“The Walking Dead” marathon featured on AMC March 4
From left, Jon Bernthal, Sarah Wayne Callies and Andrew Lincoln of "The Walking Dead" - AMC Photo
AMC will air a special marathon of the first season of “The Walking Dead” March 4, with each of the six episodes packaged with exclusive content.
Interviews with executive producer and writer Frank Darabont, who also directed the pilot; executive producers Gale Anne Hurd and Robert Kirkman as well as special effects makeup designer and consulting producer Greg Nicotero are included in the extras, according to a news release.
The marathon will also feature an exclusive first look at AMC’s new original drama “The Killing” which will have a two-hour premiere at 8 p.m. April 3.
“The Killing,” from writer, executive producer and showrunner Veena Sud (“Cold Case”), is about the murder of a teenage girl and the subsequent police investigation.
“The Walking Dead” marathon begins at 7 p.m. March 4, with “The Killing” first look airing at 8:30 p.m. and 11:45 p.m. on March 4 as well.
“The Walking Dead,” based on Kirkman’s comic book series, is centered on the weeks and months that follow after a zombie apocalypse.
The series stars Andrew Lincoln, Jon Bernthal, Sarah Wayne Callies, Laurie Holden, Jeffrey DeMunn, Steven Yeun, Emma Bell and Chandler Riggs.
Oklahoma cowboys rally from 11th to third place in “Amazing Race”
Call it “Cowboy Magic.” Oklahoma cowboys Jet and Cord McCoy rallied from 11th to third place in the second episode of “The Amazing Race: Unfinished Business,” which aired Sunday night.
Jet, 31, of Ada, and Cord, 30, of Tupelo, stumbled in the first episode on decoding a password to get to their destination near Sydney, Australia. In the second episode, they got it on their first try. Next up was a sailboat leg to Manley Beach, and sailing didn’t go all that well either. It’s easy to see why they have sold the two sailboats they won last year in their first appearance on “The Amazing Race.” “Sailing is not my thing,” Jet said. “We did fall off in the water a couple of times. We were shark bait.”
Cord also expressed his first “Oh, my gravy!” of the new series. Last year the expression became his catchphrase and since has been featured on T-shirts.
They also were last to reach the anchor in town hall and reserve the 11th and last spot on the flight to Broken Hill, 700 miles from Sydney. However, they began to rally, making it to ninth place at a detour where they had to create an Aboriginal mosaic and dance on it. They were up to seventh place after finding the home of the Magpies (Central Football Club.) After doning silly kangaroo costumes, they were up to sixth place at the next clue stop. Their last stop was a mine, and they used their athletic ability to outrun several teams and pull into third place.
Zev and Justin, brothers from California, finished first and won a trip to Cancun. Eliminated was the engaged couple of Amanda and Kris, who had to do the Aborigine detour twice.
The teams are off to Japan for the third episode next week.
“American Idol” offers online voting for the first time ever
"American Idol's" Ryan Seacrest, Jennifer Lopez, Steven Tyler and Randy Jackson - Fox Photo by Tony Duran
“American Idol” will allow viewers to vote for their favorite contestants online for the first time ever immediately after the first performance show airing from 7 to 8:30 p.m. March 1 on Fox, according to a news release.
To vote online during the voting window, fans can go to www.americanidol.com and follow the instructions.
Fans will be required to log in using their Facebook account to access the voting page for the show, which will feature the name and photo of each of the current contestants.
Fans can then choose their favorite contestant, complete the security verification and submit their vote.
Fans may cast up to 50 total online votes after each performance show during the online voting window.
Viewers also have the opportunity to vote via toll-free phone lines and – if you’re an AT&T wireless customer – via text message. AT&T customers can submit unlimited text votes during the voting window.
Phone lines will be open for at least two hours after each performance show and fans can vote for their favorite contestant using the branded toll-free numbers (1-866-IDOLS-01, -02, etc.)
AT&T wireless customers can use their cell phones to vote by texting the word “VOTE” to the four-digit short code (5701, 5702, etc.) that goes with the contestant of their choice.
AT&T customers can sign up to receive a free Vote Number Reminder text containing all of the contestants’ names and numbers after each performance show by texting “IDOL” to 3003 (standard text-messaging rates may apply.)
The 12 male semifinalists take the stage for the first time on the show airing from 7 to 8:30 p.m. March 1 on Fox, with the 12 female semifinalists competing the following night during the same time period.
This season’s finalists will then be announced on the March 3 episode which airs from 7 to 9 p.m. on Fox.
Ryan Seacrest hosts “American Idol,” with Randy Jackson, Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler serving as judges of the singing competition series.
“The Vampire Diaries”: “The House Guest”
From left, Paul Wesley, Ian Somerhalder and Nina Dobrev in "The House Guest" episode of "The Vampire Diaries" - The CW Photo by Annette Brown
A few notes after watching the “The House Guest ” episode of “The Vampire Diaries”:
Nice song by Caroline (Candice Accola), but what do you think is in her future with Matt (Zach Roerig) now?
Not a good night to be a warlock.
Will never trust Katherine (Nina Dobrev) – especially glad that Damon (Ian Somerhalder) didn’t give in to her.
Speaking of trust, I bet Jenna (Sara Canning) really doesn’t believe Alaric (Matt Davis) after Elena’s (Dobrev) estranged family member showed up.
Hang in there fans – after a hiatus, “The Vampire Diaries” will return with new episodes at 7 p.m. April 7 on The CW.
– Melissa Hayer
mhayer@opubo.com
Candice Accola sings with a band in "The House Guest" episode of "The Vampire Diaries" - The CW Photo by Bob Mahoney
“Two and a Half Men” out of production for the rest of season
Charlie Sheen - AP Photo
The CBS comedy “Two and a Half Men” has ended production for the rest of this television season.
“Based on the totality of Charlie Sheen’s statements, conduct and condition, CBS and Warner Bros. Television have decided to discontinue production of “Two and a Half Men” for the remainder of the season,” Warner Bros. Television and CBS said in a news release today.
“The Lying Game” added to ABC Family lineup
Alexandra Chando stars as twin sisters Emma and Sutton in "The Lying Game" - ABC Family Photo by Colleen Hayes
ABC Family has added the one-hour scripted drama “The Lying Game” to its schedule, according to a news release.
“The Lying Game” joins three previously announced series pick-ups: the one-hour dramas “The Nine Lives of Chloe King” and “Switched at Birth” and the half-hour multi-cam comedy series, “The Great State of Georgia.”
“The Lying Game’s” plot line centers on Emma, a kind-hearted foster teen who discovers she has an identical twin sister, Sutton.
Unlike Emma, Sutton was adopted by rich parents and is seemingly living an ideal life.
After their first meeting, Sutton talks Emma into stepping into her life for a few days while she follows a lead on the identity of their birth mother, but then Sutton mysteriously fails to return to the girls’ designated meeting place.
This leads Emma to have to decide whether to tell the truth about her identity and risk her own safety in the hope of finding her sister and figuring out why they were separated in the first place.
Alexandra Chando stars as Emma/Sutton; Andy Buckley as Ted; Helen Slater as Kristin; Blair Redford as Garrett; Sharon Pierre-Louis as Nisha; Kirsten Prout as Char; Alice Greczyn as Mads; and Allie Gonino as Laurel.
Charles Pratt Jr. is executive producer and writer of the series, with Leslie Morgenstein and Gina Girolamo serving as executive producers.
“The Lying Game,” produced by Alloy Entertainment in association with Warner Horizon Television, is based on the novel by Sara Shepard.
Michael Rosenbaum to return as Lex Luthor in “Smallville” series finale
Michael Rosenbaum as Lex Luthor in the "Descent" episode of "Smallville" - The CW Photo by Michael Courtney
Michael Rosenbaum will reappear as Lex Luthor in the series finale of “Smallville” at 7 p.m. May 13 on The CW.
Rosenbaum left at the end of season seven after Lex confronted Clark (Tom Welling) in the Fortress of Solitude.
Years of secrets culminated with Clark’s former friend finally discovering the truth about Clark’s alien heritage.
The rivalry between the two came to a head in a final showdown and crumbled, literally, under an icy avalanche as the Fortress fell, with Lex’s body never being found.
Lex has now risen from the ashes to fulfill his place in destiny as Clark Kent’s greatest adversary.
Lifetime to introduce reality series “Coming Home” March 6
"Coming Home" premieres at 9 p.m. March 6 on Lifetime Television - Photo Courtesy of RelativityREAL
Lifetime Television is set to premiere the all-new reality series “Coming Home,” featuring U.S. soldiers’ surprise family reunions across the country after serving long tours of duty on behalf of the country, at 9 p.m. March 6.
Paying tribute to American armed forces personnel and their families, “Coming Home” will follow the surprise reunions of soldiers from all five branches of the military with their spouses, children, parents and other loved ones as they return home from active duty throughout the world, according to a news release,
Former “American Idol” finalist Matt Rogers will serve as host of the series’ 13 hour-long episodes, with each show featuring five reunions.
“Coming Home” is produced by RelativityREAL, LLC with Tom Forman and Star Price serving as executive producers.
Oklahoma cowboys Jet and Cord McCoy last after first episode of ‘Amazing Race’
Making their second appearance on CBS’ “Amazing Race” in two years, Oklahoma cowboys Jet and Cord McCoy had a dismal start as the last-place team at the conclusion of the premiere episode of “Amazing Race: Unfinished Business” Sunday night. Fortunately for the cowboys, none of the teams were eliminated in the first episode.
After starting the race at a wind farm in Palm Springs, Calif., the McCoys were one of the first teams to solve the first riddle and earn a spot on the first flight to Sydney, Australia. However, because of a medical emergency on their flight, the plane was forced to make an emergency landing in Honolulu, putting them behind the second flight.
From there things went downhill for the cowboys from Ada who finished runner-up in Season 16 last year. Missing a ferry, they were the last team to reach Oceanworld and search for a compass that would have to be decoded. Jet wasn’t excited about doning scuba gear to find the clue under water among sharks and a gigantic sting ray. “I’m from Oklahoma,” Jet said. “I don’t do water. I don’t even take baths.”
The decoding part went poorly for Jet. He failed in his first two attempts and was still trying to decode the message, “I am between the devil and the deep blue sea,” when the episode ended. “I have no idea what I’m doing,” Jet said.
The father-daughter team of Gary and Mallory Ervin of Kentucky were the first to reach the pit stop on the beach and earn an express pass.
“The Judds” to premiere April 10 on OWN
From left, Naomi and Wynonna Judd - OWN Photo by Matthew Rolston
Own: Oprah Winfrey Network viewers and Judds fans will have the opportunity to follow the private and public lives of country singers Naomi and Wynonna Judd in their new docu-series “The Judds,” premiering at 8 p.m. April 10 on OWN.
The series begins as the mother and daughter prepare for their final reunion tour and they realize that performing together again is a “make or break” deal when it concerns their relationship, according to a news release.
Viewers will be fully immersed in Naomi and Wynonna’s world – from traveling city-to-city performing and meeting their fans, to heading home to their 1,000-acre farm, to going behind closed doors for emotional sessions with their longtime life coach, Dr. Ted Klontz.
Through it all, Naomi and Wynonna share their personal story openly and honestly.
“The Judds” is produced for OWN by Gay Rosenthal Productions, Inc. with Gay Rosenthal, Bruce Toms, Kerry Hansen, Naomi Judd and Wynonna Judd serving as executive producers.
