Throng

Ramsay to bag million in deal

Celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay will net millions of pounds in a deal which sees his production company One Potato Two Potato, which produces the likes of The F Word and Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares, sold to British production giant All3Media. Under the new conglomerate, Ramsay will look to build his presence in the US and will benefit from bigger distribution and licensing operations.

Kanye welcomed back to MTV Awards

Rapper Kanye West has been invited back to the MTV Video Music Awards despite making a fool of himself at last year’s event. West announced via twitter that he has been in talks with organisers over a performance at the September 12 ceremony.

Gervais returning to The Simpsons

Comedian Ricky Gervais will return to The Simpsons for another appearance in yellow after first guest starring in 2006. Gervais will feature on the same episode as actress Halle Berry.

MTV renews new series

MTV has renewed new comedy series The Hard Times of RJ Berger for a second season. The first season of the show, which follows an American teen whose social life takes a major turn when he discovers he’s unusually well endowed, will hit NZ screens in September this year.

Canadian teen singer Justin Bieber has already taken the music world by storm and now he plans to try his hand at acting.

Bieber will make his acting debut on the upcoming season of CSI, where he will featurein the opening episode.

The singer will play a troubled teen called Jason McCann who “is faced with a terrible decision regarding his only brother –a decision that leads him into an explosive confrontation with the CSIs”.

"Every 20 years, a phenomenon like Justin Bieber graces our world," said executive producers Carol Mendelsohn, Don McGill and Anthony Zuiker in joint statement.

"We'd like to believe that the phenomenon of 'CSI' has had the same impact on popular culture. The opportunity to bring them together in the premiere is a great treat for our audience and all of its new viewers. This will be true event television. We're looking forward to Justin's dramatic star turn, not only in the premiere, but in a continuing seasonal arc."

Lawless to reprise role

Kiwi actress Lucy Lawless will reprise her role in the upcoming sequel series to Spartacus: Blood and Sand. The American swords and sandals series, which films in New Zealand, will shoot a six-part second series with Aussie actor Dustin Clare (Underbelly, Satisfaction) in the lead role.

Outrageous adaptation struggles

The American adaptation of treasured Kiwi drama series Outrageous Fortune is slipping in the ratings during its first season run in the US. Scoundrels, which follows a family similar to the Wests, is struggling in its summer slot and was down a further 13% this week.

Amber Tamblyn joins House

House will gain the services of actress Amber Tamblyn for the upcoming season with news she with joining the series. Tamblyn will feature on the series for a seven episode run as a replacement of sorts for the temporarily departing Olivia Wilde.

Steve Coogan's new comedy

Comedian Steve Coogan will appear in a new comedy series for the BBC called The Trip. Coogan will play a version of himself in the series which will see him and Rob Brydon travel around the North of England reviewing restaurants. Ben Stiller will guest star.

CSI retains series regular

CSI has signed series regular George Eads for another few seasons. The 43-year-old, who plays Nick Stokes, decided to return to the crime procedural despite salary issues.

The Pacific and Glee lead Emmy Awards nominations

The nominees for the 2010 Primetime Emmy Awards have been announced with Glee, Mad Men and The Pacific leading the nominations. The Pacific garnered a whopping 24 nomination with Glee pulling 19 and Mad Men close behind with 17. New sitcom Modern Family received 14 nods.

Brothers & Sisters future uncertain

The future of family drama series Brothers & Sisters is uncertain with rumours suggesting the show may not progress past a fifth season. Several factors are contributing to the speculation including the fact the fifth series order has been reduced and that several key cast members are not returning.

8:30pm - Saturday, July 3 on TV 3

The highly anticipated CSI crossover is finally here! This week sees CSI: Crime Scene Investigation's leading man, Dr Ray Langston (Laurence Fishburne) appearing in CSI: Miami and CSI: New York as well as his own series when the CSI Trilogy Crossover screens on Saturday, July 3rd at 8:30pm on 3.

"He's actually going to be following a case to Miami and up to New York and then ending back in Vegas," says Gary Sinise who plays Detective Mac Taylor in CSI: New York explains to TV Guide Magazine.

"Basically, these young women are killed, and their body parts are kind of strewn across the country," Fishburne explains. "So that's what keeps my character on the move." His co-star Marg Helgenberger (Catherine Willows) adds, "It grabs a person's attention and becomes a really dark story."

Summer Wine runs dry

The Last of the Summer Wine, believed to be the longest running TV sitcom in history, will finally end after 31 seasons. The BBC show has run for 37 years but will end after its 31st season this year says BBC1 controller Jay Hunt. Unfortunately, many of the original cast will not be around to celebrate the show’s send-off, as several have since passed away.

CSI loses Vassey

CSI will lose one of its star lab staff with news that Liz Vassey is leaving the series after her contract was not renewed. Vassey, who plays Wendy on the show, will leave at the end of the current season. In related news, Laurence Fishburne’s CSI contract has been extended through the 2010-11 season.