michael.schneider

Transformers Primed for an Animated Comeback

Having written the first two Transformers movies, Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman were ready to take a break from the robots-in-disguise franchise. "We'd spent more time on Transformers than we even spent going to college, so we figured maybe it was time to take a break," Orci tells TV Guide Magazine. "But then (Hasbro chief executive) Brian Goldner came to us and asked if we wanted to do an animated series." That new program, Transformers Prime, bowed last fall as a five-part miniseries, but now returns as a full-fledged series this Friday, Feb. 11, at 6:30/5:30c on The Hub, the new kids channel formed by Hasbro and Discovery Communications. The Hub ordered ...

Thu, Feb 10, 2011

Transformers Primed for an Animated Comeback

Fox's Super Night

Sure, Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers snagged the title of Most Valuable Player at Super Bowl XLV. But to TV viewers, House star Hugh Laurie was far and away the night's TV MVP.Laurie and House easily scored the most promotional spots among all Fox series during Sunday night's big game. That's quite a coup for an aging series like House, now in its seventh year. But there's a reason why the acerbic doctor was tops (sorry, Fringe fans). House could use a little extra promo help, as the show's once-hot ratings have taken a beating this season ...

Mon, Feb 7, 2011

The L Word Creator Ilene Chaiken Heads to CBS

The L Word and The Real L Word creator Ilene Chaiken is expanding her TV series vocabulary. Chaiken has signed on to serve as executive producer on Hail Mary, a drama pilot recently picked up by CBS. She'll serve along side...

Mon, Feb 7, 2011

The L Word Creator Ilene Chaiken Heads to CBS

Charlie Sheen's Fake Twitter Account Shut Down

Charlie Sheen's reps are racing to shut down a new Twitter account that claims to belong to the embattled Two and a Half Men actor. Someone using the Twitter handle "@ciestevez" and the name "Carlos Estevez" (Sheen's real name) recently joined the social media site.The Twitter page also uses a photo of Sheen sitting next to Men co-star Angus T. Jones and contains just one post: "Last I counted I had four beautiful children, Kirstie." The post would seem to be in response to Kirstie Alley, whose Twitter account is one of ten that "Carlos Estevez" is following.But there's one problem: This isn't really Sheen...

Thu, Feb 3, 2011

Charlie Sheen's Fake Twitter Account Shut Down

Exclusive: James Burrows to Direct Two Broke Girls

Sex and the City alum Michael Patrick King and comedian Whitney Cummings have just won the TV pilot equivalent of the Super Lotto. Comedy directing master James Burrows has signed on to direct King's...

Thu, Feb 3, 2011

Exclusive: James Burrows to Direct Two Broke Girls

Exclusive: TLC Goes Party Crazy

TLC is hitting the pre-teen party circuit. Outrageous Kid Parties, the cable network's next series, will deliver exactly what the title promises: a look inside big-budget, out-of-control kiddie parties. Insiders describe it as a cross between TLC's Toddlers and Tiaras and MTV's My Super Sweet 16.

Wed, Feb 2, 2011

Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse Reflect on Life After Lost

In the Dharma dumps this week, Lost fans? Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse feel your pain. This would have been the week that Lost returned to the airwaves after its typical eight-month hiatus. But now that midseason is upon us, and there's no sign of Jack, Sawyer, Locke or Hurley on the horizon, reality has finally set in: The show's not coming back, Kate! It's not coming back! As the usual Lost return date approaches, Lindelof tells TV Guide Magazine that he's been hearing more from wistful fans coming to terms with their island fever. "Yes, there has been some ...

Tue, Feb 1, 2011

Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse Reflect on Life After Lost

The Green Hornet Flies to FX

FX has captured The Green Hornet. The movie, which stars Seth Rogen as the masked vigilante and Jay Chou as his sidekick, Kato, will debut on FX at the end of 2012 or beginning of 2013. The Green Hornet opened on Jan. 14 to No. 1 at the box office, and has so far grossed nearly $80 million in ticket sales domestically. Should it hit $100 million, FX will pay around ...

Tue, Feb 1, 2011

CBS Plans While Sheen Is in Rehab

CBS is already plotting its Monday night contingency plans, in the event that Two and a Half Men remains shut down for a prolonged period of time while Charlie Sheen is in rehab. The network on Monday ordered two additional episodes of the couples comedy Rules of Engagement, bumping that show's episodic order from 24 to 26. CBS was also close to ordering two additional episodes of freshman comedy Mike & Molly, which...

Mon, Jan 31, 2011

NBC Pilot Playboy Finds a Top Director

The director who brought Mad Men to life will now do the same for another 1960s-set drama, the NBC pilot Playboy. Alan Taylor was hired late Thursday to direct the pilot of Playboy, which takes place during the same era that helped make Mad Men a critical darling. Like Mad Men, Playboy is aiming to capture the look and feel of the social and cultural revolution of the early 1960s. The story follows the exploits of a group of women hired to work at a Playboy Club in Chicago.

Fri, Jan 28, 2011

Unplanned Repeats for CW's Friday Shows

Upset that the CW has pulled tonight's episodes of Supernatural and Smallville at the last minute? Blame Chicago politics. The CW decided to repeat Thursday night's episodes of The Vampire Diaries and Nikita after learning that at least two major markets — Chicago and Baltimore — were pre-empting the shows. In Chicago, CW station WGN is airing a Chicago mayoral debate, which will likely draw increased interest due to the drama over candidate Rahm Emanuel (whose eligibility has been called in to question). In Baltimore, a college basketball game is pre-empting the shows.

Fri, Jan 28, 2011

Zombies Heading to The CW

Now that they've flipped through The Vampire Diaries and conjured all things Supernatural, the CW is looking to dig up another genre fave: zombies. The CW is developing a script for the hour-long drama Awakening, about two sisters who face off against one another just as a zombie uprising begins. (This being the CW, we can probably assume Awakening will boast the best-looking zombies in the history of the genre.)

Fri, Jan 28, 2011

Lifetime Preps William & Kate Movie

Prince William and his future princess, Kate Middleton, are about to get the Lifetime movie treatment. Lifetime has fast-tracked the TV movie William & Kate, which will star Nico Evers-Swindell (NCIS: Los Angeles) as Prince William, now second in line to the British throne. The role of Kate has not yet been cast. William & Kate will chronicle the love affair between the mismatched couple (he's royalty, she's the daughter of upper middle-class commoners), including their recent engagement and this spring's highly anticipated Royal Wedding. The two-hour project will also star ...

Thu, Jan 27, 2011