Barely Legal: Worst NBC Title Ever?
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Comedy, NBC, Editorial, News,
I thought Kate Winslet’s double-win at the Golden Globes last night was a stunner, but this one takes the cake.
NBC, the network that chose to eliminate its entire 10:00 time slot next year for Jay Leno, is currently developing a project with the most laughable name around: Barely Legal.
Do we really have to explain why the show’s title would probably overshadow its content? (At least the kind of content an NBC series would have?) Did anyone on the creative team realize what would happen if fans tried Googling the program by that name? Am I the only one weirded out that the comedy stars Hilary Duff, someone who’s barely 21?
And while I understand where the title comes from (the concept is based on the true story of a California lawyer who passed the bar at age 18), that doesn’t make it feel less icky for me. Fortunately, since the show is still in development, it’s possible the network could change the title at a later date. But then again, maybe NBC is banking on the extra web traffic?
Read More 
| Hollywood Reporter
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Will Celebrities Shine in Trump’s World?
Posted by K.C. Morgan Categories: Prime Time, Reality, NBC, Apprentice, The - Donald, Gossip, Renewals,
Poker players. TV personalities. Recording artists. Athletes. What do they all have in common? They all want to learn from Donald Trump. Or, they at least want to give that appearance while they collect a paycheck from NBC.
Reality TV has now become much more a medium for quasi- and has-been celebs, rather than an unscripted jaunt where ordinary folks get their chance to shine. But what the hell? Donald Trump is always fun, so why not another season of The Celebrity Apprentice? At this point, NBC’s willing to try anything.
So who makes up the star-studded cast? Mother-daughter team Joan and Melissa Rivers will join Tionne Watkins (T-Boz of TLC), Brande Roderick (Baywatch), reality TV vet Khloe Kardashian, Annie Duke (reigning poker queen), Natalie Gulbis (pro golfer) and Claudia Jordan (Deal or No Deal winner) to make up the female team.
Click to continue reading Will Celebrities Shine in Trump’s World?
Read More | E! Online
Alba, Leachman to Join Jack Black on The Office
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Comedy, Prime Time, NBC, The Office,
Although most shows would be perfectly happy with just two seconds of Jack Black, NBC is not letting its Super Bowl year go to waste.
On February 1st, a list of stars will be making cameos on a rare Sunday installment of The Office. Joining a previously announced Black will be actresses Jessica Alba and Cloris Leachman.
In the special post-game episode, several employees of Dunder Mifflin will attempt to download a bootlegged movie during work hours. (The title of the show is appropriately titled “Stress Relief.”) Jack, Jessica and Cloris will all be featured in that film.
Football fans will also get an added bonus. That installment of The Office will run a full hour.
Read More | Futon Critic
Jack Black to Get Some Office Work Done
Posted by K.C. Morgan Categories: Comedy, Prime Time, NBC, The Office, Gossip,
Singer/actor Jack Black will make an appearance on The Office, enjoying a rather cushy spot on the schedule: he’ll be on right after the Super Bowl. It’s a tough act to follow, but somehow I think Black can pull it off.
The episode, titled “Stress Relief,” will originally air on February 1 and involve a bootlegged movie. How will Black factor in? So far, the network is giving any details.
Read More | MSNBC
Jay Leno Staying with NBC, Moving to 10 P.M.
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Late Night, Talk Shows, NBC, News, Ratings,
What do you do when your network sucks, the economy sucks and your late night ratings leader is on the verge of leaving? Well - if you’re NBC, you simply restructure your whole schedule.
Although it was initially believed that we would be getting a start date for Jimmy Fallon’s new program today, the Peacock network apparently had much bigger news to deal with. Earlier Monday at the UBS Global Media and Communications Conference, NBC Universal chief Jeff Zucker got speculators buzzing about possible cutbacks in his network’s primetime programming. “Can we continue to broadcast 22 hours in primetime? Three of our competitors don’t,” Jeff said in Manhattan. “Can we continue to broadcast seven days a week? One of our competitors doesn’t.”
Hours after Zucker’s statement, the Peacock network announced a major decision for the its 2009-2010 season: they’ll be keeping Jay Leno around after all. (It’s always best to admit you’re wrong now than later.) But fans of Conan O’Brien shouldn’t be worried by the news; Leno’s presence won’t affect the redhead’s upcoming time shift. Instead of leaving Jay in his old slot, NBC will bring him into the primetime fold. Starting next fall, the 58-year-old will enter our homes at 10:00. (The network will now only have to worry about 17 hours of primetime programming.)
Click to continue reading Jay Leno Staying with NBC, Moving to 10 P.M.
Read More | Variety
Jimmy Fallon Begins Testing His Late Night Material
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Late Night, Talk Shows, NBC, News,
Although he still has months to go before his official debut, Jimmy Fallon is making sure he gets off the ground running. Beginning tonight, the former SNL-er will try to get fans accustomed to a whole new face in late night television.
At 12:35 AM Tuesday morning, the man-who’ll-soon-take-over-Conan’s-time-slot will premiere his very first “video blog.” The five-minute segments, which will be posted daily during Late Night‘s usual hour, will vary in content. It’s hoped the freeform webisodes will allow the new program to find its groove.
NBC is expected to announce an official start date for Jimmy’s program sometime later today. It’s believed Conan O’Brien will step down at the end of February (he takes over for Jay Leno on June 1) leaving Fallon to begin his hosting duties in early March.
Read More | Broadcasting & Cable
Amy Poehler Makes Surprise Return to SNL
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Comedy, Late Night, NBC, Saturday Night Live, Video,
Although she had intended to move on from Saturday Night Live, Amy Poehler delivered an early Christmas present to her fans this weekend.
Poehler, who has been absent from the late-night program since giving birth on October 25, appeared in two segments during yesterday’s broadcast. After reprising her role as Hillary Clinton - who else could possibly play the future Secretary of State? - she reunited with Seth Meyers for another edition of the Weekend Update.
Could Clinton’s new cabinet position mean additional SNL appearances from Amy in the future? Keep your fingers crossed!
NBC Lays Out New January Schedule
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Comedy, Drama, Prime Time, Reality, NBC, Heroes, Cancellations,
Come this January, NBC will be setting aside some dead weight to make room for a few new entries. The network will also also welcome the return of a critical fave.
- As mentioned earlier, My Own Worst Enemy and Lipstick Jungle have both been cut from the schedule. Crusoe, which was recently moved to Saturdays, is also MIA.
- Life, Chuck and Heroes will all get a few weeks off. (The trio will be back in time for February sweeps.)
- Although it was recently banished to DirecTV, Friday Night Lights will live to see another NBC Friday. The drama will return on Jan. 16.
- Hoping to jump in late on the dance show craze, the network will introduce a new reality series from the producers of American Idol and So You Think You Can Dance. Superstars of Dance, a show which is being described as the “Olympic Games of dance,” will begin airing on Mondays starting January 5th.
- Deal or No Deal will take a hiatus while another Howie Mandel-related series gets its start. Howie Do It - a hidden-camera reality program - will premiere on Friday January 9th.
- Momma’s Boys, another Ryan Seacrest produced show (can we say Keeping Up with the Kardashians?), will get a home on Mondays right after Superstars.
Having trouble keeping this all straight? Feel free to click on TV Envy’s Master Programming Schedule for a little guidance.
Read More | Futon Critic
Daytime Dish: Marlena and John Cut from Days of Our Lives
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Daytime, Drama, NBC, News,
One of daytime’s popular soaps has just been hit with two of the most dreaded words today: budget cuts.
In hopes of keeping Days of Our Lives up and running for at least another 18 months, the sudser’s producers have been forced to make a few difficult decisions. Unfortunately for fans, that means saying goodbye to two of the show’s longest-running characters: Marlena Evans and John Black.
Despite some work on other projects, actress Deidre Hall has been with the 43-year-old NBC program since 1976. Her on-and-off daytime husband, Drake Hogestyn, joined DOOL back in 1986.
Click to continue reading Daytime Dish: Marlena and John Cut from Days of Our Lives
Read More | TV Guide
SNL Brings On Two New Females
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Comedy, Late Night, NBC, Saturday Night Live, News,
Although Saturday Night Live recently lost Amy Poehler to motherhood and Tina Fey (once again) to 30 Rock, the show will soon go back to being unevenly staffed. This weekend, Lorne Michaels will introduce two new women to the NBC program. These casting additions will bring the female portion of the crew up to four. (If you count Seth Meyers, the male half currently stands at nine.)
Starting November 15, Abby Elliott (above left) and Michaela Watkins (above right) will become the latest Not Ready for Prime-Time Players. Elliott - who has performed with the Upright Citizens Brigade (the group co-founded by Poehler) - is also the daughter of a former SNL alum (comedian Chris Elliott). Meanwhile Watkins, who has appeared on several episodes of The New Adventures of Old Christine, comes with several ties of her own. She was once a member of The Groundlings, a comedy troupe that lists Will Ferrell and Kristen Wiig amongst its former participants.
Paul Rudd and Beyonce are the featured guests on this Saturday’s show.
Read More | TV Guide
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