Almost 8 million watch Nickelodeon's 'iCarly' special event -- and Disney doesn't like it

A war is brewing between Nickelodeon and Disney Channel – and their press departments! -- over who is more popular with young viewers: “iCarly’s” Carly Shay or Hannah Montana?

On Monday morning, Nickelodeon issued a press release celebrating the network’s success with its one-hour “iCarly” special, “iFight Shelby Marx,” which drew 7.9 million viewers Saturday, winning the night in basic cable among kids and overall audiences alike.

The release touted the showing as a series high and noted that in fact “iFight” crushed Disney Channel’s competitive programming (the final installment of the “Wizards of Waverly Place” four-part saga “Wizards & Vampires vs. Zombies,” and a rerun episode of “Hannah Montana”).

But not so fast.

At 3:47 p.m., Disney Channel issued a release of its own. Its release didn’t actually dispute Nickelodeon’s but instead pointed out that, in case you were curious, Disney’s cross-over special “Wizards on Deck with Hannah Montana” still ranks as the No. 1 telecast across all of cable. (Nick is an ad-supported basic cable network, whereas Disney is not.) It was watched by 9.3 million viewers when it premiered in July. At the time, Disney noted that it “towered over” (and those words were bold and underlined) the first night of Nick’s weekend-long 10th anniversary “Spongebob Squarepants” celebration.

Soon after Disney’s missive was fired, Nick noted to Showtracker that “iCarly” still ranks as television’s No. 1 series among kids 2-11 and kids 6-11. That’s across all TV – not just cable. A rep for Nick said: “The Nielsen numbers speak for themselves – and clearly the audience wants more iCarly.” To answer that claim, Disney noted “Hannah” this year leads in tweens, albeit among scripted series on cable.

The growing ratings for “iCarly” has seemed to put Disney’s PR team on red alert in recent months with ratings releases on behalf of "Hannah" and even the lagging "JONAS" flying fast and furious.

A Disney rep did acknowledge that the “Wizards & Vampires” finale was bumped up to Saturday night at the 11th hour to try to pull audiences from “iFight.” It had originally been scheduled to run in the month.

-- Denise Martin

Photo: A scene from "iFight Shelby Marx." Credit: Nickelodeon

Spencer Pratt shows us how it's done

Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag did not attend NBC's summer press day today to promote "I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!" perhaps because they're getting married this weekend.

Or perhaps because former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich's presence threatened to upstage them. And that -- as fans of "The Hills," Perez Hilton's dispatches on them and the entire Speidiverse know -- cannot happen.

So I e-mailed Spencer to ask for an on-the-record comment about "I'm a Celebrity," or anything else he wanted to say.

He responded immediately. "Help me coming up with your dream quote for print and its all yours!!!"

Spencer still cares about print! It's gratifying.

I then asked him a specific question: What's your strategy for winning over America since the public votes?

Spencer e-mailed back adding four new people to the cc list (I've edited for spelling because he was responding on Blackberry): "Team, what's my brilliant response about the American public wanting me to stay in the jungle being tortured by NBC producers with eating live creatures and having to sleep on the jungle floor for as long as possible in one quick soundbyte for the greatest writer/editor in history! My good friend Kate Arthur [Note: It's Aurthur!] who will be attending the Speidi wedding tomorrow."

This is a thoroughly modern wedding invitation if I've ever seen one.

Fifty-two minutes later, one of the cc'd people, from the public relations firm of Cohn & Wolfe, wrote:

"Here is Spencer’s response to your question about 'his strategy for winning over America' in the new show:

'This is nothing new to me; I'm tortured everyday by every entertainment show, tabloid, Web site and blog known to man. To me, it's a vacation in Costa Rica. I just hope America let's me stay long enough to get a tan.'"

I thanked them.

Spencer then wrote back: "Do you think that's good enough? There are so many great angles, help us Kate. I want a legendary first quote about this show!"

Spencer, with a smile on your face, you continue to show us how the machine works in the Celebrity Industrial Complex. We thank you.

-- Kate Aurthur

Photo: Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times

Why we weren't allowed to say goodbye to Nicollette Sheridan

When we at Showtracker learned in February that Wisteria Lane's resident tramp was being killed off the show, and permanently this time, we were not happy. Without Edie Britt on "Desperate Housewives," who would continue putting Susan in her place? (And doesn't Susan so often need to be put in her place?)

In an attempt to say a proper farewell, we arranged to sit-down with actress Nicollette Sheridan.

We wanted the details of why her character was being taken out, and in so violent a fashion (she was choked, involved in a car crash and electrocuted in less than five minutes!), when Edie has been so integral to some of the series' best comedy. We wanted to reminisce about Edie's best moments -- like that string of confessionals: "I seduced the cable guy again," "I'm having an affair with a folk singing duo," "Last week, I let Rabbi Lippman get to third base," "Mike Delfino and I made out today -- and it was great!"

Her personal rep enthused: "We love this idea." Silence followed for weeks. And then it fell through without explanation.

Until now.

Turns out Sheridan ran her mouth off to TV Guide, and her reps were doing preemptive damage control.

In the magazine's latest issue, the actress said in no uncertain terms that "Housewives" had lost its mojo: “When the show started it was such a different beast. It was exciting and dangerous and funny and edgy and bizarre. [Then] it started feeling a little complacent, and that was very frustrating.” Sheridan also complained that Edie never got enough attention from the writers. “When you have a jewel, why not polish it and put it out there for all to see?” she said.

Cherry, of course, had a different take, telling the magazine that Edie had run her course: "Edie's already slept with most of the guys on the street and has caused about as many problems as she could." Then he struck where we're sure it hurt: "We will find a new kind of sexiness coming through Wisteria Lane. What I won’t do is cast another fortysomething sexy blonde. [Sheridan] performed the aging neighborhood tramp better than anyone has ever done before.”

Sheridan's last episode as Edie airs Sunday.

-- Denise Martin

Related:
'Desperate Housewives': Neal McDonough says filming Edie's death was horrible

Photo credit: TVGuideMagazine.com

Why Channel Island is MIA at NBC TV press tour

NBC is doing its PR thing today at the TV press tour in Universal City. So where is your humble Channel Island columnist? Not there, alas.

The network's media-relations department informed me last week that it would not provide me with credentials for this year's sessions. No reason was stated, but none was really necessary. In the past, the PR folk have made it clear that network executives are not happy, not happy at all, with my reporting and commentary on the company. By my count, this is the fourth straight press tour where NBC has declined to extend me an invitation.

In my version of a perfect world, each reporter would be given credentials for big events regardless of what that company's big cheese thinks of his or her work. Without fear or favor — isn't that what the journalism profs say? But my friends, we do not live in such a utopia. Chap someone's butt at the White House, and a scribbler may very well find himself booted off Air Force One. Ruffle Steve Jobs' feathers, and there may be no special sneak peek at the next cool iPhone app for you. People may tell you they like criticism. These people are lying. 

Am I moaning because I couldn't get a ticket to the circus? Um . . . not exactly. It's understandable that execs might not get all kissy-face with a guy who's tossed bombs their way in the past. And as a practical matter, not attending the NBC press tour frees me up to pursue other matters. Like this blog post, for example.

But consider this. Unlike its rivals, NBC doesn't always seem to get that balanced coverage is generally a good thing. Yes, there's criticism, as anyone would expect for a network that's been mired in fourth place for years. But media coverage is wild and woolly these days, and one guy's opinion amounts to just another hair on the warthog's rump. NBC does air some shows that many people like — and that I and many of my colleagues have written about very favorably in the past. Shows such as "30 Rock," "The Office" and "Heroes." Exposing those and other good shows to as many reporters as possible — hollering it from the rooftops, as it were — is the best way of serving those series, their creators and their fans.

And then there's this: NBC has been banning me from its press events for years now. I am still writing about NBC. They are still unhappy!

Message: Present m.o. not operational.

Could there possibly be an application for NBC's programming strategy? Just asking.

— Scott Collins