By Ryan

NBC has announced it will
air the USA vs. Canada
gold medal hockey game
on Sunday, Feb. 28, live
in all time zones. From NBC:

VANCOUVER – February 26, 2010 – The Olympic gold medal men’s hockey game featuring USA against the winner of the Slovakia vs. Canada game, which was originally scheduled to be broadcast live to the eastern and central time zones, will be broadcast live in all time zones on NBC this Sunday at 3 p.m. ET, as part of NBC’s six hours of afternoon coverage.

USA vs. Canada: 3 p.m. ET, 2 p.m. CT, 1 p.m. MT, 12 noon PT

Categories: Sports, TV News & Program Updates by Cubicle QB
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Tags: Hockey, Olympics, Sports, TV News & Program Updates, Vancouver, Winter Olympics

By Ryan

A big day of Winter Olympic action on NBC, highlighted by the afternoon hockey clash between the USA and Finland. In prime time on NBC, viewers will see the final two events of these Olympics for Apolo Ohno, the men’s 500 meter final and the 5,000 meter relay final. Also, Lindsey Vonn looks to add to her medal total in her final event of these Games, the women’s slalom. Here’s the complete listings and highlights of Friday’s Olympic action from NBC:

APOLO OHNO SKATES FOR GOLD IN TWO EVENTS LIVE ON DAY 15

USA vs. Finland & Canada vs. Slovakia in Men’s Hockey Semifinals Live
Lindsey Vonn Skies in Fifth and Final Event

VANCOUVER – February 25, 2010 – NBC’s Friday primetime coverage of the Vancouver Olympic Winter Games begins tomorrow at 8 p.m. ET/PT. USA’s Apolo Ohno, the most decorated U.S. Winter Olympian in history after earning his seventh medal in the 1000m, skates in his last two events of the Olympics. Ohno skates in the men’s 500m gold medal final and leads Team USA in men’s 5000 relay gold medal final, live. USA’s Lindsey Vonn skis for her third and final medal, already winning gold and bronze this Olympics, in the women’s slalom. Also in primetime, four-man bobsled competition with Team USA’s pilot Steve Holcomb, the 2009 World Champion, as the gold medal favorite.

The men’s ice hockey semifinal round heats up as Team USA takes on Finland live on NBC and on NBCOlympics.com. The second semifinal game is live on CNBC and NBCOlympics.com between Team Canada and Slovakia.

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Categories: Sports, TV News & Program Updates by Cubicle QB
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Tags: Apolo Ohno, Lindsey Vonn, NBC, Olympics, Sports, TV News & Program Updates, Vancouver, Winter Olympics

By Ryan

After attempting to fix Charles Barkley’s infamously awful swing in the first season of GOLF CHANNEL’s reality series The Haney Project, guru of the golf swing Hank Haney takes on a slightly better but no less entertaining pupil in actor Ray Romano. Haney will try to help Romano — a frequent player at celebrity golf tournaments — break an 18-hole score of 80 in The Haney Project: Ray Romano, premiering March 1 at 9pm ET on GOLF CHANNEL. Haney will work with Romano over the course of the seven-episode season, which visits the Ray Romano and Kevin James Celebrity Golf Classic in Los Angeles, the Hank Haney Golf Ranch in Lewisville, Texas, and other locations.

It won’t be tough for Romano to best Barkley in the swing department, but Romano has big shoes to fill when it comes to matching Sir Charles in the entertainment department. “It’s pressure to follow Charles,” Romano told us. “Have you seen Charles’ swing? He looks like he gets hit by lightning in the middle of his swing. And it’s so interesting to watch somebody try to fix that. For me, I’m just the average Joe Schmo golfer and [Hank’s] going to try to fix that. I’m under a bit of pressure to figure out how this was going to be entertaining.”

Here are the descriptions of the first four episodes from GOLF CHANNEL:

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Categories: Reality TV, Sports, TV News & Program Updates by Cubicle QB
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Tags: Golf, GOLF Channel, Hank Haney, Ray Romano, Reality TV, Sports, The Haney Project, TV News & Program Updates

Courtesy TV Land

New York, NY, Feb. 25, 2010 — TV Land announced today that it has picked up the popular reality series How’d You Get So Rich? starring the notoriously uncensored Joan Rivers for a second season, premiering on Wednesday, May 5, at 10 p.m. ET/PT. How’d You Get So Rich?, a TV Land PRIME original series, returns this spring and will once again take viewers on a journey to meet mega-rich millionaires who worked hard and struck gold. As she tours the most lavish and extravagant homes, she introduces viewers to folks who made a lot of money in out of the ordinary, fascinating ways and asks all the questions no one else would — in the way only Joan can. How’d You Get So Rich? is a six-episode series from Mark Burnett Productions and Zoo Productions, Inc.  Mark Burnett, Barry Poznick and John Stevens serve as executive producers.

“It’s so exciting for us to work with our friend, the incomparable Joan Rivers and bring ‘How’d You Get So Rich?’ back to TV Land,” states Larry W. Jones, president, TV Land. “Viewers were very inspired last season by the stories of these millionaires who went from rags to riches – some of whom were mowing lawns and are now collecting Bentleys! It is truly the American Dream, proving anyone can do it, and there is no one other than Joan who can do a better job of finding out how in the world these people got that rich!”

“I’m thrilled to be back on How’d You Get So Rich?, states Joan Rivers. “It’s so much better than hosting How’d You Get So Poor?…and when I say ‘Rich,’ I mean RICH. People that Oprah will borrow money from. People that will use Dr. Ruth as a paperweight and people that when their computer breaks Bill Gates comes by to fix it.”

Among the fascinating stories featured in the first season of How’d You Get So Rich? was Joan’s visit to the home of the inventor of the BillyBob Teeth — who grew up dirt poor and now owns the largest house in Illinois, a trip to the Versace mansion now owned by a telecommunications tycoon who once went door to door selling cordless phones and a visit to the 11,000 square foot Tampa Bay home owned by the father of the infomercial who made “Ginsu” a household name.

See our chat with Rivers from just before the first season premiered here.

Categories: Reality TV, TV News & Program Updates by sharrison76
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Tags: How'd You Get So Rich?, Joan Rivers, Mark Burnett, Stacey Harrison, TV Land, TV Land Prime

By Ryan

Yeah, it’s starting to feel like baseball season. (Never mind the few inches of snow we got last night.) Whether you prefer cactus or grapefruit, baseball’s exhibition season is getting underway in areas much warmer than I’m in right now. MLB Network announced its schedule of spring training games — 78 total, 45 live — featuring all 30 teams from March 2-April 4. Full release from MLB Network below, and full TV schedule after the jump:

MLB NETWORK TO AIR 78 SPRING TRAINING GAMES

Spring Training Schedule Features 45 Live Games, Includes All 30 MLB Clubs

Secaucus, N.J. – MLB Network today announced its Spring Training game schedule, which will include 78 games featuring 45 live games and all 30 Major League clubs at least three times.  MLB Network’s Spring Training game schedule begins on Tuesday, March 2 at 1:00 p.m. ET with the Atlanta Braves at New York Mets live from Tradition Field in Port St. Lucie, FL. On March 4 at 7:00 p.m. ET, MLB Network will air a rematch of the 2009 World Series as the defending champion New York Yankees face the Philadelphia Phillies. All games will be carriage of local telecasts, including local announcers. MLB Tonight, MLB Network’s signature studio show during the regular season, returns live every weekday on Monday, March 1 at 6:00 p.m. ET.

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Categories: Sports, TV News & Program Updates by Cubicle QB
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Tags: baseball, Major League Baseball, MLB, MLB Network, Sports, TV News & Program Updates

By Ryan

NBC has announced it will air the Winter Olympic men’s ice hockey semifinal game between the USA and Finland live in all time zones on Friday, Feb. 26.

The game will air at 3pm ET, 2pm CT, 1pm MT and 12pm PT on NBC.

NBC has been under criticism for not airing enough events live, and “demoting” big live events like hockey to its cable channels. Team USA’s victory over Canada on Sunday aired live on MSNBC, with NBC cutting to live action only in the final minute after the USA scored an empty-net goal to secure the 5-3 win.

Categories: Sports, TV News & Program Updates by Cubicle QB
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Tags: Hockey, NBC, Olympics, Sports, TV News & Program Updates, Vancouver, Winter Olympics

By Ryan

I suppose it was only a matter of time before someone created a NASCAR-themed reality talent/game show. SPEED Channel announced that Fast Track to Fame will premiere March 1, filling that hole in the TV schedule for people who still miss Hee-Haw. Here’s the full release from SPEED:

SPEED INTRODUCES FAST TRACK TO FAME MARCH 1 FROM LAS VEGAS
MICHAEL WALTRIP TO HOST NEW TALENT SHOW FOR NASCAR NATION

Charlotte, NC – What would you get if you mixed a grassroots America talent search with a dash of Michael Waltrip’s gregarious personality and spread it liberally over NASCAR Nation?  Answer: SPEED’s super new talent show, FAST TRACK TO FAME.

FAST TRACK TO FAME is a wild, new talent show produced exclusively for SPEED by Stars Avenue Productions in conjunction with FiveBinks, Inc.  David Hill and George Greenberg from Stars Avenue and Michael Binkow and Joe Revello from FiveBinks serve as Executive Producers.

Renowned NASCAR owner/driver Michael Waltrip, one of NASCAR’s most out-going and popular personalities and younger brother of NASCAR on FOX lead race analyst Darrell Waltrip, is set to host.  Charissa Thompson, well known for her work on FOX Sports and FSN, serves as co-host.

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Categories: Sports, TV News & Program Updates by Cubicle QB
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Tags: Fast Track to Fame, NASCAR, SPEED Channel, Sports, TV News & Program Updates

By Ryan

MLB Network will again preview each club during spring training with its 30 Clubs in 30 Days series, beginning March 3 with the Detroit Tigers. Here’s the full release and schedule from MLB Network:

NEW SEASON OF30 CLUBS IN 30 DAYS SPRING TRAINING SERIES BEGINS ON MLB NETWORK

One-Hour Specials on Every MLB Club Shot On Location Throughout Spring Training

MLB Tonight, MLB Network’s signature studio show, returns March 1

Secaucus, N.J. – With 41 days until Opening Day, MLB Network today announced it will once again televise the Spring Training series 30 Clubs in 30 Days, with hour-long features on each of the 30 Major League clubs previewing the 2010 season. Starting March 3, MLB Network hosts Greg Amsinger, Victor Rojas and Matt Vasgersian as well as reporters Trenni Kusnierek and Hazel Mae will report from each of the 30 Spring Training camps throughout Florida and Arizona, conducting interviews with key players, coaches and others associated with each club. MLB Network analysts Peter Gammons and John Hart will also report on select camps throughout the series and on MLB Tonight, MLB Network’s signature studio show during the regular season, which returns on Monday, March 1 live at 6:00 p.m. ET.

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Categories: Sports, TV News & Program Updates by Cubicle QB
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Tags: 30 Clubs in 30 Days, Major League Baseball, MLB, MLB Network, Sports, TV News & Program Updates

Credit: FX

LOS ANGELES, February 22, 2010 —  FX has given the go ahead for a second season of its critically acclaimed animated series Archer, announced Nick Grad, executive vice president of original programming, FX Networks.  The network increased the episode order to 13 for season two, which is scheduled to debut in 2011.

Archer (TV-MA) has three new episodes slated for air this season. Through seven episodes the series is averaging 1.2 million total viewers, 853,000 adults 18-49 and 573,000 adults 18-34. This Thursday, Feb. 25, FX will air the “Four-Play Marathon,” four episodes of Archer from 10-midnight. Archer will return with new episodes on Thursday, March 4, at 10pm and the season-one finale airs on March 18.

“Executive producers Adam Reed and Matt Thompson are delivering a hilarious series and it truly earned a second season,” Grad said. “H. Jon Benjamin, Aisha Tyler, Jessica Walter, Chris Parnell and Judy Greer comprise one of the best voice casts of any animated series on TV. We’re very happy with the audience response and critical acclaim for Archer and are excited to move forward with it.”

Archer was created by Adam Reed and Floyd County Productions and is executive produced by Reed and Matthew Thompson. The show is produced by FX Productions. FX ordered 10 episodes for its first season.

“We are incredibly excited about the opportunity to make a second season of Archer,” said Reed, “and grateful that FX has enough faith in the show to allow it to build an audience.  Excelsior!”

Categories: Animation, Comedy by sharrison76
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Tags: Adam Reed, Aisha Tyler, Archer, Chris Parnell, FX, H. Jon Benjamin, Jessica Walter, Stacey Harrison

Los Angeles, Calif. — To help promote the release of its newest original drama series Justified, FX has launched the interactive online game Justified Pursuit: The Scavenger Hunt Sweepstakes, giving players the chance to win cash prizes and clothing from Stetson. Justified premieres on FX Tuesday, March 16, at 10pm E/P.

At www.Justifiedthepursuit.com, players will sign up as “deputies” in Harlan County, Ky., and collect clues to track a fugitive.  The game leads participants through 16 sightings in the pursuit of fictional bank robber, Jarrett Lee Cook. On the way, they will learn key elements about the series and unlock hidden content from the show. Each player will be assigned a virtual deputy desk and tracking map to follow the sightings. The final clue will be revealed in the series premiere on March 16.

Participants will receive an entry into the sweepstakes for every sighting they enter. Four winners will be selected:  1 Grand Prize winner will receive a $5,000 reward and a $500 wardrobe from Stetson that will include a hat, pair of boots, jeans, and a shirt.  Three first prize winners will receive $1,000 as well as the $500 Stetson wardrobe.

In Justified, Timothy Olyphant stars as Deputy U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens,  a true-blue hero born and reared in the hill country of eastern Kentucky, who left at age 19 to become a U.S. Marshal.  Now, years later, after shooting a gun thug in Miami hotel and thereby incurring the wrath of his Marshals Service superiors, Raylan has been sent in punishment (and by fate?) to the one place to which he vowed he would never return — Kentucky. But, being back in Kentucky, Raylan will also have to confront a past crowded with enough skeletons to choke a graveyard.

Check back here in the coming days for our interview with best-selling novelist Elmore Leonard, who created the character of Raylan Givens in his books Pronto and Riding the Rap.

Categories: Drama by sharrison76
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Tags: Elmore Leonard, FX, Justified, Justified Pursuit: The Scavenger Hunt, Raylan Givens, Stacey Harrison, Stetson, sweepstakes, Timothy Olyphant