Wednesday, January 29, 2014

WINTER 2014: NBC CANCELS 'SEAN SAVES THE WORLD'


While Sean Harrison was busy trying to save the world, and Sean Hayes was busy trying to save his new show, viewers were busy saving something else.

Sean Saves the World has spent the better part of this TV season trying to rack up viewers and decent ratings for NBC, unfortunately to no avail. News broke yesterday that the network has abruptly stopped production on the freshman comedy. There were four episodes left to produce in the 18-episode order. So yeah, basically the show is cancelled.

NBC moved the struggling comedy to a new time slot to boost ratings, and it failed miserably. Two episodes remain to be aired and will be scheduled after the Winter Olympics.

Thursday, January 23, 2014

WINTER 2014: ELLEN POMPEO, PATRICK DEMPSEY SIGN ON FOR MORE 'GREY'S ANATOMY'


It was touch-and-go this past fall with renegotiation rumors but Grey's Anatomy fans can breathe a sigh of relief. Meredith and Derek are not going anywhere, anytime soon.

Original cast members Ellen Pompeo and Patrick Dempsey have signed new two-year deals that will keep the couple on the show through Season 12. Of course ABC has only renewed Grey's through the end of this current season but with these new deals in place, it definitely is an incentive to keep the medical drama going.

Other original cast members Justin Chambers, Chandra Wilson, and James Pickens, Jr., as well as Sara Ramirez, have yet to renew their contracts which expire at the end of this season. As reported earlier this fall, Sandra Oh is departing the show in May.

Do you think the show still has some steam left in it after 10 years?

WINTER 2014: 'SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE' FINDS SETH MEYERS' REPLACEMENT


Saturday Night Live has found Seth Meyers' replacement on "Weekend Update," and it isn't any member of the current cast.


SNL head writer Colin Jost has been chosen to take over Seth Meyers' spot on "Weekend Update." Jost joined the staff in 2005 and was named its head writer in 2012. Apart from writing for SNL (and winning numerous awards for it), Jost is also a stand-up comedian who has appeared in comedy festivals as well as Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. Jost seems to be following the latest tradition of replacing departing news anchors with head writers. Both Seth Meyers and his predecessor, Tina Fey, were head writers before taking over desk duty.

Seth Meyers' final appearance on SNL and "Weekend Update" will be February 1. His late night show is scheduled to premiere on February 24. Meanwhile, Jost is expected to pick up desk duties and join co-anchor Cecily Strong on March 1.

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

WINTER 2014: JASON ISAACS, PATRICK J. ADAMS CAST FOR NBC'S 'ROSEMARY'S BABY' ADAPTATION


Casting for NBC's upcoming adaptation of the 1968 film Rosemary's Baby continues to take shape.

Just a few weeks after it was announced that Zoe Saldana will portray mother-to-be Rosemary, we've now learned that Patrick J. Adams (Suits) will play Rosemary's husband, Guy. The TV adaptation moves the setting to Paris where Guy and Rosemary move into an apartment with a dark history. Film and television star Jason Isaacs has also signed on the production and will portray Roman Castevet, neighbor to the young couple and who also happens to be the warlock and leader of the cult.

This one is shaping up to be a doozy...Stay Tuned!

SPRING 2014: 'ONCE UPON A TIME' PLANNING TO KILL OFF A SERIES REGULAR


ABC's Once Upon a Time is enjoying a lengthy winter break (new episodes return March 9) but that hasn't stopped the show's creators from dropping hints on the season finale.

Adam Horowitz and Eddy Kitsis have revealed that a major character will be killed off during the second half of this season. Now before you say to yourself "Oh they always kill off a character who comes back to life thanks to magic," let us say clearly that this character will be dead and done. According to the creators, the upcoming death will result in the exit of a series regular and right now everyone is a candidate.

Personally, Stay Tuned believes that the character to bite the dust will be Neal/Baelfire since the show has little to lose writing him off. A part of us, however, is pulling for Henry to be the victim. It would definitely spark a new conflict between the recently peaceful group of frenemies, and let's be honest, Henry Jared Gilmore is getting older and awkward and that just isn't cute when a tween fantasizes about fairy tales.

We'll just have to wait and see...Stay Tuned!

WINTER 2014: NBC PLANNING 'CHICAGO P.D./LAW & ORDER: SVU' CROSSOVER EVENT


NBC isn't wasting any time in using a veteran TV show to boost one of its new midseason dramas.

The network has a crossover event planned for newbie Chicago P.D. and stable powerhouse Law & Order: SVU. Sophia Bush's Detective Erin Lindsay will appear on the February 26 episode of SVU to share a scene with Mariska Hargitay's Sgt. Olivia Benson. Following that appearance, Ice-T and Kelli Giddish (as Detectives Tutuola and Rollins) head over to Chicago P.D. for a visit.

No details have surfaced yet on what case will unite these two burgs. Both shows are produced by Dick Wolf, so expect some good storytelling and consistency.

WINTER 2014: SETH MEYERS DROPS HINT ON HIS FINAL 'SNL' APPEARANCE


Departing cast member Seth Meyers gave a clue on his last Saturday Night Live show.


During NBC's turn at Sunday's Television Critics Association winter press tour, Meyers stated that he was two shows away from cutting ties with SNL. So his final airdate would be the February 1 show with host Melissa McCarthy and musical act Imagine Dragons. The Weekend Update anchor and NBC have been preparing for the late night transitions, where Meyers will be taking over Jimmy Fallon's current show and retitled to Late Night with Seth Meyers. Meyers admits that it would be difficult trying to manage both Late Night and SNL in a double duty capacity. Finally, Meyers also hinted that co-anchor Cecily Strong may end up paired with another partner to host Weekend Update.

We'll just have to Stay Tuned on that last one...