Word that Marc Anthony is joining the cast of TNT’s “HawthoRNe” on a full-time basis — see our story in today’s TV section — gives me a good “in” for the following item.
Follow the bouncing ball . . . Anthony is married to “American Idol” judge Jennifer Lopez. Her fellow freshman “Idol” judge is Steven Tyler –who’s handled by 10th Street Entertainment. 10th Street’s president, Eric Sherman, was in LA last week having a cup of coffee at West Hollywood hotspot Toast with rock legend Eric Clapton and David Fishof (VH1 Classic’s “Rock ‘n’ Roll Fantasy Camp”).
Not sure what they were talking about, but stay tuned. Could be something big brewing here.
* * *
Premieres: E!’s “After Lately” (starring Chelsea Handler and her “Chelsea Lately” crew) got off to a strong start Sunday night, snaring nearly 1.2 million viewers at 11 p.m. — doubling the prior four-week timeslot average (repeats of “Fashion Police”). It scored particularly well among women viewers, with a 1.6 in women 18-34 and a 1.1 in women 18-49.
Also getting off to a strong start was “Secret Millionaire,” making its premiere on ABC (it last aired on Fox). “Millionaire” pulled in 12.6 million viewers as Sunday night’s top-rated show.
And despite some middling reviews, AMC’s “Breakout Kings” premiered Sunday to 2.8 million viewers — and, more importantly, set a network series premiere record (for dramas) in adults 25-54 and 18-49 — up 25 percent from what “The Glades” delivered in its premiere last July (that series returns for a second season this summer).
Last, but not least:
* “Early Show” co-anchor Chris Wragge emcees tonight’s “An Evening with Eli Manning” to benefit the March of Dimes. It’s a salute to the Giants quarterback (Thomson Reuters Building, Times Square) . . . Ilia Calderon is the new anchor of Univision’s “Noticiero Univision Edicion Nocturna” (11:30 p.m. weeknights) . . . “The Price Is Right” has launched its first-ever online “Home Viewer Showcase” (priceisright.com) featuring 10 prizes — all of which will be won by one home viewer who comes closest to the actual manufacturers’ suggested retail price of the prizes (without going over) . . . Producer Gene Corman (“A Woman Called Golda”) has finalized a deal with Hong Kong-based River Run, LLC to finance a four-hour miniseries based on author Jeffrey Allen’s novel, “Gone Away Into the Land.” Production is scheduled to begin in spring 2012 in Georgia and Hong Kong . . . Valerie Smaldone launches “Legends of Music with Valerie Smaldone” on June 28th. It’s a new live-on-stage music interview series at the 92nd Street Y and kicks off with Tommy James . . . Unfortunate series title of the week: “Mounted in Alaska,” premiering April 7 on History.