"Men of a Certain Age" is officially dead after efforts to revive the show on a different network. CREDIT: TBS

After TNT last month officially axed “Men of a Certain Age,” the executive producers (Mike Royce and star Ray Romano) tried to get another network to pick it up. Fans running an active Facebook page tried to help out.

But Deadline.com said possible networks all said no. The effort has failed.

The drama, which revolves around three middle-aged men struggling with their lives, received great reviews and fervent fans – just not enough fans. Andre Braugher has been nominated twice for Emmys. The show won a Peabody Award this year. But it was the lowest rated of all TNT dramas. And splitting the second season’s 12 episodes into two didn’t help matters.

Here’s the letter the producers posted on the Facebook page:

Hi folks,

Sorry I haven’t been in touch.  Unfortunately there’s been nothing to report.  And at this point, since we want to be straight with you guys, I have …

Continue reading ‘Men of a Certain Age’ is officially dead after efforts to move it to another network »

Publicity shot before his 10th anniversary doing "Good Eats" in 2009

Food Network’s “Good Eats” has devoured Alton Brown’s life for 13 years over 250 episodes. Next week, the metro Atlanta resident is planning to finish taping his last episode, a one-hour special on dark chocolate.

In an exclusive interview  earlier this week at his Atlanta office, Brown said the relentless pace of producing the meticulously crafted, assiduously researched and always entertaining food education show hindered time for other pursuits.

“I feel after 250,” Brown said, “I can walk away from that library of work and feel good about it and know it’s had an effect to some degree on somebody besides me and those who worked on it. And it will hold its own for awhile. We wanted to make sure they were dense, juicy and succulent and last a long time.”

Besides, he said, the six-year-old set is “worn out. If we kept going, we’d have to replace it.” Instead it will be dismantled. He plans to keep a handful of …

Continue reading Exclusive interview with Alton Brown as he wraps up ‘Good Eats’ »

Roger Bobb, who just started his own production company after leaving Tyler Perry Studios, sits in this room when in need for creative inspiration. It features posters from films he admires. That "Mr. Tibbs" poster set him back $500. CREDIT: Rodney Ho/rho@ajc.com

After working side by side with Tyler Perry for nearly seven years, Roger Bobb wanted to spread his own wings.

So in late May, Bobb opened his own office with five employees in a space he saw while filming a car crash on the road for “Why Did I Get Married 2.” With high ceilings and exposed HVAC units, it’s a magnet for creative types.

Bobb was involved with every Perry film and both TBS sitcoms as a supervising producer, absorbing all the knowledge and insight Perry had to offer.

“I learned several things from just watching him,” Bobb said. “Have faith and confidence in yourself. Work hard. And know your audience. He’s the hardest working person I’ve ever encountered – besides myself.”

He sat in his “inspiration …

Continue reading Roger Bobb, Tyler Perry’s former right-hand man, talks about his new venture Bobbcat Films »

LFAO's "Party Rock Anthem" video

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The summer doesn’t technically end until Sept. 23. It’s still 90 degrees outside. But with most kids are back in school and Labor Day weekend is fast approaching so the end is near.

On the radio this summer, we had several ubiquitous tunes. Over the years, the top summer song is upbeat and undeniably catchy though the occasional ballad has snuck in, too. Adele’s song in Atlanta probably got more overall spins than the top 2 songs below, pretty much dominating the city for more than two months. Billboard ranked the current top 10 summer songs based on sales, airplay and other factors:

1- Party Rock Anthem – LMFAO. This song is a perfectly mindless tune for the dance floor.

2- Give …

Continue reading What is the top summer song of 2011? »

Kevin Nealon was late for our phone call earlier this week, but he had a good reason. His four-year-old son Gable had a breakthrough in potty training and Nealon got distracted.

“He got on the horse,” he said. “We have to keep him on it.”

Nealon, 57, has managed to stay on his comedic horse for more than 30 years, most notably his nine-year stint on “Saturday Night Live” from 1986 to 1995 and his current run as morally hazy accountant Doug Wilson on Showtime’s “Weeds.” He also does stand-up gigs, including Friday and Saturday, August 26 and 27, at the Punchline Comedy Club.

“My stand-up has evolved over the years,” Nealon said. “I’m talking about real things but exaggerate a bit. It’s very conversational, nonthreatening.”

He’ s doing weekend gigs to test out material for a stand-up special in February.

Nealon also tests material on his Twitter page (@kevin_nealon), which has an impressive 1.3 million followers. “If I get retweeted a lot, that’s a good joke,” he said.

Recent …

Continue reading A talk with Kevin Nealon (’Weeds’), at the Punchline August 26-27 »

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Lys Agnes was an easy pick to make it to the finals. CREDIT: NBC

A few of the most over-rated acts in my mind showed up Tuesday. Some, like iLuminate, pull it off and exceed my expectation. Others, like opera singer Lys Agnes, befuddle me. The biggest disappointment for everyone? Sandou Trio Russian Bar for dumping the bar and the woman’s barely there vocals.

Here are the top four who will make it through in my estimation: Lys Agnes, because “America’s Got Talent” voters loves this stuff, even if …

Continue reading ‘America’s Got Talent’ recap, semifinals, part 1: light my fire! »

A thunderstorm was raging in Mission Viejo, CA in 1973. At age four, Mike Francis stood on his porch, mesmerized as lightning bursts criss-crossed the night sky and thunder rumbled above him. His parents yelled at him to come in but he couldn’t.

He was hooked.

Weather would be his calling. The new chief meteorologist for 11Alive (WXIA-TV), Francis arrived earlier this month from a ten-year stint at the NBC affiliate in Little Rock, Ark. with a resume that includes storm chasing as a hobby and expertise in severe weather. Over his 42 years, he has seen more than 40 tornadoes live.

His first? In Denver as a 13 year old. “I was watching this cloud spin in the air,” he said, his eyes lit up by the memory. “I was just fascinated. My friends thought I was just weird.”

Viewers in Little Rock credit him with saving lives by warning people into basements when tornadoes popped up in their neighborhoods.

Georgia gets its fair share of tornado warnings. 11Alive hired him for his …

Continue reading Meet Mike Francis, new chief meteorologist at 11Alive (WXIA-TV) »

Continue reading Video: Talking Kandi Burruss, Loni Anderson, Paula Deen/Anthony Bourdain »

"Dream On" by Aerosmith is the most played song in the history of 97.1/The River and Project 9-6-1 (though in Project's case, history goes back to 1998-2006 when it was 96Rock.)

Here are the top 5 most played songs in the history of each of these Atlanta stations, through August 21, 2011, according to Mediabase 24/7.

Data only goes back to 1998, though.

Q100 (going back to the station’s debut on January 24, 2001) Top 4 songs still in rotation. Green Day last spun in May, 2011
1. Kelly Clarkson “Walk Away” 4,587 spins
2. Usher “Yeah” 4,551
3. Maroon 5 “This Love” 4,546
4. Killers “Mr. Brightside” 4,319
5. Green Day “Boulevard of Broken Dreams” 4,309

Star 94 (going back to 3/3/1998) All songs still in rotation
1. Goo Goo Dolls “Slide” 6,202
2. Lifehouse “Hanging By a Moment” 5,588
3. Santana “Smooth” 4,725
4. Nickelback “How You Remind Me” 4,685
5. Kings of Leon “Use Somebody” 4,644

Dave FM (which includes six years as Z93 going back to 3/5/98) All songs still in regular …

Continue reading The most played songs since 1998 on local stations »

Lisa Wu Hartwell rehearses "Stripped" with Dorsey Levens, who plays a former NFL player struggling to adjust to life after the fame and fortune. Hartwell plays Brooklyn, the resentful wife. This was shot at Whole World Theatre on July 23, four days before the play's debut at the Ferst Center. CREDIT: Rodney Ho/rho@ajc.com

Lisa Wu Hartwell, formerly a cast member of “The Real Housewives of Atlanta,” has separated from her husband and former NFL player Ed Hartwell, she Tweeted over the weekend. She deleted the Tweet (@1LisaWu) at about 3:30 p.m. Monday.

Sadly.We r seperated but wld NEVER b over money. That is so far frm the truth. Wish ppl cld respect ppl’s privacy during times like these

Her publicist Jonell Whitt, in an email, said Hartwell didn’t want to talk about it.

The couple married in 2005 and have a three-year-old son Ed Jr. Wu was previously married to R&B star Keith Sweat and also has two sons with him. (Sweat declined to appear on the show or allow the kids to be …

Continue reading Former ‘Real Housewives’ Lisa Wu Hartwell separates from husband »