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News, scoops, reviews and more from TV land.
'Dallas' will be back for a second season
Photo credit: TNT/Zade Rosenthal
"Dallas,“ TNT's remake of the classic soap, just got picked up for a second season. This is not even remotely a surprise, the show is averaging nearly 7 million viewers! “Dallas" has been a big success for TNT so far — in fact, programming chief Michael Wright says so: “Dallas has been a success for us on every level . . ."
"Rizzoli and Isles" was picked up for a 4th season.
Charlie Sheen's 'Anger Management' gets big audience
Photo credit: AP
I guess he's winning now, duh.
Charlie Sheen's “Anger Management " was seen by nearly 6 million viewers last night -- both episodes! -- which makes it, per FX, the most-viewed new cable comedy ever. The details to follow, but one may add here that this was fully expected: Sheen is back! And the rubbernecks turned out to watch.
The show was critically drubbed for the most part (me? I did some of the drubbing, but didn't think it was terrible -- just mediocre.) These numbers, by the way, indicate that people that watched liked it because the second episode was seen by more than the first. The FX release:
Last night’s series debut of “Anger Management” (9 p.m.) was the most-watched scripted comedy prime time series premiere in cable history in delivery of adults 18-49 (2.65 million), and total viewers (5.47 million, excluding children’s programming). It also ranks as the most-watched series premiere in FX history in total viewers. episode 2 of “Anger Management” (9:30 p.m.) grew to 5.74 million total viewers, and the demo also grew in the second half-hour to 2.89 million A18-49.
It's official: Savannah Guthrie named 'Today' co-anchor
Yes, Savannah Guthrie has a new job . . . guesses? . . . OK, guessing game is up: She was just named the new co-anchor of "Today," replacing Ann Curry who departed in a flurry of tears and hugs yesterday.
This was expected — if fact, expected for just about a year to anybody who was paying attention. Boss statements on the jump, but the new gig is official Monday. Check out our Guthrie...
Read more »Jon Stewart mocks CNN, Fox over flub
Photo credit: AP
Jon Stewart got an early birthday present yesterday — a big fat one tied with a bow and with whipped cream and a couple of cherries on top, with warm fudge poured over all that, which sounds kind of unappetizing but not if you're Jon Stewart. We speak of course of CNN's and Fox News' massive screwups in the seconds after the Supreme Court ruling on Obama's Health Care Act (they said a key provision had been overturned; wrong.). Here's the open:
Channel 5 shakeup: Anastos out at 10; Dave Price returns
Photo credit: Getty Images
As in the dead of night -- or at least the dead of early summer, when everyone else is paying attention to the historic Supreme Court decision or Ann Curry's ouster at “Today" -- WNYW/5 today announced a huge shake-up that spells the departure of Ernie Anastos at 10 and the return of Dave Price -- erstwhile weatherman -- to “Good Day, New York.”
The punch line: Greg Kelly moves to 10. Ernie remains as co-host of “Fox 5 News” at 5 p.m. Kelly also becomes anchor at 6.
A huge win for Kelly - who only last winter had to battle sexual assault accusations, which the District Attorney determined were basless - and a huge loss for Anastos, one of New York's truly legendary anchors.
Price was, as you know, the weatherman from '99 to '03 here where he made quite the splash -- built a following, got feelers about even launching his own syndicated show, and then, just like that, headed over to CBS where he became a fixture at the last iteration of “CBS this Morning." (He also came close, or so he claimed, to replacing the retiring Bob Barker on “The Price is Right.")
"It's great to come home,” he said of the move, effective Monday.
He added: “The chance to rejoin Fox 5 and be a part of the ‘Good Day New York’ family again was one I couldn't pass up. I've been friends with Rosanna [Scotto] forever and to be honest -- it's tough to get a table at Fresco -- so this will help a lot. I can't wait to start the day with our viewers and provide all the news and information they need and maybe a few smiles and laughs each morning, too. It doesn't get much better than this. I'm raring to go.”
[A spokeswoman, by the way, denied that today's shakeup was technically a "shakeup," insofar as Anastos will continue to anchor at 5, and per the earlier press release, also noted that "numerous 'Positively Ernie' specials" will air later this year. So noted.]
Fox 5's Greg Kelly in an undated photo.
Ann Curry says goodbye to 'Today' with tears
Photo credit: NBC
Ann Curry isn't done with NBC yet, she announced Thursday.
NBC posted details about Curry's new role at the network on their website, announcing she will be the “Today” show's anchor at large and national and international correspondent for NBC News.
“We're going to go all over the world and all over this country,” she said on the show. “We're going to do great work, I hope."
“Today”...
Read more »'My Three Sons' Don Grady dies
Photo credit: UPI TELEPHOTO
Sad news to report: Don Grady, an original Mouseketeer and Robbie of "My Three Sons" has died. He was 68 and had been battling cancer.
Grady, a musician who appeared in some early TV westerns, was a big star of early '60s TV - Robbie Douglas on the ABC show starring the great screen actor Fred MacMurray and classic character actor William Demarest (and before him, William Frawley....
Read more »Regis Philbin doesn't rule out return to morning TV
Photo credit: AP
What if Regis Philbin returned to morning television? What if something came along that he couldn't say no to -- that "offer-you-can't-refuse" kind of show? What if. What if! What if?
I asked him all this a little while ago during a phone chat about his forthcoming hosting duties on NBC's "Macy's 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular," and his response was a bit surprising:...
Read more »'The Newsroom': Mr. Sorkin comes to HBO
Photo credit: AP
There was a nice interview with Aaron Sorkin on "CBS This Morning" that confirms my instincts about this worthy new series "The Newsroom" that it's a not so-distant echo of "His Girl Friday" and "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington."
Sorkin got some ferocious flak from some very smart critics and viewers out there, but my feeling is that there's a bit...
Read more »Nathan Lane joins 'The Good Wife'
Photo credit: Getty Images
Suddenly "The Good Wife" is looking compulsively watchable this fall: Nathan Lane has signed on for a recurring role. This follows news earlier this week that Maura Tierney is coming aboard too, as is Kristin Chenoweth.
How sweet it is.
Per CBS: Lane will portray a bottom line-obsessed manager imposed on Lockhart & Gardner by the bank to cut costs and get the firm back to fiscal health. He finds himself at odds with Will, Diane and everyone else at the firm.
