Celebrity Feuds Win for NBC
Posted by K.C. Morgan Categories: Games, Prime Time, Reality, NBC, Editorial,
The first ever spin-off of Family Feud, a game show which itself was originally a spin-off, premiered last night on NBC. Very few changes to the standard show format, along with celebrities and much larger cash prizes helped NBC pull down promising ratings for this summer show.
Feud first began airing in 1976 with host Richard Dawson at the helm. His charm, slightly chiding nature and constant kissing quickly cemented him as one of TV’s best-loved hosts. In those early days, ABC owned the show, which was canceled by the network in 1985.
The show was born again on CBS in 1988, this time with petite Ray Combs holding center stage. This version was officially canceled in 1993, but continued as a syndicated version (amid some host troubles) until 1995. The show would not return again until 1999 on FOX as a daytime syndicated spot. Nine years of set changes and host changes have kept Feud on FOX ever since, with re-runs always available on GSN.
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NBC
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Law & Order: SVU Assigns Newest ADA
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Drama, Prime Time, NBC,
When Law & Order: SVU resumes next fall, a new ADA will be working to cover Stabler and Benson’s butts.
In the show’s recent finale, controversy - not a faked death - forced Casey Novak out of her job. Her departure means Season 10 will be introducing One Tree Hill‘s Michaela McManus, the latest female (behind Stephanie March and Diane Neal) to fill the role.
Even though SVU also said goodbye to Det. Chester Lake (Adam Beach) this May, NBC currently has no plans to find his replacement.
TV Guide
WTF?: Danity Kane on Nashville Star
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories:
When the words ‘pop goes country’ are uttered, images of Kristy Lee Cook singing just about anything on American Idol run through my mind.
So imagine my confusion when I saw this clip of Danity Kane performing on Nashville Star. Couldn’t they have at least attempted to change up their song a bit? Wasn’t that the whole theme of last night’s competition? Were the girls only comfortable sticking to something they’ve practiced a thousand times over on Making the Band? But really - why was a group formed by Diddy on a show called Nashville Star to begin with?
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TBS Makes a Hit…or Mistake?
Get Smart. Indiana Jones. Re-making old classics is the latest trend on movies…so why can’t the same technique be applied to TV? I’ll admit - I’m a huge game show fan. Any game, any time, I play along and I usually do quite well. True TV game-players know where the best action can be found: GSN. But in this age of old-is-new, where past ideas are suddenly no longer passé, the classics come alive. In this case, it’s Match Game.
A show with a long history that just got a little bit longer. Match Game originally hit the air in 1962 on NBC, running for seven seasons before cancellation. This is not the most famous version of the show. Match Game didn’t hit its real stride until it found a home on CBS in 1973. The episodes have resulted in some of the most popular programming GSN has ever ran, and for good reason.
I can summon this up for you in just two words: Richard Dawson.
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Hollywood Reporter
Brian Williams Takes a Turn on Meet the Press
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: NBC, News,
Although the network is smack in the middle of an exciting political year, NBC has decided against making rush decisions on its empty posts.
After Tim Russert’s passing last Friday, Tom Brokaw assumed the role of guest host on Meet the Press. Now the current anchor of Nightly News, Brian Williams, will have his turn this weekend. (He was only asked to do the job this Thursday.)
For now, it appears temporary substitutions are something we’ll have to get used to for the weeks to come. (The situation feels similar to when Roger Ebert first began his medical absence from Ebert & Roeper.)
The network knows Russert’s shoes - on the set and in the Washington bureau - will be hard to fill and it’s not a decision anyone wants to take lightly. As NBC News’ president (Steve Capus) put it, “Tim left us as he was at the top of his game. It took someone with Tim’s enormous skills and qualities as a human being to juggle all those things and do so brilliantly.”
Hollywood Reporter
Sunday’s Plan for Meet the Press
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: NBC, News,
Although plans for Meet the Press’ future is still unclear, NBC has announced how it will address Tim Russert’s recent passing on tomorrow’s show.
This Sunday, veteran journalist Tom Brokaw will make another special appearance to helm the weekly program. (The former Nightly News anchor was also the one who informed the viewers Friday about his colleague’s death.) During the Father’s Day edition, Brokaw will spend the hour paying tribute to the highly-respected political analyst.
On a side note, Russert’s personal physician, Dr. Michael Newman, confirmed that his patient died as a result of a heart attack. Ironically, the 58-year-old - who was known “to have asymptomatic coronary artery disease” - reportedly passed a stress test back in April and even worked out on a treadmill earlier Friday morning.
TV Guide
Meet the Press’ Tim Russert Dies After Heart Attack
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: NBC, News,
Tim Russert, host of Meet the Press, died Friday. He was 58 years old.
While his network has not officially released the details, the New York Post claims the journalist died after suffering a heart attack at NBC News’ Washington Bureau. Russert worked there as the bureau chief.
Time recently named Tim one of the ‘World’s Most Influential People’. The magazine praised the news analyst for being one “among the most astute, discerning and relentless pursuers of truth in the nation.”
Russert joined the NBC News family back in 1984 and was Meet the Press’ moderator since 1991. No immediate announcement has been made about the fate of his program.
MSNBC
Another Veronica Mars Cast Member Joins Heroes
Posted by Robin Paulson Categories: Action, Drama, Prime Time, Sci-Fi/Horror, NBC, Heroes, Announcements, News, Rumors,
As always, much has been said here and there about the upcoming, much-anticipated season of Heroes. Thankfully, Kristin over at E! was able to throw us a bone this past week.
She confirms that former Veronica Mars star Francis Capra has signed on for at least three episodes on NBC’s hit show as a thug… with (of course) a power. Sad but as always, Kristin (nor anyone else for that matter) is keeping his power under wraps.
Many fans of Veronica Mars are excited to see Capra and former co-star Kristen Bell on the small screen again. E! does confirm that the pair will share at least one scene together.
E! Online
Little House on the Prairie Hits the Stage
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Drama, Kids, NBC, News,
As a lifelong watcher of the show, I have to say there is something so wrong, yet so right, about this news.
Coming to Minneapolis later this summer is a stage version of Little House and the Prairie. In addition the Ingalls family, the musical, based off the the books by Laura Ingalls Wilder, will feature Almanzo Wilder and love-to-hate her Nellie Olesen. The production will also include an exciting casting choice: Melissa Gilbert.
Gilbert, who played Laura Ingalls during the television series’ nine years, will challenge the audience by taking on an entirely different role. The 44-year-old actress will tightening up her bun to the play the family’s matriarch.
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Variety
Gladiators Fail to Slay Competition
Posted by K.C. Morgan Categories: Prime Time, Reality, NBC, Editorial,
American Gladiators won big ratings and big press during the writer’s strike, prompting NBC to immediately sign the series for another season, cast new gladiators and create bigger, better events for a triumphant second season return. The season kicked off last night…but was it as victorious as NBC hoped?
Ratings-wise, American Gladiators is already going the way of other NBC shows (to third or last place). FOX’s House led the night, while the Gladiators raked in only about 4.9 million watchers.
The season premiered with bigger obstacles, more competitors and a bevy of new Gladiators, all in hopes that this could be the show to secure NBC a first-place ratings slot. For those of you who didn’t watch it, I did.
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Hollywood Reporter
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