Sneak peaks, new additions, premieres and premature cancellations are all in this edition of TV Bits. After the jump read about the following:

The sixth season of the hit Showtime show Californication premieres January 13 but even with three months to go, theyve already released a promo for it, via Cinemablend.

American Horror Story: Asylum is finally premiering this week and creator Ryan Murphy took to Twitter toannouncea late addition to the cast. Ian McShane, best known for playing Blackbeard in Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides and Al Swearingen in the HBO series Deadwood, has joined the cast to tussle with Jessica Langes character. Thanks to TV Line for the heads up.

Does anyone still watch Greys Anatomy? Apparently they do, because a big star is set to use the show as a return to TV. Neve Campbell, who was on Party of Five and in the Scream films, will appear on the current season of the ABC show as one of the sisters toPatrick Dempseys character. Read more about the casting at TV Line.

Speaking of Greys Anatomy, one of the shows former stars, Eric Dane, is joining a new TNT pilot called The Last Ship, produced by Platinum Dunes. Read more at the Hollywood Reporter and heres the show description:

In this exciting action/adventure project based on the popular novel by William Brinkley, the crew of a naval destroyer is forced to confront the reality of a new existence when a pandemic decimates most of the earths population.

Vulture posted this clip of Olympic Gold Medalist, Ryan Lochte, who cameos on an upcoming episode of the NBC sitcom 30 Rock.

Lena Dunham tweeted, and Deadline then confirmed, that the second season of the her HBO show Girls will premiere on January 13. Itll air alongside the second season of the Laura Dern/Mike White show Enlightened.

Finally, much was made of the NBC pilot Next Caller, which starred Dane Cook as a radio shock jock but worry no more. The show will not make it to the air according to Deadline.

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TV Bits: ‘American Horror Story,’ ’30 Rock,’ ‘Girls,’ Dane Cook, ‘Californication,’ ‘Grey’s Anatomy’

In 2011-12, Chicago Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau narrowly missed becoming the first head coach in the history of the NBA to win consecutive Coach of the Year awards. He lost to San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich by a score of 465 to 315.

Thibodeau led the Bulls to a share of the best record in the NBA for the second consecutive year. Despite failing to win the award, the performance eclipsed his award-winning one due to the injuries to superstar point guard Derrick Rose as well as starting shooting guard Richard Hamilton.

Few have won multiple Coach of the Year awards. Bill Fitch, Gene Shue, Cotton Fitzsimmons and Hubie Brown have won twice while Don Nelson and Pat Riley have taken home the award three times. Only Don Nelson has won the award twice in three years.

While Thibodeau clearly has the respect of the media, he is fighting an uphill battle to win the award this season. Thibodeau must lead the Bulls to an outstanding record as well as capture the hearts of the media by turning the Bulls into one of the leagues best stories.

Derrick Roses ACL injury combined with the additions to the Nets and Lakers, success of the Thunder and championship by the Heat leave Chicago flying far under the radar. ESPN ranks the Bulls 15th in their initial power rankings which shows how far down they've fallen in the eyes of the media.

What impresses the voters more: Chicago winning 55 games while Derrick Rose sits out for half a season or the Miami Heat winning 64 games while adding Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis to a superstar-laden cast?

History sides with the 55-win team. The average win percentage of the Coach of the Year recipient is 66 percent. That equates to a 54-win season. Low expectations breed Coach of the Year winners.

Beyond hitting a mid-50s win total, the Bulls must finish the season strong. In any voting process, the most recent data is the most important data. Even for season awards, voters typically weigh the end-of-season data far more heavily than the beginning-of-season data.

With Derrick Rose likely to return around All-Star weekend, the Bulls should play their best basketball in the second half of the season, further impressing voters.

Finally, if a coach screams his players to victory, but the game only aired in Cleveland, did it really happen? The award voters watch far fewer games than fans realize and tend to overlook teams they do not watch frequently. Thus, nationally televised games play an important role in determining award winners.

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How Chicago Bulls' Tom Thibodeau Could Win Coach of the Year Again

JULIE LANE PHOTO | Haunt master Oscar Gonzalez created many of the props that visitors to La Maison Blanches Dark Mansion will encounter. See more photos below.

Its that creepy time of year when friends and neighbors delight in scaring one another all in fun, of course. For the second successive year, La Maison Blanche is getting into the act with its Dark Mansion, with proceeds to benefit ongoing research into causes and cures of breast cancer.

As they did last year, owner John Sieni and his partner and haunt master Oscar Gonzalez are out to terrify visitors and locals, with most of the proceeds going to the American Cancer Society in memory of Teresa Montant, a former town worker who lost her battle against breast cancer in October 2011. A small amount is kept to reinvest in the expansion of the haunted house.

For those who visited last year, the price is up from $5 to $15, meaning more money will go to breast cancer research, but Mr. Gonzalez wants people to know theyre getting a lot more for their money this year. He has spent much of the past 12 months practically doubling the size of the Dark Mansion. It now encompasses not only the basement of La Maison Blanche, but also a structure he has created that will be temporarily linked to the southwest side of the building to accommodate the many additions to the eerie experience.

If last years Dark Mansion was an amateur attempt at the macabre, this years displays, even when viewed during the day with lights on are fright-inducing. And thats without the sounds, strobe lights and about a dozen volunteers who will lurk within the recesses of the Dark Mansion ready to jump out and add to the all-together scary experience.

We target what people fear, Mr. Gonzalez said.

He isnt joking when he advises parents not to bring children under the age of 13 and warns those with asthma, heart conditions or seizure disorders not to enter.

The Dark Mansion will be open between 7 and 10 p.m. Friday through Sunday, October 19, 20 and 21 and October 26, 27 and 28.

For the full story on the Dark Mansion, see the Reporter next Thursday.

jlane@timesreview.com

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Dark Mansion returns to frighten all those who dare enter

Netflix Inc. (NFLX), the worlds largest video-subscription service, fell the most in more than two months after Bank of America Corp. analysts downgraded the stock, citing concerns about the health of the domestic streaming business and a recent run-up in the shares.

The stock tumbled 11 percent to $65.53 at the New York close, the biggest drop since July 25. Bank of America analysts led by Nat Schindler downgraded the shares to underperform from buy. The Los Gatos, California-based company had gained 6.1 percent this year through Oct. 8.

Netflixs soft target earlier this year, when it predicted 7 million net new subscriptions in 2012, may have been ambitious, the analysts said. Fewer than the 6 million additions that Wall Street estimates are modeling could hurt the stock, the analysts said. The company is also facing increased competition both in the U.S. and internationally.

Bank of America predicts that domestic streaming subscriptions will plateau sooner than expected, pressuring 2013 estimates. The analysts project Netflix to have 33 million domestic-streaming subscribers next year, up from about 23.9 million at the end of the second quarter.

Additionally, theres a likelihood that content prices will be increasing due to competition and Netflixs exclusive and original content emphasis, they wrote.

Bank of America had upgraded the shares to buy from underperform in August, citing international expansion, smarter spending on content and rising domestic profit, combined with the drop in the stock following the companys second-quarter results.

In the most recent note, the analyst said that the stock, as of Oct. 8, had surpassed Bank of Americas $72 price target. Since Oct. 2, Netflix had gained 30 percent through yesterday as Citigroup Inc. cited improvements in its customer-satisfaction rating and Morgan Stanley upgraded the shares, saying competition from Amazon.com Inc.s Prime Instant service is overblown.

To contact the reporter on this story: Niamh Ring in New York at nring@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Kevin Miller at kmiller@bloomberg.net; Anthony Palazzo at apalazzo@bloomberg.net

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Netflix Tumbles on Downgrade Amid Streaming Concerns

October 8, 2012 - ECHL (ECHL) Elmira Jackals ELMIRA, N.Y. - October 8, 2012 - The Elmira Jackals announced today five additions to their training camp roster. Defensemen Danny New and Chris Wideman, along with forward Brad Peltz, have been assigned to them by the American Hockey League's Binghamton Senators. Also, Kyle Bushee has returned to the Jackals from the Grand Rapids Griffins and Artem Demkov has been added to the roster.

Wideman, 22, was a fourth-round draft pick of the Ottawa Senators (#100 overall) in the 2009 NHL Entry draft. He was drafted following his freshman year at Miami-Ohio where he led the RedHawks with 26 assists over 39 games. The 5-10, 185-pound rookie did not miss a game in his collegiate career and ranks third in school history with 163 games played. Wideman racked up 95 (12G, 83A) points and 191 penalty minutes in his collegiate career.

New, like Wideman, is a rookie out of the NCAA. He spent four years with the Providence Friars and garnered 39 points (8G, 31A) and 157 penalty minutes. Last year, as a senior, New served as Providence's co-captain and was second among defensemen with a career-high 14 points (2G, 12A). The White Plains, New York native signed an Amateur Tryout with the Springfield Falcons after his senior season and registered three points (1G, 2A) in two games.

Rounding out the rookie trio is Peltz, a forward who tallied a goal in nine games at Yale University during the 2011-12 season. The 6-1, 185-pound wing was a seventh round draft pick (#190 overall) by the Ottawa Senators in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.

Bushee is set to embark on his fifth season in the ECHL and first with the Jackals. The blueliner from Otsego, Michigan has spent the majority of his career as a Wheeling Nailer, but signed with Elmira over the summer. He qualifies as a veteran under ECHL rules with 285 professional games to his credit. Bushee, 27, has logged 91 points (21G, 70A) and 178 penalty minutes in his ECHL career.

Demkov returns to Elmira for his second professional campaign after finishing second on the Jackals in points with 57 (20G, 37A) last year. The addition of Demkov gives the Jackals back their top two scorers from 2011-12. He and linemate Dustin Gazley combined for 45 goals and 97 assists.

Season tickets to see the Jackals in 2012-2013 are on sale now!

Packages start as low as $360 and include tickets to all 36 regular season and any preseason home games. Exclusive advantages available only to season ticket holders include a discount off the walk-up ticket price, the same seat all season long, access to the annual Blue/White scrimmage, discounts to select First Arena events, and special season ticket holder coupons.

Avoid lines at the box office on game day by purchasing season tickets to see the Jackals in 2012-2013. Fans may download the 2012-2013 season ticket form at http://www.firstarena.com or can order their tickets by calling (607) 734-PUCK (7825) or by visiting the First Arena Box Office.

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Elmira Jackals Assigned AHL Players

The Chicago Cubs finished the 2012 MLB season with a 61-101 record. They'll enter the 2012-13 free-agency period with a lot of concerns on how to improve their roster for the short term and the long term. What can Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer do to avoid another season with 100-plus losses?

Starting Pitchers

The Cubs' 2013 Opening Day starting rotation should include Matt Garza, Jeff Samardzija and Travis Wood. This leaves two openings. Recently-acquired Arodys Vizcaino is coming off Tommy John surgery. A 100-inning pitch count is a possibility. Spring-training competitors may include Brooks Raley, Chris Rusin, Chris Volstad, Justin Germano, Jason Berken and any other additions.

How can the Cubs become competitive in 2013? Their best chance is by adding two starting pitchers. They need a legitimate ace pitcher and another mid-tier pitcher behind Garza and Samardzija (e.g. Anibal Sanchez or Paul Maholm). I'd expect that one mid-tier pitcher is added. They'll add their long-term ace pitcher with the second-overall pick in the 2013 MLB Draft. That happens in June.

Relief Pitchers

The Cubs must restructure their bullpen. They should keep James Russell as a left-handed reliever. After losing his closer job in the first half of the season, Carlos Marmol was much better when he reclaimed it. The Cubs may keep him for one more year. They need to make some moves to improve their middle-relief situation.

Third Baseman

The Cubs have a promising young infield that includes Anthony Rizzo, Starlin Castro and Darwin Barney. Welington Castillo also hit better toward the end of the season. The Cubs need all of these players to improve in 2013.

Third baseman is another story. The Cubs never replaced Aramis Ramirez's offensive production. Ian Stewart, Luis Valbuena and Josh Vitters were all liabilities in the Cubs' offense. Vitters should've never been promoted from Triple-A Iowa. Valbuena is more of a utility player off the bench. Stewart may get one more chance after wrist surgery.

Power-Hitting Outfielder

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What Can Chicago Cubs Do in Free Agency to Avoid Another 100-Loss Season? Fan’s Take

DECATUR A circle of children sat enthralled as writer Dan Keding told them an old tale of a soldier and the recipe for nail soup.

The soldier told the villagers to boil water for a delicious soup, but then he kept suggesting additions, such as potatoes and onions and meat, and every time they asked if it was time to put in the nails, hed say Not yet! Of course, they never put the nails in at all. Keding said his grandmother told him the story.

Keding is the Artist in Residence at South Shores School this week, thanks to a grant from the Decatur Public Schools Foundation, secured by instructional specialist Debbie Roberts. His final day is today and will wind up with an all-school assembly, where students he worked with individually will get a chance to tell their own stories to the student body.

What I really want them to get out of this is that storytelling is part of the culture, Keding said. Its part of everything we do. We talk in story, and I want them to understand that and cherish that. Its really an important thing.

He has found that when he goes into schools and tells stories about characters like Daniel Boone or Jim Bowie both real people as well as heroes of fantastic tales the kids dont know who hes talking about.

Kids are learning to pass tests now, he said. Theyre not learning culture, and theyre not learning folklore and history.

Thats one of the reasons Principal Sarah Oakes wanted Keding to come to South Shores. Students often lack basic acquaintance with traditions and ideas, she said.

Theres more, too.

Any time you can trick kids into thinking theyre just having fun, when theyre really learning, you should do it, Oakes said with a chuckle.

Lisa Landacre, second-grade teacher, said she hopes the kids learn the power of oral tradition.

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Artist in Residence impresses importance of folklore, culture

Clockwise from top left: Zachary Quinto, Julie White, Brian Gallivan, and Daryl Stephens

Gay TV Gets Renewed Early for Once

In what critics say is a show of confidence, NBC has renewed three series for the full seasonthat are popular among LGBT viewers: Go On, The New Normal, and Revolution. According to The Wrap,Revolution (a post-apocalyptic series centered around a Hunger Games-style female teen protagonist) and the super queer-friendly The Voice helped NBC emerge as the top-rated network during premiere week.

Go On, the Matthew Perry vehicle centered around a therapy group, features Julie White as a lesbian who lost her wife, while The New Normal has Andrew Ranells from The Book of Mormon playing the flightier half a gay couple having a child with a surrogate,

"Were also very proud of our new comedy block of Go On and The New Normal," NBC entertainment president Jennifer Salke told Tim Molloy. "In partnering with Matthew Perry for Go On, creator Scott Silveri has created a comedy with a highly original voice that deftly combines humor and emotion. And Ryan Murphy and Ali Adler have created a truly unique family in The New Normal that is reflective of the changing dynamics of the world we live in. These shows are both welcome additions to our new lineup! (It helps that Ali Adler (ex-wife of The Talk's Sara Gilbert) is a mom herself, and Ryan Murphy is the king of all things gay. And Ellen Barkin is a costar.)

Says White of Go On's success: "Ive done quite a few pilots, and they just dont get picked up. So this is the first one that Ive done in a while that really has a shot. Ive so got my fingers crossed. I would just so love to get to do it for a few years. This group is amazing.Theyre so darling and funny."

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American Horror Story Gets Better?

Zachary Quinto, star of American Horror Story, talked to Access Hollywood about why the show's second season is even more "innovative" while trying to sidestep any real spoilers.Quinto was at the Emmys Presenters Gift Lounge, where he also talked about one of American Horror Story: Asylum's most notable stars, Voice judge Adam Levine.

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Del Frisco's has just signed a lease at the Chestnut Hill Shopping Center, joining recent restaurant additions Davios, Shake Shack, and Bernard's. An upscale steak house, Del Frisco's serves hand-cut aged USDA Prime beef and seafood, and features an extensive wine list and a full-bar.

"We've been focused on finding the right mix of high-quality food operators to serve this dense, high-income market," said Mark Roberts, SVP of Leasing at WS Development. "Del Frisco's is expert at catering to the refined, well-traveled customer. We're excited to welcome Del Frisco's to Chestnut Hill."

Del Frisco's Grille will be located on the second level of WS Development's corporate headquarters building, overlooking scenic Hammond Pond. It will be part of a new 64,000-square-foot, three-story building located at the center of the project.

In addition to Davios, Bernards and Shake Shack, Del Frisco's joins other newly signed tenants including Showcase Super Lux, The Sports Club/LA, lululemon, Pottery Barn, Polarn O. Pyret, Polka Dog Bakery, and Treat Cupcake Bar.

Located along Route 9 in the heart of Chestnut Hill, the Chestnut Hill Shopping Center enjoys nearly a half-mile of street frontage. When the current redevelopment is complete, the center will expand to 406,000-square-feet of first-class retail and restaurants.

For more information, visit http://www.chestnuthillshoppingcenter.com.

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Del Frisco's steakhouse coming to Chestnut Hill Mall

One of the best games in the past decade gets an even better 3DS release.

Cave Story, available as a 3DS eShop title, is the third version of the game to appear on Nintendo handhelds. The first was a DSiWare release of the original version of the game, and the second was the 2011 3D retail release. Both earlier versions of the game had their merits, but at this point, theyre just about worthless because Cave Story on the eShop is the definitive version (at least until they do some other re-release).

For the uninitiated, Cave Story was originally a freeware game made by Daisuke Pixel Amaya in 2004. It was beloved, and eventually Nicalis remade it for WiiWare and DSiWare in 2010. In 2011, Nicalis remade the game with 3D character models for a retail 3DS release and also released Cave Story+ on Steam, the latter of which is the basis for this new 3DS eShop release.

The game itself is comparable to seminal 2D works such as Metroid, though its story is a little more guided than that games. The hero has a variety of guns he can wield, and you learn a lot of fun combat and traversal tricks as you progress. The game features multiple endings, branching paths, and delightful 2D platforming gameplay. For anyone who has any interest in 2D platformers, you should have played this; if you havent, what are you waiting for?

On the eShop, Cave Story features the original versions graphics and music, but retains all the content (including the Wind Fortress and Curly Story) of the Cave Story+ Steam release. A few more additions sweeten the pot, including optional widescreen graphics, customizable controls, and wonderful stereoscopic 3D backgrounds. Still, there isnt really anything new or unique to this version outside of some bells and whistles.

The use of 3D is masterful, as there are multiple layers of depth that make the simplistic 2D game look full of life. It might not add anything to the gameplay, but the 3D straight up makes Cave Story a better experience. The widescreen graphics, which fill out the top screen, are similarly effective.

Even without any additions, Cave Story is still the same amazing game people have raved about for eight years. Its one of the best 2D platformers in recent memory, and this version is worthwhile if youve never played it before or are itching for a reason to play it again.

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REVIEW: Cave Story Review