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Archive: July 2011 (183-195 of 285)

Jul 14 2011 09:55 AM ET

Emmys: Chris Colfer on his nod and leaving 'Glee'

by Lynette Rice

Categories: Glee

Image Credit: Donna Ward/PR Photos

Not surprisingly, Chris Colfer earned another nomination for his portrayal of Kurt on Glee, but it actually came as big news to the young actor. “I was very, very nervous,” said Colfer, who was deep asleep today when the call about his nod got him out of bed. He’ll compete for the statue against Ty Burrell, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Ed O’Neill, and Eric Stonestreet of Modern Family, and Jon Cryer of Two and a Half Men.

“There were rumors that I might get nominated again, but I was thinking I wouldn’t,” Colfer told EW. ”It was a surprise. I think there is so much anxiety that comes with awards show and nominations and I was focusing on all the bad. The category is so so tough, so selective, that I didn’t think I get another nomination.” READ FULL STORY »

Jul 14 2011 08:42 AM ET

Emmy nominations 2011: 'Boardwalk Empire,' 'Game of Thrones' score drama series nods

by James Hibberd

Categories:

Image Credit: HBO

The 2011 Emmy nominations are here: AMC’s Mad Men and ABC’s Modern Family led the TV Academy’s nominees Thursday morning, while two HBO new dramas challenged the pack. First-year shows Boardwalk Empire and Game of Thrones had strong showings that included cracking the best drama series category. Another new drama, AMC’s The Killing, picked up some honors as well. (Our snubs list is here)

It was a tight race to land the most nominations: Mad Men tallied 19, followed by 18 for Boardwalk Empire (including a best actor nod for Steve Buscemi), 17 for Modern Family (including a near sweep of the supporting comedy actor category) and 13 for Thrones. NBC’s 30 Rock (13) and Fox’s Glee (12) also scored plenty of nods. Here’s the list:

Best drama series: Boardwalk Empire, Friday Night Lights, Dexter, Game of Thrones, The Good Wife, Mad Men.

Best comedy series: Modern Family, 30 Rock, Glee, The Office, The Big Bang Theory, Parks and Recreation.

Drama actress: Julianna Margulies, The Good Wife; Elisabeth Moss, Mad Men; Mariska Hargitay, Law & Order: SVU; Kathy Bates, Harry’s Law; Connie Britton, Friday Night Lights and Mireille Enos, The Killing.

Comedy actor: Steve Carell, The Office; Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock; Jim Parsons, Big Bang Theory; Matt LeBlanc, Episodes, Louis C.K., Louie; Johnny Galecki, Big Bang Theory.

Drama actor: Jon Hamm, Mad Men; Steve Buscemi, Boardwalk Empire; Kyle Chandler, Friday Night Lights; Michael C. Hall, Dexter; Hugh Laurie, House; Timothy Olyphant, Justified. READ FULL STORY »

Jul 14 2011 12:10 AM ET

'Big Brother': Evel Dick won't return to the game

by Lynette Rice

Categories: Big Brother

Image Credit: Cliff Lipson/CBS/Landov

Sorry, Dick Donato fans — the man you love to hate will not be returning to the Big Brother house this summer unless it involves hosting a goofy challenge or appearing in the finale. READ FULL STORY »

Jul 13 2011 08:48 PM ET

Lea Michele, Chris Colfer, and Cory Monteith to depart 'Glee' after season 3 -- and Michele responds

by Dan Snierson

Categories: Glee, TV Biz

Image Credit: Jason Merritt/Getty Images

Glee will soon be down at least three: Lea Michele, Chris Colfer, and Cory Monteith are among the actors who will depart the hit Fox dramedy at the end of the third season. (The Hollywood Reporter reported the news.) The seismic cast change is not a total shock, as creator Ryan Murphy indicated last month that he planned to let those who would be seniors at McKinley High this fall graduate in May, as he didn’t want the show to be populated with characters that “were in high school for eight years.” It’s a bold decision to lose Rachel (Michele), Kurt (Colfer), and Finn (Monteith) — three of the show’s most iconic characters — all at once; then again, interest in the show’s upcoming season is sure to spike as fans tune in to see how the trio, and possibly more characters, will be sent off in new directions. (When reached by EW, Fox had no comment.) The producers are already working on adding fresh voices to the mix, casting for two new female parts; plus, the winner of Oxygen’s reality competition The Glee Project will join the ensemble for at least several episodes. Glee‘s third season debuts Sept. 20.

UPDATE: Lea Michele has responded to the news via Twitter, writing, “We always knew we’d graduate in real time. It’s all part of the plan and it’s all good! It’s going to make Season 3 amazing!!!” And: “To Gleeks everywhere, you’re in my heart now and forever. Love u all!!! This is just the beginning!!”

Jul 13 2011 08:08 PM ET

Encore network to air original programming featuring Tom Hardy, Ethan Hawke, and William Hurt

by Shaunna Murphy

Categories: Cable, TV Biz

Encore is moving into the original programming business come August. Encore Originals will kick off Aug. 1 with Moby Dick, an on-screen adaptation of Herman Melville’s classic novel. The three hour miniseries stars William Hurt as Captain Ahab and Ethan Hawke as his first mate Starbuck, and also boasts Gillian Anderson and Donald Sutherland in supporting roles.

Come fall, Encore will follow up with The Take, a four-part miniseries based on Martina Cole’s best-selling crime novel. The Take already aired in the UK in 2009, and features Inception‘s Tom Hardy and Brian Cox (X2: X-Men United).

A feature-length documentary about comedy legend Jerry Lewis, Method to the Madness of Jerry Lewis, is also scheduled to air next fall, and will showcase the career of the 85-year-old actor/comedian/humanitarian.

The net’s exec VP of programming Stephan Shelanski promises more to come in the future. “Encore Originals will complement the quality movie programming found on Encore, and build upon the consistently strong viewership with the introduction of quality original programming,” he said in a statement. “We are committed to continue Encore Originals in future years with a diverse array of programming additions that will complement the premium programming mix.”

Jul 13 2011 06:10 PM ET

Promo for Jennifer Lopez-exec produced 'South Beach Tow' naturally uses Jennifer Lopez music -- FIRST LOOK

by Mandi Bierly

Categories: Reality TV, Television, TV Scoop

At first, the idea of Jennifer Lopez exec producing a truTV reality show called South Beach Tow that’s centered on a family-run towing company sounds… strange. But then you find out that in Miami’s South Beach “even the rich and beautiful can have their cars towed if they park illegally or fail to keep up with their car payments.” And that Tremont Towing manager Robert Ashenoff has himself a million-dollar business and wants to keep it booming by starting a competition among his drivers to see who can bring in the most tows each month. And now it sounds… strangely interesting. Watch the promo for the show, which debuts July 20, below. READ FULL STORY »

Jul 13 2011 06:07 PM ET

MTV renews 'Teen Wolf' for second season

by James Hibberd

Categories:

Aaawhoooo! MTV has renewed Teen Wolf for a second season. The werewolf drama will return for 12 more episodes next year.

Wolf draws about 1.7 million viewers each week — far from Teen Mom or Jersey Shore ratings, but still within expectations for the network’s fledgling scripted division. No word yet on whether The Hard Times of R.J. Berger will get a third season and, as you know, Skinswas cancelled. “We’re incredibly proud of this show … an exciting, cinematic story to life with a breakout young cast who our audience has wildly embraced,” said David Janollari, head of MTV Programming. “Picking up ‘Teen Wolf for a second season marks another step towards the further diversification of our schedule, with this big, bold, entertaining scripted series.”

Jul 13 2011 03:59 PM ET

George Harrison doc by Martin Scorsese to air on HBO this fall

by Lanford Beard

Categories: Documentary, Television

Image Credit: Jurgen Vollmer/Redferns/Getty Images

After the success of 2008′s Rolling Stones documentary Shine a Light, Martin Scorsese set his sights on another musical giant: George Harrison. George Harrison: Living in the Material World, Scorsese’s doc on the former Beatle, has been acquired by HBO for a two-part airing on Oct. 5 and 6 of this year. READ FULL STORY »

Jul 13 2011 03:40 PM ET

CBS responds to homophobic comments made in 'Big Brother' house

by Lynette Rice

Categories: Big Brother, not winning, Reality TV

A homophobic rant by Jeff Schroeder inside the Big Brother house is not expected to air in an upcoming telecast, but CBS opted to release a statement today in response to his remarks. (On the live feeds, Schroeder – an all-star who returned this year as part of the show’s dynamic duo twist — addresses the sexuality of Professor Dumbledore in the Harry Potter series by saying, “he’s in school with little kids! You don’t want to make that guy gay!”

“Big Brother is a reality show about watching a group of people who have no privacy 24/7 — and seeing every moment of their lives,” according to the CBS statement. “At times, the houseguests make comments, reveal prejudices and other beliefs that we do not condone. Any views or opinions expressed in personal commentary by a houseguest appearing on Big Brother, either on any live feed from the house or the broadcast, are those of the individual(s) speaking and do not represent the views or opinions of CBS or the producers of the program.”

UPDATE: The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) has also responded to Schroeder’s comments on Big Brother, and to CBS’ words about the rant. Asking, “Why does CBS keep bringing him back?”, GLAAD recollects that Schroeder used anti-gay slurs back in 2009 when he appeared on the 11th season. “So what did CBS do to wash their hands of the openly anti-gay reality star? They made him a contestant on season 16 of The Amazing Race, and followed that by featuring on the CBS web series Around the World for Free in 2010. Now they’ve brought him back a third time for another chance to win Big Brother … Given his already proven track record, CBS must have expected that he would be bringing his openly anti-gay attitudes back with him. Is this the kind of drama they were hoping to see unfold? Is this the type of person they want associated with both the CBS and Big Brother brands?” CBS is not commenting on GLAAD’s words.

Jul 13 2011 03:02 PM ET

NBCUniversal and Netflix renew streaming agreement

by Sandra Gonzalez

Categories: Broadcast, Cable, Television, TV Biz

Image Credit: Chris Haston/NBC

Good news for those who choose their streaming service over their DVD delivery service when Netflix hikes up the prices in September (and for the fancy people who choose both): The company will continue to host NBCUniversal TV and film content after renewing an agreement, the companies announced today.

Under the multi-year deal, Netflix will continue to have prior seasons of shows like The Office, 30 Rock, and Parenthood available for streaming (on a one-season delay), as well as NBCU cable programs like Psych and Warehouse 13.

The news of the renewal one day after Netflix announced it’d be splitting its instant streaming and DVD services into two separate plans.

Jul 13 2011 02:59 PM ET

'The Bachelor' creator Mike Fleiss on board for the CW's 'H8R'

by Aly Semigran

Categories: Reality TV, The Bachelor, The Bachelorette, TV Biz

Mike Fleiss, the creator of reality hits like The Bachelor and The Bachelorette, which has spawned some of the most unlikable celebrities on the planet (we’re looking directly at you, Jake Pavelka), has been announced as an executive producer for the CW’s upcoming reality project, H8R, which matches disliked stars and the real-life people who hate them.

Fleiss said in a press release, “This is an exciting show for a number of reasons. But to me, what gives H8R legitimate breakout potential is that it is truly original. So much reality TV is completely derivative. Not H8R. I guess you can say I’m a ‘h8r’ of lame, derivative programming.” READ FULL STORY »

Jul 13 2011 01:18 PM ET

'Vampire Diaries' scoop: Tyler and Caroline 'building to be a fun, romantic Romeo and Juliet'

by Mandi Bierly

Categories: Television, The Vampire Diaries, TV Scoop

The Elena-Stefan-Damon triangle isn’t the only epic love story on The Vampire Diaries. Executive producer Kevin Williamson tells EW the renewed friendship between Caroline and Tyler is “building to be a fun, romantic Romeo and Juliet” in season 3, which premieres Sept. 15 on The CW. “We now have a mother who knows her daughter’s a vampire, and we might soon have a mayor who figures out that her son is a werewolf,” Williamson says. “When that happens, it’s certainly building itself to a family feud. That’s the fun Mystic Falls storyline that’s underplaying throughout the entire season.” Adds EP Julie Plec, “When their mothers find out the truth about each of them, they’re gonna have a say in whether the two of them should be together. There’s always going to be push and pull in their friendship as it travels down a romantic road. There’s gonna be people who don’t want them together, including themselves. It’s that forbidden love: we can’t quite stay away from each other, and yet, we shouldn’t be together. And the question will be at what point will they act on that and how will that go?” READ FULL STORY »

Jul 13 2011 01:15 PM ET

'Battlestar' creator sues Universal over profits

by Kate Ward

Categories: Lawsuits, Television

Glen A. Larson claims he’s owed a lot of frakkin’ money by Universal. The producer behind such hits as Battlestar Galactica, Knight Rider, and Six Million Dollar Man, among other series, filed a fraud and breach of contract lawsuit against Universal Tuesday in Los Angeles over profits from the TV shows, which he says were withheld from him. READ FULL STORY »