Shane West Lands Lead in WGN America's Salem
How The Goldbergs and Other New Shows Kept Their Theme Songs
When Adam F. Goldberg created his 1980s-set ABC sitcom The Goldbergs, he knew he needed to include a catchy title tune. "The '80s was the Golden Age of theme songs," he says. "From Golden Girls to The Facts of Life to Silver Spoons, people sometimes remember the theme songs more than they remember the show." Goldberg co-wrote the theme song for his last comedy, Fox's short-lived Breaking In. This time, he decided to contact his favorite band...
Exclusive: Limp Bizkit Rocker Fred Durst Developing Drama at The CW
Fred Durst once did it all for the nookie. Now he's doing it all for The Noise. The CW is developing a one-hour drama project with the Limp Bizkit frontman based on his life. The Noise, created by Durst, chronicles the rise of a young artist in the 1990s who escapes a tumultuous home life and forms a wildly popular band with a unique sound. Durst, of course, hit it...
Dick Wolf: On New Chicago Franchise & How He Learned to Love Serialized Drama
Überproducer Dick Wolf turned Law & Order into a franchise that ultimately spawned four spin-offs and several international adaptations. Now he's hoping to do it again, this time in the Windy City...
Exclusive: Flight of the Conchords' Bret McKenzie Gets Animated for Fox
It's business time: Bret McKenzie, half of the popular music-comedy duo the Flight of the Conchords, is developing an animated comedy for Fox.
Exclusive: Disney Channel Plots Good Luck Charlie and Jessie Holiday Crossover
Two of Disney Channel's most-watched comedies are planning a holiday-themed crossover. To kick off its month-long "Fa-la-la-lidays" programming stunt, Good Luck Charlie and Jessie will join forces in a special combined Christmas episode on Friday, Nov. 29 at 8/7c.In "Good Luck Jessie: NYC Christmas," Good Luck Charlie's Teddy (Bridgit Mendler) and PJ (Jason Dolley) are touring ...
Watch My Show: Raising McCain's Meghan McCain Answers Our Showrunner Survey
For her new series Raising McCain (Saturdays, 10/9c, Pivot) Meghan McCain hit the road to explore some of her generation's hot-button issues. Among the topics the daughter of Sen. John McCain explores: bullying, feminism, spirituality, promiscuity and the "death of romance." This week's episode will also feature an interview with her famous father. McCain, who also serves as an executive producer, explains why she hopes audiences will pivot in her direction....
Will Revolution, The Mindy Project, Nashville and Others Survive the Sophomore Slump?
When NBC renewed Revolution for a second season, creator Eric Kripke knew he had to make some changes. "I'm relentless about figuring out what doesn't work and making it better," he says. "We reset the chessboard." That meant returning to the show's original conceit — a world without power — and cutting back on war-themed episodes. He also moved production from Wilmington, N.C., to Austin, giving the show a fresh look. "With the change of Austin came a new team coming to us with a fresh eye," Kripke says. "I hope the audience sees were working hard to improve it and create a very credible world."
Watch My Show: The Eric Andre Show's Eric Andre Answers Our Showrunner Survey
There's never been a talk show like Adult Swim's The Eric Andre Show. Host Eric Andre (also one of the show's executive producers) destroys his set. He attacks his band. He vomits on his desk. His sidekick, fellow comedian Hannibal Buress, barely tolerates him. He interviews fake celebrities. Real guests are uncomfortable being there. It looks like a public access show from 20 years ago. In other words, its anarchy-minded format fits nicely in Adult Swim's lineup.
MTV Orders Singing Competition Copycat
MTV is partnering with the executive producer behind The Bachelor to get back into the singing competition space. But here's the twist: Contestants on the new series Copycat will have to emulate their favorite singers. The network has given a series production order to Copycat, a daily half-hour show where performers will battle each other as they impersonate the sound of popular recording artists. The studio audience will vote on every performance, with the winner taking home a cash prize and the title of "Ultimate Copycat."
Exclusive: Fox Won't Air New Animated Series Murder Police
Fox has put the cuffs on Murder Police. The animated comedy, which had been picked up for 13 episodes, won't air on the network after all. Instead, producer 20th Century Fox TV plans to shop the show to cable.
The Story Behind Masters of Sex's Racy Logo
To promote its new period drama Masters of Sex, Showtime came up with quite a racy logo. The sideways E in the word sex is more than just a stylish flourish; it appears to be the outline of a naked woman's body. The logo has appeared in most print and online ad campaigns and can be seen on many billboards and bus ads. But in some parts of the country, the network had to flip the E upright for its outdoor campaigns. "Because of standards, we had to modify the E," says Donald Buckley, Showtime's executive vice president of program marketing and digital services. "It's intriguing. We're having fun with it."
First Look: Disney XD's Mighty Meds Taps Into Comic Book Culture
Marvel can't have all the fun. For its new sitcom Mighty Med, Disney XD has created an entire new world of homegrown superhero, sci-fi and fantasy icons. The series, which premieres Monday at 8:30/7:30c, takes place in a top-secret hospital where those characters are patched up. Bradley Steven Perry (Good Luck Charlie) and Jake Short (A.N.T. Farm) star as two normal boys whose extensive knowledge of comic books and superheroes lands them a job at Mighty Med. With no powers of their own, the two pals (dubbed "Normos" in this universe) must learn to help save the people who save people.
Mark Burnett's Space-Themed Reality Show Lands At NBC
Mark Burnett is blasting into the heavens with NBC. The reality maestro's new space reality show, as first reported by TV Guide Magazine, has found a home at the Peacock network. Burnett and Sir Richard Branson are behind Space Race, in which ordinary people will compete for a ride on one of Branson's first Virgin Galactic suborbital space flights. The winner will take off on Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo from Spaceport America in New Mexico, perhaps as soon as next year.
David Tennant Joins U.S. Adaptation of Hit British Drama Broadchurch
Scottish actor David Tennant, who recently wowed critics as the star of BBC America's Broadchurch, is set to star in Fox's U.S. adaptation, TV Guide Magazine has learned. Tennant, perhaps best known as the tenth doctor on cult fave Doctor Who, will play a character similar to his role in the original Broadchurch, but this time he'll use an American accent. As in the U.K. Broadchurch, he'll play the lead male investigator in the case of a young boy found dead on a beach under a jutting cliff-face.
Law & Order: SVU Executive Producer on His Paula Deen-Inspired Episode
Mashing up Paula Deen, the Trayvon Martin trial and the NYPD's controversial stop-and-frisk practices in one episode might seem like a stretch, but Law & Order: SVU executive producer Warren Leight says it makes sense.
Exclusive: Nickelodeon Sets Premiere Date for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Season 2
TV's heroes in a half-shell are set to return to Nickelodeon next month. The current incarnation of animated hit Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles kicks off its second season on Saturday, Oct. 12 at 11 a.m./10c. In the first episode, "The Mutation Situation," the Turtles find out that alien Kraang has dropped mutagen canisters all over New York. Throughout Season 2, the heroes will have to recover those canisters before more mutants are created. Meanwhile, Kraang and Shredder have joined forces to stop the Turtles. Joining the cast this season is Josh Peck (Drake & Josh), who voices teenage hockey player Casey Jones, a rebel who enjoys taking on the bad guys. TMNT also stars Sean Astin (as Raphael), Rob Paulsen (Donatello), Greg Cipes (Michelangelo), Jason Biggs (Leonardo), Mae Whitman (April O'Neil), Hoon Lee (Master Splinter) and Kevin Michael Richardson (Shredder). Corey Feldman recurs as Slash.
Watch My Show: Brooklyn Nine-Nine's Dan Goor Answers Our Showrunner Survey
After writing many memorable Parks and Recreation episodes (including 2011's "Li'l Sebastian"), Dan Goor partnered with Parks boss Michael Schur to co-create the new Fox comedy Brooklyn Nine-Nine. Andy Samberg plays Jake Peralta, a hotshot cop who's good at what he does — when he's not irritating his co-workers or his new...
Exclusive: Emmy Awards Producer Ken Ehrlich Dissects This Year's Telecast
How did so many former Emmy hosts wind up on the same stage? Who was that strange guy side-stepping off screen behind host Neil Patrick Harris? What was cut from the show as it went into overtime? TV Guide Magazine sat down with 65th Emmy Awards executive producer Ken Ehrlich backstage at the Nokia Theatre immediately after the show to get some background on this year's televised ceremony.
Exclusive: Mark Burnett Pitching New Space-Themed Reality Show
Mark Burnett hasn't given up on his space dreams. According to multiple sources, Burnett is pitching a show to networks that would send the winner on one of Virgin Galactic's first suborbital space flights. Insiders say a bidding war among several networks is already underway for the project, which would give an ordinary citizen the chance to fly into space. The winner would take off on Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo from Spaceport America in New Mexico — perhaps as soon as...
TV's Top Studio Bosses Forecast the New TV Season
It's sink or swim time for the studios behind this fall's crop of new TV shows. For the past year, executives have been pitching, developing, casting and producing what they hope will be the next big hits. Now it's all out of their hands, as viewers determine whether those series will go the distance or end up on the cancellation heap.
Exclusive: New Fox Promo Adopts Viral Video Smash "The Fox"
Ring-ding-ding-ding-dingeringeding! The Fox network couldn't resist chiming in with its own take on "The Fox," the online video sensation and catchy dance song from Norwegian comedy duo Ylvis. A new Fox promo, set to start airing Tuesday night, features various network stars singing and dancing along to the nonsensical chorus of "The Fox." Among network talent chiming in (complete with animal headgear): Jane Lynch (Glee), Orlando Jones and Katia Winter (Sleepy Hollow), Terry Crews (Brooklyn Nine-Nine), Geoff Stults (Enlisted), Graham Elliot (Masterchef Junior) and Michael Ealy (Almost Human). Clips from an assortment of Fox shows are also synced to the tune.
