Jan 27 2012 12:48 PM ET

'Big Bang' battles 'Idol'; 'The Finder' ratings improve

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Categories: TV Ratings
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Image Credit: CBS; Fox

It’s on: Fox’s American Idol and CBS’ Big Bang Theory battled for Thursday ratings supremacy, with each coming away with claims for the crown.

Idol drew 17 million viewers and a 5.4 rating. That’s down just a few notches from last week. This is a bit of a relief for Fox since it’s less of a drop than Wednesday’s edition, so it suggests the reality hit’s declines could be slowing down.

Big Bang had 16 million viewers and also had a 5.4 rating. The usual way to compare shows is against each program’s overall average rather than trying to split them up, in which case Big Bang and Idol are deadlocked in the demo. But another way is to compare Big Bang to Idol‘s first half hour, when the shows were in direct competition. During that period, Big Bang won in the demo and viewers. In either case, this race is getting tighter. For more on this, see Will American Idol get overthrown as TV’s top show? READ FULL STORY »

Jan 27 2012 12:00 PM ET

InsideTV Podcast: Who would win a Xena vs. Spartacus duel to the death? Lucy Lawless and Liam McIntyre argue it out

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Categories: InsideTV Podcast, Spartacus, Television, TV Characters

Image Credit: Starz Entertainment; Everett Collection

Spartacus kicks off again tonight with a new season, a new title (Spartacus: Vengeance) and a new leading man (Liam McIntyre, taking over for Andy Whitfield). But don’t worry, the show hasn’t changed too much. After all, there are still plenty of orgies, decapitations, and decapitations during orgies! In celebration of the Starz drama’s return this evening, McIntyre and co-star Lucy Lawless stopped by the InsideTV Podcast, and wouldn’t you know it — all hell broke loose! In addition to discussing the ins and outs — no pun intended — of season 2 (which included McIntyre stabbing a man in the penis for his very first scene), the duo was grilled on a variety of topics. Such as: How does Lucy feel about losing the coveted Celebrity Duets title to Alfonso Ribeiro? And what kind of Super Bowl prediction is Patriots fan Liam ready to make while sitting here in the enemy territory of New York City? But we saved the best question for last: Who would win in a battle between Spartacus and Lucy’s iconic warrior princess, Xena? Not surprisingly, our two guests have very differing opinions on the matter. READ FULL STORY »

Jan 27 2012 11:51 AM ET

'Fear Factor' shock: Donkey semen, electric fence -- VIDEO

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Categories: Reality TV
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Twins, semen, electric shocks, locomotives. NBC’s Fear Factor finale is cranking things to 11.

Monday’s episode of NBC’s reality classic has twins in bikinis being shocked by an electrified fence (exclusive video below) and contestants drinking — yikes — donkey semen.

The latter stunt was a source of controversy behind the scenes. Host Joe Rogan hinted about the stunt to EW.com weeks ago. “The one I want to give you, I can’t,” Rogan said, when asked what was the grossest challenge that was shot for this season. “They’re not even sure if they’re going to air it. It’s so over the top and ridiculous. When they told me, I really though they were joking at first. I don’t know where the debate is, but NBC is not sure if they’re going to air it.” READ FULL STORY »

Jan 27 2012 10:00 AM ET

'SNL' writer John Mulaney on his new Comedy Central special and why he'll never make fun of 'Friday Night Lights'

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Categories: Late Night, Saturday Night Live, Television
JOHN-MULANEY

Image Credit: Brad Barket

Stand-up comedian and Saturday Night Live scribe John Mulaney makes plenty of pop culture references in his one-hour Comedy Central special New in Town: Among other jokes, there’s a well-delivered line about Ratatouille and even a pitch-perfect Def Comedy Jam take on Home Alone 2: Lost in New York. But Mulaney, who has an affinity for all things television (“I don’t daydream, I just think about things I saw on TV. I’ve noticed that sometimes I’ll be staring off and I’ll just be thinking about a commercial I saw when I was 10, or when they lip-synched Ray Charles on The Cosby Show,” he jokes to EW), assures us there’s one thing he won’t go near in his act: Friday Night Lights.

“The biggest new show in my life has been Friday Night Lights, which I watched on DVD,” Mulaney tells EW. “So I was thinking about new jokes and brainstorming and I was thinking, ‘Well why don’t you talk about how much you like Friday Night Lights?’ and another part of my brain was like, ‘No. You will not cheapen Friday Night Lights in your stand-up!’ Also, I took the show so seriously, I don’t even know if I have any funny take on it other than it being great and I want to be Coach Taylor. I did talk like Coach Taylor a little after I watched the series. I would talked in clip sentences like [in a convincing Coach Taylor accent] ‘You get your priorities straight.’”
READ FULL STORY »

Jan 27 2012 09:30 AM ET

'Puppy Bowl VIII': Watch a puppy TD...and a pooper blooper! -- EXCLUSIVE VIDEO

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Categories: EW Exclusive

Warning: In just nine days, you will be subjected to extreme levels of cuteness. You may experience an uncontrollable urge to utter the word ‘awwwwww’ and try to pet your TV screen. Contact your doctor if symptoms last longer than Super Bowl Sunday, when Animal Planet airs…. Puppy Bowl VIII.

What’s that? You can’t wait until Feb. 5 to get your cuddly on? Allow us to be of service. We have acquired a few exclusive clips from this year’s contest, in which (SPOILER ALERT) more than a few young dogs will carry a chew toy across the goal line. Cheer on our benchwarmers as they trot out to start the second quarter! (Did you know that Calvin, a pit-bull mix, restores classic cars?) Go easy on a tiny collie-rottweiler mix named Montana, who draws a penalty for leaving his mark on the field! And throw a bone to Hunter, who tries to play tough D against the touchdown machine named Holly! All you have to do is click on the video below, and you will be awash in animal adorableness.

For more on Puppy Bowl VIII, pick up a copy of this week’s EW. READ FULL STORY »

Jan 26 2012 11:02 PM ET

'Young and the Restless': Cane and Lily get hitched -- EXCLUSIVE FIRST LOOK

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Categories: Television

If there’s one thing those daytime soap operas do better than anyone, it’s bringing together their popular actors for one — or two, or multiple — trips down the aisle.

For Cane (Daniel Goddard) and Lily (Christel Khalil), this is only their second stab at matrimony on CBS’ The Young and the Restless. But hey, those kids are young. Who knows what the future holds in Genoa City?

But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. The happy couple’s latest wedding occurs on — when else? — Valentine’s Day. Here’s your first look at the bride and groom.

READ FULL STORY »

Jan 26 2012 10:25 PM ET

CBS adapting 'Mommy Track Mysteries' for fall

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Categories: Television, TV Pilots

A popular book series from Ayelet Waldman could become a drama series for fall on CBS.

The network on Thursday gave a thumbs-up to three drama pilots, including one based on Waldman’s Mommy Track Mysteries series about a former public defender who becomes a private investigator to keep from being bored to death as a stay-at-home mom.

Another drama in the works for fall comes Nicholas Pileggi (Goodfellas) and Greg Walker and is a period piece set in the 60s about Ralph Lamb — a rodeo cowboy turned longtime sheriff of Las Vegas.

CBS also greenlit the Joel Silver pilot Quean, described by the network as an “edgy and independent Millennial hacker girl who teams up with an Oakland police detective to solve crimes.” Alternative title: Lisbeth by the Bay?

Jan 26 2012 08:07 PM ET

In honor of 'Gossip Girl' Day, bosses tease 100th episode's 'gasp' moment

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Categories: Gossip Girl, TV Scoop
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Image Credit: Giovanni Rufino/The CW

Happy Gossip Girl Day, everyone! Yes, that exists now.

To mark the occasion, made official this morning by New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg at a ceremony on the Gossip Girl set in Queens, N.Y., EW caught up with executive producers Stephanie Savage and Josh Safran to get the intel on Monday’s 100th episode of Gossip Girl.

Now, much has already been said about the episode. It’s Blair’s wedding day, Georgina’s back, and there are love triangles upon love triangles about to come to a head. But arguably one of the episode’s most important moments, says Safran, has yet to be spoiled. (He checks online!) “You have to see [the last few minutes] to believe them. I really think they will take people’s breath away,” he says. “Someone asked on Twitter, ‘Will we smile or cry at the end of the episode?’ And I said, ‘It will be more like a gasp.’” READ FULL STORY »

Jan 26 2012 06:34 PM ET

'Alias' actor joins NBC's 'Awake' -- EXCLUSIVE

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Categories: Scoop
KEVIN-WEISMAN

Image Credit: Getty Images

They had me at “Mr. Blonde.”

Alias co-star Kevin Weisman is joining the cast of NBC’s upcoming Awake in a recurring role as a mysterious character called Mr. Blonde.

The sinister Mr. Blonde will haunt Detective Britton (Jason Isaacs), playing a role in both of his parallel worlds. A man with unclear motives, it seems Mr. Blonde has revealing information about the car accident that changed Britton’s life. Since his role as tech geek Marshall Flinkman on ABC’s Alias, Weisman has appeared in episodes of NBC’s Chuck, Fox’s Fringe and Human Target.

Awake, which doesn’t have a premiere date yet, is about a man who … actually, to get a better idea how Mr. Blonde might fit into the story, here’s the trailer: READ FULL STORY »

Jan 26 2012 05:48 PM ET

'The Voice' preview: Watch 3 judges fight for this singer -- VIDEO

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Categories: Reality TV

EW.com has the first clip released from NBC’s regular weekly debut of The Voice and it’s a good reminder of what makes this talent show special. Here a singer does a very unique take on Trey Songz’ “Say Aah” and catches the interest of Blake Shelton and Christina Aguilera and Cee Lo (who calls her performance “the coolest thing that’s happened on the season so far“). The Voice returns after the Super Bowl on Feb. 5 then settles into its normal time slot the next night. Check out this exclusive clip: READ FULL STORY »

Jan 26 2012 04:48 PM ET

'Cheers' favorite coming to 'Good Wife' -- EXCLUSIVE

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Categories: Scoop
BEBE-NEUWIRTH

Image Credit: Getty Images

A fan favorite from NBC’s Cheers is coming to CBS’ The Good Wife.

Beatrice “Bebe” Neuwirth — who played Dr. Lilith Sternin on the long-running comedy Cheers and also appeared on its spinoff Frasier — has signed up for a recurring role on the legal drama.

The actress and singer will play Judge Friend, described as a sexy woman with a stern manner and little patience for joking around. She’s assigned to a case involving a battle for control of a large equity group and is placed in a rather awkward position when the top witnesses for both sides appear to be totally guilty of perjury.

Since Fraiser, Neuwirth has been on Law & Order: Trial by Jury and Bored to Death. EW.com also recently reported that The Good Wife has Morena Baccarin joining the team as an upcoming guest star. Good Wife airs on CBS on Sunday nights.

Jan 26 2012 03:29 PM ET

Will 'American Idol' get overthrown as TV's top show?

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Categories: American Idol, Television
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Image Credit: Fox

After eight seasons at No. 1, American Idol could finally get overthrown in the weekly ratings as the country’s highest-rated entertainment series.

The media often speculates about such a prospect before a new season of Idol premieres. Then the reality titan always returns to monster viewership, crushing all rivals in its path, and doubters are silenced.

Not this time.

The first three episodes of the 11th season, while still ruling their respective evenings, dipped far enough in the ratings to suggest that Idol could possibly get overtaken — at least during some of the upcoming weeks (overturning Idol as the season’s overall highest-rated show remains unlikely). Last Thursday’s second episode had CBS declaring an unprecedented ratings victory for its hit comedy Big Bang Theory, saying the show actually beat Idol in the key adult demo. Who actually won the fight is a matter of dispute (Fox compared Big Bang to Idol‘s hour-long average; CBS compared Big Bang to the first half of Idol, when the sitcom and reality series were in direct competition).

Either way, the point remains: The Idol pinata is within striking distance. READ FULL STORY »

Jan 26 2012 02:26 PM ET

'I Just Want My Pants Back' star on character's young-adult perils. Plus, an EXCLUSIVE CLIP

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Categories: EW Exclusive, Television
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Image Credit: MTV

In I Just Want My Pants Back, MTV’s upcoming young-adult comedy, Jason Strider is a typical twentysomething living in Brooklyn–torn between what star Peter Vack calls “immature desires” and the responsibilities that come with living on your own. And in that oft-experienced life stage lies a really funny story, he says.

“As so many people who are in Jason’s position when they first enter into the adult world [he] realizes, ‘Oh my God, I’m actually less equipped to deal with these issues than I thought I was,’ or, in fact, ‘I’m being presented with issues that I never could have foreseen.’” Among the issues? A one-night stand who leaves his apartment in the morning having captured his romantic interest…and wearing his pants.

The story line is certainly the catalyst for a season-long journey of finding out more about the mystery woman, but also acts as a backdrop to the story of Peter and his friends (Tina, a young, fiery Brooklynite, and a young couple), who struggle with everything from finding employment to ducking uncomfortable situations. (In one episode, they find themselves trapped among unappealing company at James Franco’s “ravioli party.”) READ FULL STORY »

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