Germany’s ‘The Voice’ Ratings Soar to New Record

Germany’s ‘The Voice’ Ratings Soar to New Record

The new singing format closes in on “Idol” and “Got Talent."

The noise around The Voice in Germany shows no sign of quieting down. The spinning chairs singing format continues to gain audience share in Europe’s leading television market, with 5.21 million tuning in to the fifth episode of The Voice this week, more than a million more than watched the show’s debut.

And most of those are younger viewers. The Voice of Germany scored a sensational 30.9 percent share in the key 14-49 demographic, with nearly 4 million tuning in. If The Voice continues to rise, the show will challenge Germany’s versions of Idol and Got Talent for the local ratings crown. Both Idol and Got Talent air on RTL Television, The Voice alternates between RTL competitors Pro7 and Sat.1.

Spartacus: Vengeance First Look: Watch The Bloody Spectacular Trailer and Behind the Scenes Footage

Spartacus: Vengeance First Look: Watch The Bloody Spectacular Trailer and Behind the Scenes Footage

Spartacus: Vengeance doesn’t premiere for another month, but Starz is whetting fans’ appetites by releasing the trailer and some behind the scene looks.

Trailer

Behind the scenes

Behind the scenes

'Law & Order: SVU' Occupy Wall Street Set Overtaken by Real OWS Protestors

'Law & Order: SVU' Occupy Wall Street Set Overtaken by Real OWS Protestors

The show famous for ripping storylines from the headlines became one, as a "Law & Order: SVU" set mocked up to look like the Occupy Wall Street camp at Zuccotti Park was infiltrated by real OWS-ers Friday morning.

The NBC legal drama -- the last one standing from the once-thriving "Law & Order" franchise -- was scheduled to film on the "Mockupy" Wall Street set that had been created in downtown New York City, near the State Supreme Court building where "L&O" shows have frequently filmed.

But around midnight, actual Occupy Wall Street protestors popped up at the recreation of their old stomping (and sleeping, eating, reading, and drum circle-ing) grounds and began to walk through the set, poking fun at what they saw as an attempt by the TV show to capitalize on their protests.

Protestors danced, waved flags, poked through the library and kitchen elements of the set and, the New York Times reports, even crawled inside tents, despite objections from people guarding the "L&O" production.

"We thought we would bring some extras down and add some reality to this show," Brooklyn protestor Aaron Black told the Times. "Why should they be able to put tents up in a public park when we are unable to do that?"

NYPD officers were called to the scene, and a police commander announced the show's set permit had been rescinded.

After a brief stand-off with NYPD, the protestors disbursed to a nearby fountain and held a meeting, while "Law & Order" production company employees broke down the faux Zuccotti Park.

Matt Smith: 'Doctor Who Confidential axe was a pity'

Matt Smith: 'Doctor Who Confidential axe was a pity'

Matt Smith has expressed his disappointment at the cancellation of Doctor Who Confidential.

The behind-the-scenes show was axed by BBC Three controller Zai Bennett in late September.

"[I was] really sorry," Smith told What's On TV. "It's a pity as I think it's a show which can reinvent itself year on year and it's one of the biggest shows on BBC Three."

Bennett previously defended his decision, explaining that BBC Three is focusing investment on original commissions in the future.

"I guess people come in and have new ideas and want to have their own fresh take on it," said Smith. "But, hey, some you win, some you lose."

Following the Confidential cancellation, Doctor Who fans began a campaign on Twitter to resurrect the show.

The final Doctor Who Confidential instalment, 'When Time Froze', aired on October 1 on BBC Three.

Paul O'Grady: 'I'd definitely be up for Britain's Got Talent'

Paul O'Grady: 'I'd definitely be up for Britain's Got Talent'

Paul O'Grady has revealed that he would "definitely consider" a judging role on Britain's Got Talent.

The 56-year-old, who previously turned down an offer to join the ITV contest, said he would be open to replacing outgoing stars Michael McIntyre and David Hasselhoff on the panel, though he admitted that he would find it "tough" to end the dreams of contestants.

"I'd consider it most definitely, but if they did ask me I'd have to have a good think," he told The Mirror. "You have to sit through all those bum acts at the auditions - some of them are dreadful. And I really hate the ones that say they're burlesque artistes. No you're not, you've got a bit of tinsel wrapped round your bra.

"I'd be very worried that I'd say too much. It's a tough job. You've got to be honest with people, but you can end up [being] 'Mr Nasty' or bland.

"I'd be honest, but I couldn't tell kids they were rubbish - I wouldn't be able to sleep when I got home if I reduced somebody to tears. I'd hate it. Who wants to earn a living doing that?"

O'Grady added that he is not a fan of Britain's Got Talent's sister show The X Factor, which he believes has become "too cynical" in recent years.

"I'm not that keen on Saturday night telly anyway, I never have been," he said. "I'll watch Strictly if it's on - I wouldn't rush in to put it on - and I never watch X Factor. It's too cynical for me, plus most years the finalists don't seem to have the X Factor."

In September, O'Grady was named by Digital Spy readers as their dream Britain's Got Talent judge.

Simon Cowell was confirmed this week to be returning to Britain's Got Talent alongside veteran judge Amanda Holden.

Simon Cowell to make satellite appearance on 'X Factor' final

Simon Cowell to make satellite appearance on 'X Factor' final

The show's creator and Syco boss left the UK X Factor last year and has not featured in the 2011 live shows at all, due to commitments to the new US series on Fox.

Simon Cowell - The X Factor boss and record executive celebrates his 52nd birthday on Friday.

Cowell is holding a party in LA at the weekend, which will be streaming footage of the four-hour UK show's finale for guests. He has also apparently been lined up to speak via satellite on The Xtra Factor.

The music and TV mogul is still a producer on the ITV1 programme and has spoken to the UK contestants via Skype during the series, offering constructive criticism and advice on their performances.

At yesterday's X Factor finalists' press conference at Wembley Arena, Louis Walsh and Gary Barlow seemed unaware that Cowell would have any involvement in the final, suggesting that he was too busy with the US version.

The X Factor final kicks off on Saturday (December 10) at 8pm on ITV1. Marcus Collins, Amelia Lily and Little Mix are fighting it out for the chance to land a Syco record contract and a Christmas single.

Doctor Who: The Eternity Clock game confirmed by BBC

Doctor Who: The Eternity Clock game confirmed by BBC

BBC Worldwide has today released the first details about Doctor Who: The Eternity Clock, the first in a series of new console games featuring the Timelord.

Doctor Who: The Eternity Clock is being developed by Supermassive Games for digital download platforms and is set for release in early 2012, initially on PlayStation 3, the new PlayStation Vita handheld and PC platforms.

This will be the first in a series of new Doctor Who video games, with two more console titles planned for release in 2012 as the BBC looks to leverage the lucrative Doctor Who brand.

Doctor Who: The Eternity Clock, which was teased yesterday on the BBC's YouTube channel, will allow gamers to take on the role of Matt Smith's Doctor and Alex Kingston's River Song as they travel across time and space to save the Earth.

BBC Worldwide, the BBC's commercial arm, said that the game will feature "time-based gameplay" involving changes made in one time creating multiple possibilities elsewhere, along with general puzzle solving across the centuries.

Featuring a wholly new storyline written in collaboration with the BBC Wales team, the game will feature "photo-real graphics, television-quality scenes and highly realistic characters" filmed in motion capture, along with full voice acting from Smith and Kingston.

BBC Worldwide executive vice president of digital entertainment Robert Nashak said: "We're creating these new games for PlayStation 3 and Vita with adaptations that will bring the wonder, adventure and madness of Doctor Who to each platform.

"Working with a top-tier UK development partner like Supermassive Games demonstrates BBC Worldwide's commitment to create world-class Doctor Who games for fans of the show and gamers alike."

Doctor Who is among the BBC's most valuable brands, helping Worldwide generate revenue of £1.16 billion in the 12 months to March 31, 2011, delivering a record profit of £160.2m, up 10.3% year-on-year.