Hot Off The Press: The Latest TV News and Information - Page 2695

Nope, tonight is the finale:

http://www.cbs.com/shows/dogs_in_the_city/

That's true, it's more like a direct pay-per-view experience anyway being that it's only available with a DirecTV subscription.

My bad! Fixed.

TUESDAY's fast affiliate overnight prime-time ratings -and what they mean- have been posted on Analyst Marc Berman's Media Insight's Blog

Nielsen Overnights (18-49)
NBC’s ‘Talent’ rises against All-Star Game
Reality competition averages a 2.7 in 18-49s, up 17 percent
By Toni Fitzgerald, Media Life Magazine - Jul. 11, 2012

Even airing against tougher competition in Fox's Major League Baseball All-Star Game, NBC's "America's Got Talent" saw a week-to-week jump.

The veteran hit was the night's No. 2 show behind the game, and it was the top non-sports program, jumping 17 percent versus last week.

"Talent" averaged a 2.7 adults 18-49 rating from 8 to 10 p.m., according to Nielsen, peaking with a 3.0 rating in its second hour.

That tied with the All-Star Game at 9 p.m.

It was an otherwise low-rated night for broadcast. The premiere of the new sketch comedy show "Trust Us With Your Life" on ABC managed just a 1.1 at 9 p.m., dropping 21 percent of "Wipeout's" 1.4 lead-in.

Not surprisingly, Fox finished first for the night among 18-49s with a 2.9 average overnight rating and a 9 share. NBC was second at 2.2/7, Univision third at 1.4/4, ABC fourth at 1.3/4, CBS fifth at 1.1/3, Telemundo sixth at 0.7/2 and CW seventh at 0.3/1.

As a reminder, all ratings are based on live-plus-same-day DVR playback, which includes shows replayed before 3 a.m. the night before. Seven-day DVR data won't be available for several weeks. Forty-four percent of Nielsen households have DVRs.

Also, ratings for Fox's MLB All-Star Game coverage are approximate as fast nationals measure timeslot and not actual program data. See this story for more on the game's ratings.

At 8 p.m. Fox led with a 2.9 for baseball, followed by NBC with a 2.5 for "Talent." ABC was third with a 1.4 for "Wipeout." CBS and Univision tied for fourth at 1.2, CBS for a repeat of "NCIS" and Univision for "Un Refugio para el Amor." Telemundo was sixth with a 0.6 for "Una Maid en Manhattan" (0.7) and "Rosa Diamante" (0.5), and the CW was seventh with a 0.3 for a repeat of "Hart of Dixie."

Fox and NBC tied for the lead at 9 p.m., each with a 3.0 rating, Fox for baseball and NBC for more "Talent." Univision was third with a 1.5 for "Abismo de Pasion." ABC and CBS tied for fourth at 1.1, ABC for "Trust Us with Your Life" and CBS for a repeat of "NCIS: Los Angeles." Telemundo was sixth with a 0.6 for "Corazon Valiente" and CW seventh with a 0.2 for a repeat of "The L.A. Complex."

At 10 p.m. Fox was first with a 3.0 for more baseball, with Univision second with a 1.6 for "La Que No Podia Amar." NBC was third with a 1.3 for "Love in the Wild," ABC fourth with a 1.2 for "NY Med," CBS fifth with a 1.1 for "48 Hours Mystery" and Telemundo sixth with a 0.9 for "Pablo Escobar: El Patron del Mal."

Fox was also first for the night among households with a 6.3 average overnight rating and a 10 share. NBC was second at 5.1/8, CBS third at 4.3/7, ABC fourth at 2.7/5, Univision fifth at 1.9/3, Telemundo sixth at 0.9/2 and CW seventh at 0.4/1.

http://www.medialifemagazine.com/talent-leads-the-way-against-all-stars/

* * * *

Nielsen Overnights/TV Sports
Slight rise for All-Star Game rating
Fox averages an 8.1, up 2.5 percent from last year's all-time low

San Francisco Giants player Melky Cabrera was named the All-Star MVP after hitting a two-run homer.It wasn't by much, but Fox's Major League Baseball All-Star Game did improve over last year's all-time low.

The game averaged an 8.1 metered-market household rating, according to Nielsen, up 2.5 percent over 2011's 7.9.

That's a milestone of sorts for Fox. It's the first time the game has shown a year-to-year improvement since 2008.

And it was the first time in three years that the game did not set another all-time low, though it was still the second-lowest rated game ever.

Still, the low ratings were not a surprise based on the dullness of the game.

Unlike most all-star contests, the outcome of the MLB game actually matters, because it determines which division gets home-field advantage during the playoffs. So it's often more competitive than a typical all-star game.

But yesterday the National League jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the first inning and extended its lead to 8-0 in the fourth, a score that stood for the game.

It's difficult to draw in a big audience when the game is essentially over in the first inning.

St. Louis, home of the defending World Series champion Cardinals, had the highest rating for the game, a 20.5.

Kansas City, the host, ranked second with an 18.7, and Detroit was third with a 16.1.

Detroit's rating was up 50 percent over last year, likely a tribute to All-Star Prince Fielder, who joined the team in the offseason from the Milwaukee Brewers.

Washington, D.C., saw the second-biggest year to year jump, up 36 percent, reflecting the big boom in interest in baseball in the city this year.

The long-hapless Washington Nationals currently sit in first place in the NL East, and Stephen Strasburg pitched the fourth inning for the NL last night.

http://www.medialifemagazine.com/slight-rise-for-all-star-game-rating/

TV/Business Notes
Bob TV? NBCU Rolls Local News Channels Into New National Network
By Sharon Waxman and Tim Molloy, TheWrap.com - Jul. 11, 2012

NBCUniversal is folding seven local digital news and lifestyle subchannels into a single national channel that will air retro reruns during the day and lifestyle programs in primetime, the network told TheWrap.

The subchannels of NBC affiliates are called NBC Nonstop channels, and the network said in November that it would roll them into one new national channel called Nonstop. But the new plans call for more extensive changes, including adding reruns and a potential name change. "Bob TV" Is one name under consideration.

Nationalizing the channels will mean cutting local news programs, since California news may not play to viewers in Chicago or Miami. But local channels will still have the option of pre-empting the national network's programming to air local news shows if they choose.

The lifestyle programs, meanwhile, will be designed to play across all markets.

"We are planning to convert the Nonstop channels into one channel that will feature original lifestyle and archived programming," NBC spokeswoman Liz Fischer told TheWrap.

Nonstop shows aren't rated by Nielsen because the channels are digital. But Nonstop's content might be most familiar to passengers in New York City taxicabs: One of its best-known lifestyle shows is "Talk Stoop," in which NBCNewYork's Cat Greenleaf interviews celebrities on her own Brooklyn porch as a bulldog naps in the background.

"Talk Stoop," which features host Cat Greenleaf interviewing celebrities on her the stoop outside her home in Brooklyn, airs in New York cabs as well across other Nonstop channels. WNBC estimated for The New York Times in 2010 that up to 40 million people may see "Talk Stoop" each month in taxis and on other LCD screens in delis, in trains or wherever screens may creep.

The seven Nonstop channels are doing well, but require separate 24/7 programming, according to an NBC executive.

The archived shows -- a.k.a. reruns -- may include such NBC properties as "Knight Rider" and "Little House on the Prairie," another person familiar with the plan told TheWrap.

Valari Staab (right), president of NBC Owned Television Stations, runs the Nonstop channels and developed plans for the new network.

The Nonstop channels include NBC California Nonstop (airing in Los Angeles, San Diego and the Bay Area), as well as Nonstop channels in New York, Chicago, Dallas-Fort Worth, Philadelphia, Washington, and Miami.

It's unclear what shows will stay and go, but the lifestye shows that play across all regions -- like "Talk Stoop" -- would seem to have the best chance of survival.

Other shows wouldn't play as well nationwide, including California's Nonstop "The Morning Mix," featuring reports from different California NBC affiliates' broadcasts, and "The Filter With Fred Roggin," featuring the KNBC-Los Angeles sports anchor interviewing guests and offering commentary about the week's local news.

But the California channels could choose to air those shows, or similarly local ones, in place of the national programming once the new network is in place.

http://www.thewrap.com/tv/article/bob-tv-nbcu-rolls-local-news-channels-new-national-network-47351

TV Notes
Nickelodeon orders second season of 'The Legend of Korra'
By Dan Snierson, EW.com's 'Inside TV' Blog - Jul. 11, 2012

EXCLUSIVE: It’s official: The Legend continues! Nickelodeon has picked up a second season of the animated adventure series The Legend of Korra, EW has learned. After averaging 3.8 million viewers for Season 1, Book 1, which concluded June 23, the Avatar: The Last Airbender sequel received an order for 26 more episodes (which presumably will be divided into two parts called Books 3 and 4.)

The show is already set to return in 2013 with the premiere of Season 1, Book 2 (which consists of 14 episodes, finishing off the original 26-episode order), as 17-year-old chosen one Korra (voiced by Janet Varney) has now become a fully realized Avatar. The cast also includes Kiernan Shipka (Mad Men), David Faustino (Married… with Children), and P.J. Byrne (Horrible Bosses).

http://insidetv.ew.com/2012/07/11/legend-of-korra-second-season/

Legal/Business Notes
Judge Denies Injunction Against Barry Diller's Aereo
By Eriq Gardner, The Hollywood Reporter's 'Hollywood, Esq.' Column - Jul. 11, 2012

On Wednesday, New York federal judge Alison Nathan declined to issue an injunction against Aereo in a tremendous blow to major TV broadcasters. She has ruled that the plaintiffs have not demonstrated a likelihood of prevailing in the case.

“Of course I’m happy the judge denied the injunction, and now we can really begin telling television consumers they have an alternative," said Aereo's primary financial backer Barry Diller in a statement.

All of the major networks were firm in their contention that the upstart streaming company violated the transmit clause of the Copyright Act. The company maintains a number of antenaes in Brooklyn which capture over the air television signals and then stream content to its subscribers online.

In the decision denying the injunction, the judge says that the plaintiffs would likely prevail on their claims "but for Cablevision's express holding regarding the meaning fo the provision of the Copyright Act in issue here."

The reference is to a 2008 case before the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals concerning Cablevision's plan to introduce remote-storage DVR.

In that case, the 2nd Circuit ruled that because "each RS-DVR playback transmission is made to a single subscriber using a single unique copy produced by that subscriber ... such transmissions are not performances 'to the public.'"

Aereo wanted to use the decision to justify its own service. The company argued that, like the RS-DVR system in Cablevision, its system creates unique, user-requested copies that are transmitted only to the particular user that created them and, therefore, its performances are nonpublic.

The judge is agreeing with Aereo's assessment.

"Contrary to Plaintiffs' arguments, the copies Aereo's system creates are not materially distinguishable from those in Cablevision, which found that the transmission was made from those copies rather than from the incoming signal," she writes. "Moreover, Plaintiffs' attempt to distinguish Cablevision based on time-shifting fails when confronted with the reasoning of that case, particularly considering that the Second Circuit's analysis was directly focused on the significance of Cablevision' s copies but did not say one word to suggest that time-shifting played any part in its holding."

The judge decides that the broadcasters have not shown a likelihood of success on the merits and although she agrees they face irreparable harm, that the balance of hardships if an injunction is issued does not favor plaintiffs as it will ruin Aereo's business.

Fox, PBS, WNET, Univision and Tribune issued this statement:

"Today’s decision is a loss for the entire creative community. The judge has denied our request for preliminary relief - ruling that it is ok to misappropriate copyrighted material and retransmit it without compensation. While we are disappointed, we will continue to fight to protect our copyrights and expect to prevail on appeal."

CBS added this comment:

“This is only a ruling on a preliminary injuction. This case is not over by a long shot. We intend to immediately appeal this decision to the Second Circuit and seek expedited consideration. We also intend to seek damages and a permanent injunction in this case before this court.”

During the case, the broadcasters argued that if Aereo prevailed, it would be less likely that broadcasters would ever invest billions of dollars for programming, that retransmission negotiations between stations and cable/satellite companies could get even more contentious and that Aereo's service would threaten advertising money and piracy protection and the growth of Internet-based video on demand market.

"Events like the Super Bowl will not be on TV anymore,"predicted the plaintiff's lawyer during the two-day hearing over the motion for the injunction.

"The evidence establishes that Plaintiffs will suffer irreparable harm in the absence of a preliminary injunction," says Judge Nathan, pointing to the fact that a streaming service has the potential of siphoning viewers from traditional distribution channels, which would lower Nielsen ratings and impact the broadcasters' ability to negotiate with advertisers.

"This harm is not speculative," writes the judge, impressed by the testimony of broadcast executives like Fox' Sherry Brennan, who warned about the dangers faced by cable companies. (Much of the evidence submitted was about retransmission fees, but analysts also warn that a favorable decision for Aereo will embolden cable companies to mimic Aereo's service.)

Ultimately, though, the harm aspect is just one factor that the judge takes into consideration. To prevail, the plaintiffs also needed to show they are going to win the case. And on that factor, the judge is less convinced.

"Aereo has made substantial investments of money and human capital in its system, all in reliance on the assumption that the Second Circuit meant what it said in Cablevision rather than what it did not say," she writes. "This Court does not believe it would be appropriate to blaze a trail that runs opposed to the direction dictated by Cablevision."

The judge does, though, make some cautious notes about today's decision, writing that the ruling doesn't "accept Aereo' s position that the creation of any fixed copy from which a transmission is made always defeats a claim for a violation of the public performance right" nor does the judge "need to resolve Aereo's argument that their antennas, standing alone, defeat Plaintiffs' claim that Aereo engages in a public performance."

Lest others attempt a similar route, she says, "The Court's holding that Plaintiffs have not demonstrated a likelihood of success is limited. There may be cases in which copies are purely facilitory, such as true buffer copies or copies that serve no function whatsoever other than to pass along a clearly identifiable 'master' copy from which the transmission is made."

Still, the decision marks a huge victory for Aereo and its lawyers Michael Elkin and R. David Hosp.

Here's the full decision. [CLICK LINK BELOW]

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/barry-diller-aereo-judge-denies-injunction-348101

TV Notes
‘NCIS’ Co-Stars Michael Weatherly, Pauley Perrette & Sean Murray Ink Deals To Return
By Nellie Andreeva, Deadline.com - Jul. 11, 2012

EXCLUSIVE: The entire cast of NCIS will come back intact when the veteran CBS drama starts production on its 10th season next week. Michael Weatherly, Pauley Perrette and Sean Murray have all signed two-year deals to continue on the hit procedural starring Mark Harmon. Weatherly, Perrette and Murray are three of four veteran NCIS cast members whose contracts were up after Season 9. The fourth, David McCallum, re-upped in April, while negotiations between CBS/CBS Studios and Weatherly, Perrette and Murray continued on-and-off until separate agreements were reached over the past 10 days.

Also returning with a new deal is Rocky Carroll, who joined NCIS in Season 5. Weatherly, Perrette and McCallum are original cast members, while Murray joined during the first season. The rest of the cast, including star/executive producer Harmon, have deals in place for next season.

http://www.deadline.com/2012/07/ncis-michael-weatherly-pauley-perrette-sean-murray-renew-contracts-10th-season-cbs/

TV Notes
TNT renews 'Falling Skies' for Season 3
By Arienne Thompson, USA Today - Jul. 11, 2012

Get ready for more Noah Wyle and more aliens.

TNT has renewed Falling Skies, the Steven Spielberg-produced sci fi show about human survivors living in an apocalyptic, post-alien attack world.

"With all the memorable and surprising moments taking place during the second season of Falling Skies, we can't wait to see what DreamWorks Television and Falling Skies' terrific production team and cast members have in store for season three," Michael Wright, president, head of programming for TNT, TBS and Turner Classic Movies, says in a statement.

Falling Skies (Sundays 9 p.m. ET/PT) has been a hit for TNT, averaging 5.9 million viewers and capturing the No. 1 spot on basic cable for the coveted demographic of adults ages 18 to 49.

Wyle, who is best known for his decade-long role as Dr. John Carter on ER, leads the cast, which also includes Moon Bloodgood and Will Patton.

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/entertainment/post/2012/07/tnt-renews-falling-skies-for-season-3/1

TV Notes
Starz goes genre with 'Incursion' and 'Vlad Dracula'
By Patrick Kevin Day, Los Angeles Times' 'Show Tracker' Blog - Jul. 11, 2012

Starz continues to expand its genre cred with two new series the cable network announced for development. The first is a science fiction action thriller from "Spartacus" creator Steven S. DeKnight and the other is a gothic horror thriller from "Babylon 5" creator J. Michael Stracynski.

"Incursion," the series from DeKnight, is set in the middle of an intergalactic battle between humans and an alien race. Each season follows a squad of soldiers on a different planet as they continue the war.

According to Starz, the series is expected to feature "grittily realistic combat" and "darkly complex characters." So don't expect a "Star Trek" variation.

Stracynski, who wrote an impressive 92 of the 110 total episodes of his science fiction series "Babylon 5," returns to TV after an extended sojourn in features (where he wrote the Clint Eastwood movie "Changeling") for the horror-themed series "Vlad Dracula."

The series will mix the real-life history of Vlad the Impaler, the 15th century prince of Wallachia, with the fictional Dracula story as it follows the descent of a respected ruler into an ageless vampire. Stracynski will be teaming with "Ring" producer Roy Lee and "Spartacus" producer Rob Tapert on the series.

The Count is on a bit of a hot streak in Hollywood, with several film projects involving Bram Stoker's creation in various stages of development. Director Eli Roth is working on a version of the Dracula story titled "Harker," which reportedly makes the character of Jonathan Harker into a detective on the vampire's trail. Director Neil Marshall is also working on a retelling of part of the Dracula story titled "Last Voyage of the Demeter." And in 2009, Brad Pitt announced he was producing his own version of the tale, titled "Vlad the Impaler."

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/showtracker/la-et-st-starz-genre-incursion-vlad-dracula-20120711,0,1808984.story

Viacom has also pulled full episodes such as The Daily Show from their online sites, including for those who don't even have DirecTV.

Critic's Notes
What TV Shows Have You Stopped Watching Because of a Single Terrible Episode?
By Matt Zoller Seitz, Vulture.com (New York Magazine) - Jul. 11, 2012

Seitz Asks: What episode of a show was so bad that it made you quit watching?
Seitz Answers: The one with the murderer dressed in a nun's habit on The Practice.

To clarify, I'm not talking about when you sample a series you've never seen before, decide you don't like it, and never watch again. I'm talking about when you're fully or partly invested in a series, despite any faults that it may have, and then it does something so egregious that it pushes it into the "never again" column.

I've had many experiences like that over the years, but one that really stands out is the George Vogelman arc on the ABC legal drama The Practice. That show was already skating on thin ice with me because my tolerance for David E. Kelley was iffy to begin with. As a writer-producer in the eighties, he was part of an elite group that tried to make TV more inventive and surprising. I liked Kelley's kooky fearlessness and irrepressible energy, his "What the hell, let's try it" attitude, even though it often tipped over into stupidity and crassness. I never got into The Practice's sister show, Ally McBeal, because it had such a debilitating case of the cutes, but while The Practice had that quality, too, it wasn't as pronounced, and early on it was more grounded in — well, not "reality," exactly, but something like it. Its characters seemed like plausible people, egotistical and self-righteous but empathetic and good at their jobs. And while the cases sometimes aimed for L.A. Law–style outrageousness, there weren't too many events that didn't seem justifiable within the somewhat nutty context of the series.

Alas, things started to take a turn for the shameless; I don't recall exactly where because I've suppressed a lot of my Practice memories, but it might have been the giant fight among the partners. In any event, Kelley had settled into his go-to mode long before the brawl, doing whatever he felt he needed to do to get a rise out of viewers, character credibility and story continuity be damned. The stupidity spiked earlier in season three when George Vogelman (Michael Monk), the podiatrist that attorney Ellenor Frutt (Camryn Manheim) briefly dated, came into the office with a severed head in a medical bag. After a protracted "Is he or isn't he a killer?" arc, Vogelman was ultimately confirmed as a whack job who'd been terrorizing Boston and who had stabbed Ellenor's colleague Lindsay Dole (Kelli Williams). At the end of season three, he was shown furiously wandering the streets wearing a nun's habit, one of the most unintentionally hilarious images in nineties television. In the third episode of season four, Vogelman showed up at Ellenor's apartment in the habit — very possibly the least imaginative confirmation of an alleged murderer's guilt in the history of filmed media — and Ellenor's roommate Helen Gamble (Lara Flynn Boyle) shot him in the back. And that was it for me and The Practice.

After I wrote a column about how I'd stopped watching the show after that singularly awful episode, a friend asked, "Why didn't you quit earlier?" It was because I didn't want to admit I'd invested so much time in a show that wasn't making me happy anymore, and I figured that if I just kept watching, maybe things would get better. Bad relationship logic.

I had a similar reaction to the episode of Six Feet Under where David Fisher got kidnapped and terrorized by a crackhead. It was well-done, but it was pushing so hard to be "powerful," in that graduate theater workshop way, that it felt cynical and sadistic. It was as if the show had turned into a mean older brother who took a younger sibling's doll away and started punching it while saying, "Look, it's crying!" I quit watching Six Feet for a while after that; I caught up with the rest of the season later, but out of critical obligation rather than enthusiasm.

What episodes of shows made you bail out after months or years of loyal viewing?

http://www.vulture.com/2012/07/what-tv-shows-did-you-stop-watching-because-of-a-single-bad-episode.html

Wait, I waas getting to that; you're one step ahead of me (geez!).

Business Notes
Viacom Under Fire for Pulling Online Video After DirecTV Blackout
By Tim Kenneally, TheWrap.com - Jul. 11, 2012

Forget DirecTV -- Viacom has another foe on its hands after getting pulled from the satellite provider's service on Tuesday.

Public Knowledge, a Washington, D.C.-based Internet-watchdog group, has declared itself "outraged" after Viacom pulled streaming video content from its online outlets, accusing Viacom of using the content as "leverage" in its ongoing dispute with DirecTV.

"Once again it's viewers who suffer when media companies stall in their negotiations. But the scale of Viacom's overreaction is unprecedented," Public Knowledge's senior staff attorney John Bergmayer said in a statement. "Viacom has decided to take a service away from all internet users in its attempt to punish DirecTV. It is apparent that Viacom puts little stock in the internet and the online future of video if it is willing to use all internet users as a pawn in its negotiations."

Viacom still has about 4,500 long-form episodes of its programming online for free; however, it has slimmed down its offerings after DirecTV pulled its networks from its service over a price dispute. DirecTV has made note of Viacom's free online content in its objections to Viacom's request for a price increase.

DirecTV took note of the sudden lack of Viacom streaming video as well, questioning Viacom's motives in a press release.

"Less than 12 hours after disconnecting DirecTV’s television viewers, Viacom is at it again by blocking all Americans who want to see their shows on the Internet. And that means anyone," the release reads.

DirecTV goes on to note that it had created a navigation tool on its DirecTVPromise web site "to help fans find 'Other Ways to Watch' Viacom’s shows online.

"Unfortunately, Viacom shut off access for all users at approximately 3 p.m. EDT. Immediately after, Viacom began a systematic network-by-network black out of most of its sites’ online streaming," DirecTV's statement adds. "Viacom is now not only holding DIRECTV customers hostage, but all online viewers as well."

The satellite provider concludes, "Is this just another underhanded negotiating tactic, or does this mean that Viacom will no longer offer its content free online?"

DirecTV pulled the plug on the Viacom channels as of midnight Tuesday after last-minute negotiations fell through, depriving approximately 20 million customers of Viacom content. The company claims that Viacom is asking for a 30 percent increase in the fees it receives from DirecTV, totaling more than $1 billion.

Derek Chang, DirecTV's executive vice president of content, strategy and development, said in a statement that Viacom was pushing for the fee increase "despite the fact that the ratings for many of their main networks have plummeted and much of Viacom’s programming can be seen for free online.”

Also read: DirecTV Blames Bankruptcy Mess for Pulled Tribune Stations, Seeks FCC Intervention

Following DirecTV's decision to drop the channels slightly before the midnight deadline Tuesday, Viacom issued a statement claiming that it had "proposed a fair deal that amounted to an increase of only a couple pennies per day, per subscriber, and we remained willing to negotiate that deal right up to this evening’s deadline.

However, DirecTV refused to engage in meaningful conversation."

A DirecTV spokesman told TheWrap on Wednesday that the two sides are still in talks, and that the provider and Viacom had "another long discussion" Wednesday morning.

In the meantime, DirecTV is offering eight Encore channels to its residential customers for free until July 31 as a make-up for the disruption of Viacom programming.

http://www.thewrap.com/tv/article/viacom-under-fire-after-pulling-online-video-after-directv-blackout-47381
Edited by dad1153 - 7/11/12 at 8:52pm

Critic's Notes
Bianculli's Best Bets
By David Bianculli, TVWorthWatching.com - Jul. 12, 2012

GENTLEMEN PREFER BLONDES
TCM, 8:00 p.m. ET
Any fan of Smash should watch this 1953 movie musical, but so should everyone else. It’s Marilyn Monroe at her best, playing a sweet gold digger with a heart of gold to match – and with Jane Russell as her brunette, more cynical equivalent. The comedy (directed, deftly, by Howard Hawks) is as flawless as the diamonds Monroe wears while singing her signature song, “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend.” As for the Smash connection – Megan Hilty, who on that NBC series plays one of the Broadway actors hoping to play Monroe in a musical based on the movie star’s life, starred earlier this year on Broadway in an Encores! concert production of Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, playing the part portrayed by Monroe in this movie. And, before that, by Carol Channing on Broadway.

BURN NOTICE
USA, 9:00 p.m. ET
Last week, the focus was on Fiona, in prison. This week, it’s on Sam (Bruce Campbell), who’s on a mission in the Everglades – and is kidnapped. I’ll be watching this for sure, because when I was a young man, I worked one year as a surveyor’s assistant for a U.S. Geological Survey crew, mapping the Everglades. So I’ll be looking for familiar landmarks. And, I guess, watermarks.

ROCK CENTER WITH BRIAN WILLIAMS
NBC, 10:00 p.m. ET
It’s not just on the covers of supermarket tabloids any more. Tonight, Kate Snow reports on the divorce of Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes, with an interview from a person who claims to be privy to the extent to which the Church of Scientology factored in the high-profile celebrity split. Rock Center, even in pop-culture pieces, has managed to take the high road thus far. This story is another test, and a tricky one.

P.O.V.: "GUILTY PLEASURES"
PBS, 10:00 p.m. ET
Tonight’s documentary takes a look at romance novels – the people who read them as well as the people who write them. (Good thing no documentary looks at TV the same way.) For a full review, see Eric Gould’s Cold Light Reader assessment HERE. Check local listings.

LOUIE
FX, 10:30 p.m. ET
Another wonderful new episode – even though, in one of this show’s monologues, Louis C.K. explains why he personally shies away from using the term “wonderful.” This episode finds Louie on location in Miami, where he offers a tour of neighborhoods and dining spots never featured on Born Notice or Miami Vice, and extends his visit to spend more quality time with a new friend. The twist is… well, you should discover that for yourself.

http://www.tvworthwatching.com/

TV Notes
Brett Ratner in Talks to Executive-Produce First Cable Series
By Tim Kenneally and Pamela Chin, TheWrap.com - Jul. 11, 2012

EXCLUSIVE: Brett Ratner is preparing to dip his toe into the cable waters.

The "X3: The Last Stand" and "Tower Heist" director is negotiating to executive-produce the dramedy "Rock in a Hard Place," which would mark his first series for cable.

The series, created by Huffington Post contributor David Fagin, centers on aging Jewish punk legend Lance "Lint" Jones, a former frontman for a band called The Prix who moves in with his mother after a stint in rehab.

"Wings" alum Steven Weber is attached to play Jones, with Rosanna Arquette, who will also co-executive produce, on board to play his ill-tempered ex, Janice, a former soft-core porn actress.

The cast will also include Lesley Ann Warren as Dr. Debbie, a former groupie who finds a second life as a sort of female Dr. Phil.

Griffin Dunne, who co-starred with Arquette in the 1985 comedy "After Hours," will direct the pilot.

In addition to creating the series, Fagin -- who caught Ratner and Arquette's attention by emailing them a home-made sizzle reel -- will collaborate on creating the Prix's catalog with '80s hitmaker Richard Marx.

The project, which could be heading to Showtime, will be produced by Ratner's Rat TV.

Watch a trailer for "Rock in a Hard Place" in the video. [CLICK LINK BELOW]

http://www.thewrap.com/tv/article/brett-ratner-talks-executive-produce-first-cable-series-47151

http://www.thefutoncritic.com/listings/20120628cbs08/
http://www.cbs.com/shows/dogs_in_the_city/

This episode did not air "a couple of weeks ago."

http://www.thefutoncritic.com/showatch/dogs-in-the-city/listings/

Geesh. This makes Dish Network's spats with providers look like tea parties.

HBOZoneHD has a Game Of Thrones series marathon this weekend -- saturday 10am-8pm season 1 eps 1-10 / sunday 10am-8pm season 2 eps 1-10.

Maybe to coincide with this weeks season 1 blu release.

I'm confused. I have owned Season 1 on BD since it was first released in March.

Just got my season 4 Damages DVD in the mail yesterday from Amazon, looking forward to it. I just need to finish getting caught up with Breaking Bad first, I'm in the middle of season two right now.

I figured DirecTV would be the ones coming off looking bad in the public's eye. But I'm reading about a lot of support for DirecTV in this despite a number of folks with kids being without the Nick channels.

You have a collectors item then.

That version has since been discontinued & this week they released the "Bush head" edited version.

It actually was though the lowest total audience ever beating last year which had been the record low.

Adele says "rumour has it" next year instead of the winning league getting 4 of the 7 WS home games they will get 5.

I've got the collector's item too. Why they go through this silliness is just that, silly....

The thing is you konw there will be those that double dip.
Season 1 even gets a 3rd release in november with a bluray/dvd/digital copy boxset with a collectible dragon egg....unfortunatley Emilia Clarke not included.

If Emilia doesn't come with it, no sale!

WEDNESDAY's fast affiliate overnight prime-time ratings -and what they mean- have been posted on Analyst Marc Berman's Media Insight's Blog

Nielsen Overnights (18-49)
Slow Wednesday for the Big Four
'Dance' and 'Talent' tie for top spot with a 1.9 in 18-49s
By Toni Fitzgerald, Media Life Magazine - Jul. 12, 2012

Broadcast elicited little more than a round of yawns last night, with only one Big Four show seeing week-to-week gains and nothing earning more than a 2.0 rating.

Fox's "So You Think You Can Dance" and NBC's "America's Got Talent" tied as the night's No. 1 show with a 1.9 adults 18-49 rating apiece, according to Nielsen overnights.

"Dance," airing its first live episode, was off 10 percent from its most recent outing two weeks ago. It was on hiatus last week for the July 4 holiday.

"Talent" sank to a season low, 32 percent below its average two weeks ago. It also took a breather for the 4th last week.

Elsewhere last night, the season, and probably series, finale of CBS's "Dogs in the City" averaged a 0.9, flat to its most recent edition two weeks ago.

ABC's "Final Witness" was the lone Big Four original show to grow last night, and a good deal of that is because it actually aired an original episode last week, which drew low ratings because of the holiday.

"Witness" averaged a 1.1 at 10 p.m., more than double its 0.5 rating last week.

Fox was first for the night among 18-49s with a 1.9 average overnight rating and a 6 share. Univision was second at 1.4/5, NBC third at 1.4/4, ABC fourth at 1.1/4, CBS fifth at 1.0/3, Telemundo sixth at 0.6/2 and CW seventh at 0.3/1.

As a reminder, all ratings are based on live-plus-same-day DVR playback, which includes shows replayed before 3 a.m. the night before. Seven-day DVR data won't be available for several weeks. Forty-four percent of Nielsen households have DVRs.

At 8 p.m. Fox finished first with a 2.0 for "Dance," followed by Univision with a 1.4 for "Un Refugio para el Amor." ABC was third with a 1.0 for repeats of "The Middle" and "Suburgatory," CBS and NBC tied for fourth at 0.9, CBS for "Dogs" and NBC for reruns of "Betty White's Off Their Rockers" and "Up All Night," Telemundo was sixth with a 0.5 for "Una Maid en Manhattan" (0.6) and "Rosa Diamante" (0.4)" and CW seventh with a 0.3 for a repeat of "America's Next Top Model."

NBC took the lead at 9 p.m. with a 1.9 for "Talent," while Fox slipped to second with a 1.8 for more "Dance." ABC and Univision tied for third at 1.4, ABC for repeats of "Modern Family" and Univision for "Abismo de Pasion," CBS was fifth with a 1.1 for a "Criminal Minds" rerun, Telemundo sixth with a 0.5 for "Corazon Valiente" and CW seventh with a 0.3 for more "Top Model."

At 10 p.m. Univision was first with a 1.5 for "La Que No Podia Amar," with NBC second with a 1.2 for a repeat of "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit." ABC and CBS tied for third at 1.1, ABC for "Witness" and CBS for "CSI," and Telemundo was fifth with a 0.8 for "Pablo Escobar: El Patron del Mal."

Among households, Fox, NBC and CBS all tied for first with a 3.4 average overnight rating and a 6 share. ABC was fourth at 2.6/4, Univision fifth at 2.0/3, Telemundo sixth at 0.9/2 and CW seventh at 0.5/1.

http://www.medialifemagazine.com/slow-wednesday-for-the-big-four/