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Fox News 'Couldn't Resist' Mocking MSNBC's New Ads

October, 20, 2010 3:56 pm | On #advertising, cable, cable news, Fox News, Lean Forward, marketing, Move Forward, MSNBC, promos, Television

A spokesperson for Fox News said the network "couldn't resist" creating a pair of promos that poke fun at MSNBC's new branding campaign.

MSNBC launched its comprehensive branding initiative Oct. 11 with a series of commercials directed by Oscar winner Spike Lee that focus on the slogan "Lean Forward." The "Lean Forward" initiative is MSNBC's largest ad campaign ever.

A little over a week after MSNBC's new ads debuted, Fox rolled out two promos that not-so-subtly mocked the "Lean Forward" spots with a pointed closing line:

"In this country, we don...

Ratings: CBS Comes Out to Play With 'Glee' Reruns

October, 20, 2010 11:35 am | On #ABC, CBS, Detroit 1-8-7, Fox, Glee, NBC, Parenthood, Running Wilde, Television, The Biggest Loser, Univision

With Fox airing a repeat of "Glee," CBS easily won Tuesday night. ABC got mixed results with its new shows "No Ordinary Family" and "Detroit 1-8-7."

-- CBS and Fox generally do battle for the top spot on Tuesdays, but with no new episode of "Glee," CBS had no trouble getting the win. "Glee" had been the night's top show for four straight weeks. CBS averaged a 3.6 rating/10 share in the key adults 18-49 demographic from 8-11 p.m. with "NCIS," "NCIS: LA" and "The Good Wife." All of CBS' shows were up for the night, with an average bump of 7.6 percent.

-- ABC scored second place with a "Dancing With the Stars" results show and...

Sony Names Chris Elwell EVP of U.S. Distribution

October, 20, 2010 10:32 am | On #Chris Elwell, distribution, Execs, people, promotions, Sony Pictures Television, Steve Mosko

Sony Pictures Television has promoted Chris Elwell to executive vice president, U.S. distribution. He will head a team responsible for the strategic planning of all Sony's TV distribution and cross-platform sales opportunities in the American market, Sony Pictures Television president Steve Mosko announced on Tu.

Elwell was previously senior vice president, U.S. distribution at Sony Pictures Television. Elwell's promotion was announced by Sony Pictures Television president Steve Mosko.

Previously senior vice president, U.S. distribution, Elwell will continue to supervise business affairs and sales/syndication administration for Sony TV's U.S....

Moment of Zen: Obama to Visit 'Daily Show' Prior to Elections, D.C. Rally

October, 19, 2010 5:07 pm | On #Barack Obama, cable, comedy central, Daily Show, Jon Stewart, politics, Rally to Restore Sanity, Television

President Obama will help drum up support for Democrats and hype for Jon Stewart's planned "Rally to Restore Sanity" with an appearance on "The Daily Show" Oct. 27, the White House said.

His visit, just days before mid-term elections on Nov. 2, will be Obama's first appearance on the program since he took office in 2009.

This will be Obama's fifth time on the show. He last appeared just before the presidential elections in 2008 -- as a result, the Comedy Central staple scored its highest-ever ratings for a Wednesday night.

Obama has previously expressed support for Stewart's Oct. 30 rally at the National Mall, a joint venture with Stephen Colbert. The rally was created as a response to...

Another THR Hire: S.F. Chronicle's Tim Goodman as Top TV Critic

October, 19, 2010 4:30 pm | On #Critics, Media, newspapers, San Francisco Chronicle, Television, The Hollywood Reporter, THR, Tim Goodman

Tim Goodman, who wrote the popular Bastard Machine blog for the San Francisco Chronicle, has been named the Hollywood Reporter's chief TV criitc, the paper announced Tuesday.

Goodman's work will begin appearing in the first edition of the Reporter's new glossy weekly on Nov. 3.

“I’m excited to join the Hollywood Reporter, it was hard to leave the Chronicle, but I really think the vision of the new THR is great. I wanted to get in right at the start,” Goodman said in a statement.

Goodman's hire is the latest in a series of changes at the venerable trade since former Us Weekly editor Janice Min took charge in May....

Steve Buscemi Heads to 'Portlandia'

October, 19, 2010 3:31 pm | On #cable, Carrie Brownstein, Fred Armisen, gus van sant, IFC, Portlandia, Selma Blair, Television

HBO's "Boardwalk Empire" boss Steve Buscemi found the time for some jokes in his busy bootlegging schedule.

Buscemi will make a guest appearance on the upcoming comedy sketch series, which is set in Portland, Oregon and will star comedian Fred Armisen and musician Carrie Brownstein.

An individual with knowledge of the situation confirmed Buscemi's appearance to TheWrap on Tuesday. The local blog ByronBeck.com previously reported Buscemi sightings around Portland in September.

IFC has several cameos lined up for "Portlandia....

Ratings: ABC Five-Peats, NFL Beats MLB

October, 19, 2010 12:30 pm | On #ABC, baseball, CBS, Chuck, Dancing With the Stars, espn, Fox, Hawaii Five-O, Mike & Molly, MLB, NBC, nfl, ratings, sports, TBS, Television, The Chase, The Event

"Dancing With the Stars" powered ABC to its fifth straight Monday night victory, and a regular-season football game between two small-market teams proved more popular than the Yankees in the American League Championship Series.

-- ESPN's coverage of a humdrum, small-market match-up between the Titans and Jaguars drew a 7.2 percent overnight rating compared to 6.5 percent for game three of the American League Championship Series between the New York Yankees and Texas Rangers. Baseball fans might espite the Yankees' presence in TV's biggest market, the presence of Texas' ace starter Cliff Lee made last night's game somewhat of a foregone...

Conan Names New House Band for TBS Show

October, 19, 2010 8:27 am | On #Conan, Conan O'Brien, Jimmy Vivino, Max Weinberg, Media, TBS, Television

Conan O’Brien has named his house band for his new TBS show: Jimmy Vivino -- former associate music director, arranger, guitarist and vocalist for Conan’s “Tonight Show” stint and “Late Night” years -- will lead the group, dubbed “Jimmy Vivino and the Basic Cable Band.”

Vivino -- who ostensibly takes the spot of Max Weinberg and the Max Weinberg 7 -- will be with O’Brien for the debut of “Conan” on Nov. 8.

Weinberg -- a member of Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band since 1974 and a fixture in late-night TV as Conan’s musical director (and sometime comic foil) for 17 years -- recently revealed that he underwent life-saving open-heart surgery just two weeks after the demise of Conan’s "Tonight...

Fox Buys 'Modern Family' Syndication Rights From Itself

October, 18, 2010 1:03 pm | On #ABC, Fox, Fox Television Stations, Modern Family, syndication, tribune, Twentieth Television

Fox has completed an in-house syndication deal for the broadcast rights to one of TV's most popular shows -- "Modern Family."

"Modern Family," which is TV's number one program in the key adults 18-49 demographic, is produced by 20th Televison and Levitan Lloyd Productions. Fox Television Stations announced that they acquired the broadcast syndication rights from 20th Monday morning.

Fox's decision to keep one of its hottest properties in the family may seem like the studio gave itself a sweetheart deal, but a source with knowledge of the arrangement told TheWrap that the acquisition was made after a "highly competitive" bidding process that involved Tribune.

20th...

Ratings: CBS Spins '$#*!' Into Gold, NBC Gets Lift With Live '30 Rock'

October, 15, 2010 10:06 am | On #$*! My Dad Says, 30 Rock, ABC, Bones, CBS, Community, Fox, Fringe, Grey's AnatomyBig Bang Theory, Live Episodes, NBC, Outsourced, ratings, Television, The Apprentice

CBS won Thursday night as "S#*! My Dad Says" continued to roll and NBC got a much-needed boost with a live episode of "30 Rock."

-- CBS won Thursday with an average 3.3 rating/10 share in the key adults 18-49 demographic from 8-11 p.m.. "Big Bang Theory" was flat with last week at 4.1/13. All of CBS' other shows were up from last week. "$#*! My Dad Says" rose seven percent to 3.1/9. "C.S.I." was also at 3.1/9, up 15 percent from record low numbers last week. "The Mentalist" closed out the night with a 3.3/9, a ten percent bump from Oct. 7.

-- NBC finished in third place, but the network improved on...