Tuning In to TV

Jay-Z cleans up

The lyrics to Jay-Z’s “Empire State of Mind” are sometimes as raw as New York, but it looks like the rapper will clean up that language when he performs his city anthem at the World Series, Associated Press reports.

A source close to the rapper, who requested anonymity because of not being authorized to speak on the matter, says Jay-Z won’t utter curses or other raw language included in his hit, which was blasted by the New York Yankees during their playoff run.

Jay-Z and fellow New Yorker Alicia Keys were due to perform “Empire” before Game 1 between the Yankees and the Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday at Yankee Stadium. Because of rainy weather, their performance was rescheduled for Thursday.

Swayze’s widow on O

Less than two months after the death of her husband, Patrick Swayze, Lisa Niemi will open up to Oprah Winfrey about her life with and love for the actor and what it was like losing him. It will be her first one-on-one interview since his death.

Swayze, 57, died Sept. 14 after a protracted battle with pancreatic cancer. He and Miss Niemi, 53, who met as teenage students at his mother’s dance studio, were married 34 years.

According to People.com, Miss Niemi will appear on Friday’s episode of “The Oprah Winfrey Show” and also will talk about the book she co-authored with her late husband, “The Time of My Life.”

Miss Niemi also was a participant Tuesday in a round-table discussion on “Grief, Healing and Resilience” at the Women’s Conference 2009 in Long Beach, Calif.

TV Land orders

TV Land has handed out its first pilot orders, cast-contingent pickups to the comedies “Hot in Cleveland” and “Retired at 35,” according to the Hollywood Reporter.

“Hot in Cleveland,” written by Suzanne Martin (“Frasier”), revolves around three eccentric female best friends in Los Angeles whose lives are changed when their plane unexpectedly lands in Cleveland and they soon rediscover themselves in this new “promised land.” Sean Hayes’ Hazy Mills Productions is producing.

“Retired at 35,” written by Chris Case (“Reba”), follows a successful businessman who decides to leave the rat race of New York City and move into his parents’ Florida retirement home.

Award for Burnett

The Producers Guild of America has tapped Mark Burnett to receive its Norman Lear Achievement Award in Television. It’s the first time the PGA has presented its trophy to a producer of reality programming, Variety reports.

“Mark Burnett is an extraordinarily gifted and prolific producer who has truly changed the television landscape with his award-winning reality programming,” said PGA awards co-chairmen Laurence Mark and David Friendly in a statement. “Mark has made a tremendous impact on the television industry worldwide, and we look forward to honoring his remarkable achievements.”

Mr. Burnett has produced more than 1,100 hours of programming, including “Survivor” for CBS, “The Apprentice” for NBC and the now-syndicated “Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?” for Fox. He also has been an executive producer for the MTV Movie Awards and is onboard to produce the 36th annual People’s Choice Awards in January for CBS.

The award will be presented to Mr. Burnett at the 21st annual PGA Awards ceremony Jan. 24 at the Hollywood Palladium.

Last year’s award went to David Chase. Previous recipients include Dick Wolf, Jerry Bruckheimer, Lorne Michaels, Garry Marshall, Aaron Spelling, Steven Bochco and David E. Kelley.

Dancing at Disney

Disney Channel is looking to expand its stable of musically themed comedy series with “Dance Dance Chicago,” according to the Hollywood Reporter.

The cable network has ordered a pilot for “Dance,” a contemporary tale of two kids working as dancers on an “American Bandstand”-type show.

Comedy veteran Chris Thompson, creator of “The Naked Truth,” “Action” and “Ladies Man” and co-creator of “Bosom Buddies,” is writing and executive producing.

The project is casting, and the pilot is eyed for production in January.

Disney Channel’s roster of music-centered series includes the long-running hit “Hannah Montana” as well as “Jonas” and the animated “Phineas and Ferb.” Boy-oriented sibling channel Disney DX is joining the trend with the upcoming “I’m in the Band.”

Elba’s next job

Following his seven-episode arc on “The Office,” Idris Elba is staying in business with NBC, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

The actor has teamed with “Battlestar Galactica” and “Caprica” executive producer David Eick to produce a drama project for the network.

Written by feature scribes Sean O’Keefe and Will Staples, the untitled project is a hard-hitting legal drama about a vigilante lawyer who uses any means necessary to defend his clients against a corrupt district attorney and city establishment.

Mr. Elba, a native of Britain, recently wrapped the Warner Bros. feature “Losers” and will next be seen in the Screen Gems thriller “Takers.”

• Compiled by Robyn-Denise Yourse from staff, Web and wire reports