The 54th Annual Grammy Awards (airing Sunday, Feb 12 on CBS) will have “record-breaking distribution around the world,” reports Broadcasting & Cable. The show is cleared to air in 195 territories, including on Global Television in Canada; Channel 4 in the UK; MNET in Africa; even in Russia, on REN TV.
Chrysler Group’s U.S. dealers have “swung into action” to defend Chrysler’s Super Bowl ad, reports the Wall Street Journal. The “Halftime in America” spot featuring Clint Eastwood has been derided as political and pro-Obama, drawing ire from among others Rush Limbaugh. The dubious connection: the Obama administration after four years is only in its halftime. Chrysler’s Dealer Council called an emergency meeting and issued a statement that "We have no doubt that this ad had no political agenda of any kind but rather [was] a statement of fact and hope for the future for all of us and America."
Also from Broadcasting & Cable, Fox will end House after eight seasons. This eighth season will end on episode 177. “House M.D.” has declined in ratings, and Fox needs some room on the schedule with “Alcatraz” performing well and the new drama “Touch” launching in March.
Roseanne Barr will be back on network TV this fall. Director Gail Mancuso (who directed Barr’s first sitcom “Rosanne” on ABC for seven seasons) has signed on to direct “Downwardly Mobile,” about life in a trailer park, reports Deadline Hollywood.
BBC America will launch its first original program, “Copper,” to air summer 2012. Set in post-Civil War New York (but shot in Toronto), the series will follow Irish beat cop Kevin Corcoran as he patrols NYC’s notorious Five Points neighborhood.