The 2010 Primetime Emmy Awards nominees were announced at a traditionally early-morning ceremony today in L.A. And if there’s one message that the 62nd Emmy Award nominations sent, it’s that it’s good to be Glee.
The freshman musical/dramedy racked up more nods than any other ongoing television series, scoring a whopping 19 nominations — including best comedy series, best comedy actor for Matthew Morrison, best comedy actress for Lea Michele, supporting comedy actor for Chris Colfer, and supporting comedy actress for Jane Lynch. Three of its guest stars even got a nod each, and there were any number of hair, makeup, directing nominations as well.
The most total nominations went to the HBO miniseries The Pacific, which nabbed an incredible 24 nods. Other big winners include Mad Men, with 17 nominations; 15 noms each for Temple Grandin, 30 Rock, and You Don’t Know Jack; and 14 nominations for ABC’s freshman comedy series Modern Family. continued →
Ryan Seacrest Productions is growing its television empire by creating a new dancing show for E!. Just Dance is said to be a reality show about choreographers and dancers in Los Angeles.
Laurie Ann Gibson is already slated as one of the cast members. Gibson is best known as Lady Gaga’s choreographer for videos like “Paparazzi,” “Telephone,” and “LoveGame.”
Just Dance has not yet been greenlit by E!, but it seems like a sure thing for the entertainment-focused network, which is enjoying a lovefest with Seacrest’s production company. E! has so far aired four Seacrest-produced shows, including Keeping Up with the Kardashians and Denise Richards: It’s Complicated.
Perhaps Just Dance is an attempt to keep RSP from becoming known as Dumb Blonde Productions. What do you think? Love Ryan Seacrest, or hate him?
DirecTV has brought hordes of HD channels to the masses, so what do they do next? They go 3D, apparently.
Now that the big screen is being flooded with 3D — and the inflated revenues 3D films bring — the small screen naturally wants a piece of the action. DirecTV is among the first to sign on with the new technology, planning a suite of 3D channels for viewers who have one of those shiny new 3D TVs to watch them on.
Included in DirecTV’s lineup are:
- ESPN 3D, which is already showing the World Cup in 3D
- n3D, 24/7 3D programming from Panasonic
- DirecTV Cinema in 3D, a similar channel that’s currently showing Imax titles like Deep Sea 3D and Under the Sea 3D
I’m sure that for the 10 people out there who own 3D televisions, this must come as very exciting news.
Janeane Garofalo has resumed talks with CBS to star in a spinoff of the popular series Criminal Minds.
CBS executives would like Garofalo to star in the new version of the series called Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior alongside Oscar winner Forest Whitaker.
Garofalo was originally slated to star in a John Wells helmed medical drama but it failed to be picked up for the Fall schedule, leading to renewed talks for the Criminal Minds series.
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76-year-old Larry King has announced to fans and viewers that this fall, he is ending his long-running CNN talk show. Larry King Live will come to an end after 25 years on the air, holding a world record for having the longest-running show with the same host in the same time slot.
King reportedly asked to end the show on his own terms, so that he could spend more time with his family. But he has no intentions of fading out of the public spotlight, still planning periodic specials for CNN.
If CNN intends to launch a new nightly talk show in Larry King’s place, who do you think the host should be?
Party Down has been canceled after just two seasons. The show, which airs on Starz, is a critical darling, but its lagging ratings barely qualify it for “cult favorite” status. It simply never caught on, and Starz’ executive vice president of programming, Stephan Shelanski, tells EW.com that Starz has “after careful consideration… decided not to continue with subsequent seasons of Party Down.”
In related news, the even lower-rated Gravity has also been canceled by the pay cable network.
The rumors were true.
Hulu has finally released an app for the iPad — but there’s a catch. Well, two catches, actually.
First, you have to have an invite to access the thing. You can download and “tour” the app without an invite, but you can’t watch anything, so what’s the point, right? Second, this ain’t your daddy’s Hulu. This is Hulu Plus (aka “Hulu+”), a new version that you pay to access. continued →
Just a few years after he was fired as head writer of NBC’s Heroes, Jeph Loeb is returning to TV writing as Head of Television for Marvel Entertainment. Loeb will work alongside Marvel Publisher & President Dan Buckley to bring the company’s characters and stories to the small screen.
Marvel is keeping mum on what characters they’ll be bringing to television, and where (although Disney’s numerous channels are a sure bet, now that the mouse owns Marvel lock, stock, & barrel), but their press release does indicate that they’re looking to produce shows that are both animated and live action. In addition to TV, Loeb will also oversee direct-to-DVD productions.
Loeb is best known for his work in comics, but he’s also the screenwriter behind numerous episodes of Smallville, Lost, and the feature films Commando and Teen Wolf.
(And despite what you’re thinking, the photo at right really is a professional headshot, and not a police mugshot.)
It’s official: Steve Carrell is leaving The Office.
Come May, when the show’s seventh season ends, Carrell will make his exit to head for greener pastures (aka, the big screen). But Carrell seems to think that the show’s ensemble is strong enough to live on without him, maybe even allowing The Office to introduce some new blood in the form of a new boss.
The show is an ensemble, but Carrell’s gloriously deluded manager Michael Scott has nearly always been the instigator behind the fictional office staff’s antics. Sure, Jim and Pam are the show’s romantic heart. And Rainn Wilson has transcended Dwight Schrute’s punchline of a character to create genuine comedic pathos. But I just can’t imagine The Office without Steve Carrell.
How about you? And who would you nominate to take over Michael Scott’s office in Season 8?
For the upcoming 10th season of American Idol — also known as “the season with no Simon” — the show has decided to lower the age limit for eligibility from 16 to 15. According to USA Today, Idol was inspired to take this step by the success of Justin Bieber and his ilk.
American Idol’s producers also recently announced their intention to accept submissions from Fox-owned MySpace (am I the only one surprised to hear that MySpace is still around?). The show still has a new judge to find, to fill Simon’s very big shoes.
Put all this stuff together and it looks like the show’s producers are strategizing new ways of generating excitement for Season 10. Which is probably a good idea, since Season 10 is probably going to be a snoozefest. Let’s face it: if ever there was drama to be found on Idol, it came from Simon. Now that he’s gone, some viewers are expected to lose interest.
So the show is fighting back with teeny-bopper singers and the hopes of creating viral sensations through MySpace. What do you think: will it work?
