Saturday Night Live Replaces Janet Jackson with Mariah Carey
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Comedy, Late Night, Music, NBC, Saturday Night Live, News,
An untimely illness has forced Janet Jackson to cancel an upcoming appearance on this weekend’s Saturday Night Live. (It was reported that the singer made a trip to the emergency room earlier this week due to a case of the flu.)
Luckily for Lorne Michaels, the show was able to able to book someone with an equally high profile: Mariah Carey.
The gig is actually a win-win situation for the two parties. Not only does the diva have an upcoming album to promote (E=MC2 comes out on April 15), the program has been trying to get the artist back on their stage for over 10 years.
TMZ
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Tucker Carlson Out at MSNBC
Posted by Jacci Lewis Categories: Talk Shows, Cable, NBC, Cancellations, News,
The seemingly lone conservative at MSNBC is out of the anchor chair, at least for now. The Associated Press reports that Tucker Carlson’s “Tucker” show on that cable news network has been cancelled. He’ll reportedly be replaced by NBC firebrand David Gregory. Gregory’s show, Race for the White House, begins one week from tonight at 6 p.m.
MSNBC says this and other changes the network is making are in response to the growing demand for more political news. (Gosh, it seems like that is all they do now besides all those prison reality shows and constant repeats of To Catch a Predator.) Other changes announced are that NBC reporter Andrea Mitchell will now permanently anchor one hour a day on MSNBC Monday through Friday and that Countdown With Keith Olbermann will rerun every night at 10 p.m.
Click to continue reading Tucker Carlson Out at MSNBC
CW Hands Out the Renewal Notices
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Comedy, Drama, Music, Prime Time, Reality, The CW, America’s Next Top Model, Everybody Hates Chris, Renewals,
CW has followed up ABC’s lead and released its list of 2008-09 renewals. At this point, there are several shows still sitting on top of the fall programming bubble.
Those making a return next year:
- America’s Next Top Model
- Everybody Hates Chris
- Gossip Girl
- One Tree Hill
- Smallville
- Supernatural
Click to continue reading CW Hands Out the Renewal Notices
Variety
Quarterlife Already Yanked from NBC Schedule
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Drama, Bravo, Cable, NBC, Cancellations, Internet, News, Ratings,
Question: What dubious honor do Anchorwoman and quarterlife have in common? Answer: They’re both one-and-out shows.
After just one airing, NBC has already decided to pull the plug on its experimental project. (Apparently the network wasn’t feeling quite daring anymore.) Quarterlife - a project created by My So-Called Life‘s Marshall Herskovitz and Edward Zwick - was an internet hit long before it hit the boob tube this week. The Peacock execs, thinking the series’ built-in popularity would bring insta-ratings, gave the show a special debut earlier this week with plans to have it regularly air on Sunday nights. Unfortunately, the idea was far too ambitious for its fickle viewers.
The show’s premiere gave NBC its lowest ratings in the Tuesday 10pm slot in approximately 17 years. While I would usually chide a network for giving up so easily, in this case, I can’t say I blame them. If the program couldn’t succeed in SVU‘s regular time slot, where would it?
Those still interested in watching quarterlife play out can either find it on the web or on its new home - Bravo (NBC’s sister station).
Hollywood Reporter
CW Says Goodbye to Girlfriends
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Comedy, Prime Time, The CW, UPN, Cancellations,
While ABC and NBC have been heavily promoting their new female-filled programs, CW is saying “Been there, done that.”
After 8 years on the UPN/CW networks, Girlfriends is getting the boot.
Although the show was not expected to be renewed this fall, the series was also not granted any post-strike episodes. In other words, what you’ve seen is what you’re gonna get. The network simply chose (understandably) to focus its financial resources on those programs making a comeback.
While nothing definitive has been planned, Girlfriends’ executive producer hopes to create some type of proper goodbye for the long-running comedy. You’d think that after 172 episodes, that would be the least The CW could do.
TV Guide
ABC Announces Renewed Shows
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Comedy, Drama, Prime Time, ABC, Desperate Housewives, Grey’s Anatomy, Lost, Cancellations, Renewals,
Now that we are days away from a probable end to the writers strike, ABC has felt comfortable talking about the network’s future. Although the rest of 2007-08 remains unclear, the 2008-09 year is starting to take shape.
A total of nine shows have so far received renewal notices from the Alphabet network. That’s not to say more won’t come. But many programs not currently listed may have reason to be nervous.
Of the shows returning this fall, five are ‘veterans’; four are newbies that survived their freshman year. Those programs (in alphabetical order) are: Brothers & Sisters, Desperate Housewives, Dirty Sexy Money, Grey’s Anatomy, Lost, Private Practice, Pushing Daisies, Samantha Who? and Ugly Betty.
A sampling of those not mentioned include October Road, Carpoolers, Cavemen, Boston Legal, Men in Trees and Women’s Murder Club. (Big Shots is apparently dead already.)
E! Online
‘Star Jones’, ‘Montel Williams’ Cancelled
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Daytime, Talk Shows, Cable, Syndication, Cancellations,
Somewhere, Barbara Walters must be secretly laughing right now.
Star Jones Reynolds, the woman who once occupied a seat on The View, is already looking for a new job. After only six months on the air, truTV (formerly Court TV) officially turned off the lights on the The Star Jones Show today. The program’s demise was announced only earlier this week. In a statement, the network said the decision was “due to the rebranding and programming refocus of the network.” (In other words, the channel was moving on and Star wasn’t coming with them.)
The end of Reynolds’ show, though, does not mean a departure for her from the channel. As part of her goodbye gift, Star was given the opportunity to serve as a guest legal correspondent on the daily program that is replacing hers: Arrest & Trial.
Click to continue reading ‘Star Jones’, ‘Montel Williams’ Cancelled
Hollywood Reporter
‘Entertainment Tonight’ Pulls Heath Ledger Video
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Prime Time, Syndication, Cancellations, Editorial, News,
Who says public pressure doesn’t work?
Just a few weeks ago, Dr. Phil did an about-face and canceled plans for a Britney-centric show. (He claimed it was an act of consideration for the family.) Now Entertainment Tonight and The Insider are throwing out the word ‘respect’ as the reason for one of their own cancellations.
The two tabloid shows were scheduled to air a video involving Heath Ledger and drugs this Thursday night. The 2006 tape - which was practically aired in its entirety for Wednesday’s promo - showed the actor in the vicinity of drugs (and drug users) at the Chateau Marmont. Although it wasn’t clear if he was taking anything in the teased bits, his audible comments made it clear he wasn’t doing something his girlfriend (Michelle Williams) would approve of. He is also heard talking about their recently-born daughter, Matilda Rose.
Although I have never seen the full video, the shortened version was more than enough. The teaser’s over-the-top narration was extremely salacious, gratuitous and insensitive. I was so bothered by what was shown….and I apparently wasn’t the only one. Late Wednesday, reps for both shows confirmed the sweeps segment had been pulled. Here is a copy of the short statement printed on ET’s website:
“Out of respect for Heath Ledger’s family, “Entertainment Tonight” and “The Insider” have decided not to run the Heath Ledger video which has been circulating in the world media.”
Click to continue reading ‘Entertainment Tonight’ Pulls Heath Ledger Video
Entertainment Weekly
End of the Road for NBC’s ‘Journeyman’
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Daytime, NBC, Cancellations,
Thirteen is not only an unlucky number, it’s the only number Journeyman is going to get.
Unlike other freshman dramas (e.g. Chuck, Life), Journeyman will not get a full-season order. NBC had until yesterday to express its intentions with the program. Unfortunately, the studio chose not to waste more money on the ratings-challenged series. (Just this Monday, the show scored almost 1 million less viewers than Life did in the same time slot last week.)
The drama, starring Kevin McKidd (Rome), completed 13 episodes before production ended. Unlike ABC’s questionable move with Big Shots, NBC does intend to air Journeyman’s final two hours.
Hollywood Reporter
Another ‘Dancing With The Stars’ Cancellation Due To Family Illness
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Prime Time, Reality, ABC, Dancing With The Stars, News,
Just two weeks ago, we were reporting of a death in the family for competitor Jane Seymour. Now the Dancing With The Stars producers are facing another cancellation. Singer Gloria Estefan, who was scheduled to perform on this Tuesday’s results show, has flown to Miami to be with an ailing relative. Her mother, Gloria Fajardo, is currently listed in critical condition after suffering an intestinal rupture.
In addition to her DWTS performance, Estefan has cancelled appearances on The Tonight Show and Ellen. It is not known at this time who might be performing in her place tomorrow night.
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| E! Online
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