Noticias | Noviembre 2009

TNT is expected to announce Monday that it will begin showing Southland

Turner Entertainment Sees the Broadcast Networks as Its Fattest Target

If there is a fault line between the big but shrinking broadcast networks and the small but growing cable networks, it would run right through Steve Koonin’s office in Atlanta.

Mr. Koonin, the president of Turner Entertainment Networks, has been orchestrating the TNT cable channel’s growth for almost a decade, from a unit best-known for “Law and Order” reruns to a financial powerhouse for the parent company, Time Warner.

In another sign of its growing reliance on original programming, TNT is expected to announce Monday that it will begin showing “Southland,” the critically acclaimed but abruptly canceled NBC police drama, starting in January. With the move, “Southland” becomes the rare TV series to be dropped by a broadcaster and revived by a cable outlet, where it will compete at 10 p.m. with NBC’s “The Jay Leno Show.”

TNT was talking to the producer of “Southland,” Warner Brothers, within hours of the cancellation in October. “We want to provide what the broadcast networks aren’t,” Mr. Koonin said.

As NBC’s verdict for “Southland” indicates, the “counterpunching opportunity,” as Mr. Koonin puts it, involves scripted series. TNT’s biggest claims to fame are “The Closer,” which stars Kyra Sedgwick, and “Saving Grace,” starring Holly Hunter. Like other cable channels that are known for original shows, TNT saves most of its ammunition for the summer, when broadcasters are not at the top of their game.

But the summer strategy is slowly evolving. On Dec. 7, TNT will introduce the hourlong comedy-drama “Men of a Certain Age,” which will star Ray Romano, star of the CBS sitcom “Everybody Loves Raymond.” The series follows three college buddies as they face middle age.

In January, TNT will begin to show the seven episodes of “Southland” that NBC introduced last spring, and the six episodes that NBC ordered but did not show. It will monitor the show’s ratings performance before deciding whether to order more.

“We’re not slaves to everything except our brand,” Mr. Koonin said. “It’s the only idol we worship.”

Mr. Koonin knows branding, having joined TNT in 2000 from the Coca-Cola Company, where he was the vice president for consumer marketing. He sharpened TNT’s identity as a channel for dramas, adopting the slogan “We Know Drama” in 2001. Later, he turned to TNT’s sibling cable unit, TBS, as a springboard for new and rerun comedies.

He now oversees TCM (Turner Classic Movies) and truTV (formerly Court TV) as well. Together, the channels — which are run as one business — represent about 10 percent of all cable viewing, Turner says.

“We’re managed and organized much more like a consumer products group than we are a TV network,” Mr. Koonin said.

In 2007, Mr. Koonin and his colleagues submitted a three-year plan to executives at Time Warner, the parent company of the Turner Broadcasting unit, of which TNT is a part. The plan, they said at the time, was to schedule three nights of original series in 2010.

They reached the target one year early. Next year, Mr. Koonin expects TNT to show at least eight original series.

Looking beyond three nights a week, “There seem to be some 10 o’clock opportunities today,” he said, alluding to NBC’s prime-time talk show starring Mr. Leno.

Most of the hours of TNT’s day still consist of network reruns and movies. But Mr. Koonin said the original programs are responsible for a “substantial and growing” portion of the channel’s revenues.

TNT averages a million viewers at any given time, enough to make it one of the 10 most popular channels on cable. Among 18- to 49-year-old viewers, the channel placed fifth in prime time in mid-October, the most recent week of available Nielsen ratings.

TNT also ranks No. 5 on the research firm SNL Kagan’s list of cable advertising earners. The company estimates that TNT will take in $884 million in ad revenue this year, up about six percent from the last year.

But Mr. Koonin emphasizes that his target is not bigger cable channels like FX or USA. It is the broadcasters. In the long term, he said, “if we focus on other cable, we’re not going to grow.”

There have been missteps. Introducing “Raising the Bar,” a legal drama from Steven Bochco in September 2008, at the same time that many broadcast shows were making debuts, “was foolish,” Mr. Koonin concedes. This year it dropped “Trust Me,” a series set at an advertising agency. “Raising the Bar” and another, “Dark Blue,” are awaiting decisions about their fates.

“We’re going to have failures,” Mr. Koonin said. “But we know if our brand is strong, then our shows have an opportunity. That’s why our brand is the most important asset we have.”

Cable shows differ from broadcast in significant ways. Cable seasons regularly top out at 13 episodes, rather than the 22 or 24 of broadcast. Producers may shave a day or two off the production schedule for each episode. Marketing budgets are generally lower.

But the stars, the sets, and the scripts are all costly. In the case of “Southland,” NBC was paying Warner a license fee of about $1.6 million for each episode. (It reportedly dropped the program because it was more cost-effective to show the newsmagazine “Dateline” instead.) TNT will pay $1.4 million to $1.5 million an episode.

Some budget trims will have to be made if a new season’s episodes are ordered. But Mr. Koonin said the show would retain its lead actors and its writing staff. On cable, “will the show look the same? The answer’s yes,” he said.

After nearly 10 years at Turner, he says he still finds himself rebutting wrong-headed assumptions about cable “every day.” But he takes that as a challenge: “This is David, as an industry, toppling Goliath,” he said.

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que excelente vale :)

Official: TNT picks up 'Southland'

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Southland pair TNT has rescued NBC's canceled sophomore drama "Southland."

In a rare industry move, a cable network has picked up a discarded broadcast series. TNT has obtained the exclusive rights to run the six unaired episodes of "Southland" which were on NBC's fall schedule before the broadcaster unexpectedly axed the show two weeks before its premiere.

TNT will air all 13 produced episodes of Warner Bros. drama, including its seven-episode first season when it premiered as NBC's midseason replacement last April. TNT will then decide whether to commission additional episodes.

"Southland" will make its TNT debut on Tuesday, Jan. 12 at 10 p.m.

By only committing to episodes that have already been produced, the deal minimizes TNT's financial risk and allows the cable network to evaluate the success of the show before investing in a re-start of production.

“This is a great win for fans of 'Southland' and a perfect opportunity to introduce the series to new viewers,” said Steve Koonin, president of TNT.

As first reported by THR's Nellie Andreeva, the TNT pickup has been anticipated for weeks.

NBC purportedly canceled the drama because the new episodes were "too dark" for the network, especially with 10 p.m. weekday time slots now occupied by "The Jay Leno Show." Another factor was the show's ratings, which left NBC with little faith that the drama would survive its tough Friday time period.

But as shows like Monday night's freshman drama "Trauma" struggled, some in the industry criticized NBC for not giving the show a chance to survive, particularly given Wells' long history with the network as the showrunner of "ER."

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ABC plans 5 more 'Shark Tank' episodes

"Shark Tank" will likely get a second chance to pitch itself to viewers.

ABC plans to air five more episodes of Mark Burnett's reality series.

The network had three unaired "Shark Tank" episodes left in the can and has now asked producers to cobble together another two episodes from existing footage for an expected five-episode run. No air date is set.

The network has not ordered production on new episodes of the series, however, contradicting a Tweet from one of the show's panelists that spurred some speculation about a renewal.

"Shark" Robert Herjavec (aka, "the nice one") wrote via Twitter: "Great news – ABC has ordered more episodes of Shark Tank !!!! No air date yet – but it’s coming."

Sorry buddy, but you're no Paula Abdul.

This should allow ABC a chance to test the waters with "Shark" once again. The downside is that you have to figure that the material is probably not the most compelling deal-making footage from the show's first round of production. And given the holidays are coming up, I smell another tough time period ahead for the show.

Ooooootro reality de cocina en fox y con el mismo tipo para colmo, ya son 3!

Fox orders 'Idol'-style cooking show with Gordon Ramsay

Hells By James Hibberd & Matthew Belloni

Foodies, get ready for a culinary “American Idol.”

Fox is expanding its line of Gordon Ramsay reality shows by giving a series order to Reveille’s “MasterChef.”

Ramsay will co-produce and star in the program, in which nonprofessional cooks compete to create perfect dishes. The project is based on a Shine TV format that’s popular in the U.K. and Australia. The show joins Ramsay’s other titles on Fox — “Hell’s Kitchen” and “Kitchen Nightmares” — and should keep
Fox stocked with the temperamental chef’s reality fare nearly year-around.

“A huge reality format that works great in other countries plus Gordon Ramsay guarantees success,” Fox president of alternative Mike Darnell said. “Gordon is like our ‘CSI.’ ”

The “MasterChef” format has aired in several incarnations in the U.K., with the earliest dating to 1990. The Australian edition premiered this year and has been a ratings powerhouse, its finale ranking as one of the country’s most-watched programs in a decade.

“This is a huge, nationwide search for the best amateur cook in America,” said executive producer Howard T. Owens of Reveille. “It’s about people who are lawyers, construction workers and stay-at-home moms but whose real passion is to make great food. This is their shot to prove they have what it takes.”

The details for Fox’s “MasterChef” are being worked out, but the show will most closely resemble the Australian edition. In each season, contestants from around the country audition by creating a dish for a panel of three judges to earn spots as semi-finalists. The remaining contestants compete each week via team-based and individual cooking challenges until only one remains.

“Hell’s Kitchen’ is about finding a head chef that can work in a restaurant,” Darnell said. “This is about creating the perfect dish, and the contestants can be plucked from anywhere.”

Fox is ordering relatively few episodes (between 12 and 15) compared to the Australia edition, which was stripped six nights a week. The U.S. format and Ramsay's on-camera role are expected to fine-tuned over the coming weeks.

Scheduling has yet to be determined. One possible scenario is Fox will air a late spring edition of “Hell’s Kitchen” that will bleed into the summer and then, out of “Kitchen,” unveil “MasterChef.”

“Hell’s Kitchen” is the network’s second-most-popular reality series after “American Idol,” yet it’s more versatile than the singing competition — Fox has aired “Hell’s” all over its schedule and at different times of the year, and the show always performs competitively. Fox’s “Kitchen Nightmares” has been a more modest performer and is expected to return sometime next year. Fox also has a live cooking special coming up with Ramsay in December called “Cook Along.”

“Because we’ve had such success with cooking reality, we’re the best place to make this into a big show,” Darnell said.

Shine International will handle international distribution for the format, which was originally produced by Shine TV. Owens, Mark Koops and Elisabeth Murdoch will exec produce for Shine Reveille. Ramsay, Ben Adler and Pat Llewellyn are exec producers for Ramsay’s One Potato Two Potato

Coño de pana al ramsy ese montenle un rancho con direc tv de una vez

CBS ORDERS MORE EPISODES OF FRESHMAN COMEDY "ACCIDENTALLY ON PURPOSE"

On the heels of last night's broadcast which matched a series high adult 18-34 rating, CBS has ordered an additional five episodes of its freshman comedy ACCIDENTALLY ON PURPOSE, bringing its season order to 18.

ACCIDENTALLY ON PURPOSE is averaging 8.04 million viewers, 3.1/07 in adults 18-49 and 3.7/08 in adults 25-54 in its Monday (8:30-9:00 PM) time period, according to Nielsen most current ratings.

Last night's broadcast, against game 5 of the World Series, matched its series high in adults 18-34 (2.5/07).

ACCIDENTALLY ON PURPOSE, starring Jenna Elfman, Ashley Jensen, Jon Foster, Grant Show, Lennon Parham and Nicolas Wright, is produced by CBS Television Studios. Claudia Lonow, Lloyd Braun, Gail Berman and Gene Stein are executive producers.

...The Class tuvo 19 episodios xD

no me hagan esto de nuevo CBS! :sad: xD

JAJAJAJAJA! XDDD :lol:

Weno, siendo justos, The Class era bastante mejor q AoP.

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YEEEEEEEEEEE!!! X3

NBC lands The Doctor!!!

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Doctor who's David Tennant has landed a role in a new US comedy pilot, says The Hollywood Reporter.

According to reports, the 38-year-old Doctor Who star has been cast as the title character in NBC's "Rex Is Not Your Lawyer", marking his US television debut.

The project focuses on Tennant's character, a top lawyer who starts suffering from panic attacks and eventually coaches his clients to represent themselves in court.

The comedic drama will be helmed by David Semel, who directed the pilots of shows including Heroes and Life.

Last month, Tennant, who has played the Tenth Doctor since 2005, was named the most popular Doctor Who lead in the show's 46-year-history.

emmm.... Eli Stone?

X dooooooooonde es Eli Stone? Nomas q es abogado. Lo de Eli, no eran atakes. Asumo le dan atakes tipo Monk q se paraliza o cosas asi y va guiando de lejitos al cliente, además es comedia. Eli tenia cosas graciosas pero era drama. y aca tampoco cantan/bailan.

No se tiene que ser BIEN comica pa que sea buen, porque a la final va a ser muy predecible si ya se sabe que todos lo casos siempre los clientes van a ser quienes se representen.

'Flight of the Conchords' might end soon
Jemaine Clement says a decision will be made in a month

"Flight of the Conchords" star Jemaine Clement has said his offbeat HBO comedy series may not continue for a third season because it requires so much work, but a final decision will be made within a month.

Clement told Reuters that he needs to discuss the future of the show with his co-star, Bret McKenzie, and with the director of the series, James Bobin.

"It very likely might not" return for a third season, Clement said.

"It could come back in a shorter season or like a special," he added.

The largely autobiographical "Flight of the Conchords," an offbeat, cult favorite in the U.S., tells of two New Zealand bandmates named Jemaine and Bret who move to New York to try to make it in the music business.

The show began in 2007 and is based on Clement and McKenzie's folk parody band Flight of the Conchords. The second season ended this past spring on the U.S. network HBO.

This year, the show gained an Emmy nomination for best comedy series, but lost to NBC's "30 Rock." Clement also was nominated for best lead actor in a comedy series.

Clement, who took flight on a solo career last week starring in a new movie "Gentleman Broncos," said he and McKenzie are challenged to keep up with the work required for the show.

"We've got to write the series, but we've also got to write the songs, and just dividing your time into those two writing tasks is really tricky," he said.

Clement, who also told Reuters in January that Season 2 could be the last for "Flight of the Conchords," said its end would be "bittersweet" because "it's so hard" to produce.

"Flight of the Conchords" averaged 3.1 million viewers per episode last season, in-line with Season 1, HBO said.

"We've left their future entirely in their hands," said Nancy Lesser, a spokeswoman for the network. "We would love to have more, and we left an open door at HBO."

Last year, Clement and McKenzie's musical duo Flight of the Conchords won New Zealand's first Grammy since 1984, for their EP "The Distant Future." They won for best comedy album.

Hizo tanto asi?
Bueno yo no estaba esperando una T3, por que ya ellos habian dicho que lo mas seguro la segunda iba a ser la ultima. Ojalas hagan un especial entonces.

This just in: CBS trims 'Numb3rs,' orders more 'NCIS' and 'Mother'

by Michael Ausiello
Categories: News, Numb3rs

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A CBS spokesperson is confirming that the network has cut Numb3rs‘ episode order from 22 to 16. Translation: This is most likely the show’s final season.

I’m hearing Flashpoint will likely take over the Friday 10 p.m. timeslot in February, although there’s been no official confirmation of that.

In related news, CBS has upped the episode orders of How I Met Your Mother, NCIS, NCIS: LA, CSI: Miami, and Two and a Half Men from 22 to 24, while requesting one additional episode of Criminal Minds, CSI: NY, The Big Bang Theory, The Good Wife, CSI, and The Mentalist, bringing their total

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De esperarse, a Numb3rs no le está yendo muy bien que digamos, aunque la verdad dudo que a Flashpoint le vaya a ir mejor

Bien por los episodios extras de TBBT, TGW y TM!

seran tan m asi pa djar numbrs sin final?

todavia tienen mucho chance de hacer final. CBS debería intentar no repetir lo que hizo el año pasado con WAT

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TV version of '2012' in the works

Roland Emmerich, the director/producer of the apocalyptic film 2012 (opening Nov. 13), confirmed to EW exclusively that a small-screen version of the end-of-the-world movie is already in the works. Emmerich said there was “plenty to do in a TV show” and that 2012 executive producer Howard Gordon – who’s also an exec producer on TV shows like Grey’s Anatomy and Private Practice - would be attached.

“The plan is that it is 2013 and it’s about what happens after the disaster,” Emmerich told EW while walking the red carpet for the 2012 premiere Tuesday. “It is about the resettling of Earth. That is very, very fascinating. (2012 writer/producer) Harold Kloser and I came up with the idea and we have the luxury of having a producer on the film who is a big TV producer, Mark Gordon. We said to Mark, ‘Why don’t you do a TV show that picks up where the movie leaves off and call it 2013?’ I think it will focus on a group of people who survived but not on the boats … maybe they were on a piece of land that was spared or one that became an island in the process of the crust moving. There are so many possibilities of what they could do and I’d be excited to watch it.”

Word in Hollywood is that Gordon has already entered talks with ABC to develop the disaster drama. Though Gordon wouldn’t confirm this, he did tell EW that ABC “will have an opening in their disaster-related programming after Lost ends” (An ABC spokeswoman declined to comment). “I think people would be interested in this topic on a weekly basis,” Gordon said, who also attended Tuesday’s premiere. “There’s hope for the world despite the magnitude of the 2012 disaster as seen in the film. After the movie, there are some people who survive and the question is how will these survivors build a new world and what will it look like. That might make an interesting TV series.”

Added Emmerich, “The movie talks about the varied reactions people have in the face of disaster and who should survive and how we carry on and what parts of our culture do we save. The TV show could carry on all that.” – With reporting from Carrie Bell

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mmm