NBC finds its 'Voice'

The Voice has performed so well on Monday, its even had an impact on CBS highly successful comedies.'Dancing With the Stars'NBCs Broadway-themed drama Smash is not a huge hit but has improved on the nets perf in the Mondays at 10 slot earlier this season. NBC's decision to shift "The Voice" to Monday for its second season has reshaped the competitive landscape on the night in a way that raises questions for this season and beyond.After a strong start in the 2011-12 midseason, the singing contest continues to be a godsend for the struggling Peacock, averaging a 6.3 rating/16 share in adults 18-49 over its first four weeks, according to Nielsen, on the heels of a post-Super Bowl preview. "The Voice" has even been outdelivering primetime's reigning champ, "American Idol," in the demo.While another addition to Monday, Broadway-themed drama "Smash," isn't seeing similar success at 10 p.m., "The Voice's" two-hour episodes are doing well enough to vault NBC from the deep fourth-place standing it inhabited the first half of the season to a comfortable first on the night. " 'The Voice' is something NBC desperately needed to work," said Brad Adgate, research director at Horizon Media. "It's an encouraging step in what will otherwise be a long rebuilding process."Together with "Smash," which is doing better in the timeslot than "The Playboy Club" and "Rock Center" earlier this season, NBC's revamped Monday sked is up 206% (more than tripling the rating) vs. the comparable February weeks of a year ago.Shift to fall?But with TV's hottest show in hand, NBC may be mulling another bold move. The network is reportedly considering bowing the next cycle of "Voice" in the fall, a prospect Peacock reps will not confirm. Whether that will mean "The Voice" will move to fall instead of or in addition to the midseason isn't known. But a double run would open the possibility that NBC could exhaust the long-term viability of the franchise in order to achieve a short-term gain.Strong as it has bowed, "The Voice" isn't invincible. The show's ratings got dented Monday by a Fox telecast of the Daytona 500. And like all 8 p.m. shows, "The Voice" may see some drag from the March 11 onset of daylight savings time, which keeps some viewers away from their TV sets until later in the evening.Regardless of when "The Voice" bows next season, the network also must decide which new property should get what's looking to be primetime's highest-rated lead-in. It's a position that "Smash" may not be able to hold onto even though its ratings stabilized at a 2.3 rating in the adults 18-49 demo in its fourth week Monday. The drama series is averaging a 3.1 rating in 18-49 -- up from the 1.2 that "Playboy" and "Rock Center" averaged earlier in the season -- but it's still too early to assess its chances of earning a second season.NBC's improved Monday performance is all the more remarkable given how competitive the night is. One of the biggest stories of the first half of the season was the strength of CBS on Monday, where leadoff hitter "How I Met Your Mother" is up 22% over last season, and the smooth transition of "Two and a Half Men" from Charlie Sheen to Ashton Kutcher has resulted in gains of 28% in the 9 o'clock half-hour. The combination of "Mother" and "Men" have helped CBS turn "2 Broke Girls," sandwiched between them at 8:30 p.m., into the season's top-rated new show.But the emergence of "The Voice" has pushed CBS to second place on Mondays in February, with NBC winning by a sizable 45% in adults 18-49, and by about 25% in both adults 25-54 and total viewers. From September through January, CBS was beating No. 2 Fox by 33% in adults 18-49 and also winning in adults 25-54 and total viewers.Even steady CBS could be facing a Monday dilemma, though one borne of strength rather than weakness: Can its lineup withstand moving one of its half-hour comedies to bolster a different night? It certainly looks as if CBS will test that proposition on April 12, when the Eye will try a repeat of "2 Broke Girls" at 9:30 p.m. on Thursday, where it will follow primetime's biggest comedy, "The Big Bang Theory," airing at a special time. CBS has developed a habit of late-season experiments that translate into next-season scheduling changes. But would the Eye, which would certainly love to extend its comedy stronghold on Thursday to two hours, be taking too big a risk to ship off a hot freshman comedy when it's doing fine where it is?Adgate says the Eye has the right pieces to make a move. "They've got a ton of comedy development (nine pilots are under consideration) that could work in protected timeslots on Monday or Thursday," he said.'Dancing' challenge"The Voice" will be tested again when ABC returns stalwart "Dancing With the Stars" to the schedule March 19 in the same Monday 8-10 p.m. block the latter series has called home for years. ABC may be more worried than NBC given that "Stars" started to show its age in the fall; it's still a good performer but down 20% year-to-year. For the season on Monday, ABC was third in 18-49 (ahead of a charging NBC) and down 13% vs. last year."The Voice" is expected to win the Monday showdown in young adults, while "Dancing" should prevail in total viewers.But the biggest concerns on Monday are at Fox, which may have to start from scratch in the fall. The net is actually up on Mondays year-to-year, but since "The Voice" arrived, it has placed fourth a few times.Sensing how tough the night has become, Fox execs shifted new drama "Touch" from its planned Monday timeslot to Thursday at 9. Veteran drama "Bones," which had been airing on Thursdays, will finish out the season by taking one for the team Mondays at 9, where it will face brutal competition.That lineup is likely just a placeholder while Fox sorts through its options. The fate of another Monday entry from last fall, "Terra Nova," is still uncertain, and "House" isn't coming back. It's too soon to say whether "Touch" or another Monday entry, "Alcatraz," will make it to a second season on a night where Adgate believes Fox may need to make a bolder move to regain a foothold."Fox has its work cut out for it on this night," Adgate said. "They might have to completely revamp Monday in the fall -- especially if NBC puts 'The Voice' there." Contact Andrew Wallenstein at andrew.wallenstein@variety.com

Bona CFA to ankle distributor

Bona, China's largest privately held distributor, said CFO Mason Xu will ankle after this year's financial results are filed to join an unnamed China-based U.S. dollar equity fund. Xu will remain in an advisory capacity to oversee the transition to a new CFO, Bona said in a statement, and the company has set up a search committee with topper Dong Yu and independent directors Qi Daqing and Jie Lian. Xu's move comes as the competition for senior execs heats up in China's booming film business. He joined Bona in June 2010 and previously worked at China Digital TV Holding, CDH Venture Partners and Intel China. Bona, which listed on the Nasdaq in 2010, distributes pics in the Greater China region. It owns and operates 11 movie theaters, has production interests and runs a talent agency. "We are sure the fiscal discipline (Xu) helped to instill within the company will continue to benefit Bona as we build on the impressive growth of China's film entertainment industry," Yu said. The committee has identified a number of candidates and expects to submit a final recommendation within the next month. Bona has also formed a Strategy Committee to help further its mid- to longterm plans and this will include Yu, Hong Kong industryite Nansun Shi and Beijing Redbaby Info Tech CEO, Peixin Xu, one of China's leading business figures. Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

Dish Network Beats Q4 Earnings And Customer Predictions

You are able to wager that many experts are grumbling today within the odd method in which Dish Network reported its Q4 results: The organization released a pr release with very couple of statistics — but additionally filed its 300+ page annual report in the SEC. The point is, while traders scramble to obtain the particulars they need, they are able to observe that the fundamental amounts are superior to the road expected. The organization had net gain of $313M, up 24.2% versus the entire year-finish quarter this year, on revenues of $3.63B, up 13%. The revenue figure was slightly greater compared to $3.62B consensus forecast. But earnings, at 70 cents a share, were well in front of the expected 62 cents. Dish also states it added 22,000 customers within the quarter, to finish the entire year with somewhat under 14M. Most experts only expected Dish to achieve 5,000 — plus some thought it might lose clients. For the whole year, Dish is lower 166,000. “By presenting new Blockbuster-top quality services, we’ve started to turn the tide in customer deficits while ongoing to manage elevated competitive demands,” Boss Joe Clayton stated. While traders are curious about Dish’s performance, they’re more interested in its plans. Dish is gathering airwave spectrum to provide wireless broadband services — and is viewed as potential candidate to become whether buyer or perhaps a seller inside a large merger deal.

Alliance nabs Kate Hudson starrer 'Everly'

Marking the second major deal in the European Film Market, Alliance Films has clicked on up U.K. and Canadian rights to Kate Hudson starrer "Everly." Deal is thought being north of $millions of and saw a number of other foreign customers while dining, particularly eOne, which was as well as in the best running for your female-driven actioner. Pic, that's produced by Adam Ripp and Make the most of Paris' Crime Scene Pictures, also provided to Splendid for Germany, Europe and Benelux only for north of $millions of. The Alliance get for "Everly" clocks up a feeling of deja-vu from last year's Berlinale, when the distrib acquired multi-territory rights (Blighty, Canada and also the country) to Crime Scene's debut feature "Gambit," toplining Colin Firth and Cameron Diaz. Deal marked the initial major deal of last year's market. Nick Meyer's Sierra/Affinity remains shopping the $tens of millions of actioner, helmed by Joe Lynch, to customers in the fest, which sees Hudson star just like a lower-on-her-luck lady, stuck in their apartment, fending off waves of assassins sent by her ex, a dangerous mob boss. Story is founded on a concept created by Lynch ("Knights in combat in combat of Badassdom"). Yale Hannon composed the script, which was featured round the Hollywood Black List. Anonymous Content's Luke Rivett is creating "Everly" alongside Ripp and Paris, that are also financing the pic. Rizal Risjad and Philip Elway professional produce. Contact Diana Lodderhose at diana.lodderhose@variety.com

Meaghan Rath Is not Your Typical Ghost on 'Being Human'

Were playing normal some people that have these conditions that are supernatural," states Meaghan Rath, who plays Sally on Syfys re-imagining in the BBC series Being Human. "Thats what stick out in regards to the show."The Montreal-native shows a ghost who lives getting a vampire (Mike Witwer) together with a werewolf (Mike Huntington). Even though Rath remains acting regularly in Canada throughout the final decade, she's still considered a completely new face in the united states. "It certainly allows you to involve some material to demonstrate before coming here," Rath states of her earlier work. "When the show had been launched a year ago, Someone said articles saying, 'Newcomer Meaghan Rath,' and Ive been transporting this out for any very long time. However love that. You'll be able to execute a lot in Canada, also it provides a superior plenty of time to practice and improve."Back Stage: How perhaps you have enter acting? Meaghan Rath: Once I was youthful, I wasnt really sure a few things i preferred to complete, however told plenty of is dependant on school. I told my pals once that we was playing John Travoltas daughter in the movie. I furthermore told individuals who I'd this romantic affair with Jonathan Taylor Thomas around the summer season. I Rapidly started these courses just for fun on saturday within the Montral School of Undertaking Arts. Once once i involved 12, a casting director showed up that was casting a schoolgirl for Lost and Delirious. My school picture, through which I used to be wearing a uniform, was round the wall. She asked for me to audition which i acquired role. I carried out Allisons Friend # 3, my appropiate product so far. (Laughs) Back Stage: Did your ethnicity help your work initially or present more challenges? Rath: My fathers folks are part British and Austrian, and my moms folks are from Goa, which is within the south of India. I looked different then everyone body else, which now's this kind of blessing. It absolutely was harder in the start of my career. There isn't as much roles for individuals who appear much like me, plus it was always complicated if the found casting my parents. However couldn't are more grateful that I have got another look. Back Stage: How perhaps you have get introduced to Being Human? Rath: I hadnt learned about the British series. I received the breakdown from my agent which i connected immediately with Sally. I obtained the initial two scripts which i figured, I must do this.Back again again Stage: The thing that was the audition process like? Rath: I auditioned lots of occasions in Montral. They travelled me to La to screen test with potential males. The process involved monthly. Back Stage: Did they've created you put onto a sheet? Rath: No. (Laughs.) I made use of a white-colored dress and tried to appear as haunting after i could. I didn't do like arm waving or strange vocal stuff. I didn't placed on makeup either because were playing against type. However am very superstitious so when I buy it a telephone call back, Ill placed on the identical factor I made use of the first time. Back Stage: How perhaps you have investigate role? Rath: Ive been to the horror genre, so Ive seen plenty of movies with ghosts and supernatural stuff. I looked more to the ghost lore, however appear like Sally can be a completely new ghost in the beginning, I used to be kind of learning along with her.Back again again Stage: What's challenging about playing a personality that's mostly non-corporeal? Rath: In the beginning, I never got any props, then when you consult with someone, sometimes you touch them without thinking about it. People were habits that we required to break, that people think aided me becoming an actor. Also, once i sit back around the couch, the pillows are built of concrete, therefore i dont make an imprint. Thats uncomfortable. Back Stage: What advice are you able to tell stars who've to re-create a character? Rath: Dont watch it. I had been trying to produce our personal factor which ended by remaining from another show. In the event you spend lots of time thinking, I am hoping ours can be as good or better, then you definitely aren't focusing at work. You just do your better and take advantage of what you might offer for your role. Being Human airs Mondays at 9 p.m. EST on Syfy.

VIDEO: Jimmy Fallon Urges Late Evening Audiences to remain Up After Super Bowl

Jimmy Fallon Madonna's halftime performance might have left some audiences cold, but Jimmy Fallon began his late-evening show having a rocking number set to Adele's "Moving within the Deep." Supported by Butler College cheerleaders and students, the mayor of Indiana , and Colts cheerleaders, Fallon advised audiences not to visit sleep which the party had only begun. "Time for you to start the show, Late Evening in Indianapolis ... Let us go, Let us go," he sang. The performance ended using the Roots rapping survive stage in which the show only agreed to be getting began. Cheers & Jeers: Jimmy Fallon rocks Indianapolis Watch below:

Ratings: Glee Scores With Michael Jackson Tribute, Ringer Matches Series Low

Glee While using systems hunkering lower before sweeps, Fox generally accomplished good results from a thrilling-new selection, as Glee's Michael Jackson tribute episode clicked in the show's finest audience since the season's start, according to preliminary Nielsen data. Read out Glee recap New Girl rose slightly (four percent) in the last original episode on friday (the other day it absolutely was pre-empted with the Condition in the Union address) Raising Hope declined six percent. And after two several days away, Ringer apparently wasn't missed much. It released a rating inside the 18-49 demo that matched up up the identical series low as its last original episode, and dropped some twelve percent in general viewership. See the relaxation in the day's news on TVGuide.com 8 p.m.CBS: NCIS 12.90 million audiences (2. demo rating)ABC: Last Guy Standing 5.61 million (2.4) Last Guy Standing [rerun] 5.71 million (2.)Fox: Glee 9.02 million (3.6)NBC: The Finest Loser 6.66 million (2.1) CW: 90210 1.43 million (.7) 9 p.m.CBS: NCIS: La [rerun] 11.tens of millions of audiences (1.7 demo rating)ABC: Celebrity Wife Swap 5.56 million (1.9)Fox: New Girl [rerun] 7.24 million (3.5) Raising Hope 4.69 million (2.1)CW: Ringer 1.38 million (.6) 10 p.m.CBS: Memorable [rerun] 7.85 million audiences (1.4 demo rating)ABC: Body of Proof [rerun] 5.42 million (1.1)NBC: Motherhood [rerun] 2.38 million (.7)