'Sons of Anarchy' Taps Dave Navarro for Season Finale

"Sons of Anarchy" is going to get a little rocky for its season finale: The hit FX biker series has enlisted Jane's Addiction guitarist Dave Navarro for the last two episodes of its season.

Navarro, who currently serves as a judge on Spike TV's tattoo competition reality series "Ink Master," will play a member of the Byz Lats with ties to escort-business proprietor Nero Padilla (Jimmy Smits).

Aside from recently racking up record ratings,  "Sons of Anarchy" has yielded a bumper crop of guest stars in it current, fifth season.

In addition to Smits, the fifth season has featured "High School Musical" alum Ashley Tisdale as a working girl in Nero's employ, while last week's episode was punctuated by "The Shield" and "Justified" vet Walton Goggins, as a cross-dressing prostitute enlisted by the SAMCRO motorcycle club to facilitate up a blackmail scheme.

Rik Mayall, Ade Edmondson scrap new 'Bottom' series 'Hooligan's Island'

Ade Edmondson has revealed that he and Rik Mayall have ditched plans to revive sitcom Bottom in a new TV series called Hooligan's Island.

The planned reunion was announced in August, with a six-episode run of a series based on the popular Bottom live show confirmed for next year.

However, Edmondson has now told BBC Radio Essex in an interview that the show has been scrapped, reports Radio Times.

He revealed: "There isn't a Bottom series four. There isn't anything. [Rik and I] started working on something and we realised why we stopped working together. It wasn't working."

He added: "I'm aware that people think comedy's easy to do and write and everything, and it relatively is to be honest.

"But once you get to a certain age you want to do things you really enjoy, not just things you can do."

A BBC spokesman confirmed that the series would no longer be going ahead, but declined to comment further.

'Newsnight' "inappropriately pulled" Savile report, says Maria Miller

Newsnight "inappropriately" axed an investigation into child abuse allegations against Sir Jimmy Savile, according to the Culture Secretary.

Speaking in the House of Commons today, Maria Miller condemned the decision to cut the report made by Peter Rippon, editor of the BBC's late-night current affairs bulletin.

Maria Miller, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport speaks at Britain's Conservative Party Conference, Birmingham, England.

Deputy leader of the Labour Party Harriet Harman speaks during the Labour Party Conference at the Echo Arena in Liverpool. (26/09/2011)

However, Miller confirmed that the government will not launch a separate independent inquiry to stand alongside the BBC's recently announced internal inquiry.

Conservative MP Rob Wilson had secured an urgent question to the Culture Secretary over whether she believed the corporation has gone far enough to deal with the claims.

But she said this afternoon of the internal investigations: "The first will look particularly at the allegations with regard to the item on Savile, which was inappropriately pulled from Newsnight.

"The second review to be undertaken when the police advise us that it is appropriate to do so, will focus on Jimmy Savile himself."

Labour's Deputy Leader Harriet Harman stated that the allegations have "cast a stain on the BBC".

Harman added: 'Everyone has been sickened by the vile abuse perpetrated by Jimmy Savile. It's impossible to overstate the suffering he caused to those he abused.

"What has deepened the revulsion is that this happened at the BBC, an institution so loved and trusted it is known as Auntie."

Tina Fey, Amy Poehler to Host the Golden Globe Awards

Former "Saturday Night Live" cohorts Tina Fey and Amy Poehler are teaming up again -- this time to host the Golden Globe Awards.

The 70th Annual Golden Globe Awards will air live on NBC from the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif. on Jan. 13 at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.

“Having both Tina Fey and Amy Poehler on board to host this year’s festivities is a major coup,” NBC Entertainment's president, alternative and late night programming Paul Telegdy said of the choice. “Tina and Amy have a proven chemistry and comedic timing from their many years together on SNL to their successful co-starring roles in 'Baby Mama.'”

The duo of "SNL" alum take over for Ricky Gervais, whose multiple-year stint as host of the Golden Globes raised eyebrows with what some people considered inappropriate jabs. (And what some considered to be the most worthwhile part of the show.)

Nicole Scherzinger to launch 'X Factor' Melanie Masson's career?

X Factor judge Nicole Scherzinger has reportedly offered to help launch Melanie Masson's singing career.

The 'Don't Hold Your Breath' star apparently took Masson to one side following her elimination on Sunday and told her she could have an international career.

Nicole Scherzinger X Factor judges outside C London restaurant, after earlier appearing on the live show London, England

She also explained how she had wanted to mentor the 44-year-old from the start of the competition. Gary Barlow has also offered to write songs for Masson.

"Nicole got on stage to ask for a word with Melanie as soon as the results show ended. She spoke to her for ten minutes, telling her she thought her voice was amazing," a source told The Sun.

"Nicole said she was sure there would be a market for her songs in America and she was dying to take her out there.Melanie accepted on the spot."

'South Park' Creators Sued Over King Lollipop Character

"South Park" masterminds Trey Parker and Matt Stone have found themselves in a legal entanglement -- and this one looks like it might really suck.

Parker and Stone are being sued over their character King Lollipop, which appeared in three episodes in 2009, by a man who claims that they stole the character from his own show.

Exavier Wardlaw claims that King Lollipop, which was included in the "Imaginationland"  trilogy, is based on the Big Bad Lollipop character from "The Lollipop Forest." (Yeah -- we've never heard of it either.) Wardlaw's complaint, filed in federal court in Philadelphia, claims financial infringement.

Wardlaw is particularly incensed that his show, which he categorizes as "a wholesome family show," was allegedly appropriated by "South Park," which, um, isn't a wholesome family show.

"The 'South Park' television show and its producers, directors and writers disregarded the public copyright notice and appropriated 'The Lollipop Forest' for financial gain, without permission or attribution of authorship or compensation for use," the complaint reads. "The 'South Park' television broadcast diminished/tarnished the value of 'The Lollipop Forest' as a wholesome family show by association within the context of unwholesome language and sexual innuendo."

Wardlaw is seeking that all alleged references to "The Lollipop Forest" and characters derived from it be removed from the opening titles of the shows featuring King Lollipop.

"Imaginationland" took home an Emmy for Outstanding Animated Program for One Hour or More.

Beyoncé to perform contestants' duet in 'X Factor' final?

Beyoncé has reportedly been lined up as a performer in this year's X Factor final.

Simon Cowell is said to have secured the singer to perform a duet with one the finalists, most likely teenager Ella Henderson, should she make the final, reports The Mirror.

Beyoncé previously appeared in the 2008 final, singing a duet with eventual winner Alexandra Burke.

"We are delighted to get Beyoncé on the show because she is such a huge crowd pleaser and will make sure the final goes with a bang," a show source said. "The last time she sang with Alexandra it was incredible, and we hope to have her sing a duet again.

"Ella is the one most likely to sing with her because hearing their voices together would be just amazing. The show is still in its early stages, but Simon hasn't wasted any time in trying to line up acts for the final. He wants to get in there before Strictly."

Henderson is currently the favourite to win this year's series, easily topping Digital Spy's weekly polls to find the best singer on the shows so far.

Beyoncé recently dropped out Clint Eastwood's remake of A Star is Born.

The X Factor's grand final will take place in Manchester on December 8 and 9, with One Direction also tipped to appear.

Newspapers' Decline Continues, While Pew Study Asks: Is TV News Next?

Newspapers continue to suffer in the digital age, but a new study by the Pew Research Center finds that television news is also vulnerable to the technological revolution.

The percentage of Americans who regularly watch local television news has dropped from 54 percent in 2006 to 48 percent today, the study found. But what's particularly troublesome is that the people who are tuning in for news broadcasts are graying.

The number of 18-to-29 year-olds routinely turning on the local news has fallen from 42 percent in 2006 to 28 percent, and the situation on cable is not much better. The number of people aged 65 and older who regularly watch cable news shows is double that of people under the age of 30 (51 percent vs. 23 percent).

CNN has been hardest hit. While regular viewership for rivals Fox News and MSNBC has held steady, the number of Americans who watch CNN has fallen from 24 percent in 2008 to 16 percent today.

To survey news consumption habits, Pew polled 3,003 adults over nearly a month-long period. It is releasing its findings in a report entitled "The Explosion in Mobile Audiences and a Close Look at what it Means for News."

TV networks' problems pale compared to those of newspaper, Pew found.

Over the past 10 years, the number of Americans who regularly read a print newspaper has plummeted from 41 percent to 23 percent. That's a far more precipitous drop than the one in the number of people who read books or magazines in print.

TV Tonight 16th of October 2012

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

    112 - på liv och död S06E26: "Del 26 av 36"
    19 Kids and Counting S06E24: "Thrill Seeking Duggars"
    19 Kids and Counting S06E23: "First Grandson Turns 1"
    30 For 30 S02E03
    Abby's Ultimate Dance Competition S01E02: "Unleash the Monsters"
    Addicted S02E08: "Gina & Sean"
    Alaska: The Last Frontier S02E03: "Cattle Drive"
    Anderson Live S02E27
    Antiques Road Trip S05E12: "Series 5, Episode 12"
    Are We There Yet? S03E22: "The Lindsey Dances Episode"
    Aspe S08E07: "Bloedmooi"
    Bait Car S05E24: "Los Angeles (10)"
    Bait Car S05E23: "Los Angeles (9)"
    Bait Car S05E26: "Chicago (4)"
    Bait Car S05E25: "Chicago (3)"
    Ben and Kate S01E04: "21st Birthday"
    Big Brother (AU) S09E56: "Daily Show 36"
    Brickleberry S01E04: "Squabbits"
    Chasing Classic Cars S06E02: "Wheels Through Time"
    Chasing Classic Cars S06E01: "California Dreaming"
    Chef Race: UK vs U.S. S01E04: "Foreign Exchange"
    Chelsea Lately S06E163
    Chicagolicious S01E11: "Stylists Gone Wild"
    Chopped S13E06: "A Very Piggy Halloween"
    Conan S02E153: "Kate Walsh, Steven Yeun, Ty Segall"
    Covert Affairs S03E11: "Rock 'n' Roll Suicide"
    Cuckoo S01E04: "Grandfather's Cat"
    Dancing With the Stars (US) S15E08: "Season 15, Episode 8"
    Daybreak S03E32: "October 16, 2012"
    Days of our Lives S47E230: "Ep. #11940"
    De slimste mens ter wereld S10E18: "Season 10, Episode 18"
    De vijfhoek S01E07: "Season 1, Episode 7"
    Deal Or No Deal (UK) S08E56: "Episode 2049"
    Doctors S14E111: "Devotion"
    Don't Tell the Bride S06E11: "Terry and Melissa"
    Dora the Explorer S07E15
    Double Your House for Half the Money S01E06
    EastEnders S28E164: "October 16, 2012"
    Emily Owens, M.D. S01E01: "Pilot"
    Emmerdale S41E244: "October 16, 2012"
    Extreme Cheapskates S01E01: "Kate"
    Extreme Cheapskates S01E02: "Terence / Greg"
    Face Off S03E09: "Junkyard Cyborg"
    Figure It Out S05E02: "Season 5, Episode 2"
    Flipping Out S06E07: "Cleaning House"
    Fresh Meat S02E02: "Series 2, Episode 2"
    General Hospital (US) S50E139: "#12667"
    Giuliana & Bill S05E13: "Babies Hate Me!"
    Goede Tijden, Slechte Tijden S23E32: "Season 23, Episode 32"
    Halv åtta hos mig S09E34: "Motala - Sharbel"
    Hard Time S03E18: "Mental Hell"
    Hart Of Dixie S02E03: "If It Makes You Happy"
    Have I Got a Bit More News for You S44E01: "Series 44, Episode 1"
    Helicopter Heroes S06E12: "Series 6, Episode 12"
    Hellfjord S01E02: "Season 1, Episode 2"
    Highway Thru Hell S01E07: "Yin & Yang"
    Holby City S15E01: "The Third Way"
    Hollyoaks S18E207: "October 16, 2012"
    Home and Away (AU) S25E192: "Episode 5627"
    Hot Set S01E05: "Basement Of Horrors"
    Hotel cæsar S29E66: "Season 29, Episode 66"
    House Hunters S50E82
    House Hunters International S34E78: "Chasing Dreams in St. Lucia"
    I Hate My Bath S02E13: "New House, New Bath"
    Ian Hislop's Stiff Upper Lip - An Emotional History Of Britain S01E03
    Iconoclasts S06E02: "Judd Apatow & Lena Dunham"
    Imagine (UK) S21E07: "Freddie Mercury: The Great Pretender"
    Ink Master S02E03: "The 80 Year Old Virgin"
    İşler Güçler S01E17: "Season 1, Episode 17"
    Jimmy Kimmel Live S09E320
    Later Live - With Jools Holland S10E04: "Series 10, Show 4"
    Live with Kelly and Michael S30E27: "Ben Stiller, Gavin DeGraw"
    Loose Women S17E32: "Series 17, Show 32"
    Million Dollar Rooms S03E03
    Mr. Young S02E26: "Mr. Candy"
    Naruto SD: Rock Lee no Seishun Full-Power Ninden S01E29
    Neighbours S28E202: "Episode 6512"
    Oh Oh Europa S01E37: "Season 1, Episode 37"
    Overhaulin' S06E03: "1967 Camaro"
    Pointless S07E35: "Series 7, Episode 35"
    Raising Hope S03E03: "Throw Maw Maw From The House (2)"
    Randy Cunningham: 9th Grade Ninja S01E12: "Viva El Nomicon"
    River City S11E04: "Episode 802"
    Sakura-sou no Petto na Kanojo S01E02: "The Drawings I've Drawn"
    Salatut elämät S15E31: "Isabella saa selkärangan kokoamisohjeet"
    Sinnasnekker'n S03E07: "Season 3, Episode 7"
    SlugTerra S01E02: "The World Beneath Our Feet, Part 2"
    Sons of Anarchy S05E06: "Small World"
    Strictly Come Dancing - It Takes Two S09E07: "Series 9, Episode 7"
    Styled to Rock S01E10: "Episode 10"
    Taboo S09E15: "Old Enough?"
    Tattoo Nightmares S01E01: "Killer Skyline (Pilot)"
    The Big Break S18E04: "Big Break Greenbrier - Bombs Away"
    The Big Decision S02E01: "Season 2, Episode 1"
    The Bold and the Beautiful S26E145: "Ep. #6429"
    The Chase (2009) S05E117: "Series 5, Episode 111"
    The Chew S02E27: "Episode 265"
    The Colbert Report S08E129: "Cory Booker"
    The Daily Show S17E167: "Eugene Jarecki"
    The Dr. Phil Show S11E31: "When Love Hurts"
    The Ellen DeGeneres Show S10E27
    The Great British Bake Off S03E10: "The Final"
    The Jeremy Kyle Show S08E32: "October 16, 2012"
    The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson S08E157
    The Looney Tunes Show (2011) S02E03: "Itsy Bitsy Gopher"
    The Paradise S01E04: "Episode 4"
    The Project S04E247: "Season 4, Episode 247"
    The Strange Calls S01E01: "First Call (Pilot)"
    The View S16E31: "Hayden Panettiere, Israeli Ambassador Michael Oren"
    The Voice (US) S03E13: "The Battles Continue"
    The X Factor (AU) S04E23: "Season 4, Live Finals 5 (Result)"
    The Young and the Restless S40E144: "Ep. #10013"
    Thuis S18E37: "Season 18, Episode 37"
    Tia & Tamera S02E12: "Game, Over"
    Tonari no Kaibutsu-kun S01E03: "Nuisance"
    Tosh.0 S04E24: "TBA"
    Twisted (US) S04E06: "The Deadly Duo"
    Underemployed S01E01: "Pilot"
    Watch What Happens: Live S08E28: "Lauren Conrad"
    Wereld draait door, De S08E32: "Season 8, Episode 32"
    Wheeler Dealers (2003) S11E05: "Triumph TR6"
    Winners & Losers S02E17: "Matters of the Heart"
    Wolfblood S01E12: "Episode 12"
    World Series of Poker S44E13: "WSOP Main Event"
    World Without End S01E07: "Queen"
    Интерны S07E10: "Кого любит Быков?"

JLS to host Christmas TV special on Sky1

JLS will reportedly host a festive TV special this Christmas.

The boyband will celebrate four years since first appearing on The X Factor with a one-off 90-minute special on Sky1, according to The Sun.

A Very JLS Christmas will see the group in an enchanted forest setting in front of 400 of their most loyal fans.

JLS will perform a selection of Christmas favourites and carols, alongside their own hits.

The special will air on Sky1 in December, with an exact airdate expected to be confirmed in the near future.

Michael Bublé brought back the tradition of popstars fronting Christmas TV specials with his own show on ITV1 last year, in the same vein as holiday specials from Andy Williams and Bing Crosby.

JLS will face off against Robbie Williams when they release their latest album Evolution on November 5.

'X Factor' Melanie Masson video interview: 'I thought Gary would quit'

Eliminated X Factor contestant Melanie Masson has admitted that she thought mentor Gary Barlow was going to quit the show last week after Rylan Clark was controversially saved.

The 44-year-old told that she was genuinely concerned Barlow would abandon the 'Overs' category following Carolynne Poole's elimination, but said that the Take That star is committed to fighting for remaining acts Kye Sones and Christopher Maloney.

"I don't think he would ever walk out on his acts," Masson said. "He's a real man of his word... he will fight for [Kye and Christopher] until the bitter end.

"I was worried he would [quit] last week actually after what happened with Carolynne, but I'm so glad he stayed and I had another week with him. I think it would be a great loss to the show if he left because he's such an asset."

Masson added that she has made plans to work with Barlow again in the future, revealing: "He said that he's going to do some writing for me, which would be amazing."

The axed singer also addressed complaints on DS that she had been hurt by the new procedure of opening phone lines before any acts have sung.

"I think some people could say the old way was unfair, I think it's just a new way," she accepted. "I don't know, I think it's just different.

"You could easily say that [it was unfair] last year when people are on first, then you don't get to vote to the end and people have forgotten."

Masson also said that being called a 'MILF' by Tulisa Contostavlos had been a "huge compliment", repaying the favour by describing the judge as "amazing", "beautiful" and "talented".

'The Bachelor' Racial Discrimination Suit Dismissed

There's no telling how far Nathaniel Claybrooks and Christopher Johnson would have gotten on ABC's reality dating show "The Bachelor," but one thing's for certain -- they got voted out of the court system pretty early.

Would-be "Bachelor" contestants Claybrooks and Johnson suffered legal defeat in U.S. District Court in Tennessee Monday, when Judge Aleta A. Trauger dismissed the pair's suit.

Claybrooks and Johnson, who are both African-Americans, unsuccessfully applied to appear on "The Bachelor" in 2011 and subsequently claimed racial discrimination, noting that, in the 24 cumulative episodes of "The Bachelor" and its spinoff, "The Bachelorette," there has never been a Bachelor (e.g., Matt Grant, pictured) or Bachelorette of color, and the vast majority of suitors on the show have been white.

The defendants claimed that the series intentionally cast only white Bachelors and Bachelorettes, and that the producers have feared "potential controversy stemming from an interracial romance."

In a motion to dismiss, ABC and the other defendants, including Warner Horizon Television, presented a First Amendment argument, as well as invoking the "void-for-vagueness" doctrine.

Judge Trauger found merit in the First Amendment argument, writing in her opinion, "the court finds that the casting decisions are part and parcel of the creative process behind a television program -- including the Shows at issue here -- thereby meriting First Amendment protection against the application of anti-discriminating statutes to that process."

In their motion to dismiss, ABC and the other defendants argued that subjecting casting to anti-discrimination laws would have a wide-ranging impact for many television outlets.

"For example, the legality of any network targeting particular demographic groups would be called into question, including, inter alia, the Lifetime Network (targeted to female audiences), the Black Entertainment Channel (targeted to African-Americans), Telemundo (targeted to Latinos), the Jewish Channel, the Christian Broadcast Channel, the Inspiration Network (targeted to Protestants) and LOGO (targeted to gays and lesbians)," the judge's opinion reads. "Similarly, the content of any television show that does not have a sufficiently diverse cast would be or would have been subject to court scrutiny.

Judge Trauger sided with ABC, et al, on the First Amendment argument.

"Ultimately, whatever messages "The Bachelor" and "The Bachelorette" communicate or are intended to communicate -- whether explicitly, implicitly, intentionally, or otherwise -- the First Amendment protects the right of the producers of these shows to craft and control those messages, based on whatever considerations the producers wish to take into account."

Stephen King's Ex-Lawyer Sues for Breach of Contract

Stephen King's former agent and current accountant appear to have a legal nightmare on their hands that even the master of horror might have trouble conjuring up.

Jay Kramer, who had been King's attorney for more than 30 years, filed suit in New York's Supreme Court against the author's agents, Arthur B. Greene and Susan Greene of the Arthur B. Greene Literary Agency, claiming that they convinced King to can him, and have withheld his commission on projects related to King's work.

Given the massive commercial success of King's work, along with the various adaptations of his work, it's a substantial amount.

Kramer alleges that, after working for King since 1978 and helping to broker lucrative deals for the writer, he was axed in March at the Greenes' suggestion and thereafter bilked on commissions for past and future projects.

According to Kramer's suit, Arthur Greene, currently in his 80s, was replaced as King's agent and relegated to accounting duties in 2008. At the insistence of King, Greene's wife Susan was brought in to assist her husband "as Mr. Greene's cognitive skills have declined."

Kramer's suit claims the Greenes had a secret meeting with King, after which he was fired. In addition to getting the boot, Kramer says that he's been denied commissions rightfully due  him for various projects, including film and television productions of "1408," "Secret Window," "The Shawshank Connection" and "The Stand." The suit also mentions, among other negotiations, film deals for "The Dark Tower" and "Sun Dog" that Kramer was "completing" at the time of his termination.

The suit alleges that after the firing the Greenes "jointly and severally began diverting the sums owed to Mr. Kramer to their own account and refused to pay them to Mr. Kramer." According to the complaint, since Kramer's firing, "hundreds of thousands of dollars in commissions" have been paid out on deals that Kramer had negotiated or was in the process of completing, but he hasn't seen a dime of them.

Kramer claims that Susan Greene has "made clear her unwillingness to pay anything to Mr. Kramer unless he would negotiate with her regarding what payments he would receive."

The suit alleges conversion of commissions for work performed, breach of contract for work performed, quantum meruit/unjust enrichment, tortious interference with contract and tortious interference with prospective economic gain -- and the suit is asking for a minimum of $1 million for each count.

Paul O'Grady's 'Dogs' show bows out with nearly 5m viewers

Paul O'Grady's For the Love of Dogs concluded with a series high of almost 5 million viewers last night (October 15).

The final edition of O'Grady's seven-part fly-on-the-wall show for ITV drew 4.73m and a 19.3% share, adding a further 257k (1.1%) on ITV1 +1.

Clashing with BBC One's popular EastEnders, For the Love of Dogs has become ITV's most successful format in its Monday 8pm filler slot in the 21st century.

For the Love of Dogs has also outperformed the presenter's Friday night chat show Paul O'Grady Live, which was dropped after two series following unspectacular viewing figures.

There was also good news for ITV in O'Grady's old stomping ground, as The Chase commanded 2.89m (20.5%) at 5pm (+1: 219k/1%), beating Pointless's 2.58m (10.6%) for BBC One.

However, ITV's success didn't run into the 9pm hour, where James Nesbitt's Monroe sunk to 2.77m (11.9%) at the mercy of New Tricks, which remained solidly high with 7.26m (31.1%).

Elsewhere, University Challenge (2.68m/11.9%), Nigellisima (2.24m/9.3%) and Wonderland (1.54m/6.6%) were fairly consistent for BBC Two. Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two dazzled 1.91m (9.4%) at 6.30pm.

Meanwhile, Channel 4's 999: What's Your Emergency climbed to 2.07m (8.9%) at 9pm (+1: 439k/2.6%), and Channel 5's highest-rated programme was once again 8pm's Classic Car Rescue with 991k (4.1%).

Overall, BBC One topped primetime with 23.3% over ITV1's 21.9% (+1: 0.8%). BBC Two claimed third place with 6.9%, ahead of Channel 4's 5.2% (+1: 0.9%), and Channel 5's 3.7% (+1: 0.2%).

'Walking Dead' Delivers AMC Its Biggest Ever Series-Premiere Audience

Zombies brought life to AMC's ratings Sunday night.

The network received its best original-series premiere numbers ever, with Frank Darabont sci-fi/drama "The Walking Dead" averaging 5.3 million viewers during its 90-minute Halloween-night premiere.

To put that number in perspective, season 4 of the network's flagship show, "Mad Men," debuted to an average of 2.9 million viewers in August.

Meanwhile, "Rubicon," the suspense drama AMC premiered over the summer, averaged just 2 million viewers out of the gate.

The heavily promoted "Walking Dead" also delivered an audience of 3.6 million 18-49-year-olds, making it the best series-premiere in that target demo for all of cable in 2010.

"It's a good day to be dead," said AMC president Charlie Collier. "We are so proud of this series, its depth of storytelling and the remarkable talent attached."

It was a win all around for the network, which used the zombie-themed post-apocalyptic original series to promote its annual weeklong "Fearfest" lineup of horror-movie presentations.

Of course, big premiere ratings are one thing, but AMC -- now under the creative watch of Joel Stillerman -- has high creative bar to clear in order to replace signature, aging originals like "Mad Men" and "Breaking Bad."

So far, Stillerman -- who replaced former network creative chief Rob Sorcher, now at the Cartoon Network -- has had middling success launching new shows, with mini-series remake "The Prisoner" flatlining last fall and "Rubicon" debuting to a largely buzzless summer.

Can "Walking Dead" maintain its high viewer levels post-Halloween night, and without ample promotional spending -- which, among other things, paid for extras in cities all over the world to don makeup and dress as zombies?

And perhaps more important to AMC's sizable brand prestige, can a derivative series -- which is based on a comic book and plays almost exactly like Danny Boyle's 2002 hit "28 Days Later" -- win Emmys?

'Geordie Shore' Vicky Pattinson: 'The bitch is back for series four'

Geordie Shore's Vicky Pattinson has promised that the fourth series of Geordie Shore is going to be the show's wildest yet.

Pattinson, who is engaged to co-star Ricci Guarnaccio, claimed that the "bitch is back" for the new run after having "a tough time" in the Cancun specials.

Speaking about her romantic status, she commented: "The bitch is definitely back and I refuse to be taken for a mug anymore."

The reality TV star admitted that she was disappointed to see Jay Gardner leave the show, but revealed that she was delighted to see the back of Rebecca Walker.

"I wasn't really arsed [about Rebecca leaving] if I'm honest," said Pattinson. "She is a f**king idiot."

Scott Timlin and Daniel Thomas-Tuck have joined Geordie Shore for its latest run.

Commenting on her new co-stars, Pattinson joked: "The biggest romantic relationship this series is Gaz with one of the new lads. They are seriously up each other's arses so much, I think they're planning a civil partnership."

Geordie Shore returns on Tuesday, November 6 at 10pm on MTV.

'X Factor' Jahmene Douglas: 'I'm shocked at Melanie Masson's exit'

X Factor contestant Jahmene Douglas has admitted that he is upset over Melanie Masson's elimination from the show.

The singer, who is being mentored by Nicole Scherzinger, said Masson's first audition was one of his favourite auditions ever to appear on the ITV1 singing competition.

"Last night was bittersweet. I was happy to go through but upset to lose Melanie. She was one of my best friends in the competition," he told the X Factor website.

"She's a brilliant vocalist and someone who I really admire. I'm shocked she's gone. Her audition was one of my favourite X Factor auditions of all time."

He added: "I thought my performance was alright. I'm a perfectionist which means that I can be self-critical. I'm more used to my surroundings now so I'm feeling more comfortable on stage."

Masson left The X Factor last night after landing in the bottom two alongside District3.

Cheryl Cole: 'I wasn't sure about Katie Waissel at first'

Cheryl Cole has admitted that she wasn't sure about X Factor contestant Katie Waissel during her first audition.

The former judge, who went on to put Waissel through to live shows, made the confession in her new autobiography Cheryl: My Story.

Cheryl Cole at Giuseppe Zanotti Design store on Sloane Street. London, England - 07.09.12 Mandatory Credit: Spiller/WENN.com

Waissel, who courted controversy throughout her stint on The X Factor, famously forgot the words to Queen's 'We Are the Champions' when she first tried out for the show in 2010, before singing Etta James's 'At Last'.

"Simon [Cowell] had spent the past two years drumming into me that we needed acts who would be 'good TV'," Cole confessed.

The 'Call My Name' star took a break from the series while she battled malaria, and later saw Waissel perform at Judges' Houses as part of the Girls category.

"When I saw Katie perform this time, I had to admit that she was... quirky, intriguing and busting to succeed.

"In short, she had the character and drive it took to withstand the pressure of the show, and so I put her through, even though she messed up when she sang in front of Will [will.i.am]."

Speaking of Cher Lloyd, who also competed that year, she added: "I absolutely loved her and had done from the start. She reminded me of myself, coming from a similar background and being gutsy, putting herself out there.

"She basically broke down when it was her turn to sing, but I still put her through because I believed in her and I felt sure she'd blossom as the competition went on."

Lloyd has previously revealed that Cole didn't keep in touch after The X Factor, quipping that she had "more chance of winning the lottery" than catching up with her.

The pair fell out publicly after Lloyd joked that she would only perform with her former mentor if she sang live without the aid of Auto-Tune. Cole warned her to "be careful who you kick on your way up" and said she "needs to learn a lot".