Cable

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,…

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…

‘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…

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…

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,…

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?…

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….

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…

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…

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…