Ratings: 'American Idol' Performance Finale Grows; 'Modern Family' Inches Up for Win

May, 16, 2013 9:22 am | Comments On #American Idol, Arrow, Modern Family, ratings, So You Think You Can Dance, Supernatural, Television

Fox's "American Idol" and "So You Think You Can Dance" both had significant growth and pushed the network to an overall win Wednesday night, but ABC's "Modern Family" enjoyed a modest ratings climb that made it the night's top-rated program, according to preliminary numbers.

Fox took first place in both the advertiser-sought 18-49 demographic with a 2.6 rating/8 share, and in total viewers with 9.3 million. The "American Idol" performance finale at 8 p.m. posted a 2.9/10 -- up slightly from the 2.8/8 that last Wednesday's two-hour episode and a 16 percent jump from the common 8-9 p.m. hour that the two episodes shared.

Also read: Insider: 'American Idol' to...

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In Your Face, Networks: 'Arrested Development' Banana Stand Hits Upfronts

May, 13, 2013 11:05 am | Comments On #Bluth's Frozen Banana Stand, NBC, Netflix, new season, Television, upfront

Beware the banana stand.

As advertisers filed into NBC's presentation of its 2013-14 slate, they couldn't help but be   reminded of broadcast networks' rising online competition: Right across the street was a frozen banana stand promoting Netflix's "Arrested Development" and drawing a line down the block.

Bluth's Original Frozen Banana Stand, based on the family business on the canceled Fox show, is traveling the United States to promote its May 26 return on Netflix. Fox's upfront presentation was scheduled for later in the day.

So as NBC unveiled clips of its new shows in one of the world's most famous buildings -- Radio City Music Hall -- Netflix stole...

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NBC Upfront: Bob Greenblatt Jokes Jay Leno Taking His Job; Leno and Fallon Duet Again

May, 13, 2013 8:57 am | Comments On #new season, Television

NBC entertainment chief Bob Greenblatt joked that Jay Leno is taking over his job as the network offered an upfront presentation that focused on Jimmy Fallon's takeover of "The Tonight Show" -- and featured another duet between the hosts.

NBC unveiled its 2012-13 slate to advertisers from a Rockefeller Center set that recalled the stately sets of one of its late-night shows. Standing between two oversized halves of a peacock logo, Greenblatt and other executives promoted new series ranging from “The Michael J. Fox Show” to the James Spader drama “The Blacklist,” both of which received a warm response from advertisers.

Last year’s upfront presentation was full of...

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Fox Chief Discusses '24' Return, 'American Idol' Judges

May, 13, 2013 6:14 am | Comments On #24, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, dads, Fox, Kiefer Sutherland, new season, Seth MacFarlane, Television

Fox entertainment chairman Kevin Reilly says "24" will be back for a 12-hour limited run and that the remaining "American Idol" judges are welcome to return next season. He also said the show would "likely" go back to having three judges.

Reilly said he could not confirm a report by TheWrap last week that all four current "American Idol" judges would not be back but said that "everything is on the table."

He noted: "It's confirmed that one judge is not coming back," referring to Randy Jackson's announcement last week that he will exit the show.

Also read: Insider: 'Idol' to Axe All 4 Judges as Part of Massive Makeover (...

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Fox's Fall Lineup: Abrams on Mondays; MacFarlane, Samberg on Tuesdays

May, 13, 2013 5:01 am | Comments On #Almost Human, andy samberg, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, dads, new season, rake, Seth MacFarlane, Television

Fox announced Monday that "Sleepy Hollow" and J.J. Abrams' futuristic cop drama "Almost Human" will air on Mondays in the fall, while Seth MacFarlane's "Dads" and the Andy Samberg series "Brooklyn Nine-Nine" will join the network's Tuesday comedy lineup.

Fox also announced that "The New Girl" and a new comedy to be determined will air in the plum spot after the Super Bowl. It also said the new Greg Kinner legal drama "Rake" and the cop drama "Gang Related" are scheduled to debut in midseason. So will the comedies "Surviving Jack," "Us & Them" and "Murder Police."

And Fox's first limited-...

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NBC Fall Lineup: James Spader Drama to Follow 'Voice,' Michael J. Fox and Sean Hayes to Anchor Thursdays

May, 12, 2013 3:21 pm | Comments On #NBC, new season, pilot season, Television

NBC will give the coveted Monday timeslot after "The Voice" to the new James Spader drama "The Blacklist" this fall, and will anchor its Thursday comedy block with new sitcoms from returning NBC veterans Michael J. Fox and Sean Hayes.

The network also said it will hold the new J.J. Abrams drama "Believe" until midseason, when it will also premiere the dramas “Crisis” and “Crossbones,” the long-planned John Malkovich pirate series.

Also read: New TV Season Scorecard (So Far)

The announcements come as NBC tries to recover from lower ratings this season -- but also as it has surpassed ABC as the third-highest-rated network. It will try to launch new shows -- and Jimmy Fallon's takeover...

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CBS Orders James Van Der Beek Comedy to Series

May, 12, 2013 3:00 pm | Comments On #CBS, new season, pilot season, Television

James Van Der Beek is back in action.

Getty Images

CBS has ordered the comedy pilot "Friends With Better Lives," which stars Van Der Beek, to series.

Van Der Beek most recently starred in the comedy "Don't Trust the B---- in Apt. 23," which was  pulled from ABC's schedule in January.

The multi-camera series, which comes from 20th Century Fox Television in association with Kapital Entertainment, revolves around a group of 30-something friends who each think the other has it better. Brooklyn Decker, Rick Donald, Kevin Connolly, Zoe Lister Jones and Majandra Delfino also star.

 

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Sony Shocked by Univision Announcing 'Breaking Bad' Adaptation - No Deal's Done (Exclusive)

May, 10, 2013 1:36 pm | Comments On #Breaking Bad, Metastasis, Television, Univision

Univision shocked Sony on Friday when it announced plans to air a Spanish-language "Breaking Bad" adaptation -- because the studio does not have any deal with Univision to adapt the AMC methamphetamine drama.

Sony, which owns "Breaking Bad," has already called Univision to express its surprise and disappointment that the largest Spanish-language network would announce the new show, which would be called "Metastasis,” as part of its lineup for next year.

Sony has shot an internal pilot for Latin American markets, which could be the first of many foreign-language "Breaking Bad" adaptations. But Sony is in talks with several potential partners, and Univision is only one of them, a person at Sony who is familiar with the situation told TheWrap.

"We have made a pilot for a Spanish version of Breaking Bad," the person...

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Spanish-Language 'Breaking Bad,' 'Gossip Girl' Adaptations in the Works, Univision Says

May, 10, 2013 12:49 pm | Comments On #Breaking Bad, Television

(Update: A person at Sony, which owns "Breaking Bad," says no deal is in place with Univision for an adaptation)

If you miss "Gossip Girl" and fear the impending exit of "Breaking Bad," it may be time to learn Spanish: Univision announced Friday that it plans Spanish-language adaptations of both shows.

But a person at Sony familiar with the situation said no deal is in place for a "Breaking Bad" adaptation. Warner Bros., which owns "Gossip Girl," said an adaptation for their show is indeed in the works.

Watch a "Gossip Girl Acapulco" preview...

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Ratings: 'American Idol' Climbs After News of Randy Jackson's Exit

May, 10, 2013 9:31 am | Comments On #American Idol, Big Bang Theory, ratings, Television, The Office

Look out, dawg: Could Randy Jackson's departure already be proving fortuitous for "American Idol"?

While it could just be a coincidence, "American Idol" grew solidly on Thursday night, following news that longtime judge Jackson is leaving the show after this season. Meanwhile, CBS's "The Big Bang Theory" took the night's top ratings, helping to propel the network to an overall win.

CBS was first in both the advertiser-sought 18-49 demographic with a 2.7/8 and in total viewers with 12.1 million. "The Big Bang Theory" at 8 was the night's top-rated show despite a minor decline from last week, posting a 4.6/16, and was also the night's most-watched show with 15.7 million total viewers. The "Two and a Half Men" season finale at 8:30 grew slightly to a 3.4/11 and took 12.6 million total viewers. "...

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