Archive: March 2011 (40-52 of 337)

Mar 29 2011 04:44 PM ET

'Top Chef Masters': Scoop on the new season from James Oseland, Ruth Reichl, and Curtis Stone

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Categories: Reality TV, Top Chef
top-chef-masters

Image Credit: Nicole Wilder/Bravo

Can a brilliant cook make even a bowl of worms appetizing? We’ll find out this season on Top Chef Masters, which premieres April 6 at 11 p.m. ET on Bravo. In one memorable quickfire, the stars of Discovery’s Man, Woman, Wild visit the Top Chef kitchen and challenge the competitors to make a winning dish out of night crawlers, beetles, and other creepy-crawlies. “And guess who got to eat it all?” laughed Curtis Stone, the Australian chef (and onetime wannabe Celebrity Apprentice) who’s taking over as host of Masters this year, during a conference call with reporters. “I tell everybody this was the best job of my life. That was one of the worst days of the best job of my life.”

Even if Fear Factor-inspired shenanigans aren’t your thing, there’s still plenty to look forward to on Top Chef Masters this year. Here are a few more tidbits about what’s coming up on Season 3: READ FULL STORY »

Mar 29 2011 02:50 PM ET

It's official: 'Justified,' 'Archer' renewed at FX

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Categories: Justified, Television
Archer-Justified

Image Credit: FX; Prashant Gupta/FX

UPDATED: Looks like FX is officially sticking to Raylan Givens’ guns: As anticipated, the network has announced that it has renewed fan favorites Justified and Archer for their third seasons. The renewal makes plenty of sense for the cable network. After all, Justified — starring Timothy Olyphant — has enjoyed burgeoning ratings, which have ticked up 8 percent during season 2, while Archer was up 22 percent from last season.

“Justified was a critically acclaimed hit series in its first season, but the show has far surpassed our expectations this season,” President and General Manager of FX Networks John Landgraf said in a release.  “Creatively, the show is on a roll. The performances of Timothy Olyphant, Walton Goggins, Margo Martindale and the entire cast are extraordinary. Graham Yost and his team of writers are delivering some of the richest stories anywhere on TV and are doing a brilliant job of being true to Elmore Leonard’s original character, Raylan Givens. We couldn’t be more proud of the work everyone has done.”

It doesn’t hurt that Elmore Leonard, the author who created the Raylan Givens character, digs the show, which will get 13 episodes next season. READ FULL STORY »

Mar 29 2011 02:07 PM ET

Rosie O'Donnell's talk show to be filmed at Harpo Studios in Chicago

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Categories: TV Biz
Rosie-O-Donnell-with-Oprah

Image Credit: Kevin Mazur/WireImage.com; Chris Hatcher/PR Photos

Even though her show is coming to a close doesn’t mean Oprah is ready to stop giving. In her latest move, lady O is giving Rosie O’Donnell her old studio.

It was announced today that O’Donnell’s still-untitled daily talk show on OWN, first announced in August of last year, will be filmed in Chicago at the former home of The Oprah Winfrey Show, Harpo Studios.

In a video posted on her blog, O’Donnell addressed Harpo employees, saying she was “thrilled” about the move to the Chicago. (Watch the full video here.)

“I get to work with all of you, who have created magnificent television for two decades plus,” she said. “It’s a huge thrill for me.”

The one-hour show is set to debut fall 2011.

Read more:
Rosie O’Donnell confirms plans to do a daytime talk show
Oprah Winfrey Network picks up Rosie O’Donnell’s new talk show

Mar 29 2011 01:23 PM ET

Jennifer Aniston, Demi Moore and others to helm Lifetime films about breast cancer

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Categories:

A star-studded lineup of celebrities, including Jennifer Aniston, Alicia Keys and Demi Moore, will help direct Project Five, an anthology of five short films that will explore the impact of breast cancer. Independent Spirit Award-winner Patty Jenkins (Monster) also signed on to helm the Lifetime original project.

Aniston, along with Marta Kauffman (Friends), Paula Wagner (The Last Samurai, Mission: Impossible), Kristin Hahn (The Departed, The Switch), Kevin Chinoy (Greg the Bunny, Warren the Ape) and Francesca Silvestri (Greg the Bunny, Warren the Ape) will executive produce the production.

Lifetime says Project Five will “use humor and drama to focus on the effect that breast cancer and its diagnosis have on relationships and the way women perceive themselves, while searching for strength, comfort, medical breakthroughs and, ultimately, a cure.”  Under Kauffman’s supervision, writers Stephen Godshaux (Spin City, Dead Like Me), Jill Gordon (Cupid, My So-Called Life), Howard Morris (Women are Crazy, Men are Stupid), Deirdre O’Connor (The Electric Company) and Wendy West (Dexter, The Closer) have written a film included in Project Five.  The film’s fifth director will be announced in the coming weeks.

“Our hope with Project Five is to entertain, inform and inspire dialogue, research and prevention.  Otherwise, our goals are small,” said Aniston in a statement.  “We want these films to move people and empower those affected by breast cancer to stand tall through this challenge, which impacts all of our lives, no matter who we are.”

Follow me @EWLynette

Mar 29 2011 12:12 PM ET

'Dancing with the Stars' trounces competition

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Categories: Dancing With the Stars, Television, TV Ratings
DWTS-Kristi-MAks

Image Credit: Adam Taylor/ABC

Across the board, Dancing with the Stars tripped the light fantastic on Monday: The second night of performances that allowed the amateurs to redeem themselves triumphed in all the major demographics, including adults 18-49 (5.1 rating/13 share), viewers (22 million), and women 35-54 (a dynamite 11.2/24). I’d like to think Maks’ backside (or maybe Hindquarters Ward?) had a lot to do with the latter.

Ultimately, ABC won the night in the demo (4.5/12) and viewers (19.1 million). Castle drafted off of Stars’ meaty ratings by posting a 3.3/8 in 18-49 — up 6 percent versus March 21 – and 12.8 million.

Fox and CBS aired repeats. NBC had originals of The Event (1.2/3, 4.3 million) and Harry’s Law (.6/4, 8.2 million) – but both tied series lows. Stay strong, Kathy Bates!

Read more:
‘Dancing With the Stars’ recap: A New Twinkle Toes?

Mar 29 2011 11:22 AM ET

AMC greenlights season 5 of 'Mad Men' -- for 2012

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Categories: Television, TV Biz
mad_men

Image Credit: Frank Ockenfels 3/AMC

AMC declared they’re moving forward with Mad Men — with or without creator Matthew Weiner.

“AMC has officially authorized production of season 5 of Mad Men, triggering our option with Lionsgate (Mad Men‘s production company),” the network said in a statement. “While we are getting a later start than in years past due to ongoing, key non-cast negotiations, Mad Men will be back for a fifth season in early 2012.”

Sources confirm the network has offered Weiner a whopping $30 million to continue as showrunner on the acclaimed series. Yet Weiner has been holding out, with reports saying he objects to network demands to cut costs and further monetize the show. AMC’s reportedly hoping to add a couple more minutes of commercials and product placement, and is considering ditching two series regulars.

But an insider countered that Weiner’s $30 million pricetag (and the show’s relatively modest ratings compared to, say, AMC’s The Walking Dead) makes some kind of concession necessary: Weiner’s salary would make him the highest-paid showrunner in basic cable history. And even after cutting two minutes from the show, Mad Men would still have a longer weekly running time than most other basic cable dramas, like USA’s Burn Notice, FX’s Justified, and TNT’s Southland. As for product placement, an insider points out the show has had “organic and seamless” integrated ads on the show since season 1, as well as denied that Weiner was ordered to cut two cast members, noting the whole on-camera team is signed to return next season (though after that, things are obviously less certain).

“The show cannot be held hostage,” one insider tells EW. READ FULL STORY »

Mar 29 2011 09:00 AM ET

'House,' 'Grey's Anatomy,' 'Fringe, 'Justified,': Find out what's next in the Spoiler Room

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Categories: Blue Bloods, Bones, Criminal Minds, Fringe, Gossip Girl, Grey's Anatomy, Hawaii Five-O, House, Justified, Law & Order: Los Angeles, Leverage, NCIS, NCIS: Los Angeles, Scoop, Television, The Big Bang Theory, TV Scoop
Spoiler-Room

Image Credit: Danny Feld/ABC; Joseph Viles/Fox; Prashant Gupta/FX

Happy Tuesday, all! What’s so happy about it, you ask? Well, I’ve got info aplenty on several of your favorite shows. You want more? Don’t be shy. Send all questions/musings/flattery to: spoilerroom@ew.com and @EWSandraG, then come back Friday for the goods. ‘Till then! READ FULL STORY »

Mar 28 2011 08:36 PM ET

History puts alligators in NYC sewers -- EXCLUSIVE PHOTO

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Categories: Photo, Television, TV Biz

Now this is how you promote a reality show!

To market season 2 of the series Swamp People, History is putting alligators in New York City sewers. Playing off the urban legend, the network’s marketing team is placing very realistic looking model alligators crawling out of the city’s manholes in various locations. How would you react if you saw this when walking to work? Pic: READ FULL STORY »

Mar 28 2011 03:34 PM ET

'Army Wives' attracts biggest audience ever

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Categories: Army Wives, TV Ratings
army-wives

Image Credit: James Bridges/Lifetime Television

Last night’s episode of Army Wives that addressed the death of a fallen comrade was one for (the Lifetime) history books: It attracted 4.8 million total viewers, the most-watched episode ever in the series’ history. The episode titled “On Behalf of a Grateful Nation” also lured 3.4 million women and 4.5 million adults over the ages of 18.

So far this year, the Lifetime drama ranks No. 1 on basic cable among women 18-49, women 25-54 and adults 18-49.

Army Wives stars Kim Delaney, Sally Pressman, Brigid Brannagh, and Catherine Bell.

Mar 28 2011 02:42 PM ET

'NCIS': Cote de Pablo on Ziva's boyfriend and season-ending serial killer arc -- EXCLUSIVE

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Categories: NCIS, Television, TV Scoop
NCIS

Image Credit: Sonja Flemming/CBS

The April 5 episode of CBS’ NCIS has been a long time coming for “Tiva” fans. We’ll finally meet Ziva’s CIA boyfriend Ray, played by Without a Trace‘s Enrique Murciano. “You never know if you’re gonna have chemistry, and since I had no say in the casting, I was sort of waiting to meet this famous Enrique Murciano,” Cote de Pablo says. “I had actually researched him. I looked him up on Google. I got as much information as I could. And then when I met him, it was kind of instant. We hit it off. He’s from Miami, I’m from Miami. He had me laughing immediately, and I’m a sucker for laughter, so that was it.” Wait. Back up. She really Googled him? “Ohmygod, I so Googled him,” she laughs.

The actress says we’ll see a new side to Ziva when Ray arrives in town. READ FULL STORY »

Mar 28 2011 02:32 PM ET

Hulu debuts Kiefer Sutherland drama -- VIDEO

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If you’re missing the sight of 24′s Kiefer Sutherland brandishing a weapon, then you’re in luck: Hulu today debuted the first installment of The Confession, 10 five-to-seven-minute webisodes that feature the actor 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.

Production values are top notch in the first webisode, in which Sutherland’s character — no less intense than Jack Bauer – enters a Catholic church confessional and begins, “bless me father for I have sinned exceedingly….” Oof. Apparently, it’s been 35 years since his last confession.

The Confession was shot over nine days in New York in December, right before Sutherland began rehearsals for Broadway’s That Championship Season, which also stars Jason Patric and Chris Noth. Much of the story plays out in action-packed flashbacks. READ FULL STORY »

Mar 28 2011 02:27 PM ET

'Burn Notice' prequel trailer is here! First look at 'The Fall of Sam Axe' -- EXCLUSIVE

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Categories: Burn Notice, Scoop, Television, Trailers, TV Biz

Ready to bear witness to The Fall of Sam Axe? The trailer for USA’s Burn Notice prequel starring Bruce Campbell is here: Quips, heroism, ‘splosions. This first look at the project seems to have all the elements. See below: READ FULL STORY »

Mar 28 2011 01:46 PM ET

Yee-haw: Discovery orders moonshiners and mountain men reality shows -- EXCLUSIVE

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Categories: Deadliest Catch, Scoop, Television, TV Biz, TV Ratings

Hick chic continues on cable: Discovery has just ordered two new more-rural-than-thou series that shine a light on Americans who live in remote areas.

The network has greenlighted a pair of projects with the working titles Moonshiners and Mountain Men of Alaska. (You knew at least one show had to be set in Alaska, right?)

Moonshiners, produced by Magilla Entertainment, is about a group of people living in Appalachia who carry on a 200 year-old tradition passed down from their forefathers: making moonshine (and sometimes not legally).

Mountain Men of Alaska, produced by Discovery Studios, stars Atz Kilcher* and his clan, who live off the land and spend their summers gardening, hunting, and fishing for food to get them through the harsh Alaskan winters. The show also features homesteaders who live near the Kilchers, including “Brother Roadkill,” who is “not above eating animals lying dead on the side of the road.” READ FULL STORY »

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