ABC
ANNOUNCES EARLY RENEWAL OF "ROOKIE BLUE"
New York, N.Y.. July 12th,
2010.
ABC and
Canwest jointly announced today the renewal of this summer's No. 1 new
scripted series, "Rookie Blue." The drama was renewed for a
second season just three weeks following its highly rated premiere on
ABC.
"Rookie Blue" stands as the most-watched television show in
summer's Thursday's 9:00 p.m. hour. Sparked by this positive viewer
response to the series, the second season is currently in development
and will move into production in Toronto later this summer.
"We're very pleased that the show has connected with viewers,
especially considering the challenge of finding an audience in the
summer, and are excited to pick it up for a second season," said
Quinn Taylor, senior vice president, Movies, Miniseries and
Acquisitions, ABC Entertainment Group.
"We are so proud of 'Rookie Blue's' amazing success and are
thrilled to announce its renewal alongside ABC," said Barbara
Williams, executive vice-president of Content, Canwest Broadcasting.
"This home grown series has delivered record-setting audiences,
and we're looking forward to giving fans even more of these fresh
characters and gripping storylines in Season Two."
"The creative troika of Tassie, David and Ilana is the secret
behind the out-of-the-gate success of 'Rookie Blue,' " said
Noreen Halpern, president of Dramatic Programming, E1 Television.
"They tell heartfelt, immersive human stories burnished with a
sexy, glossy pop sheen. We're thrilled that the stars seem to have
aligned on this project, and that Canwest and ABC have been such
incredible partners."
For ABC, the new series ranks second on Thursday night among the
broadcast networks to Fox's time slot veteran, "So You Think You
Can Dance," among young adults (AD18-34/AD18-49). In Adults
18-49, "Rookie Blue's" premiere telecast stands as TV's
top-rated summer scripted series debut in over a year and as ABC's
highest in nearly six years - since 5/26/09 and 7/18/04, respectively.
"Rookie Blue" is producing year-to-year gains for ABC in the
hour of 4.2 million viewers and 125% in Adults 18-49 from the Net's
Summer '09 averages in the time slot. In Canada "Rookie
Blue" was also the highest-rated premiere for a Canadian drama
series on any network in that country in over a decade.
"Rookie Blue" was developed by Thump Inc. and produced in
partnership with leading indie studio and distributor E1
Entertainment. The series is executive-produced by award-winning
Tassie Cameron ("Flashpoint"), Ilana Frank ("The
Eleventh Hour," "Would Be Kings"), Noreen Halpern
("Hung," "Haven"), John Morayniss
("Hung," "Haven") and David Wellington ("The
Eleventh Hour," "Would Be Kings").
"Rookie Blue" follows the lives of five inexperienced
rookies thrown into the world of big city policing. The series
examines the trials and triumphs, competition and camaraderie of this
rookie family which is learning that no amount of training can prepare
them for this job - or for life.
Shot entirely on location in Toronto, Rookie Blue features Missy
Peregrym ("Reaper," "Heroes"), Gregory Smith
("Everwood"), Charlotte Sullivan ("M.V.P."), Enuka
Okuma ("24") and Travis Milne ("My Green House").
Rounding out the cast is Ben Bass ("Would Be Kings"), Eric
Johnson ("Millville"), Matt Gordon
("Rent-A-Goalie"), Noam Jenkins ("Flashpoint") and
Melanie Nicholls King ("The Wire").
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THE
CAST OF "COMMUNITY" GETS SCHOOLED BY BETTY WHITE
Universal
City, Ca., July 14th, 2010.
Legendary and
multiple Emmy Award winner Betty White will guest-star in the season
premiere of NBC's hit comedy "Community," which airs
Thursdays (8:00-8:30 p.m.) this fall.
The six-time Emmy winner and cultural icon will play professor June
Bauer, an esteemed, but slightly unhinged anthropology professor.
White was recently nominated for another Emmy for her work as host of
a "Saturday Night Live" program in May.
White is best known for her performance as Rose Nylund on NBC's
"The Golden Girls," the beloved comedy series that aired
from 1985 to 1992. Previously, she co-starred as Sue Ann Nivens in the
classic comedy series "The Mary Tyler Moore Show."
In January, White was the proud recipient of the 2010 SAG Lifetime
Achievement Award. White appeared in the 2009 romantic-comedy feature
film "The Proposal," alongside Ryan Reynolds and Oscar
winner Sandra Bullock, and can be seen again this fall in the film
"You Again," starring Kristin Bell.
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FOX
ANNOUNCES FALL PREMIERE DATES FOR THE 2010-2011 SEASON
Los
Angeles, Ca., July 13th, 2010.
FOX has set
the fall premiere dates for its new and returning series. The
2010-2011 season on FOX will kick off with a special premiere week
beginning Monday, Sept. 20. HOUSE and the Princeton Plainsboro
team return for a seventh season Monday, Sept. 20 (8:00-9:00 PM
ET/PT) followed by the series premiere of the sophisticated and
provocative drama LONE STAR (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT). This fall, Tuesdays
feature a night of pitch-perfect comedy beginning Sept. 21 with
the highly anticipated return of GLEE (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT) and the
series premieres of new family comedy RAISING HOPE (9:00-9:30 PM
ET/PT) and new romantic comedy RUNNING WILDE (9:30-10:00 PM ET/PT)
starring Will Arnett and Keri Russell. On Wednesday, Sept. 22,
things heat up for Gordon Ramsay in the two-hour premiere of the
eighth season of HELL’S KITCHEN (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT). The thrill is
on Thursdays when BONES (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT) and FRINGE
(9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) return beginning Sept. 23.
Action-packed
weekends kick off Fridays with the return of HUMAN TARGET
(8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT) and the time period premiere of THE GOOD GUYS
(9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on Sept. 24. Saturdays are still
the most arresting night of television with the season premieres of
COPS (8:00-8:30 and 8:30-9:00 PM ET/PT) – celebrating its milestone
800th episode – and AMERICA’S MOST WANTED (9:00-10:00
PM ET/PT) on Sept. 11. Sundays are side-splittingly
funny when ANIMATION DOMINATION makes its return Sept. 26 with
the season premieres of THE SIMPSONS (8:00-8:30 PM ET/PT), THE
CLEVELAND SHOW (8:30-9:00 PM ET/PT) and a one-hour special installment
of FAMILY GUY (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT). AMERICAN DAD will mark its
milestone 100th episode with its season premiere Sunday,
Oct. 3 (9:30-10:00 PM ET/PT). In addition, LIE TO ME continues to
reveal the truth Wednesday, Nov. 10 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT).
Premieres
of new and returning series are listed below in chronological order.
Saturday,
Sept. 11
8:00-8:30
PM ET/PT
COPS (Season Premiere, 800th Episode)
8:30-9:00
PM ET/PT
COPS (Encore Episode)
9:00-10:00
PM ET/PT
AMERICA’S MOST WANTED (Season Premiere)
Monday,
Sept. 20
8:00-9:00
PM ET/PT
HOUSE (Season Premiere)
9:00-10:00
PM ET/PT
LONE STAR (Series Premiere)
Tuesday,
Sept. 21
8:00-9:00
PM ET/PT
GLEE (Season Premiere)
9:00-9:30
PM ET/PT
RAISING HOPE (Series Premiere)
9:30-10:00
PM ET/PT
RUNNING WILDE (Series Premiere)
Wednesday,
Sept. 22
8:00-10:00
PM ET/PT
HELL’S KITCHEN (2-Hour Season Premiere)
Thursday,
Sept. 23
8:00-9:00
PM ET/PT
BONES (Season Premiere)
9:00-10:00
PM ET/PT
FRINGE (Season Premiere)
Friday,
Sept. 24
8:00-9:00
PM ET/PT
HUMAN TARGET (Season Premiere)
9:00-10:00
PM ET/PT
THE GOOD GUYS (Fall Premiere)
Saturday,
Sept. 25
8:00-8:30
PM ET/PT
COPS (All-New Episode)
8:30-9:00
PM ET/PT
COPS (Encore Episode)
9:00-10:00
PM ET/PT
AMERICA’S MOST WANTED (All-New Episode)
11:00
PM-Midnight ET/PT
LONE STAR (Encore Episode, Time Period Premiere)
Midnight-12:30
AM ET/PT
RUNNING WILDE (Encore Episode, Time Period Premiere)
Sunday,
Sept. 26
8:00-8:30
PM ET/PT
THE SIMPSONS (Season Premiere)
8:30-9:00
PM ET/PT
THE CLEVELAND SHOW (Season Premiere)
9:00-10:00
PM ET/PT
FAMILY GUY (1-Hour Season Premiere)
Sunday,
Oct. 3
8:00-8:30
PM ET/PT
THE SIMPSONS (All-New Episode)
8:30-9:00
PM ET/PT
THE CLEVELAND SHOW (All-New Episode)
9:00-9:30
PM ET/PT
FAMILY GUY (All-New Episode)
9:30-10:00
PM ET/PT
AMERICAN DAD (Season Premiere, 100th Episode)
Wednesday,
Nov. 10
8:00-9:00
PM ET/PT
LIE TO ME (Season Premiere)
9:00-10:00
PM ET/PT
HELL’S KITCHEN (Time Period Premiere)
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FORMER
CONTESTANTS FROM “THE BIGGEST LOSER” REUNITE FOR SAN FRANCISCO
TRIATHLON AT TREASURE ISLAND
Universal
City, Ca., July 8th, 2010.
Nearly
fifty past season contestants from all nine seasons of NBC’s hit
series “The Biggest Loser” will show America how far they’ve
come this weekend when they reunite in San Francisco July 9-11 to
participate in the San Francisco Triathlon at Treasure Island as well
as new 5K and 10K fun runs. Season ten of “The Biggest
Loser” will return to NBC in the fall.
Michael Ventrella, the series’ most recent winner, will participate
in a relay team for the triathlon. He began season nine as the
heaviest contestant in the series’ history at 526 lbs. and went on
to lose 264 lbs., breaking the record for the most weight lost by any
contestant in the history of the show. Ventrella will be joined
by 15 other season nine contestants, including runner-up Ashley
Johnston and third-place finalist Daris George, as well as popular
father-daughter team O’Neal and SunShine Hampton.
Also participating in the events will be season two winner Matt Hoover
and his wife and fellow teammate from that season -- Suzy Preston
Hoover, season five’s brother team Mark and Jay Kruger, season six
contestant Coleen Skeabeck, season seven’s Tara Costa and Sione Fa,
season eight player Shay Sorrells, and Daniel Wright, the only
contestant to appear on the show for two seasons (seasons seven and
eight).
“We are so proud of all ‘The Biggest Loser’ contestants who
continue to inspire people with their commitment to live a healthy
lifestyle long after their seasons have ended,” said Paul Telegdy,
executive vice president of alternative programming for NBC and
Universal Media Studios. “It’s impressive to see such a huge
turnout of contestants who have used their experience on the show to
positively re-define how they live their lives.”
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SELA
WARD JOINS THE CAST OF "CSI: NY"
Los
Angeles, Ca., July 13th, 2010.
Sela Ward
will join the cast of CSI: NY as an experienced investigator from
Washington, D.C., whose work is driven by her empathy for the victim.
Ward will make her first appearance in the season premiere when the
show moves to Fridays at 9:00 PM this fall.
"We
are delighted to have Sela joining CSI: NY," said Executive
Producer Pam Veasey. "With the exciting stories planned for
Season 7, she'll be a dynamic addition to the cast and the team."
"I
am thrilled to be working with Gary and this terrific group of
people," said Ward. "I'm a huge fan."
Ward won an Emmy for
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series in 1994 and 2000 for her
roles on "Sisters" and "Once and Again," also
winning a Golden Globe for the latter role in 2001. Her other
television credits include a recurring role on "House," and
the telefilms "Suburban Madness" and "Almost Golden:
The Jessica Savitch Story." Her film credits include
"The Guardian," "The Day After Tomorrow" and
"The Fugitive".
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ABC
ANNOUNCES CAST FOR SEASON TWO OF "SHAQ VS"
Los
Angeles, Ca., July 14th, 2010.
Shaquille O'Neal Will Take on Justin Bieber, Dale Earnhardt
Jr., Charles Barkley, Rachael Ray, Tyson Gay, Sugar Shane Mosley, Penn
& Teller, Joey Chestnut, Kavya Shivashankar and More During Second
Season of Reality Competition Series
ABC and Media Rights Capital today announced the challengers who will
take on Shaquille O'Neal in the second season of "Shaq VS,"
a reality competition series starring the NBA superstar. This season
O'Neal will not only use his athletic prowess to challenge
high-profile athletes, but also his energy and charisma to compete
beyond the athletic arena in non-sports challenges. Season Two of
"Shaq VS" will debut TUESDAY, AUGUST 3 (9:00-10:00 p.m., ET)
on the ABC Television Network.
Over the course of six episodes, O'Neal will race Dale Earnhardt Jr.
at Concord Speedway; take on pop singing sensation Justin Bieber in
Orlando; challenge daytime host and author Rachael Ray to a cook-off
in the Big Apple; team up with NBA All-Star Dwight Howard of the
Orlando Magic, Chris Johnson of the Tennessee Titans and DeSean
Jackson of the Philadelphia Eagles to outrun Tyson Gay in a 200-meter
relay race; tee off with Charles Barkley on The St. Regis Monarch
Beach golf links; attempt to defy illusionists and comedians Penn
& Teller at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino; partake in a
spelling bee against Scripps National Champion Kavya Shivashankar; box
against Sugar Shane Mosley in an exhibition match at Caesars Palace in
Vegas; challenge Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Champion Joey Chestnut
outside Serendipity 3 in Las Vegas, and more.
"I'm out to prove that I can compete beyond athletics," said
O'Neal. "I've spent all year sharpening my skills and I want to
win. There's no challenge bigger than me."
The series closely follows Shaq and his adversaries throughout the
rigorous training process and the pre-game hype leading up to every
challenge. Each week Shaq will compete in an athletic challenge or a
non-sports competition, with some episodes featuring Shaq taking on
two challengers. To level the playing field, O'Neal will negotiate a
handicap with his opponent and train with a coach prior to the
challenge.
In the first season, O'Neal competed against World Champion Michael
Phelps in swimming; Super Bowl-winning Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback
Ben Roethlisberger in football; championship fighter Oscar de la Hoya
in boxing; two-time National League MVP and St. Louis Cardinals first
baseman Albert Pujols in baseball; and two-time Olympic gold medalists
Kerri Walsh and Misty May-Treanor in beach volleyball, with the help
of U.S. Open, Australian Open and Wimbledon champion Serena Williams.
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UPDATED
SCHEDULE FOR GMA 2010 SUMMER CONCERT SERIES
New
York, N.Y., July 13th, 2010.
Every Friday this summer, music's biggest names have been
rocking out as part of "Good Morning America's" Summer
Concert Series at Rumsey Playfield in Central Park. This Friday, July
16, "GMA" will feature the cast of "American
Idiot." The Broadway hit will perform in place of the previously
scheduled GO-GOs, who canceled their tour following a band member's
injury. The full, updated schedule follows.
July 16: Broadway's "American Idiot"
July 23: Sheryl Crow
July 30: Black Eyed Peas
August 6: John Legend and the Roots
August13: Jonas Brothers and Demi Lovato, "Camp
Rock 2"
August 20: Rihanna
August 27: Lady Antebellum
Previous performances have included the Jonas Brothers and Demi Lovato,
Sugarland, Diddy-Dirty Money, Norah Jones and Sarah McLachlan, Miley
Cyrus and Bret Michaels, Alicia Keys, Mary J. Blige and American
Idol's Top 10.
The above Summer Concert Series schedule is sponsored by John Frieda(r)
Frizz-Ease(r) Hair Care.
Viewers interested in joining "GMA" in Central Park are
encouraged to arrive at Rumsey Playfield via the 72nd Street entrance
on Fifth Avenue at 6:00 a.m. when the park opens to the public. For
more information on how to attend a summer concert in Central Park,
click on the "GMA" website at www.abcnews.com <file://www.abcnews.com>
All concerts are free and open to the public and will take place live
during "Good Morning America," Fridays from 7:00-9:00 a.m.,
ET. Additional dates and acts will be announced throughout the summer.
The Emmy Award-winning morning news program, featuring the anchor team
of Robin Roberts, George Stephanopoulos, Sam Champion and Juju Chang,
airs live Monday through Friday from 7:00-9:00 a.m., ET on the ABC
Television Network. Jim Murphy is the senior executive producer and
Tom Cibrowski is the executive producer of ABC's "Good Morning
America." Karen Rhee is the senior entertainment producer in
charge of the concert series.
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THE
"LATE SHOW" TOP TEN "Signs You've Purchased a Bad
iPhone"
As presented on the Tuesday,
July 13 broadcast
10.
To make a call, you have to insert a quarter.
9.
Automatically answers every call with a computerized, "Yello!"
8.
Operates on 20 "D" batteries.
7.
Pre-loaded with naked photos of Steve Jobs.
6.
You keep getting anonymous texts reading, "iPhone kill you."
5.
"Apple store" looks suspiciously like some dude's trunk.
4.
Looks, smells and tastes like a Pop-Tart.
3.
There's no later when washing your cornea (Oh, I'm sorry, that's a
sign you've purchased a bad eye foam).
2.
You check your email and it shocks your nuts.
1.
Only accepts calls from Mel Gibson.
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THE
"LATE SHOW" TOP TEN "Mel Gibson Excuses"
As presented on the Monday,
July 12 broadcast
10.
"It was the vodka talking..."
9.
"Driven insane by World Cup vuvuzelas."
8.
"Ate some bad kangaroo meat."
7.
"Believe me, the remarks were much less offensive in their
original Aramaic."
6.
"Hey any publicity's good publicity, right? Hello?
Anyone?"
5.
"Normally I drink decaf."
4.
"Uh, wrong number?"
3.
"It was great Frank Caliendo - that guy can imitate anyone!"
2.
"Thought she was one of them Russian spies."
1.
"Wanted to show the Jews I'm an equal-opportunity offender."
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