Variety reports that Fox has renewed Joss Whedon's "Dollhouse" for a second season. The show has secured a 13-episode order and is likely to continue airing on Friday night.
Fox on Friday also picked up comedy "Brothers" to series with a 13 episode-order.
Meanwhile, ABC has renewed "Castle," "Scrubs" and "Better Off Ted." The network has given the green light to the murder mystery pilot "Happy Town" and an untitled legal ensemble show from writer Dave Hemingson. It's also given the go-ahead to the remake of sci-fi drama "V" as a limited series and the Courteney Cox-starring comedy "Cougar Town."
The networks will announce their fall primetime line-ups next week.
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Friday, May 15, 2009
Jason Statham Boards The Killer Elite
Jason Statham will star in the $40 million action thriller The Killer Elite, says Variety.
The movie will be directed by commercials helmer Gary McKendry. It's based on Ranulph Fiennes' best-seller "The Feathermen."
Based on real events, the story follows a group of former British special forces members who are being hunted by assassins. Statham will play a former Navy Seal who is forced out of retirement to save his closest friend.
Filming will begin in the fall in London, Paris and Australia.
The movie will be directed by commercials helmer Gary McKendry. It's based on Ranulph Fiennes' best-seller "The Feathermen."
Based on real events, the story follows a group of former British special forces members who are being hunted by assassins. Statham will play a former Navy Seal who is forced out of retirement to save his closest friend.
Filming will begin in the fall in London, Paris and Australia.
Scrubs Actors Making Deals for Ninth Season
The Hollywood Reporter says that ABC has locked in most of the main cast members of "Scrubs" to return for the ninth season.
Star Zach Braff has closed a deal to come back for six episodes to transition the show to its new set-up, which is still being worked out. Also signed for six episodes is Sarah Chalke.
Donald Faison, John C. McGinley and Neil Flynn have all closed deals to continue as regulars in second position to their pilots. Faison and Flynn co-star in ABC pilots, "The Law," which is already unofficially staffing, and "The Middle," respectively. McGinley is on CBS' drama pilot "Back."
Meanwhile, Judy Reyes has not been approached for a deal but may appear as a guest star if "Scrubs" is renewed.
Star Zach Braff has closed a deal to come back for six episodes to transition the show to its new set-up, which is still being worked out. Also signed for six episodes is Sarah Chalke.
Donald Faison, John C. McGinley and Neil Flynn have all closed deals to continue as regulars in second position to their pilots. Faison and Flynn co-star in ABC pilots, "The Law," which is already unofficially staffing, and "The Middle," respectively. McGinley is on CBS' drama pilot "Back."
Meanwhile, Judy Reyes has not been approached for a deal but may appear as a guest star if "Scrubs" is renewed.
Kung Fu Panda: The Series Coming to Nickelodeon
Nickelodeon has ordered "Kung Fu Panda: The Series," a new CG-animated comedy based on last year's box office hit, says The Hollywood Reporter.
The network has ordered 26 episodes of the series, Nick's second co-production with DreamWorks Animation SKG. The two companies also partnered on "The Penguins of Madagascar," which premiered March 28 on Nick and ranked as the most-watched series premiere in the network's history (6.1 million viewers). Since then, "Penguins" has become the second most-popular program among kids 6-11 on television, behind only "SpongeBob SquarePants."
The series will premiere next year.
The network has ordered 26 episodes of the series, Nick's second co-production with DreamWorks Animation SKG. The two companies also partnered on "The Penguins of Madagascar," which premiered March 28 on Nick and ranked as the most-watched series premiere in the network's history (6.1 million viewers). Since then, "Penguins" has become the second most-popular program among kids 6-11 on television, behind only "SpongeBob SquarePants."
The series will premiere next year.
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Fall TV: Fox Renews Lie to Me, Sets Sights on Human Target and Sons of Tucson
Fox, which is set to announce its complete fall plan at its May 18 "upfront" presentation and just recently renewed Fringe, has proactively filled in a few more blanks.
The network on Tuesday ordered a second, 13-episode season of the midseason entry Lie to Me, starring Tim Roth and Kelli Williams.
Lie to Me will undergo one change for its sophomore run: Shawn Ryan is joining the show as executive producer and showrunner. Should The Unit get picked up, Ryan will juggle both shows — just as he once did with the CBS military drama and The Shield.
Fox also picked up two new series: Human Target, inspired by the DC Comics character and fronted by Mark Valley (speaking of Fringe), and Sons of Tucson, a comedy starring Reaper's Tyler Labine as a con man hired by two brothers to pose as their incarcerated pop.
The network on Tuesday ordered a second, 13-episode season of the midseason entry Lie to Me, starring Tim Roth and Kelli Williams.
Lie to Me will undergo one change for its sophomore run: Shawn Ryan is joining the show as executive producer and showrunner. Should The Unit get picked up, Ryan will juggle both shows — just as he once did with the CBS military drama and The Shield.
Fox also picked up two new series: Human Target, inspired by the DC Comics character and fronted by Mark Valley (speaking of Fringe), and Sons of Tucson, a comedy starring Reaper's Tyler Labine as a con man hired by two brothers to pose as their incarcerated pop.
Monday, May 11, 2009
Tarantino’s Inglourious Basterds Prequel?
Quentin Tarantino’s Inglourious Basterds has yet to premiere at the Cannes Film Festival, but the director is already planning another film in his potential world war 2 franchise. Apparently Tarantino had shelves a huge subplot involving African-American soldiers stuck behind enemy lines, which he hopes to make that part of a prequel, that is, if the first film is popular.
"I have a half-written prequel ready to go if this movie’s a smash," Tarantino tells the New York Times.
Of course, Tarantino is infamous for talking about projects and ideas that never come to be anything more than just that. You might remember the Pulp Fiction / Reservoir Dogs prequel/sequel The Vega Brothers, and the potential sequels to Kill Bill. In fact, when Quentin announced he was directing Inglourious Basterds last year at Cannes, I really didn’t believe him and predicted it would never happen. Thankfully, I was wrong. So what are the chances that we’ll see a Basterds prequel? I’m not quite sure.
Also of note, Tarantino assured the Times that Basterds “will be in the original category at the Oscars.” Wow, it’s as if Babe Ruth pointed to center field before nailing one home. You have to admire someone with that much confidence.
"I have a half-written prequel ready to go if this movie’s a smash," Tarantino tells the New York Times.
Of course, Tarantino is infamous for talking about projects and ideas that never come to be anything more than just that. You might remember the Pulp Fiction / Reservoir Dogs prequel/sequel The Vega Brothers, and the potential sequels to Kill Bill. In fact, when Quentin announced he was directing Inglourious Basterds last year at Cannes, I really didn’t believe him and predicted it would never happen. Thankfully, I was wrong. So what are the chances that we’ll see a Basterds prequel? I’m not quite sure.
Also of note, Tarantino assured the Times that Basterds “will be in the original category at the Oscars.” Wow, it’s as if Babe Ruth pointed to center field before nailing one home. You have to admire someone with that much confidence.
Star Trek Sets Its Phasers on $76.5 Million
The ComingSoon.net Box Office Report has been updated with studio estimates for the weekend.
One of the big question marks this summer was whether J.J. Abrams' relaunch of Star Trek (Paramount) could successfully reboot the franchise created by Gene Roddenberry. With an eclectic cast headlined by Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto and with only one returning actor from the previous movies and television shows, Star Trek went into the weekend with overwhelmingly positive reviews and brisk advance ticket sales. After grossing $4 million in Thursday previews (screenings after midnight counted towards Friday), Star Trek pulled in an additional $72.5 million (estimated) over the weekend, averaging roughly $18.8k in 3,849 venues, including over a hundred IMAX screens. Going by estimates, the $76.5 million grossed by Abrams' relaunch in 3 1/2 days is more than five of the previous "Star Trek" movies made in their entire theatrical runs. Internationally, Star Trek earned an estimated $35.5 million from more than 5,000 screens in 54 markets. A sequel to the movie has already been greenlit, so here's hoping there'll be an announcement soon about a release date.
The 20th Century Fox superhero prequel X-Men Origins: Wolverine, starring Hugh Jackman, took a massive plunge in its second weekend, down 68% to second place with $27 million and a ten-day total of $129.6 million.
Matthew McConaughey's romantic comedy Ghosts of Girlfriends Past (New Line/WB) only dropped 32% in its second weekend, taking third place with $10.4 million and a running total of $30.2 million.
The Screen Gems thriller Obsessed crossed the $50 million mark with an additional $6.6 million, as it dropped to fourth place in its third weekend, while Zac Efron's age-switching comedy 17 Again (New Line/WB) held on well, dropping just one notch to fifth place with $4.4 million and a total of $54 million in four weeks.
Summit Entertainment's crime-comedy Next Day Air didn't bring in the urban audiences expected, opening with just $4 million in 1,138 theaters to take sixth place.
Seventh and eighth place were held by two DreamWorks films. The Robert Downey-Jamie Fox drama The Soloist and the animated Monsters vs. Aliens with $3.6 and $3.4 million, respectively. The Soloist has grossed $23.5 million in three weeks, while Monsters vs. Aliens continues to be the top grossing movie of 2008 with $187 million.
The Top 10 grossed roughly $136 million, up 18% from last year when the Fox comedy What Happens in Vegas and the Wachowski's Speed Racer failed to take down Marvel Studios' Iron Man in its second weekend.
Of the limited releases reporting estimates, Carlos Cuarón's soccer comedy Rudo y Cursi (Sony Pictures Classics), reteaming Y Tu Mama Tambien's Diego Luna and Gael Garcia Bernal, brought in $211 thousand in 70 theaters (average of $3k per site), while the Salvador Dali biopic Little Ashes (Regent Releasing), starring Twilight's Robert Pattinson, took in $77 thousand in 12 theaters in select cities.
One of the big question marks this summer was whether J.J. Abrams' relaunch of Star Trek (Paramount) could successfully reboot the franchise created by Gene Roddenberry. With an eclectic cast headlined by Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto and with only one returning actor from the previous movies and television shows, Star Trek went into the weekend with overwhelmingly positive reviews and brisk advance ticket sales. After grossing $4 million in Thursday previews (screenings after midnight counted towards Friday), Star Trek pulled in an additional $72.5 million (estimated) over the weekend, averaging roughly $18.8k in 3,849 venues, including over a hundred IMAX screens. Going by estimates, the $76.5 million grossed by Abrams' relaunch in 3 1/2 days is more than five of the previous "Star Trek" movies made in their entire theatrical runs. Internationally, Star Trek earned an estimated $35.5 million from more than 5,000 screens in 54 markets. A sequel to the movie has already been greenlit, so here's hoping there'll be an announcement soon about a release date.
The 20th Century Fox superhero prequel X-Men Origins: Wolverine, starring Hugh Jackman, took a massive plunge in its second weekend, down 68% to second place with $27 million and a ten-day total of $129.6 million.
Matthew McConaughey's romantic comedy Ghosts of Girlfriends Past (New Line/WB) only dropped 32% in its second weekend, taking third place with $10.4 million and a running total of $30.2 million.
The Screen Gems thriller Obsessed crossed the $50 million mark with an additional $6.6 million, as it dropped to fourth place in its third weekend, while Zac Efron's age-switching comedy 17 Again (New Line/WB) held on well, dropping just one notch to fifth place with $4.4 million and a total of $54 million in four weeks.
Summit Entertainment's crime-comedy Next Day Air didn't bring in the urban audiences expected, opening with just $4 million in 1,138 theaters to take sixth place.
Seventh and eighth place were held by two DreamWorks films. The Robert Downey-Jamie Fox drama The Soloist and the animated Monsters vs. Aliens with $3.6 and $3.4 million, respectively. The Soloist has grossed $23.5 million in three weeks, while Monsters vs. Aliens continues to be the top grossing movie of 2008 with $187 million.
The Top 10 grossed roughly $136 million, up 18% from last year when the Fox comedy What Happens in Vegas and the Wachowski's Speed Racer failed to take down Marvel Studios' Iron Man in its second weekend.
Of the limited releases reporting estimates, Carlos Cuarón's soccer comedy Rudo y Cursi (Sony Pictures Classics), reteaming Y Tu Mama Tambien's Diego Luna and Gael Garcia Bernal, brought in $211 thousand in 70 theaters (average of $3k per site), while the Salvador Dali biopic Little Ashes (Regent Releasing), starring Twilight's Robert Pattinson, took in $77 thousand in 12 theaters in select cities.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Weekly Ratings: 5/3 – 5/8
Ratings Catch-Up: Cold Case Heats Up, Castle Builds
The Nielsen ratings reporting system is fixed, following a several-day glitch which kept the networks (as well as moi) in the dark.
Now we can bring you highlights from the start of the week; Tuesday and Wednesday's numbers will trickle in over the next day or so.
SUNDAY
9 pm
Desperate Housewives won the 9 o'clock hour with an audience of 13.48 million total viewers, flat week-to-week. The penultimate episode of Cold Case's sixth season drew 12.46 mil, surging 19 percent to deliver its biggest draw since March 15. The Apprentice gained 510K, hitting 8.68 mil.
10 pm
Climbing 12 percent to seize its largest audience in seven weeks, The Unit bested Brothers & Sisters — 9.97 million viewers to 9.11 mil.
MONDAY
8 pm
Dancing with the Stars averaged 20.28 million viewers over its two-hour run, up 6 percent week-to-week. House scored second with 12.05 mil, up 690K. Big Bang Theory (9.25 mil) and Mother (8.89 mil) matched previous tallies. Deal or No Deal returned to an audience of 4.36 mil — or 29 percent fewer viewers than Chuck pulled. Put that in your foot long and smoke it! Gossip Girl (2.22 mil) gained 200 thou.
9 pm
Two and a Half Men (14.17 mil) and Rules of Engagement (11.33 mil) held steady, while 24 (10.11 mil) turned 450 thou fewer head(butt)s. Medium averaged 7.24 mil over its back-to-back episodes, up 520K. One Tree Hill tallied a typical 2.23 mil.
10 pm
CSI: Miami topped the hour with 13.72 mil, surging 15 percent. Gaining DWTS as a direct lead-in, Castle soared 19 percent to flirt with 10 mil.
Thursday Ratings: Big Wedding Turnout Powers Grey's Past CSI
8 pm/ET
Survivor topped the hour with 11.97 million total viewers, up 240K week-to-week. Bones followed with 8.62 mil, dipping 210 thou. Claiming third was Ugly Betty, which surged 10 percent to 7.5 mil. Both NBC's My Name Is Earl (4.43 mil, -16 percent) and Parks and Recreation (4.64 mil, -12 percent) dipped, while Smallville (3.34 mil) inched up 140K.
9 pm
Grey's Anatomy was the night's most watched program, as 15.33 million RSVP'd for not-Meredith's wedding. With CSI dipping 720 thou to 14.57 mil, this marks the first time Grey's has outdrawn the CBS procedural in total viewers since Nov. 1, 2007. Grey's also outperformed CSI in the key demos by its widest margin in two years — 51 percent. NBC's The Office (7.7 mil, +410K) and 30 Rock (6.17 mil, +200K) both saw gains, while Supernatural (2.79 mil) dropped 170 thou.
10 pm
Michael J. Fox's Optimistic special started strong and averaged 10.6 mil for the hour, but ultimately got bested by CBS' CSI repeat come 10:30. NBC's recently renewed Southland slipped 180K, to 6.5 mil.
Friday Ratings: Dollhouse's Engagement Ends with All-Time Low
8 pm/ET
Ghost Whisperer topped the hour with 9.35 million total viewers, dipping 320K week-to-week. (Next week: Season finale!) Prison Break trailed ABC's Happy Feet to claimed third with 3.03 mil, down 5 percent. (Next week: Series finale!)
9 pm
Flashpoint was first with 8.64 million viewers, down 10 percent. Finishing fourth, Dollhouse dropped 11 percent to wrap up its first (only?) season with a series-low audience of 2.76 mil.
10 pm
Numbers was the night's most watched program, adding up 9.52 mil. (Next week: Season finale!)
The Nielsen ratings reporting system is fixed, following a several-day glitch which kept the networks (as well as moi) in the dark.
Now we can bring you highlights from the start of the week; Tuesday and Wednesday's numbers will trickle in over the next day or so.
SUNDAY
9 pm
Desperate Housewives won the 9 o'clock hour with an audience of 13.48 million total viewers, flat week-to-week. The penultimate episode of Cold Case's sixth season drew 12.46 mil, surging 19 percent to deliver its biggest draw since March 15. The Apprentice gained 510K, hitting 8.68 mil.
10 pm
Climbing 12 percent to seize its largest audience in seven weeks, The Unit bested Brothers & Sisters — 9.97 million viewers to 9.11 mil.
MONDAY
8 pm
Dancing with the Stars averaged 20.28 million viewers over its two-hour run, up 6 percent week-to-week. House scored second with 12.05 mil, up 690K. Big Bang Theory (9.25 mil) and Mother (8.89 mil) matched previous tallies. Deal or No Deal returned to an audience of 4.36 mil — or 29 percent fewer viewers than Chuck pulled. Put that in your foot long and smoke it! Gossip Girl (2.22 mil) gained 200 thou.
9 pm
Two and a Half Men (14.17 mil) and Rules of Engagement (11.33 mil) held steady, while 24 (10.11 mil) turned 450 thou fewer head(butt)s. Medium averaged 7.24 mil over its back-to-back episodes, up 520K. One Tree Hill tallied a typical 2.23 mil.
10 pm
CSI: Miami topped the hour with 13.72 mil, surging 15 percent. Gaining DWTS as a direct lead-in, Castle soared 19 percent to flirt with 10 mil.
Thursday Ratings: Big Wedding Turnout Powers Grey's Past CSI
8 pm/ET
Survivor topped the hour with 11.97 million total viewers, up 240K week-to-week. Bones followed with 8.62 mil, dipping 210 thou. Claiming third was Ugly Betty, which surged 10 percent to 7.5 mil. Both NBC's My Name Is Earl (4.43 mil, -16 percent) and Parks and Recreation (4.64 mil, -12 percent) dipped, while Smallville (3.34 mil) inched up 140K.
9 pm
Grey's Anatomy was the night's most watched program, as 15.33 million RSVP'd for not-Meredith's wedding. With CSI dipping 720 thou to 14.57 mil, this marks the first time Grey's has outdrawn the CBS procedural in total viewers since Nov. 1, 2007. Grey's also outperformed CSI in the key demos by its widest margin in two years — 51 percent. NBC's The Office (7.7 mil, +410K) and 30 Rock (6.17 mil, +200K) both saw gains, while Supernatural (2.79 mil) dropped 170 thou.
10 pm
Michael J. Fox's Optimistic special started strong and averaged 10.6 mil for the hour, but ultimately got bested by CBS' CSI repeat come 10:30. NBC's recently renewed Southland slipped 180K, to 6.5 mil.
Friday Ratings: Dollhouse's Engagement Ends with All-Time Low
8 pm/ET
Ghost Whisperer topped the hour with 9.35 million total viewers, dipping 320K week-to-week. (Next week: Season finale!) Prison Break trailed ABC's Happy Feet to claimed third with 3.03 mil, down 5 percent. (Next week: Series finale!)
9 pm
Flashpoint was first with 8.64 million viewers, down 10 percent. Finishing fourth, Dollhouse dropped 11 percent to wrap up its first (only?) season with a series-low audience of 2.76 mil.
10 pm
Numbers was the night's most watched program, adding up 9.52 mil. (Next week: Season finale!)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
