Welcome to CraveOnline's Idiot Box Updates, where we run down all the latest TV news and separate the facts from the rumors and nonsense on and about the small screen.

Here's a list of the top 20 prime-time shows by viewership numbers, compiled by Nielsen Media Research for June 22-28:

1. "America's Got Talent" (Tuesday), NBC, 11.46 million viewers.

2. "NCIS," CBS, 11.09 million viewers.

3. "America's Got Talent" (Wednesday), NBC, 10.4 million viewers.

4. "The Mentalist," CBS, 9.15 million viewers.

5. "60 Minutes," CBS, 8.79 million viewers.

6. "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," CBS, 8.74 million viewers.

7. "Two and a Half Men," CBS, 8.69 million viewers.

8. "20/20 Special Edition" (Thursday), ABC, 8.17 million viewers.

9. "CSI: Miami," CBS, 8.01 million viewers.

10. "Wipeout," ABC, 7.8 million viewers.

11. "So You Think Can Dance" (Wednesday), Fox, 7.62 million viewers.

12. "Criminal Minds," CBS, 7.56 million viewers.

13. "CBS News: Michael Jackson" (Thursday), CBS, 7.47 million viewers.

14. "CSI: NY," CBS, 7.43 million viewers.

15. "The Big Bang Theory," CBS, 7.23 million viewers.

16. "The Philanthropist," NBC, 7.12 million viewers.

17. "48 Hours Mystery," (Tuesday), CBS, 6.96 million viewers.

18. "So You Think Can Dance" (Thursday), Fox, 6.89 million viewers.

19. "The Bachelorette," ABC, 6.76 million viewers.

20. "Dateline" (Friday), NBC, 6.74 million viewers.

The top 15 programs on cable networks, compiled by Nielsen Media Research for the week of June 22-28:

1. "Jon & Kate Plus 8" (Monday, 9 p.m.), TLC, 7.54 million homes

2. "BET Awards" (Sunday, 8 p.m.), BET, 5.83 million homes

3. Movie: "The Princess Protection Program" (Friday, 8 p.m.), Disney, 5.33 million homes

4. "WWE Raw" (Monday, 10 p.m.), USA, 4.73 million homes

5. "The Closer" (Monday, 9 p.m.), TNT, 4.67 million homes

6. "Royal Pains" (Thursday, 10 p.m.), USA, 4.38 million homes, 5.94 million viewers.

7. "WWE Raw" (Monday, 9 p.m.), USA, 4.18 million homes

8. Auto Racing: "Sprint Cup/Loudon" (Sunday, 1:59 p.m.), TNT, 4 million homes

9. "Wizards of Waverly Place" (Friday, 9:45 p.m.), Disney, 3.94 million homes

10. "Burn Notice" (Thursday, 9 p.m.), USA, 3.87 million homes, 5.34 million viewers.

11. "NASCAR Post Race Show" (Sunday, 5:45 p.m.), TNT, 3.79 million homes

12. "BET Awards After Party" (Sunday, 11:44 p.m.), BET, 3.21 million homes

13. "NCIS" (Monday, 8 p.m.), USA, 3.13 million homes

14. "The Secret Life of an American Teen-Ager" (Monday, 8 p.m.), ABC Family, 3.13 million homes

15. "Cake Boss" (Monday, 10 p.m.), TLC, 3.11 million homes.

Fox News entertainment writer Roger Friedman was fired for reviewing a leaked copy of Fox's X-Men Origins: Wolverine, so he's suing his old bosses for more than $5 million.

Friedman is seeking damages for libel and legal fees in a suit that names Fox as well as News Corp. and its chairman, Rupert Murdoch, as defendants. He's accusing Fox of violating his contract, which was severed after his April 2 review of Wolverine appeared on Fox's website. Friedman wrote the piece based on the much-decried leaked version he found on the Internet before its official release.

Friedman claims he contacted an in-house attorney at Fox to get the column cleared but that she never responded, and that none of his editors raised objections prior to the publication of the piece. He reportedly contacted his editor after the review was removed from the site April 3 and was told Murdoch had ordered the story taken down but that he shouldn't worry about his job.

Nevertheless, News Corp. fired Friedman April 4. 

A new reality competition show on ABC, "The Fast & the Funniest,"  follows a group of stand-up comedians as they travel cross-country, competing in challenges and performances. 

The first three to reach the final destination will perform for a cash prize on the show. The project is produced by Page Hurwitz and Javier Winnik, who were involved with the successful reality contest "Last Comic Standing." Look for it in the fall!

Speaking of ABC, the network has picked up 13 episodes of an adventure drama starring Office Space's Ron Livingston called "Defying Gravity." The show, whose cast includes Laura Harris, Christina Cox, Malik Yoba and Florentine Lahme, is set in the near future and revolves around eight astronauts from five countries on a mysterious, six-year mission through the solar system.

The internationally produced series comes from familiar ABC contributors: creator/executive producer James Parriott, who served as an executive producer on ABC's "Grey's Anatomy" and "Ugly Betty," and executive producer Michael Edelstein, former executive producer of the network's "Desperate Housewives."

"Defying Gravity" is set to debut on ABC this summer.

Move over Letterman & Conan, you may have some fresh-blood competition. "The News Has No Clothes," a stage show mixing politics and comedy and featuring comedian Lewis Black and former White House press secretary Dana Perino, is being pushed as a possible alternative contender for late-night audiences.

Veteran comedy producers and masterminds of the U.S. Comedy Arts Festival (USCAF) in Aspen, Colorado, are headed back to the mountain resort as part of this week's Aspen Ideas Festival to try out their latest project idea. The concept is being described as "The View" and "Politically Incorrect" meet the vintage BBC show "That Was the Week That Was," and if the live show does well they'll pitch it to TV networks for a possible late-night slot.

The first trial Thursday will feature co-hosts Perino (press secretary for President George W. Bush), Black, comedian D.L. Hughley, public radio host Kurt Andersen and "Daily Show" correspondent Larry Wilmore. It will include video packages by the Onion. Among the issues to be debated are the role of the news media, the economy, President Obama's performance and the culture wars. Guests for specific topics will include former Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff. The show also will feature stand-up performances. I don't know about you, but with the late-night lineup being what it is, I'd say we could all use an alternative to the tired, old host/guest talkshow format.