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Tuesday, July 31, 2012

CBS Pulls Dating Show '3' Off Schedule

3 CBS TV Still - H 2012
CBS
"3"

CBS has taken struggling dating show 3 off the schedule.

After two low-rated episodes, the network has pulled the plug on the series, which had its time-slot debut just two nights ago, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed.

PHOTOS: 10 Shows Canceled Faster Than 'The Playboy Club'

CBS will air drama repeats at 9 p.m. Sundays beginning next week. Returning drama The Good Wife will assume the time period Sept. 30.

The writing was on the wall early on for 3, which centers on three women brought together in their search for love. 3 launched on Thursday, July 26 with a special preview episode to 2.4 million viewers and a 0.8 adults 18-49 rating before moving to its Sunday slot where it continued to falter (1.8 million, 0.5).

E-mail: Philiana.Ng@thr.com


Steven Tyler on His 'American Idol' Exit: 'I Loved and Hated It'

Steven Tyler PR 2012 P
Michael Becker / FOX

With his time judging American Idol in the rearview mirror, Steven Tyler candidly told Rolling Stone that he's relieved the gig is over.

"[It's] not my cup of tea," said the 64-year-old Aerosmith frontman. "I loved it and hated it. It was a great job. I sat next to J. Lo and I made a ton of money. It was a moment in life and it became larger than life."

PHOTOS: 'American Idol' Live: The 2012 Tour In Pictures

Tyler admitted that the main motivation for taking the job -- besides the paycheck --was to escape tensions that existed within his band stemming from disputes in 2009.

"It was something to do while the storm blew by, to be honest," he said.

Tyler, who routinely told vocalists they were "beautiful" in his judging critiques, alsosaid it just wasn't in his nature to rip intocontestants as Simon Cowell did in previous seasons.

"The show's about kids and what you do to nurture their talent. They wanted me to take the piss out of the kids and I don't have that in me. That's not what I'm about," he said. "That's more about that other guy. Not me."

Healso took issue withthe show's disciplined schedule.

"It was just hard work: seven-hour days and then I went and did the [Aerosmith] album for eight hours after that," he said.

POLL: 79% of 'American Idol' Viewers Want Simon Back

Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry said he never noticed a difference in Tyler's work ethic in the recording studio while recording the group's new CD, Music From Another Dimension!, in Los Angeles.

"He did double duty," said Perry. "I never felt for a minute he was lagging in the studio because of his other job. He did his whole thing [on Idol] and then showed up at eight at night and was in the studio until 2 in the morning."

Perry said he is relieved to have his lead singer back in the saddle, so to speak.

"There was certainly the fame and notoriety that went with it. But you can't figure out what a band is about reading about it in the gossip column," he said.

Aerosmith kicked off their nationwide Global Warming Tour earlier this summer and will next stop in Denver, Co. on Aug. 1.


Anderson Cooper's Ratings Grow After Coming Out, CNN Rebounds From June Lows

Anderson Cooper
John Paul Filo/CBS via Getty Images

Though only Fox News Channel is in better shape than it was this time last year, July was still a good month for CNN. The network saw growth across the board after record lows in June.

Ratings for the month have the network still firmly in third place, but up in double digits in primetime and daily viewers, with even stronger gains in the demo.

PHOTOS: THR's 35 Most Powerful People in Media

CNN averaged 488,000 total primetime viewers, 149,000 of them in the coveted adults 25-54. That's up 15 and 20 percent, respectively, from last month's 427,000 total and 121,000 in the demo. (The numbers are still down over 20 percent from July 2011.)

In daily ratings, CNN brought in 355,000 total viewers and 109,000 in the demo. Similar to primetime, the numbers are up from June's 303,000 total viewers and 91,000 in the demo -- but down from the same time last year.

Of particular note is Anderson Cooper. The 360 host, who came out of the closet in early July, has the only primetime cable news broadcast to actually see growth among adults 25-54 since last July. At the 8 p.m. hour, he was up 27 percent from June in total viewers (533,000) and 31 percent in the demo (161,000). He's up six percent in the demo from July 2011.

PHOTOS: The Most Talked-About TV News Faces

Elsewhere in cable news, see the below numbers for the big three networks' July 2012 year-to-year showings -- and note that MSNBC's numbers include more than 33 hours of Olympic programming:

Fox News Channel
Daily viewers: 1,070,000 (up four percent)
Daily adults 25-54: 251,000 (down seven percent)
Primetime viewers: 1,717,000 (down four percent)
Primetime adults 25-54: 327,000 (down 22 percent)

MSNBC
Daily viewers: 432,000 (down three percent)
Daily adults 25-54: 142,000 (down 11 percent)
Primetime viewers: 713,000 (down five percent)
Primetime adults 25-54: 221,000 (down 11 percent)

CNN:
Daily viewers: 355,000 (down 20 percent)
Daily adults 25-54: 109,000 (down 23 percent)
Primetime viewers: 488,000 (down 23 percent)
Primetime adults 25-54: 149,000 (down 26 percent)

Email: Michael.OConnell@THR.com; Twitter: @MikeyLikesTV


TV Ratings: Olympics Stay Strong, 'Bachelor Pad' Sinks

Summer Olympics Michael Phelps 200m Butterfly - H 2012
Al Bello/Getty Images

With the glow of opening weekend fading just a bit, NBC's Olympic coverage still fared incredibly well on Monday night. Fast affiliate ratings have the fourth night of the London Games down just a tenth of a point in the demo from Beijing, averaging a 10.5 adults 18-49 rating for the night. An average of 31.4 million tuned into the festivities.

Univision bested the rest of the broadcast nets with a 1.3 adults rating, while Fox padded its Monday with Hell's Kitchen encores, averaging a 1.1 adults rating and 2.9 million viewers.

CBS encores earned a 1.0 adults rating and 3.8 million viewers, while ABC saw worse luck with new outings of Bachelor Pad and The Glass House. Both hit series lows, dropiing double digits from last week for a 1.1 and 0.6 adults rating, respectively. The network averaged a 0.9 rating with adults 18-49 and 2.9 million viewers.

On the CW, encores averaged a 0.2 adults rating and 440,000 viewers.


'Real Housewives of New York' Recap: Sex Talk and Spit Takes in Miami

The Real Housewives of New York Season 5 Cast - H 2012
Michael Rosenthal/Bravo
The Real Housewives of New York Season 5 Cast

When The Real Housewives of New York travel, the fun and nuttiness hit the road with them. When we left them last week, we knew Aviva Drescher was setting Sonja up with her vivacious father George but George proved to be so much more than that; it turned out he is, as Aviva claimed, a bit of a sex fiend.

PHOTOS: The 'Ex-Real Housewives Club'

First, the ladies enjoyed lunch and cocktails, followed by face yoga with Ranjana Khan (wife of Naeem Khan, couture designer to Hollywood stars and First Lady Michelle Obama) at her penthouse in the performing arts district. While Carole and Aviva gave the face yoga a try, Ramona and Sonja were like naughty schoolgirls, giggling and laughing and generally making fun of the whole thing. Then Ramona Bossypants surfaced and kept demanding Aviva get out of the pool because of her prosthetic leg. The usually good-natured Aviva didn't appreciate Ramona's constant hectoring. Neither did we.

At dinner at Aviva and Reed's, George's love for the ladies was evident in every remark out of his mouth. Though he was supposed to set his sights on Sonja, he turned his flirt beam on Carole as well, promising that if she slept with him, he'd give her a particular type of orgasm. Carole, not a prude at all, was caught off guard and in what may be one of reality TV's funniest moments, Ramona's husband Mario did a full-on spit take when he heard George make that promise to Carole.

PHOTOS: The 6 Biggest Surprises From THR's Reality TV Poll

A visit to George's beachside building resulted in George flirting even more with a bikini-clad Sonja and not making much headway. While Sonja appreciated George's monied appearance and joie de vive, after his non-stop comments about her body parts, she thought he might be too much for her after he suggested a three-hour sex session.

Back home in New York, Carole and Luann visited a downtown boutiquem and Carole, always the straight shooter, told Luann she was a little upset about Luann visiting Naeem Khan's boutique and asking him to loan her some dresses. Luann apologized and said she didn't mean to upset Carole. See what happens when you use your words, ladies?

THR COVER STORY: 'Real Housewives': The Guiltiest Pleasure on Television

The final night in Miami was at an Art Basel party and Aviva, Reed, George, Sonja, Ramona and Mario had a reserved bed/seating area at the event, which George immediately used as an excuse to get very close to Sonja again. Sonja's reaction to George's excitement was, "ew." So much for a love connection. The group enjoyed cocktails, art, and synchronized swimmers.

How did you like the Miami adventure? What did you think of Aviva's dad George? Hit the comments and let us know.

Email: diane.gordon@thr.com; Twitter: @thesurfreport


'Bachelor Pad' Recap: Ribbon Dancing Never Looked So Bad

Bachelor Pad Men's Gymnastics - H 2012
ABC/MATT BROWN

What better way to celebrate the Olympics than with a little awkward ribbon dancing by reality TV stars with little to no talent?

Bachelor Pad picked up right where last weeks episode ended, with the superfan twins arguing about who may or may not be a slut. They eventually make up, thank the TV gods.

The next day, host Chris Harrison informs the contestants that theyll be partaking in some rhythmic gymnastics for this weeks competition.

STORY: 'Bachelor Pad' Recap: Super Fans Invade the House

Rehearsals dont go very well, with the men awkwardly lumbering through their routines and the women only doing slightly better.

And then the outfits: tight-fitting leotards for both the women and the men.

The women perform first for judges Ashley Herbert, J.P. Rosenbaum(from The Bachelorette) and Olympic gymnastTasha Schwikert.

The men, who were definitely worse, get bonus points for throwing the worm into their ribbon dancing.

Erica Rose and Ed are voted the worst of the bunch. Theyll have a vote against them in the rose ceremony.

The winners were Blakeleyand Michael, who are safe from elimination, and also get to go on dates with people of their choice.

VIDEO: 'Bachelorette' Star Kalon Hints at Romance on 'Bachelor Pad'

Michael takes Rachel, LindziandDonna to a rock concert. And theres also plenty of making out. Michael plays tonsil hockey with Rachel, and later Donna (although that seemed more like a charity case). He gives Rachel the rose.

Back at the house, everyone is celebrating Jamies birthday. Jamie spends the night hoping to get time alone with Chris so they can talk about teaming up, but her current partner Ryan -- the 32-year-old virgin -- keeps trying to keep her attention.

Chris is juggling plates the best he can, telling Blakely he isnt interested in Jamie, and telling Jamie he isnt interested in Blakely.

Its not a big deal that I have to sell myself a little bit thats part of the game, especially when theres $250,000 on the line. Ill do anything to win, Chris says. He later jumps into bed with Blakely for some fun under the blankets.

But Jamie catches them under the blankets, and breaks down. More tears.

VIDEOS: 'The Bachelor': Backstage Interviews From the 'Women Tell All' Special

The next day, Blakely chooses three men -- Chris, Ed and Dave to go on a date at the soapbox derby.

Ed wins the race and gets the shiny trophy, but master manipulator Chris gets the rose after some nighttime private talk and promises.

Back at the drunken, naked house, the twins get back into another fight. It really is time for them to go home. Luckily, thats exactly what they decide to do.

Because the double-trouble duo leaves, all the women are safe from elimination.

In a strange turn, Sarah tells Ed -- before the rose ceremony is over -- that she voted him off, even though they hooked up the night before. But the plan backfires because Ryan gets kicked off because his own partner, Jamie, voted him off. Now, she's free to stalk, er, pursue Chris.

What did you think about Monday's episode ofBachelor Pad? Sound off in the comments section below.

Email: Rebecca.ford@thr.com; Twitter: @Beccamford


Monday, July 30, 2012

TCA 2012 The CW and Showtime Recap: Pedowitz and Nevins Shrug at Ratings, 'Weeds' Says Farewell

Stephen Amell Mary Louise-Parker TCA - H 2012
Getty Images

The CW and Showtime split Monday at the Television Critics Association summer press tour, and though the sister networks had quite different presentations, they did have one theme in common: neither is putting much stock in Nielsen ratings.

Digital streaming numbers on our shows are astronomical," said CW president Mark Pedowitz. "Nielsen is trying to do the best they can. We are all looking for an accurate measurement." Taking the stage in the afternoon for his own executive session, Showtime entertainment president David Nevins also put the emphasis on a different viewership model. "65-70 percent of our viewing doesnt happen on Sunday night when the show is first broadcast," he said, referring to outgoing Weeds.

STORY: TCA 2012: CW Still Mulling 'Battle Royale,' 'The Selection'

The CW Executive Session: In addition to talk of ratings, Pedowitz explained the network's fall approach, which has all of the shows premiering in October. The move is meant to avoid September's flood of new and returning series and remove encores from the schedule. Many series, including the final 10 episodes of Gossip Girl, will air uninterrupted.

STORY: CW's Mark Pedowitz Talks 'Gossip Girl,' 'Muppets' and Flaws in Nielsen Measurement

Arrow: Stephen Amell's starring turn in the new comic book drama was greeted by a relatively fawning crowd of reporters, many of them dwelling on the actor's rigorous workout during the panel. EP Marc Guggenheim was more interested in talking about the series' source material and their plan for staying true to it moving forward. "We're definitely taking a lot of inspiration from Green Arrow: Year 1 and Green Arrow: The Long Bow Hunters," he said. "Green Arrow has an origin that's subject to a lot of interpretation. We always start with the comic as our source of inspiration."

STORY: 'Arrow' Cast, Creators on Changes to the Mythos and 7 More Things to Know About the CW Drama

Emily Owens, M.D.: Narration, often a source of irritation for the TCA crowd, will continue to play a role in the Mamie Gummer medical drama after the pilot. "I think it's a point-of-view show," she said. "[It is something] we can use comedically, we can use effectively emotionally. I like it as a device."

STORY: 'Emily Owens, M.D.' Spotlights High School Antics in Hospital Setting

Beauty and the Beast: Linda Hamilton is aware of the Beauty and the Beast reboot, and she's given her blessing to the actress taking over her '80s TV character. Series star Kristin Kreuk says she received a letter of approval from Hamilton while shooting in Toronto. "I got in on our first day of work and it was in my trailer," she said. "It was really nice for her to know what we're doing and wishing us well. It's rad."

STORY: 'Beauty and the Beast' EPs Defend Handsome Lead, Tout Linda Hamilton Approval

Showtime Executive Session: Nevins used his platform to boast about a few milestones for the cable network -- growing subscriber base to nearly 22 million, a record 22 Emmy nominations and the distinction of having President Obama's favorite show (Homeland) among them. He also took the opportunity to confirm that The Big C will return for a fourth and final season of four hourlong episodes.

STORY: Showtime Chief on 'Homeland,' 'Dexter' and Violence on TV

STORY: Showtime Renews 'The Big C' for Fourth, Final Season of Four Hourlong Episodes

Weeds: A frequently teary-eyed Mary-Louise Parker spoke about reading and filming Weeds' upcoming series finale, and had some especially nice words for creator Jenji Kohan. [She] managed to bring things together in a really beautiful way," said Parker. "She didnt make it a happily-ever-after thing. But there was hope and there was some sort of benediction. I cried when I read it. I think the finale is beautifully written and I hope it lives up to what she wrote.

STORY: Jenji Kohan, Mary-Louise Parker Reflect on Final Season of 'Weeds'

Dexter: Given the game-changing events of the recent Dexter finale, the stars and creative team are all aware that the writing is on the wall. "Deb finding out does make an end game feel a little more palpable and imminent," said Michael C. Hall, noting this year Dexter's secret is no longer his own. "The plan is to do this season and a final eighth season to tell the story of the two of them negotiating their relationship in this new landscape."

STORY: Dexter' Cast, EPs Defend Series, Preview Game-Changing End Game

Homeland: The cast and EPs of Homeland did not skimp on the details of the upcoming second season. Claire Danes' Carrie is on a mission to reclaim her "mojo" and Damian Lewis' is slowly unraveling with the pressures of leading a double life. "He'd like to think he's in control of his own destiny, but he won't be," said Lewis, whose character now holds a Senate seat while maintaining links with Muslim extremists. "Essentially, he's everybody's bitch. He's pretty f---ed."

STORY: 'Homeland' Season 2 Finds Brody Unraveling, Carrie Reclaiming 'Her Mojo'


TCA 2012: Showtime Renews 'Inside Comedy'

David Steinberg Inside Comedy Panel - P 2012
Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images
David Steinberg

Showtime has renewed docu-series Inside Comedy for a second season.

The series will be back for 10 more episodes, it was announced by Showtime entertainment president David Nevins at the Television Critics Assn. summer press tour Monday. Ben Stiller, Tina Fey, Will Ferrell, Jim Carrey and Albert Brooks are among the new subjects for the series.

From Curb Your Enthusiasm's David Steinberg and Steve Carell, the 30-minute Inside Comedy features Steinberg in interview format chatting with comedians like Chris Rock, Jerry Seinfeld, Mel Brooks, Don Rickles, Jonathan Winters and Ellen DeGeneres about their career, personal struggles and their inspiration.

Carell and Steinberg serve as executive producers along with Vance DeGeneres and Charlie Hartsock for Carousel Productions. Alan Zweibel serves as creative consultant.

E-mail: Philiana.Ng@thr.com


TV Ratings: London Games Continue to Outpace Beijing, '3' Premieres Low

Olympic Games Woman's Gymnastics Day 2 - H 2012
Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

NBC's coverage of the 2012 London Games continue to be stronger than the most recent summer games. Sunday night's delayed broadcasts of women's gymnastics, men's relay swimming and more brought in 35 million viewers and a 11.4 rating among adults 18-49, according to fast affiliate ratings. That's up two percent from the comparable broadcast from Beijing in 2008.

PHOTOS: Inside the Olympics Opening Ceremonies

The contest for a distant second went to Fox. With encores of its animation block, the network averaged a 1.2 adults rating and 2.5 million viewers.

Univision and CBS split third place in the demo, averaging a 0.9 rating among adults 18-49. CBS had a 60 Minutes encore (0.8 adults rating), a slightly lower Big Brother (1.8 adults rating) from last Sunday and a very soft official debut for reality series 3. The episode was down nearly 40 percent from Thursday's preview special, posting a 0.5 rating among 18-49-ers.

Repeats of America's Funniest Home Videos, Secret Millionaire and Extreme Makeover: Weight Loss Edition for a 0.6 adults rating and 2.4 million viewers.


TCA 2012: CBS Party Diary With Leslie Moonves, Michael Chiklis and Mamie Gummer

WITNESS LIST: Leslie Moonves
Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images
Leslie Moonves

Following a day of panels and chest beating, the most-watched network invited members of the Television Critics Association to mingle with CBS, the CW and Showtimes new fall crop of stars. Here's a minute-by-minute look at what went down -- from Leslie Moonves' favorite rival shows (ABC'sNashvile!) to the actor with the biggest gaggle (Dexter'sMichael C. Hall!) -- inside the Beverly Hilton's Sunday night bash.

5:52 p.m.: The party has not officially begun and already some of the networks big guns have arrived. Hawaii Five-0 co-stars Alex O'Loughlin and Scott Caan chat with a small group in one of the shaded areas, while Dexter's Michael C. Hall makes a beeline for the bar before getting hounded by reporters (they had received Dexterpremiere screeners earlier in the weekend). As the evening carries on, Hall will see that scrum surrounding him grow.

6:05 p.m.: The Big Bang Theory's Mayim Bialik walks into the still relatively empty party. Later, shell thank Warner Bros. TV honcho Peter Roth for the candle sticks (presumably an Emmy gift) and then acknowledge that the nomination hasnt sunk in yet.

6:35 p.m.: Vegas stars Dennis Quaid and Michael Chiklis roll in together. CBS Corp. chief Leslie Moonves greets the duo by the door. Later, Moonves will reveal that he gave Chiklis one of his first jobs on the Steve Miner-directed buddy comedy pilot, Maverick Square. (In Moonves recollection, Chiklis broke his ankle the week before they were set to shoot the pilot; rather than recasting, they wrote the injury into the script.)

6:55 p.m.: Moonves introduces his wife (and The Talk co-host) Julie Chen to Made in Jersey star Kyle MacLachlan by the noodle bar. CW president Mark Pedowitz poses for a picture with Emily Owens, M.D. stars Mamie Gummer (aka Meryl Streeps daughter) and Justin Hartley by the bar. Minutes later, Gummer is deep in conversation with CBS morning show anchor Charlie Rose. Nearby, The Good Wife creator Robert King is talking to a network marketing exec about the Sunday night dramas NFL promos.

7:05 p.m.: Roth interrupts an interview Arrow star (and budding heartthrob) Stephen Amell is giving. Whos ripped! he bellows, before doling out one of his famous bear hugs. Amell says Roth came by his network test to offer him support. Minutes later, Amell will introduce himself to Rose. Across the way, Showtime entertainment chief David Nevins is posing with his stars, including House of Lies' Don Cheadle, Shameless Emmy Rossum and Dexters Hall. Next, hell catch up with Episodes star Matt LeBlanc over bites of bruschetta.

7:16 p.m.:Elementary star Jonny Lee Miller is now flanked by female reporters, while his co-star Lucy Liu is posing for a pic with Moonves. Across the way, Pedowitz is chatting with ICM Partners honcho Chris Silbermann, who spent much of last week negotiating on behalf of the Modern Family cast. Soon, Warner Bros. execs Bruce Rosenblum and Roth will emerge.

7:30 p.m.: Rose makes an early exit. At least hes got a good excuse: hes headed to Warren Beattys house for dinner. Minutes later, his CBS This Morning EP Chris Licht thanks newly upped Norah ODonnell for coming out. (ODonnell successfully dodged all questions about replacing Erica Hill during her panel earlier in the day.)

7:55 p.m.: TheHouse of Lies cast is gathered today. Ben Schwartz confirms he will be returning to NBC'sParks and Recreation for at least two episodes. As Lies' Cheadle heads for the door, The Big Bang Theory's Kunal Nayyar stops him to say hi. Showtime chief Matt Blank tells a gathering of reporters the network will be showing extended trailers for both Masters of Sex and Liev Schreibers Ray Donovanduring their presentation Monday. Ive wanted to work with Liev forever, he says, noting that Schreiber relocated from New York to Los Angeles for the series.

8:05 p.m.: Moonves is holding court with reporters. He insists he hasn't seen all of the rivals' new shows; from what he has watched, Moonves is high on ABC's Nashville and NBC's TheNew Nomal. The wide-ranging conversation moves from Twitter (he keeps up with others' tweets, including Rupert Murdoch's) to Katie Couric ("She's right ... we did put her in a box," he says) to the steady stream of actors who make their way over to kiss the ring.

8:17 p.m.: The Amazing Race host Phil Keoghan is enthralled by a liquid nitrogen ice cream bar in the back corner, making a point to come back and praise the chocolate s'mores-flavored offering: "It's awesome!" Earlier in the day, Survivor host Jeff Probst revealed to a roomful of reporters that he had gotten the Survivor gig over Keoghan.

8:54 p.m.: As the party thins out, Whitney Houston's "I Want to Dance With Somebody" begins to boom through the speakers. That Houston died inside the hotel makes it particularly akward. The night prior, TCA Awards emcee (and Breaking Bad star) Bryan Cranston dubbed the Beverly Hilton Hollywoods place to die.

9:02 p.m.: Both Chiklis and America's Next Top Modelhost Tyra Banks join the Sprinkles cupcake line for a late night snack on their way out. Within 10 minutes, there is a sizable exodus; Episodes star Matt LeBlanc is an exception as he stays put with reporters gaggled around him.

9:27 p.m.: The party is over.The Vampire Diaries EP Julie Plec joins the line for cupcakes, having spent much of her two and a half hours taking interview questions. The best question she got to answer: What's on your DVR? "Scandal," she says, from line. "I looooove it!"

Addiitonal reporting by Lesley Godberg and Philiana Ng.

Email: Lacey.Rose@THR.com; Twitter: @LaceyVRose


Sunday, July 29, 2012

'True Blood' Recap: Two Sams Are Better Than One

True Blood Glimmer of Hope Episodic 2 - H 2012
John P. Johnson/HBO

True Blood dialed up the crazy factor to 11 this week, with plenty of storylines moving along quickly.

[Warning: Spoilers ahead if you havent seen Sundays episode.]

MVP of the episode definitely goes to Sam Trammell for playing Lunas (Janina Gavankar) shifted version of Sam Merlotte. (More on that later.)

VIDEO: Comic-Con 2012: 'True Blood's' Joe Manganiello, Kristin Bauer van Straten Talk Werewolf Sex, Season 5 Finale

The episode, directed by Stephen Moyer, follows Bill (Moyer) and Eric (Alexander Skarsgard) as they deal with the remaining members of the Vampire Authority who are determined to rid mainstreamers from the world. Sookie (Anna Paquin) and Jason (Ryan Kwanten) enlist the help of other fairies to find out which vampire killed their parents.

Here are highlights from Sunday's episode:

1. The Lilith Trip

Eric, Bill, Russell (Denis OHare) and the remaining members of the Vampire Authority return to the base after their Lilith-blood-drinking trip. As Eric and Bill come down from their high, Eric decides to leave, but Bill stays.

STORY: TV Characters Gone Too Soon: From 'True Blood' and 'Lost' to 'Parks and Recreation'

Eric returns to try to talk his sister Nora (Lucy Griffiths) down, but shes not listening.

Eric and Bill join the others to talk about their plan to destroy the mainstreamers. Its actually Bill who comes up with the idea to bomb the True Blood factories.

What are you doing, asks Eric.

Evolving, answers Bill.

Bills choice to go along with Salome and the other human-killing zealots is concerning. Where is his backbone? What is he turning into? Does he have a plan, or is he really becoming a villain on the show?

2. Sookie and Jasons Parent Trap

Jason talks Sookie down from wasting away her fairy powers. They enlist the help of the fairies at the burlesque club to help them find out which vampire killed their parents.

VIDEO: Comic-Con 2012: 'True Blood' Will Have Three New Romances This Season, Says Alan Ball

It turns out fairies are able to access the past if they have some connection to a person or event in a certain place. Sookie successfully jumps into her mothers memory, witnessing a vampire murder Sookies father but wait! then Sookie sees things from the vampires perspective, watching as the vampire kills her mother.

Its apparently not a good sign that Sookie could jump into the memory of a vampire, but she does at least learn that the vampire's name is Warlot.

3. Two Sams Are Better Than One

Sam leaves the riled-up Luna in the hospital so he can help Andy interrogate the supe-hater they caught in the hospital.

But Luna gets so riled up, she ends up shifting into Sam. So Luna/Sam goes to the police station to talk to real Sam, in a scene that has to be some of the best work by actor Sam Trammell ever on the show.

When Luna/Sam starts feeling sick, real Sam takes care of her, in a hilarious and yet adorable conversation. When they kiss, Luna turns back into Luna, but something is still wrong with her health.

4. Love Never Dies

The gang of rednecks who hate supernaturals have captured Jessica (Deborah Ann Woll) as a present to Hoyt (Jim Parrack). (On a sidenote, did anyone else notice how much taller Hoyt is than the rest of those hillbillies?)

Hoyts buddies say he has to kill Jessica. But, of course, Hoyt doesnt because he still loves her, even though she doesnt love him. He lets Jessica go, and he leaves the house. At the very end of the episode, a car drives up to Hoyt and the driver points a gun in his face.

5. Dog Eat Dog World

Aclide (Joe Manganiello) is getting it on with that pretty werewolf. The night finally arrives for him to go up against the old man whose juiced up on V to determine who will lead the pack. But when Alcide finds out theyll be hunting for a teenage human boy, be refuses to compete.

In trying to save the boy, Alcide gets the crap beat out of him, and loses his opportunity to lead the pack.

Favorite lines of the night:

I aint in the helping business no more. Im in the shut the fup while I smoke a blunt business. And business is about the pick way the f--- up. Lafayette (Nelsan Ellis)

You dont know me that well. My mad face and my happy face are the same. -- Pam (Kristin Bauer van Straten)

What did you think of Sunday's episode of True Blood? Weigh in on the comment section below.

Email: Rebecca.ford@thr.com; Twitter: @Beccamford


TCA 2012: CBS News Execs Stress Accuracy Amid Flurry of Competitor Gaffes

Jeff Fager - CBS News - TCA - P 2012
Getty Images
Jeff Fager

CBS News chairman Jeff Fager opened the final session of the networks summer press tour Sunday with a soliloquy about the CBS News mission of quality reporting. It was a speech that alluded to gaffes at competing news organizations.

We werent always first, but we were accurate and comprehensive, said Fager, referring to the news divisions reporting on the Aurora, Colo., shooting and the Supreme Court decision on President Obamas healthcare law.

PHOTOS: The Most Talked-About TV News Faces

Both stories were marked by mistakes: CNN and Fox News botched the Supreme Court decision, and ABC News Brian Ross mistakenly linked shooting suspect James Holmes to the Colorado Tea Party.

Since he assumed the chairmanship of CBS News in February 2011 with David Rhodes as president and Fager's second-in-command, they have stressed bringing the in-depth and careful reporting of 60 Minutes to the news divisions daily broadcasts.

The standards and values that we practice at 60 Minutes are what were trying emphasize, said Fager, who continues to executive produce that show. How intense the process is at 60 Minutes, how much we care about every line, about every interview, about not taking people out of context.

PHOTOS: CBS' 2012-13 Season: 'Vegas,' 'Elementary' and 'Partners'

The tonal shift is most evident at the networks morning program. And CBS This Morning will make another change this fall when Norah ODonnell officially joins the show as co-host with Gayle King and Charlie Rose. Rhodes also announced that Anthony Mason will become a regular on the weekend edition of CBS This Morning with Rebecca Jarvis, and Bob Schieffer's Face the Nation will permanently expand to an hour.

Executives did not specifically address questions about when the decision was made to replace Erica Hill with O'Donnell, though they reiterated that they want her to stay at the news division.

We never want to pander to an audience, added Fager. We dont want to just get a get because its todays tabloid story.

STORY: Morning News Upheaval Continues With Norah O'Donnell Replacing Erica Hill on 'CBS This Morning'

CBS has not seen significant ratings gains since it bowed its morning show in January. But CBS News is sticking to its knitting.

Im never going to get a phone call from Jeff or [CBS News president] David [Rhodes] saying: Why dont you have this thing that ABC or NBC has? said Chris Licht, executive producer of CBS This Morning.

To which Rhodes added: Because its probably not true.

Email: Marisa.Guthrie@thr.com; Twitter: @MarisaGuthrie


TCA 2012: 'Partners' Co-Creators Talk About Putting Themselves in New CBS Comedy

KEY SHOWS TO WATCH:

Partners co-creators Max Mutchnick and David Kohan, the duo behind Will & Grace, spoke a bit more personally than most showrunners during their Television Critics Association summer press tour panel. Though the stars of their new CBS series did field some questions, most reporters targeted the Emmy-winning duo's decision to focus their latest collaboration on their own history.

The series follows two best friends and business partners, one gay (Michael Urie) and one straight (David Krumholtz), and the various issues their close relationship create in their respective love lives.

PHOTOS: Behind the Scenes Photos From THR's Comedy Showrunners Roundtable

"What we're writing is a dynamic," said Mutchnick. "We've been friends since we were 14 years old. We're in a relationship."

Mutchnick went on to give a rather detailed and hammed up recap of their meeting in high school -- Kohan, an athlete who dabbled in drama, and Mutchnick, a boy who had framed photos of Bette Midler in his room -- and his decision to come out of the closet to his best friend.

For a twosome that has been to press tour many times before -- they most recently came to CBS with the short-lived $*! My Dad Says -- there were also a few surprising anecdotes from the famous writing partners: Kohan originally turned down Mutchnick's request to write together on the grounds of their differing "sensibilities," and Mutchnick outed Kohan's failed acting audition against Nicolas Cage.

For all the laughter at these revelations, several reporters were persistent in seeking comments about criticism the show has gotten for comparisons to a similarly-premised 1995 Fox sitcom of the same name that was created by Will & Grace EP Jeff Greenstein.

PHOTOS: On the Set When 'How I Met Your Mother' Meets Baby

"This was an unfortunate coincide," said Kohan. "We thought the title was what worked... It's about three different kinds of partnerships.

"I obviously knew Jeff had done a show called Partners," added Mutchnick. "It was not something I was very familiar with or we were even thinking about."

Krumholtz, getting in one some of the sparse commentary from the on-camera talent, attempted to cut the tension.

"Is it an unfortunate coincidence that my character's name is Tate Donovan," he asked, referring to the lead in Greenstein's Partners.


'Scandal' Cast, Shonda Rhimes on Quinn's Reveal and Mellie's Endgame

The Newcomer
ABC/COLLEEN HAYES
"Scandal's" Katie Lowes

"You learn who Quinn Perkins is in the first episode of the season and the question that emerges from the first episode is not, 'Who is Quinn Perkins' but 'Why is Quinn Perkins who she is and what happened to make her that way."

Showrunner Shonda Rhimes tells The Hollywood Reporter that Scandal will jump right back into the action when the ABC political fixer drama returns in September with its second -- and expanded -- season, answering one of the finale's biggest burning questions right off the bat and opening the door into a bigger mystery.

Quinn (Katie Lowes), the newest member of Pope & Associates, was taken into custody for her role in boyfriend Gideon's (Brendan Hines) murder in the seventh and final episode of Season 1 only to find her boss Olivia (Kerry Washington) reveal to the rest of the team of Gladiators in Suits that "Quinn" didn't really exist.

STORY: 'Scandal' Case Study: Shonda Rhimes on the Intense Finale, What's Next in Season 2

"It becomes why is all of this occurring in her life, in Olivia Pope's life," Lowes tells The Hollywood Reporter. "You get to see Quinn in a really, really, really terrible situation that is definitely crazy. It's foreign to me as an actress to me, too.

Lowes teases that the series will again use flashbacks to explore Quinn's history, which she warns is both violent and blue-collar -- and likely involves a guy -- while working to regain the trust of everyone at Pope, where she's also now a client.

"She's your normal mid-20s girl making some mistakes with the opposite sex," she says, noting that Quinn's past isn't quite as messed up as Huck's.

Newly promoted series regular Joshua Malina says his character David (the U.S. attorney) will be right in the middle of things with Quinn after doing his part to protect Olivia's newest team member.

STORY: 'Scandal's' Henry Ian Cusick Not Returning for Season 2 (Exclusive)

"It does put me right into the thick of it and the show definitely hits the ground running," he says, noting that the friction that exists between David and Olivia leaves the door open for romantic potential. "There's a certain level of trust that cyclically she earns then loses. Clearly she is dedicated first and foremost to her clients, so he's always going to be in a position of never quite being sure that what she's saying is entirely to be trusted."

Huck (Guillermo Diaz), meanwhile, was last seen promising Olivia that he wouldn't kill Billy after he went public with President Fitzgerald Grant's (Tony Goldwyn) sex tape and his relationship with Amanda.

The ex-CIA killer's past will also be further explored in flashbacks, Diaz warns, to reveal Huck's past that will "just blow people's minds."

STORY: 'Scandal's' Guillermo Diaz Dishes on Huck's Mysterious Past

"I say it in Episode 5 when Huck is torturing [Charlie], that he's been sober for a long time from torturing and killing people," Diaz says. "I think he's a drug addict with torturing and killing and being that type of person; you're never really cured from alcoholism, it's a disease that's always there and I think that stuff is always going to be in his blood and keep coming up."

For her part, First lady (and new series regular) Bellamy Young says Mellie has incredibly lofty goals that motivate her to fall on the sword and protect Fitz -- and by extension Olivia -- when she confesses to being the woman with Fitz on the tape.

"Mellie wants to be president down the road, she wants eight years with Fitz, four years off then she wants to run, no joke," Young says, noting the season premiere contains a "huge reveal" for her character. "She's smart enough, she knows what it all entails, she definitely has a point of view and she wants to be in charge. She's not good at interpersonal relations, but she's great at the game."

STORY: 'Scandal' Ups Bellamy Young to Series Regular for Season 2

After telling the press that she was pregnant, Young says Mellie will continue on her mission by any means necessary. "It's fine if he loves Olivia but Mellie just wants to be president, that's the bottom line. Mellie is the woman who didn't think it was possible, so she put law career on hold and put all her ducks behind Fitz."

While all the dangling story lines will pick up full steam with the Scandal pace, Rhimes says the second-year drama will start out with a season-long arc and potentially two should the series expand from its initial order for 13 episodes.

"We want to keep telling stories in that manner and because we're doing 13 episodes and if we get more than that, we'll be telling two different season-long arcs," Rhimes tells THR. We came back nervous -- can we top what we did last season -- and now we're all really excited because we figured out how we can."

What are your theories about Quinn? Hit the comments with your thoughts on Scandal's big mysteries. Scandal returns Thursday, Sept. 27 at 10 p.m. on ABC.

Email: Lesley.Goldberg@thr.com; Twitter: @Snoodit


TCA 2012: Charlie Sheen on 'Anger Management': "It's Different Now that I̢۪m Not Insane"

Anger Management Charlie Sheen - H 2012
FX
Charlie Sheen

Reviews be damned, you can expect to see much more of Charlie Sheen.

With the half-hour entry garnering ratings above the threshold necessary for renewal, FX Networks president John Landgraf noted that the odds to return for an additional 90 episodes are overwhelmingly in the shows favor. And to hear Sheen tell it, 90 wont be enough.

Its exciting as hell, Sheen says of his latest series, which is currently averaging an impressive 3.1 rating in the coveted 18 to 49 demo. I feel like weve barely scratched the surface.

Critics, as Landgraf acknowledged, are less enthusiastic. The network chief, who added that he is pleased creatively and commercially with the new entry, urged the roomful of reviewers to reconsider how the Lionsgate-produced sitcom is assessed. As he sees it, it should be compared with such multicamera efforts as Two and a Half Men andMike & Molly, rather than FXs narrower, edgier single-cam series likeLouie and Wilfred.

STORY: TCA 2012: FX Renews 'Louie,' 'Brand X,' Adds Martin Sheen to 'Anger Management'

Showrunner Bruce Helford used the platform before the TV press to explain just how different the production process is for this show, which includes little room for notes and network oversight. On Management, they shoot two episodes per week with many scenes done out of order, leaving the group no time for rehearsals. Helfordacknowledges it has thrown each of his actors, which all of them approaching him at some point to ask: What am I doing?

Helford hammered home the value of the "partnership" he has with Sheen, a kind of creative input he suggests the actor didn't have onMen. Sheen nods, having showered praise on his showrunner earlier in the panel (hardly something he has been known to do with Men boss Chuck Lorre). As for his own behavior, Sheen acknowledges he's a different man today. "My life is different now that Im not insane anymore," he says, appearing twitchy but engaged on stage.

To date, the formula seems to be paying off. While FX brass is keeping mum on details, sources say Anger is selling at the highest CPM rates FX has ever seen for a first-year series.The studio, which with Debmar-Mercury will begin peddling Anger to stations for a fall 2014 syndication debut, has sold the series in Canada, Latin America, Germany, Scandinavia and Australia for roughly $600,000 an episode, more than what established sitcom hits Seinfeld and Sheen's own Two and a Half Men commanded out of the gate.

Assuming an additional 90 episodes are ordered (per the Debmar model tried first with Tyler Perry efforts), Martin Sheen will join the cast as a series regular. The elder Sheen, who guests on a later episode of the shows first season, is expected to appear in some 20 of the 90 episodes, says sources, though execs involved insist that it wont become the Charlie and Martin Show.

As Landgraf sees it, the addition will make the series more of a multi-generational family comedy, much as Two and a Half Men once was with Sheen at the helm. Sheen reminded critics that his father had appeared with him on episodes of bothMen andSpin City, too. I think its the best episode we did, Sheen says of working with his father on Management. He brings a whole different energy. Its not Martinville, but it sure isnt Charlieville when he does it.

Email: Lacey.Rose@THR.com; Twitter: @LaceyVRose


TCA 2012: Louis C.K. On Pushing Boundaries, Awards Silliness and his Love for 'Project Runway'

Louis C.K.

From "somwhere" in Albany, Louie executive producer and starLouis CK greeted members of the Television Critics Association Saturday with his thoughts on fashion, comedy and FX's standards and practices division.

Here's a look at the many topics he tackled during his half hour before the press.

On Comedys Boundaries

It is rare for FX to have to reign CK in. Im like a dog with a shock collar. You can take the collar off after a while; I know where the fence is, he said via satellite (CK is en route to the Adirondacks to retrieve his daughter from sleepaway camp), recognizing the valuable service that the nets standards and practices division provides. Still, exceptions exist, including a bit that was potentially offensive to Catholics in the God episode earlier in the series run. It certainly didnt upset me any, CK said of FX Networks president John Landgrafs note, because hes usually right.

STORY: TCA 2012: FX Renews 'Louie,' 'Brand X With Russell Brand,' Adds Martin Sheen to 'Anger Management'

On His Emmy Record

If people expected CK to start gushing about his seven Emmy nominations (for both his FX series and his stand-up special), they dont know CK. The very idea of records and competition, he said, should be more of an athletics things. Not that he isnt flattered, and pleased for his cast and network. The record was previously held by David Lynch, who was a big hero of mine, he added. To take something away from him is bittersweet.

On CKs Personal TV Habits

When CK is asked about his favorite TV shows, the roomful of TV reporters anticipate titles like Sons of Anarchy, Breaking Bad orCurb your Enthusiasm. Instead, CK starts praising Lifetimes Project Runway. I love it because I actually really enjoy fashion And I love thatTim Gunn guy. Hes got a really great work either, he quips, adding that hell watch big-tent competition shows like American Idol andAmericas Got Talent, too. Im a real sucker for very maudlin emotional stuff, he said, claiming he used to cry like a baby while watching Deal or No Deal.

On his Stand Up Future

To hear him tell it, CK will never stop doing stand-up. In addition to loving the format and the comedic inspiration born out of the live experience, he acknowledged that he still makes way more money on tour than he does on TV. "Stand-up takes the pressure off of doing other things," he continued. Whats more, it keeps his blood moving and is what he argues hes best at.

STORY: FX's John Landgraf Calls Out Netflix, Bashes Rivals and Admits Fighting with Showrunners

OtherLouieImitations

Following on Landgrafs stated desire to have more multi-dimensional comedians sign on to doLouie-like shows, CK was asked who would be capable. He mentions a multi-hyphenate likeChris Rock,who appeared earlier in the day to peddleTotally Biased with W. Kamau Bell. His advice for those who attempt the model: Youve got to educate yourself technically, he allowed, noting the importance of respecting the craft and knowing how such things as cameras work. Some people draw a line between the technical and the creative, and thats a mistake.

Email: Lacey.Rose@THR.com; Twitter: @LaceyVRose


Saturday, July 28, 2012

Jason Bateman Tweets Michael Cera Pics From 'Arrested Development' Set (Photo)

Michael Cera Jason Bateman Tweet
Jason Bateman/Twitter

The Bluth family reunion is afoot.

Jason Bateman on Saturday provided Arrested Development fans -- those dedicated television junkies that believed and protested long enough to bring the show back to the dead and on to Netflix -- a couple brief treats from what looks to be a very work-in-progress set.

"My son, arriving yesterday," he tweeted, attaching a photo of his TV son, Michael Cera. Now grown up, seeing Cera back as George Michael Bluth -- the role that made him famous -- will provide a stark reminder of just how long it's been since the show went off the air in 2006.

Bateman then tweeted another photo of Cera, writing, "A grandson, looking for his Gangee."

Earlier in the week, executive producer and narrator Ron Howard posted a photo of a script, tweeting, "Very very funny :-) Lots of lines for the narrator too!"

Creator Mitch Hurwitz revealed in April that, though they had initially intended the fourth season to work as an anthology, with each character getting its own episode tracing the last seven years, before the big feature film, it has become more of a traditional TV show once again... not that the show was all that traditional in the first place.

The show will start streaming in the first half of 2013.


'Suburgatory's' Emily Kapnek Previews Season 2: Romance for Tessa, George and Guest Star Rachel Dratch

Jane Levy Suburgatory - P 2011
ABC
Jane Levy of 'Suburgatory'

The first season of ABC comedySuburgatory ended with a couple of very dramatic moments. Tessa (Jane Levy) met her maternal grandmother and began exploring more about her family and absentee mother, which offered her an escape route from Chatswin for the summer.

Over at the Shea household, Lisa (Allie Grant) found out she's very much Sheila (Ana Gasteyer) and Fred's (Chris Parnell) biological daughter, with her brother Ryan (Parker Young), in a big twist, being the one who's adopted.

PHOTOS: TVs Top Offices: Where the Showrunners of 'Mad Men,' 'New Girl,' 'Sons of Anarchy,'Work and Play

The Hollywood Reporter caught up with showrunner Emily Kapnekon Friday at ABC's cocktail party at the Television Critics Association's summer press tour and got the scoop on season two, which will find Tessa returning home with a new perspective, and feature guest star Rachel Dratch.

The Hollywood Reporter: Does season two pick up exactly where we left off at the end of season one?
Emily Kapnek:We're jumping ahead a few months. We'll get some pops in flashback of what happened over the summer. So we're on a train back to Chatswin and Tessa is saying, "If you told me a year ago that I'd get to spend part of my summer in New York, I'd have said no f---ing way but I found this one crazy exit strategy my dad couldn't say no to: my grandma." Tessa gets off the train.

PHOTOS: Emmys 2012: 15 of the Biggest Snubs

What's in store for Tessa's dad, George (Jeremy Sisto)?

George has gone through his own metamorphosis while she's been gone. Eden (Alicia Silverstone) has moved on. The baby is there with Noah (Alan Tudyk). We're excited to see him in his single dad role because Jill's off on her book tour. We're going to be moving pretty fast and furious into the George and Dallas relationship. The time is right and everybody wants it and we want to see it. We have some really great stuff planned. I was just making Cheryl Hines blush today, telling her about an episode we have planned which is essentially the seduction of George Altman, where she's spent a lot of time, energy and resources in exactly how she's going to seduce George and it's really going to be funny.

Will Tessa get a new love interest in season two?
We are growing the chemistry between Tessa and Ryan. There are a bunch of situations where he comes to her rescue and he makes it very clear that he wants her back. I think that over time, he'll wear her down. The one thing about Ryan is he's so endearing and his heart's in the right place. I think old Tessa obviously loathed herself for being interested in someone like him but after being around cynical New Yorkers, we can understand why she'd be smitten with someone who's so enamored of her and so loving toward her, the genuine article of, "What you see is what you get kind of guy."

PHOTOS: Emmys 2012: Behind the Scenes Photos From THR's Comedy Showrunners Roundtable

Lisa was so traumatized when she discovered she was not the adopted Shea sibling at the end of last season. What's in store for her?

We'll get a little flashback glimpse of the adoption, when young Sheila and Fred first held baby Ryan.

Any fun guest stars planned?
Rachel Dratch is going to be in the Halloween episode. It's going to be so much fun to have her and Ana Gasteyer and Chris Parnell together.

What are you looking forward to seeing next season?Suburgatory returns in the plumb post-Modern Family time slot onWednesday, Oct. 17 at 9:30 p.m. on ABC.

Email: diane.gordon@thr.com Twitter @thesurfreport


'The Office' Hires 'Better With You's' Jake Lacy

Jake Lacey
Jake Lacy

Dunder Mifflin has added a new office mate.

Better With You's Jake Lacy has joined NBC's The Office, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed.

As first reported by TV Line, Lacy will be a series regular on the veteran comedy's upcoming ninth season as the series continues its reboot for Season 9.

For Lacy, the casting comes not long after he was dropped from Fox's midseason comedy The Goodwin Games, where he co-starred in the pilot alongside Becki Newton and Scott Foley.

Lacy joins new co-star Clark Duke (Greek), who also joins The Office as a series regular as the series -- NBC's top comedy -- looks to rejuvinate itself amid a revolving door both in front and behind the camera.

Co-star Mindy Kaling confirmed she will return to the series as Kelly Kapoor for a handful of episodes while juggling writing and acting duties on her freshman Fox comedy The Mindy Project.

B.J. Novak also will not return as a series regular, reducing his role to recurring and continuing to write and direct episodes of the series. (Novak was an executive producer on Mindy and will contribute to her Fox comedy though he does not have a permanent position on the series.)

Meanwhile, starsEd Helms,John KrasinskiandJenna Fisher, are all poised to return to the comedy, with Season 8 recurring guest starCatherine Tateuppedto series regular in June.

The Officehas seen a somewhat revolving door since starSteve Carell's departure last year. In addition to the cast moves, showrunnerPaul Liebersteinstepped down to focus on a potentialRainn Wilson-centered Dwight spinoff, with Greg Daniels returning to helm the series, which was renewed in May after the cast finalized deals to return.

The series also added two new executive producers -- Dan Sterling and Brent Forrester -- to help fill the void left by Lieberstein's departure.

Lacy is repped by ICM Partners and Beth Rosner Management.

The Officereturns Thursday, Sept. 20 at 9:30 p.m. on NBC.

Email: Lesley.Goldberg@thr.com; Twitter: @Snoodit


TCA 2012: FX Sets Cast for 'Bronx Warrants' Pilot, Orders Project From 'Cold Case' EPs

Comedy Central Preps Book Label
Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images
Denis Leary

FX has set the cast for its comedy pilot Bronx Warrants andordered a drama pilot based on the Danish series The Bridge from the executive producers from Cold Case.

Stand-up comic Godfrey and Robert Kelly, among others,will star in the effort that's based on the life of David Joglar and Richard Wetzel, who co-produce, the project revolves around a group of warrant detectives in the Bronx assigned to arrest individuals with outstanding warrants.With bonuses paid out for each "body" they bring in, the detectives are out to get rich rather than dole out justice.

STORY: FX Orders Comedy Pilot From 'Arrested Development,' 'Rescue Me' EPs

Created by Arrested Development's Dean Lorey, Rescue Me's Denis Leary and Jim Serpico will executive produce Bronx Warrants.

In announcing the cast of relative newcomers, FX president and GM John Landgraf also noted Scott Ellis has boarded the project to direct the pilot.

FX ordered the pilot in June, mere months after the cable network's New York-set firefighter dramaRescue Me wrapped its run.Bronx,if ordered to series, would join a scripted comedy roster that includesIts Always Sunny in Philadelphia,The League,Louie,Wilfredand the animated Archer.

For its part, The Bridge hails from Cold Case's Meredith Stiem (Homeland) and executive produced by Elwood Reid. The pilot hails from Shine America and FX Productions. The series has an eerie semblance to AMC's now-canceled drama The Killing and revolves around the police drama investigation that begins with the discovery of a body on a bridge. The Danish concept was recently picked up for a second season.

Email: Lesley.Goldberg@thr.com; Twitter: @Snoodit


Olympics Opening Ceremony: Music Hits and Misses Include Punk, Paul and Syria's Ill-Timed March to 'Where The Streets Have No Name'

Paul McCartney Olympics 2012 screen grab L

A $40 million production budget bought the London 2012 Summer Olympics opening ceremony one heck of a spectacle, but when it came to the soundtrack, the events musical choices left some watching at home -- and commenting online -- a little miffed.

To be fair, encapsulating five-plus decades of British music is no small task, but how do you explain a miniscule nod to Led Zeppelin? Where was Robbie Williams? The Police? Depeche Mode? Even the ever-reliable Sir Elton John, knighted by Queen Elizabeth II herself, seemed embarrassingly absent. And what, was Cheryl Cole busy on Friday night?

PHOTOS: Going for Gold: Portraits of Famous Former Olympians

Then again, the Danny Boyle-directed show had some curious nods as well -- most notably, a wink-wink to Her Majesty with a snippet of Sex Pistols God Save the Queen, one of two songs highlighted by the short-lived punk band, and the surprising inclusion of The Jams Going Underground.

What did the ceremony get right and where did it go woefully wrong? Read on for THRs assessment of the musical hits and misses -- and dont even get us started on those Team USA berets

Hits:

Punk gets its due sort of. Knowing that the anthemic Pretty Vacant was within earshot of British royalty is reason enough to bow down to Boyle, and while punk was but a blip in the program (The Clashs London Calling is an obligatory inclusion at this point, but the Specials A Message to You Rudy was pleasantly unexpected), the Olympics get points for balls.

Britain bows to Bowie:A highlight of the parade of nations is always the host country, but for London 2012, Great Britain couldnt have picked a better song to march to. David Bowies Heroes said in eight words what eight years of tireless training has signified to the 500-plus athletes competing for the UK, making the 1977 hit not only poignant but wholly appropriate.

PHOTO: Olympics Opening Ceremony: James Bond and the Queen Meet, Parachute Into the Stadium

Paul McCartney brings it home: Theres nothing like a Beatle to close a show thats being beamed to billions while also spreading the Olympic ideal of all you need is love. Sir Paul delivered on both fronts, even if he did fudge Hey Jude a bit with an unexpected laugh.

Dream of a songThe lighting of the Cauldron featured perhaps the most moving moment and music of the night. "Caliban's Dream," performed by Alex Trimble, frontman for Irish band Two Door Cinema Club, and written for the ceremony by Rick Smith of Underworld provided an ethereal end to a dreamy procession.

Fireworks. Floyd. Need we say more?

All of the bells: Among the most impressive acts to usher in London 2012 was one that didnt take place in the stadium, but rather, around the country where churches and citizens all rang bells simultaneously (some simply banging on pots and pans) creating a magical cacophony of chimes to mark the start of the games. The sonic experiment was a popular topic on Twitter, where a few audiophiles even posted their own recordings of the moment (listen below):

Misses:

Arctic comedown:Sure, there are plenty of bands that Brits obsess over who are only marginally known in the States -- your Kasabian, the aforementioned Robbie Williams, Tinie Tempah -- but of all the artists at Boyles disposal, were the Arctic Monkeys really the best choice for a Beatles cover? To their credit, the faithful rendition, as Bob Costas described their take on Come Together, delivered --thats when you could hear it. As one viewer tweeted, Hey Bob Costas, if the Arctic Monkeys is your favorite part, why do you insist on talking over the entire performance?

A very brief history of British music:No doubt much will be said about the bands and artists who didnt make the cut for reasons unknown. Among the glaring omissions: Rod Stewart, Dusty Springfield, Def Leppard, The Cure, George Michael, The Smiths, Black Sabbath, we could go on. Still, some took comfort in small blessings: like no Spice Girls.

Marching madness: The Hollywood Reporter's own David Rooney said it best when he questioned the logic of pairing the Bee Gees with athletes from Fiji wondering if it was in essence some Olympic Committee stoners attempt at a haiku. Other country-artist pairings also didnt seem to make much sense -- China with the Pet Shop Boys, Poland with Fleetwood Mac, U2 with Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey and the ill-timed Where the Streets Have No Name while Syria made its entrance.

Everyones a critic:Inevitably, there will be those who poo-poo everything, even a beloved Beatle -- No one can ever accuse Paul McCartney of lip-synching at the Olympics, read one snarky comment on Twitter -- but its precisely in hashtag times like these when we should be thankful another nasty Brit hasnt made his Olympic presence known. As Daily Show executive producer Rory Alabenese tweeted:

Twitter: @shirleyhalperin


TCA 2012: ABC Party Diary With Connie Britton, Pamela Anderson and the Creators of 'Modern Family'

Connie Britton
Robert Erdmann
Connie Britton

After another media day focused on the fate of the Modern Family cast, few expectedthe show's co-creatorsSteve LevitanandChris Lloyd to show up for ABC's Television Critics Association party. But that's precisely what they did, fielding questions about their actors' salary demands. That's until news broke that new deals had been struck, and then the hypotheticals turned into proud realities.

Here's a minute-by-minute look at what went down --the biggest scrums (Connie Britton), the oddest pairings (Levitan and Pamela Anderson) and the funniest impersonation (Lloyd)-- inside the Beverly Hilton.

STORY: 'Modern Family' Cast Reaches Deal to End Salary Standoff

6:54 p.m. ABC entertainment chief Paul Lee stands outside the red carpet entrance, greeting actors and producers as they pass by. He admits he hadnt expected so many different iterations of the same Modern Family cast negotiation question there were four during the panel, and then one more in the post-panel huddle. He found five different ways to say he was optimistic about a resolution, and little more.

7:11 p.m. Modern Family'sLevitan andLloyd surprise many by showing up. They are quickly mobbed by reporters. There's a school of thought that [the actors] should get whatever they can get, and as long as we can get there without inflaming anybody or hurting they show, they'll get what they think they're due, Lloyd tells a gathering smaller than Levitans. Hes more interested in talking about the upcoming season, for which nearly half the episodes have already been written. Among the major themes is Glorias pregnancy. In his best Sofia Vergara accent, Lloyd reenacts the moment when she found out: Ok, I trust you," she said at the time. "But dont make me too fat. I need to be beautiful, lets remember. (Lloyd jokes that many involved in the show can do Vergaras accent, but none as well as he can.)

STORY: TCA 2012: ABC's Paul Lee Talks Broad Appeal of New Dramas, Reality Failures and 'Modern Family'

7:17 p.m. News breaks that theModern Familycast's new deals are done, and the lawsuit has been dropped. Lloyd and Levitan, still unaware, continue to give interviews about how hopeful they are that resolution will come shortly.

7:19 p.m. Lloyd steps aside to take a call on his cell phone. He returns pleased, and says: I'm thrilled. It was a distraction more than anything, and I think the cast feels the same way Now other people can go on with the numbers and well go on with the letters. A minute later,The Hollywood Reporter breaks the news to Levitan. I love it, he responds, grinning wide. It's no surprise, but I'm of course thrilled and I can not wait to get on stage Monday morning and start making the show again.

7:28 p.m. Nashville'sBritton emerges from the red carpet and is instantly surrounded by members of the press. She will have trouble moving far from the door for the remainder of the evening care of the steady flow of microphone-clad reporters circling her. This character is actually incredibly different from Tami Taylor of Friday Night Lights, she had told this group of her new part earlier in the day. I think even her accent is going to be different. There probably wont be as many yalls. Minutes later, her castmate Sam Palladio, a relative newcomer to American television, suggests that it was his stint on the second season of Showtime's Episodes -- which shot in his native London -- that ultimately led him to this gig.

7:46 p.m. Levitan makes his way over to Dancing with the Stars: All-Stars contestant Pamela Anderson, whose dress is as tight as it is short. The duo looks particularly happy to see each other, chatting for some 10 minutes. Reporters gawk (at least one breaks press tour policy and snaps a pic on his iPhone), thrown by the pairing. Turns out, its a Stacked reunion.

STORY: TCA 2012: Andre Braugher, Shawn Ryan Talk Diversity on TV

7:50 p.m. Last Resort star (and former Felicity heartthrob) Scott Speedman is flanked by female reporters by the entrance to the Beverly Hills ballroom. Nearby, Family Tools' Leah Remini is seated and laughing. Over at the bar, How to Live with Your Parents (For the Rest of Your Life) star Sarah Chalke is chatting with the father (Neil Flynn) and son (Charlie McDermott) from The Middle. Flynn and McDermott wont leave each others side all evening.

8:07 p.m. Levitan manages to slip away and is now waiting for his car at the valet stand. Suburgatorys Cheryl Hines emerges from the hotel, gets in black town car and speeds away. Inside the party, Brittons rep tells a growing scrum that the Nashville star has to head out.

8:11 p.m. Suburgatory creator Emily Kapnek gets a taste for how her lot has changed: Last year I didnt even know if I should be here, she recalls of the period before her comedy had launched. This year? Shes rarely without reporters trailing her in search of spoilers.

8:20 p.m. The Chew co-host (and Top Chef finalist) Carla Hall chats up Suburgatorys Rex Lee, still best known as Lloyd from Entourage. Scandals Josh Malinahas his cast in stitches by the sushi bar.

9:02 p.m. Lights come on. The party guests are kicked out of the ballroom by hotel employees. Among them: Last Resort executive producers Shawn Ryan andKarl Gajdusek, who decamp to one of the white couches to the hotel lobby for interviews. Meantime, theScandalcast is still playing inside the network photo booth.

Additional reporting by Lesley Goldberg, Marisa Guthrie and Philiana Ng.

Email: Lacey.Rose@THR.com; Twitter: @LaceyVRose


Friday, July 27, 2012

TCA 2012: Andre Braugher, Shawn Ryan Talk Diversity on TV

Last Resort ABC TCA Tour - H 2012
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Andre Braugher who stars in ABCs Shawn Ryan/Karl Gajdusek military drama Last Resort humorously and thoughtfully deflected questions about a perceived white wash in primetime television.

I dont have a lot of information on which to judge the world in which theres a white Andre Braugher who did better than I did, he said to laughs from media reporters gathered for the final session of ABCs TCA day. And I dont mean to be factious about it. But youre talking about a complex world in which people make decisions on a real-time basis.

PHOTOS: The Scene at TCA's Summer Press Tour 2012: Day 4

Braugher won a lead actor Emmy in 1998 for the NBC series Homicide.

In the future things will continue to progress, he continued. I think its a complex question that Im not equipped to answer in great detail.

Ryan who also cast Dennis Haysbert in CBS drama The Unit allowed that he makes casting decisions based on merit, not skin color.

I wanted the best actor for the role, he said. I try to be as color blind as possible. Networks want people to watch their shows and a lot goes into who the audience is. I just dont concern myself with that. I concern myself with how good can the show be? Who wouldnt want [Braugher] saying their words. Ive done my part, I think.

In Last Resort, Braugher stars opposite Scott Speedman as a U.S. submarine captain who goes rogue after he uncovers a home-grown conspiracy to annihilate Pakistan.

STORY: TCA 2012 ABC Recap: 'Modern Family' Still M.I.A., But There's Always Bristol Palin

It will be nice when these questions dont get asked anymore, said Ryan. But unfortunately were not up to that point now. But it feels like were better off than we were 15, 20 years ago.

Added Braugher: I really cant tell you what the world would be like if people were different. Its part of a progression and it runs at its own pace. Im part of the long arc of progress in which people of different races and ethnicities get a chance to shine.

Email: Marisa.Guthrie@thr.com; Twitter: @MarisaGuthrie


TCA 2012: '666 Park Avenue' Creator Already Has Season 2 Pitch

666 Park Avenue Cast TCA Tour - H 2012
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ABC is banking on 666 Park Avenue as it dips its toe in the horror genre.

Though the series, which creator/executive producer David Wilcox described as a "supernatural soap," has yet to debut, he revealed that there is an idea already for a season two at the Television Critics Assoc. press tour on Friday afternoon.

PHOTOS: ABC's 2012-13 Season: 'Nashville,' '666 Park Ave' and 'Malibu Country'

"We have a pitch for season two," Wilcox said, adding that he and the writers are "writing season [one] with a very specific plan." Rachael Taylor and Dave Annable are included in the season two plan.

STORY: Fall TV Pilot Preview: ABC's '666 Park Avenue'

With cable fare like FX's American Horror Story able to show gore, Wilcox addressed the possible restrictions for a network drama of this type.

"We don't have the tool of gore and blood and that kind of spectacle," he said. "It's forced us to be clever."

As Wilcox tells it, 666 Park Avenue operates on a more psychological level, citing Alfred Hitchcock films, The Shining, Rosemary's Baby and Blue Velvet as inspiration.

"There are people who love to see blood and murder and mayhem and there are other shows on cable that have that freedom to do that," he said. "For us, it's a psychological horror. It's driven by suspense, it's driven by mystery." Wilcox maintained that there "always will be" shocking moments that pop up during the course of the show.

"We want things to be off the nose," Wilcox said later when asked about the devil elements to the premise. "We're not interested in creating a formula for the show. We want to create a mythology that is very rich."

He added: "No one is going to say 'devil' or 'deal of the devil.' That's a different type of show."

In terms of how the episodes will look as it moves forward past the pilot, executive producer Matthew Miller said "the idea is to give in every episode .. both parts of the title": some 666 and some Park Avenue.

STORY: Fall TV Pilot Preview: ABC's '666 Park Avenue'

"The way we're going to structure the majority of the [episodes] are [that there] will be slightly serialized elements and we'll explore [different] residents," he said.

Wilcox noted that the role of Olivia Doran (Vanessa Williams) was expanded when Williams came on board. The classic haunted house question of why people don't just leave will be addressed early on, according to Wilcox.

Terry O'Quinn also took part during the session.

666 Park Avenue premieres Sept. 30 at 10 p.m. on ABC.

E-mail: Philiana.Ng@thr.com


TCA 2012: 'Dancing With the Stars: All-Stars' Bristol Palin Talks Partners and Politics

Bristol Palin Summer TCA Tour - P 2012
Getty Images

After announcing the 12 (ultimately 13) cast members returning for Dancing With the Stars: All Stars, ABC trotted seven of them on stage at the Television Critics Association summer press tour to speak with reporters about the new spin on the veteran competition.

They were joined by executive producer Conrad Green, who attempted to explain the evolving model for the series, while dodging a slew of casting questions about who said no and how much everyone was making.

PHOTOS: The Cast of 'Dancing With the Stars: All-Stars'

"We've talked about doing All-Stars," he said. "We wanted it to be a special season, we wanted there to be enough heritage to it. One hundred-thirty-plus celebrities have participated, and we wanted to pick from the best of the best. We felt we needed enough time to build up the stock to do that and this felt like the perfect time to do that. I'm astonished with the people who have agreed to say yes."

Another reason for an All-Stars season is the noticeable wane in viewer interest after 14 cycles. Dancing With the Stars saw series low ratings during its recent run, something Green was candid about.

"We did have some ratings dip but for the first time we were against The Voice, which is similar terrain as our show," he said. "I think that explains a lot of that dip. This is about giving a treat to our audience. How would Mike Tyson fare against Muhammad Ali... ."

PHOTOS: Broadcast TV's Returning Shows for 2012-13 Season

Maybe not Muhammad Ali or Mike Tyson, 2010 competitor Bristol Palin drew more questions of any other cast member on stage.

"I couldn't tell you what would have happened if I just went home," she said, defending her decision to seek out television roles since her mother's vice presidential bid in 2008 made her family famous. "This is a fun gig, I'm not whining or complaining ... I like supporting my son."

Palin also gifted the show with its first dose of controversy, two months before the season premiere. One reporter asked how she would handle having a gay partner, prompting her to go on the defense.

"I like gays," she said. "I'm not a homophobic. I'm sick of people saying that. Just because I'm for traditional marriage, doesn't mean I'm scared. I don't hate anybody ... It's not about politics or traditional marriage. It's just about dancing and fun and that's all I have to say about it."

Palin's partner, gay or straight, will be announced Aug. 13 when the cast get their official assignments.

Lesley Goldberg contributed to this report.

Email: Michael.OConnell@THR.com; Twitter: @MikeyLikesTV


TV Ratings: Rising 'Wipeout' Drives ABC to Thursday Win

Matt Kunitz

Fast affiliate ratings have ABC topping all broadcast nets among adults 18-49 and viewers on Thursday night, buoyed by a resurgent episode of Wipeout. The competition was up half of a point in the demo, for a 2.2 adults rating. Rookie Blue had a smaller boost, posting a 1.5 rating among 18-49-ers. The network averaged a 1.9 adults rating for the night and 6.4 million viewers.

PHOTOS: Broadcast TV's Returning Shows for 2012-13 Season

Encores of Big Bang Theory and Two and a Half Men led into a steady outing of Big Brother, which pulled a 2.2 rating among adults 18-49. A special preview of dating series 3 pulled a 0.8 rating among adults 18-49. CBS averaged a 1.7 adults rating for the night and 5.3 million viewers.

Univision earned a 1.3 rating among adults 18-49, while Fox averaged a 0.9 adults rating and 2.3 million viewers with the Take Me Out finale (1.2 rating) and a Glee repeat (0.6 rating).

Encores of The Office and Parks and Recreation led into slightly boosted broadcasts of Saving Hope, which posted a 0.6 rating among adults 18-49, and Rock Center With Brian Williams (0.8 adults rating). The network earned a 0.7 adults rating and 2.9 million viewers.

The CW pulled a 0.3 adults rating and 769,000 viewers with encores.


Toby Keith to 'American Idol': Thanks, But No Thanks

Toby Keith PR 2012 L
Greg Watermann

As the American Idol rumor mill swirls into a chaotic mess of names from every genre imaginable, it seems the country contingent is leading the pack of potential judges, much like the show itself has been skewing in recent years.And can you blame the producers? All but two Idol winners hail from the South and just about every one of them (with the exception of maybe Ruben Studdard) has tried their hand at twang.

So it comes as little surprise that Toby Keith would be approached as a possible contender for Steven Tyler's seat.

PHOTOS:'American Idol' Live: The 2012 Tour In Pictures

And there is certainly merit to the choice: hes never hesitated for a second to say whats on his mind, whether that has to do with his feelings about Nashville as a whole or Natalie Maines individually. His talent as a songwriter is well regarded even by those who dont savor his politics. Keiths no stranger to being in front of a camera, between making a string of countrys most interesting videos, having been the lead in a feature, and co-hosting the CMT Awards this year. Virtually every military family in the nation regards him as a hero for his overseas visits. And hes been filling arenas for more than a decade. Controversial and reliable? Thats a rare combination.

VIDEO:Jordin Sparks on the Changes at 'American Idol'

But according to a recent interview, he passed on the opportunity to sit alongside Mariah Carey. Keith reveals to California'sInland Empire Weekly (via examiner.com) that in early July,Idol brass asked if he'd be interested in judging the Fox show, but like so many others, the country superstar declined because of Idol's demanding schedule, opting to use his time for other endeavors -- like touring.

VIDEO: Mariah Carey Will Be a 'Wonderful' 'American Idol' Judge, Says Haley Reinhart

It could be for the best. After all, compared to the more overt charm of a Blake Shelton or Brad Paisley, Keith's rarely smiling, roughneck image may seem a little harsh.And however much he finesses that well put a boot in your ass, its the American way song and claims to be a Southern Democrat, his politics would be a turn-off factor for some blue-state viewers.

Indeed, it looks to be an election year on Idol,too. Who would get your vote for judge?

Twitter: @Idol_Worship