David Lindsay-Abaire to Pen Spider-Man 4

Playwright David Lindsay-Abaire (upcoming Inkheart), who won a Pulitzer in 2007 for his drama "Rabbit Hole," is in final negotiations to write Spider-Man 4 for Columbia Pictures, says The Hollywood Reporter. 

Sam Raimi and Tobey Maguire are back as director and star, respectively, as are series producers Laura Ziskin and Avi Arad. Kirsten Dunst also is expected to return for the latest movie featuring the Marvel Comics character. 

Plot details are under lock and key. 

James Vanderbilt previously wrote a draft of Spider-Man 4. 

Lindsay-Abaire's "Rabbit Hole," which starred Cynthia Nixon and Tyne Daly, hit the Broadway stage in 2006 and won four Tonys, including best play. The writer also is known for the play "Fuddy Meers."

Studios Battle for EA Hell Game

Variety reports that four studios are in a high-stakes bidding battle for rights to a new video game from Electronic Arts that hasn’t even been publicly announced yet. 

The game, which is expected to be released late next year, involves a journey through the depths of hell. EA hasn't officially titled it yet, though it's likely to be called "Dante's Inferno," as it's a modern interpretation of the epic poem. 

By Thursday evening, Universal, Paramount, New Regency and MGM were battling for the property, after Warner Bros. dropped out earlier in the day.

Fox Not Renewing King of the Hill

After several previous brushes with cancellation, Fox has opted not to renew veteran animated comedy "King of the Hill" beyond its current 13th season. 

In April, Fox picked up 13 more episodes from the 20th Century Fox TV-produced show, which are wrapping production. 

A lot has changed since "King of the Hill" premiered in 1997. Its creators Greg Daniels and Mike Judge have moved on to other projects -- Daniels developed and is running NBC's "The Office," and Judge has a new animated series, "The Goode Family," launching on ABC in midseason. 

Judge had continued to voice the central character on the series, alongside voiceover cast members Kathy Najimy, Pamela Adlon, Brittany Murphy, Tom Petty, Johnny Hardwick and Stephen Root. 

"Hill" has been executive produced by Judge, Daniels, John Altschuler, Dave Krinsky, Michael Rotenberg, Howard Klein, Jim Dauterive and Garland Testa.

American Dad Gets a Fifth Season

"American Dad" executive producers Mike Barker and Matt Weitzman have signed new overall deals with 20th Century Fox TV, reports Variety. 

The deals come as Fox officially greenlights a fifth season of "Dad." The show is in its fourth year, but the lengthy timetable for animated series usually requires an early pickup. Barker and Weitzman are locked to continue as showrunners on "Dad," which comes from the Seth MacFarlane hit-making factory. 

Barker and Weitzman -- who until now have operated as writing partners under their Underdog Productions -- have separated and signed individual pacts with the studio. 

Production on the fourth season of "Dad" is wrapping up, just as the show's writing team is starting to break stories for the show's fifth season.

Ice Cube Developing NBC Buddy Cop Comedy

Ice Cube is set to write and executive produce an hour-long buddy cop comedy for NBC, saysVariety. Universal Media Studios is behind the untitled project, as is Cube's Cube Vision. 

Besides Cube, Matt Alvarez — who runs the production company with him — is set to executive produce. 

Cube is not attached to star in the project, but NBC executives are keeping their fingers crossed that the hip-hop star, actor and writer will make some appearances, perhaps even in the pilot. There's always the possibility he'll lend his music skills to the show's opening credits.

Cox and Lawrence Team on Cougar Town

Former "Friends" star Courteney Cox has joined forces with "Scrubs" creator Bill Lawrence to develop a new half-hour comedy for ABC, reports Variety. 

"Cougar Town," which represents Cox's return to the sitcom world, has been picked up to pilot by the network. ABC Studios is behind the single-camera half-hour. 

Lawrence and Cox will executive produce "Cougar Town," which stars Cox as a newly single 40-year-old mom. Lawrence is writing the pilot alongside "Scrubs" writer Kevin Biegel. 

"Cougar Town" would be Cox's first series since FX's "Dirt," which she starred in and executive produced. Lawrence is finishing up post-production on the eighth season of "Scrubs," which moves to ABC this year.

Mark Millar Pitches His 8-Hour Epic Trilogy of Superman Films

Mark Millar wants to create an epic 8-hour screen story which will follow the entire life of Kal-El from his birth on Krypton a thousand years ago, until he is the last being left on Earth. 

Empire sat down for a chat with comic book writer and creator Millar, the man behind Wanted and the upcoming Kick-Ass, and he filled us in on his pitch for the follow-up to Superman Returns. 

Mark has been working closely with a ‘big-Hollywood action director’ – who he refuses to name at this stage – on a pitch for what he is calling the Magnum Opus of Superman stories. His idea is for an 8-hour saga, split into 3 films to be released a year apart, in a Lord of the Rings fashion. Although several other sources have reported similar conversations with Mark, he went into further detail, fleshing out the story arc a little more. 

“It’s gonna be like Michael Corleone in the Godfather films, the entire story from beginning to end, you see where he starts, how he becomes who he becomes, and where that takes him. The Dark Knight showed you can take a comic book property and make a serious film, and I think the studios are ready to listen to bigger ideas now.”

“The problem with Superman Returns was like releasing Star Wars in ’77, The Empire Strikes Back in ’80 and then waiting 28 years to release Return of the Jedi, it wasn’t relevant. I understand what Bryan Singer was trying to do, to pay homage to Richard Donner’s original vision, but I think you should pay homage by doing something completely different.” 

“I want to start on Krypton, a thousand years ago, and end with Superman alone on Planet Earth, the last being left on the planet, as the yellow sun turns red and starts to supernova, and he loses his powers." 

Certainly no-one can ever say that Millar lacks vision and if he and his ‘bigHollywoodaction director’ friend get backing for the project, and we certainly hope they do, it might just prove to be the Godfather of superhero films.

Sam Mendes to Direct Preacher!

Columbia Pictures has picked up the film rights to Preacher, the popular 1990s Vertigo series, for an adaptation to be directed by Sam Mendes (upcoming Revolutionary Road). 

The Hollywood Reporter says Neal Moritz and his Original Films are producing with Kickstart Productions' Jason Netter. 

Created by Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon, "Preacher," which ran from 1995-2000, told the story of a down-and-out Texas preacher possessed by Genesis, a supernatural entity conceived by the unnatural coupling of an angel and a demon. 

Given immense powers, the preacher teamed with an old girlfriend and a hard-drinking Irish vampire and set out on a journey across America to find God -- who apparently had abandoned his duties in heaven -- and hold him accountable for his negligence. 

The project was previously set up as a one-hour series at HBO but was put into turnaround. Mark Steven Johnson wrote a pilot which Howard Deutch was attached to direct. 

A previous movie version, to have been produced by Kevin Smith's View Askew, among others, got to the casting stage, with James Marsden attached for the title role and a reported budget of $25 million.

Joaquin Phoenix to Quit Acting

Joaquin Phoenix ready to call it a career. 

The two-time Oscar nominee dropped a bombshell to Extra, announcing that his recently wrapped film Two Lovers, with Gwyneth Paltrow, will be his last. 

"I want to take this opportunity... also to give you the exclusive and just talk a little bit about the fact that this will be my last performance as an actor," he said. "I'm not doing films anymore." 

And it doesn't seem like he's joking either. Phoenix's rep confirmed the news, stating, "That is what he told me." 

So what does retirement from the silver screen mean? 

"I'm working on my music," the (former) actor, who turned 34 on Tuesday, said. 

Phoenix has been collaborating with Tim Burgess on an album since the spring.

Pascal Laugier Helming Hellraiser

The Hollywood Reporter says Pascal Laugier (Martyrs) is in final negotiations to write and direct Dimension's re-imagining of Hellraiser, one of horrormeister Clive Barker's best-known creations. 

Released in 1987, Hellraiser told the story of an unfaithful wife who attempts to assist her dead lover in his escape from hell. The movie introduced viewers to a race of demons called Cenobites, most notably one nicknamed Pinhead -- who became one of the most enduring horror characters of the decade -- who was summoned using an antique puzzle box. 

Dimension has been hoping to relaunch the franchise for the past couple of years, first hiring Julien Maury and Alexandre Bustillo to write and direct a remake then hiring Marcus Dunstan and Patrick Melton to write a new draft. 

"This is a dream project for me," Laugier said. "I know Clive Barker's work very well, and I would never betray what he has done. Fans are expecting a definitive 'Hellraiser,' and I don't want to take that away from them."

Brand New Music Video: Anberlin - Feel Good Drag

The Return of Xander Cage Happens in 2010

Last month, it was announced that Columbia Pictures, producer Joe Roth, director Rob Cohen and Vin Diesel were reteaming for XXX: The Return of Xander Cage. Now, Collider says that Cohen has revealed target dates for shooting and the film's release: 

"Yes, they're doing it with me and producer Joe Roth. We made the deal recently, it's named xXx: The Return of Xander Cage. We met the writers yesterday and we're trying to get into production by late spring, to have it out for the summer of 2010." 

Stay tuned for more on the new installment as it comes in!

Vince Vaughn Set for Sunny and 68

Universal Pictures is acquiring Sunny and 68, a spec script drama that Vince Vaughn will star in and Gavin O'Connor (Pride and Glory, upcoming Warrior) will direct, reports Variety. 

O'Connor, who wrote the script with Anthony Tambakis, will produce with Vaughn's Wild West Picture Show Productions. O'Connor and Tambakis penned the film, a drama with comedic overtones, with Vaughn in mind for the lead character. 

Vaughn will play a superstar on the poker circuit whose alcoholism and recklessness cause him to flame out on national television. Wiped out and owing $500,000 to bookies, he heads home to upstate New York for the first time in 20 years, looking to take back cash he'd been sending his mother. Instead, he finds his mother dying of cancer and raising a 5-year-old girl who is actually his daughter. Mom has been positioning his former high school girlfriend to become the girl's eventual caretaker. 

"It's a story of how three generations of women teach this character to become a man," said O'Connor. The title comes from the character's mother, who, despite the cold weather, insists that "it's sunny and 68." 

Sunny and 68 will shoot in upstate New York in February 2010.

Robert Downey Jr. and Don Cheadle Sign On for The Avengers

Marvel Entertainment has just announced that Robert Downey Jr and Don Cheadle have signed on for both Iron Man 2 and The Avengers. Iron Man 2 director Jon Favreau will also executive produce The Avengers. As previously reported, Cheadle will be replacing Terrence Howard as Colonel James “Rhodey” Rhodes. 

The announcement also comes with the first look at a plot synopsis tease: ” “In a movie event, The Avengers will bring together the super hero team of Marvel Comics characters for the first time ever, including Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, the Hulk and more, as they are forced to band together to battle the biggest foe they’ve ever faced.” Who could that be? With Hulk on the listed team line-up, does that mean that the big green guy is out as a possibility? 

Iron Man 2 hits theaters on May 7th 2010, and The Avengers hits theaters on July 15th 2011. Check out the full press release after the jump.

Universal Developing Villains Feature

Universal has acquired the movie rights to Viper Comics' graphic novel "Villains" and hired Matt Jennison and Brent Strickland to write the adaptation. Sean Bailey is producing via his Idealogy, says The Hollywood Reporter. The graphic novel, by Adam Cogan and Ryan Cody, puts super bad guys center stage and is described as follows: 

Nick Corrigan is an aimless 20-something who discovers that his aging neighbor used to be the notorious supervillain known as "Hardliner", now retired and living in hiding for the past few decades. Rather than turn him in to the authorities, Nick decides to blackmail him in exchange for lessons in the fine art of career super-crime. But the old pro is about to teach his student some lessons he'll never forget. 

Idealogy's Matt Smith is executive producing. Viper Comics' Jessie Garza will co-produce. 

Idealogy is also developing Tr2n at Disney with Joe Kosinski directing. Jennison and Strickland are writing Wonder Woman for Warner Bros. and Joel Silver.

Shyamalan, Dowdles & Nelson Team on Devil

M. Night Shyamalan and Media Rights Capital have formalized the first project in their three-picture deal to hatch horror films, reports Variety, They've set Brian Nelson (30 Days of Night) to write Devil, a film that will be directed by Quarantine helmers John and Andrew Dowdle. 

The supernatural thriller is based on an original story by Shyamalan, who'll produce with Sam Mercer under The Night Chronicles banner. The Dowdle siblings will be executive producers. The film will be PG-13 and will begin production next year. 

MRC set The Night Chronicles as a financing and production partnership with Shyamalan in July. The company's goal is to generate one genre film per year over three years, with Shyamalan hatching the ideas and overseeing the selection of talent the creative direction.

Melrose Place Getting Updated, Too?

Variety says that as the new version of "90210" continues to post decent numbers, The CW and CBS Paramount Network TV are exploring the possibility of reviving "Melrose Place" as well. 

"Melrose Place" was a spin-off of the original "Beverly Hills, 90210." The two shows were paired on Fox's Wednesday night schedule during the first two years of "Melrose Place" before the series became a Monday night staple. 

"Melrose Place" ran on Fox from 1992-99 and turned into a hit show after Heather Locklear joined the cast as the scheming Amanda Woodward. Rob Estes joined "Melrose Place" later in the show's run -- and now stars as the father on the new "90210." 

The trade says the "Melrose" discussions are still in early stages, and no writers or producers are yet attached.

Universal Eyeing American Pie 4?

Moviehole is reporting that Universal Pictures has decided to abandon the direct-to-DVD American Pie movies because they are planning to make a fourth theatrical film which will bring back some of the leads from the previous films. 

It is unknown who will return, although if I had to guess, I’d say that it might be called American Marriage, and pick up with Jim and Michelle Levenstein (Jason Biggs and Alyson Hannigan), who might be celebrating their 10th year anniversary. Or maybe it will be called American Family, American Newborn or American Pregnancy and tell the story of the Levenstein’s having kids. But I’m not sure how any of those options might incorporate the American Pie-style raunchy comedy. Or could this generation’s teen comedy franchise grow up (like much of its audience) into something beyond that?

Paramount Puts Footloose on the Fast Track

Paramount Pictures has fast-tracked Footloose, hoping to get the film ready for High School Musical 3: Senior Year director Kenny Ortega and star Zac Efron to start production next spring, says Variety. 

The studio has brought on Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist director Peter Sollett to rewrite the Jon Hartmere script and hired Craig Zadan and Neil Meron to join Dylan Sellers as producer. 

Zadan and Meron are established producers of musicals Chicago and Hairspray, the latter of which was Efron's first feature. Zadan also was a producer of the original 1984 Footloose. They join Sellers, who has put two years of work into the musical with Ortega. 

While Sollett rewrites the Hartmere script, the studio is working on new songs that will complement some of the memorable original tunes from the film that made Kevin Bacon a star.

Universal Developing Skyscraper Disaster Pic

Universal has preemptively bought Mike Sobel's disaster-action pitch Skyscraper, reports Variety. Neal Moritz is producing via his Original Film. 

The project is described as a modern-day Towering Inferno, in which a Donald Trump-esque developer sets out to build a mile-high structure in Chicago. When the tower starts to falter, a crew must rescue the city from mayhem. 

Original's Tania Landau is executive producing. 

Sobel, a former New York criminal lawyer, moved to Los Angeles 18 months ago to pursue a writing career. His first screenplay, also a disaster project, titled Animals, sold to Columbia with Moritz producing as well.

Linkin Park Thinking Conceptual For Next Album

Linkin Park is planning what singer Chester Bennington calls "a concept record" for its fourth album, which the group will start recording in early November and be ensconced in making by the time its new live album, "Road to Revolution," rolls out Nov. 25. 

Bennington is mum on details -- "I'm not sure I'm allowed to say what the big plan is," he notes -- but tells Billboard.com that Linkin Park "never envisioned ourselves doing a concept record, but we see an opportunity to do something really cool so we jumped on it, and we'll see how it comes out. I think it's a challenge and we'll see if we can rise to the occasion." 

The singer says Linkin Park has already started writing music for the follow-up to last year's "Minutes to Midnight," which has been a different process as well. "If we're writing a song with a specific purpose you're allowed to step out of the realms of commercialism a little bit," he explains. "You don't want to dilute that purpose with something that doesn't have anything to do with it, which is really interesting." 

While Linkin Park is starting the new album, Bennington will be putting the finishing touches on his first solo album, which he's been recording with producer Howard Benson and hopes to have out next spring or summer. "I'll probably be finished in the next couple months," reports Bennington, who describes the set as "a lot more straightforward rock, with a little bit of an electronic element to it, lots of keys and snyths and stuff like that. And there are a few elements where I think you'll be able to see what my influence on (Linkin Park) is." 

Bennington also hopes "to do as much touring as possible" to promote the solo album but adds that he's wary of "putting myself in a situation where I can't finish the Linkin Park record because I'm supposed to be on a tour. It's a really delicate kind of balancing act I'm gonna try to pull off here." 

Linkin Park's "Road to Revolution," meanwhile, is an 18-track CD/DVD package recorded at a June concert in England. Jay-Z appears on two tracks ("Jigga What/Faint" and "Numb/Encore"); the set also includes Linkin Park's current single, "Leave Out All the Rest," which has been adapted for an episode of CBS' "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" that will air on Nov. 6.

Common Album Gets December Release Date

Common has announced Dec. 9 as the new release date for his forthcoming Geffen album, "Universal Mind Control." The set was originally expected in July. 

Two songs, "Announcement" and "Universal Mind Control" both of which feature Pharrell Williams, have already been released. The album also includes two fresh songs, "Gladiator" and "Inhale." 

The former comes closest to prototypical sincere Common rapping, as he rhymes about destroying other MCs over horn wails, driving drums and a thick bassline. 

"Punch Drunk Love" now features Kanye West spitting the catchy chorus "Am I crazy, or was you giving me the eye?" "Sex 4 Sugar," which Common previously described as a conversation with a dancer, now has faster drums, and "Everywhere," which was formerly called "Runaway" and set to feature Santogold, now sports a dreamy layered chorus, sans Santogold, over a guitar riff similar to Pat Benatar's "Love Is a Battlefield." 

The album's production is still split between the Neptunes and OutKast cohort Mr. DJ. West has not contributed any production to "Universal Mind Control." 

Here is the track listing for "Universal Mind Control":

"Universal Mind Control"
"Punch Drunk Love" featuring Kanye West
"Make My Day" featuring Cee-Lo Green
"Sex 4 Sugar"
"Announcement" featuring Pharrell Williams
"Gladiator"
"Changes"
"Inhale"
"What a World"
"Everywhere"

Singing, Dancing and Death Traps Rule the Box Office

The ComingSoon.net Box Office Report has been updated with studio estimates for the weekend. Click here for the full box office estimates of the top 12 films and then check back on Monday for the final figures based on actual box office. 

It was a big weekend at the box office, possibly the busiest October weekend in four years, as two anticipated sequels each opened in over 3,000 theaters. Going into the weekend, it was obvious that Disney's High School Musical 3: Senior Year was going to win the weekend based on the insane amount of advance ticket sales over the past two weeks, which accounted for an opening day of nearly $17 million on Friday. Despite having the fourth biggest daily gross in October, the musical's business dropped off roughly 9% on Saturday, which knocked early projections of over $50 million down to a more reasonable opening weekend estimate of $42 million. Averaging $11.6 million in over 3,600 theaters, it looks like Disney will have to settle for the third biggest October opening following Scary Movie 3 and DreamWorks' Shark Tale. 

Lionsgate's fifth installment of their hit horror series Saw V was projected to do weaker business than its predecessors, but in fact, it fell just shy of the opening of the previous three movies by grossing an estimated $30.5 million in 3,060 theaters over the weekend. The question now is whether it will follow the second and third movies to grosses in the $80 million region or the previous movie to less than $65 million. Since each of the new movies were reportedly produced for just $11 million, they both made back their production budgets after just three days. 

The video game adaptation Max Payne (20th Century Fox), starring Mark Wahlberg, dropped 57% in its second weekend to take third place with $7.6 million; it has grossed $29.6 million in its first ten days. 

Disney's other October family hit Beverly Hills Chihuahua dropped to fourth place with $6.9 million, bringing its four week gross to $78.1 million. 

Opening in fifth place, the police thriller Pride and Glory, starring Edward Norton and Colin Farrell, made an estimated $6.3 million in 2,585 theaters. 

Dropping to sixth place, the star-studded ensemble drama The Secret Life of Bees (Fox Searchlight) grossed $5.9 million in its second weekend, bringing its total gross to $19.2 million, while Oliver Stone's psuedo-biopic W. (Lionsgate) dropped to #7 with $5.3 million and $18.7 million total. 

October's biggest hit, the action-thriller Eagle Eye (DreamWorks), starring Shia LaBeouf and Michelle Monaghan, dropped to eighth place with $5.1 million, . It has grossed $88 million since opening in late September. 

Ridley Scott's Body of Lies (Warner Bros.), teaming DiCaprio and Crowe, added another $4 million to its gross of $30.9 million to take ninth place. 

Screen Gems' R-rated horror movie Quarantine rounded out the top 10 with an estimated $2.5 million and $28.8 total. 

The Top 10 grossed an estimated $116.4 million over the weekend, up a whopping 43% from the same weekend last year when the box office was ruled by the last installment of the "Saw" series. 

In limited release, Clint Eastwood's Changeling (Universal), starring Angelina Jolie, opened in 15 theaters in select cities and took in $500 thousand, averaging $33k per site. 

Sony Classics opened two movies in New York and L.A., Charlie Kaufman's directorial debut Synecdoche, New York and Philippe Claudel's I've Loved You So Long, the former grossing $173 thousand in 9 theaters and the latter earning $100 thousand less in 10 theaters. 

Disney's decision to rerelease Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas in 3D into 284 theaters failed to find much of an audience against the stronger family fare, grossing just $372 thousand compared to the $3.3 million made two years ago and $5.3 million made last year. Rodrigo Garcia's drama Passengers (Sony) starring Anne Hathaway grossed $185 thousand in 125 theaters, a pitiful average of $1500 per site.

Weekly Ratings: 10/19 – 10/24

Sunday Ratings: Housewives and More

Here is Sunday's ratings snapshot — minus, for the time being, CBS programming, since the Eye's 40-minute NFL overrun distorted the Nielsens. (Seriously, when is football going to solve this "overtime" problem??)

7 pm/ET
The CW's In Harm's Way dipped 95K, to 635,000 total viewers.

8 pm
Extreme Makeover slid 460 thou, to 10.8 million. NBC's coverage of the Seahawks-Buccaneers game averaged 8.25 mil through 11 pm, a 26 percent plunge from last week's Patriots-Chargers match-up. At eight mil, The Simpsons was up 660K from its last fresh outing, while King of the Hill (7.35 mil) gained 12 percent. The CW's Valentine (718,000) kissed off another 29 percent.

9 pm
Housewives held steady at 10.25 million. Family Guy (nine mil) added 650 thou week-to-week, but American Dad (6.6 mil) was down a 250K. The CW's Easy Money (722,000) was off a hair.

10 pm
Opposite a formidable Cold Case/The Unit hybrid, Brothers & Sisters slid a bit, to just over 10 million.

Monday Ratings: Chuck's Up, Enemy Takes Turn for Worst

8 pm/ET
Dancing with the Stars averaged 18.56 million total viewers over its 90-minute run, gaining 900K week-to-week. Placing second, CBS' Big Bang stayed put at 9.28 mil, while How I Met Your Mother (9.36 mil) inched up 220 thou. Surging 12 percent from its previous outing, Chuck came in third with 6.7 mil. The recently renewed Sarah Connor Chronicles (5.34 mil) dipped 260K, and Gossip Girl (3.03 mil) dropped nine percent.

9 pm
Two and a Half Men (14.55 million viewers) topped the demos for the first half hour, and lead-out Worst Week (9.9 mil) inched up a bit but still played also-ran to Samantha Who? (11.03 mil, sliding 660 thou). Heroes (8.46 mil) was No. 1 in demos come 9:30, but overall was down 140K week-to-week. Prison Break (5.84 mil, +400K) and One Tree Hill (3.65 mil, +220K) both saw gains.

10 pm
CSI: Miami gained 250 thou to top the hour with 13.25 mil. Boston Legal (nearly nine mil) enjoyed a 10 percent bump. NBC's My Own Worst Enemy (5.7 mil) spied a 21 percent plunge from its debut.

Tuesday Ratings: Dancing Recap Knocks Ashton on His Bum

8 pm/ET
NCIS led in total viewers (17 .06 million, dipping 800K) while House (12.8 mil) was No. 1 in the demos. ABC's Dancing with the Stars recap show delivered 9.35 mil, a 76 percent improvement over time-slot predecessor Opportunity Knocks. Biggest Loser held steady at 7.3 mil.

9 pm
The DWTS results show (16 million) this week gained 11 percent to edge out The Mentalist, which at 15.3 mil was up 430 thou. Fringe dropped 420K, to 9.1 mil, but topped the demos. Privileged, which is ardently lobbying for a back-nine pickup, lost 36 percent of its previous audience, to hit 1.5 mil. So. Sad.

10 pm
Without a Trace added 600 thou week-to-week to win the hour with 11.6 million viewers. SVU (9.35 mil) topped the demos, while Eli Stone (8.5 mil) slipped 300K, despite Kate's gung-ho efforts.

Wednesday Ratings: World Series Comes Out Swinging

Fox's World Series coverage kicked off with an average of 13.9 million total viewers (14.6 mil for the game proper) and topped the demos in almost every half-hour. That gave Fox its most-watched Wednesday night since the American Idol finale (5/21/2008). Elsewhere....

8 pm
CBS' Old Christine (eight million viewers, up 260K) and Gary Unmarried (7.85 mil, +140K) both hit season highs. Knight Rider slowed down by 430 thou, yet still placed third with 7.23 mil. After a one-week respite, Pushing Daisies resumed its sad slide, slipping 10 percent (to 5.67 mil). Top Model (4.38 mil) gained 500 thou from its last regular episode.

9 pm
Criminal Minds bested baseball in total viewers (delivering 14.72 mil, down seven percent week-to-week). Private Practice (7.78 mil, up 520K) edged out Deal or No Deal (7.6 mil) to claim third. The CW's Stylista (premiering to 2.46 mil) sewed up 56 percent of the Top Model audience.

10 pm
CSI: NY topped the hour with 14.24 mil, down 10 percent from last week. Behind baseball, Dirty Sexy Money did 5.86 mil, slipping a hair. Lipstick Jungle fell 12 percent, to 4.2 mil.

Thursday Ratings: CSI Resumes its All-Out Killing Spree

This Thursday, as Fox's coverage of World Series Game 2 averaged more than 11 million total viewers....

8 pm/ET
Survivor: Gabon grabbed onto another 500 thousand viewers to win the hour with 13.4 mil. Behind baseball, Ugly Betty did 8.66 mil, gaining 460K week-to-week. (Thanks, Page Six!) While both NBC's Earl (6.33 mil, -175K) and Kath & Kim (4.96 mil, plunging another mil) took hits, Smallville inched up a hair to 4.22 mil.

9 pm
CSI once again was an easy No. 1 in viewers (19.19 million) and reclaimed the lead in demos from Grey's (which at 14.2 mil was off 400 thou). The Office (7.74 mil) dipped 330K, but Weekend Update held firm at 8.55 mil. Supernatural (3.25 mil) "eyed" a 200-thou gain.

10 pm
CBS' Eleventh Hour (12.16 mil) increased its lead over Life on Mars, which fell to third with 8.06 mil, down 400K. ER (8.69 mil) nearly matched Eleventh Hour in the demos.

Friday Ratings: Ghost Whisperer Cruises to Season High

8 pm/ET
Ghost Whisperer surged 12 percent week-to-week to hit a season high 9.95 million total viewers. It was followed by Deal or No Deal (six mil), 5th Grader (5.7 mil) and Wife Swap (dropping 16 percent, to 4.22 mil). On the CW, Chris inched up a hair to 1.83 mil, while The Game dipped to 1.74 mil.

9 pm
NBC's Crusoe saw 18 percent of its premiere audience sail away, but still was the hour's most watched show, with 5.92 million viewers. Running a close second (and tying Supernanny for No. 1 in the demos) was The Ex List (sliding 11 percent to a series-worst 5.65 mil). Lyrics, at 5.56 mil, sneaked past ABC's 'Nanny (5.08 mil).

10 pm
Like GW, Numbers also hit a season high — 9.07 million viewers. 20/20 gained nine percent to claim second with 7.5 mil, while NBC's Wednesdays-bound Life dipped eight percent, to 5.5 mil.

New Mos Def Album Set For February

Mos Def will release his Downtown debut, "The Ecstatic," on Feb. 9, Billboard.com can reveal. The first single, "Life in Marvelous Times," will hit iTunes as an exclusive on Nov. 4. 

The veteran rapper's last album, "Tru3 Magic," barely made a ripple upon its late 2006 release via Geffen and has sold just 93,000 copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan. Its predecessor, 2004's "The New Danger," has sold 484,000. 

Mos Def will be on the road starting Oct. 31 in Prague with the European installment of the Rock the Bells tour, alongside Nas, De La Soul, EPMD and the Pharcyde, among others. 

On the acting front, the artist plays Chuck Berry in the film "Cadillac Records," due Dec. 5 in U.S. theaters.