Whoa! Game Changer: Scheduling Guru Preston Beckman — Who Has Done Terrific Work For NBC and Fox in Years Past — Says ‘The eventual demise of a fall season is going to happen’

Just as the ascendancy of cable programming was inevitable, so is the eventual demise of the traditional fall season, loaded with its premieres of new shows and new seasons, particularly from the broadcast networks. That seems to be the conclusion…

HBO Suspends Controversial Movie Project

HBO has suspended pre-production of a movie project that has generated controversy, with the pay-cable channel citing budget issues as the reason for the move. TheWrap.com reports the suspension of “Happy Valley,” a film from Brian De Palma about the…

BET Star to Contact FBI About the Latest Nude Celebrity Photo Breach Over the Weekend

The star of a BET series will be “contacting the FBI” after some topless photos of her were leaked onto the Internet, reports TMZ. The story reports that Gabrielle Union, the star of BET’s “Being Mary Jane,” and her husband,…

Golden Globe Winner — and Hollywood Heartthrob — Confirms Starring Role in Season Two of HBO’s Acclaimed ‘True Detective’

A popular Golden Globe-winning actor says he will star in season two of HBO’s critically acclaimed limited series “True Detective.” “Hollywood heartthrob Colin Farrell has revealed that he has landed a leading role in the second [season] of ‘True Detective,’”…

P&G Pulls NFL Promotion Amid Domestic-Violence Controversy

Procter & Gamble has pulled the plug on planned promotional activities in connection with the NFL. Advertising Age reports that the marketer canceled “on-field” activities around breast-cancer awareness as the league remains embroiled in a domestic-violence controversy. P&G had planned…

Report: Barbara Walters’ Live Appearances on ‘The View’ Being Curtailed

Barbara Walters’ live TV appearances on “The View” are being limited by ABC executives, as the network seeks to focus on revamping the daytime talk show, reports the New York Post’s Page Six. Walters reportedly wanted to appear live on…

Emma Watson’s Must-See U.N. Argument for Equality for Girls and Women. It’s Our Non-TV Story of the Day

Nothing Funny About the Networks’ Problem With Comedies

One problem facing broadcast networks as the fall season rolls out is no laughing matter: The Los Angeles Times’ Company Town reports that the shortage of returning comedy series points to a serious problem. Only five of last year’s 21…

Tonight on PBS: A Look at the Man Who Was Called ‘America’s Mayor’

A documentary about a larger-than-life figure who was once called “America’s Mayor” by Time magazine — longtime New York Mayor Ed Koch — premieres tonight, Monday, Sept. 22, on PBS. To get the lowdown on the man and the feature-length…

Despite Domestic Abuse Scandal, NFL Ratings Remain Strong

The public’s interest in watching NFL action on television does not appear to be dampened by an ongoing scandal involving domestic abuse by players including former Baltimore Ravens standout Ray Rice, Bloomberg reports. Viewership figures over the weekend — the…