The moment of Bluth is upon us as George Sr., Lucille, Michael, George Michael, Tobias, Lindsay, Maeby, G.O.B., and Buster are back for 15 brand new episodes, early this summer. It’s the Final Countdown to the return of Arrested Development! Look for all new episodes, May 26.

by Tyler Durden

VICE has always been one of the media outlets that strive in showing us the world that we really live in versus a lot of the sugar coating that gets delivered to us from traditional media outlets. In their 20 years of existence, they have managed to crawl their way into the dark nooks of world culture and force you to be  captivated with their awe and shock content. We were invited to the private screening last night and got a inside look at the VICE team smashing barriers of decorum to cover such stories as out-of-control political assassinations in the Philippines, the sumo/Mixed Martial Arts craze that has swept Senegal and the precarious nuclear stare-down in Kashmir. Watch the trailer above and tune in tonight on HBO at 11pm EST.

The Esquire Network says it’s ready for prime time. The new network, announced today, aims to “capture the essence of the magazine,” David Carey, president of Esquire publisher Hearst Magazines, told The New York Times. “This is not the magazine on TV; that would not work.”

The male audience is an ever-sweet spot for brands, as evidenced by offerings that vary from Spike TV to Discovery’s Velocity Channel. The Esquire Network will replace the Comcast-created G4 video gaming channel (which gave Esquire fave Olivia Munn her start as co-host on Attack of the Show) on April 22, and be available in 62 million homes with cable or satellite service.

Continue reading “Esquire Expanding Beyond the Magazine to Become a TV Network” »

Breaking Bad has become one of television’s most popular shows for all the right and wrong reasons we can care to think of. The show is grounded in reality – A cancer-stricken man with nothing could be desperate enough to cook meth, securing a financial future for his wife and disabled son. A young guy with no stability would be attracted to a life of dealing, because what does he have to lose? And the drug trade in Albuquerque is responsible for more deaths than anybody likes to think about.

Maybe that’s what makes the Walter White look-a-like competition so creepy. Hosted by Steven Michael Quezada (DEA agent Steven Gomez) and judged by Bryan Cranston himself, Albuquerque locals came in their Walter White best (white suits, glasses and modest work shirts) and stood around staring at each other with soulless eyes.

Continue reading “Breaking Bad’s Walter White Look-a-like Competition” »

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HBO has teamed with Martin Scorsese, who will produce and direct the telepic with Clinton’s full cooperation. The film is set to explore the 42nd president’s perspectives on history, politics, culture and the world, both while he was in office and in the years since. Businessman, filmmaker and Democratic supporter Steve Bing will serve as a producer.

“President Clinton is one of the most compelling figures of our time, whose worldview and perspective, combined with his uncommon intelligence, make him a singular voice on the world stage,” said HBO CEO Richard Plepler and programming president Michael Lombardo in a joint statement. “This documentary, under Marty’s gifted direction, creates a unique opportunity for the president to reflect on myriad issues that have consumed his attention and passion throughout both his presidency and postpresidency.”

Added Scorsese: “A towering figure who remains a major voice in world issues, President Clinton continues to shape the political dialogue both here and around the world. Through intimate conversations, I hope to provide greater insight into this transcendent figure.”

The political entry marks Scorsese’s fourth collaboration with HBO, following the documentaries Public Speaking (2010) and the Emmy-winning George Harrison: Living in the Material World (2011) and the drama series Boardwalk Empire, for which he won a directing Emmy.

AMC’s The Walking Dead continues to solidify its place as the season’s best-performing series in the key adults 18-49 demographic. Sunday’s midseason finale collected 10.5 million total viewers in its initial broadcast at 9 p.m., slightly less than October’s third-season premiere but up 58 percent compared with season two’s midseason finale.

In the adults 18-49 demo, the episode scored 6.9 million total viewers, up 54 percent vs. season two’s midseason finale. Overall, the series beat all of broadcast and cable fare in the demo. When factoring in Live+7 returns, the zombie drama adds another 3.4 million viewers a week. Season three of the series, from showrunner Glen Mazzara, is averaging as the No. 1 ad-supported drama series in basic cable history among total viewers, adults 18-49, 25-54, 18-35, men 18-49, men 25-54 and men 18-34.

While an official fourth-season renewal has not been announced, it’s more of a when than an if as AMC opened a contest in late September offering lucky blood donors a chance to win a trip to the set of The Walking Dead season four — ahead of its October return.

October’s premiere scored 10.9 million total viewers, making it the highest-rated episode in series history, up more than 50 percent from its record-breaking season two premiere. The episode previously stood as the biggest telecast for any drama series in basic cable history among total viewers. In the key advertiser-coveted adults 18-49 demo, the 9 p.m. broadcast collected 7.3 million viewers, with 6.1 million among adults 25-54 — all series bests at the time.

BAD 25 will air at 9:30PM EST/8:30PM CST Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 22nd on ABC.

BAD 25 chronicles the making of Michael Jackson’s iconic, record-breaking Bad album and Michael’s first world tour as a solo artist. With BAD 25, Spike Lee examines Michael Jackson’s creative vision for the album that ended up defining an era. Michael’s lasting artistic legacy comes to life thanks to rare and never before seen footage and the vivid recollections of Michael’s collaborators and confidants, such as Martin Scorsese who directed the 18-minute short film for the single Bad. TIME Magazine called BAD 25 “an intimate view of a performer at his peak in the intense splendor of creativity” and the Hollywood Reporter said “restore(s) the reputation of Jackson as a multi-hyphenate musician of peerless discipline, professionalism and perfectionism — not to mention a pioneering influence in dance and fashion.”

The BAD 25 documentary aligns with the worldwide release BAD 25 (a collaboration of Epic Records, Legacy Recordings and the Estate of Michael Jackson). The deluxe package contains remastered versions of the entire original album, a second disc which includes 13 rare and previously unreleased bonus tracks as well as the first ever DVD from the Bad World Tour – the July 16, 1988 sold-out show at Wembley stadium and the first ever Michael Jackson live CD from the same concert.

Sports Illustrated and NBC Sports have teamed up to produce a monthly, hour-long TV series beginning July 24, the companies said today. The show, called “Sports Illustrated,” is sponsored by Lexus but will include commercials for other advertisers. The magazine, part of Time Warner’s Time Inc. division, and NBC Sports, part of Comcast’s NBC Universal, are sharing production costs and revenue.

Magazines have long wanted a bigger role on TV, but have found the most success either in one-off specials or supporting parts on series like “Project Runway,” which has included Nina Garcia in her capacity as an editor first at Elle and then at Marie Claire.

“Sports Illustrated,” which will run on NBC Sports Network and NBC, is slated for five episodes. Sports Illustrated and Time Warner sibling HBO are collaborating on another hour-long series scheduled for five episodes, “Sport in America: Our Defining Stories,” that is due next year. The magazine and HBO also have a partnership around “Real Sports.”

But Sports Illustrated’s previous TV ventures have most often revolved around the Swimsuit Issue, with “making of” specials on various networks and a NBC reality series called “Sports Illustrated’s Fresh Faces Competition” that ran six episodes in 2005. The new series with NBC Sports will focus on athletes, sports and features from the magazine.

Travel Channel allowed us to fall in love with the chef, author and media personality but Anthony Bourdain’s relationship with the network will come to a end as he finds a new home with CNN. Bourdain will get his own program on the cable news network in early 2013. He’ll become the marquee personality in CNN’s efforts to broaden its lifestyle programming especially during the weekend hours.

No Reservations is in its eighth season on Travel, where Bourdain also writes a popular blog. His untitled CNN program will air Sunday evenings and repeat on Saturdays. It will follow a similar format to No Reservations, according to Mark Whitaker, CNN Worldwide executive VP and managing editor. But with the support and apparatus of an international news organization behind him, Bourdain will be able to visit even many more global hot spots.

Continue reading “Anthony Bourdain Leaves Travel Channel for CNN” »

Lifetime, the 28-year-old female-targeted network, is set to launch a top-to-bottom rebrand designed to integrate the network’s new programming direction with the sensibilities of today’s multitasking woman.

Today, the net is unveiling a new stylized “L” logo as well as revamped on-air and online graphics sporting the tagline: “Your Life. Your Time.” The tagline will appear in the new logo and via television and digital 30- and 60-second spots. It also will be integrated across the network’s programs, including America’s Most Wanted (dubbed “Payback Time”), Project Runway (“Out of Time”), Dance Moms (“Curtain Time”) and the new Jennifer Love Hewitt drama The Client List (“A Good Time”).

The rebrand is the next step in Lifetime’s bid to shed its image as the home of maudlin made-for-TV movies, a plan that includes new projects from Queen Latifah (the upcoming reboot of Steel Magnolias) and Bristol Palin (whose reality show bows in June) as well as big names working behind the camera, including Demi Moore (executive producer of The Conversation With Amanda de Cadenet), Courteney Cox (starring in and directing Tall Hot Blonde) and Renee Zellweger (executive producer of Cinnamon Girl). Network research found that a majority of women polled cited demands on their time as among the top stressors in their daily lives.