Final Upfronts Wrap-Up: Priyanka Chopra, Mariah Carey, James Corden and Nicki Minaj Take Over New York

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Another week in New York for the annual network upfronts -- when the big dogs pimp their new TV wares to advertisers -- ended over a week ago. And as I wrote for Indiewire, the big story of the year was broadcast networks acting, well, like broadcast networks again.

It feels like a rather antiquated practice, yet the broadcast networks still pull in around $9 billion annually -- so it's still a pretty big deal. We don't obsess about the schedules quite as much as we used to, but it's still a fun part of the pomp and circumstance. The networks still put on a show for advertisers -- including Adult Swim's annual late-night Wednesday event, which this year featured Nicki Minaj (above). More highlights from the week:


James Corden does a "Hamilton" parody at the CBS upfront.


Priyanka Chopra opens the ABC upfront.


CBS gives us a sneak peek of the new "Star Trek" series' logo.


Fitz and the Tantrums performs at The CW upfront.


Mariah Carey makes a grand entrance at the NBC upfront.


Kiefer Sutherland introduces his new series "Designated Survivor" at the ABC upfront.


ABC Entertainment president Channing Dungey introduces Jimmy Kimmel.


Fox jabs at CBS, notes that "Gotham's" new villain was "Lex Moonves."


NBC Universal stars at the upfront pose behind Kate McKinnon (as Ellen DeGeneres), parodying Ellen's Oscar selfie.


At the Fox upfront, Homer Simpson reminds us that "The Simpsons" will hit an astounding 600 episodes next year.


The "Downward Dog" looms over ABC stars.


"Hamilton" was hot this upfront. Jimmy Fallon did his own parody as well.


Rachel Bloom and Gina Rodriguez on stage at the CW upfront.


Stephen Colbert at Carnegie Hall for CBS' upfront.


The cast of "Empire" performs at Fox's upfront.


The cast of "The Big Bang Theory" offer up "Star Trek" suggestions to new CBS Entertainment president Glenn Geller.


"Supergirl" star Melissa Benoist hits The CW stage with stars of "Arrow," "The Flash" and "DC's Legends of Tomorrow."

KDOC-TV's New Years Eve Jamie Kennedy Catastrophe

You remember the Chevy Chase talk show? Magic Johnson's late night mess? All child's play compared to what may go down as one of the biggest broadcast fails in recent Los Angeles TV history. On New Year's Eve, scrappy independent KDOC-TV (Channel 56) aired a live broadcast that thankfully (for them) aired in the FCC "safe harbor" zone, where stations can't be fined for obscenities.

It was a mess. And the man responsible for the disaster, host and producer Jamie Kennedy, should probably keep it off his resume. I missed this travesty when it aired live, but thankfully a guy named Shaun Broyls (check out his Twitter here) taped it and uploaded it to YouTube. And comedian Patton Oswalt is spreading the word via his own popular Twitter feed. This thing is going viral.

Watch the video above. But here's a synopsis from Shaun:

On 12/31/2012, KDOC in LA aired a LIVE (NO DELAY) New Year's Eve show. ALL of the F-bombs, audio and video glitches, awkward pauses and drunk teleprompter mimics are 100% how the show aired. No tape doctoring necessary. Enjoy what probably is the last time KDOC will ever do anything live ever again. OH, and the best part...the info said "Featuring Mario Lopez, Eva Longoria, Joey Lawrence and Jennifer Love Hewitt". NONE of them showed up and instead they filled 90 minutes with Jamie Kennedy, a clearly high Macy Gray, and Bone Thugs N' Harmony who didn't get the memo not to curse. ENJOY.

One more piece of irony: "First Night" is the name of a series of New Year's Eve events across the country that tout themselves as alcohol-free. From the looks of this KDOC special, no one involved in this production was dry.

It seems like a time buy for sponsor Carl's Jr., perhaps engineered by Jamie Kennedy's production company, as the telecast is filled to the brim with advertiser mentions. But KDOC is credited with the show as well. Given the fact that it's live TV, that Kennedy is producing it and he has plenty of hosting experience, I'm amazed that he so cluelessly keeps swearing as he doesn't believe his mic is hot. Oops.

But then again, KDOC aired Wally George's crazy, low-rent talk show for years, so this is par for the course over there. They could very well be high-fiving themselves at "LA 56" today, especially now that this thing is indeed going viral. Below are two ads that KDOC had been running for the New Year's Eve special. I say at this point they embrace the badness. After all, I may have to watch it next year if it returns.

Vin Scully Preps For His 61st Season With the Dodgers

Vin Scully has been calling Dodgers games since BEFORE MY MOM WAS BORN. How crazy and amazing is that? From the Dodgers P.R. team, it's official, Scully is on board for his 61st season:

The Los Angeles Dodgers today announced that Hall of Fame broadcaster Vin Scully will return to the broadcast booth for an unprecedented 61st season in 2010.

"For six decades, Dodger fans have been truly blessed to have Vin Scully on the air and we are honored that he will be back in the booth again next season," said Dodger Owner Frank McCourt. "He has been the one constant over the years and I know that our fans will cherish every game he calls."

Scully, who recently completed his record-setting 60th campaign with the Dodgers, will be honored prior to a game next season at Dodger Stadium. His 60 years of service constitute the longest tenure of any broadcaster in sports history.

"We have had two exciting seasons consecutively -- getting into the second round of the playoffs -- and when you get that close, you look to the next year as perhaps the one that you go all the way," said Scully, who celebrated his 82nd birthday on Sunday. "I'm very excited and optimistic about 2010 and the direction we're heading and we'll take it year-to-year after that."

Earlier this year, Scully was named as the top sportscaster of all time by the American Sportscasters Association, an honor that has been bestowed upon him by several other associations and polls. With accolades far too numerous to detail, Scully's crowning achievement came nearly 30 years ago when he was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1982.

Scully began his baseball broadcasting career in 1950, and since then has gone on to call three perfect games, 19 no-hitters, 25 World Series and 12 All-Star Games. He was also at the microphone for Kirk Gibson’s miraculous Game 1 homer in the 1988 World Series, Hank Aaron's record-setting 715th home run, Barry Bonds' record-breaking 71st, 72nd and 73rd home runs and the scoreless-inning streaks' of Dodger greats Don Drysdale and Orel Hershiser.

When Scully first began broadcasting, the Dodgers had yet to win a single World Series. Gasoline cost 27 cents a gallon, a postage stamp was just three cents and the minimum wage was only 75 cents per hour. Three years later, at the age of 25, he became the youngest person to ever broadcast a World Series game and in 1955, he had his most memorable moment behind the microphone, as he called the Dodgers' first and only championship in Brooklyn.

The following season, Scully once again found himself in the enviable position of calling what he would later say was the greatest individual performance he had seen -- Don Larsen's perfect game in the World Series, a broadcast which made national news again earlier this year when the MLB Network launched on January 1 with the rare footage of that game.

In 2010, Scully will continue to call all Dodger home games and the club's road games against NL West and AL West opponents. While Scully handles all nine innings of the team's television broadcasts, the first three innings of each of his games is simulcast on radio.