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HBO has renewed the half-hour drama ‘‘In Treatment’’ for a second season and is moving production on the show from Los Angeles to New York.

The second season of ‘‘In Treatment,’’ based on the Israeli series of the same name, will feature a brand new roster of patients to Dr. Paul Weston (Gabriel Byrne). Byrne and Dianne Wiest, who plays Paul’s own therapist, Dr. Gina Toll, are returning.

Continue reading "Lie back and relax: HBO renews 'In Treatment'" »

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Clay and Fantasia and Kelly and the Davids — they get the spotlight on "American Idol." But there are unsung heroes behind every singer: the musicians. And the ones on "Idol" are a bit miffed.

Their union is, anyway. The American Federation of Musicians has filed a federal lawsuit against the producers of "Idol," claiming musicians were underpaid because the show’s live music was re-recorded for reruns.

Continue reading "'Idol' musicians not idle in seeking royalties" »

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The USA Rock Paper Scissors League is proving to have staying power in the media industry.

The championship tournament of the league devoted to the playground game is heading to Fox Sports Network as an hourlong "Best Damn Sports Show Period" special Oct. 6.

Last year's big RPS tourney: "The greatest duel in sports!".

Continue reading "Hands down: Rock, Paper, Scissors Championship televised" »

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The makers of ‘‘Gossip Girl’’ are planning a spinoff series set at a girls boarding school.

Producers are hoping to expand the popular CW show by either giving co-star Taylor Momsen her own series or by introducing a new character in the fall who is later spun off.

Continue reading "Here's some gossip, girl: CW show may get spinoff" »

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Actor Patrick Swazye watches the Los Angeles Lakers and San Antonio Spurs play on May 23 in Los Angeles. (Mark J. Terrill/AP)

Patrick Swayze is not only faring well with his cancer treatment, he's been cleared to go back to work. Which means he'll be back in Chicago soon to film his debut season of the A&E FBI drama, "The Beast."

Continue reading "Swayze to return to Chicago for new show" »

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VH1 is looking for actresses who aren’t afraid to scream.

The cable network has greenlighted ‘‘Scream Queens,’’ a series from Lionsgate that will gather 10 unknown actresses to compete for a ‘‘major’’ role in a horror movie from Lionsgate Films. The contestants will compete in challenges and be schooled by acting coach John Homa. Their skills and progress will be judged by an unnamed director from Lionsgate’s roster.

Continue reading "Hey, it worked for Jamie Lee Curtis" »

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Gordon Ramsay is in a California state of mind.

The fiery Scottish chef and star of Fox’s ‘‘Hell’s Kitchen’’ and ‘‘Kitchen Nightmares’’ was all smiles at the opening of his latest restaurant, Gordon Ramsay at The London West Hollywood, on Wednesday evening. The event was attended by celebrity guests such as ‘‘Will and & Grace’’ co-star Eric McCormack, ‘‘Survivor’’ host Jeff Probst, Khloe Kardashian and David Beckham.

So why did Ramsay decide to set up shop on the West Coast?

Continue reading "'Hell's Kitchen' chef opens hotspot on the ... West Coast?" »

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"Jericho" fans saved the CBS drama once, and they are determined to save it again. Roll your eyes, but at least admire the tenacity of the folks behind a new billboard in Los Angeles, seeking a new home for the show ...

Continue reading "Fight on, 'Jericho' fans!" »

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Downtown Milwaukee will soon have a permanent reminder of the ‘‘Happy Days’’ television show.

A bronze statue of Arthur ‘‘Fonzie’’ Fonzarelli, played by Henry Winkler, will be dedicated Aug. 19 along the Milwaukee River, VISIT Milwaukee announced today.

Continue reading "Bronze Fonz to be dedicated Aug. 19" »

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Music fans who can’t trek to Tennessee for the Bonnaroo Music & Arts festival still have a chance to see the action: Fuse TV is televising parts of the three-day extravaganza, its first national TV exposure.

Continue reading "Can't make it to Bonnaroo? Watch it on cable!" »

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A video reel of the fall 2008 primetime TV schedule.

Jimmy Kimmel knows how to deliver an industry joke with some sting, as he proved to advertisers getting a first look at ABC’s fall schedule last week.

‘‘Here at ABC we are very excited about both of our new shows,’’ Kimmel said to knowing laughs.

Both. One is a game show produced by Ashton Kutcher, the other an adaptation of a series done by the BBC. It’s hardly a burst of creativity from a network that proudly introduced eight new series last fall.

The fall schedules rolled out last week with limited fanfare provided evidence of how deeply network television was hurt by this winter’s writers strike. The pain from those wounds will linger into next season precisely when the networks — already hemorrhaging viewers — can least afford it.

Continue reading "Rounding up the new shows for fall 2008" »

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It’s true: ‘‘Desperate Housewives’’ will flash-forward five years.

Marcia Cross, who plays domestic goddess Bree on the ABC comedy-drama, said in a recent phone interview that a flash-forward narrative device will offer viewers a glimpse into the future lives of the Wisteria Lane gang.

Spoiler alert: Read no further if you don’t want to know what happens to some of the central characters.

Continue reading "'Desperate Housewives' to get all 'Lost' on us" »

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Now that Jennie Garth's set for the "Beverly Hills 90210" spinoff, rumors abound that Tori Spelling will return, as well.

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A sneak peek at tonight's return of Britney Spears to the sitcom "How I Met Your Mother," from CBS.

Three times might be the charm for Britney Spears and ‘‘How I Met Your Mother.’’

With Spears making her second guest appearance on the popular CBS comedy, the show’s co-creator Craig Thomas says tonight's episode was written to leave the door open for the pop singer to make a return appearance next season.

Continue reading "Britney's second sitcom appearance tonight — and a third...?" »

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Production of ABC’s ‘‘Ugly Betty’’ is moving to New York.

The announcement was made Monday by Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Governor David Paterson and ABC Studios President Mark Pedowitz. They say the show will take advantage of a 35 percent tax credit from the city and state when it makes the move from Los Angeles.

Continue reading "Does anyone still film in LA? 'Ugly Betty' moving to NYC" »

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It's official. As we reported earlier, Jennie Garth is moving back to 'Beverly Hills' — specifically, zip code 90210.

Continue reading "Jennie Garth moving back to zip code 90210" »

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Ding, dong, the gong isn't dead.

Comedy Central has greenlighted ‘‘The Gong Show With Dave Attell,’’ ordering eight half-hour episodes of an updated version of the classic talent show. The premiere is set for July 17.

Continue reading "Hollywood is out of ideas, part 893: They're bringing back 'The Gong Show'" »

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For whatever it may be worth (which is not much), a die-hard fan of canceled CBS nuclear-war drama "Jericho" has launched a fan campaign to bring the series back from the dead.

"Jericho" was resurrected once by a fan campaign, after CBS axed the show at the end of its first season. Fans organized and sent thousands of pounds of peanuts (based on a line in the finale) to CBS execs, and the network brought back the show for a short, post-strike second season. But ratings made that decision look like, well, nuts, so the second season finale was retooled to be the season finale.

But some fans continue to rally and beg for the show to continue.

Continue reading "Can fans save 'Jericho' — again?" »

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"Mornin', boss. Didja see 'Idol' last night...?"

So we're still going to work and yakking about "American Idol" more than any other TV show, according to an annual survey of just such trivial matters.

Not as much as last year, but "Idol" is still the tops — 33 percent of U.S. workers named American Idol as the TV program discussed most often at the workplace, down from 37 percent in 2007, according to the latest Spherion Workplace Snapshot.