Archive: December 2010 (66-78 of 163)

Dec 14 2010 12:37 PM ET

'Star Wars: The Clone Wars' unveils trailer, an EW exclusive

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Categories: EW Exclusive, Sci-Fi, Television

Lucasfilm Ltd.

On January 7, Star Wars: The Clone Wars returns from its mid-season break with the first of 11 new episodes, and, judging by this trailer Lucasfilm provided exclusively to EW, they’re making the jump to lightspeed. Set to John Williams’ Wagnerian “Duel of the Fates,” the video emphasizes action and mythology, a change of pace from the first half of season 3, which included more cerebral, dialogue-driven episodes about that Galaxy Far, Far Away’s slippery political landscape (read our recaps here). And while so far this season Anakin Skywalker has played second fiddle to lesser-known characters (Sy Snootles, anyone?), the future Darth Vader is clearly the star from here on out, as the series gets ever closer to the events of Revenge of the Sith. Not glimpsed is the new Big Bad, Savage Opress (a relation of Darth Maul!), whose three-part arc, supervising director Dave Filoni tells me, kicks off Clone Wars’ January return. That hardly matters, because we’re in for a more chilling sight: Anakin’s earnest young Padawan, Ahsoka Tano, eyes yellow like a Sith, consumed with rage and battling her master! Take a walk on the Dark Side and check it out. READ FULL STORY »

Dec 14 2010 11:31 AM ET

Virginia Madsen joins 'The Event'

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Categories: Casting, Television, The Event

Virginia-MadsenNBC has confirmed to EW that Virginia Madsen (Sideways) will join the cast of its freshman series The Event, in a recurring role. The Oscar-nominated actress, who most recently starred in ABC’s Scoundrels, will play attorney Catherine Lewis, the widow of an Alaskan senator who has inherited his position. Deadline broke the casting news earlier this morning, after initially reporting NBC had offered the role to Friday Night Lights‘ star Connie Britton. The Event is currently on hiatus and will return with new episodes on February 28.

Dec 13 2010 07:07 PM ET

Jimmy Kimmel signs for two more years

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Categories: Deals, Television, TV Biz

Jimmy-KimmelImage Credit: Adam Larkey/ABCABC has confirmed that Jimmy Kimmel has signed for two more years as host of his eponymous late-night talk show. His current deal is set to expire at year’s end; the new contract will take Jimmy Kimmel Live into a 10th season.

In November, Kimmel posted year-to-year increases in total viewers and adults 18-49. At 1.86 million viewers, the late night show attracted more eyeballs during the sweep month than Jimmy Fallon (1.79 million) and Craig Ferguson (1.79 million). News of Kimmel’s deal was first reported on Deadline.

Dec 13 2010 04:53 PM ET

NBC to develop singing competition for spring 2011

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Categories: American Idol, Television, TV Biz

Mark-Burnett-Voice-HollandImage Credit: Glenn Harris/PR PhotosLet the inevitable comparisons to American Idol begin! NBC announced today that it is developing a singing competition dubbed The Voice of America for spring 2011. The show, from uber-reality producers John de Mol (Big Brother) and Mark Burnett (Survivor) is based on De Mol’s successful Dutch format The Voice of Holland that just launched in September. Viewers will have a say in determining finalists, who will compete for a recording contract. Four celebrity artists will head up teams of singers and provide coaching and mentoring throughout the competition.

Participants are eliminated until each celeb has only one team member left who will compete in the finals, when a winner will be named “The Voice of America.” To guarantee that participants are judged on their talent only, the celebs will have their backs turned during the initial auditions. In all, the show features three stages of competition – the blind audition, the battle phase, and the live performance shows.

There have been numerous attempts by competing networks over the years to steal some of Idol’s thunder. (Remember The One, Nashville Star, Rock Star and Duets?) But no competition show has managed to last as long as the Fox juggernaut. Still, NBC is bullish about its new show because of the success of all music-based programs – not just Idol. “There seems to be a real demand for music, between Glee, The Sing Off and Idol,” Paul Telegdy, NBC’s executive VP, alternative programming, tells EW. “People are consuming more music than ever before. There is room for all the shows.”

And Telegdy insists that Voice is a far different format from Idol or even The X-Factor. Unlike those two shows that go out on the road to find good, bad and – yes, even ugly – talent, Voice will recruit budding singers from talent schools, clubs, colleges – you name it. As for the mentors, Telegdy said “household name” recording artists are used in Holland, and that American audiences will be “pleasantly surprised” by who NBC selects to serve. The gig will require a huge time commitment, given the amount of mentoring that’s required for the show.

Dec 13 2010 04:11 PM ET

CW announces midseason lineup

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Categories: America's Next Top Model, Gossip Girl, Nikita, One Tree Hill, Smallville, Supernatural, Television

Hellcats-Tyra-Top-ModelImage Credit: Michael Courtney/The CW; Mathieu Young/The CWThe CW announced its midseason lineup today, including a new night for Hellcats and the premiere of Shedding for the Wedding, hosted by Sara Rue. A special season finale of Life Unexpected is also planned for Jan. 18.

The schedule is as follows:

Jan. 18
8-10 p.m. Life Unexpected (season finale)

Jan. 24
8-9 p.m. 90210 (return of original episodes)
9-10 p.m. Gossip Girl (return of originals)

Jan. 25
8-9 p.m. One Tree Hill (return of originals)
9-10 p.m. Hellcats (new night)

Jan. 27
8-9 p.m. The Vampire Diaries (return of originals)
9-10 p.m. Nikita (return of originals)

Jan. 28
8-9 p.m. Smallville (return of originals)
9-10 p.m. Supernatural (return of originals)

Feb. 23
8-9 p.m. America’s Next Top Model (season premiere)
9-10 p.m. Shedding for the Wedding (series premiere)

Shedding for the Wedding is an elimination competition that follows 10 overweight couples who live together and battle for the wedding of the dreams over a three-month period.

 

Dec 13 2010 02:51 PM ET

'Glee': Gwyneth Paltrow says she will return as Holly Holliday

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Categories: Glee, Television, TV Biz

Gwyneth Paltrow’s guest-appearance this fall on Glee was without a doubt one of the highlights of the Fox hit’s second season. So it’s not entirely surprising that the Oscar winner is saying she will return to the series. At this past weekend’s junket for her new film Country Strong, Paltrow told Access Hollywood that she will reprise her role as substitute teacher Holly Holliday. Says Paltrow, “I’m going to do one more. I signed up for two…so I’m excited!” Glee co-creator Ryan Murphy told EW in November that both he and Paltrow were hoping she would be able to return. Said Murphy, “I’d love for her to come back and she’d said she would love to do it.”

Dec 13 2010 02:40 PM ET

Ethan Hawke in talks to star in CIA drama

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Categories: Casting, Television

Ethan-HawkeImage Credit: Debby Wong/PR PhotosEthan Hawke is in talks to star in an upcoming CIA-set drama for Fox, his reps confirm. Exit Strategy comes from former Us Weekly editor David Guggenheim and is described as being in the 24 vein. Guggenheim’s film Safe House, starring Denzel Washington and Ryan Reynolds, just landed on 2010′s Black List, and even though both projects are about CIA agents, the two are unrelated.

Exit Strategy follows CIA operatives who are sent in to extricate other agents when situations go dangerously awry. Hawke would play the head of the team, according to Deadline.

Dec 13 2010 02:37 PM ET

'Medium' scoop: Creator promises tearful goodbye

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Categories: EW Exclusive, Medium, Television, TV Biz, TV Scoop

mediumImage Credit: Mitchell Haaseth/NBCMedium creator Glenn Gordon Caron promises “complete closure” when the CBS drama starring Patricia Arquette ends its seven-year run on Jan. 21. He also offers this exclusive teaser about the final episode, which began taping last week in Manhattan Beach, Calif: “It takes place in the present, it takes place seven years after that, and then it takes place 40 years after that.”

The entire ensemble will participate, but don’t look for surprise visits. “It’s not like Captain Push is coming back or anything,” says Caron, in reference to Arliss Howard’s character who was the first member of law enforcement to learn that Arquette’s character could foresee events and talk to the dead.

Something things had to occur in the finale, however. “We have to be intelligent, and we have to startle.”

Will he make fans sad, too? “I know for certain that people will tear up,” says Caron.

The creator confirmed via Facebook last month that CBS canned the drama. The network cut the episodic order on Medium from 22 to 13 in October. The drama averages 7.1 million viewers.

Dec 13 2010 11:27 AM ET

Anderson Cooper's new talk show will be called 'Anderson'

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Categories: Television

Anderson Cooper’s upcoming daytime TV talk show will be called Anderson, according to the New York Times’ media reporter Brian Stelter. The show is set to debut in Fall 2011.

Read more:
Anderson Cooper to host daytime talk show in Fall 2001

Dec 13 2010 10:40 AM ET

Jennifer Grey recovering following back surgery

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Categories: Dancing With the Stars, Reality TV, Television

Dancing With the Stars winner Jennifer Grey underwent back surgery last week to repair the ruptured disc she injured during the the first part of the show’s finale, according to People. Dr. Robert S. Bray Jr. successfully removed a “huge fragment” from Grey’s back, and the 50-year-old actress is recovering at home. “I feel great — completely pain free,” she told the magazine.

Read more:
‘DWTS’: ‘We never thought of winning … only about creating memorable dances.’

Dec 13 2010 01:20 AM ET

'Dexter' exclusive: Exec producer Sara Colleton answers questions about the season 5 finale! (Spoiler Alert!)

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Categories: Dexter, Scoop, Television

Dexter-finale-MillerTick… tick… tick… DING. That was the sound of season 5 running out. Showtime’s serial-killer drama Dexter wrapped up its fifth year on Sunday night with a knife in the chest—literally and figuratively—while weaving in a twist or two. [SPOILER ALERT: Do not proceed if you haven’t watched the season finale.] While “The Big One” didn’t pack the shock of last year’s Trinity-Rita send-off, there’s ample action to analyze—and character motivations to assess. Herewith, Dexter executive producer Sara Colleton sheds light on Lumen’s departure, Deb’s big decision, Dexter’s new outlook, and much more….

READ FULL STORY »

Dec 11 2010 08:32 PM ET

'Dexter' producer teases Sunday's finale 'The Big One,' plus an exclusive clip from the episode!

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Categories: Dexter, Scoop, Television

Dexter-finale-Hall_320.jpg One episode. That’s all that stands between you and The End…. of Dexter‘s fifth season, that is. Questions loom over Showtime’s serial killer drama: [Spoiler Alert: Stop reading if you haven't seen episode 11] Will the discovery of Liddy’s body prove more dangerous for Dexter (Michael C. Hall) or Quinn (Desmond Harrington)–or both? Will Dexter track down Lumen (Julia Stiles) before it’s too late? What does Jordan (Jonny Lee Miller) have in store for Dexter? Is this the episode that Harrison’s nanny (Maria Doyle Kennedy) is finally revealed to be plotting something sinister? On Sunday night, answers will flow. Right now, though, you can play the guessing game with the aid of some teasers. Dexter executive producer Sara Colleton gives you, EW.com reader, four clues to fire the imagination about the finale, titled “The Big One.” Craving a sneak peak in video form? Check out an exclusive clip from the finale after the jump. READ FULL STORY »

Dec 11 2010 08:11 PM ET

'The Biggest Loser' to lose Jillian Michaels, gain two new trainers

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Categories: Reality TV, Television, TV Biz

Demanding trainer Jillian Michaels may have announced on her Twitter page that she’ll be leaving The Biggest Loser after next season, but contestants shouldn’t plan to start slacking or snacking. Two new trainers are slated to join the NBC reality series in season 11, alongside Michaels and Bob Harper, sources close to the show tell EW. (The Hollywood Reporter was the first to report the news.) The twist will be announced on Tuesday’s season 10 finale, although the identity of the trainers will be revealed at a later date. Michaels, who also headlined the low-rated summer series Losing It with Jillian on NBC, departed Biggest Loser once before, sitting out season 3 over business issues before returning for season 4. Her priorities seem to be different this time: “I want to take a year off TV and focus on becoming a mommy and doing more charity work,” she tweeted on Dec. 7. NBC and Reveille Productions, which produces the show, declined to comment. Season 11 debuts Jan. 4.

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