Cleveland gives ’Hot’ stars a warm welcome in city
The stars of “Hot in Cleveland” have gotten a warm welcome in the city where their sitcom is set, according to the Associated Press.
Betty White, Valerie Bertinelli, Wendie Malick and Jane Leeves were greeted by fans and walked a red carpet Wednesday night in Cleveland. The actresses attended a viewing party for the new season’s premiere episode at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum.
WJW-TV reports Miss Bertinelli thanked the people of Cleveland for their support, calling them “kind, good, strong-hearted people that will survive.”
Multiple media outlets reported the women would receive a key to the city from Mayor Frank Jackson on Thursday. Miss Bertinelli will throw out the ceremonial first pitch at Friday night’s Indians game against Pittsburgh.
“Hot in Cleveland”’s new season is running this summer on the TV Land network.
’Flipping Out’ star will fire two workers
Reality TV home designer Jeff Lewis will have fewer employees to flip out over this season.
The admitted obsessive-compulsive star of Bravo’s “Flipping Out” said two employees will be fired from his Jeff Lewis Designs in season five, which premieres at 9 p.m. July 6. He won’t say who, but in a recent interview with the Associated Press, he said one firing is expected. He calls the other “totally unexpected.”
Among the employees on the show are Mr. Lewis’ executive assistant Jenni Pulos, housekeeper Zoila Chavez, house assistant Jett Pink and design associates Sara Berkman and Trace Lenhoff.
While losing a few employees, the show is gaining a new member - Mr. Lewis’ boyfriend, Gage Edwards.
Mr. Lewis said he was hesitant to bring his personal life into the show. He said he believes the show led to a previous breakup and his relationship with his ex-boyfriend and business partner imploded on-screen two seasons ago after Mr. Lewis accused him of stealing his clients. He said because Mr. Edwards is now “very involved” in the business, it became impossible to shoot around him.
Known for sarcastic remarks and fiery temper, Mr. Lewis gets a taste of his own medicine in season five. He said the season also will feature the “craziest, most difficult client” of his career. He said she was so outrageous Bravo called him to make sure she wasn’t acting. “I wouldn’t be surprised if she gets a show out of this,” he added.
’Mike & Molly,’ ’Fringe’ actors to read Emmy noms
TV series stars Melissa McCarthy and Joshua Jackson will be early risers on July 14 to announce the nominations for this year’s prime-time Emmys.
Miss McCarthy and Mr. Jackson will be up at 5:40 a.m. Pacific time to join John Shaffner, chairman of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, to make the announcements in Los Angeles, the academy said Wednesday.
Miss McCarthy stars on the CBS sitcom “Mike & Molly,” and is also appearing opposite Kristen Wiig in the comedy feature film “Bridesmaids.”
Mr, Jackson stars on the Fox sci-fi drama “Fringe.”
The 63rd Primetime Emmy Awards telecast is scheduled to air on Fox on Sept. 18.
Poll: Viewing online video cuts TV consumption
Americans who watch the most video online tend to watch less TV, according to the Nielsen Co., a finding that overturns a longstanding belief that people are watching more programming over all devices.
The ratings agency said Wednesday that last fall, it noticed a segment of viewers that was starting to make a trade-off between online video and regular TV. The activity was more pronounced among people ages 18 to 34.
The finding could be troubling to television networks that have been putting shows online to reach new audiences. The hope was the move wouldn’t diminish viewership on television, where most of the networks’ advertising revenue is made.
Nielsen polled about 2,600 people who said they watched videos online in the first three months of the year, and divided them into fifths based on how much they watch. The fifth that watched the most video online did so nearly 19 minutes a day, and also watched the least amount of television, at about four hours and 32 minutes a day. The fifth that watched the least online video - less than a 10th of a minute a day - watched the most TV at 4 hours and 50 minutes.
Nielsen said such a finding doesn’t indicate that people are about to drop their pay TV packages to watch video only online, a notion known as “cord cutting.”
• Compiled from web and wire reports.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.