'The Big Bang Theory's' Sheldon Meets His Idol: Stephen Hawking

'The Big Bang Theory's' Sheldon Meets His Idol: Stephen Hawking

On Thursday's episode, the theoretical physicist and cosmologist guest stars when Simon Helberg's Howard gets the chance to work with his friend's hero.

CBS' The Big Bang Theory follows one epic guest star with another this week when Stephen Hawking arrives at the university.

With the theoretical physicist and cosmologist's brought in to work with Howard (Simon Helberg), Sheldon (Jim Parsons) is going to go to great lengths to meet his hero during "The Hawking Excitation."

Hawking has been a frequent subject of conversation on the CBS hit about four lovable science geeks, with the Chuck Lorre/Bill Prady series first mentioning the renowned brainiac in the pilot, with Sheldon most recently tricked into going to the airport in the middle of the night to meet him during an episode in the show's fourth season.

"When people would ask us who a 'dream guest star' for the show would be, we would always joke and say Stephen Hawking -- knowing that it was a long shot of astronomical proportions," Prady said in a statement earlier this month when the casting was announced. "In fact, we’re not exactly sure how we got him. It’s the kind of mystery that could only be understood by, say, a Stephen Hawking."

Hawking's appearance comes a week after Big Bang Theory featured Star Trek legend Leonard Nimoy guest voicing a tiny Spock action figure. The series has also welcomed astronaut Mike Massimino in a cameo as himself earlier this season.

'Home and Away's Sharni Vinson: 'The Shire' will be great'

'Home and Away's Sharni Vinson: 'The Shire' will be great'

Sharni Vinson has lent her support to upcoming Australian dramality show The Shire.

The 28-year-old Aussie actress, who is best known for her former role as Cassie in Home and Away, grew up in the Sutherland Shire region and said that she thinks it will make "great" viewing.

Vinson told The Daily Telegraph: "Heaps of my friends auditioned for it actually, but the ones that made it through have since pulled out. I keep telling them to do it though because I think it will be great. Why not?"

The Shire has been surrounded by controversy since it was first dubbed as an Australian version of Jersey Shore.

The mayor of Sutherland Shire revealed that she is vehemently against the Channel Ten project, saying: "I just don't think this show will support us. It'll just be very negative... [I'll] put a boom gate on the Captain Cook Bridge... and keep them out."

Ten bosses blamed a "misleading" promo for the backlash, saying: "It is disappointing the councillors have made assumptions about The Shire before discussing it fully with us. Their concerns appear to be based on footage that was leaked online... [and] mischievous reporting."

Rove McManus talkshow 'Rove LA' picked up by TV Guide Network

Rove McManus talkshow 'Rove LA' picked up by TV Guide Network

Rove McManus's chatshow has been picked up for broadcast in the US.

The Australian TV personality, whose last series Rove LA was aired in his home country last year, will now feature on cable channel TV Guide Network.

According to TV Tonight, the network will air 10 episodes from the first season of Rove LA, where he interviewed celebrity guests such as Justin Timberlake, Hugh Jackman, Eva Longoria, Steve Carell, Pink and Lisa Kudrow.

They have also signed on to air the upcoming second season of the Los Angeles-based programme, which begins filming for Fox8 in September.

TV Guide Network chairman Allen Shapiro said: "We are continuing to invest in original series and exclusive programming that will draw entertainment fans closer to their favourite stars.

"Rove LA will offer viewers fresh comedy programming with some of the best-known celebrities in Hollywood today, as well as up-and-coming talent."

McManus, who relocated to the US with his second wife Tasma Walton last year, is fronting Foxtel's Olympics coverage later this year.

He is also among the stars presenting awards at the Logie Awards in Australia later this month

Syfy Will Bring International Hit "Total Blackout" to America

Syfy Will Bring International Hit "Total Blackout" to America

There is nothing more terrifying than being in complete darkness. When the lights go off, our imaginations take hold and our nightmares come to life. Starting Wednesday, April 25 at 10PM (ET/PT), Syfy will plunge contestants into blinding darkness to confront their deepest fears in the new weekly, unscripted competition series, Total Blackout.

Hosted by Jaleel White (Family Matters, Dancing with the Stars), Total Blackout is a half-hour, extreme game show in which contestants battle each other and their fears in a series of challenges. However, all the challenges are played in complete darkness. There are no lights, no blindfolds and no-holds barred as the players face their anxieties and unexpected surprises in a series of nerve-wracking games.

The international hit series is produced by FremantleMedia North America (American Idol, The X Factor) and was created by Henrik Nielsen (Can You Duet?, Danish versions of The X Factor, Got Talent and Pop Idol). Nielsen and Jeff Apploff (Million Dollar Money Drop, Don"t Forget the Lyrics) serve as executive producers. Jack Martin (Who"s Still Standing, Deal or No Deal) is co-executive producer.

Total Blackout joins Syfy"s growing roster of popular reality series such as Face Off, Ghost Hunters, Face or Faked: Paranormal Files, Hollywood Treasure, Haunted Collector, Destination Truth, Ghost Hunters International, Paranormal Witness, Monster Man and Dream Machines, which will premiere Tuesday, April 10 at 10PM.

BBC America's First Original Drama, "Copper"

BBC America's First Original Drama, "Copper"

1860s New York City drama from Emmy(R)-winner Tom Fontana, Academy Award(R)-nominee Will Rokos and Academy Award(R)-winner Barry Levinson

BBC AMERICA has announced the channel's first original drama, COPPER, set in 1860s New York City, will premiere Sunday, August 19, 9:00pm ET/PT.

Tanya Fischer (The Defenders, Life on Mars) joins the cast of COPPER as Molly Stuart, an ambitious courtesan at Eva's Paradise. The 10-part drama centers on Kevin Corcoran (Tom Weston-Jones, MI-5), an intense, rugged Irish-American cop working the city's notorious Five Points neighborhood. Corcoran is struggling to maintain his moral compass in a turbulent world, while on an emotional and relentless quest to learn the truth about the disappearance of his wife and the death of his daughter. His friendship with two Civil War compatriots - the wayward son of a wealthy industrialist and an African American physician who secretly assists Corcoran with his detective work - takes him to the contrasting worlds of elegant Fifth Avenue and an emerging African-American community in rural northern Manhattan. The three men share a secret from their experience on the battlefield that inextricably links their lives forever.

The series is created by Emmy(R)-winner Tom Fontana (Oz, Homicide: Life on the Streets, St. Elsewhere) and Academy Award(R)-nominee Will Rokos (Monster's Ball, Southland) and among the executive producers are Academy Award(R)-winner Barry Levinson (Good Morning Vietnam, Rain Man, You Don't Know Jack), Cineflix Media Co-CEO Glen Salzman, Cineflix Studios President Christina Wayne (Broken Trail and executive in charge of Mad Men), Fontana and Rokos.

The previously announced cast includes Franka Potente (The Bourne Supremacy, Run Lola Run) as Eva Heissen, a shrewd businesswoman and the madam of Eva's Paradise; Kyle Schmid (Blood Ties, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants) as Robert Morehouse, a handsome bon vivant and part of Manhattan aristocracy; Anastasia Griffith (Royal Pains, Damages) as the sophisticated and spirited Elizabeth Haverford; Ato Essandoh (Damages) as Doctor Matthew Freeman, who secretly assists Corcoran with his work; Kevin Ryan (Tripping Tommy) as Detective Francis Maguire, Corcoran's closet friend and partner in the 6th Precinct; Dylan Taylor (Covert Affairs) as Andrew O'Brien, colleague and companion to Corcoran and Maguire; Ron White (The Line) as Captain Ciaran Joseph Sullivan, who is more often concerned about his reputation than seeking justice for victims; Kiara Glasco (Angel Duty) as Annie Reilly, a young runaway forced to grow up too quickly; Tessa Thompson (Heroes) as Sara Freeman, the fearful and anxious wife of Dr. Freeman; and David W. Keeley (Rookie Blue) as Sergeant Padraic Byrnes, a corrupt and contemptuous cop.

New HBO Comedy Series "Veep" Debuts April 22

New HBO Comedy Series "Veep" Debuts April 22

Armando Iannucci, Frank Rich And Christopher Godsick Executive Produce

Former senator Selina Meyer was a rising star in her party, a charismatic leader who seemed to have unlimited potential. Some pundits thought she might even occupy the White House some day.

Then she became vice president.

Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Emmy(R) winner for "Seinfeld" and "The New Adventures of Old Christine") stars as Selina Meyer in VEEP, the story of a woman who becomes vice president, only to discover the job is nothing like she expected, but everything she was warned about. Created by Armando Iannucci (Oscar(R) nominee for co-writing "In the Loop").

VEEP follows the whirlwind day-to-day existence of Vice President Meyer as she puts out political fires, juggles a busy public schedule and demanding private life, and defends the president's interests, even as she tries to improve her dysfunctional relationship with the chief executive.

The ensemble cast of the show also includes Tony Hale ("Arrested Development") as Gary, her right-hand man; Anna Chlumsky ("In the Loop") as Amy, her chief of staff; Matt Walsh (HBO's "Hung") as Mike, Vice President Meyer's weathered spokesperson; Reid Scott ("My Boys") as Dan, an ambitious political aide; Timothy C. Simons ("Days Together") as Jonah, a young and somewhat clueless White House liaison; and Sufe Bradshaw ("Overnight") as Sue, Vice President Meyer's executive assistant.

In addition to Armando Iannucci, directors include Chris Morris and Tristram Shapeero; other writers besides Armando Iannucci include Simon Blackwell, Tony Roche, Sean Gray, William Smith, Roger Drew and Ian Martin.

Ratings: CBS Wins Night With ACM Awards; 'GCB' Slips

Ratings: CBS Wins Night With ACM Awards; 'GCB' Slips

Though down slightly from last year's presentation, the 47th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards performed well enough to give CBS an overall win Sunday night, while ABC's "GCB" and Fox's Sunday night animation block both took hits, according to preliminary numbers.

CBS took first in the advertiser-cherished 18-49 demographic and total viewers with an average 26 rating/7 share and 12.2 million. "60 Minutes" at 7 drew a 1.3/4 in the demo and 9.9 million total viewers. The 47th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards telecast from 8 to 11 was down 6 percent in the demo from last year's broadcast, drawing a 3.1/8. It had 13 million total viewers. Even with the slight dip, the awards show was the night's highest-rated and most-watched program of the night.

ABC came in second in the demo and total viewers with an average 2.1/6 and 6.7 million total viewers. Following an "America's Funniest Home Videos" repeat at 7, "Once Upon a Time" at 8 was down slightly with a 2.7/8 and 8.2 million total viewers. "Desperate Housewives" the following hour was flat with a 2.6/6 and 8.4 million total viewers. "GCB" slid 10 percent to a 1.9/5, and 5.8 million total viewers.

Fox took third place in the demo and fourth place in total viewers with an average 1.7/5 and 3.6 million. After a "Simpsons" repeat at 7, "The Cleveland Show" at 7:30 was down 20 percent with a 1.2/4, and 2.8 million total viewers. Another "Simpsons" repeat followed at 8. "Bob's Burgers" at 8:30 slipped 20 percent for a 1.6/4, and 3.6 million total viewers. "Family Guy" at 9 was down 11 percent to a 2.5/6, and 5 million total viewers. "American Dad" at 9:30 performed flat with last week, receiving a 2.5/6. It had 4.2 million total viewers.

NBC came in fourth in ratings and third in total viewers with an average 1.6/4 and 5.6 million. "Dateline" was steady with last week for a 1.0/3 and 4.6 million total viewers, while "Celebrity Apprentice" from 8 to 11 was also even with last week, posting a 1.8/5 and 5.9 million total viewers.