Filed under: BROADCAST/CABLE | Tags: Carol Burnett, Charlie Chaplin, Jack Benny, Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert, The Colbert Report, The Daily Show, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart Presents America: A Cit
The fourth season premiere of TNT’s “The Closer” on Monday night pulled in a total of 7.81 million viewers, according to Nielsen’s live-plus-same-day figures. The episode reached 3.29 million viewers in the 25-to-54 demographic and 2.48 million 18- to 49-year-olds. Mediaweek (7/15)
Last Sunday’s series premiere of Brooke Knows Best on VH1 at 10p posted a 1.3 rating and averaged 1.4 million viewers among A18-49. The opening episode also averaged 2.0 million total viewers. (Cynopsis 7/16)
Billy Crystal signed on to host the six-hour documentary series Make ‘Em Laugh: The Funny Business of America produced by Thirteen/WNET New York and Ghost Light Films. The documentary, which is slated to air next January, will look at the various forms of American comedy and its evolution as it relates to social issues, political change and its commentary on American life. It will also look at some of the top comedic talents from the past and present such as Charlie Chaplin, Jack Benny, Lucille Ball, Carol Burnett, George Carlin, Jon Stewart and more. (Cynopsis 7/16)
FX has ordered 19 new episodes of “Nip/Tuck” and announced that those would be the last new installments of the show, which will come to an end in 2011. Meanwhile, the network also announced plans for a second comedy — “Testees” — about two pals who become professional guinea pigs. Broadcasting & Cable (7/15) , The Hollywood Reporter (7/15)
Comcast will offer on its video-on-demand service exclusive content tied to the release of Warner Bros.’ “The Dark Knight,” the latest installment in the Batman movies. As part of the deal, Comcast customers will gain access to behind-the-scenes footage, cast interviews and movie trailers. World Screen News (7/15)
Thanks to the additions in 2007 of Fox Sports en Espanol and Mun2, ad revenue on Spanish-language cable networks soared 76%, to $220.7 million, last year, according to data just released by Nielsen. Excluding the two new networks, the sector still rose 32.3% from 2006 to 2007. Multichannel News (7/15)
The National Geographic Channel led all cable networks with 12 nominations in the 29th Annual News and Documentary Emmy Awards. Also receiving nods were cablers HBO/Cinemax (with 10); the History Channel (7); CNN (5); Current TV, Discovery Channel and Smithsonian Channel (3 each); HDNet, HDNet/PBS, MSNBC and VH1 (2 apiece); and Animal Planet, Discovery Times Channel and Oxygen (1 each). Reuters/The Hollywood Reporter (7/15) , Broadcasting & Cable (7/15)
In an example of Walt Disney Co.’s corporate synergy, ESPN has started offering short-form video clips to the Web sites of ABC’s 10 owned-and-operated TV stations. Programming involved in the move includes “SportsCenter Right Now,” “Mike and Mike in the Morning,” “Pardon the Interruption” and “Around the Horn.” Mediaweek (7/15)
A small group of leaders from SAG and the Alliance of Motion Picture & Television Producers will convene today for a “sidebar meeting” at the AMPTP headquarters in Sherman Oaks. AMPTP made it clear that they are willing to meet with SAG, but only to listen. AMPTP leaders continue to urge SAG to take its final offer from June 30, saying the deal cannot be negotiated further. If the studio’s offer is ratified by August 15, the terms will be retroactive to July 1. (Cynopsis 7/16)
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