- NBC's 'The Voice' finale attracts 15.3 million viewers - June 19 2013 12:42
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - NBC said on Wednesday that its singing competition "The Voice", which included the first live TV performance by Cher in more than a decade, had attracted 15.3 million viewers. In a two-hour season finale, teenage country singer Danielle Bradbery become the show's youngest winner. "The Voice" wrapped its fourth season on Tuesday. It was the second most-watched program on U.S. television behind the sixth game of the National Basketball Association Finals, which had about 16.2 million viewers. ... - UK regulator to probe BSkyB over sports channel supply - June 19 2013 03:26
LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's telecom regulator said on Wednesday that it would launch an investigation into satellite TV firm BSkyB over the wholesale supply of its sports channels after a complaint by Sky's increasingly bitter rival BT. Ofcom said the probe would center on BT's claims that the terms on which Sky offered its sports channels, Sky Sports 1 and Sky Sports 2, to BT's YouView platform amounted to an abuse of Sky's market dominance. ... - 'Today' Replacing, Promoting Longtime Director Amid 'Many Changes' - June 18 2013 18:03
By Tim Molloy NEW YORK (TheWrap.com) - NBC's "Today" is replacing and promoting its director of 18 years amid what the show's executive producer calls "many changes" planned for the morning show. As first reported by The New York Times, NBC News is giving Joe Michaels the new title of "senior director" as "Today" tries to reclaim first place in the ratings from ABC's "Good Morning America" and recover from a year of internal turmoil that included the exit of Ann Curry. ... - Julia Stiles' YouTube Series 'Blue' Coming to Hulu in TV-Length Episodes - June 18 2013 17:59
By Tony Maglio LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - Wigs - the top channel for scripted drama on YouTube - in conjunction with Fox Broadcasting is bringing some of its most popular online series to Hulu in TV-length episodes, beginning with the popular Julia Stiles-starring "Blue," Wigs announced Tuesday. The first two seasons of "Blue" launched on the streaming service Monday. Earlier this year, Fox entered into a multi-year programming, marketing and distribution partnership with Wigs, after Fox decided to extend the reach to Hulu as part of its multi-platform strategy. ... - As Music-Competition Shows Slide, What Does It Take to Make a Hit? - June 18 2013 17:32
By Tim Molloy NEW YORK (TheWrap.com) - With "The Voice" finale hours away, tell us if this scenario sounds familiar: A give-it-your-all reality competition becomes a national fascination, and people agonize over whether their favorite competitors will be voted off. Other shows mimic its formula - and eventually another show becomes the nation's reality spectacle of choice. It outpaces its predecessor and makes many of us forget just how original the original once seemed. ... - 'The Voice' Winner: Who Did the Experts Choose? - June 18 2013 17:30
By Jethro Nededog LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - NBC's "The Voice" will crown another winner on Tuesday night's finale. Season 4's three finalists - Daniellle Bradbury, Michelle Shamuel and The Swon Brothers - battled it out for the title on Monday's performance finale episode. Before the performances, coaches Blake Shelton, Adam Levine, Shakira and Usher performed The Beatles' "With A Little Help From My Friends." The Top 16 then got together for the second group performance of the night on Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros' "Home. ... - As Music-Competition Shows Slide, What Does It Take to Make a Hit? - June 18 2013 16:09
By Tim Molloy NEW YORK (TheWrap.com) - With "The Voice" finale hours away, tell us if this scenario sounds familiar: A give-it-your-all reality competition becomes a national fascination, and people agonize over whether their favorite competitors will be voted off. Other shows mimic its formula - and eventually another show becomes the nation's reality spectacle of choice. It outpaces its predecessor and makes many of us forget just how original the original once seemed. ... - 'Simpsons' Producer Lands 'How Murray Saved Christmas' Special at NBC - June 18 2013 14:25
By Tim Kenneally LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - In further proof that Christmas comes earlier every year, NBC announced on Tuesday that it's ordered a one-hour holiday special, "How Murray Saved Christmas," from "The Simpsons" producer Mike Reiss. The special, based on Reiss' children's book of the same name, revolves around cranky deli owner Murray Kleiner, who's forced to step into Santa's shoes one Christmas and does a weirdly wonderful job. ... - TV chef Nigella Lawson's husband cautioned by police for assault - June 18 2013 09:49
By Belinda Goldsmith LONDON (Reuters) - Art collector Charles Saatchi has been cautioned by police for assaulting his wife, the celebrity chef Nigella Lawson, after being photographed grabbing her by the throat in an incident that has fueled a debate in Britain about domestic violence. Photographs of Saatchi, 70, a former advertising tycoon, grasping a tearful Lawson around the neck while the couple were having dinner outside a London restaurant about a week ago were published in a tabloid newspaper on Sunday. ... - Kim Kardashian gives birth to baby girl: reports - June 15 2013 14:26
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Reality television star Kim Kardashian gave birth to a girl fathered by rapper Kanye West, celebrity magazines People and Us Weekly reported Saturday. Each magazine posted a story on its website citing an unnamed source in confirming the birth of the daughter to the celebrity couple. Representatives for Kardashian and West could not immediately be reached for comment. People magazine said Kardashian, 32, gave birth on Saturday ahead of schedule, with the baby reportedly due in early July. ... - Sarah Palin rejoins Fox News Channel after brief departure - June 13 2013 15:41
(Reuters) - Sarah Palin, a former Republican governor of Alaska, will rejoin Fox News Channel as a commentator five months after she left the network, Fox said on Thursday. Palin, who went from governor to overnight political sensation after Senator John McCain chose her as his running mate in the 2008 presidential election, will make her first appearance on the morning program "Fox & Friends" on June 17. "I've had several conversations with Governor Palin in the past few weeks about her rejoining Fox News as a contributor," Fox News Chairman and CEO Roger Ailes said in a statement. ... - 'Hunger Games' Star Wes Bentley Joins HBO's Ryan Murphy Pilot - June 13 2013 15:10
By Jethro Nededog LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - Gearing up for production this fall, "Glee" and "American Horror Story" co-creator Ryan Murphy and "Dexter's" Lauren Gussis' HBO drama pilot, "Open," has cast Wes Bentley. TheWrap has learned that Bentley will play Evan Foster. The character is described as "handsome and knows it, arrogant and completely charismatic, a bit of a blowhard who loves espousing his theories on human sexuality." Bentley played Seneca Crane on "The Hunger Games." His other film credits include "American Beauty" and "Lovelace. ... - 'Seinfeld' Reunion in Play on TV Land's 'Kirstie' With Jason Alexander Guest Spot - June 13 2013 14:07
By Tim Kenneally LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - What is the deal with all the cast reunions on "Kirstie"? Having brought "Cheers" co-stars Kirstie Alley and Rhea Perlman back together, the TV Land sitcom is reuniting Jason Alexander with his former "Seinfeld" colleague Michael Richards. Alexander will guest star on the new sitcom, which counts Richards among its regulars. Alexander will play the agent of Broadway star Maddie Banks, who's played by Alley. Richards portrays Banks' eccentric driver on the series. ... - MTV Renews 'Girl Code' for Season 2 - June 13 2013 13:46
By Jethro Nededog LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - MTV is giving sketch comedy show, "Girl Code," a second season. The network announced on Thursday that the spinoff of MTV2's "Guy Code" will be back with 20-episode order. The show features frank and funny talk from female comedians about their life experiences, trials and relationships. The series does especially well among the youth-skewing network's key 12 to 34-year-old viewer demographic, winning its time slot among the demo. It averages a 1.2 rating and 1.1 million total viewers. Additionally, it's MTV's most social show. ... - HBO Gives 'Vice' a Second Season - June 13 2013 13:04
By Tim Kenneally LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - HBO has renewed its news magazine "Vice." The 12-episode Season 2 will debut next year. The series is hosted by Shane Smith, who founded the Vice new media company. "I honestly don't think there is another network in the world that would have given us the opportunity and support that HBO did over the last year," Smith said in a statement. "We learned a lot over the course of shooting season one, and are insanely excited over our story selection for season two. ...