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"Baggage" & "Catch 21" Return August 16
One's on at 5:30, The Other 6:30.
From The Futon Critic |
Posted 7/26/10 |
GSN announced today the return of
two original series: the network's highest rated original
strip series ever, "Baggage", hosted by Jerry Springer,
returns for its second season; and the perennially popular
"Catch 21", hosted by Alfonso Ribeiro, will launch its fourth
season. "Catch 21" premieres Monday, August 16, 2010 at 5:30
p.m. ET/PT. "Baggage" premieres Monday, August 16, 2010 at
6:30 p.m. ET/PT.
On each half-hour episode of "Baggage", Springer guides the
fun as one dater chooses among three contestants who reveal
the intimate secrets and hidden flaws that are typically kept
under wraps to impress a first date. Each contestant enters
with three suitcases - small, medium and large - containing
the quirky, annoying and sometimes truly shocking "baggage"
that may or may not eliminate the contestants from
competition, to the accompaniment of the dater's tagline, "I'm
sorry, but you have too much baggage." Can the dater handle a
woman who sleeps with 15 stuffed animals? A 42-year old man
who colors his eyebrows and eyelashes? What if he still lives
with mom - or she was previously a go-go dancer? With a lively
pace and a playful sense of humor, "Baggage" reveals what
people are willing to put up with in the name of finding love.
"Baggage" is produced by a unit of Comcast Entertainment
Studios, with Jay James and Michael Binkow serving as
Executive Producers.
"Catch 21" is one of GSN viewers' favorite series, with
ratings and key demo delivery having progressively grown with
each season. Its fast-paced game play features host Alfonso
Ribeiro quizzing contestants three at a time as they compete
to win playing cards, and try to build the hand that comes
closest to 21. Following three elimination rounds, the last
player standing attempts to build 21 from a larger-than-life
deck for a shot at up to $25,000.
Fans of "Catch 21" can also extend the experience into their
homes every day by competing in "Catch 21" online cash
competitions, downloading the "Catch 21" iPhone game, and
playing the free online game against other GSN fans for
prizes. All are available at GSN.com/CATCH21.
"Catch 21" is created and executive produced by four-time Emmy -
winner Merrill Heatter whose iconic game show creations
include "Hollywood Squares", "High Rollers", "Gambit", and
more than 30 other game show series. Executive producer Scott
Sternberg's credits include "Rock & Roll Jeopardy!", "The
Singing Office", "The Gong Show", and two seasons of "That's
the Question" for GSN. He is CEO and founder of Scott
Sternberg Productions.
The Futon Critic |
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"Got To Dance" Casting
More Info on CBS-Paula Abdul Series
From The Futon Critic |
Posted 7/26/10 |
The audition process for the
upcoming CBS reality-competition series GOT TO DANCE (working
title) has started. To get a leg up on the competition and
apply for the chance to appear on GOT TO DANCE and audition
for Paula Abdul, prospective dancers can log on to www.cbs.com/dance
for an application and further details. This is a nationwide
search open to all U.S. residents. There is no age limit or
minimum. Dancers can perform any type or style of dance, as an
individual or in a group.
Paula Abdul, the award-winning dancer/choreographer, dynamic
performer, multi-platinum recording artist and popular
entertainment personality, is executive producer, creative
partner and lead expert for the show. She will also serve as
coach, mentor and advocate for contestants during the
performances and elimination process, providing critical input
and guidance while sharing her experience with hopeful
contestants.
GOT TO DANCE is based on the British hit that debuted earlier
this year and has been a ratings sensation for Britain's Sky
1, making it one of the UK's top-rated pay TV series this
season.
The Futon Critic |
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"Big Brother", Bigger Finale
Two Hours to Follow "Survivor" Premiere
From The Futon Critic |
Posted 7/26/10 |
CBS will broadcast a special
two-hour finale of "Big Brother" on Wednesday, Sept. 15
(9:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT), following the season premiere of
"Survivor Nicaragua" (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT).
This summer's edition of "Big Brother" is winning its time
periods in adults 18-49 and posting significant year-to-year
increases versus last summer, up +14% in viewers (6.91m vs.
6.06m), +20% in adults 18-49 (2.4/08 vs. 2.0/07), +25% in
adults 18-34 (2.0/08 vs. 1.6/06) and +12% in adults 25-54
(2.8/09 vs. 2.5/07).
The Futon Critic |
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Monday Lightning Round
Idol Auditions Begin... A Label Switch... Looking for
A New Imam on Reality TV
From Various Sources |
Posted 7/26/10 |
- "American Idol" auditions
begin in Nashville & Milwaukee (The
Futon Critic)
-
Simon Fuller may shop his label
after his pact with Sony expires (New
York Post)
- Twitch "Steps Up" in 3D (Digital
Spy)
- Malaysian show looks for
next young imam... No, really. (NPR)
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Rich Fields Out at TPIR... Confirmed
Auditions for New Voice Begin September
From About.com Game Shows |
Posted 7/23/10 |
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After weeks of speculation, a
report has come forward saying that Rich Fields, the voice of
"The Price Is Right" since the death of Rod Roddy in 2004, is
no longer the announcer for the long running CBS daytime game
show.
Fields has issued his own
release on his website, saying, "[Executive Producer] Mike
[Richards] explained to me that he loves having the 'house
bands' and 'live performers' all the time on TPIR and that he
hopes to make it more of a 'variety show within a game show'.
He believes that having a comedian at the announcer's position
from now on will enhance this new change in direction."
He then goes on to thank former
host Bob Barker for giving him the opportunity and current
host Drew Carey for being his biggest champion.
On-camera auditions will take place the first few weeks of the
new season of Price which begins in September. New tapings
start next week.
About.com Game Shows
Buzzerblog
Rich Fields' Website
TV Squad |
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Strike Two for "Pyramid"
CBS Opts for "Project Mom" to Replace ATWT
From New York Times |
Posted 7/22/10 |
CBS has ordered a daily daytime
talk show that will replace the soap opera “As The World
Turns” in the fall.
The concept is being called a variation of ABC’s popular talk
show “The View,” but with five moms meeting around the table.
The show’s roundtable will include five moms, including Julie
Chen, the wife of the CBS Corporation chief executive Leslie
Moonves.
The other hosts are Sara Gilbert, Sharon Osbourne, Holly
Robinson Peete, Leah Remini, and Marissa Jaret Winokur. Ms.
Gilbert developed the format for the show, and will
executive-produce as well as co-host it.
New York magazine reported Wednesday that Ms. Chen will give
up her daily co-hosting job on CBS’s “The Early Show,” but
“may maintain a presence” in some way. Ms. Chen is also the
host of the CBS summer reality show “Big Brother.”
CBS announced the end of “As The World Turns” earlier this
year. It considered a number of formats in its place,
including a game show and a cooking show.
The network says the untitled talk show will look at “topical
events and contemporary issues through the eyes of parents.”
New York Times
About.com Game Shows
ABC News
TV Latest
The Celebrity Cafe
Deadline
Washington Post
The Futon Critic
TV Week
The Wrap
CNN
SeattlePI.com |
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VH1 Gets "Money Hungry"
Catch It August 2
From The Futon Critic |
Posted 7/22/10 |
With America's obesity epidemic at
an all-time high, the struggle to shed pounds has become an
obsession. But what many Americans are finding is that good
health and good looks aren't motivation enough to put down the
fries. So this summer, VH1 is giving viewers a
never-before-seen comedic look at a weight loss competition
using the greatest American motivator of all... MONEY! That's
right, "Money Hungry," premiering Monday, August 2 at 9:00 PM*
puts $10,000 of the contestants' own money on the line to
encourage them to drop those unwanted pounds once and for all.
Tune in to see the drama, laughs and tears as these overweight
teams fight to lose their fat and not their money!
Hosted by Dan Cortese, VH1's new series "Money Hungry" will
test 12 pairs of contestants to see which team can resist
temptation and drop the most weight. But this isn't your
average weight loss show. These contestants were hand picked
for their larger than life personalities and they have come
ready to do anything to take home the money.
The excitement and drama will be high as each team on "Money
Hungry" will have to put up an entry fee of $10,000 of their
own money to begin the competition. In a winner takes all
fashion, the couple who sheds the most combined weight will
walk away with $100,000. Still want that donut? Each week
couples will face grueling challenges, supersized temptations
and pressure filled weigh-ins on their quest for the $100,000
grand prize. Although the contestants will be given access to
personal trainers, personalized meal plans and state of the
art amenities, working out and dieting are only half the
battle. Game play and strategy are a huge part of Money
Hungry. Alliances will be formed, backs will be stabbed, and
hearts will be broken during the fierce competition.
The Futon Critic |
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"Shark" Gets Stewed
ABC Pulls Planned Return of Holdback Episode
From The Futon Critic |
Posted 7/22/10 |
ABC has tabled its plans to revive
"Shark Tank" in a move confirmed via scheduling updates
released by the network this afternoon.
"Shark Tank" isn't returning to ABC's lineup anytime soon.
Originally set to return on Thursday, July 15 at 8:00/7:00c
and then bumped to July 29, the series is now off the schedule
completely.
"Wipeout" will continue in the slot for the rest of the
summer, in addition to its regular Tuesday, 8:00/7:00c
airings.
ABC still has one original installment of "Shark Tank" yet to
air.
The Futon Critic |
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Buff Cobb: 1927 -
2010
TV Host, Actress Was on "Masquerade Party"
From New York Times |
Posted 7/22/10 |
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Buff Cobb, who with Mike Wallace,
her husband at the time, hosted “Mike and Buff,” one of
television’s first talk shows, died on July 12 at a nursing
home in Lebanon, N.H. She was 82.
Her death was confirmed by her
half brother, Thomas Cobb Brody.
Ms. Cobb, an actress, and Mr. Wallace, best known for his
nearly 40 years as a correspondent with “60 Minutes,” hosted
“Mike and Buff” on CBS in the early 1950s. It was adapted from
a radio show that the two had worked on in Chicago.
In the TV show, based in New York and broadcast live on
weekdays, the couple would engage in heated debate over a
different topic each day, then try to settle their differences
after interviewing experts. From 1951 to 1952 they were also
hosts of “All Around the Town,” another CBS show, in which
they took cameras to notable social events and sites in New
York City and interviewed people there.
“All in all, the presentation of Mike and Buff constituted an
object lesson in how television can be eminently educational
without being self-conscious about it,” the critic Jack Gould
wrote in The New York Times in 1951.
Ms. Cobb also appeared on the ABC game show “Masquerade Party”
as part of a panel of celebrities, including the poet Ogden
Nash, the writer and actress Ilka Chase and the actor Jackie
Coogan, who would try to determine the identity of other
celebrities disguised in elaborate costumes.
New York Times |

Buff Cobb
(photo courtesy Life
Magazine) |
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Jimmy Johnson Plays Survivor... Wait,
WHAT?!
Former Football Coach, Commentator Reportedly on
Nicaragua Season
From the Dallas Morning News |
Posted 7/22/10 |
Jimmy Johnson won a college
football championship and two Super Bowls. But can he survive
in the wilderness?
The former Dallas Cowboys coach will be a contestant on the
CBS reality show "Survivor: Nicaragua" this fall, a source
close to Johnson told the Dallas Morning News.
The series is being taped in San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua.
Filming started at the end of June, according to local
reports.
The filming schedule will leave Johnson plenty of room to
return in time for the NFL season. Johnson is an analyst for
the Fox NFL Sunday studio show.
Johnson, 67, will be one of the oldest contestants to ever
appear on “Survivor,” one of his favorite television shows.
The Miami Herald reported last year that he was almost a
contestant on "Survivor: Gabon" (which aired in 2008), but he
failed a physical. He has lost weight since.
Johnson coached the Cowboys from 1989-1993 and won
back-to-back Super Bowls. He also coached the University of
Miami, Oklahoma State and Miami Dolphins.
"Survivor: Nicaragua" will be broadcast in September on
Wednesdays at 8 p.m. (a switch from its Thursday time slot in
recent years). CBS usually releases a cast list a few weeks
before the first episode.
Dallas Morning News
Hartford Courant
Miami Herald
Extra
Associated Content |
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Thursday Lightning Round
Talent on Tour... Talent in Court... A Few Good
Minutes with Scott Conant...
From Various Sources |
Posted 7/22/10 |
- "America's Got Talent" to
hit the road on tour beginning October 1 in Oakland (California
Chronicle)
-
Former "Britain's Got Talent"
contestant sues Simon Cowell for "exploitation, humiliation,
degradation, and barbarism." (Guardian)
- Interview with "24Hour
Restaurant Battle" host Scott Conant (Slashfood)
- Remember "Get the Picture"
host Mike O'Malley? He's on "Glee" now (Boston
Globe)
- Joe Garagiola profiled on
Fox Sports Arizona's "In My Own Words" (Fox
Sports Arizona)
- Donald Trump Jr. guest
judges "Design Star" (TV
by the Numbers)
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Don't Forget the Myspace
"Lyrics" Enlists Corporate Sibling for Casting
From TV Week |
Posted 7/21/10 |
For the upcoming syndicated run of
"Don't Forget The Lyrics!" one way for fans to audition for
the program will be via MySpace Karaoke, reports WebNewser.
Twentieth Television inked a deal with MySpace Karaoke to make
the social networking site its official casting partner.
MySpace users will be able to upload their karaoke
performances of one of five songs and submit them to "Don't
Forget The Lyrics" as a sample of their work.
Mari Bower, MySpace executive director of business development
and MySpace Karaoke general manager, blogged about the
arrangement, saying, "Karaoke is something we've all probably
done at some point in our life, maybe unwillingly, but we've
all done it! ... MySpace Karaoke is excited to announce its
television debut as the official casting partner of Twentieth
Television's musical game show 'Don't Forget the Lyrics!’"
TV Week
MySpace |
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Five Against JLC
"Heads or Tails" Gets Axed
From Broadcast |
Posted 7/21/10 |
Justin Lee Collins’ game show and
chat show are set to be axed by Five after both performed
poorly in the ratings.
Game show Heads or Tails, made by Eyeworks UK, averaged just
580,000 viewers (2.7% share) when it was stripped over 11
nights from 20 December last year – falling to a low of
322,000 (1.5%).
It performed even worse when repeated in April, averaging
308,300 (1.5%) and tumbling to 215,500 (1%) for the final
installment.
Chat show Good Times, produced by Tiger Aspect, also performed
poorly. The weekly show, which aired in a 10pm slot on Monday
nights from the end of March, delivered an average audience of
321,400 (1.86%) over its 10-part run.
It launched with 666,000 (3.26%) on 29 March but nose-dived to
a low of 157,500 (1.6%) toward the end of its run.
A spokesman for Five said “no decision has yet been made” on
the two shows, but an official statement is understood to be
pending.
It will not mark the end of JLC’s presence on the channel.
Five signed a £1m, two-year golden handcuffs deal with the
presenter last summer and recently commissioned a documentary
titled Big In Japan, which will be closer in style to his old
Channel 4 shows.
Broadcast
New Magazine |
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It's Time to Face the Holes... Again!
Cartoon Network Picks Up 10 Eps of "Hole in the Wall"
From Variety |
Posted 7/21/10 |
Cartoon Network has uncovered the
"Hole in the Wall," ordering a new version of the Human
Tetris-like gamer.
"Hole," which originally ran on Fox during the 2008-2009 TV
season, has now been updated for Cartoon Network's
younger-skewing audience. Cartoon has picked up 10 new
episodes of the show.
In the new version, the half-hour game show will pit two teams
of families against each other. But the gist of the show is
the same: Contestants, dressed in spandex, contort their
bodies in order to clear a series of moving barriers with
various cut-out shapes.
"Hole" represents the latest game to find new life after an
initial broadcast run. Other shows making the transition
include "The Singing Bee," which originally aired on NBC but
later moved to CMT.
Variety
DigitalSpy
Hollywood Reporter
Worldscreen
TVSquad
The Futon Critic |

"Hole in the Wall" will
return to TV via Cartoon Network
(photo courtesy Fox) |
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Wednesday Lightning Round
Bachelorettes Hospitalized... Isaak, Connick for Idol
Judge... Ed McMahon House for Sale
From Various Sources |
Posted 7/21/10 |
- "Men Tell All" episode ends
with hospitalization after car crash (E!
Online)
-
Harry Connick Jr. and Chris Isaak
considered favorites to replace Simon Cowell... even as Donald
Trump wants in. No. SERIOUSLY. (Hollywood
Reporter)
- The longtime home of the
late comedian, announcer and game show host Ed McMahon is on
the market in Beverly Hills at $4.6 million. (Los
Angeles Times)
- Family Feud hosts: an
illustrated history (Washington
Post)
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More on "Masterchef"
Catch It On Fox July 27
From The Futon Critic |
Posted 7/20/10 |
Sharpen your knives and fire up
your stoves! Famed chef Gordon Ramsay's newest culinary
competition series, Masterchef, based on the smash
international hit, is set to start cooking Tuesday, July 27
(9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. After a nationwide search for
the best home cooks in America, the series will turn one of 50
hopefuls into a culinary star and America's first-ever
Masterchef.
In the premiere episode, the hopefuls will have one hour to
prepare their signature dishes and present them to the
distinguished Masterchef judging panel: Michelin-starred chef
Gordon Ramsay; restaurateur and wine maker Joe Bastianich; and
the youngest four-star chef in America, Graham Elliot. The
judges are looking for passion, creativity and most
importantly great flavor and taste. Only the most deserving
home cooks who impress the judges will win the coveted white
apron and will move on to the next round of the competition.
On Tuesday, Aug. 3 (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT), the judges will
reveal the Top 30, and each week, the stakes will be raised as
more hopefuls are eliminated until the Top 14 are announced on
Tuesday, Aug. 10 (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT). Then, beginning
Wednesday, Aug. 18 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT), the show moves to a
new night and expands to two-hour episodes as the hopefuls
dish out their absolute best in an effort to impress the
judges and continue in the competition.
The Futon Critic |
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More on "Shaq vs."
Another Copyright Case Settled Out of Court
From Toronto Sun |
Posted 7/20/10 |
Executives behind basketball
ace-turned-reality TV star Shaquille O'Neal's hit show SHAQ
VS. have reached a settlement with a disgruntled author who
alleged they stole his concept for the program.
Writer Todd Gallagher filed suit against O'Neal's talent
representatives at William Morris Endeavor Entertainment in
October (09), claiming they had agreed to turn his book, Andy
Roddick Beat Me with a Frying Pan, into a TV series in 2008.
In court papers, he alleged he was forced out of the project
before William Morris bosses decided to go ahead with the idea
with O'Neal, another of their clients, instead. The show
featured O'Neal competing against other top sporting athletes
at their own game.
Gallagher reached out to the company to discuss a settlement
over the new TV deal but decided to take legal action and sued
for $5 million when his demands for a meeting were not met.
The Futon Critic
Orlando Sentinel
Toronto Sun |
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GSN, Arkadium Team Up
On Offer: Cash Game for Mahjongg Madness
From Marketwire |
Posted 7/20/10 |
Today at Casual Connect Seattle
2010, GSN (Game Show Network) and Arkadium, a premier game
solutions developer for the casual, social and advergaming
markets, announced that the two companies have partnered to
launch a new monetization option for Arkadium's Mahjongg
Dimensions Facebook application. The skill-based version of
the game, developed by GSN, will soon be available in the
existing Facebook application, and will be added to both GSN
Cash Games and the WorldWinner partner network.
GSN, which has long offered players a destination for
tournament-based online games, is leading innovation to bring
the cash games platform to Facebook and enable players to
withdraw real winnings. With over 1 million monthly active
users* on Facebook, the Mahjongg Dimensions application
(co-developed by MobScience and Arkadium) has already rivaled
the popularity of the original online version. GSN's new cash
gaming adaptation of the game will create a new level of
competition for Facebook players. Users will be able to
connect to their friends online and build communities of
competition as they challenge one another for cash and prizes.
"This announcement further illustrates Arkadium's continued
expansion of monetization features for the company's growing
portfolio of games," said Kenny Rosenblatt, CEO of Arkadium.
"We've already experienced much success with in-game micro
transactions and cross-platform game sales, and with the help
of GSN, we're excited to bring an added incentive for friendly
competition across social platforms."
"Many companies have had great success driving traffic to
their Facebook games, but difficulty monetizing that traffic
is still very much a moving target," said Mark Cullinane, SVP,
Business Development and Digital Distribution of GSN Digital.
"For this reason, GSN is bringing its highly successful
monetization platform to our partners on Facebook. With
Arkadium's Mahjongg Dimensions application, we plan to deliver
a fun, high quality casual game, where users can up the stakes
of competitions by challenging their friends for cash prizes."
Marketwire
VentureBeat |
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"1 vs." Indonesia
Endemol Sells Quiz to Asia
From C21Media |
Posted 7/20/10 |
Hong Kong-based Endemol Asia is to
produce a 52-episode season of its well-traveled gameshow
format 1 vs. 100 for an Indonesian broadcaster.
The format - which already airs in the UK, Israel and the US,
among other territories - will be produced for PT Indosiar
Visual Manditi (IVM), marking the first time the broadcaster
has worked with the Big Brother company.
The 52x30' series will run three times a week from August this
year, airing as 1 Lawan 100. The quiz format sees one
contestant pitted against 100 opponents, with the aim being to
defeat the entire team.
In Asia, the format is already airing in China, Korea and
Vietnam, in its second, seventh and fifth seasons,
respectively. Triandy Suyatman, program director for IVM, said
its success across the region indicated it would "prove to be
every bit as popular with audiences in Indonesia."
C21Media
Variety
Worldscreen |

"1 vs. 100" has been axed on
Xbox Live
(photo courtesy NBC) |
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Allez Cuisine, Mate!
Australia's Seven Picks Up "Iron Chef"
From Herald Sun |
Posted 7/20/10 |
An Australian version of Iron Chef
will soon be served up by Channel 7.
Industry sources confirmed Seven had bought the Japanese
format for the culinary game show as part of an aggressive bid
to throw a spanner in Channel 10's MasterChef ratings
juggernaut.
In each episode, a new challenger chef "battles" one of the
resident "Iron Chefs" - each of whom specializes in a
different cuisine - in a one-hour cooking competition based on
a theme ingredient. Versions currently air in the US and UK.
There is speculation the network may poach some of
MasterChef's celebrity chefs and series one contestants as the
show's resident kitchen whizzes.
Sources said while the deal had been done for the show,
planning was still in the early stages, with an Aussie title
still to be decided. Seven declined to comment yesterday.
It is believed the network has also bought a second foreign
cooking show format.
The heavy investment in cooking shows comes as Seven attempts
to break into the ratings and advertising market dominated by
Ten's MasterChef. My Kitchen Rules and My Restaurant Rules are
both likely to return to Seven next year as the networks aims
to become king of the TV kitchen.
Seven's Iron Chef swoop comes off the back of Sunday night's
Iron Chef episode on MasterChef, which drew 2.188 million
viewers.
Chef Hiroyuki Sakai, one of the chefs from the much-loved
Japanese TV show, will grill contestants before they battle it
out in Sunday night's grand final.
Herald Sun |
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Tuesday Lightning Round
Probst Presides Over "Office" Wedding... "Minute to
Win It" Games Explained... Playing "Chicago" in NYC
From Various Sources |
Posted 7/20/10 |
- "Survivor" host Jeff Probst
presides over wedding of "The Office" star Jenna Fischer (People)
-
Minute to Win It games: for every
1000 games pitched, 150 make it to the show. Also: ratings are
UP (New
York Times)
- John O'Hurley plays
"Chicago" (New
York Theatre Guide)
- David Archuleta working on
second album (JSYK.com)
- Nicole Scherzinger gets
expanded run on "X Factor" (Daily
Mail)
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Bethenny Frankel to Play 5th Grader
"Real Housewife" Tapes Episode
From Examiner |
Posted 7/19/10 |
Bethenny Frankel was in Los
Angeles yesterday taping 'Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader'.
The television personality tweeted about her adventure when
she was in route to LA.
'OK On the place on my way to LA to film"are you smarter than
a 5th grader?"Who has a 5th grade child? Give me some tips!
The game show is a competition between an adult and a
makeshift classroom of 5th graders. While this doesn't sound
like much, usually the 5th graders look smarter. How Bethenny
handled the pressure is unknown as she didn't tweet what or
how she did on the game show
One thing for certain, she missed her baby and after being in
Los Angeles all day Sunday, she packed her bags and headed
back to the Big Apple to hold the child by morning. This new
mom is all about experiencing life with her child and living
life to the fullest.
Examiner |
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"1 vs. 100" Gets Xed
Microsoft Cancels Xbox Live Game
From Joystiq |
Posted 7/19/10 |
Inimitable host of the
now-canceled Xbox Live gameshow 1 vs. 100 Chris Cashman
recently spoke to Giant Bomb about his feelings on the show
being disbanded, even going so far as to create a goodbye
video. He called the situation a "bummer," adding, "It wasn't
that long ago that I was blown away by having colored rubber
bands on my braces, so getting to host the first live
videogame ever is pretty much tops."
And though he says he's "sure they are plotting something rad,"
Cashman, sadly, doesn't have any idea what the future of Xbox
Live's Primetime channel will hold for gameshows like 1 vs.
100.
Geek.com
Fudzilla
Kotaku
TV Series Finale
Digital Spy
Gamasutra
RipTen
Game Blend
Gamespy
PaidContent.org
GamingUnion.net
NeoSeeker
Kotaku
PlayFeed
Joystiq |

"1 vs. 100" has been axed on
Xbox Live
(photo courtesy NBC) |
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Battle of the Saturday Night Quizzers
BBC1's "Tonight's the Night" Beats "Magic Numbers"
From Broadcast |
Posted 7/19/10 |
A second run of BBC1 game show
Tonight’s the Night trounced ITV1’s new shiny floor series
Magic Numbers on Saturday night.
Tonight’s the Night, in which John Barrowman helps deserving
people to achieve their dreams, entertained an audience of
4.15m (21.1%) from 8pm to 8.50pm on BBC1, according to
overnight Barb figures supplied by Attentional.
Despite being below slot the average of 5.1m (22.2%), it
tallied up a greater audience than Stephen Mulhern-fronted
Magic Numbers, which pulled in 2.65m (13.4%) viewers across
ITV1 and ITV1 HD across the 8pm hour.
The seven-part show, where a viewer at home plays for a prize
of £250,000, was well below the combined slot average of 6.6m
(28.6%) for the combined ITV1 and ITV1 HD channels – but the
Saturday slot is usually inhabited by juggernauts such as
Britain’s Got Talent.
Broadcast
Guardian |
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Belgium Heads for Israeli "Door"
BGoodMedia Signs On for All3Media Format
From Worldscreen |
Posted 7/19/10 |
Through its partnership with
Belgian format production outfit BGoodMedia, ALL3MEDIA
International has secured a local commission on Cash At Your
Door.
SBS Belgium has ordered its own version of the game show,
which was first developed for Channel 10 in Israel by Matar
Universal. This follows the deal signed earlier this year for
Dieter Debruyn's BGoodMedia to rep ALL3MEDIA International's
formats in Belgium.
Announcing the commission, Stephanie Hartog, executive VP of
formats at ALL3MEDIA International, commented, “Since
establishing our partnership, the team at BGoodMedia have
reported strong interest in our formats portfolio from some of
Belgium’s leading broadcasters and we are delighted to
announce this significant first commission with SBS. Cash At
Your Door is a warm, quirky and hugely entertaining format and
we are confident that BGoodMedia’s production will prove very
popular in Belgium.”
Debruyn, managing director at BGoodMedia, added, “SBS quickly
saw the potential of Cash At Your Door, which offers an
innovative game show alongside a fantastic celebration of
family and community. We are already in pre-production on the
series and think it will be a great success with Belgian
audiences. Our collaboration with ALL3MEDIA International has
given us access to a host of ideas from some of the world’s
top creative talents and we expect to announce more exciting
new commissions very soon.”
C21Media
TBI Vision
Worldscreen |
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Monday Lightning Round
Trashing Masterchef... Wiping Out for Canada... Who
Do the Idols Want in Simon's Chair?
From Various Sources |
Posted 7/19/10 |
- Celebrity chef Neil Perry
denies making disparaging comments about "Masterchef" (News.com.au)
-
Wiping out for Canada (Toronto
Star)
- The Idol Class of 2009 give
their insight about who should replace Simon Cowell (Palm
Beach Pulse)
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Taking the Runway Again
Lifetime Reveals Next Batch of Contestants
From TV by the Numbers |
Posted 7/18/10 |
Let the sewing, stitching and
snickering begin! The Emmy® Award nominated series, Project
Runway, kicks off its eighth season with 17 talented designers
– the most in series history – beginning Thursday, July 29, at
9pm ET/PT on Lifetime Television. In the show’s expanded
90-minute format, the new crop of designers will encounter
host Heidi Klum, mentor Tim Gunn and judges Michael Kors and
Nina Garcia and top-name guest designer and celebrity judges,
including actress Selma Blair for the premiere episode, as
they face inventive challenges, unexpected eliminations and
other surprises along the way. Filmed on location in New York,
each episode of the eighth season will feature more couture
creations and fashion flubs as the designers attempt to make
the cut to show at New York Fashion Week at Lincoln Center.
Project Runway is in High-Definition where available.
As part of the winner’s prize package, this season’s
victorious designer will receive $100,000 from L’Oreal Paris
to start his/her own line, a fashion spread in Marie Claire
magazine, a $50,000 technology suite by HP and Intel to create
his/her own vision and run his/her business and the
opportunity to design and sell an exclusive collection on
Piperlime.com. The model paired with the winner of Project
Runway will also appear in the designer’s editorial feature in
Marie Claire and receive $25,000 from L’Oreal Studio Secrets
Professional.
TV by the Numbers
Buzzsugar |
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Two for One?
ITV1 Doubles Up Against "101 Ways"
From WorldTVPC.com |
Posted 7/18/10 |
In a move set to rival BBC One’s
new quiz 101 Ways To Leave A Gameshow, ITV1 are launching two
new gameshows in one night in an attempt to win a share of the
UK Saturday night audience that is currently open to change,
due to major shows such as X Factor and Strictly Come Dancing.
At 7:15pm, the first show launched will be Odd One In, an
alternative quiz show that the celebrity panel and the
audience both take part in. The show, hosted by Bradley Walsh,
will include a ‘home’ team panel of singer Peter Andre, and
stand-up comedian Jason Manford, who will go up against a
guest team of two every week, with the aim of the game to
choose the ‘Odd One In’ from a selection of people and animals
(e.g. ‘which of these people has a fake beard’) by asking a
number of questions. The audience will also play along, with
those that have the most correct answers playing in a final
‘special round’ to try and win a cash prize.
The show that follows, at 8:00pm, entitled Magic Numbers,
hosted by presenter and former magician Stephen Mullhern, is
based on celebrities completing gameshow challenges in order
to generate numbers, and if all numbers generated matches a
home viewer’s phone number, the viewer could win up to
£250,000 (an alternative lottery, perhaps?). An interview with
Mullhern revealed that the show is good family entertainment,
even if they do not want to take part.
WorldTVPC.com |
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Second Date for "Take Me Out"
ITV1 Reups Dating Series
From Broadcast |
Posted 7/18/10 |
ITV1’s Saturday night speed-dating
gameshow Take Me Out is set to return “bigger and better than
ever”, according to host Paddy McGuinness.
The news emerged on the comedian’s official Twitter feed, when
he urged his 54,333 followers to apply for the new series of
the programme.
“Fancy being on Saturday night primetime ITV1, you do, good!
(sic) You can now apply for the new series of…Take Me Out!”
He also revealed that the glossy show, made by Talkback
Thames, will be moved from Granada Television Studios in
Manchester down to a “big fancy studio” in London.
The first series of Take Me Out averaged 4.83m (19.2%)
viewers, predominantly in a 7.30pm slot. This was below ITV1’s
slot average of 5.72m (25.7%) for the year so far.
Broadcast |
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Inside Piers' Deal
"Got Talent" Judge, CNN Close to Deal to Replace
Larry King
From New York Times |
Posted 7/18/10 |
An imminent deal between NBC
Universal and Turner Broadcasting is clearing the way for
Piers Morgan to take over for Larry King as the host of CNN’s
9 p.m. hour.
Before entering into direct negotiations with CNN, Mr. Morgan
extended his contract with NBC for the talent show “America’s
Got Talent.” Mr. Morgan will remain a judge on that program
through 2013.
Wednesday’s New York Times reports that Mr. King’s time slot
on CNN is Mr. Morgan’s dream job, but that NBC had full
control over his immediate future because his contract granted
the network exclusive rights to all his work on American
television:
CNN had made its interest in Mr. Morgan clear, both to him and
to NBC. In the usual course of contractual niceties in the
entertainment industry, Mr. Morgan and his representative
could listen to what CNN had to say, but had to steer clear of
anything that might constitute a formal negotiation.
The main action has not directly involved CNN. It is taking
place quietly between executives from NBC Universal and Turner
Broadcasting, a unit of Time Warner. These talks centered on
whether Turner had something to offer NBC Universal.
Neither side was prepared on Tuesday to announce what, if
anything, Turner might have given in return. But whatever NBC
gained, the decision seemed to indicate that NBC’s opinion of
Mr. Morgan’s prospects as an interview host did not match
CNN’s. If he does take the job, Mr. Morgan would be a chief
rival to MSNBC, the news channel owned by NBC.
The companies declined to comment on Tuesday. .
New York Times
New York Times |
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Weekend Lightning Round
Facing the Hole on Cartoon Network... Wipeout Beats
Big Brother... Endemol Needs Money
From Various Sources |
Posted 7/18/10 |
- "Hole in the Wall" casting
on Cartoon Network (About.com
Game Shows)
-
CBS, ABC split Thursday, but
"Wipeout" beats "Big Brother" (Orlando
Sentinel)
- Endemol shareholders need to
inject fresh equity before August (Deadline)
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"Red Carpet Run" a Big Winner in LA
Web Game Gets Kudos at TV Festival
From PRLog.org |
Posted 7/16/10 |
Web Series Red Carpet Run won the
reality/unscripted category in the NextTV Competition at the
LA TV Festival, announced during an award ceremony on
Wednesday night streamed live via Stickam.
The category, sponsored by E! Entertainment Television, offers
the winner a one-year professional membership with the
National Association of Television Program Executives, a Vado
HD pocket video camera, and the opportunity for a development
meeting with the sponsor.
Red Carpet Run is an entertainment trivia game show that puts
celeb-obsessed contestants through the ultimate trivial
pursuit, challenging their knowledge of all things Hollywood
as they run their final round – high speed! – on a moving
treadmill.
“It’s a huge honor, and we’d like to express thanks to the
festival, the judges, and all who helped us to arrive at this
point. We want to see the show continue to reach all the movie
buff, TV junkie, and Hollywood-trivia loving people we know
are out there,” Said Creator and Executive Producer Michael
Todd Cohen.
Red Carpet Run is produced by Avignon Bound Media
International and can be found on Facebook www.facebook.com/redcarpetrun,
Twitter @redcarpetrun, and http://redcarpetrun.tv
PRLog.org |
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The Downfall of "Downfall"?
Troubled Game Ends One Episode Early
From Headline Planet |
Posted 7/16/10 |
ABC has decided to
wrap the Chris Jericho-hosted "Downfall"
next week.
Although it originally ordered six episodes of the game show,
ABC issued a press release billing next week’s episode–the
fifth–as the season finale. The second half of a two-hour
"Wipeout" will occupy ABC’s 9PM timeslot on July 27.
Jericho has posted on his Twitter account @IamJericho,
"Downfall wasn't pulled or cancelled. Due to a faster paced
edited show, we simply ran out of contestants after the fifth
show and didn't have enough material for a sixth show. We're
gonna film more episodes in the fall. Sorry haters."
An ABC representative has since
confirmed those remarks, per a story from Headline Planet.
As it turns out, because the
show was edited to be particularly fast-paced, all viable
contestant footage was used in the first five episodes, and
there was not enough material to produce a sixth. So all
episodes that were produced will indeed have aired come next
Tuesday’s finale.
Regarding Chris Jericho’s comment that there are plans to film
additional episodes of “Downfall” this fall, ABC would not
confirm or deny plans to order episodes of the series beyond
next Tuesday’s finale, only telling Headline Planet that there
has not yet been an order given to the show, and that if the
show were to come back, it would again be as a summer series.
In that regard, the representative confirmed that the network
doesn’t “know plans this far out for next summer.”
Headline Planet
TV Series Finale
Prowrestling.net
PWTorch
Headline Planet |

Next week's "Downfall" will
be the season finale
(photo courtesy ABC) |
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Casting Calls...
Project Looking for Players
From RealityWanted |
Posted 7/16/10 |
Are you adventurous and always up
for a new experience? Are you constantly the life of the party
and the center of attention?
A major production company is currently casting outgoing men
and women (ages 21-35) for an exciting new gameshow pilot.
RealityWanted |
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Teletoon Gets "Skatoony"
Canadian Cartoon Network Launches Version
From CNW |
Posted 7/16/10 |
TELETOON Canada inc. today
announced its fall 2010 lineup for TELETOON, TELETOON at Night
and TELETOON Retro. Launching on Monday, September 6, 2010,
TELETOON's new slate is full of comedy and action, with just
the right amount of thrills, chills and belly-aching laughter.
"From kids and young adults to parents and families, we are
bringing viewers of all ages more excitement and entertainment
through a host of new series and returning comedy and action
favourites this fall," said Carole Bonneau, Vice President,
Programming, TELETOON Canada inc. "In addition to breaking new
ground with productions like Skatoony and My Babysitter's A
Vampire we're also bolstering our programming repertoire with
a roster of new series, movies and the latest seasons of our
hugely popular titles."
The TELETOON lineup from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. consists of a
wide-array of new programming, including the
live-action/animation hybrid game show Skatoony.
CNW/Digital Journal
Worldscreen |
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"101 Ways"... 4 Million Viewers
Endemol Pushes It To an Unsuspecting World
From C21Media |
Posted 7/16/10 |
Endemol's new primetime format 101
Ways to Leave a Gameshow has been sold into Germany, Brazil
and Turkey, following its debut on UK pubcaster BBC1 last
week.
The show - a quiz in which losing contestants are physically
ejected from a tower - scored a 25.7% audience share (four
million viewers) in the UK when in debuted on Saturday. Paul
Römer, Endemol's chief creative officer said the ratings
showed the format's global potential.
German commercial network RTL has now commissioned a 1x90'
special for the autumn, to be produced by Endemol Germany,
while Brazil's TV Globo and Fox in Turkey have both ordered
local versions. Further deals will follow, the Big Brother
producer said.
In the US, Endemol is producing a pilot for ABC, as reported
by C21 last month.
The show is shot in Argentina in a purpose-built 100ft tower.
Contestants answer general knowledge questions, with the loser
of each round leaving the game via a water slide, cannon or
catapult.
The series is produced at one of Endemol's two production hubs
in Argentina, which were first reported on by C21 in March.
All 23 international versions of popular format Total Wipeout
were produced to a similar model in the country.
Broadcast
Digital Spy
C21Media
Worldscreen
Hollywood Reporter |
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Friday Lightning Round
Hottest Game Show Women... CBS Update... "Idol"
Auditions Begin
From Various Sources |
Posted 7/16/10 |
- Heavy.com's list of 20
Hottest Game Show Women populated by "Price", "DOND" alums
and one "American Idol" champ (NSFW) (HEAVY.com)
-
Valerie Bertinelli/Rove McManus
project off table at CBS daytime, "Project Mom" is favorite (New
York Post)
- What "American Idol" REALLY
wants to see in a prospective contestant (C-Note: Remember,
your audition begins the moment you get in the line!) (USA
Today)
- Fan-made "TXTC" sold to
Egypt (TXTC)
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Thursday Lightning Round
Clay Aiken on Phineas & Ferb... JD Roth at LATV
Fest... Another Dance Injury
From Various Sources |
Posted 7/15/10 |
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Fantasy Hair Becomes a Competition
Catch It on Oxygen August 10
From The Futon Critic |
Posted 7/14/10 |
Fantasy hair gets even more
outrageous as Oxygen announces ten over the top stylists who
will battle it out with extreme hair creations on the new
competition series "Hair Battle Spectacular," premiering
Tuesday, August 10 at 10pm ET/PT. From across the country,
these contestants bring their own style and flare to the ring.
Hosted by actress Brooke Burns, this competition series pits
10 of America's hottest stylists against each other to see who
can deliver the biggest and best in fantasy hair design. Part
sculpture and part pop art, each challenge requires
contestants to create outrageous coifs that resemble
everything from multi-layer wedding cakes to toys with
moveable pieces. The stylists then enter the ring to present
their hair creations in a fully produced, dramatic and
stylized performance. After each challenge, the judges --
award-winning fantasy hair designer Derek J, celebrity stylist
Lindsay Albanese and a rotating guest judge -- critique the
designers on creativity, execution and overall presentation.
In addition to blow-by-blow drama in the arena, there is also
the day-to-day drama between the cohabitating stylists who
fight each week to stay in the game and win the ultimate prize
of $100,000. "Hair Battle Spectacular" is produced by 3 Ball
Productions with JD Roth, Todd Nelson, Adam Greener, and Mike
Nichols serving as executive producers.
The Futon Critic |
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More "Food Network Star" After the Show
Cooking Channel Launches After Party
From The Futon Critic |
Posted 7/14/10 |
Can't get enough of "The Next Food
Network Star"? For all the viewers who want more, "The Next
Food Network Star After Party" will give an all-access recap
and reveal behind-the-scenes scoop about the night's episode.
Premiering on Sunday, July 18th at 11pm on sister network
Cooking Channel, the "After Party" is hosted by Food Network
personalities Adam Gertler, Sunny Anderson and Kelsey Nixon, a
fan-favorite from Star's fourth season. From exclusive
interviews with the contestants voted off to true stories
about the kitchen drama, this is an after-party not to be
missed.
*"The Next Food Network Star After Party" will air regularly
on Sundays at 11pm on Cooking Channel, until the Star winner
is named on Sunday, August 15.
The Futon Critic |
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ALL3MEDIA Faces Off
"Das Duell" Goes Global
From Worldscreen |
Posted 7/14/10 |
The family entertainment game show
Face to Face has been re-commissioned by its launch
broadcaster in Germany, and ALL3MEDIA International has
further scored new options for the format.
The studio-based game show watches two contestants battle with
brain teasers that are designed to test their logic, mental
arithmetic, power of observation, concentration and general
knowledge. Winning contestants return to face a new challenger
and consecutive wins earn a player the distinction of Face to
Face super champion, along with a cash jackpot. Face to Face
is the international title for Das Duell, created by White
Balance, the specialist game-show division of ALL3MEDIA sister
company MME Moviement.
ARD, which originally commissioned the series, has given an
order for a further 120 episodes. ALL3MEDIA has optioned the
show to GloboMedia in Spain and a deal is close to wrapping up
in France.
Stephanie Hartog, the executive VP of formats at ALL3MEDIA
International, commented, “Since its launch at MIPTV, we have
seen strong interest from international broadcasters for Face
to Face, which offers a compelling, cost-effective prime-time
format perfect for local production. ARD’s continued
commitment to the show is fantastic proof of its great appeal
and the success of the show we look forward to seeing equally
successful versions going into production around the world."
Worldscreen |
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The Lottery?
"Lucky Case" Case Survives Challenge
From Hollywood Reporter |
Posted 7/14/10 |
A case testing whether viewer
contests on "American Idol" and "Deal or No Deal" were
"illegal lotteries" has survived a key hurdle.
The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has vacated a decision to
hear an appeal by Fox, Telescope, 19 Entertainment, Fremantle
Media and other producers looking to challenge the merits of a
class action lawsuit over these contests.
The decision sends the case back to the district court to hear
more from the contestants, who allege the shows violated
California laws on unfair business practices.
Each of these shows give viewers the opportunity to win prizes
via a text message contest.
In the "American Idol Challenge," viewers answer a trivia
question. In the "Lucky Case Game," viewers of "Deal or No
Deal" choose a briefcase corresponding to the winning number.
Under California law, an illegal lottery has three elements:
(1) distribution of a prize; (2) based on chance; and (3) an
individual has paid a valuable consideration.
The plaintiffs, who didn't win the contest, argued that their
99 cent text message fee was that consideration. The
defendants moved to dismiss the case because contestants were
given a "free option" — to participate in the contest by going
to the game show website. They argued there was no
consideration.
The district court denied the motion to dismiss, and the
defendants appealed.
The Ninth Circuit heard a tentative appeal, but it now rules
that early appeals on legal questions can only be heard if
there's "substantial ground for difference of opinion."
The appellate panel rules in the decision that the defendants
haven't shown that substantial ground, nor have they cited any
California law undermining the district court opinion.
Hollywood Reporter |
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Wednesday Lightning Round
The Apprentice... Bret's NOT Engaged... Crystal
Defense... Betty Heads to College
From Hollywood Reporter |
Posted 7/14/10 |
- An inside look at the new
season of "The Apprentice" (NBC.com)
-
Bret Michaels? Engaged? Not so,
says the "Apprentice" winner on "The Early Show" (People)
- Crystal Bowersox defends ex
against hate mail (People)
- Betty White joins
"Community" season premiere (Hollywood
Reporter)
- Assorted odds & ends include
a decision on CBS daytime as soon as THIS WEEK (About.com
Game Shows)
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Shevick-Zupon Passes GSN "The Joke"
Network Buys Idea from 1972
From C21Media |
Posted 7/13/10 |
Commissions from US cable networks
Syfy and GSN are behind the launch of a new reality TV
production company in Santa Monica, headed by a former Hearst
Entertainment executive.
Shevick Zupon Entertainment (SZE) is headed by president Jerry
Shevick, who oversaw the Modern Marvels franchise while at
Hearst, and CEO Mark Zupon. Its programme development efforts
are headed by Liberal Media co-founder Amy Shpall-Appel
(Celebrity Rehab) as VP and Louie Jones (Celebrity Rehab) as
director.
The company has launched on the back of a commission from Syfy
to produce Hunting Hollywood (6x60'). The unscripted series
follows auctioneer Joe Maddalenna "as he uncovers Hollywood's
most treasured memorabilia," according to the producers.
SZE is also developing Pass the Joke, a fast-paced comedic
gameshow, for GSN. The series is based on a 1972 format that
originally featured Milton Berle as host. SZE acquired the
rights and has teamed up with BermanBraun and Zoo Productions
to produce it for GSN.
"After going two for two with the first projects we've
pitched, I can say we are off to a great start on our mission
to create compelling, original content, and valuable, lasting
entertainment brands," said Shevick, who also exec produced
the History series Food Tech.
C21Media
The Wrap |
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"Baggage" Goes Global
France to Launch Version of GSN Hit
From C21Media |
Posted 7/13/10 |
|
"Baggage" is heading for France.
In 12 Bagages, adapted
by Banijay subsidiary JES Prod from US channel Gameshow
Network's format Baggage, a single person has to choose
between three candidates, each of whom brings with them a bag
containing a secret.
Benjamin Castaldi has been
tapped to host the adaptation. "Candidates try to win, but
three of them will come with suitcases, small, medium and
large, containing more or less hot secrets about their past.
One way to discover their suitors beyond appearances. It'll be
fun, I guarantee you!"
Thirty episodes are set to premiere by the
end of 2010.
C21Media
LEJDD.fr (Via Google Translate) |
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Regrets? Bruce's Had a Few
Forsyth Interviews
From UK Press Association |
Posted 7/13/10 |
Bruce Forsyth says he regrets
doing so many game shows, branding them "money for old rope".
The 82-year-old - who has enjoyed a primetime TV career
spanning more than half a century fronting family favourites
like Play Your Cards Right, The Generation Game and Bruce's
Price Is Right - described himself as the "laziest person in
the world".
The star, who has been in talks to return as Strictly Come
Dancing's host, told the Radio Times that doing game shows
means being able to polish off a series in two weeks - "then
take as much time off as you like".
He said hosting game shows had enabled him to spend time with
his wife Wilnelia, a former Miss World.
The veteran entertainer said: "I regret doing so many game
shows, but I started when I met Wilnelia, and we love spending
time together. You can do a series in two weeks. Then take as
much time off as you like. Money for old rope.
"People don't understand I can be the laziest person in the
world. In Puerto Rico I eat well, and lounge in the shade on
the beach reading lots of books, mostly courtroom dramas."
The interview did not name which game shows Brucie regretted
doing.
Google News/UK Press
Beehive City
Digital Spy |
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Tuesday Lightning Round
Nicole's an Easy Mark, Nina's Preggers, Dead "Idoler"
Gets Justice |
Posted 7/13/10 |
- George Steinbrenner's game
show connection: "The Apprentice" (GSNN
Primes: The Apprentice (Season 1))
-
Nicole Scherzinger thinks "tools"
are "good singers" while judging "X Factor". (The
Sun)
- "Project Runway" judge Nina
Garcia expecting (People)
- New Jersey man indicted on
hit-and-run death of "American Idol's" Alexis Cohen (SFGate.com)
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Court to Disney: PAY UP!
WME May Be Next on Celador's Hit List
From Business Week |
Posted 7/12/10 |
Seeming
to take the advice of its courtroom foes, London-based Celador
Entertainment is planning to sue the William Morris Agency
(now the WME Agency) for what Britain's Guardian newspaper
described today (Monday) as "acting improperly in negotiating
a deal" with Disney's ABC for the hit game show Who Wants to
Be a Millionaire . During the recent trial of a lawsuit
brought by Celador, which claimed that Disney had used
contorted accounting to claim that the show never made money,
Disney lawyer Marty Katz remarked, "If Celador Productions is
unhappy with the deal they got, they have got the wrong
defendant here" and suggested that the company ought to sue
its representatives. In the end, Celador won the ABC/Disney
lawsuit and was awarded $269 million, but Celador founder Paul
Smith is now telling reporters that he may now sue the agency
for millions of dollars. "We haven't decided categorically
whether we have the appetite to proceed with another
litigation, but we certainly believe we have the grounds to do
so," Smith said in an interview with the Hollywood Reporter.
According to the report in the Guardian, Celador has made only
$21 million over more than a decade from Millionaire in the
U.S., while the agency has made $16 million.
Hollywood.com
Hollywood Reporter
Businessweek
Hollywood Reporter
The Wrap
The Wrap
Hollywood Reporter
The Wrap
Businessweek
New York Post
The Wrap
Businessweek
Deadline
The Wrap
Los Angeles Times
MyDesert.com
Digital Spy
Entertainment Biz!
BusinessWeek
Hollywood Reporter
NBC New York
Techwatch
New Jersey Herald
ContactMusic
Guardian |
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More on "The Great Food Truck Race"
Catch It on Food August!
From the Futon Critic |
Posted 7/12/10 |
Amazing chefs across the country
are leaving traditional restaurants behind and hitting the
streets in mobile kitchens serving some of the most unique and
delicious dishes ever tasted. Food Network's new primetime
series, The Great Food Truck Race, features seven such gourmet
food trucks as they embark on an epic coast-to-coast culinary
road trip to convince Americans to step outside their culinary
comfort zones and try something new - from a truck. Tyler
Florence hosts this six-episode competition premiering Sunday,
August 15th at 10pm ET/PT; the series resumes in its regular
timeslot of Sundays at 9pm ET/PT on August 22nd. From
out-of-the-box sandwiches, burgers, and crepes to unique takes
on Vietnamese, French, and Cajun cuisines, the trucks compete
in weekly challenges to see who can sell the most food and
race to the next episode while the losing team drives home.
The last truck standing wins a $50,000 grand prize.
"Not only does the series focus on a hot new culinary trend,
but the drama of the competition pushes these teams' cooking
skills, business savvy and relationships to their limit," said
General Manager/Senior Vice President Programming, Bob
Tuschman.
The seven trucks include: Austin Daily Press (Austin, Texas),
Crepes Bonaparte (Fullerton, Calif.), Grill 'Em All (Los
Angeles, Calif.), Nana Queens (Culver City, Calif.), Nom Nom
Truck (Los Angeles, Calif.), Ragin' Cajun (Hermosa Beach,
Calif.), and Spencer on the Go (San Francisco, Calif.).
The Futon Critic |
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"Ochocinco" Loves Reality
NFL Player Stars in Own Series
From Cincinnati.com |
Posted 7/9/10 |
No big surprise here: Chad
Ochocinco loves starring on reality TV shows.
"If I could do this again, I would - over and over and over,"
says Ochocinco, whose VH1 dating series, "Ochocinco: The
Ultimate Catch," premieres at 9 tonight.
It's his third reality series in a year. The Bengals all-time
leading receiver was a main character in HBO's "Hard Knocks"
training camp show in August, and a top-four finalist on ABC's
"Dancing with the Stars" in spring.
"Ultimate Catch" is Ochocinco's dream: All Chad, all the time,
every Sunday night through the NFL regular-season kickoff
Sept. 12.
The VH1 show is the latest extension of the Ochocinco brand,
which includes applications for Apple's iPad and iPhone; an
appearance in Monica's "Everything to Me" video; Twitter,
Ochocinco News Network and Ustream updates; and T-shirts and
apparel at Ochocinco.com.
VH1 puts a couple of new twists on the dating show formula, so
this isn't a blatant rip-off of ABC's "The Bachelor."
The 90-minute premiere opens with 85 women jogging onto the
Pasadena Rose Bowl field for a "dating mini-camp."
"I haven't seen this many girls on a field since the last time
we played the Steelers," quips Ochocinco.
In crop tops and short shorts, they compete in three drills -
end zone dancing, trash talking and hugging a life-size Chad
cutout - hoping to be among the 17 Chad picks to live in a
lavish Hollywood mansion.
By the end of the show, Chad cuts the field to 16, and places
their names in a basketball tournament-style bracket.
He'll date the two women in each pairing together, with one
advancing to the next round. The winner receives a No. 85 ring
covered with 70 carats of diamonds.
Cincinnati.com |
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Monday Lightning Round
More on Feud, Ryan & Julianne, Carrie's Wedding |
Posted 7/12/10 |
- One fan's take on the 13th
season of "Familly Feud" from Universal Orlando. Bullseye
Round is gone, leaving single-single-double-triple format
and car-for-five-wins (Orlando
Attractions)
-
Ryan Seacrest's latest flame:
Julianne Hough. (Entertainment
Tonight)
- "The Bid" on TPIR revisited (Esquire)
- Is "Hole in the Wall"
returning? Why yes, according to our good friend Carrie... (About.com
Game Shows)
- A few good minutes with
former "Countdown" hostess Carol Vorderman (The
Independent)
- Carrie Underwood gets ice
from an ice hockey player (PopSugar.com)
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More on "Your Chance to Dance"
Catch It on CMT July 23
From the Futon Critic |
Posted 7/9/10 |
|
Now fans have the opportunity
to pay tribute to their favorite well-known dance routines
from videos, television shows and movies in the new, ten
episode series, "Your Chance to Dance", premiering Friday,
July 23 at 9:00 p.m., ET/PT on CMT. Each one-hour episode,
hosted by TV personality Mark L. Walberg, features five
contestants putting their unique spin on popular video dance
moves before a live studio audience, who then votes to
determine which contestant will win the $10,000 prize.
"Our viewers are avid music fans and love to be entertained,"
said Claire McCabe, vice president, original programming and
development, CMT. "This series gives them the opportunity to
combine both music and dancing as they enjoy paying tribute to
their favorite dance scenes from all formats. From Dierks
Bentley's 'Sideways' to Rihanna's 'Umbrella' to the infamous
dance scene 'You're The One That I Want' from the movie Grease
- this show is all about viewers cutting loose and having a
good time."
""Your Chance to Dance" is ultimately a celebration of those
memorable pop culture dances that we all love," said Phil
Gurin, president of The Gurin Company. "We are pleased to
partner with CMT again on a high-energy, family friendly,
music-filled competition show."
Taped in Los Angeles, "Your Chance to Dance" features
contestants competing as singles, couples and groups against
one another as they pay tribute to well-known dance routines.
These amateur dancers hope to prove to the studio audience
that they deserve to dance away with the $10,000 prize. To
submit audition footage and for more details, visit
www.cmt.com You can also follow the show at http://www.facebook.com/YourChanceToDance
and www.twitter.com/CMTshows
Mark Walberg has hosted and been featured in an array of
popular talk, reality and game shows including "Temptation
Island" and "The Moment of Truth" - both hit reality shows on
the FOX network, as well as two Emmy nominations as host of
the PBS long-running hit series "Antiques Roadshow". Walberg
will tape his sixth season with "Roadshow" this summer.
The Futon Critic |
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Big Brother vs. Wipeout: Who Won?
As Always, It Depends on Who You Ask...
From the Futon Critic |
Posted 7/9/10 |
|
This from the CBS press
department.... "The
premiere of the 12th edition of "Big Brother" posted gains in
viewers and key demographics compared to last summer's
premiere, leading CBS to a nightly win in all key ratings
categories, according to Nielsen live plus same day ratings
for Thursday, July 8.
""Big Brother" (4.4/08, 7.35m) was first in adults 18-34
(2.1/09) and tied for first in adults 25-54 (2.9/09, with ABC)
and adults 18-49 (2.4/09, with ABC). Compared to Big Brother
11, Thursday's premiere (on the same night last year), CBS was
up +4% in both adults 25-54 (from 2.8/09) and adults 18-49
(from 2.3/08), +17% in adults 18-34 (from 1.8/07) and added
+750,000 viewers (from 6.60m, +11%).
"The show also notched its best premiere in viewers since "Big
Brother 8" (July 5, 2007) and best in adults 18-49, adults
25-54 and adults 18-34 since "Big Brother 9" (February 12,
2008)."
... and at the same time, this
from the ABC press department.
"Up against CBS' season
premiere of "Big Brother 12," ABC's "Wipeout" finished as the
most-watched program (7.9 million) in the 8 o'clock hour for
the 3rd week in a row. The ABC unscripted series also held the
No. 1 position in the hour Adults 18-49 (2.4/8-tie), Adults
25-54 (2.9/9-tie) and key Men (M18-49/M25-54). In fact among
viewers and young adults, ABC marked its best-ever performance
against the Thursday premiere of "Big Brother."
"For the 3rd consecutive week, Wipeout qualified as Thursday's
No. 1 TV series in Adults 18-49, Adults 25-54 and key Men
(M18-49/M25-54)."
The Futon Critic
The Futon Critic
TV by the Numbers |
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And the Wednesday Battle?
"Minute", "Talent" Winners
From the Futon Critic |
Posted 7/9/10 |
The No. 1 show on broadcast and a
decent showing by a midseason replacement proved just enough
for NBC to eke out a victory last night over Fox.
NBC's "America's Got Talent" averaged a 3.3 adults 18-49
rating in the 9 p.m. timeslot for a results episode, according
to Nielsen overnights, off 6 percent from last week but still
easily the evening's top program, well ahead of No. 2 "So You
Think You Can Dance" with a 2.3 on Fox.
"Talent's" 8 p.m. lead-in, "Minute to Win It," actually did
pretty well, too. The game show, which debuted at midseason
earlier this year, averaged a 2.1, just 0.2 behind "Dance."
In fact, "Minute" topped dance during their second half hour,
2.4-2.2, as people began tuning to NBC in anticipation of
"Talent."
The "Talent"-"Minute" combination boosted NBC to a 2.4 average
rating and an 8 share on the night.
Media Life
The Hollywood Reporter Live Feed |
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Let's Play the Feud on PS3, iPad
Game Now Available on Playstation Network
From Financial Post |
Posted 7/8/10 |
Interactive entertainment
company Ludia and FremantleMedia Enterprises (FME) today
announced the availability of the Family Feud game for the
PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system on the
PlayStation®Network. Based on one of the most successful
family game shows of all time – which premieres its 12th
season in syndication with new host Steve Harvey on September
13th (check local listings), PS3™ owners can now play as the
leader of a ‘family’ in a contest to name the most popular
answers to survey questions posed to 100 people. The game
features all of the favorite elements of the show as played on
television, including the scoreboard, face offs, strikes,
stealing and ‘fast money’ rounds. Players can enjoy a
thrilling online multiplayer Family Feud experience as they
compete against friends and/or other players from across North
America in head-to-head challenges via the PlayStation
Network. Additionally, multiplayer local and solo game play is
also supported.
“Ludia is happy to extend the ever-popular Family Feud
franchise to PlayStation 3 systems via the PlayStation
Network,” said Alex Thabet, Founder and CEO of Ludia Inc.
“This new game is another great addition to Ludia’s growing
portfolio of game show games for PS3™, and further reinforces
our multiplatform strategy.”
Also, the Feud is available in
high definition on the iPad. Get a true-to-TV game play
experience thanks to new, eye-popping HD graphics designed and
optimized for the iPad's advanced capabilities. With all your
favorites like the Face Off, Stealing and Fast Money rounds.
Hours of fun guaranteed!
Based on one of the most successful and beloved family game
shows of all time! Now you can play anywhere, anytime as the
leader of a 'family' in a contest to name the most popular
answers to survey questions posed to 100 people. The game
features all of the favorite elements of the show as played on
television, including the scoreboard, face offs, strikes,
stealing and 'fast money' rounds. Enjoy Family Feud in
multiplayer mode as you challenge family and friends
head-to-head, or compete solo against the computer.
Financial Post
iPad Weekly |
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Big Money in India
New Series Starting Tomorrow
From Today24News |
Posted 7/9/10 |
Reality show, ‘Big Money’ will be
starting from 10 July 2010 at 9pm. The show will be hosted by
actor R. Madhavan. To keep viewers bound, Imagine TV has
brought this KBC type show with an opportunity to win price
money of Rs.1 crore after ‘Desi Girl’ concluded with Roshni
Chopra’s title win. ‘Big Money‘ is the family-based game show
by which Multilingual Indian actor R. Madhavan is set to
return to the small screen as the host.
Madhavan confirmed the news on microblogging site Twitter by
saying, ‘Announcement folks. I am hosting a family-based game
show called ‘BIG MONEY’, Chhote Parde ka Bada Game Show on
Imagine. Need all your blessings.’ R. Madhavan asserts, “I’m
really excited about the show more so about the concept of
entire family coming together in an attempt to earn Big
Money.“, “According to me this show would incite’ shout
ability’ among the audience as most of them would know the
answers themselves thus creating a different kind of anxiety,”
exclaimed by the new concept producer Siddharth Basu.
Today24News |
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More Big Money in India
KBC Returns With Old Host
From DailyNews365 |
Posted 7/9/10 |
There is a good news for the
lovers of popular game show- Kaun Banega Crorepati! The show
is back and guess what, with its own original hero Amitabh
Bachchan. The show is to be aired on Sony Entertainment
Channel, which hopes to create magic with the tried and tested
formula of its rival, Star Plus. The launch of Kaun Banega
Crorepati (KBC) was announced by the Hindi general
entertainment channel from Multi Screen Media Ltd (MSML) at a
press conference in Mumbai on Wednesday. The channel is all
set to begin with the fourth season of the show, with Amitabh
Bachchan as its host.
Though there was speculation early this year that actor Aamir
Khan been approached to host the fourth season of the popular
game show, the channel heads maintained that they had always
been in talks with Bachchan.
This is the third time that Bachchan will host the show. He
played host to season 1 and 2 of KBC, while Shahrukh Khan
hosted season 3. Although the show was tweaked according to
Shahrukh’s style, a little informal, the show failed to draw
high television ratings.
Coming to the changes in the format of the show or prize
money, the channel officials choose not to say anything for
now. The season 3 of KBC, which was hosted by Shahrukh Khan
had the prize money of Rs 2 crore.
DailyNews365 |
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Are You Big Brother's Ultimate Fan?
You Could Win a Trip to the Finale
From the Futon Critic |
Posted 7/9/10 |
CBS.com announced today the launch
of the "Big Brother" Ultimate Fan contest, an online
interactive social game encouraging fans to earn points and
badges based on their participation around CBS.com's "Big
Brother" hub. Each online activity will garner fans a
different number of points, such as commenting on a video (5
points), voting in the Best of Big Brother Bracket Challenge
(100 points), or becoming a fan of a "Big Brother" house guest
(20 points). Users can also unlock badges by completing
specific tasks and by achieving a certain level of points for
an activity. As fans continue to complete various activities
throughout the site, they will be able to achieve and "unlock"
greater levels of badges, bringing them closer to becoming the
grand prize winner.
One week before the end of Season 12 of "Big Brother", a grand
prize winner will be randomly drawn from a pool of the top 25
percent of the highest scorers. The winner will receive a trip
to the taping of the "Big Brother" finale as well as a chance
to meet the current season's houseguests.
"As "Big Brother" continues to be one of the most popular
shows every summer, we wanted to redefine the online
entertainment experience for fans," says Anthony Soohoo, SVP &
GM of Entertainment & Lifestyle at CBS Interactive. "We have
created a new interactive platform for "Big Brother" fans to
be connected to, informed and entertained by the show. This
sweepstakes is an example of how we can reward fans for their
loyalty and show our appreciation for their continued
viewership by helping them enhance and expand their "Big
Brother" experience via participation in our online
communities and offerings."
The Futon Critic |
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Primetime Emmy Noms Up
Five Chosen for Reality Competition Nod
From the Futon Critic |
Posted 7/8/10 |
Someone
had to be snubbed.For
the first time since the National Academy of Television Arts &
Sciences implemented an Emmy nod for Reality Competition,
"Survivor" is not one of the nominees.
Among the nominees, Bravo's
"Top Chef" & "Project Runway", ABC's "Dancing with the Stars",
Fox's "American Idol", and the reigning champion, CBS' "The
Amazing Race".
Up for the host nod are Phil
Keoghan ("The Amazing Race"), Ryan Seacrest ("American Idol"),
Tom Bergeron ("Dancing with the Stars"), Heidi Klum ("Project
Runway"), and Jeff Probst ("Survivor"). Both Probst and
Bergeron have previous statuettes, Probst for "Survivor",
Bergeron for "Hollywood Squares".
The nominations were revealed
at 8:40a ET today. The awards are handed out August 29 on NBC.
NATAS
The Futon Critic |
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Friday Lightning Round
Three Judges And A Wedding |
Posted 7/9/10 |
- Tomorrow, Carrie Underwood
is expected to walk down the aisle with her hockey playing
fiancee, Mike Fisher. Expected to attend, current American
Idol judge Randy Jackson and former judges Paula Abdul &
Simon Cowell. (Hollywood
Life)
-
"Top Chef: D.C." contestant
Timothy Dean filed suit against National Harbor, claiming it
undercut his deal to open what would have been the first
black-owned restaurant in the Prince George's County
mega-complex. (Washington
Post)
- Orson Bean is heading to the
Hartford theatre in "Radio Girls". (Hartford
Courant)
- "Blockbusters" returns... as
a bingo game.. in the UK. (London
Bingo)
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Going to "Battle" on Food Network
Catch It July 21, Sneak Preview July 18
From the Futon Critic |
Posted 7/8/10 |
|
Temperatures rise this July as
teams of hopeful restaurateurs attempt to open their dream
restaurants in Food Network's new primetime competition
series, 24 Hour Restaurant Battle, premiering Wednesday, July
21st at 10pm ET/PT. Hosted by renowned chef, Scott Conant,
owner of Scarpetta and Faustina at the Cooper Square Hotel,
each one-hour episode features dueling teams who must
conceive, plan, and open their own restaurants in 24 hours. On
each team, one person handles front-of-house issues like
decor, seating, and service while the other manages
back-of-house matters like menu planning, shopping, and
cooking. When the doors open, each restaurant serves a group
of diners along with Scott and a rotating panel of judges.
Based on the restaurant's concept, execution, and viability,
the judges choose a winning team who receive $10,000. For more
information visit:
www.foodnetwork.com/24hour.
The show launches as a sneak
preview Sunday, July 18.
The Futon Critic |
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So You Think You Can Watch Online
Fox Makes "Dance" Eps Available On Demand
From the Futon Critic |
Posted 7/8/10 |
Can't get enough of "So You Think
You Can Dance"? Want to rewatch your favorite dancer's
performance? For the first time ever, FOX will stream full
episodes of "So You Think You Can Dance" at www.fox.com/dance.
Beginning today, fans will be able to catch performance shows
the Monday following the live broadcast while results shows
will be available the Tuesday after they air at www.fox.com/dance.
"So You Think You Can Dance" was created by Simon Fuller and
Nigel Lythgoe and comes from 19 Entertainment Ltd. and dick
clark productions. The series is executive-produced by Simon
Fuller, Nigel Lythgoe and Barry Adelman. Become a fan of "So
You Think You Can Dance" on Facebook at www.facebook.com/soyouthinkyoucandance
and follow the series on Twitter at www.twitter.com/danceonfox.
The Futon Critic |
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More on "Millionaire" Video Game
Game to Be Available on Major Platforms, PC, Mac
From Earth Times |
Posted 7/8/10 |
Interactive entertainment company
Ludia Inc. announced today that they will create a video game
based on Disney-ABC Domestic Television's popular Who Wants To
Be A Millionaire TV game show. With the North America-wide
exclusive deal, the Millionaire video game will be available
across major console platforms and PC/Mac.
“Who Wants To Be A Millionaire continues to be one of the most
successful TV game shows, and we are thrilled to create games
that will enable fans of the show to experience the legendary
‘hot seat’ like never before,” said Alex Thabet, Founder and
CEO of Ludia Inc. “This deal serves to further solidify
Ludia’s leadership in the game show video game category, which
is proving to be a highly successful area for us across
platforms.”
The Who Wants To Be A Millionaire video game will feature
elements from the television show as players try to win a
simulated $1,000,000 by correctly answering 15 multiple choice
trivia questions, each worth increasing amounts of money.
Players can seek help for the stumper questions via lifelines
like “Ask the Audience”, “Double Dip” or “Phone a Friend.”
Additionally, the Who Wants To Be A Millionaire video game
will incorporate thousands of questions, connected gaming
elements, single and multiplayer game modes, as well as reward
systems to fuel the competitive fun between players.
The initial release of the Who Wants To Be A Millionaire video
game is slated for Q3 2010.
Earth Times |
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"Come Dine": Reality At Its Simplest
Review of BBC America Series
From Los Angeles Times |
Posted 7/8/10 |
For those who wonder what reality
television would look like if it hadn't been hijacked by drama
queens — Gordon Ramsay, Speidi, Jon and Kate, the assorted
Housewives — or if it wasn't so obviously and ruthlessly
scripted and over-produced, "Come Dine With Me," which
premieres Wednesday on BBC America, is entertaining and
addictive proof that less is definitely more.
In various British locales — Bath, Swindon, London, etc. —
four strangers each prepare a multi-course meal in his or her
home for the other three. The guests then score their
experience on a scale of 1 to 10 at the end of the hour, and
the winner walks off with 1,000 pounds (a little over $1,500).
In the next episode, things begin again.
"Come Dine With Me" was created by ITV, which produces, among
other things, "Hell's Kitchen" and "Nanny 911," and debuted in
2005. The episodes airing on BBC America are cherrypicked —
the first two are from Season 4 — and serve as prologue to the
upcoming American version. One hopes the American series will
remain true to the show's brisk, no-nonsense formula, which
does precisely what reality TV can, and should, do best: offer
a glimpse into how people actually live their real lives.
Los Angeles Times |
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Thursday Lightning Round
A Breakup... Another Breakup... and Betty White. |
Posted 7/8/10 |
- "Bachelorette's" Ed &
Jillian... DONE. Harris: "I love him and I'm sad, but I have
to look out for me". (Us
Magazine)
-
Chris Harrison on "The Interview":
"Obviously, you're not going to make everybody happy, but I
left there at least knowing that, in my mind, it was fair,
open, and honest. It wasn't a proud moment for anybody — I
don't think any of them came out looking great — but it was
fair and I thought you saw Jake for who he is and you saw
Vienna for who she is." (SeattlePI.com)
- Betty White... in calendar
form. On sale this September. (Miami
Herald)
- NPR talks to "Cash Cab's"
Emmy-winning driver Ben Bailey. (NPR)
- Ten things you didn't know
about Bruce Forsyth. (Digital
Spy)
- Entertainment Weekly's 19
Best Game Shows of All Time include "Jeopardy!", "Family
Feud", "Wheel of Fortune", "The Price Is Right", "Match
Game" and ... "Singled Out"? (Entertainment
Weekly)
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We're Running Out of "Downfall" Puns
Tuesday's Results
From the Wrap |
Posted 7/7/10 |
NBC reality show "America's Got
Talent" was the top program on television Tuesday night, but
Fox scored the highest average primetime audience with a
two-hour episode of "Hell's Kitchen."
Gordon Ramsay's cooking competition had an average 3.1
rating/10 share in the key adults 18-49 demographic from 8-10
p.m. "Hell's Kitchen" gave Fox its second straight Tuesday
night win.
"Losing It With Jillian" kept NBC in second place despite its
having the top show for the second week in a row on Tuesday.
"America's Got Talent" scored a 3.4/10 from 9-11 p.m., but
"Losing It With Jillian" kept the network's average down with
a 1.2/4 from 8-9 p.m. NBC could have beaten Fox if it weren't
for that pesky extra hour of primetime.
"Talent's" numbers were up 17 percent from the show's summer
low last week, but "Jillian" was down 8 percent, tying its
worst-ever numbers. Overall, NBC averaged a 2.7/8 for Tuesday
night.
ABC took third place Tuesday with a 1.8/5 from 8-11 p.m. The
obstacle-course competition "Wipeout" scored a 2.9/10, up 12
percent from an off week last Tuesday. High-altitude game show
"Downfall" continued to see its numbers slip with a 1.3/4,
down 7 percent from last week when the show lost 20 percent of
its audience.
The Wrap
B&C
Hollywood Reporter Live Feed
Mediaweek |
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"Millionaire" Hot in Cleveland
Auditions July 14
From
Cleveland.com |
Posted 7/6/10 |
The game show "Who Wants to Be a
Millionaire'' will hold contestant auditions in Cleveland from
7 to 11 a.m. Wednesday, July 14, at the Nautica Pavilion. With
Emmy winner Meredith Vieira as host, the syndicated daytime
version of "Millionaire" will begin its ninth season in
September.
The audition line will form in the Nautica Pavilion at the
Nautica Entertainment Complex (west side of the Flats, 2014
Sycamore St.; see the Nautica web site). No one will be
admitted in line before 6 a.m. "Millionaire" producers are
teaming with Netflix for these auditions.
Cleveland was one of three cities chosen for traveling
auditions this month. The others are Las Vegas and Seattle.
Those who audition will have two opportunities to be selected
as a contestant. In addition to finding contestants for
regular episodes of the game show, "Millionaire" and Netflix
also will audition movie trivia buffs for the upcoming sixth
annual installment of "Million Dollar Movie Week," a specialty
edition of the game show featuring movie-themed questions.
Two separate written tests will be administered at the
auditions. A movie-themed test will be given for "Million
Dollar Movie Week" and a test with general trivia questions
will be administered for regular episodes. Those people who
pass each test will be asked to come back for a short
interview with a "Millionaire" representative.
Pre-registration is not required for the auditions. Attendance
does not guarantee admittance and participants will be
auditioned on a first-come-first-served basis. Those hoping to
audition must be 18 or older, a resident of the 50 United
States or the District of Columbia and meet all other
eligibility requirements, which can be found at the
"Millionaire" web site.
Cleveland.com |
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"Wipeout" Wipes Out on the DS
Review: Nothing to Write Home About
From Toledo Free Press |
Posted 7/6/10 |
ABC and Activision team up to
bring their obstacle course game show “Wipeout” to the
Nintendo DS. This one player game has entertainment potential,
but several shortcomings especially in the areas of movement
and visual effects. Players succeed by conquering almost 40
obstacles before the third attempt where they automatically
advance. This game has three basic rounds in the main TV mode
beginning with eight players —the qualifying, sweeper and
wipeout zone. Obstacles also appear in the obstacle mode where
successes unlock special items and character outfits.
Patient players can find some fun, but frustrates with odd
physics, problematic button response, limited customization
options, and frequent clipping (characters go through
objects). The scrolling movement incorporates some 3D
perspectives and the high jumps give players serious hang
time. Other actions include duck, run, and block. A grasp,
climb or special “last resort” button (using the L or R) would
have been ideal.
The actions are simple but the sequenced challenges are very
challenging. Placement is key at the end of jump. Landing on a
corner triggers a default sequence that makes you fall off the
course — even when you might be able to bump across on another
object. The times are shown, but not recorded (a high score
board opportunity missed) and players cannot save immediate
progress.
Developers do not optimize the Nintendo DS capabilities here.
Players can use the touch screen to select menus options and
that is it. No NDSi camera option to put yourself in the game.
No touch screen swipes or hits to lead the action. They miss
some basic graphic enhancements as well — most notably visual
effects like splashes and mud splats. Players do not even get
to see the fall impact most of the time. The sound effects are
very basic and do not compensate for the visual weaknesses.
The fun music score impresses but the audio comments bore with
frequent repetition though sound options allow players to turn
them off.
The 18 preset character cache includes hosts John Anderson and
John Henson plus on-field commentator Jill Wagner.
Unfortunately, “Wipeout” is a wash out on the Nintendo DS. But
the Wii version (not reviewed here) offers a four player
option, taunts, and slow motion replays.
Toledo Free Press |
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Kimberley Locke Shopping Project
Situation: Plus-Sized Singing Group
From New York Times |
Posted 7/6/10 |
|
Some "American Idol" veterans want
to be rock stars, but Kimberley Locke aims to become a
television mogul.
The "Idol" second-season
finalist, who finished third behind Clay Aiken and season
winner Ruben Studdard, was spotted at Morton's steakhouse in
Midtown meeting with cable executives to pitch a new reality
show on the search for the next plus-sized, all-girl music
group. Locke performed her new dance single, "Strobe Light,"
produced by "Idol" judge Randy Jackson, at Pacha last week.
New York Post |
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Show's Over for Some "Idol" Dates
Slow Sales Force Cancellations
From Atlanta Journal-Constitution |
Posted 7/6/10 |
On the heels of Jonas Brothers and
Lilith Fair cancellation dates, now “Idols Live” is cutting
concerts due to slow sales.
Cleveland’s Sept. 11 is no longer available. Ditto with Omaha,
Neb. and Kansas City. Buffalo is dead, too. Toronto as well.
Some other concerts are being moved around for routing
purposes. Portland, Maine is rumored to be in danger now, too,
but tickets are still on sale.
Atlanta Journal Constitution |
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Report: Peter Andre Reups with ITV
New Deal for "Odd One In" Host
From DigitalSpy |
Posted 7/6/10 |
Peter Andre has reportedly signed
a £1m deal to stay at ITV.
The Daily Star reports that the channel has already ordered a
third series of the singer's show Peter Andre: The Next
Chapter.
The deal is also thought to cover Andre's guest spots on This
Morning and a number of other projects, which could include
Andre's role on new gameshow Odd One In.
A source revealed that the channel wants to make Andre the
"darling of ITV" and added: "Everyone loves Pete and his show
does amazingly well for ITV2. We are putting all our focus on
Peter and the future is looking bright for him."
Digital Spy |
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"Love" Takes a Holiday...
NBC Relaunches Real Folk "Apprentice"
From the Futon Critic |
Posted 7/2/10 |
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NBC will debut the newly revised
edition of its previously announced "The Apprentice" series on
Thursdays (10-11 p.m. ET) beginning this Fall.
NBC and Donald Trump want to put America back to work -- and
after a long wait, the boardroom will be open again for
candidates who have lost their jobs as the network showcases
an updated version of the popular original alternative series
"The Apprentice," with Trump returning to preside.
"Love Bites," the hour-long romantic comedy anthology series
that was previously scheduled for Thursdays (10-11 p.m. ET)
beginning this Fall, will premiere later during the 2010-11
season.
"Everyone at the network loves 'Love Bites,' but for a number
of reasons, it now makes sense to showcase the comedic
anthology series a little later in the new season," said Mitch
Metcalf, Executive Vice President, Program Planning &
Scheduling, NBC Entertainment. "We're extremely fortunate to
have a potent show such as the new and contemporary version of
Donald Trump's 'The Apprentice' ready to step into the slot
and keep our Thursday lineup moving forward from a position of
strength."
Trump will give the opportunity of a lifetime to 16 new
candidates ranging in age -- all of whom have been hit hard by
the current economic downturn. These will include talented and
bright prospects who have lost their jobs with no hope in
sight as well as recent college graduates who currently have
few if any prospects. Joining Trump will be boardroom advisers
Donald Trump Jr., Ivanka Trump and George Ross. Also included
among the advisers will be a more focused group of business
guest executives in the revolving chair -- both relevant to
the tasks at hand and to the corporate employment environment.
The new season of "The Apprentice" -- which just finished
shooting this week in New York City -- promises to be an
engaging and fresh look at the changing face of corporate
America. It will showcase what has turned out to be an
incredible cast of candidates, all vying to become "The
Apprentice" and all deserving of a fresh start to their
careers.
Times have changed since "The Apprentice" first premiered in
2004. Instead of the high-flying rewards enjoyed by winning
teams in previous seasons, Trump has re-directed the focus to
more meaningful rewards aimed at improving the lives of the
candidates. As a result, winning Project Managers will be
rewarded with one-on-one meetings with some of America's
best-known business leaders and CEOs.
The Futon Critic
New York Times |
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"LMAD" Fires Up Season 2
CBS Trades Vegas for LA
From UPI |
Posted 7/2/10 |
CBS says production is set to
begin this month on Season 2 of its new version of the classic
U.S. game show "Let's Make a Deal."
The daytime show is to go before the cameras starting July 9
in Los Angeles with comedian Wayne Brady returning as host.
New episodes are to start airing in September, the network
said.
The original "Let's Make a Deal" was an enormous hit when
Monty Hall served as host from 1963-1977.
While later versions aired in syndication and prime time, the
game show is best remembered for the years hosted by Hall, who
serves as a creative consultant on this latest version, CBS
noted.
UPI |
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Here Come the Houseguests!
CBS Makes Usual Teamups, Installs Saboteur
From the Futon Critic |
Posted 7/1/10 |
"Big Brother" welcomes 13 new Houseguests when
CBS's summer series premieres Thursday, July 8 (8:00-9:00 PM,
ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.
Below are the 13 Houseguests who will compete in the new
season of "Big Brother":
- Kristen Bitting (24;
Philadelphia; shoe boutique manager)
- Lane Elenburg (24; Decatur, TX; oil rig salesman)
- Ragan Fox (34; Los Angeles; college professor)
- Andrew Gordon (39; Miami Beach, FL; podiatrist)
- Britney Haynes (22; Huntington, AR; hotel sales manager)
- Kathy Hillis (40; Texarkana, AR; deputy sheriff)
- Matt Hoffman (32; Elgin, IL; web designer)
- Hayden Moss (24; Tempe, AZ; college student)
- Enzo Palumbo (32; Bayonne, NJ; insurance adjuster)
- Rachel Reilly (26; Las Vegas; chemistry grad student/VIP
cocktail waitress)
- Monet Stunson (24; Glen Carbon, IL; model)
- Brendon Villegas (30; Riverside, CA' high school swim coach)
- Annie Whittington (27; Tampa; bartender)
For the first time in the history of the series, one
contestant will not be playing to win the half million dollar
prize. Instead, this Houseguest will play the role of the Big
Brother Saboteur, whose sole mission will be to disrupt the
lives of their fellow Houseguests.
Upon moving into the house on premiere night, Houseguests will
discover that one of them is not really there to win the game,
but rather to sabotage their fellow players. While the
saboteur's identity will remain a secret to the Houseguests,
America will learn his/her identity on Thursday, July 15,
during the first LIVE show. If the Saboteur is able to make it
to the halfway point of the game, a financial reward awaits.
Fans can tune into the premiere on July 8 or visit http://www.cbs.com/bbtwist
to learn more about how they can submit viewer suggestions.
This season, Houseguests will be surrounded by an Art Deco
themed "Playground by the Shore." The Big Brother house will
be accented with palm tree groves and walls of glass, while
the exterior of the house is lifted straight from Miami's
Ocean Avenue. The Art Deco theme continues in the living room
with ultra-modern furniture, white accents, glass tables and
glass along the walls. The Palm Bedroom features crisp white
beds and neon green linens and pays homage to vintage Miami.
The Sunset Bedroom, located in the rear of the house, is a
glow of warm orange and bronze-hued d�cor where the walls are
lined with curved glass blocks that were custom built for the
Big Brother house.
Once again this season, Houseguests on the losing side of
select competitions will be banished to the "Have Not Room,"
where luxury and comfort are non-existent.
Following the premiere on Thursday, July 8 (8:00�9:00 PM
ET/PT), Big Brother will be broadcast three nights weekly,
beginning Sunday, July 11 (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT), Wednesday,
July 14 (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT) and the LIVE eviction show,
hosted by Julie Chen, beginning Thursday, July 15 (8:00�9:00
PM, live ET/delayed PT).
The Futon Critic
The Futon Critic
The Futon Critic
Entertainment Tonight |

"Big Brother" launches July
8 on CBS
(photo courtesy CBS) |
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More Shuffling... More Talent
NBC Sends "Persons Unknown" to Saturdays
From The Futon Critic |
Posted 7/1/10 |
NBC is shuffling the deck chairs
on four nights of its summer schedule, giving new homes to
"Persons Unknown," "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" and its
"America's Got Talent" encores.
Said changes, all confirmed via scheduling updates from the
network this afternoon, include a new Monday lineup of "Got
Talent" encores at 8:00/7:00c, "Last Comic Standing" originals
at 9:00/8:00c and special Monday editions of "Dateline NBC" at
10:00/9:00c starting July 12.
"Persons Unknown," which had been airing on Monday nights,
will shift to Saturdays at 8:00/7:00c on July 17. "Law &
Order: Criminal Intent" will likewise get a new home, three to
be exact: Saturdays at 9:00/8:00c, Saturdays at 10:00/9:00c
and Sundays at 8:00/7:00c.
In addition, "Got Talent" will also encore on Sunday nights
starting July 11, while Thursdays will see "Law & Order:
Special Victims Unit" assume the 10:00/9:00c hour, preceded by
"Community," "30 Rock," "The Office" and "Parks & Recreation,"
beginning July 15.
The Futon Critic |
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SWEET!
Bravo Rounds Out "Just Desserts" Panel, Adds Gail
Simmons as Host
From The Futon Critic |
Posted 7/1/10 |
Bravo sweetens the deal as "Top
Chef: Just Desserts" -- a spin-off of the popular
Emmy-nominated and James Beard Award-winning "Top Chef" --
adds celebrated pastry chef Johnny Iuzzini as Head Judge with
critically acclaimed chef Hubert Keller and DailyCandy
Editor-at-Large Dannielle Kyrillos rounding out the judges'
table. As previously announced, "Top Chef" judge Gail Simmons
will serve as the host of Bravo's newest delectable delight
that airs on Bravo later this year. For more information,
visit www.BravoTV.com. Follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/BravoPR.
Each episode of "Top Chef: Just Desserts" holds two challenges
for the pastry chefs: the first is a quickfire test of their
basic abilities and the second is a more involved elimination
challenge designed to test the versatility and inventiveness
of the pastry chefs as they take on unique culinary trials
such as working with unusual and exotic ingredients or
catering for a range of demanding clients.
Iuzzini, one of the country's most celebrated and innovative
pastry chefs, joins as head judge of "Top Chef: Just
Desserts." Currently the Executive Pastry Chef at Restaurant
Jean Georges, which has three Michelin stars, and Nougatine,
Iuzzini has received numerous accolades throughout his career.
In May 2006, The James Beard Foundation awarded Iuzzini
"Outstanding Pastry Chef of the Year," for which he was also
nominated in 2003; he was named one of the Comite Colbert's
"Emerging Young Artists of 2000;" earned the title of "Best
New Pastry Chef" by New York Magazine in 2002; and was named
one of the "10 Best Pastry Chefs in America" by Pastry Art and
Design Magazine in 2003 and 2004. Iuzzini, who has appeared as
a guest judge on "Top Chef," published his first cookbook,
Dessert Fourplay in 2008.
Keller will be a familiar face to "Top Chef" fans having
appeared multiple times as a guest judge on "Top Chef" and as
a contestant on season one of "Top Chef Masters." His
world-renowned restaurants, Fleur de Lys San Francisco and Las
Vegas, feature Keller's contemporary French cooking accented
with Mediterranean flavors. With his palate attuned to
America's evolving tastes, Keller launched his wildly popular
Burger Bar restaurants in Las Vegas, St Louis, and San
Francisco as well as the cutting edge SLeeK Steakhouse and
Ultra Lounge in St Louis. He has won numerous awards including
the James Beard Foundation's "Best Chef: California" and has
been elected to the Foundation's prestigious Who's Who in Food
and Beverage. Food & Wine magazine tapped him as one of the
ten Best New Chefs in America, and Restaurants & Institutions
gave him its Ivy Award.
Entertaining expert and Editor-at-Large of DailyCandy,
Kyrillos shares insider scoop with readers across the country
on the latest news in food, fashion, travel, gifts and
entertaining. She wrote several chapters of DailyCandy's two
books, Daily Candy A to Z: An Insider's Guide to the Sweet
Life and The DailyCandy Lexicon: Words That Don't Exist But
Should. For the past four years, she has also helped cover the
Food & Wine Classic in Aspen for Plum TV as an on-camera host.
Food & Wine's Simmons, who has been a judge on "Top Chef" for
the past seven seasons, takes on the hosting duties of this
highly competitive spin-off series showcasing the best of the
best in the world of pastry arts. She is responsible for
special projects for the magazine, acting as liaison between
the marketing and editorial teams on magazine events and
chef-related initiatives. During her tenure at the magazine,
she has been responsible for the annual Food & Wine Classic in
Aspen, America's premier culinary event. Born in Toronto,
Canada, Gail moved to New York City to attend culinary school
at what is now the Institute of Culinary Education. She then
trained in the kitchens of legendary Le Cirque 2000 and
groundbreaking Vong restaurants, and worked for esteemed food
critic Jeffrey Steingarten at Vogue as well as for chef Daniel
Boulud. Throughout her career, Simmons has contributed to
several cookbooks, including It Must've Been Something I Ate
by Jeffrey Steingarten, Chef Daniel Boulud: Cooking in New
York City and The New American Chef, by Andrew Dornenburg and
Karen Page.
The Futon Critic |
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"Minute" Returns July 7
Catch It on NBC
From the Futon Critic |
Posted 6/30/10 |
NBC's popular competition show
"Minute to Win It," will unveil the new "Million Dollar
Mission" when it returns this summer beginning Wednesday, July
7 (8-9 p.m. ET). In the new episodes, one lucky audience
member will be able to participate in the "Million Dollar
Mission," and be able to bypass levels 1 through 9 and
immediately compete at level 10 for $1million. The
million-dollar game is "Supercoin," where in a minute's time a
contestant must bounce coins off of a table and into the
narrow opening of a five-gallon water jug 15 feet away.
These new episodes will also feature a variety of competitors
including; twin sisters who'll take turns competing at each
level; a married couple that will compete for cash for their
dream wedding; and a mom and recent graduate who will team up
together for the big prize.
Some of the exciting games played in the upcoming episodes
include: "Candelier," in which the contestant must stack five
levels of cans, starting with one can on the bottom and
finishing with five cans on the top, with a paper plate in
between each level; "Octopus," in which they must remove a
ribbon from an upside-down Fiji bottle -- without knocking the
bottle over; and "Tweeze Me," where the contestant must use a
tweezer to maneuver a Tic Tac breath mint through the spaces
in a tennis racket -- and land it in a cup on the other side.
Examiner
The Futon Critic |
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Canada Launches Reality Channel
First Up... "Survivor Borneo"
From The Star Phoenix |
Posted 6/30/10 |
The "fat, naked guy" from Survivor
is back.
The Global Reality Channel will launch on July 1 by airing
Richard Hatch's triumphant first season of Survivor from
beginning to end.
Reruns of Survivor's 20 seasons will be a cornerstone of the
new Global Reality Channel, a 24-hour digital service.
The channel, billed as "all reality, all the time," will
include new seasons of The Apprentice UK and Big Brother, as
well as repeats of reality fare such as Deal or No Deal
Canada, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, X-Weighted, Project
Runway Canada and Fear Factor.
As for Survivor, host Jeff Probst never expected the series
would still be going strong.
Probst was mentally prepared to be done, he was telling anyone
who'd listen back in January, 2008. Probst had been intoning
the words, "Survivors, ready!" and, "The tribe has spoken,"
since May, 2000, and he was tired of being bitten by bugs and
living out of a backpack. Survivor: Micronesia was to be the
last Survivor. The near-record audience of 52 million viewers
that tuned in to watch corporate motivational-speaker Hatch
win the first Survivor over yoga instructor Kelly Wiglesworth
in May, 2000 had dwindled to just 14 million viewers for
Survivor: Fiji.
The Star Phoenix
Toronto Star |
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William Taylor: 1931 - 2010
Lobbyist Was Contestant on "Tic-Tac Dough"
From New York Times |
Posted 6/309/10 |
William L. Taylor, who as a
lawyer, lobbyist and government official for more than a
half century had significant roles in pressing important
civil rights cases and in drafting and defending civil
rights legislation, died Monday in Bethesda, Md. He was
78 and lived in Washington.
His son, David Van Taylor, said the direct cause of
death was fluid in his lungs, a complication of a head
injury he suffered in a fall a month ago.
William Taylor began his long fight for racial justice
as a young lawyer at the NAACP Legal Defense and
Educational Fund Inc. working with Thurgood Marshall,
who would later become a Supreme Court justice. He
helped fight some of the difficult civil rights battles
that followed the Supreme Court order in 1954 that
schools be desegregated.
In the 1950s, Mr. Taylor was a popular contestant on the
game show “Tic-Tac-Dough,” his son said. When producers
offered him answers, which would have guaranteed his
earnings, he refused. He later testified to a grand jury
investigating quiz show fraud.The jury foreman, who had
heard the testimony of other “Tic-Tac-Dough”
contestants, informed Mr. Taylor that he had won more
money than anyone else who had not taken answers. His
son said that was a lasting source of pride.
New York Times |
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Naked Vienna?
"Bachelor" Castoff Says Yes, Playboy Says No
From OK! |
Posted 6/30/10 |
First, a large public breakup,
next Playboy? Despite reports that former Bachelor star Vienna
Girardi will be stripping down for the cover of Playboy in the
near future, a rep for the magazine confirms the personality
has not been asked to pose in her skivvies.
“This is the first we’ve heard of Vienna Girardi appearing on
the cover of Playboy,” a rep for Playboy told OK!. “We are not
in negotiations with her and have not made her an offer.”
Earlier today, various rumors were circulating that Jake
Pavelka’s former girlfriend would not only strip for the
magazine, but also be featured as the cover model.
One source even cited a confirmation from Vienna herself.
Vienna and Jake recently split after “falling in love” on last
season’s The Bachelor.
OK! Magazine
Star |
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Surviving More Japanese Game Shows
Taiyo Kikaku Reunites with A. Smith & Co.
From the Hollywood Reporter |
Posted 6/29/10 |
They not only survived a
Japanese game show together, they're going to
collaborate on more of them.
U.S.-based A. Smith & Co. and Japan's Taiyo Kikaku Co.
are joining forces to develop, produce and distribute
content for television and other media that will be
adapted and expanded to audiences in new marketplaces.
The venture harnesses the success both producing
companies experienced through their initial
collaboration, ABC's "I Survived a Japanese Game Show."
While partnerships between U.S. and European TV
producers are commonplace, those between the U.S. and
Japan are rare as programming tastes tend to be
dissimilar. Relationships between producers -- as
opposed to producer-broadcaster tie-ups -- are even
rarer.
It's unclear if any money changed hands in what A.
Smith's eponymous founder Arthur Smith said was "a
complicated, multifaceted arrangement," but he did say
that the Taiyo Kikaku folks are "can-do people like us"
and that the cultures "bonded" over the game show they
worked on.
"The worlds of programming in different territories are
merging, and having spent time working in Japan we
realized that Taiyo is one of the most creative and
progressive companies there," Smith told THR.
As part of the alliance, A. Smith & Co. will adapt Taiyo
Kikaku formats in the U.S. and other regions; in return,
Taiyo Kikaku will convert A. Smith's formats to fit into
Japan and other Asian territories.
In addition to expanding their respective slates, the
partners will tap their creative resources and expertise
to collaborate on shows that they will jointly develop
and co-produce.
In fact, Smith said, the partners spent Monday morning
in Los Angeles sifting through "some 75 ideas for
projects" that they might develop jointly.
Hollywood Reporter
Worldscreen |
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Big "Wheel", Bigger Screen
Sony to Drop "Wheel of Fortune" iPad App
From PadGadget |
Posted 6/29/10 |
Starting later this summer,
we’ll all be able to get into the game with the Wheel of
Fortune Platinum iPad app.
Just released for the iPhone and iPod, Wheel of Fortune
Platinum brings the set of this long running television
series to mobile devices. A virtual wheel, illuminated
puzzle boards and customizable characters help set the
stage for your own game show experience. Users are able
to use Bluetooth, Wi-Fi or online multi-player
capabilities to compete against friends and track
puzzles and prizes.
Additional features include:
* Opening video, graphics, sound effects and music
straight from the TV show
* Puzzle content written by Wheel of Fortune TV
producers
* TV show, Toss-up and Speed-up modes
* Pass-n-Play multiplay
* Career stats
* Trophy system and Facebook connect sharing/posting
PadGadget |
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Rated R Becomes an X
"No More Reality", Says "Bachelorette" Player at
Center of Scandal
From People |
Posted 6/29/10 |
If his fellow Bachelorette
contestants had any doubts, Justin “Rated R” Rego hopes
his next move might quell accusations that he used the
show to promote his wrestling career.
“In the next year or so I’m actually looking to be a
police officer,” he tells ET Canada in an interview
airing Monday. “I’m slowly studying it … that’s
something I truly am passionate about and I definitely
want to get into.”
What he doesn’t want, despite what others have alleged,
is fame.
“No more reality TV,” he says, adding that he
“definitely” does not want to be the next Bachelor.
“This has been such a rough experience, like it’s kind
of scared me away from doing anything. It’s not fun
having you’re name dragged through the mud.”
As for allegations that he had a girlfriend when he
joined the show, Rego says he did date the woman in
question, Jessica Spillas, in the past but they weren’t
in a relationship at that time.
His ex, he says, took care of him when he broke his foot
two weeks before the show started taping, and she was
simply “somebody that I always wanted in my life cause
she’s a great person.”
People
TV Squad |
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John "Bernie the
Bolt" Baker: 1938 - 2010
Loader on "The Golden Shot"
From Birmingham Post |
Posted 6/29/10 |
The Birmingham man who shot
to fame as ‘Bernie the Bolt’ on a TV gameshow which
attracted an audience of 17 million, has died aged 72.
Behind-the-scenes TV worker John Baker fell into the hit
role on ATV’s The Golden Shot which brought him
celebrity status and sackfuls of fan mail, from the
mid-1960s.
John, who lived all his life in Moseley, was chosen by
the show’s director to appear blindfolded on screen
loading a crossbow for contestants to aim at an apple in
the studio. Contestants would instruct him by telephone
where to aim, using the words "up a bit", "down a bit"
and "fire".
Long-time friend Joe Lewis revealed John was at first
reluctant to take the job on the program, which was
filmed at studios in Broad Street.
“It was beyond his wildest dreams in the end,” he said.
“He started to get fan mail. He was just this kid from
Moseley and suddenly he found himself a bit of a
celebrity.
“There is a saying ‘it’s nice to be nice’ and he was a
nice man. He was a smart, good-looking young fella and
would’ve caught people’s eye and he always kept his
looks.
“He’d get things in the mail from people asking him for
advice and saying ‘Oh John, I watched your show, me and
my sister think the world of you. If you’re ever passing
pop in because our mum would love to see you’.”
“It was a fantastically popular show. The way things are
with health and safety these days it wouldn’t be
allowed.”
Birmingham Post |

"Bernie the Bolt" John Baker
(photo courtesy Birmingham
Post) |
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"Hole in the Wall" Lives... in Philippines
Comic Duo Host Foreign Version
From Malaya |
Posted 6/29/10 |
The craziest game show on
primetime is making a big comeback!
Get ready for another season of body-bending and
mind-twisting entertainment as GMA Network brings anew
the most addictive and widely popular
segment-turned-worldwide craze, "Hole In The Wall."
The TV phenomenon from Japan returns on GMA Telebabad
with lots of twists and surprises including big cash
prizes, outrageous wall and hole designs and an
interactive playing area that would take your viewing
experience to a new level.
Hole in the Wall is hosted once again by multi-awarded
comedians Michael V. and Ogie Alcasid as they assume new
and different characters every week.
Malaya |
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John Henson Gets Married
"Wipeout" Host Weds Actress
From People |
Posted 6/29/10 |
No injuries or embarrassing
tumbles marked Wipeout co-host John Henson‘s wedding to
Jill Benjamin on Saturday –- it was just two people who
fell in love tying the knot!
Henson, 42, married actress Benjamin in an intimate
ceremony among family and friends in Malibu, a rep for
Henson confirms to People. The circus-themed reception
featured decorations and props handcrafted by the
couple.
In May, Henson told Hollywoodnews.com, “We have to make
sure the caterer is prepared, the bar stocked. There are
so many details. It’s like an entire industry. You start
to feel like, 25 years from now, the only thing anyone
will remember is, ‘did you have monogrammed napkins?’”
Currently Henson can be seen co-hosting ABC’s summer hit
Wipeout with ESPN’s John Anderson each Tuesday and
Thursday at 8 p.m. ET/PT.
People |
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Clay Aiken for Judge?
"Idol 2" Finalist Gives His Insight
From Billboard |
Posted 6/29/10 |
"American Idol's" second
season runner-up Clay Aiken has his own idea of what the
show should do to replace departing judge Simon Cowell.
"I've always thought it would be a great addition to the
panel to have someone who's a former contestant and
knows what it's like to be up on that stage and be
critiqued," Aiken tells Billboard.com. So is he raising
his hand? "Well, I'm so far removed from it at this
point that I don't know if I remember what it's like,
but who knows. I would not put myself out there to be as
caustic as (Cowell) is, but if they want to call me,
bring it on. We can talk."
Aiken, however, has plenty of singing to do before
having that discussion. The North Carolina-based singer
released his fifth album, "Tried & True," on June 1; the
collection of pop standards -- including "Unchained
Melody," "Can't Take My Eyes Off You," "Misty," "Mack
The Knife" and "Moon River" (with Vince Gill) -- marks
his first release away from the "American Idol" enclave
of 19 Recordings and Sony Music (he's now with Decca),
and Aiken feels it shows the measure of the man better
than his previous releases.
"It's what I've wanted to do for the past seven years,"
says Aiken, acknowledging he felt like "a square peg in
a round hole" on his more contemporary pop albums. "I
like songs that have incredible melodies and nice
orchestrations and arrangements that are really about
the voice and the melody and just being beautiful, and
these songs are that. People talk about it being a big
decision to change course, but I actually see it as an
opportunity to kind of get back to what I've always
wanted to do."
Billboard |
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"Cash Cab" Strikes Gold in Vegas
Ben Bailey Wins His First Emmy
From GSNN's Chico Alexander |
Posted 6/28/10 |
|
The third time was the charm
for Ben Bailey, as a gamble in Las Vegas pays off handsomely
for him and the show that he literally drives around, "Cash
Cab".
The Discovery game show has
taken its third consecutive win, beating "The Price Is Right",
"Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader", "Wheel of Fortune" and
"Jeopardy!" Accepting on behalf of the show was executive Tom
Cohen. Host Bailey later picked up his first Emmy for hosting
the venerable quiz, beating first-time nominees Wayne Brady
(for "Let's Make a Deal") and Carnie Wilson (for "The Newlywed
Game"), as well as veterans Pat Sajak (for "Wheel of Fortune")
and Alex Trebek (for "Jeopardy!").
Bailey accepted the award on
behalf of all cab drivers and stand-up comedians everywhere.
Later, the cab was featured in a pre-taped bit featuring
Bailey with Erik Estrada and Cheech & Chong.
Ryan Seacrest introduced a
piece honoring Dick Clark and his years on "American
Bandstand". The emcee would go on to play "Pyramid" and "The
Challengers", among others. "Believe me, if I lived to be 300,
I could never fill your shoes," said Seacrest of his mentor.
Dick Clark thanked everyone for their support of "Bandstand"
before weeping to a standing ovation.
Examiner
TV By The Numbers
TV By The Numbers
Variety
Entertainment Tonight
BBC News
Media Life
UPI
Worldscreen
Associated Content |

"Cash Cab" wins its third
Emmy, as Ben Bailey picks up his first
(photo courtesy Discovery) |
| |
"Silent Library" Returns with Celebs
Catch It On MTV Today
From MTV PR |
Posted 6/28/10 |
MTV takes celebrities out of their
comfort zones as “Silent Library” returns with a bang for a
third season. Beginning Monday, June 28th at 5PM ET/PT, the
20-episode run kicks off with members of the New York Giants
tackling some of the wildest challenges yet. It then continues
with pop-punk band All Time Low going all-out for the big win.
“Celeb Week” also welcomes Hey Monday on Wednesday, June 30th,
and wraps up with the hip-hop duo The New Boyz and R&B star
Iyaz appearing on Thursday, July 1st.
This season, more celebrities than ever will take a seat at
the “Silent Library” table. In the show’s second week, Nadya
Suleman, aka the “Octomom” will make a special buzzworthy
appearance on Tuesday, July 6th. Additional celebrity episodes
throughout the season will include musical artists Honor
Society, Aubrey O’Day, Stereo Skyline, Anarbor, Just Kait, and
Never Shout Never, plus the cast of MTV’s new scripted series
“The Hard Times of RJ Berger.”
On each episode of “Silent Library” a team of six contestants
attempts a series of offbeat challenges that range from
painful to downright gross. The show is set in a library, so
the players must remain quiet. The contestants draw cards, and
the player who gets the skull and crossbones must endure an
unusual punishment, such as getting hit with raw eggs shot
from a huge plastic chicken, having his nipples stretched to
their limits by remote-controlled boats, or eating a dog
sculpture made entirely out of dog food. If they do so
quietly, the show’s host, Zero Kazama, awards them a cash
prize. But, if the team makes too much noise, they kiss the
money goodbye.
Brent Haynes, Jason Gwozdz and Amy Emmerich are executives in
charge for MTV. “Silent Library” is executive produced by Adam
Dolgins and Frank Gregory of Fractured Hip Productions.
MTV.com |

"Silent Library" bows season
3 next week
(photo courtesy MTV) |
| |
"Red Carpet Run" Finalist
Online Show Takes to LA TV Festival
From PR Log |
Posted 6/28/10 |
Original online game show Red
Carpet Run, has been named a finalist in NATPE’s Next TV
competition in the category of Reality/Unscripted/Lifestyle/DIY.
The annual competition, sponsored in part by E! Entertainment
Television, takes place July 12-15 in Los Angeles as part of
the LA TV Festival. All finalists will be screened at the
festival and the category winner could get a development
meeting with the network.
“Whatever happens, this is a big win for Red Carpet Run
because it’s opening the content to a wider audience. We had a
blast making the show, and put a lot of fun into the
programming. We’re tremendously excited about sharing that
with as many people as we can,” said Michael Todd Cohen, the
show’s creator and Executive Producer.
On the show, celeb-obsessed contestants are put through the
ultimate trivial pursuit, challenging their knowledge of all
things Hollywood as they run their final round – high speed! –
on a moving treadmill.
Red Carpet Run is hosted by the Food Network’s comedian
extraordinaire Noah Starr. New episodes are posted Thursday
mornings on redcarpetrun.tv — perfect for those suffering from
a work-weary week to tune in before coffee break.
For more information, or to watch episodes now visit http://redcarpetrun.tv
or join the community on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/redcarpetrun
and Twitter @RedCarpetRun.
PR Log |
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More on "She's Got The Look"
TV Land to Launch August
From the Futon Critic |
Posted 6/28/10 |
TV Land's competition reality
series "She's Got The Look" has a whole new look when it
returns for its third season on Wednesday, August 25, 2010 at
10PM ET/PT as the series introduces a new host - Brooke Burke
("Dancing With The Stars, "Wild On"); a new city
- Los
Angeles; a new judge - supermodel Roshumba Williams and ten
new finalists all over the age of 35 competing for a second
chance at their dreams. The TV Land PRIME original series is a
collaboration with Wilhelmina Models, Inc. and sets out to
discover a beautiful, sophisticated and confident woman over
the age of 35 who has the potential to transform herself into
a model, representing some of the most high-profile brands and
highly-coveted campaigns in the fashion and beauty industries.
The winner of the series receives a contract with Wilhelmina
Models, Inc. and a photo spread in SELF Magazine. Also joining
Roshumba Williams are returning judges, celebrity stylist
Robert Verdi and Wilhelmina president Sean Patterson. Emmy(R)
Award-Winner Allison Grodner ("Big Brother," "Blowout")
returns as executive producer and has joined forces with
executive producer Rich Meehan ("Big Brother") under their new
banner, Fly On The Wall Entertainment. Rachel Tung is also
executive producer. RoC(R) Skincare is the presenting sponsor
of "She's Got The Look."
"She's Got The Look" chronicles a nationwide model search
resulting in 10 contenders coming to live together in Los
Angeles as they compete in photo shoots, a video shoot and
high fashion runway shows. The series is now playing in over
70 countries, with the first three seasons sold around the
world. It can be seen in France, Italy, Israel, Australia,
Israel, Thailand, Korea, Holland and South Africa. "She's Got
The Look" is distributed worldwide by Fremantle Media.
Throughout the past three seasons of "She's Got The Look,"
contestants have ranged from the ages of 35 to 72-years-old.
The exposure and success from the series has secured a variety
of top-tier bookings for many of the show's alumni with
clients such as: Kmart, Verizon, AT&T, Nicole Miller
Cosmetics, Hallmark, Microsoft, Toyota, Volvo and many more.
These achievements illustrate the shows premise that beauty is
timeless.
The Futon Critic |
|
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AutoTuning Jeopardy!
Category Becomes Instant Online Classic
From Gizmodo |
Posted 6/28/10 |
Presumably in an effort to
engage a younger audience, the producers of a popular TV quiz
show had their respectable, gray-haired host sing clues with
the help of a popular pitch-correcting software used by
artists like T-Pain and Kanye West.
If you heard someone mention “Auto-Tune the Jeopardy” last
week and figured it was the funny new conceit from the
Auto-Tune the News bunch, well, not quite! Last Wednesday, on
a real Jeopardy broadcast, Alex crooned “Battle Hymn of the
Republic,” “The Farmer and the Dell,” and more, all with the
help(?) of Antares’ Auto-Tune software.
They have some wacky settings that screw up Alex’s voice to
the point that you can’t even recognise it, and all his vocals
are accompanied by goofy Songsmith-esque backing tracks, so
listening to the Auto-Tuned clips isn’t as painfully awkward
as you’d assume it would be. In fact, Auto-Tune Alex’s “Oh
Susanna” is kinda hot.
Gizmodo
Tonic
MTV |
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More on 3D Wheel
Friedman Wants to Roll It Out Next Season
From Fox News |
Posted 6/25/10 |
The venerable game show "Wheel of
Fortune," a ratings smash in syndication since 1983, isn't
exactly "Avatar" when it comes to visual complexity. Vanna
White points to letters. Contestants buy vowels.
Nevertheless, show producer Harry Friedman says he wants to do
it in 3-D.
At a recent run-through, host Pat Sajak protruded from the
screen like a friendly gargoyle. A camera that whizzed past
the "grand prize getaway" to San Francisco made the wooden
Victorian townhouses look like pieces of a pop-up book. "Down
the road we'll shoot all of our on-location footage of prize
packages in 3-D," said Mr. Friedman.
Taking a cue from movie studios that have goosed their
box-office take with 3-D films like "Toy Story 3" and "Alice
in Wonderland," the television industry is betting TV viewers
will splurge to watch more-lifelike versions of their favorite
athletes, wild animals and, potentially, sitcom characters.
Fox News |
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VH1 Offers "Bonus" Round
Network Pilots Office-Based Competition
From The Hollywood Reporter |
Posted 6/25/10 |
VH1 has scooped up a reality pilot
in which office workers battle for a $50,000 bonus.
The recession-appropriate project locks a group of
pencil-pushing employees in their workplace for 72 hours.
During lockdown, staffers must try to convince their
co-workers to vote for them. Whoever gets the most votes wins
the bonus.
The project's working title is "Office Bonus," and 3 Ball
("The Biggest Loser," "MasterChef") is set to produce; JD
Roth, Todd Nelson and Adam Greener are executive producers. If
greenlit, the show would join 3 Ball's "Dad Camp" and "The OCD
Project" on the network.
This summer, VH1 also is launching Chad Ochocinco dating show
"The Ultimate Catch" and Season 2 of Terrell Owens' reality
effort "The T.O. Show." Both get under way July 11.
The Hollywood Reporter |
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Latest Contender for "ATWT" Spot: Another
Talk Show
Hosting: Valerie Bertinelli, Rove McManus
From B&C |
Posted 6/25/10 |
CBS Television Distribution is
developing a live daily talk show for CBS network intended to
fill the slot left by the departing As the World Turns,
according to sources. The show's working title is Say It Now.
CTD had no comment. While the division is developing the show,
it is not currently intended for syndication.
The pilot was shot in New York about a month ago and it
features Valerie Bertinelli, with whom CTD has a development
deal, and popular Australian talk-show host Rove McManus, who
had his own show on Australia's Ten Network for ten years.
CTD's pilot is one of several shows contending for the spot,
including two remakes of the game shows Pyramid and Password
and a View-like show featuring Julie Chen, co-anchor on CBS'
Early Show and wife of CBS topper Leslie Moonves, Leah Remini,
star of The King of Queens, Holly Robinson Peete and Sharon
Osbourne. CBS hopes to pick its replacement by July.
CBS last fall replaced Guiding Light with a reboot of Let's
Make a Deal, starring Wayne Brady, and that show's ratings
have improved time periods for the network. Game shows are
less expensive to produce than talk shows, making them more
appealing than talk if they can turn in similar or better
ratings.
B&C
We Love Soaps
Variety
Hollywood Junket |
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Cake Boss Spins Off Competition
Ten to Compete Next Season
From the Futon Critic |
Posted 6/25/10 |
Anyone who's watched an episode of
TLC's hit series CAKE BOSS has dreamt of working alongside the
Valastro family as they create the most mouthwatering treats
on television. And now, there's a new 'help wanted' sign
hanging in the window of family's bakery. TLC today confirms
that CAKE BOSS, which is hotter than ever, is launching a
spin-off a new competition elimination series to find the best
rising baker in the business.
Starring Buddy Valastro, the eight episode series will follow
along as 10 aspiring cake makers compete in a series of
challenges that will reveal if they have what it takes to run
a shop as successful as Buddy's. The series will culminate in
the sweet prize of winning an apprenticeship at Hoboken,
NJ-based Carlo's Bakery, the setting of TLC's CAKE BOSS.
Casting for the series starts immediately � anyone who is
crazy for cake and determined to demonstrate their artistry
and culinary creativity is encouraged to apply. More
information can be found at tlc.com/cakeboss.
High Noon Entertainment is producing the series for TLC.
Shooting is expected to begin in September and the series is
currently scheduled to premiere in December.
The Futon Critic |
|
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Wii Play "Crosswords"
Console Edition of Canceled Quizzer Features Ty
Treadway
From Zergwatch |
Posted 6/25/10 |
|
From the creators who brought you
the award-winning and highly successful television game shows
Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune comes Merv Griffin’s
Crosswords. Featuring TV game show host Ty Treadway, Merv
Griffin’s Crosswords combines a 1,000+ unique and challenging
crossword puzzles with fast-paced game show action in an
incredibly addictive and entertaining casual game.
- Over a 1,000 new crosswords,
created by the Puzzle Master from the show. Play your favorite
themed puzzles such as movies, music, TV shows and more.
- From casual to crosswords master, play Monday (easiest),
Thursday (intermediate) and Sunday (advanced) puzzles in three
difficulty settings.
- Play as a contestant on the gameshow in the exciting Merv
Griffin mode. Or enjoy other ways to play in any of the other
three game modes - No Spoilers, Timed and Free Play .
- Compete with up to four of your friends in multiplayer mode.
- Unlock destinations around the world by winning the Getaways
Crossword.
Zergwatch |

"Merv Griffin's Crosswords"
arrives on the Wii two years after its cancellation
(photo courtesy Merv Griffin
Entertainment) |
| |
Jake Pavelka to Head to "Bachelor Pad"
"Bachelor's" Jake Pavelka, Vienna Girardi...
Surprise, Break Up
From Entertainment Tonight |
Posted 6/25/10 |
Now that last season's "The
Bachelor" is single again, he will be making an appearance on
ABC's new series "Bachelor Pad."
"I can't explain everything. It just happened, but Jake
Pavelka will definitely play his part in 'Bachelor Pad,'" host
Chris Harrison tells ET.
"The Bachelor" host goes on to say that he was sorry to hear
that Jake and Vienna Girardi broke up. "I haven't talked to
either one of them yet," Chris says. "They are two of my
favorite people. He is one of our most popular bachelors. I
just had dinner with them after 'Dancing with the Stars' and
they were doing great. I was out with him and his parents and
Vienna, so I was as shocked as anybody. I wish them both the
best."
"Bachelor Pad," premiering Monday, August 9 at 8 p.m. on ABC,
brings together 19 of the most unforgettable characters from
seasons' past living together in the "Bachelor Pad" mansion.
Each week they'll compete in challenges for immunity and the
opportunity to go on a date with contestants of their choice.
The winner of the challenge will then grant immunity to one of
his or her dates via the presentation of a rose. At the end of
each episode, the contestants will vote to determine which
cast members will be ousted from the "Bachelor Pad."
Examiner
E! Online
E! Online
E! Online
Hollywood Life
People
Extra
People
Entertainment Tonight |
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Mexico Wants to Extradite Beresford-Redman
"Survivor" Producer Back in America
From AP |
Posted 6/25/10 |
Mexico has formally requested the
extradition of American reality TV producer Bruce
Beresford-Redman on charges of killing his wife at a Cancun
resort, an official said Wednesday.
The Foreign Relations Department official spoke on condition
of anonymity because he was not authorized to comment publicly
on the case. He said Mexico has submitted its request to U.S.
authorities, but for the moment there were no more details.
A spokesman for Richard Hirsch, Beresford-Redman's attorney in
California, said nothing formal had been received and he could
not comment on the official's statement. Hirsch said
previously his client would resist extradition.
Extradition requests from foreign governments are received by
the U.S. State Department, where spokesman Darby Holladay said
Wednesday the agency does not comment on extradition cases.
A Mexican judge issued an arrest warrant for Beresford-Redman
in the April 8 killing of his wife, Monica, whose body was
found in a sewer of a luxury Cancun resort. Investigators have
said her body showed signs of asphyxiation and evidence of a
heavy blow to the right temple.
The former "Survivor" producer and co-creator of "Pimp My
Ride" reported her missing two days before the body was found.
Beresford-Redman, 38, has denied killing his wife. "I am
incensed at the suggestion that I could have had anything to
do with her death," he said in a statement released last
month. "I am innocent."
He returned to Southern California in May even though Mexican
authorities had confiscated his passport. He had not been
charged at the time, however, and was not barred from leaving
the country. It is not clear where he crossed the border or
how he did so without his passport.
AP/Google News |
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Signed, Sealed, Delivered...
"Idol" Runner-Up Crystal Bowersox Signs with Jive/19
From E! Online |
Posted 6/25/10 |
The country may already be on the
road to selecting their new Idol, but let's not forget about
the old ones just yet, hmmm?
This year's runner-up Crystal Bowersox has just secured a
record deal of her own, signing with (who else?) 19
Recordings/Jive Records to release her bluesy folk rockin'
debut album later this year.
"I'm really grateful to be given this opportunity to make an
album and let people hear my music, and I'm looking forward to
working with all of the folks at 19/Jive," the 24-year-old
said.
In the meantime, she should be looking forward to taking part
in the most special thing on Earth, the American Idol tour,
which kicks off its 49-date run July 1 in Detroit.
E! Online |
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"Get Up" Retitled...
More on CMT's "Your Chance to Dance"
From TBI Vision |
Posted 6/24/10 |
Your Chance To Dance is the latest
format from The Singing Bee creator Phil Gurin.
The show takes advantage of the latest craze for dancing
formats.
The format challenges viewers to recreate famous dance moves
from their favorite music videos and movies and video tape
themselves doing the routine before sending it into the show,
where it will be judged by the live studio audience.
The most successful will perform their dances on stage and
have the chance to win a big money prize. The show is
essentially You've Been Framed-meets-Got Talent.
The 10x1hour series will air later this year on MTV
Networks-owned cable network CMT and will be distributed
internationally by the Digital Rights Group, which currently
distributes The Gurin Company's karaoke format The Singing Bee
and has sold it in to over 30 territories.
Gurin says: "Your Chance To Dance is not just another dance
contest; it's a warm hearted family entertainment show that
focuses on the performance more than the dance skills."
TBI Vision
The Gurin Company |
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"Millionaire" Changes Coming... to the UK
Clock, Visual PAF Added
From Digital Spy |
Posted 6/24/10 |
Chris Tarrant has revealed that
two major format changes are to be introduced to his
long-running gameshow Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?.
Speaking to The Sun, the broadcaster confirmed that
contestants will soon be forced to play against the clock when
attempting to secure lower cash values in the show's early
stages. The shake-up is a significant change as participants
have always been granted as much time as they like to answer
questions.
In a further twist, Phone-A-Friend helpers will start
appearing on screen rather than simply being heard over the
phone.
Discussing the revamp, which will take effect in new episodes
filmed later this summer, Tarrant commented: "I was wary of
changing it as I was of the view that it was perfect, so why
interfere with it? Yet the changes will work.
"One of the things that slows the show down is when people are
struggling with a question and they just stare at the screen.
So in future we will be doing all the early rounds against the
clock. 30 seconds against the clock will really change it."
Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? has been on the air since 1998.
Its format was previously changed in 2007 when a new system of
prize levels was introduced.
Digital Spy
The List
Press Association |

The time clock will be added
to the original British version of "Who Wants to Be A
Millionaire?"
(photo courtesy Disney/ABC) |
| |
While We're On International
"Millionaire"...
Sri Lanka Launches Own Version
From C21 Media |
Posted 6/24/10 |
Sony Pictures Television's
2waytraffic has sold classic gameshow format Who Wants to be a
Millionaire? into a number of new territories, including
Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
The format has been picked up in Sri Lanka by local
broadcaster MTV, which will air a 30x60' series from August.
Bangladeshi broadcaster Desh TV will launch its adaptation of
the format in September, while in India, Who Wants to be a
Millionaire? will air on Sony Entertainment Television from
October.
The show has also been picked up in Honduras, where
Televicentro will launch a version of it early next year. The
format has also been renewed in a number of key territories,
including France (TF1), the UK (ITV1), and the US
(syndication).
C21Media
Worldscreen |

Sri Lanka gets its own
version of "Who Wants to Be A Millionaire?"
(photo courtesy Disney/ABC) |
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Endemol, Malaysia Firm Create JV
Deal to See Formats Arrive
From C21 Media |
Posted 6/24/10 |
Endemol has joined forces with
Malaysian content company Astro Entertainment to produce
content for the local market.
The joint venture will aim to create premium shows with a
distinctly Malaysian feel for local broadcasters that can also
be shipped internationally by Endemol's distribution arm.
Genres will include drama, entertainment, reality and
gameshows.
Astro is a subsidiary of Astro All Asia Networks, a Malaysian
media group that operates local pay-TV platform Astro TV, as
well as Kristal Astro in Brunei and Sun Direct TV in India.
Endemol will offer its global programming portfolio through
the new venture. The UK-based superindie owns international
formats such as Big Brother and Deal or No Deal and dramas
such as Wire in the Blood and Robin Hood.
The JV's senior executive team is yet to be announced,
although Endemol's CEO of Asian operations Arjen van Mierlo
will act as MD until a permanent appointment is made.
Candidates from within Endemol and the Malaysian TV market
will be considered for the role. Other senior appointments
will also be made.
It is not the first time Endemol has entered the Malaysian
market, as it has already produced local comedies Impak Minima
and Jodah for Astro. The firm is also in pre-production on TV
movies for Astra and Mediaprima's TV3.
C21Media
Asia Media Journal |
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C4 Ready to "Drop" Again
Davina McCall Game to Be Renewed
From Digital Spy |
Posted 6/24/10 |
Channel 4 is reportedly planning
to order another season of The Million Pound Drop.
The quiz show was a success in the ratings when it aired live
over six consecutive nights last month, The Guardian reports.
The program, hosted by Davina McCall, sees contestants being
given £1m at the beginning of the game.
Players then have to answer eight multiple-choice questions by
placing their money on the right trapdoor. If they answer
incorrectly, the cash drops and they lose it.
Fox has reportedly also expressed an interest in the format.
A spokesperson for Channel 4 declined to comment.
Digital Spy
NewMediaAge |
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Ellen DeGeneres Makes A Deal
"Idol" Judge to Write Another Tome
From Galleycat |
Posted 6/24/10 |
Comedian Ellen DeGeneres has added
another book to her collection, selling an untitled memoir to
Grand Central. Publication is scheduled for 2011.
According to Publishers Lunch, the deal was negotiated by ICM
agents Esther Newberg and Eddy Yablans, attorney Kevin Yorn,
and manager Eric Gold. DeGeneres has one of the strongest
platforms in America with 4,775,359 followers on Twitter, a
spot on American Idol, and her own talk show. She's written a
few books, including The Funny Thing Is... and My Point...And
I Do Have One.
Here's more from Publishers Lunch: "DeGeneres's untitled look
at her life through her humor ('I found that between my talk
show, American Idol and my late night blogging, I didn't have
enough ways to express myself')"
Galleycat |
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Report: "Runway" Returns July 29
Joining It, "Austin & Santino"
From The Futon Critic |
Posted 6/23/10 |
"Project Runway" is set to return
next month with some old friends: Austin Scarlett and Santino
Rice.
Sources close to the series have indicated the eighth season
of "Runway" will roll out Thursday, July 29 on Lifetime
followed by spin-off "On The Road With Austin & Santino."
The half-hour series follows the "Runway" alums as they cross
the country finding women in need of a fashion makeover.
In addition, "Runway" will now air at 9:00/8:00c and run 90
minutes with "Austin & Santino" following at 10:30/9:30c. It's
not clear how or if "Models of the Runway" will be
incorporated into the new season.
A Lifetime spokesperson wouldn't confirm any of the above
developments however multiple sources now insist it's a done
deal.
The Futon Critic |
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Another "Jack" Attack?
Game Show Party Game Classic May Return
From 1UP |
Posted 6/23/10 |
You Don't Know Jack -- the cult
classic trivia game dating back to 1995 -- may be making a
comeback.
Mike Bilder of series creator Jellyvision made a guest
appearance on the Giant Bomb Podcast during E3 last week,
where the deal was teased. This was later followed up by a
cryptic post on Jellyvision's website, which promises more
news about the partnership will be coming soon.
Jellyvision's intent to return to the traditional games
business was first revealed in an August, 2008 press release,
where Bilder said that the company would be "truly
reincarnating You Don't Know Jack" before moving on to "fully
exploring" the interactive game show genre with new
franchises.
1UP |
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"Battle of the Sexes" Coming to Panama
Deal Done with Venevision
From WorldScreen |
Posted 6/23/10 |
Televisora Nacional (TVN) in
Panama has signed up to produce and broadcast the game-show
format Battle of the Sexes (Guerra de los sexos) through the
inking of a deal with Venevision International.
The game show is an original concept from the Venezuelan TV
channel Venevision. The series has found success in Latin
America in Ecuador, among other territories. TVN will select
its own talent and participants for its local production.
“Venevision International is proud to offer an ample variety
of proven formats that have been successful in national and
international markets, and Guerra de los sexos is another
example of the excellence and versatility of our extensive
catalogue,” said Manuel Perez, the VP and CFO of Venevision
International. “The emphasis on the sale of formats responds
to the company’s diversification strategy and to the new
trends we envision for the international markets,” he added.
“In order to assure continued innovation in our national
productions, and to provide the best entertainment options to
the Panamanian families, TVN is proud to announce its local
production of Guerra de los sexos," added Luis Mouynes, the
production and programming director of TVN. "For several
years, we have offered our viewers the Venezuelan version of
this program; now we have taken this important step that we
are sure will please our television audience,”
Worldscreen |
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Kellie Pickler Picked
"Idol" Alum Engaged
From People |
Posted 6/23/10 |
For Kellie Pickler, June 15 has
long been "sad and hard for me," as it is the birthday of her
late grandmother, Faye Pickler.
But the traditional sadness of the day turned to happiness
last week, when Pickler's boyfriend, songwriter Kyle Jacobs,
proposed on a Florida beach at sunset.
"It turned out to be the most amazing day of my life," the
fifth-season American Idol star, 23, tells People. "My whole
world changed. We both feel like we got my grandmother's
blessing."
Pickler considers Jacobs's proposal a moment she hardly could
have imagined. "I remember saying to Kyle, 'Baby it's like I'm
dreaming – but if this isn't real, I'm going to be very
upset!' "
People |
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Who Is Watson?
IBM Supercomputer Plays Jeopardy!
From PSFK |
Posted 6/22/10 |
IBM is building a natural language
processing computer, code-named Watson, to compete against
humans on the game show Jeopardy. For the past 3 years, IBM
has been perfecting this supercomputer, which has the ability
to converse naturally with people in everyday language, unlike
typical question-answering systems that can only work with
simply phrased questions.
IBM scientists have stored millions of pieces of data in
Watson in order for it to answer questions about almost
anything, and more significantly, recognize oddly phrased
questions to answer them with accurate responses. To test its
capabilities, the scientists held mock contests pitting Watson
against some of the former contestants in a game where
Watson’s artificial intelligence was pushed to the limit due
to the nature of the game where clues are puzzling, full of
trivia and often use wordplay. Watson won some of the games
which impressed the producers of Jeopardy enough to allow it
to participate in a televised episode of the show, which could
happen this year.
IBM has plans for its supercomputer beyond the game show and
believes it can be used in several applications in the real
world.
Says John Kelly, the head of I.B.M.’s research labs:
“I want to create a medical version of this. A Watson M.D., if
you will.” “The problem right now is the procedures, the new
procedures, the new medicines, the new capability is being
generated faster than physicians can absorb on the front lines
and it can be deployed.” He also envisions using Watson to
produce virtual call centers, where the computer would talk
directly to the customer and generally be the first line of
defense, because, “as you’ve seen, this thing can answer a
question faster and more accurately than most human beings.”
“I want to create something that I can take into every other
retail industry, in the transportation industry, you name it,
the banking industry,” Kelly goes on to say. “Any place where
time is critical and you need to get advanced state-of-the-art
information to the front of decision-makers.”
New York Times
CNET
Yahoo! Tech
Digital Trends
Thinq
Tonic
Discover
3News
IT Pro Portal
eWeek
PSFK |
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"Cube" Lines Up Celebs for New Season
Host Schofield Tweets Preview
From Digital
Spy |
Posted 6/22/10 |
Phillip Schofield has revealed the
first celebrity contestants for the return of The Cube.
The presenter hosted the first series of the ITV1 gameshow,
which saw members of the public having to complete challenges
in a large glass cube in front of a studio audience.
Writing on Twitter, Schofield said: "Do you want to come to
see The Cube being recorded?...Would love to see you :) We
record at Fountain Studios in Wembley. On my way there now!"
"Oh and it looks like our celebs will be Ricky Hatton, Dame
Kelly Holmes, Kelly Osbourne and Joe Swash."
He added: "Only 2 shows are 'sleb. The others are 'normal'
folk! Last night we had a guy who was a self confessed Cube
geek, very nail biting moments!!"
Digital Spy |
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Sailing Takes Him Away...
"Race" Host Phil Keoghan Lines Up New Series
From Deadline |
Posted 6/22/10 |
|
Phil Keoghan, host and producer of
CBS’ realty series The Amazing Race is taking on hosting and
producing duties for another unscripted series about a race.
Keoghan has teamed with Exodus Film Group, which has secured
North American rights to the project. It will chronicle the
Velux 5 Oceans 2010-11 race, which features skippers from all
over the world sailing alone for 30,000 miles around the globe
on high powered racing yachts and video recording their
journeys. Search is under way for an U.S. network to carry the
series.
Deadline |
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Here's a Shocker: "The Biggest Loser"
Dangerous
So Sayeth A Former Contestant
From PopEater |
Posted 6/22/10 |
Kai Hibbard, a finalist on the
third season of 'The Biggest Loser,' reveals how dangerous she
feels the show really is to its contestants.
"I have people that come up to me and talk to me and ask me
why they can't lose 12 pounds in a week when I did. When I
didn't. It didn't happen. It's TV," she told the CBS 'Early
Show.' "I need to take blame and responsibility for the fact
that I helped perpetuate a myth that's dangerous."
When asked to clarify about her "a week is not a week on TV"
comments, she said, "I'm saying that it would be, most times,
longer than a week and I believe once, in my season, it was
less than a week." (Contestants weigh-in on the show every
week to determine who may get voted off.)
Hibbard also claims that the techniques they were taught to
lose weight weren't always healthy. "The weight loss for that
show is for ratings. People have to remember that 'The Biggest
Loser' isn't a weight-loss camp that happens to be filmed for
TV. It's a TV show that's made to look like a weight-loss
camp. So there was pressure from production and everybody
involved in the show to make sure you had as big of numbers as
possible every week.
PopEater |
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More on Syndie "Lyrics!"
MySpace Karaoke Replaces House Band
From Hollywood Junket |
Posted 6/21/10 |
A freshened-up version of “Don’t
Forget the Lyrics” is coming to daytime in September in
syndication with a new host, and a simplified game play and
set.
Rock band Sugar Ray’s lead man and former Extra host, Mark
McGrath serves well as the new sing-a-long karaoke game show
host.
The main music style categories range from pop, rock, disco,
1990’s, 2000’s, and TV Show Themes. Contestants play for the
following money amounts: $1000, $2,500, $5,000, $10,000, and a
special category called “Encore” that allows them to play for
$50,000. Crooners are equipped with only one “backup” for
their help which is multiple choice lyrics. If a contestant
misses the first level lyric, they are not out of the game,
but they loose their “Encore” option.
If a player goes all the way to the “Encore” level, they risk
falling back down to $1000 which is what they walk away with
should they miss this final and complex lyric. If a contestant
misses any one of the levels, they get the chance to double
the last money level they achieved. For instance, if a player
goes for the $10,000 lyric, but misses it, they automatically
get a chance to double the $5000 that they already earned
instead of playing for the “Encore” level which they loose.
The songs are played to the contestant via “Myspace Karaoke“,
axing Rickey Minor and his band who performed on the larger
prime time production. The theme song has also been replaced.
Hollywood Junket |

"Don't Forget the Lyrics!"
launches this fall
(photo courtesy Fox) |
| |
"Idol" Lowers Age to 15
Auditions Begin July 17
From USA Today |
Posted 6/21/10 |
American Idol will lower its
eligibility age for Season 10, reports USA TODAY's Bill
Keveney, allowing 15-year-olds to audition for the first time.
"A lot of young, talented people are now seeking careers and
representation before they turn 16," executive producer Cecile
Frot-Coutaz. says. "Lowering the age limit allows us to tap
into this talent pool." The show previously had a 16-to-28 age
limit.
So what does this mean for the show? First off, it's probably
just the opening volley of several changes. Bigger, more
significant changes to the show are likely on the horizon:
After all, there's still a judge and a music director to
replace. But it does suggest that Idol still has its eye on
the teen audience -- a demographic that hung in with Season 9
better than adults did.
Lowering the eligibility age to 15 may not make much of a
difference in the upper half of the final round, either. After
all, the Season 9 teens had pretty much been winnowed out by
the Top Four, and the last teens to finish in the Top Two were
Season 7 runner-up David Archuleta and Season 6 champ Jordin
Sparks.
It does, however, open up greater possibilities for a true
teen heartthrob to emerge from the show, for Idol to find the
equivalent of a Justin Bieber (who's now 16) or a slightly
older Greyson Chance (still just 12). Factor in the
announcement that Idol will accept online auditions via
MySpace, and it's pretty clear the producers hope to create a
viral sensation along the lines of Chance or General Larry
Platt, just eligible to compete. (But if you think the show
pimps its favorite contestants now, wait till you see what
happens when one of them gets 10 million YouTube hits under
his or her belt.)
Even if the show gets an act that makes it only to say, the
Top Seven, where Tim Urban fell out last season, that kind of
teen hysteria is something that Idol could use going forward.
And it does show that Idol's serious about retaining a younger
audience -- and that's something that bears watching as the
show's producers announce additional changes for next season.
Those 15-year-olds can start auditioning July 17 in Nashville,
Tenn.
USA Today
The Futon Critic |

15-year-olds can start
audition for "American Idol" July 17
(photo courtesy Fox) |
| |
Going Global with Travel
"World's Wackiest Game Shows" Launches July 13
From USA Today |
Posted 6/21/10 |
The Travel Channel is going global
— for game-show fanatics — with the launch July 13 of World's
Wackiest Game Shows.
"If you provide quality programming, people will find you,"
says host Todd Newton, a veteran of game-show network GSN and
retailer HSN. "People into game shows are going to find us."
USA Today |
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"Jeopardy!" Goes Mobile
Sony Releases New Version
From AppScout |
Posted 6/21/10 |
Sony has announced a brand new
version of Jeopardy! Mobile with realistic game play, new
personal avatars, and enhanced music from the popular
television game show.
Brand new features include multiplayer gaming on a single
device with pass-n-play, online leaderboards, and unlockable
trophies.
The game will be available shortly for Java, Brew, Blackberry,
and Windows Mobile phones from select wireless carriers.
Prices will range from $2.49 to $9.99 depending on your
carrier.
While no specific carrier announcements have been made, the
new Jeopardy! Mobile is currently available on the AT&T
Wireless MEdia Mall.
AppScout
PR Newswire |
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"Weakest Link" Goes Online
BBCWW Releases Pay-To-Play Version
From Techwatch |
Posted 6/21/10 |
The commercial arm of the BBC is
reported to be planning its first venture into the pay-to-play
game sector with a version of the successful TV quiz show, The
Weakest Link, being the first game to get the BBCW treatment.
This is not a totally new venture for BBC Worldwide as it
already runs a game based on the show fronted by Anne
Robinson, but this will be the first time that the channel
will be charging people to play the game.
BBCW has licensed Amuso.com to launch and market the game.
It is believed that players will be charged around £1 per
session and in order to abide with the gambling rules there
will be an online protection system designed to prevent the
under 18’s from playing.
Techwatch |
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"Minute" Heads Down Under
NBCU Sells Show to Australia
From C21Media |
Posted 6/21/10 |
Shine Australia has produced a
local version of an NBC Universal (NBCU) gameshow format for
local network Channel Seven.
NBCU's international formats division, headed by the recently
appointed Michael Edelstein and run by Yvonne Pillkington,
announced Shine has made an eight-part season of its show
Minute to Win It. The series kicks off on Seven tomorrow in
the 19.30 slot.
The format features a series of seemingly simple games that
contestants take part in while under increasing pressure to
win a large cash prize. The commission follows news that US
network NBC has upped its order of the format to 39 episodes.
NBCU has also sold the format into Germany and Poland.
Separately, international formats developer Friday TV, a
subsidiary of Shine's Metronome Film & Television, has sold
the rights into territories including Brazil.
The Seven deal is one of the first NBCU has inked since
Edelstein took over its international production division,
replacing Denise O'Donoghue, in January. The company plans to
double its international revenues to US$5bn within two years.
C21Media |
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"Bullseye" Returning to Five?
Darting Game Revival Reportedly to Be Hosted by
Justin Lee Collins
From Digital Spy |
Posted 6/21/10 |
Bullseye has been revived for a
new series on Five, according to reports.
Jim Bowen's classic darts gameshow, which was a hit on ITV
during the 1980s, will apparently return with Justin Lee
Collins as host.
Creator Andrew Wood told The Sun: "There is plenty of quantity
on TV but not much quality. So many formats are awful.
Bullseye could be Five's flagship show."
Challenge TV originally brought back the format in 2006 with
comedian Dave Spikey as presenter.
Digital Spy |
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Frank Sidebottom:
1956-2010
Papier-Mache Comic Was on UK "Remote Control"
From Digital Spy |
Posted 6/21/10 |
Comedian Frank Sidebottom, real
name Chris Sievey, has passed away at his home in Hale.
The TV star and stand-up was found collapsed at his house on
Hawthorn Road by his girlfriend at 12.40am today, according to
the Manchester Evening News. It is believed that he was still
alive when he was taken to Wythenshawe Hospital in an
ambulance, but he was pronounced dead shortly afterwards.
Sievey, whose Sidebottom character was best known for his
distinctive oversized papier-mache head, recently underwent an
operation to remove a tumour from his chest. Last week, the
comic announced plans to release unofficial England World Cup
song 'Three Shirts On My Line', which he hoped would raise
money for cancer charities.
Popular comedy character Sidebottom was based around an
aspiring popstar from the village of Timperley, Cheshire. He
was an enthusiastic character who still lived at home with his
mother and had a puppet sidekick called Little Frank.
Sidebottom won cult status in the '80s when he was a regular
on the university circuit with his comedy covers and
discussions about his hobbies. He landed TV appearances on
Granada, Television South/ITV Saturday morning children's show
No. 73, Channel 4 gameshow Remote Control and even his own
short-lived series Frank Sidebottom's Fantastic Shed Show.
He also regularly collaborated with former Radio 1 DJs Mark
and Lard, while in 2009 and early 2010 he toured with
punk-poet John Cooper Clarke.
Digital Spy
Fleetwood Today |

Frank Sidebottom
(photo courtesy
BrooklynVegan.com) |
| |
Wayne Brady Plays Toronto
"LMAD" Host Part of Just For Laughs
From Theater Mania |
Posted 6/21/10 |
Broadway veterans Wayne Brady and
Brad Garrett will be among the gala hosts at the Toronto Just
for Laughs Festival, according to a report in Variety.
The Festival will offer six gala performances from July 8-10.
They will feature such performers as Mike Birbiglia, Gabriel
Igelsias, Harland Williams, Tim Minchin, Sebastian Maniscalo,
Elon Gold, Tommy Tiernan, John Heffron, Mike Wilmot, Jimmy
Carr and Todd Barry, along with guest hosts Garry Shandling,
Demetri Martin, and Louis C.K.
Brady appeared in the Broadway production of Chicago and is
currently appearing at Las Vegas' Venetian Hotel. He is also
set to appear this summer in the Hollywood Bowl's production
of Rent and has received a 2010 Daytime Emmy Award nomination
for hosting the game show Let's Make a Deal.
Theater Mania
Pokerstars.net
Casino City Times |
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| |
Man Goes After "Idol"
Subject: Texting Apparatuses
From New York Daily News |
Posted 6/21/10 |
A Texas retiree is taking on a
producer of "American Idol," saying he created the audience
voting system the hit show uses.
Edward Lyda, 66, filed a patent in 1999 called a "Response
Apparatus Method and System" that allows a television show to
have people text-message their responses, according to the
lawsuit in Manhattan Federal Court.
"Idol" first aired in June 2002.
"This is intellectual property and they infringed on his
patent," said lawyer David Fink of FremantleMedia North
America.
A spokesman for FremantleMedia declined to comment.
New York Daily News |
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"The Big Game" Launches
PokerStars.net TV Series Plays on TV, Online
From Cardplayer |
Posted 6/21/10 |
Tonight, the eagerly anticipated
PokerStars.net Big Game will finally premiere. Card Player
caught up with PokerStars pro Barry Greenstein at the World
Series of Poker to talk a little bit about the new show, and
just how much staking goes on at these televised cash games.
“I personally have never been backed or sold a piece of
myself,” said Greenstein, speaking about High Stakes Poker and
the new PokerStars show, which airs tonight at 2 a.m. on FOX
in most locations. “The ones who do sell pieces are usually
the young guys; they have a network. The older players are
used to being on their own.”
The PokerStars.net The Big Game will not be available to all
American viewers unfortunately; it depends on whether your FOX
affiliate decided to carry the show. Click below to find out
if and when the show will air in your area.
Unlike High Stakes Poker, which aired new episodes once a
week, The Big Game will be a daily show with new episodes
debuting each week night, similar to NBC’s Poker After Dark.
“Cash games are what poker is,” said Greenstein, explaining
why cash games on TV seem to be especially popular amongst the
hardcore poker fans. “That’s how [most poker pros] make their
living.”
Card
Player
Pokerstars.net
Casino City Times |
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Fox "Drops" It Like It's Hot
Endemol Commissioned Pilot for US "Million Pound
Drop"
From C21Media |
Posted 6/18/10 |
Fox has picked up the rights to
Endemol's UK multi-platform gameshow format The Million Pound
Drop Live and will begin producing a pilot in August.
The US version is to be called The Money Drop and will be made
stateside by Endemol USA. The commission is Endemol's second
from a US network this month, following ABC's acquisition of
101 Ways To Leave A Gameshow last week.
The deal comes after the series aired in the UK on Channel 4
(C4) as a live week-long event in May, averaging an 11.9%
audience share - a 22% increase on C4's 22.00 slot average.
The show was also a success online, with a total of 450,000
people playing along at home during the week and a
considerable amount of Twitter activity being registered, with
the #millionpounddrop hashtag being tweeted by the public some
500,000 times on one day.
Contestants in the gameshow answer multiple-choice questions
to hang on to a large cash prize, which in the UK version was
£1m.
"Like Deal or No Deal, the best gameshows are simple and
straightforward but with huge stakes," said Endemol USA
chairman David Goldberg. "The Money Drop follows in its
tradition - it is truly a spectacle, event television at its
best. After the show's explosive success in the UK, I'm even
more excited about its prospects in America and for the
opportunity to be producing this gameshow with Mike Darnell
and Fox."
C4 has already ordered a second season of the show, to air in
October.
C21 Media
Variety
The Wrap
Television Blend
Reuters
Worldscreen
The Hollywood Reporter
AppMarket
NewMediaAge |
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Top Chef Goes to Washington
Only 1.8 Million Tune In
From Washington Post |
Posted 6/18/10 |
Are "reality TV series" and
"Washington, D.C.," mutually exclusive?
America didn't have much of an appetite for the debut of "Top
Chef: D.C." Wednesday night on Bravo. The cooking competition
series' seventh edition opened inauspiciously when just 1.8
million people tuned in.
That's the franchise's smallest opening audience since the
first edition was launched way back in March of 2006.
This news comes about six months after MTV's "Real World D.C."
opened with one of its smallest kickoff crowds in that reality
franchise's long history. The run of "Real World D.C." went on
to become the lowest-rated in its 23-edition history.
Word of "Top Chef's" watered-down D.C. ratings comes even
before viewers know that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, CIA
Director Leon Panetta, White House assistant chef Sam Kass and
MSNBC host Joe Scarborough are going to make appearances in
coming weeks!
MSNBC
Washington Post
Salon
Washington Post |
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NBC Orders Over Third-Hour of "Minute"
(Or Roughly 21 Episodes)
From Worldscreen |
Posted 6/18/10 |
NBC has ordered an additional 21
episodes of the game show Minute To Win It, which Friday TV
has sold into 34 markets.
Minute To Win It premiered with an 18-episode run on NBC in
mid-March. The show has also been sold in markets such as
Germany, Poland, Brazil and Turkey. SVT also recently
announced that it will air the show in the fall.
"Entering the American market is a dream come true for anyone
who works with format development," said Estelle Bodén, the
CEO of Friday TV, part of Metronome Film & Television. "Minute
To Win It has put us on the map in the States, but don’t
forget that we’ve previously succeeded in selling both Single
Moms and Clash of the Choirs in the U.S."
Bodén added: "Selling and producing 39 episodes on one of the
world’s largest TV channels and selling the rights to the
format in a total of 34 countries—all in less than 3 months’
time—is just a huge deal. The key to our success in the USA
is, of course, the excellence of the format—but also the fact
that Jock Millgårdh and Mattias Olsson are on site in Los
Angeles. They’ve been very involved in the actual production,
which has been instrumental in the fantastic result. Our
success in the U.S. has also been invaluable as we’ve sold the
format in other areas of the world."
Worldscreen |
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Another Year, Another Expected "Race" Win
Competition Isn't So Happy About It
From the Envelope |
Posted 6/17/10 |
The reality-competition and the
variety-music-comedy series Emmy categories have since 2003
annually grown to resemble scenes from the movie "Groundhog
Day."
Odds are, on the night the trophies are handed out, the
envelope will be opened and a presenter will utter the words
"The Amazing Race" for reality-competition and "The Daily
Show" for variety. It's been this way for seven consecutive
years, the two shows currently sharing the Emmy record for
successive wins in a single category.
That CBS' global chase extravaganza "The Amazing Race" has so
consistently taken home the Emmy since the inception of the
reality-competition grouping has proved vexing to fellow
category travelers like the Fox mega-hit "American Idol"
(seven nominations, seven losses) and ABC's "Dancing With the
Stars" (nominated the last four years without a win).
There have been suggestions that it's hardly an
apples-to-apples match-up to have "The Amazing Race" compete
with more artistically driven fare like "Idol" and "Dancing,"
that perhaps "Race" should be relegated to a newly formed
category like, say, "international team competition series."
Others maintain it's ludicrous and drives down Emmy interest
to continually pay homage to the same show rather than spread
the wealth.
But to "Amazing Race" executive producer Bertram Van Munster,
it's silly, if not a little insulting, to debate the merits of
a program that wins the Emmy each year fair and square.
"I'm always honestly surprised and extremely honored to win
every time, but by the same token I feel we earn the accolades
with our extraordinary casting and storytelling," Van Munster
says. "Compared with a lot of other reality shows, we're
non-formulaic and truly unpredictable."
Van Munster cites a "Race" installment last season that found
racers enduring a grueling reenactment of a World War I battle
in Massiges, France, and the producers uncovering the remains
of a fallen 19-year-old French soldier who had apparently been
buried alive during fighting nearly 100 years ago.
"It's all about avoiding being stagnant," he maintains, "and
no one works harder at staying fresh and imaginative than we
do on this show."
Perhaps not surprisingly, this sentiment isn't echoed by the
ever-colorful Donald Trump, who, while extolling the virtues
of his own NBC series, "Celebrity Apprentice," took a shot at
"The Amazing Race" in April in the Hollywood Reporter.
"It's a shame that 'Amazing Race' keeps winning," Trump said.
"It wins every year because they know how to politic the
Emmys.... Instead of shows that deserve to win, [the Emmys]
pick 'Amazing Race.'"
Responding to Trump's smack, Van Munster admits he's grateful
for the free publicity but questions the billionaire hotel
magnate's qualifications for assessing television quality.
"[Trump is] completely entitled to his opinion, but he's a
real estate man. It's tough to take seriously a guy who isn't
even in my profession."
The Envelope
TV by the Numbers |
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More on "Bachelor Pad"
Contestants Announced
From the Futon Critic |
Posted 6/17/10 |
|
Fan-favorites, arch-rivals,
villains and the sexiest participants from the hugely
successful "Bachelor" franchise reunite under one roof in a
competitive reality series to compete for $250,000 and perhaps
a "second chance" at love, on ABC's "Bachelor Pad," premiering
MONDAY, AUGUST 9 (8:00-10:00 p.m., ET). The series begins with
19 of the most unforgettable characters from seasons past
living together in the "Bachelor Pad" mansion. Each week
they'll square off in head-to-head challenges to compete for
immunity and the opportunity to go on a date with contestants
of their choice. The winner of the challenge will then grant
immunity to one of his or her dates via the presentation of a
rose. At the end of each episode, the contestants will vote
amongst themselves to determine which cast members will be
eliminated from the competition.
The Futon Critic |
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Big Money in India
R Madhavan Set to Return For Game
From India Journal |
Posted 6/17/10 |
He charmed the big screen audience
with ‘3 Idiots’ and now superstar R Madhavan is set to
entertain his fans on TV with a new game show ‘Big Money’.
Sameer Nair and Siddhartha Basu, the brains behind the
successful game show ‘Kaun Banega Crorepati’, are joining
hands again for a similar show on Imagine.
The format of the show is different as a team of four people
related to each other will participate and questions will be
posed to them based on what they see on television.
A prize money of Rs 1 crore will be given away on the show for
which the official announcement is yet to be made.
“Yes... I am hosting a game show on Imagine called Big Money.
Really looking forward to it as I have been a great fan of
Siddharth Basu. This concept is unique to the Indian viewers
and families who watch TV will completely relate to it and
enjoy it,” Madhavan said.
“In our country where family ties and values are very strong,
it would be interesting to see how they react under pressure
to win one crore. Such a pleasure to be working with Imagine,”
he added.
The 40-year-old actor, who celebrated his birthday on June 1,
is not new to the small screen as he started his career with
serials like ‘Banegi Apni Baat’ and ‘Sea Hawks’.
After making it big in the South Indian film industry,
Madhavan had a stint with TV again in 2005 with game show
‘Deal Ya No Deal’. The star is back after a gap of four years
with ‘Big Money’ which is set to air in July.
India Journal
BestMediaInfo |
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Bob Barker to Match PETA
Former "TPIR" Host to Double Anything Over $16
From Look to
the Stars |
Posted 6/17/10 |
Bob Barker has joined once again
with PETA for their latest membership drive – and has agreed
to match donations to the charity dollar for dollar!
PETA is trying to sign up 1000 new members to their
organization by July 31, and the former game show host will
match all donations over $16. And if you are already a member,
Bob will match your donations until July 4.
Look to the Stars |
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Simon Fuller Bows Out of Idol Bid
CKX Still Up For Sale
From New York Post |
Posted 6/17/10 |
The bidding process for CKX Inc.
is starting to look like an "American Idol" audition -- as one
strong contestant is now out while another dark horse is
suddenly back in the action.
According to two sources, Simon Fuller's bid is no longer in
play for the "American Idol" franchise owner.
A rep for Fuller said he was in the UK and unavailable for
comment.
Separately, former CKX Chairman and CEO Robert Sillerman, who
stepped down on May 7 and holds 21 percent of the stock, is in
discussions with a private financing source to make an offer
to the current CKX team led by Michael Ferrel.
Simon Fuller
AP
Simon Fuller
A third bidder and lead player in the chase for CKX, which
also owns rights to the images of Muhammad Ali and Elvis
Presley, is entrepreneur Allen Shapiro who is spearheading a
bid by JPMorgan Chase's private-equity arm One Equity
Partners.
That bid is supported by music business supremo Irving Azoff.
A spokeswoman for Shapiro had no comment.
New York Post |
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Erin Andrews Turns Free Agent
ESPN Dancer Entertaining Offers
From USA Today |
Posted 6/17/10 |
Pending TV free agent Erin Andrews
says she has received multiple job offers from both sports and
entertainment shows and networks after her recent turn on
ABC's Dancing with the Stars.
Andrews says her preference is to stay in sports once her ESPN
contract expires July 1. But she won't "close the door" on
entertainment opportunities. DWTS helped her get back on track
after her ordeal with peephole video stalker Michael David
Barrett, who was sentenced to 2½ years in jail.
Her run to the finals of DWTS, the second most-watched show
this season — behind Fox's American Idoland ahead of NBC's
Sunday Night Football, says Nielsen — also increased her image
and marketability.
"She is one of the top sports personalities in the country,"
says Michael Norton of Gillette.
The number of suitors calling agent Babette Perry at IMG since
DWTS ended has "just been crazy," Andrews says.
"It's actually been surprising. I will be honest: I did this
show to get happy. I never thought of what it would do for me
in my career. It's crazy."
Her final assignment as ESPN's college sports sideline
reporter before her contract expires will be coverage of the
College World Series starting Saturday. She says she's
weighing everything from hosting to reporting: "I definitely
know sports is in there, is in the mix."
USA Today |
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Yeah, About Those Pictures...
Betty White's People Say Rumor Is False
From Syracuse.com |
Posted 6/17/10 |
Rumors have been circulating on
the web about nude photos of Betty White and her late husband
TV game show host Allen Ludden. Gossip sites have reported how
the photos were found in her old house. According to White's
agent Jeff Witjas, that rumor is not true.
"This is simply not her," Jeff Witjas told ABCNews.com. "This
has come up over the years -- people claim they have photos of
Betty and Allen, and it's simply not true. And Betty's
laughing. She can't believe people are still talking about
this."
Syracuse.com
ABC News
Entertainment & Showbiz |
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Big Brother 3's Paoni Involved in Lethal
Wreck
Houseguest Arrested, Charged
From Examiner |
Posted 6/17/10 |
Many Big Brother fans were shocked
to hear of this horrifying news that Tonya Paoni, 43, from Big
Brother 3 was arrested and charged with reckless homicide and
an aggravated DUI for allegedly causing a five-vehicle crash
that killed two people last summer near Springfield, Illinois.
Springfield's State Journal-Register , stated that Paoni was
driving on Interstate 72 at 10 p.m. on July 17, 2009, when her
Toyota Corolla rear-ended a Ford Explorer. The Explorer
crashed into the highway median and rolled over several times.
Cameron Weider, 21, who was a passenger in the backseat of the
Explorer, was thrown from the truck and died. Another
passenger in the Explorer, Eric Finneran, 21, was killed as
well, but not from the impact of the Explorer against the
median. Finneran got out of the SUV and was standing along the
westbound side of the road after the accident, and got hit and
killed by a passing car that had swerved to avoid a
fender-bender between two other vehicles that collided while
trying to protect themselves and others from a further pile
up. The driver of the Explorer, Zachary Barnes, 22, was not
fatally hurt. He was taken to a nearby hospital where he was
treated for injuries. He was then charged with driving under
the influence of drugs.
Paoni was arrested for this incident May 27 and is currently
behind bars in Sangamon County Jail in lieu of a $1 million
bond or $100,000 cash bail. She is being held responsible for
Finneran's death and, in addition to aggravated DUI and
reckless homicide, is charged with two counts of aggravated
reckless conduct, two counts of aggravated reckless driving,
DUI and speeding.
Examiner |
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"Game Night" Casting
Families Wanted for New Hub Series
From Reality
Wanted |
Posted 6/15/10 |
For the first time in game show
history, the biggest name in family games, Hasbro, is looking
for families to compete in an exciting TV Game Show called
"FAMILY GAME NIGHT."
Does your family love to play games like Scrabble, Boggle and
Guesstures? Are you over the top competitors? If so, your
family may win cash, prizes and/or a dream vacation package.
Each family must consist of TWO PARENTS and at least TWO
SIBLINGS AGES 8-15. All contestants should be physically fit
to play this exciting, intense, and interactive game. *FAMILY
MUST LIVE WITHIN OR NEAR THE LOS ANGELES AREA.
Also, we encourage you to forward this message to interested
families via e-mail, facebook, twitter, etc. as time is
limited and we have numerous episodes available.
Reality Wanted |
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Baggage Now Casting
Season 2 On the Way?
From Reality
Wanted |
Posted 6/15/10 |
GSN is now casting for returning
hit show (C-Note: the casting doesn't mention the show
outright, but with cues like "#1 Game Show" and "Comcast
Entertainment Studios", it's more than likely "Baggage")!
All participants will receive $500 for a one day in-studio
shoot and a chance to win a great prize!!
SEEKING: Single male and female ages 28 – 60 with fun and
outgoing personalities.
We are looking to cast hundreds of people for a long running
season, so don’t hesitate, auditions are taking place now!!
Thanks and hope to hear from you!
Reality Wanted |
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"Dropping" Another Hit?
Channel 4 Looks to Replicate Success
From New Media Age |
Posted 6/15/10 |
Endemol is looking to pair up with
more broadcasters to create integrated TV-web shows similar to
The Million Pound Drop, which aired on Channel 4 last month.
Nick Hall, Endemol’s director of operations for digital media,
who was promoted to the position last week, said this will be
a key focus of his new role. “There are projects in the
pipeline that have been spurred into life off the back of The
Million Pound Drop,” he said.
Viewers of the program could interact with the live gameshow
via a playalong game online, created by Pancentric Digital and
Monterosa, which attracted 450,000 players
New Media Age |
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Three Countries Go to "Splatalot"
Canada, UK, Australia Sign On
From Broadcast |
Posted 6/15/10 |
The BBC has signed up for a new
medieval-themed gameshow for pre-teens that will be produced
in Canada.
Splatalot is a physical gameshow in which 12 young contestants
compete against an international squad of six gladiators to
cross a moat, storm a castle and steal the crown.
Canadian indie Marblemedia is to produce the 26-episode run,
which will be shot north of Toronto this summer for delivery
in spring 2011.
Canadian kids broadcaster YTV and Australian digital
children’s channel ABC3 are also partnering on the series.
Three versions will be shot and tailored for each of the
participating territories, with two hosts from each country.
CBBC controller Damian Kavanagh said: “This should be a
fantastic show with lots of humor and physical comedy, and
should prove a big hit with our audience. It’s been
fascinating to collaborate and share ideas with producers in
other markets.”
Marblemedia is also developing an interactive online
environment, with a series of strategy and puzzle games.
International distribution of Splatalot will be handled by
Distribution360, a new sales outfit established by Marblemedia
and Seven24 Films.
Braodcast
Winnipeg Free Press
Hollywood Reporter
C21media |
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Jeff Schroeder Goes Around the World For
Free
"Amazing Racer" Hosts Season 2 of CBS Web Series
From Wallet Pop |
Posted 6/15/10 |
CBS reality heartthrob Jeff
Schroeder, who appeared on last summer's Big Brother 11 and
the most recent season of The Amazing Race, will head up a new
show by himself. This time, he'll travel the world over 100
days with not a penny in his pocket. In a true test of budget
travel, he'll see the world with nothing more than a backpack
and help from fans on the Web. The show, Around the World for
Free, will be on CBS.com.
How will it work? Schroeder leaves New York City in July, and
every day, he and his field producer, Zsolt Luka, will travel
and film. Luka will edit and publish webisodes for CBS.com as
they go. Both of them will leave without cash, relying instead
on the help of the strangers they meet and the itinerary
planning of their fans.
Schroeder isn't without those: The affable, toothsome
Chicagoan was one of the most popular contestants on both his
previous programs. He didn't win either, but the girlfriend he
met on Big Brother, Jordan Lloyd, won the $500,000 jackpot,
and the couple went on to play The Amazing Race together.
Schroeder's two-time reality show failure has turned into a
big personal win: travel the planet for free, and host a show
about how he did it.
It's the second series for the optimistic travel program. Last
year, an Amazing Race winner, Alex Boylan, was on its first
season, hitting four continents, 16 countries, and covering
more than 45,000 miles. That series, which spanned 129
webisodes over 159 days, was compiled into 11 one-hour
episodes that aired on WGN America, and CBS liked it so much,
it acquired the rights to the show for its own site.
Walletpop |
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BB's Josie Is A Woman on a Mission...
Houseguest Wants to Bring "Crystal Maze" Back
From Digital Spy |
Posted 6/15/10 |
Josie Gibson said during her press
interviews that the main reason she wanted to take part in Big
Brother was to help bring back Channel 4 gameshow The Crystal
Maze.
The sales rep from Bristol, 25, said that she hoped appearing
on the reality show would "raise awareness" about her
campaign.
"Really, I'm on a mission to bring The Crystal Maze back. When
they end Big Brother, they should bring it back on Channel 4,"
she told DS.
"I will raise awareness, because we really, really need it
back. Can you remember it? It was brilliant, wasn't it? It was
the most brilliant best show on Earth. I can't believe they
got rid of it."
The Crystal Maze aired for five series between 1990 and 1995
and was hosted by Richard O'Brien and Ed Tudor-Pole.
Digital Spy |
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Betty White Enjoys "The View"
First Lady of Game Shows Talks... Password
From Examiner |
Posted 6/15/10 |
Betty White appeared on ABC's live
talk show 'The View' on Monday, June 14, 2010. The
comedian/actress was welcomed to The View by co-hosts Whoopi
Goldberg, Sherri Shepherd, Joy Behar and Elisabeth Hasselbeck..
The studio audience gave the 88 year old actress and comedian
a standing ovation, as she walked onto the stage.
White talked about various subjects, including live TV,
sitcoms, Golden Girls co-star Rue McClanahan, The Proposal
co-star Sandra Bullock, show business and her newest show, Hot
in Cleveland on TVLand.
A veteran of live TV and scripted shows, white has been in
show business for 63 years, 'but who's counting?' Ms. White
said that when she stared in live TV she was on the set five
and a half hours a day, six days a week. She said that live TV
has not changed all that much, but audiences have. When White
star ed her TV career, television seemed like a miracle to
home viewers. Now the audience has seen everything and heard
every joke, so audiences are more difficult to please.
When asked why the game show 'Password' didn't make it, White
replied that it was the perfect game show but the younger
generation couldn't seem to keep up with the game. The
producers want the younger people on the show, but
unfortunately, they have become overly dependent on computers
and are not able to think on their feet. White has hosted, or
guested on , several game shows, including the original
'Password.'
Examiner
Entertainment Weekly |
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Absorbent and Yellow and Porous Is He...
John O'Hurley to Guest on "Spongebob"
From UPI |
Posted 6/15/10 |
Victoria Beckham, John O'Hurley
and Sebastian Bach have signed on to lend their voices for the
U.S. television special "The Clash of Triton," Nickelodeon
said.
The new half-hour SpongeBob SquarePants program is to premiere
July 5, the network said.
Beckham will play Queen Amphitrite, while O'Hurley portrays
her husband, King Neptune, and Bach plays their rebellious
son, Triton.
"We're happy to have such a talented and eclectic group of
celebrities lend their voices to this SpongeBob special,"
Brown Johnson, president of animation at Nickelodeon and MTVN
Kids and Family Group, said in a statement Monday. "Victoria,
John and Sebastian truly brought Bikini Bottom's royal family
to life!"
UPI |
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Pavelka Drops Dead...
"Bachelor" to Guest on Hit Series "Drop Dead Diva"
From M&C |
Posted 6/15/10 |
Lifetime's "Drop Dead Diva" is a
critical darling and a ratings smasher. Now the series will
see a reality star guest on the new season.
"The Bachelor" and "Dancing with the Stars" Jake Pavelka will
be cast on the series that boasts Brooke Elliott and Margaret
Cho.
In an episode titled "Good Grief," Jake begins shooting his
scenes on June 18 for an air date of Aug. 22. Pavelka will
guest star as Toby Davlin, a suitor on game show "Finding the
One", where a producer is being sued for inflicting emotional
harm when Toby spurns one bachelorette for another.
“I am honored to be a part of Drop Dead Diva this season,”
Pavelka told People magazine, “and cannot wait to meet the
cast and crew.”
Monsters & Critics |
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NBC Is "Bluffing"
DL Hughley to Host Pilot
From Reuters |
Posted 6/14/10 |
Contestants must try to bluff
their way into winning a half-million dollars. For each
episode, seven contestants will use their knowledge and
deceptive talents -- and even steal one another's money -- in
order to advance in the game as they are gradually reduced to
a single winner.
The show comes from Jeff Apploff, who previously created
"Don't Forget the Lyrics." One of "The Original Kings of
Comedy," Hughley was the star of the ABC sitcom "The Hughleys"
and was recently a correspondent for "The Jay Leno Show."
"Who's Bluffing Who?" is one of a couple of truth-spotting
game shows in the works. ABC is piloting "Survivor" producer
Mark Burnett's "Trust Me, I'm a Game Show Host," where
contestants try to spot which of two hosts are lying. GSN just
launched "Late Night Liars" in primetime.
Reuters
MovieLine
SeattlePI.com
Hollywood Reporter
UPI
Punchline |
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More Game Shows from Ubisoft
"Millionaire", "Hollywood Squares" Coming
From IGN |
Posted 6/14/10 |
|
Target and Ubisoft will team up at
the Electronic Entertainment Expo in Los Angeles, June 15–17,
for an exclusive preview of four upcoming family fun games.
Target's Bullseye Lounge will feature two upcoming
fitness-themed titles, Gold's Gym Dance Workout and Dance on
Broadway, as well as video game adaptations of the hit
television game shows, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire and
Hollywood Squares. Ubisoft's games, playable on Wii, will
offer Expo attendees a chance to engage in competitive
gameplay while at the three-day event at the Los Angeles
Convention Center. The
new Who Wants To Be A Millionaire video game is created by
Ludia and is based on the Disney-ABC Domestic Television hit
game show, which will premiere its ninth season in syndication
this fall. The Millionaire video game, on display in the
Bullseye Lounge at E3, will put the brains of expo attendees
to work as they compete against one another to answer
increasingly difficult trivia questions. Visitors to the
Bullseye Lounge will be able to experience the drama and
intensity of the pop culture game show sensation first-hand,
as they test their trivia knowledge and give their "final
answers."
Hollywood Squares, created by Ludia and licensed by CBS
Consumer Products, brings the laughter and entertainment of
the classic comedy game show to the Wii. Participants can go
head-to-head in a unique rendition of the show that combines
tic-tac-toe, virtual celebrities (including Brad Garrett,
Kathy Griffin, Martin Mull, Jeffrey Tambor and host Tom
Bergeron) and ultimate bluffing to provide hours of humor for
all ages.
IGN
GamesIndustry.biz |
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More on "Restaurant"
Judges Named
From the Futon Critic |
Posted 6/14/10 |
Curtis Stone, internationally
renowned chef (NBC's "The Biggest Loser," "Take Home Chef"),
Steve Ells, founder, chairman and co-CEO of Chipotle, and
Lorena Garcia, executive chef and restaurateur, join Bobby
Flay ("Iron Chef America: The Series") as investors and judges
on NBC's new alternative competition series "America's Next
Great Restaurant" premiering next season.
The series from Dan Cutforth and Jane Lipsitz of Magical Elves
(Emmy Award-nominated producers of "Project Runway" and "Top
Chef") features contestants vying for arguably the biggest
prize in reality show history -- the opportunity to see their
ideas turned into a new restaurant chain in three cities
across America.
Thousands of potential restaurateurs submitted ideas, which
were narrowed down to the select few candidates that will be
featured on the series. Each week the judges/investors, Flay,
Stone, Ells and Garcia, will put the chosen few through
rigorous business and cooking challenges to discover which
contestant's concept has the greatest potential for success.
The stakes have never been higher as the investors put their
own money on the line for the winning concept, turning one
contestant's ultimate dream into a reality.
The Futon Critic
Hollywood Reporter |
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Sponsors Deal for "Top Chef"
Toyota, Dial Chief Amongst Them
From the Futon Critic |
Posted 6/14/10 |
Bravo has secured partnerships
with Toyota, Dial NutriSkin, Samsung, Kikkoman and Snyder's of
Hanover as official sponsors for the seventh season of Bravo's
Emmy and James Beard Award-winning series and the No. 1 food
show on cable, "Top Chef," premiering Wednesday, June 16 at 9
p.m. ET/PT. These multi-platform deals provide an
unprecedented level of brand exposure through exclusive
in-show product integration along with a major on-air and
online presence, marking the largest digital play in Bravo's
history. The announcements were made by Susan Malfa, Senior
Vice President, Ad Sales, Bravo Media and Oxygen Media.
"We continue to develop substantial multi-platform
opportunities for our partners to bring consumer awareness and
exposure to their brands, while also delivering creative and
exciting new ways for viewers to engage and interact with 'Top
Chef'," said Malfa.
Toyota returns to the series for the seventh consecutive year
as a sponsor, with Dial NutriSkin, Samsung, Kikkoman, Snyder's
of Hanover and Hilton Hotels joining as first-time sponsors.
The Futon Critic |
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Amitabh Bachchan to Return to KBC
Indian "Millionaire" to Play on Sony
From India-Server |
Posted 6/14/10 |
The fourth season of KBC will be
telecast on Sony this time. Since Star Plus didn’t renew the
contract with KBC, so automatically the telecast passed to
Sony Entertainment Channel.
The most popular reality game show Kaun Banega Crorepati has
changed channels this time. It will be telecast on Sony in the
coming months.
It is officially announced that the show would be hosted by
Amitabh Bachchan.
The show is produced by Siddharth Basu from Synergy (now
called Big Synergy) for Star Plus. It will now be aired on
Sony.
Sources say “It’s natural for them to give it to Sony. The
talks have already been initiated on the money and who the
host will be. We’ll have to wait and watch.”
Ajit Thakur, the executive VP of the channel says “discussions
about the show have recently begun at multiple levels. Till
everything gets sorted, it’s difficult to issue a statement.”
The actual quiz master Basu says “Star relinquished the KBC
license some time back. And yes, the show is with Sony now.
All the questions regarding the show and the host will have to
be addressed to them since they are the broadcasters now. Of
course, my company, Big Synergy, looks forward to producing it
for them.”
Sources say that Basu was also trying to rope in KBC for their
channel in the previous years. Now the thing landed
automatically for them.
India Server
Total Filmy |
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Jimmy Dean:
1928-2010
Singer, Actor, Sausage Guy, Game Show Fixture
From New York Times |
Posted 6/14/10 |
Jimmy Dean, a country music legend
for his smash hit about a workingman hero, ''Big Bad John,''
and an entrepreneur known for his sausage brand, died on
Sunday. He was 81.
His wife, Donna Meade Dean, said her husband died at their
Henrico County, Va., home.
She told The Associated Press that he had some health problems
but was still functioning well, so his death came as a shock.
She said he was eating in front of the television. She left
the room for a time and came back and he was unresponsive. She
said he was pronounced dead at 7:54 p.m.
''He was amazing,'' she said. ''He had a lot of talents.''
Born in 1928, Dean was raised in poverty in Plainview, Texas,
and dropped out of high school after the ninth grade. He went
on to a successful entertainment career in the 1950s and '60s
that included the nationally televised ''The Jimmy Dean
Show.''
In 1969, Dean went into the sausage business, starting the
Jimmy Dean Meat Co. in his hometown. He sold the company to
Sara Lee Corp. in 1984.
Dean lived in semiretirement with his wife, who is a
songwriter and recording artist, on their 200-acre estate just
outside Richmond, where he enjoyed investing, boating and
watching the sun set over the James River.
During his heyday, he was a
fixture on the game show circuit, appearing on I've Got a
Secret, Missing Links, The Hollywood Squares, Letters to
Laugh-In.
GSNN's Chris Tufts
contributed to this story.
New York Times
GossipCop.com
E! Online |

Jimmy Dean
(photo courtesy
Wordpress) |
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Piers Morgan to Take Over Larry King's Spot
"Talent" Judge Expected to Sign Deal Worth $8M
From Telegraph |
Posted 6/14/10 |
Piers Morgan is to replace Larry
King, the veteran US interviewer, in an $8 million deal with
CNN.
The America's Got Talent judge and former newspaper editor is
on the verge of signing a four-year contract to take over
King's primetime show in the autumn.
He has built a profile in the US and in the UK judging both
versions of the series. CNN executives were also impressed by
his British chat show, Piers Morgan's Life Stories, in which
he interviewed Gordon Brown.
King, 76, has reigned over American television for decades,
with the Larry King Show first airing in 1985. However, his
ratings for the first three months of this year fell to an
all-time low of just 771,000 viewers, down 43 per cent in the
last year.
Morgan is expected to quit his role on Britain's Got Talent
and base himself permanently in the US.
Telegraph
New York Post |
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Revillame Cleared in "Wowowee!" Probe
No Charges for Host in 2006 Stampede
From Manila Bulletin |
Posted 6/14/10 |
Acting Justice Secretary Alberto
Agra affirmed the decision of the former Justice Secretary
Raul Gonzalez, clearing television host Willie Revillame of
liability in the 2006 University of Life Theater and
Recreation Arena (ULTRA) stampede which killed 71
audience-fans of ABS-CBN's popular noontime TV game show “Wowowee.”
Agra denied the motion for reconsideration (MR) filed by
private complainants. The order was promulgated last June 8.
He also directed the Chief State Prosecutor to exclude
Revillame from the information for reckless imprudence,
resulting in multiple homicide and serious physical injuries.
“This resolves the motion for reconsideration (MR) filed by
private complainants of this Department's resolution
promulgated on Aug. 22, 2007 (Resolution No. 575, series of
2007) in the above-captioned case, dismissing the complaint
against respondent Wilfredo Revillame and directing the Chief
State Prosecutor to move for his exclusion from the
information for reckless imprudence, resulting in multiple
homicide and serious physical injuries,” Agra said.
Manila Bulletin |
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Lythgoe to "Idol": It's The Music, Stupid
Former Showrunner Has Words
From CTV |
Posted 6/14/10 |
"American Idol" shouldn't try to
replace Simon Cowell now that the sharp-tongued judge has left
to helm a new reality series, says former "Idol" producer and
"So You Think You Can Dance" judge Nigel Lythgoe.
The variety show guru, who worked on "Idol" until 2008, says
the singing competition should stick with three judges and pay
more attention to the music after a lacklustre season.
"It's never been my opinion that four judges work on that
program because it should be about the talent," Lythgoe said
in a recent interview from New York before heading to Alberta
for the Banff World Television Festival.
"The team took their eye off the ball a little bit and was
more worried about the judges and what was happening with them
than it was regarding the talent last year. It became about
Kara (DioGuardi) joining and making the fourth judge, Paula
(Abdul) leaving, Ellen (Degeneres) joining and Simon leaving
and much more about them and concentrating on that than on the
talent that they were finding."
"It wasn't a vintage year."
"American Idol"'s ninth season wrapped last month with its
lowest-rated finale ever. Former paint salesman Lee DeWyze
took the crown, but much of the attention was on Cowell's
final appearance as he prepares to launch a new reality show,
"The X Factor," on Fox and CTV.
Despite its shortcomings, Lythgoe complained that "American
Idol" is lumped in with reality fare at the Emmys, when he
says it should be considered a variety show.
"I don't honestly see how 'American Idol,' with all of that
intricacy of what that production involves -- from going out
to the football stadiums to finishing in the Nokia Theater
with KISS exploding out of the woodwork and Prince walking on
and all of that -- can be compared with a bunch of people
running around the world that wins every year," says Lythgoe,
referring to perennial reality champ, "The Amazing Race."
"It's frustrating."
The Emmy nominations are set to be announced July 8.
CTV |
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"Late Night Liars" Launches
Catch It on GSN
Fr | |