It's The Hottest Viral Video on the 'net: a Wildly Inappropriate Version of 'Scarface' Done as a Kid's School Play. Is It Real or Fake?

In the latest viral video making the Internet rounds, grade school children are seemingly putting on a performance of "Scarface," complete with popcorn standing in for the iconic image of Tony Montana's mountain of cocaine. 

The video has garnered more than 1.3 million views. 

However, Internet users wondered if the video was a real grade school theater performance. Now, they have their answer: It's a fake. 

Music video director Marc Klasfeld todl the LA Times that the video, which used child actors and was filmed last month in a rented theater in Los Angeles' Koreatown, was a blast to make. 

Klasfeld said the most interesting part is watching the outrage boil over from pockets on the Internet, but he wondered why critics of the video don't speak out more against on-screen violence or the sexualization of young girls in media. 

Click here to see the video in question, which is one of the selections on our Daily Viral Video e-newsletterl, which is available for free.  

Retrans Battle: ABC Affiliates in Des Moines and Lincoln (Nebraska) Plus CBS Affiliate In Davenport, Iowa, All Set to Go Dark on DirecTV at Midnight

In the latest battle over retransmission fees, three TV stations are set to go dark on DirecTV tonight (Wednesday, March 31) at midnight, B&C reports.

The stations, WOI, KLKN and WHBF, respectively, are all owned by Citadel Communications.

According to the article, "A DirecTV spokesperson says Citadel is demanding a 100% increase in fees and refuses to keep its signals on past deadline so the parties can negotiate without viewers losing the stations' programming. Citadel's Ray Cole did not return a call at presstime."

However, the article says that a statement on the websites of the affected stations says, " 'We have made numerous compromises in an effort to satisfy DIRECTV's demands,' read the statement. 'We are disappointed, however, in DIRECTV's refusal-so far-to conclude a mutually acceptable agreement in a timely fashion.' "

Video: On Leno's Show Joy Behar Speaks Her Mind about Glenn Beck

LA-Based Location Filming Rebound Versus First Quarter Last Year

Workers in the California-based film and television production industry have struggled as of late as a writers strike, an economic downturn and emigrating jobs have put a pinch on area work. 

However, the industry is regaining its footing somewhat as Los Angeles on-location commercial, film and television filming grew 25% in 2010's first quarter versus the same time last year, the Los Angeles Times reports. 

Commercials were the highest of the group, improving 60% in production days versus last year. Television production saw a 19% growth, spurred by a larger pilot season and studios' willingness to resume filming on-location. Those pilots include NBC's reboot of "The Rockford Files," and Fox's "Traffic Light." 

The Times notes, though, that the production stats remain well below where they were in 2007. 

ESPN Gets to Show Tiger Live When He Tees Off at the Masters, But Aren't Allowed to Broadcast All of His Round Live

ESPN will be able to braodcast, live, Tiger Woods teeing off at The Masters golf tournament next Thursday, April 8, but it cannot broadcast, live, his entire round, reports the  New York Times.

The Masters is aware of the high interest in Woods return, but they have been stingy about giving ESPN full live coverage of Woods' play. 

The Masters is only giving live access to Woods' first tee shot, giving ESPN only a few live glimpses into Tiger's return. Everything else will need to be on tape delay, unless it happens during ESPN's 4 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Eastern live broadcast window.  

Tee times will be posted on Tuesday. 

LL Cool J Complains About Being Included In Palin-hosted Special, So Fox News Drops His Segment From the Show

Fox News has opted to remove an interview with rapper LL Cool J from the premiere episode of "Real American Stories," hosted by Sarah Palin, after complaints surfaced from the rapper, the New York Times reports. 

LL Cool J, whose real name is James Todd Smith, complained on Twitter Tuesday that the interview was being misrepresented on advertisements for the program. He wrote that he shot the interview in 2008, but it was cut to make it seem like he was promoting Palin's show. 

Fox News issued a statement saying Smith's story was uplifting and inspiring. "However, as it appears that Mr. Smith does not want to be associated with a program that could serve as an inspiration to others, we are cutting his interview from the special," Fox News said. 

On Screen Video Bug of 'V' Countdown Clock Ticks Off 'Lost' Co-Creator, Viewers

During the broadcast of Tuesday night's (March 30) episode of "Lost," ABC ran a countdown clock "bug" in the lower right corner of the screen to alert viewers to the return of "V."

The bug really, well, "bugged" the co-creator of "Lost" as well as many "Lost" fans, according to Alan Sepinwall in the New Jersey Star-Ledger. There was also a story about it in  The Wrap.

Damon Lindelof, one of the creators of "Lost," tweeted: "Yes, people, I saw it too. :34 minutes until I cry myself to sleep."

Emmy Award-Winning Writer David Mills Dies Suddenly at Age 48

David Mills, an Emmy-award winning writer/co-executive producer working on David Simon's new HBO series "Treme," died of an aneurysm while on set Tuesday night, according to The Washington Post. 

Mills, whose credits include writing for "The Wire," "Homicide: Life on the Streets" and "NYPD Blue," was also a producer on "Treme." The series is set in New Orleans, three months after Hurricane Katrina and is set to premiere on HBO on April 11, 2010.

Mills also was a staff writer for the Washington Post in the early 1990s, writing frequently about hip-hop culture.

According to the Post, "Mills is also well known for his incendiary 1992 Washington Post profile of Sister Souljah in which the rapper claimed that the L.A. riots were "revenge" against a system of white oppression." Click here to read Mills profile of Souljah.

MUST READ: Nielsen Changing Definiton of 'Average Audience' Ratings. It's Important Because That Definition, Commonly Called 'Reach' in Ad Circles, Is Relied on By Advertisers Who Spend $80 Billion Annually To Advertise on TV

Here's an eye-opener, reported by Joe Mandese, who is hands down the best journalist covering the business of media measurement in the country.

This is the startling opening paragraph of the article Mandese has written in Media Daily News:

"In a move that has profound implications for the way advertisers and agencies plan and buy television, Nielsen Tuesday informed clients it will make some fundamental changes in the way it calculates its so-called "average audience" ratings - long the currency of the $80 billion TV advertising marketplace. Perhaps the most significant of the changes is that Nielsen will begin including duplicate viewing to all program telecasts in its average audience ratings, a move that could undermine one of the core tenants of Madison Avenue's media planning theory: unduplicated reach."

It's terrific reportage and an important must read. Please click here to read Mandese's entire article.

Looks Like Letterman Was Right: Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution Fails to Win Over Kids

It looks like Jamie Oliver's food revolution has failed to win over some of the world's pickiest eaters: kids.

Some of the children in the Huntington, West Virginia school where Oliver overhauled its cafeteria have dropped school lunch, choosing to bring home-packed lunches, the New York Post reports.

Unfortunately, the bagged lunches aren't apparently especially nutritious, with many children bringing potato chips and cookies, the tabloid says. With Oliver's healthy eating program rolled out to 15 of Huntington's 26 schools, the area's food services director tells the Post she wished the approach had been more gradual because then "children will adapt to it and not really notice you've changed things."

In Oliver's recent appearance on David Letterman's latenight program, Letterman insisted that Oliver would not succeed in his food revolution. To see that video clip, click here.

'Glee,' 'In Treatment,' 'Modern Family,' 'No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, Craig Ferguson Win Peabody Awards, As Do TV Stations KCET, KHOU, KTVU, WFLD and WYFF

The winners of the prestigious George Foster Peabody Awards, honoring the best in electronic media, were announced this morning.

Winners included the following TV programs: CBS' "The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson," : ABC's "Modern Family," Fox's "Glee," and two shows on HBO: "In Treatment" and "No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency."

The episode of Ferguson's show that won the award had Archbishop Desmond Tutu as the sole guest. In giving the award the Peabody committee said, "As this fascinating, often funny interview attests, the Scottish-born Ferguson has made late-night television safe again for ideas."

In citing "Modern Family,' the Peabody Commitee said, "This wily, witty comedy puts quirky, contemporary twists in family ties but maintains an old-fashioned heart."

In citing the reason one TV station, Chicago's Fox station, WFLD won, the Peabody committee said, "WFLD got national attention with horrifying video it obtained of the beating death of an honor student [Derrion Albert] just blocks from his Chicago high school, but the greater feat was its comprehensive follow-up coverage of the suspects, the legal process and prevalence of similar violence."

To read about all the Peabody winners, along with the reasons they won their awards, please click here. 

A number of documentary and news programming was also honored.

According the the Peabody's website, "The awards program is administered by the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Georgia. Selection is made each spring by the Peabody Board, a 16-member panel of distinguished academics, television critics, industry practitioners and experts in culture and the arts."

Is Kirstie Alley Show Too Thin in Viewers? Plus the Show She Wanted to Do that Was Rejected

Besides the challenge of going from her current 230 pounds down to 145 pounds, Kirstie Alley has another concern, reports the Los Angeles Times.

That's the fact that the second episode of her much hyped new show on A&E, "Kirstie Alley's Big Life," reached only about 1.3 million viewers this past Sunday, March 28th.

Alley tells the Times that her new reality show, "Kirstie Alley's Big Life,' was the result of a failed project to create a weight loss show like "The Biggest Loser." But when she refused to kick off participants in a competition-style format, the top networks passed on the project, she says.

Instead, producers asked if she'd be willing to be subject of her own weight-loss program. She says she agreed because, "I hate being fat."

WE to Roll out Joan & Melissa Rivers Docusoap with New TV Slate

WE's betting that the mother-daughter dynamics of Joan and Melissa Rivers will keep viewers watching. 

The Rivers' docusoap, called "Mother Knows Best," is one of seven new shows set to air on the female-focused cable network, reports The Hollywood Reporter.

Joan and Melissa Rivers will feature the pair living in the same house, while another program called "You're Wearing That?!" will let mothers and daughters vent about each other's clothing choices.

A reality program called "Fix My Family" asks a doctor to heal broken relationships, while "Girl Meets Gown" offers a docusoap involving bridal shops. Two other programs, Sunset Daze" and "Downsized" examine a retirement complex and family with laid-off parents, respectively, while WE also said it's bought the eight season run of "Charmed."

Will TNT Block 'Law & Order' From Becoming TV's Longest-Running Drama? (OK, We Confess--We Thought It Already WAS TV's Longest Running Drama)

While many seemingly cannot remember a time when "Law & Order" was NOT on the air, it turns out the show is not TV's longest running drama series.

Evidently "Law" is TIED with CBS' old "Gunsmoke" western, which ran from 1955 to 1975, for that honor. (The longest running TV comedy is still on the air: "The Simpsons," as is TV's longest running show period, "Meet the Press.")

And there's some drama behind the scenes as to whether "Law" will be renewed for season 21, which would allow it to hold the record all by itself as TV's longest running drama series, reports The Hollywood Reporter.

With ratings for "Law & Order" far below their peak and given the show's high costs, the key to renewal may be TNT's decision whether to pick up any additional "L&O" seasons to air in re-runs, THR reports.  

That's because the syndication licensing fee TNT would pay would help persuade NBC to bring the show back for its 21st season, the Reporter says. But TNT reportedly isn't obligated to license any additional seasons beyond the show's current 20th, the trade magazine points out. The Reporter says that NBC and TNT declined to comment.

Fox News Recorded Best Quarter in its History

Fox News attracted its largest total day audience ever in its first quarter, TVNewser reports.

In the first quarter, in basic-cable, only USA did better than Fox News.

The network also recorded its second largest audience during its almost 14-year history in primetime. That meant that Fox News averaged more total viewers in both primetime and total day than CNN, MSNBC and HLN combined, the site points out.

The network was helped by two evening news shows, "Special Report with Bret Baier" and "Fox Report with Shepard Smith," which recorded their record quarters with audiences of 2.46 million and 2.11 million, respectively.

Despite Protest, Nielsen to Nix Live-Only Local TV Ratings

After a four-month delay, Nielsen said it's going forward with a plan to end live-only local TV ratings, a change which has been protested by top media agency groups, MediaPost reports.

The ratings, which cover about 70% of local U.S. television homes, will be eliminated in favor of overnight access to three other types of data: live program-plus-same-day-time-shifting of programming, live-plus-three-day time-shifting and live-plus-seven-day shifting.

The change will be effective April 1st, and comes after Nielsen delayed the implementation from its original scheduled date of Dec. 1. But Starcom MediaVest Group Exchange and Group M said the elimination of live-only local TV ratings will give local TV stations an instant ratings boost and increase ad dollars, MediaPost says. TV station groups, on the other hand, have been pushing for the change.

'Glee' Puts Casting Call Out on MySpace

Unlike Fox's "American Idol," aspiring singers won't have to camp out overnight on concrete sidewalks for a shot on the network's other musical program, "Glee," the Los Angeles Times Show Tracker blog reports.

Singers between 16 and 26 can upload five-minute audition tapes to the show's MySpace page, according to the report.

The requirements include a one-minute introduction and four-minute song, which must include one of the 10 tunes from the show's songbook, which range from "You Can't Always Get What You Want" to "Lean on Me." The introduction must explain why the contestant wants to be on the program. Fox is hoping to find singers for roles in the show's second season.

News Corp. owns MySpace, as well as the network "Glee" is on and the company that co-produces the show.

Ryan Hansen of 'Veronica Mars' Tapped to Star in NBC Pilot

Ryan Hansen of "Veronica Mars" has been tapped to star a NBC comedy pilot, The Hollywood Reporter says.

"Friends With Benefits" focuses on a group of friends in their 20s who are happy to have friends of the title description until they find their soul mates. Hansen is replacing Patrick J. Adams, who was first tapped for the role.

In the same article THR also reports that "Orlando Jones is set as a lead in Fox's comedy pilot 'Tax Man' [with the previously announced Martin Shor]. Additionally, Mircea Monroe is set as a regular on Showtime's new comedy series 'Episodes,' starring Matt LeBlanc, and Ritchie Coster has landed a lead role in HBO's drama pilot 'Luck.' "

Sour Grapes or Astute Observation: CNN's King Questions Amanpour's Fit on ABC

CNN anchor John King is the latest to voice doubts about ABC's hiring of Christiane Amanpour's as the host of ABC's "This Week,"Mediaite.com reports.

 "Christiane does not have a lot of experience covering American politics," King told the Web site, adding "I wish her the best."

King, who debuted his primetime show "John King, USA" earlier this month, told the Web site he'll wait several months before paying attention to his show's ratings. (Mediaite notes his ratings have declined from their first week but show a bump from when Wolf Blitzer anchored the time period.)

After This Season of '24' Ends, There's One More '24'-Related Show Fox MUST Air

After this final TV season of "24" is done airing, there is one more "24"-related single show Fox MUST air, says TVWeek Open Mic blogger Chuck Ross. Click here to read his intriguing piece about what it is.

Murder, He Wrote: ABC Mystery Drama Gets 22 Episode Order for Season Three

Beating CBS's "CSI: Miami" in the ratings a week ago may have helped ABC to decide to renew "Castle" for another season, reports Entertainment Weekly. That episode of "Castle"  had a huge lead-in from the season premiere of "Dancing With the Stars."

The network has ordered 22 episodes for "Castle's "third season.

The broadcast of "Castle" on Monday night, March 29, which also had "Dancing" as its lead, was against a rerun of "CSI: Miami" and a new "Law & Order. " "Castle" was the top show in the ten o'clock time slot, reaching 14.5 million total viewers.

Non-NBC Affiliates Nervous About Dealing With Comcast in the Future; Seek Assurances

TV stations not affiiated with NBC are worried that if the Comcast-NBCU deal goes through they may not be treated fairly by Comcast.

For example, the CBS affiliate board, in a memo obtained by our friend Harry Jessell at TVNewsCheck,  says "The merger would concentrate 'an unprecedented level of media market power in a single, vertically integrated cable/television broadcast network company.' "

Furthermore the memo, sent to the entire affiliate body, says "Our specific concern is that Comcast/NBCU would have incentives to competitively disadvantage and discriminate against non-NBC affiliated stations in terms of Comcast's cable carriage, retransmission consent negotiations and advertising and promotion practices."  

Jessell also says that  the ABC and Fox affiliate groups want to meet with Comcast to discuss these issues.

Syndie 'Fifth Grader' Gets Makes It to Sophomore Year

Twentieth Television's "Are You Smarter than a Fifth Grader?" is getting a second season, B&C reports.

"Fifth Grader" has cleared 80% of the country, along with the top 15 markets, for 2011. The show will also air on CMT and MyNetworkTV, where it will be paired with the syndicated version of "Don't Forget the Lyrics."

"Fifth Grader" is hosted by Jeff Foxworthy, and executive produced by Mark Burnett.  

Wait a Minute: Is This Unfair Inspiration Heading Into the Final Four?

Depending upon how your March Madness bracket picks are looking right now, you may have to protest this:

'Hoosiers' is getting a special showing in Butler's market, which also happens to be the same market that will host the Men's Basketball Championship Final Four.

Here are the details: In honor of the Butler University Bulldogs reaching the Final Four in the NCAA Basketball Tournament, WNDY in Indianapolis will present the 1986 Gene Hackman film "Hoosiers," on March 31, from 8-10 p.m. on the MyNetworkTV affiliate, reports B&C.

The TV station website announced the broadcast, writing, "We've secured the rights in honor of the university's big win and invite you to join us to watch."

In the award-winning film, a small town Indiana high school basketball team perseveres to win the
state championship.

Alaska Show #2: Levi Johnston Pitching Show Described as 'Jersey Shore' on Ice

While Sarah Palin has inked a deal with Discovery to show viewers the state of Alaska, Levi Johnston, former fiancé of Palin's daughter Bristol, is also in the hunt to show off his Alaska, the Washington Post reports.

Tentatively called "Levi Johnston's Final Frontier," the show would showcase Johnston and his buddies cruising around Alaska in daily escapades, like tricking out their snowmobiles with jet fuel. "Frontier" executive producer Stuart Krasnow calls it "'Jersey Shore' on ice." 

Johnston and company are shopping around the show to MTV and others, with Johnston heading to each pitch session in a tricked-out party RV. The Johnston partymobile was seen outside of MTV Networks' offices in Santa Monica, Calif., yesterday, the report says.

3D Masters Coverage Expands to Cox Communications

Like Comcast, Cox Communications has agreed to broadcast the upcoming Masters Golf Tournament from Augusta, Georgia in 3D, reports B&C.

Commencing April 7, Sony Electronics will be providing the 3D transmission through a deal with Augusta National and today Cox announced plans to present the 3D broadcast to Cox Advanced TV customers who have an HD or HD/DVR receiver and a new 3D-capable HDTV set with accompanying glasses and HDMI connection.

ESPN is producing the 3D broadcast on site.

Cox will also offer subscribers access to the 3D content on their On DEMAND library, including replays of each 3D telecast and 3D highlights the day after the live feed.

Tim Allen and TV Land Try to Repair Oscar Slight to Farrah Fawcett

Tim Allen and the good folks over at TV Land are doing what they can to help repair the slight the late actress Farrh Fawcett received by being ignored by the Oscarcast's salute to stars that have passed away in the last year.

Allen will be the host of the Eighth Annual TV Land Awards, and the show will include a special tribute to Fawcett as well as to "Charlie's Angels," the show that made her famous, TV Land has announced.

The Awards show will also honor the casts of "Glee" and "Everybody Loves Raymond."

The show tapes April 17th for airing on April 25.

The retro award show honors current and television shows of the past, with former award recipients including the casts of "Cheers," "MASH," and "The Mary Tyler Moore Show." 

The show tapes April 17, and will air Sunday, April 25 at 9 p.m. 

New Show is a Combo of 'Meet the Fockers' and 'Punk'd'

Some famous faces are coming home to prank the parents in Fox's newest reality project, entitled "My Parents are Gonna Love You," the Hollywood Reporter reports. 

Contestants will be bringing home their significant other for the first time, only for it to be a celebrity. And, the celebrity will act as obnoxious as possible. However, the longer the couple can keep the lie going, the more money they earn for the parents. 

The show is close to a pilot pickup with Fox. 

Jean Michel Michenaud and Chris Cowan will serve as executive producer, already helming "Joe Millionaire," "Temptation Island" and "My Big, Fat, Obnoxious Fiance" for Fox. 

Jon 'Napoleon Dynamite' Heder Quits Will Ferrell's Comedy Central Sitcom

Jon Heder, the star of "Napoleon Dynamite," has quit a Comedy Central comedy produced by Will Ferrell,EW.com reports.

Heder's representatives said in a statement that Heder, Comedy Central and Gary Sanchez Productions "have mutually decided to part ways over creative differences with the character."

Heder was slated to play young man who moves back home in the untitled comedy.

The production, which was slated to start this month, will probably be pushed back while Comedy Central seeks a new star. The series co-stars Chris Parnell and Horatio Sanz of "Saturday Night Live."

HBO Cancels 'Joe Buck Live' After Three Episodes

"Joe Buck Live" has been canceled after only three episodes by HBO,B&C reports. The show was rumored to be on the chopping block after Buck told a radio station that he didn't expect HBO to continue the show.

 The program had replaced "Costas Now" after Bob Costas departed for MLB Network. "Joe Buck Live" recorded a 1.2 rating for its third episode.

"We have made the decision not to continue his talk show and wish him all the best and continued success with his wide array of responsibilities at Fox Sports," HBO Sports president Ross Greenburg said in a statement.

'Amish Grace' Blesses Lifetime Movie Network with Top Ratings

The TV movie "Amish Grace: How Forgiveness Transcended Tragedy" gave Lifetime Movie Network its highest rating ever for an original movie, Multichannel News reports.

The original film debuted on Palm Sunday and drew a 3.8 household rating and 4.02 million viewers. Still, for younger women viewers, the movie trailed behind LMN's April debut of "Natalee Holloway," the trade publication says.

"Amish Grace" stars Kimberly Williams-Paisley as an Amish mother who copes with the loss of her daughter in the 2006 Nickel Mines, Pa. schoolhouse shooting.

As previously reported, the authors whose book was the basis of this TV movie say they wish the movie rights had never been sold, out of respect to the victims of the crime the book depicts.

THR's TV Editor Andreeva to Join Deadline.com

Hollywood Reporter's television editor Nellie Andreeva is joining Deadline.com, where she'll lead television coverage for the site, reports Mediabistro.com. Andreeva will take on the role in the next two weeks.

Previously, Deadline.com, run by Nikki Finke, hired Michael Fleming from Variety to cover Deadline's New York office.

The appointment of Andreeva from THR comes after Finke revealed that The Hollywood Reporter tried to hire her as editor-in-chief with a salary of $450,000 and a $1 million Malibu house. THR denied the report.

Finke said in a press release that she and Andreeva hadn't previously known each other and when she first emailed Andreeva to make contact, the THR reporter thought it was a prank.

CBS Pilot Casts 'Sons of Tucson' Star

A CBS comedy pilot has tapped a "Sons of Tucson" star  to play the main character's best friend, the Hollywood Reporter says.

The star is Tyler Labine. The job comes after Labine initially turned down the role as his midseason series "Sons of Tucson" hadn't yet aired.

 But after "Tucson" underperformed on Fox, where it airs after the network's animated series, Labine took the role on the CBS comedy pilot "True Love" when he was offered it again. He's replacing Dan Fogler, who was earlier cast as the best friend of Henry, played by Jason Biggs. The Reporter says Labine's casting is in second position to "Tucson."

TV Stations Turn Down Losing New Jersey Nets

The New Jersey Nets' losing streak just got a whole lot worse, theNew York Post reports. The YES Network, unable to air three games next week because of scheduling conflicts with Yankees games, sought to find another network to air the basketball games, as it usually does in such circumstances, the tabloid says.

 But with the team's 9-64 season, other networks failed to step up.

"Unfortunately, we couldn't find a home for these three games this season," a YES Network representative tells the paper. Still, die-hard Nets fans or those curious as to whether the team will match the NBA's worst record in history can listen to the game on the radio.

After Ratings Slide, Fox Shakes up 'So You Think You Can Dance'

With a ratings slide during the past two years, Fox's "So You Think You Can Dance" is set for a shake-up, the Hollywood Reporter says.

Executive producer Nigel Lythgoe said he's planning to return dancers from previous series who will be paired with 2010 contestants to compete for a $250,000 prize and a magazine cover feature.
"The whole reason for doing it is to make the show more exciting," Lythgoe said on a conference call with reporters. "Some of these brilliant dancers have just disappeared off the face of the earth."

The new season will air on Fox starting May 27. Viewers in 2009 had slid to 7.1 million from 9.7 million in 2008.

Legendary Writer Director Frank Darabont ('Shawshank Redemption') Comes to TV to Make Zombie Series

Three-time Oscar nominee Frank Darabont (writer/director of  "The Shawshank Redemption") is coming to TV to work on a zombie drama series, The Hollywood Reporter says. The series is "The Walking Dead," based on graphic novels by Robert Kirkman. Darabount will write and direct the series for AMC.

The order marks AMC's fourth original series and comes after AMC bought the rights in a bidding war in August, THR says. "We're delivering on the promise we made several years ago when we entered the original series arena," AMC president Charlie Collier said, according THR.

CNN Continues Ratings Slide, with Larry King Hitting New Lows

CNN's refusal to schedule partisan talk shows isn't doing the network any favors, the New York Times reports. The network's ratings continued to slide in March, with its prime-time star Larry King ratcheting up his worst quarter ever, the newspaper says.

King's audience plunged to 771,000 viewers during the first three months of 2010, compared with 1.34 million viewers a year ago, the publication says. What's worse, King's 9 p.m. show was whipped 21 times in the first quarter by Joy Behar's new show on HLN, the Times points out. That's prompting the network to try a previously reported talk-show format with Anderson Cooper, whose 10 p.m. program has also suffered, the newspaper reports.

Report: More than 200 Companies, Including Apple, Won't Advertise on Fox News' Popular 'Glenn Beck'

Controversial Fox News host Glenn Beck is drawing viewers, but his views are making it difficult to lure advertisers, the Washington Post reports.

The Post reports that more than 200 companies have boycotted Beck's show and refuse to advertise during it, forcing Fox to sell time to direct response companies like 1-800-Pet Meds and Goldline International.

Some companies, like Apple, have gone a step further and boycotted the entire network. Fox News executives said they believe they could charge more for the ad time if Beck were more advertiser-friendly.  

Donald Trump Hurls Insults Towards Rosie O'Donnell's New Show

Rosie O'Donnell's new daytime talk show has yet to be firmed up, but that didn't stop NBC's host of "Celebrity Apprentice," Donald Trump, to deem it a failure, reports Extra. 

Trump and O'Donnell have been feuding for years, ever since Rosie criticized how The Donald handled a Miss USA scandal.

"Extra" asked Trump about O'Donnell's return to TV and he let loose with this quote: "She's a loser. Her other shows didn't do well, this one won't do well. Everything she touches is a failure, she's a failure."

So far, O'Donnell has not responded.

Report: CBS Offered Conan Job Hosting the Tony's This Year

CBS tried to get Conan O'Brien on board to host the Tonys in June, Deadline.com has reported, but O'Brien has turned down the gig.

Why he turned it down isn't exactly clear. Deadline first reported that O'Brien "had to turn down the offer because of the restrictions NBC put on his activities until September 1st in exchange for that giant $40 million payout for himself and his Tonight Show staff."

Then Deadline.com did an update and wrote that O'Brien's agreement with NBC just keeps him off TV until May 1st, and that the Tony gig is in June, so O'Brien probably turned down the gig because he just didn't want to do it. 

Next, Deadline updated the story again, writing that  O'Brien's deal is that he can be interviewed on TV after May 1st but couldn't perform.

Anyway, to make a long story not quite so long, finally, in a 4th update to the story Deadline wrote, " Late tonight, "Team Coco" sources added this about "Team NBC": "I am of the understanding that he can't do that kind of thing [hosting a show] until September. And you should ask what [NBC is] afraid of his saying that they have to gag him anyway? Seems like a lot to spend to keep someone quiet, if that is their intent. If he did the Tony's and didn't make jokes about the situation, it would be lame. He won't take any job if he doesn't think he'll be great."

Swear-Heavy Pilot Title Giving CBS Pause In How to Name It

The CBS pilot based on a Twitter feed called "S*** My Dad Says" is causing some confusion as to what to name it, considering the naughty language in the source material, the New York Times reports.

Currently, the show's working title is "Bleep My Dad Says," but a CBS executive has said this isn't the official title of the show yet, assuming its brought to air.  

The pilot, starring William Shatner as the titular character, began shooting over the weekend. 

'Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution' Gains Steam on Friday

 The revolution will be televised, on Fridays. And actually attract viewers, to boot. 

"Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution," which posted disappointing premiere numbers last Sunday, actually gained viewers from its premiere, despite airing on Friday, a notoriously viewer-light night, the Hollywood Reporter reports. 

"Revolution" drew 7.5 million viewers, up 18% over its Sunday premiere, even though average Sunday viewership levels are substantially ahead of Fridays. "Revolution" also posted a 2.6 preliminary rating in the 18-49 year old demographic.  

The show held its own against big dogs like the NCAA March Madness tournament and Fox's "Kitchen Nightmares." 

Time Warner Chairman Bewkes Earned 9% Less in 2009

Even though Time Warner's chairman Jeff Bewkes pulled in a robust $19.6 million for 2009, that was down $2 million  from the year before, reports Multichannel News.

While Bewkes' $1.75 million salary was unchanged, Bewkes' stock option awards were hit hard, dropping 43% to $3.04 million. And he received no bonus for 2009.

According to the report, "While the dismal state of the economy has dragged on all media companies, Time Warner fared well in 2009. Revenue was down 3% to $25.8 billion due to slumping ad sales, but cash flow rose a healthy 9% to $5.7 billion. The company also completed several strategic initiatives during the year, including the split off of its Time Warner Cable distribution arm, the separation of its AOL online unit and the launching of its TV Everywhere initiative."

John Martin, TW's chief financial officer, also saw his total compensation dip 15% to $6.3 million.

Hallmark, Martha Stewart Enter Preliminary Talks Over New Channel

A pairing of Hallmark and Martha Stewart may be the recipe for a new lifestyle channel with the Stewart brand, similar to Discovery's Oprah Winfrey Network, reports B&C.

Crown Media Holdings, the parent company of Hallmark, currently has two programming outlets, the Hallmark Channel and the Hallmark Movie Channel. The reasoning behind the move would be for Crown to tap Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia's digital experience, and Stewart would expand her presence in the TV universe.  

However, insiders stress that the talks are tentative, and could result in a much smaller deal.

"The Martha Stewart Show" is joining Hallmark when it exits syndication, and the entire Stewart programming library has also been acquired by Hallmark. A new network would be in addition to those two previous deals.

Martin Short Joins Fox Pilot

Comic Martin Short, coming off a dramatic turn on FX's "Damages," is joining a Fox pilot, reports The Hollywood Reporter.

It's the IRS comedy, "Tax Man," which Ron Howard and Brian Grazer are putting together.

David Krumholtz will star in the sitcom set in a Fresno IRS office, with Short as the annoying, overbearing boss.

Former 'ER' Star On Board for '24' Finale

The last few hours of "24" are going to contain some familiar faces. 

Former "ER" star Eriq La Salle will be appearing on the last two hours of '24,' according to Entertainment Weekly.

'Lost' Drawing Almost $1 Million Per-30 To Advertise in the Finale

As "Lost" draws to a close, advertisers are bidding up 30-second spots in the finale with prices reaching $900,000, Advertising Age reports.

That represents more than a quadrupling of average $213,563 price the show fetched during last year's upfront, the trade publication says.

Click here to read the entire article to see why "Lost" is drawing such a high price for its finale, and to see a chart comparing what it's getting to finales of year's past.

'Big Love' Star Says Show Is 'Awful'

"Big Love" star Chloe Sevigny, who plays  Nicolette Grant on the HBO series, tells Entertainment Weekly's Michael Ausiello that  she called "Big Love" creators Will Scheffer and Mark V. Olsen to apologize for calling the program's fourth season "awful" in an interview with The Onion's A.V. Club site. Sevigny says she felt her words were taken out of context and the reporter was trying to provoke her.

"My first concern was I didn’t want HBO or Will and Mark, the creators of our show, to think that I was biting the hand that feeds me," Sevigny tells EW, adding that they accepted her apology.

The reporter who originally interviewed Sevigny responded by writing on the A.V. Club site that, "I’m not really sure how a statement like “It was awful this season” can possibly be taken out of context."

'Desperate Housewives' Star Teri Hatcher, Disney, Lauching Web Site Targeted to 'Chicks'

Teri Hatcher, one of the stars of "Desperate Housewives," is partnering with Disney to lauch a Web site targeted to "chicks," The Hollywood Reporter reports.

According to the article, "Nicknamed 'a chick's guide to life,' the site is produced by Disney Family.com, with creative and editorial insight from Hatcher and a small team of contributors.

The free, ad-supported site, which can be found at gethatched.com, right now is just a tease site...It's expected fo formally lauch later this spring.

Sinclair Signs ABC Affiliation Pact for 9 TV Stations--Concedes That Part of Deal Is a Pass Through To ABC of Some of Sinclair's Retrans Monies

Sinclair Broadcast Group has signed a new affiliation agreement with ABC Network covering nine television stations, and as part of the deal Sinclair acknowledged that the agreement includes a license fee, based in part on retransmission consent revenue, MediaWeek reports.

According to the article, Sinclair said, in a statement announcing the deal, " 'We believe that the pass through to the networks of a reasonable portion of the fees that broadcasters receive is a necessary and appropriate way to make sure that the networks continue to be able to provide the most popular programming on television,' said Barry Faber, evp and general counsel for Sinclair. "Over time, we expect that the fees paid by multichannel video program distributors to acquire content will be reallocated so that the payments they make more closely correlate with the popularity of programming. As a result, the fees paid to broadcasters are likely to increase to more appropriate levels, which will allow affiliates to share these fees with the networks in a measured manner, while the local stations continue to benefit from this dual revenue stream."

In other words, Faber is saying that since broadcast programs are generally much more popular than cable programs, that more retans monies should swtich from going to cable programers to broadcasters. 

. ABC and other TV networks have been seeking a portion of TV affiliates retransmission compensation.
Mediaweek reports. The pact was signed after two extensions beyond the former affiliation agreement's 2009 expiration, the trade publication says.
http://www.mediaweek.com/mw/content_display/news/local-broadcast/e3if745772b249372dd4fb5b2d1b88daba1

The renewal includes ABC stations in St. Louis, Columbus Ohio and Dayton, Ohio and covers about 5% of U.S. television households, Daily Variety adds. The pact is good through August 2015 and requires Sinclair to pay ABC a "license fee" to ABC to air its programming, Variety says. http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118016982.html?categoryid=14&cs=1

Woods of 'FlashFoward' Cast in NBC Pilot

Christine Woods, the co-star of "FlashForward," has been hired as the co-star of NBC's comedy pilot "Perfect Couples," the Hollywood Reporter says. The concept focuses on three couples, with the focus on the character played by Woods and her fictional husband, the trade publication says.

According to the article, in other casting news, Teri Polo has been tapped for TBS' pilot "Glory Daze," a fraternity comedy in which she'll play an English professor.  Vinnie Jones has been hired for a guest-starring role in NBC's drama pilot "The Cape," while Gabriel Morales has joined the ABC pilot "It Takes a Village." 

DirecTV to Launch ESPN's 3D Channel

DirecTV has become the fist distributor to announce that it will carry ESPN's new 3D channel.

According to the ESPN announcement, "ESPN 3D will showcase a minimum of 85 live sporting events during its first year, beginning June 11 with the first 2010 FIFA World Cup match, featuring South Africa versus Mexico. Other events to be produced in 3D include X Games 16, 2010 college football ACC Championship, 2011 BCS National Championship game, college basketball and NBA games in 2011."

This 3D service is for the new generation of TV sets that are 3D capable. Viewers must wear special polarized glasses--some active, some passive--with clear lenses, to get the 3D effect.

DirectTV will not charge extra for ESPN 3D if a subscriber already receives ESPN.

Also, according to the announcement, DirecTV has some more details about the other 3D offerings it will have: "In addition to N3D™ powered by Panasonic, which will deliver the best 3D programming from programmers such as AEG/AEG Digital Media, CBS, Fox Sports/FSN, Golden Boy Promotions, HDNet, MTV, NBC Universal and Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., DIRECTV will also offer a 24/7 3D pay per view channel and a 24/7 3D DIRECTV on Demand channel, beginning this June. This June, DIRECTV HD customers will receive a free software upgrade enabling them to have access to the 3D channels on DIRECTV. DIRECTV HD customers will need a 3D television set and 3D glasses to view 3D programming on DIRECTV."

In Living Color: Fox Picks Up Jamie Foxx Pilot

Fox has picked up a pilot from the multi-talented Academy Award-winning actor Jamie Foxx.

Foxx, well known for being on Fox's popular early 1990s series "In Living Color" before moving on to his own self-titled show, has pitched Fox on a show reminiscent of "Color," reports The Hollywood Reporter.

The new Foxx show will be an sketch-comedy program with an urban angle, the publication says.

The article says the project is really the merging of two separate shows Fox was pitched: "Foxx was looking to do a sketch-comedy series with an urban twist and paired with Fax Bahr and Adam Small to pitch the idea to Fox. Separately, Sony TV-based Tantamount was working on a sketch-comedy project starring Affion Crockett, probably best known for his spoofs of Russell Simmons, Kanye West, Chris Brown, Drake and Jay-Z. Crockett also was attached to co-write with Carl Jones, a producer on Sony's animated comedy "The Boondocks," on which Jones voiced characters alongside Crockett and also served as a producer."

'Smallville' Team Sues Warner Bros. TV

Miles Millar and Alfred Gough, who served as showrunners and executive producers of "Smallville" during its first seven seasons, have sued Warner Bros. TV for breach of contract, The Hollywood Reporter says.

Tollin-Robbins Prods., which helped develop the show, is also a plaintiff in the suit.

The suit claims that the show's original producers were shortchanged millions because Warner Bros. TV licensed the program to its affiliated WB Network and successor the CW at lower-than-market rates, the publication says. Warner Bros. TV declined to comment on the lawsuit, THR adds.

According to THR, "So-called "vertical integration" cases were all the rage at the beginning of the decade, thanks to the consolidation of TV production and distribution following the lifting of 'fin-syn' rules. That resulted in a wave of lawsuits brought by profit participants on shows whose owners were licensing content to sister-company distributors. Participants on 'Home Improvement' and 'The X-Files' reportedly received massive settlements after claiming in lawsuits against Disney and Fox, respectively, that vertical integration cost them millions. A trial over profits from NBC's hit comedy 'Will & Grace' actually reached a jury, but the case was settled before the verdict was read."

CNBC's Bartiromo Ditches 'Money Honey' Trademark for Consumer Products

Maria Bartiromo has allowed the trademarks on her 1990s bull-market nickname "Money Honey" expire for several consumer trademarks, the New York Post reports.

While Bartiromo had reportedly initially disliked the name, she filed in 2007 to trademark the term across several products ranging from a Website to toy action figures, the newspaper says. The Post adds that the Bartiromo's lawyer couldn't be reached to explain why the trademarks had been abandoned.

Damn! It's Official--'24' Really Canceled

In what might be the longest "expected" cancellation of a show in TV history, Fox's "24" has been officially canceled. There are 11 hours left and the show will end with a two-hour finale during the May sweeps on Monday, May 24. There will likely be another night leading up to the finale that will also show two episodes back-to-back. The show ends after its eighth season.

News of the show's possible cancelation this season was first brought to the attention of the TV industry by TVWeek, we believe, back on August 24, 2009. That's the day iFmagazine.com published an article by Abbie Bernstein, in which she quoted Fox Entertainment President Kevin Reilly as saying that this season might be the series' last. Noting that the show was expensive to produce--reportedly about $4 million an episode--he noted that the network's contract with the show, and the creative team responsible for it, ended after this season. 

As Reilly said at the time, "It's going to come down to a business decision."

Fox Broadcasting ended up passing on renewing the show. There had been some talk in recent weeks that NBC would pick it up, but that didn't happen.

"24's" longtime showrunner, Howard Gordon, commenting on the demise of the series, told the Los Angeles Times Show Tracker blog, "If they said tomorrow that you have a ninth season, it's not something we'd be up for because we realize Jack's story in the real-time format has been told. Jack is a wonderful character who can live past the '24' real-time franchise. As far as doing this high wire act...this is far as we can take it."

Both Gordon and "24" star Kiefer Sutherland, who plays the serie's iconic lead character, Jack Bauer, had said that they are looking forward to the previously announced plans for a feature film version of "24." Thus far it's still in development, and a first-draft screenplay has been written.

Here's what Sutherland told Show Tracker about ending the TV version of "24"--the show is scheduled to wrap production April 9: "We’re still working, and I’m desperately trying to keep my head in that and I think everyone else is as well. I know the end will be a very difficult day, and I would love to have avoided it. It’s hard. I broke it down the other day: I've worked on '24' more than half of my professional career. We've made 196 hours of TV...close to 100 movies. That's a very successful career in itself. I think Gene Hackman and my father [actor Donald Sutherland] are the only two people who've made more stuff than that. So it would be silly for me to pretend the end of this would not have a huge impact on my life."

To read a tribute to "24," and why it's been so successful, written a few weeks ago by TVWeek Open Mic blogger Chuck Ross, click here.  

Report: Amanpour's $2 Million Paycheck for 'This Week' Gig Upsets Some ABC News Staffers

Despite ABC News slashing jobs in its newsroom, former CNN host Christiane Amanpour will make a rumored $2 million a year for her new position as anchor of ABC's "This Week," The New York Post reports. 

ABC News announced it would cut 400 jobs from its payroll earlier this year.

The Post reports that staffers are bitter that Amanpour is arriving with such a hefty price-tag in the midst of the layoffs. An ABC representative refused comment. 

Video: Letterman Tells Jamie Oliver Why Trying to Get Americans to Eat Better Will Never Work

Basketball Rules in Thursday Night Nielsens

CBS's March Madness secured a solid victory in the Thursday night Nielsen race, with the double-header of games sweeping aside the competition, according to TVbythenumbers.com.

At 8 PM, the NCAA coverage for the hour averaged a 3.6 rating in the 18-49 demographic, while NBC's "Community" and "Parks & Recreation" collected a 2.0 and 1.9 respectively. ABC's "FlashForward" averaged a 1.8 for the hour and CW's "Vampire Diaries" was 1.5 in the 18-49 for the hour.

At nine o'clock, basketball on CBS had a 4.0 average in the 18-49 demo, with ABC's "Grey's Anatomy" getting closer with a 3.6 average. NBC's "The Office" and "30 Rock" were next with a 3.5 and 2.9, respectively. CW's "Supernatural" fell behind with a 1.2 in the 18-49 rating.

With a 3.9 average rating in the 18-49 demo, CBS stayed on top from 10-11. ABC's "Private Practice" averaged a 2.95 rating and NBC's "The Marriage Ref" remained competitive with a 2.5 average in the 18-49 demo.

NBC's 'Minute' Getting More Time to Win It with Viewers

An email sent to NBC affiliates announced that the game show "Minute to Win It" is taking over the 8 p.m. Wednesday time slot held by struggling drama "Mercy," TheWrap reports. 

The move will be for three weeks only, and "Mercy" was set to air repeats during that time. "Minute" will continue to air on Sundays, as well. 

The email also said the premiere of the latest season of "Friday Night Lights" is being pushed a week until May 7, as the network is happy with the performance of "Who Do You Think You Are?" 

Fox Slots Special Start Time for 'Glee' Return

Fox already announced "Glee's" April 13 spring premiere would receive a special end time, but now the network announced a special start time for the highly-anticipated return. 

The show will begin at a special time -- 9:28 p.m.. "Glee" is going to have "American Idol" as a lead-in, so Fox is counting on fans to keep the channel locked on Fox.

The "Glee" episode, called "Hello-o," will run till 10:30 p.m., cutting into the usual local programming by the Fox affiliates.

Commencing April 20, "Glee" will return to its regular time slot, Tuesday at 9 p.m.

Correspondent Kimberly Dozier, Who Was the Victim of a Roadside Bomb in Iraq, Leaves CBS News for AP

CBS Middle East correspondent Kimberly Dozier, who was nearly killed by a roadside bomb in Iraq while on the job, has decided to leave CBS News for a position with the AP, reports Mediabistro.com.

CBS News President Sean McManus confirmed her exit in an email memo this morning, saying, "It is my bittersweet task to inform you that Kimberly Dozier will be moving on to a new and exciting opportunity with the Associated Press.

Kimberly's commitment and courage is legendary throughout the industry. Her reporting, both before and after her almost fatal injuries from an Iraqi bomb attack and a painful, arduous recovery, is a testament to the true power and purpose of the press."

CBS Plans Back Door Pilot for 'Criminal Minds' Spinoff

"Criminal Minds" fans could be getting more crime-stopping action, as CBS plots out a back-door pilot for a spinoff of the five-season old show, the New York Post reports.

The Forrest Whitaker spinoff of "Criminal Minds" -- a back door pilot much like last season's "NCIS: Los Angeles" -- will hit the airwaves during the April 7th episode of the hit CBS series.

Whitaker will play a long-time FBI agent, Sam Cooper, who's called in to help with a San Francisco serial murder case.

Cooper's character is complicated, having walked away from the job for eight years without explanation.

If the show is successful, CBS could slate the spinoff into next year's schedule.

DirecTV In Retrans Conflict with Midwest Stations; Could Affect March Madness at One Station

Citadel Communications is caught in a conflict with DirecTV over retransmission consent, reports B&C.

Three Citadel stations, ABC affiliates WOI Des Moines, Iowa and KLKN Lincoln, Nebraska, and CBS affiliate WHBF Davenport, Iowa, will go dark at midnight March 31 unless a new agreement is made with DirecTV to carry the stations' signals.

The timing of this disagreement is particularly tough for the Davenport station because it's carrying NCAA basketball tournament coverage. 

Is Anderson Cooper Going to Try a Talk Format?

CNN’s Anderson Cooper may be trying out a new format this spring, TVNewser reports.

TVNewser picked up on a Cindy Adams tidbit in the NY Post this week that said Cooper would be headlining a nightly talk show for the network with “eclectic-type guests.”

TVNewser says its own sources say Cooper may be doing “a few specials on Fridays at 11 p.m. later this spring.”

Nikki Finke Says She Was Offered $450,000 Annual Salary, Plus $1 Million Malibu Home, To Become Editor-in-Chief of The Hollywood Reporter

Nikke Finke, of Deadline Hollywood fame, says that in January she was offered an annual salary of $450,000 and a $1 million house in Malibu to become editor-in-chief of venerable trade publication The Hollywood Reporter.

In a piece at dealine.com today [Friday morning, March 26], Finke wrote: "last night, Richard Beckman, formerly Condé Nast's Fairchild Fashion Group CEO who's now CEO of THR's parent company e5 Global Media, [said] "there is no truth to the report" that I'd been offered THR's editor-in-chief.

"Huh? I've gone over my notes, and let me reaffirm that the offer was real and detailed and made to me by one of Beckman's bosses during a phone conversation on the night of January 13th. It consisted of: $450,000 annual salary for becoming editor-in-chief of The Hollywood Reporter. Plus a $1 million Malibu home which, I was told, "you can keep whether you stay 5 minutes or 5 years" in the job. (Why this? Because I had said that some day I want to buy a Malibu condo with an ocean view.) Plus a sum "roughly estimated" at $650,000 a year for my share of several cable TV deals which e5 anticipated making for THR. And so on. Other people know about this offer, too."

Finke goes on to say that though the offer was lucrative, that she also felt that it was ludicrous "considering how many THR journalists are going to lose their jobs when e5 Global Media transitions the trade from a weekday paper to a monthly glossy magazine, and website operation filled with syndicated content, and cable TV programmer."

Actors Hope to Have Show With Cult Following on Syfy Channel With Show About Actors Who Used to Have Sci-Fi Show With Cult Following

Former "Smallville" star Michael Rosenbaum will be one of the stars in a new live-action half-hour comedy, called "Saved by Zeroes," that is part of Syfy’s push into the genre, reports The Hollywood Reporter.

Rosenbaum created the show based on his own experiences. It’s about two friends (the other will be played by Jonathan Silverman) who have a cult following from their days acting on a sci-fi show.

Showtime Approves Third Seasons for Two of Its Show

Just one episode into their second seasons, Showtime has given the green light to third seasons to two of its series, B&C reports.

The shows are “Nurse Jackie” and “The United States of Tara."

The Monday premiere of “Nurse Jackie” drew the show’s biggest audience yet, 1.52 million viewers. “Tara” had 1.165 million viewers for its premiere, which was about the same as last season.

Contract Extension for Kevin Reilly, President, Fox Entertainment

With "American Idol" still TV's top dawg, and a lot of its other programming doing well, Fox has given Kevin Reilly a contract renewal. Reilly is President, Fox Entertainment.

The news was first reported by Nikki Finke at Deadline.com. Finke wrote, "His contract wasn't up until July, but Fox Broadcasting Co wanted to lock him in early as because of all the TV hits he's generating like 'Glee' and 'The Cleveland Show' and 'Fringe.' And for the first time in the network's history Fox won the fall -- outperforming its nearest competitors by 6% in the adult demo, 35% among adults 18-34, and 50% among teens."

Sports TV Pioneer Chet Simmons Dead at 81

Chester R. "Chet" Simmons, who was a pioneer in broadcast sports before becoming ESPN’s president when it launched in 1979, died Thursday in Atlanta, ESPN reports.

He was 81.

Simmons started in the business in 1957 at ABC Sports-precursor Sports Programs, Inc. While at ABC Sports, he helped developed the signature program “Wide World of Sports.”

He was later the president of NBC Sports before going to ESPN.

Spike Launching Fight Site

Spike TV is getting into mixed martial arts in an even bigger way, with the launch of the site UltimateFighter.com for fans, B&C reports.

The site will launch along with the 11th season of Spike’s UFC series, “The Ultimate Fighter." Every episode and fight from the earlier seasons will be available on the site, with the current season added once the television window has ended.

James Dolan, Bonnie Hammer, Lead NCTA Nine Vanguard Award Honorees

The National Cable & Telecommunications Association announced the winners of its 2010 Vanguard Awards and the top honors go to NBC Universal’s Bonnie Hammer and Cablevision’s James Dolan.

The two will receive “Distinguished Leadership” awards at the NCTA’s Cable Show in L.A. May 11-13.

Hammer is president, NBC Universal Cable Entertainment and Universal Cable Productions, and Dolan is president and CEO of Cablevision Systems Corp. and executive chairman, Madison Square Garden.

The other seven honorees are Cathy Avgiris, Comcast; Marwan Fawaz, Charter; Josh Sapan, Rainbow Media; Peter Stern, Time Warner Cable; Howard Symons, Mintz Levin Cohn Ferris Glovsky and Popeo; Alexandra (Sandy) Wilson, Cox; David Zagin, A&E.

To see the NCTA's announcement about all of the honorees, as well as details about attending the ceremony, click here.

CW to Double Ad Content in the Online Version of Its Shows

The CW plans to double the number of commercials it runs in Web versions of its shows, bringing them to par with the number of commercials in the broadcast versions, the Wall Street Journal reports [The WSJ uses a subscription model. A non-pay version of this story is at fierceonlinevideo.com)

The network said that more of its viewers are checking out its shows online. With parity in the number of ads, regardless of where viewers see them, the network is hoping to sell combined Web/TV packages to advertisers, the WSJ reports.

The key will be to find out if the viewers of CW shows online mind the same number of commercials that the network shows on broadcast.

State Dinner-Crashing Worked: Salahis Part of a D.C. ‘Housewives’

White House State Dinner crashers Tareq and Michaele Salahi are being rewarded for their antics: They are front and center in Bravo’s “Real Housewives of D.C.” expected to premiere in the summer, The Daily Beast reports.

The stunt cost presidential Social Secretary Desiree Rogers her job, and the Salahis were summoned to answer questions before Congress but refused.

Daily Beast cites sources who say all 12 episodes of the season have been shot. Bravo had been trying to keep the show under wraps but Time Warner Cable sales spilled the beans by announcing ‘advertising opportunities” around the show.

Bravo wouldn’t comment “beyond the fact that we’re doing the show and the production process continues.”

FCC Chief Vague on Whether Broadcasters Would be Forced to Give Up Spectrum

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski, at a House Communications & Internet Subcommittee hearing on the FCC’s broadband plan, was vague when asked whether broadcasters would be forced to give up spectrum if voluntary measures didn’t work, B&C reports.

Genachowski was being questioned by former House Energy & Commerce Committee Chairman Re. John Dingell. The FCC chairman did say he couldn’t commit to a voluntary-only plan, although that is what the commission is focused on.

Cable Ratings Drop in First Quarter

Cable ratings in the first quarter dropped 2% among viewers in the 18-49-year-old demo, while during the same time period broadcast networks gained 2% among that same demo, Media Daily News reports, citing stats from Nielsen Media Research.

The last time cable took a hit like this--again it was 2%--was also when there was a winter Olympic games--back in 2006.

The report notes, "Another uncommon occurrence for cable: it is also down slightly -- 1% -- in season-to-date prime-time ratings through March 21, to an 18.0 number. The four broadcast networks are also down for the year -2%. The good news for broadcast is that it is somewhat lower than in previous years -- down 4% in 2009 versus the previous year. It was down 10% in 2008 versus 2007. "

The Media Daily News article also reports about how some of cable's highest-rated shows are heavily taped, especially among the 18-14 demo. According to the article, ""Burn Notice" climbs 71% to 3.2 million 18-49 viewers when including seven days of time-shifted viewing; "Project Runway" gets more than double its live airing from time-shifted viewing -- 109% -- to 1.3 million of its 2.2 million total; and "Psych" climbs 80% to 2.2 million."

Fox Sports Chief Promises Younger Talent for Super Bowl Half-Time Show

Fox Sports president David Hill is promising younger musical talent for next year's Super Bowl half-time show,  the Los Angeles Times reports.

This year's Super Bowl halftime show featured legendary rock band The Who. Hill joked that he became nauseous have seeing Pete Townshend's flabby belly during the performance. He said he is a big fan of The Who, but time has slowly picked away at the band. 

As for a replacement, Hill said he'd like to see some young country divas rocking out during the half-time show. Partly because he's a country music fan, and partly because the game is in Dallas in 2011. 

"It's kick-ass country down in Texas," he said. 

When Hill says younger, no word if he'll go so far as to try and hire some of the E*Trade babies for the halftime gig, and no word whether Lindsay Lohan will sue.

It's Official: TLC Gets 'Sarah Palin's Alaska'

After going back and forth between Discovery and A&E, Mark Burnett's "Sarah Palin's Alaska" has landed in the Discovery fold, the TLC network to be exact, reports the Los Angeles Times.

Early reports hinted that "Alaska" would end up with Discovery's TLC, but TLC is positioning the show more as a documentary than as a reality show. Network execs said Palin and her family will have an active role in the show, but will focus more on the surround Alaskan backdrop.  

Eight episodes have been ordered, and while no price was announced, reports have circulated that there may be a more than $1 million license fee per episode.

The show is expected to begin airing later this year.

Report: HBO Selects NFL Team for Latest Season of 'Hard Knocks'

Football fans are going to continue to get a behind-the-scenes taste of the NFL, as sources close to negotiations have said HBO has decided on the latest team to be featured in its "Hard Knocks" series, the New York Times reports. 

Cameras this year will be in the training camp of the New York Jets. In previous years, "Hard Knocks" has taken viewers into training camp for other teams, including the Kansas City Chiefs and the Cincinnati Bengals.

The Jets were a playoff team in 2009, making it all the way to the AFC championship game. The team's stars include the recently acquired running back LaDanian Tomlinson, quarterback Mark Sanchez and colorful coach Rex Ryan.

One player, linebacker Bart Scott, expressed skepticism about the cameras invading training camp.

Scott told the New York Times, "I want training camp to remain pure and original. I want people to behave the way they normally behave. We all have our part in expanding the game, and I understand that. But I don’t like environments that are forced.”

MSG Enthusiastic About 3-D Sports Future

Last night's broadcast of NHL hockey in 3D on the MSG network has been declared a success by the network, reports B&C.

The game -- the New York Rangers vs. the New York Islanders -- was the first live 3D sports telecast on cable.

MSG Media President Mike Bair told B&C, "This will be the future of sports television."

While MSG estimates that maybe a handful of people saw the game on 3D TV sets that became available two weeks ago, over 2,500 excited fans watched the game in the Theater at Madison Square Garden using 3D glasses, paying $20 each for their seats.

Bair said viewing parties like this might be an excellent business in the short term, as many Rangers and Knicks games are already sold out. 

NBC, CBS Aren't the Only Ones: Lifetime has Jennifer Love Hewitt, Too

Jennifer Love Hewitt isn’t just guest-starring in the NBC pilot “Love Bites,” she’s also going to headline an original movie for Lifetime, reports The Hollywood Reporter.

The film, written by Suzanne Martin (“Frasier”) is tentatively titled "The List."

Love plays a former beauty queen in a small town in Texas, who must go to work in a massage parlor to save her family’s home after her husband is injured and can’t work.

Slime-less Nick ‘Big Help’ Award for First Lady

First lady Michelle Obama will get a “Big Help” award from Nickelodeon at its Kids' Choice Awards Saturday. But, since she won’t be in attendance, she will miss the traditional greeting for winners—a dousing with green slime, the Associated Press reports.

The first lady is being honored for her campaign to reduce childhood obesity, called “Let’s Move.”

Nickelodeon has worked with her on the campaign, donating money for after-school play programs.

It's the End of an Era: MTV Kills Reality Show Pop Culture Titan

A six-year MTV reality series will end its run after this season, EW.com reports.

“The Hills,” which brought Heidi Montag and Audrina Patridge to fame, will air the final 12 episodes beginning April 27.

“I think we’ve told the story of struggle and of finding yourself in L.A.,” creator Adam DiVello told EW, adding, “A lot of these kids have found themselves and have certainly embarked on different careers and different paths.”

CBS Is Getting Its Own Dancing Show, Possibly With a Certain Former 'Idol' Judge

First CBS said it will join the chef competition series crush and now the network is adding a dance show, reports The Hollywood Reporter.

The network will bring Reveille’s U.K. hit "Got to Dance" Stateside.

This dance-off is for “all-ages all-genres,” THR says, with judges voting until semifinals and finals, when viewers get to vote as well.

And—wait for it—THR said CBS has expressed interest in having Paula Abdul as a judge.

‘Private Practice’ Loses Showrunners

Robert Rovner and Jon Cowan stepped down as executive producers/showrunners of ABC's "Private Practice," with no immediate replacements being named, reports The Hollywood Reporter.

No reason was given for the exit. All the remaining episode stories for the current season have been developed, so there is no rush to replace the two.

The show is expected to return next season.

This Could Be Fun: At Emmy Time, Jay's 'Tonight Show' Could Be Up Against Conan's 'Tonight Show'

Conan O'Brien’s “Tonight Show” and Jay Leno’s “Tonight Show” could soon be going mano-a- mano in competition for Emmy awards, TheWrap reports.

The TV Academy said that both versions of the show will be eligible for Emmy nominations this summer, although it’s highly unlikely that NBC will pay for any campaign to push O’Brien’s version.

But there's nothing preventing O'Brien from being a little stinker and backing a campaign himself for the work he and his staff did on his shortlived "Tonight Show," if for no other reason than it would be fun to do and get a ton of media attention.

Facebook Blamed For Increased Rates of Sexually Transmitted Disease in Britain

Facebook is being blamed by a professor in the United Kingdom for facilitating the increase in a sexually transmitted disease, the New York Daily News reports, referring to an article in the U.K.'s Daily Telegraph.

Says the Daily News: "The incidence of syphilis has quadrupled in the areas of Great Britain where the social networking site is most popular, reports the Daily Telegraph, causing some experts to wonder whether it's paved the way for casual hookups."

Prof. Peter Kelly, director of pubic health in Teesside, told the Daily Telegraph, “Social networking sites are making it easier for people to meet up for casual sex. There has been a fourfold increase in the number of syphilis cases detected, with more young women being affected."

According to a second article in the Daily Telegraph, Facebook has responded by saying the connecting of Facebook to a rise in STD was "ridiculous."

According to the Telegraph, "the network issued a statement saying that 'Facebook is no more responsible for STD transmission than newspapers are responsible for bad vision.'

Furthermore, according to the Telegraph, a Facebook spokesman said that “Today’s reports exaggerate the comments made by the professor, and ignore the difference between correlation and causation.” 

Awesome! 17-Year-Old Chicago Area Teen, Who Is Autistic, Has Picked All the Winners so Far in March Madness Basketball; Odds are 13 Million-to-One

Alex Herrmann, a 17-year-old who lives outside of Chicago, claims to have picked all 48 games played thus far in the NCAA Basketball Tourney correctly, according to nbcchicago.com.

Says the story, Bookofodds.com says the odds of picking the winner in all 48 games that have been played is 13,460,000-to-one. And given the upsets we've had this year, one would think it would be even more difficult.

Furthermore, nbcchicago says it contacted ESPN, and of the 4.78 million bracket cards that have been registered to ESPN's site, the best anyone has done is picked 44 games correctly.

Herrmann entered his bracket at CBSsports.com, which actually doesn't track how its entrants perform, the story says. The part of the site that he entered his bracket in isn't locked down after the tourney begins, but members of Herrmann's family, including his brother who also entered a bracket and is not doing well, claim no one has altered Alex's picks after the tournament began.

Alex's final four consists of Tennessee, Kentucky, Kansas St. and Purdue. His championship game is Kansas St. vs. Purdue, with the school of which his brother is an alumnus, Purdue taking it all.

To see and print out Alex's entire bracket, click here.

And now, here's a video interveiw nbcchicago (WMAQ) did with Alex:

TV Guide Network Buys Reruns of Another Pay Cable Hit

TV Guide Network already bought the rerun rights to HBO’s "Curb Your Enthusiasm" and now it’s picked up another quirky pay cable hit, reports the Los AngelesTimes.

The show is Showtime’s “Weeds.” It’s produced by Lions Gate Entertainment, which also owns the TV Guide Network.

Editing the show for basic cable could be tricky, the paper notes, given the show’s theme of drug dealing, and its foul language and constant drug use.

Simon Cowell To Receive Special Emmy

Simon Cowell, who is either on or owns a number of top TV shows in a number of markets around the world, will receive a special Emmy.

The International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences will award Cowell its 2010 International Emmy Founders Award.

According to a statement, " 'Simon Cowell is an entrepreneur and performer in equal measure. He has built an international empire and in so doing has changed the face of television around the world,' ” said Bruce Paisner, president and CEO of the International Academy.

Also in a statement, Cowell said, " 'I'm delighted. I've been very lucky to be able to make shows that I love.' "

Cowell and his company have developed two formats popular in a number of interational markets: the "Got Talent" franchise (as in "Britain's Got Talent," "America's Got Talent") and the "X Factor."

In Time for the Upfront: Starcom, Zenith Hook Up with Rentrak to Get Data From 15 Million Set-top Boxes

Starcom Media Group Exchange has signed a four-month deal to get set-top data from Rentrak, MediaDailyNews reports.

According to the article, " '[W]hat makes it so exciting,' says Tracey Scheppach, senior vice president of innovations director at SMGX. '15 million set-top boxes in the market are getting freed up.' By comparison, she notes that Nielsen's current TV sample size is around 12,000."

The article, by our former colleague Wayne Friedman, also says, "This is the second big media agency deal for Rentrak's National Upfront Package. A week ago, Rentrak struck a similar deal with Zenith Media. Its national upfront package is derived from its Rentrak's TV Essentials set-top product."

Both Starcom and Zenith are owned by Publicis Groupe.

Show That Made Siskel and Ebert Household Names Going Off Air After 24 Years

Disney-ABC Domestic TV is pulling the plug on the syndicated program the made Roger Ebert and Gene Siskel household names, reports The Hollywood Reporter Live Feed blog.

The show will end its run the weekend of August 14.

The show started in 1975 as "Sneak Previews;" it’s also been known as "Siskel & Ebert" and "Ebert & Roeper." Most recently it was known as "At the Movies."

[UPDATE: As the reader below correctly comments, "Sneak Previews" was indeed a separate show, started by WTTW, a PBS station in Chicago, featuring Siskel and Ebert.. It started as a monthly show, in 1975, called "Opening Soon at a Theater Near You." It was renamed "Sneak Previews" in 1977, and was on every other week and shown nationally on PBS stations. It then became weekly. Siskel and Ebert left the show in 1982 in a contract dispute. That same year Tribune Entertainment began airing "At the Movies with Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert." In yet another contract dispute, Siskel and Ebert left Tribune four years later in 1986, and went to Disney syndication, which created "Siskel & Ebert" for them. 

Disney syndication said in a statement: “This was a very difficult decision, especially considering the program's rich history and iconic status within the entertainment industry, but from a business perspective it became clear this weekly, half-hour, broadcast syndication series was no longer sustainable. We gratefully acknowledge the outstanding work of the program's current co-hosts A.O. Scott and Michael Phillips and top-notch production staff, and it is with heartfelt appreciation that we extend very special thanks to the two brilliant, visionary and incomparable critics that started it all, Roger Ebert and the late Gene Siskel.”

Siskel died in 1999. In recent years Ebert has not been able to speak due to a cancer operation he had. However, Ebert was recently on Oprah Winfrey's show and can now speak via an artificial voice, and said he would like to return to TV.

Lifetime Movie About Amish School Shooting That Killed Five Draws Fire

A Lifetime Movie Network adaptation of "Amish Grace: How Forgiveness Transcended Tragedy” will air this Sunday, March 28.

Oddly, the authors of the book didn't want the TV or movie rights sold to Lifetime--or anyone else for that matter--and their publisher sold those rights over the authors' objections, the Associated Press reports.

The book is about the mass shooting at a Pennsylvania Amish school. The authors said they declined to work with the movie producers out of respect for their subjects.

According to the AP report, "Elizabethtown College professor Donald B. Kraybill and two co-authors say their publisher, Jossey-Bass, sold the film rights to the book. They say they'll donate their proceeds to charity."

The movie is based on what happened at the West Nickel Mines Amish School in October 2006. Five girls were killed in the school shooting. 

Univision Unveils Huge Plans for Its World Cup Soccer Coverage

Univision Communications’ World Cup soccer is coming to video on demand, Multichannel News reports.

According to the article, "The Spanish-language media leader in the U.S. will offer viewers many assists in how they can view 64 matches: linear coverage on broadcast networks Univision and TeleFutura and cable cousin Galavision; Univision.com, which will stream matches live; Univision Movil and Univision on Demand. Univision, which is expected to announce VOD schedules soon, will keep all of the matches on its on-demand platform through the end of the month-long tourney, running from June 11-July11, giving distributors the option as to how long they will make that content available to their digital customers."

HBO Looking to Expand Online Relationships

HBO is happy enough with its current "TV Everywhere" online deals, with Verizon FiOS and Comcast, that it is looking to replicate them elsewhere, Multichannel News reports.

Eric Kessler, co-president of HBO, told Multichannel News/B&C's "TV Everywhere & Anywhere" event on Wednesday, March 24, that the network is in talks with a number of other distributors about similar deals that would make HBO shows available online to subscribers who pay for the service on cable.

Robert Culp Dies at 79; Was Best Known for Starring Opposite Bill Cosby on the Groundbreaking TV Show 'I Spy'

Suave, sophisticated Robert Culp, best known for playing suave, sophisticated Kelly Robinson in the groundbreaking TV show 'I Spy," has died at age 79. He died after a fall on a walk Wednesday morning, according to myriad media reports.

"I Spy," which ran on NBC from 1965 to 1968, was a landmark TV series because it was the first time an African American--Bill Cosby--had landed a regular starring role in a weekly TV primetime drama.

In the show Cosby's character, Alexander Scott, was paired with Culp's Robinson as spies posing as tennis players who traveled the world.

Said Cosby, upon hearing of the death of his friend Culp: "The first born in every family is always dreaming of the older brother or sister he or she doesn't have, to protect, to be the buffer, provide the wisdom, shoulder the blows and make things right. Bob was the answer to my dreams.

"No matter how many mistakes I made on 'I Spy,' he was always there to teach and protect me."

Cosby''s comments were reported by the Associated Press.

EW's TV Critic Ken Tucker wrote on Wednesday, "Culp in his prime had twinkling eyes, a sly smile, and a rapid, crisp way of delivering a line: he seemed to be a hyper-articulate wiseguy, a charming devil, whether he was playing tennis-pro Kelly Robinson...or simply himself on a talk- or game-show."

Tucker continued, "Culp’s TV career started in the late ’50s with the taut Western 'Trackdown.' He gave many memorable performances as his television career took off in the ’60s, including a starring role in a classic Outer Limits episode, 'Demon With A Glass Hand,' written by Harlan Ellison.

Culp was also a writer and director.

Tucker also recommends the film "Hickey & Boggs," which Culp directed from a script by Walter Hill. It stars Culp and Cosby. It's available right now on iTunes to rent for $2.99. 

Nintendo Says It Will Release a 3D Version of Its DS--WithOUT Users Needing Glasses!; Sony Exec is Skeptical

Nintento has announced it will come out with a 3D version of its popular DS portable gaming device. Furthermore, the company says the device, set to debut sometime before March, 2011, will not need users to wear glasses to get the 3D effect.

Information Week says that  "The DS, released in 2004, is the best-selling portable gaming device ever. As of the end of December 2009, Nintendo has sold 125 million units. By comparison, Sony has sold about 60 million units of the PlayStation Portable, which was released the same time as the DS. "

Furthermore, Information Week says, "Nintendo is apparently hoping the 3DS will help rejuvenate sales of the DS brand, which is slowing. In the current fiscal year ending March 31, Nintendo expects to sell 30 million units, down from 31.2 million units in the previous fiscal year."

Separtately, Sony director of hardware marketing John Koller told IGN  (according to CNET), "Having been in the portable space for quite awhile, I think it's an interesting move but one I'd like to see where they go from a demographic standpoint," Koller said...adding, "8- and 9-year-olds playing 3D is a little bit of a stretch given where some of our research is right now."

Furthermore, according to the CNET story, "For its part, Sony believes that the future in 3D is in the console. Koller said Sony intends to invest in 3D gaming for its PlayStation 3. A firmware update bringing 3D gaming to the PS3 is coming at some point in the future."

Jennifer Love Hewitt Will Play Self in NBC Pilot

Jennifer Love Hewitt has signed to portray herself in an NBC pilot, according to Michael Ausiello at EW.com.

According to the report, "the newly-single Ghost Whisperer star and self-professed romantaholic has been tapped to guest star in the promising NBC pilot ["Love Bites"] from "Sex and the City" scribe Cindy Chupack.

YouTube Phenom Lands Movie Deal with Nickelodeon, Hopes for Franchise Possibility

Despite baffling adults with his shrill voice and annoying demeanor, YouTube sensation "Fred" is coming to Nickelodeon with a movie of his own, the New York Times reports. The network made the announcement during its upfront presentation in Los Angeles today. 

The character, a six-year-old named Fred Figglehorn who frequently throws tantrums, was invented by Lucas Cruikshank, a 16-year-old from Nebraska. Cruikshank uploads videos as "Fred," and has racked up video views in the multimillions. 

"Fred: The Movie" was shot in December, and has been shopping for a distributor since then, leaning towards a theatrical release. That didn't happen, but "Fred" director-producer Brian Robbins is hoping the Nick connection leads to a larger "Fred" franchise. 

The movie airs on Nick this summer. 

'Miami Vice' Star Goes Comedic for ABC Pilot

Former "Miami Vice" and "Nash Bridges" star Don Johnson is jumping back into the television medium with a comedy pilot for ABC called "Southern Discomfort," reports The Futon Critic.

Oscar-winner Mary Steenburgen is also in the show, playing his wife. The plot revolves around Johnson's character, a conservative, whose life is turned to chaos when his grown children move home.

MSNBC Anchor Denies Senate Run Claimed by Republican Senator

Massachusetts Senator Scott Brown sent a fundraising letter to supporters asking for donations, claiming that he will be going up against MSNBC talk show host Rachel Maddow in the next election, according to The Huffington Post.

Maddow has denied that she is a candidate and joked about Brown's fundraising on her TV show Tuesday night. 

Maddow wondered why Brown's camp didn't call her to confirm her supposed Senate run before the letter was distributed. 

Multi-season Fox Comedy Gets Its 'Death' Notice

Fox is clearing out some of its programming underbrush, as a four-season old Fox sitcom received its cancellation notice, TheWrap reports. 

"'Til Death," starring Brad Garrett, has gotten the ax, with Fox confirming the cancellation today. Poor ratings is the cause of "Death's" death. 

"After year two, when you're getting beat by Telemundo, it's time to go home," Garrett said. "I mean, even the show my housekeeper watches was beating the show that was paying her salary. I'd come in the room, and she'd quickly turn off Telemundo."

"After year two, when you're getting beat by Telemundo, it's time to go home," Garrett said. "I mean, even the show my housekeeper watches was beating the show that was paying her salary. I'd come in the room, and she'd quickly turn off Telemundo."

"Death" was rumored to be dead last season, until a last-minute deal between Sony and Fox kept the show with a pulse.  The main reason for the last-minute renewal was due to the show nearing the syndication threshold. 

"Death" still has 14 episodes to air. 

The 'Jersey Shore' Cast Can Party, But Can They Write?

Those wanting to learn the arts of fake-tanning, using too much hair-gel and partying all day long will wait no longer, as a book from cast members of MTV's "Jersey Shore" is hitting shelves in early July, Publishers Weekly reports.

Jenni "Jwoww" Farley and Ronnie Ortiz-Magro, along with writer Marc Shaprio, have penned a "Shore" book entitled "Never Fall in Love at the Jersey Shore." St. Martin's Press is producing the book.

The book will talk about the balance of living the perfect Jersey shore lifestyle, balancing work, love and partying, along with proper skin, hair and nail upkeep.

The "Shore" book release is being timed for the program's second season premiere during the July 4 weekend.  

CBS Swapping Original Thursday Night Dramas, For One Time Only

CBS is flipping around its Thursday night schedule on April 1 to see what happens, the Futon Critic reports. 

On Thursday, April 1st, CBS will push "CSI" to 10 p.m., and Simon Baker's show "The Mentalist" will fill its spot at 9 p.m.

For right now, this is a one-time only switch, that may lead to something a little more permanent as "Mentalist" tends to outperform its "CSI" lead-in. 

TNT Expanding Online Interactivity For Thursday NBA Doubleheader

The March 25 TNT coverage of the Heat/Bulls and Mavericks/Trailblazers NBA doubleheader will bring fans an extra dose of online interactivity as additional live analysis, camera angles and behind-the-scenes material will be made available for online fans, Multichannel News reports. 

Teaming with NBA TV and NBA.com, this Thursday's "TNT NBA Thursday" will have Twitter reports from TNT personalities Kenny Smith, Chris Webber and Craig Sager, camera feeds from new cameras in unusual locations, a question-and-answer session by former NBA great and current TNT analyst Kevin McHale on Facebook and live chats.

"Thursday" host Ernie Johnson will also wear a pocket camera that will allow online viewers to see behind-the-scenes production meetings for the TNT telecast. 

NBC Sports Joining National Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame

NBC Sports, home to some of the most watched sporting events in U.S. television history, will be inducted into the National Association of Broadcasters Broadcasting Hall of Fame on April 12, NAB announced today.

Dick Ebersol, chairman of NBC Universal Sports & Olympics, will accept the award on behalf of the network at the NAB Show Television Luncheon on the 12th in Las Vegas.

Ebersol has been credited with bringing the Winter and Summer Olympics as a staple to NBC, after he became president of NBC Sports in 1989. 

'Grey's Anatomy' Star Confirms She's Through With the Show

Seattle Grace Hospital is going to be minus one doctor come next year, as a major star on "Grey's Anatomy" told  Entertainment Weekly that she is done as of now. 

Well, actually, she was done as of January. 

Katherine Heigl's character Izzie Stevens was last seen on "Anatomy" on Jan. 21, and it marks the the character and Heigl's exit from ABC's hit medical drama.

The actress told columnist Michael Ausiello that she will not be appearing in the final five shows of this season and her character, Izzie, will not be on the show next year.

Heigl told Ausiello, “We just finalized our agreement. Everyone had been working really hard to find an amicable and gracious way of letting go and moving on. It’s sad but it’s what I wanted.” 

Heigl says the main reason for her departure was her family, and not her film career. 

James Cameron Says Glenn Beck Called Cameron 'the Antichrist,' so Filmmaker Challenges Beck to Debate

Words are flying between James Cameron, creator of Hollywood box-office champs "Avatar" and "Titanic' and Fox News' Glenn Beck, according to MTV News.

According to the article, "Glenn Beck is a f---ing a--hole," [Cameron] said, according to The Associated Press. "I've met him. He called me the Antichrist, and not about 'Avatar.' He hadn't even seen 'Avatar' yet. I don't know if he has seen it."

Furthermore, the MTV article said, "On Tuesday, after slamming Beck at the 'Avatar' press conference, Cameron then seemed to backpedal. 'I think, you know what, he may or may not be an a--hole, but he certainly is dangerous, and I'd love to have a dialogue with him,' he said, going on to suggest a debate about environmental and political issues."

Forget ABC and 'Star Search' for Abdul--THIS is the Latest Word on Where She Might Resurface

Reports of where former “American Idol” judge Paula Abdul is headed next keep surfacing and keep falling through. Now another one has bubbled up: TheWrap says she is in talks with NBC about joining a new project from Kenny Ortega (“High School Musical,” “This Is It.”)

The series, from the producer of NBC’s “The Biggest Loser,” would pit teams of contestants staging large choreographed dance acts, in public spaces.

Abdul recently dropped out of an ABC “Star Search” revival and former colleague Simon Cowell has also suggested he’d like her for his new Fox show “The X Factor.”

Al Franken Enlists ‘SNL’ Star to Raise Campaign Funds

Sen. Al Franken has turned to his former show "Saturday Night Live" and one of its stars, Seth Meyers, to help fill his campaign coffers, the Associated Press reports.

Meyers, the show’s head writer and the host of its “Weekend Update,” will headline a $50 a head fundraiser for the Minnesota Senator on Saturday. It will benefit Franken’s Midwest Values PAC.

Franken was on staff on the show from 1975 to 1980 and from 1985 to 1995.

'Fish Named Called Wanda' Oscar Winner to Star in a New Series Being Developed for Cable

The Oscar-winning star of  "A Fish Named Called Wanda" will play a doctor in a new series being developed for cable TV.

HBO is developing a series that will star Kevin Kline as a doctor trying to rebuild his life after a prison term for killing his mistress, reports The Hollywood Reporter.

It will be Kline’s first TV series. The show is being written by David Auburn.

Court Temporarily Lifts Media Ownership Limits

The Third Circuit Court of Appeals vacated its stay of the media ownership rules, which means a temporary loosening of the rules governing newspaper-broadcast cross-ownership, reports B&C.

The court said briefs will begin May 17.

According to the article, "In a status report filed with the court in October, the commission reaffirmed that its 2008 decision to loosen the ban no longer necessarily reflected the views of a majority of the commission (unlike in 2008, the current majority is Democratic). In May, when Democrats gained the majority, the commission had made that point to the court in asking that the stay be kept in place. The court complied but has since sought the status report on the FCC's progress on the issue."

‘Nurse Jackie’ Hits New Highs

Showtime’s second-season premiere of “Nurse Jackie” notched a series high, Multichannel News reports.

The show drew 1.08 million viewers in its 10 p.m. premiere and another 437,000 at 11 p.m. The 10 p.m. number was 8 percent above the season one premiere of 1 million.

'Fringe' Using Web to Catch Viewers Up

The Fox paranormal drama “Fringe,” which has been off the air for two months, is using the Web to catch viewers up and remind them where the story stands, the New York Times reports.

A Web site the network is calling “Fringe 101” is streaming for free four “essential episodes” that it promises will give viewers what they need to know to join the show when it turns April 1.

According to the report, " 'By watching these four key episodes, you will understand the ‘Fringe’ storyline and can jump right in to watch the rest of the season on Fox,' ” the site says."

‘Scrubs’ Star: Show is ‘No More’

"Scrubs" star Zach Braff has announced the end of the ratings-challenged show after nine seasons, but ABC won’t confirm it, reports The Hollywood Reporter.

In a Facebook post, Braff wrote: "Many of you have asked, so here it is: It appears that 'New Scrubs,' 'Scrubs 2.0,' 'Scrubs with new kids,' 'Scrubbier,' 'Scrubs without JD' is no more. It was worth a try, but alas ... it didn't work. zb".

ABC said no official decision has been made.

HBO Renews Ricky Gervais

The ratings haven’t been through the roof, but HBO’s "The Ricky Gervais Show" has been renewed for a second season, reports The Hollywood Reporter.

The animated show based on a podcast has been pulling in only about 180,000 viewers each episode, but THR speculates that by renewing the show HBO keeps a relationship open for the Brit comedian’s future projects.

Bravo Grows Audience Through Social Media

Bravo will host its virtual viewing parties, called "Bravo Talk Bubble," every week for a new season of “The Real Housewives of New York City,"  B&C reports.

The feature lets fans watch together and interact via their computers.

According to the article, Bravo's Lisa Hsia, Senior Vice President, Digital Media, said in a statement, "The Bravo Talk Bubble is a real-time watercooler event that allows us to grow our audience through social media, and to have a two-way conversation with fans as they experience Bravo in a more personal, intimate way than ever before."

Winfrey Settles Defamation Suit a Week Before Trial

Oprah Winfrey settled a defamation lawsuit that had been filed by a former headmistress at her school for girls in South Africa, the Associated Press reports.

The trial was to start next week in Philadelphia. Winfrey had accused the former headmistress of performing poorly at the school, after some students claimed they had been sexually abused.

The settlement was announced in a joint statement. No details were released.

Oscar Winner Jamie Foxx is Co-Writing Script for Big Screen Version of TV Classic

Jamie Foxx, who won an Academy Award for his portrayal of Ray Charles in the movie "Ray," is co-writing the script of the movie version of a TV classic, TV Guide reports.

Garry Marshall told TV Guide that he is working on the script of the big screen version of "Laverne and Shirley" with Foxx.

Marshall was the creator of the original show. He said the idea for the film version is both modern and urban, with Laverne and Shirley as much tougher ladies. Marshall explained, “Jamie and I are trying to do it. …It’s a whole different modern day take on how they came up on the streets during difficult times. Laverne would be this very tough girl with a big ‘L’ tattooed on her arm.  Jennifer Garner would play Laverne and Jessica Biel would play Shirley.”

Biel and Garner's interest in the project has been previously reported.

It's Official: 'Two and a Half Men' Cuts Episode Order Amount Due to Sheen Rehab Stint

"Two and a Half Men" creator Chuck Lorre announced today that instead of doing 24 episodes this season, there will be only 22 shows, reports the New York Times. The move was expected.

The original plan was for 24 shows, but Charlie Sheen's stint in rehab resulted in the cut back.

Lorre told the Times, “But 22 is a full order. They had asked us to produce two additional episodes, which we normally do. But we won’t do it this year.”

MLB Network Looking to Share Sports Personality with Fox Sports

The league-run MLB Network is talking to Fox about sharing one of its sports personalities, reports B&C.

The sports personality in question is Chris Rose. The MLB Network wants him to to take the host role on an MLB Network studio show. At the same time he'd continue with Fox.

Rose is a former host of Fox's "Best Damn Sports Show Period," as well as a baseball commentator and football play-by-play announcer for Fox Sports. 

ABC 'Dances' To Top of Monday Ratings; Sets Record for a Season Premiere of the Series

The return of ABC's "Dancing With The Stars" was a rousing success in the ratings Monday night for ABC, reports TVbythenumbers.com. It was the most-watched season premiere of the popular series, and the second most-watched in the 18-49 demo. 

At eight o'clock "Dancing" started off with a 5.9 rating in the 18-49 demo, better than CBS's "How I Met Your Mother" and "Rules of Engagement" with a 3.5 and 3.3 rating in 18-49-year-olds, respectively. NBC's "Chuck" managed a 1.9 rating, ahead of CW's "Life Unexpected" getting a 0.9.

From 9 pm--10pm, "Dancing" surged up to 6.9 rating in the 18-49 demo, more than CBS's "Two and a Half Men" and "The Big Bang Theory" with a 5.0 and a 5.2, respectively, in that demographic. Fox's "24" was third with a 2.7, while NBC's "Trauma" had a 1.5 and CW's "Gossip Girl" only a 0.9 in the 18-49.

The ABC dominance extended to the ten o'clock hour where "Castle" was tops in the 18-49 demo. "Castle" had a 3.6, CBS's "CSI: Miami" had a 3.2, and NBC's "Law & Order" a 1.8.

Download Your Favorite Celebrity Tweets From Ben Stiller, Will Ferrell, Demi Moore and Others, for Charity, at iTunes

Will Ferrell, Ben Stiller, Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher were among the 140 performers to fire off a single tweet on stage on March 12 in order to raise funds for the Artists for Peace and Justice’s initiative to build schools in Haiti. 

The event, "A Night of 140 Tweets," is available for download on iTunes and as a DVD via Amazon.com. Proceeds go to help build schools in Haiti. Performers each took the stage to offer up their favorite signature tweet at the Upright Citizens Brigade theater in Los Angeles. 

"On a remote island vacationing," Stiller said, reading his favorite tweet, "really enjoying dropping off the grid, totally disconnecting from the world." 

Other performers included "Weird" Al Yankovic, Aziz Ansari, Justin Long, Ed Helms, Diablo Cody, and "Lost" co-creators Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse, among others. 

'Wife Swap' Participant Sues Show Producers, Disney for $100 Million; Says Show Subjected Her 'to the taunts and jeers of schoolmates'

Alicia Guastafarro, one of the children on a family participating in the ABC reality series "Wife Swap," is suing Disney, the parent company of ABC, for $100 million claiming that she was harmed by her appearance on the show, reports the New York Post.

When the episode was showm, Alicia was 15-years-old. According to court documents, Guastafarro said she was depicted on "Wife Swap" to make her look like a spoiled brat and made her subject to the taunts and jeers of schoolmates.

The suit filed in Manhattan court said, "For their own profit, defendants purposefully, intentionally and knowingly caused severe emotional and psychological harm to a fragile 15-year-old." Guastafarro also claims certain scenes on the show were fabricated. 

In addition to Disney, ABC and RDF Media were cited. The shows producers declined commenting on the case to the Post.

Shannon Doherty, Jennifer Beals, Doris Roberts, Catherine Bell, Brian Austin Green, Alicia Witt, Andrea Bowen and Frances Fisher are Just Some of the Stars This Cable Network is Touting for Next Year

Shannon Doherty, Jennifer Beals, Catherine Bell, Brian Austin Green, Alicia Witt, Andrea Bowen and Frances Fisher are just some of the stars who will appear in original cable movies in 2011.

The network is Hallmark, and during its Upfront Presentation it announced that the Hallmark Channels plan to air 24 original television movies in 2011. 

A partial slate was included in today's announcement, as Hallmark announced that "Everybody Loves Raymond's" Doris Roberts is returning in a sequel to the network's popular film "Debbie Macomber’s Mrs. Miracle." "Call Me Mrs. Miracle" follows Roberts as a sassy saleswoman named Mrs. Merkle as she gets a family-owned department store in the Christmas spirit.  

Could be Lots of Spinoff Potential for This TLC Show

TLC's series about getting ahold of that perfect wedding dress, "Say Yes to the Dress," is making room for a few more dresses as the franchise is getting a Southern spinoff, the network announced today.

TLC announced today that "Say Yes to the Dress" will expand with a new series called "Say Yes to the Dress: Atlanta," focusing on women finding a wedding gown at Bridals by Lori, one of the largest bridal salons in the South.

And "Say Yes to the Dress: Beverly Hills" and "Say Yes to the Dress: Vegas" be far behind?

The Atlanta incarnation will premiere in July and include 12 half-hour episodes. Meanwhile, the new season of "Say Yes to the Dress," set in New York, returns for a fifth installment in April.

Groundbreaking PBS Show Will Have New Life-- As HBO Film

One of the groundbreaking shows that aired on PBS looks like it's going to be the basis of a fictional film on HBO, reports The Hollywood Reporter.

The PBS program was “An American Family,” from documentary filmmakers Alan and Susan Raymond, which followed the Loud family. The series shocked some in America when the parents’ marital problems led to Pat Loud asking her husband for a divorce partway through the series; son Lance also came out as gay.

Now HBO and producer Gavin Polone are making “Cinema Verite,” a film that looks behind the scenes at the family and the making of the series. David Seltzer (“The Omen”) is writing; Shari Springer Berman and Bob Pulcini ("American Splendor") will direct.

The Raymonds will consult.

HBO previously turned another groundbreaking documentary of the era, Albert and David Maysles’ “Grey Gardens” into an Emmy-winning fictional film.

Craig Ferguson Tells What He Learned From Conan's Ill-Fated 'Tonight Show' Experience

Craig Ferguson, 47, took a few minutes to tell Reuters what he learned from Conan O'Brien's brief stint on 'The Tonight Show" before being fired.

"As I watched that, whatever that was, unfold, I realized that I am not part of this -- I am not part of the late-night clubhouse," Ferguson told Reuters. "Don't ever rope me in as a late-night talk show host. I don't want to be one."

By that Ferguson said he means that of course he holds down a hosting job on a latenight show, but that he doesn't particulary like the other trappings that come with the job. For example, he looks at himself as more of a storyteller than a one-line joke maker.

And he believes one needs to be true to oneself.

"Look at the terrible thing that happened to Conan when Conan tried to do what Jay Leno does. Conan shouldn't do that. He doesn't do what Jay Leno does. Jay Leno does what Jay Leno does. And then when (Conan) started doing what Conan does, it was too late."

Ferguson works for David Letterman's company Worldwide Pants, but claims he's got no interest in replacing Letterman should Letterman ever want to retire. "I neither care nor have any ambition about that. The thing is, Dave's doing a great job and he does what he does. I don't do what David Letterman does."

Report: Palin Show Lands at Discovery

Discovery Communications has edged out A&E and is expected to land “Sarah Palin’s Alaska,” reports James Hibberd's Live Feed blog on the site of The Hollywood Reporter.

Discovery wouldn’t comment to THR, but an announcement could come in the next few days, THR said. It has not been decided which Discovery network would air the show, which will feature the former Republican presidential VP candidate as travel guide to her state. THR speculates that a Palin-hosted show would fit on family-oriented TLC, though most of the company's nature shows are not on TLC.

Bidding was said to have run about $1.2 million an episode, which THR notes would be one of the costliest nature series ever. Mark Burnett's company will produce.

An Oscar Winner Signs on to Do Her First Regular TV Series Role

An Oscar winner will play the lead in John Wells’ medical drama pilot for CBS, reports The Hollywood Reporter.

It will be the first regular series role for Sissy Spacek, who will play the leader of a medical team that travels the world to help those in need.

Spacek previously did an arc on HBO’s “Big Love.”

Critical Favorite and Multiple Emmy-Winning Show Increases Ratings in Season 3 Debut

The season three debut of a show that's been a darling of critics and Emmy voters alike did better in the ratings this time out.  

The third season of AMC’s “Breaking Bad” drew show’s most viewers to date, TheWrap reports.

The show averaged 2 million viewers at 10 p.m. Sunday, up from1.7 million for the first night of season two. Another 1.3 million tuned in to an encore.

For the best two season's the show has nabbed the Emmy for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a drama series. That would be series star Bryan Cranston.

Rosie O’Donnell’s New Show Will Be Positioned as Oprah Replacement

The producers of Rosie O’Donnell’s new talk show, Dick Robertson and Scott Carlin, will pitch it as a replacement for “The Oprah Winfrey Show,” the New York Times reports.

Robertson told The Times: “This is a once-in-25-years opportunity. There is this gaping hole starting in September of 2011 when Oprah goes away. Who better to fill it than Rosie?”

Unlike in the latter days of O’Donnell’s previous daytime talk show, the new program won’t take on politics and controversial issues, Robertson said, calling the new version “a big, commercial, fun, uplifting show.”

When the news hit about O'Donnell returning to syndication, The Hollywood Reporter wrote on Monday that the new show is an unlikely replacement for “The Oprah Winfrey Show.” According to THR's report, not only do some ABC stations already have other options to replace “Oprah,” but they were not always enamored of O’Donnell towards the end of her prior run, as the host turned more political and outspoken.

Clearly that's the criticism that Robertson and Carlin hope to deflect.

Clues to OWN Programming Dribble Out

Casting calls posted on the OWN web site give a few clues to what Oprah Winfrey’s new network has planned, B&C reports.

Casting is going on for a show featuring professional locator Pam Slaton, which seems to be in the genre of programs that reunite people who have been searching for long lost relatives, friends, lovers or others.

The network also wants home cooks who want to interact via Skype with chef Cristina Ferrare. And there’s a call out for “parents and professionals who have a goal they've always wanted to accomplish but never achieved."

The network’s lineup is supposed to be unveiled at the April 8 Discovery Networks upfront. OWN--the Oprah Winfrey Network--is a co-venture between Winfrey's Harpo Productions and Discovery Communications.

Prepare to Meet a Whole New Kind of Crazy: MTV's 'Jersey Shore Goes International

MTV is exporting its hit “Jersey Shore” to more than 30 countries where it has networks beginning this week, the New York Times reports.

To promote the series, the network is promoting the beach lifestyle with spots called “Get Jersey Shored.”

Network executives told The Times that they believe the series has global appeal; one spot promises: “prepare to meet a whole new kind of crazy.”

HGTV and Food Network Had Strong Year, But Top Execs Get Pay Cut Anyway--Here's Why

HGTV and Food Network had a strong year, but at parent company Scripps Networks Interactive executives got a pay cut in 2009 anyway, Multichannel News reports.

That's because some of their pay is tied to the performance of their stock on the stock market. So Chairman and CEO Ken Lowe’s total compensation dropped 5.1 percent, to $6.97 million; EVP and CFO Joseph NeCastro’s total compensation fell 10.1 percent to $2.7 million, and EVP and Networks president John Lansing took an 18.3 percent hit, to $2.7 million.

The company’s revenue for the year was down slightly, but net income was way up.

It's Our Annual Public Service Message--Folks, People ARE Watching You if You're on TV: Couple Who Bragged About Shoplifting on ‘Dr. Phil’ Get Federal Prison

A couple who went on "Dr. Phil" to get financial help and ended up talking about how they made $100,000 selling shoplifted Legos on eBay got federal prison sentences on Monday, the Associated Press reports.

Matthew Eaton got 27 months in prison and his wife Laura Eaton was sentenced to a year. It was their appearance on “Dr. Phil” about 18 months ago that tipped authorities to the extent of their thievery.

The judge who sentenced the Eatons also had some tough words for show host Phil McGraw, saying "What a charlatan this man is." The Eatons’ attorney told the judge that the couple had originally contacted McGraw’s show in hopes of getting help with their financial situation, but didn’t succeed. "He certainly didn't help you," the judge told them.

Scripps Wants to Reinvent Local TV News

Scripps, which owns such venerable TV stations as WXYZ in Detroit and WMAR in Baltimore as well as seven other stations, wants to reinvent local TV news, TVNewsCheck reports.

Scripps President and CEO, Rich Boehne, says in the report, "We're also just spending a lot of time looking at local TV news and just saying that right now it suffers from a plague of sameness. How do you break from that pack? How do you broaden the audience? How do you sort of reimagine and reinvent and think again about what local news should look like?"

TVNewsCheck's Harry Jessell then asks if the Scripps TV stations will experiment with some new ideas in their TV newscasts. Boehne responds, that they will. "What those look like and what markets we do them in and what time slots they air, we haven't determined yet, but I think you definitely should expect to see some experimentation out of us.

"When I talked to our people, I say I wake up in a hotel room a 125 mornings a year and I turn on local news and I don't know where I am. It all looks the same and if you change the channel it looks the same four times over. To us, that just says that there's got to be a fabulous opportunity in here, again, to reimagine what the local news needs to look like."

The Makers of Some of the Funniest Videos Not on TV Are Coming to TV (Latest Funny Piece Takes on Kentucky and NCAA March Madness Basketball)

If you're not visiting the website of The Onion on a weekly basis, you're doing yourself a disservice. With the stress of today's business environment, we all deserve a fun break, at least once a week, and the satirical site The Onion delivers. Part of the fun are the myriad videos The Onion posts online, most of which are very funny.

Now comes word that the fake satirical newspaper and web site is being developed into a TV series by IFC, the New York Times reports.

The half-hour series will be called “Onion News Network.” Will Graham, an executive producer of the show, said it will mock the 24-hour news channels.

He told The Times: “It just seems to us, CNN, Fox News and MSNBC are already doing such great comedy out there, without a whole lot of competition. We thought it was about time that someone really gave them a run for their money.”

Other new shows on IFC’s slate include “Death Comes to Town,” a comedy from the Kids in the Hall, and “The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret,” a series written by David Cross (“Arrested Development”), which stars him as an American exec who must oversee his company’s British offices.

Here's a wonderful example of The Onion's work--in this funny video they take on Kentucky and NCAA March Madness Basketball TO SEE IT CLICK ON THE SENTENCE BELOW:

The Half-Hour(ish) Sitcom 'Curb Your Enthusiasm' Becomes an Hour in Syndication

HBO's "Curb Your Enthusiasm" is making its way towards cable syndication in November on the TV Guide Channel, but the show brings along some peculiar baggage, the  New York Times reports. 

Creator Larry David said he was unwilling to make syndication cuts on "Curb," to make it fit the usual half-hour time slot. The show generally runs the 29-minutes on HBO and would need to be cut to 21-minutes of programming material. David said the cuts would take out good material. 

So, a solution was found: TV Guide weill slot each episode for an hour (meaning no syndication cuts), but David has to fill the rest of the hour. He will produce a seven-to-10 minute panel discussions, hosted by "Curb's" Susie Essman, that will go along with each episode. 

Panelists have not been named yet. 

Report: Jerry Springer Hosting New Show

Looks like Jerry Springer might be hosting a new show in addition to continuing on his long-running talk show

GSN's new dating show, "Baggage," has tapped Jerry Springer to be the host, reports Buzzerblog.com.

"Baggage" has already been greenlighted for up to 40 episodes, but has yet to get an air date. Springer has experience on game shows, in particular the 2008 UK game "Nothing But the Truth."

Longtime LA Weatherman Johnny Mountain Calling It Quits; More Layoffs at KCBS and KCAL in Los Angeles

Weatherman Johnny Mountain, a fixture on Los Angeles TV for the past 30 years, is retiring, KCBS has announced.

In addition, between 12 and 20 staffers were let go last Friday, March 19, at KCBS and its sister LA statiom, KCAL, reports LAObserved.com.

According to the LAObserved report, by Kevin Roderick, "I'm told that at least a dozen staffers were let go today, perhaps as many as 20, and that many of them were considered close to former news director Nancy Bauer-Gonzales, who was replaced in January. Anchor Suzanne Rico's bio is already gone from the website (it was there earlier today.) TV sources say that managing editor Paul Skolnick, news ops manager Doug Dougherty and producer Jeff Soto are among those who are out."

Weatherman Mountain has been at KCBS since 2005. For the 27 years prior to that he was at KABC in Los Angeles.

Brooklyn D.A. Investigating: Has Mike Tyson Bitten Off More Than He Can Chew? Will Pigeon Show Lay an Egg?

Animal Planet and Mike Tyson have drawn the attention of investigators from the Brooklyn District Attorney's  office regarding the proposed series, "Taking On Tyson," reports TMZ.com.

The program, in which Tyson cares for, breeds and races pigeons, has been targeted by PETA, as well.

The Brooklyn D.A., after receiving a letter claiming that the show violated New York law, is questioning whether the production may have been involved in illegal gambling.

An Animal Planet spokesperson told EW's Popwatch, " “Regarding PETA’s latest allegations, I wanted to clarify that for Animal Planet’s 'Taking on Tyson' show, there have never been any plans for wagering on the pigeon races. We have not yet begun filming but, rest assured, all of the pigeons that we will feature in the program are cherished and respected by their owners, including Mr. Tyson. Animal Planet will honor that respect and care in our production and in how these beautiful creatures are treated.”

With No Trepidation Fox Does a Repudiation of 'Glee's' Broadway Aspiration

The reports on Friday that Music Theater International was interested in getting the rights to Fox's hit  TV show "Glee," have been squelched by the network, reports Popeater.com.

Chris Alexander, Fox TV spokesman, released a statement saying, "We are very careful and deliberate when contemplating brand extensions of our franchises and are mystified why Music Theater Intl. would claim there have been any such discussions about a live theatrical version of 'Glee.'"

Attention Advertisers: 'Fox News' Says Forget CNN, Our Real Competition is USA and TNT

Believing that it has quashed the competition in the cable news game, Fox News is setting its sights on ad dollars that would otherwise go towards bigger cable networks, like USA or TNT, Advertising Age reports.

Fox News said that this year, the network will showcase its upscale audience to advertisers, pitting them against USA or TNT's viewers, as opposed to CNN or MSNBC's audience.    

According to the Ad Age account, "Part of Fox's upfront pitch will include a slide that shows its share of 25- to 54-year-old viewers with household incomes of $100,000 or more. Among its broader competitive cable set, Fox has 26% share of cable's gross rating points among that audience, more than History (12%), Discovery (11%) and CNN (9%)."

The network's ratings uptick over the past few years have attracted bigger ad buyers, as opposed to direct response or pharmaceutical ads. In 2009, Proctor & Gamble was the largest advertiser in total measured ad dollars, spending nearly $20 million with Fox News. 

Americans Increase Their Simultaneous Viewing of TV and Internet Usage Significantly

According to the Nielsen Company Three Screen Report, Americans are watching television and
surfing the Internet simultaneously more than ever, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Based on the final quarter of 2009, the use of Internet and watching TV at the same time climbed significantly, increasing 35% to 3.5 hours a month.

Matt O'Grady, Nielsen Company media product leader, explained, "The initial fear was that Internet and mobile video and entertainment would slowly cannibalize traditional TV viewing, but the steady trend of increased TV viewership alongside expanded simultaneous usage argues something quite different."

CBS Nixed Tiger Woods Interview Over Time Restraints

When faced with the prospects of an interview with Tiger Woods, but only five minutes to ask him questions, CBS rejected the interview opportunity, reports The Huffington Post.

CBS, which will broadcast Tiger's return to the game with the Masters Tournament in Augusta, Georgia, in April, didn't approve of the time restrictions for the interview.

CBS Sports spokesperson LeslieAnne Wade said, "Depending on the specifics, we are interested in an extended interview without any restrictions on CBS."

ESPN and The Golf Channel agreed to the limitations and ran Tiger Woods' interviews -- five minutes each -- on Sunday.

NBC’s Last Remaining Daytime Soap Gets Renewed

"Days of our Lives," NBC’s last remaining daytime soap, has beren renewed through 2011, reports The Hollywood Reporter.

While other network soaps have been dropping right and left, NBC says “Days of Our Lives” is getting another year on the air.

According to the article, Marc Graboff, chairman, NBC Entertainment said: " 'Days' has shown year-to-year increases in key female demographics and remains both relevant and fresh creatively."

The show debuted 45 years ago, in 1965.

Curmudgeon Alert: Report Says NBC Execs Won't Allow Conan to Appear on 'Idol Gives Back,' Which Raises Money For Good Causes

As Conan O'Brien negotiates whether or not to go to Fox latenight in September, word is that separately he's been invited to appear on 'Idol Gives Back,' the April 21 special charity episode of  "American Idol" that raises money for various causes.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, "The 'Idol Gives Back' invitation was taken to NBC to determine whether that network would allow it under its settlement with the talk show host.The answer was no, as the moratorium on any TV appearances by O'Brien doesn't expire until May 1."

Says THR, "Sources close to both [O'Brien and Fox] stress that the offer [to appear on 'Idol Gives Back'] is not related to the ongoing late-night discussions and in no way means the two sides expect to have a deal by April 21. In fact, the invitation to O'Brien came not from Fox but from 'American Idol' producer 19 Entertainment, which is reaching out to several celebrities for the charity special."

Here's What Jeff Sagansky, Former Chief of CBS Entertainment, Is Doing Now

Jeff Sagansky, who used to run CBS Entertainment, is back in the TV business, but in a different capacity.

Three years ago he launched Winchester Capital Management with Jean-Luc De Fanti, and heretofore the company primarily financed movies.

But now Winchester has moved into TV financing, reports The Hollywood Reporter. 

TNT's "Leverage" is the first beneficiary of Winchester Capital Management’s move into television financing; the “Leverage” deal will fund the hourlong series’ third season, providing $14 million for 16 episodes, which begin running this summer.

Fox News Coverage Of Sunday's Health Care Vote Attacked by National Magazine Award-winning Writer

James Fallows, the award-winning National Correspondent for "The Atlantic," has blasted the Fox New Channel's coverage on Sunday, March 21, of the vote on Health Care.

In his blog at "The Atlantic," Fallows wrote, You can agree or disagree about this legislation. But really, you cannot look at this "news" coverage and consider it other than outright political activism. There is nothing wrong with outright political activism. [Fox's] Megyn Kelly is arguably no more partisan on her show than [MSNBC's] Rachel Maddow is on hers. But not a single person on Earth thinks that Rachel Maddow is a "news" anchor. For the sake of sanity, precision in language, self-respect, and any other desirable quality we can think of, let's drop the pretense about what's coming across on Fox. This surprises even me."

Fallows also served in the Carter administration as a speechwriter.

Rosie O'Donnell, Scott Carlin, Dick Robertson: Syndication Powerhouse Back with New 'Rosie' Show

Rosie O’Donnell will attempt to return to daytime talk in fall 2011, and while she has some heavy hitters behind her, don’t look for a major studio backer or even a syndication home, reports The Hollywood Reporter.

Roger Friedman’s Showbiz411 (Part of the THR) was the first to report the news, and THR adds details. O’Donnell is reuniting for the show with Scott Carlin, former head of HBO Domestic Distribution, and Dick Robertson, the former president of Warner Bros. Domestic TV Distribution, where he handled sales of O’Donnell’s earlier “The Rosie O’Donnell Show.” Carlin also worked on sales of the O’Donnell show at Warner Bros. before joining HBO.

The three will independently produce the new program.

THR says the new show is an unlikely replacement for “The Oprah Winfrey Show,” which ends its run at the same time. Not only do some ABC stations already have other options to replace “Oprah,” but they were not always enamored of O’Donnell towards the end of her prior run, as the host turned more political and outspoken. Some in the business suggested the show will land a cable home.

Coordinating Conjunctions: What Paris Hilton's Aunts Have in Common with Kelsey Grammer's Wife

Sisters Kim and Kyle Richards are two aunts of Paris Hilton. Camille Donatacci Grammer is a former Playboy model and Kelsey Grammer's wife.

All three of them are part of the new cast of a Beverly Hills edition of Bravo’s “Real Housewives”  E!Online reports.

The others who wil be on the show, the report says, are Adrienne Maloof-Nassif, whose family owns the Sacramento Kings, and Lisa Vanderpump-Todd, a former actress-turned-restaurateur.

CBS’ March Madness Sets Online Record

CBS’ “March Madness on Demand,” its free streaming of the NCAA basketball tournament, pulled in 11 percent more viewers on Day One than the same day last year, Multichannel News reports.

Some 3 million unique visitors showed up on March 18, and they watched for 3.4 million hours, which was up 20 percent from last year’s numbers.

CBS said both figures set single-day traffic records for a live sports event on the Web.

There's Simply Not a More Congenial Spot Than Starz; New Version of 'Camelot' Gets Green Light

Starz has handed out its first series order since Chris Albrecht took over, a contemporary retelling of the “Camelot” story, reports The Hollywood Reporter.

The 10-part international coproduction is set for 2011. It comes from Oscar winner Graham King’s GK-TV, and Morgan O'Sullivan and Michael Hirst (“The Tudors.”)

American Express Uses Twitter in 'Meet Conan' Contest

American Express, the company sponsoring Conan O'Brien's upcoming live concert appearances, tweeted the it is running a "Meet Conan" contest accompanying the tour, according to eCreditDaily.

In a three week period O'Brien went from not being on Twitter to being followed on Twitter by close to 700,000 people.

According to the report, to enter the contest, "O’Brien fans need to follow @americanexpress on Twitter and tweet the following once: Hey @americanexpress I want to be with Coco in (enter city here). Pick me! http://bit.ly/bEUqsh #amexConan.The choice of tour cities in the contest are: Dallas, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York and San Francisco."

These need to be received by Amex by 11:59 pm ET tonight, Monday, March 22. According to the acticle, "American Express will randomly select five winners and announce their names – via Twitter, of course – on Tuesday, March 23rd at about noon, Eastern time."

Video: Tiger Grants First Interviews Since Sex Scandal, to ESPN and The Golf Channel. See Them Here.

The following is from Tiger's interview with ESPN' Tim's Rinaldi. To see Wood's interview with Kelly Tilghman of The Golf Channel, click here.

'Parks and Recreation' Star in Talks to Host MTV Music Awards

MTV may be turning to a comedian starring in NBC's 'Parks and Recreation" to host the “MTV Music Awards” in June, reports the L.A. Times’ Showtracker blog.

Aziz Ansari, one of the starts of  "Parks and Recreation," is in final negotiations for the gig, Showtracker says.

The live event airs June 6 from Universal City’s Gibson Amphitheatre.

'Grey's Anatomy' Star Nearly Has Major Wardrobe Malfunction

At the ShoWest awards in Los Angeles last night, "Grey's Anatomy" star Katherine Heigl nearly lost her dress, reports TV Guide.

Heigl was there to accept the Female Star of the Year award when the top strap of her dress became undone.

Heigl was able to catch the front of her dress from falling, then Billy Bush, who was hosting the show, came to her assistance.

Police Called to New Orleans 'Real World' House Over Housemate Sickened by Toilet-Scrubbed Toothbrush

Police in New Orleans were called to the site of filming for the latest season of MTV's "The Real World" after one cast member accused another cast member of tainting his toothbrush with urine and causing him to become ill because of it, The Times-Picayune reports. 

Houseguest Ryan Leslie filed a police report, claiming that fellow houseguest Preston Roberson-Charles had secretly placed Leslie's toothbrush in the toilet after an argument three weeks ago. Leslie said that he used the tainted toothbrush, and believes he became sick with a viral infection as a result. 

Charges were not filed against Roberson-Charles, but Leslie's $120 Sonicare toothbrush was confiscated as evidence. 

Spike TV Tells 'Players' to Hit the Showers

After just three weeks on the air, Spike TV has removed the comedy series "Players" from the schedule, reports The Futon Critic.

There are seven episodes remaining for "Players," which is about two bickering brothers trying to run a sports bar, and it's unclear if they will ever air.   

Reruns of "Blue Mountain State" will run in "Players'" time slot, Tuesdays at 10:30 p.m., for the rest of March. Beginning April 6, repeats of "Deadliest Warrior" will take over the slot.

'Jericho' Star Finds His Way Back to CBS

The former star of CBS' "Jericho," Skeet Ulrich, has been cast in the network's new John Wells-produced pilot, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Ulrich will star in the medical drama about a mobile medical team that travels around the country wherever they're needed.

Ulrich's character is complicated and brilliant, a Harvard-educated M.D. who cannot get over his drug-addicted ex-wife.

'Glee' Could Be Moving to Broadway

What's next for Fox's phenom "Glee"? It could be Broadway.

The rights to "Glee" are being negotiated by the licensing company Music Theater International to adapt the show for the Broadway stage, according to Examiner.com, citing a Variety story.

This play would be different from the "Glee" concert tour starring the performers from the TV show that begins in May.

All-Star Home Run Derby Landing on ESPN3D Roster

A staple of the MLB's All-Star weekend is making the move to 3D this year, as ESPN3D announced today that the State Farm Home Run Derby is airing on the network in July, B&C reports.

The Derby marks the first domestic event televised on ESPN3D, and the first 3D production for the network. The network will launch June 11 with World Cup coverage from South Africa, which is being handled by FIFA.

Fox and DirecTV have already announced that the All-Star Game itself will be broadcast in 3D this year.   

Tiger Woods Lifts 'South Park' to Its Highest Viewership in a Decade

The boys from "South Park" tackled Tiger Woods and sex addiction on Wednesday, and netted a viewership high in the process, the Hollywood Reporter says. 

Wednesday's 14th-season premiere drew 3.7 million viewers, making it the highest-rated "South Park" debut since 1999. 

"Ugly Americans," which premiered on Comedy Central after "South Park," grabbed 2.1 million viewers, giving it a solid start. 

Beau Bridges Lands 'Rockford' Role

Actor Beau Bridges has been tapped to co-star with Dermot Mulroney in the pilot for NBC's reboot of "The Rockford Files," the Hollywood Reporter says. 

Bridges is set to play Jim Rockford's dad, Rocky, a role originally played by Noah Beery Jr. in the James Garner incarnation.

Rocky is described as Rockford's closest friend and a sounding board. Bridges is a three-time Emmy winner, and the older brother of Oscar-winner Jeff Bridges.

Report: Paula Says No to 'Star Search' Reboot

Despite a reported lucrative offer to be a judge and/or host of a new version of ABC's "Star Search," former "American Idol" judge Paula Abdul has said no, according to The Daily Beast.

Abdul is still rumored to be in the mix for Simon Cowell's Fox talent competition show, "The X Factor," which is set for a Fall 2011 premiere.

The lack of Abdul to headline the show has put "Star" in question, but an ABC source said that this hasn't killed the project completely.  

The Hippest, Coolest TV Show of the Late 1950s—Early 1960s is Coming to the Big Screen

OK baby-boomers and TV historians, what was the hippest, coolest TV show between 1958 and 1964?

Hint: ABC, Stu Bailey and Kookie.

It was Warner Bros.'  "77 Sunset Strip," and it's now being developed into a period feature film, according to Deadline.com.

The article says the movie will be directed by Greg Berlanti. Berlanti is best known for his TV work as executive producer and writer of "Everwood," "Eli Stone," and "Brothers & Sisters." 

Here is the title sequence from the show:

Did This Spot Blur the Line Too Much Between What Is Programming and What Is a Commercial?

"The day when commercials are indistinguishable from the programs they support finally arrived -- just before 10 p.m. Eastern on Thursday night [March 11]."

That's the provocative first sentence in an article from Brian Steinberg at our sibling publication, Ad Age.

To see the commercial he's talking about, and read his important, thought-provoking piece, click here.

ABC News Paid $200,000 to Family of Murdered Toddler; Most of the Money is Being Used in the Legal Defense of the Accused Murderer, the Toddler's Mother

ABC News paid $200,000 to a family whose toddler had been killed. The mother of the toddler is the one accused of the murder, so the $200,000 has gone to her legal costs, which come to $275,000 thus far.

The murdered toddler was two-year old Caylee Anthony. Her mother, who is facing first-degree murder charges in the case, is Casey Anthony. 

This information comes from Media Bistro's TVNewser.com, which wrote that the news of the payment by ABC News was revealed in court on Thursday, March 19, "as the judge in the case weighs whether to declare Casey Anthony indigent, which would mean the state of Florida would have to pick up much of the tab in the death penalty case against her."

The article also says, "An ABC News spokesperson tells TVNewser, 'In August 2008 we licensed exclusive rights to an extensive library of photos and home video for use by our broadcasts, platforms, affiliates and international partners. No use of the material was tied to any interview.' "

Entering the Lion's Den: FCC Commissioner to Talk to Broadcasters at Their NAB Convention in April

Federal Communications Commissioner Julius Genachowski will give a keynote speech at the National Association of Broadcasters Annual Convention in Las Vegas in April, B&C reports.

The speech will be of key interest to broadcasters in light of the FCC's recently released National Broadband Plan, parts of which many broadcasters have major doubts.

Says B&C, "The FCC is looking to fit broadcasters into six fewer channels and get others to give up some of their spectrum in an effort to get that 120 MHz for wireless broadband."
 

Jim 'Mad Money' Cramer's TheStreet.com is Being Investigated by the SEC

Jim Cramer's website, TheStreet.com, is being investigated by the Securities and Exchange Commission, the New York Post reports.

The investigation is into the accounting practices of Promotions.com, which used to be a subsidiary of TheStreet.com

TheStreet.com itself revealed the investigation in an SEC filing, the Post said, and the CEO of the company, Daryl Otte, said TheStreet.com is fully cooperating with the SEC probe.

According to the Post, "Cramer, the host of 'Mad Money' and a former hedge-fund manager, co-founded TheStreet.com in 1996. He remains a commentator on the site as well as chairman of the company's board."

Davy Crockett, Who Millions of Boys Pretended to Be in the Mid to Late 1950s, Has Died

By Chuck Ross

We know what you're going to say. Davy Crockett just didn't die--it was the actor who played him, Fess Parker.

But to millions of boys who grew up in the mid to late 1950s, Parker WAS Crockett and vice versa.

Parker, who was 85, died Thursday morning, March 18, at his home in Santa Ynez, which is near Santa Barbara, Calif.

As TV took hold in the early 1950s, Walt Disney was looking to put a TV show on-the-air to help finance the construction of  his new theme park and to promote it. ABC was interested, and in October, 1954 a new show hit the air waves, called--like the theme park--"Disneyland."

`"Disneyland'' debuted on ABC with an episode about the theme park that was under construction and a preview of the studio's upcoming movie `"20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.'' The "Disneyland'' TV show was an anthology series, and the idea was to present original programming whose subject matter was somehow related to the various theme areas of the upcoming Disneyland park. Those areas were Tomorrowland, Fantasyland, Adventureland and Frontierland.

Less than two months later, on Dec. 15, the show became a true cultural phenomenon with the introduction of a miniseries (TV's first?) tied to the theme of Frontierland. "Reading from `Davy Crockett's Journal,' Walt introduces the story of the American folk hero and unknowingly starts a national craze,'' is the way Bill Cotter described it in his book  "The Wonderful World of Disney Television.''

More than just becoming a popular show, it made us want to be Davy Crockett. To look like him and act like him (at least as portrayed by Parker). Coonskin caps became the rage, as did the "Ballad of Davy Crockett '' song. After this miniseries, few doubted the powerful effect of television on popular culture.

No one was more surprised by the success of Davy Crockett than Walt Disney himself. "We had no idea what was going to happen on 'Crockett,' " Cotter quoted Disney as saying. "Why, by the time the first show finally got on the air, we were already shooting the third one and calmly killing Davy off at the Alamo. It became one of the biggest overnight hits in TV history, and there we were with just three [episodes] and a dead hero!''

The Disney studio scored another first when it combined the three episodes into a single story and released it as a movie in theaters. One theater chain operator said at the time, according to Cotter, "Frankly, if I had a theater and Mr. Disney asked me to play a picture which had been assembled from films shown on TV, I'd ask him how much he was going to pay me.'' The film turned out to be a big financial success.

To hear the "Ballad of Davy Crockett" one more time--interspersed with clips from the show--click here. We found this on YouTube.

[Author's Note: Most of the parts of this article about the "Disneyland" TV show came from an article I originally wrote for this publication in 2004.]

YouTube Accuses Viacom of Secretly Putting Videos Up While Publicly Complaining About Them

More accusations in the war between Google's YouTube and Viacom.

YouTube is saying that Viacom was secretly uploading videos to its site at the same time Viacom was complaining that the videos were appearing on the site, says a BBC News article.

The story says that Viacom "deliberately 'roughed up' any uploaded videos to make them look stolen or leaked."

According to  the BBC piece, " 'For years, Viacom continuously and secretly uploaded its content to YouTube, even while publicly complaining about its presence there,' said Zahavah Levine, YouTube's chief counsel wrote in a blog post."

Viacom, back in 2007, filed a lawsuit against YouTube for copyright infringement for posting unauthorized copies of material owned by Viacom.

Just this week previously sealed documents in the case were released.

Oral arguments in the case are expected to be finished by June, according to the BBC article.

The FCC Wants to Hear From YOU About the Proposed Comcast-NBCU Deal

The Federal Communications Commission has called for public opinion on the propposed Comcast-NBC Universal deal, B&C reports.

Says the report, "That public, which will include plenty of industry and activist group reps, have until May 3 to weigh in with comments or oppose the deal, with reply comments due June 2, and final replies to those replies due June 17."

This is the link to the page on the FCC site that tells how to file public comments.

Discovery Teams with Yahoo for Major Promotion

Discovery Communications is teaming with Yahoo! in major promotion, reports Multichannel News.

The promotion starts on Saturday, March 20th, and it is to push Discovery's big spring programming effort, the 11-part series "Life."

According to the article, "In a first, Discovery will takeover Yahoo!'s home page, including floating elements, on the premiere date. Users will be able to select a Life-themed design that will remain up on the computer for the balance of the day. In another first for the portal, Discovery will have use of Yahoo!'s rich ads in search and have tandem units that interact on the Yahoo! Mail welcome page."

"Life" premiere's on Sunday, March 21.

Consumer Electronics History Will Be Made At Next Week's Hockey Match Between the New York Rangers and New York Islanders at Madison Square Garden

It will be a red letter day in the history of consumer electronics this coming Wednesday night, March 24th, when New York's two professional hockey teams, the New York Rangers and the New York Islanders skate against one another at the historic Madison Square Garden.

That's because, it will mark the first time a National Hockey League game will be telecast in 3D, Multichannel News reports.

According to the story, by Multichannel's longtime news maven Mike Reynolds, the 3D feed "will be offered to Cablevision MSG HD subscribers with 3D-compatible TV sets. The operator said it is in discussions with other carriers about carrying the HD contest."

Furthermore, according to the article, "The game will be shot using 3ality Digital's image-capturing technology, which integrates with existing broadcast equipment to produce top-flight 3D imagery. 3ality Digital has behind a number of recent 3D sports productions, including BSkyB's January Premiere League soccer broadcast; the first live 3D broadcasts of NFL and college football games shown in theaters; and the 2010 Sony Open golf tournament."

Cast of 'Glee' to Visit Oprah

Looks like the cast of 'Glee' is going to be on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" next month, according to Michael Ausiello at EW.com.

Ausiello writes, "According to an Oprah insider, the talk show titan's April 7 show will be devoted to all things Glee. Highlights will include interviews with the entire cast and series creator Ryan Murphy, never-before-seen backstage video, and, natch, a show-stopping performance."

The appearance of the cast on the show will be much hyped on Oprah.com, the article says.

Best Line in a Sitcom This Year

"South Park's" season debut, about sex addiction, blasting Tiger Woods, David Letterman and Bill Clinton, lives up to its billing: funny and outrageous. 

You might want to check out this video clip from the show  that we put up as part of our free Viral Video e-newsletter. Watch for what might be the best line in a sitcom so far this year. It's spoken by Kyle (in the green cap) and is the second-to-last line before the video ends. Click here to go to the video.  (Note--as in all things "South Park," some will find this offensive.)

Christiane Amanpour Joining ABC News as 'This Week' Anchor in August

Christiane Amanpour will leave CNN to join ABC News as anchor of the Sunday newsmakers program "This Week," ABC News is reporting. The move was expected.

"I am delighted to announce that Christiane Amanpour will join ABC News as the new anchor of 'This Week,'" ABC News President David Westin said in an email today to his staff. "A highly respected journalist recognized around the world for her reporting, she brings to her new position a wealth of experience and knowledge, as well as a deep commitment to bringing news of the world to the American people."

Amanpour will will take over "This Week" in August and will also provide international analysis on other ABC News programs as well as anchor primetime documentaries on international subjects for the network, Westin said. 

Amanpour was quoted by CNN as saying in a statement, “I’m thrilled to be joining the incredible team at ABC News. Being asked to anchor 'This Week' and the superb tradition started by David Brinkley, is a tremendous and rare honor and I look forward to discussing the great domestic and international issues of the day.

"I leave CNN with the utmost respect, love and admiration for the company and everyone who works here. This has been my family and shared endeavor for the past 27 years and I am forever grateful and proud of all that we have accomplished.”

Amanpour was CNN's chief international correspondent and anchored a daily interview program that premiered on CNN International in September 2009.

Unsealed Documents Reveal Mudslinging in Viacom/YouTube Case

Documents unsealed today in the three-year $1 billion copyright suit between Viacom, Google and YouTube revealed some nasty mudslinging between the companies, CNET reports. 

Viacom filed suit against YouTube and its owner Google in 2007, claiming that both companies were encouraging users to post copyrighted material on the video site. 

However, according to the documents, Viacom took a distinct interest in purchasing YouTube before it was bought by Google in 2006, fueling speculation that this suit may be in retaliation for being outbid by Google. 

The documents also reveal emails between YouTube founders, which Viacom said proves that the intent of YouTube was to pirate copyrighted material, then sell the platform. Google countered, saying Viacom has taken the emails out of context. 

Google also said Viacom's attitude towards YouTube was hypocritical, as the media giant pushes to block certain clips that are uploaded, but moves to study viewing habits on other copyrighted clips. 

Report: Pressure Being Applied to Fox Affiliates to Make Room for Conan

Despite conflicting reports about the negotiations occurring between Fox and Conan O'Brien, TMZ reports that Fox executives have been "applying pressure" on affiliates to put a Conan show on between 11 p.m. and midnight. 

Some Fox affiliates are saying that a deal is "imminent," but reports from Conan's representation and Fox network executives say the two sides are just "seriously talking." 

Fox affiliates have been somewhat resistant to a Conan show being dropped on their late-night schedules, as syndicated content like "The Office" draws more cash for the station than a network-provided late-night talker.  

A&E, Discovery Frontrunners to Obtain Palin Reality Show

Former VP candidate Sarah Palin's proposed Alaska-based reality travelogue show is still looking for a home, but two networks are quickly becoming the frontrunners, Variety reports. 

A&E and Discovery are believed to be at the top of the list looking to land the Palin program, executive produced by Mark Burnett Productions. Bids are still being finalized, but factoring in the talent involved, episodes could cost around $1 million per episode.

Rumors are swirling that Burnett himself is grooming Palin to become a daytime star, in which case, the timing couldn't be better as Oprah Winfrey heads away from syndication next year, leaving a massive gap in the daytime talk show circuit.  

White Says She Turned Down 'SNL' Hosting Gig Three Times Before

Betty Mania has swept America, leaving Betty White scratching her head as to how it all came to be. White is slated to host "Saturday Night Live" in May, along with several other former "SNL" female cast members. 

The 88-year-old White appeared on "Larry King Live" yesterday to talk about her recent popularity resurgence, and told King that she turned down an "SNL" hosting gig three separate times years ago, the Los Angeles Times reports. Her reasoning was that "SNL" is "so New York, and I'm not New York."

White added that she has no idea what "SNL" has planned for her, but that she's up for anything. 

Showtime Sets Summer Schedule

The premiere of Showtime's new drama "The Big C" starring Laura Linney and recent cast addition of "Precious" star Gabourey Sidibe will be Sunday, Aug.16, at 10:30 p.m., reports the LA Times.

"Weeds" will return that night as well, preceding "The Big C" at 10 p.m.

Another new Showtime program, "The Real L Word," a reality show based around Showtime's "The L Word," debuts on Sunday, June 20, at 10 p.m.

On Thursday, June 10, "Penn & Teller" return at 10 p.m., and "The Green Room With Paul Provenza," another new series, commences at 10:30 p.m..

Roger Ailes Meets With Fox Newsers, Attempts to Quell Grumbling About Glenn Beck

In an impromptu meeting with staff workers at Fox News in D.C., Fox News chief Roger Ailes
asked D.C. bureau employees to act like a family and stick together, forcefully urging them all to back off criticism of anyone connected with the network, reports TVNewser.

Ailes addressed the story from Washington Post's Howard Kurtz that said anonymous sources had told him that Fox staffers were upset about Glenn Beck becoming the face of Fox News. The story's source was believed to have come from the Washington bureau. 

Ailes reportedly told his employees that, "Glenn Beck does his show and that's his opinion. It's not the opinion of Fox News and he has a right to say it. We prefer people in the tent not dumping on other people in the tent."

"I was brought up to defend the family," Ailes added, according to TVNewser. "If I couldn't defend the family I'd leave. I'd go to another family."

How Ryan Seacrest Ruined 'American Idol' for the West Coast

The viewers on the West Coast have to dodge television spoilers all the time due to the tape delay on live events. Yesterday, a big spoiler came from "American Idol" host Ryan Seacrest via Twitter, prompting upset West Coast viewers to voice frustration.  

If you were following Seacrest on Twitter last night, you would have known that Lacey Brown was voted off the show before the West Coast broadcast ended, reports TV Tattle.

Seacrest's tweet resulted in an avalanche of complaints from viewers who had yet to see
the end of the show.

For the record, Seacrest tweeted 17 minutes before the results were revealed to West Coast
watchers.
 

Bravo Says D.C. ‘Housewives’ Still on Track

Bravo says to ignore the rumors: The network’s “Real Housewives of D.C.” is still in the works, reports TheWrap.

There have been rumblings that the program was derailed by the White House State Dinner crashers Tareq and Michaele Salahi, and the lack of any announcement of the show during the network’s upfront on Wednesday only got people talking more.

Bravo, in response to the question of the show’s status said the “production process” is continuing.


 

Syfy Adding More Reality to Its Lineup

The world of Syfy is getting a little more real. 

Syfy is adding more reality to its lineup, including a series called “Paranormal Investigators” and another--"Mary Knows Best"-- featuring a Long Island psychic, reports The Hollywood Reporter.

“Paranormal” follows a team that investigates supernatural claims. A third show, “Beast Legends,” which uses computer graphics to reanimate legendary creatures, is coming later, THR says.

Tracy Morgan will also return in the fall as host of a fourth season of the prank show “Scare Tactics.”

Video: Obama Frustrated by Constant Interruptions by Fox News' Bret Baier During Interview

Leno’s Likability Dropped in Wake of Return to Latenight

The number of people who view NBC’s Jay Leno unfavorably skyrocketed this winter, in the wake of the network’s announcement that he was returning to latenight, according to a Marketing Evaluations Inc. survey,DailyFinance reports.

Marketing Evaluations is better known as the research firm that compiles “Q” scores, which measure likability.

Leno’s positive Q rating was at about 21 last summer, and in the most recent survey was at 19. But his negative Q rating jumped to 35, from 26, an unusually big jump.

Nickelodeon Teenage Star Re-Ups For Million Dollar Salary and 26 More Episodes

One of Nickelodeon's major stars will be paid a least $1 million for 26 more episodes of her hit series, reports The Hollywood Reporter. 

The star is "iCarly" herself,16-year-old Miranda Cosgrove.

Production will begin again in the spring on what is the network’s top-rated live action series in all of the network’s key demographics. With the addition of the new 26 episodes, there will be 96 episodes in the "iCarly" library, which is a magical number if the producers ever want to syndicate the show.

Report: Amanpour Even Closer to Accepting ABC Offer to Host 'This Week'

ABC News is so close to finalizing a deal to have CNN’s longtime foreign correspondent Christiane Amanpour become the anchor of the Sunday “This Week,” that an announcement about the deal could be released as soon as today, Thursday, March 19 , the New York Times reports.

Amanpour earlier in the week had been described as being 50-50 on whether to take the job.

Says the Times' report, "One concern raised by at least one of these contacts has been that she is not primarily known for reporting on Washington or American politics. But one ABC News staff member said that Ms. Amanpour had been convinced that she could make the switch from international to political reporting."

Google, Intel, Sony Teaming to Bring Web to TV Sets in Major Way

Google, Intel and Sony are teaming up to develop Google TV, a platform for bringing the Internet to TV sets through new TVs and set-top boxes, the New York Times reports, citing sources.

The technology to be developed, based on Google’s Android operating system now used in smartphones, is expected to make it easier to use Web applications on TV sets. Google will open the TV platform to software developers within a couple months, the paper says.

Original Non-Celebrity ‘Apprentice’ to Return; NBC Exec Thinks it Can Give Hope to Unemployed

NBC’s Paul Telegdy, executive VP of alternative programming, says Donald Trump’s original “Apprentice” will return to the network in the fall, and “provide new hope for many Americans struggling in this difficult job market," reports The Hollywood Reporter.

At the very least it might provide hope for the 14 unemployed contestants who will be cast and given a chance to compete for a job working in Trump’s organization.

Donald Trump himself said he'll be adding something extra to those he tells are fired. He will talk to them for a few minutes about their careers.

Producer Mark Burnett is again at the helm.

Howard Gordon, Showrunner of '24,' Sets Next Project; Meanwhile Says He and Kiefer Sutherland Are Up For Another Season of '24' if There's a Good Storyline

Howard Gordon, Executive Producer and Showrunner of "24," has set his next project, but before we talk about that, here's what Gordon told The Hollywood Reporter about the possibility of '24" continuing next season, even on another network:

" 'Discussions are still being held; the book hasn't been closed,' he said. 'If there is '24' past Season 8,' he added, 'I will be part of that,' though probably not as showrunner. He also said that star Kiefer Sutherland, who has no deal for the show beyond the current season, 'is inclined to do another season if there is a good story.' "

As previously reported, NBC is said to be interested in picking up "24" for next season. To read a tribute to "24" by TVWeek Open Mic blogger Chuck Ross ,click here.

Gordon, who has a deal with Twentieth, told THR that "his next project is to co-write an American version of 'Prisoners of War.' The Israeli original followed three soldiers who return home after 17 years as captives of the Syrians; the new version, tentatively called 'Patriots,' follows three U.S. soldiers who were presumed killed during the Iraq war but are found in a cave after ten years."

Furthermore, THR says that Gordon would co-write the new project "with '24' executive producer and writer Alex Gansa and Gideon Raff; the latter created the original series for Keshet Broadcasting."

Viacom, YouTube Fight Documents to be Unsealed Today

The three-year legal copyright battle between Viacom and YouTube is expected to get more interesting today when a federal judge unseals so-far secret documents amassed in the case, reports the Associated Press.

The confidential information is expected to revolve around the copyright strategy deployed in the early days of the video-sharing site. Viacom has been suing YouTube for allegedly violating the company’s copyrights.

Fans Rally to Save Bonnie Hunt’s Talk Show: Telepictures Says Sorry, Ain't Gonna Happen

Fans of “The Bonnie Hunt Show” are planning to rally Saturday in Chicago, and later in the month in L.A. in a bid to save the two-year-old show from its demise, the Chicago Tribune reports. Hunt is from Chicago.

The show’s final episodes are expected to tape May 6, and the nearly 17,000 signatures on an online petition appear unlikely to sway Telepictures Productions, which produces the show.

A spokeswoman said: "We would like to thank all of the fans for their support, and while we have a definitive end date that can't be changed, we hope the viewers enjoy the remaining episodes."

Two West Coast Development Execs For Discovery Exit

Discovery's two West Coast development heads are leaving the company "to pursue other opportunities," reports The Hollywood Reporter.

The cable company said that despite the departure of Elli Hakami, VP of series development, and Wayne Sampson, director of series development, the L.A. office will remain open.

The jobs are expected to be filled in short order, the company said.

Another Network Adding a Chef Competition Series

Yet another network is getting into the culinary competition series business, reports The Hollywood Reporter.

CBS has ordered up a pilot for the new "Beat the Chefs," which will pit pros against amateurs over the best version of a family recipe.

This contest comes from Relativity Real. Tom Forman ("Extreme Makeover: Home Edition," "Find My Family") is to serve as executive producer.

Ratings do Justice to Latest FX Original Series; Oxygen Show Scores as Well

FX’s new "Justified" pulled in lots of viewers, mostly men, in its Tuesday premiere, the L.A. Times reports.

The show about a U.S. Marshal drew nearly 4.2 million viewers, giving it the network’s second-highest premiere, behind the 4.8 million who checked out the first episode of “The Shield" in 2002.

Also on Tuesday night, according to the Times, " 'Bad Girls Club' reunion show scored a record 2.66 million viewers. Of that more than 1 million were in the women 18-34 demographic."

On the other side of the ledger, ABC's "Lost," which is wrapping up this season, had 8.9 viewers on Tuesday night, a low for the season.

New Rule on the Set of 'Two and a Half Men'

Since returning to the set of his hit CBS sitcom "Two and a Half Men," Charlie Sheen has been doing his job and minding his sober coach, who is there on standby patrol, reports TMZ.com.

According to TMZ, the new rule that seems to have been put in place is that the cast and crew have been told/ordered to keep quiet about what is happening on the show, with the threat of losing their jobs if they violate the rule. A memo was sent warning that anybody who reports what has been happening in the offices or on stage to anyone outside the show will be terminated.

When the work day came to an end, Sheen returned to the rehab facility, TMZ reported

Is Conan O'Brien On His Way to the Big Screen?

Even as Conan O'Brien is reportedly on the verge of signing for a new TV show, his upcoming comedy tour, “The Legally Prohibited From Being Funny on Television Tour,” is likely to be filmed as a feature documentary, reports Deadline.com.

O'Brien conceived of the live show in order to provide work for his staff, to keep them from taking jobs with other productions.

'Hawaii Five-O' Pilot Finds Its Bad Guy

Steve McGarrett has finally found who he will be squaring off against in CBS' pilot of the remake of "Hawaii Five-O," and it's a familiar face for "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" fans. 

James Marsters, well known TV evil-doer from his stints on "Buffy" and currently "Caprica," is the latest name attached to the high-profile pilot, reports IGN.

The actor broke the news on his Facebook page. The role is a guest spot which could develop into something more permanent … if the show gets picked up by the network.

'Biggest Loser' Spin-Off Gets Summer Start

"The Biggest Loser" has been an anchor on the turbulent NBC schedule as of late, which NBC is looking to capitalize on as it schedules a "Loser" brand extension with trainer Jillian Michaels.

"Losing It With Jillian Michaels," will premiere on NBC this June 1 at 10 p.m., TheWrap reports. The debut will occur after "America's Got Talent" on June 1, before "Losing It" shifts to its regular time slot on Monday, June 8 at 9 p.m. 

Michaels, who's one of the main trainers on "The Biggest Loser," will star in the show that has her traveling to a different family each week to work on their food problems. 

What TV Fact is Shared by Jimmy Stewart, Bette Davis, Tony Curtis, Fred Astaire, and Peggy Lee?

Hey, this is a pretty good trivia question. The answer is that all of these stars had their TV debut on the same series: "General Electric Theater."

On Wednesday evening, GE chief Jeff Immelt will visit former First Lady Nancy Reagan to present her with a special gift for the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Semi Valley, Calif.: all 208 episodes of "General Electric Theater," reports the AP.

Former President Reagan hosted the series, which aired a different drama on each show. The series ran on NBC from 1954-1962. The tapes had been lost or damaged over time, but were recently found and restored to broadcast quality.

Cable Companies, Studios Team Up for $30 Million Ad Campaign

Cable companies, including Comcast and Time Warner Cable, are teaming up with a number of studios, including 20th Century Fox and Sony Pictures Entertainment in a $30 million ad campaign, the companies have announced.

The concept is  to educate viewers about movies on demand, and the campaign is called  "The Video Store Just Moved In." It will feature online, print and on-air spots. Spots started airing this week (March 15) and the campaign will run for 12 weeks.

Fox Continues to Have 'Nightmares,' and that's a Good Thing

Fox has renewed one of its popular reality shows, the network announced today.

Gordon Ramsay will continue to throw around pots and pans in unsuspecting eateries as "Kitchen Nightmares" is renewed for a third season. 

Mike Darnell, President of Alternative Entertainment, Fox Broadcasting Company, made the announcement today, promising that the Michelin-starred chef -- and abrasive critic --will be continuing his travels across America to visit and fix restaurants that are in desperate need of his help.

Univision Is Near Selling Out Ad Time for the Most Popular Event in the World

David Lawenda, Univison's president of ad sales, said the network has passed the 90 percent sales mark for the world's most popular month-long event, which begins June 11, reports B&C

The event is World Cup soccer.

Despite the near sell-out, Lawenda called the sales effort for the event in South Africa “a difficult sell," given the state of the economy. The network wouldn’t comment on how much spots are going for or the amount of revenue the event is bringing in.

Fox Moves Closer to a Conan Latenight Show; Some Serious Hurdles Remain

Fox Broadcasting is hoping to finalize a deal to bring Conan O’Brien to its latenight airwaves in time to announce it during the network's upfront on May 17, reports Meg James at the Los Angeles Times.

Those close to the comedian are also hopeful that a deal can be made, according to the article.

One key element to be worked out, the paper says, is whether O’Brien’s camp thinks it can put on the show for less than $60 million annually, far less than the nearly $90 million that NBC spent, including O’Brien’s salary.

Citing sources, the paper says that top executives, including Rupert Murdoch are on board with bringing O’Brien onboard, but the issue of getting affiliates to give up the lucrative time remains another key hurdle. But last week, the paper says, Fox Entertainment president Kevin Reilly and Entertainment chairman Peter Rice came up with plan that works financially for the network.

According to James' report, "The major hurdle comes from Fox stations, which are obligated to air reruns at specific time periods, in some cases after the 10 p.m. news. That would mean forcing a proposed O'Brien show, at least initially, to air at different time periods: 11 p.m. in some markets, 11:30 -- or later -- in other cities.

"Without a uniform start time, it would be hard to get traction for a show and hard to promote it," said Jason Maltby, a top ad buyer for the firm Mindshare. "Saying, 'Check your local listings' doesn't have the same ring to it as saying, ' "The Tonight Show at 11:35 p.m." ' "

The report says it could be up to two years before some affiliates could run the show at 11 p.m.

If a deal with Fox isn't consummated, O'Brien will consider his options on cable, the report says.

Tiger Woods' Next Woman Will Be Good For Him

Tiger Woods is headed South to visit another woman, and that could be a good thing, says TVWeek Open Mic blogger Chuck Ross. Click here to read.

Two Powerful Congressmen Support Broadcasters in What Could Be a Brawl Over the National Broadband Plan

Two powerful Congressmen appear to be on the side of broadcasters when it comes to the fight over spectrum and the Federal Communication Commission's National Broadband Plan, CNET reports.

According to the report, "House Communications Subcommittee Chairman Rick Boucher (D-Va.) and former Energy and Commerce Chairman John Dingell (D-Mich.) have already said they oppose any mandatory move of broadcasters off their spectrum."

The article quotes John Hane, a lawyer with Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman, a Washington, D.C.-based law firm that has represented broadcasters, as saying, "The only broadcasters this plan makes sense for are the ones that are underperforming in big markets where the value of the spectrum exceeds the value of the business. For everyone else, it means technical changes and a lot of involuntary transition and legal expenses."

[This CNET report is excellent journalism, though we were surprised that nowhere in the piece did it carry the disclosure that CNET is owned by CBS]

C-SPAN Opens Up Video Vault To Online Viewers

For years, C-SPAN has been putting cameras in places where the public has never gone before, like the U.S. Senate and Congress, and now those years of footage will be available for the public like never before, reports B&C.

Starting Marcy 17, C-SPAN is launching a free, searchable video library online covering every single program aired on C-SPAN since 1987, as well as 10,000 hours from pre-1987. The earliest tapes are dated 1979, when C-Span began.

Viewers will be able to make clips of shows and Congressional footage and embed them on their web sites. However, full-length clips of shows will need to be linked to C-SPAN's web site. 

NBC’s 10 p.m. Ratings Post-Leno? Up Significantly

NBC’s 10 p.m. hour is doing just fine without Jay Leno, the Associated Press reports.

Two weeks into the return to regular series, after seven months of Leno and a couple weeks of Winter Olympics, the network’s total audience in the time slot has increased by 45 percent.

According to Nielsen, the network is now drawing 7.44 million viewers on average in the slot, up from Leno’s 5.15 million viewers.

Video: On Letterman's Show Tuesday Night, Kimmel and Letterman Dish About Leno

Ad Spending Dropped 12 Percent in 2009

The final toll of last year’s bad ad market is becoming clearer: Domestic ad spending dropped 12.3 percent in 2009 compared to 2008, according to statistics being released this morning by WPP’s Kantar Media, the New York Times reports.

The good news? The drop in ad spending in the fourth quarter was just 6 percent compared to a year earlier, a sign that the free fall may be ending. By comparison, ad spending fell 14.2 percent in the first quarter, 13.9 percent in the second quarter and 15.3 percent in the third quarter, the paper says.

Reality Star and Playboy Model Kendra Wilkinson: I Was Suicidal, Institutionalized

E network reality star Kendra Wilkenson, 24, was suicidal and institutionalized when she was a teenager Wilkenson will reveal tonight (Wed. March 17th) on an edition of "E! True Hollywood Story," according to NBCConnecticut.com.

The report says, "In an interview with E! for its True Hollywood Story series, the 24-year-old ex-“Girl Next Door” and Playboy model says her “drug days” began at 13 when a friend offered her cocaine."

Adds the report, "Wilkinson, who now goes by her married name, Kendra Baskett, describes her hospitalization like a scene out of 'Shutter Island.' "

Tom Selleck Expected to Join Cast of Pilot

Tom Selleck is getting a promotion from P.I. to NYPD chief of police, reports The Hollywood Reporter.

Selleck, who starred in the long-running CBS series “Magnum, P.I.,” is close to a deal to join an untitled CBS pilot which focuses on a family of New York City cops. Selleck is to play the chief of police for the city.

The actor’s last series role was on the final season of NBC’s “Las Vegas.” He has also been seen for the last five years as the star of CBS’ “Jesse Stone” movie franchise.

Former NBC Star Equates Network to ‘Horrible, Drug-Addict Mom’

A former NBC star compared the network to a “horrible, drug-addict mom” for the way her show was treated, New York Magazine reports.

Regina King, one of the stars of “Southland,” said the show’s new home, TNT, is like “night and day” compared to NBC, which dropped the program. She said: “It's like you had this great mom, and all of a sudden she becomes a horrible, drug-addict mom, and you go to live with your auntie, and she’s awesome, and you have a bed again, and you’re getting to school on time, and you’re getting breakfast every morning.”

The interviewer then asked: “So NBC is a horrible, drug-addict mom?” Said King: “Comparatively.”

Major Renewals for Wendy Williams

Debmar-Mercury has renewed “The Wendy Williams Show” in syndication through 2012 in 80 percent of the country, the company has announced..

The renewals include 18 of the top 20 markets, and 37 of the top 40 markets.

According to the Debmar-Mercury announcement, "In the key female talk demos that count with advertisers, according to season-to-date national barter rankings through Feb. 28, Wendy leads a pack that includes Live with Regis & Kelly, The Doctors and Rachael Ray in the 18-34 age group (and finishes within .08 of Dr. Oz); surpasses Rachael Ray and The Doctors within the 18-49 bracket; and remains in a virtual tie with The Doctors among the 25-54 set."

YouTube Going Directly After MySpace

YouTube plans to go directly after rival MySpace in the music arena, the Los Angeles Times reports.

Google’s online video site is unveiling a new program designed to draw independent musicians, offering individual homepages or channels and a share in ad revenue generated by their videos. The site already offers revenue sharing to artists under contract with record labels.

The new program, called "Musicians Wanted," is scheduled to be unveiled Wednesday, March 17, and targets the News Corp.-owned MySpace in its area of dominance.

One of TV's Best-Known, Well-Respected Journalists Being Wooed To Come To ABC To Host Sunday's 'This Week'

Can you guess this one? One of TV's best-known, well-respected jourrnalists is being courted to come to ABC to take over the hosting chores on the network's influential Sunday morning inside-the-beltway program "This Week."

It's CNN's longtime foreign correspondent Christiane Amanpour. She has  told colleagues that ABC News has offered her the job, Media Bistro's FishbowlDC reports.

Furthermore, according to the report, Amanpour has told her colleagures that there’s a 50 percent chance she’ll take the job. The prior host of "This Week," George Stephanopoulos, moved to “Good Morning America.”

The report also said, "If she takes the post, sources say this would be a complete remaking on the show, a program much more focused on international affairs. What's more, Amanpour is telling colleagues that she does not wish to move to Washington, D.C., that she'd prefer to remain in New York and travel for the job should she decide to take it."

Neither network would comment directly on the report to Fishbowl.

PBS Announces Support of FCC's National Broadband Plan

Despite the fact that a number of commercial broadcasters have some serious reservations about the Federal Communication Commission's new National Broadband Plan, the main organization for non-commercial broacasters, PBS, has given the plan a ringing endorsement.

In a statement PBS said, in part, "The National Broadband Plan, released today, will make a significant contribution to ensuring a diverse, digital media landscape in which the needs of local communities and, in particular, children are well served. It addresses critical needs in our country for universal access to information and a more engaged citizenry. One of the core principles of the plan has also guided PBS: the innovative use of broadband to improve lives, including educating our nation’s children, improving civic engagement and developing communities.

...."The transformational change in public media that PBS and its member stations have begun will require significant resources. As the plan recognizes, the continued development of a robust digital public media ecosystem would be enhanced by the creation of sustainable funding sources dedicated to this important work.

"PBS commends the FCC’s hard work on this plan, and we look forward to working with the FCC and Congress as we move forward."

Writer-Producer-Director Larry Charles of 'Borat' and 'Seinfeld' Fame Preps Send-up of Steve Jobs for TV Series

Writer, producer, director Larry Charles, whose credits include "Borat" and "Seinfeld," is taking on Apple icon Steve Jobs.

In fact, the TV series will be call "iCon," according to the New York Times, which says might make the Apple co-founder "iRate."

The show, for start-up cable network Epix, is based on the parody blog (and novel) "The Secret Diary of Steve Jobs" by Dan Lyons, who will also be the primary pen behind the TV show.

Epix, is a joint venture between Viacom, its Paramount Pictures unit, MGM and Lionsgate. Thus far, besides have a Website, it's only available on Verizon's FiOS system.

Charles issued this statement about the series: “We are attempting to do nothing less than a modern ‘Citizen Kane.’ A scabrous satire of Silicon Valley and its most famous citizen.”

No word on a debut date.

HBO's 'The Pacific' Ratings: We Report, You Decide

There seems to be some disagreement in the trade press as to how well Sunday's debut of HBO's "The Pacific" did in the ratings.

B&C titles its story "‘Pacific' Draws Healthy Viewership For Opener."

TVByTheNumbers titles its account "Kamikaze! HBO's Big Budget 'The Pacific' Premiere Ratings Disappoint."

From the B&C story: "Combined with the 11 p.m. rerun, the opening episode of The Pacific attracted 4 million viewers and outperformed the 9 p.m. time period by 69%."

From the TVByTheNumbers story: "Sunday night’s premiere of HBO’s The Pacific was watched by 3.1 million viewers another 900,000 or so caught the encore telecast bringing the cumulative total for the night to 4 million. I warned you last week not to expect numbers anywhere near the level of the premiere of Band of Brothers in 2001, which opened to 10 million. Changing TV viewing landscapes including more DVR, more On Demand and more choice in general – I would’ve been shocked if it got anywhere near Band of Brother.

"On the other hand, I expected it to do as well as, say, the average telecast of "True Blood" in season two. It didn’t."

Hallmark Acquires Martha Stewart Library; Will Use It As Basis of Daily 7-Hour Programming Block

Hallmark Channel has acquired the exclusive domestic television rights of the programming library of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc., the network announced today. 

Using the Stewart library of programs, Hallmark Channel will launch a new daytime lineup of programming beginning Monday, March 29.

The seven-hour daytime block of home and lifestyle programming will set up the premiere of new, exclusive original episodes of “The Martha Stewart Show” in September.

The daily seven hour block will include segments from the library like “From Martha’s Kitchen,” “From Martha’s Home” and “From Martha’s Garden.” Other programs will include “Petkeeping with Marc Morrone,” early seasons of “Everyday Food,” “Martha Stewart Living” and assorted specials.

Hot in Cleveland (and Everywhere Else): Betty White Lands Starring Role in Sitcom

Looks like 88 is the new 38. Now peaking in her career (who would've thought...), Betty White has been signed as one of the stars in the ensemble cast TVLand has put together for its upcoming original sitcom, "Hot in Cleveland."

White will join Valerie Bertinelli ("One Day At A Time"), Jane Leeves ("Frasier") and Wendie Malick ("Just Shoot Me") in the new show, TVLand says.

White will play the snarky but sweet Elka Ostrovsky, property caretaker of the home where Bertinelli, Leeves and Malick wind up when their plane sets down in Ohio. This is TV Land's first foray into original situation comedy.

The network has ordered ten episodes and the show will debut in June. 

Obama Makes Rare Fox News Appearance for Healthcare Chat

In order to try and gain more support for the Democratic healthcare measure before Congress, President Obama will talk with Fox News on Wednesday about the bill, the Hollywood Reporter reports. 

Bret Baier, host of "Special Report," will sit down with the President for the interview. It will run uninterrupted at 6 p.m. Wednesday. 

Obama's interview history with Fox News has been sporadic, including a discussion with Bill O'Reilly before the 2008 Presidential election and an interview with Fox's Major Garrett last year. 

It's Official: Tiger Confirms Return to Golf at The Masters

Confirming previously reported speculation, Tiger Woods confirmed today that he will be playing golf in the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia, reports B&C.

CBS and ESPN will both benefit from the golfer's return to the game, with Nielsen ratings expected to climb once he's back on the links. The Masters is scheduled April 5-11. ESPN's coverage is April 7-9; CBS' is April 10-11.

In a statement released to the media, Woods said, "The Masters is where I won my first major and I view this tournament with great respect. After a long and necessary time away from the game, I feel like I'm ready to start my season at Augusta."

Woods has won The Masters in 1997, 2001, 2002 and 2005. Last year's winner was Angel Cabrera.   

Bravo Renews Reality Show

Bravo has renewed one of its reality shows for a fourth season, reports B&C.

Millionaires rejoice, as Bravo is continuing to try and find you love on "Millionaire Matchmaker."

The chronicles of Los Angeles matchmaker Patti Stanger will undergo a bit of a transformation in the fourth season when the show moves to New York.

In addition to the matchmaking, though, viewers will also see Patti planning her own wedding and supervising the move back east. 

ABC Contemplates Midday News Program

There may be a new ABC news program popping up on the lineup, but not in primetime or late night, but right in the middle of the day, reports the New York Observer.

Part "The View" and part "Good Morning America," the project is being informally titled "Midday America."

The recently hired Ashleigh Banfield is one name being attached to this new show, if it ever gets off the drawing board. It's yet unclear how stations would be able to fit the show into their daytime schedules, assuming the show gets to that point. 

Survival of a Different Type from Discovery

Discovery’s Bear Grylls will soon be offering survival tips for viewers who never venture into the wild, reports The Hollywood Reporter.

The host of "Man vs. Wild" is returning in a new series called "Worst Case Scenario," based on the books of the same name. The original show had the host demonstrating outdoor survival skills; the new one, which will debut in the spring, will cover urban tight spots, as well, such as how to survive a falling elevator.

The network ordered six episodes of the new series. 

Sheen's Legal Problems Could Mean Shortened Season For 'Two and a Half Men'

The continuing problems of actor Charlie Sheen--he pleaded not guilty on Monday to charges related to alleged domestic violence against his wife--could very likely mean that "Two and a Half Men" will not be able to fulfill its season order of episodes, according to Scott Collins writing at the Los Angeles Times' Show Tracker blog.

According to Show Tracker, Sheen will "be able to complete only four more episodes this season, which will leave the show two episodes short of the 24 that CBS ordered, according to a source familiar with the situation."

Furthermore, according to Show Tracker, "CBS will likely replace "Men" with "Big Bang Theory," another sitcom produced by Chuck Lorre. (At 9:30 p.m. Mondays, the usual slot for "Theory," the network might slot reruns of either show.)"

Official Date Set for 'Avatar' Release on Blu-Ray and DVD; For Now, 2D Only

Twentieth Century Fox Home Enterainment has officially set the DVD and Blu-Ray release date of the megahit "Avatar."

It will be the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day, which is Thursday, April 22, 2010.

Only the 2D version of the movie is being released at that time. A number of 3D movies these days also debut with 3D versions when they come out on DVD and Blu-Ray--using the old blue and red tinted glasses--but no such version of "Avatar" is scheduled, at least initially.

It is expected that there will be a "Avatar" home disc eventually made that would be compatible with the new generation of 3D TV sets, which require glasses, but those glasses would be with clear lenses, similar to what patrons at theaters use today to view 3D films such as "Avatar."

Meanwhile, there is still talk that later this year "Avatar" will come back to movie theaters, perhaps  with footage not included the first time around.  

Posthumous Record Deal For Michael Jackson Tunes is Biggest Record Deal in History

Michael Jackson's estate has made the richest record deal in history, the Associated Press is reporting, citing "a person familiar with the deal."

It's a deal with Sony Music Entertainment for seven projects over the next 10 years.

According to the story, "The record-breaking contract through 2017 could be worth up to $250 million if certain conditions are met. One of the albums will be of never-before-released Jackson recordings that will come out in November, the person said."

Report: Paula Abdul Headed to ABC

Paula Abdul is in final talks to join a new show that would air on ABC, EW.com reports in a scoop by Michael Ausiello.

The former “American Idol” judge is likely to act as host and a judge on a new version of "Star Search," EW says. ABC declined to comment to EW.

It’s unclear if the new gig would preclude a role for her on Simon Cowell’s upcoming “The X Factor,” which is headed to Fox in 2011.

Syfy, Ron Moore, Discussing Another 'Battlestar Galactica' Spinoff

Syfy's Executive Vice President, Development Mark Stern, and Ron Moore, the guiding light of the network's hit "Battlstar Galactica,"--which has ended its run--are discussing a " 'Battlestar'-related project....[that] would mark a return to the franchise's space-opera roots."

Such is the word from James Hibberd at The Hollywood Reporter.

Stern also told THR, "We're looking for other ways to spin off 'Battlestar' beyond 'Caprica.' That world is so rich. We're sitting down with (executive producer) Ron Moore and his team. It would not necessarily be a traditional series."

Stern made his comments in an article that was primarily about a new pilot its doing called "Three Inches," about, THR says, " an underachiever who gains the power to move any object using his mind, but only for a distance of three inches. He recruits a team of fellow heroes, each with their own less-than-spectacular abilities."

Broadcasters Alarmed About FCC's National Broadband Plan

There's nothing more American than a good ol' fight in Washington over policy changes.

In this case it's the Federal Communications Commission's new National Broadband Plan, which hasn't even cooled after being pulled from the oven.

Says an article is Bloomberg's Business Week, "The U.S. plan to expand high-speed Internet service might come at a cost to broadcasters and that may signal a fight when lawmakers are asked to help turn television airwaves over to wireless competitors."

And Politico's "Broadband Plan Alarms Broadcasters" article quotes Dennis Wharton, an Executive Vice President of the National Association of Broadcasters and the NAB's primary spokesperson as saying, in a statement:

“We were pleased by initial indications from FCC members that any spectrum reallocation would be voluntary, and were therefore prepared to move forward in a constructive fashion on that basis...However, we are concerned by reports today that suggest many aspects of the plan may in fact not be as voluntary as originally promised.” 

Stalker of ESPN's Erin Andrews’ Gets 30 Months in Prison; Andrews Says It's Not Long Enough

Chicago insurance executive Michael David Barrett, who was convicted of stalking and secretly videotaping ESPN reporter Erin Andrews, was sentenced to 30 months in prison, TheWrap reports.

The sentence was higher than the 27 months Barrett had earlier agreed to because Andrews didn’t agree to the bargain. She also asked for $335,000 from Barrett; the judge ordered Barrett to pay costs to be determined later.

Andrews, who will soon begin appearing on ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars,” said after the sentencing that “I would've liked a longer sentence."

Barrett’s prison time begins May 3.

A Top Public TV Exec Abruptly Resigns

A top public television executive has abruptly resigned after just over a year on the job, Current reports. 

The president of the Association of Public Television Stations (APTS), Larry Sidman, said he’s resigning, effective April 1.

Sidman told Current that he’s leaving for “personal and professional reasons,” and that was backed up by the APTS board chair. But sources told the public broadcasting trade that the APTS board had voted to exercise an option in Sidman’s contract and ask for his resignation.

During Sidman’s tenure, APTS negotiated digital carriage agreements for public stations with cable operators, Verizon and DirecTV, but has yet to come an agreement with the Dish network.

A Summer To Look Forward To If You Love HBO's 'True Blood'

It'll be a fun beginning of summer if you're a fan of "True Blood."  HBO has finally announced when the popular vampire series will return for its third  season, reports The Hollywood Reporter.

The show returns on Sunday, June 13, with a number of new cast members this season, THR notes, include Denis O'Hare, Marshall Allman, Kevin Alejandro, Theo Alexander, Grant Bowler, Joe Manganiello, Lindsay Pulsipher, Brit Morgan, Cooper Huckabee, J. Smith-Cameron and Alfre Woodard.

Versus Channel Returns to DirecTV

It took more than six months, but Comcast’s sports channel, Versus, is back on DirecTV, reports the Los Angeles Times.

The channel was MIA for DirecTV for most of the college football season, as a result of a standoff between the two sides. DirecTV said the fight was over carriage fees; Comcast said the battle was about whether DirecTV would move the channel to a specialty tier reaching fewer viewers.

The deal that was struck leaves Versus on its original tier reaching most viewers, the paper said.

Mischer Returns as Emmy Executive Producer

Don Mischer, who helmed last year's Emmy Awards with Neil Patrick Harris as host, is back on-board to executive produce this year's Emmys in late August on NBC, TheWrap reports. 

Mischer's Emmy show last year garnered respectable reviews from viewers, as well as solid ratings. 

This will be Mischer's 10th Emmy Award ceremony, but it will be the first seen live coast-to-coast, as the television accolades won't be on tape delay this year for the West Coast. 

Sneak Peek at National Broadband Plan: $15.5 Billion to Deploy

The National Broadband plan has been issued to reporters and the Federal Communications Commission has taken its embargo off the material, so a number of media outlets are now writing about it.

To read the official six-page summary of the plan, click here.

B&C also has a good round-up of stories about the plan that they've just put up on their website, if you click here.

A copy of FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski's op-ed about the plan in today's Washington Post can be found here.

The Report estimates that the Plan will cost $15.5 billion to deploy.

Report: In the 25th Hour, NBC Might be Interested in Picking Up '24'

Despite a number of press reports that for all intents and purposes this will be the last TV season of "24" on Fox, Michael Ausiello--who's got a good track record with scoops--reports for EW that NBC could pick up the drama thriller for next season.

Ausiello writes, "Multiple sources confirm to me exclusively that 20th Century Fox has approached NBC about picking up the series should Fox opt to cancel it — and the Peacock is considering it. “There’s definitely some interest,” says an insider close to the talks."

He also says that an NBC pick-up of "24" would be a long-shot, given the "hefty price tag" of the show. Ausiello says that both the producers of the show (Twentieth) and NBC "declined comment" about his story.

To read a tribute to "24" that TVWeek Open Mic blogger Chuck Ross posted a few weeks ago, click here.

Also, as previously reported, if "24" does not make it back to TV, there is a feature film version in the works.

'Battlestar Galactica' Star Joins Another Syfy Series

One of the most famous stars of "Battlestar Galactica," actor James Callis, will be joining another  Syfy series, playing, yet again, a doctor.

Callis will be joining "Eureka" in a new, regular role, Syfy has announced. This time he'll be Dr. Grant, a former resident of the town of Eureka whose return causes major consternation. "Eureka" returns to the Syfy channel on Friday, July 9.

Fore! Next Month's Masters Golf Tourney Makes Jump to 3D for Some TV and Online Coverage

The Augusta National Golf Club announced Monday that the 2010 Masters will be produced in 3D HD, and distributed for free via Comcast, both to TV sets and online, B&C reports. 

While the NCAA announced a similar broadcast 3D event that would require 3D viewers to see the Final Four tournament in special theaters, the Masters will be aired in 3D over cable that can be received by 3D TV sets that recently hit the market.  

3D coverage will include two live hours each day during the Masters, between April 7-11. The coverage will be delivered separately from coverage on CBS and ESPN, who hold the rights to broadcast the Masters. 

Augusta also announced that Comcast and IBM will work together to provide 3D coverage online, but didn't offer any specifics. 

New Mike Tyson TV Show is For the Birds

Former heavyweight boxing champion and ex-con Mike Tyson will soon be adding TV star to his resume, reports B&C.

Animal Planet has ordered a new show, tentatively called "Taking on Tyson," in which the pugilist will take viewers into the world of competitive pigeon racing and breeding.

Tyson has raised pigeons for years and the show will detail how he got into the sport and what it's all about. The show will film in New York.

Star of 'L-Word,' 'Life' Gets New Series

USA has given the series go-ahead to its second female-centric show this year, The Hollywood Reporter reports.

"Facing Kate," starring Sarah Shahi, follows a lawyer who has become fed up with the bureaucracy and injustice in the legal world and moves to become a mediator. Shahi has starred in both "The L-Word" on Showtime and "Life" on NBC, which ran for two seasons.

"Kate" has been picked up for 11 episodes, along with a 90-minute pilot. The show is being produced by Universal Networks International and Universal Cable Productions. 

USA has already given the series greenlight to "Covert Affairs," starring Piper Perabo, in January. 

Ferrell Casts 'SNL' Alumni for New Comedy Central Series With Debmar-Mercury

Will Ferrell is back in business with his former "Saturday Night Live" cast mates as his produced untitled comedy series moves towards Comedy Central, TheWrap reports. 

The series has picked up Chris Parnell and Horatio Sanz, who will play buddies to previously cast Jon Heder, star of "Napoleon Dynamite." Both Sanz and Parnell have recently appeared on NBC's "30 Rock." 

The program will revolve around the three of them scheming up ways to save their hometown, Big Lake.

The new series is being produced by Ferrell's Gary Sanchez Productions and Debmar-Mercury. Debmar is using the same straight-to-series production model it used for "Tyler Perry's House of Pain," giving Comedy Central the option to pick the show up for 90 more episodes after its initial 10, allowing access to near-immediate syndication capabilities.  

A Third Lawsuit Filed Against an Ad Run During This Year's Super Bowl

This year's Super Bowl ads have been incredibly litigious. First, Lindsay Lohan filed a suit against E*Trade for its Super Bowl babies ad.

Then, luxury goods maker Louis Vitton sued Hyundai for using the Vitton logo in one of its Super Bowl ads.

Now, Drive-In Music Company is suing Kia Motors for allegedly ripping off a song it owns, "Let a Woman Be a Woman" by funk group Dyke & the Blazers, in the car maker's Super Bowl ad, the Hollywood Reporter reports.  

Drive-In also named CBS in the suit for airing the commercial in the first place and continuing to air it, as well as the NFL for featuring the ad on its web site.

The ad features toys road tripping across the country in a Kia.  

CNN Prepping State-of-the-Art HD Studio for Spring Rollout

By the end of spring, CNN's state of the art high definition studio will be ready to launch.

The network's Atlanta studio is undergoing a massive changeover and once done, all CNN domestic programming will be in HD.

Located at the CNN Center in Atlanta, the new 5,000-square-foot HD studio, will be ready to roll in late April or early May, with shows "CNN Newsroom," "Rick's List with Rick Sanchez," "CNN Saturday Morning," "CNN Sunday Morning," "Sanjay Gupta MD" and others filming there.

Cookbook Author Sues Seinfeld Again, This Time for Comments Made on Letterman

Missy Chase Lapine, the writer of "The Sneaky Chef," the book which she claimed Jerry Seinfeld's
wife, Jessica, had used as the basis for her successful recipe book "Deceptively Delicious," is after the Seinfelds again, reports the New York Daily News.

Lapine claims Jerry Seinfeld slandered her during an appearance on "The Late Show with David Letterman," in which Jerry made jokes about the author. The suit also takes aim at "Delicious'" publisher, HarperCollins. 

Lapine's previous suit against Jessica Seinfeld was dismissed by the court.

Showtime Set To Use Facebook, Twitter in This Year's Emmy Campaign

Showtime, which last year used the Los Angeles Times as a major component of its Emmy campaign, is turning to social media networks Facebook and Twitter this time around, according to our good friend and former TVWeek colleague James Hibberd at The Hollywood Reporter.

According to the article, the Facebook pages will be branded "SHOgold."

Richard Licata, Showtime's executive vp corporate communications told THR, "Whether it's a tweet about our streaming site and the availability of a new episode or a reminder that a balloting deadline is approaching, the pages will help you stay connected."

A Must-Read Article and Must-See Video: The End of Broadcast

Our good friend Harry Jessell, who runs the editorial at TVNewsCheck and who, for many years was a reporter and then the editor who ran B&C, unearthed an important video the other day that everyone connected with TV should watch, regardless if you're in broadcast, cable, satellite, advertising, and in any capacity in these related TV industries.

It's a speech that former Federal Communications Commissioner Reed Hundt delivered at Columbia University. As Jessell says, Hundt "candidly talks about his decision to promote the Internet over broadcasting as the one and only "common medium" for the United States while he was chairman of the FCC between 1994 and 1997, and how his work then will culminate...when the current FCC under his protégé Julius Genachowski unveils the National Broadband Plan [on Wednesday, March 17th.]"

As Jessell notes, Hundt says in the speech, this broadband plan "will reflect ... the end of the era of trying to maintain over-the-air broadcast as the common medium and the beginning of a very detailed, quite substantive, commitment to having broadband, the son of narrowband, be the common medium."

Furthermore, Hundt says,  the "broadband plan will have in it a specific pathway to shrinking the amount of spectrum that broadcast will be able to use. In all previous eras, the government has expanded the spectrum for broadcast so as to give it a chance to thrive as it moved from analog to digital. Now, it's going to be moving in reverse."

To read Jessell's excellent commentary in its entirety, click here. [You may be asked to register.] To see the video of Hundt's speech, click here. Under the video you'll see a little blue arrow that you need to click on to start the video. [The speech lasts about 45 minutes, but it's must-see. Hundt comes on after 4 minutes and 30 seconds into the video. Lots of traffic sometimes affects this video, so if you have problems at first gettin it to work, try again later.]

Another good thought-provoking piece on this issue of National Broadband is one by David Murphy at PCMag.com entitled "Who Hates the National Broadband Plan. Click here to read it.

‘Mission: Impossible” Star Peter Graves Dead at 83

Peter Graves, who was best known for his role as leader of a group of special agents in the TV show “Mission: Impossible,” died Sunday of an apparent heart attack, according to various media reports. He was to have turned 84 on Thursday, March 18.

Graves played the character of Jim Phelps in CBS’ original incarnation of “Mission: Impossible” from 1967 to 1973, and again in its ABC revival, from 1988 to 1990. Each show opened with him listening to a tape of instructions for an upcoming mission, followed by the tape’s self-destruction.

He took over the role heading the  "Mission:Impossible" force in season two. In season one the head of the group was named Daniel Briggs and played by Steven Hill, who is better remembered today for playing D.A. Adam Schiff on "Law & Order"

In addition to MI, Graves had appeared in numerous TV shows beginning in the early 1950s. Many baby-boomers will recall Graves from those days as the father in the NBC series "Fury."

Born Peter Aurness, he was the younger brother of Jim Arness, who played Marshal Matt Dillon in one of TV's longest-running series, "Gunsmoke."

Graves appeared in dozens of films, including as a bumbling pilot in the spoof film “Airplane.” He also had a key role in the POW film “Stalag 17” (1953).

Pew's Annual State of News Report Out; Only Cable and Online Usage Up, and People Like Ad-Model Better Than Pay Firewall

The Pew Project for Excellence in Journalism is out with its annual "The State of the News Media Report."

A quick glance shows that the only delivery methods of news that have increased in numbers of viewers and users, year over year, are cable and online.

Furthermore, results indicate that people like a ad-model of news delivery better than one where they have to pay for the news.

To read a good analysis of the report, there's Bill Mitchell's Poynter Online piece if you click here.

The entire "The State of the News Media Report" is available online at no charge. A good place to start is the Overview of Key Findings.

East Coast Storm Knocks Out Lifetime’s Movie

A severe storm on the East Coast Saturday night knocked out the premiere of Lifetime’s heavily promoted original movie, “Who is Clark Rockefeller?”

The network said Sunday that it temporarily lost transmission power during the telecast due to the punishing wind and rains that blanketed the coast. The docudrama, starring Eric McCormack as a con man, had been heavily advertised in recent days.

Lifetime said it was scheduling encore presentations for Sunday night and again for tonight, Monday, March 15th.

SAG Board Approves Joint TV Contract Bargaining with AFTRA

The national Screen Actors Guild board agreed to team up with the American Federation of TV and Radio Artists for joint bargaining on a new primetime TV contract, TheWrap reports.

Talks with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers will begin Oct. 1.

Larry David Says 'Curb Your Enthusiasm' Likely to Return for Another Season

Larry David says his HBO sitcom "Curb Your Enthusiasm" will probably come back for another season, Reuters reports.  Six seasons of the show already have been made and aired.

According to the article, "I think there's a pretty good chance (that 'Curb' will return)," David said at a symposium attended by his co-stars. "Not definite yet, but we're working on some stuff." He was predictably tight-lipped about any plot developments, apart from ruling out an encore with the four stars of "Seinfeld," the 1990s sitcom David created with Jerry Seinfeld."

David made his remarks at the Beverly Hills branch of the Paley Center for Media.

According to Reuters, joining David onstage at the Paley were his "Curb" colleagues Cheryl Hines, Jeff Garlin, Susie Essman, Richard Lewis and Bob Einstein.

NBC's New Restaurant Reality Series Signs Big Star of the Food Network as a Judge

One of the biggest stars of Scipps' Food Network  has agreed to join the judging for NBC’s forthcoming reality series, "America's Next Great Restaurant," reports The Hollywood Reporter.

Chef Bobby Flay, who will be an investor, and mentor on the show, will be one of five restaurant bigwigs judging competitors’ ideas for new restaurant chain concepts. The show is expected to launch next season.

No Subject Off Limits: 'South Park' Season Premiere This Week To Tackle Tiger Woods Scandal

It's the 14th (!) season of Comedy Central's "South Park" debuting this week on Wednesday, March 17th, and the irreverent comedy will take on Tiger Woods and his sex scandal in the season opener, according to celebrity cafe.  

According to the article, "South Park" co-creator Matt Stone said in a statement: "It's such an important issue in America right now — the sex addiction outbreak. We're all really concerned about him and hope he gets better. There's a delicacy in talking about (Woods) that we don't have to worry about."

More Than Friends: David 'Ross' Schwimmer Actually WILL Take Thee Brit

David Schwimmer, who played Ross on 'Friends,' and who almost married his British girlfriend Emily in one of most popular episodes of that series, has just become engaged to his longtime girlfriend, British photographer Zoe Buckman, according to Entertainment Weekly. 

It will be the first marriage for Schwimmer, 43, and Buckman, 24.

Netflix Cancels Second $1 Million Contest

Last September, Netflix awarded $1 million to a group that figured out a way to improve Netflix's software that makes movie recommendations for its customers. The challenge was to improve the software by 10%.

NetFlix had made the challenge back in 2006. The $1 million prize was won by a seven-person research team, some of whose members work for AT&T Labs, according to the New York Times.

RIght away Netflix said it was going to do another contest, with another $1 million prize, as it works to make its recommendations even more accurate.

The plan was to allow researchers access to Netflix data so they could improve the software, but make it so the researchers would not be able to actually identify Netflix users themselves.

However, according to the article, "A pair of researchers at the University of Texas showed that the supposedly anonymized data released for the contest, which included movie recommendations and choices made by hundreds of thousands of customers, could in fact be used to identify them."

Oops. This drew the attention of the Federal Trade Commission, who then contacted Netflix. The result is that the second contest has been canceled.

Broadcasters Could Face Fee for Not Giving Back Spectrum

Broadcasters who choose not to give back some of their spectrum to the government for broadband use could end up paying a fee, according to a copy of the FCC’s proposed national broadband plan, according to B&C.

In the article, B&C's reporter said that copy of the plan was read to him.

The plan calls for expanded incentives to get broadcasters to give up spectrum, by paying those who give it up voluntarily, and on the flip side, by imposing “spectrum fees” on those who decline. The fees could apply to government users of spectrum, as well. The plan is to be officially released this week.

An Expert Speaks: Former 'Idol' Showrunner Says Who He Thinks Should Replace Simon

Nigel Lythgoe, the former executive producer and showrunner of "American Idol," whose own show, "So You Think You Can Dance" has also done well on Fox, has a stong opinion who should replace the departing Simon Cowell on "Idol."

Lythgoe said that the best replacement for Simon Cowell as a judge on the show would be music superstar Elton John, reports Roger Friedman in the Hollywood Reporter blog Showbiz411.

Lythgoe declared, “He’s absolutely it."

Lythgoe also conceded that he misses Paula Abdul on the show. “She was the glue that held it together, wasn’t she?” he said.

Cable Operators Must Share Their Channels, Appeal Court Says

A three-judge U.S. Court of Appeals panel has upheld the Federal Communications Commission's rule that cable operators must share channels that they own or partially own with competitors, TheWrap reports.

The court's decision was 2-1 in upholding the FCC's ruling.

Cable operators, such as Cox and Comcast and Cablevision, have argued against the FCC's ruling, saying that the rule violates the First Amendment. They also argue that the rule is out-of-date, as satellite and phone company competitors have eaten into the market share of the cable operators. The FCC first installed the rule around 10 years ago, and renewed it for another five years in 2007. 

According to the article, written by former TVWeek Washington whiz Ira Teinowitz, "Most of the channels affected are regional sports channels, but some cable systems own several national channels, too. And they could soon own far more if Comcast’s deal for NBC Universal goes through."  

The judges said while the cable companies have lost market share, they still control a majority of the market. But, the judges did say that if cable continues to lose its grip on the market, the FCC may no longer have the justification to renew the rule in 2012. 

According to the article Comcast responded to the ruling with this statement: “We’re disappointed that the court has preserved the current unfairness that allows DirecTV to have exclusives for NFL Sunday Ticket and NASCAR Hot Pass while restricting the exclusives that cable operators may have, but it is welcome that the court -- majority and minority alike -- recognize that the marketplace of today is vastly more competitive than in 1992 and that rules and regulations must keep pace with marketplace changes.”

'Idol' Dominates But ABC Holds Firm on Thursday Night Ratings in 18-49 Demo

Kicking off Thursday night with an 8 o'clock results show, "American Idol" had the best numbers of the night, with an average 6.25 rating in the 18-49 demo, according to TVByTheNumbers.

CBS's "Survivor" had a mean 3.6 rating in the same demo, ahead of NBC's "Community" and "Parks & Recreation" with a 1.9 and 2.1 respectively in the 18-49 demo.

ABC soared at nine with "Grey's Anatomy" getting an average 3.9 in the 18-49 demo, while CBS's "CSI" had a 3.35 average, and NBC's "The Office" earned a 3.8 in the 9-9:30 slot.

"30 Rock" got a 2.9 in the bottom of the hour. Fox's "Kitchen Nightmares" had a 3.15 average for the hour.

CBS's "The Mentalist," with a 3.4 in the 18-49 demo, was tops for the 10 o'clock hour, surpassing ABC's "Private Practice" with a 2.8 and Seinfeld's "The Marriage Ref" on NBC stayed close with a 2.6 in the 18-49 demo.

Barnes & Noble Announces E-Book App. for iPad; Amazon Might Jump Onboard as Well

Apple's iPad will become the battleground for e-books, says an article in PCWorld.

Barnes & Noble has announced an e-book app for the iPad, the new tablet device that Apple started taking pre-orders for today, Friday, March 12. Amazon may also provide an e-books app for the iPad, the article says. Both Amazon and Barnes & Noble already have their own e-book hardware devices, the Kindle and Nook, respectively. Sony also has an e-reader, and Samsung has announced one. Dell and others are also expected to come out with tabloid devices.

Both Amazon and Barnes and Noble have e-reader apps for Apple's iPhone.

Says the article, "The prospects of multiple e-book stores on the iPad are interesting. Not only it would break Apple's closed eco-system model of purchasing content from the iTunes/iBook store, but could also lead to fierce pricing competition."

Says the article.

'Good Morning America' Talent Jumps to NBC

ABC News correspondent and co-anchor of "Good Morning America Weekend" Kate Snow is leaving ABC News for a correspondent position with NBC's "Dateline," B&C reports.   

Snow covered breaking news for "GMA," "Nightline," and "World News." She will begin on "Dateline" later in the spring. 

Her last ABC broadcast was Sunday, March 7. ABC News has yet to announce a permanent co-anchor replacement on "GMA Weekend." Fill-in co-anchors will replace Snow this weekend. 

Cult Movie Fave Actor Perfect Fit For Cult TV Show Fave

[UPDATE: Corrected with the proper spelling of Madsen's name]

One of the most important crafts in TV that doesn't get enough attention is casting. And if ever there was an actor seemingly born to appear on a certain TV series, it's Michael Madsen and "24."

Madsen, a favorite of director Quentin Terantino, will be playing opposite Kiefer Sutherland in Fox's "24," reports TV Guide.

Madsen has been cast as Jim Ricker, a former military man who has a history with Jack Bauer. Madsen is expected to appear in the final hours of this season's shows.

Michael Vick Joins Cable TV Reality Show Cast

Controversial NFL quarterback Michael Vick, currently with the Philadelphia Eagles, is joining a new all-pro team to play football.  

Spike TV has recruited Vick to the cast of “Pros vs. Joes.” Vick, who served time in federal prison for his involvement in a dog-fighting/gambling ring, joins other pro football players include fellow Eagle Donovan McNabb, Terrell Owens, Antonio Gates, Warrick Dunn, Isaac Bruce, Derrick Brooks and Jeff Garcia on one squad.

There's also a basketball legends team comprised of Hakeem Olajuwon, Chris Mullin, Kenny Smith, Brent Barry, Isaiah Rider and Rick Fox.

The premise of “Pros vs. Joes” is to show regular guys playing true pros in skill competitions.

ESPN-Branded Saturday Programming Block Slated for ABC Stations

An ESPN-branded Saturday afternoon programming block is landing on ABC stations in April, reports B&C.

Entitled "ESPN Sports Saturday," the block will feature an hour-long original show called "Winners Bracket," where "Sportsnation" co-host Michelle Beadle and the NFL's Marcellus Wiley discuss the weekly world of sports via a bracket setup. 

ESPN will grab segments from "E:60," "Homecoming with Rick Reilly," and "30 for 30" to round out a second hour. Hannah Storm will host the entire block. 

The block is set to air April 4, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. until August, then back again in December. Local or special programming may preempt the block. 

Katherine Heigl Was Supposed to Return to the Set of 'Grey's' on March 1. She Didn't. Will She Return to the Series at All?

Katherine Heigl, who had been off-the-set of 'Grey's Anatomy" so she could make a movie and spend time with her adopted daughter, did not come back on March 1, as expected, EW.com reports. 

The article says series creator Shonda Rhimes has agreed to give Katherine Heigl her freedom from the show—and her last episode may have already aired. Heigl has been on the show since it began six years ago, and her tenure has been marked by controversy: She criticized the writers in 2008, complained about working conditions last summer, and took sides in the feud between TR Knight and Isaiah Washington.

Having missed her March 1 return date, EW says Heigl may not be coming back for the final five episodes of the season.

The article adds that paperwork for her to leave isn’t done. ABC Studios declined to comment to EW.

Shakeup of Executives at the Oprah Winfrey Network

Oprah Winfrey's OWN has hired three former MTV executives with experience in unscripted series to oversee programming, and is reassigning Jamila Hunter, who was named head of programming for the network last June, reports TheWrap.

Hunter, who was said to have initiated the move, will now focus on specific projects and will get a new title.

Not all the deals are done, TheWrap says, but Rod Aissa and Michele Dix are now expected to head up primetime programming and Drew Tappon will focus on original daytime programming.

Aissa helped launch “The Osbournes” at MTV; most recently he has been an executive at Ashton Kutcher's Katalyst Films. Dix was previously senior VP of music and talent development for MTV and VH1, while Tappon was once senior VP of original programming and series at MTV; most recently he’s been a senior creative executive at Warner Horizon Television.

Tiger Likely To Make Golfing Reappearance at The Masters; Woods Also Reportedly Hires Former White House Press Secretary As Advisor

Tiger Woods' return to golf will likely be the prestigious Masters tournament in April, the Associated Press reports, citing "two people with knowledge of his plans."

If so, it would certainly mean increased ratings for the TV coverage of the tournament, which is by CBS and ESPN. The Masters generally have good ratings anyway; with Woods' return they would certainly spike.

How much the networks could take advantage of the higher ratings is problematic though, since the folks behind The Masters limit the number of commercials allowed to be shown per hour during coverage of the tournament.

According to the AP article, "Woods has been practicing at Isleworth near his Orlando home the last two weeks, and swing coach Hank Haney flew there during the weekend to work with him. That led to speculation Thursday he was close to playing again."

The last time Woods played in a tournament was Nov. 15, 2009.

Separately, the New York Post has reported that Woods has hired the former press secretary to President George W. Bush, Ari Fleischer, to give him PR advisce as Woods returns to the public spotlight.

Fleisher has sports experience advising Bret Favre and Mark McGwire college football's Bowl Championship Series.

ESPN's Gene Wojciechowski has written a commentary detailing why he thinks Fleischer is the wrong guy to give Woods PR advice.

Wojciechowski writes, in part, "Woods doesn't need to be managed, especially by someone who appears to think the BCS is a brilliant idea. He doesn't require advice from the same person who signed off on McGwire's delusional steroids-didn't-help-me-hit-home-runs explanation."

Longtime TV Exec Adelson Now Advising Warner Bros.

Merv Adelson, the co-founder of Lorimar Television and a former vice chairman of Time Warner Inc., is now serving as an "executive advisor" to Warner Bros., the Los Angeles Times reports.

The colorful Adelson--who was once married to Barbara Walters but wanted the paper to make sure to note that he is now single—will advise Warner Bros. on new-media start-ups.

The 80-year-old told The Times that he had been approached about the gig by Time Warner Chief Executive Jeff Bewkes.

ESPN Ombudsman Says Viewers Also Find Hannah Storm’s Clothing Distracting

ESPN ombudsman Don Ohlmeyer thinks the network mishandled the suspension of "Pardon the Interruption" host Tony Kornheiser, who was ordered off the air for two weeks for criticizing colleague Hannah Storm’s clothes.

And, Ohlmeyer, too, thinks her outfits are distracting, based on the comments he has received from many viewers.

Ohlmeyer--a longtime sports producer and former top NBC executive--qualified his remarks by saying that Kornheiser had been a longtime friend. Nevertheless, Ohlmeyer said he felt that Kornheiser should have suffered consequences for his comments because “It's unseemly to have a commentator publicly deride and insult a colleague's appearance. It's not good for morale, and it's not good for business.”

But Ohlmeyer questioned the network’s rationale, noting that instead of suspending him for insulting a colleague it called his comments “hurtful and personal.” Other commentators on the network, he said, make similar comments about sports figures all the time.

Report: Sheen Wants to Make a Plea Bargain

Charlie Sheen wants to make a plea bargain in his Aspen Christmas Day felony case, TMZ says, citing sources. But prosecutors may not be ready to deal.

The sources said Sheen wants to plead no contest to a misdemeanor in the alleged attack on his wife, in exchange for no jail time and an agreement to take anger management classes. The deal would allow him to continue “Two and a Half Men.”

Sheen’s arraignment is set for Monday; he’s supposed to return to the show’s set on Tuesday, with the stipulation that he return to rehab every night.

U.S. TV Station for Sale...on Ebay!

A TV station is for sale and the owner has made it available on Ebay, reports The New York Times.

According to the article, the station owner and manager, Bud Kelley, says he wants to sell it because he wants to retire and the popular call-in weekly bingo show airs at 7 p.m., too late for him.

The station is UHF outlet WMKG-LP, Channel 38 in Muskegon, Mich. The station, which hasn’t yet upgraded to digital, airs live talk shows and outdoor sports programming.

Academy Award-winning Actor (and Three-time Golden Globe Winner) Signs on For Series Lead

The lead in the Fox drama pilot “Midland,” will be an Academy Award and Golden Globe-winning actor,  reports The Hollywood Reporter.

The actor is Jon Voight. His co-star in the series about a con man juggling two women and two lives, will be David Keith. The father of one of women will be played by Voight, who is best known for movies but last season did an arc on “24.”

FCC Makes Tool Available To Consumers So They Can See How Fast Their Internet Connection REALLY Is...

The Federal Communications Commission has a new tool that consumers can use that measures the real speed of Internet connections,Reuters reports.

Accroding to the article, "Located at www.broadband.gov, the test is aimed at allowing consumers to compare their actual speeds with the speeds advertised by their providers....[The release of the test] follows an FCC meeting in September where officials said that actual speeds were estimated to lag by as much as 50 percent during busy hours."

Uh Oh: Is 'Clueless' Star Stacey Dash Clueless? Or is a Certain Cable Channel Just Messing With Her?

"Clueless" star Stacey Dash will be on "The Wendy Williams Show" today, and, according to a press release about her appearance, she'll be announcing her new VH1 reality show, and giving details about it.

Oddly, though, VH1 say the show hasn’t been given a go.

All of this is from an article at TheWrap.

Williams’ show put out a release detailing the announcement that the “Clueless” star is making today on the show, including the fact that her new series will be produced by “Sally Ann Salsano, who does ‘Jersey Shore.’”

But VH1, asked for comment, said “Stacey is talking to VH1 about a show, but a series has not been greenlit at this time."

Conan Sets Live Shows; Officially It's 'The Legally Prohibited from Being Funny on Television Tour"

Conan O'Brien, recently ousted host of NBC's "The Tonight Show," has established dates for his live national tour, the comic has announced.

The tour, entitled "The Legally Prohibited from Being Funny on Television Tour," will kick off on April 12 in Eugene, Ore., and will continue on a two-month, 30-city trip. Other stops on the tour include Radio City Music Hall, next to Conan's old stomping grounds at 30 Rockefeller Center, and the Gibson Ampitheater in Universal City, Calif., across the street from his old "Tonight Show" studio. 

The show will include sidekick Andy Richter and the "Tonight Show" band. The tour itself is sponsored by American Express. 

"It promises to be a night of music, comedy, hugging and the occasional awkward silence," the organizers said in the release.

For a  list of dates, venues and cities--and how to get tickets for the tour, click here. 

Merlin Olsen, 69, Football Great, Actor, TV Sports Commentator, Loses Cancer Battle

Football great Merlin Olsen, who starred as the title character in the TV series "Father Murphy," has succumbed to cancer at age 69, USA Today reports.

Olsen had been diagnosed with mesothelioma. In January he filed a lawsuit against NBC Studios, NBC Universal and 20th Century Fox for exposing him to absestos, according to TMZ. In that suit he also sued Sherwin Williams and Lennox Industries. Olsen claimed besides being exposed to absestos as an adult, he was also exposed when he was a child; thus the reason he included Sherwin Williams and Lennox in his suit.

Prior to starring as Father Murphy, Olsen had been a regular on "Little House on the Prairie" from 1977 to 1981.

Olsen played his entire 14-year professional football career for the Los Angeles Rams as a defensive tackle. He was part of the team's "Fearsome Foursome," which also included Deacon Jones, Rosey Grier and Lamar Lundy. Lundy died in 2007. In 1999 the Sporting News listed the 100 Greatest Football Players of All Time, and Olsen ranked No. 25. He retired from football at the end of the 1976 season.

For much of the 1980s he was a color commentator for NBC football games. 

NBC Star Richard Belzer Accused of Attacking Apple Store Employee

"Law and Order: SVU" star Richard Belzer had an incident in a New York City Apple Store yesterday that has resulted in an employee filing a complaint and accusing him of harrassment, reports the New York Daily News.

Milan Agnew, a 21-year-old Apple employee, claimed that Belzer screamed for help and shook and choked her. When the police arrived, Belzer explained that he had been joking.

The cops allowed him to walk away after taking down his version of what happened.

John Wells ('ER,' 'Southland'), Who is the Current WGA West President, Warns Senate Committee That Comcast-NBCU Would Create A Media 'Superpower' That Could Dominate TV

Speaking to the Senate Commerce Committee today, Writers Guild of America West President John Wells pushed for further oversight of the Comcast/NBC merger, TheWrap reports.

Wells said without safeguards, the merger puts too much power into Comcast's hands, giving the company the ability to limit viewer access to free television programs on the Internet and raise cable prices. He said the deal would create a media "superpower." 

Wells pushed the Committee to impose regulations that would require 25% of programming on Comcast and NBC to be independent programming and make net neutrality promises. 

Bengals' Chad Ochocinco Getting Wild Reality Dating Show--Involving 85 Women!

Not only will Chad Ochocinco be "Dancing with the Stars," but he'll be looking for love, too, reports ESPN.

Cincinatti Bengals wide receiver Chad Ochocinco, who is on this season of "Dancing," is also getting a dating show on VH1, reported the NFL player himself via Twitter.

The show will be called "The Tournament" and will involve Chad and 85 women who respond to an ad for the program. (That number is the one on his uniform.) Chad will then fly all over the country meeting those who want to date him, which will be narrowed down to 16, four from each region of the country, all of whom will compete for Chad.

Nickelodeon Announces Six New Series, Including One Based on a Hit Animated Movie

Kids network Nickelodeon announced six new series today during its 2010 annual upfront presentation in New York, including one based on a hit animated movie. 

Dreamworks' "Kung Fu Panda: The Series" picks up where the movie left off, with panda Po, the energetic, enthusiastic, always hungry martial arts bear championing the rights of the creatures in the Valley of Peace, the network said..

"Bubble Guppies" is a new CGI-animated show for pre-schoolers, set in an underwater classroom. "T.U.F.F. Puppy" comes from Nickelodeon success Butch Hartman and focuses on a dumb but aggressive pooch named Dudley Puppy as he enters a super secret crime fighting organization.

"Planet Sheen" is a spin-off from "Jimmy Neutron." "Victorious" stars Victoria Justice from "Zoey 101." "House of Anubis" is a long-form mystery show that will debut in Fall 2010.

Starz, Showtime Make Movie Deals

The Disney-ABC Domestic Television group renewed its deal with Starz Entertainment that will continue to put Walt Disney Studios movies on the network through 2015. The original contract was set to expire in 2012, reports the Los Angeles Times. 

Films included in the Starz deal include "The Princess and the Frog," "The Proposal," and future movies from recently acquired Marvel Entertainment. 

Also struck today was a deal between Showtime and DreamWorks. Disney, which distributes Dreamwork's movies, handled the Showtime deal.

Showtime will be able to air DreamWorks Studio pictures released between this year and 2015. Showtime was looking for content as former theatrical content provider Paramount Pictures has teamed with MGM and Lions Gate on new pay channel Epix.

DreamWorks Animation, which is under a separate company, continues to air exclusively on HBO, the Times said. 

'24’ Alum Tapped for Lead in New ABC Comedy

A co-star of “24” will play the female lead in ABC’s comedy pilot “Happy Endings,” reports The Hollywood Reporter.

Elisha Cuthbert, best known for playing Jack Bauer's daughter on “24,” will take the role of a bride-to-be who splits with her fiancé at the altar.

Mark Burnett Sells Game Show Pilot to ABC

The problems with “Our Little Genius” haven’t knocked producer Mark Burnett out of the game. ABC ordered a game show pilot from him, reports The Hollywood Reporter.

 The show is called "Trust Me, I'm a Game Show Host." It will pit two hosts, one telling the truth and one lying, against audience contestants who must figure out which one to trust.

The FCC has said it is investigating a claim that Burnett’s “Our Little Genius,” which was pulled from the Fox schedule in January just days before it was to premiere, fed answers in advance to a child contestant.

Betty White Will Host 'SNL' on Mother’s Day Weekend

Betty White will host “Saturday Night Live” on Mother’s Day weekend, May 8, USA Today reports.

The 88-year-old will be the solo host, but she’ll be joined on the show by six former female “SNL” stars: Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Molly Shannon, Maya Rudolph, Ana Gasteyer and Rachel Dratch.

After appearing in a funny Snickers commercial shown during the Super Bowl, there has been a massive grass-roots campaign--primarily on Facebook--to get White a gig hosting "SNL."

Legendary Low Budget Movie King, Who Just Received an Honorary Oscar—Roger Corman ('I, Mobster,' 'Wasp Woman,' 'Little Shop of Horrors')—Making TV Movie For Syfy

Roger Corman, who once directed nine low-budget theatrical movies in a single year, is making a new movie for Syfy, the channel has announced.

Corman, who recently received an honorary Academy Award recognizing his huge B-movie career, will produce "Sharktopus" for Syfy.

The film stars Eric Roberts. " 'Sharktopus' is about a research scientist (Roberts) and his talented daughter who develop a secret military weapon – a hybrid shark/octopus that can be controlled by electrical implants. But when the controls break down, the monster goes on a killing rampage at the resort beaches of Mexico," Syfy said in a press release.

Corman is no stranger to making movies about the ocean, having made "Attack of the Crab Monsters," "She Gods of Shark Reef" (attention Discovery Channel on that one), "Creature From the Haunted Sea," and "The Saga of the Viking Women and Their Voyage to the Waters of the Great Sea Serpent."

Broadcasters Fight Back on Retrans

The National Association of Broadcasters, countering cable and satellite operators’ request for changes in the retransmission consent system, says the system is working just fine, B&C reports.

In his own letter to lawmakers, NAB Chairman Paul Karpowicz notes that Congress and the Federal Communications Commission have already concluded that the system is fine, and that government shouldn’t meddle in free market negotiations. And, he added, broadcasters haven’t been found guilty of bad-faith bargaining, as the FCC already has the authority to charge.

Discovery Exec Says Why Broadcasters’ Retrans Demands Will Hurt Cable

Discovery Communication’s President  of Digital Media and Corporate Development, Bruce Campbell,  told industry analysts that more aggressive bargaining by broadcasters over retransmission fees could hurt cable programmers, Multichannel News reports.

Campbell, speaking at the Bloomberg/BusinessWeek Media Summit, said broadcasters are likely to gain more leverage if they continue to grab more retrans fees, allowing them to bid more aggressively for sports programming, for one, and potentially hurting cable rivals in the process.

CNN Eyeing Morning Shakeup?

CNN may be looking to jump into the more-opinionated morning show format that rivals MSNBC and Fox News have, TheWrap reports.

The site says that CNN is developing a pilot for the morning that includes personalities debating politics and opinions.

For the moment, the CNN morning team consists of Kiran Chetry and John Roberts, whose “American Morning” ratings have been dropping.

Olbermann Criticized for Likening First Amendment Lawyer to Nazi Collaborator

MSNBC anchor Keith Olbermann is being taken to task for likening one of the country’s top First Amendment lawyers to a Nazi collaborator, B&C reports.

The First Amendment Advisory Council of the Washington-based Media Institute called on Olbermann to apologize to lawyer Floyd Abrams, who is Jewish.

Olbermann on Jan. 21 criticized Abrams’ stand on the recent Citizen's United Supreme Court decision allowing corporations to spend more on campaign ads, and made the analogy. The Council called it “vile” and “beyond comprehension.”

MSNBC had no immediate comment, B&C said.

ABC News Fakes 2-Second Video in Report of Toyota Cars Accelerating

In a recent report about the acceleration problems Toyotas have, ABC News used 2-seconds of footage taken in a parked car, but claimed it was taken in a moving one, the Associated Press reports.

According to the AP report, written by longtime TV reporter David Bauder, "Briefly during the drive, ABC cut to a picture of a tachometer with the needle zooming forward. The impression was that the tachometer was documenting the ride Ross was taking. Instead, that picture was taken from a separate instance where a short-circuit was induced in a parked car."

Furthermore, according to the story, "ABC said that editing was done because it was impossible to get a good picture of the tachometer while the car was moving because the camera was shaking. The camera shot was steady when it was taken in a parked car."

ABC apologized for putting the 2-second video into the story, and said it was a "misjudgment" made in the editing room, the AP said.

Gawker.com first wrote about this story, including a follow-up about the fact that ABC has since swapped out the fake video and added video taken while the car was moving. However, even the video taken when the car was in motion was NOT taken during the same time the car was driven by correspondent Brian Ross during the rest of the report. The Gawker follow-up includes a clip of the video report.

Eye-Opener: Iger Open to Spinning Off ABC

Disney chief executive officer Bob Iger told shareholders Wednesday that he was keeping his options open when it to ABC, even possibly spinning the network off from Disney, Reuters reports.

ABC has come under scrutiny lately, specifically in its news division. The network recently cut 300 to 400 jobs from its news division, as part of a larger focus to regain viewers lost to the Internet. 

Iger noted that he is satisfied with ABC and its assets currently, but avoided getting locked in to saying that he'd never remove ABC from Disney. 

"There are no guarantees in terms of what will remain part of our company and what will not," he said.

Analysts quoted by Reuters said Iger wasn't necessarily signaling at anything immediately drastic in terms of ABC, especially in the wake of a fight with Cablevision over retransmission fees for ABC.

The squabble blacked out ABC on Cablevision customers TVs in New York City a majority of Sunday, and even blacked out the first 15 minutes of the Oscars before a last-minute deal was struck. 

Will It Soon Be Legal To Bet Which New TV Shows Will Be Successful?

Starting next week, the public can place real monetary bets on how well they think Hollywood films will fare at the box office, when the Cantor Futures Exchange opens its online futures market for movies, the New York Times reports.

Parent Cantor Fitzgerald already owns the web site HSX.com, where its 200,000 active users can bet with fake money. Regulators recently gave Cantor the go-ahead to move into real-world trading on films. The betting will begin March 15.

According to the report, "[B]uyers beware: if “Avatar” is any indication, the public isn’t always so wise about Hollywood fortunes. Most users of HSX.com predicted a flop, and if those users had placed real money on the Cantor exchange, they would have taken a serious hit."

Can a legalized futures market for TV shows be far behind?

CW Developing Reality Competition Shows

The CW is looking to move more aggressively into the reality genre, with the development of two competition series in familiar formats, reports The Hollywood Reporter.

“One Mass Dance” will recruit dance teams from three cities to perform a “mass dance” before an audience. Weight-loss series “Shed to Wed” will pit couples against each other as they try to lose weight before their weddings.

The CW, home to "America's Next Top Model," has two more reality shows, "Fly Girls" and "High Society," that will debut this month.

Furthermore, according to THR, all of this is "[I]n addition to CW's recently reported docusoap in development with celebrity trainer Tracy Anderson and the scavenger-hunt show 'Lost Weekend.' "

 Reality shows are generally less expensive to produce than scripted fare.

Planet Green Programs 'Verge'

Discovery Communications' Planet Green is launching a three-hour primetime programming block which it is calling “Verge,” reports The Hollywood Reporter.

The block will launch March 29 and will include, among other shows, “Future Food”; “Living with Ed,” starring Ed Begley, Jr.; and “Conviction Kitchen,” in which ex-cons launch a fancy restaurant.

According to the report, " 'Verge is encompassing the broadening of Planet Green, which is changing from informational, DYI programming to great storytelling and great characters,' Planet Green president and general manager Laura Michalchyshyn said. 

Jerry Seinfeld Becomes Guest Host for One Time Only, Tomorrow Morning

It's no puffy shirt on "The Today Show," but it's somewhat close. 

Jerry Seinfeld will fill-in for Regis on "Live with Regis & Kelly" on Thursday, March 11, reports
the Associated Press.

It will the first time Seinfeld has been a guest host on the show, and Donald Trump will be a guest. 

Former Red Sox Slugger Joins ESPN as Baseball Analyst

Nomar Garciaparra -- former Boston Red Sox's all-star shortstop -- announced his retirement from the game and his joining ESPN as a baseball analyst today, reports B&C.

Garciaparra had been in Major League Baseball for 14 years, many with the Red Sox.

In his new role with ESPN, he'll be part of 'Baseball Tonight,' as well as appearing on some games to provide expert commentary. Garciaparra starts at the end of the month.

'West Wing' Alum Cast in NBC Legal Drama

The President is going to back to his roots as a lawyer.

Former "West Wing" President Jimmy Smits has signed on to star in an untitled new legal drama series for NBC, reports The Hollywood Reporter. 

The pilot concerns a Supreme Court Justice who leaves the bench to form a law firm that will argue constitutional legal issues. 

Smits first became a TV star playing the role of attorney Victor Sifuentes on the well-remembered NBC must-see "LA Law." It's also the role that made him an Emmy-winner. 

Leno's Post-Olympic Boost Gone as Letterman Regains Ratings Lead

Jay Leno's five-day ratings winning streak over "The Late Show with David Letterman" ended Monday, as Letterman reclaimed the top ratings spot in late night, tvbythenumbers.com reports. 

Monday's fast national numbers put Letterman at a 1.3 rating in adults 18-49, followed by Leno's 1.1 rating. 

Leno still edged out Letterman in total viewers 4.36 million to 4.19 million, but NBC has usually  said that it does not consider total viewers a relevant measurement for its programming.

Ratings: 'Idol' Continues to Roll On Tuesday Night and 'Glee' Rerun Scores; NBC's 'Parenthood' Slips

"American Idol" continued its domination of broadcast television by lifting Fox to another nightly ratings win, essentially keeping pace with last year's numbers, tvbythenumbers.com reports. 

"Idol" posted an 8.2 rating in the 18-49 year old demographic, off 5% from last week, but flat from this time last year. Coupled with a "Glee" repeat that did a 3.0 in adults 18-49, "Idol" gave Fox a 5.6 rating average for the night. 

Wrote TVByTheNumbers' Bill Gorman,"I’m surprised by the relatively strong performance of the Glee repeat that followed Idol. I think that set up is going to produce huge ratings for the new episodes."

Second-place CBS took home a 3.4 rating for the night. "NCIS" dipped 5% to a season-low 3.8 rating, while "NCIS: LA" increased 13% and "The Good Wife" gained 4% to a 3.5 and 2.8 rating, respectively. 

NBC's "Parenthood" shed 16% from its premiere last week, taking away a 2.6 rating. "The Biggest Loser" also dropped, off 6% last week to a 3.0 rating. NBC placed third on the night with a 2.9 rating. 

ABC's "Lost" was up one-tenth a ratings point from last week to a 4.3 rating, while the cancelled "the forgotten" limped away with a 1.5 rating, down 12% from its last original episode in February. ABC was fourth with a 2.4 average rating in the 18-49 year old demographic. 

Major Cable Network Adds Fifth Night of Original Programming

One of NBC Universal's cable networks is gaining a fifth night of original programming, ramping up its hours of original offerings by 20%, B&C reports. 

The network in questions, Bravo, didn't say which night would receive the additional programming. Original programming currently airs Monday through Thursday on Bravo. Our guess is that it's Sunday.

The network did announce four series pickups including "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills."

Other pickups include "Miami Social Club," following Miami's elite; "Million Dollar Decorators," which deals with high-end Los Angeles decorators, and "Pregnant in Heels," revolving around Rosie Pope, maternity clothes designer. 

Bravo laid out renewals for four other shows: "The Fashion Show," "Million Dollar Listing," "The Real Housewives of Atlanta" and "Tabatha's Salon Makeover."

Bravo also has seven developmental projects in the pipeline, five unscripted and two scripted series. 

Moonves Says He’d Pull Signals from Affiliates Who Won't Share Retrans Fees; Says CBS Could be Making Over $250 Million in Retrans Fees in Two Years

CBS Corp. CEO Leslie Moonves said he’s willing to pull the signal from any affiliate who won’t share a portion of retransmission consent fees, B&C reports.

Speaking at the Credit Suisse Global Media & Communications Convergence Conference, Moonves said, “I worked hard to make CBS the number one network. The affiliates are sharing the $600 million NFL. I need something back for that."

He also said that his earlier estimates that retransmission income for the company could be around $250 million by 2012 may be too low, although he didn’t name a higher figure.

Starz Halts ‘Spartacus’ Production Over Star’s Cancer

Starz was so high on "Spartacus: Blood and Sand" that it renewed it for a second season before it even premiered season one, but now production has been shut down because the actor in the title character has been diagnosed with cancer, reports The Hollywood Reporter.

Andy Whitfield was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. He’ll begin immediate treatment of what has been described as a “very treatable” case that was caught early.

Charlie Sheen Returning to ‘Two and a Half Men’ Next Week

Charlie Sheen will return to the set of CBS’ “Two and a Half Men” next week, TMZ reports, citing sources.

Four episodes remain to be shot this season. Each night after shooting the show, Sheen must return to rehab, the report says.

'Lost Boy' Actor Corey Haim, 38, Dead of Apparent Overdose

Actor Corey Haim died overnight of an apparent accidental overdose, the Los Angeles Police Department confrmed to TV station KTLA in Los Angeles, says the Los Angeles Times.

The 38-year-old was best known for his work in the film “The Lost Boys," where he appeared along with another actor named Corey: Corey Feldman.

The two later starred in A&E’s "The Two Coreys," in 2007 and 2008.

Report: Decision Near That This Will Be Last Season of '24' on Fox

As expected, it looks as if Fox will shut down "24" at the end of this season,Variety reports. [Note: Variety is behind a firewall, so you might be asked to register and/or pay to see this story.]

"24" is one of the most expensive shows on TV to produce and a number of contracts of key players with the show expire after this season. On the other side of the ledger, it reportedly collects higher ad rates than any other regular series on TV with the exception of "American Idol," also on Fox. The show is currently in its eighth season.

To read how and why "24" has been a landmark series for television, click here to go to TVWeek Open Mic blogger Chuck Ross' latest entry, titled "The Following Takes Place Between The Third Man and The Fourth Protocol: A Tribute to '24,' TV’s Best Thriller Ever."

Twentieth Television is trying to see if it can interest another network in the show. Also,as previously reported, a screenwriter has been hired to write a script for a long-talked about "24" theatrical feature.

Comedy Central Shows Could Return to Hulu, if the $$ Is Right

Even as Viacom prepared to pull “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart” and “The Colbert Report” from Hulu last night at midnight, Viacom CEO Philippe Dauman was telling investors that the shows could eventually return, Multichannel News reports.

Speaking at the Credit Suisse Global Media & Communications Convergence Conference, Dauman said the Comedy Central shows could return if it became possible for the company to make more money off the site.

"In the current economic model, there is not that much in it for us to continue at this time," Dauman said, adding that, “If they can get to the point where the monetization model is better, then we may go back."

Cable Operators, Satellite Distributors Appeal to FCC and Congress About Retransmission Fee Negotiations and Disputes

A consortium of cable operators and satellite distributors, with Time Warner Cable in the lead, is asking the Federal Communications Commission to intervene in what they say is a broken retransmission consent system, a number of media outlets our reporting.

The group has also written letters about the situation to select U.S. Representatives and Senators.

The distributors are arguing that broadcasters shouldn’t be allowed to yank signals in the middle of a negotiation, as happened Sunday in the dispute between ABC and Cablevision. Viewers missed the opening minutes of the Academy Awards before the signal was restored. Among those in Congress who received the letters were Rep. Henry A. Waxman (D-Beverly Hills), chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, and Sen. John D. Rockefeller (D-W.Va.), chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation.

According to TVNewsCheck, "In addition to Time Warner, the petitioners include Bright House, Cablevision, Charter, DirecTV, Dish Network, Insight Communications, Mediacom, Suddenlink, the American Cable Association and the Organization for the Promotion and Advancement of Small Telecommunications Companies."

TVNewsCheck also notes two glaring omissions from the list of petitioners: "the National Cable & Telecommunications Association and Comcast. The latter is in the process of acquiring NBC Universal and its TV station group and is NCTA's largest member."

According to the account in the New York Times, the petitioners "are asking the F.C.C. to allow for the government to step in more firmly during retransmission disputes, using a tool like mandatory arbitration or an 'expert tribunal.' They also want the F.C.C. to require stations to keep sending a signal as long as the provider 'continues to negotiate in good faith.' " 

According to the Times, "The National Association of Broadcasters, which represents stations, responded by saying that retransmission revenues 'help local TV stations fund news operations, community service and life-saving weather information that viewers across America rely on every day.'

You'll Never Guess Which Characters From An Award-Winning Series Will Be Memorialized in the Ken and Barbie Collection

A hit cable series is about to get one of its most unusual tributes yet: Mattel plans to bring out Barbie and Ken dolls modeled on four of its characters, the New York Times reports.

The show is “Mad Men” and the four characters getting dolls are leading man Don Draper and his wife, Betty along with his ad agency colleague Roger Sterling and Joan Holloway, the office manager who in early episodes was Roger’s mistress.

The dolls, for which Mattel paid licensing fees to producer Lionsgate, are intended for adults and at $74.95 each are part of Mattel’s Barbie Fashion Model Collection, the Times says. For the price, collectors get all the clothes of the period, but not other icons of the series: the cigarettes, ashtrays and martini glasses.

March Madness: Final Four to Air in 3D in Theaters

3D fanatics can see the upcoming NCAA Men's Final Four semifinal and national championship games live in the format, but they’ll have to trek to the theater to do so, B&C reports.

CBS said it will broadcast the games in as many as 100 theaters nationwide. LG Electronics is sponsoring the showings.

Some pundits have said that if 3D TV is to catch on one of the most important applications will be sporting events.

Keri Russell May Return to TV

Keri Russell is considering returning to TV, reports The Hollywood Reporter.

The report says that Russell is negotiating to star opposite Will Arnett in Fox’s comedy pilot "Wilde Kingdom,"

Since her days as the lead in J.J. Abrams' "Felicity" on The WB, Russell has largely stuck to film roles, although she did a two-episode turn in “Scrubs” in 2007.

Kimmel Oscar Special Gets Primetime Outing, A Week Late

ABC will re-air “Jimmy Kimmel Live: After The Academy Awards” on Saturday night at 10 p.m., almost a week after its original broadcast, B&C reports.

Sunday’s original broadcast drew 4.7 million viewers, enough to make it the late-night host’s third-biggest audience ever.

Andy Richter on Leno Saying He Didn't Have a Choice To Leave NBC and Not Take Back 'Tonight Show': 'Multimillionaires are always being forced to do things they don't want to do.' Ouch!

Conan O'Brien's 'Tonight Show' announcer, Andy Richter, made his first television appearance after leaving "The Tonight Show" last month by filling in for Regis Philbin today on "Live with Regis and Kelly," The Wrap reports. 

O'Brien is legally bound from talking on television about his departure from NBC, but Richter isn't.

Commenting about Jay Leno, Richter said he was frustrated to see Leno offer heaps of support six years ago, only to turn around years later. 

"It's very frustranting when someone says... 'I'm going to hand this over... and then doesn't,' Richter said.

Later, discussing Leno's comments that he was under contract to NBC and couldn't just leave the network, Richter added, cuttingly, " Multimillionaires are always being forced to do things they don't want to do."

Case Closed: Letterman Blackmailer Pleads Guilty, Gets Jail Time

Robert "Joe" Halderman, the Emmy-winning former producer at CBS News, made a deal Tuesday with the authorities, agreeing to plead guilty to attempting to blackmail David Letterman for $2 million, Reuters reports. The formal charge Halderman pleaded guilty to was attempted grand larceny.  

In exchange for his confession, Halderman has agreed to do six months in jail, 1,000 hours of community service and four-and-a-half years of probation.

Five months ago, Halderman threatened to expose multiple alleged relationships between Letterman and younger staffers who worked with Letterman, including one with an ex-girlfriend of Halderman. 

According to Reuters, Haldeman told the judge today, "In September of 2009, I attempted to extort $2 million from David Letterman by threatening to disclose personal and private information about him, whether true or false."

Lohan Files Suit Over E*Trade Super Bowl 'Milkaholic' Baby Ad

Actress Lindsay Lohan is suing E*Trade Financial Corp for $100 million, claiming that a recent advertisement featuring a "milkaholic" baby named Lindsay is modeled after her, Reuters reports. 

The suit claims that E*Trade illegally invoked Lohan's likeness with the baby, and violated her right of privacy. 

The suit, filed Monday in Nassau County in New York, also demanded an immediate stop to the running of the ads, and for all copies to be give to Lohan. 

The thrust of Lohan's case, according to a statement given to the New York Post by Lohan's lawyer Stephanie Ovadia, is all in the name. Ovadia said Lindsay is on the same first-name recognition as Oprah or Madonna. 

Fox Slots Summer Premieres for 'Hell's Kitchen,' 'So You Think You Can Dance,' 'Lie to Me'

Getting a head start on the summer, Fox announced today the slate of returning shows for the network, including all new episodes of "Lie to Me," as well as the return of reality fare like "So You Think You Can Dance" and "Hell's Kitchen." 

The popular competition show, "So You Think You Can Dance" comes back on Thursday, May 27. A new comedy called "The Good Guys" will get a special preview on Wednesday, May 19, before starting its run on Monday, June 7 at 9 p.m., coupled with the premiere of "Lie to Me" at 8 p.m. 

Gordon Ramsay's seventh season of "Hell's Kitchen" commences on Thursday, June 10 with a two-hour premiere.

Finally, the already-canceled "Past Life" will burn off the remaining filmed episodes beginning Friday, May 28.

Fox Steals Time from Affiliates For 'Glee' Spring Premiere

When "Glee" returns for the spring premiere on Tuesday, April 13, it will be following a 90-minute edition of "American Idol," reports The Futon Critic.

That means the one-hour episode of "Glee" will run from 9:30-10:30, the second time this year that Fox has dipped into its affiliates time periods. The first was the "24" premiere in January. 

The following week, April 20, "Glee" will resume its regular slot at 9 PM ET.

Further Evidence That 'Numb3rs' Days are Numb3r3d

Is CBS' "Numb3rs" done after this Friday's season finale? 

“Numb3rs” star Rob Morrow has joined the cast of ABC’s legal pilot “The Whole Truth,” leading EW.com’s Michael Ausiello to conclude that Friday’s season finale of the CBS series is probably also its series finale. Ausiello has made this prediction earlier this season as well.

CBS hasn’t made an announcement of the fate of its series.

Morrow will play a defense attorney in “The Whole Truth,” which is being produced by Jerry Bruckheimer.

Creatives on 'Castle' Might Feel Rooked: ABC Decides Show Not Getting Sunday Tryout After All

ABC has canceled its planned Sunday night tryout for “Castle,” reports The Hollywood Reporter.

The mystery drama will remain in its Monday slot the third week of March, when the move had been planned.

THR says network executives decided not to risk losing what is expected to be a strong lead-in for “Castle” from the new season of “Dancing with the Stars.”

On the other hand, more people usually watch TV on Sunday nights than any other day of the week.

Supreme Court Won't Hear Case About Ban Stemming From a '60 Minutes' Interview

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday turned down an appeal from a death-row inmate to hear a case that would overturn a ban stemming from an interview "60 Minutes" conducted in 2000,  the Associated Press reports.

It was in March of that year that the TV newsmagazine broadcast an interview with Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh, who was then on death row.

Not long after that broadcast a new federal policy was instituted that prohibits prisoners on death row from giving in-person interviews to reporters.

In the appeal that the Supreme Court declined to hear, David Paul Hammer, who is imprisoned in Terre Haute, Ind., argued that the policy violates his rights of free speech.

According to the AP report, "Twenty-three news media organizations also urged the court to hear the case."

'Planet Earth' Sequel, Narrated by Oprah, Gets Simulcast Premiere on Seven Channels

As a follow-up to 'Planet Earth,' Discovery Communications will premiere 'Life' on seven of the network's channels on Sunday, March 21, from 8-10 p.m., reports B&C.

The show will play on Discovery Channel, TLC, Animal Planet, Investigation Discovery, Science Channel, Planet Green and Discovery Health Channel, with every channel but Discovery Health simulcasting in HD.

Discovery collaborator Oprah Winfrey will narrate the series.

Here It Is: Cisco's Announcement Tuesday, March 9, 2010, That It Says 'Will Forever Change the Internet'

Finally. Yesterday, March 8, 2010, Cisco had the audacity to say that today it was making an announcement that "will forever change the Internet."

Cisco has now made its announcement.

Cisco has announced—

....but first, a word from our sponsor. Is your car accelerating at the most unexpected, inconvenient of moments? If so...

OK, OK...According to ZDNet, "The announcement is the Cisco CRS-3 Carrier Routing System, which is designed to be the 'foundation' of the next-generation Internet, one that can set the pace for video growth. The device promises to more than 12 times the traffic capacity of the closest competing system."

Is this announcement the game-changer Cisco claimed it was going to be? According to the ZDNet article, "Yes, it’s an important announcement - the networking infrastructure is critical if the Internet is going to evolve the way we’ve talked about in the past, becoming the smartpipe that delivers the experience of a digital society - video, voice, data traveling over the Internet to keep us all connected."

--Chuck Ross

Google and Dish Network Test Set-Top Boxes

Search engine giant Google "appears to be testing at least search functionality on a set-top box designed by DISH Network," according to PC Magazine.

PC Magazine references a Wall St. Journal article, which first reported the story March 8. [Note: WSJ content is firewall-protected and you could be asked to pay to see the story.]

Says PC Magazine: "The WSJ's story, for all of its length, doesn't really nail down several key details: are these boxes designed to surf the Web? Is the Google search simply a more robust method for finding existing and upcoming TV shows and pay-per-view content? Is the box actually using Google's Android or Chrome OS? The latter point (with Android, at least) is implied, but not directly stated."

CBS Renews Reality Series

Unsuspecting employees should continue to be on the lookout for new employees being followed by a camera crew. 

Just a few weeks since its premiere after the broadcast of the Super Bowl, CBS has renewed the reality series "Undercover Boss" for a second season, reports the Los Angeles Times.

The show has been drawing over 18 million total viewers for each showing.

Oscar-Winner From Sunday Night To Be Basis of TV Series

The star of one of the films that won on Acadeny Award this past Sunday is bringing his message to TV.

The star is Ric O'Barry, who starred in "The Cove," which won an Oscar for Best Documentary Feature.  The film tells how dolphins are killed or sold into captivity, in Japan. The film will be shown on Animal Planet this summer, and O'Barry will star in "Dolphin Warriors," which has been greenlit by Animal Planet, according to the LA Times' 24 Frames blog.

The Good, The Bad and The Ugly That Was This Year's Oscarcast

From Oprah's sublime praise of Best Actress nominee Gabourey Sidibe, to the dignity of Mo'Nique's acceptance speech as Best Supporting Actress to the poor judgment of some of the jokes by Messrs. Baldwin and Martin to the outrageous ommission of Farrah Fawcett, this year's Oscar broadcast had it all.

Read the review by TVWeek Open Mic Blogger Hillary Atkin here.

Top News Corp. Exec Says Affiliates Will Have to Pay Up for Fox Programming

News Corp COO Chase Carey says Fox affiliates are going to have to pay up to continue having access to the likes of “American Idol” and the World Series, saying that Fox is “not just another channel,” reports The Hollywood Reporter.

Carey made his remarks at the Credit Suisse Global Media & Communications Convergence Conference. He said retransmission fees will “transform the business.”

Carey was just as passionate about the value of Fox News Channel, telling analysts that any cable operator that drops it would lose 20 percent of their subscribers.

Sony, Panasonic Set Retail Plans to Sell 3D TV Sets

Sony Corp. said its 3D TV sets will go on the market beginning in June, with four models priced from $3,200 to $6,400, the Associated Press reports.

Panasonic begins selling its latest 3D TV sets tomorrow, Wed., March 10, and, under a joint promotion, "Best Buy will set up special sections at its retail outlets, where prospective customers can try out Panasonic's 3D TVs," according to Reuters. 

Panasonic said it expects to sell a 50-inch 3D-capable TV for $2,500.

Both the Sony and Panasonic sets will require viewers to wear glasses to get a 3D effect.

Sony said it's goal is to convert 10 percent of its buyers next year to 3D units. 

Panasonic, Reuters says, "aims to sell 500,000 3D TVs in the United States in the first year of their launch, half its annual global sales target."

The Biggest Challenges and Opportunities in Online Advertising (Answers in Daisy Whitney's New Media Minute Video)

Great Trivia (But Not Trivial) Question--Impress Your Friends, Colleagues: On Sunday Night, With its Oscarcast, ABC Ranked No. 1 in Primetime Among Women 18-to-34. What Broadcast Network Ranked No. 2 in That Demo?

What's so wonderful about this question is that's it's so telling about both the TV audience on such a popular night of TV viewing, and about where the country is heading, population-wise, as well.

The answer is NOT CBS, NBC, Fox nor the CW.  

The No. 2 broadcast network on Sunday night, during primetime, among women 18-to-34, was Univision. And besides ABC, which had the Oscars, the only other broadcast network to beat Univision on Sunday night, in the key women 18-to-49 demo, was CBS. 

Univision's big program on Sunday night, which aired from 8:30 pm until 10:30 pm, was the finale of its popular novella "En Nombre del Amor." 

Worldwide Debut This Thursday of New Lady Gaga Video (with Beyonce) Will Be Neither Online Nor On MTV, But It Will Be On This Cable Network Instead

In days of yore, consumers shouted "I Want my MTV" because it was there that any music video worth seeing had its debut.

But come this Thursday, March 11, the eagerly awaited world premiere of Lady Gaga's new video for "Telephone" will be on E! at 11:30 pm, ET/PT.

A few week's ago Gaga, talking about the 9-minute video, told Ryan Seacrest,  “What I like about it is it’s a real true pop event. When I was younger I was always excited when there was a big giant event happening in pop music and that’s what I wanted this to be.”

The "Telephone" video is directed by Jonas Akerlund.

TiVo Losses Accelerating

TiVo lost 730,000 subscribers over the 12 months ended Jan. 31, a 22 percent drop that left it with 2.605 million subscribers, Multichannel News reports.

That’s more than the 611,000 subscribers lost in the previous 12-month period.

Of TiVo's total subscribers, the report says "1.140 million are via service providers including DirecTV and Comcast."

Also, the company reported a net loss of $10.2 million for the period, despite the fact revenue for the fourth quarter was up 15.7 percent, to $68.4 million.

Last week,TiVo won a major legal battle against Dish Network that is worth about $300 in damages.

ABC Family Snatches Up Another Big Film Post-Oscars

ABC Family, which announced Monday, March 8, that it had acquired the rights to air Hollywood's latest blockbuster, Disney's "Alice in Wonderland," has said it's also picked up another blockbuster.

Sandra Bullock took home the Best Actress award at Sunday’s Academy Awards for her work in “The Blind Side” and ABC Family said yesterday that it had also snapped up basic cable rights to that Warner Bros. movie. "The Blind Side" has made more than $250 million during its theatrical run in the U.S.

Both films will debut on ABC Family in 2012.

NBC Likes the Pageant Business Even if TLC Doesn’t

The Miss America pageant may be homeless once again after TLC declined to renew it, but Miss Universe and Miss USA just got three more years on NBC, TheWrap reports.

NBC--which clearly likes being involved in business with Donald Trump, who controls the Miss Universe and Miss USA pageants--renewed the broadcast of those two events through 2013. This year’s Miss USA will air on May 16. Trump has been a mainstay on NBC with his various "Apprentice" series.

Betty White Says 'Saturday Night Live' Appearance Is A Go

It's the story that has been percolating since the Super Bowl, but now it's true: Betty White has confirmed that she will appear on NBC's "Saturday Night Live," according to People Magazine.

The 88-year-old Emmy winner was at Elton John's Oscar party in Los Angeles last night and revealed that the appearance is going to happen. She didn't reveal any details about when her appearance on "SNL" might be.

White also told People that she was overwhelmed by the groundswell of support she's received, including a Facebook campaign.

ABC Renews One of Its Sunday Night Lineup

ABC has renewed a cornerstone of its Sunday night lineup for the past three years. 

The Sally Field/Calista Flockhart drama "Brothers & Sisters" has been renewed for a fifth
season by ABC, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

In the new season, Rob Lowe has already revealed that he will not be there, moving to NBC's "Parks and Recreation," and Flockhart has asked for a lighter load, but the rest of the cast remains intact and will be on board for the 2010-11 season.

NBC Denies Sweetening Audio for Sarah Palin 'Tonight' Set

NBC has denied a story circulating the Internet that a laugh track was added to enhance jokes told by Sarah Palin last week on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," the Hollywood Reporter reports. 

Liberal blog Daily Kos originally reported that an audience member at the taping--who claims to be a sound engineer--said that Palin, who did a joke-filled monologue on "Tonight," received minimal laughs. Instead, the site said, she received groans, grumbles or just silence from the audience.

When the show aired, Kos says the audience member noted applause and laughs that weren't originally there.  

NBC told the Reporter that neither the audio or the laughs were enhanced during Palin's segments. 

Conan Makes an Extra-Special Friend on Twitter

Conan O'Brien, one of the newest celebrities to start a Twitter account, is making others e-famous, as he has decided to follow one random Twitter user, @LovelyButton, aka Sarah Killen of Fowlerville, Mich., the Los Angeles Times reports.

O'Brien announced that Killen was his "random" Twitter pal on March 5, which immediately sent her followers from three to 12,713 in 24 hours. She's received hundreds of comments from veritable Internet strangers, who have offered to plan her wedding.

Someone even sent along a new Apple computer to her after a web camera malfunction almost canceled a Skype interview Killen was to have with MTV News. 

Oscar Powers That Be Don't Apologize for Leaving Farrah Out of the Memoriam

The morning after criticism of ABC's broadcast of the Academy Awards has included a question about why Farrah Fawcett, who died the same day as Michael Jackson, was excluded from the In Memoriam montage, while Jackson was included, E! Online reports.

Leslie Unger, spokesperson for the Academy, today said that Farrah had been left out because she was deemed more of a TV personality, although as E! Online reported in their story, Fawcett made more films than Jackson.

Unger said, "In any given year there will always be some people that other people think should have been included and that there's more justification for one person versus another. It is impossible to include everybody."

Syfy to Put Supernatural Spin on Fairy Tale Classics

Syfy is getting into the fairy tale business in a big way, and "Buffy The Vampire Slayer" star Felicia Day will star as a modern day descendent of Little Red who goes hunting for werewolves.

The new TV movie will be called "Red," and is set to premiere in 2011.

Kavan Smith and Stephen McHattie will also be in the telefilm.

Also in development for Syfy are retellings of "Hansel and Gretel," "Aladdin" and "Sinbad the Sailor."

With Popular Films Such as 'Avatar' and 'The Blind Side' Up for Best Picture, Oscarcast Ratings Improve

Expanding the Best Picture category to include 10 titles,  including popular hits such as "Avatar," and "The Blind Side" helped drive 41.3 million viewers to the Academy Awards telecast on ABC yesterday, the Hollywood Reporter reports.

The 41.3 million viewers is the highest since 2005, and marks a second-straight year of viewership gains for the Oscars.  

Analysts said the 15 minute ABC blackout on Cablevision in the New York area should have affected the numbers minimally. Meanwhile, the final Barbara Walters Oscar special grabbed 15 million viewers, a series high since 2002. 

Conan on Fox Wouldn't Have Syndicators Laughing

Conan O'Brien, after prematurely departing from NBC's "The Tonight Show," is being mulled over by several sources, including Fox. 

While fans of Conan would enjoy seeing him back in late-night, syndicators are frowning as a Fox/Conan late-night show might wreck havoc on syndicated content in those time slots, B&C reports.

Stations airing late-night syndicated sitcoms tend to keep half of the ad inventory for themselves. A Conan show would take that hour back for the network, cutting the station's ad inventory in half, and could cost stations tens of millions of dollars.

Syndicators are also on the hook, as many have content to sell. Not the least of these is Twentieth Television, which recently renewed "Family Guy" for a second cycle, and is in various stages of prepping "How I Met Your Mother," "American Dad," "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia," and "Modern Family" for syndication.

One less hour, or a pushed back hour of broadcast, could have a drastic effect on ad rates and viewership, B&C reports

"It's a near-term versus long-term strategy," syndication guru Bill Carroll tells B&C. Carroll, VP of programming for Katz Media Group, continued, "In the short term, even under the best of circumstances, Fox will take a hit if it picks up Conan, but the question is how much. In the long term, Fox would be building a potential franchise in a time period that it could program forever. That's why the other networks are in that game."

ABC's 'Castle' to Spoof NBC's Late Night Debacle (the only question: Is it about Letterman/Leno years ago or Conan/Leno now...or both?)

ABC's "Castle" is prepping a murder-mystery send-up of the NBC late night saga, Michael Ausiello over at EW.com reports. 

In the episode entitled "The Late Shaft," airing April 12,  "Dancing with the Stars" Tom Bergeron plays Bobby Mann, a late-night talk show host who is killed. And all eyes are on a rival talk show host, played by Bill Bellamy, who has wanted Mann's spot. 

Sounds like this is just as much referencing the old Letterman./Leno war as the Conan/Leno one. In fact, the book and HBO movie about the Letterman/Leno saga was called "The Late Shift."

Fred Willard and French Stewart are also set to guest star in the episode. 

Don't Miss This: Another Kimmel Star-Studded Video to Join His 'I'm F*ing Ben Affleck' as a Classic

Burke's Law: It's Official—'Dancing With the Stars' Gets New Co-Host

It's official: Tom Bergeron has a new co-host on the ABC hit 'Dancing With the Stars," the network has announced.

Replacing former co-host Samantha Harris will be Brooke Burke. Besides being the season seven winner of "Dancing" (with partner Derek Hough), Burke is the former host of the TV shows "Wild On!" and "Rock Star: INXS."

"Dancing" returns to ABC on Monday, March 22.

Report: Fox Renews Cult Favorite for Another Season

One of the big cult favorite TV series has been renewed by Fox for another season, EW.com is reporting.

On tap for season No.3 is the J.J. Abrams sci-fi/fantasy series "Fringe," the report says.

As the article notes, "Though the show isn’t exactly blowing the roof off of Nielsen — it’s been averaging just 7.6 million viewers and is ranked No. 50 in the all-important adults 18-49 demographic this season — it managed to survive in a tough new time period on Thursdays."

Meanwhile more new episodes this season hit-the-air on April 1.

Cisco Says Announcement Tomorrow—Tuesday, March 9th—'Will Forever Change the Internet'

Cisco Systems, whose clients include Comcast and AT&T, is planning a Webcast  tomorrow, Tuesday, March 9th, that it says "will forever change the Internet and its impact on consumers, businesses and governments," according to eWeek.com.

According to the report, Cisco is "getting ready to unveil a plan to work with [Internet ]service providers to build ultrafast broadband networks that could run at 1G bps."

As the report also notes, the Federal Communications Commission, on March 17, "is scheduled to release its National Broadband Plan laying out how to bring affordable broadband to most of the more than 93 million Americans who don't have such access....The FCC is pushing ahead with its goal of building networks with speeds of 100M bps for 100 million homes by 2020, an expectation that is sure to raise the pressure on current service providers to ramp up the speed of their networks."

eWeek says the story was first reported in other news organizations, including Reuters and the Financial TImes. 

Google has also announced it's working on building several ultrafast networks itself. The article says the difference between what Google and Cisco plan to do is that Google will compete with current Internet service providers, while Cisco will work with them.

Hmm. Cablevision and Disney-ABC Reach Accord (Sorta) in Time to Get Oscarcast Back on Air About 15 Minutes After the Start of the Show

Here's what we know. The Walt Disney Co. agreed to restore the signal of its New York flagship TV station, WABC, about 15 minutes after the start of WABC's broadcast of the 82nd Annual Academy Awards on Sunday, March 7th. 

The two companies have resumed talks about fees Cablevision will pay to retransmit WABC's signal to its 3.1 million New York-area subscribers. 

The Los Angeles Times Company Town blog writes, "Terms of the tentative deal were not disclosed, and there were differing accounts of the value of the contract. One person familiar with the deal said it came out to about 55 to 65 cents per subscriber; another said the figure was closer to 27 to 37 cents. Neither person was authorized to discuss the details of the agreement."

However, the New York Times account mentioned no per subscriber numbers, saying only, "But people familiar with the deal said the terms were still quite tentative, and one ABC executive cautioned that “if Cablevision doesn’t honor the deal points, we’re right back where we started.”  

All in The Family: Basic Cable Network Acquires This Past Weekend's Big Box-Office Hit, 'Alice in Wonderland'

Walt Disney's latest movie in 3D, "Alice in Wonderland,' which premiered in movie theaters (in both 2D and 3D versions) this past weekend to the tune of $116.3 million, has already made a deal to have its basic-cable TV premiere in 2012.

The film will stay in the Disney family, as it goes to the ABC Family channel, the network announced.

"Alice's" big opening weekend surpassed the opening of another big 3D movie, "Avatar," which hit $77 million in its opening weekend and has gone on to take in more money than any other movie in history.  

Furthermore, according to marketwatch.com, " 'Alice' also marked the biggest opening in Imax's history, with the movie taking in $4.3 million and on Friday, including midnight showings, and $4.2 million on Saturday, said Paul Dergarabedian at Hollywood.com in a statement." 

No word as yet if the basic-cable TV premiere of 'Alice' in 2010 will also be available in 3D. A number of TV manufacturers are making serious plans to distribute 3D-capable TVs in the U.S. in numbers and a price points they think will get consumers to embrace them. 

Composer Whose Credits Include 'Lassie,' 'The Untouchables,' and 'Slattery's People' Dies at 94; Son is Famous Jazz Saxophonist

Nathan Scott, a composer and arranger who worked on some of the seminal TV shows beloved by the baby-boomer generation--including "Lassie" and "Dragnet"--has died at age 94, the Los Angeles Times reports.

The cause was complications due to old age, the Times said.

Scott is the father of popular jazz saxophonist Tom Scott.

According to the Times, Nathan Scott, "from 1963 through 1972, composed the music for all but four episodes of 'Lassie.' " 

He also worked for many years on "Dragnet," but did not compose the famous theme to that show. He did compose the theme to the 'Slattery's People," the short-lived (1964-'65) series that starred Richard Crenna.

According to a follow-up piece in the Times, a memorial service "will be held at 11 a.m. March 15 at the Congregational Church of the Chimes, 14115 Magnolia Blvd., Sherman Oaks."

Station Group Suit Against Nielsen Allowed to Proceed

A lawsuit that was filed by a TV station group almost a year ago has survived an attempt by Nielsen Media Research to have it dismissed, B&C reports.

Sunbeam Television's lawsuit against Nielsen was filed in April 2009 and alleges that Nielsen had a monopoly and grossly undercounted viewership. The judge in the matter, Paul C. Huck of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida, has ordered Nielsen to file "an answer to the second amended complaint" by March 25.

According to B&C, "Sunbeam is suing Nielsen for violation of the federal and state antitrust laws, violation of the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act and breach of contract. The court had rejected another Nielsen motion to dismiss earlier this year."

Sunbeam owns WSVN Miami and WHDH-WLVI Boston. Station management claimed that when Nielsen brought local people meters into the market that WSVN lost "half" its young audience, and that the station has never been able to get this audience back. . We lost half our young audience when Nielsen introduced Local People Meters," he said last year. "We haven't been able to get them back since."

Furthermore, according to the article, " 'The judge in this case has repeatedly expressed his concern as to the merits of Sunbeam's claims,' said a Nielsen statement. "We look forward to proving that Sunbeam's claims, are, in fact, completely without merit."

NBC Thursday Night Comedies Renewed

NBC has renewed its Thursday comedies -- "The Office," "Community" and "30 Rock" --reports The Hollywood Reporter. The network previously picked up "Parks and Recreation."

According to the report, "First-year comedy 'Community' is averaging a 2.7 rating in adults 18-49 once DVR-use is added. 'The Office' is NBC's top scripted series in the demo, averaging a 4.9 rating. In its fourth season, '30 Rock' is averaging a 3.4 rating.

Video: Apple Reveals First iPad Commercial During Oscarcast

Turner Spins Off truTV Upfront Presentation

truTV--which used to be Court TV--will get its own, separate upfront ad presentation this year, Multichannel News reports.

The truTV upfront presentation in Manhattan will be held on Tuesday, April 27th. The time and place have yet to be set--though it was also announced that Kid Rock will perform during the presentation.

Previously, truTV split time during the upfront presentation of sibling Turner networks TBS and TNT. Those two networks will have their upfronrt presentation on Wednesday, May 19.

According to the Turner Newsroom site, "So far in 2010, truTV has ranked among the top 10 networks on ad supported cable among viewers 19-49 in both primetime and total day." 

HBO's ‘Rome’ May Rise Again

HBO’s short-lived series “Rome” may be resurrected one more time, EW.com reports, citing sources.

A script has been written by the show’s creator and executive producer Bruno Heller for Morning Light Productions, which is handling development and will produce the film if plans go forward. No director has signed, but many of the show’s stars are expected to take part.

HBO isn’t expected to be involved.

Consumers are Cutting the Cord to Watch Online Video on Their TVs

The days of bulky hard-wired systems that allow your television to display what is shown on your computer are quickly coming to an end as Intel, Netgear and MediaMall are moving to the market with wireless PC-to-TV receivers, Wall Street Journal's All Things Digital reports.

Intel and Netgear's Wi-Di (wireless display) system is currently available for Toshiba, Sony and Dell laptops. A $100 adapter is required for the system, but comes free with purchased laptops. All Things Digital found setup a breeze, and all actions on the laptop screen were reproduced on the television wirelessly.

No hiccups were found, but video quality was a bit degraded from standard HD footage.

Meanwhile, MediaMall's PlayOn allows for video playback via game systems like Sony's Playstation 3, but the video can only be played from PlayOn-enabled sources like Hulu. All Things Digital found the user-interface a bit clunky, as the video game system remote has to be used to navigate videos. Another clunky issue was getting third-party video sources on the system.

Despite those stumbles, video playback was smooth.

CW President Ostroff Says It's Hard to Envision 'Gossip' and '90210' Nielsen Ratings Going Up

The CW's president of entertainment Dawn Ostroff, in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, said as the number of DVR and streaming viewers continues to rise, she finds it difficult to see a situation where the live Nielsen numbers for shows like "Gossip Girl" or "90210" will ever go up. 

"I do think as more and more people are migrating to their DVR and streaming shows, I think it's going to be harder and harder to envision our Nielsen numbers going up," she said. 

Ostroff did reiterate that The CW is still pleased with the results of "Gossip" and "90210." She also talked a little about the futures of "One Tree Hill" and "Life Unexpected," saying that the network is encouraged by both of them, but it is too soon to tell if a pickup is in their futures. 

Potential Tiger Woods Sponsor--a Legal Bookmaker--Declines TVWeek Offer To Make a Bet if Woods Will Eventually Take the Gig

Earlier today (Friday, March 5. 2009), TVWeek ran an item that Tiger Woods had turned down an offer of $75 million to enter a sponsorship agreement with Paddy Power, a legitimate bookmaker in Ireland. (The company is public and has a market value of $1.6 billion.)

In that item, from Bloomberg's Business Week, we quoted a Paddy Power spokesman as saying that the offer to Woods is "absolutely not a publicity stunt."

Furthermore, the company said it was going to go back to Woods and raise its offer in its continuing attempt to land him as an endorser.

Paddy Power is also known for taking lots of novelty bets. For example, the last time there was a vacancy for Pope, they set odds as to which Cardinal would get the position so one could place wagers with Paddy Power on the event.

So I then wrote in our item this morning:

Thus taking them at their word that this effort to land Tiger Woods as a spokesman is not a publicity stunt, I've emailed Paddy Power the following note:

"Hi there. I've read that Paddy Power is trying to land Tiger Woods in a sponsorship deal. I want to bet on whether or not you'll end up signing him. What odds have you set so I can decide what my bet will be?"

No response so far. I'll let you know if and when I hear from them.

Well, I've now received a response: "Unfortunately, we do not have any prices to offer on this market Paddy Power landing Tiger Woods in a sponsorship deal."

When I emailed back asking why not, this was the reply:

Thank you for contacting Paddy Power Customer Support.

While I can't say with any certainty why our traders don't price a given market, one can speculate in this case that the reason the market would be inappropriate is that we'd be accepting bets on something that we're intimately involved with. For the same reason a sportsperson is not allowed bet on the outcome of their own match, it would be slightly dubious were we accepting bets on a result that we would know well before the punter."

Too bad. I was prepared to win a lot of money betting that no amount of money will convince Woods to take this gig.

--Chuck Ross

'The Office' Gets a Baby Bump in the Ratings

Fox's "American Idol" remained the top-rated program on Thursday night, but the birth of Jim and Pam's first child on "The Office" pushed it ahead of ABC's "Grey's Anatomy" for the first time ever, tvbythenumbers.com reports. 

"Idol" posted a 6.5 rating in the 18- to 49-year-old demographic, down 8% from this time last year. Following "Idol," "Kitchen Nightmares" slipped 3% to a 3.3 rating. 

On NBC, a special hour-long "Office" grabbed a 4.7 rating, up 27% over its last original airing on Feb. 11. The special episode was enough to overtake "Grey's Anatomy's" 4.0 rating in the 18-49 demo, a first for "Office." 

"Office" also helped "The Marriage Ref" find some footing at 10 p.m., as it pulled down a 3.4 rating, and won the time period. "Ref" took a bite out of "Private Practice," as it dipped 4% to a 2.7 rating, its lowest original Thursday numbers. 

Not including Olympic coverage, this was NBC's highest-rated Thursday night of the season in the 18-49 demo. 

It's the Eleventh Hour, You're Going to An Oscar Party, You're Going to Have to Enter an Oscar Poll, and You Don't Want to Embarrass Yourself. Here's Our Oscar Picks--Including The Really Tough Ones, Like Short Documentary

 Our guesses are probably as good as yours. Though we DID once win a contest the Village Voice had for picking Oscar winners.

The best thing about our choices is that they give you a great out...If you use our choices and you do terrible, just blame us. If you use ours and do well, it's fine with us if you just take the credit...

[Update: The Oscars have now been given out, and we got 15 right and 9 wrong. We did well in most of the major categoriies, but blew the screenwriting awards, the two sound awards, and the one's that are tough for most of us, the short films.]

Best Picture—The Hurt Locker
Best Director—Kathryn Bigelow
Best Actor—Jeff Bridges
Best Actress—Sandra Bullock
Best Supporting Actress—Mo’nique
Best Supporting Actor—Christoph Waltz

Best Original Screenplay—Quentin Tarantino “Inglourious Basterds” WRONG winner was Mark Boal, "The Hurt Locker."
Best Adopted Screenplay—Jason Reitman, Shelton Turner, “Up in the Air” WRONG winner was Geoffrey Fletcher, "Precious: Based on the Novel `Push' by Sapphire
Best Foreign Film—Ajami WRONG winner was El Secreto de Sus Ojos, Argentina
Best Film Editing—The Hurt Locker
Best Cinematography—The Hurt Locker WRONG winner was Avatar
Best Makeup—Star Trek

Best Costume Design—The Young Victoria
Best Art Direction—Avatar
Best Visual Effects—Avatar
Best Sound Editing—Avatar WRONG winner was The Hurt Locker
Best Sound Mixing—Avatar WRONG winner was The Hurt Locker

Best Documentary (Feature)—The Cove
Best Documentary (Short Subject)—China’s Unnatural Disaster: The Tears of Sichuan Province WRONG winner was Music By Prudence
Best Short Film (Animated)—A Matter of Loaf and Death WRONG winner was Logorama
Best Short Film (Live Action)—Kavi WRONG winner was The New Tenants
Best Animated Feature—Up

Best Original Score—Up
Best Original Song—The Weary Kind (from Crazy Heart)

'Legend of the Seeker' on the Bubble as Tribune Fails to Renew

Disney-ABC Domestic Television Distribution's "Legend of the Seeker" is seeking other outlets, as Tribune Broadcasting didn't renew the syndicated fantasy fare for a third season, tvbythenumbers.com reports.

Tribune said ratings didn't warrant a pick-up for a third season, which puts "Seeker" in a bind.

Coverage on Tribune stations placed "Seeker" in seven of the top 10 major markets in the U.S., and now forces the show and ABC to look elsewhere for distribution.  

CNN Sets Date for New John King Show

Taking over the timeslot once held by Lou Dobbs, John King's new show, "John King, USA," will debut on CNN March 22 at 7 p.m., reports B&C.

The newsman tweeted the information to the public March 5.

In a promo for the show, King said, "We will always have people out roaming the country. We will always have people looking for good stories out there. You cannot cover national politics by being in Washington, D.C."

Fox's 'Glee' Grabs Major CBS Star for May Sweeps Stunt

Fox's "Glee" is pulling out all the stops for May sweeps, as it has managed to wrangle in a guest appearance from a star of a rival network. 

CBS is allowing the star of "How I Met Your Mother," Neil Patrick Harris, to appear in a guest role on "Glee," according to Entertainment Weekly.

The show will be broadcast during May sweeps and will cast Harris as a former show choir singer who returns to McKinley High as a school board member out to cut the glee club.

The episode will include flashbacks and will culminate with Harris' character taking on Mr. Schu. Joss Whedon, of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" fame, will direct the episode.

ABC to Announce New 'Dancing With the Stars' Co-Host on 'GMA'

Tom Bergeron will appear on "Good Morning America" March 8 to announce the new
co-host on "Dancing With the Stars," ABC said. 

"Dancing With the Stars" commences the new Spring 2010 season with a two-hour episode  March 22, at 8 p.m.

Co-host Samantha Harris announced her departure from "Dancing" last month, saying she needed to focus on her other job as a correspondent for "The Insider" and "Entertainment Tonight Weekend." 

"GMA" will also be celebrating the morning after from the Academy Awards.

Financial Crisis to Become Fodder for an HBO Movie

HBO will dramatize the 2008 financial crisis for a TV movie, adapting Andrew Ross Sorkin’s book "Too Big to Fail: The Inside Story of How Wall Street and Washington Fought to Save the Financial System -- and Themselves,” Reuters reports.

The book by the New York Times reporter will be adapted by Peter Gould, whose credits include episodes of the AMC series “Breaking Bad.” 

Tiger Woods Rejects $75 Million Sponsorship Offer; Company Says It's Not a Publicity Stunt and Will Raise Offer

TIger Woods has rejected an offer of $75 million to enter into a sponsorship deal with a publicly-traded company that has a market value of $1.6 billion.

The company is Paddy Power, which is the largest legal bookmaker in Ireland, according to a report from Bloomberg's Business Week.

According to the report, “ 'We went into it quite honorably, it’s absolutely not a publicity stunt,' Paddy Power spokesman Ken Robertson said by phone. 'Tiger as a brand is up there with Coca-Cola and Pepsi. It’s something we are quite serious about.' ”

Furthermore, according to the report, “Paddy Power remains keen to work with Tiger Woods, and will re-engage with” sports management company IMG, the Dublin- based company said today in an e-mailed statement. “An enhanced offer will be made.”

Since the news of Woods' various sexual encounters broke in the days and weeks after Thanksgiving day in 2009, he's lost a number of sponsorship deals, including ones wtih Accenture and AT&T.

Besides the usually betting on sports contests, Paddy Power is well-known for taking a wide-range of novelty bets. For example, you could have bet who was going to be the next Pope the last time that position was open. And Paddy Power once took bets about which egg, among 10 in an incubator, would hatch first.

Thus taking them at their word that this effort to land Tiger Woods as a spokesman is not a publicity stunt, I've emailed Paddy Power the following note:

"Hi there. I've read that Paddy Power is trying to land Tiger Woods in a sponsorship deal. I want to bet on whether or not you'll end up signing him. What odds have you set so I can decide what my bet will be?"

No response so far. I'll let you know if and when I hear from them.

--Chuck Ross

Hooray for Hollywood: Emmy Broadcast to Do Something It Hasn't Done in Over 30 Years

When the Emmys are broadcast on NBC on Aug. 29, it will mark the return of something the Emmys haven't done in 34 years, TheWrap reports.

Following in the footsteps of this year's Golden Globe awards show--and every year's Oscar telecast--The Emmys will air live on NBC across the country, ending years of West Coast tape-delays.

There had been weeks of speculation that NBC was planning such a move for the Aug. 29 event, after a successful similar scheduling in January of The Golden Globes.

Book 'em: ‘Hawaii Five-O’ Remake Finds Actor Who Caan Play Danno

The original "Hawaii Five-o" series included some of the memorable characters in TV history, including, among others,: Steve McGarrett, played by Jack Lord; Chin Ho Kelly, played by Kam Fong; and Danny "Danno" WIlliams, played by James MacArthur. 

In the remake of "Hawaii Five-O" the part of Danno will be played by Scott Caan, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Caan, a co-star of the "Ocean's Eleven" movie and its sequels, also plays manager Scott Lavin on  “Entourage.” Caan is the son of actor James Caan.