TVBizwire
Items from the past two weeks
Friday, February 10
- Veteran TV Star Dies -- Best Remembered for 'Big Valley,' 'Maverick'
- Madonna Opens Up About M.I.A.'s Super Bowl Misstep -- and She's Not Happy
- 'American Idol' Reclaims Its Thursday Supremacy -- Did 'Cliffhanger' Stage Fall Have Anything to Do With It?
- Video: Bill O'Reilly Blasts Those Who Want JC Penney to Fire Ellen as Its Spokesperson Because She's Gay. O'Reilly Compares It to McCarthyism, Says It's a Witch Hunt and Is Wrong
- 1970s Sci-Fi Series to Be Remade
- Showtime Project Adds Hollywood Legends
- Cable Network Scraps Its Entire Prime-Time Lineup
- Video of News Anchor Being Attacked by Dog Sparks Debate
- Late-Night Host Close to Deal to Remain Through 2014 -- With a Change of Venue
- The Grammys--Which Will Be Telecast This Weekend--Need to Recognize Four Great Artists as Lifetime Achievement Honorees
- Rapper May Face Legal Fallout From Super Bowl Salute
- 'Munsters' Reboot Suffers a Setback
- NBC Overhaul Expected to Bring Cuts to Marketing Department
- CNBC Staffs Up for Push Into Reality Programming
- Google May Have Sights Set on Showdown With Another Tech Giant
- Schedule Change Fails to Pump Life Into 'Rock Center' Ratings
- 'Jersey Shore' Spinoff, Rejected by Hoboken, Finds a Home Base
- CBS Picks Up Pilot From 'Mike & Molly' Star
Thursday, February 9
- Fans Outraged Over 'Idol's' Handling of Contestant's Fall From Stage -- and Nigel Lythgoe's Wisecracks
- Sony Deal Locks in Future of 'Breaking Bad'
- Another Oscar Winner Joins HBO's 'Luck'
- Offbeat Comedy Veterans Pair Up for Cleveland-Based Project
- 'Smallville' Returns for One More Season -- But Not as a TV Show
- NBC Comedy Project Casts 'Weeds' Regular in Lead Role
- Fox Pulls Plug on One of Its Signature Shows
- Oscar-Nominated Actor Files for Bankruptcy
- Another Part of Oprah's Empire May Be in Trouble
- Report: Apple Will Introduce iPad 3 Week of March 5
- Former 'SNL' Regular, Who Now Has Her Own Sitcom, Set to Return as Guest Host
- TV Consumption Declining in One Important Demo Group, Rising in Another
- Supernatural Drama Gets Third Season
- Director of Features 'Elf' and 'Iron Man' to Direct J.J. Abrams Pilot for NBC
- Amazon Adds Viacom Cable Titles to Video-Streaming Service
- MTV Sets Premiere Date for 'Jersey Shore' Spinoff -- Show Will Be Paired With Retooled 'Punk'd'
- Super Bowl Ad Wins $1 Million for Aspiring Filmmaker
- Actor Known for 'Raiders of the Lost Ark,' 'Spider-Man 2' to Star in TNT Medical Drama
Wednesday, February 8
- Clint Eastwood Joins Team to Launch New Channel
- CNN Suspends Roland Martin for His Controversial Tweets
- NBC Comedy Pilot Casts Allison Janney, Tony Shalhoub
- Super Bowl Broke Ground in Media Technology, but Halftime Show Was Deja Vu
- Disappointing Debut for ABC Series
- Former Fox News Anchor Cleared in Rape Case
- Actress Poised to Reprise Golden Globe-Winning Role on 'American Horror Story'
- Russell Brand Turns Down a Fortune in Divorce From Katy Perry
- NBC May Rush New Season of 'The Voice' Into Fall 2012 Lineup -- And Three of the Four Judges May Be Replaced
- Reality Star Says She's Bisexual, Questions Fellow Cast Member's Sexuality
- Video: Ellen Fires Back at Group Protesting Her Endorsement Deal
- 'Idol' Executive Producer Thinks Show's Talent Pool Is Being Poached
- Best Buy Asks Its Customers Whether They Would Buy an Apple Hi-Def TV. Wait Till You Read What Best Buy Says This TV Will Do. Real or Wishful Thinking?
- While Most of Us Had Onion Dip This Past Sunday, Some Had Yorkshire Pudding: Can You Guess Which TV Show Came In Second to the Super Bowl in the Ratings?
- With Fate of Fox's 'Terra Nova' Still Up in the Air, Star Books a Spot on Another Show
- ABC Orders Mandy Moore Comedy Pilot
- Report: ABC Has Plans for a New Senior Executive Producer at 'GMA'
- Disney's Iger: ABC Sells Out of Academy Awards Inventory in 'Healthy' Ad Market; Company May Implement Delay in Releasing DVDs for Rental Market
- Super Bowl Sets Streaming Record
- Syfy Renews Reality Series
Tuesday, February 7
- Not the Master of His Own Domain? Simon Cowell Tells 'Extra' He Fought to Keep Paula Abdul on 'X Factor.' So Was Her Dismissal From the Show Ordered by Fox?
- Rick Feldman Stepping Down as CEO of NATPE -- Search Is On to Replace Him
- Former PBS News Anchor Joins CNN
- Best Song Category in Oscars Suffers Another Setback -- First, Only Two Songs Were Nominated; Now Those Two Songs Appear to Be Dumped From the Show
- Non-TV News of the Day: Federal Court Strikes Down California's Ban on Gay Marriage
- NBC News Correspondent Launches iPad Series
- TV Loses Ground as Source of Election News -- and There's a New No. 2
- NBC Finds a Winning Formula -- Including a Big Opening for 'Smash' -- to Launch February Sweeps
- CNN Under Pressure to Fire Analyst After Controversial Super Bowl Tweet
- Reality Show Is Target of Alleged Blackmail Plot
- Singer Dealing With Fallout From Disastrous Appearance on 'SNL'
- Actor Who Played One of Hollywood's Seminal Zombies Dies
- ABC Family Orders Series From 'Gilmore Girls' Creator, Pulls Plug on Two Others
- Popular Character Cut From HBO's 'Boardwalk Empire'
- Horse Racing Drama on Defensive Over Deaths of Animal Stars
- Media Heavyweight Working on New Cable News Channel
- 'Heroes' Star to Play Romantic Interest on 'The Office' -- Spoiler Alert
- Game Changer For Netflix? The Folks Who Have All Those Redbox Movie Rental Kiosks Are Partnering with Verizon to Create a National Service to Stream Movies and TV Shows
- CBS Pilot Casts 'Pushing Daisies' Star
- 'Simpsons' Poised for International Warfare Over Iranian Blacklist
Monday, February 6
- Super Bowl Is Most-Watched TV Show in U.S. History
- Former Reality Show Contestant Dies After Being Hit by Train
- Filmmaker Behind '9½ Weeks,' Showtime's 'Red Shoe Diaries' Dead at 70
- Fox to Shelve 'Glee' for Two Months
- CNN Names New National Political Correspondent
- Another Leading Lady Is Cast for Sheen's 'Anger Management'
- NFL Analyst Accused of Being a Deadbeat Dad
- Obscene Gesture During Super Bowl Halftime Show Draws Apology From NBC and NFL, Sparks Comparisons With Infamous Janet Jackson 'Wardrobe Malfunction'
- Video: The Top 5 Most Popular Ads in the Super Bowl, As Determined by the Annual USA Today Poll Soon After the Game Ended (Plus Our Favorite Here at TVWeek)
- Will Ferrell Featured in Super Bowl Ad That Most Viewers Never Saw -- Here It Is
- Demi Moore in Treatment Facility on 'Total Lockdown'
- NBC's High-Priced Series Gamble Premieres Tonight. Word in Hollywood Is That Marketing for the Show Has Already Hit $20 Million to $25 Million; NBC Says It's Less Than $10 Million
- One 'X Factor' Judge Is Signed for Next Season
- FX Adds a Season -- and May Add One More -- to Order for Critically Acclaimed Drama
- 'Scrubs' Star Gets Lead in ABC Pilot
- Stars of 'Sister Wives' Get Go-Ahead to Challenge Bigamy Law
- Miniseries Based on Mass Shooting in the Works at Lifetime
- Two-Time Emmy Winner Tapped for Lead in ABC Pilot
- 'Boardwalk Empire' Casts 'Third Watch' Actor as Brutal Gangster
Friday, February 3
- Running For His Life No More: Ben Gazzara, 81, Succumbs to Cancer
- NBC Tweaks Schedule, Relegates Struggling Show to the Wasteland of Saturday Night
- CBS Sitcom Continues Its Winning Streak Against Fox's 'American Idol'
- Veteran Rocker Defends His Version of National Anthem
- Oscar-Nominated Actress Steps Up to Series Regular on 'The Big C'
- Apple Working on a Touchscreen iMac
- 'Live! with Kelly' Slates Oscars Special, Contest
- Pop Superstar Reportedly Offered $100 Million a Year to Become 'X Factor' Judge (Hint: It's Not Mariah Carey, Who Has Been Rumored to Be in Line for the Job)
- James Farentino's Cause of Death: Official Certificate Contains a Surprise
- Brian Williams and Matt Lauer Get Into a Tussle; Guess What They're Fighting Over
- NBC Betting Heavily on One New Series: The Price Tag Is Steep, but the Network Needs a Hit
- Star of a Beloved 1980s Super Bowl Ad Re-Creates Role in New Super Bowl Spot -- for a Much Different Product; Here Are Both Videos
- J.J. Abrams and 'Supernatural' Creator Get Pilot Order From NBC
- After Losing Its High-Profile Star, Showtime's 'Masters of Sex' Finds New Lead Actor; Lead Actress Also Signs On
- Hulu Picks Up Original Comedy Series From Writers Behind 'Sex and the City' and 'Mad Men'
- This Is Not a Joke: Roseanne Barr Is Running for President
- ABC in Business With John Leguizamo
- Sarah Silverman's NBC Project Casts 'Lost' Actor
- ABC Family Renews Scripted Series, Readies New Reality Show
Thursday, February 2
- The Drama: Upcoming NBC Show Based on 'The Munsters' Gets A New Name
- Do They Belong Together? Will Simon Cowell Get His Dream Judge for 'X Factor'?
- Trump Announces His Endorsement for President
- Murdoch Chooses Respected Outsider to Run WSJ Parent Dow Jones
- Another Food Program Gets Renewed
- CBS Adopts Counterprogramming Strategy to Go Up Against Super Bowl
- Bravo Renews Emmy-Winning Reality Competition
- 'Ricki Lake Show' Names Exec Producer
- Must-Read: If This Is True, It Could Suggest Major Ratings Problem for TV Networks Is Looming. Is One Demo Abandoning Live TV?
- Most Fun Non-TV Story of the Day: Entire Town Wins Piece of $950 Million Lotto -- Except for One Guy
- Britney Spears Lobbying for Role on Hit Sitcom
- HBO Trailer Breaks Channel's Online Viewing Records
- Business Associate Puzzled by Death of Don Cornelius; VH1 Slates Tribute to the 'Soul Train' Icon
- ABC Orders Two Pilots, Including Reba McEntire Project
- CNBC Taps Wall Street Journal Co-Anchor
- Desperate for a Ratings Edge, TV Networks Resort to Scheduling Tricks to Juice Their Numbers
- Gender Gap Among Super Bowl Viewers Is Shrinking
Wednesday, February 1
- Showtime Renews Three Series
- Actor From 'Home Improvement' Arrested
- CBS Slots De Niro Cop Drama for Midseason Debut
- Adele to Mark Her Return From Throat Surgery With High-Profile TV Performance
- Neil Patrick Harris Opens Up About Speculation He's in Line for Seacrest's 'Idol' Job
- Spike TV to Bring Back Show for Another Season
- 'American Idol' Showing Signs of Audience Fatigue
- Don Cornelius, Creator of 'Soul Train,' Dead in Apparent Suicide
- Sony Corp. Names New CEO to Replace Howard Stringer
- ABC Greenlights Pilot From 'Desperate Housewives' Creator Marc Cherry. ABC Also Orders Pilots From Writers of 'Heroes,' 'Prison Break' and 'Twilight'
- CW Picks Up Drama Pilots From J.J. Abrams, Two Others
- Golden Globes Trial: CBS Boss Les Moonves Says He Might Have Bid at Least $25 Million for the Show
- DGA Honors for a Miniseries That Traveled a Hard Road
- Good Indication That Local TV Auto Ads Will Be Strong This Year
- Here's the Nicki Minaj Video BET Refuses to Air
- Fox News Channel Reaches a Milestone
- Emmy-Winning Actress Cast as the Evil Queen's Mom in 'Once Upon a Time'
- Why a New Jersey City Refuses to Allow Taping of a 'Jersey Shore' Spinoff
- Wildest Non-TV Story of the Day: Weaving Zamboni Driver in Minneapolis-Area Arena Arrested for Allegedly Being Drunk While Clearing the Ice
Tuesday, January 31
- Simon Cowell, Fox Exec Mike Darnell and Paula Abdul Herself Talk About Her Leaving 'X Factor'
- 'SNL' Cast Member Abruptly Exits Show
- HBO Series With Dream Team Pedigree Gets Renewal
- Shocking Shakeup at 'X Factor.' You Won't Believe Who's Not Returning to the Show
- 'Cosby Kid' Heads to Broadway
- News Corp. Announces Departure of Key Communications Executive
- Music Network Rebrands
- Fox Orders Pilot for Project Starring 'The Office' Actress
- Newt Gingrich's Use of Iconic Song During Campaign Gets Him Sued
- Former CNN Anchor to Fill In for Keith Olbermann
- Alec Baldwin Leaks News of Upcoming High-Profile 'SNL' Host
- Muppets' Miss Piggy Lashes Out at Fox News
- Video: Advance Look at Super Bowl Commercials
- Oscar Winner Joins Showtime's 'The Big C'
- NBC News Creates New Investigative Unit Under Jeff Rossen
- Reconfigured 'Spartacus' -- After Losing Star to Cancer -- Delivers Strong Numbers on Its Return to Starz
- Super Bowl Ad Prices Are Way Up From Last Year
- Clear Channel Gets on Board With Ryan Seacrest's TV Company
- ABC Orders Pilot With Natalie Portman Attached
- Stephen Colbert's Super PAC Reveals How Much It Has Raised -- and It's a Lot
Monday, January 30
- CBS Buys Pilot From Comedy Star, 'Seinfeld' Writer
- Actress Who's Won an Oscar, an Emmy and 7 Golden Globes (!) Joins Cast of Emmy-Winning TV Series
- Cable Exec Jumps to YouTube
- Veteran TV Actress -- Who Also Played an Assassin in the Movie 'The Sting' -- Dead at 79
- USA Greenlights Miniseries About Politics, Family Pressures and World Crisis
- Struggling Soap Opera Actor Commits Suicide -- Dispute With Neighbors Over Pet Dog Cited
- Former TV Choreographer Gets 10 Years in Prison
- Rumors of Talk Show's Demise Are Premature
- Actor Known for Role on 'Seinfeld' Dies
- Saying '30 Rock' Is 'Almost Over,' Alec Baldwin Pitches Himself to Another Hit Sitcom
- Falling in Love With, and At, the Movies. What I Said to an Oscar-Nominated Actress. To Which Your Reaction Will Be -- I Promise You -- No, He Didn't Really Say That. But Yes, I Really Did
- Outrageous 'Fear Factor' Stunt Angers Advocacy Group -- but the News Here May Be That Such a Group Exists
- Former Top NBC Executive Testifies He Warned Network About Golden Globes Deal
- What -- or Whom -- Are Oprah Winfrey and Barbara Walters Fighting Over?
- Emmy-Winning TV Director Dies; Work Included 'Dick Van Dyke Show,' 'All in the Family,' 'Gilligan's Island'
- 'Boardwalk Empire' Tops SAG Awards
- Funny Video: Jon Stewart's Shock that CNN's John King Folded Like a House of Cards When Attacked by Newt Gingrich During Recent Debate
- Showtime Entertainment Chief Says 'Homeland's' Winning of Golden Globe Marks a Milestone for the Pay Service
- 'Office' Star Says Spinoff Is 'Even More Far Out and Weirder'
- Bid by Cable Industry Veteran to Buy Dodgers Picks Up Steam With Addition of Local L.A. Financier
