Friday, November 30, 2012

A New Sound of Music with Carrie Underwood

Five-time Grammy winner Carrie Underwood will star in the coveted role of Maria von Trapp in NBC’s live broadcast of “The Sound of Music,” based on the original Broadway musical, it was announced today by Robert Greenblatt, Chairman, NBC Entertainment. The live telecast of “The Sound of Music” will be a three-hour event on a date to be announced near the holidays in 2013.
NBC is partnering with the acclaimed "Smash" producing team of Craig Zadan and Neil Meron (film versions of the Oscar-winning "Chicago" and "Hairspray") for “The Sound of Music.” The pair also is producing the upcoming “85th Annual Academy Awards.”

“Speaking for everyone at NBC, we couldn't be happier to have the gifted Carrie Underwood take up the mantle of the great Maria von Trapp,” said Greenblatt. “She was an iconic woman who will now be played by an iconic artist.”

"We're thrilled to be presenting the Broadway version of ‘The Sound of Music’ live,” said Zadan and Meron, “and having Carrie Underwood as the star brings it to a new generation who will fall in love with it for the first time as many millions of people already have. It's a particular joy to us as producers to see this amazing artist stretch into new territory with this classic musical."

"To have a star like Carrie Underwood perform Maria in ‘The Sound of Music’ – and in such a very special and unique production -- is exciting beyond words,” said Ted Chapin, President, Rodgers & Hammerstein. “Part of the magic of Rodgers and Hammerstein is how their work has adapted itself to so many different incarnations, and I am certain the fresh spirit Underwood brings to her own songs will transition into exciting versions of the classic songs we all know and love.”

"The Sound of Music," set in pre-WWII Austria, is based on the romantic true story of Maria von Trapp, an aspiring nun who leaves the abbey to become a governess for the widower Captain von Trapp's seven children and finds herself falling in love with her employer and questioning her religious calling. It premiered on Broadway in 1959, where it broke box-office records and won the Tony Award for Best Musical. The 1965 film version won the Best Picture Oscar. Today it is an evergreen classic -- as popular in opera houses and outdoor amphitheaters as it is in high school auditoriums. "The Sound of Music" features a libretto by Howard Lindsay & Russel Crouse and a score by Richard Rodgers (music) and Oscar Hammerstein II (lyrics) that includes "My Favorite Things," "Do-Re-Mi," "Edelweiss," and "So Long, Farewell."

With more than 15 million albums sold worldwide, 16 #1 singles (seven of which were co-written by Underwood) and five Grammys, Underwood is fueled by a restless creative spirit as she released her most ambitious project yet in her current platinum-selling album “Blown Away.”

She’s won a vast array of awards, including three female vocalist awards from both the Country Music Association (CMA) and the Academy of Country Music (ACM). In 2010, when Underwood garnered her second win as ACM Entertainer of the Year, she became the first female artist in history to win the award twice. Underwood also received the ACM Triple Crown Award, thanks to her past wins for the categories of Entertainer of the Year, Top Female Vocalist and Top New Female Vocalist. Underwood also has won seven American Music Awards, six People’s Choice Awards, nine CMT Music Awards, nine American Country Awards, and is a member of the Grand Ole Opry. She earned a Golden Globe nomination for Best Original Song for “There’s a Place for Us” from “Chronicles of Narnia: Voyage of the Dawn Treader,” which she both recorded and co-wrote. She became America’s sweetheart in 2005 when she won the fourth season of “American Idol,” a vehicle that transformed her from a shy Oklahoma girl with a great voice to a budding superstar.

Underwood’s 2005 debut, “Some Hearts,” topped Billboard’s Country Albums chart for 27 weeks, has sold over seven million copies, and was voted #1 Country Album of the Decade by Billboard. Her 2007 sophomore album, “Carnival Ride,” 2009’s “Play On,” and her current album, “Blown Away,” debuted atop the all-genre Billboard 200 chart. Over the course of four albums, she’s saturated country radio with such #1 hits as “Jesus, Take the Wheel,” “Before He Cheats,” “So Small,” “Last Name,” “Cowboy Casanova,” “Good Girl” and “Blown Away.” Underwood is currently headlining “The Blown Away Tour,” performing internationally and in arenas across the U.S. and Canada well into 2013. She was the top-selling country female touring artist of 2008 and 2010, as her headline arena tours have played over 100 shows and to over one million fans each year.

Underwood expanded her resume making her film-acting debut in the 2011 feature “Soul Surfer,” following a guest TV role on “How I Met Your Mother.” She starred in her own holiday variety TV special in 2009, and has co-hosted the CMA Awards for the past five years.


Thursday, November 29, 2012

Reality TV Fans are "Neurotic," Survey Says

TODAY.com, the online home of the Today show on NBC, unveiled the results of an extensive survey on reality television viewing habits and the psyche of people who tune in to non-scripted television programming today.

The online survey, completed by 18,945 participants, revealed that those who watched non-competition reality shows are more extroverted, neurotic, and have lower self-esteem than television watchers who are not fans of the genre; 70 percent of self-described hardcore fans considered themselves to fall into this category.

“When we set out to find out why fans watched shows like ‘Teen Mom’ and ‘Here Comes Honey Boo Boo,’ we weren’t expecting those fans to consider themselves as having lower self-esteem,’ said Courtney Hazlett, TODAY.com pop culture correspondent. “Ultimately, the mixed bag of feelings those shows conjure—amusement, horror, satisfaction in your own choices—are ultimately driving forces in getting people to tune in to reality programming. Whether these shows do any real harm—the jury is out.”

Frequent TODAY contributor, psychiatrist Gail Saltz added that reality programming and a person on the neurotic spectrum actually have common ground. “Neurotic people tend to be worried about how others will judge them. Then you have ‘Here Comes Honey Boo Boo’ – here’s the family who’s the epitome of ‘we don’t care.’ That would be an enjoyable thing to watch for a person who’s walking around thinking, ‘I have to think about what people say.’”

BOTH MEN AND WOMEN LOVE THEIR “HOUSEWIVES”
Women (49%) were more likely than men (24%) to watch reality TV. The favorite show among men: “Deadliest Catch” and the “Real Housewives” franchise. The” Kardashians” and “Housewives” top women’s favorite shows.

SOME LIKE TO MAKE FUN OF REALITY TV STARS
The survey revealed that 37 percent of participants said they like making fun of the people on unscripted reality shows.

A GLIMPSE INTO THE LIVES OF THE RICH AND FAMOUS
More women (46 percent) than men (26 percent) said they watch because they like seeing how people with money, fame and status live their lives.

WATCHING REALITY TV IS LIKE WATCHING A “TRAIN WRECK”
The poll found that 72 percent of women and 60 percent of men admitted that reality programming alleviated their boredom; 71 percent of women and 59 percent said they watch it because it’s “like a train wreck.”

Read more at TODAY.com: Reality Check for Reality TV Fans.

Methodology
The survey was hosted on TODAY.com October 5-10, 2012. A total of 18,945 readers participated in the survey. The average age in the sample was 48, with most participants falling between ages 35-60.

Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve - STILL

ABC announced that it is going ahead with Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve, even though Dick Clark passed away earlier this year.
Dick Clark's name will remain on the program
he hosted for many years, despite his passing
earlier this year.  Ryan Seacrest will carry the torch.

The show will keep its name, but Ryan Seacrest will be the host.  (Technically it's called Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest.)
 
This year's show will feature Carly Rae Jepsen and Neon Trees joining headliner Taylor Swift.  They'll perform live from Times Square in New York City beginning at 8 p.m. eastern on December 31.
 
On the West Coast, Fergie of the Black Eyed Peas will be the host with performers like Brandy, Flo Rida, Karmin, OneRepublic, Pitbull and more artists to be announced at a later date.
 
The ABC night-long presentation will begin with a two-hour celebration of Dick Clark, hosted by Fergie and Jenny McCarthy, "New Year's Rockin' Eve Celebrates Dick Clark."  It will celebrate, through clips and reminiscences, the legendary television personality and producer who rang in the New Year for four decades and launched and nurtured the careers of countless artists. Seacrest will appear on the program.
 
Beginning at 10:00 p.m., ET, Seacrest will host "Dick Clark's Primetime New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2013" from New York, with Jenny McCarthy returning to interview the revelers in Times Square.
 
On both the East and West Coasts, events will include more than five and a half hours of special performances and reports on New Year's celebrations from around the globe.  Seacrest will lead the traditional countdown to midnight with the ball drop from Times Square. 

The complete lineup on Monday night, December 31 is:

8:00-10:00 p.m., ET -- "New Year's Rockin' Eve Celebrates Dick Clark" 
10:00-11:00 p.m., ET -- "Dick Clark's Primetime New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2013"
11:30 p.m.-1:08 a.m., ET -- "Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2013, Part 1"
1:08-2:12 a.m., ET -- "Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2013, Part 2"

Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2013" is a presentation of dick clark productions, inc, with Ryan Seacrest, Allen Shapiro and Orly Adelson serving as executive producers. Larry Klein produces.

MSNBC Touting Ratings Victories

MSNBC had another record-breaking ratings month in November, posting significant year-over-year gains and hitting all-time highs for programs including “Hardball with Chris Matthews,” “PoliticsNation,” “The Ed Show” and “Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell,” according to data from Nielsen. "Morning Joe" and "The Rachel Maddow Show" had their best A25-54 delivery since November 2008.

“Martin Bashir” at 4 p.m. and “The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell” at 10 p.m. posted the best total viewer delivery in the history of MSNBC in those time periods.

For the second month in a row, MSNBC Weekday Primetime (M-F 8-11 p.m.) ranked among the Top Ten cable networks in total viewers (#10, #8 with kids networks excluded). MSNBC also had the biggest year-over-year gain among any cable network in the top 30 for the month. In November, MSNBC was the #2 cable news network in weekday primetime averaging 525,000 A25-54 and 1.6 million total viewers. Compared to Nov. 2011, MSNBC Weekday Prime was up 131% with A25-54 and 82% among total viewers. MSNBC ranked #1 among African American P2+ for the 34th consecutive month.

In Total Day (M-Su 6a-6a), MSNBC was the #2 cable news network with 725,000 total viewer and 258,000 among A25-54. November 2012 was MSNBC’s best Total Day performance since April 2003 in total viewers and since Nov. 2008 with A25-54. Compared to Nov. 2011, MSNBC Total Day was up 86% with A25-54 and 70% with total viewers.

MSNBC also ranked #2 among the cable news networks in Sales Day (M-Su 6a-2a) in November, with 273,000 A25-54 and 792,000 total viewers.

MSNBC Sales Day ranked #13 in total viewers for the month among all cable networks (#10 with three kids networks excluded). MSNBC had more year-over-year growth than any other network among the top 75 cable nets in November.

Below are the MSNBC morning and primetime program highlights for November 2012:

· “Way Too Early” (5:30 -6:00 a.m.) ranked #2 among both total viewers (348,000) and A25-54 (143,000) for the 5th consecutive month. Compared to Nov. 2011, “Way Too Early” was up 57% with total viewers and 34% with A25-54. “Way Too Early” ranked #1 among the younger demo of A18-34.

· “Morning Joe” from 6 -9 a.m. had the program’s best A25-54 delivery since Nov. 2008, ranking #2 in all key categories for the month. “Morning Joe” beat CNN by 60% in A25-54 (248,000 vs. 155,000) and by 83% among total viewers (655,000 vs. 358,000). “Morning Joe” ranked #1 among the younger demo of A18-34 for the month. Compared to Nov. 2011, “Morning Joe” was up 63% in A25-54 and 50% in total viewers, more growth than any cable news program in the time period.

· “Hardball with Chris Matthews” at 5 p.m. had the program’s best total viewer delivery ever – since the show began in June 2000. “Hardball” also had the show’s best demo performance since April 2003. “Hardball” ranked #2 for the month, topping CNN by 44% in total viewers (1.37 million vs. 955,000) and 28% in A25-54 (368,000 vs. 287,000). Compared to last November, “Hardball” at 5 p.m. up was 126% in A25-54, more growth than all other cable news programs in the hour combined and 68% in total viewers.

· “PoliticsNation” with Rev. Al Sharpton had the show’s best total viewer performance ever and the best delivery in the hour among A25-54 since April 2003. “PoliticsNation” ranked #2 topping CNN by 30% in total viewers (1.22 million vs. 938,000) and by 12% in A25-54 (365,000 vs. 326,000). Compared to Nov. 2011, “PoliticsNation” is up 113% in A25-54 and 58% with total viewers.

· “Hardball” at 7 p.m. had the program’s best A25-54 and total viewer delivery since Nov. 2008. “Hardball” beat CNN by 61% in total viewers (1.2 million vs. 772,000) and 54% among A25-54 (390,000 vs. 254,000). “Hardball” at 7 p.m. was up 93% in A25-54 from Nov. 2011, more growth than any other cable news program in the hour and up 47% with total viewers.

· “The Ed Show” at 8 p.m. had the show’s best 8p delivery ever in both A25-54 and total viewers and the best time period performance since Oct. 2008 among P2+ and A25-54. “The Ed Show” was #2, topping CNN’s “Anderson Cooper 360” by 36% in A25-54 (425,000 vs. 312,000) and by 62% in total viewers (1.48 million vs. 913,000). Compared to Nov. 2011, “The Ed Show” was up 111% with A25-54, more growth than all cable news programs in the hour combined and up 57% in total viewers.

· “The Rachel Maddow Show” at 9 p.m. had the program’s best A25-54 and total viewer delivery since Oct. 2008. “Maddow” beat CNN’s “Piers Morgan Tonight” by 104% in A25-54 (552,000 vs. 271,000) and 87% in total viewers (1.69 million vs. 904,000). “Maddow” ranked #1 among both younger demos of A18-34 and A18-49 for the month. Compared to Nov. 2011, “Maddow” was up 111% with A25-54, more growth in the time period than all cable news channels combined. “Maddow” also grew 72% in total viewers from Nov. 2011, more growth than any other cable news show in the hour.

· “The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell” had MSNBC’s best total viewer performance ever at 10 p.m and the best A25-54 time period performance since Oct. 2008. “The Last Word” ranked #2, beating CNN by 53% among A25-54 (458,000 vs. 299,000) and 79% in total viewers (1.44 million vs. 808,000). “The Last Word” ranked #1 with A18-34. Compared to Nov. 2011, “The Last Word” was up 102% with A25-54 and 66% with total viewers, more growth than all cable news programs in the hour combined.

MSNBC Daytime the best A25-54 delivery (207,000) in the time period since November 2008. MSNBC Daytime was up 118% with A25-54 and 84% with total viewers compared to last November.

In Weekend Sales Prime (Sa/Su 7p-2a), MSNBC ranked #1 A25-54, 57% ahead of CNN (237,000 vs. 151,000) and 38% ahead of Fox News Channel (237,000 vs. 172,000). MSNBC was also #1 in A18-34.

Below are MSNBC Daytime and Weekend program highlights:

· “The Daily Rundown” hosted by Chuck Todd at 9 a.m. ET had the best monthly delivery ever among A25-54 and best total viewer delivery in the hour since November 2008. “The Daily Rundown” ranked #2, topping CNN by 15% among A25-54 (221,000 vs. 193,000) and 32% in total viewers (718,000 vs. 543,000). Compared to Nov. 2011, “The Daily Rundown” is up 91% among A25-54, more growth than all other cable news programs in the hour combined and up 64% in total viewers, the most growth posted by a cable news program in the hour.

· At 10 a.m. ET, “Jansing and Company” had the program’s best A25-54 delivery ever (188,000) and the best demo performance in the hour since Nov. 2008. Compared to Nov. 2011, “Jansing” was up 109% in A25-54 and 66% in total viewers, more growth than any other cable news program in the hour.

· “MSNBC Live” with Thomas Roberts at 11 a.m. ET had the best A25-54 delivery in the hour since Jan. 2009 (184,000). “MSNBC Live” was up 122% in A2554 and 70% with Total Viewers over Nov. 2011, more growth than any other cable news program in the hour.

· “NOW with Alex Wagner” at noon, had the best A25-54 delivery (220,000) in the hour in nearly ten years – since April 2003. “NOW” was up 170% in A2554 and 114% with total viewers compared to last November - more growth than all cable news programs in the hour combined.

· “Andrea Mitchell Reports” at 1 p.m. ET had the program’s best A25-54 (209,000) delivery ever and the best total viewer delivery in the time period in nearly ten years – since April 2003. Compared to November 2011, “Mitchell” is up 130% with A2554 and 99% with total viewers, posting more growth than any other cable news programs in the hour.

· At 2 p.m. ET, “NewsNation” with Tamron Hall had the program’s best A25-54 (212, 000) and total viewer delivery ever and the best time period performance since April 2003 (excluding Olympics). “NewsNation” ranked #2 among total viewers with 745,000 for the month and was up 123% with A25-54 and 97% with total viewers compared to last November.

· “The Cycle” at 3 p.m. had the show’s best A25-54 (212,000) and total viewer delivery ever. “The Cycle” also had the best demo performance in the hour since Sept. 2005 and the best total viewer delivery in the hour since April 2003. Compared to Nov. 2011, “The Cycle” was up 125% with A2554 and 92% with total viewers, more growth than all cable news programs in the hour combined

· “Martin Bashir” at 4 p.m. had the program’s best A25-54 (240,000) and total viewer delivery ever. “Bashir” also posted the best total viewer delivery ever in the hour and the best A25-54 performance in the hour since April 2003 (excluding Olympics). “Bashir” was #2 among total viewers for the month, topping CNN by 13% (967,000 vs. 857,000). Compared to Nov. 2011, “Bashir” is up 133% with A2554 and 102% with total viewers, more growth than all cable news programs in the hour combined.

· “Weekends with Alex Witt” (Sat. 7 a.m. -8 a.m.) ranked #1 among A18-34. The show was up 46% among A25-54 compared to Nov. 2011, more growth than all other cable news programs combined and up 53% with P2+ from Nov. 2011, more growth than all other cable news programs in the hour combined.

· “Up w/ Chris Hayes” on Saturdays (8a-10a) had the program’s best total viewer delivery ever. “UP”was #2 in A25-54 topping CNN by 17% (186,000 vs. 159,000). The show also grew by 133% in A25-54 and 117% with total viewers compared to Nov. 2011, more growth than all cable news programs in the hour combined.

· “Melissa Harris-Perry” on Saturdays (10 a.m.-noon) had the program’s best A25-54 and total viewer delivery ever. “MHP” increased 140% among A25-54 and 81% in total viewers from Nov. 2011, more growth than all cable news programs in the hour combined.

· “Up w/Chris Hayes” on Sundays (8 a.m. – 10 a.m.) had the program’s best A25-54 and total viewer delivery ever and ranked #1 with A18-34 for the month. “UP” ranked #2 with A25-54 topping CNN by 16% (183,000 vs. 158,000). “UP” Sundays grew 19% in A25-54 compared to Nov. 2011, more growth than all cable news programs in the time period combined and 24% in P2+, more growth than any other cable news program.

· “Melissa Harris-Perry” on Sundays (10 a.m. – noon) has the program’s best A25-54 delivery ever and ranked #1 among A18-34. “MHP” ranked #2 among A25-54 with 175,000. Compared to Nov. 2011, “MHP” was up 88% in A25-54, more growth than all cable news programs in the hour combined and up 83% in total viewers, more growth than any other cable new program in the time period.

· “Weekends with Alex Witt” on Sundays from noon – 2 p.m. grew 31% among A25-54 and 76% with P2+ over last November.

· Among younger viewers A18-34, MSNBC Longform ranks #1 in Weekend Sales Prime (Sa/Su 7p-2a) for the 48th consecutive month.

· MSNBC is #1 in delivering total African-American viewers for the 34th consecutive month in M-Su (7p-2a).

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Cougar Town Debuts on TBS January 8th

Cougar Town: Spill the WineCougar Town is set to launch its fourth season Tuesday, Jan. 8, at 10 p.m. (ET/PT), on TBS. (The show had previously aired on ABC.)

The series stars Courteney Cox as Jules Cobb, a recently remarried mom who is never far from her wine and her group of friends. They include her under-achieving ex-husband, Bobby (Brian Van Holt); her next-door neighbor and confidante Ellie (Christa Miller); Ellie's loveably average husband, Andy (Ian Gomez); Jules', neighbor-turned-husband Grayson (Josh Hopkins); and Jules' feisty protégé, Laurie (Busy Philipps). Meanwhile, Jules' 21-year-old son, Travis (Dan Byrd), often proves himself more adult than anyone in the group.





To mark it's return to the airwaves, the folks at Cougar Town have released a video in which the stars spill wine all over their white outfits.  ???  Called "Spill the Wine," the video features the classic song of the same name by Eric Burdon and War.

Cougar Town
"Spill the Wine" Video:
http://on.tbs.com/6Fzyw 

Cougar Town was co-created by executive producer Bill Lawrence (Scrubs, Spin City) and consulting producer Kevin Biegel (Scrubs). This season, Ric Swartzlander (Gary Unmarried) joins the show as executive producer and showrunner. Courteney Cox and David Arquette also serve as executive producers. Cougar Town is produced by ABC Studios.

Connect with COUGAR TOWN
Website: http://www.tbs.com/show/cougar-town

ABC Has A Lot of Holiday Programming

ABC is going all out with programs geared toward the holidays this year.  Unfortunately, what's missing is a new program from the folks at Modern Family - they're airing last year's Christmas-themed program.

Here's the ABC line-up of special programming through New Year's Rockin' Eve:

"CASTLE"
MONDAY, DECEMBER 3 (10:00-11:00 p.m., ET):
"Secret Santa" - When a bearded, rotund man in a red Santa suit with an ID reading Kris Kringle falls from the sky in Central Park, Castle and Beckett are on the hunt to find the person who killed Santa. But everything isn't holiday cheer, as they discover St. Nick may have been more naughty than nice. Meanwhile, Castle and Beckett prepare for their first Christmas together, on "Castle."

"THE MIDDLE"
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 5 (8:00-8:30 p.m., ET):
"Christmas Help" - Christmas doesn't seem so merry to Mike when he helps brother Rusty (Norm Macdonald) move some furniture into the Heck house garage and discovers that Rusty doesn't actually own the items. Meanwhile, Frankie hatches a plan to take a part time holiday job in a department store in order to get an employee discount to buy presents; Axl turns the garage with the stolen furniture into his own bachelor pad; and Reverend TimTom makes a bold choice by casting Brick in a holiday play and tasks an overly zealous Sue with baking cookies for the event, on "The Middle."

"THE NEIGHBORS"
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 5 (8:30-9:00 p.m., ET):
"Merry Crap-Mas" - The Weavers ask the Bird-Kersees to hide the multitude of Christmas gifts they've purchased for Amber, Max and Abby. But when Marty and Debbie are put off by their kids' entitled attitude towards the holiday, they decide to return all the gifts and put the money toward a family vacation where they can focus on the true meaning of the holiday. There's just one problem: Larry Bird has opened one of their gifts, spawning a frenzy of gift opening among the aliens and leaving the Weavers with no gifts and no way to pay for the trip. Can alien "Scrooge" Larry Bird save Christmas for the Weavers?

"MODERN FAMILY:
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 5 (9:00-9:31 p.m., ET; OAD 12/7/11):
"Express Christmas" -- The family is gathered at Jay and Gloria's pool on a sunny December day, and that's where they realize that everyone will be scattered this coming Christmas, so if they want to celebrate together, then it will have to be today! Everyone sets off with their respective duties for Express Christmas - Mitchell, Alex and Lily get the tree, Jay and Cameron are in charge of gift wrapping, Phil and Manny get the groceries, Gloria and Luke go retrieve the ornaments, and Claire and Haley shop for all the gifts. When they all return in the evening, it's quite a sight, on "Modern Family."

"SUBURGATORY"
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 5 (9:31-10:00 p.m., ET):
"Krampus" - When George sends Tessa to NY for a Christmas excursion with her mom, he assumes that he's given her the best present ever. Tessa soon learns to be careful what you wish for, and she finds herself missing George and Chatswin. Meanwhile Ryan finds out that he was adopted -- throwing the Shay family in turmoil -- and Carly asks for Carmen for Christmas, on "Suburgatory."

"LAST MAN STANDING"
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 14 (8:00-8:31 p.m., ET):
"Putting a Hit on Christmas" - Vanessa, worn out from the recent Thanksgiving holiday, longs for the quiet, no-fuss Christmases when it was just her and Mike. Since he doesn't have a clue about what to get Vanessa for Christmas, he decides a family-free holiday is the perfect gift, and now must figure out a way to get Boyd and the girls away for the holidays. Meanwhile, Ed mistakenly shoots an American bald eagle instead of a turkey, on "Last Man Standing."

"MALIBU COUNTRY"
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 14 (8:30-9:00 p.m., ET):
"Merry Malibu Christmas" - Reba is shocked when Kim is chosen over her to sing a solo during the church's Christmas service, and June confides in Cash that she is beginning to question her faith in God, on "Malibu Country."

"HAPPY ENDINGS"
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 18 (9:00-9:30 p.m., ET):
"No-Ho-Ho" - Nothing says the holidays like exposing a big lie! The gang is shocked to discover that Jane is really a Christmas baby and has been lying about her birthday this whole time because she hated being overshadowed by the holiday. So the group makes an extra special effort to throw her a Christmas-free birthday celebration -- but will the holiday spirit prove to be too strong to fight? -- on "Happy Endings."

"DR. SEUSS' HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS" (TV SPECIAL)
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 27 (8:00-8:30 p.m., ET; OAD 12/1/08):
Based on the classic children's book by the legendary Dr. Seuss, Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas, the 1966 animated holiday story loved by all, tall and small, takes viewers inside a snowflake to Whoville, the magical land of the Whos. But high above this holiday-loving town resides the Grinch, a hateful creature with a heart three sizes too small, who despises Christmas and plots to steal it from the Whos. Will a greedy Mayor Augustus Maywho or the seductive Martha May Whovier ruin his plans? Or will the loving little Cindy Lou Who be able to teach The Grinch the true meaning of Christmas? The voice cast includes Boris Karloff as The Grinch/Narrator and June Foray as Cindy Lou Who.

"SHREK THE HALLS"
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 27 (8:30-9:00 p.m., ET; OAD 11/28/07):
DreamWorks Animation presents "Shrek the Halls," a half-hour of entertainment starring America's favorite ogre and his friends and featuring the voices of Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz and Antonio Banderas. Just when Shrek thought he could finally sit back, relax and enjoy his happily ever after with his new family, the most joyous of all holidays arrives. It's Christmas Eve and everyone is filled with holiday cheer -- except for Shrek. He isn't exactly the picture of yuletide joy, but for the sake of Fiona and the kids, he tries to get into the spirit of things as only an ogre can. Unfortunately, everyone seems to have their own ideas about what Christmas is all about, so when Donkey, Puss In Boots, Gingerbread Man and the whole gang try to join in on the fun, Shrek's plans for a cozy family celebration end up spiraling into one truly unforgettable Christmas.

"A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS"
"PREP & LANDING: OPERATION SECRET SANTA"
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28 (8:00-9:00 p.m., ET; OAD 12/8/08):
ABC will celebrate the joy of the holidays with the classic animated Christmas-themed PEANUTS special, "A Charlie Brown Christmas," created by late cartoonist Charles M. Schulz. In the digitally-remastered 1965 special, "A Charlie Brown Christmas," Charlie Brown complains about the overwhelming materialism that he sees everywhere during the Christmas season. Lucy suggests that he become director of the school Christmas pageant, and Charlie Brown accepts, but it proves to be a frustrating struggle. When an attempt to restore the proper spirit with a forlorn little fir Christmas tree fails, Charlie Brown needs Linus' help to learn what the real meaning of Christmas is. The hour will also include "Prep & Landing: Operation Secret Santa," a seven-minute animated short featuring the voice of Betty White as Mrs. Claus.

"EXTREME MAKEOVER: HOME EDITION"
MONDAY, DECEMBER 3 (8:00-9:00 & 9:00-10:00 p.m., ET):
"ZDROJ FAMILY" - In a special Christmas-themed episode, host Ty Pennington visits the Zdroj Family of Smithville, TX. Mizzy Zdroj is a female firefighter volunteer whose own home was destroyed by the largest wildfire in Texas history. The episode features an appearance by BMX biker Matt Hoffman, Chef Art Smith and some special guests from "Star Wars."

"THE BORROWERS"
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8 (8:00-10:00 p.m., ET):
"The Borrowers" (starring Robert Sheehan, Stephen Fry, Christopher Eccleston, Sharon Horgan, Aisling Loftus, Victoria Wood and Charlie Hiscock) is a modern adaptation of Mary Norton's classic children's books that brings the world of the tiny Borrowers who live under our floorboards into the 21st century.

"DISNEY PREP & LANDING"
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 9 (8:00-8:30 p.m., ET; OAD 12/8/09):
Walt Disney Animation Studios brings you a half-hour holiday special tale of an elite unit of Elves known as Prep & Landing. After working tirelessly on Prep & Landing for 227 years, an elf named Wayne is upset when he doesn't receive an expected promotion to be the Director of Naughty List Intelligence. Instead, Magee, the North Pole Christmas Eve Command Center Coordinator (NPCECCC for short), partners Wayne with Lanny, an idealistic rookie who has an undying enthusiasm for Christmas. During their Christmas Eve mission, Wayne and Lanny encounter unexpected challenges that push them to their limits. Will the elves be able to guide Dasher, Dancer and the rest of the reindeer pulling Santa's sleigh through a raging snowstorm to ensure a Merry Christmas for all?

"PREP & LANDING: NAUGHTY VS. NICE"
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 9 (8:30-9:00 p.m., ET; OAD 12/5/11):
The yuletide adventures of Christmas elves Lanny and Wayne continue. With the Big 2-5 fast approaching, Wayne and Lanny must race to recover classified North Pole technology that has fallen into the hands of a computer-hacking Naughty Kid! Desperate to prevent Christmas from descending into chaos, Wayne seeks out the foremost Naughty Kid expert to aid in the mission, a bombastic member of the Coal Elf Brigade who also happens to be his estranged brother, Noel.

HALLMARK HALL OF FAME: "CHRISTMAS WITH HOLLY"
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 9 (9:00-11:00 p.m., ET):
New York Times bestselling author Lisa Kleypas' novel, Christmas with Holly (previously published as Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor), is now Hallmark Hall of Fame's newest holiday movie, starring Sean Faris and Eloise Mumford. Faris plays Mark Nagle, the uncle and guardian of six?year?old Holly, played by Lucy and Josie Gallina, whose single mother (Mark's sister) passed away unexpectedly. Mark owns the coffee shop and roasterie in Friday Harbor, Washington State. Maggie Conway - played by Mumford - comes to Friday Harbor as a refugee of sorts from Seattle. Maggie was abandoned at the altar by her husband?to?be; it's a perfect time for her to achieve her long?held dream of opening a magical toy store in the town where she spent her summers as a girl. Mark has help in raising Holly from his two older brothers. All three uncles have their hearts in the right place, but they're charmingly inept in their new roles - and they're not helped by the fact that Holly hasn't uttered a word since losing her mother. That's where Maggie comes in: Despite the approach of the busy Christmas retail season, she gives Holly extra attention every time the young girl comes into the welcoming shop. Maggie assumes Mark is "spoken for" during the whole getting?to?know?you dance, because Mark is in a relationship with Shelby, played by Alex Paxton?Beesley. But that relationship is floundering, and Mark and Maggie keep bumping into each other, which is not surprising given the cozy size of the village of Friday Harbor.

"EXTREME MAKEOVER: HOME EDITION"
MONDAY, DECEMBER 10 (8:00-9:00 & 9:00-10:00 p.m., ET):
"FRIDAY FAMILY" - Host Ty Pennington brings a special holiday surprise to the Friday family of Lincolnton, NC. The Fridays have been foster parents to more than 30 children, including adopting a family of five siblings. The episode features an appearance by racecar driver Michael Waltrip, the NBA Charlotte Bobcats' female dance troupe, and even The Grinch shows up to help with the build.

"SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN' TO TOWN"
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 11 (8:00-9:00 p.m., ET; OAD 12/2/05):
The classic animated one-hour holiday special that has delighted generations created in 1970 by Rankin-Bass Productions ("Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," "Frosty the Snowman"), Fred Astaire narrates this timeless tale of Kris Kringle (Mickey Rooney), a young boy with an immense desire to do good things for others. In his home village of Sombertown, Kris has started a gift factory where he builds toys and gives them to all the local children. But when the evil ruler, Burgermeister Meisterburger (Paul Frees), bans toys from the land, Kris is forced to go directly to Mother Nature and ask her for assistance. With the help of magical elves and several special reindeer, Kris overcomes the Burgermeister and delivers toys to children all over the world, earning him the name Santa Claus.

"BARBARA WALTERS PRESENTS THE 10 MOST FASCINATING PEOPLE OF 2012"
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 12 (9:31-11:00 p.m., ET)
This 90-minute ABC News special highlights some of the year's most prominent names in entertainment, sports, politics and popular culture, including: the woman behind the literary phenomenon Fifty Shades of Grey, writer EL James; outspoken New Jersey Governor Chris Christie; Olympic Gold medalist Gabby Douglas; Academy Award-winning actor/director/writer Ben Affleck; Secretary of State Hillary Clinton; the British boyband sensation One Direction; and 2013 Oscars host and creator of television cult classic "Family Guy" Seth MacFarlane. The Number One Most Fascinating Person of 2012 will be announced on the program.

"AMERICA'S FUNNIEST HOME VIDEOS CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR"
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 16 (7:00-8:00 p.m., ET; OAD 12/8/11):
"America's Funniest Home Videos" celebrates from the Disneyland(r) Resort in California with host Tom Bergeron, highlighting the best classic Christmas videos in "AFHV" history. The exciting episode includes: videos featuring the hazards of decorating, as lights, mantels, trees and people all go down; videos of kids reacting to lousy gifts, or causing mayhem during recitals, or the hilarious things they say while sitting on Santa's lap; and videos of cats and dogs getting in on the Christmas mischief as they investigate gifts and decorations.

"WIPEOUT: DECK THE BALLS!"
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 16 (8:00-9:00 p.m., ET; OAD 12/8/11):
On this very merry special episode of Winter "Wipeout," contestants will show their holiday spirit as they battle the Nutcracker Sweet, Santa's Workshop and The Jingle Balls! It'll be a Pain in the Ice for "Captain Christmas," "The Human Kazoo" and a festive "Penguin" as they all compete for the ultimate Christmas Bonus.

"EXTREME MAKEOVER: HOME EDITION"
MONDAY, DECEMBER 17 (8:00-9:00 & 9:00-10:00 p.m., ET):
"HARRIS FAMILY" - Host Ty Pennington and the team of designers visit the Harris family of Smithville, TX for a Christmas-themed wounded veteran episode. While on patrol in Iraq, Shilo Harris was wounded by a massive IED blast. Shilo now fights for other wounded warriors to find jobs and emotional support upon their return to civilian life. The episode features appearances by J.R. Martinez ("Dancing with the Stars," "All My Children") and Country Music superstar Lee Greenwood, who performs "God Bless the U.S.A."

"A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS"
"PREP & LANDING: OPERATION SECRET SANTA"
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 18 (8:00-9:00 p.m., ET) (See November 28)

"THE YEAR WITH KATIE COURIC"
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19 (9:31-11:00 p.m., ET)
From the highs and lows in Presidential politics to the major news events like Superstorm Sandy, the Aurora massacre and the resignation of General Petraeus, from the headline-making celebrity romantic breakups and shakeups to the Royal Jubilee and the scandals that rocked Buckingham Palace, 2012 has been an eventful year. Anchored by Katie Couric, ABC News and PEOPLE Magazine collaborate on an entertaining two-hour primetime broadcast special, with details on these and all the other big stories of the past year... the breakout heroes from the Olympics, the everyday heroes who inspired a nation, the public figures who fell from grace, and the icons who said goodbye after years of success. Couric's reports will include interviews with newsmakers, celebrities and other guests who have a uniquely humorous take on the past year's top stories.

"I WANT A DOG FOR CHRISTMAS CHARLIE BROWN!"
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 20 (8:00-9:00 p.m., ET; OAD 12/15/08):
"I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown!" centers on ReRun, the lovable but ever-skeptical younger brother of Linus and Lucy. It's Christmas vacation and, as usual, ReRun's big sister is stressing him out, so he decides to turn to his best friend, Snoopy, for amusement and holiday cheer. However his faithful but unpredictable beagle companion has plans of his own, giving ReRun reason to ask Snoopy to invite his canine brother Spike for a visit. When Spike shows up, it looks like ReRun will have a dog for Christmas after all... but then the real trouble begins.

"CMA COUNTRY CHRISTMAS" SPECIAL
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 20 (9:00-11:00 p.m., ET):
Country's biggest stars are joining together to celebrate the holidays! For the third year, Sugarland's Jennifer Nettles will host the "CMA Country Christmas" special. Dierks Bentley, Lady Antebellum, Little Big Town, Martina McBride, Scotty McCreery, The Band Perry and Keith Urban will be on hand to perform and share their favorite tales of the season. Also appearing on the special will be pop singer Colbie Caillat, classical singer Katherine Jenkins and soul singer John Legend.

"BACK TO THE BEGINNING WITH CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, PART 1"
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21 (9:00-11:00 p.m., ET)
Join Christiane Amanpour on the ultimate road trip as she travels to the lands of the Bible to explore powerful stories from Genesis to the birth of Jesus. Using the Old Testament as a guidebook, "Back to the Beginning" peels back the layers of history and faith that have inspired billions. Amanpour, a veteran war correspondent, investigates the roots of those stories that have created so much conflict, and at the same time so much of the healing she has seen across her career. It's an extraordinary journey through the deserts and cities of the ancient world to the historical and pilgrimage sites associated with the epic tale that is the backbone of Judaism, Christianity and Islam today.

"PREP & LANDING: NAUGHTY VS. NICE"
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 22 (8:00-8:30 p.m., ET) (See December 9)

"A CHIPMUNK CHRISTMAS"
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 22 (8:30-9:00 p.m., ET; OAD 12/19/11):
It's coming up on Christmastime and the Chipmunks are eager for the big day to arrive. Swept up in a holiday mood, Alvin gives away his cherished harmonica to a sick little boy. Meanwhile, Dave has booked Alvin to perform a harmonica solo at Carnegie Hall!

"CMA COUNTRY CHRISTMAS"
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 22 (9:00-11:00 p.m., ET) (See December 20)

"THE SOUND OF MUSIC"
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 23 (7:00-11:00 p.m., ET; OAD 12/28/08):
The original classic starring Julie Andrews brings its special magic to the holiday season. In "The Sound of Music," Maria, while waiting to take her vows, is sent to the home of the widowed and retired navy Captain Georg von Trapp (Christopher Plummer, "A Beautiful Mind," "The Insider") to care for his seven rambunctious children. Maria discovers the children, who have previously run off several governesses, are most in need of a little love. When she teaches them to sing, she wins the love of the children and the captain. The film is based on the real-life story of the von Trapp family. Maria's book, "The Story of the Trapp Family Singers," first became a German movie and later a successful Broadway musical before its Oscar-winning release in 1965. In 1938 the von Trapps escaped their native Austria and Nazi occupation to avoid Captain von Trapp's being forced to serve in the German navy.

"DISNEY PREP & LANDING"
MONDAY, DECEMBER 24 (8:00-8:30 p.m., ET) (See December 9)

"SHREK THE HALLS"
MONDAY, DECEMBER 24 (8:30-9:00 p.m., ET) (See November 27)

"DR. SEUSS' HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS" (TV SPECIAL)
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 25 (8:00-8:30 p.m., ET) (See November 27)

"DR. SEUSS' HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS" (THEATRICAL)
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 25 (8:30-11:00 p.m., ET; OAD 12/5/08):
Based on the classic children's book by the legendary Dr. Seuss, the live action "Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas" takes viewers inside a snowflake to Whoville, the magical land of the Whos. But high above this holiday-loving town resides the Grinch (Jim Carrey), a nasty creature with a heart three sizes too small, who hates Christmas and plots to steal it from the Whos. Will a greedy Mayor Augustus Maywho (Jeffrey Tambor) or the seductive Martha May Whovier (Christine Baranski) foil his plans? Or will it be the loving little Cindy Lous Who (Taylor Momsen) who will teach him the true meaning of Christmas?

"HAPPY NEW YEAR, CHARLIE BROWN"
THURDSAY, DECEMBER 27 (8:00-9:00 p.m., ET; OAD 12/30/08):
ABC and the PEANUTS gang will ring in the new year with the animated PEANUTS special, "Happy New Year, Charlie Brown," created by late cartoonist Charles M. Schulz, along with "She's a Good Skate, Charlie Brown. In "Happy New Year, Charlie Brown," the PEANUTS gang is ringing in 1986 and Marcie and Peppermint Patty are throwing a big New Year's Eve bash. Charlie Brown plans to celebrate the holiday by curling up with a big book that weighs nearly as much as he does: Tolstoy's War and Peace. The book's weight doesn't stop him from lugging it to Lucy's pre-party dance class, where he cuts a mean rug with a rollicking Patty. With just 1131 pages to go, Charlie Brown takes another break, this time for the party, and summons the courage to invite his true love, the little red-haired girl. She doesn't respond, but hapless Chuck shows up anyway - with Tolstoy in tow. Then he settles down with the book - on a porch swing in a snowstorm, and in so doing, misses the evening's big surprise. In "She's a Good Skate, Charlie Brown," disaster strikes as Peppermint Patty heads to her first major ice skating competition with coach Snoopy and faithful companion Marcie by her side. As always, the unassuming Woodstock flies in to save the day.

"BACK TO THE BEGINNING WITH CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, PART 2"
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 28 (9:00-11:00 p.m., ET)
Join Christiane Amanpour on the ultimate road trip as she travels to the lands of the Bible to explore powerful stories from Genesis to the birth of Jesus. Using the Old Testament as a guidebook, "Back to the Beginning" peels back the layers of history and faith that have inspired billions. Amanpour, a veteran war correspondent, investigates the roots of those stories that have created so much conflict, and at the same time so much of the healing she has seen across her career. It's an extraordinary journey through the deserts and cities of the ancient world to the historical and pilgrimage sites associated with the epic tale that is the backbone of Judaism, Christianity and Islam today.

"NEW YEAR'S ROCKIN' EVE CELEBRATES DICK CLARK"
MONDAY, DECEMBER 31 (8:00-10:00 p.m., ET):
Jenny McCarthy hosts a two-hour tribute to the legendary television personality who rang in the New Year for 40 years, with a special appearance by Ryan Seacrest. The special features clips highlighting Dick Clark's amazing career and the countless artists he launched to fame.

"DICK CLARK'S PRIMETIME NEW YEAR'S ROCKIN' EVE WITH RYAN SEACREST"
MONDAY, DECEMBER 31 (10:00-11:00 p.m., ET):
Ryan Seacrest spotlights some of the year's hottest artists, groups and songs. Fergie hosts the Los Angeles party, and Jenny McCarthy is live with all the festivities in Times Square.

"DICK CLARK'S NEW YEAR'S ROCKIN' EVE WITH RYAN SEACREST 2013, Parts 1 & 2"
MONDAY, DECEMBER 31 (11:30 p.m. - 1:08a.m., ET; January 1 - 1:08-2:12 a.m., ET):
Ryan Seacrest counts down to midnight live from Times Square and then the party continues with some of the year's hottest acts from Los Angeles and New York.

Coming Up on Saturday Night Live

Jamie Foxx returns for his second appearance as host of Saturday Night Live on December 8, NBC announced today. The Academy Award-winning actor next stars in Quentin Tarantino’s “Django Unchained,” in theaters Christmas Day.

Three-time Grammy Award-winning singer NE-YO will make his musical guest debut. The singer-songwriter’s latest album “R.E.D” debuted at #4 on the Billboard 200 chart.

Former cast member Martin Short returns for his third hosting appearance on December 15 for SNL’s Christmas show. Short is a veteran performer in film, television and theater.

Paul McCartney will appear for his fourth stint as musical guest. The legendary musician is stopping by SNL in the wake of his new exclusive iTunes album “Kisses on the Bottom – Complete Kisses.”

Trace Adkins Headlines Rockefeller Center Tree Lighting on NBC

Trace Atkins at rehearsal.
The annual lighting of the Christmas tree in New York City's Rockefeller Center happens tomorrow night.

On NBC, it's known as the annual program, CHRISTMAS IN ROCKEFELLER CENTER, which will star country music singer Trace Adkins this year.  The program, now airing in prime time, from 8 to 9 p.m., traditionally heralds the arrival of the holidays and features a good display of musical talent and the lighting of the world's most famous tree.  This is the 15th annual national telecast, but the 80th year for the traditional tree, which was first decked out during the Great Depression in 1932.
This year's tree is an 80-foot-tall Norway Spruce, 50 feet in diameter, weighing approximately 10 tons. The tree is estimated to be about 80 years old.

The tradition of the Rockefeller Christmas tree dates back to the Great Depression. First erected in 1933, the inaugural tree was decked with 700 lights and placed in front of the then eight-month-old RCA Building, now the GE Building. The Christmas tree gathering was enhanced in 1936 with the opening of the Rockefeller Plaza outdoor ice-skating pond. NBC-TV televised the tree lighting for the first time in 1951 on “The Kate Smith Show” and as part of the nationwide “Howdy Doody” television show from 1953-55.

Other stars this year include: Tony Bennett, Mariah Carey, CeeLo Green (NBC’s “The Voice”), Victoria Justice, Chris Mann, Scotty McCreery, Rod Stewart and Il Volo, and special appearances by Billy Crystal, Bette Milder and the Radio City Rockettes.  Al Roker and Savannah Guthrie of NBC's Today show will host.

Note to New Yorkers: If you're not going to the tree lighting, stay away from Midtown Manhattan.  It will be jam-packed with cars and pedestrians.

Monday, November 26, 2012

Good Morning America Poised to Win November Sweeps

It looks like a win in the November sweeps for Good Morning America, the first time that's happened in 17 years.

Though the ratings will not be final until later this week, GMA had 500,000 more viewers than Today on NBC for the week of November 12th, which leads experts to believe that indicates a win for sweeps. 

Both GMA and CBS This Morning are doing better than they were a year ago and GMA is faring particularly well among younger viewers.

Today is down 14% in total viewers over last year at this time.

Though some have blamed Matt Lauer and the pressure he is reported to have exerted to get rid of short-lived co-host Ann Curry, NBC president Steve Capus denies that Lauer has been given so much power.  He does say, however, that the departure of Curry and the transition from Katie Couric to Curry to Savannah Guthrie has hurt the program.

Dancing with the Stars Concludes with Three Female Finalists

Shawn Johnson, Melissa Rycroft, and Kelly Monaco
This is the last week for Dancing with the Stars.  After 10 weeks of competitive dancing, Kelly Monaco & Valentin Chmerkovskiy, Melissa Rycroft & Tony Dovolani and Shawn Johnson & Derek Hough make up the three final teams.
 
They'll compete for the "All-Star" title tonight and tomorrow on ABC.

In tonight's final one-hour performance show, each couple will perform two dances. They'll put their best feet forward with their favorite routine from the season and then do a freestyle dance for which they'll be allowed to add extra performers, incorporating lifts and tricks.

In tomorrow's two-hour season finale, all of the season's eliminated couples will return to the ballroom with their most memorable routines.
 
And in the final element of the competition, the three finalists will perform an Instant Dance routine. After they learn which music and dance style to use, they'll have just minutes to put a routine together and take to the floor.
 
By night's end, one couple will be crowned champions of what ABC called an all-star season.  

In case you don't know, Dancing with the Stars is hosted by Emmy Award winner Tom Bergeron ("America's Funniest Home Videos") and Brooke Burke-Charvet ("Dancing with the Stars" Season Seven Champion).  Celebrities perform choreographed dance routines that are judged by ballroom judge Len Goodman and dancer/choreographers Bruno Tonioli and Carrie Ann Inaba. 

Viewers may cast their votes for their favorite teams via phone on Monday night during and up to 60 minutes after the "Dancing with the Stars: All-Stars" performance shows. AT&T customers may also vote by texting the word "VOTE" and entering the number that corresponds to the team they want to support (message and data rates may apply). Online voting at www.ABC.com is open from the start of each episode on the East Coast and closes at 8:00 a.m., PT/11:00 a.m., ET on Tuesday morning. Additionally, fans can now vote on Facebook

Stars and Networks Mourn Larry Hagman

The death of Larry Hagman brought sorry to many TV viewers and especially to the actor's colleagues who spanned over 50 years of television programming.

CBS, which first aired Dallas a few decades ago, released the following statement:

“Television has seen many stars, but there will only be one Larry Hagman. Larry was a larger-than-life personality, both on-screen and off -- a master showman and brilliant actor who brought to life a character that transcended the medium and truly captivated a nation.  Today, we mourn the loss of a friend, but remember a man who brought true greatness to his craft and a television character in J.R. Ewing that will never be forgotten.”

Hagman's fellow actors from years past, including the two women who played his wives, Barbara Eden (I Dream of Jeannie) and Linda Gray (Dallas) said the following via Facebook and Twitter:

Eden: "He was such a key element in my life for so long and even, years after I Dream of Jeannie; our paths crossed many times." She added, "I, like many others believed he had beat Cancer and yet we are reminded that life is never guaranteed."
Gray: "Larry Hagman was my best friend for 35 years. He was the Pied Piper of life and brought joy to everyone he knew. He was creative, funny, loving and talented, and I will miss him enormously. He was an original and lived life to the full. The world was a brighter place because of Larry."

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

ABC NEWS AND PEOPLE MAGAZINE PRESENT "THE YEAR WITH KATIE COURIC"

Competition for Barbara Walters?
It looks like ABC is letting Katie Couric into the Barbara Walters space with a year-end special

looking back at 2012. You can bet Ms. Walters is not happy about that.

In a news release from the network that sounds a lot like the typical issuance about a Barbara Walters

special, "from the highs and lows in Presidential politics to the major news events like Superstorm Sandy, the Aurora massacre and the resignation of General Petraeus, from the headline-making celebrity romantic breakups and shakeups to the Royal Jubilee and the scandals that rocked Buckingham Palace, 2012 has been an eventful year. Anchored by Katie Couric, ABC News and PEOPLE Magazine collaborate on an entertaining two-hour primetime broadcast special, with details on these and all the other big stories of the past year... the breakout heroes from the Olympics, the everyday heroes who inspired a nation, the public figures who fell from grace, and the icons who said goodbye after years of success."

On top of using awfully long sentences, ABC says Couric's reports will include interviews with newsmakers, celebrities and other guests who have a uniquely humorous take on the past year's top stories. I wonder what the humours take will be on the storm, the Aurora massacre and the fall of the CIA chief?

"The Year with Katie Couric," a Special Edition of "20/20," airs WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19 (9:31-11:00 p.m., ET).

NBC WINS ITS FIRST NOVEMBER SWEEPS IN NINE YEARS


For the first time since 2003, NBC’s prime time lineup scored in first place in the ratings among adults 18-49 for the November sweeps, rising from a #4 ranking in the November period one year ago, according to “live plus same day” viewership data from Nielsen Media Research.

 With 25 of 28 nights counted in the November sweeps, NBC is averaging a 2.8 rating, up 17 percent versus NBC’s 2.4 rating at the conclusion the November 2011 sweeps. In averages through Sunday, Nov. 18, NBC leads sweeps runner-up CBS by 0.4 of a point or 17 percent, with Monday through Wednesday results yet to be factored into sweeps averages. If NBC finishes the sweeps with that 17 percent margin, it will match the biggest advantage for any network in a November sweeps since NBC won by 19 percent in 2002 (Fox also won by 17 percent in 2009).

NBC is also #1 for the sweeps through 25 nights in adults 25-54, adults 18-34 and all key adult-male demographics.

If NBC maintains its 2.8 rating in adults 18-49 through the conclusion of  sweeps, it would be its highest-rated November since 2008 (2.8). In total viewers, NBC’s current average of 7.9 million would be its highest for a November since 2007. The sweeps conclude Wednesday night, November 21 and Nielsen is scheduled to have “live plus same day” official national results for the full 28-day period on Monday, November 26.

For the November sweeps, NBC’s “Sunday Night Football” ranked as the #1 primetime series on ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox in adults 18-49, averaging a 7.6 rating in “live plus same day.” “The Voice” (4.5 with its Monday edition) was the #1 unscripted series of the sweeps, “Revolution” (2.8) was the #1 new drama and “Go On” (2.2) was the #1 new comedy.

“SNF” was the #1 primetime show of the sweeps on ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox in total viewers; adults 18-34, 18-49 and 25-54; men 18-34, 18-49 and 25-54; and teens 12-17. Monday’s “Voice” was #1 on those networks in women 18-34.

November Sweeps Adults 18-49, Live Plus Same Day, Adults 18-49

25 of 28 Nights vs. Completed Sweeps Last Year

Net…November 2011… November 2012…Difference

NBC…2.4…2.8…Up 17%

CBS…2.8…2.4…Down 14%

ABC…2.5…2.2…Down 12%

Fox…3.1…2.3…Down 26%

November Sweeps Total Viewers, Live Plus Same Day, Total Viewer

25 of 28 Nights vs. Completed Sweeps Last Year

Net…November 2011… November 2012…Difference

NBC…6.857 million …7.917 million…Up 15%

CBS…11.419 million…10.281 million…Down 10%

ABC…9.275 million …7.927 million…Down 15%

Fox…8.642 million …6.522 million…Down 25%

November Sweeps Total Viewers, Live Plus Same Day, Adults 25-54

25 of 28 Nights vs. Completed Sweeps Last Year

Net…November 2011… November 2012…Diff

NBC…2.8…3.3…Up 18%

CBS…3.8…3.2…Down 16%

ABC…3.2…2.7…Down 16%

Fox…3.5…2.5…Down 29%

NBC is the only network among ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox and CW to deliver a younger audience this November than last, with a median age down to 47.8 from last November’s 48.7. NBC’s audience is within 0.6 years of Fox for youngest viewership among the Big 4 networks in November.

Median Ages for November Sweeps

25 of 28 Nights vs. Completed Sweeps Last Year

Net…November 2011… November 2012

NBC…48.8…47.8

CBS…55.6…57.2

ABC…53.7…53.9

Fox…46.0…47.2

CW…37.6…41.8

On both Monday and Tuesday nights, NBC moved from #4 to #1 from November 2011 to November 2012, according to data through the first three weeks of the sweeps. This November versus last, NBC is up 200 percent on Monday night in 18-49 (to a 3.9 rating from a 1.3) and up 71 percent on Tuesdays (3.6 vs. 2.1).

Through November 18, NBC has won eight straight in-season Mondays in 18-49 among ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox, NBC’s longest in-season Monday win streak in the 25-year history of Nielsen’s people meter sample. NBC has also won six consecutive Tuesdays in 18-49 among ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox, the network’s longest in-season Tuesday winning streak in eight years (since November 16-December 21, 2004).

The month also included an NBC Wednesday win on November 7, the network’s first in-season Wednesday victory with non-sports programming since Christmas Eve 2008.

NBC’s sweeps success also included the top-rated Presidential Election coverage on Tuesday, Nov. 6, as NBC News averaged 12.0 million viewers and a 4.3 rating in adults 18-49 during primetime that night.

In “live plus seven day” results for the first eight weeks of the 2012-13 season to date, NBC is up 23 percent in 18-49 rating (with a 3.2 vs. a year-ago 2.6) and up 18 percent in total viewers (8.7 million vs. 7.4 million). NBC is ahead of its year-ago season average by double-digit percentages in every key ratings category.

Season to date, NBC is also tied for #1 with CBS in adults 25-54 (3.7 rating each) and is #1 among adults 18-54 (3.3 vs. 3.2) as well as adults 18-34 and all key adult-male demos.

Monday, November 19, 2012

Barbara Walters' 10 Most Fascinating People of 2012

Gabby Douglas will be one of Barbara Walters' Guests.
"Barbara Walters Presents: The 10 Most Fascinating People of 2012" will air as a 90-minute ABC News special highlighting some of the year's most prominent names in entertainment, sports, politics and popular culture. This year's special will air WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 12 (9:30-11:00 pm, ET) on the ABC Television Network.
       
Hosted by Barbara Walters, the special includes: 

o The woman behind the literary phenomenon Fifty Shades of Grey, writer EL James. 
o Outspoken New Jersey Governor Chris Christie.
o Olympic Gold medalist Gabby Douglas. 
o Academy Award-winning actor/director/writer Ben Affleck.
o One of the most famous women in politics, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. 
o The British boyband sensation One Direction.
o 2013 Oscars host and creator of television cult classic "Family Guy" Seth MacFarlane. 
 
The Number One Most Fascinating Person of 2012 will be announced on the program.
       
Now in its 20th season, "Barbara Walters Presents: The 10 Most Fascinating People" programs have consistently been among the highest rated specials of the year. 
       
"Barbara Walters Presents: The 10 Most Fascinating People of 2012" is executive-produced by Barbara Walters and Bill Geddie. Bill Geddie also directs the program.

People's Choice Nominees Announced

Nominees for PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARDS 2013 were announced this morning at The Paley Center for Media in Beverly Hills by country superstar Jason Aldean, Anthony Anderson (“Guys with Kids”), Sophia Bush (PARTNERS), Jason O’Mara (VEGAS), Monica Potter (“Parenthood”) and Casey Wilson (“Happy Endings”), along with PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARDS 2013 host Kaley Cuoco (THE BIG BANG THEORY) and Executive Producer Mark Burnett. Prior to this morning's announcement, fans cast more than 93 million votes to pick new categories and determine the nominees for the annual awards show that celebrates fan favorites in movies, music and television. See below for a complete list of nominees.

Justin Bieber is the top individual PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARDS 2013 nominee with five music nods, including Favorite Male Artist, Favorite Pop Artist, Favorite Album, Favorite Music Video and Favorite Music Fan Following. Maroon 5 frontman Adam Levine also comes out on top with a combined six nods in both music and television categories, for his work with Maroon 5 (Favorite Band, Favorite Song, Favorite Album, Favorite Music Video) and “The Voice” (Favorite Celebrity Judge, Favorite Competition TV Show). Channing Tatum leads the men in acting nominations with four individual nods (Favorite Male Actor, Favorite Comedic Actor, Favorite Dramatic Actor and Favorite On-Screen Chemistry), and Emma Stone and Jennifer Lawrence will go head-to-head in each of their three categories (Favorite Movie Actress, Favorite Face of Heroism and Favorite On-Screen Chemistry).

Voting begins today for all 48 categories and will end on Dec. 14, 2012. Winners will be revealed during the live broadcast of PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARDS 2013 from the Nokia Theater L.A. Live on Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2013 (9:00-11:00 PM, ET/delayed PT) on the CBS Television Network. Tickets to the awards show are now available for fans to purchase through Ticketmaster. Media outlets can apply for credentials to cover PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARDS 2013 at http://credentials.peopleschoice.com.
How to Vote for PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARDS 2013:
  •  WebsitePeoplesChoice.com houses the main voting platform for PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARDS 2013.
  •  FacebookFacebook.com/PeoplesChoice features a custom application where fans can personalize their voting experience and share their votes with friends.
  •  Twitter – Fans can cast official votes for PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARDS 2013 by tweeting a specific series of hashtags based on the nominee's name and category. To see a complete list of hashtags created for each nominee, please visit PeoplesChoice.com/pca/vote.
  •  Mobile – Fans can vote in all categories on the People’s Choice Awards mobile site, and via the official voting application for Android and iOS devices. The free app is available for download from the Android Market and the Mac App Store.
As the official retail partner of PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARDS 2013, Walgreens will present two categories, “Favorite New TV Comedy” and “Favorite New TV Drama,” which will remain open for voting through the night of the show on PeoplesChoice.com. All new network shows are eligible. The top five vote-getters in each category will be named official nominees on December 14, 2012.

Additional categories that will remain open for voting through the night of the show are “Favorite Movie Fan Following,” “Favorite Music Fan Following” and “Favorite TV Fan Following,” three brand-new categories that celebrate pop culture mega-fans and their devotion to certain films, musicians and TV shows.

PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARDS 2013 will also see the addition of “Favorite Face of Heroism,” presented by Puffs, and the return of “Favorite Movie Icon.” The winner of the People’s Choice Award for “Favorite Movie Icon” will receive a one-of-a-kind custom award created by Waterford, the official designer and house of crystal that produces the People’s Choice Awards trophies.


PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARDS 2013 Nominees:
Favorite Movie:
  •  “The Amazing Spider-Man”
  •  “The Avengers”
  •  “The Dark Knight Rises”
  •  “The Hunger Games”
  •  “Snow White and the Huntsman”
Favorite Movie Actor:
  •  Channing Tatum
  •  Johnny Depp
  •  Joseph Gordon-Levitt
  •  Robert Downey, Jr.
  •  Will Smith
Favorite Movie Actress:
  •  Anne Hathaway
  •  Emma Stone
  •  Jennifer Lawrence
  •  Mila Kunis
  •  Scarlett Johansson
Favorite Movie Icon:
  •  Emma Thompson
  •  Maggie Smith
  •  Meryl Streep
  •  Michelle Pfeiffer
  •  Susan Sarandon
Favorite Action Movie:
  •  “The Amazing Spider-Man”
  •  “The Avengers”
  •  “The Dark Knight Rises”
  •  “The Hunger Games”
  •  “Men in Black 3”
Favorite Action Movie Star:
  •  Chris Evans
  •  Chris Hemsworth
  •  Christian Bale
  •  Robert Downey, Jr.
  •  Will Smith
Favorite Face of Heroism:
  •  Anne Hathaway, “The Dark Knight Rises”
  •  Emma Stone, “The Amazing Spider-Man”
  •  Jennifer Lawrence, “The Hunger Games”
  •  Kristen Stewart, “Snow White and the Huntsman”
  •  Scarlett Johansson, “The Avengers”
Favorite Comedic Movie:
  •  “21 Jump Street”
  •  “Dark Shadows”
  •  “Pitch Perfect”
  •  “Ted”
  •  “What to Expect When You're Expecting”
Favorite Comedic Actor:
  •  Adam Sandler
  •  Ben Stiller
  •  Channing Tatum
  •  Will Ferrell
  •  Zach Galifianakis
Favorite Comedic Actress:
  •  Cameron Diaz
  •  Emily Blunt
  •  Jennifer Aniston
  •  Mila Kunis
  •  Reese Witherspoon
Favorite Dramatic Movie:
  •  “Argo”
  •  “The Lucky One”
  •  “Magic Mike”
  •  “The Perks of Being a Wallflower”
  •  “The Vow”
Favorite Dramatic Movie Actor:
  •  Bradley Cooper
  •  Channing Tatum
  •  Jake Gyllenhaal
  •  Liam Neeson
  •  Zac Efron
Favorite Dramatic Movie Actress:
  •  Charlize Theron
  •  Emma Watson
  •  Keira Knightley
  •  Meryl Streep
  •  Rachel McAdams
Favorite Movie Franchise:
  •  “The Avengers”
  •  “The Dark Knight”
  •  “The Hunger Games”
  •  “Madagascar”
  •  “Spider-Man”
Favorite Movie Superhero:
  •  Andrew Garfield as Spider-Man
  •  Chris Evans as Captain America
  •  Chris Hemsworth as Thor
  •  Christian Bale as Batman
  •  Robert Downey, Jr. as Iron Man
Favorite On-Screen Chemistry:
  •  Emma Stone / Andrew Garfield, “The Amazing Spider-Man”
  •  Jennifer Lawrence / Josh Hutcherson / Liam Hemsworth, “The Hunger Games”
  •  Kristen Stewart / Chris Hemsworth, “Snow White and the Huntsman”
  •  Rachel McAdams / Channing Tatum, “The Vow”
  •  Scarlett Johansson / Jeremy Renner, “The Avengers”
Favorite Movie Fan Following:
  •  Potterheads, “Harry Potter”
  •  Ringers, “The Lord of the Rings”  
  •  Rum Runners, “Pirates of the Caribbean”
  •  Tributes, “The Hunger Games”
  •  Twihards, “Twilight”
Favorite Network TV Comedy:
  •  “The Big Bang Theory”
  •  “Glee”
  •  “How I Met Your Mother”
  •  “Modern Family”
  •  “New Girl”
Favorite Network TV Drama:
  •  “Gossip Girl”
  •  “Grey's Anatomy”
  •  “Grimm”
  •  “Once Upon a Time”
  •  “Revenge”
Favorite Cable TV Comedy:
  •  “Awkward”
  •  “Hot in Cleveland”
  •  “It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia”
  •  “Melissa & Joey”
  •  “Psych”
Favorite Cable TV Drama:
  •  “Burn Notice”
  •  “Leverage”
  •  “Pretty Little Liars”
  •  “The Walking Dead”
  •  “White Collar”
Favorite Premium Cable TV Show:
  •  “Dexter”
  •  “Game of Thrones”
  •  “Homeland”
  •  “Spartacus”
  •  “True Blood”
Favorite TV Crime Drama
  •  “Bones”
  •  “Castle”
  •  “Criminal Minds”
  •  “CSI”
  •  “NCIS”
Favorite Sci-Fi/Fantasy TV Show:
  •  “Doctor Who”
  •  “Once Upon a Time”
  •  “Supernatural”
  •  “The Vampire Diaries”
  •  “The Walking Dead”
Favorite Comedic TV Actor:
  •  Chris Colfer
  •  Jesse Tyler Ferguson
  •  Jim Parsons
  •  Neil Patrick Harris
  •  Ty Burrell
Favorite Comedic TV Actress:
  •  Jane Lynch
  •  Kaley Cuoco
  •  Lea Michele
  •  Sofia Vergara
  •  Zooey Deschanel
Favorite Dramatic TV Actor:
  •  Ian Somerhalder
  •  Jared Padalecki
  •  Jensen Ackles
  •  Nathan Fillion
  •  Paul Wesley
Favorite Dramatic TV Actress:
  •  Ellen Pompeo
  •  Emily Deschanel
  •  Ginnifer Goodwin
  •  Nina Dobrev
  •  Stana Katic
Favorite Daytime TV Host:
  •  George Stephanopoulos, Josh Elliott, Lara Spencer, Robin Roberts, Sam Champion, “Good Morning America”  
  •  Kelly Ripa and Michael Strahan, “Live with Kelly & Michael”                                                                                     
  •  Ellen DeGeneres, “The Ellen DeGeneres Show”
  •  Al Roker, Savannah Guthrie, Matt Lauer, Natalie Morales, “The Today Show”
  •  Barbara Walters, Elisabeth Hasselbeck, Joy Behar, Sherri Shepherd, Whoopi Goldberg, “The View”

Favorite Late Night Talk Show Host:
  •  Chelsea Handler
  •  Conan O'Brien
  •  David Letterman
  •  Jimmy Fallon
  •  Jimmy Kimmel
Favorite New Talk Show Host:
  •  Jeff Probst
  •  Katie Couric
  •  Michael Strahan
  •  Ricki Lake
  •  Steve Harvey
Favorite Competition TV Show:
  •  “American Idol”
  •  “America's Got Talent”
  •  “Dancing with the Stars”
  •  “The Voice”
  •  “The X Factor”
Favorite Celebrity Judge:
  •  Adam Levine
  •  Britney Spears
  •  Christina Aguilera
  •  Demi Lovato
  •  Jennifer Lopez
Favorite TV Fan Following:
  •  Gleeks, “Glee”
  •  Little Liars, “Pretty Little Liars” 
  •  Oncers, “Once Upon A Time”
  •  SPNFamily, “Supernatural”
  •  TVDFamily, “The Vampire Diaries”
Favorite New TV Comedy:
  •  “Ben & Kate”
  •  “Go On”
  •  “Guys with Kids”
  •  “The Mindy Project”
  •  “The Neighbors”
  •   “The New Normal”
  •  “Partners”
Favorite New TV Drama:
  •  “666 Park Avenue”
  •  “Arrow”
  •  “Beauty & The Beast”
  •  “Chicago Fire”
  •  “Elementary”
  •  “Emily Owens, M.D.”
  •  “Last Resort”
  •  “The Mob Doctor”
  •  “Nashville”
  •  “Revolution”
  •  “Vegas”
Favorite Male Artist:
  •  Blake Shelton
  •  Chris Brown
  •  Jason Mraz
  •  Justin Bieber
  •  Usher
Favorite Female Artist:
  •  Adele
  •  Carrie Underwood
  •  Katy Perry
  •  P!nk
  •  Taylor Swift
Favorite Pop Artist:
  •  Adele
  •  Demi Lovato
  •  Justin Bieber
  •  Katy Perry
  •  P!nk
Favorite Hip Hop Artist:
  •  Drake
  •  Flo Rida
  •  Jay-Z
  •  Nicki Minaj
  •  Pitbull
Favorite R&B Artist:
  •  Alicia Keys
  •  Beyoncé
  •  Bruno Mars
  •  Rihanna
  •  Usher
Favorite Band:
  •  Green Day
  •  Linkin Park
  •  Maroon 5
  •  No Doubt
  •  Train
Favorite Country Artist:
  •  Blake Shelton
  •  Carrie Underwood
  •  Jason Aldean
  •  Taylor Swift
  •  Tim McGraw
Favorite Breakout Artist:
  •  Carly Rae Jepsen
  •  Fun.
  •  Gotye
  •  One Direction
  •  The Wanted
Favorite Song:
  •  “Call Me Maybe,” Carly Rae Jepsen 
  •  “One More Night,” Maroon 5 
  •  “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together,” Taylor Swift 
  •  “We Are Young,” Fun. ft. Janelle Monae
  •  “What Makes You Beautiful,” One Direction 
Favorite Album:
  •  Believe, Justin Bieber  
  •  Blown Away, Carrie Underwood  
  •  Overexposed, Maroon 5
  •  Some Nights, Fun.
  •  Up All Night, One Direction 
Favorite Music Video:
  •  Boyfriend, Justin Bieber 
  •  Call Me Maybe, Carly Rae Jepsen 
  •  Gangnam Style, Psy
  •  Part of Me, Katy Perry 
  •  Payphone, Maroon 5
Favorite Music Fan Following:
  •  Beliebers, Justin Bieber
  •  Directioners, One Direction
  •  KatyCats, Katy Perry
  •  Lovatics, Demi Lovato
  •  Selenators, Selena Gomez