64TH PRIMETIME EMMY AWARD NOMINEES ANNOUNCED

The Judges of NBC's The Voice

The 64th Primetime Emmy Award Nominees have been announced and indeed Television has stepped-up its game with field upon field of tough competition in each category. This year we see the return of AMC's Mad Men after a lengthy absence and it is a force to be reckoned with Elisabeth Moss, Jon Hamm, Christina Hendricks and even the underrated Jared Harris being recognized for their superb work. HBO's Comedy, Girls, also is a force to be reckoned with, getting nods for Outstanding Comedy Series and Lead Actress in a Comedy with Lena Dunham. 

ABC's Modern Family once again is well-represented with all four of its male Stars, Ty Burrell, Ed O'Neill, Eric Stonestreet and Jesse Tyler Ferguson all up against each other for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series.

Kristen Wiig stands a v. good chance at winning in the category of Outstanding Supporting Actress for her work on NBC's Saturday Night Live with this past season having been her finale one.

Julianne Moore is up against her The Hours Co-star Nicole Kidman for Outstanding Actress in a Miniseries or TV Movie for her portrayal of Sarah Palin in HBO's Game Change, while the latter is being recognized for her work in HBO's Hemingway & Gellhorn.  Ashley Judd somehow is angled into the same category for her work in Missing which after its cancellation, is now being considered a Miniseries? Girl, please.

Interestingly, NBC's The Voice is nominated in the category of Outstanding Reality Program, while the Godfather in the genre, FOX's American Idol fails to get any recognition from the Academy.  The two programs have had v. public feuds in the Media in the past with Idol's Randy Jackson having called its Foe, "second-rate".

Click here for a full list of Nominees.

(Photo credit: NBC)

BRITNEY SPEARS CLOSE TO SIGNING $15-MILLION "THE X FACTOR" DEAL

Britney Spears & Nicole Scherzinger in Toronto - March 2009

Although we're still waiting on confirmation, Britney Spears is reportedly close to signing a $15 million deal to judge on the second season of FOX's The X Factor according to multiple sources, including Deadline. Having been in major talks to appear on the show since February, it is said that Spears originally was expecting $20 million for the Deal. 

To place this into context, Jennifer Lopez currently is receiving $12 million to judge on American Idol, while Christina Aguilera - whom Spears has been pitted against since the early days of her career - is earning $10 million for her work as Mentor on NBC's The Voice.

With the recent exits of Judges Paula Abdul and Nicole Scherzinger from The X Factor leaving room for new faces, this actually marks the second time that the latter has "opened" for Spears.  Former Pussycat Doll Scherzinger back in 2009 had opened for Spears on her Circus Tour.  Some Girls have all the luck!

(Photo credit: Mr. Will-W.)

MATTHEW MORRISON SIGNS TO ADAM LEVINE'S 222 RECORD LABEL

Matthew Morrison in Toronto - May 2011

Great news, Matthew Morrison Fans.  Those of you who were disappointed by his debut self-titled Disc's results like me, hopefully soon can write that off as a false start.  The Glee Star has just signed-on to Maroon 5 Frontman Adam Levine's new 222 Record Label and a new Disc is due for Spring 2012.  The musical pairing seems perfect as both Levine and Morrison have seen their stock rise due to their Television fame, especially the former in being a Mentor on NBC's The Voice.

The 222 Label also dons the same name as a limited edition Guitar which Levine had designed together with First Act and sold through Target recently, in addition to his own Fashion Line and a Tattoo which he sports with same number.  The name of the first Hollywood studio he ever recorded a Demo was named 222 and since then the auspicious number has stuck with him.

Levine and Morrison are both distributed under the Universal Music Group, so it is expected this new deal also will be handled by the Music Giant.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will-W.)

"THE VOICE" SEES 120% INCREASE OVER PREVIOUS BEST IN SEASON TWO PREMIERE

Official Poster for The Voice

The numbers are in and if you thought NBC's The Voice was a smash the first season, its season Premiere on Super Bowl Sunday saw a 120% increase from its previous biggest measured ratings night, May 31, 2011.  Viewers who tuned-in saw even more of that noted tension between Mentors, Christina Aguilera and Adam Levine with the Diva repeatedly talking over Levine and at one point calling him a "Justin Timberlake Wannabe", which required an apology on her part shortly after.

There were a couple interesting stories during the Blind Auditions, which saw the Mentors listening to Contestants once again with their backs turned including one Contestant, a former Disney Mouseketeer who sang alongside Justin Timberlake, Ryan Gosling, Britney Spears and Aguilera herself, named Tony Lucca.  At first failing to recognize the Singer-Songwriter, Aguilera bolted backstage after cluing-in to his identity, finally running to give him a hug.  "Britney used to have such a crush on you!", she revealed on National Television.

Another Contestant who stood-out is the handsome Chris Mann, who previously has appeared on Glee as a Dalton Academy Warbler.  The Singer, who specializes in Opera, has had various false starts also and his Muse is his Mother, who currently is battling Pancreatic Cancer.

The Voice airs on NBC Monday nights at 8:00 PM EST.

(Photo credit: NBC)

NBC'S "THE VOICE" CLOBBERS "GLEE" IN RATINGS DEBUT

The Judges of NBC's The Voice

In a bit of a Ratings shocker, NBC's singing Reality TV Competition The Voice outperformed FOX's Glee in a special 90-minute episode of the latter last night. The evening marked The Voice's big debut which based on its Star Power with Celebrity Judges Cee Lo, Christina Aguilera, Adam Levine and Blake Shelton, drew a huge crowd with 11.4 million Viewers at 9 PM, and 12.2 million at 10 PM. ABC's Dancing with the Stars was a clear Winner with 12.8 million Viewers at 8 PM and 18 million at 9 PM.

The Voice is unique from FOX's American Idol in that it has its Judges picking talent over looks with the Contestants dueling with each other for a Recording Contract.  On another level, each of the four Judges are also competing against one another also in that they must convince Contestants to work under their wings, with the Judge yielding the best results being victorious.

Glee paid tribute to Lady Gaga last night with its Born this Way-themed episode celebrating its characters hidden imperfections. The Gaga tie-in however wasn't enough to save it as it pulled in 8.4 million Viewers in the 9 PM slot and 8.6 million in the 10 PM slot.

Is Glee Mania starting to wane?  Are the Story Lines running thin? Uh-oh.

(Photo credit: NBC)

MUCHMUSIC TO AIR "THE VOICE" IN CANADA

The Judges of NBC's The Voice (L to R): Cee Lo, Christina Aguilera
Adam Levine, Blake Shelton

Love is blind. Or at least the people behind NBC's The Voice would like us to think that. It was just announced that MuchMusic will be airing the Reality TV Series/Competition when it premieres on Wednesday, April 27, 2011 at 7:00 PM EST.

The Voice will have Singers competing against one another for a grand prize of a $100k Record Contract under Universal Republic, home of Amy Winehouse, Colbie Caillat and Jessie J. Judges come from a wide-spectrum of genres including Christina Aguilera, Maroon 5's Adam Levine, Blake Shelton and Cee Lo.  The Show claims not to be judging its Singers on their looks. 

V. progressive ain't it?  Whomever wins this thing has the Susan Boyles and Paul Potts of the world to thank, them having proven that singing talent with a bit of the X-Factor can sell records.  Count me officially among those excited.

(Photo credit: NBC)