Hot Off The Press: The Latest TV News and Information - Page 1003

TV Notes
On The Air Tonight
Thursday’s Network Prime-Time Programming Options

(Reminder: If you are recording these programs, check your network listings for precise start/end times. For PBS, please double check your local listings.)

ABC:
8 Ugly Betty HD
9 Grey’s Anatomy HD
10 Private Practice HD

CBS:
8 Survivor: Tocantins (season premiere) HD
9 CSI HD
10 Eleventh Hour HD

NBC:
8 My Name Is Earl HD
8:30 Kath & Kim HD
9 The Office HD
9:30 30 Rock HD
10 ER HD

Fox:
8 The 40th NAACP Image Awards HD

PBS
8 The This Old House Hour HD
9 Antiques Roadshow: Dallas (R) HD
10 Soundstage: Seal HD

The CW:
8 Smallville (R) HD
9 Supernatural (R) HD

MNT:
8 Movie: Mississippi Masala (1991) (R) HD

The MNTV HD Schedule is from jimboy’s http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...0714&highlight=

TV Notes
Late Show' Marred By Bizarre Phoenix Interview
Actor's Disturbing Behavior Leaves Letterman Scratching His Head, Audience Wondering What Just Happened
Dave: "Joaquin, I'm Sorry You Couldn't Be Here Tonight"

NEW YORK (CBS) ― If you thought Joaquin Phoenix was bizarre before, his behavior during an interview on the "Late Show with David Letterman" on Wednesday didn't do much to dispel the notion that the actor, at times, isn't all there.

In by far one of the weirdest interviews Letterman has ever conducted, Phoenix appeared detached, aloof and at times irritated during a seven-minute sit-down that had the audience rolling and Letterman searching for some way to get meaningful answers.

Was it all possibly a put-on by the talented actor? Not likely. It's hard to imagine anyone going in front of a national television audience and purposely making himself look that bad. But then again, Hollywood is Hollywood. One never knows.

Phoenix came out dressed in all black, with long hair, a shaggy beard and wearing dark shades, sort of like a Blue Brothers get-up on steroids.

Letterman started out by saying it had been three years since Phoenix had been on the program. The veteran host started in playfully on the actor's beard, asked if it was comfortable or itchy. Phoenix seemed completely aloof and unaware that Letterman was even talking to him. Letterman asked if the beard was comfortable.

"I'm okay with it, but now you're making me feel weird about it," Phoenix said.

Letterman then joked that he can't possibly be the first person to make him feel weird about it, to which the 34-year-old star of such films as "Gladiator" and "Signs," said, "No, I guess not."

Phoenix scratched the left side of his face and Letterman pointed out that's what he was referring to. Is the beard uncomfortable? Phoenix said the scratching was just a nervous tick.

Letterman then lauded Phoenix for his new movie, "Two Lovers," that he stars in alongside Academy Award winner Gwyneth Paltrow. Phoenix, however, seemed completely detached, like he didn't realize Letterman was speaking to him.

"Oh yeah, Gwyneth Paltrow and Vinessa Shaw," Phoenix said after a long pause and adjusting his shades.

Letterman told Phoenix he loved the movie and his acting. Phoenix just replied, "Thank you."

At that point the audience was beginning to catch on that something just wasn't right with the entire interview. Laughter began to dictate Dave's questions. Phoenix, however, seemed unfazed by the whole thing, lost in whatever world he was currently occupying.

After a long pause, Letterman, clearly puzzled by Phoenix's lack of focus in the interview, got in one of the best zingers of the conversation.

"So what can you tell me about your days with the Unabomber?"

Phoenix just stared into space.

Later, Letterman said he hoped after Phoenix took some time off from acting, as he had said he plans to do to pursue a music career, he would reconsider and return to the big screen because, Letterman said, Phoenix is one of the best actors in Hollywood.

Phoenix didn't reply, even as the audience members encouraged him with cheers and applause.

Letterman continued his prodding and asked Phoenix what he plans on doing while taking a sabbatical from acting.

"Well, I've been working on my music," he said through a stutter.

Letterman then praised Phoenix for his work in the Academy Award-nominated flick "Walk The Line" and asked if that style of music is something Phoenix wants to pursue.

"No, no … I do more of hip-hop music," he replied.

The audience snickered and Phoenix looked generally surprised and said, "What is that, a joke?" He then looked at Letterman and said, "What do you have them on? What do you gas them up with?"

Phoenix later uttered a simple "yes" when asked if it was fun to act alongside "Two Lovers" co-star Isabella Rossellini.

Letterman then asked Phoenix if he has any fun stories to tell the audience. Again, Phoenix looked lost, as if he didn't understand the question.

Letterman asked the actor to keep the "Late Show" in mind when his new hip-hop career takes off because "we want to be there."

"Well, I'd love to come on this show and perform," Phoenix said, setting the stage for some of the most uncomfortable moments of the interview.

Letterman quickly responded, "You know that seems unlikely," to huge laughs.

Phoenix tried to say he's seen some of the other guests perform, as if to say if you'd give them the chance why not me? But Letterman quickly segued into something else.

"I'll keep you in our Rolodex," Letterman said to huge laughs.

Letterman, as he customarily does with guests on his show, asked Phoenix to help set up the clip he was about to show. Phoenix had no idea and took exception to Paul Shaffer's laughing. "Are you ------ kidding? Are you serious with that maniacal laughter? I don't know what the clip is."

Letterman explained it was a clip with Paltrow, to which Phoenix said, "You're doing fine." Letterman fired back, "That's high praise, coming from you."

That response clearly irked Phoenix, who tried to get an explanation from Letterman for his sarcasm. The host said, "Relax. We're having fun."

"I'll come to your house and chew gum," Letterman added.

Phoenix took the gum out of his mouth and put it under Letterman's desk.

Letterman closed the interview by saying, "Joaquin, I'm sorry you couldn't be here tonight."

Phoenix smiled a bit, looked down and said, "He's funny. He's a funny dude."

See the entire bizarre segment here:
http://www.buzzfeed.com/tweetmeme/yo...terman-2-11-09

http://wcbstv.com/entertainment/joaq....2.933282.html

Digital Transition Notes
FCC Rejects 25% of TV Stations' Early DTV-Switch Applications
By Ira Teinowitz, TVWeek, February 11, 2009

The Federal Communications Commission late Wednesday rejected, at least temporarily, a quarter of the requests from the 491 TV stations that had asked to switch to digital-only signals on Feb. 17.

President Barack Obama earlier Wednesday signed legislation pushing back the national switch to June 12 from the original Feb. 17 date. Stations were given the option of applying to stick with the February date.

The FCC had warned it might reject switches that weren’t in the public interest. In Wednesday night’s action the commission expressed concern about markets where all the major network affiliates were switching early. That would potentially leave viewers who were unprepared for the digital switchover without any source for local TV news or emergency messages.

The action blocked switches of major stations in Dayton, Ohio; Eugene, Ore.; Billings, Mont.; Lincoln, Neb.; Madison, Wis.; Providence, R.I.; Rockford, Ill.; LaCrosse, Wis.; Charleston, W.Va.; Santa Barbara, Calif.; Sioux City, Iowa; Topeka, Kan.; Wausau, Wis. and Wichita, Kan., among other locations.

The agency, however, suggested it could let many of the same stations go ahead with switch if at least one major local station would continue to broadcast an analog signal. Other factors considered would be as assessment of whether the analog station had news and public affairs programming and if stations would set up “walk in” centers to help local residents apply for coupons and set up converter boxes that would let analog TVs receive digital signals. The stations were asked to agree to the conditions by Friday if they wanted to go ahead.

“We have identified 123 stations of the 491 intending to terminate analog service on February 17th whose early termination poses a significant risk of substantial public harm,” the agency said in a statement.

The FCC determined which applications for an early switch would be rejected by identifying markets in which all stations would be terminating analog service on Feb. 17.

Then the agency spotlighted the markets in which affiliates of all four of the major networks, ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC, would be terminating analog service.

Alternatively, the agency looked at markets that do not have affiliates of all four networks to determine if all of the major networks broadcasting in those markets would be terminating their analog service on Feb. 17th.

Other factors that went into the FCC's analysis included the size of the market, and how critical it is in a market to have major networks and affiliates delivering local news and public affairs information.

“Therefore, even if independent or non-commercial stations remain on the air in these markets, we still considered these areas at risk,” the FCC said.

http://www.tvweek.com/news/2009/02/f...rly_dtvswi.php

TV Notes
ABC extends 'Bachelor' party with special
Hourlong episode to follow reality series' 'shocking' finale
By James Hibberd, The Hollywood Reporter, Feb 12, 2009

"Bachelor" fans, get ready for more drama.

With the relationship series blazing in the ratings for ABC this season, the network has ordered a one-hour special to air the day after the finale.

The events in the show's regular three-hour conclusion are dramatic enough to warrant an additional hour, creator Mike Fleiss said.

"It's going to be shocking," Fleiss said. "The end of this series is the best we've every had."

"Bachelor" normally airs a one-hour reunion special called "After the Final Rose." Last year, the reunion actually drew a bigger rating than the finale itself, an unusual occurrence in the reality universe.

On March 3, ABC will air the tentatively titled "After the Final Rose: Part 2," including additional interviews with bachelor Jason Mesnick, the woman he chose and the woman he didn't pick.

Now in its 13th edition, Fleiss and Warner Horizon's "The Bachelor" is defying ratings gravity by growing its numbers nearly every episode. Season-to-date, "The Bachelor" is averaging 10.1 million viewers and a 3.7 rating among adults 18-49. That's up 28% in the adult demo compared with the same point last year; the show also is drawing its largest audience in nearly five years.

Fans have responded to Mesnick and his young son, and having a single dad as the bachelor has brought new elements to the show's narrative. Although not officially renewed, Fleiss is confident "Bachelor" will return and is working on its creative for next year.

"I can't think of more than a handful of shows that have reversed a downward ratings trend like we have," Fleiss said.

And given Mesnick's popularity, Fleiss didn't rule out the possibility of viewers seeing him again.

"Maybe we'll do a wedding special," Fleiss said. "The couple seems pretty happy."

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/...7e75611e5138aa

TV Notes
Nets piling on pilots for fall season
Comedies, dramas get networks' go-ahead
By Cynthia Littleton, Variety

ABC continues to load up on comedy pilots, giving greenlights to six more projects Wednesday. CBS, meanwhile, added three more drama projects, from scribes Shawn Ryan, Pam Veasey and Margaret Nagle, to its roster.

ABC gave the official go-ahead to a "Cougar Town," a laffer from "Scrubs" creator Bill Lawrence and Kevin Biegel. Project, from ABC Studios, stars Courteney Cox as a fortysomething mom with a 17-year-old son.

Alphabet's untitled Kelsey Grammer comedy, from Warner Bros. TV and Tom Werner's Good Humor TV, is also a go. Comedy penned by "Everybody Loves Raymond" scribe Tucker Cawley stars Grammer as a former Wall Street hotshot who's forced to reconnect with his family after losing his job.

Cedric the Entertainer will star and has co-written the script with Bob Fisher for a half-hour from DreamWorks TV and ABC Studios about reserve police officers for the LAPD. Charles Segars is also exec producing.

"Canned" is a multicamera ensembler from Brillstein Entertainment Partners and ABC Studios about a group of friends who all get fired on the same day. Kevin Etten penned the script and will exec produce with Brillstein's Peter Traugott.

The Sony Pictures TV-based Tantamount shingle run by Mitch Hurwitz, Eric Tannenbaum and Kim Tannenbaum has been given a presentation order for an untitled parenting-themed laffer at ABC to star Anita Renfro. Script was written by Rob Hanning and Amy Welsh, who will exec produce with Hurwitz and the Tannenbaums.

Jamie Tarses is fielding a laffer for ABC about an accident-prone woman who balances raising three kids with trying to reclaim who she was before she became a wife and mother. Based on the book "Slummy Mummy" by Fiona Neill, pilot script was penned by Gaby Allen, who will exec produce the presentation with Tarses.

At CBS, 20th Century Fox TV's "Confessions of a Contractor" is a provocative look at life in L.A. through the eyes of a successful contractor. Ryan is exec producing the script by Richard Murphy, who is also the author of the novel of the same name.

Veasey, longtime showrunner on CBS' "CSI: NY," is at the helm of "I Witness," about a gumshoe professor who uses her physiological skills to solve crimes. Veasey co-wrote the script with Trey Callaway, who will also exec produce.

Nagle is the writer and exec producer of the Warner Bros. TV medical drama centering on a complicated family of doctors.

http://www.variety.com/article/VR111...goryid=14&cs=1

18-49 Overnight Nielsen Notes
Supersized 'Idol' wins the night for Fox
Averages a 9.4 in 18-49s, tripling No. 2 CBS's 2.9
By Toni Fitzgerald, MediaLifeMagazine.com staff writer, Feb 12, 2009

A double helping of “American Idol” boosted Fox to a dominant No. 1 last night as the hit reality show unveiled the 36 semi-finalists vying for this year’s title.

“Idol” expanded from its usual one hour to two, averaging a 9.4 adults 18-49 rating from 8 to 10 p.m., according to Nielsen overnights. That was more than triple the rating for No. 2 CBS.

As expected, that put a pinch on the other networks. ABC’s “Lost” was off 6 percent from last week, from a 4.7 to a 4.4, airing at 9 p.m., though it was still easily the night’s No. 2 show.

NBC’s “Life” mustered a mere 1.4 in the 9 p.m. slot, and CBS’s 8 p.m. comedies combined for a 2.0 rating.

As a reminder, all ratings are based on live-plus-same-day DVR playback. Seven-day DVR data won’t be available for several weeks. Twenty-eight percent of Nielsen households have DVRs.

As aforementioned, Fox dominated the night with a 9.4 rating and 23 share. CBS was second at 2.9/7, followed by ABC at 2.6/7, Univision at 2.1/5, NBC at 1.6/4 and the CW at 0.4/1.

Ratings for Univision may adjust when finals are released later today, as the network carried live coverage of the U.S.-Mexico soccer game into the 8 p.m. hour, and fast nationals measure timeslot and not actual program data.

At 8 p.m., “Idol” led with a 9.0 rating, followed by Univision with the finish of the soccer game at 2.4. CBS was third with a 2.0 for “The New Adventures of Old Christine” (1.9) and “Garry Unmarried” (2.1), followed by ABC’s “Lost” rerun at 1.6, NBC’s “Knight Rider” at 1.2, and CW’s “Privileged” rerun at 0.5.

At 9 p.m. “Idol” remained well ahead at 9.8, followed by “Lost” at 4.4. CBS’s “Criminal Minds” was third at 3.3, followed by Univision’s “Cuidado con el Angel” at 2.0, NBC’s “Life” at 1.4 and the CW’s “90210” rerun at 0.4.

At 10 p.m., CBS took over the lead with a 3.4 for “CSI: NY,” with NBC’s “Law & Order” second at 2.1, ABC’s “Life on Mars” third at 1.9, and Univision’s “Fuego en la Sangre” fourth at 1.8.

Fox led the night among households with a 14.1/22, with CBS second at 7.0/11, ABC third at 4.0/6, NBC fourth at 3.9/6, Univision fifth at 2.3/4 and the CW sixth at 0.7/1.

http://www.medialifemagazine.com/art...ht_for_Fox.asp

Nielsen Notes
'Lost' most popular online show
By James Hibberd, The Hollywood Reporter, in his LiveFeed blog, February 12, 2009

Making its first public release of individual online program rankings, Nielsen announced that ABC's "Lost" was the most popular program on the Web in December.

That's particularly impressive given that "Lost" wasn't even on TV in December.

Episodes of "Lost" were streamed by 1.4 unique visitors during the survey period, with NBC's Saturday Night Live was a close second (1.1 million), followed by ABC's Grey's Anatomy (879,000).

"SNL" was likely actually first, however, since Nielsen's survey included ABC.com, CBS Television, CWTV.com, FOX Broadcasting and NBC.com but did not factor Hulu.com, where "SNL" is often the most popular show. Hulu, explains Nielsen, "currently does not report VideoCensus data at the program level, and include unique viewers who viewed a full episode." If that's accurate, one suspect Hulu's reporting ability might quickly upgrade once Nielsen's "'Lost' is most popular online series" report gets some media play.

The Top 10 List:
1 Lost ABC.com 1,425,000
2 Saturday Night Live NBC.com 1,111,000
3 Grey's Anatomy ABC.com 879,000
4 Desperate Housewives ABC.com 723,000
5 Heroes NBC.com 685,000
6 Ugly Betty ABC.com 631,000
7 Samantha Who? ABC.com 560,000
8 Scrubs ABC.com 519,000
9 Survivor CBS Television 496,000
10 True Beauty ABC.com 462,000

http://www.thrfeed.com/2009/02/niels...show.html#more

I am doing the same, CP95.

TV Notes
On The Air Tonight
Some Thursday Basic Cable HD First-Run, Prime-Time Options

A & E
9 The First 48 HD
10 The Beast HD

Animal Planet
9 Animal Armageddon: Death Rays HD

Discovery Channel
10 Treasure Quest: Turning Lead Into Gold HD

ESPN
7 College Basketball: Louisville at Notre Dame HD
9 College Basketball: UCLA at Arizona State HD

TLC:
9 Street Customs: Road to SEMA HD
10 Heli-Loggers: The Greenhorn and the Beast HD

TNT:
8 NBA: Miami at Chicago HD
10:30 NBA: Boston at Dallas HD

U S A
10 Burn Notice HD

You are correct, David. Thanks for catching the editing error.

TV Notes
Joanna Pacitti pulled from 'American Idol'
Singer disqualified after link to 19 Ent. execs is revealed
By Nellie Andreeva, The Hollywood Reporter, Feb 12, 2009

It wouldn't be an "American Idol" season without a little controversy.

Early judges favorite Joanna Pacitti has been removed from the competition even though Wednesday night's episode showed her advance through the semifinals despite fumbling the lyrics of all three songs during Hollywood Week.

"It has been determined that Joanna Pacitti is ineligible to continue in the competition," Fox's Wednesday night press release announcing the semifinalists said.

Pacitti was an early target of outrage among "Idol" fans, who complained that she didn't fit within the amateur singing competition status of the show with previous record label deal, an album and music videos -- a throwback to Season 7's Carly Smithson who made it to the top six last year.

But sources said it was ultimately Pacitti's recently revealed friendship with executives from Simon Fuller's 19 Entertainment, which co-produces "Idol," that got her the boot after she failed to disclose it.

Pacitti is not the first "Idol" contestant to face an untimely exit from the show. An early front-runner in Season 2, Frenchie Davis, was disqualified after making it to the semifinals when topless photos of her surfaced on an adult Web site. Corey Clark and twins Terrell and Derrell Brittenum were sent packing over criminal history.

Pacitti is being replaced by Felicia Barton, the mom who was sent home in the Wednesday episode.

Pacitti's exit is bound to keep fans buzzing at a key time for "Idol."

The singing competition usually takes a dip in the ratings in the first semi-final live shows. A little controversy could keep viewers interested through the "Idol" down time.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/...81df3b290d946d

TV Notes
FX Orders Sixth Season Of 'Rescue Me'
Denis Leary also launching 'Rescue Me' Comedy Tour
By Alex Weprin, Broadcasting & Cable, February 12, 2009

FX is bringing Denis Leary’s firefighter drama Rescue Me back for a sixth season, the network said Thursday.

Leary will also launch the Rescue Me Comedy Tour, in an effort to promote season five of the series which bows April 7, and to raise money for his charity The Leary Firefighters Foundation.

The tour will present the first episode of season five and will feature stand-up from leary and Rescue co-stars Lenny Clarke and Adam Ferrara, as well as other guests.

“Rescue Me is one of the very best series on television and a tentpole program for FX,” said FX president John Landgraf, announcing the pickup. “We’re amazed by the quality of episodes for the upcoming fifth season, which are some of the best they’ve ever produced. I believe this show will continue to maintain a level of excellence for several years to come and we’re thrilled to pick it up for a sixth season.”

FX will be cutting the number of episodes for season six however, bringing it down to 18 from the 22 for season five.

http://www.broadcastingcable.com/art...Rescue_Me_.php

(From Marc Berman’s February 12, 2008, Programming Insider newsletter at Mediaweek.com)
Wednesday’s Final Nielsens

(Posted by Travis Yanan)

American Idol (120 minutes)
- 24.825 million viewers
- 14.0/22 HH
- 9.5/23 A18-49

Criminal Minds
- 12.476 million viewers
- 8.0/12 HH
- 3.0/7 A18-49

CSI: NY
- 11.939 million viewers
- 7.6/13 HH
- 3.1/8 A18-49

Knight Lost (62 minutes)
- 9.820 million viewers
- 5.7/9 HH
- 4.4/10 A18-49

Law & Order
- 7.436 million viewers
- 5.0/8 HH
- 2.0/5 A18-49

Old Christine
- 6.872 million viewers
- 4.2/7 HH
- 1.9/5 A18-49

Gary Unmarried
- 6.540 million viewers
- 4.2/6 HH
- 2.1/5 A18-49

Rider
- 5.482 million viewers
- 3.5/5 HH
- 1.3/3 A18-49

Life on Mars (58 minutes)
- 4.628 million viewers
- 3.0/5 HH
- 1.6/4 A18-49
*might as well just air another Lost repeat...*

Life
- 4.591 million viewers
- 3.2/5 HH
- 1.3/3 A18-49

Lost (R, 8pm)
- 4.307 million viewers
- 2.9/5 HH
- 1.6/4 A18-49

Privileged (R)
- 1.018 million viewers
- 0.7/1 HH
- 0.4/1 A18-49
- 0.5/1 A18-34

90210 (R)
- 0.876 million viewers
- 0.6/1 HH
- 0.4/1 A18-49
- 0.6/1 A18-34

• Source: Nielsen Media Research data (R = repeat)

http://pifeedback.com/eve/forums/a/t...7981#992107981

http://travisyanan.blogspot.com/

Note: Previous overnight ratings are available at Marc Berman’s Programmers Insider blog:

http://pifeedback.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/63310451/m/460103871