Dancing With the Stars Season 13 Premiere: TV Review

Now in its 13th season, one thing is certain about ABC's smash ratings hit Dancing With the Stars: With the possible exception of Jersey Shore,it has mastered the art of self-promotion better than any other reality show.our editor recommends'Dancing With the Stars' Premiere: 5 Memorable Moments'Dancing With the Stars'' Carson Kressley, Anna Trebunskaya Name Their Biggest Competition'Dancing with the Stars' Chaz Bono Jokes Place Chelsea Handler in Hot Water with GLAAD'Dancing with the Stars' Chaz Bono Says He Has Cher's Approval (Video)'Dancing With the Stars' Contestant Chaz Bono Speaks Out Against Critics'Dancing With the Stars' EP Addresses Chaz Bono Backlash By unveiling a misfit cast of current and where-are-they-now celebrities, former politicians, sports personalities and those whose prolonged 15 minutes of fame may be less than understandable weeks prior to the premiere, a flurry of media stories is all but a certainty. PHOTOS: 'Dancing With the Stars' Season 13: Rehearsals This year, of course, most of the pre-show attention was focused on the inclusion of transgender activist Chaz Bono, Sonny and Cher's daughter-turned-son. As executive producer Conrad Green learned by selecting such past cast members as Heather Mills, Tom DeLay and Bristol Palin, a little controversy ensures that headlines about the show run bolder and its ratings inch higher. Predictably, several religious groups have argued that giving Bono a platform to dance is a stamp of approval for a "lifestyle choice," just as many liberals complained when DeLay strutted his stuff wearing a gaudy red and white button down shirt with a GOP logo on the back. PHOTOS: 'Dancing With the Stars' Season 13 Cast Official Photos The genius part of the early rounds of Dancing, however, is precisely the head-scratching diversity of talent -- for lack of a better word -- that hits the floor. Who knew such a varied group of people all secretly craved to learn ballroom moves? That's just one reason the show is a hit with social conservatives and drag queens alike. On Monday's season opener, Los Angeles Laker forward Ron Artest, who days earlier changed his name to Metta World Peace, stumbled his way through a cha-cha-cha. Sanctimonious Headline News prosecutor Nancy Grace actually seemed to be enjoying herself with her handsy Irish partner despite the fact that she showed no discernable dancing ability. PHOTOS: 'Dancing With the Stars' Season 13 Cast Newly sober actor David Arquette cut a convincing rug (or hardwood) in his tux and tails. Queer Eye for the Straight Guyalum Carson Kressley mangled a cha-cha-cha and had to dance with a female partner, but ended up scoring well based on charm points. Inspired by Kirstie Alley's DWTS weight loss results, former talk show host Ricki Lake impressed the judges with her version of a Viennese Waltz. STORY: 'Dancing With the Stars' Premiere: What the Viewers Are Saying Iraq War vet and actor J.R. Martinez, U.S. Women's Team goalie Hope Solo, model Elisabetta Canalis, former Wilson-Phillips singer and Billy Baldwin wife Chynna Phillips, "reality TV star" Rob KardashianandKristin Cavallari rounded out the campy, clumsy fun. But the premiere really built up to the performance by Bono, who, in his lead-in segment, didn't shy away from his sex change. By turns self-critical and proud, Bono addressed the issue head-on, explaining to the audience that he'd started off life as Sonny and Cher's daughter, Chastity, before undergoing gender reassignment surgery. STORY: 'Dancing With the Stars' Alum Wendy Williams Doesn't See Chaz Bono Going Far As for his dance moves, Bono more than held his own, turning in a spirited if not especially nimble cha-cha-cha. "I think people have been waiting all night to see you Chaz, and you did not disappoint. You can dance!" judge Carrie Ann Inaba said. Spawning a whole new flurry of headlines, Bono's performance perfectly demonstrated the quirky, democratic value of Dancing With the Stars. Whatever social or political baggage each contestant brings to the program, it's really those scant moments on the dance floor that matter. To hear judge Bruno Tonioli tell it, on that score alone Bono more than made his statement. "I had no idea you were so cuddly and cute!" Tonioli quipped. ABC Carson Kressley Chaz Bono David Arquette Kristin Cavallari Reality TV Dancing with the Stars Nancy Grace

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Trailer: Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Michael Shannon Play Good Bike Messenger, Bad Cop in Premium Rush

Take it from Jennifer Aniston — working as a NY City bike messenger is neither glamorous nor exciting. Unless you’re Joseph Gordon-Levitt in David Koepp’s upcoming bike messenger thriller Premium Rush, in which case transporting packages across town is a fast-paced career option with hot co-workers, adrenaline rushes and the occasional highly dangerous assignment. Here, we see Gordon-Levitt as a passionate bike messenger who waxes poetic about riding fixed speed and flirts with a gorgeous colleague (Dania Ramirez) who bashes in side-view mirrors for fun. They take pride in the timeliness of their deliveries and happen to get a rush from their job. It seems kind of great! Until Michael Shannon shows up as a dirty cop who will do anything to get his hands on one a mysterious package that JGL has picked up from Columbia University. Premium Rush was written and directed by David Koepp (Secret Window). Look for the thriller in theaters Jan. 13. To see the trailer in HD, head on over to Sony.

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Shrinking TV universe

Americans may be watching more TV than ever, but all that viewing is happening in fewer homes.The 2011-12 season marks the first on record with Nielsen to see a year-over-year decline in the percentage of U.S. households with at least one TV, known as the TV penetration rate. For the first time in 20 years, the total number of homes with TVs -- what Nielsen refers to as the universe estimate -- has dropped, from 115.9 million last season to 114.7 million. With the overall number of U.S. households (with or without TVs) rising to 118.6 million over the same period, the TV penetration rate dropped 2.2% to 96.7% -- the lowest since it hit 97% in 1975, according to Nielsen."What's staggering to me is for decades the TV penetration rate has been at 98%-99%, so this is a pretty notable dropoff," said Brad Adgate, senior VP research at Horizon Media.The percentage drop means nearly 5 million viewers have vanleaving a universe of 289.7 million. So where did 1.7% of the viewing population go?The reasons for the contraction of the TV world are not entirely clear. The first theory: In a tough economy, Americans don't buy as many TVs, a trend compounded by the 2009 digital transition that forced consumers to upgrade or replace their equipment. Because the old analog sets are no longer counted, Nielsen immediately saw a downturn in TV homes once the transition deadline transpired, and though the numbers eventually rebounded, they still haven't returned to pre-2009 levels."The drop in TV households after the digital transition was undoubtedly tied to a poor economy," said Pat McDonough, senior VP of insights and analysis at Nielsen. "Most homes that dropped TV were younger, poorer homes."She also noted that Nielsen has periodically revisited non-TV homes and found that they have double the vacancy rate of TV homes -- indicating that people in non-TV homes move frequently, possibly because of worsening financial conditions in the household.Blame the recessionThe recession may have also stunted the growth of TV households because young adults who would have gotten jobs and residences of their own are increasingly moving back in with parents after college amid high unemployment rates."Kids who were normally in an apartment in (NY City) and counting as a new household were now staying home with ma and pa," said David Poltrack, chief research officer at CBS Corp.But it's also possible that what may seem a cyclical economic trend is also a secular, technological one. The decline could be tied to the highly disputed phenomenon known as cord-cutting, in which a segment of the population is bypassing multichannel subscriptions to watch on digital platforms.Just how many consumers may be cord-cutting is subject to debate. Many studies have shown their ranks are statistically insignificant, but many analyst ascribe the sizable dips in subscribers that cable operators saw in the second quarter to cord-cutting.Just a phase?Nielsen has found that online viewers tend to be recent college graduates in big cities. While poor, rural markets over-index among decreasing TV homes, there are tech-savvy, college-heavy urban centers that also show marked decreases like top-10 market Boston, down 3.3%.The big question is whether those watching online are doing so because they can't afford new TVs or because those TVs have become an anachronism to them. "We're curious to see if this is simply a lifestyle phase that they'll grow out of as they get the house and the kids," McDonough said.Nielsen research in May and July showed an unusual increase in broadcast-only homes, suggesting that rather than simply tossing aside TV entirely in favor of laptops or tablets, viewers may be attempting a combination of free over-the-air broadcast TV and such paid digital services as Netflix. That trend is playing out at the same time that subs disappearing from cable are not flocking to satellite or telco options as they've done historically.Nielsen doesn't think cord-cutting is entirely the answer, but that hasn't stopped the company from exploring how to extend its measurement of digital platforms in TV homes to non-TV homes, which would then be factored into universe estimates.Nielsen has made inroads into tracking usage on digital platforms, but integrating those stats into TV homes numbers is a tall order and won't be completed this year."This is a complex business discussion we need to engage in with our clients," McDonough said. "We have started this conversation and will continue it as we evolve our measurement across platforms."Someone has to payWhether the drop is an aberration won't be known for some time. But if it is the beginning of a long-term trend, there will be consequences for what advertisers pay to reach audiences. For now, though, the new numbers were factored into negotiations given that Nielsen notified the industry back in May. "In the upfront, everybody just built in the numbers, and it was business as usual," Poltrack said.The declines are playing out across all demographics and also clearly suggest an aging of the audience that shouldn't play well with advertisers who target the under-50 crowd. The 18-49 demo slipped from 131.5 million last season to 127.9 million in 2011-12.Nielsen was expecting some sort of change in the 2012 universe estimates given that it would be the first to incorporate population measurements from the 2010 census. Every 10 years the universe estimates are recalibrated to take into account the latest census figures. But in 2002, the census actually spurred a 2002 increase; 1992 was the last time universe estimates went down, but they shot right back up over the remainder of the decade, which McDonough credits to the country shaking off a recession quicker."The boom in the 1990s helped TV households rebound at that time," she said. "We will certainly be watching to see if history repeats itself." 96.7%The penetration rate of TV in the U.S. has dropped 2.2%, marking the first decline since Nielsen began tracking it in the 1970s. Contact Andrew Wallenstein at andrew.wallenstein@variety.com

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What You Need to Know About Commercial Reels

Commercial reels are most useful for trying to secure a commercial agent. Showing them ads you've been cast in, what types of commercials you're right for, what characters you tend to get cast as, and, most important, that you've already made money doing commercials is invaluable. An actor with a reel is much more likely to get a meeting than one without.It is also possible that commercial casting directors, commercial producers, and ad executives, if they like your headshot, will look at your reel to get a sense of who you are. "It's an opportunity for exposure," says Jesse Kelly of Advanced Media in Los Angeles. "The actor can demonstrate ability, look, and style to someone in the position to help them get cast in movies and/or TV."Your commercial reel should be around 60 to 90 seconds long, two minutes max. "Shorter is better," says commercial director Scott Young. "It's best to have three great clips rather than five clips with two that are not that great." Kelly agrees: "Better to keep them wanting more than having had enough."If you are lucky enough to have a great deal of excellent footage (in the sense that it's in focus and audible), choosing which clips to use for your reel may be difficult, but you still don't want to go over two minutes. "Less can be more," says Brad Holbrook of ActorIntro in New York. "And it's easier on the budget to embrace that idea." Remember that a longer reel will cost you more, as most editors charge by the hour.Always put your best clip at the beginning of the reel. It might be the only one the agent or CD has time to watch. "If your reel starts out with something very high-caliberI'm talking production values, sound, resolution, camera workit's reassuring," says Holbrook. "It shows you are a serious player."From there, add your clips with the best-quality video production and that best show your abilities. "All other considerations are distantly behind these two," Holbrook says. Any recognizable ads, brands, or people should be considered next. "Commercials with famous actors help your credibility a lot," says Kelly.Finally, consider using commercials that show your range. Ryan Allen of Beverly Hills Demo Reels thinks having three contrasting commercials on your reel is what you should aim for. Holbrook agrees. "Variety, as much of it as you can show, is the key," he says.If you've done only one or two commercials but you still want a commercial reel, consider using some of the other footage you may have, such as clips of your hosting work or a comedy scene that looks like it could be a commercial. If it is shot and edited well, it might work in your reel."Keep in mind that what the CD is looking for when they're casting a commercial is an actor who embodies the type they need," says Holbrook. "A commercial demo reel doesn't necessarily have to include only commercial work. Other performance footage that can show off your type and talent could also qualify."Another option is shooting your own content specifically for your reel. This can be tricky to do on your own, not to mention pricey. You need good writing, lighting and sound equipment, a cameraall the things you would need to shoot a film. If you go this route, you will probably still want to hire a demo reel editor. "There are certain content choices, construction formats, and rhythms that need to be created in order to make a good commercial reel," says Allen. "Unless you have been trained as a professional editor, you probably won't make it the best it can be.""A lot of actors have tried to get their amateur editor friends to produce their demo reels for them, and this can turn out badly," says Derrick Boelter of L.A.'s Reels for Actors. "If you're looking for an editor, you should find somebody that has done hundreds of demo reels, that understands both the art and science of doing it right, that can get your reel ready and make it look and feel professional and seamless, so that the viewer can concentrate on whether you'd be right for the part."There are also services that will help you shoot a commercial tailored for your reel. Again, this option can be pricey, but if you really want to show what you can do and don't want to wait around for the perfect footage, it's a solid option.A List of Don'ts for Commercial Reels "Don't worry about the reel making sense. It's not a narrative. Clips smash into one another with no sense of a theme, and that's fine. It's not a story. It's a demo reel. It shows you in a variety of looks and attitudes, so that they can decide if you're worth calling in." (Brad Holbrook, ActorIntro)"I would avoid putting any sort of montage on your demo reel. People don't have much spare time these days, and chances are that casting directors will fast-forward through it." (Derrick Boelter, Reels for Actors)"No drama. Rarely is that footage used for commercial reels. Light and positive is the best way to go." (Ryan Allen, Beverly Hills Demo Reels)"If you're in a scene where the only thing that we see of you is the back of your head, then that's probably not a good thing to include." (Boelter)"Stay away from anything terribly offensive. There's a lot of Web video out there that includes not-ready-for-prime-time subject matter, and especially for a commercial reel, it probably won't win you any admirers in the client's office." (Holbrook)

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Another Summer time To Forget For That Broadcast Systems

Exactly what do The American Idol Show, Dwts, Survivor, Who Would Like To Be considered a Uniform, Hell’s Kitchen, Your Government, Which Means You Think You Are Able To Dance, America’s Got Talent and Wipeout share? They're broadcast TV’s greatest reality franchises of history decade. Plus they all released within the summer time. Summer time was previously a period for that systems to test innovative reality formats which had never been done about the large 4 broadcast nets (ballroom dancing or singing competitions, shows about castaways with an island or other people located in a home) or have been gone from primetime for any very long time (game shows). The broadcast systems are tossing on retreads well over-uncovered formats from June through August, therefore it’s no real surprise that nothing has stuck since Wipeout released on ABC in June 2008. A slew of beginners came and went in the last 3 several weeks: ABC’s Expedition Impossible, Go ahead and take Money & Run, Karaoke Fight USA and 101 Methods To Leave a game title Show, CBS’ Same Title, NBC’s Love Within the Wild and also the similar It’s Worth What? on NBC and Hidden Treasure on Fox. The only real new offering about the broadcast systems to exhibit a pulse this summer time was ABC’s Extreme Transformation: Weight Reduction Edition, assisted with a solid lead-in cheap it's an offshoot of the popular franchise. Things looked as bleak about the scripted side, with ABC’s Combat Hospital, Fox’s sketch comedy Within the Flow with Affion Crockett and NBC’s burnoff Love Bites all barely signing up. That's in stark contrast to cable, which once more created a slew of breakout hits: TNT’s Falling Skies and Franklin & Party, USA’s Suits, ABC Family’s Switched at Birth, MTV’s Awkward and TV Land’s Happily Divorced, all already restored for any second season, USA’s Necessary Roughness, whose pickup is pending, and Cinemax’s Strike Back, that also got on a good start. Whilst not as numerous, there has been several standouts within the reality arena too like newbies Nail Files on television Guide Funnel and Tia & Tamera on Style, both posting rankings records for his or her systems. Just how can MTV’s Jersey Shoreline pack a 4.5 18-49 Live+24 hour demo rating in August when HUT levels are extremely low that many tv stations don’t even bother to schedule originals? And also the show will it within the 10 PM slot where commentators say viewership is furthermore depressed by Digital recording device use. That’s because, like several individuals broadcast reality series I listed at the very top, it slices the clutter to be entertaining and original. If you notice TNT dramas Rizzoli & Isles and also the Closer bring in ten million audiences in Live+7 in August, celebrate you believe why the broadcast systems surrendered summer time to cable, especially about the scripted side. Seinfeld‘s original run is at the summer time. And Fox’s The O.C. too released within the summer time, the final scripted broadcast series to effectively achieve this. There after, it’s been all cable, with your signature series as USA’s Burn Notice, TNT’s The Closer and AMC’s Mad Males all starting within the off-season. Meanwhile, broadcast nets’ only notable summer time scripted originals happen to be Canadian imports, Flashpoint on CBS and Rookie Blue on ABC. And also the CW continues to be sitting summer time out altogether, new things leader Mark Pedowitz is likely to change.

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Britney On Motherhood & Wanting To Be A Teacher

LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Britney Spears has taught the world a thing or two about pop music over the span of her career, but what would the 29-year-old be doing if Baby One More Time had never become a massive hit. Raising my family. Being a mom, Brit told PopJustice.com, when asked about possible alternatives to being a pop star. [My life,] would probably pretty much be the same because Im very strong in the way I raise my kids and stuff, so it would probably be pretty much the same, but career-wise Id probably be a teacher. I love kids and even in what I do now one of my favorite parts of my day is getting to meet my fans before the show. Especially the little ones. They are always so cute, she continued. The mother of two said while touring she sticks to a strict routine. On tour, I usually get up in the morning and I work out, and I spend time with my kids, and then itll be time to go to the venue, and I have catering, eat dinner then get ready for the show, she explained. And despite singing about being at the club, Brit said she wont usually be found in them expect the one in her own house. I never go to the club, but I think its fun to sing about it. And I have my own mini club at my house, she revealed. And I play a lot of music there it has a glitterball and we have catering and lights. Its the whole setup. Britney, who is nominated for two MTV VMAs, will be honored on Sunday with a tribute. Copyright 2011 by NBC Universal, Inc. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

ROLL CALL: Emma Stone & Andrew Garfields Date Evening

by Jesse SperoLOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Amazing Evening Out: Emma Stone and Andrew Garfield still fuel the dating gossips! The Astonishing Spider-Guy co-stars were spotted getting dinner together at Nobu in Malibu, Calif., on Thursday evening. The stars were formerly spotted out together within the recent days, but haven't said on the relationship status. Browse the pair, HERE! Buddies or even more? More Real Average women Drama: The Actual Average women drama just wont stop. This time around the father and step mother of Ashlee Holmes, daughter from the Real Average women of Nj star Jacqueline Laurita, are earning head lines. Radar Online has says John Madison Matt Holmes and wife Jodi Sue Holmes, who have been featured on last days episode, were both arrested in June. Click The Link to discover why! RPattz & Uma Get Steamy!: New shots of Robert Pattinsons new period piece, Bel Ami, have appeared! The actor, who plays an undesirable guy in 1800s Paris, moving his way via a slew of high society women, seems to obtain frisky with Uma Thurman in the approaching movie. Take a look at Robert doing what were utilised to seeing him caused by Billy Burke about the giant screen, HERE! Sineads Sex Life Chronicled!: Sinead OConnor, who lately appeared searching drastically diverse from we remember her, continues to be chronicling her look for love. After blogging that they was searching for an extremely sweet sex-starved guy, among a number of other needed characteristics, the singer informed her fans that they had found an very sweet, kind, very sincere, considerate but absolutely FILTHY minded guy just days later which shes cancelled her look for suitors. Take a look at Sineads very open and honest blog, HERE! Copyright 2011 by NBC Universal, Corporation. All privileges reserved.These components might not be released, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.