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"Heroes vs. Villains" Cast Revealed...
Official Season Premiere February 11 From various sources |
Posted 1/7/10 |
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“Survivor” creator Mark Burnett,
Emmy-winning host Jeff Probst and casting director Lynne
Spillman stared at the 301 past "Survivor" cast cards in front
of them. After 10 years and 19 cycles, they knew they wanted
to celebrate the show's 20th season by inviting former
castaways to compete again, but how could they make it
distinct? There had already been an "All-Stars" season, and the 16th iteration pit some of the CBS show's biggest fans against favorite players. Burnett liked to think of his castaways in terms of good guys and bad guys, so they lined up the cards to see the possibilities. They seemed endless. "We all agreed we couldn't do 'All-Stars 2,' " Burnett said. "But 'Heroes vs. Villains' is a one-sentence sell because there are people who played the game in very different ways. So this became the best way for us to celebrate a decade -- 20 seasons -- with these people coming back in the groupings in which they played the game. Will they stay in those roles? Or will they change?" On the "Heroes" tribe are Rupert Boneham ("Pearl Islands" and "All-Stars"), James Clement ("China" and "Fans vs. Favorites"), Colby Donaldson ("Australia" and "All-Stars"), Cirie Fields ("Panama" and "Fans vs. Favorites"), Amanda Kimmel ("China" and "Fans vs. Favorites"), Jessica “Sugar” Kiper ("Gabon"), Stephenie LaGrossa ("Palau" and "Guatemala"), James “JT” Thomas Jr. ("Tocantins"), Tom Westman ("Palau") and Candice Woodcock ("Cook Islands"). The "Villains" are: Tyson Apostol ("Tocantins"), Randy Bailey ("Gabon"), Sandra Diaz-Twine ("Pearl Islands"), Danielle DiLorenzo ("Panama"), Jerri Manthey ("Australia" and "All-Stars"), Rob Mariano ("Marquesas" and "All-Stars"), Parvati Shallow ("Cook Islands" and "Fans vs. Favorites"), Benjamin “Coach” Wade ("Tocantins"), Courtney Yates ("China") and, of course, Russell Hantz ("Samoa"). "All of the memorable players are either a hero or a villain," said Probst, who is also an executive producer. "There's nobody that you remember that you just go 'eh'. You either loved him or you hated him. So in a sense 'Survivor' as a celebration of 20 seasons is a celebration of what our show really is -- either people who are heroic or people who are villains. And sometimes people would argue one or the other."
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"Bee" Back Catch It Next Friday on CMT! From TV by the Numbers |
Posted 1/7/10 |
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CMT’s popular series, "The Singing
Bee, returns for a second season beginning Friday, January 15
at 9:00 p.m., ET/PT. Hosted by Melissa Peterman, the premiere
episode features a cameo by country superstar Reba McEntire.
New one-hour episodes of "The Singing Bee debut weekly,
promising more laughs and excitement than ever before with new
music selections and fierce competitors. "Bee" tests contestants’ knowledge of lyrics to well-known country and pop songs and those who fail to accurately sing the correct lyrics are eliminated from the competition. "Bee" ranks as the network’s highest-rated series of 2009. |
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"12 Hearts" for Palacio That Guy from "Real Housewives of New York" to Co-Host for Telemundo From Hamptons |
Posted 1/7/10 |
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Maximiliano Palacio, recently
featured in "Real Housewives of New York" has signed to
co-host with Penelope Menchaca on Telemundo's "12 Corazones"
which begins filming in Los Angeles, CA on January 7 and will
air on Telemundo around February 11. "12 Corazones" (English: 12 Hearts) is a Spanish-language dating game show produced in the United States for the television network Telemundo, a NBC property. The show has been on the air since 2005 and is based on its namesake Argentine TV show format. The show is filmed in Los Angeles and revolves around the 12 Zodiac signs that identify each contestant. In August 2009 Telemundo added English subtitles as closed captions. Palacio, a former Polo player turned actor comes from Argentina. The 6'2 single actor has appeared in numerous commercials Triatop (Argentina), Motorola Uruguay), Colgate (Europe), Axe (Latin America), Carrefour (France), Nonni's Biscotti (U.S.), Esquire Magazine (U.S.), and Burlington Coat Factory (U.S.). He speaks fluent English and Spanish, and Intermediate French, Italian and Portuguese. An avid sportsman Palacio also enjoys tennis, polo, skiing, rugby, softball, scuba diving, swimming, soccer, marathon running, water skiing, bicycle and motorcycle riding, roller skating, squash, surfing and wind surfing. He has also appeared in numerous film and theater productions and will be filming as lead in his own series "Revolving Doors," this summer about the male's perspective on dealing with women and providing an insightful alpha-male view into New York's promiscuous lifestyle, tortuous and twisted male/female relationships, and complex social dynamics. |
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Heidi Klum Offers Maternity Wear "Runway" Host Offers Through Motherhood Maternity From Yahoo!/AP |
Posted 1/7/10 |
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Model mom Heidi Klum wowed us with
her fabulous fashions while she was pregnant with daughter Lou
Sulola last year, and now she's bringing her maternity style
to the masses. The Project Runway host is launching not just one but two lines of maternity wear next month: Lavish by Heidi Klum for A Pea in the Pod and Loved by Heidi Klum for Motherhood Maternity. While Lavish will feature dressy pieces for the modern mom-to-be, Loved showcases more relaxed, casual wear. “I experienced fashion challenges during my four pregnancies and combined my knowledge of what works in terms of style, comfort and practicality to create these lines,” says Heidi, who is mom to kids Leni, 5, Henry, 4, Johan, 3, and Lou, 2 1/2 months. “Being pregnant shouldn’t stop you from being fashionable and feeling great about your changing body. It’s an exciting journey.” |
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"Wheel" at 35 Show Bowed on NBC on This Date in 1975 From NorthJersey.com |
Posted 1/6/10 |
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The game show "Wheel of Fortune"
debuted 35 years ago — Jan. 6, 1975. The network asked Merv Griffin to develop a glitzy daytime show that would capture a female audience. Griffin had an idea for a game based on hangman but wanted to incorporate shopping to hook the ladies. In its first incarnation, in 1974, the show that became "Wheel of Fortune" was called "Shopper's Bazaar." In its 1975 premiere, "Wheel of Fortune" still included the shopping element, which lasted until 1987. Current host Pat Sajak, a former weatherman, did not join the game until December 1981, when a salary dispute between original host Chuck Woolery and Griffin created the vacancy. Soap actress Susan Stafford was the original letter turner but left the show in 1982 to pursue humanitarian work. Vanna White was hired after a handful of co-hosts were tried out. In 1983, the show was sold in syndication to a few markets as a nighttime show. It was picked up nationally a year later and quickly became the No. 1 syndicated game show. In 1990, it became the first game show to be closed captioned for the hearing impaired. Each year, more than 3,200 people audition for "Wheel of Fortune" and only about 500 are chosen. The big wheel weighs about 2 tons — or 4,000 pounds. White is in the Guinness Book of World Records as television's most frequent clapper. She claps an average of 720 times per show. The cost of buying a vowel has never increased. It is still $250, the same as in 1975. More than $100 million in cash and prizes have been awarded to contestants. |
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More on "Seducing Cindy" Catch It on Fox Reality January 30 From TV by the Numbers |
Posted 1/6/10 |
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Setting world records and making
millions of hearts race, the world’s sexiest Internet icon
Cindy Margolis is bringing the ultimate fantasy to life for
her most devoted fans in a steamy reality dating show,
Seducing Cindy, Fox Reality Channel’s newest original series
premiering Saturday, January 30 at 9p/8c. Seducing Cindy is
produced by Glassman Media. Cindy Margolis launched an Internet revolution as the most downloaded woman on the Internet, which was recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records in 2000. She was also a celebrity cover model for Playboy at age 40, appeared as a Fembot in Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery and has worked as a model on numerous campaigns. In addition to being a model, author, entrepreneur and actress, Cindy is a newly single mother of three, who hasn’t given up on finding true love. “My fans have been incredibly loyal and supportive over the years, so I am taking the leap of faith that one of them could be the love of my life,” said Margolis. “I am ready to be swept off my feet.” Over the course of eight, one-hour episodes, Margolis will put her heart on the line with 24 potential suitors in an attempt to find her ultimate soul mate. The men range from 18 71 years old and come from all walks of life, from the suave and sophisticated to the self-confessed “internet nerds,” who catapulted Margolis to mass popularity. Cindy’s suitors will offer her true variety and tough choices as they battle through competitive tasks and fight for her affection and a coveted garter belt off of her leg, signifying a chance to stay on Cindy’s list of potential mates. “Seducing Cindy is Fox Reality Channel’s first original dating series and will take viewers on the unique, emotional and potentially intimidating journey of finding love over 40,” said Noel Siegel, VP of Development and Production for Fox Reality Channel. “Millions of men have downloaded Cindy Margolis photos, but we are giving a handful of them the rare opportunity to make a real connection and win her heart.” Andrew Glassman, executive producer of Seducing Cindy emphasizes Cindy’s genuine desire to meet someone special through the show. “Cindy came to us and said she was at a crossroads in her life, was ready to fall in love again, but had forgotten the rules’ of dating and wanted to try something extreme,” said Glassman. “She got that and much more — her fans and longtime admirers arrived prepared to do anything imaginable, and fight with all their will, for the dream chance of Seducing Cindy.” |
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"Iron Chef" Super Chef Battle Earns Raves,
Reruns Top Rated Event on Food Network, Will Air in Syndication in Cablevision Markets From the Futon Critic |
Posted 1/6/10 |
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Food Network and HGTV are teaming
up with two local TV stations, WPIX-TV in New York and WTXX-TV
in Hartford, Conn., to bring Cablevision subscribers the
chance to view two encore presentations from the popular
lifestyle networks' blockbuster New Year's weekend programs. Viewers in the New York Tri-State area will be able to see the unprecedented culinary competition Super Chef Battle: An Iron Chef America Event in a special, one-time airing on Sunday, January 10th from 8-10pm ET on WPIX-TV (New York's Channel 11) and on WTXX-TV (Hartford's Channel 20). The special episode, which premiered on Food Network on January 3rd, stars Mario Batali, Bobby Flay and Emeril Lagasse and White House Executive Chef Cristeta Comerford in an unprecedented culinary competition. "We have the greatest fans in the world," said Brooke Johnson, president of Food Network. "Nobody likes the situation, with Cablevision customers being the only viewers in the country who can't watch our networks as we introduce a number of new special and series in January. These encore presentations are just a small way to say thank you' for their support and understanding while we do everything we can to get our networks back on Cablevision." Super Chef Battle garnered 7.6
million viewers on a total viewer 2+ basis, and posted a 2.0
rating among adults 25-54. This made the special the
highest-rated and most-watched in the Iron Chef franchise
history. |
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Donny Osmond Launches Radio Show "Pyramid" Host to Do Days From TV by the Numbers |
Posted 1/6/10 |
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Entertainment icon Donny Osmond
will host a new lifestyle-driven music radio show targeting
the advertiser-coveted female demographic for radio
syndication network Citadel Media. The Donny Osmond Show was
developed with broadcast industry consultant Mike McVay of
McVay Media and will be the first offering from McKay
Syndication. The program will air weekdays from 10 a.m. – 3
p.m. and will launch nationally on January 18 with 60
stations. The Donny Osmond Show will provide an energetic,
upbeat option for stations seeking a workday connection with
their listeners and is designed for both adult contemporary
and classic hits radio formats. “Donny Osmond is a classic American performer who has spent the majority of his life bringing smiles to audiences around the world and continues to captivate his tremendous fan base today,” said Carl Anderson, Senior Vice President of Programming and Distribution for Citadel Media. “The opportunity to bring his talents to a national radio platform aligns perfectly with our network initiative as we offer affiliates customized depart programming with the personalities stations are looking for. As a legendary entertainer known for his friendly, humorous presentation, Donny will be able to deliver immediate results for our partners.” “Our team is extremely proud to be part of introducing The Donny Osmond Show to radio listeners across the country,” said Mike McKay, President of McKay Syndication. “Donny is such a relatable, natural personality and has historically drawn the interest of a wide-ranging audience. His recent popularity and success on “Dancing with the Stars” has reminded all of us what a dynamic performer he is and charmed a new generation of fans as well.” During his career, Osmond has been a singer, actor, triple-threat television series host (talk show, game show and variety show), best-selling author, commercial spokesperson, motivational speaker and even a race car driver. Reflecting his multi-generational worldwide fan base, his Web site, Donny.com, receives a staggering 120 million-plus hits annually. |
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Just Call Her Melissa Strickland Former Rycroft Changes Name From Access Hollywood |
Posted 1/6/10 |
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Melissa Rycroft is making a fresh
start in 2010 – by changing her name. The former “Bachelor” contestant-turned-ABC contributor Tweeted on Tuesday she would no longer be known simply as Melissa Rycroft “Off to legally change my last name! Exciting!!” Melissa wrote on her Twitter page, which she renamed MelRyStrickland, after marrying insurance agent Tye Strickland in December. When contacted by Access Hollywood, a rep for the star confirmed she will legally change her name to Melissa Strickland, but will still use Melissa Rycroft for work. The former “Bachelor” contestant, who was jilted on television in early 2009 after Jason Mesnick decided to dump her in order to reconcile with Molly Malaney, later went on to great success on ABC’s “Dancing With the Stars.” The reality star, who was paired with Tony Dovolani, scored a Top 3 finish, and made several friends while on the show, including former “Sex and The City” heartthrob Gilles Marini, who Tweeted a congratulations of her name-changing news. “So proud of You .. You rock . Love G,” Gilles wrote. “Thanks!! YOU rock dude! Hope we see you soon!! Xoxo,” Melisa replied. |
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"Biggest Loser" Returns More Couples on Tap... From Orlando Sentinel |
Posted 1/5/10 |
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John and James Crutchfield,
identical twins from Orlando, are described as the heaviest
team in the history of NBC’s “The Biggest Loser.” And the brothers, who are 30, say that’s a good thing as the show begins its ninth season at 8 tonight. “It helps you,” says James, a human resources director. “It puts it in perspective. One of my problems is procrastination. I didn’t know I weighed that much. Your home scales go up to 300. I knew I was over 4. I didn’t know I was close to 5. It was more motivation.” John, a senior marketing manager, agrees about the heaviest designation. “It was a motivating factor, and a little embarrassing,” he says. Together, they weigh nearly a thousand pounds — and good-naturedly call themselves the half-ton twins. Tonight’s premiere features an unusual scene: The brothers weigh in at Church Street Station. “That was one of the scariest things I’ve done in my life — in front of friends, people you don’t know, the media,” John says. “That’s one of the most nerve-racking and frankly embarrassing things.” James said he hadn’t taken off his shirt in public since he was a kid. “It kind of built up some confidence,” he says. |
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"Last Comic" to Make Another Stand? NBC in Talks to Return Series From EW |
Posted 1/5/10 |
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A network insider confirms that
NBC is in talks to bring back Last Comic Standing, a talent
show that ran for six seasons on the peacock network. NBC’s
reality guru Paul Telegdy is looking to re-launch the
franchise with a new host (so long, Bill Bellamy!) and some
format changes so it can air as part of the network’s summer
lineup, which includes America’s Got Talent and (possibly) the
new Losing it with Jillian, featuring The Biggest Loser’s
Jillian Michaels. Comic pits comedians against each other in a competition for a development contract with NBC. It last aired during the summer of 2008, when it averaged 5.2 million viewers and a 7 share among adults 18-49. Though it doesn’t necessarily blow the roof off Nielsen, the show performs particularly well among adults 18-49 living in homes with $75K-plus and $100k-plus incomes. |
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NBC Announces Firing Line Catch "Celebrity Apprentice" March 14! From the Futon Critic |
Posted 1/5/10 |
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NBC and Donald Trump announced
today the all-star celebrity cast for the third season of "The
Celebrity Apprentice" premiering on Sunday, March 14 (9-11
p.m. ET/PT). Over the course of the celebrity seasons, over $3.5 million has been donated to charities worldwide in addition to money raised from the awareness and exposure on the show. Now 14 new celebrities will rise to the challenge once again it will be men versus women. All the celebrities will be vying for the coveted title as they fight for their respective causes close to their hearts. The men include: Darryl Strawberry, Bret Michaels, Goldberg, Michael Johnson, Rod Blagojevich, Sinbad and Curtis Stone. The women include: Cyndi Lauper, Sharon Osbourne, Holly Robinson Peete, Selita Ebanks, Maria Kanellis, Carol Leifer and Summer Sanders. Donald Trump said "This season of 'Celebrity Apprentice' is going to be fantastic. The list of celebrities we have this season is outstanding and the show will really resonate with our core viewers and fans. I expect this season of 'Celebrity Apprentice' to be the best one yet." The celebrities will compete in business-driven tasks around New York City using their fame, rolodexes and their business acumen to win weekly tasks and money to donate to their favorite charities, while ultimately battling with each other to stay out of the boardroom and avoid hearing those dreaded words "You're Fired!" They'll be subjected to long hours, grueling mental challenges, personality clashes and intense scrutiny -- all without the help of their regular support system of agents, managers and personal assistants. Certain tasks encourage the contestants to reach out to their network of celebrity contacts for assistance or donations -- making for entertaining surprise visits by some of the world's biggest stars along the way. Trump and his advisors in the boardroom will judge all of the tasks. Returning back to the boardroom are Trump's children (and colleagues) Ivanka and Donald Trump Jr., alongside longtime Trump Organization employee and "Apprentice" advisor George Ross. The boardroom will again feature a "rotating seat," allowing a variety of famous business leaders and industry legends to join Trump in spirited judgment on each task. As with last season, the winning celebrity teams will relish the opportunity to watch the losing team squirm in the boardroom from the comfort of their own war rooms. When all is said and done, 13 celebrities will be famously fired and only one will emerge to become The Celebrity Apprentice. |
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Another Cable Impasse Cablevision, Scripps Take Battle to PR instead of to Each Other From Mediaweek |
Posted 1/5/10 |
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Three days after Scripps Networks
Interactive pulled HGTV and Food Network from the Cablevision
menu, the programmer and cable operator have yet to return to
the negotiating table. Instead, both parties on Sunday evening
issued conflicting statements limning the origins of the
stalemate, an exchange that offered little comfort to the 3.1
million subscribers directly affected by the dispute. Cablevision fired the first shot, issuing a release condemning Scripps Nets for refusing to agree to an extension of their carriage agreement, which expired midnight, Jan. 1. The statement said that Scripps rebuffed Cablevision’s invitation to continue to negotiate through the deadline, as is standard practice. Such an extension has allowed Time Warner Cable to continue to carry Food Network and GAC while the nation's #2 cable operator works out a new affiliate deal with Scripps Nets. As Cablevision has it, once the contract expired, Scripps “took the extraordinary step of flipping a switch and removing its channels from Cablevision––effectively holding their own viewers hostage in order to pursue a more than 200 percent fee increase.” Cablevision added that the move came “with virtually no warning.” Shortly after the MSO’s release hit the wires, SNI returned fire. “Cablevision simply is not telling the truth,” the programmer’s response read. “Scripps Networks Interactive has been trying to have productive negotiations with Cablevision for more than six months, but to no avail. Repeated requests to sit down together to discuss a fair market price for our networks have been rejected––even as recently as Sunday afternoon [Jan. 3].” While SNI did not address the specific dollar amount it was looking to secure from Cablevision, the company revealed that under the terms of its expired contract, the operator paid 25 cents per month per sub for the combined networks. A 200 percent increase would bring the fee to 75 cents per sub, which would effectively raise Cablevision's monthly payment from $775,000 to $2.33 million. |
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Orson Bean to Star on Broadway "A Song At Twilight" to Bow with Wife Alley Mills From Theater Mania |
Posted 1/5/10 |
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Real-life husband-and-wife Orson
Bean and Alley Mills will star in the West Coast premiere of
Noel Coward's A Song at Twilight, January 16-March 7. James
Glossman will direct. The play takes a sadly poignant and insightful look behind the curtain at sexual preferences, fame, wealth, titles, and privilege. The cast will also feature Laurie O'Brien and David Rogge. The creative team will include Darcy Prevost (scenic design), Leigh Allen (lighting design), Audrey Eisner (costume design), and Vin Scelsa (sound design). Bean received a Tony nomination for Subways Are For Sleeping, with additional Broadway credits including John Murray Anderson's Almanac, Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter, and Never Too Late. He is also known for his film and television appearances, including Being John Malkovich and as a long-time panelist on the game show To Tell the Truth. Mills is perhaps best known as Norma Arnold on The Wonder Years and as Pamela Douglas on The Bold and the Beautiful. |
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New Year Brings New Season on PAD Show to Air in HD on NBC From Poker Listings |
Posted 1/4/10 |
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The sixth season of NBC’s Poker
After Dark will begin airing this January and the show’s
producers are promising plenty of reasons for fans to get
excited. Filming of 13 different shows concluded in October at the Golden Nugget Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas featuring a mixture of well-known regulars from previous seasons and thirteen players making their Poker After Dark debut. Ali Nejad, returns to provide commentary and Leeann Tweeden is back for her third season as the show’s host. Seven of the new shows will follow the traditional Poker After Dark week-long six-handed winner-take-all freezeout format while the remaining six will feature cash games of varying buy-ins that will each air over a two-week period. Producers say there are first-time winners, matches that end in dramatic fashion, huge swings, plenty of laughs and many other memorable moments. The season will kick-off Jan. 4 with a Poker After Dark staple: The “Commentators” episode, featuring Nejad and High Stakes Poker host Gabe Kaplan along with newcomer Joe Sebok from Poker2Nite and Kaplan’s new co-host Kara Scott. |
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"Conveyor Belt" Real or Not? EP Shelly: "Who Cares?" From New York Post |
Posted 1/4/10 |
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Reality TV shows live or die based
on whether you believe what's going is sort of real. Does Khloe Kardashian really love Los Angeles Laker Lamar Odom? Are the people on "The Amazing Race" really lost? How about a show that doesn't give a damn if you think it's real or not? Welcome to TV's newest dating show, ABC's "Conveyor Belt of Love" -- which features five women picking potential suitors from a group of men being rolled out on a stage like cattle at an auction. "A lot of reality shows can take themselves very seriously," says the executive producer of "Conveyor Belt," Tom Shelly, who makes it clear pretty quickly that his is not one of them. Thirty bachelors are given 60 seconds each to impress the women with their charms before exiting, stage left. "They're on a conveyor belt," explains Shelly, "and it's bringing out guys like those sushi bars that roll along, where you've got to pick up the sushi yourself." It is perhaps the dumbest idea for a TV show of all time -- something that the show's producer seems somewhat proud of. "It's supposed to be a fun way to put speed dating on TV, with an interesting twist," Shelly explains sheepishly. ABC must believe "Conveyor Belt" will add something to the already rich history of dating shows -- which includes dating shows for overweight people, midgets, rock-star groupies and women duped into thinking they were going out with a millionaire. But it is hedging its bet. The show, based on a British series of the same name, will air just once, tonight at 10. And, somewhere under the humiliating idea behind the show, there is drama. It's watching "how the guys react to the pressure of being on stage for 60 seconds, trying to get the women's attention," says Shelly. It seems like there are more than a few unsuitable bachelors -- including a guy who tries to impress with ballet and another one who tells bad jokes. But others have serious romantic potential, and Shelly insists that all the contestants were legit. "It's not like we put specific guys in as jokes and certain guys as definite catches," he says. |
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Bachelor Heads Online Games and Episodes Coming From the Futon Critic |
Posted 1/4/10 |
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In conjunction with the premiere
of "The Bachelor: On the Wings of Love," ABC.com will launch
an all-new interactive Rose Ceremony Game enabling fans of the
show to put their matchmaking skills to the test. Viewers can
go online each week and make their picks of which
bachelorettes will receive a rose from bachelor Jake Pavelka. Players will earn points for their correct picks and by correctly answering trivia questions about the previous week's episode. Bonus points will also be awarded to players who correctly predict which bachelorette will get the first rose of the evening, and also if they correctly predict the order in which the roses are handed out. At the end of the season, the player with highest score will win a grand prize vacation getaway for two to the luxurious Jalousie Plantation on the island of St. Lucia. Additionally, each week's top scorer will receive a special "Bachelor" gift bag. For rules and more details regarding game play and prizes, go to www.abc.go.com/shows/the-bachelor/rose-ceremony-game-rules. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited. Fans of the series will also be able to watch episodes of "The Bachelor: On the Wings of Love" with special expert commentary on ABC.com the day after their broadcast premiere. The premiere episode will feature special commentary from Jillian Harris, star of the most recent season of "The Bachelorette," and her fiancé, Ed Swiderski. Series host Chris Harrison will provide expert commentary for the second episode of the season. ABC.com's new expert commentary feature allows viewers of the site's Full Episode Player an opportunity to experience insights from the stars of ABC's series and specials, as well as producers, writers, directors, production and costume designers, music supervisors and network executives, among others. |
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A New Year... a New Kind of Contestant Going on Game Shows to Make Ends Meet From Los Angeles Times |
Posted 1/4/10 |
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Jasmin Bryant, a 34-year-old
out-of-work television producer, was checking job listings
when she came across an ad soliciting prospective contestants
for the Game Show Network's "Catch 21." After reading the ad's hook -- the possibility of winning up to $25,000 -- Bryant was intrigued. "I thought, 'Oh, my God, $25,000 would really help out a lot.' Even after taxes it would help pay for my car, my rent, my insurance, the whole nine yards. I'd be able to fly back East to visit my family for the holidays." Ashley Coelho, 29, an out-of-work accounts executive, was searching Craigslist for a job when she saw an ad seeking contestants for GSN's revival of "The Newlywed Game." Recently married, she talked her new husband into giving it a try. "It's really tough out there," she says. "Cash or prizes, it didn't really matter -- it was really the only way we could possibly do anything for our honeymoon." As the American economy struggles and the unemployment rate remains high, game show producers say they are seeing more out-of-work professionals seeking that potentially big payday -- and as an outlet for fun. Before the economic meltdown, Bev Pomerantz, a veteran casting director for "Catch 21," rarely saw prospective contestants who were college-educated, professional and out of work. "That demographic is now maybe 10%," she says. Kelly Goode, senior vice president of programming at GSN, the cable game show network, says the company doesn't keep statistics on the unemployed hopefuls who audition for GSN's growing string of original programming. But, she added, the numbers of contestants in general are up, and "more of those people are looking for work," says Goode. The motivation for contestants, just as in more flush times, is quick money. But for today's game show hopefuls, it's more likely to pay rent, groceries and utility bills than an extravagance. Laurie Ramos, 38, a recent contestant on "Catch 21," is a teacher. "I've been interviewing for the last year for a position, but with the budget cuts, you can imagine how tough it's been. It was definitely about the money for me." The underemployed too have been turning to game shows. Los Angeles voice actor Jill Smith, 42, said that work in her field has slowed up dramatically. A stint as a game show contestant offered a chance to bring in some household revenue. "It was a profitable day," she said of her upcoming appearance on "Catch 21." "I don't know if you could call it achieving the American dream, but everybody's looking for a way to make a little money." The experience allowed her a chance to get her mind off the harsher realities of life during the Great Recession. "You read the papers and see the television news, and it's all about how the sky is falling. It gets scary. But a game show is fun!" The reality of game shows is that many can play but few can win, as Bryant learned. |
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Going Back to the Crystal Maze Report: Amanda Holden to Host Revival for ITV From Digital Spy |
Posted 1/4/10 |
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Cult gameshow The Crystal Maze is
to be revived by ITV, a report has claimed. The new show will have a similar format to the '90s classic but feature Britain's Got Talent judge Amanda Holden as host, according to The Sun. It is also thought that celebrity contestants will tackle the difficult puzzles and physical challenges rather than members of the public. A source said: "ITV are huge fans of Amanda and are looking at a number of different gameshow concepts, but this is certainly the one they are excited about. They are spending a lot of money and hope it will surpass - and blow away - the old Crystal Maze." The original version of The Crystal Maze ran on Channel 4 from 1990 to 1995. Richard O'Brien was the program's first presenter, while Ed Tudor-Pole fronted the later series. |
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Bob Eubanks on the Origin of
"Whoopee" Original Master of Newlyweds Returns Thursday From New York Times |
Posted 1/4/10 |
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“MY wife is a perfectionist,” said
Bob Eubanks with a grin. “I get up in the middle of the night
to go to the bathroom, come back, the bed is made.”
His golfing partner, Bob Iritano,
smiled gamely, looking as if he was accustomed to hearing his
famous friend crack stand-up jokes. They were on the back nine
of the Sherwood Lake Club in Thousand Oaks, Calif., playing a
none-too-expert game of golf and riffing about their errant
swings. |
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Jason Castro Marries "Idol" Finalist Weds Girlfriend From New York Daily News |
Posted 1/4/10 |
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American Idol heartthrob Jason
Castro tied the knot with his girlfriend over the weekend. The blue-eyed dreadlocked stud muffin, who finished fourth in the 2008 edition of the talent contest, said via his Twitter account that he and Mandy Mayhall wed outside Dallas. "Yesterday I married the girl of my dreams. ... It couldn't have been more perfect!," gushed the 22-year-old singer songwriter. "Now, honeymoooon!!!" Castro's new album, "The Love Uncompromised," hits stores Jan. 12. He reportedly proposed on Halloween while the two were dressed up as Beauty and the Beast. |
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Chris Harrison Addresses "Bachelor"
Scandal Report: Producer Fired From UsMagazine.com |
Posted 1/4/10 |
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Despite having hosted The Bachelor
for eight years, Chris Harrison says the latest scandal --
that a contestant of the upcoming season had an affair with a
show producer -- was one of the most "uncomfortable" he's ever
seen. "It was embarrassing for us ... incredibly unfortunate, [and] horrible decisions were made," he said on Valentine in the Morning on 104.3 MY FM Monday. "This is something that we took very seriously and it's something that we couldn't just sit by." Harrison -- who confirmed that the producer had been fired and the female finalist was kicked off the show -- said that "they found time" to have "relations" while filming last fall. "With things in the past, we've been like, 'Let's just let the Bachelor or Bachelorette find out for themselves.' We usually toe that line," Harrison said. However, they decided not to let Bachelor Jake Pavelka stay in the dark. "In fairness to Jake and for the other women, [we decided to] nip this in the bud and take care of it. And that's what we did," he said. "There's train wrecks in this show where I'm like, 'Oh, it's going to be great. Let's let them have it.' But ... I felt bad for everybody, and it was an uncomfortable deal." Although Harrison normally gets little direction from the control room in handling the show's wilder moments, he said The Bachelor producers were particularly careful. "This was the rare time that before I had to go talk to the girl, Jake and then the women, I had lawyers, psychologists, producers, executives saying, 'Okay, these are the words you can say,'" he said. "It was intense. It was a wild night." So, did the unnamed producer get caught or come forward? "It was a little bit of both -- then he came forward," he said. "Eventually, stepped up to the plate, and we were like, 'Well, okay.' There was a barn storm. There was a fire!" Harrison said he didn't know if the two were still together. "Would that count on our tally as one of our couples?" he joked. |
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Time Warner, Fox Make a Deal Carriage Averts 2010 Drop From Mediaweek |
Posted 1/2/10 |
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News Corp. and Time Warner Cable
on have agreed on a new deal that will keep the Fox broadcast
network and a number of cable channels on the operator's menu. After a pair of extensions allowed both sides to negotiate past the midnight deadline, an agreement was finally struck early Friday evening (Jan. 1). Financial terms were not disclosed. Heading into the December talks, Fox had been looking to secure a retransmission consent fee of $1 per subscriber per month. Time Warner Cable balked at that amount, offering instead a retrans payment between 25 cents and 30 cents per sub. In the weeks leading up to New Year's Day, analysts predicted that Fox would likely settle on a retrans fee of around 50 cents to 60 cents, on par with what CBS has been able to command from its cable and satellite distributors. Should Fox have gone dark, some 13 million Time Warner subs in markets like New York and Los Angeles would have lost the signal to the broadcast net and cable channels like FX and the Fox Sports RSNs. (News Corp.'s Fox News Channel and Fox Business Network have separate carriage agreements and were not at risk of having their feeds pulled.) In a joint statement released Friday evening, the two parties said they have "agreed in principle to a comprehensive distribution agreement," one that also includes carriage for Bright House Networks’ 2 million customers. "We're pleased that, after months of negotiations, we were able to reach a fair agreement with Time Warner Cable--one that recognizes the value of our programming," said Chase Carey, deputy chairman, president and COO, News Corp. Time Warner Cable president and CEO Glenn Britt characterized the new deal as "reasonable," but offered no insight into the terms. The agreement may be seen as a victory for the broadcast networks, which are hoping to replicate the dual-revenue stream model that has kept cable afloat in times when the advertising marketplace is particularly rickety. Operators have resisted paying for retrans consent, arguing that broadcast signals should remain as free as they were in the days of rabbit-ears and rooftop antennae. |
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Saying Goodbye in 2009 Cronkite, Ober, McMahon Among Greats Passing On From various sources |
Posted 12/31/09 |
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Ken Ober spent the last several
years behind the scenes of shows like The New Adventures of
Old Christine but will be remembered most for his time in
front of the camera as host of the MTV show Remote Control. He
passed away Nov. 15 at age 52. "It's News To Me" host Walter Cronkite, a nightly presence in American homes from 1962 to 1981, guiding viewers with such plain-spoken grace that he was called the most trusted man in America, died July 17. He was 92. Ed McMahon, who for nearly 30 years was Johnny Carson’s affable second banana on “The Tonight Show,” introducing it with his ringing trademark line, “Heeeeere’s Johnny!,” died June 23. The host of such shows as "Snap Judgment" and "Star Search" was 86. Impressionist and "Anything for Money" host Fred Travalena, a headliner in Vegas showrooms and a regular on late-night talk shows with his takes on presidents, crooners and screen stars, died in Los Angeles on June 28. He was 66. Comedian and "What's My Line" regular Soupy Sales died October 22nd at age 83. Two pop culture icons and former "Dating Game" contestants were lost on the same day, as Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson both died on June 25. She was 62. He was 50. Ian Wallace appeared 500 times on the long-running BBC radio quiz show "My Music". He died this year at age 90. Joanne Jordan was Bud Collyer's assistant on the quiz show "Beat the Clock" in 1956 and 1957. She was 89. Les Lye, whom Americans will remember as one of the two grownups on "You Can't Do That on Television", passed on at age 84 after also hosting games in his native Canada. "The Guinness Game" co-host and "Ironside" actor Don Galloway left us at 71 early this year. "Make Me Laugh" and "Chance of a Lifetime" announcer Ken Roberts kept acting into the 2000s. He died early this summer at age 99. American-Italian superhost Mike Bongiorno, best known as the King of the Italian quiz Show, said goodbye at the age of 85. "Who Do You Trust" announcer Ed Reimers died at the age of 96. Remember "American Idol" hopeful Alexis Cohen, “Glitter Girl” famously repeating “Take it, Take it” who died over this past summer in a hit and run accident in Seaside Heights. She was just 25. And we would be personally remiss if we didn't include our friend and contributor to this site, amongst many others, Tom Heald, who died suddenly this past year. He was 37. They are gone... but never forgotten. |
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Lady Gaga to Drop In on "Line" Catch It January 6 on Bravo From TV by the Numbers |
Posted 12/30/09 |
| Pop star phenomenon Lady Gaga, known for her fashion-forward outfits, surprises the designers and provides inspiration on “Launch My Line,” airing Wednesday, January 6 at 10 p.m. ET/PT. In this week’s challenge, the teams look to Lady Gaga for inspiration to create an avant-garde outfit, but they must make sure they are pushing the boundaries of fashion without crossing the line of good taste. Meanwhile, the tension between some teammates gets intense and someone pushes their teammate to the edge. For a sneak peek, go to: http://www.bravotv.com/launch-my-line/videos/its-lady-gaga. | |
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Bachchan Following in Father's
Footsteps Indian Actor to Host "Bingo" From TopNews.in |
Posted 12/30/09 |
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Bollywood actor Abhishek Bachchan
is all set to make his first appearance on the small screen on
Viacom 18's General Entertainment Channel 'Colors' as host of
its new show 'Bingo'. A source from the channel disclosed, "Abhishek is doing a show called Bingo with us. It's a very interesting concept but details cannot be given out at this point." Junior Bachchan insists that it wasn't his father's connection with the 'Colors' channel, which pushed him to agree to host the game show. "I liked the concept of the show, it excited me creatively. I liked what they were trying to do and liked what they have done. It is great that Colors thought if me. The decision was theirs, it didn't have anything to do with the fact that pa (Amitabh Bachchan) was part of the channel," he said. The international TV edition of 'Bingo' is simple and synergistic, comprising not just studio players and viewers but also the audiences who can take part in real time. Abhishek is very excited about the new show, which doesn't require one to put pressure on their minds to answer questions. The game show is likely to be based on a one's laziness quotient. The show's puzzlers, featuring Abhi in a cool mood, are already on the air on Colors channel. |
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Tyra to Pull Plug on Talk Show Will Remain on "Top Model" From Yahoo! News |
Posted 12/28/09 |
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Tyra Banks is pulling the plug on
her talk show. The former model says the syndicated "The Tyra Show" will end after its fifth season. Banks says she's sticking with the reality show "America's Next Top Model" and is forming a new production studio with plans to make movies. She also promised new digital projects, but wouldn't give details. In a statement on her Web site, Banks also paid tribute to talk-show queen Oprah Winfrey, who's ending her talk show in 2011. About her own show, Banks told fans: "I've been loving having fun, coming into your living rooms, bedrooms, hair salons for the past five years." |
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Report: Fox to Order More "Idol"... With or
Without Simon Current Deal Expires in 2011 From The Live Feed |
Posted 12/24/09 |
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Fox is near a deal to order more
seasons of "American Idol" -- with or without its most popular
judge, Simon Cowell. The network's current contract with "Idol" producer 19 Entertainment and FremantleMedia extends through the end of the 2011 season. But the network is working on a new deal that includes three seasons of "Idol," though that number could still change. The announcement is expected to demonstrate Fox's commitment to its top-rated series, even as "Idol" faces its biggest challenge yet. The "Idol" franchise has been rocked by rumors that Cowell will depart the show after the upcoming season as he prepares to bring his hit UK music competition series "X-Factor" to the states. Cowell's brother Tony announced Tuesday on his weekly podcast that Simon will leave "Idol" at the end of 2010. The move could have a double impact on "Idol" -- the loss of a key personality to the series, and the addition of another music competition program on Fox that may result in fewer "Idol" viewers. But before anything is finalized at the network, the "Idol" judge still needs to sign his new contract with "Factor" owner Sony. Once that's out of the way, Sony will allow Cowell to make a deal with Fox to bring "Factor" stateside. Fox would prefer to bundle a "Factor" agreement with at least another season of Cowell judging "Idol.” But by quitting “Idol,” Cowell could make his participation on “Factor” a bigger event. One potential compromise is that Cowell could take a smaller role on “Idol” in 2011 -- judging the Hollywood rounds, for example, but not the auditions. Fox was originally planning "Factor" for the fall of 2010. But delays in the Sony deal have pushed the show to an expected 2011 premiere date.
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Wheel, J! Updates Q1 '10 New Titles for All Mobile Platforms From Tech Gadgets |
Posted 12/23/09 |
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Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
has announced an array of mobile games to be released during
the first quarter of 2010.
The company's current and upcoming titles are Wheel of Fortune in February and Jeopardy! in March. The SPHE mobile games can be played on Blackberry, BREW, J2ME, iPhone, and Windows Mobile devices. Their gaming titles will also be available on Android. |
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Catch 21? There's an App for That... GSN Hit Goes to iPhone for Free From PR Newswire |
Posted 12/23/09 |
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GSN (Game Show Network) today
unveiled its CATCH-21 iPhone application, giving game show
fans and casual gamers another way to build winning hands and
play for prizes. Based on the hit game show hosted by Alfonso
Ribeiro, GSN's CATCH-21 iPhone application is a skill-based
spin on Blackjack (aka "21"). "Catch-21 has consistently been a top ten game on GSN.com, appealing to both casual gamers and game show fans," said Peter Blacklow, president of WorldWinner and EVP of GSN Digital. "With this new iPhone application, we're bringing CATCH-21 to mobile consumers who are increasingly engaged in smartphone entertainment." iPhone owners can now compete against other players for Oodles, GSN's winnable and redeemable online bucks. Whether Oodles are won on an iPhone, iPod touch or online, they can be used for prizes including retail gift cards, electronics and daily, weekly, and monthly sweepstakes entries. The CATCH-21 iPhone application will closely mirror the online version of the game, which is available at WorldWinner.com and GSN.com. Game show fans can also tune in to CATCH 21 to see host Alfonso Ribeiro quiz contestants as they compete to win playing cards and build a hand that comes closest to 21. GSN fans will find more about the game, including all the ways to play by visiting GSN.com/CATCH21. |
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1 vs. 100 for Free Microsoft's Gift to You From Spong |
Posted 12/23/09 |
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Xbox 360 online game show, 1 vs
100, will be free to play for both Xbox Live Silver and Gold
members from the 24th - 28th December, giving everyone a bit
of festive cheer and a little bonus for those who are getting
new consoles for Christmas. Major Nelson announced on his blog that the family friendly quiz show, which usually requires an Xbox Live Gold subscription to play, will be available gratis from 9am on Christmas Eve until 9am next Monday. Boxing Day will see a special 'Holiday episode' of the show take place online too. Also being added to the Dashboard today will be a 'Games Music Marketplace', putting all DLC for Rock Band, Guitar Hero and others into one organised place. Nice. |
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Ben Bailey's Got Talent "Cash Cab" Driver Hosts Local Talent Showcase From NJ.com |
Posted 12/23/09 |
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Ben Bailey, star of the Discovery
Channel's Cash Cab, will host the third annual Morristown's
Got Talent show, organizers announced. The March 3 competition at the Community Theatre is a benefit for the Morris Educational Foundation. It's open to amateur performers who live, work or study in Morristown, Morris Township or Morris Plains; today is the deadline to apply for auditions, scheduled for Jan. 9. Chatham native Ben Bailey has appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, One Life to Live and Fox's Mad TV, among many other programs. Cash Cab, a quiz show in which Ben drives contestants around New York City, is in its third season. "Ben Bailey's quick wit and keen sense of humor will add to the tremendous energy and excitement in the theater," said Debbie Sontupe, one of the talent show's organizers. "The outstanding talent on the stage from our host and contestants is sure to combine with the phenomenal venue at the Community Theatre at the Mayo Center for the Performing Arts to give area residents an evening they won't want to miss... and it all benefits a wonderful community organization... the Morris Educational Foundation," Debbie said. A former Star Search contestant, Ben is a licensed New York cabbie who competes in triathlons in his spare time. |
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Russell Hantz: Officially the Best
Player to Never Win "Survivor" Runner-Up Opens Website From People |
Posted 12/23/09 |
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Was there anything Russell Hantz
didn’t do in the 19th season of Survivor? He sabotaged camp by
emptying canteens and burning socks. He originally lied and
said he lost everything in Hurricane Katrina. He found three
hidden immunity idols without clues and played each one in a
different, effective way. He got rid of people he thought were
threats and had his pick of who to take with him to the final
three. But in the end, there was one thing that the
37-year-old oil company entrepreneur didn’t do, and that was
win the title of sole Survivor. "It kind of shook me up. I knew I didn’t win because I can read people that good," Hantz tells People.com. "It’s like, you try so hard for something, and when you hear you didn’t win it, it’s rough. I thought maybe there’s a shot, but I started thinking and thinking about it when I was home, and analyzing everything that everybody said, and I was like, ‘I didn’t win.’ That’s why I already opened the website, russellgotscrewed.com. That’s why it’s so impressive to know that John did vote for me and Shambo did vote for me because you da man if you can get stabbed in the back, turn around, and give that person the vote. That takes a strong personality." Jeff Probst, who calls him "the
greatest Survivor player ever", writes in his blog for EW.com
that Hantz was "the victim of a jury of bitter people. I am
not taking anything away from Natalie, she clearly did a great
job of reading the group dynamic of the jury and as a result
she deserves the money." |
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CBS Retools Midseason "Race" Returns Valentine's Day From the TV Guy |
Posted 12/21/09 |
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CBS this morning announced several
premiere dates for midseason and a new lineup for Sunday
nights in the new year. The Eye Network is focused on reality television with the announcement. “The Amazing Race” returns on Sunday, Feb. 14, and will air at 8 p.m. Sundays. It will be the 16th edition of that Emmy-winning contest. The network will put “Undercover Boss,” a new reality series, at 9 p.m. Sundays. That series debuts after the Super Bowl on Feb. 7. The premise: Corporate bigwigs play regular workers to see how their staffs perform. “Cold Case” shifts back to 10 p.m. Sundays, starting Feb. 14. As Jeff Probst announced last night on the “Survivor” reunion show, that CBS franchise will celebrate its history with its 20th edition. “Survivor: Heroes Vs. Villains” brings back alumni to battle for the prize. That “Survivor” starts Thursday, Feb. 11. The network has lined up several specials to hold the 8 p.m. Thursday time slot before the new “Survivor” season starts. CBS will offer a special called “Surviving Survivor” on Feb. 11, and, yes, it’s a recap of the series’ greatest moments. |
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"Perfect 10" Gets Its Guy "Food Network Star" Winner Fieri to Host NBC's New Game From the Wrap |
Posted 12/21/09 |
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Food Network star Guy Fieri has
signed on to host "Perfect 10," the new NBC gameshow in which
completing simple tasks can result in a big payoff. Fieri, host of the cable network's "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives," will be part of the show from the casting process through production. NBC will piggyback on Fieri's popular "Road Shows" (essentially Guy concerts) by holding auditions at the events (starting with Fieri's Thursday visit to Los Angeles's Wiltern Theater). NBC reality chief Paul Telegdy, who greenlit "Perfect 10" earlier this fall, said Fieri's personality was the right fit for the show. “Guy’s enthusiasm is infectious," he said. “He's a true gamer at heart and his excitement for this show will inspire both the competitors and viewers at home to join in on the fun.” Fieri will serve as master of ceremonies and will be the competitors biggest cheerleader. In each episode, Fieri will lead competitors through a series of simple, yet nerve wracking games that can reward them a $1 million prize. Over eight one-hour episodes, competitors will face 10 challenges that escalate in level of difficulty. Created using everyday household items, each game has a 60-second time limit and failure to finish the task on time will eliminate the contestant. One slip of the hand and you're out. Fieri shot to fame a few years ago after winning the Food Network's "The Next Food Network Star." NBC is expected to premiere "Perfect 10" later this season or over the summer.
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 Guy Fieri will host "Perfect 10" for NBC (photo courtesy the Wrap) |
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Alaina Reed
Hall: 1946-2009 "Sesame Street", "227" Actress A Frequent Gamer From UPI |
Posted 12/21/09 |
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Alaina Reed Hall, the actress who
played Olivia on TV's "Sesame Street," has died of breast
cancer in Los Angeles, her family said. She was 63. Reed's Dec. 17 death was reported Monday by WHIO Radio in Springfield, Ohio. The popular stage actress and Ohio native appeared on "Sesame Street" from to 1976 to 1988. She also had roles on "227," "Cleghorne," "Ally McBeal" and "ER." In the game show world, she was also a panelist on many shows, including The New Hollywood Squares, Wordplay, Animal Crack-Ups, New Liars' Club, The Last Word, Relatively Speaking, The Gong Show, and Dream Girl U.S.A. GSNN's Chris Tufts contributed to this report. |
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Report: Fatone, Wife Expecting "Singing Bee" Original Host to Be a Father From AHN |
Posted 12/21/09 |
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Joey Fatone and his wife are
expecting their second child. A source close to the couple
revealed that they are awaiting the birth of their daughter in
January. Life & Style magazine has quoted an insider that says Fatone and wife Kelly Baldwin are expecting another girl "around January 11." The incoming addition to their family will follow older sister Briahna, who was born in March 2001. Fatone, who married Baldwin in 2004, came in second place on the ABC dancing show "Dancing with the Stars" in 2007. He hosted the singing game show "The Singing Bee" on NBC, as well as its Australian version. |
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Sutter: "Bachelor" Tainted "Bachelorette" Thinks Marrying Outside Reality TV Wise From E! Online |
Posted 12/21/09 |
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Reality television has come a long
way since Trista Sutter found the love of her life on The
Bachelorette. "The show is a little tainted now," the 37-year-old mother of two said recently at JC Penney's Holiday Tasting and Tree Trimming at West Hollywood's Sunset Tower. "People know the right things to say and do, and how to act." Trista and Ryan Sutter said "I do" in 2003 after she picked him as the bachelor she wanted to marry. Their wedding aired as a television special on ABC. "When we were on it, it was more innocent," she continued. "It came from a pure place...I'm sure many people go on now to be a part of the public eye." In fact, Trista believes it's probably best that recent Bachelor contestant Melissa Rycroft ended up marrying outside of reality TV. "Melissa knew Tye [Strickland] for awhile before she went on The Bachelor, so it's kind of a mature relationship," Trista said. "She seems very, very, very happy and I'm happy for her." Perhaps Rycroft and her new hubby can take marital tips from Trista and her husband Ryan Sutter. The couple, who tied the knot six years ago, showed up at the JC Penney event looking happier than ever. The duo toted along their adorable eight-month-old daughter Blakesley Grace Sutter. "It's all about the kids for the holidays," Trista said. "We are hanging out in the mountains where we live. Ryan's parents are coming, and we're just going to chill out and have good family time." |
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"Idol", "Human Target" to Flip Move to Become Effective January 27 From the Futon Critic |
Posted 12/18/09 |
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Fox is already rethinking its
midseason plans as "Human Target" and "American Idol" will now
flip time periods on Wednesday nights. Newcomer "Target" will still launch on Sunday, January 17 at 8:00/7:00c and get a post-"Idol" boost on Wednesday, January 20 at 9:00/8:00c. Beginning January 27 however, "Target" will assume the 8:00/7:00c slot on Wednesdays with "Idol" following at 9:00/8:00c. Said news, set to be formally announced later today, was confirmed to the Futon Critic exclusively this morning. |
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Record Year for CMT "Singing Bee", "5th Grader" Cited From the Futon Critic |
Posted 12/18/09 |
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CMT shattered ratings records in
2009, delivering its most-watched year ever with growth in
virtually every daypart and demo. The year of milestone
achievements follows an aggressive strategy to launch new
original series, big music stunts and strategic acquisitions,
resulting in increases among P18-49 and total viewers in both
primetime and total day.* 2009 is on pace to become CMT's
ninth consecutive year of primetime growth among P18-49, and
fourth quarter will mark the network's fifth consecutive
quarter of growth across total day. Setting the pace for an even bigger 2010, CMT will launch new episodes of "The Singing Bee" in January. CMT ratings highlights for 2009 include: - "The Singing Bee" averaged 1.5 million viewers and became the channel's highest-rated series debut of all time when it premiered June 16th. - Strips in fourth quarter which include acquired series' "Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?" and "Extreme Home Makeover" have averaged P18-49 ratings +32% over the same period last year. |
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"Deal" Aussie Set for Upgrade Show to Face Off Against "Hot Seat" From the Herald-Sun |
Posted 12/18/09 |
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A revamped Deal or No Deal could
leave Eddie McGuire in the hot seat next year as the evening
game show battle looks set to intensify. McGuire and Deal host Andrew O'Keefe went head to head this year with Channel 9 moving closer to toppling Channel 7 in the ferociously contested 5.30pm timeslot. Which would you rather watch, Deal or No Deal, or Hot Seat? Opinions please. Deal or No Deal is having a makeover to freshen it up for the battle with McGuire's Millionaire Hot Seat. While Seven remains tight-lipped about the changes, new components will be introduced to revitalise the show and give it an edge of suspense. The glamorous briefcase-wielding girls of the program will also get a makeover, with a new look and a new cast.
Donning new frocks and new wigs,
it is believed they will take on a more active role. |
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Andrew WK = Bob Barker? "Destroy" Host: "I Think About Him All The Time" From Spinner |
Posted 12/18/09 |
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Andrew WK isn't exactly Mr.
Smooth. Still, the hard rocker cites convivial 'The Price Is
Right' emcee Bob Barker as inspiration for constructing his
new role as host of the Cartoon Network' show, 'Destroy Build
Destroy.' "I watched 'The Price is Right' as a kid and I was always fascinated by what he did," WK tells Spinner. "Though the show didn't change too much, he was always able to make it interesting for me." While Andrew WK filmed the second season of 'Destroy Build Destroy' in October, a vision of Barker was usually in the back of his mind. "I think about him all the time. I'm really not like him. I don't know if I ever could be like him, but maybe there are similarities. Just that he was very unto himself and seemed clearly to be enjoying it or he wouldn't be doing it. You had the sense that you were watching someone who wanted to be doing what they are doing and that upped the entertainment factor a huge amount." "The show is a bit of a game show," he adds of 'Destroy Build Destroy,' which pitches teams against each other to destroy something, rebuild it imaginatively and then destroy it again. "A lot of the shows I watched growing up as a kid, which includes 'The Price Is Right,' had some kind of appeal beyond just watching the show. You get interested in the fact that there are these kinds of people like Bob who do these jobs." WK, the king of the adrenaline rush, counts himself a rookie in the hosting business, but he thinks that the two might also share a love of that performance high. "Someone like Bob Barker, who did TV for so long, clearly must have got hooked on it," he says. |
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"Dance Crew" Judge Arrested for Child
Molestation Sparks held on $590,000 Bail From Us Magazine |
Posted 12/18/09 |
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Shane Sparks, a judge on MTV's
America's Best Dance Crew, has been arrested and charged with
nine counts of child molestation.
The star, who was also a
choreographer on So You Think You Can Dance, was taken into
custody Friday morning on a felony warrant. |
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Fox Puts "Cube" on Ice No Further Details Given by Fox From the Wrap |
Posted 12/17/09 |
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Fox has pulled the plug on "The
Cube." In October, the network said it was developing a US version of the hit British game show, in which contestants compete simple tasks inside a specially-designed stress chamber. The series, from Objective Media, aired after "The X-Factor" on ITV and produced big ratings. But now a Fox spokesperson has confirmed to TheWrap that "The Cube" is no longer in the works, declining to give further details. It could be that Fox simply has run out of shelf space for the project. It's got its big Mark Burnett-produced kiddie genius show set to launch next month. And there continue to be rumors about a US take on "X-Factor" as early as next fall. It's also not unusual for networks to begin developing projects and then decide the concept isn't as strong as they expected. |
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George Duran Cakes Off Season 2 to Bow February 1 From the Futon Critic |
Posted 12/17/09 |
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TLC today announced that "Ultimate
Cake Off" returns to the schedule for its second season,
starting February 1, 2010 at 10 PM ET/PT. Joining the series
as host is chef, TV personality and author George Duran,
bringing expertise and energy to the hit culinary competition
series. Margaret Braun, an acclaimed sugar artist based in New York, and Leigh Grode, owner of Los Angeles' Cake Divas bakery, return as judges. "George is a great addition to the "Ultimate Cake Off" team, and one of the 'secret ingredients' we've added to make the second season even better than the first," explained Nancy Daniels, SVP of Production & Development, TLC. "As a chef, I think cooking should always be fun--and I can think of no better way to express that than through the creations the "Ultimate Cake Off" contestants cook up each week," said George. "I hope to help the bakers navigate each crazy challenge, and let the viewers at home share in all the fun we're having. It's gonna be sweet!" Each of "Ultimate Cake Off"'s eight hour-long episodes pits three different cake artists against each other as they create edible masterpieces in hopes of winning $10,000 and having their cakes featured at a marquee event. With only nine hours, these competitors must make cakes that are at least five feet tall and are creative enough to win the taste of the client and take the prize. To add to the pressure, the contestants also face two mini-challenges - a skills test and a taste test - that could give one team the ultimate advantage: being able to sit out another team for 30 minutes. This season, cakes will be created for events ranging from the 75th anniversary of the Griffith Observatory to a sweet 16 birthday party. George Duran is a New York City-based chef and entertainer. Author of Take This Dish and Twist It, released in 2008, he previously hosted Ham on the Street and The Secret Life of..., on Food Network. Since the fall, George Duran has served as the spokesperson for Hunt's tomatoes on the Crash Kitchen Tour integrated marketing campaign. Duran was born and raised in Venezuela, the son of Armenian immigrants. |
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Second "Drag Race" Ready Catch It on Logo February 1 From the Futon Critic |
Posted 12/17/09 |
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"Gentlemen, start your engines!
May the best woman win!" After much critical acclaim and
widespread popularity, Logo's hit reality competition series "RuPaul's
Drag Race" has returned for a second season. This second lap
of "RuPaul's Drag Race" will reflect the same hallmarks of the
first season that made it a pop culture hit, including the now
classic "lip synch for your life" segment. However, with a
larger cast of competitors, mega-watt of celebrity guest
judges and more extravagant weekly challenges, the second
season of "RuPaul's Drag Race" will be the most tweeted about
show of the season. The stakes, wigs and heels are higher than
ever as RuPaul searches to crown one lucky up-and-coming drag
queen the title (and tiara) of "America's Next Drag
Superstar." "RuPaul's Drag Race" returns Monday, February 1,
2010 at 9:00 PM ET/PT. "RuPaul's Drag Race" returns stronger than ever with a dream team of A-list celebrity and judges. Each week, joining RuPaul on the judges' panel includes the return of fashion journalist Merle Ginsberg and Project Runway breakout star Santino Rice. In addition, star-studded guest judges will grace the runway and decide which drag queen will need to "lip synch for their life" at the end of each weekly larger-than-life challenge. Guest judges and stars include: Kathy Griffin (comic/actress), Cloris Leachman (Academy Award winning actress), Debbie Reynolds (legendary actress), Jackie Collins (prolific novelist), Tatum O'Neal (Academy Award-winning actress), Kathy Najimy (actress), Henry Rollins (punk rock icon), Terri Nunn (singer of "Berlin"), Marissa Jaret Winokur (Tony Award-winning actress), Dita Von Teese (international burlesque star), Niecy Nash ("Reno 911!"), Martha Wash (Dance music hitmaker), Robert Verdi (Logo's "The Robert Verdi Show Starring Robert Verdi"), Kim Coles (comic/actress), Tanya Tucker (country music legend), Lisa Rinna (actress), Mathu Andersen (master image creator), Gigi Levangie Grazer (writer/creator of USA's "The Starter Wife"), Alec Mapa (comedian/actor), Phoebe Price, Marc Malkin (E! Television), Mike Ruiz (photographer), James St. James (pop culture personality) and Ryan Heffington (choreographer). |
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Get Golf with... Donald Trump? "Apprentice" Host to Front Series on Golf Channel From New York Post |
Posted 12/17/09 |
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Imagine "Get Golf with John
O'Hurley"... only instead of the current "Family Feud" host,
you get Donald Trump. Trump
will host "Donald J. Trump's Fabulous World of Golf," a
half-hour series premiering April 26 on Golf Channel. |
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Cash Cab, Feud Head to iPhone Both Available at the App Store From CNN Money |
Posted 12/17/09 |
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Discovery Communications and
Capcom Mobile today announced the availability of the Cash Cab
game on the App Store. Based on the hit Discovery Channel game
show series, the Cash Cab App for iPhone and iPod Touch
features tons of questions, 21 New York City landmarks, the
ability to play your own music in-game, and players can now
post their favorite scores directly to Facebook. Additionally,
question expansion packs are now available from within the App
for near limitless replayability. In the television show Cash Cab, contestants ride in the back seat of a New York City taxicab and are quizzed on general knowledge questions all the way to their destination. As the meter ticks, the questions get harder and the stakes get higher. Miss three questions and the Cash Cab pulls over and ejects the contestants onto the sidewalk, no matter where they are in the city. The Cash Cab App uses the Emmy Award-winning show's signature concept and challenges players to answer a series of progressively difficult questions before they get to their destination. Extending the TV show experience, gamers can keep coming back for more as questions are pulled from subjects as diverse as History, Pop Culture, Language and Science. The app also features a "Ride with a Friend" feature similar to the "Shout Out" option featured in the show.
Also, Ludia and FremantleMedia
Enterprises (FME) today announced the launch of the Family
Feud game for iPhone® and iPod touch® on the App Store. |
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"Amazing Racer" Gets Amazingly Undressed 14th Race Runner-Up Playboy's Miss January From New York Daily News |
Posted 12/17/09 |
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Growing up, Jaime Faith Edmondson
wanted to go into law enforcement and someday be an undercover
agent. Ironically, rather than going unexposed as a secret agent, Edmondson has gone in the opposite direction. Last season she gained a huge following - and exposure - en route to a runnerup spot in CBS' "Amazing Race 14" and now she's Playboy's Miss January, in the issue hitting newsstands this week. "I grew up with a family of police officers," she says of the career path. "If I went to a barbecue as a child, they were all police officers, too. That's all I ever knew. That was literally the only occupation I knew." She did get into law enforcement for a while as a police officer in Florida, but, she says, because she'd also been a Miami Dolphins cheerleader, those on the force made it an uncomfortable experience. She then returned to the Dolphins. Edmondson said applying for "The Amazing Race" wasn't an effort to expand her media exposure, but rather she was in it for the competition. She convinced pal Cara Rosenthal to be her partner on the show. "I just wanted to be part of this amazing adventure," she says now. "They picked us, which I didn't think would happen on the first time. My partner had never seen the show. But I told her I really think we could win." And they almost did. "I never really saw all of this happening," Edmondson says of the show and now Playboy. "Every time I make a plan in life, it goes another way." |
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More on "Runway's" New Season Catch It on Lifetime January 14 From the Futon Critic |
Posted 12/16/09 |
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Lifetime Television and The
Weinstein Company heat up winter with the return of 2009's
highest rated cable reality program among Women 18+ and in
Households, Project Runway, as the series heads back to New
York for an all-new season. Premiering on Thursday, January
14, 2010, at 10PM ET/PT, host Heidi Klum, mentor Tim Gunn,
judges Michael Kors (leading designer) and Nina Garcia
(fashion director for Marie Claire magazine) will be joined by
16 new designers vying for a shot to make their way to Bryant
Park and show their collection in front of top industry
insiders during New York Fashion Week. For Project Runway Season Seven, designers return to the Atlas apartments, Parsons work room and revisit the Manhattan Mood as they create their couture visions for the runway. As part of the winner's prize package, the victorious designer will receive an editorial feature in Marie Claire magazine, the opportunity to sell their line on Bluefly.com, a $50,000 technology suite by HP and Intel to create, design and run their business, and a cash prize of $100,000 from L'Oreal Paris to launch their own fashion line. Season Two of Models of the Runway launches at 11:00PM ET/PT, beginning January 14, 2010, with 16 fresh faces aspiring for their chance at being paired with the last Project Runway designer standing on the catwalk. Models of the Runway provides a back-stage look at Project Runway from the models' perspective. The winning model will receive a $25,000 cash prize from L'Oreal Paris Studio Secrets Professional make-up line and will also be featured in the designer's fashion spread in Marie Claire. L'Oreal Paris cosmetics line and the haircare, styling and haircolor brand Garnier will return to serve as the official category partners for both series. In addition, Project Runway and Models of the Runway will be in High-Definition, where available, for the first time. Both series are produced by The Weinstein Company, Miramax Films, Bunim-Murray Productions and Full Picture. |
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"Bachelor" Takes Flight Catch It on ABC January 4 From TV by the Numbers |
Posted 12/16/09 |
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What do an NBA dancer, a corporate
flight attendant, a mortgage loan officer and a captain in the
Air National Guard have in common? They all have their sights
set on moving to Dallas with the new Bachelor, Jake Pavelka,
when “The Bachelor: On the Wings of Love,” the 14th edition of
ABC’s popular romance reality series, premieres Monday,
January 4 (8:00-10:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television
Network. Jake, 31, a commercial airline pilot, meets 25 potential soul mates as he begins his exciting search for true love. In the premiere episode, “1401,” Jason prepares for the night of his life, as the 25 beautiful bachelorettes, who can think of nothing but him, begin to arrive. |
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Italy Gets Stung Spanish Game Ported to Italy From C21media |
Posted 12/15/09 |
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Spanish gameshow format The Sting
(aka El Golpe) has been sold into Italy, where Endemol has
been tapped to produce a local version. The show debuted on Mediaset's Canale 5 last night to a 24.09% average share and 4.83 million total viewers. The format came from Madrid's Europroducciones TV, the Italian arm of which supplied the software, graphics and music to the Canale 5 show. |
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Let the "Sing-Off" Begin! Catch It Tonight on NBC! From the Futon Critic |
Posted 12/14/09 |
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"American Idol" has shown that
singing competition shows are big ratings grabbers and, to
take advantage of the holiday reruns and specials, NBC is
launching "The Sing-Off," where a capella groups vie for the
grand prize - an Epic Records/Sony Music recording contract.
However, instead of the show running over multiple weeks, as
most reality competition shows traditionally do, "The
Sing-Off" will air only four two-hour episodes from start to
finish beginning tonight. To find out more about this new
twist on the singing reality show, executive producer Joel
Gallen and host Nick Lachey fielded questions during a press
call about the movie origins of the show, Lachey's advice to
the groups and the singer's other untapped career aspirations. Most reality shows don't find their origins in the motion picture business but "The Sing-Off" is the exception, as Gallen explained. "There is a movie script [at Sony Pictures] that was being developed around the whole a cappella world especially around colleges and universities. And the way I understand it Amy Pascal, the Chairman of Sony Pictures, was reading the script and of course not only was responding to how good the idea was for a movie she immediately, I think, contacted the television division of Sony and said 'you guys should try to turn this into a sort of reality competition show.' And that's sort of when it started. And then the Sony television people contacted me and I came in and we sort of all developed it together. And, you know, several months later here we are with 'The Sing-Off.'" Lachey, who burst onto the music scene with his pop group 98 Degrees in the late 90s, shared his excitement over the show's focus. "It's kind of a forum that no one's really explored on television before and it's something that's really a passion for me having grown up singing a cappella music. In 98 Degrees we always really took a lot of pride in being able to sing a cappella and sing live a cappella." |
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"Bank of Hollywood" Open for Business Catch It Tonight on E! From Los Angeles Times |
Posted 12/14/09 |
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Candy Spelling is already famous
or infamous; it can be hard to tell these days. The wife of
the late TV mogul Aaron Spelling, she's also owner of one of
the most expensive homes in the country -- complete with a
doll museum and three rooms devoted to gift wrap -- and mother
to " Beverly Hills 90210" star Tori Spelling, with whom she's
had a publicly tumultuous relationship for years. Now she enters that not-so-rarefied world of fringe celebrities on reality TV. Tonight at 10, she will be the anchor judge on the new Ryan Seacrest-produced E! reality show "Bank of Hollywood," in which ordinary people line up to beg a panel featuring Spelling and other vaguely known showbiz personalities for their personal cash. "One of the key components to this show" is sniffing out the phony requests, said Seacrest. The 64-year-old made her own pitch for the new show during a recent press event at the Spelling Manor pool house, part of a 56,500-square-foot French château-style estate she's been trying to sell for almost a year -- list price: $150 million. The reality show, she said, surrounded by a wall of at least five handlers, seems "to fit in with this new chapter in my life." "Being single again, I'm even dating," she said. "I'm barely home anymore." |
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NBC's Midseason Bigger "Biggest Loser", "Apprentice" Coming From Los Angeles Times |
Posted 12/14/09 |
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NBC announced the long-awaited
premiere date for "Parenthood" today, along with the rest of
its midseason lineup. It
will be the heaviest cast ever when season nine of NBC's hit
series "The Biggest Loser" kicks off on Tuesday, January 5,
2010. Twenty-two contestants - eleven family teams of two -
come to "The Biggest Loser" ranch hoping to transform their
bodies, their health and ultimately, their lives. Alison
Sweeney hosts the series and contestants work out under the
supervision of trainers Bob Harper and Jillian Michaels. Meanwhile, NBC has also set a go-date on "The Celebrity Apprentice". The new season will launch March 14 at 9p ET. |
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Howie Mandel "Said" Battle of the Sexes Show Casting From Reality Wanted |
Posted 12/14/09 |
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He Said, She Said, a really fun
and exciting game show that is the "ultimate battle of the
sexes" is casting. Basic Premise: Contestants of the opposite sex must correctly predict the answers to fun and edgy polling questions for a chance to win a customized, gender based grand prize! For instance she is playing for a spa weekend in Cancun with all her friends and he's playing for a fishing trip with his buddies in Cabo! Questions are all based on the fact that men and women think differently. Show is being produced by Howie Mandel and Jeff Apploff, the creator and Executive Producer of Don't Forget the Lyrics! |
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Scoring in Las Vegas Top Chef Finale Attracts 3.4 Million From Variety |
Posted 12/14/09 |
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Bravo's "Top Chef" delivered
season highs in all demos for its finale Wednesday night. Last episode of Las Vegas-centric season six delivered 3.4 million viewers, up 16% vs. last week. Finale drew nearly 1 million more than the season opener on Aug. 19. Number was down, however, from the season-five finale that drew 3.7 million. Tom Colicchio, Gail Simmons and Toby Young are judges. Padma Lakshmi is host. Production for the seventh season will begin in January. |
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It's the End of the "World" as We Know
It... 54-Year-Old Soap Opera Cancelled From The Wrap |
Posted 12/14/09 |
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CBS has canceled "As the World
Turns," leaving the network with just two daytime dramas. The decision comes just a few months after the network ended "Guiding Light," at the time the longest-running soap on TV. "World" has been on the air since 1956 and will end its CBS run in September. Both "Light" and "World" are produced by TeleNext Media, a unit of Procter and Gamble. The CBS move isn't entirely unexpected. Virtually all daytime soaps are living on borrowed time, though cost-cutting is expected to save higher-rated dramas such as Sony's "The Young and the Restless." Soap press had been speculating that "World" could be next to go, though it's a bit surprising CBS confirmed the move so far in advance. TeleNext said it will try to find a new buyer for "World," though it said the same thing about "Light" when it was shut down. "Throughout our history, 'As The World Turns' has remained dedicated to sharing compelling stories that have entertained fans for more than five decades," executive producer Chris Goutman said. "We are disappointed and saddened by the news that the show is not being renewed. It will certainly be a loss for all of us, and for the show's loyal audience." Brian T. Cahill, senior vice [resident and managing director, TeleNext Media, Inc., added that the company is "proactively seeking a new outlet to carry the show, and are open to exploring innovative formats and relationships that will enable the future success of ATWT." CBS replaced "Light" with game show "Let's Make a Deal." It's unclear if the Eye will choose to add another gameshow or perhaps try something different.
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Kim Coles to Honor LA Organizers "Pay It Off" Host Hosts Award Ceremony January 30 From PR Web |
Posted 12/14/09 |
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Kim Coles will host the 2010 Los
Angeles Organizing Awards, honoring the best and the brightest
in the professional organizing industry, Saturday, January 30
at Raleigh Studios, Hollywood. CA. As the host, Kim will share
her humorous personal experiences of working with a
professional organizer. “We’re thrilled to welcome comedian Kim Coles as the celebrity host of the Fifth Annual Los Angeles Organizing Awards,” said Chantale Bordonaro, President of NAPO-LA. ”Kim has an extraordinary charm in developing rapport with her audience and we’re especially thrilled she has personal experience working with a professional organizer. Her skillful comedy has the unique ability to break down barriers and return us to common interest. This year's Awards will be the biggest and best event we've ever produced, complete with a Hollywood-style red carpet. The public is invited to join in the fun, and learn firsthand about the most effective organizing strategies, products and services available." Kim is best known for her zany characters and outrageous sense of humor. She got her start as the runner-up in the Big Beautiful Woman pageant in Atlantic City, New Jersey. She rode her beauty pageant success into a plus-size modeling career, and then began performing stand-up comedy and her show biz career really took off. Kim landed the spot as warm-up comedian for The Cosby Show. From there she appeared on several stand-up shows and also worked as an opening act for several popular musicians (Luther Vandross, Bobby Brown & The O'Jays). Her big break arrived when she was cast by the Wayans brothers in the sketch show, ‘In Living Color’. Since then, she has appeared in several seasons of ‘Living Single’. Kim has continued to work steadily, appearing in sit-coms, reality shows, and game shows, having hosted her own, "Pay It Off", in 2009. |
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Melissa Rycroft Says "I Do!" "Dancing" Star A Bachelorette No More From Us Magazine |
Posted 12/14/09 |
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Nearly a year after being rejected
on national television by Jason Mesnick, former Bachelor
contestant Melissa Rycroft is finally a married woman. Rycroft swapped vows with fiancé of six months, Dallas insurance agent Tye Strickland, Saturday in Mexico, Usmagazine.com has confirmed. The couple became husband and wife in a 30-minute sunset ceremony attended by family and friends at a home on Isla Mujeres, a small island near Cancun. Rycroft, a former Dallas Cowboys cheerleader, and Strickland sealed their tear-filled vows with a kiss as an instrumental version of the Monday Night Football theme song played. Rycroft wore a strapless corseted Alfred Angelo gown and was barefoot as her father escorted her down the aisle. Her four bridesmaids donned salmon-colored dresses and carried bouquets of orange roses, while Strickland's groomsman wore mint green button-down shirts and khaki trousers. The 26-year-old Rycroft -- who celebrated her impending nuptials with Strickland, 28, and their pals at a joint Nov. 15 bachelor/bachelorette party in Las Vegas -- has long said her ceremony would be low-key. "I'm not stuffy or anything," the Good Morning America correspondent and 2009 Dancing With the Stars finalist, has said. "That's not my personality. Engaged since June, Rycroft and Strickland rekindled their romance after Rycroft's abrupt dismissal from the ABC series. Dumped by Mesnick for runner-up Molly Malaney, Rycroft calls being jilted "one of the best things that has happened to me in my life." |
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More on The Next Guy... "Bachelor" Alums Also Return with an Announcement From ET Online |
Posted 12/14/09 |
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Fans of "The Bachelor" will be
able to tune in on January 4 when the new season premieres
with hunky Jake Pavelka as the new bachelor. Jake, who won the audience's heart on last season's "The Bachelorette," is out to prove that nice guys don't always finish last. The handsome commercial pilot from Dallas, TX, begins his search for true love when the 14th edition of the series, entitled, "The Bachelor: On the Wings of Love," takes flight. But Jake won't be completely on his own. "The Bachelorette"'s Jillian Harris and her fiancé Ed Swiderski return to offer advice and to make a special announcement. Have they set a wedding date? Women across America fell in love with the 31-year-old when he shared a one-on-one date with Jillian to see Martina McBride. Viewers were shocked when Jillian failed to give Jake a red rose before the hometown dates, but now it's his time to search for the one woman who could be his soul mate. Jake says the woman of his dreams will also be his best friend. He is looking for someone who is intelligent, confident, energetic and spontaneous. And ladies, he admits that he can't wait for fatherhood! The premiere episode takes Jake back to the Malibu mansion where he first met Jillian. The 25 ladies who will vie for his affections include a stunning model, who is the first woman out of the limo. A bold, fast-talking bachelorette wastes no time, asking Jake whether she can touch his impressive abs, and a sexy blonde also isn't afraid to come on strong, literally falling into Jake's arms. One charming woman confesses her fear of flying, and an alluring teacher causes a stir when she dons a revealing flight attendant's uniform and steals Jake away from an unsuspecting single mom. After an athletic hottie grabs Jake to play touch football, it's blondes vs. brunettes in the first sexy, barefoot-in-eveningwear football scrimmage in "Bachelor" history! Then host Chris Harrison interrupts the cocktail party to bring out the "first impression" rose and the competition heats up! Finally, Jake must eliminate 10 of the 25 women the first night, leaving 15 to compete for his affections, and in the end, his heart. "The Bachelor: On the Wings of Love" two-hour premiere airs Monday, January 4 at 8 p.m. on ABC. |
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Season High for Survivor Thursday's Show Scores Opposite Repeats From the Futon Critic |
Posted 12/11/09 |
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Survivor: Samoa delivered season
highs in all key measures, CSI matched its season best adult
18-49 rating and The Mentalist had its largest audience of the
year and matched its best adult 18-49 rating, according to
Nielsen preliminary live plus same day ratings for Thursday,
Dec. 10. (Editor's Note: In Pittsburgh, NFL Network's Thursday Night Football coverage of the Steelers at Browns, aired on the CBS affiliate, delivering a 36.4/49. CBS's programming in Pittsburgh aired on the CW affiliate, delaying CW programming to late night. CBS's ratings are tentative and subject to change.) Survivor won its time period in households (8.0/13), viewers (13.80m), adults 25-54 (5.2/13) and adults 18-49 (4.3/12). Compared to last week, SURVIVOR was up +7% in households (from 7.5/12), +8% in adults 25-54 (from 4.8/12), +10% in adults 18-49 (from 3.9/11) and added +980,000 viewers (from 12.82m, +8%). If the ratings hold, this is a season high in these measures. |
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GSN Launches Two for 2010 "Hidden Agenda", "Unstapled" to Bow January 14 From GSN PR |
Posted 12/11/09 |
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Combining the unscripted
spontaneity and hilarity of reality television with the
competitive excitement of TV’s best game shows, GSN announces
the premiere of "Hidden Agenda", a new domestic hidden-camera
game show in which one member of a couple attempts to persuade
his or her partner to complete a series of challenges—without
letting on that the world is watching. Comic Debi Gutierrez,
whose comedy career has thrived on the communication (or lack
thereof) between couples, serves as host of the show and as
the couples’ cheerleader. "Hidden Agenda" premieres Thursday,
January 14, at 8:30 PM (ET). In "Hidden Agenda" (originally titled "Honey, Please"), partners secretly set each other up to face a series of outrageous and comedic challenges. The challenges are specifically designed for each couple, so that the contestant asks his/her partner to do the exact things that he/she wouldn't normally do—such as helping with particular household chores and other domestic duties. With each challenge the partner completes, the couple can win cash and prizes. Meanwhile, a troupe of recurring actors makes surprise appearances, amping up the fun and excitement. Debi Gutierrez’s comedy act is based on relationships—especially those between men and women—and she speaks with the authority of a seasoned therapist and the raucous humor of a stand-up comic. During her career, she’s gone from high school teacher to international performer, and is now a regular at premiere comedy clubs in Los Angeles and around the country. Her daily parenting show, "A Place of Our Own", a three-time Emmy nominee, airs nationally on PBS affiliates and has won the prestigious Peabody Award and The Parents’ Choice Award. "Hidden Agenda" is produced by Michael Davies and his production company, Embassy Row, which is owned by Sony Pictures Television. GSN also announced today a new
original reality series, “Carnie Wilson Unstapled,” starring
game show host, singer and entertainer Carnie Wilson, slated
to premiere Thursday, January 14, 2010 on GSN. The reality
show will draw back the curtain on the personality behind the
game show host, as Wilson juggles her careers as game show
host, singer, entrepreneur, activist, and—most importantly—as
a wife and the mother of two young girls. Wilson also just
returned to host the second season of GSN’s hit series, The
Newlywed Game on October 12. The announcement was made by
Kelly Goode, Senior Vice President, Programming for GSN. |
 Debi Gutierrez hosts "Hidden Agenda" for GSN (photo courtesy GSN PR) |
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ABC Options "Six" Project Based on Long-Running Russian Game From THR |
Posted 12/11/09 |
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The Russians are coming, the
Russians are coming … to American reality television. ABC has ordered a presentation for a U.S. version of “What? Where? When?” the No. 1 Russian game show that next year will mark its 35th anniversary. Merv Griffin Entertainment is producing the project, tentatively titled “The Six,” after the number of contestants on the show. “What?” was created by veteran Russian TV host and director Vladimir Voroshilov. It premiered in 1975, the same year Merv Griffin’s “Wheel of Fortune” made its debut as a daytime show. The two have something else in common: Their centerpiece is a spinning horizontal wheel divided into segments. While on “Wheel” three contestants compete against one another in solving a word puzzle, on “What” a team of six “knowledgeable persons” or “experts” compete against viewers. Each segment on the wheel represents a viewer question. When the spinner lands on a question, the team has 60 seconds to discuss it and formulate an answer. The team earns a point for each correct response; a wrong answer means a prize for the author of the question and a point for the viewers. Unlike a typical quiz shows that involve encyclopedic knowledge, the “What” questions involve logical thinking. “It’s much more accessible knowledge and intelligence than you would think at a first glance that translates to the viewers at home, and they can play along,” Merv Griffin Entertainment’s Roy Bank said. “It’s a show about teamwork and interaction.” An example of a question used on the original show: “They first appeared in 1908 in Mexico. There were two of them. Over time, they came closer and closer together, like wings of a black raven. Name them.” Answer: Frida Kahlo’s eyebrows. |
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"Heads or Tails"? That's for the Brits to
Decide Catch It on Five December 20 From the Press Association |
Posted 12/11/09 |
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Justin Lee Collins was inspired to
make a TV gameshow after watching Noel Edmonds on Deal Or No
Deal. Justin launches his new show, Heads Or Tails, on Five over Christmas and hopes to emulate Noel's performance on the hit Channel 4 programme. He said: "I'm a massive Noel Edmonds fan and I think the job he does on Deal Or No Deal is the best job that any presenter does on television because that game is about nothing, it's just somebody randomly picking numbers." He added: "There's nothing else to it... A tip of the hat to Noel Edmonds because the job he does is inspirational and I've certainly been inspired by it." Heads Or Tails involves contestants gambling for up to £1 million on the toss of a coin and Justin admits the simple concept is what most appealed to him. "It's the simplest game show format that's ever been devised," he said. "There's no cod psychology, there's no science. In fact, I make a virtue of the fact that it's a game of chance, it's random, it's 50/50." Heads or Tails begins on December 20 at 5.30pm on Five. |
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Gene Barry: 1919-2009 "Bat Masterson" a Frequent Gamer From AP |
Posted 12/11/09 |
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Gene Barry, who played the
well-dressed man of action in the television series Bat
Masterson, Burke's Law and The Name of the Game, has died at
age 90 of unknown causes, his son said Thursday. Fredric James Barry said the actor died Wednesday at a rest home in the Los Angeles neighborhood of Woodland Hills. Gene Barry essentially played the same character in all three series, which spanned the 1950s to the 1970s. Always fashionably dressed, the tall, handsome actor with the commanding voice dominated his scenes as he bested the bad guys in each show. In the game show work, he was a panelist on The Hollywood Squares (1967, 1974) as well as its ancestor shows People Will Talk (1963) & The Celebrity Game (1964). Barry also played the Hollywood Screen Test (1949), About Faces (1960), Stump the Stars (1962), The Movie Game (1971) and Tattletales (1974). |
 Gene Barry (photo courtesy AP) |
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So Lythgoe Thinks It's Too Much SYTYCD Will Return Summer From The Wrap |
Posted 12/10/09 |
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Could Fox's "So You Think You Can
Dance" be returning to a once-a-year format? That's the word from the show's ever-chatty executive producer, Nigel Lythgoe. According to TheWrap's man about town on the party scene, Mikey Glazer, during the audience warmup for Wednesday night's live results show, Lythgoe told audience members a twice-yearly, back-to-back format was simply too much for him. For most of its life, "SYTYCD" has been an annual summer event, anchoring Fox's warm-weather lineup. This year, in an attempt to bolster its traditionally weaker fall schedule, the network opted to air another cycle of the series just a few weeks after the usual summer season ended. Against much tougher competition, the dance competition show took an expected ratings hit. But it also helped stabilize Fox's fall, boosting ratings in key timeslots. Bottom line: Fox is having its best fall in memory and heads into "American Idol" season a lock to finish the 2009-10 season in first place. That might be one reason a Fox rep sought to downplay Lythgoe's comments, noting it would premature to assume that any scheduling decisions have been locked in. Fox didn't flatly dismiss the notion, and indeed, it's been widely known that the network has never considered a twice-a-year "SYTYCD" something that would last indefinitely. One wild card in Fox's decision-making could be "The X-Factor," the long-percolating Simon Cowell music series that might finally come to the States next year ... or might not, depending on how contract talks with Cowell go. If "X" -- or some other reality series -- gets a greenlight, Fox might not even have room for two editions of "SYTYCD." Whatever its frequency, this much is certain: "SYTYCD" will be back for another season next year. |
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5th Grader 2010 to Bow on iPod touch,
iPhone Capcom Mobile to Release From Sys-Con |
Posted 12/10/09 |
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Capcom® Mobile in conjunction with
Fox Mobile Entertainment today announced the release of the
latest edition of the hit mobile game "Are You Smarter Than a
5th Grader 2010" for the iPhone and iPod Touch. The trivia
sensation features all-new questions and graphics, the ability
to play your own music in-game, Facebook integration and
additional question packs available via in app purchase. Based on the hit game show, "5th Grader 2010" features all the charm, humor and deceptively difficult questions that make the television show a household name. In the game, players are asked a series of up to 11 questions ranging from subjects like U.S. history, math or social studies. Perform well, and players can work their way up to the $1 million question. Choke, and you'll be forced to utter the unenviable phrase: "I am not smarter than a 5th grader." Meanwhile, Patch Products, a
Beloit-based toy and game manufacturer, recently acquired the
rights to produce the newest version of the “Are You Smarter
Than a 5th Grader?” board game. |
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ABC Rolls out "Conveyor Belt of Love" Catch Backdoor Pilot January 4 From the Futon Critic |
Posted 12/10/09 |
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Following the season premiere of
"The Bachelor: On the Wings of Love," five women take a shot
at finding love when 30 men are given the chance to impress
them as they pass by on a moving conveyor belt, on "Conveyor
Belt of Love," Monday, January 4 (10:00-11:00 p.m., ET), on
the ABC Television Network. In this hilarious and fast-paced one-hour special, one by one the 30 men are presented on the "Conveyor Belt of Love" to the five women and given 60 seconds to impress them. If a woman is interested in someone, that man will step aside and wait as the rest of the men go by. But if another man comes by on the belt who seems better than that woman's first choice, she can swap out the man waiting off of the belt as many times as she wants until the last man has passed by. If two or more of the women are interested in the same man, the tables turn and the man on the conveyor belt gets to choose which one he would like to wait for. After all 30 men have made it through the "Conveyor Belt of Love," each woman is left with her final choice as she embarks on a date in the hope of finding a true connection. Will these five women be happy with their choices? "Conveyor Belt of Love" is produced by Endemol USA, a division of Endemol Holding. David Goldberg is the Chairman of Endemol North America. The special is executive-produced by Tom Shelly. |
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Malaysia Texts to Win YouPlayYouWin Launches on 8TV From The Sun Daily |
Posted 12/10/09 |
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Now, you can sit at home and watch
TV and win cash and other prizes every week with the launch of
8TV’s brand-new TV game show called YouPlayYouWin (www.youplayouwin.tv)
which integrates mobile gaming with live TV. This live interactive TV game show allows home viewers to play mobile games on their phone and submit their high scores to be aired on live TV to win cash and prizes. The show is a collaboration between the show creator, Just Mobile, with Media Prima and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission. In October, YouPlayYouWin won the best in mobility content award at the annual Malaysia Innovation Awards 2009 (http://inovationmalaysia.gomobile.my). YouPlayYouWin is aired live every Sunday, Monday and Tuesday at 12.45am on 8TV. It is hosted by Miss Malaysia World 2009 fourth runner-up Renee Erin. To play, TV viewers need to register via SMS, download the mobile game of the week and submit their high score to be aired on live TV. Top scorers stand a chance to win the weekly grand prize, an Apple iPhone 3GS, and other great prizes. Players can also submit their photograph via MMS to be shown on live TV. |
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Vernon Kay Takes a Pay Cut "Family Fortunes" Host Will Make 10% Less in 2010 From Digital Spy |
Posted 12/10/09 |
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ITV has slashed Vernon Kay's pay
to £900,000, a tabloid report has claimed. According to The Sun, Kay's salary is being cut when his £1m deal ends in February. It is reported that he may be offered another two-year contract as host of Sunday night show Family Fortunes, but at 10 per cent less. He is quoted as saying: "I am happy where I am. ITV has all the big hitters and seems the natural home for light entertainment shows." Kay's previous presenting credits include T4, Gameshow Marathon and Just The Two Of Us, on which he was joined by wife Tess Daily. |
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Ethan Zohn Gets Clean Bill of Health "Survivor" Winner Battling Cancer From People |
Posted 12/10/09 |
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Ethan Zohn received an early
present this holiday season: a clear PET Scan. The full-body scan performed by his doctors in Manhattan Tuesday confirmed that five weeks of radiation treatments just completed by the Survivor: Africa winner have done their job. For the first time since his battle with a rare form of Hodgkin's disease began last April, there are now no active cancer cells in his body. "If I walked in off the street today, they would think I'm cancer free," says Zohn, 36, who has chronicled his struggle on PEOPLE.com. "This is the best possible news I could have gotten at this stage of my journey. "I honestly believe that all the positive healing vibes everyone has been sending me these past nine months have helped," Zohn says, "so thank you to everyone from the bottom of my heart." |
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MTV Wants Another "Crew" ABDC Gets Renewed From B&C |
Posted 12/9/09 |
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MTV has renewed Randy Jackson
Presents: America's Best Dance Crew for a fifth season and
Taking the Stage for a second season. The two performance shows will return to the cabler Thursday, Jan. 28. America's Best Dance Crew has turned into one of MTV's biggest hits, with season four beating all ad supported cable competition in its timeslot and delivering a 1.7 rating in MTV's core 12-34 demo. Taking the Stage was tops in its time period among women 12-24. By pairing it with the veteran America's Best Dance Crew, MTV is hoping to give the show a sophomore boost. "We are thrilled to bring back both of these hit franchises in 2010," said Tony DiSanto, president of programming for MTV. "While each series is a different format, both have music at their core. It is the mode of expression for these kids who are trying to live their dream. Music is their life in both the dance competition of America's Best Dance Crew and in the dramatic reality stories of Taking the Stage." |
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History Gets a "Shot" Reality Competition Based on Historical Events From the Live Feed |
Posted 12/9/09 |
| History is getting into the competition reality game with "Top Shot," a new series from Craig Piligian where contestants compete in a sharp-shooting contest. The network has ordered 10 episodes of this to premiere in 2010. Each episode has contestants facing elimination challenges inspired by real-life events in history, from Wild West shootouts to sniper missions. | |
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"Project" Wii Runway Gets Console Version From Los Angeles Times |
Posted 12/9/09 |
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Atari today announced the street
date for the "Project Runway" video game for the Wii, which we
first told you about back in October. In addition to letting us know that "PR" fans will be able to channel their inner Gunn starting March 2, today's announcement shed a little more light on what the virtual version of the reality show will include. In addition to the familiar themed challenges of the TV version, and the ability to make like a model and strut the runway (on a Wii Balance Board), the game will include the pixelized personas of not only Heidi Klum, Tim Gunn, Michael Kors and Nina Garcia, but the top eight contestants from the recently aired season six -- including winner Irina Shabayeva. We're told there will also be other "friendly games" inspired by the show's content, including an interactive garment studio, a chance to play fashion photographer, hair and makeup studios and something called a "fashion career mode." |
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Island Hopping with Alex Galapagos Clues to Air This Week From USA Today |
Posted 12/9/09 |
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Five-time Emmy winner Alex Trebek
is the host of Jeopardy! The quiz show has won 28 Emmys awards
and is an inductee into the Guinness Book of World Records for
the most awards won by a TV game show. Trebek recently
returned from a 10-day trip to the Galapagos Islands, where he
hosted 25 winners of a "Jeopardy!" Sweepstakes and taped
special clues that will begin airing on the show this week.
"The amazing thing was the animal life," Trebek noted. "We're dealing with animals that have absolutely no fear of human beings. We are not an enemy or something they have to run away from. Some of the little birds will fly away but the bigger birds — the albatross babies, the blue-footed boobies, the Nazca boobies and the frigatebirds — would have their nests right next to the paths where the people would walk and they wouldn't move. The seals would come right up to you on the beaches and for the people who went snorkeling, the sea lions would play with them underwater. "You so desperately want to touch these animals and the naturalists don't want you to do that. It's very difficult, particularly for the women, when a baby sea lion waddles up to them and gets right next to their feet. They want to bend down and pet and caress the animal but you're not allowed to. No one wanted to pet the marine iguanas. I don't know why. The Galapagos Islands had never figured strongly on my list of places to go. It was a big win for me and all of the participants." |
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"Idol" to Reveal Ellen During
Hollywood Week Usually Taping November, Will Tape Next Month From Los Angeles Times |
Posted 12/9/09 |
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The new "American Idol" hopefuls
will meet judge Ellen DeGeneres for the first time during
Hollywood Week. Normally filmed in November, the challenging auditions week in which 200 contestants vie for 24 or 36 semifinalist slots (producers haven't yet revealed the number), will take place next month and will include DeGeneres on the panel with Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson and Kara DioGuardi. |
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ABC Extends Olive Branch Lambert to Tape View Appearance Today From Access Hollywood |
Posted 12/9/09 |
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Adam Lambert hit the set of “The
View” on Tuesday to pre-tape his appearance on the daytime
talk show set to air Thursday — and lived to Twitter about it. “Hey this is Adam Lambert!!! Elizabeth is lettin me tweet from her phone!!! Me and Liz! Whaaat? :)” Adam wrote on “View” panelist Elisabeth Hasselbeck’s Twitter page on Tuesday afternoon. The singer’s visit to the show — his first to ABC since his controversial performance on the American Music Awards last month led to him being booted from “Good Morning America,” “Jimmy Kimmel Live” and “New Year’s Rockin’ Eve With Ryan Seacrest 2010” — was characterized as a peace offering from the network by “View” co-Executive Producer Bill Geddie. “I think this is sort of ABC extending the olive branch,” Bill said in a video blog he recorded with Barbara Walters, prior to taping Adam’s appearance. And the EP said he didn’t think Adam’s “View” stint would create the same headlines his AMAs performance did. “First of all, he isn’t going to do anything,” Bill said. “There’s not going to be some crazy… performance. I’m sure like every act, he tailors his performance to the audience. I’m sure if he does a daytime show, he does a daytime show performance.” And before recording their sit-down interview with Adam, Barbara said “The View” ladies planned to address why the “American Idol” runner-up has now found himself in a situation where he isn’t being booked for live television performances. “The question is: ‘Why do his performances have to be taped? Are people afraid that he’s going to get carried away and do something again that’s considered raunchy or lewd?’” Barbara asked. “We are going to find out how he feels about it.” But while Barbara planned to ask the tough questions, Elisabeth revealed in another video blog recorded alongside Adam, that “The View” ladies were getting some heat from the “Glamberts.” “He’s tweeting [on my account] because I had about five million people Tweet me; ‘Be nice to Adam,’ ‘How’s Adam doing?’ ‘What’s he wearing?’ ‘What’s he singing?’ ‘What shoes will he have on?’ ‘Tell him we said hi.’ ‘We love his charity work.’ So we’re Tweeting now to let them all know [he is OK],” she said. |
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"Wheel" Spins to Sweden Adaptation to Return After 20-Year Absence From Variety |
Posted 12/8/09 |
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Gameshow “Wheel of Fortune” is
making its comeback on Swedish TV after a nearly two decades
long absence. Starting in January, the program will air early
evenings on MTG-owned pubcaster TV8 Monday through Friday,
with a weekly primetime finale aired Saturday on MTG’s
flagship channel TV3. Hosts will be Hans Wiklund and Hannah Graaf. “Wheel of Fortune” was one of the first hit shows on TV3 when the channel started in the beginning of the 90s. It was cancelled after a couple of years and has since been absent from Swedish screens. Program will be produced by Eyeworks. The company also produces the other two big gameshows on Swedish TV, “Who Wants to be a Millionaire” on TV4 and “Bingolotto” on TV4 Plus. “ ‘Wheel of Fortune’ is the Rolls-Royce of all gameshows,” TV3 head of programming Anders Knave said. |
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Kevin Pollak's a "Little Genius" "Celeb Poker" Host Tapped for Fox's New Game From the Futon Critic |
Posted 12/7/09 |
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Actor and comedian Kevin Pollak
has been tapped to host "Our Little Genius", the new game show
that gives real child geniuses a chance to put their
incredible knowledge to the test and win life-changing money
for their families. "Genius" premieres Wednesday, Jan. 13
(9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) following "American Idol", and makes its
time period premiere Tuesday, Jan. 19 (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on
FOX. "I've been a fan of Kevin Pollak's work for many years. His incredible humor, intelligence and quick wit are all perfect additions to an incredibly dynamic format," said executive producer Mark Burnett. "He instinctively knows when to add seriousness and when to add humor. I am so glad he has joined the Our Little Genius team." To play, little geniuses must answer increasingly difficult questions as they work their way up to win their family hundreds of thousands of dollars. However, there is one catch: the little genius' parents can stop the game at any time and choose to walk away with the winnings for their family. To help them make informed decisions during the game, these moms and dads of average intelligence may check in with a panel of leading adult experts ranging from Ivy League professors to renowned doctors to award-winning scientists to see how they performed when answering the same questions.
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 Kevin Pollak will be the genius hosting "Our Little Genius" on Fox (photo courtesy Wikipedia) |
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"Race" Races to Finish Line Finale Tops of Series From the Futon Critic |
Posted 12/7/09 |
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Last night's season finale of "The
Amazing Race 15" delivered the largest audience of the season
and notched across-the-board increases over last year's
finale, according to Nielsen preliminary live plus same day
ratings for Sunday Dec. 6. From 8:00-9:00PM, "Race" was second in households (7.1/11), viewers (12.32m), adults 25-54 (4.6/10) and adults 18-49 (3.7/09). This is its best households and viewers deliveries this season and matches the best adults 25-54 and adults 18-49 performances. Compared to last year's finale (on the same night last year), "Race" was up +15% in both households (from 6.2/09) and adults 25-54 (from 4.0/09), +19% in adults 18-49 (from 3.1/08) and added +1.81m viewers (from 10.51m, +17%). |
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SAG, AFTRA Close to Deadline Will Two Unions Negotiate Together From Variety |
Posted 12/7/09 |
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The Screen Actors Guild and the
American Federation of Television & Radio Artists are facing a
looming deadline within the next few months if they're going
to negotiate together on the primetime-feature contract with
the majors. The performers unions haven't yet taken any formal steps toward joint bargaining, even with SAG obligated to begin seven weeks of negotiations with the Alliance of Motion Picture & Television Producers on Oct. 1. The current SAG and AFTRA master contracts -- negotiated separately for the first time in three decades -- both expire on June 30, 2011. AFTRA president Roberta Reardon has held informal discussions recently with SAG president Ken Howard about the issue. She admitted that a decision by AFTRA will probably be made before the end of the first quarter, given that both unions require several months for a "wages and working conditions" process of meetings with members to hammer out contract proposals prior to the start of bargaining. "We've had a lot of internal discussion about joint negotiations but we haven't formalized anything," she told Daily Variety. "We would do it if it were something that's to the advantage of all our members." SAG declined to comment on Reardon's statements. Reardon noted that AFTRA's also facing looming expirations on two of its other major contracts -- sound recordings, which expires June 30; and network code, which ends on Nov. 15. The AFTRA netcode pact covers about $400 million in annual earnings from dramatic programs in syndication or outside primetime, daytime serial dramas, gameshows, talkshows, variety and musical programs, news, sports, reality shows and promotional announcements. |
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More on Eubanks' "Newlywed" Episode Carnie to Compete, Eubanks to Set Record, Show to Air 1/7/10 From GSN PR |
Posted 12/7/09 |
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Iconic game show host Bob Eubanks,
who first began hosting "The Newlywed Game" more than 40 years
ago, returns as guest host of GSN’s new "The Newlywed Game"
during a special edition that features GSN host Carnie Wilson
and her family as the celebrity contestants. This special
celebrity edition will premiere January 7, 2010 at 6PM ET with
an encore airing at 9PM ET. Current host Carnie Wilson and her husband, Rob Bonfiglio; Wilson’s sister Wendy Wilson and her husband Dan Knutson; and Wilson’s mother, former singer Marilyn Wilson-Rutherford, and her husband, Daniel Rutherford, will appear as celebrity contestants on the episode. When Bob Eubanks hosts this special episode of "The Newlywed Game" on January 7, 2010, he will become the first game show host in television history to have hosted the same game show in five different decades. Eubanks was the original host on ABC from 1966 until 1974. The show returned in syndication with Eubanks as host from 1977 until 1980; again from 1985 through 1988; and again from 1997 through 1999. His appearance as host in 2010 will mark the fifth decade in which Eubanks has appeared at "The Newlywed Game" podium. |
 Bob Eubanks to host a special episode of "The Newlywed Game" for everyone involved (photo courtesy GSN PR) |
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Howie's New Book Drops "DOND" Host Details Battle with OCD in "Here's the Deal" From About.com Game Shows |
Posted 12/7/09 |
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If you're a fan of Howie Mandel,
you'll want to make a trip to the book store (or add this
title to your Christmas wish list). His new book, Here's the
Deal: Don't Touch Me, hits the shelves today. The book is autobiographical, documenting his struggles with OCD and ADHD. It's well known that Mandel is a germaphobe, and according to early reviews, his book not only lists all of his neuroses, but examines exactly how he deals with each of them. As the host of Deal or No Deal and a successful standup comic, he interacts with strangers on a regular basis. The book addresses this but also goes deeper, examining the effects of Mandel's struggles on his family. Of course Here's the Deal is a funny book. You can't expect anything less from the guy who gave us Bobby's World. But it also has a serious side, and allows fans a brief glimpse of what Howie Mandel deals with on a day-to-day basis. He's got some dates scheduled for a book tour (with more to come as far as we know) listed on his website, and you can follow him on Twitter or Facebook as well.
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Lambert Thinks He Can "Dance" "Idol" Alum to Play Finale From the Futon Critic |
Posted 12/7/09 |
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The night America has been waiting
for is almost here! The "So You Think You Can Dance" two-night
season finale airs Tuesday, Dec. 15 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT) and
Wednesday, Dec. 16 (8:00-10:00 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed) on
FOX, and some of the year's hottest performers including
"American Idol's" Adam Lambert are set to take the stage.
Lambert will sing his latest track, "Whataya Want From Me," in
his first appearance on the network since the Idol season
finale in May. Adam Lambert captured the attention of the nation this year during the eighth season of Idol. Throughout his much-celebrated journey, Lambert surprised and impressed the judges every week with his takes on various musical genres. His out-of-this-world vocal range and unique musical style has helped Lambert conquer the Billboard charts with multiple debuts on the Hot 100 and the Hot Digital Songs charts. His first album, "For Your Entertainment" (19 Recordings/RCA), recently debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard Charts with 198,469 albums sold in the first week. Tuesday's final performance show will feature the ultimate showdown between the Top 6 finalists as they compete to impress the judges and capture America's vote. Immediately following the performance show, the phone lines will open and viewers will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite remaining finalists. Then, tune in the following night for one of the most-anticipated television events of the fall. Wednesday's two-hour grand finale will feature surprise guests and special performances by this season's Top 20. At the end of the celebration, host Cat Deeley will reveal America's vote and America's Favorite Dancer will be crowned live before millions of television viewers. The winner will dance off with a cash prize of $250,000 and will be featured on the cover of the March 2010 issue of Dance Spirit magazine. |
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"Celebrity" in Trouble Over a Rat "Rat Risotto" Could Land Three-Year Sentence From AP/Google |
Posted 12/7/09 |
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Two stars of the "I'm a Celebrity
... Get Me Out of Here" television show have been charged with
animal cruelty after allegedly killing and cooking a rat to
eat during filming. Chef Gino D'Acampo, who won the viewer-feedback contest series, and actor Stuart Manning were charged after animal welfare activists lodged a complaint about a segment for the British TV program, which was filmed in Australia, the activists and British media reported Sunday. In a statement to The Associated Press, New South Wales state police said Sunday that two men, aged 33 and 30, were charged with animal cruelty for acts in connection to the program but did not give names or other details. They have been asked to appear in court to face the charge on Feb. 3. The maximum penalty is three years in prison. The performers and ITV, the network that produces the show, did not immediately respond to media inquiries about the incident. "The killing of a rat for a performance is not acceptable. The concern is this was done purely for the cameras," David O'Shannessy from the New South Wales RSPCA told the British Broadcasting Corp. |
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More on "Shuffle Up" Hosting Team, Casting Revealed From Cake Poker |
Posted 12/4/09 |
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Everybody dreams of being famous -
well, Tiger Woods probably wishes he wasn't famous right now
but that's not the point. A new poker game show, hosted by Poker Hall of Famer Mike Sexton, is looking for contestants. Shuffle Up and Deal, deemed to be "family friendly" by the producers, will hold an online contestant search using Facebook.com as well as auditions across the country like American Idol. "We feel that it's important to have an online presence as well as a traditional presence when marketing a new show", said Dewey Oates, the shows' creator. They apparently also feel it's important to have a hot girl join Sexton. Brandi Williams, who poker fans might know from her time as a hostess on the Ultimate Poker Challenge, will take the reigns of co-host. Keeping with the Ultimate Poker Challenge family it appears that the play-by-play man for that show, Chad Brown, will be involved as well. Brown, who won the Bluff Magazine Player of the Year award in 2006, will travel with the touring auditions. Poker fans interested in learning more can visit www.shuffleuptv.com. |
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NBC Gets Comcastic NBCU, Comcast Networks Marry Under Deal From New York Daily news |
Posted 12/4/09 |
 Kim
Kardashian meet Chuck Scarborough.The two TV stars will soon be corporate bedfellows, thanks to a deal announced Thursday for cable giant Comcast Corp. to buy a majority piece of NBC Universal in a deal worth $13.75 billion, and create a new joint venture. The deal creates a mega media company spanning cable systems, cable networks, broadcast TV and stations, movies, cell phones and theme parks. "This marks the start of a new era for NBCU," said NBCU chief executive officer Jeff Zucker, who will lead the venture, "and I'm genuinely excited that I will be leading this wonderful organization, along with the Comcast team, at this important time in our history." Comcast is the nation's largest cable TV system operator, and the owner of such cable channels as E! Entertainment, home to Kardashian's hit show, the Golf Channel, VERSUS, G4, Style, regional sports networks and percentages of others. NBC brings to the table the famed NBC broadcast network, along with owned stations and cable networks USA Network, Bravo, SyFy, MSNBC, CNBC, Oxygen, mun2, and parts of A&E Television Network, The Weather Channel, Chiller, and Sleuth. "This deal is a perfect fit for Comcast and will allow us to become a leader in the development and distribution of multiplatform ‘anytime, anywhere' media that American consumers are demanding," Comcast Chairman Brian Roberts said in a statement. Once closed and regulatory hurdles cleared — estimates range from a year to 18 months to get through the appropriate approvals — the deal will end General Electric's control of a company it bought in 1986.
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 NBC and Comcast have agreed to a joint-venture deal (photo courtesy Wikipedia) |
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"Design Star" to Go to Mark Burnett Team to Produce Next Season From the Futon Critic |
Posted 12/4/09 |
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HGTV has signed Mark Burnett,
executive producer of reality competitions such as Survivor
and The Apprentice, and his production team to produce season
five of the hit primetime series HGTV Design Star. Viewers and
online users who want to be considered for the show can visit
http://hgtv.com/designstar to find out how to apply.
Submissions must be postmarked by Tuesday, January 19, 2010. "The Mark Burnett team is extremely creative and talented -- masters at crafting entertaining reality programming," said Freddy James, senior vice president, programming development and production, HGTV. "We expect that they will infuse HGTV Design Star with fresh perspectives and innovative ideas that will serve as a blueprint for a successful fifth season." With Burnett on board, the casting and production for the series are expected to move quickly. "We are thrilled to have our first program with HGTV and the Scripps family of networks," said Mark Burnett, "We look forward to rolling up our sleeves and making HGTV Design Star even bigger, better, and more exciting than it has been in seasons past." Fans of the top-rated program, which follows a new crop of architects, artists, interior designers/decorators and design enthusiasts as they navigate difficult design challenges to win their own show on HGTV, have been eagerly anticipating the next opportunity to participate in the design competition. Previous HGTV Design Star winners include popular hosts David Bromstad and Kim Myles as well as season four winner Antonio Ballatore. Ballatore is currently in production for his new series, The Antonio Treatment, which premieres in March 2010. |
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Everyone Has An Opinion About Adam
Lambert's Blacklisting... "Idol" Alum Pulled from JKL & Dick Clark's Rockin' Eve From various sources |
Posted 12/4/09 |
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After the discussion about whether
it was a double standard for ABC to cancel an appearance by
American Idol alum Adam Lambert after a racy performance at
the AMAs last month, the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against
Defamation (GLAAD) issued a statement, siding with the
network’s decisions about pulling his appearances. (A
performance on the network’s Jimmy Kimmel Live! was also
scuttled earlier this week.) “It would appear that the kiss
between Adam Lambert and his keyboardist did not factor into
ABC’s decision,” said Jarrett Barrios, GLAAD president, in a
statement. “ABC has a history of positive gay and transgender
inclusion that includes featuring kisses between gay and
lesbian couples on-air. We applaud the visibility of openly
gay performers and congratulate Adam Lambert for sharing his
story on The Ellen DeGeneres Show this week as well as his
upcoming appearance on The Jay Leno Show. When GLAAD originally approached the network about whether the Lambert situation was a double standard, ABC issued this statement: “Given the live nature of the American Music Awards, Adam Lambert’s performance, which differed greatly from his rehearsal, caught many, including the network, off guard. This is not a question of Lambert’s sexual orientation. As is evidenced by GLAAD’s media report card, ABC is at the forefront of positive gay and lesbian portrayal on television. We welcome openly gay performers and look forward to continuing our great work within the LGBT community.” Meanwhile, "Idol" judge Kara DioGuardi understands why ABC pulled the plug on Adam Lambert. "We're living in a pretty bad economic time, so they have to do what they have to do to keep their advertisers," DioGuardi tells E!'s Marc Malkin exclusively. "Networks are doing what they think their viewers want and don't want, so it's just budgetary." That said, the American Idol judge didn't see anything wrong with Lambert's controversial man-on-man performance at the American Music Awards. "We always know he's going to shock us, right?" she says. "He's going to wow us and give us the unexpected, and that's his thing...That's what we look for."
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Wayne Brady Wants to "Do It All" "LMAD" Host Plays Carnegie Hall From AP/Google News |
Posted 12/4/09 |
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Wayne Brady is savoring a big
year, with doors opening to him at Carnegie Hall, the White
House and, in multiples, on "Let's Make a Deal." The actor-singer-funnyman debuted in October as host of a revival of Monty Hall's classic game show, riding herd on eager contestants choosing between cash and the chance of prizes tucked, famously, behind door number one, two or three. The game show gig and Brady's sold-out Carnegie Hall debut in New York followed his White House performance as part of a tribute to Stevie Wonder last February. Carnegie was "a wonderful milestone in my life," said Brady, who was backed by the New York Pops orchestra for a salute to Sammy Davis Jr. and Sam Cooke. "To be able to do that and to launch what we hope is a successful game show, a bit of iconic American TV, that's not a bad year." Hall, a consultant on the new "Deal" produced by FremantleMedia North America, said a number of contenders were considered and rejected for host of the Las Vegas-based daytime show that airs on CBS (check local listings) from the Tropicana hotel-casino. "We needed someone who could ad lib, be charming, work with contestants and run the show," Hall said. He'd tried to woo Brady before, without success, but this time prevailed. Brady, who exudes earnest confidence along with that easy charm, says "Deal" represents another step in building a career as an all-around entertainer in the mold of a Davis or Billy Crystal or John Leguizamo. "I'm an actor first and foremost, who happens to do improv. I've also done sitcoms, I've done stage," he said, with TV credits including his 2002-04 talk show and guest shots on "30 Rock," "Girlfriends" and other series. The Grammy-nominated singer is working on two new CDs, including one he calls a "big band-soul record." The ultimate goal, he said, is an epitaph in the very distant future that reads, "This guy did just about everything you could do in the entertainment business and was good at it all" — similar to what's inscribed at Davis' grave in Forest Lawn cemetery in Glendale: "The Entertainer: He Did It All." |
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Reopening the "Tank" Sharks to Return to ABC January 8 From the Futon Critic |
Posted 12/3/09 |
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"Shark Tank" will return to the
schedule on Friday, January 8 from 9p ET. "Shark Tank" gives budding entrepreneurs a chance to make their business dreams come true and make them successful and possibly wealthy people. But first, the entrepreneurs must convince a panel of five ruthless, multi-millionaire tycoons known as Sharks -- to part with their own hard-earned cash to give them the funding they need to jumpstart their breakthrough business concepts, products, properties and services. The five Sharks are real estate mogul Barbara Corcoran, "infomercial" industry pioneer Kevin Harrington, technology innovator Robert Herjavec, fashion icon Daymond John and financial expert Kevin O'Leary. Mark Burnett, Clay Newbill and Phil Gurin are the executive producers of "Shark Tank," based on the Japanese "Dragons Den" format created by Nippon Television Network Corporation. The series is from Sony Pictures Television. "Shark Tank" originally aired its season finale October 20. The returning episodes have been culled from footage that has not yet aired. GSNN's Chico Alexander contributed to this story. |
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New "Price" Slots Coming WMS to Showcase Games From SouthTown Star |
Posted 12/3/09 |
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The popular television game show
"The Price is Right" has been a daytime programming mainstay
for 37 years. Bob Barker was the venerable host for more than three decades of a remarkable run before retiring a few seasons ago and handing the microphone to Drew Carey. Themes from the daily TV show and its timeless pricing games, including Plinko and Cliffhanger, were configured into popular slot machines in 2001. It was a union that seemed unlikely for a program that emphasized family entertainment. The only reference to S-E-X was Barker's daily admonition to "have your pets spayed or neutered." The late Rod Roddy's charismatic presence and announcing, coupled with his wardrobe of glitzy sports coats tailor-made in Hong Kong and his familiar call of "Come on down!" to contestants, became part of American pop culture. The slot games were reasonable facsimiles of the show's bigger-than-life pricing games, which include dice and card themes. Now WMS Gaming is about to launch a new generation of the Price is Right slots that combine three of the company's innovative technologies, including sensory immersion, transmissive reels and community gaming - all in one game. "We are very fortunate and honored to have acquired a license that has so much depth and richness to the brands associated with it," said Rob Bone, WMS vice president of marketing. "At this year's Global Gaming Expo in Las Vegas we showed two different executions of the game in which we're really starting to 'cross-pollinate' the technologies slot players have become familiar with while taking them to the next level." |
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... Another One Bites the Dust "Bachelor", Winner Split. This Is Not a Repeat from Last Year From Us Magazine |
Posted 12/3/09 |
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Another Bachelor couple bites the
dust. After five years together, Season 6 Bachelor Byron Velvick and Mary Delgado have split, he confirms to Usmagazine.com. The couple got engaged on the show's November 2004 finale. (He proposed to the Cuban-born star in Spanish so her parents -- who were watching -- could understand what was happening.) Velvick, 45, and Delgado first showed signs of a trouble the night after they appeared on a Bachelor reunion episode in November 2007 when she was arrested for assaulting her fiance. According to authorities, she punched Velvick in the mouth and was under the influence of alcohol when she was arrested. Take a look at more reality star couples who've gone their separate ways Shortly after the incident, Velvick maintained that they were still happily together. "Just because you met on a reality show, got engaged on this beautiful incredible setting doesn't mean that we're Prince Charming or Beautiful Princess," he had said. "It's nothing like that. It's just a real couple going through real things." |
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Cowell Wouldn't Mind Working with Oprah
Again Report: "Idol" Judge: "She's Always Been Kind to Me" From the Sun |
Posted 12/3/09 |
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Simon Cowell says he is keen to
work with TV queen Oprah Winfrey. The X Factor supremo, 50, said of Oprah - who will quit her show in 2011: "I'd like to do something with Oprah. "I don't know what, but I've always got on very well with her. "She's always been kind to me."
Meanwhile, Cowell, one of the most
successful entrepreneurs in British and U.S. show business, is
planning to bring his "The X Factor" talent show to Las Vegas
in a global pay-per-view Internet venture. |
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Jasinski Ordered to Treatment "BB" Winner Pleads Not Guilty From AP/Yahoo! News |
Posted 12/3/09 |
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The winner of the CBS reality
television show "Big Brother 9" was ordered on Tuesday to
undergo substance abuse counseling at a Massachusetts
treatment center before being released on bail on drug
charges. Adam Jasinski, of Delray Beach, Fla., has pleaded not guilty to a charge of attempting to sell 2,000 pills of oxycodone, the main active ingredient in OxyContin and other painkillers. A federal agent testified that the 31-year-old Jasinski told him he'd been selling thousands of the pills every month in Florida, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. A judge ruled Tuesday that Jasinski can be released on bail to his parents' custody, but only after he successfully completes a program at an unnamed residential treatment center in Massachusetts. Prosecutors had asked that Jasinski be held without bail as he awaits trial. |
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Bravo Toes the "Line" Dan & Dean Caten Host New Competition From Boston Herald |
Posted 12/2/09 |
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Just because someone may look good
in the latest fashions doesn’t mean they can create them. But
Bravo is going to give a few a chance. “Launch My Line,” premiering tonight at 11, features 10 professionals who are highly regarded in their fields but have always wanted their own clothing lines. The contestants, including a choreographer, a DJ, a CEO and a fashion critic, are paired with 10 established fashion designers who will help them execute their dream line. Helming it all will be twin brothers Dean and Dan Caten of Dsquared2 fame, and judges Stefani Greenfield and Lisa Kline, both known for their fashion sense. The teams will be put to the test, relying on each other to produce a cohesive line. In the end, the winning professional will have launched a clothing line and their expert designer, who helped them along way, will receive $50,000. So what makes this show all that different from one-time Bravo stalwart “Project Runway”? Pressed to differentiate between the shows, Greenfield said the cast can “articulate beyond four-letter words - ugly, hate, like.” “You can’t compare the two shows,” Kline said. “Yes, it’s fashion, but at the same time, I was on the judging panel, so it’s interesting. We all have experience in how to build a brand and can offer guidance on how to get through to be a winner. It’s just a different take on fashion and helping these people to create their lines and helping them to win.” Dan Caten said viewers will be able to step vicariously into the design world, learn what it means to be a designer, how to build a brand and create a collection. |
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"Restaurant" Returns for New
Season Catch It on BBC America From the Futon Critic |
Posted 12/2/09 |
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World-renowned chef and
restaurateur Raymond Blanc with his industry experts Sarah
Willingham and David Moore return to BBC America with another
season of Last Restaurant Standing in which nine couples
battle it out for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to open a
restaurant with him. But in the current economic climate,
Blanc is searching for a couple who proves they can tough it
out in the harsh realities of working in the restaurant trade.
The couple must have strong ideas, impeccable cooking skills
and strong partnerships to win the ultimate prize. From their
first meeting with Blanc the couples are in at the deep end
facing a series of increasingly tough challenges like pitching
their restaurant ideas, running a famous UK chain restaurant,
making dishes to sell at a farmer's market and even serving
afternoon tea for 100 guests, to test the creativity and
practical skills they need to get keys to their own
restaurants. But getting the keys is only a start. Tough times
on the high street means Raymond Blanc is not in the market
for dreamers, and the pressure is on to show him they have
what it takes to survive. Last Restaurant Standing premieres Tuesday, January 5, 9:00 p.m. ET/PT |
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... As Does Shear Genius Catch It on Bravo From the Futon Critic |
Posted 12/2/09 |
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Bravo's creative hair-styling
competition series "Shear Genius" is back for its third season
with a whole new look, premiering Wednesday, February 3 at 11
p.m. ET/PT. International model and handbag designer Camila
Alves makes her hosting debut alongside new series judge
Jonathan Antin, celebrity stylist and former star of Bravo's
hit series "Blow Out." Famed stylist Kim Vo returns as a judge
for his second season, and new to the series, accomplished
stylist Orlando Pita adds his voice of expertise as mentor to
the contestants. Joining the expert panel each week, stars from the hair world and beyond serve as guest judges to determine who makes the cut, including Grammy Award-winning singer/songwriter Estelle, Tabatha Coffey, star of "Tabatha's Salon Takeover," renowned hair guru Ken Paves and celebrated stylist, Oribe. For a sneak peek of the third season of "Shear Genius," go to: www.bravotv.com/shear-genius/videos/this-is-shear-genius. "Shear Genius" has gone international for the first time ever and after combing the world in search of top stylists, Bravo has assembled 12 remarkably talented individuals who will raise the level of competition as never seen before. The winner will receive $100,000 in prize money furnished by Nexxus Salon Hair Care, an apprenticeship with Nexxus and the chance to style hair for an Allure magazine photo shoot. The world of styling is much bigger than just a salon - and Bravo's "Shear Genius" offers a glimpse into that captivating and little-known arena. This season the challenges are more glamorous, the hair more knotty, and the competition more fierce, as the contestants attempt to demonstrate that their style is a cut above the rest. Throughout the course of the series, the stylists' skills are put to the test as they find themselves working behind the scenes at an iconic hotel, styling a celebrity at a glamorous home in the Hollywood Hills, and even in a rural barn. |
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Krupa Joins "Million Dollar Challenge" First Episode Drew 4 Million From Sys-Con |
Posted 12/2/09 |
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The response has been
overwhelming. More than four million viewers watched a poker
playing priest from South Carolina win $100,000 on the debut
of the "PokerStars.net Million Dollar Challenge," with
millions more tuning in to see an Army National Guard sergeant
and Boston liquor salesman each take home big money in the
second and third episodes of the most popular network
television poker game show in history. Plus, nearly 100,000
people went online to play in the free PokerStars.net $100,000
giveaway after getting the secret password announced within
each episode. Now PokerStars.net and FOX Sports are giving viewers even more reasons to watch the next "PokerStars.net Million Dollar Challenge" installment, airing on Sunday, Dec. 13 directly after NFL on FOX coverage.* Be sure to check out: New celebrities: Current Playboy cover model, Maxim's Sexiest Swimsuit Model in the World and "Dancing with the Stars" contestant Joanna Krupa will join previously announced "PokerStars.net Million Dollar Challenge" celebrity defender UFC Champion Tito Ortiz to serve as the first line of defence against online qualifiers in their quest for $1,000,000. New Team PokerStars.net Pro: If the contestants manage to get past Krupa and Lott, they may end up facing the newly crowned World Series Of Poker Main Event Champion and newest member of Team PokerStars.net: Joe Cada. The 21-year old bracelet winner from Michigan is coming to Los Angeles to join 2003 WSOP champion Chris Moneymaker and Team PokerStars.net Pro and Go Daddy Girl Vanessa Rousso as second round opponents. The object of the game remains the same -- win three heads-up matches for the opportunity to take on Daniel "Kid Poker" Negreanu heads up for $1,000,000. Getting there won't be easy. Contestants face a gauntlet of heads up matches, win and advance. Lose and go home: |
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Regis on the Mend "Millionaire" Host Recovering from Surgery From ET Online |
Posted 12/2/09 |
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Talk show host Regis Philbin
underwent hip surgery this morning and ET has the latest on
his condition. "Everything went perfectly this morning during Regis' hip replacement surgery, and his doctor said that Regis couldn't be in better shape," his rep tells ET. "Regis anticipates returning to 'LIVE! with Regis and Kelly' soon after the first of the year, given the procedure's typical four-six week recovery time. Regis and Joy want to thank everyone for their support and best wishes." |
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Fantasia Gets Own Show on VH1 "Idol" 3 Champ to Bow Docuseries in 2010 From the Futon Critic |
Posted 12/2/09 |
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VH1 will give viewers a close-up
view into the complex, touching and surprisingly relatable
life of recording artist, actress and American Idol winner
Fantasia. The series follows Fantasia as she juggles her
career and single-motherhood while devoting her energy into
recording her highly anticipated third album. The 8 episode,
30 minute docu-series "Fantasia For Real" is slated to
premiere January 11, 2010 at 10PM on VH1. "Fantasia has engaged millions of fans not only through her music and her amazing talent but also by her incredible fairytale life story," said Jeff Olde, Executive Vice President, Original Programming & Production, VH1. "Our audience helped Fantasia become an American Idol and now, with this series, they get a backstage pass into her real life as she confronts obstacles to realize her true potential as an artist, a mother, a daughter and a sister." Viewers can catch a sneak peek of the season's first episode on VH1.com - several days before the on-air premiere. Subsequent episodes will be available on VH1.com the morning after they air. Additional video content from "Fantasia For Real" including extras from each episode will be available on VH1.com and on VH1 Mobile throughout the season. The series is executive produced by Fenton Bailey, Randy Barbato, Tom Campbell, and Jeremy Simmons for World of Wonder. Executive producers for VH1 are Jill Holmes, Kristen Kelly and Jeff Olde. |
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"Dream" Big "Britain's Got Talent" Winner's Debut Album Top of Charts From New York Post |
Posted 12/2/09 |
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Move over Beyonce. Step aside
Taylor Swift. There's a new queen of pop, and her name is
Susan Boyle. The British talent contestant-turned-singing sensation sold just over 700,000 copies of her debut album, "I Dreamed a Dream," debuting at No. 1. Her record label, Columbia Records, says that not only gives her the best first week sales of 2009, but also the best-selling album debut by a woman in the Billboard SoundScan era. It's been a whirlwind year for the 47-year-old Boyle, who became an instant star when she appeared on "Britain's Got Talent." |
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"Missing Top Model" Begins in the US Catch It on BBC America From New York Times |
Posted 12/1/09 |
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The fashion world may be the last
bastion of prejudice, a field that overtly discriminates
against people because of their looks. So there is something
both bold and troubling about “Britain’s Missing Top Model,” a
reality show that begins on Tuesday on BBC America that pits
disabled women against one another to compete for a photo
spread in the U.K. edition of Marie Claire magazine. One thing never changes in the beauty industry, however: an ounce of fat is a greater hurdle than a missing limb. “Rebecca’s disability didn’t cause me any problems,” a photographer says after shooting Rebecca, 27, a stunning brunette who was born with a deformed hip and wears a prosthetic leg. “It was just the fact she’s not really in shape. Most models are pretty toned, slimmer, more agile.” In other words, this is pretty much like any season of “America’s Next Top Model,” except when it’s not. This series comes with a paradoxical premise: it’s a contest designed to raise the profile and confidence of disabled women but makes a spectacle of their hunger for acceptance. “Missing Top Model” tries to bolster self-esteem yet revels in the piquancy of physically imperfect women competing in a profession that demands physical perfection, which one judge defines this way: “It’s what 99 percent of the population do not have and never will.” |
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"Cube" Producer Called to Big Leagues Justin Gorman to Head Entertainment for C4 From C21Media |
Posted 12/1/09 |
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UK broadcaster Channel 4 (C4) has
appointed the executive producer of high-tech gameshow The
Cube as its new head of entertainment. Justin Gorman will start in January, reporting directly to C4's head Julian Bellamy. His remit covers all of C4 and sister channel E4's entertainment output, including charges to seek out new talent and develop existing relationships with indies. The C4 entertainment hot seat had been left empty since October, when Andrew Newman left his post as head of comedy and entertainment to become chief creative officer at Objective Productions – ironically the same company Gorman is leaving to take his new position. Shane Allen has since become head of comedy. Gorman's track record in production, besides helming The Cube, which ran on ITV1 earlier this year, includes BBC's action drama The Real Hustle and Derren Brown: The Events. |
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Simon Cowell to Eminem: ... Okay Rapper Reaches Out to Cowell About Judging "X Factor" From OK |
Posted 12/1/09 |
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Simon Cowell says he would welcome
Eminem as a guest judge on The X Factor. Music mogul Simon Cowell says Eminem would fit in well on the X Factor judging panel and would love to have him appear as a guest judge. He said: "It would be great to have him on as a guest judge…Em - I call him that because we are on first name terms - the job is yours." Eminem had previously said he would make a great judge on the reality show - and would be a lot tougher than the current line up. He said: “Simon tells it like it is and I am down with that. If somebody ain't good enough they ain't good enough." |
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ABC on "Thin Ice" Catch It in March From the Futon Critic |
Posted 11/30/09 |
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Emmy Award-winning talk show host
Elisabeth Hasselbeck ("The View") and Kurt Browning, four-time
world champion Canadian figure skater, co-host "Thin Ice," a
new competition for the world's greatest pro figure skaters,
live from the MGM Grand at Foxwoods (Connecticut), airing
Friday, March 19 (8:00-9:00 p.m., ET) and Sunday, March 21
(7:00-8:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network. The lineup was announced by Joseph C. Jimenez, senior vice present, Foxwoods Resort Casino and Terry O'Neil, CEO, O'Neil Entertainment. Two of the judges will be Kristi Yamaguchi, 1992 Olympic gold medalist and Season Six champ of "Dancing with the Stars," and Dick Button, two-time Olympic gold medalist and the voice of figure skating on American television for 45 years. The judging will be split between viewer votes on www.abc.com (50%) and a panel of judges (50%). Confirmed competitors so far include: - Shizuka Arakawa, Japan, 2006 Olympic gold medalist - Shae-Lynn Bourne, Canada, 2003 World Champion In total, 12 competitors will come from four skating disciplines -- ladies, men, pairs and dance -- and the competitors will be paired as six couples. No pairs or dance skater will be coupled with his or her current partner. Skating programs will be limited to two minutes. "In the Olympic Games," said O'Neil, "there are more than 300 pages of rules and regulations. In Thin Ice,' the entire judging criteria are summarized in two words -- entertain us. And the viewer-vote is a wonderful interactive feature. After years of controversial scoring, we can finally say to the television viewer: this time you judge the skaters." Competition will be staged in the Premier Ballroom of the MGM Grand at Foxwoods Casino in Connecticut. At 50,000 square feet of unobstructed space, it is the largest column-free ballroom in the northeast U.S. "It will be a remarkable setting," said Mr. Jimenez. "We'll build an ice rink 75'x140' and still have room for 3,000 spectators. The room will have great ambience, and elegant chandeliers hang from a 26-foot ceiling. Spectator seating will be darkened to give the feel of a cabaret or nightclub." |
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You're Going To... Vegas? Cowell Seeks to Use Sin City for "X Factor" From New York Post |
Posted 11/30/09 |
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When Simon Cowell's
"American Idol" rival show "X Factor" comes to the US, expect
the rallying cry to be "You're going to . . . Las Vegas." Cowell, who is still in talks with Fox and NBC about bringing the talent show to American TV, said over the weekend that his plans are to set up shop in Las Vegas when the deal is finally done. "Vegas is tailor-made for this show," says Sir Philip Green, the retail store-billionaire who is now partners with Cowell. "To sing in Vegas? I mean, hell, you get to the final 12 [and tell them] 'Your dream's come true -- you're going to sing in Vegas!' " In an interview the pair gave to British GQ magazine, Cowell and Green suggest that they plan to replace Hollywood, the home of "Idol." "We'll have a store. And it'll be online," Green says. "It's taking it up a peg." "X Factor," which began in Britain in 2005 and is now the No. 1 series there, has 19 spin-off versions in countries as diverse as France and Kazakhstan. Cowell is right now prohibited by his $45-million-a-year "Idol" from bringing the show here. But that contract expires after this season and any new deal will likely give him the right to start a US version. |
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Kris Allen's CD Weakest Idol Winner
Debut Ever Season 8 Champ Moves 80,000 Copies for 11th Place From Access Hollywood |
Posted 11/30/09 |
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Kris Allen may be an “American
Idol” winner, but fans didn’t vote him to No. 1. this week,
according to Billboard. The Season 8 victor’s debut album sold a disappointing 80,000 in its first week, the weakest debut of any “Idol” winner, landing it at No. 11. In fact, another “Idol” winner, Carrie Underwood, outsold him with sales of her third album, “Play On.” The album sold 86,000 copies, pushing it past the half-million mark overall. It was released on November 3. And Kris’ runner-up, Adam Lambert, is poised to make a much bigger splash with his own debut, “For Your Entertainment.” The album is reportedly on its way to a 225,000-selling release following the star’s controversial performance on last weekend’s “American Music Awards.” John Mayer earned the week’s No. 1 album with “Battle Studies,” which sold 286,000 copies. |
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Carrie Ann Back on the Floor "Dancing" Judge Had Surgery From E! Online |
Posted 11/30/09 |
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Watch out! Carrie Ann Inaba is
back on the dance floor. The 41-year-old Dancing With the Stars judge may have had surgery on her neck Wednesday, but she tells me she's already good to go. She went under the knife to treat pressure caused by spinal stenosis, a painful condition in which the space around the spinal cord narrows... "My back and neck were locked up," Inaba said at last night's Dizzy Feet Foundation benefit. "I have arthritis. I wasn't able to move pretty much the whole season. It's nice to have my motion back." Dancing was completely out of the question—until now, that is. "I have class Monday, Wednesday and Friday," she said, smiling. "I'm back to my normal schedule and I can't wait!" And nothing was going top stop Inaba from coming out last night for Dizzy Feet. "I have to be here," she said. "I wouldn't want to be anywhere else. Even if I was in a neck brace, I'd be here right now." Dizzy Feet was started earlier this year by Inaba, Nigel Lythgoe, Adam Shankman and Katie Holmes to promote dance education for young people. Also at the event were Channing Tatum, Lance Bass, Jane Kaczmarek, Glee's Matthew Morrison and stars from So You Think You Can Dance, Dancing With the Stars, the American Ballet Theatre and Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. |
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George Hamilton Gets "Out of Here!" "Dancing" Star Becomes Third Person to Quit UK Edition From the Sun |
Posted 11/30/09 |
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Two weeks in the Aussie jungle was
just too much for veteran actor George Hamilton as he became
the THIRD star to quit I'm A Celebrity last night. The frazzled 70-year-old bolted after deciding he missed his family - and didn't want to win. With a belly-full of kangaroo mince - cooked by chef Gino D'Acampo - he fled back to the five-star Versace hotel. George told Kim Woodburn: "Who knows, I may end up in the final three. But at this stage in my life I have to think what is important to me. With Christmas coming up it makes sense to spend a few days here with my girl and go back and spend time with my kid "I've had a really good time, but sometimes I feel I'm not contributing." George followed dancer Camilla Dallerup and model Jordan in quitting. His decision, coming hours after he spoke to girlfriend Barbara, sent shockwaves through the camp. Jimmy White and Kim even cried. It left Sun-backed charity Malaria UK out of pocket again after ITV agreed to refund viewers' votes for the star. The charity already lost tens of thousands of pounds after Jordan walked out. At least 15p (about a quarter) of each 50p (about 82 cents) call is donated. Viewers who want their money back can fill out a form at ITV.com. |
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Why Mia Michaels Quit "Dance" Choreographer: "It Was Time For Me To Go" From Wall Street Journal |
Posted 11/27/09 |
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When the hit reality series “So
You Think You Can Dance” premiered in the summer of 2005,
contemporary choreographer Mia Michaels was an integral part
of its rotating cast of choreographers and guest judges. She
continued her work on the show for five seasons, earning two
Emmy nominations for Outstanding Choreography, and winning one
in 2007 for a piece she created to Celine Dion’s “Calling
You,” also known as The Bench routine. Then, on Oct. 14, 2009, she tweeted an enigmatic message that implied she’d be leaving “So You Think You Can Dance,” much to the surprise of the show’s fans. It had been five years — and I was there from day one," Michaels said. "Basically, I felt like it was time for me to go because I wasn’t growing anymore, in any capacity. I wasn’t able to expand into a director, creator, producer. I had all these other opportunities in front of me." |
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George Choderker: 1944-2009 Producer of "Password Plus", "Baby Races", "That's My Dog!" From Los Angeles Times |
Posted 11/26/09 |
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George Choderker, director of such
shows as "Password Plus", "Super Password", and "The $128,000
Question", died Wednesday, November 18. He was 65.
In addition to the "Password" shows, he also worked on "Baby Races", "That's My Dog!", "The Quiz Kids Challenge", and GSN's "Burt Luddin's Love Buffet". Choderker is survived by survived by his wife of 42 years, Dorie; two children, Julie and Ivy; son-in-law, Daniel; and two grandchildren, Mirabelle and Eli. A private graveside service will be held at Hillside Memorial Park. |
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Five Picks Up "Heads or Tails" Justin Lee Collins to Host UK Adaptation of Aussie Series From Digital Spy |
Posted 11/26/09 |
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Justin Lee Collins's new show will
be the focus of Five's Christmas schedule, the channel
announced today. Collins, whose previous television credits include ITV2's The Justin Collins Show and Channel 4's The Sunday Night Project, was recently unveiled as the new face of Five. Heads Or Tails, his first gameshow for the channel, will be screened across 11 consecutive nights in December with contestants competing to win £1 million on the toss of a coin. A celebrity special featuring Denise Van Outen and Coronation Street's John Thomson is also planned, with any money won going to their chosen charities. "I'm hugely excited that we'll be showing Justin Lee Collins's first Five show this Christmas," said channel head Richard Wolfe. "Heads Or Tails is a completely absorbing and unashamedly feel-good gameshow which will have all the family playing along at home."  What's on TVThe Stage WorldScreen Coventry Telegraph Metro C21Media Digital Spy Broadcast Digital Spy |
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Fox's Midseason Returning: "Idol", "Our Little Genius" From Entertainment Weekly |
Posted 11/25/09 |
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Today, Fox announced the premiere
dates for this winter’s new and returning shows. Along with
ordering a full season of Lie To Me, the network has scheduled
a special Jan. 10 episode of The Simpsons celebrating the
series’ 450 episode. Fox will also unveil a Simpsons
documentary, The Simpsons 20th Anniversary Special: in 3-D! on
Ice! from filmmaker Morgan Spurlock that night. Their line-up
of new shows includes: Past Life, a drama inspired by the book
The Reincarnationist, set to premiere Feb. 11; Human Target, a
series about a private contractor that premieres Jan. 17; Our
Little Genius, a game show for gifted kids, premiering Jan.
13; and Sons of Tucson, a comedy following three brothers who
hire a new father when their real one is imprisoned. (The
latter will premiere March 14.) Some other highlights: *American Idol will premiere its ninth season Tuesday, Jan. 12. *A new season of Kitchen Nightmares begins Jan. 29. *24 will kick off with a two-night, four-hour event Jan. 17 and 18. *Glee switches to Tuesday nights starting April 13, when the network will air all-new episodes following the series’ Dec. 9 fall finale. *The network will offer all-new episodes of Fringe starting April 1. The show’s winter finale will air Feb. 4. *The series finale of Dollhouse will air Jan. 22. |
 Fox will bow the ninth series of "American Idol" and "Our Little Genius" in January (photo courtesy Doug Morris) |
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"Biggest Loser" Dieting Dangerously Producers Say They Need to Be Extreme From New York Times |
Posted 11/25/09 |
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When more than 40 former
contestants from “The Biggest Loser” gather Wednesday for a
reunion television special, the winner of the program’s first
season, Ryan C. Benson, who lost 122 of his 330-pound starting
weight, will be absent. Mr. Benson is now back above 300
pounds but he thinks he has been shunned by the show because
he publicly admitted that he dropped some of the weight by
fasting and dehydrating himself to the point that he was
urinating blood. Now in its eighth season, “The Biggest Loser” is one of NBC’s most-watched prime-time programs besides football, drawing an estimated 10 million viewers each week, according to Nielsen. It has clearly tapped into the American obsession with losing weight, as more than 200,000 people a year submit audition videotapes or attend open casting calls for the program. It also has spawned a licensed merchandise business that will generate an estimated $100 million this year. The series also highlights the difference between the pursuit of engaging television and the sometimes frenzied efforts of contestants to win, perhaps at the risk of their own health. Doctors, nutritionists and physiologists not affiliated with “The Biggest Loser” express doubt about the program’s regimen of severe caloric restriction and up to six hours a day of strenuous exercise, which cause contestants to sometimes lose more than 15 pounds a week. At least one other contestant has confessed to using dangerous weight-loss techniques, including self-induced dehydration. On the first episode of the current season, two contestants were sent to the hospital, one by airlift after collapsing from heat stroke during a one-mile race. New contestants are entering the show more out of shape. Each of the last two seasons has broken the record for the heaviest contestant ever, at 454 and 476 pounds. Medical professionals generally advise against losing more than about two pounds a week. Rapid weight loss can cause many medical problems, including a weakening of the heart muscle, irregular heartbeat and dangerous reductions in potassium and electrolytes. “I’m waiting for the first person to have a heart attack,” said Dr. Charles Burant, a professor of internal medicine at the University of Michigan Health System director of the Michigan Metabolomics and Obesity Center. “I have had some patients who want to do the same thing, and I counsel them against it,” Dr. Burant said. “I think the show is so exploitative. They are taking poor people who have severe weight problems whose real focus is trying to win the quarter-million dollars.” Dr. Rob Huizenga, the medical consultant to “The Biggest Loser” and an associate clinical professor of medicine at U.C.L.A., said that the program was safe. “This is not only a major amount of weight loss, it is a totally different kind of weight loss compared with surgery or starvation diets,” he said. In interviews, the show’s trainers and producers acknowledge that unsafe practices can occur. “If we had it to do over, we wouldn’t do it,” Dr. Huizenga said of the recent one-mile race that resulted in hospitalizations. “It was an unexpected complication and we’re going to do better,” he said, adding that “that challenge has changed a lot of the way we do things,” including more closely monitoring contestants’ body temperatures during exercise. JD Roth, an executive producer of the series who created its current format, said that while the show was extreme, “it needs to be extreme in my opinion.” “For some of these people this is their last chance,” he said. “And in a country right now that is wrestling with health care issues and the billions of dollars that are spent on obesity issues per year, in a way what a public service to have a show that inspires people to be healthier.” |
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Ken Ober: 1957-2009 Comic Hosted "Remote Control", "Make Me Laugh", "Smush" From New York Times |
Posted 11/25/09 |
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Ken Ober, a brassy comedian best
known as the host of the 1980s-era MTV game show “Remote
Control,” died this weekend, Mark Measures, an agent at Abrams
Artists who worked with him, said on Monday. Mr. Ober, who
lived in Santa Monica, Calif., was 52. The cause of death was
not immediately known. Lee Kernis, a manager at Brillstein Entertainment Partners who represented Mr. Ober for more than 20 years, said that Mr. Ober was found dead on Sunday. He said that Mr. Ober was last heard from on Saturday night, when he spoke to a friend and complained of a headache and flu-like symptoms. Mr. Ober told the friend that he was going to take something and would see a doctor as soon as possible. Mr. Ober, who grew up in Boston idolizing game show hosts like Bob Barker and Bob Eubanks, went on to host four game shows of his own, including a revived version of “Make Me Laugh” in 1997. But his breakthrough came a decade earlier when Mr. Ober, a contestant on the televised talent show “Star Search,” became the host of the MTV series “Remote Control” in 1987. That show, which was the network’s first original series to focus on non-musical content, tested participants on their knowledge of television, music-video and pop-culture trivia. The show, which also provided a launching pad for the careers of comedians like Adam Sandler and Colin Quinn, drew much of its sarcastic, self-mocking spirit from the culturally obsessive Mr. Ober, who ran the program like a late-night talk show (or frat party) and gleefully teased players who gave wrong answers. Van Toffler, the president of MTV Networks, said on Monday, “Ken was a great guy. His personality really brought ‘Remote Control’ to life, as well as a new style of programming for MTV. We were really flying by the seat of of our pants then, and Ken was the reason it worked.” In recent years Mr. Ober also worked as a producer on comedy series like “Mind of Mencia” and “The New Adventures of Old Christine.” Mr. Kernis said, “He was a terrific friend. I’m still shocked.” "Ken Ober was one of the sharpest, quickest, sweetest guys I ever met," former "Remote Control" "Studboy" Adam Sandler said in a statement to MTV News. "Kenny Ober was and always will be the quickest wit in the room. He was fall-down funny from the moment he was born -- a smart, fast and hilarious human being who made many of us, including myself, laugh until we cried," comedian, actor and writer Denis Leary added in a separate statement to MTV News. "As the star and host of 'Remote Control,' he was a welcoming ringmaster who helped to kick-start the careers of numerous talents, including Adam Sandler, Colin Quinn and myself. He will be remembered always by each of his friends not only for his massive talent but for his true, deep and enduring friendship."
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 Ken Ober (photo courtesy NNDB) |
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Adam Lambert Did... Something... on
Sunday "Idol" Alum's GMA Concert Cancelled, Will Do "Early" Instead From TVNewser |
Posted 11/25/09 |
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Adam Lambert was polite, but
defiant during his interview on "The Early Show" Wednesday,
saying he got "carried away" with his sexually-explicit
performance on the "American Music Awards," but he did not
feel he owed an apology to anyone. "I'm a performer, not a babysitter," he said in response to several questions from co-host Maggie Rodriguez in which she gave him the chance to apologize to parents and children who might not have been expecting such a graphic display of sexuality on network TV. The awards show aired on ABC, which cancelled a scheduled appearance for Lambert on "Good Morning America" Wednesday. CBS, which has the last place morning show, quickly rushed in and put Lambert on Wednesday morning both for an interview and performance. Lambert did say, "I can see how some got offended" by his performance. But, he insisted, "That was not my intention." He said his body movements came from an "impromptu place" and that "it just got the most of me."
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Holiday Marathons on GSN Featured: Feud, Match, DOND, 1 vs. 100, and... More Feud From Buzzerblog |
Posted 11/24/09 |
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GSN has two upcoming marathons for
those of you who are classic fans and people who like the
newer shows.
On December 24 GSN will be
showing a marathon of the Ray Combs edition of Family Feud
9:00AM ET to 6:00PM ET. Episodes will consist of a Winner
Takes All tournament as well as several Christmas themed
special editions. On Christmas Day you can see a Richard
Dawson marathon of Feud. It’ll go on from the same times;
9:00AM ET to 6:00PM ET. The first two episodes are definitely
Christmas themed. |
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Jose Garces Gives Back "Next Iron Chef" Cooks Up Thanksgiving Dinner Party From USA Today |
Posted 11/24/09 |
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Thanksgiving has always been chef
Jose Garces' favorite holiday. Devoid of much of the
commercialization that surrounds holidays such as Christmas
and Valentine's Day, Thanksgiving is, for him, all about
family, friends and food. But he'll have one more reason to celebrate this year. On Sunday, Garces, 37, was named winner of The Next Iron Chef on the Food Network, outcooking nine other talented chefs. Though only Garces and a handful of people knew the outcome of the taped reality show, hundreds gathered for a viewing party Sunday night at Distrito, one of his five Philadelphia-area restaurants, hoping to celebrate Garces' victory and his ascension to the national stage. And celebrate they did. For some people that would be enough of a celebration to last for the week, but next up is his annual pre-Thanksgiving party for his employees. Instead of a typical restaurant staff party, hosted a week before the holiday, Garces closes down all of his restaurants for lunch on the day before Thanksgiving and throws a big party. "This is my way of giving my staff the chance to celebrate and get in the spirit of Thanksgiving," he says. |
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Jared Cotter Heads to "The Challenge" "Idol" Alum/"You Rock" Host Goes Local From My Fox NY |
Posted 11/24/09 |
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Long Island native Jared Cotter
took his successful run in season six of American Idol and
turned it into a growing TV hosting career. The host of Fuse's dating-music hybrid "You Rock, Let's Roll", Cotter's next gig is as the host of The Challenge Quiz Show. Some of the smartest students from the New York City area compete in the quiz show. You can catch Cotter and The Challenge Quiz Show on the MSG Varsity channel. |
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Just Call Her Heidi Samuel "Runway" Host Takes Husband's Name From Us Magazine |
Posted 11/24/09 |
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Just call her Heidi Samuel! A Los Angeles court commissioner officially approved supermodel Heidi Klum's request to adopt husband Seal's last name Friday. There is no word yet on if she will adopt the surname professionally. The Project Runway hostess, 36, filed paperwork early last month in court to legally change her name, citing 'marriage' as the reason for the change. Her decision to take Seal's last name (his full name is Seal Henry Olusegun Olumide Adeola Samuel) comes four years after they wed. Klum gave birth to the couple's third child together, daughter Lou, five weeks ago. She and Seal have two sons, Henry, 3, and Johan, 2, and Seal, 46, is the adoptive father of Klum's daughter Leni, 5. |
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More on "The Sing-Off" Host, Judges, Contestants Announced From the Futon Critic |
Posted 11/23/09 |
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Multi-platinum recording artist
Nick Lachey is set to host NBC's upcoming a cappella singing
competition series, "The Sing-Off," a four night holiday event
premiering Monday, December 14 (8-10 p.m. ET). The
one-of-a-kind battle of voices will continue on December 15
and 16, culminating in a live finale on December 21 (each
night 8-10 p.m. ET). Celebrity judges set to critique the singing groups with their expertise are Ben Folds (Ben Folds Five), Shawn Stockman (Boyz II Men) and a rotating third judge who will be announced each night. Eight a cappella groups will be competing in the competition for a $100,000 prize and an Epic Records/Sony recording contract. The a cappella groups competing include: Beelzebubs from Boston, Massachusetts; Noteworthy from Provo, Utah; Face from Boulder, Colorado; Maxx Factor from Baltimore, Maryland; Nota from San Juan Puerto Rico; The SoCals from Los Angeles, California; Solo from Omaha, Nebraska and Voices of Lee from Cleveland, Tennessee. |
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"Runway" 7: January 14 Over 4 Million Watch Finale From the Futon Critic |
Posted 11/20/09 |
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After showing a city-warrior
inspired, 13-piece collection at Bryant Park during Fashion
Week, Irina Shabayeva has been named the winner of Season Six
of Project Runway and her model, Kalyn Hemphill, earns the
coveted title of last model standing on Models of the Runway.
Beating out fellow designers Carol Hannah Whitfield and Althea
Harper, Shabayeva was praised for her masterfully crafted,
modern and sleek looks by host Heidi Klum, judges Michael Kors
and Nina Garcia and guest judge, international fashion
journalist Suzy Menkes, to claim the top spot. Shabayeva walks
off the Project Runway catwalk with a $100,000 cash prize
furnished by L'Oreal Paris, a trip to Paris from Evian and a
fashion spread in Marie Claire Magazine's February 2010 issue.
Joining Shabayeva for the feature spread will be Hemphill, who
also receives $25,000 from Garnier Skin Genesis. Recently nominated for its first ever People's Choice Award for TV Competition Series, Project Runway, will return to the Big Apple for Season Seven, premiering on Thursday, January 14, 2010, at 10PM ET/PT. With the guidance of mentor Tim Gunn, the new crop of designers head back to Parsons and Mood and set out to prove they have the creative and couture chops that will impress Klum, Kors and Garcia or face being "auf'ed." Season Seven, filmed entirely in New York, will feature influential guest judges from the worlds of fashion, film and television. Season Seven also marks the first time the show has ever been shot and distributed in High-Definition (HD). All future seasons of Project Runway and Models of the Runway will also be shot and distributed in HD, where available. Immediately following Project Runway, Season Two of Models of the Runway, will air at 11:00PM ET/PT, beginning January 14, 2010. Each 30-minute episode gives fans a behind-the-"seams" look at the reality competition from the models' perspective. Next season, tensions will run high when loyalty is thrown out the window by the designers when choosing their models. With more game play and unprecedented model swapping, who will make it to the finale at Bryant Park? |
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Russia Picks Up "Quizmaster" Fremantle Licenses German Quizzer From C21Media |
Posted 11/23/09 |
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Channel Russia is lining up its
own local version of hit German gameshow 5 Against The
Quizmaster after licensing the format from FremantleMedia. The Russian broadcaster will air its adaptation of the show next month. 5 Against The Quizmaster debuted on RTL earlier this year and became Germany's highest rated new entertainment launch of 2009. The format, which Fremantle acquired from Germany's i&u TV Produktion, turns the tables on the nation's favourite quizmaster, giving five contestants five chances to put questions to them instead. The winner is the one whose questions the quizmaster fails to answer. The Russian version will feature Maxim Galkin, a former host of Who Wants to be a Millionaire? in the country, and will run under the title 5 Against Galkin. It is Fremantle's first sale of the format since launching it at Mipcom this year. "When FremantleMedia acquired 5 Against The Quizmaster, we instantly recognised its potential as a global format. It's a fantastic gameshow concept with a great twist, and the ratings in Germany were phenomenal," said Fremantle president of worldwide entertainment Rob Clark. |
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Irish Call-in "Unfair" 16 of 17 Complaints Upheld From Teletext |
Posted 11/23/09 |
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A controversial TV quiz show has
been denounced as unfair and misleading by Ireland's
broadcasting watchdog. TV3's Play TV drew complaints by viewers who said they were not put through, despite calling several times at a cost of 1.50 euro for each call. The Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) upheld 16 out of 17 complaints against the show made over the summer. |
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Carl Kasell Retires from "Morning
Edition" Newsman to Remain on "Wait Wait, Don't Tell Me..." From Google/AP |
Posted 11/23/09 |
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Carl Kasell will finally get to
sleep in. The veteran newscaster is retiring from NPR's
"Morning Edition." The 75-year-old Kasell has done the newcast during NPR's flagship morning program since its inception 30 years ago. NPR says he will give his last broadcast on Dec. 30. In a memo to National Public Radio staff and stations, managing editor David Sweeney and vice president of programming Margaret Low Smith praised Kasell for raising "more than a generation of listeners with his calm and authoritative newscast." Kasell will remain the judge and scorekeeper of "Wait Wait ... Don't Tell Me!," NPR's weekly news quiz show. A spokeswoman for NPR says that no one has been named to succeed Kasell on "Morning Edition." |
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Regis to Take Leave "Millionaire" Host to Return to "Live" In New Year From ETOnline.com |
Posted 11/23/09 |
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Morning host Regis Philbin made an
announcement on "Live with Regis and Kelly" on Monday
regarding a month long hiatus. The talk show host disclosed that he will be taking some time off from the program in order to recover from his upcoming hip surgery. Philbin, 78, will be taking a leave of absence from Dec. 1 and into the New Year |
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"Scream Queens" to Return VH1 Orders Second Season From the Hollywood Reporter |
Posted 11/20/09 |
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VH1 is renewing its horror-themed
reality series "Scream Queens" for a second season, with the
winner landing a role in the next "Saw" film. "Scream Queens 2" has 10 aspiring actresses competing to win a role in "Saw 3D," the next movie in Lionsgate's horror franchise. Season one's winner was featured in "Saw VI." The reality sequel is slated to return next year with actress Jamie King serving as host and judge along with director Tim Sullivan and acting coach John Homa. "Real opportunities to break into feature films are rare in acting competitions and it's great to be able to deliver on that promise," said Kevin Beggs, Lionsgate's president of TV programming and production. "We've enjoyed a terrific collaboration with VH1 on 'Scream Queens,' and look forward to building on the success of the series with even more exciting challenges in Season 2." |
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Mike Sexton "Shuffles Up" Report: Show to Air on MNT in 2010 From Tightpoker.com |
Posted 11/18/09 |
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PartyPoker.com poker ambassador,
Mike Sexton, will have a new television gig next year to go
along with his duties as legendary World Poker Tour announcer.
Starting on a yet to be determined date in 2010 on MyNetworkTV,
Sexton will host a new poker game show called “Shuffle Up and
Deal.” With recently-born poker game shows “Face the Ace” and
“PokerStars.net Million Dollar Challenge” receiving mixed to
poor reviews, “Shuffle Up and Deal” will need to differentiate
itself significantly to gain viewers, especially on a minor
network. It does sound, though, as if “Shuffle” might have a formula that will work. Most poker shows, game shows or otherwise, run into the problem of neither appealing to the hard core poker fan nor the casual fan. The poker isn’t shown in intricate enough detail to please the diehards and casual fans can’t relate to the high stakes and famous players. Sexton’s show looks like it will try to draw in mostly casual fans, which comprise a higher percentage of the television audience, while hoping to keep the serious players watching. “Shuffle” will see amateur poker players choose cards from an electronic board as they try to make a strong five card hand. The winner of the episode, who will presumably win the most money through some sort of betting or points system (details have not been released yet), will advance to the bonus round. In the bonus round, the contestant will have a chance to win the show’s progressive jackpot, which starts at $250,000 and increases $10,000 each time a player does not win. |
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"Honey Please" Casting... Again This Is Not A Repeat From Last Month... From Reality Wanted |
Posted 11/20/09 |
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Do you have the power of
persuasion? Can you keep a secret? Apply to be an undercover player on a NEW kind of game show. Contestants will open-up their homes and pick an unknowing teammate (husband/wife, fiancé, boyfriend/girlfriend) to be their accomplice in this hilarious challenge of wit and task. Cash and prizes will be given for each task you can successfully talk your teammate into completing, And the tasks are things they would not normally do, i.e. laundry, a fitness work out tape, making you dinner, giving you a back massage, etc. (the funnier the better). BUT your teammate will have no idea they are competing or being filmed. And you can win up to 12K in cash and prizes! Don't forget...it’s a secret! |
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"Biggest Loser" Comes to Asia Show to Cater to Asian Tastes From Inquirer |
Posted 11/20/09 |
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The “heaviest” of Asians are
about to wave goodbye on their “sorry no size for you” drama
as the television series Biggest Loser Asia unfolds on
November 24. Among 2000 hopefuls from all over Asia, only 30 can grab the chance to win $100,000 cash prize, a Renault car and a lifetime achievement of departing from obesity with a healthy lifestyle led by fitness trainers Dave Nuku for the Blue team and Kristy Curtis for the Red team. The weight-losing reality game show will be aired with the same format as shown in the United States - with physical training mixed with “temptations” - but the trainers prefer a positive way of motivating the participants with less shouts since Asians are more sensitive compared to their Western counterparts. “I don’t need to shout at them to do follow my instructions and like me, they just have to realize that health is important,” said Curtis, who used to be underweight. Curtis also added that despite the cultural differences among Asian participants, all of them are receptive to training and some try to accommodate religious concerns, like wearing a proper fitness outfit, for example. |
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"Takeaway" Not Taken Away Ant & Dec to Shoot Another Season From STV |
Posted 11/20/09 |
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Ant and Dec have confirmed that
they will return to present another series of Saturday Night
Takeaway, according to a report. It had been thought that ITV was dropping the program in favor of their new family gameshow Push The Button. However, Declan Donnelly has revealed that the Geordie duo will bring back the show for a further outing. Dec told the Daily Mirror: "We've done nine series and we've said that we don't want to let it go until we've done a 10th. "I wouldn't feel happy unless we'd celebrated the anniversary, and ITV have agreed." Ant and Dec recently hit the headlines when it was announced that they had signed an exclusive deal with ITV worth £20million. Ant McPartlin said at the time: "We are delighted to sign with ITV for another two years to continue to make the programs we love like Saturday Night Takeaway, Britain's Got Talent and I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! - there is no better home for our shows." Declan added: "We're particularly excited about the new media opportunities, which will allow us to make fresh and exciting content for online, and also launching our brand new entertainment show Push The Button in 2010." |
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Not "Seen on TV" BBC Cancels Comic Quiz From Chortle |
Posted 11/20/09 |
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Jason Manford’s BBC One quiz show
As Seen On TV has been axed after just one series. The comic was a regular team captain on the primetime show, opposite Fern Britton, with Steve Jones as host. But the BBC today confirmed that the comedy quiz will not be returning. It launched in July on a Friday night with 2.7million viewers, but was soon moved to Thursdays. |
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Alex Trebek Visits Detroit "Jeopardy!" Host Takes in Ford Plant Before Shooting From Detroit News |
Posted 11/20/09 |
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Alex Trebek, host of "Jeopardy!,"
one of the nation's most popular quiz shows, made a rare visit
to Metro Detroit Thursday to tape clues for the show at Ford
Motor Co. During the day,
Trebek spent time at a Ford assembly line, and says he was
blown away by the modern technology that makes it easier for
assembly workers to do their jobs. In fact, the surprisingly
hilarious Trebek says he wants to take one of the robotic arms
home to put in his garage to make his work around the house
easier. |
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American Gladiators? A Movie? ....
REALLY?! Scott Mednick to Produce From MTV |
Posted 11/20/09 |
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In a way, "Who Wants to Be a
Millionaire" has already been turned into a movie ("Slumdog
Millionaire"), and now a producer of "300" is bringing
"American Gladiators" to the big screen. Scott Mednick, also an executive producer of this fall's "Where the Wild Things Are," has hired "Point Break" screenwriter Peter Iliff to script the previously announced adaptation of the physical competition series as a movie that, Variety says, will "feature the Herculean characters as superheroes." But will amateur athletes be cast as the villains? It would certainly be appropriate to the format of the show, which involved everyday contenders battling the gigantic male and female Gladiators for a shot at $100,000 and a car. |
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NBC Pledges to "United Plates of America" Magical Elves Offers New Restaurant Series From the Futon Critic |
Posted 11/19/09 |
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NBC announced today the new
alternative-competitive series "United Plates of America"
(working title) - from Magical Elves the Emmy Award-nominated
producers of "Project Runway" and "Top Chef" -- that will
allow contestants to vie for arguably the biggest prize in
reality show history -- the opportunity to open a new
restaurant chain in four cities across America. The contestants' fate will be decided by a panel of real investors who fund the chain of restaurants with their own money. As the competitors chase their American dream, viewers will also be fully engaged with interactive elements online at nbc.com. The announcement was made by Paul Telegdy, Executive Vice President, Alternative Programming, NBC and Universal Media Studios. "This is the first time the culinary and business worlds have come together in a big event series where the prize is one of the largest in reality TV history," said Telegdy. "Not only will viewers get to watch the competition unfold, they'll be able to eat at the winning restaurant immediately after the show's finale." "This show is going to make the American Dream come true for someone out there - all they need is one great idea," said executive producer Dan Cutforth. Added executive producer, Jane Lipsitz, "With a prize of this magnitude, we believe this show will bring together everything we love about reality TV; creative passionate contestants, a dynamic panel of experts, and fierce competition." "United Plates of America" challenges its creative and ambitious contestants to realize their dream of opening the next great restaurant. However, achieving that goal requires substantial financial backing and business connections that few people can claim. The winner will be selected by a panel of some of the most important names in both the dining and business worlds who will invest their own money in the final restaurant chain and have a huge stake in the game's winner. Thousands of ideas will be narrowed down as each week the investors will put the chosen few through rigorous challenges to discover whose plan has the greatest potential for success. The stakes have never been higher for the contestants and the investors. The series will showcase larger-than-life personalities who will offer the hopeful restaurateurs expertise, support -- and the kind of tough love it will take to overcome great odds. Ultimately, after a much-heated debate, the panel will choose the winning concept and decide whose idea will be America's newest restaurant. |
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Fremantle Joins with Notional Firms Develop Four From C21Media |
Posted 11/19/09 |
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FremantleMedia has picked up
international format rights to a new dating show that takes
place entirely in a taxi cab and which is among the first
projects from new IAC-backed production studio Notional. Love Taxi is one of first properties unveiled as part of Notional's debut slate. The company, headed by CollegeHumor co-founder Ricky Van Veen, already has two on air for Scripps Networks Interactive. Notional, set up in the summer at the same time as IAC partnered with former NBC Universal co-chair Ben Silverman on a similar venture called Electus, has six initial projects in the pipeline. Two series came to the company via City Lights TV when the latter's chief, Dave Noll, joined the firm recently as president of TV. Culinary show Chopped and home makeover series Don't Sweat It broadcast on Scripps' Food Network and HGTV respectively. The four in development are Love Taxi, which FremantleMedia Enterprises is selling internationally; Ready, Set, Dance!, a dance competition series combining web and TV; a gameshow called You Vs America; and an "epic scale" reality gameshow called Chase the Money, which is currently in preproduction. "We are thrilled to be up and running so quickly, with a few shows already on the air and some great ideas ready to bring to market," said Van Veen, Notional's CEO. "We are particularly excited about Ready, Set, Dance! because it's an innovative show format that truly combines our unique television and online expertise. This is exactly what we set out to do in building off of CollegeHumor." Noll added that Notional's goal was simply to "create and produce the most original formats in the world." |
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1 vs. 100 Live Goes to Second Season Catch It Today! From Wall Street Journal |
Posted 11/19/09 |
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Since first releasing the Xbox
nearly a decade ago, Microsoft has been targeting your living
room. From videogames to film downloads to the coming Facebook
add-on for their Xbox Live service, the software maker has
rolled out features that aim to shorten the link between your
computer and your TV set. Later this month, Xbox Live will
feature another addition: a live game show. On Nov. 19, Microsoft Game Studios is starting a new season of the multiplayer game show “1 vs. 100,” after a highly-popular demo version earlier this summer. The game is based on the popular show of the same name that started in the Netherlands and has since aired in more than two dozen countries. In the game and on the show, a randomly selected contestant must defeat “the Mob” of 100 other players to collect a cash prize. Game shows on television have attempted different levels of interactivity, such as voting for contestants on “American Idol.” But there is often a delay between when viewers interact with the show and when the results appear. For “1 vs. 100,” everyone can play along whether they are part of the “the Mob” or not. The show is filmed live at Microsoft’s television studios.
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Singing Bee Season 2: January 15 CMT Returns Karaoke Revival From RealityTVWebsite |
Posted 11/18/09 |
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The buzz is back as CMT's hit
series, "The Singing Bee", returns for a second season
beginning Friday, January 15 at 9:00 p.m., ET/PT. Hosted by
Melissa Peterman, new weekly, one-hour episodes of "The
Singing Bee" promise more laughs and excitement than ever
before with new music selections and fierce competitors. Full
episodes of the first season of "The Singing Bee" are
available online at http://www.cmt.com/shows/series/singing_bee/episodes.jhtml. Blending a mix of country music with popular favorites from other genres, "The Singing Bee" tests contestants' knowledge of lyrics to well-known songs and those who fail to accurately sing the correct lyrics are eliminated from the competition. Establishing itself as perfect family entertainment, "The Singing Bee" recently ended its original run on CMT and ranks as the network's highest-rated series of the year. |
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British Models Come to America BBC America Acquires "Missing Top Model" From AHN |
Posted 11/18/09 |
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"Britain's Missing Top Model" is a
unique format for a modeling contest that challenges the
stereotypes on the fashion industry. The contest is between
eight girls who are all aspiring models, but all have a
disability. Each week the girls will go through a series of
challenges that will eventually lead to one of them winning. The show begins on December 1 on BBC America at 9pm ET/PT and the first episode will introduce the girls as they all move in to a London apartment and retell their stories behind their disabilities. Their mentor, Jonathan Phang, who was a modeling agent for 20 years, takes the girls through the modeling industry and teaches them the tricks of the trade. The challenges include modeling lingerie in a store window, walking the catwalk, recording a television commercial with male models and a photo shoot in the rain. On the judging panel are fashion designer and founder of "Red or Dead," Wayne Hemmingway, ex-editor of Marie Claire Marie O'Riordan, writer, actress and presenter Lara Masters and casting director Mark Summers. Some of the disabilities that the girls have to deal with are being paralyzed from the neck down, being born without part of a left arm, and being deaf. |
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Pat Kiernan Offers Up Pop Culture
Quizzer "World Series" Host Plays Online From Buzzerblog |
Posted 11/18/09 |
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Pat Kiernan was featured on three
game shows in the last 10 years. Now he's offering his skills
online for prizes on his daily blog, "Pat's Papers". Each day at 11:30AM ET Pat will post a pop culture trivia question which you obviously then have to answer correctly. For the first week he will randomly pick one of the first ten to do so, and they will get an Amazon gift card. For example, a sample question of today is, “In the classic TV version of “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” the grandfatherly narrator is played by whom?” You’d go to his site and be quick about answering. $25 gift cards available. |
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University Challenging Host: Show Gets Harder Over Time From Digital Spy |
Posted 11/18/09 |
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Jeremy Paxman has rejected
suggestions that University Challenge has become easier over
time. The host of the quiz show for higher education students told the Radio Times that the questions on the program are in fact harder than they used to be. Paxman said: "For heaven's sake, do you watch the show? We have intentionally made the questions harder... And they get harder still as the series progresses. "It might be interesting to speculate on why it is that a quiz in which much of the audience doesn't expect to get most of the answers right achieves such spectacular ratings, in a difficult slot." He added: "I think it proves that television doesn't have to dumb down. If you pay the audience the courtesy of inviting them in by suggesting they're quite smart enough to go along with the program, they will come in." Executive producer Peter Gwyn confirmed that there is "no doubt whatsoever" that the questions are harder now than when Bamber Gascoigne headed the show, with more questions on the sciences and in greater detail. However, he admitted: "In the early years, a question would require a piece of general knowledge that you either knew or you didn't. "These days, we give more clues - perhaps the century, perhaps the country of origin. Sometimes we give as many as five clues in a question, hardest first." |
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Adam Lambert to Out Magazine: Chill! Idol Alum Takes to Twitter From MTV |
Posted 11/18/09 |
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Adam Lambert had a simple response
to the impassioned open letter penned by the editor in chief
of the gay magazine Out alleging that the flamboyant "American
Idol" runner-up's management team is attempting to push him
back into the closet: Chill out. Lambert took to his Twitter account on Tuesday to respond to Aaron Hicklin's tirade. "Dear Aaron, it's def not that deep. Chill! Guess ya gotta get attention for the magazine," Lambert wrote. "U too are at the mercy of the marketing machine. ... Until we have a meaningful conversation, perhaps you should refrain from projecting your publication's agenda onto my career." The tweet came after Hicklin published a letter in which he said he was proud to have the singer in the Out 100 list of influential gay and lesbian icons but upset that Lambert's label and management appear to be trying to tone down talk of his homosexuality. "You're a pioneer, an out gay pop idol at the start of his career," Hicklin wrote. "Someone has to be first, and we're all counting on you not to mess this up. You have to find your own path and then others can follow. We just hope it's a path that's honest and true and that you choose to surround yourself with people who celebrate your individuality." A spokesperson for Lambert's management company did not return MTV News' requests for comment on the controversy. |
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Discovery/Hasbro Venture Adds 4 Noted TV Heavy Hitters Join Up From Webwire |
Posted 11/17/09 |
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Discovery Communications-Hasbro
Joint Venture President and CEO Margaret Loesch today
announced the appointment of four senior executives to the
children’s television network, which is scheduled to launch in
late 2010. Joining the yet-to-be named network are Amber
Fredman-Tarshis as chief marketing officer, Dan Pimentel as
chief financial officer, Brooke Goldstein as senior vice
president of ad sales and Lorrie Copeland as senior vice
president of consumer insights and research. "The additions of Amber, Dan, Brooke and Lorrie to our team solidify the foundation of this new children’s network" said Loesch. "Each of them is a leader in the industry and among the best and brightest in their fields. Their expertise and hard work will help build a world-class, family-friendly destination for children featuring compelling storytelling, strong characters and engaging brands" |
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