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Posted 4/25/08

 The TV industry's wheel of fortune has just completed its spin and stopped on ... gameshows.

In part due to the writers strike, there are quizzers and other games of chance all over the broadcast networks' primetime schedules these days, led by such ongoing hits as NBC's "Deal or No Deal," CBS' "The Price Is Right" and Fox's "Don't Forget the Lyrics" and "Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader."

Two newcomers are headed for the primetime schedule this summer, NBC's "Celebrity Family Feud," hosted by Al Roker, and CBS' "Million Dollar Password," featuring Regis Philbin as host.

Although gameshows are ubiquitous in primetime, it doesn't mean they'll work: Cable's GSN is struggling to find an audience, and only a small fraction of any gamer to launch on the broadcasters will succeed.

Still, that doesn't keep networks from spinning the wheel.

"The gameshow cycle is back," says Harry Friedman, executive producer of "Wheel of Fortune" and "Jeopardy," both of which are still dominating TV syndication after more than 24 years. "Gameshows are easy to understand and family friendly, and they engage the viewers."

Gameshows are also cheaper to produce than scripted shows, and the primetime network games are ramping up the level of high-stakes competition, according to Garnett Losak, head of programming for Petry Media, which represents hundreds of TV stations around the country. "When you give away a million dollars, the viewers take notice."

Bill Carroll, VP and director of programming for Katz TV, another rep firm, says a further reason for the newfound popularity of gameshows is the celebrity element. "People are obsessed with celebrity," he said, "and when you throw celebrities into a competition with known formats like 'Password' and 'Family Feud,' you're going to draw an audience."

And don't rule out gameshows as a refuge from a gloomy economy racked by soaring oil prices and record numbers of mortgage foreclosures, says Friedman. In bad times, he says, "people turn to gameshows as a safe haven, an escape."

Gameshows have also become employment centers for comedians. Drew Carey fronts both "Price Is Right" and another CBS game "Power of 10." Howie Mandel traffic-cops "Deal or No Deal," Bob Saget hosts NBC's "1 vs. 100," Jeff Foxworthy does the honors on "Fifth Grader," Dennis Miller emcees "Amnesia" and Penn Jilette takes charge of "Identity."

"Comics know how to think on their feet," Friedman says. "They can keep the festivities going."

Of course, this year's trend toward primetime gameshows could be as short-lived as the boom early in the decade that began and ended with "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire," a phenomenon that burst on the scene as a regular series in January 2000.

Gameshows may be filling the gap in the broadcast networks' current primetime schedules, says Tim Brooks, co-author of "The Complete Directory to Primetime Network & Cable TV Shows," but the genre is not exactly thriving in cable TV. And, except for the bellwether "Wheel of Fortune" and "Jeopardy," gameshows operate only on the margins in TV syndication.

GSN: The Game Show Network, the 13-year-old cable channel co-owned by Sony and Liberty Media, has failed to make much of a dent in the ratings. For calendar 2007, for example, GSN ended up in 43rd place among all ad-supported cable networks, averaging only 256,000 total viewers in primetime, 13% below its 2006 average.

Carroll says one of GSN's problems is that "it's a standalone network." By not being part of a media conglomerate that owns multiple cable networks, GSN doesn't have the clout to get better license fees from cable operators and better positions on the dial. It also has failed to come up with a signature show that breaks out of the pack and makes the network a destination for viewers -- perhaps because fresh gameshows are so readily available on broadcast television.

Cable and satellite distributors paid GSN only a modest $79.9 million in license fees for 2007, according to SNL Kagan. But the network chalked up $49.5 million in cash flow last year because its programming expenses were held in check, to $51.1 million. (Its gross ad revenues clocked in at $89 million in 2007.)

"Wheel" and "Jeopardy" are the phenomena of TV syndication. No other gameshow comes close. A half-hour version of "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire," hosted by Meredith Vieira, has proven to be a steady performer since it kicked off in 2002, and "Family Feud," in its latest incarnation, has continued to get renewals for the last nine years.

Two syndicated gameshows will premiere in September, a scaled-down half-hour version of the hourlong "Deal or No Deal" from NBC Universal, and "Trivial Pursuit," from Debmar-Mercury.

The success gameshows are having these days is unusual, says Brooks, because, "except for an occasional supernova like 'Millionaire,' they're basically a niche product."

Variety

Posted 4/25/08

Just when you thought things couldn't get any worse for the stock of the World Poker Tour, they hit a new low.

WPTE closed at $1.26 on Thursday afternoon, giving the entire company a market capitalization of $25.82 million dollars. This is a new all-time low closing price for the company, and a far cry from its all-time high of $29.50 that was hit on July 8th, 2005. Since then, the company has embarked as a slow, painful descent that has seen the company shed literally hundreds of millions of dollars in market cap.

Things don't seem to be improving for the World Poker Tour.

Numbers for their events, most notably the World Poker Tour Championship that is currently taking place, are dwindling.

They are getting much less per episode in their new deal with the Game Show Network compared to their previous deal with the Travel Network. They received $477k per episode in Season 5 - this year they are receiving $300k per episode.

They posted revenues for their online gaming business of $1.2 million dollars for all of 2007, down from $3.2 million dollars in 2006.

They posted a net loss of $9.6 million dollars in 2007.

Revenues decreased $7.5 million dollars from 2006 to 2007.

Poker King

Posted 4/25/08

Dreamed of being on High School Musical?

This summer, Nick Lachey will host a reality show on ABC seeking a newcomer to be "a part of HSM history," a network rep told Usmagazine.com.

Tentatively titled High School Musical: Summer Session, the show will feature contestants between the ages of 16 and 22.

High School Musical 3: Senior Year is currently being filmed in Utah and a fourth installment of the hit Disney franchise is being written.

This isn't Lachey's first stint on reality TV: he co-starred with ex Jessica Simpson on MTV's Newlyweds. Brother Drew hosted "Dance War" for ABC earlier this year.

Lachey's reality show is set to premiere on July 20.

US Magazine

Posted 4/25/08

Dancing with the Stars alum Cameron Mathison and Edyta Sliwinska made it to fifth place in last season’s competition. Now he’s predicting that his former partner, who’s currently dancing with NFL Man of the Year Jason Taylor, will make it all the way to number one.

“It’s a no brainer,” Cameron told OK! at Discovery Network’s TV upfront last night in New York City. “I think he’s doing a phenomenal job. He’s a really good dancer, and I think they have a good dynamic together.”

Cameron points out that the six-time All Pro is the shy underdog who's primed to take it all. “Kristi Yamaguchi is extremely talented and the obvious frontrunner, but you got to remember, the obvious frontrunner never wins,” Cameron cautions. “It’s going to be Edyta’s year and she deserves it.”

As for who he’d like to see next on the dance floor, Cameron, who’s hosting a new TLC game show, Your Place or Mine, gives thumbs up to fellow TLC host and Bachelor alum Bob Guiney. “I want to see his Paso Doble,” Cameron laughs.

Asked if he was up for the challenge, Bob replied, “I can promise one thing, I won’t be taking off my shirt as Super Cam did. Cameron propelled himself into the final five by taking off his shirt!”

Poker King

Posted 4/25/08

Sir Terry Wogan could be in line to take over from Richard and Judy on C4 when they move to UKTV in August.

Terry has been given a four-week trial hosting a quiz show - one of the contenders to replace Richard & Judy's talk show in the 5pm slot.

However, it is believed that he will face competition from Richard Hammond, who will also test out a talk show. A source close to negotiations told the Daily Mail: "Terry is the frontrunner."

Teletext

Posted 4/24/08

Arnie Warren, who began his South Florida radio career as Moon Cat, a pop-spinning disc jockey on WKAT in the early 1960s then created the popular, half-fictional team of Arnie and Amos, died of a heart attack on April 19. He was 73.

Warren, who lived with his wife, Kathleen Field Warren in Wellington, also worked in television, taught television production at Lindsey Hopkins Vocational School, gave motivational speeches, and wrote several business books, including The Great Connection (Pallium Books, 1997), published in 12 languages.

A member of the National Speakers Association and past president of the Florida Speakers Association, Warren had a smooth baritone, flawless diction and a facility for accents.

''When he read to us, he was Dr. Seuss,'' recalled his daughter, Leslie Warren of Leesburg, Va.

He read books-on-tape for the blind and appeared in high-profile commercials.

''He was the spokesman for Levitz furniture,'' Leslie said, and hosted a local game show called Bowling for Dollars.

Miami Herald

Posted 4/24/08

PlayCafe.com, the first internet TV network for game shows, announced today that Ken Jennings, holder of the record for the longest winning streak on the U.S. game show Jeopardy!, will appear as a special guest during the show's daily live webcast this Monday, April 28th from 6:00-8:00 pm (PDT). Ken will play against everyone watching via the web on a real-time video quiz show to determine whether or not he is, still, smarter than the rest of the world.

"Ken Jennings is a legend in game shows, and having him play against and chat with people everywhere is a hint of what PlayCafe.com can make possible" said Mark Goldenson, CEO of PlayCafe.com.

PlayCafe.com streams live, online casual games that let anyone play as a contestant. Members can compete in a variety of games, chat live with hosts and other players, form teams, call the studio, contribute questions, and win a variety of prizes, including iTunes songs, Nintendo Wiis and up to $1,000 in cash.

"This is going to be a blast," said Jennings, who won over $3 million on Jeopardy!. "With PlayCafe.com, anyone can use the web to have the kind of exciting game show experience I had on Jeopardy!." He added, "I'm looking forward to beating the world on Monday."

PlayCafe.com will be awarding several unique prizes, including personalized answering machine messages from Jennings and copies of his latest book, Ken Jennings's Trivia Almanac: 8,888 Questions in 365 Days.

PlayCafe.com streams live games Monday through Friday, 6-8pm PDT. The games are free to play.

Disclosure: GSNN correspondent Gordon Pepper writes for PlayCafe.com

PR Web

Posted 4/24/08

The Wheelmobile will be in Southfield, in the Detroit area, for two special days of contestant searches.

The events will take place at the Millennium Centre on Saturday, May 17 and Sunday, May 18th from 2 PM – 6 PM local time.

Shows will be held inside the Millennium Centre’s auditorium. Applications will be distributed on a cordoned off section of Millennium Centre’s outdoor parking lot.

Applications will be handed out approximately one hour before each show. Shows will be held at 2 PM, 3:30 PM and 5 PM each day. There is no need to arrive hours in advance of the event. Everyone who attends the events will be able to submit an application. We will select participants to come to the stage and audition via a random draw.

Click On Detroit

Posted 4/24/08

GSD&M Idea City, an Austin, Texas-based agency that holds major accounts like BMW, Southwest Airlines and the AARP, this week was named in a lawsuit that alleges the agency used a song similar to the hit game show's The Price Is Right for a Southwest Airlines TV ad.

The suit, filed in U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, presents Southwest Airlines as a co-defendant and asserts that the advertising "is likely to cause confusion, deception and mistake" among consumers.

The broadcast spot, called "Spin & Win," portrays a hurried passenger approaching an airline counter to ask about his flight. Two attendants launch into game show mode and the passenger is asked by the attendants to spin a wheel for a shot to win a seat on a larger plane. Meanwhile, a variation of "The Price Is Right" theme song plays. "On Southwest, you'll never fly on a small plane," the narrator says. "We guarantee that every seat on every flight is on a big, comfortable Boeing 737."

The ad was part of a summer campaign for Southwest Airlines that featured several broadcast spots.

A rep from FremantleMedia North America, an international production company that owns and distributes The Price Is Right, confirmed the lawsuit but didn't provide further comments.

Brandweek

Posted 4/24/08

Computer gamer, come on down! You're the next contestant on The Price is Right.

One of the most popular television game shows in history is now a downloadable try-before-you-buy PC game that looks, sounds and plays like the real deal — but without Drew Carey or Bob Barker.

As you'd expect from a The Price is Right game, you first choose a contestant from one of four characters (two males, two females) and after typing in your name, the camera pans across the overly excited audience and you'll be picked to "come on down."

Just like on the TV show, the goal of the game is to win as much money and prizes as you can before getting three red strikes.

USA Today

Posted 4/24/08

By day, he's a famously rambunctious and foul-mouthed restaurant chef; by night, he's pretty much the same. But somehow Gordon Ramsay finds the time to do quick, healthful, delicious home cooking for his family. Just check out the photographs in his new book, Gordon Ramsay's Fast Food, which is dedicated to making dinner in 30 minutes or less. Here he is, a scruffy Brit in a T-shirt, intently focused on chopping pretty strips of something red and yellow. A few pages later, he's scruffy in a different T-shirt but again completely absorbed, this time going hard at an apple with a corer. Now he's wielding a big pepper grinder, now he's pounding away with a mortar and pestle, and now he's fussing with something we can't quite see, standing at the stove over a big pot. But how does he fit all this into his life? The guy runs high-end, award-winning restaurants around the world like Restaurant Gordon Ramsay in London and Gordon Ramsay au Trianon at Versailles, he stars in TV cooking shows, he writes books, he consults with food companies, he's got a line of Royal Doulton dishes and ovenware—and he still whips out beef fajitas, crab spring rolls, tandoori spiced halibut, and poached figs for his wife, Tana, and their four kids. "Don't skip meals or resort to junk food, however busy you are," he pleads earnestly. In other words, if he manages to cook every night, so can you; and right here in Fast Food are all his secrets.

Slate

Posted 4/23/08

Georgia's highest court on Monday threw out a lawsuit contending that NBC's "Deal or No Deal" violated state anti-gambling laws when it invited viewers to take part in a game via text message.

The Georgia Supreme Court ruled unanimously against Michael and Michele Hardin, who wanted NBC to repay them and other state residents for the cost of sending 99-cent text messages in hopes of winning a prize on the hit show's "Lucky Case Game."

The game challenged at-home viewers to guess which of six on-screen gold briefcases was the lucky case.

The couple's lawyer, Jerry Buchanan, called the game an illegal gambling operation and said state law allowed residents to retrieve money because "gambling contracts are void."

NBC attorneys, however, said the game was a promotional tool and not a lottery.

In is ruling Monday, the court said the text messages cannot be classified as a bet or a wager, and the state law "offers no avenue of recovery to plaintiffs."

The suit did not indicate how much the Hardins or other Georgians might have spent on the game. Calls to Buchanan and Joe Loveland, an attorney representing NBC, were not immediately returned.

NBC halted the at-home segment of the game — which typically offered a top prize of $10,000 — since the lawsuit, which was also the target of at least one court challenge in California. It is described on the show's Web site as "taking a short break."

To state a claim under the Georgia gambling civil recovery statute, wrote Thompson, the plaintiffs needed to allege there was a “gambling contract” supported by “gambling consideration.” There was no gambling consideration here, he wrote.

A gambling contract is one in which the parties agree they will gain or lose depending upon the occurrence of an event in which they otherwise have no interest, Thompson explained. Here, said Thompson, quoting an order by O'Kelley, the 99 cent consideration of the contract between the parties “never hangs in the balance.” He also cited decisions from other jurisdictions to the effect that there's not a wagering contract where the offeror of the prize has no chance of winning the prize.

Thompson wrote in a footnote that the court wasn't deciding whether the Lucky Case Game constituted an illegal lottery under Georgia's criminal code. But even if it were, he said, it wouldn't be a gambling contract under the civil recovery statute.

He cited prior Georgia appellate decisions to the effect that lotteries are excluded from the civil recovery statute. Lawyers for the plaintiffs in the Lucky Case Game case had argued that a change in the language of the civil recovery statute from “gaming consideration” to “gambling consideration” undermined prior caselaw's authority, but Thompson said the change was too “minor” to matter.

AP/Yahoo!
CBS46 Atlanta
Daily Report Online
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Legal Newsline
Wall Street Journal Blogs

Posted 4/23/08

President Bush's guest appearance in support of an Iraq War veteran on Monday night's "Deal or No Deal" didn't bring much luck to the contestant -- or the show.

The NBC game show matched its lowest Monday rating ever despite the much-publicized visit by the commander-in-chief. The two-hour "Deal" was seen by 10 million viewers and earned a 2.7 rating among adults 18-49 and a 7 share, down 27% from its prior season average.

Bush had taped a special message for contestant Capt. Joseph Kobes, a U.S. Army transportation officer who served three tours of duty in Iraq. Kobes won a Purple Heart and Bronze Star and volunteered for his second and third deployments. "Deal" host Howie Mandel dubbed him "the ultimate American."

Reuters
USA Today
ABC News
Contact Music
Hollywood Reporter
Buzzle

Posted 4/23/08

NBC heads into sweeps with all new "Around the World" episodes and a special "winner takes all" Star Wars-themed episode of its hit game show "Deal or No Deal," the summer season premiere of the successful "American Gladiators."

A special two-hour "winner takes all" Star Wars-themed episode of "Deal or No Deal" will shift NBC's sweep month into hyperdrive on Monday, April 28 with guest supporters Carrie Fisher, Chewbacca, R2D2 and Darth Vader as the villainous banker. Then the series takes an international twist as Howie Mandel hosts three, two-hour "Around the World" episodes broadcast on May 5, 7 and 14 where U.S. contestants travel abroad to play the game according to the international country's rules. Estonia is the first stop on Monday, May 5 (8-10 p.m. ET). The contestants hit the Philippines Wednesday, May 7 (8-10 p.m. ET) and then it's on to South Africa on Wednesday, May 14 (8-10 p.m. ET) where two contestants play the South African version of "Deal or No Deal" and hopefully walk away with the top prize of $1 million.

The high-octane hit "American Gladiators" returns bigger and "badder" than before with an all-new gladiator arena, new challenges and new gladiators. It all starts with its two-hour summer season premiere on Monday, May 12 on NBC (8-10 p.m. ET) followed by its regular day and time on Mondays (8-9:30 p.m. ET) beginning May 19.

The Futon Critic

Posted 4/23/08

VH1 is readying "I Love Money," a spinoff of "Flavor of Love" that dispenses with the fiction that anyone involved with the show is looking for romance.

Skein, from 51 Minds Entertainment, features past contestants from "Flavor of Love," "Rock of Love" and "I Love New York" squaring off against one another in a series of reality show competitions. While "Flavor" and its past offspring were constructed to help celebrities such as Bret Michaels and Flavor Flav find "love," the new show will focus on the pursuit of cash prizes.

A VH1 spokesman confirmed the series was quietly shot a few weeks ago. It's currently slated to premiere July 13, with a casting special airing July 6.

Cris Abrego and Mark Cronin of Endemol USA-owned 51 Minds will exec produce. Former host of "30 Minutes to Fame" Craig J. Jackson will host.

VH1's latest "Love" skein, "Rock of Love 2," wrapped its season Sunday with a reunion special watched by 3.2 million adults 18-49 -- good enough to rank as the No. 2 show of the week on cable in the demo.

Variety

Posted 4/23/08

This year an Emmy will given out in a new award category, outstanding host for a reality or reality competition program, officials said Tuesday.

The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Board of Governors has voted to create the new Emmy award category. The award will be presented at the 60th Primetime Emmy Awards, broadcast live Sept. 21 on ABC.

“Reality television has become such an integral part of television and our culture, so it only made sense for us to create this new highly competitive category,” Television Academy chairman and CEO John Shaffner said in a prepared statement.

According to the rules and regulation of the Television Academy, “Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality-Competition Program” (category 66) is for the proactive “master of ceremony” host and does not include reactive participants or judges. Eligibility is open to the host(s) of programs entered in the following categories: Reality Program (category 77) and Reality-Competition Program.

MultiChannel News

Posted 4/23/08

NBC has confirmed which stars will appear in its upcoming "Celebrity Circus" and has signed "Dancing With the Stars" runner-up Joey Fatone to serve as ringmaster.

Roster includes several celebreality veterans, including Christopher Knight ("My Fair Brady") and Rachel Hunter ("Dancing With the Stars"). Also headed to the Peacock's big top: Suds star Antonio Sabato Jr., Grammy-nommed neosoul singer Blu Cantrell ("Hit 'Em Up Style"), Olympic swimmer Janet Evans and Jason "Wee Man" Acuna ("Jackass").

Produced by Endemol USA, "Celebrity Circus" will follow celebs as they attempt to master a number of circus stunts, including the high wire, flying trapeze and fire dancing. After training, contestants will perform their acts and then face the verdict of judges and viewers.

Skein premieres at 9:30 p.m. June 11 with a 90-minute edition, Matt Kunitz ("Fear Factor") is exec producer, while Rick Ringbakk ("The Amazing Race") has signed on as co-exec producer.

NBC and ABC both greenlit celeb circus shows earlier this year (Daily Variety, Jan. 18). ABC last week confirmed that it had scrapped its planned skein.

Variety

Posted 4/23/08

A singing-variety show has started to invade the television screen last Monday as local franchise of “The Singing Bee” took the spotlight with host actor-singer Cesar Montano.

Hosted by ex-N’Sync member Joey Fatone in the US version of the show aired at the NBC show, The Singing Bee is a karaoke showdown where lyrics are more important than tune. But it is not only a plain videoke singing contest rather it has a twist of spelling bee approach. A contestant will survive if he knows the lyrics of the song even if he does not hit even a single note.

Just like any other game shows, all challengers must undergo several rounds until one is recognized as the Singing Bee Champion. The champ will then get a chance to play the jackpot round amounting to P1 million if he gets to know the jackpot songs correctly. Some of the elements that added life to the show are the Bandble Bee, which is a live band that plays the melody that the players would sing. The band is headed by musical director Mel Villena. There are also sexy dancers dubbed the Honeybees, who sway to every song that played at the same entertained the audience.

Sun.Star

Posted 4/23/08

Stephanie Schlund, 22, was chosen from among more than 450 girls to become a regular on the long-running game show and, starting tentatively in June, will soon be helping contestants determine the price of five tubes of toothpaste and handing them those elusive Plinko chips.

“I’m so excited,” Schlund said. “When you come across a job like this, on a good family show, you realize this is what you’ve been waiting for.”

Schlund is no stranger to show business — with a resumé that includes small parts in various films and television shows and a multitude of modeling jobs — but even with parts in the film “We Are Marshall” or the TV show “October Road,” none of her jobs has been quite as high profile as backing up host Drew Carey on the popular game show institution.

Her mother said it’s just another stepping stone for her driven daughter, who along with her sister Lauren has been modeling for years now.

“I say this as a parent, but it was obvious from a young age,” Fran Schlund said. “We could go to the mall and people would stop us and say, ‘Oh, they look like they could be models.’ We’re very proud.”

Walton Tribune

Posted 4/23/08

Former Baywatch actor and current "America's Got Talent" judge David Hasselhoff is doing well after having "something removed" above his eye on Saturday, his publicist has confirmed.

"He's fine, he's coming out tonight," Judy Katz said on Monday. The star was treated at Los Angeles Medical Center.

She did not say what was removed but denied rumors Hasselhoff was in rehab.

BBC News

Posted 4/23/08

One of the Food Network's Iron Chefs says he is ready to do the impossible.

The network on Monday announced that Ohio chef Michael Symon will take over as host of the "Dinner: Impossible" series, which challenges its chef to prepare meals under extreme conditions.

Symon, who won the network's "The Next Iron Chef" competition in 2007 and appears on its "Iron Chef America" series as one of the Chairman's mantle of superchefs, replaces Robert Irvine, who left last month following revelations that he'd exaggerated details of resume.

Irvine had hosted the show for four seasons. The network says Symon will begin taping 10 new episodes this week. They will begin airing this summer. Also new to the show will be a one-hour format.

"I'm really looking forward to the challenges that are going to be thrown my way and nothing gets me more pumped than someone telling me that something is 'impossible,"' Symon said in a statement

Symon, who is chef and owner of Lola and Lolita restaurants in Cleveland, graduated from The Culinary Institute of America and was named by Food & Wine magazine as one of the Ten Best New Chefs in America in 1998.

Jam! Showbiz

Posted 4/21/08

Food Network has a major integrated deal on the front burner, creating a customized sponsorship package with Red Lobster that will give the restaurant chain significant exposure on The Next Food Network Star.

On June 22, Red Lobster’s head seafood and recipe expert, chef Michael LaDuke, will appear as a guest judge in what will be the fourth episode of season four of Star, helping select the winner of a special, seafood-themed challenge. LaDuke will be joined by Food’s new Iron Chef, Michael Symon.

As with all Food integrations, the buy extends well beyond linear TV, allowing many promotional executions to live on beyond the show’s original airdate. Through Aug. 31, the winning recipe will be featured on a “chef’s creations” menu insert at all 680 Red Lobster restaurants.

“Our integrations go beyond revenue opportunities,” said Laura Galietta, vp, ad sales marketing at Scripps Networks. “Obviously, there’s a sales component, but we always look at it from a value-add perspective, whether it’s going to make it a better show.”

Food Net is vigilant about protecting the integrity of its programming franchises, and that holds particularly true with Star. The competition series is its top-rated show; the season-three finale served up a record 3.57 million viewers last July, per Nielsen Media Research.

The deal marks a significant step forward for the client, said Red Lobster marketing media manager Karen Soots. “This is the most extensive integration the restaurant has ever committed to,” she said. “It’s the first time we’ll have promoted a TV show in our restaurants.”

Mediaweek

Posted 4/21/08

Maybe it's not as shocking as, say, Aussie heartthrob Michael Johns getting voted off the show.

But the news still surprises: "American Idol's" ratings are down. Way down, among some viewers.

Could it be that the singing smash, which has entirely reshaped television over the past seven seasons, is finally proving mortal? And if so, what will that mean for Fox, the rest of the TV industry and Ryan Seacrest's career?

Some of the above are worth contemplating.

At first glance, the erosion doesn't seem so bad. "Idol" has slipped 7% in average total viewers (to 29.2 million, as of last week) compared with last season, according to figures from Nielsen Media Research.

"This show has defied the odds," Fox scheduling chief Preston Beckman told me Friday. " 'American Idol' has held up better than any other show, scripted or unscripted, on television."

And yet . . . this season the show has shed nearly one-fifth of women viewers ages 18 to 34 -- one of its most important constituencies -- and is down a comparable amount among kids 2 to 11. That's a bad sign, because children and young adults are generally the first to bail on a show that's getting crow's feet.

And the pace of the falloff may be quickening. Last week's performance show, featuring the songs of Mariah Carey, one of the most successful pop singers in history, was the lowest-rated Tuesday "Idol" in five years among TV's most important demographic, adults ages 18 to 49. The subsequent results show, in which country warbler Kristy Lee Cook got the hook, delivered "Idol's" worst Wednesday numbers among adults ages 18 to 34 since its first season back in summer 2002.

Producers also saw depressed ratings for their "Idol Gives Back" charity extravaganza, which this year aired as a stand-alone show with no competition-related material.

So, there you have the Nielsen bullet points. But what does it all mean? Is it a temporary speed bump for "Idol," or is the show headed for a long stretch of bad road? And if it's the latter, toward what does a decline for "Idol," TV's No. 1 show, point for future TV programming and scheduling?

The first thing to remember, of course, is that "Idol's" ratings are still huge, even if they were huger in years past. The April 8 telecast easily grabbed the crown as the week's No. 1 telecast, with 24.7 million viewers. Although CBS beat the drums hard for the post-strike return of "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," the forensics drama had to settle for a second-place tie with the "Idol" results show (20.1 million). It goes without saying -- well, rival executives will certainly say it, just not on the record -- that other networks would be quite happy to have a No. 1 show with these kinds of problems.

Los Angeles Times

Posted 4/21/08

WPT Enterprises, Inc, which operates The World Poker Tour, settled a suit involving seven big name poker professionals related to a player release form used by the World Poker Tour

Chris Ferguson, Andrew Bloch, Annie Duke, Phil Gordon, and Howard Lederer – were listed as being party to the final settlement of the suit; two others, Greg Raymer and Joe Hachem, were originally parties to the action but dropped their involvement before the settlement.

The lawsuit essentially alleged that the release form would cause these players to violated endorsement deals and rights to images.

The WPT came back dropping bombs in a scorned-lover-kind-of-way press release. It got ugly.

Says WPT CEO Steve Lipscomb:

"WPTE continues to deny any liability or wrongdoing, but wants to settle its differences with the players so that the tour can focus on its continued growth rather than litigation...We are glad to put this dispute behind us, and we look forward to working with all players to grow the sport of poker."

Gambling 911

Posted 4/21/08

American Idol winner Jordin Sparks will miss all of the April dates on the Alicia Keys tour because of a throat injury. Doctors have told the singer to rest her voice or she could suffer permanent damage to her vocal cords. Sparks already canceled an appearance last week on Live With Regis and Kelly Show as well as Monday's (April 21) Earth Day concert on the National Mall in Washington D.C. She will now also have to wait until some time in May to join the Keys tour, which kicked off over the weekend, as the opening act. A rep for the singer told AP that she is expected to make a ''full and complete recovery.''

AOL/Entertainment Weekly

Posted 4/18/08

NBC has made a deal with Howie Mandel (host of NBC's hit game show "Deal or No Deal") for a new unscripted comedy series "Howie Do It" (working title) in which he will star and produce. The announcement was made today by Craig Plestis, Executive Vice President, Alternative Programming, Development and Specials, NBC Entertainment.

"America loves Howie and we're so lucky to have another great show that will showcase his unique signature humor," said Plestis.

"I can't tell you how excited I am to be in business with NBC once again," said Mandel. "Working with them on 'Deal or No Deal' continues to be a phenomenal experience."

The series is from Mandel's production company Alevy Production in association with 3 Arts. Mandel, Scott Hallock ("Scare Tactics"), Kevin Healey ("Spy TV"), Morgan Elliot and Michael Rotenberg are the executive producers.

The Futon Critic
Zap2it TV
Variety

Posted 4/18/08

What do a former TPIR one-off and a former contestant on "America's Most Smartest Model" have in common? Both are in the running for a spot on the next season of Deal or No Deal... as a model... and you get to choose who it will be.

Beginning Sunday, April 20th, for eight consecutive episodes, viewers will be presented with groups of three models vying for the open briefcase model slot. Viewers can text their votes (texting instructions will be given on air), sending one model from each episode to the semi-finals. A “wildcard” model, chosen from the pool of models previously voted out will join the finals. The contest will end June 24th, as viewers vote for the one model who they think should take the spot on the stairs.

NBC has sweetened the pot for potential voters. Not only will a texted vote get you a shot of your favorite model for your cell phone wallpaper, but will also enter you in a contest to win $10,000. That’s right–in each episode, two viewers (one from Eastern and one from Pacific time zones) will win $10,000.

On Wednesday, June 25th, the winning model will be revealed at 8:00 PM (ET), just before the premiere of The Baby Borrowers.

Besides former TPIR model Tami Donaldson and "America's Most Smartest Model" player Lisa Byrnes, the models competing for the job are:

Britten Kelley, Cincinnati, Ohio; Cora Skinner, San Luis Obispo, California; Nicole Panattoni, Murrieta, California; Kylah Kim, Dallas, Texas; Jennifer Hall, Perm, Minnesota; Casey Durkin, Boston, Massachusetts; Ravyn, New York, New York; Roxanne Siordia, Oceanside, California; Lindsay Christiansen, West Des Moines, Iowa; Krista Coyle, Chico, California; Amy Weller, Bisbee, Arizona; Nafeesa Defioras, Scottsdale, Arizona; Celine De Sauvage, France; Ashleah O’Shea, Santa Rosa, California; Sasha Formosa, Hoboken, New Jersey; Natalie Walker, Melbourne, Australia; Monica Flores, El Paso, Texas; Desiree Anderson, Switzerland; Leilani Mau, Alameda, California; Elizabeth Ashley, Tulsa, Oklahoma; Carrie Prejean, San Diego, California and Miki Black, Springfield, Illinois.

Voting begins on Deal or No Deal’s Sunday, April 20th episode on NBC.

Thanks to Golden-Road.net's Joe Capitano for clearing things up for us.

Reality TV Magazine
Zap2it TV
The Futon Critic

Posted 4/18/08

Bruce Forsyth, the 80-year-old Strictly Come Dancing host, will be awarded Bafta's highest accolade, an Academy Fellowship, tomorrow in recognition of his "outstanding body of work" as the "ultimate all round entertainer".

The fellowship will be presented by Have I Got News For You's Paul Merton at the London Palladium, some 66 years after Forsyth first performed his own song and dance routine under the stage name Boy Bruce the Mighty Atom.

Forsyth, the son of a north London garage owner, achieved legendary status hosting Sunday Night at the London Palladium in 1958 followed by gameshows including Bruce Forsyth's Generation Game, which attracted more than 20m viewers to its BBC slot at its peak.

Previous recipients of the award include director Ken Loach, screenwriter and director Richard Curtis and Sir Anthony Hopkins.

Guardian

Posted 4/18/08

The star of "Maude," a creative force behind "MASH," a talk show host and the creator of "Gilligan's Island" were among those announced Thursday for induction into the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Hall of Fame.

"Their respective careers have stood the test of time and their accomplishments extend over decades," said Mark Itkin, chairman of the academy's selection committee.

This year's inductees are:

Bea Arthur, a two-time Emmy-winning actress who starred in "Maude" and "The Golden Girls"; Larry Gelbart, who helped develop "MASH" for television; Merv Griffin, who hosted his own talk show for 23 years and also created the game shows "Jeopardy!" and "Wheel of Fortune"; Sherwood Schwartz, the writer-producer behind "Gilligan's Island" and "The Brady Bunch"; and two former chief executive officers of Capital Cities/ABC, Thomas Murphy and Daniel B. Burke.

"This year's inductees have each helped shape our industry and are an inspiration for everyone involved in our business," said John Shaffner, academy chairman.

Los Angeles Times

Posted 4/18/08

A new reality competition dance game show is sweeping the country. A major cable network is searching for FUN and outgoing contestants with great personalities! All contestants will be expected to dance appropriately as the music transitions through the various songs and genres … If you’re 25 years to 40 years of age and love to dance no matter how good you are, then prove it by submitting a photo of yourself, contact info, occupation and why you think you are a great dancer then we will schedule you in for an audition.

Go to YouTube.com and type in “Evolution of Dance” into the search box then click on the video with the comedian on stage to see an example of what your audition will resemble.

Each contestant has a chance to win thousands of dollars.

RealityWanted.com

Posted 4/18/08

Mario Lopez is ready to dance with the stars again – this time with his own chorus line.

The Dancing with the Stars alum is slated to perform on the May 6th episode of the ABC hit with his fellow cast members of Broadway's A Chorus Line, Extra reports. The special performance is in celebration of the reality show’s landmark 100th episode.

The 34-year-old, who dates DWTS pro Karina Smirnoff (partner to R&B singer Mario this season) finished runner-up to Emmitt Smith on the third season. He joined A Chorus Line on April 15 as Zach, a demanding director who is casting the chorus roles for a new Broadway musical.

"Everyone sings and dances except for the character I play, Zach," Mario says. "He doesn’t necessarily have to sing. I said, 'All right, that’s my guy!'"

OK!

Posted 4/18/08

Kristy Lee Cook's American Idol run was marked by a number of stays in the bottom three and, as it turns out, a secret engagement.

Cook's boyfriend popped the question in the sauna of her Idol apartment on March 15, days after she survived her first elimination round as a finalist.

The country-inclined singer was able to share this detail with reporters Thursday because she did not survive Idol's latest elimination round Wednesday night.

After an especially Byzantine results show, Cook, 24, was revealed to be the odd singer out, exiting in Mariah Carey week with the inaptly titled "Forever."

"I was kind of upset that I went home because I thought I was getting stronger and stronger," Cook said. "I thought ["Forever"] was my best performance so far. I thought I had at least another week in me."

Cook said her goal was to make the top five. In the end, she finished seventh.

E!Online/Yahoo! News

Posted 4/18/08

Two big television networks in the country got two different highly rated reality shows from the US.

GMA 7 has already announced in its website the qualities it is looking for in its first batch of castaways after acquiring the local franchise of "Survivor".

ABS-CBN, meanwhile, will not get left behind with its copyright of "Fear Factor," a stunt and dare reality game show originally created by Endemol Netherlands entitled "Now or Neverland." When adapted to the American market in 2001, its name was changed to "Fear Factor."

Both networks are very vocal in promoting the two crowd-driven reality game shows in the US.

"Fear Factor" dares its contestants to undertake challenges, from eating disgusting things and undertaking dangerous stunts in the battle for being named "Fear Factor champion" and for the US$50,000 prize money.

Although there is still no chosen host for the show, some reports say Ryan Agoncillo, Derek Ramsey, or Edu Manzano are among those being considered for the position.

For "Survivor Philippines," GMA 7 is now searching for about 16 physically and mentally fit challengers to compete for the title of being the first Filipino survivor.

In its website, the network said it is looking for male and female contestants 18 to 60 years old willing to stay in a castaway place where their physical and mental abilities will be tested by several intense challenges for 39 days.

"Survivor Philippines" will have an audition in Davao (SM Davao) on May 1 and 2; in Cebu (SM Cebu) on May 5 and 6; in Iloilo (SM Iloilo) on May 8 and 9; in Baguio (SM Baguio) on May 17 to 18; in Manila (SM North Edsa) on May 21 and 22; and in SM Manila on May 23.

Many expect Paolo Bediones, who already has a background in hosting a similar game show, to host Survivor Philippines.

"Survivor" is an American version of a survivor reality game show based on a Swedish television series Expedition Robinson, which was created by Charlie Parsons in 1992.

SunStar.com

Posted 4/17/08

One hundred people surveyed, top ten answers on the board and celebrity 'families' behind the buzzers. Al Roker will host all the action when "Celebrity Family Feud" joins NBC's All-American Summer primetime line-up premiering Tuesday, July 1 (8-9 p.m. ET), it was jointly announced today by Craig Plestis, Executive Vice President, Alternative Programming, Development and Specials, NBC Entertainment and Cecile Frot-Coutaz, CEO of FremantleMedia North America.

Produced by FremantleMedia North America, "Celebrity Family Feud" will be a star-studded version of the beloved and enduring game show, featuring four celebrity families matching wits each week to raise money for their respective charities. In some cases, competing families will each consist of one celebrity and their real-life relatives, while other episodes will feature nostalgic or current television clans. Gaby Johnston, executive producer of the current syndicated "Family Feud" hosted by John O'Hurley, and Toby Gorman, executive producer of the UK version "Family Fortunes," will executive produce. All celebrities will be announced at a later date.

"This is a no-holds-barred, laugh-out-loud series that allows celebrities to be themselves among their family members or among longtime co-stars who have become like family," said Plestis. "Viewers can't help but play along, and with Al Roker at the helm, it promises to provide high energy, interactive fun...with the bonus of exposing the unscripted side of our favorite celebrities."

"We're thrilled to once again bring a hugely successful game show format to primetime," says Cecile Frot-Coutaz, CEO of FremantleMedia North America, producers of the current syndicated version as well as the original classic game show. "It is one of the handful of game show formats that has stood the test of time and traveled the world successfully. Like 'The Price Is Right,' we're confident this primetime version will resonate with viewers of all ages."

"Celebrity Family Feud" is produced by FremantleMedia North America and based on the original "Family Feud" format created by Goodson-Toddman Productions. Gaby Johnston and Toby Gorman are executive producers.

He has been a celebrity contestant on both “Wheel of Fortune” and “Jeopardy!” and served as a guest host of “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?” He also hosted a game show on MSNBC in 1996-97 called “Remember This?”

Variety
Monsters & Critics
MSNBC
USA Today
The Futon Critic

Posted 4/17/08

Veteran reality producer Chris Carlson has been named vp alternative programming at CBS Entertainment.

Carlson will develop new alternative programs -- including reality, game shows and other nonscripted programming -- while helping to oversee CBS' current slate of reality series. He reports to Ghen Maynard, executive vp alternative programming and entertainment content for new media at CBS Paramount Network Television Entertainment Group.

Since 2004, Carlson has freelanced as a supervising producer/co-executive producer on reality programs including TBS' "Minding the Store," Bravo pair "Blow Out" and "Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List," Lifetime's "Off the Leash" and the CW's "Crowned: The Mother of All Pageants" and its upcoming "Farmer Wants a Wife."

From 2002-04, Carlson was a supervising producer at Next Entertainment, working on the reality feature film "Drunken Jackasses: The Quest" and the WB Network series "Superstar USA" and "Big Man on Campus."

Carlson started his career in the music development division of MTV Networks, where he helped develop and oversee "Making the Video," "Making the Tour," "Senseless Acts of Video," "DisMissed," "Punk'd," "The Osbournes" and "Kidnapped," among other series and specials.

Carlson's CBS deal was brokered by his reps at Rebel Entertainment Partners.

Hollywood Reporter

Posted 4/17/08

Wayne Brady is back on the market.

The comedian and game show host has now been officially divorced from his wife.

Brady and Mandie Taketa have been living separately for the past four years.

According to papers filed this week in Los Angeles Superior Court, they were married in April 1999 and officially split in April 2006.

In divorce papers, the couple cited irreconcilable differences.

Brady and his ex-wife have a 5-year-old daughter.

In a statement from his publicist, Brady declared that his ex-wife is his "best friend" and that they will be raising their daughter as a team.

AP/The Pittsburgh Channel

Posted 4/17/08

She was always in the background. She was the cute one, the “show biz kid,” the perennial little sister to one of television’s comic idols. And at 24, she was a ornery sexagenarian everyone called Mama.

“That’s what I did on that show,” Vicki Lawrence says of “The Carol Burnett Show.” “I was second banana. I was the spinster, the aunt, the mean school marm and the witch. That’s what I did. (Mama) was just another character part.”

She went on to play Mama (aka Thelma Harper) for another seven years on the spin-off “Mama’s Family.” There were game shows here and there: “Win, Lose and Draw,” “Match Game ’73,” “Password Plus” and “The $10,000 Pyramid.” A talk show that received a daytime Emmy nomination but only ran a year. Some appearances on sitcoms like “Love Boat,” “Ally McBeal” and “Yes, Dear.” Most recently, she’s played on ongoing role as Grandma Stewart on tween phenom “Hannah Montana.”

“You know,” she says at one point in our phone interview, “this was never what I wanted for myself. I really thought I was going to go to school, become a dental hygienist and marry a rich doctor.”

Fifty-nine, a mother of two and married for 29 years to former head of CBS makeup Alvin Schultz, Lawrence has carved out a third or fourth or fifth incarnation, this time on stage in “Vicki Lawrence and Mama: A Two-Woman Show.” Part saucy-cum-sweet stand-up, part Mama’s wise-cracking meditations on life and her audience, Lawrence brings the show to the Philharmonic Center for the Arts Sunday.

Naples Daily News

Posted 4/17/08

Yul Kwon won $1 million by outlasting, outwitting and outplaying fellow castaways on Survivor: Cook Islands. Then he nabbed the title of one of People’s Sexiest Men Alive in 2006. Now the 33-year-old Stanford grad is celebrating another victory: popping the question to girlfriend Sophie Tan on stage at a concert — and getting a yes.

“It feels wonderful!” an elated Kwon tells People.com. “I’ve always thought that the single most important decision in your life is who you decide to spend it with.”

Kwon proposed to Tan, 29, a product manager at a mortgage bank, April 12 at a benefit concert at his alma mater in Palo Alto, Calif. The band, Seriously, played the couple’s special song before Kwon took the stage and presented her with a platinum, 2.2-karat, cushion-cut diamond ring.

“It seems my strategy of proposing in a public forum, maximizing social pressure, and shocking her into silence … seems to have worked,” says Kwon. “Now I just need to plan the wedding before she comes to her senses.”

People

Posted 4/16/08

CBS has announced a summer programming schedule that includes nearly 90 hours of original programming including two new dramas, a number of specials and all of the unscripted shows you could ever want.

As usual, the backbone of CBS' summer schedule will be the three weekly airings of "Big Brother." The 10th installment of the shut-in franchise will begin on Sunday, July 13 at 9 p.m., moving quickly into regular installments at 9 p.m. on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 8 p.m. As usual, Julie Chen will host.

No fewer than three other unscripted competition shows will premiere during the summer months, starting with the network's Regis Philbin-hosted revamp of "Million Dollar Password." The classic game show will return with stars including Rachael Ray, Neil Patrick Harris and Monique Coleman and will air on Sunday nights at 8 p.m. premiering on June 1.

Thursday, July 10 will see the 8 p.m. premiere of "Greatest American Dog," which pits pets and their owners against each other to find the nation's best trained dogs.

Then on Sunday, July 27 at 9 p.m., Mark Burnett will ask ordinary people to come up with catch advertising slogans on "Jingles."

Zap2it TV
ComingSoon.net
The Futon Critic
RealityWanted
WDEF News 12
Reuters
TV Week
Movieweb
Reuters
Variety