Thursday, October 29, 2009

'24' Season 8 trailer premieres

Fox has released the trailer for the 8th season of '24'

The Jack Bauer Power Hour returns January 17th with a 2 night 4 hour premiere on Fox.

'Trauma" cancelled by NBC. Good news for 'Chuck' fans.

NBC has cancelled the emergency services drama, 'Trauma'. The network announced that the series would end after the 13 episodes that have been filmed.

The latest episode of 'Trauma' aired Monday and scored 5.8 million total viewers and a 1.9 rating/4 share among adults 18 to 49 (a big drop in the demo from lead-in "Heroes," which posted a 2.5/7.)

In what appears to be a related move, the network also ordered 6 additional episodes of fan favorite 'Chuck', bringing their season total to 19 episodes. This means that the show is now likely to return in January instead of the originally proposed March date.

Saturday, October 24, 2009

Legendary comedian Soupy Sales, dead at 83

Soupy Sales, the rubber-faced comedian whose anything-for-a-chuckle career was built on 20,000 pies to the face and 5,000 live TV appearances across a half-century of laughs, has died. He was 83.

Sales gained early fame in the 1950s as the host of a daytime children's TV show in Detroit and always had a strong following among young people, who appreciated his groaning puns, silly dances and runaway train of thought.

The entertainer's former manager, Dave Usher, said he died in a hospice in New York City from multiple health problems.

Survivors include his wife of 29 years, Trudy Carson Sales, and two sons from his first marriage.

For more on the amazing life and career of Soupy Sales, you can read TIME's story here.

Eric Braeden returning to 'Young and the Restless'

Eric Braeden has agreen to take a pay cut and return to his role as Victor Newman on the popular CBS daytime drama 'The Young and the Restless.'

The actor, 68, had been expected to leave the show following its Nov. 2 episode. Young and the Restless' entire cast and crew were asked to take pay cuts earlier this year, but Braeden refused to take the reduction and walked off the show's set in September.

TV Guide confirmed that Braeden will not be leaving 'Y&R' after all; the actor will take a pay cut, as the rest of the cast had already agreed to do.

The timing of his return is still being worked out.

Braeden's last episode was to have been Nov. 2. News of his return comes days after reports that Sony had been considering hiring a well-known actor to fill the gap left by Braeden's departure.

Report: TNT to pick up 'Southland'

Cancelled cop drama 'Southland' is reportedly close to getting a new lease on life.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, TNT is close to completing a deal to resurrect the series. Cast and crew of the show have been told to prepare for a November 2nd date to resume shooting.

If the deal is completed, TNT will air the series from the beginning.

NBC gives full seasons to 3 shows

NBC has given full season pickups to 3 of its shows. 'Community,' 'Parks and Recreation,' and 'Mercy'.

Nine more episodes have been ordered for each series, bringing the total to 22 episodes.

Pickups were announced by NBC/Universal Media Studios primetime entertainment prexy Angela Bromstad, who gave kudos to 'Community' for "delivering a first-rate, quality show that is very promising as the newest of NBC's first-rate Thursday night comedies."

Fall to date, 'Community' has averaged a 2.6 rating and 5 share with adults 18-49, as well as 5.7 million viewers. Net also touted the show's heavy concentration of upscale viewers.

'Mercy,' meanwhile, has posted a 2.1 rating and 5 share with adults 18-49 and 7.8 million viewers. And 'Parks and Rec' is averaging a 2.1/5 with adults 18-49 and 4.8 million viewers.

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

'Castle' gets full season

ABC has given the Nathan Fillion drama 'Castle' a full 22 episode season pickup. The show has performed admirably in it's tough Monday night timeslot.

"Castle" is the fifth ABC show to get a full-season order this fall. The other four -- "FlashForward," "The Middle," "Modern Family" and "Cougar Town" -- are all newcomers.

The show has drawn steady ratings, averaging about 10.2 million viewers per week.

Monday, October 19, 2009

'Celebrity Apprentice 3' cast revealed

The cast of the third round of 'The Celebrity Apprentice' has been revealed. It includes an ex baseball player, an ex governor, a couple of pro wrestlers, comedians and rock stars among others.

Here is the cast:

Holly Robinson Peete - Actress best known for her role on 'Hangin with Mr. Cooper'

Carol Leifer - Comedian and Writer. Probably best known for being one of the writers on Seinfeld. The character of Elaine is based on her.

Curtis Stone - Australian celebrity chef.

Darryl Strawberry - former major league baseball player with troubled past much like last season's contestant Dennis Rodman.

Summer Sanders - gold medal winning Olympic swimmer and NBC sportscaster.

Bret Michaels - Poison front man and star of VH1's 'Rock of Love.'

Rod Blagojevich - disgraced former Illinois Governor.

Maria Kanellis - one of two wrestlers appearing on this season.

Bill Goldberg - the other wrestler appearing this year.

Cyndi Lauper - probably the most famous person on the show this season. A very successful singer who made her name in the 80's but has had continued success through the years.

Sharon Osbourne - best known as Ozzy's better half and as an 'America's Got Talent' judge. Celebrity Apprentice Winner Piers Morgan is also an AGT judge.

Sinbad - well known comedian and actor.


So there you have it. Who do you think has the best shot at winning? Who are you rooting for?

Celebrity Apprentice will return to NBC in the spring.

Friday, October 16, 2009

ABC pre-empts 'Hank' for Charlie Brown

ABC has decided to air 'It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown' on back to back nights later this month rather than air the Kelsey Grammer sitcom 'Hank.'

The expanded hour long edition of 'Charlie Brown' will air on October 27 at 8 pm and then air again the following night, October 28 at 8 pm.

ABC schedulers apparently think the Peanuts gang could make a better lead-in for 'The Middle' than 'Hank.'

For now, this is a one-time only pre-emption. Still no word on whether ABC will stick with 'Hank' during the November sweeps, or possibly replace it with comedy repeats. However as we all know, this is never a good sign for a show. We believe 'Hank's days are numbered.

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

'Flash Forward' gets full season

As previously predicted here, ABC has given 'Flash Forward' a full season order of 25 episodes.

The show has performed solidly in its Thursday at 8 pm timeslot, even topping CBS powerhouse 'Survivor' once this season.

DVR research is also showing that the show gains almost a full rating point from DVR playback, going from 4.1 to a 4.9 rating.

The show has been averaging between 12 and 14 million viewers weekly.

ABC is banking on this show becoming the next big phenomenon. Hoping that it will fill the void when 'Lost' ends after this year.

Sunday, October 11, 2009

Lauren Graham joins 'Parenthood'

Lauren Graham has joined the NBC series 'Parenthood'. She'll be filling the void left by actress Maura Tierney, who left the series to deal with breast cancer treatment

Graham was slated to appear in some mid-season ABC comedy called 'Let it Go,' but she may have been released from that commitment by mutual consent simply because ABC's Wednesday comedy block is now locked in for a full season run.

The NBC series, based on the 1989 Steve Martin film, was set to debut this fall, but needed to be pushed back due to the recasting of Tierney's role. The show will now premiere after NBC's Winter Olympic coverage ends.

Struggling NBC looks to bring back 'Chuck' sooner

Good news for 'Chuck' fans. You may not have to wait until March to see the show after all.

Due to NBC's well publicized struggles with their new shows and some of their returning shows, 'Chuck' may return much sooner than it's planned March premiere.

Rumor has it that NBC is considering bringing the show back as early as late October. This also means that if the show returns that early, then it's original plan of 13 episodes will likely be extended.

Eric Braeden quits 'Young & the Restless'

One of daytime TV's biggest stars, Eric Braeden (Victor Newman on 'Young and the Restless') has quit the show in a salary dispute.

Braeden walked off the show after refusing to have his pay cut.

Braeden told the NY Post that he signed a 3-year contract, and he expects CBS to honor it.

But producers CBS and Sony invoked a little-used clause giving them the right to review his salary every 26 weeks (and the right to cut that salary). "You expect to be talked to in a sensitive way, not suddenly hit over the head by invoking a clause that was never invoked before and to say 'What the f*** happened?' ," Braeden says.

He adds that there's a certain "hierarchy" among daytime soap stars, which he feels should have spared him from a salary cut.

"Let's call a spade a spade. Management always gives the impression that all [soap] actors are the same, but it's bulls**t to claim that. They aren't," he says.

Braeden could still return to "Y&R" if a new deal can be worked out. His last scene, taped Sept. 23, airs Nov. 2.

Friday, October 9, 2009

'Good Wife,' 'NCIS: Los Angeles' get full seasons

CBS, thrilled with the performance of two freshman dramas, 'The Good Wife' and 'NCIS:Los Angeles', have picked up the shows for full seasons.

Both shows have had solid ratings for the Eye network, and have regularly been winning their timeslots.

'NCIS: LA' and 'Wife' are the most watched new drama on TV and the 2nd most watched drama respectively.

The 'NCIS' spinoff that focuses on undercover work in Los Angeles is currently averaging 17.5 million viewers, according to the Hollywood Reporter, and has won its time slot among viewers and adults 25-54 over the last three weeks.

'The Good Wife,' is currently averaging 13.7 million viewers.

CBS says yes to 'Hawaii Five-O' revival

CBS has given a pilot commitment to a new version of 'Hawaii Five-O.'

'Star Trek' and 'Transformers' writers Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci teaming with Peter Lenkov (CSI: NY) to reinvent the crime classic.

CBS Television Studios is behind the project, which started coming to life at the studio more than a year ago. Ed Bernero (Criminal Minds) was originally recruited to oversee the project; that version of the remake didn't come together.

But CBS TV Studios President David Stapf and his counterparts at CBS didn't give up on the notion. Kurtzman, Orci and Lenkov came up with a new take on how to revive 'Five-O' and pitched it to CBS Entertainment President Nina Tassler.

Tassler liked what she saw and quickly ordered a pilot for the show.

Now comes the big question. Who plays McGarrett? Any suggestions? Josh Holloway? Carlos Bernard?

ABC gives full seasons to 3 comedies

ABC has given full season orders to 3 freshman comedies, 'CougarTown,' 'Modern Family,' and 'The Middle.'

All 3 shows have performed pretty well in the ratings

ABC is also expected to announce a full season pickup for the sci-fi drama 'Flash Forward' shortly.

NBC cancels 'Southland'

In a surprising move, NBC has cancelled 'Southland' before its 2nd season premiere. This comes after the network renewed it after its 1st season.

Insiders are blaming the "Jay Leno factor" for the cancellation. With 'The Jay Leno Show' airing every weeknight at 10 pm, it leave a lot less room for prime time shows on NBC's schedule.

Production was already completed on 6 episodes for the upcoming season before being shut down. It is not clear when or where those 6 episodes will air. The show is going to be shopped to other broadcast and cable networks.

"I'm disappointed that NBC no longer has the time periods available to support the kind of critically-acclaimed series that was for so many years, a hallmark of their success," Executive Producer John Wells said. "We remain extremely proud of 'Southland' and are actively looking for another home for the series."

While 'Southland' enjoyed support among NBC brass last season, after screening the finished episodes from the upcoming second season, the show's content was deemed too dark and gritty for broadcast TV, especially for 9 p.m. Additionally, a high-end drama like 'Southland' is certainly far more expensive than newsmagazine 'Dateline' for low-trafficked Friday night.

The cancellation of 'Southland' ends (for now) a long relationship between NBC and Wells, who has been behind some of NBC's biggest series, including "ER" and "The West Wing," for the past 15 years.

NBC dramas have been off to a rocky start this season. Freshman shows like 'Mercy' and 'Trauma' are struggling in the ratings. The same goes for veteran dramas like 'Heroes' and 'Law and Order: SVU.'