'GMA' narrows 'Today' lead in ayem race

Buoyed by publish-Oscar coverage along with a "DwtsInch reveal, "Hello America" reduced the margin between itself and to begin with "Today" towards the cheapest level in 5 years. For that week of February. 27, "GMA" averaged 5.36 million audiences while NBC's ayem goliath "Today" came 5.52 million. That symbolized the littlest margin between your two programs since 2007. Within the 25-54 demo, that is most significant towards the newsies, "GMA" came 1.8 million while "Today" came 2.a million -- the cheapest between your two in 4 years. "Today" has beaten both ABC and CBS' ayem programs during the last 16 years, however the lead continues to be lowering recently. The rankings data was launched on the day that a study appeared that Matt Lauer, whose Peacock deal finishes toward the finish of the season, was apparently set to sign a multiyear pact that will pay him $25 million annually. NBC refused the report and stated there's been no current ongoing discussions. Lauer is a steadying pressure on "Today," the industry four-hour week day staple for NBC. Lauer grew to become a lasting anchor in 1994 and, together with co-anchor Katie Couric, assisted establish "Today" like a rankings giant and also the most lucrative show around the network. Katz Television Group Vice president Bill Carroll stated NBC must offer Lauer the best package -- a mix of money and possible new program possibilities -- to convince him to remain and make certain there's continuity at "Today," especially because the program has lately gone through personnel changes. "Folks could possibly get fed up with that specific (morning hours) grind, but presuming he's the enthusiasm and wishes to stay, they need to try to reach that goal,Inch Carroll stated. Ryan Seacrest, who became a member of the NBCUniversal family following a Comcast merger, was sailed just as one "Today" anchor if Lauer leaves his publish. Lauer could depart "Today" for any syndicated talkshow program -- following within the actions of Couric, whose new skein "Katie" starts this September -- but ayem success does not always translate to daytime. "Unless of course you are speaking in regards to a network-came from program, for example 'The View' or 'The Talk,' distribution is really a whole other game," Carroll stated. "You've for the greatest periods of time and finest stations in each and every market after which hope you are not going against established perennial programs." Contact Stuart Levine at stuart.levine@variety.com

Tila Tequila Entering Rehab After Recent Suicide Scare

Name That Tune logo If you could recognize Kanye West's "Runaway" from that first tinkling piano note in the Bud Lite Platinum Super Bowl commercial, then you might be in luck. FremantleMedia has secured the rights to the classic game show Name That Tune for a reboot, Vulture reports. The company has a good track record for reviving game shows such as Family Feud and Let's Make a Deal. Fall TV Scorecard: Is your favorite show in danger? Name That Tune is a song-guessing quiz show that pits two contestants against each other to name songs based on the fewest notes played. The one who advances to the Golden Medley bonus round tries to name seven songs in 30 seconds or less. The show first debuted in 1953 and was seen in various incarnations throughout the '70s and '80s. In 2001, VH1 debuted their version, Name That Video. MTV also tried to launch other versions for its flagship network and CMT, but neither got off the ground. CBS also tried but failed at a reboot in 2006. Check out this classic clip from a 1977 episode featuring Kathie Lee Gifford: Would you "tune" into a revamp of Name That Tune?

Pilot Season: Jordana Spiro Lands Lead in Fox Surgical Drama

Lindsay Lohan is determined to prove she's gotten her life back on track. Before she hosts Saturday Night Live this week, she sat down with Today's Matt Lauer, and spoke candidly about wanting to show everyone she can be trusted again. "I think that takes time," Lohan said during an interview that will air on Thursday's show. "Because... Read More > Other Links From TVGuide.com Saturday Night LiveTodayElizabeth TaylorLindsay Lohan

Vaudeville to stage Orton farce

Joe Orton's 1967 farce classic "What the Butler Saw" will open in a new production at the West End's Vaudeville Theater on May 16 for a strictly limited season. Produced by MJE Productions, co-producers of the West End and Gotham-bound tuner "Ghost," the show is headlined by British-Iranian thesp/stand-up U.K. Omid Djalili ("Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End," "The Love Guru"). The production is helmed by Sean Foley, who also directed the hit legit version of "The Ladykillers," currently running at the West End's Gielgud theater. Running May 4-Aug. 25, "What the Butler Saw" will be designed by Alice Power with lighting by Johanna Town. Further casting has yet to be announced. Contact David Benedict at benedictdavid@mac.com

'Artist' poised for post-Oscar B.O. boost

'The Artist'Nat Faxon, Alexander Payne and Jim Rash nabbed the Oscar for adapted screenplay for Paynes Hawaiian-set The Descendants. Oscar's top-prize winner also looks to be the biggest box office beneficiary of the kudos race. "The Artist," which nabbed four other statuettes (actor for Jean Dujardin, director for Michel Hazanavicius, score for Ludovic Bource and costume for Mark Bridges) could end up with a 60% or more B.O. bump domestically after the Oscars thanks to a planned expansion into smaller markets across the country. The Weinstein Co. has taken a slow and steady approach to rolling out the silent, B&W film, starting with a limited theatrical bow on Nov. 25. Domestic cume is an estimated $31.9 million. Stateside theatrical business is just one prize in the post-Oscars money game, however. Many of this year's winners continue to roll out overseas. "The Artist," which bows April 7 in Japan, should cross $80 million worldwide through Sunday; "The Descendants," which won the Oscar for adapted screenplay, has cumed more than $156 million globally. Beyond the multiplex, wins could help boost downstream revenues from outlets including foreign TV rights and streaming deals. TWC recently signed an exclusive licensing agreement with Netflix that includes "The Artist." The distrib plans to nearly double the pic's current theater count to 1,500 locations or more in the coming weeks -- supported mainly by an aggressive rollout in smaller core markets outside of NY and L.A. What's more, kudocast exposure could help lure younger moviegoers. "Our exit polling over the last 14 weeks shows that audiences of all ages are loving the film," said Weinstein distribution head Erik Lomis. Aside from "The Artist," "The Descendants" may also see a positive box office effect from its award. "The Descendants" is already helmer Alexander Payne's highest-grossing film, and fourth-highest for Fox Searchlight, with a domestic cume of $78.5 million. Searchlight first released the film in the U.S. on Nov. 11 and widened the pic on Feb. 3 to its biggest location count to date at 2,038. Fox Searchlight has said that whether "The Descendants" expands depended on Sunday's outcome. The film is currently at 889 locations. Box office boosts for "Hugo," which nabbed five tech Oscars, and "The Help," which one a single statuette for Octavia Spencer in the supporting actress contest, are expected to be marginal. "Hugo" arrives Tuesday on homevid, while "The Help" launched on DVD and Blu-ray more than two months ago with domestic sales close to $70 million. "The Help" is this year's highest-grossing best picture nominee with $169 million domestically; "Hugo," meanwhile, approaches $70 million and is still playing at just north of 500 Stateside locations. Among the pic nominees, 2011 lacked the one blockbuster that's become an Oscar standard in recent years. (Think of pic nominees "Toy Story 3," "Inception" or "Avatar.") "The Artist" has performed strongly on the coasts, but its five Oscars could help draw attention in flyover states as well. Weinstein will add multiple locations in smaller U.S. cities where the film is overindexing like Louisville, Ky., and Topeka, Kan. "That's what the Academy can do for us," Lomis said. "A win can help the film broaden out in those smaller markets." As with previous pic winners like "Slumdog Millionaire," which cumed $141 million domestically, many moviegoers weren't able to see the film in theaters until closer to the Oscars telecast. "Slumdog," which won eight awards including picture, expanded to north of 2,000 domestic locations for the first time during the weekend of the ceremony in 2009. "Slumdog" wound up tallying $43 million (or 30% of its total domestic cume) post-Oscars. Contact Andrew Stewart at andrew.stewart@variety.com

Next time, maybe not

Adele puts her finger on the problem at BRIT Awards. The 32nd BRIT Awards began with a bang, literally, on Tuesday night as London's O2 Arena rained fireworks during Coldplay's opening-act number. Later at the U.K. music industry kudos, Rihanna splattered the boards with paint, Florence and the Machine transformed the stage into an ethereal kingdom, George Michael made his first appearance at the awards in 17 years and video tributes to Whitney Houston and Amy Winehouse unspooled.Adele added two more Brits to her substantial gong collection. After being cut off mid-speech for her album of the year honor, she gave a one-fingered salute in annoyance. "I'll see you next time around, yeah?" she promised.Bruno Mars jazzed up "Just the Way You Are" after accepting the award for international male solo artist. "This is almost taller than me," he quipped, sizing up his Brit Award.Post kudos, Universal Music's guests were treated to the DJ spins of will.i.am and Florence Welch at the Tate Modern. Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

Make the most of Corddry in talks for 'Pain and Gain'

"Children's Hospital" star Make the most of Corddry is at predicts join Mark Wahlberg, Dwayne Manley and Erection dysfunction Harris in Michael Bay's low-budget Vital pic "Discomfort and Gain." With various true story first told inside an article within the Miami New Occasions, film follows several bodybuilders who in an offer of kidnapping, extortion and murder in Florida. Corddry may have John Mese, a classic competitive bodybuilder who now has a health club where Wahlberg's character works just like a fitness instructor. His past becoming an accountant and notary makes him an excellent though reluctant part of Wahlberg's plan. Bay is creating with Jesse P Line and Ian Bryce. "Captain America" scribes Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely written the script. Production is predicted to begin noisy . spring. Corddry features a busy year of red-colored-colored carpets before him, while he stars in Summit's zombie pic "Warm Physiques," and co-stars inside the Weinstein Company's comedy "Butter," additionally to "Seeking a pal for your Finish around the world,In . which Focus releases June 22. Adult Frolic in the water will begin airing the fourth season of "Children's Hospital" this summer season. Corddry is repped by WME, Principato-Youthful Entertainment and attorney Ken Richman. Contact Rob Sneider at rob.sneider@variety.com