Archive: May 2011 (183-195 of 347)

May 15 2011 03:35 PM ET

CBS cancels 'The Defenders' and William Shatner

sht-my-dad-saysImage Credit: Ron P. Jaffe/CBSHey Hollywood, The Shat is officially up for grabs!

EW has learned that CBS handed out pink slips to the William Shatner starrer $#*! My Dad Says, along with The Defenders and the comedy Mad Love to make room for a new crop of fall shows. Despite attracting unfavorable headlines because of the faux expletive in the title, $#*! broke out of the gate strong last fall before its ratings started to tumble. The same went for Defenders, which took an additional shot in the arm after it moved time slots. READ FULL STORY »

May 15 2011 02:26 PM ET

NBC: If Donald Trump runs for office, we'll replace him on 'Celebrity Apprentice'

donald-trump

Image Credit: Gilbert Carrasquillo/FilmMagic.com

Though NBC picked up another edition of Celebrity Apprentice, the network is prepared for the possibility (however remote) that Donald Trump will follow through with his threats to run for president.

“If he decides to run and is unavailable to do the show, we will bring the show back and someone else will be sitting at the head of the board table,” NBC programming topper Robert Greenblatt told reporters Sunday.

NBC is not prepared for now, however, to say who would replace him. “We are still hoping to have Donald back.”

Does that mean that the Peacock hopes Trump won’t run? Greenblatt says he’s not interested in crushing anyone’s (crazy) dream. “I’ve said I don’t want him to be unavailable,” the exec said. “It’s the right and privilege of anyone to run for the highest office of the land. Nothing would make me happier than for someone to reach that.

“If we had to address the issue of who would be replacing him, we would have to feel confident that we have another galvanizing presence,” Greenblatt continued. “I’m hopeful we don’t have to go there. If we do, it’s too strong a franchise for us, not to consider [a replacement].”

For more:

NBC reveals fall 2011-12 lineup
Is the 2012 presidential campaign the best reality show on TV?

May 15 2011 01:49 PM ET

NBC: Why we didn't want 'Wonder Woman'

Photo credit: Justin Lubin/NBC

Though he picked up plenty of high-profile projects like Playboy, The Firm and Prime Suspect, NBC Entertainment Chairman Robert Greenblatt knew he’d have to answer for the one project he didn’t greenlight: What the heck was wrong with Wonder Woman and why didn’t it make the schedule?
 
Not surprisingly, Greenblatt was diplomatic about the reboot from Warner Bros. TV and David E. Kelley (after all, the uber-producer is also the man behind Harry’s Law, which earned a second season pickup). “I hate to disappoint anybody. I know there are legions of fans of the original show,” Greenblatt told EW. “I don’t know if it’s cursed or what. I just have this one experience. They made a really fine pilot and Adrianne Palicki did a fantastic job. You look at what you have, what you need,  and it just didn’t seem to fit in with what we were doing.
 
“We did what was best for the schedule,” Greenblatt continued. “It does give one pause. You’re almost damned if you and damned if you don’t. It’s tricky.”
 
Did Warner Bros. TV make a mistake by releasing early pictures of Palicki in the costume? Greenblatt isn’t so sure. “I was surprised there was such an uproar. But that didn’t have anything to do with whether the show got picked up. I love that it got so much attention. All that engagment from people whether it was positive or negative was good. And she did ultimately have these little hot pants…”
 
Alas, we’ll never get to see them. Or will we? Greenblatt says Warner Bros. TV may shop the pilot elsewhere. So maybe Wonder Woman will live to fight another day on the small screen (assuming you want to see it). Are you holding out hope?
 
Superheroes wanted. Follow me @EWLynette
 
Read more:
May 15 2011 01:30 PM ET

'Cleveland Show' exclusive: A Q&A with Cleveland about tonight's Comic-Con finale and his superhero creation Waderman

cleveland_show

Image Credit: FOX

The Cleveland Show wraps up its second season tonight on Fox with “Hot Cocoa Bang Bang,” an episode that aims to put the comic in comical. Yes, Cleveland packs up the family and journeys to San Diego to take in the sights and (dubious) smells of Comic-Con, where he unveils his new comic book Waderman. In a revealing Q&A with EW, Cleveland (voiced by series co-creator/exec producer Mike Henry) talks about his aquatic superhero, Donna’s big secret, and his brief encounter with Comic Book Guy from The Simpsons.

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: How are you feeling today?
CLEVELAND BROWN: I’m feeling all right. Just relaxing here in Stoolbend with the kids, getting ready for the summer. My plans are to drink beer, sweat, and go swimming as often as possible. READ FULL STORY »

May 15 2011 01:16 PM ET

NBC unveils 2011-12 fall schedule

NBC unveiled its 2011-12 primetime schedule today, which includes six new dramas and six new comedies from the likes of Steven Spielberg, Lorne Michaels, Brian Grazer, John Grisham and Peter Berg. Returning roster should please fans: Parenthood is back, as is Chuck and Community. And Mondays are for music: The Sing-Off will bow on the night this fall, followed by a second year of The Voice in the timeslot come winter.

The Peacock abandoned this season’s strategy of running six comedies on Thursday. Instead, it will air a reboot of the U.K. drama Prime Suspect at 10 p.m. (30 Rock, as usual, will be held back for a later premiere). And somewhere, The Donald is patting himself on the back for making a big stink about (possibly) running for president: His Celebrity Apprentice earned another pickup.

Headed to the trash heap? Law & Order: Los Angeles, Outsourced and The Event. Debut dates will be announced later this summer. Here’s the sked: READ FULL STORY »

May 15 2011 09:32 AM ET

'Saturday Night Live' recap: Ed Helms hosted -- or did he?

Ed Helms is a terrific comedian. He’s proven that over and over again as a correspondent on The Daily Show, Andy Bernard on The Office, Stu in The Hangover, and Tim in Cedar Rapids. But you wouldn’t know it from his first SNL hosting stint last night. In fact, you might not even have known that Helms hosted the show at all if you tuned in after the opening monologue. The actor barely had two minutes of screen time in the first hour, and his only lead part in a sketch came in a tepid, Republican candidate fauxmercial near the very end of the show. Not that he didn’t do his best in his brief moments on screen — but when the credits rolled, we found ourselves wondering less about how he was than where he was. READ FULL STORY »

May 14 2011 11:58 AM ET

'Smallville' ratings leap for finale

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Image Credit: The CW

The series finale of Smallville spiked impressively in the ratings Friday night.

The two-hour telecast was seen by 3 million viewers and captured a 1.3 preliminary rating in the adult demo — leaping 63 percent in a single bound from last week. That’s not quite a season high, but it’s the most-watched and highest-rated episode since last fall.

And the night had other finale ratings drama too. READ FULL STORY »

May 13 2011 10:10 PM ET

UPDATE: Charlie Sheen reacts to 'Men' hire, Ashton Kutcher responds

sheen_kutcher

Image Credit: Kutcher: Beck Starr/Getty Images; Sheen: Getty Images

UPDATE: After drawing headlines for mocking Ashton Kutcher as the new Two and a Half Men star, Sheen just tweeted a complimentary reversal:

“#Winning Congrats to the cast and crew…CBS & WB..! My best to @aplusk!! [Kutcher's Twitter handle] The show must go on… You got the right guy! c”

Kutcher quickly tweeted back: “#2.5 @charliesheen Thank man. Always been a fan, always will be! BTW you were “born big”

PREVIOUS: Charlie Sheen has something to say about Ashton Kutcher taking his old job. Would you believe it’s not very gracious? READ FULL STORY »

May 13 2011 08:48 PM ET

Jon Cryer 'jazzed' to work with Ashton Kutcher, 'proud' of Charlie Sheen

Jon-Cryer

Image Credit: Greg Gayne/CBS

Two and a Half Men star Jon Cryer says he’s “jazzed” about working with Ashton Kutcher (while, as you’d expect, also saying something nice about his former co-star Charlie Sheen).

Giving a statement to People, Cryer said: “I want to express my enormous gratitude to Charlie Sheen for eight great seasons. I’m extremely proud of the work we’ve done together, and I will miss him. But I’m also looking forward to this new beginning. Ashton is an extraordinarily talented guy, and his presence will be an asset to our show. We are old friends from our male modeling days, and we’re both looking forward to being judged for our comedic artistry, as opposed to our exceptional physical beauty. I’m jazzed about the news this morning that Two and a Half Men is coming back! For all the rest of the cast and crew I’m sure they are equally excited.”

For his part, Sheen also had something to say earlier today about Kutcher taking his old job, but it was a bit less kind.

May 13 2011 08:41 PM ET

USA's 'Suits,' 'Necessary Roughness' posters -- EXCLUSIVE PHOTOS

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USA Network will have more shows than ever airing this summer and we have a first look at the marketing art for two of the new ones: Suits (previously A Legal Mind) which debuts Thursday, June 23 following the return of Burn Notice is about a corporate lawyer who teams with a brilliant college dropout to work tough cases and stars Gabriel Macht and Patrick J. Adams. Necessary Roughness airs starting Wednesday, June 29 and has Callie Thorne as the therapist to a football team. Here’s the art, which are coming to bus stops, billboards and pedicabs near you: READ FULL STORY »

May 13 2011 07:49 PM ET

ABC renews 'Secret Millionaire,' swaps debut dates

Secret-Millionaire-the-heavins

Image Credit: ABC

But wait! There’s more! With ABC’s 2011-12 season, you also get: Another round of Secret Millionaire.

Sources say ABC has renewed the popular reality show for a second or third season, depending on how you look at it. The show originally premiered on Fox a couple of years ago, did OK, then jumped to ABC where it flourished in their Sunday lineup. The show follows successful businesspeople as they go undercover in poor neighborhoods looking for those deserving some support.

ABC is also switching around some of their summer reality premiere dates. Here’s the new lineup: READ FULL STORY »

May 13 2011 06:35 PM ET

Sarah Michelle Gellar heading to CW?

Sarah-Michelle-Gellar

Image Credit: Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images

Buffy may be headed back to her old stomping grounds: The CW (formerly the Warner Bros.-owned WB before it merged with CBS Corp’s UPN) is working on a deal to bring Buffy the Vampire Slayer star Sarah Michelle Gellar to the fifth place network via Ringer, the drama pilot she made for CBS.

CBS passed on the project — rumor has it the networked loved Gellar but only liked the project — so its sister net is now kicking the Ringer tires. The drama is about a troubled young woman (Gellar) on the run who hides out by living the life of her wealthy twin sister, until she learns her sibling’s life has a bounty on it as well.

Gellar starred in Buffy from 1997-2003. The show ran on the WB before it jumped to UPN.

May 13 2011 05:34 PM ET

Ryan Cartwright on Vincent Nigel Murray's [SPOILER] last night on 'Bones' -- EXCLUSIVE

bones_cartwright

Image Credit: Michael Becker/FOX

SPOILERS AHEAD: Ryan Cartwright was in Toronto when he called EW, almost 16 hours after his character Vincent Nigel Murray took a bullet intended for Booth on Bones. And he was quite cheery for a man who’d just died.

He has every reason to be, though. Not only did his character manage to capture the hearts of fans in just a few spotty episodes, but his Syfy channel pilot, Alphas, ensures that Cartwright (pictured, right) has a place to call home post-Bones. Not to mention, he gets the satisfaction of possibly being the man who is responsible for finally getting Booth and Brennan together. In our exclusive chat, we cover this and more with our dearly departed squintern.  READ FULL STORY »

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