The Media Girl

She’s been a fixture on daytime television for more than two decades, andOprah Winfrey has announced she’s getting ready to close up shop. The 55-year-old talk show host will be on the air until September 2011, marking a quarter of a century run for “The Oprah Winfrey Show.”

Fox has informed Joss Whedon that it will not be ordering additional installments of his low-rated drama beyond the current 13-episode order. On the bright side, the network still plans toburn off the remaining unaired episodes beginning in December. Dollhouse has been averaging a mere 3 million viewers this season. Last season — when fan support, together with significant budget cuts, helped it to get an odds-defying second-year pickup — the show averaged 4.7 million.

Whedon posted the following statement on Whedonesque.com: “I don’t have a lot to say. I’m extremely proud of the people I’ve worked with: my star, my staff, my cast, my crew. I feel the show is getting better pretty much every week, and I think you’ll agree in the coming months. I’m grateful that we got to put it on, and then come back and put it on again. I’m off to pursue Internet ventures/binge drinking. Possibly that relaxation thing I’ve read so much about. By the time the last episode airs, you’ll know what my next project is. But for now, there’s a lot of work still to be done, and disappointment to bear. Thank you all for your support, your patience, your excellent adverts. See you again.”

Photo: Getty

When asked if he would have stayed at 11:30pm Jay Leno said "Yeah, Sure" in a interview with Broadcasting and Cable last week. It's a shocking revelation considering that a few months ago Leno bragged that "10 o'clock is the new 11:30" and that NBC "Can do five Tonight Shows for less money than one 10 o'clock drama." Jay's ratings tell a sad story. The audience went from 18.4 million to 4.3 million in 7 weeks. Leno is averaging 2.5 million fewer viewers then NBC's dramas like Law & Order: SVU. Even news shows that come on after Leno are showing a decrease in ratings. For example in New York NBC news cast at 11 has seen a 18 percent drop since Leno started.

Who else is starting to think this was a bad idea? You should have thought this in March when he decided to do this. NBC isn't even trying for quality shows anymore, it's about the budget. They gave up being a 22 hour network like CBS and ABC. Leno's ratings have given shows on ABC (Private Practice, Castle & The Forgotten) a chance to catch up, all shows have seen an increase in ratings since Leno's return.

The question is what kind of shape will NBC be in by next year, and can they keep taking chances with Leno at the risk of NO ONE watching NBC anymore??

Photo: Getty

Virginia Sherwood/NBC; John Paul Filo/CBS

After taking a shot at the Gosselins, the Law & Order brain trust has now set its sights on a certain late-night dog, plotting a ripped-from-the-headlines scenario based on David Letterman's personal life.

A casting call has just gone out for the episode, which will revolve around a "well-known celebrity talk-show host, married with children," who has engaged in "a series of short-lived affairs with some of the employees on the show and up until now has managed to keep them off the radar."

LOL first the Jon & Kate thing now this...I love it.

I hate to say it but Project Runway season six is outdated, and it shows in the ratings. The August 20th premiere was the shows highest rated. Prompting Lifetime (the show's new network, after a lengthy court battle) to claim it was the most watched edition. That episode had a record breaking 4.2 Million viewers. Since then it's been a slippery slope. The shows ratings have fallen nearly a third, and there only ten episodes in. By now ratings should be picking up because the designers are closer to Bryant Park.

The problem: this season is over a year old, and it shows. It's given viewers a deja vu, haven't I seen this vibe. The viewers are confused. For example take host Heidi Klum whose in perfect shape on screen, got pregnant interim and gave birth last October. How about Celebrity guest Rebecca Romijn who had her twins in December 2008, but was very pregnant on screen.

Then there is the move to LA, which has proved to be a HUGE mistake. The LA move meant less Michael Kors & Nina Garcia (who are both based in NYC). If the ratings don't pick up however don't fear. Season 7 will hopefully feel a little more updated to us, plus it's back in New York.

Disney-ABC Domestic Television

How do Regis and Kelly rate as Jon and Kate?

Benjamin Bratt will return as Detective Reynaldo Curtis on Law & Order, TVGuide.com has confirmed.

Curtis will reunite with his former boss, Lt. Anita van Buren (S. Epatha Merkerson), on an upcoming episode. Bratt was nominated for a best supporting actor Emmy for the role in 1999. After four seasons, he left the show that same year to pursue a film career. "I am thrilled that Ben is coming back for a return appearance," executive producer Dick Wolf said in a statement. "He joined us for our recent 20th anniversary celebration and it was like he never left."

Bratt's casting was first reported by Entertainment Weekly's Michael Ausiello.

Photo: TV Guide

Story: TV Guide

So sad but true, the cast of NBC's "Southland" was in the middle of shooting the sixth episode of the season, when news came of the cancellation. The cop drama was supposed to sir Fridays at 9pm beginning October 23rd. NBC Universal TV chairman Jeff Gaspin told EW that Dateline was already performing well there and "I didn't want to put it (southland) on with a potential that I was going to have to take it off again." If you think about it though this is the least of NBC's problems. For the 10-11pm hour which is not monopolized by "The Jay Leno Show" ratings are down 38 percent from last year. There are still new shows that haven't even cracked the top 40 in the ratings. It would have made sense to maybe put "Southland" as a mid-season replacement. Now producers are shopping other networks in hopes to bring back the show. It did have a following (7.6 million on average). Anyone else thinking Jay Leno is sinking NBC faster?

Photo: NBC/Universal

As EW reported last night, Southlandhas been canceled by NBC. A combination of so-so ratings and, more significantly, the lack of the 10 p.m. time-slot a grown-up cop drama a series such as Southland requires are undoubtedly the chief reasons.

This is a cryin’ shame. Southland had all the makings of what used to be considered a classic NBC show: Good serialized stories, a fine ensemble cast, and that comfy workplace-drama feel that ER and Homicide: Life On The Street used to have.

Read the Full article here

Atari will help the Weinstein Co. make "Project Runway" a little more realistic for fans with a videogame version set to bow next year.

Series host Heidi Klum and fashion expert Tim Gunn are expected to be involved in the game, but details are still being worked out. Sponsors that are integrated into the series may also appear in the game.

The licensing deal calls of for a series of "Project Runway" games to be created, with the first to launch on Nintendo's Wii, which will utilize the console's Wii Remote Controller and Balance Board.

First game hits stores shelves next spring.

Read the Full Article Here

The mess that is Jon & Kate Plus Eight, Kate Plus Eight, or whatever you wanna call it today is getting a Law & Order episode. On Oct. 16, Law & Order will air an episode entitled “Reality Bites,” in which a ripped-from-the-headlines couple are divorcing and, accordingto reports, the Kate-like figure is murdered, with the Jon-like character a suspect.

Photo: EW

David Letterman revealed on Thursday’s installment of The Late Show that someone threatened to go public with his sexual encounters with staff members if he didn’t fork over $2 million. Letterman said he reported the extortion threat, which he got three weeks ago, to the special prosecution bureau of the Manhattan District Attorney’s office. It conducted an investigation which culminated with the perpetrator’s arrest earlier today. “This morning, I did something I’ve never done in my life,” Letterman said during the show. “I had to go downtown and testify before a grand jury.”

Read Full Article on: EW

Photo: Google