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Archive: July 2011 (1-10 of 285)

Jul 31 2011 01:42 PM ET

PBS announces 'Mister Rogers' next generation spin-off

by James Hibberd

Categories: TCA Press Tour

Image Credit: PBS

It’s a beautiful day … in Daniel Tiger’s neighborhood?

A decade after children’s classic Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood ceased production, PBS has just announced an animated spin-off to the series hosted by a familiar personality from the original show. Titled Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, the series will have original Mister Rogers characters grown up and with children of their own living in the Neighborhood of Make Believe. Four-year-old Tiger (son of the original Tiger) will be the star. The “next generation” concept intends to use the musical education strategies pioneered by Fred Rogers’ landmark original program, which was in production from 1968 to 2001 and continued airing on PBS until about three years ago.

Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood will launch in fall of 2012 as part of the PBS Kids pre-school lineup and represents the first show launched by the Fred Rogers Company since the original program.

“Fred Rogers revolutionized children’s media with Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, and Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood continues on this path of innovation, helping the next generation of young children learn and grow in new ways,” said Lesli Rotenberg, senior vp, PBS. “Joining the PBS Kids family of series that cover important curricular areas like literacy and science, Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood fills a critical gap in children’s media today: modeling the behaviors and habits that kids need in order to excel in formal learning settings – essentially, learning how to learn. It’s important for kids to learn pro-social skills like cooperation and listening, so that when they start school they are able to focus on the material at hand.”

READ MORE: What you missed at Comic-Con: Best TV trailers, panel news

Jul 31 2011 09:15 AM ET

Shark Week: Inside Sunday's 'Great White Invasion' -- and the most nerve-wracking two minutes in 24 years?

by Mandi Bierly

Categories: Shark Week, Television

Discovery kicks off its 24th annual Shark Week on Sunday, July 31, with the all-new special Great White Invasion (9 p.m. ET). It’s a fascinating examination of why great white sharks are swimming closer to shore in Southern California, Australia, and South Africa, and who’s really at risk — us or them. (Spoiler: It’s them.) Jeff Kurr, a filmmaker who’s been a part of Shark Week since 1991, noticed the phenomenon while shooting last year’s Ultimate Air Jaws special with wildlife photographer Chris Fallows. In Great White Invasion, Fallows wants to show people that great whites won’t always just attack for no reason. It leads to two of the most mind-blowing minutes in Shark Week history. READ FULL STORY »

Jul 30 2011 09:53 AM ET

First full-length 'Spartacus: Vengeance' trailer is here

by James Hibberd

Categories: Spartacus, Trailers

Remember during our Comic-Con coverage when I wrote the new Sparty trailer managed to even give the terrific The Walking Dead S2 trailer a run for its money? Then I posted a 30-second teaser that was, you know, just OK? Well, here’s the full version that screened in the room. See what you think. Is Spartacus: Vengeance potentially bigger and better than season one, or are you feeling Whitfield withdrawal? READ FULL STORY »

Jul 29 2011 08:45 PM ET

'Chuck' casts 'Matrix' minx for final season

by James Hibberd

Categories: Casting, Chuck

Image Credit: Getty Images

Chuck‘s final season continues to get more intriguing. Last week producers revealed Luke Skywalker himself, Mark Hamill, will guest star as a villain at the start of the fifth season. Now EW has learned another actor from major sci-fi franchise is getting on board: Matrix star Carrie-Anne Moss.

The former Ms. Trinity will have a multi-episode arc as Gertrude Verbanski, “a former spy who now runs Verbanski Corp, the chief rival of Chuck’s new spy company. She’s ruthless and deadly, yet she also has a weak spot for one John Casey — her old rival.”

Producers of the NBC cult fav teased to Casey (Adam Baldwin) getting a love interest for the final batch of 13 episodes at Comic-Con last week, and earlier today news broke that Craig Kilborn would guest as a villain on the show. After The Matrix trilogy, Moss appeared in Disturbia and has done voice over on several videogame titles.

Read more:
Comic-Con 2011: Ryan McPartlin tells us what’s ‘Awesome and Not Awesome’ on convention floor
‘Chuck’ producer talks final season plans

Jul 29 2011 06:27 PM ET

TV legend Jerry Lewis slams 'American Idol'

by James Hibberd

Categories: American Idol, Reality TV, TCA Press Tour, Television, TV Biz

Image Credit: Getty Images

Comedy legend Jerry Lewis isn’t an American Idol fan.

The 85-year-old veteran comedian and telethon organizer and took a moment from promoting his upcoming documentary to bash reality TV, suggesting contestants are not worthy of the medium.

“The kids who’re on American Idol, they’re all McDonalds wipe outs,” Lewis told TV critics at their summer press tour in Beverly Hills. “They all worked there and now they’re doing [reality TV].” Lewis then shifted focus to weight loss shows like The Biggest Loser, noting networks are showing “the fat lady” dropping weight from more than 300 pounds to 240 pounds. “Who gives a s—?” he asked. “The industry has destroyed itself.” READ FULL STORY »

Jul 29 2011 05:31 PM ET

Oprah Winfrey sued for trademark infringement over use of 'OYP'

by Kate Ward

Categories: Lawsuits, Oprah Winfrey, Television

Oprah Winfrey is being sued for trademark infringement. According to court papers filed July 28 in New Jersey obtained by EW, the talk show maven — and OWN CEO — has been slapped with a lawsuit over her usage of the acronym OYP, otherwise known as “Own Your Power.” Simone Kelly-Brown and Own Your Power Communications, Inc., the plaintiffs in the lawsuit, claim the motivational communication services company originated the acronym and concept that people can “life their best life” if they believe that “anything you want in life is attainable,” and even solidified their usage by petitioning the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to obtain exclusive ownership of the term “Own Your Power.” Then Harpo Studios, the suit alleges, began to use the registered letters to “identify Harpo [and] Oprah … as advocates for individuals to ‘live [their] best life’ through self-awareness and motivational communication, the same type as OYP services.”

The plaintiffs say in the papers that they are seeking damages to reverse Winfrey and Harpo’s “brazenly unlawful disregard for the existence and use of [OTP's] trademark.”

“Under such circumstances,” the suit continues, “with [Winfrey and Harpo] being much larger, spending more money, having a wider reach, and an overlapping audience with the much smaller Company, particularly with one of the most influential women in the world at the helm … [OTP has] been irreparably harmed.”

A Harpo spokesperson issued the following statement to EW regarding the suit: “Harpo has not been served and we have no information about what allegations are being made.”

Jul 29 2011 04:35 PM ET

'The Firm' casts Mitch McDeere's wife

by Lynette Rice

Categories:

Image Credit: HBO

In the big-screen version of The Firm, the role of Mitch’s wife was played by Jeanne Tripplehorne. In the small screen reboot that NBC is developing for midseason, it will be filled by Molly Parker! Best known for her work in HBO’s Deadwood, Parker will portray Abby, the teacher-wife of Mitch McDeere (Josh Lucas).

The series will update John Grisham’s novel. Natural Born Killers star Juliette Lewis has already joined the legal drama, along with The Killing‘s Callum Keith Rennie.

The Firm starts shooting in the fall.

Jul 29 2011 03:05 PM ET

'Torchwood' might not get renewed anytime soon

by James Hibberd

Categories: TCA Press Tour, Television

Image Credit: Frank Ockenfels3/Starz

Starz’s Torchwood may have delivered strong reviews and solid ratings, but fans shouldn’t expect the network to renew the Brit import anytime soon.

Before stepping before reporters at TV critics tour, Starz CEO Chris Albrecht told EW he doesn’t envision the cult favorite as an annual event. The show’s 10-episode order was a large and unusual commitment for Torchwood partner BBC, he pointed out, and he hinged the pickup more on whether creator Russell T Davies comes up with a great new idea that can work for both partners.

“Torchwood is not one of the show we went into thinking about a yearly return,” Albrecht said moments later to critics. “It’s about Russell T Davies … he has a lot of things on his plate. If Torchwood is at the top of his list, that will effect the future of Torchwood.”

Jul 29 2011 02:16 PM ET

'Project Runway' season 9: Eliminated designer on his exit and Anya's inexperience

by Annie Barrett

Categories: Project Runway, Reality TV

As you know in fashion, one day you’re in, and the next day… you’re talking to reporters about the utter misery of being out! Don’t click through if you don’t want a SPOILER on last night’s Project Runway premiere. Season 9′s first eliminated contestant chats with EW after the jump. READ FULL STORY »

Jul 29 2011 01:57 PM ET

Rosie O'Donnell's new talk show gets premiere date

by James Hibberd

Categories: TCA Press Tour, Television

Image Credit: Kevin Mazur/WireImage.com

Ready for the return of Rosie?

The former Queen of Nice, who then sort of transformed into the Duchess of Grouchiness, is returning to TV on Oprah Winfrey’s OWN network on Monday, Oct. 10. The Rosie Show will air weekdays at 7 p.m. on the network, and will cover “current events, spotlight hometown heroes and newsmakers, showcase the arts, celebrate kids and families, as well as feature well-known and upcoming talent.”

UPDATE: O’Donnell took the stage here at the TV critics press tour, and really won over the tough crowd. (Really!) She explained her new show would only have one celebrity per episode, along with a comedy bit and some kind of game. Asked if the show would be controversial and/or tackle a lot of LBGT issues, O’Donnell said her focus was to be fun and entertaining. She did, however, add: “If we were on in last few months, I’m sure we’d have somebody talking with us about the fascination with the Casey Anthony trial when there are many other children tortured and killed every day.” READ FULL STORY »

Jul 29 2011 01:23 PM ET

TLC's Muslim reality show cast address safety concerns

by James Hibberd

Categories: TV Ratings

Image Credit: TLC

The cast of TLC’s upcoming All-American Muslim reality show spoke out at TV critics press tour about their goals for the show — and their security concerns. “We’re happy TLC is giving us an opportunity to showcase our lives,” says Suehaila Amen, a member of one of the five Michigan families followed by the new series. “It’s not that we’re out to preach or educate, it’s about seeing the real life of these five American families.” READ FULL STORY »

Jul 29 2011 01:12 PM ET

More 'Community' bloopers from season 2, featuring booger checks and Betty White

by Dan Snierson

Categories: Community, Television

Last week, we treated you to a batch of bloopers from season 2 of Community. This week? We’re totally pulling a last week on you. That’s right, here is a second reel of gaffes, goofs, and good cheer from the NBC comedy’s second season DVD (out Sept. 6) that screened last weekend at Comic-Con. If you’ve ever wanted to see Chevy Chase (Pierce) struggle to explain something technical to Donald Glover (Troy), Danny Pudi (Abed) give Gillian Jacobs (Britta) a nostril examination, and guest-star Betty White use the term “closet cougar,” then you have oddly specific wishes that we just might able to fulfill. So hit that play button!

READ FULL STORY »

Jul 29 2011 11:31 AM ET

'The Vampire Diaries,' 'White Collar,' 'Supernatural,' 'Raising Hope': Find out what's next in the Spoiler Room

by Sandra Gonzalez

Categories: Bones, Burn Notice, Castle, CSI: Miami, Gossip Girl, How I Met Your Mother, Parks and Recreation, Psych, Raising Hope, Scoop, Sons of Anarchy, Spartacus, Supernatural, Television, The Big Bang Theory, The Spoiler Room, The Vampire Diaries, TV Scoop, White Collar

Image Credit: Robert Ascroft/USA Network; Andrew Eccles/The CW; Jordan Nuttal/The CW

Hey, Roomies. I missed you during my travels! But your letters and questions kept me warm last week in San Diego during Comic-Con. (No, seriously, they made me sleep outside and I used them as a blanket. I’m kidding… probably.)

So, here we are, on the doorstep of fall TV, and we’re knocking hard until we get all the info we crave. Let’s get to it.

Remember to keep those queries coming! Mail them to spoilerroom@ew.com or tweet them to me @EWSandraG. Also, if you have a little time, send me your thoughts on Comic-Con. What you liked (videos?), what you didn’t like (the stupid faces I apparently make when I get really excited), and tell me if your scoop appetite was fed to your satisfaction. We have 360-ish days to work on it, and we’d like to start now. Love you like nerds love Mrs. Fields and overpriced memorabilia! Till next week.

‘VAMPIRE DIARIES’: KLAUS AND ELENA DISH!
There’s so much to look forward to on this season of The Vampire Diaries. Elena’s 18^th birthday, bad Stefan, and soapy Damon. But when prompted for his outlook for the season, Joseph Morgan says he’s most excited to meet Klaus’ family. “We get a chance to go back and see the point where they became vampires and where the curse was placed on Klaus to suppress his hybrid nature, his hybrid side,” he told a roundtable. “It’ll be interesting when we introduce other originals who are possibly equally as powerful or have some sort of emotional hold over Klaus … to see what that brings out of him.” READ FULL STORY »