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GSNN Originals No Love, All Fools |
Posted 4/16/13 |
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It's the April Fool's edition of WLTI from 4/1/13, and the guys begin with some sad news. What's the news? You'll have to click on to find out. Meanwhile, in a timely commentary, Gordon Pepper takes America to task about its disgust of the Rutgers sports programs, while simultaneously coming to accept similar behavior on TV in the State of Play.
We Love To Interrupt |
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UPFRONTS: CW |
Posted 5/16/13 |
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The CW Network presented its
2013-14 broadcast schedule today to advertisers,
affiliates and national media at the New York City
Center in New York City. The Swedish DJ duo Icona Pop
opened the show with their smash Top Ten hit “I Love
It.” “We had a terrific season last year, growing our audience on-air, digitally and socially. Now we are building on that success by continuing to add more original programming all year long, and by adding high-concept, exciting shows to our schedule that will help us continue our mission of broadening out our 18-to-34-year old audience,” said Mark Pedowitz, President, The CW. “‘Arrow’ was one of the breakout hits of this season, and we’re using that show and ‘The Vampire Diaries,’ our two highest-rated series, to launch our new dramas ‘The Tomorrow People’ and ‘Reign,’ on Wednesday and Thursday nights. Aside from "Tomorrow People" being produced by FremantleMedia, the only other game show connection in the fall? The return of "America's Next Top Model" - this season to feature men as well as women - to Friday nights. After the upfront comes notes that "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" will test the comedy waters for the network. "We're putting it on this summer and if it connects we'll use it during the season," Pedowitz said. Adding later, "If 'Whose Line' works we will definitely go back into the sitcom business." |
 The CW places "America's Next Top Model" on Fridays (photo courtesy the CW) |
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Shakira and Usher Will
Return... Spring 2014 |
Posted 5/16/13 |
| All of this season’s judges on The Voice are coming back but not until next spring. NBC is close to finalizing deals that will see Shakira and Usher returning to the singing competition show for Season 6 in the spring of 2014, insiders say. The return of the duo will see the departure again of original judges Christina Aguilera and Cee Lo Green. After taking a cycle off, the two are themselves coming back for season 5 of The Voice, which is set to premiere in the fall. Adam Levine and Blake Shelton will continue their bromance and stay on the show for both of the next two seasons. “It is almost all done and the network is looking to make the official announcements in the next few days,” a source told me. Details of the alternating judges plan was first reported by EW. In many ways this isn’t much of a surprise. Executive Producer Mark Burnett has long said that the show could see members of the judging panel coming and going over different seasons depending on their availability. The fifth season of the show has already been fully cast and filming on the Blind Auditions portion of the season is set to begin on July 8. The Voice ends its current season on June 18. | |
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Return to "Redneck
Island" |
Posted 5/16/13 |
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Wrestling hall of famer
Steve Austin is back for a rowdier-than-ever third
season of REDNECK ISLAND, premiering Wednesday, June 5
at 10:30-11:30 p.m., ET/PT, immediately following the
2013 CMT MUSIC AWARDS. Set in a remote tropical
paradise, REDNECK ISLAND will pit 15
contestants—completely out of their element—against one
another in CMT’s ultimate redneck-style competition
series for a shot at $100,000. This season, romantic
alliances form early among the castaways, and one
surprise dismissal will keep the rednecks “politicking”
throughout the 15 beer-packed episodes. The second episode of REDNECK ISLAND will premiere in its regularly scheduled timeslot Saturday, June 8 at 9:00-10:00 p.m., ET/PT. |
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Wednesday: Not So Fast,
Idol... |
Posted 5/16/13 |
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FOX (9.337 million viewers,
#1; adults 18-49: 2.6, #1) was still the network to beat
on Wednesday with its penultimate telecast of "American
Idol" (11.566 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.9,
#2) this season and night two of the "So You Think You
Can Dance" (7.107 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49:
2.3, #4) premiere. ABC (6.374 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.0, #2) then claimed the silver with its mix of "The Middle" (6.600 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.9, #T7), "Family Tools" (4.513 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.2, #12), "Modern Family" (9.745 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 3.5, #1), "How to Live with Your Parents (for the Rest of Your Life)" (6.159 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 2.0, #T5) and "Nashville" (5.614 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.8, #9). Next up was CBS (7.941 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.9, #3) with repeats of "2 Broke Girls" (3.868 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 1.0, #14) and another "2 Broke Girls" (3.921 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 1.1, #13) (3.921 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.1, #12) plus a new "Criminal Minds" (10.310 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.5, #3) and the season finale of "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" (9.618 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.0, #T5). Meanwhile, NBC (6.334 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.6, #4) offered up its lineup of "Dateline NBC" (5.778 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.3, #11), "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (6.354 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.5, #10) and "Chicago Fire" (6.869 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.9, #T7). Discovery's "The Big Brain Theory" led the cable game troops with 652,000 viewers. "Best Ink" scored 585,000 viewers for Oxygen. |
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Double the Sharks |
Posted 5/16/13 |
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The Season Finale of the hit
business reality show "Shark Tank" will feature two
back-to-back episodes, starting at 8:00 p.m., ET on
Friday, May 17. Also, in the first "Shark Tank" Extra, a clip of the pitch from "Phineas and Ferb's" nefarious Dr. Heinz Doofenshmirtz will air during the show. The evil scientist comes to the Tank with an opportunity for the Sharks to invest in his latest "inator" invention. The full three-minute video can be seen beginning Friday, May 17 on ABC.com, You Tube, YouTube/ABC Network, Disney.com and YouTube/Disney. There's more! During Friday's two-hour event, there will be an update on some of the big business success stories to come out of the Tank, as well as letting viewers know about the upcoming casting call in Los Angeles on May 24. For further casting information, please check out http://abc.go.com/shows/shark-tank/casting. |
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Thursday Lightning Round |
Posted 5/16/13 |
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UPFRONTS: CBS |
Posted 5/15/13 |
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CBS‘ fall schedule features
five new series. After considering expanding its
Thursday comedy block to two hours last years, the
network did it this year, with The Big Bang Theory and
Two A Half Men flanking newbies The Millers starring
Will Arnett and The Crazy Ones starring Robin Williams.
Missing from the fall schedule is Mike & Molly, which
has a 22-episode order, and new series Friends With
Better Lives (comedy) and Reckless (drama) on tap for
midseason. "Mike & Molly" will return midseason, or
possibly earlier if conditions warrant. As for the two megahit reality franchises, "Survivor" and "Amazing Race" are going to stay with their prescribed time slots, 8p Wednesdays and 8p Sundays respectively. CBS will finish the current season as the top-rated network in viewers for the 10th time in 11 seasons, #1 in the adults 25-54 demographic and #1 in adults 18-49 for the first time since the 1991-1992 season.
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 CBS keeps its reality shows put for now. (photo courtesy CBS) |
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Melissa Peterman Goes
from "Singing Bee" to "Dancing Fool" |
Posted 5/15/13 |
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ABC Family debuts the
ultimate reality dance show, "Dancing Fools," featuring
the best, funniest, most outrageous and memorable
user-generated dances caught on camera and presented in
front of a live studio audience. Hosted by Melissa
Peterman ("Baby Daddy") with help from VJ Guy Torrey,
each week features a dance-off between competitors for a
$10,000 prize. The series premiere airs Wednesday, May
29 at 9pm ET/PT. This week, the show kicks off with the dance video that started it all-"Numa Numa." Back in 2006, Gary Brolsma was just a man with a video camera, a song in his heart and access to the internet. From there, people began to submit their own dance routines, and the internet dance craze began. Now, Melissa and Guy welcome "The Numa Numa Guy" into the "Dancing Fools" Hall of Fools. Plus, a live dance-off that pits a trio of brothers (aka "The Wolf Pack") from San Diego, California against a group of teenage besties (aka "The Fat Five") from Orlando Park, Illinois, for the $10,000 prize. Created and executive-produced by Phil Gurin, "Dancing Fools" is produced by The Gurin Company ("The Singing Bee," "Oh Sit!"). It is hosted by Melissa Peterman and features VJ Guy Torrey. |
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Tuesday: Is It Summer
Yet? |
Posted 5/15/13 |
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NBC (7.445 million viewers,
#3; adults 18-49: 2.4, #1) held onto the demo crown on
Tuesday with its mix of a "The Voice" (6.627 million
viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 2.0, #5) recap special
followed by new episodes of "The Voice" (10.195 million
viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 3.4, #1) and "Grimm" (5.513
million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.7, #8). CBS (12.870 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.3, #2) then claimed a close second place with the season finales of "NCIS" (18.159 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.2, #2), "NCIS: Los Angeles" (13.350 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.5, #3) and "Golden Boy" (7.101 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.2, #11). Next up was FOX (4.158 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.8, #3) with the return of "So You Think You Can Dance" (4.962 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.9, #6) followed by the season finales of "New Girl" (4.055 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 2.1, #4) and "The Mindy Project" (2.652 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.3, #10). Next up was ABC (8.178 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.4, #4) with a special edition of "Wipeout" (4.432 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.1, #12) alongside the penultimate weeks of "Dancing with the Stars" (11.586 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.8, #7) and "Body of Proof" (8.517 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.4, #9). On cable, the premiere of CNBC's "Crowd Rules" failed to generate ANY crowds, as only 47,000 people tuned in to the hour. By comparison, Food's "Chopped" attracted 1.5 million. |
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M-O-N-O-P-O-L-Why? |
Posted 5/15/13 |
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TBS and TNT announced their
upcoming series at the tag-teamed upfront this morning,
and as you might expect, there are a lot of cop shows. A
lot! TNT loves a cop show, friends, so much so that even
TBS is getting a (comedic) one, too. The new TNT shows: - Monopoly, a game show where "eight two-person teams will play a game of real-world Monopoly with a huge cash prize at stake." Presumably episodes will be nine hours long, and eventually Grandma will come in and demand you be a little bit nicer to your younger cousin, because he is trying his best. - The Big Deal, a scavenger-hunt reality contest show. Meanwhile, TBS and TNT are about to become the first national entertainment networks in the industry to stream on-air content live across multiple platforms 24/7, including through the networks' websites and a pair of newly created Watch TNT and Watch TBS apps. The announcement was made during TNT and TBS's annual Upfront presentation today in New York. Live streaming is the latest phase in the rollout of TV Everywhere, the industry-wide initiative that gives subscribers to cable, satellite and telco video services access to more of their favorite shows across a wide range of digital platforms. |
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Pharrell Williams Ready
to "Rock" |
Posted 5/15/13 |
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Style Media announced today
that multi-Grammy Award winner and fashion designer
Pharrell Williams will serve as one of the mentors on
"Styled to Rock," the new reality competition series
from executive producer Robyn Rihanna Fenty that
searches for the next trendsetting designer. Slated to
premiere in 2013, the 10-episode series will give 12
up-and-coming designers the opportunity of a lifetime -
to create unique fashion pieces for A-list celebrity
talent. "We are delighted to have Pharrell, who is a driving force in both the music industry and fashion world, serve as a mentor on 'Styled to Rock," said Salaam Coleman Smith, President, Style Media. "Pharrell's unique aesthetic and commitment to individuality combined with Rihanna's vision for this series will enable our aspiring designers to hone their craft and learn from the very people who set the trends." "Styled to Rock" will give 12 up-and-coming designers the coveted opportunity to dress some of the biggest names in entertainment. Each week, challenges will push the designers to their creative limits when they are tasked with styling an A-list star. The celebrity guest-of-the-week will decide which designer best achieves their vision - and advances to the next level of competition. Faced with the threat of elimination, the remaining designers must meet with the three mentors to discuss where they fell short and ultimately, who will be sent home. In the end, one designer will be named the winner of "Styled to Rock." |
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"Idol" Nuclear Option
to Be Exercised |
Posted 5/15/13 |
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"American Idol" is going
nuclear for Season 13. None of the four judges on the singing competition will be asked to return next season, an individual with knowledge of Fox's plans told The Wrap. Longtime producer Nigel Lythgoe is expected to get the boot. And despite reports to the contrary, Fox isn't even considering bringing former judge Jennifer Lopez back as a lifesaver for next season. Like we said: nuclear. "All four are gone," the insider told TheWrap. "They feel they've lost their core audience and they want it back." Driven by this belief and the need to attract younger viewers, Fox is set to make major on-air changes to "Idol," the most notable of which will be an entirely new judging panel. New judges pop icon Mariah Carey, rapper Nicki Minaj and country star Keith Urban won't be back. Even original judge Randy Jackson won't survive the blood bath this time around. A Fox spokesperson declined to comment for this story. All four judges have options to return for another season, but Fox won't be picking them up, according to the knowledgeable individual, who said: "No more big checks for divas." The network has resolved to stop paying the huge salaries it has been shoveling out for its big name talent, i.e. Carey's reported $18 million package, Minaj's $12 million salary and former judge Jennifer Lopez's $15 million. Randy Jackson is the first judge to speak publicly about the reported change, saying that after 12 years, he's going to leave the show. In a statement to E!, Jackson said... "Yo! Yo! Yo! To put all of the speculation to the rest, after 12 years of judging on American Idol I have decided it is time to leave after this season," he says. "I am very proud of how we forever changed television and the music industry. It's been a life changing opportunity but I am looking forward to focusing on my company Dream Merchant 21 and other business ventures." Despite the multiple changes to Idol over the years, Jackson is the only original judge who has remained with the show. "There's always been chaos with American Idol, but this year it's been more than ever," a source said. But it's not like Jackson doesn't have enough to keep him busy. In addition to new music (including collaborations with Mariah Carey), sources tells us he's working on a new book, film and television development deals and his growing branding business, which already includes eyewear, watches and guitars. The show's format will also change. Its look will be redesigned and the dated tribute nights will be a thing of the past. But the show's trademark audition episodes will continue. Behind the scenes, Fox Broadcasting chairman Kevin Reilly is charged with "fixing Idol." And one of the first changes will occur at the top of the food chain: Longtime executive producer Lythgoe is expected to be replaced. What that means for the show's producers, FremantleMedia, remains to be seen. Fox's meltdown has everything to do with the talent competition's declining viewership. Its ratings are already down 22 percent this season and it hit a series low for ratings last Thursday, when it attracted only 11 million viewers and a 2.4 rating/7 share in the ad-coveted 18-49 demographic. The ratings slide is especially problematic during May Sweeps, where ratings numbers are used to dictate advertising rates. UPDATE: On the heels of Randy Jackson's announcement that he's leaving the show after 12 seasons -- and amid rumors that producers are firing the remaining three panelists -- Us Weekly reports that Nicki Minaj will not return to the competition come fall. Mariah Carey has yet to comment on her future with Idol. She's currently planning a brand-new world tour, tied to the success of her buzzed-about single with Miguel, "#Beautiful." (To date, the tune has hit number one in 25 countries.) Keith Urban is also mum on whether he's returning for season 13. But Jackson, the only judge who has been with Idol since its start in 2002, is officially moving on. |
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Wednesday Lightning Round |
Posted 5/15/13 |
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UPFRONTS: ABC |
Posted 5/14/13 |
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Handing out renewals for the
bulk of its unscripted roster on Tuesday morning, ABC
also has ordered The Quest. The new reality series, which has yet to receive a premiere date, pits 12 contestants against one another in a competition set in a fictional place called Everrealm. The live-action role-playing takes place in what the network describes as "a land of magic and malevolence, where mythical creatures lurk in the woods, agents of darkness stir in the shadows and mystical beings infiltrate the keep." The Quest has a strong competition pedigree in executive producers Bertram van Munster and Elise Doganieri, co-creators of The Amazing Race. They're joined by EPs Mark Ordesky and Jane Fleming (Court Five) and Rob Eric and Michael Williams (Green Harbor Productions). On the other end of the spectrum, ABC is cutting the dance party short in the fall. Dancing With the Stars, the network's reality hit which has been experiencing a decline in ratings recently, will on longer air on Tuesday nights, with ABC condensing the performance show and results show into Monday's two-hour show. "We want to focus it in," ABC Entertainment president Paul Lee told reporters Tuesday (May 14). "We're planning to do two seasons, and we think by taking the results show and building it into the two-hour block on Monday night, we can really build a sense of occasion to that and drive viewership to Monday night." The network and BBC Worldwide Productions, which produces "DWTS," are still working out how the combined performance and results show will work. Lee says it's "absolutely" possible to have an audience-vote component within the show, but other changes -- including the number of celebrities competing -- may be in the offing. "Shark Tank" returns to its Friday at 9 slot in the fall.
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 NBC's new season will have "The Voice" and "The Biggest Loser", among others (photo courtesy NBC) |
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Syndies: The Home
Stretch |
Posted 5/14/13 |
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Judge Judy ruled over all of
syndication in the week ended May 5, the first full week
of the May sweep, returning to the top spot and beating
Warner Bros.' The Big Bang Theory for the first time
since November. In access, CTD's Wheel of Fortune was flat for the week at a 6.5. CTD's Jeopardy! inched up 2% to a 6.0. Debmar-Mercury's Family Feud held at a 4.6. Disney-ABC's Who Wants to be a Millionaire lost 4% to a 2.3, while NBCU's rookie Baggage stayed locked at a 1.1 for the third week in a row. |
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Monday: Day After
"Mother's" Day |
Posted 5/14/13 |
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NBC (9.263 million viewers,
#2; adults 18-49: 3.1, #1) took home the adults 18-49
crown on Monday thanks to new episodes of "The Voice"
(11.033 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 3.6, #1) and
"Revolution" (5.724 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49:
1.9, #8). CBS (8.058 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.5, #2) then claimed the silver with the season finale of "How I Met Your Mother" (8.372 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 3.4, #2) that finally revealed the titular character to audiences, a repeat of "The Big Bang Theory" (7.371 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 2.4, #T4), the season finale of "2 Broke Girls" (8.925 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.9, #3) and originals from "Mike & Molly" (8.323 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.4, #T4) and "Hawaii Five-0" (7.680 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.8, #9). Next up was ABC (12.427 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.0, #3) with its mix of "Dancing with the Stars" (13.009 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.0, #7) and the season finale of "Castle" (11.264 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.2, #6). Meanwhile, FOX (3.973 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.7, #4) offered up a special night of "Hell's Kitchen" (4.047 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.7, #T10) and a second "Hell's Kitchen" (3.900 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.7, #T10). |
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UPFRONTS: NBC |
Posted 5/14/13 |
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NBC has announced a new
lineup of primetime shows for the 2013-14 season that
provide a winning combination of popular returning
series, fresh new comedies, compelling new dramas and
the latest season of "The Voice," the top reality
program on television. Highlights of the year-round schedule - which will be bolstered in February on the heels of the Winter Games in Sochi, Russia - include "Believe," a new drama from J.J. Abrams and Alfonso Cuaron; the return of three-time Emmy winner James Spader in action thriller "The Blacklist"; and a comedy lineup that includes new series from "Friday Night Lights" and "Parenthood" executive producer Jason Katims, Will Ferrell, Bill Lawrence, Sean P. Hayes, and a return to NBC of one of the biggest TV stars of any generation, Michael J. Fox. "The Voice" and "The Biggest Loser" will both be on the fall schedule when it is announced in New York City on Monday. "The Voice" will retain its Monday-Tuesday schedule beginning September 23 with the return of coaches Cee-Lo Green and Christina Aguilera.. "The Biggest Loser" will return to its longtime home of 8p Tuesday. New alternative series premiering during the 2013-14 season include "The Million Second Quiz" and "American Dream Builders." Also returning to the schedule is "The Sing-Off." "Food Fighters" has been ordered as an unscheduled midseason show. "The Million Second Quiz" is a state-of-the-art, electrifying new live competition where contestants test the limits of their knowledge, endurance and will to win as they battle each other in intense bouts of trivia for 12 consecutive days and nights. Live from a gigantic hourglass shaped structure in the heart of Manhattan, this setting will also serve as the living quarters of the reigning champions - the four players who have remained in the game the longest. The show will be the first fully convergent television experience, where viewers will be able to play along at home in real time and sync to the live primetime broadcast. When the million seconds draw to a close, the champions will battle it out and the ultimate winner could claim an unprecedented cash prize of up to $10 million. Stephen Lambert, Eli Holzman and David A. Hurwitz serve as executive producers. "The Million Second Quiz" is produced by All3 Media America, Studio Lambert and Universal Television. "The Million Second Quiz" drops September 9. "Food Fighters": The table is set for the ultimate culinary clash in this one part cooking competition, one part game show. Host Adam Richman ("Man v. Food") will give homegrown amateur cooks the chance to test their skills against professional chefs. Every down-home cook has that one signature dish or secret family recipe that always gains favor with friends and family. Now, imagine going head to head in the kitchen against five professional chefs, who try to cook your specialty dish even better than you in the hopes of winning over a dinner party made up of the American public. With each savored victory, the cash prize gets bigger and bigger as the home cooks rise to every challenge and outcook the professional chefs. Think you've got what it takes to serve up the competition? Ben Silverman, Tim Puntillo, Chris Grant and Jimmy Fox serve as executive producers. "Food Fighters" is a production of Universal Television and Electus. "American Dream Builders": America's top designers, builders, architects and landscapers go head-to-head each week, putting their talents to the test on extreme home renovations. They'll tackle spaces that are architecturally diverse, resulting in epic transformations with impeccable design. These incredible transformations will be judged by host Nate Berkus and a panel of experts to determine which team achieved the best results. The losing team will then be forced to send one team member home. In the live finale, the two remaining competitors will each design and renovate a home on their own, bringing their unique visions to life. America will then vote and crown one contestant the winner. Finally, the two spectacular homes will be given away to two lucky viewers! Nate Berkus, Craig Plestis and Tom Shelly serve as executive producers. "American Dream Builders" is a production of Universal Television. UPDATE: Donald J. Trump broke the news on his Twitter page this afternoon that "Celebrity Apprentice" will indeed return for another cycle. NBC has yet to comment.
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 NBC's new season will have "The Voice" and "The Biggest Loser", among others (photo courtesy NBC) |
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DR. JOYCE BROTHERS: 1927-2013 |
Posted 5/14/13 |
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Dr. Joyce Brothers, the
former housewife and quiz show contestant who dispensed
advice to millions of Americans as television’s first
psychologist, died Monday in New York. She was 85. Brothers shot to fame in 1955 when she spent seven weeks on the air to win the popular TV game show The $64,000 Question as an expert on boxing (she was the second overall winner and the first woman to win). The petite blonde didn’t know anything about the sport, but husband was a fan and she studied the Encyclopedia of Boxing after the sponsors suggested it as her topic. The victory led Brothers to do color commentary for CBS on a fight between Carmen Basilio and Sugar Ray Robinson. Later, Brothers appeared on a successor program, The $64,000 Challenge, and won that show too. In August 1958, Brothers -- a a licensed psychologist with a master's and Ph.D. who stayed home to take care of her young daughter -- was given her own TV show on a New York station, doling out advice about relationships and answering questions from the audience. The show was soon syndicated nationally. Brothers went on to do syndicated advice shows on TV and radio, had a syndicated column that at its height was printed in more than 300 newspapers and appeared in dozens of TV shows and films. She was one of The Tonight Show’s most frequent guests when Johnny Carson was hosting.
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 Dr. Joyce Brothers (photo courtesy Zap2it) |
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Tuesday Lightning Round |
Posted 5/14/13 |
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UPFRONTS: Fox |
Posted 5/13/13 |
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Relatively to the heavily
topsy-turvy schedule announced by NBC on Sunday, FOX's
2013-2014 schedule has large pockets of stability, but
that's what comes from handing over three hours weekly
to reality singing competitions. Of course, it isn't just "The X Factor" and "American Idol" airing two hours on Wednesday and one hour on Thursday into "Glee" that led stability. FOX also will be sticking with half of its Tuesday comedy block, maintaining its Animation Domination block on Sunday and holding onto "The Following" on Mondays at 9 p.m. in the spring. But there are plenty of big moves, highlighted by the latest threatened attempt to send "Bones" to Friday to anchor a notoriously difficult night of FOX programming. FOX has released schedules that sent "Bones" to Fridays in the past only to backtrack, so it remains to see what will come to pass. "This season, we will strategically launch five inventive live-action comedies, four distinctive dramas, our first-ever event series, as well as some innovative new digital initiatives, across the week and throughout the year," blurbs FOX Entertainment Chairman Kevin Reilly. "We’re making the biggest investment in original programming in our history to ensure that FOX continues to engage viewers and move the culture more than any other entertainment brand." At the start of the fall, FOX will air "Junior MasterChef" and "Sleepy Hollow" encores on Fridays, but a big shift will come in late fall when "Bones" moves to 8 p.m. on Friday and "Raising Hope" and the new comedy "Enlisted" will test the waters. Gordon Ramsay's other competitions -- "Hell's Kitchen" and "MasterChef" -- are being saved for later. Meanwhile, Fox broke its silence on the worrisome performance of former reality titan American Idol and reports that the network is planning to reboot the entire show — including dumping its judges panel. Longtime Idol judge Randy Jackson quit last week after hearing the news, which still leaves Mariah Carey, Keith Urban and Nicki Minaj up for possible elimination. “More so than any one factor is the age of the show right now, but [also] maybe the format this year,” Reilly said. “We expanded some of the middle rounds we did a boy-girl thing that went over three weeks — that’s really where the ratings took their biggest hit. The only thing I will confirm is next year, without getting into any specifics, our next season begins on the Friday morning after our [Idol] finale — that’s when we’re really going to get to work in earnest.” Despite partly blaming the show’s ratings decline on format tweaks, Reilly pledged there will be more format tweaks next year for lucky season 13: “The format will have a few fresh twists, that we’ve already identified, that will be a nice little jolt for next season.” Pressed on whether the remaining three judges will be “welcome” to return, Reilly said, “Welcome back? Absolutely. But everything at this point is on the table.” And asked if the show will return to a three-judge panel, instead of four, Reilly replied, “Likely.” Reilly added: “We can only confirm that one judge is not coming back, obviously in Randy. It was not a complete a shock. We’ve talked to Randy, we felt like it was time to move [on], we didn’t know the exact timing of it. He’s been a great partner for 12 years and there’s not an ounce of ill-will there.”
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 Gordon Ramsay and singing competitions will return to Fox in the fall (photo courtesy Fox) |
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UPFRONTS: Telemundo |
Posted 5/13/13 |
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Ryan Seacrest will produce a
new music series for the Spanish-speaking Telemundo
network that will feature two established artists
competing against each other for the audience's vote. The format for "Superstar Showdown" has been successful in other countries. Emilio Romano, president of Telemundo Media, said he's hoping the "American Idol" host will use his connections and leverage to attract talent. The network hasn't publicly set a start date for the series. Telemundo announced several of its programming plans for next season on Sunday. The network usually gets less than half of the audience of the dominant Univision, but has become more aggressive with the backing of corporate parent NBC Universal. Telemundo had its highest ratings ever during the first three months of 2013. "We've been the underdog for so many years and we've been given the mission to fight and fight hard," Romano said. Telemundo will air five new telenovelas next season. The prime-time soap operas, stuffed with melodrama and romance, are generally the programming backbone for Spanish-speaking networks. One new series, "Camelia la Tejana," is based on a popular song and features a young woman trying to escape from one of Mexico's most powerful drug lords. Romano said he hopes Telemundo can distinguish itself from its competition by creating telenovelas specifically with the U.S. market in mind, instead of remaking series that originated in other countries. He hopes they will speak more to an American audience concerned about immigration issues and nostalgic for the countries they left behind. One example he gave was last year's remake of the movie "Maid in Manhattan." Telemundo also announced the creation of a Los Angeles-based production studio, Fluency, that will produce content for Latinos in the U.S in both Spanish and English. Telemundo is expanding its sports coverage. The weekly show, "Titulares y Mas," will begin airing all weeknights at 11:35 p.m. The network will also start a daytime game show that pits youngsters against adults. “Entre Grandes Y Chicos” (WT) is a brand new game show in which adults compete against kids in wacky role-reversal games to see what it’s like from each other’s perspectives. The show also includes light-hearted banter to spark conversation between kids and adults on a variety of topics, all in the spirit of understanding each other better. Humor and good-natured fun for the whole family are the name of the game on “Entre Grandes y Chicos!” |
 Telemundo to add on a talent show and a game show this fall (photo courtesy Telemundo) |
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Weekend: Maybe Donald
Should Just Host... |
Posted 5/13/13 |
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On the same day that Donald
Trump took to Twitter to announce that "Celebrity
Apprentice" had been picked up for another season on
NBC, as previously reported, the show's Sunday night
broadcast sank to a season low in the key 18-49 demo,
based on Nielsen overnights. TVbytheNumbers.com reports that Sunday's two-hour "Apprentice" managed only a 1.3 average in viewers 18-49, losing two-tenths of a ratings point from a week ago. NBC opened prime time with a two-hour repeat of "The Voice," which pulled in a 1.0. Trump announced Sunday on Twitter that "Celebrity Apprentice" had received a renewal -- even though the program did not appear in the fall schedule unveiled by NBC. The night's top show on broadcast was CBS's two-hour "Survivor: Caramoan," which came through with a 2.6 in the 18-49 demo. Significant adjustments are anticipated because of the show's overrun. "Survivor Reunion" followed the telecast, delivering a 2.2. CBS's "60 Minutes" at 7 p.m. scored a 1.5, improving three-tenths from last week's season low to help CBS win the night. Second-place ABC got a 2.2 average in adults 18-49 for "Once Upon a Time," matching last week's number. The two-hour finale of "Revenge" came in two-tenths below last week, settling for a 1.6. "America's Funniest Home Videos" slipped one-tenth to a 1.4. Fox was paced by "Family Guy" with a 2.4 average in 18-49, up from a 2.2 a week ago. "The Simpsons" equaled last week's 1.9, while "American Dad" also had a 1.9, a decline of four-tenths from its previous original. "Bob's Burgers" slipped one-tenth to a 1.6, and back-to-back episodes of "The Cleveland Show" settled for a 0.8 and a 1.0. For prime time overall, CBS led the way in the 18-49 demo with a 2.2 average rating, followed by ABC (1.7 average), Fox (1.6) and NBC (1.1). CBS won total viewers with 9.6 million to ABC's 6.4 million, NBC's 4.0 million and Fox's 3.4 million. |
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Super Hero Time Starts
... Here |
Posted 5/13/13 |
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Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson
makes this summer epic for a diverse group of nine
individuals as TNT announces the contestants that will
face extraordinary situations testing strength, courage
and integrity in its new unscripted competition series
The Hero airing Thursdays at 8 p.m. (ET/PT), beginning
June 6. A complete list of the first season's
competitors is included below. The Hero, headlined by Johnson, will bring nine people together tackling extraordinary feats in an unexpected and dramatic setting. Each week, the contestants will be tested physically, mentally, and morally, as they try to prove that they truly deserve the title of "The Hero" and the life-changing chance of winning up to a million dollars in prize money. With temptations around every corner, America will watch to see what the contestants are willing to overcome, undergo, and sacrifice on behalf of themselves and others. In the end, it's America's call on who will be "The Hero." The Hero is executive-produced by Electus (Ben Silverman, Chris Grant and Jimmy Fox); 5x5 Media (part of the Electus studio system led by Craig Armstrong and Rick Ringbakk); Charles Wachter; Dwayne Johnson; and Dany Garcia. The series was created by Armstrong and Ringbakk of the Emmy(R)-winning 5x5 Media (Survivor, Fashion Star, TBS's King of the Nerds), along with Wachter (Fashion Star, Food Revolution) and Electus' Silverman (Fashion Star, The Biggest Loser, The Office). Electus International, Electus' global distribution arm, is handling all international distribution for The Hero. |
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"Let's Make a Deal"
Heads to a Casino Near You |
Posted 5/13/13 |
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Crazy costumes, deals,
zonks and more are waiting for your players behind
curtain No. 3 in Let’s Make A Deal™, the hilarious and
fun new Class III video slot from Aristocrat
Technologies! Let’s Make A Deal is one of the most
popular daytime TV game shows, and now it’s playing now
in the Vii™ Widescreen Slant, with Wayne Brady as host. The game creates big winners with an MSP $250,000 top award along with an SSP option with a $7,500 top award. Let’s Make A Deal has a five level progressive and is feature rich with two base game features and eight bonus features, including three different free games features and the Big Deal Jackpot Wheel feature. The game has an innovative Modular Video Platform package that lets you configure banks with anywhere from two to eight machines. The game also comes with Aristocrat’s iChair surround sound chair with rumble, complete with an art panel on the back for additional branding. Let’s Make A Deal is a 30 line + 20 credit ante bet game. MSP is configured for 1c; SSP is configured at 1c, 2c and 5c. Volatility is above average. |
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A Million Seconds for
the World |
Posted 5/13/13 |
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All3Media’s distribution
division will sell the hotly-anticipated The Million
Second Quiz show and format internationally. The interactive quiz is being made for US network NBC by All3Media America and All3Media-backed Studio Lambert. NBC commissioned the show last month. Billed as a “state-of-the-art, electrifying new live competition where contestants test the limits of their knowledge, endurance and will to win as they battle each other in intense bouts of trivia for twelve consecutive days and nights” inside a giant hourglass in Manhattan. Four contestants will live in the hourglass, taking only strategic breaks to eat and sleep, while rivals challenge them in trivia trials. The ultimate winner at the end of the series, which will total a million seconds, could win a prize of up to US$10 million. All3Media International will launch the show at MIPCOM in October. “This is a highly original and ambitious new format and it takes the concept of a mass participation event quiz to a whole new level,” said All3Media managing director Louise Pedersen. |
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Meet Desiree's
Bachelors |
Posted 5/13/13 |
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ABC has announced the 25
bachelors who will vie for Desiree Hartsock's heart on
the upcoming season of "The Bachelorette," premiering
Monday, May 27 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC. The guys include a federal prosecutor, a former pro soccer player who his a single dad, a Southern gentleman who is also a single dad, a financial adviser and a Cuban Casanova. |
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Monday Lightning Round |
Posted 5/13/13 |
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