1-20 of 47 articles from 2008 « Prev | Next »
27 August 2008 10:35 AM, PDT | From Studio Briefing | See recent Studio Briefing news
NBC's telecast of the Beijing Olympics last week left its competition in the dust as each day of coverage took one of the top-seven spots on Nielsen Media Research's ratings list. The "Beijing Closing Party" took an eighth. Overall, the network's primetime coverage averaged 23.3 million viewers with 27.8 million tuning in to Sunday's closing ceremonies. While the ratings of all of the other networks' primetime programs sagged under the weight of the Olympics' audience, the Fox and CBS coverage of preseason football was particularly hard hit, with each game drawing just over 4 million viewers. But the biggest loser of all may have been ABC/Disney's High School Musical: Get in the Picture, which debuted with critics' predictions of a sure-fire hit. But initial ratings for the show proved to be lackluster, and by last week fewer than 2 million viewers tuned in. Commented Washington Post TV writer Lisa de Moraes, "Since July, this show has managed to frighten off almost 50 percent of the crowd that was at least curious enough to watch the first episode."
The top ten shows of the week according to Nielsen Research: 1. Summer Olympics (Tuesday), NBC, 16.3/27; 2. Summer Olympics (Monday), NBC, 15.8/26; 3. Summer Olympics (Closing Ceremonies), NBC, 15.5/25; 4. Summer Olympics (Wednesday), NBC, 15.2/26; 5. Summer Olympics (Thursday), NBC, 13.8/23; 6. Summer Olympics: Beijing Closing Party, NBC, 12.3/21; 7. Summer Olympics (Friday), NBC, 10.7/19; 8. Summer Olympics (Saturday), NBC, 10.3/19; 9. Two and a Half Men, CBS, 5.3/8; 10. NCIS, CBS, 5.2/9.
24 August 2008 11:55 PM, PDT | From PEOPLE.com | See recent PEOPLE.com news
Charlie and Brooke Sheen's summer of love, which began with their wedding in May, is closing with more exciting news: They are expecting their first child together, his rep confirms. "Brooke and I are thrilled!" the Two and a Half Men star said in a statement Monday. "She's the best stepmom Sam, Lola and Cassandra could ever hope for. Seeing her love and affection with those three, I know she'll be an amazing mom. Unless I bat 100 percent, perhaps a boy awaits us." Sheen, 42, already has three daughters: Sam, 4, and Lola, 3, with ex-wife Denise Richards, and Cassandra, 23, with ex-girlfriend Paula Profitt.
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Linda Marx and Julie Jordan
20 August 2008 10:39 AM, PDT | From Studio Briefing | See recent Studio Briefing news
If a week had ten days, all of the top ten television shows last week would have been Beijing Summer Olympics telecasts. Even the other three programs that made it into the top ten attracted fewer than 25 percent of the viewers who tuned in to the Olympics telecasts. Thus far the Beijing Games are attracting more viewers than any other non-domestic Olympics telecast. Last week they averaged 28.7 million viewers, exceeded only by the Atlanta Games in 1996, when they averaged 32.1 million. Meanwhile, the three other major networks' ratings sank to record lows. Especially surprising may have been the fact that the Saturday Olympics telecasts ranked third on the list, seemingly defying the conventional industry wisdom that viewers abandon their TV sets on Saturday nights. Searching back, analysts discovered that the Saturday telecast was actually exceeded by an episode of The Golden Girls in 1990 and that the sitcom typically drew such large audiences back then. Overall, NBC averaged a 9.6 rating and a 28 share for the week. CBS followed in second place with a 1.3 rating and a 4 share. Fox placed third with a 1.2/4, edging out ABC with a 1.1/3.
The top ten shows of the week according to Nielsen Research:1. Beijing Summer Olympics (Tuesday), NBC, 19.9/34; 2. Beijing Summer Olympics (Thursday), NBC, 17.9/31; 3. Beijing Summer Olympics (Saturday), NBC, 17.8/32; 4. Beijing Summer Olympics (Monday), NBC, 17.6/29; 5. Beijing Summer Olympics (Wednesday), NBC, 16.7/28; 6. Beijing Summer Olympics (Sunday), NBC, 16/27; 7. Beijing Summer Olympics (Friday), NBC, 15.4/28; 8. Two and a Half Men, CBS, 5.3/8; 9. NCIS, CBS, 4.9/8; 10. 60 Minutes, CBS, 4.7/9.
17 August 2008 11:50 PM, PDT | From PEOPLE.com | See recent PEOPLE.com news
It's been two-and-half months of marriage for the star of Two and a Half Men – and Charlie Sheen is still a gushing groom. "It's fabulous," he said backstage Sunday at the Alma Awards in Pasadena, where he took home the award for outstanding male performance in a comedy series. "We're having a ball. I'm the luckiest man in the world." He's also suddenly one of the most private men. Sheen, 42 has dropped off the paparazzi radar following his May 30 wedding to Brooke Mueller, 30, in Los Angeles – which is fine with him. "We're having fun," he said. "You guys don't see
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13 August 2008 10:34 AM, PDT | From Studio Briefing | See recent Studio Briefing news
NBC, which once dominated the weekly Nielsen ratings but which had fallen to has-been status in recent years, was back on the victors' stand again thanks to its coverage of the Summer Olympics in Beijing. Friday's opening ceremonies and the weekend competition trounced everything else in sight and gave the network its best ratings in nearly three years. With just those three days of Olympics telecasts, NBC was able to finish the week with three times the audience of its closest competitor. (It was also helped by Tuesday's two-hour edition of America's Got Talent.) For the week, NBC averaged a 10.1 rating and an 18 share. CBS was a distant second with a 3.8/7. Fox finished third with a 3.2/6, while ABC trailed with a 2.4/4.
The top ten shows of the week according to Nielsen Research:1. Summer Olympics Opening Ceremonies, NBC, 18.8/34; 2. Summer Olympics (Sunday), NBC, 18.1/31; 3. Summer Olympics (Saturday), NBC, 13.9/27; 4. America's Got Talent, NBC, 7.7/13; 5. Two and a Half Men, CBS, 6.5/11; 6. Criminal Minds, CBS, 6.0/10; 7. NCIS, CBS, 5.9/10; 7. So You Think Can Dance (Thursday), Fox, 5.9/10; 9. CSI: Miami, CBS, 5.5/10; 9. So You Think Can Dance (Wednesday), Fox, 5.5/10.
11 August 2008 7:59 PM, PDT | From Rope Of Silicon | See recent Rope Of Silicon news
The last couple of days have been crazy! Check out what Elizabeth Edwards thinks of her husband's affair! Isaac Hayes and Bernie Mac both pass away! K-Fed linked to Hef's lady, Kendra?! Plus the latest on Katherine Heigl, Tara Reid, Jennifer Aniston and Hayden Panettiere's family arrest! Elizabeth Edwards speaks out about her husband's affair -"John Made a Terrible Mistake"! [USMag] Tara Reid can't even get a reality gig! [Cnw] Joss Stone headbutts her brother during a family brawl! [Cnw] L'Oreal responds to Beyonce Knowles' washed out pics. [Ew] Katherine Heigl's husband doesn't even want to deal with her shit! [USMag] Steven Tyler plans another memoir. [Hs] K-Fed is trying to steal one of Hef's ladies! [PopCrunch] Rena Sofer on new season of "Two And A Half Men". [Tvg] Is Jennifer Aniston pregnant?! [RCeleb] "Heroes" star Hayden Panettiere's father booked for spousal abuse! [Eo] Donald Trump on Letterman.
[Yt] Isaac Hayes dies at 65. [People] A-Rod donates $500,000 to Madonna's charity!
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Sarah Luoma
6 August 2008 10:37 AM, PDT | From Studio Briefing | See recent Studio Briefing news
They may all have been reruns, but CBS's scripted shows dominated the Nielsen top ten list last week, with Two and a Half Men drawing 9.3 million viewers, followed by Criminal Minds with 8.7 million. NCIS was close behind with 8.5 million viewers, followed by CSI: Miami with 8.4 million. Nevertheless, the top-rated show of the week was the unscripted America's Got Talent, which drew 13.8 million viewers. For the week, CBS averaged a 4.2 rating and an 8 share. NBC placed second with a 3.7/7. Fox came in third with a 3.3/6, while ABC trailed with a 2.8/5.
The top ten shows of the week according to Nielsen Research:1. America's Got Talent, NBC, 8.1/13; 2. Two and a Half Men, CBS, 6.2/10; 3. CSI: Miami, CBS, 5.9/10; 4. Criminal Minds, CBS, 5.8/10; 5. NCIS, CBS, 5.7/10; 6. So You Think You Can Dance (Wednesday), Fox, 5.6/9; 7. 60 Minutes, CBS, 5.5/11; 7. CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, CBS, (Tie) 5.5/9; 7. So You Think You Can Dance (Thursday), Fox, (Tie) 5.5/9; 10. CSI: NY, CBS, (Tie) 5.2/9; 10. Flashpoint, CBS, (Tie) 5.2/9; 10. Primetime: The Last Lecture, ABC, (Tie) 5.2/9; 10. Wipeout, ABC, (Tie) 5.2/9.
5 August 2008 10:32 AM, PDT | From Studio Briefing | See recent Studio Briefing news
Two and a Half Men star Charlie Sheen is the highest-paid actor on primetime television, according to a study by TV Guide released on Monday. Sheen is currently paid $825,000 per episode of Two and a Half Men bringing his annual earnings to about $20 million. Coming in second is William Petersen, the star of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, who reportedly earns $600,000 per episode. Mariska Hargitay was the top-paid actress in primetime, earning $400,000 per episode for her work on NBC's Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. Kyra Sedgwick, star of The Closer, is No. 2 on the list with $275,000 per episode.
5 August 2008 9:01 AM, PDT | From wenn.com | See recent WENN news
Charlie Sheen is the highest paid actor on U.S. TV, pocketing a whopping $825,000 (GBP412,500) per episode for his hit comedy Two And A Half Men, according to a new poll.
The star's huge earnings includes profits for ownership rights of the programme.
Sheen is way ahead of his nearest contender William Petersen, who takes home $600,000 (GBP300,000) per show for his role as Gil Grissom on CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.
Actress Mariska Hargitay is the best paid female in a prime-time TV drama - she earns an estimated $400,000 (GBP200,000) for every Law + Order: Special Victims Unit (Svu) episode she films.
The cast of The Simpsons are also well-paid - each voice actor receives $400,000 per episode.
Others on the TV Guide magazine list include American Idol judge Simon Cowell, who gets $50 million (GBP25 million) per season of the talent show, and Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane, whose five-year deal with TV network Fox is worth $100 million (GBP50 million).
But the highest paid TV celebrity by far is chat show queen Oprah Winfrey - her annual salary from her talkshow alone is $385 million (GBP197 million).
4 August 2008 11:32 PM, PDT | From NYPost.com | See recent New York Post news
Gone are those heady days of TV stars like Jerry Seinfeld, Tim Allen and NBC's "Friends" earning $1 million per episode.
But, let's face it - it's not exactly hard times out there in series-land, either.
Take "Two and a Half Men" star Charlie Sheen, who tops TV Guide's annual list of the tube's top-paid stars - and he's only raking in $825,000 per episode (or $18 million for a 22-episode season, including his ownership stake in the hit sitcom).
Sheen is followed on the list by soon-to-leave "CSI
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By MICHAEL STARR
30 July 2008 10:26 AM, PDT | From Studio Briefing | See recent Studio Briefing news
After being bumped off the top of the Nielsen weekly ratings list a week earlier by baseball's All-Star Game, NBC's America's Got Talent regained its leadership as America's most-watched summer show, with 13.2 million viewers. On the other hand, two new summer shows that were expected to perform strongly proved to be disappointments. Both aired on ABC. The game show Wanna Bet? and the High School Musical spinoff Get in the Picture attracted just 3.1 million viewers each. Sticking mostly with reruns, CBS nevertheless won the week with an average 4.1 rating and 7 share. Fox and NBC tied for second with a 3.5/6. ABC trailed with a 2.8/5.
The top ten shows of the week according to Nielsen Research:1. America's Got Talent, NBC, 7.9/13; 2. Two and a Half Men, CBS, 6.4/11; 3. 60 Minutes, CBS, 6.3/13; 4. NCIS, CBS, 5.9/10; 5. CSI: Miami, CBS, 5.7/10; 6. Criminal Minds, CBS, 5.6/9; 7. Wipeout, ABC, 5.4/9; 8. So You Think Can Dance (Wednesday), Fox, 5.3/9; 9. Dateline (Sunday), NBC, 5.2/9; 9. House (Monday), Fox, 5.2/9; 9. So You Think Can Dance (Thursday), Fox, 5.2/9.
23 July 2008 10:27 AM, PDT | From Studio Briefing | See recent Studio Briefing news
Some 14.5 million people were singing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" last week, making Fox's coverage of Major League Baseball's All-Star Game the most-watched telecast of the week. (The figure represented only the primetime segment of the telecast, which stretched past 1:00 a.m. as the game went into extra innings. From 11:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m., it averaged 11 million viewers, more than the number that watched any other show in primetime during the week.) The game also helped Fox win the week, making it a rare win for the network during the summer months. Its Wednesday edition of So You Think You Can Dance also made it into Nielsen's top ten. Fox averaged a 4.5 rating and an 8 share for the week. CBS placed second with a 4.3/8. NBC took third place with a 3.6/7, while ABC trailed with a 2.9/5.
The top ten shows of the week according to Nielsen Research:1. Major League Baseball All-Star Game, Fox, 9.3/16; 2. America's Got Talent, NBC, 7.9/13; 3. MLB All-Star Game Pregame Show, Fox, 6.8/13; 4. Criminal Minds, CBS, 6.2/11; 5. CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, CBS, 6/10; 6. CSI: NY, CBS, 5.7/10; 7. 60 Minutes, CBS, 5.6/11; 7. So You Think You Can Dance (Wednesday), Fox, 5.6/10; 9. Two and a Half Men, CBS, 5.5/9; 10. Dateline (Sunday), NBC, 5.3/9; 10. (tie) NCIS, CBS, 5.3/10.
22 July 2008 9:16 AM, PDT | From wenn.com | See recent WENN news
Stars of hit TV shows Ugly Betty, Without A Trace and Wizards Of Waverly Place are leading the nominations for the 2008 American Latino Media Arts (Alma) Awards with three nods each.
The cast of Ugly Betty is to be honoured with the Outstanding Performance of a Latino/Latina-Led Ensemble in a Television Series special achievement prize, while writer Silvio Horta is nominated in the Outstanding Writing for a Television Series category for the episode entitled Jump. Director Linda Mendoza is also up for contention in the Outstanding Director of a Television Series gong, for her work on the Betty's Baby Bump segment.
Without A Trace star Enrique Murciano is up for Outstanding Actor in a Drama Television Series, and his co-star Roselyn Sanchez is nominated in the female equivalent. Scriptwriter Jose Molina has been recognised in the Outstanding Writing for a Television Series for the Without You episode.
Meanwhile, the stars of Disney show Wizards of Waverly Place have also scored nominations - Jake T. Austin and co-stars Selena Gomez and Maria Canals-Barrera will fight it out in the male and female categories for Outstanding Performance in a Comedy Television Series.
Other nominees include Desperate Housewives actor Ricardo Chavira and Lost's Jorge Garcia for Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Drama Television Series; Grey's Anatomy's star Sara Ramirez for Outstanding Actress In A Drama Television Series; and Two and A Half Men's Charlie Sheen for Outstanding Male Performance In A Comedy Television Series.
The nominations were announced on Monday and the winners will be unveiled at a ceremony hosted by Eva Longoria Parker on 17 August. The show will air on U.S. TV on 12 September.
17 July 2008 9:23 PM, PDT | From NYPost.com | See recent New York Post news
The Emmy awards changed the plot completely yesterday.
Nominations for TV's highest awards were announced yesterday and, for the first time, cable TV - not the traditional broadcast shows - rocked the house.
"This was the watershed breakthrough year for the Emmys," says Tom O'Neil of online awards site theenvelope.com.
"Networks like Showtime, AMC and FX didn't just get into the race - they knocked the door down!"
Dramas like "Mad Men," "Dexter" and "Damages" humbled more highly rated shows like "Grey's Anatomy" and "Desperate Housewives" which
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By MICHAEL STARR
17 July 2008 9:03 AM, PDT | From wenn.com | See recent WENN news
American Idol host Ryan Seacrest and supermodel Heidi Klum have picked up their first Emmy nominations, after the 2008 Primetime TV Awards introduced the category of top host for a reality competition show.
The presenters will go up against Dancing With the Stars' Tom Bergeron, as well as Deal or No Deal's Howie Mandel and Survivor's Jeff Probst to take home the first honour.
Mad Men picked up 16 nods, the most nominations of any drama series, including Best Dramatic Series and Best Actor for its lead, Jon Hamm.
Hamm will face actors Hugh Laurie, for House; Michael C. Hall, for Dexter; Gabriel Byrne, for In Treatment; Bryan Cranston, for Breaking Bad; and James Spader, for Boston Legal.
Meanwhile, 30 Rock was the frontrunner in the comedy category, with 17 nominations, including best series - a gong the show took home last year - and leading actor, Alec Baldwin, and actress for Tina Fey, the show's creator.
The winners for the 60th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards will be unveiled on 21 September at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles.
A list of nominees is as follows:
Best Series, Drama:
Best Series, Comedy:
Best Actor, Drama:
Best Actor, Comedy:
Charlie Sheen - Two And A Half Men
Best Actress, Drama:
Sally Field - Brothers + Sisters
Mariska Hargitay - Law + Order: Special Victims Unit
Best Actress, Comedy:
Christina Applegate - Samantha Who?
Julia Louis-Dreyfus - The New Adventures Of Old Christine
Best Supporting Actor, Drama Series:
William Shatner - Boston Legal
Best Supporting Actor, Comedy Series:
Neil Patrick Harris - How I Met Your Mother
Jon Cryer - Two And A Half Men
Best Supporting Actress, Drama Series:
Rachel Griffiths - Brothers + Sisters
Chandra Wilson - Grey's Anatomy
Best Supporting Actress, Comedy Series:
Kristin Chenoweth, Pushing Daisies
Amy Poehler, Saturday Night Live
Holland Taylor, Two And A Half Men
Outstanding Reality Competition Program:
Outstanding Host For A Reality Or Reality Competition Program:
Tom Bergeron, Dancing With The Stars
17 July 2008 8:02 AM, PDT | From NYPost.com | See recent New York Post news
A list of nominees follows:
Outstanding Drama Series
"Damages"
"Dexter"
"House"
"Lost"
"Mad Men"
Outstanding Comedy Series
"30 Rock"
Outstanding Miniseries
"The Andromeda Strain" -- A&E
"Cranford" (Masterpiece Theatre) -- PBS
"John Adams" -- HBO
"Tin Man" -- Sci Fi Channel
Outstanding Made for Television Movie
"Bernard and Doris" -- HBO
"Extras: The Extra
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17 July 2008 6:10 AM, PDT | From PEOPLE.com | See recent PEOPLE.com news
The TV Academy got a birthday cake for its 60th birthday Thursday morning – while American Idol's Ryan Seacrest, Project Runway's Heidi Klum and Dancing With the Stars' Tom Bergeron, as well as Deal or No Deal's Howie Mandel and Survivor's Jeff Probst, all got nominations in the first-time ever category of top host for a reality-competition show. While Deal or No Deal and Survivor both failed to earn nods as best reality-competition show, all the other programs did, along with Top Chef and Amazing Race. In drama, as expected, it was a Mad world, with AMC's critical
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Stephen M. Silverman
17 July 2008 12:40 AM, PDT | From syfyportal.com | See recent syfyportal news
And the nomination goes to "Pushing Daisies" on ABC, a series that really cleaned up in a lot of the comedy series categories of this year's prime time Emmy awards earning 12 nominations. While many of the show's nominations were in technical categories, there also were a few key nominations including Lee Pace for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series and Kristin Chenowith for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series. Pace, who plays Ned in the ABC series, has some stiff competition including Alec Baldwin from NBC's "30 Rock," Tony Shalhoub from USA's "Monk," Steve Carell from "The Office" on NBC, and Charlie Sheen from "Two and a Half Men" on CBS. Chenowith also will have her work cut out for her. She faces Jean Smart from "Samantha Who?" on ABC, Amy Poehler from ...
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16 July 2008 10:29 AM, PDT | From Studio Briefing | See recent Studio Briefing news
NBC's America's Got Talent remained the top show of the summer season last week, drawing 12.7 million viewers, the most to tune in to any network program since the season began in late May, according to Nielsen Media Research. ABC's new Wipeout finished in second place with 10.6 million. Among other new shows, CBS's Greatest American Dog barked up the right tree for 9.5 million viewers to take fifth place. Among adults 18-49, the group courted most avidly by advertisers, Fox's Hell's Kitchen came in first. For the week, CBS once again took overall honors, averaging a 4.6 rating and a 6 share. Fox and ABC tied for second with a 3.7/7, edging out NBC with a 3.6/6.
The top ten shows of the week according to Nielsen Research:1. America's Got Talent, NBC, 7.9/13; 2. The Bachelorette (Monday, 8:00 p.m.), ABC, 7.0/12; 3. The Bachelorette (Monday, 10:00 p.m.), ABC, 6.7/11; 4. CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, CBS, 6.6/11; 5. Greatest American Dog, CBS, 6.2/12; 6. Wipeout, ABC, 6.0/11; 7. CSI: NY, CBS, 5.9/10; 7. NCIS, CBS, 5.9/10; 7. Two and a Half Men, CBS, 5.9/10; 10. 60 Minutes, CBS, 5.7/12; 10. CSI: Miami, CBS, 5.7/10.
9 July 2008 10:31 AM, PDT | From Studio Briefing | See recent Studio Briefing news
The major television networks recorded their lowest ratings of the year last week, as CBS came out on top with an average 4.2 rating and an 8 share, representing 6.3 million viewers. NBC came in second with just a 3.7/7. Fox placed third with a 3.4/7, and ABC trailed with a 3.0/6. Researchers were scouring the record books to find a lower-rated week. (Viewership traditionally declines during the Independence Day week.) For the second week in a row, NBC's America's Got Talent was the only show to attract more than 10 million viewers. It placed first with 12.04 million. The top ten shows of the week according to Nielsen Research:1. America's Got Talent, NBC, 7.5/13; 2. Criminal Minds, CBS, 6.0/10; 3. CSI: NY, CBS, 5.7/10; 4. 48 Hours Mystery (Tuesday), CBS, 5.5/9; 4. (Tie) 60 Minutes, CBS, 5.5/11; 4. (Tie) CSI: Miami, CBS, 5.5/10; 4. (Tie) NCIS, CBS, 5.5/10; 8. The Bachelorette, ABC, 5.4/9; 8. (Tie) Two and a Half Men, CBS, 5.4/9; 10. So You Think Can Dance (Wednesday), Fox, 5.3/10; 10. (Tie) Wipeout, ABC, 5.3/10.
1-20 of 47 articles from 2008 « Prev | Next »