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'Real Housewives': Really Big Ratings (Again)

Adalian — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 21:17:44 -0600

By Josef Adalian

Guess blondes do have more fun. Or, at the very least, draw big ratings.

The fifth cycle of "Real Housewives of Orange County" returned Thursday to record Nielsen numbers, attracting 2.58 million viewers (1.98 million of whom were under 50). That's the best perfomance ever for "OC," as well as the biggest premiere number for any installment of the franchise (sorry, Hotlanta, New York and New Jersey).

Compared to the cycle four premiere, "OC" was up 44 percent in viewers and 28 percent in adults 18-49. "OC" got a big boost from its lead-i...

Obit: Former AMPTP President Nick Counter

Brent Lang — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 20:20:54 -0600

By Brent Lang

Nick Counter, who served as president of the Alliance of Motion Picture & Television Producers (AMPTP) for nearly three decades, died Friday night at West Hills Hosptial in Los Angeles. He was 69.

No cause of death was given, according to an AMPTP spokesperson.

For 27 years, from its formation in 1982 until his retirement in March 2009, Counter oversaw the AMPTP and took a lead role in shaping more than 300 major guild and union agreements. He achieved perhaps his greatest prominence as the chief negotiator for the studios during the 100-day writer's strike in 2008. ...

10 THINGS I’VE LEARNED THIS WEEK

Josh Dickey — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 19:35:49 -0600

1. 2012 = BANG FOR YOUR BUCK

Roland Emmerich’s mega disaster mash-up does exactly what it says on the tin. His puree job of every end-of-the-world movie ever made – with big dollops of “Airport," “The Poseidon Adventure” and “Titanic” thrown in for good measure – is spectacular and a terrific popcorn entertainment. It’s also one of the best comedies of 2009, although it’s open to debate how intentional the laughs are.

http://www.empireonline.com.au/reviews/reviewcomplete.asp?FID=135843

Not sure about a TV ...

'Factor' This: Bill O'Reilly Beats NBC Comedies, 'Fringe'

Adalian — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 19:03:10 -0600

By Josef Adalian

Coverage of the Fort Hood shootings predictably resulted in a ratings spike for cable news networks-- including Bill O'Reilly, who drew more viewers than several major primetime series.

Thursday's "The O'Reilly Factor" averaged a hair under 5 million viewers from 8-9 p.m., outrating NBC's "Parks and Recreation" in the 8:30 half hour. The "Factor" also outdrew Fox's own "Fringe" at 9 p.m. (4.86 million) and "The Jay Leno Show" (4.83 million).

O'Reilly's show Thursday was a mix of breaking news coverage of the shootings, as well ...

The Pain: Layoffs Hit A&E, Lifetime Post-Merger

Adalian — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 18:59:52 -0600

By Josef Adalian

The fallout from the merger of Lifetime and A&E Networks has begun.

Variety reports that more than 100 staffers have been let go this week, with non-programming posts getting hit hardest. Jessica Samet, Lifetime's head of reality programming, is among the casualties, the trade publication said.

Multichannel News broke first details of the layoffs Friday afternoon, though the cuts had been anticipated since the merger was announced.

Check out the Variety story here for more details.

Paltrow Joins Kidman in 'Danish Girl'

Brent Lang — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 18:51:15 -0600

By Variety

Gwyneth Paltrow will join Nicole Kidman in “The Danish Girl,” an adaptation of the David Ebershoff novel that tells the story of a relationship between the first post-operative transsexual, Einar Wegener, and his wife Greta.

Thomas Alfredson (“Let the Right One In”) is directing a script by Lucinda Coxon. Gail Mutrux, Anne Harrison and Linda Reisman are producing, along with Kidman and Per Saari.

Read more at Variety.

'Dr. Phil' Renewed

Brent Lang — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 18:42:52 -0600

By the Hollywood Reporter

Syndicated talk show "Dr. Phil" has been renewed through the 2013-2014 season in 70% of the country, including 20 of the top 25 markets.

The three-year renewal will take "Dr. Phil," now in its eighth year, through its 12th season. The strip starring Phil McGraw was reupped by stations from the CBS TV group, Gannett Broadcasting, Belo, Media General, LIN Television, Sinclair, Dispatch Broadcasting, Cox, Midwest Broadcasting among others.

Read more at the Hollywood Reporter.

Oscar Verdicts: 'Precious,' 'The Road,' More

Steve Pond — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 18:41:44 -0600

By Steve Pond

The movie that some are calling the Oscar frontrunner comes out today, and Lionsgate will be watching closely to see if the buzz caused by pre-release raves will be sustained now that the dark, gritty film is out in (a few) theaters.

I know I’m arriving late to the party for “Precious” (hey, I didn’t go to Sundance or Toronto and I had to leave theWrap’s screening early to interview the director and star!), but I finally caught up with it last weekend, along with a couple of other films that might figure in the awards picture. So here’s the lates...

'2012's Roland Emmerich: Grilled

Josh Dickey — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 18:03:03 -0600

By Iain Blair

You can usually set your calendar by Roland Emmerich and one of his huge summer disaster spectacles, such “The Day After Tomorrow” or “Independence Day.”

But this year something’s off with his timing – appropriately enough, it turns out, as his latest mega-disaster, “2012,” is based on doomsday interpretations of the Mayan calendar and its apparent prediction that a cataclysm of epic proportions awaits the earth in 2012.

Obviously this sort of thing can’t be handled by governments and scientists. It takes...

Celebrating the Anniversary of an Oscar Snub

Steve Pond — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:25:00 -0600

By Steve Pond

It’s been 15 years since what might be the biggest Oscar snub in history, a decade-and-a-half since the injustice that changed Academy rules and helped lead to the creation of a new branch within AMPAS.

“Hoop Dreams” came out in 1994. It celebrated its 15th anniversary Wednesday night at a theater in Chicago named after Gene Siskel, one of two critics whose support of the documentary was crucial to its success. The colleague who championed the film alongside Siskel, Roger Ebert, saluted what he called “the great American documentary” in a blog post the...