Filed under: News, Industry, Reality-Free

Richard told you earlier this year that The Weather Channel was for sale. Now it looks like recent rumors that NBC was going to be the one to purchase the Television network are true. Reuters states that the deal should be closed in the next few days, and the reported price is between $3 billion and $4 billion.

If you haven’t noticed, weather is the most important part of a newscast now. I was just speaking to my roommate about this yesterday. Every single local newscast opens with news about the weather. Not just tornadoes and hurricanes, but bad rain storms that might pop up later in the day (wow, rainstorms in the summer - shocking!). Weather is the lead story (death, war, and the election can wait), the follow-up story, and the actual weather segment halfway through the show is given another good 7 or 8 minutes.

Continue reading Here’s the five-day forecast: Weather Channel about to be bought by NBC

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Filed under: Industry, OpEd, Video, Celebrities, Super Skank Wednesday

VH1 diva Tiffany “New York” Pollard is back this summer for another chapter in her celebreality life. New York Goes to Hollywood premieres in August and will follow your favorite H.B.I.C. as she leaves Tailor-Made behind and tries to make it in Tinsel Town.

To rev up for the new show, VH1 put together a set of promos that have New York acting as classic Hollywood characters. She plays Dorothy from Wizard of Oz: “Toto, where the f*ck are we?” She plays Marilyn Monroe in that classic scene where the blonde starlet walks over the sidewalk grate. However, New York uses the breeze from the passing subway car to dry her nails and her nether regions. Whatever works, right? Finally, New York plays Forrest Gump and imparts some wisdom about life and chocolates.

The videos are after the jump. All three are stupid and unfunny. And all three prove the New York’s new show is going to be a blast. Check it out and let me know what you think.

New York Goes to Hollywood premieres August 4th at 9 p.m. ET on VH1.

Continue reading It’s lights, camera, New York this summer - VIDEO

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Filed under: Industry, Programming, Criminal Minds, Reality-Free

After the success of the CSI franchise, it’s only natural that CBS would look at other shows on its lineup for spinoff possibilities. Oddly enough, the lucky show isn’t World’s Greatest Dog, but Criminal Minds. According to Executive Producer Ed Bernero, talks between CBS and ABC studios, who produces Minds, are currently underway, saying, “It’s safe to state there will be something soon.”

Because the Criminal Minds spinoff is still in the discussion phase, there’s no news on exactly what the new show will entail. But, since there are obviously many more specialties within the FBI besides criminal profiling, chances are the new series will focus on one of those. As is the case with most spinoffs nowadays, the new series will probably be introduced via a “backdoor pilot” in an upcoming Criminal Minds episode.

Continue reading Could Criminal Minds be the next CSI?

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Filed under: Industry, Programming, Celebrities, Awards, Emmys, Reality-Free

Another day, another list of 10 semifinalists from the Emmys. This time, it’s the Best Actor in a Drama.

There are a lot of the usual suspects on the list (which will be knocked down to five nominees in the next round), including actors from Dexter, Mad Men, Grey’s Anatomy, Friday Night Lights, Breaking Bad, and House. One show that’s not represented is Lost. I thought Matthew Fox did some great work this season, especially his drunk/screwed-up scenes.

After the jump, the list of the ten semifinalists (also check out those in contention for Best Actress - Comedy, Best Supporting Actor - Drama, Best Comedy, and Ideal Drama).

Continue reading Emmy unveils the Ideal Drama Actor semifinalists

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Filed under: News, Industry, Awards, Reality-Free

While viewership continues to slip and all that “Katie is leaving after the election” talk still swirls, it looks like the industry actually likes her show.

The CBS Evening News won the Edward R. Murrow Award for Ideal Newscast from the Radio Television News Directors Association the other night. ABC won the most awards, including Best Overall, Documentary, Hard news, Spot News Coverage, and Videography. Not really sure what the difference is between Ideal Newscast and Best Overall, but maybe Best Overall combines all facets of a TV network’s news division while Ideal Newscast just focuses on the 30 minute nightly show that the network does. Either way it’s something I’m sure you’re going to see in ads for The CBS Evening News.

CBS News also won for Ideal Web Site (I’d link to the full list of awards but the RTNDA site seems to be down right now.)

[via TV Newser]

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Filed under: Industry, Programming, Ratings, Reality-Free

Here are the weekly cable ratings, by number of viewers.

That’s right, not only does Monday Night RAW retake the #1 spot on the cable ratings this week, it takes up three spots in the top 10. That doesn’t seem fair, does it? I have the ability to hear the people at Disney asking, “why aren’t the two hours of Camp Rock split into two different spots? Or Charlie and the Chocolate Factory? Fine, we’ll just run Camp Rock each hour for the entire week and we’ll see what the ratings are!”

(And yes, SpongeBob is on the list yet again. It’s comforting to see him there almost each week.)

1. Monday Night RAW (USA)
2. BET Awards (BET)
3. Sprint Cup Racing - Loudon (TNT)
4. Monday Night RAW (USA)
5. In Plain Sight (USA)
6. Camp Rock (Disney)
7. Monday Night RAW (USA)
8. Law and Order: CI (USA)
9. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Disney)
10. SpongeBob SquarePants (Nickelodeon)

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Filed under: Industry, OpEd, Hardware, Reality-Free

On February 17, 2009, all wireless television signals will switch from analog to digital, freeing up broadcast space so some folks can make up a lot of money auctioning it off. Granted, any American that uses cable or satellite will still be able to use the old TVs, however those who still use an antenna will have to buy a digital tuner. Full details can be found on the FCC site.

My first question is: who out there still even needs a converter box? Most everybody I know has cable or satellite TV. You can even get a discount on the device.

Continue reading What will you be doing with your CRT TVs?

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Filed under: Industry, Programming, Ratings, Reality-Free

Here are the weekly ratings, by number of viewers.

Yes, NBC had four shows in the top 20 this week, but it took the summer and reality and/or reality game shows to get there, including America’s Got Talent, The Baby Borrowers, and Celebrity Family Feud. ABC’s new game shows, Wipeout and I Survived A Japanese Game Show, both made the top ten.

I’m surprised Hell’s Kitchen isn’t higher. #14 is great, I just thought it would do better during the summer (though it does well on its night). 60 Minutes’ repackaged repeat segments continue to do well too.

1. America’s Got Talent (NBC)
2. Wipeout (ABC)
3. 60 Minutes (CBS)

Continue reading Nielsen ratings for the week ending June 29

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Filed under: Other Drama Shows, Industry, Celebrities, Casting, Reality-Free

Lots of casting news for Fox pilots lately. Tim Roth, who recently appeared in The Breathtaking Hulk, is set to star in Fox’s pilot Lie to Me. The show, which is produced by 20th TV and Imagine Entertainment, follows a researcher in the field of deception detection named Cal Lightman. Roth is also currently filming King Conqueror and 44 Inch Chest.

And the casting news doesn’t end there. The CW made some announcements too. Brian Hallisay, who has appeared in Bones and Bionic Woman, will co-star in the CW’s new drama called Privileged. The show is about Megan (played by Joanna Garcia), a woman who is hired to be a life coach for a pair of rich 16-year-old twins in Florida.

Continue reading Tim Roth set to star in Fox pilot and other casting news

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Filed under: Other Comedy Shows, Industry, Celebrities, Casting, Reality-Free

Debra Messing’s Emmy-award winning miniseries The Starter Wife is getting some new cast members. Joining the former Will and Grace star are David Alan Bashe of Lipstick Jungle, Danielle Nicolet of Heartland, Brielle Barbusca of Hope & Faith, and Hart Bochner of Die Hard.

The USA original series follows the post-divorce hi-jinx of Molly Kagan (Messing) as she embarks on a new chapter in her life. USA is bringing back the hit miniseries for ten episodes this fall. Messing is now executive producer as well.

Bashe will play Molly’s ex-husband, Kenny Kagen. Nicolet will play Liz Marsh, Molly’s new friend and wife a a pro-baseball player. Barbusca will play Jaden, Molly and Kenny’s daughter. And Bochner will play Molly’s new love interest and writing class teacher. Returning for guest appearances is Joe Mantegna of Criminal Minds who plays Molly’s former boyfriend Lou Manahan.

The series will premiere on USA in October. What do you think? Will The Starter Wife work as a full-fledged series?

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