Idiot Box Update: April 23

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 April 13-19:

1. "American Idol" (Tuesday), Fox, 24.38 million viewers.
2. "American Idol" (Wednesday), Fox, 24.11 million viewers.
3. "Dancing with the Stars," ABC, 19.46 million viewers.
4. "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," CBS, 15.72 million viewers.
5. "Dancing with the Stars Results," ABC, 15.24 million viewers.
6. "Two and a Half Men," CBS, 15.03 million viewers.
7. "Desperate Housewives," ABC, 13.85 million viewers.
8. "NCIS," CBS, 13.56 million viewers.
9. "CSI: Miami," CBS, 13.38 million viewers.
10. "Without a Trace," CBS, 13.23 million viewers.
11. "House," Fox, 12.19 million viewers.
12. "The Mentalist," CBS, 12.18 million viewers.
13. "CSI: NY," CBS, 12.14 million viewers.
14. "60 Minutes," CBS, 12.04 million viewers.
15. "Survivor: Tocantins," CBS, 11.64 million viewers.
16. "Rules of Engagement," CBS, 11.6 million viewers.
17. "Bones," Fox, 11.01 million viewers.
18. "24," Fox, 10.86 million viewers.
19. "Criminal Minds," CBS, 10.58 million viewers.
20. "Amazing Race 14," CBS, 10.3 million viewers


A federal judge denied a request from former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich to appear on NBC's "I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!" on Tuesday. What a shame.

"I do not have confidence that things will not go astray if I modify bond conditions," U.S. District Judge James Zagel said.

The reality series is set to tape next month in Costa Rica, a trip that would require court permission for the disgraced Blagojevich. NBC says it will not be moving the show to a location within the United States, and instead will replace Blagojevich with another cast member, likely one who isn't headed for the slammer.


You can't keep a good alcoholic redneck down: After the smash success of his most recent stand-up special on Comedy Central, Ron White has signed a deal for his own show on the network.

"The Ron White Show" will showcase the blue-collar comedian's opinionated persona, focusing on news stories nationwide, focusing on the "heartland". You know, the place where all that shitty country music comes from that your girlfriend's roommate blasts day and night.

White's most recent special, "Behavioral Problems," pulled 3.3 million viewers Sunday, ranking as Comedy Central's most-watched stand-up special of the year. His other Comedy Central specials include "You Can't Fix Stupid" and "They Call Me Tater Salad," which is the most squirm-worthy title I've ever seen.


Spike TV has renewed "1000 Ways to Die" and "MANswers," with a plan to expand the "Die" franchise with a spin-off called "1000 Ways to Lie."

Following the format of "Die," which recreates some of the most bizarre ways people died, "Lie" will use a fast-paced, tongue-in-cheek manner to showcase some of the most outrageous lies ever told. Against my better judgement, this sounds kinda interesting.


Bad sign for "Kings" - NBC had already pushed the floundering new show to Saturday nights, but now it's been shelved altogether until the summer.

The disappointing show has been taken off the Saturday schedule as of this week. Reruns of "Law & Order: SVU" will fill the 8 p.m. Saturday spot for the next few weeks instead.


Additionally, ABC has pulled its comedies "Samantha Who?" and "In the Motherhood" a week earlier than expected. There's no word yet on when the comedies will be back on the schedule, or if they will at all. Have you seen either of these shows? I haven't, but we're always rooting for Miss Applegate. (Go Kelly!!!)


Alright, don't get all crazy on me, because this is just a one-time thing. "American Idol" has been the top-rated show on TV for about 79 years now, so it's only right that we at least metnion something about it.
Judge Simon Cowell has said that he will leave the singing competition show if it ever slips from the top spot in the ratings.

"The idea that for the next five years, I'd be doing exactly what I've been doing for the past five years ... the thought is just too depressing," Cowell said in a recent interview in his trailer, awaiting a taping of "Idol" at CBS Television City. "I'd go nuts, bored out of my mind. You have to evolve, you have to change. I like the challenge of launching something new."

With Cowell's deal with Fox expiring at the end of next season, it's possible that he'll be making a U.S. version of his U.K. singing competition series "The X Factor." The show became a massive hit overseas, eclipsing the success of "American Idol" predecessor "Pop Idol."


Food Network is dishing up three new primetime series.

July will see the launch of "Chefs vs. City," in which chefs Chris Cosentino and Aaron Sanchez are set against two local chefs in different cities.

In September, "Extreme Cuisine With Jeff Corwin" will premiere rounding the globe to find - you guessed it - extreme cuisines all around the world.

We'll have to wait until January for the launch of "Worst Cooks in America," in which chefs Anne Burrell and Beau MacMillan each take on six hopeless home cooks and try to transform them to gourmet chefs in 10 days.


A new channel on Dish Network Corp.'s satellite TV service now offers subscribers live views of Earth, 24 hours a day. The channel Dish Earth gets its feed from a camera installed on Dish Network's EchoStar 11 satellite, which launched last year.

The camera was developed by the EchoStar Spacecraft Operations Team, Ecliptic Enterprises Corp. of Pasadena, Calif., and Space Systems/Loral of Palo Alto, Calif. It is operated under a license from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.


Will Smith's Overbrook Entertainment production company has teamed with the Sci Fi channel to develop "Unfinished Business," a two-hour movie that could expand into a full series. No word yet on whether Smith will personally take part.

The story follows a former policeman who, after an accident, starts experiencing the memories of dead people. He'll likely use those memories to fulfill their final requests or unfinished business.

Casting and production schedules have not yet been set. "Band of Brothers" helmer Mikael Salomon will direct.

"Sci Fi is excited to begin development on 'Unfinished Business' with Overbrook Entertainment and Will Smith," Mark Stern, the net's executive vice president for original programming, said in a statement. "It is a compelling and thrilling drama that is perfect for our audience."

Battlestar Galactica. Every episode. On DVD. Oh yes.

Universal Studios Home Entertainment has announced that Battlestar Galactica: The Complete Series and Battlestar Galactica: Season 4.5 will be released on DVD and Blu-ray on July 28. The Complete Series will feature all four seasons of BSG - not sure if Razor is included - on 20 Blu-ray discs and 25 DVDs. Season 4.5 will feature the second half of the show's final season.

Universal has only detailed the extras for Season 4.5 of the series, which are set to include a look at the music for the show, an interview with Richard Hatch and a peek at the upcoming Cylon movie The Plan.

Season 4.5 will retail for $69.98 on Blu-ray and $49.98 on DVD, and The Complete Series will cost you $349.98 for the Blu-ray set and $279.98 for the DVD. Of course, savvy shoppers will find the sets online for much cheaper.

Justin Timberlake's new MTV show, "The Phone," sure as hell sounds more interesting than "Punk'd" ever did, I'll give JT that much.

"We take four people and put them through a game of hell, basically," Justin, who as executive producer helped develop the six episode series, told People.com.

"We make them characters in an action film. We constantly throw a curve ball."

"The Phone" finds contestants accept a challenge via their mobile phones to complete several high stakes missions which will ultimately lead them to a 50,000 dollar prize.

The show is based on a similar Dutch TV program, but actually goes one step further, according to JT.

"Our version is that show on acid," he said.

"I helped format the show and come up with ideas to constantly up the stakes on the contestants. But I have such a great team that put together the ins and outs of the show."