Jake Steinfeld is back — in a big way.
The “Body By Jake” fitness guru’s new book, “Take A Shot: A Remarkable Story of Perseverance, Friendship and a Really Crazy Adventure” is being optioned by a major television and film distribution company (more details when they’re available).
Steinfeld’s book, written with Dave Morrow, tells the true story of how Steinfeld, Morrow and Tim Robertson — the son of Pat Robertson — created Major League Lacrosse, which is entering its 13th season (it currently encompasses seven teams in the US and one in Hamilton, Ontario). ESPN2 and CBS Sports Network carry the bulk of the league’s games.
(Morrow played Lacrosse at Princeton University; Robertson is a TV exec.)
The book tracks the men’s journey to sell Major League Lacrosse as a bona fide sports league; Steve Tisch describes the book as “a fast and furious ride. It’s ‘Moneyball’ meets ‘The Hangover!’ ”
Steinfeld will be in town tomorrow night.
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Veteran Broadway actress Jessica Phillips has just been cast in the FX sitcom pilot “Bronx Warrants,” which revolves around a group of Bronx-based warrant detectives (guys who are tasked with arresting individuals with outstanding warrants — and are paid for each “body” they bring in). Phillips will play Adele, the wife of DeStefano (Robert Kelly) in the pilot, produced by “Rescue Me” co-creator/star Denis Leary. Co-stars include stand-up comedian Godfrey and Josh Segarra.
Phillips, who most recently starred on Broadway in “Leap of Faith” (opposite Raul Esparza) and “Priscilla, Queen of the Desert” — and was also in “Next to Normal” — is making her first foray into the TV waters.
“Bronx Warrants” (the pilot wrapped last week) was created by Dean Lorey (“Arrested Development,” “My Wife and Kids”), Leary and Jim Serpico, all of whom are executive-producing (Tom Sellitti is a co-executive producer). Scott Ellis (“Weeds,” “30 Rock”) directed the pilot.
David Joglar and Richard Wetzel, upon whose story “Bronx Warrants” is based, are also co-producers.
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So, with the final numbers in from Sunday night’s closing ceremonies in London, NBC says that its coverage of the 2012 Summer Olympics is now the most-watched TV event in history.
According to NBC, via Nielsen, over 219 million people watched “some or all” of the London Olympics, with the NBC mothership averaging 31 million viewers in prime time (over 17 nights).
That 219 million number encompasses all NBC networks that aired Olympics coverage, including USA, Bravo, CNBC, MSNBC and NBC Sports Network. It also surpasses the 2008 Summer Games in Beijing, which were viewed by 215 million viewers and averaged 28 million prime-time viewers, according to Nielsen.
NBC’s new sitcom, “Animal Practice,” averaged 13 million viewers in its post-closing-ceremonies sneak peek (at 11 p.m.). By comparison, Matthew Perry’s new fall sitcom, “Go On,” averaged 16.1 million viewers in its post-Olympics airing last Wednesday (but it aired a half hour earlier).
Speaking of NBC, the fall season, and the premieres of two new talk shows, will effect some lineup changes to Ch. 4 here in New York.
Starting Tuesday, Sept. 4, “The Steve Harvey Show,” hosted by the comedian and taped in Chicago, premieres at 3 p.m. weekdays, supplanting “New York Live.”
The following Monday, Sept. 10, will see the premiere “T
he Jeff Probst Show,” which will air at 2 p.m. leading into “Harvey.” Reruns of the now-cancelled “Nate Berkus” currently air in that timeslot.
Locally — if the timeslot lineups remain the same — “Probst” will be competing head-to-head against ABC’s new talk show, “Katie” (Katie Couric), “Judge Joe Brown” and “The Talk,” while “Harvey” will take on “Dr. Phil,” “The People’s Court” and “General Hospital.”
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Museum pieces: The cast of BBC America’s new series, “Copper,” will be at MOMA (11 West 53rd) tomorrow night, along with executive producers Tom Fontana and Barry Levinson, to celebrate the network’s first original drama series, which premieres Sunday night at 10 with the first of its 10 episodes. “Copper,” set in 1864 Manhattan, revolves around an Irish immigrant cop (Tom Weston-Jones) working in the rough-and-tumble Five Points neighborhood downtown (near Chinatown).
Among the cast members expected to attend are Weston-Jones, Franka Potente, Kyle Schmid, Ato Essandoh, Tanya Fischer, Dylan Taylor, Kevin Ryan and Anastasia Griffith.
And . . . Thursday on Ch. 13 (8 p.m.) it’s Judy Collins “Live at the Metropolitan Museum of Art” with guests including Jimmy Webb, Shawn Colvin, Ani DiFranco and Kenny White.
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Syfy is teaming with Dylan’s Candy Bar here in Manhattan to promote next Tuesday’s (Aug. 21) third-season premiere of “Face Off.”
This Saturday, Aug. 18, Dylan’s Candy Bar will sponsor a “Free Cone Day” from noon to 4 p.m., with every customer receiving a free scoop of ice cream. The promotion, hosted by Syfy, will also include complimentary face painting for kids, make-up lessons for adults (well, it is to promote “Face Off,” after all), coloring stations and a “ ‘Face Off’ Photo Booth Experience.”
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I found myself laughing out loud — a rarity, believe me — at an episode of Cartoon Network’s “Aqua Something You Know Whatever” (formerly Aqua Teen Hunger Force), which I caught On Demand over the weekend. The episode, “Rocket Horse Jet Chicken,” revolved around Meatwad’s graphic comic book regarding the flatulent, profanity spewing Jet Chicken — and his long-suffering sidekick, Rocket Horse. Don’t ask. Word can’t do this justice.
(Jet Chicken, by the way, is voiced by George Lowe, best known to Cartoon Network fans as the voice of “Space Ghost.”)
“Aqua Something You Know Whatever” and “Hunger Force” air as part of Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim lineup.
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Last, but not least:
* Bethany Watson debuted yesterday as Elvis Duran’s co-host on his nationally syndicated Z100 morning show (6-10 a.m.) . . . Sunday night’s season finale of A&E’s “Longmire” snared 4.3 million viewers and a series-best 1.6 million adults 25-54 . . . “Black Gold” will return this winter for a fifth season on truTV . . . “Gravity Falls” hit a series-high 4.2 million viewers last Friday night at 9 on Disney Channel . . . “How I Met Your Mother” co-star Cobie Smulders couldn’t attend a recent Women’s Health-sponsored “Run 10 Feed 10” event in Bridgehampton, due to her busy schedule, but she showed her support by donating to the event’s silent auction a visit to the “HIMYM” set and lunch with her.