Fox Picks Up Procedural Drama BACKSTROM with Rainn WilsonJanuary 7, 2014Fox Broadcasting Company (FOX) has given a 13-episode series order to BACKSTROM, a one-hour drama from 20thCentury Fox Television, based on renowned Swedish criminologist and novelist Leif G.W. Persson's hit series of books of the same name. Created and executive-produced by Hart Hanson (BONES, “The Finder”), the series centers on Detective EVERETT BACKSTROM (three-time Emmy Award nominee Rainn Wilson, “The Office”), an offensive, irascible detective, as he tries, and fails, to change his self-destructive behavior. Throughout the series, Backstrom leads his team, the Serious Crimes Unit, as they navigate Portland's most sensitive cases.
SPORTSCENTER to Cover Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 2014 Announcement TomorrowJanuary 7, 2014SportsCenter will provide comprehensive, day-long coverage of the Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 2014 announcement on Wednesday, January 8. Pre-announcement coverage will begin on ESPN during the 9 a.m. ET hour with updates and segments continuing throughout the day. In the 2 p.m. hour, Baseball Tonight's Karl Ravech will host coverage of the announcement with 2012 Hall of Fame inductee (the most recent Hall of Famer) and Baseball Tonight analyst Barry Larkin and ESPN MLB Insider and Hall of Fame voter Tim Kurkjian. Class of 2014 reaction and analysis will continue through the 6 p.m. SportsCenter.
MTV's TEEN WOLF Hits Series High with Season 3 PremiereJanuary 7, 2014The highly anticipated second half of “Teen Wolf” season three returned as Monday's #1 original cable series. The most watched telecast in the series' history, the episode drew-in a record 2.5 million total viewers. It also garnered a strong 2.3 P12-34 rating, matching the earlier series high when season three first debuted. According to Social Guide, “Teen Wolf” was the most social entertainment program of the night, with nearly 1.2 million tweets — 25 percent more than the earlier series high. Season three is pacing to be the highest-rated and most-watched season to date.
Fox's NFC Wildcard Game & Animated Series Drive Weekly RatingsJanuary 7, 2014As the holidays came to a close, FOX's week was highlighted by the NFC WILDCARD PLAYOFF GAME and 2014 COTTON BOWL along with THE SIMPSONS, BOB'S BURGERS, FAMILY GUY and AMERICAN DAD, which led the network to a second-place finish among Adults 18-34. BOB'S BURGERS delivered its highest-ratings among Adults 18-49 in one year. In addition, FOX NFL SUNDAY won the week outright across all of television among Adults 18-49, Adults 18-34, Teens and Total Viewers.
REV RUN'S RENOVATION Premiere on DIY Network Draws 442,000 Total ViewersJanuary 7, 2014DIY Network's back-to-back premieres of Rev Run's Renovation on Saturday, January 4 at 10p ET/PT attracted 442,000 total viewers, helping the time period's P25-54 rating grow 62% over year-ago levels and 31% over the prior 13 weeks. During the 10-episode series airing on Saturdays at 10p ET/PT, the home's remodel becomes a family affair as Rev Run, his wife Justine, their kids Daniel (Diggy), Russell (Russy) and Miley, and a team of builders work together to completely renovate their 9,000 square foot New Jersey home. As the family mansion is gutted from top to bottom, Run and Justine debate the new design possibilities for each space. Rev Run and Michael Lehman are executive producers of the series.
MYTHBUSTERS Special DANGEROUS TOYS to Premiere this Weekend on Discovery ChannelJanuary 7, 2014After years of working together, Jamie Hyneman and Adam Savage of MythBusters are finally squaring off against each other as they fabricate the necessary components to play an elaborate child's game of war. They will utilize ingenuity and innovation as they try to take each other down. DANGEROUS TOYS, an all-new one-hour special executive produced by Savage and Hyneman, will premiere Saturday, Jan. 11 at 9PM ET/PT.
Andy Fickman in Talks to Direct PAUL BLART: MALL COP SequelJanuary 7, 2014Paul Blart: Mall Cop followed the most dedicated-if not talented-mall cop at West Orange Pavilion Mall in New Jersey. When the mall is taken over by a gang of crooks, Paul gets his chance to prove himself. But does he have what it takes to fend off the bad guys and save the girl?
FX Gives Pilot Order to New Denis Leary Comedy SEX&DRUGS&ROCK&ROLLJanuary 7, 2014The project follows Leary as a 'middle-aged rock star' who longs for a rebound in his career, and comes from the Jim Serpico and Leary's Apostle, FX productions, and Fox Television Studios. Should FX network decide to move forward, SEX&DRUGS&ROCK&ROLL could either end up on the flagship network, or on the newly-launched FXX.
VIDEOS: NBC Releases New 2014 Sochi Olympics FeaturettesJanuary 6, 2014With just 30 days to go until the 2014 Sochi Olympics kick off on NBC, the network has released three new featurettes, '12 New Olympic Sports,' 'Olympians Are Just Like Us!,' and 'Olympic Trivia.' Check them out below!
Aisha Tyler, Chrissy Teigen & More to Appear on THE PRICE IS RIGHT as Celebrity Guest Models this MonthJanuary 6, 2014Daytime Emmy Award-winning game show THE PRICE IS RIGHT has announced its lineup of celebrity guest models for January. Daytime's #1-rated series and the longest-running game show in television HISTORY will continue to welcome television personalities and CBS Daytime stars as celebrity guest models throughout the season, weekdays(11:00 AM-12:00 Noon, ET; 10:00-11:00 AM, PT) on the CBS Television Network.
NBCSN Kicks Off 2014 Dakar Rally Coverage TodayJanuary 6, 2014More than 450 teams of competitors will compete in the world's most challenging off-road endurance race starting today, when NBCSN begins its coverage of the 2014 Dakar Rally at 5 p.m. ET.
DOWNTON ABBEY Hits New Series High with Season 4 PremiereJanuary 6, 2014PBS and WGBH announced today that the premiere of 'Downton Abbey, Season 4' on MASTERPIECE enchanted viewers nationwide as the Crawley family faced changes in the wake of last season's shocking finale. An average audience of 10.2 million viewers tuned in for Sunday's premiere. (Nielsen Fast National data, 6.2 household rating.)
FACE THE NATION Delivers Highest Fourth Quarter Audience Since 1992January 6, 2014 FACE THE NATION posted its best fourth-quarter delivery in viewers since 1992. Season-to-date and in Fourth Quarter 2013 most current, FACE THE NATION was up +2% in viewers (3.34m from 3.28m), even in adults 25-54 (0.8/04). FACE THE NATION matched its prior two fourth-quarter adults 25-54 deliveries. FACE THE NATION posted its second consecutive fourth-quarter first-place finish in households and viewers, was first in adults 25-54 (including ties) for the third consecutive fourth quarter.
Photo Flash: First Look at ABC Family's Newest Comedies MYSTERY GIRLS and YOUNG & HUNGRYJanuary 6, 2014ABC Family announced today the pick-up of two half-hour comedy series 'Mystery Girls,' starring and executive produced by Tori Spelling and Jennie Garth, and 'Young & Hungry,' starring Emily Osment, from executive producer Ashley Tisdale. Production will commence on both series in Los Angeles in early 2014, and both will premiere in 2014. Check out a first look at both shows below!