Tag Archives: FOX

FOX announces midseason schedule, moves ‘Idol’ to Thursday, bumps ‘Fringe’ to Friday

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Today FOX announced their 2011 midseason schedule and it includes the return of Kitchen Nightmares and American Idol, four series premieres (The Chicago Code, Million Dollar Money Drop, Mixed Signals, Bob’s Burgers), and some series program shuffling.  American Idol will now air Wednesdays and Thursdays, and it will serve as a lead-in to Human Target and Bones on those respective days.  So what does all this mean for the fantastic sci-fi series Fringe?  Not good things.  Beginning January 28 the show will be bumped to Friday nights, also known as the the graveyard for ratings-deprived TV series (read: Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, Dollhouse). Now before you start panicking, you should know that FOX has made this move with good intentions.  According to Deadline “almost half” the show’s viewers record-and-watch using DVRs, and FOX prez Kevin Reilly has high hopes that Fringe’s cult following will stick with the show no matter what night it falls on (you’ve got that right, partner!). “Fringe has a very particular, loyal audience,” says Reilly. “If [Fringe] could stay near the current levels, we’ll get a big trade-up on Friday and will solve our problem there.” Fringe will replace The Good Guys in the 9PM slot. Though they won’t commit to cancellation just yet, FOX has confirmed that Guys and Running Wilde will not be receiving additional episodes this season.

Update: I managed to find a juicier quote from Reilly on the Fringe Friday situation: “We are not killing the show. Over the last week, over 45% of the audience time-shifted the show. That’s almost half of the dedicated audience watching it on their DVRs. It’s been such a loyal fanbase. I will be really disheartened if the viewer base decides to not watch because it shifted one night. I hope they go with it, and if not they have the option of picking it up on their DVRs. If it does anywhere near what it did on Thursdays, we can glue that show to the schedule because it can be a big win for us.”  And there you have it–no need to jump to scary conclusions just yet, Fringe fans.

Look after the break to view the FOX midseason schedule.

[Via Deadline, here & here; EW] Continue reading FOX announces midseason schedule, moves ‘Idol’ to Thursday, bumps ‘Fringe’ to Friday →

Glee’s newest member Darren Criss lights up Billboard’s Hot 100 with first performance

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In “Never Been Kissed”, the November 9th episode of Glee, new cast member Darren Criss (he plays Kurt’s new best friend Blaine) sang Katy Perry’s “Teenage Dream” and almost instantly crawled its way up  Billboard’s Hot 100 music chart.  The song debuted at #1 in digital track sales with 214,000 tracks sold.  This marks the first time any Glee song has made it all the way to the top.  Season 1’s Don’t Stop Believin’ made it to the #2 spot back in May 2009.  With the addition of the “Teenage Dream” cover, Glee has had a whopping 93 songs on the Hot 100 list.  The only other artist to rack up the chart-topping hits this high with 108 of ’em?  Elvis Presley.

In other related Glee news, another concert is in the works but this time the gang will be travelling overseas.  Glee Live! In Concert! will hit up Manchester, London, and Dublin this summer.  The show will include the following cast members: Lea Michele, Cory Monteith, Amber Riley, Chris Colfer, Kevin McHale, Jenna Ushkowitz, Mark Salling, Dianna Agron, Naya Rivera, Heather Morris, Harry Shum, Jr., Chord Overstreet, and Darren Criss.  Look after the break to see the European tour dates.

[Via Deadline; EW, here & here] Continue reading Glee’s newest member Darren Criss lights up Billboard’s Hot 100 with first performance →

FOX renews ‘The Simpsons’ for Season 23

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Shocker, right?  Next September FOX will air the 23rd season of The Simpsons, the longest running comedy in TV history.  During the next season the animated show will hit a major milestone–500 episodes aired.  In fact, the series will reach episode 515 when it closes out its next season in May 2012.  But its still got a ways to go if it wants to become the record holder for most episodes aired; it’ll have to surpass Gunsmoke‘s 635 episodes!

“Like many 22-year-olds, The Simpsons is extremely happy remaining at home, on Fox, and hopes it doesn’t have to go out into the real world for many years to come,” said executive producer Al Jean.

[Via Deadline; IGN]

Network TV says HALT! to Google TV: FOX joins the fray

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Shortly after Logitech and Sony introduced their devices that welcomed Google TV into family living rooms, CBS, NBC, and ABC blocked TV programming on their websites from being accessed on the Google TV platform.  On Wednesday, after only a couple of weeks on the fence, FOX decided to join its network competitors and block its Internet streaming content from being watched on TVs through Google TV-enabled boxes.  Why is this happening?  I’ll give you the same reason as before.  It’s all about making money, and Internet-based ads provide far less revenue than television ads.  We’re in what I call a weird transition state, and the TV networks simply don’t know how to handle to move from watching TV to watching TV content from the Internet on the TV.  It’s all a big mess right now with the customers stuck on the unfortunate side.  Hopefully network TV can get their act together and make peace with the tech companies (Google, Boxee, etc.) who are trying to make content accessible on more screens.  We will win in the end; the question is not if but when.

[Via Engadget]

Network TV says HALT! to Google TV

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Didcha get yourself a new Sony Internet TV or Blu-ray player or are you thinking about impulse buying the Logitech Revue powered by Google TV?  If you’re contemplating such a purchase did you think you’d have the ability to watch network TV content off their respective websites using the built-in Chrome browser?  Well you thought wrong, unfortunately.  Today the Wall Street Journal confirms that CBS, NBC, and ABC have blocked TV programming on their websites from being accessed on the Google TV platform.  NBC and ABC are allowing select promotional content to be viewed, but if you attempt to stream a full episode of The Office you will fail miserably.  And to top all this off, Hulu is blocked too; and not because it’s Flash-based–Chrome runs Flash content just fine–it’s the networks’ fault.  So what’s Google going to do about this?  In a word, nothing.  In more words: “Google TV enables access to all the Web content you already get today on your phone and PC, but it is ultimately the content owners’ choice to restrict their fans from accessing their content on the platform,” said a Google spokeswoman.  News Corp., for the time being, has not opted to block FOX content.

Why is this happening, you ask?  Well in the end it all comes down to making money.  And networks know TV ads bring in a whole lot more cashola than Internet-based ads.  Right now we’re stuck in this weird transition state where TV has snuck into bed with the Internet and just doesn’t know what to do next.  Here’s to hoping that something is figured out real soon.  Because I want my on-demand teevee streaming content this very second.  Boxee, good luck.

[Via WSJ]

Music video: Maurissa Tancharoen & Jed Whedon – “Remains”

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FOX cancels Dollhouse.  Season 2 DVD and Blu-ray sets are announced to include a comic book issue titled “Epitaphs” penned by husband and wife team Jed Whedon and Maurissa Tancharoen (of Dr. Horrible fame).  To celebrate the release of season 2 (it’s available for purchase today) Tancharoen shared with her Twitter followers (and Dollhouse fans worldwide) a music video for the song “Remains.”  The track, written by Whedon and Tancharoen, was played in the season one finale.  The beautifully shot video was directed by Anton King and stars Tancharoen, Caitlin Stasey, J.R. Starr, and Fran Kranz (he played Topher in the show).  I miss you Dollhouse, but this was nice.

[Via @MoTancharoen]

FOX orders full season of ‘Raising Hope’

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Fantastic news, TV junkies!  Today FOX ordered a full season of the breakout comedy Raising Hope.  It’s the first new fall series to be granted additional episodes.  With a full back-nine order in effect, Raising Hope will air a total of 22 episodes this season.  The decision was made based on the high ratings the show has received thus far.  It’s is the highest rated new FOX series, #1 new comedy among teens and young women, the #2 new comedy among adults 18-34, and one of the top 5 new comedies among adults 18-49.  In other words, it delivers the goods.  The writing is impeccable, the characters are relatable, and the show carries an air of wacky, endearing working-class familial values that draw you in week after week.  Breakout star Martha Plimpton (the mother) embodies all of this.  If you’re not watching this show, catch up on Hulu and quit slacking!  Obviously this is comedy gold in it for the long haul.  Raising Hope airs Tuesdays at 9PM on FOX.

[Via Deadline]

Animation Domination premieres tonight on FOX

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Need your animation fix?  The Simpsons (8pm), The Cleveland Show (8:30pm), and Family Guy (9pm) premiere tonight (9/26) on FOX!

In “Elementary School Musical”, Lisa goes to performing arts camp where she meets friends (voiced by Glee‘s Lea Michele, Cory Monteith, and Amber Riley) and artsy counselors (Jemaine Clement and Bret McKenzie of Flight of the Conchords).  The 22nd season of The Simpsons will be jam packed with guest voices.

In “Harder, Better, Faster, Browner”, Cleveland helps struggling rapper Kenny (aka Kanye) West by encouraging him to record a new hit single.  Get a taste of “Be-Cleve in Yourself” here.  The episode also packs other Kanye references including a humorous nod to the Swift incident and a montage backed by Late Registration‘s “Touch the Sky.”

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The one-hour Family Guy premiere “And Then There Were Fewer” plays out like a cinematic murder-mystery in a case of whodunit.  James Woods invites virtually all of Quohag to his ominous mansion where all the light drama unfolds.  Fun fact: Family Guy has finally gone HD this season!

Glance at the premiere stills above, and get ready for three hours of animation domination tonight on FOX.  (American Dad fans–your show premieres next Sunday, October 3).

[Via IGN, here, here & here; FOX]

American Idol judges panel announced: J. Lo, Steven Tyler & Randy Jackson

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Don’t act so surprised.  After weeks of rampant speculation, FOX offically annouced the new panel of judges to be featured in American Idol season 10.  They are Jennifer Lopez, Steven Tyler, and Randy “the dawg” Jackson.  Joining the new slate of judges is Jimmy Iovine, chairman of Interscope Geffen A&M Records; he will serve as an in-house mentor for the contestants.

Says Jenny from the block: “For nine years I’ve enjoyed watching artists compete to get a meaningful chance to achieve their dreams.  I know from my own experience how hard it is to succeed, and I’m looking forward to discovering and nurturing that spirit in the many American Idol contestants I look forward to meeting this year.”

Tyler, former frontman of Aerosmith, told fans of the show: “I’ve been on tour for most of my life in a band with four guys who judge me every day. Sometimes it hurt, but it only made me stronger.  I want to give everybody a little love before I decide who goes home heartbroken.  If you don’t like what I say, don’t get mad, get better.  I’m ready to bring some rock to this ‘roller’ coaster and show these kids if they have the dream, the talent and the drive, they will be the next American Idol.”

If you were hoping series creator Nigel Lythgoe would find a true Simon Cowell replacement, you will be sorely disappointed.  “I don’t know whether there will be a replacement,” Randy Jackson said. “We all have our moments of toughness and nurturing and sweetness.”  J. Lo added, “I believe in tough love but I don’t think I can ever be cruel to another artist.  There are definitely better ways to say things.”  Oh fooey.  American Idol returns January 2011.

[Via IGN; EW]

Jump into interactive 8-Bit Glee

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Glee just got 8-bit’d.  From The Station and Doctor Octoroc, the guy who brought us Dr. Horrible in 8-bits, comes a new YouTube interactive game starring your favorite Glee club New Directions.  You’ll recognize the music, the characters, and the locations in this Pokemon-style video collection.  Once you watch this first video all the way through, you will be prompted at the end to choose where to go next.  Mash play and give it a go!

[Via NYMag]

Glee season 2 cast & premiere stills

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The FOX musical sensation is back.  No, not American Idol…Glee!  Another year at McKinley High is about to begin, so brush up by reintroducing yourself to all the main charachers in the gallery below.  Don’t forget to peek into gallery #2 to get a sneek peek at the premiere ep called “Auditions.”  Glee premieres tonight (9/21) at 8PM.

[Via IGN]

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Running Wilde premiere stills

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The new FOX comedy from the mind that brought us Arrested Development is almost here!  Check out these premiere stills from Mitch Hurwitz’s Running Wilde and plop on your couch tonight (9/21) at 9:30PM to catch the absurd and the funny.  Stars Will Arnett, Keri Russell, and a bearded David Cross make up the majority of the stills.

[Via IGN]

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