Keely's Korner

FIRST LOOK
http://www.eonline.com/news

ON TELEVISION (WEDNESDAY 2/20/13)
TV ONE: Unsung: Donna Summer (Premiere) at 9pm
DISCOVERY: Weed Country (Premiere) at 10pm
INVESTIGATION DISCOVERY: Stalked: Someone’s Watching (Finale) at 9:30pm
INVESTIGATION DISCOVERY: Dangerous Persuasions (Finale) at 10pm
SYFY: Ghost Mine (Finale) at 10pm
USA: Necessary Roughness (Finale) at 10pm

CBS has cancelled reality series The Job after a second week of poor ratings.  According to Nielsen, The Job delivered a 0.7 rating with A18-49, ranking 5^th among the broadcast networks in the 8p hour as well as 3.4 million viewers overall on Friday night.  This is down from its premiere results the week before of a 0.9 rating and 4.0 million total viewers.  CBS has not announced when the remaining six episodes of The Job will air.  Embassy Row and Sony Pictures Television are behind The Job with Jay Bienstock, Mark Burnett and Michael Davies as executive producers.
(Source: Cynopsis)

Coming this Friday, PBS debuts the 27th season of American Masters with “Sister Rosetta Tharpe: The Godmother of Rock & Roll” at 9p (check local listings).  This premiere ties in with Black History Month and the 40th anniversary of Tharpe’s death.  Following the broadcast, the film will stream online at pbs.org/americanmasters.  American Masters is a production of THIRTEEN; WNET is the parent company of THIRTEEN and WLIW21, New York’s public television stations and operator of NJTV.
(Source: Cynopsis)

The Real Housewives of Orange County, the original series that began the Real Housewives franchise on Bravo Media, is returning to the network’s lineup with an eighth season on Monday, April 1 at 8p.  Evolution Media produces the series for Bravo.
(Source: Cynopsis)

PBS and WGBH released this past Sunday’s finale ratings for the third season of Downton Abbey on MASTERPIECE  CLASSIC.  The concluding episode drew an average audience of 8.2 million total viewers, based on Nielsen Fast National data.  These results were 50% higher than the season two finale with 5.4 million total viewers in February 2012.  Furthermore, SocialGuide reported there were close to 80,000 “Downton Abbey”-related tweets sent out on Sunday, making it the second most-tweeted-about series (broadcast or cable) on television that night.
(Source: Cynopsis)

Former senior adviser to President Obama and senior strategist to his campaign, David Axelrod was hired by NBC News and MSNBC as Senior Political Analyst.  Axelrod will appear on both networks and joins soon after Robert Gibbs, former White House press secretary and adviser to the President’s campaign, was added last week as a Commentator.
(Source: Cynopsis)

SOUNDSCAN (WEEK ENDING 2/17/13)
1) Mumford & Sons – Babel – 184,957 (After 21 weeks – 1,921,852)
2) Various Artists – 2013 Grammy Nominees – 87,561 (After 4 weeks – 190,421)
3) Bruno Mars – Unorthodox Jukebox – 86,327 (After 10 weeks – 816,979)

Other Debuts
13) Bullet For My Valentine – Temper Temper – 43,477
31) Jeremy Camp – Reckless – 22,546
42) Smash Cast – Bombshell – 16,233
55) Ultra Dance 14 – Ultra Dance 14 – 11,146

POWERBALL
Today’s Jackpot is $70 million.

Powerball is played in 41 states.

www.NYLottery.org

FIRST LOOK
http://www.eonline.com/news

ON TELEVISION (WEDNESDAY 2/6/13)
FUSE: Fuse News (Premiere) at 8pm
TV One: Unsung: EPMD (Premiere) at 10pm
TLC: Toddlers & Tiaras (Finale) at 9pm
TLC: Cheer Perfection (Finale) at 10pm
PBS: Life on Fire (Finale) at 10pm

Oxygen Media hosted its Upfront presentation last night in New York, the first network to unveil its plans for the coming season.  The network, still sporting its “Live Out Loud” branding and boasting it is the youngest skewing women’s network, announced it will expand its schedule of original planning from two to three nights each week. Oxygen Media President Jason Klarman admitted at the party that they’d love to increase their original offerings to five nights a week. “But for now we’re just putting one foot in front of the other,” he said.
(Source: Cynopsis)

The upfront also served as a party for the competition series “The Face” and its partnership with ULTA Beauty and starring supermodels Naomi Campbell, Karolina Kurkova, Coco Rocha and photographer Nigel Barker. It’s this show, said Klarman, that’s most emblematic of Oxygen. “The contestants are authentic and larger than life, just like Naomi. These are women who are going for it, which reflects our audience perfectly.”
(Source: Cynopsis)

Oxygen’s returning series to its lineup includes tattoo competition series Best Ink with new host Pete Wentz; I’m Having Their Baby, the network’s  top-rated show of 2012; along with new competition series The Face and its partnership with ULTA Beauty and starring supermodels Naomi Campbell, Karolina Kurkova, Coco Rocha and photographer Nigel Barker.
(Source: Cynopsis)

A cadre of notable celebrities will lend their voices to IFC’s upcoming original animated series, Out There premiering February 22 at 1030p with two back-to-back episodes.  The guests include Selma Blair, Jemaine Clement, Nick Offerman, Ellen Page, Stephen Root, Jason Schwartzman, Sarah Silverman and Christian Slater.  The series is created by Ryan Quincy, the two-time Emmy Award winning animation director and producer of South Park.  20th Century Fox Television produces Out There for IFC.
(Source: Cynopsis)

ABC ordered an untitled half-hour comedy project co-created by comedian/actor John Leguizamo.  The comedy is based on Leguizamo’s life as a husband and father who is now living in the Upper West Side even though he hails from the Bronx.  David Hoberman, Todd Lieberman and Jeff Golenberg are serving as EPs with ABC Studios and Mandeville producing.
(Source” Cynopsis)

A remake of the 1960s drama Ironside has surfaced at NBC.  The drama centers on acerbic police detective Robert T. Ironside who ends up in a wheelchair after being shot.  Blair Underwood is set to star in the reboot.  The one-hour drama is from Michael Caleo who will write and be an EP along with David Semel, Teri Weinberg, John Davis and Jon Fox.  Universal Television, David Entertainment and Yellow Brick Road are all producing.  The original Ironside starred Raymond Burr and ran on NBC from 1967-75.
(Source: Cynopsis)

WE tv, specializing in presenting real stories about real women with diverse voices is developing a docu-series involving songwriter Bruno Mars’ sisters, Jaime Kailani, Tiara, Tahiti and Presley who make up the pop band, The Lylas.  Asylum Entertainment is producing the unscripted series for WE tv which will trace the sisters’ journey from Hawaii to Los Angeles where they live and work together on their debut album.
(Source: Cynopsis)

It’s official… James Caan has been cast in ABC’s Untitled Cullen Brothers comedy pilot from writers Mark and Robb Cullen.  The single-camera project is about Terry Gannon, a recently divorced, single mother who moves back in with her estranged father, a beer-drinking former baseball player.  Caan will play the father.  20th Century Fox TV is producing.
(Source: Cynopsis)

CBS’ new summer series Under the Dome added Aisha Hinds (True Blood) to its cast where she will play Carolyn Hill, an entertainment attorney from L.A. trapped in Chester’s Mill while driving through town with her partner and their daughter on the way to deliver the teen to a camp for troubled youth.  Under the Dome is based on the book by Stephen King.
(Source: Cynopsis)

Aimee Garcia was elevated to a regular cast member on Showtime’s Dexter during the upcoming season eight.  Garcia plays graduate student Jamie who is Dexter’s (Michael C. Hall) nanny for Harrison.
(Source: Cynopsis)

Animal Planet’s Puppy Bowl IX, the network’s cute and fuzzy alternative to the Super Bowl drew its largest audience ever with more than 12.4 million unique total viewers over its 12-hour marathon.  During the Super Bowl blackout in New Orleans, Puppy Bowl IX’s viewership grew to 1.1 million total viewers from 851p-9p.  This represents a +54% increase compared to the delivery in the prior Puppy Bowl IX segment.  The premiere telecast from 3-5p delivered more than 2.6 million total viewers, a +64% growth over last year as well as 1.2 million among A18-49, a +94% increase over the prior year.
(Source: Cynopsis)

On Monday, TNT’s new medical drama Monday Mornings from creator David E. Kelley launched with 1.34 million total viewers at 10p, based on Nielsen Fast Nationals.  The drama decreased 40% from its Dallas lead-in and averaged just 386,000 among A18-49 and 472,000 with A25-54.
(Source: Cynopsis)

SOUNDSCAN (WEEK ENDING 2/3/13)
1) Justin Bieber – Believe Acoustic – 211,051
2) Andrea Bocelli – Passione – 93,830
3) Tegan & Sara – Heartthrob – 49,205

Other Debuts
4) Charlie Wilson – Love, Charlie – 44,175
12) Local Natives – Hummingbird – 26,015
15) Colton Dixon – A Messenger – 22,111
20) Hatebreed – Divinity of Purpose – 17,437
27) Harper/Mussel White – Get Up! – 15,394
38) Grateful Dead – Dave’s Picks Volume 5 – 11,461

POWERBALL
Today’s Jackpot is $208 million.

Powerball is played in 41 states.

www.NYLottery.org

FIRST LOOK
http://www.eonline.com/news

ON TELEVISION (WEDNESDAY 1/30/13)
SPIKE: Auction Hunters (Premiere) at 9pm
SPIKE: Savage Family Diggers (Premiere) at 10pm
FX: The Americans (Premiere) at 10pm
TV ONE: Unsung: Midnight Star (Premiere) at 10pm

Across the board CBS renewed four of its daytime series yesterday handing commitments to The Bold and the Beautiful, The Talk, The Price Is Right and Let’s Make a Deal for the 2013-14 season.  The Young and the Restless was previously renewed.
(Source: Cynopsis)

Oxygen Media’s upcoming new supermodel competition series The Face will debut on Oxygen as well as NBCUniversal sister networks Bravo and Style on February 12 at 9p.  The seven-episode series is produced by Shine America and will find the newest face of ULTA Beauty with fashion icons Naomi Campbell, Karolina Kurkova and Coco Rocha as supermodel coaches.  Photographer and personality Nigel Barker will serve as host.  Prior to the series launch, the one-hour special The Face: The Fight to Make The Final 12 is available via VOD, Oxygen.com, Hulu.com, iTunes and Oxygen Mobile starting as of yesterday and will premiere on the network February 5 at 9p.
(Source: Cynopsis)

The Sunday lineup of shows on SHOWTIME including Shameless, House of Lies and Californication was picked up for new seasons in 2014.  Currently, all three series are pacing above their previous seasons across platforms.  Shameless is up by +22% and averaging 5.4 million weekly viewers across platforms.  Season two of House of Lies is averaging 3.2 million weekly viewers across platforms, up +10% from its first season.  The sixth season of Californication is averaging 3.1 million weekly viewers, up +21% versus the fifth season.  Production on the series’ new seasons will begin in Los Angeles later this year.  Shameless is produced by Bonanza Productions, Inc. in association with John Wells Productions and Warner Bros. Television and House of Lies is produced by SHOWTIME.
(Source: Cynopsis)

Monday’s season five premiere of RuPaul’s Drag Race on Logo at 9p averaged a 0.8 rating with A18-49, a +33% bump over Logo’s previous top-rated season premiere (the fourth season debut of RuPaul’s Drag Race) and is now the highest-rated season premiere in Logo’s history.  The 90-minute premiere episode also attracted 565,000 total viewers.  In addition the opening of companion series Untucked: RuPaul’s Drag Race delivered more than 1.3 million viewers.
(Source: Cynopsis)

The Charlize Theron-produced drama Hatfields & McCoys was approved to pilot by NBC.  Set in present-day Pittsburgh, the drama opens with a death that reignites the feud between two families, the blue-collar McCoys and the wealthy, powerful Hatfields.  Theron will be an EP along with A.J. Dix, Dawn Olmstead and Beau Flynn; John Glenn is on board to write the pilot.  ABC Studios is producing where Theron has an overall deal, in addition to Theron’s Denver & Delilah shingle, Tower Hill, Beau Flynn Productions and Grady Girl.
(Source: Cynopsis)

Also for NBC, the network okayed an Alice in Wonderland sequel project giving a pilot order to Wonderland.  The project is a follow-up to Lewis Carroll’s classic novel though will focus on a new character named Clara.  Whit Anderson will write the pilot and CSI creator Anthony Zuiker will serve as EP in addition to Matt Weinberg, JoAnn Alfano and Margaret Riley.
(Source: Cynopsis)

Spike TV has a new series on the docket featuring magician Criss Angel.  The 11-episode untitled series will take Angel’s magic and illusions “to the next level” featuring demonstrations of the creative process behind the magic.  Angel’s former series Mindfreak ran on A&E Network for six seasons and ended in 2010.
(Source: Cynopsis)

Former The Daily Show veteran Rob Corddry was cast in the starring role of ABC’s pilot Spy.  The project is based on a British comedy series about a well-intentioned father of a highly intelligent son who inadvertently takes a job at the secret service to prove he is a worthy father.  The single-camera comedy is from Simeon Goulden, the creator of the UK version.  Jimmy Mulville will serve as EP for his Hat Trick Productions.
(Source: Cynopsis)

ABC News President Ben Sherwood announced David Muir is joining Elizabeth Vargas to Co-Anchor 20/20.  David will continue to anchor World News on the weekends and to be a substitute for Diane Sawyer as well as reporting during the week.  In addition, Chris Cuomo is departing ABC News and joining CNN.
(Source: Cynopsis)

For CNN, Chris Cuomo will host a new morning show and CNN Worldwide President Jeff Zucker said in a statement that Chris will “have a major role in a new CNN morning show and across the network, anchoring and reporting on major events.”  Chris’s hire follows that of Jake Tapper, an ABC News veteran who will host an afternoon show on CNN.  Pundits James Carville and his wife Mary Matalin as well as Erik Erickson all departed from CNN in addition to Managing Editor Mark Whitaker.
(Source: Cynopsis)

SOUNDSCAN (WEEK ENDING 1/27/13)
1) Gary Allan – Set You Free – 106,109
2) Lumineers – Lumineers – 49,593 (After 43 weeks – 868,848)
3) Pitch Perfect Soundtrack – 44,246 (After 18 weeks – 398,402)

Other Debuts
4) Various Artists – 2013 Grammy Nominees – 41,250
11) Randy Houser – How Country Feels – 24,091
18) Bad Religion – True North – 18,030
22) Various Artists – 12-12-12 The Concert For Sandy – 17,134
35) Casting Crowns – Acoustic Sessions: Volume
43) Kurt Carr – Bless This House – 8,957
44) Trapt – Reborn – 8,696
45) Aaron Neville – My True Story – 8,678

POWERBALL
Today’s Jackpot is $151 million.

Powerball is played in 41 states.

www.NYLottery.org

FIRST LOOK
http://www.eonline.com/news

ON TELEVISION (WEDNESDAY 1/23/13)
GOLF: Feherty Live (Premiere) at 8pm
STYLE: Big Rich Atlanta (Premiere) at 8pm
STYLE: Kimora: House of Fab (Premiere) at 9pm
NAT. GEO.: Lords of War (Premiere) at 9pm
TV ONE: Unsung: Isaac Hayes (Premiere) at 10pm
USA: Necessary Roughness (Premiere) at 10pm
FX: American Horror Story (Finale) at 10pm

CMT slots January 26 at 9p for the series premiere of the third season of My Big Redneck Vacation, with Tom Arnold returning to host the 13 episodes. The season follows the Clampets on a road trip to places including Miami, Washington D.C. and Mount Rushmore.
(Source: Cynopsis)

ABC is yanking Don’t Trust the B in Apt. 23 from its Tuesday lineup with back-to-back episodes of Happy Endings slated to replace it beginning January 29, according to published reports. The network still has eight episodes of Don’t Trust the B in Apt. 23 in the can, but it’s not clear if they will run, The Hollywood Reporter says.
(Source: Cynopsis)

With Fringe having finished its run on Fox, Science Channel will now air episodes of the series on Friday nights in an 8p to 11p block starting January 25 that will also include experts examining the science topics featured in the show, such as time travel and dream sharing.
(Source: Cynopsis)

CMT lands Journey and Rascal Flatts for its Super Bowl XLVII CMT Crossroads concert at 11p on February 2, the night before the Super Bowl.
(Source: Cynopsis)

TV One renews its popular reality series R&B Divas for a second season with production slated to begin in Atlanta this month. The second season will reunite the original cast for eight more episodes airing in Spring 2013. The network also is spinning off a second series dubbed R&B Divas: LA, which will follow five R&B performers in Los Angeles in an eight-episode order for third quarter of 2013. TV One said the first season averaged a 0.63 rating for 25 to 54 with 395,000 viewers in that demo. ThinkFactory Media produces the show.
(Source: Cynopsis)

SOUNDSCAN (WEEK ENDING1/20/13)
1) A$AP Rocky – Long.Live.A$AP – 138,503
2) Kidz Bop Kids – Kidz Bop 23 – 78,379
3) Pitch Perfect Soundtrack – 44,677

Other Debuts
21) Tenors – Lead With Your Heart – 16,304
26) Yo La Tengo – Fade – 14,488
32) Katie Armiger – Fall Into Me – 11,666
34) The Civil Wars – Unplugged on VH1 – 10,937
39) Kim Walker-Smith – Still Believe – 10,144
62) Teena Marie – Beautiful – 6,216

POWERBALL
Today’s Jackpot is $110 million.

Powerball is played in 41 states.

www.NYLottery.org

FIRST LOOK
http://www.eonline.com/news

ON TELEVISION (WEDNESDAY 1/16/13)
FOX: American Idol (Part 1) (Premiere) at 8pm
SYFY: Ghost Hunters (Premiere) at 9pm
SYFY: Ghost Mine (Premiere) at 10pm
FOOD: Bobby’s Dinner Battle (Premiere) at 10pm
INVESTIGATION DISCOVERY: Dangerous Persuasions (Premiere) at 10pm
COMEDY CENTRAL: Workaholics (Premiere) at 10pm
COMEDY CENTRAL: Kroll Show (Premiere) at 10:30pm

ABC has decided to no longer air original episodes of sitcoms Happy Endings and Don’t Trust the B—- in Apartment 23 on Sundays at 10p and 1030p respectively.  The network will replace the comedies by an encore of Shark Tank.  Both sitcoms will continue to air on Tuesdays at 9p and 930p.
(Source: Cynopsis)

A third season of The Killing is in store after all on AMC.  Fox Television Studios (FTVS) and AMC made a new deal to renew the series for a third season.  The deal also has Veena Sud back as executive producer, writer and showrunner.  Actors Mireille Enos (Sarah Linden) and Joel Kinnaman (Stephen Holder) are returning as well.  The third season will focus on a new case which will be resolved over the course of 12 episodes.  Production on the new season begins February 25 in Vancouver.  The Killing is produced by Fox Television Studios and is executive produced by Mikkel Bondesen for Bondesen Productions; Kristen Campo also serves as co-executive producer.
(Source: Cynopsis)

Travel Channel approved a new original series Tailgate Takeover hosted by food expert Adam Richman that goes to sporting events, concerts, festivals and fairs around the country anywhere tailgating happens.  The series will have 13 half-hour episodes and is slated to premiere this summer.  The network will give viewers a preview of the series with the special Super Bowl Tailgate Takeover airing on January 30 at 9p.  Both the series and the special are produced by Sharp Entertainment.
(Source: Cynopsis)

Bridal-themed series Something Borrowed, Something New premieres on TLC starting February 8 at 10p.  This series is TLC’s latest addition for its BrideDay lineup with 12 half-hour episodes hosted by designer Kelly Nishimoto and stylist Sam Saboura.  In each episode, brides are looking for the perfect dress and have to choose between a new designer gown and a fashionably reimagined heirloom dress.  Something Borrowed, Something New is produced by Trium Entertainment.
(Source: Cynopsis)

The exclusive Lance Armstrong interview conducted by Oprah Winfrey has expanded to air over two nights on OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network. Oprah and Lance Armstrong: The Worldwide Exclusive will air this Thursday from 9-1030p and Friday at 9p.  The interview will be simultaneously streamed live worldwide both nights via Oprah.com.
(Source: Cynopsis)

Jessica Simpson will be starring in a new comedy as NBC ordered a pilot presentation for a scripted half-hour project.  The project is described as a Curb Your Enthusiasm-like venture inspired on Simpson’s real life.  Electus and Universal Television will produce the multi-camera project.  Simpson and Electus head Ben Silverman are also involved in NBC’s Fashion Star which is back for a second season starting March 8.
(Source: Cynopsis)

Clear Channel Media and Entertainment made an exclusive long-term agreement with Steve Harvey to renew and expand his relationship with the company.  The deal will see Harvey continue in his current role as host of The Steve Harvey Morning Show, a nationally syndicated radio show by Premiere Networks on an estimated 70 radio stations in the US that reaches nearly 6.0 million weekly listeners.  Harvey will further work with Clear Channel Media and Entertainment on a variety of joint projects and be a spokesperson for the company.
(Source: Cynopsis)

SOUNDSCAN (WEEK ENDING 1/13/13)
1) Chris Tomlin – Burning Lights – 72,567
2) Hollywood Undead – Notes From The Underground – 52,685
3) Les Miserables Soundtrack – 51,528 (After 4 weeks – 322,366)

Other Debuts
7) Black Veil Brides – Wretched And Divine – 42,406
9) Dropkick Murphys – Signed & Sealed in Blood – 33,223
34) Conor Maynard – Contrast – 12,355
58) Twenty One Pilots – Vessel – 6,740

POWERBALL
Today’s Jackpot is $90 million.

Powerball is played in 41 states.

www.NYLottery.org

FIRST LOOK
http://www.eonline.com/news

ON TELEVISION (WEDNESDAY 1/2/13)
HGTV: Cousins on Call (Premiere) at 8pm
COOKING: Not My Mama’s Meals (Premiere) at 9pm
OWN: Super Saver Showdown (Premiere) at 9pm
PBS: Life on Fire (Premiere) at 10pm

SOUNDSCAN (WEEK ENDING 12/30/12)
1) Taylor Swift – Red – 241,202 (After 10 weeks – 3,107,249)
2) Les Miserables Soundtrack – 135,670 (After 2 weeks – 178,357)
3) One Direction – Take Me Home – 120,313 (After 7 weeks – 1,339,652)

POWERBALL
Today’s Jackpot is $50 million.

Powerball is played in 41 states.

www.NYLottery.org

FIRST LOOK
http://www.eonline.com/news

ON TELEVISION (WEDNESDAY 12/26/12)
CBS: The 35th Annual Kennedy Center Honors at 9pm

SOUNDSCAN (WEEK ENDING 12/23/12)
1) Taylor Swift – Red – 275,508 (After 9 weeks – 2,866,047)
2) T.I. – Trouble Man: Heavy Is The Head -178,672
3) Bruno Mars – Unorthodox Jukebox – 177,514 (After 2 weeks – 370,024)

Other Debuts
8 ) Various Artists – 12-12-12 The Concert For Sandy – 81,860
22) Blink-182 – Dogs Eating Dogs EP – 56,574
27) Chief Keef – Finally rich – 50,232
31) Les Miserables Soundtrack – 42,687

POWERBALL
Today’s Jackpot is $50 million.

Powerball is played in 41 states.

www.NYLottery.org

FIRST LOOK
http://www.eonline.com/news

ON TELEVISION (WEDNESDAY 12/19/12)
CBS: A Home For The Holidays with Rascal Flatts at 8pm
NBC: The 2012 Miss Universe Competition at 8pm
VH1: 40 Greatest Hip-Hop Songs of the 90’s (Hour 1) (Premiere) at 9pm
VH1: 40 Greatest Hip-Hop Songs of the 90’s (Hour 2) (Premiere) at 10pm
ABC: The Year with Katie Couric at 9:30pm
TRUTV: Full Throttle Saloon (Premiere) at 9pm
TRUTV: Black Gold (Premiere) at 10pm
TLC: Toddlers & Tiaras (Premiere) at 9pm
TLC: Cheer Perfection (Premiere) at 10pm
BRAVO: Star-Ups: Silicon Valley (Finale) at 7pm
FOX: The X Factor (Season Finale, Part 1) – at 8pm
HGTV: Buying And Selling (Finale) at 9pm
HISTORY: Invention USA (Finale) at 10pm
MTV: The Challenge: Battle of the Seasons (Finale) at 10pm

NBC ordered a new eight-episode, one-hour game show series Hollywood Game Night.  The series is from Will & Grace’s Sean Hayes and is based on his real-life game nights with celebrities.  The premise of the show will have two contestants playing games with celebrities to compete for a cash prize.  Hollywood Game Night is produced by Hazy Mills Productions, Mission Control Media and Universal Television.  Hayes, Todd Milliner, Michael Agbabian and Dwight D. Smith will all serve as executive producers.
(Source: Cynopsis)

Yesterday NBC reported its chief foreign correspondent Richard Engel and his network production team were freed from captors in Syria.  Engel and his team had been abducted and taken prisoner five days earlier soon after they crossed the border into Syria from Turkey.  NBC News released this statement yesterday: “After being kidnapped and held for five days inside Syria by an unknown group, NBC News Chief Foreign Correspondent Richard Engel and his production crew members have been freed unharmed. We are pleased to report they are safely out of the country.”
(Source: Cynopsis)

Nielsen revealed yesterday it will acquire its research rival Arbitron Inc. in a deal worth $1.26 billion.  In the past, Arbitron competed against Nielsen in providing local television ratings.  In more recent years, however Arbitron has concentrated on radio ratings and measuring out-of-home media consumption.
(Source: Cynopsis)

HBO’s fantasy series Game of Thrones is super-sizing the third season.  Showrunners David Benioff and Dan Weiss are adapting the largest of the Song of Ice and Fire novel by author George R.R. Martin, A Storm of Swords and as a result are producing slightly longer episodes for HBO.  The next season will still have 10 episodes and each one will clock in at 56- or 57-minutes in length versus the 52-minute episodes from last season.  Game of Thrones premieres season three on March 31 on HBO with the season two out on DVD on February 19.
(Source: Cynopsis)

Lifetime returns Project Runway for an 11th season with the series’ first-ever Teams Edition, premiering January 24 at 9p.  Host and judge Heidi Klum is back along with Marie Claire’s Fashion Director Nina Garcia and featured judge, fashion designer Zac Posen.  Tim Gunn will also return as mentor to the designers and Michael Kors will be the finale guest judge.  The 11th season will also feature guest judges from film, television and music including Bette Midler, Susan Sarandon, Miranda Lambert, John Legend, Joan and Melissa Rivers, Emmy Rossum, Kristin Davis, Jordana Brewster and designers Rachel Roy, Tracy Reese, Chris Benz and Project Runway winner Christian Siriano.  Lifetime will also air the special Road to the Runway prior to the premiere at 8p which serves as an introduction to the new competing designers.
(Source: Cynopsis)

This holiday season BET airs the Network World Premiere of Alex Haley’s epic miniseries Roots (1977) beginning this Friday at 8p.  All six parts of Roots, celebrating its 35th anniversary, will air from Friday night through this Sunday, December 23.  BET will continue the story with Roots: The Gift (1988) on December 24 at 11p; Roots: The Next Generations (1979) on December 25 at 8a; and Alex Haley’s Queen (1993) on December 26 at 8am.
(Source: Cynopsis)

SOUNDSCAN (WEEK ENDING 12/16/12)
1) Taylor Swift – Red – 207,998 (After 8 weeks – 2,590,539)
2) Bruno Mars – Unorthodox Jukebox – 192,210
3) One Direction – Take Me Home – 127,411 (After 5 weeks – 1,042,030)

Other Debuts 
5) Game – Jesus Piece – 86,246
12) Green Day – Tre! – 58,392
13) Music of Nashville – Soundtrack – 55,896
19) Glee Cast – Vol. 3-Glee: The Music –Christmas Album – 44,569
29) The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Soundtrack – 35,581
33) Big Boi – Vicious Lies & Dangerous Rumors – 30,013
37) Jenni Rivera – La Misma Gran Senora – 27,185
49) Lifehouse – Almeria – 17,152
58) Jenni Rivera – Joyas Prestadas (Pop Version) – 13,970
63) Jenni Rivera – Joyas Prestadas (Banda Version) – 13,209

POWERBALL
Saturday’s Jackpot is $50 million.

Powerball is played in 41 states.

www.NYLottery.org