Archive: July 2009 (53-65 of 104)

Jul 21 2009 03:43 PM ET

Ratings: MLB All-Star Game scores homerun, takes the week

Categories: Misc., Reality TV

America’s Got Talent‘s reign at the top of the weekly ratings chart is over! For the week ending July 19, Fox’s MLB All-Star Game — which featured an opening-game pitch thrown by a dad-jean-wearing President Barack Obama — instead took the No 1. spot, drawing 14.6 million viewers. But the usually-on-top NBC talentfest did land right below the All-Star Game, in the second- and third-place slots, with 13.5 million and 11.6 million viewers for its Tuesday and Wednesday episodes, respectively.

A bevy of various repeats of CBS procedurals and comedies, as well as the retreads of NBC’s Law & Order: SVU and America’s Got Talent, fill out most of the chart. But there were other new-episode entries, including ABC’s The Bachelorette (No. 9 with 8 million viewers); ABC’s Wipeout (No. 12 with 7.7 million viewers); a CBS News special about recently departed newsman Walter Cronkite (No. 14 with 7.6 million viewers); and Fox’s episodes of So You Think You Can Dance on Wednesday (No. 19 with 6.5 million viewers) and Thursday (No. 17 with 7.2 million viewers).

The full Top 20 ratings for last week are after the jump.

READ FULL STORY »

Jul 21 2009 01:23 AM ET

Exclusive: Mischa Barton mess forces 'Beautiful Life' to prep contingency plan

Categories:

Mischa-Barton_lThe Beautiful Life will go on, with or without its troubled star Mischa Barton.

Although reps for The CW and CBS Television Studios declined to comment, multiple sources confirm that producers of the upcoming model-centric drama are quietly readying a Plan B in light of the former O.C. actress’ current medical woes. Said plan involves the addition of a new female character to fill the void left by Barton. While not a direct recast, the new recurring character — tentatively named Jane — would bear a striking resemblance to Barton’s experienced supermodel, Sonja Stone. Casting is underway.

Production on Beautiful Life, originally scheduled to begin on July 22, was pushed back a week — but not because of Barton. Per a spokesperson for The CW, the show’s sets were not ready for their close-up. Production is now set to resume the last week of July ahead of a Sept. 16 launch.

Barton was hospitalized last week after calling the L.A.P.D. with an unspecified health problem. Reports that she has been placed under involuntary psychiatric hold at an L.A. hospital have not been confirmed by her reps.

Jul 20 2009 08:48 PM ET

Exclusive: Jennie Garth zips back to '90210'

Categories: 90210 Casting News!

Jennie-Garth_l Reports of Jennie Garth’s banishment from 90210 have been greatly exaggerated.

The BH vet has inked a deal to return this fall for multiple episodes, sources confirm to me exclusively. Garth reappears in episode 3 when Kelly gives Harry advice on how to deal with his, ahem, situation with Annie.

Last month, I reported that producers had not yet approached Garth about returning for season 2, leading some to wonder how far new boss Rebecca Rand
Kirshner Sinclair was planning to scale back the nostalgia factor. At the time, a show rep insisted that ”the intention is to have Jennie back.” And gosh dammit, they weren’t lying!

Happy Kelly’s returning? Theories about Annie’s “situation”? Sound off below!

Jul 20 2009 08:18 PM ET

Aw, shoot! Blind item hints at gunshot victim

Categories: Blind Item

Ausielloblinditem_lHey, I’ve been meaning to ask: How’s your vision? Yeah? Well, it doesn’t matter for the purposes of this story, because — that’s right! — it’s a blind item. Shades on? Thinking caps tilted at a jaunty angle? Great — here we go…

In the next three months, a hit cable series’ lead — a character I think we’d all agree could be described as an anti-hero/ine — is going to be shot. In the chest. Repeatedly. By a relative! Out of nowhere!

I know, right? Wait, there’s more…

When the episode, which may or may not be the season finale, ends, our victim’s prognosis, natch, will remain up in the air.

So who’s the soon-to-be-barely-moving target? I’ll give you a hint: The show he or she is on is either Nurse Jackie or Burn Notice. Or Rescue Me or Mad Men. Or True Blood or Weeds. Or Entourage or The Closer. (I didn’t say I was gonna give you a big hint.)

Hit me with your best shot below, and maybe, just maybe, I’ll rule out at least a few of those series in this week’s Ask Ausiello. Ready… aim… fire away!

Jul 20 2009 03:51 PM ET

'Lie to Me' exclusive: Erika Christensen to juggle four roles

Categories: Lie to Me

Erika-Christensen_l I smell a 2010 guest actress Emmy nod in Erika Christensen’s future.

The ex-Six Degrees star has been tapped to play a law student suffering from multiple personality disorder in the season premiere of Fox’s Lie to Me, sources confirm to me exclusively.

Her character, Tricia, comes to Lightman (Tim Roth) for help when she has a psychic vision of a murder. During his investigation, Lightman discovers that Tricia is actually Sophie. And Jessie. And R.J.

Christensen’s schedule opened up after NBC postponed the start date of her new drama, Parenthood, by eight weeks as Maura Tierney undergoes surgery to remove a tumor in her breast.

Lie to Me‘s second season kicks off on Sept. 28.

Jul 20 2009 03:00 PM ET

Ratings: 'Big Brother' once again takes Sunday for CBS

CBS continued to rule Sunday ratings, thanks to the one-two punch of old stalwart 60 Minutes (7.4 million viewers) and summer fling Big Brother 11 (5.6 million). The rest of the weekend found Dateline: NBC (5.8 million) winning the battle of the Friday night news magazines over ABC’s 20/20 (2.9 million). And ABC’s Dirty Sexy Money (2.2 million) edging out NBC’s Kings (1.6 million) among Saturday’s burn-offs — though Fox took the night thanks to America’s Most Wanted (4.1 million).

Here, a look at Sunday’s lineup:

Time Show Viewers (in millions)
7 p.m. 60 Minutes (CBS)
America’s Funniest Home Videos (ABC)
Great American Road Trip (NBC)
‘Til Death (Fox)
Valentine Inc. (The CW)
7.4
5.0 (repeat)
4.7 (repeat)
1.5 (repeat)
.4
7:30 p.m. American Dad (Fox) 1.8 (repeat)
8 p.m. Big Brother 11 (CBS)
Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (ABC)
Merlin (NBC)
The Simpsons (Fox)
The Thomas Crown Affair (The CW)
5.6
5.1 (repeat)
4.3
3.4 (repeat)
1.5 (repeat)
8:30 p.m. King of the Hill (Fox) 3.0 (repeat)
9 p.m. Cold Case (CBS)
Meteor (NBC)
Family Guy (Fox)
Desperate Housewives (ABC)
6.3 (repeat)
5.2
3.9
2.7 (repeat)
9:30 p.m. The Simpsons (Fox) 4.0 (repeat)
10 p.m. Without a Trace (CBS)
Brothers & Sisters (ABC)
5.9 (repeat)
2.1 (repeat)
Jul 17 2009 09:12 PM ET

The WHOLE story behind the 'Grey's' elevator swap

Categories: Grey's Anatomy

Greys-Denny-George-finale_l As I first scooped in this week’s Ask Ausiello, T.R. Knight’s army-clad parting shot on Grey’s Anatomy almost didn’t feature T.R. Knight. The haunting scene in the final moments of the show’s season finale — the one where George appears poised to escort Izzie to heaven via elevator — was originally filmed with Jeffrey Dean Morgan’s deceased Denny waiting for Katherine Heigl’s cancer-stricken MD. But an 11th hour epiphany by series creator Shonda Rhimes resulted in Denny getting the shaft.

“Something didn’t feel right,” Rhimes recalls. “And then it hit me, ‘My God, it’s George! When the elevator opens, it should be George we see.’”

There was just one problem. Actually, there were two problems. Keep reading to see what they were and how they got resolved…

Thinking he was done for the season, Knight went ahead and shaved his head. As Rhimes explains, “[Director] Rob Corn calls me up and goes, ‘What do we do?’” Considering George enlisted in the Army right before getting mowed down by that bus, the solution came to Rhimes in an instant. “I said, ‘Put him in a military uniform!’ It wasn’t a big amazing plan I had.”

The happy accident packed an emotional punch for viewers, Knight included. “It was brilliant of Shonda to put George in the dress blues,” says the actor, who last month confirmed that he would not be returning to Grey’s next fall. “It was such a powerful image.”

The whole thing is even more remarkable when you consider that Heigl was in Atlanta shooting a film and not present for the reshoot. To ensure their expressions were in sync, Knight picked Heigl’s brain over the phone before stepping in front of the cameras. “I was like, ‘What did you do in that scene?’” he says with a laugh. “It’s nice when you’ve worked with someone for five years. There’s a shorthand.”

Heigl still had some concerns about whether the switcheroo could be pulled off. “Katey called me and was like, ‘Are my expressions going to match his? Is it going to work?” Rhimes recounts. “And I was like, ‘I promise you it’s going to be perfect.’”

Jul 17 2009 08:40 PM ET

Breaking: Jorja Fox returns to 'CSI'

Categories: CSI

Jorja-Fox-Happy-Place_dl So much for Grissom and Sara’s happy ending!

Less than a year after walking off into the sunset jungle with leading man William Petersen, Jorja Fox has inked a deal to return to CSI as Sara for multiple episodes — sans Grissom.

According to executive producer Carol Mendelsohn, Fox will reappear in the Sept. 24 episode when viewers will “discover where life has taken Sara Sidle and what brings her back to the CSI team in Las Vegas.”

I’m guessing a nasty breakup is what brings her back, but maybe that’s the pessimist in me talking. What do you think is behind her return? And do you hope it becomes permanent? Sound off in the comments!

Jul 17 2009 04:24 PM ET

Armchair Casting Director: 'Fringe'

Categories: Fringe

J.J. Abrams and his fellow Fringe cronies are adding a new, potentially recurring role. Here are the deets:

Rebecca: A 50 year-old never-married blond female. Far from being a spinster, she is beautiful, wealthy, and completely comfortable with who she is. She also has psychic abilities, which has been both a blessing and a curse. Debuts in episode 4.

Got casting suggestions? Post ‘em below. I’m thinking Gail O’Grady or Virginia Madsen.  

Jul 17 2009 03:00 AM ET

Scoop: 'CSI: NY' hooks 'Shark' star

Categories: CSI: NY

Sarah-Carter-Ausiello_l Shark actress Sarah Carter has snagged the coveted
new series regular role on CSI: NY, sources confirm.

Carter will play a new clean-up tech who aspires to someday work in the crime lab. We’ll find out later in the season that she’s hiding a secret. My guess: She’s… eh, I lost interest.  

Thoughts?

Jul 16 2009 04:15 PM ET

'Mother' boss on Emmy nod and next season's 'horror' theme

How-I-Met-Your-Mother_l After getting snubbed for four consecutive years, How I Met Your Mother finally scored an Emmy nomination for best comedy series this morning. And the news just gets better: I now have a legitimate excuse to get exec producer Craig Thomas on the phone and grill him for scoop on season 5! Um, I mean congratulate him on his Emmy nod!

Congrats!
CRAIG THOMAS:
Thank you. And thank you for supporting our show. You always have our back and we appreciate it. We got a kick out of seeing our show on your Dream Emmy Ballot.

I’m happy to help. The show always felt like such an underdog. But this year you set ratings records and now you’ve got an Emmy nomination.
THOMAS:
It’s funny because when you don’t get nominated you find yourself being, like, 17 years-old and going, “The prom is stupid!” because no one asked you. But deep down you want someone to ask you. It is kind of nice to get asked to the prom and put on a tux and all that.

Neil is hosting this year. Is the ceremony going to be one big HIMYM lovefest?
THOMAS:
Clearly if How I Met Your Mother wins the Emmy for best comedy there’s going to be a huge investigation into Neil’s backstage behavior. There’s going to put a steroids-like asterisk next to our win.

Jeremy Piven didn’t make the cut in the supporting actor category so Neil stands a really good chance of winning this year.
THOMAS:
I have this horrible fantasy that Piven’s still somehow going to win. Until I see someone else walk up and get that award I think Piven is the frontrunner.

While I have you in such a good mood, how about some season 5 scoop?
THOMAS:
For a long time the mother was in this big vast ocean of New York City; she could be anyone. And we ended the season with Ted teaching at Columbia University — literally in the same room as the mother. So that has added a great suspense element in the writing. We’ve gotten some great material out of that, including a whole story that plays almost like a horror movie. Suspenseful ominous music is playing and at any point Ted can round a corner and run into the mother. It’s been a really nice engine for writing the season so far.

Don’t you have to wait until the final episode of the series to reveal who the mom is in order to stay true to the premise?
THOMAS:
You could certainly argue that. I don’t want to say which way we’ll go with that, but I think it’s a very valid argument.

Jul 16 2009 01:40 PM ET

Snappy Judgments: 2009 Emmy Nominations!

Categories: Emmy Awards

Emmy-snap-judgment_l I’m Super-Ecstatic About:
•    Best drama nod for Big Love.
•    How I Met Your Mother finally breaks into the best comedy category.
•    Jeremy Piven gets snubbed for best supporting actor, clearing the way for Neil Patrick Harris’ long overdue win.
•    Michael J. Fox up for guest actor for Rescue Me.
•    Emmy voters make Howie Mandel pay for ruining last year’s Emmys by snubbing him for best reality host. Even better: They gave the slot to Amazing Race emcee Phil Keoghan.
•    Jim Parsons!
•    Jane Krakowski, Tracy Morgan, and Jack McBrayer among 30 Rock‘s 172 nominations.
•    Aaron Paul breaks through for Breaking Bad.
•    Supporting comedy nods for two of my favorite Kristins (Wiig and Chenoweth).
•    Elisabeth Moss!
•    My incredibly prescient predictions.

Keep reading to find out which nominations/snubs made me want to hit someone in the face sad.

Yawns to:
•    Entourage gets a nod for its worst season yet.
•    Tony Shalhoub.
•    Anything involving Boston Legal.

I’m Super-Pissed About:
•    Nothing for the final season of The Shield or Walton Goggins.
•    Kyle Chandler and Connie Britton get the shaft again. Also unacceptable: No FNL for best drama.
•    Nothing for Chuck or Zach Levi.
•    Big Bang Theory is a bust in comedy series category. (But woo-hoo Jim Parsons!)
•    Jeanne Tripplehorn, Chloe Sevigny, and Ginnifer Goodwin get no love for Big.
•    Michael Urie’s Ugly snub.

OK, that’s my two cents’ worth. Now it’s your turn. Post your own snappy judgments below.

For a list of the major nominees, click here. For Tucker’s take on this year’s crop, head over to Watching TV. And for Slezak’s reaction, click here.

Jul 16 2009 02:57 AM ET

Ask Ausiello: Spoilers on 'Grey's,' 'Bones,' 'House,' 'Gossip Girl,' 'Weeds,' and more!

Heigl-Greys-finale-George_l Question: Any Grey’s Anatomy scoop? –Laura
Ausiello:
Yep, a pretty big one. More on that later.

Question: Got any more Grey’s scoop? –Katie
Ausiello:
Okay, you wore me down: Remember the haunting image of an army-clad George waiting outside the elevator for Izzie in the season finale? Well, it wasn’t supposed to be George standing there. The scene was originally shot with Jeffrey Dean Morgan’s Denny playing the role of Izzie’s heavenly escort. But as Grey’s boss Shonda Rhimes explains to me exclusively, “I received the first cut [of the finale] on a Friday and something didn’t feel right. All weekend long something was bugging me. And then I woke up Monday morning and it hit me, ‘My God, it’s George! When the elevator opens, it should be George we see.’” There was just one problem. Actually, there were two problems. And to find out what they were and how they got resolved (apologies in advance) pick up the new issue of Entertainment Weekly, on sale Friday!

Question: How much longer do we have to wait for Grey’s scoop?! –Carly
Ausiello:
One of the two problems involved Katherine Heigl’s location at the time of Shonda’s epiphany. That’s all you’re getting. You have to pick up the mag for the rest.

Question: Anything on Grey’s? –Nancy
Ausiello:
The other problem involved what T.R. Knight did to his head after production wrapped. Now I’m really done.

Question: Emmy nominations are in a few hours. Any last-minute predictions? –Keith
Ausiello:
I’m willing to bet big money that Chuck, Friday Night Lights, Big Love, and The Shield will all get bupkes. This just in: Emmy nominations are announced

Question: Why is Kirk Acevedo leaving Fringe? His choice? Storyline dictated? –Dee
Ausiello:
Storyline dictated. Charlie wasn’t going to have much to do this season, and rather than waste Kirk’s time, they cut him loose. But as I teased last week, we haven’t seen the last of him.

Question: Has Friday Night Lights officially settled on the Lions as the mascot for East Dillon? –Clay
Ausiello:
They’re using that as a placeholder, but I’m told it will likely change. The team’s colors are also TBD, so if you’ve got ideas about either, post ‘em in the comments. 

Question: We haven’t heard anything new on House for a while. Can you give us something nice and juicy? –Mariel
Ausiello:
Not sure if this is juicy but it’s definitely nice: I think House and his asylum mates are going on a field trip to an amusement park in the two-hour opener. According to a completely sane insider, the show shot scenes on location at Universal Studios last week. I’m told House was working the Skydiving Fan. Whatever that is.  

Question: What’s this I hear about a Booth and Brennan kiss on Bones? Confirmation, please! –Molly
Ausiello:
Series creator Hart Hanson confirms that a season-opening smooch “was scripted,” but adds, “I’m in no way confirming that it was a sincere scripting. Could have been a way to identify leaks.” Now, as someone who’s been in this situation before, here’s what you need to do next, Molly: Get in touch with your mole and tell him to pack his bags, grab his passport and get the hell out of the country. They’re onto him!

Question: I’m really hoping you’ve got some Criminal Minds news. Please tell me Hotch is still alive! –Chrissy
Ausiello:
I think it’s a positive sign that Minds is casting the role of an emergency room doctor for the season premiere.

Question: Now that Mercy will begin on NBC earlier than expected, will Michelle Trachtenberg still be able to fulfill her three-episode arc on Gossip Girl? –Parm
Ausiello:
Unfortunately for Blair, yes, she will. The onetime Queen Bee will have a hard enough time adjusting to college life. Georgina’s arrival as her roommate in episode 2 compounds her misery tenfold. 

Question: I would love the scoop on just how much The CW pays you every time you cover Gossip Girl. I don’t doubt that the show has followers, but the coverage EW is giving it has gotten ridiculous! —Frank
Ausiello:
Oooooh, that reminds me: A major Gossip guy decides not to go to college very early in the season. Take your best guess to the comments!

Question: Chuck-Blair scoopage would be delightful! –LH
Ausiello:
Look for C and B to take an unorthodox approach to warding off the seven-week itch.

Question: Weeds scoop? –Melissa
Ausiello:
“Little Boxes” makes a tiny comeback in Monday’s episode. Also, Andy refuses a gift — a gift he really wants. Oh, and one more thing: Keep your ears open for a Comic-Con reference! Speaking of which, Ausholes unite and get drunk in one week! Sources confirm to me exclusively that there may be a few special guests!

Question: Got any Weeds scoop? –Mohammad
Ausiello:
Celia goes into business with an Avon-esque company, and the results are predictably disastrous.

Question: Any Melrose Place dish? –Jacob
Ausiello:
The show is adding the recurring role of a Madam — and you’ll know why after watching the pilot. The producers should throw us old timers a bone and cast Kristian Alfonso as the head whore. Who’s with me? 

Question: I am psyched about CSI: Miami‘s flashback season opener! Anything else you can offer up? –Monica
Ausiello:
We’ll catch our first glimpse of new castmember Eddie Cibrian in one of the episode’s flashback sequences. Apparently, his character crossed paths with one (or more) of our vets back in 1997. Speaking of Cibrian’s alter ego, exec producer Ann Donahue says reports that he’ll be transferring from the Hollywood division are “a misnomer… He’s actually worked robbery homicide in L.A.”

Question: How soon into CSI: Miami‘s premiere before Delko is found? –Jimmy
Ausiello:
“We find him in the first two minutes and he is unconscious,” reveals Ann Donahue, who adds that the flashback portion of the ep begins while he’s en route to the hospital. “The ambulance is hurtling down alligator alley and we [close in] on the license plate, which says ’09. And then we change the license plate to ’97 and suddenly he’s in his tow truck.”

Question: I just saw the trailer for the new Joel McHale comedy Community and I almost fell out of my chair when I saw my favorite Daily Show British man John Oliver. Who does he play and is it a recurring role? –Clumsy chair girl
Ausiello:
He plays Jeff’s (Joel McHale) good friend and colleague, Professor Duncan. And he just signed on for an additional two episodes, so, yes, I think it’s accurate to say it’s a recurring role. (BTW, the actual pilot is as funny as the trailer lets on.)

Question: I’ve been asking for weeks and I refuse to give up: Please give us some Legend of the Seeker scoopage. –Jeff
Ausiello:
I’ve got just the thing to get you off my case: In season 2′s fifth episode, we’ll meet a young (20s-30s) version of Zedd.  

Question: There have been conflicting reports about where Smallville is heading in the romance department this year. Is it the season of Clois, or are they really revisiting Lois and Ollie again? –Jeff
Ausiello:
It’s full-tilt-Clois. I’m sure they will touch on Lois-Ollie, but it won’t be anything significant. 

Question: Will Glee introduce Lea’s mom? Wouldn’t it be cool if it turned out to be Idina Menzel? Just a thought. –Wendy
Ausiello:
 I like the way your mind works. Unfortunately, there are no immediate plans to bring on Lea’s mom. We don’t even meet her dads in the first 13 episodes.

Question: I’m dying for some Dexter scoop. –Meg
Ausiello:
Season 4 will herald the arrival of new loves for both Batista and Laguerta. Very happy about the Batista part of that. His love story with the undercover hooker last season made me throw up in my mouth a little. 

Question: When can we finally expect to see Maura Tierney on Rescue Me? –Justin
Ausiello:
Her arc kicks off on July 28. And because it warrants repeating: Get well soon, Maura!

Question: I saw your tweet about having seen Dollhouse‘s “Epitaph One” episode. What did you think? I can’t wait to see it next week at Comic-Con! –Tim
Ausiello:
Before I answer that, you should know that (A) I was a little buzzed wh
en I tweeted that, (B) I’m not that bright, and (C) aggressive watermarks make me dizzy. With that out of the way, here’s my review: I was completely and utterly lost. I may try watching it again this weekend. Or just let one of you explain it to me at Comic-Con.  

Question: Please give us something on Grey’s. –Jay
Ausiello:
The second problem involving T.R. Knight’s head eventually became the solution. Okay, now I’m really, really done. Get the rest of the scoop in this week’s EW!

That’s a wrap! Send questions/comments/anonymous tips to ausielloscoop@ew.com. And start following me on Twitter! Thanks for playing! Safe travels to San Diego!

Advertisement

TV Recaps

Powered by WordPress.com VIP