Talkin' TV

New hosts for "At the Movies"

   On Sunday, film critic Richard Roeper announced he wouldn't be returning to the syndicated series "At the Movies." On Monday, Roger Ebert made the same announcement. They have already been replaced.

     Disney-ABC Domestic Television announced Tuesday that Ben Lyons and Ben Mankiewicz will be taking over the show that was started in 1975 by Ebert and his late co-host Gene Siskel as "Sneak Previews." When the show returns in September, however, it will be without the program's famous "thumbs up-thumbs down" ratings -- that's been trademarked by Ebert and Siskel's widow.

     Mankiewicz, the affable host on Turner Classic Movies, has a notable Hollywood pedigree. His grandfather was Oscar-winning writer Herman Mankiewicz ("Citizen Kane"); great-uncle Joseph Mankiewicz was a writer and director who won Oscars for such films as "All About Eve," "A Letter to Three Wives" and "Cleopatra." Cousin Tom Mankiewicz also wrote several James Bond movies.

     Lyons, a film critic for "E! News," is the 26-year-old son of film critic Jeffrey Lyons.

    "The studio has decided to take the program named 'Siskel & Ebert' and then 'Ebert & Roeper' in a new direction," Ebert said in a statement yesterday on the Web site of his longtime employer, the Chicago Sun-Times. " I will no longer be associated with it."

     Ebert has been battling cancer in recent years, undergoing a series of operations in which doctors removed a cancerous growth from his salivary gland and part of his right jaw. He has been unable to appear on the show since doctors performed surgery in July 2006 that left him unable to speak. But the Pulitzer Prize-winning Chicago Sun-Times critic continues to write reviews and has published a number of books. Ebert is discussing possibilities to "continue the show's tradition," according to his statement. Roeper said he plans to co-host a movie review show elsewhere and "will be free to share the details on that program in the near future."

--Staff and wire reports

'Office' Politics at NBC

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. -- NBC announced a significant change in plans today. No, the popular Jay Leno isn't staying as the host of "The Tonight Show" beyond May of 2009.

The change involved the "Office" spinoff that was supposed to premiere after NBC's coverage of the Super Bowl in February 2009.

Ben Silverman, the co-chairman of NBC Entertainment, told critics here today that the spinoff is being put on hold while the writers of "The Office" plan a new comedy that stars "Saturday Night Live" star Amy Poehler.

Poehler, who is pregnant, will stay with "SNL" through the election. She won't be able to work on the yet untitled comedy until after she has the baby, so it won't be ready to air in the post-Super Bowl slot.

But back to Leno, who copied an early comical appearance by ABC late-night host Jimmy Kimmel and appeared in disguise (bald cap and mustache) as a reporter trying to get the lowdown on NBC's late-night plans.

Silverman and co-chairman Marc Graboff said the network is sticking with its decision to replace Leno with Conan O'Brien next spring. Leno's last day is May 29. Though ABC is interested in Leno, Graboff downplayed a published report that his move to ABC is likely and added NBC continues to negotiate with him. That statement will most likely be dealt with widespread skepticism.

O'Brien, who will leave his 12:35 a.m. late night show in the winter to prepare for a job he was promised four years ago, is scheduled to start as the host of "The Tonight Show" on June 1.

Jimmy Fallon, who will replace O'Brien on the program that follows "Tonight Show," will begin doing programs on the Internet before it is ready to join NBC's late-night lineup, probably in March.

Are you disappointed that "The Office" spinoff isn't happening any time soon? Or that Leno really is going to be replaced?

-- Alan Pergament 

Saturday Night Live Off to Early Start

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. --NBC is smartly bringing back “Saturday Night Live” a few weeks early next season to satirize the happenings in the presidential election campaign.

The season premiere will be Sept. 13, the first of four Saturday shows in a row. "SNL" will air seven times before the November election and have 22 episodes next season compared to the usual 20. Additionally, it will have three, 30-minute prime time Thursday airings in October.

Seth Meyers, the show’s head writer and co-host of “Weekend Update,” told me at a NBC party that the cast had no influence on the decision but was happy to start the season early.

“If we learned anything last year (during the writers strike), it was not to take for granted working,” said Meyers.

He conceded the program is having the same problem that everybody else is having with the presumed Democratic nominee, Barack Obama.

“The difficulty with Obama isn’t whether or not we’re being fair, it’s … ‘What’s the big comedy thing?’”

“Maybe it’s better for this country,” Meyers dryly added, “that somebody might run for president where it’s not obvious what’s funny about them.”

-- Alan Pergament

Critics Honor, "Mad Men," "30 Rock" and "The War"

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. -- The Television Critics Association, which consists of 200 reporters and columnists, went mad about "Mad Men" Saturday night, giving the AMC series set in the New York advertising community three prestigious awards.

The series, which received 16 Emmy nominations on Thursday, was honored as program of the year, outstanding new program and for outstanding achievement in drama.

NBC's Emmy-nominated "30 Rock" won for outstanding achievement in comedy and its star and creator, Tiny Fey, was honored for outstanding achievement in comedy. The show's producer, Lorne Michael of "Saturday Night Live" fame, was given the TCA's Career Achievement award..

Also honored were: The HBO miniseries, "John Adams," for outstanding achievement in movies, miniseries and specials and star Paul Giamatti for outstanding individual achievement in drama.

HBO's "The Wire," which has annually been rejected by Emmy voters and only received one Emmy writing nomination Thursday, earned the Heritage Award for a program that has had a lasting cultural or social impact.

PBS' "The War: A Film by Ken Burns & Lynn Novick," which was shockingly denied an exceptional merit Emmy honor Thursday, for outstanding achievement in News & Information

And PBS' "WordGirl" for outstanding achievement in children's programming,

-- Alan Pergament

Friday Night Lights Waiving Two Actors

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. -- Call them salary caps hit. The cast of "Friday Night Lights" will be losing two key players during the upcoming season when the critically acclaimed series begins its run on DirecTV.

Scott Porter and Gaius Charles will be leaving the regular cast after each has a four-episode story arc, producer Jason Katims told the nation's television critics here Sunday.

Porter plays Jason Street, the former quarterback at Dillon High who was paralyzed during a game in season one. Charles plays Brian "Smash" Williams, the star running back who looked like a prize college recruit until he had an off-field problem.

Katims didn't call it a salary issue, but it sure looks like one. To keep the series alive, NBC made a deal to allow the satellite service, DirecTV, to carry the first 13 episodes in October to its 17 million subscribers before the network run starts in February, 2009.

Katims called the story arcs for Street and Williams "two of the most emotional stories we're doing. They're both concerning the two of them sort of moving on with their lives... We definitely want to leave the door open for both actors to come back in the future."

I understand the reason for doing it. But they are two of the show's more interesting characters and will be missed.

What do you think?

-- Alan Pergament

Trying to Create 90210 Buzz

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. -- Name recognition can only take you so far. Ask the "Bionic Woman," which got off to a promising start last season on NBC before crashing and burning.

That's why it is hard to get excited about today's announcement by the producers of the "new" CW series, "90210," that Shannen Doherty is going to join former "Beverly Hills 90210" castmates Jennie Garth and Tori Spelling and make appearances on the spin-off of the series that premiered on Fox in 1990.

Doherty, Garth and Spelling, who will play the same characters they began playing in the '90s, may be a curiosity to viewers in their late 30s or early 40s who watched the original Fox show.

But the charisma of the young new cast members whose names aren't nearly as recognizable '-- anyone heard of Canadians Shenae Grimes or Dustin Milligan? -- will be more important in the zip code now.

That said, the most important names attached to the series, which premieres Sept. 2, are Gabe Sachs and Jeff Judah, whose previous TV credit include "Freaks & Geeks," "Undeclared," and "Life As We Know It."

If they can make "90210" speak the language of today's teen-agers then the CW could make a name for itself with this series.

-- Alan Pergament    

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"CSI" Adding Character With DNA Issues

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. -- It's in the DNA of network executives to practice denial. So it is no surprise that CBS Entertainment President Nina Tassler told critics today that she doesn't expect the popular series, "CSI," to miss a beat after William Petersen (who plays Gil Grissom) leaves the show after 10 episodes next season.

After all, said Tassler, "Criminal Minds" did fine after Mandy Patinkin surprisingly left the series last season and was replaced by Joe Mantegna.

"I don't think that you replace Billy," said Tassler, adding the actor still could make occasional appearances after he leaves "CSI" full-time. "You look at adding elements to really invigorate and  contribute to the alchemy of the show."

On that score, Tassler said "CSI" will be adding a character this with "an interesting genetic profile" who will eventually become the leader of the team.

"Many times serial killers have the same genetic profile," explained Tassler. "This gentleman knows this about himself and is sort of in this journey to discover who his true character will ultimately become."

She said the role hasn't been cast, but added it will be played by "an actor of stature." After the session, Tassler confirmed that John Malkovich was approached but was not interested.

In other news, Tassler said:

-- She is pleased with the creative direction of the summer series, "Swingtown," but a little disappointed at its ratings and unsure if it will be renewed.

-- She would like to work again with Alex O'Loughlin, the Australian actor who starred in the canceled "Moonlight." But she didn't second guess the decision to cancel the vampire show despite the outcry from fans. "The response was more actor-centric," said Tassler. It was her way of saying fans loved the actor more than the series.

-- "Dexter," the Showtime series starring Emmy-nominated actor Michael C. Hall that CBS carried during the writers strike after editing the pay-cable version, "probably" won't be back on the network.

-- Said the Canadian crime series, "Flashpoint," which premiered to strong ratings a week ago, could be back if the ratings hold up.

What do you think of the future of "CSI" after Petersen leaves?

-- Alan Pergament   

From L.A.: ABC Show Runners Accept Criticism

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. -- "Brothers & Sisters" producer Greg Berlanti admitted the show made a mistake in its season finale and asked for forgiveness.

"Ugly Betty" producer Silvio Horta admitted his series spent too much time on romance last season.

"Grey's Anatomy" producer Shonda Rhimes has forgiven Katherine Heigl for complaining about her role last season.

And "Desperate Housewives" producer Marc Cherry essentially admitted he stole an idea from the producers of "Lost."

These were the big moments Thursday in an entertaining session with the people who run ABC's most popular series.

Berlanti essentially asked for forgiveness about the "Brothers & Sisters" story line in which Justin Walker (Dave Annable) began to have romantic feelings for Rebecca Harper (Emily Van Camp) shortly after he discovered she wasn't his father's illegitimate daughter. The creep factor was high among some critics since Justin had previously thought that Rebecca was his sister.

Berlanti partly blamed the writers' strike for failing to give the series the time to do the story well enough to be accepted.

"We had wanted to lay out the story a little bit better initially, and we wanted to dismount from the story a little better," said Berlanti.

"None of us expected that there would be the contingent of the audience that was as vocal as they were about disliking that story line," he added. "Hopefully, people that have been invested in the show will look at all the other qualities and things that they like and dig and see we're the same group of people that created those storylines, too. Hopefully, they'll reinvest this year and they'll continue to enjoy the show."

Horta of "Ugly Betty" also acknowleged making a romantic mistake.

"We started to veer a little too much into the romantic storyline, where it started to really become the show,"said Horta. "It started to just get away from what I originally wanted to do and where we originally started, which was about a girl making it in the city and her work life. So we're trying to refocus that back."   

"Grey's Anatomy" creator Rhimes said her initial reaction to Heigl's criticism was that it was "surprising." She added she didn't feel insulted.

"I actually have a really wonderful working relationship with Katherine and I love and respect her as an actress," said Rhimes. "As everyone knows, Izzie is one of my favorite characters. .. It was surprising, but Katie is an outspoken person, and I think we all know that already."

Cherry said his decision to move "Desperate Housewives" forward by five years in the season finale was inspired by the flash forward in "Lost" that had happened a year earlier.

"I felt that the soap had really started to build up, and I kind of wanted to pare down to where everybody's problems were small but very relatable," said Cherry. "I thought, 'oh, let's just go forward in time. Let me change everyone's lives completely.''"

"I was originally going to do an eight-year jump, but then when someone explained to me how the actresses would react to the idea that they were eight years older, I thought maybe I could get away with five."

In the season finale, viewers learned that Susan (Teri Hatcher) was no longer with husband Mike (James Denton). However, Cherry said that Denton isn't gone from the show.

"It will be revealed what happened to Mike and Susan and that's all I'm going to tell you," said Cherry.

-- Alan Pergament

Mad about 'Mad Men'

   It just earned 16 Emmy nominations and has already garnered a few Golden Globe awards. But if you've heard only a cursory description of the American Movie Classics drama "Mad Men" as being a series about the Madison Avenue advertising executives of the 1960s, you might wonder what all the fuss is about.

     Well, to start with, Darrin Stephens they're not. These TV ad execs smoke, drink and have affairs -- and that's in the office. The stylish, smoke-filled series is ripe with soap opera elements (affairs, blackmail -- and a divorcee moves in the neighborhood!), nostalgia (a June Cleaver lived in every house!) and an array of characters to love (starting with the dashing Golden Globe winner Jon Hamm) and hate (ambitious junior executive Pete played by Vincent Kartheiser). That it's so smartly written, well acted and just plain fun is a bonus.

     See for yourself. A season-one marathon of "Mad Men" airs on AMC starting at noon July 20. Or watch it at your leisure with "Mad Men: Season One," a four-disc DVD or three-disc Blu-ray set ($49.99, Lionsgate) that's cleverly packaged in a silver case crafted to look like a large Zippo lighter. Then tune in at 10 p.m. July 27 for the start of the second season and let us know what you think.

-- Toni Ruberto

Emmy picks may be shocking to you

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. -- Since Western New York still watches broadcast television shows at a higher rate than in most markets nationally, I'm guessing many people back home looked at cable's haul in the Emmy nominations today and asked:

"Damages"? What's that, a reality show?"

"Saving Grace"? Is that a religious show?

"Mad Men?" Is that about a terrorist group?

The nominations almost seem like an advertisement for video stores, where full seasons of some of the lesser-viewed programs nominated are available on DVD.

Cable's strong performance illustrates that Emmy voters aren't as interested in the size of the show's audience as the quality of the shows.

Cable got 14 of the 32 nominations in the top six categories. If you take away the best comedy and comedic actor awards -- where broadcast TV dominated -- cable got 10 of the top 17 nominations.

Among the popular broadcast shows largely ignored in the strike season were "Grey's Anatomy," "Desperate Housewives," "CSI" and "Heroes."

What do you think of their absence? And do you have any other Emmy nomination thoughts?

-- Alan Pergament