While CBS is currently producing a latenight version of its popular daytime talk show this week, as it waits out the March launch of “The Late Late Show with James Corden,” that daytime version of “The Talk” has just surpassed ABC’s competiting “The View” in total viewers for the first time ever. During the week of January 5, “The Talk” had a 2% lead on “The View” in total viewers (2.95 million vs. 2.88 million). Meanwhile, both shows tied in both Women 25-54 (1.0 rating) and Women 18-49 (0.7 rating).
Author: Errol Lewis
E! has given an early season two pickup to its first original scripted series, “The Royals,” starring Elizabeth Hurley and Vincent Regan as Queen Helena and King Simon, it was announcced today during the NBC Cable portion of the Winter Television Critics Association Press Tour in Pasadena. The series, which is set to premiere on the network on Sunday, March 15, will also add Universal Cable Productions as co-producing partner alongside Lionsgate Television Group.
CBS’ “The Bold and the Beautiful” will air its 7,000th episode on Friday, January 23, and in honor of the happy occasion, the network announced that the episode will break from tradition and instead feature a retrospective documentary that will highlight some of the show’s most iconic moments and a look back at its creation. The episode will also include commentary from the cast, fashion shown throughout its near three decades on air, several unforgettable guest star appearances, original screen test footage and much more.
On Saturday, March 14, Hallmark Channel will premiere “Portrait of Love” starring Bree Williamson (“One Life to Live”), Jason Dohring (“Veronica Mars,” “Moonlight”), Corbin Bernsen (“Psych,” “The Young and the Restless”) and Ella Thomas (“Bones,” “All My Children”).
Actor Dylan Neal (ex-Dylan Shaw, “The Bold and the Beautiful”) will star in the Hallmark Movies & Mysteries original movie “Gourmet Detective,” based on the series of books by Peter King. Neal, who co-wrote the script along with his wife Becky Southwell, will also serve as an executive producer. The movie is set to premiere sometime this spring and is the first of three planned for the cable network.
During the CBS and Showtime portion of the Winter Television Critics Association Press Tour event in Pasadena, CBS announced that it has picked up second seasons of freshman dramas “Madam Secretary,” “NCIS: New Orleans” and “Scorpion.”
Hallmark Channel’s “Home & Family” is getting ready to host another classic soap opera reunion when it brings together the cast of ABC’s iconic primetime drama, “Dynasty,” with guests Pamela Sue Martin, John James, Al Corley and Gordon Thomson joining hosts Mark Steines and Cristina Ferrare on Monday, January 26.
As it gets ready to launch new seasons of “Melissa & Joey” and “Baby Daddy,” ABC Family recently announced that it has greenlit two new comedy pilots, “Kevin from Work” and “Tough Cookie,” as part of its comedy expansion, following the second season renewal of “Young & Hungry” in September. Both pilots will go into production later this month, according to Karey Burke, Executive Vice President, Programming and Development, ABC Family.
On Friday, January 16, NBC’s “Days of our Lives” will welcome actor Lucas Kerr to its cast as Clint, Theresa’s (Jen Lilley) new love interest.
The CW announced today during its portion of the Television Critics Association Press Tour in Pasadena that it has given an early renewal to “Arrow,” “Jane the Virgin,” “Reign,” “Supernatural,” “The 100,” “The Flash,” “The Originals” and “The Vampire Diaries,” all of which appeared on the network’s fall 2014 schedule, for the 2015-2016 television season.
While official cause of death has yet to be determined, Sharon Alkus, the wife of Beau Kazer, who portrayed Brock Reynolds on CBS’ “The Young and the Restless” off and on since originating the role in 1974, told The Hollywood Reporter that her husband is believed to have died in his sleep on December 30, 2014, and that he had been battling health issues for two years.
After joining the cast of ABC’s “General Hospital” in the contract role of Starr Manning in 2012, which she originated in 1998 on “One Life to Live” when she was just 6 years old, Daytime Emmy Award winner Kristen Alderson (Kiki Jerome) has decided to leave the daytime drama series.
One month after announcing that 93% of its board approved the National Code of Fair Practice for Network Television Broadcasting (Network Television Code), SAG-AFTRA announced today that its members have overwhelmingly ratified the new contract with 96.5% of the members voting in favor.
On the Monday, January 12 episode of NBCUniversal’s “The Meredith Vieira Show,” host Meredith Vieira will announce that the daytime talk show will be airing a full week of live shows during the week of January 19.
“All My Children” alum and frequent “Good Morning America” and “Entertainment Tonight” correspondent, Cameron Mathison, has signed on to star alongside Alison Sweeney (“Days of our Lives,” “The Biggest Loser”) in a new Hallmark Movies & Mysteries series of movies beginning with “Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder” (working title), which will premiere on the network in the spring.
Currently in production on its second season, Hallmark Channel announced last night during its Winter TCA Press Tour event that “General Hospital’s” Jack Wagner (ex-Frisco Jones) and Kristina Wagner (Felicia Jones) will join the cast as regulars in its original series “When Calls the Heart,” set in a 19th century mining town and starring Lori Loughlin (“Full House,” “Summerland”), Erin Krakow and Daniel Lissing.
The series premiere of FOX’s “Empire” on Wednesday night attracted 9.9 million viewers and a 3.8/10 in Adults 18-49, reports TVbytheNumbers, based on rush nationals ordered by the network. “Empire” now ties ABC’s “How to Get Away with Murder” for the highest rated series premiere of the season in the key sales demo.
There won’t be a second season for MTV’s “Happyland,” which followed a group of teenagers working at a popular Disneyesque theme park as they prepare to segue into adulthood. The network has quietly canceled the half-hour series after a poorly rated first season, which began in September.
Now that “Days of our Lives” is no longer part of her daily grind, Alison Sweeney (ex-Sami Brady) is taking the lead in a new Hallmark Movies & Mysteries movie franchise. Sweeney has been cast as Hannah Swensen in “Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder,” which is based on the New York Times best selling series of books by Joanne Fluke, reports Deadline.
Tuesday, January 6 marked the third season premiere of OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network’s “The Haves and the Have Nots,” created by Tyler Perry and starring “One Life to Live” alum Tika Sumpter (ex-Layla Williams) as seductress Candace Young, who has immersed herself into the complicated dynamic between the rich and powerful Cryer and Harrington families. A record 3.22 million viewers tuned in to all the antics going down.