Archive: March 2009 (105-117 of 123)

Mar 5 2009 07:49 PM ET

'Bones' exclusive: 'Major health crisis' looming for Booth

by
Categories: Bones

Davidboreanaz_l Is the long-awaited nookie for Booth and Brennan in the season finale of Bones just a lovely parting gift for David Boreanaz’s character? Probably not, but it sounds like the wisecracking detective will stare death in the face later this season.

“He will be going through a major health crisis,” reveals executive producer Stephen Nathan, “which will cause him to hallucinate.”

Yikes. But whatever Booth’s ultimate fate (the fact that he’s the star
of the show probably bodes well for him), at least viewers won’t be
imagining his sweet, sweet lovemaking with his partner. “The last
episode [of the season] Booth and Brennan are in bed together,” Nathan confirms. “And
we can’t have them in bed naked without having sex.”

And the morning after? Will there be catastrophic Moonlighting-esque
awkwardness? Thankfully, no. “That’s all going to be resolved within
that episode,” Nathan promises, “because we also have to resolve the
fact that Brennan wants to have a child.”

So what do you think, folks? Does the words “health” and “crisis” in
the same sentence as the name “Booth” strike terror into your hearts?
Or do you figure this is just another way for Bones to rattle our…
you know? Sound off below. (Additional reporting by Andy Patrick)

More TV Scoop:
Bones: Zach to return
Heroes: Three deaths ahead
Fringe: Pregnancy shocker!

Mar 5 2009 06:53 PM ET

Exclusive: 'CSI: NY' says RIP to one of its own

by
Categories: CSI: NY

Garysinise_l
“That’s right,” says CSI: NY executive producer Peter Lenkov. “We lose a member of our family [in the season finale] — and that’s just in the first 10 minutes.”

The other 50 minutes of the hour will probably be pretty killer, too. Leading up to it is episode 5.22, titled “Yarzheit,” which features not only Lou Grant… er, Ed Asner but also comic legend Shelley Berman. In this one, “Our CSIs find themselves investigating a crime that takes them into the world of racism and bigotry, only to uncover a deep, dark secret that dates back to the Holocaust,” teases Lenkov. “Also in this episode, Mac will learn something about his father he never knew.

“And in the season finale” — which also has Craig T. Nelson winding up his arc — “the CSI: NY team is on the trail of a team of sophisticated kidnappers-turned-cop killers,” he continues. “Their crime will forever change the CSI: NY lineup.”

So who do you think bites the dust? Danny? Lindsay? Mac? Stella? Post your theories in the comments section!

More TV Scoop:
NCIS shocker: Is someone leaving?
Grey’s: Mer-Der proposal twist!
24: Beloved character will die

Mar 5 2009 04:08 PM ET

'NCIS' shocker: A 'tragic' fate for Tony and Ziva

by
Categories: NCIS

Csi_l
“Tiva” fans, I’ve got good news for you, and, as the title of this story suggests, bad news — potentially very bad news. But hey, first the good: NCIS executive producer Shane Brennan tells me that for viewers who are in love with the duo — and I know there are lots of you — “the last four episodes of the season are going to be amazing. They will not believe what’s in store for these characters. We focus on Tony (Michael Weatherly) and Ziva (Cote de Pablo) in a way that we haven’t focused on them in six seasons!

“I’m very serious,” he adds. “They carry the last four episodes in a way that is really, really shocking, and in a way, the audience will not see any of this coming.”

Okay, you’ve got my attention. Now tell me more. “It starts with part one
of “Legend” on April 28, which is the spin-off episode,” Brennan says.
“Now, having said that, it doesn’t really start in part one. We’ve been
sowing the seeds of this for some time. And the audience is aware
there’s a character out there called Michael Rifkin (Merik Tadros),
because he was introduced in the first episode of Season 6. And they
know Tony’s aware of Michael’s existence. So let’s just say, in the
last four episodes, Michael makes his appearance in a big way.

“You’ve got what you might want to call a triangle,” he continues.
“It’s a triangle with very, very pointy ends. Someone’s going to get
hurt.”

As in, um, dead hurt? “Something tragic will happen to Tony,” Brennan
confirms. “Something tragic will happen to Ziva as well. It’s one of
those arcs that has been building and building and building for so long
that we decided it really deserved to be featured in a big way. It’s
emotionally and physically explosive.”

“Physically explosive” doesn’t sound good. But the boss won’t reveal
whether anyone, much less either of Tiva’s portrayers, is on their way
out. “Possibly,” he teases. “I won’t take it any further than that.”

Yikes! Okay, your turn, Tivotees. Excited about the final four or just
worried about how final they may be for your fave couple? Weigh in
below. (Additional reporting by Andy Patrick)

More NCIS scoop:
Major development for Abby and McGee

Mar 5 2009 04:32 AM ET

Fox will air pilot of 'Glee' after 'American Idol' this May

by
Categories: TV Biz

First, the good news: Fox will give viewers a sneak peek of Glee, the provocative new musical dramedy from Nip/Tuck creator Ryan Murphy, after an episode of American Idol on May 19. Now the bad news: That’s all we get until fall! Let’s let Fox chairman Peter Ligouri explain: "An ambitious and unique show such as Glee deserves an ambitious and unique kick-off. We also wanted to take advantage of the huge American Idol promotional platform to launch the marketing campaign in May."

There may have been other motives, too. Rumor has it that Fox was considering whether to give Glee the high-profile time slot behind Idol on Wednesdays this winter, but that spot went to Lie to Me, the we’re-not-trying-to-be-Psych-honest drama that stars Tim Roth. Glee, which is a high-concept series about a teacher who revamps his old high school glee club, may seem a lot riskier than Lie to Me, but it was an immediate favorite among critics at the most recent Television Press Tour in Los Angeles. The drama will now bow in either August or September on a date yet to be determined.

Glee features a soundtrack of oldies and newbies and stars Matthew Morrison (As the World Turns), Jessalyn Gilsig (Nip/Tuck), and Jane Lynch (Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby).

Mar 5 2009 03:39 AM ET

Ask Ausiello: Spoilers on 'Grey's,' 'Housewives,' 'Big Bang,' 'How I Met Your Mother,' '24,' 'ER,' 'NCIS,' 'Heroes,' 'The Office,' 'Smallville,' 'Gossip Girl,' 'House,' and more!

by
Categories: Ask Ausiello, Big Love, Brothers & Sisters, Desperate Housewives, Dollhouse, Fringe, Gossip Girl, Grey's Anatomy, Heroes, House, How I Met Your Mother, Medium, Melrose Place, NCIS, One Tree Hill, Smallville, The Big Bang Theory, The Office

Ausiellofilessheridan_l
Question: You got anything on the Mer-Der proposal on Grey’s Anatomy? –Cas
Ausiello: Mer not only learns about the engagement ring in next week’s episode, but she sees it, too. Unfortunately, the circumstances are less than ideal in both cases.

Question: Please, give me some spoilers regarding Cristina and Owen on Grey’s Anatomy. I’ll settle for anything! –Kelly
Ausiello: Even if it’s a little icky? Okay, you asked for it: Owen’s post-traumatic stress disorder will take a turn for the worse when he ends up physically hurting Cristina, albeit unintentionally. To find out what happens next, pick up the Spring TV Preview-themed issue of EW (on sale Friday) and turn to page 35.

Question: Put my mind at ease and tell me we won’t be seeing dead Denny again on Grey’s Anatomy. –Jenny
Ausiello: I bring you good news from Jeffrey Dean Morgan. "If they are planning on having me back this season, they’d have to do it awfully fast because I am about to have a major scheduling conflict," Morgan told us at Monday’s Watchmen premiere. "I’m going to shoot a movie called The Resident with Hilary Swank. It is pretty much Psycho meets Fatal Attraction. I am a guy who becomes obsessed with Hilary’s character. So I don’t see how Denny could make a comeback this season. There’s always next season. You know, I trust Shonda [Rhimes], so if she wanted me back, I would do everything possible to get it done. But I think dead Denny played his part. He gave Izzie the warning. In a way, the whole Denny ghost-reaper-angel thing was similar to my experience with fans of Watchmen. People were merciless about both projects on the Internet, and eventually you just have to stop reading and trust your boss and do your best."

Question: Desperate Housewives scoop? –Parm
Ausiello: Not even death will stop Edie from making life uncomfortable for her neighbors. I’m told the surviving housewives will be faced with the grim task of having to track down Edie’s now-15-year-old son, Travers, and break the news to him about his mom’s passing. Of course, the road trip turns out to be a good bonding experience for the ladies, so it’s not a total loss.

Question: Did I miss something? Where was the "shocking death" that ABC kept promoting during the two-hour Brothers & Sisters episode on Sunday? WTF? –Carlos
Ausiello: Don’t get me started. Too late, I’m started: It was unbelievably shameful — and this is coming from someone who last week titled a story, "Gilmore Girl rushed to ER!" And ABC’s deception paid off; B&S scored its highest ratings since September. On the flipside, no one’s going to be stupid enough to fall for the promo the network has planned for the show’s season finale: "Fugitive Tommy flees to Mexico and joins a cult!" Fool us once…

Question: I’ll offer you $250 for your Bad Robot statue. I know it’s worth more, but it’s literally all I’ve got. –Daina
Ausiello: Bidding on this item has been halted as the auction is under review by the Time Inc. ethics department. Apparently, it is against company policy or some such for me to use my column to auction off personal items to the public and then set up the main lobby as the drop-off. It was an honest mistake on my part.

Question: Was Kathy’s death on Sunday’s Big Love the minor character death you’ve been teasing? And, if so, I guess that leaves a major character death in the season finale? –Kristina
Ausiello: Correct on both counts!

Question: Please assure me that Sarah doesn’t bite the dust in the Big Love finale! –Dana
Ausiello: Sarah doesn’t bite the dust in the Big Love finale.

Question: 24 was crazy this week! Any scoop on what may happen next week? –Jessica
Ausiello: A longtime and much loved character will die while trying to save President Taylor.

Question: I absolutely love Renee Walker and President Taylor from 24! They are such amazing women! What intel do have on them? –Caroline
Ausiello: Agent Walker will get Jack clearance to torture Ryan Burnett, but my gut tells me one of Jon Voight’s goons will get to the blabbermouth first. Meanwhile, the Prez’s daughter, Olivia, shows her true colors to Ethan, and their confrontation leaves him a wee bit shaken. Methinks we’ve got another Sherry Palmer on our hands. Scratch that, meknows.

Question: Warner Bros. just announced that the second season of Everwood is coming to DVD. Spread the word and maybe they’ll release the next two seasons. –DB
Ausiello: Consider the word spread.

Question: Wow, thanks for the awesome Sarah Connor Chronicles trailer. Please give us fans some hope for a third season. The new DVR numbers seem promising! –Jessica
Ausiello: Unfortunately, those DVR numbers aren’t huge enough to warrant taking the show off Fox’s endangered list.

Question: Got anything on the series finale of ER? –James
Ausiello: Sopranos-Dead Zone alum Cara Buono has landed what could turn out to be a landmark part: ER‘s final fatality. Her character, Lisa, is a 36-year-old pregnant woman who goes into labor after getting into a car accident. A show rep would only confirm that Buono is playing one of ER‘s "last trauma patients."

Question: Got any scoop about Leonard and Penny on The Big Bang Theory? –Sanna
Ausiello: Take it away, exec producer Bill Prady: "When it comes to Leonard and Penny, Wolowitz will explain to Leonard that opportunities to hook up with women appear like launch windows to the moon — if you miss one, it might be awhile until another one appears. This will become apparent when Penny starts dating a comic-book-loving friend of the guys."

Question: I need more Big Bang Theory scoop! Please! –Zekat
Ausiello: Got anything else, Mr. Prady? "Koothrappali will continue to try to speak to women, Wolowitz will raise his standards (thus lowering his success rate), and Sheldon will inch ever closer to a complete understanding of the universe and everything in it — except people." This show makes me cry tears of joy.

Question: I had a dream last night that there was a juicy tidbit in this week’s Ask Ausiello about Medium. Please tell me I’m tapping into that DuBois skill and you have something to report! –Brian
Ausiello: Wow, spooky. I actually do have some juicy scoop. Remember me telling you last week that Arrested Development‘s Jeffrey Tambor was guest-starring in a May episode? Well, there’s a bigger story there. Turns out, he’s actually replacing Patricia Arquette in the episode. According to an insider, the Emmy winner requested a little time off, so producers crafted an episode in which Allison passes her spirit-communicating skills to Tambor’s character. Neat trick, huh?

Question: Got anything on my favorite NCIS duo, Abby and McGee? –Beth
Ausiello: Don’t miss the May 5 episode. "There’s a little moment for Abby and McGee fans," reveals exec producer Shane Brennan, "and if they look closely, they’ll see it." (BTW, major Tiva scoop coming later today. Clear your mid-day schedule. THIS JUST IN: The story’s up!)

Question: Do you have any Dollhouse tidbits? –Jenni
Ausiello: The show’s mythology will really start to unfold on April 3 when, through a series of flashbacks, we learn who Echo was and the underlying "why" and "how" she ended up being lured into the Dollhouse. 

Question: My understanding is that One Tree Hill is returning without Chad Michael Murray and Hillarie Burton. Is there any truth to this? –Kirsten
Ausiello: Well, based on the rather odd video statement she released, Hillarie certainly wants us to think she’s leaving. I’ll believe it when I see her clean out her dressing room. Regarding CMM, it’s no secret that he’s ready to move on, but, again, no final decision has been made. BTW, only two Tree Hill regulars are officially on board for next season: Bethany Joy Galeotti and Jackson Brundage.

Question: How about some Smallville news? –D-rick
Ausiello: The Legion will return in the May finale — in some form. Also, I’m told this season’s final two episodes will focus on a manhunt for Chloe and Doomsday.

Question: Thanks so much for telling us about Wilson coming face-to-face with his brother in next week’s episode of House. Anything else coming up for him? –Monica
Ausiello: Series creator David Shore tells me we’ll see "a hint" of a new romance for him before the season ends.

Question: My friend and I would like to meet you when we’re in New York in a few weeks. Can that please be arranged? We’d be willing to submit our bags for a thorough security check beforehand. –Gabriella
Ausiello: Fine with me, but you should know my personal appearance fee starts at $100 an hour. And touching is extra.

Question: Got any casting scoop for the new Melrose Place? Dig deep! –Owen
Ausiello: I hear Heather Locklear is pretty much a lock to reclaim her "Very Special Guest Star" title.

Question: I heard the title of episode 22 of House this season is  "Bye-Bye Thirteen." Is that true? –Cindy
Ausiello: Sounds to me like the anti-Thirteen brigade is ratcheting up their propaganda campaign. The title of episode 22 is actually "A House Divided."

Question: Please tell me there is still hope for Dan and Serena on Gossip Girl? –Adam
Ausiello: If I did, I’d be lying. Exec producer Stephanie Savage confirms that Derena is dunzo. "I will tell you — and you can tell [everyone else] — that they do not get back together as a couple."

Question: How about some Fringe scoop? I am dying here now that it isn’t coming on again until April! –Garrett
Ausiello: A main character will become pregnant by the end of the season. But there’s a twist. Guesses as to what it might be? Head to the comments!

Question: I may be the only person on the planet who watches Heroes anymore, but could you please offer up some scoop? –Sarah
Ausiello: It’s a shame, too, because the show is actually getting good again. And later this Spring it’s going to get really good when Angela Petrelli receives the "Company Man" treatment via her very own origin episode! "We’re going to understand her in a way that we hadn’t before," teases consulting producer (and author of Heroes‘ original "Company Man" ep), Bryan Fuller.

Question: Could you please tell me if Tracy (Ali Larter) is one of the two major deaths planned for the current Heroes volume? –Justin
Ausiello: There are actually three deaths coming up — two real and one a fake-out. I’m not saying which category Tracy falls under.

Question: Will we be seeing Zach on Bones before the end of the season? –Ajay
Ausiello: There’s a strong chance you’ll see him in the season finale. (BTW, major Booth-Brennan scoop coming later today. Clear your mid-day schedule.)

Question: I’ll be your best friend in the whole wide world if you give me some scoop about Barney and Robin on How I Met Your Mother. –Jay
Ausiello: Something major is going to happen with these two in the season finale. I know this because executive producer Carter Bays told me so. "That is one of the stories that we sort of have been teasing out over the course of the season," he says. "And it definitely comes to a head in the finale."

Question: Any Office scoop about when Amy Ryan will be back? Holly is Michael’s soul mate! –Erin
Ausiello: Exec producer Paul Lieberstein is confirming what I first told you back in January: Holly is returning for the season finale. "It’s a warm meeting of exes," he says," [albeit] exes who are not quite over each other."

Question: There’s a rumor going around that Melinda is pregnant on Ghost Whisperer. I refuse to believe it until I hear it from you. –Craig
Ausiello: I can’t say for sure she’s currently pregnant. But I can say for sure she will be soon. Very soon.

That’s a wrap! Hey, did you know you can now follow me and my scoops at twitter.com/ewausiellofiles? Did you also know that ausielloscoop@ew.com is the e-mail address you use to send me questions/anonymous tips/love letters? C’mon, you knew one of those two things. The e-mail one for sure. The Twittering thing is relatively new. (Additional reporting by Carrie Bell and Tim Stack)

Mar 4 2009 10:37 PM ET

Rihanna and Chris Brown: Does a reunion mean case closed?

by
Categories: Music

Rihannabrown_l
In the monthlong media blitz following 21-year-old pop star Rihanna’s alleged Feb. 8 beating by her 19-year-old R&B beau Chris Brown, the duo’s case has certainly been tried in the court of public opinion. But according to the latest news, the charges have yet to reach the bench. Will they ever, what with recent reports
that the onetime lovebirds are back together?

After being spotted at one of Sean "Diddy" Combs’ homes on Miami Beach’s Star ­Island — Brown was repeatedly photographed; Rihanna was not — the duo flew back on March 2 to L.A., where Brown had been scheduled to appear at an arraignment three days later. When contacted on March 3, however, the Los Angeles Police Department said that the case was still under investigation and had not yet been moved to the district attorney’s office — a necessary step for arraignment.

What isn’t necessary to press charges in cases of domestic violence: the victim’s cooperation. According to Nancy Lemon, the director of the UC Berkeley School of Law’s Domestic Violence Law Practicum,
it’s "extremely typical" for domestic violence victims to opt out of
testifying against their abusers, and Lemon says there is at least one
academic study that indicates that conviction rates actually go up when
the victim does not appear in court. "Probably 80 percent of the time
in the United States, domestic violence victims either don’t testify at
all, or if they do testify, they may testify for the defense," says
Lemon, who emphasized that she was speaking generally and was not
familiar with the details of Brown’s alleged crime.

addCredit(“Frank Micelotta/Getty Images”)

When victims prefer not to testify, Lemon says, California
prosecutors often call expert witnesses like herself to the stand.
"We’re not supposed to know the facts of the case," she says. "We come
in and talk to the jury in general about the dynamics of domestic
violence and why it is that it’s very, very common for victims to
recant or not testify. We’re not giving an opinion as to whether [a]
crime actually happened or did not happen, but we’re educating [the
jury] that just because the victim is recanting or not testifying, that
doesn’t mean that it didn’t happen." This technique, known as
"victimless prosecution," is "pretty successful" at leading to
convictions, Lemon says.

Lemon adds that prosecutors in such situations can also pursue
"evidence-based prosecution," in which they build a case from records
such as photographs, statements to police at the scene, and 911 calls.
Pending further statements from the LAPD or the DA, of course, it
remains unknown how much non-testimony evidence of that sort may or may
not exist in Brown’s case.  

Brown himself has declined to comment on the case beyond his Feb. 15
statement that he was saddened "over what transpired." When EW asked
Los Angeles DA spokesperson Jane Robison whether a change in the pair’s
relationship status would affect the outcome of the case were it to
come to trial, she firmly replied, "It doesn’t matter if there was a
reconciliation or anything else, because nothing has been filed to us.
Currently, there is no case here." (Additional reporting by Simon
Vozick-Levinson)

More Chris Brown-Rihanna:
Chris Brown update: Court appearance expected on March 5
Police launch investigation into leak of Rihanna photo
The fallout from TMZ’s Rihanna photo reveal 

Chris Brown reportedly attends anger management class

Chris Brown surrenders to LAPD; released on $50,000 bail
Chris Brown and Rihanna: More fallout

READ FULL STORY »

Mar 4 2009 07:54 PM ET

Ratings: 'American Idol' up, 'The Bachelor: After the Final Rose, Part 2' down on Tuesday

by
Categories: TV Ratings

Back in its regular Tuesday slot, American Idol was the big winner on Tuesday night, beating last Thursday’s results show by 5 million viewers in its second hour. Meanwhile, The Biggest Loser: Couples lost 14 percent of its 8-9 p.m. viewers from last week’s new episode — no doubt because it had to compete with Idol this week. And part 2 of The Bachelor: After the Final Rose lost almost 40 percent of its Monday night audience, but still won the coveted 18-49 age group for its time slot.

 
   
   
      

      

      

   

   

      

      

      

   

   

      

      

      

   

   

      

      

      

   

   

      

      

      

   

 

Time Show Viewers (in millions)
8 p.m. American Idol (Fox)
NCIS (CBS)
Biggest Loser: Couples (NBC)
Homeland Security (ABC)
Reaper (The CW)		 22.7
13.7 (repeat)
8.3
5.7
2.4
9 p.m. American Idol (Fox)
Mentalist (CBS)
Biggest Loser: Couples (NBC)
Scrubs (ABC)
90210 (The CW)		 25.7
12.8 (repeat)
9.7
3.4 (repeat)
1.1 (repeat)
9:30 p.m. Scrubs (ABC) 3.6 (repeat)
10 p.m. The Bachelor: After the Final Rose Part 2 (ABC)
Without a Trace (CBS)
Law & Order: SVU (NBC)		 10.9
10.5 (repeat)
7.0 (repeat)
Mar 4 2009 05:27 PM ET

Exclusive: Chenoweth, Garber join 'Glee' club

by
Categories: Misc.

Kristinchenoweth_l_2Here are two more reasons Fox’s upcoming musicomedy, Glee, has us overjoyed: Kristin Chenoweth and Victor Garber are joining the cast in what will likely turn out to be recurring roles!

Wicked alum Chenoweth, who showed off her awesome pipes on the late, great Pushing Daisies, will play a part that’s as top secret as it is hilarious. (Sorry, that’s all you’re getting out of me.) Fellow Broadway vet Garber (Sweeney Todd) will play the father of Glee‘s leading man, Hairspray hunk Matthew Morrison. (Tony winner Debra Monk is his mom.)

Even before this latest bit of casting was announced, the positive buzz surrounding the project — which centers on the worst high school glee club in America — only seemed to grow louder with each passing day. With good reason, too. The extended trailer Fox showed us at press tour in January was so good it gave me chills, and the lucky few who have seen the pilot have been effusive with their praise. (In the new issue of EW, our own Ken Tucker calls the debut “witty and high-spirited” and a potential “sleeper hit.”)

Luckily, Fox seems to know it has something special on its hands. Rumor has it the network may launch the show this May after American Idol.

‘Til then, and probably beyond then, producer Ryan Murphy (whose Popular musical episode remains a kooky triumph) will just have to deal with music-lovin’ actors chasing him down wherever he goes. Says an insider: “They’re literally banging down his door to be on this show.”

Click on the video below to see one of the many reasons I’m rooting for this show.

Mar 4 2009 12:30 PM ET

David Foster Wallace novel 'The Pale King' due in 2010

by
Categories: Books

David Foster Wallace, who committed suicide last September, was working on a third novel at the time of his death, and his longtime publisher Little, Brown will release it in the spring of 2010. The Pale King takes place in an IRS facility in Illinois. “He told me he took accounting classes to learn more about it,” says Little, Brown publisher Michael Pietsch, who’s pulling together the 300-plus page novel from thousands of pages of drafts, notes, and outlines. Pietsch says that it’s thrilling “to watch an idea turning into a chapter into an entire section of the book.” He also told EW exclusively that upon publication Little, Brown will create a website to make large chunks of the manuscript available to fans, so they can see how the book came together and “have a detailed sense of Wallace as a working writer.” —Tina Jordan

Mar 4 2009 07:05 AM ET

Ratings: President Obama's speech dominates the week

by
Categories: TV Ratings

What’s bigger than American Idol? Barack Obama. On his 36th day in office, the new President addressed a joint session of Congress (the first-term equivalent of a State of the Union address) and cleaned up in the ratings, drawing 35.6 million viewers across ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC. Outside of those big four broadcast networks, his speech drew 16.8 million on Telemundo, Univision, CNBC, CNN, Fox News, and MSNBC for a total viewership of 52.4 million.

Coming in at Nos. 2 and 3 was American Idol, which is sagging from previous seasons but still on top of any other regular program. Of note in the rest of the Top 20 for the week was CBS’ fifth installment in their Jesse Stone movie franchise, the Tom Selleck starrer Jesse Stone: Thin Ice, which appeared at No. 6 with 15.2 million viewers. This latest sequel outdrew the last one (which aired in May 2007) by 2.2 million viewers. When is CBS going to turn this movie series into an actual series?

ABC’s Brothers & Sisters also delivered with a two-hour "movie" (that’s in quotes because it was really nothing more than a two-hour episode). The installment didn’t fully deliver on the deathly promises in the promos (coming back from the dead doesn’t count!). But the special did deliver in terms of ratings, pulling in the series’ second-highest viewership of the season behind its premiere back in September 2008.

The rest of the Top 20? It looked about the same as ever, dominated by CBS procedurals, mostly, a little reality (No. 18 The Bachelor, No. 19 The Amazing Race), and a few other odds and ends (No. 8 60 Minutes, No. 14 24, No. 11 Two and a Half Men). The full list — with viewer totals — is after the jump.

1. Presidential Address to Congress | ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC | 35.6 million
2. American Idol Wednesday | Fox | 24.5 million
3. American Idol Thursday | Fox | 20.9 million
4. NCIS | CBS | 18.3 million
5. CSI | CBS | 17.7 million
6. Jesse Stone: Thin Ice | CBS | 15.2 million
7. House | Fox | 14.9 million
8. 60 Minutes | CBS | 14.2 million
9. Criminal Minds | CBS | 13.9 million
10. CSI: NY | CBS | 12.6 million
11. Two and a Half Men (R) | CBS | 12.1 million
     Survivor: Tocantins | CBS | 12.1 million
13. Brothers & Sisters | ABC | 12.0 million
14. Eleventh Hour | CBS | 11.7 million
     24 | Fox | 11.7 million
16. Ghost Whisperer | CBS | 11.5 million
17. Extreme Makeover: Home Edition | ABC | 11.0 million
18. The Bachelor | ABC | 10.9 million
19. The Amazing Race | CBS | 10.6 million
20. CSI: Miami | CBS 10.1 million

READ FULL STORY »

Mar 3 2009 10:10 PM ET

Ratings: 'The Bachelor' finale is huge, 'Rules of Engagement' returns solidly

by
Categories: TV Biz, TV Ratings

The dramatic season finale of ABC’s The Bachelor dominated the Monday night ratings, according to preliminary overnight results. The two-hour final episode earned an impressive 15.5 million viewers while the After the Rose special scored a knockout 17.5 million. It was the network’s highest ratings in the adults 18-49 demographic in two and a half years. Meanwhile, CBS’ welcomed back the David Spade sitcom Rules of Engagement to a decent 11.9 million.

 
   
   
      

      

      

   

   

      

      

      

   

   

      

      

      

   

   

      

      

      

   

   

      

      

      

   

   

      

      

      

   

 

Time Show Viewers (in millions)
8pm The Bachelor (ABC)
24 (Fox)
Big Bang Theory (CBS)
Chuck (NBC)
Gossip Girl (The CW)		 15.5
11.1
10.9
6.6
1.0 (repeat)
8:30pm How I Met Your Mother (CBS) 11.1
9pm Two and a Half Men (CBS)
Heroes (NBC)
One Tree Hill (The CW)		 15.4
7.1
1.0 (repeat)
9:30pm Rules of Engagement (CBS) 11.9
10pm The Bachelor: After the Rose (ABC)
CSI: Miami (CBS)
Medium (NBC)		 17.5
13.3
7.3

More TV news:

‘The Bachelor’ recap: This is (Not) Your Wife
‘Bachelor’ Jason Mesnick confesses his sins to Jimmy Kimmel
‘The Bachelor’: 17 burning questions

‘The Bachelor’ photo gallery: Where are they now?

Mar 3 2009 09:38 PM ET

Exclusive: Massive 'Sarah Connor' spoiler alert!

by
Categories:

Audible gasps.

That’s what eyewitnesses heard at Sunday’s Sarah Connor Chronicles event at San Francisco WonderCon during a screening of the show’s new three-plus-minute trailer. In addition to wall-to-wall Summer Glau, the action-packed highlight reel — assembled exclusively for the 3,500 fans in attendance by executive producer Josh Friedman — features significant spoilers from this season’s final six episodes. And the best part? I just got my hands on the red-hot video and it’s embedded below!