jump to navigation

Broadcast TV Ratings for Saturday, August 30, 2008 August 31, 2008 6:37 pm

Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in Broadcast TV Ratings.
add a comment

(more…)

Broadcast TV Ratings for Friday, August 29, 2008 August 30, 2008 2:43 pm

Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in Broadcast TV Ratings, Nielsen TV Ratings, Television.
add a comment

(more…)

Broadcast TV Ratings for Thursday, August 28, 2008 August 29, 2008 2:17 pm

Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in Broadcast TV Ratings.
add a comment

(more…)

Broadcast TV Ratings for Wednesday, August 27, 2008 August 28, 2008 2:15 pm

Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in Broadcast TV Ratings, News, Television.
add a comment

(more…)

Broadcast TV Ratings for Tuesday, August 26, 2008 August 27, 2008 5:38 pm

Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in Broadcast TV Ratings, Nielsen TV Ratings, Television.
2 comments

A complete breakdown of the night’s ratings follows after the jump.

(more…)

Broadcast TV Ratings for Monday, August 25, 2008 August 26, 2008 9:19 pm

Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in Broadcast TV Ratings, Nielsen TV Ratings, Television.
add a comment

(more…)

Broadcast TV Ratings for Sunday, August 24, 2008 August 25, 2008 6:30 pm

Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in Broadcast TV Ratings, Nielsen TV Ratings, Television.
add a comment

A complete breakdown of the night’s ratings follows after the jump.

(more…)

“Dancing With The Stars” Season Seven Cast Announced August 25, 2008 2:55 pm

Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in ABC, Dancing with the Stars, News, Television.
2 comments

ABC has announced the cast of 13 new stars that will be a part of the seventh season of Dancing With The Stars.  The three-night premiere event takes place on Monday, September 22nd, with the first results show scheduled for Wednesday, September 24th.  Here’s the list of dancers this season:

  • LANCE BASS – Lance Bass has sold over 50 million records as a member of the phenomenally successful pop group *NSYNC. He also executive produced and starred in a number of film and television projects. In 2002 he successfully trained to be a cosmonaut at Russia’s Star City and was certified by both the Russian Space Program and NASA for a mission aboard a Soyuz capsule. Lance has also released his memoir, Out of Sync, for Simon Spotlight Entertainment. The 2006 U.S. Youth Latin Champ and 2007 World Swing Dance Champ Lacey Schwimmer teams up with Lance to make her series debut.
  • TONI BRAXTON – The winner of six Grammy Awards, Toni Braxton is a Billboard chart-topping singer and actress, selling over forty million records worldwide. Her U.S. number-one hit Un-Break My Heart is the second biggest single by a female artist in history. She has also appeared in two Disney Broadway shows: Beauty and the Beast and Aida. Dancing with the Stars marks her return to the spotlight after a six-month health hiatus. She teams up with season one champion, Alec Mazo, who returns for his fourth season.
  • BROOKE BURKE – A host, actress, entrepreneur and celebrity mom, Brooke Burke has truly done it all. She has graced numerous magazine covers, has her own top-selling swimsuit calendars, and is regularly ranked in men’s magazines as one of the sexiest women in the world. Recognized worldwide as host of the hit travel series Wild On!, Brooke has since hosted several high profile network series, including Rock Star: INXS and Rock Star: Supernova. On the acting front, she has guest-starred on such television series as Las Vegas, Less Than Perfect, Eve, It’s All Relative, The Bernie Mac Show, Monk, Rock Me Baby and That’s Life. Brooke is a mother of four and recently launched her own babystore BabooshBaby.com, a site where she shares her secrets (and some products she used) to get back in shape after giving birth. Brooke teams with Derek Hough who returns for his third season.
  • ROCCO DISPIRITO – The James Beard Award-winning celebrity chef and author Rocco DiSpirito combines his world-class cooking with a passion for empowering home cooks. A graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, Rocco opened the 3-star Union Pacific in New York City in 1997. In 2003 he launched Rocco’s for the reality series, The Restaurant. Rocco will next appear on the A&E series, Rocco Gets Real, beginning in October, along with its companion cookbook, Rocco Gets Real: Cook at Home Every Day. He teams with Karina Smirnoff who returns for her fifth season. Karina teamed with R&B singer, Mario, last season.
  • MAURICE GREENE – The winner of two gold medals, in the 100m sprint and the 4x100m relay at the 2000 Sydney Summer Olympics, track star Maurice Greene was dubbed the “World’s Fastest Man” during his career. In addition to being the former world record holder in the 100m sprint, and winning multiple world championships, he also won silver and bronze medals at the 2004 Athens Summer Olympics. He is the current Indoor World Record holder in the 60m at 6.39 seconds. He teams up with two-time champion, Cheryl Burke. Cheryl returns for her sixth season.
  • KIM KARDASHIAN – Actress, model and reality television star, Kim Kardashian shot to stardom after the first airing of her hit E! reality series, Keeping up with the Kardashians. The series follows the exploits of Kim, her siblings, her mother Kris, and her stepfather, Olympic Gold Medalist Bruce Jenner. Kardashian recently completed her first feature film, Disaster Movie and will also be seen on The N’s series Beyond the Break. She teams up with defending champ, Mark Ballas, who returns for his third season.
  • CLORIS LEACHMAN – Actress Cloris Leachman’s storied career has been recognized with nine Emmys, a Golden Globe, and an Academy Award. She has the distinction of being the only woman to win eight Primetime Emmy Awards and one Daytime Emmy. Leachman has starred in a wide range of theater, television and motion picture projects, creating such indelible characters as Phyllis in the TV series Phyllis and The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Frau Blucher in Young Frankenstein, Nurse Diesel in High Anxiety, and Ruth Popper in The Last Picture Show (for which she won an Oscar and a BAFTA). In 2008 she has already completed three new films; The Women, American Cowslip and New York I Love You. She is in the process of writing her memoir and is currently touring the U.S. with her one-woman show CLORIS! Cloris teams with World Latin Champion and Mark’s father, Corky Ballas, who makes his series debut.
  • CODY LINLEY – Cody Linley will be the youngest contestant ever to compete on Dancing with the Stars. He is best known for his role as Jake Ryan on the wildly popular Disney Channel series Hannah Montana, a role in which he was nominated for a Young Artist Award. He also helped the show garner an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Children’s Programming. Cody’s film credits include My Dog Skip, HOOT, Miss Congeniality, and Cheaper By the Dozen. He teams with two-time Dancing with the Stars champ, Julianne Hough who returns for her fourth season.
  • SUSAN LUCCI – As the most famous face in daytime television history, Lucci has held audiences spellbound for years as the sexy, sassy, beautiful woman you love to hate, Erica Kane on All My Children. In May 1999, all of America stood and cheered when Susan Lucci won the Emmy Award for Best Actress. While competing on the show, she will continue her work on All My Children, and celebrate her 10,000th episode this November. In addition to her performances on Broadway and in cabarets across the country, Susan is an entrepreneur, having launched successful cosmetic, fashion, and jewelry lines on HSN. She teams with Tony Dovolani who returns for his sixth season.
  • MISTY MAY-TREANOR – Beach Volleyball champion Misty May-Treanor and partner Kerri Walsh captured their second Olympic gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics and became the first team ever to repeat as back-to-back champs. The victory also marked their 108th straight match win. Misty and Kerri were distinguished as AVP Team of the Year for four consecutive years (2003 through 2006). Misty was also named Most Valuable Player in 2005 and 2006, Best Offensive Player in 2004, 2005 and 2006, and Best Defensive Player in 2006. She now joins a new teammate, Maksim Chmerkovskiy, who returns for his fifth season.
  • TED MCGINLEY – Actor Ted McGinley’s extensive television credits include Married&with Children, Hope & Faith, Happy Days, recurring roles on the critically-acclaimed series The West Wing, Sports Night, Charlie Lawrence, Dynasty, and The Love Boat. He has also starred in such films as Pearl Harbor, Daybreak, Dick, Major League: Back to the Minors, Wayne’s World 2, and the cult hit Revenge of the Nerds. Newcomer Inna Brayer will be paired with Ted. Inna is the current US Amateur 10 Dance Champion.
  • JEFFREY ROSS – Comedian Jeffrey Ross a.k.a. the “Roastmaster General,” has delivered numerous show stopping performances at celebrity roasts honoring the likes of William Shatner, Hugh Hefner, Donald Trump, Pamela Anderson, Bob Saget and Emmitt Smith, inspiring New York Magazine to crown him The Meanest Man in Comedy. As a comic, Jeff has appeared on several late night and morning shows Jimmy Kimmel Live, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, and The View. Jeff’s other TV credits include Weeds and C.S.I. He has also appeared in such films as the Farrelley Brothers’ Stuck on You, and the critical sensation, The Aristocrats. Jeff continues to tour regularly. He teams with Edyta Sliwinska, who is the only pro to compete in all seven seasons of Dancing with the Stars.
  • WARREN SAPP – Recently retired defensive tackle and Superbowl Champion Warren Sapp played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Oakland Raiders during his 13 year career. His 96.5 career sacks are the second-highest career total sacks for a defensive tackle in the NFL. Warren was named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 1999, played in seven consecutive Pro Bowls and won Super Bowl XXXVII with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2003. This Fall, Warren will co-host Showtime’s Inside the NFL and will be a studio analyst and game commentator for the NFL Network. He is teamed with Kym Johnson who returns for her fifth season.

The full press release follows after the jump.

(more…)

“American Idol” Adds Kara DioGuardi As Fourth Judge August 25, 2008 2:45 pm

Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in American Idol, Casting, Fox, News, Television.
1 comment so far

Fox has announced that grammy-nominated songwriter Kara DioGuardi has joined American Idol has a fourth judge, sitting alongside Paula Abdul, Simon Cowell and Randy Jackson on the upcoming eighth season of the show that peremieres on Fox in January 2009.

“We are turning the heat up on ‘Idol’ this year and are thrilled to welcome Kara to the judges’ table,” said creator and executive producer Simon Fuller. “She is a smart, sassy lady, and one of America’s most successful songwriters. We know she will bring a new level of energy and excitement to the show.”

The full press release follows after the jump.

(more…)

Danny Elfman to Score “The Wolfman” August 25, 2008 2:28 pm

Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in Movies, News, The Wolfman.
add a comment

AICN is reporting that Danny Elfman will be scoring Universal Pictures remake of The Wolfman.  Elfman’s latest film work includes 2007’s Meet the Robinson’s, Spider-Man 3 and The Simpsons Movie.

Synopsis
Universal Studios resurrects the classic lycanthrope with this tale of an American who experiences an unsettling transformation after returning to his ancestral home in Victorian-era Great Britain and being attacked by a rampaging werewolf. His brother having recently vanished without a trace, haunted nobleman Lawrence Talbot (Benicio Del Toro) returns to his family estate to investigate. What he discovers upon reuniting with his estranged father (Anthony Hopkins), however, is a destiny far darker than his blackest nightmares. As a young boy, the untimely death of his mother caused Talbot to grow up before his time. Though Talbot would attempt to bury his pain in the past by leaving the quiet Victorian hamlet of Blackmoor behind, the past returns with a vengeance when his brother’s fiancée, Gwen Conliffe (Emily Blunt), convinces him to return home and aid the search for his missing brother. But something monstrous has been stalking the residents of Blackmoor from the nighttime shadows, something not quite human. Not even recently arrived Scotland Yard inspector Aberline (Hugo Weaving) can dream up a rational explanation for the gruesome spell that has been cast over Blackmoor, yet rumors of an ancient curse persist to this very day. According to legend, the afflicted will experience a horrific transformation by the light of the full moon, their animal rage becoming far too powerful for their human bodies to contain. Now, the woman Talbot loves is in mortal danger, and in order to protect her he must venture into the moonlit woods and destroy the beast before it destroys her. But this isn’t your typical hunt, because before the beast can be slain, a simple man will uncover a primal side of himself that he never knew existed. Screenwriter Andrew Kevin Walker pens a film directed by Joe Johnston and featuring creature effects by special-effects makeup legend Rick Baker.

The Wolfman hits theaters on April 3, 2009.

Source: Ain’t It Cool News

More Photos of Labeouf on the Set of ‘Transformers 2’ + Orci Answers Fan Questions August 25, 2008 2:21 pm

Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in Movies, Photos, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen.
add a comment

JustJared has gotten their hands a new set of photos of Shia LaBeouf on the set of Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen.  The photos were taken on Friday and the actor is sporting a ton of fake blood and scars on a good deal of his body.  This is likely how LaBeouf’s real life injury will be written into the script.  Click the image on the right hand side to view all the pictures from JustJared.

In other news related to ‘Transformers 2’, writer Roberto Orci continues to take some time out to answer fan submitted questions on the TFW2005 forums.  Be sure to head on over to the site to read the question and answer session (I’ve linked directly to the writers most recent session).

Synopsis
Michael Bay returns to helm the sequel to the highly successful big-screen adaptation of the Transformers toy line for DreamWorks and Paramount Pictures. Much of the original cast returns for the second installment, including Shia LaBeouf, Megan Fox, Josh Duhamel, Tyrese Gibson, and John Turturro, with Rainn Wilson joining in the fun as a college professor.

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen hits theaters on May 26, 2009.

Source: JustJared

New Posters: “Max Payne” and “Australia” August 25, 2008 2:11 pm

Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in Australia, Max Payne, Movies, Posters.
1 comment so far

Some new posters for Max Payne and Australia have been released. Check them out above and below.  As always, click to enlarge.

Max Payne hits theaters this October 17th, while Australia hits theaters on November 14th.

Transporter 3 Trailer and Photos August 25, 2008 2:04 pm

Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in Movie Trailers, Movies, Photos, Transporter 3.
add a comment

Lionsgate has released the first trailer for the Jason Statham action film Transporter 3 and IGN has some new snapshots that they’ve taken from the film that you can check out at this link or by clicking the above image.

Synopsis
Jason Statham’s professional driver with a lethal kick is back in Transporter 3, with The Red Siren’s Olivier Megaton taking over the directing duties from Louis Leterrier. The EuropaCorp production continues the successful series, with Luc Besson and Steven Chasman returning as producers.

Transporter 3 hits theaters on November 26, 2008.

New “Frost/Nixon” Trailer and Photos August 25, 2008 1:55 pm

Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in Frost/Nixon, Movie Trailers, Movies, Photos.
add a comment

Universal Pictures has released the first official North American trailer for Ron Howard’s Frost/Nixon and some new production photos and synopsis.

Watch the trailer embedded below, or watch it in High-Def at Yahoo!.  Click after the jump for the photos.

Synopsis
Oscar®-winning director Ron Howard brings to the screen writer Peter Morgan’s (The Queen, The Last King of Scotland) electrifying battle between Richard Nixon, the disgraced president with a legacy to save, and David Frost, a jet-setting television personality with a name to make, in the untold story of the historic encounter that changed both: Frost/Nixon. Reprising their roles from Morgan’s stageplay are Frank Langella, who won a Tony for his portrayal of Nixon, and Michael Sheen, who fully inhabited the part of Frost onstage in London and New York.

For three years after being forced from office, Nixon remained silent. But in summer 1977, the steely, cunning former commander-in-chief agreed to sit for one all-inclusive interview to confront the questions of his time in office and the Watergate scandal that ended his presidency. Nixon surprised everyone in selecting Frost as his televised confessor, intending to easily outfox the breezy British showman and secure a place in the hearts and minds of Americans.

Likewise, Frost’s team harbored doubts about their boss’ ability to hold his own. But as cameras rolled, a charged battle of wits resulted. Would Nixon evade questions of his role in one of the nation’s greatest disgraces? Or would Frost confound critics and bravely demand accountability from the man who’d built a career out of stonewalling? Over the course of their encounter, each man would reveal his own insecurities, ego and reserves of dignity—ultimately setting aside posturing in a stunning display of unvarnished truth.

Frost/Nixon not only re-creates the on-air interview, but the weeks of around-the-world, behind-the-scenes maneuvering between the two men and their camps as negotiations were struck, deals were made and secrets revealed…all leading to the moment when they would sit facing one another in the court of public opinion.

Frost/Nixon is a collaboration between Imagine Entertainment and Working Title Films, with Academy Award® winners Brian Grazer and Ron Howard joining Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner as producers. Joining Langella and Sheen as the colorful real-life personalities who provide the men counsel is a formidable roster of actors including Kevin Bacon, Oliver Platt, Sam Rockwell, Toby Jones and Matthew Macfadyen.

Frost/Nixon hits theaters on December 5, 2008.

(more…)

Kevin Smith’s Possible “Star Trek” Review August 25, 2008 1:39 pm

Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in Movies, News, Star Trek, Television.
add a comment

Kevin Smith has been getting some pretty sweet exclusives recently.  First he got a chance to check out The Dark Knight before anyone else, calling it “an epic film”, “the ‘Godfather II’ of comic book movies” and “close to a masterpiece” then he got the opportunity to watch an advanced screening of Zack Snyder’s Watchmen calling it “fucking astounding” now he’s is hinting that he’s seen J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek.  The writer-director was a guest recently on KROQ’s Kevin and Bean show and this exchange took place:

Host: So thumbs up on The Watchmen, what else you got?

Smith: I saw a movie last night that I cannot talk about.

Host: Was it good?

Smith: It was phenomenal.

Host: Any stars, any break out stars, and do they trek?

Smith: The stars absolutely trek in this film. It is fantastic. Anybody who was worried doesn’t need to be worried–about this film I cannot talk about…It was in very capable hands. The director did a phenomenal job–the director and his crew. Top notch cast and the guy that plays the lead is an instant star. That dude is going to be so famous. He is so wonderful. He picked up a role that I would say is pretty challenging for someone to step into the shoes of, because it is a role that has been played before many times by the same guy.

Host: How do you out Shatner, Shatner?

Smith: I don’t know what you are talking about.

Host: I was just saying that as an expression.

Smith: Yes, absolutely, in a world of expressions, I would agree with that…I am so not good with this game, you are going to bury me man.

Host: We had you on before The Dark Knight and I remember asking you if you could direct a movie like Dark Knight and you said ‘hell no’ it was so far out of your sphere…but I bring that up to preface this. Let’s say a franchise like Star Trek, not that you have seen the movie or we are talking about the movie, but we are talking about it for example. That is something that is so dangerous to attempt. Is that the kind of project you would like to do? Would you like to be the guy who gets to do a movie like that?

Smith: I would not like to be the guy. In the case of something like Star Trek, it would take a really insanely talented filmmaker–storyteller. Like in the case of Star Trek, JJ Abrams. So leave it to the people who are best equipped for it. I am just the guy who should be watching those movies.

Click here to download and listen to the entire August 22nd episode of the Kevin and Bean show.

Source: TrekMovie

Broadcast TV Ratings for Saturday, August 23, 2008 August 24, 2008 11:50 pm

Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in Broadcast TV Ratings, Nielsen TV Ratings, Television.
add a comment

(more…)

Broadcast TV Ratings for Friday, August 22, 2008 August 23, 2008 3:27 pm

Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in Broadcast TV Ratings.
add a comment

(more…)

Broadcast TV Ratings for Thursday, August 21, 2008 August 22, 2008 3:45 pm

Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in Broadcast TV Ratings, Nielsen TV Ratings, Television.
add a comment

Click more to read my full analysis of the night’s ratings.

(more…)

“Stargate Universe” Greenlit; Will Premiere As Two-Hour Movie in 2009, Followed By Weekly Series August 22, 2008 12:43 pm

Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in News, Sci Fi, Stargate, Stargate Atlantis, Stargate Universe, Television.
12 comments

Cheer up Stargate fans, the long-running franchise, which began with a film in 1994, then became a TV series (Stargate SG-1: 1997-2007) and another series (Stargate Atlantis: 2004-2009 ) is getting a new spin off.  MGM and SCI FI have announced that a go-ahead has been given on Stargate Universe. The new show will kick off with a two-hour movie in 2009, followed by a regular weekly run in the summer. Brad Wright and Robert Cooper, co-creators of Stargate SG-1 and Stargate Atlantis, will serve as executive producers and writers on the new series. The news comes just a day after the confirmation that Stargate Atlantis would not be renewed for a sixth-seasonorder.  The two-hour movie that was also confirmed yesterday will still go forward.

The goal with the new show is to involve more space-based action than was shown on the two prior series:

“We’ve had great success with ‘Enterprise’ repeats on Monday night, and there’s clearly an appetite for space opera as ‘Battlestar’ goes away,” Sci Fi president Dave Howe said. “There’s an opportunity to keep the space opera as part of our programming strategy.”

“This is an opportunity to reinvent this franchise and make it relevant to a new generation,” Howe said. “We really don’t want to be more of the same. It’s going to build clearly off the existing franchise but with a cast that gives it a younger vibe.”

Said co-creators Wright and Cooper: “In ‘Universe,’ we plan to keep those elements that have made the franchise a success, such as adventure and humor, while breaking new ground in the relationships between mostly young and desperate explorers, thrust together and far from home. Above all, we believe the Stargate itself remains an enduring icon with infinite potential as a jumping-off point for telling stories.”

Here’s a complete description of the new series (and click after the jump for the full press release):

After unlocking the mystery of the Stargate’s ninth chevron, a team of explorers travels to an unmanned starship called the Destiny, launched by The Ancients at the height of their civilization as a grand experiment set in motion, but never completed.

What starts as a simple reconnaissance turns into a never ending mission, as the Stargate Universe crew discovers the ship is unable to return to Earth, and they must now fend for themselves aboard the Destiny.

The crew will travel to the far reaches of the universe, connecting with each of the previously launched Stargates, thus fulfilling the Destiny’s original mission. Challenges will arise though as the ship comes into range of Stargates placed centuries ahead of the Destiny and the crew is unable to control the ship’s navigational schedule. If someone is left behind, there is no way to go back for them, adding to the drama of encountering new races, enemies and adventures.

WB Puts “Superman” On Hold; Confirms Reboot August 22, 2008 12:35 pm

Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in Batman, Flash, Green Arrow, Green Lantern, Movies, News, Superman, Wonder Woman.
3 comments

Just a few days after it was reported that Warner Bros. was debating behind-the-scenes about how they should proceed with the planned Superman Returns sequel Superman: Man of Steel, the Wall Street Journal has an article up with Jeff Robinov, Warner Bros. Pictures Group President, in which he tells the paper that the studio is indeed looking to reintroduce Superman:

Warner Bros. also put on hold plans for another movie starring multiple superheroes — known as “Batman vs. Superman” — after the $215 million “Superman Returns,” which had disappointing box-office returns, didn’t please executives. “‘Superman’ didn’t quite work as a film in the way that we wanted it to,” says Mr. Robinov. “It didn’t position the character the way he needed to be positioned.” “Had ‘Superman’ worked in 2006, we would have had a movie for Christmas of this year or 2009,” he adds. “But now the plan is just to reintroduce Superman without regard to a Batman and Superman movie at all.”

Now I’ve never had a problem with Superman Returns, but I understand Warner’s feelings here.  Then again, this article is a little confusing as I had not realized that Batman vs. Superman was as much a possibility as is led on here.  Here are a few more highlights from the article, including the studio’s future plans with their various DC properties:

“By 2011, Mr. Robinov plans for DC Comics to supply the material for up to two of the six to eight tent-pole films he hopes Warner Bros. will have in the pipeline by then,” the article states.

The studio is set to announce its plans for future DC movies in the next month. For now, though, it is focused on releasing four comic-book films in the next three years, including a third Batman film, a new film reintroducing Superman, and two movies focusing on other DC Comics characters. Movies featuring Green Lantern, Flash, Green Arrow, and Wonder Woman are all in active development.

With “Batman vs. Superman” and “Justice League” stalled, Warner Bros. has quietly adopted Marvel’s model of releasing a single film for each character, and then using those movies and their sequels to build up to a multicharacter film. “Along those lines, we have been developing every DC character that we own,” Mr. Robinov says.

Robinov also noted that he wants the next batch of superhero movies to take a darker more brooding tone, similar to the studio’s recent box office success The Dark Knight.  That includes the Superman franchise.

Source: Wall Street Journal

Broadcast TV Ratings for Wednesday, August 20, 2008 August 21, 2008 9:23 pm

Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in Broadcast TV Ratings, Nielsen TV Ratings, Television.
add a comment

(more…)

“Quantum Of Solace” Moved Up A Week August 21, 2008 8:48 pm

Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in Movies, News, Quantum of Solace.
add a comment

Sony/Columbia Pictures have announced that the latest James Bond adventure Quantum of Solace will be releasing in North America on November 7, 2008, a week earlier than originally schduled:

“We believe Nov. 14 is a great date that allows us to play straight through Thanksgiving and right into Christmas,” said Jeff Blake, chairman of worldwide marketing and distribution for Columbia Tristar Motion Picture Group.

The film will have its worldwide debut on October 29th in London, England.

Did Harvey Dent Live or Die? The Dark Knight Script Reveals Fate of Character August 21, 2008 3:40 pm

Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in Movies, News, The Dark Knight.
4 comments

Spoilers follow, but has anyone really not seen this movie yet?  When The Dark Knight ended I know I wasn’t the only one unsure about the extent of the injuries sustained by Harvey Dent/Two-Face during his fall.  However, the script has been released for purchase, and it reveals the fate of the character.  On page 163 of the 167 page script, the stage direction reads as follows [SPOILERS–Highlight to reveal]:

“Dent lies at the bottom of the hole, his neck broken. DEAD.”

The capital letters are what’s written by brothers Jonathan and Christopher Nolan, who wrote the screenplay.

So there’s that.  If you still had any questions about the character, we now have confirmation that he died.

Source: MTV

Jon Favreau Begins Work on “Iron Man 2” August 21, 2008 3:26 pm

Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in Iron Man, Iron Man 2, Movies, News.
add a comment

Iron Man 2 director Jon Favreau told the Los Angeles Times that work has begun on the sequel:

I just talked to Jon Favreau a bit ago, and he said that while there hasn’t been an formal announcement on the sequel to “Iron Man,” he’s begun developing it. “We’re working on it now,” he said, “which hasn’t been officially announced. It will be released in 2010.”

Iron Man has grossed over $570M worldwide and is currently the year’s second highest-grossing film at $317.15M.  The sequel will hit theaters on April 30, 2010.  Justin Theroux (Tropic Thunder) is writing the script, while Robert Downey Jr. will return as Iron Man/Tony Stark and co-stars Gwyneth Paltrow and Terrence Howard are expected to return.

“Stargate Atlantis” Canceled; Movies Planned [Updated With Press Release and New Chart] August 21, 2008 3:08 am

Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in Cancellations, News, Sci Fi, Stargate, Stargate Atlantis, Television.
10 comments

UPDATED ON AUGUST 22ND AT 4:00PM: Because some wondered how the other SCI FI shows have fared, I’ve gone ahead and posted a chart detailing the ratings of Stargate SG-1, Battlestar Galactica and Eureka as well as Stargate Atlantis.  Check it out by clicking this link.

UPDATED ON AUGUST 21ST AT 2:45PM: I’ve attached the press release from SCI FI confirming the cancellation and announcing the two-hour TV movie (then video release).  Check it out after the jump.

The SCI FI Channel is ending Stargate Atlantis after five seasons on the air, that according to a report by Multichannel News.  There is still good news, however, as MGM and SCI FI will continue the straight-to-video venture that has proven successful thus far with the first Stargate TV franchise Stargate SG-1, which has already had two movies released on DVD to financial success.  The movie will air on the network in 2009 and then be released on DVD (and presumably Blu-ray as well).

Airing in 10-episode blocks since its premiere in July 2004, the series has seen declines with each string of episodes, until the later half of last season.  Its current viewership level of a little over 2 million viewers (includes a mix of live and delayed ratings data per Multichannel’s report) and a 1.22 household coverage rating (Live+Same Day only) through the first five episodes of this season is an increase over the comparable season four start.  However, it’s still barely half of where the show started off at (4.2M viewers and a 3.2 household coverage rating) for its series premiere in 2004.  Season five’s household rating average of 1.22 is 15% higher than the beginning of season four.

Nevertheless, and regardless of the fact that it picked up viewers when Live + 7-day ratings were factored in, a show with a respectable budget going into its sixth season of production on a cable network available to more than 80% of the nation should be attracting a larger audience.

In the meantime, fans can appreciate that SCI FI has decided to air the season straight through, foregoing their hiatus between 10-episode halves (I suppose that announcement was a hint at things to come huh?) as well as an extended life through straight-to-video movies:

“We’re excited to tell Atlantis stories on a bigger canvas,” Brad Wright and Robert C. Cooper, co-creators of Stargate SG-1 and Stargate Atlantis and currently executive producers on Atlantis, said in a statement. “The successes of the two original Stargate [direct-to-video] movies The Ark of Truth and Continuum have shown us the opportunities that the movie format offers. We have plans for both SG-1 and Atlantis to remain vital as we expand the franchise.”

Other than it being announced that Stargate writers and producers (and current show runners) Joseph Mallozzi (who has a blog you can check at this link and confirmed the cancellation in this comment on his site) and Paul Mullie will write the first Atlantis movie script, there is no information about what the movie would be about, how many of the cast members would participate and who would direct. GateWorld.net’s report of the news indicates that MGM will make an official announcement on Thursday, so perhaps will get some more details at that point.

I know cancellations are hard to handle for some people but keep in mind that this is a business and sometimes regardless of how much you enjoy a show, the economics don’t warrant it staying on the air.  At least it got five seasons,much more than several other series even get a chance at.  Plus in this age of DVD and Internet entertainment there’s always the opportunity to revisit the material in some other form.

Also, Wright and Cooper are developing a third TV series in the franchise — called Stargate Universe –- and pitched it to the network in late 2007 (read a report on that from an April 2007 GateWorld.net article here).  SCI FI has made no announcement regarding that proposed new series.

I’ve included a chart below tracking the entire run of the show via the household coverage rating (click to enlarge).

Note: Two-hour episodes/nights are counted as one rating.  All data based on live or live+same day ratings.

Ratings for Stargate SG-1, Stargate Atlantis, Battlestar Galactica and Eureka (click to enlarge)

My complete analysis, including a season-by-season breakdown, of the above chart follows directly after the jump.

(more…)

Design a site like this with WordPress.com
Get started