Lion King to be re-released in 3D, Zulu

20 June, 2011



Simba, Mufasa, Nala, Timon and Pumbaa return to the big screen when Disney's The Lion King roars into theatres and homes in 3D.

The special re-mastered film premieres on August 26, 2011, showcasing the Oscar- and Golden Globe-winning film on the big screen in Disney Digital 3D for the first time.

"The all-new 3D format immerses viewers in the epic settings and puts them face-to-face with these beloved characters," said president of distribution at The Walt Disney Studios, Bob Chapek.

Zulu

The 3D-only presentation is a planned wide domestic release, nearly a decade since The Lion King last appeared on the big screen and will be the biggest since the film’s 1994 debut. In addition, a Zulu-language 2D version of the film will be made available in selected cinemas in South Africa.

The Lion King, first released in 1994, won the Oscar for Best Original Score (Hans Zimmer) and Best Original Song (Elton John/Tim Rice for Can You Feel the Love Tonight), earning Golden Globes in both categories, as well as for Best Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical.

The film also inspired an immensely popular, Tony Award-winning Broadway musical, which is currently featured on stages worldwide. It became the seventh longest-running musical in Broadway history in January 2011.

http://www.channel24.co.za

SA singer to debut in American TV series

20 June, 2011
South Africa 

Just five months after releasing her first album, Izwi Lami, South African singer and actress Nondumiso Tembe is preparing for yet another debut, this time in big-time American TV. By Sameer Naik

The Durban beauty, 25, landed a role in the fourth season of popular American series True Blood, which will be screened on US television next weekend. Tembe, who plays a French-speaking supernatural, has signed up to appear in several more episodes of the hit drama.

The fourth season of True Blood starts next Sunday on entertainment broadcaster HBO and Tembe can’t wait for her fans to get a glimpse of her debut.

On Twitter, Tembe told her followers: “Wow! Am overwhelmed by all the support and well wishes. Having an amazing time on set so far, and can’t wait for you all to see season four.”

Tembe was full of praise for HBO and said she had thoroughly enjoyed her night shoots on the set of True Blood.

“Shooting on location tonight, my first night shoot. Big up to HBO for the dopest trailer ever,” she tweeted.

She added: “When I said ‘shooting all night’, I had no idea we would wrap up at 6.30am. I have a new respect for film acting. Very humbling experience.”

True Blood, created and produced by award-winning Alan Ball, is based on the Southern Vampire Mysteries series of novels by Charlaine Harris, and details the co-existence of vampires and humans in Bon Temps, a fictional town in Louisiana.

Tembe joins a star-studded cast, including Anna Paquin and Stephen Moyer, and the series has garnered Golden Globes and Emmys.

Tembe is the latest South African actress to make it in the US, following in the footsteps of Oscar winner Charlize Theron and Terry Pheto, who recently landed a role in popular soapie The Bold and the Beautiful.

However, Tembe is no stranger to fame, having been born into an entertainment family. Her mother, Linda Bukhosini, is a well-known soprano and her father, Bongani Tembe, is a sought-after tenor.

Tembe spent her formative years in New York City while her parents studied music at the prestigious Juilliard School.

She began performing in opera and theatre at the age of six, before returning to South Africa at the age of 10.

She then returned to the Big Apple on her own to study musical theatre at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy, following this with a master’s degree in acting from Yale.

Now based in Los Angeles, Tembe is determined to make a name for herself in Hollywood and her next project will be the Boston Court Theatre’s production of new African musical Witness Uganda in Los Angeles, in which she plays a ferocious Ugandan woman who runs an orphanage.

She is also writing her first screenplay.

BBC pays £22m for successful U.S. show The Voice to take on the X Factor

By LIZ THOMAS

The BBC has splashed out an astonishing £22million on a reality entertainment show to take on The X Factor in the Saturday night ratings war.


BBC1 controller Danny Cohen signed a two-year deal to secure the UK rights for The Voice, which is already a success in the U.S. and Holland.

The cost to the Corporation is likely to be ramped up still further as it looks to sign up a big-name judging panel. Adele, Robbie Williams, George Michael and Cheryl Cole are among stars being touted for the role.



Cheryl Cole (left) and Adele (right) are being touted as judges for the £22m reality entertainment show, The Voice. The show has a similar format to talent shows such as The X Factor. However, at initial auditions, the judges are unable to see the acts and must base their decisions solely on the artists’ vocal skills.

It focuses more on constructive criticism rather than the pantomime put-downs and rivalry for which the ITV show has become famous. The eventual winner will get a record deal with music giant Universal.
But critics questioned why the BBC was spending such a vast sum on a derivative show at a time when it is supposed to be cutting back.

It is also questionable whether the Corporation, as a public service broadcaster, should be involved in a programme that will inevitably heavily promote Universal and its talent.

Last night the TaxPayers’ Alliance said: ‘The BBC often justifies the licence fee by telling the public that it provides unique content. Spending millions on what viewers might consider to be a rip-off of X Factor risks making a mockery of that claim.’

Senior BBC figures revealed the deal for the show runs until 2014. It is estimated the programme will cost £650,000 an episode to make – which is more than Strictly Come Dancing, but around half ITV’s weekly bill for The X Factor. The length of the series has yet to be finalised.

BBC executives told the Daily Mail its bid was not the highest and ITV had offered more than £30million for the programme.

Mr Cohen said: ‘I’m absolutely delighted that The Voice will be coming to the BBC. It’s a big, exciting and warm-hearted series and will be a fantastic Saturday night event.’

The show is the brainchild of John De Mol, the man behind Big Brother, who said he chose the BBC because the broadcaster ‘shared his passion’ for the series, which he described as the ‘new generation of the [reality] show genre’.

Sources close to Miss Cole said she was ‘taking time out’ after being axed from the U.S. X Factor and had not been in discussions about The Voice.

But it is understood the BBC and Mr Cohen are keen to work with the singer.

The next Hollywood star is African

All smiles... the team at the briefing. Photo: TLDC
By Obidike Okafor
June 19, 2011 01:29AM

The search for the next Hollywood star is on, and it starts in Motherland-Africa. The new television reality show, ‘Search for Africa’s Next Hollywood Star’, according to its organisers, is to recruit acting talent in West Africa for Hollywood.

Performers will be selected from Ghana and Nigeria. The TV show is organised by The Latin Dance Company, Nigeria, and their Ghanaian collaborators, Davis Media and Paradise Entertainment.

Acting coach, Tracey Moore, and film producer and director, Samad Davis, both from the USA, will work closely with the contestants.

The competition will see five Nigerians and five Ghanaians vie for the star prize, which includes a one year contract with a Hollywood agent and an opportunity to star alongside African American actor, Morris Chestnut, in a movie project by Davis.

Moore and Davis meet the press

The duo was in the country and was part of an interactive session held recently in Lagos. Moore, who was visiting Nigeria for the first time, talked about her excitement at coming to Africa to help mould a screen star.

She has worked with musicians including 50 Cent, Busta Rhymes and Cee Lo, and African American actor, Laz Alonzo, who starred alongside Paula Patton in the 2011 movie ‘Jumping the Broom’.

Moore said she felt it is important for the TV series to start in Africa, because there are so many untapped talents on the continent who do not have the opportunity to showcase their potentials.

Moore, who teaches a monologue and scene class called ‘The Spirited Actor’, said the 10 contestants will be flown to New York where the selection process will take place.

“I am happy to be here to share my experiences and bring to the motherland my expertise; to make someone here shine in Hollywood. I am proud to be part of this project. I feel blessed to be doing this,” she said.

Davis emphasised the point that the show’s participants will benefit from the learning process, because even though there will be one winner, they will be trained by some of the best hands in Hollywood who will judge their performances on the 13 week show.

Davis, who has worked on some music and movie projects in Ghana, also gave reasons why they chose to stage the Reality TV Show in Africa.

“Africa is filled with so much talent. There are existing institutions that take care of such talent, but we are using this time to connect Africa with Hollywood,” he said.

“The show is open to everybody and offers talented individuals an opportunity to display their talents,” he added. According to him, Moore will be there to motivate, inspire, teach character development, technique, approach, research and how to process, tap into and utilise the best and the worst of one’s personal qualities or experiences and bring it to their character to create depth.

The show’s auditioning process is moulded after the pattern of American Idol where before audition, contestants will pay some money into the project’s bank account. The judges have the responsibility of choosing the final ten participants.

The process

To enter for the competition, interested persons are to buy a form worth four thousand naira. The bank teller received after purchasing the form should be presented at the audition venue.

According to the organisers, auditions will hold from June 29 with the first stop at Planet One, Maryland, Lagos. The audition train will then move to NICON Luxury Hotel, Garki, Abuja, on July 4; and berth at Hotel Presidential, Port Harcourt, on July 8.

From the auditions, only five Nigerians will be chosen and flown to New York for the show proper. According to Charles Agbemashior of TLDC, the final two contestants will then be taken to Hollywood for the finale of the show, where the winner will be selected.

Moore is a professional casting director who has worked on feature films, TV, sitcoms and commercials. She is also a music coach for popular artists in the United States; while Davis co-runs a production company with a branch in Ghana. He directed the film ‘Two Can Play That Game’ starring Vivica A. Fox and Morris Chestnut.

Natasha Giggs for Celebrity Big Brother?

11 June 2011 00:00 GMT



Natasha Giggs: To star in Celebrity Big Brother. Pic: Channel 4

Bookies reckon that Natasha Giggs is in the running to join the first series of Celebrity Big Brother on Channel 5.

Boylesports have announced that they are offering 2/1 that she will join the inmates on the reality TV show.

The former estate agent hit the headlines last weekend, when after the news broke of her alleged affair with her famous brother in law Ryan Giggs.

Bookies have also suggested that she might decide to accept a place in the net series of I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here! instead.

Nicola McGeady, Boylesports PR spokesperson, said in a statement: "Natasha Giggs has been a constant feature in the newspapers over the past week and it's going to be very interesting to see what she decides to do in the coming months with all the new found publicity."

Big Brother is set to return to our screens later this summer with a new celebrity edition on Channel 5.

This will be followed by a series of the standard format of the reality show later in the year.

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Can 'The Voice' crash the Emmy reality show party?

By Joel Keller
June 15, 2011 5:23 PM ET

Reality TV always seems to get the short end of the stick from Emmy watchers, but it's probably because the television academy really doesn't know what to do with the category. 

For instance, the categories for outstanding reality show, reality-competition show and reality host have been shuttled back and forth between the main primetime ceremony and the Creative Arts ceremony -- what former winnerKathy Griffin has affectionately called the "Schmemmys" -- so many times that it's hard to keep track.

Secondly, the academy seems to be have a bit of a blind spot when it comes to reality; until 2010, the only winner of the competition show category was "The Amazing Race" (the equally highbrow-ish "Top Chef" won last year), and in the general reality program category, there's not a Kardashian or a Real Housewife to be found.

But at some point, the folks at the academy are going to have to acknowledge that reality TV is not only here to stay, but constitutes the majority of programming on TV today. Looking down the list of shows in both reality categories, there are plenty of candidates out there that could get a nomination for the first time:

"The Voice": This show pretty much seems like it'll be a cinch to get an Emmy nomination for competition series, and not only because of its boffo ratings. It's taken the formula of"American Idol" and upped the ante, with the compelling blind auditions, mostly professional contestant roster, and the superstar profiles of the four coaches. It could be because the show has the Mark Burnett sheen of quality on it, but right now, "The Voice" feels like it could break through the streak of more erudite competition shows and do something "Idol" has never done: win in this category.

"Pawn Stars": The guys from the Gold & Silver Pawn Shop in Las Vegas would be in the Outstanding Reality Program mix, and it doesn't seem like it would be a stretch for it to be there. Why? Well, because the academy seems to spend a nomination in this category every year for "Antiques Roadshow," which covers a lot of the same ground as "Pawn Stars" but isn't nearly as entertaining. The reason why this has become one of cable's top shows is not only because of the "junk to fortune" intrigue of the show, but because of the interaction between shop owner Rick Harrison, his son Corey and Rick's father, The Old Man. And if there was a category for Best Reality Sidekick, Austin "Chumlee" Russellwould run away with it.

"Bethenny Ever After": This may be a good way for the academy to acknowledge the"Real Housewives" franchise, albeit indirectly. The second season of Bethenny Frankel's reality show was interesting enough, mostly thanks to Frankel's raw sessions with her therapist, but it was also benign enough for the academy to embrace. There were no table-flipping fights, no examples of crummy human behavior here -- just a woman dealing with a new marriage, baby and business and figuring out how to fit it all in. Seems like perfect academy material.

"Shark Tank": Another Burnett production, and one that's been a bit underappreciated in its two seasons on ABC. The show has everything that you'd want to see in a reality competition series -- compelling human stories, judges with personality who tell the blunt truth to the contestants and each other, and situations where real tension occurs, like a recent episode where three of the four sharks fought to throw millions at the inventor of a nasal shield product. This year's addition of guest judges Mark Cuban and Jeff Foxworthy has helped made the show a little more lively than during its first season, even with the sneering presence of resident "evil capitalist" Kevin O'Leary making things interesting.

"Shatner's Raw Nerve": The academy has seemingly fallen in love with William Shatnerin recent years, so it's a surprise that this show hasn't been nominated before. The formula seems like something the academy would love: Shatner! Sitting close in weird chairs! Getting people to talk about their parents and tear up! Of all the shows in the reality category, this does seem to feel like one of the most real and unscripted, but that's never been the biggest criteria for judging reality shows. Any excuse, however, to see Shatner make another speech is fine with us

Warner Bros Now First Studio To Offer Films On Demand Nationally Via TV Sets In China

By THE DEADLINE TEAM | Tuesday June 14, 2011 @ 10:30pm PDT

BEIJING, CHINA, June 15, 2011 – Warner Bros. Entertainment today announced thestudio will begin offering its films nationally On Demand to consumers’television sets in the People’s Republic of China (PRC). Through adistribution agreement with CAV Warner Home Entertainment Co., Ltd., WarnerBros. Home Entertainment Group’s joint venture in China, and YOU OnDemand Holdings, Inc.’s (OTCBB: CBBD) PRC joint venture, YOU On DemandMedia, consumers will be able to access Warner Bros.’ new release andcatalog films this summer through the first national Pay-Per-View and Video OnDemand platform in China.

YOU On Demand will operate under anexclusive 20-year joint venture with CCTV-6’s pay TV arm China HomeCinema (CHC), to become the first national Pay-Per-View and Video On Demand platform in China. Warner Bros. Entertainment will leverage YOU On Demand’s platform toprovide a potential 200 million cable households access to the studio’sfilms on their television sets. YOU On Demand anticipates their servicewill be available in three million cable TV homes in China by the end of thissummer, which is comparable to the subscriber base of top cable operators in the United States.

“China is developing methodsfor consumers to view movies outside the cinema in a legitimate fashion,”said Jim Wuthrich, President, International HomeVideo and Digital Distribution, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group.“Through YOU On Demand’s platform, millions of potential consumerswill be able to view our films. They will make it easy for consumers tosee the latest films including ‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows– Part 1.’”

"Our distribution agreement with Warner Bros. marks a historic milestone for ourcompany," said Shane McMahon, YOU On Demand’s Chairman and CEO."I’m excited for the millions of Chinese consumers that will be ableto experience and enjoy the very best content that Hollywood has to offerthrough the YOU On Demand platform."

So You Think You Can Dance Review: Who’s In, Who’s Out

June 13, 2011 by Trisha Leigh

So a hundred and fifty-plus dancers have flown to Vegas with the hope of making the show’s top 20. This week, if they survive the multiple, grueling rounds of competition, they MIGHT be chosen to join the Season 8 cast of So You Think You Can Dance.

The early rounds in Vegas, solos, hip-hop and ballroom, weed out over half of the contestants, including many of the people who were showcased during auditions. I try to never get attached to the people who get the extra segments on tour because they’re almost always the ones who get sent home first. They like to tease us, this show.

A few people are asked to dance for their lives along the way, including Alexis Mason, who seems to have a pretty nonchalant attitude about everything. The rest of the groups get through a group round, contemporary, and a final solo before judgments are made. Some of the contestants, including Natasha Mallory and favorite from last year’s tryouts Ryan Ramirez, are sent to the hospital for various injuries but make it back and push through the remainder of the auditions.

In the end, we have a room full of almost 40 dancers vying for 20 spots and, like every year, they all deserve to be there and the judges don’t let us in on the many factors influencing their decisions.

They did the top 20 reveal different than in years past, introducing them in video segments and then having them perform onstage in small groups, to routines choreographed by the show’s award winning choreographers. I enjoyed the performances and am already hungry for more outstanding routines.

Without further ado, here are the top 20 dancers:

1. Alexander Frost, a contemporary dancer with a background in classic ballet and a passion for photography. He’s one of the contestants I hardly recall seeing until the judges asked him to be on the show, so we’ll have to look forward to getting to know him better as the weeks wear on.

2. Ashley Rich, another contemporary/jazz dancer who has been training since the age of three. She participated in my favorite routine of the night, a joyful number choreographed by Travis Wall. Ashley didn’t get much screen time until now, either.

3. Caitlynn Lawson is a senior in high school and a contemporary/jazz dancer who is a powerful dancer with a bright smile. The cast as a whole is pretty young this year, with a few notable exceptions.

4. Chris Koehl, a hip-hop dancer from Garland, TX, has also been training in other genres in order to make himself a more attractive contestant for So You Think You Can Dance. His plan worked, as the judges asked him and three other hip-hoppers to be part of this season’s cast.

5. Clarice Ordaz is a jazz dancer and college student with a beautiful face and a personality that makes you want to be her friend. Her passion for dance shines through and she sailed through Vegas, leaving me pretty sure she would make the top 20 before the judges made it official. She danced a funky Sonya Tayeh jazz number on Thursday night.

6. Iveta Lukosiute has a face many of us long time fans of the show will recall, since she’s auditioned twice before and nearly made it both times. She’s trained as a ballroom dancer, and is one of the top in that field in the entire world. She’s been working on her proficiency in other styles as well, and this year her hard work paid off. I tend to agree with the judges that her continuing to come back shows a lot of determination, grit, and humility and combines to make her someone we’ll all probably be rooting for in the weeks to come.

7. Jess LeProtto was featured during the early auditions, one of the few who made it onto the show. I’m not too sure about this slightly cocky Broadway performer, and even though the judges seem to have reservations of their own, his talent (which he showed off in a Broadway Tap routine choreographed byChris Scott) is undeniable.

8. Jordan Casanova is possible one of the cutest people ever born, and her ability wow a crowd with her jazz routines has never been in doubt since she made Nigel’s eyeballs fall out of his face during her auditions. Shy and somewhat reticent offstage, her personality really takes off (in a sexy way) once the music begins.

9. Marko Germar first stepped onstage with a story about how a bullet is lodged in his arm, and though we didn’t hear much about him during Vegas week, apparently he did just fine. Marko is trained in several forms of dance, especially contemporary and jazz, and held his own onstage with three girls for Sonya’s jazz routine last week.

10. Melanie Moore is another college freshman with a short haircut and shining smile that enhances her powerful, glowing contemporary routines. She caught my eye at her audition and I was happy to see her do well and move forward. She’s one of my early favorites, and was a lovely addition to an amazing Stacey Tookey’scontemporary number.

11. Miranda Maleski, another just-out-of-high school kid, has been training forever and moved to Los Angeles when she was just 18 to pursue a dance career full time. Another contemporary dancer who hasn’t been seen much until now, we’ll have to wait to find out what she’s made of.

12. Missy Morelli, a jazz dancer who has been dancing professionally for a couple of years, has a loud sensuality about her dancing that draws in an audience and holds their attention. She earned her spot along side Jordan, Marko, and Clarice in Sonya’s routine.

13. Mitchell Kelly has been dancing for six years professionally, specializing in jazz and contemporary. He didn’t start dancing until he was 15, a good ten years after the majority of his counterparts this season.

14. Nick Young is sure to be one of the ladies’ favorites this season, with his engaging smile, handsome face, and the joy he gets from dancing. He’s a tapper by trade but managed to impress the judges enough during Vegas week to earn his shot as part of the cast. Let’s hope his whole package will help him fare better than tappers in previous seasons.

15. Ricky Jaime graduated from high school a year ago and began to get serious about a career in dance. He’s a contemporary dancer but is trained in many other styles as well, and proved his salt Thursday night as part of the Stacey Tookey routine.

16. Robert Taylor, Jr (the WoOoOo guy), is so warm and funny and I just want to give him a hug. He’s thirty years old, so this was his last shot and the judges gave it to him. I’m interested to see how his personality assists (or detracts) from styles less interactive than hip-hop.

17. Ryan Ramirez, who we all remember feeling badly for last year when she was cut at the very last point, makes a comeback this year and I, for one, think she will go far. She’s pretty, she’s sweet, and she’s an amazingly passionate contemporary dancer with a lot of heart.

18. Sasha Mallory, the second half of our sister act, made it into the top 20 with her contemporary skills. She and her sister won us over at their joint audition and kept us entertained during Vegas week. We kind of knew all along only one of them would make it through, and as much as the judges would deny the choice had anything to do with SISTER’s size, we all know it probably did.

19. Tadd Gadduang is the only contestant who claims to have no formal dance training, and he’s worked his way onto the show with his raw “urban dancing” talent. He held his own in Dave Scott’s hip-hop routine the other night, and I’m always on the lookout for the next Legacy, so let’s wait and see.

20. Wadi Jones, the fourth and final hip-hop specialist, is sort of adorable in so many ways. He’s into several different forms of art and, though he taught himself how to break and hip-hop, he made an effort to learn different styles in preparation for the show.

I’m interested to see how things will go down with a cast full of so many experienced dancers. Most of them are trained in multiple styles, so look for the choreographers and judges to throw bigger challenges their way. I still expect many of them to struggle with ballroom, something almost none of them have trained in, but we’ll have to wait and see. We have several who have tap dance training, and more hip-hoppers than ever before.

What do you all think of the cast? Anyone you think doesn’t deserve to be there? Anyone who got sent home unfairly? Let’s discuss!

Season 8, Episode 5 “Las Vegas Callbacks” and “Meet the Top 20” (original airdate June 8 and June9, 2011)

So You Think You Can Dance airs Wednesday and Thursday nights at 8/7c on Fox.

Photos Courtesy of Adam Rose and Fox

The Bravo TV Empire: Reality At Its Best

June 14, 2011 by Desiree Neall 

The television network known as Bravo has come a long way since the eighties when it first emerged. The channel claimed to be the first dedicated to the performing arts world which only still holds slightly true today. Like all networks out there, programming has gone the way of the reality show and every channel you surf through likely has at least one reality based television show, if not more. While most of us love to knock the idea of reality television, I think deep down we’re all a little addicted. Like it or not, it’s here to stay and whether secretly or openly, the American public can’t seem to get enough of it. However, what makes Bravo TV unique and slightly more highbrow than other networks than, say, MTV are the quality and content of their shows. Their popularity continues to grow and according to Bravo’s journal at Blogspot.com, they’ve even acquired one hundred and fifty new advertisers in 2010. Bravo has certainly risen in the last few years making a network that used to only broadcast two days of the week to a company that’s proved to be a fierce competitor to the mainstream network giants and has made programming like The Real Housewives of…series a household name.

So with all that Bravo has become, how about a little preview of what we can expect for the rest of this year? Let’s start with the basics: some renewals. As of now, more than a few shows have been ordered for upcoming seasons including my personal favorite, Bethenny Ever After, whose third season begins filming in July of this year, and should make fellow skinny girl fans ecstatic to hear. In housewives news, The Housewives of Beverly Hills, Atlanta, and more recently announced New Jersey have renewed while The Housewives of D.C. were cancelled indefinitely back in April, making it the first Housewives show to not inevitably turn to gold as all the others have. We’ll get more of Bravo TV’s more tenacious personalities (and this is why I can’t get enough of them!) such as Patti Stanger with a new season of Millionaire Matchmaker, more Tabatha’s Salon Takeover, and a season five for Jeff Lewis’ Flipping Out. You can also include Rachel Zoe to that list, whose show The Rachel Zoe Project, will be airing soon for a fourth season (in which she was previously pregnant during) and is sure to document a nice mix of Zoe’s classic candor and pregnancy hormones rolled into one. Top Chef fans haven’t been forgotten either as Top Chef, Top Chef Masters andTop Chef Just Desserts have all been added to the renewal lists.

Next, Bravo has debuted a few brand new shows in the last month or so and I’m already religiously watching one of them: Pregnant In Heels. The star of the series, Rosie Pope, is the self-proclaimed “maternity concierge” for New York City soon to be mothers and her show documents the kooky high class clientele that are nothing short of crazy in most cases. If you need a focus group to help you pick your baby’s name then I’m requesting a focus group to gauge how fit you are to be a parent. I’ll admit, it sounds like the silliest concept so far, but Rosie Pope really has the maternity market cornered. Pregnant In Heels debuted in April and season one just ended the last week of May. Hopefully, Miss Rosie will be back for a second season.

Platinum Hit is probably going to be Bravo’s most promising new series. Perhaps due to the ongoing success of American Idol, the belief in another music-based reality show seemed viable. While most of Bravo’s programming is arts based (culinary and fashion have taken the forefront the majority of the time),Platinum Hit takes another creative avenue with singer/songwriters competing for publishing and recording deals. Musical artist Jewel is the co-host along with songwriter Kara DioGuardi, whose role as a judge hopefully proves much more fulfilling than the short, unhappy stint she had on American Idol. Platinum Hitdebuted on May 30 and is currently in the beginning of its season.

Now that Bravo has drawn us in like moths to a network full of reality entertainment set ablaze, they’ve decided to pick up several new shows to fuel our pop culture addictions. The big news came in March at the Bravo TV upfronts in New York where they announced the pick up of an additional eleven new programs, all reality based. Yes, eleven! Some are brand new ideas, some are spin-offs and others were a rehashing of already existing shows but most seem like promising ideas. Here is what our dvrs have to look forward to recording:

Rocco’s Dinner Party- Celebrity chef Rocco DiSpirito’s new culinary contest where aspiring cooks of all backgrounds, professional and non-professional alike, will compete each episode for cash prizes.
Million Dollar Listing: New York- A direct spinoff of the L.A. boys, only with a whole new real estate market and expectantly some east coast mentality.
It’s a Brad, Brad World- Former assistant to Rachel Zoe, Brad Goreski gets his own spin off taking us on a journey into both fashion events and his daily life.
Tabatha Takes Over- Miss Coffey has been taking over salons for years but now she’ll be tackling struggling businesses outside of the salon industry. Tabatha has a way of making people perk up and listen (usually because she just called you a f*ckwad) and it’ll be interesting to see her challenge businesses of a different nature this time.
Mad Fashion- Chris March was a season four contestant on the popular Project Runway but may be best remembered for his creepy, err, innovative use of human hair for clothing designs. Now he’s going solo on Bravo with his own “day in the life of me” series.
The Therapists- A Los Angeles based series that chronicles psychotherapists and their clientele. So much for patient confidentiality, right? Good ol’ reality television!
Interior Therapy with Jeff Lewis- Like Tabatha, he’s already the star of his own show, so what’s one more? And just like Tabatha Takes Over, Jeff will be taking over in the way of moving in to an occupied house for five days, picking apart the homeowners and lastly, redesigning the home.
Miss Advised- Take three Dear Abbys, add a camera crew and you get Miss Advised. The series follows three professional advice givers in their work and personal lives.
Most Eligible: Dallas- Socialites? Texas? Drama? Sounds like all the ingredients for a real life soap opera.
Project Soulmate- New York matchmaker Lori Zaslow lets us into her world of singles pairing while giving us a look into her life as a mother and wife. Sounds like someone is giving Patti Stanger a little matchmaking competition…
Ready to Wear- In an upscale NY consignment shop, Ready to Wear chronicles four employees with a hunger for high end fashion.
Roble and Co.- Chef Roble Ali attempts to start a catering business with the help of his sister. They cater to the big wigs of New York all while trying to keep their family drama under control.
Million Dollar Decorators- For the interior design gurus out there, this new series explores the world of million dollar homes while following the lucky decorators who get to dress them up.

Now I’m just wondering how they’re going to fit everything into the schedule! If you never had a clue about Bravo TV before, let this be a quick cramming session for you. Perhaps hardcore fans will be pleased to see a favorite of theirs has been renewed and maybe the list of newbies will spark some interest and recruit a few new Bravo fans. Either way, Bravo provides a little reality fun for everyone and I’m looking forward to seeing what’s next.

Images courtesy of Bravo TV.

Common & Endemol USA work together on western flick 'Hell on Wheels'!

BY LISA WILTON ,CALGARY SUN

Delegates at this year's Banff World Media Festival got a sneak peek of AMC's new series Hell On Wheels on Monday afternoon.

Scenes from the highly anticipated western — which is filming in and around Calgary until the end of August — were screened at the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel's Conference Centre with two of the show's stars in attendance.

Hell On Wheels features Anson Mount as a Confederate soldier who sets out to avenge the rape and murder of his wife at the hands of an outfit of Union soldiers and ends up working on the first transcontinental railway.

Mount and co-star, hip hop star Common, took part in a panel discussion, which included producing partners AMC, Endemol USA, E1 and Calgary-based company, Nomadic Pictures.

The group spoke of the three-year process to bring the action-filled western to the screen, while Common and Mount praised the show's local film crew.

“I can't tell you how important it is to have a crew who know what they're doing,” Mount said.

“To have hair and makeup people who know how to act around a horse ... and our costumes are amazing.”

Rapper Common, who recently felt the wrath of FOX News after being invited to the White House to participate in a night of music and poetry, told the packed room he was moved and inspired by the script.

“I was so excited when I read the script and I was so excited to audition,” he said.

“Everyday I'm so excited to do whatever we're going to be doing on the railroad.”

lisa.wilton@sunmedia.ca

“The Kids are All Right” in Vietnam

6 hours ago by Kelly Anderson Share 


Endemol Asia has signed a three-year output deal with Blue Ocean Communication Advertising Corporation for The Kids are All Right, making it the first commission in Asia for the format.

Vietnamese broadcaster VTV3 has commissioned the first year of programming, set to begin production in August. The format, which pits adults against children in a battle of wits, will air in a weekly morning slot on VTV3.

Created by Endemol UK, The Kids are All Right has been sold to 10 territories including the UK, Italy, Chile, Poland and the Middle East.

Arjen van Mierlo, Endemol’s CEO of Asian Operations said, “Signing a three-year output agreement with leading licensee Blue Ocean is a fantastic way to mark the format’s launch in Asia.”

Huy Cuong Tran, director at Blue Ocean Communication Advertising Corporation added, “Endemol’s entertainment formats have always proven to be hugely popular in Vietnam and I believe The Kids are All Right has all the ingredients of a hit. We’re proud to partner with VTV3 to as they become the first broadcaster to bring the show to Asia.”

Other recent deals for Endemol across Asia include selling Extreme Makeover: Home Edition and Big Brother to the Philippines, Show Me What You’ve Got and 1 vs 100 to Indonesia and The Marriage Ref to China.

Is 'The Glee Project' The Best New Reality Show?

Monday June 13, 2011

I'm a crier. Life insurance commercials, some episodes of Big Love, the series finale of almost any show I like--I cry watching all of them. But I'd never sobbed watching a reality TV show.

Until now. If the debut episode of The Glee Project, which premiered on Oxygen June 12, is any indication of how the series will go, then Oxygen may just have launched the most thrilling reality show this year.

There's no bug eating, global travel, boardrooms, runways or Kardashians and you can tell that many of the contestants have no interest in gyms or spray tans like the Jersey Shorekids.

But what they do have is the kind of authentic core uniqueness almost never seen on television. Unlike American Idol, a talent show where judges and voters supposedly value merit above all else, but actually weed out anybody noticeably different (like effeminate boys or pimple-faced cherubic girls), The Glee Project casting process actually eliminates anyone without character.

And what a casting it was. Almost 40,000 people posted audition videos, and it was up to casting director Robert Ulrich and vocal arranger Nikki Anders to watch each one in its entirety.

Sure, some were terrible, but many, Ulrich says, they liked so much, they "watched it like 40 times." Eventually, Ulrich narrowed the list down to just over 200 people to call back for live auditions and potential contenders flew from around the country and some even came as far away as Singapore, London and Northern Ireland.

The winner of The Glee Project, the reason 40,000 young people posted videos, gets cast on Glee. The seven-episode arc on Fox's hit series offers, says Ulrich, not just a part on the show but "a career."

Ulrich, Anders and choreographer Zach Woodlee act as mentors on The Glee Project, all meanwhile holding down their day jobs on Glee, so they become equally invested in seeing the cast members succeed.

The thing about The Glee Project is that the call went out to anyone-regardless of size, shape, race, gender presentation-that the only quality necessary was that they had to be over 18 and conceivably play a high school aged character. The main call to stay true to yourself shines through in the initial episodes where nearly everyone seems to be an underdog.

There are effeminate boys and masculine girls, fat kids and pimply faced geeks, lots of folks with braces and glasses, a girl with only one hand and another with a missing finger. They're all inspired by Glee, a show that popularizes the underdog.

And believe me, these contestants are underdogs, often bullied in their own communities for being gay or short, for being mixed race or poor. They're inspired by, and sometimes demanding of, a world that makes way for them to be themselves and take center stage.

Many have ideas for the kind of character they'd play. One young man with Down Syndrome, an excellent dancer, says he wants to play the boyfriend of Becky Jackson, a cheerleader on Glee who happens to also have Down Syndrome.

"She's really hot," he tells Ulrich.

Watching The Glee Project I began to cry not because it was bad but because I realized how groundbreaking it was. These potential castmates are revolutionary; there's the biracial home-schooled country singer McKynleigh, the cute fat chick Hannah, and the Brazilian-born Matheus, who sports glasses and braces and is least a foot shorter than the girls on the show.

Watching the show really underscores just how much these are not the kind of people we see in TV. And that's the allure of The Glee Project.

These kids are all good enough for TV. And The Glee Project is a rarity: a reality show that's good enough to compete with Fox's animation block.

So, which new reality show is your favorite? Or is it too soon to say?

Photo © Oxygen

Simon Cowell demands special lighting to make him look good

X Factor boss Simon Cowell has allegedly asked show bosses to place hidden lighting underneath the table to make him look good on camera.

Simon Cowell: He's so vain! Pic: TalkbackThames

X Factor boss Simon Cowell has allegedly asked show bosses to place hidden lighting underneath the table to make him look good on camera.

The entertainment mogul is said to have demanded additional lighting to ensure that viewers always see him at his best.

A source told a Sunday newspaper that Cowell is the only judge allowed to have the special lighting.

An insider told the Daily Star Sunday: "He thinks the strong stage lighting drowns him out and he wants special lighting on his face.

"The other judges aren't allowed it.

"He wants to shine and look the best at all times."

Cowell's brother Tony has said that Simon is "hilariously obsessed" with his image.

He is quoted as saying: "Simon has a lot of mirrors in his LA house.

"He can't walk more than six steps without passing a mirror and he glances in each one every single time he goes past."



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Aguilera being chased for Nine’s Voice: report

Sunday, 12 June 2011 | By Swanny 

Nine is reportedly trying to secure Christina Aguilera to judge a local version of The Voice (Image: NBC)

American recording artist and actress Christina Aguilerahas popped up in the rumour mill for the Nine Network's upcoming singing series The Voice.

According to the Herald Sun, Shine Australia and Nine are trying to secure Aguilera to take part in the show, set to air later this year. Nine has been searching for high-profile international musical artists to join the judging panel for the show, which has been earmarked as a competitor forSeven's revamped The X Factor.

Aguilera takes part in the US version of the show as a mentor, alongside other musicians including Adam Levine,Blake Shelton and Cee Lo Green. Hosted by Carson Daly, it debuted at number one to 11.775 million viewers: the strongest ratings seen for a season premiere since Undercover Boss debuted after the Super Bowl in February 2010.

The rights to produce an Australian version of the show were the subject of a tussle between Nine and Ten. It wasoriginally reported that Ten had scored the rights to the show - addressing the network's lack of a singing contest since Australian Idol's axing in 2009 - but it later emerged that Nine had in fact beaten its rival to the punch.

The Voice's success in America suggests that Nine may have a decent chance of success with a local version, so long as singing contest fatigue does not set in due to competition with The X Factor. The format has seen success in its homeland, the Netherlands, where its version is heading into a second season.

Louis Walsh says The X Factor would beat The Voice

Louis Walsh has insisted that The X Factor would win any ratings battle against rival show The Voice.
12 June 2011 09:06 GMTComment

Louis Walsh: X Factor will win ratings battle. Pic: TalkbackThames

Louis Walsh has insisted that The X Factor would win any ratings battle against rival show The Voice.

It is believed that the radical reality TV show format is coming to the BBC later this year to compete against Simon Cowell's X Factor.

Louis told a Sunday newspaper that the BBC show would fail to capture the interest of the majority of TV viewers.

He told the Daily Star Sunday: "There's no way it will beat X Factor - it doesn't stand a chance.

"The BBC don't pay their judges enough to get the best people to make it exciting for viewers."

Louis, who is the only judge returning to the show from last year's line-up, also revealed that he would consider taking a job on the panel of another show.

He revealed: "I'll do anything as long as they pay me enough.

"It's just a job at the end of the day."

He added: "I've enjoyed being a guest judge on Britain's Got Talent a few times, so I'd consider that if they offered enough money."

This article is powered by Well Contented Ltd

How 'The Voice' Became a Hit

JUN 8 2011, 10:00 AM ET5

Critics were sure NBC's new singing competition was going to flop, but its audience just keeps growing. A look at what makes the show work.

NBC

When The Voice, NBC's new singing competition show, was announced in March, TV critics were quick to write its obituary. How could yet another reality series about America's undiscovered crooners possibly last in an already oversaturated with reality show music competitions: American Idol, America's Got Talent, The Sing-Off, among them. Yet somewhere along the line, the series, which stars musicians Christina Aguilera, Blake Shelton, and Cee Lo Green as celebrity mentors, defied those critics and became a hit.

The Voice's initial ratings success wasn't a big surprise. It debuted in April to a huge audience--which was expected from a show as heavily promoted as it was and boasting so many bold-faced names on its judging panel. Plus, it premiered at a peak viewership point in the TV season, when most series are airing their finales. But then The Voice did something unexpected. While viewership for buzzy series and relaunches typically taper off as interest wanes after the splashy debut (see:American Idol 2.0), The Voice's ratings are actually increasing week after week. It's a rare feat, especially for a show that airs during the summer. NBC is so confident in The Voice, it's decided to grant the series the coveted post-Super Bowl slot for next year's game.

How did The Voice manage to defy critics and become a hit? Here are five reasons the show works:

There are no bad auditions:

As much as American Idol is associated with discovering hit-makers like Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood, it may be equally as well known for spotlighting train-wreck auditions featuring hopefuls with outlandish costumes, left-of-center personalities, and little to no ear for pitch. It started off amusing, then with William Hung it became ubiquitous, and now it's just plain grating and distracting.

The Voice, thankfully, does not pander to cheap laughs from crushed dreams and tone-deaf, overweight people--a tactic that plagues not only Idol, but also America's Got Talent. The premise of The Voice, which is based on a similar Danish reality competition, is that the celebrity coaches draft teams of contestants that compete for the top prize. They choose their teams blindly, with their backs to the contestants. They turn their chair only if they're impressed enough by the voice to want that person on their team. Because the show emphasizes vocal quality over showmanship, there's no use having the so-bad-it's-funny contestants try out--the judges are obviously not going to let them advance.

The judges choose the early rounds:



The contestant pool on American Idol is only minnowed down to 40 when the public begins voting their favorites on to the next round of the competition. The result is that stellar, unique vocalists like Jesse Langseth and Kendra Chantelle are sent home to obscurity while young, cute boys,spunky girls, and a few contestants with heavily promoted backstories--the three pillars of contestants that appeal to voting tween girls and grandmas--typically make it to the finals.

The Voice, on the other hand, sends only 16 singers to the public voting round, which began last night. That means a crop of singers that likely would not stand a chance in early rounds of Idol are still in the competition based solely on the strength of their voices: a bald lesbian, a heavyset woman, a man who closely resembles a character from Where the Wild Things Are, and a chubby country singer. It's unclear if any of them--refreshing, largely unseen-until-now reality-show personalities in their own rights--will make it past tonight's first voting round. But in their few weeks on The Voice, they have shown eons more star power than that bumbling bumpkin who just won a million dollars on Idol.




The show invests in pride, not heartbreak:

Softies cry often watching American Idol, blubbering as the contestants' hopes are dashed as they are kicked off the show. Idol producers are not shy about milking the heartbreaking exits, showing clip packages recounting better times (Wanda Sykes skewers that expertly), shoving a microphone in their weeping faces, having them sing again, and asking them inane questions like "How upset are you?" (Pretty upset, usually.) The Voice on the other hand, isn't showing much of that at all.

The framework of the battle-round episodes is tailor-made for such emotional manipulation: The contestants duet on a song, and then the judge picks the better performer to go through to the next round, crushing the other (very talented) singer's hopes at stardom. While they sing, cameras show their families beaming with pride. It's touching. But after the judges make their choice, the losing contestant is never shown again--something that, especially after this insanely competitive sparring (below) on "Since U Been Gone," we can be especially grateful for. The sight of one tear from Cherie Oakley would have opened the floodgates indefinitely.




The format is risky:

While it's easy to classify The Voice as an American Idol rip-off, the new show's whole format is actually quite risky. Having the judges sit turned around in those silly chairs in the first audition rounds was a gamble, and, yes, the space-age throne-like design was pretty laughable. But visual absurdity aside, there was an added layer of tension during those auditions. That intensity carried over to the battle rounds, even with the undeniably cheesy boxing set and Rocky-inspired walk from the "locker room" to the "ring." That's not even to mention the adrenaline-inducing excitement of watching two equally matched vocalists spar through song. When was the last time your heart raced while a 17-year-girl sang a Celine Dion ballad on American Idol?

The judges tell the truth--and have real chemistry:

The biggest critique of the new Idol judging panel was that they rarely gave negative feedback. The Voice's format mandates that happen. In the battle rounds, the coaches actually have to tell one contestant, "You were worse than your opponent." It's refreshing and makes the show feel like a talent competition.

There's an unlikely chemistry between this motley crew of stars. The fratty confidence of Adam Levine, the flirty zaniness of Christina Aguilera, the astute suaveness of Cee Lo Green, and Blake Shelton's sly, smart wit gel together in an odd but delightfully palatable way. Their respective musical accomplishments add credence to their critiques, something that's always worked against Paula Abdul and Jennifer Lopez, who are really pop stars before they're singers. The Voice's coaches come with unique perspectives, but work in harmony to create a wholly enjoyable show. And they sound pretty amazing singing together, too:

YouTube launches exclusive online channel YouTube Box Office

9 June, 2011


Renowned video sharing site YouTube has unveiled an exclusive online channel for blockbuster films. By Eugene Desiree

This new online channel will air 1 blockbuster film every month beginning with Yash Raj Film’s blockbuster hit Band Baaja Baaraat.

It will also feature other films from the video streaming site’s movie list which contains more than 1500 titles inclusive of regional films.

The YouTube Box Office can be accessed by all users in India but for users in other countries it will be IP blocked. Intel has joined hands with YouTube as its sponsor.

Gautam Anand, YouTube Japan-APAC director content partnerships stated that they are planning to create a target for users which will enable their content partners to get additional viewers for their best content.

This will also be a new platform for marketers to utilize this opportunity and thereby hold the YouTube community.

http://www.bollypatrika.com

Fans Of NBC's ‘The Voice’ Can Now Vote For Their Favorite Artists Via iTunes

BY BILL GORMAN – JUNE 7, 2011


via press release:

FANS OF NBC’S ‘The Voice’ CAN NOW VOTE FOR THEIR FAVORITE ARTISTS VIA ITUNES

NBC AND UNIVERSAL RECORDS OFFER UNPRECEDENTED VOTING OPPORTUNITY BEGINNING WITH TONIGHT’S (JUNE 7) LIVE SHOW

Fans Can Also Connect in Real Time with the Artists Via Social Media During the Live Shows as Series Continues to Push the Boundaries Between Broadcast and Online

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. – June 7, 2011 – In a first for a music competition series, NBC and Universal Republic Records will offer fans of NBC’s “The Voice” (Tuesdays, 9-11 p.m. ET) the ability to vote for their favorite artists by downloading the studio versions of the songs that they perform on the live show each week via the iTunes Store (www.itunes.com).

Voting begins after tonight’s (Tuesday, June 7) live show and can be made via iTunes downloads ($1.29 each) of the artists current solo single, toll-free phone calls, the NBC Live app and online at NBC.com. Only votes made during the designated voting period will be tallied.

Additionally, “The Voice” continues to push the boundaries between broadcast and online by bringing social media conversations to the on-air show. Bridging the gap between on-air and online will be V-Correspondent Alison Haislip (G4′s “Attack of the Show!”), who will make regular appearances during the live broadcasts to engage fans and connect them to artists and coaches from the V-Room via Facebook, Twitter, NBC Live and NBC.com.

Starting with the live shows, fans who use #TheVoice or tweet to the show, coaches or artists’ official handles may see their tweets appear in the lower third of the screen during V-Room portions of the live show.

The announcements were made by Paul Telegdy, Executive Vice President, Alternative Programming, NBC and Universal Media Studios.

“This new voting opportunity reflects the reality of music lovers who vote everyday for their favorite artists by downloading and purchasing their music,” said Telegdy. “Additionally, we are blown away by the overwhelming response from viewers via Facebook, Twitter and other social media. Our audience is totally engaged with our artists and coaches — so we want to do everything we can to make this a part of the conversation on the air. The fans make the artists into stars, and it will be a completely new experience for them to see their favorites answer their questions on air.”

Haislip On How To Vote
Haislip will be responding and interacting with viewers in real time from the V-Room, which will have screens monitoring Twitter, NBC Live and NBC.com feeds. Before and after each artist performs, Haislip and the artists will monitor these screens and their devices to get fan feedback and to engage with the viewers. The show will check in with the V-Room throughout the broadcast, but the online interaction will be continuous.

“The Voice,” featuring musician coaches Christina Aguilera, Cee Lo Green, Adam Levine and Blake Shelton, is the 2010-11 season’s #1 new series in adults 18-49 and ranks behind only “American Idol” among all entertainment series on ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox and CW. To date (May 30), “The Voice” is averaging a 5.4 rating, 14 share in adults 18-49 and 12.0 million viewers overall.

“The Voice” is an innovative vocal competition series modeled after Holland’s top-rated vocal talent discovery show, “The Voice of Holland,” which has already become the country’s most successful new TV talent contest, with audience ratings which far exceed local versions of “The X Factor”, “Idol”, “Popstar” and “Holland’s Got Talent”. The series is hosted by Carson Daly and features the musician coaches working through the various phases of the competition with only the most talented vocalists. The show’s second season will air mid-season Mondays, 8-10 p.m. (ET).

“The Voice” is a presentation of Mark Burnett’s One Three Inc., Talpa Content USA, Inc. and Warner Horizon Television. The series is created by John de Mol, who executive-produces along with Burnett, Audrey Morrissey and Stijn Bakkers. Universal Republic Records, a division of Universal Music Group (UMG), the world’s leading music company, is the U.S. label of recording and artist services for “The Voice.” UMG and Talpa also work together in providing artist services to maximize the potential of the franchise and the finalists internationally.

The Voice News: Finale, Coaches To Sing Queen, Futuristic Stage!

Posted by Cristina Isabel on June 7th, 2011
NBC’s The Voice do really mean business as they continue to earn viewers’ ratings. After winning the most-coveted post-Super Bowl slot in 2012, NBC announced that it will add an extra results show on June 22 and will air the finale on June 29. Both episodes will last an hour and air live.



The show currently airs on Tuesdays from 9 to 11 p.m. Tonight will be the first live competiton among the chosen top 16. With this NBC will unveil the show’s new futuristic live stage that’s even bigger and more intense for the live-performances.

Coaches Christina Aguilera, Cee Lo Green, Adam Levine and Blake Shelton will open the show by signing a medley of Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “We Will Rock You” and “We Are the Champions.”

And for the first time ever for any singing competition, fans will have the ability to vote for their favorite artists by downloading ($1.29 each) the studio versions of the songs that they perform on the live show each week via the iTunes Store (www.itunes.com). Voting is also allowed via toll-free phone calls, the NBC Live app and online at NBC.com. Only votes made during the designated voting period will be tallied.

Additionally, “The Voice” will task V-Correspondent Alison Haislip (G4′s “Attack of the Show!”), to engage fans and connect them to artists and coaches from the V-Room via Facebook, Twitter, NBC Live and NBC.com during the live broadcasts. Moreover, fans who use #TheVoice or tweet to the show, coaches or artists’ official handles may see their tweets appear in the lower third of the screen during V-Room portions of the live show.

Paul Telegdy, Executive Vice President, Alternative Programming, NBC and Universal Media Studios issued this statement, “This new voting opportunity reflects the reality of music lovers who vote everyday for their favorite artists by downloading and purchasing their music. Additionally, we are blown away by the overwhelming response from viewers via Facebook, Twitter and other social media. Our audience is totally engaged with our artists and coaches — so we want to do everything we can to make this a part of the conversation on the air. The fans make the artists into stars, and it will be a completely new experience for them to see their favorites answer their questions on air.”

The Voice: a kinder, gentler talent show that's sending the BBC and ITV to war

by Maggie Brown and Joanna Walters, The Observer, Sunday 5 June 2011

With Cheryl Cole and George Michael as possible judges, the British version of the US hit show The Voice has started a contest between the BBC and ITV

The judges on the US edition of The Voice - Blake Shelton, Adam Levine, Christina Aguilera and Cee Lo Green - with its executive producer, Mark Burnett. Photograph: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images

The BBC and ITV are locked in a bidding war for a new Saturday-night talent show being marketed as the "world's hottest new TV music property".

The Voice, already a hit in the US, offers a twist on the standard talent show by supposedly adopting a kindlier and less image-obsessed approach to its performers.

Its potential arrival on British TV screens, say some observers, could not be more timely: from Cheryl Cole's dramatic firing by The X Factor USAto allegations that this year's Britain's Got Talent had been "fixed" by Simon Cowell's production company, the talent show landscape has become convulsed with spats and rumours of skulduggery.

The Voice, with "blind" auditions in which contestants are rated on their singing alone and judges who dole out more constructive criticism than one-liners, is touted as a soothing alternative to the world of Cowell and his shows. And if that alternative happens to hire Cole as a judge, luring her away from her former mentor, so much the better.

The prospect of Cole signing up is a huge attraction for the BBC, where Danny Cohen, controller of BBC1, has taken personal command of negotiations with the UK production company handling the deal, Shed Media. He sees the show as the answer to a gap in his schedule's armoury.

His ambitions, however, could be thwarted by an 11th-hour move last week from ITV's director of television, Peter Fincham: on no account does he want to lose Cole to his biggest rival. Nor, of course, does he want to pass on what could be the next talent show that the British take to their hearts. And in case the next series of X Factor – without Cowell as a judge – does not perform as well as usual, Fincham would dearly like a backup.

Warning signs have already been detected in Britain's Got Talent, which has performed erratically this year. Last week the programme became engulfed in a row over 12-year-old finalist Ronan Parke, whom an anonymous blogger claimed had been spotted two years ago by Cowell's production company Syco. The claims have been denied by Syco and the boy's mother.

Compared with this, The Voice may seem a safe bet. The latest idea of John de Mol, the Dutch media tycoon who made his fortune through the reality show Big Brother, it began in Holland and was an instant hit in the US on the NBC network. On its debut in April, its 12 million viewers took it past Glee and Dancing with the Stars in the ratings.

Its star coaching panel of Christina Aguilera, Cee Lo Green, Adam Levine – lead singer of Maroon 5 – and country music star Blake Shelton has been credited with pulling in viewers. Along with Cole, the singer George Michael has been mooted as a potential judge for the British version.

Not everyone, however, is convinced by the new show. Channel 4 says it quickly decided against bidding for The Voice "because it's derivative, a rip-off", while viewers in the US appeared to cool after the show's debut, with ratings sagging in the so-called "battle" round, where singers engage in one-to-one duels.

As for the promise of a fresh approach to finding and nurturing talent, many have expressed scepticism. Critics in the US have dubbed the "blind" auditions – in which the judges turn towards the audience so they are not swayed by performance or appearance – a gimmick. The majority of contestants they have to choose from, point out critics, are already suspiciously attractive.

A seasoned expert producer in the UK said The Voice's claim to be different because of its coaching and development was spurious. "All contestants in talent shows are coached furiously behind the scenes," the producer said.

None of this is likely to dampen the enthusiasm of the BBC. Cohen, who oversaw Big Brother when he was at C4, recently briefed journalists on his pressing need to find fresh Saturday evening entertainment.

The BBC's controller of entertainment, Mark Linsey, has dropped a heavy hint that So You Think You Can Dance will be cancelled after a lacklustre series this spring. This means a British version of The Voicewould slot in neatly on BBC1 when Strictly Come Dancing finishes before Christmas.

However, any deal is still some way off, caution insiders. The BBC could be hampered because it cannot run premium phone line votes, or offer instant downloaded songs or product placement by advertisers. It would also not be able to offer Cole the kind of million-pound-plus deal that ITV could provide.

"This is not a money move for her, this is a career move," insist BBC sources, who hope Cole will be swayed by the chance to widen her appeal and relaunch herself. They also believe her record label, Universal Music, favours a BBC show for her.

The Voice News: Special One Hour Episode To Air Post Superbowl 2012!

Posted by Cristina Isabel on June 5th, 2011

“The Voice,” NBC’s new singing competition which stars Christina Aguilera, Blake Shelton, Cee Lo Green, and Adam Levine as coaches, has scored the coveted post-Super Bowl spot in 2012. This show has nowhere to go but UP UP UP in ratings!!!

NBC’s Bob Greenblatt said, “There is no better showcase on television than to follow the Super Bowl, and we believe “The Voice’ is deserving of such high-profile exposure. The attention-grabbing blind audition phase of The Voice has mass appeal and will fittingly team up with the biggest sporting event of the year.”

“The Voice” hosted by Carson Daly, debuted on April 26 and has been a ratings hit since then. Starting next week, the show will have their singing competition live after the coaches had chosen four contestants each. Due to consistent high viewership, the show was picked up last month for a second season.

Fox hosted the Super Bowl this year and gave the coveted spot to its breakout hit “Glee,” which became the top scripted telecast in three years. The Voice is expected to accomplish the same or even better.

One advice to NBC execs though. Don’t let Christina sing the national anthem again next year. She might mess up the lyrics again. Remember the lyrics fumble last year?

Arc To Animate 3D TV For Platinum and Endemol

 by Etan Vlessing


Touchstone Pictures

Having animated Gnomeo & Juliet for Miramax Films, Toronto animation maker Arc Production is to produce Matt Hatter Chronicles, a 3D TV series from Platinum Films and Canadian partner Dream Mill to be distributed internationally by Endemol Worldwide.

TORONTO -- Toronto cartoon factory Arc Productions is to animate Matt Hatter Chronicles, a 3D TV series from Platinum Films and Dream Mill being distributed by Endemol Worldwide.

Toronto-based Arc Productions, formerly Starz Animation, snagged the job after completing the animation on the feature film Gnomeo & Juliet for Miramax Films and Rocket Pictures.

British-based Platinum has pacted with Toronto indie producer Dream Hill on the series for Nickelodeon UK and Teletoon, Canada’s cable animation channel.

Matt Hatter Chronicles portrays a young boy, Matt, who stumbles on the Hatter family secret of being defenders of a gateway to a different dimension, the Multiverse.

Sharon Osbourne opens up about the reality of 'America's Got Talent'

June 7th, 2011 5:30 pm ET
Carla Hay

Sharon Osbourne first made it big in showbiz as a top music manager in the music industry, most notably with Ozzy Osbourne (whom she married in 1982) as her most famous client. But in the 21st century, she has reinvented herself as a TV star, particularly on reality TV. First, there was the Emmy-winning series "The Osbournes" (in which she starred with Ozzy, their kids Jack and Kelly from 2002 to 2005), and then she was a judge on "The X Factor" U.K. from 2004 to 2007.

She has been a judge on "America’s Got Talent" since the show’s second season in 2007. And in 2010, she became a co-host of the appropriately named daytime chat show "The Talk." Osbourne took time out of her hectic schedule to do recently do an interview with journalists via a telephone conference call. During the interview, she candidly revealed how she is handling such a busy career with balancing a home life; which "America’s Got Talent" contestant has inspired her the most so far; and how being a cancer survivor changed her life.

Piers Morgan said in an interview recently that he felt that you were a much harder judge this season than in some of the past years. Do you agree with that? And do you think that might be because of the fact that you’ve seen so many different styles of acts before in the past?

Yes. I think probably I am definitely harder than I’ve been in previous years. And I’m actually comfortable in that position that I’m in right now of being a little more judgmental and not so tolerant and really making it about the talent and not about somebody’s life story.

Are you stricter with musical acts, based on your music background? And out of all the bands that your husband, Ozzy Osbourne, has toured with, who would you say is the most talented?

When it comes to music, I guess I am a lot stricter. I do require that they have to be at a certain level to be taken seriously. And of all the bands that have opened for my husband, my favorite and the one I’m most proud of is Metallica.

Given so much attention in 2010 surrounding "America’s Got Talent" Season 5 winner Michael Grimm and "America’s Got Talent" Season 5 runner-up Jackie Evancho, what type of impact do you think they had on Season 6?

A lot because, you know, you strive to get better and better. And their level of professionalism was very, very high. So you don’t want to go down from that level. You want to go above that level. So yes, it sets the bar very high.

What is the hardest thing about being a judge on "America’s Got Talent"?

Well there is more that goes along with being a judge because everybody’s got a dream and you don’t want to destroy somebody’s dream. You don’t want to humiliate them publicly. But then, at the same time too, you don’t want to give somebody false hope. But you don’t want to destroy somebody either. And dreams keep a lot of people going. And you try not to destroy people at that point.

Between your work with "America’s Got Talent" and "The Talk" and the music industry and writing, how do you keep everything so balanced?

Well, I don’t. I mess up on a lot of things. You think that you can handle it all. And you can’t. Certain things fall through. And I’m going to have to review my next year because I definitely packed it too tight this year. You can’t do it all at the same level. Something has to suffer.

How do you look so amazing? Do you have any special diet or secrets on that?

Oh my God, no. God, I wish I did. [I’m] 25 pounds overweight. I don’t work out. I had a great surgeon. And I suppose the face has lasted pretty [well]. That’s it. But I don’t have any secrets at all.

What else is there that you would like to accomplish or pursue?

I think to be a better person. I think I’m in work in progress. But I try to be a better person. As far as my personal goals in life, I’ve reached them all. I never wanted to be the head of a huge organization. I never wanted to be number one at everything. But I’ve had amazing life experiences, amazing opportunities. I’ve been blessed personally. But I strive to be a better person.

There’s a invasion of British judges on TV talent contests with you, Nigel Lythgoe, Simon Cowell, Piers Morgan and Les Goodman. What is your next conquest? And were you satisfied with Martin Lawrence Ballard’s work on your apartment?

There is a British invasion here. I think it happens every decade. But I just think that Americans just love English accents. That’s all it is. And I think that America, for English people, has always been the ultimate goal to any entertainer is to make it in America.

Many come over and try and make it. And many go home again. But I’m blessed that I’m in the lot that has made some sort of dent here. And I love this country. I don’t ever want to go back to live in England. My home is here. I love the country.

And as far as Martin Lawrence Ballard, the interior designer, he’s quite fabulous. And especially as a person, he’s a very, very good friend of mine.

With so many talent shows on TV, what type of impact do you think they’re having on young people, in terms of hope and opportunity?

I was talking about it this morning because I listened to this speech from the [2011] MTV [Movie Awards] … by Reese Witherspoon. When she accepted her award, she said something which is so true: "You can be a success without making a sex tape or without being in a reality show." It’s really about talent. And it’s about knowing your craft and learning your craft and determination.

And I admire her so much. And when she gave her speech, I was like, "Right on!" Because, you know what? It’s all about talent.

And I think that a lot of people might make it through reality shows in the short term. You get there very quickly. If you’re successful in a reality show, you get that quickly. But ultimately, you have a short career. It doesn’t last long. You have your five minutes, as Andy Warhol would say.

If you had to live with either Piers Morgan, Howie Mandel or Nick Cannon, who would you pick and why?

That’s a hard question. It really is a hard question. Nick is a great catch but I think Mariah [Carey, his wife] would beat the shit out of me. So that wouldn’t work.
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And, Piers is funny, funny, funny and [has a] dry sense of humor. But his wife’s pregnant right now. So I wouldn’t want to upset her by moving in. And Howie, he wouldn’t want to touch me so that wouldn’t be fun. So I’d probably stick to my husband.

Do you have any ideas for any new reality shows? Or do you plan on starring in any more?

No. It was great to be the first one. It was great to be the one. And you could never go back. You know, I was there at the beginning of it all and made a mark. And that’s enough for me.

What do you think about working with Howie Mandel?

Well, I know Howie because he’s my neighbor. And he’s just the funniest, naughtiest guy that I’ve met in years. And it just made me so happy when it was announced he was doing the show. We literally live next door to each other.

How does judging on "America’s Got Talent" compare to the many other TV shows you’ve done? You’ve been on things like "The Celebrity Apprentice," "The Talk," "The X Factor." They’re all very different shows. What’s the difference for you?

The difference is and the thing that I love about "America’s Got Talent" is that it’s not just singing. The element of surprise is still there for me because you never know what somebody is going to do, the next act when they’re coming on to audition. And that’s what I love. You just don’t get one singer after another because I think it can be a bit monotonous …

You know, how many times can you hear another rendition of "Hallelujah" or "Hero"? It’s refreshing in the fact that you can hear a little girl that sings like an angel with an unbelievable operatic voice, and then you can have the best drag queen in the world — all on the same show. And it just shakes it up a bit. And that’s what makes us different from every other talent show.

You can see somebody on a bike jumping across makeshift bridges on the stage. And then you’ll see somebody flying on a trapeze. So you’re never bored with it because there’s always something different. The next act is totally different genre than the one you’ve seen before.

Can you compare the level of talent you’re seeing in the auditions in Season 6 of "America’s Got Talent" versus past seasons past?

Well, I think for our show, each season gets better and better. And of course I’m going to say the show is better this year than ever because I’m on it. I’m not going to put down the show I’m on. But truthfully, it really is packed with an unbelievable array of talent in all different genres of art.

It’s amazing. And I’m so proud to be a part of the show. Last year, I think the show was spectacular. And this year it’s just as good.

Which act or contestant inspired you the most out of all six seasons?

We had a lady opera singer who had survived cancer and chemotherapy. And she had her dream of wanting to sing. Barbara [Padilla, from Season 4 in 2009], her name is. And she did it … And I just thought that she was a great inspiration for everyone that’s got a dream.

Having raised three children of yourself, do you see yourself as the mother hen of the show?

I suppose so because I am the oldest [judge on the show]. So I think it’s something that comes with age. So I will gladly take on that title. When the younger contestants are on, it takes so much courage to get up there and perform anyway, let alone when you’ve got really young kids doing it.

And I always think, "Oh my God, if that was my kid out there, how would I want them treated by a judge?" So I always think of them as being my kids. And so you have to be very, very careful when it comes to kids.

Would you ever do a show like "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills"?

Oh God, you’ll never see me on [that show] because I never have been a housewife, ever. So I have always worked. From the age of 15, I have always worked. And I’ve never been a woman that spends her day deciding, "Am I going to go for a facial or a pedicure?" And that is the amount of your day. So that’s not me.

How did being a cancer survivor change your life?

Yes. It did change my life because it stopped me from being so selfish in thinking that the business that I work in is the most important thing in the world because it is not. And in the big picture, it’s just a little grain of sand.

And when you work with amazing people that dedicate their lives to saving others, it makes you realize that, we’re very unimportant when there are doctors and nurses that just dedicate their whole lives to helping other people. So it makes you feel very small.

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