Cowell Talks ‘X Factor’
The specter of Simon Cowell hovered over the TV Critics Association summer press tour Friday in a large screen showing him via satellite from New York. The size of his…
Friday TV: Forgotten ‘Friends,’ Bigtime ‘Ferb,’ ‘Hit’ Finale
Some network series are treated even more poorly than, say, “Love Bites.” “Friends with Benefits” (NBC, 8 and 8:30 p.m.), a comedy originally slated as a midseason show, never got…
Paul McCartney’s Stab at a 9/11 Documentary
Of the avalanche of programming planned for the 10th anniversary of 9/11, the most entertaining may be “The Love You Make,” the documentary of Paul McCartney’s organization of the concert…
Why ‘Downton Abbey’ Hit: The ‘Mad Men’ Factor
In a year when the big promotional push was for “Upstairs Downstairs,” it was the upstart British series “Downton Abbey” that all but took its thunder, becoming the biggest hit…
Timing ‘Downton Abbey’
There has been massive confusion regarding the size of “Downton Abbey,” which occurred since its seven episodes in England but cut down to four 90-minute episodes for use on “Masterpiece…
All-Stars Invade ‘Next Top Model’
The new season of “America’s Next Top Model” will go all-star for the first time this fall, with 14 “fan favorites and outrageous personalities” from previous cycles. That means the…
Thursday TV: ‘Jersey Shore’ in Italy, Rebuilding Detroit
Things get dangerous as the fourth season begins for “Jersey Shore” (MTV, 10 p.m.). Rather than just being an embarrassment at Seaside Heights, the overly-familiar cast is exported abroad, where…
Ted Danson’s Move to ‘CSI’
One of TV’s most venerable institutions, “CSI” changes again this fall with the addition of Ted Danson to the cast. From the one clip shown to writers at the TV…
Cristina’s Movida: To Telemundo
Amid all the talk of daytime sea changes, there’s been less attention to a greater change among the Spanish language channels, where Cristina, will premiere a new show on Telemundo…
Meet Walden Schmidt, Kutcher’s Character in ‘Men’
The new character for Ashton Kutcher on “Two and a Half Men” was revealed Wednesday morning at the TV Critics Press Tour. Kutcher, the big name actor replacing Charlie Sheen,…