Welcome to CraveOnline's Idiot Box Updates, where we cut up the latest TV headlines and deliver only the stuff you want to know about!
Here's a list of the top 20 prime-time network shows by viewership numbers, compiled by Nielsen Media Research for Jan. 25-31. Listings include the week's ranking and viewership.
1. “Grammy Awards,” CBS, 25.87 million.
2. “American Idol” (Wednesday), Fox, 25.71 million.
3. “American Idol” (Tuesday), Fox, 24.45 million.
4. “NCIS,” CBS, 20.22 million.
5. “NCIS: Los Angeles,” CBS, 16.94 million.
6. “House,” Fox, 14.21 million.
7. “Bones,” Fox, 12.331 million.
8. “60 Minutes,” CBS, 12.328 million.
9. “Two and a Half Men,” CBS, 12.07 million.
10. “The Big Bang Theory,” CBS, 11.5 million.
11. “The Bachelor,” ABC, 11.47 million.
12. “Desperate Housewives,” ABC, 11.44 million.
13. “The Mentalist,” CBS, 11.07 million.
14. “24,” Fox, 10.81 million.
15. “Castle,” ABC, 10.55 million.
16. “The Good Wife,” CBS, 10.02 million.
17. “The Biggest Loser 9,” NBC, 9.71 million.
18. “CSI: Miami,” CBS, 9.55 million.
19. “Human Target,” Fox, 9.26 million.
20. “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation,” CBS, 9.15 million.
"Lost" fans have breathlessly welcomed back the mystical thriller for its sixth and final season on ABC, and the heat is most definitely on. May 23 is right around the corner, and if we're to believe what "Lost" co-creators Carlton Cuse and Damon Lindelof said on Tuesday during their guest appearances on "Jimmy Kimmel Live!," that's D-day for fans of the most perplexing and captivatingly confusing shows in TV history.
Tuesday's season premiere attracted 12.1 million viewers, against first-place CBS dramas "NCIS: Los Angeles" (with 16.4 million) and "The Good Wife" (12.7 million). Executive producers Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse said a while back that they set the controls to "answer mode" for the final season, and they weren't kidding. There were some massive revelations in "LA X" and also some answers to long-asked questions. Too many and too confusing to explain here (the smoke monster's a person? What?), but if you're a fan of the show, you already know. The new narrative device the producers promised at the end of last season seems to be the dual timelines, which should definitely help clear the air on some issues as we move along in the final season. It looks like they'll be tying this thing up in a bow after all...
Fox is still holding on to their late-night dreams, but they haven't officially jumped into bed with their best bet, Conan O'Brien, just yet. The powerhouse TV network hasn't started any "real" negotiations with Conan O'Brien yet as the network explores its options on bringing the former host of NBC's "Tonight Show" into the fold.
News Corp. chairman and CEO Rupert Murdoch said on his quarterly earnings call Tuesday that there are "different opinions" at the network on the issue, and nothing's a sure thing.
"If the programing people can show us we can do it ... and make a profit, we would do it in a flash," he said, adding there is a lot of thought and exploration going into the examination.
O'Brien wrapped his brief "Tonight Show" run last month, but is contractually prevented from joining another network until September. If Fox wanted to bring O'Brien aboard, it would have to persuade affiliates to give up some of their reruns, which can be highly profitable.
"The Sarah Silverman Program" returns tonight after a lengthy break, and HuffPost LA caught up with Sarah and her executive producer Dan Sterling to discuss the new season. They share their thoughts on new episodes and upcoming guests, including SNL star Andy Samberg's alleged erection while taping an appearance.
"Yes we're a show about farts," she declares in the clip. "Are we a show aggressively dumb in humor? Yes. Fat and proud."
Sarah then ruminates on why love should be the number one thing in all our lives, before playing a song about dropping acid with her producer and forcing his parents to do the same. It's a bit NSFW, but it's classic Sarah, and it rocks. Check it out.
The CW is putting on the heat to promote the upcoming "Smallville: Absolute Justice" movie.The Justice League of yesteryear (aka the Justice Society) is prepping for its time in the spotlight, and if the trailer's any indication, things are about to get very interesting in superhero land.
Speaking of superheroes, NBC has picked up a new superhero light-drama series called "The Cape," written by Tom Wheeler - the guy who did the mini-series "Empire" for ABC in 2005.
Set in the fictional Jefferson City, (a Los Angeles-type city where corrupt private industries are taking over everything”) a former cop framed for a crime who becomes the Cape, a masked hero, to clear his name and reunite with his son.
Given that NBC could work a little harder on the superhero series they've already got (let's face it - "Heroes" hasn't been good for a long, long time), it's easy to be skeptical. But the show is executive produced by one time ABC exec, Lloyd Braun, the same man who greenlit "Lost".
It genuinely seemed within throwing range of an actual compliment when "Daily Show" host Jon Stewart told Bill O'Reilly that the "no spin zone" ringleader had become the voice of sanity on Fox News Channel, although "that's like being the thinnest kid at fat camp."
The host of "The Daily Show" and Fox's hot-headed attack dog exchanged some good-natured jabs Wednesday during Stewart's appearance on O'Reilly's show. Stewart lobbed a few softer jokes, but also criticized Fox for being a "cyclonic perpetual motion machine" opposing President Barack Obama.
"They have taken reasonable concerns about this president and this economy and turned it into a full-fledged panic attack about the next coming of Chairman Mao," Stewart said.
Defending his network, O'Reilly said the majority of the Obama attacks were coming from Sean Hannity and Glenn Beck, who somehow, in a horribly telling statement about the collective herd idiocy in this country, have two of the highest-rated programs on Fox, the highest-rated news channel on television. O'Reilly called Beck an "everyman."
"He just spouts," O'Reilly said. "He spouts for what he believes. If you think Beck spouts for the Republican Party, you're out of your mind."
The rest of the interview will be shown Thursday, but you can check out Part One right here:
Oscar nominee, talk show host and rising star Mo'Nique has been picked to emcee a star-studded comedy special. The "Precious" star will host "Shaquille O'Neal Presents: All-Star Comedy Jam" from Codeblack Entertainment, Shaq Entertainment and AEG Live. Set to be taped in Dallas on the eve of the Feb. 14 NBA All-Star Game and planned to air on Showtime, performers include comedians George Willborn, Mike Epps, Paul Mooney, Michael Blackson and Corey Holcomb.
"It's a testament to the strength of the All-Star Comedy Jam franchise that Codeblack and AEG Live locked in a comedienne as talented as Mo'Nique," Codeblack Entertainment CEO Jeff Clanagan said. "We're looking to make comedy history because of the chemistry between her and Shaq and all the other talented comics in the lineup."
Mo'Nique's wins at the Golden Globes and SAG Awards, as well as her Oscar nomination for Precious, have put her on the map in Hollywood. Now if she'd just shave those damned legs...
"Caprica," the series challenged with the insurmountable task of following in "Battlestar Galactica"'s footsteps, isn't off to the most rip-roaring start, though the show does look promising. Technically the prequel to 'BSG' - taking place 58 years before that show's events -it establishes the history of many beloved (and some not-so-beloved) characters.
The series' first two shows fell a bit flat, but that's likely because most "Battlestar" fans interested in "Caprica" had probably already seen at least the first episode, since the pilot has been available on DVD and online for quite some time. We'll see if the downward trend continues on Friday, when episode three airs on SyFy.
