News Archive:
Grey’s dumps “Dr. Hahn”
A casting bombshell dropped on Grey’s Anatomy will raise eyebrows with news that Brooke Smith (Dr. Erica Hahn) is being excised from the show. ABC (US) is said to be over unhappy with the direction of the character and a gay storyline involving Callie, played by Sara Ramirez.
Smith is quoted this week as saying she was told in mid-September and kept on for just one more week to shoot her final episode. ” I was floored when they told me [I was being let go]. It was the last thing I …
Not quite as foxy
Kath & Kim dropped in its second week with American viewers down from 7.5m viewers to 6m, a loss of about 20% in total viewers. It was again third behind Survivor’s 12.9m and Ugly Betty’s 8.2m viewers.
Entertainment Weekly, described it as a “rough evening” for NBC. “Only 6 million wanted to gawk at Molly Shannon’s tacky outfits this time around,” it said.
Variety noted: “Kim was down from its solid premiere the previous week.”
NBC comedies either side of Kath & Kim, My Name is Earl and The Office both had 7m …
‘Alan Everywhere’ in Torchwood
Alan Dale will appear in next week’s episode of Torchwood.
It’s another credit to his impressive international CV which already lists Ugly Betty, Lost, The OC, NCIS, 24 and a host of others. A long way from Jim Robinson…
This year Dale has been appearing in the stage production of Spamalot in the UK, which required Lost to travel to the UK to shoot scenes for the last series.
The episode “Reset” also has another interesting guest role for fans of the Who-niverse too.
It airs 10:30pm Monday on TEN.
Should ‘Justin’ come out?
Ugly Betty’s Mark Indelicato says “Justin” isn’t about to come out of the closet anytime soon.
“No. Not yet,” he says.
“I don’t really think it really needs to be addressed because Justin is only 14, 15.
“He’s still finding himself in different ways.”
Indelicato’s character is said to be based on the early years of Silvio Horta, the show’s head writer and executive producer.
“I think Silvio would want to address what Justin wants to do career wise,” Indelicato explains. “Does he want to work at Mode? Or does he want to be a Broadway …
Kath & Kim pulls good US audience
Despite the disappointing press reviews, the US premiere of Kath and Kim took good numbers in the US.
It managed 7.5m viewers, which, while landing third in its timeslot behind Survivor and Ugly Betty enjoyed strong growth for the NBC timeslot.
In the US total numbers are not the same litmus test of ‘hit or miss’ as in Australia. NBC will look to compare how Kath and Kim fared in overall share and demographics. Kath & Kim came second in its slot with a 3.2 rating in 18-49. Survivor was first with a …
US dramas struggling for Heroes
As the global financial market continue to slide, so too are ratings for American television programmes in Australia.
Despite the recent cast member promo visit, last night’s premiere of Heroes’ supposedly revamped series managed a rather paltry 878,000. A second episode took 785,000. At 10:30pm the new season of Prison Break tanked at a lousy 387,000. Thanks to its early evening shows, Seven will be pleased it still won the night in 16-39, 18-49 and 25-54 demographics.
These are shows that two and three years ago were hailed as shining beacons for Channel …
A new beautiful Sunday?
Seven unveiled some of its 2009 titles to advertisers this week, including Sunday Night, a new Sunday evening current affairs programme. The last time Seven went anywhere near this territory was arguably Witness / The Times.
Certainly for a network that boasts its dominance in News and Current Affairs it is lacking a tough, credible evening format. TEN is the only other free to air network without an equivalent.
Looking at the success of Nine’s perennial 60 Minutes it isn’t hard to see why the network is looking for a piece of the …
Casting: Grey’s Anatomy, Ugly Betty.
In casting news today the very fine Mary McDonnell of Battlestar Galactica is in final talks to appear in a multi-episode arc on Grey’s Anatomy next season.
The show is currently shooting its tenth episode, and McDonnell could be filming scenes with the Grey’s cast shortly.
There’s no word yet on what she’ll be up to at Seattle Grace Hospital but it’s possible both her Grey’s and Battlestar eps will be screening at the same time in the US in January.
Meanwhile ’80s icon Ralph Macchio is headed to Ugly Betty. He will appear …
US pilots track fantasy and fairytales
Two potential pilots in the US sound rather exciting.
FOX is developing a contemporary take on Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, tentatively titled Georgia and the Seven Associates. The dramedy is tonally described as The Devil Wears Prada meets Taxi set in Los Angeles’ legal circles.
It centres on Georgia Burnett, a young lawyer who is banished from a top law firm run by her stepmother and forced to team up with seven quirky lawyers at a storefront legal office. The associates at the firm will have the personalities of the Seven …
Bumped: Kitchen Nightmares USA, CSI: NY.
Months ago he was the hottest thing on television, now he can’t get the figures and is replaced by a movie.
Nine was so unhappy with its 732,000 for the (fasttracked) series of Kitchen Nightmares USA on Monday that it is moving the reality series immediately. Next week (Wed Sept 17) it screens at 10pm, replacing a repeat of CSI: NY.
A new episode of CSI: NY planned for 9:30pm Monday is now out schedule too. Instead Nine will fill its Monday with a repeat of a 2003 Jack Nicholson movie, Something’s Got To Give. …
Gone: Betty, Trinny & Susannah. Returning: Family Guy, American Dad
Poor Betty. She can save the day on screen, but not off…
Seven has pulled Ugly Betty from its schedule again, effective immediately.
Last night the show rated a disappointing 573,000 viewers, beaten by a repeat of Law and Order: SVU (1.08m) and the AFL / NRL Footy Shows (1.02m). The show only returned for one episode after being removed in June. Seven trailed with a 25% evening share to Nine’s 30.4%, TEN was close with 23.6%.
Trinny & Susannah Undress the …