LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - Lindsay Lohan's Elizabeth Taylor has her Richard Burton: "True Blood" and "Ugly Betty" actor Grant Bowler has signed on to "Liz & Dick," Lifetime's movie about the couple's tempestuous relationship. New Zealand native Bowler is best known to TV viewers as werewolf Cooter on "True Blood," as well …

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The "American Idol" finale brought in the lowest TV audience of its 11-year history with just 21.5 million Americans tuning in to watch indie singer Phillip Phillips clinch the title, according to ratings data on Thursday. The singing contest, once a TV industry juggernaut for Fox which attracted …

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Kevin Costner is back in the saddle, brandishing a gun and sporting a grizzled beard. It's nine years since "Open Range", his last Western movie, and Costner relished the chance to get back on a horse for work rather than riding for pleasure on his Colorado ranch. "It's so much fun to dress up and …

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Broadcast network NBC rose out of the ratings basement for the first time in eight years to claim third place among 18- to 49-year-olds - the age group prized by advertisers, according to ratings data released on Thursday. ABC slipped to fourth in the category but maintained its third-place standing …

NEW YORK (TheWrap.com) - After years of outrageous and sometimes inflammatory public statements, Tracy Morgan was somber and reserved during an appearance on "Conan" Tuesday. Just kidding. The "30 Rock" star said President Obama was a "gangbanger" and should celebrate Osama bin Laden's death with a gangster-style teardrop …

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - NBCUniversal on Wednesday unveiled plans to air more than 5,500 hours of coverage of the upcoming London Olympic Games online and across its various television networks, including more than 270 hours on flagship broadcaster NBC. The NBCUniversal media wing of Comcast Corp said it will cover all 32 …

LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - Alan Ball's successor as "True Blood"'s showrunner has been chosen. Mark Hudis, a co-executive producer on HBO's vampy hit, will take the reins from show creator Ball should the series be picked up for a sixth season. The elevation to showrunner comes as part of a two-year overall deal that Hudis …

LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - Ever get the urge to watch "Game of Thrones" star Peter Dinklage cross-dress? First, perhaps you should re-examine your priorities. Second, you'll soon have your chance! Dinklage will co-star in an all-male production of Moliere's "The Imaginary Invalid" at Bard College's 2012 Bard SummerScape …

LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - Jim Parsons has skipped the "I'M GAY!" magazine cover approach to coming out: Far down in a New York Times profile Wednesday was the subtle mention that the two-time Emmy winner has been in a same-sex relationship for a decade. The blink-and-you'll miss it aside appeared in a story about Parsons' …

NEW YORK (TheWrap.com) - Fandango and Moviefone have struck a partnership to make Fandango the exclusive ticketing partner for AOL's movie-focused site. Moviefone customers will be able to make ticket purchases online via computer, mobile devices and tablets using Fandango's network of 20,000 screens - the largest in the …

(Reuters) - A legal battle erupted between DISH Network and some of the major broadcast networks Thursday as the two sides traded lawsuits over the satellite distribution company's "Hopper" DVR, which threatens to bring down the television business model by allowing viewers to skip over commercials entirely. Dish Network …

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Green Bay Packers football star Donald Driver won the 14th season of 'Dancing With the Stars' on Tuesday, Cha-cha-cha-ing to victory on the strength of perfect scores from the show's judges and voting support from fervid fans. An ecstatic Driver leapt for joy, then rolled around on the dance floor seemingly …

LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - Showtime is hoping to drum up enthusiasm among Emmy voters for "Dexter," "Homeland," "Shameless" and its other series with its "Best in Sho" campaign, which will offer free previews in June. "Best in Sho" will offer marathons of the above shows, plus "House of Lies," "Nurse Jackie," "The Big …

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - CBS on Tuesday declared victory in the 2011-12 television season, saying it was the most-watched U.S. network for the 9th year thanks to hits like crime drama "NCIS" and the nation's top comedy "The Big Bang Theory". Although three nights remain of the current TV season, CBS said it would win first …

LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - The "Seinfeld" curse that has supposedly prevented the classic sitcom's cast from experiencing post-"Seinfeld" success? Jerry Seinfeld himself told "Watch What Happens Live" host Andy Cohen on Monday's show that it doesn't exist. "Let me tell you this about the 'Seinfeld' curse … I like anything …

LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - "Completely changed characters," an "ominous, dark and gloomy" vibe and, of course, the much-awaited arrival of The Governor are a few things we can look forward to in the third season of "The Walking Dead," the show's cast and crew promise in a new production video. "There are samurai-wielding …

LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - Michael McKean was hospitalized in New York on Tuesday after being struck by a car while walking. While McKean's representative told TheWrap that the 64-year-old actor is "fine," his leg was broken during the incident. The actor, known for playing Leonard "Lenny" Kosnowski on the '70s sitcom …

LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - Gabriel Byrne is in a plundering mood. "In Treatment" actor Byrne has signed on for "Vikings," History Channel's maiden voyage into scripted programming. Byrne will play Earl Haraldson, who surfaces as a challenger to Viking king Ragnar Lothbrok. The series, which will be produced by MGM Studios …

LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - "Dog the Bounty Hunter" has been put to sleep. A&E has cancelled the reality series - which followed Duane "Dog" Chapman and his family-run bounty-hunter business - after eight seasons. No reason was given for the cancellation, but the series has generated its share of controversy and headaches …

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Bristol Palin, among America's most famous young single mothers, returns to the national spotlight next month in a TV reality show spotlighting what producers called her "journey into growing womanhood". Lifetime television said the series, "Bristol Palin: Life's a Tripp" would begin airing on June …

NEW YORK (TheWrap.com) - With a record six primetime shows in primetime next season, Mark Burnett is branching out into scripted television. One Three Media, Burnett's joint venture with Hearst, has named HBO veteran Anne Thomopoulos as the head of its new scripted division. The longtime HBO Originals executive produced …

LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - "Smash" is going through another shakeup. Two of the series' regular cast members, Raza Jaffrey and Jaime Cepero, won't be returning for the NBC show's second season. On the Steven Spielberg-produced musical, which chronicles the backstage machinations behind a play about Marilyn Monroe, Jaffrey …

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Medical drama "House" bowed out on Monday after eight years on television with a funeral, a friendship and multiple devious plot twists. As the curtain fell on one of the most popular TV series in the world, the misanthropic but brilliant diagnostician Dr. Gregory House, played by Hugh Laurie, solved …