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RATINGS RAT RACE: ‘X Factor’ Premiere Falls Short, ‘Revenge’ Off To Strong Start

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Thursday September 22, 2011 @ 9:03am PDTTags: Criminal Minds, CSI, Free Agents, Harry's law, Law & Order: SVU, Modern Family, Ratings Rat Race, Revenge, Survivor: South Pacific, The Middle, The X Factor, TV Ratings, Up All Night
Nellie Andreeva

UPDATE: The premiere of Simon Cowell’s The X Factor drew a modest (by mega talent competition series standards) 4.2 rating/12 share in adults 18-49 and 12.1 million viewers. That fell short not only of the January season premiere of American Idol (9.7/26, 21.6 million viewers in the fast nationals) but also the April debut of NBC’s The Voice (5.1/13, 11.8 million) in the demo. It also fell well short of Cowell’s publicly stated expectations of beating Idol and attracting 20 million viewers. In the 9 PM hour, X Factor was beaten by ABC’s Modern Family in both 18-49 and total viewers and CBS’ Criminal Minds in viewers. Still, by virtue of Fox’s long history of low fall ratings, X Factor delivered Fox its first premiere week Wednesday win in 18-49 in 18 years and its highest-rated Wednesday in 13 years.

ABC (4.1/11, 11.4 million) had a great night against X Factor, with its returning series The Middle and Modern Family both growing from last fall and hitting demo series highs, and new drama Revenge launching well at 10 PM. The hourlong season premiere of The Middle (3.0/9) at 8 PM was up 11% from last September when the show’s season opener was a half-hour. At 9 PM, off its sweep at the Emmys, Modern Family (6.0/15, 14.3 million) opened its third season up 18% from the Season 2 premiere and ranked as the highest-rated program of the night in both the demo (by a wide margin) and total viewers. It also provided a strong lead-in for new soap Revenge (3.4/9, 10.1 million), which gave ABC its best debut in the Wednesday 10 PM time period in four years, outpacing last fall’s debut of The Whole Truth in the hour by 127% and topping the hour in 18-49. READ MORE »

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Andre Braugher To Do Arc On ‘L&O: SVU’

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Tuesday August 23, 2011 @ 11:32am PDTTags: Andre Braugher, Law & Order: SVU, NBC, TV Casting
Nellie Andreeva

EXCLUSIVE: Andre Braugher is in negotiations for a recurring role on NBC’s veteran procedural Law & Order: SVU. He will play an attorney for the underprivileged who may get close with Detective Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay). This marks … Read More »

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Arnold Schwarzenegger Scandal Gets ‘Law & Order’ Treatment

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Tuesday July 19, 2011 @ 8:53am PDTTags: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Law & Order: SVU
Nellie Andreeva

After Ronni Chasen’s murder and Charlie Sheen’s meltdown, another recent Hollywood headline is getting fictionalized by the Law & Order franchise. An episode of the upcoming 13th season of the only surviving Law & Order series, Law & Order: SVU, … Read More »

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BD Wong Confirms Exit From ‘L&O: SVU’

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Sunday July 17, 2011 @ 10:55pm PDTTags: BD Wong, Law & Order: SVU
Nellie Andreeva

Law & Order: SVU co-star BD Wong already landed a new regular job on NBC’s midseason drama Awake, which put his future on the veteran crime drama in doubt. Today on Twitter Wong confirmed that he is done with SVU. “I actually do not return for Season 13 of … Read More »

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Stephanie March & Diane Neal Back In Fold At ‘Law & Order: SVU’

By THE DEADLINE TEAM | Tuesday July 5, 2011 @ 2:08pm PDTTags: Law & Order: SVU, NBC, TV Castings

Former Law & Order: SVU assistant district attorneys Stephanie March and Diane Neal are returning to the NBC drama for its 13th season, executive producer Warren Leight said today. March, who played ADA Alexandra Cabot during seven seasons, and Neal, who … Read More »

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‘Law & Order: SVU’ Finds Its Detectives: Kelli Giddish and Danny Pino

By THE DEADLINE TEAM | Monday June 27, 2011 @ 2:46pm PDTTags: Bob Greenblatt, Danny Pino, Kelli Giddish, Law & Order: SVU, NBC, TV Castings

It looks like NBC and Dick Wolf have finally cracked the case of what to do with the cast of Law Order: SVU. After a tumultuous month that saw series staples Mariska Hargitay decide to stay in a reduced role and Christopher Meloni decide to depart altogther, the network today announced it has signed former Chase star Kelli Giddish and former Cold Case regular Danny Pino to play the show’s new detectives. The announcement was made by NBC Entertainment chief Bob Greenblatt. “Kelli and Danny are two great actors who will join a proven cast headed by Mariska Hargitay as this exceptional series heads into a very promising 13th season,” Greenblatt said. Added exec producer/creator Wolf: “I’m very pleased that we have two amazing actors joining the cast. I know this combination will give us the opportunity to explore the world of SVU with new eyes.”

Pino was one of five actors to test for the role vacated by Meloni, who already has signed on to a big-time part in Warner Bros’ Superman redo Man of Steel. He played Senior Detective Scotty Valens on seven seasons of CBS’ Cold Case, and more recently guest starred on USA Network’s Burn Notice. Giddish starred on the short-lived NBC series Chase last season and has appeared in guest-star roles on both SVU and Law & Order: Criminal Intent, so she knows some of the terrain already. Read More »

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UPDATE: Five Testing For ‘SVU’ Male Lead – Danny Pino, Kevin Alejandro, David Conrad, Michael Raymond-James, Rhys Coiro

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Monday June 20, 2011 @ 6:31pm PDTTags: Danny Pino, Kevin Alejandro, Law & Order: SVU, Mariska Hargitay
Nellie Andreeva

EXCLUSIVE UPDATE 6:30 PM: And then there were five. I’ve just learned that a fifth actor, Rhys Coiro (Entourage) is also on a plane to New York to test tomorrow for the Law & Order: SVU male lead.

PREVIOUS EXCLUSIVE … Read More »

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‘Law & Order: SVU’ Update: Ice-T Signs On, Could Det. Benson Get Female Partner?

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Friday June 10, 2011 @ 10:56am PDTTags: Chris Meloni, Ice-T, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Law & Order: SVU, Mariska Hargitay
Nellie Andreeva

With Chris Meloni out and Mariska Hargitay back part-time, Law & Order: SVU has locked co-star Ice-T full-time for next season. And the following one, if the veteran crime drama is renewed for a 14th season. Ice-T made the … Read More »

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MyNet Announces All-Rerun Schedule

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Wednesday May 25, 2011 @ 10:59am PDTTags: Burn Notice, Cold Case, Fall Schedule, Law & Order: SVU, Monk
Nellie Andreeva

I’m not sure why MyNetworkTV announces a fall schedule since the “programming service” has no original programming and its lineup only includes reruns of five procedurals – Law & Order: SVU, Cold Case, Without a Trace, Burn Notice and Monk — which will run as a double-bill Monday-Friday next season. Anyway, here is the schedule: Read More »

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Chris Meloni To Exit ‘Law & Order’ SVU’, NBC Moves To Replace Him

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Tuesday May 24, 2011 @ 3:43pm PDTTags: Chris Meloni, Law & Order: SVU, NBC
Nellie Andreeva

Only a week ago during NBC’s upfront conference call, the network’s chairman Bob Greenblatt said he was confident that Chris Meloni would be back on Law & Order: SVU next season. But, following negotiations that didn’t result in a deal, Meloni will be leaving the veteran crime drama after 12 seasons. His leading lady, Mariska Hargitay, closed her deal to return next season full-time for the first 13 episodes and part-time for the back nine as the network and Dick Wolf are preparing for an overhaul of the long-running series. The plan originally included a new female lead, a role Jennifer Love Hewitt is being considered for. But now that will be expanded to the male lead, too. Word is NBC has already sent out feelers to agencies that they’re looking for a name actor to replace Meloni. It is the end of an era at SVU, with longtime showrunner Neal Baer and Meloni leaving now and Hargitay scaling back as she also is mulling an exit after next season. L&O veteran Warren Leight is taking the reins of the series next season. As for Meloni, some sources say that he and NBC simply couldn’t agree on a new deal as the actor had been looking for a salary increase. But sources close to the actor say he’d had enough. “It was a great run and a wonderful experience,” the source said. “Now he is ready for the next chapter of his life.” Read More »

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Ratings Rat Race: ‘Idol’ Rules Wednesday

By THE DEADLINE TEAM | Thursday May 19, 2011 @ 12:35pm PDTTags: America's Next Top Model, American Idol, Cougar Town, Criminal Minds, Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior, Happy Endings, Law & Order: SVU, Modern Family, Ratings Rat Race, The Middle, TV Ratings

A two-hour American Idol on Fox gave the network a big win in the primetime ratings race Wednesday. The episode was the highest-rated and most-watched of the night by far with its 23 million viewers and 7.2 preliminary rating … Read More »

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Jennifer Love Hewitt Eyed For New Female Lead Of ‘SVU’ As Mariska Hargitay Closes Deal To Return, Chris Meloni Not Done

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Saturday May 14, 2011 @ 11:20am PDTTags: Christopher Meloni, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Law & Order: SVU, Mariska Hargitay
Nellie Andreeva

EXCLUSIVE: Just in time for NBC’s upfront presentation on Monday, Law & Order:SVU star Mariska Hargitay has closed a new deal to return to the crime drama for its upcoming 13th season, in which she will pass on the female lead baton to a new actress. I hear Jennifer Love Hewitt is being courted for the gig, though no formal offer has been made. Meanwhile, SVU‘s leading man Christopher Meloni still has no deal for next season.

Going into the contract negotiations, Hargitay had asked to scale back her workload on the show. The producers granted her request, and she will work fewer hours at her previous salary of about $385,000 an episode ($400,000 with backend and other payments included.) For the first 13 episodes, Hargitay’s character Olivia Benson will continue to solve sex crimes alongside her partner, presumably Elliot Stabler (Meloni), pending him closing his deal. Then Benson will be promoted to a supervisor position, with a new female detective taking her place. That is the role that the producers are eying Hewitt for. Read More »

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RATINGS RAT RACE: ‘Better With You’ Fights For Its Life With 19% Ratings Jump

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Thursday May 12, 2011 @ 9:20am PDTTags: American Idol, Better With You, Breaking In, Cougar Town, Criminal Minds, Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior, Happy Endings, Law & Order: SVU, Minute to Win It, Modern Family, Ratings Rat Race, Survivor: Redemption Island, The Middle, TV Ratings
Nellie Andreeva

Bubble shows are getting their final chance to make a case for renewal this week, and ABC’s comedy Better with You did its best last night. The multi-camera comedy, considered a long shot for renewal, drew a 1.9/6 in adults … Read More »

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RATINGS RAT RACE: ‘Happy Endings’ And ‘Criminal Behavior’ Drop Big Against ‘SVU’

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Thursday May 5, 2011 @ 10:29am PDTTags: American Idol, Better With You, Breaking In, Cougar Town, Criminal Minds, Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior, Happy Endings, Law & Order: SVU, Modern Family, Ratings Rat Race, Survivor: Redemption Island, The Middle, TV Ratings
Nellie Andreeva

After a promising 17% week-to-week ratings increase last week, ABC’s 10 PM comedy Happy Endings dropped alarmingly last night just as the networks are getting close to making their pickup decisions for next season. The midseason series (1.7/4) was down 19% from last week despite its lead-in, Cougar Town (2.2/6), being up a tenth. The difference? Happy Endings faced original competition in the 10 PM hour vs. repeats last week. The second Happy Endings original at 10:30 PM did worse, 1.4/4. Like Cougar Town, Better With You (1.6/5) was up a tenth from last week when both series followed repeats. A new The Middle (2.0/6) was up 5% from April 20, while a fresh Modern Family (3.8/10) was flat.

Law & Order: SVU‘s first original in a month, which guest starred John Stamos, did a 2.5/6, up a tenth from April 6. The veteran NBC crime drama won the 10 PM hour against ABC’s Happy Endings and CBS’ Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior (2.2/6), which was also hit by facing a new SVU, down 15% from April 16. Criminal Minds (3.2/8) was down 8%, while Survivor: Redemption Island (3.0/9) was flat with its fast national number last week. (Both Survivor and Fox’s American Idol always rise in the finals, so comparing fast nationals to finals is not completely fair.)

Speaking of Idol (6.4/18, 24.8 million), the reality series was down 7% from its fast national demo result last week, once again dominating the night in 18-49 and total viewers. Read More »

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Media Moguls Ask: Is Netflix Friend Or Foe?

By DAVID LIEBERMAN, Executive Editor | Sunday May 1, 2011 @ 4:35pm PDTTags: 30 Rock, Californication, Camelot Starz, Desperate Housewives, Dexter, Epix, HBO, House of Cards, Law & Order: SVU, Netflix, Netflix CEO Reed Hastings, Netflix Online Streaming, Showtime, Starz, The Office

Netflix last week was the object of envy and fear. The firm that’s evolving from DVD-by-mail provider to Web video subscription service showed in latest quarterly earnings that it’s growing at an astonishing rate. By charging as little as $7.99 a month, Netflix … Read More »

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Mariska Hargitay Sues WME Over ‘Law & Order: SVU’ Commissions

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Wednesday April 27, 2011 @ 4:26pm PDTTags: Law & Order: SVU, Mariska Hargitay, WME
Nellie Andreeva

While Law & Order: SVU star Mariska Hargitay is in the midst of negotiating her return for the upcoming 13th season of the show, she is suing talent agency WME over commissions for Seasons 11 and 12. The agency, which … Read More »

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Warren Leight To Run ‘Law & Order: SVU’

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Monday April 11, 2011 @ 11:00am PDTTags: Law & Order: SVU, Neal Baer, Neal Baer CBS Deal, Showrunners, TV, TV Deals, Warren Leight
Nellie Andreeva

Warren Leight is returning to the Law & Order franchise as executive producer and showrunner of NBC’s Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. Leight is finalizing a deal to succeed Neal Baer, who, after 11 year at the helm of SVU, is leaving the crime drama at the end of the season to segue into a rich three-year overall deal with CBS TV Studios. With an experienced showrunner like Leight in place, NBC and Dick Wolf have solved one of the two issues SVU faces in its quest for a 13th season. The other is re-signing stars Mariska Hargitay and Chris Meloni, whose deals are up at the end of the season. The two have just started talks with the network, with the pace of the negotiations expected to pick up during the next couple of weeks. Read More »

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RATINGS RAT RACE: ABC Freshman Series & ‘Survivor’ Hit Lows, Univision Third Again

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Thursday March 31, 2011 @ 9:15am PDTTags: American Idol, Criminal Minds, Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior, Law & Order: SVU, Minute to Win It, Mr. Sunshine, Off the Map, Ratings Rat Race, Survivor: Redemption Island, Univision
Nellie Andreeva

A two-hour American Idol (7.5/21 in adults 18-49, 23.6 million viewers) delivered another dominating Wednesday win for Fox. The Top 11 performance show (redux) was down 5% from last week’s Top 11 performance episode and 1% in total viewers. But in the apples-to-apples comparison to last week’s fast national numbers … Read More »

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RATINGS RAT RACE: ‘The Middle’ & ‘Survivor’ Hit Lows

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Thursday March 24, 2011 @ 9:48am PDTTags: America's Next Top Model, American Idol, Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior, Law & Order: SVU, Minute to Win It, Modern Family, Mr. Sunshine, Off the Map, Ratings Rat Race, Shedding for the Wedding, Survivor, The Middle, TV Ratings
Nellie Andreeva

Fox’s two-hour American Idol performance show (7.7/22 in adults 18-49, 23.5 million viewers) was up 1% from last week in 18-49 and 4% in total viewers. Vs. the same week last year, Idol was down a modest 8% in the … Read More »

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