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Archive: January 2011 (209-221 of 323)

Jan 12 2011 03:39 PM ET

'The Game' season premiere on BET draws 7.7 million viewers

Categories: Let's Stay Together, Television, The Game, TV Biz, TV Ratings

The-Game Image Credit: BETPrepare to pick your jaws up off the floor! BET’s revival of former CW series The Game premiered to a whopping 7.7 million viewers last night. That’s right, 7.7 million viewers — a figure that is sure to be making other cable and network execs salivate right now. The number is stunning because when the sitcom — which is produced by Kelsey Grammer and stars Tia Mowry Hardrict (right) as the wife of a football star — last aired on The CW during the 2008-09 season, it only mustered a measly 1.8 million viewers, which ultimately led to the show’s cancellation by the fledgling network. (Its Friday night time slot didn’t help either.) BET’s new comedy Let’s Stay Together saw its series debut last night, right after The Game, and drew a very healthy 4.4 million viewers. The lesson of these successes? A little promotion can go a long way, especially when your network isn’t cluttered with tons of other originals.

More ratings news:
TBS: We’ll air ‘Conan’ forever at these ratings (but O’Brien says he has other plans)
‘No Ordinary Family’ and ‘V’ take big hits: ‘NCIS’ franchise enjoys another great night
BCS National Championship most-watched cable program ever

Jan 12 2011 03:00 PM ET

'The Good Wife' scoop: America Ferrera joins for three episodes, Jerry Stiller for one

by Tanner Stransky

Categories: Casting, Casting Scoops, Television, The Good Wife, TV Biz, TV Scoop

Image Credit: Brian Killian/WireImage.com; Charles Eshelman/FilmMagic.comThings aren’t so Ugly for America Ferrera anymore. The Golden Globe- and Emmy-winning actress has landed her first post-Ugly Betty television gig, which will find her headed to the infinitely seductive legal world of CBS’ vaunted drama The Good Wife for three episodes this season. Fererra will join the cast next month on a recurring basis, playing Natalie, a graduate student who romantically catches the eye of campaign manager Eli (Alan Cumming). In the same episode where Ferrera makes her debut, Jerry Stiller joins as the show’s latest judge, joining courtroom overseer alums such as Ana Gasteyer, Denis O’Hare, and David Paymer. The tough-as-nails attorney Diane Lockhart (Christine Baranski) goes up against Stiller’s justice, who has a penchant for nodding off during the trial. Stiller is only set for one episode currently, but the guest stars who appear as judges on The Good Wife tend to pop up repeatedly. READ FULL STORY »

Jan 12 2011 02:23 PM ET

TBS: We'll air 'Conan' forever at these ratings (but O'Brien says he has other plans)

by James Hibberd

Categories: Conan O'Brien, Television, TV Biz

Photo credit: Meghan Sinclair

Ratings for Conan O’Brien’s TBS talk show may have dropped notably since his mega-hyped fall debut, but that doesn’t faze his network’s programming chief.

Michael Wright, head of programming at TBS, says that O’Brien’s current nightly average (around 1 million adults 18-49), and his relatively youthful median audience age (33), is good enough to keep renewing the show.

“I discount the first week’s ratings, as anybody should for a talk show or even a scripted program,” said Wright after entertaining TV critics visiting the Conan set. “It’s landing right about where we expected it to. At this number, Conan will run as long as he wants it to.”

Which sounds great for Coco fans, but also prompts a follow-up: How long does O’Brien want to continue as a talk show host?

Luckily, O’Brien was standing ten feet away, and had something to say on the subject — and a few words David Letterman, Jay Leno, NBC and whether he’s a sex symbol too. READ FULL STORY »

Jan 12 2011 02:04 PM ET

'Big Bang Theory' scores a three-year pickup

by Lynette Rice

Categories: Deals, Television, The Big Bang Theory, TV Biz

Image Credit: CBSExcellent news for fans of Sheldon, Leonard, Penny, Howard and Raj: CBS has renewed its top-rated The Big Bang Theory for an additional three years, extending its run through the 2013-14 season.

“It doesn’t take a theoretical physicist to see why this show is a BIG part of our comedy future,” said CBS Entertainment president Nina Tassler. “From ratings to critical acclaim to pop culture buzz, it’s struck a chord on all levels. The creative genius of Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady and the on-camera talents of an amazing young ensemble have created a comedy that will entertain viewers for a long time. We’re proud to partner with Warner Bros. on another highly successful, long-running comedy.”

Theory, which premiered in September 2007, finished the 2009-10 season as the No. 1 scripted series in adults 18-49 and the No. 2 comedy among viewers. Currently in its fourth season, the sitcom made a successful transition to its new Thursday time period, and has emerged as the night’s top comedy in viewers and adults 18-49. It is averaging 13.8 million viewers (up 7 percent versus the year-ago time period) and a 4.7 rating/14 share in adults 18-49.

Jan 12 2011 01:50 PM ET

Next up for Kiefer Sutherland: An internet series! EXCLUSIVE

by Lynette Rice

Categories: 24, Deals, EW Exclusive, Scoop

Kiefer Sutherland, internet star? That’s the plan: EW has learned exclusively that Sutherland will follow up his critically-beloved run on 24 with a web series that’ll bow on Hulu this March. Dubbed The Confession, the 10 five-to-seven-minute webisodes will feature Sutherland as a hitman who has a theological discussion with a priest (John Hurt of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows) about why his victims deserved to die. The series, which was written and directed by Brad Mirman, ends with one helluva twist. READ FULL STORY »

Jan 12 2011 01:06 PM ET

'No Ordinary Family' and 'V' take big hits: 'NCIS' franchise enjoys another great night

by Lynette Rice

Categories: Fall TV, Ratings, Television, TV Ratings

Image Credit: Bret Hartman/NBC; Sergei Bachlakov/ABC; Cliff Lipson/CBSIt was a tough Tuesday for ABC’s dramas: No Ordinary Family, V and Detroit 1-8-7 either tied or hit series lows in the key adult demographic, which forced the Alphabet into fourth place for the night, according to early estimates. ABC earned a 1.5 rating/4 share in 18-49 and averaged 5.4 million. Bummer days, because high-concept shows like Family and V need all the help they can get if the networks are to be persuaded that genre shows can work. Where are you, mythology fans? Or are you just not into a super-strong Michael Chiklis or the lizard ladies of V?

CBS was No. 1 for the night in viewers (17.3 million) and 18-49 (3.5/9), fueled by more great performances by NCIS (4.5/12, 21.9 million) NCIS: LA (3.7/9, 18.0 million) and The Good Wife (2.3/6, 12.3 million). Each 18-49 ratings point equals 1.3 million. NBC was second in the demo (2.8/7) and viewers (7.6 million), with The Biggest Loser: Couples earning a 3.2/8 and 8.6 million, followed by Parenthood (2.2/6, 5.6 million).

Fox came in third in the demo (1.7/4) after running a repeat of Glee and an original of Million Dollar Money Drop (1.8/5, 5.1 million). On to ABC: Family posted a series low 1.5/4 and averaged 5.4 million. V got a 1.9/5 and tied its series low. It averaged 5.7 million. And Detroit earned a 1.1/3 — another series low — and lured 5.2 million.

The CW ran repeats.

Jan 12 2011 11:32 AM ET

Skeet Ulrich leaving 'Law and Order: LA'

by Margaret Lyons

Categories: Law & Order: Los Angeles

In the criminal justice system, the people are represented by two separate but equally important groups: The people on the first season of a Law & Order franchise, and the people who come in afterward. Sources close to Law & Order: Los Angeles confirm that Regina Hall, Megan Boone, and Skeet Ulrich are all leaving the series, which is currently in the middle of its first season. Hall and Boone both play lawyers on the show, and Ulrich plays one of the detectives. (The news was first reported by Deadline.)

UPDATE: Here’s who’s going to replace Ulrich.
Read more:
‘Law & Order: Los Angeles’ goes for Lohan right out of the gate

Jan 12 2011 09:01 AM ET

'Deep End' star Ben Lawson lands USA pilot lead -- EXCLUSIVE

by James Hibberd

Categories: Scoop, Television, TV Biz

Ben Lawson has landed one of the two coveted lead roles in the USA Network pilot Wild Card – a witty drama about people behaving badly in Las Vegas and the lawyers who solve their problems.

The Australian actor plays Will Garrett, a successful Wall Street attorney who could be living the American Dream but instead feels trapped in life. One night in Sin City, his life changes forever.‬

If greenlit to series, Wild Card would join USA’s powerhouse lineup of procedural dramas, an enviable home given the network’s strong track record for launching new shows. READ FULL STORY »

Jan 12 2011 08:00 AM ET

'Celebrity Apprentice': First look at the new season and cast -- EXCLUSIVE

by Dalton Ross

Categories: Reality TV, Television, The Celebrity Apprentice, TV Scoop

Image Credit: Al Goldstein/NBC

For those of you who mourned the non-celebrityness of last season’s Apprentice, have no fear: TV’s guiltiest pleasure is back! Celebrity Apprentice returns to NBC on Sunday, March 6, and we’ve got the first official promo for you right here. I’m not sure what’s more disturbing: seeing Richard Hatch naked (again!), or the size of La Toya Jackson’s necklace. Speaking of big, you’ll also catch glimpses of Lisa Rinna’s lips as well as Mr. Steroids himself, Jose Canseco. Of course, the pièce de résistance is Gary Busey, who utters a line at the end so amazingly absurd I simply cannot spoil the thrill nor do it proper justice by repeating it here. (You have to see it for yourself.) To enjoy Busey as well as the rest of the entire Celebrity Apprentice cast in all their cheesed-out glory, click on the video below.

Jan 11 2011 07:59 PM ET

Justin Bieber to head back to 'CSI' on Feb. 17

by Tanner Stransky

Categories: 3-D, Casting, CSI, Television, TV Biz

Image Credit: Sonja Flemming/CBSWhile it seems Justin Bieber won’t be getting his Glee tribute episode any time soon, the teen singing sensation is set to return to TV in a big way. CBS announced today that Bieber will reprise his role (pictured here) as troubled teen Jason McCann in CSI‘s upcoming Feb. 17 episode titled “Targets of Obsession” — just in time for February sweeps. The role was Bieber’s acting debut and featured the pop star playing a kid whose brother had been killed by the CSIs at the end of season 11. This reprisal, which is currently being shot, finds series regular Nick (George Eads) tipping Bieber’s Jason off that he’s in “imminent danger,” according to the CBS release. If you can’t wait until Feb. 17 to see Bieber on a screen, though, you can always catch his new 3-D biopic/concert film, Never Say Never, which hits theaters a six days earlier on Feb. 11.

Jan 11 2011 07:13 PM ET

First look at Fox's 'Terra Nova': Will it be 'Avatar' TV?

by James Hibberd

Categories: Television, Terra Nova, TV Biz

The future is smoggy (Brook Rushton/FOX)

Do the dinosaurs have feathers?

The most buzz-making rumored creature feature wasn’t on display in Fox’s Terra Nova trailer, but that’s to be expected since the production just recently wrapped its two-hour pilot in Australia and special effects are far from finished.

Here’s what was shown to critics at press tour: The trailer introduced a dystopian future, where the Shannon family (Jason O’Mara is the dad) wear breathing masks, lining up for “the final shuttle to Terra Nova” — an Earth colony set 85 million years in the past. Once they stroll through a bright light tunnel, they arrive in the past at a fenced-in compound that’s surrounded by dense Pandora-like tropical forest and at least one towering waterfall. The Shannon family is greeted by the rugged Commander Taylor (Stephen Lang, the bad guy in Avatar, and yes, you are correctly sensing a trend here).

At first, everything’s all prehistoric Blackberry-free bliss. The Shannon family hangs out in their new eco-friendly homestead breathing clean air with solar panels on the roof. “We’re starting over as a family,” etc.

Then… an attack! READ FULL STORY »

Jan 11 2011 06:47 PM ET

BCS National Championship most-watched cable program ever

by Sandra Gonzalez

Categories: Ratings, Television

Image Credit: Christian Petersen/Getty ImagesThe Tostitos Bowl Championship Series (BCS) National Championship on ESPN pulled in 27.3 million viewers last night, making it the most-viewed cable program in history, according to the network.

The college football title game, in which the Auburn Tigers beat the Oregon Ducks with a 19-yard field goal as time expired, bested the previous ratings record set by 2009′s Green Bay Packers vs. Minnesota Vikings Monday Night Football game by nearly 5.5 million viewers.

The contest broke records on the digital platform, as well, after it became the most-watched college football game ever on ESPN3.com, with more than 619,000 unique viewers.

Jan 11 2011 05:54 PM ET

'Lost', 'Walking Dead', 'Boardwalk Empire', 'Glee' among Directors Guild TV nominees

by Hillary Busis

Categories: 30 Rock, Awards Shows, Boardwalk Empire, Entourage, Glee, Lost, Mad Men, Modern Family, Saturday Night Live, The Walking Dead

The Directors Guild of America today announced its nominees for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Television and Commercials for the year 2010. They include:

Dramatic Series
Jack Bender, Lost, “The End, Part 1&2″
Allen Coulter, Boardwalk Empire, “Paris Green”
Frank Darabont, The Walking Dead, “Days Gone Bye”
Jennifer Getzinger, Mad Men, “The Suitcase”
Martin Scorsese, Boardwalk Empire, “Boardwalk Empire”

Comedy Series
Steve Levitan, Modern Family, “Hawaii”
Beth McCarthy Miller, 30 Rock, “Live Show”
Ryan Murphy, Glee, “The Power of Madonna”
David Nutter, Entourage, “Lose Yourself”
Michael Spiller, Modern Family, “Halloween” READ FULL STORY »