Showtime takes a pass on Kennedy family miniseries

The Showtime network is saying no to a controversial miniseries on the Kennedy family.

Producers of “The Kennedys” had gone to Showtime after the History network, which had ordered the series, decided last week not to air it.

The Kennedy family and associates were said to be unhappy about the series, which stars Greg Kinnear and Katie Holmes as John and Jackie Kennedy.

Producers contacted Showtime because the pay cable network picked up a TV movie on the Reagans eight years ago after CBS passed on it.

ABC renewals announced

Fans of “Castle,” “Cougar Town,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” “The Middle, “Modern Family” and “Private Practice” can rest easy: ABC says they’ll be coming back next season.

But the fates of “Desperate Housewives,” “Brothers & Sisters” and “Detroit 1-8-7” remain unsettled.

Fox eyes returns

Fox executives say they want to keep “House” and “Bones” on the air beyond this season, although no deals are set.

The network said its Steven Spielberg adventure show “Terra Nova,” about a family traveling through a portal to prehistoric Earth, will get a sneak preview for two nights in May before officially joining the schedule next fall.

Fox also announced it had ordered a second season of the comedy “Raising Hope.”

A breath of Paris

Paris Hilton’s life will be on display in a new Oxygen TV reality series.

“The World According to Paris,” debuting this spring, will detail the “highs” of the socialite turning 30 and her relationships, and the “lows” of her forced community service after pleading guilty to misdemeanor drug charges.

‘Shore’ swamps ratings

More than 8 million viewers watched Snooki and company return to “Jersey Shore” last week.

The third-season premiere of the MTV reality show on Jan. 6 was the most-watched series telecast in the cable network’s history.

MTV said 8.45 million viewers tuned in to the show, which chronicles the carryings-on of a group of hard-partying 20- and 30-somethings.

Conan does DVR

After two months on the air, Conan O’Brien’s late-night talk show is the favorite of younger viewers – that is, when DVR usage is factored in, according to TBS.

Counting TV viewership only within the 24-hour period after a show is aired, “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” is the champ in total viewers, as well as the desirable 18-to-49 demographic.

But “Conan” ranks No. 1 in the key 18-to-49 and 18-to-34 audience segments when “time-shifted” data is included, which adds viewers of the show up to a full week after its airing.

Piers jumps off

Piers Morgan will hit the ground running with his new CNN talk show as Larry King’s replacement.

Oprah Winfrey will be Morgan’s opening-night guest Monday. Other guests for the first week of “Piers Morgan Tonight” will include radio shock-jock Howard Stern, former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, comedian and Golden Globes host Ricky Gervais, and actor George Clooney.