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Ratings: ABC’s ’20/20′ Spikes With Leah Remini; ‘Supergirl’ Hits 16 Million in 3-Day Viewing
7 hours ago
ABC’s “20/20,” featuring an exclusive interview with Leah Remini and her days as member of the Church of Scientology, soared to its best averages since last spring’s blockbuster interview with Bruce Jenner. Fox won the night with Game 3 of the World Series, while NBC’s season premiere of “Grimm” opened lower than last year but was the network’s top show.
In delayed viewing, meanwhile, CBS’ “Supergirl” moved past the 16-million viewer mark in Nielsen’s “live plus-3” estimates and remains the fall’s most-watched series premiere. It didn’t get quite the 3-day lift of NBC’s “Blindspot” premiere, though, so it ranks second to the Peacock program among the fall debuts in key demos.
Looking at Friday’s action, “20/20” averaged a 1.7 rating and 8.2 million viewers overall in the 10 o’clock hour — well above the show’s same-day averages this fall (1.2 in 18-49, 4.9 million viewers). The 1.7 in 18- »
- Rick Kissell
Lucca Comics: ‘Doctor Who’ Showrunner Steven Moffat On Why The Reboot Is A Global Hit
8 hours ago
Steven Moffat, the “Doctor Who” showrunner, writer and producer credited with taking the world’s longest-running sci-fi show to the next level, is already at work on series 10, which, he confirmed, will again star Peter Capaldi as the Doctor. Moffat spoke to Variety about what makes the rebooted format such a global hit while at Lucca Comics & Games, a mega geek-meet in Tuscany where he met Italo fans lined up for hours to watch the local preem of “The Magician’s Apprentice,” the first episode of series nine.
Here we are in a medieval Italian town packed with geeks. While in the U.K. “Doctor Who” is considered a family show, elsewhere, in Italy and in the U.S., I think it has more of a geek audience. Are you aware of the different types of demographics of your viewers for the show around the world?
We make and develop »
- Nick Vivarelli
TV Review: ‘Exorcism: Live!’
18 hours ago
Destination America isn’t exactly a top destination for most cable surfers, which explains why the Discovery-owned network would be eager to scare up viewers. Enter “Exorcism: Live!,” a two-hour special broadcast Oct. 30 marking the channel’s turn toward the paranormal that hardly merited an exclamation point, inasmuch as absolutely nothing happened. Yes, the various researchers and psychics who went into the haunted house — which provided the inspiration for the movie “The Exorcist” — spoke often of feeling cold and strange. But as is so often the case with these exercises, viewers at home simply had to take their word for it.
Frankly, the producers seemed to squander an opportunity with their taped packages, which relied heavily on over-the-top dramatic recreations, which looked pretty pallid compared to clips from the movie. Given that most people are familiar with the 1973 film, but not so much with the 1949 case in St. Louis that provided its underpinnings, »
- Brian Lowry
'Happy Days' Star Al Molinaro Dies at 96
22 hours ago
Al Molinaro, who played the beloved chef on “Happy Days,” died on Thursday. He was 96.
Molinaro portrayed Big Al Delvecchio, the owner of Arnold’s drive-in, in the classic TV series. He also appeared in the “Happy Days” spinoff “Joani Loves Chachi.”
His son, Michael, confirmed the actor’s death to TMZ and said that Molinaro suffered from bad gall stones.
Younger audiences may recognize Molinaro as Al from Weezer’s “Buddy Holly” music video, which was set in the “Happy Days” drive-in and featured edited footage of Fonzie (Henry Wrinkler) dancing with girls.
Born in Kenosha, Wisconsin, Molinaro also appeared in “The Odd Couple,” “Punky Brewster” and “Step by Step.”
He is survived by his wife, Betty and his son Michael.
»
- Variety Staff
WB Int’l TV, Eyeworks Ink Pact with Argentina’s Telefe
23 hours ago
Argentina’s Telefe TV and production shingle Eyeworks Entertainment have inked a pact to co-develop and produce a slate of primetime entertainment and reality formats for Telefe’s broadcast network and various platforms, which Warner Bros. Int’l TV Production (Wbitv) has agreed to distribute worldwide. Warner Bros acquired the Netherlands-based Eyeworks Group, in June 2014, in a deal valued at $273 million. Pact gave WB a foothold in 14 key territories, including Argentina.
“The agreement marks the first strategic partnership of both companies,” said Telefe blobal content & international business director Tomas Yankelevich, adding: “We’ve been working with Eyeworks for years, always with success, working on their shows or third-parties ones. Now, with Warner Bros. in the picture as distributor, it’s the right time to co-create our own content, fulfilling the demand of the international market.”
Ricardo Pichetto, co-managing director, Eyeworks Argentina added: “This agreement is the result of many years of working with Telefe, »
- Anna Marie de la Fuente
Watch: Bruce Campbell Says ‘Ash vs. Evil Dead’ Happened Because Fans ‘Wouldn’t Shut Up’
30 October 2015 2:37 PM, PDT
There are no limits to how far Bruce Campbell is willing to go for his fans. “I’ve choked and been blinded for you, the viewer,” the actor told Variety of playing the role of demon fighter Ash Williams in the “Evil Dead” film series.
Directed by Sam Raimi, that trilogy has achieved cult status among horror fans. And now, 22 years since he was last seen in “Army of Darkness,” Campbell returns in the new Starz series “Ash vs. Evil Dead.”
The show premieres, appropriately enough, on Halloween and will run 10 half-hour episodes. Starz has already renewed the gory horror-comedy for a second season, counting on the property’s rabid fan support before they’ve even seen the show.
Ahead of “Ash vs. Evil Dead’s” premiere, Campbell sat down with Variety to tell us where we’ll find Ash after all these years, the appeal of changing the medium »
- Jenelle Riley
TV News Roundup: Kardashians Season 11 E! Premiere Date, Pitbull’s New Years Eve Show
30 October 2015 1:48 PM, PDT
E! sets a premiere date for “Keeping Up With the Kardashians” Season 11, and Fox books Pitbull for another New Years Eve special. Plus, “Gotham” has cast Mr. Freeze’s wife and villain Hugo Strange in today’s TV news roundup . . .
Premiere Dates:
E!’s first family, the Kardashians, will return for Season 11 of their reality show “Keeping Up With the Kardashians” on Nov. 15 at 9:00 p.m. Leading up to the new season’s premiere, the cable net will air a special “Keeping Up: The Kardashians Rewind” on Nov. 1, plus two additional “Kuwtk” specials, which are set for Dec. 1 and Dec. 8.
Holiday specials:
Pitbull will return to Fox on New Years Eve for the second annual “Pitbull’s New Year’s Revolution.” Live from Miami, the Dec. 31 show will ring in 2016, counting down to midnight with some of the biggest names in music, plus performances by Pitbull himself. Last year’s special featured Enrique Iglesias, »
- Elizabeth Wagmeister
Watch: Harrison Ford Talks ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ in Hot Dog Costume on ‘Kimmel’
30 October 2015 1:48 PM, PDT
Harrison Ford stopped by “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” Thursday night to discuss “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” — while dressed in his Halloween costume.
Kimmel, who was dressed in full Princess Leia costume for his last show before Halloween, asked Ford about the absence of Luke Skywalker on the film’s poster.
“There wasn’t room,” Ford quipped. The 73-year-old “Star Wars” vet also added that it has something to do with the plot of the upcoming installment, but he won’t reveal any information beyond that.
“Why would you want to say anything? I want the audience to experience it,” he explained. “I don’t want them to hear about it.”
Without spoiling any of the plot, Ford attempted to satisfy Kimmel and his viewers with a comment on the film’s quality.
“I can tell you this: It’s really, really good,” he said. “The new cast — Daisy Ridley, »
- Mannie Holmes
‘Longmire’ to Return for Season 5 on Netflix
30 October 2015 12:29 PM, PDT
“Longmire” has been renewed for Season 5 by Netflix.
After being canceled by A&E, Netflix nabbed the Western crime drama for Season 4. The 10-episode run launched this past September on the streaming service. The series previously aired on A&E for three seasons.
The renewal announcement was made Friday on “Longmire’s” Facebook page with the message, “We’ve never been one to back down from a fight. Longmire will return to Netflix for Season 5.”
Created by Hunt Baldwin and John Coveny, “Longmire” stars Robert Taylor as the sheriff of a small town in Wyoming. Katee Sackhoff, Lou Diamond Phillips, Cassidy Freeman and Adam Bartley round out the cast. Baldwin and Coveny exec produce with Greer Shephard and Michael Robin.
This summer at the Television Critics Assn. press tour, Coveny expressed the “Longmire” team’s excitement, ahead of its fourth season premiere at its new home. “Netflix said, ‘We want »
- Elizabeth Wagmeister
Conan O’Brien To Travel To Qatar With Michelle Obama
30 October 2015 11:56 AM, PDT
Late- night host Conan O’Brien will accompany First Lady Michelle Obama on a trip to Qatar next week as part of a series of specials he is putting together for TBS, the cable network that airs his regular program, “Conan.”
The comedian will join Mrs. Obama next week on a trip to visit U.S. military personnel stationed at the Al Udeid Air Base in Doha, Qatar. He is expected to entertain the troops with a show while the First Lady highlights Joining Forces, an initiative that supports service members, veterans and their families. As with his other recent excursions abroad, O’Brien’s trip to Qatar with the First Lady will be taped to appear as part of an episode of “Conan” airing later this year.
O’Brien recently journeyed to Armenia with his assistant for a special episode slated to run on TBS in November.
This will »
- Brian Steinberg
With NBC Debate Pullout, Gop Media War Enters New Phase
30 October 2015 11:24 AM, PDT
The so-called mainstream media is once again under fire from conservatives — and the organizational apparatus of the Republican Party — which, like a football team that feels the referees are unfair, is threatening to only play its games on its home field. The question is whether these publicly vented gripes are really a winning game plan, however cathartic they might be.
Of course, assertions about liberal bias in the media have been a longtime staple of the right, fueling the growth of more sympathetic media outlets, from Fox News Channel to conservative talkradio to websites like Breitbart and Drudge. Still, Republicans have always found it necessary to go into what they view as the lions’ den, engaging traditional news outlets — from the New York Times to the network divisions and CNN — while continuing to register their displeasure.
The decision by the Gop to pull out of a scheduled debate on NBC »
- Brian Lowry
Bill Simmons Calls Espn Decision to Terminate Grantland Site ‘Appalling’
30 October 2015 11:06 AM, PDT
Espn is pulling the plug on Grantland, the cultural news and commentary site that has drawn much praise for its long-form stories and video productions.
“After careful consideration, we have decided to direct our time and energy going forward to projects that we believe will have a broader and more significant impact across our enterprise,” Espn said in a statement.
Word of the suspension in operations comes five months after Grantland founder and editor Bill Simmons left Espn amid a strained relationship with top brass. Simmons, who has since set up shop at HBO, blasted Espn for “callously” shuttering the website on Twitter.
“I loved everyone I worked with at G and loved what we built,” he wrote. “Watching good, kind, talented people get treated so callously (is) simply appalling.”
Grantland’s demise also comes as Espn is undergoing layoffs of about 300 staffers in an effort to reorganize its operations »
- Cynthia Littleton
Upright Citizens Brigade, Dan Harmon Drive Originals Strategy For NBCUniversal’s Seeso
30 October 2015 10:45 AM, PDT
NBCUniversal’s plan to launch a streaming channel next year to better mine the value of “Saturday Night Live” and all of its late-night comedy programming has been no secret in TV and digital circles. What was a surprise at the Oct. 15 unveiling of the subscription service, dubbed Seeso, was the high volume of original series slated for the ad-free platform.
An inaugural lineup of more than 20 series and specials have been put into production by Evan Shapiro, exec VP of NBCUniversal Digital Enterprises, and the handful of “comedy nerds,” aka execs, that he recruited to launch Seeso. Shapiro reasons that potential subscribers will come to channel for the marquee titles — “SNL,” “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,” etc. — but will hopefully be intrigued by the originals to fork over $3.99 a month. (That’s the inspiration for the moniker: You’ve come to “see” this, “so” now you should check out that. »
- Cynthia Littleton
‘The Walking Dead’ Gets Seventh Season on AMC
30 October 2015 10:36 AM, PDT
Days after airing its most talked-about episode of the current season, AMC announced it has given a seventh season to its hit zombie apocalypse series “The Walking Dead” and a sixth season to postmortem chat series “Talking Dead.”
“The Walking Dead,” which is based on Robert Kirkman’s Image Comics series and is showrun by Scott Gimple, continues to be a ratings behemoth for the cabler. After factoring in three days of time-shifted viewing, Sunday’s episode — which saw the end of at least one pivotal character — delivered 18.2 million viewers, with 12 million adults 18-49 and 11.5 million adults 25-54 in live+3 ratings. It was up across the board vs. the third episode of last season, according to Nielsen.
Sunday’s episode also served as a strong lead-in to the drama’s corresponding “Talking Dead” series, which is hosted by comedian Chris Hardwick. That episode became the chat show’s highest-rated episode »
- Whitney Friedlander
Norman Lear Looks Back on Early Days as TV Comedy Writer
30 October 2015 10:00 AM, PDT
If anyone deserves to write a memoir, it’s Norman Lear, who reinvented television comedy in the 1970s with “All in the Family,” and whose “Even This I Get to Experience,” a how-to book about understanding the TV business, comes out in paperback Oct. 27. Lear was first mentioned in Variety on Nov. 15, 1950, as part of a story about an exodus of L.A. writers moving to New York for TV jobs.
How did you get the New York gig?
Ed Simmons and I had written a routine for Danny Thomas’ nightclub act, which led to New York and Jack Haley’s “Ford Star Review.” Jerry Lewis saw a sketch that he knew he could do better, so he wanted us. McA handled both shows, so it was easy to move over to Martin & Lewis. Within three weeks, we were writing for “The Colgate Comedy Hour.” Suddenly Simmons & Lear were major comedy writers. »
- Tim Gray
Ratings: Fox’s ‘Bones,’ ‘Sleepy Hollow’ On the Rise With Crossover Storyline
30 October 2015 9:16 AM, PDT
Updated With Finals: Opposite CBS’ dominant “Thursday Night Football” game between the Miami Dolphins and New England Patriots, Fox dramas “Bones”and “Sleepy Hollow” were up on the opening night of the November sweep up thanks to a cross-over episode. ABC’s “Scandal” and “How to Get Away With Murder,” meanwhile, fell to lows while NBC’s “The Blacklist” edged up.
Fox’s “Bones”-“Sleepy Hollow” crossover resulted in a 20% week-over-week improvement for the night and gave the network its highest-rated Thursday since premiere week. While “Bones” was up just a tick (1.3/5 in 18-49, 6.57 million viewers overall), “Sleepy Hollow” (1.1/3 in 18-49, 4.57 million viewers overall) was the real beneficiary, spiking 38% (0.3) from last week but still well behind the competing dramas on ABC and NBC. Both shows also saw significant week-over-week spikes in teens.
ABC disrupted its drama flow by preempting “Grey’s Anatomy” for the annual Halloween special “It’s »
- Rick Kissell
Adele Books NBC Concert Special for One-Night Show in New York
30 October 2015 8:47 AM, PDT
Adele will be saying hello to the Big Apple in November.
The Grammy winner will perform a one-night-only concert at New York City’s Radio City Music Hall on Nov. 17 that will be recorded for a one-hour NBC special, “Adele Live in New York City,” airing on Dec. 14.
The special is taping the same week that she’s performing on “Saturday Night Live,”. Adele’s NBC takeover also includes performances on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” on Nov. 23 and “Today” on Nov. 25.
This will mark the songstress’ first concert in the U.S. since late 2011. “Adele Live in New York City” is directed by Beth McCarthy-Miller, and executive produced by Lorne Michaels, Adele and Jonathan Dickins.
Across the pond, the BBC will air a one-hour special in November, “Adele at the BBC,” of the British singer performing songs old and new.
Adele’s first album in four years, “make-up »
- Maane Khatchatourian
Mulder and Scully Are Not Alone in New ‘X-Files’ Promo
30 October 2015 8:33 AM, PDT
“You two have experience working spooky cases?”
The new officer who questions Gillian Anderson’s Dana Scully about her work with David Duchovny’s Fox Mulder doesn’t know who he’s dealing with.
This January, the two trench-coated investigators are returning to Fox for a six-episode event series.
And they’re not alone.
Tom Braidwood, Dean Haglund and Bruce Harwood are returning as Melvin Frohike, Ringo Langly and John Fitzgerald Byers (aka the Lone Gunmen conspiracy group). William B. Davis is also back as the troublesome Cigarette Smoking Man and Mitch Pileggi is reprising his role as Walter Skinner.
Three of the episodes in the event series are written and directed by “X-Files” creator Chris Carter. The others are written and directed by series alums Glen Morgan, Darin Morgan and James Wong.
“It’s a perfect time to be telling ‘X-Files’ stories,” Carter told fans at New York Comic-Con »
- Whitney Friedlander
Henry Winkler, TV’s Eternal Teenager Fonzie, Turns 70
30 October 2015 8:30 AM, PDT
Henry Winkler enjoyed a very extended adolescence as Fonzie, who rode around on his motorcycle and always had the best chicks, on seminal ’70s sitcom “Happy Days.”
Fonzie came to symbolize everything that was cool about the ’50s to TV viewers in the ’70s, and his leather jacket was enshrined at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C. — ironic since the censors at ABC initially refused to allow Fonzie to wear a leather jacket, asserting that such garb would make him appear to be a hoodlum. In the end, Fonzie got his leather jacket, and TV Guide named him the fourth greatest television character of all time.
Winkler told Hoda Kotb and Kathie Lee Gifford on the “Today” show in 2014 that he goes to D.C. to visit the jacket; indeed, he visited in 2008, but the jacket has not been on display for the »
- Carmel Dagan
MTV Developing Campaign Dramedy from ‘The Wedding Ringer’ Director (Exclusive)
30 October 2015 8:00 AM, PDT
MTV is getting into the race with their latest project in development.
The young-skewing cable network has purchased a pitch for “The Campaigners,” a political dramedy from “The Wedding Ringer” helmer Jeremy Garelick and author/producer Aaron Cooley, Variety has learned exclusively.
The hourlong project revolves around a group of overachieving undergrads who use their social media savvy to get a fictional candidate nominated for the upcoming senate election. What started as a political statement turns into a twisted mystery when a suspicious person claims to be their candidate, and the ensemble must scramble to cover up the campaign before their imposter gets elected.
Cooley will pen the script. Should the pilot be greenlit, Garelick will direct. Both will serve as exec producers, and Sam Anzel will co-produce.
Garelick and Cooley were college classmates and assistants to director Joel Schumacher (“Batman Forever,” “Batman & Robin”) in their early years. During that time, »
- Elizabeth Wagmeister
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