Quick Takes - Feb. 11, 2010

‘Idol’ fans greet Ellen

The Ellen DeGeneres era of “American Idol” got off to a solid start Tuesday night for Fox, with almost 28 million viewers tuning in to watch her pass judgment on wannabe superstars.

For “American Idol,” the 27.7 million viewers constituted its second largest audience this season. Last month’s season premiere drew 29.9 million viewers.

The strong numbers for “American Idol” at 8 p.m. didn’t do much for “Past Life,” Fox’s new drama. About two-thirds of the “American Idol” audience disappeared at 9 p.m. and, worse, the new show lost more than 30% of its audience in its second half-hour.

There was no big tune-in for Jay Leno’s final prime-time show on NBC at 10 p.m. It finished third in its time slot with 5.9 million viewers.

-- Joe Flint MOCA reports acquired works

The Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles spent much of 2009 getting its financial house in order after coming perilously close to collapse due to budgetary mismanagement. But the museum’s near-death experience apparently didn’t stop it from adding major works of art to its permanent collection.

MOCA said Wednesday that in 2009 it acquired more than 50 “significant” artworks in a range of media, including paintings, sculptures, video, multimedia installations, drawings and photographs. It said the works were added to its collection through gifts and purchases.

Among the major acquisitions were Bruce Nauman’s “Setting a Good Corner (Allegory & Metaphor),” a 1999 video work that came from Alan S. Hergott and Curt Shepard; Jennifer Pastor’s “Christmas Flood” (1994), a sculpture from Eileen and Michael Cohen; and Mike Kelley’s drawing “Untitled (From a Little Girl’s Room)” (1980), which was one of three gifts from Kourosh Larizadeh and Luis Pardo.

-- David Ng An Anne Rice video vampire

Anne Rice is giving the video book a try.

The author of “Interview With a Vampire,” “The Vampire Lestat” and many other favorites has agreed to terms with the video book company Vook on a multimedia edition of “The Master of Rampling Gate,” a vampire story published in Redbook magazine in 1984 and set in an England mansion in the 19th century.

Video books integrate text, video and social networking. The Rice product, which includes an author interview, will be released March 1 and can be purchased through the iPhone, iPod Touch and other digital devices.

-- associated press Celine Dion has new Vegas deal

Celine Dion is returning to the Las Vegas Strip next year to begin a three-year run at Caesars Palace.

The Grammy-winning singer announced Wednesday she’ll return to the Colosseum, home of her previous show, “A New Day.” It grossed more than $400 million and was seen by nearly 3 million fans over five years before closing in December 2007.

The new show begins March 15, 2011. Tickets go on sale Friday.

Dion says the new show will feature songs including classics and fan favorites, with a concept incorporating the romance of classic movies.

-- associated press Consumer sues Jillian Michaels

Jillian Michaels has been sued for alleged false advertising by a woman who claims she was duped into buying a diet supplement endorsed by the celebrity trainer, who is one of the stars of NBC’s “The Biggest Loser.”

Christie Christensen of Lake Elsinore is seeking class-action status for the case she filed in L.A. on Tuesday. She claims she bought a product called “Jillian Michaels Maximum Strength Calorie Control” last month and that it has failed to lessen her appetite or cause her to lose weight as advertised.

Christensen is also suing Utah-based Basic Research, which manufactures and markets several diet and weight loss products endorsed by Michaels.

Michaels’ publicist did not immediately return a phone message seeking comment Wednesday.

-- associated press ‘Chopper’ is ending its ride

“American Chopper” is riding off into the sunset.

The popular TLC series based on the feuding Teutul family and their custom-built motorcycle business is going off the air after six seasons. The Learning Channel said Wednesday that the final episode will air Thursday.

The end isn’t a surprise. Paul Teutul and his son, Paul Jr., have frequently fought on the air. The son recently left the New York-based Orange County Choppers to start his own business, and the two are in a court dispute over money.

-- associated press