newsmakers

newsmakers

NBC lures viewers with music, football

NEW YORK

Singing and hard-hitting football is the formula for success for NBC, at least for one week.

The network’s success with its live remake of “The Sound of Music” starring Carrie Underwood, which drew more than 18 million viewers last week, stunned even the most optimistic network executives. The showing already has them talking publicly about remaking more musicals in the future.

The telecast led NBC to a strong week in the Nielsen company’s weekly ratings race, but the Von Trapp family had some help. Two episodes of “The Voice” landed in Nielsen’s top 10 last week, and the annual show surrounding the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree lighting was the week’s most popular holiday-oriented show.

Then there’s the football: NBC’s Sunday night game between Carolina and New Orleans, with more than 19 million viewers, was the most-watched program all week.

“The Blacklist” was second only to CBS’ “NCIS” as the week’s most-watched drama and won that distinction among the youthful viewers that NBC courts.

NBC averaged 10.6 million viewers in prime time for its triumphant week. CBS had 7.9 million, Fox had 7.2 million, ABC had 5.9 million, Univision had 2.8 million, the CW had 1.8 million; ION Television had 1.4 million and Telemundo had 1.3 million.

For the week of Dec. 2-8, the top 10 shows, their networks and viewerships: NFL Football: Carolina at New Orleans, NBC, 19.07 million; “Sound of Music Live!” NBC, 18.62 million; “The Big Bang Theory,” CBS, 15.63 million; NFL Football: New Orleans at Seattle, ESPN, 15.5 million; “Sunday Night NFL Pre-Kick,” NBC, 15.22 million; “The OT,” Fox, 14.61 million; NCAA Football: Ohio St. vs. Michigan St., Fox, 13.9 million; “NCIS,” CBS, 12.59 million; “The Voice” (Tuesday), NBC, 12.14 million; “The Voice” (Monday), NBC, 12.03 million.

Jazz guitar master Jim Hall dies at 83

NEW YORK

Jim Hall, one of the leading jazz guitarists of the modern era whose subtle, mellow style of playing strongly influenced younger proteges such as Pat Metheny and Bill Frisell, has died at age 83.

His wife of 48 years, Jane Hall, says he died early Tuesday in his sleep at his Manhattan apartment after a short illness.

Hall in 2004 became the first of the modern jazz guitarists to be named a National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master, the nation’s highest jazz honor.

Hall was known for his duo and small-group recordings with some of the greatest names in jazz during the past 60 years, including saxophonists Sonny Rollins, Ornette Coleman and Paul Desmond, pianists Bill Evans and Jimmy Giuffre and bassist Ron Carter.

Pink: Give husband some credit for song

NEW YORK

Though she’s excited her ballad “Just Give Me a Reason” is nominated for the song of the year Grammy, Pink says she believes her husband deserves some credit for its success.

The track, which topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart for three weeks, is about holding on to a troubled relationship.

“It means everything because it’s a conversation between lovers fighting the good fight, and that’s been our life,” Pink said in an interview Tuesday, standing next to her motorcycle racer husband, Carey Hart. “Our family is everything to us.”

The 34-year-old often details their rocky relationship in her music.

“At the end of the day, I crawl onto his lap and complain, so if someone wants to award me for that, they should give him the award,” she said.

Associated Press