FIRST LOOK
http://www.eonline.com/news
ON TELEVISION (WEDNESDAY 2/18/15)
TV ONE: Unsung Hollywod: Vivica A. Fox (Premiere) at 8pm
BET: The Book of Negroes (Finale) at 8pm and 9pm
CBS: The Mentalist (Finale) at 8pm
FOOD: Restaurant: Impossible (Finale) at 10pm
LIFETIME: big Women: Big Love (Finale) at 10pm
So much for whispers that John Oliver could replace Jon Stewart on The Daily Show – where Oliver once served as writer, correspondent and fill-in host – when Stewart leaves the Comedy Central late nighter later this year. HBO picked up Last Week Tonight With John Oliver for 35-ep seasons three and four, to run in 2016 and 2017. Season two, Sunday nights at 11p, launched February 8.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Van Toffler is leaving his position as president of Viacom’s Music and Logo Group, where he oversees channels including MTV and VH1. Toffler, a 28-year Viacom vet, announced via a memo to staff that he is starting a new venture, Below the Radar (wt), devoted to platform agnostic content creation and acquisition. “This is a very personal decision about pursuing the loud and insatiable part of my failed musician/poet soul that needs to purely make great stuff,” said Toffler, adding that he will remain during the transition until April, and exec produce events like the VMAs.
(Source: Cynopsis)
AMC’s Mad Men is going out with a bang. As the Sunday, April 5 launch of the period drama’s final seven episodes approaches, cultural institutions including Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, the New York Public Library, the Film Society of Lincoln Center and more will pay tribute to the show with screenings, exhibitions and events. “A television series unlike any other deserves a send-off unlike any other,” said Charlie Collier, AMC president. “Mad Men and its incomparable influence across art, design, literature and popular culture in general, calls for a broad and unprecedented salute.” Details are available here.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Melissa Rivers is joining Entertainment Tonight to conduct a series of interviews, starting with Oscars host Neil Patrick Harris on Thursday, February 19. “Melissa’s ability to connect with people is matched only by her wit, curiosity and warmth,” said Brad Bessey, exec producer of ET. Rivers also serves as an exec producer on E!’s Fashion Police.
(Source: Cynopsis)
BET continues the celebration of Black History Month with its eighth annual The BET Honors, hosted by Wayne Brady. Special pays tribute to the contributions of Phylicia Rashad, Kanye West, Usher, Dr. Johnnette Betsch Cole and the chairman of Microsoft, John W. Thompson. Premiere date: Monday, February 23 at 9p.
(Source: Cynopsis)
There’s also hardship ahead for couples on the brink of divorce in A&E’s Surviving Marriage, plopped on a remote island for extreme therapy. Left with no modern conveniences and limited food and water in the South Pacific, who left the toilet seat up is the least of their problems as pairs confront the issues that have torn them apart. Reality show from Big Fish Entertainment launches Tuesday, March 24 at 10p.
(Source: Cynopsis)
The final two hours of BET’s The Book of Negroes air tonight at 8p and 9p. The net’s first-ever miniseries, based on the best-selling book, concludes with a race riot in Nova Scotia, a double cross and another lengthy journey.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Reelz will broadcast the 23rd Annual Movieguide Faith and Values Awards Saturday, February 21 at 7p. Stevie Wonder, Christian rapper Lecrae and gospel duo CeCe and Marvin Winans are among the performers; Duck Dynasty’s Korie and Sadie Robertson also make an appearance.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Hallmark’s Home & Family hosts a reunion for the Life Goes On (1989-1993) cast Monday, February 23. Onboard: Patti LuPone, Chris Burke and Kellie Martin. Talk and lifestyle show airs weekdays at 10am.
(Source: Cynopsis)
VH1 marks the 20th anniversary of the best-selling boy band ever with rock doc Backstreet Boys: Show ‘Em What You’re Made Of, premiering Friday, April 3 at 9p. Original group members Nick Carter, Howie Dorough, Brian Littrell, AJ McLean and Kevin Richardson star and produce with Mia Bays; exec producers are Sam Sniderman, Jeff Kwatinetz and Jennifer Sousa.
(Source: Cynopsis)
TLC ordered a sixth season of Sister Wives, wrapping its controversial (wife swap!) fifth run Sunday, March 1 at 8p. A tell-all special follows the finale at 9p, moderated by Today co-host Tamron Hall.
(Source: Cynopsis)
NBC’s Celebrity Apprentice was renewed for a 15th season. Donald Trump announced the news Monday night, during the reality show’s season 14 finale (winner: Leeza Gibbons).
(Source: Cynopsis)
Keeping Up With the Kardashians returns for season ten Sunday, March 15 at 9p. Think they’ll have anything to talk about? Last season, E!’s most-watched series ranked as the top most-social ad-supported cable program in its timeslot, with 43,500 tweets per episode.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Stand-up series The Meltdown With Jonah and Kumail will make it to season two on Comedy Central. Season one featured performances from vets and up-and-comers including Weird Al Yankovic, Eric Andre and Marc Maron.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Headline-makers offer new perspectives on their stories in OWN’s Oprah: Where Are They Now?, back Sunday, March 8 at 9p with the parents of hate crime victim Matthew Shepard discussing how they are preserving their son’s legacy.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Poppy Montgomery (Unforgettable) guests on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries original Signed, Sealed, Delivered From Paris, With Love (wt), premiering Sunday, June 14 at 9p. Montgomery will play the estranged wife of postal detective Oliver (Eric Mabius).
(Source: Cynopsis)
Marcia Gay Harden (The Newsroom) landed a role in CBS pilot Code Black, a medical drama about the notorious E.R. in L.A. County Hospital based on Ryan McGarry’s feature doc.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Josh Peck (Drake & Josh) has been cast opposite John Stamos (Full House) as the son Stamos’ bachelor character never knew he had in an untitled comedy pilot for Fox.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Skylar Astin (Pitch Perfect) scored the lead in ABC’s untitled NBA buddy comedy, as a teaching assistant hired as translator/mentor to a new player from Botswana.
(Source: Cynopsis)
AMC’s Better Call Saul is the number one series premiere in cable history among A18-49 and A25-54 in Live+3 ratings, with the first night of its two-night premiere delivering 9.8 million viewers, 6.1 million A18-49 and 5.7 million A25-54.
(Source: Cynopsis)
NBC’s State of Affairs wrapped its freshman run Monday with a 1.0/3 rating among A18-49, according to early numbers, even with last week. The net’s Celebrity Apprentice finale got a 14 percent bump from last week, to 1.6/4.
(Source: Cynopsis)
SOUNDSCAN (WEEK ENDING 2/15/15)
1) Drake – If You’re Reading This, It’s Too Late – 494,746
2) “Fifty Shades of Grey” Soundtrack – 210,431
3) Sam Smith – In The Lonely Hour – 124,224 (After 35 weeks – 1,560,565)
Other Debuts
12) Father John Misty – I Love You HoneyBear – 28,134
13) Ricky Martin – Quien Quiera Escuchar – 24,994
19) Juan Gabriel – Los Duo – 22,313
23) Blackberry Smoke – Holding All The Rose – 19,049
31) Anna Kendrick/Jeremy Jordan – “Last Five Years” Soundtrack – 11,426
POWERBALL
Today’s Jackpot is $50 million.
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