In the wake of her marriage’s implosion thanks to a cheating scandal, tabloid darling Tori Spelling (Beverly Hills, 90210) will star in Lifetime‘s Tru Tori. Airing just three weeks after cameras begin filming, the docu-series chronicles Tori and fresh-out-of-rehab husband Dean McDermott’s shaky next steps in (close to) real time. The Studio Lambert and All3Media production premieres Tuesday, April 22 at 10.

Should broadcasters be afraid? Their upcoming Supreme Court case against Aereo is no slam dunk, warned BTIG media analyst Richard Greenfield in his blog on Monday. In the streamer-of-broadcast-signal’s brief last week, "there were some important new points made that significantly increase the odds of an Aereo Supreme Court victory," said Greenfield, pointing out that, for starters, "The 1976 Copyright Act actually states that cable operators should NOT pay copyright fees on content distributed within their local market."

Binge-watchers prefer current season episodes, according to a new survey. And they like chips. The research, conducted by Harris Poll for Comcast, revealed that 55 percent of binge-watchers would rather watch recent shows, 82 percent watch two or more shows in one sitting and 58 percent prefer salty snacks to sweet. The data comes during Comcast’s Watchathon Week, with Xfinity customers getting thousands of free eps on demand. (But will there be Pringles, too?)

Great minds? "Binge Watch Week" is live on ABC – the net has made all episodes of several current series available on all digital platforms, through Sunday, April 6, including Resurrection, Grey’s Anatomy, Nashville, Betrayal, Killer Women, The Neighbors, Once Upon a Time in Wonderland, Trophy Wife and The Taste, at ABC.com, the Watch ABC app and Hulu.com.

The Voice‘s Shakira and Blake Shelton may compete for talent as coaches on their NBC show, but the duo will make beautiful music together on the 49th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards singing "Medicine", their duet on Shakira’s new album. Awards show airs on Sunday, April 6 on CBS.

Twitter queen Nicole Richie (The Simple Life) is returning to her reality TV roots in VH1‘s #CandidlyNicole, a show taking the tone of Richie’s popular posts. (Sample: "I would rather get a colonic in front of everyone, than parallel park in front of anyone.") "Nicole’s sharp, acerbic sense of humor and broad audience appeal make #CandidlyNicole a perfect fit for the VH1 brand," said Susan Levison, VH1’s EVP of original programming & development.Series launches Thursday, July 17.

This should make fans happy: Grammy-winner Pharrell Williams ("Blurred Lines") will coach the seventh installment of NBC singing competition The Voice. Cee Lo Green announced in February he wouldn’t be returning. Season six finale is Tuesday, May 20.

Nielsen announced Monday an expansion of its deal with Integral Ad Science that will now allow viewability measurement within Nielsen Online Campaign Ratings in Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and the U.K. The measurement company teamed with Integral in 2012 for U.S. Online Campaign Ratings.

Production company Larrikin Entertainment has partnered with writer/producer Dan Angel and TV vet Tom Mazza (Sony, Paramount) to form EveryWhere Studios, focusing on family friendly content across multiple platforms.

TVGN ordered reality show The Sorrentinos, centered on Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino (Jersey Shore) and his family. Production on the eight-ep series begins in (where else?) New Jersey this week.

Reality TV experts Endemol acquired production company Artists Studio (The Fall), based in South Wales. "Endemol have the status, scale and reach to help us grow the business outside the U.K.," said Artists creative director Gub Neal, "but equally the creative hubris and sensitivity to allow us to continue our work with U.K. talent in the bespoke manner that defines our brand."

MTV premieres two relationship series on Monday, April 21: The Ex and the Why at 6p features young adults hung up on their exes, and Time’s Up, at 6:30p, looks at "expiration dating," as couples re-evaulate their commitment when circumstances put distance between them.

Color Thursday Paisley on CBS. On April 3, after Kimberly Williams-Paisley plays Alan’s new love interest on Two and a Half Men at 9p, the actress’s country singer husband, Brad Paisley, guests on The Crazy Ones as himself.

PBS series Your Inner Fish traces the evolution of humans back to the earliest forms of animal life on water and land. "PBS viewers love shows that highlight science and history in novel and intriguing ways, but Your Inner Fish takes this idea to a whole new level," said Beth Hoppe, chief programming executive and GM of general audience programming for the net, linking "the mind-boggling connections that can be made between the human form we know today and the quirky and cool species who are our ancient ancestors." Tangled Bank Studios three-parter launches Wednesday, April 9 t 10p.

Nearing its 40th anniversary, music show Austin City Limits announced the launch of the Austin City Limits Hall of Fame. Induction Ceremony will take place Saturday, April 26 at ACL’s original home, KLRU’s Studio 6, honoring inductees including musicians Willie Nelson and Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble, show creator Bill Arhos and longtime University of Texas football coach Darrell K. Royal. ACL airs on PBS.

The final six eps of Syfy‘s Warehouse 13 kick off Monday, April 14 at 9p, with guest star Anthony Head (Buffy the Vampire Slayer). The net promises "an emotionally-charged roller coaster ride."

What can we expect from Destination America‘s hillbilly home security show, debuting Saturday, April 5 at 10p? "Prepper Hillbillies is all about creating low-cost, inventive ways for Americans to protect their most beloved treasures, whether it’s their family, fortune, or irreplaceable stash of homemade beef jerky," said Marc Etkind, GM of DA. "From a ‘human scent’ sprayer to a homemade electric fence – it’s a custom approach to home security."

MTV‘s giving Teen Mom 2 quite a send-off. First comes a 90-minute season finale on Sunday, April 13 at 7p leading into the 2014 MTV Movie Awards. A 60-minute version airs Tuesday, April 15 at 9p, with part one of Teen Mom 2 Finale Special: Check-Up with Dr. Drew airing Tuesday, April 15 at 11p and part 2 airing Tuesday, April 22 at 11p. Sandwiched in between? Teen Mom 2: Unseen Moments on Wednesday, April 16 at 10p.

History‘s six-hour special event series, The World Wars, premieres on three consecutive nights beginning Memorial Day, May 26 at 9p. Later this summer, the three-part series will air on H2 and in more than 160 countries.

Streaming net WWE Network revealed its lineup for annual extravaganza, WrestleMania Week, starting with the WWE Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony Saturday, April 5 at 9p, and including a two-hour preshow on Sunday, April 6 at 5p.

Sony Movie Channel‘s Heroes and Villains: The Amazing World of Spider-Man airs Friday, April 25 at 7:40p, with numerous repeat viewings. Blockbuster-to-be release date: Friday, May 2. Also on tap at the net is the TV premiere of London Boulevard on Friday, April 18 at 10p.

Outdoor Channel unveiled its spring slate, including a new series, NRA Gun Gurus presented by Henry, airing Wednesdays at 7p, and programming blocks "Prime Bowhunting Monday with G5," "Mossy Oak Tuesday Night Pursuits," "MidwayUSA’s Wednesday Night at the Range," "Primos Thursday Night Calls of the Hunt" and "DICK’s Sporting Goods Friday Night at the Lodge." Weekend programming blocks include: "Chevy Silverado Saturdays" and "Bass Pro Shops Big Sporting Saturdays," in addition to "Bushnell Sunday at First Light" and "Wildgame Innovations Sunday Night on the Hunt."

GetTV, a digital movie net launched by Sony Pictures Television Networks in February, airs the television premiere of late 1940s passion play The Prince of Peace on Monday, April 14 at 8:30p. In April, the net honors William Holden by airing the matinee idol’s movies every Thursday at 7p.
 

Comedy Bang! Bang! starts its 20-ep third season on Thursday, May 8 at 10:30p, right after the season two premiere of Maron. The first ten episodes air through July 10, with the rest launching October 16.

Spike TV renewed Ink Masters for season five. Season four is averaging 1.7 million viewers, improving the A18-49 demo in its time slot by 81 percent, and A18-34 by 115 percent. The new season increases to 16 eps.

As Great American Country‘s Kimberly’s Simply Southern, produced by Al Roker Entertainment, heads for its season three premiere on Monday, April 7 at 4p, Cynopsis asked Al Roker what it is about Grammy winner Kimberly Schlapman that appeals to chefs at home. "What viewers see is the real Kimberly," Roker says. "Her passions include spending time with friends and cooking and given the opportunity to blend them – which is why the show has been a natural success."

CBS and United Airlines have teamed for a "Friends with Better Seats" campaign, tied to the net’s new comedy Friends with Better Lives. Certain passengers on select flights from JFK to LAX will be upgraded to Business-First Class, and all of the flight’s passengers will receive branded earphones. Show takes its regular spot on the lineup Monday, April 7 at 8:30p.

Live with Kelly & Michael is teaming with health club franchise Planet Fitness for "Live’s Fit Spot," a nutrition and exercise-themed hub that launched with "LIVE’s Workout Selfie Contest" on Monday. Now through April 9, viewers can submit photos of themselves working out, with finalists winning $200 and a Planet Fitness membership. Grand prize winner goes to Canyon Ranch.

Sportsman Channel has expanded its partnership with firearms retailer Bravo Company for the net’s "Salute to Service" initiative, through 2014. The partnership incorporates advertising on Memorial Day, July 4 and Veterans Day.

"We’re offering new flexible pricing models and demo guarantees," CRO Jim Tricarico tells Cynopis. "We lowered our pricing to be more competitive with network and cable primetime. We also provide third party verification through Nielsen, seasonal pricing, and show-parted our advertising; the spot closest to the first trailer is premium time, and then it continues to prime, fringe and local."

Since implementing their new strategy, Screenvision has signed 50 new advertisers. Interestingly, "Broadcast and cable TV  including FX and MTV – are our single biggest category of advertiser," says CEO Travis Reid. "And Netflix is a new advertiser. We’re also working with Twitter through ENTV to provide social extensions with our partners, so it lives past the theater." Screenvision’s upfronts continue on April 3rd with events in Chicago, Los Angeles and Detroit.

ITV Studios Global Entertainment inked an international format deal for The Chase in Turkey, where Kanal D will air the game show this spring. This brings the total number of territories where the show has been produced to seven.

Diane Farr (Numb8rs) will guest on season six of USA‘s Royal Pains, returning this summer.

Singer-songwriter Alison Sudol has been cast in USA event series Dig as an American intern working on a dig site in Jerusalem. Sudol joins Jason Isaacs (Awake) and Anne Heche (Save Me). Dig is slated for a late 2014 premiere.

Alanna Masterson, Christian Serratos and Andrew J. West, whose first episode was the season four finale, will rejoin AMC‘s The Walking Dead in season five as regulars.

Sunday’s season four finale of AMC’s The Walking Dead delivering a finale record 15.7 million viewers and 10.2 million A18-49, according to Nielsen estimates, with aftershow Talking Dead scoring a series record 7.3 million viewers and 4.7 million A18-49. The season three finale of the net’s Comic Book Men at midnight was watched by 1.1 million viewers and 715,000 A18-49. Said Charlie Collier, AMC prez, "The linear television business is Dead and well."

VH1 primetime ratings jumped 33 percent among A18-49 in Q1 2014 year-over-year, averaging .4 in the demo from December 30, 2013 – March 26, 2014. In total viewer impressions, the net averaged 637,000 in primetime, up 23 percent over the first quarter of 2013. On Monday nights for Q1, VH1 ranked as the top non-sports cable network among W18-49 and W18-34.

Telepictures named Donna Redier Linsk Executive Vice President, Business Operations and Programming. Redier Linsk had been Chief Operating Officer at FremantleMedia North America.

Michael K. Lyons has joined InterMedia Advertising as Vice President, Media Director. Most recently, Lyons had been Senior Director of Direct Response at ESPN. 

Pilgrim Studios is expanding its development team. Kelly Garner has been hired as Vice President, Development and Original Programming; Brent Jacoby is Senior Director of Development; Paige Mueller was named Senior Manager of Development and Lauren Pfeiffer is Senior Director of Scripted Programming.

Roberta Caploe: Editorial Director @robertacaploe
Diane K Schwartz: Senior Vice President, Media Communications Group 

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