TNT wins ‘West’
TNT scored big numbers last Friday with the premiere of “Into the West,” starring Matthew Settle, Skeet Ulrich, Keri Russell and Michael Spears, among others.
The six-week series, executive-produced by Steven Spielberg, snared 6.5 million viewers in its 8 p.m. premiere, leading TNT to a victory over its broadcast brethren (ABC, CBS, Fox, UPN and The WB) in prime time in total viewers, households and adults 25-54.
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Peter Sellers gets The Museum of Television & Radio treatment in a retrospective of his TV work (compiled from appearances both here and in the U.K.) running from July 8 through Oct. 2.
The compilation, “Peter Sellers: Does That Include Television?” includes, among others, Sellers’ appearances on “The Steve Allen Show” (1964), “David Frost’s Night Out in London” (1967) and “The Muppet Show” (1977).
Sellers died in 1980 at the age of 54.
Last, but not least:
* Tomorrow: CNN’s Soledad O’Brien hosts the 2005 National Student Television Awards for Excellence at the Time Warner Center.
* Ch. 5 honored last weekend by the New York State AP Broadcasters for Best Local News Program, Best News Special/Documentary, Best Interview (Rosanna Scotto).
* Bug juice: “Runaway Bride” Jennifer Wilbanks and her fiance, John Mason, sit for a “Dateline”/”Today” show interview with Katie Couric next Tuesday (8 p.m.) and Wednesday (7 a.m.).
* Thursday: New York-based singer/ songwriter Sophie B. Hawkins performs on NBC’s “Hit Me Baby One More Time” (9 p.m./Ch. 4).
* Movin’ on up: Judy Tygard named a senior producer for CBS’ “48 Hours Mystery” and Kevin Harry a managing editor of “Inside Edition.”
* Kiddie performer Laurie Berkner will perform live on the “Today” show June 29. She’s starring in a new Noggin series this fall.
* “Casino” is out on DVD today (Robert DeNiro, Joe Pesci, Sharon Stone, James Woods) – just in time for you to see DeNiro in “The Untouchables” (Thursday on Cinemax) and “A Bronx Tale” (Saturday on Cinemax).