Gates, Oprah Winfrey Visit High School (AP)
February 15, 2006AP - Microsoft Corp. Chairman Bill Gates and talk show host Oprah Winfrey visited a high school on Wednesday, surprising some of its students.
'Idol' Trounces Olympics in Ratings War (AP)
February 15, 2006
AP - The winter Olympics proved no match for television's gold-medal winner, "American Idol." Fox's phenomenally successful contest crushed the Olympics in head-to-head competition on Tuesday night, 27 million viewers to 16.1 million, according to Nielsen Media Research.
Fox's "Idol" skis past NBC's Games on Tues (Reuters)
February 15, 2006Reuters - Fox's "American Idol" towered over the primetime field again Tuesday, beating NBC's Winter Olympics coverage, which included the high-profile men's skiing competition, by more than 6 million viewers.
Edward R. Murrow Is Honored by British (AP)
February 15, 2006AP - A plaque honoring legendary newsman Edward R. Murrow was placed on the facade of his old apartment building in London on Wednesday.
America's "Next Top" Wannabes (E! Online)
February 15, 2006
E! Online - UPN has announced the
latest flock of camera-ready contestants set to battle it out in hopes
of becoming Tyra Banks' newest protege and the sixth America's Next
Top Model champ.
Cheney Hunting Mishap Takes Media by Storm (AP)
February 15, 2006
AP - When Bill Gates appeared at a computer security conference in San Jose, Calif., this week, he greeted his audience with a quip. "I'm really glad to be here," said the Microsoft Corp. chairman. "My other invitation was to go quail hunting with Dick Cheney."
Debra Lee Takes Charge at BET (AP)
February 15, 2006AP - Debra Lee never expected it would come to this. Twenty years after she decided to leave an elite Washington D.C. law firm to manage contract negotiations and legal affairs for a little-known, black-owned cable company, Lee is now chairman and CEO of Black Entertainment Television — the most prosperous African-American business in the country.
Sen. Stevens sees tough road for deal on video law (Reuters)
February 15, 2006Reuters - U.S. Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Stevens on Wednesday acknowledged difficulties reaching agreement among lawmakers for legislation that would help telephone carriers more quickly enter the subscription television business.
Tyra's "Model" Wannabes
February 15, 2006
Let the fierceness begin.
UPN has announced the latest flock of camera-ready contestants set to battle it out in hopes of becoming Tyra Banks' newest protégé and the sixth "America's Next Top Model" champ.
The 13 finalists are between 18 and 26 years old and hail from hometowns ranging from New Orleans to Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania. There are, once again, a healthy number of students, though this year's crop of model hopefuls also includes a translator, a house painter and--brace yourselves--a chemist.
The new season kicks off Mar. 15.
Olsen Twins to Don Badgley Mischka Gowns (AP)
February 15, 2006
AP - Mary-Kate Olsen and her twin sister, Ashley, known for their casual, layered, bohemian style, will wear red carpet-ready couture gowns in an ad campaign for Badgley Mischka.
T.R. Knight Talks About 'Grey's Anatomy' (AP)
February 15, 2006
AP - Move over, McDreamy: This doctor wants your ex, and he won't break her heart.
"American Idol" steals Olympic gold in TV ratings (Reuters)
February 15, 2006
Reuters - U.S. television viewers proved they
prefer amateur singers to champion skiers and figure skaters as
the hit talent contest "American Idol" stomped NBC's coverage
of the Winter Olympics in the ratings.
Judges Weigh "Friends" Sex Talk (E! Online)
February 15, 2006
E! Online - What's a little trash talk among friends--or, for that matter,
the masterminds behind Friends?
That New NBC Olympic Fireplace? It's Fake (AP)
February 15, 2006AP - NBC's faux fireplace is burning again, making Bob Costas look theoretically cozy — if not actually so.
"Friends" Sex Talk Case
February 15, 2006
What's a little trash talk among friends--or, for that matter, the masterminds behind "Friends"?
The brain trust of NBC's former Must-See sitcom is about to find out.
The California State Supreme Court heard arguments Tuesday in a lawsuit filed by a former writers' assistant, who claimed racy language used during the show's scripting sessions constituted sexual harassment.
The justices have 90 days to determine whether to reinstate the case or uphold its dismissal.
Dave Chappelle to Host Show in Seattle (AP)
February 15, 2006AP - Dave Chappelle, who walked away from a $50 million contract last year for the third and fourth seasons of his Comedy Central variety show, has scheduled a surprise standup show at the city's Paramount Theatre.
Knight Picks Walk-On for Reality Show Team (AP)
February 15, 2006AP - Bob Knight's reality show will be rated PG.
Shannen Doherty Involved in Car Crash (AP)
February 15, 2006
AP - Shannen Doherty was bruised and cut on her thigh in a car crash that sent another motorist to the hospital, authorities and Doherty's publicist said Tuesday.
Tom Cruise, Holmes Deny Breakup Report (AP)
February 15, 2006
AP - Not true. That was Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes' response Tuesday to a Valentine's Day report by Life & Style magazine claiming that the Hollywood superstar and his pregnant paramour have split up.
Harold's next sighting is "Vanished" (Reuters)
February 15, 2006Reuters - "Queer as Folk" star Gale Harold has landed the lead in the high-profile drama pilot "Vanished."
MTV preps three docu-reality series (Reuters)
February 15, 2006Reuters - MTV is expanding its slate of documentary programs with greenlights given to three new unscripted series offering an unvarnished look at the lives of young people in settings not often seen in primetime.
Goldblum set to ink for "Red" (Reuters)
February 15, 2006Reuters - Jeff Goldblum will soon be "Seeing Red." The actor is in final negotiations to star in the crime-drama pilot for NBC.
ABC matches Heche with "Men" (Reuters)
February 15, 2006Reuters - Anne Heche will play a shrink when she takes the starring role in ABC's pilot "Men in Trees."
Highlights From NBC's Olympic Coverage (AP)
February 15, 2006
AP - A look at NBC's coverage of the Winter Olympics:
College students adopted by Nielsen ratings family (Reuters)
February 15, 2006Reuters - After years of prodding from broadcast and cable channels who have wanted to count out-of-home viewers, Nielsen Media Research said Tuesday that it will count many college students in its ratings.
TBS, TNT chain "Kong" for '08 (Reuters)
February 15, 2006Reuters - Turner Broadcasting has obtained the network premiere window to "King Kong" from NBC Universal for 2008, the network said Tuesday.
Fox seeks "Unan1mous" support for new reality show (Reuters)
February 15, 2006Reuters - In a new reality series planned for Fox's midseason slate, the competition for a big cash prize could end after one episode or extend indefinitely, the network said Tuesday.
Texas Tech Coach Knight Has Reality Show (AP)
February 15, 2006
AP - Bob Knight's reality show will be rated PG. The Texas Tech coach puts 16 walk-ons through the paces in a new reality show that begins Sunday on ESPN. "Knight School" will give one Tech student the chance to play on his basketball team next fall.
NBC's Olympics coverage wins Monday (Reuters)
February 15, 2006Reuters - NBC's Winter Olympics coverage dominated Monday's primetime competition, drawing more than 20 million viewers to its coverage of figure skating and speed skating, among other events.
"Arrested" Exits Quietly
February 15, 2006
If that was indeed "Arrested Development's" swan song last week, then audiences paid the comedy their typical amount of respect: Not much.
Loved by critics, but ignored by all but a small cult of fans, the series mustered just 3.3 million viewers for what was billed as its two-hour season finale, but might well have been its series finale.
It was up against NBC's Winter Olympics' opening ceremonies, which drew 22.2 million.
Here are last week's most watched shows, per Nielsen: 1. "American Idol" (Tue), 31.2 million; 2. "American Idol" (Wed), 28.7 million; 3."CSI," 27.4 million; 4. "Grey's Anatomy," ABC, 25.4 million; 5. "Desperate Housewives," 23.5 million.