Special 'Idol' tops Tuesday

Fox's ''American Idol'' easily brought its two hrs in teenagers with Tuesday's special episode. Most competing shows lost demo ground however the CBS ''NCIS'' shows carried out well, and also the night's final hour saw NBC's ''Parenthood'' wrap its season by having an upswing. Based on preliminary national estimations from Nielsen, ''American Idol'' averaged a 5. rating/13 be part of grown ups 18-49 and 15.8 million audiences overall, on componen using its two-hour Wednesday of a week ago. Tuesday's special episode, where the 12 male runners up carried out, did about 80% much better than the net's regular selection of a week ago. From eight to ten p.m., ''American Idol'' beat runner-up CBS by 56% in grown ups 18-49 (5. to three.2) by 37% in grown ups 25-54 (6.three or four.6). At CBS, ''NCIS'' (3.4/9 in 18-49, 18. million audiences overall) was dinged a little by ''Idol'' but drawn to within 3 shares from it in grown ups 25-54 while beating the background music competition as a whole audiences , something it never did once the shows faced one another on Tuesday for quite some time. ''NCIS: Los Angeles'' adopted having a strong performance (3.1/8 in 18-49, 15.7 million audiences overall), bouncing back by 15% from last week's season low to put second overall within the 9 o'clock hour the 2 ''NCIS'' shows combined to conquer ''Idol'' mind-to-mind as a whole audiences for that two-hour block. And also at 10, ''Unforgettable'' (1.9/5 in 18-49, 9.9 million audiences overall) was lower a tad week to week, tying for that hour's 18-49 lead. Opposite tough reality competition, NBC's ''The Greatest Loser'' dropped to season lows (2./5 in 18-49, 5.7 million audiences overall), but ''Parenthood'' (1.9/5 in 18-49, 5.a million audiences overall) had its best demo score since November. 29 using its 18th and final episode of year. The household drama, a powerful artist among trendy audiences along with a substantial gainer in Digital recording device playback, figures to come back for any 4th season within the fall. 4th-place ABC saw ''Last Guy Standing'' (2.1/6 in 18-49, 7.4 million audiences overall), ''Cougar Town'' (1.5/4 in 18-49, 4.3 million audiences overall) and ''The River'' (1.5/4 in 18-49, 4.a million audiences overall) all edge lower to season lows, and ''Body of Proof'' closed the evening having a below-average delivery (1.3/4 in 18-49 CW broadcast a unique repeat of ''Hart of Dixie'' (.3/one in 18-49, .9 million audiences overall) and original ''Ringer'' (.4/one in 18-49, 1.a million audiences overall). Preliminary 18-49 earnings for that evening: Fox, 5./13 CBS, 2.8/7 NBC, 2./5 ABC, 1.6/4 NBC, 1.5/4 CW, .4/1. As a whole audiences: Fox, 15.8 million CBS, 14.5 million ABC, 5.six million NBC, 5.5 million Univision, 3.7 million CW, 1. million. Contact Ron Kissell at ron.kissell@variety.com

Aircraft pilots Gotham & Rebounding Add Stars

British TV and stage actor Craig Sloane (Pleasureland) has arrived a mans lead within the ABC/20th TV drama pilot Gotham. Compiled by Michael Eco-friendly and directed by Francis Lawrence, the project focuses on Annie Travers, a lady cop who, after going after a apparently unsolvable situation, finds out an enchanting world that is available within NY City. Sloane will have Boyo, a detective on the planet of miracle who's designated Annie like a new partner. Matt Johnson (Red-colored Condition) continues to be cast in Foxs single-camera comedy pilot Rebounding. The project, compiled by Joe Port and Joe Wiseman and directed by Jason Winer, is definitely an beneficial comedy about Danny, a guy recuperating in the dying of his fianc with the aid of the idiots on his pickup basketball team. Johnson, repped by Paradigm and manager John Ferrantino, will have a rock music performer who's part of Danny’s quartet of close buddies. He recurs on Breaking Bad and NCIS.

Alan Ball to step lower as 'True Blood' showrunner

BallAlan Ball is putting a stake within the vampire duties. The creator of HBO's "True Blood stream" will probably be walking aside from his showrunning duties once the fantasy skein can get acquired for just about any sixth season, that's most likely considering its ongoing recognition. However, he'll remain as professional producer and become an consultant. The fifth several weeks are now being created and may air later this year. While a successor wasn't named, professional producer Gregg Feinberg presently handles lots of day-to-day responsibilities. Mentioned Ball: "?'True Blood stream remains, and it's still, a highlight of not only my career but my existence. Because of the truly amazing cast, authors, producers and crew, with whom I have been sufficiently fortunate to get work these past five years, I realize I really could have a take a step back as well as the show is constantly on the thrive after i anticipate new and exciting endeavors." Ball is really a longtime staple at Cinemax. Before "True Blood stream," he was the creator and professional producer on funereal drama "Six Foot Under," which went for five seasons (2001-05). He attempted to make a new series this season, but his pilot "All Signs and signs and symptoms of Dying," based on Charlie Huston's novel "The Mystic Arts of Getting rid of All Signs and signs and symptoms of Dying," wasn't greenlit to series with the pay cabler. He restored his multiyear overall deal with Cinemax last This summer time. He's presently concentrating on the Cinemax series "Banshee," that's prone to begin production this spring. Contact Stuart Levine at stuart.levine@variety.com

DWA set to ink Chinese joint venture

BEIJING -- China's vice-president and leader-in-waiting Xi Jinping is expected to unveil a joint venture between DreamWorks Animation and two Chinese state media firms during his two-day visit to Los Angeles. The pact will see DWA, China Media Capital and Shanghai Media Group build a studio facility in Shanghai with the aim of developing film, television and live stage productions for the Chinese market, according to a report in the Financial Times. The deal is part of a effort by Xi to cement relations between China, the world's fastest growing movie market, and Hollywood, during his visit. A big fan of Hollywood movies about World War II, Xi is due to take over as supreme leader of China later this year. Against a backdrop of a flurry of Sino-Hollywood link-ups in recent months, Xi meets Jerry Brown and Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa on Thursday and Friday, after an historic U.S. trip, which also included Washington D.C. and Iowa. There isn't much in the way of detail about what they will be talking about, but there have been talks in the run-up between the U.S. and China about changing the quota system, which restricts the number of foreign movies coming into China every year to 20. Xi is unlikely to remove any of these highly politically sensitive limits during this trip. He could also discuss another major impediment to relations. In 2009, the World Trade Organization ruled against Chinese restrictions on the importation and distribution of films, DVDs, music, books and journals, but little has changed since, much to U.S. annoyance. Xi is no stranger to the entertainment biz -- he was put in charge of ensuring the success of the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008 and the general view is that he succeeded with flying colors. Also his wife is one of the most famous warblers in China. Folk singer Peng Liyuan can be seen singing patriotic songs in military uniform on TV galas, and is probably even better known than he is right now. That will all change in October, when he is named General Secretary of the Communist Party, the most powerful position in the land. Currently vice-president, Xi is a more outgoing figure than current leader President Hu Jintao. He is a powerful princeling in the Chinese Communist Party and a canny political operator, and his leadership looks set to try and soften China's image abroad. Taking in a Lakers game during his visit is part of this approach, further evidence of how China is all about "soft power" these days, about spreading the message of its peaceful rise through its burgeoning investments in state media with overseas offices and also in the film biz. Earlier this month, the Beijing government announced that it had set up its first state-backed film fund to enable co-production between China and the U.S. Called China Mainstream Media National Film Capital Hollywood, the fund will have offices in Beijing and Beverly Hills and will be led by former China Film Group prexy Yang Buting. The aim of this fund is to co-finance and co-produce projects that have worldwide box office potential. A flurry of film funds have launched of late eager to tap into China's booming market. B.O. gross swept past $2 billion for the first time last year, and the biz has grown by more than 25% every year since 2003. Culture is a pillar of the Chinese economy -- the Communist Party has designated it as such, and it is looking to the cultural industry, such as the entertainment biz, to help keep the country's 8% growth rates simmering, and to help the country get out of the manufacturing rut that it is currently stuck in. According to data from the National Bureau of Statistics, added value from China's cultural industry rose 25.8% year-on-year to 1.1 trillion yuan ($172 billion) in 2010. This is a strong rise, but it still only accounts for 2.75% of overall gross domestic product, so there is room for improvement here. The Chinese want U.S. expertise to help boost the biz at home, and they also want a way of exporting Chinese movies abroad as a follow-on step. He is no stranger to America either. He has a daughter at Harvard and he spent time Stateside years ago, in Iowa. With a sense of public relations timing that would warm the heart of any Hollywood publicist, Xi went back to see the family he stayed with as a young cadre back in 1985. Then he was a youthful head of an animal feed delegation. Now is the heir apparent to world's rising superpower. Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

Sony calls on 'Interpol'

Sony is looking for the funny in "Interpol," snapping up a comedy pitch by the writing team of Jonathan Keasey and Brant Boivin and setting it up with Will Smith's Overbrook Entertainment. Keasey and Boivin are scripting "Interpol," centered on a group of desk jockey Interpol agents turn over their research to seasoned law enforcement agents who do the actual arresting of criminals. The groups are forced to switch roles when a cache of information outs the field officers. Sony-based Overbrook, operated by Smith, James Lassiter and Ken Stovitz, is producing. Overbrook is also producing sci-fier "1000 A.E." for Sony with M. Night Shyamalan directing and Smith and son Jaden starring. Studio's set a June 7, 2013 release date. Keasey and Boivin have been working on another project at Overbrook. Scripting duo is repped by Paradigm managed by Kaplan Perrone. Contact Dave McNary at dave.mcnary@variety.com

'Soul Train' host Don Cornelius dies

Don Cornelius, creator from the lengthy-running TV dance show "Soul Train," shot themself to dying Wednesday morning at his home, police stated. He was 75.Officer reacting to some report of the shooting found Cornelius at his Mulholland Clarify around 4 a.m., police stated.He was pronounced dead of the self-caused gunshot wound at 4:56 a.m. at Cedars-Sinai Clinic, stated La County Assistant Chief Coroner Erectile dysfunction Winter."Soul Train" started in Chicago like a local enter in 1970 and broadcast across the country from 1971 to 2006. It introduced the very best R&B, soul and then stylish-hop functions to TV coupled with teens dance for them. It had been among the first shows to showcase African-People in america conspicuously, even though dance group was racially mixed. Cornelius was the very first host and executive producer.The Soul Train Honours plan revisit the environment following a two-year hiatus to identify individuals who assisted shape R&B music.Record executive Antonio "L.A." Reid, performers Kenny "Babyface" Edmonds, Chaka Khan and Charlie Wilson is going to be honored around the two-hour music special to become recorded in Atlanta.The honours are scheduled to air November. 29 on Centric -- a brand new funnel collectively operated through the Wager and MTV Systems divisions of Viacom.Stars Taraji P. Henson and Terrence Howard will co-host the honours first began by Don Cornelius, the creator from the syndicated music show "Soul Train."The final honours show occured in 2007 in California. Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com