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Viewer Loss on ‘American Idol’ Is Accelerating in Final Weeks

"American Idol" may be suffering from viewer fatigue. The show is shedding viewers in a decline that’s accelerating into its finals, USA Today reports. Viewership has dropped 8.8% for the season, but has slumped 12.8% for the finals weeks, compared…

Report: Italian Website Claims to Have Posted ‘Lost’ Finale Script (Don’t Worry, No Spoilers Here)

Whether it’s a joke, the honest truth or a viral marketing stunt by ABC won’t be known until May 23, but an Italian Website has posted what it claims are the last six pages from the finale of "Lost," reports…

Conan Boosts ’60 Minutes’ Ratings; Separately, TMZ, Citing Sources, Reports that Despite What Conan Says, Leno Payout Would Have Been About Same as O’Brien’s

In his first interview since departing late-night, Conan O’Brien’s appearance on "60 Minutes" was Sunday’s highest rated evening program, drawing 13.3 million viewers for the CBS program, the New York Times reports. Separately, contrary to what O’Brien said on his…

Investigation into Jetliner and TV News Chopper Near-Collision Last Week

Last week a TV news helicopter and a Southwest jetliner almost collided in mid-air, and the National Transportation Safety Board wants to know why, the Associated Press reports. According to the story, "[Southwest] Flight 1322, bound for Baltimore, and [a helicopter operated by Helicopter’s Inc….

Syndication Offers Most ‘New’ Programs Since 2002, But Most Are Old

Television stations have 10 new syndicated shows to choose from for their fall 2011 slate, the most since 11 shows were offered in 2002, but the hitch is that most of the new shows have aired somewhere else,B&C reports. "Of…

A Musical Episode from…’NCIS’?

It seems everyone on television is breaking into song. "NCIS" may become the latest drama to create a musical episode, the New York Post reports. According to the article, " ‘We have talked about it,’ said Michael Weatherly, the actor…

Spider-Man Creator Stan Lee Gets Green Light for History Channel Show

History has given the greenlight to a series hosted by comic book icon Stan Lee, the Hollywood Reporter reports. Called "Stan Lee’s Superhumans," the series will debut in the third quarter. The show will track down people with unusual abilities…

Some Major Talent, Including Todd ‘Malcolm in the Middle,’ ‘Larry Sanders’ Holland; David ‘The Sting’ S. Ward; and Robert ‘George Lopez’ Borden All Developing Shows for Fledgling Pay Cabler-Onliner Epix

Epix, the joint venture between Viacom, Paramount, Lionsgate, and MGM, has signed some more top talent to develop its slate of shows, Deadline.com reports. Says the article, "Oscar winner David S. Ward, 3-time Oscar nominee Todd Field, and Emmy winners…

FX Renews ‘Justified’ for Second Season

FX said it’s bringing back "Justified" for a second season, the Los Angeles Times’ Show Tracker blog reports. The Sony-produced drama received a 13-episode order for the Western drama starring Timothy Olyphant. Based on a character created by Elmore Leonard,…

Kurtwood Smith, Who Played the Dad on ‘That 70s Show,’ Gets Sony Comedy Pilot

In a last minute switch, Sony TV comedy pilot "Team Spitz" has replaced Bob Odenkirk with Kurtwood Smith, Deadline.com’s Nellie Andreeva reports. Sony TV will reshoot the completed pilot before sending it to CBS, which has picked up the project….