Will Smith Discourse Fuels 219% Spike in Multiplatform Audience for E!’s Oscars Coverage, Post-Show Viewership Doubles (EXCLUSIVE)

Jennifer Maas TV Business Writer“Bridgerton” Season 2 has broken the record for most-viewed show in a week among Netflix’s English TV series, per the streaming service’s newly released weekly Top 10 list.While “Squid Game” still holds the overall record for most-viewed show on Netflix in general across a 7-day period with 571.76 million hours viewed, the second season of “Bridgerton” racked up 251.74 million hours viewed for the week of March 28-April 3, its first full week on the streaming service.

The Top 24 was revealed on Monday night's episode of American Idol, with host Ryan Seacrest and judges Katy Perry, Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan revealing a new surprise - and an Idol first.After all of the decisions were made, the Top 24 singers were gathered, where Seacrest and the judges revealed that, 'for the first time ever, we are taking our Top 24 to Disney's Aulani Resort, in Ko Alina, Hawaii.The singers were overjoyed but seemed not to fully realize where they were going, when Perry revealed the resort was, 'in Hawaii' as they cheered even more, while it was also revealed that the Top 24 will be joined by surprise mentors Bebe Rexha and Jimmie Allen, in next week's two-night event from Hawaii on Sunday and Monday. Idol first:The Top 24 was revealed on Monday night's episode of American Idol, with host Ryan Seacrest and judges Katy Perry, Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan revealing a new surprise - and an Idol first Resort:The Top 24 was revealed on Monday night's episode of American Idol, with host Ryan Seacrest and judges Katy Perry, Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan revealing a new surprise - and an Idol first Mentors:The singers were overjoyed but seemed not to fully realize where they were going, when Perry revealed the resort was, 'in Hawaii' as they cheered even more, while it was also revealed that the Top 24 will be joined by surprise mentors Bebe Rexha and Jimmie Allen, in next week's two-night event from Hawaii on Sunday and MondayThe end-of-episode tease only showed a few shots of Allen and Rexha from the Hawaiian resort, though Rexha was clearly impressed with the level of talent.'I'm blown away.

Kelly Ripa revealed she finally met Ryan Seacrest‘s girlfriend, model Aubrey Paige Petcosky, 23.

Jennifer Maas TV Business WriterSunday’s in-person Grammy Awards on CBS saw just a 1.4% increase in audience size from last year’s partly virtual ceremony, which was a record-low for music’s biggest night.Hosted by Trevor Noah from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, the two-month-delayed 64th Annual Grammy Awards drew 8.93 million total viewers across multiple platforms, according to time-zone adjusted fast national data from Nielsen. The in-person show, which kicked off with Noah making a reference to Will Smith’s infamous slap of Chris Rock at last weekend’s Oscars, aired live coast to coast on CBS from 8-11:30 p.m.

Live! with Kelly & Ryan, hosted by Kelly Ripa and Ryan Seacrest, is one of the biggest morning shows airing right now!

Kelly Ripa had some tricks up her sleeve on April Fools’ Day.

Jennifer Maas TV Business WriterThis is peak synergy: “Call Me Kat” is crossing over with fellow Fox comedy “Welcome to Flatch” in an upcoming episode of the series that will also feature “The Masked Singer” panelist Robin Thicke, Variety has learned exclusively.Airing April 28 at 9 p.m., the Mayim Bialik-led sitcom will feature characters from its lead-out mockumentary show “Welcome to Flatch,” which debuted March 17 on Fox at 9:30 p.m. and that same day launched half of its first season of Hulu and other digital platforms.

Jennifer Maas TV Business WriterCBS’ Pete Holmes bowling sitcom “How We Roll” entered the broadcast comedy lane on Thursday with an impressive debut audience that landed it the No. 2 slot on the 2021-2022 broadcast season’s list of freshman comedy premieres ranked by viewership.In first place is “How We Roll’s” time slot lead-in, “Ghosts,” a critical darling that has already been renewed at CBS for Season 2.

Jennifer Maas TV Business WriterNetflix shows “Vikings: Valhalla” and “Worst Roommate Ever” both racked up more than 1 billion minutes watched during the week of Feb. 28-March 6, per Nielsen’s newly released Top 10 streaming rankings.

Jennifer Maas TV Business Writer“Promising Young Woman” and “Arrival” production company FilmNation Entertainment and Range Media Partners have set a partnership to co-produce, co-finance, develop and sell a broad-ranging slate of feature films across a variety of genres and budget-sizes, the companies said Thursday.Under the co-production pact, FilmNation Entertainment and Range Media Partners expect to produce four to six films per year, “with the capacity for more as needed.”The deal will offer Range Media’s talent “the platform and tools needed to get their films made via both independent and worldwide buyers, while driving greater ownership in their own projects – both creatively and financially.” In turn, FilmNation “will further expand its production, sales and financing slates as the leading independent studio continues to serve as a global destination for the world’s best storytellers.” FilmNation and Range expect to give the green light to multiple projects “imminently.” Per the two companies, “The combination of FilmNation’s top tier production capabilities and world class distribution platform with Range Media’s access to high-end material and world-renowned talent, underpinned by both companies’ deep financial resources, will bring to market some of the most compelling, highly anticipated film projects available to an array of buyers.”“We at FilmNation are always looking for inventive ways to give the world’s most talented creators an avenue to use our powerful production, sales and finance platform, particularly as a tool to make their creative visions come to life,” FilmNation Entertainment CEO Glen Basner said.

The ladies of “A Black Lady Sketch Show” will be back on the screens in April! On Tuesday, HBO dropped the full trailer for the show’s upcoming third season, which will premiere on April 8.

No need for the “American Idol” judges to take it easy on Danielle Finn.

Jennifer Maas TV Business WriterViewership for Sunday’s Oscars on ABC grew by 511,000 viewers during the 15-minute time span that featured Will Smith slapping Chris Rock, according to Live + Same Day Nielsen data. While the Oscars’ audience dipped from there, it spiked again during Smith’s best actor win and acceptance speech shortly after 11 p.m. ET, this time by 614,000 viewers.The most-watched portion of the entire show was the 15 minutes between 9:15 p.m.

 will be back on the screens in April! On Tuesday, HBO dropped the full trailer for the show's upcoming third season, which will premiere on April 8.The trailer for the Emmy-winning sketch comedy series features the familiar faces of series regulars Robin Thede, Gabrielle Dennis, Ashley Nicole Black and Skye Townsend, in various sketches including «The Funeral Ball» and a disastrous bachelorette party. The video also shows the return of Black's invisible spy, Trinity, and Thede's Dr.

Jennifer Maas TV Business WriterSPOLER ALERT: Do not read if you have not yet watched “Boston,” the March 28 episode of “9-1-1.”“9-1-1” made its long-awaited return from its midseason hiatus last Monday, and this week’s installment included the even longer-awaited return of Jennifer Love Hewitt to the Fox first-responder drama’s Season 5. During the episode, viewers learned where Maddie (Hewitt) has been all this time, and why she wouldn’t come home to Chimney (Kenneth Choi) and their baby girl Jee-Yun.It turns out Maddie tried to die by suicide by drowning herself in the ocean amid her postpartum depression, which had been exacerbated by Jee almost drowning in the bathtub when Maddie dozed off.

Jennifer Maas TV Business WriterOscars viewership rose Sunday when 15.36 million sets of eyeballs tuned into the 94th Academy Awards on ABC. The Regina Hall, Amy Schumer and Wanda Sykes-hosted show was up 56% from last year’s historic low in audience size, per time-zone-adjusted fast-national numbers from Nielsen, and rose 68% in key demo ratings to a 3.2.Looking at last year in the same preliminary fast-national metric, the 2021 ceremony drew 9.85 million viewers and a 1.9 rating among adults 18-49.Final “Live + Same Day” Nielsen data for the 94th Academy Awards, which will show out-of-home viewing and live streaming, will be available Tuesday.

Andrew Garfield is a RuPaul’s Drag Race fan, so obviously, he’s got a “Snatch Game” pick.

Kelly Ripa and Ryan Seacrest took to the air for their After Oscars show bright and early on Monday morning following Sunday's eventful 94th Academy Awards ceremony.MORE: Kelly Ripa shows off gorgeous Oscars gowns alongside Mark ConsuelosWhile addressing the big moments of the night on Live with Kelly and Ryan, the two couldn't skirt around talking about the big one, that being Will Smith shockingly attacking Chris Rock.VIDEO: Kelly Ripa is full of emotion as she details 'brutally painful' moment involving her son"I'm sure you join us in acknowledging there was tons of confusion, certainly on this studio floor," Kelly started. "If you were watching at home, the moment that everybody was talking about…" she said, to which Ryan added: "It changed the mood, Chris Rock and Will Smith."MORE: Kelly Ripa's son looks thoroughly unimpressed in amazing throwback photo"We thought it was a scripted moment!" Kelly explained, after which Ryan also detailed: "We thought initially it was choreographed. "And then when the audio went out for so long, we could tell that this was not meant to happen. We're not sure what will happen and it created a lot of social media talk. A post shared by LIVE with Kelly and Ryan (@livekellyandryan)Kelly and Ryan addressed the uncomfortable moment during their After Oscars show"And we're not sure where the fallout will end up.

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The Academy Awards red carpet kicked off early on Sunday afternoon at the Dolby Theater in Hollywood.And the stars arrived in their most glamorous looks as they descended upon the red carpet for Hollywood's biggest night.Lily James bloomed in a lacy pink floral gown while Vanessa Hudgens wowed in a cut-out sequin black Michael Kors dress as they led the fashion pack. Wow:The Academy Awards red carpet kicked off early on Sunday afternoon at the Dolby Theater in Hollywood.

The Academy Awards red carpet kicked off early on Sunday afternoon at the Dolby Theater in Hollywood with hosts Amy Schumer, Wanda Sykes and Regina King.It looked as if the stars were making up for lost time by dressing in their very most glamorous styles as last year the ceremony was severely pared down due to the COVID-19 pandemic which relocated the show to Union Station in downtown Los Angeles.The women wore spectacularly elegant gowns as they dripped in diamonds while the men kicked up their suit game by straying from the standard black tuxedo.Vanessa Hudgens, Laverne Cox, Jamie Lee Curtis and Sofia Carson all opted with black gowns for the splashiest night of the year. Basic but beautiful:The Academy Awards red carpet kicked off early on Sunday afternoon at the Dolby Theater in Hollywood with hosts Amy Schumer, Wanda Sykes and Regina King.