Exclusive: 'Being Human': New series four cast picture

Exclusive: 'Being Human': New series four cast picture

Being Human returns for a fourth series on Sunday night and if you're looking forward to the new episodes, then you'll be happy to hear that I found an exclusive promo image of the new cast!

Annie (Lenora Crichlow) takes centre stage this year, backed by faithful werewolf Tom (Michael Socha) and charismatic new vampire Hal (Damien Molony).

Being Human is back on Sunday, February 5 at 9pm on BBC Three.

Ewan McGregor: 'HBO's The Corrections will be accurate to the book'

Ewan McGregor: 'HBO's The Corrections will be accurate to the book'

Ewan McGregor has discussed his forthcoming role in HBO pilot The Corrections.

The Perfect Sense actor will play troubled academic Chip in the project, adapted from Jonathan Franzen's 2001 novel.

"I haven't seen many of the scripts yet," he told Vulture. "But it feels like it's going to be accurate to the book, and really detailed."

Franzen will adapt his own book for television, alongside director Noah Baumbach.

"It looks like we'll have the luxury of time to push deeper through the book and explore parts of the story that aren't in it," explained McGregor. "That'll be a first."

The Corrections traces the troubled lives of an elderly Midwestern couple and their three children, from the 1950s to the millennium.

Oscar winners Dianne Wiest and Chris Cooper will also star in HBO's adaptation, with Franzen and Baumbach executive producing alongside The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo producer Scott Rudin.

Other projects in the works at HBO include Aaron Sorkin drama The Newsroom and comedy pilot All Talk starring Ben Stiller and Alan Alda.

'Key & Peele' Premiere is Comedy Central's Biggest Since 2009, 'Tosh.0' Improves With Men

'Key & Peele' Premiere is Comedy Central's Biggest Since 2009, 'Tosh.0' Improves With Men

The new sketch series premiered to audience of 2.1 million, sharing much of Daniel Tosh's male viewership.

Comedy Central's Key & Peele had a strong premiere on Tuesday night, bringing in a total audience of 2.1 million viewers at 10:30 p.m.

The sketch comedy's debut followed on the heels of the fourth season premiere of network mainstay Tosh.0. The viral clip-skewering series returned to 3.1 million viewers.

Key & Peele, starring Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele, brought in the highest premiere ratings for a Comedy Central series since 2009, with the debut of The Jeff Dunham Show.

Both series performed well in the targeted male demographics, with Key & Peele earning a 2.6 among men 18-34 a 3.3 rating with men 18-24. Both numbers marked a first place finish for the timeslot across networks.

Tosh.0 performed similarly strong in the male demos as the highest performer on Tuesday night across television with men 18-34 (4.1 rating) and men 18-24 (4.6 rating) -- the latter being the highest of the series' season premieres.

Denise Welch: 'Soul went out of Celeb Big Brother when Cassidy left'

Denise Welch: 'Soul went out of Celeb Big Brother when Cassidy left'

Denise Welch has said that Natalie Cassidy's departure left her feeling down in the final week of Celebrity Big Brother.

The reality show winner believes that her connection with the former EastEnders actress was instant and their friendship will last outside the house.

She told the Celebrity Big Brother website: "Natalie and I never knew each other except having met each other on Loose Women. Once she left, the soul went out of it for me.

"I felt lonely in the last week, because when Natalie left I lost my circle of friends."

Addressing her foul-mouthed clash with Michael Madsen on Bit on the Side, the star said: "Michael upset me because I thought that he would take it in good spirits and, he may have nipped my bum, I thought it was ungracious of him to be like he was [during my interview]."

Of her victory, Welch added: "I don't think that anyone thinks about winning. In the last week, all I wanted to do is get out. I just wanted to get out. The last week was the hardest for me.

"When you win you've got the public vote, but that doesn't mean you've got the housemate vote, so my paranoia is, 'Oh my God, what are they thinking?'

"It's the most flattering and bizarre thing that has ever happened in my life. I've always said over the years, 'You'll never catch me on this show'."

David Jason suggests 'Only Fools and Horses' US remake won't work

David Jason suggests 'Only Fools and Horses' US remake won't work

Sir David Jason has suggested that the American remake of Only Fools and Horses won't work.

The 71-year-old actor, famous for playing Del Boy in the classic BBC sitcom, believes that the original London setting is intrinsic to its success.

"They can do brilliant comedy [in America] but I don't see that they can bring off Fools and Horses," he told BBC News."I don't see that it will travel across the pond. It might work but you've got to change it so much that, in the change, in order to Americanise it, do you lose the whole concept of the piece?"

Jason went on: "The language will have to change so much and there will be so many parts of the storyline you have to change.

"It's so London and so British, [in] its humour, that you wonder. It's London based and it took quite a long time for the rest of the country to catch up with the phrases.

"I have no idea what the American equivalent of 'plonker' is, for example. Or 'dipstick'."

Scrubs writers Steven Cragg and Brian Bradley are said to be adapting the show for US network ABC.

Asked who he would like to take his role, the star tipped Johnny Depp, adding: "You would never get him because he's too big but I'd go for Johnny Depp because he's such a good actor."

News of the US spinoff comes nearly a year after John Sullivan's death at the age of 64. The Fools and Horses creator and writer had been suffering from viral pneumonia.

Reba McEntire Pilot 'Malibu Country' Lands at ABC

Reba McEntire Pilot 'Malibu Country' Lands at ABC

ABC ordered two comedy pilots Wednesday, one of them from country singer/actress Reba McEntire.

The half-hour, multi-camera "Malibu Country" reunites McEntire with "Reba" executive producer Kevin Abbott, who is writing the project.

The pilot will star McEntire as a woman who divorces her rock-star husband after he cheats on her and burns through most of her cash. Moving from Nashville to Malibu with her mother and three children, she attempts to revive her own singing career while keeping her kids from becoming spoiled by their new environment.

McEntire will also executive-produce the ABC Studios pilot, along with Mindy Schultheis, Michael Hanel, Pam Williams, Dave Stewart and Narvel Blackstock.

"Prairie Dogs," meanwhile, is a single-camera, half-hour comedy pilot about Neil, an uncool cubicle worker toiling at one of the coolest companies in the world. After being victimized by identity theft and discovering that the thief has created a much better life for himself than Neil has, he engaged the thief to help him turn his life around.

Jackie and Jeff Filgo ("That '70s Show," "The New Adventures of Old Christine") are writing the project through ABC Studios.

One Million Moms to JC Penney: Ellen's Gay -- Fire Her

One Million Moms to JC Penney: Ellen's Gay -- Fire Her

One Million Moms -- a project of the American Family Association -- is very angry at JC Penney.

No, not because it sells sweater vests (heck, Rick Santorum is a fan of those), but because the Texas-based department store has hired Ellen DeGeneres as a spokeswoman.

Ellen's Gay -- Fire Her

And DeGeneres is -- cue the scary music -- gay, and open about it.

"Funny that JC Penney thinks hiring an open homosexual spokesperson will help their business when most of their customers are traditional families," the million (or so) moms write on their website. "DeGeneres is not a true representation of the type of families that shop at their store. The majority of JC Penney shoppers will be offended and choose to no longer shop there."

One Million Moms is asking people to call JC Penney to complain.

With this campaign, One Million Moms, which claims to be "the most powerful tool you have to stand against the immorality, violence, vulgarity and profanity the entertainment media is throwing at your children," is going after one of the country's most well-liked television hosts.

The moms want JC Penney "to replace Ellen DeGeneres as their new spokesperson immediately and remain neutral in the culture war."

Fat chance, says the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Discrimination.

"A vast majority of Americans today support Ellen as well as their LGBT friends and family members,” Herndon Graddick, a GLAAD spokesman said in a written statement. “Selecting an out performer who has inspired and entertained millions, is not only a smart business practice, but a reflection of how LGBT Americans today are an integral and valued part of the fabric of our culture.”

DeGeneres' daytime talk show has more viewers than the American Family Association has moms. Between Jan. 16 and Jan. 22, "Ellen" averaged 3.38 million viewers. That's 2.38 million more people than the AFA has moms.

Jennifer Finnigan Cast In David E. Kelley’s TNT Pilot, Kate Mara In Netflix Series ‘House Of Cards’

Jennifer Finnigan Cast In David E. Kelley’s TNT Pilot, Kate Mara In Netflix Series ‘House Of Cards’

Jennifer Finnigan is the first cast member set in David E. Kelley’s TNT medical drama pilot Chelsea General.

Based on CNN chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta’s upcoming novel Monday Mornings, the project follows the lives of five surgeons as they push the limits of their abilities and confront their personal and professional failings.

Finnigan will play one of them, Dr. Tina Ridgeway, a neurosurgeon who has a fling with a fellow neurosurgeon.

Kelley and Gupta, who is a practicing neurosurgeon, are executive producing the pilot; Kelley’s frequent collaborator Bill D’Elia is set to direct.

This marks Crossing Jordan alumna Finnigan’s return to drama after a string of comedy series, most recently ABC’s Better With You.

American Horror Story‘s Kate Mara has been cast in Netflix’s first original series, David Fincher’s drama House Of Cards starring Kevin Spacey.

The political thriller, based on Michael Dobbs’ novel and the 1990 British series it spawned, stars Spacey as  Rep. Frank Underwood, the Majority Whip of the US House of Representatives who, after getting is passed over for Secretary of State, hatches a plot to bring down the new President.

Mara will play Zoe Barnes, a reporter for a top Washington newspaper who, desperate for a break, makes a deal with Underwood for a scoop that could cost her her soul. She joins Spacey and fellow lead Robin Wright who plays Underwood’s wife. Also cast in the MRC-produced series is Kristen Connolly (The Cabin In The Woods) who will recur as the headstrong executive assistant of another Congressman.  Mara, sister of The Girls With The Dragon Tattoo star Rooney Mara, most recently recurred on the first season of FX’s hit horror drama American Horror Story.

Jake Kasdan, Michael Mayer To Helm Pilots

Jake Kasdan, Michael Mayer To Helm Pilots

Jake Kasdan, who directed the pilot for Liz Meriwether’s freshman hit New Girl, will direct another female-centered single-camera comedy pilot from a female creator for Fox, 20th TV and Chernin Entertainment this season. Kasdan has come on board to helm Dana Fox’s Ben Fox Is My Manny, which centers on an uptight single mother whose aimless brother moves in to help raise her daughter (Maggie Jones). The gig stems from the overall deal Kasdan signed with 20th TV last summer.

Another director of a 2011 pilot that went to series, Michael Mayer, is back on pilot duty. Mayer, who made his pilot directing debut last season with NBC/Universal TV’s upcoming musical drama Smash, has been tapped to direct another NBC/Universal TV pilot, Do No Harm, a medical drama about a brilliant neurosurgeon who wrestles with his dangerous alter-ego that threatens to wreak havoc on his personal and professional life. David Schulner wrote the script and is executive producing with Peter Traugott and Rachel Kaplan. Stage director Mayer won a Tony in 2007 for Spring Awakening.

Mariah Carey to join 'The X Factor' USA?

Mariah Carey to join 'The X Factor' USA?

Mariah Carey has been tipped to join The X Factor USA judging panel.

The 'Without You' singer is said to be Simon Cowell's first choice to replace Nicole Scherzinger and Paula Abdul, who were yesterday (January 31) confirmed to be leaving the Fox show.

Carey was heavily rumoured to be judging The X Factor before its first season launched last summer and had been due to accompany Cowell at the Judges' Houses stage, but was unable to travel following the arrival of Hurricane Irene.

"Simon wants nothing but the best for The X Factor - and Mariah is the best," a show insider told The Mirror.

However, Carey's husband Nick Cannon has already dismissed suggestions that she will join The X Factor, telling reporters recently that such a move would be a "step down".

"Why would my wife want to be on a show like that?" he said. "For somebody who has a legendary career, I don't know why they would."

Cowell previously said that he was determined to find a role on The X Factor USA for Carey, adding: "I'm a huge fan of hers, not just as an artist, but as a person, and I love her to death."

Abdul and Scherzinger also backed Carey for a potential X Factor role in August.

Gayle King: 'Oprah Winfrey was first to say I should go to CBS'

Gayle King: 'Oprah Winfrey was first to say I should go to CBS'

Gayle King has said that best friend Oprah Winfrey was "first in line" to encourage her to join the lineup on CBS's This Morning.

King left her talkshow role on the Oprah Winfrey Network to join CBS's new morning show alongside Erica Hill and Charlie Rose last year.

During an appearance on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon on Tuesday (January 31), King was asked about rumours that Winfrey hadn't been happy about her move.

King jokingly replied: "So, her reaction was, 'Bitch, are you crazy?!' No! She definitely didn't say that. I almost think that's what people want. They want her to say, 'How could you? Blah, blah, blah'.

"All kidding aside, of course when it was presented to me... You know you pick up the phone one day and they say, 'We're thinking about it, are you interested?' What do you say? It was beyond exciting."

King added: "Of course I talked to Oprah about it. I said I didn't know and she said, 'It's such an opportunity that if you can work it out, please, you should go'. She was the first one in line."

'Geordie Shore' returns to MTV with 260,000 viewers

'Geordie Shore' returns to MTV with 260,000 viewers

Series two of Geordie Shore kicked off with fairly low numbers last night.

The MTV reality show averaged 259k (1.4%) over the 10pm hour, down on its debut last May.

Winning the multichannel ratings, Junior Doctors put in another strong performance of 1m (4.2%), while BBC Four's Survivors continued with 818k (3.4%).

On the terrestrials, a Channel 4 programme on the recent sinking of the Costa Concordia cruise ship, Terror at Sea, interested 2.87m (12%) as well as 332k (1.4%) on +1.

At 9pm, 15 Kids and Counting grabbed 2.4m (9.9%) and 353k (2%) on timeshift, before Shameless gripped 1.55m (6.8%) and 353k (2%) an hour later.

For ITV1, The Exit List sunk to a dismal 1.68m (7%) from 8pm (+1: 123k/0.5%), then the audience jumped slightly to 2.18m (9%).

Over on BBC One, new drama Prisoners' Wives opened with a respectable 4.92m (20.1%).

BBC Two's Alex Polizzi: The Fixer, a series following a one-woman campaign to save family businesses, started well with with 2.15m (9%). Wonderland followed with 1.18m (4.9%) at 9pm.

Dana Delany's Body of Proof held up well without a Big Brother lead-in, mustering 1.33m (5.5%) in the 9pm hour. Cowboy Builders was also steady at 8pm with 1.41m (5.9%).

Overall, BBC One led a one-horse race in primetime with 23.7%, while ITV1 had 11.5% (+1: 0.6%). Channel 4 claimed third place with 8.6% (+1: 1%), ahead of BBC Two's 7.2%, and Channel 5's 4.4%.

Tulisa Contostavlos, Fazer split over 'X Factor'?

Tulisa Contostavlos, Fazer split over 'X Factor'?

Tulisa Contostavlos's relationship with Fazer reportedly ended over his demands that she quit X Factor.

Contostavlos, who broke up with her fellow N-Dubz rapper last week, mentored girl group Little Mix to victory in her debut series last year.

Speaking to Heat magazine, a source claimed: "He told her that he thinks she should quit The X Factor as she is better than that and is giving the band a bad name.

"It really cut through Tulisa and she started to cry. She now says that at that moment, she knew their relationship was dead."

The insider added: "She realises they are in a band together and have to sort out their problems but she isn't one to just get over things like this."

They are said to have split while on a romantic holiday in the Maldives.

TV Tonight 2nd of Febuary 2012

TV Tonight 2nd of Febuary 2012

The daily list in alphabetical order, of all the new episodes airing.

    24 Hour Catwalk S01E05: "The 24 Hour Woman"
    30 Rock S06E05: "Today You Are a Man"
    American Idol S11E07: "Auditions #7: St. Louis, MO"
    American Stuffers S01E05: "The Dog Named Precious"
    Archer (2009) S03E03: "The Limited"
    Biggest loser Sverige S01E05: "Avsnitt 5"
    Braxton Family Values S02E12: "TBA"
    Coach Trip S09E04: "Series 9, Day 4"
    Come Dine With Me S18E16: "Series 18, Episode 14"
    Conan S02E44: "John Krasinski, Jenny Slate, Evanescence"
    Coronation Street S53E23: "Thu Feb 2, 2012"
    Days of our Lives S47E60: "Ep. #11770"
    Deal Or No Deal (UK) S07E149: "Episode 1829"
    Delocated S03E01: "Tap"
    Dickinson's Real Deal S08E43: "Series 8, Episode 43"
    Doctors S13E190: "The Next Level"
    EastEnders S28E20: "February 2, 2012"
    Emmerdale S41E28: "February 2, 2012"
    Emmerdale S41E29: "February 2, 2012 [Episode 2]"
    Escape To The Country S12E23: "Derbyshire"
    Eternal Law S01E05: "Series 1, Episode 5"
    Fat Chef S01E02: "Rocco/Kim"
    General Hospital (US) S49E213: "#12487"
    Got to Dance S03E35: "Series 3, Episode 35"
    Great British Railway Journeys S03E24: "Belfast to Whitehead"
    Grey's Anatomy S08E13: "If/Then"
    Halv åtta hos mig S08E08: "Skövde - Angelika"
    Hollyoaks S18E24: "February 2, 2012"
    Home and Away (AU) S25E09: "Episode 5444"
    Hotel cæsar S28E145: "Season 28, Episode 145"
    House of Anubis S02E38: "House of Stings"
    House of Anubis S02E37: "House of Hacks"
    I Just Want My Pants Back S01E03: "TBA"
    I Just Want My Pants Back S01E02: "Baby Monkeys"
    Ikke gjør dette hjemme S02E05: "Season 2, Episode 5"
    Impact Wrestling S08E70: "Season 8, Episode 70"
    Inside Comedy S01E02: "Chris Rock"
    Inside Men S01E01: "Episode 1"
    Jeopardy! S28E99: "Show #6304"
    Jersey Shore S05E05: "You Got Eff'd Up!"
    Jimmy Kimmel Live S09E199
    Last Call with Carson Daly S10E07
    Late Night with Jimmy Fallon S02E213
    Late Show with David Letterman S19E18
    Leave It To Bryan S01E08: "Banished Bachelor"
    Live with Regis and Kelly S29E113
    Location Location Location S14E05: "Series 14, Episode 5"
    Mad Dogs S02E03: "Series 2, Episode 3"
    Naruto: Shippuuden S11E05: "The Nine-Tails is Targeted"
    Neighbours S28E19: "Episode 6329"
    NFL Turning Point S01E18: "Season 1, Episode 18"
    Noel Fielding's Luxury Comedy S01E02: "The Jelly Fox"
    NY Ink S02E06: "Boiling Point"
    Parks and Recreation S04E14: "Operation Ann"
    Person of Interest S01E13: "Root Cause"
    Pointless S05E108: "Series 5, Episode 108"
    Private Practice S05E13: "The Time Has Come"
    Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is S05E24: "Series 5, Episode 24"
    Putin, Russia and the West S01E03: "War"
    Question Time S32E18: "February 2, 2012"
    Selling New York S04E15: "Old Listings Get Some New Life"
    Sket Dance S01E43: "Episode 43"
    Snake Man of Appalachia S01E04: "A House Divided"
    Strictly Soulmates S01E02: "Hindu"
    The 7pm Project S04E24: "Season 4, Episode 24"
    The Big Bang Theory S05E15: "The Friendship Contraction"
    The Biggest Loser (AU) S07E08: "Season 7, Episode 8"
    The Bold and the Beautiful S25E223: "Ep. #6252"
    The Chase (2009) S05E23: "Series 5, Episode 23"
    The Colbert Report S08E19: "Christiane Amanpour"
    The Daily Show S17E55: "Dr. David Agus"
    The Ellen DeGeneres Show S09E92: "Michelle Obama, Daniel Radcliffe"
    The Finder S01E04: "Swing and a Miss"
    The Firm S01E06: "Chapter Six"
    The Jeremy Kyle Show S07E99: "February 2, 2012"
    The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson S08E19
    The Mentalist S04E13: "Red Is The New Black"
    The Office (US) S08E13: "Jury Duty"
    The Restoration Man S02E05: "Series 2, Episode 5"
    The Revolution (2012) S01E14: "Season 1, Episode 14"
    The Rosie Show S01E63: "Kristin Chenoweth"
    The Secret Circle S01E13: "Medallion"
    The Straits S01E01: "The Proposition"
    The Straits S01E02: "The Trouble with Raskols"
    The Tonight Show with Jay Leno S19E233
    The Vampire Diaries S03E13: "Bringing Out the Dead"
    The View S15E97: "Lisa Kudrow, Steve Van Zandt"
    The Young and the Restless S39E220: "Ep. #9835"
    This Week (2003) S10E17: "February 2, 2012"
    Thuis S17E114: "Season 17, Episode 114"
    Tonight with Trevor McDonald S14E05: "Hot Metal"
    Unsupervised S01E03: "Field of Dreams... and Dogs"
    Up All Night (2011) S01E14: "Preschool Auction"
    Wanted Down Under S06E24: "Series 6, Episode 24"
    Watch What Happens: Live S06E20: "Snooki and Jwoww"
    Wereld draait door, De S07E105: "Season 7, Episode 105"
    Wipeout (US) S05E05
    ¡Rob! S01E04: "Family Secrets"

Kevin Bacon to Star in Kevin Williamson's Fox TV Pilot

Kevin Bacon to Star in Kevin Williamson's Fox TV Pilot

Kevin Bacon is now zero degrees of separation from Kevin Williamson.

The "Crazy, Stupid Love" actor will star in "Dawson's Creek" creator Kevin Williamson's upcoming pilot for Fox, an individual with knowledge of the casting confirms to The Wrap.

The drama pilot is described as "an edge-of-the-seat thriller about a diabolical serial killer who uses technology to create a cult of serial killers, and the ex-FBI agent who finds himself in the middle of it." Bacon will play the former FBI agent.

As part of the deal, the pilot, if picked up to series, will run 15 episodes per season instead of the typical 22, so that Bacon will have the freedom to pursue feature films and other projects of interest. Bacon's upcoming film projects include the drama "Jayne Mansfield's Car" and the action comedy "R.I.P.D."

Warner Bros. Television is producing.

Super Bowl: Viewer Gender Gap Is Narrowing

Super Bowl: Viewer Gender Gap Is Narrowing

It may be time for Madison Avenue to reconsider all those car and beer ads run during the Super Bowl.

Sports Business Daily crunched Nielsen Media data and found that the divide between the number of women who watch the big game vs. men is getting smaller.

Last year, 54 percent of the roughly 111 million viewers who tuned in to watch the Packers and Steelers on Fox were men, compared to 46 percent women.

That compares with a 56 percent-male, 44 percent-female split in for the Steelers and Seahawks on ABC in 2006, Sports Business Daily notes, and a 51/43 male-to-female ratio for the Patriots and Rams on Fox in 2002.

That means the gap has narrowed from 14 percentage points to eight percentage points during the past decade.

Something for Hollywood to keep in mind when deciding which movies to advertise during the big game. "The Avengers," "John Carter" (above) and "G.I. Joe" sequel are among those movies that will get plugged in between the action on the field this year.

Tom Cruise to Present at the Oscars

Tom Cruise to Present at the Oscars

Tom Cruise will serve as a presenter at the 84th Academy Awards, producers Brian Grazer and Don Mischer said Wednesday.

Cruise, a three-time Oscar nominee for his roles in "Born on the Fourth of July," "Jerry Maguire" and "Magnolia," will join previously announced presenters Jennifer Lopez, Tom Hanks and Rose Byrne, Ellie Kemper, Melissa McCarthy, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Maya Rudolph and Kristen Wiig from the film "Bridesmaids."

The 84th Academy Awards, which Billy Crystal will host, will be televised live from the Kodak Theatre at the Hollywood & Highland Center on Sunday, Feb. 26.

Robert De Niro-Produced 'NYC 22' Gets Premiere Date From CBS

Robert De Niro-Produced 'NYC 22' Gets Premiere Date From CBS

"NYC 22," the police drama executive produced by Robert De Niro, will premiere on CBS on Sunday, April 15 at 10 p.m., the network said Wednesday.

The series follows six New York City police rookies from unique backgrounds as they "patrol the gritty streets of upper Manhattan," according to the network. Terry Kinney, Adam Goldberg, Leelee Sobieski, Stark Sands, Judy Marte, Harold "House" Moore, Tom Reed and Felix Solis star.

"NYC 22" will replace "CSI: Miami," which will have completed its season on the network's schedule.

De Niro and his Tribeca Productions partner Jane Rosenthal, along with series creator Richard Price, Ken Sanzel and James Mangold are executive-producing for CBS Television Studios in association with Tribeca.

Holly Willoughby: 'The Voice is a feel-good show'

Holly Willoughby: 'The Voice is a feel-good show'

Holly Willoughby has hyped up BBC One's new musical reality series The Voice UK, describing the vibe on the show as "feel-good".

Willoughby, who will co-host the Saturday night series with Reggie Yates, spoke about her work on the programme during a showbiz segment on This Morning.

"The difference [with The Voice] is, it's a blind audition, the coaches can't see the contestants when they come on stage so they judge them purely on their voice and their voice alone," said the presenter.

"It's really feel-good and the judges are incredible."

Commenting on reports that auditioning acts had appeared on other reality shows such as The X Factor or previously had record deals, she added: "I can't say too much but there have been people that have auditioned that I've known..."

Jessie J, will.i.am, Tom Jones and Danny O'Donoghue were revealed as coaches on The Voice at the end of 2011. The series launches in the spring.

Viacom's Nickelodeon to Put Spotlight on New 'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' at Toy Fair

Viacom's Nickelodeon to Put Spotlight on New 'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' at Toy Fair

Time Warner's Warner Bros. Consumer Products will focus its lineup on "The Dark Knight Rises," "The Hobbit" and DC superheroes and more.

The overhauled Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, featured in a CG-animated series that will come to Viacom's Nickelodeon this fall and that looks to update the franchise and its characters, will be a key focus for Nickelodeon at Toy Fair here Feb. 12–15, the company said on Wednesday in outlining the franchise's biggest toy lineup ever.

Partner Playmates Toys, which has worked on the Turtles toy property since its launch in the late 1980s, will showcase basic and deluxe action figures - the latter delivering battle phrases and sound effects, play sets and vehicles - some of which catapult action figures into action via the so-called Ninja Battle Boost technology, as well as Ninja role-play gear at the annual gathering.

Nickelodeon acquired the Turtles franchise in late 2009 for $60 million. After not having a new toy line since 2008, it will see fresh product hit store shelves in August. The new series is currently in production at the Nickelodeon Animation Studio in Burbank.

“The new toys capture the excitement of our new series in a way that fans of all ages can appreciate,” said Manuel Torres, senior vp, global toys and consumer electronics, Nickelodeon.
"We are taking the best of the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and updating them for a whole new generation," vowed Karl Aaronian, senior vp of marketing at Playmates. "Nobody can resist that unique Turtle blend of humor, action and fun-loving personalities.”

The toys and a brief animated clip shown Wednesday at Viacom's headquarters in a preview also gave more insight into how Nickelodeon has retooled the Turtles brand.

The clip included some anime influences and the use of emoticons. "We're taking the franchise and nickefying it," said Rich Magallanes, senior vp, Nickelodeon Animation, current series. " It is CG-meets-anime. We wanted a comic book feel and continue the mix of comedy and action. Overall, we went for a fresh vibe and look, while not getting rid of core elements and characters."

For example, the evil Shredder and Turtles sensei Splinter will return in the show, but the latter will be taller and more agile than in the original series, allowing him to get into the mix and spar more, while remaining a father figure, Magallanes said.

Similarly, female sidekick April is now 16 instead of being in her 30s, and the show will also put her in the mix and treat her more like a fifth turtle, Magallanes said.

The four Turtles, which used to all have the same stature in their previous iteration, are also somewhat repackaged, with each getting different physical attributes that underline their personality. Michelangelo is the youngest and smallest, Raphael has more brawn, but the shortest fuse, leader Leonardo is strong and more mature, while Donatello is the lanky inventor of the team.

"They are all young, don't have the giant muscles of the past and look more like high school athletes," explained Magallanes. "And they are learning to become heroes. It's the whole teenage angst thing."

For the toys, the changes also mean more detail and character work. 

"We love what Rich did. It ain't your father's turtles," said Aaronian. "We feel Sewer Heads, which is what we call Turtles fans, will come out and buy product before the show launches. And we hope to attract new fans with the show. What will help us is that we expect parents who grew up with the Turtles to co-view with their kids."

According to Playmates, Turtles product has brought in more than $3 billion in retail sales.

Meanwhile, another sector giant, Time Warner's Warner Bros. Consumer Products, on Wednesday unveiled a worldwide licensing program for this summer’s much-anticipated release of latest Batman film release The Dark Knight Rises, which will lead its Toy Fair lineup along with other tentpole fare.

“Batman is a perennial success in the toy category, but when we have a film like The Dark Knight Rises driving so much anticipation, it creates global excitement for new products, especially toys and collectibles," said Brad Globe, president of Warner Bros. Consumer Products.

According to the firm, Batman consumer products, including toys, apparel, home goods and the like, have generated $16 billion in retail sales globally.

“Batman is among the most iconic super heroes in popular culture, and this year’s merchandise program, highlighted by The Dark Knight Rises, reflects the incredible legacy of Christopher Nolan’s trilogy, as well as the longevity of the character over the course of time and across all forms of entertainment,” added Karen McTier, executive vp of domestic licensing and worldwide marketing for Warner Bros. Consumer Products.

Master toy partner Mattel will showcase Batman toys ranging from action figures and vehicles to playsets and collectible figures, including a Movie Masters line with added detail for older fans and collectors.

Another film series that will have a Toy Fair presence is The Hobbit, whose two are out this year and next. Product from Lego (construction sets), Ravensburger (2D and 3D puzzles and card games) and WETA Workshop (film prop replicas and collectibles) will be among the Toy Fair offerings.

Other Warner toys will include a Lego line for the DC Universe Super Heroes, a DC Super Friends product line from Fisher-Price, as well as more toys tied to Looney Tunes, Scooby-Doo and ThunderCats.

'The Secret Circle's' Gale Harold Reveals 7 Spoilers for Rest of Season

'The Secret Circle's' Gale Harold Reveals 7 Spoilers for Rest of Season

The actor tells THR that his character Charles may reach the tipping point and lose "his mind," and the impending arrival of John Blackwell won't help matters.

The Secret Circle returns to television this week, with the dynamic between the adults (Ethan, Dawn and Charles) in Chance Harbor seeing a dramatic shift.

Actor Gale Harold, who plays Diana's father Charles on the CW witch drama, revealed seven things to The Hollywood Reporter viewers should look out for in the coming episodes.

1. A 'Substantial' Shift Is Coming: With Adam's drunk of a father Ethan becoming a major factor in Dawn's ultimate endgame, the Charles and Dawn's relationship will continue shift: "I'm fairly sure the shift will be substantial." The former Queer as Folk star offered a theory as to why Dawn is treating Charles badly as of late, saying, "I think she's trying to play me against myself. Her bringing Ethan into any sort of understanding of what's going on is kind of moronic. It's like giving a kid a loaded weapon." But Ethan, who at the end of "Fire/Ice" kept the crystal from Dawn, may be a pawn. "Dawn is trying to bring [Ethan] into the chess match to cause distraction," Harold teased.

2. Tension Between Charles and Dawn Ramps Up: "It's very suspect as to what Dawn has been up to and who else has been brought in. It ramps up the tension that he has day to day," Harold says. And from the looks of it, it seems very few people are aware of it. From an actor's perspective, he sees it as a good thing. "Whatever is going on with Dawn, it's more interesting for me not to know too far ahead because that's how she's operating," he explains.

3. Will Dawn Be Brought Down?: One hopes Ethan is intelligent enough to realize that he may at a disadvantage with Dawn, but Harold offers this observation: "Dawn seems to feel like no one is up to snuff to keep up with her." But will Charles be the one to bring her down? "I don't think it makes much sense for Charles to do anything overt. I think he'll do what he has to do, but I don't think he's going to be aggressive," Harold says, citing Nick's death in an earlier episode. "There's not going to be an encore of that."

4. Will Charles Reach the Breaking Point?: Harold hopes that Nick's death will be addressed again, saying, "anything that keeps the stakes escalating is good," but believes Charles has closed that chapter (for now) -- and that means seeing a different side to him. "He's gone through the guilt, he's gone through the panic. He's got to take a step back and start being more manipulative himself, unless he loses his mind," he says. "Then who knows what's going to happen. I think that could be very exciting because he would be a loose cannon and there would be revenge."

5. John Blackwell's Return Causes a Stir: Cassie's father John pays a visit to Chance Harbor in a future episode and his presence affects everyone, to the where things are completely up in the air. "He can't come back and just simply say, 'I'm trying to take care of my daughter,' " Harold says. "Then again, how does he try to do it? If he makes an allegiance with Dawn, then that puts my character in a whole other place. He becomesa direct conflict because there's no way that Charles is going to stand by."

6. Diana May Find Out About Charles' Secret Soon: "At some point, Diana's going to have to find out something [about Charles' power]. Whether she finds it out through someone else or if she walks in on Charles doing something that spills the beans, to me that would be interesting."

7. Adults vs. the Circle?: There may come a point when the parents, who are seeking to "reconfigure the structure that we lost when John Blackwell was 'killed,' " and the circle may have to converge at some point. "[The circle] is building their powers so quickly that then you've got an interesting interfamily rivalry going on," Harold says. "It's really like a chess match."

The Secret Circle airs Thursdays at 9 p.m. on the CW.

Showtime Renews 'Shameless,' 'House of Lies,' 'Californication'

Showtime Renews 'Shameless,' 'House of Lies,' 'Californication'

Showtime gave the green light to new seasons of its Sunday night series "Shameless," Californication" and its new offering "House of Lies" on Tuesday, with production of the series to begin later this year.

This will mark the sixth season for "Californication," third season for "Shameless" and the second for the Don Cheadle offering "House of Lies."

The renewals come in the face of double-digit, year-to-year growth for Showtime's Sunday-night roster, according to the network.

"Shameless" is up 30 percent versus its maiden season across all platforms, with an average 4.75 million viewers. "House of Lies," meanwhile, debuted on Jan. 8 to the network's second-highest series premiere numbers, while "Californication" is up 10 percent versus its previous season, with an average 2.96 million viewers across all platforms.

“These three shows are clearly resonating with audiences as evidenced by their steady growth on Sunday nights," said Showtime's president of Entertainment David Nevins. "We are extremely pleased with the creative work being done by the casts, producers and writers – and I so appreciate that each of these series has such a clear and distinctive voice."

'Soul Train' Marathon to Honor Don Cornelius

'Soul Train' Marathon to Honor Don Cornelius

Bounce TV will honor Don Cornelius with a seven-hour "Soul Train" marathon Saturday.

The marathon will begin with the show's first episode and conclude with his final episode as host. It will be hosted by TLC's Chilli.

Don Cornelius to be honored in 'Soul Train' marathon on Bounce TV

Cornelius, 75, was found dead of a gunshot would this morning at his Sherman Oaks home.

Bounce, which airs "Soul Train" weekdays at 6 p.m., is also adding the series to its primetime line-up beginning Monday. Monday Night Soul will feature four classic episodes of "Soul Train" back-to-back from 8 p.m. to 12 midnight ET every week.

Saturday's marathon will begin at 7 p.m. Here is a list of the episodes, as described by Bounce:

7 p.m: The very first episode of "Soul Train" featuring Gladys Knight & The Pips, 1971

8 p.m.: Al Green is the showcase artist, 1972

9 p.m.: The Commodores are featured in their prime, 1977

10 p.m.: Kool and the Gang highlight the show from 1983

11 p.m.: Janet Jackson in her first big music year, 1986

Midnight: En Vogue stars in their debut year of 1990

1 a.m.: Cornelius' last show as host, 1993

Michelle Obama to Leno: Eat Your Veggies

Michelle Obama to Leno: Eat Your Veggies

Jay Leno told First Lady Michelle Obama on Tuesday's "Tonight Show" that he hadn't eaten an apple since 1984. Her response: giving him an apple, accompanied by some honey made from beehives in the White House garden.

"White House honey? That sounds bad," Leno said. "You know, with a different president, that could mean a whole different thing."

Obama was determined to steer Leno away from his fruits-and-veggies aversion and toward healthier versions of his go-to foods. She also brought him sweet potato fries and a whole-wheat crust pizza with eggplant, green peppers and zucchini.