TV News Roundup – December 2009 – Week 2
‘Sesame Street’ goes to Nigeria
TV series to focus on literacy, HIV.AIDS education
Sesame Workshop is developing a Nigerian version of iconic kids’ show “Sesame Street,” which celebrated its 40th anniversary last month, to bring messages about staying in school, girls’ empowerment and HIV/AIDS — an outsized problem in the region — to the nation’s children. With the working title “Sesame Street Nigeria,” the project is backed by a five-year grant from the United States Agency for Intl. Development.
Great news! There’s more Chuck than we thought
“We were only going to do 13, so the writers wrote an arc for 1-13,” star Zachary Levi said. “They were basically done writing them, and then the network said, ‘Hey, we’d like to do six more,’ and they’re like, ‘Well, great. We can’t rework the first arc, so we’ll just make these six stand alone.’ They’ll be based on the 13 that we do in the first part of the season, but it will be its own little mini-arc.”
Jerry O’Connell to co-star in NBC pilot
Replaces ‘Heroes’ regular in comedic legal drama ‘Rex’
Jerry O’Connell is set to co-star in NBC’s comedic drama pilot “Rex Is Not Your Lawyer,” replacing Sendhil Ramamurthy days after the “Heroes” regular was cast in the role. “Rex” stars David Tennant as Rex Alexander, a top Chicago litigator who begins suffering panic attacks and takes up coaching clients to represent themselves in court.
Stargate’s Tapping and Shanks reunite in Sanctuary
“Penance,” guest-stars Michael Shanks as an abnormal named Jimmy who smuggles goods for the Sanctuary. “It sounds a little rude, but he actually has a mutation that gives him a pouch in his stomach, almost a Videodrome kind of pouch. It allows him to transport goods, and he is transporting a very dangerous abnormal, trying to get it to Magnus, when a bunch of bad guys get in the way, and he’s forced to go on the run with Kate to protect this abnormal. A very big secret from the past for both of them comes out.”
Nielsen: Traditional TV still king
99% of video viewing still done via television
Nielsen’s latest “Third Screen Report,” produced by its Anytime Anywhere Media Measurement initiative, confirms what the networks have been emphasizing in recent months: Viewers aren’t unplugging from the tube. Nielsen reported that 99% of video viewing in the U.S. during the third quarter was still done via traditional TV. That’s not to say the revolution isn’t brewing. The study also reported that online video usage is up 35% vs. a year ago, while DVR playback has jumped 21%.
TV musicals sing to young women
Raised on Disney, today’s girls are drawn to tuners
Most of the audience that embraced the “High School Musical” franchise and now rock out to Fox’s “Glee” were still in their princess phase when Disney’s animation revival occurred. And while there’s still a different quality when live-action characters burst into song, the exaggerated tone of teen-flavored fairy tales and romances represents a modest leap from animation.
Dollhouse gets ready to go out with a bang. Here’s how
So what do we have to look forward to? Lots of sci-fi guest stars, as well as Echo (Eliza Dushku) on a mission of her own involving Rossum, the corporation behind the Dollhouses. It’s “all about the larger conflict now between Echo and Rossum,” Whedon told TV Guide. “It’s going to get very, very twisted.”
Wahlberg: ‘Entourage’ movie possible
Two more seasons of HBO’s “Entourage” and then a movie? That seems to be the plan, according to the show’s executive producer Mark Wahlberg. Asked about the future of the comedy series, which recently was picked up for a sixth cycle coming off one of its strongest seasons, Wahlberg indicated that he believes there are two more seasons left in the show. “We’ll see; there could be more,” he said.” “But then, a movie.”
Keeping ‘Glee’ in tune
Music supervisor Bloom plays key role for hit series
Music supervisor PJ Bloom recalls: “Ryan said, ‘We’re going to do an episodic musical on show choir.’ I said, ‘Jeez, I’m really not all that familiar with what show choir is.’ So he sat me down in front of his computer and went on YouTube and started pulling up the video on show choirs from around the country, doing pop songs, classic songs. I had really never seen anything like it, and in all honesty I wasn’t sure whether it was the greatest thing I’d ever seen or the worst thing I’d ever seen.”
‘Flash Forward’ sets winter hiatus
Series to return with new episodes March 4
ABC will flash forward longer than expected, as “Flash Forward” takes a three-month hiatus this winter. Alphabet announced, via promos Thursday night, that “Flash Forward” won’t be back until March 4. As previously planned, “Flash Forward” aired its fall finale on Thursday. But show was originally scheduled to be back in January. Network insiders said the move will allow “Flash Forward” to air straight through the rest of the year without going into repeats. Hiatus will also keep “Flash Forward” out of the Winter Olympics line of fire this February.
Fox hunting werewolves
Net is developing ‘Howl’ for DreamWorks TV
the Fox network is looking to get back into the werewolf business, developing “Howl,” from DreamWorks TV. “Howl” is described as an epic family saga about warring families of werewolves in a small Alaskan town. “Alaska is a place where people disappear and now you know why,” Miller said. The script reflects the changes that are going on in the country, and “metamorphosis and constant change is the basis of werewolf mythology,” he added. “Howl” is about “the psychology of living with change.”
Fringe is back with frozen heads, shapeshifters, Nimoy
“As we get into December, there are more stories about Walter and the character we met at the end of episode 204,” executive producer Jeff Pinkner told us. “The character with the little omega symbol on his head whose eyes pop open. He’ll be making an appearance again.”
‘Sons of Anarchy’ gets third season
Sons of Anarchy” will return, but not for awhile. The FX drama will be back next September for a third season. As expected, FX has ordered 13 new episodes of the series, which ranked as the highest-rated basic cable drama this year. In addition, creator Kurt Sutter has signed a two-year deal to continue as showrunner. All the series regulars (those who survived the finale, at least) will be back too.
‘Lost’ promo that has ‘Lost’ fans-and even its producer-buzzing
The producers have even said they would rather not include any footage from the final slate of episodes in promos and advertising. Consequently, the show’s network partners around the world have been forced to come up with creative solutions for touting the show–and Lost’s Spanish carrier, Cuatro, has set the bar pretty damn high with a just-released promo that’s stirring a buzz storm among fans. It’s so cool, it even caused Lost exec producer Carlton Cuse to tweet a rave via Twitter: “Best Lost promo I’ve ever seen…” If you haven’t seen it, you can check it out below.
‘True Blood’ casts vampire, werewolf
Theo Alexander, Grant Bowler join HBO drama
Up-and-coming actor Theo Alexander and “Ugly Betty” heartthrob Grant Bowler have landed recurring roles on Alan Ball’s vampire drama. Alexander will play Talbot, an “intensely beautiful” vampire, the boyfriend of Russell Edgington (Denis O’Hare), the vampire king of Mississippi. Talbot has an acerbic sense of humor and loves to cook despite vampires’ inherent lack of cooking talents. Bowler will play Coot, a werewolf, the menacing ringleader of a biker gang.
But Wait, There’s More…
- FlashForward creator defends long hiatus
- CBS planning drama based on James Patterson novel ‘Private’
- Laura Leighton joins ABC’s ‘Pretty Little Liars’
- NBC trims its order for comedy ‘100 Questions’
- Ratings: FlashForward sank, but Fringe soared
- Canadian auds weigh in on future financing of Canuck TV
- Can ‘Turnaround King’ Archie Norman conquer ITV?
- U.K. gov’t eyes BBC Worldwide sale
- ABC sets ‘FlashForward,’ ‘V’ return dates
- HBO to develop ‘Honest’ program
- Fox to redefine sketch comedy ‘Entourage’s’ Kevin Connolly pilot
- HBO sets up Asian movie channel
- NBC to develop ‘Tommy Supreme’, drama based on real-life attorney
- ‘Damages’ starts new season Jan. 25
- ‘Ugly Betty’ moving to Wednesdays
- CBS cancels long-running soap ‘As the World Turns’
- T Bone Burnett exec producing ‘Tough Trade’ pilot for Epix Channel
- ‘The Shield’ actors to appear on ‘Lie to Me’
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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