2008 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony in Beijing Draws Record 34.2 Million Viewers August 10, 2008 12:09 am
Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics, NBC, Sports, Television.add a comment
NBC’s coverage of the 2008 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony in Beijing was the most-watched ever for a non-U.S. Summer Olympic Opening ceremony, averaging an 18.6/33 national rating/share and 34.2 million viewers. Also, a record 69.9M viewers tuned into at least some portion of the ceremony. Traffic to the official site NBCOlympics.com is also off to a record start, with the site logging 70 million page views on 8/8/2008, an increase of 900 percent or 10 times more than the opening day of the Athens Games in 2004 (7 million). And since August 1, 2008, the site has logged more than 127 million page views, nearly half the TOTAL for the entire Athens Games.
The full press release follows after the jump. (more…)
Broadcast TV Ratings for Friday, August 8, 2008 August 9, 2008 10:15 pm
Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in Broadcast TV Ratings, Nielsen TV Ratings, Television.add a comment
New “Star Trek” Posters August 9, 2008 9:04 pm
Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in Movie Posters, Movies.add a comment
TrekMovie got their hands on four new posters featuring the rest of the cast of J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek. The posters are being given away at Creation’s VegasCon 08 along with the prior four posters that were given away at Comic-Con two weeks ago. Just like those prior four posters, which featured the principal cast, when combined the cast photos form the classic Star Trek emblem. Click the image at the right for a closer look at the new posters featuring John Cho (Sulu), Simon Pegg (Scotty), Karl Urban (McCoy) and Anton Yelchin (Chekov).
Synopsis
Mission: Impossible III director and Alias creator J.J. Abrams resurrects the classic science fiction franchise created by Gene Roddenberry with this feature film that embraces the rich history of the influential television and film series while also exploring some uncharted territory. Heroes star Zachary Quinto assumes the role of the Federation Starfleet lieutenant and Vulcan made famous in the original series by Leonard Nimoy (who also appears in an older incarnation of his original role), Spock, with Anton Yelchin stepping into the role of USS Enterprise navigator Pavel Chekov, Zoe Saldana assuming the role of communications officer Uhura, Simon Pegg keeping the ship in top shape as chief engineer Montgomery Scott (aka “Scotty”), and Eric Bana tormenting the benevolent space explorers as the villainous Nero. Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle co-star John Cho also boards the Enterprise as staff psychiatrist Hikaru Sulu, with Chris Pine and Karl Urban assuming the legendary roles of Captain Kirk and Leonard “Bones” McCoy, respectively.
Star Trek hits theaters on December 25, 2008.
Source: TrekMovie
“The Day the Earth Stood Still” Photos August 9, 2008 8:54 pm
Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in Movies, Photos, The Day the Earth Stood Still.add a comment
20th Century Fox has released a batch of photos from their upcoming remake of the classic 1951 Sci-Fi film The Day the Earth Stood Still. Check them out after the jump.
Synopsis
Keanu Reeves tops this adaptation of the seminal 1951 sci-fi film The Day the Earth Stood Still with this 20th Century Fox production. Scott Derrickson (The Exorcism of Emily Rose) helms the story of an alien traveler, Klaatu (Reeves), who heads to Earth along with his bodyguard robot, Gort, to deliver a warning of planetary destruction if the people of the world fail to bring peace to their civilizations. Jennifer Connelly, Jon Hamm, and Kathy Bates co-star in the Ryne Douglas Pearson-penned film.
The Day the Earth Stood Still hits theaters on December 12, 2008.
“Gatchaman” CG Rendered Concept Art August 9, 2008 8:47 pm
Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in Gatchaman, Movies, Photos.add a comment
Imagi has released a batch of CG-rendered concept art, plus a logo (picture above) for their upcoming computer animated big-screen adaptation of Gatchaman. Check out the photos after the jump.
Synopsis
Adapted from a best-selling manga of the same name — which, in turn, became a popular animated cartoon in the early 1970s — the 3D, CG-rendered anime feature Gatchaman constitutes an action-fantasy about a magical band of five heroes who take on enemies determined to seize control of the Earth’s basic natural resources. The film — produced by L.A. and Hong Kong-headquartered Imagi Studios — followed Imagi’s much-publicized recruitment of four A-list Hollywood animation producers, and that company’s production of the U.S. box-office blockbuster TMNT (2007).
Gatchaman hits theaters in 2009.
SCI FI Announces 2-Hour “Battlestar Galactica” TV Movie August 9, 2008 8:37 pm
Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in Battlestar Galactica, DVD, Movies, News, Sci Fi, Television.add a comment
The SCI-FI Channel has announced that they’ll be airing a brand new Battlestar Galactica TV movie in 2009, following the conclusion of the series’ final 10 episodes. The movie will then be released on DVD. Series star Edward James Olmos will direct and Jane Espenson will write. Shooting begins at the end of this month and so far the cast includes Michael Trucco, Aaron Douglas and Dean Stockwell. More cast should be announced in the coming weeks. Here’s the synopsis (the press release follows after the jump):
Starting before the events of the miniseries, our story focuses on familiar characters including Cylon Number One, known as Cavil (Stockwell), Resistance Leader Sam T. Anders (Trucco) and Chief Galen Tyrol (Douglas). In the beginning, the Cylons had a plan, but it didn’t account for one thing: survivors. During the chaotic aftermath of the destruction, two powerful Cylon agents struggle with plots and priorities on the human ships that got away, and among the resistance fighters who were left behind.
Broadcast TV Ratings for Thursday, August 7, 2008 August 9, 2008 7:54 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.
Broadcast TV Ratings for Wednesday, August 6, 2008 August 9, 2008 7:27 pm
Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in Broadcast TV Ratings, Nielsen TV Ratings, Television.add a comment
Broadcast TV Ratings for Tuesday, August 5, 2008 August 6, 2008 12:18 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.
Top 10 Broadcast and Cable TV Ratings (July 28-August 3, 2008) August 6, 2008 10:37 am
Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in Nielsen TV Ratings, Television.add a comment
Here are the top 10 programs for the past week (July 28-August 3) for both broadcast television and cable.
Top 10 Broadcast TV Ratings (Viewers)
- America’s Got Talent – NBC – 13.85M
- Wipeout – ABC – 9.70M
- Two and a Half Men (R) – CBS – 9.34M
- So You Think You Can Dance-WED – FOX – 8.84M
- Criminal Minds (R) – CBS – 8.70M
- So You Think You Can Dance-THUR – FOX – 8.69M
- NCIS (R) – CBS – 8.50M
- CSI: Miami (R) – CBS – 8.44M
- 60 Minutes (R) – CBS – 8.08M
- CSI (R) – CBS – 8.03M
Top 10 Cable TV Ratings (Viewers)
- The Closer – TNT – 7.36M
- NASCAR Sprint Cup Live (Pocano) – ESPN – 6.19M
- WWE Raw – USA – 5.52M
- WWE Raw – USA – 4.98M
- Law & Order: CI – USA – 4.93M
- Burn Notice – USA – 4.86M
- Saving Grace – TNT – 4.78M
- Hannah Montana – DSNY – 4.62M
- Monk – USA – 4.60M
- Pysch – USA – 4.29M
Source: Nielsen Media
Fishburne in Talks to Replace Petersen on “CSI” August 6, 2008 9:37 am
Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in Casting, CBS, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, News, Television.add a comment
Laurence Fishburne is in talks to replace William Petersen as the lead star in CBS’s veteran crime drama CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Sources say that Fishburne is being heavily courted to play a new character, described as a doctor/scientist outsider to the CSI unit who has the same genetic profile as a serial killer but hasn’t previously acted on any homicidal impulses.
THR further notes that Fishburne had been mentioned as one of the CSI producers’ top choices for the role, along with John Malkovich and Kurt Russell.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
“Eagle Eye” Getting Simultaneous IMAX Release August 6, 2008 9:23 am
Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in Eagle Eye, IMAX, Movies, News.add a comment
ComingSoon.net is reporting that DreamWorks/Paramount have prepared an IMAX trailer for Eagle Eye that will soon be attached to screenings of The Dark Knight. The studio is expected to soon announce that the D.J. Caruso-directed film will get a simultaneous IMAX release alongside its conventional theater opening on September 26, 2008.
Synopsis
In the wake of his overachieving twin brother’s mysterious death, a young slacker (Shia LaBeouf) learns that he and a single mother (Michelle Monaghan) have been framed as terrorists by an unknown source in this thriller from Disturbia director D.J. Caruso. As a result of the accusation, the desperate pair is forced into an alliance with a dangerous sleeper cell preparing to carry out a high-profile political assassination. Only by infiltrating and exposing the masterminds behind this diabolical plot will the unjustly accused pair be able to prove their innocence and prevent a series of catastrophic events from unfolding. Rosario Dawson, Billy Bob Thornton, and Michael Chiklis co-star.
Source: ComingSoon.net
“Stargate Atlantis” to Return in the Fall August 6, 2008 9:11 am
Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in News, Sci Fi, Stargate Atlantis, Television.add a comment
Some good news for Stargate Atlantis fans. In past seasons, its been common practice for SCI FI to air its original series in two batches of 10 episodes. That looks to be changing this season as it appears Stargate Atlantis will be returning with its last 10 episodes of season five in the fall, not next season as originally expected. The Futon Critic reports that after its 10th episode airs on September 26th at 10pm, the show will take a one-week break (for the premiere of two-hour premiere of Sanctuary on October 3rd from 9-11pm) and then return the following week in a new time slot: 9pm.
Through three weeks (we don’t yet have the numbers for the fourth episode of the season that aired this past Friday) Stargate Atlantis has averaged a 1.2 household rating. That’s slightly above what the fourth season averaged through episodes (1.1 household rating).
A new episode of Stargate Atlantis airs this Friday on SCI FI at 10pm.
Kevin Smith Wins Appeal for R-Rated “Zack & Miri Make a Porno” August 6, 2008 8:57 am
Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in Movies, News, Zack & Miri Make a Porno.add a comment
Kevin Smith has won his appeal for his upcoming comedy Zack & Miri Make A Porno, which was recently given an NC-17 rating by the MPAA. The appeals panel revised the rating from NC-17 to Restricted.
Synopsis
Kevin Smith writes and directs his newest comedy for The Weinstein Co. with Zack & Miri Make a Porno, the story of two friends (Seth Rogan and Elizabeth Banks) who get into the amateur porn business to combat their rising debt, only to realize their underlying feelings for each other while doing so.
Zack & Miri Make a Porno hits theaters on October 31, 2008.
“Entourage” Season Five Promo August 6, 2008 8:49 am
Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in Entourage, HBO, Television.add a comment
HBO has released a promo for the upcoming fifth season of Entourage. Check it out below. Entourage begins its new season on September 7, 2008 at 10pm.
Schwarzenegger Not Sold on “Terminator Salvation” August 6, 2008 8:43 am
Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in Movies, News, Terminator Salvation.add a comment
California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger told the Los Angeles Times that he’s still not sold on Terminator Salvation, despite given a private screening of the comic-con reel by the movie’s producers:
“I’ve seen very little footage so I don’t really have a feel for it. I hope they do well, and I hope it is a huge hit. I do hope it creates a spectacle on the screen. That is what James Cameron created,” Arnold said. “I still don’t know how it will play out with this one. They showed me some footage, but I don’t have a feel for the movie. I didn’t see enough. I wasn’t sure who the Terminator was. I don’t know if there is one or if he’s the star or the hero. These are the things that determine the success and how the strong the movie will be.”
Terminator Salvation hits theaters on May 22, 2009.
Source: Los Angeles Times
Broadcast TV Ratings for Monday, August 4, 2008 August 6, 2008 7:09 am
Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in Broadcast TV Ratings, Nielsen TV Ratings, Television.1 comment so far
New Record for “The Dark Knight” August 6, 2008 6:30 am
Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in Box Office, Movies, The Dark Knight.add a comment
The Dark Knight broke yet another record on Monday, fastest movie to $400M. The film accomplished the feat in just 18 days (resting at $400,038,494 by the end of Monday), destroying the prior record held by Shrek 2 which took 43 days to hit the mark.
Additionally, The Dark Knight has added $203.7M from overseas markets pushing its worldwide gross to $603.74M with several key markets yet to open.
My revised estimate for the film’s total domestic gross now stands between $493M and $552M, which would place it second all time ahead of Star Wars ($461M), but below the all-time domestic grosser Titanic ($600.79M). We’ll know in the coming weeks if The Dark Knight truly has the legs to beat Titanic.
It currently ranks as the #8 highest-grossing film of all time. Ahead of #9 Revenge of the Sith ($380.27M) and slightly below #7 Spider-Man ($403.71M) which it should pass on Tuesday. Click here to check out the entire list.
Broadcast TV Ratings for Sunday, August 3, 2008 August 5, 2008 1:57 am
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.
Broadcast TV Ratings for Saturday, August 2, 2008 August 5, 2008 1:07 am
Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in Broadcast TV Ratings, Nielsen TV Ratings, Television.add a comment
“Monsters Vs. Aliens” Trailer August 4, 2008 8:45 pm
Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in Monsters vs. Aliens, Movie Trailers, Movies.1 comment so far
A trailer for Monsters vs. Aliens has been leaked online. Check it out below.
Synopsis
When human-hating aliens disrupt earthbound cable-television signals, it’s up to a monster-hunting superhero to take out the pesky extraterrestrials and ensure that television viewers are not deprived in this animated adaptation of the popular comic-book series. The DreamWorks Animation release is being helmed by Shrek 2 director Conrad Vernon and Shark Tale’s Rob Letterman.
Monsters vs. Aliens hits theaters on March 27, 2009.
What’s on Tonight (Monday, August 4, 2008) August 4, 2008 7:44 pm
Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in Television.add a comment
Here’s a look at what’s new tonight on the various broadcast and cable networks.
8:00PM
- ABC – High School Musical: Get in the Picture
- BBCA – Top Gear
- FOX – Teen Choice Awards
- NBC – American Gladiators
- TLC – Take home Nanny
9:00PM
- ABC – Wanna Bet?
- A&E – Intervention
- HBO – Baghdad High
- TLC – Jon & Kate Plus 8
- TNT – The Closer
- USA – WWE Raw
- VH1 – I Want to Work for Diddy
10:00PM
- ABC – The Mole
- ABC Family – The Middleman
- A&E – Paranormal State
- Bravo – Date My Ex
- DSC – Verminators
- NBC – Nashville Star
- Showtime – Weeds
- TNT – Saving Grace
- VH1 – New York Goes to Hollywood
10:30PM
- A&E – Paranormal State
- Showtime – Secret Dairy of A Call Girl
- VH1 – Luke’s Parental Advisor
11:59PM
- Sho2 – Big Brother After Dark
“The Scorpion King 2” Trailer + New Photos August 4, 2008 7:27 pm
Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in Movie Trailers, Movies, The Scorpion King 2: Rise of A Warrior.add a comment
Universal Pictures has released the trailer forThe Scorpion King 2: Rise of A Warrior (prequel to the 2002 film The Scorpion King), which hits DVD and Blu-ray on August 19th. Check it out below.
Synopsis (Official Site)
When a young Mathayus (Michael Copon) witnesses his father’s death at the hands of the king (UFC Champion Randy Couture), his quest for vengeance transforms him into the most feared warrior of the ancient world. From the director of Resident Evil: Extinction and Highlander comes a heroic adventure filled with heart-stopping action and thrilling visual effects!
Also, check out some photos after the jump.
“Wonder Woman” Movie Trailer August 4, 2008 6:47 pm
Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in Blu-ray, DVD, Movie Trailers, Movies.add a comment
Warner Bros. has released the trailer for the February 2009 direct-to-DVD/Blu-ray movie Wonder Woman. Check it out below.
Synopsis (Official Site)
On the mystical island of Themyscira, a proud and fierce warrior race of Amazons have raised a daughter of untold beauty, grace and strength – Princess Diana. When an Army fighter pilot, Steve Trevor, crash-lands on the island, the rebellious and headstrong Diana defies Amazonian law by accompanying Trevor back to civilization. Meanwhile, Ares (the god of War) has escaped his imprisonment at the hands of the Amazonians and has decided to exact his revenge – intending to start a world war that will not only last for centuries – but will wipe out every living being on the planet, starting with the Amazons! It is up to Princess Diana to save her people and the world – by using her gifts and becoming the ultimate Wonder Woman!
“W.” Teaser Poster [Update] August 4, 2008 6:24 pm
Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in Movie Posters, Movies, W.add a comment
UPDATED AUGUST 5TH AT 4:34PM: Lionsgate has also released two new photos from the film which I’ve included below.
Lionsgate has released a new teaser poster for Oliver Stone’s George W. Bush biopic W. Click to enlarge (click the source link for a higher resolution version of the poster).
Synopsis
Josh Brolin stars as George W. Bush in this Oliver Stone biopic that traces the head of state’s rise to power from a privileged alcoholic to a born-again Christian whose belief in religious destiny helped move him to the top ranks of political power. Co-written by Stanley G. Weiser, Bush is produced by fellow Stone collaborators Moritz Borman and Jon Kilik, with Elizabeth Banks co-starring as the first lady, James Cromwell as the elder President Bush, Ellen Burstyn as Barbara Bush and Richard Dreyfuss as Vice President Dick Cheney.
W. hits theaters on October 17, 2008.
Sources: Ain’t It Cool News and ComingSoon.net
Your Entertainment Now 