Barbara Walters to Retire in 2014
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Daytime, Talk Shows, ABC, Announcements, News
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Barbara Walters will be retiring. The chat show veteran has decided to end her phenomenal TV career in 2014.
"I am very happy with my decision and look forward to a wonderful and special year ahead both on The View and with ABC News. I created The View and am delighted it will last beyond my leaving it. I do not want to appear on another program or climb another mountain. I want instead to sit on a sunny field and admire the very gifted women - and, OK, some men, too - who will be taking my place," she said in a statement.
The 83-year-old star - who will continue to serve as executive producer of The View - began her career in 1961 and has spent five decades at the forefront of television. She co-hosted NBC's morning news program, The Today Show, for 15 years before moving over to ABC to co-host the Evening News. Ben Sherwood, ABC News President, said, "There is only one Barbara Walters. We look forward to making her final year on television as remarkable, path-breaking and news-making as Barbara herself. We look forward to a year befitting her brilliant career filled with exclusive interviews, great adventures and indelible memories."
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New NBC Period Drama for Julian Fellowes
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Drama, Prime Time, NBC, Announcements, News
Julian Fellowes is developing a period drama for NBC. The Downton Abbey creator's show The Gilded Age - which follows the rich and powerful inhabitants of New York in the 1880s - has been described by the channel as "an epic tale of the princes of the American Renaissance, and the vast fortunes they made - and spent."
Julian - who will write and produce The Gilded Age - told TVLine, "This was a vivid time with dizzying, brilliant ascents and calamitous falls, of record-breaking ostentation and savage rivalry; a time when money was king."
News of the show comes not long after rival channel ABC declined to pick up Grey's Anatomy creator Shonda Rhimes' similar drama pilot Gilded Lilys.
Julian will be kept busy as Downton Abbey was recently commissioned for a fourth season with Gareth Neame, Managing Director of Carnival Films, the show's makers crediting him for its success: "Not only is he a superb craftsman, he also has an extraordinary work ethic. It is a mammoth undertaking to write all those episodes.
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‘666 Park Avenue,’ ‘Last Resort’ Won’t Return for Second Seasons
Posted by Robin Paulson Categories: Action, Drama, Sci-Fi/Horror, ABC, Announcements, Cancellations, News
ABC has pulled the plug on freshman dramas 666 Park Avenue and Last Resort. Despite 666's lead-in from hit show Revenge, neither newcomer could recover from their unimpressive debuts (Last Resort had an even trickier time doing so up against The Big Bang Theory and The X Factor). On the upside, the network will air all thirteen episodes for both shows as planned.
So far, ABC has only greenlit renewals for shows Nashville and The Neighbors.
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| E! News
TV Scoop: ‘Fringe’ Finale Gets a Date, ‘Modern Family’ Casts Gloria’s Mom
Posted by Robin Paulson Categories: Animation, Comedy, Drama, Mini Series, Prime Time, Sci-Fi/Horror, ABC, Cable, FOX, Announcements, Cancellations, News
+ Fox has just announced that the two-hour series finale for cult sci-fi show Fringe will air on January 18. Here's to hoping that it will actually answer all the questions to the series, unlike that other J.J. Abrams show...
+ ABC's hit comedy Modern Family has cast Elizabeth Peña (Rush Hour, The Incredibles) as the Pilar, mother to Sofia Vergara's Gloria.
+ Juno writer and creator of Showtime's short-lives The United States of Tara, Diablo Cody, has sold her romantic comedy series to ABC. Alex + Amy "will revolve around a millennial guy and Gen X woman in love." No word on casting just yet.
Click to continue reading TV Scoop: ‘Fringe’ Finale Gets a Date, ‘Modern Family’ Casts Gloria’s Mom
Tina Fey and Amy Poehler Will Host This Year’s Golden Globe Awards
Posted by Robin Paulson Categories: Award Shows, Prime Time, NBC, Announcements
Much to the delight of 30 Rock and Parks and Recreation fans, comedic besties Tina Fey and Amy Poehler will host this year's Golden Globe Awards, replacing Ricky Gervais, who has hosted the awards ceremony for three consecutive years.
The pair - who were Saturday Night Live co-stars and worked on several projects together, including Mean Girls and Baby Mama - have known each other since their pre-fame days working with Chicago's Second City improv troupe. One can only imagine the laughs the two comediennes will generate when they take to the hosting stage on January 13.
Read More | People
Usher and Shakira Join The Voice
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Music, Prime Time, Reality, NBC, Announcements, News
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Usher and Shakira are set to replace Christina Aguilera and Cee Lo Green on The Voice. The pair were recruited to join the fourth season of the singing show after Christina decided to leave to spend time touring and promoting her new album Lotus while Cee Lo is working with NBC on a new show of his own. However, they will both return for season five.
"Doing two back-to-back cycles of this show requires a tremendous amount of time, and we are happy to accommodate the commitments made by Christina and Cee Lo. The participants on our show benefit from our coaches' expertise and their continued success in the music business allows for significant new contributions to the contestants when they return," said chairman of NBC Entertainment Robert Greenblatt.
Click to continue reading Usher and Shakira Join The Voice
Nicki Minaj and Keith Urban Officially Join American Idol
Posted by Robin Paulson Categories: Music, Prime Time, Reality, FOX, American Idol, Announcements, News
After Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler left American Idol, rumors were abound as to who would fill their spots. Now everyone can stop guessing: producers of the hit reality show revealed today that Mariah Carey and longtime judge Randy Jackson will be bumping shoulders with Nicki Minaj and Keith Urban at the judging table for the reality competition's twelfth season.
"It's really an honor to have been invited to be a part of the American Idol family. I'm looking forward to working with everyone and to seeing the same passion that I have for music in all of the participants," Urban, 44, said.
Click to continue reading Nicki Minaj and Keith Urban Officially Join American Idol
Read More | People
Marc Anthony Signs up to Be a US X Factor Mentor
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Music, Prime Time, Reality, FOX, Announcements, Gossip
The Grammy award-winning singer-songwriter will be working alongside Simon Cowell on the talent show, helping the music mogul pick his finalists for his category, which is believed to be the groups.
This news comes just over a week after it was reveled that pop star Justin Bieber had also been enlisted as a mentor on the show. He was spotted at Simon's rival judge L.A. Reid's house helping him select the most talented acts from his category, rumored to be the over-25s.
Justin - who was signed to Island Def Jam by L.A. - wrote on Twitter, "Long day but great day. @LA_Reid @ScooterBraun just like old times! thanks (sic)"
Click to continue reading Marc Anthony Signs up to Be a US X Factor Mentor
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