http://www.unclebarky.com/index.htmlNews, views and reviews from TV Critic Ed Barkenunclebarky@tx.rr.comCopyright 2006 Ed Bark2008-09-16T16:37:46-05:00 hourly 1 2000-01-01T12:00+00:00 Sun, 05 Oct 2008 11:05:12 -0500unclebarky@tx.rr.comTV Bulletin Board2008-09-16T16:37:46-05:00http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/7b7957b8b2ca44e16e2242185f5addf2-143.html#unique-entry-id-143http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/7b7957b8b2ca44e16e2242185f5addf2-143.html#unique-entry-id-143 By ED BARK Runnerup in the Sarah Palin interview sweepstakes is CBS Evening News anchor Katie Couric, who will hit the campaign trail with the Republican veep nominee on Sept. 28-29. ...TNT programming executive Michael Wright says he's also been happy with "the creative growth of the show across the episodes and to see these characters and stories pay off."]]>unclebarky@tx.rr.comTV Bulletin Board2008-09-11T10:30:50-05:00http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/d7c72df877730db16302cef938eda089-142.html#unique-entry-id-142http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/d7c72df877730db16302cef938eda089-142.html#unique-entry-id-142Late Show Top 10 list for Thursday, Sept. 11 will be read by Al Pacino and Robert DeNiro, whose Righteous Kill film opens on the following day. ...The grandfather of cable's all-news networks is launching a new weekly series, hosted by Roland Martin, that "will challenge his guests and viewers to leave the political talking points behind and join him in a no-nonsense approach about what voters are actually talking about."]]>unclebarky@tx.rr.comTV Bulletin Board2008-09-09T14:07:35-05:00http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/22c767e2113bd81397d640d58e114262-141.html#unique-entry-id-141http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/22c767e2113bd81397d640d58e114262-141.html#unique-entry-id-141 Pete Townsend, Barbra Streisand, Roger Daltrey to get feted. By ED BARK President Bush will know who his successor is when he and Laura preside over their last Kennedy Center Honors ceremony on Dec. 7th. ...***NBC/MSNBC newsman David Gregory seemingly has the pole position to become the next moderator of Meet the Press after Tom Brokaw completes his interim duties sometime after the presidential election.]]>unclebarky@tx.rr.comTV Bulletin Board2008-09-04T14:10:27-05:00http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/6203b1b873817e8e7f68569328bd1037-140.html#unique-entry-id-140http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/6203b1b873817e8e7f68569328bd1037-140.html#unique-entry-id-140 By ED BARK Charter cast member Anthony Edwards will return to ER for one episode in the series' 15th and last season, NBC says. ..."We had hoped to bring back some of ER's stars for the final season and think that our loyal fans will enjoy seeing some of the show's most beloved and memorable characters," executive producer John Wells says in a statement.]]>unclebarky@tx.rr.comTV Bulletin Board2008-08-19T12:36:45-05:00http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/9a5f6695c258f48ac42ec6565dca07ba-139.html#unique-entry-id-139http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/9a5f6695c258f48ac42ec6565dca07ba-139.html#unique-entry-id-139***CBS has signed a pretty big fish, Laurence Fishburne, to join CSI: Crime Scene Investigation at about the time that William Petersen and his quirky Gil Grissom character will be saying goodbye. ...***CBS has no current plans to turn this into a special, but most of the major cast members of Dallas will be gathering anew at Southfork Ranch to commemorate the long, tall serial soap's 30th anniversary.]]>unclebarky@tx.rr.comTV Bulletin Board2008-08-07T15:27:28-05:00http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/b5fbf23d559f76039b641fa824f3fca3-138.html#unique-entry-id-138http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/b5fbf23d559f76039b641fa824f3fca3-138.html#unique-entry-id-138 Made in Japan Hole In the Wall coming to Fox this fall. By ED BARK Fox is waylaying The Moment of Truth -- good riddance -- to midseason in favor of the Fuji TV sensation Hole In the Wall. ...In a nutshell, Hole In the Wall goes like this, says Fox: "Two teams of three compete against each other in multiple rounds of play, facing various barrier walls speeding toward them with weird and wacky cut-out shapes.]]>unclebarky@tx.rr.comTV Bulletin Board2008-08-06T16:28:17-05:00http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/2876a6dd2e1fa831eb3004bfa5b9e603-137.html#unique-entry-id-137http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/2876a6dd2e1fa831eb3004bfa5b9e603-137.html#unique-entry-id-137 At least one network's got some balls. ABC photo By ED BARK "The Big Balls Are Back!!" ...The summertime hit, most notably with advertiser-craved 18-to-49-year-olds, is a blend of dirty, rotten obstacle courses and snarky commentary by co-hosts John Anderson and John Henson.]]>unclebarky@tx.rr.comTV Bulletin Board2008-07-28T10:02:07-05:00http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/06ff77d0153dc1267099c3364bac03b4-136.html#unique-entry-id-136http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/06ff77d0153dc1267099c3364bac03b4-136.html#unique-entry-id-136Jeff Probst (Survivor), Heidi Klum (Project Runway), Tom Bergeron (Dancing with the Stars) and Howie Mandel (Deal or No Deal) will time-share on the 60th annual prime-time awards ceremony, scheduled for Sept. 21 on ABC. ...***Fox's latest So You Think You Can Dance tour, featuring the show's 10 finalists, will make an Oct. 10th stop at Grand Prairie's Nokia Theatre.]]>unclebarky@tx.rr.comTV Bulletin Board2008-07-24T13:41:44-05:00http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/84c2a2708107615f0aebca133cb5fec9-135.html#unique-entry-id-135http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/84c2a2708107615f0aebca133cb5fec9-135.html#unique-entry-id-135Tuesday -- Empire of the Sun (1987) at 7 p.m. Thursday -- E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial (1982) at 7 p.m. Friday -- Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977) at 7 p.m. Saturday -- Jaws (1975) at 7 p.m. ***Hoping to capitalize on surprisingly solid ratings for its first two episodes, CBS is shifting the made-in-Canada cop drama Flashpoint to a more visible Thursday, 9 p.m. (central) slot, beginning July 24th.]]>unclebarky@tx.rr.comTV Bulletin Board2008-07-21T07:46:42-05:00http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/fd9bf81d081066f52a7f315e6a653b17-134.html#unique-entry-id-134http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/fd9bf81d081066f52a7f315e6a653b17-134.html#unique-entry-id-134 John Slattery drinks to his ill health on AMC's Mad Men. By ED BARK Emmy's most-nominated drama series, comedy series and miniseries also cleaned up Saturday night at the 24th annual Television Critics Association awards. ...Titles include Malibu Shark Attack (with former LaFemme Nikita star Peta Wilson); Hellhounds (directed by Rick Schroder); Lost Treasure of the Grand Canyon (co-starring Shannen Doherty, who also will guest star on CW's new 90210 series); Phantom Racer (with Greg Evigan) and Lake Placid 3.]]>unclebarky@tx.rr.comTV Bulletin Board2008-07-09T09:16:17-05:00http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/d65fda8e27796f9277519e3f5b3cfd42-133.html#unique-entry-id-133http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/d65fda8e27796f9277519e3f5b3cfd42-133.html#unique-entry-id-133***The storied ESPN team of Keith Olbermann and Dan Patrick will be reunited this fall on NBC's Football Night In America studio show. ...***Showtime has a studio team in place for Inside the NFL, which it's picking up this season after a 31-year run on HBO.]]>unclebarky@tx.rr.comTV Bulletin Board2008-06-27T10:34:46-05:00http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/4d10481c1d7b307aa9ad9d3acd17b0f2-132.html#unique-entry-id-132http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/4d10481c1d7b307aa9ad9d3acd17b0f2-132.html#unique-entry-id-132 Friday Night Lights and Family Guy are first-time Emmy finalists. By ED BARK NBC's made-in-Austin Friday Night Lights and Fox's made-overseas Family Guy are among Emmy's official contenders in drama and comedy. ...COMEDY 30 Rock (NBC) Curb Your Enthusiasm (HBO) Entourage (HBO) Family Guy (Fox) Flight of the Conchords (HBO) The Office (NBC) Pushing Daisies (ABC) Two and a Half Men (CBS) Ugly Betty (ABC) Weeds (Showtime)]]>unclebarky@tx.rr.comTV Bulletin Board2008-06-24T10:32:12-05:00http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/f2cca0054a243fec2f0d27737efad422-131.html#unique-entry-id-131http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/f2cca0054a243fec2f0d27737efad422-131.html#unique-entry-id-131Wednesday, June 25 7 p.m. -- George Carlin at USC (1977) 8:30 p.m. -- George Carlin Again! (1978) 10 p.m. -- Carlin at Carnegie (1983) 11 p.m. -- Carlin on Campus (1984) Midnight -- Playin' with Your Head (1986) Thursday, June 26 7 p.m. -- What Am I Doing in New Jersey? (1988) 8 p.m. -- Doin' It Again (1990) 9 p.m. -- Jammin' in New York (1992) 10 p.m. -- Back in Town (1996) 11:05 p.m. -- You Are All Diseased (1999) Midnight -- It's Bad for Ya (2008)]]>unclebarky@tx.rr.comTV Bulletin Board2008-06-19T12:03:05-05:00http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/b02c9a2fce1c528c8fa13226c930c45c-130.html#unique-entry-id-130http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/b02c9a2fce1c528c8fa13226c930c45c-130.html#unique-entry-id-130 Venerables William Hurt, Mary Tyler Moore, Jon Voight By ED BARK A trio of age-old actors will be joining a like number of TV drama series next season. ...And The Hollywood Reporter says that Jon Voight will play a villain in Fox's two-hour prequel of 24, scheduled to air on Nov.]]>unclebarky@tx.rr.comTV Bulletin Board2008-06-11T16:22:59-05:00http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/26619702ccc72a09df8fc4a769fe51c0-129.html#unique-entry-id-129http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/26619702ccc72a09df8fc4a769fe51c0-129.html#unique-entry-id-129 Deion and Pilar join a downsized Al Roker on Celebrity Family Feud. By ED BARK NBC has amassed 24 "All-Star Families" for its Al Roker-hosted Celebrity Family Feud, set to premiere on July 1st. In one of the matchups, Deion Sanders, wife Pilar, son Deion Jr., daughter Deiondra and Aunt Annette will take on The Kardashians, who include former Olympic decathlon champ Bruce Jenner and his now seasoned but still badly executed face lift.]]>unclebarky@tx.rr.comTV Bulletin Board2008-06-05T13:02:39-05:00http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/832c76ef73c87b43f54668dfcdf6220e-128.html#unique-entry-id-128http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/832c76ef73c87b43f54668dfcdf6220e-128.html#unique-entry-id-128 Twangers Gabe Garcia of Lyle, Melissa Lawson of Arlington. By ED BARK NBC's new edition of Nashville Star premiering Monday, June 9th, is going to be lousy with Texans. ...Campaigns are all under one big show biz tent now, as WWE Raw proved conclusively earlier this year with tailor-made addresses to wrestling fans from Obama, Hillary Clinton and presumptive Republican nominee John McCain.]]>unclebarky@tx.rr.comTV Bulletin Board2008-06-03T10:28:57-05:00http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/be2fe12c8e5b064221bfccb58531e1fd-127.html#unique-entry-id-127http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/be2fe12c8e5b064221bfccb58531e1fd-127.html#unique-entry-id-127 From primitive beginnings to last year's 400th episode. Fox photos By ED BARK Fox has picked up The Simpsons for a 20th season, which will tie it with CBS' Gunsmoke as the longest-running scripted prime-time series. ...***CBS' annual telecast of Broadway's Tony Awards, on June 15th, will be spiced with a sizable contingent of star presenters, including Glenn Close, Liza Minelli, Alec Baldwin, Laura Linney, John Lithgow, Mary-Louise Parker, Brooke Shields and Marisa Tomei.]]>unclebarky@tx.rr.comTV Bulletin Board2008-05-27T17:03:16-05:00http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/95a5f4f5c821bb5f54e9564b93c79c67-126.html#unique-entry-id-126http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/95a5f4f5c821bb5f54e9564b93c79c67-126.html#unique-entry-id-126 The inevitable Maroon 5 played at CW's "upfront" session in NYC. By ED BARK Details can't even be called sketchy. But The CW and its new Sunday night business partner, MRC (Media Rights Capital), at least have announced the titles and creators of four planned new series.]]>unclebarky@tx.rr.comTV Bulletin Board2008-05-23T13:23:45-05:00http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/bd18442b7d1b93133c8207c51ec2ee3b-125.html#unique-entry-id-125http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/bd18442b7d1b93133c8207c51ec2ee3b-125.html#unique-entry-id-125My Name Is Earl and The Office each will have one-hour season premieres on Thursday, Sept. 25th, followed by that same date's return of ER for what's been announced as its last season.]]>unclebarky@tx.rr.comTV Bulletin Board2008-05-11T22:02:50-05:00http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/c9c75d09c11a4143bc558f456e990b2e-124.html#unique-entry-id-124http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/c9c75d09c11a4143bc558f456e990b2e-124.html#unique-entry-id-124 Neil Patrick Harris and Britney Spears re-pair on CBS Monday night. By ED BARK It's said that any mention of Britney Spears is still a surefire Web site traffic-driver. That's right, Britney Spears, who will make her second guest appearance, as Abby, on the Monday (May 12) episode of CBS' How I Met Your Mother.]]>unclebarky@tx.rr.comTV Bulletin Board2008-04-23T22:33:03-05:00http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/143d85f9ae7f3b72149cebc49668485f-123.html#unique-entry-id-123http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/143d85f9ae7f3b72149cebc49668485f-123.html#unique-entry-id-123 Megan Fox tops FHM's "100 Sexiest Women" list; Jess hangs in there. By ED BARK From top -- No. ...Since this ostensibly is a TV Web site, we'll list some of the other top-performing small-screen beauties before linking you to the complete list and accompanying pictures.]]>unclebarky@tx.rr.comTV Bulletin Board2008-04-22T11:55:55-05:00http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/131d5648222a0ecda06bc71930781fa6-122.html#unique-entry-id-122http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/131d5648222a0ecda06bc71930781fa6-122.html#unique-entry-id-122 Sarah Connor picked up; Jason Castro perks up in Idol's Final 6. By ED BARK Fox has reprieved Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, which will return for a second season. ...***Noted in passing: Former CBS11 morning show reporter Beth Wagner, who left the station in January, has likewise departed ABC affiliate WKOW-TV in Madison, WI after a brief stint as a featured early evening and late night anchor.]]>unclebarky@tx.rr.comTV Bulletin Board2008-04-21T12:05:14-05:00http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/5d0c78c77d490a5caa32d4b2da0ed945-121.html#unique-entry-id-121http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/5d0c78c77d490a5caa32d4b2da0ed945-121.html#unique-entry-id-121John McCain, Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton all are scheduled to talk up their candidacies Monday night (April 21) via "specially taped messages" on USA network's Monday Night Raw. ...Holy jumpin' dog crap, they're instead going to "tap into the power" of the five million-plus viewers watching Raw on a typical Monday, with McCain belatedly joining in to show who really wears the tights.]]>unclebarky@tx.rr.comTV Bulletin Board2008-04-14T16:34:19-05:00http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/b90ab0ad8e0d2b29695e402c2e4ce69b-120.html#unique-entry-id-120http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/b90ab0ad8e0d2b29695e402c2e4ce69b-120.html#unique-entry-id-120 By ED BARK CBS plans to quickly reboot Big Brother and premiere a 10th edition as part of a summer schedule announced Monday. ...Premiering July 27th, it challenges contestants to write and perform their own -- all together now -- jingles for products, TV shows, sports teams, etc. And Greatest American Dog (July 10th) will award $250 grand to the winning pet/human team.]]>unclebarky@tx.rr.comTV Bulletin Board2008-04-09T17:34:43-05:00http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/07b97924e7858bd96b7d2da5597eee76-119.html#unique-entry-id-119http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/07b97924e7858bd96b7d2da5597eee76-119.html#unique-entry-id-119 By ED BARK The Disney Channel touted its next new would-be big star, Dallas-born Devi Lovato, at its NYC presentation to advertisers Wednesday. ...A previously announced film, Camp Rock, with Lovato also starring, will have an "unprecedented" roll-out in June on Disney Channel, the big daddy ABC network, ABC Family, Radio Disney and Disney.com.]]>unclebarky@tx.rr.comTV Bulletin Board2008-04-07T09:44:30-05:00http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/457389777f9de8f86f8e2ce77276d4d2-118.html#unique-entry-id-118http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/457389777f9de8f86f8e2ce77276d4d2-118.html#unique-entry-id-118 By ED BARK Fox's second family of animation, embodied in King of the Hill, will be back for a 13th season in the fall. ...***Spike TV is spicing up repeats of Unsolved Mysteries by inserting Dennis Farina as host in place of the late Robert Stack.]]>unclebarky@tx.rr.comTV Bulletin Board2008-04-03T02:03:16-05:00http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/3429df10a8d60cf30d8e213ab556befb-117.html#unique-entry-id-117http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/3429df10a8d60cf30d8e213ab556befb-117.html#unique-entry-id-117***As strongly rumored, the made-in-Austin Friday Night Lights will get a third season as part of a partnership with DIRECTV, which will premiere the series on Oct. 1 on its entertainment channel, "The 101." ...Also of possible interest -- Debbie Reynolds will be one of the three judges on CBS' previously announced Secret Talents of the Stars, in which celebs such as Clint Black, Marla Maples, Danny Bonaduce and Sheila E. mess around doing stuff like standup comedy and salsa dancing.]]>unclebarky@tx.rr.comTV Bulletin Board2008-04-01T08:35:37-05:00http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/b1c8d38adba58bcf0ecc110e2a5ea4a0-116.html#unique-entry-id-116http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/b1c8d38adba58bcf0ecc110e2a5ea4a0-116.html#unique-entry-id-116***ABC's just-announced summer prime-time schedule will be loaded with reality and game series, including the return of The Mole on May 26th with new host Jon Kelley (Baseball Today). Also on the grill are Dance Machine (June 27), I Survived a Japanese Game Show (June 24), High School Musical: Summer Session (July 20) and Wipeout (June 24), in which 24 contenders "compete on an extreme obstacle course designed to provide the most crashes, face plants, impacts and wipe outs ever seen on television."]]>unclebarky@tx.rr.comTV Bulletin Board2008-03-26T11:30:21-05:00http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/991da302cc7e06fbf818d301d7ad0c02-115.html#unique-entry-id-115http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/991da302cc7e06fbf818d301d7ad0c02-115.html#unique-entry-id-115 Hallmark has Bob Newhart, Florence Henderson in new movies. By ED BARK The Hallmark Channel continues to unabashedly target baby boomers while also announcing a new HD movie network. A bundle of programming initiatives released Wednesday also announces the acquisition of 99 "family-friendly" movies from Disney-ABC Domestic Television, including evergreens Old Yeller, The Parent Trap, The Shaggy Dog, Flubber, The Love Bug and Swiss Family Robinson.]]>unclebarky@tx.rr.comTV Bulletin Board2008-03-24T11:08:13-05:00http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/e6432e7e39113445980394d566582d97-114.html#unique-entry-id-114http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/e6432e7e39113445980394d566582d97-114.html#unique-entry-id-114 By ED BARK Strong ratings in a Friday prime-time slot have spurred CBS to give The Price Is Right Million Dollar Spectacular a May "sweeps" showcase. ...CBS also will be plugging in new episodes of James Woods' Shark while relocating the legal drama from Sundays to Tuesdays at 8 p.m. (central).]]>unclebarky@tx.rr.comTV Bulletin Board2008-03-21T14:04:09-05:00http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/2a620c1aa762ebe8b465efc15ef0beb9-113.html#unique-entry-id-113http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/2a620c1aa762ebe8b465efc15ef0beb9-113.html#unique-entry-id-113 New faces of CBS: Kimbo Slice and "Ruthless" Robbie Lawler. By ED BARK Saturday's a throwaway night for network TV anyway. ...Notably missing is anything from the Times itself, whose reliably addled TV critic, Alessandra Stanley, may have been the only reviewer in the world to flat-out pan Giamatti's performance.]]>unclebarky@tx.rr.comTV Bulletin Board2008-03-18T10:13:03-05:00http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/b199f96b3cc64bda4dff88f1562a9e6f-112.html#unique-entry-id-112http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/b199f96b3cc64bda4dff88f1562a9e6f-112.html#unique-entry-id-112Secret Talents of the Stars. By ED BARK She got the ring, I got the finger. ...Yikes, country crooner Clint Black will try his hand at standup comedy on CBS' latest reality concoction, Secret Talents of the Stars.]]>unclebarky@tx.rr.comTV Bulletin Board2008-03-17T11:17:17-05:00http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/a3d65db58bd7511aab0af4269f369e00-111.html#unique-entry-id-111http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/a3d65db58bd7511aab0af4269f369e00-111.html#unique-entry-id-111The strike-impaired TV season breathes anew Monday with the returns of CBS' Two and a Half Men and ABC's Dancing with the Stars, including partners Priscilla Presley and Louis van Amstel. Photos from CBS and ABC ...The sequential 7 to 9 p.m. returns of The Big Bang Theory, How I Met Your Mother, Two and a Half Men and The New Adventures of Old Christine make CBS the first network to officially reboot after the writers' strike inflicted some deep cuts on prime-time schedules.]]>unclebarky@tx.rr.comTV Bulletin Board2008-03-05T15:16:06-06:00http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/e98b2ce928c8ee34d671561a240c5231-110.html#unique-entry-id-110http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/e98b2ce928c8ee34d671561a240c5231-110.html#unique-entry-id-110 Disparate dramas Swingtown, Flashpoint joining CBS this summer. By ED BARK Freewheelin' love from the '70s and heavy-duty cops patterned after a contemporary Canadian task force will be in CBS' summer mix. ...***NBC in contrast mostly will go the less demanding reality route with an "All-American Summer" that includes the returns of American Gladiators on May 12th and a third edition of America's Got Talent on June 24th.]]>unclebarky@tx.rr.comTV Bulletin Board2008-03-02T19:30:28-06:00http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/1f88cf4516361aad2a4bb4d25187a759-109.html#unique-entry-id-109http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/1f88cf4516361aad2a4bb4d25187a759-109.html#unique-entry-id-109quarterlife creators Edward Zwick and Marshall Herskowitz (thirtysomething, My So-Called Life) said the series "depicts a reality and a voice and an authenticity that was thought to have no place in television today -- and may not have a place -- but we're willing to take that chance, and so is NBC."]]>unclebarky@tx.rr.comTV Bulletin Board2008-02-25T16:27:35-06:00http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/cbf82884cbd322483ab6c82bdd20e471-108.html#unique-entry-id-108http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/cbf82884cbd322483ab6c82bdd20e471-108.html#unique-entry-id-108 Host Jon Stewart and best picture directors Ethan and Joel Coen. By ED BARK Audience levels for Sunday's 80th annual Oscar-cast sunk like the Titanic, according to "fast national" ratings released Monday afternoon by ABC. ...ABC's ratings press release accentuates whatever positives can be gleaned, including the fact that Oscar "towered over" this year's earlier awards shows, including the Grammys (17.2 million viewers), the Emmys (13 million) and January's strike-impaired, celebrity-free Golden Globes press conference (6 million).]]>unclebarky@tx.rr.comTV Bulletin Board2008-02-20T13:38:56-06:00http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/486b577bd1293056ea154078b6bb324f-107.html#unique-entry-id-107http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/486b577bd1293056ea154078b6bb324f-107.html#unique-entry-id-107 By ED BARK Lost will give viewers an extra five new episodes and also move back an hour on Thursdays as part of ABC's post-strike spring fling. ...The additional five episodes, slated to start on April 24th at 9 p.m. (central) Thursdays, will enable Lost to finish up just a bit shy of this season's original 16-episode order.]]>unclebarky@tx.rr.comTV Bulletin Board2008-02-19T17:28:20-06:00http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/854fd7d772796de5fb8684358e635948-106.html#unique-entry-id-106http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/854fd7d772796de5fb8684358e635948-106.html#unique-entry-id-106 By ED BARK Fox has post-strike air dates for new episodes of House, Bones and other prime-time series, but no specifics yet on how many there'll be. ...Fox also has moved up the air date of the new Julianna Margulies series Canterbury's Law from April 14th to March 10th.]]>unclebarky@tx.rr.comTV Bulletin Board2008-02-14T21:16:39-06:00http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/073ce3c581916b16bdaf3960da16c9d5-104.html#unique-entry-id-104http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/073ce3c581916b16bdaf3960da16c9d5-104.html#unique-entry-id-104 The Big Bang Theory so far is the only CBS newbie coming back. By ED BARK CBS will return at least 13 incumbent series next season, only one of them a freshman. ...They are the three CSI series, Without A Trace, Criminal Minds, Cold Case, NCIS, Numb3rs, Ghost Whisperer, Two and a Half Men, Survivor and The Amazing Race.]]>unclebarky@tx.rr.comTV Bulletin Board2008-02-13T16:06:25-06:00http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/f990745156a7bc56f15ebf0e2f1eefa2-103.html#unique-entry-id-103http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/f990745156a7bc56f15ebf0e2f1eefa2-103.html#unique-entry-id-103 Maura Tierney of ER and the stars of Life are in NBC's future. By ED BARK NBC became the second network to announce post-strike programming plans Wednesday, although they're not as detailed as CBS' or ABC's. The Peacock announced renewals for next season of newcomers Life and Chuck, plus the second-year Heroes.]]>unclebarky@tx.rr.comTV Bulletin Board2008-02-13T09:14:30-06:00http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/daadc00b72c738bfe70fc80eb974d994-102.html#unique-entry-id-102http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/daadc00b72c738bfe70fc80eb974d994-102.html#unique-entry-id-102Two and a Half Men, How I Met Your Mother and The Big Bang Theory all earmarked for nine new episodes, starting on March 17th. ...CBS says that Shark, The Unit and Cane are making way for the midseason re-launches of Big Brother 9 and Jericho (which returned on Feb. 12) and an edited version of Showtime's Dexter that premieres on Feb. 17.]]>unclebarky@tx.rr.comTV Bulletin Board2008-02-11T14:36:58-06:00http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/ed9fb1a263eceb5b3b5e1d167f13dbe6-101.html#unique-entry-id-101http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/ed9fb1a263eceb5b3b5e1d167f13dbe6-101.html#unique-entry-id-101 Newcomers Pushing Daisies, Private Practice among 9 ABC pickups. By ED BARK ABC got out in front of strike settlement news Monday by announcing fall pickups of nine prime-time series, including four freshmen. ...***The sixth edition of NBC's Biggest Loser will be looking for potential losers in Dallas as part of a 13-city search on Feb. 16th.]]>unclebarky@tx.rr.comTV Bulletin Board2008-02-08T17:34:57-06:00http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/9555e6e3152d49430f5a0167a304c16e-100.html#unique-entry-id-100http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/9555e6e3152d49430f5a0167a304c16e-100.html#unique-entry-id-100Smackdown! is ending its long broadcast run and negotiating a new deal elsewhere, WWE says on its Web site. ...On the Friday before that, two half-hour appetizers -- Battlestar Galactica: Revisited and Battle Galactica: The Phenomenon -- will recap previous events and then brag about the series' "impact on pop culture."]]>unclebarky@tx.rr.comTV Bulletin Board2008-02-05T15:12:05-06:00http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/49f53ab69debb7fbb5b82f7ebb36af90-99.html#unique-entry-id-99http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/49f53ab69debb7fbb5b82f7ebb36af90-99.html#unique-entry-id-99 By ED BARK Comedy Central has declined to spare the pot jokes in announcing that Willie Nelson will be on the receiving end of its latest celebrity roast. ...A post-Supie episode of House chipped in with 29 million while last week's Tuesday and Wednesday editions of American Idol respectively drew 28.2 million and 25.6 million viewers.]]>unclebarky@tx.rr.comTV Bulletin Board2008-02-04T16:34:28-06:00http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/0d03fc7df8a8cf1bcf742b46d743392d-98.html#unique-entry-id-98http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/0d03fc7df8a8cf1bcf742b46d743392d-98.html#unique-entry-id-98 By ED BARK Sunday's Super Bowl XLII on Fox averaged a record-breaking 97.5 million viewers nationally, making it the most watched big game ever and beating the previous high of 94.1 million viewers for 1996's SB XXX between the Dallas Cowboys and Pittsburgh Steelers. ...In the old-school total household category, still tabulated by Nielsen Media Research, the New York Giants' upset win over the New England Patriots had an overall 43.2 rating, highest since 2000's down-to-the-wire SB XXXIV, which had a 43.3 rating.]]>unclebarky@tx.rr.comTV Bulletin Board2008-01-29T11:22:33-06:00http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/4b837c6cd2aa57d04e06d09e29d61eb0-97.html#unique-entry-id-97http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/4b837c6cd2aa57d04e06d09e29d61eb0-97.html#unique-entry-id-97 "Click and Clack" will be cartoons; Jeff Probst remains a survivor. By ED BARK PBS' first prime-time cartoon series will star likenesses of NPR's famed Car Talk hosts, Tom and Ray Magliozzi. ...Speaking in perfect press release-ese, returning host Jeff Probst says, "I still get excited to get on the plane and travel to another exotic location with another group of adventure-seeking, Type A personalities."]]>unclebarky@tx.rr.comTV Bulletin Board2008-01-24T13:12:11-06:00http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/d099324d1aeaa6829c0b63418d8df17d-96.html#unique-entry-id-96http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/d099324d1aeaa6829c0b63418d8df17d-96.html#unique-entry-id-96 Mark-Paul Gosselaar and Steven Bochco are renewing ties. By ED BARK Former NYPD Blue star Mark-Paul Gosselaar and the show's creator, Steven Bochco, are re-teaming on a new TNT legal drama. ...***CBS is going into prime-time again with The Price Is Right, which will join the network's Friday night lineup on Feb. 22nd for the first of six specials.]]>unclebarky@tx.rr.comTV Bulletin Board2008-01-23T11:15:25-06:00http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/fe2c78ea95efea3f0e4e1ec35325d632-95.html#unique-entry-id-95http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/fe2c78ea95efea3f0e4e1ec35325d632-95.html#unique-entry-id-95 By ED BARK The NBC Universal Store reports selling more than 150,000 Dwight Schrute bobbleheads modeled after the vainglorious Rainn Wilson character on The Office. ...***A fine group of Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders are gathering on the Thursday, Jan. 24, two-hour edition of Fox's Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? The "pretty pom-pommers," as Fox puts it, will surprise a Cowboys fan from Sunland, CA and "help him tackle questions about elementary subjects."]]>unclebarky@tx.rr.comTV Bulletin Board2008-01-14T15:29:00-06:00http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/81b3f5949a7a8c43f4ea507c72ff1937-94.html#unique-entry-id-94http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/81b3f5949a7a8c43f4ea507c72ff1937-94.html#unique-entry-id-94 Please separate NBC's American Gladiator from CBS' Celine Dion. By ED BARK CBS has ordered a slew of strike-induced specials and series as the TV season increasingly refuses to follow the script. ...Game Show In My Head -- From Ashton Kutcher and Jason Goldberg (Punk'd, Beauty and the Geek), it's a weekly half-hour in which contestants are required to make asses of themselves in return for "big money."]]>unclebarky@tx.rr.comTV Bulletin Board2008-01-07T09:46:24-06:00http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/6891c7deb13c92cf3a4adb8c8116fc91-93.html#unique-entry-id-93http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/6891c7deb13c92cf3a4adb8c8116fc91-93.html#unique-entry-id-93 By ED BARK CBS hopes to make a big splash -- and slash -- by adding the first season of Dexter to its strike-depleted prime-time lineup. ...Leno lately has been under fire by the Writers Guild of America for writing his own monologue jokes since NBC's Tonight Show returned on Jan. 2nd after a two-month layoff caused by the strike.]]>unclebarky@tx.rr.comTV Bulletin Board2007-12-20T14:49:51-06:00http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/82957ae5630b33f33da00b4522f4a34e-92.html#unique-entry-id-92http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/82957ae5630b33f33da00b4522f4a34e-92.html#unique-entry-id-92HSM2 had owned the all-time cable record of 17.2 million viewers for its August premiere until ESPN's New England Patriots-Baltimore Ravens Monday Night Football game snapped it with 17.5 million viewers on Dec. 3rd.]]>unclebarky@tx.rr.comTV Bulletin Board2007-12-18T11:43:29-06:00http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/4ad76d7b7d87a3d971554f34a0799563-91.html#unique-entry-id-91http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/4ad76d7b7d87a3d971554f34a0799563-91.html#unique-entry-id-91 James Roday, Dule Hill of Psych and In Treatment's Gabriel Byrne By ED BARK Planning well in advance in the event of a prolonged writers' strike, NBC says it will import repeats of Psych and Monk to its Sunday night schedule sometime this March. ...***The MySpace series quarterlife will join the NBC broadcast network's main stage on Monday, Feb 18th with weekly episodes at 8 p.m. (central).]]>unclebarky@tx.rr.comTV Bulletin Board2007-12-12T12:49:40-06:00http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/cb6a922bcf7f747ee81b83507eae1866-90.html#unique-entry-id-90http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/cb6a922bcf7f747ee81b83507eae1866-90.html#unique-entry-id-90 Muscle car and driver: Justin Bruening will pilot KITT in NBC remake. By ED BARK NBC's two-hour Knight Rider "movie event" will premiere on Sunday, Feb. 17, the network says. ..."I apologize for this frustrating process, as well as its resolution," TCA president Dave Walker of the New Orleans Times-Picayune said in an email to members.]]>unclebarky@tx.rr.comTV Bulletin Board2007-12-10T10:34:44-06:00http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/dd6eb9e698e1da11e90120f10b3a95cd-89.html#unique-entry-id-89http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/dd6eb9e698e1da11e90120f10b3a95cd-89.html#unique-entry-id-89 The late Roger King believed in Oprah Winfrey when many didn't. By ED BARK Roger King, kingpin of TV syndication and true believer in Oprah Winfrey, died of a stroke over the weekend at age 63. ...CBS, NBC and Fox already have announced revised schedules for early next year (see previous Bulletin Boards) that include an early return of Big Brother on CBS and a new version of American Gladiators on NBC.]]>unclebarky@tx.rr.comTV Bulletin Board2007-12-05T10:11:51-06:00http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/aa8f20af81d455f8afacacd9632a45d1-88.html#unique-entry-id-88http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/aa8f20af81d455f8afacacd9632a45d1-88.html#unique-entry-id-88 By ED BARK Absent new shows for the foreseeable future, Saturday Night Live will resurrect its past by taking over half of NBC's Saturday prime-time schedule this month. ...HBO says the concluding 10 episodes will spotlight the media's role in "addressing -- or failing to address -- the fundamental political, economic and social realities depicted over the course of the series."]]>unclebarky@tx.rr.comTV Bulletin Board2007-12-03T16:31:12-06:00http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/3d3b681fc9e148feb63ba6dd0529da70-87.html#unique-entry-id-87http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/3d3b681fc9e148feb63ba6dd0529da70-87.html#unique-entry-id-87 Law & Order doubleplay: Vincent D'Onofrio, Sam Waterston. By ED BARK NBC will be pulling Law & Order: Criminal Intent from sister cable network USA and pairing it on Wednesdays in early January with the flagship Law & Order. ...Law & Order, originally set to return for its 18th season on Sunday nights after football, instead will relaunch with a two-hour premiere on Jan. 2nd at 8 p.m. (central).]]>unclebarky@tx.rr.comTV Bulletin Board2007-11-30T11:37:19-06:00http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/2dc7a1d4e4a2328d8f398bb703e0ec39-86.html#unique-entry-id-86http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/2dc7a1d4e4a2328d8f398bb703e0ec39-86.html#unique-entry-id-86 Brooke Shields gets Lipstick Jungle, Corbin Bernsen a game show. By ED BARK The new NBC dramedy Lipstick Jungle, armed with episodes completed before the writers' strike, will join the Peacock's prime-time lineup on Feb. 7th, supplanting ER on Thursday nights. ...***NBC's new version of American Gladiators, to be co-hosted by Hulk Hogan and Laila Ali, gets a two-hour sneak preview on Sunday, Jan. 6th before moving the following night to its regular Monday, 7 p.m. central slot.]]>unclebarky@tx.rr.comTV Bulletin Board2007-11-26T20:18:47-06:00http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/9e30a3880520aa7d46ac3e76c1771ab3-85.html#unique-entry-id-85http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/9e30a3880520aa7d46ac3e76c1771ab3-85.html#unique-entry-id-85 Chuck Bartowski and Charlie Crews with their respective pards. By ED BARK The ongoing writers' strike hasn't deterred NBC from granting full-season pickups to two worthy recipients. ...Fellow first-round punchout Kenny Mayne of ESPN ended up hosting ABC's barely seen Fast Cars & Superstars: The Gillette Young Guns Celebrity Race before resurfacing on Dancing this season as a mock commentator.]]>unclebarky@tx.rr.comTV Bulletin Board2007-11-19T08:48:13-06:00http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/23c4bf7be7daf594067d45ce3f6d7b98-84.html#unique-entry-id-84http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/23c4bf7be7daf594067d45ce3f6d7b98-84.html#unique-entry-id-84 By ED BARK Canceled by his predecessor but quickly resurrected by new NBC entertainment president Ben Silverman, The Apprentice will be back in business on Jan. 3rd with an alleged celebrity version. ...Competitors include previous Apprentice bad girl Omarosa and former Sopranos second banana Vincent Pastore, who earlier this year crapped out on ABC's Dancing with the Stars after deciding he couldn't withstand the regimen.]]>unclebarky@tx.rr.comTV Bulletin Board2007-11-16T15:12:56-06:00http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/39c886d37d399a0921aa27738ed03889-83.html#unique-entry-id-83http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/39c886d37d399a0921aa27738ed03889-83.html#unique-entry-id-83 Charlie Brown's on ABC and Rudolph again gets the call on CBS. By ED BARK Slushy Barky urges you to check this list, check it twice when in search of traditional and/or notable broadcast network Christmas specials. ...13 -- 30 Rock's LudaChristmas Party (with guests Elaine Stritch, Andy Richter, Buck Henry, Anita Gillette), 7:30 p.m. on NBC.]]>unclebarky@tx.rr.comTV Bulletin Board2007-11-12T14:17:57-06:00http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/4e5fd786022d0f4442a98295a1cafabf-82.html#unique-entry-id-82http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/4e5fd786022d0f4442a98295a1cafabf-82.html#unique-entry-id-82 Glenn Close plays nefarious litigator Patty Hewes in FX's Damages. By ED BARK FX cable's acclaimed Damages will be back -- not just for one more season but for a third as well. ...The 13-episode drama ended its first season on Oct. 23rd by wrapping up its main murder mystery but setting up a clash between scheming Manhattan mega-attorney Patty Hewes (Close) and her now undercover protege, Ellen Parsons (Byrne).]]>unclebarky@tx.rr.comTV Bulletin Board2007-11-01T16:17:08-05:00http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/138c85536dd80018532ad566c6a9dc29-81.html#unique-entry-id-81http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/138c85536dd80018532ad566c6a9dc29-81.html#unique-entry-id-81 Dennis Miller and Christina Applegate have "Up" arrows of late. By ED BARK Dennis Miller has landed both his old Monday Night Football booth mate and another prime-time game show. The acerbic comedian/commentator, whose opinions have tilted well to the right in recent years, will have fellow conservatives Al Michaels and Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling as guests on the first edition of Sports Unfiltered with Dennis Miller.]]>unclebarky@tx.rr.comTV Bulletin Board2007-10-25T16:19:06-05:00http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/c568a4a6022e00452a3e211b148856a6-80.html#unique-entry-id-80http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/c568a4a6022e00452a3e211b148856a6-80.html#unique-entry-id-80 Kelsey Grammer and Patricia Heaton will still be arguing a while. By ED BARK Fox commendably has picked up Back to You for a full season despite its so far lackluster ratings. The Kelsey Grammer-Patricia Heaton sitcom ranked 58th in the latest weekly Nielsens, drawing 7.1 million viewers to rank just a hair above ABC's new Tuesday night duo of Cavemen and Carpoolers.]]>unclebarky@tx.rr.comTV Bulletin Board2007-10-24T14:34:37-05:00http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/cfd51b2b2996253c270a90fbdb0de0e3-79.html#unique-entry-id-79http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/cfd51b2b2996253c270a90fbdb0de0e3-79.html#unique-entry-id-79 Tales of two series: CBS' Viva Laughlin, ABC's Pushing Daisies By ED BARK ABC's Pushing Daisies joins a so far small group of new series getting full-season orders from their networks. ...***Fox's Game 1 of the Boston Red Sox-Colorado Rockies World Series swings into view Wednesday night after encouraging ratings for Sunday's Game 7 of the Red Sox-Cleveland Indians matchup.]]>unclebarky@tx.rr.comTV Bulletin Board2007-10-11T15:32:37-05:00http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/c6c35a25e1c31eb2f1bf9107cdfcc168-78.html#unique-entry-id-78http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/c6c35a25e1c31eb2f1bf9107cdfcc168-78.html#unique-entry-id-78 New Password host Regis Philbin and the old one, Allen Ludden. By ED BARK CBS will prime the cash pump on Million Dollar Password, a "modernized version" of the old chestnut. ...The way this is going, unclebarky.com soon will realize its longtime dream of repurposing episodes of Camp Runamuck, the fabled 1965 NBC comedy series starring Dave Ketchum as Senior Counselor Spiffy and Alice Nunn as Mahala May Gruenecker.]]>unclebarky@tx.rr.comTV Bulletin Board2007-10-10T10:48:17-05:00http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/609dcfa724ed272b44dab51975b3422f-77.html#unique-entry-id-77http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/609dcfa724ed272b44dab51975b3422f-77.html#unique-entry-id-77 By ED BARK Anybody out there been trying to picture how the young Gus McRae and Woodrow Call will look in CBS' upcoming Commanche Moon prequel to Lonesome Dove? ...But the original 1989 miniseries, starring Robert Duvall and Tommy Lee Jones as Gus and Woodrow, remains by far the greatest made-for-TV western ever.]]>unclebarky@tx.rr.comTV Bulletin Board2007-10-09T12:50:47-05:00http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/c5978f6131ed9fd22a48fa01bb04701b-76.html#unique-entry-id-76http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/c5978f6131ed9fd22a48fa01bb04701b-76.html#unique-entry-id-76 NBC Universal CEO Jeff Zucker and Oxygen's Geraldine Laybourne By ED BARK ***NBC Universal's still struggling broadcast arm -- NBC -- could use a little prime-time oxygen. ...It's tabbed burned out wrestler Hulk Hogan to host its new version of American Gladiators, slated to premiere sometime later this season on the NBC broadcast network.]]>unclebarky@tx.rr.comTV Bulletin Board2007-10-01T14:46:27-05:00http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/d2268c3f697c6ccc742d5634c767de0c-75.html#unique-entry-id-75http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/d2268c3f697c6ccc742d5634c767de0c-75.html#unique-entry-id-75Steve Zahn (left) and Karl Urban will step in for Robert Duvall and Tommy Lee Jones in the last book from Lonesome Dove yarn. ...The original and now legendary Lonesome Dove miniseries debuted in 1989 on CBS, with Robert Duvall and Tommy Lee Jones playing Gus and Woodrow alongside the likes of Anjelica Huston, Danny Glover, Diane Lane, Chris Cooper and Steve Buscemi.]]>unclebarky@tx.rr.comTV Bulletin Board2007-09-26T15:06:24-05:00http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/0f682516ee8836c5457ac4efe10c3288-74.html#unique-entry-id-74http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/0f682516ee8836c5457ac4efe10c3288-74.html#unique-entry-id-74 Fox's girls from Nashville won't be a pickin' and grinnin' no more. By ED BARK ***The annual honor of being fall's first cancellation goes to Fox's Nashville, silenced after just two Friday night episodes. ...***Nielsen Media Research is making a significant change in its audience measurements by giving broadcast networks the option of a single, combined rating for series episodes that air twice within a single broadcast week.]]>unclebarky@tx.rr.comTV Bulletin Board2007-09-19T10:05:21-05:00http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/f2f2dfc592ee09344223f2c2901087d7-73.html#unique-entry-id-73http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/f2f2dfc592ee09344223f2c2901087d7-73.html#unique-entry-id-73 Lazarus syndrome: Tony Almeida will be back on track with Jack. By ED BARK 24's late season creative slump and some false starts for its upcoming seventh have prompted at least one drastic measure. ..."Since there was no silent clock at the conclusion of his last appearance -- the 24 tribute to a major character's demise -- we always kept this as a possibility," Howard said.]]>unclebarky@tx.rr.comTV Bulletin Board2007-09-17T15:56:36-05:00http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/2c815ea8abf8accbc30bd0c6fef9f563-72.html#unique-entry-id-72http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/2c815ea8abf8accbc30bd0c6fef9f563-72.html#unique-entry-id-72 Cable golden girls Kyra Sedgwick, Glenn Close, Mary-Louise Parker By ED BARK Preliminary "fast national" Nielsens indicate that Sunday night's Emmy telecast on Fox will be the second smallest draw in the awards' 59-year history. ...Last year's awards on NBC, which aired in late August and didn't have to compete against a pro football game, drew 16.2 million viewers.]]>unclebarky@tx.rr.comTV Bulletin Board2007-09-14T08:35:40-05:00http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/b909acff194bf78531cd0ae1f626210e-71.html#unique-entry-id-71http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/b909acff194bf78531cd0ae1f626210e-71.html#unique-entry-id-71 Fantasy islands: CW's Reaper and NBC's Bionic Woman By ED BARK The 2007-08 fall TV season makes its first peep Friday with Fox's Nashville, one of 28 newbies coming your way from the five major broadcast networks. ...24 The Big Bang Theory, Mondays, 7:30 p.m. Sept.]]>unclebarky@tx.rr.comTV Bulletin Board2007-09-12T21:32:38-05:00http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/948420844d6b518635499bb288f013a3-70.html#unique-entry-id-70http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/948420844d6b518635499bb288f013a3-70.html#unique-entry-id-70 Second verse, same as the first: Jon Stewart and Meredith Vieira By ED BARK ***Jon Stewart's got the Oscar gig again. ...***TNT's third season finale of The Closer set a ratings record for a basic cable series, drawing 9.2 million viewers.]]>unclebarky@tx.rr.comTV Bulletin Board2007-09-11T11:10:04-05:00http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/54ddb80bbe508e3f21988d2126d10335-69.html#unique-entry-id-69http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/54ddb80bbe508e3f21988d2126d10335-69.html#unique-entry-id-69 Steve Martin gets a medal; Sherri Shepherd gets a chair. By ED BARK ***Comedian/actor Steve Martin, Beach Boys guru Brian Wilson and diva Diana Ross are among the latest quintet of Kennedy Center Honor recipients. They'll be joined by director Martin Scorsese and pianist Leon Fleisher at the 30th annual ceremony on Dec. 2nd in Washington, D.C. CBS will televise the event on Dec. 26th.]]>unclebarky@tx.rr.comTV Bulletin Board2007-09-06T17:45:18-05:00http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/7e7c76c83d2ccf98fb076a4c542d5283-68.html#unique-entry-id-68http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/7e7c76c83d2ccf98fb076a4c542d5283-68.html#unique-entry-id-68 By ED BARK The high-powered stunt casting continues on NBC's 30 Rock, with Edie Falco signed to guest star for three episodes in a so far undisclosed role. ...30 Rock returns on Oct. 4 as part of an acclaimed but ratings-impaired Thursday night comedy block that also includes The Office, My Name Is Earl and Scrubs.]]>unclebarky@tx.rr.comTV Bulletin Board2007-09-05T15:43:49-05:00http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/3470ddb98dd0d404b3854a12c4e96e5b-67.html#unique-entry-id-67http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/3470ddb98dd0d404b3854a12c4e96e5b-67.html#unique-entry-id-67 By ED BARK Well-meaning Earl Hickey will still be behind bars when NBC's My Name Is Earl returns for its third season on Sept. 27th. So the cast has put together a broad-appeal "Free Earl" singalong to help get him out.]]>unclebarky@tx.rr.comTV Bulletin Board2007-08-29T14:16:04-05:00http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/11fcc00a0706e61c858497a43835f9aa-66.html#unique-entry-id-66http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/11fcc00a0706e61c858497a43835f9aa-66.html#unique-entry-id-66 Serious business for Katie Couric; more comedy for Jason Alexander. By ED BARK ***Katie Couric will mark her first anniversary as anchor of the CBS Evening News by journeying to Iraq for the first time. ...Set for November "sweeps" appearances on Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? are Regis Philbin, Billy Bush, Tony Hawk, former American Idol stars Clay Aiken and Kellie Pickler and Miss America Lauren Nelson.]]>unclebarky@tx.rr.comTV Bulletin Board2007-08-27T12:35:30-05:00http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/e500dc52d8eac28c825ea129830f764b-65.html#unique-entry-id-65http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/e500dc52d8eac28c825ea129830f764b-65.html#unique-entry-id-65Len Goodman and Bruno Tonioli (ABC's Dancing with the Stars); Piers Morgan (NBC's America's Got Talent); Nigel Lythgoe (Fox's So You Think You Can Dance); Peter Jones (ABC's American Inventor) and Gordon Ramsay (judge, jury and executioner on Fox's Hell's Kitchen and the upcoming Kitchen Nightmares). ..."Since Trey and I are in charge of the digital side of South Park, we can offend people on their cell phones, game consoles and computers, too," Stone said in a statement.]]>unclebarky@tx.rr.comTV Bulletin Board2007-08-24T08:52:24-05:00http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/1743504032a4da7cf0f65f00c6a38ff1-64.html#unique-entry-id-64http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/1743504032a4da7cf0f65f00c6a38ff1-64.html#unique-entry-id-64***NBC is reviving American Gladiators, the cheesy but fun athletic competition that ran from 1989-97 in syndication and introduced the likes of Nitro, Turbo, Zap, Lace, Storm and Siren. ...***MyNetworkTV, which flopped with cheap, recycled English language telenovelas last season, will be rebooting with new series such as Celebrity Expose and Control Room Presents.]]>unclebarky@tx.rr.comTV Bulletin Board2007-08-20T16:23:56-05:00http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/e63e7842707a8ca9ae6dae1ac0acd905-63.html#unique-entry-id-63http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/e63e7842707a8ca9ae6dae1ac0acd905-63.html#unique-entry-id-63Dick Askin describes Seacrest as "charismatic and talented, and he will be very comfortable in the production environment that has been created for this year's telecast." ...The Drew Carey-hosted quiz, which has a $10 million grand prize, will air on Tuesdays as well as Wednesdays at 7 p.m. (central) both nights.]]>unclebarky@tx.rr.comTV Bulletin Board2007-08-17T10:48:08-05:00http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/2b8356daaf26fe50bb46e21b861fa93d-62.html#unique-entry-id-62http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/2b8356daaf26fe50bb46e21b861fa93d-62.html#unique-entry-id-62 Flight of the Conchords and Entourage get HBO pickups. By ED BARK ***One's a no-brainer, the other might have prompted some head-scratching. ...*** ABC has finally found a slot for its musical Raisin In the Sun, which was filmed in Canada last year with a cast that includes Phylicia Rashad, Sean "P.]]>unclebarky@tx.rr.comTV Bulletin Board2007-08-16T12:40:17-05:00http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/33a9843d66d0db2f4e76a4557b1aa17d-61.html#unique-entry-id-61http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/33a9843d66d0db2f4e76a4557b1aa17d-61.html#unique-entry-id-61 Last 4: Lacey Schwimmer, Danny Tidwell, Neil Haskell, Sabra Johnson By ED BARK ***The top 10 finalists from Fox's So You Think You Can Dance will be sweatin' and writhin' in Grand Prairie on Nov. ...***Monday Night Football will have Hank Williams, Jr. in the saddle for a 19th year when the second season of games on ESPN kicks off on Sept. 10th.]]>unclebarky@tx.rr.comTV Bulletin Board2007-08-14T10:31:12-05:00http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/c37773b52d09b0696384348b0f3a92d2-60.html#unique-entry-id-60http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/c37773b52d09b0696384348b0f3a92d2-60.html#unique-entry-id-60 Joe Mantegna joins Criminal Minds and Today grows another hour. By ED BARK ***Old reliable Joe Mantegna will replace unreliable Mandy Patinkin on the third season of CBS' Criminal Minds. ...***Expanding like The Blob, Today's fourth hour -- from 10 to 11 a.m. beginning Sept. 10th -- will be tri-hosted by (from left to right above) Natalie Morales, Ann Curry and Hoda Kotb.]]>unclebarky@tx.rr.comTV Bulletin Board2007-08-03T13:56:08-05:00http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/05f0d6856dfc0c7b7aa8088f8d62e688-59.html#unique-entry-id-59http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/05f0d6856dfc0c7b7aa8088f8d62e688-59.html#unique-entry-id-59 Don't Forget the Lyrics!, is in, triggering a fall cop-out for Fox. By ED BARK Fox became the second network Friday to elevate a summertime singing competition to its fall schedule. The rise of Wayne Brady's Don't Forget the Lyrics! means at least the temporary demise of the cop drama New Amsterdam (pictured right), which will be benched for now.]]>unclebarky@tx.rr.comTV Bulletin Board2007-08-01T11:02:14-05:00http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/0a2bfa654f6a90d9fd84e84f9f712520-58.html#unique-entry-id-58http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/0a2bfa654f6a90d9fd84e84f9f712520-58.html#unique-entry-id-58The View, too. By ED BARK Another of America's open secrets became official Wednesday when Whoopi Goldberg appeared on the The View as a warmup for her new duties as the show's moderator. ...Set to join The View on the day after Labor Day, Goldberg continues to host Wake Up with Whoopi, a Manhattan-based morning radio show whose Web site has the slogan, "She does what she wants to do.]]>unclebarky@tx.rr.comTV Bulletin Board2007-07-24T19:58:02-05:00http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/280a0ce68ae2c0543ce8cb69fda2415c-57.html#unique-entry-id-57http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/280a0ce68ae2c0543ce8cb69fda2415c-57.html#unique-entry-id-57 The new Price Is Right host broke the news to David Letterman. By ED BARK The march of comedians to the game show arena continued in a big way Monday with CBS' announcement that Drew Carey will replace Bob Barker as host of The Price Is Right. ...Foxworthy, who presides over Fox's biggest new hit, Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader?, said his wife asked him whether he enjoyed doing game shows more than sitcoms.]]>unclebarky@tx.rr.comTV Bulletin Board2007-06-26T11:50:33-05:00http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/d265dd43d71339f4c2743ca309c87f94-56.html#unique-entry-id-56http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/d265dd43d71339f4c2743ca309c87f94-56.html#unique-entry-id-56Harry Potter book and they've asked their employees not to reveal the ending because they don't want to spoil it for fans. ...***NBC has tabbed Dancing with the Stars runnerup Joey Fatone to host The Singing Bee, a new competition reality series premiering July 10th opposite Fox's telecast of baseball's All-Star Game.]]>unclebarky@tx.rr.comTV Bulletin Board2007-06-25T07:30:51-05:00http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/506edb9e170f5028fcb3e6c49e8d3afd-55.html#unique-entry-id-55http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/506edb9e170f5028fcb3e6c49e8d3afd-55.html#unique-entry-id-55Paris Hilton fell into the lap of Larry King over the weekend after ABC and then NBC ceased efforts to land an interview with the jailed airhead heiress, who's scheduled to be released on Tuesday (June 26th). ...Hilton, in a statement, says she's "thrilled that Larry King has asked me to appear on his program to discuss my experience in jail, what I have learned, how I have grown and anything else he wants to talk about."]]>unclebarky@tx.rr.comTV Bulletin Board2007-06-21T15:32:02-05:00http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/bfd2bf436952e71ea306048225970281-54.html#unique-entry-id-54http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/bfd2bf436952e71ea306048225970281-54.html#unique-entry-id-54unclebarky@tx.rr.comTV Bulletin Board2007-06-20T11:40:27-05:00http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/c84c76b675838535ed776a02b11f5ac2-53.html#unique-entry-id-53http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/c84c76b675838535ed776a02b11f5ac2-53.html#unique-entry-id-53The Singing Bee with Don't Forget the Lyrics! The Wayne Brady-hosted big-money game show will premiere on July 11, at least three months before NBC's competition is scheduled to begin with a host yet to be named. ...NBC quickly made a counter-move and now will premiere The Singing Bee on July 10th at 8 p.m. opposite Fox's telecast of baseball's All-Star game.]]>unclebarky@tx.rr.comTV Bulletin Board2007-06-14T17:37:08-05:00http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/cf1de938e4f1e2e3fc15fc7f2c6ad044-52.html#unique-entry-id-52http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/cf1de938e4f1e2e3fc15fc7f2c6ad044-52.html#unique-entry-id-52Win Ben Stein's Money, is following in the footsteps of Howie Mandel (Deal Or No Deal), Bob Saget (1 vs. 100), Penn Jillette (Identity) Dennis Miller (the upcoming Grand Slam) and other funnymen turned quizmasters. ***Reprieved for a seven-episode return in mid-season, CBS' Jericho will restart at the beginning on July 6 with a repeat of the series' pilot episode.]]>unclebarky@tx.rr.comTV Bulletin Board2007-06-11T15:42:17-05:00http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/344c1a81bf9bb53e4226c9e972b1bfba-51.html#unique-entry-id-51http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/344c1a81bf9bb53e4226c9e972b1bfba-51.html#unique-entry-id-51Isaiah Washington, whose set blowup and widely publicized, disparaging comments about gays have cost him his job as Dr. Preston Burke on the hit ABC series Grey's Anatomy. ...***Fox has a start date for Anchorwoman, the previously announced new reality series in which model and former wrestling villain Lauren Jones will join the staff of KYTX-TV in Tyler, TX.]]>unclebarky@tx.rr.comTV Bulletin Board2007-06-06T14:44:28-05:00http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/cbd03b2231df7157b808a511244315ab-50.html#unique-entry-id-50http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/cbd03b2231df7157b808a511244315ab-50.html#unique-entry-id-50 Game's on for Dennis Miller; Matt Lauer lands two princes. By ED BARK ***Conservative comedian/talk show host Dennis Miller has signed to host Grand Slam, a new GSN cable network series featuring 16 big-money game show winners. ...Look for the likes of Aida "Janice" Turturro (1 p.m.) Edie "Carmela" Falco (2 p.m.), Vincent "Johnny Sack" Curatola (4 p.m.), Michael "Christopher" Imperioli (8 and 9 p.m.), Dominic "Uncle Junior" Chianese (10 p.m.) and Frank "Phil Leotardo" Vincent (11 p.m.).]]>unclebarky@tx.rr.comTV Bulletin Board2007-06-01T16:59:15-05:00http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/637506ac28a65763d4a04e8c257b8c28-49.html#unique-entry-id-49http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/637506ac28a65763d4a04e8c257b8c28-49.html#unique-entry-id-49***CBS' The Early Show will launch a half-dozen traveling summer concerts in July, with R&B singer Kelly Rowland scheduled to appear in Dallas on Aug. 3rd. ...Executive producer Dick Wolf says in a statement that Thompson "has not made a firm decision about his political future," but "asked to be released from his responsibilities on the show" just in case.]]>unclebarky@tx.rr.comTV Bulletin Board2007-05-30T17:02:52-05:00http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/3c7baadb86a1410521821ceb00986580-48.html#unique-entry-id-48http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/3c7baadb86a1410521821ceb00986580-48.html#unique-entry-id-48Good Morning America weekend anchor Bill Weir and country singer Martina McBride are part of ABC News' prime-time summer menu. ...Their objective is track down McBride in six steps or less to re-prove the old Kevin Bacon theory that we're all connected in some way to a chain of a half-dozen humanoids.]]>unclebarky@tx.rr.comTV Bulletin Board2007-05-25T15:54:28-05:00http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/48524f5ce72cb2a1f94377a40b84d457-47.html#unique-entry-id-47http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/48524f5ce72cb2a1f94377a40b84d457-47.html#unique-entry-id-47 Mary-Kate Olsen will be in Weeds and Flavor Flav smokes a lot of it. By ED BARK ***Showtime has signed half of the Olsen twins, Mary-Kate, as a regular on its third season of Weeds. ...But finalists Tom Leppert and Ed Oakley at last will get a little face time during a live, half-hour debate airing at 8 p.m. Thursday (May 31) on CBS11, TXA21 and public television station KERA (Ch. 13).]]>unclebarky@tx.rr.comTV Bulletin Board2007-05-23T18:13:44-05:00http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/0b60c898863a4dcad13f9380f7c800f0-46.html#unique-entry-id-46http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/0b60c898863a4dcad13f9380f7c800f0-46.html#unique-entry-id-46Idol had a wider victory margin among advertiser-craved 18-to-49-year-olds, but ABC won the night overall in total viewers after Fox's post-Idol premiere of On the Lot plummeted to 8.5 million viewers nationally. ...It'll then be wall-to-wall Wayne through Tuesday, with titles including The Searchers, Texas Terror, The War Wagon, Cahill, U.S. Marshall and frequent showings of a 15-minute mini-special titled 100 Years of John Wayne.]]>unclebarky@tx.rr.comTV Bulletin Board2007-05-11T07:53:29-05:00http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/f93b1d909365f89236d498d36f761388-45.html#unique-entry-id-45http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/f93b1d909365f89236d498d36f761388-45.html#unique-entry-id-45The Sopranos (7.2 million) and the 9 p.m. Monday portion of USA network's WWE Raw (5 million). ...In a statement from HBO's parent company, Time Warner, Albrecht said he stepped down "for the benefit of my Home Box Office colleagues, recognizing that I cannot allow my personal circumstances to distract them from the business."]]>unclebarky@tx.rr.comTV Bulletin Board2007-05-07T17:50:20-05:00http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/03c1c02147901c04b9d5b70d2454c8dd-44.html#unique-entry-id-44http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/03c1c02147901c04b9d5b70d2454c8dd-44.html#unique-entry-id-44 NBC's Heroes and ABC's Grey's Anatomy are among May's big-ticket season finales as the 2006-'07 season gives way to summer's heat. By ED BARK Three CBS series -- Shark, The Amazing Race and Cold Case -- already have had their season finales, but most shows are still winding down. ...Mon., May 14 -- How I Met Your Mother, Two and a Half Men, CSI: Miami and the series finale of King of Queens, all on CBS.]]>unclebarky@tx.rr.comTV Bulletin Board2007-05-03T17:29:49-05:00http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/87ce978dabfcf097cd236e6672f2f77f-43.html#unique-entry-id-43http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/87ce978dabfcf097cd236e6672f2f77f-43.html#unique-entry-id-43Gilmore Girls' supporting cast included Milo Ventimiglia and Jared Padalecki, who respectively have matriculated to NBC's Heroes and CW's Supernatural, another carryover from the WB network. ...A CBS release says that Dan Rather will be included among those saluting "The Cronk," who didn't really salute him when he left the Evening News under pressure in March 2005.]]>unclebarky@tx.rr.comTV Bulletin Board2007-04-26T11:43:54-05:00http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/a5be042c9ccac2852fb4c9cc4d0b5de8-42.html#unique-entry-id-42http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/a5be042c9ccac2852fb4c9cc4d0b5de8-42.html#unique-entry-id-42 Evergreens Carrie Fisher and John Mellencamp keep on keepin' on. By ED BARK ***Princess Leia, a k a Carrie Fisher will be among the four judges on Fox's On the Lot, a new filmmaking competition co-produced by Steven Spielberg and Mark Burnett. ...Mellencamp says in an HDNet release that he originally planned to do a benefit show, but "then it dawned on me what I really wanted to do is lighten the load of the soldiers and workers in the hospital, so why not just play for them."]]>unclebarky@tx.rr.comTV Bulletin Board2007-04-20T13:19:32-05:00http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/cd856527d3203c8d936a928fc5a2b748-41.html#unique-entry-id-41http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/cd856527d3203c8d936a928fc5a2b748-41.html#unique-entry-id-41 By ED BARK ***NBC has tapped Sharon Osbourne to replace Brandy Norwood as one of the three judges on its second season of America's Got Talent, which returns on May 29. ...Subtitled "How to Stop an Exploding Man," the synopsis goes like this: "With Isaac's horrible predictions all unfolding before them, the everyday people with extraordinary abilities face moments of pain and peril in Kirby Plaza with unflinching heroism, as Heroes' first volume comes to a close -- and the next surprisingly begins."]]>unclebarky@tx.rr.comTV Bulletin Board2007-04-18T11:17:46-05:00http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/56c5c21a686cefebd338974b7c817322-40.html#unique-entry-id-40http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/56c5c21a686cefebd338974b7c817322-40.html#unique-entry-id-40 By ED BARK Reality maestro Mark Burnett has a sinking ship in Donald Trump's The Apprentice while Survivor is starting to take on a little water. Still, he's got a new hit under his belt in Fox's Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? And now Burnett hopes to further fatten his treasure chest with CBS' new Pirate Master.]]>unclebarky@tx.rr.comTV Bulletin Board2007-04-17T12:10:18-05:00http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/e8057f7283902a2ef7bdc278481d25d0-39.html#unique-entry-id-39http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/e8057f7283902a2ef7bdc278481d25d0-39.html#unique-entry-id-39Kidnapped and Andy Barker, P.I., ABC's The Nine, Six Degrees and Day Break, and Fox's Happy Hour, Vanished and Justice. ...As Fox's new Drive threatens to screech to a five-episode-or-less halt, here are the other members of this season's clubbed.]]>unclebarky@tx.rr.comTV Bulletin Board2007-04-16T14:02:07-05:00http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/2cf78f595e592193086da7b6c7949b1c-38.html#unique-entry-id-38http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/2cf78f595e592193086da7b6c7949b1c-38.html#unique-entry-id-38***Keith Olbermann, close, personal fiend of Bill O'Reilly, is getting a high-profile spot as a new co-host of NBC's Football Night in America. ...Countdown, scheduled directly opposite Fox News Channel's The O'Reilly Factor, has jumped from 404,000 viewers in the "First Quarter" (Jan.-March) of 2006 to 711,000 for the same period this year.]]>unclebarky@tx.rr.comTV Bulletin Board2007-04-10T17:49:01-05:00http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/bb89e845f0bb32bf670a7c5a5b2bc6c5-37.html#unique-entry-id-37http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/bb89e845f0bb32bf670a7c5a5b2bc6c5-37.html#unique-entry-id-37 By ED BARK Sunday's return of HBO's The Sopranos topped the weekly national cable ratings, but wasn't gangbusters compared to last year's curtain-raiser. ...Airing opposite The Sopranos on Sunday night, the Discovery Channel's second hour of its Planet Earth series remained strong with 4.846 million viewers to rank 5th for the week in cable's universe.]]>unclebarky@tx.rr.comTV Bulletin Board2007-04-03T11:28:59-05:00http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/a78ae0f3161a26b1a156cb599a667388-36.html#unique-entry-id-36http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/a78ae0f3161a26b1a156cb599a667388-36.html#unique-entry-id-36 Going and coming: Bob Barker leaves CBS, Glenn Close arrives at FX. By ED BARK ***Bob Barker's looming retirement as host of The Price Is Right will be feted with two CBS prime-time specials during the May "sweeps." ...***Punk'd producers Ashton Kutcher and Jason Goldberg are behind NBC's new six-episode The Real Wedding Crashers, which starts taking the cake on Monday, April 23 following the return of new Heroes episodes.]]>unclebarky@tx.rr.comTV Bulletin Board2007-03-22T11:08:15-05:00http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/06654d2df5ceafacfb5b780cf9c9da1a-35.html#unique-entry-id-35http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/06654d2df5ceafacfb5b780cf9c9da1a-35.html#unique-entry-id-35 Fox entertainment president Peter Liguori gets happy with Patricia Heaton and Kelsey Grammer, who play TV anchors in Action News. By ED BARK ***Fox's 2007 program development roster, announced this week, includes a big-ticket sitcom starring Kelsey Grammer (Frasier, Cheers) and Patricia Heaton (Everybody Loves Raymond). ...***On Fox's drama front, former ER star Julianna Margulies will try to get back in the prime-time game as a rising attorney in Canterbury's Law.]]>unclebarky@tx.rr.comTV Bulletin Board2007-03-21T16:57:52-05:00http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/7b025a136af9342be83760363cb25394-34.html#unique-entry-id-34http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/7b025a136af9342be83760363cb25394-34.html#unique-entry-id-34 Anne Heche and Calista Flockhart will come again next fall. By ED BARK ***ABC is giving second seasons to three new series, with Men In Trees the surprise returnee. ...Trees, starring Anne Heche as a bestselling book author transplanted to Alaska, currently ranks 64th in the season-to-date Nielsens with an average of 9 million viewers an episode.]]>unclebarky@tx.rr.comTV Bulletin Board2007-03-20T18:05:50-05:00http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/8023b8e51a195a7839e662d95c3fe82b-33.html#unique-entry-id-33http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/8023b8e51a195a7839e662d95c3fe82b-33.html#unique-entry-id-33 Brian Williams, Hillary Rodham Clinton: Sharper images coming soon. By ED BARK ***Engaged in a fierce battle for ratings supremacy, the NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams will be the first network evening newscast to go high-def. ...***Hillary Rodham Clinton's presidential campaign will motor to ABC's Good Morning America on the same day Williams is set to look sharper.]]>unclebarky@tx.rr.comTV Bulletin Board2007-03-16T10:32:49-05:00http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/1dd0d6840a4721080aa25ebe3a2d5bec-32.html#unique-entry-id-32http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/1dd0d6840a4721080aa25ebe3a2d5bec-32.html#unique-entry-id-32***Criminal Intent also will mine the NASA astronaut scandal, although not as specifically, in a May 1 episode titled "Rocket Man." Serviceable Tate Donovan (Disney's Hercules) stars as married astronaut Luke Nelson, whose affair with a colleague "turns sour" when she's found murdered in their sugar shack-up room.]]>unclebarky@tx.rr.comTV Bulletin Board2007-03-15T12:23:14-05:00http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/a14c9a1368adadf1ab4587ccd293e1f6-31.html#unique-entry-id-31http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/a14c9a1368adadf1ab4587ccd293e1f6-31.html#unique-entry-id-31***Speaking of harsh treatment, Idol's mega-maligned Malakar is being championed by both Howard Stern and a Web site dedicated to making him the winner to embarrass the show in its sixth season as a mega-hit. ...5th Grader, hosted by Jeff Foxworthy, now must fend for itself on Thursdays at 7 p.m. central, where this week's competition will be ABC's Ugly Betty, a one-hour repeat of NBC's The Office and NCAA basketball tournament coverage on CBS.]]>unclebarky@tx.rr.comTV Bulletin Board2007-03-14T15:50:13-05:00http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/613c08d24f38c0ed1f52d9b2e6272188-30.html#unique-entry-id-30http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/613c08d24f38c0ed1f52d9b2e6272188-30.html#unique-entry-id-30 Hairy beasts: Donald Trump and Vince McMahon try to avoid a close shave in pay-per-view Wrestlemania 23, appropriately scheduled on April Fool's Day. Photo copyright 2007, World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. By ED BARK ***The world is but a Big Top, under which we all live. ...On leveler playing fields, retiring Bob Barker will try to win a final Emmy as best game show host in competition with Pat Sajak, Alex Trebek, Meredith Vieira and Ben Bailey of The Discovery Channel's Cash Cab.]]>unclebarky@tx.rr.comTV Bulletin Board2007-03-13T10:33:29-05:00http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/410a9fbb120c5415979fcaef68a9e829-29.html#unique-entry-id-29http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/410a9fbb120c5415979fcaef68a9e829-29.html#unique-entry-id-29Identity, hosted by illusionist Penn Jillette, will return on Friday (March 16) at 8 p.m. central after the season finale of Bob Saget's 1 vs 100. ...Rock will return on Thursday, April 5 as part of a "super-sized" night of comedy before settling into a new 8 p.m. central slot on the following Thursday.]]>unclebarky@tx.rr.comTV Bulletin Board2007-03-05T16:57:38-06:00http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/9ad3872e5a7d07fb3ff99712e85e6989-28.html#unique-entry-id-28http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/9ad3872e5a7d07fb3ff99712e85e6989-28.html#unique-entry-id-28***It's just one month, but a narrow February "sweeps" victory by ABC's World News with Charles Gibson may signal the impending end of a long first-place reign by the NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams. ...***ABC has dumped The Knights of Prosperity, a midseason sitcom, and will replace it with an According to Jim repeat on Wednesday (March 7) at 7:30 p.m. central time.]]>unclebarky@tx.rr.comTV Bulletin Board2007-03-02T18:02:16-06:00http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/dcff1dd53f24f0330aec758d0f3670a1-27.html#unique-entry-id-27http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/dcff1dd53f24f0330aec758d0f3670a1-27.html#unique-entry-id-27 TV stalwarts John Ratzenberger and Donny Osmond have new gigs. By ED BARK ***His character walked the walks as postman Cliff Clavin on Cheers. John Ratzenberger will really have to step it up, though, as Vincent Pastore's belated replacement on ABC's Dancing with the Stars.]]>unclebarky@tx.rr.comTV Bulletin Board2007-02-28T17:04:08-06:00http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/3c4a398bdc8245b9ff7c8ae791f567af-26.html#unique-entry-id-26http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/3c4a398bdc8245b9ff7c8ae791f567af-26.html#unique-entry-id-26 Beast and the beauties: Vincent Pastore, the Beckhams By ED BARK ***Former Sopranos co-star Vincent Pastore has whacked himself from the fourth edition of ABC's Dancing with the Stars. ..."The series will give viewers a glimpse into what makes Victoria so popular and admired as one of the most glamorous women in the world," Reilly said in an NBC press release.]]>unclebarky@tx.rr.comTV Bulletin Board2007-02-27T17:59:00-06:00http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/42d2600f627f0644a08aa23702209625-25.html#unique-entry-id-25http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/42d2600f627f0644a08aa23702209625-25.html#unique-entry-id-25 Helen Mirren and Forest Whitaker celebrate their big Oscar wins. By ED BARK Final national Nielsen numbers are in for Sunday night's 79th annual Oscars, and they're a bit higher than preliminary estimates. ...Sunday's Oscars, hosted by Ellen DeGeneres, also topped the weekly ratings with advertiser-craved 18-to-49-year-olds, drawing 18.4 million of them.]]>unclebarky@tx.rr.comTV Bulletin Board2007-02-22T16:04:25-06:00http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/99f3a1878a6a36df81e5b87936f0b573-24.html#unique-entry-id-24http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/99f3a1878a6a36df81e5b87936f0b573-24.html#unique-entry-id-24***American Idol executive producers Nigel Lythgoe and Ken Warwick have been hired to helm the 59th annual Primetime Emmy Awards, scheduled for Sept. 16 on Fox. ...And veteran journalist Lee Cullum will be returning to Dallas-based KERA-TV as host of the monthly CEO, which launches on Friday, February 23 at 7:30 p.m. central.]]>unclebarky@tx.rr.comTV Bulletin Board2007-02-15T16:35:12-06:00http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/1c32c657b1350eb518d844ae0abd3fd5-23.html#unique-entry-id-23http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/1c32c657b1350eb518d844ae0abd3fd5-23.html#unique-entry-id-23 San Antonio's Haley Scarnato and Sundance Head of Porter By ED BARK ***Two Texans remain among American Idol's two-dozen finalists. Intriguingly named Sundance Head of Porter is the 28-year-old son of singer Roy Head, whose 1965 single "Treat Her Right" topped the charts.]]>unclebarky@tx.rr.comTV Bulletin Board2007-02-13T12:42:48-06:00http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/fd8b958f8bd0d7841f24545756ba0ff9-22.html#unique-entry-id-22http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/fd8b958f8bd0d7841f24545756ba0ff9-22.html#unique-entry-id-22 Bill Engall, longtime comic, and Tiki Barber, instant journalist By ED BARK ***A day after officially retiring from the New York Giants, former running back Tiki Barber has joined NBC's Today as a featured correspondent. ...***ABC's World News with Charles Gibson inched into first place last week ahead of the longtime frontrunning NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams.]]>unclebarky@tx.rr.comTV Bulletin Board2007-02-09T16:51:43-06:00http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/f7ca620ad062486d290bcaad70146cbf-21.html#unique-entry-id-21http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/f7ca620ad062486d290bcaad70146cbf-21.html#unique-entry-id-21 By ED BARK ***NBC's Identity, returning sometime this spring, is holding a five-city tryout that ends in Dallas on Feb. 23-24. ...Reality maestro Mark Burnett (Survivor, The Apprentice) says Foxworthy's humor is "an ideal component to this family-friendly format," in which adults get to see how dumb they are by testing their knowledge of material being taught in fifth grade.]]>unclebarky@tx.rr.comTV Bulletin Board2007-02-08T18:24:13-06:00http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/f9842257acc44107d60e995c5aae3d7c-20.html#unique-entry-id-20http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/f9842257acc44107d60e995c5aae3d7c-20.html#unique-entry-id-20 Singer Norah Jones puts Katie Couric in her side pocket. ***North Texas-raised singing star Norah Jones, whose third CD, Not Too Late, is soaring up the charts, will join Katie Couric for an interview on 60 Minutes Sunday (Feb. 11). ...***Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban is set to guest on ESPN's NBA Live: Bring It Home, a six episode "reality competition" premiering Sunday (Feb. 11) at 6 p.m. central (7 eastern).]]>unclebarky@tx.rr.comTV Bulletin Board2007-02-05T16:47:30-06:00http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/ed6f989ef63fe7da66468bf4e8ff7491-19.html#unique-entry-id-19http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/ed6f989ef63fe7da66468bf4e8ff7491-19.html#unique-entry-id-19 Peyton Manning and the Dungys celebrate their Super Bowl triumph over the Bears; Mandy Patinkin of Criminal Minds ruminates. By ED BARK The official national stats are in on Super bowl XVI, which ranks as the second most-watched ever with an average of 93.15 million viewers. ...Craig Ferguson mopped up with a post-local newscast edition of Late Late Show, which kept 5.2 million viewers either up or dozing while the TV set remained on. It was the show's largest crowd ever, no matter whom the host, says CBS.]]>unclebarky@tx.rr.comTV Bulletin Board2007-02-01T13:07:48-06:00http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/b1fc11f70a1fdf8e044cd4ddd70b12af-18.html#unique-entry-id-18http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/b1fc11f70a1fdf8e044cd4ddd70b12af-18.html#unique-entry-id-18 By ED BARK ***It'll be no more Reba on The CW after a one-hour series finale on Sunday, Feb. 18. ...***Sportscaster Bob Costas has been named to host the prestigious George Foster Peabody Awards, which will have a 66th annual luncheon ceremony on June 4 at the Waldorf-Astoria hotel in Manhattan.]]>unclebarky@tx.rr.comTV Bulletin Board2007-01-31T10:04:09-06:00http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/ac59e47c7d0b4aecfea44359e0cfd7e8-17.html#unique-entry-id-17http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/ac59e47c7d0b4aecfea44359e0cfd7e8-17.html#unique-entry-id-17 By ED BARK ***Quickly rebounding from ABC's cancelation of Help Me Help You, comedy stalwart Ted Danson will give drama a shot in a new, still untitled FX pilot starring Glenn Close. ...Half-hour previews will get plush post-American Idol slots on Feb. 27-28 before the show moves to Thursdays at 8 p.m. central, where it will follow special results editions of Idol.]]>unclebarky@tx.rr.comTV Bulletin Board2007-01-30T13:28:30-06:00http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/52a095576f58c7174656d280dafe205f-16.html#unique-entry-id-16http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/52a095576f58c7174656d280dafe205f-16.html#unique-entry-id-16 Emmitt Smith sidesteps a football question on How I Met Your Mother. By ED BARK ***The Feb. 11th Grammy Awards on CBS will have an arresting opening act in The Police. Sting and former mates Stewart Copeland and Andy Summers have agreed to reunite for the first time since the band's breakup 25 years ago. CBS also announced a half-dozen new presenters -- Joan Baez, Stevie Wonder, Chris Rock, Melissa Eheridge, Queen Latifah and Jennifer Hudson.]]>unclebarky@tx.rr.comTV Bulletin Board2007-01-26T13:50:37-06:00http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/4286244859eeb92321515a65fa8ee74c-15.html#unique-entry-id-15http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/4286244859eeb92321515a65fa8ee74c-15.html#unique-entry-id-15 All hail the cast of The Mary Tyler Moore Show (1970-77). By ED BARK Sunday night's 13th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards (7 p.m. central, 8 eastern on TBS and TNT) will reunite the surviving cast members of The Mary Tyler Moore Show. They'll present SAG's trophy for Outstanding Ensemble in a Comedy Series, an honor that didn't exist during MTM's Emmy-lauded seven-season run on CBS (1970-77).]]>unclebarky@tx.rr.comTV Bulletin Board2007-01-24T15:32:27-06:00http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/624bb54c99784b1a0837c4ee441078be-14.html#unique-entry-id-14http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/624bb54c99784b1a0837c4ee441078be-14.html#unique-entry-id-14Muhammad Ali, Jesse Owens, Thurgood Marshall, Shirley Chisholm and Marian Anderson. ***The Disney Channel's biggest hit, Hannah Montana, has tabbed Brooke Shields to guest star in a flashback sequence as the title character's deceased mother.]]>unclebarky@tx.rr.comTV Bulletin Board2007-01-05T17:06:55-06:00http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/74e5436d9860e505b5ba7f7fc89824af-13.html#unique-entry-id-13http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/74e5436d9860e505b5ba7f7fc89824af-13.html#unique-entry-id-13At Large with Access Hollywood and then run an hour's worth of Judge Joe Brown from 11 p.m. to midnight. ...That compares favorably with the first-season premieres of FX hits such as Nip/Tuck, which also drew 3.7 million total viewers, and Rescue Me (4.1 million).]]>unclebarky@tx.rr.comTV Bulletin Board2007-01-03T13:20:03-06:00http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/b25db1b958433db074a5a91c6b8b8bf0-12.html#unique-entry-id-12http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/b25db1b958433db074a5a91c6b8b8bf0-12.html#unique-entry-id-12James Denton of Desperate Housewives, he'll preside on Jan. 29 from the somewhat un-Miss America-like Planet Hollywood resort & Casino in Vegas. ...***Grease's most famous Sandy, Olivia Newton-John, will guest star on the first two episodes of NBC's new Grease: You're the One That I Want.]]>unclebarky@tx.rr.comTV Bulletin Board2006-12-28T13:33:08-06:00http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/b480321fffac66825f0123ab42419ed0-11.html#unique-entry-id-11http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/b480321fffac66825f0123ab42419ed0-11.html#unique-entry-id-11 Mike Tirico, Joe Theismann and Tony Kornheiser rolled up big numbers during their first season on ESPN's Monday Night Football By ED BARK Paced by a record crowd for the Oct. 23rd Dallas Cowboys-New York Giants game, ESPN's Monday Night Football proved to be a rookie sensation in the ratings. ...The 17-game package included an all-time cable high for the Cowboys-Giants, which had a 12.8 rating (11.807 million homes) and was seen by 16.028 million total viewers.]]>unclebarky@tx.rr.comTV Bulletin Board2006-12-15T14:50:46-06:00http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/f259e164206c2a4ba58c45bbafff3140-6.html#unique-entry-id-6http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/f259e164206c2a4ba58c45bbafff3140-6.html#unique-entry-id-6Oprah Winfrey's the Big Give, scheduled to run for eight episodes, challenges 10 contestants to "take the money and resources they are given and multiply them to come up with the most powerful, sensational, emotional and dramatic ways to give to others." ...***ABC also has started production in Canada on a three-hour remake of A Raisin in the Sun, starring Sean Combs, Phylicia Rashad, Audra McDonald, Sanaa Latham and the ubiquitous John Stamos.]]>unclebarky@tx.rr.comTV Bulletin Board2006-12-14T16:33:56-06:00http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/f2a3a578dd70855da9e70095eb3c94cd-5.html#unique-entry-id-5http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/f2a3a578dd70855da9e70095eb3c94cd-5.html#unique-entry-id-5Ozzy Osborne offspring Jack Osborne, ex-WWE wrestler Trish Stratus, skateboarder Jason "Wee-Man" Acuna and La Toya Jackson, who's billed as an "author." ...Here's the breakdown, according to NBC: 12 members of the Southern Cal marching band, 11 plumbers, 10 male ballet dancers, nine exotic female dancers, eight farmer's wives, seven members of a swim team, six pregnant women, five boxers, four men named Bird, three French chefs, two dove hunters and Danny Bonaduce as a partridge in a pear tree.]]>unclebarky@tx.rr.comTV Bulletin Board2006-12-12T10:41:21-06:00http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/739e64d56933203b425f885596277440-4.html#unique-entry-id-4http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/739e64d56933203b425f885596277440-4.html#unique-entry-id-4Evening News is a distant third choice with viewers while ABC's World News and NBC's Nightly News are locked in a tight battle for first place. ...Among 25-to-54-year-olds, the principal advertiser target audience for news programming, World News had a paper-thin edge over Nightly News (2.92 million to 2.9 million), with Evening News at 2.26 million.]]>unclebarky@tx.rr.comTV Bulletin Board2006-12-04T15:11:41-06:00http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/f238a001b1ae0fc94120307198fa155b-3.html#unique-entry-id-3http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/f238a001b1ae0fc94120307198fa155b-3.html#unique-entry-id-3***CBS has gifted its second-year series Criminal Minds with a post-Super Bowl XLI slot in hopes of further growing its audience against Lost when the ABC series returns to Wednesdays in mid-February. ..."This is an outstanding opportunity to expose a series that is young in its life cycle and on the rise to an enormous universe of potential new viewers," says NBC entertainment president Nina Tassler.]]>unclebarky@tx.rr.comTV Bulletin Board2006-11-30T17:09:39-06:00http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/a8f7a76716d56584235a638eaaf26e0b-2.html#unique-entry-id-2http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/a8f7a76716d56584235a638eaaf26e0b-2.html#unique-entry-id-2 By ED BARK OK, you probably haven't focused yet on that little guy up above with a microphone to his mouth. ...He'll now be singing selections from his FutureSex/LoveSounds CD during CBS' Tuesday night, Dec. 5 telecast of The Victoria's Secret Fashion Show (9 central, 10 eastern).]]>unclebarky@tx.rr.comTV Bulletin Board2006-11-27T21:13:24-06:00http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/11bd9802e57ccb34108a44fe5a34e2a6-1.html#unique-entry-id-1http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/11bd9802e57ccb34108a44fe5a34e2a6-1.html#unique-entry-id-1Prison Break's fall finale. By ED BARK Actor William Fichtner turned 50 on Monday. ...The shooter, duplicitous Secret Service Agent Paul Kellerman (Paul Adelstein), fired on Fichtner's twisted FBI guy, Alex Mahone, in the episode's closing minutes.]]>unclebarky@tx.rr.comTV Bulletin Board2006-11-26T19:23:53-06:00http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/34ea3b6a73a289eea25c62be1f6a1a0f-0.html#unique-entry-id-0http://www.unclebarky.com/board_files/34ea3b6a73a289eea25c62be1f6a1a0f-0.html#unique-entry-id-0 Charlie Brown rides again on ABC, but The Nine is being holstered. By ED BARK ABC has benched The Nine indefinitely after last Wednesday's episode lagged a distant third opposite CBS' CSI: NY and NBC's Medium. ...27, look for a repeat of the ubiquitous House after the fall finale of Prison Break.]]>