Fox tries to lift ratings of sagging 'American Idol'
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The microphone that singers on Fox television's "American Idol" will use for a live broadcast on Wednesday has traveled to Hollywood after an Olympic torch-style journey through 13 cities. Producers hope the "Idol Across America" relay helps build enthusiasm for the rest of the 12th season of the long-time TV ratings champ, which has seen viewership fall over the past six years. This season's finale is scheduled for May.
New Mickey Mouse cartoons coming to Disney Channel
(Reuters) - New Mickey Mouse cartoons will come to TV this summer when the Disney Channel premieres a series of short cartoons featuring the comic antics of the 85-year-old children's character with contemporary touches. The 19 cartoons, each a couple minutes long, are being produced with 2D animation to pay homage to the artistry of Walt Disney and his animators in the 1920s and 1930s, Walt Disney Co said in a statement on Tuesday.
Angry Birds cartoons head for TV screens
HELSINKI (Reuters) - The makers of Angry Birds are launching a cartoon series this weekend, expanding further beyond its highly addictive games in a bid to expand entertainment and merchandising. Rovio, the company behind the popular mobile app game Angry Birds, said the cartoons will feature adventures of birds that appear in its games.
Elisabeth Hasselbeck to leave ABC talk show "The View": reports
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Television commentator Elisabeth Hasselbeck will not return to daytime television talk show "The View" once its current season ends in August, according to multiple U.S. media reports on Friday. US Weekly magazine first reported that Hasselbeck was leaving the show. An unnamed source told the magazine's website that she did not attract enough viewers and that her contract would not be renewed.
Skeet Ulrich to star in CBS's "Anatomy of Violence" pilot from "Homeland" trio
By Tim Kenneally LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - Skeet Ulrich has found himself a new TV gig.
Producers pay tribute to TV gun-show host shot dead in Montana
(Reuters) - Producers of a popular cable program about hunting and guns said on Saturday they were saddened by the "sudden untimely death" of the show's host, Gregory Rodriguez, who police said was shot to death in Montana by a man who later apparently killed himself. Authorities in the resort town of Whitefish in northwestern Montana said Rodriguez, 43, host of "A Rifleman's Journal" on the Sportsman Channel and contributing editor at Guns & Ammo magazine, was killed by the husband of a woman with whom Rodriguez was meeting on Thursday night.
'Star Trek' actor Karl Urban to star in J.J. Abrams' android-cop pilot
By Tim Kenneally LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - Karl Urban is going back to the future with J.J. Abrams again, this time on the small screen.
Isaiah Washington joins The CW's post-apocalyptic "The Hundred" pilot
By Tim Kenneally LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - Isaiah Washington, humanity's last great hope? Improbable as it might seem, it is apparently so.
Minka Kelly joins J.J. Abrams' android-cop pilot
By Tim Kenneally LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - The future just got a whole lot better-looking.
Valerie Harper to discuss cancer diagnosis on "The Doctors"
By Tim Kenneally LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - "Rhoda" star Valerie Harper, who revealed earlier this week that she's been diagnosed with terminal brain cancer and may have just three months to live, will discuss her condition on the syndicated medical talk show "The Doctors."
