First Casualities of the Fall Season?
Posted by Wendy Michaels Categories: Comedy, Drama, Prime Time, Reality, CBS, FOX, NBC, Cancellations, Ratings,
While not officially canceled, two shows have received the kiss of death—being put on hiatus. It seems pretty early in the season to pull the plug already, but Fox’s Happy Hour and Justice have already been put on “hiatus” status. Fox is saying that the comedy Happy Hour will return in November, citing the upcoming baseball playoffs and World Series as their reason for shelving the show, if only briefly. Until baseball takes over, Fox will be running a rerun of ‘Til Death during Happy Hour‘s Thursday time slot.
Justice will also take a break, with a repeat of House airing in its place on October 4th. The network will, however, be airing a repeat of Justice‘s pilot on Friday, September 29th at 8:00 p.m. This time will cut the finale of Celebrity Duets short by one hour.
Neither of these new shows really stood a chance against the competition (even though neither is officially canceled yet)—up against Survivor: Cook Island and The Office.
Read More 
| The Futon Critic
Gallery: First Casualities of the Fall Season?
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The Week Ahead in TV
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Comedy, Drama, Late Night, Prime Time, ABC, Cable, NBC, The CW, America’s Next Top Model, Degrassi, Everybody Hates Chris, Saturday Night Live, The CW, The Office,
The CW let America’s Next Top Model kick off the new network last week—now they’re hoping you’ll stick around to see the other premieres they have to offer. Also up, the much-hyped debut of Ugly Betty. Will the stellar reviews have any effect on last season’s best comedy,The Office?
MONDAY
Heroes (9pm on NBC)
7th Heaven (8pm on CW)
Runaway (9pm on CW)
TUESDAY
Gilmore Girls (8pm on CW)
WEDNESDAY
One Tree Hill (9pm on CW)
THURSDAY
Ugly Betty (8pm on ABC)
Smallville (8pm on CW)
Supernatural (9pm on CW)
FRIDAY
Degrassi (9pm EST on The N)
SATURDAY
Saturday Night Live (11:30pm on NBC)
SUNDAY (10/1)
Everybody Hates Chris (7pm on CW)
All of Us (7:30pm on CW)
Girlfriends (8pm on CW)
The Game (8:30pm on CW)
Gallery: The Week Ahead in TV
Weekend Update Co-anchor Announced
Posted by Wendy Michaels Categories: Comedy, Late Night, NBC, News, Rumors,
Despite the rumors that Jason Sudeikis would be taking over for Tina Fey on Saturday Night Live‘s Weekend Update, it’s just been announced that Seth Meyers will be taking on the job. This comes from show creator and executive producer Lorne Michaels today, so it seems the rumors have finally been put to rest. Amy Poehler will continue her co-anchor spot on the Update segment. There were four cast members who auditioned for the job, but Michaels found Meyers to have the best chemistry with Poehler. Meyers is also one of the head writers for the show. Of the recent cast downsizing at SNL, Michaels said: “The show has succeeded and prospered to some degree on its ability to reinvent itself, and this was a time for everything to be re-examined.” Check out all the big changes when SNL begins on September 30th. Comic Dane Cook hosts.
Read More | Yahoo! News
Gallery: Weekend Update Co-anchor Announced
Too Many TVs? Nielsen Research Tells the Tale
Posted by Wendy Michaels Categories: ABC, Cable, CBS, FOX, NBC, UPN, WB, Cable/Satellite, News, Ratings,
A recent Nielsen Media Research study found that the average American home has more TV sets than people. The average number of people per home is 2.55, while the number of TVs averages 2.73. The availability of flat-screen TVs impacts the results, since it’s easier than ever to put sets most anywhere.
The research shows that half of American homes have three or more TVs, with 19 percent having just one. Compared to 1975, the number of single sets per home was 57 percent and having three or more was a minority—just 11 percent.
Nielsen also reports that the average person watches four hours and 35 minutes of TV per day. What are people watching? The ratings over the years have shown a lot of change with the multitude of channels available, so the the big networks’ ratings have shown a steady decline.
Read More | AOL News
Gallery: Too Many TVs? Nielsen Research Tells the Tale
Madonna Concert Special—Pulling Crucifixion Stunt?
Posted by Wendy Michaels Categories: Music, Prime Time, Specials, NBC,
The upcoming Madonna concert special—Confessions—will air soon on NBC, however, the network is still undecided about whether or not it will include the crucifixion “stunt” that many protested. The mock crucifixion has Madonna hanging by wires on a cross while wearing a crown of thorns. Madonna—controversial? As you may have heard, the Roman Catholic Church and Russian Orthodox Church were not too happy with the scene, calling it blasphemy. With an endorsement like that, it would seem likely that NBC would edit out the stunt and air the concert blasphemy-free. Executives at NBC, however, are waiting to review the concert before making their decision about whether to air it or not. “We’re awaiting the delivery of it, and once we’ve seen it in its entirety, we’ll make a decision,” an NBC spokeswoman told Reuters. NBC Entertainment President Kevin Reilly was quoted in July as saying, “We’ve discussed what content will be in and what is out, and we’ve come to a healthy place that represents her show but is appropriate for television.” The Madonna concert special is set to air in November.
Read More | Reuters
Gallery: Madonna Concert Special—Pulling Crucifixion Stunt?
Is Studio 60 Must See TV?
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Drama, Prime Time, NBC, Desperate Housewives, West Wing, The,
Now that I’ve had time to digest the series premiere of Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, it’s time for a little post-mortem analysis:
What Will Make Me Watch Again:
-Thanks to creator/writer Aaron Sorkin and director Thomas Schlamme, Studio 60 very much has the feel of a West Wing episode. The quick, witty banter is always refreshing after a week’s worth of reality shows
-Matthew Perry and Bradley Whitford are tried and true likeable actors who know how to deliver
-we are reunited with characters from the West Wing that we had grown to love (Timothy Busfield, Perry, Whitford) and we were even treated with a cameo from Felicity Huffman (from Sorkin’s Sports Night)
-It gives us a perspective we haven’t really seen. Makes us wonder what’s really going on backstage at the real-SNL
What Will Make Me Think Twice:
-This is too much like the West Wing...even the title fonts are recycled!! And I swear the hotel room scene was filmed on the WW lot.
-I love that Sorkin is loyal to the actors he has worked with before… but it’s a new show. He needs new people.
-Perry and Whitford are delivering the exact same routine we’ve seen from them before
-Is there some reason Sorkin loves to do ‘behind-the-scenes’ based series? Sports Night, West Wing and now this. Me thinks he might need to start branching out soon.
-Last but not least, I am in no way buying Amanda Peet as the NBS President… and this has nothing to do with her being a young woman. She just doesn’t have the presence to pull that role off.
Final Analysis: It’s neither here nor there. If I’m free and without anything else to watch on my Tivo, I’ll probably watch the show again. But I’m not going to hurt myself trying to find the time.
Gallery: Is Studio 60 Must See TV?
Three SNL Cast Members Get Pink Slips
Posted by Wendy Michaels Categories: Comedy, Late Night, NBC, Saturday Night Live, Rumors,
Early SNL firing rumors are now official. E! Online is reporting that a press release for the upcoming 32nd season omitted the names of three cast members’ names: unfortunately, Chris Parnell, Horatio Sanz and Finesse Mitchell will not be returning this season. The news comes as a “non-announcement,” since neither NBC nor Saturday Night Live released any official statement about the cast. Early rumors pegged Parnell and Sanz as fired, but did not predict Mitchell would not be returning. Instead, most were reporting that it would be Kenan Thompson or Darrell Hammond that would get the axe. Sanz had made a statement about a month ago to the Chicago Sun-Times, saying “I haven’t been approached with anything that’s led me to believe I won’t be back.” Seems the decision may have come as a surprise to him. NBC rep Marc Liepis doesn’t believe there is any ill-will about the decision, saying “I believe there were mutual choices made. When you’re on the show for eight years, I don’t think you look at it as a firing.” Both Parnell and Sanz have been on SNL for eight years, while Mitchell had only a three year run.
Saturday Night Live will air on September 30th, with host Dane Cook and musical guest The Killers. No official word yet on who will be taking over Tina Fey’s chair on Weekend Update, although early rumors pegged Jason Sudeikis. Guess we’ll know for sure on the 30th.
Read More | E! Online
Gallery: Three SNL Cast Members Get Pink Slips
The Week Ahead in TV
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Action, Comedy, Daytime, Drama, Prime Time, Reality, ABC, CBS, NBC, The CW, America’s Next Top Model, Desperate Housewives, ER, Grey’s Anatomy, My Name Is Earl, Oprah Winfrey Show, Saturday Night Live, The Office,
After a few weeks of sporadic debuts, we can all now breathe a sigh of relief. You now have a reason to be sitting on your couch every night because the TV onslaught has officially arrived! Here are the highlights for this week:
MONDAY
Oprah, Rachel Ray and The Megan Mullally Show (various)
Wife Swap (8pm on ABC)
Deal or No Deal (8pm on NBC)
The Class (8pm on CBS)
How I Met Your Mother (8:30pm on CBS)
Two and a Half Men (9pm on CBS)
The New Adventures of Old Christine (9:30pm on CBS)
Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip (10pm on NBC)
CSI: Miami (10pm on CBS)
TUESDAY
NCIS (8pm on CBS):
The Unit (9pm on CBS)
Law and Order: Criminal Intent (9pm on NBC)
Law and Order: SVU (10pm on NBC)
Smith (10pm on CBS)
Boston Legal (10pm on ABC)
WEDNESDAY
America’s Next Top Model (8pm on CW)
Jericho (8pm on CBS)
Biggest Loser (8pm on NBC)
Criminal Minds (9pm on CBS)
Kidnapped (10pm on NBC)
CSI: NY (10pm on CBS)
THURSDAY
My Name is Earl (8pm on NBC)
The Office (8:30pm on NBC)
Grey’s Anatomy (9pm on ABC)
CSI (9pm on CBS)
ER (10pm on NBC)
Six Degrees (10pm on ABC)
Shark (10pm on CBS)
FRIDAY
Smackdown (8pm on CW)
Ghost Whisperer (8pm on CBS)
Close to Home (9pm on CBS)
Law and Order (10pm on NBC)
Numb3rs (10pm on CBS)
SUNDAY
Extreme Home Makeover (8pm on ABC)
Desperate Housewives (9pm on ABC)
Cold Case (9pm on CBS)
Brothers and Sisters (10pm on ABC)
Without a Trace (10pm on CBS)
Gallery: The Week Ahead in TV
Alicia Silverstone Returns to NBC for Mid-Season Comedy
Posted by Wendy Michaels Categories: Comedy, NBC,
This is familiar territory for Alicia Silverstone—a comedy on NBC. Unfortunately, the last time she tried that, with Miss Match in 2003, her series didn’t go the distance. Now NBC is ready to give Silverstone another chance, with The Singles Table, a mid-season comedy where she plays a doctor. She is replacing Pascale Hutton, who played the role in the pilot—she has now moved on to the drama Traveler.
Silverstone’s character has a booming career, but beyond that, has no life. The Singles Table will tell the story of five people who meet at a wedding reception—all seated at a table for the dateless invitees. I love Silverstone, so I’m looking forward to checking this out. In fact, any time Clueless is on TV, I have to watch it. Partly for her performance, and partly for Paul Rudd!
Read More | Zap2it
Gallery: Alicia Silverstone Returns to NBC for Mid-Season Comedy
NBC Plans to Stream New Fall Shows, Offer Blogs
Posted by Wendy Michaels Categories: Comedy, Drama, Prime Time, Reality, NBC, ER, My Name Is Earl, Internet, Video,
In a press release from NBC today, they announced that NBC.com will stream episodes of their new fall shows for free—Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, Kidnapped, 30 Rock, Friday Night Lights and Heroes—following the original airing of the episodes. NBC.com is also going to offer blogs written by a variety of shows’ creators, producers or cast members. The blogs will be online for every show on the air, with an additional live blog immediately after the premiere episode.
Jeff Gaspin, President, NBC Universal Cable Entertainment, Digital Content and Cross-Network Strategy said of the news, “When you launch a new season, it’s important that you get the shows in front of as many eyeballs as possible. We’ve created a variety of new, engaging digital offerings to generate excitement and drive viewership to the network.”
Upcoming premiere blogs include:
- Deal or No Deal (9/18), The Banker’s Blog
- Studio 60 (9/18), Aaron Sorkin, Creator and Executive Producer and Thomas Schlamme, Executive Producer and Director
- Kidnapped (9/20), Jason Smilovic, Creator and Executive Producer
- My Name Is Earl (9/21), Greg Garcia, Creator and Executive Producer
- The Office (9/21), Greg Daniels, Executive Producer
- 30 Rock (11/11), Tina Fey, Creator and Executive Producer
A number of other blogs will accompany the shows’ premieres, including Law & Order, ER, Heroes, Friday Night Lights and Twenty Good Years, among others.
Read More | Lost Remote
Gallery: NBC Plans to Stream New Fall Shows, Offer Blogs
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