How Bad Were Olympics?
February 28, 2006
The Winter Olympics were a Bode Miller disaster: The lowest household prime-time ratings on record, down 37 percent from 2002.
The Winter Olympics were an Apolo Ohno success: Two-thirds of the entire U.S. population watched all or, more likely, some of the 418 hours of coverage on NBC and its cable networks.
When it comes to the Turin Games, which concluded 17 days and nights of icy action on Sunday, the ratings are as tricky to judge as a figure-skating competition.
NBC, which is in the Olympics business through at least 2012, says the games did great. Its competitors say they, not the games, did great. The cold, hard stats tend to agree. With both parties.
Trump Trumped
February 28, 2006
Donald Trump can't blame this one on Martha Stewart. Although given their feud, maybe he'll try.
Despite numerous promotions during the Winter Olympics, which contrary to popular belief were watched by a great deal of people, the Trump-fronted "Apprentice" posted its least watched premiere ever, outplayed on its new night by CBS' comedies and Fox's "24."
The fifth-season premiere of "The Apprentice" averaged an estimated 9.8 million viewers. By comparison, CBS averaged an estimated 15.7 million for "Two and a Half Men" (17.3 million) and Jenna Elfman's "Courting Alex" (14.1 million). Fox was in the game with an estimated 13.8 million for a new "24."
'Anatomy' Star Recalls Dyslexia Struggle (AP)
February 28, 2006
AP - "Grey's Anatomy" star Patrick Dempsey says his childhood wasn't so McDreamy: He wasn't diagnosed as being dyslexic until he was 12 years old.
Condoleezza Rice Shows Gym Routine on TV (AP)
February 28, 2006
AP - Besides being the Bush administration's go-to official for working out diplomatic misunderstandings, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is also happy to let the world know she's working out at the gym.
TV Veteran Courts Stardom With 'Conviction' (AP)
February 28, 2006
AP - Eric Balfour has the look of a needle. A needle — if it were human, curiously handsome and a promising young actor. Maybe even an on-the-brink star.
Olympic Viewership Falls 37 Pct. From 2002 (AP)
February 28, 2006
AP - NBC's prime-time Olympics coverage from Turin ended up averaging 20.2 million viewers per night, a 37 percent decline from the Salt Lake City games four years ago, with an even steeper decline among young viewers.
Rice shares workout tips on television (Reuters)
February 28, 2006
Reuters - Obsessive about staying fit, U.S.
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will share her workout tips
on morning television this week, pumping iron and sweating on a
stationary bike.
Howard Stern Claims CBS 'Bullying' Him (AP)
February 28, 2006
AP - Shock jock Howard Stern claimed that his former employer CBS Corp. is "bullying" him and threatening to sue him for financial damages.
'Bachelor' Travis Stork Picks Sarah Stone (AP)
February 28, 2006
AP - Vanderbilt emergency room Dr. Travis Stork kept it close to home by picking Nashville kindergarten teacher Sarah Stone in the season finale of ABC's "The Bachelor: Paris.'"'
"Dancing" is top closer on Sunday (Reuters)
February 28, 2006Reuters - The spectacle in Turin, Italy, for Sunday's closing ceremonies of the Winter Olympics was no match for the sequins and fancy footwork on the finale of ABC's "Dancing With the Stars."
Lifetime "Eyes" Spencer for crime drama (Reuters)
February 28, 2006Reuters - Abigail Spencer ("All My Children") has been cast as the lead in Lifetime Television's tentatively titled "Emily's Eyes," which has been given a 13-episode order by the female-targeted cable network, sources said.
Winnick, Guzman join drama pilots (Reuters)
February 28, 2006
Reuters - Katheryn Winnick, who
portrayed Ivana Trump in the ABC biopic "Trump Unauthorized,"
has landed a lead role opposite Matthew Lillard in Fox's drama
pilot "13 Graves"
'West Wing' star signs on for 'Studio 60' (Reuters)
February 28, 2006Reuters - "The West Wing" co-star Bradley Whitford has reunited with the show's creator for the NBC drama pilot "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip."
Cannavale steering Reiser's CBS comedy pilot (Reuters)
February 28, 2006Reuters - Bobby Cannavale, who won an Emmy for his guest role on "Will & Grace" last year, has landed the lead in Paul Reiser's untitled CBS comedy pilot.
Julia Ormond shows CBS "The Way" (Reuters)
February 28, 2006Reuters - British actress Julia Ormond is venturing into series television with CBS' drama pilot "The Way,"
Anna Nicole Smith to Face Supreme Court (AP)
February 28, 2006
AP - Former stripper turned weight-loss promoter Anna Nicole Smith will face the scales of justice on Tuesday, a Supreme Court showdown with millions of dollars on the line.
HBO docu to focus on Daniel Pearl murder (Reuters)
February 28, 2006Reuters - HBO will air a documentary in the fall about Daniel Pearl, the Wall Street Journal correspondent kidnapped and beheaded by extremists in Pakistan four years ago.