Category Archives: Television

‘Fringe’ producers hint at epic season 3 finale [Updates: Ratings slip, FOX prez speaks]

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Fringe fans, the move to Friday hasn’t been too bad now has it? Ratings are holding steady (actually they’re not, see below), and it appears that the loyal hardcare fanbase is sticking with it. And according to FOX execs that’s all they need to confidently renew the fantastic sci-fi series thereby granting it a fourth season. This week producers Jeff Pinkner and J.H. Wyman shared some intriguing thoughts about the near-term future of the show. “Largely this season has been about the march to war, and it will continue to be so, driven equally by the relationship of Peter and the two Olivias,” Pinkner tells TVLine. “But we’ve got more stuff coming.” Wyman teases, “We can definitely guarantee that the last stretch [of episodes] is going to be very complicated, because you’re going to understand our show in a different capacity. It’s going to stretch your mind and make you think, ‘I never saw that coming.’ We have a few cards to lay down that I don’t think anybody expects. That’s what we feel we owe the fans.”

If you couldn’t process this before, they clearly they have another season on their collective mind. The May finale “will be as much as anything about setting up next season,” says Pinkner. Adds Wyman, “It’s like when you read a great novel and you finish a chapter, you’re like, ‘Oh my gosh, something happened that’s going to propel me forward!’ That’s something we desire to emulate.”

Bring it. Fringe airs Fridays at 9PM on FOX.

Update: Looks like Fringe isn’t exactly maintaining viewers like I had previously thought. Let’s take a look at the trend since it moved to Friday. “The Firefly”, Fringe‘s Friday debut, attracted 4.8 million viewers (1.9/6 in 18-49 demo); that was up 12% from its last original Thursday airing. Great start. The following week FOX aired “Reciprocity” and the ratings held steady at 4.6 million viewers (1.9/6 in 18-49 demo). The next episode “Concentrate and Ask Again” started the rocky spiral descent; viewership dropped 16% to 4.2 million viewers (1.6/5). And that brings us to last night’s episode; “Immortality” garnered 3.7 million viewers (1.4/6)–that’s a 13% drop from the previous ep. This is certainly a cause for concern when it comes to thinking about season renewal. The hardcore fanbase needs to stick with this show if FOX is going to pick it up for another season. Obviously these early numbers do not take into consideration DVR numbers (Fringe typically picks up the slack in time-shifted viewership), so these low figures may increase over the next few days. The bottom line is this: if Fringe wants to see another year to live, YOU have to tune into the show when it airs Fridays @ 9PM. Plain and simple. If you must, DVR it and watch it later. Tell your friends about it. The producers have promised they have “years of story left to tell” so it would be nothing short of a catastrophe if FOX eliminated it from its schedule prematurely.

Update 2: Recently FOX entertainment president Kevin Reilly shared his thoughts on Fringe‘s early surge when it first moved to Friday nights. He said, “I’m so psyched about it. It does go to show you the loyalty of the genre audience, when you get the right show. I’m so grateful to that audience, I’d like to shake their hands. We have a lot of passion for that show here.” Even though Reilly released this statement before last Friday’s dip in ratings, it does go to show his massive amount of support behind the show. If ratings can pick up again and begin to level out, I have no doubt in my mind Fringe will return for another season next fall.

[Via TVLine 1, 2; EW]

3net, a 24/7 3D network, set to launch Sunday on DirecTV

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I know you’ve been waiting with so much anticipation since late December 2009 to hear this news. DirecTV is nearly ready to launch the 24/7 3D network dubbed 3net, the joint venture of Sony Corp., Discovery Communications, and IMAX Corp. On Sunday, February 13 at precisely 8PM ET 3net will be accessible exclusively to DirecTV customers. The network plans to premiere original 3D series and programs every night at 9PM ET. Sony, Discovery, and IMAX hope that the network will “serve as a critical driver for consumer adoption of in-home 3D entertainment” with their goal for the channel “to offer viewers the largest library of native 3D entertainment content in the world by the end of 2011.” China Revealed, Into the Deep, and Forgotten Planet is the Feb. 13 lineup, so if you’re a satellite subscriber and own a 3DTV tune to channel 107 to experience TV in an entirely new dimension. Official PR after the break.

[Via Engadget] Continue reading 3net, a 24/7 3D network, set to launch Sunday on DirecTV →

Trailer: A&E’s ‘Breakout Kings’

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A&E’s upcoming drama from the producers of Prison Break is almost here. Quench your anticipation with this here trailer which includes glimpses into the season as well as thoughts from the main cast and producers.

Because there’s nothing more dangerous than a convict on the run, we decided to use fugitives to help catch a fugitive. Get it, got it, good. ..Oh, and did you catch the return of Theodore “T-Bag” Bagwell, hm pretty?

Breakout Kings premieres Sunday, March 6 at 10PM on A&E.

Glee’s going on tour again!

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Gleeks, get this: New Directions is going on tour again! Here’s the scoop. The Glee Live! In Concert! North American concert tour will star 13 Glee cast members and they include Lea Michele (Rachel), Cory Monteith (Finn), Amber Riley (Mercedes), Chris Colfer (Kurt), Kevin McHale (Artie), Jenna Ushkowitz (Tina), Mark Salling (Puck), Dianna Agron (Quinn), Naya Rivera (Santana), Heather Morris (Brittany), Harry Shum, Jr. (Mike), Chord Overstreet (Sam) and Darren Criss (Blaine). The latter two cast members are the newest additions to the concert lineup. They will perform hit songs from the first two season’s of the FOX show including “Empire State of Mind,” “Toxic,” “My Life Would Suck Without You,” “It’s My Life,” and “Don’t Stop Believin’.” The tour kicks off May 21 in Las Vegas at Mandalay Bay Event Center and will travel to 16 locations around the country through June 18 when it will end in Uniondale, New York at Nassau Coliseum. Look after the break for the full listing of tour dates. The previously announced Glee European tour will follow in late June.

Says Glee creator Ryan Murphy: “The cast and I were so moved by the love and enthusiasm of our fans at last year’s concerts that we knew we had to do it again. There is something magical about thousands of ‘Gleeks’ coming together to share a special night with our cast, and this tour is one way we can thank them for their unbelievable support from the beginning.”

Here’s how to snag tickets to the event. If you’re an AMEX cardholder you’ll have access to an exclusive presale beginning Friday, February 11 at 10AM. Tickets go on sale to the general public for most cities on Saturday, February 19 at 10AM. (Here are the other stipulations: tickets for the Boston concert go on sale Friday, Feb. 18 at 10AM; Toronto goes on sale Friday, Feb. 18 at noon; and Sacramento goes on sale Saturday, Feb. 19 at noon.) All tickets will be sold through Ticketmaster. And if last time taught us anything, it’s that getting tix to a Glee concert is a crapshoot; within seconds virtually all venues were sold out. Have the site loaded up with your finger on the submit button at 9:59AM and godspeed.

[Via EW] Continue reading Glee’s going on tour again! →

This year’s Super Bowl is now the most-watched show, ever

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Does that post title sound familiar? Well that’s because you saw it last year right around this time.  Super Bowl XLV attracted 111 million viewers last night, besting last year’s viewership of 106.5 million people to become the most-watched program in TV history. In case you were wondering, the M*A*S*H series finale had already been dethroned by Super Bowl XLIV since it attracted a slightly smaller audience in 1983 (106 million). Super Bowl viewership has climbed every year since 2005 and this year’s marks the fourth consecutive “big game” to set a viewership record. And as Deadline points out, last night FOX became the first network to exceed 100 million viewers (100.9 million) for a night of primetime. Impressive stuff.

And how did the post-Super Bowl Glee episode fare in ratings? Compared to previous years, not that great. Glee garnered 26.8 million viewers, significantly less than what the series premiere of Undercover Boss received last year on CBS (38.7 million). However it did manage to best NBC’s The Office from two years ago (22.9 million). Comparisons aside, this was unmistakably the highest rated Glee episode to date and the most watched scripted series since 2005’s post-Bowl House episode (29 million viewers). Taking a look at the big picture, Glee attracted the third largest audience for a post-Super Bowl scripted series in the past twelve years after a 2006 Grey’s Anatomy (37.9 million) and the aforementioned House ep.

Too bad the commercials and half-time show were nothing to call home about. Needless to say, history was made last night…again.

[Via Deadline]

Super Bowl XLV commercials

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This shouldn’t be much of a surprise, but #BrandBowl was trending right next to #SuperBowl in the Twittersphere during the big game today.  While the sports-loving percentage of the country kept their minds focused on the Packers and Steelers, the rest of us admittedly didn’t care so much for the game and instead invested our time in watching the commercials placed neatly between timeouts and end of quarters.  As you know, companies spend millions of dollars for a 30-second spot during the most watched (sporting) event on TV.  So how did they fare this year?  All in all they were alright; nothing wildly spectacular caught my attention but they were definitely some stand outs worth mentioning and watching again.  From beer to cars to Doritos, tech, and movie trailers–it’s all after the break for you to peruse. Continue reading Super Bowl XLV commercials →

Creator Mitch Hurtwitz aims to shoot and release ‘Arrested’ film this year

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That post title is music to your ears, isn’t it?  Arrested Development creator Mitch Hurwitz told Digital Spy that he wants to shoot and release the long-awaited film based on the short-lived FOX series this year. But don’t take my word for it; here’s what the man behind The Bluths had to say:

Hurwitz: “We’ve started that process and it is our sincere hope to shoot it this year and get it out this year. That’s what we’re hoping, but a lot of things have to fall into place for that to happen. I want to keep whatever it is we end up with as a surprise, which kind of betrays the fact that we might not have the whole thing worked out! But I don’t like to toy with the affections of our fans. They’ve been so supportive and we’re so grateful, so I kind of hate to answer the question until I can say, ‘Yep, we’ve shot it, it opens next week’. Otherwise it feels like we’re toying with people and we do not mean to do that. It has just taken a while to get it going.”

The last time Arrested Development news hit, Hurwitz admitted he was “about halfway through” writing the script, and that was back in August 2010.  He continued, “We will make this movie.  The only stumbling blocks will be scheduling.  Everybody wants to play together.”  And, “It’s not going to be a big money maker.  It’s going to be fun, like a family reunion.”

If you’re not shaking with excitement, there’s something terribly wrong with you.  Not familiar with the show?  All three seasons are currently streaming on Netflix, so you’ve got no reason not to watch arguably the smartest comedy ever produced.  Five times over.

[Via Digital Spy]

‘The Event’ returns this March to NBC, award-winning cinematographer tapped to direct “pivotal” episode

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With The Cape on its way out, NBC is prepared to bring back its fall sci-fi serial The Event a bit early.  The Event returns from its lengthy hiatus Monday, March 7 with a two-hour presentation and the show will air eight more episodes leading up to its epic finale this May.  In related Event news, it’s being reported that Oscar-winning cinematographer Janusz Kaminski (Saving Private Ryan, Schindler’s List, War of the Worlds) is going to direct episode 15, which EW describes as being a “pivotal” one.  Producers have hinted in the past that the actual “event” will be revealed to viewers sometime during the latter half of the season, so episode 15 just might be the one we’ve been waiting oh-so-patiently for.  Producers have also stated that when the show ends this May it will wrap up all current storylines to satisfy fans just in case NBC decides to drop it going into the fall 2011 TV season.

[Via EW]

‘Power Rangers Samurai’ premieres February 7 on Nick

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Back in May it was reported that original creator Haim Saban bought the Power Rangers franchise from Disney and that Nickelodeon would air the eighteenth season of the show this year.  Since then so much more detail has surfaced about the upcoming series.  The official name of the kids program is Power Rangers Samurai and we’ve got a synopsis:

Power Rangers Samurai follows a new generation of five Rangers who must master the ancient Samurai Symbols of Power which give them control over the elements of Fire, Water, Sky, Forest and Earth.  Under the guidance of their all-knowing Samurai mentor, Ji, and with the aid of their devoted animal Zords (Lion, Dragon, Ape, Turtle and Bear), they battle to save Earth from the dark forces of the Netherworld led by the evil Master Xandred.

Get to know the cast: The Samurai Power Rangers are: Jayden (Alex Heartman), the Red Ranger and the team’s leader; Mia (Erika Fong), the Pink Ranger who is the confident and caring “big sister” of the Rangers; Kevin (Najee De-Tiege), the Blue Ranger, is a great swordsman who lives by the code of the Rangers; Emily (Brittany Pirtle), the Yellow Ranger, is the youngest but most optimistic of the group; and Mike (Hector David), the Green Ranger, who is a bit of a rebel and would rather be destroying video monsters than real ones.

Oh and remember the slapstick duo from the original 1993 series run Bulk and Skull?  Actor Paul Schrier is returning to the Power Rangers universe and will reprise his role as Bulk in the Samurai premiere and will make guest appearances throughout the season.  Neat-o right?  Look after the break to watch the 2011 version of Bulk in action.  Nothing’s changed.

Nick’s Pete Danielsen promises, “This new season of Power Ranger Samurai will feature all new heroes, villains and special effects while keeping the core messages of friendship, teamwork and empowerment that the series has always exhibited.”

Says Saban Brands president Elie Dekel: “We wanted to get back to the original core DNA of the show that made it so powerful and resonant in the ’90s. We made sure that moving forward we drew on the best possible elements that we knew kids responded to, so we embedded a lot more humor in the show, a lot more charm and fun. Bringing back some of the silliness of the original series was a goal, and now it’s in high-def, which has never been done before, which gives it a really great new look.” Beyond that, Dekel continues, “We really wanted to pay homage to, if you will, the show’s Japanese origins with Samurai.”

The 20-episode 18th season premieres February 7 at 8PM on Nickelodeon.  Look after the break for some more sneak peek videos, and hit up EW to watch the brand new intro.

[Via PRNewswire; EW; IGN] Continue reading ‘Power Rangers Samurai’ premieres February 7 on Nick →

NBC decreases ‘The Cape’ episode count by three

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Things are not looking good for NBC’s new superhero drama The Cape.  On the heels of a series ratings low this week, today the Peacock decided to cut the season one episode count from 13 to 10.  All signs are pointing to cancellation, so I hope you’re not too invested in these characters already.  After the five episodes that aired thus far, I’ve stuck with it but news of the cut does not come as a surprise.  As easy as it might be to criticize the show’s cheesy dialogue, lack of top notch action sequences, and poor character development, what it all comes down to is ratings for the network.  Last night’s episode drew a meager 5.3 million viewers; that’s down 6% from the previous week.  The TV watching public doesn’t seem interested in it, and soon the network won’t be either.  According to Deadline, now that The Cape will bow out earlier than expected, fans of the serial sci-fi The Event can prepare for that show to make a return on March 7 in a two-hour block.

[Via Deadline]

Will Ferrell is headed to ‘The Office’ for a multi-episode arc

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With Steve Carell exiting The Office before season’s end, the producers promised that viewers could expect the introduction of new characters in the wake of Michael Scott’s departure.  Following Ricky Gervais’ quick cameo this week, funnyman Will Ferrell will reunite with his Anchorman co-star later this season for a lengthier four-episode arc.  According to Deadline, Ferrell “will play a branch manager who comes from the home office and is just as inappropriate as Steve Carell’s Michael Scott character.”  He will work alongside Scott for three episodes and his character will remain with the Office gang for one additional episode post-Scott’s departure “to help create a bridge” between the old and new (still undisclosed) boss.

The Office’s executive producer Paul Lieberstein (who also plays HR rep Toby Flenderson) had this to say about the Ferrell addition: “We found Steve Carell when he was nothing but a movie star and we turned him into a television star. We are proud to continue The Office’s tradition of discovering famous talent, and we hope that once America gets a good look at Will, they’ll see what we see, tremendous raw sexuality.”

Oh, and I just thought of this.  If the producers decide to bring David Koechner’s Todd Packer into the mix, we’ll have ourselves an even mightier Anchorman reunion.

Update: Rainn Wilson (aka Dwight Schrute) commented on Ferrell’s Office visit and what’s in store for the show post-Michael Scott; hop after the break for some quotes!

[Via Deadline; EW] Continue reading Will Ferrell is headed to ‘The Office’ for a multi-episode arc →