Hot Off The Press: The Latest TV News and Information - Page 2725

Legal/Business Notes
CBS drops claim against 'Glass House'
By Lynette Rice, EW.com's 'Inside TV' Blog - Aug. 17, 2012

Now that The Glass House has all but failed on ABC, CBS is ready to give up its fight in court alleging the show is a Big Brother ripoff.

CBS issued this statement today: “The viewers have spoken and delivered the ultimate form of justice against The Glass House. As a result, we filed in federal court this morning a voluntary dismissal without prejudice of our claims against ABC. The contract and trade secrets claims against former Big Brother producers for violating their confidentiality agreements will continue separately in arbitration. We reserve the right to re-file this claim against ABC/The Glass House, or any other entity, that goes to such shocking lengths to duplicate our copyright material.”

The ABC reality show, which relies on viewers to vote out contestants, has only averaged 2.9 million viewers this summer.

Earlier this summer, CBS sought to stop Glass House from premiering, arguing that “Glass House employs the same plot, themes, mood, setting, pace, characters, dialogue, sequence of events and other concrete elements making up Big Brother.” U.S. District Judge Gary Feess denied its request and agreed with ABC attorneys, who argued that many of the filming techniques employed on Glass House are not unique to Big Brother and are used in other reality TV shows. The eye still pressed ahead with its claim of copyright infringement.

http://insidetv.ew.com/2012/08/17/cbs-drops-claim-against-glass-house/

TV Notes
'The Office' Spinoff Casts Majandra Delfino as Dwight's Sister
By Philiana Ng The Hollywood Reporter's 'Live Feed' Blog - Aug. 17, 2012

Dwight Schrute, meet your sister.

NBC's The Office spinoff, centered on Dwight (Rainn Wilson) as a beet farmer and running a bed and breakfast inn, has landed Majandra Delfino as his younger sister Fannie and newcomer Blake Garrett as his nephew Cameron, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed.

Delfino's character -- described as a "pseudo-intellectual lefty" and who left the farm for Boston -- will be introduced in an episode of The Office in the new season, as TVLine first reported. Should NBC give a series order to the spinoff, currently titled The Farm, Delfino would be a series regular.

Delfino, who starred in Roswell, recently appeared in ABC Family's State of Georgia.

Delfino is repped by APA and Ziffren Brittenham.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/the-office-spinoff-majandra-delfino-363852

TV Notes
ABC Family Orders More 'Bunheads,' Renews 'Melissa & Joey,' 2 Others
By Tim Kenneally, TheWrap.com - Aug. 17, 2012

ABC Family has given a back-order pick-up for more episodes of the dance dramedy "Bunheads," the network said Friday, also announcing that it had picked up "Melissa & Joey" for a third season, and "Baby Daddy" and "Switched at Birth" for those series' second seasons.

The renewals and pick-ups join an already announced reunion special of "Beverly Hills Nannies," which will air Sept. 4 on the ABC Family.

"Bunheads" and "Switched at Birth" will return this winder, while "Melissa & Joey" and "Baby Daddy" will return in spring 2013.

ABC Family president Michael Riley touted the re-ups as evidence of the strength of the network's lineup.

“Two years ago we embarked on a bold strategy to grow the breadth and scope of original programming and create a Wednesday night summer comedy destination,” Riley said. “The new series have resonated with our viewers, and the combination of drama, comedy and reality brings great depth to our lineup. Our stable of strong series continues to grow, and I’m thrilled with the strength of our schedule.”

"Bunheads," which premiered in June, stars Sutton Foster as Michelle Simms, a Las Vegas showgirl who impulsively marries a man and moves to a small coastal California town, where she uneasily takes part in her mother-in-law's dance school.

http://www.thewrap.com/tv/article/abc-family-orders-more-bunheads-renews-melissa-joey-2-others-52516

TV Notes
'Perception' Renewed: TNT Orders Season 2 Of Eric McCormack Drama
By TheHuffingtonPost.com Staff - Aug. 17, 2012

"Perception" has been renewed for a second season. The TNT drama, which stars Eric McCormack as a schizophrenic neuroscience professor who works with the FBI to help solve their most complicated cases, was picked up for 13 episodes in Season 2. A concrete airdate has yet to be announced, but the series is scheduled to return in 2013.

"Perception has captured the imagination of TNT’s audience of armchair detectives with wonderfully intricate cases, emotionally charged situations and, of course, a terrific cast led by Eric McCormack," said Michael Wright, president and head of programming for TNT, TBS and TCM, in a statement. "Daniel Pierce is a truly unique and fascinating addition to television’s pantheon of crime solvers. We look forward to seeing where Perception takes us next."

According to the release, the show currently ranks second among basic cable's top new scripted series for the year-to-date, behind TNT's "The Closer" spin-off, "Major Crimes." HuffPost TV's Mo Ryan was lukewarm on the pilot, saying, "McCormack's energy and the chugging, unflashy competence of the show around him make 'Perception' watchable."

"Perception" airs Mondays at 9 p.m. ET on TNT.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/17/perception-renewed-tnt-season-2_n_1799154.html

TV Notes
ABC Family’s ‘Jane By Design’ Cancelled After One Season
By Nellie Andreeva, Deadline.com - Aug. 17, 2012

In ABC Family’s renewal announcement Friday, there was one bubble series conspicuously missing — Jane By Design. The cable network will not order more episodes of the comedic drama, which is being cancelled after one season. Jane By Design had an OK initial 10-episode run in the winter, which yielded an eight-episode back order in February. But the series could not keep up with its Pretty Little Liars lead-in this summer.

Jane by Design stars Andie MacDowell and Erica Dasher and is about high-schooler Jane (Dasher) who finds herself, through a case of mistaken identity, working in the world of high fashion. The series’ future has been in doubt since MacDowell in May signed on as the lead of another series, Hallmark Channel’s Cedar Cove. April Blair created Jane By Design and executive produced it with Gavin Polone and John Ziffren. As for the other two ABC Family series not mentioned in the pickup release today, both Pretty Little Liars and The Secret Of The American Teenager were renewed earlier this year.

http://www.deadline.com/2012/08/abc-familys-jane-by-design-cancelled-after-one-season/

Technology Notes
Sony's new Google TV box tries to take on Apple TV ... again
By Ebenezer Samuel, New York Daily News - Aug. 17, 2012

The first time things didn't work out. But maybe the second time will be the charm.

That's exactly what Sony and Google are hoping with their new Google TV set-top box.

Let's start with some background. Back in 2010, Google TV was supposed to take over your living room, bringing smartphone gadgetry to your bland, channel-changing HDTV and changing your life. But the overhyped, overly expensive boxes never caught on.

Turns out most households are just fine with an HDTV that delivers some cable channels. Meanwhile, everyone's favorite company, Apple, delivered a cheaper ($99), sleeker alternative smart TV, and Apple TV practically wiped Google's project off the map.

That brings us back to this, the summer of 2012 and Sony's NSZ-GS7. The $199.99 black box with the space-ship-headed-for-Mars name is Sony's attempt to put Google back into competition against the ever-popular Apple TV, bringing intelligence and integration and apps — even a few games — to your HDTV.

It's arguably Google's flagship attempt of the summer. It doesn't come close to toppling Apple TV, although this is the finest, most user-friendly Google TV experience you'll ever find.

The goal of Google TV from the beginning was to enhance your traditional TV experience with a little computer know-how. You turn on the TV, flip channels and find a show, but what if you could do more?

Sony and Google badly want to let you do that with this little black box. You run your cable box through the NSZ-GS7, wade through a few menus, and suddenly, you have a live list of everything that's available on TV.

It's similar to the "Guides" channel offered by most cable providers, but Google reorganizes shows into categories (think sitcoms, movies, sports). Little things enhance the experience, letting you see how much time is left in a movie, and when it last aired.

Push a button, and your Sony box does the dirty work, changing the channel on your cable box, sometimes even letting you set your DVR.

It's a satisfying experience that gets even better when paired with some of Google's other features. Google TV also can combine a bunch of viewing options — Netflix, HBO Go and Sony's own Video Unlimited service — into one giant search engine.

Want to watch "How I Met Your Mother"? Just press the Search button, flip the surprisingly comfortable two-sided remote around, type away, and Sony's box shows you all the episodes available, blending Netflix, Amazon and your own cable service into one search. It's a truly addicting experience, integrating so many streaming options that it quickly changes how you perceive television.

You can do all of this and watch TV, too. The NSZ-GS7 lets you watch TV in a small window and surf the Web, or even watch a Netflix movie on your big-screen with, say, a basketball game in a small PIP. It all happens with the slightest little lag, but that's not enough to diminish the splendid experience.

It's a shame that the rest of the unit doesn't capture that same brilliance. This core experience feels great, but so many other things are missing. Like many Android tablets and smartphones, the Android-based Google TV has hiccups and false steps.

Twice, the entire unit inexplicably shut down on me, and a handful of times, that awesome live-updating TV menu simply wouldn't update.

The included Web browser functions well, although it's very sluggish with the things you'll likely use it for. It's quite fun to surf the Web while watching TV in a small window, but it takes too many button-presses to get yourself "set up." And in a world of tablets and smartphones, you'll still gravitate far more quickly to your smartphone or laptop when you want to check Twitter or get the ESPN.com rundown.

The apps library is sorely lacking and filled with flaws. There's no Hulu Plus integration here (yet), and the Amazon Instant Video "app" is a massive disappointment; all it does is link you to Amazon's website. Flixster, a nightmare of a service but the only way to view those annoying Ultraviolet digital copies, doesn't properly integrate with Facebook.

YouTube is the most thorough disappointment of all. Despite YouTube's relationship with Google, you can't easily rent movies from the app, and watching the films you may have purchased is even more annoying, a serious shortcoming given that the box gives you three free films.

Even if you went through the process of linking your YouTube account to a Gmail account years ago, the included YouTube app will insist that you haven't done so. You're forced into a strange runaround (pressing "Upload" on a PC while logged on will let you access your YouTube on the NSZ-GS7), although reps told us that Sony's aware of the issue and working on a fix.

Those TV issues are compounded by a stunning lack of apps in the Google Play Store library. It seems Google and Sony have picked through a handful of apps that work well on TV, a nice gesture that unfortunately leaves you with no Angry Birds or Tiny Wings or I Must Run.

There's gaming potential here, since Sony has a handful of PlayStation-certified Android devices. But those PlayStation-certified devices have few exclusive games, and, apparently, the NSZ-GS7 isn't one of those devices at the moment. Still, there are rumors of OnLive streaming support, and while I have no clue how that would work, it would move Sony's little box up a step.

At the moment, though, Sony's Google TV box easily sets a new bar for Google TV, but it just can't touch Apple's far more focused experience. The NSZ-GS7 offers options and some very well-intentioned integration with your cable box, the kind of stuff that will make you rethink how you watch TV.

But you'll also think twice about that $199.99 price tag, especially when Apple TV costs half as much.

What's that saying about the third time being the charm?

http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv-movies/system-update-sony-new-google-tv-box-apple-tv-article-1.1138544

On a hunch, I'm thinking that the 2nd Friday is really a Sunday D

Captain Kathryn Janeway:
"Time travel. Since my first day on the job as a Starfleet captain I swore I'd never let myself get caught in one of these godforsaken paradoxes - the future is the past, the past is the future, it all gives me a headache."
--from Star Trek Voyager: Futures End Part 1.

Amy Schumer has a standup special on comedy central tonight @ 11pm....shes been on Last Comic Standing & the last few Roasts....shes a little chubby (inside joke) but shes funny.

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

Busted! It's fixed, thanks.

So he says he can "live on" $15M-$20M ?? Thrifty guy!

Business Notes
Liberty Media clears path to take control of Sirius XM
By Alex Pham, Los Angeles Times' 'Company Town' Blog - Aug. 17, 2012

Liberty Media informed the Securities and Exchange Commission on Friday that it had acquired more than 48% of Sirius XM Radio's shares and intends to push that amount above 50% in order to take control over the New York satellite radio company.

Liberty disclosed the plan several months after it failed to persuade the Federal Communications Commission to grant it control over Sirius based on its ownership of 40% of the company's shares.

Sirius' chief executive, Mel Karmazin, rebuffed the takeover attempt at the time, saying Liberty's argument that its 40% stake was sufficient to gain control was akin to proclaiming "Forty is the new 50."

Liberty's chairman, John Malone, might have taken that barb to heart. Since March, the New York media conglomerate has been buying up Sirius shares; its stake is now 48.1%. In its report to the SEC, Liberty said it "intends to acquire beneficial ownership of additional shares of common stock that, together with its current beneficial ownership, would represent more than 50% of the outstanding shares."

Once it surpasses the 50% threshold, Liberty said it will take control of Sirius and "spin off to its stockholders a subsidiary that will hold certain businesses, assets and liabilities."

The most likely reason for the spin-off is to avoid taxes. Liberty executives have hinted at doing a reverse Morris Trust, in which it would combine Sirius with a Liberty property and spin off the resulting entity, so it could avoid having to pay taxes for acquiring Sirius. The most likely asset to combine with Sirius seems to be Liberty's Starz premium pay-television network.

The question now is whether Karmazin will remain at Sirius' helm after the Liberty takeover. Karmazin has hinted that he might not stick around because he prefers to be his own boss. Sirius' paying subscriber base has more than quadrupled since Karmazin joined the company in 2004, when it had about 5 million subscribers. As of June 30, SiriusXM had 22.9 million.

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-et-ct-liberty-media-clears-path-to-take-control-of-siriusxm-20120817,0,4531304.story

Obviously you didn't bother to actually READ what I wrote because I CLEARLY mention HOUSEHOLDS not people. Please go back and READ what you quoted I said.

but if you factor in that US households are growing at a rate for 250,000 per quarter

You see where I said HOUSEHOLDS? US population growing by about 2.5 mil per year. Average household size is 2.5 people per household. So logic dictates US households are growing by 1 million per year. Thus they are are growing by 250,000 per quarter. The fact is if you at the last 12-15 years the pay TV industry has had abut 90% of US households. So the pay TV industry should be getting 90% of that 250,000 or 225,000. They aren't and that SHOULD be worrisome.

You're right...I did misread your post.

However, despite the fact that households overall are increasing, TV households are declining. That means that fewer households own TVs at all than the previous measurement. That's not a pay TV problem - it's a linear TV problem.

Plus, don't forget, since the 80's, each decade, we've gotten more providers of TV, from cable, to satellite, to telco services. That means, instead of a choice between OTA and cable like you had in 1985, you now have OTA, cable, 2 satellite providers and a telco, all competing for the same viewers. Only so many TV viewers are ever going to have pay TV service and if one service gains a viewer, it's far more likely it's at a loss to another. The more providers, the more loss in return for gains.

Well, you might be wrong if household size is decreasing because of the poor economy. I don't have a numbers, but it wouldn't surprise me if the number of households has shrunk judging by the number of vacant homes here in CA. People move back home, get roommates.

Q&A
Holt McCallany on Lights Out, His New Show, and the Absurdity of Pilot Season
By Stuart Miller, Vulture.com (New York Magazine) - Aug. 17, 2012

A year ago, Holt McCallany had his first starring role (and rave reviews) in Lights Out. But low ratings KO’d the show after one season, and McCallany admittedly found himself taking big parts in low-budget B-movies and small parts in big movies. Now it's back to TV for the affable actor, who is next going to star as a homicide detective in CBS's midseason cop drama Golden Boy, co-created by Greg Berlanti and, at one point, set to star Ryan Phillippe. McCallany recently sat down with us at Jimmy’s Corner, a boxing-themed bar in midtown, and, over a few scotches, talked about the cancellation of Lights Out, the role he almost landed on ABC's Beauty and the Beast, and the absurdity of pilot season.

FX gave Lights Out a big press push, the press gave you rapturous reviews. Did you think your life would be transformed, that you were going from being an actor to a star?
I had waited a long time — both my parents were in show business and I had never considered being anything other than actor. This was a very heady moment. So yes, sadly, I did allow myself to be a little deluded.

When did you know the ratings weren’t good enough?
We debuted to a smaller number than the network wanted, so right away we were playing catch-up. It was a tough time slot. I’m losing to things like Teen Mom, Cupcake Wars, and Pawn Stars. I didn’t know these shows existed until I was getting beaten by them. FX wanted us to succeed. As long as we were moving in the right direction, we had a chance. But around week nine or ten we took a dip and I thought we were like Billy Conn when he had a shot at beating Joe Louis then got clipped — we zigged when we needed to zag. That was the final blow.

How did you handle the cancellation?
It was tremendously disappointing. I had kind of a dark period. I felt like a fighter who gets his shot at the title and gets knocked out. And part of me felt I had let everybody involved in the show down.

One of your efforts at bouncing back was a writing project. What happened?
I love writing. I’m still learning — I’m a devotee of Robert McKee and his seminars. I had this story of Doreen Giuliano; after her son, John Giuca, was wrongfully convicted of murder in Brooklyn, she went undercover, befriending one of the jurors to get him to admit he shouldn’t have been on the jury. It’s an amazing story. Lifetime wanted it. But they kept asking for rewrites and more rewrites. They wanted too many changes. So we’re going to try and make it as an independent film.

You have a role in Gangster Squad and mentioned before we sat down that this was the most satisfying project you've done. What was it that you enjoyed so much about it?
Sean [Penn] is an amazing actor. He’s so intelligent and open. In our first rehearsal, he said, "Do you sing?" I said, "Yes, my mother [Julie Wilson] was a nightclub singer at the kind of clubs we’re shooting in." So he said maybe I could sing when we’re driving around. And I said maybe I could sing when I kill people. The director liked the idea, so I called my mother in New York and asked for song recommendations. It was a great role and it was one of those interesting choices that will make the character really memorable.

You recently flung yourself into pilot season out in Los Angeles again in May. What was that like?
I was really hoping to follow Lights Out with another character similarly intriguing and fresh. But not all television scripts are created equal. And the process is ridiculous. They send you a script and want you in the next morning. That’s not how acting works. You can do anything to me as an actor; I’m a very resilient guy. Just don't rush me. If you ask me to do it immediately with no time to prepare, I know you have contempt for actors. Why not just tell me that you hate me?

One project you were intrigued by was ABC’s Beauty and Beast. What happened there?
At first I thought, This idea sounds so tired, just shoot me. And I didn’t want to be in the makeup chair for three hours every morning. But I reread the script and saw how inventive it was — it was archetypal and mythological, like Lord of the Rings or Star Wars. I even came around about being underneath the mask; I studied commedia d’ell arte in France in the eighties and when do you ever get to use that, so I thought learning how to act behind the mask would be an interesting assignment. It could be freeing. The writer wanted me. The producer wanted me. Of course, the moment I decided I wanted to do it, the network decided I was too old to be the love interest of a 25-year-old, and cast a guy 25 years younger than me … even though you can only see the actor’s eyes. Welcome to television.

But then you landed a part in CBS’s Golden Boy. How is it going?
It’s a little bit of an adjustment being in an ensemble after having the lead. I liked that when it was rolling, it was on me. And this isn’t the last role I’ll ever play. It’s a very well-written cop drama. My character is different for me. I’ve played a lot of brooding, internal guys. Here I’m a wise-cracking New York detective, a hustler who scalps theater tickets and is obsessed with celebrity culture. It’s a real New York guy, with elements of Ratso Rizzo. I’m like the comic relief. I love it. And when the writers see what I can bring, they’re only going to be inspired to write more and more.

Would you be more skeptical about success this time around?
I’ve always believed my success in the entertainment business is an inevitability. You have to believe that, you have to be an optimist. You’ve got to wake up every morning and believe, I was born to do this.

http://www.vulture.com/2012/08/lights-out-holt-mccallany-interview.html

I don't have the numbers on generic households, so I can't know which way those are going. However, TV Households, according to Nielsen, are decreasing. That's the important one. There's no point in selling pay TV to someone who doesn't have a TV.

Hey Dad1153 ,
Craig Ferguson is all repeats until he moves into his new studio ... He made a comment (Tuesday IIRC )that CBS is gonna lie about them being not repeats as he's to say they invited everybody back to say their comments all over again ... Carla Gugio was the last real live guest

^^^ Thanks. I'm limited by what the TV guide says though, so if they don't mark them as repeats I technically won't know they are. I guess the new studio/set will be ready in early September in time for the new season, correct ?

Technology/Washington Notes
FCC Media Bureau Seeks Comments on TiVo's HD Set-Top Waiver
DVR Maker Wants Clarification on FCC Rule Requiring Cable Boxes to Comply With 'Open Industry Standard' for Home Networking
By Todd Spangler, Multichannel News - Aug. 17, 2012

The FCC's Media Bureau wants input on TiVo's request for a 12-month waiver of commission rules that will require cable operators to ensure HD set-tops "comply with an open industry standard" for home networking by Dec. 1, 2012.

According to the FCC, the rule is designed to make sure consumers can connect consumer-electronics devices they own to set-top boxes leased from MSOs for whole-home viewing and recording.

But TiVo isn't sure what the commission means by "an open industry standard" in the rule.

The DVR maker noted in its July 25 waiver request that the Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) standards-development consortium has "made important strides, in its published standards and specification references, toward some common understanding of what will constitute 'an open industry standard'" that fulfills the regulatory requirement.

However, the DLNA activity is "not sufficient for TiVo to develop a robust retail product (hence, interoperable with all systems to which any retail customer may subscribe) that may also be supplied to cable operators," the company said.

TiVo requested a waiver of the open industry standard requirement to last until 12 months after cable operators have deployed at least 100,000 set-tops from Cisco Systems and 100,000 from Motorola that comply with the rule. "Once TiVo understands exactly what open industry standard the industry is adopting so TiVo can create its own specifications, TiVo projects that implementation will take approximately one year," the company said.

The waiver wouldn't cause harm to others, TiVo said, because its share of the cable set-top box market is so small. "Indeed, TiVo anticipates that implementation of the open industry standard will be backwards compatible with the models of set-top boxes that it is currently providing to cable operators, so additional time to follow the larger entities should have no negative impact whatsoever."

At the same time, TiVo said consumers would benefit from the waiver because "a retail market in navigation devices can exist only if such devices are generally interoperable on home networks."

Comments and oppositions are due 15 days after the request for comments is published in the Federal Register. The proceeding is Media Bureau docket no. 12-230.

http://www.multichannel.com/article/488582-FCC_Media_Bureau_Seeks_Comments_on_TiVo_s_HD_Set_Top_Waiver.php

Technology Notes
When it's best to hold off on buying the latest gadget
By Kim Komando, USA Today's 'Tech Tips' Column

If you're determined to own cutting edge tech gadgets, it can drive you to the poor house. Every year, there is a flood of new "must-have" Apple gadgets and Macs, Android smartphones and tablets and a plethora of PC laptops and desktops.

Even picking just a few new high-end items can rack up big credit card bills if you aren't careful.

Here's a little secret: You don't always have to buy the latest and greatest. With technology moving so fast, gear that's less than top of the line or latest generation is usually more than good enough for most users' needs.

A good example is the iPad 2. Sure, the newest 3rd-generation iPad has a faster A5X processor, a gorgeous Retina display and 4G LTE cellular.

You may want it, but do you need it? For average Web surfing, video-watching and other tasks, the iPad 2 works just as well. Apple has even equipped the iPad 2 with a slightly better A5 chip than it had when it debuted. The Wi-Fi-only iPad 2 is $399 compared to the $499 new iPad.

Buying a 12- to 16-month-old refurbished Mac from Apple will save you significant change and offer you plenty of computing power for the next two or three years.

A refurbished MacBook Air is discounted $140 or more over a newer model when you buy direct from Apple. You'll have no worries about condition, and mid-2011 Airs feature dual-core i5 processors — more than everything you need.

Have a Mac monitor and keyboard you're happy with? Save the cost of new ones plus an additional $80-$150 when you buy a refurbished 2011 Mac mini. It will also have a dual-core i5 — so you're definitely not "settling" when choosing it over buying brand new.

If you'd rather have the all-in-one iMac, you can still save $200-$250 on refurbished early 2011 models, and that will net you a quad-core i5 chip.

The next iPhone will be released this fall and the contract price is expected to be $200. That means you'll start seeing markdowns on the current flagship iPhone 4S. Sprint started the ball rolling earlier this month offering it at a $150 price tag with a two-year contract. Expect the competition to follow soon.

The iPhone 4 dropped to $100 with a contract when the iPhone 4S launched. It's possible that the 3GS will be retired, and that the iPhone 4 will become the free-with-contract phone. That would be a pretty sweet deal. Best Buy is currently selling a refurbished contract iPhone 4 for $50.

On the Android front, new and very capable smartphones come along every few months, and they're offered free or very cheaply. Just make sure that any phone you buy is running Android 2.3 or higher.

The 3G HTC Rhyme from Verizon, for example, is free with a 2-year contract, but it has better specs than a formerly high-end Droid Pro. For $50 and a contract, you can step up to the LG Lucid with 4G LTE.

Over at AT&T, you can get the 4G LTE Pantech Burst for just $1 on a two-year contract. The carrier also offers the LG Nitro and HTC Vivid for $50 — both are 4G LTE.

T-Mobile phones operate on the HPSA+ 4G network. The Samsung Galaxy S Blaze 4G ($100 with contract) debuted earlier this year. It packs a dual-core processor and has a nice 4-inch screen.

Although Sprint offers some good Android phones, the carrier lags behind AT&T and Verizon in bringing 4G LTE to the speed-hungry masses. If you do live in one of the few Sprint 4G cities, the LG Viper can be a good choice — it's free with a contract and a new line of service.

With Android tablets, the Google Nexus 7 is a terrific unit that only costs $200. And it's more powerful than many used tablets that still sell for hundreds more.

Finally, you can save hundreds of dollars on PC desktops and laptops by buying models with second generation, Core i3 dual-core processors. That's more than enough to handle most average users' productivity needs. When paired with extra memory and a good graphics card, these models are pretty good for gamers, too.

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/columnist/kimkomando/story/2012-08-17/hold-off-on-latest-gadgets/57100132/1

Critic's Notes
Bianculli's Best Bets
By David Bianculli, TVWorthWatching.com - Aug. 19, 2012

NORTH BY NORTHWEST
TCM, 8:00 p.m. ET
One of the many Alfred Hitchcock classics, this one, from 1959, is full of stunts that only a great director could pull off with panache, and Hitchcock did. From its geographic plot line (literally crossing the country in the direction of the title) to its ability to milk horror from wide open spaces in broad daylight (the corn field and the crop dusting plane!), and ending with a literal cliffhanger – with the cliff being Mount Rushmore – what a movie. Cary Grant, Eva Marie Saint and James Mason star, and they’re all excellent, too.

TRUE BLOOD
HBO, 9:00 p.m. ET
This is the penultimate show of the season, so things are building to a climax. (Of course, on True Blood, there’s a climax every episode – and you can read that however you like.) Bill (Stephen Moyer) gets more under the spell of Lilith the more he tastes her blood – and his latest visions are so red-blooded that he walks away thinking he’s the Chosen One.

COPPER
BBC America, 10:00 p.m. ET
SERIES PREMIERE: The latest TV series by Tom Fontana and Barry Levinson, who first teamed for NBC’s Homicide: Life on the Street, is another cop show of sorts – but this time, it’s about a New York detective in the Civil War era, starring Tom Weston-Jones from MI-5. One thing you have to say about it from the start: It’s not a TV concept you’ve seen that often. For a full review, see Bianculli’s Blog.

THE NEWSROOM
HBO, 10:00 p.m. ET
Part 2 of 2. Last week’s episode, the start of a two-parter, had to do with a major power outage plunging the network’s New York newsroom into relative darkness. That story line continues this week, but makes room for another one – in which, in this show’s recent-past timeline, the cable news network gets to host one of the debates for the aspiring Republican presidential candidates. Standing in for the candidates at a test run-through? Some of the show’s producers and other staffers, as political operatives watch warily.

BREAKING BAD
AMC, 10:00 p.m. ET
At the end of last week’s show, Jesse (Aaron Paul) screamed in horror as Warning: Spoiler! (Click to show) There’s been death before on Breaking Bad, but this one crosses a line. But only, it seems, for Jesse. And that, too, may have eventual long-term consequences.

http://www.tvworthwatching.com/

TV Notes
‘Face the Nation’ asks: Has campaign hit a new low?
By Hal Boedeker, Orlando Sentinel's 'TV Guy' Blog

On the Sunday morning circuit this weekend:

***CBS’ “Face the Nation” asks if the 2012 presidential campaign has hit a new low. Discussing the issue are Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., an Obama supporter, and former Mayor Rudy Giuliani, R-New York, a Romney supporter. The program starts at 10:30 a.m. on WKMG-Channel 6. Other guests are Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform, and Neera Tanden, president of Center for American Progress. ProPublica’s Kim Barker offers new details about outside spending on campaign ads. A reporters’ roundtable brings together CBS’ John Dickerson, Niall Ferguson of Newsweek, Jeff Zeleny of The New York Times and Nia Malika-Henderson of The Washington Post.

***ABC’s “This Week” talks to Stephanie Cutter of the Obama campaign and Kevin Madden of the Romney campaign. The program starts at 11 a.m. on WFTV-Channel 9. Jake Tapper moderates a discussion on tax reform. Taking part are Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa.; Rep. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md.; Neil Barofsky, former special inspector general of the Troubled Assets Relief Program; Austan Goolsbee, former chairman of the Obama Council of Economic Advisers; Norquist of Americans for Tax Reform; and Kimberley Strassel of The Wall Street Journal.

***CNN’s “State of the Union” welcomes Cutter of the Obama campaign and Eric Fehrnstrom of the Romney campaign. The program starts at 9 a.m. and noon. Former Sen. Rick Santorum, R-Pa., will discuss the combative nature of the campaign. Jim Acosta will be the guest anchor.

***”Fox News Sunday” features Ed Gillespie of the Romney campaign and Robert Gibbs of the Obama Campaign. The program starts at 10 a.m. on WOFL-Channel 35. The panel will be Bill Kristol, Joe Trippi, Karl Rove and former Sen. Evan Bayh.

***NBC’s “Meet the Press” offers a debate between Gov. Martin O’Malley, D-Md., and Gov. Bob McDonnell, R-Va. The program starts at 9 a.m. on WESH-Channel 2. The panel will be NBC’s Chuck Todd; Mayor Kasim Reed, D-Atlanta; U.S. Senate candidate Ted Cruz, who has Tea Party backing; E.J. Dionne of The Washington Post; and Peggy Noonan of The Wall Street Journal.

http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/entertainment_tv_tvblog/2012/08/face-the-nation-asks-has-campaign-hit-a-new-low.html

I pretty much agreed with most everything else in the article, but this stuck out at me as being a bad deal.

MacBook Airs start at $1000 (well, $999, but close enough). It's $1200 if you want a decent sized screen. $140 off one of these is not the same as $140 off some $500 or $600 HP or Toshiba. Plus, now you're already 12 -16 months behind, which means you've lost a year of use. In other words, if you put that extra $140 toward a current model, you spend the equivalent of $1 a month (or about 12% more) to get something that will likely last you 3-4 years instead of the 2-3 the author cited. For less than the cost of one year of ownership for the discount counted model, you get a model that will gain you back that first year you didn't own it.

In other words, the discount for being last year's (or earlier) technology would have to be $250 or more to be a worthwhile discount when you take into account the cost per year of ownership on something that costs what these units do.

There are deals to be had on refurb models, but this isn't one of them.

Well, you didn't address the issue of whether Mac is worth twice a PC. I don't have a Mac, but it better be damn good to cost twice as much.

With you here. My producer is constantly touting the Mac and how I need to have one. Yet, in the five years I used my last PC laptop, he went through four Mac laptops and rarely went more than a month without having to take one in for some repair, upgrade or something. My Dell PC chugged on for 5 years until my hard-handed typing finally did it in. No, thanks. don't want to spend twice the money on a product that lasts 1/4th as long.

Director/producer Tony Scott has died. He apparently committed suicide by jumping off a bridge in LA.

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

Obit
Director Tony Scott jumps to death from bridge
By Scott Bowles, USA Today - Aug. 20, 2012

LOS ANGELES -- Tony Scott, director of blockbusters Top Gun and Days of Thunder, jumped to his death Sunday from the Vincent Thomas Bridge, authorities said.

According to the Associated Press, Scott, 68, climbed a fence on the bridge and jumped around 12:30 p.m. One report quoted a coroner's report that said Scott jumped "without hesitation."

U.S. Coast Guard Lt. Jennifer Osburn told the Daily Breeze that a suicide note was found inside Scott's black Toyota Prius, which was parked on one of the eastbound lanes of the bridge.

Authorities used sonar equipment to find Scott's body in the port's murky waters. Divers recovered his body about 4:30pm.

Scott was director of Tom Cruise's Top Gun, as well as Beverly Hills Cop II and the remake of The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3.

Known for his trademark red baseball cap, the British-born Scott was the brother of director Ridley Scott, and the two shared producing credits on the CBS dramas The Good Wife and NUMB3RS.

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/entertainment/post/2012/08/director-tony-scott-jumps-to-death-from-bridge/1?csp=34news