Tuesday, February 26, 2013

85th Academy Awards The Oscars® Show in its entirety Available to stream Monday, Feb. 25th at 6:00 a.m. EST through Wednesday, February 27, at midnight EST

Press Release from Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences: The Oscars® Show to be Available in its Entirety Via ABC's Full Episode Player, Hulu and Hulu Plus for a Limited Time Beginning Monday, February 25th The Full Show Also Available Via ABC On Demand

Beverly Hills, CA - For the first time, viewers in the U.S. will be able to stream tonight’s Oscars show in its entirety across multiple platforms including ABC.com, the ABC Player app, and the free, ad-supported Hulu and Hulu Plus subscription service. The show will also be available via ABC On Demand, the network’s fast forward-disabled VOD service.

The Oscars, in its entirety, will be available to stream within hours of its broadcast completion, beginning Monday, Feb. 25th at 6:00 a.m. EST through Wednesday, February 27, at midnight EST.

“Tonight’s show included remarkable performances that will surely have people talking. This is an easy, convenient way for anyone who missed the show to catch up and join the conversation,” said Karin Gilford, Senior Vice President of Digital Media, ABC Entertainment. “It’s also perfect for anyone who just wants to relive the most magical moments of the night.”

"Our goal is to give fans as many ways to enjoy and engage with the Oscars as possible and this will provide another great opportunity for them,” said Christina Kounelias, the Academy’s Chief Marketing Officer.

The full streaming will be advertiser supported with :15 or :30 video spots running intermittingly from Blue Diamond, Diet Coke, Hyundai, JC Penney, Samsung and The University of Phoenix.

Additionally, during the telecast, Oscar.com offered a plethora of “Real Time Oscar Highlights” to viewers almost instantly after they debuted on the live broadcast. Those special moments from telecast as well as numerous highlights from the Red Carpet and backstage during the show, are currently available on the show’s official site, Oscar.com.

Oscar.com and the official Oscars app go to great lengths to engage fans, giving them unparalleled access to all things Oscar Sunday. As part of the “Backstage Pass,” there are almost 20 exclusive live cameras strategically placed on the Red Carpet, and throughout the backstage are of the Dolby Theatre.

Fans can either sit back and enjoy the action in “Watch” mode, or control the cameras they want to see in “Direct” mode. Hosts and correspondents include: “The View’s” Sherri Shepherd, television personality Cameron Mathison, “Modern Family’s” Rico Rodriquez, Entertainment Weekly’s Jess Cagle, and PEOPLE’s Peter Castro.

For the first time this year, Backstage Pass will include the Red Carpet Digital Lounge, where Radio Disney’s Jake Whetter, POPSUGAR’s Alison McNamara and Mashable’s Brian Hernandez will report on the most buzzed about trends on social media using multi-media monitors run from Samsung Galaxy tablets and smartphones.


Hosted by Seth MacFarlane, the show included:

A Celebration of Movie Musicals: Jennifer Hudson (Dreamgirls) and Catherine Zeta-Jones (Chicago) joined this year's Oscar nominees from Les Miserables, Hugh Jackman and Anne Hathaway along with co-stars Russell Crowe, Amanda Seyfried, Eddie Redmayne, Aaron Tveit, Samantha Barks and Helena Bonham Carter.

A very special performance from Barbra Streisand. Norah Jones performing "Everybody Needs a Best Friend" from the motion picture Ted. Adele singing the Oscar-nominated theme song from Skyfall.

Appearances by: Jack Nicholson, Dustin Hoffman, Jane Fonda, Jennifer Garner, Kristen Stewart, Kerry Washington, Jennifer Aniston, Michael Douglas, Jamie Foxx, Paul Rudd, Salma Hayek Pinault, Melissa McCarthy, Liam Neeson, John Travolta, Ben Affleck, Jessica Chastain, Jennifer Lawrence, Halle Berry, Sandra Bullock, Nicole Kidman, Reese Witherspoon, Mark Wahlberg, Ted and "Marvel's The Avengers" cast members Robert Downey Jr., Samuel L. Jackson, Chris Evans, Jeremy Renner and Mark Ruffalo.

Returning 2011 Oscar winners Jean Dujardin, Christopher Plummer, Octavia Spencer and Meryl Streep; "Chicago" cast members Richard Gere, Queen Latifah, Renée Zellweger and Catherine Zeta-Jones; special guests Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Daniel Radcliffe, Channing Tatum and Charlize Theron; and performers including Kristin Chenoweth, Jennifer Hudson, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, Anne Hathaway, Amanda Seyfried, Eddie Redmayne, Samantha Barks, Aaron Tveit and Helena Bonham, Adele, Dame Shirley Bassey, Norah Jones and Barbra Streisand.


The Oscars for outstanding film achievements of 2012 were presented on Oscar® Sunday, February 24, at the Dolby Theatre™ at Hollywood & Highland Center®, and were hosted by Seth MacFarlane. The Oscar presentation was televised live on the ABC Television Network and in more than 225 countries worldwide.

Ratings for the Oscars
Source: The Nielsen Company (Live + Same Day, Fast National Program Ratings) – 02/24/13. 2013 Site statistics based on Omniture data, 1/10-2/24/13, app downloads provided by iOS/Google, unique users for site and apps are not unduplicated due to limitations in the data. SocialGuide total number of tweets (Red Carpet combined total of Red Carpet Live & On the Red Carpet) 2/24/13 vs. 2/26/12.

ABC (32.434 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 10.1, #1) was of course the top draw on Sunday with its coverage of "The 85th Annual Academy Awards" (36.967 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 12.1, #1). Leading into said coverage were the specials "The Oscars Red Carpet Live, Part 1" (19.343 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 5.0, #4), "The Oscars Red Carpet Live, Part 2" (23.833 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 6.7, #3) and "The Oscars Red Carpet Live, Part 3" (31.462 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 9.2, #2).

The Oscars grew its overall audience for the 2nd straight year (+3%) and surged 11% in Adults 18-49 (13.0 rating vs. 11.7 rating) to its best numbers since 2010. Overall, it was the “Oscars’” 2nd-most-watched telecast since 2005. 

In addition the Seth MacFarlane-hosted show scored big gains year to year with Adults 18-34 (+20% – 11.3 rating vs. 9.4 rating), hitting its highest number in 6 years – since 2007. In addition the show posted strong double-digit year-to-year growth across all key Men: M18-34 +34%, M18-49 +16% and M25-54 +11%.

TV’s biggest awards show, ABC’s the Oscars towered over other awards shows this year, outdrawing the 2013 Golden Globe Awards by 20.6 million viewers and 103% in Adults 18-49 (19.7 million/6.4 rating in AD18-49) and the 2013 Grammy Awards by 11.9 million viewers and 29% in Adults 18-49 (28.4 million/10.1 rating in AD18-49).

With the Oscars Red Carpet Live pre-show, The Oscars’ telecast and “Jimmy Kimmel Live: After the Oscars,” ABC’s Oscar programming on Sunday reached 80.748 million unique television viewers across the U.S. – unduplicated Viewers 2+ watching 6-minutes or more during the broadcast.

Oscar.com and the Oscar App generated substantial year-over-year growth. The number of visitors to Oscar.com since the nomination announcement (15.8 million) surged 28% over 2012, and the Oscar App was downloaded 432,000 times, representing a 16% jump over last year. 

On Oscar Sunday alone, 4.6 million people visited Oscar.com or used an Oscar App. Overall users consumed over 33.4 million minutes of digital content on Sunday.

According Social Guide there were 6.4 million tweets with 1.6 million unique users, as overall Oscar activity outpaced last year by 68% (6.4 million vs. 3.8 million).

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Upload with Shaquille O' Neal On truTV Premieres Thursday 2~21~2013 at 10:30PM ET

Turner NewsRoom Press Release: truTV Sets Thursday, Feb. 21, as Premiere Date for Hilarious New Series UPLOAD WITH SHAQUILLE O'NEAL

Shaquille O'Neal is about to put his own hilarious spin on online videos when truTV's brand new series Upload with Shaquille O'Neal premieres Thursday, Feb. 21, at 10:30 p.m. (ET/PT). Each week on the show, Shaq and his comic friends – co-hosts Gary Owen (Think Like a Man) and Godfrey (The Mr. Men Show) – will scour the internet looking for the funniest online videos and comment on them. They will also make their own viral videos, pull pranks and create parodies of current pop culture stories.

To help the trio in their comic antics, Shaq and his friends will be joined by special guest comedians. Among the guests lined up for the show's first season are Michelle Buteau (Vh1’s Big Morning Buzz Live, Latino 101), Dillon Garcia (La Chamba), Tiffany Haddish (Who Wants to Date a Comedian?), Arnez J (Def Comedy Jam), Al Jackson (Comedy Central Presents, Last Comic Standing), Loni Love (Chelsea Lately, Kickin’ It), Eliza Skinner (CONAN), Aries Spears (MADtv, The Underground), Baron Vaughn (Fairly Legal) and Ali Wong (Savages, Are You There Chelsea?).


Click here to watch a sneak peek from truTV's Upload with Shaquille O'Neal: http://www.trutv.com/video/upload-with-shaquille-oneal/knee-aggressive.html

Among his many accolades during his 19-year playing career, Shaquille O'Neal was chosen as one of the NBA's 50 Greatest Players, ranks fifth all-time in NBA scoring history (28,596 points scored), won the Rookie of the Year award(1993) and MVP award (2000) and was named All-NBA 14 times. Additionally, his career includes four NBA Championships—three with the LA Lakers (2000-02), where he was named NBA Finals MVP for all three championships, and one with the Miami Heat (2006).

The 15-time NBA All-Star and three-time NBA All-Star MVP(2000, 2004, 2009) also won two scoring titles (1995, 2000). He appeared in 1,207 regular season games, averaging 23.7 points, 10.9 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2.3 blocks in 34.7 minutes per contest throughout his career, which included playing for the Orlando Magic, LA Lakers, Miami Heat, Phoenix Suns, Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics. He is currently an NBA analyst for TNT's Sports Emmy®-winning Inside the NBA studio show and also offers analysis on NBA TV, which is jointly managed by the NBA and Turner Sports.


TruTV has ordered 10 episodes of Upload with Shaquille O'Neal, which is executive-produced by FishBowl's Vin Di Bona, Bruce Gersh, Mike Gibbons, Greg Heller, creative team leader Susan Levison and Beth Greenwald, along with Shaq Entertainment’s Shaquille O'Neal, Perry Rogers, Colin Smeeton and Mike Parris.

About FishBowl Worldwide Media
FishBowl Worldwide Media is an independent production company founded in 2010 by entertainment industry veterans Vin Di Bona and Bruce Gersh, with the creative team led by Susan Levison. This next generation studio is a transmedia storyteller developing properties for film, television, digital platforms and brands by partnering with marketers, digital companies and ad agencies in addition to the Hollywood creative community.

Currently, FishBowl is in production on several unscripted television series including “Offbeat,” which recently aired on Fuse, as well as series for Bravo and VH1. FishBowl also has projects in development at Animal Planet, MTV and Logo. On the scripted side, projects have been sold to NBC, Fox, ABC, CW, Comedy Central, and Adult Swim. FishBowl Worldwide Media is headquartered in Los Angeles.


About Shaq Entertainment
Shaq Entertainment, founded by basketball superstar Shaquille O’Neal and entertainment industry vet Jeff Clanagan, is a vertically integrated entertainment and new media company.

The company has established itself as a leader in the promotion and management of live urban-themed stand up comedy events, as well as the leading producer and distributor of urban comedy in the television, DVD and digital markets.




Monday, February 18, 2013

NBC'S 'THE BIGGEST LOSER' TEAMS WITH PINTEREST IN A FIRST-OF-ITS-KIND PARTNERSHIP TO BRING TAKE-AWAY TIPS SEEN IN THE SHOW TO PROMOTE HEALTHY LIVING TO MILLIONS

NBC Entertainment Press Release: February 18, 2013
NBC'S 'THE BIGGEST LOSER' TEAMS WITH PINTEREST IN A FIRST-OF-ITS-KIND PARTNERSHIP TO BRING TAKE-AWAY TIPS SEEN IN THE SHOW TO PROMOTE HEALTHY LIVING TO MILLIONS

Joint Effort with Shine America Begins Monday, February 18 and Features Tips and Tricks from "The Biggest Loser" Experts, Including Trainer Dolvett Quince

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. - February 18, 2013 - In a first-of-its-kind broadcast entertainment partnership, NBC and Shine America will team with Pinterest -- the online tool millions use to find inspiration for their lives-- to jointly promote "The Biggest Loser" (Mondays, 8-10 p.m. ET) with fitness and food ideas and tips seen during broadcast. Through the partnership, NBC will create instructional content based on each week's episode specifically for the Pinterest platform so that fans can more easily incorporate what they've seen on the show into their own lives and turn motivation into reality. The integration begins today (Monday, February 18) and will continue until the series' season finale on March 18.

The announcement was made today by NBC, Shine America and Pinterest.

Beginning with tonight's broadcast of "The Biggest Loser," when contestants either try a new exercise or see a healthy recipe or explore a healthy lifestyle tip, pop-up text will appear on screen directing viewers to "The Biggest Loser" Pinterest page at pinterest.com/nbcbiggestloser. There they will find detailed "how-to" images from experts such as "The Biggest Loser" trainer Dolvett Quince and Chef Devin Alexander. Fans can re-pin the content to their own Pinterest boards or save it and share it with others.

Each episode will feature one show-inspired exercise, recipe, or lifestyle tip and every post will consist of a series of easy-to-follow photos with text directions.

"We are thrilled to be the first entertainment company to execute a partnership of this kind with Pinterest. Pinterest is one of the top sources of engagement for our content and the utility it offers its users is perfect for this kind of initiative," said Robert Hayes, Executive Vice President, NBC Entertainment Digital. "'The Biggest Loser" and Pinterest are an ideal pairing since our respective communities value inspiration, motivation and self-empowerment."


"As 'The Biggest Loser' continues to break barriers in its 14th season, we are proud to be the first official entertainment partner with Pinterest and NBC in this way," said Vivi Zigler, President of Shine 360˚ and Digital. 

"Being at the forefront of all things health, wellness and lifestyle Pinterest was a natural fit with 'The Biggest Loser' to provide fans with take-away content and a powerful user experience."

"Connecting NBC's engaging programming directly to content on Pinterest that people can save, share and, ultimately, use in their lives creates a uniquely valuable experience for viewers," said Barry Schnitt, Head of Communications at Pinterest. "People watch 'The Biggest Loser' to get inspired and that's the same reason they come to Pinterest, making the show a perfect place for us to start."

"The Biggest Loser" is bigger and bolder as it returned last month with a powerful new mission -- to tackle the nation's childhood obesity epidemic head on. For the first time ever in the show's history, kids (ages 13-16) are participating along with 15 adult contestants. New mother Jillian Michaels is also back, ready to whip contestants into shape with her tough-as-nails, no-nonsense approach, alongside returning trainers and top fitness experts Bob Harper and Dolvett Quince. The show is hosted by Alison Sweeney.

"The Biggest Loser" is a production of Shine America, 25/7 Productions and 3 Ball Productions. Ben Silverman, Dave Broome, Todd Lubin, Lisa Hennessy, Eden Gaha, Paul Franklin, JD Roth and Todd A. Nelson are the executive producers.

For embeddable clips and full episodes from "The Biggest Loser," please visit NBC.com's official show site: http://www.nbc.com/the-biggest-loser/

Please follow us on Pinterest and Twitter and like us on Facebook

About Shine America

Shine America is a world leader in producing and distributing compelling scripted and unscripted television and digital content and through its global Shine 360˚ division, building brands through the leveraging of its intellectual property and creating integrated marketing opportunities for advertisers. 

Shine America is known for popular and award-winning original series including "The Biggest Loser," "Tabatha Takes Over" and "The Face"; adaptations of Shine Group formats "MasterChef," "Minute to Win It," "One Born Every Minute" and "Parental Control"; long-running scripted hits "The Office," "Ugly Betty" and "The Tudors"; and over 20 ground-breaking original online series on MSN, Yahoo!, YouTube premium channels and other platforms, many of these produced in partnership with global brands such as Walmart, Toyota, Kraft Foods, Subway and Microsoft. Through Shine Group's distribution arm, Shine International, Shine America distributes its extensive library of programming and formats to more than 150 countries. Visit www.shineamerica.com for further information.

About NBC Entertainment

NBC Entertainment develops and schedules programming for the network's primetime, late-night, and daytime schedules. NBC's quality programs and balanced lineup have earned the network critical acclaim, numerous awards, and ratings success. 

NBC has earned more Emmy Awards than any network in television history. NBC's roster of popular scripted series includes the Emmy Award-winning comedies "The Office" and "30 Rock," as well as the critically acclaimed "Parks and Recreation" and "Community," and new popular comedies "The New Normal," "Go On" and "Guys With Kids." NBC's drama slate is highlighted by the buzz-worthy new series "Revolution" and "Chicago Fire," veteran award-winning shows "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" and "Parenthood," and the acclaimed recent additions "Smash" and "Grimm." Unscripted series for NBC include the vocal competition hit "The Voice" as well as "The Biggest Loser," "The Celebrity Apprentice" and the perennial #1 most-watched summer series, "America's Got Talent."

In late-night, NBC regularly delivers #1 broadcast results with "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon," "Last Call with Carson Daly" and "Saturday Night Live." NBC Daytime's "Days of our Lives" consistently ranks among daytime's top programs in the valuable women 18-34 category. 

The five-time, Emmy Award-winning NBC.com streams full episodes and provides original content for NBC entertainment shows online and through apps for mobile and tablet devices. NBC recently launched NBC Kids, a new Saturday morning programming block designed specifically to address the developmental needs of preschool-aged children. Programmed by the kids' experts at Sprout, the nation's first 24-hour preschool television channel, this new three-hour block will feature educational series that promote active, healthy lifestyles for younger children.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Tracy St. Pierre, NBC Digital and Entertainment Publicity, 818/777-2940, Tracy.StPierre@nbcuni.com

Julie Holland, Shine America Publicity, 323/790-8027, Julie.holland@shineamerica.com

Pinterest, press@pinterest.com

Bates Motel on A&E Premieres Monday March 18 2013 10PM/9Central

Press Release: 1~4~2013 A&E NETWORK TO PREMIERE NEW ORIGINAL SCRIPTED DRAMA SERIES "BATES MOTEL" ON MONDAY, MARCH 18 AT 10PM ET/PT

SERIES TO STAR VERA FARMIGA, FREDDIE HIGHMORE, MAX THIERIOT, OLIVIA COOKE AND NICOLA PELTZ

Pasadena, CA - January 4, 2013 - A&E Network will premiere the new original scripted drama series "Bates Motel" from executive producers Carlton Cuse ("Lost") and Kerry Ehrin ("Friday Night Lights") on Monday, March 18 at 10 PM ET/PT, it was announced today by Bob DeBitetto, President and GM of A&E Network and Bio Channel.

"Bates Motel" is a contemporary prequel to the genre-defining film "Psycho," and promises to give viewers an intimate portrayal of how Norman Bates' psyche unravels through his teenage years.


Fans will have access to the dark, twisted backstory of Norman Bates and how deeply intricate his relationship with his mother, Norma, truly is. The series stars Academy Award nominee Vera Farmiga ("Up in the Air," "The Departed"), Freddie Highmore ("Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," "Finding Neverland"), Max Thieriot ("Disconnect"), Olivia Cooke ("Blackout") and Nicola Peltz ("The Last Airbender"). Season one also co-stars Nestor Carbonell ("Lost," "The Dark Knight Rises") and Mike Vogel ("Pan Am").

"Carlton and Kerry crafted a fascinating backstory for Norman and Norma Bates that has been brought to life by this incredible cast," said DeBitetto. "It's thought provoking television at its finest and we're thrilled to bring it to the A&E family."

In "Bates Motel," following the tragic death of her husband, Norma Bates buys a motel on the outskirts of the idyllic coastal town of White Pine Bay, seeking a fresh start. As Norma and Norman get ensconced in their new home, they discover this town isn't quite what it seems, and the locals aren't so quick to let them in on their secrets. But the Bates' are done being pushed around and will do whatever it takes to survive - and will do whatever it takes to protect their own secrets.

"Bates Motel" is produced by Universal Television for A&E Network. Carlton Cuse and Kerry Ehrin serve as executive producers for Carlton Cuse Productions.


Sunday, February 17, 2013

The Taste Tuesdays on ABC at 8/7c

Thanks to a heads-up from @Influenster i recently caught cooking competition show @TheTasteABC. Chefs Nigella Lawson, Anthony Bourdain, Ludo Lefebvre, and Brian Malarkey are the judges, and they each have teams of 4 competitors/protégés.

The contestant's backgrounds range from professional chefs to amateur foodies who've been selected from a national casting call. Their mission is to impress the judges with their culinary skills as they complete pre-determined tasks such as pairing a dish with a particular wine & incorporating the wine in the preparation of the dish.


The contestants compete as a team and individuals because if an entry doesn't advance to the next round and the creator of the dish does not obtain elimination immunity, they are eliminated from the team as well as the competition on the whole. The real fun is how the advancing is decided---through a blind tasting.

A spoonful of each creation is sampled by the judges and their assessment is based solely on the presentation and taste without the knowledge of which team member made the dish.

After discussing the dishes' merits or lack thereof, the food is given a yea or nay and it's creator's identity is revealed. Which also makes for bragging rights between the judges because if one of their team member's dishes is eliminated [again barring elimination immunity] so is that team member. So far Anthony Bourdain's team is the only one who has not had any eliminations.


The Taste, bringing pleasure to the palate a spoonful at a time. See it Tuesdays at 8/7central on ABC



Sunday, February 10, 2013

AMC's The Walking Dead Season 3 Episode 9 "The Suicide King" Premieres Sunday 2~10~2012 at 9PM ET/8PM Central

AMC press release December 2012:
Today, AMC announces the season 4 pick-up of The Walking Dead. AMC also jointly announces with Glen Mazzara today that for future seasons, the two parties have mutually decided to part ways. Glen guided the series creatively for seasons 2 and 3.

AMC is grateful for his hard work. We are both proud of our shared success. Both parties acknowledge that there is a difference of opinion about where the show should go moving forward, and conclude that it is best to part ways.


This decision is amicable and Glen will remain on for post-production on season 3B as showrunner and executive producer.

~

The Walking Dead Season 3 Episode 9 “The Suicide King” airs on Sunday Feb 10 2013 at 9/8c on AMC.

Written By: Evan Reilly Directed By: Lesli Linka Glatter

Rick tries to rescue a member of his group. Woodbury is in disarray after a recent attack. New guests raise concerns at the prison.

Show Summary: Based on one of the most successful and popular comic books of all time, written by Robert Kirkman, AMC’s The Walking Dead captures the ongoing human drama following a zombie apocalypse. The series follows a group of survivors, led by police officer Rick Grimes, played by Andrew Lincoln (Love Actually, Teachers, Strike Back), who are traveling in search of a safe and secure home.

However, instead of the zombies, it is the living who remain that truly become the walking dead. Jon Bernthal (The Pacific, The Ghost Writer) plays Shane Walsh, Rick’s sheriff’s department partner before the apocalypse, and Sarah Wayne Callies (Prison Break), is Rick’s wife, Lori Grimes. Additional cast include: Laurie Holden, Steven Yeun, Norman Reedus, Jeffrey DeMunn, Chandler Riggs, Iron E. Singleton and Melissa McBride. Guest stars include: Lauren Cohan, Scott Wilson and Pruitt Taylor Vince.

Prelude To Music's Biggest Night ~ 55th Annual Grammy Awards Pre-Telecast Ceremony Live Sunday 2~10~2013 1PM Pacific Time

Press Release GrammyOrg ~ Posted on 02-05-13

GRAMMY® PRE TELECAST CEREMONY TO TAKE PLACE LIVE FOR THE FIRST TIME FROM NOKIA THEATRE L.A. LIVE ON SUNDAY, FEB. 10, STARTING AT 1 P.M. PT Prelude to Music's Biggest Night® Will Help Kick Off The 55th Annual GRAMMY Awards® and Will Feature Performances by Nominees Krishna Das, eighth blackbird, John Fullbright, Hugh Masekela, Tyrese, and Elle Varner

David Alan Grier to Host the Star-Studded Ceremony — Which Once Again Will Be Streamed Live Online at GRAMMY.com — and Radmilla Cody, Janis Ian, Jimmy Jam, Kaskade, Britt Nicole, and Manuel Valera Will Help Present Awards in Approximately 70 Categories

SANTA MONICA, Calif. (Feb. 5, 2013) — The 55th Annual GRAMMY Awards® Pre-Telecast Ceremony will take place live for the first time at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on Sunday, Feb. 10, 2013, from 1 – 3:30 p.m. PT, and will be streamed live internationally at GRAMMY.com/live and CBS.com beginning at 1 p.m. PT. 

Attended by nominees and industry VIPs, the star-studded ceremony with be hosted by actor/singer/comedian David Alan Grier. The Pre-Telecast will feature performances by current nominees Krishna Das, eighth blackbird, John Fullbright, Hugh Masekela, Tyrese, Elle Varner. Presenting the first GRAMMY Awards of the day in approximately 70 categories will be current nominees Radmilla Cody, Janis Ian, Kaskade, Britt Nicole, and Manuel Valera as well as five-time GRAMMY-winning producer Jimmy Jam. 


The live stream of the Pre-Telecast will remain on GRAMMY.com as video on demand for 30 days following the event. Following the ceremony, the 55th Annual GRAMMY Awards will be broadcast live on the CBS Television Network from 8 – 11:30 p.m. ET/PT. For GRAMMY coverage, updates and breaking news, please visit The Recording Academy®'s social networks on Facebook and Twitter.

Host Grier is nominated for Best Musical Theater Album for The Gershwins' Porgy And Bess.

Performers Krishna Das, eighth blackbird, Fullbright, Masekela, Tyrese and Varner each have one nod: Krishna Das for Best New Age Album for Live Ananda; eight blackbird for Best Chamber Music/Small Ensemble Performance for "Meanwhile"; Fullbright for Best Americana Album for From The Ground Up; Masekela for Best World Music Album for Jabulani; Tyrese for Best R&B Album for Open Invitation; and Varner for Best R&B Song for "Refill."

Presenters Cody, Ian, Kaskade, Nicole, Valera each have one nomination: Cody for Best Regional Roots Music Album for Shi Kéyah — Songs For The People; Ian for Best Spoken Word Album for Society's Child: My Autobiography; Kaskade for Best Dance/Electronica Album for Fire & Ice; Nicole for Best Contemporary Christian Music Album for Gold; and Valera for Best Latin Jazz Album for Manuel Valera New Cuban Express' New Cuban Express.

Established in 1957, The Recording Academy is an organization of musicians, songwriters, producers, engineers and recording professionals that is dedicated to improving the cultural condition and quality of life for music and its makers. 

Internationally known for the GRAMMY Awards — the preeminent peer-recognized award for musical excellence and the most credible brand in music — The Recording Academy is responsible for groundbreaking professional development, cultural enrichment, advocacy, education and human services programs. 

The Academy continues to focus on its mission of recognizing musical excellence, advocating for the well-being of music makers and ensuring music remains an indelible part of our culture. For more information about The Academy, please visit www.grammy.com. For breaking news and exclusive content, follow @TheGRAMMYs on Twitter, like "The GRAMMYs" on Facebook, and join The GRAMMYs' social communities on Foursquare, GetGlue, Google +, Instagram, Pinterest, Tumblr, and YouTube.

# # #

Media Contact:

Lourdes Lopez

The Recording Academy

310.392.3777

lourdesl@grammy.com

Wednesday, February 06, 2013

TNT’s Perception Casts Scott Wolf For Guest Star Arc Series' Second Season In Production For Summer 2013 Airing

TNT Press Release 1~29~2013

Scott Wolf is set to be a major recurring guest-star this season on TNT’s Perception, starring Emmy and Screen Actors Guild Award winner Eric McCormack. Wolf is best known for his roles on the television series Party of Five, V and Everwood.

In Perception, Wolf will play Donnie, a charismatic, fast-rising Assistant U.S. Attorney recently transferred back to Chicago.

Donnie is less concerned with doing what’s right than with what’s right for Donnie. He’s a blue-collar, Irish-Catholic kid from the south side who loves the White Sox.

While Donnie claims his transfer back to Chicago was completely random, he has a hidden agenda involving Kate (Rachael Leigh Cook), his soon-to-be ex-wife.


Perception, which comes to TNT from ABC Studios, stars Eric McCormack as Dr. Daniel Pierce, an eccentric neuroscientist and university professor with a unique way of seeing the world.

Pierce is called upon by his former student – FBI agent Kate Moretti, played by Rachael Leigh Cook (She’s All That) – to help the federal government solve complex criminal cases. Perception, which also stars Arjay Smith (The Day After Tomorrow), LeVar Burton (Roots) and Kelly Rowan (The O.C.), is about to start production on its second season, which premieres in summer 2013.



Monday, February 04, 2013

All My Children & One Life To Live Revived, Prospect Park Productions' TOLN Secures Deal With Hulu & iTunes

Prospect Park Productions Press Release: Los Angeles, CA and New York, NY – January 25, 2013 –

In a groundbreaking move that brings premium first-run, broadcast-quality programming to a mass-market audience via the internet, Prospect Park’s The Online Network (TOLN) announced today that the Company has reached an agreement with Hulu and the iTunes Store to distribute all-new episodes of “All My Children” and “One Life to Live.” Through the Hulu distribution agreement, the hugely popular daily dramas will reach tens of millions of fans via the free Hulu.com service, as well as millions of Hulu Plus subscribers watching on connected TVs, mobile phones, tablets and PCs. iTunes customers can enjoy viewing on iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Apple TV and their Mac or PC. The announcement was made today by Prospect Park Chairman and CEO, Jeff Kwatinetz.

“I believe that both Hulu and iTunes have the vision, the reach and the technology to help us launch TOLN in a significant way,” Kwatinetz said. “We think these platforms are part of history, helping us to transform distribution. Hulu’s reach, platform and advertising prowess are best in class, and iTunes provides an incredible way to buy TV shows that is second to none. Through both of these partners, we hope daytime drama fans are absolutely delighted to be able to watch their favorite programs in a broadcast-quality HD format wherever and whenever they want.”

Separately, Prospect Park has closed its financing with ABRY Partners, one of the most experienced and successful media-focused private equity investment firms in North America. Since 1989, ABRY has completed over $36 billion in leveraged transactions and other private equity investments involving approximately 450 properties.



Brent Stone, a partner at ABRY Partners, stated, “We are excited to be partnering with Jeff Kwatinetz and the rest of the team at Prospect Park, and we strongly believe that they will continue to be a leader in their innovative approach to content creation.”

Kwatinetz continued, “We are privileged to the have the backing and partnership with Brent and his team at ABRY, who are proven, brilliant investors, and will help us reach our ultimate goals.”

Starting this spring, viewers can stream the beloved serial dramas “All My Children” and “One Life to Live” on the free Hulu.com service and the Hulu Plus subscription service. New 30-minute episodes of “All My Children” and “One Life to Live” will be introduced each weekday. This innovative content deal will re-introduce these venerable daytime hits in a new format perfect for the viewing habits of the digital generation. Prospect Park and TOLN plan to blend new themes, fresh stars and youthful energy with the familiar actors and writers who made these shows must-watch afternoon viewing for legions of loyal fans.

The agreement with Hulu also allows brands and marketers to connect with a highly desirable and engaged audience. Hulu will manage the advertising sales for both shows, and package integrated sponsorship opportunities. TOLN will also offer ecommerce and other digital marketing programs to brands and entities looking to tap into Hulu’s mass market demographic. Additionally, Hulu will promote both series across its subscription and free-to-view platforms.

Under the leadership of Kwatinetz and Rich Frank, Prospect Park in 2011 forged a multi-year, multi-platform licensing agreement with Disney/ABC Domestic Television Group to continue production of “All My Children” and “One Life to Live.” Prospect Park has also entered into a consulting agreement with Agnes Nixon, the creator of both series, guaranteeing her active involvement in their continued production. “All My Children” and “One Life to Live” ended their runs on ABC Television in September, 2011 and January, 2012, respectively.

Earlier in this month, Prospect Park announced guild agreements with Hollywood’s major labor groups, the Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, and the Directors Guild of America. The company also finalized a deal with the Writer’s Guild of America.

More information about TOLN series will soon be available at www.TOLN.com and www.theonlinenetwork.com

About Prospect Park ~ Prospect Park is a media and production company founded in 2009 by entertainment industry veterans Jeffrey Kwatinetz and former Disney Studios head Rich Frank. Along with successful film and music divisions, the company’s television group has numerous shows in development and breakout network hits airing including “Royal Pains” and “Wilfred.”