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Archive: November 2010 (118-130 of 154)

Nov 10 2010 12:34 PM ET

'Glee' puts another smile on Fox, but 'Parenthood' shows much-needed improvement

Categories: Glee, Reality TV, Television, TV Ratings

parenthood Image Credit: Justin Lubin/NBCGood news regarding NBC’s Parenthood on Tuesday: The drama finished with a tenth of a point of a time period lead in adults 18-49 (2.1 rating/6 share and 5 million viewers), its most competitive finish this season. The drama’s also been up for three consecutive weeks among total viewers. The show does especially well with DVRs (up 42 percent in adults 18-49). So you’re watching it, you’re really watching it!

Now back to the big winners. Fox and CBS tied for first place among 18-49 (3.2/9) for the night. Glee averaged 4.5/12 and 10.7 million, followed by Raising Hope (up 4 percent to a 2.6/7, 5.9 million) and Running Wilde (up 18 percent to a 1.3/3, 2.9 million). On the Eye, NCIS was the night’s No. 1 program among viewers (19.7 million) and averaged a 3.9/11. NCIS: Los Angeles earned a 3.3/9 and 15.5 million viewers, followed by The Good Wife (2.2/7, 12.2 million). Each 18-49 ratings point equals 1.3 million peeps.

ABC was second in the demo for the night with a 2.4/7. No Ordinary Family was up 10 percent to a 2.2/6 (7.7 million), followed by Dancing With the Stars (up 6 percent to a 3.4/9, 16.8 million), and Detroit 1-8-7 (down 5 percent to a 1.8/5, 7.7 million). NBC was third in the demo with a 2.3/6, with The Biggest Loser earning a 2.4/6 and averaging 6.8 million viewers. That’s a three-week high for eyeballs. (Hey! NBC will take any good news for its struggling reality-show lineup these days).

In the total viewer race, CBS was first on Tuesday with 15.8 million, followed by ABC (10.8 million), Fox (7.6 million), NBC (6.2 million), and the CW (1.6 million).

Nov 10 2010 12:54 AM ET

Maks arguing with Carrie Ann on 'Dancing with the Stars': 'It's not a grudge thing'

by Lynette Rice

Categories: On the Scene, Reality TV, Television

Image Credit: Adam Larkey/ABCMaksim Chmerkovskiy told reporters on Tuesday that he may have verbally sparred with judge Carrie Ann Inaba during Monday’s installment of Dancing with the Stars but he “doesn’t have anything against Carrie Ann and she doesn’t have anything against me.”

At the end of Tuesday’s telecast, Inaba took a moment to announce how she respected all the pros – an obvious attempt to mend fences after she and Chmerkovskiy argued about how it took “four 8s” for him to begin his cha cha cha on Monday with Brandy. Chmerkovskiy tried to dismiss the comment by saying “relax, don’t worry about it” but Inaba quickly replied that ”Kurt did more dancing” so the two began to talk over one another. Brandy just stood there silent while patting her heart.

“I wasn’t looking for Carrie Ann’s apology,” Chmerkovskiy said after Tuesday’s show. “I think we all do our jobs. We are very passionate. We actually spoke when the credits rolled [Tuesday] so it was very pleasant, a very polite conversation. We are good. It’s not a grudge thing. I don’t have anything against Carrie Ann, she doesn’t have anything against me. She said what she said at the moment, and I responded like someone who has put in two and a half months in trying to make someone the best they can be. Whatever I thought, I thought, and we’re past it.

“My concern is that fans think I’m crazy and that I’m some kind of like attention hogging…whatever,” Chmerkovskiy added. “It’s not about me wanting to be in the spotlight. I want to be in the dark. I want Brandy to be in the spotlight. That was the whole point of yesterday.”

Brandy said she really didn’t know what to think of the argument. “I just wanted to stand by Maks and understand where he was coming from, which was from a good place of passion and defending me,” the actress told reporters. ”I want to win this for Maks because Maks has been to the finals so many times and he deserved to win. And he says, `baby, don’t win for me. Win for you!’ I’m like, ‘But I want to win for you, too, dude!”

“It’s actually funny,” Chmerkovskiy continued. “ Brandy says to me 10 times today, ‘I got your back!’ And I feel bad. That’s not supposed to be her job. It’s supposed to be my job to have her back. We’re actually a partnership. I don’t feel like I’m dancing with a student, I feel like I’m dancing with an equal partner.”

Nov 10 2010 12:13 AM ET

'Dancing with the Stars' eliminated contestant: 'This really isn't a competition'

by Lynette Rice

Categories: On the Scene, Reality TV

An unexpected bicker-fest between Carrie Ann Inaba and Maksim Chmerkovskiy on Monday may have prompted some viewers to vote for Brandy’s ouster but the former star of UPN’s Moesha wasn’t the one who left Dancing with the Stars on Tuesday. To find out who became the eighth eliminated hoofer, head to the jump! READ FULL STORY »

Nov 9 2010 07:39 PM ET

'Community' scoop: Malcolm-Jamal Warner enrolls in NBC comedy!

by Lynette Rice

Categories: Casting, TV Scoop

Image Credit: Sylvain Gaboury/PR PhotosTheo Huxtable is enrolling in Community! EW has learned exclusively that Cosby Show alum Malcolm-Jamal Warner will appear in an upcoming episode of the NBC comedy as Andre, the ex-husband of Shirley (Yvette Nicole Brown). Warner begins work this week on the single-camera show that also stars Joel McHale and Chevy Chase.

Warner starred in the NBC comedy The Cosby Show from 1984 to 1992. He went on to co-headline in Malcolm & Eddie from 1996-2000. His other credits include a stint on Dexter and The Cleaner.

Nov 9 2010 05:53 PM ET

Syfy special effects show 'Face Off' gears up for January premiere

by Lynette Rice

Categories: Cable, Deals, Reality TV, TV Biz

Image Credit: Isabella Vosmikova/SyfySyfy has signed makeup artists Ve Neill (Pirates of the Caribbean) and Glen Hetrick (Heroes) and creature designer Patrick Tatopoulos (I am Legend) to serve as judges on Face Off, a new reality-competition series set in the world of special effects and makeup. The series will feature 12 aspiring special effects artists competing for a chance to launch their career.

The hour-long episodes will premiere in January and air over eight weeks. Actress McKenzie Westmore (Passions) will host.

“Syfy provides a definitive forum to showcase the imagination and artistry of this incredible field,” said Mark Stern, Executive Vice President of Original Programming, Syfy and Co-Head of Content for Universal Cable Productions, in a statement. “The series will introduce twelve dynamic personalities who will display their creativity and talent through a series of weekly challenges. Given her auspicious background, McKenzie Westmore is the perfect host, and we’re honored to have such renowned figures as Glen Hetrick, Ve Neill and Patrick Tatopoulos as our judges. Their high-standards for special effects artistry will push our contestants to the top of their game.”

Contestants will have to execute such challenges as applying full body paint make up on models and creating their own horror villains.

Nov 9 2010 05:36 PM ET

'One Life to Live' scoop: 'General Hospital's' Ted King moves to Llanview

by Lynette Rice

Categories: Daytime Soaps, TV Scoop

EW has learned that Ted King — best known to daytime audiences for playing Lorenzo/Luiz Alcazar on General Hospital from 2002-07 — will join One Life to Live in January. King, who last appeared on Prison Break from 2008-09, is currently developing his character with the Life producers so he doesn’t know whether his character Luis will be a lover, a fighter, or both.

All ABC can say for now is that he’ll work with Kassie DePaiva (Blair Cramer). His first airdate is Jan. 21.

“We’re creating this together,” King told EW exclusively. “It was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up on. When I was originally hired (for GH), it was for a short period of time. I had every attention of going back to primetime. But during that time, I really enjoyed myself with the role – a lot more than I thought.”

King’s also appeared on CSI: Miami, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, and Sex and the City.

Nov 9 2010 01:20 PM ET

'Conan' early ratings: How many folks saw his TBS debut?

by Lynette Rice

Categories: Cable, Late Night, TV Ratings

Conan O’Brien drew 4.2 million viewers to his new 11 p.m. cable talk show last night, according to TBS figures. Conan earned a 2.8 rating among Nielsen’s 56 metered markets. That means an average minute of Conan was watched by 2.8 percent of the homes in those markets. Conan nabbed 3.3 million viewers who were in the important 18-49 demo, and the projected median age for its viewers was a youthful 30.

George Lopez’ Lopez Tonight, which aired after Conan, earned a 1.1 rating.

Nov 9 2010 12:02 PM ET

'House' rules but 'Dancing With the Stars' scores most eyeballs

by Lynette Rice

Categories: Television, TV Ratings

Image Credit: Byron Cohen/FoxHouse was the No. 1 scripted show among adults 18-49 (3.7 rating/10 share) on Monday, but Dancing With the Stars still attracted the most viewers (20.3 million) from 8 to 10 p.m, according to early estimates. Another winning performance by the dancing show ended up helping ABC to finish the night on top of the pack among 18-49 (3.7/10) and viewers (17.5 million), with Castle continuing to draft off Tom Bergeron and Co. at 10 (2.8/8, 11.7 million). Each 18-49 ratings point equals 1.3 million viewers.

CBS was second in the demo (3.4/9) and viewers (10.6 million), thanks to fairly bitchin’ performances by How I Met Your Mother (3.5/9, 9.0 million), Rules of Engagement (3.1/8, 8.6 million), Two and a Half Men (4.4/11, 14 million), Mike & Molly (3.7/9, 11.3 million), and Hawaii Five-O (2.9/8, 10.3 million).

(Note: the CBS and ABC numbers could be inflated due to the NFL game in Cincinnati.)

Fox finished the night in third place in the demo (2.7/7) and viewers (7.4 million). Lie to Me earned a 1.8/4 — up 13 percent versus its last original — and averaged 5.2 million.

NBC was fourth in 18-49 (1.5/4) and viewers (5.6 million). It aired a Matt Lauer special with President George W. Bush that wasn’t so special (1.7/4, 7 million), while The Event earned a 1.7/4 and 5.4 million. Chase earned a 1.2/3 — its lowest-rated telecast ever. It averaged 4.5 million. Wonder how Jay Leno would do in that timeslot today?

Nov 8 2010 10:17 PM ET

Conan O'Brien's first monologue: 'Welcome to my second annual first show'

by Lynette Rice

Categories: Cable, On the Scene, Television

Image Credit: TBSConan O’Brien’s first monologue was released in advance of his show’s debut on TBS tonight. Here are his opening remarks:

“Thank you. Thank you and welcome to my second annual first show. Yes, I know what you guys are thinking, `Hey, it’s the guy from Twitter.’ Welcome to my new show, Conan. People ask me why I named the show Conan. I did it so I’d be harder to replace. This is an exciting night. I’m glad to be on cable. The truth is, I’ve dreamed of being a talk show host on basic cable ever since I was 46.

“And things are going well already. I’m happy to report that we’re already No. 1 in TBS’s key demographic — people who can’t afford HBO. I’m going to be honest: It’s not easy doing a late-night show on a channel without a lot of money and that viewers have trouble finding. So that’s why I left NBC. But the weird thing is this: I put myself and my staff through a lot because I refused to go on at midnight. So I get this job at eleven. Then, yesterday, Daylight Savings Time ended — so right now it’s basically midnight. In fact, it’s 12:05.

“A lot’s happened in the news since I went off the air — and I was hoping I could cover it all in one joke. But then I realized that’s like trying to keep an Icelandic volcano from wearing Lady Gaga’s meat dress while a trapped Chilean miner cleans up the BP oil spill…Brett Favre’s penis.”

For more on Conan O’Brien:

Conan O’Brien prepares for tonight’s premiere in new American Express commercial
Conan O’Brien gives you five reasons to watch his new show

Nov 8 2010 10:11 PM ET

Nancy O'Dell replaces Mary Hart as co-anchor on 'ET'

by Lynette Rice

Categories: Deals, Television, TV Biz

Image Credit: Tommaso Boddi/PR PhotosFormer Access Hollywood host Nancy O’Dell will replace Mary Hart on Entertainment Tonight. O’Dell will join the syndicated entertainment show as a special correspondent and substitute co-anchor beginning in January 2011 and will assume the role of co-anchor after Mary Hart ends her final season on the show. Mark Steines is also a co-anchor.

Hart, who joined ET in 1982, announced in August 2010 that this will be her final season. “I remember watching Entertainment Tonight when it first premiered and dreaming about working for the show someday!” O’Dell said in a statement. “It is the original and the gold standard of entertainment news shows. Needless to say, I am thrilled that my dream has come true. I have greatly admired the show and the incomparable and esteemed Mary Hart – her quiet power and professionalism are beyond admirable. I am honored to be the one chosen to fill a TV legend’s seat and I hope I can ‘do her proud!’”

Entertainment Tonight is produced and distributed by CBS Television Distribution and is taped in Studio City, Calif.

Earlier today, Fox announced that O’Dell will host Fox’s New Year’s Eve Live on Friday, Dec. 31 from 11 p.m. until 12:30 a.m. live ET.

Nov 8 2010 06:15 PM ET

'Human Target' First Look: Fox show returns Nov. 17

by Lynette Rice

Categories: Television, TV Scoop

Image Credit: Michael Courtney/FoxEW scored this first look at this season’s Human Target, Fox’s comic-book-inspired drama that stars Mark Valley as a private investigator and security expert named Christopher Chance. Here, Valley appears with Indira Varma (Luther, Bones), a billionaire’s widow named Ilsa Pucci who ends up luring Chance out of semi-retirement to go back to chasing bad guys. The drama, which also stars Chi McBride and Jackie Earle Haley, returns to Fox Nov. 17.

“What Ilsa realizes is that her husband was not only a software billionaire, but he was also a great humanitarian, so she realizes the world could use a team [like Christopher's]. Ilsa becomes the boss,” says Executive Producer Matt Miller, a Chuck vet who’s now running Human Target. “She gives our team access to her influence, her wealth, her G-5 planes.”

Miller also cast Janet Montgomery (Entourage) to play Ames, a career criminal who joins Chance’s team, and brought over Chuck composer Tim Jones to “ratchet up the intensity and the fun.” “I want it to pop musically a little bit more,” he says. In fact, Miller had his heart set on a new tune from Jack White, but the musician would only grant rights to a song “Blue Blood Blues” from The Dead Weather after someone extended thanks to Haley for his work in the 1979 film Breaking Away. So that’s exactly what Miller did.

“Jackie said, ‘You’re welcome,’” the showrunner recalled, laughing.

Miller said Target’s season-one cliffhanger will be wrapped up quickly in the Nov. 17 episode so “people who are avid fans don’t feel gypped, but people who have never seen an episode of the show can immediately catch up.” Human Target averaged 9.5 million viewers in its first season.

Nov 8 2010 05:11 PM ET

'Two and A Half Men' scoop: Jenny McCarthy returns!

by Lynette Rice

Categories: Casting, Television, TV Scoop

Image Credit: CBS/Mitch Haddad/LandovThe hedonistic Charlie (Charlie Sheen) will once again have his hands full when Courtney the crazy con-artist returns to his beachside villa in the CBS comedy Two and a Half Men. An insider confirmed to EW that Jenny McCarthy will reprise her role for several episodes beginning Nov. 22.

McCarthy — last seen on Chuck and In the Motherhood — first began playing Courtney on Men in 2007. At 15.2 million, Men remains the most-watched comedy on broadcast TV.

Nov 8 2010 01:17 PM ET

'The Simpsons' and 'Family Guy' are back, but football colors the world of NBC and CBS

by Lynette Rice

Categories: Television, TV Ratings

Image Credit: FoxFox’s Animation Domination returned on Sunday and posted impressive gains since the last time the block aired on Oct. 10, according to preliminary ratings. The Simpsons was up 23 percent to a 3.7 rating/10 share in adults 18-49 (8.1 million viewers), followed by The Cleveland Show (up 19 percent to 3.1/7, 6.7 million), Family Guy (up 12 percent to 3.8/9, 7.9 million), and American Dad (up 16% to 2.9/7, 6.2 million).

Still, there’s no competing against football on NBC. Dallas at Green Bay earned a whopping 6.7/17 and helped NBC to win the night in the demo (5.2/13). Each 18-49 ratings point equals 1.3 million. CBS, however, won the night in viewers (16 million) and came in second in the demo (4.6/12) thanks to an NFL overrun that boosted 60 Minutes (4.0/10, 15.5 million). The combination of The Amazing Race and Undercover Boss averaged a 2.6/7 and 10.5 million.

ABC pretty much tied Fox in the demo (2.7/7 versus 2.8/7) and came in third in viewers (9.5 million). Extreme Makeover: Home Edition was up 39 percent to a 2.5/6 (9.2 million), followed by Desperate Housewives (up 14 percent to a 4.0/9, 12.5 million), and Brothers & Sisters (up 13 percent to 2.6/ 7, 8.8 million). Fox finished fourth for the night in viewers (6.1 million).