Daily Archives: September 22, 2011

‘X-Factor’ No ‘Idol’ in the Ratings

“The X Factor” might have seemed like “American Idol” in its premiere Wednesday, but not in the ratings. Though it did well among young audiences, it only managed 11.72 million total viewers for its first hour; with 12.56 million in the second hour. It was beat by both the 14.07 million for “Criminal Minds” on […]

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The New Fall Season: Thursdays

We’ve been following the new shows all week on broadcast TV. Here’s what’s coming on one of the most competitive nights of the week. NEW SHOWS “Prime Suspect” (NBC, 10 p.m. tonight) has some great source material – the splendid British series starring Helen Mirren. But Americanizing it means casting a tiny, pretty actress in […]

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Also On Thursday: New Face on ‘The Office,’ ‘Grey’s’ Back

Of all the returning shows tonight, in the opening week of the new fall season, most of the speculation is on “The Office” (NBC, 9 p.m.). Steve Carell is gone; James Spader is entering the picture, not quite as a replacement, but as an upper level company operative who will presumably replace Michael Scott with […]

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Unveiling ‘The X Factor’

After more than a year of foreshadowing, anticipation and just sheer hype, the nation found out what “The X Factor” actually was in the show’s two hour premiere Wednesday. It’s “American Idol” with a different name. Sure, the ages have broadened – and the first hour only showed people who’d be too young or too […]

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The End of R.E.M.

It shouldn’t have come as a surprise after 30 years, but still there was something jolting about the statement Tuesday that the band was calling it quits. “As lifelong friends and co-conspirators,” they said in a statement, “we have decided to call it a day as a band.” “During our last tour, and while making […]

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‘New Girl’ Does Well in Premiere

One of the best reviewed new shows of the season also had one of the highest audiences Tuesday. “New Girl,” starring Zooey Deschanel as a nerdy post-breakup girl with new roommates, attracted 10.1 million people doing better than any comedy premiere on Fox since “The Bernie Sanders Show.” It didn’t feed off the season premiere […]

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