Image Credit: Sonja Flemming/CBS; Beth Dubber/NBC; Eric McCandl
If it’s the end of March and your (favorite?) show has yet to receive a full season pickup for fall, chances are good the network suits are back in their offices questioning whether it deserves a stay of execution. We’ve singled out some of the higher profile bubble shows and weigh in on whether they’re even worth the trouble. And for more about what shows will survive another day, check out our scorecard. READ FULL STORY »
Image Credit: Adam Larkey/ABC (2)
Ralph Macchio tore through his first Dancing with the Stars routine like it was a bunch of bullying Cobra Kai students trying to sweep his leg. Show no mercy, sensei! And while he may be the early front-runner for the Mirror Ball Trophy, a surprise dark horse candidate emerged when former self-proclaimed “Fat Actress” (her words, not ours) Kirstie Alley lit up the dance floor. Whom are you rooting for in this duel between icons of yesteryear? Annie Barrett and I put on our dancing shoes to break it all down in the latest edition of the InsideTV Podcast. Kristen Baldwin also stops by to help us dissect the insanity that was American Idol elimination night. Did Casey deserve the Judges’ Save? Was his freak-out for real? And which two contestants are going home next week? Also, in a special InsideTV treat, Marlee Matlin’s Celebrity Apprentice interpreter extraordinaire, Jack Jason, calls in to explain his very aggressive and enthusiastic translation methods — which have become an Entertainment Weekly obsession.
To join in the fun, just click on the audio player icon below. Or, since we’re on iTunes, you can subscribe for free and take the podcast with you on the go. No iTunes? No problem. You can also download the entire podcast right here. And to send a question to the InsideTV Podcast team, follow us on Twitter @InsideTVPodcast. But first let us know what you think: Whom are you pulling for on DWTS?? Did Casey deserve the Judges’ Save on Idol? And how much do you want to hang out with Jack Jason? Hit the message boards and let us know!
Image Credit: Franco Biciocchi/Lifetime
The movie made its debut in the U.S in February, but Amanda Knox is hoping a judge can block the Lifetime original movie Amanda Knox: Murder on Trial in Italy from airing in Italy, where her appeal is currently taking place, and order that all materials relating to the movie — including clips, trailers, and images — be pulled from the Internet.
ABC News reports that Knox’s lawyers are zeroing their efforts in on Lifetime, Google, and YouTube, the latter of which has since pulled all trailers and clips of the movie from the site. (Although, low-quality versions are still available.)
Knox is currently serving a 26-year sentence for the 2007 murder of her British roommate Meredith Kercher. Lifetime is not commenting on the case, and YouTube has not immediately responded to EW’s calls for comment. On the night of its debut a month ago, the movie pulled in 2.8 million viewers.
Read more:
Amanda Knox’s lawyers try to stop Lifetime adaptation
‘Amanda Knox’ TV-movie review: The Lifetime channel’s verdict? Guilty!
Sometimes the TV gods can be cruel. After granting us an exceptional installment of The Office, they’re forcing us to wait three whole weeks before another new episode. There is, however, a silver lining here — Will Ferrell’s much-ballyhooed four-episode stint on the show begins on April 14, when The Office finally returns. NBC teased his arrival with a 16-second clip that aired at the end of last night’s episode, and though it doesn’t give us much to go on — Ferrell’s character asks Michael to hug him, Michael refuses, then reaches his arms around Ferrell’s back — it’s enough to spark speculation. What will Ferrell’s temporary Dunder Mifflin boss be like: a megalomaniac, á la Mugatu in Zoolander and Megamind Megamind? A sweetly deluded manchild, á la Anchorman‘s Ron Burgundy? A sad sack who could conceivably be a real person, á la Stranger Than Fiction‘s Harold Crick? Only time will tell — though we’re pretty psyched to find out. Check out the promo below, then let us know what you’re hoping to see from Ferrell’s visit to Scranton in the comments. READ FULL STORY »
Two FX projects are expected to get picked up: The cable network is nearing a deal to bring back snarky spy comedy Archer and neo-Western Justified for third seasons.
Both are easy decisions for the network, especially after Lights Out and Terriers didn’t work out: Archer is up about 22 percent compared to last season and Justified is up around 8 percent. Neither renewals are finalized — there are still deals that need to be made on both shows — but insiders expect them to be done by the time FX’s upfront presentation rolls around.
Read more:
‘Justified’: Who’s Who in Harlan?
‘Archer’ season premiere review: Is this the best (adult) cartoon on TV?
Image Credit: Steve Granitz/WireImage.com
Woody Harrelson is the latest actor to join HBO’s Game Change, a movie in the works that follows John McCain’s 2008 presidential campaign, from his selection of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as his running mate to their ultimate defeat in the general election.
Harrelson will play Steve Schmidt, McCain’s senior campaign strategist and advisor. The cast also includes Julianne Moore as Sarah Palin and Ed Harris as McCain. The movie is based on the bestselling book “Game Change,” by John Heilemann and Mark Halperin, and will be directed by Jay Roach.
Executive producers are Playtone’s Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman.
Image Credit: WireImage.com
USA’s White Collar has lined up a quartet of guest stars for the second episode of the hit drama’s upcoming third season: That 70s Show‘s Danny Masterson, his real-life brother Christopher Masterson, Lights Out guest star Anna Chlumsky and the always interesting William Sadler (The Shawshank Redemption, The Pacific) will appear in the episode.
The hour is titled “Where There’s a Will” and it’s about a forged will that turns out to be a treasure map. Sadler plays a menacing (of course) security consultant who orchestrates a kidnapping. The Mastersons play two brothers contesting their fathers will. And Chlumsky apppears as a new FBI agent recruit who helps the team. White Collar returns to USA along with Covert Affairs on Tuesday, June 7.
You know you want to see it. Here’s a shot of the model for Syfy’s latest mad science hybrid creature: Piranhaconda! Half piranha, half anaconda. Yes, one is a fish, the other a reptile, but that’s the glory of the Saturday night creature feature. Hm, for Syfy’s next creation, how about they make a… Scorpicuda! Oh, how about a Tigersquid? Octowasp? Kangapus? Can there be a Kangapus?! Here’s your EW exclusive pic and more details below: READ FULL STORY »
Broadcast primetime rebounded pretty much across the board Thursday night after last week’s ratings lows, with most shows posting gains in the Nielsens.
Fox’s American Idol (20.7 million, 6.2) was up 9 percent. ABC had Wipeout (7.5 million, 2.2), Grey’s Anatomy (10.1 million, 3.6) and Private Practice (8 million, 2.7), with Private growing the most from its last original telecast with a 17 percent gain. CBS aired NCAA college basketball regional semifinals (7.2 million, 2.5).
NBC’s sitcom marathon posted some of its highest marks in weeks, starting with Community (4.5 million, 1.8). Perfect Couples (3.4 million, 1.6) was just axed by the network, so following the Murphy’s Law of TV programming decisions, the show naturally jumped 33 percent in the ratings. The Office (7.1 million, 3.4) featured Michael Scott’s wedding proposal to Holly, followed by Parks & Recreation (5.2 million, 2.5), 30 Rock (4.4 million, 2.0) — with Aaron Sorkin as guest star climbing 18 percent — and finally Outsourced (3.6 million, 1.5).
Image Credit: Liane Hentscher/Fox; Brian Bowen Smith/Fox; NBC 
Below is what I’ve dug up this week, but remember that I use your inquiries as a guide. Let me know what shows you want to know about! And you can do so (as always) in two ways: via e-mail spoilerroom@ew.com and via Twitter @EWSandraG.
FRINGE: EPS TEASE TRIPPIEST EPISODE SINCE ‘BROWN BETTY’
Full disclosure: I was originally going to preview tonight’s episode of Fringe for you, but honestly, I’m in such a pleasant mood over the renewal that I say we move on to bigger matters, like episode 19, airing April 15.
Before the big news, Jeff Pinkner and Joel H. Wyman hopped on the phone with me to tease an episode I’ve been dying to know more about ever since I heard a rumor that it would be Astrid-centered, which, it turns out, isn’t entirely the case. Oh, I’ll just let them explain. READ FULL STORY »
Casey Abrams was resigned to say goodbye with Ray Charles’ “I Don’t Need No Doctor,” but he almost seemed to require a medic after the judges interrupted his farewell performance to tell him that he wasn’t going anywhere. The trio of judges agreed to utilize their one save after hearing just a few notes. “We know who you are, Casey” said Randy, as cheers broke out. “We don’t need to hear you sing anymore, do we Steven?” Check out Annie Barrett’s recap, and click below to watch the dramatic reversal. Did the judges make the most of their one save? READ FULL STORY »
Image Credit: Bob D’Amico/ABC; Tatiana Beller/PR Photos
Oh, the drama that plays out on Twitter these days! TBS late night star George Lopez announced via Twitter that he was sorry for joking about the size of Dancing with the Stars contestant Kirstie Alley. “I misjudged the joke,” the comedian said in a Tweet. ”No malice was intended and I apologize to Kirstie.”
During his show Wednesday, Lopez said Alley “did a nice job, her little hooves tapping away. Before the show, she went to the market, and then she had roast beef and this is her going all the way home!” he said, before cutting to a squealing pig from a GEICO commercial. Earlier today, Alley fired back via her Twitter account, “Don’t worry about George’s comments. Just remember what happens to the big bad, drunk woolf …falls in a boiling pot of vodka. Piggy laughs.”
Maybe the two just need to dance it out under the mirror ball.
Image Credit: Fox
Excellent news for Fringe fans: The drama has been picked up for a fourth season. The cat was let out of the bag this afternoon when J.H. Wyman, an executive producer on the Fox drama, tweeted this to fans: “Fringe was picked up!!!! Thanks Fringedom!”
A network spokeswoman confirmed the show received a full season pickup.
Word of the pickup comes after the drama fell to its lowest rating ever last Friday. It dropped 13% to 3.8 million viewers and a 1.3 rating in the adult demo. In defense, ratings had been falling all week because of the time change (more daylight in the early evening tends to result in fewer people watching TV). And CBS was airing college basketball.
Critical praise for the drama has never been stronger and its performance on Fridays is still better than how the network was doing on the night in the fall. In fact, Fox reports that Fringe is the No. 1 show on the night this season — across both broadcast and cable — and that the drama has improved the network’s average on the night by 38%.
‘Fringe’: First look at Friday’s episode ‘Bloodline’ — EXCLUSIVE VIDEO
James Hibberd
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Lynette Rice
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