On 2009-12-09 19:05 , honeykid Wrote:


If you look at the viewership numbers HK we are not the only ones dropping it. They billed this show as the new "Lost" and it does not even come close. I am almost done watching the 5th season of "Lost" on DVD and it is light years ahead of Flash forward. The fifth season of Lost it right on line with the first season as some of the best stuff on tv. Really really digging this season and can not wait to finish it and wait for the last season coming next season.

Yes, I agree with you about the numbers, Kenage. People are leaving in droves and they didn't even stick it as long as we have. Not that I blame them, if I didn't have so much time on my hands, I wouldn't have either. They said it was a mix of "24" and "Lost" and, despite that, I gave it a go because I liked the premise.

Regardless of whether or not it gets another season (and it's got to be looking unlikely at the moment) I don't think it can be considered anything other than a flop.


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I often wonder how I'm going to die. You don't want to embarrass friends.

From digitalspy

Cable network FX has picked up a 13-episode second season of freshman comedy The League. The sophomore run will premiere in summer 2010, says The Hollywood Reporter. The comedy about the members of a fantasy football league has averaged 1 million viewers an episode and 860,000 with adults aged 18-49. "We've been very pleased with the creative and ratings trajectory of The League and believe it's an excellent fit with our comedy brand," FX programming executive Nick Grad said.

Fox has bought Parks and Recreation scribe Alan Yang's Jackpot. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the show is to be produced by Michael Aguilar (What Happens in Vegas) and centres on a group of high school friends who win the lottery. As well as working as a staff writer at Recreation, Yang has the comedy movies We Love You and White Dad in development at Summit Entertainment and Sony Pictures. He also reworked the script for Boss Go Home at Warner Bros. Aguilar formed production company Dos Tontos with Kent Alterman. In February, he signed an exclusive two-year production deal with Fox and the since-closed Fox Atomic.

Ray Romano's new sitcom Men Of A Certain Age has been praised by US critics and viewers. The comedy star, who finished filming Everybody Loves Raymond in 2005, has won over viewers in his new series about three best friends in their 40s who are struggling to accept that they are middle-aged. The New Yorker's critic Nancy Franklin wrote: " surprisingly good... especially if, like me, you were put off by the character that Romano played in his long-running sitcom." The San Francisco Chronicle's Tim Goodman said that he was relieved that the show didn't try to be "a male version of Sex And The City" and added that the pilot episode gave the audience "the fodder that could make this series something special". Men Of A Certain Age also stars Quantum Leap star Scott Bakula and Fantastic Four actor Andre Braugher.

The Deep End will take over FlashForward's timeslot next year, ABC has announced. Recently, the network said that it would be delaying the return of the ratings-challenged drama until Thursday, March 4. The Deep End, which centres on four up-and-coming lawyers as they enter a prestigious law firm, will debut Thursday, January 21 in the 8pm slot and run for six weeks. Matt Long, Ben Lawson, Billy Zane, Tina Mojorino and True Blood's Mehcad Brooks have all landed parts in the midseason drama.

Dexter star Courtney Ford has revealed that the season four finale is a "game-changer". Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, the actress, who plays Christine on the Showtime drama, said that fans will be shocked by the events that unfold. "The finale definitely has a huge twist," she said. "It is a game-changer if you’re a Dexter fan. Fans are going to freak out. "We freaked out when we were finally made aware of what was going to happen." Ford added that the cast were kept in the dark about the finale, and were given scripts on a need-to-know basis. "Then it came time to film it and they said they had changes and we were given a few pages every day… only the ones we needed that day, so it kept us in suspense. It is a terrifying way to work because you don’t know where your character is headed." Julie Benz recently admitted that the show is heading for a shocking finale.


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I often wonder how I'm going to die. You don't want to embarrass friends.

From digitalspy

The president of programming at MTV has defended the network's new series Jersey Shore. The show, which revolves around eight Italian American students, has sparked criticism for allegedly stereotyping the ethnic group. Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Tony DiSanto said that people were "welcome to their own point of view" but admitted that "it bums me out that some people are offended". "The intention behind the show was to present an exciting group of big characters who were an interesting dynamic, having the summer of their lives, having very specific sort of rituals and vernacular," he explained. He continued to say that "it never crossed" his mind that people would be offended, claiming: "I don't look at these characters as representing an entire ethnic group. They refer to themselves as 'guidos' sometimes, but it's more about the way they act, their behaviour, what they're attracted to, their rituals. It's not about an entire ethnicity. "We actually did pull the word 'guidos' from voiceover and descriptions of the show . However, if they refer to themselves that way, we let that exist as is." DiSanto added that the network would "stand by the show" but it was "obviously sensitive to everybody's point of view". "That's why we made changes in the promo, but there's no intention to change anything in the show," he explained. "I think that as more people check it out, they'll grow to love it more and more. "Also, no show is for everybody and no show can be... If a particular person is offended, that's fine, watch something else, because MTV has a huge palate of other things to watch."

The Biggest Loser finale performed well for NBC Tuesday night, the latest viewing figures show. The two-hour show, which saw the winner crowned, averaged 13.43m between 8pm and 10pm. Post-Loser, 8.41m stayed with NBC for The Jay Leno Show. Over on ABC, a repeat of A Charlie Brown Christmas and Disney Prep & Landing logged 11.3m and 12.15m at 8pm, Scrubs drew 5.44m at 9pm - up slightly on last week's season premiere - and 4.31m watched a rerun of The Forgotten at 10pm. CBS's reruns performed as follows: NCIS and NCIS: Los Angeles grabbed 15.01m and 12.16m at 8pm and 9pm respectively, then The Good Wife put in 9.18m at 10pm. 90210 managed 1.93m for The CW at 8pm, then the audience dropped to 1.28m during the 9pm screening of Melrose Place. Fox's two-hour So You Think You Can Dance averaged 6.23m between 8pm and 10pm.

Hugh Laurie will direct an upcoming episode of House, Fox has announced. The 50-year-old British actor, who plays the titular role on the medical drama, will step behind the camera for the first time for an episode scheduled to air this Spring. "I am thrilled, daunted and honoured - with a 'u' - by this new responsibility," said Laurie. "House scripts are Fabergé eggs and I will try my very hardest not to drop this one on a stone floor." Executive producer Katie Jacobs added: "I've wanted him to direct since season one. In fact, I can't believe he’s actually doing it." "There is no one more qualified to direct the show than Hugh Laurie. I'm sure this is evident to anyone who’s seen the show, but he is simply the most versatile, talented, funny actor on TV today. "Add to that an impeccable feeling for the visual storytelling and you have the makings of a great director. I don't know how he's going to be in two places at once, but that part we'll just have to figure out." House returns to Fox Monday, January 25.

Chris Cuomo has announced that he is leaving Good Morning America following three years as news anchor. The reporter, who confirmed his departure on this morning's show, has been promoted to 20/20 where he will anchor alongside Elizabeth Vargas. "It is a dream job for a journalist like me, but it was also a very difficult decision because I am leaving a special place and crew, and all of you, and you are all part of my family," he said. "The good news is you never really leave family." Cuomo promised that he would make appearances on GMA in the future. His last day will be Friday. Earlier this year, co-anchor Diane Sawyer announced that she was leaving the show after ten years to replace Charles Gibson on ABC's World News.

George Stephanopoulos has been named Good Morning America's newest host. According to The AP, the former This Week presenter is to pair with Robin Roberts and will remain ABC's chief political correspondent. The news comes after Diane Sawyer announced that tomorrow will be her last morning broadcast before she heads off to World News. Chris Cuomo also confirmed that he is leaving for 20/20. GMA's executive producer Jim Murphy said that the ex-advisor to Bill Clinton's arrival signals a harder news direction for the programme.

Felicia Day is to guest on an upcoming episode of Fox series Lie to Me. The Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog actress will play an elementary school teacher who becomes stranded with her class at the Lightman Group headquarters. In the episode, airing next Monday, Day performs a duet with show star and singer Brendan Hines. Day is also due to reprise the role of Mag for the series finale of Fox's Dollhouse, which airs in January 2010.

Alfre Woodard has joined TNT pilot Delta Blues. The Desperate Housewives actress will play a tough new police lieutenant who makes life difficult for Jason Lee's Memphis cop Dwight Hendricks, says The Hollywood Reporter. Delta Blues is produced by George Clooney and also stars Sam Hennings, Robyn Lively and Leonard Howze.


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I often wonder how I'm going to die. You don't want to embarrass friends.

From digitalspy

MTV has cancelled Alexa Chung's daytime chat show It's On With Alexa Chung. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the series will not return after its December 17 finale. A spokeswoman for Chung said of the news: "Alexa is very proud of the show and is thrilled to have had the opportunity to be welcomed by the American public. MTV is very happy with Alexa and is talking to her about developing a new format for their viewers." Chung, who is under contract with MTV until the Spring, is also said to be looking at "numerous offers" of work in New York.

Flight Of The Conchords will not be returning for a third season, its creators have announced. Writing on their website, Bret McKenzie, Jemaine Clement and James Bobin confirmed recent speculation that the HBO series is officially dead. "We've noticed the less we say about the future of the show, the more people want to talk about it, so in an effort to reverse this trend we are today announcing that we won't be returning for a third season. "We're very proud of the two seasons we made and we like the way the show ended."

The Glee Fall finale performed well for Fox Wednesday night, according to the latest viewing figures. Episode thirteen, titled 'Sectionals', pulled in 8.1m during the 9pm hour, just falling shy of last week's series high. Also at 9pm, NBC's Law & Order: Special Victims Unit drew 7.97m, 14.31m watched Criminal Minds on CBS, and a rerun of Victoria's Secret Fashion Show had 1.68m for The CW. ABC's Modern Family and Cougar Town grabbed 9.62m and 6.92m at 9pm and 9.30pm respectively. ABC won the 8pm with a rerun of Shrek The Halls, which had 8.53m, and The Middle which logged 7.67m. Its nearest rival, CBS, attracted 7.71m and 7.16m with The New Adventures Of Old Christine and Gary Unmarried. So You Think You Can Dance managed 6.66m for Fox, NBC's Mercy was seen by 7.14m, and 910k watched a Gossip Girl repeat on The CW. At 10pm, CSI: New York drew 13m for CBS, ABC's Barbara Walters Special put in 10.47m, and The Jay Leno Show attracted 4.53m to NBC.

Dawn Olivieri has revealed that her former Heroes co-star Adrian Pasdar was "surprised" at being axed. Earlier this year, reports surfaced suggesting that Pasdar had been dropped from the NBC series. His character, Nathan, was later killed off in the Fall finale. In an exclusive interview with Digital Spy, Heroes newcomer Olivieri, who plays carnival goer Lydia, suggested that the actor should not have been axed. "They always say that no one dies on Heroes, but Adrian may be done for good," she admitted. "I know for a fact that he was surprised with the release because it wasn't really told to him as one would like. "I think they're trying to change the show a bit - everyone gets hurt or semi-dies - and they wanted to shock fans as we get near the end of the season and this was one of them. "He was such a fantastic guy to work with and he was so much fun, but maybe it's his time to be on another show." She also praised Pasdar's work on the show, hailing him as "one of the best" on the series. "For me, personally, I thought was one of the best actors on the show. From the first season I watched it, I wasn't as intrigued with his character as I was with his acting. "Whether he's on this show or another show, he's just a fun actor to watch and I really enjoy him. I don't know if that's who I would have chosen to kill, but they gotta make their choices."

Jane Leeves has signed up to guest star on Desperate Housewives. According to Entertainment Weekly, the Frasier actress will appear in at least two episodes when its sixth season resumes in January. She will reportedly play Tom Scavo's psychotherapist in a storyline which is due to kick off late in the month. Katherine Mayfair is also rumoured to be seeking professional help.


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I often wonder how I'm going to die. You don't want to embarrass friends.

From digitalspy

Veteran TV actor Gene Barry has died at the age of 90. Barry starred in Western series Bat Masterson in the late 1950s and later on Burke's Law and The Name of the Game. He died of congestive heart failure on Wednesday at Sunrise Assisted Living in the Los Angeles neighbourhood of Woodland Hills, reports The AP. The Tony-nominated star had reportedly suffered from Alzheimer's disease for close to five years. His final screen role was in Steven Spielberg's 2005 film War of the Worlds.

Heroes star Dawn Olivieri has reassured fans over the show's future. The NBC series, which is now in its fourth season, has been struggling to maintain decent ratings in recent weeks. However, speaking exclusively to DS, Olivieri, who plays carnival goer Lydia on the series, said that she believes the show will return for a fifth season. "Everybody talks about it losing momentum and not being so great in the ratings, but honestly, this show makes so much money for NBC that I don't see it gong anywhere. "It's had No.1 DVD sales every year it's been on - internationally - and I don't think it's going anywhere. I think it'll keep going." Heroes returns to NBC Monday, January 11 in a new 9pm slot.

CBS is developing a new time travel drama called Murmurs, says The Hollywood Reporter. The project will see the Eye network team with writer Jason Smilovic and producer Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas. The story is set in a world where time travel is a reality and focuses on an agency called Commission, which aims to correct alterations in time to ensure that history remains unchanged.

Gilmore Girls alum Scott Patterson is to guest on The CW's 90210. The 51-year-old will appear on at least two forthcoming episodes, reports Entertainment Weekly. Patterson will play the biological father of Liam (Matt Lanter).

Rachel Uchitel has asked for a live apology after comments made about her on The View. Uchitel has recently been named as one of Tiger Woods's alleged girlfriends, although she has denied having an affair with the golfer. However, E! News reports that Uchitel is seeking a live apology after Joy Behar said on the show: "Uchitel, she's a hooker." Uchitel's lawyer Gloria Allred explained that she appreciated the programme's subsequent apology, but added that a live statement would be more appropriate. "We appreciate their prompt response and apology to Rachel," she said. "The apology sends an important message to others who would dare to characterise her in that way. It is a significant step forward in this matter. "However, we still think it is important that the apology to Rachel be broadcast on the air on Monday's show. Rachel values her reputation and we look forward to ABC's broadcasting their apology to all those who heard it on their show. "Because the statement was made on The View, the apology must be broadcast on that show as well." Woods recently announced that he is taking an "indefinite" break from golf after the allegations about his infidelity.

From digitalspy

Syfy has handed new seasons to both Stargate Universe and Sanctuary. SGU, which recently aired its midseason finale, will extend its hiatus until April, with season two arriving in the Fall alongside Sanctuary's third run. "We're dealing with 15 seasons of expectations with a certain fanbase," said Universe's executive producer Robert Cooper. "Hopefully, as the show goes on, people will appreciate Universe for being its own thing. "The implications of leaving Rush on the planet, the real division that will cause among the crew, the judgment of those characters and their actions are going to have a big impact on the show. "We have a lot of things planned for the second half of the season."

The latest instalment of Survivor: Samoa continued to perform well for CBS, the latest viewing figures show. Thursday's elimination episode put in 13.8m for the Eye network at 8pm, topping last week's effort of 12.5m. Later on CBS, CSI and The Mentalist drew 17.12m and 16.92m at 9pm and 10pm respectively. Over on NBC, Community and Parks & Recreation logged 5.98m and 5.62m during the 8pm hour, then The Office and 30 Rock took 9.24m and 7.54m at 9pm. Later, at 10pm, 5.77m tuned in for The Jay Leno Show. Fox's Bones managed an impressive 10.83m at 8pm, then the audience dropped to 6.33m during the 9pm screening of Fringe. Repeats of FlashForward and Grey's Anatomy grabbed 3.95m and 4.87m at 8pm and 9pm respectively for ABC, then 3.91m watched a Private Practice rerun at 10pm. The CW reruns performed as follows: The Vampire Diaries put in 1.85m at 8pm, and Supernatural took 1.42m at 9pm.

Dollhouse hit a season high on Friday night, according to the latest viewing figures. The first episode of the evening, titled 'Stop-Loss', put in 2.72m during the 8pm hour, topping the previous high of 2.57m for the second season premiere. The next episode followed, bringing in 2.09m. Over on NBC, Law & Order and Dateline logged 8.77m and 9.27m at 8pm and 9pm respectively, then The Jay Leno Show had 5.84m at 10pm. ABC's Supernanny drew 4.63m at 8pm, Ugly Betty managed 4.8m at 9pm, then 7.26m watched 20/20 at 10pm. Yes, Virginia took 5.27m for CBS at 8pm, then a Big Bang Theory rerun attracted 4.55m at 8.30pm. Repeats of Medium and Numb3rs managed 4.08m and 5.38m at 9pm and 10pm respectively.

ABC struggled in Saturday night ratings without any football coverage, overnight viewing figures show. A rerun of The Polar Express, which aired between 8pm and 10pm, averaged 4.02m, then a Castle repeat took 3.7m at 10pm. Last week, Dr. Pepper Big 12 Championship logged 11.31m for the Alphabet network across primetime. Over on Fox, Cops attracted 5.39m during the 8pm hour, then the audience climbed to 5.48m during the 9pm screening of America's Most Wanted. CBS's reruns performed as follows: Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer had 4.36m at 9pm, 4.44m watched the 9pm Flight Before Christmas, and a new episode of 48 Hours Mystery was seen by 5.42m at 10pm. NBC's screening of It's A Wonderful Life averaged 4.54m between 8pm and 11pm.

Four young actors have been cast in MTV's Teen Wolf remake. Tyler Posey, Tyler Hoechlin, Crystal Reed and Dylan O'Brien joined the pilot presentation, written by Criminal Minds scribe Jeff Davis, says The Hollywood Reporter. In the original 1985 comedy, a teenager played by Michael J. Fox discovers that he is a werewolf and becomes the most popular boy in school. The MTV pilot is reportedly a mixture of genres, including dramatic thriller, romance and buddy comedy. Posey will play nerdy high schooler Scott, who receives new powers after a wolf attack. O'Brien has been cast as Scott's best friend and Reed will portray his possible love interest. Hoechin is to take on the role of a predatory werewolf boy. Davis is producing alongside Marty Adelstein and Rene Echevarria.


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I often wonder how I'm going to die. You don't want to embarrass friends.

From digitalspy

James Frain has been cast in a recurring role on HBO series True Blood. The Tudors star will portray Franklin Mott, the vampire boyfriend of Tara (Rutina Wesley), reports Entertainment Weekly. The 41-year-old British actor is to make his first appearance in the second episode of the show's forthcoming third season. Frain has also appeared in Invasion and 24. He will next be seen in Tron Legacy.

WGA Awards TV nominations

Drama Series
Breaking Bad
Dexter
Friday Night Lights
Lost
Mad Men

Comedy Series
30 Rock
Curb Your Enthusiasm
Glee
Modern Family
The Office

New Series
Glee
The Good Wife
Hung
Modern Family
Nurse Jackie

Episodic Drama
'Broken, Part 1 and Part 2' (House)
'Come, Ye Saints' (Big Love)
'The Grown Ups' (Mad Men)
'Guy Walks into an Advertising Agency' (Mad Men)
'I Will Rise Up' (True Blood)
'Phoenix' (Breaking Bad)

Episodic Comedy
'Apollo, Apollo' (30 Rock)
'Broke' (The Office) - NBC
'Chapter 1' (Eastbound & Down)
'Gossip' (The Office)
'Pilot' (Modern Family)
'Reunion' (30 Rock)

Long Form - Original
Georgia O'Keeffe
Grey Gardens
Pedro

Long Form - Adaptation
America
Taking Chance

Animation
'The Burns and the Bees' (The Simpsons)
'Eeny Teeny Maya, Moe' (The Simpsons)
'Gone Maggie Gone' (The Simpsons)
'Take My Life, Please' (The Simpsons)
'Wedding for Disaster' (The Simpsons)

Comedy/Variety - (Including Talk) Series
Real Time with Bill Maher
Saturday Night Live
The Colbert Report
The Daily Show with Jon Stewart
The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien

Daytime Serial
All My Children
As the World Turns
One Life to Live
The Young and the Restless

Children's Episodic and Specials
'A Monster Problem' (Imagination Movers)
'Frankly, It’s Becoming a Habitat' (Sesame Street)
'Mouse and Home' (Imagination Movers)
'The Rival' (True Jackson, VP)
'Welcome to the Jungle' (The Troop)
'Wild Nature Survivor Guy' (Sesame Street)

Children's Script - Long Form or Special
'Another Cinderella Story'

Documentary - Current Events
'Black Money' (Frontline)
'Heat' (Frontline)
'The Hugo Chávez Show' (Frontline)
'Inside the Meltdown' (Frontline)
'The Madoff Affair' (Frontline)
'Poisoned Waters' (Frontline)

Documentary - Other Than Current Events
'The Assassination of Abraham Lincoln' (American Experience)
'The National Parks: Americas Best Idea, Episode Two: 1890-1915: The Last Refuge'
'The Trials of J. Robert Oppenheimer' (American Experience)
'Soul of a People: Writing America’s Story'
'We Shall Remain: Episode Three: Trail of Tears' (American Experience)
'We Shall Remain: Episode Two: Tecumseh’s Vision' (American Experience)

News - Regularly Scheduled, Bulletin or Breaking Report
CBS Evening News
'Recession Candy'
World News with Charles Gibson

News - Analysis, Feature or Commentary
'All Night Long' (Good Morning America)
'A Private War: Expose: America’s Investigative Reports' (Bill Moyers Journal)
'Election Day' (Bill Moyers Journal)
'Financial Fingers' (CBS News)
'The Words That Won the White House' (Good Morning America)

NBC has unveiled its midseason schedule, including return dates for show including Chuck and The Office. The much-anticipated return of Chuck falls Sunday, January 11, with a special two-hour premiere from 9pm. It will then air Mondays at 8pm from January 11. Parenthood will fill the gap left by Heroes beginning March 1. Tuesday, January 5 sees The Biggest Loser return for its new season, airing in a regular 8pm-10pm slot. Mercy and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit will be paired Wednesdays. Thursday night continues its comedy quest, with Community and Parks & Recreation making up the 8pm hour, and The Office and 30 Rock teaming at 9pm. Law & Order and Dateline will air 8pm and 9pm Fridays, while Saturday will continue to house reruns. The Marriage Ref and The Celebrity Apprentice both premiere Sunday, March 14, and will air from then on at 8pm and 9pm respectively. The Jay Leno Show keeps its 10pm weeknight slot.

Clyde Phillips has quit his role as showrunner on Dexter. According to The Hollywood Reporter, 24 co-executive producer Chip Johannessen has been tapped to take over from Phillips on the Showtime drama series. Phillips said that it was a "hugely difficult decision", adding that he "had complicated feelings about it". "I lived with the people on the show for four years that were the high point of my career. But I was missing out on my family. I need to be part of my own life, immerse into my own life," he said. Showtime entertainment president Robert Greenblatt said of his departure: "Clyde Phillips has made an enormous contribution to the phenomenal success of Dexter for the past four years, but we know he needs to spend more time with his family on the East Coast than he spends with the Dexter family in LA. "We reluctantly say goodbye to him at a turning point in the series, but fellow Dexter executive producers Sara Colleton and John Goldwyn have chosen a great successor - Chip Johannessen, who has been a key producer of 24 for the past two years. "We're confident that he will bring intelligence, emotion and great storytelling to the next chapter of Dexter." The season four finale of Dexter pulled in 2.6m viewers on Sunday, making it Showtime's most-watched original series episode ever.


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I often wonder how I'm going to die. You don't want to embarrass friends.

From digitalspy

Simon Cowell has insisted that he will bring The X Factor to American TV. However, the record label boss and reality TV judge played down tabloid reports that he is planning to take the show to Las Vegas with the assistance of business partner Philip Green. "The relationship I have with Philip is a commercial interest in my company. It is not him and me taking things away and creating these huge things. It is us maximising the business," he told Newsnight. " is not going to be in Las Vegas. The guys who produce the shows want it be in Los Angeles, so it will be in Los Angeles. Maybe we will do a couple of shows in Vegas - the final shows. "X Factor has to go to America. These shows are shown in 20, 30 countries, so you have a local version. To not make the X Factor in the biggest market in the world would be crazy." Cowell also hinted that he would be interested in developing a politics TV show in the future.

Christmas at the White House: An Oprah Primetime Special performed well for ABC on Sunday night, the latest viewing figures show. The holiday special, which included an interview with Obama, a conversation with the First Couple, and a tour of the White House, put in 11.83m for the Alphabet network during the 10pm hour. Earlier, a two-hour Extreme Makeover: Home Edition special grabbed 10.24m between 8pm and 10pm. NBC's coverage of Philadelphia's game against the NY Giants averaged 18.94m between 8.30pm and 11pm, easily topping its rivals and leading the Peacock network to a primetime victory. Over on Fox, The Simpsons and The Cleveland Show attracted 7.11m and 6.52m during the 8pm hour, then Family Guy had 7.68m at 9.30pm. American Dad followed at 9.30pm, drawing 6.19m. A rerun of The Mentalist grabbed 10.54m for CBS at 8pm, 9.9m watched Cold Case at 9pm, and the 10pm Criminal Minds drew 8.87m.

VH1 has announced plans to produce a spinoff of its Tough Love series. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the cable network has placed an order for Tough Love: Couples, which will see couples put their relationships to the test. Five pairs who are on the verge of becoming engaged will see their love placed under the microscope at boot camp, after which professional matchmaker Steve Ward will offer them advice on whether or not they are right for each other. Earlier this year, VH1 ordered a second season of the dating-themed reality show.

Golden Globes 2010: The Nominees

Television

Best Drama Series
Big Love
Dexter
House
Mad Men
True Blood

Best Comedy or Musical Series
30 Rock
Entourage
Glee
Modern Family
The Office

Best Miniseries or TV Movie
Georgia O'Keeffe
Grey Gardens
Into the Storm
Little Dorrit
Taking Chance

Best Actor in a Television Drama
Simon Baker (The Mentalist)
Jon Hamm (Mad Men)
Michael C. Hall (Dexter)
Hugh Laurie (House)
Bill Paxton (Big Love)

Best Actress in a Television Drama
Glenn Close (Damages)
January Jones (Mad Men)
Julianna Margulies (The Good Wife)
Anna Paquin (True Blood)
Kyra Sedgwick (The Closer)

Best Actor in a Comedy Series
Alec Baldwin (30 Rock)
Steve Carell (The Office)
David Duchovny (Californication)
Matthew Morrison (Glee)
Thomas Jane (Hung)

Best Actress in a Comedy Series
Tina Fey (30 Rock)
Edie Falco (Nurse Jackie)
Toni Collette (The United States of Tara)
Lea Michele (Glee)
Courteney Cox (Cougar Town)

Best Actor in a Miniseries or TV Movie
Kevin Bacon (Taking Chance)
Kenneth Branagh (Wallender)
Chiwetel Ejiofor (Endgame)
Brendan Gleeson (Into the Storm)
Jeremy Irons (Georgia O'Keeffe)

Best Actress in a Miniseries or TV Movie
Joan Allen (Georgia O'Keefe)
Drew Barrymore (Grey Gardens)
Jessica Lange (Grey Gardens)
Anna Paquin (The Courageous Heart of Irena Sendler)
Sigourney Weaver (Prayers for Bobby)

Best Supporting Actor
Jeremy Piven (Entourage)
Neil Patrick Harris (How I Met Your Mother)
William Hurt (Damages)
John Lithgow (Dexter)
Michael Emerson (Lost)

Best Supporting Actress
Jane Lynch (Glee)
Rose Byrne (Damages)
Janet McTeer (Into the Storm)
Jane Adams (Hung)
Chloe Sevigny (Big Love)

Movies

Best Film (Drama)
Avatar
The Hurt Locker
Inglourious Basterds
Precious
Up In The Air

Best Film (Musical or Comedy)
(500) Days of Summer
The Hangover
It's Complicated
Julie & Julia
Nine

Best Director
Kathryn Bigelow (The Hurt Locker)
James Cameron (Avatar)
Clint Eastwood (Invictus)
Jason Reitman (Up in the Air)
Quentin Tarantino (Inglorious Basterds)

Best Actor (Drama)
Jeff Bridges (Crazy Heart)
George Clooney (Up in the Air)
Colin Firth (A Single Man)
Morgan Freeman (Invictus)
Tobey Maguire (Brothers)

Best Actress (Drama)
Emily Blunt (The Young Victoria)
Sandra Bullock (The Blind Side)
Helen Mirren (The Last Station)
Carey Mulligan (An Education)
Gabourey Sidibe (Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire)

Best Actor (Musical or Comedy)
Matt Damon (The Informant!)
Daniel Day-Lewis (Nine)
Robert Downey Jr. (Sherlock Holmes)
Joseph Gordon-Levitt ((500) Days of Summer)
Michael Stuhlbarg (A Serious Man)

Best Actress (Musical or Comedy)
Sandra Bullock (The Proposal)
Marion Cotillard (Nine)
Julia Roberts (Duplicity)
Meryl Streep (It's Complicated)
Meryl Streep (Julie & Julia)

Best Supporting Actor
Christoph Waltz (Inglourious Basterds)
Matt Damon (Invictus)
Woody Harrelson (The Messenger)
Christopher Plummer (Station)
Stanley Tucci (Bones)

Best Supporting Actress
Penelope Cruz (Nine)
Vera Farmiga (Up in the Air)
Anna Kendrick (Up in the Air)
Mo'Nique (Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire)
Julianne Moore (A Single Man)

Best Foreign Language Film
Baaria
Broken Embraces
The Maid (La Nana)
A Prophet
The White Ribbon

Best Animated Feature Film
Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs
Coraline
Fantastic Mr. Fox
The Princess and the Frog
Up

Best Screenplay
Neill Blomkamp (District 9)
Mark Boal (The Hurt Locker)
Nancy Meyers (It's Complicated)
Jason Reitman (Up in the Air)
Quentin Tarantino (Inglorious Basterds)

Best Original Song
'Cinema Italiano' (Nine)
'I Want to Come Home' (Everybody's Fine)
'I Will See You' (Avatar)
'The Weary Kind (Theme from Crazy Heart)' (Crazy Heart)
'Winter' (Brothers)

Best Original Score
Michael Giacchino (Up)
Marvin Hamlisch (The Informant!)
James Horner (Avatar)
Abel Korzeniowski (A Single Man)
Karen O, Carter Burwell (Where the Wild Things Are)


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I often wonder how I'm going to die. You don't want to embarrass friends.

From digitalspy

Modern Family star Jesse Tyler Ferguson is to reprise his role as Betty's orthodontist on ABC's Ugly Betty. Ferguson will appear as Dr Farkus on the January 6 episode, Betty's first airing in its new Wednesday night timeslot, reports Entertainment Weekly. Ferguson's scene was inserted into the episode after ABC asked the producers to do something special for its first Wednesday night outing. The 34-year-old has also appeared on the sitcoms Do Not Disturb and The Class.

Jennifer Hudson: I’ll Be Home For Christmas pulled in 5.56m for ABC on Monday night, the latest viewing figures show. The Christmas special, which saw the Idol star relive her childhood holidays with musical performances filmed in her favourite locations, came fourth during the 8pm hour. It was beaten by a rerun of House, which logged 6.7m for Fox. A repeat of The CW's Vampire Diaries managed 1.62m. CBS came top during the hour with How I Met Your Mother and Accidentally On Purpose, which took 10.22m and 9.33m at 8pm and 8.30pm respectively. CBS also won the 9pm hour with Two And A Half Men and The Big Bang Theory, which had 16.33m and 15.56m respectively. Lie To Me put in 6.59m for Fox, 5.44m watched Find My Family on ABC, and a second Vampire Diaries repeat grabbed 1.42m for The CW. The two-hour premiere of NBC's The Sing Off averaged 6.91m between 8pm and 10pm. At 10pm, CSI: Miami drew 14.06m for CBS, The Jay Leno Show had 4.77m for NBC, and 4.3m tuned in for a Castle repeat on ABC.

The latest episode of Family Guy has drawn criticism from a US regulatory group. The Parents Television Council has called on its members to protest last Sunday's instalment of the animated Fox comedy, in which a stripper gives a lapdance to one of the characters who becomes so aroused that they then die from a heart attack. "Apparently, Fox must believe that because the programme is animated, it can air anything it wants on Family Guy no matter how inappropriate or indecent," PTC president Tim Winter said in a statement. "Fox hides behind satire and animation as an 'excuse' to air the foulest material imaginable, but Fox needs to learn that broadcast decency laws apply to all broadcast programming aired during the time when children are most likely to be watching, and we urge our members to file indecency complaints with the Federal Communications Commission over this episode."

Joe Manganiello has joined the cast of HBO's True Blood. The One Tree Hill actor is to take on the role of werewolf Alcide for the show's forthcoming third season, reports HitFix. Alcide is a werewolf enlisted by Eric to help Sookie track down a kidnapped Bill in Charlaine Harris's The Southern Vampire Mysteries book series.

Gilmore Girls actress Kelly Bishop has signed to star on NBC drama Mercy. The 65-year-old will play a patient of Sonia (Jamie Lee Kirchner) named Elaine for a multi-episode arc, says Entertainment Weekly. No airdate has been announced for Bishop's forthcoming episodes. Bishop will next be seen in big screen romance It's Not You.


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I often wonder how I'm going to die. You don't want to embarrass friends.

From digitalspy

The remaining episodes of The Beautiful Life will air on YouTube, Ashton Kutcher has announced. The Kutcher-produced series, which starred Mischa Barton and Elle Macpherson, enjoyed a short-lived run earlier this year before it was axed by The CW due to poor ratings. "Given the rise of social media and the scale of online consumer reach, original content producers like Katalyst are turning to the Web to connect mass audiences with high-quality entertainment programming," Kutcher said. "When The Beautiful Life concluded on broadcast television, we were deluged by fans imploring us to bring back TBL. "Working with innovative companies like HP and YouTube, we are thrilled to be ending this year by releasing the remaining episodes of The Beautiful Life and taking part in a unique marketing program that could only occur online." A new episode will debut online today, with two more following Monday, December 21.

Comedy Central has ordered a 25-episode second season of Tosh.0, reports HitFix. The star of the show, comedian Daniel Tosh, inked a deal with the cable network for another season as well as a stand-up comedy special, subsequent CD/DVD releases and a national stand-up tour. "Daniel is extremely talented, incredibly funny and a perfect fit for our audience," said Comedy Central president Michele Ganeless in a statement. He added: "We're excited about the new season of Tosh.0 and look forward to showcasing him on all these platforms." New episodes of Tosh.0 will premiere on Wednesday, January 13 at 10.30pm.

Gordon Ramsay: Cookalong Live drew 4.01m for Fox on Tuesday, the latest viewing figures show. Earlier in the evening, 6.3m had seen So You Think You Can Dance, which aired in the 8pm hour. Over on CBS, NCIS drew 20.55m at 8pm, 17.36m watched NCIS : Los Angeles at 9pm, and the 10pm episode of Good Wife had 14.08m. A two-hour edition of The Sing Off managed 6.95m for NBC between 8pm and 10pm, then 5.23m tuned in for The Jay Leno Show at 10pm. A Charlie Brown Christmas took 6.57m for ABC at 8pm, then the audience dropped to 4.27m during the 9pm screening of Scrubs. Better Off Ted followed at 9.30pm, bringing in 3.19m, then 3.33m watched The Forgotten at 10pm. Reruns of The Vampire Diaries put in 1.37m and 1.38m at 8pm and 9pm on The CW.

Vogue's American editor-at-large André Leon Talley has reportedly signed on as the fourth judge in the new season of America's Next Top Model. According to the Los Angeles Times, The CW has confirmed that he will join Tyra Banks, Miss J Alexander and Nigel Barker on the judging panel for the 14th cycle. Reports that Talley had joined the show first surfaced in the New Zealand media, where the upcoming season is thought to be currently filming. The Cassius blog stated: "Tyra, Nigel, Jay M, Jay A, and new judge, Vogue editor-at-large André Leon Talley, have been in Auckland since the first week of December, and we're not kidding when we say everyone is obsessed with spotting or stalking them like an endangered species." Talley has been editor-at-large at Vogue since 1998. The CW has yet to confirm a premiere date for the new season.

Kimora Lee Simmons has reportedly denied speculation that she will return to America's Next Top Model. Reports had suggested that the Baby Phat designer, who was a judge in the first cycle of the CW show, would return for the upcoming 14th cycle. However, speaking to NY Mag, her representative said: "It is simply not true. Kimora is not involved as a judge, a guest judge or in any other manner at this time."


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I often wonder how I'm going to die. You don't want to embarrass friends.

From digitalspy

The Screen Actors Guild has announced the nominations for its 16th annual awards ceremony. Inglourious Basterds, Precious and Up in the Air lead with three nods each. Basterds and Precious are both nominated for 'Outstanding Performance By A Motion Picture Cast', alongside Nine, The Hurt Locker and An Education. The Hurt Locker's Jeremy Renner nabbed a 'Lead Actor In A Motion Picture' nomination, along with Jeff Bridges for Crazy Heart, George Clooney for Up in the Air, Colin Firth for A Single Man and Morgan Freeman for Invictus. Sandra Bullock repeated her showing as a Golden Globe nominee by scoring SAG's equivalent award for The Blind Side, next to Meryl Streep for Julie and Julia, Gabourey Sidibe for Precious, Carey Mulligan for An Education and Helen Mirren for The Last Station. In TV, SAG delivered three nominations each to Dexter, The Closer and 30 Rock. Betty White will be honoured with SAG's 46th annual 'Life Achievement' prize when the awards are held on January 23 at the Shrine Exposition Centre in Los Angeles. The ceremony will be broadcast live by TNT and TBS.

SAG Movie Nominations
SAG TV Nominations


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I often wonder how I'm going to die. You don't want to embarrass friends.

From digitalspy

Amanda Seyfried will leave HBO’s Big Love at the end of its fourth season. The Mamma Mia! actress has played Bill Paxton’s daughter Sarah since 2006. She is leaving the show to pursue a film career full-time, reports TV Guide. "She's been exploring her movie career for a couple of years now, and we've been giving her a lot of room to do that,” said Big Love creator Will Scheffer. "I know having a commitment to a show for six months definitely cuts into her ability to pursue that career." Seyfried will depart the show in the eighth episode of season four. Big Love returns to HBO with new episodes in January.

Lindsay Pulsipher has joined the cast of HBO vampire drama True Blood. Pulsipher, who previously starred in A&E’s The Beast alongside Patrick Swayze, will take on the recurring role of Crystal on the show, reports Entertainment Weekly. Crystal is described as a haunting young woman who has an "electric connection" with Jason (Ryan Kwanten). Her casting follows a number of announcements for True Blood’s forthcoming third season. The most recent actor to join the show is One Tree Hill's Joe Manganiello.

ABC has ordered a comedy pilot titled Awkward Situations for Men. The project, described by Variety as a "hybrid comedy", was co-written by and stars UK comic Danny Wallace. The pilot takes its inspiration from Wallace's forthcoming book of the same name, in which his personality and behaviour clash with his new American neighbours. That '70s Show scribes Jeff and Jackie Filgo co-wrote the script. Jim Carrey's 2008 movie Yes Man was also based on a book by Wallace.

ABC's World News anchor Charles Gibson has retired after 34 years with the network. The 66-year-old joined ABC in 1975 and served two stints as co-host of Good Morning America. He was also an anchor of the Primetime news magazine. Gibson delayed his retirement to take the World News anchor job in 2006 after predecessor Peter Jenning died of lung cancer. Signing off for the last time on Friday, he said: "It’s hard to walk away from what I honestly think is the best job in the world - but my parents taught me you should understay - not overstay your welcome. "And there is so much to do. In the years I have left, I don’t want to miss any of it." He will be succeeded by his former Good Morning America co-anchor Diane Sawyer on Monday.

White Collar has been renewed for a second season, according to reports. The Hollywood Reporter says that the programme's creator and executive producer Jeff Eastin announced the news on his Twitter page. "Congratulations to the best cast and crew on television," he said. The move has been confirmed by USA Network, but no details have been released about when the second season will premiere. The show stars Matthew Bomer and Tiffani Thiessen and is about a conman who starts working for the FBI. It will return for the second part of its first season in January.


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I often wonder how I'm going to die. You don't want to embarrass friends.

From digitalspy

The upcoming season of Survivor has been named Heroes Vs. Villains, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Speaking during last night's Survivor Samoa live finale, host Jeff Probst hinted that the 20th instalment of the competition would see memorable contestants from past seasons returning. The names of the 20 contestants have yet not been revealed. It is understood that the upcoming season was filmed back-to-back with Survivor Samoa and will also take place in Samoa. The 20th season of Survivor will premiere February 11 on CBS.

CBS will premiere new reality show Undercover Boss after Super Bowl XLIV on February 7, it has been announced. The new series follows top executives as they anonymously take entry-level jobs at their company and see how their previous decisions have affected lower-wage employees. Executives from White Castle, 7-Eleven, Hooters, Waste Management and Churchill Downs have already been confirmed for the first season. It is the first time since 2005 that a new series will be aired after the Super Bowl. Five years previously, Fox debuted American Dad after the game, but it was paired with veteran series The Simpsons. The first episode of Undercover Boss will feature Larry O'Donnell, president and COO of Waste Management, as he cleans porta-potties and works at a recycling plant.

Sesame Street actress Alaina Reed Hall has died at the age of 63 after a lengthy battle with breast cancer. Hall passed away on December 17 in Los Angeles, reports the Springfield News-Sun. She called her role as Sesame Street's Olivia "the best job I ever had". Hall appeared on the long-running PBS children's educational programme from 1976 to the mid-1980s. She also co-starred in the 1980s sitcom 227 and appeared in films including Death Becomes Her and Cruel Intentions.

Saturday Night Live and NBC have been forced to perform damage control after mocking Brittany Murphy two weeks before her death. According to The AP, the late-night sketch show had Abby Elliott portray Murphy as "spacey and living in the past" during its 'Weekend Update' segment. At the time, the actress had been fired from a film project. The 32-year-old died on Sunday of cardiac arrest. The investigation into her passing is ongoing. The sketch has now been removed from Hulu.com, a video website co-owned by NBC Universal. The removal reportedly prompted bloggers and users to question the bit's tastefulness and the decision to remove it without notification. A publicist for Saturday Night Live did not respond to requests for comment.


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I often wonder how I'm going to die. You don't want to embarrass friends.

From digitalspy

Mia Kirshner has joined the cast of The CW's The Vampire Diaries. The L Word star is to appear on the vampire drama on a recurring basis, says Entertainment Weekly. She will take on the role of Isobel, a dangerous woman married to history teacher Alaric (Matt Davis). Parts of the January 21 episode are reportedly being reshot to include scenes featuring Kirshner.

Starz has ordered a second season of Spartacus: Blood and Sand before airing the show's first episode. The first season premieres on January 22. Production on a thirteen-episode second run is to begin in early 2010 in New Zealand, reports Variety. "Starz is committed to producing original dramas and to give the actors and writers plenty of time to prepare for a second season," Stephan Shelanski, Starz exec VP of programming said. He added: "There was no downside to waiting longer, but we wanted to make the announcement now as a vote of confidence and to say how much we believe in the show." The second season is to be titled Spartacus: Vengeance. The series, produced by Sam Raimi, stars Andy Whitfield, Lucy Lawless, John Hannah and Peter Mensah.

Survivor: Samoa continued to perform well for CBS Thursday night, the latest viewing figures show. The penultimate episode of the season, which saw another contestant eliminated, drew 12.45m during the 8pm hour. Later on the Eye network, 15.51m watched CSI at 9pm, then The Mentalist put in a respectable 15.72m during the 10pm hour. Over on NBC, SNL: A Very Gilly Christmas averaged 7.76m between 8pm and 10pm, then 5.2m tuned in for The Jay Leno Show. A double bill of Grey's Anataomy repeats logged 3.89m and 4.06m for ABC at 8pm and 9pm, then 3.11m watched a Private Practice encore at 10pm. Reruns of Bones and Fringe took 6.87m and 3.93m for Fox at 8pm and 9pm respectively. The CW's week-long Vampire Diaries marathon continued, pulling in 1.88m at 8pm, then 1.87m at 9pm.

Dollhouse failed to maintain its high ratings Friday night, according to the latest viewing figures. The latest episodes, which aired at 8pm and 9pm, drew 2.1m and 2m respectively, down significantly from last week's season high of 2.72m. CBS scheduled reruns for evening: Frosty The Snowman and Frosty Returns logged 7m and 6.51m during the 8pm hour, then 4.51m watched Medium at 9pm. The 10pm episode of Numb3rs followed, drawing 5.35m. Over on ABC, Supernanny attracted 4.1m at 8pm, then two episodes of 20/20 had 5.39m and 6.72m at 9pm and 10pm. A Law & Order rerun took 6.2m for NBC at 8pm, then the audience dropped to 5.99m during the 9pm screening of Dateline. The Jay Leno Show followed at 10pm, bringing in 5.56m. The CW's double bill of Vampire Diaries repeats both managed 1.4m at 8pm and 9pm.

America's Most Wanted was the most-watched programme during Saturday night primetime, the latest viewing figures show. The 9pm screening pulled in 5.09m for Fox, easily winning the hour. Earlier, a double bill of Cops repeats logged 4.69m, coming first during the 8pm hour. ABC's showing of The Santa Clause put in 4.66m between 8pm and 10pm, then a Castle rerun logged 3.79m at 10pm. Over on CBS, Elf averaged 3.7m between 8pm and 10pm, then the audience climbed to 4.76m during a new episode of 48 Hours Mystery at 10pm. Muppets Christmas: Letters To Santa grabbed 2.3m for NBC at 8pm, then 2.39m watched WWE Tribute To The Troops at 9pm. A rerun of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit followed at 10pm, drawing 3.99m.



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I often wonder how I'm going to die. You don't want to embarrass friends.

From digitalspy

CBS's Survivor: Samoa finale was beaten by NBC's Sunday Night Football, according to the latest viewing figures. Minnesota's game against Carolina averaged 15.78m between 8.30pm and 11pm, compared to Survivor's 14.07m across the 8pm-10pm period. NBC's coverage of the match also beat the Eye network across each individual hour. Later on CBS, a reunion special of Survivor logged 12.18m during the 10pm hour. Santa Clause 3 put in 7.06m for ABC between 8pm and 10pm, then the audience dropped to 4.02m during the 10pm rerun of Desperate Housewives. Over on Fox, The Simpsons and The Cleveland Show put in 8.22m and 5.92m during the 8pm hour, then 6.29m watched Family Guy at 9pm. American Dad followed at 9.30pm, bringing in 5.15m.

HBO is developing a series based on Ricky Gervais's popular podcasts. Gervais will be a star voice in The Ricky Gervais Show, a 13-episode animated programme due to premiere in early 2010, says The Hollywood Reporter. Stephen Merchant, the comedian's collaborator, and friend Karl Pilkington will also give voice to characters. The series will revolve around Pilkington's "musings". The Ricky Gervais Show will premiere February 19 on HBO.

ABC has ordered a multicamera comedy pilot called Women Are Crazy, Men Are Stupid. The pilot is based on the book of the same name by Howard Morris and Jenny Lee, says The Hollywood Reporter. The story centres on a couple who have both been married before. Morris and Lee also scripted the episode, produced by Elliot Webb. The network has not announced casting for the project.

Base Productions is nearing a deal with a cable network for a reality show that features a head-mounted police camera. The Hollywood Reporter says that the series is similar to Cops, and will make use of footage from AXON head-mounted cameras. The show will offer viewers the chance to see police work from an officer’s point of view. The project’s working title is POV-PD. The production is part of a deal with Base and Taser, the camera’s manufacturer. "POV-PD will provide a new platform of longform television to show the public the challenges and heroic actions of law enforcement, recorded from the visual perspective of the men and women who put their lives on the line every day," said Rick Smith, Taser International CEO.

The latest edition of The Sing Off performed well for NBC Monday night, the latest ratings figures show. The two-hour screening averaged 7.25m for the Peacock network between 8pm and 10pm, representing a new high for the series. The previous high came during its opening episode, which took 6.91m on Monday, December 14. Later on NBC, 5.84m tuned in for The Jay Leno Show at 10pm. CBS's reruns performed as follows: How I Met Your Mother and Accidentally On Purpose pulled in 5.71m and 5.43m during the 8pm hour, then 10.74m watched Two And A Half Men at 9pm. The Big Bang Theory followed at 9.30pm, bringing in 9.95m, then CSI: Miami had 8.62m during the 10pm hour. Over on ABC, I Want a Dog For Christmas, Charlie Brown managed 5.85m at 8pm, Find My Family drew 4.83m at 9pm, and a Castle repeat logged 4.4m at 10pm. Fox's House repeat took 4.91m during the 8pm hour, then 4.06m watched a Lie To Me reairing at 9pm. Reruns of One Tree Hill and Gossip Girl put in 910k and 680k for The CW at 8pm and 9pm respectively.


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I often wonder how I'm going to die. You don't want to embarrass friends.

From digitalspy

Fox is apparently close to announcing a deal for three more seasons of American Idol, regardless of whether Simon Cowell returns as a judge. The network's current contract keeps Idol on air until 2011, but the new deal would guarantee its future until a thirteenth season in 2014. Cowell is only contracted for the upcoming ninth season of Idol, after which he is widely expected to quit in order to launch a US version of The X Factor on Fox in 2011. The Hollywood Reporter claims that Fox is attempting to persuade Cowell to take a smaller role on Idol in 2011. One possible scenario being discussed would see Cowell judging only the Hollywood rounds but not the auditions. American Idol returns January 12 on Fox.

Scrubs hit a new season low Tuesday night, according to the latest ratings figures. The 9pm screening of episode five pulled in 3.55m - down around 720k on last week's performance. Post-Scrubs, 2.88m stayed with ABC for Better Off Ted. Elsewhere during the 9pm hour, a rerun of NCIS: Los Angeles took 12.33m for CBS, and The CW's Melrose Place repeat had 652k. Earlier, at 8pm, re-airings of NCIS and 90210 grabbed 15.38m and 1.06m for CBS and The CW respectively. ABC's repeat of America’s Funniest Home Videos put in 5.67m across the hour. A rerun of NBC's The Biggest Loser: Where Are They Now? averaged 4.3m between 8pm and 10pm, beating Fox's Carrie Underwood: Holiday Special repeat, which had 4.08m across the same period. At 10pm, reruns of The Good Wife and Christimas At The White House: Oprah Special drew 9m and 3.29m for CBS and ABC respectively, while NBC's The Jay Leno Show was seen by 5.17m.

A Home For The Holidays With Faith Hill performed well for CBS last night, early viewing figures show. The 11th annual show, which celebrates adoption, pulled in 6.39m for CBS during the 8pm hour, coming first in its slot. Elsewhere at 8pm, reruns of Glee and Mercy logged 3.58m and 3.66m for Fox and NBC respectively, while The CW's re-airing of One Tree Hill was seen by 910k. Over on ABC, repeats of How The Grinch Stole Christmas and The Middle grabbed 6.76m and 5.46m. CBS also won the 9pm hour, interesting 10.23m with a Criminal Minds repeat. Other reruns performed as follows: Fox's Glee grabbed 3.86m, 2.72m watched Mercy on NBC, and The CW's Gossip Girl took 510k. Modern Family and The Middle managed 5.56m and 4.34m for ABC. At 10pm, 10.22m watched a CSI: New York repeat on CBS, two Cougar Town re-airings averaged 3.56m for ABC, and NBC's The Jay Leno Show had 4.58m.

CBS topped the Christmas Eve ratings, the latest viewing figures show. Every program across primetime was a repeat, but CBS came out on top with its lineup of CSI and The Mentalist. At 8pm, 5.18m watched CSI: New York, the original CSI logged 7.17m during the 9pm hour, and the 10pm screening of The Mentalist put in 8.18m. Over on ABC, Disney Prep & Landing and The Middle attracted 3.33m and 2.72m during the 8pm hour, then 3.36m tuned in for Modern Family at 9pm. Cougar Town managed 2.67m at 9.30pm, then the audience dipped to 2.18m during the 10pm screening of Grey's Anatomy. Bones interested 3.57m for Fox at 8pm, then the audience dropped to 2.44m during Fringe, which aired at 9pm. The Vampire Diaries and Supernatural grabbed 957k and 946k for The CW at 8pm and 9pm respectively. NBC's screening of It's A Wonderful Life averaged 5.31m between 8pm and 11pm.

Zachary Levi has said that his character Chuck could become a more successful spy. Levi told Parade that he has been longing to have more action scenes in the comedy drama. He said: "For two years I've been waiting on the sidelines like, 'Put me in coach, let's go. I want to just kick everybody's butt'. So now I'm doing more than screaming like a little girl and running away. I get to do some kick-butt stuff but still be the hapless hero that's not quite a spy. But we're going that way." Levi also explained that Chuck will develop his espionage skills over time. "The idea is that, God willing, if we get to go seven years or however long NBC will have us, Chuck becomes basically like Jason Bourne," he said. "Well, sort of like him. He has all that in him. It just needs to be brought out of him as he finds his footing in this new espionage world. "It's got to be a slow burn. Chuck can't get there too quick, otherwise you've got nowhere to go." The third season of Chuck begins with a special two-hour premiere at 9pm on January 10 on NBC.


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I often wonder how I'm going to die. You don't want to embarrass friends.

From digitalspy

Reruns of Medium and Numb3rs led CBS to a Christmas Day victory, the latest viewing figures show. Despite Fox being the only network to schedule original programming, CBS came out on top, with NBC close behind. Ghost Whisperer attracted 3.78m to the Eye network at 8pm, then the audience climbed to 4.48m during the 9pm screening of Medium. Numb3rs followed at 10pm, drawing 4.26m. Over on NBC, SNL Presents: A Very Gilly Christmas averaged 4.57m between 8pm and 10pm, then 3.69m tuned in for The Jay Leno Show during the 10pm hour. Fox's double bill of Til Death grabbed 2.46m and 2.59 at 8pm and 9pm, beating last Friday's back-to-back Dollhouse, which managed 2.1m and 2m. Smallville and Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer put in 999k and 810k for The CW at 8pm and 9pm respectively, while Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest averaged 3.81m between 8pm and 11pm for ABC.

Fox was the most-watched network during Saturday night primetime, according to the latest viewing figures. A double bill of Cops repeats put in 4.72m and 5.08m during the 8pm hour before Most Wanted took 4.79m at 9pm. NBC's reruns performed as follows: Mercy and Law & Order had 2.45m and 3.93m at 8pm and 9pm respectively, then 4.65m watched Law & Order: Special Victims Unit at 10pm. Over on CBS, repeats of Medium and 48 Hours Mystery grabbed 2.63m and 4.04m at 8pm and 9pm, then an original 48 Hours put in 5.49m at 10pm. ABC's screening of Shrek 2 managed 4.55m across primetime.

Tyra Banks has publicly announced that she is quitting her award-winning daytime chatshow The Tyra Show. The series is expected to end after its fifth season finishes in the spring. Banks told People: "This will be the last season of The Tyra Show. "I've been loving having fun, coming into your living rooms, bedrooms, hair salons for the past five years. "My next huge steps will allow me to reach more women and young girls to help us all feel as fierce as we truly are." An insider added: "Tyra is sad because she'll be missing so much of the daily connection to her viewers, but excited at the same time to be taking on a new challenge. "With Oprah's big announcement this year, I think that gave Tyra the confidence to get out there and follow her long-time dream of film producing." Meanwhile, Banks also wrote a letter on her website, saying: "There's a lot cooking right now and a lot of fire burning in my heart, and I salute you, my amazing family of viewers; without you there never would have been a Tyra Show. I really love you all."

Animated series The Boondocks is due to return for a third season in 2010, according to creator Aaron McGruder. Variety claims that McGruder announced the show's return on his Twitter feed. The writer-artist revealed that The Boondocks is currently in production and season three will appear early next year. The Boondocks aired for two seasons on Adult Swim, Comedy Central's late-night incarnation. It has been close to two years since the network has broadcast a new episode. It's unclear if the show's forthcoming season will air on Adult Swim or on a different network.

The Dallas Cowboys game against Washington Redskins led NBC to a Sunday night victory, the latest viewing figures show. The Sunday Night Football match, which aired between 8.30pm and 11pm, averaged 15.9m for the Peacock, easily beating its rivals. Over on CBS, 60 Minutes had 14.61m during the 8pm hour, then a rerun of Jesse Stone: Thin Ice took 10.74m between 9pm and 11pm. Fox's repeats performed as follows: The Simpsons and The Cleveland Show interested 4.16m and 4.2m during the 8pm hour, then 5.08m watched Family Guy at 9pm. American Dad, which aired at 9.30pm, drew 4.16m. ABC's screening of The Sound Of Music managed 6.41m across the 7pm-11pm period.

Kiefer Sutherland has said that he would like to work on a film version of 24. Sutherland, who plays Jack Bauer in the drama, added that he would love the movie to be set in Europe. According to The Mirror, he said: "We've been perpetuating the rumour for years!" Sutherland continued: "We've wanted to film all round Europe. I think one of the great things about Europe, especially if you're going to do something where a two-hour film represents 24 hours, then it's very feasible to get from Eastern Europe to London in seven hours. "It doesn't eat up all the time. Whereas if you're doing 24 episodes and you're trying to get, even from Miami to Washington, that's four episodes on a plane and people stop watching!" He added: "Europe has been something that we've all talked about as an opportunity for the film, which unfortunately just has not presented itself for us in the show."

A reality TV series set in the town made famous by Twilight is in the works. Reality TV producers are eying a programme set in Forks, WA, a US town that now dubs itself "the home of Twilight". According to WENN, casting is under way for a series about the daily lives of the area's residents. "Obviously we won't be out on the ocean or dealing with that kind of danger, but the idea is to show what life here is really like," said producer Zig Gauthier. He added that the project is not looking to spotlight any possible claims of supernatural activity from locals. Gauthier said: "We want people who have a true connection to the community. We want to avoid people with outlandish claims."


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I often wonder how I'm going to die. You don't want to embarrass friends.

From digitalspy

Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi has criticised the boycott of Jersey Shore. The MTV show has been the subject of controversy after UNICO, a group representing Italian-Americans, called for its cancellation. Meanwhile, companies including Domino's have decided not to advertise during the programme. However, Polizzi has now hit out at the boycott in an interview with Steppin' Out. "I just have one thing to say to Domino's, Dell, UNICO and all the other haters out there," she said. "F**k you! If you don't want to watch, don't watch. Just shut the hell up. I'm serious... F**k you!" Recent reports have claimed that the cast of Jersey Shore are charging up to $7,500 (£4,700) each to make personal appearances.

Comedy Central has opted not to renew The Jeff Dunham Show for a second season. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the sketch comedy will not be returning next season despite its debut as the most-watched series premiere in the cable network’s history, drawing 5.3 million viewers. 'We have no plans to renew the series at this time," a Comedy Central spokesperson revealed. The show's ratings slipped 55% for its second episode, but the series still earned more viewers than Comedy Central’s Tosh.0, which was recently renewed for a second season. The Hollywood Reporter cites the show’s cost of production and poor critical reception as reasons for its short run. Comedy Central still plans to move ahead with a Dunham TV special in 2010.

NBC is in talks to bring back the Jay Mohr-produced Last Comic Standing. The reality show, which ran for six seasons, awarded one stand-up comedian a special on Comedy Central and a development contract with NBC. Paul Telegedy, the channel's head of reality programming, is looking to change the show's format and oust host Bill Bellamy in time for the show to air as part of NBC's summer lineup. The show will reportedly air alongside America's Got Talent and Losing It With Jillian, a new weight-loss show with The Biggest Loser's Jillian Michaels.

Top Chef: Las Vegas contestants Bryan and Michael Voltaggio are to star in a new web series. The brothers will share hosting duties on the show, reports Slashfood. The series will focus on the chefs' favourite ingredients, techniques and gadgets. It will debut in January on the Voltaggio brothers' official website. Bryan, 33, is chef and partner at VOLT, a restaurant in Frederick, MD. Michael, 30, is Chef de Cuisine at the Dining Room at the Langham in Pasadena, CA.

Regis Philbin will return to Live With Regis And Kelly next week, according to ABC. The television host, 78, confirmed that he would be taking a break from the morning show last month in order to undergo hip replacement surgery. He will join co-host Kelly Ripa from January 4. The first shows of the new year will feature guests including Amy Adams, Precious star Gabourey Sidibe, Tim Allen, American Idol's Katharine McPhee and hero pilot Chelsey B. Sullenberger.


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I often wonder how I'm going to die. You don't want to embarrass friends.

From digitalspy

90210 star Matt Lanter has revealed that he believes the show will be renewed for a third season. Speaking exclusively to DS, the 26-year-old actor, who plays bad boy Liam Court on The CW drama, also admitted that he is happy to stick with the show "for a few more years". "This is not official, but I'm pretty sure that we're going to season three," he said. "I could see it going for four or five years. I'd love to be a part of it for a few more years to come." Lanter added that the show's second season will see Liam's family background explored further. "We've got his mum coming in and we also meet his step-dad in season two - who sent him off to boot camp - and we get to see his home life. "We see that his mum and him used to be this team - them two versus the world - and we see how his step-dad came in and ruined his life. He doesn't have a good relationship with him! That causes a lot of issues."

Jessica Lowndes has revealed that she supports the writers' decision to give her 90210 character a lesbian romance. It has previously been confirmed that Rumer Willis's character, Gia, will become romantically involved with Lowndes's Adrianna in the show's second season. Speaking exclusively to Digital Spy, Lowndes described the upcoming plot as "sweet". "Gia is somebody on Blaze news, she's in AA with Adrianna and they have a bond over that," Lowndes said. "Gia helps her over various situations. They have a lot in common and she's there for her when no one else is. They have an amazing connection and it's a beautiful friendship that develops." The 21-year-old added that she is unsure over whether her character is gay, or if she is questioning her sexuality. "I think later on in the season Adrianna gets very close with Gia. She'd never thought about being a lesbian but then when she finds out she has feelings for her, she really starts to think about it. "Gia knew her whole life, but for Adrianna, she's questioning her sexuality. She likes the closeness she feels with Gia and it doesn't matter what gender that person is - Gia makes her feel good."

NBC is ordering more pilots for next season than it has in seven years, president Angela Bromstand has revealed. Speaking to Business Week, the exec said she would be choosing from ten dramas and eight comedies for the network's 2010-11 lineup. The figure is a significant increase on the 11 pilots that were in contention for the current season. "In success we became used to making fewer and fewer pilots," Bromstad told the magazine. "We have to take more swings, take more shots creatively, and have more back-up." NBC is currently last place among the Big Four, having declined in viewership every season for the past seven years. Contributing to the network's failure this year has been the decision to schedule the low-rated Jay Leno Show in the 10pm slot on weekdays. Replacing Leno would require an additional five hours of programming per week. Bromstad conceded that she would have to "essentially rebuild the schedule" next year but confirmed that veteran drama Law & Order would be renewed for a 21st season, making it the longest-running crime drama in US TV history. "I’m a Law & Order junkie," she said. "I wouldn’t want to be responsible for not having it break the record."

CNN has apologised after comedian Kathy Griffin swore live on television. Griffin was appearing at the network's New Year's Eve celebrations when she joked that she didn't know how to say 'Balloon Boy' Falcon Heene's name. According to Us Weekly, she said: "Fal... F**king? Falcon? How do you say it?" Her fellow television presenter Anderson Cooper immediately responded by describing her as "really terrible". Contactmusic reports that CNN has now released a statement apologising for the swear word, adding that it "regrets that profanity was used during our New Year's Eve coverage". During 2008's New Year's Eve broadcast, Griffin caused controversy by joking that a male crowd member was a sex worker.

Nicole Richie has signed up for the seventh season of Project Runway. People reports that Richie, who has her own fashion line, will be a guest judge on the show's premiere. Meanwhile, the show's executive producer Sara Rea praised Richie's contribution to the panel. "Nicole is a fabulous guest judge," she said. "She has strong opinions and gives clear and specific constructive criticism to the designers. Also, she isn't afraid to disagree with the other judges." The show's premiere airs on January 14 on Lifetime.


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I often wonder how I'm going to die. You don't want to embarrass friends.