NEWSMAKERS

NEWSMAKERS

NBC’S ‘Parks and Recreation’ says farewell

NEW YORK

Viewers said farewell to Amy Poehler and the gang of Pawnee, Ind., bureaucrats on NBC’s “Parks and Recreation,” in a finale that made more of a dent online than on television.

The Nielsen company said an estimated 4.15 million people saw the show exit Tuesday after seven seasons on the air. Though it was the show’s biggest audience in two years, it ranked only No. 58 among all the prime-time broadcast shows last week, reflecting its status as more of a cult than broad-based favorite.

However, the finale generated more tweets than any other program on television, including AMC’s popular “The Walking Dead,” which had more than triple the viewers, Twitter said.

For the week of Feb. 23-March 1, the top 10 shows, their networks and viewerships were: “NCIS,” CBS, 17.38 million; “The Big Bang Theory,” CBS, 16.67 million; “The Walking Dead,” AMC, 14.43 million; “The Voice” (Tuesday), NBC, 14.06 million; “The Voice” (Monday), NBC, 13.97 million; “Empire,” Fox, 13.9 million; “NCIS: New Orleans,” CBS, 13.71 million; “60 Minutes,” CBS, 13.55 million; “Madam Secretary,” CBS, 11.65 million; “The Odd Couple,” CBS, 11.08 million.

Campbell children fighting wife’s control

NASHVILLE, TENN.

Singer Glen Campbell’s two oldest children are attempting to wrest control of his medical and financial decisions from his wife, Kim Campbell.

Debby Campbell-Cloyd and Travis Campbell say Kim Campbell is keeping their father “secluded from the rest of the family” which has been “prohibited from participating in his care and/or treatment,” according to a petition filed in a Nashville court in January.

The petition asks a judge to appoint conservators and a guardian to protect Glen Campbell’s interest. It was filed under seal, but a copy was sent to The Associated Press.

The Country Music Hall of Fame member is in the late stages of Alzheimer’s and living at a long-term care facility.

Pharrell to jury: I did not copy Gaye in ‘Lines’

LOS ANGELES

Grammy-winning singer Pharrell Williams says he wasn’t trying to copy the late Marvin Gaye’s music for the hit song “Blurred Lines,” but he was trying to evoke the feeling of late-1970s tunes.

Williams is being sued by Gaye’s children, who claim “Blurred Lines” improperly copies their father’s hit “Got to Give it Up.” Singer Robin Thicke and rapper T.I. also are defendants in the case. On Wednesday, Williams told a jury in federal court in Los Angeles that he grew up listening to Gaye’s music. But the singer-producer said he didn’t try to copy it directly for his collaboration with Thicke and T.I.

Associated Press