More TV NEWS

• "Traffic" scribe drives back to ABC

  Reuters - 1 hour and 6 minutes
  Stephen Gaghan , the Oscar-winning writer of "Traffic," is returning to his TV roots with a seven-figure deal at ABC. Gaghan will write and executive produce an hourlong project for the network. He's also attached to direct the potential pilot if his feature schedule permits. Gaghan won an Oscar in 2001 for his adaptation of "Traffic," and earned another writing nomination five years later for "Syriana," which he also directed. But before his big break in features with more »

• TNT picks up medical, cop dramas

  Reuters - 1 hour and 35 minutes
  TNT has picked up two pilots to series, the Jada Pinkett Smith medical drama "Time Heals" and the cop drama "The Line," starring Dylan McDermott Both projects have been given 10-episode orders and are targeted for premieres later this year on the cable channel. Pinkett Smith stars in "Time Heals" as a strong but caring director of nursing at a Charlotte, N.C., hospital. McDermott, meanwhile, will play the head of a squad of undercover LAPD officers who walk the line between more »

• "Scrubs" makes itself comfortable at new ABC home

  Reuters - Wed Jan 7, 9:49 PM PST
  The second half of the broadcast season got under way this week marked by the premieres of several new and returning shows, including the ABC debut of " Scrubs ." The veteran hospital comedy, which switched networks and time periods for its eighth season, had a solid opening in its new Tuesday home. The one-hour premiere averaged 6.7 million viewers, down just 3.6 percent from its previous season premiere on NBC in October 2007. On the other hand, it lost 14 percent of its lead-in more »

• National Geographic serving "Hard Time"

  Reuters - Wed Jan 7, 9:47 PM PST
  National Geographic is going behind bars with a new reality series revolving around the inmates and officers in Georgia's state incarceration system. "Hard Time," a six-hour series, will debut at 9 p.m. on February 23. Producers were embedded for a year to capture the footage and were fortunate enough to be on hand when two prisoners escaped (one of whom hasn't been caught). One prison in the series is a Hi-Max facility, which the channel says is the most extreme disciplinary more »

• 'Dark Knight' sweeps People's Choice Awards

  Associated Press - Wed Jan 7, 9:42 PM PST
  Holy People's Choice Awards, Batman! "The Dark Knight" soared away with every trophy it was nominated for Wednesday at the 35th annual fan-favorite CBS ceremony. The caped crusader flick won five awards, including favorite cast, superhero, action movie and on-screen matchup for Christian Bale's Batman and the late Heath Ledger 's Joker. "On behalf of all of the cast from the movie, thank you very much to the fans," said Bale. "Here's to Heath." The CBS ceremony more »

• Dish Network DVR has Slingbox technology

  Reuters - Wed Jan 7, 9:09 PM PST
  Satellite TV provider Dish Network Corp will unveil a new digital video recorder on Thursday that will allow people watch their favorite television shows on any Internet-enabled device. Dish Network, the third-largest U.S. pay-TV provider, will reveal the high-definition DVR embedded with Slingbox technology at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas The Slingbox, owned by EchoStar Corp's division Sling Media, is a device that lets people watch cable and satellite programing more »

• Brad Pitt says he was faithful to Jennifer Aniston

  Associated Press - Wed Jan 7, 9:00 PM PST
  Brad Pitt is extracting himself from the tabloid love triangle: The actor says his relationship with current flame Angelina Jolie began sometime after splitting from Jennifer Aniston In October, Jolie revealed that she and Pitt fell in love while making the 2005 film "Mr. & Mrs. Smith." In November, Aniston called Jolie's comments "really uncool," because she was married to Pitt while the movie was in production. Pitt sets the record straight in a story posted on W magazine's more »

• "Dark Knight" soars at People's Choice Awards

  Reuters - Wed Jan 7, 8:41 PM PST
  Batman movie "The Dark Knight" soared away with five People's Choice Awards on Wednesday including favorite movie and on-screen pairing for stars Christian Bale and the late Heath Ledger to kick off Hollywood's annual awards season. Country singer Carrie Underwood , who rose to fame on television talent show " American Idol ," was another big winner, hauling in three People's Choice Awards for favorite female singer, country song "Last Name," and star under 35 years-old. more »

• Winners at the People's Choice Awards

  Associated Press - Wed Jan 7, 8:13 PM PST
  A complete list of winners at the 35th annual People's Choice Awards: • Movie: "The Dark Knight" • Family movie: "WALL-E" • Action movie: "The Dark Knight" • Comedy movie: "27 Dresses" • Drama movie: "The Secret Life of Bees" • Independent movie: "The Secret Life of Bees" • Favorite cast: "The Dark Knight" • Male movie star: Will Smith • Leading man: Brad Pitt • Male action star: Will Smith • Female movie star: Reese Witherspoon • Leading lady: Kate more »