TV News Roundup – November 2009 – Week 2
Murdoch launches attack on BBC
News Corp. chief alleges copyright theft
Interviewed on Sky News Australia he was asked how he would be able to make his plan work to charge for all News Corp.-owned news websites when pubcasters like the BBC and ABC provided free news content on their own sites. “But we are better,” said Murdoch, chairman of News Corp. “And anyway, if you look at them, most of their stuff is stolen from the newspapers now, and we’ll be suing them for copyright.”
‘Battlestar’ actor joins USA pilot
“Battlestar Galactica” alum Michael Trucco and Virginia Williams have been cast opposite Sarah Shahi in USA Network’s pilot “Facing Kate.” The pilot centers on Kate (Shahi), a divorced San Francisco woman who leaves her job as a lawyer to become a mediator following the death of her dad, who headed a law firm. Trucco will play Kate’s ex-husband, also an attorney, a charmer who has feelings for her.
‘Glee’ Cast Discusses Joss Whedon’s Upcoming Episode
“I talked to him a bunch [at a party], he’s really excited,” noted Cory Monteith (who plays Finn). “He’s a big fan of the show — and [we spoke] before it actually came out that he was going to direct. He spoke to us, the cast, for an hour at this party.”
V review sparks crazy Stargate Universe fight
Brad Wright read the review of V, saw that his own show was being slammed and left a comment defending his series while calling Ryan petty: ”Maureen, I find people who write “I have no axe to grind” are often the ones most likely to grind axes. Taking the time to slam SGU in your review for “V” is not politically tinged, it’s just petty. I really wish you hadn’t given up on our show so quickly. I was surprised, considering your past (occasional) support of the franchise.”
Current TV airs first web drama in Italy
Marks first foray in scripted fare for Gore’s channel
Al Gore’s Milan-based Current TV outpost — it’s only operation in continental Europe — has just started airing Italy’s first Web TV drama series, called “Frammenti” (Fragments) about an investigative journo who falls prey to a memory loss drug, accused of a murder he did not commit. Viewers, both on TV and the Web, try to rescue Lorenzo Soare, the intrepid protag, becoming investigators themselves and an integral part of the show. Besides being a totally new type of content for Italy, the series also marks the first foray into scripted drama for Current TV, which has heretofore made guerrilla-style journalism its trademark.
Comedy Central orders the Onion TV pilot
Comedy Central is teaming with satirical newspaper the Onion for a half-hour scripted comedy. The as-yet-untitled pilot will be based on the Onion Sports Network online video series and take on teams, fans, sports products and sports coverage. The show will be geared toward sports lovers and long-time followers of the Onion.
More Details On Emmerich’s 2012 TV Series: 2013
As speculated, the new series will be called 2013 and will focus on the aftermath of the cataclysmic events of the film. With the world in disarray, it’s time to rebuild. Emmerich says it’s “not the bright happy future everyone was imagining” when the film ends. Instead, things look bleak. But this is humanity, so of course we can rise up from this.
Major spoilers for the rest of Fringe’s second season!
“We’ve introduced William Bell as a major player now, and Leonard’s been back a couple of times,” actor John Noble (Walter) says, revealing: “I did a lovely scene with him the other day. A very interesting scene which I’m not going to tell you about, but it was amazing. What it revealed. The revelation in that was shocking. It was shocking to me when I read it.”
Harvard class on ‘The Wire’
The class will be taught by sociology professor William J. Wilson, one of the best-known African American history professors in the country, who has made no secret of the fact that he is a huge fan of the show. “I do not hesitate to say that it has done more to enhance our understanding of the challenges of urban life and the problems of urban inequality, more than any other media event or scholarly publication,” Wilson told the audience before poking fun at himself, “including studies by social scientitsts.”
‘Flight of the Conchords’ might end soon
Jemaine Clement says a decision will be made in a month
Clement told Reuters that he needs to discuss the future of the show with his co-star, Bret McKenzie, and with the director of the series, James Bobin. “It very likely might not” return for a third season, Clement said. “It could come back in a shorter season or like a special,” he added.
‘Doctor Who’ star lands NBC pilot
Popular British actor David Tennant, best known for playing the title role in the BBC’s long-running sci-fi series “Doctor Who,” is set to make his American television debut as the title character in NBC’s hourlong pilot “Rex Is Not Your Lawyer.” Written by Andrew Leeds and David Lampson, “Rex” centers on Rex Alexander (Tennant), a top Chicago litigator who begins suffering panic attacks and takes up coaching clients to represent themselves in court.
Maggie Grace Not Confirmed to Return to Lost
“It has not been confirmed that [Maggie] is returning [to Lost]. She has been asked, but nothing more than that.”
12 big-ass spoilers for True Blood season 3
“I’m getting to write Sam’s family, which is a lot of fun, and, really, I feel really satisfying as a character arc,” writer Raelle Tucker said. “I really am glad that he’s taking this journey and he’s learning about himself. I find that interesting. They aren’t the brightest people, maybe. At least they appear that way. They’re fairly dysfunctional, but like anybody else, they have their good things about them and not-so-good things. They’re still getting to know each other. Sam’s still getting to know them, and so are we.”
ABC remembers ‘Forgotten’
Also, ‘Eastwick,’ ‘Let’s Dance’ canceled
Warner Bros. TV got good news and bad news from ABC on Monday . Frosh detective drama “The Forgotten” earned a five-episode pickup, but “Eastwick” is getting the ax. Separately, the Alphabet has nixed plans to air the five-episode series “Let’s Dance,” beginning Nov. 23. Series, hosted by Kathy Griffin, was to have featured celebs re-enacting well-known dance routines. Insiders said the network was having a difficult time finding celebs to participate in the show during the holiday season.
Twitter fave Shit My Dad Says heads to TV
‘Will & Grace’ team on board to produce family comedy
CBS has picked up a comedy project based on the Twitter account, which has enlisted more than 700,000 followers since launching in August and has made its creator, Justin Halpern, an Internet star. “Will & Grace” creators David Kohan and Max Mutchnick are on board to executive produce and supervise the writing for the multicamera family comedy, which Halpern will co-pen.
But Wait, There’s More…
- Carlos the Jackal pic heads to TV, theaters
- Jennifer Stone set for ‘Harriet the Spy’
- The show must go on for NBC adaptation of ‘Parenthood’
- ‘FlashForward’ Showrunner David Goyer Discusses Marc Guggenheim’s Exit
- Jennifer Beals to star in ‘ The Night Before the Night Before Christmas’
- FX going back in time for period Western
- ‘Damages’ adds two ‘24′ veterans
- CMT plans to reinvent family sitcoms; orders 2 shows
- Fox spies CIA thriller
- ‘V’ Gets a showrunner
- Gabrielle Anwar, Craig Sheffer cast in the telepic ‘Murder Among Friends’
- CW’s ‘Life Unexpected’ gets debut date
The Fine Print
This is by no means meant to be a comprehensive roundup of the entire weeks’ news. All stories are chosen by me for no other reason than that they got my attention and might capture yours. If something you think is more important chime in on the feedback; we’d love to hear comments and have a conversation about it.
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