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About 31.1 million people in the U.S. watched the Michael Jackson memorial on TV, with millions more catching video streams on their computers.
The Nielsen Media Research estimate Wednesday provided only a slice of the audience for the Los Angeles event, carried live by 18 networks. For perspective, President Obama’s inauguration in January was seen by 38 million people on TV, and the “American Idol” finale in May had 28.9 million viewers.
Nielsen is now estimating Jackson’s worldwide audience, a task that could take weeks.
Nielsen SoundScan says 800,000 copies of Michael Jackson albums were bought in the U.S. last week – nearly double his sales from the previous week. Jackson is claiming the entire Top 10 roster on the Top Catalog Album chart this week. His “Number Ones” collection is the top seller, followed by “Thriller.” Solo albums occupy every position but No. 7, where the Jackson 5’s “Ultimate Collection” album resides.
On Billboard’s Hot Digital Songs chart, Jackson holds five of the top 10 slots, with “Man in the Mirror” leading as his top-selling digital download of the week. Four of his CDs are in the top 10 albums on iTunes, and he has five of the top 10 singles for the week ending Monday.
Robin Williams is bringing his standup act back to HBO.
The cable network says a special of Williams performing in Washington will air in December. The show is part of the actor-comedian’s “Weapons of Self-Destruction” tour.
Williams, 57, has done four solo specials on HBO. The most recent, in 2002, received five Emmy nominations.
Williams co-stars with John Travolta in the upcoming Disney comedy “Old Dogs.”
Maria Shriver’s annual women’s conference has always been an A-list affair, and this year’s event is no different. Cindy McCain, Elizabeth Edwards, Katie Couric, former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and actress Kelly Preston are among the speakers.
But the guest likely to draw the most attention is a newcomer to the media spotlight – reality TV star Kate Gosselin.
California’s first lady says she invited the star of TLC’s “Jon & Kate Plus 8” at the suggestion of her teen daughters, who watch the show. The invitation was sent five months ago – before Gosselin said she and her husband were splitting after 10 years of marriage.
Among celebrity birthdays today: Actor Brian Dennehy is 71. Actor Richard Roundtree is 67. Actor Chris Cooper is 58. Musician John Tesh is 57.Actor Jimmy Smits is 53. Actor Tom Hanks is 53. Actress Kelly McGillis is 52. Singer Courtney Love is 45. Actor Fred Savage is 33.
