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Latest: Seacrest Weighs in on Hudson Case Foundation in Memory of Victims Founded From Actress Archives |
Posted 10/31/08 |
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the wake of the tragic murders of Jennifer Hudson’s mother, brother, and nephew,
"American Idol" host Ryan Seacrest is opening up about what a strong woman
Hudson is. Jennifer Hudson started her career as a contestant on "American
Idol", and thus spent every week sharing the stage with Seacrest.Speaking to People magazine, Seacrest said, "We're praying for her. I sent her an email to share my sorrow for what she went through and asked her if there was anything we could do.” The radio host continued his statement by echoing the sentiments of everyone who has heard of and reacted to this story. Said Seacrest, "It's horrible." Seacrest also revealed that he’s been in touch with American Idol judge Randy Jackson, to discuss the tragedy. Said Seacrest, "I talked to Randy [Jackson] the other day about it. We're just thinking about her." While he admitted that he hadn’t known Jennifer Hudson’s family well, Seacrest said, "I know Jennifer and I always liked her spirit, her strength, her charm, her charisma. She's a strong girl and a special girl." This comes with yesterday's announcement that Hudson’s family started a foundation that they have set up for families of murder victims. The foundation is named, “The Hudson-King Foundation for Families of Slain Victims” in memory of Hudson’s mother Darnell Hudson Donerson, her brother Jason Hudson and her nephew Julian King. A statement released by the family read, "The specific purpose of the Foundation is to care for the needs of families who have lost relatives to a violent crime. This encompasses their basic needs of food, clothing and shelter as well as grief counseling." It’s always a heartening sign when people are able to rise above horrific tragedy and sadness and actually create something good. It is more than commendable that so soon after tragedy struck, the Hudson family was able to do just that.
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Plestis Out, Telegdy In? NBC Alternative Department Isn't Commenting From TV Week |
Posted 10/31/08 |
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NBC reality chief Craig Plestis could soon be
leaving the network, with BBC executive Paul Telegdy in talks to jump to the
Peacock. While a source close to Mr. Plestis flatly denied a report that Mr. Plestis was on his way out, other people inside NBC familiar with the situation confirmed that Mr. Plestis would be replaced in his job as head of alternative television. LA Weekly first reported Mr. Plestis’ possible exit on its Deadlinehollywooddaily.com Web site. Mr. Plestis is best known for helping oversee NBC shows such as “The Biggest Loser” and “Deal or No Deal.” Just last month, the Hollywood Reporter named him the third-most-powerful person in reality TV. As for Mr. Telegdy, he has been heading up BBC Worldwide America’s Los Angeles office for the past four years. His main achievement: Launching “Dancing With the Stars” on ABC. A source with knowledge of the situation said that no deal is in place between Mr. Telegdy and NBC, but confirmed that talks between the two were taking place. NBC declined comment. A rep for BBC Worldwide couldn’t be reached. |
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New Projects Replacing Old "Runway" Bravo Begins Casting for "Fashion House" From USA Today |
Posted 10/31/08 |
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Bravo isn't letting a court battle over
Project Runway diminish its fashion sense. The cable channel said Thursday it has ordered a design-competition series called The Fashion Show, in which viewers pick the winner and the prize includes a retail deal. Casting calls will be held starting next month and are set for Los Angeles, Miami, Chicago and New York, with potential contestants required to bring examples of their work, Bravo said. The series' air date was not announced. The Fashion Show is "the perfect complement to our successful fashion series Tim Gunn's Guide to Style and The Rachel Zoe Project, " Bravo Media executive Frances Berwick said in a statement. Missing from that list was Project Runway, the hit program that is caught in a struggle involving NBC Universal, which owns Bravo, the Weinstein Co. and the Lifetime channel. NBC Universal sued Weinstein after the production company made a reported $150 million deal with Lifetime for the series that features model Heidi Klum as host. In September, a New York Supreme Court justice issued a temporary injunction barring Weinstein from taking Project Runway or any spinoff to Lifetime and contended that evidence showed that Weinstein violated NBC's "right of first refusal" for the show. Weinstein said there was no right of first refusal in the contract and that NBC Universal was offered the deal and was outbid. The sixth season of Project Runway was expected to start airing in January on Lifetime. Bravo has other fashion-oriented series in development, including Celebrity Sew-Off, announced Thursday, which would give the famous a chance to display their design skills. |
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GameQuest Heads to SciFi Show to Search for America's Best Gamer From MCN |
Posted 10/31/08 |
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Sci Fi Channel Thursday confirmed it will begin
production on WCG GameQuest, the working title for an eight-episode reality show
that will pit video game players against one another in search of the world’s
best all-around gamer. The series, which will be shot on location in Los Angeles, will premiere sometime in the first quarter of next year, network officials said. Samsung is the official production partner with Granada America and World Cyber Games (WCG) serving as producers. WGC GameQuest will feature top game titles from various studios and will incorporate physical challenges that bring video games to life, as well as elimination challenges in an arena before hundreds of spectators. The gamer who emerges from the pack of 12 competitors will win a prize package that includes $100,000 and trips to future World Cyber Games events around the world. “With two out of every three American households playing videogames, it’s clear that this mainstream phenomenon is a perfect arena for the channel’s agenda of broadening the brand while celebrating imagination,” Dave Howe, Sci Fi’s president, said in a statement. “The colorful and eclectic group of men and women competitors will simultaneously fit and completely shake up the ultimate gamer stereotype.” WCG GameQuest was created by Michael Agbabian and Dwight D. Smith (Phenomenon, Gameshow Marathon and Last Comic Standing) who will executive produce. |
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Poker Party Plans for GSN GSN's Diamond Defends Decision From Poker News Daily |
Posted 10/31/08 |
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Recently, cable station GSN announced that
it had decided to move poker-related programming to Sunday nights. The
network is the home of popular cash game show “High Stakes Poker” and
holds the rights to the sixth season of the World Poker Tour. However,
GSN elected not to pick up the rights to air Season VII of the WPT,
which has since been picked up by Fox Sports Net. Ratings for the
network have since skyrocketed on Sunday nights. Heidi Diamond, Executive Vice President of Marketing for GSN, discussed the industry’s response to its poker programming time block on Sundays and gave an insight into how the show has faired in terms of ratings. "It’s been killer," Diamond says. "We wanted to carve out its ideal location. Poker has such a rabid fan base. The rationale in terms of our thinking was to find an ideal location for it when there’s other complimentary content out there people may be looking for. For those are “football-ed out,” poker is a perfect respite on Sunday nights."
Diamond notes that the lineup is up in every
demographic, including adults aged 18-49, adults aged 25-54, and women
aged 18-49. She disputes, however, that the move had anything to do with
Fox Sports' similar strategy. Diamond did go on to note that while GSN only has the rights to air season six of the World Poker Tour, the door remains open. "We have high regard for the WPT. We continue to be good friends and partners since we’ll still be airing Season VI and we never closed the doors. We’ve also aired one-off specials on poker and when those kinds of opportunities present themselves in the future, we’ll give more consideration. We plan to use some of our interstitials to enhance our viewers’ experience. We’re re-branding our network and that will factor in." |
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Tom Green Gets Green for Planet Green "Go for the Green" to Launch November 8 From the Futon Critic |
Posted 10/30/08 |
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Tom Green is back! Planet Green introduces a new
weekly series, "Go for the Green", a fun, high energy elimination game show
where a live studio audience competes to stay in the game and prove that, like
our host, they're "green" too! It's survival of the fittest, and by the end of
the show two finalists face off in a tension filled game to win a fantastic
green getaway. "Go for the Green" premieres Saturday, November 8 at 8PM ET. "Who else could host this game show for Planet Green?" questions Green. "If you were expecting Alex Trebek, you were almost correct. At least we're both Canadian." "Go for the Green" marks Tom's return to television, after hosting the internet talk show, "Tom Green's House Tonight." Born in Ottawa, Tom is an actor, comedian, television host, recording artist and author who got his start on national television back in the late 1990's with MTV's "The Tom Green Show," a variety program that spawned a type of "shock humor" that was later seen in such shows as MTV's "Jackass," and NBC's "Fear Factor." Hosting "Go for the Green", a game show, is new territory for Tom. The game starts with a studio audience of 50 people who are all potential contestants. But 50 players are a huge waste, so Tom whips the audience into a frenzy through a few fast and furious rounds to weed out excess players. With eco Q&A and intriguing polls, "Go for the Green" combines Tom's humor and spontaneity with important information that reflects American's attitudes, habits, and feelings about environmental issues. The third and final round ends with two contestants from the studio audience squaring off in a whimsical race to put a group of pictured items in their correct order without "breaking the chain" that connects them. "Go for the Green" premieres Saturday, November 8 at 8PM ET with subsequent new episodes airing every Saturday at 8PM ET. The series is produced by Wheeler/Sussman for Planet Green, in association with Andy Friendly Productions. Burt Wheeler, Sharon Sussman and Andy Friendly are Executive Producers. Timothy Kuryak is Executive Producer for Planet Green. |
 Comic Tom Green will "Go for the Green" on Planet Green (courtesy Japan Today) |
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First Julianne, Now Lacey... "Dancing" Pros Diagnosed with Endometriosis From People |
Posted 10/30/08 |
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And then there were two … Doctors have diagnosed Dancing with the Stars pro Lacey Schwimmer with endometriosis — the same condition that has sidelined Julianne Hough. Schwimmer, a former contestant on "So You Think You Can Dance" who coaches Lance Bass on the hit ABC show, says she learned Wednesday that she too suffers from the same ailment. “A few days ago, I started feeling very shaky, very weak, and I had awful cramps … I didn’t really know what was going on,” she told The Insider. “I went to go get checked out today and I actually have the beginning onset of what Julianne has.” Endometriosis, a relatively common — but often painful — medical condition found in 5 percent to 10 percent of women, is the development of uterine-lining tissue outside the uterus on the surfaces of organs, such as the appendix, in the pelvis or abdomen. “It hurts very bad,” she said. “Right now I’m insanely weak, and the room is spinning.” But, unlike Hough –- who went under the knife earlier this week — it seems Schwimmer won’t require surgery. “I have medication that is taking care of it,” she said. “We caught it at a very good time.” As for Hough, Schwimmer says her fellow dancer is “doing great.” “[Julianne] is in bed,” she continued. “She has her boyfriend there, she has her mom, her sisters, her dog.” |
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Fremantle Reps Fever Catalog to Be Distributed Outside UK From World Screen |
Posted 10/30/08 |
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Tapping into its Talent Fund, FremantleMedia has
reached a deal to represent the rights, outside of the U.K., to the entire slate
of formats and completed programs from British outfit Fever Media, which is
known for its factual, variety and game-show fare. Fever, which is represented by The William Morris Agency, was launched in 2006 by executive producers Richard Hopkins and David Mortimer with the backing of Sony BMG. Since its formation, Fever has produced Fortune: Million Pound Giveaway and No Place Like Home for ITV, The National Lottery People’s Quiz for BBC One and MTV’s Top Pop Group for MTV in the U.S., among other shows. FremantleMedia will tap into the resources of its global network to exploit the Fever catalogue. The representation deal was funded by FremantleMedia’s 40-million-euro Talent Fund. “Fever has a talent for making big, ‘event’ TV,” noted Rob Clark, the senior executive VP of entertainment and production for worldwide entertainment at FremantleMedia. “They are ambitious, fresh, exciting and have great ideas. Fever is a young, dynamic production company with a sense of scale and vision and is certain to create a number of big hits in the future. It is a perfect fit for FremantleMedia’s global production base across its numerous territories and its skill at turning great shows into global entertainment hits.” |
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Big Brothers Big Sisters Big Winners "Deal" Winner Decides to Pay It Forward From MarketWatch |
Posted 10/30/08 |
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Big Brothers Big Sisters was recently a big winner
on the popular game show "Deal or No Deal" on NBC. Coleen Fowler of Woodbury,
Minnesota, was a contestant on the show last Friday and decided to "pay it
forward" by sharing a portion of her winnings with friends in need. Deal or No
Deal followed her example and searched for a corporation that would match her
winnings and give it to a children-focused charity. Comcast agreed to match the
contestant's winnings by making a contribution valued at $176,000 to Big
Brothers Big Sisters of America. Big Brothers Big Sisters was chosen because it is a favorite charity of the show, and one of its producers and a model are Big Sister volunteers. Comcast was happy to step up to the plate when approached by Deal or No Deal. "Deal or No Deal provided me a once in a lifetime opportunity," said Fowler. "Not only was it fun and exciting to be a contestant, but it was personally so rewarding to take part in the gift of giving. I was deeply moved by the generosity of Comcast to match my winnings and make such a substantial donation to an organization as wonderful as Big Brothers Big Sisters of America." "We were delighted to match Ms. Fowler's winnings as a donation to help further the great cause of Big Brothers Big Sisters," said Charisse R. Lillie, Vice President of Community Investment at Comcast Corporation and Executive Vice President of the Comcast Foundation. "This contribution is an extension of our national partnership with the organization including cash and in-kind contributions as well as Comcast employee participation in Big Brothers Big Sisters mentorship programs." |
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Regis Not Shy About Winging It "Password" Host to Play Caesars Windsor From Windsor Star |
Posted 10/30/08 |
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Regis Philbin has been winging it for half a
century. Life is an ad lib for the 77-year-old Renaissance man of popular culture. Even his famous, unscripted "host chats" that start each Live with Regis and Kelly TV show were the result of a tight budget that didn't allow for a writer. "To this day," said Philbin, "that's all done without a script. And let me tell you, it's still the hardest thing I have to do on the show." Not that he needs the work, but this Friday and Saturday, after finishing up another week of Live with Regis and Kelly in New York City, he'll appear on the Colosseum stage at Caesars Windsor for a musical variety show accompanied by a 22-piece orchestra. "I do about a dozen of these a year," he said. "It's not like it's a tour or anything." But it's ambitious for someone who's earned the right to kick back in retirement and let the royalty cheques roll in. Philbin doesn't flinch when it suggested he's the world's hardest-working senior. "I keep fit. I work out and try to eat the right things." Even a well-publicized triple bypass in 2007, much-discussed on the TV show, failed to slow him down. "If anything," he said, "I'm in better shape and have more energy now after the operation than I did before it. I was really dragging myself around before the surgery." |
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Friedberg: It's "Easy to Win" Entrepreneur Hosts Online Game Show From Boston Herald |
Posted 10/30/08 |
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Three times each week, Newton entrepreneur Eric
Friedberg joins some 1,900 other game show fans, all of whom are eager to
compete for cash. But they aren’t gathered in a large bingo hall or a television studio. They’re mostly at home in front of their keyboards. Friedberg is the creator of the free, online game show called It’s Easy to Win. Since its launch earlier this month, more than 5,000 people have registered for a chance to play, and win cash prizes, he said. Friedberg, 40, started the Internet-based venture after noticing how many game shows thrive on television. “I kept seeing more and more people tuning into these shows, and playing the Lottery,” he said. “But when you are on the couch at home, you have no opportunity to get picked.” That’s all changed with www.ItsEasyToWin.com, which sponsors three instant win games each week. The Web site’s advertisers supply the cash prizes and Friedberg acts as the host. |
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Roger Muir: 1918-2008 Co-Creator of "Newlywed Game", "Howdy Doody" From New York Times |
Posted 10/29/08 |
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E. Roger Muir, who helped create and was
executive producer of “The Howdy Doody Show,” the puppet-and-people program that
first hooked millions of kids on television in its early days, died Thursday
near his home in Wolfeboro, N.H. Mr. Muir, who went on to produce other
successful shows, including “Concentration,” was 89. The cause was a stroke, his son, Warren, said. At a time when big, bulky wood-encased television sets were first coming out of their crates in homes across the country, “The Howdy Doody Show” was perhaps the primary attraction that brought baby-boom children in from their after-school play in time to settle down before dinner and maybe even homework. Mr. Muir produced the show throughout its 13-year run on NBC, from 1947 to 1960, and was co-producer with Nick Nicholson of its syndicated version, “The New Howdy Doody Show,” in 1976 and 1977. Mr. Muir “was a sculptor of the show,” said Ron Simon, the radio and television curator at the Paley Center for Media, in New York. “Say, kids, what time is it?” Buffalo Bob Smith would call out to the children in the Peanut Gallery. “It’s Howdy Doody time,” they would roar back. Buffalo Bob, a human, and Howdy, a freckle-faced puppet, would prance with the likes of Clarabell the Clown, a horn-honking human, and other puppets, like the always-grumpy Phineas T. Bluster. In 1961 Mr. Muir and Mr. Nicholson started their own production company. Together, according to The Encyclopedia of TV Game Shows, they produced, among other programs, “The Newlywed Game,” which was later taken over by Chuck Barris; “Pay Cards!,” a game show based on poker; and “Concentration.” Ernest Roger Muir was born in Alberta, Canada, on Dec. 16, 1918, the son of Ernest and Helen Rogers Muir. The family moved to Minneapolis in 1930, and Mr. Muir graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1941. Besides his son, Mr. Muir is survived by his second wife, Barbara Horn-Muir; five grandchildren; and one great-grandson. His first wife, Phyllis Stirn, died in 1976. |
 Roger Muir (courtesy New York Times) |
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Fuse Seeks "Redemption" Catch It Tonight From New York Post |
Posted 10/29/08 |
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What would Amy Winehouse do if she were a
contestant on "American Idol?" How would Janis Joplin have behaved if she had been on "America's Got Talent?" What if Courtney Love had gotten her start on "The Bad Girls Club?" That's the main line in Fuse's new show, "Redemption Song," a competition/reality show with elements of all of the above plus a cast of banged-up, drunken female singers with tremendous talent that includes a stripper who danced to bail out her boyfriend, an ex-druggie who was arrested several times, a teen runaway, a madam who stole wallets off the Johns and a lesbian who was beat up by her husband. No - "Redemption Song" contestants aren't your typical reality show types, which makes the show different from other reality shows, although the format for the show is totally borrowed from them. The contestants - all of whom could use a break but would rather kill than ask for one - are serious singers with serious problems. For one thing, they live the out-of-control rock star lifestyle (drugs, sex, rock and rampage) without being stars. Although, make no mistake, some of these young women are talented enough to become stars, and not in the fake "Idol" rock star way, but in the real-deal way. The host for the show is WWE superstar and "Fozzy" lead singer, Chris Jericho; the show's vocal coach is Grammy winner Mauli B, who is as tough on them as a real coach should be. No love-is-all-around, Barry Manilow-types here. Ron Fair, chairman of Geffen Records, who has mentored such superstars with pasts as Mary J. Blige and Fergie, acts as judge along with record company producers. There are also musical guests each week - tonight's is hip hop artist, Shwayze, and upcoming guests include Mya and Chris Kirkpatrick. |
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GSN to Redesign Online Space Introduces "Everybody Plays" Tagline From Earth Times |
Posted 10/29/08 |
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Molecular, Inc., a top interactive agency
and part of the Isobar network, today announced a collaboration with GSN
(formerly known as Game Show Network) to re-design GSN.com and provide
users with a fresher, more personalized online experience that bridges
the cable TV and online mediums. GSN and Molecular worked together to create an updated site and logo that reflect GSN’s new positioning of ‘putting winning within reach’ and new tagline ‘everybody plays’. The branding is designed to be fun and playful with a sophisticated and more modern feel. “The Molecular team’s deep expertise in creating compelling interactive user experiences, coupled with their business intelligence have made them a valued business partner for us,” said Christian Meyer, Senior Vice President of Marketing for GSN Digital. “We brought in Molecular to help us redesign our site because of their creative expertise and user-centric approach to experience design. When we were updating our logo, Molecular was a clear choice to help us realize our vision, since they understood our customers, our business goals, and were already immersed in the design process. |
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Ken Jennings to Sit as Ask-the-Expert Episodes to Air Week of November 3 From PR Newswire |
Posted 10/28/08 |
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"Who Wants To Be A Millionaire" contestants
will take to the hot seat with added confidence next week, as game show
legend Ken Jennings sits in as resident "Expert" in episodes airing
November 3 - 7, 2008. The new "Ask The Expert" lifeline enables contestants to connect with a pre-determined "Expert" via a live face-to-face Skype video call on any question past the $1,000 level. Hosted by the Emmy Award-winning Meredith Vieira, Millionaire premiered its seventh season this past September. Check local listings or go to http://www.millionairetv.com for more information. "When the idea of 'Ask The Expert' was introduced, the first name we discussed was Ken Jennings," said Millionaire Executive Producer Michael Davies. "We are delighted that that he has finally become part of the Millionaire family." In 2004, Jennings made television history when he was crowned the winner of 74 consecutive episodes of Jeopardy, winning more than $2.5 million. Jennings currently holds the record for the longest winning streak in game show history. "Winning big on a quiz show was the most fun I've ever had, so hopefully I can make that same dream come true for a few other people as well," said Jennings. Jennings told participating Millionaire contestants that his categories of strength include Books, Movies and Geography and that his weaknesses include Sports and Reality Television. |
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Are You Smarter Than an Xbox Live Player? Fox Show Hits Xbox Live From Punch Jump |
Posted 10/28/08 |
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Microsoft Corp. this week said that the game
show title Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader will be available on the
Xbox Live division of the Xbox 360. The title, based on the Fox television show, will quiz players on 21 subjects across 6,000 questions. The game will retail for 1200 Microsoft Points and is rated E. Microsoft on Sept. 5 discounted all Xbox 360 hardware in the U.S. between $50 to $80 to spur sales. |
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Leachman Apologizes Low Ranked "Dancing" Star Survived Six Eliminations From Us Magazine |
Posted 10/28/08 |
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Cloris Leachman has gotten more attention
for her wacky on-stage antics than her dance moves on this season's
Dancing With the Stars. But she insists her feistiness -- hoisting her leg up on the judges' desk; cursing out fellow contestants; referring to herself as a "skanky ho" -- is all in good nature. "Something comes over me — I don't know what it is," the 82-year-old tells USA Today. "If I've made people mad, I'm sorry. All my life, I've been a cut-up. I'm just having fun." This season, she has consistently ranked in the bottom but has won enough viewer votes to survive six eliminations. "The fact that I'm still on is a [expletive] miracle," she admits. "I suppose [viewers] see fun and hope and happiness." DWTS executive producer Conrad Green denies a recent Chicago Sun-Times story that host Samantha Harris and contestant Susan Lucci are fed up with Leachman's behavior Says Green: "She's 82, but she's mischievous and has this uncanny ability to make people laugh. We never know what to expect with her. But that's what live TV is about." |
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NBC Shuffles Wednesdays "Momma's Boys" Delayed Until December From C21Media |
Posted 10/27/08 |
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NBC has reshuffled its winter primetime
schedule, pushing back the launch of its reality dating format Momma's
Boys by nearly two months and creating drama blocks on Wednesday and
Friday nights. "Momma's Boys", from American Idol host Ryan Seacrest and Average Joe creator Andrew Glassman, was slated to debut this Wednesday, October 29, at 9p ET before being delayed until November 12. It will now not be seen until Tuesday, December 16, when it will premiere at 10p ET following The Biggest Loser's season finale, before settling into a regular Monday 9p slot, replacing Heroes. Wednesday, meanwhile, will become NBC's home for hard-hitting drama, when Law & Order shifts to the 10p ET slot from its 19th season launch on November 5. It will follow Knight Rider at 8p ET and sophomore murder mystery series Life at 9p ET. Friday nights will also look different from this week. Lipstick Jungle will shift mid-season from Wednesday to Friday at 10p ET, slotting in ahead of new series Crusoe. "These moves will play to the shows' mutual strengths and will help us to reinforce our line-up," NBC co-chairmen Ben Silverman and Marc Graboff said in a statement. "A Wednesday night with wall-to-wall satisfying mysteries and great dramas - paced by the return of the original Law & Order to its home on Wednesdays - will provide creative continuity that night. Fridays will feature escapist drama with Lipstick Jungle and Crusoe. In addition, this strategy for Momma's Boys offers the show a more favorable launch platform." |
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"Celebrity Bowling" Returns... to a Smaller
Screen TV4U.com to Launch Streaming Video Version From PR Canada |
Posted 10/27/08 |
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Celebrity Bowling, the iconic celebrity game
show, has returned with new episodes being produced by TV4U.Com at the
Silver Nugget Casino Bowling Center. The new host of Celebrity Bowling is long time Las Vegas TV sportscaster Ron Futrell. The first episode, being taped October 29th at the Silver Nugget Casino 24 lane bowling center, features Real TV host John Daly and Las Vegas Magician (formerly at Caesars Palace) Collin Foster. The show is sponsored by Corona Beer and a unique feature will be that all of the pins at the AMF lanes will look like Corona Beer bottles. "We are delighted to be bringing back Celebrity Bowling for bowling fans around the world," said TV4U.Com CEO Charry Kennedy. "Fans love to see celebrities as real people and this is a way to have fun and raise money for charity at the same time." Both bowlers dedicate their appearance fees to their designated charity.
"There are a lot of celebrities who love to
bowl," continued Kennedy. "and as they come to Las Vegas, we will bring
them to the Silver Nugget Casino and have them be a part of the
program." |
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Housing Slump Hits Carol Vorderman Price of Her Apartment Drops From This Is Money |
Posted 10/27/08 |
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Carol Vorderman is facing a countdown
conundrum of her own as she is forced to drop the price of her penthouse
by £800,000, about $1.5 million US. Vorderman put the Thameside flat – which overlooks parliament – on the market in May for $8.9 million. But Carol - who made her name with her mathematical ability on Channel 4's Countdown show - has now reportedly reduced the price to $7.7 million due to the property slump. And she may have to settle for less as her most serious bidder is said to be offering just $5.4 million. Vorderman, 47, announced in July she would be leaving Countdown after she was told her pay would be cut by 90%. Vorderman - who has written a book called Better Homes telling people how to increase the value of their own property - is understood to have paid $4.6 in 2002 for the 3,600 sq ft, four-bedroom flat in the block on Albert Embankment. |
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Gordon Ramsay, Family Move to Dubai "Hell's Kitchen" Host to Open Restaurant From New York Post |
Posted 10/27/08 |
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Foul-mouthed chef Gordon Ramsay is going to
move to Dubai, according to reports. Several newspapers in London said over the weekend that Ramsay plans to move his family - wife, four kids and his mother - out of his Victorian mansion in south London and to the booming United Arab Emerates. Ramsay, the host of "Hell's Kitchen," is about to open a new restaurant there. But there may be personal problems awaiting him. Profanity is against the law in deeply Muslim Dubai. |
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"Apprentice" Contestant McDowell
Booted from World Series Third Season Player Apparently Had One Too Many From Philly.com |
Posted 10/27/08 |
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"Apprentice" castmate and Jersey shore
realtor Brian McDowell was ejected from Tropicana Field during the sixth
inning of Game 2 of the World Series after having a few too many beers,
reports Mike Phillips, Internet radio host at NowLive.com. Phillips
knows a thing or two about beer consumption - he is a beer vendor at
Citizens Bank Park. Phillips tells us he met McDowell on an Amtrak train to Florida on Tuesday and the pair also caught up at Game 2, where Phillips says he saw McDowell drinking heavily. When we reached McDowell by e-mail Friday, he replied that not only was he not at the game, he wasn't even in Florida, and also that he no longer drinks. When we later e-mailed McDowell to say that we had seen his cell-phone number in Phillips' call logs from Thursday night at the time Phillips said the two were together, McDowell changed his tune. "We were cheering excessively for the Phillies in a section of Tampa fans," says McDowell, who stated that he and a friend were not ejected from the park, but were moved to another section populated by Phillies fans. Despite the account by Phillips, who also broadcasts online on MySpace, McDowell says that he hasn't had a drink since August 2007. "Not because I have a drinking problem, but it's made me more productive," he said. McDowell was ejected from the 5th season live finale of "The Apprentice," for an unclear reason in an online. |
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Lou Dorfsman: 1918-2008 Design & Ad Executive at CBS During Age of "What's My Line" From New York Times |
Posted 10/27/08 |
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Lou Dorfsman, who for more than 40 years
designed every aspect of the Columbia Broadcasting System’s advertising
and corporate identity, including the set of Walter Cronkite’s newsroom
and the typographically elegant sign system for CBS’s New York
headquarters, known as Black Rock, died on Wednesday in Roslyn, N.Y. He
was 90. The cause was congestive heart failure, said his daughter, Elissa Dorfsman. Mr. Dorfsman’s work became a model for corporate communications, in the marketing discipline now called branding. In 1946, when he joined CBS as art director for its successful radio networks, the company was already a leader in both advertising and the relatively new field of corporate identity. Frank Stanton, then CBS’s president, understood the business value of sophisticated design and had earlier hired William Golden as the overall art director; in 1951 Golden designed the emblematic CBS eye, among the most identifiable logos in the world. Mr. Dorfsman not only extended Golden’s aesthetic by combining conceptual clarity and provocative visual presentation, but developed his own signature style of graphic design. Unlike so many product advertisements created by Madison Avenue, which in the 1940s and ’50s were visually mundane and text-heavy, Mr. Dorfsman’s designs featured clear typography, simple slogans and smart illustration. After Golden’s sudden death in 1959 at 48, Mr. Dorfsman was named creative director of CBS television, and in 1964 he became the director of design for the entire Columbia Broadcasting System. A few years later his title became senior vice president and creative director for marketing communications and design. He maintained tight creative control, which ensured design continuity from the CBS logo to its proprietary typeface, called CBS Didot. The cleverness and subtle beauty of his advertisements were credited with winning over many viewers to both news and entertainment programs on the network. |
 Lou Dorfsman (courtesy New York Times) |
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"Hole" Gets Buried Japanese Import Heads to Hiatus From the Futon Critic |
Posted 10/24/08 |
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FOX is putting "Hole in the Wall" on hiatus. Repeats of "Kitchen Nightmares" will fill the Thursday, 8:00/7:00c hour for the foreseeable future. The show's most recent installment drew a 1.5 rating among adults 18-49 where it finished behind The CW's "Smallville" (1.7 rating) as the least-watched broadcast program in the key demographic in its time period. It's not clear when "Wall" will rejoin FOX's schedule. 16 half-hour episodes of the series have yet to air. |
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Report: Next "Runway" to Be Vastly
Different To Premiere TBA on a Network TBA From New York Post |
Posted 10/24/08 |
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The next season of "Project Runway" -
which is set to air on Lifetime - finished production a few days ago in
LA. But two regulars, judges Nina Garcia and Michael Kors, are hardly in it, according to reports. Much more time was devoted to such guest judges as Rebecca Romijn, Eva Longoria and Lindsay Lohan, according to a report in Women's Wear Daily. The finale of the show is still expected to the taped at New York Fashion Week next February. But from the reports, that may be the only thing familiar about the hit fashion-reality series. Women's Wear reports that even Manhattan-based Mood Fabrics, where the "Runway" designers go every week for fabric for their challenges, wasn't used in the new version. The LA branch was too far from the shooting sites, the paper said, so producers put a fake Mood storefront on another fabric store and shot there instead. Lifetime's "Runway" was originally scheduled to debut early next year. But the show is entangled in a messy contract dispute between Harvey Weinstein, who owns the show, and NBC, which owns the cable channel Bravo, where "Runway" first began. A federal judge has stopped Lifetime from putting on the new show, which it paid $150 million to take from Bravo. The lawsuit could push the season premiere back to the summer, according to reports. |
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More on "20Q" An Inside Look... From Broadcast |
Posted 10/24/08 |
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It's man versus machine in this Dutch
reworking of a classic parlor game. 20Q features three contestants battling to reveal a mystery word by using 20 clues or fewer. The twist is that they also battle against a robot named Q, who has played the game 66 million times and gets smarter every time. In the first round, a subject is picked randomly, determining the word to be guessed. The contestants are then offered a selection of questions, which all have yes or no answers. They select questions in turn and use the answers to work out the mystery word. The first contestant to guess the word correctly before the robot goes through to the final in which they compete with Q. If they guess the final word, they win a large cash prize. A live demonstration of the gameshow was given at Mipcom last week featuring three TV industry execs. The winner was Karen de Groot, program director at Dutch channel Ned 5, who won $10,000. The format is new and has not yet been aired on any channel. The gameshow format was being pitched by Endemol International, which has the worldwide rights, to UK broadcasters at Mipcom last week. |
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Indian Broadcasters Fight for 1 vs. 100 Reality Outpaces Soaps in Subcontinent From Economic Times |
Posted 10/24/08 |
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With reality shows scoring over soap operas
both in terms of TRPs and ad rates, a battle has broken out between
leading Hindi general entertainment channels (GEC) to acquire the rights
of an international popular game show 1 Vs 100, created by production
house Endemol. It is learnt that Star Plus and NDTV Imagine are among
the top contenders to acquire the rights for the show, some others have
also expressed interest. Sources add that one of the contesting channels
has already approached Amitabh Bachchan to host the show though there is
no clarity yet on whether he is willing to sign on. Viacom 18’s Colors was also in the race to acquire the rights for the show, but now, it is learnt, Colors is no longer a contender. When contacted, an Endemol India spokesperson said that the production house could not comment on details since the show is at the ‘pitch level’ currently. Star Plus executive V-P and GM Keertan Adyanthaya says: “We are not aware of any such show.” NDTV Imagine officials also refused to comment. 1 Vs 100 is an expensive format show. Questions are posed to one key contestant whose answers have to be matched with 100 others for the original contestant to win a cash prize. Going by the latest TAM ratings, Star Plus—which has ruled the segment for years—and relatively new-entrant Colors are now neck-and-neck for top slot in the GEC space. The latter’s reality-based programs Khatron Ke Khiladi followed by Bigg Boss II were almost instant hits in terms of ratings. |
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Sajak Spins "Wheel of Felons" "Wheel" Host Helps Maryland Police From LexisNexis/Officer.com |
Posted 10/24/08 |
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The scene is familiar to millions of
television viewers - Pat Sajak calling names and cracking jokes by a
spinning wheel. But yesterday, Sajak, who has hosted Wheel of Fortune for a quarter of a century, found himself not in a Hollywood studio but a county government building in Glen Burnie. And his assistant was not the beaming Vanna White, but someone a bit more businesslike: Anne Arundel County Sheriff Ron Bateman. Sajak, who has a home in Severna Park, and the sheriff taped an episode of Anne Arundel County's Most Wanted, which airs on local public access cable. While Sajak read names and descriptions of people wanted on open warrants, the sheriff spun the "Wheel of Felons." "When we announce your name on our show, it's usually good news," Sajak said. "But when we say your name here, this isn't really good news." The sheriff, who met Sajak at a parade, is known for pursuing criminals with a certain flair. On Valentine's Day, he tricked suspects into staying home by telling them to await a delivery from "Flowers by Ron." Last year, he lured suspects with promises of phony tax refunds. The 61-year-old game show host and the sheriff kept up the banter throughout the half-hour program, which was filmed in a small studio under a county-run parking lot. |
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John Hanlin Visits GSNLive $100K "Bingo" Winner to Splurge on Classic Car From GSN PR & Buzzerblog |
Posted 10/23/08 |
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Bingo America crowned its second $100,000
winner; the first with the new and vastly improved end game. John Hanlin
beat some pretty amazing odds. In the end game, you have to pick a
number from each row on a Bingo board (B: 1-15, I: 16-30, N: 31-45, G:
46-60, O: 61-75). Rows I through O have wrecking balls (1 in I, 3 in N,
6 in G, 10 in O) which, if picked, wipes out your entire bank. He risked
$6,500 on the 1:3 shot to pass the O level and was the first person to
clear the board, securing $7,000. A Superball was then drawn from the
Bingo Sphere, and if it matched any of the five numbers that Hanlin
picked on the board, that $7,000 becomes $100,000. He beat the 1:15 odds
and collected the top prize. Hanlin said, “I felt very eager to get on the show and play… it sounded like a fun and exciting atmosphere to compete for a cash prize.” Hanlin, a game show enthusiast who had never won anything before added, “Going all the way to the final round was icing on the cake; I had a blast! Winning on Bingo America was such a fantastic feeling, because it was one of the most unexpected and exciting thrills of my life.” With his $100,000, Hanlin plans to purchase his dream car, a classic 1969 Chevy Corvette and share his new wealth with his family. John Hanlin talked about his winning experience on GSN Live during the 3PM ET-6PM ET block, hosted by Fred Roggin and Kelly Packard. |
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Hawaii Hosts Wheel Details! From Sony PR |
Posted 10/23/08 |
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Wheel of Fortune packed up and went across
the ocean to Hawaii’s Big Island to tape 20 shows from the beautiful
Hilton Waikoloa Village. All of the shows, which were shot outdoors at
sunset through the evening hours, will feature contestants from the
islands. This most recent shoot in Hawaii, marks the 55th location shoot and the 25th city for Wheel of Fortune. For these 20 shows, Wheel of Fortune gave away a grand total of $1,029,790 in cash and prizes. Over 200 staff and Los Angeles-based crew went to Hawaii. The show employed an additional 200 local crew that included stage crew, production managers, drivers, teamsters, electricians, greensmen, security, heavy equipment operators and production assistants. The crew and staff worked from August 20-September 23 to assemble the stage, load in the set and tape the shows. Immediately following the tapings, the set was removed and shipped back to Los Angeles. The first week of shows, “Hawaii’s Big Island” (airing November 5-7 and November 10-11). These five shows will feature all Hawaiian residents. The festivities continue with “Best Friends Week” (airing November 12-14 and November 17-18). These five shows will feature island buddies playing together. The third week is “Wheel Goes Waikoloa” (airing November 19-21 and November 24-25). These five shows will feature all Hawaiian residents. The fourth week of shows, “Second Honeymoon” will air in February 2009. |
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Will Len Leave "Dancing" for... "Dancing?" Pay Raise May Mean Taking on the US Version Full-Time From OK UK |
Posted 10/23/08 |
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"Dancing with the Stars" judge Len Goodman
has hinted that this may be his last season of the BBC dancing contest
that inspired the hit ABC series. Flying between LA and London every week - where he also judges on the British show - is taking its toll and Len has admitted that jet lag is becoming a problem. He is currently paid almost $150,000 to appear on the British show, whereas he enjoys a whopping $400,000 payout to judge the US contestants on our version. Len flies out to LA every Sunday morning, along with fellow judge Bruno Tonioli, before flying back to London the following Thursday. Len said: "I wasn’t going to do it this year - flying backwards and forwards - but I got talked into it. "My heart wants to do the British show but my head - the money - makes me want to do the American one." But Len did hint that he would only make the decision to choose a show if asked by the producers. "I’ll have to make the decision - if they ask me - whether to do the British or the American one." |
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Spinning Yarns with Vanna "Wheel" Letter Toucher, Michaels Front Contest From In Store Marketing |
Posted 10/23/08 |
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Michaels this month is hosting an
account-specific contest from Lion Brand Yarn's Vanna's Choice. The contest calls for consumers to use Vanna's Choice or Vanna's Choice Baby Yarn to make a creation that falls into one of four categories: afghan, baby, craft or fashion. Photographs of the creations are submitted along with entry forms online or via mail from Oct. 12 through Feb. 1, 2009. Judging will be conducted by "a panel of qualified" people who will rate the entries based equally on creativity and workmanship. The grand-prize winner earns a trip to Los Angeles to meet TV personality Vanna White -- the yarn brand's namesake -- and see her in action at a taping of the Wheel of Fortune game show she has co-hosted since 1982. The winner also gets $500 in spending money for the trip and an additional $1,000. Top winners from the other three categories also get $1,000. Other prizes include White DVDs and Michaels gift cards. Michaels promotes the contest on a stanchion sign near entrances and an endcap in the yarn department. P-O-P materials direct shoppers to store employees or a promotional website for entry information. |
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Bob Eubanks to Host "Not So Newlywed Game" Presentation Part of Annual Wyoming Banquet From Black Hills Portal |
Posted 10/23/08 |
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Honoring those who serve in our community is
always an exciting time. November 7th, 2008 will be no exception. The
Campbell County Chamber of Commerce in Gillette, Wyoming will be
applauding businesses, individuals and committees at its annual awards
event to be broadcast live at the Clarion Inn and Convention Center on
Friday, November 7th, between 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM mountain time with
game show host Bob Eubanks. This year there will be additional surprises in Gillette, WY and a very special guest from Los Angeles- television game show host, Bob Eubanks – who will host a live televised and live internet broadcast version of the show called, “The Not So Newlywed Game Show”, with five couples from Gillette, Wyoming; Edd & Melanie Collins, Mike & Karen Davis, Josh & Nachelle McGrath, Toby & Courtney Bennett, and Chris and Angel Rogge. Masters of Ceremony, Erik Bergquist, will guide the evening along with his usual flair for humor. In addition to bloopers being shown from the popular show, there will be a special menu including wedding cake, valet parking and the sounds of the Big Horn Big Band. This year the Chamber in Campbell County, Gillette, WY will be offering a high-end silent auction with items that have value for everyone. |
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Want to Hassle the Hoff? "Got Talent" Judge to Appear in Video Game From Gamespot |
Posted 10/23/08 |
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After torturing movie audiences in cinematic
sewage like Nick Fury: Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Anaconda III, David
Hasselhoff is himself going to be put in Pain. On November 6, the
kitschy star--whose actual career highlights include Knight Rider,
Baywatch, and America's Got Talent--will become a downloadable character
in the PlayStation 3's sandbox sadism title. In addition to hurling Hasselhoff head first through the game's original downtown environment and its amusement park add-on, Pain players will be able to launch the TV star awkwardly into a whole new level's worth of dangerous objects. The November 6 update to the PlayStation Store will include the Movie Studio add-on for Pain ($5.99), allowing gamers to wreak havoc on a handful of movie sets spoofing a wealth of popular genres. In a nod to his recording career, Hasselhoff also agreed to record a new song for his Pain debut. Pushing the boundaries of the phrase "rhetorical question," the '80s icon has covered the Culture Club hit "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me?" While Sony has confirmed that its casual gaming quiz show host Buzz will be included in the Movie Studio add-on, Hasselhoff appears to be a premium character sold separately. He and his three different outfits (formal wear, bathing suit, and Michael Knight-style jeans and leather jacket) should run gamers $1.99. |
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"Bachelor" Finds Love... Again Grant in Relationship with PR Rep From People |
Posted 10/23/08 |
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Former Bachelor Matt Grant has not given up
on love since his split with fiancee Shayne Lamas. The British hunk has
fallen again — this time for his British-born public relations rep. Grant, the star of The Bachelor: London Calling, says his relationship with Sarah Robarts, who’s a mother of two, has evolved into a serious emotional bond. “It’s turned into the best relationship I have ever been in,” Grant says. “I’m completely in love. She’s extremely beautiful inside and out. She’s one in a million.” When the two first met following Grant’s appearance (and engagement to Lamas) on The Bachelor, it was all business. But even then Grant says, “I couldn’t help but to think, ‘Man she’s hot.’” Grant’s rocky relationship with Lamas officially ended in July. Months later, Grant and Robarts went out for drinks that turned into a date. “We connected on every level,” he says. “If she had been on The Bachelor, there would not have been a competition. It would’ve been the shortest season ever.” And the couple’s 11-year age difference — she is 39, he is 28 — is not a deterrent for Grant. “Age is not an issue,” he says. “Sarah is very much on my level. The only thing is I’ve had to bring my game up since The Bachelor. She’s way too intelligent for some of the talk I used on the show.” |
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"Stylista" Premieres Tonight Catch It on the CW From Washington Post |
Posted 10/22/08 |
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Not only is there really no such thing as a
"stylista," but also neither should there be. Nobody should want such a
person to exist, and certainly nobody should aspire to be one. But
logic, propriety and what I like playfully to call simple human decency
are no obstacles. Thus does "Stylista" premiere tonight on the CW
network. What we can't fight we must confront and try to understand -- like a big green monster from outer space. Most new TV shows are copies of one or more shows that already exist; "Stylista" apes the structure of Donald Trump's "The Apprentice" while attempting to mine the same old lode as other reality shows set in the fashion world, the CW's own "America's Next Top Model" among them. "Eleven aspiring trendsetters" -- as a booming announcer describes them -- are brought together for eight weeks of frenzied competition. One trendsetter is eliminated at the end of each episode until a single combatant is left standing -- and winning. The grand prize includes "a highly coveted editorial position" at Elle magazine, free use of a Manhattan apartment for a year and, of course, a generous clothing allowance.  Washington PostNew York Times |
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No Opportunity? No Problem! ABC Bolsters Numbers with "Dancing" Recap From Media Life |
Posted 10/22/08 |
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ABC remains in fourth place on Tuesday
night, but it did give its lineup a boost by replacing the ailing game
show “Opportunity Knocks.” Subbing in a “Dancing with the Stars” recap,
the network saw its 8 p.m. and 9 p.m. hours rise en route to a stronger
night overall. ABC averaged a 2.7 adults 18-49 rating and 7 share last night, according to Nielsen overnights, up 17 percent from a 2.3/6 last week. That was still well behind Fox’s winning 4.7/13, but it helped stabilize a night that had been slipping. The “Stars” recap placed fourth in its 8 p.m. timeslot with a 2.0, but that was up 35 percent from “Opportunity's” series-low 1.3 rating last week. The network benched the show a few days later, though it has not been officially canceled. The more compatible lead-in helped boost 9 p.m.’s “Stars” results show from a 3.3 last week to a 3.8 last night, within 0.2 of Fox’s winning “Fringe.” “Stars” also managed to best CBS’s competing new show “The Mentalist” among total viewers, with 16 million to the latter’s 15.3 million.  TV WeekVariety TV Squad TV.com AZCentral.com Media Life About.com Game Shows |
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Flatley to "Lord" Over Dancing
Panel for
a Week Guest Judge Replaces a Breaking Goodman From the Hartford Courant |
Posted 10/22/08 |
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"Lord of the Dance" Michael Flatley will
fill in for judge Len Goodman on "Dancing with the Stars" next week. He'll share his expertise sitting between Bruno Tonioli and Carrie Ann Inaba.on next week's performance and results show, it was announced Tuesday night. Goodman, 64, will be getting a one week break. He and Tonioli have been doing double duty, judging both the U.S. version and the British original, "Strictly Come Dancing" simultaneously. Hartford Courant |
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2waytraffic Checks Into "Library" Firm Sells Format Worldwide From Broadcast |
Posted 10/22/08 |
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2waytraffic has signed multiple deals on its
Japanese entertainment format, Silent Library. The comedy format, in which a team of players perform pranks and punishments on each other whilst having to remain as silent as possible, has been sold to six territories. In France, youth channel Virgin 17 has commissioned a transmittable pilot from independent producer Coyote, and in Romania, Zucchero/Power Media is producing a 12 x 30-minute gameshow version of the format for B1 TV, due for transmission this autumn. In Scandinavia, Norwegian producer, Nordisk, has been commissioned to create a 10 x 30-minute gameshow version for broadcast on SBS Kanal 5 in Sweden, SBS Net in Denmark and TV Norge in Norway. Lastly, Antena 3 in Spain is currently broadcasting a 40 x 13-minute series on its youth channel, Antena Neox, named locally as La Biblioteka. Silent Library was created by Japanese comedian Hitoshi Matsumoto in 2001 as part of NTV's variety show, Downtown no Gaki no Tsukai ya Arahende. Broadcast |
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Presidential Hopefuls Get in the Game...
Sort of. Broadband Network Unveils Games From Earth Times |
Posted 10/22/08 |
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Television-style game shows featuring the
two presidential candidates were unveiled today by 7.TV, LLC, a new
broadband TV game show company. The two competing games culminate in a
live national TV game show at 9:30 p.m. (EST) Nov. 3, the night before
the election. The highest scoring game qualifier will win the POTUS44 Experience – round trip tickets, hotel accommodation, $1,000 in Restaurant.com gift certificates, and tickets for two to the January 2009 inauguration of the 44th President of the United States. The two game shows are available for free on the Internet. They can be seen at www.ObamaGameShow.com and www.McCainGameShow.com. When registered players answer questions, they collect “POTUS” points. By collecting at least 200,000 POTUS points, players qualify for the Nov. 3 broadband TV game show finale, live on www.7.tv. An average player can accumulate 200,000 points by playing less than two hours. Each POTUS site provides direct links to the candidates’ actual sites, and also provides a Google search screen to help players check their work. Players can chat with, and compete against, others playing the game in real time, and each one-hour game can be repeated. Earth Times |
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Bob Barker Opposes Elephant Exhibit Would Rather See a Sanctuary From CBS2 LA |
Posted 10/22/08 |
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The Los Angeles Zoo should stop construction
on a $40 million elephant exhibit and instead open an pachyderm
sanctuary in the San Fernando Valley or Los Angeles County, a city
councilman said today. The zoo is currently home to Billy, a 21-year-old Asian elephant. The $40 million exhibit under construction, set to open next year and be called Pachyderm Forest, is designed to hold up to five adult Asian elephants and three of their offspring. Animal rights groups, like Voice for the Animals Foundation and the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, oppose the exhib | |