Holiday weekend TV marathons; light posting

Expect light posting through the holiday weekend. In the meantime, here's a blog that assembled a list of all the TV marathons airing over the next few days, including Discovery's "Deadliest Catch," Sci Fi's "Twilight Zone," USA's James Bond films and Style's "My Super Sweet 16."

Happy 4th!

CNN tops Fusion data; Fox News loses it

Networks can get pretty intense when it comes to how their ratings data gets reported. But no organization can go from zero to batshit faster than Fox News.

I've just spent about 24 hours struggling to get a story finished that's just about the dullest thing you'll ever read.

First, here's the "story:"

Though Fox News has long won the primetime ratings race against CNN, there’s one Nielsen data measurement system that puts CNN on top.

Nielsen "Fusion" combines the audience reach of the news networks plus the popularity of their respective Web sites. When both portals are taken into account, CNN/CNN Digital reached 125.3 million viewers, MSNBC/MSNBC Digital had 105.6 million and FNC/Fox News Digital had 104.3 million. That’s for the month of April, the most recent month the “Fusion” data is available.

That's it. Riveting stuff, huh? 

Now, networks have been looking for all-encompassing measurements that take online viewing into account. Whether Nielsen Fusion is really a “fair and balanced” way of bundling linear and online ratings can certainly be debated. Is this Fusion data or Franken data?

'Talent' and 'Dance' face off; 'Philanthropist' sinks

The second week of NBC's "The Philanthropist" wasn't very generous in the ratings Wednesday, while the three top-rated reality shows of the summer jockeyed for attention.

Fox's two-hour "So You Think You Can Dance" and NBC's one-hour "America's Got Talent" tied for the adult demo win, while "Talent" easily led among total viewers. "Wipeout" placed third, but wasn't too far behind.

Fox won the night overall, with "Dancing" (7.2 million viewers, 2.9 preliminary adults 18-49 rating) holding steady this time, followed by NBC. Once again, a "Got Talent" repeat led into an original (11.3 million, 2.9), but the show took a 22% hit going up against "Dance" compared to the previous night (and took a slight knock from last Wednesday's outing too). At 10 p.m., "Philanthropist" (5.7 million, 1.5) gave back 21% of last week's rating.

ABC was third, with "Wipeout" (7.8 million, 2.6) and "Japanese Game Show" (3.8 million, 1.4), both down a bit, followed by "Primetime" (4.7 million, 1.4).  CBS was fourth with repeats.

Neil Patrick Harris near deal to host Emmys

CBS is close to signing "How I Met Your Mother" co-star Neil Patrick Harris to host this year's Emmy Awards.

The two-time Emmy nominee is fresh off a well-received performance hosting CBS' Tonys telecast in June, and took the stage in May for a segment at the network's upfront presentation. In April, Harris hosted the TVLand Awards, which is owned by CBS parent company Viacom.

The 61st annual Emmys will be telecast on Sept. 20. The move could help promote "How I Met Your Mother" in the fall, which is moving to a less protected time slot opening the network's Monday night comedy block.

There's pressure on the Primetime Emmys to stage a turnaround this year. Ratings for the Academy Awards, MTV Awards, Tonys, Grammys and Country Music Awards have all increased during their most recent airings, putting a spotlight on the perpetually sinking Emmys to step up -- last year's edition hit an all-time viewership low.

ABC readies 'The Fast and the Funniest' competition

ABC is developing a new reality competition show from two "Last Comic Standing" producers in which comedians have to be funny on the fly.

In "The Fast & the Funniest," a group of stand-ups travel cross-country competing in challenges and performances. The first three to reach the final destination will perform for a cash prize.

The project's order is contingent on casting, with APA-repped Page Hurwitz and Javier Winnik producing the show.

"Funniest" could represent a more urgent take on the comic-competition series format made popular by "Standing," which ran for several years on NBC until it was canceled in 2008.

If greenlighted, "Funniest" would debut on the network in late midseason or next summer. It joins ABC's upcoming auto-competition series "Crash Course" and the Jamie Oliver weight-loss series among the network's reality efforts in development.

NBC schedules controversial news program 'Wanted'

NBC News has scheduled its controversial To-Catch-a-Terrorist investigative program, where an elite team hunts war criminals.

"The Wanted" will premiere Monday, July 20 at 10 p.m. with specialists in counter-terrorism, foreign intelligence, war crimes and investigative journalism profiling suspected international terrorists.  

“We hope this program sheds light on an overlooked story,” said David Corvo, executive producer at NBC News. “It is surprising how many people with serious accusations against them are living openly and avoiding any sort of judicial process."

Karl Malden dies

Another one!

Karl Malden, who starred as Detective Mike Stone in the 1970s TV series "The Streets of San Francisco," has passed away.

The actor vaulted to movie prominence by winning an Academy Award for best supporting actor in "A Streetcar Named Desire," died at his home in Los Angeles on Wednesday. He was 97.

Malden's family informed the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences of his death. Malden served as the academy's president from 1989-92. He made his screen debut in the 1940 movie "They Knew What They Wanted" and was praised for his role as Mitch in the 1951 classic "A Streetcar Named Desire." Malden also was a pitchman for American Express in a series of commercials airing more than 21 years. With additional reporting by Duane Bygre and the AP

NBC's 'America's Got Talent' surges

After weeks of summer reality shows steadily dropping in the ratings, NBC's "America's Got Talent" pulled off a surprising reversal Tuesday night.

The second week of NBC's competition series surged in the Nielsens and was watched by more viewers than any non-sports program so far this summer (on broadcast or cable).

"Got Talent" earned 12.9 million viewers and a 3.7 preliminary adults 18-49 rating, up 16% from its premiere.

One reason for the rise may have been the show's lead-in, a "Got Talent" repeat (8.2 million, 2.3) that drew far more viewers than "I'm a Celebrity" brought to the time period in recent weeks. Or since the premiere was the lowest "Talent" opener ever, the gain could simply be due to some fans returning late to the show.

NBC won the night, CBS placed second with repeats and the now-routine-feeling 10 p.m. Michael Jackson news special, "48 Hours Mystery: Michael Jackson, Picking Up the Pieces" (8.1 million, 2.0), which won the hour.

ABC and Fox tied for third with gutter ball averages of 1.0 each. Fox had a movie; ABC featured an all-original lineup: the second episode of "The Superstars" (4 million, 1.3) falling 13%, "Better Off Ted" (1.8 million, 0.6) and "Primetime" (3.5 million, 0.9).

Below, check out this video clip of the Susan Boyle-ish rube-with-a-golden-voice moment from last night's "Got Talent":

ABC to air sci-fi series 'Gravity'

By Nellie Andreeva

Fox's "Virtuality" pilot may be have crashed, but sci-fi fans will get another deep-space series on broadcast TV this summer instead. ABC has picked up Fox TV Studios' 13-episode adventure drama "Defying Gravity" starring Ron Livingston.

The internationally produced series, also set to air on Canada's CTV, Germany's ProSieben and the BBC, hails from familiar ABC auspices: creator/executive producer James Parriott, who served as an exec producer on ABC's "Grey's Anatomy" and "Ugly Betty," and exec producer Michael Edelstein, former exec producer of the network's "Desperate Housewives."

ABC to publish 'Castle' novel

As networks brainstorm dizzying high-tech ways to promote shows online and via social networks, ABC is adopting a decidedly retro medium to excite viewers for the upcoming second season of "Castle": a book.

Because the show's protagonist, Richard Castle, is a best-selling author of mysteries, what more appropriate tie-in than to publish an actual mystery novel written by the character?

Starting Aug. 10, the first chapter of a novel titled "Heat Wave," credited to Richard Castle, will debut on ABC.com as a round of on-air repeats lead up to the Season 2 premiere in late September.

The network will post the first half of the book, a chapter a week, for 10 weeks. The full novel will be published Sept. 29 by Disney sister company Hyperion. The story apparently is a stand-alone mystery with cross-over elements to the on-screen story.

The network teamed with Hyperion for 2006's "Lost" tie-in "Bad Twin" and "The Diary of Ellen Rimbauer," which tied in to the ABC miniseries "Rose Red." Both sold quite well. The real author of "Heat Wave" is not being unveiled.

Oxygen's 'Dance Your Ass Off' sets record

Oxygen’s "dance/weight-loss competition" show “Dance Your Ass Off” was the most-watched series premiere in network history.

The Monday night telecast drew 1.3 million viewers, 614,000 of which were adults 18-49, making the show the highest-rated series debut for the network among viewers, the demo and women 18-49. The show is pretty much what you think: overweight contestants dancing to shed pounds, a sort of "Dancing With the Carbs." 

Here's a first episode video recap for those who missed it, fast forward to after the halfway mark to get past the contestant intros and into the dancing. 

USA tops second quarter cable ratings

By Anthony Crupi

USA Network held off rival TNT to win the second-quarter ratings crown, averaging 1.37 million adults 18-49, an increase of 9% over its Q2 '08 delivery. Despite a five week stretch in which TNT's coverage of the NBA Playoffs churned up record ratings for the Turner net, USA was able to hold on to preserve a 3.4% margin of victory in the demo.

The race for total prime-time viewers was less dramatic, as USA cruised to an easy win, averaging 3.17 million viewers, an increase of 15% year-over-year. USA's Q2 delivery topped TNT's 2.64 million viewers by 16.8%, per Nielsen ratings data.

HBO's 'Hung' opens huge

The premiere of HBO’s newest comedy series "Hung" was seen by 2.8 million viewers, making it the network's most-watched series debut in a couple years.

"Hung" was the biggest (sigh, trying to avoid the puns) premiere for the network since "John From Cincinnati," which aired after the series finale of "The Sopranos."

Lead-in "True Blood," meanwhile, hit yet another series high, drawing 3.7 million viewers. "Hung" held 76% of its lead-in.

Jackson-fueled BET Awards scores cable record

BET's annual "BET Awards" is the No. 1 cable telecast of the year.

When Michael Jackson passed away a few days before the live telecast, BET announced they would devote the program to the pop icon. The network's last-minute Jackson overhaul resulted in an uneven show -- aside from a speech from Janet Jackson, many viewers seemed disappointed. The most emotional response in the press seemed to come from Joe Jackson's grossly opportunistic plugging of his record label on the red carpet.

Still, "BET Awards" were seen by 10.7 million viewers, edging out TLC's recent "Jon & Kate" breakup episode for the top spot.

FX sets premiere dates for 'Anarchy' and 'Sunny'

FX has revealed its fall schedule ... sort of.

The network will have at least four original programs, but one hasn't been announced yet and another, "Nip/Tuck," doesn't have a date yet.

What the network is ready to declare are the premiere dates for "Sons of Anarchy" (on a new night, Tuesdays at 10 p.m. starting Sept. 8 for 13 episodes) and "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" (Thursdays at 10 p.m. starting Sept. 17 for 12 episodes).

The sixth and penultimate season of "Nip/Tuck" will debut sometime in October and FX also plans to pair another as-yet-unannounced comedy with "Sunny."

As usual, FX is adopting a No Fear approach to its lineup, scheduling shows to debut while broadcast is at the bullhorn. This approach has worked in the past, with "Tuck" previously having managed to grow year-over-year despite launching during the fall.