‘Designated Survivor,’ ‘Bull’ show promise

‘Designated Survivor,’ ‘Bull’ show promise

NEW YORK

Nielsen’s first “most likely to succeed” list is out, and it includes Michael Weatherley, Mandy Moore, Kiefer Sutherland and Kevin James.

They are among the stars in new series that performed well during the first week of the new TV season, the Nielsen company said. The best performer was “Bull,” CBS’ series starring Weatherley as a trial consultant in a story loosely based on Dr. Phil McGraw’s life. Its audience of 15.6 million made it the most-watched debut of the week.

Moore is in the ensemble cast of NBC’s “This is Us,” and James in the CBS comedy “Kevin Can Wait,” which both finished among Nielsen’s Top 25 for their debuts.

ABC’s “Designated Survivor” had an audience of more than 10 million – a positive sign that many viewers specifically sought it out.

For the week of Sept. 19-25, the top 10 shows, their networks and viewerships: NFL Football: Chicago at Dallas, NBC, 20.62 million; NFL Football: Houston at New England, CBS, 17.55 million; “NCIS,” CBS, 16 million; “The Big Bang Theory,” CBS, 15.82 million; “Bull,” CBS, 15.57 million; “NFL Pregame,” NBC, 15.41 million; “60 Minutes,” CBS, 14.36 million; “The Voice” (Tuesday), NBC, 12.29 million; NFL Football: Philadelphia at Chicago, ESPN, 12.14 million; “The Voice” (Monday), NBC, 12.1 million.

Agnes Nixon, creator of ‘AMC,’ ‘OLTL,’ dies at 93

LOS ANGELES

Agnes Nixon, the creative force behind the popular TV soap operas “One Life to Live” and “All My Children,” has died.

ABC said that her son and daughter-in-law, Bob and Sarah Nixon, confirmed her death. She died Wednesday in Haverford, Pa., at age 93, according to the McConaghy Funeral Home.

Nixon created, wrote and produced the long-running ABC daytime serials.

Filmmaker Moore says theater won’t allow show

COLUMBUS

Documentary filmmaker Michael Moore says he’s not allowed to perform a one-man show about the presidential race at a central Ohio theater because officials there consider him too controversial.

Moore says in a Face-book post that Newark’s Midland Theatre “banned” him from presenting and filming the show there next month. He says the community board overseeing the theater recently voted not to allow the show.

The Columbus Dispatch reports that Midland operators say Moore wasn’t banned and that the decision not to finalize the contract was based on several factors. Those included a too-short time frame and questions about what the production involved.

Moore says he will go ahead with his plans for the show at an undisclosed site in southern Ohio in October.

Pitt skips premiere

LOS ANGELES

Brad Pitt is skipping his first public appearance after last week’s split with Angelina Jolie Pitt. He canceled plans to attend the premiere of Terrence Malick’s new documentary Wednesday night as scheduled.

Pitt, who narrates “Voyage of Time,” said in a statement Wednesday that he’s grateful to have been part of the project, but is “currently focused on my family situation and don’t want to distract attention away from this extraordinary film.”

Pitt has yet to file a response in the divorce case.

Associated Press