TV REVIEW: UNITED STATES OF TARA

CHECK OUT THIS PROFILE OF SHOWTIME’S HIT COMEDY, UNITED STATES OF TARA. I’M A FAN OF THE STAR, TONI COLLETTE, AS WELL AS THE WRITER/CREATOR DIABLO CODY, OF JUNO FAME. I THINK THEY’RE BOTH EXTRAORDINARILY TALENTED, AND THUSLY THE SERIES IS A MUST WATCH. CHEERS & ENJOY

Network: Showtime

Genre: Comedy

Runtime: 30 mins.

Premiere Date: January 18, 2009

Showtime's comedy, "United States of Tara," executive produced by Steven Spielberg, created by Diablo Cody and starring Academy Award-nominated actress Toni Collette, focuses on a wife and mother struggling with dissociative identity disorder and the effect it has on her family. "United States of Tara," a co-production of Showtime Networks and Dreamworks Television, also stars John Corbett and Rosemarie DeWitt.

On "United States of Tara," suburban wife and mother Tara Gregson (Toni Collette), juggles her family and career while suffering from Dissociative Identity Disorder. It's never a dull moment in the Gregson household as the various identities may appear on any given day and range in age, temperament and even gender...from "T," a flirtatious and spunky teenager to "Buck," a gun-loving male alter…all while her supportive husband Max (John Corbett) and their two teenaged children, Kate (Brie Larson) and Marshall (Keir Gilchrist), try to lead as much of a "normal" life as possible on "United States of Tara."

SOURCE: POP TOWER

TV REVIEW: TATTOO HIGHWAY

ROUND 3 OF MY MARATHON REALITY TV REVIEW. NEXT UP IS TATTO HIGHWAY. THE STORY IS RATHER INTERESTING. CHECK IT OUT. ENJOY

A&E tattoo reality show

The network HAS A reality series starring tattoo artist Thomas Pendelton, star of the network's previous tattoo-related docusoap "Inked."

In "Tattoo Highway," Pendelton and his wife and business partner, Monica (who also appeared on "Inked"), have transformed a 1970s tour bus into a mobile tattoo parlor. They will travel to cities including Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Phoenix and Salt Lake City, inking customers.

Executive producer Bob Horowitz said the traveling element will differentiate the show from previous tattoo docusoaps.

"All the other series have been based in tattoo parlors," he said. "Here the premise is this is the first tattoo parlor on wheels, and he goes where the stories are. Imagine all the things that can happen when you take something like this on the road and all the things that can happen."

In one episode, Pendelton mixes the cremated ashes of a deceased wife into the ink for a portrait on her husband's chest. In another, he uses UV ink for a tattoo visible only with a black light for a customer wanting a constant reminder of his mother.

"From the creation of the art to the environment that I tattooed in, it has always been about my customers' experience," Pendelton said. "In a street shop, it was easy to forget just how personal that experience should be. Rolling up and parking the shop right in the middle of someone's life, well, there is nothing more personal than that."

A&E plans to premiere the half-hour series in the spring.

"Highway" producers Horowitz and Lewis Fenton also just made a deal with Bravo for a new docudrama series called "Double Exposure," which follows fashion photographers Markus Klinko and Indrani, along with stylist GK Reid. The show will give viewers a behind-the-scenes look at fashion and celebrity photography.

"Success in this business is finding talent that jumps off the screen, people who are unique and true to their business," Horowitz said. "They are the real deal and you see they are truly characters. The series is bound to be a success."

POP CULTURE: NEIL PATRICK HARRIS TO HOST THIS YEAR'S TONY AWARDS

FUNNY MAN EXTRAORDINAIRE NEIL PATRICK HARRIS HAS BEEN PEGGED AS THE HOST OF THIS YEAR’S TONY AWARDS. I CAN ONLY THINK OF TWO WORDS TO DESCRIBE THIS MATCH: PERFECT FIT. IT SHOULD BE A BLAST TO WATCH. MAKE SURE YOU CHECK IT OUT. ENJOY

Neil Patrick Harris to Host 'The 63rd Annual Tony Awards'

The awards show is to be broadcast live from Radio City Music Hall in New York on Sunday, June 7 on CBS.

Neil Patrick Harris, star of the CBS comedy "How I Met Your Mother," will host "The 63rd Annual Tony Awards the most anticipated evening in American theater, to be broadcast live from Radio City Music Hall in New York, Sunday, June 7 (8:00-11:00 PM, live ET; delayed PT) on the CBS Television Network.

"The discipline of live theater - doing the same perfect thing night after night, eight times a week - never ceases to amaze me," said Neil Patrick Harris. "I'm truly honored to have been chosen as the Master of Ceremonies for this year's Tony Awards, and I hope to help provide a first-class evening for all."

"Neil Patrick Harris is the perfect triple threat in Entertainment - a star of television, stage and film - which makes him an ideal host for The Tony Awards," said Jack Sussman, Executive Vice President, Specials, Music and Live Events, CBS Entertainment. "The theater community respects him and the television audience loves him."

"We are thrilled to be working with Neil on the most important theater night of the year," said Executive Producer Glenn Weiss. "His love for Broadway and great knowledge of theater combined with his on-stage presence makes him the perfect person to guide us through what is sure to be a great night," said Executive Producer Ricky Kirshner.

Equally successful on stage and screen, Neil Patrick Harris's role as Barney Stinson in the hit CBS comedy series, "How I Met Your Mother," recently garnered him a 2009 Golden Globe nomination and two consecutive Emmy Award nominations. From his film debut opposite Whoopi Goldberg in "Clara's Heart" and his seminal role as the beloved titular character in "Doogie Howser, M.D.," to his recent turn in Joss Whedon's online sensation, "Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog," Harris has enjoyed a successful career spanning more than 20 years in the industry. Among his many theatrical credits include the dual role of The Balladeer/Lee Harvey Oswald in the Tony Award-winning production of "Assassins," as well as acclaimed performances in the Broadway productions of "Cabaret" and "Proof."

The ceremonies, presented by Tony Award Productions, a joint venture of the League of American Theatres and Producers and the American Theatre Wing, have been broadcast on CBS since 1978. The Tonys were founded in 1947 as a memorial to Antoinette ("Tony") Perry, the American Theatre Wing's World War II chairperson.

This will mark the 12th year that the historic Radio City Music Hall is home to the Tonys.

Ricky Kirshner and Glenn Weiss of White Cherry Entertainment return as executive producers. Weiss, who won an Emmy Award for the 2005 broadcast, will also serve as director for the ninth consecutive year.

SOURCE: POPTOWER

TV REVIEW: POKER AFTER DARK

KNOW WHEN TO HOLD EM, KNOW WHEN TO FOLD EM… WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THAT? LOL. THIS POST IS FOR ALL THE POKER PLAYERS, LOVERS, ADDICTS, WINNERS, & EVERYONE ELSE TOO. CHECK IT OUT, & LEAVE A THOUGHT OR TWO. ENJOY

NBC's new late night show, "Poker After Dark," invites viewers into the exclusive Las Vegas poker scene. The nightly hour-long show, hosted by Shana Hiatt, one of poker's most recognizable faces, features six poker professionals vying for a winner-take-all $120,000 first place prize.

Hosted by former World Poker Tour host Hiatt - dubbed one of Maxim magazine's "Hot 100 of 2005" - each night of original programming for "Poker After Dark" will feature an intimate look at one table as it develops over the week, culminating with a winner on Friday night. Saturday night's episode of "Poker After Dark"—the "director's cut"— will recap the week's events with Hiatt and that week's winner, offering commentary and insight into their winning strategy.

Set in the back room of various casinos on the Vegas strip, "Poker After Dark" gives viewers an intimate look inside a poker game usually reserved for the eyes of the professional poker players themselves. "Poker After Dark" will feature the world's top pros - all miked during the weekly battles for the $120,000 pot - fighting it out for poker supremacy.

"Poker After Dark" is a presentation from Poker PROductions and Echo Entertainment.

TV REVIEW: MYTHBUSTERS

CHECK OUT THIS REVIEW ON THE POPULAR CULT SHOW ON THE DISCOVERY CHANNEL, MYTHBUSTERS

Discovery Channel's "MythBusters" uses science to uncover the truth behind popular myths and legends.

So. You're minding your own business, filling up your gas tank, when your cell phone rings. Hmmm. Should you answer it? Because you've heard you shouldn't use cell phones near gas stations since they can produce small sparks that can ignite big fires. But wait. Could that actually be true? Sounds like a job for "MythBusters"!

This season, the "MythBusters" experiments range from the huge (sonic booms, anyone?) to the household (to double dip, or not to double dip?). Hosted by Jamie Hyneman and Adam Savage, and build team members Tory Belleci, Kari Byron and Grant Imahara, the "MythBusters" mix scientific method with gleeful curiosity and plain old-fashioned ingenuity to create their own signature style of explosive experimentation. Each week they take on three myths and use modern-day science to show you what's real and what's fiction. That's right, they do more than explain how something may or may not be scientifically possible. Through trial and error they actually demonstrate it.

Called the best science show on television, "MythBusters" has aired on Discovery Channel since October 2003. To date, "MythBusters" has tested nearly 600 myths with more than 1,900 experiments that included more than 650 explosions and the destruction of 77 vehicles!

In the season premiere for Season 7, "MythBusters" tackle four fables of automotive mayhem in a Demolition Derby Special. Adam and Jamie test whether a key scene from an iconic motoring movie is fact or fake film physics could moving the passengers to one side of a bus stop it from rolling in a sharp, fast right hand turn? Then, they revisit an early "MythBusters" fan favorite involving two trucks and a compact car and of course, rockets and high explosives. Meanwhile, Kari, Tory and Grant take on Hollywood as they look at four familiar chase scene clichs to find out if they match up to reality, and then test a gravity race seen in a popular car commercial.

Additional season 7 episodes of "MythBusters" will see the gang travel once again to Alaska to test local myths and anecdotes; testing whether a banana peel is really an accident waiting to happen and whether a double-dipped chip is actually germ warfare; testing experiments send in from fans via YouTube—including whether you can actually build a giant 7-foot diameter ball of Lego and roll it down a hill Indiana Jones-style, and more.

After six seasons, "MythBusters" remains as popular as ever. In 2008, while in premieres, "MythBusters" was the #1 program for Men 18-34 delivery in its timeslot (excluding sports and election coverage), and the series ranked as one of Discoverys three highest-rated regular series in primetime for persons 18-49, persons 2+, and households.*

"MythBusters" is produced for Discovery Channel by Beyond Productions. Dan Tapster is executive producer for Beyond Productions; Tracy Rudolph is supervising producer for Discovery Channel.

TV NEWS: TNT'S SUMMER LINEUP

NOT MUCH COMMENTARY NEEDED HERE. CHECK OUT TNT’S SUMMER ROSTER OF SHOWS. I’M SURE YOU’LL ENJOY WHAT THEY HAVE IN STORE FOR YOU. CHEERS.

New seasons of "The Closer", "Raising the Bar," "Saving Grace" and "Leverage" to be joined by three new series: "Dark Blue," "Hawthorne" and "Wedding Day."

TNT is going to be television's hottest destination for outstanding drama this summer. As part of the network's ambitious strategy to expand its production slate, TNT will populates three nights each week with original series.

The groundbreaking schedule will start Monday, June 8, with ad-supported cable's #1 series of all time, "The Closer", starring Golden Globe winner and Emmy nominee Kyra Sedgwick. It will be followed by the second season of Steven Bochco's legal drama, "Raising the Bar," starring Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Gloria Reuben and Jane Kaczmarek.

Beginning June 16, "Wedding Day," TNT's first foray into unscripted programming, will kick off a Tuesday night lineup that continues with the character-driven medical drama, "Hawthorne," starring Jada Pinkett Smith. The night wraps up with the third season of the provocative drama "Saving Grace", starring Oscar winner Holly Hunter.

Wednesday nights will take ramp up the action with the thrilling, fast-paced drama, "Leverage," starring Oscar winner Timothy Hutton, followed by executive producer Jerry Bruckheimer's gritty undercover police drama, "Dark Blue," starring Golden Globe winner Dylan McDermott. The Wednesday original programming lineup will begin July 15.

The following is the complete rundown for TNT's summer lineup of original series:

"The Closer"

5th season to launch Monday, June 8, at 9 p.m. (ET/PT)

It's going to be a year of change for Deputy Police Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson and her Major Crimes unit as TNT's "The Closer" returns for its fifth season. The record-breaking crime drama, which stars Golden Globe winner Kyra Sedgwick, continues to dominate the industry as ad-supported cable's #1 series of all time. Sedgwick gives an unforgettable performance as Deputy Chief Johnson, a former Atlanta detective brought to Los Angeles to head a special LAPD homicide unit. She is a top-notch investigator with unparalleled interrogation skills and a track record for closing nearly every case with a suspect's confession. On the home front, she's not quite as adept at handling her personal relationships. Instead, work tends to take first priority in her life and even threatened to derail her wedding in the season-four finale.

This acclaimed series also features a stellar ensemble cast that has garnered three Screen Actors Guild Award ensemble nominations. Playing Brenda's highly capable squad are Corey Reynolds ("The Terminal"), G.W. Bailey ("M*A*S*H"), Tony Denison ("Melrose Place"), Raymond Cruz ("Collateral Damage"), Michael Paul Chan ("Arrested Development") and Phillip P. Keene ("The D.A."). The series also stars Jon Tenney ("The Division") as Brenda's husband, FBI Agent Fritz Howard; J.K. Simmons ("Juno," "Burn After Reading") as her demanding boss, Will Pope; and Robert Gossett ("Arlington Road") as the head of Robbery-Homicide, Commander Taylor.

Since its premiere in 2005, "The Closer" has earned numerous ad-supported cable viewership records, ranking as the #1 series of all time and scoring the #1 series telecast of all time. Each year, the show's audience grows larger, with its 2008 episodes averaging more than 7.3 million viewers. It is produced by the team behind Nip/Tuck.

"Raising the Bar"

2nd season to launch Monday, June 8, at 10 p.m. (ET/PT)

This summer, court will be back in session with the return of this emotionally powerful legal drama from Emmy-winning producer Steven Bochco. The series follows the cases and lives of young lawyers who work on opposite sides the public defender's office and the district attorney's office as well as those who sit in judgment on their cases. Mark-Paul Gosselaar ("NYPD Blue") stars as idealistic defender Jerry Kellerman, while Gloria Reuben ("ER") plays his passionate and protective boss, Rosalind Whitman. And Jane Kaczmarek ("Malcolm in the Middle") plays imperious Judge Trudy Kessler, who has dreams of becoming the next district attorney. Co-starring in the series are Teddy Sears ("Ugly Betty"), Natalia Cigliuti ("All My Children"), Melissa Sagemiller ("Sleeper Cell"), Currie Graham ("Boston Legal"), J. August Richards ("Conviction") and Jonathan Scarfe ("Into the West").

"Raising the Bar" not only looks at courtroom battles but also the relationships among people on different sides, from the public defender trying to deal with her abusive, drug-addicted husband to the African-American assistant district attorney determined not to let himself be viewed as a racial token, from the judge who pushes the legal envelope in order to secure her political future to the legal aide who does everything he can to hide his homosexuality.

When it premiered last September, "Raising the Bar" was watched by 8.6 million viewers, ad-supported cable's largest audience ever for a new series launch.

"Wedding Day"

New series to launch Tuesday, June 16, at 8 p.m. (ET/PT)

Every couple dreams of having the perfect wedding. For many, it's the most important and emotional day of their lives. But for some, insurmountable obstacles create barriers to making their dream day a reality. This new TNT series, the network's first-ever unscripted drama, comes from producing giants Mark Burnett Productions and DreamWorks Television. The show gives deserving couples a helping hand to ensure the most important day of their lives is also the most magical. Each week, celebrity event planner and food expert Alan Dunn ("For Better or Worse") and celebrity wedding producer and designer Diann Valentine (author of "Weddings Valentine Style") host as family, friends and community come together to create a dream wedding. Along the way, viewers will learn each couple's compelling story, from their first date to their wedding day.

"Hawthorne"

New series to launch Tuesday, June 16, at 9 p.m. (ET/PT)

Jada Pinkett Smith ("The Women," "The Matrix" trilogy) is the latest talented actress to join TNT's line-up of strong, complex female characters, following in the footsteps of Kyra Sedgwick on "The Closer" and Holly Hunter of "Saving Grace." In this character-driven medical drama, Pinkett Smith plays Christina Hawthorne, a compassionate and headstrong Chief Nursing Officer heading up a group of dedicated nurses at Richmond Trinity Hospital who spend long days and nights on the hospital's front lines. Hawthorne is the kind of nurse you want on your side when you or someone you love is in the hospital. She is the kind of nurse who fights for her patients and doesn't let them slip through the cracks. When necessary, she takes on doctors and administrators who are overworked, distracted or just unable to see the human being behind the hospital chart.

Joining Pinkett Smith in "Hawthorne" is Michael Vartan ("Alias") as Dr. Tom Wakefield, the oncologist who treated Christina's husband and who serves as director of medicine for the hospital. The cast also includes Suleka Mathew ("Men in Trees") as Bobbie Jackson, a fellow nurse and one of Hawthorne's best friends; David Julian Hirsh ("Lovebites") as Ray Stein, a nurse struggling with being accepted in a female-dominated profession; Christina Moore ("90210") as Candy Sullivan, a nurse with a unique sense of duty; and Hannah Hodson (TNT's "The Ron Clark Story") as Camille, Hawthorne's daughter. In addition, special guest star Joanna Cassidy ("Six Feet Under") portrays Amanda, Hawthorne's mother-in-law, who also happens to be a member of the hospital board.

"Saving Grace"

3rd season to launch Tuesday, June 16, at 10 p.m. (ET/PT)

Academy Award winner Holly Hunter returns in this bold series as a gutsy Oklahoma City Police detective who holds nothing back, whether on the job or in her personal life. The series follows as she investigates brutal crimes while also trying to balance her relationship with her partner, Ham (Kenneth Johnson, "The Shield"), and figure out cryptic messages from her last-chance angel, Earl (Leon Rippy, "Deadwood"). Hunter's acclaimed, tantalizing performance recently earned her a second consecutive Screen Actors Guild Award nomination. She is joined in the series by an ensemble cast that includes Bailey Chase ("Las Vegas"), Gregory Cruz ("Criminal Minds"), Yaani King ("The Prince & Me") and Dylan Minnette ("Prison Break"), with Lorraine Toussaint ("Any Day Now") and Laura San Giacomo ("Just Shoot Me").

The first season of "Saving Grace" on TNT, ranked as one of ad-supported cable's top new series of 2007, averaging 4.7 million viewers. The show's second season averaged 4 million viewers and ranked as ad-supported cable's #1 entertainment program in its timeslot among adults 25-54, viewers and households. "Saving Grace" was created by Nancy Miller ("Any Day Now").

"Leverage"

2nd season to launch Wednesday, July 15, at 9 p.m. (ET/PT)

TNT set Tuesday nights on fire this winter with the first season of this thrilling, fast-paced drama series starring Oscar winner Timothy Hutton ("Ordinary People"). This summer, the gang is back with more elaborate scams designed to exact revenge against those who use power and wealth to victimize people. Hutton stars as Nate Ford, a former insurance investigator determined to bring down the kind of corrupt bigwigs whose neglect led to the death of his son. His highly skilled team includes Sophie Devereaux (Gina Bellman, "Coupling"), a grifter who uses her acting skills to corner her marks; Eliot Spencer (Christian Kane, TNT's "Into the West"), a retrieval specialist with bone-crunching fighting skills; Alec Hardison (Aldis Hodge, "Friday Night Lights"), a gadget and technology wizard who keeps the team connected and informed; and Parker (Beth Riesgraf, "Alvin and the Chipmunks"), a slightly off-center thief adept at repelling off buildings or squeezing into tight places. Together, the team puts their energy, quick minds and keen intellects toward securing justice for society's underdogs.

"Leverage" which is executive-produced by Dean Devlin ("Independence Day," TNT's "The Librarian" movies), scored big in its first season, ranking as ad-supported cable's #1 show in its timeslot with an average of 3.7 million viewers.

"Dark Blue"

New series to launch Wednesday, July 15, at 10 p.m. (ET/PT)

This fast-paced, undercover police drama from prolific producer Jerry Bruckheimer ("CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," "Without a Trace") stars Golden Globe winner Dylan McDermott ("The Practice," TNT's "The Grid"), Logan Marshall-Green ("The O.C."), Omari Hardwick (TNT's "Saved") and Nicki Aycox ("Supernatural"). The series follows the exploits of a crack undercover team of police officers so covert, many of their own colleagues don't even know they are involved. Leading the group is Carter Shaw (McDermott), a deeply wounded character who has lost his wife and much of his former life as he struggles to bring down bad guys through complex undercover assignments. His team includes Ty Curtis (Hardwick), a recently married cop who struggles with personal relationships he has developed while undercover; Dean Bendis (Marshall-Green), a shoot-from-the-hip officer whose activities make fellow team members wonder if he has gone over to the bad side; and Jaimie Allen (Aycox), a green patrol cop brought in because of her excellent skill in lying and a shady past.

SOURCE: POP TOWER

POP CULTURE: XBOX MAKING A PRIMETIME PLAY

COOL ARTICLE ON XBOX’S LATEST VENTURE. IT INVOLVES INTERACTIVITY. ENJOY.

Xbox makes Primetime play First offering is interactive version of '1 vs. 100' By David Ward SAN DIEGO -- Microsoft is moving closer to its goal of bringing the worlds of TV and video games closer together. The long-awaited first offering for its Xbox Live Primetime initiative is an interactive version of the popular Endemol TV game-show format "1 vs. 100" that will air Friday and Saturday nights in North America throughout the summer and fall. Manuel Bronstein, director of Primetime's "100," said execs expect as many as 200,000 Xbox Live Gold members to play either the live versions of the game on Fridays and Saturdays or quick-play versions on other days of the week. Microsoft also said Tuesday that it has lined up the support of such major advertisers as Honda and Sprint for the show. What the company didn't specify is an exact launch date, though execs estimate "100" will begin sometime in the next six weeks. Microsoft also will have a sweepstakes tied to the show, giving Xbox Live members the chance to win home theater systems and other goods. Microsoft is strategically positioning "100" as a small-screen, family-friendly alternative by launching during the summer -- traditionally the slowest time for television -- and on weekend nights, when lower viewer levels are the norm. "We definitely started this with the big picture in mind and the belief that there's this crossover between TV and gaming," Bronstein said. "We feel we can provide a very compelling experience by bringing the high production values, the scheduling and the anticipation that happens around TV and combine that with the stickiness and social interaction that happens with gaming." Other major differences are the absence of Bob Saget as host, of course, as well as a different prize structure. Players of "100" can win up 10,000 Xbox Live points, which can be redeemed for game, movie and episodic TV show downloads as well as other content. Bronstein and Microsoft were vague on what comes after "100" runs through its two 13-week seasons and whether this marks the beginning of a strategy to produce an entire slate of regularly scheduled primetime programming for different nights during the week. Independent gaming analyst Billy Pidgeon said that games in general -- especially those on platforms like Xbox Live -- are beginning to compete for eyeballs with television. "The addition of synchronous programming that gets people to come to a game platform at a specific time is a great next step," he said.

Find this article at: http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/television/news/e3i30b29365238b365230bcc43a6a2cecbf

TV NEWS: CBS HAS ITS EYE ON DATING GAME & LETS MAKE A DEAL REMAKES

WE HAVE TWO GAME SHOW REMAKES ABOUT TO COME TO NETWORK TV. I’VE WATCHED THE GAME SHOW SPECIALS WHEN THEY’VE COME ON TV, SO I KNOW THE HISTORY & ENTERTAINMENT VALUE OF THESE TWO STORIED SHOWS. IF THE NEW ONES ARE ANYTHING LIKE THEIR PREDECESSORS THEN WE’RE ABSOLUTELY IN FOR A HUGE TREAT. I CERTAINLY HOPE THIS IS THE CASE.

CBS eyes game show remakes 'Let's Make a Deal,' 'Dating Game' may be updated By James Hibberd To replace the longest-running drama on television, CBS may order remakes of two of the longest-running game shows. CBS is weighing pilot orders for "Let's Make a Deal" and "The Dating Game." The network wants to check out updated versions of the shows as part of its effort to fill the daytime slot to be voided by "Guiding Light," the recently canceled soap that ends its historic run in September. The original "Let's Make a Deal," hosted by Monty Hall, aired from 1963 to 1973 on ABC and NBC, followed by various syndicated versions and remakes over the years. The original "Dating Game" ran from 1965 to 1980 on ABC, followed by several syndicated versions.

Find this article at: http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/television/news/e3i30b29365238b365294bcac165df47c1d

TV NEWS: ENTOURAGE MAKES IT WAY TO SPIKE TV

EVERYONE’S FAVORITE CABLE TV SHOW IS NOW GOING TO BE MORE ACCESSIBLE. ENJOY REPEATS AT YOUR LEISURE, COURTESY OF ALPHA MALE CABLE CHANNEL, SPIKE TV. READ BELOW FOR DETAILS. ENJOY

Entourage' Heads Over to Spike TV

The guys network lands the exclusive basic cable rights for the HBO comedy beginning in January 2010.

NEW YORK, NY—"Entourage," one of television's signature shows for guys, will now be seen on the quintessential network for guys. Beginning in January 2010, Spike TV will be the exclusive basic cable network home for broadcasts of the wildly popular HBO comedy series "Entourage," announced John Griffin, vice president, programming, Spike TV. The off-net acquisition rights cover all seasons to date (78 episodes) including the upcoming sixth, as well as rights to those yet to be produced. This marks the first time the Emmy®, Golden Globe®, and Peabody Award-winning series will be telecast on basic cable.

"'Entourage' is the epitome of aspirational television for guys," notes Griffin. "Who wouldn't want to hang out with Vinnie Chase and his crew? And now our audience of young guys can do just that beginning in 1st qtr next year."

"Entourage," executive produced by Mark Wahlberg, draws on the experiences of Hollywood insiders and stars Adrian Grenier as Vince Chase, a hot young actor who is enjoying life in the limelight. Along for the ride are his fun-loving entourage and best friends from Queens: Eric, played by Kevin Connolly, Vince's manager and closest confidant who tries to help him make the right choices; half-brother Drama, played by Kevin Dillon, whose own career has been eclipsed by Vince's success; and Turtle, played by Jerry Ferrara, the house manager who's always up for a good time.

The series also stars Jeremy Piven as Ari, Vince's frenetic agent; Rex Lee as Lloyd, Ari's much-maligned assistant; Perrey Reeves as the long-suffering Mrs. Ari; Debi Mazar as Vince's publicist Shauna; Emmanuelle Chriqui as Eric's girlfriend Sloan; Beverly D'Angelo as Ari's partner Babs; and Carla Gugino as Ari's nemesis Amanda. Doug Ellin is the creator of "Entourage" and serves as an executive producer along with Wahlberg, Stephen Levinson, Rob Weiss and Denis Biggs. Co-executive producer is Mark Mylod; producers are Wayne Carmona, Lori Jo Nemhauser and Ally Musika.

SOURCE: POPTOWER

TV NEWS: ARMY WIVES RENEWED FOR 3RD SEASON

Where are my army wives? My fans of ‘army wives? Wives who play army video games? Lol. Good news all around. ‘army wives’ has been renewed for a 3^rd season. Details below. Enjoy.

'Army Wives' Returns for 3rd Season

The most successful series in Lifetime's history premieres its new season on June 7.

LOS ANGELES, CA— "Army Wives," cable's #1 rated drama series among Women 18-49, returns for a third season with 18 all-new episodes, premiering Sunday, June 7, at 10 pm (ET/PT) on Lifetime Television.

The most successful series in Lifetime's 25-year history, "Army Wives'" remarkable second season was seen by more than 80 million total viewers. The finale of the second season (Sunday, November 2, 2008) was Lifetime's highest-rated and most-watched original drama telecast ever among Adults 18-34. Since its premiere in 2007, "Army Wives" has consistently set ratings records in households and all key female demographics and has already been picked up for a fourth season.

"Army Wives" follows the struggles, dreams and friendships of a diverse group of women and one man living with their spouses and families on an active army post. The series films in Charleston, South Carolina and stars Kim Delaney, Sally Pressman, Brigid Brannagh, Brian McNamara, Sterling K. Brown, Wendy Davis, Drew Fuller, Terry Serpico, Katelyn Pippy and Catherine Bell.

"Army Wives" is produced by ABC Studios for Lifetime Television. Mark Gordon (Grey's Anatomy) and The Mark Gordon Company's President of Production, Deborah Spera (Criminal Minds), serve as executive producers. Jeff Melvoin (Alias), Harry Bring (The X-Files) and Marshall Persinger (Z Channel: A Magnificent Obsession) also serve as executive producers. The series is based on the book Under the Sabers: The Unwritten Code of "Army Wives" by author Tanya Biank, who serves as a consultant.

About Season 3

Season 3 opens with the Army wives banding together to support Claudia Joy (Kim Delaney) after her daughter, Emmalin (Katelyn Pippy), disappears on the eve of the family's imminent overseas transfer. As Claudia Joy prepares to uproot her entire life for her husband's new job (Brian McNamara), she struggles to remain strong for all of those around her. Roxy (Sally Pressman), fighting to hold onto her bar, is forced to reevaluate the business and the emotional toll it's taking on her. Pamela (Brigid Brannagh), whose husband is often away on assignment, must be both mother and father to her children. New father Roland (Sterling K. Brown) wrestles with the news of Joan's (Wendy Davis) deployment, and Denise (Catherine Bell) faces devastating consequences when her affair becomes the talk of the post. As all of these events unfold, Claudia Joy, Roxy, Pamela, Roland and Denise navigate their friendship while continuing to face the unique challenges of being Army wives.

Source: poptower

TV REVIEW: SOUTHLAND

I’M EXCITED ABOUT THIS NEXT POST. I DON’T KNOW IF YOU’VE HAD A CHANCE TO CHECK IT OUT YET, BUT THE NEW NBC COP DRAMA “SOUTHLAND” HAS BEEN GETTING RAVE REVIEWS, AS I WAS SURE IT WOULD. AS SOON AS I SAW AN AD FOR IT, I WAS HOOKED. THE STORY ISN’T EXACLTY FRESH, BUT THE PERSPECTIVE IS. FROM WHAT I’VE SEEN IT IS QUITE CINEMATIC IN ITS SCOPE, & I LOVE THE POTENTIAL. I CAN’T WAIT TO GET A CHANCE TO TOTALLY ENJOY THIS SERIES. I ANTICIPATE THAT IT WILL BE AROUND FOR A WHILE. HOPEFULLY BEING ON NBC WON’T HINDER IT FROM BEING AS RAW & GRITTY AS POSSIBLE TO STAY HONEST TO THE STORYLINES. ANYWAY, ENJOY THE POST & LEAVE YOUR COMMENTS. I REALLY WANT TO KNOW WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT THIS SHOW. AM I ALONE IN MY EXCITEMENT? LOL SOMEHOW I HIGHLY DOUBT THAT.

From Emmy Award winners John Wells, Ann Biderman and Chris Chulack comes a raw and authentic look at a police unit in Los Angeles. From the beaches of Malibu to the streets of East Los Angeles, NBC's "Southland" is a fast-moving drama that will take viewers inside the lives of cops, criminals, victims and their families.

On "Southland," Michael Cudlitz ("A River Runs Through It") plays John Cooper a seasoned Los Angeles cop, assigned to train young rookie Ben Sherman (Benjamin McKenzie, "The O.C."). Cooper's honest, no-nonsense approach to the job leaves Sherman questioning whether or not he has what it takes to become a police officer.

Cudlitz and McKenzie are joined by other cast members on "Southland," including Regina King ("Ray," "Jerry Maguire"), who plays Detective Lydia Adams. Adams lives with and is the primary caregiver of her mother. Her partner, Detective Russell Clarke (Tom Everett Scott, "Boiler Room") is an unhappily married father of three. Michael McGrady ("The Thin Red Line") plays Detective Daniel "Sal" Salinger. Sal oversees fellow gang detectives Nate Moretta (Kevin Alejandro, "Drive," "Ugly Betty") and Sammy Bryant (Shawn Hatosy, "Alpha Dog"). Arija Bareikis ("Crossing Jordan") plays patrol officer Chickie Brown, a single mom who dreams of being the first woman accepted into SWAT.

"Southland" is a John Wells Production in association with Warner Bros. Television. Wells, Chulack and Biderman serve as executive producers. Biderman is the creator and Chulack will also serve as director of "Southland."

SOURCE: POPTOWER.COM

TV NEWS: FOX ORDERS 2ND SEASON OF FAMILY GUY SPINOFF

I’M NOT EXACTLY SURE WHAT TO MAKE OF THIS NEWS, BUT I’LL PROCEED & LET YOU TAKE CARE OF THAT. I AM A FAN OF FAMILY GUY, & I WAS AT LEAST CURIOUS TO SEE THE SPINOFF, THOUGH I WASN’T REALLY CONFIDENT OF ITS POTENTIAL. THE FACT THAT FOX IS ALREADY ORDERING A SECOND SEADON BEFORE IT ACTUALLY DEBUTS SHOWS GREAT FAITH, CONFIDENCE & RISK, ALL OF WHICH I LOVE, & KNOW ARE ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY IN THE ENTERTAINMENT BUSINESS. ANYWAY, ENJOY THE POST, & LEAVE YOUR COMMENTS

'Family Guy' spinoff nabs second season Fox picks up second season before 'Cleveland's' debut By Nellie AndreevA Fox is so high on "Cleveland," the upcoming spinoff from hit "Family Guy," that it has ordered a second season. The new 13-episode pickup brings the total order for the show to 35 episodes -- and that's months before the series has even premiered. The animated comedy, centered on the Cleveland Brown character from "Family Guy," was originally targeted for a debut this spring. But in November, the network decided to push the launch to fall 2009 to give the creative team more time for development and production. At the same time, Fox showed its confidence in the project by picking up another nine episodes, bringing the total order to a full season of 22 episodes. The new 13-episode pickup is on top of that and is targeted for fall 2010. The move was made to keep the 20th TV-produced animated series in continuous production and avoid shutting down and losing talent and crew. Because of the long lead time in animation, the pickup also ensures that Fox will have fresh episodes for fall 2010. "Cleveland" hails from co-creators/exec producers by Seth MacFarlane, Rich Appel and Mike Henry, who voices the title character. The show's voice cast also includes MacFarlane, Sanaa Lathan and Nia Long, as well as Arianna Huffington in a recurring role.

Find this article at: http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/television/news/e3i06056b3e43453484b3aeaf874a16449e