The TV Guy

'Defying Gravity,' sexy space thriller, joining ABC lineup

halboedeker — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 18:28:02 -0400

Ron Livingston of "Sex and the City" will headline "Defying Gravity," a new series from ABC. The series will have a two-hour premiere at 9 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 2, then air at 10 p.m. Sundays, starting Aug. 9. ABC described...

'The Mentalist' to add Terry Kinney of 'Oz'

halboedeker — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 14:04:28 -0400

Terry Kinney, who played Tim McManus on HBO's "Oz," will have a recurring role on CBS' "The Mentalist" next season. It's good news for "The Mentalist," last season's biggest new hit, to land such an admired actor. Kinney will play...

'American Idol' hopefuls: They work to stand out

halboedeker — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 12:00:56 -0400

Chris Rushton, 18, of Chicago wore a headdress. Matt Hembling, 16, of Fort Myers played the saxophone. Miquette Jackson, 28, of DeBary held a sign that read "I Lost 120 lbs. for 'American Idol.'" The contestants took different routes to...

'America's Got Talent' brings NBC the most viewers Wednesday

halboedeker — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 11:28:28 -0400

"So You Think You Can Dance" made Fox the favorite of young adults Wednesday night. But "America's Got Talent" brought NBC the most viewers in prime time. A new edition of "America's Got Talent" drew 11.7 million viewers, the biggest...

'American Idol': Close to 10,000 come out to audition in Orlando

halboedeker — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 09:51:01 -0400

The hopefuls auditioning for "American Idol" this morning in Orlando surpassed the show's expectations. Close to 10,000 filled the Amway Arena parking lot. "I really expected 5-, 6,000 tops," supervising producer Patrick Lynn said. "It's not like we're doing L.A....

WOFL to add Pittsburgh anchor at 5, 6 and 10

halboedeker — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 16:25:09 -0400

Sonni Abatta of KDKA in Pittsburgh will become an anchor at WOFL-Channel 35 later this month. Starting July 20, Abatta will anchor at 5 p.m. with Cale Ramaker and Amy Kaufeldt. Abatta and Ramaker will co-anchor at 10 p.m. Abatta...

Billy Mays tribute set for 9 p.m. Thursday on Discovery

halboedeker — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 16:03:29 -0400

How to honor pitchman Billy Mays? Discovery Channel will salute him with "Pitchman: A Tribute to Billy Mays." The hour documentary will premiere at 9 p.m. Thursday on Discovery Channel. Family members, infomercial colleagues and "Pitchmen" co-host Anthony "Sully" Sullivan...

Michael Jackson: More than 31 million watched service

halboedeker — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 15:49:58 -0400

Michael Jackson's memorial service Tuesday afternoon averaged 31.1 million viewers across 18 networks. Carrying the service were ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox, Telefutura, Telemundo, Univision, CNN, Fox News Channel, MSNBC, HLN, BET, E!, MTV, VH1, VH1 Classic, TV Guide Network and...

'American Idol': Registration slows way down at Amway Arena

halboedeker — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 15:24:37 -0400

Close to 4,000 hopefuls lined up Tuesday morning to register first thing for "American Idol" auditions at Amway Arena in downtown Orlando. By early this afternoon, just a few singers were showing up. I saw roughly 30 in the arena...

'Dollhouse': Joss Whedon to write, direct season premiere

halboedeker — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 13:20:35 -0400

Good news, "Dollhouse" fans: THE man will be calling the shots on the season premiere. Series creator Joss Whedon will direct and write the episode, which has been pushed back a week. The episode screens at 9 p.m. Friday, Sept....

'Desperate Housewives': Teri Hatcher reveals twist in new season

halboedeker — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 11:53:29 -0400

What did that cliffhanger on "Desperate Housewives" mean? On today's "View," Teri Hatcher revealed that either her character, Susan, or Dana Delany's Katherine will marry Mike (James Denton). No surprise there. Fans knew that was coming. But here's the spoiler:...

NBC, CBS split victories on Tuesday of Michael Jackson tributes

halboedeker — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 11:39:30 -0400

CBS had the most viewers Tuesday, and NBC had the most young adults. It was a night the broadcast networks presented four hours of Michael Jackson specials. And the night's most-watch program was ... an "NCIS" repeat that drew 11...

Robin Williams to return to HBO for solo special in December

halboedeker — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 11:08:53 -0400

Robin Williams is back on television, and HBO has him. Oh, wait, HBO says it isn't television. Anyway, HBO says it's his first special for the network in seven years. The title: "Robin Williams: Weapons of Self-Destruction." It tapes in...

Michael Jackson: Did he die of a thin skin?

halboedeker — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 10:14:57 -0400

The Michael Jackson memorial had its moving moments, none sadder than his daughter's declaration of love. For those touching moments, the service will pass into Hollywood lore as an emotional spectacle. But the angry moments stand out, too, because they...

Casey Anthony: WFTV says judge doesn't want to give defense an appeal argument

halboedeker — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 17:42:57 -0400

Only WFTV-Channel 9 attended a scheduling conference today in the Casey Anthony case, the station's Kathi Belich boasted. The station offered footage of Judge Stan Strickland meeting with prosecutors and Anthony's defense team. The judge determined that the murder trial...

Michael Jackson sendoff: a moving and maddening spectacle

halboedeker — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 15:39:02 -0400

Skepticism preceded the Michael Jackson memorial. Fox News' Shepard Smith wondered: "What sort of crazy something or other is going to happen? Because Michael Jackson is in the house, and when Michael Jackson's in the house, crazy things happen." Smith...

'America's Got Talent' sits atop ratings, but CBS wins week in viewers

halboedeker — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 13:39:32 -0400

"America's Got Talent" on NBC was the country's favorite show last week. But CBS drew the most viewers in prime time, and Fox was the favorite of young adults. CBS averaged 6.9 million in prime time in a slow week...

Casey Anthony: Trial won't begin until next year

halboedeker — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 12:15:47 -0400

The Oct. 12 date for Casey Anthony's murder trial has been canceled. Judge Stan Strickland has set a status hearing for Jan. 21, WESH-Channel 2 reported at noon today. "Her murder trial cannot come before that time," WESH's Bob Kealing...

'The Bachelorette' brings ABC the most young adults Monday, but CBS has most viewers with reruns

halboedeker — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 11:31:42 -0400

"The Bachelorette" helped Disney-owned ABC score with young adults Monday night and edge CBS in the 18-to-49 age group. But CBS had the most viewers on a slow summer night. The night's most-watched show was CBS' "Two and a Half...

Michael Jackson: Attempt at reverence hits bizarre bumps early

halboedeker — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 11:10:42 -0400

The people behind Michael Jackson's memorial service say they want a remembrance done with reverence and respect. Oh, my -- the coverage fell short of that goal early today. There was the "where's the body?" question. NBC's Michael Okwu on...