Feb 9 2010 03:13 PM ET

Nancy Kerrigan's father's death should be treated as homicide, DA says

Categories: Lawsuits, News

Nancy Kerrigan’s father’s death will be treated as a homicide, the Middlesex, Mass. District Attorney confirms to People. A statement from the DA’s office read in part: “The Medical Examiner determined that the cause of death was cardiac dysrhytmia following a physical altercation with neck compression causing injury to the neck in the form of a cartilage fracture to the larynx area, in a person with hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular heart disease.”

Daniel Kerrigan, 70, was pronounced dead on Jan. 24, after having a violent altercation with his son, 45-year-old Mark Kerrigan. Mark Kerrigan was charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon on an elderly person and causing serious bodily injury. The DA’s statement today also noted: “As a result of these conclusions of the Medical Examiner, the investigation into Daniel Kerrigan’s death, and whether any charges in connection with his death are appropriate, remains ongoing.”

Feb 9 2010 12:37 PM ET

Ratings: 'Bachelor' and CBS comedies fly high, 'Heroes' season finale crashes

ABC’s The Bachelor: On the Wings of Love once again rose in its ratings from the previous week, according to preliminary overnight ratings. The dating reality hit scored 12.3 million viewers, an increase of 600k from the week before. Meanwhile, CBS’ Two and a Half Men and The Big Bang Theory both delivered huge numbers with 17.6 and 16.2 million, respectively. Meanwhile, NBC’s Heroes aired its season finale with a very weak 4.4 million, a sign that the once popular series may not see another season.

Time Show Viewers (in millions)
8pm House (Fox)
The Bachelor: On the Wings of Love (ABC)
How I Met Your Mother (CBS)
Chuck (NBC)
One Tree Hill (The CW)
13.6
12.3
10.1
6.7
2.2
8:30pm Accidentally on Purpose (CBS) 9.2
9pm Two and a Half Men (CBS)
24 (Fox)
Heroes (NBC)
Life Unexpected (The CW)
17.6
10.2
4.4
2.0
9:30pm The Big Bang Theory (CBS) 16.2
10pm CSI: Miami (CBS)
Castle (ABC)
The Jay Leno Show (NBC)
13.5
9.5
4.3

Source: Nielsen

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Feb 9 2010 12:21 PM ET

Conservation group plans to buy land near Hollywood sign

Categories: News

The AP is reporting that Trust for Public Land, a conservation group, has secured an option to buy a 138-acre parcel of land near the Hollywood sign, a deal that would protect the area from development. A Chicago consortium currently owns the property and at one point had planned several luxury homes for the area. If the deal goes through, Trust for Public Land will purchase the area for $12 million, after which it plans to transfer the land to the city of Los Angeles, so it can be incorporated into Griffith Park.

Feb 9 2010 12:00 PM ET

Ratings: Shocker! Super Bowl XLIV dominates broadcast networks' week

No surprise here: The broadcast network’s ratings have arrived for the week ending Feb. 7, and Sunday’s Super Bowl XLIV—which knocked off the finale of M*A*S*H to become the most-watched television program of all time—is the big winner for the seven-day period. The big game, which saw the New Orleans Saints triumph over the Indianapolis Colts, officially drew 106.5 million viewers.

The show CBS launched in the post-Super Bowl slot, Undercover Boss, came in at No. 2 with a super-healthy 38.7 million viewers—the largest-ever audience for a new series after the Super Bowl. (It ranks third for all-time series, behind Friends in 1996 and Survivor in 2001.) Boss‘ numbers were also good enough to make the most-watched reality series premiere ever and the biggest new series launch on TV since 1987.  Fox’s American Idol, which usually sits atop the chart, came in at No. 3 and No. 4, with 24.7 million and 21.0 million viewers for its Tuesday and Wednesday airings, respectively. In fifth place was TV’s top scripted show, CBS’ NCIS, which drew 19.2 million viewers.

The week’s full top 20 shows—complete with viewership numbers—can be found after the jump.

(Read full post)

Feb 9 2010 05:58 AM ET

Tim Robbins to costar in 'Green Lantern'

The Hollywood Reporter has news that Tim Robbins has joined the cast of Green Lantern. He’ll play Senator Hammond, the father of villain Dr. Hector Hammond (Peter Sarsgaard). Ryan Reynolds stars as Green Lantern and Blake Lively plays his romantic interest Carol Ferris. Filming begins in March in New Orleans.

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Feb 9 2010 05:53 AM ET

Rachel Weisz joins 'Dream House'

Variety reports that Rachel Weisz will join Daniel Craig and Naomi Watts in the thriller Dream House from director Jim Sheridan. The film follows a publisher (Craig) who moves his wife (Weisz) and kids to New England, only to discover that their new house had been the scene of a brutal murder. Watts plays their neighbor. Filming begins this week.

Feb 9 2010 05:44 AM ET

Katherine Heigl to star in 'One For the Money'

Variety reports that Katherine Heigl is attached to star in Columbia Pictures’ and Lakeshore Entertainment’s One For the Money, about a lingerie buyer who turns to bounty hunting to make money. The film is based on the first in the 15-book Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich. Reese Witherspoon had been previously attached to the project.

Feb 9 2010 05:42 AM ET

Matt Damon, Jude Law sign on to Soderbergh's 'Contagion'

Variety reports that Matt Damon and Jude Law are set for director Steven Soderbergh’s upcoming thriller Contagion, while Kate Winslet and Marion Cotillard are in talks. Contagion will have multiple story lines, similar to Soderbergh’s Traffic, and will follow the threat posed by a deadly disease. The project is expected to begin filming later this year.

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Feb 8 2010 06:03 PM ET

Michael Jackson's doctor pleads not guilty to manslaughter charges

Categories: Music, News

Dr. Conrad Murray has now pleaded not guilty to charges of involuntary manslaughter in connection with the death of Michael Jackson, according to CNN.

Feb 8 2010 05:28 PM ET

Kate Gosselin to publish new book: 'I Just Want You to Know'

Categories: Books, News, Television

Reality star Kate Gosselin is set to publish a book this spring called I Just Want You to Know: Letters to My Kids on Love, Faith, and Family. The book features prayers and excerpts from her journal and tracks her three year journey from obscurity to television fame. I Just Want You to Know will also include eight individual letters to her children.

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