“IDOL GIVES BACK” KICKS OFF WITH PERFORMANCE BY KRIS ALLEN

DURING “AMERICAN IDOL” RESULTS SHOW

BENEFITING UNITED NATIONS FOUNDATION FUND FOR HAITI

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, ON FOX

News Corporation, Ford Motor Company, Coca-Cola, AT&T and ExxonMobil

Return as Corporate Sponsors of IDOL GIVES BACK

Airing Wednesday, April 21, on FOX

AMERICAN IDOL’s Kris Allen will travel to Haiti with the United Nations Foundation to raise further awareness of the country’s continuing needs after last month’s earthquake.

During the IDOL results show on Thursday, Feb. 25 (8:00-9:00 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed), Allen will perform and will share footage of his trip to raise awareness and funds that will benefit those in need via one of this year’s IDOL GIVES BACK beneficiaries, the UN Foundation.

During the show, viewers will be asked to support the efforts in Haiti by donating much-needed funds. Donations will be accepted online and via text-messaging, and proceeds will go to the IDOL GIVES BACK Foundation to help the UN Foundation and their work in Haiti.

“It is heartbreaking to see the devastation that Haiti is currently facing,” said Allen. “I am truly honored to be traveling to Haiti to see the UN’s relief efforts firsthand and to help out in any way that I can.”

“We are proud to partner with the IDOL GIVES BACK Foundation, FOX and AMERICAN IDOL on this special episode,” said Kathy Calvin, CEO for the United Nations Foundation. “We are working directly with the UN to help Haiti address the medium and long-term challenges of reconstruction. The UN needs our support so it can continue to provide food, water, shelter, medicine, security and economic opportunities to the earthquake victims.  The UN and Haiti are rising to the challenge and we all have a chance to help them rebuild their future.”

Since the earthquake, the United Nations has been working hand-in-hand with Haitians to help them recover. In the months ahead, the UN’s life-saving work will continue, including delivering food and water to millions of Haitians, providing opportunities for employment to more than 200,000 people and ensuring women and children are safe from mitigating diseases such as measles and malaria.

In addition, it was announced today that News Corporation, Ford Motor Company, Coca-Cola, AT&T and ExxonMobil will return as corporate sponsors of IDOL GIVES BACK and will generously donate to the historic Emmy Award-winning television event airing during the Top 7 Results Show on Wednesday, April 21 (8:00-10:00 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed) on FOX. The brainchild of Simon Fuller, this special music event will raise awareness and funds to benefit five charities, including Children’s Health Fund, Feeding America, Malaria No More, Save the Children’s U.S. Programs and the United Nations Foundation.

About Kris Allen

Kris Allen was a student at the University of Central Arkansas before auditioning for AMERICAN IDOL. He has been singing and playing the guitar since he was 13 years old. Inspired by his faith, Allen has participated in missionary work all over the world, including such places as Morocco, South Africa and Thailand. Allen recently released his debut album, “Live Like We’re Dying,” on the 19 Recordings/Jive Records label.

About the United Nations Foundation

The United Nations Foundation, a public charity, was created in 1998 with entrepreneur and philanthropist Ted Turner’s historic $1 billion gift to support UN causes and activities. The organization builds and implements public/private partnerships to address the world’s most pressing problems, and works to broaden support for the UN through advocacy and public outreach. Through campaigns and partnerships, the UN Foundation connects people, ideas, and resources to help the UN solve global problems. The campaigns the UN Foundation conducts reduce child mortality, empower women and girls, create a new energy future, secure peace and human rights, and promote technology innovation to improve health outcomes. For more information, visit www.unfoundation.org.

About News Corporation

News Corporation (NASDAQ: NWS, NWSA; ASX: NWS, NWSLV) had total assets as of December 31, 2009 of approximately US$56 billion and total annual revenues of approximately US$30 billion. News Corporation is a diversified global media company with operations in eight industry segments: filmed entertainment; television; cable network programming; direct broadcast satellite television; integrated marketing services; newspapers and information services; book publishing; and other. The activities of News Corporation are conducted principally in the United States, Continental Europe, the United Kingdom, Australia, Asia and Latin America. For more information, visit www.newscorp.com.

About Ford Motor Company

Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 198,000 employees and about 90 plants worldwide, the company’s automotive brands include Ford, Lincoln, Mercury and Volvo. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford’s products, please visit www.ford.com.

About The Coca-Cola Company

The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO) is the world’s largest beverage company, refreshing consumers with more than 500 sparkling and still brands. Together with Coca-Cola, recognized as the world’s most valuable brand, the Company’s portfolio includes 14 billion dollar brands, including Diet Coke, Fanta, Sprite, Coca-Cola Zero, vitaminwater, Powerade, Minute Maid, Simply and Georgia Coffee. Globally, we are the No. 1 provider of sparkling beverages, juices and juice drinks and ready-to-drink teas and coffees. Through the world’s largest beverage distribution system, consumers in more than 200 countries enjoy the Company’s beverages at a rate of 1.6 billion servings a day. With an enduring commitment to building sustainable communities, our Company is focused on initiatives that protect the environment, conserve resources and enhance the economic development of the communities where we operate. For more information about our Company, please visit our website at www.thecoca-colacompany.com.

About AT&T

AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) is a premier communications holding company. Its subsidiaries and affiliates – AT&T operating companies – are the providers of AT&T services in the United States and around the world. With a powerful array of network resources that includes the nation’s fastest 3G network, AT&T is a leading provider of wireless, Wi-Fi, high speed Internet and voice services. AT&T offers the best wireless coverage worldwide.  It also offers advanced TV services under the AT&T U-verseSM and AT&T DIRECTVSM brands. The company’s suite of IP-based business communications services is one of the most advanced in the world. In domestic markets, AT&T’s Yellow Pages and YELLOWPAGES.COM organizations are known for their leadership in directory publishing and advertising sales. In 2009, AT&T again ranked No. 1 in the telecommunications industry on FORTUNE® magazine’s list of the World’s Most Admired Companies. Additional information about AT&T Inc. and the products and services provided by AT&T subsidiaries and affiliates is available at www.att.com.

About ExxonMobil

Exxon Mobil Corporation and ExxonMobil Foundation, the primary philanthropic arm of Exxon Mobil Corporation in the United States, engage in a range of philanthropic activities that advance education, health, women’s economic leadership and public policy in the communities where ExxonMobil has significant operations. In the United States, ExxonMobil supports initiatives to improve math and science education at the K-12 and higher education levels. Globally, ExxonMobil provides funding to help women fulfill their economic potential and combat malaria and other infectious diseases in developing countries. Additional information on ExxonMobil’s community partnerships and contributions programs is available at www.exxonmobil.com/community.

AMERICAN IDOL is created and executive-produced by Simon Fuller, founder of 19 Entertainment; and executive-produced by Cecile Frot-Coutaz, CEO, FremantleMedia North America; and Ken Warwick, executive producer, FremantleMedia North America. The series features host Ryan Seacrest and judges Simon Cowell, Ellen DeGeneres, Kara DioGuardi and Randy Jackson.

Visit americanidol.com for more information on AMERICAN IDOL in addition to exclusive videos, photos, special behind-the-scenes information and all of your AMERICAN IDOL news.

The CW has given full season pick ups to network staples Supernatural, Gossip Girl, ANTM and 90210 with an addition note for its highest rated show, Vampire Diaries.

The net has yet to announce the fate of Smallville, One Tree Hill (both of which are reliant on which actors want to return) and new show, Life UneXpected, which is in the same situation as Privileged was last season.

A fan of Melrose? Don’t hold your breath…

Wowza, Shannon’s back….

Producers of LOST have confirmed to EW that everyones favorite dead girl will appear before the end of the season.

“We’re really excited about having her back on the show,” says Cuse, “and we have a good story for her.” The producers would not specify how many episodes she would appear in. An original cast member, Grace exited the show in season 2 when her character — the spoiled stepsister of Boone — was killed off, though she did resurface in a season 3 episode.

On a night where Idol faced real competition, FOX bested NBC’s coverage of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

Idol averaged a very strong 9.1 (18-49) rating between 8-10pm, beating out NBC’s coverage of the Winter Olympics, which averaged a 5.4 (18-49) rating and just over 20 million viewers.

ABC took third with a night heavily influenced by LOST, starting with a rerun which pulled a 1.5 (18-49) rating at 8pm. An original episode then pulled a solid (considering the competition) 4.5 (18-49) rating at 9pm leading into a pretty average episode of the forgotten (1.7, 5.05 million viewers)

CBS was in reruns last night, averaging a 1.8 (18-49) rating with episodes of NCIS, NCIS:LA and The Good Wife. The CW was also in reruns, averaging just a 0.4 (18-49) rating and under one million viewers for the night. 

Full Breakdown: 

8:00 – FOX – American Idol (8-10pm) - 9.1 (18-49) rating - 23.6 million viewers
NBC – Vancouver Winter Olympics (8-11pm) - 5.4 - 20.4 million
CBS – NCIS (R) – 2.3 -11.6 million
ABC – Lost (R) – 1.5 - 4.2 million
CW – 90210 (R) – 0.4 - 0.9 million

9:00 – ABC – Lost – 4.5 (18-49) rating - 9.8 million viewers
CBS – NCIS: Los Angeles (R) – 1.8 - 9.1 million
CW – Melrose Place (R) – 0.4 - 0.8 million

10:00 – ABC – The Forgotten – 1.7 - 5.1 million
CBS – The Good Wife (R) – 1.4 - 7.8 million

Find out who’s who in the 16th Edition of The Amazing Race….

via Press Release

CBS ANNOUNCES THE 11 TEAMS RACING IN THE EMMY AWARD-WINNING SERIES, “THE AMAZING RACE,” PREMIERING FEBRUARY 14

Eleven Teams Hit the Road for a 40,000-Mile Sprint around the Globe and Find Themselves in the Midst of a World War I Re-enactment, Retracing the Early Days of The Beatles and Come Face-to-Face with One of the World’s Most Infamous Villains

CBS today announced the 11 Teams set to compete in the 16^th edition of THE AMAZING RACE, premiering Sunday, Feb. 14 (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.  Emmy Award nominee Phil Keoghan is the host.

Contestants will travel nearly 40,000 miles across five continents and eight countries.  Eleven Teams start off by navigating through the congested streets of Los Angeles and, for the first time ever, must rely solely on public transportation to make their way to LAX.  The Teams’ first destination lies in Chile where they will encounter one of the most daunting Roadblocks in the history of the series.  In their ongoing battle for the one million dollar prize, Teams will participate in a grueling World War I reenactment in France, retrace the early days of the iconic rock group, The Beatles, and come face-to-face with one of the world’s most infamous villains.

Season 16 features Teams from all walks of life, including couples, parents, siblings, friends, models, lawyers, detectives and even cowboys.

The Emmy Award-Winning THE AMAZING RACE received its seventh consecutive Emmy for Outstanding Reality Competition Program last year.

Following are the 11 teams, listed in no particular order:

Caite Upton

Age: 20

Hometown: Lexington, S.C.

Occupation: Model/Actress

Brent Horne

Age: 28

Hometown: Columbia, S.C.

Occupation: Model/Advertising

Relationship: Dating/Models

Louis Stravato (Left)

Age:  47

Hometown: Providence, R.I.

Occupation: Undercover Detective

Michael Naylor (Right)

Age:  45

Hometown: Providence, R.I.

Occupation: Undercover Detective

Relationship: Detectives

Steve Smith

Age: 57

Hometown: Encinitas, Calif.

Occupation: Professional Baseball Coach/

World Series Champion Coach

Allie Smith

Age: 23

Hometown: Encinitas, Calif.

Occupation: Marketing

Relationship: Father/Daughter

Jeff Schroeder

Age: 31

Hometown: Norridge, Ill

Occupation: Salesman

Jordan Lloyd

Age: 22

Hometown: Charlotte, N.C.

Occupation: Receptionist

Relationship: Newly Dating

Monique Pryor (Left)

Age: 39

Hometown: West Orange, N.J.

Occupation: Attorney

Shawne Morgan (Right)

Age: 39

Hometown: Bowie, Md.

Occupation: Attorney

Relationship: Moms/Attorneys

Jet McCoy (Left)

Age: 30

Hometown: Ada, Okla.

Occupation: Cowboy

Cord McCoy (Right)

Age:  29

Hometown: Tupelo, Okla.

Occupation: Pro Bull Rider

Relationship: Brothers/Cowboys

Adrian Davis

Age: 40

Hometown: Arlington, Texas

Occupation: Medical Sales

Dana Davis

Age: 39

Hometown:  Arlington, Texas

Occupation: Market Manager

Relationship: High School Sweethearts/Married

Jody Kelly

Age: 71

Hometown: Round Rock, Texas

Occupation: Personal Trainer

Shannon Foster

Age: 22

Hometown: Georgetown, Texas

Occupation: Healthcare Outreach Contract Analyst

Relationship: Grandmother/Granddaughter

Carol Rosenfeld (Left)

Age:  47

Hometown:   Los Angeles, Calif.

Occupation: Consultant

Brandy Snow (Right)
Age: 40

Hometown:  Los Angeles, Calif.

Occupation: Actress and Voice Over Artist

Relationship: Dating

Dan Pious (Left)

Age:  24

Hometown:  Barrington, R.I.

Occupation: Financial Advisor

Jordan Pious (Right)

Age: 22

Hometown: Barrington, R.I.

Occupation: Strategic Consultant

Relationship: Brothers

Joe Wang

Age: 42

Hometown: El Segundo, Calif.

Occupation: Software Salesman

Heidi Wang

Age: 37

Hometown: El Segundo, Calif.

Occupation: Stay-at-Home Mom

Relationship: Married

CLICK HERE TO MEET THE RACERS

The show, from creator Seth Green, will produce 40 episodes over the two seasons…

via Press Release:

Robot Chicken Gets Unprecedented Two-Season Pick-Up

Seth Green and Matthew Senreich Secure 40-episode Order with Adult Swim for 5th and 6th Season

Robot Chicken creators/executive producers Seth Green and Matthew Senreich have made a deal with Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim for a two-season, 40-episode pick-up for Seasons five and six. Robot Chicken, the highest-rated original series on Adult Swim, began airing in February 2005 and remains the top-rated original on the network. The series has been Emmy-nominated as Outstanding Animated Program for the last two years; Green was nominated for Outstanding Voice-Over Performance and the series has won multiple Emmys in Animation. Robot Chicken produced two hit Robot Chicken: Star Wars specials, and Robot Chicken DVDs consistently rank among the industry’s top TV on DVD releases during the week they are released. In addition, Robot Chicken has won four Annie Awards, including Best Animated Television Production, Best Writing and Best Director for Green.

“We’re very excited,” says Green, “we never expected to do a second season, let alone a fifth and sixth, so we are thrilled by the audience response and how the show continues to grow internationally.” Senreich says, “We love Adult Swim. It’s really that simple. From the get-go, we’ve always said that Robot Chicken was a show where we play with friends and we look forward to doing that for years to come!”

Robot Chicken is created and executive produced by Green and Senreich under their Stoopid Monkey Productions, in conjunction with Alex Bulkley and Corey Campodonico’s ShadowMachine Films. Green and Senreich also executive produce, write and, with Chris McKay, direct the series, with Green providing many of the voices. Tom Root and Douglas Goldstein are the head writers of Robot Chicken and series writers Mike Fasolo, Kevin Shinick and Zeb Wells are frequently joined by guest writers Breckin Meyer (who also does many voices on the show), Hugh Davidson, Hugh Sterbakov and Dan Milano, Erik Weiner and Jordan Allen-Dutton.

Both Green and Senreich are represented by UTA. Green’s deal was also handled by Koopman Management and David Weber of Sloane, Offer, Weber and Dern and Senreich’s by Allison Binder of Stone, Meyer, Genow, Smelkinson & Binder.

Adult Swim (AdultSwim.com), launched in 2001, is Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.’s network offering original and acquired animated and live-action series for young adults. Airing nightly from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. (ET, PT), Adult Swim shares channel space with Cartoon Network, home to the best in original, acquired and classic entertainment for youth and families, and is seen in 97 million U.S. homes.

Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner company, creates and programs branded news, entertainment, animation and young adult media environments on television and other platforms for consumers around the world.

On a night with a sure fire American Idol win, ABC’s comedies and Criminal Minds were also strong.

American Idol led FOX to victory last night, posting a 9.8 rating and 26.7 million viewers – still holding very strong vs. last year. At 9, the second episode of Human Target was roughly level with last nights pilot repeat posting a 3.4 (18-49) rating and 10.4 million viewers.

CBS was second for the night, starting off with a weak Old Christine (1.9, 6.5 million) and equally weak Gary Unmarried (1.9, 6.2 million). Criminal Minds was the nights second strongest show, posting a 4.3 (18-49) rating and 15.3 million viewers. At 10, CSI: NY was solid with a 3.7 rating and 13.9 million viewers.

ABC was third with a mixture of reruns and originals. At 8, a Modern Family rerun posted a 1.6 (18-49) rating leading into a rerun of The Middle, which posted a 1.7 rating and 4.7 million viewers. At 9, a new episode of Modern Family posted a very strong 4.1 (18-49) rating and 9.8 million viewers leading into a new Cougar Town, which posted a 3.4 (18-49) rating and 7.6 million viewers – up vs. last weeks 3.1. At 10, Ugly Betty was level with last weeks 1.6 rating and 4.6 million viewers.

Fourth was NBC, which went with a new episode of Mercy at 8, drawing 5.8 million viewers and a 1.4 (18-49) rating. A rerun of Law & Order: SVU was fourth in the 9pm hour, posting a 1.4 rating and 5.6 million viewers – it just can’t wait to get back to 10pm. The Jay Leno Show was poor last night, posting just a 1.2 (18-49) rating and 4.6 million viewers.

The CW was in reruns last night, with a second airing of new show Life UneXpected posting a 0.7 (18-49) rating and 1.7 million viewers (Better than the last original airing of Melrose Place). A Gossip Girl rerun posted a 0.4 rating and 0.8 million viewers at 9pm.

Full Breakdown:

8:00 – FOX – American Idol – 9.8 (18-49) rating - 26.7 million viewers
CBS – New Adventures of Old Christine – 1.9 - 6.5 million
ABC – Modern Family (R) – 1.6 - 5.1 million
NBC – Mercy – 1.4 - 5.8 million
CW – Life Unexpected (R) – 0.7 - 1.7 million

8:30 – CBS – Gary Unmarried – 1.9 (18-49) rating - 6.2 million
ABC – The Middle (R) – 1.7 - 4.7 million

9:00 – CBS – Criminal Minds – 4.3 (18-49) rating - 15.3 million viewers
ABC – Modern Family – 4.1 - 9.8 million
FOX – Human Target – 3.4 - 10.4 million
NBC – Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (R) – 1.4 - 5.6 million
CW – Gossip Girl (R) – 0.4 - 0.8 million

9:30 – ABC – Cougar Town – 3.4 (18-49) rating - 7.6 million

10:00 – CBS – CSI: NY – 3.7 (18-49) rating - 13.9 million
ABC – Ugly Betty – 1.6 - 4.6 million
NBC – The Jay Leno Show – 1.2 - 4.6 million

EW’s Michael Ausiello is reporting that McKean has been tapped to reprise his role as the Daily Planet Editor-in-waiting.

Executive producer Brian Peterson told EW:

“We’re thrilled to have Michael back on the show  and to be able to link it with the anticipated return of Martha Kent is just a phenomenal way to gear up to the end of the season.”

Peterson also reveals that the iconic character’s latest trip through Smallville will bring him “closer to his destiny” than ever before. Reveals Peterson: “We finally get to see the legendary introduction between Perry White and the intrepid Lois Lane.”

This season is turning into one of the best so far!

Word from NBC today is that two of its comedies deserve an extra couple of episodes each.

Community - starring Joel McHale – has been given an extra 3 episodes this season, taking its total to 25. The freshman show has continued to improve in its Thursday 8pm timeslot, setting a timeslot high just last week.

Parks & Recreation on the other hand has not fared so well. The show -starring Amy Poehler – has been given an extra 2 episodes, taking its total to 24. The sophomore show has averaged less than Community – despite having it as a lead in.

Am I happy? Yeppers. Two of my favorite TV shows getting extra episodes is just what the doctor ordered.

Martha Kent is back in the Hizz-ouse.

Sources are reporting that Annette O’ Toole has signed on to reprise her role as Clark Kent’s mother in an episode to be aired later on this season.

Rumor has it that the episode will air during May sweeps and there is apparently a few twists and turns included.