TV Zone
News, scoops, reviews and more from TV land.
Calling all 'The Newsroom' fans ... a trailer
Photo credit: AP
Trailer time! HBO released a tease for "The Newsroom" on Monday, and here it is.
But first, the through line: "In the new season, the "News Night" staff are going to be dealing with a wrongful termination lawsuit that will leave viewers wondering one thing, who got fired? The lawsuit will also serve as a long-running backdrop to the 2012 Presidential Election, The...
Read more »New 'American Idol' boss from Sweden
Photo credit: Getty Images
Fox has made an interesting choice to run its beleagured "American Idol" as it struggles to reverse a remorseless ratings decline in the wake of a mostly buzz-less 12th season: the man who ran Swedish "Idol."
Per Blankens has just been named to what may be the most important production gig in television at the moment, and certainly not the least stress-free. Here are the comments via Fox:
As you may be aware, Nigel Lythgoe, now former EP, is gone, and offered a long statement about his exit early Monday afternoon.
“Per is a creative and experienced executive who has been the show runner on the blockbuster Swedish Idol for more than 5 seasons,” said Trish Kinane, "AI" executive producer for FremantleMedia North America. “He is extremely passionate about Idol and I'm very excited about his ideas and vision for keeping Idol creatively vibrant. He brings the talent and energy needed to keep American Idol strong.”
And per Blankens: "The Idol franchise is a worldwide phenomenon and I'm honored to be a part of the most popular of the franchises, American Idol. I can't wait to get started as auditions for the new season are just a few weeks away.”
Ratings: The 67th annual Tonys reverse long slide
Pretty good news for last night's Tonys' telecast on CBS: After a long drought, the show ticked up once again in total viewers. In fact, CBS points out that last night's audience for the 67th annual awards ceremony was the largest since 2009.
In the scheme of things, no, this was not a huge number - 7.2 million - but at least the number is heading in a different direction for...
Read more »HBO teases 'Clear History' and apparently Larry David's hair, too
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Larry David with hair? Larry David with lots and lots of hair? You are about to see something that will shock and mystify you. (Or as one commentator at Youtube noted, it's as if LD is channeling the Great Lebowski.) Here's the tease for HBO's "Clear History" - the movie arriving this August - and it's not the only thing teased here...
For 'Game of Thrones,' a long hiatus (or two) may be the only solution
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Poor HBO -- "poor" being a relative term, naturally: With “Game of Thrones,” the pay network finally has the smash to rival anything in its history. With “GoT” it finally has the answer, a resounding one, to that tired question about the Next Big Thing after "The Sopranos."
Ratings, buzz, passion, devotion, even love -- "Game of Thrones" has engendered all, but...
Read more »'American Idol' loses top producer Nigel Lythgoe
Photo credit: Getty Images, 2011
Nigel Lythgoe -- who came (back) to "American Idol" after Simon Cowell left to produce what then seemed an impregnable franchise -- on Saturday confirmed that he had been fired. Via Twitter:
just had 10 days in the Bahamas, rain everyday. I get back to the States and get fired. Sad! Monday we choose our top 20. I'll smile again.
By "top 20," he is referring to "So You Think You Can Dance," which he continues to produce.
Lythgoe leaves a show that is no longer impregnable, but very much the opposite. Three judges have left -- also fired, doubtless, or taking their leave before the sheriff -- while Fox and Fremantle have also hired a new overseer of the show, David Hill. It's now one of those all-bets-are-off moments for the show, when anything can happen, and anything likely will. [See: Per Blankens named Idol" producer.]
Meanwhile, Nigel sent out a longer statement early Monday afternoon. Here it is, in part:
"It has been inspiring to find and launch the careers of artists ranging from Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Phillip Phillips and many more, spanning all musical styles and genres. I am truly saddened to be leaving a great team of friends and colleagues. However, at the end of the day, the most important thing is to maintain this incredible platform for America's young talent. This will only happen with the success of the program. If the executives that are now in charge of "American Idol" believe that the ratings will improve with my departure, I have no complaints. It has been a great ride and I've loved every moment of it. After dedicating over 12 years to “Idol,” I look forward to continuing work on my beloved “So You Think You Can Dance,” which is going strong in its 10th season. In addition, this will allow me more time to devote to Nigel Lythgoe Productions and our exciting new partnership with Shine America.”
Simon Cowell: He is the eggman
Really, you've seen this only once? Why not again? Simon Cowell gets egged at "Britain's Got Talent.' Pity: Those eggs would have made a good omelette.
'The Walking Dead': AMC goes behind the scenes
Photo credit: AP
"The Walking Dead" won't be on the air until -- if history is a guide -- next October, but appetites need to be whetted, curiousities sated, restless spirits calmed. That's an awful long time to wait, so just to let fans know that the show is still in business ... and that work is underway ... and that new showrunner Scott Gimple really knows what he's doing, even if he is the latest in a long line of showrunners for a series that is (after all) only three seasons -- AMC shot out this behind-the-scenes clip on Friday.
'Princesses: Long Island': Look ahead
Photo credit: Lee Danuff/News 12 Interactive
Offered in a spirit that the viewer who is forewarned is forearmed, here's a quick look at the rest of this month's "Princesses: Long Island." Bravo shot out these brief show descripts earlier, and you'll be relieved to know that there's no return to Freeport, best we can tell:
SUNDAY 6/9 9PM Ashlee and Chanel travel into the city and meet new Princess Casey, a New York City...
Read more »Jon Stewart goes on hiatus from 'The Daily Show'
And so, exit stage left, or right, or whatever: Jon Stewart is now officially gone for the summer.
Cable — and really, TV's — most honored late night guy bowed out on last night's "The Daily Show" to head to the Middle East to direct a film based on the ordeal of Maziar Bahari, the journalist and human rights advocate who was jailed in Iran after being "interviewed" by the show's Jason Jones. Last night, Stewart spoke a little more about this strange chapter in late night TV.
He's gone until late summer, and will return, well, by the end of the summer. Sept. 4, to be exact.
Here's Stewart last night, and a recap of the Jones interview . . . oh, and the replacement: "Johnny" Oliver.
