TCA Notebook

The runaway success of AMC‘s "Mad Men" (Sun, 10pm ET) drew a packed room for the net’s 9am session in L.A. (not an easy feat, considering many critics’ hangovers). And critics unsuccessfully tried to squeeze plot details out of writer/creator Matthew Weiner about Season 2 of the show, which begins July 21. "Trust me," he said. "I will give you the information as you need it." Weiner predicted the show’s ratings will grow as viewers find AMC and its slate of new originals. — Comedy Central‘s extended clip of the "Gong Show" remake (July 17, 10pm) made it clear the series isn’t family viewing. Indeed, host Dave Attell told critics "we drew the line at full penetration." — David Alan Grier quickly scotched speculation that "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart" was the influence for Comedy’s "Chocolate News" (Oct 15, 10:30 pm). It’s more of a spoof on news magazine shows, from the African-American perspective, he says. — CMT has brought back Maureen McCormick, Bobby Brown and Carnie Wilson from Season 1 of "Gone Country" and made them owners of a rural inn in the unscripted "Outsider’s Inn" (Aug 15, 9pm). — Loved TV Land chief Larry Jones introducing George Foreman ("Family Foreman," July 16, 10pm) as a "grillionaire." The series will show the Foreman clan living on their huge ranch. — Bravo did well following Kathy Griffin and her quirky family and assistants, so VH1 will try it with comedian Margaret Cho, 3-foot, 10-inch assistant Selene Luna and her quaint parents ("Cho Show," Aug 21, 11pm). "It was either this or a home for them," Cho jokes. — Exec producer Jamie Foxx told critics that his new show "From Gs to Gents" ( MTV, July 15, 10pm) will be "transformational." Host Fonzworth Bentley says the series will be edited so viewers can take notes. Bentley insists his goal was to make the competition part of the show ($100K is at stake) less important than the lessons about being a gentleman. "It’s a little high brow. That’s a good thing." — HDNet co-founder Mark Cuban told critics that "the independent movie business is broken" and evangelized his efforts to release movies on VOD before their theatrical release. Cuban said the content industry needs to face the multiplatform reality, which he called "complementary" to linear TV and theatrical movies. (For an extended version of our TCA coverage, please visit our new Web site www.cablefaxcontentbusiness.comwww.cablefaxcontentbusiness.com).