Ailing "Law & Order" faces uncertain future
LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - "Law & Order" may stumble in its quest to replace "Gunsmoke" as the longest running primetime drama in television history.
The NBC crime show, currently languishing in the ratings after being banished to Fridays in its 17th season, is one of several long-running series whose futures are uncertain.
NBC has begun talks with the show's producers for another season, and sources said the network is seeking a reduction in the license fee it pays for each episode. "Law & Order" is produced by NBC corporate sibling NBC Universal TV Studio and the show's creator, Dick Wolf.
NBC recently sought -- and received -- a lower fee for the right to air the modestly rated Friday drama "Las Vegas." The NBC/DreamWorks-produced show will return for a fifth season, but without co-star Nikki Cox, who fell victim to the tighter budget.
NBC's "Scrubs" is definitely coming back for a season, but possibly on ABC, which in turn is weighing the future of utility players "According to Jim" and "George Lopez."
"Law & Order" is one of the best-known brands in television, yielding two spinoffs, and playing strongly in reruns. Wolf has often said he wants to surpass the record of 20 seasons held by "Gunsmoke," but the ratings are not helping.
So far this season, "Law & Order" is averaging 9.3 million viewers, down from 11.6 million a year ago, when it aired in its traditional Wednesday berth, according to Nielsen Media Research. Its spinoffs, "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" and "Law & Order: Criminal Intent," are averaging 12.9 million and 9.7 million, respectively, both also down markedly from last year. By contrast, top-rated dramas "CSI" and "Grey's Anatomy" pull in about 20 million viewers each.
In the meantime, former "Law & Order" showrunner Rene Balcer has returned to the series as a consultant to write several of the season's remaining episodes. He served as an executive producer/showrunner on the series as well as on "Criminal Intent" until last spring.
The broadcast networks make most of their money during their series' early run, usually around the third year. But by the fifth or sixth seasons, they usually have to pay a license fee that equals the series' production costs. A recent Wall Street Journal report quoted sources as saying NBC pays about $3 million for a single episode of "Criminal Intent."
If one factors in ratings premiums in the range of $100,000-$150,000 per episode paid by the networks that kick in after the fourth season as well as partial reimbursements of the losses incurred by the studios in the early years of the shows, it is no surprise that the networks are taking a careful look at their older series.
In the case of so-called "bubble" shows whose ratings are marginal, the networks have been making the case of bringing them back for a license fee less than 100% of the production cost. The studios can usually make up the difference through domestic reruns and international sales.
Both "Law & Order" and "Vegas" are partially produced in-house, which adds other factors to the equation. For instance, after its current fourth season, "Vegas" has 87 episodes produced. Another season will bring it comfortably above the syndication threshold of 100 episodes, which is beneficial to NBC Universal TV Studio.
Both "Jim," produced by ABC's sister studio ABC TV, and "Lopez," which hails from Warner Bros. TV, were not on ABC's fall schedule, an indication that they might be nearing their end. But "Jim" showed spunk last week, and "Lopez" has done well enough against Fox's "American Idol" that both series are considered quite possible to return, though not necessarily at a license fee that covers 100% of the costs.
Things are far more complicated with "Scrubs" because there is another suitor for the ABC TV-produced show, ABC, which needs an established comedy.
After ABC TV locked up the entire cast of the show, including star Zach Braff, for a seventh season and signing a new deal with the hospital where the quirky comedy is being filmed, "Scrubs" is locked to come back.
Although NBC brass have expressed a commitment to the show, the network has moved the series around the schedule numerous times, and last year it exercised its option for a sixth season at the last minute. Many expect things to go down to the wire again this year.
HIP HOT
This spring in music, it's all about the faceoffs. There's Avril vs. Duff, Trent Reznor vs. the world, and two superstar trios spoiling for a fight. We speak, of course, of Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard and Ray Price vs. Timbaland, Justin Timberlake and Nelly Furtado - and how much do we want to see that dance-off.
This all takes a back seat, meanwhile, to the ultimate battle of the booties: Beyoncé vs. Shakira, who duet for the first time on a new track, "Beautiful Liar."
There's a lot of great music on the way, which is the perfect time for us to take a look at it all!
Keep your eyes open for these albums, coming soon:
CHANTEUSES
Beyoncé and Shakira "Beautiful Liar"
Bootiful Beyoncé and hip-notically slinky Shakira - two of the hottest women in music - get together for a major duet, the third single to peel off Beyoncé's 2006 "B'Day" album. If you already bought that disc, get ready to buy it again.
This number, as well as five others, has been added to the "Deluxe Edition" that'll be re-released next month. Describing the shimmy-shimmy shake song, Miss B said, "It's about a guy who's kind of playing both of us, and instead of us arguing, we say, 'Forget him. Let's stick together.'" And in the steamy "Liar" video they do that with sweaty enthusiasm. (Re-releases April 3)
Hilary Duff "Dignity"
Still in her teens, the 19-year-old Duffalator remains a master of film, perfume and music. On her new disc of original music (she co-wrote every track), Miss D sings about love and lust in ways Lizzie McGuire only dreamed about. This is a straight-up dance/pop record that's just a little dated in its reverence to Madonna. (Out April 3)
Joss Stone "Introducing Joss Stone"
On her third studio album, Stone concocts a mix of vintage soul that's part '70s R&B and part Motown with enough hip-hop to anchor it to this generation. Stone has said, "This music is truly me." Maybe that accounts for the title. Listen for Common on "Tell Me What We're Gonna Do Now," and the elusive Lauryn Hill takes a bow on the track titled "Music." (Out March 20)
Hayley Westenra "Celtic Treasure"
On her just-in-time for Saint Patrick's Day record, this pure-voiced New Zealand soprano delivers a breathtaking collection that wears enough green to be sufficiently traditional and dynamic to transcend the holiday. She sings a terrific "Danny Boy," but she wins your heart with her cover of "Shenandoah," one of this week's featured MPFrees at nypost.com. (Out today)
The Pierces "Thirteen Tales of Love and Revenge"
Folk-rock sister act the Pierces are way too pretty to ever have had boys break up with them, yet they sing in harmony with authority about the edgier sides of love. Their original "Louisa" is the perfect love 'em and leave 'em track. These Alabama slammers are among this week's MPFree offerings at nypost.com. (Out March 20)
Avril Lavigne "The Best Damn Thing"
On her third album, Avril Lavigne rediscovers anger as a musical instrument, yet she keeps the tunes aggressively upbeat. He-man Avril haters will finds this a bratty record, but her die-hard fans will easily hear how confident she's become as a performer. Moms be warned: In the edgy rocker "Girlfriend," little Miss Raccoon-eyes adds the oh-so-awful "F" expletive to the word "mother," making us feel the adhesive of a "Parental Advisory" sticker.
(Out April 17)
HIP POP & POETS
Timbaland "Shock Value"
Timbaland says his new album, "Shock Value," is sequenced like a movie - "a nonstop flow that tells a story." What that story is remains under tight wraps, but with guests like Justin Timberlake and Nelly Furtado featured on the first single, "Give It to Me," and reports that that everyone from Jay-Z to Elton John are doing guest solos, how off can this uber-producer/artist go? (Out March 27)
Jennifer Lopez "Como Ama Una Mujer"
The title of J.Lo's first all-Spanish album means "How a Woman Loves." While this effort could be seen as a wild departure from her pop-oriented music, instead think of it as a savvy move to extend her international standing. Here in America, bets are on that the singer is already prepared to head into the studio to do a "Christina Aguilera" and re-record the entire disc in English for us gringos. And no, "Taco Kisses" - of "South Park" fame - is not one of the tracks on this disc. (Out March 27)
Macy Gray "Big"
Macy Gray has one of those love-it-or-hate-it loopy voices. While she's never equaled the success of her single "I Try," her devoted following is very hot to hear her latest. To help her on this effort, Black Eyed Peas will.i.am and Fergie guest, as do Justin Timberlake, Nas and Natalie Cole. A good crew on a big album. (Out March 27)
Patti Smith "Twelve"
Patti Smith, one of music's most revered artists, shakes off her stodgy standing as a Rock and Roll Hall of Famer and revitalizes her career by interpreting a dozen seminal songs from the big book of rock. The tracks include Hendrix's "Are You Experienced?," the Stones' "Gimme Shelter," Jefferson Airplane's "White Rabbit" and Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit." This is a record drenched in greatness from concept to execution. (Out March 24)
THE OLD & THE DEAD
Eddie Money "Wanna Go Back"
In homage to his youth, one-time rock icon Eddie Money has a little fun with an album of '60s cover songs. You can't help but love his on-the-money cover of "Good Lovin'" while the cringe factor grips you during "Build Me Up, Buttercup." Still this record is more fun than folly. (Out today)
Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard & Ray Price "Last of the Breed"
Nashville's three dwarfs - Dopey, Grumpy and Sleepy - band together for an old-fashioned disc of s---kicking twangers. Over the course of two discs, they do their own music and cover the classics that made the Grand Ol' Opry hoot. This is a disc steeped in tradition highlighted by music written by everyone from Gene Autry to Lefty Frizzell. (Out March 20)
John Lee Hooker "Best of Friends"
Duets the late John Lee Hooker recorded with rock and pop stars over the years have been dug up and compiled for this often extraordinary blues/rock record, which features blues revivalists including Eric Clapton, Van Morrison, Carlos Santana, Robert Cray and Ry Cooder. The best of this fine disc is the pairing of long-gone John Lee with Jimmie Vaughan on Hooker's "Boom, Boom." (Out April 3)
Nekromantics "Life is a Grave & I Dig It"
If you liked 2004's "Dead Girls Don't Cry," the new Nekromantics' disc is even better (suposedly they actually rehearsed before going into the studio this time). The death-charged rockabilly by this Danish band is tops on "Horny in a Hearse" and "Panic at the Morgue." (Out April 10)
THE GROUPS
Uncle Earl "Waterloo, Tennessee"
On their sophomore disc, this all-girl string band makes some of the most compelling bluegrass that's ever left Tennessee. The fiddles, banjos and mandolin blend flawlessly, and the harmonies are superb. Helping out the girls on production this time is former Led Zeppelin bassist John Paul Jones. To hear Uncle Earl, download their song "D&P Blues" at nypost.com's MPFree. (Out today)
John Butler Trio "Grand National"
As a group, the John Butler Trio defies category. A quick spin of this album, and you'd call it American roots rock, but the lyrics have a global quality that's spiritual and also intellectual. The song "Good Excuses," for instance, is a call to return to a basic life away from consumerism, while "Fire in the Sky" is an old-fashioned peace song. Hippie ideals whose time has come again. (Out March 27)
Fountains of Wayne "Traffic and Weather"
Call the music of the Fountains of Wayne short stories set to perfect pop. While everything the band does until they're rockers in rocking chairs will be compared to their old hit "Stacy's Mom," this album of catchy melodies and wisecracking lyrics stands up to repeated listens. It's musically diverse, using the best of rock and pop styles and riffs as touchstones. (Out April 3)
Nine Inch Nails "Year Zero"
Industrial rockers Nine Inch Nails, aka Trent Reznor, takes on its first concept album. In his "Year Zero" opus, Reznor describes America in the year 2022 as an Orwellian world where total governmental control of the people is accepted policy. Strong concept, but does it rock? The first single, "Survivalism," is classic NIN, as are leaked songs including "My Violent Heart" and "In This Twilight." As for the rest, the lid is clamped shut until the April release.
Charlottetown takes another step Aerosmith's way
Charlottetown city council voted Monday night to pay for police and fire services for a major concert this summer, although there is no band confirmed and no price tag attached to those services.
'There's no dollar figure. It's vague and ambiguous.'— Coun. Mitchell Tweel
Rumours have been spreading for weeks that Aerosmith would play Charlottetown this summer.
Concert promoter David Carver, who brought the Black Eyed Peas to the city in September, said he is just a few steps away from following up that act with Aerosmith this year.
"Aerosmith is without a doubt one of the top three concert-selling and album-selling bands ever," Carver told the council meeting.
"I'm getting e-mails from Louisiana, California, New York — people are coming for this show."
It's not uncommon for cities to pay for emergency services for major concerts, but Carver was charged for the overtime put in by police officers and firefighters at the Black Eyed Peas concert last year, a bill that came to $17,000.
City council approved the expenditure in a 5-3 vote.
Carver said it was a worthwhile investment by the city. If he pulls it off, Charlottetown would be one of just three North American stops for Aerosmith in a 2007 world tour.
Coun. Mitchell Tweel is an Aerosmith fan, but he voted against Monday night's resolution because no price tag was attached to the motion.
"If you look at the resolution, it's open-ended," said Tweel.
"There's no dollar figure. It's vague and ambiguous. I mean it could be 50,000, it could be 75,000, it could be 100,000."
Carver said there are just a few details to be worked out, including an aspect of the concert that he said could showcase Charlottetown to the rest of the world.
Backstage At The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame
News and notes from backstage at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony, held last night (March 12) at New York's Waldorf-Astoria hotel. R.E.M., Van Halen, Patti Smith, the Ronettes and Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five were enshrined this year.
R.E.M. played live with former drummer Bill Berry following an induction speech by Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder, but backstage, Michael Stipe and Mike Mills said for now, just one night on stage with their old mate would have to do. "We've been fortunate enough to play with him several times in the past few years. Maybe we'll do it again. He can't wait to get back to his farm," Mills said. "As a matter of fact, he's already left," Stipe chimed in.
The band will hit the studio to record its next studio album in May with producer Jacknife Lee ("I'm writing songs as we speak," Stipe joked). As reported on Monday, the original quartet recorded a cover of John Lennon's "#9 Dream" for an upcoming Darfur charity album. "We chose that song because there are no lyrics in the chorus," Stipe offered.
Mills said he was thrilled at the diversity of this year's induction class, recalling listening to records from the Sugar Hill label back in Athens, Ga., in the late 1970s. "Who knew back in 1979 when we were listening to this stuff that we'd even meet these guys, much less be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame," he beamed.
Backstage, Sammy Hagar and Michael Anthony said there were no hard feelings they were not included on Van Halen's planned summer tour with David Lee Roth, which is now in shambles. "I totally encourage the thing with Dave," Hagar said. "If Van Halen has any move they should do for the fans right now, it's to do a reunion with Dave." Added Anthony of the absent Roth, "I was waiting for him to come busting through at some point during the speech."
"If we all grew up, including me, maybe all of us could do it together," Hagar said of future Van Halen touring. "I'm down with that." He added, "I planned on taking this year off and just hanging with my family. I haven't done that for a long time. [But] I will tour from my birthday in October through next year."
Velvet Revolver performed in place of Van Halen and without Roth. Frontman Scott Weiland explained the ensuing controversy: "We were asked to perform. Kinda what happened was, he wanted to sing the song 'Jump.' We felt from an artistic standpoint, and I'm being totally honest with you, that it wasn't a song we felt comfortable with. We don't have keyboards. To bring a keyboard on stage wouldn't work for us. We said we'd do "Jamie's Cryin'" or "You Really Got Me," and he was adamant that wasn't okay."
With a new album "a little overdue" but intended for release in "another month or two" on her own Aretha's Records label, Aretha Franklin also spoke excitedly about a new play based on her autobiography, "From These Roots." Auditions begin May 1 in Detroit. "Since the announcement, I have a film offer and telefilm offer for the autobiography," she said, adding that "Dreamgirls" star Jennifer Hudson is being considered to play her in the film. Asked who would play Sam Cooke, she said with a smile, "I don't know, but I'm going to select whoever it is!"
Patti Smith's "People Have the Power" served as this year's show-closing jam, and has for years closed the Tibet House benefit at New York's Carnegie Hall. Asked if she still believes in the song's message, Smith said, "I think the idea is sound. People do have the power; they just have to decide how to use it. Future generations have within their hands unprecedented power. They have the power to unite in moments. I look forward to what they will be doing."
Smith admitted she preferred her band's version of "Because the Night" to 10,000 Maniacs' live take in the early '90s, but admitted that group's Natalie Merchant "is a better singer than me."
Explaining the inspiration behind her controversial song "Rock'n'Roll Ni**er," which she performed, she said she wanted to "take a word that had been used in a derogatory fashion and redefine it as a word for the artist, the outsider."
Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five's induction into the Rock Hall "opens the gates to our culture," according to Flash. "I want to say to this organization that I thought would possibly be untouchable, thank you. At one point, I was considered some sort of idiot. It is really, really great to know I've got a world full of idiots just like me that love this culture called hip-hop."
Earlier, Furious Five rapper Melle Mel took current hip-hop to task for not evolving. "It never grew up," he said. "It's too young for me. It's too gangster for me. Ain't no criminals up here. I've never been in jail or shot nobody or sold drugs. The industry is supposed to help us redefine hip-hop." The group emphasized how hard it worked to spread hip-hop beyond its New York roots. "We didn't stumble on being in the position we're in right now; we created it," said Kid Creole.
The group has not been active since the mid-1990s, and Scorpio acknowledged the members have had their ups-and-downs in recent years. "We are up here by the grace of God. We're still here. We're still working on it. It's just like any relationship. This is an incredible time for us to try to rekindle. We are trying to take the original Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five on a world tour. I think cats like us are worthy enough to do it and won't discredit our people."
The Ronettes' Ronnie Spector didn't take questions in the press room, leaving group member Nedra Talley to field questions about Phil Spector's upcoming murder trial. "I pray that the truth will come out," she said. "I would not want to be in that position. I wouldn't want it for anybody. I thank him for the fact that he gave us a couple of really good songs. God knows the truth and I'll have to trust our system to bring the truth out."
She also quashed discussion of a possible Ronettes tour, saying, "We'd never have the true Ronettes like I remember it and like you remember it."
Spector's iron-fist rule over the trio was referenced when Talley said the Beach Boys' "Don't Worry Baby" was actually written with the Ronettes in mind. "Phil wouldn't allow it," she said. "I loved that song and [Beach Boys mastermind] Brian [Wilson] loves the Ronettes. I was told he said he starts every day of his life blasting 'Be My Baby.' So his kids grew up having to hear us every day of their lives.
The Rev. Al Sharpton, who accompanied James Brown to his Rock Hall induction in 1986, told reporters Brown had a special place in his heart for the honor. "This was the first mainstream industry that really gave him his due," he said. Commenting on whether or not hip-hop has a place in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, he said, "Rock'n'roll began a whole spirit of self-definition in music. Every generation after picked up the legacy of rock'n'roll by defining itself." Sharpton said his own formative tastes included everything from Motown to gospel to Elvis to country. "I even go to Bon Jovi concerts, when I'm not campaigning," he said with a laugh.
Rock hall welcomes Grandmaster Flash
NEW YORK - Instead of guitars, there were turntables. Scratches replaced soaring riffs. An induction speech was read off a Blackberry. The hip-hop era arrived Monday at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five were the first hip-hop act to be inducted into the Rock Hall, joining other acts that represented a wide swath of artists: college rock favorites R.E.M., punk rock poet Patti Smith, rockers Van Halen and '60s girl group The Ronettes.
Jay-Z, the recently unretired rapper and Def Jam Records president, noted how far rap has come since the days when Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five exposed the world to gritty stories about the streets of New York on songs like "The Message."
"Thirty years later rappers have become rock stars, movie stars, leaders, educators, philanthropists, even CEOs," he said, reading his induction speech from his Blackberry. "None of this would have been possible without the work of these men."
Backstage, Grandmaster Flash talked about how hard-fought hip-hop's now universal acceptance had been.
"There were some that called it a fad. They called it a flash of brilliance, excuse my pun. I think the significance of going into this organization is it's the final place for corporate respect," he said. "They all finally accepted and embraced this wonderful culture we call hip-hop."
But while it was most certainly accepted, the embrace was not as warm as it could have been; the rappers got perhaps the most reserved ovation of the night, with an almost lukewarm response to their somewhat haphazard medley performance.
The night's biggest ovation may have been for the woman who swore she'd never make it in: Patti Smith. The bohemian poet straddled the hippie and punk eras, with her album "Horses" setting a standard for literate rock. At the induction ceremony, she performed her biggest hit, "Because the Night," co-written with Bruce Springsteen, and the Rolling Stones' classic, "Gimme Shelter."
Passed over in previous years, an emotional Smith remembered friends and family who didn't live to see the day — and jokingly recalled an argument with her husband, MC5's Fred "Sonic" Smith, shortly before he died.
He told her she would get into the hall and that she would feel guilty because he would not make it — even though he was more deserving. He asked her when she did make the hall to "please accept it like a lady and not to say any curse words." (She obliged).
She also remembered her mother asking her on her deathbed if she had made it into the hall yet. When Smith told her she hadn't, her mother said: "When you do, sing your mother's favorite song, the one I like to vacuum to."
So Smith did, dedicating to her mother one of her most fiery songs, 1977's "Rock 'n' Roll N-----."
If the absence of her late loved ones made Smith's induction bittersweet, the absence of most of Van Halen's founding members was downright sour. Eddie Van Halen, who went to rehab last week, was a no-show, as was his brother Alex. Former lead singer David Lee Roth, who sung such hits as "Jump" and "Panama," with the band, boycotted in a dispute over what song he would sing.
The only two who were present were Sammy Hagar and bassist Michael Anthony. Velvet Revolver performed two of the band's hits before Hagar and Anthony performed with the night's house band, led by Paul Shaffer.
Hagar said he wished his bandmates could be there, but "it's out of our control."
"It's hard for Mike and I to be up here to do this, but you couldn't have kept me away from this with a shotgun," Hagar said.
There was a happy reunion, though, for R.E.M., as they welcomed back drummer Bill Berry, who left the band in 1997 after suffering an aneurysm onstage two years earlier.
Out of Athens, Ga., R.E.M. largely invented the college radio scene in the 1980s with songs like "Radio Free Europe." They became mainstream stars with hits like "Losing My Religion" and "Everybody Hurts."
Singer Michael Stipe said his late grandmother once grabbed him by the arm and said what R.E.M. means to her is "'remember every moment.' And this is a moment I shall never forget."
With jewelry dangling from his hair, a mustachioed Keith Richards inducted the Ronettes, the New York City girl group who sang pop symphonies like "Be My Baby" and "Baby I Love You." He recalled hearing them the first time on a tour together in England.
"They could sing all their way right through a wall of sound," Richards said. "They didn't need anything. They touched my heart right there and then and they touch it still."
Lead singer Ronnie Spector thanked a list of people from Cher to Springsteen to her publicist — but made no mention of ex-husband Phil Spector, the producer whose gigantic "wall of sound" is synonymous with the act. The snub was underscored when she gave a special thank you "to our FIRST producer," then cleared her throat.
Ronnie Spector had an acrimonious split with the legendary music man decades ago. His trial for the murder of an actress at his suburban Los Angeles mansion is due to start next week.
After the Ronettes sang a trio of their hits, Shaffer came to the microphone to read a note from Phil Spector, who said, "I wish them all the happiness and good fortune the world has to offer."
Two of rock's most influential figures — and members of its hall — received tributes: Civil rights activist the Rev. Al Sharpton honored James Brown, while hall officials remembered one of the institution's founders, record executive Ahmet Ertegun. Both died in December.
One of the evening's highlights came as Aretha Franklin, one of Ertgun's greatest artists at Atlantic, sang the first million-seller she made with Ertegun, "I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)."