‘Prison Break’ Premiere A Ratings Disappointment
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Action, Daytime, Prime Time, FOX, Prison Break, Ratings,
Who says the third time’s a charm?
At 7.9 million viewers, Monday night’s premiere of Prison Break was a ratings dud. Season Three’s opener was down approximately 2 million as compared to last year. Even reruns of How I Met Your Mother and The New Adventures of Old Christine fared better in the same time slot last night. Unfortunately, this slow start doesn’t bode well for the rest of Prison’s season. Come next Monday, the inmates will be facing stiff competition from Dancing With The Stars and a new episode of Mother.
But should the execs at Fox really be surprised by the low turnout? I think it’s safe to say they underestimated the fans who wanted more than rehash. This time it’s Lincoln trying to save Michael? What a twist! Half the cast is locked up in the same prison? Convenient! Pretty boy Michael Scofield hasn’t been turned into someone’s b**** in that hellish Panamanian prison? C’mon!!!! Does anyone honestly believe he could survive with that steely glare alone? I was already miffed when I heard Dr. Sara Tancredi would be absent from the show; last night’s lackluster episode has just compounded my disappointment.
Granted, this show has never been based on plausibility…but it was once based on creativity. Just knowing the series could be extended for another two or three years is already tiring me out. And since the writers are constrained by the show’s title—who will eventually end up in prison next? Lincoln’s son?
Read More 
| E! Online
Gallery: ‘Prison Break’ Premiere A Ratings Disappointment
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Elisabeth Hasselbeck Forces Barry Manilow to Cancel
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Daytime, Talk Shows, ABC, Syndication,
I’m not sure whether to consider this silly or hilarious…but I’m going with the latter.
Crooner Barry Manilow has apparently canceled a scheduled appearance on tomorrow’s episode of The View. The reason? A disagreement in politics. The Copacabana singer told TMZ that he considers conservative Elisabeth Hasselbeck to be ‘dangerous and offensive’. Although he’s currently on a promotional tour, he is refusing to ‘share the same stage as her’ because of their differences in opinions. It’s not clear why the gig was ever scheduled to begin with.
Any guess how long it will take Rosie O’Donnell to write a haiku about this?
Read More | TMZ
Gallery: Elisabeth Hasselbeck Forces Barry Manilow to Cancel
Rachael Ray’s Search for a Top Chef
Posted by Wendy Michaels Categories: Daytime, Food & Home, Prime Time, Talk Shows, Cable, Syndication,
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again—Rachael Ray has “accessible” all sewn up. Really, can you think of any other television personality that is as all-around accepted as Rachael Ray? Even if you’re not a big fan of hers, there is no denying that she is on the fast track to fame. And it’s all because she just has that nice girl, easy-going vibe that so many people connect with. Heck, even my kids look forward to watching her cooking show on Food Network. I could do without her many abbreviations and terms (“EVOO” and “Yummo” come to mind), but I watch her shows and have one of her cookbooks. I’m not a big fan of her talk show because she just seems like she’s whacked out on caffeine or something. It’s too hyper for me. Anyway, she’s looking for the next great chef, er… well, cook in her search called “So You Think You Can Cook?” on her talk show. According to Ray, “We just want to give a person — a real person, not a chef or somebody specially trained to do this for a living — a shot at showing everybody their personality and how much fun you can have with food.” Seems that’s a recipe that Ray can relate to, as she’s never had any formal training and has built her empire largely on her personality. She and show producers will whittle the cooks down to five, then they go through the rigors of two weeks of competition before the winner is crowned in November. And, what does the winner take away from this? The lucky cook gets to co-host Rachael Ray’s show (just for a day) and will receive training at a U.S. culinary institute. Also, one of their recipes will be in her magazine, Every Day With Rachael Ray.
Read More | Yahoo! News
Gallery: Rachael Ray’s Search for a Top Chef
This Week on TV (9/10-9/16)
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Award Shows, Comedy, Daytime, Drama, Food & Home, Games, Music, Prime Time, Reality, Specials, Sports, Talk Shows, ABC, Cable, ESPN-HD, FX, FOX, NBC, Syndication, TNT-HD, Oprah Winfrey Show, Cable/Satellite,
MONDAY (9/10)
- Today (NBC, 7-11am): The show expands to an unnecessary 4 hours.
- Oprah (syndicated): Season premiere includes a first appearance by David Letterman.
- Rachel Ray (syndicated): Ray’s Second Season premiere includes guests from High School Musical 2
- The View (ABC, check local listings): The official introduction of their final new host (a.k.a. Sherri Shepherd).
- Wheel of Fortune (syndicated): 25th season premiere.
- Monday Night Football (ESPN): A double-header special. Cincinnati Bengals vs Baltimore Ravens (7pm ET)/ San Francisco 49ers vs Arizona Cardinals (10:15 ET).
- The Closer (TNT, 9pm): Part-two of the season finale.
Click to continue reading This Week on TV (9/10-9/16)
Gallery: This Week on TV (9/10-9/16)
HSM’s Monique Coleman Let Off Easy On ‘The View’
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Daytime, Kids, Music, Talk Shows, ABC, Cable, Gossip,
I seriously hope that today’s episode of The View was taped like 3 days ago—because there is absolutely no reason why the Vanessa Hudgens issue should not have been addressed. Today’s guest was High School Musical star Monique Coleman. Needless to say, I made a concerted effort to watch hoping she would (awkwardly) say something on her co-star’s behalf. But despite two, TWO, ripe opportunities for them to segue into the controversy, not one host—not even the blunt Joy Behar—brought the subject up.
When first asked why HSM is such a huge hit with fans, Coleman said “I think that’s it’s a positive message that fills a void. There are so many girls that are doing ridiculous things in this industry right now that to see someone that is wholesome and doing something that’s good….parents can stand behind it, kids can watch it. And you’ve got cute kids that are doing good things.” Seriously, how could someone not make a crack on at least the
wholesomepart?
Then when asked if there would be an HSM3, Monique claimed all six co-stars would all be ‘absolutely interested’ but that it was just basically a matter of seeing if they could get all of them back together to do it again. Uhh—how about the fact that maybe Disney might not
wantsome of you guys to come back again now??
NOTE TO SELF: ‘The View’ is owned by Disney. You shouldn’t have wasted your time expecting anything more…
(Click here for any updates on this story)
Gallery: HSM’s Monique Coleman Let Off Easy On ‘The View’
Sherri Shepherd Newest Host for ‘The View’
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Daytime, Talk Shows, Announcements, Rumors,
As we reported back in July, Sherri Shepherd and Whoopi Goldberg were thought to be the leading contenders to join daytime’s The View. And while reported contract negotiations delayed Sherri’s official selection, Whoopi was introduced to fans on Tuesday.
But according to a new report in USA Today, fans of Shepherd will not have to wait much longer. As Barbara Walters mentioned on today’s show, the final host would be announced in just a few days. Hallelujah! A source reports to the newspaper that Shepherd, who has filled in many times as a guest host, will indeed be the one shifting to a permanent status.
Once the official announcement is made next Monday (September 10th), a collective sigh of relief will be heard around the country.
Read More | USA Today
Gallery: Sherri Shepherd Newest Host for ‘The View’
So, it was Whoopi Goldberg’s first day as co-host of The View—you would think she’d lay low with controversial discussions… um, I don’t know… until the second or third day? Perhaps in an attempt to spice up the conversation a la prior hostess Rosie O’Donnell, Goldberg weighed in on the Michael Vick dogfighting issue. She came to his defense, saying that, in the South, where Vick is from, dogfighting is commonplace. According to Goldberg, “It’s like cockfighting in Puerto Rico. There are certain things that are indicative to certain parts of the country.” Now, while I understand this show is a platform for individual “views” (hence, the name), and it may be true that in the South this is not uncommon… I have to ask, isn’t there some shred of decency and common sense that might prevail over the need to fight dogs and kill them? I don’t think there’s much defense for anyone conducting this sort of business, and I have to question celebrities and professional athletes that have so much going for them and then do something stupid. Vick will be sentenced in December and has been suspended indefinitely by the National Football League.
Read More | Yahoo! News
Gallery: Whoopi—Rosie, Version 2?
This Week on TV (9/3-9/9)
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Award Shows, Comedy, Daytime, Games, Kids, Music, Prime Time, Reality, Sci-Fi/Horror, Specials, Sports, Talk Shows, ABC, Bravo, Cable, FOX, HBO, MTV, NBC, Syndication, Oprah Winfrey Show,
MONDAY (9/3)
- Justin Timberlake Concert Special (HBO, 9pm): JT brings sexy to Madison Square Garden
- Kyle XY (ABC Family, 8pm): mid-season finale
TUESDAY (9/4)
- The View (ABC, check local times): Whoopi Goldberg officially joins the looney bin today
- Oprah (syndicated, check local times): Special appearance by President Bill Clinton
- The Singing Bee (NBC, 8pm): fall premiere
THURSDAY (9/6)
- Tim Gunn’s Guide to Style (Bravo, 10pm): Project Runway‘s guru revamps fashion disasters with the help of model Veronica Webb
- Sunday Night Football (NBC, 8:30 EST): Special Thursday kickoff day (New Orleans Saints vs. Indianapolis Colts)
- Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader? (FOX, 8pm): fall premiere
- Don’t Forget The Lyrics (FOX, 9pm): fall premiere
Click to continue reading This Week on TV (9/3-9/9)
Gallery: This Week on TV (9/3-9/9)
Aww, it’s cute that David Letterman and Oprah Winfrey have reconciled. I mean, that whole “Oprah—Uma” thing that Letterman did oh so many Oscars ago is certainly water under the bridge by now? Winfrey finally made her peace and appeared on Late Show in 2005. Sure, she wanted to plug her musical The Color Purple, but it was a stellar reunion nonetheless. Now it’s Dave’s turn to repay the favor—he’ll appear on an upcoming installment of Oprah’s talk show, which will tape the week of September 10th. This is big for a couple of reasons—first, Letterman rarely appears on anyone’s show; second, it’s Oprah. You can’t get much bigger than that. I’ve been a fan of Letterman since I was a kid who could barely keep my eyes open for his show. Come to think of it, I can barely keep my eyes open as an adult for late night television anymore. Have I come full circle? Oprah will be taping in New York City at Madison Square Garden, with her focus on the sixth anniversary of 9/11. Rest assured, her chat with Letterman is not expected to be a serious interview… so you can expect plenty of goofiness from Dave (and maybe a bit from Oprah too). This kicks off Oprah’s 22nd season of the show. Oprah and Dave last appeared on a Super Bowl commercial together.
Read More | E! Online
Gallery: Letterman to Appear on Oprah
Ellen DeGeneres to Host Variety Show
Posted by Wendy Michaels Categories: Comedy, Daytime, Music, Prime Time, Talk Shows, Cable, Cable/Satellite,
Back in the day, variety shows were all the rage… now, not so much. Ellen DeGeneres hopes to change that with a new variety show on TBS. And really, who better to do it than Ellen? Her huge appeal makes her a natural choice and I’m sure fans of her stand-up and talk show will be tuning in for a glimpse of what could be a fun little show. Ellen’s Really Big Show, as it will be called, will debut on November 18th on TBS—a two-hour special that will be shot during The Comedy Festival earlier in November. The show will feature both music and comedy… and, of course, Ellen. According to DeGeneres, “I’m very happy to be working with TBS. I usually put two TBS of sugar in my coffee every day, so this is a dream come true for me.” Ha! If you liked that line, expect plenty more during the variety show. Michael Wright, TBS programming chief had nothing but praise for DeGeneres, saying, “It’s especially exciting to see her bring back the variety special format, which for decades provided television with some of its most memorable performances.” No details yet on what performers will grace the “really big show,” but it certainly should be an entertaining couple of hours.
Read More | Zap2it
Gallery: Ellen DeGeneres to Host Variety Show
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