News Round-up: DVR Ratings, Oman, UPSTAIRS, Owen

UPSTAIRS, DOWNSTAIRS being remade
Filming on a new version of the 1970s PBS series begins in Britian sometime next year but won't hit US TV until 2011, according to reports over the weekend. The original series featured B&B's Lesley Anne Down.

Owen's EASTENDERS return seen by 9.2 million
Last night's edition of EastEnders, in which Owen returned to Albert Square, drew 9.15 million (38.4%) for BBC One at 8pm, overnight viewing figures show. ITV1's double bill of Coronation Street, during which Tyrone confided in Kevin his fears that Molly is having an affair, pulled in 9.25 million (40.7%) and 9.29 million (37.8%).

Audiences dive into the DVR: Top TV dramas draw the most playback
The rich got richer in DVR playback numbers released Monday, which paint a picture of auds watching more programs on their own timetables. Top dramas like GREY'S ANATOMY and HOUSE exhibited the biggest growth in premiere-week Nielsens that include all same-week DVR playback, but laffers like THE BIG BANG THEORY and THE OFFICE also shot up. And overall, the networks saw a noticeable rise in same-week playback vs. the kickoff frame last year.

Among new shows, the biggest gains in premiere week came from ABC's FLASHFORWARD (0.9 ratings point) and Fox's GLEE (0.8 gain for its third episode).

News Corp., Liberty interested in NBC Universal
Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. and John Malone's Liberty Media are interested in NBC Universal, according to a report by CNBC, citing sources. Cable company Comcast has been widely reported to be in talks with NBC Universal parent General Electric to buy a controlling stake in the broadcast, cable and movie company. Under the proposed deal, NBC Universal would become a joint venture 51% owned by Comcast and 49% by GE.

Down syndrome does not hold back life dream
Michael Oman will fulfill a dream when he sits down to sign copies of his biography on Wednesday. Oman, a 46-year old Lubbock resident with Down syndrome, will host a book signing for his self-published biography "I Love My Life!" at St. Luke's United Methodist Church.

Oman has many passions. He loves country music has seen more than 100 country artists in concert, meeting several of them and getting many autographs over the years. Oman also likes wrestling and soap operas - ONE LIFE TO LIVE is his favorite soap much to his mother's chagrin - and is a voracious reader of magazines that cover the same.

Wesley Eure (ex-Mike Horton, DAYS OF OUR LIVES) on being a closeted gay man in the 1970s
"It was a horrible time in Hollywood, being gay. It was horrible," Eure told the Web site. "I was on the cover of Tiger Beat and all those a lot, and they'd do those 'Win a Date With Wesley' and 'Who's Wesley Dating?' It was so disingenuous."

Still hard to believe LET'S MAKE A DEAL replaced GUIDING LIGHT
From Cincinnati.com: You won't miss Tonya Roewkamp from Deerfield Township on CBS' new "Let's Make A Deal" today. Look for the woman dressed as a big red lobster in a pot, holding the "We Want To Cook Up A Deal" sign.