ABC is shooting a pilot in Atlanta for a new crime drama “Partners’” starring Annie Wersching (right), who played Renee Walker on “24″ its final two seasons.

The concept, according to deadline.com, is two female detectives who are secretly half sisters. Wersching plays one sister. Scottie Thompson, last seen on NBC’s short-run medical drama “Trauma,” is the other.

“Partners” shot Grant Park last week, then Druid Hills. On Tuesday and Wednesday of this week, the show shot in the Old Fourth Ward.  It’s set to wrap production April 1. Keep up with the show’s progress here at www.partnersfans.com

There is about a one in three shot of a pilot turning into a series on a major network like ABC. We’ll know in May whether it makes the schedule.

The other pilot shooting in town right now is CBS’s “Hail Mary” starring Minnie  Driver.

Continue reading ‘24′ star Annie Werschling on ABC pilot ‘Partners’ taping in Atlanta »

Tabatha Coffey greets fans at the Paul Mitchell Academy, where she knows one of the owners well.

Tabatha Coffey, the Australian hairdresser, has blossomed as a reality TV star thanks to Bravo’s “Tabatha’s Salon Takeover,” which just concluded its third season. She also has a book “It’s Not Really About the Hair,” a memoir/self-help combo.

She came to Atlanta earlier this month for a charity event where she helped shave heads at Ri Ra Irish Pub to support childhood cancer research for the St.  Baldrick’s Foundation. (More than 200 people volunteered to get their heads shaved, raising more than $100,000.) She also held two book signings, including a packed house at Outwrite Books in Midtown.

Coffey hoped Atlanta would provide her some  “heat and humidity.” She came on a chilly day instead. “I wanted it hot and steamy,” she said. “I got ahead of myself!”

She’d love to do a “Takeover” episode or two in Atlanta for a future season. (A fourth season has not been announced but she …

Continue reading Tabatha Coffey (Bravo’s ‘Tabatha’s Salon Takeover’) takes over Atlanta »

CREDIT: NBC

Atlanta rapper Lil Jon will step up as project manager this Sunday for his team Backbone on the fourth episode of  NBC’s “Celebrity Apprentice.”

This could mean $20,000 for his charity of choice, Decatur’s United Methodist Children’s Home. The challenge is creating a 30-second video to promote a video-phone product.

This could also expose Lil Jon for a relatively early elimination if he doesn’t win.  (The last two project managers on the women’s side were fired by Donald Trump, though Richard Hatch escaped elimination thanks to him outflanking David Cassidy.)

“All the staff, kids and families at UMCH are pulling for Lil Jon. We have been so honored by that he chose us and is bringing attention to our mission. We wish him the best of luck this Sunday,” said Terence Johnson, Director of Programs at UMCH, in a press release.

Since 1871, the United Methodist Children’s Home has been a safe haven for abused children and youth.

Lil Jon didn’t get much …

Continue reading Lil Jon will be project manager this Sunday on ‘Celebrity Apprentice’ »

Atlanta-based TNT renewed cop drama “Southland” for a fourth season, asking for 10 more episodes.

The show, with a slightly pared down cast, drew 2.9 million viewers a week for first-run episodes, counting DVR usage, which upped its viewership significantly. The DVR probably saved the show, which overall, was up slightly from the previous season, when TNT aired leftover episodes NBC had abandoned. (”Southland” originated in the spring of 2009 on NBC for a brief run, was canceled during the Jay Leno 10 p.m. debacle in the fall and saved by TNT soon after.)

And TNT is giving Eric McCormack (”Will & Grace”) a second chance. But this time it’s a crime drama called “Perception,” where he plays a very perceptive neuroscientist who helps the feds solve complex crimes. That doesn’t sound very original, but we’ll have to see when it comes out if it works or not. His last TNT drama in 2009 was “Trust Me,” which was a character study in an ad agency that did not do well with viewers and …

Continue reading TNT renews ‘Southland’ for a fourth season »

The fourth season of BET’s “Sunday Best” going back to Atlanta, thanks to the new Studio Gems studios sprouting up where the old Lakewood Fairgrounds is located.

It’s expected to begin shooting next month.

The show, which is executive produced and hosted by Grammy winning gospel singer Kirk Franklin, is a popular Sunday evening program for BET and is the gospel equivalent of “American Idol.” It shot in Atlanta season two, then moved to New Orleans last year.

BET was the first customer of Screen Gems last fall, where it shot 13 episodes of “The Game.”

Another TV show, though I don’t know the name, is close to signing on in that locale as well.

Franklin, in the meantime, is coming to The Mall at Stonecrest in Lithonia for a free live performance and CD signing March 31 at 7 p.m.

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By Rodney Ho, rho@ajc.com, AJCRadioTV blog

Continue reading BET’s ‘Sunday Best’ to begin shooting in Atlanta next month »

Here I am gabbing about “Dancing With the Stars,” “Jersey Shore” and “Celebrity Apprentice.” This was taped yesterday before the “Dancing With the Stars” debut last night:

Continue reading Talking ‘Jersey Shore,’ ‘Dancing With the Stars,’ ‘Celebrity Apprentice’ »

Kelly Stevens made a low-key entrance this morning,  joining Vikki Locke (left) as part of the new Vikki and Kelly show on B98.5.

At 6:11 a.m., he noted that his roommate packed him a lunch, which included a hard-boiled egg, oatmeal with blueberries and peeled grapes. Locke was bemused by the peeled grapes. “That’s some roommate!” she said.

They aired a brief portion of a pre-taped interview with Kendra Wilkinson of “Dancing With the Stars.” Kelly had Kendra say, in a sexy voice, “Good morning, Kelly.”

Each jock then offered 10 tidbits about themselves. First up was Kelly:

1) He is a native Washingtonian (as in state, not D.C.)

2) He spent six years with the Coast Guard,

3) Nobody is allowed in his very messy bedroom (”That’s why you’re single!” Locke said.)

4) He loves blackjack (but isn’t very good)

5) He enjoys riding his Harley in the North Georgia mountains.

6) He owns a dog named Bailey and a cat named Jack.

7) If he wins the lottery, he plans to buy a yacht and go …

Continue reading Kelly Stevens on his first day back at B98.5 with Vikki Locke »

DANCING WITH THE STARS – February 28, 2011 – "Dancing with the Stars" hosts Tom Bergeron and Brooke Burke announced the 11 celebrities heading to the dance floor this season during a live press conference tonight. A star-studded cast filled with celebrities across a variety of genres are set to compete each week on the dance floor in the spectacular two-hour season premiere of "Dancing with the Stars," MONDAY, MARCH 21 (8:00-10:01 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network. (ABC/ADAM LARKEY) KIRSTIE ALLEY, HINES WARD, CHRIS JERICHO, RALPH MACCHIO, WENDY WILLIAMS, TOM BERGERON, BROOKE BURKE, "PSYCHO" MIKE CATHERWOOD, ROMEO, SUGAR RAY LEONARD, KENDRA WILKINSON, CHELSEA KANE

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Continue reading Handicapping ‘Dancing With the Stars’ season 12 »

MTV's "Jersey Shore" wraps up season 3 Thursday night.

“Dancing With the Stars,” the most popular reality show not named “American Idol,” returns Monday night with a new cast for its 12th season, including Wendy Williams, Sugar Ray Leonard and Kirstie Alley.

And on Thursday, we bid farewell (for now) for the first season of USA’s light legal drama “Fairly Legal” and MTV’s insanely popular “Jersey Shore,” which averaged a fist-pumping 8 million viewers a week. (The crew is now off to Italy for season four.) MTV also says goodbye (probably forever) to “Skins” Monday.

Other shows whose seasons are ending include A&E’s “Intervention” (Monday), TV Land’s “Hot in Cleveland” and Discovery’s “Man vs. Wild” (Thursday).

MONDAY

“Dancing With the Stars” 8 p.m. ABC (12th season debut) — Competitors include Sugar Ray Leonard, UGA alum Hines Ward and actress Kirstie Alley.
“Chuck” 8 p.m. NBC — Elle finds an alarming new hobby.
“House” 8 p.m. Fox — Cuddy confides with …

Continue reading TV best bets with return of ‘Dancing With the Stars,’ season finales of ‘Jersey Shore,’ ‘Fairly Legal,’ ‘Hot in Cleveland’ »

THE CELEBRITY APPRENTICE — Season: 11 — Pictured: Garey Busey — Photo by: Virginia Sherwood/NBC

Here’s a word association game nobody would win. Donald Trump, Manhattan, Gary Busey and Celebrity Apprentice. What comes next? Last night, try “camping.”

Camping World, an RV retailer and supplier, decided to work with “Celebrity Apprentice” last night.  No, NBC did not send the “Celebrity Apprentice” cast into the woods in an RV, though that would have been deeply amusing. (Busey trying to start a fire! Meat Loaf cooking marshmallows! John Rich doing a campfire sing a long!)

Instead, Camping World camped itself in Manhattan to promote itself for two hours. It brought four RVs into New York City where the teams had to create “experiences” and a “branding presence.” And since it doesn’t have a store anywhere near New York City (and why should it?), it to create a fake retail site so the teams could buy supplies for its experience.

And it’s obvious that very few of these actors, …

Continue reading Who is out on the third week of ‘Celebrity Apprentice’? »