Devin Velez Eliminated from American Idol

Devin Velez was eliminated last night on AMERICAN IDOL,

after he received the fewest votes among the finalists. From Chicago, IL, the 18-year-old Velez sang “The Tracks of My Tears” by The Miracles on last night’s “Detroit: Music Of Motor City”-themed performance show.

In addition, AMERICAN IDOL judge and four-time Grammy Award winner Keith Urban performed his single, “Long Hot Summer”; OneRepublic, featuring Season Five runner-up Katharine McPhee, performed their hit single “If I Lose Myself”; and Season 11 finalist Colton Dixon performed his new single, “Love Has Come For Me.”

Next week, on Wednesday, April 3 (8:00-10:00 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed), the Top 7 – Lazaro Arbos, Janelle Arthur, Candice Glover, Kree Harrison, Amber Holcomb, Angie Miller and Burnell Taylor – return to perform for America’s votes on the Classic Rock, No Ballads-themed performance show.

On the next live results show airing Thursday, April 4 (8:00-9:00 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed), tune in to find out which of your favorite finalists will be sent home. Plus, six-time Grammy Award-winning artist and Season Four winner Carrie Underwood will perform her new single, “See You Again” and Season Nine finalist Casey James will sing his song, “The Good Life.”

CBS Renews a Batch of Shows for Next Season

CBS announced today it has renewed 18 returning series from television's

According to the network, "the mass renewals showcase the strength and stability of television's leading network among viewers, adults 18-49 and adults 25-54. This season, CBS is home to the #1 program/drama (NCIS), the #1 comedy (THE BIG BANG THEORY), the #1 new series (ELEMENTARY) and the #1 news magazine (60 MINUTES)."

The renewals, comprising 16 hours of its primetime schedule, include four comedies, nine dramas, three reality series and two newsmagazines.

The renewed comedies include the previously announced THE BIG BANG THEORY, the final season of HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER as well as 2 BROKE GIRLS and MIKE & MOLLY.

Among the returning dramas are the previously announced NCIS, television's #1 program and top drama for the fourth consecutive year, and the time period-winning CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION.

Other dramas renewed include NCIS: LOS ANGELES, the #2 drama for the third straight year; PERSON OF INTEREST, the fastest-growing show on network television; ELEMENTARY, the season’s most-watched new program; as well as HAWAII FIVE-0, THE MENTALIST, BLUE BLOODS and THE GOOD WIFE.

The Network's three Emmy Award-winning reality series — THE AMAZING RACE, SURVIVOR and UNDERCOVER BOSS — also return with new editions.

60 MINUTES, television's #1 newsmagazine, and 48 HOURS, Saturday's #1 non-sports program, will return in the fall.
top-rated lineup for the 2013-2014 broadcast season. What it didn't announce for renewal yet were the following: Two and Half Men (in discussion), Vegas and Criminal Minds.

Today Posts Gains over GMA Amidst Anderson Cooper Rumors

As rumors fly that NBC is talking to CNN's Anderson Cooper about

hosting Today in place of the popularity-challenged Matt Lauer, NBC put out a release today says that the show continues to post long term growth in total viewers and the key demo A25-54.

According to NBC, for the week of March 18, TODAY posted a 2.1 rating in A25-54 (1.9 million) tying with GMA for first place. TODAY delivered 4.723 million total viewers for the week. TODAY posted its closest A25-54 viewer gap (-18k) with GMA in nearly two months - since week of January 28^th.

TODAY posted its narrowest total viewer gap with GMA this year - since the week of December 31, 2012 (TODAY trailed GMA by only -7% (-355k) in total viewers). TODAY has consistently narrowed the total viewer gap for the last four weeks. TODAY posted more total viewer growth than GMA and CBS combined for the week.

Keith Urban to Perform on Tonight's "Idol"

Coming out from behind the judges’ table and onto the IDOL stage, four-time

Grammy Award winner and AMERICAN IDOL judge, Keith Urban, will perform on tonight’s AMERICAN IDOL live results show and 450th episode (8:00-9:00 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed). Urban heads out this summer on his “Light The Fuse Tour 2013.” Urban has had 14 No. 1 songs, including 28 Top 5 hits. His 2010 album, “Get Closer,” generated three consecutive No. 1 singles: “You Gonna Fly,” “Long Hot Summer” and “Without You.”

Also on tonight’s show are OneRepublic, featuring Season Five runner-up Katharine McPhee, who will perform their hit single “If I Lose Myself” and Season 11 finalist Colton Dixon, who will perform his new single, “Love Has Come For Me.”

Last night, the remaining finalists performed - Lazaro Arbos, Janelle Arthur, Candice Glover, Kree Harrison, Amber Holcomb, Angie Miller, Burnell Taylor and Devin Velez – perform for America’s votes. The show’s theme was Detroit: The Music of Motor City.

Mayor Bloomberg on Meet the Press: Clip

David Gregory sat down with New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg today for an exclusive interview to air tomorrow on “Meet the Press.” The interview took place at NBC’s studios in Rockefeller Center. “Meet the Press” has released an excerpt -- a transcript and photo are below and embeddable video is online here: http://nbcnews.to/ZdS0e0 The extended exclusive interview will air Sunday, March 24, on “Meet the Press,” followed by a live interview with the National Rifle Association’s CEO an Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre. Here's a preview:

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Paul Jolley Latest to Go from American Idol

Jolley at right among last
night's bottom three.

Paul Jolley was eliminated tonight on AMERICAN IDOL, after he received the fewest votes among the finalists. From Palmersville, TN, the 23-year-old Jolley sang “Eleanor Rigby” by the Beatles on last night’s performance show. In addition, Season 11 runner-up Jessica Sanchez and Ne-Yo performed Sanchez’s new single “Tonight,” and Season 10 Finalist Casey Abrams performed the Beatles classic, “I Saw Her Standing There.”

Next week, on Wednesday, March 27 (8:00-10:00 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed), the Top 8 –Lazaro Arbos, Janelle Arthur, Candice Glover, Kree Harrison, Amber Holcomb, Angie Miller, Burnell Taylor and Devin Velez – return to perform for America’s votes. The performance show’s theme is Detroit: The Music of Motor City.

On the next live results show airing Thursday, March 28 (8:00-9:00 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed), AMERICAN IDOL will celebrate its 450th episode. Also, tune in to find out who is sent home and to see Season 11 Finalist Colton Dixon perform on the IDOL stage.

From SMASH to Crash: NBC Kills One of Its Few Good Shows

Memo to NBC:  Your unnecessary tinkering with what was a bona fide hit and solid freshman show has done so much damage that the program in question is almost unwatchable - and it's bleeding viewers.

I'm talking about SMASH, the musical drama that debuted on NBC last season to critical and popular acclaim. 

But NBC, which is the lowest rated network this season, decided to take one of last year's few winners and turn it into a loser.  Why would they do that?  In fact, the network announced earlier this week that the show is being moved to Saturday nights, a move known to kill most shows who go there.

Steven Spielberg, who brought this show to the airwaves, seems to have abandoned it. (Reports are that he recently embarked on a cruise around the world.)

During the first season, SMASH followed the professional and personal lives of its stars, Debra Messing (Julia) and Christian Borle (Tom), as they fought to produce a Broadway musical based on the life of Marilyn Monroe.  Secondary storylines involved the show's director, Derrick (Jack Davenport) and the two young women vying to be Marilyn, Katharine McFee (Karen) and Megan Hilty (Ivy).  There was also the great Angelica Huston and the scheming of her assistant, Ellis, to add comedy and intrigue.  With the musical numbers, the overall production was a lot of fun.  There was great music, dancing, drama and a little comedy along with good-looking stars and supporting characters.

Over the summer, news started trickling out.  Creator Theresa Rebeck was ousted as show runner and replaced by Josh Safran of "Gossip Girl" who is now executive producer.  Producers and writers were fired.  The show was revamped and new stars were hired.

Gone were Julia's husband (Brian d'Arcy James) and son (Emory Cohen), a good part of last year's drama.  The writing team of Julia and Tom were back-burnered and their partnership, with its electric camaraderie, was no longer central to the story.  We were left to wonder about Tom and his boyfriend.  Angelica Huston's love interest, Thorsten Kaye of All My Children fame, was all of a sudden in jail.

New to the scene were a couple of young men who appeared from nowhere to tempt Karen into getting their musical produced, Jeremy Jordan (Newsies) as bad-boy songwriter Jimmy Collins, and Andy Mientus (Off-Broadway's Carrie) as his little-boy sidekick, Kyle Bishop.

Most questionable was the addition of Sean Hayes, one of the show's executive producers, to a role that can only be considered superfluous. (If Hayes wanted to get himself some screen time, he could have found a much better way to do it than by casting himself as an appendage, rather than a real part of the story.  Hayes is a very talented guy.)

In short, the show is now in shambles.

With NBC's ratings in the dumpster, along with the fact that a number of its shows are ending this season (The Office, 30 Rock, Community), the network needs to take immediate action to get SMASH back on track.  Could they pull a Dallas and have one of the characters wake up from a dream, erasing this whole season (a la Bobby Ewing back in the 80's)?  Or can they do so by bringing back the original staff and cast?  Either way, it's time for the writers to get back to the old story and restore the magic this show had when it debuted.

Young & Restless Turns 40

THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS, Daytime’s #1 Drama, will celebrate 40 years on the air on March 26, 2013. Set in the Midwestern town of Genoa City, Wis., THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS originally premiered in 1973 as a half-hour drama, but was extended to an hour in 1980. The late William J. Bell and his wife, Lee Phillip Bell, co-created the iconic series; he was head writer and senior executive producer.

Forty years later, the show is leading up to a suspense-filled “killer” wedding between super-couple Victor and Nikki Newman (Eric Braeden and Melody Thomas Scott). This must-see event will be the couple’s fourth trip down the aisle during the history of the show.

To highlight this milestone anniversary, Y&R cast members representing all four decades of the show are reaching out across CBS Daytime to celebrate:

Scott, along with seven of her co-stars (Peter Bergman, Melissa Claire Egan, Amelia Heinle, Joshua Morrow, Michael Muhney, Michelle Stafford and Kristoff St. John), will appear on CBS’s THE TALK on Monday, March 25. They will chat with the co-hosts and honor the show’s anniversary.

In addition, longest-running cast member Jeanne Cooper and hot newcomers Lamon Archey, Marco Dapper, Ignacio Serricchio and Redaric Williams will appear on CBS’s THE PRICE IS RIGHT to model for the day and present Y&R 40th anniversary-themed showcases on Tuesday, March 26.

LET’S MAKE A DEAL will get into the action as well by honoring THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS on Tuesday, March 26 with a special deal involving Y&R trivia.

CBS primetime stars including Michael Chiklis, Kat Dennings, Beth Behrs, Michael Emerson, Billy Gardell, Taraji P. Henson, David Spade, Michael Weatherly and Y&R alum Shemar Moore offer their congratulations in promos airing on the Network and available online.

And finally, CBS.com is launching the Y&R Monte Carlo Watch & Go Sweepstakes beginning April 1, in which one lucky fan and a guest will win a trip to the Monte Carlo Television Festival in June. The winners will attend, among many other highlights, a star-studded exclusive Y&R 40th Gala Party and an intimate afternoon tea with members of the cast.

A previous contest, the 40th Anniversary Sweepstakes, was won by Stacey Cifelli of Arlington, Texas. Cifelli and a guest will join the cast of Y&R on set on March 26 to celebrate the anniversary.

“A series airing for 40 years is an incredible feat, but one that has been #1 for the past 24 years as well? That is absolutely remarkable,” said Angelica McDaniel, Senior Vice President, Daytime, CBS. “It is a testament to the talent and hard work of our cast, crew and production staff and the loyalty of our viewers. Congratulations to all on this phenomenal achievement and for continuing to put out compelling, inspiring episodes of television week after week.”

“It is an honor to serve as Executive Producer of THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS as we cross this remarkable milestone,” said Jill Farren Phelps, Executive Producer. “We greatly appreciate the continued support and enthusiasm from our audience and are excited to say that our best years are ahead of us. Stay tuned!”

“For 40 years, THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS has delivered solid storytelling, engaging characters and top production values to loyal viewers and we’re proud to be celebrating this significant milestone,” said Steve Kent, Senior Executive Vice President, Programming, Sony Pictures Television. “We congratulate everyone who has contributed to this substantial achievement.”

THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS is the only daytime drama to receive 119 Daytime Emmy Awards, and has received a total of 412 nominations. The show has been awarded the Emmy for "Outstanding Daytime Drama" seven times. There have also been three Lifetime Achievement awards associated with the show: William J. Bell (1992), Jeanne Cooper (2004), and Lee Phillip Bell (2007), which are not included in any of the above numbers. THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS was the winner of the People’s Choice Award for Favorite Daytime Drama in 1992 and 1993, and winner of the 1992, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998 and 1999 NAACP Image Awards for Outstanding Daytime Drama.

More on General Hospital's 50th Anniversary

ABC has joined forces with amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research, in celebration of "General Hospital's" 50th Anniversary with an exciting storyline integration. Approaching 50 historic years on ABC on April 1 and to help mark the show's Golden Anniversary, "General Hospital" will reprise the immensely popular Nurses Ball, a fictional charity event complete with musical performances from the illustrious citizens of Port Charles dedicated to HIV/AIDS awareness. The partnership with amfAR marks the first time that the Nurses Ball will be linked to a non-fictional charity, and helps to continue amfAR's vastly important mission of raising HIV/AIDS awareness. The inaugural Nurses Ball aired in 1994 and became an annual event until 2001.

"'General Hospital' is proud to be working with amfAR as we celebrate our 50th Anniversary," said Executive Producer Frank Valentini. "We have pulled out all the stops to make the return of the Nurses Ball an event worth waiting for, and by linking the ball to amfAR we partner in their efforts to raise awareness beyond the town of Port Charles."

amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research, is one of the world's leading nonprofit organizations dedicated to the support of AIDS research, HIV prevention, treatment education and the advocacy of sound AIDS-related public policy. Founded in 1985, amfAR is dedicated to ending the global AIDS epidemic through innovative research. amfAR-funded research has increased the understanding of HIV and has helped lay the groundwork for major advances in the study and treatment of HIV/AIDS.

NBC Season Finale Dates Announced

NBC has announced season-ending dates for a handful of its series, including hit dramas “Revolution” and “Chicago Fire,” as well as critically acclaimed comedy “Parks and Recreation.”
The season’s #1 drama on broadcast television in the 18-49 demo, “Revolution” will end on Monday, May 27 (10-11 p.m. ET). “Chicago Fire” will close out its first season on Wednesday, May 15 (10-11 p.m. ET).

“Parks and Recreation” concludes Thursday, May 2 (9:30-10 p.m. ET), with “Community” wrapping up a week later, Thursday, May 9 (8-8:30 p.m. ET).

Two current NBC series will wrap their seasons in April — two back-to-back episodes of “The New Normal” on Tuesday, April 2 (9-10 p.m. ET) and “Go On” on Thursday, April 11 (9:30 p.m. ET) — and two in March. “Whitney” will air back-to-back episodes on Wednesday, March 27 (8-9 p.m. ET) and “1600 Penn” will air its final episodes of the season on Thursday, March 28 (8:30-9 p.m. ET and 9:30-10 p.m. ET).

Other scripted series that have locked season end dates are “Grimm” on Friday, May 17 (9-10 p.m.), “Hannibal” on Thursday, June 27 (10-11 p.m. ET) and “Law & Order: SVU,” which will conclude the season with a two-hour episode on Wednesday, May 22 (9-11 p.m. ET).

It was previously announced that the Emmy Award-winning comedy “The Office” will lock its doors with an hour-long series finale on Thursday, May 16 (9-10 p.m. ET).

As for its reality shows, NBC’s “Fashion Star” will end its second season on Friday, May 10 (8 p.m. ET) and Donald Trump’s “The Celebrity Apprentice” wraps on Sunday, May 19 with a two-hour episode (9-11 p.m. ET).

“The Voice” will climax with its live season finale on Tuesday, June 18 (9-11 p.m. ET).

TV To Go via ABC App in the Works

At last, there's an app in development for watching live network TV on a mobile device.  Read about it in The New York Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/19/business/media/abc-works-on-an-app-for-streaming-shows-to-mobile-devices.html?smid=tw-NYTimesAd&seid=auto

David Letterman's Top Ten Rejected Pope Names

Just for laughs, Late Show with David Letterman's Top Ten List of Rejected Pope Names as presented on the Wednesday, March 13 broadcast on CBS.

10. Kim Jong Pope

9. Pope Pius Galifianakis

8. Pope John MMMLXXXVII

7. Pope Sixteenth the Eleventh

6. Pope Milton Tingling

5. Pope W. Bush

4. Pope John Paul Van Damme

3. Pope Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino

2. Sponge Pope Big Hat

1. Francis Ford Poppola

General Hospital 50th Anniversary Marathon on SoapNet

In celebration of "General Hospital's" 50th anniversary, SOAPnet is airing an unprecedented 50-hour marathon of classic episodes from the beloved series, starting Friday, March 29th at 10pm ET/PT and running through Monday, April 1 at 12:00am ET/PT (Sunday night/Monday morning). The marathon kicks off with the very first episode from 1963, and will include shows from every decade. The event leads up to the very special 50th anniversary episode of "General Hospital," airing on Monday, April 1 on ABC (2:00-3:00 p.m. ET//1:00 p.m. PT/CT) and SOAPnet (9:00PM ET/PT, encore at 12:00AM ET/PT).

The marathon will cover all the favorite characters, couples and storylines with such themes as romance (Luke & Laura's wedding, Frisco & Felicia's wedding, Luke & Laura's dance at Wyndham's, Lucky & Liz's first kiss), heartbreak (Stone dies, Sonny leaves Brenda at the altar, BJ dies/Maxie's heart transplant), action-adventure (Ice Princess, the Hostage Crisis, the Hotel Fire,) and shocking bombshells (Elizabeth finds Carly in the panic room, AJ discovers he's Michael's father, Jason's car accident) plus many more surprises and appearances by fan favorites (Elizabeth Taylor as Helena Cassadine, John Stamos as Blackie, Ricky Martin as Miguel, Rick Springfield as Noah).

"General Hospital," the most honored show of the 2012 Daytime Entertainment Emmy Awards, celebrates its golden anniversary on April 1, 2013. Approaching 50 historic years on ABC, "General Hospital" is the longest running American soap opera currently in production and the third longest-running drama in American television history. "General Hospital" was created by Frank and Doris Hursley. Frank Valentini is the executive producer. Ron Carlivati is the head writer. "General Hospital" airs 2:00-3:00 p.m. ET; 1:00 p.m. PT/CT on the ABC Television Network.

SOAPnet owns the world of character-driven soapy drama. The network features same-day episodes of popular daytime dramas "Days of our Lives," "General Hospital" and "The Young and the Restless" as well as classic episodes of "All My Children" and "One Life to Live." Plus favorite primetime series "Gilmore Girls," "One Tree Hill," "Veronica Mars," "Brothers & Sisters" and "Beverly Hills 90210." Wrapped in a 24-hour environment, SOAPnet is the one destination for stories focused on real emotions and revealing truths about intriguing yet flawed characters.

Chris Hayes to Be Ed Schultz's Replacement on MSNBC

MSNBC’s “The Ed Show,” hosted by Ed Schultz, will be replaced by a new entry from the network's Chris Hayes, 34, one of the youngest cable TV news hosts.

Hayes has been hosting weekend morning show “Up w/Chris Hayes,” on weekends.  His new slot is the lead-in to The Rachel Maddow Show and will start April 1.   Hayes, a writer for The Nation, has also been filling in for Maddow and for Lawrence O’Donnell whose program airs at 10 pm.

“Chris has done an amazing job creating a franchise on weekend morning,” said MSNBC  President Phil Griffin. “He’s an extraordinary talent and has made a strong connection with our audience. This is an exciting time for MSNBC.”

Schultz will move to weekend evenings next month. That announcement was made by Schultz, himself, on his broadcast last night. “The Ed Show” will air live on MSNBC from 5-7 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays beginning in April. More details of Ed’s new weekend program will be announced in the coming weeks.

From Ed Schultz:

“And in the big finish tonight, a big personal and professional announcement. MSNBC will be expanding its weekend programming and this opens a big opportunity for “The Ed Show” and my brand. I will be leaving this time slot at 8 PM ET and moving to Saturday and Sunday from 5 to 7 PM.

I raised my hand for this assignment for a number of personal and professional reasons. My fight on “The Ed Show” has been for the workers and the middle class. This new time slot will give me the opportunity to produce and focus on stories that I care about and are important to American families and American workers.

I’m very proud of the work our team has done here at 8 PM, but sitting behind this desk five nights a week doesn’t cut it for me. I want to get out with the people and tell their stories. This show has been a show that has been a voice for the voiceless. That really was my mission when I came here and it remains.

I’m going to be here at MSNBC for a long time – I’m not going anywhere - and I invite all of you to join me on Saturday and Sunday from 5 to 7 PM. The show will start in April.

I will continue to do my radio show, and I’ll be back here tomorrow night for my final show.”

Statement from Phil Griffin:

“I’m thrilled for Ed and happy to be expanding our weekend programming,” said Phil Griffin. “It’s an exciting time for MSNBC and I’m looking forward to having Ed’s powerful voice on our network for a long time.”

Tina Fey to the Actor's Studio on Bravo

Bravo Media's "Inside the Actors Studio," hosted by James Lipton, kicks off its 19th season with television and film comedy star Tina Fey on Tuesday, March 19 at 8pm ET/PT. As an actress, comedian, writer and producer, Fey is best known for her work on Saturday Night Live and 30 Rock. Her films include Mean Girls, Baby Mama and the upcoming Admission. Fey’s talents have been recognized with seven Emmy Awards, two Golden Globe Awards, four Screen Actors Guild Awards, and four Writers Guild of America Award. She has appeared twice on Time magazine’s list of the 100 most influential people and was the youngest-ever winner of the award Mark Twain Prize for American Humor.

The special hour features Fey as she sits down with host James Lipton to discuss her comedy roots in Chicago, being the first female head writer for Saturday Night Live, hosting the Golden Globes with Amy Poehler, and her role in national politics as a Sarah Palin impersonator. For a sneak peek go to: http://www.bravotv.com/inside-the-actors-studio/season-19/photos/show-shots/tina-fey-talks-to-james
Quotables from the episode:

“Lorne Michaels’ doorman.”

-Tina’s answer to the question, “Who first noticed your resemblance to Sarah Palin?”

“Marriage is meant for people who wear different kinds of swim suits.”

-Tina Fey as Sarah Palin explaining why she is against same-sex marriage

“Sh*tballs, because you can almost use it in polite company.”

-Tina Fey on her favorite curse word

“You’re roommates with Oprah!”

-What Tina Fey hopes God says at the gates of heaven

More Reality for Sean Lowe: Latest Bachelor Signs on to Dancing with the Stars

Doesn't this guy have a job?

It was just last night that Bachelor Sean Lowe of Dallas pledged his "love" to Seattle's Catherine Giudici and was "engaged."

Sean Lowe with his DWTS partner, Peta Murgatrooyd. 
Notice the rose in his teeth; so trite.

This morning, ABC announced on Good Morning America, its shill show, that Lowe is joining the cast of Dancing with the Stars which begins its 16th season on Monday, March 18th.

Though ABC claims Sean owns and operates an upscale, custom furniture business, I guess he has all the time in the world to devote to reality TV.  Is it even worth pointing out that he'll be leaving his new fiance, the one he's only been able to see on a limited basis due to the secrecy surrounding the Bachelor show?

On last night's show, both Sean and Catherine gushed that they'll have so much time to spend together out in public.  Really?

As anyone who's followed Dancing with the Stars knows, the show goes on for months and there are endless practice sessions.  Oh, and Sean will not be dancing with another guy.  He's partnered with the blonde professional dancer, Peta Murgatroyd.

Originally a contestant on the eighth edition of "The Bachelorette," Sean was eliminated right before the show's finale when Emily Maynard chose a guy from whom she has since broken up.  Sean claims he was heartbroken.  But, the former insurance guy and graduate of Kansas Sate University who had a full football scholarship, reportedly bounced back enough to become the Bachelor.

 

Do these reality TV stars think they're creating long-term careers for themselves?  That hardly ever happens.  Jake Pavelka, another rejected man from the Bachelorette series who went on to become a Bachelor did the same thing.  He went on Dancing with the Stars, but lost in the fifth round.

 

Will the same happen to Sean Lowe?  Who knows?  But I'm willing to bet he doesn't marry Catherine and that his career will take him back to furniture or insurance, not show biz.

 

When was the last time you heard the name Jake Pavelka?

All My Children & One Life to Live to Return on April 29th

Chapman Baehler; Styling by George Kotsiopoulos

Top row (L-R) - Heather Roop, Jordi Vilasuso, Darnell
Williams, Eric Nelson, Cady McClain, Vincent Irizarry,
Denyse Tontz, Sal Stowers, Robert Scott Wilson, Jordan
Lane Price; Middle row (L-R) - Ray MacDonnell,
Francesca James, Debbi Morgan, Jill Larson, David Canary,
Ryan Bittle; Bottom row (L-R) - Lindsay Hartley, Julia Barr,
Eden Riegel.

Prospect Park’s The Online Network (TOLN) today announced the online debut of the beloved long-running serial dramas “All My Children” and “One Life to Live” for Monday, April 29. The shows will be available in broadcast-quality with easy access and free of charge.

Chapman Baehler; Styling by George Kotsiopoulos

(L-R) - Jerry verDorn, Kassie DePaiva, Melissa
Archer, Robert S. Woods, Andrew Trischitta, Laura
Harrier, Tuc Watkins, Erika Slezak, Josh Kelly,
Florencia Lozano, Kelley Missal, Robert Gorrie.

“We thank the fans whose tenaciousness to see these shows return made this historical moment possible.  We are determined to repay their support by delivering new and creatively groundbreaking episodes that both the fans, as well as legions of new viewers, will love.   These viewers will absolutely embrace the flexibility HULU and iTunes provide to watch their shows anywhere, anytime,” said Jeff Kwatinetz and Rich Frank, Prospect Park’s Partners. 

“The response and camaraderie of our cast and crew has been inspiring as we have all banded together to succeed in our mission; unencumbered by the creative constraints of traditional broadcast television, to deliver storylines, style and characters that are stronger, with more dimension than ever.  Now with our launch date set in stone, we are ready to lead this historic return.  To the fans we proclaim, your support counts now more than ever.”

Emmy Award winner Agnes Nixon, creative consultant for both programs and a soap opera pioneer, added: “I am so pleased that our dream of bringing these two series back to life is coming to fruition. I am grateful to Prospect Park for their unwavering commitment to this project and to the amazingly talented casts of ‘All My Children’ and ‘One Life to Live’ – their devotion to these franchises has made this moment possible.  And to the fans – well, we wouldn’t be here without you.”

Brand new, 30-minute episodes of “All My Children” and “One Life to Live” will be available to stream online weekdays in HD (when available) via the free Hulu (www.hulu.com) service and to the millions of Hulu Plus subscribers watching on connected TVs, mobile phones, tables and PCs. In addition, the iTunes Store will offer both series via iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, Apple TV and Mac and PC, making these venerable dramas available in a new format that suits the viewing habits of the digital generation.  Production began on “All My Children” February 25^, and shooting will begin on “One Life to Live” March 18^th. Both series are filmed in Stamford, Conn.

Breathing new life into the storied franchises, Prospect Park and TOLN will blend updated themes and fresh faces with the fan-favorite, Emmy-winning actors and writers who made these series must-watch viewing for legions of loyal fans.

Additional guest stars and recurring cast will be announced in the weeks ahead.

“All My Children” cast members include:

• Julia Barr as Brooke English
• Ryan Bittle as JR Chandler
• David Canary as Adam Chandler
• Lindsay Hartley as Cara Martin
• Vincent Irizarry as Dr. David Hayward
• Francesca James as Evelyn Johnson
• Thorsten Kaye as Zach Slater
• Jordan Lane Price as Celia Fitzgerald
• Jill Larson as Opal Cortlandt
• Ray MacDonnell as Dr. Joe Martin
• Cady McClain as Dixie Cooney
• Debbi Morgan as Dr. Angela Hubbard
• Eric Nelson as AJ Chandler
• Eden Riegel as Bianca Montgomery
• Heather Roop as Jane McIntyre
• Sal Stowers as Cassandra Foster
• Denyse Tontz as Miranda Montgomery
• Jordi Vilasuso as Griffin Castillo
• Darnell Williams as Jesse Hubbard
• Robert (Rob) Scott Wilson as Pete “Petey” Cortlandt

“One Life to Live” cast members include: 

• Melissa Archer as Natalie Buchanan Banks
• Kassie DePaiva as Blair Cramer
• Robert Gorrie as Matthew Buchanan
• Laura Harrier as Destiny Evans
• Roger Howarth as Todd Manning
• Josh Kelly as Cutter Wentworth
• Florencia Lozano as Tea Delgado
• Kelley Missal as Danielle Manning
• Erika Slezak as Victoria Lord Buchanan
• Hillary B. Smith as Nora Buchanan
• Robin Strasser as Dorian Lord
• Andrew Trischitta as Jack Manning
• Jerry verDorn as Clint Buchanan
• Tuc Watkins as David Vickers
• Robert S. Woods as Bo Buchanan
• Shenaz Treasury as Rama Patel

Recurring “One Life to Live” actors include:

• Nick Choksi as Vimal Patel
• Sean Ringgold as Shaun Evans

Hulu is easy to use. Viewers can go to www.hulu.com on a PC and click on a video to watch right away. Videos are available for unlimited streaming, for free (users only need a Flash-enabled computer and an Internet connection to enjoy). Viewers can watch their favorite “One Life to Live” and “All My Children” episodes and clips over and over again for free. Hulu Plus is an ad-supported subscription service that offers exclusive streaming access to full current and past seasons of shows to connected devices for $7.99 monthly. Hulu is available on devices including smart TVs, gaming consoles, mobile phones and tablets and more.

About Prospect Park

Prospect Park is a media and production company founded in 2009 by entertainment industry veterans Jeffrey Kwatinetz and former Disney Studios head Rich Frank.  Along with successful film and music divisions, the company’s television group has numerous shows in development and breakout network hits airing including “Royal Pains” and “Wilfred.”

American Idol Top 10

AMERICAN IDOL revealed the Top 10 finalists last night, including Lazaro Arbos, Janelle Arthur, Curtis Finch, Jr., Candice Glover, Kree Harrison, Amber Holcomb, Paul Jolley, Angie Miller, Burnell Taylor and Devin Velez.

In addition, host Ryan Seacrest announced the “American Idol Live!” tour this summer.

Next week, AMERICAN IDOL will hold a sing-off between the sixth-place runner-up girl and guy for that coveted spot. This season, AT&T is giving the audience brand-new ways to be involved with the show.

On Wednesday, March 13 (8:00-10:00 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed), the Top 10 finalists will perform “Music of the AMERICAN IDOLs,” which includes songs performed by any past IDOL winner.

Tune in the following night, Thursday, March 14 (8:00-9:00 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed), as America finds out who received enough votes to continue in the competition and who will be sent home. In addition, world-renowned rock group Bon Jovi will perform their lead single “Because We Can” and quadruple-platinum, Billboard chart-topper and AMERICAN IDOL winner Phillip Phillips will perform “Gone, Gone, Gone,” the second single from his debut album. “Gone, Gone, Gone” also will serve as the “goodbye” song of the season and will be featured when the IDOL finalists are eliminated each week.

The finalists will also perform their first group number, “Shine Your Way,” from the motion picture soundtrack for the upcoming DreamWorks Animation comedy, “The Croods.” The original track is performed by multi-platinum recording artist Owl City and artist Yuna.

Below are the Top 10 finalists on AMERICAN IDOL who will be vying for America’s vote(s) after their LIVE performances on Wednesday, March 13 (8:00-10:00 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed):

Lazaro Arbos         Age: 21  Hometown: Naples, FL Facebook: www.facebook.com/LazaroAI12 Twitter: @LazaroAI12

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Janelle Arthur         Age: 23 Hometown: Oliver Springs, TN Facebook: www.facebook.com/JanelleAI12 Twitter: @JanelleAI12

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Curtis Finch, Jr.         Age: 25          Hometown: St. Louis, MO Facebook: www.facebook.com/CurtisAI12 Twitter: @CurtisAI12

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Candice Glover         Age: 23           Hometown: St. Helena Island, SC Facebook: www.facebook.com/CandiceAI12 Twitter: @CandiceAI12

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Kree Harrison         Age: 22 Hometown: Nashville, TN Facebook: www.facebook.com/KreeAI12 Twitter: @KreeAI12

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Amber Holcomb        Age: 18          Hometown: Houston, TX Facebook: www.facebook.com/AmberAI12 Twitter: @AmberAI12

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Paul Jolley                 Age: 23           Hometown: Palmersville, TN Facebook: www.facebook.com/PaulJolleyAI12 Twitter: @PaulJolleyAI12

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Angie Miller         Age: 19     Hometown: Beverly, MA Facebook: www.facebook.com/AngieAI12  Twitter: @AngieAI12

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Burnell Taylor       Age: 19   Hometown: New Orleans, LA Facebook: www.facebook.com/BurnellAI12 Twitter: @BurnellAI12

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Devin Velez         Age: 18     Hometown: Chicago, IL Facebook: www.facebook.com/DevinAI12 Twitter: @DevinAI12

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At the end of each performance show, fans will be able to cast their votes for their favorite contestants. Viewers will be able to SuperVote – cast multiple votes at one time – via any of these AT&T AMERICAN IDOL VOTE destinations: americanidol.com, the AMERICAN IDOL mobile app (data and message rates may apply) and Facebook. To SuperVote, fans can allocate any number of votes for one contestant or multiple contestants, for a total of 50 votes (across all online voting destinations), and in a unique interactive experience, they can adjust their vote selections as performances happen during the show. When the voting window officially opens, fans can submit their final votes – all at once. [Only fans with a registered Facebook account in the U.S., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands will be able to cast their vote(s) online.]

FOX renews New Girl, Mindy Project and Raising Hope

FOX has picked up comedy series NEW GIRL, THE MINDY PROJECT and RAISING HOPE for the 2013-14 season, it was announced today by Kevin Reilly, Chairman of Entertainment, Fox Broadcasting Company. NEW GIRL was picked up for a third season, THE MINDY PROJECT received a second season order and RAISING HOPE was renewed for a fourth season.

“We love working with these talented producers and casts who, week after week, create some of the funniest work on television,” said Reilly. “These shows are creatively vibrant, they have established a loyal and passionate audience and they will continue to define and grow the FOX comedy brand next season and beyond.”

Season to date, NEW GIRL ranks No. 1 among comedies in its core Women 18-34 demographic and is a Top 10 comedy among Adults 18-49. THE MINDY PROJECT has emerged as the No. 1 new comedy of the season among Women 18-34, while RAISING HOPE, which has anchored FOX’s Tuesday nights this season, is a Top 20 sitcom among Adults 18-34 and Teens.

In “Guys Night,” the next all-new episode of NEW GIRL, airing Tuesday, March 12 (9:00-9:30 PM ET/PT), Jess (Zooey Deschanel) comes to a conclusion about her romantic feelings for Nick (Jake Johnson), and she struggles to tell him – until she’s hopped up on pain medication. But after admitting her feelings, she finds out he may have been keeping something from her. Meanwhile, Schmidt (Max Greenfield) becomes obsessed with buying a fish, which Winston (Lamorne Morris) sees as a metaphor for Schmidt's unresolved feelings toward Cece (Hannah Simone), and Nick plans a bar promotion to impress the bar owner (guest star Odette Annable).

In the all-new “Mindy’s Birthday” episode of THE MINDY PROJECT airing Tuesday, March 12 (9:30-10:00 PM ET/PT), Morgan (Ike Barinholtz) throws Mindy (Mindy Kaling) a surprise birthday party, but when her two worlds collide – personal and professional— it’s nothing to celebrate. Meanwhile, Jeremy (Ed Weeks) and Danny (Chris Messina) fight over the same girl (guest star Kelen Coleman, “Newsroom”).

The hour-long season finale of back-to-back RAISING HOPE episodes, “Burt-Mitzvah/Mom’s Day”, airs on a special night and time, Thursday, March 28 (9:00-9:30/9:30-10:00 PM ET/PT) after AMERICAN IDOL (8:00-9:00 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed). In “Burt-Mitzvah,” Burt’s (Garret Dillahunt) parents (guest stars Shirley Jones and Lee Majors) come to town with the surprising news that their son actually is Jewish. So Burt takes a musical crash course in his newfound heritage, to prepare for the Bar Mitzvah he never had. Then, in “Mom’s Day,” it’s a Mother’s Day to remember as Burt and Barney (Gregg Binkley) take a road trip to Maw Maw’s (Cloris Leachman) childhood home and discover that her mother may still be alive. Needless to say, multiple generations of crazy gather under one roof.

NEW GIRL stars Emmy Award- and Golden Globe-nominated actress Zooey Deschanel as a smart, spirited and single young woman who navigates her way through the highs and lows of modern friendship and romance, alongside her three male roommates (Jake Johnson, Emmy Award- and Golden Globe-nominated Max Greenfield, Lamorne Morris) and her beautiful best friend (Hannah Simone). Created by Liz Meriwether (“No Strings Attached”), NEW GIRL is produced by Chernin Entertainment in association with 20th Century Fox Television. Meriwether, Dave Finkel, Brett Baer, Jake Kasdan, Peter Chernin and Katherine Pope are executive producers.

Created and written by Mindy Kaling (“The Office”), THE MINDY PROJECT stars Kaling as a skilled OB/GYN trying to balance both her personal and professional life. THE MINDY PROJECT is produced by 3 Arts Entertainment in association with Universal Television. The series is created and written by Mindy Kaling. Kaling, Howard Klein (“The Office,” “Parks and Recreation”), Matt Warburton (THE SIMPSONS) and Michael Spiller (“Modern Family”) are executive producers.

Created by Emmy Award winner Greg Garcia, RAISING HOPE follows the Chance family as the unplanned addition to their family becomes a toddler. The show stars Lucas Neff, Emmy Award winner Martha Plimpton, Garret Dillahunt, Shannon Woodward, Emmy Award winner Cloris Leachman and Gregg Binkley. RAISING HOPE is produced by Amigos de Garcia Productions in association with 20th Century Fox Television.