Quick Takes: ABC adds singing contest

Despite an apparent glut of reality singing competitions, ABC is getting into the game with its own series, “Duets.” And it’s bringing along the first “American Idol,” Kelly Clarkson.

The network announced the program on Thursday with an expected debut this summer.

The setup looks to combine the mentoring aspects of “The Voice” with the amateur-plus-pro pairing novelty of ABC’s “Dancing With the Stars.”

In the series, celebrity singers Clarkson, Sugarland’s Jennifer Nettles, Lionel Richie and Robin Thicke will tour the country in search of raw, undiscovered singing talent to bring to L.A. The twist is that the pros don’t sit behind a judges’ table but, rather, pair off with the contestants, singing weekly duets before a studio audience in hopes of being the most popular.

The winner will get a contract with Hollywood Records.

—Patrick Kevin Day

Kathy Griffin gets Bravo show

Kathy Griffin must be getting impatient: Snooki’s pregnant (and engaged), and Angelina Jolie’s leg is still walking around. So Bravo has given the flame-haired comedian’s talk show an April 19 premiere date.

Griffin, already a Bravo staple with numerous comedy specials and her former series “My Life on the D-List,” will join Andy Cohen in the network’s talk-show circuit with “Kathy,” airing 10 p.m. Thursdays.

—Yvonne Villarreal

Jones family thanks fans

A day after Davy Jones was remembered at a small private funeral in Florida, his four daughters released a statement Thursday thanking fans for the response to the performer’s death.

“Our family has been greatly comforted by the support and love of everyone who has reached out to us,” said the statement from Talia Jones, Sarah McFadden, Jessica Cramer and Annabel Jones. “Knowing that so many people around the world were so affected by our dad’s life and music makes us feel connected to you all.”

Jones rocketed to the top of the 1960s music charts along with his bandmates in the Monkees, captivating audiences with hits that included “Daydream Believer” and “I’m a Believer.” He died of a heart attack Feb. 29.

Wednesday’s service was held behind locked doors at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Indiantown, Fla., close to Jones’ home.

—Associated Press

Cameron’s next project: sea dive

James Cameron has announced that his next major undertaking won’t be a Hollywood blockbuster (though he does have those coming) but a dive to the world’s deepest point, nearly seven miles below the surface of the ocean.

In the coming weeks, the director of “Titanic” and “Avatar” will climb inside the Deepsea Challenger, a single-pilot submersible vehicle he helped design, and dive to the Challenger Deep, the lowest point in the Mariana Trench in the Pacific Ocean, 200 miles southwest of Guam.

Once there, he plans to spend six hours on the ocean floor collecting scientific samples and filming for a 3-D feature documentary that will also be shown on the National Geographic Channel.

—Patrick Kevin Day

TLC cancels ‘Muslim’ show

The reality show ride of the five Dearborn, Mich., families who starred in TLC’s controversial series “All-American Muslim” has ended. TLC did not pick it up for a second season.

The series premiered late last year and swiftly came under fire from the Florida Family Assn., which persuaded some advertisers to withdraw. The group argued that the program amounted to Muslim propaganda and threatened American values.

In the end, the series aired all eight episodes that were made but didn’t attract much of an audience, averaging just under 1 million viewers per episode.

—Patrick Kevin Day