michael.schneider

Cops Executive Producers on Their Big Move to Spike TV

The bad boys, bad boys are back — but on a new network. Cops launches its 26th season this Saturday at 8/7c on Spike TV, which grabbed the long-running documentary/reality show from Fox earlier this year. Spike TV ordered 22 new episodes of Cops — the granddaddy of reality shows — and also struck a deal to license older repeats that will be paired with the new ones. "We've been energized by the move," says executive producer John Langley, who's been behind Cops since 1989. TV Guide Magazine caught up with Langley and his son, Morgan Langley (also an executive producer), to see how the big switch is going...

Fri, Sep 13, 2013

Cops Executive Producers on Their Big Move to Spike TV

NBC Remains Bullish on Million Second Quiz

The clock hasn't run out yet on NBC's late summer live game show experiment Million Second Quiz. Beyond some early technical hiccups and mild ratings, Peacock network execs remain enthusiastic for the show. Paul Telegdy, NBC Entertainment president of alternative and late night programming, admits to TV Guide Magazine that the show's ratings have so far been softer than he would have liked, but that he still is banking on audience growth by the end of the show's 10-day run.

Thu, Sep 12, 2013

NBC Remains Bullish on Million Second Quiz

Exclusive: Disney Channel Premieres Wolfblood As Part of "Monstober" Lineup

Disney Channel will air the British pre-teen supernatural series Wolfblood in October as part of its month-long "Monstober" schedule of Halloween-themed favorites. Wolfblood centers on 14-year-old Maddy (Aimee Kelly), who has a secret: She's a "wolfblood." These creatures — neither wolf nor human — possess extraordinary strength, super speed and heightened senses. Disney Channel will air the entire first season of Wolfblood on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights at 8/7c from Oct. 1 through Oct. 24. In the premiere, Maddy discovers that the new boy at school, Rhydian (Bobby Lockwood), also shares her secret.

Wed, Sep 11, 2013

Exclusive: Disney Channel Premieres Wolfblood As Part of "Monstober" Lineup

Exclusive: NBC Mulls Future of Last Call with Carson Daly

Is it last call for NBC's Last Call with Carson Daly? According to insiders, NBC is considering several options regarding the fate of the late night series, which has aired since 2002...

Wed, Sep 11, 2013

Exclusive: NBC Mulls Future of Last Call with Carson Daly

Arsenio Hall on Carson, Leno and Why He's Coming Back to Late Night

It's mid-July, and Arsenio Hall is touring Stage 6 at the Sunset Bronson studio lot in Hollywood. With the exception of a few cables, the space is empty. But with the Sept. 9 launch of The Arsenio Hall Show in national syndication looming, it won't be barren for long. "This is raw," Hall says, pointing to the floor. "But this is where, one day, Madonna will walk."

Mon, Sep 9, 2013

Arsenio Hall on Carson, Leno and Why He's Coming Back to Late Night

Exclusive: Justified's Walton Goggins to Guest-Star on Community

Community's fifth season renewal has now been Justified. Walton Goggins will guest-star on an upcoming episode of the NBC comedy, TV Guide Magazine has learned.

Thu, Sep 5, 2013

Exclusive: Justified's Walton Goggins to Guest-Star on Community

CBS Spotlights Chuck Lorre in Mom Promos

Anna Faris and Allison Janney star in the new CBS sitcom Mom. But to help promote the freshman comedy (premiering Monday, Sept. 23 at 9:30/8:30c), spots currently airing for Mom focus on another superstar: executive producer Chuck Lorre.

Wed, Sep 4, 2013

CBS Spotlights Chuck Lorre in Mom Promos

Watch My Show: The Bridge's Meredith Stiehm and Elwood Reid Answer Our Showrunner Survey

FX's The Bridge (Wednesdays, 10/9c) reinterprets the hit Danish/Swedish drama Bron as a modern-day dark thriller about a crime that occurs on the border between the U.S. and Mexico and how tensions along the border impact that investigation. Thrust together as unlikely partners on the case are a no-nonsense El Paso investigator (Diane Kruger), whose Asperger's makes her off-putting to many, and her charming but cunning counterpart from Chihuahua State Police (Demian Bichir). Executive producer/writer Meredith Stiehm knows a thing or two about mysterious cases, having created Cold Case, while fellow exec producer Elwood Reid knows a thing or two about characters, having been a carpenter, a cook and a bouncer before writing paid the bills. Stiehm and Reid explain why we should hop on The Bridge before its Oct. 2 season finale

Wed, Sep 4, 2013

Watch My Show: The Bridge's Meredith Stiehm and Elwood Reid Answer Our Showrunner Survey

NBC To Adapt Venezuelan Telenovela The Black Widow

NBC is adapting the popular Venezuelan telenovela The Black Widow for American audiences. Sri Rao (General Hospital: Night Shift) will write the script. The Black Widow is based on Venezuela's telenovela La Viuda Joven, which premiered in 2011 and aired 142 episodes around the world. Electus is producing. The Black Widow is one of three telenovelas that Electus is developing for NBC, with an eye toward one of them airing as a 13-episode series, with multiple episodes running each week, much like an actual telenovela.

Tue, Sep 3, 2013

NBC To Adapt Venezuelan Telenovela The Black Widow

First Look: David Boreanaz and Julian McMahon on DirecTV's Full Circle

While on hiatus from Bones, David Boreanaz went Full Circle. The actor is one of several stars who signed on to take part in the TV debut of playwright/director Neil LaBute (In the Company of Men).

Fri, Aug 30, 2013

First Look: David Boreanaz and Julian McMahon on DirecTV's Full Circle

Watch My Show: Prisoners of War's Gideon Raff Answers Our Showrunner Survey

Before there was Homeland, there was Prisoners of War, an Israeli TV drama about three soldiers, two of whom — Uri (Ishai Golan) and Nimrode (Yoram Toledano) — return home after 17 years in an enemy prison. Gideon Raff created the show and went on to help American producers Howard Gordon and Alex Gansa adapt it for Showtime as Homeland. Seasons 1 (10 episodes) and 2 (14 episodes) of Prisoners of War are now available on Hulu's streaming service. Raff filled out our showrunner survey to explain why viewers may want to hunt for Prisoners of War.

Wed, Aug 28, 2013

Watch My Show: Prisoners of War's Gideon Raff Answers Our Showrunner Survey

Inside the Kanye West HBO Comedy That Almost Was

Kanye West, HBO sitcom star? It almost happened. Long before the notorious moment he grabbed the microphone from Taylor Swift at the MTV Video Music Awards or celebrated the birth of his daughter with reality-TV scion Kim Kardashian the hip-hop icon headlined a comedy pilot from Curb Your Enthusiasm executive producer Larry Charles. The sitcom was shot in 2007 but quickly fell by the wayside after an executive shuffle at HBO. Later that year, West's mother, Donda, died, and the superstar departed on a global concert tour, leaving the TV project behind. It was all a distant memory until this summer, when clips from the pilot started popping up — first on YouTube, and then at a comedy show in Brooklyn, where a bootleg copy of the entire episode was screened.

Tue, Aug 27, 2013

Inside the Kanye West HBO Comedy That Almost Was

Video: Disney Channel's Dog With a Blog Gets a Season 2 Premiere Date

He may not have opposable thumbs, but Disney Channel's Dog With a Blog has a second season. The sitcom returns on Friday, Sept. 20 at 8:30/7:30c with an all-new episode. Stars G Hannelius, Blake Michael, Francesca Capaldi, Beth Littleford, Regan Burns and Mick the dog will host Disney Channel's primetime lineup that night, starting at 8/7c.

Wed, Aug 21, 2013

Video: Disney Channel's Dog With a Blog Gets a Season 2 Premiere Date

Reality TV's Growing Pains: What Will It Take to Find The Next Big Hit?

It's time for a reality-TV reality check. Even top executives and producers admit that the genre has become tired — an overload of singing battles, food challenges, screaming housewives and dating competitions. "We've been in a huge reality drought," says Greg Goldman, the new president of Studio Lambert USA, which produces Undercover Boss.The broadcast networks continue to coast on the enduring success of veteran franchises like Survivor, but they're not minting many new hits. In cable, the success of docuseries like the Real Housewives franchise and Love & Hip Hop has led to a glut of such shows.But a shake-up may finally be on the way. CBS recently named a new head of reality TV, Chris Castallo, while Fox is looking to fill the top job in its alternative department (which infamous reality kingpin Mike Darnell vacated at the end of July). There's also a new head of unscripted TV at AMC, while TruTV and A&E, both big reality networks, have new bosses.

Wed, Aug 21, 2013

Reality TV's Growing Pains: What Will It Take to Find The Next Big Hit?

The Story Behind Oprah Winfrey's Car Giveaway on Jimmy Kimmel Live

How did Oprah Winfrey give away a car on Jimmy Kimmel Live Wednesday night? She simply looked into the crowd and ...

Thu, Aug 15, 2013

Exclusive: FX's Summer Movie Buying Binge Continues With Elysium

Matt Damon's Elysium mission will eventually take him to FX. The cable network has acquired the commercial TV rights to last weekend's box office champ, continuing its streak of buying most of this summer's biggest releases. Elysium joins a roster of movies at FX that also includes...

Thu, Aug 15, 2013

Exclusive: FX's Summer Movie Buying Binge Continues With Elysium

Exclusive: Disney Announces Season 2 Premiere of Preschool Hit Doc McStuffins

As hit animated pre-school series Doc McStuffins returns for a second season on Sept. 6, Disney Channel and Disney Junior are sending out "The Doc Mobile," a 27-foot Airstream trailer, to promote the show around the country. The Airstream will encourage good health and nutrition, allowing kids to ...

Mon, Aug 12, 2013

Exclusive: Disney Announces Season 2 Premiere of Preschool Hit Doc McStuffins

Netflix Picks Up Marco Polo From Starz

Netflix has acquired the rights to Marco Polo, the upcoming 13th century-set series about the legendary adventurer. The drama, from the Weinstein Company and Electus, had previously been set up at Starz. Starz first announced Marco Polo at the January 2012 Television Critics Association press tour, but the project...

Tue, Aug 6, 2013

Exit Interview: Reality Guru Mike Darnell Recounts His Most Notorious Shows

As the president of alternative programming at Fox, Mike Darnell developed a well-earned reputation as a showman with a wicked mind. "I usually like to take a pitch and twist it into something more evil or more dangerous," says Darnell, who was once called "Fox's Point Man For Perversity" by the New York Times. Darnell, the man behind some of the most notorious reality series and specials on television over the past two decades, left Fox at the end of July. He's now moving on to Warner Bros. Television Group as president of unscripted and alternative TV. It's the end of an era for Fox, which meets reporters at the Television Critics Association press tour on Thursday without Darnell for the first time in decades. Network execs are still mulling Darnell's replacement. (Among names that have been rumored for the job: National Geographic Channels CEO David Lyle and president Howard T. Owens; Sharon Levy, Spike TV's executive vice president of original series; and Nigel Lythgoe Productions president Kary McHoul; among others). American Idol was easily the biggest hit on Darnell's watch, but we all know the ins and outs of that show. Now that he's exiting Fox, we asked Darnell to recount the rest of his greatest reality hits — and misses.

Thu, Aug 1, 2013

Exit Interview: Reality Guru Mike Darnell Recounts His Most Notorious Shows

Ex-MTV VJ Kennedy Remembers the Time She Got Explicit Next To Rudy Giuliani

Former MTV VJ Kennedy, now a Los Angeles radio DJ, still has fond memories of her 1992-1997 stint at the cable channel. That's why she subtitled her new memoir, The Kennedy Chronicles (out Tuesday), The Golden Age of MTV Through Rose-Colored Glasses. "The MTV studio was where you wanted to be," she says. But one of her most vivid memories is of simulating oral sex with a microphone while standing next to NYC's then-Mayor Rudy Giuliani during the 1994 Video Music Awards. Kennedy says she did it in order to win over a hostile audience — and it almost worked.

Tue, Jul 30, 2013

Ex-MTV VJ Kennedy Remembers the Time She Got Explicit Next To Rudy Giuliani

Exclusive: Disney Channel Renews Gravity Falls for Season 2

Grunkle Stan, Dipper and Mabel Pines will be back to explore the mysterious world of Gravity Falls for a second season. Disney Channel has renewed the hit animated series, created by young animator Alex Hirsch.Gravity Falls — a mix of Twin Peaks, The X-Files, Lost and the animated feature Monster House, wrapped in a comedic, irreverent bow — features the voices of Hirsch, Jason Ritter, Kristen Schaal and Linda Cardellini.

Mon, Jul 29, 2013

Exclusive: Disney Channel Renews Gravity Falls for Season 2

Exclusive: The Simpsons Draws Up Plans for Cable

The Simpsons is on the verge of turning "D'oh!" into even more dough. In a move greatly anticipated by several networks, Homer Simpson and family may finally be on their way to cable.According to multiple insiders, Twentieth Television (the syndication arm of Simpsons producer 20th Century Fox Television) is getting ready to shop the show to cable networks for the first time, and will do so some time within the next year. As word spreads of the upcoming Simpsons sale, several cable executives acknowledge that they would love to get their hands on the long-running hit. "There's a pent-up demand for it," says one source.

Mon, Jul 29, 2013

Exclusive: The Simpsons Draws Up Plans for Cable