Jessica Lewis - Page 244

Michael Urie (Ugly Betty, The Temperamentals) has signed on to LogoTV-sponsored, BUNKED!: A New Musical, where he will provide his voice as the Camp Loudspeaker.

ABC News reports that American Idol and The Color Purple alumna Fantasia Barrino is being hospitalized for an apparent drug overdose. The performer went into the hospital on Monday, August 9 in North Carolina. The overdose is allegedly due to an abuse of asprin and sleeping pills in conjunction with dehydration.

Tom O'Neil, author of the LA Times Gold Derby column, has revealed that fan favorite, Neil Patrick Harris, has just been granted a third 2010 Primetime Emmy nomination for his performance as the 2009 Tony Awards host in the category of Special-Class Program. Why the delay, as nominees were announced on July 8? An oversight, according to O'Neil.

Fancy yourself as the as the new lead singer in timeless West End shows such as 'Cats' or the 'Phantom of the Opera', wowing crowds and being a part of some of the greatest shows on earth?

When 34-year-old JoAnne Fluke was born premature, doctors thought she would only live for 72 hours. But she defied the doctor's prognoses and two weeks later, was home. Born with a rare birth defect in which the bottom half of the spine is missing, JoAnne has tiny webbed legs that she can't use or control and is shorter than a ten-month-old child. A tremendous obstacle to some, JoAnne has a ferociously independent spirit with a full-time career and a passion for dance. On Sunday, August 22, TLC invites viewers to witness the inspiring story of JoAnne Fluke with the premiere of the one-hour special, DANCER WITH TINY LEGS at 10 PM ET/PT.

A rebroadcast of THE BIG BANG THEORY was Monday's top-rated program in adults 18-49 and adults 25-54, while a rebroadcast of TWO AND A HALF MEN led the night in viewers, all against first-run programming on the competition, according to Nielsen preliminary live plus same day ratings for Aug. 9.

The ABC Television Network has ordered eight additional episodes of the critically-acclaimed series 'Shark Tank,' the reality series that gives budding entrepreneurs a chance to make their dreams come true and become successful -- and possibly wealthy -- business people. The aspiring entrepreneurs must first try to convince five tough, multi-millionaire tycoons to part with their own hard-earned cash and give them the funding they need to jumpstart their business ideas.

Despite ABC's strong summer fueled by NBA basketball, FOX has successfully closed the gap to tie as the No. 1 broadcast network of the summer season. With gains by LIE TO ME and THE GOOD GUYS, another strong serving of MASTERCHEF, and a sizzling SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE Top 4 performance show, FOX placed a very close second among Adults 18-49 last week and won the week among Adults 18-34 and Teens.

Last season's winner of BIG BROTHER, Jordan Lloyd, and her fellow Houseguest Jeff Schroeder will make a surprise appearance on BIG BROTHER this Wednesday, August 11 (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. Jordan and Jeff met inside the house last season and dated throughout the summer, establishing themselves as the house's official 'showmance.' Both are returning to the BIG BROTHER house to host this week's Power of Veto competition, titled 'Lovers' Lane.' In the competition, seven Houseguests will have 45-seconds to roll 16 bowling balls, hoping to strike down ten bowling pins that are stacked on top of each other. After each player bowled in a round, they will then challenge one of the other eligible Houseguests to knock down more pins. Whoever knocks down the most pins, and stays in the game until the final bowler remains is crowned this week's Veto holder.

Continuing to grow its primetime numbers year to year (on each week of Summer 2010), ABC turned in its strongest weekly performance since mid-June (with coverage of the NBA Finals) in both Total Viewers (5.5 million) and Adults 18-49 (1.6/5) - since w/o 6/14/10. In fact, the Net posted its top non-NBA summertime week in more than 2 years - since w/o 7/7/08.

CBS won its seventh consecutive week in viewers led by the continued ratings growth of BIG BROTHER and nine of the top 10 scripted series, according to Nielsen live plus same day ratings for the week ending Aug. 8, week 46 of the 2009-2010 television year.

For the week of August 2, 2010: The premiere of 'Phineas and Ferb Summer Belongs To You' on Disney Channel was the week's No. 1 animated series in Kids 6-11 (1.53 million/6.2 rating) and cable's most-watched animated series in Total Viewers (3.86 million). This impressive performance comes after the episode's record-setting premiere on Disney XD, where it was the channel's No. 1 series telecast this year to date in Total Viewers and Boys 6-11.

Week four of Syfy's Fact or Faked: Paranormal Files (Thursdays 10-11 PM ET/PT) hit series highs for a second straight week with its August 5th episode, soaring +28% in adults 18-49s and +35% in adults 25-54s to average 683,000 in 18-49s and 733,000 in 25-54s.

CMT has ordered 12 episodes of its first scripted comedy, WORKING CLASS, a half-hour, family-oriented sitcom starring Melissa Peterman. Set to premiere on CMT in January 2011, WORKING CLASS follows the life of a single blue collar mom, who has recently moved her family to a rich suburban neighborhood to try and provide a better life for her kids, while proudly retaining her 'working class' roots.

As BroadwayWorld has previously reported, The Romantics, starring Katie Holmes, Josh Duhamel, Elijah Wood, Anna Paquin and GLEE's Dianna Agron opens in theaters September 24, 2010. BroadwayWorld brings you a first look at the film's just-released trailer below!

Eric Rosen, artistic director of Kansas City Repertory Theatre, has announced that a new production of the musical Saved, directed by Gary Griffin (The Color Purple-Broadway and national tour, Pacific Overtures--London), will open the Rep's 2010-11 season.

Shana Farr, who made her debut at Feinstein's last December with her show 'Pure Imagination,' returns tonight and tomorrow (August 10 and 11) at 8:30 PM to celebrate the early career of Julie Andrews in her brand new show 'Whistling Away The Dark,' which celebrates Julie Andrews' early life and career.

Lead producer Michael Cohl announced today that SPIDER-MAN Turn Off The Dark will begin preview performances on Broadway on Sunday, November 14, 2010, at 3 p.m., with Opening Night set for Tuesday evening, December 21. Directed by Julie Taymor and featuring a book by Julie Taymor and Glen Berger, and new music and lyrics by Bono and The Edge, SPIDER-MAN Turn Off The Dark will open at Broadway's Foxwoods Theatre (213 West 42nd Street).

As BroadwayWorld has previously reported, GLEE will feature a Britney Spears tribute episode in its second season, premiering September 21, 2010 on FOX. Says GLEE star Lea Michele of the episode: it's '15 music videos inside this episode, very much like the Madonna [tribute episode].' Heather Morris, who plays 'Brittany' on the show, will be playing Britney Spears in a dream sequence. To date, however, GLEE execs were mum on whether or not Spears herself would be making a cameo in the episode. Series creator Ryan Murphy has finally spilled the beans and revealed on Ryan Seacrest's radio show today that - yes - Spears would be appearing on the show.

On August 8, the CBS Sunday morning show profiled performing arts breeding ground, Stagedoor Manor, and the recently released book that takes readers inside the camp, 'Theater Geek.' BroadwayWorld brings you the segment below.