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Oxygen Greenlights ‘Secret Celebrity’ Series Executive Produced By Wendy Williams
1 hour ago
Exclusive: I’ve learned that Oxygen has quietly given the green light to Secret Celebrity, a reality series produced by T Group Prods, which Wendy Williams executive produces as part of her first-look deal with the cable network. Per Oxygen’s description when the project was announced in February as being in development, Secret Celebrity features stars in disguise as they surprise unsuspecting fans, friends and family. I hear celebrities who already have filmed episodes of the show include Nick Lachey, Ice-t & Coco and LuAnn de Lesseps, who just signed on to return to The Real Housewives Of New York on sibling Bravo. T Group’s Jenny Daly executive produces with Williams and Gunnar Wetterberg. »
- NELLIE ANDREEVA
Changes At NBC’s ‘Today’: Joe Michaels Moved To Senior Director
1 hour ago
In the latest upheaval at NBC‘s ratings-challenged Today show, longtime director Joe Michaels has been named senior director of the show, the network said today. No word from NBC on what his specific responsibilities will be, but a source with knowledge of the situation says he will manage large initiatives and projects on the technical/directorial side, such as Today’s coverage of the Winter Olympics next February. There’s no word on who would be replacing Michaels as director of the morning news show. Today‘s ratings have been slipping for years but the program managed to keep its No. 1 slot until Ann Curry’s ouster last June. Since then, ABC’s Good Morning America has taken over the top spot. Last month Gma continued its dominance over Today by beating the NBC show by 1.6 million viewers. That’s the largest single-day total viewership spread Gma has had »
- THE DEADLINE TEAM
Reed Elsevier Countersues Variety Media
1 hour ago
Variety Media last month in New York added the trade publication’s former owners Reed Elsevier and Reed Business Information to its kickbacks and fraud case against branding company Beverly Hills Media Group, seeking $10M in damages in New York state Supreme Court for breach of contract and declaratory relief. Today, Reed has countersued, claiming it’s owed $1.3M more on the purchase price after Penske Media Corp acquired Variety in October 2012. Pmc is Deadline’s parent company. »
- THE DEADLINE TEAM
Comedy ‘I Didn’t Do It’ Gets Series Order At Disney Channel
3 hours ago
Disney Channel has picked up to series comedy pilot I Didn’t Do It starring Olivia Holt (Disney Xd’s Kickin’ It, Disney Channel’s Girl Vs. Monster) and newcomer Austin North (Kickin’ It). Created by Tod Himmel (90210) and Josh Silverstein (So Random!), I Didn’t Do It centers on ultra-competitive fraternal twins Lindy and Logan Watson (Holt, North), who, together with their best friends (Piper Curda, Sarah Gilman, Peyton Clark), navigate their freshman year of high school. Each episode begins with a comedic “what just happened?” situation as Lindy and Logan each spin their own accounts in the form of flashbacks. Production will begin this summer in Los Angeles for a scheduled early 2014 premiere. Himmel and Judd Pillot executive produce, with Silverstein serving as supervising producer. The pickup comes on the heels of Disney Channel’s series order earlier this week to Boy Meets World sequel Girl Meets World. »
- NELLIE ANDREEVA
CNN’s ‘New Day’ Debut Up In Demo But Still Last Among Cable Rivals
3 hours ago
Well, looks like New Day has one bright spot in the morning for CNN. The jewel in Jeff Zucker’s rebranded network crown debuted yesterday down 7% in viewers but up 19% in the adults 25-54 demo compared with the same time slot a week ago. The new 6-9 Am morning show pulled in 247,000 total viewers Monday, with 95,000 in the key demo. However, the Chris Cuomo- and Kate Bolduan-hosted show with Michaela Pereira as news anchor still found itself No. 3 in viewers among the cable news morning shows, and No. 4 in the demo — even behind sister network Hln. And New Day’s numbers are down 19% among total viewers and 22% in the demo year to date. The show was up 15% in viewers but down 18% in the demo compared to CNN’s morning show offering on June 18, 2012. With the newly rehired Sarah Palin sitting in as a guest anchor, longtime leader Fox & Friends »
- DOMINIC PATTEN
Liv Tyler To Co-Star In Damon Lindelof’s HBO Pilot ‘The Leftovers’
3 hours ago
Exclusive: Liv Tyler is set to co-star opposite Justin Theroux in Damon Lindelof’s HBO drama pilot The Leftovers, directed by Peter Berg. Co-written by Lindelof and Tom Perrotta based on Perrotta’s book, the project takes place after the Rapture happens but not quite like it’s supposed to. It is the story of the people who didn’t make the cut… and a world that will never be the same. Tyler, repped by UTA and Untitled, will play Meg, a young woman on the verge of getting married, but needing an escape. As a result, she becomes a target for recruitment by members of an enigmatic cult. This marks the first TV gig for feature actress Tyler whose film credits include the Lord Of The Rings trilogy and The Incredible Hulk. She recently wrapped indies Space Station 76 and Jamie Marks Is Dead and wrote an etiquette book with her grandmother, »
- NELLIE ANDREEVA
DreamWorks Animation Launches Effort To Re-Position Itself As A Television Power
3 hours ago
The company told analysts this afternoon that it will produce 1,200 TV episodes over the next five years, which CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg says “will give us a significant footprint across the global TV landscape.” DreamWorks Animation is “now on a path to becoming one of the biggest producers and distributors” of television following yesterday’s agreement to create 300 hours of programming for Netflix and today’s deal to make up to 1,100 half-hours for Germany’s Super Rtl, which he calls “transformative.” All told, “it’s a big opportunity and a big undertaking.” Katzenberg adds that the company should see $100M in revenues from TV this year, about half of which will come from titles in the Classic Media library bought last year. Beginning 2015 the company expects to see at least $200M in TV revenue per year with gross profits of around 30%, close to what it sees from its films. Revenue from »
- DAVID LIEBERMAN, Executive Editor
NBC Greenlights Animated Special ‘How Murray Saved Christmas’
4 hours ago
NBC has ordered hourlong holiday musical special How Murray Saved Christmas from The Simpsons‘ writer/producer Mike Reiss. It’s scheduled to air in December 2014. Based on Reiss’ best-selling children’s book of the same name, the story centers on cranky deli owner Murray Kleiner, who is forced to fill in for Santa one Christmas and does a weirdly wonderful job. Walter Murphy (Ted, Family Guy) will compose the music of the special, produced by Universal TV. Rough Draft Animation will serve as the animation studio. Reiss has worked on The Simpsons since the show’s inception, at one point serving as exec producer/co-showrunner. His feature credits include The Simpsons Movie and Ice Age: Dawn Of The Dinosaur. »
- THE DEADLINE TEAM
Queen’s Corgis, Olympic Torch & More Are Top Excuses For UK TV License Fee Evaders
4 hours ago
British households with a television are required to pay an annual fee of £145.50 ($228) which goes towards funding public broadcaster the BBC. But more than 400,000 Britons were caught watching TV in the UK without having paid for a license in 2012, BBC News said today. Folks who believe they are exempt can make a “no license fee needed” claim to watchdog TV Licensing, with such valid reasons as having no TV set, if a TV is only used to watch DVDs or if catch-up services only are being accessed. Being caught without a valid license is a criminal offense and can come with a fine of up to £1,000, but even TV Licensing has kept a sense of humor about the recent revelations. Below are some of its favorite 2012 excuses from people caught without a permit: - “Why would I need a TV Licence for a TV I stole? Nobody knows I’ve »
- NANCY TARTAGLIONE, International Editor
FCC Nominee Tom Wheeler Vows To Move “Expeditiously” On Spectrum Auction
5 hours ago
President Obama’s choice to be FCC chairman deftly steered clear of controversies in the first part of his confirmation hearing today at the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation – which will be continued after a recess. Tom Wheeler says he’ll push ahead with the FCC’s effort to entice broadcasters to give up airwave spectrum so it can be auctioned to wireless broadband providers, although he called it a “monumental undertaking” that’s as complex as a Rubik’s Cube. He avoided taking a position on whether the FCC should regulate retransmission consent negotiations. Many lawmakers are frustrated by instances where an impasse in talks between broadcasters and pay TV providers left constituents unable to watch popular programs. “I look forward to looking into that issue and getting my arms around it” in light of recent and forthcoming court decisions, Wheeler said. “This is a situation that’s in flux. »
- DAVID LIEBERMAN, Executive Editor
Juan Antonio Bayona To Direct John Logan- Sam Mendes’ ‘Penny Dreadful’ At Showtime
5 hours ago
Showtime has officially announced that Spanish director Juan Antonio Bayona (The Impossible, The Orphanage) will helm the first two episodes of the upcoming eight-episode drama series Penny Dreadful, created, written and executive produced by John Logan and executive produced by Sam Mendes and Neal Street’s Pippa Harris. The psychosexual horror series features some of literature’s most iconic figures — including Dr. Frankenstein and his creature, Dorian Gray, and characters from the novel Dracula — as then become embroiled in Victorian London, and will begin production in London this fall. »
- NELLIE ANDREEVA
Mediabistro’s FishbowlLA No More
6 hours ago
The post today from Mediabistro editorial director Chris Ariens says the site is “taking five,” but it’s probably the end for the online media organization’s La outpost. FishbowlLA co-editor Richard Horgan is already aboard at flagship FishbowlNY where he will still cover Hollywood but now also a broader range of media stories. All existing FishbowlLA content will be archived on Fishbowl NY soon. »
- THE DEADLINE TEAM
Claudia Lonow Signs Overall Deal With Universal Television
6 hours ago
Exclusive: How To Live With Your Parents creator Claudia Lonow has inked an overall deal with Universal Television. Under the pact, Lonow will join the writing staff of the studio’s upcoming NBC comedy series Sean Saves The World starring Sean Hayes and will also develop new projects. Wme-repped Lonow is a rare female comedy writer-producer who has created four shows that have gotten on the air: Accidentally On Purpose for CBS, Rude Awakening for Showtime, Good Girl’s Don’t for Oxygen and most recently How To Live With Your Parents for ABC this past midseason. “Claudia is a gifted writer and producer with a strong female comedic point of view,” Universal TV’s Evp Bela Bajaria said. “We know she’ll contribute greatly to our new comedy Sean Saves The World and enhances our strong roster of creative talent at Universal Television.” »
- NELLIE ANDREEVA
Showtime’s ‘Ray Donovan’ Debuts Online
6 hours ago
The first episode of Showtime‘s new series Ray Donovan has debuted on YouTube nearly two weeks ahead of its June 30 television premiere. The series stars Liev Schreiber as Ray, a “fixer” for La’s rich and famous whose life gets turned upside down when his father Mickey (Jon Voight) is released from prison. You can catch the entire first hourlong episode below: »
- THE DEADLINE TEAM
Jay Bienstock & Eugene Young Join A. Smith & Co. As Co-Managing Directors
7 hours ago
Leading reality production company A. Smith & Co. Productions has added veteran unscripted producers Jay Bienstock and Eugene Young as co-managing directors. The two will join the A. Smith’s senior leadership team alongside CEO Arthur Smith, president Kent Weed, and COO Frank Sinton. Bienstock and Young have spent the last three years running Bienstock Young Media, producing more than a dozen pilot and series, including Animal Intervention on Nat Geo Wild, Big Food for Cmt, and Times Up at MTV. The company will now be dissolved, with A. Smith & Co absorbing part of the Bienstoc -Young production slate. Last year, Bienstock and Young formed a partnership with Jay and Phil McGraw, which yielded several pilots in contention at A&E. In their new roles at A. Smith & Co, Bienstock and Young are charged with expanding the company’s production slate, which currently includes Hell’s Kitchen, Kitchen Nightmares, American Ninja Warrior, »
- NELLIE ANDREEVA
Emmys Q&A: Allison Williams
7 hours ago
Michael Slezak is Senior Editor at TVLine. You know those people who brag about not having a television? Girls’ Allison Williams has a handy response for ’em. “I always say very dryly and very honestly, ‘You should invest in one. I’m not even saying you would necessarily like our show. But TV is so good right now.’” Williams’ awareness of the number of great performances under consideration this Emmy season makes it all the more “exciting and unbelievable” when her name gets floated as a possible contender for supporting actress. And while she’s quick to credit Girls creator and star Lena Dunham—as well as the show’s writers, directors and hair and makeup staff—for helping her bring to life the rudderless Marnie Michaels, Williams admits that “it’s a really fun challenge to play someone who seems to have it all together and yet has this anxiety bubbling beneath the surface. »
- THE DEADLINE TEAM
Gsn’s ‘The Chase’ To Premiere August 6
7 hours ago
The Gsn original series The Chase is a one-hour quiz show show adapted from the British original that pits a team of four contestants against a resident genius — in this case Mark Labbett, one of the original “Chasers” in the UK version. The network has set the premiere date for August 6 at 9 Pm. Brooke Burns will host the series, from ITV Studios America and executive producer Bob Boden. Its lead-in will be the Apolo Anton Ohno-hosted Minute To Win It. »
- THE DEADLINE TEAM
Deadline Expands: Hires Washington Post Journalist Lisa De Moraes As Our New TV Columnist, Details Other Staff Additions
8 hours ago
For Immediate Release Los Angeles – June 18, 2013: Penske Media Corporation’s Jay Penske and Deadline’s Nikki Finke and Nellie Andreeva today announced the hiring of Lisa De Moraes, the hugely respected and popular Washington Post journalist who for 15 years wrote the well sourced and widely read ‘The TV Column’ several times a week. Effective immediately, de Moraes becomes Deadline.com’s TV Columnist, covering the business of TV with her deep sources and outstanding knowledge and unusual fearlessness. “We’re thrilled Lisa has joined our Deadline team,” said Pmc Founder and CEO Jay Penske. “Her nuanced perspective of the TV business — always with her trademark wit — is an exciting addition for our audience.” Before joining The Washington Post in 1998, de Moraes served for nearly 10 years as Television Editor for The Hollywood Reporter. No stranger to the outspoken brand of reporting produced by Deadline’s prolific and talented team, de »
- NIKKI FINKE, Editor in Chief
Ratings Rat Race: ‘The Voice’ Rises, ‘Winner Is’ Ticks Up; ‘Bachelorette’, ‘Mistresses’ Slip
8 hours ago
Last night’s performance finale of The Voice drew a 3.5/10 among adults 18-49 and 12.3 million viewers overall to secure another No. 1 Monday finish for NBC. Compared with last week’s fast national, the show rose 9% in 18-49 (6% from the final as the show is often adjusted up). But versus last season’s penultimate episode, The Voice was down 9%. The Voice also lifted its lead-out, new game show/singing competition The Winner Is (2.0/6), which was up a tenth from last week’s fast national (0.2 from the final, but it may be adjusted down again later today.) Things took a downturn at ABC, with The Bachelorette (1.6/5) off by a tenth from last week’s fast national (0.2 from the final) to a cycle low. After a nice double-digit second-week bump last Monday, new drama Mistresses (1.2/3) gave back the gains, down 14% to the levels of the premiere, which posted an encouraging rise in Live »
- NELLIE ANDREEVA
Wigs YouTube Dramas Added To Hulu
8 hours ago
Fox announced today that the most popular drama on the Wigs slate, the Julia Stiles-starring Blue, is available on Hulu and its subscription service Hulu Plus beginning today in TV-length episodes. In the near future fellow Wigs series Lauren, starring Troian Bellisario and Jennifer Beals, and Jan, starring Caitlin Gerard, Stephen Moyer and Virgina Madsen, will become available. The expansion of the scripted drama series is part of Fox’s multi-year programming, marketing and distribution partnership with Wigs inked in February, with an eye toward building digital content that can be programmed on Fox and/or other channels. Blue, written and directed by Wigs co-founder Rodrigo Garcia, recently passed 20 million views on YouTube. It stars Stiles as a single mom trying to protect her son from the consequences of her secret career as an upscale escort. Mark Consuelos, Sarah Paulson and Holly Robinson Peet co-star. »
- THE DEADLINE TEAM
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