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Article source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/tv/new-tv-shows-for-the-fall-season/2012/05/18/gIQAQjnZZU_gallery.html
Ryan Reynolds the Frontrunner for Highlander
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First Look at Photos From Alex Cross
Female Protagonist to Lead Blade Runner Sequel
First Trailer for The CW’s Arrow
4 Pixar Movies Returning to AMC Theaters Memorial Day Weekend
Exclusive Clip From Cowgirls N Angels
Trailer for Hyde Park on Hudson, Starring Bill Murray and Laura Linney
International Trailer for Magic Mike Released
Low-Res NBA Spot for The Dark Knight Rises
Disney Developing Peter and the Starcatchers Movie
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Article source: http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=90056
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Whitney Houston’s teenage daughter will star in a reality TV show that follows the family of the “I Will Always Love You” singer as they cope with her sudden death earlier this year.
The Lifetime channel said on Friday that Bobbi Kristina Brown, 19, Houston’s mother Cissy, the singer’s brother Gary, and her manager and sister-in-law Pat Houston would all appear in the show that will air later this year.
“The Houston Family Chronicles”, billed as a documentary series, will follow Pat and Gary Houston “as they take on their greatest challenge, supporting and guiding Bobbi Kristina as she faces the world alone, without the one person she relied on the most, her mother,” Lifetime said.
Bobbi Kristina is the only child of Houston with her ex-husband Bobby Brown, and she was hospitalized twice for anxiety after her mother was found dead in a Beverly Hills hotel room in February. She is now being raised by Pat and Gary Houston.
Houston, 48, drowned in her hotel room’s bathtub in what authorities have said was an accidental death triggered by cocaine use and heart disease. The singer had a history of addiction to cocaine and other drugs.
“The tragic loss of Whitney Houston left a void in the hearts of people all over the world, but certainly none more so than her beloved family,” said Lifetime programming executive Rob Sharenow.
“The tragic loss of Whitney Houston left a void in the hearts of people all over the world, but certainly none more so than her beloved family,” said Lifetime programming executive Rob Sharenow.
“In this series, the multi-generations of the Houston family will bravely reveal their lives as they bond together to heal, love, and grow,” he added in a statement.
Pat Houston said she had been developing a TV project for herself for some time but the unexpected death of Houston had affected the direction of the show.
“It is my hope that others will be enlightened as they watch our family heal and move forward,” she said in a statement.
Lifetime, whose audience is largely female, said it had ordered 10 hour-long episodes of the series. A premier date has not yet been announced.
(Reporting By Jill Serjeant; Editing by Bob Tourtellotte)
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Article source: http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/BRE84A13D-ORVTV/TELEVISION-US-WHITNEYHOUSTON-REALITYSHOW/
WWE.com made an announcement on Thursday that their hit television series, WWE Raw, will expand to three hours beginning on July 23rd. Currently, the company produces a two hour program every Monday night on the USA Network. In the past, World Wrestling Entertainment has developed numerous three hour specials, all which were deemed triumphant. But these specials were spaced evenly throughout the year. This will be the first time the WWE has attempted to produce a three hour TV series consecutively. Will this move be the downfall of World Wrestling Entertainment?
In the late 90s, the now defunct World Championship Wrestling produced a weekly cable series called WCW Monday Nitro. The initial two hour program was so successful, it was eventually given a three hour run. At the time, the move was considered an exciting part of wrestlings overall evolution. People thought that WCW would be able to present higher quality pay per view style matches and marquee name clashes. And that is what devotees received. But the glitter wore off quickly, and soon the fans got bored with witnessing the same old wrestlers three or four times a show. Ratings dwindled and WCW Nitro eventually returned to two hours. But the damage had already been completed. After WCW went out of business, many critics mentioned the addition of a third hour of WCW Nitro was detrimental to the company. It was just too much original programming for a niche market.
In addition, the expansion to a third hour is contradictory to the WWE mindset that the new generation of enthusiasts have a short attention span. WWE has always explained away their rushed storylines as “what the fans expect” because the current internet generation have shorter attention spans. If this is the WWE philosophy, you would think they would be looking to decrease WWE Raw, not lengthen the program. I am one of those people who have short attention spans, and even at two hours, I find myself switching to other channels during WWE Raw.
The only positive that may come out of this is the possibility that WWE will generate more wrestling matches on live television. The current trend on WWE Raw now is to inundate viewers with backstage segments, in-ring promos, and short matches. But with one more hour to fill, maybe the men and women of the WWE will be given the time needed to show off their in-ring talent. And as much as I hope this to be true, I would not put my money on it. We are more likely to see an increase in promos, video packages and backstage comedy skits. Let’s hope football season gets here soon.
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Article source: http://sports.yahoo.com/news/wwe-raw-expanding-3-hour-tv-show-fans-221300972--spt.html
Series about gay couples, the mafia, and quirky families, plus comedies galore
The four major networks—ABC, NBC, CBS, and Fox—announced their schedules for the 2012-13 TV season this week, sealing the fates of dearly departed favorites (so long, CSI: Miami), quickly putting struggling freshman series out of their misery (adios, GCB), and saving a handful of beloved shows that were barely skating by (welcome back, Community!). The big news, however, was the unveiling of each network’s slate of new shows.
From gay couples to Kevin Bacon, alien neighbors to mob doctors, and everything in between, here’s what to expect from the new crop of TV series when you tune in next season:
1. Comedies…everywhere
When Glee, Modern Family, and Community launched in 2009, critics cheered that the notion dominating the later half of the ’00s—network comedies are dead—was wrong. The trend continued and then, last year, comedies erupted on TV: New Girl, 2 Broke Girls, Up All Night, Last Man Standing, and close to 10 other new shows debuted, to various success. Next season, sitcoms will be inescapable.
There will be 15 new comedies premiering next season, adding to the two dozen that will be returning. The Matthew Perry-led group therapy comedy Go On and Ryan Murphy’s new series about a gay couple trying to have a baby, The New Normal, among other new sitcoms, will give NBC four nights with comedy blocks for the first time in over a decade. Hit Fix‘s Alan Sepinwall aptly describes a “six sitcom pile-up” on Tuesday nights, when NBC’s aforementioned new shows will face off against ABC’s Happy Endings and Don’t Trust the B—- in Apt. 23 as well as Fox’s New Girl and buzzy new entry The Mindy Project, from The Office‘s Mindy Kaling, a strongly-voiced comedy that gives off a distinct “Are You There Vodka, It’s Me Zooey Deschanel” vibe. Friday nights will house comedy hours again, with both ABC and NBC housing sitcoms there next season. The return of TGIF?
2. The search for the next Modern Family…
Two seasons ago “friends hanging out” comedies were en vogue, with Perfect Couples, Friends With Benefits, and Happy Endings all premiering. Last season launched the gender wars, with female-led shows like New Girl and Whitney facing off against dude-centric offerings Last Man Standing and Man Up!. Next is the year of the high-concept family comedy.
Capitalizing on the successes of The Middle, Raising Hope, and especially Modern Family, the networks seem to be gunning for the next family-friendly hit with enough edge to woo adults and enough quirk to please the kids. The Neighbors, which will air in the plum post-Modern Family time slot, reverses the 3rd Rock From the Sun conceit: A human family moves into a new community, only discover their entire neighborhood is populated by aliens. Fox’s The Goodwin Games forces three estranged siblings to move back in with each other in order to inherit their father’s estate. Ben and Kate (Fox) follows the hijinx when a flaky brother moves back in with his single-mom sister; How to Live With Your Parents for the Rest of Your Life (ABC) follows the hijinx when a single mom moves back in with her parents; 1600 Penn (NBC) follows the hijinx when a family moves into the White House.
3. …and the still-elusive next Lost
Since Alias, 24, and Lost successively bowed off the airwaves, networks have struggled to launch another high-octane series that hooks viewers with equal parts adrenaline, action, and mystery. But that hasn’t stopped them from trying; see Flash Forward, The Event, Awake. Next season’s most obvious play for the Lost throne is ABC’s Last Resort, about a mutinous submarine crew forced to start their lives over on a remote island paradise. The network’s Zero Hour is a conspiracy-focused thriller starring ER‘s Anthony Edwards as a paranormal enthusiast who collects Da Vinci Code-like clues to solve the abduction of his wife. NBC’s Revolution, from Lost creator J.J. Abrams, depicts a dystopian world in which an epic disaster has caused all energy to cease existing, while The Following casts Kevin Bacon as the next Jack Bauer, a gruff, rulebook-out-the-window FBI agent who must recapture a serial killer who escaped from jail—as well as the cult the killer inspired.
4. Throwback sitcoms
Tim Allen proved with Last Man Standing that audiences are ready to embrace a former comedy star in a show with the same retro voice that was his specialty decades ago. This fall, a slew of sitcom vets will follow suit with their own decidedly throwback vehicles. The laugh track and telegraphed punchlines of Reba McEntire’s Malibu Country make the show look like a direct sequel to Reba. Jami Gertz, who starred in the by-the-numbers sitcom Still Standing, will lead The Neighbors. The King of Queens‘ Leah Remini will reprise her sassy housewife character in The Family Tools, while familiar faces Jenna Elfman (Dharma and Greg), Sarah Chalke (Scrubs), Justin Kirk (Weeds), and Matthew Perry (Friends) will show up on 1600 Penn, How to Live With Your Parents…, Animal Practice, and Go On, respectively.
5. Throwback procedurals
It’s not just comedies getting the throwback treatment. Case-of-the-week procedural dramas, which were largely missing from last year’s slate of fairy tales and Mad Men rip-offs, are also making a comeback. NBC ordered Chicago Fire, a firefighter drama from Law and Order producer Dick Wolf with echoes of Third Watch, ER, and New York Undercover. CBS’ Elementary stars Jonny Lee Miller and Lucy Liu as Sherlock and Watson in a modern day spin of Sherlock Holmes, looking to be a quirky procedural that’s firmly in the network’s wheelhouse. Ditto to Made in Jersey and Golden Boy: Made is a fish-out-of-water lawyer drama about a New Jersey native breaking into a highbrow law firm; Golden Boy is a police drama about the youngest commissioner in NYPD history.
6. Soap operas
New dramas that broke out over this past season can be counted on exactly three fingers: Once Upon a Time, Scandal, and Revenge. Networks are capitalizing on the addictive success of the Scandal and Revenge to launch more nighttime soaps that hope to capture the same loyal followings. ABC’s Nashville, which stars Connie Britton as a country singer whose star is waning and Hayden Panettiere as a starlet on the rise, promises campy battles between two strong-willed women and steamy affairs aplenty. Infamous appears to be NBC’s direct answer to Revenge, starring Meagan Good as a detective who goes undercover to infiltrate a wealthy family’s household in order to investigate the death of its heiress—who also happened to be her best friend. 666 Park Avenue, on the other hand, will put a supernatural twist on the lives of the rich and privileged, examining the mysterious dark forces wreaking havoc on the residents of a posh Manhattan apartment building.
7. Mob shows
A handful of new series on the drama side have mob ties. Most obviously, Fox’s The Mob Doctor follows a doctor who agrees to work with the mob to pay off her brother’s debt. ABC’s Red Widow stars Radha Mitchell as a widowed housewife whose husband’s business partners dealt with the illegal drug business. In order to find out the truth about his death, she infiltrates that underworld herself. Finally, in CBS’s ’60s-set Vegas, Dennis Quaid’s cowboy sheriff and Michael Chikils’ mob fixer will face off week after week.
8. Comedies about gay life
What if Mitchell and Cam from Modern Family were the stars of their own comedy? That’s the notion behind two new sitcoms this fall, which will cast gay couples as the bonafide leads of a show for what appears to be the first time. The New Normal centers on a gay couple played by Broadway’s Book of Mormon star Andrew Rannels and Hangover alum Justin Bartha, and the unconventional family circle they end up forming with the surrogate they hire to have their first baby and her hell-on-heels mother (played by Ellen Barkin). Partners will debut as part of CBS’ guaranteed hit-making Monday night comedy block. Numbers‘ David Krumholtz and Ugly Betty‘s Michael Urie play lifelong friends and business partners whose loyalties and jealousies are tested by one man’s new fiancee (Sophia Bush) and the other man’s gay partner, a nurse played by Superman himself, Brandon Routh. Both sitcoms have pedigree: The New Normal was created by Glee‘s Ryan Murphy and Partners comes from the creators of Will and Grace.
Article source: http://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2012/05/8-types-of-tv-shows-youll-see-this-fall/257319/
NEW YORK, May 16 (UPI) — Sundance Channel says it has green-lit “Get to Work,” a San Diego-set non-fiction series about a program created to help the “chronically unemployed.”
The cable network said Wednesday it has ordered eight episodes of the hourlong docu-series.
Currently in production and slated to premiere in August, “‘Get to Work’ takes viewers inside a groundbreaking back-to-work program in San Diego, a hardcore boot camp that gives hope to the chronically unemployed: those who have no jobs, no direction, and seemingly no chance,” a synopsis said.
“‘Get to Work’ examines one of the country’s most urgent challenges, joblessness, with a portrayal that is sometimes painful but often deeply affecting,” Sarah Barnett, Sundance Channel’s general manager, said in a statement. “We see individuals that many might have given up on transform before our eyes. It is powerful and intense to watch as these students try to overcome incredible odds to build a future. We’re excited to provide our viewers with a gripping, intimate look at this important issue.”
The docu-series focuses on a real-life program called STRIVE that has affiliates throughout the United States. The series was shot at Second Chance in San Diego, a non-profit organization that has been offering STRIVE training for the past 14 years.
“In today’s economy, people without refined workplace skills, experience and self-esteem are hard-pressed to find opportunity, but STRIVE provides hope and turns lives around,” said Philip Weinberg, chief executive officer of STRIVE.
Article source: http://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/TV/2012/05/16/TV-show-to-help-chronically-unemployed/UPI-20611337219431/
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Article source: http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=90053
Jake’s Sandwich Board (122 S. 12th) is seeking a few hungry garlic lovers.
These brave souls will attempt the shop’s 5 Pound Philly Challenge from noon to 2 p.m. Friday while the Travel Channel’s “Food Paradise” documents the experience.
The challenge features a supersized 2-foot-long, 3-pound version of Jake’s Garlic Bomb — a cheesesteak with roasted garlic spread, sautéed garlic and deep-fried garlic cloves — accompanied by 24 Peanut Chews, 12 Tastykakes, four soft pretzels and one Champ cherry soda. If you’re interested in competing, email info@jakessandwichboard.com.
Wired’s Shila vs. Octomom
Wired 96.5 morning co-host Shila has been chosen to fight Nadya “Octomom” Suleman on June 23 in either a boxing match or a pillow fight, she revealed Tuesday on the “Chio and Shila in the Morning” show. The event will take place in Atlantic City, provided promoter Damon Feldman can secure a venue, which hasn’t happened yet.
Flyer’s a hit at Phillies
Flyers wing Wayne Simmonds sat in Section 121 at Saturday’s Phillies game, with his left hand sporting a bandage. A few people recognized Simmonds early in the game, and that turned into a steady stream of autograph- and picture-seekers, each of whom Simmonds politely obliged.
Firefighter fundraiser
Active members of Fire Fighters Local 22 will guest-bartend from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday at McDaniels Saloon (2046 S. 2nd) at a fundraiser for the families of fallen firefighters Robert Neary and Daniel Sweeney, who were killed in the April 10 Kensington warehouse fire. The event also aids firefighter Pat Nally, who was seriously injured in the same fire.
Admission is $20. The cover and all tips will go toward the affected families.
Rumor has it
Friends of one local businessman with an unfortunate history of beating his girlfriends wondered if his rumored lover, a man, would be a guest at his recent wedding to an accomplished woman. He was not. Let’s hope the cowardly groom has ended his history of violence as his new bride deserves much better than that. And better than he.
La Salle gang off to L.A.
A group of La Salle filmmakers won the best-picture award at the university’s Campus MovieFest and next month will travel to Los Angeles, where their short, “Empty Pages,” will compete in the national finals of the fest. Group members David Grzybowski, Sean Gubitosi,Catherine Zini, Andrew Groy and Mike McCoy competed in California last year, as well. Both of their films, “Empty Pages” and “Recubo,” can be seen on YouTube.
Honorable mention
Comcast CEO Brian Roberts will be among those cheering his wife, Aileen Roberts, chair of the Barnes Foundation building committee, when she and Aramark’s Joe Neubauer receive the Philadelphia Award on May 24 at the Barnes’ new home on the Parkway. Roberts and Neubauer, who recently went from being Aramark’s CEO to its board chairman, are being honored for their involvement bringing the Barnes collection into the city. They’ll donate the $25,000 Philadelphia Award honorarium back to the Barnes Foundation museum. n
Read Dan’s latest at PhillyGossip.com, philly.com/dangross and on Twitter @PhillyGossip. Have a tip? Call 215-854-5963 or email DGross@phillynews.com.
Article source: http://www.philly.com/philly/entertainment/celebrities/20120516_TV_show_taping_Jake_rsquo_s_garlicky_eating_stunt.html
Image Credit: Ron P. Jaffe/CBS
Okay, I’ll admit that I started humming along to Cat Stevens at the end of last night’s How I Met Your Mother season finale. It was hard to see everyone grow up (Barney Robin — phew!) and I’m just so darn happy for Marshall and Lily and Waitforit. I rewound to watch the Breakfast Club costumes again. And fine, I’ll even admit to getting a little misty-eyed when Ted drove off into the sunset with Victoria — don’t we all deserve to be happy?
But I’ve got nothing on the girl pictured to the left – an unnamed fan, who in this video, has an uncontrollable reaction to the end of the show’s seventh season, weeping hysterically as the last lines of dialogue roll across the screen.
How did we find this gem? Well, from none other than Barney himself, Neil Patrick Harris, who tweeted her video to the world on Tuesday (he did give her the courtesy of leaving her anonymous, although it’s probably only a matter of time…oh, Internet!). Harris (@actuallyNPH) wrote: “Loving the kind tweets and positive reaction to last night’s HIMYM season finale! Thanks! Here’s my favorite [link].”
We can only hope that she also taped her reaction to finding out he retweeted her. In the meantime, there’s always the over-the-top Twilight enthusiast to keep us company.
Read more:
‘How I Met Your Mother’ season finale recap: Marvin Waitforit Eriksen
Morning Bite: “How I Met Your Mother’
‘How I Met Your Mother’ boss answers burning questions about the season finale!
Article source: http://popwatch.ew.com/2012/05/15/neil-patrick-harris-how-i-met-your-mother-finale-fan/
Say hello to the stars of the 2012-2013 TV season!
NBC kicked things off introducing comedies and dramas featuring new stars and returning favorites. “1600 Penn,” one of the network’s hottest new comedies features “The Book of Mormon” star Josh Gad, TV veteran Jenna Elfman and Bill Pullman as members of the first family of the United States.
Written by Jon Lovett, one of President Obama’s speech writers, “1600 Penn” is sort of like “Modern Family” by way of “The West Wing,” according to the stars. And what does Obama have to say about it?
“Well, actually, Obama knows about the show,” Gad told The Huffington Post. “From what I understand, he’s very excited about it and is obviously excited that one of his guys is working on it. I got to tour the White House, which was very cool. I mean it’s going to be authentic … to a degree.” Gad has a big guest star in mind for “1600 Penn”: President Bill Clinton.
“I’d love to see Bill Clinton guest, playing like a janitor or something. Something so crazy, definitely not himself, just something weird,” Gad said. “I just think he’s a brilliant actor when he actually does it.”
For more on NBC’s new shows — including medical drama “Do No Harm,” which features “Cosby Show” veteran Phylicia Rashad, “Law Order’s” Alana De La Garza and “Rescue Me” star Steven Pasquale — click through the slideshow below to see what the stars had to say about their new shows below!
Related on HuffPost:
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Article source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/15/new-tv-shows-2012-stars-preview_n_1516173.html