters.

Hot Non-TV Story Is an Airline Industry Shocker: Southwest to Buy Low-Cost Rival

Consolidation in the airline industry--hit hard by the economy--continued today with the announcment by Southwest Airlines that it would buy one ot its primary low-cost rivals.

Southwest will purchase Air Tran Airways for $1.4 billion, according to a number of media reports.

According to USA Today, "The deal stunned some travel experts, who said the union of Southwest and AirTran would force up fares now that leading low-cost carriers are uniting rather competing.

The USA Today article continued, saying that  "[O]ther airlines will likely be forced to consolidate to survive, further reducing alternatives for fliers.''"This is truly a shocker, and it can only mean further consolidation,' says George Hobica, founder of airfarewatchdog.com. 'I don't think anyone really saw this coming. More than any recent merger, it spells bad news for low fares, since both airlines were leaders in the low fare space and had frequent, almost weekly, sales. I can only imagine that now pressure is on for American to find a partner, and also US Airways, and that will lead to even less fare competition.' "

'Spartacus' Producer Says Show May Draw to a Close Following Star's Cancer Relapse

"Spartacus" may draw to a close on Starz following the cancer relapse of star Andy Whitfield, reports EW.com's The Ausiello Files, citing an interview with executive producer Steven S. DeKnight.

“The two main options are to close up shop or recast," DeKnight says. “I want to talk to Andy and find out how he feels about the options. That’s obviously very important to us."

As previously reported, Whitfield said he won't be returning to the show because he's battling cancer again, after being diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma. 

DeKnight says that it will be "a little while" until a decision is made, adding, "We're still absorbing what's happened." A prequel to the series will air in Jan. 2011.

Video: In a Funny Sketch, Amy Poehler and Maya Rudolph on 'SNL' as Two Girls From the Bronx With Katy Perry, Skewering Perry's 'Sesame Street' Video Controversy

Greg Giraldo, 'Last Comic Standing' Judge, Hospitalized after Accidental Drug Overdose

Greg Giraldo, a judge on "Last Comic Standing," was hospitalized after an accidental drug overdose, reports the New York Post.

Giraldo collapsed in his hotel room in New Jersey, where he was performing in a club, after apparently taking too much prescription medication, the story says. He was hospitalized at the Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick.

Giraldo has previously talked about his struggles with sobriety, the story says.

With Zucker's Departure, Comcast COO Steve Burke Will Take Over Running NBC Universal

With Jeff Zucker announcing his departure from NBC Universal after Comcast takes control of NBC Universal from General Electric, his replacement has been named: Comcast Chief Operating Officer Steve Burke, reports the Hollywood Reporter's Kim Masters.

The appointment seems to indicate that Comcast is confident the government will approve the merger within 90 days, although the cable giant plans to wait on making more personnel announcements until the deal nears closing, the story says.

While Burke wants to be ready to step into the role as head of NBCU, Comcast is in a bit of a touchy situation given the government hasn't yet approved the merger, the article adds.

U.S. Wants to Make It Easier to Wiretap the Internet

The United States government wants to make it easier to wiretap the Internet, reports the New York Times.

According to the article, "Federal law enforcement and national security officials are preparing to seek sweeping new regulations for the Internet, arguing that their ability to wiretap criminal and terrorism suspects is “going dark” as people increasingly communicate online instead of by telephone."

This includes being able to tap into social media.

The story says, "Essentially, officials want Congress to require all services that enable communications — including encrypted e-mail transmitters like BlackBerry, social networking Web sites like Facebook and software that allows direct 'peer to peer' messaging like Skype — to be technically capable of complying if served with a wiretap order. The mandate would include being able to intercept and unscramble encrypted messages. "

Like Bethenny Frankel's Closet? Just Scan Your TV Screen with Your Smart Phone: TV Ads Are Jumping into Bar-Code Advertising

Bar codes have been appearing in magazines and in other print media advertisements for a while, allowing smartphone users to click a photo of the black-and-white boxes to be redirected to retailers' sites, but now the technology is making its way to television commercials,reports the New York Times.

Fashion retailer Bluefly is airing bits of "Closet Confessions" interviews with celebrities such as Bethenny Frankel, who had starred in "The Real Housewives of New York City," in advertisements that include bar codes that link viewers to a complete episode and discounts at its site, the story says. "This is new for us, but we expect our page views to double," says Bluefly's chief marketing officer Bradford Matson.

While the technology is widely used in Asia and Europe, it's a relatively small market because there's no standard code and the number of smartphone users with the right software is a relatively small pool, the story says. Bluefly says the campaign has boosted sales from "Closet Confessions" fans, with their average shopping orders jumping to $450 from $300, the article adds.

Politician Fails to See the Humor: House Majority Leader Calls Stephen Colbert's Congressional Testimony Last Week 'An Embarrassment'

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Maryland) called Stephen Colbert's appearance on Capitol Hill to testify on immigration "an embarrassment," reports the New York Daily News.

"I think it was an embarrassment for Mr. Colbert more than the House," Hoyer said on "Fox News Sunday." Colbert was invited to testify before the House Judiciary Committee by Dem. Rep. Zoe Lofgren, the story says.

Some Republicans also objected to the move, with Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) saying after the hearing that Colbert's appearance "mocked the hearing process," the story says. During his statement at the hearing, Colbert remained "in character" and  said, "This is America ... I don't want a tomato picked by a Mexican. I want it picked by an American, then sliced by a Guatemalan served by a Venezuelan in a spa where a Chilean gives me a Brazilian."

Anthony Edwards, Mark Ruffalo, Jeff Daniels and Timothy Busfield All Working on Projects for Cable Network

Mark Ruffalo, Anthony Edwards, Jeff Daniels and Timothy Busfield are all working on projects for the same cable network, reports Nellie Andreeva at Deadline.com.

David Nevins, who is two months into his role as Showtime's entertainment president, has signed Mark Ruffalo and Anthony Edwards for a drama project about media-crisis management, the article says. The pair will executive produce the project, from sibling company CBS TV Studios, although it's not clear whether they'll star in the show since Ruffalo's film commitments may make that impossible, the story says. "Weeds" writer and executive producer Roberto Benabib is writing the script, the article adds.

Meanwhile, Jeff Daniels has co-created "Happily Ever After" with Timothy Busfield, also for Showtime, the story says. Daniels, who wrote the script, would star as a Michigan factory worker who abandons his job to devote himself to music. Busfield is slated to direct the pilot, with both of them executive producing, the article says.

Big Ratings for 'Big Bang' as CBS's Gamble Pays Off

CBS gambled by moving "The Big Bang Theory" to Thursday night for a premiere-week showdown with NBC’s returning “Community,” and the gamble paid off. Not only did “Big Bang” crush “Community,” but in the battle of the lead-outs, CBS’s series premiere of “$#*! My Dad Says” scored a huge win over NBC’s season debut of “30 Rock.”

Meanwhile, ABC's "Grey's Anatomy" scored the best ratings of the night, reports TVbytheNumbers.com.

At 8 p.m. "The Big Bang Theory" netted a 4.8 rating in the 18-49 demographic, paired with the new William Shatner show "$#*! My Dad Says," which debuted with a 3.9 in the demo. Fox's season premiere of "Bones" collected a 2.7 in the demo and ABC's new hour dramedy "My Generation" bowed with a 1.6 in the demo, tied with CW's "Vampire Diaries." NBC's season premieres of "Community" and "30 Rock" had a 2.2 rating and a 2.6, respectively, in the demo.

In total viewers, CBS’s victory over NBC in the 8 p.m. hour was even more convincing, with “Big Bang Theory” hammering “Community” in the overnights, 13.95 million viewers to 5.0 million, and “$#*!” pounding “30 Rock,” 12.5 million to 5.85 million. The results make it clear that the battle for Thursday night sitcom supremacy is on, even though CBS shifted to a police procedural, “CSI,” for the 9 p.m. hour.

At 9 p.m. "Grey's Anatomy" returned with a strong 5.3 rating in 18-49, ahead of CBS's season premiere of "CSI," which netted a 3.4, and Fox's season premiere of "Fringe," which had a 2.1 in the demo. CW's "Nikita" managed a 1.1 in the demo. NBC's season premiere of "The Office" and the new sitcom "Outsourced" had a 4.3 rating and a 3.5, respectively, in the demo.

CBS's returning drama "The Mentalist" and ABC's medical drama "Private Practice" were tied at 10 p.m., both drawing 3.3 ratings in the 18-49 demographic. NBC's "The Apprentice" trailed with a 1.4 in the demo.

Ratings-Challenged CNN Dumps Klein, Puts Jautz in Charge

CNN, which continues to struggle in the ratings against Fox News Channel and MSNBC, has announced the exit of CNN/U.S. President Jonathan Klein, Vanity Fair reports.

Klein was quickly replaced by Ken Jautz, executive VP of CNN’s sister channel HLN. Jautz reportedly keeps the title of executive VP.

“Our colleague Jon Klein is leaving CNN. Jon’s six years as head of CNN/U.S. are reflected in the quality of our coverage of signal news events during his tenure,” CNN Worldwide president Jim Walton said in an e-mail to the company’s employees.

The Associated Press called the move a firing, and The New York Times reported that Klein did not show up today for work, according to the story.

“The CNN I’m leaving today is demonstrably stronger than the one I inherited almost six years ago--both editorially and financially,” Klein is quoted as saying.

Warner Bros. Shakes Things Up, Lays Groundwork for Succession

[UPDATE, 2:15 PM PT 9/25/10...Changes sourcing of the story to the L.A. Times from the Wall St. Journal, since the WSJ is behind a firewall and might charge users to read its story.]

Alan Horn, longtime president of Warner Bros., will leave his job in April and will be succeeded by a group of three execs, according to a plan announced this week by Jeff Bewkes, chief executive of Time Warner Inc., the Los Angeles Times reports.

Warner Bros. CEO Barry Meyer got another two years added to his contract and is due to retire in December 2013.

Horn will stay on as a consultant to the film studio, the story reports.

According to the story, Bewkes "created the Office of the President to bring together three of the studio's top managers: Warner Bros. Motion Pictures Group President Jeff Robinov, who will become the studio's top film executive with green-light authority when Horn leaves; Warner Bros. Television Group President Bruce Rosenblum; and Home Entertainment Chief Kevin Tsujihara"

The story adds, "All three executives will retain their current duties and take on broader responsibilities for operations of the studio, helping strategize business initiatives as distribution platforms for entertainment continue to converge and traditional models get redrawn by new technologies. 'All these business models need to have a rigorous debate,' Bewkes said. 'These three will work as a unit toward evolving Warner Bros. to the next era of being a more digital and more global company.' "

Says the article, "Warner Bros. now accounts for 43% of Time Warner's annual revenue and 23% of operating income, Bewkes said, identifying the studio's priorities as continuing to develop hit movies and TV series and evolving business models to make content available in all formats and for global audiences."

"After a great deal of thought and many discussions with Barry and Alan, we decided that this phased plan was in the best interest of Warner Bros. and its businesses," Bewkes said in a statement this week.

Zucker Officially Out at NBCU, Says Comcast Wants Its Own Team

[UPDATE 4:50 PM PT 9/24/10 to link to publication that actually spoke to Zucker, the New York Times' Media Decoder blog, and add actual quote from that publication. Also changed headline to correspond with what Zucker actually said.]

Jeff Zucker, whose departure from NBCU has been expected, revealed Friday that the decision to leave was made for him two weeks ago during a meeting with Comcast Chief Operating Officer Steve Burke,the New York Times Media Decoder blog reports.

Zucker reportedly said he expects “business as usual” until Comcast takes over control of NBCU from General Electric.

According to the article, Zucker said, “Look, I knew from the day this was announced that this was a possibility. I wasn’t going to shut the door on anything. But in the last nine months it became increasingly clear that [Comcast] did want to put their own team in place — and I didn’t want to end up being a guest in my own house.”

The Media Decoder article, by New York Times longtime TV reporter veteran Bill Carter also said, "While he often faced withering criticism in Hollywood circles for his leadership of the entertainment division of the NBC network — in his note to the staff he mentioned the 'ups and downs' the company had experienced — Mr. Zucker said he did not detect 'any particular reason' beyond the broad desire for new leadership for Comcast’s inclination to make a change."

However, Deadline.com, said in its story of Zucker's departure, that his handling of the Conan O’Brien-Jay Leno-”Tonight Show” situation apparently didn’t go over well with Comcast executives.

Letterman Blackmailer, Nominated for News Emmy, Will Skip Ceremony, Wants 'Quiet and Productive Life'

Robert "Joe" Halderman, the CBS News producer who was jailed for his blackmail attempt against David Letterman, will skip the News And Documentary Awards even though he’s nominated for an Emmy, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Halderman served four months of his six-month sentence for trying to extort money from the late-night talk host. He was released earlier this month. He was nominated for a News Emmy for his work on a “48 Hours Mystery” segment on the Amanda Knox case.

"He's not doing any interviews and just wants to return to a quiet and productive life," said his lawyer, Gerald Shargel, who confirmed that Halderman would skip the awards. The ceremony taks place Sept. 27 in New York.

CW Picks up Additional Scripts for 'Hellcats' and 'One Tree Hill,' Possibly Indicating More from Shows

The CW has picked up six additional scripts each for the freshman show "Hellcats" and the veteran "One Tree Hill," reports Deadline.com. 

A script order usually indicates a network's backing of a program and is frequently followed up by a back episode order, the story says.

Both "Hellcats" and "One Tree Hill" were premiered this fall with 13-episode orders, the story says. Both shows performed well in their first airings this week, against strong competition from the other networks, the article says.

Meant as a Joke, Thousands are Taking Jon Stewart's 'Rally to Restore Sanity' Seriously

Jon Stewart's "Rally to Restore Sanity" is meant as a way to send up today's extreme political discourse, but many fans of the Comedy Central host are taking the Oct. 30 event seriously, reports Matea Gold in the Los Angeles Times. 

With fellow Comedy Central host Stephen Colbert planning a counter-protest called a "March to Keep Fear Alive" at the same time, fans are booking their tickets to Washington, D.C., the story says. More than 140,000 people have said they'll attend, according to the event's Facebook page.

But since Stewart is a comedian, rather than a politician, it's not clear what political benefit attendees will receive from the event, the story says. People involved in planning the rally say it'll be about entertainment, not a political action rally, the article adds.

Toddler's Response to Bill O'Reilly and 'Sesame Street' About Pulling the Katy Perry-Elmo Video

While we know about the criticism from Bill O'Reilly and others, one thing missing from the debate about the Katy Perry-Elmo video pulled from broadcast by Sesame Street is the reaction of toddlers, for whom the video was made.

Never fear.

Our intrepid TVWeek Open Mic blogger Chuck Ross has that angle of the story covered. To read it, click here.

Adult-Content Company Offers Snooki of 'Jersey Shore' $100,000 to Endorse Product

A company that sells USB drives preloaded with adult content is offering Snooki of MTV's "Jersey Shore" $100,000 to endorse its product, reports RadarOnline.com. 

Snooki is just the latest "Jersey Shore" star offered money in exchange to lend their name or body to an adult product. As previously reported, Vinny Guadagnino has been offered $30,000 to pose naked for Playgirl magazine, while J-Woww was offered $400,000 to pose nude for Playboy magazine.

Snooki was approached by FleshDrive to endorse their product, writing her an offer letter that says, "Our company image is that we pack a big punch in a little package. Who better to endorse our product, than the woman that does exactly that?" There's no word on whether Snooki will take the deal, which would last three years and require her to make three commercials for the product.

After Being Denied Singing a Lou Reed Song on 'America's Got Talent,' Susan Boyle Will Get a 'Perfect Day' After All

Susan Boyle will be getting her "Perfect Day" after all, reports the British newspaper the Guardian. 

The singer appears to have worked out rights issues which kept her from performing the song earlier this month on NBC's "America's Got Talent," the story says. As previously reported, Boyle dropped out of the show at the last minute after Lou Reed told her she couldn't perform it, with Simon Cowell calling Reed "petty, so pathetic."

But the Guardian reports that the decision was not personal but simply red tape, since Boyle's label had only secured U.K. rights but not U.S. rights.

"Perfect Day" will be the lead single on Boyle's second album, called "The Gift," which will be released on Nov. 9 and include Crowded House's "Don't Dream It's Over" and Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah," the story says.

Creator Offers to Mow Lawns to Get Viewers for Low-Rated Fox Show

"Lone Star" creator Kyle Killen wrote in his blog post on Thursday that while he won't beg, he will mow lawns or offer "some sort of sensual massage" to get people to watch his show, which is on death watch after attracting just 4.1 million viewers for its debut.

"For us to survive we're going to have to pull off a minor miracle," Killen wrote. "Statistically, new shows tend to lose viewers in their second week. We're aiming to gain them. In fact, screw it, let's just double our audience. The good news is, our audience was so small that if my Mom AND my Dad watch it we'll pretty much be there."

The small audience for the program was surprising given the positive reviews it had earned from many television critics, the New York Times' Media Decoder blog points out. It's not just Killen who's asking people to tune in, but Peter Rice, the chairman of entertainment for Fox Networks Group, the story says. “Can you tell a lot of other people to watch, too?” Rice asked, according to the article.

Eddie Fisher, Singer and TV and Movie Star and Father of Joely and Carrie Fisher, Dies at 82

Eddie Fisher, who sold millions of records and had high-profile marriages to Elizabeth Taylor and Debbie Reynolds, has died, reports the Associated Press. He was 82. 

Fisher died on Wednesday evening at his Berkeley, Calif., home from complications due to hip surgery, the story says. Fisher's children became stars in their own rights. Carrie Fisher, a daughter from his marriage with Reynolds, went on to star in the first three "Star Wars" movies as Princess Leia, while Joely Fisher, one of his children from his marriage with actress Connie Stevens, has starred in television shows such as "Ellen" and "Desperate Housewives."

After getting out of the Army in 1953, Eddie Fisher had his own television show, the variety program "Coke Time With Eddie Fisher," which ran on NBC from 1953 to 1957, and made appearances on other TV shows such as Perry Como's program. Later, he starred in movies such as "Butterfield 8" with Elizabeth Taylor, although that film marked the end of his movie career, the story says.

After he was left by Taylor for her "Cleopatra" co-star Richard Burton, Fisher became the punchline for comedians' jokes and started using drugs to get through performances, the obituary says.

After Pulling Katy Perry Segment, 'Sesame Street' Tries Again to Meld Adult Sensibilities to Kids With 'True Blood' Spoof

"Sesame Street" appears to be trying to match adult sensibilities to the kiddie set, reports the New York Daily News. 

After pulling a segment with Katy Perry because of complaints about her low-cut dress, the show has released another clip that appears geared to adults, the story says. A puppet-spoof of HBO's violent vampire show "True Blood" opens with a song almost identical to the real show. An orange muppet with a hairstyle similar to vampire Bill Compton orders True Mud in a diner from a waitress that looks similar to "True Blood" character Sookie. But instead, the muppet waitress brings him some True Spud, giving young viewers a rhyming lesson.  

Larry King Angling for Guest Spot on Program that Loves to Spoof Him -- 'Saturday Night Live'

When Larry King visited the set of "Saturday Night Live" earlier this week to tape interviews with the show's stars, he made it clear that he'd love to be a guest on the program, reports the New York Post's Page Six. 

King even gave tips to Fred Armisen, who spoofs King in a recurring skit about the host, on his impressions of himself, the story says. King taped interviews with Armisen, Lorne Michaels, Amy Poehler, Kristen Wiig, Seth Meyers and Andy Samberg, the story says, and "gushed to show producers about how badly he wants to be on the show," the article adds.  

Lifetime Renews Two of Its Longrunning Hits

Lifetime has renewed "Army Wives" for a fifth season and "Drop Dead Diva" for a third season, reports Deadline.com. 

Both programs received a 13-episode order, with the next seasons scheduled to debut in 2011, the story says. The network will most likely use the two programs to help any new programs find an audience. Those new shows potentially include "Against the Wall," "Exit 13" and an untitled police drama from "Drop Dead Diva" creator Josh Berman, the story says.

"Army Wives" remains Lifetime's highest-rated series ever, with an average of 3.2 million viewers for its fourth season. "Drop Dead Diva," meanwhile, began its second season with 3.1 million viewers, marking an increase of 11% from its series premiere.

Most Consumers Don't Find 3D a Compelling Reason to Buy a New Television Set

Most consumers say they don't feel 3D capability is enough of a reason to buy a new television set, reports TelevisionBroadcast.com, citing a Deloitte survey of almost 2,000 U.S. consumers. 

“At a time when 72 percent of consumers have cut their overall entertainment budget... the majority of survey respondents--83 percent--agree 3D is not important enough to buy a new television," according to the study.

Part of the indifference to the new sets may be that millions of consumers have already upgraded their TV sets in the last few years with HDTV sets. Glasses are another drawback, because people feel they can't do much else while wearing the special 3D glasses, something the Deloitte study confirmed."Aside from possibly being uncomfortable and geeky, they are also a barrier to the multitasking that consumers engage in while watching TV," said Deloitte's Ed Moran, the article says.

Despite Emmy Nomination, Letterman Blackmailer Will Skip the Awards Ceremony

Even though he was nominated for an Emmy, Robert "Joe" Halderman, the news producer who went to jail for trying to blackmail David Letterman, won't attend the awards ceremony later this month, reports The Hollywood Reporter. 

Halderman "wants to return to a quiet and productive life," said his attorney, Gerald Shargel, in explaining that he won't be attending the 31st News and Documentary Emmy Awards, which are being held on Sept. 27 at Lincoln Center.

Halderman was released from jail in early September after serving four months of a six-month sentence.

Jamie Lee Curtis Questions How TV Remake of 'True Lies' Could Work

Jamie Lee Curtis told The Hollywood Reporter that she doubts how a television remake of "True Lies," a film in which she starred, could work. 

"What's beautiful about 'True Lies' is the mistaken identity part. So once she knows he's a spy, I don't know how you can continue that," said Curtis, who played the unknowing wife of a spy in the 1994 film. ""How are they going to make it funny once she finds out what he does?"

She added that she'd love to reprise her character, but that "they're not going to have it be a 52-year-old Helen, I'll tell you now." She said she hasn't heard from director James Cameron, who, as previously reported, is converting the movie into a TV show for ABC. 

ABC's Wild Ratings Ride: Best-Ever Numbers for 'Modern Family,' But 'Truth' Hurts

ABC’s Emmy-winning sitcom “Modern Family” had a splashy return Wednesday night, drawing 12.6 million viewers overall and earning a 5.0 preliminary rating in the 18-49 demo to finish as the night’s top show, TVbytheNumbers.com reported. The numbers were the best ever for the show.

The strongest new show of the night was CBS’s “The Defenders,” with 12.1 million viewers.  But that was off 28% from its lead-in, “Criminal Minds,” with 14.1 million total viewers, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Other new shows debuted to disappointing numbers, notably ABC’s new Jerry Bruckheimer series “The Whole Truth,” with 4.9 million viewers.

ABC’s “Better With You,” airing at 8:30 p.m., managed to attract 8.0 million viewers.

Hour by hour, at 8 p.m. CBS's "Survivor: Nicaragua" was the top show in the 18-49 demo with a 4.0 rating. The first hour of Fox's season premiere of "Hell's Kitchen" tied with ABC's season premiere of "The Middle" at 2.6 in the 18-19 demo, followed by “Undercovers” on NBC. NBC's new J.J. Abrams spy show “Undercoversdrew 8.6 million viewers and a 2.0 in the 18-49 demo.CW's "America's Next Top Model" scurried up a 1.3 rating in the 18-49 demo.

At 9 p.m. the season premiere of "Modern Family" led the way, followed by "Criminal Minds" and the second hour of "Hell's Kitchen," which had a 3.2 demo rating. NBC's first hour of the season premiere of "Law & Order: SVU" netted a 2.9 in the 18-49 demo, while CW's "Hellcats" collected a 1.0. At 9:30, ABC's season premiere of "Cougar Town" with Jennifer Aniston guesting scored a 3.3 in the 18-49 demo.

At 10 p.m. the second hour of "Law and Order: SVU" was tops with a 3.5 in the 18-49 demographic, besting the new shows "The Defenders" on CBS and "The Whole Truth" on ABC.

CBS won the night overall, followed by Fox in second place with ABC and NBC tied for third.

Oprah Taking Active Role in Revamping Newark Schools; Facebook CEO Foots the Bill

On Friday's episode of "The Oprah Winfrey Show," Oprah will bring together New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and Newark Mayor Cory Booker to announce how a $100 million gift from Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg will be used to restructure the Newark school system, according to the New Jersey Star-Ledger.

Although the story has been leaked, it will be presented as a surprise to the audience.

Mayor Booker will be put in charge of the Newark revamping and Oprah will be instrumental in promoting the project and urging others to get involved with their schools.

Did Bravo Pull Plug on Table-Flipping Party?

A table-flipping event that was scheduled to be hosted by “The Real Housewives of New Jersey’s” Teresa Giudice was apparently nixed by Bravo, TMZ.com reported.

On the season one finale of the show, Giudice's angry table-flipping reaction to Danielle Staub made pop culture history. Now Bravo doesn't want the rest of the world to imitate the incident, according to the story.

Giudice was scheduled to host an event at the Funkey Monkey in Delaware that would include a table-flipping contest for the ladies. However, when Bravo learned of the contest, it was axed.

A Bravo representative told TMZ that it has a "hands-off policy regarding personal appearances." However, the Giudice camp claims Bravo thought it was a dumb idea and encouraged Teresa not to make light of the televised incident, which was said to be completely spontaneous.

FCC Approves 'White Spaces' for Unlicensed Mobile Broadband

The Federal Communications Commission has given the OK to mobile broadband use of unlicensed broadcast airwaves, known as "white spaces," The Washington Post reports.

The agency apparently hopes the plan will lead to better connections for mobile devices. The panel voted unanimously to allow the use of the unused channels between TV channels for mobile broadband services.

Google, Microsoft and other companies have been campaigning for such use of the spectrum. Broadcasters and others have complained that such use of the spectrum could cause interference with TV broadcasts and wireless microphones.

Verizon CEO Throws Wet Blanket on iPhone Rumors

Rumors have been swirling that Apple will launch a CDMA-compatible iPhone on Verizon, but Ars Technica reports that Verizon CEO Ivan Seidenberg hinted today that the device won’t be coming in January as some have predicted.

The publication’s sources have also been saying an LTE-capable iPhone has been in testing for months, the story says.

Seidenberg spoke at a Goldman Sachs conference in New York and made no mention of an iPhone model being in the works for Verizon’s EVDO/CDMA network, the story reports. He did reportedly mention that he hopes Apple will make an iPhone to work with Verizon’s new LTE 4G network.

TV Show in the Works Based on Scorsese Gangster Film

Television series based on successful movies are nothing unusual, but one project that is reportedly in the works is creating a lot of buzz in Hollywood, according to Deadline.com. The project is a series based on the 1990 Martin Scorsese mob movie “Goodfellas.”

Warner Bros. TV is said to be in the lead to acquire the project, which writer Nicholas Pileggi is adapting from his original book.

Scorsese, the director of “Goodfellas,” has yet to be attached publicly to the project, but one of the film's producers, Irwin Winkler, is apparently on board as executive producer of the TV pilot.

Blockbuster Files for Bankruptcy

The Blockbuster video stores and online DVD rental service filed for bankruptcy protection Thursday, Reuters reports.

The company, which has been forced to close stores around the country--leaving it with about 3,000 still open--has been struggling to compete with Netflix and other online and mail-order DVD/movie services.

Despite the Chapter 11 filing, business will continue as usual for Blockbuster for the foreseeable future, according to the story.

A group headed by Carl Icahn has reportedly signed off on a restructuring deal that gives the group a controlling interest in the company.

'Sesame Street' Cuts Song with Katy Perry After Complaints Over Revealing Outfit

The producers of "Sesame Street" have decided not to air a segment featuring singer Katy Perry after some parents complained her dress was too low-cut, reports TMZ.com.

The video was part of TVWeek's free Daily Viral Video e-newsletter earlier this week.  Click here to see this Katy Perry video made for 'Sesame Street" (and click here to sign up for this free e-newsletter),

The song was placed on YouTube Monday and has been seen more than 1.4 million times. In it, Perry sings a cleaned-up version of "Hot N Cold." But the song attracted comments such as "You can practically see her t*ts. That's some wonderful children's programming," the story says.

Furthermore, Fox News commentator Bill O'Reilly gave Perry his  Pinhead of the day award for the video.

While Perry's chest is covered in a flesh-colored mesh material that goes to her neck, the producers decided against airing the segment. 

According to a story in the New York Times, Sesame Street issued this statement about the video:

“Sesame Street has a long history of working with celebrities across all genres, including athletes, actors, musicians and artists. Sesame Street has always been written on two levels, for the child and adult. We use parodies and celebrity segments to interest adults in the show because we know that a child learns best when co-viewing with a parent or care-giver. We also value our viewer’s opinions and particularly those of parents. In light of the feedback we’ve received on the Katy Perry music video which was released on You Tube only, we have decided we will not air the segment on the television broadcast of Sesame Street, which is aimed at preschoolers. Katy Perry fans will still be able to view the video on You Tube.”

However, as the Times' points out, while the video can indeed be found on YouTube, at the time of this writing it has been pulled from the official Sesame Street site on YouTube.

Fox's Immediate Plans for 'Lone Star' After Its Low-Rated Debut

Fox has decided what it will do with "Lone Star" after its very low-rated start on Monday. 

Fox will keep the show on-air for at least one more week, despite its disastrous debut, reports Joe Adalian at New York Magazine's Vulture blog.

There had been some speculation that one option Fox might choose, after "Lone Star" drew just 4 million viewers despite being one of the most praised pilots of the season, was cancel the show.

But the programmers at Fox have decided to give it at least another week, to see if it can pull viewers after the hype over the return of "Dancing with the Stars" and the new NBC program "The Event" settles down, the story says. "Nobody at the network is kidding themselves, though: Even if 'Lone Star' jumped 30 percent next week, it would still be considered a disappointment, and quick cancellation is still the most likely outcome for the show," Adalian writes.

Video: Joaquin Phoenix Apologizes to David Letterman for Hoax

Appearing clean-shaven on David Letterman's "Late Show" Wednesday, the actor Joaquin Phoenix apologized for his eccentric appearance last year that was actually a bit of performance art, reports David Bauder in the Associated Press.

"You've interviewed many, many people and I assumed that you would know the difference between a character and a real person, so — but I apologize," Phoenix said. "I hope I didn't offend you in any way." Letterman said he hadn't taken offense and had enjoyed the chance to throw jokes at him, the story says.

Phoenix's odd behavior during the past two years, during which he said he was giving up acting for rapping and grew a shaggy beard, was the subject of a documentary, "I'm Still Here," which included his appearance on Letterman's show in 2009.

As previously reported, the act was revealed as a hoax earlier this month.

On the program on Wednesday night, Sept.23, 2010, Letterman told Phoenix that he wanted $1 million for his part in the hoax, the New York Times reports.

"We've made 75 cents on this movie," Phoenix protested.

"That's not my problem," Letterman said.

Sure, the Title of '$#*! My Dad Says' Gets Human Attention -- But Apparently Not That of Some DVRs

 CBS was right in thinking that the title of "$#*! My Dad Says" would grab attention -- from people, but apparently not from some digital video-recorders, which are unable to read the symbols, reports the New York Times.

CBS has issued a viewers' guide to help people program their DVRs to record the show, with the story noting about 38% of households now use the devices. "We consider the DVR our friend," CBS wrote in the guide, issued on Wednesday.

CBS suggested viewers use the program guide to set their DVR's recording of the program, instead of the search tool. David Poltrack, the chief research officer for CBS, noted that the show's symbols can be an advantage, because it pushes the program to the top of alphabetical program lists, the story says.

Teri Hatcher--Who Played Lois Lane on 'Lois & Clark'--to Play Lois Lane's Mom

Teri Hatcher, who played Lois Lane on ABC's "Lois & Clark,"  has signed up to portray the mom of Lois Lane, reports EW.com's The Ausiello Files.

It will happen on "Smallville."

But Lois' mother, Ella, is dead, so in the eighth episode of "Smallville," Lois finds old videotapes of her mom, the story says.

Despite Arrest of Father on Domestic Violence Charges, Family Reality Show In Which He Stars Is Renewed

Even though Bryan Masche was arrested on domestic violence charges, WeTV has renewed his family's reality show, "Raising Sextuplets", for a third season, reports Popeater.com's Naughty but Nice blog.

While cameras didn't film the incident that led to Masche's arrest, the incident will be part of a storyline on the show's third season, with the dad trying to clear his name, the story says.

WeTV didn't have comment, although the network is planning an 8-hour marathon session of episodes to capitalize on the attention, the story says.

According to the article, the incident started when Bryan and his wife got into an argument over whether to take their six three-year old children to Phoenix or Lake Havasu City.

Showtime Changes Season Premiere Date for 'Episodes' and 'Californication'

Showtime has changed the premiere date for its new program "Episodes" and the return of the David Duchovny comedy "Californication," reports the Hollywood Reporter.

The shows were originally scheduled to air Monday, Jan. 10 but will now debut on Sunday, Jan. 9.   

According to the article, "The two programs will provide a lead-in for "Shameless," a new program from John Wells that stars William H. Macy as the patriarch of a Chicago family of six children. Emmy Rossum plays the oldest child, the story says.

Attorneys for Amanda Knox -- AKA Accused Murderer 'Foxy Knoxy' -- Are Trying to Block TV Movie

Attorneys for Amanda Knox, the American woman who was convicted in Italy of killing a fellow student and nicknamed "Foxy Knoxy" by the Italian press, are trying to halt a planned television movie starring Hayden Panettiere,the New York Post reports.

According to the story, "Knox, an American student going to school in Perugia, Italy, was found guilty last December along with her boyfriend of the murder of Meredith Kercher, a British student who shared an apartment with Knox."

Lifetime has announced that it is making the telepic  "The Amanda Knox Story."

"It is inconceivable to make a film when a final verdict on this case has not been reached," Maria Del Grosso, a member of Knox's legal team, told the Italian press, the story says. While Knox was found guilty last December, she still has appeals left to her conviction.

Furthermore, the family of the murdered student is also angry over the plans for the Lifetime movie, reports FoxNews.com.  

John Kercher, the father of the murdered student, told Fox Newss, "I don't like the idea of a film based on Meredith's death. Seeing it graphically portrayed on the big screen is a horrible thought."

FCC Probes Nicktoon's Show for Regulatory Violations

The Federal  Communications Commission is looking into whether or not an animated TV show is kosher.

Following a complaint filed two weeks ago by the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood, the FCC is probing Nicktoon's new "Zevo-3" cartoon for potential violations of the Children's Television Act, reports the Los Angeles Times' Company Town blog.

As previously reported, the advocacy group had asked the FCC to block the show because it claims the program is just an ad for Skechers children's shoes. The show's characters originally appeared in comic books made to market the shoes, the Los Angeles Times points out.

The FCC said it will seek comments on "Zevo-3," a move that can precede further investigations and a potential fine, the story says. The FCC's rules on children's programming limits the number of commercials allowed to air in shows geared for kids under 12, the story says.

According to the article, a Nickelodeon spokesman said the network doesn't believe the show is a program-length commercial or that it violates the Children's Television Act or any FCC rules.

Investigation from Late '48 Hours Mystery' Correspondent Harold Dow to Be Aired, After Nephew Helped Finish the Report

At the time of his death last month, "48 Hours Mystery" correspondent Harold Dow was working on an hourlong report about a serial killer, Rodney Alcala, reports the New York Times' ArtsBeat.

On Saturday, after receiving the help of Dow's nephew, Jay Dow, the CBS news magazine will air the finished report for the show's season debut. Jay Dow, a correspondent for CBS' station in New York, was asked by the show's producers after they heard him speak at his uncle's service, the story says. When Dow died on Aug. 21 of an apparent asthma attack, the report still needed the episode introduction and some of the ending, and Jay Dow provided those missing segments, the story says.

"We decided it would be a touching tribute,” says Susan Zirinsky, the show's executive producer, according to the article. 

'Glee' Helps Fox Turn Things Around on Night Two of Fall Season

After Fox’s weak opening night Monday--led by a feeble turnout for the new drama “Lone Star”--the network got some needed good news on the second night of the fall season.

Fox's second-season premiere of “Glee” surged in the ratings, up 57% from last fall’s premiere, delivering 12.3 million total viewers and a 5.5 rating among adults 18-49, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

“Glee,” which opened the night for Fox at 8 p.m., was the highest-rated show of the night, and the episode was the second highest-rated ever for the show.

The news wasn’t quite as good for the new Fox comedies that debuted following “Glee,” but both “Raising Hope,” with 7.5 million total viewers and a 3.1 rating in the 18-49 demo, and “Running Wilde,” at 5.9 million overall and a 2.5 in the demo, improved on last year’s numbers for the slot, the story says. And Fox went from fourth place overall the night before to first in the ratings Tuesday.

CBS, with three hours of season premieres for procedurals “NCIS” and “NCIS: Los Angeles,” wound up second overall, followed by ABC, NBC and CW.

Looking at the results hour by hour, at 8 p.m. the season premiere of "Glee" led the way. The season bow for "NCIS" followed with a 3.9 rating in the 18-49 demo, and the first hour of ABC’s "Dancing With the Stars" tied with the first hour of NBC’s season premiere of "Biggest Loser" with 2.6 ratings in the demo. CW's "One Tree Hill" was last with a 0.9 in the demo, according to TVbytheNumbers.com.

At 9 p.m. "Dancing" was tops with a 4.3 rating in the 18-49 demographic, while the season premiere of "NCIS: Los Angeles" was just ahead of the second hour of "The Biggest Loser," 3.4 to 3.3 in the demo. Fox's "Raising Hope" and “Running Wilde” were next, followed by CW's "Life Unexpected" with a 0.7 in the demo.

The second hour of "NCIS: Los Angeles" at 10 p.m. earned a 3.0 rating in the 18-49 demo, while ABC's debut of "Detroit 1-8-7" tied with NBC's "Parenthood," both getting a 2.4 rating in the demo.

More Barnes & Noble Stores In High-End Neighborhoods Could Be Closing By Year's End

By Chuck Ross

On the heels of the news that troubled bookseller Barnes & Noble is closing its showcase store across from Lincoln Center in New York, TVWeek has learned from employees of the booksellers' stores in two high-end neighborhoods in the Los Angeles area that they will be likely closing as well at the end of the year.

These are the Barnes & Noble stores in Encino and Calabasas, both in the San Fernando Valley area of Los Angeles.

Both stores are in malls owned by Caruso Affiliated Holdings, LLC.  Caruso also owns one of the hottest malls in L.A., The Grove.

An employee at one of the two Barnes & Noble's locations told TVWeek that the stores are closing because "Caruso is asking too much money" in rent from the bookseller. Another employee used almost those same words in describing the situation.

However, Caruso spokesperson Jennifer Gordon says that talks with Barnes & Noble continue and "no decision has been reached" about the future of the two stores. She would not say on what issues the talks were focusing.

TVWeek also heard that if the Encino store closes it will be replaced by a CVS drug store. Gordon said she could not comment about that.

 Earlier this month I wrote a blog entry decrying the closing of the store in New York.  

NBC Plans Special 'Events' to Maintain Momentum After Big Debut

NBC had to be pleased with the numbers for the premiere of its centerpiece freshman show “The Event,” and the network plans to do everything possible to keep up momentum for the series, James Hibberd writes in The Hollywood Reporter.

Whether the Peacock Network will be able to pull off a big “Event” every week remains to be seen, but to help ensure success NBC has scheduled a repeat airing of the pilot episode for Saturday and a special West Coast broadcast following “Sunday Night Football.”

NBC says the heavy marketing push will continue, with promo spots, distribution of additional episodes to critics and booking of cast members on talk shows.

New 'Idol' Judges Speak, Officially, for the First Time: Lopez Says She's Looking for the Next Michael Jackson; Steven Tyler Wants More Rock 'n' Roll on the Show

Today, Fox had a big press event at the Los Angeles Forum to announce the three judges for the upcoming season of "American Idol," and it was just who we thought were going to be judges -- Jennifer Lopez, Steven Tyler and Randy Jackson.

Lopez declared that she was looking for the next Michael Jackson, according to People.com. Tyler described the new gig this way: "[It] feels like the perfect feathered nest. It's being a part of something much bigger than yourself. I want to bring some rock to this roller coaster," the article said. 

Fox also confirmed that legendary record exec Jimmy Iovine--co-founder of Beats Audio and chairman of Interscope Geffen A&M Records--will be a part of the show, serving as in-house mentor, B&C reported.

DirecTV May Cut Price of NFL Sunday Ticket

DirecTV is considering rolling back the price of its exclusive NFL Sunday Ticket package next year, reports MediaPost.

In addition, DirecTV created a broadband version of NFL Sunday Ticket for outlets where satellite reception was not possible, such as Manhattan apartments, but at a premium price -- $350. Both the satellite and broadband services may be subject to price cuts.

According to DirecTV CFO Patrick Doyle, the company is "probably going to need to do some things with pricing, and we'll do some research on price sensitivity there. But I think it's a good product if it's priced right."

New Bruckheimer Drama in the Works at ABC

Jerry Bruckheimer Television and Warner Bros. TV are teaming up for a new hour drama based on the book and blog "The Lost Girls," and ABC has given the pilot a green light, reports Deadline.com.

Jonathan Littman, who worked with Bruckheimer on CBS's "CSI: Miami" and "Eleventh Hour," is executive producing "The Lost Girls," with Ildy Modrovich adapting the Harper Collins book.

The book is set in 2006 and tells the story of three women who leave New York City to spend a year in search of adventure and inspiration.

After Disastrous Debut, Fox's 'Lone Star' Is On Death Watch

The debut Fox drama "Lone Star" is on death watch after its disastrous premiere, reports the Hollywood Reporter.

But the expected cancellation isn't attracting gleeful schadenfreude, the story says. "The "Star" pilot drew critical acclaim and stood out from the pack of new pilots for being different than the increasing glut of procedural hours," according to the article.

The fear is that the cancellation may foretell an unwillingness by television networks to try shows that break from the mold, the story points out. "Lone Star" drew just 4.1 million viewers, dropping 68% of the lead-in provided by "House," the story points out. While the show was in a competitive time-slot, that didn't impact NBC's "The Event."

Nevertheless, Fox does have some other options rather than cancellation: it could move the program to another night, relaunch it later in the season, or burn off the episodes in summer or on Hulu, the article says. 

Vincent D'Onofrio to Return to 'Law & Order: Criminal Intent'; Discussions Ongoing to Bring Back Kathryn Erbe and Jeff Goldblum; PLUS (!) New Project From Dick Wolf

Vincent D'Onofrio will return to "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" after USA Network closed a deal to bring back the drama for an eight-episode 10th season, reports Nellie Andreeva at Deadline.com.

Talks are ongoing to bring back Kathryn Erbe and Jeff Goldblum, who recently said he wouldn't return to the show, for what will be the program's final season, the article says. One last season of the show could help USA launch other new shows, much as the final year of "Monk" helped debut "White Collar," according to Jeff Wachtel, USA's president of original programming.

Additionally, USA has given a pilot commitment to the creator of the "Law & Order" franchise, Dick Wolf, for a new project, the story says.

Former Anchor of 'SNL's' 'Weekend Update' Developing Comedy Central TV Project

UPDATE: 5:27 AM PT 9/23/10--Corrects headline that incorrectly said a show partner was The Onion. As it correctly says below, this show is a potential competitor to that show.

A former anchor on the "Weekend Update" segment of NBC's "Saturday Night Live," is working on a show for Comedy Central that will be a satirical look at sports, reports the Los Angeles Times' ShowTracker blog.

Working with the former 'SNL' anchor--Norm MacDonald--on the project is Daniel Kellison, a television producer who has worked on "The Man Show" and ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live," and Mike Gibbons, a producer who has worked with talk-show hosts Craig Kilborn and Craig Ferguson as well as on TBS' "Lopez Tonight," the story says.

The article adds the project, which may be in competition against a sports spoof show being developed for Comedy Central by The Onion, remains in the early stages and hasn't yet received a green light from the cable network.

Top Three Newscasts Have Lost More than 700,000 Viewers

In the just-finished 2009-2010 network evening news season, when compared with the 2008-2009 season, the evening newscasts from NBC, ABC and CBS, have lost a combined 739,000 viewers reports TVNewser.com.

Of that number, 338,000 of them were viewers between the ages of 25 to 54, the story says.

"Nightly News with Brian Williams" on NBC, the top-ranked evening newscast for the season, lost the least, with a drop of 138,000 total viewers. CBS' "CBS Evening News' lost the most with a loss of 343,000 total viewers. ABC's "World News," which switched anchors in December, shed the most younger viewers, losing 221,000 of them, the article points out.

Wave of New Pirating Sites Causes Jump in Bootlegged TV Watching: 'An Underground Version of TV Guide'

A wave of new content pirating services is making it easier to tap into bootlegged television shows, reports the Los Angeles Times, which likens the sites to "an underground version of TV Guide."

Because of new sites such as Megavideo and the combination of "cyberlockers" such as Megaupload with linking sites such as TVDuck, the number of infringing sites with streaming jumped 42% from July to August, the story says. While file-sharing remains the top source for watching pirated shows, cyberlockers -- a hosting service that stores large files -- will surpass peer-to-peer use by 2013, the story says. 

Consumers may watch the sites believing they are tapping into legal content. Sidereel, for example, offers consumers the chance to watch "every show on the Web" and includes ads from Macy's and even NBC, which has placed ads for its new series "Outlaw" on the program. 

But anti-piracy experts say Sidereel is a linking site that moves viewers to shows that aren't free, such as pay-TV programs like HBO's "True Blood," to Megavideo, a cyberlocker, the article says.

However,  according to Chief Executive Roman Arzhintar, according to the article, Sidereel points consumers to content from legitimate sources such as iTunes and Hulu and removes links if they move consumers to illegal content.

BlackBerry Readying Challenge to Apple's iPad: the BlackPad

BlackBerry maker Research in Motion is preparing to unveil a new tablet computer to challenge Apple's iPad, which insiders are calling the BlackPad, reports the Wall Street Journal (Note: the online version of the Journal is behind a pay wall and may ask you to subscribe or otherwise charge you to read the story. PCWorld has a free account of the story.)

The tablet is scheduled to be released in the fourth quarter and will have a seven-inch touch screen, as well as at least one built-in camera, the WSJ story says.

The BlackPad will also have Bluetooth and broadband access, but will only be able to connect to cell-phone networks through a BlackBerry smartphone, the story says.

It's not clear which carriers or stores will sell the device, given that it won't be sold with a mobile-phone service, the story says.

The tablet will also use a new operating system built by QNX Software Systems, rather than the BlackBerry 6 operating system, the article says.

Tea Party Special: HBO's Bill Maher, Sitting on Trove of 'Politically Incorrect' Clips from U.S. Senate Hopeful Christine O'Donnell, Says He'll Release More Videos

Bill Maher wants U.S. Senate hopeful Christine O'Donnell to appear on his current HBO show, "Real Time with Bill Maher," and is threatening to release more television clips of her from his old show, "Politcally Incorrect," until she comes back on, reports Politico.com.

It was on his old program, "Politically Incorrect" that O'Donnell made her confession to having dabbled in witchcraft, the story says. "Suddenly, Maher found himself sitting atop one of the most potent collections of TV clips of the election season," Politico writes.

Maher tells the site that she appealed to him because "she made good TV," adding that she was a "religious nut." Maher has a particular interest in religion, having made the 2008 documentary "Religulous."

On his HBO program, "Real Time," Maher extended an invitation for her to return. "“I’m just saying, Christine, it’s like a hostage crisis. Every week you don’t show up, I’m going to throw another body out," he said, referring to more clips of previous appearances O'Donnell made on Maher's old show "Politically Incorrect."

Another 'Lost' Alum Gets Guest-Starring Role in ABC Comedy

Another "Lost" star is returning to ABC in a guest-starring role in the midseason comedy "Mr. Sunshine," reports EW.com's The Ausiello Files.

The comedy, starring Matthew Perry, will feature "Lost's" Jorge Garcia  as an employee at the San Diego sports arena managed by Perry's character, the article says. Garcia will appear in the pilot.

The article notes that Perry, who is also an executive producer on the program, is a "Lost" fan.

After Targeting National Advertisers, Parents Television Council Taking Aim at Local Stations to Fight '$#*! My Dad Says'

The Parents Television Council is taking aim at local television stations to fight the new CBS comedy "$#*! My Dad Says" after putting pressure on national advertisers, reports TVNewscheck 

The group put a call to action on its Website Wednesday, asking viewers to help fight the program by talking with CBS affiliates and sponsors "in every local market where the program airs," the story says. The group asked supporters to note commercials for businesses in the area and sent the PTC a list of those sponsors, the article says.

Production Company Has Two Comedy Projects at CBS Under First-Look Deal

Benderspink, the production company behind "Kyle XY," is working on two comedy projects at CBS under a new first-look deal with CBS Television Studios, reports Deadline.com.

The projects are "Second Wind" and an untitled half-hour show from writer Jonathan Goldstein of "The New Adventures of Old Christine," the story says. "Second Wind" is written by Dean Craig and Sam Liefer and focuses on two divorced friends who approach single life differently.

The untitled project looks at a newlywed who goes to work for his father-in-law, a business tycoon, the story says.

Boys Getting Equal Time: 'Jersey Shore' Star Vinny Guadagnino Offered $30,000 to Pose Naked in Playgirl, Report Says

The stars of "Jersey Shore" are getting offers right and left to strip for money. Vinny Guadagnino has been offered $30,000 plus a portion of the proceeds to pose naked for Playgirl magazine, reports the New York Daily News.

The report, which cites Life & Style magazine, says the photo shoot would be full-frontal. As previously reported, the offer comes as Playboy magazine has recently offered $400,000 to "Jersey Shore" star J-Woww to pose naked in its pages.

Guadagnino came to Playgirl's attention when Snooki complemented him on his physique after the two spent time together in the "smush room," the story says.

Broadcast Networks Fare Well on Opening Night--With One Big Exception

The broadcast networks had their big guns blazing Monday for opening night of the fall season, with important new shows premiering on CBS, NBC and Fox. But it was a returning reality competition from ABC that was the evening’s big winner, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Meanwhile, Fox got mostly bad news, as its acclaimed new series “Lone Star” did even worse than predicted, the story reports.

ABC’s “Dancing With the Stars” was the night’s top show on broadcast with 21.0 million total viewers and a 5.0 rating in the 18-49 demo, up 22% from last fall’s premiere, according to Nielsen overnight ratings.

CBS’s great expectations for its new “Hawaii Five-0” weren’t quite met, but the show did open strong with 13.8 million total viewers and a 3.8 rating in the demo. “Five-0” easily won the 10 p.m. hour but was off slightly in the demo from its lead-in, “Mike & Molly,” which had a 3.9 demo rating. Perhaps more ominously, “Five-0” fell a bit from the first half-hour to the second. CBS’s returning comedies fared well, led by “Two and a Half Men” with a 4.8 rating in the 18-49 demo, according to TVbytheNumbers.com.

Over at NBC the news was mostly good, as “The Event” delivered better-than-expected numbers: 11.2 million viewers and a 3.7 rating in the demo. But it was followed by a modest premiere for the Jerry Bruckheimer thriller “Chase,” which pulled in 7.9 million overall viewers and a 2.5 demo rating, finishing third in the 10 p.m. hour behind CBS’s “Hawaii Five-0” and ABC’s returning “Castle.”

Fox did have the highest-rated drama of the night in “House,” with 10.5 million total viewers and a 4.1 rating in the demo, but that was down substantially from last year’s premiere, which had a 6.7 in the demo, THR reported. Still, a bigger story line for the network was what happened after “House,” as “Lone Star” was off a whopping 68% from its lead-in with 4.1 million overall viewers and a disappointing 1.3 rating in 18-49.

ABC won the night overall, with CBS second, NBC third, Fox fourth and CW fifth, TVbytheNumbers.com reported.

The broadcast nets were down overall by an average of 20% from last fall’s opening night, THR, reported, but that was mostly attributable to a 60% drop for Fox. ABC was up 20% and NBC up 12%, with CBS slipping 7%, the story reports.

'Boardwalk Empire' Delivers Huge Ratings--And HBO Quickly Rewards Show With Renewal

HBO got a nice surprise Sunday night when “Boardwalk Empire” premiered to better-than-expected ratings--and HBO responded with a quick order for a second season. according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The show’s premiere was the pay cable net’s most-watched premiere for any show in six years--since the premiere of “Deadwood” in 2004, the story adds.

The premiere episode was watched by a combined 7.1 million viewers, the story reports, including two repeat airings.

“All the ingredients aligned for this one, from Mark Wahlberg and Steve Levinson’s initial pitch, to Martin Scorsese’s enormous contributions as director and executive producer, to the genius of Terry Winter and the expertise of Tim Van Patten, to a stellar cast led by Steve Buscemi,” HBO programming president Michael Lombardo said in a statement.

The show has been a major hit with critics, but many experts predicted a modest turnout among viewers, in part because of the series’ 1920s setting, the story adds.

Likewise, some other observers told TVWeek that they were not surprised by the opening numbers giving the "terrific" job HBO did in marketing the premiere, but that they also would not be surprised if the numbers dropped for subsequent episodes.

'Baywatch' Creator's New Action Series Adds Tribune Stations, Aims for Strong 2011 Rollout

Twentieth Television announced that its new action adventure series from “Baywatch” creator and executive producer Gregory Bonann has been sold to the Tribune Broadcasting Stations in the top 10 markets, including New York, L.A. and Chicago. The weekly hour program, “Pt Dume,” will run on weekends beginning in fall 2011.

The show is set in Malibu, Calif., and focuses on the efforts of a lifeguard, a firefighter and a Coast Guard pilot to straighten out a group of troubled teenagers.

“Pt Dume” is co-created by Bonann, who will serve as executive producer. The show is now cleared in 30% of the country.

'Deadliest Catch' Stars Outraged by Discovery Lawsuit Against Them

Two of the stars of Discovery's "Deadliest Catch," Captains Jonathan and Andy Hillstrand, claim that a $3 million lawsuit filed against them by the network is an attempt to "extort" them, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Should the captains lose in court, they might have to sell their property, including their boats, and get rid of their crews, to comply.

Discovery brought the action against the Hillstrands for allegedly not fulfilling their promise to create a spinoff of "Deadliest Catch" called “Hillstranded.” Footage was reportedly shot for the show before the pair backed out, the story says.

Elvira, Mistress of the Dark, Gets Another TV Gig

Just in time for Halloween, Elvira, Mistress of the Dark, is coming back to television, reports Deadline.com.

Cassandra Peterson will don the dark suit of the dark side for "Elvira's Movie Macabre" each Saturday night at midnight on KDOC-TV, an independent channel in Orange County, Calif.

Peterson began hosting horror movies on TV as Elvira in 1981.

Elvira's first fright night flick this time around will be "Night of the Living Dead."

'Lost' Reunion? Show's Creator Pitching New Project Featuring Two of Show's Former Stars

If “Lost” creator J.J. Abrams has his way, two Emmy-winning actors from that show will be back on television in a new series about retired black-ops agents, reports New York Magazine.

Abrams is pitching a dramedy that would star Michael Emerson and Terry O'Quinn--Ben Linus and John Locke, respectively, on “Lost.” Abrams and collaborators Josh Appelbaum and Andre Nemec have already been shopping the project around town.

There have been rumors about pairing the two actors ever since "Lost" ended, but the project--which now has a working title, "Odd Jobs," appears to be gaining momentum, the story says.

Virtual Technology Takes Spotlight as CNN Looks Beyond the Hologram for the Latest in Election Coverage

CNN, which introduced the Magic Wall in 2006 and has been acknowledged as the industry leader in technology, is ready to spring some new surprises on the public during the upcoming elections, reports B&C.

David Bohrman, senior VP and the Washington, D.C., bureau chief for CNN, is currently overseeing the installation of new equipment in CNN's New York studios that he said will be used to display virtual objects in “a way no one has ever done before.”

“It builds on the fundamental technology we used for the Virtual Capitol and the hologram,” said Bohrman. The new technology will be permanent, for use in daily news broadcasts as well as election coverage.

“Our colleagues are catching up,” Bohrman added. “To stay ahead, we are working on several fronts to push forward in some really spectacular ways.”

CNN is also making a major upgrade to its Magic Wall, the story adds.

After August Premieres, Showtime Says It Wants More of 'Weeds' and 'The Big C'

After premiering in August, the returning "Weeds" and the new comedy "The Big C" were given renewals by Showtime, reports the Los Angeles Times' Show Tracker blog. 

"Weeds," which is in its sixth season, and the freshman "The Big C" will return in 2011, the story says.

"The Big C", starring Laura Linney as a housewife battling cancer, drew 1.154 million viewers with its premiere, while the sixth season debut episode of "Weeds" was watched by 1.232 million viewers. Both shows will air their season finales on Nov. 15.

Report: Playboy Offers 'Jersey Shore' Star $400,000 to Pose Naked

Playboy magazine is offering a "Jersey Shore" star $400,000 to pose naked, reports RadarOnline.com. 

The offer may face contractual obstacles from the MTV reality show, however, the article says. The negotiations started at $200,000 and the offer of $400,000 would require the star, J-Woww, whose real name is Jeni Farley, to pose fully naked. Topless-only photos would lower the price, the story adds.

Playboy declined to comment on the report.

'House' Actor Will Be Absent for Much of This Season

A regular character on Fox's "House" will be absent for more than just a few episodes this season, reports EW.com's The Ausiello Files. 

Olivia Wilde's character Thirteen will appear this season, but won't return until well into the year, according to series creator David Shore. Her absence comes as Wilde's film career is thriving, with four movies in the works, including "Cowboys and Aliens," for which she had taken a leave of absence from "House," the story says. She also signed on for a role in "The Change Up," a body-switching movie starring Ryan Reynolds and Jason Bateman.

"And it just so happened that what we had worked out storyline-wise allowed her a couple of extra episodes [off]. So that movie just filled in the gap. There were no further adjustments to her schedule as a result of that," Shore says.

Oprah Winfrey Taps Reality Producer to Create a Talk Show for OWN Similar to 'The View'

Oprah Winfrey's OWN, the daytime talk-show host's new cable network, has signed Mark Burnett to a deal to create a daily talk show with similarities to "The View," reports the New York Post. 

The show will feature multiple hosts, similar to the ABC talk show featuring a panel of women who co-host, the story says.

The Burnett-produced program will debut on OWN in January, when the network plans to go live. Burnett, who is also producing "Oprah's Search for the Next TV Star," was unavailable for comment, the story says.

Oscar Winner Discussing Guest Role on 'Glee'

An Oscar-winning actor is in negotiations to join Fox's "Glee" for two episodes in November, reports E! Online. 

Gwyneth Paltrow would play a substitute teacher who takes over the glee club when Will Schuester gets sick, the story says. The students adore her and Schuester starts to fall for her, which complicates his relationship with fellow teacher Emma, the article adds.

"Glee" co-creator Ryan Murphy, who is friends with Paltrow, wrote the role for her and will direct her first episode.

With New Anchor Coming to WPIX-TV, New York Station's Longtime Anchors Expected to Be Moved Into Lower-Profile Jobs

Longtime New York anchors Kaity Tong and Jim Watkins will be moved into lower-profile positions at WPIX-TV as the Tribune-owned station is hiring a new anchor to lead its 10 p.m. newscasts solo, reports the New York Daily News. 

The CW-affiliated station is hiring Jodi Applegate to take over the newscast, the story says. The plan to bring in Applegate, who has been an anchor at Cablevision's News 12 Long Island, is designed to bring in new viewers to the news program. Before joining Cablevision last year, she had been a co-anchor on WNYW-TV's "Good Day New York," the story adds.

For Tong and Watkins, it means the end of their roles leading the station's main newscast, which they have done since 1998, the story says. The station also recently canceled its 6:30 p.m. newscasts, which they had also anchored, the article adds.

Michael Douglas, Battling Cancer, Finds it Difficult to Talk and Doesn't Speak at 'Wall Street 2' Premiere

Michael Douglas, who is undergoing treatment for a cancerous tumor in his throat, didn't speak at the premiere for "Wall Street 2," reports PopEater.com.

The treatment is leaving him tired and making it difficult for him to speak, the story says, citing an unnamed source. There are concerns that he won't be able to eat or swallow in a few weeks, the story adds.

At the premiere on Monday night, Douglas rushed past photographers and TV crews and reporters without saying a word, the story adds. Douglas was determined to attend the premiere, even though there were concerns that his appearance would raise concerns for his health, the article says.

New Syndicated First-Run Shows Finish Even with Debuts, While Sitcoms Start off Weak

The two new first-run shows in syndication, Sony's "Nate Berkus" and CBS Television Distribution's "Swift Justice with Nancy Grace," finished their first weeks with ratings even with their debut ratings, while syndicated sitcoms debuted weakly, reports B&C. 

"Nate Berkus" averaged a 1.2 rating, representing an increase of 20% from last year's time period average although down 8% from its average lead-in, the story says. "Swift Justice" averaged a 1.1 rating, off 15% from its lead-in but still the highest-rated court show to premiere in four years, the article says.

Meanwhile, four off-network and off-cable sitcoms that debuted on Sept. 13 saw declines from the year-earlier time period averages. Twentieth's "How I Met Your Mother" was down 36% from its year-earlier average, while Warner Bros.' "Curb Your Enthusiasm" was down 30% from the year-earlier average. "Entourage" and "New Adventures of Old Christine," both from Warner Bros., were down 22% and 25%, respectively, from their year-ago time period averages, the story says.

Political Advertising Already on Track to Surpass the Spending of 2008

Political advertising this year is likely to surpass what was spent during 2008's general election, reports The Hollywood Reporter. 

Ad spending for the midterm political elections has already come in at $160 million above what was spent in 2006, the article says. "It's the most competitive political environment I've ever seen," says Evan Tracey, president of Kantar Media's Campaign Media Analysis Group.

Campaigns for the House, Senate and state governors may run higher than $5 million per day on average, the article says. Local television, radio and cable will see the benefit, with digital and social media also getting a boost, although at a lower rate, the story adds.

Survey: A Quarter of iPhone Users Would Dump AT&T for Verizon

Some 23% of Apple iPhone users say they will switch from AT&T to Verizon when the carrier's exclusive relationship with Apple ends early in 2011, TGDaily reports.

Citing Credit Suisse, the story says as many as 1.4 million AT&T customers -- or nearly a quarter -- will defect when they get the chance, if the Verizon iPhone is launched, as Credit Suisse expects, on Feb. 15, 2011.

Of those locked into contracts, 3% said they'd be prepared to break them, the story says.

Research from Morpace last month also found that 23 percent of AT&T customers were likely to buy an iPhone with Verizon.

"Partly as a result of this, says Credit Suisse, AT&T will only just maintain its level of subscriptions next year. Verizon's, however, will shoot up. Credit Suisse reckons numbers are likely to double, with four million new subscribers next year," the story says.

Is Apple Working on Smaller-Screened iPad to Compete with Tinier Rival?

Apple may be working on a version of the iPad with a smaller, 7-inch screen that's geared to compete with the Galaxy Tab, a wireless tablet device from Samsung, reports Bloomberg News, citing a report from an analyst. 

The smaller iPad may hit the shelves as soon as the start of 2011, said Rodman & Renshaw analyst Ashok Kumar, who based his analysis on talking with Apple's supplier's, the story says. The iPad's current screen is 9.7 inches.

The Galaxy Tab, which should be sold to U.S. consumers later this year, will run Google's Android operating system and be sold by wireless carriers including AT&T and Verizon Wireless. A spokeswoman for Apple declined to comment.

Lindsay Lohan, E-Trade Settle Super Bowl Commercial Lawsuit over 'Milkaholic' Joke

 Lindsay Lohan and E-Trade settled a $100 million lawsuit filed by Lohan over a Super Bowl commercial which she claimed made her the implied target of jokes about a "milkaholic" baby named Lindsay, reports PopEater.com. 

E-Trade said the case's settlement was a "simple business decision" but declined to disclose details, the story says. Lohan's attorney didn't immediately return a call seeking comment, the article adds.

Lohan's lawyer had claimed in court papers filed last month that the ad deliberately implied Lohan. ""These babies in their commercials were symbolic and were not acting just as cute babies but were actually portraying (Lohan) and her grown-up friends," her attorney wrote, according to the story. E-Trade had called the claims meritless.

Lohan, 24, spent two weeks in jail this year for violating probation in a 2007 case involving drug use and driving under the influence, the article adds.

Five Days After Tornado, Parts of NYC Remain Without Cable Television -- Prompting Deluge of Calls to Time Warner Cable

Five days after a tornado touched down in New York City, parts of Queens, Brooklyn and Staten Island remain without cable service, the New York Post reports. 

That's prompted a deluge of complaints to Time Warner Cable's hotline, although customers are upset that they're unable to actually get anyone on the phone, the story says. Callers instead hear an automated message telling them "technicians are doing everything they can" to restore service and live customer-service employees can't provide any other information, the article says.

Time Warner Cable said that more than 75% of service to affected customers has been restored. But customers are getting fed up, the story adds. "I was very tolerant until [yesterday] morning," said Helen Cassano of Queens, whose bed-ridden mother relies on television to keep herself entertained. She added, "Maybe they're not working hard enough."

All Eyes on Broadcast Nets Tonight--They Hope--as Heavyweight Shows Debut

Tonight promises to be an interesting and high-stakes night for the broadcast networks, with premieres of five new series set to battle for eyeballs against a strong lineup of veteran shows airing their season premieres, TVbytheNumbers.com reports. Over on cable, ESPN’s “Monday Night Football” also factors into the battle.

CBS launches “Hawaii Five-0” and “Mike & Molly” tonight, NBC unveils “The Event” and “Chase” and Fox takes the wraps off “Lone Star.”

Meanwhile, tonight also marks the season premieres for ABC’s “Castle” and “Dancing With the Stars”--with Bristol Palin on stage and mom Sarah Palin in the audience--CBS’s “How I Met Your Mother,” “Rules of Engagement” and “Two and a Half Men,” NBC’s “Chuck” and Fox’s “House.”

ESPN could rain on the broadcast nets’ parade, with “Monday Night Football” featuring a good matchup between the Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints and the resurgent San Francisco 49ers.

Football, NBC Dominate Sunday Night Ratings

The matchup of Peyton Manning vs. little brother Eli Manning in NBC's "Football Night In America" game, with Peyton’s Indianapolis Colts dominating Eli’s New York Giants 38-14, was the top ratings draw Sunday night, according to TVbytheNumbers.com.

At 7 p.m. the NBC pregame scored a 3.0 in the 18-49 demographic, well below the CBS overrun of its NFL game--the New York Jets against the New England Patriots--paired with the start of "60 Minutes," a combination that drew a 7.1 rating in the demo.

At 8 p.m. NBC's broadcast took over with a 7.5 rating in the 18-49 demo, ahead of the remainder of "60 Minutes," which had a 2.5 in the demo.

At 9 p.m. the NBC broadcast of the game grew to 9.0 rating in the 18-49 demo, competing with only one new show, ABC's "The Gates," which had a 0.9 in the demo.

In the 10 p.m. hour NBC's game coverage wrapped up with a 7.4 in the 18-49 demo, crushing the season finale of "The Gates," which again netted just a 0.9 rating.

Kids' Internet Sensation Conquers TV With Huge Premiere Ratings

An Internet character who has been embraced by kids nationwide is now having an impact on TV as well, according to TVbytheNumbers.com.

Nickelodeon is reporting that the premiere of “Fred: The Movie,” starring Lucas Cruikshank as Fred Figglehorn--already one of the most popular Internet characters of all time, according to the network--drew 7.6 million viewers Saturday night and is the year’s No. 1 TV cable movie in a number of key kids demos.

Nick has been promoting the movie’s premiere with an Internet page, a Fred-themed Game-of-the-Week called “Figglehorn Fling” and Fred videos on Nick.com, all of which have generated big numbers.

Apple TV Moves Closer to All-in-One Television

Speculation is revving up about just what shape Apple TV will take after Apple quietly signed a licensing deal with a tech company known for its interactive TV guides, Business Insider reports.

Few details have surfaced about the multiyear deal between apple and Rovi Corp., which was disclosed in an SEC filing, but the consensus is it’s a sign that Apple has big plans for Apple TV, the story reports.

Gene Munster at Piper Jaffray is quoted in the story as writing: "We believe this announcement is further evidence that Apple is developing live TV and DVR features for its Apple TV product, and will likely launch an all-in-one Apple Television in the next 2-4 years."

Munster reportedly has said all-in-one TV is a multibillion-dollar opportunity for Apple.

'Dancing With the Stars' Beefs Up Security in Anticipation of High-Profile Visitor

With a controversial guest expected to be in the audience for Monday night’s production of “Dancing With the Stars,” TMZ.com reports that security is being beefed up at CBS Television City in L.A., where the show is produced.

Sarah Palin will reportedly be in the front row when her daughter, Bristol Palin, dances with partner Mark Ballas to the song “Mama Told Me (Not to Come).”

Some cars will be thoroughly searched, audience members will have their bags searched and metal detectors will be used, the story reports.

In case of a breach, the security staff has been told that Sarah Palin is a higher priority than Bristol, according to the story.

Paris Hilton Pleads Guilty to Cocaine Possession

Paris Hilton pleaded guilty Monday to two misdemeanor charges in connection with her cocaine possession case in Las Vegas, MTV.com reports.

The guilty pleas to charges of drug possession and obstructing an officer mean the hotel heiress and former reality TV star will avoid jail, the story reports. She must complete a substance abuse program and 200 hours of community service, and received $2,000 in fines.

Hilton was arrested Aug. 27 after police pulled over the vehicle in which she was a passenger and reportedly found 0.8 grams of cocaine in her purse.

Legendary Airline, Which Collapsed in 1991, Takes Flight Again as Focus of New ABC Drama Set in 1960s

An airline that was a mainstay of U.S. travel for decades will be the centerpiece of a new drama ABC is developing that, like AMC's "Mad Men," will be set in 1960s, reports the L.A. Times.

The airline is Pan Am, which was the principal carrier for international travel from the U.S. for decades before its collapse in 1991. The plot will revolve around the glamorous lives of flight attendants and pilots of the era.

Thomas Schlamme, best known for "The West Wing," will direct the pilot for Sony Pictures TV and "ER" writer Jack Orman is penning the script. Nancy Ganis, who was with Pan Am and is the wife of producer Sid Ganis, came up with the idea for the series.

Which 'Real Housewives of N.J.' Cast Member May Have Orchestrated Ouster of Danielle Staub?

As previously reported, Danielle Staub will not return to Bravo's "The Real Housewives of New Jersey" for season three, but now comes word that one of her fellow housewives orchestrated the ouster by threatening to walk from the show if Staub was retained, reports the New York Daily News.

In a deposition given for a defamation suit filed by Staub's ex-husband Kevin Maher, cast member Caroline Manzo testified, "There is no amount of money that you can put on the table for me for next year--if Danielle Staub is on, I am out."

Manzo’s decision to force Bravo to choose between her and Staub occurred after Staub had brought an entourage to The Brownstone, the banquet hall run by the Manzo family, and members of her group proceeded to ridicule the locale and hurl insults at Manzo's son, Chris, according to the story.

At TV Guide, Cutting Subscribers and Employees Has Been Route to Reviving Magazine

TV Guide, after being sold to OpenGate Capital two years ago for $1, has been cutting its way back to some semblance of health, reports The New York Times. 

After culling almost 40% of its subscriptions, mostly to customers who were paying little for the publication, and cutting about 30 employees out of its previous workforce of 100 people, the magazine now has its largest issue on newsstands since 2007, the article says. The publication's Sept. 20 fall preview issue has 34 pages of ads, with 112 pages in total, including big advertisers such as CBS.

But the publication is still fighting to lure back advertisers, with its ad pages down 17% from 2009, the story says. “It was basically a patient getting last rites for a few years. And now I’d say it’s not quite an endangered species anymore," says Steve Cohn, editor in chief of the Media Industry Newsletter.

Fire Destroys Former Talk Show Host's Beachfront Home

The beachfront rental home of former syndicated talk show host Ricki Lake burned down over the weekend, according to the Associated Press.

Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies answering a 911 call Saturday found Lake, 41, her two sons and their dog standing safely outside the burning house in Malibu, Calif. Firefighters extinguished the blaze in 20 minutes, but the home was destroyed, the story said.

As the source of the blaze, Sheriff's Lt. Rich Erickson cited a couch that caught fire when Lake was refueling a portable heater. The incident shut down a stretch of the Pacific Coast Highway for 90 minutes, the story added.

As Oprah Winfrey's Network Show Starts Last Season, Scammers Swoop In

Marketing scammers are trying to make a buck off of the last season of "The Oprah Winfrey Show," reports the New York Post's Page Six. 

A company called New Products Events is asking publicists to pay $5,000 to help get their wares on "Oprah's Favorite Things" product list, the story says. The company claims that the payment will get publicists' clients invited to a Chicago event with two or three lead producers on the show.

But representatives for Winfrey's Harpo says that the pitch is a scam, the article adds, "No one at Harpo has sanctioned such an event or is involved in it," according to a representative. A representative for New Products Events didn't respond, the story says.

Be Careful Who You Tangle With: Katie Couric Reveals Her Secret Fantasy

"CBS Evening News" anchor Katie Couric says her secret fantasy is to compete on "Dancing With the Stars," reports USMagazine.com. 

"But I don't know, those skimpy outfits!" Couric said. She said other than "Dancing With the Stars," she's not a fan of reality shows. "I really don't understand the whole genre to be honest with you. You know, God love them if they're willing to invite people into every aspect of their personal life," she said.

Couric, 53, said that one reality star she'd like to interview is Michaele Salahi of "The Real Housewives of DC," the story says.

It's the Voice: 'Law & Order: L.A.' gets New D.A.

Los Angeles has a new crime-fighting boss, and it's veteran actor Peter Coyote, who will be taking the part as the District Attorney on NBC's "Law & Order: Los Angeles," reports Deadline.com. 

Coyote's character will supervise Alfred Molina and Terrence Howard's characters, the DAs Peter Morales (Molina) and Jonah "Joe" Dekker (Howard), the story says. The latest in the "Law & Order" franchise will debut Sept. 29th.

Coyote most recently acted in ABC's "FlashForward" last season as the U.S. President, the story says. 

Awkward TV Moment? Jennifer Lopez' Ex Plans to Audition for 'American Idol'

It might make one of the most awkward moments on television, ever, reports E! Online. Jennifer Lopez' ex-husband Ojani Noa plans to be in line on Sept. 22 to try out for "American Idol" in front of Lopez, the story says. 

He escaped Cuba and married Jennifer Lopez, now he wants to be the American Idol," Ed Meyer, Noa's manager, said. "Of course, he will sing a Jennifer Lopez song." The article points out that Noa, at 36 years old, isn't even eligible to compete in the Fox show, given that its upper age limit is 28.

DVRs in Overdrive? With New Season Kicking Off Tonight, the Top Four Networks Have Something to Prove

The new television season begins tonight with the top four networks bringing back hits such as "House" on Fox and hotly anticipated new programs including "Hawaii Five-O" on CBS, perhaps leading viewers to load up their digital-video recorders to watch programs during the week, reports Bill Carter in the New York Times.

The network feeling the most pressure, however, will be NBC, which will be introducing the new serial drama "The Event," the story says. "NBC believed enough in the show to place it smack in the middle of this ferociously tough night, at 9 p.m.," Carter writes.

The benefit to placing it on Monday is to garner the attention of mostly male viewers tuning into NBC's National Football League games on Sunday nights. While that strategy makes sense, "The Event" will face a tough competitor on cable: "Monday Night Football" on ESPN, Carter points out. Nevertheless, NBC executives will be studying the DVR numbers for the program, with Angela Bromstad, the president of NBC prime-time entertainment, calling the data "very, very important."

Despite NBC's ratings challenges following last season's Jay Leno debacle, ABC is starting off the season with ad buyers concerned, reports Brian Steinberg in Advertising Age.  

"Producing better-watched programming is crucial to ABC's success. ABC has seen its upfront sales decline in recent years, according to recent estimates from Fitch Ratings," Steinberg writes. But some new shows are facing formidable competition, with "Detroit 1-8-7" going up against CBS' "The Good Wife" at 10 p.m. on Tuesdays, for example.

Starz Star To Leave Show After Cancer Recurs

Andy Whitfield, the star of "Spartacus: Blood and Sand," won't be returning to the Starz show because he's again battling cancer, reports RadarOnline.com.

Whitfiled was earlier diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, which he revealed in March. He didn't disclose whether the latest cancer is the same, but a statement said that it will require aggressive treatment, the story says. Whitfield, 36, now lives in Australia.

Mark Cuban Joining Cast of Reality Show

Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban is joining "Shark Tank" for the ABC show's second season, reports The Hollywood Reporter.

Cuban will join the show's regular panel of self-made business executives as they judge business pitches from small-business owners, the story says.

"Shark Tank," from Mark Burnett Productions and Sony Pictures TV, earlier cast comedian Jeff Foxworthy, who will join the program for three episodes.

Holiday Episode of 'Community' to Take Page from 'Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer'

The holiday episode of "Community" will take a page from the classic Rankin/Bass animated specials -- by making a version of the NBC comedy through stop-motion animation, reports EW.com's The Ausiello Files. 

Series creator Dan Harmon said it's something he always wanted to do, but "Jeff Gaspin at NBC woke up one morning and thought Community should do an animated episode. I was like, ‘Well, that’s weird, because that’s the kind of stuff I’m usually suggesting and guys like him veto.’”

The episode will be "a little subversive and a little dark," according to Danny Pudi, who plays Aped, the story says.

In First Major Project Acquisition, Showtime's Nevins Picks Show from '24' Producers

Marking his first major project acquisition since taking the helm at Showtime, entertainment president David Nevins is picking a thriller from the producers of "24," reports The Hollywood Reporter. 

"Homeland" is close to a pilot-order from Showtime, the story says. The drama series from Fox 21 is based on the Israeli format "Prisoners of War," although the U.S. version focuses on a U.S. soldier who was thought to have been killed in Iraq a decade earlier, the story says. Doubts arise as to whether he's a member of a sleeper cell sent to create a terrorist attack or actually a wartime POW, the article says. Howard Gordon and Alex Gansa of "24" will executive produce the project.

Nevins, who took over Showtime's programming after Robert Greenblatt left a few months ago, is expected to pick up another few projects before the end of the year, the story says.

Father on Family-Oriented Cable Show Arrested on Domestic Violence Charge

The father on We TV's "Raising Sextuplets" was arrested in Arizona on charges of disorderly conduct for domestic violence and resisting arrest, reports RadarOnline.com. 

Bryan Masche allegedly began yelling at his family and using profanities at a relative's home when a relative called 911 and deputies arrived, according to Camp Verde Marshal's Office Public Information Officer Darby Martin, the story says. He allegedly refused to comply with deputies' commands, and was arrested, the story says.

Children were not at the house at the time of the incident, the article says. Masche and his wife, Jennifer, relocated to Florida earlier this year from Arizona, where the sextuplets, three boys and three girls, were born in 2007, the story says.

Despite Denials, Facebook Is Mulling a Branded Smart Phone

Even though Facebook is denying that it's working on a smart phone, the social-networking company has been talking with hardware makers and carriers to decide on whether a Facebook-branded phone would be marketable, reports CNET Editor in Chief Scott Ard. 

Facebook denied a story published in TechCrunch  that reported the social-networking site was considering integrating contacts lists and other key aspects into a smart phone, but the denial "appears to be splitting hairs," Ard writes. "Notably, even though Facebook issued a lengthy denial, the spokesman did not respond when CNET asked if the company is considering marketing a Facebook-branded phone made by a third party," the story says.

But the concept remains in very early stages, with Facebook still deciding whether to go forward with the idea. "However, around Silicon Valley, Facebook is notorious for floating ideas that get leaked, but the company either walks away entirely or goes in a dramatically different direction," the article points out, giving the example of a yet-to-materialize music service, which Facebook was said to be working on two years ago to challenge MySpace Music.

Joe Torre To Step Down as Dodgers Manger at End of Season; Don Mattingly To Replace Him

Joe Torre, the Dodgers manager who became a legend managing the New York Yankees, will not return to the Dodgers next year, he has announced. He'll be replaced by another Yankee legend and the current Dodgers hitting coach, Don Mattingly.

Sports Illustrated writer Tom Verducci, who has co-authored two books with Torre, talks about Torre's legacy at SI.com.

Here's an excerpt:

Will Torre manage again?

Verducci: My guess would be that he will not manage again. I would think if he still had the willingness and the drive to manage he would come back to the Dodgers next year and I'm not sure sure that feeling is going to come back once he steps away from managing. I wouldn't' rule it out totally if there's somebody who wants to make a switch mid to late season next year who wants somebody with experience. I think he anticipated that this was going to be his last job managing when he took it. How many years that would be I don't think he really knew that.

SI: He'll always be thought of as a Yankees manager, but he did win two division titles with the Dodgers. How did he do in L.A.?

Verducci: The numbers speak for themselves. They hadn't won a postseason series in 20 years before Torre got there and they wound up going back-to-back years to the NLCS. That alone is a great accomplishment. The Dodgers ran into a better team each year there, I thought, with the Phillies. But he restored the playoff tradition and pride that had disappeared in the Dodgers organization and he did it immediately. He went to a place with a completely different personality and completely different tradition and won.

When asked what made Torre such a successful manager, Verducci said Torre's number one quality has been his honesty, which won him the respect of his players.

Report: Zucker Out in 100 Days; Ex-Showtime Programmer Greenblatt To Take Over NBC Network; More

[UPDATE: Changes Headline 8:20 AM, 9/17/10]

Comcast is preparing to put a new regime in place at NBC Universal sometime this fall, before it closes on purchasing the media company, reports Claire Atkinson at the  New York Post. 

Former Showtime executive Robert Greenblatt will run the NBC network, the story says. Greenblatt formerly was executive vice president of primetime at Fox and helped develop Showtime hits such as "Dexter," the story says.

Jeff Zucker, NBC Universal's chief executive, will be spending his last 100 days at the company and will leave after the deal closes, the article adds.

Bonnie Hammer and Lauren Zalaznick will stay at NBC Universal and split responsibility for cable entertainment.

NBC News President Steve Capus may be stepping up to a bigger job, perhaps including oversight for CNBC, the story says.

NBC Olympics chief Dick Ebersol will remain to help with Comcast's Olympic goals, and Comcast's current top programming executive, Jeff Shell, is being offered a position under Ebersol, the story adds.

The story does not say whether Jeff Gaspin, chairman of NBC Universal Television Entertainment, whose current responsibilities include oversight of the NBC network as well as the NBCU entertainment cable properties, will stay with the company.

Aktinson's story is based on sources and not official NBCU or Comcast comments.

NBC's 'Apprentice' Premieres to Feeble Ratings as CBS's 'Big Bang Theory' Rerun Marathon Wins the Night

CBS's marathon of four reruns of "The Big Bang Theory" was the top Nielsen programming block Thursday night, even up against the season premiere of NBC's "The Apprentice," reports TVbytheNumbers.com.

At 8 p.m. a new "Vampire Diaries" on CW rated a 1.4 in the 18-49 demographic for the hour, up against all reruns. CBS’s “Big Bang Theory” repeats topped the competition with a 2.0 rating and a 2.4 for the two half-hours.

At 9 p.m. the first hour of "The Apprentice" rated a 1.4 and a 1.5 for the top and bottom halves of the hour in the 18-49 demo, besting CW's "Nikita," which averaged a 1.25 in the demo. “Big Bang Theory” again led the way with a 2.6 rating in the demo for each half-hour.

The 10 p.m. hour of "The Apprentice" logged a 1.55 average rating in the 18-49 demo running against only reruns. The show’s overall 1.5 rating in the demo made it the lowest-rated “Apprentice” ever, according to the story.

Former 'Idol' Star Adam Lambert Accused of Battery

Singer Adam Lambert, the runner-up on season eight of Fox's “American Idol” in 2009, has been accused of battery, according to a report on Entertainment Weekly’s Music Mix blog.

The report stems from an incident Thursday night in Miami Beach in which Lambert allegedly battered a photographer. The singer used his Twitter account to deny the accusation, according to the story, writing: “Battery? Nope. I attempted to grab a camera, no punches were thrown and no one was on the ground. ... It was literally harmless. If embarrassment is a crime--that’s all I’m guilty of.”

The Miami Beach Police Department reportedly has not commented on the incident.

TNT Orders Second Season of Cop Show

TNT has ordered 10 more episodes of a cop drama that recently wrapped up its freshman season, Entertainment Weekly reports. The second season will run in 2011.

The show is Jason Lee's Elvis-oriented cop series "Memphis Beat," which ended its first season as one of the top new series of the summer on basic cable, the story says. “Memphis Beat” also stars Alfre Woodard.

In a statement, Michael Wright, executive vice president and head of programming for TNT, TBS and Turner Classic Movies, said: “'Memphis Beat' is a real treasure--a slightly off-center crime drama with great actors, memorable characters and a soundtrack steeped in Memphis sounds. We look forward to another fantastic season next year.”

Four TV Shows Receive Honors

Four TV shows were honored Thursday with the Humanitas Prize, Zap2it reported. The award honors films and TV shows that “explore the human condition in a nuanced, meaningful way,” the story reports.

The TV shows are Fox’s “Glee,” ABC’s “Modern Family,” CBS’s “The Good Wife” and Showtime’s “Nurse Jackie.”

The award was also presented to the movie “Precious.”

The TV award for half-hour shows was shared by the pilot episodes of “Modern Family” and “Nurse Jackie.” In the 60-minute category, the award went to the pilot episode of “The Good Wife” and the “Wheels” episode of “Glee.”

Legendary Game Show Host Collapses at Gun Range

A TV legend who made a career out of hosting popular game shows collapsed Thursday while he was at a Los Angeles shooting range, TMZ.com reported.

Bob Barker, 86, had reportedly been shooting when he fainted. He was said to be conscious when help arrived, and was taken to Cedars-Sinai Hospital by ambulance.

Barker is best known for his 35-year run as the host of TV's "The Price Is Right."

A spokesperson for Barker initially said that he had keeled over because of a reaction to blood-thinner medication. Later, Barker said he had been dehydrated. He was reportedly released from the hospital and planned to rest at home for a while.

'The Rally to Restore Sanity' Scheduled by Jon Stewart at the Washington Mall -- to Counter Extremism Within Both Parties

Jon Stewart is planning his own Washington rally, just two months after Glenn Beck took to the steps of the Lincoln Memorial for his "Restoring Honor" rally, although Stewart's point will be to counter both politically liberal and conservative extremists, reports the New York Times' Media Decoder blog. 

Stewart, who hosts "The Daily Show" on Comedy Central, has booked the National Mall in Washington on Oct. 30 for what he's calling a "Million Moderate March," the story says. Both parties are guilty of extreme rhetoric, he says, with the right calling President Obama un-American and the left calling former President Bush a war criminal.

The event will include comedy aspects, such as guest stars, the article says. Stephen Colbert, who also has a Comedy Central show, appeared during Stewart's program and threatened to infiltrate the rally. While Stewart promised to provide signs such as "I Disagree With You, But I'm Pretty Sure You're Not Hitler," Colbert said it was time to "freak out for freedom," the article adds.

Who Will Play at the Super Bowl's Halftime Show?

The musical act during the 2011 Super Bowl's Halftime Show will be the Black Eyed Peas, reports SportsbyBrooks.com. 

An NFL spokesman said the league had no comment, the article says. The group has some NFL connections, with a performance at the NFL Kickoff Concert in Pittsburgh in 2009 and as part of the 2005 Super Bowl pregame show called "Bridging Generations," the story says.

Yahoo! Sports says the decision will make the halftime show "even more unwatchable than usual" but adds that the group is "at least relevant and have songs people under the age of 25 will have heard outside their parents' minivans." 

Today's DVR Alert: Movie With Most Pungent Dialogue Ever Is Well Worth Watching

By Chuck Ross

There are a lot of movies with great dialogue. There's "Casablanca," "His Girl Friday" and "The Godfather," just to name three.

One of the movies with the most biting dialogue is the Bette Davis classic "All About Eve."

But my favorite movie with dialogue that cuts like a knife is "Sweet Smell of Success" from 1957, with a screenplay by playwright Clifford Odets and Ernest Lehman, based on Lehman's short story.

The film, which is on the MGM HD channel today, Friday, Sept. 17, 2010, at 3 p.m. ET/PT, has the most pungent, sarcastic and peppery dialogue of any film I know.

If you can't catch it or DVR it today, try and rent it. Also, it's on TCM from time to time.

The movie stars Tony Curtis in his best role, playing the too slick talent agent Sidney Falco. Burt Lancaster is equally astonishing as columnist J.J. Hunsecker.

Check out the dialogue in the following scene. It won't really spoil anything for you if you want to see the movie. It takes place in the "21" Club restaurant  in New York City:

Sidney Falco enters the restaurant and says to the SWITCHBOARD OPERATOR:

SIDNEY
Honey, get me Mr. Hunsecker.

SWITCHBOARD OPERATOR
He's right inside, Mr. Falco.

SIDNEY
(from now inside a phone booth next to the switchboard)
So it isn't long distance.

SIDNEY (into phone)
J.J., it's Sidney. Can you come
outside for one minute?

HUNSECKER (O.S.)
Can I come out? No.

SIDNEY
I have to talk to you, alone, J.J.,
that's why.

HUNSECKER (O.S.)
You had something to do for me -
you didn't do it.

SIDNEY
Can I come in for a minute?

HUNSECKER (O.S.)
No. You're dead, son - get yourself
buried!

We now see HUNSECKER inside the restaurant, sitting at his table. There are other men at the table and a younger woman. SIDNEY has come into the picture and quietly stands next to HUNSECKER.

HUNSECKER (to one of the men at his table) 
Harvey, I often wish I were dead
and wore a hearing aid...with a
simple flick of a switch I could
shut out the greedy murmur of
little men...

SIDNEY (showing no reaction to this insult)
J.J., I need your ear for two
minutes...

HUNSECKER (to waiter standing nearby)
Mac! I don't want this man at my
table...

SIDNEY
I have a message from your sister.

HUNSECKER (to one of the men at the table)
Forgive me, Harvey. We were
interrupted before -

HARVEY, who is a United States SENATOR
Err...the Supreme Court story, I
was telling you - Justice Black.

HUNSECKER
Yes, the Justice, that's right.
But I think you had it in the column.

SIDNEY
Last July, the lead item...

SENATOR
And I believe that's precisely
where I read it, too. You see,
J.J., where I get my reputation for
being the best-informed man in
Washington.

HUNSECKER
Now don't kid a kidder.

SENATOR (to Sidney)
I don't think we caught your name,
young man.

SIDNEY
Sidney Falco, sir. And, of course,
everyone knows and admires you,
Senator Walker.

SENATOR
Every four years I get less
convinced of that. This young lady
is Miss Linda James.
(indicates the Girl)
She's managed by Manny Davis.
(he indicates the Agent)

SIDNEY
I know Manny Davis.

HUNSECKER
Everyone knows Manny Davis...
(There is a phone on the table in front of HUNSECKER. As the phone rings
on the table)
...except MRS. Manny Davis.

HUNSECKER answers the phone on the table

HUNSECKER
Yes? Go ahead, Billy - shoot...

HUNSECKER (repeating what’s being told him on the phone)
Uh huh. Sports cars in California
are getting smaller and
smaller...the other day you were
crossing Hollywood Boulevard and
you were hit by one...you had to go
to the hospital and have it
removed...
(short pause)
You're not following the column: I
had it last week.

SIDNEY
Do you believe in capital
punishment, Senator?

SENATOR
Why?

SIDNEY
(pointing to the phone)
A man has just been sentenced to
death...

HUNSECKER
Manny, what exactly are the UNSEEN
gifts of this lovely young thing
that you manage...?

AGENT
Well, she sings a little...you
know, sings...

GIRL
Manny's faith in me is simply awe-
inspiring, Mr. Hunsecker. Actually,
I'm still studying, but -

HUNSECKER
What subject?

GIRL
Singing, of course...straight
concert and -

HUNSECKER
Why "of course"? It might, for
instance, be politics...

GIRL
Me? I mean "I"? Are you kidding,
Mr. Hunsecker? With my Jersey City
brains?

HUNSECKER
The brains may be Jersey City, but
the clothes are Trainor-Norell.

SENATOR (to break the tension)
Are you an actor, Mr. Falco?

GIRL
That's what I was thinking. Are
you, Mr. Falco?

HUNSECKER
How did you guess it, Miss James?

GIRL
He's so pretty, that's how.

HUNSECKER
Mr. Falco, let it be said at once,
is a man of FORTY faces, not one,
none too pretty and ALL deceptive.
See that grin? It's the charming
street urchin's face. It's part of
his "helpless" act - he throws
himself on your mercy. I skip the
pleading nervous bit that sometimes
blends over into bluster. The
moist grateful eye is a favorite
face with him - it frequently ties
in with the act of boyish candor:
he's talking straight from the
heart, get it? He's got about
half-a-dozen faces for the ladies,
but the real cute one to me is the
quick dependable chap - nothing he
won't do for you in a pinch. At
least, so he says! Tonight Mr.
Falco, whom I did not invite to sit
at this table, is about to show

his last and most pitiful role:

pale face with tongue hanging out.
In brief, gentlemen and Jersey
Lilly, the boy sitting with us is a
hungry press agent and fully up to
all the tricks of his very slimy
trade!

HUNSECKER, looking at SIDNEY, puts a cigarette in his mouth.

HUNSECKER
Match me, Sidney.

SIDNEY
Not just this minute, J.J.

Samsung Unveils Plans to Distribute TV Shows, Movies Through Media Hub

Samsung has announced the "imminent availability" of its Media Hub media store, where downloads and rentals of video content will be offered for the company’s Galaxy line of phones and tablets, PCMag.com reports.

The content will include programming from MTV Networks, NBC Universal, Paramount and Warner Bros., the story says. Among the devices that will carry it are AT&T’s Samsung Captivate, T-Mobile’s Vibrant, Verizon’s Fascinate, Sprint’s Epic 4G and upcoming models of the Galaxy Tab.

New NBC shows such as “The Event” will be available the day after their broadcast, according to Michael Schreiber, VP of development for NBC Universal.

The service currently does not support laptops or TVs, according to the story, but indications are that it will be made available for more devices in the future.

The pricing structure appears to be higher than competing services, with TV shows offered for $1.99--about twice what Apple charges for content on the iPhone, the story says.

Repeat of 'Grey's Anatomy' Gets Viewer Warning After Eerie Parallel Shooting

A repeat of a two-part episode of "Grey's Anatomy" was aired with a viewer warning on Thursday after a real-life shooting that day eerily mirrored the TV show, reports the New York Times' Media Decoder blog. 

The repeat episodes were the ABC show's season finales, first aired last May. The story involves a man whose wife died at the hospital killing some health-care workers and eventually killing himself after a lockdown, the article says. At Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore Thursday, a gunman whose mother was a patient at the hospital shot a doctor and then killed his mother and himself, the story adds.

The warning shown before the program said, "Due to today’s news events and the depiction of graphic violence in the following program, viewer discretion is advised.”

Four WNYW-TV Reporters Get Carbon-Monoxide Poisoning from Remote Trucks

Employees at WNYW-TV in New York are concerned after four reporters were treated recently for carbon-monoxide poisoning after working in the station's remote trucks, reports the New York Daily News. 

The Fox-owned station's reporters Lisa Evers, Andrea Day, Nicole Johnson and Ti-Hua Chang were treated recently, with Evers becoming disoriented while on assignment. A doctor reportedly told her that if she had waited longer for treatment, she could have died, the story says.

Several crew members have also been treated for the effects of the odorless gas, which can lead to death in severe cases, the article adds.

The TV trucks at the station use gas-fueled generators to power equipment when the vehicle isn't moving. While new exhaust equipment is being installed on the generators, the problem has gotten the union involved, the story says. "We are working as quickly as possible to resolve this situation," said station general manager Lew Leone.

Fox in Talks to Pick up Half-Hour Comedy Described as a Female 'Big Bang Theory' With 'Ghost Whisperer' Star

Fox is in discussions to pick up a half-hour comedy starring "Ghost Whisperer" star Jennifer Love Hewitt, reports Nellie Andreeva at Deadline.com. 

The show is described as a female "Big Bang Theory," the story says. "Wild Hogs" director Walt Becker and Tiffany Paulsen of "Nancy Drew" will write the script, the article adds.

Becker is relatively new to television but his comedy pilot "Glory Daze," which he directed and co-wrote, was well received, with TBS picking it up to series, the article says.

Google Snags Netflix Executive Behind Online Streaming Service, Signaling Serious Intentions About TV

Google has hired one of the key executives behind Netflix's popular online streaming service, signaling the search-giant's seriousness about getting into television, reports the Los Angeles Times' Company Town blog. 

Robert Kyncl will become Google's vice president of content partnerships, with responsibility for signing television and movie deals, reports the Wall Street Journal's AllThingsDigital blog.

While Netflix confirmed that Kyncl has left the firm, Google said it doesn't discuss individual hires. "You can see why Kyncl would appeal to Google: He’s been at Netflix for seven years, and in that time Netflix has gone from one of Hollywood’s least-liked companies to one the studios are happy, or at least willing, to deal with," according to the Journal blog, which adds that Kyncl helped negotiate Netflix's deal with pay-TV channel Epix.  

'Avatar' Actor to Play Villain in New Fox Sci-Fi Drama

One of the stars of James Cameron's "Avatar" has agreed to take a key role in the new Fox sci-fi drama "Terra Nova," reports Deadline.com.

Stephen Lang, who played Col. Miles Quaritch in “Avatar,” will be the villain opposite hero Jason O'Mara. The two characters will be pitted against each other on Terra Nova, a colony of humans from the year 2149 who go back 85 million years to take a second shot at building the world.

The pilot will be directed by Alex Graves and the production team includes Brannon Braga, Peter Chernin and Steven Spielberg.

Pussycat Doll Singer Close to Deal to Join 'X Factor' as a Judge

Call it the duel of the divas. The New York Post's Page Six is reporting that Pussycat Doll singer Nicole Scherzinger is close to signing a multimillion-dollar deal to become a judge on Simon Cowell's "X Factor," putting her in direct competition with Jennifer Lopez on "American Idol." 

Cowell became a fan of Scherzinger's after she made a guest appearance as a judge on the British version of his show earlier this year, the story says. British singer Cheryl Cole is also slated for the judges' panel, joining Cowell, who recently left "American Idol." A representative for Cowell said it's too early to comment.

Ryan Murphy of 'Glee' and Howard Gordon of '24' in Negotiations for Fox Drama

Ryan Murphy, the co-creator of "Glee," and Howard Gordon, the executive producer and showrunner of "24," have created a drama project about phobias and are in negotiations for the show to land at Fox, reports Nellie Andreeva at Deadline.com.

The two, who are among the top showrunners at 20th Century Fox TV, will co-write and executive produce the untitled project, the story says. It's described as a character-driven procedural that focuses on a psychiatrist consulted by patients when they've reached the end of their ropes, the article adds.

The show will include supernatural aspects but will include bigger mysteries, a la "The X-Files," on which Gordon worked as a writer-producer, the article says.

3D Television Will Remain a 'Niche Product,' According to DirecTV Executive

3D television will remain a "niche product" for some time, only attracting early adopters, according to DirecTV Chief Financial Officer Patrick Doyle, reports MediaPost.com.

DirecTV, which offers four 3D channels, doesn't have data about how many customers are watching the 3D options, the story says. One reason for the lack of data is because DirecTV offers the 3D package for free so it can't count how many subscribers order the deal.

Doyle, who spoke at an investor conference, said that it's encouraged that 3D films are performing well in theaters, the article says. "Clearly, there's a demand there. How much of that will transition over to a TV experience versus a movie theater experience will be seen," Doyle said.

CNBC Host Likely to Leave After Current Contract Ends in Several Weeks

Dennis Kneale is likely to leave CNBC after his current contract ends in the next several weeks, ending his "turbulent but entertaining tenure" at the cable-news network, reports Jeff Bercovici at AOL's DailyFinance.com. 

"CNBC has made it clear it's unwilling to re-up him at anything close to his current salary, believed to be around $500,000 a year," Bercovici writes. Kneale, who joined the network from Forbes magazine in 2007, hosted his own primetime show, which was canceled last September. He co-hosted "Power Lunch" next, but that ended in June, the story says.

"His splashiest moments in the past three years have generally come at his own expense -- for instance, when he ranted about the "dickweed" bloggers who make fun of him, and when he drew jeers from fellow journalists for suggesting they ought to protect the powerful people they cover in order to ensure continued access," Bercovici writes.

A Day of Hoaxes Revealed: Wash. Woman Admits Acid Attack Was Self-Inflicted; Casey Affleck Says Joaquin Phoenix's Portraying Himself as Bearded, Spaced-Out Rapper For the Past Few Years Was a Put-On

Two elaborate hoaxes were revealed today, one serious and one involving performance art.

Bethany Storro, the 28-year old woman from Vancouver, Washington, who claimed that a woman assailant threw a cup of acid in her face has told police that "her injuries were self-inflicted," CNN reports.

According to the article, Storro " 'is extremely upset,' said police Commander Marla Schuman. 'She is very remorseful. In many ways it got bigger than she expected.' Police would not speculate on Storro's motives, only saying the August 30 incident did not occur as she described and that there were discrepancies in her account, including wearing sunglasses in the evening."

The second hoax revealed was the explanation of the bizzare behavior the last two years of Joaquin Phoenix. The actor said he was abandoning acting, grew a ragged beard and said he was an aspiring rapper.

Phoenix's behavior was the subject of a documentary, "I'm Still Here," by filmmaker Casey Affleck. It included a notorious appearance that Phoenix made on David Letterman's late night talk show in 2009.

According to a report in the New York Times, Affleck says that every bit of the documentary, including the Letterman interview--which was included in the film--was a performance by Phoenix.

Affleck says in the article that "Letterman was not in on the joke when Mr. Phoenix, on Feb. 11, 2009, seemed to implode his own career by showing up in character as a mumbling, aimless star gone wrong...Mr. Letterman summed up the interview: 'Joaquin, I’m sorry you couldn’t be here tonight.' ” [See a video clip of the interview below. Phoenix is scheduled to make a return appearance on Letterman's show on Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2010.]

Affleck's film was marketed as a documentary, not a mockumentary. 

Over the last few years some have speculated that Phoenix was indeed playing a character, similar to what the late comic actor Andy Kaufman had done with his character "Tony Clifton."  

Reality Finales, 'Survivor' Premiere Score Big in Wednesday Ratings

Reality was the focus on the broadcast networks Wednesday night, with CBS premiering “Survivor: Nicaragua” while three major reality series--CBS’s “Big Brother,” NBC’s “America’s Got Talent” and Fox’s “MasterChef”--aired their two-hour season finales.

“Survivor” and “America’s Got Talent” finished the night as the big winners, according to TVbytheNumbers.com.

In the 8 p.m. hour "Survivor" collected a 3.8 rating and a 4.0 in the 18-49 demographic for the top and bottom halves of the hour, while the first hour of "America's Got Talent" had a 2.8 rating and a 3.4. The first hour of the Fox finale of "MasterChef" averaged a 1.8 rating in the demo, and CW's "America's Next Top Model" averaged a 1.3.

At 9 p.m. "America's Got Talent" took off, logging a 4.2 rating and a 4.6 for the two half-hours in the 18-49 demo. The first hour of the "Big Brother" finale on CBS registered a 2.9 in the demo, and the second hour of "MasterChef" netted a 2.0 rating and a 2.4 for the two half-hours. CW's "Hellcats" managed a 1.1 for the hour in the demo.

At 10 p.m. the second hour of "Big Brother" averaged a 2.8 rating in the 18-49 demo, besting NBC's premiere of Jimmy Smits' new show, "Outlaw," which had a 2.5 and a 2.2 for the top and bottom halves of the hour.

'Lost' Creator Gets Commitment From Fox for Pilot Focused on Infamous Prison

J.J. Abrams, one of the creative forces behind "Lost," "Alias" and "Felicity," among other TV and film projects, has received a commitment from Fox to produce a pilot for a series focusing on the infamous San Francisco Bay island prison Alcatraz, reports Nellie Andreeva at Deadline.com.

“Alcatraz” was written on spec and taken out to the networks, the story says. Fox is already working with Abrams on the sci-fi drama "Fringe."

The new project is described as "a show about mysteries, secrets and the most infamous prison of all time: Alcatraz."

The final script was written by "Lost" executive producer Elizabeth Sarnoff, while Steven Lilien and Bryan Wynbrandt of "Kyle XY" wrote earlier versions, the story says.

'Real Housewives' Refugee Danielle Staub Gets Her Own Reality Show

The former star of Bravo's "The Real Housewives of New Jersey," Danielle Staub, has apparently landed on her feet after her sudden departure from the Bravo reality show, In Touch Weekly reports.

Staub will take on a new gig as the host of "Social" on WealthTV, the article says.

"Social" is a new reality TV show that will follow Staub "as she covers exclusive events with her vast network of celebrity friends in a modern reimagination of 'Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous,’” the network said in a press release.

The show is scheduled to premiere on WealthTV in November.

'NFL Today' Analyst Takes Leave to Deal With Sexual Assault Allegation

Shannon Sharpe, a former NFL tight end with the Denver Broncos and Baltimore Ravens and current analyst with CBS's "NFL Today," has taken a leave of absence from the program while he deals with a sexual assault allegation, reports Mediabistro.com.

Last week, Sharpe received a temporary restraining order from Michele Bundy, who accused him of forcing her to have sex with him and threatening her life. Bundy is believed to be Sharpe’s girlfriend. A hearing will be held in the case next Monday.

Sharpe appeared on last Sunday's broadcast of "NFL Today," after the allegations surfaced, but will not be on the show this week.

In a statement, Sharpe said, “I have decided to step away from ‘The NFL Today’ until this matter is resolved.”

Bravo Fed Up With White House Gate Crashers, Won't Invite Them Back for Second Season of 'Real Housewives of D.C.'

Michaele and Tareq Salahi, the White House gate crashers who have been part of Bravo's "The Real Housewives of D.C.," have reportedly been told that they are not being invited back for the show's second season, according to Popeater.com.

The Web site says Bravo has been unhappy with the uncooperative couple, who have skipped network-organized events, including the launch party. The Salahis have claimed that Bravo has muzzled them from speaking about the White House dinner incident, which the network has vehemently denied.

Bravo issued a statement saying, "Bravo [has] consistently and repeatedly stated to the Salahis and their representatives that they were free to speak to press, law enforcement, Congress and anyone else about attending the State Dinner. Indeed, they have given multiple press interviews on that very subject."

Political Opposites O'Reilly and Stewart Line Up Guest Spots on Each Other's Shows

Although they are not of the same mind politically, talk show hosts Bill O'Reilly of Fox News Channel's "The O'Reilly Factor" and Jon Stewart of Comedy Central's "The Daily Show" will guest on each other's programs later this month, reports The New York Times.

Stewart, whose politics lean to the left, will appear on O'Reilly's show on Sept. 22. O'Reilly, an outspoken conservative, will then return the favor by going on "The Daily Show" on Sept. 27.

The two hosts have appeared on each other’s shows before, with Stewart delivering a scathing critique of Fox News Channel on O’Reilly’s show back in February.

Netflix Deal, 90-Day Movie Window an Obstacle for Epix if Channel Aims to Get on Time Warner Cable Systems

Epix, the pay-television channel from Viacom, Lionsgate and MGM, probably shouldn’t hold its breath as it waits to get on Time Warner Cable's systems, reports the Los Angeles Times' Company Town blog.

Time Warner Cable Chief Financial Officer Rob Marcus said Epix didn't help itself by striking a deal with Netflix to put movies from its parent studios on the Internet-streaming site just 90 days after the films debut on Epix, the story says. Epix's deal with Netflix devalues the channel, Marcus said at the Bank of America/Merrill Lynch Media, Communications & Entertainment Conference.

Epix has said that it hoped the three-month window would placate distributors such as Time Warner Cable. Marcus said, "I'm not sure I understand the logic flow" of that thinking, the article says.

Troubled U.S. City Takes Center Stage in CBS Crime Drama Project

A U.S. city with a reputation for high crime and other urban problems may end up with its own crime drama series on CBS, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

CBS has picked up a project from "Justified" writer-producer Gary Lennon, whose script focuses on the first female police chief in Newark, N.J. The character juggles a challenging home life and the city's struggles with crime and law-enforcement corruption, the article says.

CBS Television Studios is producing, while Lennon and "Justified" veterans Carl Beverly and Sarah Timberman are executive producing.

ABC Developing Series Based on Streisand Film

A bestseller that became a hit movie starring Barbra Streisand is being turned into an ABC drama series, Deadline.com reports.

The movie, which also starred Nick Nolte, is “The Prince of Tides,” based on the novel written by Pat Conroy. The program would encompass more of the backstory from the novel, centering on the Wingo family, in particular the three children--Tom, Savannah and Luke--in the low country of South Carolina.

Conroy will be involved as a consultant, but Bob Brush and Mel Harris are penning the script for Sony TV and will executive produce with Eric Tannenbaum, Kim Tannenbaum and Mitch Hurwitz.

Ratings For Martha Stewart's Debut on Hallmark Channel Well Below Reruns It Replaced

The ratings of the debut of Martha Stewart on the Hallmark Channel fell well below the ratings of the reruns it replaced, reports The Hollywood Reporter.

"The Martha Stewart Show" debuted with just 199,000 viewers on Monday at 10 a.m. on Hallmark, compared with the 514,000 viewers who watched "The Golden Girls" in the same time period a year earlier, the story says. The 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. repeats of the program drew just 115,000 and 80,000 viewers--well below the 346,000 and 344,000 who tuned in on Hallmark a year earlier to watch "Little House on the Prairie" and "M*A*S*H," the article says.

Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia Executive Chairman Charles Koppelman said last week that the show may need some time to alert fans to its network move.

In previous years "The Martha Stewart Show" had been in national syndication.

To read a revealing interview with Bill Abbott about the Hallmark-Martha Stewart strategy that was conducted a few weeks ago, click here.

New Head of Cable Music Network Chosen

The new head of a cable network that "provides a unique, multi-platform music destination, centered on the development of creative music programming driven by meaningful relationships within the music industry and the interaction of artists and fans" has been chosen, it was announced.

David Clark has been named general manager of Fuse, it was annnounced by Michael Bair, president of MSG Media, to whom Clark will report.

Clark has been the acting general manager since June, and was previously executive vice president of sales for MSG Media, the announcement said.

Two Emmy-Winning Acting Veterans Set to Join Hit Series This Season

Two Emmy-winning acting veterans are set to join two separate hit series this season, reports EW.com's Ausiello Files.

The two actors are Candice Bergen and John Larroquette.

Bergen ("Murphy Brown," "Boston Legal") will play Cuddy's mother on "House," according to the report.

Bergen's episode arc will begin in November, the story says. It marks Bergen's first television job since "Boston Legal" went off the air in 2008, the article adds. 

In a separate article, it was revealed that Larroquette--who also had appeared in "Boston Legal"-- is joining "CSI: NY" to play the deputy chief of Manhattan's borough detectives. 

His character, Ted Carver, will be hard-nosed and butt heads with Det. Mac Taylor, played by Gary Sinise, the story says. He'll first appear in the show's Nov. 5 episode for a multi-show arc, the article adds.

'This is OnStar. Can You Tell Us Where You Just Had Your Accident?' 'Huh? No, Dude, I Just Wanna Update My Facebook Page to Let Everyone Know I Just Honked at Lindsay Lohan. I Think It Was Her.' OnStar Now Working With Facebook So You Can Do Audio Updates

We can't make this stuff up. OnStar, the service best known for connecting drivers who have had auto accidents with emergency services, will test letting its customers make audio updates to their Facebook pages while driving, Advertising Age reports.

According to the article, "The General Motors-backed brand is attempting to redefine the meaning of in-car communications: It's now beta-testing voice-texting features, as well as audio Facebook updates that would let OnStar subscribers verbally update their Facebook status..."

Furthermore, Sam Mancuso, general director of OnStar Marketing, told Ad Age, "Today people are texting while they are driving. It's not legal and it's a very bad idea; 47% of people who are texting say that they have done so in their vehicle while driving. To do a normal text message takes 4.6 seconds, and at the speed of 55 miles an hour, someone can travel the length of a football field. We know that people want to use technology, but we are working on using it in ways that they don't have to be distracted. Our goal is to minimize that distraction to virtually zero."

Mancuso continued, "The litmus test we use is 'Keep your eyes on the road, your hands on the wheel and your mind on the drive.' If we find that the texting service or Facebook audio update capability causes people to be distracted we're not going to do it. We'll vet those things out internally. ... We'd be very proud to talk to you, others in the media or family and friends and say we tested it, developed it and it's not safe.

To read the entire Ad Age article, click here.

TVB, the Television Bureau of Advertising, Officially Changes Its Name

TVB--the Television Bureau of Advertising--whose mandate has long been to promote local TV stations to advertisers, is officially changing its name, reports The New York Times.

The new name--drumroll please--will be TVB.

Local stations now have "digital subchannels, mobile, Web sites and hyperlocal Web sites” on which advertisers can buy ad space, according to TVB President Steven J. Lanzano. As part of the makeover, the association is also changing its slogan to "Local media marketing solutions" from "Serving America's television stations," the story says.

TVB is forming an advisory board whose members are executives from top media agencies and advertisers, and the association's Web site will get an overhaul in October, including new sections about media planning and buying, local market profiles and information about member stations, the article adds.

Jonathan Franzen's Latest Novel Reportedly Will Be Oprah's Book Club Pick; If So It Would End Her Dispute With the Writer

Oprah Winfrey willl reportedly pick Jonathan Franzen's latest novel, "Freedom," as the final selection for the book club she does on her syndicated TV show, reports the New York Post.

Nine years ago, Winfrey rescinded her decision to pick Franzen's "The Corrections" on-the-air after hearing that Franzen was uncomfortable being chosen for the book club. 

Franzen had initially participated in the decision that got "The Corrections" chosen by Oprah, according to Wikipedia.  

Then, Franzen went on NPR's "Fresh Air" and said, "So much of reading is sustained in this country, I think, by the fact that women read while men are off golfing or watching football on TV or playing with their flight simulator or whatever. I worry — I'm sorry that it's, uh — I had some hope of actually reaching a male audience and I've heard more than one reader in signing lines now at bookstores say, 'If I hadn't heard you, I would have been put off by the fact that it is an Oprah pick. I figure those books are for women. I would never touch it.' Those are male readers speaking. I see this as my book, my creation."

In response, says Wikipedia, "Winfrey announced, 'Jonathan Franzen will not be on the Oprah Winfrey show because he is seemingly uncomfortable and conflicted about being chosen as a book club selection. It is never my intention to make anyone uncomfortable or cause anyone conflict. We have decided to skip the dinner and we're moving on to the next book.' "

Despite the falling out with Oprah, the book was a major bestseller.

If Winfrey picks "Freedom" as her latest book club choice it would indicate the two had put the past incident behind them.

In Face of Lukewarm Sales and Challenges from Droid Phones and iPhones, Bets AGAINST Stock of BlackBerry Maker Have Doubled Since April

It's not only consumers who appear to prefer Apple's iPhone devices that use Google's Android software to Research in Motion Ltd.'s BlackBerry, but also skeptical investors, according to Bloomberg News.

Bets against Research in Motion stock--known as taking a short position--have doubled since April, meaning that investors believe the company's stock will continue to decline, the story says.

Short interest in RIM climbed to 31.1 million shares as of Aug. 31, more than double that of April 15 and the most since July 2007, the story says.

The BlackBerry's Torch, a touch-screen model that hit stores last month, has attracted lukewarm sales and received mixed reviews, the article adds.

With Strong Early Sales, 90% of Super Bowl Ads Are Sold on Fox, With Prices of About $3 Million

The Super Bowl, which will be on Fox in 2011, has already sold more than 90% of its advertising time with prices running at about $3 million for a 30-second spot, reports Reuters.

The strong demand suggests that the economy and budget issues aren't dampening the appeal of reaching an audience of more than 100 million viewers, the article says. Only a handful of spots remain for the Feb. 6 game, which will be played in Texas, the story adds.

At this point in time last year, CBS had sold about 70% of its advertising time for the championship game, the article said.

'Idol' Allows Online Auditions for First Time Ever; We Let You Know the Song Choices Available

For the first time ever, 'American Idol' will allow contestants to audition for the show online, it's been announced by show producers 19 Entertainment, FremantleMedia North America and Fox Broadcasting.

 To see the song list available for the online auditions, click here.

According to the release, "In celebration of 'American Idol's' 10th anniversary season, the No. 1 show on television is offering aspiring singers an additional opportunity to have their voices heard. 19 Entertainment, FremantleMedia North America and Fox have partnered with MySpace to revolutionize the show's audition process. Beginning today through October 6, hopefuls between the ages of 15 and 28 (as of July 15, 2010) will have the opportunity to submit an audition video exclusively on MySpace at www.myspace.com/americanidol."

MySpace, like Fox, is owned by News Corp.

Furthermore, the announcement states, "Videos are limited to 40 seconds in length, and are limited to one submission per person. Auditions will be judged in a similar fashion to the live audition cities and a select number will advance to the next round of callbacks in Los Angeles. ... Fans will be able to share the videos across various networks and watch highlights in a special gallery on the MySpace page."

Finally, on one of the MySpace "Idol" pages a few recording do's and don'ts are listed:

- Do choose a song from our approved list
- Do state the title of the song
- Do sing a capella
- Do keep your videos to 40 seconds or less
- Do not use accompanying music or instruments
- Do not wear any logos or show brand/product in your video

*You will not be able to re-record your audition after you submit

 To see the song list available for the online auditions, click here.

Grad Student Beats Mark Set by 'Jeopardy!' King Ken Jennings

All things come to an end, including one of Ken Jennings' "Jeopardy!" records--his mark as the top single-day winner ever with $75,000.

A graduate student from the University of Delaware has topped that mark, reports TV Guide.

Roger Craig, a 33-year-old student, appeared on the show Tuesday and collected $77,000 by wagering $30,000 on Final Jeopardy.

In the category "Literary and Movie Title Objects," Craig's clue read, "The inspiration for this title object in a novel and a 1957 movie actually spanned the Mae Khlung River." His answer-in-the-form-of-a-question--the correct one--was: "What is 'The Bridge on the River Kwai.'"

Jennings’ overall “Jeopardy!” total of $3.02 million in winnings, earned by competing in 74 games, remains unchallenged.

'I Love Money' to Return to VH1 Following Murder Scandal

VH1 has quietly brought back the competition show "I Love Money" starting tonight, Thursday, Sept. 16, 2010, a year after a contestant on the program was involved in a murder-suicide, reports the New York Daily News.

The third season of the show, which requires contestants to compete in physical and mental challenges to win $250,000, featured a contestant named Ryan Jenkins who allegedly murdered his wife, Jasmine Fiore, the story says. Jenkins fled to Canada, where the police said he killed himself, according to the article.

At the time of the incident, he had already filmed (and reportedly won) "I Love Money 3," the story says. While VH1 had already filmed the fourth season of the show, it yanked the program from the air immediately.

A VH1 spokesman says the third season will never air, while the fourth season was re-edited before airing, the article adds.

Bridalplasty: Reality Show Ideas Continue to Break Barriers as New E! Program Combines Wedding Competition With Plastic Surgery

E! has ordered a series that combines a wedding competition with  plastic surgery, reports The Hollywood Reporter.

The show, "Bridalplasty," will pit would-be brides in wedding-themed challenges to win plastic surgery procedures, the story says.

The last remaining woman will win a "dream wedding," in which she reveals her "new look" to her groom, her family and friends, the story says.

(Hmm. If one were snarky one would probably joke that one of the titles they had tossed around for this show was "Brides of Frankenstein"...)

Celebrity surgeon Terry Dubrow of Fox's "The Swan" will be on hand for his expertise, while Shanna Moakler, the wife of Blink-182's Travis Barker, will be the host.

Michael Jackson's Mom and 3 Kids Sue Concert Promoter, Saying Grueling Rehearsal Schedule and Poor Medical Care Caused Jackson's Death; Claims Singer Was 'Shivering and Disoriented' in Rehearsal

"Michael Jackson's three children and mother, Katherine, are suing concert promoter AEG Live for allegedly strong-arming the singer into poor medical care and imposing a grueling rehearsal schedule that led to his death," says People magazine.

The article continues, "By Jackson's final rehearsal in June 2009 for a big comeback concert series, the entertainer was shivering and disoriented in the warm Staples Center, the lawsuit alleges, and would soon be dead from an acute level of the powerful anesthesia Propofol."

AEG told people it had no comment and had not yet seen the suit.

News Corp. President Chase Carey Says FX and Nat Geo Need Higher Fees From Their Distributors

Chase Carey, president and chief operating officer of News Corp., says the company needs to get more money from distributors for its cable networks, FX and National Geographic in particular, accoring to Joe Flint writing in the Los Angeles Times' Company Town blog.

Writes Flint, "The two networks Carey cited as getting far more than FX were Time Warner's TNT and NBC Universal's USA Network. According to SNL Kagan, an industry consulting firm, TNT gets about $1.00 per subscriber per month and USA pulls in 57 cents. FX gets 39 cents.

"Of course, though FX has some strong shows, USA and TNT have bigger hits with shows such as 'Burn Notice' and 'The Closer.' Also, TNT carries a heavy sports load, which is why its subscriber fee is so much higher than USA's and FX's."

Carey made his remarks during a luncheon on Tuesday, Sept. 14, during a Hollywood Radio & Television Society luncheon interview at the Beverly Hilton.

He also stressed the importance of the retrans monies broadcast networks are now receiving from distributors.

Report: Apple Expected to Announce Newspaper Subscription Service

"Apple is expected to announce soon a new subscription plan for newspapers, which hope tablets like the iPad will eventually provide a new source of profit as media companies struggle with declining print circulation and advertising revenue."

So says MercuryNews.com.

The service could be lucrative for Apple as well. The article says that "Apple probably will take a 30 percent cut of all subscriptions sold through the company's online App Store, and as much as 40 percent of the advertising revenue from publications' apps."

The article concludes, "While newspapers are anxious to get subscriber-based content onto tablets, there is some concern readers could drop print editions for app versions too quickly. 'Most publishers don't want to see a rapid migration to apps without a comparable growth in advertisement revenue from tablet editions,' [said Roger Fidler, head of digital publishing at the Donald W. Reynolds Journalism Institute in Columbia, Mo.].'That would be disastrous.' "

Renewal Imminent for TNT Medical Drama; Fate of One of Net's Summer Shows Still to Be Decided

It appears that an announcement is imminent from TNT that it will renew the Jada Pinkett Smith nurse show “Hawthorne,” Deadline.com reports.

That leaves the Dylan McDermott police drama “Dark Blue” as the only summer TNT series whose fate has yet to be determined.

Other network programs, including the Emmy-winning "The Closer" and the new, hot ratings hits "Rizzoli & Isles" and "Memphis Beat," as well as the Timothy Hutton caper show "Leverage," were never in doubt, but "Hawthorne’s" chances for renewal were considered iffy. The show does about half as well as "The Closer" and "Rizzoli" ratings-wise.

MTV Doing Scripted Show About Zombies, Werewolves and Vampires in San Fernando Valley; Wait a Minute, Isn't That Reality Programming?

MTV has greenlit the scripted "Death Valley." The show tracks the Undead Task Force, which fights zombies, werewolves and vampires who are taking over the San Fernando Valley, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Another show, "That Girl," about a teenager who is mistakenly thought by her classmates to have attempted suicide has also been greenlit by MTV, the story says.

"Death Valley" is "executive produced by Austin Reading, Julie Kellman Reading, Eric Weinberg and Tim Healy," the article says.

"That Girl," is created and executive produced by Lauren Iungerich of ABC Family's "10 Things I Hate About You." 

Syndicated 'Gossip Queens,' With a Format Reminiscent of 'The View,' Ready for Slow Rollout

Four women sitting around talking about current events sounds a lot like "The View," but the description is attached to the new syndicated talk show “The Gossip Queens,” which begins its slow rollout Monday, Sept. 20, B&C reports.

The show stars Loni Love, Alec Mapa, Michelle Collins and Bernadette Pauley, all comedians, who will spend each 30-minute episode talking about entertainment news and gossip.

The hi-def show, a production of Entertainment Studios, is getting a gradual unveiling as it will roll out on just a few TV stations, including Weigel's WCIU-TV Chicago, NBC's KNTV San Francisco, Gannett's WTSP-TV Tampa, Cox's WRDQ-TV Orlando and Sinclair's WBFF-TV Baltimore. It will also run on cable on Viacom's Logo, and online on Entertainment Studios’ Comedy.TV.

Billie Mae Richards, Voice of Rudolph in Animated Holiday Classic, Dies

The voice of the title character in the animated Christmas classic "Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer," actress Billie Mae Richards, has died, Entertainment Weekly reports.

Ms. Richards, a Toronto native, was 88 years old. She died of a stroke on Sept. 10.

She voiced Rudolph in the 1964 animated TV special, which has been a staple of holiday TV programming ever since.

In a 2005 interview, she told FilmFax magazine, “I’m just so glad that my kids, my grandkids, my great-grandkids and probably my great-great-grandkids will see 'Rudolph.'"

MTV Exec Moves To Discovery

One of MTV's top executives in a very crucial area has moved to Discovery Communications, according to B&C.

The crucial area is distribution. Meg Lowe, who has been senior VP, content distribution and partner marketing, for MTV Networks is now senior VP of domestic distribution, overseeing sales and marketing for all of Discovery Communications' American operations. Lowe will report to Bill Goodwyn, Discovery Global Distribution president.

"Meg will be a tremendous asset as we continue to work with our distribution partners to provide them opportunities to fully leverage the strength and quality of Discovery's brands," Goodwyn said in a statement.

NBC Scores Ratings Win as 'Parenthood' Opens to Solid Numbers

The combination of "America's Got Talent" and the premiere of "Parenthood" resulted in a ratings win for NBC in the Tuesday night Nielsens, according to TVbytheNumbers.com.

At 8 p.m. ABC's "Wipeout" was tops with a 2.75 average rating for the hour in the 18-49 demographic, while NBC's "Minute To Win It" had a 1.6 rating and a 2.2 for the top and bottom halves of the hour, respectively. The premiere of "One Tree Hill" on the CW collected a 1.1 average for the hour in the demo.

In the 9 p.m. hour, "America's Got Talent" logged a 3.5 rating and a 4.1 in the 18-49 demo for the two half-hours, while the second hour of "Wipeout" averaged a 2.6 rating in the demo for the hour. CW's premiere of "Life Unexpected" only reached a sluggish 0.8 in the 18-49 demo for the hour.

The NBC premiere of "Parenthood" at 10 p.m. netted a 2.9 and a 2.5 for the two half-hours in the 18-49 demo. ABC's "Final Witness" averaged a 1.4 for the hour in the demo and CBS's special "Fashion’s Night Out 2010" averaged a 0.6 rating in the 18-49 demo for the hour.

A Major TV Event Kicks Off This Weekend: Is It Worth Tuning In?

A major TV event premieres this Sunday, Sept. 19, 2010. Is it worth tuning in? TVWeek Open Mic blogger Chuck Ross has very strong feelings about this show.

To read what they are, please click here.

Time Warner Cable Adds Porn Channels Days After Doing Disney Deal

Time Warner Cable is offering eight new porn channels on its lineup just days after agreeing to boost the fees it pays to Walt Disney Co., prompting the New York Post to ask whether the two items are related.

The addition of the channels--with shows such as "Penthouse on Demand"--is unrelated to the Disney deal, according to a Time Warner Cable spokesman.

The agreement calls for Time Warner Cable to pay Disney 50 cents per subscriber each month for the right to carry ABC's broadcast stations, whereas previously it paid nothing, the story says.

While some of those costs will be passed on to customers through rate increases, Time Warner Cable needs to find a way to make up the rest of the difference or else be prepared for lower profits, the article points out.

Time Warner Cable sent out an alert to customers letting them know about the new channels: "You may need to adjust your parental control settings," the mailing said, according to the article.

Ex-'Housewife' Danielle Staub Says Her Spinoff Show Will Address Her Sexuality

Danielle Staub tells RadarOnline.com that her new reality show will address her sexual orientation, apparently a question for some fans of "The Real Housewives of New Jersey" given her relationship to Lori Michaels.

"You're going to see the truth of my sexuality revealed," Staub says. "I have to keep that for my show. That's something I have to save. I didn't give it to Andy [Cohen, Bravo host] or anyone yet. I think it's going to be a really nice element to add to my show. I mean Helen Keller can see what Lori and I see in each other so I don't think it's any secret but I'm not confirming or denying anything."

As previously reported, Staub has said she's talking with production companies and networks about creating her own reality show.

He Had the Most Civil Of Tongues: NBC Newsman Edwin Newman, 91, Dies

Edwin Newman, the longtime NBC newsman, has died at age 91, according to a number of media reports. The reports did not list a cause of death.

Says the New York TImes in its report, "Mr. Newman, recognizable for his balding head and fierce dark eyebrows, was known to three decades of postwar television viewers for his erudition, droll wit and seemingly limitless penchant for puns. He began his association with NBC in the early 1950s and was variously a correspondent, anchorman and critic there before retiring in 1984."

The Times also says, "An anchor on the “Today” show in the early 1960s and a familiar presence on the program for many years afterward, Mr. Newman also appeared regularly on “Meet the Press.” He won seven New York Emmy Awards for his work in the 1960s and ’70s with NBC’s local affiliate, WNBC-TV, on which he was a drama critic and the host of the interview program “Speaking Freely.”

Newman was also well known for his books about the English language, "Strictly Speaking" and A Civil Tongue."

Here's a clip of Newman giving a show-ending commentary about the New York Worlds Fair in an NBC special on the Fair in 1964:

Fox News to Air Ad Criticizing Parent News Corp.

After critics claimed that News Corp.'s $1 million donation to the Republican Governors Association proved the company isn't as fair and balanced as it claims, Fox News has agreed to air an ad critical of the donation, the Hollywood Reporter says.

The ad, from the liberal group Media Matters, gently criticizes the donation, the story says. It begins with, "And now, a special message about a story that's not yet been covered on Fox News primetime ..." and then includes a quote from News Corp. Vice President Jack Horner explaining the company believes in "the power of free markets" and that "the RGA's pro-business agenda supports our priorities."

The ad ends with "And that's why News Corp. has donated $1 million to oppose Democratic candidates this November." The ad ran on Tuesday night on "The O'Reilly Factor" and cost Media Matters $35,000, the article notes.

TBS Cancels 'My Boys,' After Opting Not to Release Cast for NBC Shows Earlier in Development Season

The cast of "My Boys" may be having a tough day, and not just because TBS canceled the show after four seasons, reports Joe Flint in the Los Angeles Times' Company Town blog.

Earlier this year, TBS declined to release the cast to pursue other shows, leading two cast members to walk away from NBC programs: Jordana Spiro and Kyle Howard for its midseason comedies "Love Bites" and "Perfect Couples," respectively, the story says.

That apparent vote of confidence in the future of "My Boys," a comedy about a female sports columnist in Chicago, was undermined by the cable network's decision to shift the program to a 10 p.m. Sunday time slot from Tuesdays at 10 p.m., the story points out. The result was a drop in its ratings.

While TBS didn't do anything wrong, perhaps it should have given the actors a conditional release, the article says.

At the very least, maybe TBS can ask Conan O'Brien to book Spiro and Howard on his new late-night show, Flint writes.

Awkward Press Release of the Month: Discovery Touts Award as 'Best Place to Work'

Discovery Communications has issued a press release touting being named as one of the "10 Best Places to Work" by Working Mother magazine, providing awkward timing given the recent hostage situation at its headquarters, reports Nellie Andreeva at Deadline.com.

The press release was issued around the same time that "The Oprah Winfrey Show" announced it will interview hostages held by alleged gunman James J. Lee two weeks ago, the story says. 

Lee was killed by police after a standoff at Discovery's office in Silver Spring, Maryland.

Time Warner Cable, Cox in Discussions About Swapping Calif. Cable Systems Valued at $2 Billion; The Two Companies Have Also Had Talks About a Broader Alliance

Time Warner Cable and Cox Communications are in discussions about swapping cable systems in California valued at $2 billion as well as negotiating a broader alliance, reports Reuters.

The discussions are aimed at helping the companies compete more effectively against Comcast, which is buying NBC Universal, the story says. Time Warner Cable and Cox declined to comment on the talks, the article adds. Both companies have cable systems that are adjacent to each other in large cites such as Los Angeles and San Diego, the article says.

If the two were eventually to combine, they'd have under 20 million subscribers, still less than Comcast's 23.2 million customers, the story says.

Kids TV Watch Group Asks FCC to Block Cartoon TV Show, Saying It's Just a Skechers Ad

The Campaign for a Commercial Free Childhood has asked the Federal Communications Commission to block a cartoon television show because the group claims it's only an ad for Skechers children's shoes, reports the Associated Press.

The show, called "Zevo-3," is scheduled to debut Oct. 11 on cable network Nicktoons and follows three teenagers who save New Eden City from evil monsters.

The heroes have previously appeared in TV ads and comic books promoting the children's shoes, the story says. According to the complaint, "Zevo-3" is "the first children's television program starring characters that are known to children only as commercial logos and spokescharacters."

The show doesn't include overt sales pitches for the shoes, according to Kristen Van Cott, co-executive producer of "Zevo-3" and a senior vice president of Skechers Entertainment. Nicktoons spokesman David Bittler said, "This show does not violate the Children's Television Act."

New Jersey Considers Ways to Save Public Broadcaster As Subsidy Cut Looms

New Jersey lawmakers are mulling ways to save public broadcaster New Jersey Network, as Gov. Chris Christie is proposing to cut its $11 million subsidy, reports the Star-Ledger.

Some of the ideas include selling the licenses to an existing broadcaster, such as New York City's WNET or WNYC radio, the story says. "We all agree what we’re doing now isn’t working," said Assemblyman Louis Greenwald (D-Camden).

He added that "there is disaster on the horizon." The 10-member committee will meet twice more before issuing its findings to Christie and the state Legislature by Oct. 15, the story says.

Australian Vacation Package Pays off--Slightly--With a Small Bump in 'Oprah' Ratings

The Australian vacation package Oprah Winfrey is giving to her audience has already paid a small dividend, reports Deadline.com.

The premiere of the final season of "The Oprah Winfrey Show" drew a 6.8 rating and 17 share, representing a 3% gain from last season's debut, the story says. "Given all the lows 'The Oprah Winfrey Show' hit this summer, it was encouraging news," the story says.

Forget Popcorn: Independent Video Rental Stores Offer Tanning Beds to Keep Customers Returning

Popcorn is so passe with independent video-rental stores. According to a story in the Hollywood Reporter, more than 3,500 independently owned stores, or 35% of total independent outlets, have added a tanning bed to keep customers returning--and to add profits.

The tanning beds apparently attract customers during those slow periods for video rentals, helping to provide the independently owned stores round out their revenue streams, the story says.

Steve Pickard in St. Cloud, Minn., who owns two stores in the town, said having tanning beds--he has 10 in one store and seven in another--is allowing him to keep renting videos. "I don't think we could pay all our overhead with just video," he says. A good quality tanning bed can cost as much as $15,000, the story notes.

This story reminds TVWeek that in the early 1990s a popular place to rent videos on the upper West Side of New York City was a store that was a combination laundromat/video rental shop.

Next Stop on Lohan's Road to (Career) Rehab Could Be a High-Profile One

Lindsay Lohan is reportedly in talks for a gig that has the potential to put her career back in the spotlight, even though it probably would include (again) making fun of her legal problems and substance-related issues.

The New York Daily News reports that the embattled star is talking with the people at NBC’s “Saturday Night Live” about what would be her third appearance as host of the show. If it works out, the story reports, Lohan would host the Dec. 4 show.

The idea has been talked about in part to show that Lohan can laugh at herself and--hopefully--rehabilitate her tattered reputation, which suffered a setback when she was sent to jail this summer for probation violation.

Reportedly, Lohan's appearance over the weekend on MTV’s Video Music Awards telecast, in which the actress made herself the butt of a few jokes, impressed the folks at “SNL” enough to get the discussion started.

How Will Google's Speedy New Search Affect Users? Google Already Knows the Answer

Google’s newly unveiled quicker search design isn’t likely to result in users having plenty of extra time, says Quentin Hardy on Forbes.com. Instead, he says, it will probably just convince people to search more.

The article hails the new search as “an impressive technical achievement that shows probable search results in real time--as you type letters into the search box.” According to Google, it will save from two to five seconds per search, the story says.

But the article quotes Udi Manber, VP of engineering for Google, saying the company is convinced the result will be more searches. “People search more because they get more interested in a subject” when they get quick results, Manber says, adding, “A few hundredths of a second can be tremendously important.”

Al Sharpton Launching Syndicated Talk Show

Civil rights advocate the Rev. Al Sharpton is about to launch a Sunday morning talk show, Reuters reports.

The program will be produced by ESH Holdings, Sharpton’s newly formed media company, and will focus largely on education issues. The show, “Education Superhighway,” is set to premiere Sept. 26.

The nationally syndicated 30-minute show will reportedly feature a roundtable discussion among a variety of guests, with Bill Gates, Newt Gingrich, Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and Randi Weingarten, the president of the American Federation of Teachers, among those already signed up.

CW's Season Premieres of 'Gossip Girl,' '90210' Draw Lower Ratings Than a Year Ago

The season premieres Monday of CW’s “Gossip Girl” and “90210” were down from a year earlier in total viewers and the 18-49 demo, according to The Hollywood Reporter. But there were bright spots for the network as viewership for “Gossip Girl” equaled its May season finale and “90210” was up from its finale for the previous season.

“Gossip Girl” averaged 1.87 million viewers, according to the story, down 27% from last year. Its 1.0 preliminary rating in adults 18-49 was off from a 1.4 last year.

Lead-in “90210” had its best results since an original episode in December, attracting an average of 1.99 million viewers, down 19% from a year ago, and a 0.9 rating in the demo, off from a 1.2 rating last year, the article reports.

CBS was the overall winner in the Monday night ratings battle, with a lineup of reruns.

Lionsgate, Televisa Unveil Plans for U.S. Hispanic Film Releases

Lionsgate and Televisa have taken the wraps off Pantelion Films, a joint venture that they say will release up to 10 movies a year aimed at the Hispanic film audience in the U.S., according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The two companies have a five-year deal for the project, to be overseen by Jim McNamara, the former head of Telemundo and now chairman of Pantelion. The operation has only about eight employees, according to the story, but plans to use the staffs of the parent companies.

"Other companies that have tried to do this either did not have enough staff, because they couldn't afford it, or the business was such that it never allowed money to come in fast enough" to keep it going, McNamara said. "This is a low overhead development and distribution company."

Warner Bros., Other Creditors Readying Suit in Tribune Bankruptcy

Warner Bros. is among a group of unsecured creditors of Tribune Co. who are readying a lawsuit against an investor group led by real estate mogul Sam Zell that purchased the media company in 2007, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The creditors group has filed a motion with Tribune bankruptcy judge Kevin Carey, the story reports.

The suit would name Zell, Citigroup, JPMorgan and others who funded the buyout, according to the story. The purchase led to Tribune’s filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Zell reportedly put up $315 million in the $11.7 billion leveraged buyout, while Tribune borrowed the rest, creating the debt load that led to the bankruptcy filing, the article says.

For What It's Worth: The Return of Neil Young, Stephen Stills, Richie Furay and One of the Greatest Bands Ever (and They Actually Played at My High School)

by Chuck Ross

The still-living members of the legendary band Buffalo Springfield--Neil Young, Stephen Stills and Richie Furay--will unite and play again in public for the first time in 42 years, Rolling Stone reports.

The occasion will be Neil Young's annual charity benefit concert in Northern California for the Bridge School on Oct. 23 and Oct. 24. (According to the L.A.Times account, "The Bridge School shows will again be held at the Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, near Concord, Calif. Tickets go on sale Sunday [Sept. 19, 2010] on Ticketmaster." In addition to Buffalo Springfield, other performers included in this year's benefit include Pearl Jam, Elton John and Leon Russell, Elvis Costello, Lucinda Williams and several other acts, the Times says.)

The two other musicians who made up Buffalo Springfield, Dewey Martin and Bruce Palmer, are dead.

According to the Rolling Stone article, "Furay says that Neil Young’s longtime bassist Rick Rosas will sit in for the late Bruce Palmer, while Crosby, Stills and Nash drummer Joe Vitale will substitute for the late Dewey Martin."

Furay added, “We’re going to play for 35-40 minutes.The setlist will probably be composed of the three albums, though probably more of the first album with a few of the second album and maybe ‘On The Way Home’ from the last one. I really have no idea, though. I’m just going to show up and have a good time.” He says it will be bittersweet, however, to be up there without Martin and Palmer. 'Those guys made the sound.' ”

And now a personal note about the band.

I have exactly one great high school memory (pathetic, but true). When I was a freshman at Alexander Hamilton High School here in Los Angeles, Neil Young, Stephen Stills, Richie Furay, Bruce Palmer and Dewey Martin came to our school and played a concert on Friday night, November 10th, 1967. 

How someone at Hamilton got Buffalo Springfield to play at our high school I don't recall. I guess it wasn't that difficult--they were basically a local band and it wasn't as if they were the Byrds or some famous group like that.

I remember I had heard the first Buffalo Springfield  LP and thought it was OK. Young's voice was pretty unique, I remember thinking, but I preferred the songs Stills primarily sang. Their second, most famous LP, came out at just about the same time they played at Hami.

My recollection is that the concert did not sell out, and that most of the kids there thought they were just OK.

Six months later the band played its final gig...The entire life-span of Buffalo Springfield was about two years.

Trouble Continues for ESPN's Jay Mariotti

Even after getting good news in court last week, ESPN commentator Jay Mariotti continues to face repercussions from his recent arrest on domestic violence charges, the Los Angeles Times reports.

He will be arraigned Friday in the Los Angeles criminal courts building on seven misdemeanor counts including domestic violence with injury, two counts of domestic violence, one count of grand theft, one count of false imprisonment and one count of vandalism, according to the story.

Mariotti, who has been a regular on ESPN’s “Around the Horn,” could be sentenced to seven years in jail as each count carries the maximum penalty of a year behind bars, the story says.

Last week we reported that Mariotti had avoided felony charges when the Los Angeles County district attorney determined there was not enough evidence to warrant bringing those charges. But city prosecutors reportedly found sufficient evidence to charge Mariotti with the misdemeanors.

Mariotti's troubles stem from an incident with his girlfriend that began at a Venice, Calif., club in which the couple got into an argument over her alleged flirting with another man. The argument then reportedly continued at their nearby home.

Denise Richards Lands Role on Sitcom

Actress/model Denise Richards, best known as Charlie Sheen's ex-wife and the star of the reality TV show "It's Complicated," has landed a spot on Spike TV's football comedy "Blue Mountain State."

Richards will play Debra, the ex-wife of Coach Marty Daniels (Ed Marinaro). "Blue Mountain State" returns for its second season on Wednesday, Oct. 20, at 11 p.m. ET on Spike TV.

In addition to Richards, the new season will bring on real-life National Football League celebrities, including Bill Parcells, Boomer Esaison, Bill Romanowski, Brian Bosworth and announcer Dan Patrick.

So Who's Paying for Oprah's Audience Trip to Australia? Turns out She's Getting Quite a Bit of Help

It turns out that Oprah Winfrey's getting a little help from friends in her offer to take her audience to Australia -- to the tune of $3 million Australian dollars ($2.8 million in U.S. dollars) from the Australian government, according to the Sydney Morning Herald. 

Australian Tourism Minister Martin Ferguson said the money would be well spent because "this truly represents an amazing opportunity to showcase Australia, the warmth and hospitality of our people and the depth and breadth of everything our country has to offer visitors from around the world."

Tourism Australia will contribute $1.5 million Australian, while New South Wales, the state which includes the city of Sydney, will pitch in between $1 million to $2 million Australian, the story says. "In the NSW government, we dubbed it Project O," says New South Wales Premier Kristina Keneally.

After Breaking Leg in Horse-Riding Accident, Actor Will Miss 'Big Bang' Taping

One of the actors on CBS's "The Big Bang Theory" will miss a taping because of a broken leg caused during a horse-riding accident over the weekend, reports EW.com's The Ausiello Files. 

Kaley Cuoco's character will be written out of the episode that's taping today and then the show will take a weeklong break, which had been previously scheduled, the story says. She should make a full recovery, the article adds.

Mild-Mannered VMA Awards Draw Best Ratings in Eight Years; TVWeek Blogger Hillary Atkin Breaks Down the Show's Inability to Spark Controversy This Time Even When It Tried

Even though Chelsea Handler drew a scathing review from The New York Times for her job as host of the MTV Video Music Awards, the telecast attracted its best ratings in eight years, reports the Los Angeles Times' ShowTracker blog. 

An average of 11.4 million people watched the two-hour show, which is a jump of 27% from last year. It drew the biggest audience since 2002, when 11.9 million viewers watched Michael Jackson mistakenly accept the non-existent Artist of the Millennium award, the article says.

TVWeek blogger Hillary Atkin gets to the meat of the matter in her in-depth look at what happened and didn't happen at this year's ceremony.

Prolific Character Actor Who Played Rhoda's Father on 'Rhoda' and 'Mary Tyler Moore' Dies at 86

A prolific character actor who played Rhoda Morgenstern's father on the 1970s comedies "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" and its spinoff "Rhoda," has died, reports the New York Times. Harold Gould was 86.

The cause was prostate cancer, according to a spokeswoman for the Motion Picture and Television Fund, at whose retirement community he had resided. More than a decade after "Rhoda," he was a regular guest star on "The Golden Girls," playing a widower who courted Rose, played by Betty White, the story says.

He made so many television appearances that his face -- and signature mustache -- was familiar to viewers, the article adds. In the 1960s alone, he appeared in more than a dozen programs, ranging from "The Twilight Zone" to "Hogan's Heroes." During the 1970s, his work included roles in shows including "The Love Boat" to "Hawaii Five-O," and in the 1980s he had appearances on "St. Elsewhere" and "L.A. Law." He appeared on "Felicity" and "Lois and Clark" in the 1990s and in this century, "Cold Case" and "Judging Amy." (Note: These television shows represent just a fraction of his total work.)

As Fox Waits to Name 'Idol' Judges, Risks for Show Increase

The longer Fox and the producers of "American Idol" wait to name the new judges for the show, the more apparent risk the program is taking on, writes Joe Flint in the Los Angeles Times' Company Town blog. 

While Aerosmith singer Steven Tyler has reportedly wrapped up a deal to become a judge and Jennifer Lopez is close, it's still not official, the story points out.

"Let's hope there is a lot of natural chemistry between Lopez and Tyler because the two certainly won't have any time to develop some before the cameras start rolling," Flint writes. "Fox executives have been very mum about their plans for "American Idol" and why it is taking so long to lock in new judges." For whatever reason that may be, the show is taking on another important risk: "The element of surprise is gone and the public may be tired of this whole saga by now."

Why Does Bill Maher Think He'll Never Win an Emmy? Hint: It Has to Do the (Lack of a?) Big Guy Up There

Bill Maher, the host of HBO's "Real Time With Bill Maher," tells The Hollywood Reporter why he believes he'll never win an Emmy: his lack of religious belief. 

Maher, an atheist, says, "A panel of like 10 people watches one tape. If half of those people are religious, that probably eliminates me right there. A lot of people wouldn't vote for such an outspoken atheist."

He adds that he doesn't believe writer Christopher Hitchens, another outspoken atheist, will make a deathbed conversion "because I don't think he's going to die." He added, "He's not a fearful guy, so it's not going to happen."

'Mad Men' Costume Designer Starting Her Own 1950s-1960s Inspired Clothing Line for QVC

If your desire is to look like "Mad Men's" Betty Draper dolled up for a night on the town, QVC may soon have what you need, according to a report in the New York Post's Page Six. 

"Mad Men" costume designer Janie Bryant is starting her own fashion line inspired by the 1950s and 1960s that will go on sale on QVC on Sept. 29, the story says. "My line is all about beautiful bold-statement pieces, the capelets, the faux fur jackets and the accessories. My inspiration is from magazines, films and books from that period," Bryant says.

'Terra Nova' Executive Producer Leaves Drama Over Creative Differences

An executive producer of "Terra Nova," has left the time-traveling Fox drama over creative differences, reports Nellie Andreeva at Deadline.com. 

Since there are no plans to replace departing David Fury, showrunner Brannon Braga will become the show's lone writing executive producer, the story says.

In separate news about the show, "Avatar" co-star Stephen Lang is in discussions to take a role on the program, starring opposite Jason O'Mara. Lang would play Frank Taylor, a ruthless leader who operates the Terra Nova settlement, the article adds.

'How I Met Your Mother' Duo Sell Comedy Project About Life With Kids to ABC

"How I Met Your Mother" writer-producers Kourtney Kang and Joe Kelly have a pilot project at ABC, reports Nellie Andreeva at Deadline.com. 

The comedy is about a couple before and after kids, the story says. It ended up at ABC with a hefty penalty after receiving bidding from several networks, the article says. 20th Century Fox TV, which also produces "How I Met Your Mother," is producing the project.

Second-Season Order for A&E's Top Show Among Viewers

After its first-run episodes during its debut season averaged 3.2 million viewers, "The Glades" has received a second-season order from A&E, reports B&C. 

The second season will begin pre-production later this year on 13 episodes and debut the next season in 2011, the article says. "The Glades" is produced by Fox Television Studios and created by Clifton Campbell. It was the network's No. 1 program in total viewers, the story adds.

Could Larry King End up as a Sports Host in His Post-CNN Career?

Ben Grossman at B&C writes of having "a nice chat" with Larry King before a baseball game at Angels Stadium and asking him about his plans, which include some interest in working on a sports program. 

"(H)e told me he doesn’t feel that old, and is in fine health outside of a sore hip once in a while and a little shortness of breath here and there. But he has no interest in leaving TV," Grossman writes. "He wants to do a series of specials (including one from the Middle East), and he is also very interested in some sort of show focused on sports. For the latter, he has talked to networks including ESPN, HBO and the MLB Network."

'Chappelle's Show' Co-Creator Developing Pilot for Showtime

"Chappelle's Show" co-creator Neal Brennan is developing a pilot for Showtime starring himself and stand-up comedian Dov Davidoff, reports TheWrap.com's TV Hunter blog. 

The show, called "Seek and Destroy," is a half-hour comedy that stars the two men beginning each day at a coffee shop. It will include their stories, sketches and interviews with people on the street, the article says.

Brennan and Davidoff are writing and producing the project, with Brennan directing the pilot. Peter Chernin and Katherine Pope are executive producing for Chernin Entertainment, the story says.

Oprah Shouts to Season Opening Audience of 300, 'We're Going to Australia!'

During Monday’s opening show of her 25th and final season in syndication, Oprah Winfrey stunned her studio audience with the revelation that all 300 people would be accompanying her on a trip to Australia, the AP reports.

In addition to the big giveaway, stars John Travolta, Don Johnson and Paul Simon were also on the program.

According to the report, "Winfrey teared up during a surprise appearance from singer/songwriter Paul Simon, who sang a song he'd written in honor of the show's 10th season with updated lyrics."

Alien Pod Creatures Win in the End: Kevin McCarthy, Popular TV Guest Star and Most Famous for Starring in the Original 'Invasion of the Body Snatchers' Dies at 96

Kevin McCarthy, who worked in TV for five decades, and was best known for starring in the original "Invasion of the Body Snatchers," has died at age 96, according to a number of media reports.

He died Saturday, Sept. 11, 2010 in at the Cape Cod Hospital in Massachusetts, according to the Associated Press. No cause of death was confirmed.

His only Oscar nomination was for playing the role of Biff in the 1951 movie version of "Death of a Salesman."

Five years later he was to play the role for which he would be most identified for the rest of his life: Dr. Miles Bennell in "Invasion of the Body Snatchers."

According to the AP, "His frantic shouting of 'You're next!' to those in approaching cars became so well known among science-fiction fans that he was often asked to spoof the role. He more or less did that in the opening minutes of the 1978 remake, which starred Donald Sutherland as the hero menaced by the pod people."

The originally movie was a flop when initially released, the article said, but was seen by millions over time in repeated showings on TV.

McCartney himself was a regular player in guest appearances on TV for five decades.

By 2012, Cable Ops Will Be On the Hook for $1.3 Billion in Retrans Costs. Who Will Foot the Bill?

In a short two years cable operators will owe about $1.3 billion in retansmission fees. Our friend Jon Lafayette, who now writes for B&C, asks, "Who will foot the bill?"

Lafayette writes, "Will these retrans dollars...come out of distributor profits? Will cable networks take cuts or smaller increases in their monthly subscriber fees? Will customers pay through the nose with skyrocketing cable bills? Or will spiraling programming costs lead to a change in the way cable channels are bundled and sold to subscribers, as distributors brace for new video challenges from Apple, Google and Amazon?"

The article's concluding thought: "Each of the options being tossed back and forth may turn out to be part—or all of—the answer to the retrans dilemma. But no matter what shakes out, one thing is for certain: The bill is coming due, and soon."

NBC Staffs Up Reorganized Current Department, Announces Two Key Appointments

NBC has given two veterans of the Peacock Network key positions with its recently relaunched current department, Deadline.com reports.

The network appointed Erin Underhill and Edwin Chung as senior VP, current programming, NBC and Universal Media Studios, the article says. They will report to Vernon Sanders, EVP current programming.

Both executives have backgrounds in current programming at NBC. Underhill was director and VP current series before being named VP drama development in 2005, the story says. She oversees series including newcomers “Chase” and “Love Bites” along with returning drama “Parenthood.” She also developed “Heroes,” “Chuck” and “Friday Night Lights,” and oversees “Friday Night Lights,” the story says.

Chung served as director and VP current series until the network folded the current departments into comedy and drama development in 2008, a reorganization that changed his title to VP comedy programming for NBC and Universal Media Studios. He is the executive in charge of production for “30 Rock,” “Community,” “Chuck” and the new midseason series “Perfect Couples,” the story says, and he oversaw production on “My Name Is Earl.”

Fox Orders Pilot Based on British Comedy Series

A British sitcom will be developed for U.S. audiences as Fox has given an off-cycle pilot order for a U.S. version of the show, reports Nellie Andreeva at Deadline.com.

The project based on the British series “Outnumbered,” from writers Barbara Wallace and Thomas R. Wolfe, will be produced by 20th TV, Chernin Entertainment and Hat Trick Productions, the British company that produced the U.K. show, the article says.

The comedy follows a set of parents who are outnumbered by their three kids, the story adds. The British show has a "Modern Family" type of feel, with a mocumentary tone and a semi-improvised approach, it says.

James Cameron Turning One of His Popular Movies Into a TV Show

Oscar-winning filmmaker James Cameron is converting one of his successful movies into a television program, according to Deadline.com.

The movie is the Jamie Lee Curtis-Arnold Schwarzenegger action comedy "True Lies." Cameron’s Lightstorm Entertainment and 20th Century Fox TV are prepping the project to pitch to the networks, with Rene Echevarria writing and executive producing with Cameron, Jon Landau and Lightstorm’s Rae Sanchini.

The original film was released in 1994.

Reality Check: Expert Breaks Down the Discrepancy Between What Viewers Say They Want and What They Really Watch

Bill Carter of The New York Times takes a look at the discrepancy between a recent TiVo poll in which viewers said they're growing tired of reality programs and the ratings reality: Unscripted television shows have dominated this summer.

Out of broadcast TV's 20 highest-rated programs this summer among viewers between 18 and 49 years old, 15 were reality or unscripted shows, the story says. They include "So You Think You Can Dance" on Fox, "Big Brother" on CBS, “America’s Got Talent” on NBC and ABC’s “The Bachelorette,” all shows that have also performed well in previous years.

"It’s clear people have their favorite summer pastime reality shows, and they’re watching them,” said CBS research chief David F. Poltrack.

The most popular show among the demographic is "Jersey Shore," which drew 4.4 million viewers between 18 to 49, more than anything else on TV, during the week that included its Sept. 2 episode, the story says. The MTV program is a type of docu-soap, a format that the broadcast networks have generally avoided. But given the show's success, Carter writes, "the networks might reconsider that tendency."

Big Payday Looming for Simon Cowell?

British television network ITV is so anxious to keep Simon Cowell committed to the network that it may be prepared to offer him a three-year, $32 million deal, according to Deadline.com.

Cowell, who has reportedly given himself the nickname Mr. ITV because of all the success he has brought to the net, has already convinced ITV to plunk another $6 million into "The X Factor."

Cowell's current ITV deal, worth $9 million a year, is over at the end of 2010.

Football Coverage Lifts NBC and Fox in Sunday Ratings

Football was a big factor in the Sunday night Nielsen ratings, helping both Fox and NBC, according to TVbytheNumbers.com.

At 7 p.m. Fox’s NFL overrun into prime time collected a huge 8.1 rating in the 18-49 demographic, ahead of NBC's pre-game broadcast, which had a 2.1 in the demo. At 7:30, Fox's "The OT" postgame show was also strong, with a 6.1 rating, while "Football Night in America" on NBC built to a 3.1 in the 18-49 demo.

At 8 p.m. NBC’s game coverage had a 6.7 rating and a 9.1 in the 18-49 demographic, respectively, for the top and bottom halves of the hour. CBS's "Big Brother" had a 2.2 rating and a 2.0, respectively, for the same time periods.

At 9 p.m. the Redskins vs. Cowboys coverage on NBC averaged an 8.55 rating for the hour in the 18-49 demo

At 10 p.m. the game earned an 8.6 rating and an 8.1 for the top and bottom of the hour, trouncing ABC's "The Gates," which managed just a 0.7 rating in the 18-49 demographic for the hour.

Is HBO Having its Lifeblood Sucked Away by DirecTV?

HBO should be having a great year given that it's airing the third season of the hit "True Blood" and earlier this year debuted the award-winning "The Pacific," but instead HBO found itself with its lowest number of subscribers in four years during the second quarter, reports The Hollywood Reporter.

The pay-television channel had 28.6 million subscribers in the second quarter, according to numbers from SNL Kagan. That represents the second of its first back-to-back quarterly declines in at least six years, the story says.

So what's going on? DirecTV is sucking the lifeblood from HBO, the story says. The No. 1 satellite service has been using a tactic to pressure the network during carriage negotiations, by using "drastic reduction of the promotional support crucial to "upselling" HBO to subscribers," the article concludes.

Neither HBO nor DirecTV would comment, the story says.

Showtime and Starz saw subscriber increases in the second quarter. The bottom line may be that no matter how popular a pay-TV network's shows may be, they'll suffer when a distributor pulls back on hawking the service to customers, the article says.

While Lady Gaga and Kanye West Come out as Winners at the MTV Video Music Awards, Chelsea Handler Comes out the Loser; Taylor Swift's 'Savvy Insult' of West

The big winners this year at the MTV Video Music Awards were Lady Gaga, with eight awards for her record 13 nominations, and Kanye West, who redeemed himself from his microphone-grabbing stunt last year, The New York Times said in a review of the show.  But this year's big loser was the show's host, Chelsea Handler, who "was among the worst in the show’s history," the story remarks. 

While Handler is "consistently hilarious and inappropriate" during her interviews with musicians on her TV show, "Chelsea Lately," that didn't translate for the awards ceremony. "Here, she never looked comfortable, undone by nerves, brittle material and the wattage of those around her," the article says.

Her material was "purposefully out-of-touch, with brief, alarming flashes of off-color racial humor." West, meanwhile, wore a red suit to sing "Runaway" with what the story says was "knowing, bombastic humility," leading the audience to chant his name.

Taylor Swift, who had been West's victim during last year's microphone stunt, sang a new song called "Innocent" earlier in the evening, a song directed at West that was "an extremely savvy insult masquerading as the high road," the review said.

Report: Jennifer Lopez to Receive $12 Million for 'American Idol' Gig, While TV and Film Demands Were Denied

Jennifer Lopez has accepted a $12 million deal to become a judge on Fox's "American Idol," although most of her "diva demands" weren't met, Deadline.com reports.

According to the article, "Jennifer Lopez had been negotiating for a guaranteed "go" motion picture and TV pilots at Fox to accompany an asked-for $15 million 'American Idol' judging paycheck. But the powers-that-be who produce 'Idol' -- Fox, Fremantle, and 19 Entertainment -- balked."

Lopez had been trying to get a "vanity deal," which don't exist these days, to keep her movie career going, the story points out. One reason the "Idol" announcement on its new judges has been delayed is that Lopez has asked to time it with Island Def Jam releasing her first single in mid-September, the article says.

Report: In Less Than 5 Years Guess Which Part of the World Will Overtake Us As the World's Largest Ad Market

In less than five years--in 2014-- North America will no longer be the world's largest ad market, Bloomberg reports.

North American will be overtaken by the Asia-Pacific region, reports Bloomberg News, citing a report from eMarketer Inc. and Starcom MediVest Group.

Ad spending in Asia-Pacific will reach $173.2 billion in 2014, while spending in North America that year is projected to reach $190.6 billion, the story says.

"Increased consumer spending in China and India helped Asia-Pacific fare better in the economic slowdown than the rest of the world.

Companies worldwide have been boosting spending after cuts during the economic slowdown and designating more of their budgets to digital media and emerging markets," the article says.

OMG. If Ari Gold Was In Advertising and Knew About This, He'd Go Bat-Sh--!: Spike Fills Up 'Entourage' With Commercial Breaks Up To 10 Minutes Long. One Break Had Ads For 20 Different Marketers!

 Viacom's Spike cable network, in certain episodes of its off-HBO airiing of "Entourage,"  has run ad breaks ranging anywhere from six minutes in length to something approaching an eyebrow-raising 10 minutes in total, Advertising Age reports, adding, "In some cases, the ad breaks are longer than segments of the show, episodes of which have in recent weeks taken as long as 48 minutes to run."

According to the article, " 'Viewers don't like clutter,' said Debbie Solomon, managing director-business planning, at WPP's MindShare. She has studied the effects of 'commercial loads' since the 1980s. 'Every study we've seen on the subject says the same thing: More clutter is bad for your commercials.'

Jeff Lucas, executive VP-sales, at MTV Networks' Entertainment Group, which includes Spike, told Ad Age, "We don't want to put our customers in an environment that is not appropriate for their commercial messages. "If there's a problem, we'll fix it."

To read the entire Ad Age article, written by Brian Steinberg, please click here.

Most Interesting Non TV-Related Story: Family to Get $1.5 Million-Plus in First-Ever Autism Vaccine Court Award

A family is set to get more that $1.5 million in the first-ever court award linking autism to vaccines, CBS News reports.

Whether vaccines have a role in causing or triggering autism has been a matter of debate and controversy for a number of years.

According to the CBS News story, "In 2002, [the parents of Hannah Poling] filed an autism claim in federal vaccine court. Five years later, the government settled the case before trial and had it sealed. It's taken more than two years for both sides to agree on how much Hannah will be compensated for her injuries."

The article says that the family "will receive more than $1.5 million dollars for her life care; lost earnings; and pain and suffering for the first year alone.In addition to the first year, the family "will receive more than $500,000 per year to pay for Hannah's care. Those familiar with the case believe the compensation could easily amount to $20 million over the child's lifetime."

Hannah is now 9-years-old, the article says. She appeared to be developing normally up until she was 18 months old, when she received a number of vaccinations, the story says. It was after that that Hannah developed autism.

The article adds, "In acknowledging Hannah's injuries, the government said vaccines aggravated an unknown mitochondrial disorder Hannah had which didn't "cause" her autism, but "resulted" in it. It's unknown how many other children have similar undiagnosed mitochondrial disorder. All other autism 'test cases' have been defeated at trial. Approximately 4,800 are awaiting disposition in federal vaccine court."

NOTE: As many readers will recall, Bob Wright, who ran NBC for General Electric for years, and his wife Suzanne now head up Autism Speaks. According to the organization's web site, "We are dedicated to funding global biomedical research into the causes, prevention, treatments, and cure for autism; to raising public awareness about autism and its effects on individuals, families, and society; and to bringing hope to all who deal with the hardships of this disorder. We are committed to raising the funds necessary to support these goals."

The Wright's grandson is autistic.

According to the Autism Speaks website, according to a report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, "states that 1% or 1 in every 110 children has been diagnosed with autism, including 1 in 70 boys. This represents a staggering 57 percent increase from 2002 to 2006, and a 600 percent increase in just the past 20 years." 

As for the vaccine-autism controversy, the organization has another page on its website entitled "An Interview with Dr. Geri Dawson, Chief Science Officer, Autism Speaks, about the Organization's Research Funding and Position on Vaccines and Autism.

In the interview Dawson says, in part, "Could vaccines be one of the environmental triggers? Autism Speaks fundamentally is an evidence-based organization; so, let's look at the evidence. The studies that have been conducted thus far – and there have been many – have specifically examined whether thimerosal, a preservative containing mercury previously used in many vaccines, or the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine cause autism. Overwhelmingly, these studies have not found evidence for a causal relationship between either thimerosal or the MMR vaccine and autism. At the same time, some parents have reported that the appearance of autism symptoms coincided with vaccination, and thus have advocated for more research on the potential role of vaccines in autism. As an organization that is committed to understanding all the potential causes of autism, we cannot dismiss the concerns of parents, especially since autism may be caused by distinct combinations of genetic and environmental factors that may each account for only a small percent of overall cases. Although coincidence cannot be mistaken for causality, Autism Speaks believes that parental concerns merit thorough investigation."

Lifetime Making Telefilm Based on What May Be Garth Brooks' Most Popular Song

When you sit down and think about it, its seems like a natural: Lifetime is making a movie based on what just may be Garth Brooks' most popular song, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The song is Brooks' No. 1 classic "Unanswered Prayers." The song is about a married man who thinks he really should have married his high school sweeheart. When he runs into her he realizes he made the right decision marrying his wife.

In "The Garth Brooks Story," the singer says the song is based on a true story: "Unanswered Prayers was a big part of my heart that went out on that record. A true life thing that happened to Sandy and myself. In October of '89, I saw my old high school flame. And I can say this now at the time I couldn't. For the first two years of my married life, I really thought the girl that was for me was still that girl that was in high school. And now man just the realization that what you have is the best for you, and the best you could ever do in your lifetime. It sure makes you sleep well at night."

According to The Hollywood Reporter article, The movie will star Eric Close as happily married to his wife, played by Samantha Mathis, when his crush from high school, played by Madchen Amick, returns to town, the story says. The movie, which will debut in November, is produced by Sony Pictures Television and Emmy-winner Steven Schachter is directing.

TVWeek Exclusive: Hallmark's CEO, Bill Abbott, Explains Company's Expectations From Its Close Association with Martha Stewart, Which Starts Sept. 13th. One Intent Is To Expand Relationship Into Prime Time

TWeek continues its series of conversations with Bill Abbott, the president and CEO of the Hallmark cable channels, as today, Sept., 13, 2010, Hallmark begins a transformation almost unprecedented in basic cable.

Every once in awhile it's announced that a cable network is abandoning what it's doing to completely rebrand. Thus Discovery Home becomes Planet Green, or Discovery Health becomes the Oprah WInfrey Network. 

Much more challenging is to make major changes and adjustments without rebranding your network. That's one of the challenges with what Hallmark is trying to accomplish with a major partnership with Martha Stewart during Hallmark's daytime block of programming.

Here's our latest interview with Abbott.

TVWeek: What I want to do is talk a little about how the advertiser interests came down when you explained this big change you’re making to co-brand your daytime block (basically from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.) with the Martha Stewart Living folks.

Bill Abbott: Well, it really speaks to what I think advertisers are looking for from us, which is to be more reflective of the Hallmark brand and to be more in tune with that part of our DNA, that part of who we are. Certainly they welcomed the idea that we’re going to be bringing in a little bit of a different viewership that is more active and responsive, which is certainly what the Martha Stewart audience is looking for.

Within the value that provides we are able to do a number of different creative things around sponsorships and around different segments. That presents a very compelling proposition for advertisers who may be looking to break through the clutter and position their product in a little bit of a different way.

So, all the way around it was a major win for the network to be more targeted and on brand for what Hallmark truly stands for.

TVWeek: I know that some of the things you’re doing include a branded sweepstakes, affiliate cross-channel spots, and billboards, all of which sound great…You also included social media in the campaign, and social media seems to be a getting a lot of buzz right now. Can you talk a little bit about how important that is to the campaign and how that might involve advertisers as well?

Abbott: It’s not as much involving advertisers on our end as it is a vehicle to attract our enthusiasts and to attract the Martha enthusiasts and to get the word out about the promotion of this tremendous undertaking that we’re about to embark on. It’s fresh, original content that may be in the tradition of Hallmark but is new to our network. Typically viewers don’t tune in to Hallmark to see this type of product, so we need to have a viral grass-roots campaign that speaks to every avenue of the way people are connected. Certainly social media is one of those ways, and we’ve found it to be a very effective way to gain momentum and gain a lot of awareness for what we’re doing.

TVWeek: That makes sense. Another thing I’m curious about is: as this moves forward, is this something that you’d like to carry over and slowly move into primetime, or not? Can you say anything about that or about how primetime would also be evolving with this?

Abbott: There’s no question about that. We’re breaking the ice here in daytime with this effort, but our vision is clearly to have Hallmark Channel reflecting this type of spirit of the brand and of celebrating people connecting through occasions and through various big events in their lives.

We’re looking to do that in a bigger way by extending into primetime. We’ll be dipping our toe in the water here, moving forward with some specials that Martha will be doing for us, both of the holiday type and the interview type. Also, we’ll be potentially re-running some of the product that we’re producing for daytime in some prime access type areas just to begin to flow our audience into primetime. Certainly we’ll see what the results are, but we are looking at developing new and unique lifestyle content that would be appropriate for primetime.

One of the things that provides us with a great opportunity to do that is the growth of our Hallmark Movie Channel. As we talked about before, we’re approaching 40 million homes and we are THE fastest growing network in cable over the past twelve months in terms of distribution. So we ultimately really need to distinguish the Hallmark Movie Channel from the Hallmark Channel and vice versa.

Certainly one of the strategies would be to ultimately migrate the majority of our movies over from the Hallmark Channel to the Hallmark Movie Channel to create two clearly distinct destinations that are valuable in and of themselves to viewers within different aspects of Hallmark brand.

TVWeek:  As you go about doing that are you gonna be running more and more promos on the regular Hallmark Channel for the Hallmark Movie Channel?

Abbott: Yes, and we’ve begun to do that. Certainly bigger organizations have benefited from that ability to cross promote across multiple channels, and we haven’t had that benefit here over the years, but with the growth of the Hallmark Movie Channel we’re beginning to have that opportunity, and we’ll be doing it vice versa, across the Hallmark Movie Channel for The Hallmark Channel as well.

One of the things we’ve found is that our audience is additive, and it’s not really necessarily cannibalizing the Hallmark Channel in terms of growing the Hallmark Movie Channel. We’ve been fortunate in that so far we’ve just been growing the brand and the awareness that Hallmark has cable networks, and that they are entertaining and of high quality.

TVWeek: In the past, during various holidays, you’ve had promotions with the Hallmark retail stores. Is that going to continue or change in any way?

Abbott: No. The Hallmark stores can work anywhere 12 to 18 months ahead. So the Martha relationship really evolved too late to capitalize on if for this fall holiday season. But moving forward, certainly, we intend doing our best to convince those at the stores that this is a partnership that works for both of us, and that we can tap into the power of 3,500 retail outlets, and what we can do there. I think the receptivity should be a lot higher given the fact that our networks will be so on brand and so appropriate and so conducive to communicating the message of ‘people connecting’ that I think that’s a great opportunity.

TVWeek: Any interest in actually co-branding Hallmark with the Martha brand moving forward?

Abbott: Certainly Martha is a huge part of everything we’re doing, and we could not be prouder to be in a partnership with her. And to be working not only with her, but down the road with her stable of talent.

Very much under the radar—and a little bit, I think, unfairly—is our effort here. You look at Oprah and the network that they’ve been attempting to develop now for several years, and it’s not that clear what they are doing. I’m sure they have a game plan to be successful.

But you look at where we’ll be here in the fourth quarter, and you look at where Martha is, and you look at the stable of talent that Martha Stewart Omnimedia has developed, which is very very significant, through the “Martha Stewart Show” and through the multiple platforms that Omnimedia has, from their magazines to their digital sights, they are on the cutting edge, but very much under the radar and in many ways ahead of Oprah in terms of what they’re doing, so we certainly plan on working with Omnimedia developing that talent and to take that to the next level.

And we have some great ideas on how to develop shows that we own—that are part of the Hallmark Crown Media family—that we would then have the rights to digitally, and different ways to promote them. To that end we’ve hired Laura Sillars, who was at HGTV for many years, and who worked with Oprah and Good Morning America who will certainly be our lead in terms of development and in different projects outside of the Martha Stewart Omnimedia (MSO) stable.

TVWeek: Moving forward, does it make sense to rebrand the channel to include Martha’s name?

Abbott: That’s a much more difficult question. For now we’re focused on operating the Hallmark Channel and driving the value of that proposition and what that looks like to our advertisers, affiliates and viewers.

Again, we have the ultimate respect for Martha and her brand, but no plans are in place to develop anything that is co-branded or any changes in ownership structure of the company.

TVWeek: I believe in the Oprah-Discovery deal for OWN that one of the entities Oprah has contributed is her website. So we were wondering what kind of cross-pollination, if any, will be see between and across the websites of the Hallmark Channel and Martha Stewart?

Abbott: That’s one area where we probably haven’t been as effective in terms of being partners with them. They are very protective of their content and they’ve got a very very robust opportunity with their stable of talent and products.

We have not yet formed a partnership in earnest that allows both organizations to take advantage of our different platforms.

Down the road it would certainly make sense. The deal has come together so quickly, and if you look a everything we have accomplished, in six or seven short months, in terms of getting a deal done and getting a fundamental structure, and moving the ‘Martha Stewart Show’ over here and the developing specials and interview shows and two other first-run original shows that we’ll run in daytime –you look at all the extensions we had to do just to nail down the television rights and the production—it was a huge undertaking.

So maybe Hallmark Channel MSO 2.0 is on the way, in which we look to take the digital side and some of the other elements of MSO Online and we roll that out moving forward. But as of now, we have so much on our side to promote that isn’t Martha—everything from the 24 Hours of Christmas to Countdown to the Holidays to 15 original movies in the fourth quarter.

TVWeek: We rarely see a cable network attempt a transformation exactly in the way you are doing it. Outside of ratings, as you roll out the Martha Stewart block, what are the markers you and your team have that will indicate that this transformation is being successful?

Abbott: That’s a very excellent and fair question. We are fully anticipating that we are going to hit a number of bumps in the road here. It is not our expectation that we are going to begin our foray into this type of programming, with this type of change, with radical, runaway numbers that are NBC-like or syndication-like, coming out of what the show did in syndication.

We feel good with the work we’ve done. We feel that we’ve made all the right moves from a marketing point of view, from a promotional point of view, from a planning point of view, and from a scheduling point of view. We have done everything, we believe, in our power, to make this successful. But it will take time.

It would be unreasonable to think that we flip the switch [today, Sept. 13th] and that we would have a completely transformed network that was heavily skewed in women 25-to-54 to being more upscale, more A&B county, more top 10 markets, all the things that Martha has typically been in syndication. It’ll be a process.

A business model has been developed to a point that we have plenty of time to let this grow and let this sink in and truly begin to have that brand develop and take place over time in terms of the Hallmark Channel being more reflective of the Hallmark DNA. So we are committed to it and we are not really looking at the ratings of the first two days of “The Martha Stewart Show” and celebrating or feeling bad about where we are.#

The Hollywood Reporter, 80 Years Since It First Started as A Daily, To Become a Large Format Glossy Weekly Starting Next Month

The Hollywood Reporter is taking a radical step that its new ownership claim is necessary to save the publication: It will become weekly in October, 2010, 80 years and one month after it first started its life publishing as a daily.

"The five-times-a-week publication will become a large-format, glossy weekly starting next month under the direction of editorial director Janice Min and Richard Beckman, chief executive of parent e5 Global Media," the New York Times reports.

Beckman came to e5 from consumer magazine giant Conde Nast, where he was president of the Fairchild Fashion Group. Prior to taking that postion in March, 2009, Beckman was president of the Condé Nast Media Group and chief marketing officer for Condé Nast Publications. He spent almost 25 years at Conde Nast.

The Hollywood Reporter magazine will be accompanied by a redesigned Website that will focus on breaking news. "The Reporter’s message to the competition: Traditional trade reporting in Hollywood has been in need of heart paddles for a long time and — clear! — we’ve finally arrived with them," the article says, adding, that annual revenue at the publication has shrunk to $30 million from $50 million four years ago.

While its circulation is currently at 47,000, Beckman says that will rise to 60,000 in the first months after the remake, while the goal is to quadruple that in three years, the article says.

According to the article, "The Reporter wants to transform the way it does business but also change the model that has allowed the Hollywood trade publications to exist for nearly a century. Heavily dependent on advertising from the entertainment industry, publications like Variety and The Reporter have long provided favorable coverage of the films and studios that pay their bills. Mr. Beckman is gunning for a larger slice of the advertising market: beauty, fashion, consumer electronics and liquor, for starters."

Interestingly, though the article doesn't mention it, the Reporter and Variety have gone after these other ad categories for years.

The article concludes, "And although some in Hollywood may be skeptical, Mr. Beckman, never one to lack brio or confidence, is not deterred. 'It makes me laugh to get pigeonholed by these morons,' he said.

Nancy Grace Says She's Not Trying to Replace Judge Judy With New Syndicated Show

Nancy Grace, who will debut her CBS-distributed syndicated series "Swift Justice with Nancy Grace" today, Sept. 13, 2010, tells the Hollywood Reporter that she's not trying to replace "Judge Judy." 

"No one can replace "Judge Judy." She's the gold standard," Grace says. CBS distributes both shows.

Grace says she didn't at first understand the concept of "the next generation of courtrooms," but what it means is the program uses "giant monitors that essentially turn into electronic witness stands, where we have witnesses -- experts -- joining us from all over the country."

Asked if she's concerned her show might keep someone from getting a fair trial, Grace responds, "I have two syllables for you: O.J.! Look at all the analysis of that case, and he still walked on double murder. Believe me, that jury isn't paying any attention to what I or any other talking head has to say about the case."

Rip Torn, with Nine Months of Sobriety, Says Drinking Helped Him Hone His Acting Craft

Rip Torn tells the New York Post that he's been sober for nine months but credits drinking with allowing him to hone his craft.

The actor says that drinking gave him "that little pause where you get a little laugh just before you deliver the line that gets the big laugh."

Tomrn didn't explain why he could not have learned that without alcohol.

Torn, 79, was arrested in January for breaking into a Connecticut bank while drunk and carrying a loaded pistol, the story says. While a felony bank-robbery charge has been dismissed -- Torn claimed he mistook the bank for his house -- he's scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday to face the charge of carrying a loaded gun while intoxicated, the article adds.

Asked about his health, Torn responds, "I'm fine. Do you want to Indian wrestle?", although the actor does appear a bit frail, the story says. Torn, whose character on "30 Rock" had been cryogenically frozen, has started acting again with parts in a film version of Eugene O'Neill's play "Anna Christie" and in a movie being made by his filmmaker daughter, the article notes.

Torn becme well-known to TV audiences when he played the producer on HBO's "The Larry Sanders Show," a part for which he won an Emmy.

'Seinfeld' Star Michael Richards Sued for Allegedly Attacking a Photographer

Michael Richards, who starred as Kramer in "Seinfeld," has been accused of attacking a photographer in Los Angeles, reports TMZ.com.

A lawsuit filed by photographer Brendon O'Neal claims that Richards approached him with a "menancing manner" and then allegedly beat him, the story says.

The suit was filed Friday in L.A. County Superior Court and claims that O'Neal suffered "great mental, physical, and nervous pain and suffering." O'Neal is suing for an unspecified amount for damages, medical expenses and more, the article says.

The suit doesn't give an explanation for the alleged attack, the story adds.

CBS Readying Updated Version of 'Wild, Wild West' With 'Galactica's' Ron Moore on Board

Ron Moore, the man who rebooted "Battlestar Galactica" into a hit series, is now taking on a reboot of the 1960s CBS Western action drama "The Wild, Wild West," reports Deadline.com.

Moore is teaming on the project with Naren Shankar, a former executive producer/showrunner for "CSI."

Like "Hawaii Five-0," CBS is hoping for "The Wild Wild West" to capture the spirit of the original show while giving it a new spin.

"The Wild Wild West" starred Robert Conrad and Ross Martin as secret agents in the 1870s, working for President Ulysses S. Grant. It ran from 1965-69 and inspired a 1999 feature film version that starred Will Smith and Kevin Kline, which failed miserably.

Mike Benson, Co-Chief of ABC Marketing (and Well-Known as Chairman of PromaxBDA for Several Years Up Until Earlier This Year) Is Leaving ABC

"ABC marketing co-chief Mike Benson is out after 12 years at the network," Variety reports, adding, "Benson's exit comes as new ABC Entertainment prexy Paul Lee looks to make his first mark at the network."

Benson has been running ABC marketing with Marla Provencio, who is staying in place. 

Benson and Provencio had both been executive vice presidents of marketing for the ABC Entertainment Group.

Benson has been particularly well-known in the industry because for several years, up until earlier this year, he had also served as chairman of PromaxBDA.

According to Variety, "Timing of the news -- just a week before the fall launch -- took the industry by surprise, but observers speculated that Lee -- who helped rebrand ABC Family, and before that, launched BBC America in the U.S. -- saw the area as the most in need of a boost. 'It's shocking that this moment in time they would jettison someone so senior,' one rival said."

The article goes on to say that ABC has been criticized for its campaigns for two upcoming series, "No Ordinary Family" and "My Generation."

However, the article also says Benson  "is well-respected in the marketing world and has earned high marks over the years for ABC's campaigns behind shows like "Desperate Housewives," "Dancing with the Stars," "Lost" and last season's "Modern Family."

The article also quotes an ABC spokesperson saying that "Benson would stick around for a transition period through the immediate fall launch period."

Among many accolades Benson has received over the years are an Emmy in 2009, two Campaigns of Distinction awards from TVWeek, in 2004 and 2007, an Entertainment Marketer of the Year in 2005, 2007 and 2008 by Advertising Age and, in 2000, by Brandweek magazine.

Roger Ebert Launching New Version of Beloved Movie Review Show--And Despite Being Silenced by Cancer, He Will Appear on the Show

Roger Ebert is bringing back the show that made him and Gene Siskel famous, "At the Movies," and it's returning to its roots in public television, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Ebert, who is unable to speak because of cancer, will have his name on the show and will be a co-producer with his wife, Chaz Ebert. The show will be called "Roger Ebert Presents At the Movies," and will feature Christy Lemire, film critic for the Associated Press, and Elvis Mitchell of NPR.

The new show will launch on WTTW-TV in Chicago, just as the orgininal version of the show did back in 1975.

Ebert will use a computer voice to appear in a segment called “Roger’s Office,” but he will not debate movies with the two hosts, the story says.

The trademark "thumbs up/thumbs down" shorthand that Ebert and Siskel introduced will be back.

Ebert wrote about the new incarnation of the show, saying, "This is the rebirth of a dream. I believe that by returning to its public roots, our new show will win better and more consistent time slots in more markets. American television is swamped by mindless gossip about celebrities, and I'm happy this show will continue to tell viewers honestly if the critics think a new movie is worth seeing."

Cable News Marks 9/11 Anniversary

All three major cable news channels have plans in place to mark the ninth anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks with special programming, TVNewser reports.

CNN will broadcast live studio programming all day, including coverage of memorial services in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania. It will air a special, "CNN Investigates: Bin Laden's New Jihadists," hosted by Drew Griffin, at 8 p.m. and 11 p.m. ET.

"Fox News Reporting: 9/11: Timeline of Terror" will air at 3 p.m. and 9 p,.m. ET on Fox News Channel. At 8 p.m. the network’s show “Huckabee” will examine the aftermath of the attacks. Much of the network’s live studio coverage throughout the day will also focus on commemorating the anniversary.

MSNBC will again re-air NBC's "Today" coverage from Sept. 11, 2001, from 8:57 a.m. until noon. It will also televise live studio programming from 7-8:57 a.m., and from noon-2 p.m., anchored by Alex Witt.

Simon Cowell Spouts Off on Why He Got 'Fed Up' With 'Idol' ... and What He Thinks of Lou Reed

Want to know why Simon Cowell left Fox's "American Idol" after 10 seasons? According to Deadline.com, Cowell said he became bored doing the show, adding, “Especially when you’re not producing it, I got fed up.”

As for his new American show, "The X Factor," Cowell said it will hit the air in March 2011, which may push the British show "Britain's Got Talent" to fall 2011.

Cowell dissed singer Lou Reed for refusing to allow Susan Boyle to perform his song "Perfect Day" on "America's Got Talent." Cowell called Reed "petty and pathetic."

He also said he is setting up a joint venture with new CNN host Piers Morgan to do talk shows, according to the story.

'House' Co-Star Jumps to CBS Sitcom

One of the co-stars of Fox’s “House” won’t be donning the doctor’s coat this season because she has switched shows and networks, Deadline.com reports.

Actress Jennifer Morrison will play the romantic interest of Ted (Josh Radnor) in a major recurring role on CBS’s “How I Met Your Mother,” according to the story. She will appear in between five and 13 episodes as a “rabble-rousing activist” who may turn out to be the mythical mother of the show’s title, the story reports.

From British Royal to American Reality Show Star: Duchess of York's Struggle Becomes a TV Series

Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, has agreed to do a six-part series with Oprah Winfrey’s new OWN channel, according to TheWrap.

"Finding Sarah," a documentary reality show, will examine the former royal's "personal struggle to rebuild her life," the story reports.

Lisa Erspamer, OWN's chief creative officer, projects the show will debut in the first quarter of 2011. OWN, a joint venture of Winfrey's Harpo Inc. and Discovery Communications, is set to debut on Jan. 1, 2011.

In a statement, Erspamer said, "With the help of experts Dr. Phil McGraw, Suze Orman, Martha Beck and others, the Duchess will open up about her recent public troubles and explore her lifelong battles with weight, relationships and finances. She will look to put the past behind her and move forward to a positive future.”
 

Apparently Viewers Are Ready for Some Football: NBC's Game Broadcast Dominates Ratings, Scores Best-Ever Overnight Nielsens for NFL Kickoff

The combination of Brett Favre and the Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints resulted in the best-ever Nielsen ratings for the kickoff of the National Football League season, TVbytheNumbers.com reports.

The NBC broadcast of the game, in which the Saints beat Favre's Minnesota Vikings 14-9, scored a 17.7 overnight rating/28 share, according to the story. That was the highest regular-season prime-time NFL rating on any network since a 1997 game between the Denver Broncos and the San Francisco 49ers. For NBC, it was the network's best-ever regular-season prime-time game.

CBS's "Big Brother" also fared well Thursday night as it bested CW's season premiere of "Vampire Diaries," TVbytheNumbers.com reported.

At 8 p.m. the NBC pre-game broadcast and the kickoff scored a 5.6 rating and an 8.2 in the top and bottom halves of the hour in the 18-49 demographic. "Big Brother" had a 2.7 rating and a 2.3 for the two half-hours in the demo, compared with "Vampire Diaries’" 1.6 overall rating in the 18-49 demo.

At 9 p.m. CW's premiere of the new series "Nikita" earned a 1.4 in the 18-49 demo for the hour, while the first hour of the season finale of ABC's "Rookie Blue" averaged a 1.25. NBC dominated the hour with the game earning a 10.25 average in the 18-49 demo.

The last hour of "Rookie Blue's" finale managed only a 1.1 rating in the 18-49 demographic at 10 p.m. The NBC broadcast of the game finished the night with a 9.5 rating and a 9.1 for the top and bottom halves of the hour in the demo.

In the 'Event' NBC Does Poorly This Fall, Blame This Show

NBC's greatest hope for the fall TV season is "The Event," according to The New York Times, which notes that the show is getting a "multimillion-dollar advertising campaign that is entering its final weeks."

"The Event" is clearly NBC's big hope for a fall television hit, and the network is doing everything it can to draw viewers to its debut, including dropping mysterious clues, making large advertising buys and having a star--Blair Underwood--who Twitters and posts Facebook updates reminding fans to watch, the article says.

The multimillion-dollar ad campaign, however, doesn't let viewers know what the event referenced in the title is, with the goal of creating a mystery that NBC hopes will draw in viewers.

According to the story, Jeffrey Reiner, an executive producer and a director of “The Event,” says he even turned down his mother when she asked the meaning of the title. “And I said, ‘I love you, but I am not at liberty to discuss it,'" he says.

The advertising buys include several-page magazine spreads and commercials that feature quotes from people who went to a screening (one person compared the series to "Lost," which went off the air in May). NBC plans to rebroadcast the first episode of "The Event" on six of NBC Universal's cable channels, the story says.

The network is also holding advance screenings in five cities, including Petersburg, Va., the hometown of star Underwood. Underwood's daily tweeting and Facebook posting about the show partly helped win his hometown the honor, the story says.

Talk About Your Dynamic Duo, A Dream Team Batman & Robin: J.J. Abrams Teaming With 'Dark Knight' Co-Writer For TV Project

J.J. Abrams--whose credits include "Alias," "Fringe" and the last "Star Trek" movie--is shopping around a crime-thriller project created by "The Dark Knight" co-writer Jonah Nolan, reports EW.com's The Ausiello Files.

Nolan co-wrote "The Dark Knight" with his brother, Christopher Nolan. It would be the first television project for Jonah Nolan, who also wrote the short story upon which the cult favorite "Memento"--also directed by his brother--was based, the article notes.

One network, which isn't named, is very interested in the project, the story says.

More Intrigue at 'The Office'--Whoever Is New Star of Show After Carell Leaves May Not Be Same Person Who Is Named to Be the New Boss on the Show

"One question being mulled by “Office” writers is whether those two roles — the new star of the show and the new boss of Dunder Mifflin’s Scranton branch — are going to be the same person," writes former TVWeek star reporter James Hibberd at his Live Feed blog on the site of The Hollywood Reporter.

The show's plan is to spend the first half of the upcoming season highlighting different actors while celebrating Steve Carell's last year on the show.

The article adds that the second half of the season will focus on the departure of Carell's boss character, Michael Scott, and who will replace him.

Although it was previously reported that "The Office's" Executive Producer  Paul Lieberstein wants Harvey Keitel to replace Carell, Hibberd writes that it's not a serious option.

Football Coach Legend Jimmy Johnson Explains Why He Spent a Lot of Time in His Underwear on 'Survivor' ... And How the Show Literally Saved His Life

Football coaching legend Jimmy Johnson explained to reporters on Thursday why he spent a lot of time in his skivvies on the forthcoming edition of  "Survivor,"  reports the Los Angeles Times' ShowTracker blog.

Johnson, 67, who coached the Dallas Cowboys to Super Bowl victories, said he got tired of living in wet, smelly clothes, the story says.

He also explains his strategy for declining the role of tribe leader: "I told them right upfront, 'Listen I don’t want to be the leader. I’ve watched "Survivor" enough to know that the guy out front, he’s the first one voted off,'" he said he told his team, made up of contestants over 40 years old.

Johnson added that he wouldn't compete on the show again because he was pushed to the limit. (He noted that he consumed less than 100 calories on many days.) "It’s as difficult as I thought it was going to be and more," Johnson said, according to the article.

He also explained how the show saved his life. The story says that three years ago Johnson had tried out for the show "and made it through all of the hurdles until a physical showed he had one blocked artery and another artery that was 70% blocked. The show 'probably saved my life,' he said."

The article continues, "Once he regained his health and got into excellent shape, shedding 30 pounds, Johnson applied again. This time, there was no stopping him...."

Johnson appears on "Survivor: Nicaragua," which debuts on Wednesday, Sept. 15, 2010. ("Survivor" moves to Wednesday this season.)

Google Instant Search: Some Marketers Are Saying It's the End of Online Marketing As We Have Known It

Some in the online marketing community are saying that Google's new instant seach spells the end of online marketing as we've known it, the Telegraph reports.

According to the article, "Search Engine Optimizers, who try to get websites to the top of Google rankings, and Search Engine Marketers, who jostle for their sites to be placed in Google’s ‘Sponsored Links,’ have been blogging and tweeting with worried haste, some going as far as to suggest the death of online marketing as we know it."

After saying that marketers don't seem to have much to worry about, the article says, "Far more interesting than the white noise of worry emanating from optimisers is how Google Instant will alter search behaviour. Without the psychological full stop of pressing return, and with users able to see points of interest as they type and consequently refine as they go, it’s plausible that searches will get longer and more specific (feeding, not starving, the Long Tail). It’s also likely that ranking in the hallowed top 3 or 4 positions will become even more important, given that users probably won’t look further down the page while typing. If your result appears in those 3 and it answers the query, it’s going to get a very high Click Through Rate (CTR)."

NBC Exec Says Goal Is to Displace ABC

NBC's goal this season is to displace ABC as the third-ranked network in the ratings, Bloomberg reports.

"Our real competition is ABC," says Angela Bromstad, president of prime-time entertainment, the article notes, adding that that means dislodging ABC from its third-place standing, rather than taking on top-rated CBS or Fox at No. 2.

NBC is reversing its strategy of shrinking its broadcast business with this season's bets on shows from the likes of Jerry Bruckheimer and J.J. Abrams, the story says.

"We had spent the last several years shrinking our business by looking at the economics and maybe we went too far," says Jeff Gaspin, chairman of NBC Universal TV Entertainment. This season, NBC may be doubling its investment in new shows to $125 million to $150 million, the story says, citing an estimate from Jack Myers of the Jack Myers Media Business Report. NBC declined to comment on how much it has spent for new shows.

He's No Joaquin Phoenix: Set Your DVRs For, Well, A Rarely Shown Real Stinker (Not Available on DVD) Wherein Johnny Cash Plays a Sociopathic Killer In His Movie Debut

'Nuff said. It's "Five Minures to Live" on TCM at 2 a.m. tonight (really Saturday morning) eastern time, and earlier in all other time zones.

If you really want to torture yourself, below we present a short clip of  Cash singing "Five Minutes to Live" to a potential victim (Cash wrote the lyrics). Actually, the clip, like the movie, is unintentionally very funny.

How bad was this movie? After it bombed upon release in 1961 it was re-released to drive-ins and theaters as "Door-to-Door Maniac."

Little Ronny Howard and Pamela  Mason are also in the movie.

After seeing this clip one of the greatest movie exchanges in history will be forever inscribed in your mind:

Cay Forrester (the woman who plays a potential victim): "Do you want me to just sit here and listen to you sing?

Cash: "Knit!"

Forrester: "Knit? I don't knit."

Bloom Off the Rose: The Sagging Economy Finally Catches Up With Wii and the Other Video Gamers

Video game hardware and software posted their worst August sales results in four years, with Nintendo's Wii showing its worst sales month ever, reports MercuryNews.com.

U.S. retail sales of game hardware, software and accessories fell 10% from a year earlier, the story says, citing market research firm NPD Group.

The reason? According to Wedbush Securities analyst Michael Pachter, the continued economic gloom, high prices for consoles and consumer fatigue with Wii, the story says.

Software sales were especially hard-hit, with sales in August plunging 14% from a year earlier, the story says.

Still, "Madden NFL 11," the latest version of the franchise, was a hit last month, with 920,800 copies sold for Microsoft's Xbox 360 and 893,600 sold for Sony's PlayStation 3.

Oprah Trying to Score Post-Jail Interview with Lindsay Lohan

Lindsay Lohan is in discussions to appear on "The Oprah Winfrey Show," which begins its last season on Monday, reports RadarOnline.com.

The talks between the two sides are going well and the outcome is looking good, the story says.

A source close to Lohan, who hasn't had an interview since she entered jail in July and was later released, says several media outlets are being considered and a decision won't be made for a while.

A representative for "The Oprah Winfrey Show" said nothing has been set, although the source didn't deny that talks are ongoing, according to the article.

Syfy's 'Caprica' to Come Back on Air Sooner Than Planned--Three Months Earlier

Syfy is returning "Caprica" to the airwaves about three months earlier than originally planned, reports Nellie Andreeva at Deadline.com.

"Caprica," which is a prequel to cult series "Battlestar Galactica," was originally supposed to air the second part of its first season in January, a year after it premiered, the story says.

Now, the show will return to television on Oct. 5, airing behind new episodes of "Stargate Universe," the article notes.

There isn't yet a renewal decision for the series starring Eric Stoltz, although a reduced order for a second season of "Caprica" is a possibility, the story says.

FX's 'Terriers' Gets Slow Start on Wednesday's Debut

While critics have praised FX's new show "Terriers," the program got off to a slow start on Wednesday with just 1.6 million viewers, reports Joe Adalian at New York Magazine's Vulture blog.

Less than half of those viewers were in the 18- to 49-year-old demographic, the story says.

"Of course, everything's relative in cablesville: AMC's 'Rubicon' bowed last month with only 400,000 more viewers and it was hailed by many (including us) as a strong starter," Adalian writes. "Unfortunately for FX, its series have a track record of doing much better than those on AMC, with shows such as 'Justified' and 'Sons of Anarchy' regularly racking up over 4 million pairs of eyeballs."

Report: NBC Universal Not Going Ahead With Movie to Wrap Up 'Heroes'

NBC isn't going forward with a movie that would wrap up the four-year-old television series "Heroes," according to EW.com's The Hollywood Insider blog.

After the show was canceled in May, there was speculation that creator Tim Kring would tie up the show with a film, the article says. But perhaps the show could continue in some form on the Web or in print, the article adds.

In an interview in June, Kring said, "The 'Heroes' universe is something that can be tapped into again in many ways," the story says.

Report: MGM to Enter Pre-Packaged Bankruptcy and Re-Emerge Primarily as a Cable TV Producer; Search on to Find a TV Topper

MGM--the studio with perhaps the most -storied name in Hollywood--is expected to enter a pre-packaged bankruptcy and re-emerge as a company that primaily produces TV shows for cable, Variety reports [Note: Variety is behind a firewall and may charge you read its article].

According to the article, "With Spyglass toppers Gary Barber and Roger Birnbaum having signed a nonbinding letter of intent to become co-chairmen and co-CEOs of the troubled studio, a search is under way for someone to oversee development of TV programming, [a] source said."

The story explains, "The concept is that TV programs could be developed from MGM's robust library, including 'Robo Cop,' 'Silence of the Lambs' and 'Dances With Wolves.' Although MGM made its foray into television 55 years ago with 'MGM Parade' on ABC, its TV operations have never had nearly the success that the studio has enjoyed on the bigscreen. Currently, its 'Pink Panther' and 'Pals' air on Time Warner's Cartoon Network."

MGM has about $4 billion in debt, the article notes, with about 100 creditors. The plan would be to come out of the bankruptcy reorg with no debt, the article says.

Survey: Public May Be Getting Tired of Reality TV

A new poll commissioned by TiVo provides indications that the public may be getting tired of reality TV, TheWrap reports.

"Snooki and 'Real Housewives' fatigue may be setting in," the survey states, according to the story. The study examines which shows TV viewers can be expected to watch this fall.

The survey found that "Law & Order: Los Angeles" and "Hawaii Five-0" are the most anticipated new series, according to the story.

Also among the findings reported in the story:

27% of viewers like the suspense genre the most, followed by comedy (22%).

40% picked reality TV as the TV theme that is the most overdone, followed by vampires and supernatural (22%).

The most anticipated returning series are "NCIS" (24%), "House" (21%) and "The Office" (15%).

Entertainment Chief Lays Out Challenges Facing 'Probably the Last Broadcast Network That Will Ever Be Built'--And Why Its Struggles Could Serve as a Blueprint for Network TV

On the eve of its fifth season and still unprofitable, her network "is probably the last broadcast network that will ever be built," Dawn Ostroff, entertainment president for the youth-focused network CW, tells the Los Angeles Times.

"The marketplace is cluttered and we are in the middle of a digital revolution," Ostroff says. As for the debut of the CW, "People who used to watch the WB on a certain channel had to change the channel to watch their shows. The UPN people ... had to find their shows on different channels. It was a very big undertaking, much larger than what everybody realized."

Ostroff says that the network's youthful audience acts like "the canary in the coal mine" by "showing us what the future is." The network doesn't place its content on Hulu, and this year plans to insert more commercials in its own online episodes, which could add a "significant" amount of revenue. The network has also created a measurement system for tracking its online audience demographics, Ostroff says.

'Hills' Villain Spencer Pratt Offers Public Apology to Heidi

Spencer Pratt, best known for his bad boy role on the MTV reality show “The Hills,” has issued a long public apology to his wife, Heidi Montag, People magazine reports.

In an interview with the magazine, Pratt addressed the woman he is divorcing and said he will do “intense soul-searching” and will pursue "appropriate avenues for my issues," the story reports.

"Divorce can be a trying, draining, and emotionally devastating experience for all involved," Pratt, 27, is quoted as telling the magazine. "Despite these hardships, most individuals manage to conduct themselves with dignity and maturity. I did not--I failed spectacularly."

Pratt has threatened to release a sex tape involving Montag, has Twittered negatively about her and has pursued her in Costa Rica, the story points out.

TNT Moving Ahead With New Version of 'Dallas'; Other Pilots Also Ordered

That big-screen version of "Dallas" may or may not come to fruition, but TNT has given the thumbs-up to a television pilot based on the CBS prime-time soap opera, according to TheWrap.

Cynthia Cidre will exec produce the pilot for Warner Horizon Television.

In addition to revisiting the Ewing family, TNT is ordering pilots for a new police drama by writer Allan Loeb, who just scripted the big-screen sequel to "Wall Street," and ABC Studios' "Perception," about an "eccentric neuroscientist who uses his unique outlook to help the federal government solve cases."

TBS has given the go-ahead to a new Dean Devlin ("Leverage") pilot called "Brain Trust," the story of three geniuses working in a think tank.

Modest Premiere Ratings for CW Shows as Reality Again Wins the Night

NBC’s “America’s Got Talent,” Fox’s “MasterChef” and CBS’s “Big Brother” were the top-rated shows in the Nielsens for the 18-49 demo Wednesday night, TVbytheNumbers reported.

“Big Brother” led all shows in the 8 p.m. hour with a 2.6 rating in the demo, while the first hour of “MasterChef” had a 2.3 and NBC’s ‘Minute to Win It” scored a 1.8 rating. The season premiere of “America’s Next Top Model” on CW managed a 1.3 in the demo.

“MasterChef” climbed to a 2.6 rating in the demo for the 9 p.m. hour, just behind “America’s Got Talent” with a 2.7. The series premiere of CW’s “Hellcats” settled for a 1.2 rating in the demo, but built on its "Top Model" lead-in in total viewers with 2.99 million to "Model's" 2.88 million.

At 10 p.m. NBC won the battle of the repeats, with “Law & Order: SVU” scoring a 1.8 rating in the demo.

Sports Commentator Avoids Criminal Charges

An ESPN sports commentator who was arrested in a domestic violence dispute last month will not be charged in the case, reports mediabistro.com.

Jay Mariotti was suspended by AOL Fancast.com and has not appeared on ESPN’s "Around the Horn" since the incident with his partner in Venice Beach, Calif., on Aug. 21.

The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office has decided not to pursue the case against Mariotti, the article says.

After Lukewarm Test Runs, Twentieth May Push Ahead Anyway With Talk Shows Starring Ex-Governor, Former Late-Night Host

After two new talk shows wrapped up their test runs with middling results, Twentieth Television says the programs may still end up in syndication for the fall of 2011, reports TVNewsCheck.com.

"The Huckabee Show," hosted by former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, improved in its ratings over the run, the story says. While it began with an average household rating of 0.7, that rose to a 0.9 last week, the story says. Still, the average rating for "Huckabee" declined 43% from its lead-ins, the article adds.

"The Kilborn File," hosted by former late-night host Craig Kilborn, had weaker ratings, ending a six-week test with a 0.7 rating on eight Fox owned-and-operated stations, the story says.

Stephen Brown, senior vice president of programming and development at Twentieth, said the company will decide in a few weeks about syndication.

Guess Which Broadcast Network Was No. 1 Last Week In the 18-49 Year-Old Demo (Hint: It Was The First Time This Network Accomplished This Feat)

Wonder if you can guess which broadcast network--for the first time ever--was No. 1 for an entire week (last week) in the 18-49 year-old demo in the national ratings.

It was Univision, reports the Los Angeles Times' Company Town blog.

Univision also beat Fox and the CW in total viewers, although its victories comes during a time when Fox, CBS, NBC, ABC and the CW are in rerun season, the story points out.

Even though this time of year becomes slow for the English-language networks, they have also been broadcasting some new programming.

As for Univision, its big draws during the week were the telenovelas "Hasta que el Dinero Nos Separe” ("For Love or Money") and “Soy Tu Dueña” ("Woman of Steel").

"It may be only a matter of a time until [Univision] takes a week during the regular television season," the article says.

Susan Boyle Drops Out of Show When Lou Reed Denies Her Permission to Sing Song

Susan Boyle was devastated after rocker Lou Reed told her she couldn't sing his "Perfect Day" on "America's Got Talent" for its Wednesday show, reports the New York Post's Page Six.

As a result, she had to pull out of the show because she couldn't change the song at the last minute, the report says. Boyle had been rehearsing the song with a 100-piece children's choir. According to the report, Reed declined to allow her to sing his hit song because he's not a fan of hers. Representatives for Reed, Boyle and NBC declined to comment.

Wildest Read of Day Is About Stephen Hawking, God, the Universe and A Condition That Must Not Be Named

In today's wildest read, TVWeek Open Mic blogger Chuck Ross takes on theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking, God, the Universe and A Condition That Must Not Be Named.

Read all about it by clicking here.

Unprecedented Film and TV Package by Ron Howard to Tell Stephen King Tale

An unusual deal from Universal Pictures and NBC Universal Television Entertainment will turn a multi-part Stephen King tale into both a television series and film trilogy, reports Mike Fleming at Deadline.com.

It's King's multiple novel series "The Dark Tower." Ron Howard will direct the first season of the television program, as well as the first feature film, which will be released before the series airs, the story says.

Akiva Goldsman. who won an Academy Award for writing the screenplay for Howard's "A Beautiful Mind,"  will write both the first season of the TV show and the initial film.

Howard's Imagine Entertainment partner Brian Grazer will produce, as well as Goldsman and King, the story says.

"The multi-platform deal was so comprehensive, it took months to close," Fleming writes. "I spoke with Goldsman and Howard, who have polled enough of their peers to be convinced what they are doing here has never been attempted: using a major studio’s film and TV platforms simultaneously to tell a story."

Bristol Palin Bans Ex-Fiance Levi Johnston From 'Dancing With the Stars' Audience

Bristol Palin is demanding that her ex-fiance, Levi Johnston, be banned from the audience of "Dancing with the Stars," on which she'll be competing this season, reports PopEater.com.

Bristol Palin will move to Los Angeles with her son Tripp, with whom she shares custody with Johnston, once the show starts airing live each week, the story says. She doesn't want to "see his big goofy grin looking at her" as she's competing, according to an unnamed family friend.

Don Johnson Gets An Additional $28 Million on Top of the $23 Million He Was Already Awarded in His 'Nash Bridges' Lawsuit; His Attorney Says There is Even More to Come

A judge awarded Don Johnson Productions $28.5 million in pre-judgment interest on Wednesday for its suit against Rysher Entertainment over profits from "Nash Bridges," reports TheWrap.com.

The ruling marks Johnson's second win over "Nash Bridges," with the actor winning $23.2 million in early July for Rysher's failure to pay up past profits from the show..

In a statement, Johnson's attorney claims the series could earn an additional $50 million in syndication profits during the next few years, the article adds.

Britney Spears Sued for Sexual Harrassment by Former Bodyguard

Britney Spears has been sued for sexual harrassment by a former bodyguard, BBC News is reporting.

According to the article, the bodyguard, "Fernando Flores has accused the singer of repeatedly parading around in the nude and having sex in front of him."

Flores also complains that "Ms. Spears caused him emotional distress by having violent quarrels with her boyfriend in front of her two children."

Spears' lawyer did not comment, the story says, adding, " A lawyer for her ex-husband, Kevin Federline, called the case 'baseless' "

Flores worked for Spears from February to July this year, according to the article .

Warner Bros. Talking up 2011 Syndicated Talk Show Featuring Dr. Drew

Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution will be meeting with television stations to start selling a new syndicated talk show with Dr. Drew Pinsky for a fall 2011 debut, reports TVNewsCheck.com.

Warner Bros. declined to comment. The new show is thought to be an hour-long informational program, the story says. Earlier this year, Pinsky was considered for "Lifechangers," a spinoff of "Extra," but that didn't proceed, the article says

John Kluge, Founder of Metromedia TV Station Empire, Dies at 95

John Kluge, the founder of television company Metromedia, died on Sept. 7 at his home in Albemarle County, Virginia, reports Bloomberg News. He was 95.

Kluge's Metromedia became the largest independent television business in the U.S. before he sold the TV stations to Rupert Murdoch for about $2 billion in 1985. Of the 14 Metromedia stations, 13 of them then became the nucleus of News Corp.'s Fox station group.  

Kluge's greatest success in television may have been in purchasing the syndication rights to "M*A*S*H," thus giving TV station competitors a ratings race, the story adds.

MTV Orders 'Jersey Shore' Specials; Snooki Ordered to Pay Fine, Perform Community Service for Beach Incident

MTV has ordered a pair of "Jersey Shore" specials to air after the show's second season ends on Oct. 21, reports The Hollywood Reporter.

The first special will be a cast reunion show to air Oct. 28, while the second will be a behind-the-scenes program. It doesn't yet have an air date, the story says.

Separately, Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi was ordered to perform two days of community service and pay $500 after she pleaded guilty to disturbing beach-goers during a July incident, reports MyFoxNY.com.

Municipal Court Judge Damian Murray called her actions "rude and self-indulgent," said Snooki was "acting like a Lindsay Lohan wannabe," and that she needed to decide if it's "worth trading your dignity for a paycheck."

Wow: Justin Bieber Accounts for About 3% of All Activity on Twitter

"The social networking site has previously claimed that Bieber, a singer who shot to fame on YouTube, is mentioned 60 times a second on its website, which publishes 65 million tweets every day," reports Telegraph.com.

According to the report, "The phenomenon can be partially explained by the fact the singer almost exclusively appeals to infatuated young teenage girls, who frantically profess their love for Bieber on their social networking pages."

Plus, the story adds, "The star stirs up equivalent levels of revulsion in various other cross-sections of the internet community, accounting for another huge volume of Bieber-related web activity."

In an example of the power of the anti-Bieber forces, says the article, "In the past the Canadian teenager has been maliciously targeted by a number of online pranks, for example when "non-Beliebers" targeted a poll on his website where fans could vote for his next tour venue. The weight of orchestrated campaign meant the winning vote was for North Korea."

FX's 'Sons of Anarchy' Debuts Slightly Down from Last Season's Debut; A&E's 'Hoarders' Breaks Records

FX's "Sons of Anarchy" debuted its third season with ratings that were down 4% in total viewers from its second season premiere, reports Nellie Andreeva at Deadline.com.

Meanwhile, A&E's unscripted program "Hoarders" broke records for the network on Labor Day with two back-to-back episodes, the story says. They drew 3.7 million and 3.8 million viewers, respectively, making them the most-watched episodes in A&E series history across all key demographics and ranked as the highest-rated season debut for any original series on the network, the story says.

'Jersey Shore' Stars Scrambling to Register Trademarks--And One of Them Succeeds (Not Snooki)

The stars of MTV's "Jersey Shore" are apparently finding it more difficult than expected to register their famous nicknames as trademarks with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, The Washington Post reports.

But one of the stars, Mike Sorrentino, the show’s famous ab-man, has been granted a trademark for the phrase "Situation Nation," the story says.

Sorrentino has been attempting to market his nickname "The Situation" on merchandise, but has been unsuccessful because of similar trademarks that already are in place.  Pauly D have also had trouble establishing a trademark, the story says, and, as TVWeek has previously reported, so has Snooki.

Attorney Chris Ott succeeded in getting Sorrentino the trademark for "Situation Nation" because the Patent Office decided "the singsong nature of the sound creates a commercial impression distinct from the other 'Situation' marks already on the register," the story says.

Britain's Got Talent: CNN Confirms Who Will Take Over for Larry King

CNN, which is tweaking its prime-time lineup, announced Wednesday that it has decided who will get the evening interview spot vacated by Larry King, the L.A. Times reported on its Ministry of Gossip blog.

The choice is no surprise: It’s British interviewer Piers Morgan, best known as a judge on the NBC TV show "America's Got Talent." He also is one of the judges on the British version of the show.

Morgan will host a candid, in-depth newsmaker interview program on CNN beginning in January, the network said. President Jon Klein of CNN/U.S. made the announcement Wednesday.

Morgan's show will air weeknights at 9 p.m. ET.

In a statement, Klein said, “Piers has made his name posing tough questions to public figures, holding them accountable for their words and deeds. He is able to look at all aspects of the news with style and humor, with an occasional good laugh in the process. He is a natural fit with Anderson Cooper, Eliot Spitzer and Kathleen Parker in our prime-time lineup, and the ideal choice to update the storied tradition of newsmaker talk on CNN.”

Morgan will work out of New York, but also will do shows from Los Angeles and London during the year, the network said.

Google Logo Mystery Solved

The Google logo on its flagship search page and the mystery of what the company was doing with it all day yesterday and part of today, Wednesday, Sept. 8, 2010, has been solved, CafeMom's The Stir reports.

It's been Google's way of introducing it new instant seach, the report says: "Marissa Mayer, the company's vice president of search products and user experience, explained the process.

"The search is interactive the entire time you're typing. The main Google page won't change, but when you search, you don't have to hit "Enter" or "Return." You get results with each key stroke based on popular search predictions. According to Mayer, it isn't "search as you type." It's "search before you type." They're pretty much trying to eliminate the time you spend typing. It's Google for the extremely lazy -- you'll save "2 to 5 seconds per query." It may not seem like a lot, but for the Internet business, speed = success."
 

Paley Center Sets Date For Awards Program, Is Negotiating For TV Partner to Televise Show

The Paley Center for Media has scheduled its first awards program for May 2012, it was announced by Pat Mitchell, president and CEO of the Center.

Steve Mosko, president of Sony Pictures Television, and one of the three executives on the TV awards planning committee for the Center, said in a statement, "“We have already received considerable interest from television networks and advertisers, and now that we have announced the time and location of our first show we will begin right away to translate this interest into substantive discussions.”

The committee, which also includes Tony Vinciquerra, chairman and CEO of the Fox Networks Group, and Dick Lippin, chairman and chief executive of the Lippin Group, has had the following charge on its plate, according to today's announcement: "to create an award concept and show that would be consistent with the Paley Center’s commitment to excellence, engage the public in the selection process, celebrate video programming across platforms, and attract a broad and diverse viewing audience to a televised event."

In evaluating how the committee has progressed thus far, Mitchell said, in a statement, "We believe the awards committee has made significant progress in identifying the ways to achieve our objectives, and we will continue to carefully refine our plans to leverage those assets as we further define the nominations process, voting, judging and award categories in the months ahead.”

The reason the awards will be given in May is because it coincides with the annual advertising upfront presentations by the ad-supported broadcast and cable networks, Vinciquerra said in a statement.

The anouncement also said that "The Paley Center for Media also intends to merge its annual New York gala fundraising event with the 2012 awards show to create a single televised celebration. The Paley Center may also introduce one or more of its new awards at its 2011 gala fundraiser."

In various previous reports some have characterized the new Paley awards as a potential competitor to the Emmys.

NBC, ABC Reality Competitions Lead the Way in Tuesday Ratings

Reality competition ruled the Nielsen ratings Tuesday night as ABC's "Wipeout" and NBC's "America's Got Talent" battled for the top spot, according to TVbytheNumbers.com.

At 8 p.m. "Wipeout" logged a 2.4 rating and a 2.9 in the 18-49 demographic for the top and bottom of the hour, ahead of NBC's "Minute to Win It," which scored a 1.5 rating and a 2.0 in the demo.

At 9 p.m. "America's Got Talent" scored a 3.0 rating and a 3.2 in the 18-49 demographic for each half-hour

“Talent” did even better in the 10 p.m. hour, climbing to a 3.3 rating and a 3.4 in the demo for the two half-hours. ABC's "Nightline Prime: Secrets of Your Mind" was the lone original competition at 10 p.m., collecting a 3.35 average for the hour.

Debmar-Mercury Announces Appointment of Key Production, Programming Exec; Changes Continue for 'Wendy Williams Show'

Debmar-Mercury announced today that it has appointed an executive to the position of senior VP, programming and production.

The post will be taken by veteran television syndication programming executive and award-winning producer Alexandra Jewett, the company said. Jewett will report to Lonnie Burstein, executive VP of programming and production.

Jewett has been VP of programming and development, East Coast, for CBS Television Distribution since 2006, working on the launch of “The Rachael Ray Show” and the final seasons of “The Montel Williams Show.”

“In her newly created role, Jewett will be responsible for overseeing all Debmar-Mercury programming originating from the East Coast, including ‘The Wendy Williams Show,’ and will also assist in the development of all new projects,” the company announced.

Burstein added: “Alexandra has proven herself to be a very talented television executive who knows what daytime viewers want and, thanks to her award-winning producing skills, how to best deliver results. With Alexandra now serving as a critical part of our team, we believe Wendy and all other talent who join Debmar-Mercury’s growing stable of first-run programming will be in excellent hands.”

Principals Behind 'Wall Street' Sequel, 'Star Trek: Voyager,' Other Major Projects Lined Up as TNT and TBS Order Pilots

TNT and TBS announced Wednesday that they are going into production on four series pilots, including projects from Dean Devlin (TNT’s “Leverage” and “The Librarian” movie trilogy); Marco Schnabel (“The Librarian”); Kenneth Biller and Mike Sussman (“Star Trek: Voyager”); Allan Loeb (“The Switch”, “Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps”); and Cynthia Cidre (“The Mambo Kings,” “A Killing in a Small Town”).

The TNT pilots include two crime procedurals, “Perception” (working title) and an untitled Allan Loeb project. The network is also moving ahead with a pilot for “Dallas,” an update on the classic prime-time soap.

TBS is working on a pilot for “Brain Trust” (working title), a comedic detective series.

“These pilots reflect our enthusiasm for relatable but complex everyman heroes, showcased in exciting storytelling environments,” said Michael Wright, executive vice president, head of programming for TNT, TBS and Turner Classic Movies (TCM). “They also reflect our reliance on extraordinary talent to deliver on the promise of quality series television. The writers of these projects bring great intelligence, heart and humor to their work.”

TNT’s “Perception,” an ABC Studios production from executive producer Kenneth Biller and co-EP Mike Sussman, focuses on Dr. Geoffrey Pierce, “an eccentric neuroscientist who uses his unique outlook to help the federal government solve complex cases,” the network said.

The untitled project from executive producer/writer Allan Loeb and Lionsgate, based on “The Rabbit Factory” by novelist Marshall Karp, follows recently widowed police Detective Mike Lomax and his newly married partner, Terry Biggs, as they “delve into a world of mystery, intrigue and occasional hijinks,” TNT said.

Executive producer Cynthia Cidre is behind the “Dallas” update from Warner Horizon Television, which revisits the betrayals, jealousies and passions of the Ewing family of Southfork, the network said.

TBS’s “Brain Trust” comes from Dean Devlin and Marco Schnabel, and is being produced by Devlin’s Electric Entertainment. It is centered on Detective Billy Doyle, “whose career and life have hit rock bottom after he accidentally ends his partner’s career,” the network reported.

Michael Douglas Joins Multi-Network Cancer Telecast

Actor Michael Douglas, who recently revealed that he has stage 4 throat cancer, has joined the lineup of this Friday’s "Stand Up To Cancer" TV fund-raiser, which will broadcast over several networks including ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC, reports Entertainment Tonight.

Also slated to appear are stars Jane Lynch, Elizabeth Banks, Emily Deschanel, Bill Hader, Dorothy Hamill, Anne Heche, Cheryl Hines, Rob Lowe and Marlee Matlin.

Music will be provided by Billie Joe Armstrong, The Edge, Lady Antebellum, Leona Lewis, Natasha Bedingfield, Queen Latifah, Martina McBride, Aaron Neville, Dave Stewart and Stevie Wonder.

"Stand Up to Cancer" will be simulcast commercial-free on Friday, Sept. 10, at 8 p.m. ET.

ABC Suffers Legal Setback in $20 Million Lawsuit by Former 'Desperate Housewives' Star

The judge in Nicollette Sheridan's $20 million wrongful termination lawsuit against ABC and "Desperate Housewives" creator Marc Cherry delivered a legal setback to ABC in pre-trial rulings in the case Tuesday, according to Reuters.

ABC had attempted to get one of the causes of action thrown out on the grounds it was uncertain because it combined three distinct claims. Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Elizabeth Allen White, however, allowed Sheridan's attorney to use the claims, noting, "Although annoying, inconvenient and inconsiderate, the failure to separate the three distinct wrongs does not result in an inability to understand what is alleged."

Sheridan is suing for discrimination and assault, alleging she was fired after she complained that Cherry had struck her on the set, the story says.

The case is now entering the discovery phase.

Two of the Most Colorful Players in the NFL--Now Teammates--Join For Edgy New Cable Show

Two of the most colorful players in the National Football League--who now happen to be teammates--are getting their own cable talk show.

The players, Cincinnati Bengals Chad Ochocinco and Terrell Owens, both of whom are used to being in front of the camera with lots to say, will star in Versus' new "The T.Ocho Show," according to USA Today.

According to the article, "Ochocinco says the show will focus on football but might also touch on 'baseball and hockey. With my love of soccer, I'll throw that in. And porn. I'm doing amateur porn, so I'll throw that in. … Do you understand how dangerous this is for us to have a stage like this?' "

And Owens told USA Today, "There will be topics where Chad and I will get in trouble. We'll talk about issues that aren't talked about in the mainstream media. It's an opportunity for two of loudest mouths who've been in the league."

Andy Meyer, Versus' vice president of original programming said, according to the article, " 'We'd love this to be the creation of a new genre of television' where athletes can speak 'without layers of editors and beat writers filtering them out.' "

Sneak peeks of "The T.Ocho Show" are airing beginning this week as part of Versus' "The Daily Line" at 11 p.m. ET. After five weeks on "The Daily Line," the show will officially premiere Oct. 12 at 10:30 p.m. ET.

The Map No Longer Burns. The Creator-Producer of One of the Most Popular Shows in TV History (with one of the best remembered theme songs ever on TV), Dies

David Dortort, the creator and producer of one of the most popular series ever to air on TV, has died at age 93, the Los Angeles Times reports.

The series, "Bonanza," debuted on NBC in 1959 as the first prime-time western to be broadcast in color, helping to spur consumer demand for color television sets, the story says. The show starred Lorne Greene as the patriarch of the Ponderosa Ranch, with his three sons played by Michael Landon, Dan Blocker and Pernell Roberts.

Dortort died in his sleep Sunday, September 5, 2010, at his home in Westwood, California, the article says.

"Bonanza," which remained on air for 14 seasons, was one of TV's top-rated shows throughout the 1960s and continues to draw audiences in syndication, the story says. Dortort also created and produced NBC's grittier western "The High Chaparral," which aired from 1967 to 1971.

After starting out as a novelist and then learning how to write screenplays, Dortort moved into television and wrote three episodes of the NBC and ABC anthology series "Fireside Theatre," the article says.

One of the stories he wrote, about the discovery of gold and silver in Nevada, inspired "Bonanza," the story adds. The show's success, however, was due to focus on family values, Dortort often said. ""At a time when the dysfunctional family was becoming a current way of life in this country, this was a functional family," he said in a 2001 interview with the Los Angeles Times.

And now, it's time to crank up the volume as you play the following video: the theme from "Bonanza":

'Top Gear's' The Stig is Fired After Revealing His Own True Identity

Ben Collins, who has played "The Stig" on the U.K. hit "Top Gear" since 2003, has been fired from the show, reports Sky News.

According to the article, the presenter (or host) of the BBC's "Top Gear," Jeremy Clarkson, has said, "He is history as far as we are concerned, he is sacked. It was a shock. I was hurt, actually, because I liked him and he came around to my house and had drinks and all the time he was writing a book, so I feel a bit hurt."

Clarkson hinted at changes to the programs format as a result of Collins becoming the second person to play The Stig and out himself in a book."We've many, many thousands of people queuing up to be whatever it is that we create," he added.

Google Continues Puzzling Users With Gray Logo Today: Mystery May Soon Be Cleared Up

"After a bouncy-ball extravaganza yesterday, Google's doodle today is more subdued, but still cool. 
When you first land on Google.com, the logo is gray. As you type into the search box, though, colorful letters appear," Time reports

The article adds, "Techland argues the doodle is a preview of Google's rumored real-time search, which may be unveiled today. This feature would reveal search results as you type. Google is set to give a press conference today at 9:30 a.m. Pacific time

MTV Getting Back Into the Daily Live-TV Business

The countdown program "The Seven" will revive live daytime television on MTV with broadcasts from a Times Square studio, reports James Hibberd at the Hollywood Reporter.

The half-hour program will broadcast seven stories that MTV feels its viewers need to know, ranging from news to fashion, beginning with a Sept. 27th show, the story says. "It's been a big goal of mine to get us back into the live-series business," says MTV programming chief Tony DiSanto.

"There's just something about having a live show during a time of day where everything else is pretaped." "TRL" went off the air two years ago, while "It's On With Alexa Chung," another live program, was short lived, the story says.

"The Seven" will air at 5 p.m., because students are coming home from school later. Kevin Manno, a DJ from Chicago, and Julie Alexandria, the host of East Coast-based cable show "Mets Weekly," will host MTV's new show, the story says.

Video: Jenny Slate Reportedly May Not Be Returning to 'SNL,' But She's Made the Most Charming Video We've Seen in Quite Awhile

Jenny Slate co-wrote and voices this video, "Marcel the Shell With Shoes On":

Amy Poehler, Joined by Hot Musical Guest, Team Up For Peacock's 'SNL' Season Opener

"Saturday Night Live" alum Amy Poehler will host the show's 36th season debut on Sept. 25 on NBC, reports EW.com's Hollywood Insider blog.

The musical guest, who's song "Peacock" was released earlier this summer, will be Katy Perry, the story says. As previously reported, the story now says that it's confirmed that NBC will add actor and comedian Taran Killam to the show's cast, as well as Chicago-based comedians Paul Brittain and Vanessa Bayer and impressionist Jay Pharoah.

Producer of 'Freaks and Geeks' and '40-Year Old Virgin' Gets Pilot Order From HBO

HBO has given a pilot order to the producer of "Freaks and Geeks" and "The 40-Year-Old Virgin," reports Nellie Andreeva at Deadline.com.

The producer is Judd Apatow and the plot of the project follows the humiliations and achievements of a group of 20-something women, the story says. Lena Dunham, 24, will direct, star and co-executive produce the pilot, the article adds.

"With so many young people delaying taking on full-blown adult responsibilities until later in life, there is a lot of attention on today's twentysomethings and a lot of talk about the 20s becoming a new life stage called by some 'emerging adulthood,' the story says.

Dunham's film "Tiny Furniture" won the top prize at this year's South by Southwest, the story adds.

Betty White's Career Keeps Rolling Along—What's Next, Betty White: The Graphic Novel?

If anyone in Hollywood can say their career is currenlty on a roll, it's 88-year-old Betty White.

Next up for the popular actress isn't a graphic novel, but close.

White will be the basis for a comic book called "Female Force: Betty White," a 32-pager that will go on sale in November for $3.99, reports The Hollywood Reporter.

White, the star of television shows ranging from "Golden Girls" to TVLand's "Hot In Cleveland," is following other famous women including Michelle Obama and Sarah Palin in being a focus of the "Female Force" comic-book series, the story adds.

Deputy Sheriff Who Arrested Mel Gibson in 2006--and Who Documented Gibson's Alleged Anti-Semitic Tirade--Sues His Own Department, Claiming He's Been Subjected to Disciplinary Action and Overlooked For Promotions

"Sheriff's Deputy James Mee is suing the County of Los Angeles for alleged discrimination and harassment, saying he's been singled out in a four-year investigation into who leaked a confidential arrest report to TMZ.com that detailed Gibson's alleged anti-Semitic tirade," People magazine reports.

According to the article, Mee's lawyer, Etan Z. Lorant, says, " "My client simply wants to be left alone to do his job at the sheriff's department."

The article also says, "Mee claims he was ordered by his superiors, Lt. Crystal Miranda and Sgt. Kevin Finch, to delete portions of his report shortly after Gibson was arrested "effectively participating in covering up the anti-Semitic posture of Mr. Gibson," the lawsuit states. The actor allegedly called Mee a "[expletive] Jew" and said, "Jews are responsible for all the wars in the world," among other invectives.

"Gibson had close ties to the sheriff's department, Mee alleges, and was a close friend of Sheriff Lee Baca and other top officials. The actor also lent his time and name to various law enforcement initiatives, the lawsuit adds. The deputy also accused another superior, Sgt. Tracy Palmer, of having erased a portion of a videotape of Gibson's being booked, and claims that Sgt. Finch was at one time a member of Gibson's Malibu church."

Speaking for the Sheriff's Department, spokesperson Steve Whitmore told People, "We categorically deny this lawsuit. This has nothing to do with ethnicity. What the sheriff's department did was launch an investigation because someone was releasing confidential documents, which is a crime. We look forward to telling the whole story in this case."

'I'm the Susan Lucci of Reality TV': 'Housewife' Danielle Staub Says She's Talking about Reality Show with Networks

Danielle Staub, who is departing from Bravo's "The Real Housewives of New Jersey," says she's talking with production companies and networks about creating her own reality show, reports People.com's TVWatch blog.

There’s a lot more of me to come! I’m the Susan Lucci of reality TV," Staub sais, according to the article. She said the format would be focused on her. "It will be my own show but it will be a lot more of me. It will be everyone who is around me every day who loves me and cares about me and it will cover the relationships we have."

The show would also include her daughters, Christine and Jillian, the story says.

Wanted: Executive Who Can Reinvent Old Business for Digital Age, Keep Costs Down -- And, Oh Yes, Run Global News Coverage

With David Westin stepping down as the president of ABC News, the challenges facing network news came into the spotlight this week,reports the Los Angeles Times' Company Town blog.

The next president of the division won't just be deciding who will anchor the news, but whether there's an audience worth pursuing, the story says. Ratings and revenues are down, and audiences are growing older.

"There are a lot of legacy brands that are going to have to shrink ... this is not just the tribulations of ABC News or broadcast television, this is journalism and the transformation the Internet has wrought," says industry consultant Andrew Tyndall.

Westin is leaving as he had grown tired of constant pressure to cut costs, and his relationships with Walt Disney Co. Chief Executive Robert Iger and Anne Sweeney, president of the Disney/ABC Television Group, had grown tense, the article says. Sweeney declined to comment and a Walt Disney spokeswoman didn't return a call seeking comment, the article notes.

What's Bringing Top Fashionistas Such as Designer Diane von Furstenberg and Roberto Cavalli to Popular TV Show?

Top fashionistas such as designers Diane von Furstenberg and Roberto Cavalli will be appearing on a popular TV show during this coming season.

Thanks to a partnership with Italian Vogue, "America's Next Top Model" on The CW is now able to attract top fashion industry insiders as guest judges, reports the Hollywood Reporter.

"All of a sudden it's not 'America's Next Top Model,' the show's host and creator Tyra Banks told THR, " 'It's 'America's Next Top Modelle,' dahling.' It's totally elevating it with the fashion industry."

One question is whether the guest judges can improve the aging show's ratings. According to the story, "America's Next Top Model's" audience has dropped off, with its last season averaging 3.3 million viewers, down from its high of 5 million in 2004.

Google Will Launch Its Free TV Service This Fall...

Google will launch its free TV service this fall, Eric Schmidt, the company's CEO, announced at the IFA consumer electronics show in Berlin, Reuters reports.

According to the article, "CEO Eric Schmidt said the service, which will allow full Internet browsing via the television, would be free, and Google would work with a variety of program makers and electronics manufacturers to bring it to consumers."

Sony has said it will include the service on its TV sets, and Samsung said it was exploring the possibility that it would as well, the article noted.

"We will work with content providers, but it is very unlikely that we will get into actual content production," Schmidt said, announcing that the service would launch in the U.S. this fall and internationally next year, according to the story.

To read more details about Google TV plans, please click here.

...Meanwhile Google's Break-Apart Logo Tuesday Was a Mystery to Many

Google changes its logo often, and users just usually scroll over the modified logo to see whatever Goolge is honoring for the day.

But not on Tuesday, Sept. 7, 2010. For U.S. and U.K. users, the logo on the google page was made up of a series of dots that break away when the cursor get near them.

According to an article in the Atlanta Journal Constitution, ".A spokeswoman told The Daily Telegraph of London, We will leave the mystery to you.' Google was incorporated on Sept. 4, 1998, according to Google's corporate history page. But several dates, including the 7th, have previously been touted. The page used to say, 'On Sept. 7, 1998, Google opened its doors in Menlo Park, California,' the Telegraph reports.

"Some experts have speculated this is Google's way of showing what its Chrome browser can do in HTML5 -- the latest version of the standard programming code for displaying Web content. Others have called it a stunt to hype a forthcoming announcement."?

Report: Reggie Bush Expected to Be Stripped of Heisman Trophy by End of Month; He'd Be the First Player in the 75-Year History of the Heisman to Have It Taken Away

Reggie Bush, who has been a star with the Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints, will likely have his Heisman Trophy--which he won while playing for the USC Trojans--taken away from him, Yahoo! Sports reports in an exclusive story.

"Two sources close to the Heisman trust said the body’s investigation is coming to a close, and will ultimately concur with the NCAA’s determination that Bush was ineligible during his Heisman-winning season in 2005. Because of that independent conclusion, sources said the trust will relieve Bush of the award and leave the honor for that season vacant," the article notes.

According to the story, the Heisman trust has been looking into this matter since "the NCAA ruled in June that the USC star had committed multiple violations by accepting cash, gifts and other impermissible benefits while playing for the Trojans."

The Trojans have historically been one of the most popular college football teams in the nation, and a good draw on TV. Because of the Bush violations, the Trojans are on four years of probation, from June 10, 2010, through June 9, 2014, and are banned from postseason football play for the 2010 and 2011 seasons.

Is Your City Included? NFL Local Blackout TV Rules Could Hit 11 Teams This Season; Dozens of Games Expected to Be Affected

Whether it's the recession driving ticket buyers away from stadiums or the optimum TV viewing offered by HD sets and Red Zone features, the NFL anticipates that this upcoming football season may see as many as 11 teams facing blacked-out games in home markets, reports USA Today.

The NFL requires that any game that is not sold out 72 hours in advance of the kickoff must be blacked out from the local broadcast. Last season, 22 games were affected in Jacksonville, Detroit, Oakland and St. Louis.

This season, in addition to those cities, Arizona, Cincinnati and San Diego anticipate having trouble selling out every home game. Another team, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, avoided this problem by having ownership purchase the unsold tickets so the games would be broadcast, but this year the team management said it would not do that anymore.

Star of 'Ugly Betty' Lands New, Non-Acting TV Gig

Actress America Ferrera, the star of ABC's "Ugly Betty," has a new job on television, reports the AP.

Ferrera will host the ninth season of the PBS documentary film series “Independent Lens.” The new season launches Oct. 19.

Ferrera is the latest star to take on the helming chores, following in the footsteps of Susan Sarandon, Terrence Howard and Edie Falco.

TV Icon, Two Music Legends, Two Broadway Stalwarts on List of 2010 Kennedy Center Honorees

A TV icon, two music legends and two Broadway stalwarts are the five people chosen to receive the Kennedy Center Honors at the 33rd annual presentation in Washington on Dec. 5, reports the AP.

Oprah Winfrey, Paul McCartney and Merle Haggard are on the list, along with theater composer Jerry Herman and Broadway choreographer/dancer/director Bill T. Jones.

Earlier this year the White House honored McCartney with The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song--that ceremony and performance was seen on PBS stations in July.

The Kennedy Center Honors, which will celebrate the achievements of all five honorees, will be staged as a two-hour prime-time special on CBS that is going to be broadcast on Tuesday, Dec. 28.

AOL, 'DeGeneres Show' Join in Cross-Promotional Arrangement

In a deal in which no money is changing hands, AOL will become a promotion element for the syndicated "Ellen DeGeneres Show," reports TVNewsCheck.com.

AOL will share Web traffic with and promote across its platforms the DeGeneres show's Web site, and vice versa.

Telepictures, which produces "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" will not have any control of how AOL presents the content or the ad sales. AOL recently entered into a similar arrangement with the Jonas Brothers on a Web site called Cambio.

Music Superstar Developing Show About UFOs for Syfy

A music superstar is developing a new reality show for the Syfy Channel, in conjunction with Peacock Productions, about unidentified flying objects, called "UFO: Unbelievably Freakin' Obvious."

The star is Billy Ray Cyrus, and the series will feature Cyrus with his 21-year-old son Trace, exploring unexplained paranormal activities and conspiracy theories related to space activity.

According to Mark Stern, executive vice president of original programming, Syfy, and co-head of content for Universal Cable Productions, "Our audience craves authentic, compelling and informative storytelling that pushes the boundaries of our normal world. Allegations of cover-up and conspiracy around unexplained phenomena has inspired heated debate for decades, and it will be interesting to see what truth Billy Ray and Trace may discover.”

Who Will Be Joining 'Saturday Night Live'? Who Else Won't Return?

With possibly four new cast members joining "Saturday Night Live," the question arises as to who might be following Will Forte in leaving "SNL," reports Deadline.com.

The latest "SNL" cast member who may not be returning to "Saturday Night Live" is Jenny Slate, the article says..

Slate made the news last fall when she said the word "f---in'" on live television, the story says, adding that Abby Elliott, who is the daughter of comedian Chris Elliott, appears to be returning.

New players who may join include "MadTV" alum Taran Killam, the impressionist Jay Pharoah and Chicago-based comedians Paul Brittain and Vanessa Bayer, according to the article..

Feeling Recession, Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon Raises Less Than Last Year

The Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon may have felt the effects of the recession with this weekend's annual fund-raising event, as the program raised about $1.5 million less than last year, reports the Las Vegas Sun.

The program raised $58.9 million, the story says. It marks just the sixth time in the telethon's history, which officially extends back to 1959, that the show raised less money than in the previous year, the article says.

"I'm heartened by the unique ability of Americans to help others in need, when they themselves are likely struggling financially," Lewis said. Lewis, who has hosted the program for 45 years, was joined by performers including Barry Manilow and Michael Feinstein for the 2 1/2 hour-long show.

Coming Soon: Company to Produce a Physical Keyboard For the iPhone

We iPhone users hear this complaint at least once a day from our blackberry-using colleagues: "I'd switch, you know, if the iPhone had a physical keyboard instead of a virtual one."

It looks like that will happen before the end of the year, according to TechTree.com. "[H]elp is here in the form of Nuu Mini case for the iPhone 4 that adds an interesting physical keyboard to the phone. Now, if you're wondering how the keyboard connects to the iPhone, let us inform you that its not via the dock connector rather, via Bluetooth!" the article says.