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Tag: Television

  • Emily Wickersham New Character On NCIS

    Emily Wickersham New Character On NCIS

    NCIS has a new woman in town! Emily Wickersham made her debut appearance on Tuesday night’s episode as Ellie Bishop. Ellie has been brought onto the NCIS team as an NSA analyst to replace Ziva David (Cote de Pablo), who left the series earlier this season.

    Executive producer Gary Glasberg says he was very impressed by what Wickersham brought to the character…life. “Really what happened was Emily showed up and we gave her this script and this character and she really brought it to life,” he said. “She brought eccentricity and nuance and quirk and heart to a character that, until then, we had only been looking at on paper. Once we started to see and feel the chemistry with people on screen — and off, as well — we realized that we had something really special.”

    Glasberg also informed the fans that even though there is a new character, NCIS will not be making any major changes. “At the end of the day, it’s not so much about reinventing or doing anything that different,” Glasberg said. “NCIS is still NCIS. All of the dynamics are there. … The vibe of the show is the same, the chemistry is the same, the tone is the same. It’s just that we’ve got this new character and she brings something new to the party.”

    Glassberg also explained the idea behind Wickersham’s character during an interview with TVGuide.com. “We had started to sort of talk about the idea of doing a story line that involves the NSA … and someone who really kind of looks at things from a global standpoint, someone really wrapped up in sort of the international view of terrorism and the way things work,” he said. “We felt that that could be a fun addition in working with our team.”

    Fans of the popular television show seem to be intrigued by the new character, as they took to NCIS’ official Twitter page to voice their comments.

    Here is a clip from last night’s episode:

    Image via Twitter

  • Eddie Murphy Appears on “Arsenio”

    Eddie Murphy Appears on “Arsenio”

    It’s been 25 years since audiences roared with laughter while watching Eddie Murphy and Arsenio Hall in the hit comedy, Coming to America. The duo, who also appeared together in Harlem Nights, chatted about their experiences on Arsenio’s new talk show last night.

    Hall even asked Murphy why they never did a sequel to Coming to America. Murphy responded in his token African Prince voice how the lawsuits came pouring in after his portrayal of Prince Akeem. “When Coming to America came out, there were a bunch of lawsuits…with guys who claimed to be this and that. I’d be up in the club and this African dude would run up on me like, ‘I am the real prince! You stole my life from me!”

    Eddie Murphy was a regular guest on Hall’s hit talk show back in the 1990s, appearing a total of six different times. So people started wondering where Eddie was when Hall started his new talk show simply called Arsensio, back in September. Rumors began to spread that the friends had some kind of falling out. However, Hall put the rumors to rest when he announced that his old buddy would be back on the couch in order to promote his new album “9” which features a single with Snoop Dogg called “Red Light.”

    Hall released a statement last week announcing Murphy’s appearance. “The questions I have been asked more times than any others since announcing I would be coming back to late night are ‘Will Eddie be a guest?’ and ‘When is Eddie stopping by?’ The answers are ‘yes’ and ‘November 19.’ I can’t wait to get one of my best friends back on the couch and maybe he’ll even sing a little reggae for us.”

    Here’s a clip from the hilarious interview:

    Image Via Twitter

  • Sons of Anarchy Kills Major Character

    Sons of Anarchy Kills Major Character

    Before you read on, be wary that this article contains major spoilers and plot point discussion for the FX series Sons of Anarchy. If you haven’t seen the show, or the most recent episode, I recommend you stop reading… now.

    Leading into this week, the boys of SAMCRO were prepared to end their gun-dealing relationship with the real IRA by liberating ex-president Clay Morrow (Ron Perlman) from an in-transit prison truck. Morrow was going to take over position of “supervisor of Irish gun distribution” on the West Coast.

    Well, that didn’t really go as planned. When the Sons liberated Clay, they executed IRA gun-dealer Galen O’Shea, and staged a firefight in an airport office, where a slow-paced scene showcased the emotional execution of Morrow’s character.

    EntertainmentWeekly caught up with both showrunner Kurt Sutter and Ron Perlman.

    When asked about the decision to kill Clay now, Sutter said, “Ultimately he made choices that hurt a lot of other people, that came back to hurt him. And for me, the betrayal of Gemma at the end of last season was the thing that broke him. Once she broke that connection, once she said okay, you’re too despicable for me and to the point where she betrayed him, then it really became the beginning of the end for him.”

    Sutter added, “I didn’t suddenly expect people to turn around and have compassion for this guy, though I think a lot of people were wondering, oh, yes, it’s all a plan. It’s all a play. He’s got something else up his sleeve because that’s who Clay is… He really does want to do the right thing by Gemma. And so, that by [the 10th episode] when you think okay, they’ve done everything they could to keep this guy alive and they’re going to keep him alive … when you have some sense that maybe you don’t hate Clay as much as you used to … that’s when we kill Clay.”

    Perlman likened the role to that of Claudius in Shakespeare’s Hamlet, a story Sutter has admitted he borrowed from. “Claudius doesn’t make it to Act 5,” Perlman said, “so I was ready for this.”

    When the interviewer asked Perlman about the Hamlet connection, he said “Anything you’re going to assume about Sons of Anarchy is pure speculation. We’ve already seen that Hamlet is the superstructure … the guy who kills the king and marries the queen and takes over the crown. The stepson who’s trying to put all this together with the help of these voices that are visiting him in the form of the manuscript.”

    “When you put on that crown, some sh– happens and it ain’t pretty and it ain’t ordered and it almost controls you,” Perlman said of Jax’s ascension. “I wouldn’t be surprised if the seventh season is going to really shine a light on the price that Jax Teller plays, simply because he’s risen to this level of power.”

    [Image via YouTube]

  • Kmart “Jingle Balls” Commercial Controversy

    Kmart is sure to have the most entertaining and controversial commercial of the holiday season. The Joe Boxer ad, which was released this week, has been nicknamed “Jingle Balls”, and shows six men shaking their (well you know) to the sound of the Christmas classic, “Jingle Bells”.

    The “Show your Joe” ad starts very innocently with six very handsome men standing behind a table ringing bells. The controversy begins when they move out from behind the table and begin shaking their hips.

    While some have found the commercial truly offensive, many others have commented that the commercial is “hilarious” and “the best of the season”. Kmart’s Facebook and Twitter profiles have been bombarded with both good and bad comments.

    “Kmart exec’s – you’ve taken Kmart to a whole new Smut level, with your junk jingle,” said
    Jon- Karen Arthur. Another Facebook user wrote, “No… I believe that sickening commercial is horribly inappropriate for a “family oriented” store. It is not being a “hater” to expect common decency in a tv commercial. I choose moral uprightness..So I am boycotting Kmart this Christmas and invite others to do the same.”

    What do you think about Kmart’s “Show your Joe” commercial? Leave your comments below.

    Image via Twitter

  • Family Feud Zombie: Contestant Calls Zombies Black [Video]

    Well, things got a little interesting to say the least on a recent episode of Family Feud. The show had a question where contestants were asked about what they knew about zombies, and one contestant immediately gave a very odd answer when saying “black.”

    It is hard to know where this contestant could possibly be getting her information from, or what could provoke her to say such a thing. What made the situation even worse of course, is that the host of Family Feud during the whole thing was Steve Harvey.

    As we all know, Steve Harvey is black, which made the situation incredibly awkward and it makes audiences and internet users wonder, what made her say it? Was it sparked from racism?

    Harvey came on to the scene as a comedian, and certainly knew how to play off the incident, but what if it had been someone else? He has been the host of the show since 2010.

    Family Feud has gained in popularity, and has become a well-known game show, as it pits contestants up against one another and they try to name the most popular responses to a survey question. The show has had some hilariously awkward moments throughout its history, but this one has to be ranked toward the top.

    It is also ironic since it seems that there are almost never black people in zombie movies. The situation certainly makes for a jaw-dropping moment on television, and Harvey’s reaction is simply priceless, making the segment of the show even better.

    After she says “black,” Steve Harvey even looks up the board as she jokes about whether it will be there and says to her “Shut up, woman.” The next contestant then gives the obvious answer of “They walk slow.”

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bY_EpUPGiS4

    Image via Youtube

  • NeNe Leakes “Thankful To Be Alive”

    NeNe Leakes is recovering after having to be hospitalized last week after several blood clots were found in her lungs. NeNe says the clots were discovered after some routine tests, and she posted on her blog that she is “thankful to be alive”.

    First and foremost, I so dearly love and appreciate each and every one of you for your concern and your prayers. Late last week I wasn’t feeling well and was feeling a little short of breath. I know my body and I know when I should be concerned so I went to the hospital to get checked out. After some routine tests I was diagnosed with blood clots in my lung. I’m told this happened to me because of the constant traveling around the country that I do for my job.
    I’m thankful to be alive as the doctor advised me that most people don’t recognize the symptoms of blood clots and don’t go to the doctor and that’s when the big problems start happening. Contrary to published reports I did not have a heart attack. I am fortunate to have had a wonderful experience with the doctors and nurses who took care of me. I’m blessed to be home with my wonderful Husband and family! Look who crawled in the hospital bed with me….

    ~ NeNe Leakes

    (image)

    The “Real Housewives of Atlanta” star recognized that something was wrong when she started experiencing shortness of breath. Had she not noticed the symptoms of the blood clots, things could have been a lot worse. Rumors originally spread that Leakes had had a heart attack, however she explained on her blog that she had not.

    Image via Twitter

  • Leah Remini Leaves “Dancing With The Stars”

    Leah Remini Leaves “Dancing With The Stars”

    Last week Remini Tweeted: “Thank you for the votes and once again keeping us in the game.” However, Remini and her professional dancing partner, Tony Dovolani, did not receive the votes again this week and were eliminated during the semifinals from the popular dancing competition, “Dancing with the Stars”.

    “I take away so much. … This has been an amazing experience,” Remini said after hearing the results. “I want to thank everyone so much – Tony especially.”

    Dovolani had nothing but nice things to say about Remini. “I’ve never looked so forward to practice every day,” he said.

    In a recent interview with E!’s, Terrence Jenkins and Jason Kennedy, Remini discussed her reservations about doing the show.

    “I really was living in a place of fear, I do things that I’m comfortable with…but if you’re never stretching yourself, you’re never really growing,” she said. “And I always said no to the show, and then I was like–you know with what I had done–I was like, I need to start doing things that I’m scared of, and this is the time to do it.”

    Coming back for next weeks finals are: Amber Riley, Corbin Bleu, Bill Engvall and Jack Osbourne.

    Image via Twitter

  • Netflix Is Helping Shows Get Endings

    Netflix Is Helping Shows Get Endings

    It appears that Netflix is helping short-lived shows get proper (or at least something close to proper) endings, whether directly or indirectly.

    As previously reported, Netflix is bringing back AMC’s The Killing for a six-episode season.

    This is a rather interesting example of how Netflix is playing a role in the content originating on other networks.

    Earlier this year ahead of The Killing’s third season, news came out that Netflix would stream episodes in the UK and Ireland the day after they premiered int he U.S. on AMC, pretty much like they did with Breaking Bad. This was the result of a deal, which would also bring the season to Netflix in the U.S. just three months after the last episode aired, which is a great deal sooner than Netflix usually gets TV show seasons (it’s currently available for streaming).

    It was actually the deal with Netflix that enabled the third season to even be created. AMC had initially decided to cancel the show after the second season, but Fox Television Studios made a deal with Netflix in March, which would see Netflix become the exclusive subscription-based streamer of the series. The money from that deal was what made the third season possible.

    Now, we have Netflix bringing back the show for a fourth season on its own. This will be the final season. That means they can give the show a conclusion.

    Interestingly, Netflix’s influence on the conclusions of shows is even further reaching than the episodes it’s ordering on its own.

    Forbes contributor Merrill Barr wrote an interesting piece about how this works, specifically discussing The CW’s decision to order a final six-episode season of Nikita.

    You may or may not recall, but Netflix and The CW struck a long-term deal back in 2011, which would see Netflix streaming The Vampire Diaries, Gossip Girl, 90210, Supernatural, One Tree Hill, Ringer, Hart of Dixie, The Secret Circle, and yes, Nikita. The deal was to last through the 2014-2015 seasons of the shows.

    Barr explains, “The deal allows the digital network to broadcast shows for up to four years following the end of their initial run (a show cancelled in 2013doesn’t have to renew contracts until 2017). For a network like The CW a billion dollars is as cool as Justin Timberlake makes it seem, but it’s money that comes with a (unwritten) stipulation: the acquisitions must end with true conclusions.”

    He notes that Netflix’s business model (for TV shows, at least) is based on binge watching, and that shows with no conclusions are less valuable to it, because people don’t watch them as much. A lot of people know when shows are cancelled, and don’t like the idea of beginning a story they won’t be able to finish. In other words, it’s in Netflix’s best interest to have shows that have conclusions.

    If a network (like The CW) wants to get more money out of its content through distribution deals like it has with Netflix, it better make its content worth paying for, and in many cases, that’s going to mean having a conclusion to a show.

    The third season of Nikita became available for streaming on Netflix a month ago.

    Image: Netflix

  • See Breaking Bad’s Amazing Alternate Ending [UPDATE]

    Come up with a list of the top five ways you imagined Breaking Bad would end. You might have thought Walt would go on an all-out rampage or maybe teach his family a lesson or two for daring to disrespect him. While the ending to Breaking Bad was as close to perfect as you can get when wrapping up a series no one wants to see end, an alternate ending has been posted to YouTube and it is awesome.

    The video was originally posted to a YouTube account under the name of Michael Davies, who is the producer of Talking Bad, the post Breaking Bad discussion show. [UPDATE] The video was later pulled from the Davies account, but not before someone saved it. Check out the 3:40 video below.

    Is “awesome” a strong enough word to describe how good that Breaking Bad alternate ending is? Probably not. When Bryan Cranston wakes up from his nightmare, you’re probably thinking “Oh great, another one of those ‘it was all a dream’ endings. Boo.” And then Jane Kaczmarek, who played the mom Lois on Malcolm in the Middle, popped out from under the sheets and all was right with the world.

    What did you think of the alternate ending to Breaking Bad? Add your comments below.

    In the video, Cranston’s Hal wakes up terrified and tells his wife about the horrible dream he had about being a brilliant scientist and becoming a meth cook and killer. “Oh, I knew this was going to happen,” Lois said. “You grow a beard and all of a sudden you think you’re Osama bin Laden.”

    Hal also told his wife about his encounters with Tuco’s horrible Uncle Tio, who repeatedly rang his bell, and about working with “man-child” Jesse. “He would always say things like ‘Hey bi—.’ The ‘b word’, he would use the ‘b word.”

    Cranston’s Malcolm in the Middle character told his wife, “The only thing that made sense in the whole dream was that I still walked around in my underwear.” After he attempted (and failed) to have sex with Lois, Hal turned off the light and just before the clip ended, we saw Heisenberg’s hat on a chair next to Hal’s bed.

    For any Breaking Bad fans looking forward to the DVD/Blu-Ray release of the series, the box set including all five seasons will be released on November 26.

    [Image via YouTube]

  • ‘The Simpsons’ Sold to FXX in Biggest Cable Deal Ever

    The longest running sitcom in television history sold its cable syndication rights today to FXX for close to $1 billion. FXX, a subsidiary of FX and parent company FOX, reportedly outbid five other major cable outlets, including TBS and Cartoon Network, making it the biggest cable syndication deal in history.

    “The Simpsons” first became syndicated in 1993, showing only on local broadcast networks (anyone with a TV is sure to have seen a “Simpsons” rerun before the evening news). This marks the first time the show will be viewed on any cable network. Still saying so what? Well, the deal also includes exclusive online streaming rights for FXX’s mobile viewing app, FXNow – meaning we won’t see the show available on Netflix anytime soon.

    FXX launched barely two months ago, on September 2nd, as a comedy offshoot for the already well-known FX network. The channel airs new episodes of popular shows “It’s Always Sunny in Philadephia” and “The League,” as well as syndicates of “Parks and Recreation” and “Arrested Development.”

    FXX is hoping the show will increase exposure for the fledging channel. “We see the move as an important step to helping buttress the new FXX network,” says Daniel Salmon, an analyst for BMO Capital Markets Corporation. “‘The Simpsons’ helps build the schedule, which should boost ad revenue once the show begins airing.” It doesn’t hurt either when the boss is on board: FOX’s CEO Gary Newman hails “The Simpsons” as “the greatest television asset of all time.”

    Fans may remember “The Simpsons” being in the headlines earlier this month when Marcia Wallace, the voice actress for Mrs. Krabappel, died at the age of 70. The show performed a tribute to the actress in their opening chalkboard gag on November 3rd.

    You can expect to see all 530 episodes of “The Simpsons” on FXX beginning August 2014.

    Image via Facebook

  • Sarah Silverman Awkwardly Returns Jimmy’s Stuff On Jimmy Kimmel Live [Video]

    As many people who pay attention to that sort of thing know, Sarah Silverman and Jimmy Kimmel were a couple for several years, and then broke up, which made big headlines at the time. Well, the two celebrities had an awfully awkward moment on Thursday night’s episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live, when Sarah Silverman was the guest of the night.

    In a hilariously awkward segment, Silverman came on to the set along with a box full of stuff, and used the opportunity to return his things to him. The celebrity couple split up in 2008 after five years of dating, only to reconcile their romance, and then breakup again in 2009.

    It may have just been for the cameras, but this reunion was certainly an odd one, and something that they might not want to share with the public in the future.

    The box was labeled “Jimmy’s stuff” and she returned his basic things to him during the encounter on the show, including an old toothbrush, socks, and a pair of jeans.

    Shortly after Kimmel and Silverman broke up, he started dating Molly McNearney, and the two of them got married in July of this year. The couple joked about it on the show, with Kimmel saying “You Heard about that huh?”

    Before Sarah Silverman walked out on the scene, he introduced her as an Emmy winning actress, and assured the audience that there was nothing awkward about having her there.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FRviNNyBR_A

    Image via Youtube

  • Harry Connick Jr. Takes on Mariah Carey on Twitter

    Former American Idol judge Mariah Carey made headlines earlier this week when she talked about how much she hated being on the show during a radio interview. Harry Connick Jr., one of the new judges for the upcoming season, made it clear on his Twitter page that his experience on the show has been quite different from Carey’s so far.

    “Honestly, I hated it,” Carey told Hot 97 when asked about her experience on Idol. “I thought it was going to be a three-person panel. They gave me a nice dangling monetary moment, and I was just like, ‘Okay. Randy Jackson will be there; I’ve known him forever. He used to play bass for me. Like, this isn’t a big deal. This will be nothing.’ But it wasn’t that. It was like going to work every day in hell with Satan.”

    Carey didn’t specify who she meant when she said Satan, but anyone who watched an episode of Idol last season knows all too well that she is referring to co-judge Nicki Minaj. Carey and Minaj’s on-screen spats were talked about more than the contestants, which hurt the show and likely contributed to the huge drop in ratings. The judging panel with Minaj and Carey was so bad that it only lasted for one season, which is a good thing because the two ladies would have probably come to blows had they spent much more time together.

    While it’s understandable why Carey feels the way she does about her Idol experience, Harry Connick Jr. did jump to the show’s defense on Twitter yesterday:

    Carey never responded back, but lest anyone think Connick Jr. was being rude to Carey, he followed up that tweet with another:

    The new judging panel Connick Jr. is on will include Jennifer Lopez, who is returning after a season off, plus Keith Urban will return as the only judge to come back from last season’s panel. From everything the judges have said so far, it sounds like the chemistry is great this time around, which should make for a much more enjoyable Idol experience in Season 13. The new season of American Idol premieres on January 15.

    Check out Carey’s full interview below.

    [Image via YouTube]

  • Shirley Mitchell, From “I Love Lucy” Dies At 94

    Shirley Mitchell died yesterday at the age of 94. She was most well-known to audiences as Marion Strong, the funny friend of Lucy Ricardo’s on the hit television show, I Love Lucy. She is believed to be the last surviving member of the cast, and the television world lost another star yesterday.

    Mitchell’s sister-in-law, Nancy Olson, was the one who initially reported her death, and she passed away due to heart failure. She died at her condo in Westwood, California.

    She was born in 1919 in Toledo, Ohio, and began her career as a radio star, where she met and became friends with Lucille Ball. Lucille Ball, of course, was the star of I Love Lucy, along with Desi Arnaz, a team that continues to make people laugh to this day, through reruns of the show.

    Mitchell joined the show for the third season, which aired from 1953-1954, and appeared in only three episodes. She played the character of Marion, a character that was originally portrayed by Margie Liszt, and who set Lucy and Ricky up on their first date.

    Throughout her career, Shirley Mitchell appeared in many television shows including Three’s Company, The Odd Couple, Dallas, and several others. She was an actress that was in high-demand throughout the 1950s and 1960s, and received roles in almost every big show from the time period.

    She also appeared in a few films such as Jamboree, Big Business, and The War Of The Roses.

    Shirley Mitchell was the widow of Alan Livingston, a pop composer, and is survived by her two children, Scott and Brooke. She will be remembered as one of the comedic geniuses of television, and forever in the hearts of her family and friends, and anyone who watched the hit shows that she appeared on.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V7oZYXtRU2w

    Image via Youtube

  • Jillian Michaels Caught Cheating on “Biggest Loser”

    Jillian Michaels Caught Cheating on “Biggest Loser”

    Anyone who has ever watched an episode of The Biggest Loser knows that Jillian Michaels is one hardcore woman. She doesn’t remotely mince words and is well known for her abrasive personality. That mostly works for Jillian, though, since she is usually able to get results. Unfortunately for Jillian and the people on her team, her way of doing things got them in trouble on last night’s episode of The Biggest Loser. Not only did this lead to them being at a disadvantage at the weigh-in, this is also bringing back a contestant that was kicked off last week.

    It was determined that Jillian Michaels cheated. She gave her team caffeine supplements, which apparently is a big no-no. While that certainly stinks for her team, on the plus side, fan favorite and former American Idol contestant Ruben Studdard will be returning to the show.

    “Before you all step on the scale, there is something important that needs to be addressed,” host Alison Sweeney said. “Last week, Jillian broke the rules and gave caffeine supplements to each member of her team without doctor’s permission. Because of this rules violation, Jillian has been penalized and the white team will receive a four pound disadvantage on the scale tonight.”

    Whoops. So, is the feisty fitness trainer sorry that she gave her team members the caffeine supplement without getting permission from a doctor? If you guessed “not so much,” you’d be right.

    “I stand by my opinion. A caffeine supplement is significantly healthier than unlimited amounts of coffee,” Jillian said. “My only regret is that my team, they’re the ones suffering the consequences of my professional opinion.” While Jillian does have a point (even if it does raise more concerns about whether The Biggest Loser contestants are dropping their pounds in a healthy way), she should have known that the decision wasn’t her call.

    The Biggest Loser fans in the Twitterverse are pretty much divided on whether they think what Jillian Michaels did constitutes cheating. What do you think? Add your opinions below.

    [Image via YouTube]

  • ‘Breaking Bad’ Is Netflix’s Most Popular Show In The U.S. [Report]

    CNET is reporting that Breaking Bad is the most popular show on Netflix in the U.S., citing data from SimilarWeb.

    The firm compiled a top 20 list exclusively for CNET, but there are some pretty big caveats, so this is hardly definitive. That said, it would not be the least bit surprising if Breaking Bad is in fact the most popular show.

    First off, the data, according to the report is only gleaned from about 1% of the Internet audience in the U.S. by way of desktop browser, so it doesn’t even take people watching Netflix from other devices into consideration. The majority of Netflix hours are watched on televisions, the company says.

    The list also includes South Park, which isn’t even available for streaming in the U.S. It used to be, but earlier this year, the deal between Netflix and Viacom that included Comedy Central content expired (before an Amazon/Viacom deal was announced), and the show disappeared. SimilarWeb’s tracking, according to CNET, has taken place “throughout 2013”. The deal expired in May.

    The list is as follows:

    1. Breaking Bad
    2. Family Guy
    3. How I Met Your Mother
    4. Supernatural
    5. The Walking Dead
    6. Pretty Little Liars
    7. Arrested Development
    8. Doctor Who
    9. Grey’s Anatomy
    10. The Vampire Diaries
    11. Orange is the New Black
    12. House of Cards
    13. Law & Order Special Victims Unit
    14. It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia
    15. The Office (US)
    16. Futurama
    17. Gossip Girl
    18. One Tree Hill
    19. American Dad
    20. South Park

    Netflix recently said that Orange is the New Black is its most-watched original series. Arrested Development appears above it on this list, but that’s only a semi-original, as its first three season were not for Netflix.

    Many of these titles have recently had seasons added to the Netflix catalog. Grey’s Anatomy: Season 9, Family Guy: Season 10, How I Met Your Mother: Season 8 and The Walking Dead: Season 3, were added in September. The Office: Season 9, Gossip Girl: Season 6, The Vampire Diaries: Season 4 and Supernatural: Season 8 were added in October.

    We expect It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia: Season 8 to hit Netflix in December, though this is only speculation.

    As far as Breaking Bad goes, fans are still waiting for the latest installment to hit Netflix, and we have no idea when that will happen. Hopefully, since the show has ended, they won’t wait as long as they normally have to add its seasons (which is nearly a year). They didn’t wait too long with the last season of AMC’s The Killing, so perhaps there’s hope.

    Netflix has treated Breaking Bad like one of its own in some ways. In the UK, it streamed new episodes right after they aired on AMC.

    New seasons of House of Cards and Orange is the New Black will debut in 2014. Netflix is also expected to continue on with Arrested Development.

    Image: YouTube

  • Pay-TV Subscriptions Reach 886 Million Worldwide

    Pay-TV Subscriptions Reach 886 Million Worldwide

    Though many internet users in the U.S. and Europe are doing away with their traditional cable and satellite subscriptions in favor of streaming solutions such as Netflix and Hulu Plus, the worldwide base of pay-TV subscribers is still rising steadily.

    Today, market research firm ABI Research released a report showing that worldwide pay-TV subscriptions are expected to reach 886.5 million by the end of this year. This represents a 6% increase from subscriptions in 2012. Third quarter 2013 revenue from those subscriptions reached $62.6 billion.

    Given the lack of enthusiasm for pay-TV in western markets, it isn’t surprising that the rise in pay-TV subscriptions is coming mainly from emerging markets such as China, Brazil, and India. ABI predicts that these markets will lead the worldwide pay-TV subscription market to over 1 billion subscriptions and over $229 billion in yearly revenue by the year 2018.

    “Emerging markets are key drivers of global growth in pay-TV subscribers as developed markets are experiencing flat growth rates,” said Jake Saunders, practice director at ABI.

    ABI sees IPTV subscriptions as the main driver of pay-TV subscriptions in countries such as France, Germany, and the UK, with total Western European IPTV subscriptions up 1.9 million year-over-year during the third quarter of 2013. This effect isn’t being seen in other countries such as Italy and Spain, where ABI blames poor consumer buying power for those countries’ 2% and 7% pay-TV subscription drops, respectively.

    North America was seen losing subscriptions last quarter, but only under 1% of total pay-TV subscriptions. Cable TV subscriptions in particular fell by 1.7 million over the past year. Despite the small declines, pay-TV revenue in North America is still rising, suggesting that more expensive offerings are paying off for cable providers. According to ABI, year-over-year pay-TV revenue in North America grew 3% during the third quarter.

  • ‘Orange Is The New Black’ Season 2 Will Have More Laura Prepon Than We Thought

    It looks like we may be seeing more of Laura Prepon on Netflix’s Orange is the New Black: Season 2 than we thought.

    If you’ll recall, BuzzFeed reported a few months ago that she was leaving the show after coming back to tie up her storyline. The publication later reported that it would only be for one episode. Now, they’re reporting that it will be four. Kate Arthur reports:

    According to sources close to the show, Prepon will now return for four — I repeat, four — of the 13-episode second season of Jenji Kohan’s original Netflix series. Prepon begins filming in New York this week. Devoted OITNB followers will perhaps notice soon — through either paparazzi photos or the obsessive Instagramming of the show’s cast — that the actress’ hair has gone from Preponian red to Vause-ish black.

    As far as Prepon’s future with OITNB, she is currently negotiating her Season 3 status, which could lead to a more sustained presence for her.

    Four is still a pretty low number of episodes for one of the show’s main characters, so that obviously leaves a lot of room for other plot lines. Kohan recently spoke with TV Guide, and indicated that the second season will not focus on the Piper character so much (which by default would mean less Alex, played by Prepon). Expect to learn a lot more about some of the other inmates.

    Orange is the New Black is currently up for a People’s Choice Award. Netflix recently revealed that it has been its most watched original series.

    Prepon fans may also be happy to know that Netflix recently got back That 70s Show after losing it briefly.

    In other Netflix news, the company is in the process of rolling out a major redesign to its interface on televisions.

    Image: Orange is the New Black (Netflix)

  • Netflix Launches Big Redesign For TVs

    Netflix has introduced what it is calling the biggest update in the company’s history to its TV experience. It’s rolling out to Roku 3, select smart TV and Blu-Ray players, PlayStation and Xbox 360.

    “More than a year and half in the making, this new experience evolved through a process of design exploration, iteration and testing that extended throughout all parts of the Netflix TV experience,” says Chris Jaffe, VP of product innovation at Netflix. “We set out to deliver an update that would make it even easier to discover something great to watch and we think we succeeded.”

    “After starting Netflix, you’ll immediately notice the cinematic and rich visual experience,” he says. “As you navigate, three large images for each show and movie provide much more context about a title. We also added a shorter, more descriptive synopsis as well as personalized information to provide more detail about why you should watch a specific title. This personalized information can be based on your social network, viewing history or taste preferences.”

    TV shows have a new episode selector, which uses images from each episode, along with a synopsis. Search is also more visual, and includes results for titles as well as actors and directors. Post-play (which automatically starts the next episode of a TV show) has been redesigned as well.

    Netflix has also redesigned the Kids experience, which now has a blue background and “subtle” Kids label. The update puts the Kids section on Roku and some smart TVs for the first time.

    The update makes Netflix Profiles supported across all devices, and adds support for voice on Xbox 360 and pointer-based navigation on smart TVs.

    The roll-out will take about two weeks, Netflix says, and it will hit more devices (including Roku 2) in the future.

    Image: Netflix

  • Allegra Riggio Marries Jared Harris, Of Mad Men

    Allegra Riggio, an actress in her own right, has married Jared Harris, who appeared on Mad Men. The couple tied the knot in Miami on Saturday, after enjoying a long relationship together, before making it official. The couple, especially Riggio, took to twitter following the ceremony to share their excitement via both posts and pictures.

    Riggio is mostly an on-air television and radio personality, but has a few acting credits to her name as well. She just completed Crossroads, and is currently filming Into The Equinox.

    Jared Harris played Lane Pryce on Mad Men, in 35 episodes of the show. He has also appeared in several films such as Sherlock Holmes: A Game Of Shadows, and Lincoln. Harris, who is also the son of Richard Harris who played Dumbledore in Harry Potter, proposed to Allegra Riggio in June of this year with a heart shaped diamond ring.

    Riggio was delighted to have finally married her sweetheart, and took to twitter with excitement.

    Allegra Riggio described the beginning of their relationship, and how they met to US Weekly in an issue last month when saying “Jared and I met at Bar Lubitsch in April 2009. At the time, neither of us could have predicted this day would come. He was suffering through the final throes of a particularly nasty divorce, and I was at my lowest, most miserable moment. I had moved to L.A. for love, and it was not going as planned.”

    At the time, neither of us could have predicted this day would come. He was suffering through the final throes of a particularly nasty divorce, and I was at my lowest, most miserable moment.” They were able to share a laugh together, and while they had just gotten out of relationships, they returned to the same bar the next night, meeting up again by chance.

    After Riggio split from her boyfriend, a friendship between the couple began, and things slowly escalated from there. Allegra Riggio and her new husband Harris can now enjoy a happy life together, after experiencing an intimate ceremony that took place on a yacht.

    Imagge via Twitter

  • Netflix Updates ISP Speed Index, Adds Prime Time Performance Metrics

    Netflix is now reporting prime time performance metrics in its ISP Speed Index. The company has now put out the October update.

    “Prime time is the equivalent of rush hour on the Internet,” says Netflix’s Joris Evers. “This can lead to congestion on the network, just like physical traffic can on roads. When watching Netflix, network congestion can manifest itself as buffering, lower video quality or longer start-up times.”

    “ISP speeds are consistently much better for customers served by ISPs that directly connect their network to Netflix using our Open Connect content delivery network,” says Evers. “This performance difference is even more evident during prime time.”

    The actual rankings for ISPs aren’t too different from last month’s. While the latest chart (below) doesn’t indicate any changes, there are a few subtle differences in rank if you compare it.

    September

    According to new data from Sandvine, Netflix and YouTube combine for 50% of downstream data traffic in North America.

    Image: Netflix

  • Downton Abbey Renewed for a Fifth Season

    Downton Abbey Renewed for a Fifth Season

    Love the British hit drama “Downton Abbey?” If you do, not only will American audiences get to see season four this January, but the show has already been renewed for a fifth season. The international PBS Masterpiece sensation from creator Julian Fellowes, will begin airing in America on January 5, 2014. The fourth season has just finished its run in the UK and averaged a staggering 11.8 million eager television watchers which made it their top-rated drama. “Downton” is also the number one rated show in the history of PBS.

    What makes “Downton” such a worldwide hit? On paper, an upstairs/downstairs British drama set in the early 1900s about the wealthy Crawley clan and their pleasing servants, may not seem like it would attract such a universal audience. However, the show is smart, well-written and touches upon a time in the UK where aristocratic wealth and lavish homes like the mansion featured in “Downton” were coming to an end. It was also the start of an era when over excess and luxury were clashing with World Wars and economic down times.

    The show was also not afraid to kill off its precious darlings. SPOILER ALERT IF YOU’RE NOT DONE VIEWING SEASON THREE. One would expect that shows like “Walking Dead” or even “Homeland” would feature key character deaths, because those shows revolve around danger. However, “Downton Abbey” was a total Kleenexfest last season. First, Syblil Branson, the youngest Crawley daughter died during child birth. And then in one of the most heartbreaking moments in television history, Matthew Crawley died in a car accident at the end of the season three finale, just after seeing his newborn son for the first time. Matthew and Lady Mary were finally happy! They finally got married! They finally had their heir! And then, out of nowhere, Matthew crashes his car and dies in a ditch.

    Matthew’s death, which aired on Christmas day in the UK, was meant with rage and anger amongst its British fans. Loyalists accused writers of “killing my soul” while one fan even said, “I AM 100% DONE WITH THIS SHOW. I CAN’T BREATHE.” Some viewers even claimed to be so upset that they could barely speak.

    It is difficult for Americans to avoid spoiler alerts from season four, since it has already aired in its entirely in the U.K. Matthew Crawley’s death was ruined for me. I stumbled upon an article on the internet about all the backlash from fans and why actor Dan Stevens (who played Matthew Crawley) decided to leave the show, just as I was popping in the DVD to start viewing season three. So I watched the entire season knowing the tragic ending. Somehow, the ending still shocked me, which is truly a testament to how powerful, well-acted and executed the show is.

    Take a look at the trailer for season four (I promise, no spoilers here.)

    You can join the countdown for the season four premiere on the Masterpiece website. The show’s narrative will pick up sometime after Matthew’s death. You can also take some “Downton Abbey” quizzes and see exclusive features there. Just please, try and stay away from spoilers. I know that I will.

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