Archive: November 2010 (144-154 of 154)

Nov 2 2010 09:30 PM ET

'Skating With the Stars': And the contestants are...

Categories: Reality TV

frankel-youn-neilImage Credit: Janet Mayer/PR Photos; Rick Stephens/PR Photos; PR Photos; Matthew Stockman/Getty Images; PR Photos; Koi Sojer/PR PhotosThe first contestants (or should we say victims?) of ABC’s upcoming Skating With the Stars were announced tonight during Dancing With the Stars. They are:

  • Reality star Bethenny Frankel (The Real Housewives of New York City, Bethenny Getting Married?)
  • Actress Sean Young (No Way Out, Wall Street)
  • Actress Rebecca Budig (All My Children)
  • Musician Vince Neil (lead singer of Mötley Crüe)
  • Olympic skier Jonny Moseley
  • Actor/rapper Brandon Mychal Smith (Sonny with a Chance)

ABC is expected to announce their professional skating partners within the next week (and an insider said they won’t necessarily be household names so don’t hold out for, say, a Brian Boitano or a Kristi Yamaguchi). Skating with the Stars will debut Nov. 22.

Read more:
ABC schedules ‘Skating With the Stars’ and ‘V’
ABC to air ‘Skating With the Stars.’ Whose double Salchow are you dying to see?

Nov 2 2010 06:38 PM ET

Boris Kodjoe on NBC's low-rated drama 'Undercovers': 'We gotta keep trucking'

Categories: Television

undercovers-borisImage Credit: Justin Lubin/NBCNBC has yet to decide whether to commit to an additional nine episodes of Undercovers, the freshman spy drama starring Boris Kodjoe and Gugu Mbatha-Raw that’s only averaged 7.1 million viewers since September. Though other first-year shows like Chase and The Event have received full-season pickups, the fourth-place network has only ordered additional scripts of the J.J. Abrams series. But Kodjoe, who talked to EW while attending the Academy of TV Arts & Sciences Presents: Primetime TV Crimefighters in North Hollywood, CA on Monday, remains hopeful for a pickup. “Whenever people tune in, they love it. It’s been a weird season with no runaway hits. But our numbers are going up. That’s all we can wish for, and we just gotta keep trucking.”

Kodjoe says the producers have lots more in store for viewers. “We’re adding a little mythology. There are a lot of secrets that are going to be revealed, a bigger picture of why we actually went back to the CIA and stuff that we didn’t even know. I’ve read some of the scripts, and they’re incredible. There’s a lot more emphasis on the spy stuff. You know, mission, bang, bang, bang. Just get in and try to get the bad guy.” Abrams remains heavily invested in the drama, the actor added. “It’s his baby. He makes decisions everyday about plotlines, scripts and everything else, so he’s definitely… I can feel his presence everyday.”

Finally, Kodjoe hopes that Undercovers will stick around for other reasons – not just because it’s breaking ground by featuring two black leads. “I think it’s important that we add diversity to TV. Period. I’m sure there’s a lot of people rooting for the show because of that reason, but it’s about more than that. It’s about the quality of the show, and everybody loves it when they see it. So we’ll see.” - With reporting from Vlada Gelman

Nov 2 2010 03:00 PM ET

'Dancing With the Stars' reunion show helps ABC stay strong opposite Fox baseball

Categories: Television, TV Ratings

dancing-with-the-starsImage Credit: Adam Larkey/ABCABC’s special two-hour reunion show of Dancing With the Stars helped ABC to stay strong on Mondays, despite heavy competition from baseball on Fox. The network averaged 17 million, thanks to the Stars installment that featured visits from past contestants like Kristy Yamaguchi and Apolo Ohno. The show averaged 19.5 million and actually built half-hour to half-hour in viewers (from 18 million at 8 to 20.3 million at 9:30) It also gave another nice boost to Castle (11.7 million).

Still, there was no competing with the Giants and the Rangers: Fox won the night in the key 18-49 demographic with a 4.2 rating, while CBS tied ABC with a 3.6/9. NBC was third with a 2.0/5. Each 18-49 ratings point represents 1.3 million viewers.

Fox finished second for the night in viewers (14.9 million), followed by CBS (10.5 million) and NBC (5.4 million).

Three of CBS’s comedies were up in the demographic versus last week — How I Met Your Mother (3.7/10, up 16%, 9 million) Rules of Engagement (3.4/9, up 13%, 8.8 million) and Two and a Half Men (4.7/11, up 7%, 13.6 million). Mike & Molly, however, was down 3 percent to 3.6/9 and averaged 10.8 million (the result of that ridiculous item from the Marie Claire writer?) Hawaii Five-0 was up 7 percent to a 3.0/8 and averaged 10.5 million.

On NBC, Chuck was up 5 percent in the demo (2.0/5) but only averaged 5.4 million viewers from 8-9 p.m. The Women of Saturday Night Live also posted a 2.0/5 from 9-11 p.m. and averaged 5.3 million.





Nov 2 2010 10:22 AM ET

'Fringe' scoop: An exclusive peek at this Thursday's new episode (Thanks, Giants!)

fringeImage Credit: Smallz and Raskind/FoxOn behalf of Fringe fans everywhere, I would like to thank Edgar Renteria and the rest of the San Francisco Giants for putting the Texas Rangers out of their misery and winning the World Series last night. By eliminating the need for a sixth and seventh game, the Giants insured us that Fox will indeed be able to air a new episode of the acclaimed sci-fi drama that was four episodes into its so-far sensational third season before it was rudely interrupted by the so-called America’s Pastime. (Sorry for my sarcasm. But with apologies to Tim “The Freak” Lincecum, Fringe is the only freak-of-the-week drama I want to be watching right now.)

When we last left the story three weeks ago, Peter Bishop and Olivia Dunham took their romance to the next level by finally going horizontal — except the Olivia Dunham in question is actually “Bolivia,” Olivia’s genetic doppelgänger from the imperiled parallel dimension currently at war with our own. Peter can’t tell the difference between Earth A Olivia and Earth B Olivia. Or can he? Here’s a theory for you: What if the super-smart ex-con man has long had suspicions about his FBI agent girlfriend, but he’s been trying to deny them out of fear of sabotaging his happiness with Olivia? And what if the ironic consequence of having sex with Bolivia, of taking their relationship to a deeper, more intimate level, is that Peter has the epiphany that his suspicions are actually correct? (I knew there was something strange about you, but I was never able to put my finger on it. But now that I’ve had my fingers all over you, it becomes clear to me that you’re an impostor! How dare you come over here and take advantage of me like that! Now… can we do it again?)

It will be another week before we get any more intel on the Peter-Bolivia drama, as Thursday’s episode focuses on the drama unfolding on Earth B. The Olivia Dunham of Earth A has been brainwashed by “Walternate” into thinking she’s actually Bolivia (to buy Walternate some time to study her and figure out how she’s physically capable of toggling between parallel worlds) and going on missions with Bolivia’s cohorts in Earth’s B’s own version of Fringe division. (None of them know the truth about Olivia except their supervisor, Broyles. Should he get a funky alt-world name, too? If only this Broyles had an English accent, we could call him … London Broyles!) But Olivia is beginning to crack — her brain is coughing up visions of Peter, trying to convince her that her life is a lie — and the drama intensifies in this week’s episode.

For a sneak peek at this week’s episode, check out the exclusive clip below. I’d tell you more about it, but due to one of those weird tech things, I actually can’t see it myself until I actually post this. (I can explain parallel worlds to you, but I don’t know jack about this video embedding stuff.) And then, after watching the episode on Thursday, make sure you come back here for Ken Tucker’s recap. Glad to have Fringe back — and again, thanks to the Texas Rangers for making it happen. Your lack of clutch hitting is totally appreciated!

Nov 1 2010 07:37 PM ET

'Terra Nova' scoop: Final series regular cast

Categories: Casting, Television, TV Scoop

Christine-Adams_240.jpg Fox has completed casting on its upcoming drama Terra Nova so production can begin next week in Australia. The last actor to join the cast of the time-traveling drama is Christine Adams (The Whole Truth), who will play Mira — a battle-hardened resident of Terra Nova who gets to know the Shannon family. Other actors who have previously joined the high-concept series include Jason O’Mara (Life on Mars), Stephen Lang (Avatar), Shelley Conn (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory), Mido Hamada (24), Allison Miller (Boston Legal), and Landon Liboiron (Degrassi: The Next Generation). O’Mara plays patriarch Jim Shannon.

The drama bows next May and takes place 100 years in the future.

Read more:
‘Terra Nova’ casting almost complete; production begins next month in Australia
‘Terra Nova’ debut postponed until fall 2011

Nov 1 2010 06:10 PM ET

'How I Met Your Mother': Jorge Garcia, Nicole Scherzinger talk guest spots

Categories: Casting, Television, TV Scoop

Rocky-Jorge-Nicole_240.jpg Image Credit: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images Excellent news for Jorge Garcia fans: The Lost guy’s coming to How I Met Your Mother! Garcia told EW exclusively that he’s “popping up here and there” in projects like ABC’s upcoming mid-season comedy Mr. Sunshine that stars Matthew Perry and “a little thing on How I Met Your Mother.”

“I can’t say much about the episode but I can assure you that I am not the mother,” Garcia said while attending (and dressing appropriately for) last week’s 35th Anniversary tribute to Rocky Horror Picture Show. “It looks like it is the Thanksgiving episode. I am not a super villain. I come in as a friend of one of the main characters. It was a lot of fun working with them.”

Nicole Scherzinger, who was at the same premiere (as evidenced by the awesome photo), says she’s also set to make an appearance on HIMYM. “My character’s name is Jessica Glitter. I am Robin’s best friend from when she was Robin Sparkles. We had a famous show in Canada and I blow back into her life. We just might be unearthing another embarrassing music video from back in the day.” – With reporting from Carrie Bell

Read more:
Jorge Garcia of ‘Lost’ on being the face of Weezer’s new album: ‘How awesome is that?’
Nicole Scherzinger to play a villain in ‘Men in Black 3′

Nov 1 2010 06:07 PM ET

First look: Luke weds Tracy on 'General Hospital'

General-Hospital-wedding_510.jpg Image Credit: ABC EW has obtained this exclusive first look of the Las Vegas nuptials of Luke Spencer (Anthony Geary) and Tracy Quartermaine (Jane Elliot). David Leisure returns as Reverend Grace, who married Brenda Barrett (Vanessa Marcil) and Jason Morgan (Steve Burton) a few years back.

As evidenced by the hijinks in the photo, things don’t turn out exactly as planned in Sin City. The high-maintenance duo heads to Las Vegas on Nov. 9, and the fun continues throughout the week on the ABC sudser.

Nov 1 2010 05:03 PM ET

Changes in store for 'Lopez Tonight'

Categories: Cable, Late Night, TV Biz

george-lopezImage Credit: Gavin Bond/TBSThe much-anticipated debut of Conan O’Brien’s talk show Conan Nov. 8 on TBS will give George Lopez the rare opportunity to relaunch his year-old TBS talk show, Lopez Tonight, in a new midnight time slot. This season, Lopez has been in 21st place among basic-cable shows, averaging 864,000 people ages 18–49, behind 11 p.m. competitors like Family Guy reruns (1.5 million), Law & Order: SVU repeats (929,000), and The Daily Show (917,000). Now executive-produced by late-night guru Robert Morton (Late Show With David Letterman), Lopez Tonight will follow O’Brien’s production schedule—four days a week, up from three. And just like O’Brien and the other late-night hosts, Lopez will start performing live to tape.

Previously Lopez would spin his wheels in front of cameras for two and a half hours before his show was edited for broadcast. “I’m a big believer in old-school training,” Morton tells EW. “We have to make it feel like it’s happening now, live. It has to have that pace.”

Other tweaks that Morton says are in store for the show include moving the taping from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. each day to attract “better audiences” looking for that “night-out experience,” along with a new set that will separate Lopez’s desk from the performing area (“Viewers like to know the geography of a show”). Look for more conceptual funny pieces and remote packages, Morton promises, and shorter interviews. “These guys just needed liberation,” explains Morton. “I told George not to sell the comedy card too hard. He should feel free to write anything. Conan’s taking chances, so he should follow that lead.”

Lopez’s relaunch-week guests include Denzel Washington, Hilary Duff, and Bret Michaels.

For now, TBS is keeping mum about what type of ratings it hopes O’Brien’s new show will average or whether Conan is expected to eclipse The Daily Show at 11 p.m. “We expect him to be competitive,” says Michael Wright, head of programming for TBS. But Wright has no doubt that O’Brien will have an immediate impact on TBS’ existing late-night franchise. “George has done an admirable job developing a brand-new show from scratch with four different lead-ins on four different nights,” says Wright. “Audience flow is crucial. We expect Conan to be a win-win for George.”

Nov 1 2010 02:38 PM ET

'Modern Family' scoop: Luke schools Gloria, and Manny turns 13!

Categories: Television, TV Scoop

rico-rodriguez-nolan-gouldImage Credit: Bob D'Amico/ABCRico Rodriguez and Nolan Gould took some time out from attending the Megamind premiere in Hollywood last week to tease some upcoming episodes of ABC’s Modern Family. Look for Gould’s Luke Dunphy to school his step-grandma and Rodriguez’ Manny Delgado to become immature — fast. First up: Luke’s role as an accidental teacher. “Jay (Ed O’Neill) teaches Manny how to ride a bike and Gloria (Sofia Vergara) decides she wants to learn to but it goes horribly between her and Jay,” Rodriguez tells EW exclusively. “She needs a more motherly type of person so Luke is her guy!”

“Luke is going to teach Gloria how to ride a bike!” adds Gould. “It is pretty cool. Jay tried but it doesn’t work because he is a bad teacher and gets too frustrated. So she goes over to my house looking for my dad to teach her but he is busy and can’t do it. I happen to be at the house and my play date cancels so I convince Gloria to let me teach her. He teaches in a very strange way. He’s got a technique where he forces her to learn with a water gun. I also use it on my sister Haley (Sarah Hyland). I’m trying to teach her how to do her homework.”

In another episode, Rodriguez says his character celebrates his 13th birthday by “trying to shove my entire childhood into one day.” “Manny was born an old man so he realizes that he never really did the normal kid stuff so he tries to do everything he was supposed to do in a couple of hours,” Rodriguez tells EW. “For example…making a prank call. He has never done that before and he doesn’t do it well.” – With reporting from Carrie Bell


Nov 1 2010 01:21 PM ET

'Undercover Boss' hits series low opposite football and baseball

Categories: Television, TV Ratings

undercover-bossImage Credit: Michael Yarish/CBSSerious competition from NFL football on NBC and Game 4 of the World Series on Fox wreaked havoc on on CBS’ The Amazing Race and Undercover Boss. The competition show at 8 p.m. averaged 2.9 rating/7 share in 18-49 — down 17% from last week and also a season low, according to early estimates from Nielsen. It averaged 9.1 million. At 9, Boss earned a 2.9/7 — down 10% to its lowest-rated telecast ever. The sophomore show averaged 10.3 million. CSI: Miami at 10, meanwhile earned a 2.6/7 and averaged 9.8 million.

Each 18-49 ratings point represents 1.3 million.

But hey, it’s not so easy to go up against football and baseball. Fox ruled the night in viewers (15.2 million) but NBC won the night in the 18-49 demographic (5.2/14) because of the matchup between the last two Super Bowl victors, the Steelers and the Saints. The game itself averaged a 6.6/17 in the demographic. Fox came in second in the demo (4.7/13) because Game 4 earned a 4.3 rating. CBS was third with a 2.4/7 and 10.0 million eyeball.s

As for ABC, which finished fourth with a 2.2/6 and 7.9 million, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition finished with a 1.8/5 and 6.6 million viewers, followed by Desperate Housewives (3.5/9, 10.9 million) and Brothers & Sisters (2.3/6, 8.1 million).



Nov 1 2010 12:01 AM ET

InsideTV podcast: EW experts pick the best and worst 'Dancing with the Stars' contestants ever

Image Credit: Adam Larkey/ABC; Bob D'Amico/ABC

With Dancing With the Stars getting ready to celebrate its 200th episode, we thought it the perfect time to look back on 11 seasons of ballroom bliss and bedlam. On the latest edition of InsideTV podcast, DWTS expert Annie Barrett shares her selections for the best and worst hoofers to ever shake their groove thang on the dance floor. Who is the best of the best? Who is the worst of the worst? And who was neither good nor bad enough to merit our attention at all? Answers await in the podcast below! Also on tap for this special Halloween edition: Walking Dead creator Robert Kirkman and star Andrew Lincoln stop by to talk about the best way to kill a zombie, Michael Slezak and I discuss the latest developments involving urine on Survivor: Nicaragua, Michael Ausiello weighs in on the shaky future of NBC’s The Event, and Clark Collis shows up to flaunt his fancy English accent. You can download all the insanity straight to your mp3 player, or click on the player to enjoy all the podcast magic on your screen right here, right now. And if you have a question for the TV Insiders, you can tweet it to @InsideTVPodcast.

[AUDIO http://www.ew.com/ew/static/podcast/2010/10/EW_TV_Insiders_10_29_10.mp3]

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