An Assorted Collection of Unrelated Television News
By Dustin Rowles | Posted Under Trade News | Comments (20)
Here’s a quick run down on what’s going on in the TV industry, as of late.
First up, ABC has just ordered a game-show pilot from Mark Burnett. It’s called “Trust Me, I’m a Game Show Host.” In it, two hosts will match wits about various subjects with contestants culled from a studio audience. One of the hosts will be telling the truth, the other will be deceptive, and contestants will have to figure out which to trust.
That’s super lame.
In better news, “Firefly” alum Alan Tudyk has signed on to play Detective Dennis Becker in the updated version of “The Rockford Files,” set to air this fall on CBS. Dermot Mulroney will play Rockford. The show will be written by David Shore (“House”).
Betty White has officially signed on to host a Mother’s Day edition of “Saturday Night Live.” She will be sharing hosting duties with a group of former female cast members, including Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Maya Rudolph, Rachel Dratch, Ana Gasteyer, and Molly Shannon. Betty White is 88. She’s real. And spectacular.
The stunning Keri Russell is looking to star opposite Will Arnett in Fox’s comedy “Wilde Kingdom,” about a Beverly Hills jackass who falls in love with a charitable tree-hugging woman (Russell) who can’t stand his lifestyle or values. “Arrested Development” creator Mitch Hurwitz co-penned the pilot with Arnett and “Development” writer-producer Jim Vallely.
Anything that brings Keri Russell into my living room once a week can’t be bad. Also, the best part of that pretty bad animated sitcom of Mitch Hurwitz’s was the tree-hugging hippie teacher — maybe he can reuse some of those jokes, since no one actually saw that show.
Speaking of stunning people, Judy Greer has been signed to star opposite David Krumholtz in Fox’s comedy pilot “Tax Man,” a workplace comedy set at an IRS office. Meanwhile, Elisha Cuthbert has signed on to “Happy Endings,” about a bride (Cuthbert) and a groom who, after breaking up at the altar, must figure out how they and their four friends can maintain their relationship.
And I think that about covers it. I’ll leave you with last weeks’ television ratings. My next post will be this weekend from Austin.
1. “82nd Annual Academy Awards,” ABC, 41.70 million viewers
2. “Oscar’s Red Carpet,” ABC, 25.33 million viewers
3. “American Idol” (Wednesday), Fox, 23.56 million viewers
4. “American Idol” (Tuesday), Fox, 23.53 million viewers
5. “NCIS,” CBS, 19.62 million viewers
6. “American Idol” (Thursday), Fox, 19.42 million viewers
7. “Two and a Half Men,” CBS, 16.86 million viewers
8. “The Big Bang Theory,” CBS, 15.73 million viewers
9. “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation,” CBS, 15.59 million viewers
10. “The Bachelor,” ABC, 15.15 million viewers
11. “Barbara Walters Special,” ABC, 14.99 million viewers
12. “The Mentalist,” CBS, 14.87 million viewers
13. “NCIS: Los Angeles,” CBS, 14.84 million viewers
14. “The Bachelor: After The Final Rose,” ABC, 13.91 million viewers
15. “The Good Wife,” CBS, 13.32 million viewers
16. “Criminal Minds,” CBS, 13.00 million viewers
17. “Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains,” CBS, 12.72 million viewers
18. “CSI: NY,” CBS, 12.35 million viewers
19. “CSI: Miami,” CBS, 12.07 million viewers
20. “Grey’s Anatomy,” ABC, 11.83 million viewers
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Comments
Posted by: , at March 12, 2010 10:58 AM
I would willingly trade my remaining nut for an hour of pleasure with Keri Russell.
Oh, wait ...
Betty White is possibly the only thing that could get me to watch "SNL." Well played, NBC.
Also: Alex Trebek would never, ever lie. So I hope it's between him and Bob Barker when I'm a contestant.