The plot surrounding Kurt’s first boyfriend on Glee thickens: Actor-singer-songwriter Darren Criss—best known to TV audiences as Matt Dallas’ bro on Eastwick—has landed the much-talked-about new gay role on the Fox phenom.
But will he have eyes for Kurt? Maybe. Maybe not. Allow me to explain… READ FULL STORY »
Comcast and General Electric announced today that Chief Operating Officer Steve Burke will become the chief executive officer of NBC Universal upon the close of Comcast’s purchase of the media company from GE. Burke, 52, will take over for NBC Universal President and CEO Jeff Zucker, who will continue to serve in his position until the close of the deal.
“Steve Burke is an experienced, talented and visionary leader with over 25 years in the media and entertainment industry,” said Comcast Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Brian L. Roberts in a statement. ” Steve is one of the most well-respected executives in the industry, and I am confident that he will lead NBCU forward to a new era of growth.”
Burke has been the executive vice president and chief operating officer of Comcast since March. He was previously the president of Comcast Cable.
Image Credit: Cliff Lipson/CBSThe new drama Blue Bloods, which marked the return of Tom Selleck to prime time, was a hit for CBS on an otherwise humdrum night for broadcast television. The cop drama attracted 12.8 million viewers and posted a 2.2 rating/7 share in adults 18-49 – a 22% increase versus what Numb3rs did last year. The drama also rocked its 10 p.m. time slot in the key demographic, along with posting wins among adults 25-54 and women 18-49.
Coupled with an impressive performance by the return of CSI: New York (10.27 million viewers) – which featured new castmember Sela Ward – CBS easily won the night in viewers (9.7 million) and adults 18-49. Medium also returned to the network at 8 but was down 39% among adults 18-49 compared to what The Ghost Whisperer was doing in the time slot a year ago. The Patricia Arquette series only averaged 6.1 million.
NBC aired a two-hour Dateline followed by the premiere of Outlaw, the Jimmy Smits starrer that only averaged 4.98 million. Still, NBC came in second in viewers (6.47 million) and adults 18-49 for the night.
The CW rolled out a new season of Smallville, which rocked its timeslot among teens and men 18-49 and averaged 2.9 million viewers. It scored the CW’s best performance in the Friday slot in two years among viewers and adults 18-49. Supernatural also staged a return, which also won its slot among teens and averaged 2.78 million viewers.
Fox aired a repeat of Human Target and an original of The Good Guys, which averaged 2.9 million. For the night, Fox finished in fourth place among viewers (3.0 million).
ABC repeated two of its comedies, The Whole Truth and an original 20/20. It finished the night in third place among viewers (3.98 million).
Image Credit: Gilbert Carrasquillo/FilmMagic.com; Chris Hatcher/PR PhotosWhat are the odds: Zach Gilford will soon find himself chasing another Aimee. READ FULL STORY »
Image Credit: Bob Charlotte/PR Photos; Mitchell Haaseth/NBCOur favorite Greendalians are under assault again—this time from Lizzie McGuire! READ FULL STORY »
Image Credit: Tina Gill/PR Photos; Jordin Althaus/NBCIt’s not a back nine pickup, but as far as welcome Chuck news goes I’ll happily take it: Summer Glau has signed on to guest star as the show’s newest Greta! READ FULL STORY »
Image Credit: Mitchell Haaseth/NBCHeroes fans aren’t the only folks miffed by NBC’s decision not to move forward with plans for a wrap-up movie. The show’s brain-eating baddie Zachary Quinto is also disheartened that closure won’t come to the Heroesverse. READ FULL STORY »
Image Credit: Kevin T. Gilbert/NBC; Bob D'Amico/ABC; Monty Brinton/CBSAll that promotion about Big Bang Theory’s big move to Thursdays paid off for CBS: The comedy posted a 37 percent increase among adults 18-49 last night versus the debut of the first half of Survivor: Samoa last September and dominated in all of the major demographics. Buoyed by the Emmy win for star Jim Parsons last month, the sitcom easily won its timeslot at 8 p.m. and averaged a stunning 13.95 million viewers opposite heavy competition from the other broadcast networks.
The rest of CBS’ lineup faired equally as well. The debut of $#*! My Dad Says posted a slight gain over Samoa among 18-49 and averaged 12.4 million viewers. It also won its timeslot in viewers and key demographics. And the Justin Bieber-boosted premiere of CSI attracted the biggest audience at 9 p.m. with 14.5 million and even posted a rare win among female teens. With The Mentalist averaging 15.25 million viewers at 10, CBS easily won the night in viewers (14.3 million) and adults 18-49. READ FULL STORY »
In case you missed last night’s first-rate Community—and judging by the underwhelming ratings many of you did—here’s a clip of Troy, Abed, and special guest Betty White blessing the rains down in Africa… READ FULL STORY »
Image Credit: Ben Hider/Getty ImagesIn what has been predicted for months, Jeff Zucker announced his decision to leave NBC/Universal once the takeover by Comcast is complete. In an email to staff this morning, Zucker acknowledged that “it has not been an easy or a simple decision” to leave the media company, but ”it is clear to me that this is the right decision for me and for the company.”
“Comcast will be a great new steward, just as GE has been, and they deserve the chance to implement their own vision,” Zucker wrote. “I am proud that they will inherit a company in very good shape, with almost every one of our divisions enjoying their best year ever.”
Zucker’s job has been in question ever since Comcast agreed to purchase the media company back in December (the deal is expected to close at the end of the year). Though Zucker’s time at NBC was highlighted by many victories – like turning The Today Show into a powerful cash cow, building the company’s cable nets like Bravo, USA, Oxygen and CNBC, and creating the now heavily-used Hulu - it was also overshadowed by colossal failures, like moving Jay Leno to prime time and paying Conan O’Brien some $40 million to leave NBC. He also was responsible for some major staffing blunders, like pushing out Kevin Reilly – who’s now running Fox and is responsible for Glee, the highest-rated show on TV right now among adults 18-49 – and hiring the inexperienced Ben Silverman to run the network. The former agent’s tenure didn’t even last two years at NBC.
Though the Peacock is still home to some of the most critically-lauded shows on TV, its been years since the network enjoyed the kind of success it once had during those heady Must See TV days – a weakness that was often attributed to Zucker’s reign as entertainment president and later as the company’s CEO. NBC is currently in fourth place among adults 18-49 (2.7 rating/7 share) and total viewers (7.5 million).
In his email to staff, Zucker appeared particularly conflicted about leaving “the only place I have ever worked.” ”I have spent my entire adult life here, more than 24 years. The only professional thing I have ever known. I met my wife here, enjoyed the birth of our four children in that time, worked in almost every division of the company, and forged relationships both professional and personal that will last a lifetime.
“I don’t know yet what my future will bring … I haven’t even begun to think about the next chapter…I love NBC Universal and always will.”
Image Credit: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images; Albert L. Ortega/PR PhotosBuffy grad Marc Blucas has landed the male lead opposite Callie Thorne in the USA pilot Necessary Roughness, sources confirm to me exclusively. READ FULL STORY »
Lifetime announced that it picked up a fifth season of Army Wives and a third of Drop Dead Diva to premiere in 2011. Each season runs for 13 episodes. “Army Wives and Drop Dead Diva have lead Lifetime’s charge in scripted programming and are key components to our success,” said Nancy Dubuc, President and General Manager of Lifetime Networks, in a statement. “We are so happy with these two special programs and are excited to pick them up for new seasons, which allows us to launch our next generation of scripted series.”
Lifetime says Wives is its most successful series in the network’s 26-year history. The drama’s fourth season averaged 3.2 million total viewers, and the season 4 finale on Aug. 22 was the program’s most watched episode of the year across all demographics, including viewers, adults 25-54, and women 18-49.
Image Credit: Bob D'Amico/ABC; Art Streiber/NBC; Sonja Flemming/CBSThe move to Wednesdays has done little to shake Survivor out of the victory circle: The latest installment that features ex-NFL coach Jimmy Johnson averaged 12.46 million viewers last night and helped CBS to win the night in viewers and most key demographics, including adults 18-49. In fact, CBS stayed strong throughout the night, despite heavy competition from the return of Modern Family on ABC (which won its timeslot in adults 18-49 and viewers with 12.60 million). Criminal Minds at 9 — which featured Tim Curry as one freaky looking bad guy — averaged 14.05 million viewers while the debut of The Defenders with Jim Belushi and Jerry O’Connell averaged an impressive 12.08 million.
But oh, how that Best Comedy Emmy helped to boost Modern Family! The show’s second season debut averaged a stunning 5.0 rating/14 share among adults 18-49 — up 19 percent versus its series premiere a year ago. It also won its 9 p.m. timeslot in most demos and viewers, and was the top-rated show of the evening. Unfortunately, the rest of the laughers in ABC’s comedy block didn’t fare as well, but they should still be celebrating over at the alphabet network: The Middle averaged 8.81 million (a series high) and the new Better With You lured 7.96 million. Courteney Cox-Arquette and her buddies on Cougar Town averaged 8.34 million. Overall, ABC tied NBC for second place in adults 18-49 last night and came in third in viewers (7.92 million).
Speaking of NBC, did you catch J.J. Abrams’ new show Undercovers? Only 8.5 million sampled the Hart to Hart-type drama at 8 p.m.. The two-hour start of Law & Order: SVU was up 23 percent versus last season’s one-hour premiere in adults 18-49 and averaged 10 million viewers. And Fox aired the two-hour premiere of Hell’s Kitchen, which ranked No. 1 among adults 18-34 and posted a 6 percent gain in eyeballs (6.56 million).
On the CW, America’s Next Top Model was flat versus last week among adults 18-34 (1.4/5), but the new Hellcats showed a 6 percent gain among women 18-34. The CW averaged 2.56 million viewers last night.
James Hibberd
@James_Hibberd
Lynette Rice
@EWLynette
