MediaPost | TVBlog

U2 Concert At Las Vegas Sphere Was 'Aha' Moment For Winfrey

Fri, 18 Sep 2026 07:00:00 -0400

Oprah Winfrey says the idea for mounting a two-hour journey of light, sound and music at the Las Vegas Sphere came to her as she was watching a U2 performance in the famed globe-shaped arena.

Show Franchises Going Back Decades Fill Fall Lineups

Thu, 17 Sep 2026 08:00:00 -0400

Many of the shows on ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC are so old that the networks have become the assisted-living facilities of TV.

Poignant Michael J. Fox Speech Was Emmys' High Point

Wed, 16 Sep 2026 07:00:00 -0400

Brave Michael J. Fox brought class and courage to the Emmy Awards Monday night on NBC.

'60 Minutes' Comes Back Unchanged In Weiss Era

Tue, 15 Sep 2026 08:00:00 -0400

Expectations that "60 Minutes" would be unrecognizable in its season premiere were not met as the old warhorse news show returned for its 59th season.

Two Out Of Four Networks Have No New Fall Shows

Mon, 14 Sep 2026 08:00:00 -0400

Network TV will have a comparatively quiet fall premiere season as two of the four legacy broadcast networks will have no new shows at all.

As Soon As 9/11 Mourning Is Over, TV Returns To Normalcy

Fri, 11 Sep 2026 07:00:00 -0400

After Friday's remembrance ceremonies, TV abruptly resumes business as usual, symbolized mainly by the return of a full slate of NFL games Sunday.

TNT Pushes Into Drama With Thriller About The Hunt For Hussein

Thu, 10 Sep 2026 08:00:00 -0400

TNT's eight-episode "High Value Target: The Hunt for Saddam" is a high-value miniseries.

Pondering The Way TV Marks 9/11 Anniversaries

Wed, 09 Sep 2026 08:00:00 -0400

On the 20th anniversary of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the "TV Blog" asked this question: Will we see the same emotional outpouring on the 25th anniversary of the attacks in 2026?

To Animate Or Not To Animate: That Is The 'Dang!' Question

Tue, 08 Sep 2026 08:00:00 -0400

One animated sight gag in the first episode of "Dang!" involved a rat humping a cockroach.

Live Long And Prosper: 'Star Trek' Reaches 60th Anniversary Milestone

Fri, 04 Sep 2026 08:00:00 -0400

Mr. Spock introduced the phrase “Live Long and Prosper” in the second season of “Star Trek.”

And that is exactly what “Star Trek” has done for 60 years, a milestone that is getting a worldwide celebration next week compliments of Paramount, owner of all “Star Trek” IP.

The first full “Star Trek” series, starring William Shatner (now 95) as Capt. James T. Kirk of the Starship Enterprise and the late Leonard Nimoy as Mr. Spock (above photo, left to right), premiered on NBC on September 8, 1966.

Next Tuesday, on the original show’s 60th anniversary, Paramount will mount a global commemoration event that will stretch from L.A. to Germany.

London will be particularly saturated on September 8 (next Tuesday), including “Star Trek”-themed screenings at Samsung’s flagship London store, and “Star Trek”-themed “takeovers” of two London Underground stations to mark “key stops on a four-destination fan trail” across the city, Paramount said.

The biggest anniversary commemoration event in the U.K. capital will be an attempt to set a Guinness world record for the most people in one place simultaneously giving the famed split-fingered Vulcan salute made famous by Mr. Spock. This will take place at the London Science Museum, also on Tuesday.

Several events are set for Los Angeles on Tuesday -- a free outdoor screening of “The Man Trap,” the episode that served as the “Star Trek” series premiere in September 1966, and an advance screening of a new episode of the Paramount+ series “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds” at the Autry Museum of the American West.

More importantly, a star dedicated to “Star Trek” creator Gene Roddenberry embedded on the sidewalk in Hollywood Boulevard’s Walk of Fame will be restored following a period of shameful neglect.

And in Germany, the “Star Trek” anniversary will be celebrated at Movie Park Germany, the famed movie and TV theme park in Bottrop-Kirchhellen 30 miles north of Düsseldorf.

Movie Park’s “Star Trek” day next Tuesday will include live entertainment, fan activities, cosplay, special guests and “participation in the global Vulcan Salute attempt,” Paramount said.

As if all of this is not enough, the anniversary will also be celebrated Tuesday morning on the CBS game shows “The Price is Right” and “Let’s Make a Deal,” featuring hosts Drew Carey and Wayne Brady, respectively, decked out in Starship Enterprise uniforms.

The original “Star Trek” series lasted three seasons for a total of 79 episodes, which are still airing.

Starting in 1979, there have been 14 “Star Trek” feature films. Starting in 1973 with “Star Trek: The Animated Series,” there have been 13 “Star Trek” TV series.

The franchise has made billions of dollars. May it live long and prosper for another 60 years.

Photo courtesy of MeTV, which starts its own weeklong celebration of the 60th anniversary of “Star Trek” on Saturday, September 5.

Known For Humorous Spots, Insurers Are Low-Rated By 'CR'

Thu, 03 Sep 2026 08:00:00 -0400

Their humorous commercials have propelled a handful of car insurance companies to the top of their industry, but they rank among the lowest in customer satisfaction.

Who Is The Actor Giving A Great Performance In A Chase Spot?

Wed, 02 Sep 2026 08:00:00 -0400

It was a question that even stumped Gemini: Who is the actor in the Chase commercial who is beleaguered by non-human gadgetry until he enters a Chase branch?

Company Uses Wikipedia Views To Measure TV Show Popularity

Tue, 01 Sep 2026 12:13:49 -0400

TelevisionStats.com lists Wikipedia as the "foundation" for its "Attention Score" popularity lists that are updated daily.

It's Not Just TV, It's The King Of All Media

Mon, 31 Aug 2026 10:49:16 -0400

That's right - after nearly two decades, Howard Stern will be back on linear TV with a weekly filmed version of his SiriusXM radio show on HBO Max.

Very Minor Character From 'Martin' Gets His Own Sitcom

Fri, 28 Aug 2026 09:00:00 -0400

The show's main character, fictional late-night host Varnell Hill, was introduced on "Martin" 33 years ago and appeared in only two episodes.

Funding Democracy Unfiltered, CSPAN Taps First Chief Development Officer

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 08:00:00 -0400

A 15-year nonprofit vet, Adele Hixon-Day joins from the Smithsonian and will be vital to C-SPAN's continuing coverage of Congress, the White House and SCOTUS.

For Heaven's Sake, Get This Deal Done Already

Wed, 26 Aug 2026 08:00:00 -0400

Statements from California Attorney General Rob Bonta, the man leading the lawsuits from 12 states to block the Paramount-WBD merger, reveal he doesn't know what he's talking about.

Weight Is Over For Return Of TLC '1,000-lb' Shows

Tue, 25 Aug 2026 08:00:00 -0400

TLC is putting on the pounds on Tuesday nights with the return of a ton of content.

Stars Of '90s TV To Overhaul Dated '90s Homes On HGTV

Mon, 24 Aug 2026 13:16:27 -0400

Six former child stars from '90s TV hits are coming to HGTV this week in a competition to renovate '90s homes and bring them into the 21st Century.

60-Plus Conan Is A Spry Guy In Travel Show's New Season

Thu, 20 Aug 2026 16:21:53 -0400

Conan O'Brien demonstrates he's an active senior as he travels to four more distant locations in the third season of his far-flung travel show, "Conan O'Brien Must Go."

Netflix Doc Tells Story Of The Brand That Became Known As Mr. T

Thu, 20 Aug 2026 09:00:00 -0400

Raised on welfare in one of Chicago's roughest neighborhoods, Mr. T came up with a brand name and image for himself that made him world famous.

Stars Of "A Different World' Sitcom Are Back For Netflix Reboot

Wed, 19 Aug 2026 08:47:27 -0400

One figure not involved is Bill Cosby -- creator of the original NBC series -- and his name reportedly will not be on the credits of the new Netflix version.

Trump Foe Rosie O'Donnell Relishes 'Kimmel' Guest-Host Stint

Tue, 18 Aug 2026 09:00:00 -0400

O'Donnell, 64, has been a vocal critic of Trump going back decades, and Trump has responded in kind over the years.

High Spirits On The Drink Menu On 'Cocktail Wars'

Mon, 17 Aug 2026 08:00:00 -0400

The real stars of the E! show are the many brands of spirits and drink mixers that Versant has invited to belly up to the bar.

In Its 18th Season, It Is Still 'Sunny in Philadelphia'

Fri, 14 Aug 2026 09:48:02 -0400

Everyone in the cast of "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" has aged 21 years since the show premiered in 2005, but their characters, along with the show, remain the same.

New CBS Vampire Sitcom Comes Out Of The 'Shadows'

Thu, 13 Aug 2026 08:00:00 -0400

A family of sitcom vampires coming to CBS this fall arrives only two years after the last vampire family left FX.

NBC Starting Second NBA Season With Tuesday Triple-Header

Wed, 12 Aug 2026 10:11:44 -0400

The triple-header on Tuesday, October 20 - opening night for the NBA season - represents NBCU's intention to air as many prime-time NBA games as its rights deal permits.

Manson Speaks! Netflix Show Hypes Killer Conversations

Tue, 11 Aug 2026 08:00:00 -0400

A new documentary on Netflix plays up its access to never-before-heard audio of interviews with Charles Manson in the very first frame.

Amazon's 'Reacher' Still Packs A Punch

Mon, 10 Aug 2026 10:33:26 -0400

"Reacher" pulls no punches in its action-packed fourth season starting Monday on Amazon Prime.

Crude And Rude: Gervais' 'Alley Cats' Is The Cat's Meow

Fri, 07 Aug 2026 08:00:00 -0400

The new Ricky Gervais cartoon cat show coming to Netflix is profane, pungent and unapologetically scatological, but it is also uproarious.