Discovery Rolls Out a Slate of New Reality Series

Discovery Channel has unveiled a lineup of new reality shows featuring subject matter as diverse as drugs, cars, guns and dinosaurs, Multichannel News reports.

During its presentation Friday at the Television Critics Association press tour, the cable channel revealed plans for “Dinosaur Revolution,” “Carfellas,” “Gunsmoke,” “Penn & Teller Tell a Lie” and “Weed Wars.”

The story reports: “In September, the network will premiere ‘Dinosaur Revolution,’ a four-part series that looks at the strange behaviors of prehistoric creatures through paleontological research, cutting-edge animation and storytelling, said network officials.”

Set for an October premiere is “Carfellas,” which “focuses on the used car business through the eyes of reformed convict Mikey D. and his crew, Tommie and Mario of Broadway Motors in Amityville,” the story says.

“Gunsmoke,” set in a Colorado gun shop, also bows in October.

Set to launch in November is “Weed Wars,” which tracks the goings-on at Harborside Health Center in Oakland, Calif., the nation’s largest dispensary of medicinal marijuana.

The story adds: “Magicians Penn & Teller will join Discovery for a new show, ‘Penn & Teller Tell A Lie,’ which will feature up to seven stories told through visual stunts, the network said.”

Head of Programming Is Out at Oxygen

Oxygen’s head of programming has left the cable network after more than three years in the position, reports Deadline.com.

Amy Introcaso-Davis stepped down as senior VP of original programming and development at Oxygen Media.

Introcaso-Davis came to Oxygen from sister channel Bravo, where she successfully developed shows such as "Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List" and "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy."

Oxygen has been a part of the NBCUniversal group of channels for almost four years, and has struggled to find its identity, the story notes.

NBC's John Grisham Series Casts Female Lead

An actress from “Deadwood” will have the lead role opposite Josh Lucas in NBC’s upcoming John Grisham legal drama, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Molly Parker has been cast to play Abby in “The Firm.” Jeanne Tripplehorn had the role in the feature film version, opposite Tom Cruise.

The show is being produced by Entertainment One, Sony TV and Paramount Pictures.

Also in the cast are Juliette Lewis and Callum Keith Rennie. Production begins next month in Toronto, with the show slotted to follow football on Sunday nights starting this fall. The series received a 22-episode order.

Is 'Two and a Half Men' Creator Chuck Lorre Plotting a Surprise to Tick Off Charlie Sheen?

Since Ashton Kutcher signed on to take over for Charlie Sheen on CBS's hit sitcom "Two and a Half Men," the assumption has been that Kutcher will play a new character. However, today TVLine.com's Matt Webb Mitovich floated the theory that show creator Chuck Lorre, in an effort to tick off Sheen, will have Kutcher play Charlie Harper -- the same character Sheen played.

The idea is that Lorre would follow the soap opera tradition of putting another actor in the same role whether they look alike or not. Mitovich goes on to propose that Alan (Jon Cryer) freaks out when his older brother returns with a plastic surgery remake, turning Charlie into an Ashton Kutcher look-alike.

Mitovich's theory is bolstered by a few facts, including recent CBS publicity that shows Kutcher with the other leads in the classic opening. Kutcher's character doesn't have a name that's been revealed as yet, and it would be a practical way to continue the show without having to explain why Charlie Harper's beach house is being lived in by someone other than Charlie.

BBC America Orders Drama Series From 'Oz' Creator

BBC America announced Thursday that it has made a 10-episode order for its first original scripted drama series, Deadline.com reports. The show is “Copper,” co-created by Tom Fontana, the creator of HBO’s acclaimed “Oz,” and Will Rokos (“Monster’s Ball”).

The historical cop show will be filmed in Canada, the story reports.

Oscar-winning director Barry Levinson -- who worked with Fontana on "Homicide: Life on the Street" -- is also attached to the project as an executive producer.

"Copper" is set in 19th century New York City amid the immigrant communities and tells the story of a young Irish cop. The show is slated to premiere in the summer of 2012.

Two Brushes With the Law in One Day for ESPN Analyst

An ESPN commentator and former pro athlete is having a hard time staying out of trouble, SportsNewser reports. The sports network’s NBA analyst Jalen Rose, a former NBA and college basketball star, was sentenced Wednesday to 20 days in jail on a DUI charge -- and the same day he was caught speeding in Clawson, Mich.

Rose, 38, received a ticket after being clocked at 46 mph in a 25 zone, the story reports.

Rose is due to report to Oakland County Jail on Tuesday to begin serving his sentence in the DUI case, unless there's an appeal.

Murdoch Pie Thrower Has His Day in Court

The man who threw a foam pie in the face of Rupert Murdoch while the News Corp. chairman and CEO was testifying last week before a House of Commons panel has had his day in court, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Jonathan May-Bowles -- also known as Jonnie Marbles -- pleaded guilty to the charges against him: assault and causing harassment, alarm and distress, the story says. He is due to be sentenced Aug. 2.

The 26-year-old May-Bowles, who describes himself as a comedian, used the appearance to make another attempt at humor. He aped Murdoch's testimony before the parliamentary panel when he said while leaving the court, "I'd just like to say that this is the most humble day of my life."

Start Date Set for Rosie O'Donnell's Return to TV Talk -- With a New Focus and a Different Daypart

The return of Rosie O'Donnell to television has a date locked in, with the OWN network rolling out its plans for her new talk show, USA Today reports.

The show is set to premiere Oct. 10 at 7 p.m. ET/PT. The show was originally planned as a daytime talker, but the decision was made to move it into the access hour. O'Donnell also decided to shift the focus of the program from serious issues to an entertainment and celebrity format.

"It'll be fun, games, entertainment, variety," she told the publication. That means it should have a lot in common with her syndicated talk show, "The Rosie O'Donnell Show,” which won a string of Daytime Emmys from 1997 to 2002 -- including five wins for outstanding talk show and six for outstanding talk show host.

The new program will be taped in the Chicago studios where "The Oprah Winfrey Show" taped.

'Dukes of Hazzard' Actor Dies Unexpectedly

An actor who appeared in “The Dukes of Hazzard” and had a number of other television roles has died unexpectedly, according to media reports.

Christopher "Chip" Mayer, who replaced one of the show’s lead actors during a contract dispute in the 1980s, was 57, according to The Hollywood Reporter. He reportedly died of natural causes.

Mayer began a run as Vance Duke at the start of the 1982-83 season, when series stars Tom Wopat and John Schneider held out, according to Daily Variety. On the show, their characters were said to be off pursuing a career in NASCAR, and the focus shifted to other members of the Duke family.

Along with Byron Cherry, who played Coy Duke, Mayer was contracted to appear in 10 episodes but was featured in at least 17. The show’s ratings declined, and eventually a deal was reached that enabled Wopat and Schneider to return.

Mayer also appeared in series such as "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" and the daytime soap "Santa Barbara," The Reporter notes.

Christopher “Chip” Mayer

Iconic African-American Entertainer and Activist Harry Belafonte Says Obama Has Failed Because He's Lacked 'Moral Vision' and 'Moral Courage'

Harry Belafonte, the iconic African-American entertainer and activist, says President Barack Obama has failed because he's lacked both "moral vision" and "moral courage."

Belafonte, 84, who has long been a prominent figure in the American civil rights movement, says that Obama's slogan during his first run for the presidency, "Yes We Can," was "politically clever" but that Obama never really made it clear as to yes we can do what. Thus, Belafonte says, "So we were all disappointed."

He asks, "What has happened to moral truth?" as well as "moral courage." Politics without moral purpose, Belafonte says, ultimately ends up as tyranny.

It was quite a broadside attack on the president made by a man of unquestionable integrity. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, "Belafonte's global popularity and his commitment to our cause is a key ingredient to the global struggle for freedom and a powerful tactical weapon in the civil rights movement here in America. We are blessed by his courage and moral integrity."

Belafonte made his remarks about Obama on Thursday afternoon, July 28, 2011, at the Television Critics Association tour at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. He was there publicizing an upcoming documentary about his life, "Sing Your Song," which will debut on HBO on Oct. 17. A companion album and memoir also will be released in October.

In a clip from the documentary shown at the TCA session, there is a scene of Belafonte talking to then-President John F. Kennedy. In the film Belafonte says he was surprised by the president's lack of knowledge about the civil rights movement at the time.

Belafonte is a true TV pioneer, having been a regular on one of the first national TV shows featuring African-American talent on TV, a music-variety program on CBS titled "Sugar Hill Times" that ran for a few months in the fall of 1949. "It may have been an unintentional oversight on the part of the CBS press department at the time, but every press release for the show spelled Harry Belafonte's name with two 'l's (Harry Bellafonte)," note Tim Brooks and Earle Marsh in "The Complete Directory  to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows."

Belafonte won an Emmy for Outstanding Performance in a Variety or Musical Program or Series for "Tonight with Belafonte," which appeared on CBS's "The Revlon Revue" during the 1959-1960 TV season. It was the first time an African-American performer won an Emmy.

More Bad News for Oprah

Oprah Winfrey, who has turned her attention in recent weeks to trying to improve the fortunes of her ratings-challenged OWN network, is having a bad week, the New York Post reports.

Visits to Oprah.com have declined by nearly 50% since "Oprah" left the air in May, the story reports.

That news comes just a day after Jenny McCarthy, who had been developing a show for OWN, had a change of heart and announced she’s jumping ship in favor of NBC, as previously reported.

The decline in website visits represents the period after Winfrey ended her syndicated daytime show May 25, the piece says, citing data from siteanalytics.compete.com.

Oprah.com is an important part of the deal between Winfrey and Discovery Communications, who are partners in OWN, the story notes.

HBO Renews Series, Announces Return Dates for Several Shows

HBO announced Thursday during the Television Critics Association press tour that it is renewing one of its longest-running shows, bringing back "Real Time With Bill Maher" for a 10th season, reports B&C.

Appearing at the press tour, the show’s star, Bill Maher, said, "It's nice to be on a network that I myself watch."

HBO also unveiled season premiere dates for a number of returning shows. It will bring back "Boardwalk Empire" for its second season on Sept. 25, while "Hung" will return for its third season on Oct. 2 -- the same night "How to Make It in America" launches its second season.

"Bored to Death" will return Oct. 10, followed by new series "Enlightened," starring Laura Dern, the story says.

Former Late-Night Host to Play Villain on 'Chuck'

Just days after news broke that “Star Wars” hero Mark Hamill will play a villain on NBC’s “Chuck,” the show announced the casting of another villain: former late-night host Craig Kilborn, reports TVLine.com.

Kilborn, the former host of CBS’s “Late Late Show,” will appear in “Chuck’s” Oct. 21 season debut as Roger Bale, a conniving investor who has stolen money from some dangerous people. Kilborn recently signed a deal with ABC Studios to produce and star in a comedy.

The casting comes after “Chuck” tapped Hamill, known for playing good guy Luke Skywalker in "Star Wars," to also play a villain in the same episode, as previously reported.

Keith Olbermann and Dan Patrick Have Fun 'Casting' Forthcoming Movie About ESPN: How About Larry David as Tony Kornheiser and Ben Affleck as Olbermann ...

A reunion of two longtime “SportsCenter” co-hosts took place last night on Current TV’s “Countdown with Keith Olbermann," where the host was joined by Dan Patrick to talk about how they might cast the upcoming ESPN movie.

The movie is in the planning stages at 20th Century Fox. Among the casting possibilities the pair suggested: Larry David or Paul Giamatti as Tony Kornheiser; Sinbad or Forest Whitaker as Michael Wilbon; Tim Meadows as Stuart Scott; Jason Bateman as Patrick; and Ben Affleck as Olbermann.

Here’s the video:

Emmy-Winning and Oscar-Nominated Actress Tapped for 'Parks and Recreation'

An Emmy-winning and Oscar-nominated actress has been tapped to play the feared first ex-wife of Nick Offerman's Ron Swanson on "Parks and Recreation," reports TVLine.com.

Patricia Clarkson, known for Emmy-winning turns on “Six Feet Under” and for film roles including “The Green Mile” and “Far From Heaven,” will tackle the role of Tammy 1, according to the report.

The season finale of the NBC comedy showed the character from behind, without revealing her face or other characteristics. The arrival of Tammy 1 sent Swanson's second ex-wife, Tammy 2, who is played by Megan Mullally, fleeing in fear.

“Tammy 1 is her own specific brand of demon. I think we came up with backstory for her that’s both funny and illuminating and also answers all of the questions that you would have when seeing people’s reactions to her presence in the finale," said executive producer Michael Schur earlier this month, according to TVGuide.com.

Clarkson twice won Emmys as outstanding guest actress on “Six Feet Under,” in 2002 and 2006. She was nominated for an Academy Award as best supporting actress in 2004 for “Pieces of April.”

'True Blood' Creator Closes Deal to Return for Fifth Season

"True Blood" creator Alan Ball said he's closed a deal to return to the HBO drama for a fifth season, reports the Los Angeles Times' ShowTracker blog.

“There will be an end for me on the show at some point. I just closed a deal to do another season. I don’t have any desire to leave because I’m having more fun than I’ve ever had in my life," Ball said Thursday at the Television Critics Association press tour.

HBO hasn't yet officially announced the show's fifth-season renewal, although Ball said his plans for the next season include an exploration of the show's mythology and a look at how one of the vampires was created, the story says.

Google's YouTube Ready to Go Mainstream With Movie-Rental Business; Android Devices Targeted

Google is positioning YouTube's new movie-rental business for a big push, putting the service on Android phones and tablets, reports the New York Post.

The plan is to help drive sales of Android-powered devices via the service, similar to how Apple's iTunes movie and TV show selections help sell iPhones and other Apple devices. Google is also working on a music download service that uses the same plan, the story adds.

While YouTube's movie service debuted in May, it isn't prominently displayed on the homepage, which will change in the next few months, the story says. The service will receive greater promotion on YouTube's front page, promoting its 6,000 titles to consumers.

Amazon Raises the Heat on Netflix With NBCUniversal Deal

Amazon.com has struck a deal with NBCUniversal to add part of Universal Pictures' film library to its streaming video service, ratcheting up Amazon’s challenge to Netflix, reports The New York Times.

Amazon wants to build a library of video for a tablet computer that it's developing, the story notes. With the deal, Amazon will gain nonexclusive access to movies such as "Babe" and "Billy Elliott.”

The deal comes after Amazon last week announced a similar deal with CBS, giving it older shows such as "Medium," the story says. The content is available through Amazon Prime, its $79-per-year membership that also provides free two-day shipping to members.

HBO Hints at How Long 'Game of Thrones' Might Keep Going

HBO executives offered a clue Thursday at the Television Critics Association press tour about how long “Game of Thrones” might stay on the air.

The execs said they'll keep the show going as long as author George R.R. Martin keeps writing, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

That could be quite some time, as Martin this month released the fifth novel in his series, "Dance of Dragons," which clocks in at 1,040 pages.

"The truth is when you see how thrilled he is with the production, we know we’ve succeeded partially by his satisfaction," HBO Co-President Richard Plepler said at the TCA event. "We told George we’d go as long as he kept writing."

James Murdoch Clears Hurdle in Battle to Remain in Power at News Corp.

The board of British Sky Broadcasting reaffirmed its support for James Murdoch to continue as its chairman, a move that the Los Angeles Times calls "the first hurdle in his bid to hold onto power in his father Rupert's company, News Corp."

The support comes amid questions over James Murdoch's handling of the phone-hacking scandal at News Corp.'s now defunct tabloid News of the World, the story notes.

"The move was a bit of good news for the Murdoch clan after three weeks of daily drubbings in rival newspapers and pointed questions from members of Parliament," write Meg James and Joe Flint in the article. BSkyB provides TV service to 10 million homes in Britain and Ireland.

For 38-year-old James Murdoch, however, it's still unclear whether the scandal could push him out of his job as News Corp.'s deputy chief operating officer, the third-ranking role in the media conglomerate. British lawmakers have indicated they want him to answer more questions and have expressed doubts about whether he was truthful when he testified in a parliamentary committee last week about being unaware of the hacking.

He has run News Corp.'s European operations since 2007.

Last July a Court Ordered Walt Disney Co. To Pay $319 Million in Profits to 'Who Wants To Be a Millionaire' Producer Celador. Here's What Disney Told an Appeals Court This Week Why It Shouldn't Have to Pay the Money

"On Tuesday, [Disney] lawyers offered five reasons why the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals should overturn the verdict," writes The Hollywood Reporter's Hollywood, Esq. blog.

Here are the five reasons: (Please see the original article for a more detailed explanation for each reason.)

1) "The case should have never gotten to a jury in the first place"

2) "The trial judge wrongfully excluded evidence"

3) "The trial judge erroneously allowed testimony on an inflated damages assessment"

4) "The trial judge should have taken more responsibility in interpreting the contract as a matter of law and precluded one of the claims"

and 5) "It was sued by the wrong entity"

Mark Rosenthal Out at Current TV. Report Attributes Reason to Fact That 'Two CEO's One Too Many'

Adweek, which broke the story on Thursday that Mark Rosenthal was out at Current TV wrote in a follow-up story, "Sources close to Current TV say that the departure of Current TV CEO Mark Rosenthal comes two months after the network's co-founder, Joel Hyatt, took the position of co-CEO alongside Rosenthal in a move that was never publicly announced."

The article later notes, " '[Rosenthal] came on-board to be CEO and not Co-CEO,” says one of those sources. 'It was difficult for the team, and he saw that… After a certain amount of time, he decided it wasn’t working for him or anybody.' What wasn't working? 'Decision-making. Communication,' adds this source, 'If there’s more than one person overseeing the day-to-day functions, it becomes confusing who the ultimate decision-maker is. I think for all of the staff, when you have two people, [you start to ask] who’s really in charge?' "

Rosenthal served previously as CEO of Initiative Media, and before that as presidnet and COO of MTV Networks. He was serving on Current's board of directors when he took over the CEO position from Hyatt in February, 2009.

According to Deadline.com,  "Reached late Thursday, Rosenthal said 'Joel [Hyatt] and I always had a great collaboration and we remain close friends. And Joel was instrumental in negotiating for Keith Olbermann to come to Current.' "

Judge Threatens to Reject Comcast-NBCU Merger

A federal judge has threatened to pull the plug on Comcast’s acquisition of NBCUniversal, The Wall Street Journal reports.

Judge Richard Leon criticized the antitrust settlement that allowed the merger to go ahead. The merger, announced in December 2009, was completed in January of this year.

The story says the judge “criticized arbitration terms available to online content companies that disagree with Comcast about program licensing, citing the fact the arbitration agreements can't be appealed. ‘I'm giving you fair notice I'm not sure I'm going to sign this,’ Leon said. ‘My concerns are such that because of the arbitration it's not in the public interest.’"

A key concern is that companies that compete with Comcast, such as online distributors, will be denied access to NBC programming.

Judge Leon indicated a possible strategy going forward might include annual hearings by the court to ensure that decisions are made in the public interest.

The story adds: “The government settlement, which has terms that last for seven years, says that Comcast must license programming to online distributors that compete with the company's cable service. If a company believes Comcast-NBCUniversal has violated this, it can file a complaint with the Justice Department. Justice's arbitration process can't be appealed, but the Federal Communications Commission's process can. The Justice Department lawyer said that companies would have the option to go through arbitration with the FCC.”

OMG. Latest Bombshell in News Corp. Scandal: Second Murdered Girl's Family Had Phone Targeted to Be Hacked

In a shocking development in the News Corp, phone-hacking scandal in the U.K., it's been revealed that a second murdered girl's family had a phone targeted for hacking by a now-closed tabloid newspaper owned by News Corp.

"Sara Payne, whose eight-year-old daughter Sarah was abducted and murdered in July 2000, has been told by Scotland Yard that they have found evidence to suggest she was targeted by the News of the World's investigator Glenn Mulcaire, who specialised in hacking voicemail," reports The Guardian.

Furthermore, the report says, "The evidence that police have found in Mulcaire's notes is believed to relate to a phone given to Payne by [then editor of News of the World Rebekah] Brooks to help her stay in touch with her supporters.

Brooks who most recently was the top executive of News Corp.'s U.K. subsidiary, News International, resigned that post earlier this month in the wake of the scandal.

The Guardian story adds: "On Thursday night Brooks insisted the phone had not been a personal gift but had been provided to Payne by the News of the World 'for the benefit of the campaign for Sarah's law.' In a statement, Brooks said the latest allegations were 'abhorrent' and 'particularly upsetting' because Sara Payne was a 'dear friend.' "

The article also notes: "It is not known whether any messages for Payne were successfully hacked by Mulcaire."

The latest revelation comes after the previous disclosure "that the News of the World hacked and deleted the voicemail of the murdered Surrey schoolgirl Milly Dowler," the article notes. News Corp. Chairman and CEO Rupert Murdoch recently personally apologized to the Dowler family for that incident.

The story adds, "The Labour [Member of Parliament] Tom Watson, who has been an outspoken critic of News International, said of the Payne allegation: "This is a new low. The last edition of the News of the World made great play of the paper's relationship with the Payne family. Brooks talked about it at the committee inquiry. Now this. I have nothing but contempt for the people that did this."

Multiple Emmy-Winning Sitcom Headed to Big Screen

After a couple of years of rumors, two of the former stars of a multiple Emmy-winning sitcom confirm that a feature film version of the series is a go, according to media reports..

The show is Fox’s critically acclaimed “Arrested Development,” and former stars Will Arnett and Jeffrey Tambor are both saying the movie is a done deal.

The Huffington Post reports that Tambor said the movie will be made, quoting him as saying, “It’s all going straight, everyone’s on board.”

In a separate report, former star Will Arnett also confirmed that there will be a feature film adaptation of the show, according to LAist.com.

In a podcast for Marc Maron's "WTF," Arnett told the host, "We are gonna make the 'Arrested Development' movie. ... Mitch Hurwitz, who is really just a brilliant, brilliant guy, is in the process right now of concocting something that's really kind of unexpected, I think. That I really don't want to give away, but I think the fans are going to be really satisfied," the LAist story reports.

Hurwitz, the show’s creator/producer, has been among those fueling the rumors of a movie.

“Arrested Development” won six Emmys during its aborted run on Fox, including outstanding comedy series in 2004. It received a total of 22 Emmy nominations in just three seasons, airing from 2003-2006.

TV Personality Flees OWN, Takes Her Show to NBC

A well-known TV personality who has been developing a talk show for Oprah Winfrey’s OWN network has had a change of heart about the ratings-challenged cable net and is jumping ship, Fox News reports.

Jenny McCarthy has decided to develop her talk show for NBC, the report says. A source close to McCarthy told the Fox News website that McCarthy had grown frustrated with the development process at Oprah's fledgling network.

OWN's spokesperson confirmed the story, saying, "OWN does not have a show in development with Jenny McCarthy."

NBC declined to confirm that McCarthy, a former Playboy Playmate of the Year and a fixture on MTV in years past, is coming aboard. A network spokesman said only, "We do not comment on projects in development."

Jenny McCarthy

Time Warner Cable Drops Subs, Picks Up Broadband Customers

Time Warner Cable revealed that its cable TV subscriptions shrank considerably during the second quarter, while it added broadband customers and saw a 35% surge in business services revenue, Multichannel News reports.

Cable subs fell by 128,000, according to the story. Broadband customers, meanwhile, rose by 54,000.

The story reports: “The operator's second-quarter revenue was $4.94 billion, up 4.4% year over year, which was in line with analyst expectations. Net income for the three months ended June 30 was $421 million ($1.24 per diluted share), beating Wall Street forecasts and up from the year-ago period.”

In announcing the company’s earnings, Time Warner Cable CEO Glenn Britt said: "Time Warner Cable continued to perform well in the second quarter, driven by very strong results in business services and higher residential ARPU. We also continued to generate strong free cash flow while still investing in our core business, allowing us to return more than $1 billion to our shareholders."

Changing Channels: CBS News Producer Joins the Migration to NBC

A senior producer on “CBS Evening News” has decided to get in on the musical chairs taking place between the CBS and NBC news divisions.

Katie Boyle is making the jump from “Evening News” to NBC, where she will be a senior producer on the new Brian Williams prime-time news show, reports TVNewser.com.

Boyle was with CBS News for 23 years, having started as an associate producer in 1988. She has previous experience working with Rome Hartman, the executive producer of the still-unnamed Williams program.

Hartman, a fixture at CBS News for 24 years, was the exec producer for the first season of “CBS Evening News With Katie Couric,” but recently found his way to NBC and the new Williams project by way of BBC America.

Also making the jump recently from CBS to NBC’s Brian Williams show was correspondent Harry Smith.

On the other hand, Norah O’Donnell recently went in the other direction, moving from the NBC family to become chief White House correspondent for CBS News.

Also departing “CBS Evening News” in recent weeks were senior producers Bill Piersol and Chris Dinan.

Pac-12 Unveils Plans for Massive National and Regional Networks Group

The former Pacific-10 Conference, now the Pac-12, is forming its own national and regional sports network, reports Deadline.com.

The network, which will include six regional channels along with a national channel, will launch in August 2012, broadcasting basketball, football and other sports involving all 12 schools in the conference.

The six regional channels will represent Oregon, Washington, Northern California, Southern California, Arizona and a mountain region.

The most recent additions to the conference are the University of Utah and the University of Colorado.

ESPN and Fox already have contracts worth $3 billion with the Pac-12, and will split the 350 nationally televised games with the conference. Including the regional channels, the new network plans to televise 850 sports events each year, with the total TV package including all basketball and football games.

The network counts Comcast, Time Warner Cable, Cox Communications and Bright House Networks among its partners, with additional platforms expected to sign on. The venture anticipates reaching 40 million U.S. cable customers.

BET Says It Isn't Canceling Show Featuring Oscar-Winning Actress -- It's Only Going on Hiatus

Amid reports that BET was canceling one of its shows, the network issued a statement saying the show is just going on hiatus, says Multichannel News.

According to the article, "The Mo'Nique Show" which is "the first late-night show hosted by an African-American since 'The Arsenio Hall Show' in the 1990s, will continue to air original episodes in its 11 p.m. timeslot through the summer and then run repeats after that.

"The official BET statement reads as follows: 'The Mo’Nique Show' will be on production hiatus beginning in the Fall. However, new episodes of the show will continue to air throughout the summer. Mo’nique Hicks and 'The Mo’Nique Show' are important to the BET Networks family and we look forward to continuing our relationship with her.'”

Interestingly, as we read this BET statement here at TVWeek, it does not say anything about new episodes after the summer, nor does it say how long the "hiatus" starting this fall will last.

Mo’Nique won an Academy Award in 2010 for her supporting role in “Precious.”

Disney Exec Is First Woman to Be Named MIPCOM Personality of the Year

Reed MIDEM announced the MIPCOM 2011 Personality of the Year today, and for the first time the honor is going to a woman.

The honoree is Anne Sweeney, Disney/ABC Television Group president and Disney Media Networks co-chair.

The 27th annual MIPCOM, the world’s entertainment content market, will be held Oct. 3-6, 2011, at the Palais des Festivals in Cannes, France. Sweeney will receive her award on Wednesday, Oct. 5, at a gala dinner for industry executives.

That same day, Sweeney will give a keynote address as part of MIPCOM’s Media Mastermind series of presentations.

In a statement, Paul Zilk, chief executive of Reed MIDEM, said: “We are extremely pleased to honor Anne Sweeney as our MIPCOM 2011 Personality of the Year in recognition of her unparalleled contributions to the global entertainment industry. Of special note is her contribution to the expansion of Disney’s portfolio of channels, brands and programming worldwide, as well as her visionary leadership in fostering content on emerging digital platforms."

Another Kardashian Goes 'Dancing'

Another member of the Kardashian family will appear on ABC’s “Dancing With the Stars,” following in the footsteps of Kim Kardashian, TMZ.com reports.

Rob Kardashian, one of the stars of "Keeping Up With the Kardashians," will be the second member of the celebrity family to have a go at the dance competition, according to the report.

Rob's appearance is a done deal, the story says, with the only hiccup being his finding time to rehearse because of sister Kim's wedding in August to Kris Humphries.

Kim was a contestant on the ABC hit in 2008, lasting three weeks into the competition.

Denise Richards Reveals Details of Charlie Sheen's Hotel Meltdown

Denise Richards, the former wife of actor Charlie Sheen, has offered her insights into Sheen's well-publicized meltdown at the Plaza Hotel in New York last year, reports US Magazine.

Richards said she went to dinner with Sheen and his "friends," who turned out to be porn stars. "Once I realized what these women did for a living, I thought, 'It's one meal; you can suck it up and get through it,'" Richards said.

In her memoir "Real Girl Next Door," she writes that she was awakened in her hotel room by sounds outside the room, including walkie-talkies, "which is never a good sign," the piece continues. "A few minutes later, the cops showed up. Several officers went into Charlie's room, and a sergeant came into mine."

The sergeant had a hard time making sense of the situation, with Richards staying in the room across the hall, but she rode with him to the hospital while Sheen went in an ambulance, she wrote. "After making sure Charlie was stable and settled, the nice policeman gave me a ride back," she wrote.

In her interview with the magazine, Richards said she will continue to have a relationship with Sheen. "He's my girls' dad. As they're older they'll deal with him how they can," she said, according to the piece.

Riot Breaks Out in Hollywood at Movie Premiere

The premiere of a movie about the Electric Daisy Carnival Experience -- billed as the film version of a rave -- turned into a riot on Hollywood Blvd. on Wednesday night, July 27, 2011, the website of KTLA-TV reports.

According to the story, "DJ Kaskade announced the event Wednesday afternoon via Twitter: 'Today@6pm in Hollywood @Mann's Chinese Theatre. ME+BIG SPEAKERS+MUSIC=BLOCK PARTY!!! RT!'

The article continues, "The premiere had been promoted for weeks, with an after-party to follow at Supperclub, featuring a performance by Kaskade. Police say the event was by invitation only, but many people showed up without invites, and were turned away by security.

"The LAPD shut down Hollywood Boulevard between Highland and Orange avenues after hundreds of people gathered. Police ordered the crowd to disperse, but many refused to leave, and began fighting and throwing bottles.

"Some people jumped on police cars, smashing windows. Officers in riot gear used bean bag guns to subdue the crowd, and several arrests were made."

The story adds, "The Electric Daisy Carnival Experience is a film about the music festival by the same name, which is attended by tens of thousands of people. It made headlines when a 15-year-old girl died of a drug overdose at the event held in July 2010 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum."

Here's KTLA's news report of the disturbance during Wednesday's film premiere:

Hugh Hefner's Runaway Bride Dishes on Sex With Playboy Founder -- and It's Not Flattering

Hugh Hefner's runaway bride, Crystal Harris, revealed some unflattering details about the founder of Playboy when she appeared on Howard Stern's radio show, reports the New York Post's Page Six.

"Hef doesn't really take off his clothes. I have never seen him naked," Harris said. She also claimed the pair had sex only once in their two-year relationship and that it lasted "like about two seconds," the piece says. "I was over it. I just like, walked away. I am not turned on by Hef. Sorry," she said.

Hefner reportedly posted a tweet responding to the comments, saying: "Crystal lied about our relationship on Howard Stern but I don't know why. Maybe a new boyfriend?" The tweet was later taken down.

Crystal Harris

'Jeopardy' Host Alex Trebek Chases Burglar in San Francisco Hotel and Injures His Achilles Tendon, Which Will Require Surgery

Alex Trebek, 71, the longtime host of "Jeopardy,' was injured chasing a burglar at a San Francisco Hotel early Tuesday morning, July 26, 2011, reports the San Francisco Examiner.

According to the article, "San Francisco police responded to a report of a burglary at the San Francisco Marriott Marquis, at 55 Fourth St., around 3 a.m., police Lt. Troy Dangerfield and the hotel's director of sales and marketing Leslie Duncan said.

"Dangerfield said two hotel guests were sleeping when a woman entered their room and stole a number of items, including purses, wallets and cash. One of the guests awoke and saw the woman leaving the room, then jumped out of bed and chased her down the hallway, he said. During the chase, the victim fell and injured his leg."

The story adds, "Police arrested 56-year-old Lucinda Moyers on suspicion of burglary and receiving stolen property, he said. No other suspects are believed to be involved....Duncan could not comment on how the woman got into the hotel room, saying the case is still under investigation..."

According to the CNN account of the incident on its Marquee blog, Trebek "woke up and began to chase the suspect down the hallway when his Achilles tendon suddenly snapped causing him to fall and injure his other leg. Hotel security was immediately notified and the suspect was detained on site. Shortly after, some of the stolen items were recovered near an ice machine."

The CNN article notes that Trebek "is scheduled to have surgery on Friday," July 29, 2011.

According to the Examiner story, Trebek was "in town filming the National Geographic World Championship at Google headquarters in Mountain View, [and he] appeared at Wednesday's taping in a leg brace."

New Show Being Developed That Resurrects a Familiar Creepy TV Title

A familiar TV title is likely to be getting airplay again soon, as a show is in the works that revives the iconic name, reports Deadline.com.

But the people behind the new "Tales From the Crypt" are downplaying any connection between it and the HBO show of the same name, which aired for seven years before ending its run 15 years ago.

The new hour-long series would be based on the 1950s EC Comics anthology. Gil Adler, a producer on the HBO "Crypt" series, is working on the new show with "Eureka" co-creator Andrew Cosby.

"It will be an ongoing series that uses characters from the comic books in a more modern context," Cosby said. "It's all about continually elevating the genre, for both existing fans of the source material and mainstream audiences."

The show will be pitched to broadcast and cable networks. The piece notes that there have been "some rumblings" about interest from HBO sister network Cinemax.

Reality Star Storms Off Set of 'Good Day L.A.'

Apparently the relationship with her former boyfriend is still a sore point for one reality star, as “Good Day L.A.” found out the hard way Wednesday morning.

Kat Von D, a tattoo artist featured on the TLC reality show "LA Ink,” stormed off the set of Fox affiliate KTTV’s morning program after the show rolled a clip of her with her ex-fiance, Jesse James, reports the New York Post's Page Six. A scheduled interview with Von D never took place.

Von D later posted a tweet that read: "Dear GoodDayLA, thanks for the waste of a perfectly good morning. Lack of compassion n respect for each other never fails to disappoint me."

The program said Von D had approved the "LA Ink" footage that showed her getting a tattoo of James on her torso and that it wouldn't have booked her if it hadn't been allowed to mention the breakup.

The show did say it had agreed not to mention Sandra Bullock, James' ex-wife, or James' alleged mistress Michelle McGee during the interview, the story says.

CNN Anchor Who Was Fired Over Radio Rant Lands a New Job

A former CNN anchor whose job with the network went down in flames last year following a controversial radio rant has scored a new job, reports the Miami Herald. Rick Sanchez will be a radio color analyst on Florida International University's 12 college football games this season, the story says.

After being let go by CNN, Sanchez spent last fall going to FIU road games with his son Ricky, who attends FIU. Sanchez, a former college football player, reportedly said, "I don’t need money or to chase the next anchor job.”

Sanchez has a close relationship with FIU President Mark Rosenberg, who is Jewish, the story notes. Sanchez was let go by CNN after making comments on a radio show in which he called "Daily Show" host Jon Stewart "bigoted" and said, "A lot of people who run all the other networks are a lot like Stewart, and to imply that somehow they, the people in this country who are Jewish, are an oppressed minority?"

FIU’s Rosenberg didn't return a call for comment, the Herald reports. Sanchez said that he and Rosenberg have "talked about a million things under the sun over the years.”

Enthusiasm for New Social-Networking Service Appears to Be Waning

Google's new social-networking service may be losing momentum, with a report finding that fewer U.S. visitors tapped the site last week and that users are spending less time on the service, reports Bloomberg.

Total Google+ visits fell about 3% to 1.79 million in the U.S. for the week ended July 23, reports Bloomberg, citing a report from Experian Hitwise. The average time on the site declined 10% to 5 minutes and 15 seconds, the story notes.

AMC's 'Walking Dead' Gets a New Showrunner Following Frank Darabont's Sudden Departure

A day after news broke that three-time Academy Award nominee Frank Darabont was stepping down as showrunner on AMC’s zombie show “The Walking Dead,” word has surfaced on who will step into the job.

Glen Mazzara, a veteran of "The Shield" who has been working on "The Walking Dead" since the end of 2010, has been promoted to take Darabont’s place, reports the Los Angeles Times' Show Tracker blog.

As previously reported, Darabont is stepping down from the zombie show, which the Los Angeles Times says was news that "shocked many in Hollywood." Whether he will remain with the show in any capacity remains uncertain, but one possibility is that Darabont will stay on as a consultant.

AMC was scheduled to present today at the Television Critics Association press tour, which should give fans an opportunity to hear Mazzara’s plans for the show, the piece says.

Comcast Fighting Back Against Bloomberg Complaint

Comcast is asking the Federal Communications Commission to deny a complaint from Bloomberg, which last month asked the agency to order Comcast to move Bloomberg into "existing news neighborhoods," reports B&C.

Comcast alleges that Bloomberg is trying to "extract" preferential channel placement from the agency, the story says.

According to the piece, "Comcast says Bloomberg's complaint was based on an arbitrary and baseless definition of a news neighborhood as four channels out of five [and] was inconsistent with the FCC's intent to minimize disruption, such as programmers displaced by the Bloomberg version of neighborhooding and Comcast's customers.”

The piece adds that Comcast is arguing for denial of the Bloomberg complaint “because the condition is prospective while the channel groupings Bloomberg cites were created years before Comcast started negotiating the NBCU deal and, ‘in most cases,’ it says, even before Comcast owned the systems."

A&E Takes a Pass on One Pilot, Remains Undecided on Another

The fate of two pilots in play at A&E -- “Longmire” and “Big Mike” -- has become a bit clearer. The network has decided to pass on “Big Mike,” Deadline.com reports.

“Longmire,” meanwhile, is still in the running, with strong buzz surrounding the project.

"Longmire," based on the "Walt Longmire Mystery" series by Craig Johnson, tracks "the charismatic, dedicated and unflappable sheriff of Absaroka County, Wyo.," played by "Matrix" star Robert Taylor, the story says. The character, widowed one year, hides his pain by focusing on his work, the piece says. Katee Sackhoff, Lou Diamond Phillips, Bailey Chase and Cassidy Freeman co-star in the pilot.

"Big Mike" starred “Heroes” alum Greg Grunberg as a plus-sized detective, the piece notes.

A&E is rumored to be leaning strongly toward picking up “Longmire” to series.

Photographer Sues Decorating Show Over Blown-Up Photo

A photographer who is upset about one of his images being blown up for use in a decorating show is suing Warner Bros., Bravo owner NBCUniversal and a decorator on "Million Dollar Decorators," according to The Hollywood Reporter's Hollywood, Esq. blog.

Photographer Michael Eastman is charging that Bravo committed copyright infringement by blowing up one of his photos into a 15-foot-by-8-foot reproduction, the story says.

The enlarged photo was placed in the living room of model and actress Daisy Fuentes, where it was described by designer Martyn Lawrence Bullard, who is named in the suit, as the "piece de resistance." Eastman alleges the reprint is of lower resolution and quality than his original work, the story says.

Eastman is asking for at least $75,000 in damages and a restraining order against the episode re-airing on television, the piece notes.

News Corp. Surveying Shareholders About Murdoch's Succession and Family Control

News Corp. is surveying its top shareholders on Chairman and CEO Rupert Murdoch's succession and his family's control of the media giant, reports Bloomberg.

The survey also asks shareholders about their view of News Corp.'s corporate governance, its dual-class structure and the independence of its board, the piece says.

The results, which may be shared with the board, are geared to informing and framing shareholder communications, with some investors offered a chance to speak with Chief Operating Officer Chase Carey, the story says. Public-relations firm Sard Verbinnen & Co. has been hired to conduct the conversations, in addition to its work on the phone-hacking and police bribery allegations at the company's U.K. newspaper division.

A News Corp. spokesman declined to comment.

Reality Show Finishes Season on a High Note

A cable reality show drew series-high ratings this week for its season finale, lifting the channel to an impressive performance, according to The Hollywood Reporter's The Live Feed blog.

In Tuesday’s sixth-season finale of A&E's "Gene Simmons Family Jewels," Simmons, a member of the band KISS, proposed to his longtime girlfriend, actress and former Playboy model Shannon Tweed. The episode was the series' most-watched telecast ever in total viewers, with 3 million, among people 18 to 49 (1.7 million) and in the 25-54 demo (1.9 million).

Because of the strong performance by the finale, A&E was the top network in viewers 25-54 at 10 p.m., the piece adds. "Family Jewels" will return to A&E Sept. 6.
 

Rachel Maddow, MSNBC Sued for $50 Million Over On-Air Comments

A former heavy-metal rocker who is now a conservative radio host and a preacher has filed a $50 million defamation lawsuit against MSNBC and Rachel Maddow, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The suit by Bradlee Dean, who leads a Minnesota-based Christian ministry and is described as an anti-gay activist, accuses the talk host of twisting Deans comments on the execution of homosexuals in an attempt to hurt Michele Bachman’s presidential bid.

The story reports: “Last year, Dean went on radio and talked about Muslim Sharia law and his view that it called for the execution of homosexuals -- evidence, as he saw it, that Muslims were upholding biblical laws. ‘They seem to be more moral than even the American Christians do,’ he said.

“For a segment devoted to Minnesota politics and a boycott of Target Brands Inc. for its political donations, Maddow took what Dean had to say and used it to paint him as anti-gay with the implication he advocated their execution, according to the suit.”

The story adds: “It's also been reported that Bachmann has long been supportive of Dean, saying flattering things about his work as leader of the You Can Run But You Cannot Hide International youth ministry and praying there. According to reports of the lawsuit, Dean believes that efforts to undermine him were made in an overall campaign against Bachmann.”

TLC Renews Show

TLC is up for another season of one of its freshman shows, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The cable network announced that it’s bringing back “Say Yes to the Dress: Bridesmaids” for a second season.

The order is for 18 half-hour episodes, with the premiere set for March 2012.

The original “Say Yes to the Dress” series has also spun off “Say Yes to the Dress: Atlanta,” “Say Yes to the Dress: Big Bliss” and “Say Yes to the Dress: Randy Knows Best.”

“Bridesmaids” averaged 1.7 million viewers in its first season.

Comcast Implements Huge Expansion in Carriage of Networks

As part of an agreement it made in its acquisition of NBCUniversal, Comcast is implementing a huge carriage expansion involving eight networks, Multichannel News reports.

The eight Hispanic networks will see their carriage grow by a combined 14 million subscribers.

The networks are Azteca America, Galavision, Hispanic Information & Telecommunications Network, LATV, mun2, Telefutura, Telemundo and Univision. All of the channels will now have larger subscriber bases on Comcast systems. Some of the expansions have already begun, with others set to happen in coming weeks.

The story reports: “These announced launches are the latest steps from Comcast to increase the availability of minority-focused fare on its systems. Since April, it has announced plans to boost the reach of Mnet, the English-language Asian pop culture channel, by more than 2 million subscribers. Moreover, two African-American-aimed services, The Africa Channel and TV One, in which Comcast holds an equity position, will gain a combined 2.3 million subs through new system bows.”

Comcast took over NBCU from General Electric on Jan. 28, committing to increase distribution of Latino-focused networks. The company said the current expansion will enable it to beat its original goal by 40%.

Further changes are also in the works. The story reports: “Under another merger stipulation, Comcast also pledged to launch 10 new independent channels over the next eight years, including eight that are Hispanic- and African-American owned or operated. Sources familiar with the situation indicate there were approximately 100 applicants for the first three: a channel that is ‘American Latino operated and programmed in English’ is slated to bow by July 28, 2012, while a pair of majority African-American-owned services will launch by Jan. 28, 2013, the second anniversary of the union.

NBC Affiliates Pressured to Dump 'The Playboy Club'

Pressure continues to be applied to NBC and its affiliates over a show that some activists say will glamorize pornography, B&C reports.

The watchdog group Parents Television Council has sent letters to every NBC affiliate asking the stations to drop the upcoming fall drama "The Playboy Club," according to the story. The series is set at a Playboy Club of the 1960s.

Tim Winter, the group's president, is arguing that the show puts a "veneer of sophistication" on the pornography industry, the story says.

"I am writing to urge you, on behalf of the Parents Television Council's 1.3 million members, to pre-empt the program in your community," he wrote to the stations.

Supporters who have contacted stations received what he called "canned responses," describing the show as a "a sophisticated series about the transitional times of the early 1960s and the complex lives of a group of working-class women."

NBC said it had no comment beyond that statement, the story adds.

The PTC is urging members to file complaints with the FCC if the stations air the program and if anything indecent is shown, Winter said.

The PTC isn't the only group to protest the show. As previously reported, advocacy groups Morality in Media and Pink Cross, a nonprofit that offers support to adult industry workers, started campaigns to urge a boycott of advertisers and to get supporters to sign a petition against the show.

NFL and NBC Arrange Replacement Game for Canceled Hall of Fame Contest

The NFL lockout ended Monday, but the Hall of Fame Game, planned for an NBC telecast Aug. 7, had already been canceled. That left football fans and the network down one game -- until now, reports SportsNewser.com.

NBC will broadcast the preseason contest between the San Diego Chargers and the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, Aug. 21. The game was originally scheduled for Aug. 20, but it was moved to give fans a nationally televised game to take the place of the HOF Game.

Nat Geo Rolls Out 'George W. Bush: The 9/11 Interview'

Former President George W. Bush will discuss his reactions to the news of the multiple terrorist attacks on 9/11 in a National Geographic Channel special, reports Entertainment Weekly.

"George W. Bush: The 9/11 Interview" airs on the network on Aug. 28 at 10 p.m. ET, in anticipation of the 10th anniversary of the historic events of Sept. 11, 2001.

In the course of the program, Bush shares his immediate reaction, saying, “One of my concerns, like the concerns of other husbands and wives, was, ‘Was my spouse OK? Was Laura OK?’ And my second concern was, ‘Were our girls OK?’”

Bush did the interview during the days immediately following the death of Osama bin Laden. Commenting on that news, President Bush says he was relieved to have closure. "I felt a sense of gratitude that justice had been done," he says.

After Scoring Its Highest-Rated Movie Telecast Ever, Hallmark Will Crank Out Two More Films in What's Now a Series

At today's Television Critics Association press tour, the Hallmark Movie Channel was expected to announce that there will be two more TV movies starring Luke Perry as Judge John Goodnight, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The Western that introduced the character, "Goodnight for Justice," aired Jan. 29 and was the highest-rated Hallmark Movie Channel film ever.

In back-to-back productions, "Goodnight for Justice 2" will commence shooting in August and the third picture, "Goodnight for Justice 3," in September. The former is slated to air in early 2012.

The plot for the second film involves Goodnight's encounter with the passengers of a stagecoach under attack, including a mysterious beauty who might, in fact, be a convicted criminal who was on her way to prison. Goodnight and the lady end up on a gambling riverboat, where her true identity is revealed.

Channel Acquires Rights to 'House,' 'Monk' and 'Psych'

Three critically acclaimed series -- “Psych” and “Monk” from Universal Cable Productions and “House” from Universal Media Studios -- have been acquired by ION Television, the channel announced today.

Brandon Burgess, CEO, ION Media Networks, and Frances Manfredi, Executive Vice President and General Sales Manager, NBCUniversal Domestic TV Distribution, made the announcement.

“As part of the content package, ION Television attains the right to air six and future seasons of the detective series ‘Psych,’ marking the first time the series has been syndicated on a broadcast network. Meanwhile, the Emmy Award-winning series ‘Monk’ comes to ION with all eight complete seasons. Additionally, ION obtains rights to the Emmy Award-winning medical drama ‘House’ starting in fall 2012, airing two times per week for one year,” the companies said in the announcement.

Added Burgess: “We’re very pleased to be in business with NBCUniversal Domestic Television Distribution by having award-winning, high-quality series from Universal Media Studios, Universal Cable Productions and USA, which is one of cable’s most successful networks. These series fit particularly nicely with our network’s ‘Positively Entertaining’ positioning based on procedural dramas and movies.”

Former 'Friends' Star, Late-Night Host Join Forces for Top-Secret Project

A former star of NBC’s “Friends” and the host of a late-night talk show are collaborating on a project for CBS, the New York Post reports.

Late-night host Craig Ferguson taped the first episode of what the report calls a "top-secret game show," produced by former "Friends" star Courteney Cox.

The show, "Identity Crisis," is based on a board game with the same name, which asks players to pick one word to describe a famous person.

Cox sold the show to CBS earlier this year, with CBS suggesting Ferguson as the host since it wants to give him more exposure, the story says. The show could appear on TV this winter if it's greenlighted, the piece notes.

Video: Embarrassing Fox News 'Behind the Breaks' Segment -- Revealing Behind-the-Scenes Attitudes Toward News Corp. Scandal -- Exposed by MSNBC

MSNBC host Lawrence O’Donnell gave what was probably unwanted publicity to rival Fox News Tuesday night after Fox pulled the plug on its online “Behind the Breaks” segments. The reason, according to O’Donnell, was this potentially embarrassing glimpse at behind-the-scenes attitudes at the network toward the widely publicized scandal involving Fox’s parent company, News Corp., and boss Rupert Murdoch.

Here’s the video, posted by Media Matters:

Veteran TV Newsman Who Hired Peter Jennings, Sam Donaldson and Ted Koppel Dies at 98

The former president of ABC News, who was behind the hiring of Peter Jennings, Ted Koppel and Sam Donaldson, among other well-known news broadcasters, has died, the Associated Press reports. Elmer Lower was 98.

Lower tripled the size of ABC's news department during the 1960s and 1970s, growing the division from 250 employees to 750 people. He also expanded the evening news broadcast from 15 minutes to 30 minutes during his tenure as president, which ran from 1963 until 1974.

Lower, who retired from news in 1978, was the recipient of a lifetime achievement Emmy Award in 1975. He died Tuesday in Vero Beach, Fla.

UPDATE July 27, 11:50 PM., PM. Story updated to remove picture of Glenn Beck. One of our editors inadvertantly posted a picture of Beck with this story instead of a picture of Elmer Lower. We apologize and regret the error. We have replaced the picture with one of Lower. He is the man holding the paper in the middle of the photo:

Surprise Star of Royal Wedding Gets a TV Show

A relative unknown who became a sensation at the royal wedding in April -- and who has been a staple of the tabloids ever since -- will be the subject of a TV special, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Pippa Middleton, the younger sister of Kate Middleton who wowed viewers with her white dress during the wedding, will get a TLC special, the story says.

Called "Crazy About Pippa," the show will air Aug. 9 at 9 p.m. and focus on "Britain's most eligible bachelorette -- Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton's younger sister,” the story says.

Pippa's royal wedding dress, designed by Sarah Burton of Alexander McQueen, won wave reviews during the wedding coverage.

Zombie Shocker: Report Says Frank Darabont, Creator, Executive Producer, Director of AMC hit 'The Walking Dead' Is Leaving as Series Showrunner. Will He Stay with Show at All?

This news was first reported by Nellie Andreeva at Deadine.com; later James Hibberd at EW.com's Inside TV blog said that his sources had confirmed Andreeva's report.

Andreeva's report adds, "There is speculation that [three-time Academy Award nominee Frank] Darabont might be off the show completely, but I hear talks are still ongoing about him possibly staying on in some capacity."

As to why Darabont would be stepping down from running the show day-to-day after it took him five or six years to get a network interested in the project, Andreeva writes, "I hear that he never quite adjusted to the daily grind of producing a TV series. Last December, he considered forgoing a writing staff for Season 2 and assigning scripts to freelancers but ultimately went for the traditional writing staff model recommended by the network and tapped Glen Mazzara as an executive producer and his No. 2. It is unclear if 'The Shield' alum Mazzara, who has showrunning experience, would now step in to run 'Walking Dead.' I hear that the behind-the-scenes turmoil has not affected production on the show, which continues as scheduled. Season 2 of 'Walking Dead' is slated to premiere Oct. 16."

Both the Andreeva and Hibberd piece note that Darabont, this past Friday, July 22, 2011, was part of a very enthusiastic "Walking Dead" session at Comic-Con.

Piers Morgan's Name Continues to Come Up in Hacking Case

Allegations continue to surface that CNN host Piers Morgan knew about the phone-hacking techniques used at British tabloids, reports Lloyd Grove at the Daily Beast.

In a BBC radio interview from 2009, Morgan admitted to knowing about some of the news-gathering practices that are now under investigation in the U.K. and are being looked at by a Justice Department inquiry in the U.S., the story says.

"He did not specifically admit to the interception or ‘hacking’ of voicemail messages," Grove writes. Nevertheless, "Morgan didn’t disagree that that phone-‘tapping’ and other ‘down-in-the-gutter’ tactics might have been employed in the attainment of sensational scoops."

On the broadcast of BBC Radio 4's "Desert Island Discs," interviewer Kirsty Young pressed Morgan, a former Fleet Street editor, about tabloid practices. “People who tap people’s phones, people who take secret photographs ... who do all that very nasty, down-in-the-gutter stuff -- how did you feel about that?” she asked, according to the story.

Morgan responded: “Well, to be honest, let’s put that into perspective as well. Not a lot of that went on. … A lot of it was done by third parties, rather than the staff themselves.” He added, "That’s not to defend it, because obviously you were running the results of their work.”

Morgan said his remarks on the BBC program were consistent with comments he has made more recently. “Millions of people heard these comments when I first made them in 2009 on one of the BBC’s longest-running radio shows, and none deduced that I was admitting to, or condoning illegal reporting activity," Morgan said in a statement. "As I have said before, I have never hacked a phone, told anyone to hack a phone, nor to my knowledge published any story obtained from the hacking of a phone.”

Film Director Known for Quirky Movies Has a Talk Show in the Works

A movie director known for his offbeat films is working on a daily half-hour syndicated talk show that would combine comedy and celebrity chat, reports Joe Adalian at New York Magazine's Vulture blog.

Kevin Smith, whose movies include “Clerks” and “Chasing Amy,” is working on the show under the tentative title "Kevin Smith Project." The show is described as a variation on "Regis and Kelly" for late-night, with a target demo of viewers ages 12-34.

"Kevin and his co-host will talk water-cooler topics at the top of the show, followed by a celebrity interview and a comedy segment from the field (a la 'The Daily Show'). Each show will feature one celebrity interview," the article says.

The program is positioned as a potential lead-out for "TMZ," the story says.

"'TMZ' hails from Warner Bros. Television's Telepictures unit, so that studio could be a likely home for Smith; the Fox stations also could be behind the show via their sister studio, Twentieth Television," Adalian notes.

Fox Limits Access to Online Streams of Its Shows -- Be Ready to Prove You Have Satellite or Cable

Fox is putting limits on the online streaming of its shows via Hulu and Fox.com, requiring viewers to enter a login and password to prove they have a paid television subscription, the Los Angeles Times' Company Town blog reports.

The password requirement will go into effect Aug. 15, with Dish Network being the first pay-TV service to make an agreement with Fox. No other cable or satellite company is as yet part of the pact, the piece notes.

For non-Dish subscribers or people without pay-TV service, the Fox shows will be available eight days after they are broadcast for free. Previously most shows from Fox were ready to view online the day after they aired on TV.

Subscribers to Hulu Plus, Hulu's paid subscription service, will still be able to still watch the shows a day after broadcast.

'Mad Men' Finds Its Way to Netflix

The first four seasons of AMC’s "Mad Men" begin streaming on Netflix today, the result of an April deal between Lionsgate and the DVD rental and streaming company, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Additional seasons of the popular AMC program will be added annually after they air on the cable network.

"Mad Men" will return to AMC for fifth and sixth seasons, following an agreement in March between Lionsgate and "Mad Men" creator Matthew Weiner.

Comcast to Insert 'Dynamic' Ads Into On-Demand TV Shows, With NBCUniversal as the Guinea Pig

Comcast is taking steps to ratchet up revenue from its popular on-demand service by "dynamically" inserting advertisements into the shows, reports The Philadelphia Inquirer.

Previously, advertisements on VOD shows could be changed only monthly, the story says. But new technology allows Comcast to insert ads into the programs daily, which is something advertisers have been seeking.

Most of the ad revenue will go to programming networks, but Comcast will keep a portion of the ad inventory and could earn commissions.

Comcast-owned NBCUniversal will serve as the in-house guinea pig, being the first programmer to agree to a deal to use the new technology.

Anderson Cooper May Include Overseas Broadcasts in His Daytime Talk Show -- Getting Extra Mileage Out of His CNN Travel

Anderson Cooper, appearing at the semiannual Television Critics Association press tour, addressed concerns that his work for CNN could impact his upcoming daytime talk show -- with breaking stories forcing him to report for CNN from almost anywhere in the world.

Cooper said it’s not a problem, adding that he might even host live episodes of the talk show from the location where he's covering news for CNN, reports Deadline.com.

"I covered, over the past year, Egypt, the tsunami in Japan and the tornado in Joplin," Cooper said. "If I were away someplace, we could have shows (in the can) that we would run, or we could actually do live shows from an event I was at. I'm not worried about it. It's all very doable because I manage my time really well.”

He added that he's not concerned about overexposure despite being on national TV twice daily, five days a week. "People just don't watch TV every day," he said. "Except me, of course."

Are Viewers Nostalgic for the '90s? Numbers Are In for Retro Block

Nickelodeon's strategy of highlighting what it considers a golden age of television -- the 1990s -- on cable network Teen Nick has produced ratings that are "All That," reports Joe Adalian in New York Magazine's Vulture blog.

Among viewers 18 to 34 years old, Teen Nick’s target demographic, the programming block "The 90s Are All That" resulted in a ratings surge of 850% for midnight to 2 a.m., the story says. While a repeat of "Malcolm in the Middle" on Teen Nick drew 33,000 viewers 18-34 last week, Monday night's airing of an episode of "All That" averaged 265,000 viewers in the demo, the story notes.

Comparing Teen Nick’s numbers -- including 600,000 total viewers for the midnight-hour block of “All That” and “Kenan and Kel” -- with results for some bigger cable competitors (374,000 total viewers for “Lopez Tonight” on TBS, 559,000 for an “Awkward” repeat on MTV, 500,000 for Lifetime repeats of “New Adventures of Old Christine” and “How I Met Your Mother”), Adalian writes: "Considering Teen Nick doesn't have anywhere near the profile of those other networks, its after-midnight performance can only be called extraordinary. If this keeps up, don't be shocked if 'The 90s Are All That' spreads to prime time on one of the Nickelodeon channels.”

Lifetime Opts Not to Pick Up Its Two Remaining Pilots

Lifetime has decided to take a pass on its two remaining pilots, reports Deadline.com. The cable channel will not pick up "Meet Jane" or an untitled project from "Wings" producer Michael Sardo.

Under new President and General Manager Nancy Dubuc, Lifetime had ordered five pilots, with two -- "Exit 19" and "Against the Wall" -- ordered to series in February. The network passed earlier on an untitled Josh Berman pilot but kept "Meet Jane" in consideration and proceeded on production with the Sardo project.

Now that the last two pilots won't be moving forward, "Exit 19" and "Against the Wall" remain as Lifetime's only series to emerge under its new leadership.

PR Vet Richard Licata to Join Greenblatt at NBC

Our good friend Richard Licata, who we've known since he was at HBO years ago, is following Bob Greenblatt over to NBC.

Licata, who has been running Showtime's public relations department, is getting the newly created post of Executive Vice President, Communications, NBC Entertainment, reporting to Greenblatt, reports Nellie Andreeva at Deadline.com.

Of recruiting Licata, Greenblatt says, "“After having worked closely with Rich twice before at networks that were in challenging transitions, I’m so pleased he will be joining NBC as we look to set a new course for this company. I don’t believe we could have orchestrated the dramatic turnaround at Showtime without him, and I know he has the skills, the showmanship, and the passion to oversee the kind of strong and multi-faceted press and public relations campaigns needed at NBC and UMS at this moment in time.”

Besides working for Greenblatt at Showtime, Licata worked for him years ago at Fox Broadcasting.

TNT Renews Series

TNT announced that it is bringing back one of its shows for another season, Multichannel News reports. It will be the second season for successful freshman legal drama “Franklin & Bash.”

The cable network has ordered 10 episodes of the show for Season 2.

The show, which stars Mark-Paul Gosselaar and Breckin Meyer, has averaged 3.9 million total viewers, with 1.8 million in the adults 18-49 demo and 1.8 million in adults 25-54, based on Nielsen live + 7 figures. The network says the numbers put the show in the top five among basic cable’s new summer shows.

Said Michael Wright, executive vice president and head of programming for TNT, TBS and Turner Classic Movies: "This summer, ‘Franklin & Bash’ has broken out as a hugely entertaining series with great characters, sharp writing and a terrific cast. We're thrilled that the show has drawn such a remarkably strong following and look forward to bringing it back next summer."

Popular Film and TV Actor Known for Role in 'Godfather II' Dead at 90

A popular actor with a long string of film and TV credits, who made a strong impact as the senator who tries to blackmail Michael Corleone in "The Godfather: Part II," has died, reports AOL TV. Character actor G.D. Spradlin was 90.

Spradlin died Sunday night at his home in San Luis Obispo, Calif., of natural causes.

He had numerous TV credits, including "Columbo," “Bonanza," "Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C." and "War and Remembrance."

In addition to his acting career, Spradlin served in the U.S. Army during World War II and was the director of President John F. Kennedy's election campaign in Oklahoma in 1960.

Spradlin is survived by his wife, Frances, two daughters and five grandchildren.

G.D. Spradlin

NBC Airs Creepy Graphic in Amy Winehouse Piece

NBC's "Today Show" aired a mistaken graphic Monday -- either a legitimate error or someone’s creepy idea of a joke -- during a report covering the death of singer Amy Winehouse, reports TVNewser.com.

The piece included a clip from Winehouse's music video "You Know I'm No Good," but a graphic appeared under the image of Winehouse identifying the song as "You Know I'm Dead."

The "Today Show" website initially included a report from E! Online about the incident, but it was later removed. E! Online, part of the NBC corporate family, continued to run the report.

Screen shot from NBC’s ‘Today’

MTV Dusts Off Classic Amy Winehouse Concert

MTV has announced plans to re-air a live set by a 23-year-old Amy Winehouse, recorded in summer 2007, reports Entertainment Weekly.

The appearance took place a few days after the singer’s “Back to Black” album went gold, at a time when she was being compared to Billie Holiday and Dinah Washington, the story notes. Winehouse headlined MTV’s live music show “45th at Night.”

The singer was backed by the Dap-Kings, and was joined by Mos Def for a duet of “Love Is a Losing Game.” Other numbers included “Rehab” and “You Know I’m No Good.”

The set is scheduled to air Wednesday, July 27, at 6:30 p.m.

20th Century Fox to Put ESPN Story on Big Screen

Rumors that the book “ESPN: Those Guys Have All the Fun" is headed to the big screen, which we reported last month, have been confirmed, Deadline.com reports. 20th Century Fox is putting the finishing touches on a deal to produce the feature film version of the book, written by James Andrew Miller and longtime TVWeek contributor Tom Shales.

Michael De Luca, Trigger Street's Dana Brunetti and Julie Yorn will produce the movie, which will chronicle how ESPN took the idea of a 24-hour, all-sports cable network and changed the face of modern television.

The book has been a hot property in Hollywood circles with ICM shopping the rights. The idea is that the ESPN story could be as cinematic as "The Social Network” -- which also had De Luca and Brunetti on the production team.

Union Workers Come to Terms With Producer of 'American Idol,' 'X Factor,' 'America's Got Talent'

IATSE, the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, has inked a three-year deal with the production company that creates "American Idol," "America's Got Talent" and the soon-to-premiere "The X Factor," according to TheWrap.

In a written statement, a union spokesperson said, "This new enhanced agreement underlines our commitment to working with FremantleMedia North America on some of the biggest programming brands in television.

Fremantle's executive vice president of production, Dan Goldberg, also issued a statement, saying, "When it comes to production, we pride ourselves on a consistent high level of quality and creativity. Members of the IA are the best at their crafts, so it only makes sense to work with them all the time."

The union members of IATSE include makeup artists, lighting specialists and other production crew members.

Heavy Hitter Flexes Muscles in Online Streaming

Even as Netflix struggles with its subscription services, a huge competitor is poised to make its presence felt in the online streaming business is a big way, reports Deadline.com.

Retail giant Walmart has integrated VUDU -- a service it bought last year that features more than 20,000 movie titles -- into the walmart.com website as of this morning, allowing customers to shop for titles for purchase or rental.

In a press release, Steve Nave, SVP and general manager of Walmart.com, said: "At Walmart, one of our key priorities is to provide a continuous channel for our customers, from our stores to our powerful e-commerce and social media platforms. With VUDU becoming increasingly popular among our customers, we're providing them more access to enjoy this digital entertainment experience directly online at Walmart.com."

Rentals are reportedly going to be $2 each, but to celebrate the launch, VUDU is inviting Walmart customers, via the Walmart Facebook page, to vote for a new release that'll be available for just 99 cents on Friday, July 29. Voting is taking place now, with three titles to choose from: "Diary of a Wimpy Kid 2: Rodrick Rules," "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1" and "Gnomeo and Juliet."

Teen Choice Awards Announce This Year's Host

The Teen Choice Awards have announced who will host this year’s ceremony, scheduled to be aired Sunday, Aug. 7, on Fox, Deadline.com reports.

The host will be actress Kaley Cuoco, a star of CBS's hit sitcom "The Big Bang Theory."

Singer Katy Perry and the men of Fox's "Glee" were last year's hosts.

Actor Who Appeared on 'The Sopranos' and 'Boardwalk Empire' Dies at 83

A veteran character actor who appeared on "The Sopranos" and was known for his stage work has died, reports The New York Times.

Tom Aldredge, who played Carmela's father on "The Sopranos," was 83.

In 1979, when Aldredge was in his 50s, he created the role of Norman Thayer Jr., the 80-year-old at the heart of the play "On Golden Pond," opposite Frances Sternhagen. The role was portrayed by Henry Fonda, opposite Katharine Hepburn, in the 1981 film version.

Aldredge won a Daytime Emmy in 1978 as Shakespeare in "Henry Winkler Meets William Shakespeare," an episode of "The CBS Festival of Lively Arts for Young People." He had recurring roles on "Ryan's Hope" and "Damages," in which he played Uncle Pete.

He appeared last year as the father of Nucky Thompson, played by Steve Buscemi, in HBO's "Boardwalk Empire.”

Tom Aldredge

Actress From Another Fox Show to Become a Regular on 'House'

"There will be a major new female addition to Fox's hit series 'House' this fall," writes our friend Nellie Andreeva at Deadline.com.

Andreeva continues, "Odette Annable, who co-starred on another Fox series this past season -- the midseason comedy 'Breaking In' -- is joining the veteran medical drama as a new series regular..."

At one time she went under the name Odette Yustman.

Fox will make room for Annable to appear in both shows, the article notes, "There is time carved into Annable's deal for 'House' that would allow her to also do 'Breaking In' should Fox opt to pick up the series for a second season."

ABC News, Stung by Casey Anthony Fiasco, Says It's Getting Out of the Business of Making Deals With Interview Subjects

After receiving a public relations black eye by paying Casey Anthony $200,000 for photos in 2008, ABC News has decided to get out of the business of paying news subjects involved in exclusive interviews, reports Howard Kurtz at the Daily Beast.

ABC News will end the practice of buying photos or videos as a way of getting cooperation from news subjects, the story says.

"These licensing deals had become a crutch, and an unnecessary one," said ABC News spokesman Jeffrey Schneider.

While the network stopped short of placing an absolute ban on the deals, it would take what the article calls "an extraordinary circumstance" to get approval for a licensing fee.

ABC’s $200,000 payment to Anthony surfaced last year during a court proceeding, the piece notes.

Amy Winehouse Joke Pulled From 'Glee Project'

A joke about Amy Winehouse on Oxygen's reality show "The Glee Project" was deleted during the show's Sunday night repeat, reports EW.com's Inside TV blog.

In the episode, "Glee" creator Ryan Murphy teases a contestant, saying, “I’m surprised you didn’t come out here dressed like Amy Winehouse. Why didn’t you?” The contestant says that he could change, but then the audio drops out. Apparently the deleted audio was of "Glee" choreographer Zach Woodlee joking that all the contestant would need would be a "a mop and a bottle," causing Murphy and others to laugh.

An Oxygen representative said the line was cut out of respect for the deceased singer's family and friends.

NAB Says FCC's National Broadband Plan Could Shut Down 210 TV Stations Permanently

"At least 210 local TV stations could go off the air permanently under the FCC's National Broadband Plan, the National Association of Broadcasters charged Monday," says The Hollywood Reporter.

The article continues, "The Broadband Plan -- which proposes voluntary incentive auctions through which broadcasters could opt for channel-sharing as part of an effort to avert a "spectrum crisis" -- could also force 40% of full-power, local TV stations to surrender their current TV channel assignment, the NAB said."

The piece quotes NAB president Gordon Smith as saying, in a statement, that the "NAB endorses truly voluntary spectrum auctions. Our concern is that the FCC plan will morph into involuntary, because it is impossible for the FCC to meet spectrum reclamation goals without this becoming a government mandate."

However, the article also says, "Executives from the Consumer Electronics Association and CTIA-The Wireless Association rejected the NAB's analysis, however, arguing that the plan is a win-win. The NAB was using 'scare tactics,' one CTIA exec argued."

Anderson Cooper's Upcoming Daytime Show Has Something in Common With a Pioneering Talk Show -- and That May Not Be a Good Thing

Anderson Cooper's new daytime show will look and feel like a well-known talk show of the past, reports the New York Post. That syndicated show is one that pioneered daytime talk, "The Phil Donahue Show," which aired from 1967 until 1996.

That format might have a tough time in television today, the story says. Donahue tended to focus on serious issues, something that Donahue himself says today might have trouble finding an audience.

"You have to understand that Lady Gaga is going to draw a larger crowd than the settlements in East Jerusalem," Donahue told the publication. "The high road means you are out of a job in six months!"

Early promotions for "Anderson," which will debut in September, show the host passing the microphone among members of his studio audience, a signature of the "Donahue" show.

Verdict Is In: A Favorite Plot Element of TV Shows Could Never Happen

It's a key plot element in television shows such as "Doctor Who" and the forthcoming "Terra Nova" from Fox, but a group of scientists says the premise just won't work, according to the Los Angeles Times' Technology blog. That premise is time travel.

Physicists at the Hong Kong University of Technology and Science have proved that time travel is beyond the limits of the universe's physical laws, the story says. The idea that a photon could travel faster than the speed of light indicated the possibility of time travel, but a study published in the scientific journal Physical Review Letters by Shengwang Du and his colleagues concluded that a photon cannot move faster than the speed of light, the story says.

"By showing that single photons cannot travel faster than the speed of light, our results bring a closure to the debate on the true speed of information carried by a single photon," Du said in a statement issued by the Hong Kong University of Technology and Science.

Fox Affiliation Switch Triggers Federal Antitrust Suit

An impending affiliation switch is behind a federal antitrust lawsuit between two station groups, B&C reports. Nexstar Broadcasting Group has filed the suit against Granite Broadcasting and one of its stations, the story reports.

At the heart of the suit, the story says, is a Fox affiliation switch, with Granite’s WISE-TV in Fort Wayne set to take over the Fox affiliation Aug. 1 from Nexstar’s WFFT-TV, which will become independent.

Nexstar said the lawsuit seeks "to remedy the anticompetitive impact that has been caused and will be caused by Granite's efforts to monopolize local advertising sales in the Fort Wayne, Indiana, Designated Market Area resulting from exclusive affiliate agreements Granite has executed with two of the four major television networks. As a result of Granite's efforts and its shared services agreement with Malara Broadcasting in the Fort Wayne, Indiana, Designated Market Area, Granite will control local television advertising sales for stations affiliated with the Fox, NBC and ABC networks, as well as the CW and MyNetwork TV networks."

The story notes: “WISE is currently an NBC affiliate. WISE airs MyNetworkTV on its .2 channel, while Malara's WPTA is an ABC affiliate with the CW on its .2. Granite manages the Malara stations, which jointly operate under the ‘Indiana's NewsCenter’ banner.”

Nexstar and Fox have been embroiled in a fight over affiliation agreements, with Nexstar’s KSFX-TV in Springfield also losing its Fox affiliation.

Animal Planet Show Spawns a Spinoff

Animal Planet has ordered a spinoff of one of its hit series, with a controversial group to be the show’s focal point, reports EW.com's Inside TV blog.

The show is a spinoff of "Whale Wars," and it will continue that show's mission of tracking whaling prevention tactics, with the focus again on the group Sea Shepherd, the story reports.

With the tentative title "The Faroe Islands Project," the show will feature members of Sea Shepherd, including Capt. Paul Watson and Peter Hammarstedt, as they sail for the Danish Protectorate of the Faroe Islands to monitor an annual pilot whale hunt, the story says.

Taping will begin in July, although no air date has been set.

Animal Planet is also ready to order a fifth season of "Whale Wars" amid reports that the Japanese might resume whaling. The country suspended its whaling operations in February amid international criticism -- including the efforts of Sea Shepherd that have been chronicled on “Whale Wars.”

Networks That Bet Heavily on NFL Celebrate End of Lockout

The agreement announced Monday between the NFL and its players was good news for the television networks that have billions of dollars invested in the league’s games, B&C reports.

A few details remain to be worked out to finalize the deal, but the league is getting back to work, and the first preseason games are scheduled to be televised Aug. 11.

NBC, CBS and ESPN were among those celebrating.

In a statement, Mark Lazarus, chairman of the NBC Sports Group, said: "We are excited to get back to football. From NFL Kickoff to Super Bowl XLVI, each and every week ‘Sunday Night Football’ will feature strong rivalries and compelling matchups."

CBS Sports Chairman Sean McManus added: "We were always confident that the league and the union would figure out how not to miss games. But this is obviously a relief and it's an important property to both CBS Sports and the corporation, so it's a very satisfying day for us.”

ESPN echoed those sentiments in a statement: "We are pleased the players and clubs have reached agreement and we look forward to continuing ESPN's comprehensive coverage of the NFL as the teams and players return to the field."

The NFL’s regular season kicks off Thursday, Sept. 8, with NBC broadcasting a matchup of the two most recent champions, the Green Bay Packers and New Orleans Saints.

Legal War Between 'Gossip Girl' Star and Her Mom Heats Up: Mom Files a Lawsuit of Her Own

Leighton Meester's mother has filed a lawsuit against her daughter, a star of "Gossip Girl," alleging that she "sacrificed her happiness" to support her child's acting career, according to E! Online.

Constance Meester alleges she and her other children sacrificed by moving to New York and then Los Angeles to help her daughter's career, the story says. She also claims she spent more than $230,000 for private school and acting classes.

Her lawsuit alleges she had a legal deal to receive $10,000 a month from Leighton, payments she claims were late or nonexistent, and that her home fell into foreclosure and she lost her health insurance this month, the article notes.

As previously reported, Leighton Meester is suing her mom, claiming Constance Meester spent money on plastic surgery that was meant for Leighton’s little brother, who has medical issues.

Leighton Meester

AMC Series Inspired by 'Mad Men' Finds Ad Agencies Aren't Buying

An AMC show inspired by "Mad Men" is having a tough time convincing advertising agencies to sign on, reports Rupal Parekh in Advertising Age.

"The Pitch," an hour-long reality show, is set to begin pre-production in a few weeks, and it has yet to sign a contract with a participating agency, the story says.

Eli Holzman, president of producer Studio Lambert, said it has agencies and brands willing to do the show, however. He added that for "Undercover Boss," "We made calls to 2,000 companies across corporate America to get the one for the pilot. ... It took a full year to get nine companies.”

But issues have been raised with the show, such as conflicts between existing clients and the marketers appearing on the show; who ultimately gets ownership of the ideas presented on TV; and lack of compensation for time used to shoot the program.

"We looked at the format and felt it was very misaligned with the way that we work with clients," said Doug Scott, president of Ogilvy Entertainment. "We didn't feel that the pitch was staying true to the process in which our [industry] works. What we were presented format-wise felt forced to be a dramatic competition, in a soft-scripted manner, vs. a more natural way that agencies work with clients and how a campaign is born."

Netflix Paying a Price for Recent Price Hike; Analyst Says Company Miscalculated

Netflix warned that its recent price hike is leading to a slowdown in subscriber growth, reports Bloomberg. The company expects just 401,000 new subscribers this quarter, a fraction of the 1.8 million added in the previous quarter, the story says.

“Netflix miscalculated on this one, and are basically saying all our growth is going to be absorbed by people who quit,” said Wedbush Securities analyst Michael Pachter. "It’s not clear how successful they’re going to be at attracting and retaining people with these new pricing plans.”

As previously reported, scores of Netflix customers have criticized the streaming video and DVD rental service's decision to raise some bills by 60%.

On a conference call, Chief Executive Reed Hastings said he "feels bad" some customers are angry about the price hike, but he defended the jump by saying it will help Netflix license "amazing new content," according to the piece.

Shares of Netflix fell as much as 10% in German trading. The company issued a forecast that its third-quarter sales and profit would fall below analysts' forecasts, the piece notes.

Emmy Winner Who Co-Starred on 'Roseanne' to Join NBC's 'Community'

An Emmy-winning actor who co-starred in the hit 1980s-1990s sitcom "Roseanne" is joining the NBC comedy "Community," reports Joe Adalian in New York Magazine's Vulture blog.

John Goodman will join the show for at least six episodes, playing the assistant vice dean of Greendale Community College's school of air-conditioning repair, the story says.

Said series creator Dan Harmon: "The Greendale Community College only has one part of it that is actually nationally renowned, and it's their air-conditioning repair program. And it's sort of a separate annex on the campus that puts itself above the rest of the school, and ironically has more power than the campus itself.”

In Her Own Words: Video Excerpt of Hotel Maid Who Accused Dominique Strauss-Kahn of Sexual Assault Speaking to ABC's Robin Roberts

Star of 'Mad Men' Will Moonlight on Another Series

"Mad Men's" Emmy-nominated star Jon Hamm will moonlight with a role on a show on another network, B&C reports. Hamm will play a guest role on the IFC comedy "The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret," according to the story.

Hamm is expected to appear in five of the six upcoming episodes of the comedy.

The show stars former "Arrested Development" standouts David Cross and Will Arnett.

"The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret" returns to IFC for a new second season in January 2012.

Hamm has received four Emmy nominations as lead actor for the AMC drama "Mad Men," along with two guest actor nominations for NBC's comedy "30 Rock." He has yet to win the Emmy, but is up again this year for "Mad Men."

Former Head of CBS Entertainment Dies

The man who led CBS Entertainment through most of the 1980s, including shepherding hit shows “Murder She Wrote” and “Newhart,” has died, Deadline.com reported.

B. Donald Grant -- better known as Bud Grant -- died about 10 days ago, but at the request of his family his death was not announced publicly.

The well-liked Grant was CBS Entertainment president from 1980-1987, before he left to form Bud Grant Productions, with which he continued his relationship with CBS. He later formed Grant/Tribune Prods., a partnership with Tribune Broadcasting that also involved Walt Disney Studios in production and distribution.

Amy Winehouse Special to Air Tonight

A one-hour special focusing on the tumultuous life of Amy Winehouse, who died over the weekend at 27, is scheduled to air tonight, BIO Channel announced.

"BIO Remembers: Amy Winehouse" will go back to Winehouse's beginnings as a child in England and take viewers through her meteoric rise in popular music, including the sudden fame that came with her 2006 monster hit "Rehab."

BIO’s look at the Grammy Award-winning singer airs tonight, July 25, at 10 p.m. ET, 9 p.m. CT and 11 p.m. PT.

J.Lo's Future on 'Idol' Is Just About Decided

The word on whether Jennifer Lopez will be back for another season on Fox’s “American Idol” appears to be imminent, as J.Lo is close to a deal to return for at least one more season, reports The Wall Street Journal's Speakeasy blog. (Please note that The WSJ is behind a pay wall and not all readers may be able to access the story.)

Lopez had said earlier that she was unsure about returning for another season, following the expiration of her $12 million contract, the story says.

Cecile Frot-Coutaz, chief executive officer at "Idol" producer FremantleMedia North America, declined to comment, although she said, "We’re in good shape. No worries. No dark clouds on the horizon.”

Fox declined to comment and a representative for Lopez said, "There is nothing to announce," the piece adds.

CNN Names New Washington Correspondent

CNN's Washington bureau chief and SVP announced today that a new general assignment correspondent is joining the network. Sam Feist announced that Athena Jones will begin immediately, reporting out of the D.C. bureau.

Said Feist: “Athena will be an outstanding addition to our political team. Her experience covering the White House, politics and international affairs are a perfect fit for the Washington bureau.”

Jones, a Harvard University graduate with a master’s from Columbia, was previously with NBC as a White House producer and an on-air reporter for MSNBC and NBC News. She also has experience with CNN as a freelance segment producer.

NFL Lockout Takes Down HBO Series

Even as the NFL lockout appears to be over, it has claimed one more victim, reports Sporting News. Citing a tweet by Sports Illustrated’s Peter King, the report says HBO has canceled the 2011 edition of its football reality series “Hard Knocks.”

The show faced hurdles even before the lockout, with as many as six teams eventually turning down the invitation to be featured on the series. But the timing of the protracted labor hassle, which cut short the runup to the NFL season, was apparently the last straw in convincing HBO and show producer NFL Films to give up on the season.

The 2010 edition of "Hard Knocks," which focused on the New York Jets, received a lot of notoriety, much of it focused on expletive-spewing Jets coach Rex Ryan.

BBC America Launches First Development Slate With Two Shows

Two new original series are in the pipeline at BBC America, which has announced the launch of its first development slate, Multichannel News reports.

The series have the working titles “Would You Rather With Graham Norton” and “Hard Drive With Richard Hammond.”

Network General Manager Perry Simon said in a press release that the pickups of the two unscripted shows are "just the start. Our development team, Richard De Croce, Rachel Smith and Erin Jontow, is already working on the next raft of titles, including BBC America's first original scripted series."

The report adds: “Simon's first original series pickup on the unscripted side features well-known host and comedian Graham Norton. ‘Would You Rather With Graham Norton’ (13 30-minute episodes) is a new original comedy game show that tests the wits of the best U.S. comics. Shot in New York, it's produced by So Television and executive produced by Norton, Graham Stuart and Jim Biederman. It will premiere later this year as part of BBC America's recently launched comedy franchise, The Ministry of Laughs.”

Commenting on the other show, the story says: “’Top Gear’ host Richard Hammond will star in a brand-new original series called ‘Hard Drive With Richard Hammond’ (6 one-hour episodes). Produced by BBC Worldwide Productions and based on the BBC format ‘World's Toughest Driving Tests,’ it features Hammond traveling the U.S. and competing with local experts driving some of America's toughest and most extraordinary vehicles. Executive producers for BBC Worldwide Productions are Rob Fox, Elli Hakami and Jane Tranter.”

Report: Amy Winehouse Bought a 'Cocktail' of Illegal Drugs the Night Before She Died

Claims are emerging that deceased singer Amy Winehouse bought a number of different drugs the night before she died, reports Britain's Daily Mail. According to a source, the drugs, described as a "cocktail," included heroin, cocaine, ecstasy and ketamine, the story reports.

Winehouse was allegedly seen buying drugs from a dealer just after 10:30 p.m. Friday, the story says. She was found dead Saturday. Her cause of death has not yet been reported.

It's thought she was also drinking heavily, which in combination with the drugs may have led to her death, the story says.

The story quotes a source speaking to The People, another U.K. newspaper, saying: “Amy seemed determined to have a big one on Friday night. She was out in Camden on Friday evening, but seemed determined to carry on the party back at her flat. None of us know who was with her into the early hours of Saturday. But getting out of it was clearly her main priority of the night.”

Relationship Between Fox News Chairman Roger Ailes and N.J. Gov. Chris Christie Under Scrutiny in Pending Lawsuit

A lawsuit is expected to be filed today to obtain communications between New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and Fox News Chairman Roger Ailes, reports The New York Times' Media Decoder blog. The civil suit is being filed by the blog Gawker.

John Cook, a reporter for Gawker, plans to file the suit against Christie's office to obtain the records, the story says. The germ of the investigation is in a New York magazine article, which said Ailes had called Christie and encouraged him to run for president earlier this year. Ailes has denied the report.

Cook and others believe Ailes, a former Republican strategist, remains involved in politics, the story says.

According to the report, the lawsuit states: “A strong public interest exists in knowing whether the executive in charge of the nation’s most-watched cable news channel is acting as a political consultant to a prospective Republican presidential candidate.”

'Star Wars' Hero Gives In to the Dark Side

An actor known for playing a good guy in “Star Wars” has at last given in to the Dark Side, according to The Hollywood Reporter's The Live Feed blog. The story reports that Mark Hamill, known for his heroic turn as Luke Skywalker in the original “Star Wars” trilogy, will play “Chuck’s” first villain of its fifth season.

Hamill will appear in the season premiere of the NBC show on Friday, Oct. 21, at 8 p.m., the story notes.

The actor has been keeping busy with voice work, including the "Batman: Arkham City" video game and the animated series "Regular Show" on Cartoon Network, the piece notes.

USA Network Takes a Pass on Pilot

For the first time this season, USA Network is taking a pass on a pilot, Deadline.com reports. The show, about a young man who gets a job as a concierge at a swanky New York hotel, is “Eden.”

The first group of three USA pilots, "Necessary Roughness," "Common Law" and "A Legal Mind," saw all three shows picked up to series, the story notes.

The other two series from the second group of USA pilots, "Over/Under" and "Wild Card," have been cast but have not been shot yet, the story says.

From Comic-Con: Fans Filled With 'Glee' as Show Co-Creator Brad Falchuk Contradicts Information That 'Glee' Co-Creator Ryan Murphy Gave Recently to The Hollywood Reporter. Falchuk Says That New Season Will NOT Be the Last For Rachel, Finn and Kurt

"Cory Monteith, Lea Michele and Chris Colfer are all seniors. Despite what co-creator Ryan Murphy told The Hollywood Reporter about the fate of the trio during a prior interview, co-creator and executive producer Brad Falchuk said [during a panel at Comic-Con in San Diego on Sunday, July 24, 2011]: 'They are not done with the show after this season.' "

So writes Lesley Goldberg in The Hollywood Reporter.

The article continues, " 'Because they’re graduating doesn’t mean they’re leaving the show. If you have Lea Michele under contract, you don’t just say, ‘We’re going to let you go.’ '  Falchuk noted that there are a number of 'Glee' kids, with some seniors and some juniors – like Jenna Ushkowitz – and a 'number of original people are not graduating. It was never our plan, it was never our intention to let them go,' Falchuk said. 'They are not done with the show after this [upcoming]season.' "

This fall will be season three for "Glee." Then, season four would air during the 2012-2013 season.

As you can read in Goldberg's earlier interview with Murphy, he certainly made it sound as if the three stars would be leaving after season three.  In that interview Murphy is quoted as telling Goldberg the following:

THR: Will we see a Season 4 with Chris Colfer (Kurt) and Lea Michele (Rachel)?
Murphy: No.
THR: We will not?
Murphy: They are graduating.
THR: What about Cory Monteith?
Murphy: Cory is graduating. Those are the only three I’m going to say.
THR: They’re not going to be back at all in Season 4?
Murphy: No.

Russell Brand on Tragic Death of Grammy Winner and R&B Powerhouse Amy Winehouse: 'We need to review the way society treats addicts, not as criminals but as sick people in need of care.'

Russell Brand has written a moving remembrance of his friend Amy Winehouse forcusing on her addiction.

Winehouse, 27, the amazing R&B and jazz-oriented Grammy award-winning singer, was found dead in her London apartment on Saturday, July 23, 2011.

On his website, in a piece he calls simply "For Amy," Brand writes, "When you love someone who suffers from the disease of addiction you await the phone call. There will be a phone call. The sincere hope is that the call will be from the addict themselves, telling you they’ve had enough, that they’re ready to stop, ready to try something new. Of course though, you fear the other call, the sad nocturnal chime from a friend or relative telling you it’s too late, she’s gone."

Brand, a recovering addict himself who is married to pop phenom Katy Perry. We first read about his essay at Deadline.com. In her comments about Brand's essay, Nikki Finke writes:

"The film and TV business has never taken a leadership role on this issue. No mogul has ever proclaimed that showbiz, like sports, should adopt a unified tough love policy and refuse to work with addicted artists unless they got help. But that would involve pulling the plug on recording projects or concert tours or movie productions or TV shows -- no matter the expense. And ultimately Big Media must agree to drop addicted artists who refuse treatment. It's telling that Amy Winehouse not only made millions with the song whose lyrics include "They tried to make me go to rehab but I said 'no, no, no' but also that she was found dead a month after a big concert tour where in Belgrade she'd stumbled around the stage. Or that Charlie Sheen has boasted about his rampant drug use and yet Hollywood just made a high-profile deal for a new sitcom starring him. It's shameful greed."

Brand ends his essay with these words:

"Now Amy Winehouse is dead, like many others whose unnecessary deaths have been retrospectively romanticised, at 27 years old. Whether this tragedy was preventable or not is now irrelevant. It is not preventable today. We have lost a beautiful and talented woman to this disease. Not all addicts have Amy’s incredible talent. Or Kurt’s or Jimi’s or Janis’s, some people just get the affliction. All we can do is adapt the way we view this condition, not as a crime or a romantic affectation but as a disease that will kill. We need to review the way society treats addicts, not as criminals but as sick people in need of care. We need to look at the way our government funds rehabilitation. It is cheaper to rehabilitate an addict than to send them to prison, so criminalisation doesn’t even make economic sense. Not all of us know someone with the incredible talent that Amy had but we all know drunks and junkies and they all need help and the help is out there. All they have to do is pick up the phone and make the call. Or not. Either way, there will be a phone call."

History-Making NBC Page Dies at 85

A former NBC page who worked for the network for 55 years has died, TVNewser.com reports. Gloria Clyne, who went to work for NBC in 1944 and was the first female page hired by the network, was 85.

Clyne was hired by the network as a "guidette" when she was 18 years old, at a time when World War II made companies more open to hiring women. She and three other women were tapped at the time to give tours of the NBC facilities. During her career, she also served as a production assistant and a segment producer for Al Roker, when he was a rising star in meteorology.

Clyne retired in 1999 with an annual salary of $47,000, the story notes.

Cable Net Developing Series About Real-Life Celebrity Moms' Club

A real-life Hollywood moms’ club started by “The Ali’s” -- Alison Sweeney of “The Biggest Loser” and Ali Landry of “Eve” -- has been ordered by TV Guide Network, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The show will feature get-togethers with the Ali’s and their celebrity friends, who already participate in pot-luck parties at each other’s homes. Episodes will focus on a series of Hollywood moms, with the pilot scheduled to feature Denise Richards.

Said Landry: “Alison Sweeney and I started a supper club and invited our favorite celebrity mom friends, including Denise Richards, Brooke Burke, Nancy O’Dell, Holly Robinson Peete, Candace Cameron Bure, Kyle Richards and Lisa Rinna. We get together at each other’s homes once a month for dinner, and they always lead to fun, unexpected moments and candid conversations between great friends.”

The story adds: “The news comes a month or so after ‘Jersey Shore’ mastermind SallyAnn Salsano's ‘Nail Files,’ about a Hollywood nail salon and its owner, debuted to record ratings for the network. Both projects are part of a larger push for TV Guide to become a hub for off-net fare like ‘Weeds,’ ‘The Hills’ and ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’ as well as originals.”

Accuser of Former IMF Chief Speaks Out in Televised Interview

The hotel maid who accuses former International Monetary Fund chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn of sexual assault has detailed the attack in a television interview, ABC News reports.

"There were no restrictions on the interview," the story says. The interview will air tonight on "World News With Diane Sawyer," this morning on "Good Morning America" and Tuesday on "Nightline.”

"I want justice. I want him to go to jail," Nafissatou Diallo said in the interview. "God is my witness I'm telling the truth. From my heart. God knows that. And he knows that," she said.

Diallo re-enacted parts of the alleged attack, kneeling at one point to show how she says Strauss-Kahn tried to force her to commit a sex act, the story says.

Defense attorneys for Strauss-Kahn have denied any criminal wrongdoing and alleged that what happened at the hotel was consensual. They called Diallo's interview an "unseemly circus," the piece notes.

Netflix in Talks With DreamWorks Animation for Streaming Rights to Films

Netflix is in discussions with DreamWorks Animation SKG to gain exclusive streaming rights to its films, with the DVD and streaming service replacing HBO's pay-TV deal, reports Bloomberg.

An agreement might come as early as this week, the story says. The deal would signal the importance of online streaming to studios, which are struggling with a decline in DVD sales.

Netflix has digital distribution deals with Viacom-owned Paramount Pictures and with Lionsgate and Miramax.

DreamWorks Animation, which creates the "Shrek" films, has a contract with HBO through 2014.

PR-Wise, Rupert Murdoch Didn't Do Himself Any Good During His Appearance Before a Parliamentary Committee Last Week

In his latest TVWeek Open Mic blog entry, Public Relations expert Arthur Sando explains why Rupert Murdoch did not do himself any favors when he appeared before a Parliamentary Committee last week.

To read Sando's astute observations, please click here.

'Gossip Girl' Star Sues Her Mom, Accuses Her of Inappropriately Using Her Money for Plastic Surgery

One of the stars of "Gossip Girl" is suing her mom, claiming her mother spent money on plastic surgery that the actress had sent for her little brother, reports TMZ.com.

According to the lawsuit, actress Leighton Meester sent her mom $7,500 per month for her little brother, who has severe medical issues, the story says. Instead, the suit alleges, her mom used the money for cosmetic procedures and personal spending.

Meester alleges her mother threatened to file a $3 million lawsuit against her unless she began paying $10,000 per month for life, the piece says.

Her mom claims the pair had an oral lifelong contract for the monthly amount, which Meester denies, the story says. Meester is asking a judge to declare there's no contract between her and her mom, the article notes.

First Asian Nation Converts to Digital TV

An Asian country has ended a 58-year era of analog television broadcasting, becoming the first Asian country to switch to digital transmission, reports Bloomberg. The country making the switch was Japan.

The conversion follows similar transitions by the U.S. and Germany during the past three years, and may free up airwaves that could be allocated to mobile phone operators, the story notes.

Other countries will follow suit, with South Korea, the U.K. and France planning to shut down analog systems, the story says.

Court Show Cleared in 90% of Country

A syndicated daily court show will go into its second season with clearance in 90% of the country, Entertainment Studios announced. 

Station groups picking up “America’s Court With Judge Ross” include NBC, CBS, Fox, Sinclair, ACME, Gannett, Cox, Tribune, Weigel, Max, Four Points, Smith, Mission, Gormally, Lambert, Local TV, Media General, Newport, Pappas, Schurz, Nexstar, Journal, Northwest, Lin, Capitol, WV Media, Freedom, Quincy, Raycom, Roberts, New Age, Gray, Roundtable, Intermountain West, Griffin, Post-Newsweek, Bonten, Belo, Barrington, Meredith, Entravision, Coastal Television, Transamerica, and Communication Corporation of America.

“Judge Ross is an extraordinary talent, and this show is simply unstoppable. ‘America’s Court With Judge Ross’ is growing very rapidly as the audience discovers this exciting new show,” said Byron Allen, founder, chairman and CEO of Entertainment Studios.

The show is shot exclusively in hi-def.

Comic-Con Update: Supposedly Un-Aired 'Lost' Clip Shown at Comic-Con. See It Here, Now

Entertainment Weekly presented a panel at Comic-Con in San Diego on Friday afternoon, July 22, 2011 called "Totally 'Lost': One Year Later."

Here's part of the write up of the panel from EW.com: " 'Lost' exec producers Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse crashed the festivities in fitting Comic-Con style. (Cuse dressed as a stormtrooper; Lindelof was clad in a Dharma jumpsuit and Boba Fett helmet). Not only did they field all sorts of questions from fans, they unveiled a scene from the season 1 finale that supposedly never aired. Yes, the very one hinted at during their cryptic Twitter “feud,” which was resolved at the panel."

Here's that clip, that's been posted on the ABC website:

more »

Cult Favorite Sci-Fi-Horror Flick of 1980s--With One of the Best Villains Ever and Terrific Exploding Heads--Being Developed For TV

With the success of AMC's "The Walking Dead" and other genre entries, a cult favorite sci-fi horror movie from the 1980s is being developed for TV, reports our friend Nellie Andreeva at Deadline.com.

It's the 1981 David Cronenberg movie "Scanners,' which was most notable for two things. First, a knockout performance by Michael Ironside as bad guy Darryl Revok. He was also notable on TV as Ham Tyler in 1984's "V: The Final Battle."

The other thing fans love about "Scanners" is its terrific exploding heads.

According to Andreeva's article, "Dimension was not involved in the original 1981 'Scanners' film or its sequels, but acquired the rights to the franchise in a development deal several years ago. The original plan was to mount a theatrical remake, with David Goyer tapped to write two drafts, and Rene Malo, Clark Peterson and Pierre David signed as producers. But with the recent resurgence of genre TV dramas like AMC's monster hit 'The Walking Dead,' Dimension started also considering a small-screen adaptation."

The artilce adds, "According to insiders, it was Dimension principal Bob Weinstein and Aja who conceived of the plan to transform the Scanners property into a TV show. Malo, Peterson and David remain attached as executive producers on the series, while Goyer is no longer involved. Dimension is already in talks with potential showrunners to create and run the series. Aja is repped by WME and Industry Entertainment."

Oh yeah:

Verizon Names New CEO

Verizon Communications announced that it has named a new chief executive officer, Multichannel News reports. The post, as expected, will go to Lowell McAdam, who is being elevated from president and chief operating officer.

McAdam replaces Ivan Seidenberg, who is expected to retire as CEO later this year but will remain chairman. McAdam takes over the job Aug. 1.

The story reports: “In his current role, McAdam, 57, is responsible for all business operations at Verizon, including the strategic direction of the company's products and technologies. He has served on the board of Verizon since March 2011 and on the board of Verizon Wireless since 2003. McAdam has been the chairman of Verizon Wireless since September 2010.”

On the company’s earnings call Friday, McAdam said: "This has been a very smooth transition by any measure, and we have Ivan to thank for that.”

Veterans of 'Seinfeld,' 'Scrubs,' '3rd Rock From the Sun' and 'Starter Wife' Team for New Sitcom

A new sitcom is lining up a high-powered cast, including former sitcom stars David Alan Basche (Kenny Kagan on "The Starter Wife"), Donald Faison (Dr. Christopher Turk on  "Scrubs"), Kristen Johnston (Sally Solomon on "3rd Rock From the Sun") and Wayne Knight (Newman(!) from "Seinfeld"). The veteran actors have all joined the cast of a TV Land’s "The Exes," reports UPI.com.

Set to premiere on the network on Nov. 30, the show stars Johnston as a divorce attorney who's the landlady on an apartment shared by her male clients.

In a statement, Larry W. Jones, president of TV Land, said: "We are so excited to start production on this sitcom. The comedic talent in this show is a stellar addition to our network as we encourage viewers to 'laugh more.'"

How ABC's Diane Sawyer Made It Onto the 'NBC Nightly News' Last Night

Even though ABC News anchor Diane Sawyer had Thursday night off from the network, she still made an appearance on network news -- but it was on "NBC Nightly News," reports TVNewser.com.

Sawyer was featured in a story on the broadcast, anchored by Brian Williams. In a piece about the files of President Richard M. Nixon being revealed, Sawyer was mentioned because she was a 25-year-old aide to the president at the time. According to the report, Sawyer made a critical error in judgment while on the job.

In the broadcast, it was explained that the files had turned up a memo that “showed Diane Sawyer, then a 25-year-old Nixon White House aide, got in trouble for telling a family friend he was being nominated as a federal judge. Problem is, a U.S. senator was supposed to tell him first. Sawyer apologized profusely.”

Spanish-Language Net Beats the Big 4 in Thursday Night Ratings

A star-studded awards show on Univision combined with a night of mostly repeat programming on the Big 4 English-language networks to give the Spanish network a rare overall win for the night the 18-49 demo, TVbytheNumbers.com reports.

Univision finished the night with a 1.8 average rating for prime time in adults 18-49 in Nielsen overnights, edging CBS, which had a 1.7 average. Trailing were ABC (1.5), Fox (1.2) and NBC (0.7).

Total viewers was a different story, with CBS coming out on top with an average of 6.2 million, followed by ABC (5.5 million), Univision (4.1 million), Fox (3.9 million) and NBC (2.0 million).

Univision featured the three-hour youth awards broadcast “Premios Juventud,” which included appearances by Ricky Martin, Pitbull and Daddy Yankee.

The top show of the night was CBS’s “Big Brother,” which scored a 2.5 average rating in 18-49 in the 9 p.m. hour. But the network’s average for prime time was dragged down by the rest of its lineup, which was all repeats.

Airing against "Big Brother," ABC's "Expedition Impossible" had to settle for a 1.3 in adults 18-49.

ABC’s “Wipeout” topped Fox’s “So You Think You Can Dance” at 8 p.m. in the 18-49 demo, averaging a 1.8 to “Dance’s” 1.6.

At 10 p.m. NBC’s finale of “Love Bites” managed only a 0.7 in adults 18-49, trailing ABC’s “Rookie Blue” (1.2 average).
 

Big Screen's 'James Bond' Joins Stephen King Miniseries

A Stephen King miniseries is set to begin production in August in Nova Scotia, with Pierce Brosnan making his return to TV for the project, Multichannel News reports.

“Stephen King’s Bag of Bones,” based on the best-selling novel, will air on A&E, with a four-hour running time. It is expected to premiere late this year.

The Sony Pictures Television production also stars Anabeth Gish.

Brosnan, known for playing James Bond, among other big-screen roles, will play a writer trying to cope with his wife’s death while caught up in a young widow’s custody battle and being haunted by nightmares.

'Glee' Actor May Fill In for 'Harry Potter' Star on Broadway

A breakout star from "Glee" has a plum role in his sights as Daniel Radcliffe's replacement in the new staging of "How to Succeed In Business Without Really Trying," reports Deadline.com.

The deal has not yet been made for Darren Criss to take on the role, with talks set to begin as soon as “Glee’s” principals give the OK.

Radcliffe, who stars in the “Harry Potter” movies, ends his run in the production in January before heading back to feature film work.

The part comes with a three-week commitment, which would give Criss a chance to shine before returning to Fox for season three of "Glee." The appearance would mark the Broadway debut for Criss.

Criss would take over for Radcliffe from Jan. 3-22, following a two week rehearsal period in December. He would miss less than two episodes of "Glee."

Fortunately for Criss, "Glee" co-creator Ryan Murphy appears to be encouraging him to take the Broadway gig.

'Social Network' Actor to Reprise Part for 'The Simpsons'

A young actor who made an impact in “The Social Network” and is headed for a high-profile big-screen Western will be heard in an upcoming episode of "The Simpsons," reports Entertainment Weekly.

Armie Hammer, who played the Winklevoss twins in the Oscar-winning "Social Network," will voice the characters again when the twins appear in Fox's long-running animated hit. The 24-year-old actor has recorded the cameo role, playing Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss in an episode called "The D'oh-cial Network."

According to executive producer Al Jean, “Lisa creates a social network site in Springfield and gives too much credit to everybody, so we thought of doing a joke involving the Winklevoss twins."

The episode will air in early 2012 on Fox.

Hammer is lined up to play the Lone Ranger opposite Johnny Depp’s Tonto in the upcoming Disney/Jerry Bruckheimer feature film on the famous masked man of the Westerns, which will be directed by “Pirates of the Caribbean” helmer Gore Verbinski, EW notes.

Sheen Could Reap Hundreds of Millions From 'Anger Management' Thanks to Unique Syndication Deal with Debmar-Mercury

With his television sitcom project "Anger Management," Charlie Sheen could stand to earn hundreds of millions, thanks to a creative syndication component to the deal with Debmar-Mercury, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

While he won't earn as much as he was receiving on a per-episode basis for "Two and a Half Men," Sheen has a deal that gives him more than 20% of the backend, significantly more than a traditional TV arrangement, the piece notes.

According to the story, "The plan is to follow a variation on the '10-90' path pioneered by Debmar-Mercury co-presidents Mort Marcus and Ira Bernstein, who originated the model for Tyler Perry's TV projects, including 'House of Payne' and 'Meet the Browns.' They will produce six to 12 episodes with Sheen for a test run on a cable network, station group or even a digital service like Netflix. If those airings meet a certain ratings threshold, as many as 90 more episodes would quickly be ordered and produced. The Debmar-Mercury model is predicated on very little upfront money for talent willing to bet on themselves. While the company does pay the traditional costs of renting a studio and producing a show, costs are amortized over 100 or so episodes."

The show will produce six to 12 episodes for a test run on a cable network, station group or digital service such as Netflix. If the show attracts just half of the 15 million or so viewers who tuned in to watch Sheen on "Two and a Half Men," he could earn hundreds of millions by the second or third sales cycle in the syndication market, the story says.

Co-Host of CBS's 'The Talk' to Take a Break From the Show

One of the co-hosts of the CBS daytime show “The Talk” announced that she will be taking a break from the show, reports AOLtv.com.

"I've kept it no secret that I really miss my husband," said Sharon Osbourne, who is married to rocker Ozzy Osbourne. "He'll have been on tour for 18 months by the time it's over. I've spent a lot of time away from him. He gets a break at the end of September and so I've asked [the show] for a little break so I can be with him."

When the show returns in September with new episodes, Sharon Osbourne will be out of the lineup, the piece notes. It doesn't say when she will return to the program.

Osbourne is also a judge on "America's Got Talent."

New Blockbuster Owner Dish Reveals Plans for the Chain's 1,700 Stores

Dish, which purchased Blockbuster in April, has revealed what it intends to do with the DVD rental chain’s 1,700 locations, Multichannel News reports.

Dish said it will keep 1,500 Blockbuster stores open, closing the other 200 stores.

About 15,000 store employees will remain employed, the story says.

"We're pleased that we will continue to operate more than 90 percent of the stores that were offered at auction in April," Blockbuster President Michael Kelly said in a statement.

From Comic-Con #2: 'Shameless' Star on Her Nudity in the Show--'I'm So Tired of Answering This Question'

One of the stars of Showtime’s "Shameless" became frustrated during a panel session at Comic-Con when the moderator asked her for her thoughts on nudity, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

"I’m so tired of answering this question,” Emmy Rossum said. The interest in her character's nude scenes may come from the fact that she was previously best known as the naive star in the movie version of "Phantom of the Opera.”

“Like if someone takes off their clothes, that’s such a big deal,” Rossum said. “There’s such a stupid stigma about it. It’s just a body. It doesn’t say anything about who you are inside.”

Rossum added, "It doesn’t seem all that much to me, but it seems that people are all in a tizzy.”

Emmy Rossum

Alleged Stalker of MSNBC Host Arrested

A man who allegedly stalked an MSNBC host has been arrested, reports the New York Post. 

MSNBC personality Tamron Hall, who hosts "NewsNation With Tamron Hall," first noticed Kevin Lee Miller, 55, when he approached her outside her Manhattan apartment building and asked whether she lived nearby, the story says. He then reportedly followed her as she walked away from her building.

When he appeared two days later, Hall called police and Miller was charged with stalking, the story says.

Hall has been stalked before, in 2003 and 2004, when she worked at WFLD-TV in Chicago. Her sister was murdered in 2004, although no one was ever arrested, the article adds.

Tamron Hall

From Comic-Con #1: Turns Out Buffy--Sarah Michelle Gellar, Who Stars in One of the Most Anticipated New Shows This Fall--Is a Fan of Trashy Reality TV. Plus Check Out This Video of Her New Show That Was Shown at Comic-Con

Sarah Michelle Gellar, appearing at a panel at Comic-Con in San Diego, showed that she's also a fan of trashy reality TV, reports Buddy TV.

Gellar was at the confab pushing her highly anticipated new show, "Ringer," which will be on the CW this fall.

According to the article, "A typical question at Comic-Con panels is about what people the stars would dress up as, and while superheroes or comic book characters are usually the top choice, Gellar went in a completely different direction, wanting to dress up like one of the 'Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.' The fact that she embraces trashy reality TV like that just makes her even cooler."

The article also notes that "The producers were clear that when 'Ringer' moved from CBS to the CW, they weren't going to change it. However, the one thing that might be different is that 'Ringer' can now use younger, hipper music for its soundtrack.

For those of you not familiar with the upcoming 'Ringer," the article explains: "'Ringer' features Gellar playing dual roles of twins Siobhan and Bridget. Siobhan is rich and successful, married to Andrew (Ioan Gruffudd) while having an affair with her best friend's husband (Kristoffer Polaha). Bridget, on the other hand, is a recovering addict and former stripper on the run from some gangsters. When Siobhan goes missing while the two twins are on a boat ride, Bridget takes the opportunity to assume her sister's identity."

Here's a video preview of the show that was shown during the Comic-Con panel. We first ran across it on Michael Ausiello's TVLine website:

Trouble at Redbox: President Suddenly Exits DVD Rental Company After Poor Financial Results

Redbox President Mitch Lowe unexpectedly said he would be leaving the DVD rental company after its parent company reported preliminary financial results that fell short of some investor expectations, reports the Los Angeles Times' Company Town blog.

Shares of Coinstar, Redbox's parent company, fell 10% in after-hours trading following the announcement, the story notes.

Lowe has been with the company since 2003, when it was owned by McDonald's and had only a few rental kiosks. The company now operates more than 31,800 rental kiosks in grocery stores and other retail locations, the story notes.

Lowe resigned "to pursue entrepreneurial and other interests," without providing additional details, the piece notes.

Coinstar said its revenue for the quarter ended June 30 was between $434 million and $436 million, below the $446 million expected by Wall Street analysts, the piece notes.

Justice Department Readying Subpoenas for U.S. Investigation of News Corp.

The U.S. Justice Department is readying subpoenas for preliminary probes into News Corp. over allegations of phone hacking involving the voicemail of Sept. 11 victims and foreign bribery, according to The Wall Street Journal. (Please note that The WSJ is behind a paywall and not all readers may be able to access the story.)

The subpoenas still require approval by senior Justice Department officials, the story notes. If they are issued, the media company will face increased scrutiny beyond the U.K. probe into phone hacking at the defunct tabloid News of the World, as the focus widens to include News Corp.’s U.S. operations.

The company, which owns Fox and Fox News, has been expecting more scrutiny from the Justice Department and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the story says.

The FBI has separately started an inquiry into whether News Corp. employees attempted to hack into the voicemails of Sept. 11 victims, the piece adds.

News Corp. owns The Wall Street Journal.

James Murdoch Told a Parliamentary Committee This Week That He Was Not Told in 2008 That Phone Hacking Was More Widespread Than Previously Thought. Now, Two Former News Corp. Employees Say They Had Indeed Informed Him. Murdoch Stands By His Testimony

James Murdoch was "mistaken" in his testimony given to a parliamentary committee earlier this week, according to two former News Corp. executives who say they told him of evidence in 2008 that suggested hacking at one of the company’s tabloids was more widespread than previously thought, reports The New York Times.

In response to what the two former employees said, The Times reports: "In a statement, Mr. Murdoch said, 'I stand by my testimony to the select committee.' ”

The executives, former editor of News of the World Colin Myler and former News International legal manager Tom Crone, said they gave Murdoch the information at the time when he was authorizing a large settlement of a lawsuit brought by a hacking victim, the story says.

Murdoch said in testimony that he agreed to pay £725,000 because it made financial sense, although he said he wasn't aware of the evidence at the time, the piece notes. The lawsuit was brought by a soccer union leader, Gordon Taylor.

Myler and Crone said Murdoch knew about a piece of evidence when he settled the lawsuit: an email containing the transcript of a hacked cellphone message that was marked "for Neville," presumably meaning the News of the World's chief reporter, Neville Thurlbeck, the article says.

“In fact, we did inform him of the ‘for Neville’ e-mail which had been produced to us by Gordon Taylor’s lawyers,” Myler and Crone said in a statement.

The pair said they spoke out because they were upset the company was informing reporters they hadn't told Murdoch about critical facts in the lawsuit.

A TVWeek Public Service: 23 Ways to Beat the Heat Today and This Weekend

With so much of the U.S. sweltering, here are 23 ways to beat the heat, courtesy of an article we found at the Real SImple website.

The article starts off with this suggestion: "Try a desert trick. When the air outside is dry and cooler than the air inside, hang a damp sheet in an open window. 'That's what we do here in Death Valley,' says Dale Housley, a ranger at Death Valley National Park. Incoming breezes are cooled by the evaporating water."

Here's another tip that uses lots of electricity but could be worth it, according to the article: "Run a fan and an air conditioner simultaneously. You can use the air conditioner at lower power and still feel cool if the fan is blowing over you. That's because the air conditioner removes humidity from the air while the fan helps evaporate sweat and moves heat away from your body. (Note: Fans don't cool a room; they just make people feel cooler, so shut them off before you leave.)"

Here's a third idea: "Skip the drying cycle on the dishwasher. Instead, leave the door open to let the dishes dry. And put off using the dishwasher until evening, when the air is cooler. Or simply wash your dishes the old-fashioned way: by hand."

As for how you should dress, the article says, "Wear one of the widely available synthetic fabrics designed to wick away sweat and that sticky feeling (examples include Coolmax and Nano-Tex); they're not just for athletes anymore. If you prefer cotton, make it thin, light colored, and, most of all, loose. 'The best thing is to have sweat evaporate directly from skin to air,' says Larry Kenney, a professor of physiology and kinesiology at Pennsylvania State University, in University Park. 'The next best thing is for the sweat to move quickly from your skin to clothing and then evaporate. Loose, billowy clothes allow air movement next to the skin and help with evaporation.' "

Please click on the link in the first paragraph, above, to see the other tips.

Kim Kardashian Sues Old Navy

Kim Kardashian is suing Old Navy and its parent company, The Gap Inc., alleging that the company’s television commercial featuring a dark-haired lookalike violates Kardashian’s publicity rights, reports the Associated Press.

The broadcast ad, which is called "Super C-U-T-E," began airing in February and has been viewed more than 2 million times on Old Navy's YouTube channel, the piece notes. The suit alleges that consumers might be confused between the ads and the model's actual endorsements, the piece says.

The reality show star "has invested substantial time, energy, finances and entrepreneurial effort in developing her considerable professional and commercial achievements and success, as well as in developing her popularity, fame, and prominence in the public eye," the lawsuit says.

A representative for Gap said the company hadn't yet seen the lawsuit and had no comment.

Apple in Talks to Acquire Hulu

Apple is in early discussions that may lead to an offer for the online streaming service Hulu, reports Bloomberg.

Apple has $76.2 billion in cash and securities on its books, and Hulu may fetch about $2 billion in an acquisition, the story says. Hulu would provide Apple with a new subscription service and could represent a bigger challenge to Netflix, the article adds.

It's unusual for Apple to make large purchases, with its biggest acquisition so far the $400 million spent in 1996 to buy NeXT Software, which returned Steve Jobs to the company, the piece points out.

Apple and Hulu declined to comment.

Gervais Unveils His Latest Sitcom Project

The creator of "The Office," writer-actor Ricky Gervais, has concocted a new situation comedy, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Developed with "Dexter" producer Clyde Phillips, Gervais' new sitcom, “Afterlife,” will tell the story of an atheist who dies and winds up in Heaven. Gervais is a fan of "Dexter" and said on his blog that he had always wanted to work with Phillips.

The plan is to film the pilot in early 2012, with Gervais making an appearance but not starring in the program.

Another Court Case Looms for Lindsay Lohan, Who Got a Lecture Today From the Judge

Even as the fallout continues for Lindsay Lohan from her necklace-theft case -- she hit a speed bump during a court appearance today in connection with the case -- another potentially nasty court case appears to be in the works for the actress.

TMZ.com reports that Lohan is anticipating a lawsuit against her in connection with what was reported as a scuffle at the Betty Ford Clinic last December involving her and clinic staffer Dawn Holland.

Holland was expected to file the suit against Lohan today, seeking a financial reward for the alleged altercation between the two women. The TMZ report says Lohan is ready to fight Holland in court, maintaining that she did not lay a hand on Holland and insisting that Holland won’t get any money out of her.

Lohan has said from the outset that Holland is bending the facts in an attempt to get a windfall. Lohan reportedly believes the filing of the suit will support her claim that Holland is in it for the money.

Meanwhile, today’s court appearance by Lohan in the necklace case saw her reprimanded by the judge, ordered to get on with her community service and reminded that she's supposed to get therapy, the New York Daily News reported.

According to the story: “A frustrated judge read the riot act to [Lohan] Thursday, telling the troubled starlet to pick up the pace to complete her court-ordered community service -- regardless of other commitments.”

Said Judge Stephanie Sautner: "She's not going to get five minutes more than her one year to do it. I'm not going to take into consideration a 'sorry, I couldn't do it, I was on the John Gotti movie.’"

The story adds: “Lohan's lawyer, Shawn Holley, said her client already has completed one of four anti-shoplifting classes she's required to take and shaved four days off a 60-day sentence of community service. Sautner said she better start averaging five days a month.”

Lohan has admitted missing a court deadline to get psychological counseling, and claimed financial hardship as her workload has been diminished with all her legal problems.

According to the story: “The city attorney asked for a financial review, but the frustrated judge said she wouldn't make ‘generalizations’ about Lohan's income and gave her three more weeks.”

TV Land Renews Comedy

TV Land announced that it has given an order for a new season of one of its comedies, reports the Los Angeles Times' Show Tracker blog.

The show is "Happily Divorced," which received a second-season order. The series, created by Fran Drescher and based on her life with ex-husband Peter Marc Jacobson, has an order for 12 episodes for its sophomore season, which will appear next spring.

The sitcom tracks a couple who get divorced after the husband comes out as gay.

TV Land has been airing “Happily Divorced” as a companion to its hit “Hot in Cleveland.”

A&E Has Its Most-Watched Telecast of All Time

A&E set a network record for total viewers along with a number of demo records Wednesday night with the season premiere of one of its regular series, the network reported.

The series is “Storage Wars,” which premiered for its second season with back-to-back episodes at 10 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. The 10:30 episode set network records in total viewers, adults 18-49 and viewers 25-54. The episode had 2.9 million viewers in each demo and 5.1 million total viewers, according to A&E.

The earlier episode had 4.5 million total viewers, with 2.6 million in both the 18-49 and the 25-54 demos.

“Storage Wars” set records online too, with Wednesday becoming the highest-traffic day of 2011 and the second-highest day on record for aetv.com in page views and visits.

The show follows buyers who bid on abandoned storage spaces, hoping to turn a profit on the contents.

New Reality Show Will Shine Spotlight on Muslim Families in U.S.

A new reality series is coming to cable that will examine the lives of Muslim families living in the USA, reports the Los Angeles Times.

"All-American Muslim," which will air on TLC, will follow five Muslim-American families in the Detroit suburb of Dearborn, Mich.

TLC General Manager Amy Winter told the Times, "We wanted to show there was diversity even within the Muslim community. These are families that might have beliefs that are different than yours, but we are all living similar daily lives and hopefully we will bring that to light."

TLC, which has delved into controversial material before with "Sister Wives" and "Sarah Palin's Alaska," has slated "All-American Muslim" to begin its run in November.

Forecaster Has Bad News for Cable and Satellite Providers

In what would be a tough scenario for cable and satellite television operators, a top forecaster is predicting that a significant number of U.S. homes -- 10% -- will cut the cord by the end of 2015, as consumers continue to make the decision to rely instead on streaming services such as Netflix, reports Deadline.com.

The forecast is from SNL Kagan, a respected forecaster that the story describes as "one of the most cable-friendly forecasting firms." The group predicts that 12.1 million U.S. homes will rely on streaming services by the end of 2015, or about 10% of all households.

That figure represents a big jump from the 2.5 million residences that had cut the cord by the end of 2010, the piece notes.

About 86% of all U.S. homes subscribed to pay TV in 2009, with that number dropping to 84.9% last year, the story adds.

TV Veteran Drops Out of 'Charlie's Angels'

ABC’s reboot of “Charlie’s Angels” has lost one of its key players, TV Guide reports. Leaving the project is the actor who was set to play the voice of Charlie, Robert Wagner.

Best known for starring on the TV series "Hart to Hart" and "It Takes a Thief," Wagner has had to drop out of the project for what the production is calling “scheduling conflicts.”

With Wagner out, a new actor will be cast as the never seen, but always heard, boss of the angels, Charlie Townsend. In the pilot that has already circulated, Charlie was represented by a robotic voice that was just a temporary fill-in.

Broadcaster That Owns More Than 60 TV Stations Is Up for Sale

A television station operator with more than 60 stations in its portfolio is putting itself up for sale, according to media reports. Reuters and The Wall Street Journal report that Nexstar Broadcasting has retained a financial adviser to seek out potential buyers.

The company, which owns and operates more than 60 TV stations in markets such as Salt Lake City and Hagerstown, Md., said it plans to explore strategic alternatives that could result in a sale, Reuters says.

It's hired Moelis & Co. as a financial adviser and Kirkland & Ellis LLP as legal counsel.

The Irving, Texas-based company could attract more than $1 billion in a sale, reports The Wall Street Journal. (The WSJ is behind a pay wall and not all readers may be able to access the story.)

MSNBC Host Leaves Network

An MSNBC host is leaving the network after MSNBC declined to make him the permanent host of his time slot, according to The Hollywood Reporter's The Live Feed blog.

Former radio host Cenk Uygur has been working at MSNBC for six months, filling in on the 6 p.m. time slot on an interim basis.

"It's unfortunate that Cenk has declined our offer to have him develop and host a program for another time slot," a representative for MSNBC said.

Al Sharpton is expected to get the 6 p.m. time period, although there's no deal yet, the piece notes.

Britney Spears 'Broke Wind or Picked Her Nose Un-Self-Consciously,' Former Bodyguard Says in Court Papers

A former bodyguard for pop star Britney Spears let loose a litany of allegations in his $10 million sex-harassment case against the singer, reports the New York Post.

Explaining why he couldn't find her alleged come-ons appealing, former bodyguard Fernando Flores claimed in papers filed in Los Angeles Superior Court that "Spears was generally personally unkempt" and "She had obnoxious personal habits, such as chain-smoking cigarettes. ... She broke wind or picked her nose un-self-consciously and unapologetically," the story says.

He alleges that Spears "was often under the influence of illegal prescription and nonprescription drugs, such as Ritalin, Narcon [used to prevent or reverse opiate overdoses] and methamphetamines," the story says.

Spears responded to the allegations by saying Flores is a liar, reports TMZ.com.

Flores, a former police officer, worked for Spears for only a short time, the TMZ report notes.

Movie Mogul Gives Scathing Review to Film Industry -- 'The Last Seven or Eight Months of Movies Is the Worst Lineup of Movies ... in the Last Five Years'; But Exec Praises TV, Especially One Show

A well-known movie exec unleashed a scathing criticism of the film industry, while praising TV -- especially what he called "the best show on TV today," CNN reported.

Jeffrey Katzenberg, CEO of DreamWorks Animation, expressed frustration over this year's crop of movies in an interview with Fortune’s Andy Serwer. He lavished praise on "Breaking Bad," the AMC hit that just returned for its fourth season.

"It's just a remarkable show," Katzenberg noted. "It's quirky and unique, and that's what's exciting about it. But frankly, [there] are many, many, many great shows that are television today. And the marketplace for TV is very strong."

Film, however, is "extremely challenged right now," Katzenberg said. "Let me have a show of hands of people that would say the last seven or eight months of movies is the worst lineup of movies you've experienced in the last five years of your life." He went on to add, "They suck. It's unbelievable how bad movies have been."

Katzenberg blamed the pressures of a changing business, with technology shifting how people want to watch films, with swinging the film industry too much toward the business end and less of a focus on art. "Today it's out of balance and it's too much on the biz, and it's too much on the commerce and it's too much on the marketability," he said.

Report: Discovery Channel Has New Series That's Sorta Like 'Cake Boss'...with Marijuana

"Discovery Channel is set to announce a potentially controversial new series: A docu-soap reality show set in the country’s largest medical marijuana distributorship and starring a pot reform activist," writes our friend James Hibberd at EM.com's Inside TV blog.

The article says the series will be called "Weed Wars," and "follows Steve DeAngelo, the owner of Oakland Harborside Health Center [in Oakland, Calif.], which serves 80,000 clients. According to the network, DeAngelo strives to provide patients with the highest-quality product and uses his business to promote the national regulation and taxation of cannabis."

In California voters approved an initiative in 1996 "that exempted certain patients and their primary caregivers from criminal liability under state law for the possession and cultivation of marijuana," according to the website of the Attorney General of California.

In Hibberd's article he also quotes Nancy Daniels, executive vp at Discovery Channel: “From the inner workings of the business to Steve’s distinctive leadership style, 'Weed Wars' is a fascinating glimpse into this highly unique setting. Like 'Gold Rush' or 'Deadliest Catch,' these are guys pursuing their own version of the American Dream.”

Hibberd ends his article with this line: "It’s sort of like 'Cake Boss' with pot … or not."

'Access Hollywood' Correspondent May Leave the Show

An "Access Hollywood" correspondent who has been with the show for six years may be leaving the NBC show, reports the New York Post's Page Six.

With her contract up for renewal, the network wants to pull Maria Menounos back from other NBC shows, since she also contributes to "Today," "Nightly News" and "Dateline." The network wants to keep her on "Access Hollywood," but scaling back her work for other shows would mean less money.

Menounos, who joined "Access" in 2005, is exploring other options, the piece says. Her representative had no comment and NBC didn't respond, the story adds.

CBS Throws the Actors a Bone in $10 Million 'Happy Days' Lawsuit

With a lawsuit under way in which a number of former “Happy Days” stars are suing CBS Studios for more than $10 million, the complainants have reportedly received checks for $6,000 to $6,500 each -- and the studio says that’s all they’re getting, the Associated Press reports.

The lawsuit filed in April by the original cast members of the classic hit ABC show -- including Marion Ross, Anson Williams, Don Most and Erin Moran, along with the widow of Tom Bosley -- says the studio owes them a share of profits from merchandise connected to the show.

Attorney Jon Pfeiffer, who is representing the complainants, said in reference to the checks that the studio "claimed that is the full payment for all that was owed."

According to the story: “After the case was filed, CBS said in a statement that it was aware of the issue and was seeking a resolution. ‘We agree that funds are owed to the actors and have been working with them for quite some time to resolve the issue,’ CBS's statement read.”

Not participating in the lawsuit are two of the show’s highest-profile cast members, Henry Winkler and Ron Howard.

Pfeiffer said the lawsuit is continuing and he will be providing additional details to the court for an amended complaint.

Katie Couric to Launch ABC Career With Appearance in Two Weeks

Katie Couric will start her work with ABC in August, reports Deadline.com, kicking things off with a guest co-host appearance on "The View.”

With her contract taking effect Aug. 1, Couric will appear on "The View" two days later, the story says. She's slated to contribute to ABC News programs throughout the year, including "Good Morning America" and "20/20," as she prepares her syndicated daytime talk show for its 2012 debut.

Senators Push for Investigation of News Corp.

Two senators are asking the Dow Jones & Co. Special Committee, a group of journalism professionals, to probe whether News Corp. senior executives in the U.S. were involved in the company's growing phone-hacking scandal, reports B&C.

The senators are Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) and Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), the story says. The Dow Jones Special Committee was formed in 2007 to ensure the news company retained journalistic integrity after it was purchased by News Corp., the piece notes.

The senators want Americans to be reassured that the U.K. phone-hacking scandal hasn't spread to the U.S. The committee last week released a statement saying that no similar hacking had happened at Dow Jones, with the senators noting they are concerned the statement suggests the case is finished, the piece adds.

The senators are pushing for a broader probe over "whether current or former senior Wall Street Journal or Dow Jones executives had knowledge of or a role in alleged criminal activity at News Corporation publications,” the story says.

Disney Grooming Another Star to Follow in Footsteps of Miley Cyrus, Demi Lovato

Disney Channel is making a bet on who its next big star will be, grooming one of its artists to follow in the footsteps of Miley Cyrus, Demi Lovato and others, reports Deadline.com.

The channel is putting its formidable marketing power behind "Suite Life on Deck" regular Debby Ryan, the story reports.

Ryan has been given her own series, "Jessie," which is scheduled to debut in the fall. Executives at the cable channel were impressed enough with the first few episodes they saw that they have increased the show's order to 20 episodes, up from 13 originally.

In "Jessie," Ryan plays a teen from rural Texas who moves to New York to work as a nanny to four rich kids. The pilot was one of Disney Channel's highest testing ever, the story says.

Study Finds One Cable News Network Lagging Far Behind in Coverage of News Corp. Scandal -- You May Be Able to Guess Which One

A study by the Pew Research Center's Project for Excellence in Journalism finds that one cable news channel is trailing the others in covering the Rupert Murdoch/News Corp. phone-hacking scandal -- but it probably won’t come as a surprise to anyone familiar with the channel’s ownership picture.

Fox News might dominate in the cable news race for viewers, but when it comes to covering the recent travails of its corporate owner, News Corp., it's falling far behind, Pew reports.

The center found that Fox News devoted about one-fifth as much time to the U.K. phone-hacking scandal as MSNBC and one-sixth as much time as CNN.

The study looked at coverage from July 6-8 and from July 11-15, beginning right after revelations that News Corp.'s News of the World tabloid had hacked into the phone of a murdered girl and ending with the resignations of two top News Corp. executives.

Amazon Ratchets Up Pressure on Hulu and Netflix With Deal to Stream CBS Shows

Amazon is turning up the heat in its plan to take on Hulu and Netflix with a deal to stream CBS shows, including "Numb3rs" and "Medium," reports Bloomberg.

The non-exclusive agreement will allow members of Amazon's Prime service to watch 2,000 CBS episodes, the story says. Amazon Prime provides members with free shipping for $79 per year. With the latest deal, Amazon.com offers more than 8,000 movies and TV shows online, while Netflix offers more than 20,000 movies and TV shows, the piece notes.

The pact could make it less likely that Amazon would consider buying Hulu, since it's moving forward with its own deals with content providers. An Amazon representative didn't return a call seeking comment.

Bravo and Ryan Seacrest Partner for Show About Ultra-Rich Persian-Americans

Bravo is readying a new show about a group of super-wealthy Persian-Americans in Southern California tentatively called "Shahs of Sunset," reports B&C.

The reality TV program comes from Ryan Seacrest Productions and is described as a docu-series set in the opulent world of Rodeo Drive and Beverly Hills.

According to Andy Cohen, executive VP of original programming and development for Bravo, "The Persian-American community in Los Angeles is a perfect fit for Bravo's next great docu-series. The group of friends featured in our show are colorful, affluent and fun. Ryan and his team understand what our viewers want to see, and when they brought us this group we responded immediately. There's not a show like it on TV."

The First Indication--from a Current Court Case in London--That Glenn Mulcaire, the Private Investigator Who Hacked into the Phones of Royal Staff Members for The News of The World, Might Have Also Sold His Information To Other Publications

In a current court case in London there was the first indication that Glenn Mulcaire, the private investigator who was jailed in 2007 for hacking into the phones of royal staff members for The News of The World, might have also sold his information to other publications, The New York Times reports.

According to the article, 'At the Royal Courts of Justice in London, lawyers for the actor Hugh Grant and his former girlfriend, the socialite Jemima Khan — once the subject of relentless tabloid attention — mentioned The News of the World and unspecified “other newspapers” while demanding police information on Glenn Mulcaire, the private investigator who was jailed in 2007 for hacking into the phones of royal staff members."

The story adds, "Those publications were not named in the court proceedings, but the judge referred to 'one or more newspaper proprietors.' ”

The article also says, "And last week, news reports showed that the actor Jude Law has brought a hacking lawsuit against The News of the World’s sister newspaper, The Sun."

Furthermore, according to the Times' piece, "Five former journalists at The News of The World’s rival Sunday newspaper, The People, run by the Mirror group, said in interviews that they regularly witnessed hacking in that newsroom in the late 1990s to early 2000. 'I don’t think anyone quite realized the criminality of it,' said one former reporter at The People, who spoke on condition of anonymity. A former reporter for the Sunday Mirror, another News of the World rival, described the extensive use of private detectives to obtain personal information."

The article also notes that "[Hugh] Grant told the BBC that he visited a pub owned by Paul McMullan, a former editor for The News of the World, with his own recording device. Mr. McMullan, he said, told him that 'it wasn’t just The News of the World, it was all the tabloids'...[that were involved in phone hacking]." 

'American Idol' Creator Files Lawsuit Over 'X Factor'

The creator and executive producer of Fox's "American Idol" filed a lawsuit today in Los Angeles Superior Court claiming that Fox and FremantleMedia reneged on a deal that would have given him full executive producer credit -- and pay -- for the upcoming Simon Cowell project "The X Factor," reports Deadline.com.

The suit claims that in 2005 Simon Fuller received a promise from Fox and FremantleMedia that when "The X Factor" launched an American incarnation, Fuller would receive his due given the similarities between the shows. Now that "X Factor" is in the works, Fuller says the companies have failed to keep that promise, prompting him to file the suit.

Fuller's publicist issued a statement saying: "Simon Fuller filed a legal complaint against Fox Broadcasting Company and Fremantle in the State of California over their refusal to honor a 2005 contract that granted Mr. Fuller an executive producer credit and fees on the ‘X Factor’ television program in the U.S. Mr. Fuller has prudently attempted to settle this matter privately but the other parties have refused to honor the original contract leaving him no other choice but to pursue legal action."

Fox responded with a statement calling the suit “without merit.”

The Fox statement says: "Mr. Fuller has not been hired, nor performed any duties, on the U.S. version of ‘The X Factor.’ His suit seeks payment and credit as an executive producer despite his neither having been approved by the required parties, nor hired, as such. We believe this lawsuit is without merit and we expect to prevail."

Must-See Video: Craig Ferguson's Fun Take on the Murdoch Scandal -- The Good Stuff Starts About 4 Minutes Into It

What Does Roseanne Barr Have to Do With the Murdoch Hacking Scandal?

Roseanne Barr revealed during a television interview that she has a connection to the phone-hacking scandal in which media mogul Rupert Murdoch currently finds himself embroiled, msnbc.com reports.

Appearing on the talk show “Chelsea Lately” to promote her Lifetime reality show “Roseanne’s Nuts,” Barr told host Chelsea Handler that she believes she was a victim of questionable reporting tactics early in her career, with Murdoch allegedly pulling the strings.

"I'm so happy to see Rupert Murdoch's stuff crumbling,” Barr said, “because when he came to our country, I was one of his first targets. He tapped my phones and people went through my garbage, and all that kind of stuff does kind of drive you crazy."

Barr admitted that she struggled with her mental health at the time, and compared her ordeal to what Charlie Sheen has been going through more recently.

Barr added that she’s glad Murdoch is apparently finally “going down.”

Blockbuster Sports Story: Tiger Woods Dumps Key Member of His Team

Tiger Woods rocked his golf world today, golf.com reports, firing a member of his team who is as famous in his own right as many professional golfers. The casualty: Woods’ caddie, Steve Williams.

The firing of Williams ends a relationship that has been in place since March 1999 and has included 72 tournament victories worldwide and 13 major championships.

Woods said on his website: "I want to express my deepest gratitude to Stevie for all his help, but I think it's time for a change. Stevie is an outstanding caddie and a friend and has been instrumental in many of my accomplishments. I wish him great success in the future."

Williams confirmed his firing on his own website, posting a statement that said: "Needless to say this came as a shock. Given the circumstances of the past 18 months working through Tiger's scandal, a new coach and with it a major swing change and Tiger battling through injuries, I am very disappointed to end our very successful partnership at this time."

Noting that Williams and Woods were once good friends, the golf.com story adds: “The relationship began showing signs of strain after Woods crashed his car on Thanksgiving night, followed by stunning revelations of multiple extramarital affairs that led to Woods getting divorced. Woods' ex-wife and Williams' wife were close friends.”

'Scrubs' Star Declares He's Straight After Hacker Posts Fake Coming Out Letter on His Website

One of the former stars of “Scrubs” declared he’s not gay after an alleged hacker posted a letter on his website purporting to be a “coming out” statement by the star, Zach Braff, TMZ.com reported.

The letter, which appeared on Braff’s site this morning, said in part: “I am excited and proud to announce that I am an open member of the homosexual community.”

It adds: “I am still Zach Braff, and I am the same man I’ve always been, gay or not ;)”

Said a rep for Braff: “He was hacked. ... That site has been down since 2006.”

Braff posted a good-natured reply on his Facebook page that said: "My old website got hacked. Someone issued a 'coming out' statement on my behalf. I'm still straight and in love with my girlfriend. But not too straight; I still love musicals, brunch and Doogie Howser."

Tuesday Ratings: NBC Rules the Airwaves Despite Modest Premiere for 'It's Worth What?'

NBC had another strong Tuesday night in the Nielsen ratings, mainly thanks to a good performance by “America’s Got Talent,” TVbytheNumbers.com reported.

NBC wound up with a 2.8 average rating for prime time in adults 18-49, followed by Fox (2.3 average), CBS (1.4), ABC (1.3) and Univision (1.1). NBC also won total viewers, averaging 10.5 million to 7.9 million for CBS, 5.6 million fro Fox, 4.7 million for ABC and 2.5 million for Univision.

At 8 p.m. Fox's "Hell's Kitchen" kicked off the night with a solid 2.5 in the 18-49 demographic, soundly beating NBC's premiere of "It's Worth What?," which had a 1.8 in the same demo.

At 9 p.m. the first hour of "America's Got Talent" registered a 3.2 in the 18-49 demographic, ahead of Fox's "MasterChef," which had a 2.2, and ABC's "101 Ways to Leave a Game Show" with a 1.5.

The 10 p.m. winner was hour two of "America's Got Talent," which scored the highest numbers of the night with a 3.4 in the 18-49 demo. ABC's "Combat Hospital" struggled, with a 0.8 in the same demo.

'90210' Star Readying Return to TV

One of the stars of the original teen drama "Beverly Hills 90210" is coming back to the small screen, reports Entertainment Weekly.

Actress Shannen Doherty is readying a WEtv reality show, according to the story. The still-untitled program will feature Doherty with her celebrity photographer fiance, Kurt Iswarienko, as they prepare for their wedding.

Said WEtv executive John Miller, “People will see a side of Shannen they never expected to see."

The network snatched up the program based on Doherty's filmed pitch, which reportedly showed Doherty “unfiltered, honest and vulnerable.”

The show is expected to premiere in January, with the final episode of the first season planned as the wedding episode.

'Grey's Anatomy' Actor Checks Into Rehab

One of the stars of ABC’s medical show “Grey’s Anatomy” has checked into a Los Angeles rehabilitation clinic for help with what is being reported as an addiction to painkillers, according to Entertainment Weekly.

Eric Dane’s rehab reportedly won’t affect production on Season 8 of the show, which began Friday. Dane is continuing to work and has shot scenes already, according to a set sider.

In a statement to People Magazine, Dane's publicist explained the actor’s decision, saying, "Dane voluntarily checked himself into a treatment facility to help him get off of pain medication that he was prescribed for a sports injury that he suffered over the recent hiatus.”

Dane plays Dr. Mark Sloan on the show -- also known as “McSteamy.”

Angry Paris Hilton Storms Off During TV Interview

An angry Paris Hilton cut short a television interview this morning and walked off, according to a story in The Hollywood Reporter. The reason? She was upset over questions about whether her “moment has passed” and whether she has been “overshadowed by Kim Kardashian.”

Hilton, whose Oxygen reality show “The World According to Paris” is struggling with low ratings, was being grilled by ABC News correspondent Dan Harris for "Good Morning America." As Harris pressed her with repeated questions about whether she is concerned about her star power, Hilton replied "no" several times, then looked off camera and walked away.

Harris told "GMA" host Robin Roberts that “after a long heated conversation with Hilton and her publicist,” Hilton eventually sat back down to finish the interview, which took place at her home, and answered his question.

Hilton reportedly told Harris: "I've been doing this for 15 years now, so it's been a long time … so just like any other business person or someone in the industry, it's always important to reinvent yourself and come up with new projects."

Best Fireworks Since the 4th of July: Video of Piers Morgan's Explosive Confrontation With the Member of Parliament Who Accused Him of Phone Hacking When He Was the Editor of a U.K. Tabloid

NBC Cancels Series

NBC has announced that it is pulling the plug on one of its shows, with the final episode to air this week, according to The Hollywood Reporter's The Live Feed blog.

The show is the experimental anthology series "Love Bites." The last episode of the series will air Thursday at 10 p.m.

It marks the end of a series that has been hurt by production and casting issues and was originally scheduled to debut last fall, the piece says. It debuted instead last month as a summer series with weak viewer pull, with just 2.5 million people watching the first episode. It later settled in with an average of about 2 million viewers per episode.

A Star Is Born in Pie Attack on Rupert Murdoch -- and No, It's Not the Guy Who Attacked Him

Rupert Murdoch and James Murdoch may have been the “guests of honor” at Tuesday’s parliamentary proceedings in the News Corp. phone-hacking scandal, but an unlikely figure emerged as the star of the show, the Sydney Morning Herald reports.

The star was Wendi Deng, Rupert Murdoch’s third wife, who has become an Intenet sensation since she was seen taking a swing at the man who attacked her husband with a shaving foam pie.

According to the piece: “Footage of 42-year-old Deng jumping forward to smack a protester who had a pie aimed at Rupert Murdoch's face quickly went viral, and numerous fan pages popped up on social networking sites such as Facebook praising her rapid reflexes.”

Deng’s role throughout most of the proceedings was to sit behind Murdoch, occasionally pouring him water and whispering encouragement in his ear, the story notes. But that changed suddenly.

“When protester Jonathan May-Bowles approached Murdoch, 80, with a foam pie he had managed to smuggle in, one of the media mogul's lawyers, Janet Nova, quickly stepped in,” the story says. “But it was the image of Deng -- clad in a prim pink blazer and polka dot pencil skirt -- leaping forward to swat, open-palmed, at the man trying to attack her husband that stunned millions of TV viewers and presenters watching the events unfold live.”

Deng reportedly relished the moment, laughing afterward as she said, “I got him.”

Among the tweets that soon followed: ''Wow, wendy [sic] murdoch giving whole new meaning to the term tiger mother … insanity!'' (from Katie Couric).

Another tweet said: ''OMG! Wendi Murdoch just crouching tigered across 2 people and head whacked a guy trying to pie Rupert! THAT is good TV!''

Added the Herald: “For what could be the first time, Deng's celebrity briefly eclipsed that of her husband. A fan page on Facebook invited viewers to ‘'express your admiration of Mrs Murdoch's right hook,’ while tweets glowing with praise poured into Twitter and started ‘'Wendi Deng'’ trending on the site.”

 Wendi Deng About To Slap Murdoch's Assailant

'Glee' Producer Sues Co-Creator of Show, Says He Was Cheated Out of His Cut

A behind-the-scenes feud over money from the Fox hit “Glee” has found its way to court, with one of the show’s producers filing a lawsuit against a co-creator of the show, TMZ.com reports.

Producer Michael Novick, who filed the suit, claims he was critical in developing the show but was cheated out of backend compensation. Novick is suing co-creator Ian Brennan, claiming Brennan refused to honor an agreement between them.

Novick alleges that he talked with "Glee" co-creator Ryan Murphy about a movie screenplay concept featuring a high school glee club, developed by himself and Brennan, the story says. Novick and Brennan were formerly close friends, according to the report.

Murphy decided that it would make a a good TV show and pitched it to Fox, with Novick claiming that Brennan convinced him to accept a lower fee and credit during negotiations, the piece says. The lawsuit claims Brennan promised 15% of any backend compensation he would receive to Novick, who is now suing for unspecified damages.

Producer Says He Met With Casey Anthony to Offer $1 Million TV Deal That Would Include Lie-Detector Test; Media Homes In on Her Location -- and She's Not Far From Hollywood

Producer Al Taylor is claiming he met Tuesday with Casey Anthony in Palm Springs to talk about a $1 million television deal, reports the U.K.'s Daily Mail.

Taylor said he offered Anthony, who was found not guilty of murder charges in the death of her 2-year-old daughter, $1 million to be interviewed by an as-yet-unconfirmed host, the story says. The money would apparently come from unnamed investors, the article says, citing Taylor. The proposed show would include Anthony undergoing a polygraph test, the story says.

Anthony may be staying near San Diego, reports NBC's "Today" show, according to The Hollywood Reporter. NBC News claimed it tracked the ownership of a private jet that was believed to have carried Anthony from Florida on Sunday, following her release from jail, the story says.

Is Anthony's apparent relocation to Southern California a sign that she's aggressively pursuing offers from Hollywood ... or is it just a coincidence? Stay tuned.

'Bones' Spinoff Casts Female Leads

Fox’s "Bones" spinoff "The Finder" has tapped two female leads, reports TVLine.com. The roles will be played by an actress who played a member of the C.A.T. squad on "Chuck" and a 16-year-old newcomer.

Mercedes Masohn

Mercedes Masohn, who appeared on "Chuck" as Zondra, will play Isabel Zambada, a deputy U.S. Marshal who has a friendly-slash-romantic relationship with "Finder" Walter Sherman, played by George Stults, the story notes.

Maddie Hasson

Maddie Hasson, a newcomer, is playing Willa, described as manipulative and smart, as well as out on parole. The character is committed to helping Walter in his investigations.

The spinoff is slated to debut in January.

'CSI' Creator Anthony Zuiker Leaves CBS Studios After 12 Years; Moves to New TV Studio

Anthony Zuiker, creator of the most-watched TV series in the world, "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," is leaving CBS Television Studios after a 12-year stint," reports The Hollywood Reporter.

Zuiker will be moving to ABC Studios, the article says.

According to the story, "Under the three-year, first-look deal, Zuiker and his company, Dare to Pass, will partner on developing scripted series with Brillstein Entertainment Partners, which also is based at ABC Studios. Perhaps ironically, ABC Studios passed on 'CSI' more than a decade ago."

The article also notes, "Zuiker is still an executive producer on the 'CSI' franchise but does not serve as showrunner on any of them."

Latest Episode of HBO's 'Curb' Scores Series' Best Numbers in Seven Years

The season's second episode of HBO's "Curb Your Enthusiasm" got an enthusiastic vote from viewers, with 12% more people tuning in compared with the show's season debut, reports B&C.

The Sunday night episode drew 1.9 million viewers, up from the 1.7 million who watched the show's eighth-season premiere a week earlier, the story notes.

With an encore later that night, the episode's total rose to 2.5 million viewers, a 17% jump from the previous week, the story says.

Sunday’s installment was the most-watched episode of the show since March 2004, according to HBO.

Murdoch Firm Accused of Trying to Thwart Investigation

A parliamentary panel is alleging the Murdoch empire has made "deliberate attempts" to thwart its investigation into the phone-hacking scandal, The New York Times reports.

The House of Commons home affairs select committee is one of two U.K. panels that interviewed some of the people involved in the scandal, including two police officials who resigned in the past week over their ties to the former deputy editor of News Corp.'s now defunct News of the World tabloid, the story notes.

The report from the panel said there had been deliberate attempts by News International to thwart the various investigations into the alleged voice-mail hacking.

Both Rupert and James Murdoch denied that they knew about the hacking at the time it happened.

Meanwhile, British Prime Minister David Cameron went before Parliament today to defend his actions in the hacking scandal.

The Times piece reports: “Mr. Cameron returned home early from an African trade tour late Tuesday to face questions about his relationships with former senior figures at News International, the British subsidiary of Rupert Murdoch’s global News Corporation, particularly his choice of a former Murdoch employee, Andy Coulson, as his director of communications. Mr. Coulson, a former editor of The News of the World tabloid, resigned from the prime minister’s office in January and was among 10 people who were arrested in the affair.”

Cameron said of the decision to hire Coulson: “I regret and I am extremely sorry about the furor it has caused. With 20-20 hindsight and all that has followed, I would not have offered him the job and I expect that he wouldn’t have taken it. But you don’t make decisions in hindsight, you make them in the present. You live and you learn and, believe you me, I have learned.”

Man Who Designed the Wheel on 'Wheel of Fortune' -- Whose Work Is Also Seen on '$25,000 Pyramid' and Countless Other Game Shows -- Dead at 79

The man who designed the wheel on "Wheel of Fortune" has died, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Veteran television art director Ed Flesh was 79.

Flesh conceived of the wheel that spins horizontally instead of vertically for NBC's "Wheel of Fortune," just one of the many TV game show designs he came up with during a prolific career. His other game show work includes "The New Newlywed Game," "Name That Tune," "Jeopardy!" and "The $25,000 Pyramid."

“He truly was a master of his craft,” said Bob Eubanks, who hosted "The New Newlywed Game." Flesh also designed the sets for David Letterman's first talk show for NBC daytime, "The Montel Williams Show" and three special editions of "The Oprah Winfrey Show," for appearances by stars including Madonna and Barbra Streisand.

Flesh died Friday in Mission Hills, Calif.

Actor From 'Breaking Bad,' 'Justified' to Take a Shot at 'Burn Notice'

A familiar TV actor who has been seen recently in recurring roles on AMC's "Breaking Bad" and FX's "Justified" has been tapped for a major story arc on USA's "Burn Notice," reports Deadline.com.

The actor is Jere Burns, who will appear on five to seven episodes of “Notice.” Burns will play Anson Fullerton, a clinical psychologist who helps answer many of Michael's questions. When Anson's wife is held hostage by a criminal, he's forced to hand over his high-level government security access codes to save her life, the piece says.

Burns is also known for his role as sleazebag Kirk Morris on “Dear John.”

Jere Burns

Will Lady Gaga Fax her Driver's License to Google? Newest Social Media Entrant Maps Out 'Celebrity Acquisition Plan'

Google is mapping out a "celebrity acquisition plan" to help boost Google+, its three-week-old social network, according to CNN, which cites Google emails.

Google reportedly is considering asking celebrities to fax a copy of their driver's license to the company, as one way the search giant could verify the identities of public figures who sign up for the service, the story notes. That would help prevent people from impersonating celebrities and might be similar to Twitter's "verified" stamp, the piece adds.

Google declined to comment on plans for Google+.

Google+ got off to a rocky start with one celebrity, the piece says. William Shatner said his account was deactivated after he greeted his fans, although it was later reinstated.

Showtime to Air Documentary Feature About Former Beatle

Showtime plans to air a nonfiction feature about one of the former Beatles, which will start tracking him when his plane was grounded on the tarmac in New York on Sept. 11, 2001, reports the New York Post's ArtsBeat blog.

Called "The Love We Make," the film will continue through Paul McCartney's planning for and performance at "The Concert for New York City" in the month following the attack on the World Trade Center, the story says.

The project is directed by Bradley Kaplan and Albert Maysles, one of the directors of the famed documentary "Grey Gardens" as well as 1964's “What’s Happening! The Beatles in the U.S.A.”

Showtime plans to air the film on Sept. 10.

As previously reported, HBO announced recently that it has acquired Martin Scorsese’s documentary about another former Beatle, George Harrison. “George Harrison: Living in the Material World” is scheduled to air in two parts, Oct. 5 and 6.

HBO's 'Game of Thrones' Taps Actors to Fill Roles of Mysterious Sorceress, Would-Be King and the Onion Knight

HBO's "Game of Thrones" has tapped actors to fill some of the second season's biggest roles -- the sorceress Melisandre, the would-be king Stannis and his "Onion Knight" Davos, reports EW.com's Inside TV blog.

Melisandre, a priestess with magical powers who worships a fire god, will be played by Dutch actress Carice van Houten, who has appeared in the films "Repo Men" and "Valkyrie," the story notes.

Stannis, who is King Robert's eldest younger brother, will be played by British actor Stephen Dillane, who is most familiar to U.S. audiences for his role as Thomas Jefferson in HBO's "John Adams.” Stannis believes himself to be the rightful heir to the Iron Throne, although his lack of humor and authoritarian moral code draw few allies, the story notes. Stannis becomes a follower of Melisandre's religion, the piece adds.

Irish actor Liam Cunningham has been tapped as Davos Seaworth, the Onion Knight, a separate EW story notes. Davos, a onetime smuggler, is now a loyal subject of Stannis' and is a reader favorite for his combination of humility and good sense. Cunningham recently appeared in the canceled Starz series "Camelot," the story notes.

Scandal Update: The Buck Stops, Uh, Before Me. Rupert Murdoch, Asked by a Member of Parliament Whether He Should Resign, Says 'No.' He Added That He's Been Betrayed by Underlings Who Deserve to Pay, and Says 'I'm the best person to clean this up'

Rupert Murdoch, chairman and CEO of News Corp., told a select committee of Parliament today that he has not considered resigning over the phone-hacking scandal that has rocked his company.

He answered "No," when asked whether he would consider resigning. Asked why not, Murdoch said, "The people I trusted, I am not saying how or at what level, let me down." He added that they betrayed the company and it is for them to pay. He then added, "I think that frankly I’m the best person to clean this up."

Earlier in the proceedings there was this telling exchange between Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament Adrian Sanders and James Murdoch and Rupert Murdoch.

Sanders to James Murdoch: Are you familiar with the term 'willful blindness'?

James Murdoch: Ah, Mr. Sanders, would you care to elaborate?

Sanders: It is a term that came up in the Enron scandal. 'Willful blindness' is a legal term. It states that if there is knowledge that you could have had and should have had, but chose not to have, you are still responsible.

James Murdoch: Mr. Sanders, do you have a question? Respectfully, I don’t know what you would like me to say.

Sanders: The question was, were you aware of the term.

James Murdoch: I’m not aware of that particular phrase.

Sanders: But now you are familiar because I’ve explained it to you. (turning to the chairman of the subcommittee): Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

James Murdoch: Thank you Mr. Sanders.

Rupert Murdoch then said: "I’ve heard the phrase before, and we were NOT EVER guilty of that."

Piers Morgan Denies Allegation by Member of Parliament That He Hacked Phones When He Was Editor of U.K. Tabloid; However, Morgan's Book Reportedly Does Contain a Bombshell Allegation About Former News Corp. U.K. Top Executive Rebekah Brooks

"Piers Morgan, host of CNN's "Piers Morgan Tonight" and a former editor of two British tabloid newspapers, on Tuesday called a British lawmaker's allegations that he participated in phone hacking 'nonsense,'" CNN says on its website in an article written by "the CNN Wire Staff."

Separately, The Daily Beast uncovered a bombshell allegation made by Morgan that it reported last week.

First, today's accusation's against Morgan. The CNN article notes: "Louise Mensch, a Conservative member of Parliament on the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee, made the allegations [that Morgan participated in phone hacking] during a hearing before the committee Tuesday," July 19, 2011.

Here's what Mensch said: "Piers Morgan, who is now a celebrity anchor at CNN, who [does] not appear to have [been] asked ... any questions at all about phone hacking, is a former editor of the Daily Mirror. He said in his [2005] book 'The Insider' recently, and I quote, that that little trick of entering a standard four-digit code allows anyone to call that number and hear your messages.

"In that book he boasted that using that little trick enables him to win scoop of the year for a story about (former England national soccer team manager) Sven-Goran Eriksson. So that is a former editor of the Daily Mirror being very open about his personal use of phone hacking ... and indeed he is (a) former News of the World executive."

According to the CNN article: "'That MP just claimed I boasted in my book of using phone-hacking for a scoop,' Morgan posted on Twitter just after Mensch spoke. 'Complete nonsense. Just read the book.'"

He further tweeted: "I've never hacked a phone, told anyone to hack a phone, or published any stories based on the hacking of a phone," the article said, adding that Morgan said, "I wrote in my book that someone warned me phones could be hacked, so I changed my pin number."

TVWeek has not seen a copy of Morgan's 2005 book, whose full title is "The Insider: The Private Diaries of a Scandalous Decade."

However, The Daily Beast, in writing last week about Morgan's book, said the book did contain a bombshell allegation: "In 2003, both Morgan and Brooks were summoned to give testimony to the Culture and Media Select Committee about the standards of tabloid journalism. Morgan felt the Committee was ridiculous and said nothing at all incriminating. However, he recalled [in his book] that 'Rebekah excelled herself by virtually admitting she’s been illegally paying police for information. I called her to thank her for dropping the tabloid baton at the last minute. She apologized: "That’s why I should never be seen or heard in public." ' ”

Brooks, who was the editor of the tabloid The News of the World during the phone-hacking incidents, has claimed she knew nothing about them or any other alleged improprieties. She later became the top executive at News Corp's U.K. subsidiary, News International, a post from which she resigned last Friday. She was arrested by Scotland Yard on Sunday, questioned, and released without being charged.

Last night (Monday, July 18, 2011) on CNN, Morgan seemed to recant what he wrote in 2005. Morgan said, according to the CNN article, " 'I was editor of two major British tabloid newspapers for 11 years. I worked for News Corp. as editor of the News of the World 16 years ago, from 1994 to 1995. I was also editor for the Daily Mirror, a paper not owned by Rupert Murdoch, from 1995 to 2004.' Morgan said he did not believe that any story published in either newspaper was gained in an unlawful manner, 'nor have I seen anything to suggest that.'

Perhaps Morgan forgot what he wrote about Brooks in his book. Or perhaps The Daily Beast also misquoted what was in his book.

Maybe it would be a good move for CNN to have one of its other star reporters, such as John King or Anderson Cooper or Wolf Blitzer, do a significant interview with Morgan to discuss these matters.

CBS Sues Writer-Producer of Upcoming NBC Show

CBS filed a lawsuit today against the writer-producer of an upcoming NBC series, claiming the show was developed for CBS and was taken without CBS’s permission to NBC, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The show is “The Firm,” based on the John Grisham novel. The suit names Lukas Reiter and Entertainment One, who developed the show for CBS and, according to the network, received $250,000 and other compensation.

According to the story: “The lawsuit says Reiter later asked if he could take the project elsewhere and CBS said no but ‘Entertainment One and Reiter have moved full speed ahead, in direct violation of CBS’s rights,’ according to the suit. The network claims the project, which was then sold to NBC and is set to air in the fall with Josh Lucas starring, is substantially similar to the version developed for CBS.”

The story quotes the complaint as saying: “The question in this lawsuit is whether a production studio and writer may re-sell and exploit a television project that the same writer already sold to another studio. Basic principles of contract and tort law clearly prohibit this sort of double-dealing, yet this is precisely what Defendants have done.”

NBC is not named in the suit, the story notes.

Changes at 'NBC Nightly News': Exec Producer Moving Up

Changes continue at NBC News, where division President Steve Capus announced a couple of key executive moves today, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

“Nightly News With Brian Williams” executive producer Bob Epstein is leaving the program to head the division’s specials unit, where he takes on the title of VP. Mark Lukasiewicz, meanwhile, moves up from VP to senior VP of the specials unit. Epstein will report to Lukasiewicz.

It is anticipated that veteran NBC News producer Pat Burkey, who has been overseeing weekend versions of “Today” and “Nightly News,” will become executive producer of the evening broadcast.

In the announcement of the staff moves, Capus said: “With these promotions, we are recognizing the critical role of NBC News Specials in our organization and creating a foundation for an even bigger role, and more programming, in the future.”

Fox Edges ABC in Monday Ratings as 'Hell's Kitchen' Opens Strong

The season premiere of Fox’s “Hell’s Kitchen” was the top-rated show of the night as Fox beat out ABC for the No. 1 spot overall in Monday’s prime-time ratings, TVbytheNumbers.com reported.

Fox finished the night with a 2.4 rating in adults 18-49, edging ABC’s 2.2 average. Trailing were Univision (1.3 average), CBS (1.3) and NBC (1.0).

ABC did get a win in total viewers, averaging 7.1 million for prime time to top Fox’s 5.7 million, CBS’s 5.1 million, NBC’s 4.8 million and Univision’s 3.2 million.

At 8 p.m. "Hell's Kitchen" had a 2.5 in the 18-49 demographic, ahead of ABC's "The Bachelorette" with a 2.1 in the same demo.

At 9 p.m. "The Bachelorette's" second hour climbed to a 2.4 in the 18-49 demo, while Fox's "MasterChef" was close behind with a 2.3 in the same demo.

The lone new show at 10 p.m. was ABC’s "Extreme Makeover: Weight Loss Edition," which had a 2.0 in the 18-49 demo.

'Breaking Bad' Creator Reveals the Show's End Is in Sight -- Even as Ratings Are Surging

Even as AMC celebrates a robust boost in viewership for "Breaking Bad's" return on Sunday, creator Vince Gilligan has rained on the parade by confirming that the show will end after Season Five, reports The New York Times.

Gilligan explained to the publication: “This was never intended to be an open-ended show. As creators of the show, we have to see it through to the end, to finish what we started.”

In terms of the show's timeline, lead character Walter White was given two years to live with fatal lung cancer. In the show’s current fourth season, he is one year into that prognosis. By the time the show reaches the end of Season Five, then, Walter will be dead or dying.

According to Gilligan, "We’re going to hold to that and, by the end of the series, I can’t imagine him not dying -- although it may not be from lung cancer.”

The season’s second episode airs Sunday, July 24, at 10 p.m. ET on AMC.

'Modern Family,' 'Nurse Jackie,' 'House,' 'Friday Night Lights' Among Nominees for Humanitas Prize

The nominees for the 37th Annual Humanitas Prize have been announced, with some of the most honored television programs to compete against each other in three categories, reports TVLine.com

The Humanitas Prize goes to writers whose work "explores the human condition in a nuanced, meaningful way."

The awards will be presented at a ceremony in Beverly Hills on Friday, Sept. 16.

Here are this year's nominees:

30-Minute Category

"The Big C": “Taking the Plunge,” written by Darlene Hunt
"How I Met Your Mother": “Last Words,” written by Carter Bays and Craig Thomas
"Modern Family": “The Kiss,” written by Abraham Higginbotham
"Nurse Jackie": “Monkey Bits,” written by Liz Brixius

60-Minute Category

"Drop Dead Diva": “Good Grief,” written by Jeanette Collins and Mimi Friedman
"Friday Night Lights": “Always,” written by Jason Katims
"House": “Help Me,” written by Russel Friend, Garrett Lerner and Peter Blake
"The Pacific": “Part 10,” written by Bruce McKenna and Robert Schenkkan

90-Minute Category

"Reviving Ophelia," written by Teena Booth, Lifetime
"Taken From Me: The Tiffany Rubin Story," written by Michael Bortman, Lifetime
"Thurgood," written by George Stevens Jr., HBO

'Two and a Half Men's' Naked Attempt to Attract Viewers

CBS's promotion department has conceived a nakedly simple come-on for the season premiere of the Charlie Sheen-less return of "Two and a Half Men," reports Entertainment Weekly.

The new ad shows newly cast Ashton Kutcher with co-stars Angus T. Jones and Jon Cryer, all seemingly naked behind a poster board that reads, "All Will Be Revealed … 09.19.11."

Warner Bros., the producer of the sitcom, and CBS will reportedly be changing the message on the poster board from time to time during the runup to the season premiere on Monday, Sept. 19.

Poll Examines Effect of 'Jersey Shore' on New Jersey's Reputation -- and the Results May Surprise You

Some New Jersey residents -- including the governor -- have expressed concerns that the hit MTV reality show “Jersey Shore” might be damaging their state’s reputation, but a new poll indicates they probably should fuggedaboudit, the Associated Press reports.

The nationwide poll from Fairleigh Dickinson University PublicMind found no statistical difference between people who have seen the program and those who haven't, the story says.

The series, about a group of hard-partying 20-somethings, may actually be helping the state by drawing attention to its coastline, the story notes.

The show "may be promoting one of the state's best features -- not Snooki, but the shore itself. It seems to me viewers are looking past The Situation to the shore scene itself," said Peter Woolley, director of the poll.

The survey found that 43% of those who have seen the show have a positive opinion about New Jersey, while 41% of those who haven't watched it think the state is great.

Nevertheless, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who a year ago called the show negative for the state, hasn't changed his opinion based on the poll, according to his press secretary.

"Honestly, I don't think the poll refutes the point that Snooki and company do not represent real New Jerseyans, the Jersey Shore or New Jersey in any way," said Michael Drewniak, the governor’s press secretary. "Or that they are an embarrassment."

Breaking News: Young Man Attacks Rupert Murdoch With Shaving Cream as Media Mogul Testifies Before Parliamentary Committee

Update: The hearing has resumed, with Rupert Murdoch having removed his jacket, which had the shaving foam on it. Mr. Murdoch was not hurt.

Developing Story…This is from a live blog posted on the website of The Guardian within the last few minutes. Read up from bottom:

5.01pm: Jane Martinson reports from the hearing: "He was sitting four rows back, calmly walked up with a plate of shaving foam - smacked it in Rupert's face - Wendi intervened."

4.59pm: Reports claim the assailant is a UK Uncut activist.

4.58pm: The BBC's Laura Kuenssberg thinks it's a bandage on the young man's face – Nick Robinson says it is shaving foam and the young man hit Rupert Murdoch with it.

4.57pm: The suspect looks like he has a substance like white paint on his face.

My colleague Jackie Ashley tells Twitter: "Wendi [Murdoch's wife] can throw quite a punch."

4.56pm: The BBC says the young man has been handcuffed. Sky showed the footage again – it seemed to be an attack from Rupert Murdoch's left.

4.55pm: A young man in a checked shirt has been detained by police.

4.54pm: Someone has just tried to attack Rupert Murdoch. His wife Wendi seemed to slap the person.

Additional details about today's testimony can be found here.

Murdoch Deflects Responsibility in Appearance Before Parliamentary Panel; Intruder Disrupts Testimony

News Corp. Chairman Rupert Murdoch, while admitting today has been “the most humble day of my life,” played down his own role in the U.K. phone-hacking scandal that has damaged his media empire, Bloomberg reports.

The appearance by Murdoch and his son James Murdoch before a panel of the British Parliament continued this morning, with wide coverage on U.S. cable news channel -- including News Corp.’s own Fox News. The panel is examining the growing phone-hacking scandal centered on News Corp.’s British tabloid News of the World, which the company recently shut down.

The proceedings were disrupted briefly just before noon ET, when a spectator approached the Murdochs suddenly. The intent was of the spectator was initially unclear, although he may have been attempting to hit Rupert Murdoch with a pie in the face. He was apparently quickly taken away in handcuffs.

Following a brief timeout, testimony resumed, and Rupert Murdoch was seen without the jacket he was wearing throughout the first part of the session. (This developing part of the story is being updated here.)

“The News of the World is less than 1 percent of our company,” Rupert Murdoch told Parliament’s Culture, Media and Sport Committee in earlier testimony. Murdoch added that he may have “lost sight’’ of what was happening at the tabloid because it was “so small in the general frame of the company.’’

According to the Bloomberg report: “The News Corp. chairman’s appearance before the committee, something he refused to do until forced by a summons, is a sign of how much the phone-hacking allegations have damaged News Corp.’s British operations. In two weeks, the company has closed a profitable newspaper, pulled out of a bid to buy the rest of British Sky Broadcasting Group Plc, and lost two senior executives.”

The widening scandal has led to the resignations of two of Britain’s top law enforcement officers and has brought negative attention to Prime Minister David Cameron, who hired a former editor of News of the World as his director of communications.

In today’s grilling of Rupert and James Murdoch, efforts by James to draw attention away from his father have generally been ineffective.

Bloomberg reports: “As Labour lawmaker Tom Watson quizzed Rupert Murdoch at the start of the hearing, James Murdoch tried to intervene. Many of Rupert Murdoch’s answers were short and came after long pauses. ‘Nope,’ he replied when asked if he’d been informed of a 1 million-pound ($1.6 million) phone-hacking settlement. ‘It’s revealing in itself what he doesn’t know, and what executives chose not to tell him,’ Watson told James Murdoch, explaining why he was focusing his questions on his father.”

Rupert Murdoch deflected responsibility for the actions of employees of News of the World. When questioned about who was to blame, he responded: “The people that I trusted to run it, and then maybe the people that they trusted.”

According to the Bloomberg piece, not everyone finds Rupert Murdoch’s performance convincing. “Charlie Beckett, director of the media institute Polis at the London School of Economics, said Rupert Murdoch’s answers were ‘either a brilliant act or he’s lost it,’” the piece reports. “’He came alive on the politics but on the rest he is refusing to take any responsibility or show any detailed knowledge,’ Beckett said.”

Bad Timing for Netflix, Which Is Hit by Its Worst Outage Yet

With Netflix already being viewed negatively by many due to its price hike announced just a week ago, the company endured another setback over the weekend with its worst streaming outage yet, Multichannel News reports.

The outage Sunday night lasted up to eight hours, with some problems extending longer, the story says.

“Netflix sent e-mail messages to subscribers offering those who were unable to access the service a 3% credit -- worth 24 cents -- toward the $7.99 per month streaming service,” Multichannel News reported.

In an email, Netflix VP of corporate communications Steve Swasey said: "It was an internal technical issue on Sunday evening for a few hours. We identified the problem and fixed it."

The timing is bad for Netflix, which is under increasing pressure from competitor Blockbuster in the wake of the price hike. Blockbuster is actively wooing customers who may be alienated by the Netflix price increase, as we reported last week.

Charlie Sheen on His New Sitcom, 'Anger Management': 'It Might Be a Big Stretch'

Charlie Sheen has unveiled details about his new sitcom, “Anger Management,” which will be based on the 2003 film of the same title, B&C reports.

In a statement, Sheen said: "I chose ‘Anger Management’ because, while it might be a big stretch for me to play a guy with serious anger management issues, I think it is a great concept. It also provides me with real ownership in the series, a certain amount of creative control and the chance to be back in business with one of my favorite movie producers of all time, Joe Roth."

While the show's producers include former Walt Disney Studios Chairman Roth and Lionsgate Television, the project doesn't yet have a television network signed on, the Los Angeles Times reports. Lionsgate's distribution arm, Debmar-Mercury, will search for a TV partner, assuming Sheen can regain the trust of the television industry, the article adds.

Sheen and Roth declined to be interviewed, the Times notes. But Roth said in a statement: "Who better than Charlie Sheen to tackle ‘Anger Management.’ With Charlie's incredible talent and comedic gifts, he remains the leading man of TV sitcoms. I'm excited to collaborate with him once again."

NBC won't bid on the project, according to an insider, and it's unlikely that CBS would, given its history with Sheen, who was fired from the network's hit comedy "Two and a Half Men.” Fox and ABC didn't immediately respond to requests for comment, the Times reported.

The show will be a production of Lionsgate, headed by Television Group President Kevin Beggs and Chief Operating Officer Sandra Stern; Revolution Studios, headed by Roth and Vince Totino; Evolution Management, the production company of Sheen's manager, Mark Burg; and Robert Maron.

Distributor Debmar-Mercury is led by co-Presidents Mort Marcus and Ira Bernstein.

Sheen will reportedly own a significant piece of the series. He and Roth have worked together on five feature films, including “Major League” and “Young Guns.”

Leadership Shift at NBCUniversal's Style Network

A leadership change has taken place at Style Network, which has been a part of Lauren Zalaznick’s portfolio since Comcast took over NBCUniversal in January, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The latest move has Bravo Media President Frances Berwick adding the title of president of Style Media. Salaam Coleman Smith remains president of Style Network.

Berwick retains oversight of the day-to-day operations of Bravo and adds strategic oversight of Style, the story reports. Berwick has been with Bravo for 15 years.

The story reports: “During Berwick’s tenure, Bravo has increased overall programming by 21 percent last year with an additional 10 percent slated for 2011. In 2010, Berwick was elevated from general manager to president of Bravo Media. In her expanded role, she’ll continue to report to Zalaznick.”

Zalaznick, who is chairman of NBCUniversal Entertainment & Digital Networks and Integrated Media, said in a statement: "Frances’ tenure at Bravo has been marked by industry-leading ratings and revenue growth. She has been enormously successful in leading a team to create an immersive brand experience for the consumer. I know that she will bring that same vision for cultural zeitgeist and keen sensibility to Style as we evolve and grow this network in the months and years to come.”

New Class of Heroes Emerging on Television

A new category of heroes is emerging on television, as viewers are increasingly focused on a topic that has not been in the spotlight in the past.

The new heroes are weather forecasters, who have stepped to the forefront in a year marked by flooding, drought and the country's deadliest tornado in 50 years, reports The New York Times' Kim Severson.

“The weather is more extreme, the floods are wetter and the droughts are drier,” said National Weather Service spokesman Chris Vaccaro. "That’s going to have real implications on society, and it elevates the need for more information and a need for those on-air personalities. It’s beyond what to wear for the day or do I need to carry an umbrella.”

The role of forecasters has come a long way from the days when they had to "climb on a tricycle at the clown parade," the article says. "Now, the forecaster is the egghead of the newsroom. Most have advanced degrees that include courses in calculus and atmospheric thermodynamics."

Weather personalities are being credited with saving lives, the piece points out. James Spann, the forecaster for Alabama's WBMA-TV, was called the rock star of meteorology by the governor after sending out warnings about a string of tornadoes via Twitter, Internet streams and TV, the story notes.

Whoa! Report Says in Light of Devastating Scandal in U.K., News Corp. Board Considering Making Chase Carey News Corp. CEO. Rupert Murdoch, Who Is Currently CEO and Chairman, Would Retain Chairman Title

"News Corp. is considering elevating Chief Operating Officer Chase Carey to chief executive officer to succeed Rupert Murdoch, people with knowledge of the situation said," Bloomberg is reporting.

The article, by Andy Fixmer, Ronald Grover and Jeffrey McCracken, adds that Murdoch would remain chairman of the company.

The story says that a decision has not been made yet to elevate Carey, and that the decision "depends in part on Murdoch’s performance before the U.K. Parliament [today, Tuesday morning, July 19, 2011], said the people, who weren’t authorized to speak publicly."

The story also notes, "News Corp. executives who watched Murdoch, 80, rehearse for his appearance had concerns about how he handled questions, according to three people, who weren’t authorized to speak publicly."

The story notes that the independent directors--who hold 9 of the 16 board seats--are behind the potential change.

However, the story says, " 'Rupert Murdoch controls the votes of the company through the Class B shares,' Charles Elson, director of the John L. Weinberg Center for Corporate Governance at the University of Delaware, said this week in an interview. 'He can just replace them if he wants. They may do something, but it will be temporary. Maybe he becomes chairman, but this is still his company and he can do what he wants. When he controls the stock, he controls the board.' ”

The story also quotes one board member on the record denying that any elevation of Carey is being considered.

However, the story insists that "By installing Carey, 57, as CEO, News Corp. would be relying on a trusted Murdoch deputy to help get past the hacking scandal."

A number of media outlets will show Murdoch's testimony live, scheduled between 9:30 am and 11 am ET, including C-SPAN3. Besides being available on a number of cable systems, C-SPAN3 is streamed live at http://cspan.org/Live-Video/C-SPAN3/.

'Torchwood' Viewership Heads South

"Torchwood: Miracle Day" saw a significant dip in ratings for its second episode, reports EW.com's Inside TV blog.

The Starz show drew only 1.4 million viewers, a decline of about 30% from its debut the previous weekend, the story said.

The show’s first episode has so far racked up 2.7 million viewings, when DVR figures and repeat telecasts are included, the story notes.

"Let’s hope the premiere weekend numbers don’t continue to drop -- Capt. Jack might be immortal, but TV shows are not," the piece adds.

Hackers Get to News Corp. Sites, Put Up False Report of Rupert Murdoch's Death

News Corp. has become involved in yet another hacking incident, although this time the media company is at the other end of the hack, reports the Guardian.

The Times of London and The Sun, both owned by News Corp., were taken down after LulzSec, a hacking collective that has targeted other media groups such as PBS, redirected readers to a page that falsely reported News Corp. Chief Executive Rupert Murdoch had died, the story says.

The hoax said that Murdoch had ingested palladium before "stumbling into his famous topiary garden late last night" and was later found dead by police, the report notes. LulzSec also tweeted what the group claimed was the email address for Rebekah Brooks, the News Corp. executive who has been arrested in the phone-hacking probe involving News Corp.'s now defunct tabloid News of the World, the piece says.

A spokeswoman for News International said the company was "aware" of the hack but made no other comment.

Hulu Reportedly Offering Potential Buyers Guaranteed Access to TV Shows for Five Years

Hulu is reportedly offering potential buyers a guarantee of five years of access to television shows from its media owners, according to Bloomberg.

The offer includes two years of exclusivity for shows from its owners, which include Walt Disney, News Corp. and Comcast/NBCUniversal, the story says. Bidders who sign a non-disclosure agreement will have access to details of the rights, as well as other financial data, the piece notes.

Amazon.com and Microsoft aren't likely to bid for Hulu without such a guarantee, the article adds. The exclusivity agreement, however, wouldn't be entirely exclusive to Hulu, as the TV networks would be allowed to post their shows on their own sites and on-demand services from pay-TV operators would be given exceptions.

Hulu and News Corp. representatives declined to comment, while NBCUniversal and Disney didn't respond to requests for comment, the piece adds.

As previously reported, Walt Disney Chief Executive Robert Iger said Hulu's owners are "committed to selling" the online streaming service.

Women's World Cup Final Is Sixth-Most-Watched Soccer Match in U.S. History -- Still No Match for Brandi Chastain's Sports Bra Moment

The U.S. women's national soccer team's match against Japan in Sunday’s Women’s World Cup final was a loss for the U.S., but ESPN scored with its biggest audience ever for a soccer match, reports Multichannel News.

The match drew 13.46 million viewers, ranking it as the sixth-largest cable telecast of 2011, the story says, citing ESPN officials.

It was also the sixth-most-watched soccer telecast in U.S. history. The five previous soccer games that drew larger viewership numbers were all televised by ABC, the story says.

Among those telecasts is the 1999 Women’s World Cup Final, with Brandi Chastain's sports-bra-baring moment, which drew nearly 18 million viewers. That game ranks as the most-watched soccer match in U.S. history.

Brandi Chastain, 1999 World Cup Final

TeenNick Looks Back to a Golden Era of Television ... Which Wasn't 'All That' Long Ago

Cable network TeenNick is dedicating a programming block to an era that it considers something of a golden age of television -- at least to its targeted demographic of 18- to-34-year-olds, reports The New York Times' Brian Stelter.

The era is the 1990s. The network says the block, which will air from midnight to 4 a.m. under the title "The '90s Are All That," is the result of demands of former viewers who signed onto Facebook fan groups dedicated to the various programs.

The title refers to Nickelodeon's popular sketch comedy show "All That," which ran from 1994 to 2005, and which will be featured in the block.

Other shows include "Clarissa Explains It All," which aired from 1991 to 1994; "Kenan & Kel" (1996 to 2001); and the animated program "Doug" (1991-1994).

“It’s an absolute compliment that people want to see that era again," said Kenan Thompson, a star of "All That" and "Kenan & Kel" and now a cast member of NBC's "Saturday Night Live."

Al Sharpton Considered for Cable Show

New York politician and former presidential candidate Al Sharpton is under consideration for his own MSNBC show, reports the New York Post.

He would replace Cenk Uygur at 6 p.m., with the plan surfacing as Sharpton is in his third week of filling in for Uygur. Sharpton's ratings last week demonstrated an improvement in the time slot's ratings among older viewers, the piece adds.

Uygur has been hosting MSNBC’s 6 p.m. show on an interim basis, and has averaged between 500,000 and 700,000 viewers each night, the story says.

Sharpton might draw attention because of his outspoken nature, although that tactic backfired for CNN when it hired disgraced former New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer. Spitzer’s program was recently canceled after failing to draw a steady following. Neither Spitzer nor Sharpton has a professional background in TV, the piece adds.

MSNBC has not commented on the story.

Oscar Winner to Replace Bette Midler in HBO's Phil Spector Project (Actor Who's Playing Spector Has One of His Own)

An Oscar winner has been tapped to replace Bette Midler in HBO's telefilm project about music producer Phil Spector, reports Deadline.com. The role will be taken over by Helen Mirren.

As previously reported, Midler pulled out of the biopic project because of a herniated disc, prompting a halt to production of the project.

Mirren will take on the role of Linda Kenney, who represented Spector during his first murder trial, the story notes. Mirren won the Academy Award in 2007 for "The Queen."

The project is written and directed by David Mamet, who is also executive producing with Barry Levinson and Al Pacino. Pacino, an Oscar winner for “Scent of a Woman” in 1993, is playing Spector.

Pacino also has two Emmys, both for HBO projects: “Angels in America” in 2004 and “You Don’t Know Jack” in 2010.

Filming on the project is slated to restart next week.

Comcast's Universal, Which Announced with Much Fanfare in September a Huge, Unprecedented Feature Film/TV Project To Bring Stephen King's Multiple Novel Series 'The Dark Tower' to Life with Ron Howard at the Helm, Has Pulled the Plug on the Project

Reports Mike Fleming at Deadline.com, "Universal has passed on going forward with the project, dealing a huge blow [to] the plan for Ron Howard to direct Akiva Goldsman's script, with Brian Grazer, Goldsman and the author producing and Javier Bardem starring as gunslinger Roland Deschain."

The ambitious project was to consist of three feature films and two limited-run TV series.

Fleming explains in the article, "I'm told that this time the studio reviewed Goldsman's script for the first film and the first leg of the TV series, and would only commit to the single film. That wasn't good enough for the filmmakers, who had already hired comic book and 'Heroes' and 'Battlestar Galactica' writer/producer Mark Verheiden to co-write the TV component with Goldsman, which was to be made for NBC Universal Television (studio insiders deny that the studio was only willing to make the movie and not the series)."

Fleming adds, "Insiders said that Universal brass loved the filmmakers and the project, but couldn't make it work with the current budget in its business model."

Fleming also writes that Warner Bros. could be a possible landing place for the project.

Scriptwriter Goldsman, who is also a Consulting Producer on Fox's "Fringe," won both an Academy Award and a Golden Globe for writing "A Beautiful Mind" in 2001 for director Howard.  

More Turnover at 'Law & Order: SVU' as Another Star Leaves the Show

Following the exit of Christopher Meloni, another of the stars of NBC's "Law & Order: SVU" has announced that he’s leaving the show, reports TVLine.com.

In a live tweet for the USA Network "L&O: SVU" marathon, B.D. Wong said, "I actually do not return for Season 13." Wong has played psychiatrist Dr. George Huang in more than 200 episodes.

Wong said he will be in the NBC midseason replacement "Awake." He's playing a psychiatrist on that show, too, one of two therapists treating the program's star, Jason Isaacs.

Wong also tweeted on Sunday: “I don’t know if or when I’ll be back [on ‘SVU’]! It was amazing to have such a cool job for 11 years and to be a real NY Actor.”

A number of cast changes have taken place recently on “SVU,” including the departure of Meloni and the additions of Danny Pino and Kelli Giddish as series regulars. Stephanie March and Diane Neal are also expected back in smaller roles.

Whistleblower in Phone-Hacking Scandal Found Dead

A former News of the World journalist who blew the whistle on the phone-hacking scandal was found dead today at his home in the U.K., the Daily Mail reports.

“Sean Hoare's body was found on a extraordinary day when a Met police chief resigned over the phone hacking scandal, four senior officers were facing questions and the Prime Minister was forced to call an emergency session of Parliament,” the story reports.

Authorities said Hoare’s death was “not thought to be suspicious,” and were exploring the theory that it was a suicide, according to the story.

Hoare was the first to accuse former News of the World editor Andy Coulson of knowing about the phone hacking by employees of the paper. Coulson later resigned from his position.

A police spokesman is quoted in the story as saying: “At 10:40 a.m. today police were called to Langley Road in Watford following the concerns for welfare of a man who lives at an address in the street. Upon police and ambulance arrival the body of a man was found. The man was pronounced dead at the scene shortly after.

“The death is currently being treated as unexplained but is not thought to be suspicious. Police investigations into this incident are ongoing.”

According to the story: “Mr Hoare blew the whistle on the phone-hacking scandal during an investigation by The New York Times last September. He then told the BBC that he was personally asked by Mr. Coulson to hack into phones and branded the former editor's claim that he was unaware of the practice as 'simply a lie.'

“Mr Hoare, a former showbusiness reporter at the newspaper, claimed that Mr. Coulson asked him to hack into phone messages in pursuit of stories.”

VH1 Picks Up Scripted Show for Another Season

VH1 has renewed a scripted show for a second season, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The series is the cable net's first hourlong scripted show, “Single Ladies,” from executive producer Queen Latifah.

The dramedy stars Stacey Dash, LisaRaye McCoy and Charity Shea.

In a statement, Jeff Olde, exec VP of original programming and production at VH1, said: “Our viewers have fallen for ‘Single Ladies’ and its honest, modern take on love, female friendship and dating. We’re extremely pleased to give the audience another great season of the series they love.”

Season One wraps up Aug. 8, with Season Two set for a 2012 debut.

FX Orders Drama From Principals Behind 'Glee,' 'Nip/Tuck'; High-Powered Cast Includes Dylan McDermott, Jessica Lange

FX announced that it has ordered 13 episodes of a high-powered drama series from “Nip/Tuck” and “Glee” producers Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk. The show is “American Horror Story,” which has a top cast lined up that includes Dylan McDermott, Connie Britton, Jessica Lange and Frances Conroy.

John Landgraf, president and general manager of FX Networks, made the announcement. “We’re thrilled to welcome Ryan and Brad back to their original home,” Landgraf said. “They have shown an uncanny ability to bring original series to the air unlike any that have come before, and to reconcile ‘wildly entertaining’ with the ‘creatively ambitious.’ ... This series is going to blow audiences back in their seats, and we can’t wait to have it on our air.”

Other cast members include Denis O’Hare, Taissa Farmiga and Evan Peters. The show begins production in Los Angeles July 27 and is set for an October 2011 premiere on FX.

Said Murphy: “Brad and I are excited to be back at FX, where we enjoyed such a terrific relationship working with John Landgraf and his team through 100 episodes of ‘Nip/Tuck.’ The support of John, Dana Walden and Gary Newman on ‘American Horror Story’ has been nothing short of amazing. Our cast is extraordinary and we can’t wait to get started on production.”

“American Horror Story” is produced by Twentieth Century Fox Television.

News Corp. Telephone Hacking Scandal Explodes Over Weekend. Head of Scotland Yard Resigns; Former Chief Executive of News Corp.'s U.K. Newspaper Operations--Who Just Resigned From the Company on Friday--Is Arrested

The News Corp. telephone hacking scandal grew even bigger over the weekend, as the head of Scotland Yard resigned and a top executive of News Corp.--who had just resigned from the company on Friday--was arrested by British authorities.

The New York Times wrote another in-depth piece about the scandal on Saturday, July 16, 2010, entitled, "Stain From Tabloids Rubs Off on a Cozy Scotland Yard," in which the Times wrote that it had "learned that the former editor [of News Corp's now defunct tabloid 'News of the World], Neil Wallis, was reporting back to [News Corp.'s U.K. subsidiary] News International while he was working for the police on the hacking case. Executives and others at the company also enjoyed close social ties to Scotland Yard’s top officials. Since the hacking scandal began in 2006... records show [that] Sir Paul Stephenson, the [Metropolitan] police commissioner, met for meals 18 times with [News International] executives and editors during the investigation, including on eight occasions with Mr. Wallis while he was still working at The News of the World."

Stephenson, who headed up Scotland Yard, resigned Sunday Night, July 17, 2011. In his resignation statement, Stephenson wrote, ""I have taken this decision as a consequence of the ongoing speculation and accusations relating to the Met's links with News International at a senior level and in particular in relation to Mr. Neil Wallis who as you know was arrested in connection with Operation Weeting last week."

The now former Scotland Yard chief's statement also said, ""I have heard suggestions that we must have suspected the alleged involvement of Mr. Wallis in phone hacking. Let me say unequivocally that I did not and had no reason to have done so. I do not occupy a position in the world of journalism; I had no knowledge of the extent of this disgraceful practice and the repugnant nature of the selection of victims that is now emerging; nor of its apparent reach into senior levels.

"I saw senior figures from News International providing evidence that the misbehaviour was confined to a rogue few and not known about at the top.

"One can only wonder about the motives of those within the newspaper industry or beyond, who now claim that they did know but kept quiet."

Toward the end of his lengthy statement he added, "If I stayed I know that the Inquiry outcomes would reaffirm my personal integrity. But time is short before we face the enormous challenge of policing the Olympics — this is not the time for ongoing speculation about the security of the position of the Commissioner. Even a small chance that that there could be a change of leadership must be avoided. Therefore, although I have received continued personal support from both the Home Secretary and the Mayor, I have with great sadness informed both of my intention to resign."

To read Sir Stephenson's entire resignation statement, please click here.

One of News Corp's most aggressive competitor's in England that has written a lot about the scandal has been The Guardian. That paper ran a story titled "Rebekah Brooks and the Murdochs: questions that need answering: MPs on the select committee quiz the three on Tuesday – here are some suggested lines of questioning This story brings up some perceptive questions about the scandal.

Another piece worth reading is a commentary that appeared last Wednesday in the Financial Times. It's about Rupert Murdoch by Conrad Black. Black, a Canadian,  was once a competitor of Murdoch's who suffered his own scandal in 2007, when he was convicted on four counts of fraud and obstruction of justice.

In one fascinating paragraph Black writes, "It is unlikely that Mr Murdoch, his son James, or Les Hinton committed crimes (Mr Hinton is a very decent man). Discerning people should not be impressed by the process familiar to me and other victims of it, of hostile media solemnly citing law professors and retired prosecutors and sources who spoke on condition of anonymity (usually tendentious fantasies of the journalists themselves), to comment on the Murdochs’ legal problems. No one should begrudge The Guardian, the BBC, CNN, The New York Times and others their fun at his expense, nor take it too seriously. He is, as Clarendon said of Cromwell and the British historian David Chandler updated to Napoleon “a great bad man”. It is as wrong to dispute his greatness as his badness."

[Black's piece was written before Hinton, who ran New Corp's U.K. operation when the phone hacking and other incidents occurred in 2006, resigned from News Corp. on Friday.]

Finally, it's worth taking a look at this bizarre few minutes from the "Fox and Friends" TV show last Friday, July 15, 2011. Somehow, the show's co-host, Steve Doocy, and his guest start confusing those who are VICTIMS of phone hacking with those at News of the World, who were the PERPETRATORS of phone hacking...

'Real Housewives of the Bible' Catches Attention of Bravo; Is Litigation Imminent?

The direct-to-DVD production "The Real Housewives of the Bible" is not a Bravo production and may be infringing on the network's trademark, reports TMZ.com.

The creator of "Housewives of the Bible," Ty Adams, apparently produced the project without authorization from Bravo. The show is a scripted drama with serious religious themes, even though the packaging looks like a knock-off of the Bravo reality franchise.

A Bravo spokesperson told TMZ that the network is prepared to "vigorously protect our trademarks and take appropriate action when necessary." This may be one of those times, TMZ suggests.

Howie Mandel Adapting Danish Reality Show for U.S. TV

Howie Mandel is converting a Danish reality show concept for American television, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The show is "Celebrity Stand-Up," which features stars who have never done stand-up before as they try to work up stand-up routines.

Participants have five days to create material based on their lives, which they then present to a live audience in a competition to try to move on to the next round.

Mandel, an actor, TV host and stand-up comic, told the publication, "There really isn’t anything like 'Celebrity Stand-Up' on air in the U.S. right now. I see it as a unique and clever spin on the immersive celebrity interview. The contestants must examine their own lives to write sketches based on their personal experiences, and challenge themselves to go outside their comfort zones. The result is celebrities exposing themselves in a very honest and raw way, giving viewers a really intimate insight."

Mandel doesn't have a network attached as yet. His current project is "Mobbed," which Fox picked up for eight episodes following a March 31 special.

Big Season Opener for AMC Drama

 
Sunday night's fourth-season premiere of an award-winning AMC drama scored big numbers for the cable net, according to Multichannel News.

The "Breaking Bad" opener drew 2.6 million total viewers, up 32% from the 1.9 million who tuned in for the Season Three premiere back in March 2010.

It was the most-watched episode of the show in its history. Additionally, the 1.4 million viewers in the adults 18-49 demo represented AMC’s second-best premiere numbers, behind only the numbers put up for the October 2010 premiere of “The Walking Dead.”

TNT Cancels Critically Acclaimed Series

TNT has canceled a critically acclaimed series just a week after one of its stars received a nomination for an Emmy, reports the Los Angeles Times' Show Tracker blog.

The show is "Men of a Certain Age," which has struggled in the ratings despite being praised by critics. One of its stars, Andre Braugher, was nominated for an Emmy last week for his role on the program about three childhood friends dealing with midlife crises. Despite the star power of Ray Romano and Scott Bakula, the program never drew a big audience.

"This was an extremely difficult decision for us," a TNT spokeswoman said. "While the show has featured great storytelling and impeccable performances, the audience simply hasn’t built to the point where we can continue the series."

HBO Exec Leaves Network After 33 Years -- and Tells Why

A key executive at HBO, who has been with the pay-cable network for 33 years, has announced he is stepping down from his post, reports The New York Times' Richard Sandomir.

Ross Greenburg said he's leaving his post as head of HBO Sports, a position he has held since 2000. His reason, according to the story, is that he's tired of working on the network’s boxing business.

Greenburg denied reports that he was let go for losing Manny Pacquiao, a draw for HBO's pay-per-view, to Showtime for his May 7 bout against Shane Mosley. Greenburg added that he opted not to renew his contract and wasn't being dismissed, the article says.

Losing Pacquiao to Showtime "added to my angst, but one fight doesn’t determine whether I stayed or didn’t stay," Greenburg said, noting that he has been involved in many "wearing" negotiations and also "lived through the loss of [Julio Cesar] Chavez and [Mike] Tyson."

Greenburg, 56, became the executive producer of HBO Sports in 1985 and was tapped as its president in 2000. He has won 51 Sports Emmys and eight Peabody Awards, the article says.

Exclusive: The Nominees for the 32nd Annual News & Documentary Emmy Awards. We Have the Complete List of Nominees

The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences have announced the nominations for the 32nd Annual News and Documentary Emmys.

CBS leads all comers with 34 nominees, edging out PBS, with 32 nominees.  NBC with 19 nods is next, followed by National Geographic with 15, and then ABC and HBO with 12 each.

Next is CNN, with 8 nominations, Discovery with 7 and CNBC with 6.

Then comes BBC America, HDNet and MSNBC, all with 4 nominations each.

To see a complete, detailed list of all the nominees in all 42 categories, please click here.

In one of the major categories, Outstanding Coverage of a Breaking News Story in a Regularly Scheduled Newscast, the nominees are "ABC World News with Diane Sawyer," "Nightline," "Good Morning America," "AC 360," and "NBC Nighly News with Brian Williams."

In another major category, Outstanding Continual Coverage of a News Story In a Regularly Scheduled Newscast, the nominees are "BBC World News America," "CBS Evening News with Katie Couric," and "NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams."

In one of the top documentary categories, Outstanding Informational Programming, the nominees are PBS' "Frontline: The Confessions," HBO's "Monica & David," "HBO's "Reporter," PBS' "POV: Food Inc.," PBS' "POV: Off and Running," and PBS' "POV: Wo Ai Ni (I Love Your) Mommy." 

In a major category for local TV stations, Outstanding Regional News Story: Investigative Reporting, the nominees are KHOU-TV News (Houston), 7News-KMGH-TV (Denver), KUSA-TV News (Denver), WTHR-Eyewitness News (Indianapolis) , and WVUE-TV News (New Orleans).  

This year's News and Documentary Awards ceremony with be held on Monday, Sept. 26, 2011 at the Frederick P. Rose Hall, located in the Time Warner Center at Columbus Square in New York City. (The Hall is also the home of Jazz at Lincoln Center.) The awards honor work done in calendar year 2010.

Awards in 42 categories will be given out, including this year's prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award to Larry King.

Again,for a complete, detailed  list of the nominees in all 42 categories, please click here.

Taping of Game Show Marred by Fatality

A game show taping has led to the death of a 61-year-old man, the Associated Press reports. The victim was a pedestrian in Vancouver, B.C., who died after being hit by a car used in the Canadian version of "Cash Cab."

The game show takes place in a taxi, and a replica taxi used in the show struck and killed a Vancouver pedestrian after ending production for the day, the story reports. The victim, from Surrey, B.C., died in a hospital soon after he was hit by the cab.

A producer for the program was driving the vehicle back to a storage facility after filming for the day had ended, the story says, citing the show's Canadian producer.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the victim and his friends and his family," said Andrew Burnstein, president of Castlewood Productions, which produces the Canadian show.

Why Ad Buyers Are Sticking With the 73rd-Ranked Cable Network

Ad buyers continue to have confidence in a fledgling cable network despite a ratings performance that had the channel ending its first quarter as the No. 45 cable net in prime time and then slipping even lower, to No. 73, in the second quarter.

Advertising Age's Andrew Hampp reports that marketers are sticking with OWN, the Oprah Winfrey Network, and the main reason appears to be its owner and new CEO, Oprah Winfrey. In the latest in a series of executive moves, Winfrey announced recently that she is taking over the reins as CEO of the network.

OWN, which debuted Jan. 1, ranked No. 45 among cable nets in Q1 in the key demo of adults 18-49, slipping to No. 73 in Q2. The network was 63rd in total viewers for Q2. Among networks aimed at women, Lifetime, Oxygen, WE and even SoapNet, which is being canceled, have all done better.

But OWN, which is now finishing upfront negotiations for the fall season, is re-signing deals with many of its debut sponsors and adding new advertisers in categories such as movie studios and retail, the story notes.

Nevertheless, the network isn't receiving the premiums that other cable networks, such as Viacom's networks, are getting.

OWN has lowered its ratings expectations during the latest round of negotiations, after it failed to meet guarantees set last year, the piece adds. Winfrey is also expected to become more hands-on with advertisers as she eases into her role as the venture's chief executive, the story notes.

Jane Fonda Lashes Out at Network After It Cancels Appearance

Oscar winner and longtime political activist Jane Fonda is lashing out at a cable network after it canceled an appearance by the actress under threat of a viewer boycott, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Cable shopping network QVC canceled Fonda’s appearance to promote her new book "Prime Time" after angry callers said they would boycott the network if Fonda appeared, the story reports.

On Fonda's blog, the actress wrote she was disappointed "that QVC caved to this kind of insane pressure by some well-funded and organized political extremist groups."

Fonda was scheduled to appear Saturday.

"I could have pointed out that threats of boycotts are nothing new for me and have never prevented me from having best-selling books and exercise DVDs, films, and a Broadway play," she wrote on her blog.

Fonda’s new book, from Random House, hits stores Aug. 9. She previously released the autobiography “My Life So Far.”

Against Backdrop of Death Threats, Casey Anthony Is Released From Prison, Disappears

After her release from prison on Sunday, Casey Anthony has disappeared to a secret destination, unknown to her own family, reports the New York Post.

Anthony was released from prison with $537.68 in her pocket, and was immediately taken to a garage at the office of one of her attorneys, the story says. She hasn't been seen since.

"We're certainly going to do our best to try to get her in a position where she can help herself and try to move forward in life," said attorney Jose Baez, in response to a question from Fox News' Geraldo Rivera about how she's doing.

Reports vary, but Anthony has apparently had death threats made against her, as many people feel she got away with murder when she was acquitted of charges she killed her 2-year-old daughter, Caylee, in 2008. Casey Anthony's parents have also reportedly received death threats.

Murdoch Struggles to Maintain Control of News Corp. as Resignations, Arrests and Other Repercussions Play Out

As News Corp.'s U.K. phone-hacking inquiry continues to play out, Rupert Murdoch is struggling to control his company's destiny, reports Bloomberg.

Meanwhile, the scandal claimed another high-profile casualty among British law enforcement, with the resignation of John Yates, deputy commissioner of London’s Metropolitan Police, The New York Times reported.

As previously reported, a key development in the scandal was the arrest last week of one of the company's former top executives, Neil Wallis, a former editor of News of the World. Meanwhile, Les Hinton, CEO of Dow Jones and a Murdoch employee for 52 years, resigned his post late last week.

The probe has caused independent directors of New York-based News Corp. to question the company's response to the inquiry and whether a leadership change is needed, Bloomberg reported.

According to the Bloomberg piece: "Some directors said Murdoch, the company’s 80-year-old chairman and chief executive officer, appeared to be in denial over the fallout from the scandal in an interview he gave last week to The Wall Street Journal, one of News Corp.’s newspapers."

Murdoch, chief executive, and his 38-year-old son, James Murdoch, are spending most of their time with advisers preparing for a U.K. hearing before a parliamentary committee, the story says. The probe involves allegations that News of the World, which was recently shuttered, hacked into the phones of people including a murder victim, terror victims, politicians and celebrities.

New Character on 'Glee' Last Seen During Season One

The new season of “Glee” will include a character who was last seen in an important story arc in the first season of the show, Deadline.com reports.

Broadway star Idina Menzel is in final negotiations to return to the Fox show to reprise her role as Rachel Berry's biological mother, according to the story.

Menzel first appeared in five episodes of the show's first season, when she played the coach of rival glee club Vocal Adrenaline. Her character left town after adopting Quinn and Puck's baby girl.

Her character, Shelby Corcoran, will return to Ohio from New York in the show's third season as a new teacher, complicating the lives of Rachel and her coach Will Schuester. The character is expected to appear in about half of the season’s episodes.

Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony End Their Marriage -- and It Might Help Their TV Show

"American Idol" judge Jennifer Lopez and singer Marc Anthony announced they are ending their marriage, seven years after their secret Beverly HIlls wedding, reports People.com.

"We have decided to end our marriage," the pair said in a statement. "This was a very difficult decision. We have come to an amicable conclusion on all matters."

Their split won't affect their first television project together, the international talent program "Q'viva! The Chosen," which they're creating with Simon Fuller's XIX Entertainment and Endemol, reports Deadline.com.

A representative for XIX said the program will continue with both artists working on the project as planned, the story notes. The program has yet to sign English- and Spanish-language U.S. networks, although the publicity around the end of the couple's marriage could draw distributors, the article says.

Docu-Series Will Focus on Hollywood Monster-Making Family

A docu-series about a Hollywood monster-making family has been tapped for a six-episode run on cable, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Syfy has ordered the show, "Monster Man," which will track Cleve Hall and his family business of building monster props, the story says.

Production will start this month and the show will debut in January 2012.

“Cleve and his team will give our viewers a rare behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to bring monster props, puppets and costume pieces to life,” said Mark Stern, president of original content at Syfy and co-head of content for UCP. “But they’re also a family business, so the unusual dynamic between them is half the fun.”

Popular MSNBC Host Says He Wouldn't Read a Newspaper 'Unless You Put a Gun to My Head'

A popular MSNBC host said he "wouldn’t read a newspaper now unless you put a gun to my head and even then I would really try to negotiate with you."

Dylan Ratigan talked about his news consumption habits in an interview with Atlantic.com. "It's not that I reject the content, it's that I reject the format," he said of newspapers.

Ratigan is a news junkie, although he prefers to get his news via his BlackBerry, his Twitter feed and homepages of sites such as Politico and the Financial Times, the story notes.

Ratigan adds that he gets frustrated with how "the entire cable news infrastructure has been branded through partisan political lenses and so people assume that if you're on MSNBC you're left and if you're on Fox News you're right. There's no question that I'm painted as left because of the network I'm on.”

Upcoming ABC Drama Replaces Male Lead

A drama series set be part of ABC’s fall lineup is making an important change at a late stage, according to The Hollywood Reporter's The Live Feed blog.

The 1960s period show "Pan Am" is replacing its male lead, with "Generation Kill" actor Jonah Lotan losing the job, the story reports.

The role is being taken over by former fashion model Mike Vogel, who appeared in the television series "Grounded for Life" a decade ago and has acted in films such as "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" and “Blue Valentine.” Vogel also was seenrecently on CBS’s “Miami Medical.”

Vogel will play Dean, the captain on Pan Am's newest plane. The series is set to air Sundays following "Desperate Housewives," the story notes.

Life After 'Glee' Should Be Fruitful for Departing Stars

After getting over the shock of their being booted from the Fox hit “Glee,” the show’s soon-to-be-graduated stars are revealing that they will have plenty of other work to fall back on, MTV.com reports.

Show creator Ryan Murphy revealed this week that Lea Michele, Cory Monteith and Chris Colfer will all leave the series after the upcoming third season. One rumor -- and it’s only a rumor so far, reported by RumorFix -- has Michele and Colfer getting a “Glee” spinoff.

In more concrete news, Colfer has written and will star in an upcoming film, “Struck by Lightning,” with word surfacing today that he will be joined in the cast by “Mad Men’s” Christina Hendricks. Also on board are “Modern Family’s” Sarah Hyland and Dermot Mulroney of “My Best Friend’s Wedding.”

Michele and Monteith also reportedly have film projects in the works. Michele is set to appear in “New Year’s Eve,” a romantic comedy from Garry Marshall, which is already filming. Monteith, besides being in the recent release “Monte Carlo,” is lined up for the upcoming “Sisters & Brothers.”

Rupert Murdoch Apologizes ... and Plays Down the Scandal. Also, WSJ Publisher, Who Ran News Corp's U.K. Operations During the 2006 Phone Hacks, Resigns. He's the Second Top News Corp. to Resign Today

Updated on July 15, 2011 at 7 p.m., PT to clarify headline about WSJ publisher resigning and providce link in body of story to earlier resignation today of News Corp. executive Rebekah Brooks.

Rupert Murdoch opened up to The Wall Street Journal -- which is owned by Murdoch’s News Corp. -- about how the company has handled the crisis over alleged phone hacking at its U.K. newspaper division, saying News Corp. has handled the situation "extremely well in every way possible" with just "minor mistakes."

(Note that The WSJ is behind a paywall and the story may not be accessible to all readers.)

Murdoch, who is in Britain to deal with the crisis, said the damage to the company from the scandal is "nothing that will not be recovered. We have a reputation of great good works in this country.”

In a separate report, Murdoch revealed plans to run a personal apology in Saturday’s editions of U.K. newspapers, with the headline, “We are sorry,” ABC News said.

The statement, signed by Murdoch, reads in part: “We are deeply sorry for the hurt suffered by the individuals affected. We regret not acting faster to sort things out. ... In the coming days, as we take further concrete steps to resolve these issues and make amends for the damage they have caused, you will hear more from us.”

The apology represents a turnaround from the less apologetic tone of the WSJ report just a day or two earlier. The 80-year old Murdoch said in the Journal story that he was "just getting annoyed" by negative headlines.

Murdoch also met Friday with the family of murder victim Milly Dowler, the focal point of phone-hacking allegations that provoked outrage in the U.K. He reportedly apologized personally to the family for the actions of journalists working for his papers.

In another development in the widening scandal, The New York Times reported Friday that Les Hinton, Publisher of The Wall Street Journal and CEO of Dow Jones, resigned from his post. .As previously reported, earlier today another top News Corp. executive, Rebekah Brooks, the chief executive of News Corp.'s British newspaper operations, resigned. She was the edtior of The News of the World when phone hacking took place in 2006. She has denied knowing about the hacking.

Hinton, who has been with News Corp. for more than 50 years, is the former editor of News of the World, the paper at the center of the phone-hacking scandal. He ran News International, the British newspaper division of News Corp., from 1995-2007 and was at the helm when the alleged phone hacking took place.

Cable Drama Gets Fourth-Season Renewal

A popular cable drama has received a fourth-season renewal from its network, TV Guide reports. The show is the Camelot-based “Merlin,” which has been picked up for another season by Syfy.

According to the report, season four will focus on Merlin's efforts to ensure that Arthur becomes king of England.

Season three of "Merlin" did well for Syfy, averaging 1.9 million viewers per episode, a 12% increase from the previous season.

Sudden Resignation of Well-Known, Well-Liked Time Warner Cable Executive

Time Warner Cable had a sudden change in a key executive position Friday, with a well-known, well-liked exec abruptly announcing he was leaving the company and another exec quickly moving into his spot, Multichannel News reported.

 Sam Howe. TWC's chief marketing officer for the past seven years, stepped down, and was replaced by Jeff Hirsch. Hirsch's title will be executive vice president and chief marketing officer.

Hirsch, who has been with the company since 1999, most recently oversaw the launch of TWC’s iPad app.

Said Time Warner Cable Chief Operating Officer Robert Marcus, in a statement: "Jeff is an exceptionally versatile and gifted executive with a unique understanding of our products and customers. His strong marketing background and proven track record in operating cable systems make him an excellent choice to lead our marketing initiatives in a new era of more intense competition and product differentiation."

The Multichannel piece adds: “Howe had been chief marketing officer at Time Warner Cable since 2005 after serving two years as senior vice president of marketing for voice services. An industry veteran, Howe started in the cable industry in 1982 at Centel Cable. He later held various positions in finance and marketing at Cox Communications and worked from 1993-98 at Telewest Communications plc in the United Kingdom, where he gained experience in the telephone and Internet industries.”

No reason was immediately reported for Howe’s departure.

In Case 'Real Housewives,' 'Desperate Housewives,' 'Basketball Wives' and 'Mob Wives' Aren't Enough, Here's Another Show About (What Else?) Wives!

With seemingly countless shows -- both real and scripted -- about various kinds of wives already dotting the TV landscape, now comes word that casting is under way for a new show about wives, "Wall $treet Wives," reports The New York Times.

The reality show seems inspired by Bravo's "Real Housewives" franchise, VH1's "Basketball Wives" and others, but producers Devon Fleming and Sammi Mendenhall, who are shopping the show to the networks, say they are trying to avoid what Fleming called the "ugly cat-fight scenario" story lines that some nets are asking for.

Mendenhall said the focus of the new show is more high-brow. "These [women] are not idiots,” Mendenhall said. “These are the intelligent women who hold it down. Some of them have MBAs.”

Mendenhall's credits include MTV's "16 and Pregnant" as well as History Channel's "Food Tech."

Accused Murderer Demands Shutdown of Rob Lowe TV Movie

If Drew Peterson gets his way, the TV movie in which Rob Lowe is playing the accused murderer will cease production immediately, reports Reuters.

Peterson's lawyer sent a cease and desist letter to the people involved in the Lifetime film "Ladykiller: The Drew Peterson Story," naming Lowe, Lifetime, A&E Television, Disney/ABC Television Group, Hearst Corp. and others.

Walter Maksym, the attorney, complained that potential jurors for Peterson's trial could be influenced by the film. Peterson will be tried for the death of his third wife, Kathleen Savio, who he claims died from an accidental drowning in the couple's bathtub. Peterson has pleaded not guilty to charges stemming from her 2004 death.

Maksym sent the letter on Wednesday, writing that the film was based on suspect material, "an extremely opinionated, blatantly biased, less than seriously researched and defamatory book."

Peterson’s fourth wife, Stacy Peterson, reportedly disappeared in 2007 in a case that remains unsolved. Kaley Cuoco of “The Big Bang Theory” is lined up to play Stacy Peterson in the film.

Shaq's TNT Deal Extends Well Beyond Basketball Coverage

The just-announced deal between Shaquille O’Neal and TNT includes a development deal with Turner’s entertainment and animation networks, Turner revealed in a press release.

Besides joining the panel on “Inside the NBA” and seeing duty during the NBA All-Star weekend and NBA playoffs, the four-time NBA champion will apparently have an opportunity to expand on his existing credits as an actor and executive producer.

"O’Neal is a member of the Screen Actor’s Guild, with entertainment credits including a number of roles and executive producer credits in both television and film," the company pointed out in the release.

O’Neal’s production credits include the TV shows “The Love Shaq” and “All Star Comedy Jam,” while his acting credits include feature films “Kazaam” and “Scary Movie 4.” He also has directed an episode of the TV show “Cousin Skeeter.”

David Levy, president of sales, distribution and sports for Turner Broadcasting Systems, said of Shaq’s teaming with Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith and Ernie Johnson for the network’s NBA coverage: "His unique insights, perspective as one of the league’s all-time great players and personality will be the perfect complement to our award-winning studio team of Ernie, Kenny and Charles, as well as to our programming on NBA TV and NBA.com.”

CNBC Picks New 'Squawk Box' Anchor

CNBC announced Friday that it has hired a newspaper journalist as the new co-anchor of its “Squawk Box” morning show, Multichannel News reports.

The job is going to New York Times columnist Andrew Ross Sorkin, who will co-anchor with Becky Quick and Joe Kernen. Sorkin will continue writing for The Times along with continuing his work on his news website, DealBook.

Carl Quintanilla has left the show, moving over to CNBC’s “Squawk on the Street,” where he joins Melissa Lee.

Tiger Woods' Ex-Wife Has a New Man in Her Life

Tiger Woods' ex-wife Elin Nordegren has found love again and is dating the son of a billionaire, reports the New York Post's Page Six.

Nordegren has been dating Jamie Dingman, the son of Michael Dingman, for months, the piece reports. Nordegren divorced Woods after it was revealed he had scores of relationships with other women, as previously reported.

Jamie Dingman has represented his father's interests in China for the past six years and headed a failed bid to buy Volvo from Ford Motor Co., the story says. He reportedly does not play golf.

The pair met a the Red Cross Ball in Florida last January, the story says.

Elin Nordegren

An Email From Oprah; Surviving Carmageddon

In a potpourri enty by TVWeek Open Mic blogger Chuck Ross, he tells about the contents of an email that he received this week from Oprah (along, he guesses, with thousands of other recipients). He also tells us how to survive Carmageddon this weekend. (If you don't know what Carmageddon is, that's even more reason for you check out this blog entry.)

To read this fun posting, please click here.

Biggest Emmys Snub? One Omission From Nominations Evokes More Than Its Share of Outrage

One particular snub among the Emmy nominations announced yesterday seems to be eliciting an especially vocal display of disappointment among the other nominees, TVLine.com reports.

Actor Nick Offerman on NBC’s much buzzed "Parks and Recreation" was overlooked, even as the show earned a nomination for best comedy and Amy Poehler received a nod for lead actress in a comedy.

Offerman's Ron Swanson has developed a cult following, the story notes. And among his fans, apparently, are a number of this year’s Emmy nominees.

“I’m terribly sad about Nick Offerman. I’m quite confused by that [snub],” said Michelle Forbes, who earned a nod for best supporting actress in a drama for her role on AMC's "The Kiliing."

Said Poehler: “It’s total bull shiz that Nick didn’t get recognized, but I fully expect that to be happening next season. Ron Swanson would be proud of the show getting a nod and wouldn’t want the attention. But I’ll say what Nick Offerman can’t and wouldn’t say, which is that he’s the best in the biz, and I don’t quite understand why we don’t see his name there. [But] I’m happy we’ll all be there [for the show's nomination].”

Added “Parks and Recreation” showrunner Mike Schur: “The first thing I saw was that the show had been nominated, which was amazing. And then the next piece of information I got was that [Offerman] hadn’t been. ... I just personally feel like nobody gave a better performance on TV last year in that category, and maybe any category. So it really bummed me out. He’s kind of our cast MVP, and in many ways our cast leader, and I just think that he’s very special and I hope someday the community agrees with me.”

What If Roseanne Barr Went 'Nuts' and Hardly Anyone Watched?

Lifetime’s widely promoted debut Wednesday night of Roseanne Barr’s new reality show, "Roseanne's Nuts," didn’t do much to pump up the network’s numbers, reports Joe Adalian in New York Magazine's Vulture blog.

A network press release noted that the telecast tripled the channel’s demo ratings for the 9 p.m. hour, but a closer look at the numbers is less encouraging, according to the story.

The debut of the show drew 1.6 million viewers, while a second episode that followed it averaged fewer than than 1.5 million viewers, the story says. That means the show wasn't among cable's 25 most-watched shows on Wednesday and that it drew fewer viewers than Lifetime’s 8 p.m. airing of an episode of "Pawn Stars" that came from sister network History, the story says.

A Lifetime airing of a “Pawn Stars” repeat a week earlier at 9:30 p.m. pulled in about 1.3 million viewers, according to the story, meaning the “Nuts” premiere improved only slightly on the time slot performance.

The story does note that the show did a little better in the younger demos, as both episodes found their way into the Top 20 for the night.

Top News Corp. Executive Resigns Under Pressure From Politicians, Shareholders

One of the top executives caught up in the News Corp. phone-hacking scandal has resigned from the company, The New York Times reports.

Rebekah Brooks, the chief executive of News Corp.'s British newspaper operations, stepped down Friday in what the Times calls "another stunning blow to [Rupert] Murdoch's once all-powerful empire." The move comes as pressure mounts on the company from lawmakers and investors.

Brooks' resignation follows word that the Murdochs -- Rupert and son James -- have reversed their decision about not testifying before U.K. lawmakers in the probe into alleged phone hacking by News Corp. journalists, which includes allegations of hacking into a murder victim's phone. Rupert Murdoch and James Murdoch now say they will testify next week before a parliamentary panel.

Brooks, who was editor of the tabloid News of the World when the alleged incidents took place, has denied knowledge of the hacking. The newspaper has recently been shut down.

“My desire to remain on the bridge has made me a focal point of the debate,” Brooks said in an email to her staff at News International, the U.K. newspaper unit she ran. “This is now detracting attention from all our honest endeavours to fix the problems of the past. Therefore I have given Rupert and James Murdoch my resignation. While it has been a subject of discussion, this time my resignation has been accepted."

Blockbuster Swoops In on Disgruntled Netflix Customers

Blockbuster is aiming to take advantage of Netflix's marketing problems after the online streaming and DVD-rental service angered customers by raising its rates, reports Deadline.com.

Blockbuster is appealing to Netflix customers by offering a 30-day free trial to those who switch to one of Blockbuster's two Total Access plans, which include either one disc at a time for $9.99 per month or 2 discs at a time for $14.99 per month.

Blockbuster is also pointing out that it receives some new releases 28 days before Netflix and allows unlimited in-store exchanges, the piece adds.

Netflix has apparently badly underestimated confusion and anger from customers over its 60% price hike, the story points out.

'Glee' Star Says Leaving Show Is 'Definitely Not My Choice'

One of the stars who will be leaving "Glee" after next season says departing the Fox show is "definitely not my choice."

"But I completely understand that it works for the integrity of the show,” Chris Colfer told TVLine.com. “One of the things that I love about 'Glee' is, despite characters breaking into song in the middle of the hallway, it was very real to me."

Asked about the possibility of a spinoff for Colfer's Kurt Hummel character, he said, "As of right now, it’s just rumors. I’m not attached or signed on for any spinoff. There hasn’t been anything official yet."

As reported earlier this week, Colfer, Lea Michele and Cory Monteith will leave the show after the 2011-2012 season, when their characters graduate from high school.

Amazon Readying New Tablet to Do Battle With Apple's iPad

Amazon.com plans to release a tablet computer that will intensify its rivalry with Apple, reports The Wall Street Journal. (The Wall Street Journal is behind a pay wall and not all readers may be able to view the full story.)

The new device, a competitor to Apple’s iPad, is expected to debut by October, and will run on Google's Android platform, the story says. It will have a 9-inch screen, although it won't have a camera like the iPad.

Amazon and Apple are already competing in mobile apps, digital music and digital books.

Amazon is considering how to market the new device and whether customers would want to buy both the tablet and the Kindle, which is designed mostly for reading books. The company plans to also release two updated versions of the Kindle later this year, the story says.

One of the new Kindles will have a touch screen, which its current models don't offer.

David Beckham, Larry King and Others to Appear as Live-Action Guests on Animated Show

David Beckham, Larry King and other celebrities will be live-action guests on a new season of a hit animated show, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

"Take Two With Phineas and Ferb,” a variation on the animated hit "Phineas and Ferb," features its characters interviewing live-action guests. The new season debuts with Beckham July 23 at 9:30 a.m., the story says.

Each episode will be 2 minutes long and will air on Disney Channel and Disney XD.

Other interviewees include Howie Mandel, Miss Piggy, Jason Segel, Ben Stiller, Shaun White and Ty Pennington, the piece notes.

Disney is also making plans for the debut of "Phineas and Ferb: Across the 2nd Dimension," an original movie that will premiere at 8 p.m. on Aug. 5.

After Making Waves on ABC Series, Dallas Mavericks Owner Mark Cuban Will Take the Plunge Again

Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban made a big splash with his appearances last season on an ABC show, and now the outspoken billionaire is in position to make even more waves on “Shark Tank,” reports EW.com's Inside TV blog.

Cuban, who recently presided over his basketball team’s first NBA championship, will effectively be a regular on the business-oriented reality show during its third season, according to the story.

Cuban made three appearances on the show last season -- appearances in which the story says Cuban stole the show. For season three, he has been signed by the network and executive producer Mark Burnett to take on a higher profile, appearing in 10 of the show’s 13 episodes.

The show is expected to return midseason to ABC’s Friday night lineup.

Pay-Cable Channel Orders Another Season of Late-Night Show

A late-night anthology series has received a second-season order from the pay-cable channel that airs it, reports EW.com's Inside TV blog.

The show is "Femme Fatales," which has been picked up for another season by Cinemax, the story reports. The series features powerful, dangerous and sexy women and is inspired by the traditions of pulp stories, film noir and graphic novels.

The first season ends Aug. 5 with its 13th episode, and Cinemax has ordered 13 more episodes. The next season will feature guest stars including Vivica A. Fox of "Kill Bill: Vol. 1" and Casper Van Dien of "Starship Troopers," the story says.

MTV Host Returns to U.S. After Reportedly Being Detained by Egyptian Military

An MTV host has returned to the U.S. after he and his team were detained by the Egyptian military, reports the New York Post's Page Six.

Ryan Duffy, a host of MTV's "The Vice Guide to Everything," was questioned for hours by Egyptian authorities before being handed over to the U.S. State Department, the story says.

The Egyptian authorities apparently thought he might be a spy, although he was in the country to shoot a "Vice" news series when he and his crew were captured near the Suez Canal.

"The padded room, long interrogations, and [bleeping] in a hole were quite unpleasant," Duffy said, according to the report.

'Sons of Anarchy' Creator Blasts Emmys For Snub

Kurt Sutter, creator of FX's "Sons of Anarchy," blasted the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences for being ignored in the major primetime Emmy categories when nominations were announced on Thursday, July 14, 2011, writes James Hibberd at EW.com's Inside TV blog.

Sutter is married to "Sons of Anarchy" star Katy Sagal, who won a Golden Globe for her role in the series earlier this year.

According to the article, "In a series of profane Tweets, Sutter mocked Emmy voters as out of touch: 'Best part of not getting an emmy nod. now i don’t have to pretend i give a s— about the profiteering d-bag academy. … because you know if we were nominated i’d be all humble and blowing smoke up their asses. now i can stay true to myself and just be a d—.' ”

After giving a few more examples of his profane Tweets, Hibberd writes, "And finally (for now): 'you do know that i’m really okay with no noms right? if i was really upset, i wouldn’t be ranting. i’d be plotting. i’m all about the love.' ”

Newly Revealed Documents Show Obama White House Deliberately Made Efforts to Exclude Fox News from Interviews In 2009

"Judicial Watch, the public interest group that investigates and prosecutes government corruption, announced today that it has uncovered documents from the Obama Department of Treasury showing that the Obama administration, contrary to its repeated denials, attempted to exclude the Fox News Channel (FNC) from a round of interviews with Treasury’s “Executive Pay Czar” Kenneth Feinberg."

So wrote Judicial Watch, a self-described conservative, non-partisan educational foundation, on its website on Thursday, July 14, 2011.

The article on the Judicial Watch website continues, "The documents [were] obtained last week by Judicial Watch pursuant to an October, 28, 2009, Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request..."

The article notes, "Deputy White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest bluntly described the White House’s position on Fox News Channel in an October 23, 2009, email to [Jenni LeCompte, then-Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs in the Treasury Department]: 'We’ve demonstrated our willingness and ability to exclude Fox News from significant interviews…' "

The story also says, "Regarding general anti-FNC bias within the Obama White House in an October 23, 2009, email exchange between Jennifer Psaki, Deputy White House Communications Director and LeCompte, Psaki writes, 'I am putting some dead fish in the fox cubby – just cause.' In an email on the night of October 22, 2009, commenting on a report by Fox News Channel anchor Bret Baier noting the exclusion of the network from the pool, Psaki writes to Compte and fellow White House colleagues, '…brett baier just did a stupid piece on it -- but he is a lunatic.' "

The article also cites examples of members of the administration during this same period of time telling other members of the media that the White House was not trying to exclude Fox News from interviews.

NBC Shuffles On-Air News Personalities as 'Dateline' Retools, New Brian Williams Mag Takes Shape

NBC is shaking things up in the news department as it seeks a new feel for “Dateline” while also putting together a new magazine show to be led by Brian Williams, TVNewser reports.

Kate Snow, who has been reporting for “Dateline,” will have a new job at the network, having been named the second official correspondent on Williams’ one-hour, prime-time show, the story says. As we reported earlier this week, Harry Smith was named previously as a correspondent for the program.

Before she joined NBC, Snow was a co-anchor on the weekend edition of ABC’s "Good Morning America." She has had a number of jobs at NBC, including subbing for Williams as anchor of “Nightly News.”

According to NBC, "Dateline," which is in its 19th year, will be undergoing significant changes. Episodes are now devoting an entire show to a single case, following the formula set by CBS's "48 Hours." In addition, Ann Curry might be leaving "Dateline," where she's the current anchor, to concentrate solely on her co-anchor duties on "Today."

Character Actor -- Whose Face Is Familiar From 'Home Alone' and TV Shows Such as 'Northern Exposure' and 'Moonlighting' -- Dead at 87

A character actor best known for the mega-hit movie "Home Alone" and for TV shows including "Northern Exposure" and "Moonlighting" has died at the age of 87, according to the AP.

Roberts Blossom was living in a nursing home in Southern California. His daughter, Deborah, said he passed away from natural causes on July 8, 2011.

Blossom had a long career, including features such as "The Great Gatsby," "Close Encounters of the Third Kind," "Escape from Alcatraz" and "Resurrection." He was also a regular on the NBC soap opera "Another World."

He also starred on Broadway, and won three Obie Awards for his off-Broadway performances.

He played the neighbor, Old Man Marley, in the 1990 hit “Home Alone.”

Roberts Blossom and Macaulay Culkin in "Home Alone"

Another Vandal Hits Ed Sullivan Theater, Home of 'Letterman' Show

A vandal attacked the Ed Sullivan Theater, home of CBS's "Late Show With David Letterman," just days after a similar attack, reports the New York Daily News.

Early Thursday, an apparent copycat culprit took aim at the theater, hurling a red metal amNewYork newspaper box at the Broadway entrance at about 1 a.m. The door suffered major damage.

A security guard immediately apprehended the alleged vandal, who was identified as Alvin Moore of Sebring, Fla. Moore has a criminal history in the state of Florida, including a domestic violence battery charge from May 2010.

Moore incurred a head wound and was treated at St. Luke's Hospital before being charged with third-degree criminal mischief and menacing.

Said Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly, commenting on the suspect: "He was jealous of the publicity the first individual got on Monday. He said he hoped it would help his music career."
 

FBI Probes News Corp. Over Alleged Hacking of 9/11 Victims

The Federal Bureau of Investigations has opened an inquiry into allegations that journalists working for News Corp. improperly tried to access the phone records of victims of the 9/11 terrorist attack, The New York Times reports.

The move comes in response to calls by U.S. lawmakers to look into the activities of the company in the U.S. in the wake of a widening probe of phone hacking in the U.K. by News Corp.-owned publications.

The inquiry is preliminary, a source said, and the scope of the probe is not known. It comes in part as a response to a request from Rep. Peter T. King, R-N.Y., addressed to FBI director Robert S. Mueller III. King’s complaint cites reports surfacing in connection with the U.K. case that indicate employees of News Corp.’s U.K. tabloid News of the World used bribery and unauthorized wiretaps to try to obtain 9/11 victims’ phone records.

The U.S. investigation, based in New York, is being handled by an FBI cybercrimes unit and a squad that focuses on public corruption and white collar crimes, a source said.

Scorsese's George Harrison Doc to Air on HBO

Oscar-winning filmmaker Martin Scorsese will be showing his latest film, a documentary about the onetime Beatle George Harrison, on HBO, reports AOL TV.

"George Harrison: Living in the Material World" will be broadcast in two parts, Oct. 5 and 6, on the premium cable net.

Scorsese's film takes a look at Harrison's life from his early days as a guitarist in Liverpool, through the years as a member of the Beatles, and after the breakup of the band, as a solo artist. His philanthropic works and involvement in filmmaking will also be explored.

Interviews with Harrison's friends and colleagues include Eric Clapton, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, George Martin, Paul McCartney, Yoko Ono, Tom Petty, Phil Spector, Ringo Starr and Jackie Stewart.

NBC Staff Angered by Comcast's More Restrictive Psychotherapy Benefits

Some NBC staffers are reportedly upset over their new health insurance through Comcast, which bought the network from General Electric earlier this year, reports the New York Post's Page Six.

The NBC employees are upset that their new insurance doesn't provide them with the same level of benefits for psychotherapy, the piece notes.

Comcast's Magellan Behavioral health insurance doesn't provide the same coverage as GE's Aetna and United Healthcare. Fewer doctors are included in the new network, the article notes.

A representative for NBC declined to comment.

Baldwin Brother Files for Divorce, Saying Wife Threatened to Kill Him With Knife

One of the Baldwin brothers has filed for divorce from his wife after she allegedly threatened to kill him with a knife, reports TMZ.com.

Daniel Baldwin -- best known for his tenure on "Homicide: Life on the Street" -- filed for divorce from his wife, Joanne, according to the story.

In a legal declaration explaining the reason for the filing, Baldwin said that his wife had warned him that she understood how to go about killing her spouse. Baldwin said the couple’s daughter heard the remark and said, “Is Mommy going to kill us?”

He also wrote in the filing, "She screams over money and proceeds to wake both children up by screaming and throwing objects around the house."

Baldwin has previously obtained a restraining order against Joanne and was awarded temporary custody of the two children.

Actor Responds to Fans Angered by Show's Ending: 'You Realize It's Not Your Daughter That Was Murdered?'

After fielding complaints by fans of his show over the open-ended finale to the first season, an actor who plays a homicide detective on the show expressed surprise at the depth of the reaction.

Joel Kinnaman, who plays Det. Stephen Holder on AMC's "The Killing," tells the Los Angeles Times' Show Tracker blog that he's perplexed over some fans' frustration with the finale.

"There were a couple of people who came up to me, so disturbed, and I was like, 'You realize it's not your daughter that was murdered?'" Kinnaman said. "People expect closure and when they don't get it, there's going to be frustration. I anticipated some of that. But not to this extent."

Kinnaman added that he believes talk of viewers abandoning the show over frustration caused by the ending is overblown. The show has been renewed for a second season.

"Maybe some people are so ... off where they say they're not going to watch it," Kinnaman said. "But two episodes in they're going to listen to the people who are tuning in and come back."

'Mad Men,' 'Modern Family' and HBO Lead Emmy Nominations. 'The Kennedys,' 'Friday Night Lights' Get Love. 'Walking Dead' Snubbed in Major Categories. We Have Full List of Nominees

Without further delay: 

The 2011 Primetime Emmy nominees for Best Comedy are: "The Big Bang Theory," "Glee" "Modern Family," "The Office," "Parks & Recreation" and "30 Rock."

The nominees for Best Drama are: "Boardwalk Empire," "Dexter," "Friday Night Lights," "Game of Thrones," "The Good Wife" and "Mad Men."

For a COMPLETE LIST of nominees, please click here.

Now for some commentary. Says our good friend Gary Levin in USA Today, "Left out of top-series contention: AMC's brooding mystery 'The Killing' and zombie hit 'The Walking Dead,' HBO's splashy 'True Blood' and FX's 'Justified,' though the modern-day Western won four acting nominations."

Levin also notes, "HBO miniseries 'Mildred Pierce' topped the [Emmy] list with 21 nominations, followed by 19 for AMC's 'Mad Men,' which has won best drama for the last three years. 'Boardwalk' had 18 and ABC's 'Modern Family' 17."

A number of reports noted snubs this year included Kyra Sedgwick, who won last year for "The Closer," and Lea Michele on "Glee," though "Glee" itself picked up 12 nominations. 

In its press release the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences notes, "Five of the twelve nominated Comedy and Drama series are first time nominees this year, and seven of the twelve are network programs. New among the outstanding drama series nominees are 'Boardwalk Empire,' 'Game of Thrones' and 'Friday Night Lights'; for outstanding comedy series, first time nominees are 'The Big Bang Theory' and 'Parks and Recreation.'  

ATAS also says, "This year’s outstanding comedy series performer categories feature a slew of familiar faces being recognized with an Emmy nomination for the first time, or for the first time in these particular comedy roles. They include: (leads) Melissa McCarthy in 'Mike & Molly,' Martha Plimpton in 'Raising Hope,' Laura Linney in 'The Big C,' Johnny Galecki in 'The Big Bang Theory,' Matt LeBlanc in 'Episodes,' and Louis C.K. in 'Louie'; (supporting performers) Betty White in 'Hot in Cleveland' and Ed O’Neill in 'Modern Family'; (guests) Elizabeth Banks and Matt Damon in '30 Rock,' Gwyneth Paltrow and Dot-Marie Jones in 'Glee,' Cloris Leachman in 'Raising Hope,' Idris Elba in 'The Big C,' Nathan Lane in 'Modern Family' and Zach Galifianakis in 'Saturday Night Live.' This marks Betty White’s 17th Emmy nomination and Cloris Leachman’s 22nd.

"Similar to the comedy categories, the outstanding drama series performer categories are comprised of many new nominees, including: (leads) Kathy Bates in 'Harry’s Law,' Mireille Enos in 'The Killing,' Steve Buscemi in 'Boardwalk Empire' and Timothy Olyphant in 'Justified'; (supporting performers) Margo Martindale and Walton Goggins in 'Justified,' Kelly Macdonald in 'Boardwalk Empire,' Michelle Forbes in 'The Killing,' Josh Charles and Alan Cumming in 'The Good Wife' and Peter Dinklage in 'Game of Thrones'; (guests) Mary McDonnell in 'The Closer,' Julia Stiles in 'Dexter,' Loretta Devine in 'Grey’s Anatomy,' Randee Heller and Cara Buono in 'Mad Men,' Joan Cusack in 'Shameless,' Alfre Woodard in 'True Blood,' Bruce Dern in 'Big Love,' Beau Bridges in 'Brothers & Sisters,' Michael J. Fox in 'The Good Wife,' Paul McCrane in 'Harry’s Law' and Jeremy Davies in 'Justified.' "

The Primetime Emmys will air Sept. 18,  2011, on Fox.

Again, for a COMPLETE LIST of nominees, please click here.

How Is Netflix Handling Complaints About the Recent Price Hike? Not Very Well, Says Analyst

After a wave of customer backlash to its 60% price hike for its popular movie rental service, Netflix is now under fire for what one Wall Street analyst says is a poor strategy in dealing with customer complaints, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Richard Greenfield, an analyst with BTIG Research, told clients he and his staff placed 35 calls to Netflix on Wednesday in the course of a few hours. Only 15 calls got through to a rep and only after wait times of 9 to 15 minutes per successful call. One rep said she was looking at 471 customers on hold, Greenfield said in the report.

Sometimes the reps told him to cancel streaming service, while others told him to cancel DVDs in order to keep costs at $7.99 per month. Other times he was told to alternate between the two plans.

“There was literally no (rhyme) or reason to the responses we got,” he said. "There was simply no promo or save technique to offer us a discount to retain our business. This would appear to illustrate that Netflix is simply not concerned with the prospect of losing customers.”

Former 'House' Actor and Soon-to-Be Ex-White House Staffer Returning to TV in Hit Sitcom

A former "House" star and soon-to-be ex-White House staffer will be returning to television in a recurring role on CBS's "How I Met Your Mother," reports TVLine.com.

Kal Penn will play Kevin, a possible love interest for Cobie Smulders' Robin. Penn's role on the show will reunite him with Neil Patrick Harris, who played himself to Penn's Kumar in the "Harold & Kumar" films, the article points out.

Penn left acting two years ago when he left "House" for a role in the Obama administration, where he served as associate director in the office of public liaison, a role he's slated to leave later this month, the piece says.

'Glee' Star Reassures Fans About Upcoming Departures

One of the stars of "Glee" took to Twitter to put a positive spin on the news that three of the stars of the hit Fox show won't be returning for the fourth season, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Lea Michele said the departures were always part of the plan.

As previously reported, Michele, Cory Monteith and Chris Colfer will be leaving the show after the upcoming 2011-2012 season, as the show's co-creator, Ryan Murphy, notes that the characters started as sophomores in high school and need to graduate at the end of their senior year.

"We always knew we'd graduate in real time," Michele tweeted. "Its all part of the plan and it's all good! Its going to make Season 3 amazing!"

She added later, "This is just the beginning.”

MTV Renews Scripted Drama

MTV announced that it is bringing back one of its scripted shows, placing a 12-episode order for a new season of the drama, Entertainment Weekly reports.

Coming back for a second season will be "Teen Wolf," which has drawn about 1.7 million viewers each week during its freshman season, the story reports.

There isn't any word yet on a renewal for "The Hard Times of R.J. Berger."

MTV programming chief David Janollari said the network is "incredibly proud" of "Teen Wolf," which he said has been "wildly embraced" by its audience. He added that the renewal “marks another step towards the further diversification of our schedule, with this big, bold, entertaining scripted series.”

Popular Celebrity Chef Could Hold Key as Cable and Online Players Explore Partnership

HGTV owner Scripps Networks is in discussions with Demand Media about a possible partnership that could bring together the cable TV and Web players -- both of which have content deals with celebrity chef Rachael Ray, reports the New York Post.

Ray has a deal with Scripps' Food Network and in March signed a contract with Demand's eHow.com to act as the chief creative force of its food channel, the story says.

The talks between the two companies are in the early stages, with Scripps Interactive boss Ken Lowe being seen deep in discussion with Demand Media chief Richard Rosenblatt at Allen & Co.'s media conference last week, the piece notes.

A Scripps spokeswoman was noncommittal, saying Lowe often has dinner with various people at events and "you can't read anything into it." Demand declined comment, the story says.

It's unlikely that Scripps would outright buy Demand, given Scripps' recent $1 billion stock buyback plan, the story adds.

Report: Hollywood's Hottest Couple Finally Getting Married

Hollywood's hottest couple is finally getting married, reports Us magazine, claiming three separate sources for the information.

Says the magazine's cover story: "Get ready for a royal wedding of another sort: After six years together (and six kids!), Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are planning a wedding set to take place within the next few months.

The story adds, "Although Jolie, 36, and Pitt, 47, have long resisted traditional marriage until it became legal for everyone -- gay or straight -- their kids may have changed their mind. 'The kids ask about marriage,' Pitt told USA Today in May of Maddox, 9, Pax, 7, Zahara, 6, Shiloh, 5, and twins Vivienne and Knox, 3. 'It's meaning more and more to them.' "

Bombshell: Lea Michele, Golden Globe Winner Chris Colfer and Cory Monteith Will All Be Leaving 'Glee' After the 2011-2012 Season

"Glee" stars Lea Michele, Cory Monteith and Chris Colfer will be leaving the show after the upcoming 2011-2012 season, the show's co-creator, Ryan Murphy, tells The Hollywood Reporter.

According to the story, "Colfer, Michele and Monteith are not going to be back at all for Season 4. Murphy tells THR: 'You can keep them on the show for six years and people will criticize you for not being realistic, or you can be really true to life and say when they started the show they were very clearly sophomores and they should graduate at the end of their senior year.' "

And, most likely, even more of your favorite characters will be leaving the show after next season.

Notes the story, "Murphy added that planning for the future beyond high school will be a heavy theme during Season 3, noting that 'more characters are leaving than are staying' when graduation time comes at the season’s end. 'We’ve never done anything by the book,' he said, adding that who’s graduating and who’s staying will be revealed in the Sept. 20 season premiere. 'We made that decision and I involved Chris and Lea and they thought that was a good idea. They both trust the writing and trust me and felt that it would be great to have an open and closed experience for them to go out while they were on top.' "

Murphy said that he had not yet discussed "graduation plans" with Monteith, who plays Finn on the hit series.

Best-Selling Vampire Book Series -- the Basis for Hit HBO Show -- Will Wrap Up Soon; Graphic Novel Up Next

The best-selling book series that's the basis for HBO's hit vampire drama "True Blood" will be coming to an end after its 13th novel, reports NBC Miami's PopcornBiz blog.

Said Charlaine Harris, the author of the Sookie Stackhouse novels: “On the page, I have two more [Sookie] books. I'm writing Book 12 and then there will be Book 13. And then I'll think of something else new and wonderful to do."

Harris said she's working on a graphic novel, which will be called "Cemetery Girl" and is about a woman who finds herself living in a cemetery with no memory of her past.

Murdoch Pressured to Testify in Phone-Hacking Probe

News Corp. Chief Executive Rupert Murdoch is being pressured to testify in the inquiry over alleged phone hacking at his British papers, reports the Associated Press. The pressure in the U.K. investigation is coming from British lawmakers.

The House of Commons Committee on Culture, Media and Sport has asked Murdoch to appear with his son James and Rebekah Brooks, the CEO of News International, next week, the story says.

"If they have any shred of sense of responsibility or accountability for their position of power, then they should come and explain themselves before a select committee," said Prime Minister Nick Clegg.

Clegg added that it wasn't clear whether the committee could compel Murdoch to attend. Murdoch is a U.S. citizen.

Both Rupert and James Murdoch reportedly said today that they will not appear in public next week before the panel, although Brooks has agreed to appear Tuesday. James Murdoch has offered to appear before the group in August.

Rupert Murdoch indicated he was willing to work out an alternative to a public appearance.

'Boardwalk Empire' Actress to Cop Plea in Bar Brawl With Reality Cast Member

"Boardwalk Empire" actress Paz de la Huerta is expected to plead guilty today to harassment in an incident in which she allegedly flew off the handle at a New York hotel bar and assaulted former reality television show cast member Samantha Swetra, reports the New York Post.

De la Huerta's punishment will include a fine and a day of community service, the story says. Harassment is a violation and not a crime, the piece notes.

De la Huerta, 26, was accused of assault and hit with other charges after she allegedly punched Swetra, who was a cast member on MTV’s "The City," in the face, giving her a bloody nose. De la Huerta also reportedly flung a glass at Swetra, cutting Swetra’s leg.

NBC Says Netflix Is Only for Older Programming; Fresh Episodes of 'SNL' Will No Longer Be Offered

With a new digital content agreement between NBCUniversal and Netflix, "Saturday Night Live" episodes will no longer be available to users of Netflix's streaming service a day after they air on television, reports the Los Angeles Times' Company Town blog.

NBC now insists that Netflix is for content that's at least one year old, according to terms of the new agreement, which will last for at least two years.

The deal makes available some shows that weren't previously offered on Netflix, such as "Parenthood" and "The Event," plus some classic TV shows such as "Leave It to Beaver.” The agreement is non-exclusive, which will allow NBCU to license content to other online streaming services, the piece adds.

PBS Cutting Staff Positions, Eliminating Vacancies

PBS is trimming its staff by cutting some current staffers and opting not to fill some vacancies, reports Current.org, a blog about public media.

PBS will cut 13 current staff positions and eliminate eight vacancies, the report says.

PBS President Paula Kerger said in a letter on July 13: "This was not an easy decision to make, and we wish our departing staff the best as they pursue other opportunities.”

Six "new or restructured" positions will be added, including two new vice presidents of general audience programming who will support PBS's prime-time lineup revamp, the story says.

NBC Names New President of Entertainment

NBC made it official today, announcing the name of the new president of NBC Entertainment, TVbytheNumbers.com reports. The news was not a surprise, as we reported a month ago that Jennifer Salke, executive VP of 20th Century Fox Television, was in line for the job.

NBC Entertainment Chairman Robert Greenblatt made Salke’s appointment official, saying in a statement: “There is no one in the television business more perfect for this job than Jennifer Salke. I’ve known and worked with her for many years and have the utmost respect for her creative instincts, her relationships with talent of all kinds, and probably most of all, her taste. Her incredible tenure at 20th Century Fox Television, where she was instrumental in developing two of network television’s biggest hits, ‘Glee’ and ‘Modern Family,’ is unmatched. This is truly a significant moment for NBC as we continue to rebuild the network from top to bottom and put together the best possible team.”

Salke will oversee prime-time and daytime programming and will report to Greenblatt. Departments reporting to her will include drama development, comedy development, current programming and casting.

Said Salke: “I can’t express how excited I am to be joining Bob at NBC and to be joining a company with the breadth and vision of Comcast. I’ve known Bob well for many years and have admired him both professionally and personally. I believe together, we will foster a creative and successful environment at NBC.”

Homophobic Rant on 'Big Brother' Invokes Statement by CBS

Homophobic comments made by one of the cast members of “Big Brother” have sparked a response by CBS, which will not include the comments, described as a “rant,” in the televised version of the show, Entertainment Weekly reports.

The comments by house member Jeff Schroeder, which were heard on live feeds, include a reference to “Harry Potter’s” Professor Dumbledore, with Schroeder saying, “He’s in school with little kids! You don’t want to make that guy gay!”

In response, CBS released a statement saying: “Big Brother is a reality show about watching a group of people who have no privacy 24/7 — and seeing every moment of their lives. At times, the houseguests make comments, reveal prejudices and other beliefs that we do not condone. Any views or opinions expressed in personal commentary by a houseguest appearing on ‘Big Brother,’ either on any live feed from the house or the broadcast, are those of the individual(s) speaking and do not represent the views or opinions of CBS or the producers of the program.”

CNN Host Could Get Dragged Into U.K. Phone-Hacking Scandal

As the News Corp. phone-hacking scandal continues to spread, one person familiar to U.S. television viewers could get caught up in it, Business Insider reports.

CNN host Piers Morgan, who has an extensive background in the British tabloid industry, is the latest name to surface in connection with the scandal. Morgan is the former editor of News of the World, the newspaper Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp. shut down because of the scandal. But Morgan’s work as editor of a non-Murdoch paper, the Daily Mirror, could also be a problem.

According to the report, a widely read U.K. blogger is saying an award-winning Daily Mirror story that Morgan ferried to print was apparently the result of phone hacking. The story was about an affair between a U.K. football manager and a TV reporter.

The Mirror claims that the story did not involve hacking.

Morgan has not discussed any aspect of the Murdoch scandal as yet. The man who succeeded him as News of the World editor, Andy Coulson, was arrested in connection with the hacking.

Members of Parliament, meanwhile, have called for Morgan to be questioned as part of the hacking probe, The Telegraph reports.

Cop Show Gets Third-Season Order

Just three episodes in to its second season, a network cop drama has received an order for a third season, reports TheWrap.com. 

ABC made the announcement that it is ordering another season of "Rookie Blue," the story says.

As a summer series, "Rookie Blue" has delivered good ratings for ABC, tops in the 10 p.m. time slot in the 18-24 demographic.

Season three will be filmed in Toronto later this summer.

MLB All-Star Game Sees Drop in Viewership From 2010

The 82nd MLB All-Star Game gave Fox a good night in the ratings even though viewership was off from last year, the network announced. Tuesday was the network’s best night of prime time since the “American Idol” finale in May.

The game averaged 11.0 million total viewers, down 9% from last year’s 12.1 million, Fox said, citing Nielsen Media Research figures.

The network released the following details about market-by-market results: “St. Louis topped all markets last night with a 17.8 [rating]/28 [share], marking the fourth straight year that St. Louis has been the top-rated city for the All-Star Game. Since 2003, St. Louis has been out-rated for the All-Star Game only once, by host city Pittsburgh in 2006.

“Philadelphia was the second highest-rated market at a 14.7/23, an +11% gain over last year’s 13.3/21. Markets with the biggest increases included host city Phoenix, +45% (10.6 vs. 7.3); Cleveland, +42% (9.5 vs. 6.7); Knoxville, +42% (4.7 vs. 3.3); San Francisco, +28% (11.1 vs. 8.7); Richmond, +23% (7.5 vs. 6.1); Pittsburgh, +21% (8.6 vs. 7.1); Greenville, +16% (8.6 vs. 7.4); Austin, +16% (5.7 vs. 4.9); Greensboro, +14% (8.3 vs. 7.3); and Philadelphia (see above).”

Sony Pictures Television Opens Canada Office

Sony Pictures Television has announced the opening of an office in Canada and has named a senior vice president of distribution for Canada.

Kevin Byles was recently named to the post and will oversee the new office in Toronto. Keith Le Goy, president of international distribution for Sony Pictures Television, made the announcement.

Said Le Goy: “Canada is an exciting market for SPT and we have a vast catalogue of programming to fill the needs of content providers on all platforms. We also very much look forward to continuing to expand and deepen the relationships we have developed with broadcasters and producers in Canada to bring their content to the world. With Kevin’s rich experience and market expertise, we look forward to developing a more personal and multi-dimensional relationship with our clients and to expanding our business across this important territory.”

In its announcement, the company said: “The new office reaffirms SPT’s commitment to the Canadian marketplace and provides an opportunity to bring its knowledge and experience directly to clients in the country. Byles will now oversee distribution of all SPT programming to free, basic and pay TV services and digital platforms across Canada.”

Original Web Series Marks 300th Episode

One of the most successful original Web series is marking the production of its 300th episode. Partners Reveille, Yahoo! and Toyota Motor Sales USA are celebrating the milestone for the series “Who Knew?”

The companies reported that the series had the most successful launch of any original program on Yahoo, with more than 5 million viewers watching more than 13 million video streams in the show’s first month, and a total of more than 113 million streams since the launch.

David Anderson, senior vice president and head of digital at Reveille, said in a statement: “We are proud to meet this achievement with Toyota and Yahoo!. They have been incredible partners who share our belief that you can create entertaining and engaging digital content while providing valuable marketing opportunities for brands.”

The press release on the milestone adds: “Recognizing the mass appeal of the 90-second content-rich series, Toyota extended the development deal with the Reveille digital team to produce ‘OMG Who Knew?’ on omg! The celebrity-centric version of the popular ‘Who Knew?’ series continues as a weekly video roundup focused on celebrity families and their activities.”

Humor and Awkward Moments Mark Royal Couple's SoCal Swing

Prince William and Kate, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, wrapped up their North American visit with a whirlwind tour of Southern California that included its share of laughs and only a few missteps -- and TVWeek Open Mic blogger Hillary Atkin was on hand for all the excitement.

Read her up-close-and-personal take on the royal festivities here.

Cheers! Actor Best Known for TV Sitcoms Replaces Laurence Fishburne on 'CSI'

CBS will go with an actor best known for sitcoms to take over for Laurence Fishburne on 'CSI,' according to a number of media reports.

According to our friends Lynette Rice and James Hibberd at EW.com's Inside TV blog, who write, "[Ted] Danson — the veteran Emmy-winning TV actor who was most recently seen toking doobies with Zach Galfianakis on HBO’s 'Bored to Death' -- replaces Fishburne, who left the series in May after CBS declined to renew his contract. Fishburne came to the drama more than two years ago in an attempt to fill the void left by William Petersen (Gil Grissom)."

Danson has also played some dramatic parts, most notably on "Damages." He was also very good in a supporting role in the 1981 crime thriller "Body Heat," before he starred on the long-running "Cheers."

The EW story adds, "The casting of Danson caps off an exhaustive search by CBS to find another star worthy enough to help return some luster to the aging 'CSI' franchise. EW learned that offers went out to actors like Tony Shaloub, Robin Williams and John Lithgow before the studio landed on Danson, who’s been enjoying a career resurgence thanks to a critically-acclaimed run on 'Damages.' He received three Emmy nominations for playing Arthur Frobisher on the (onetime) FX drama. Danson will remain a series regular on 'Bored.' "

As Rupert Murdoch and His Company Get Further Mired in the U.K. Phone-Hacking Scandal, We Wonder, Where Is Murdoch's Moral Compass? Is Part of the Problem That Murdoch Has Watched Too Much of Jack Bauer?

Or at least that's what TVWeek Open Mic blogger Chuck Ross wonders.

To read his provocative, insightful essay, please click here.

Thousands Take To Social Media To Blast Netflix on 60% Price Increase

"Netflix users stormed the streaming video and DVD rental services' blog and Facebook page by the thousands on Tuesday to criticize a new pricing structure that will raise some users' monthly bill by 60 percent," PCWorld reports.

According to the article, "The service announced that it would separate its streaming and DVD rental services, ostensibly to let its users choose if they wanted just one service or both. The result: The $9.99 per month plan, which allowed one DVD out at a time and which currently includes unlimited video streaming will jump to $15.98 under the new price structure. Unlimited streaming or one DVD out at a time will now cost $7.99 each."

Subscribers were pissed when they heard the news. "Users left nearly 3,000 posts on the Netflix blog as of 6 p.m. Tuesday, July 12, 2011, and around 10,000 comments on the company's Facebook page," PCWorld noted, adding, "Commentors accused Netflix of being greedy and alleged it was trying to 'choke more change"' out of its customers. Others suggested refreshing the streaming content to justify the price change. Others said they would be leaving Netflix."

According to the Los Angeles Times take on the story, "Executives at several Hollywood studios, who were not authorized to speak publicly on the subject, said Tuesday that they were pleased by Netflix's move. The higher prices should help address concerns that the service was undervaluing studios' content and encouraging consumers to avoid options that are more profitable for the studios, such as video-on-demand rentals and Blu-ray purchases."

The Times story adds, "Studios have already taken numerous steps to limit Netflix's appeal. Four studios prevent the company from offering some newly released DVDs until 28 days after they go on sale in stores. Three others keep their films off the Netflix Instant streaming service until they finish airing on HBO — about seven years after their home video release."

Winfrey Takes Matters Into Her OWN Hands at Cable Network

Oprah Winfrey has made herself CEO and chief creative officer of OWN, the Oprah Winfrey Network, as she intensifies her focus on turning around the ratings-challenged network, the Los Angeles Times reports.

The move follows by about two months the ouster of former CEO Christina Norman. Discovery Communications Chief Operating Officer Peter Liguori has been serving as interim CEO since Norman’s departure.

Winfrey said in a statement: “I am ready to dedicate my full creative energy and focus as the full-time CEO of OWN.”

The story reports: “Also taking top positions at OWN are two of Winfrey's trusted lieutenants. Erik Logan and Sheri Salata, currently presidents of Harpo Studios, Winfrey's production company, will now serve as presidents of OWN.”

Winfrey, who recently ended the run of her successful syndicated daytime talk show, has admitted that she hasn’t been as focused as she should have been on OWN.

Bette Midler Pulls Out of Major David Mamet HBO Production

HBO Films has suspended production of its Phil Spector biopic project after Bette Midler, who was a key part of the project, pulled out, reports Deadline.com.

Midler didn't appear on set when she was scheduled to begin filming scenes, and two hours later director David Mamet told the crew that HBO and its insurance company were considering recasting the part.

Midler pulled out on "doctor's orders" because she has a herniated disc, the story says. She had been cast to play Linda Kenney Baden, a defense attorney who represented Spector during his first murder trial.

Producer of 'Knight Rider' and 'Six Million Dollar Man' Sues Universal for Millions, Claims He Was Cheated

A television producer who worked on hits including "Knight Rider" and "Six Million Dollar Man" has sued Universal, claiming he was cheated out of millions of dollars in profits from some of the biggest hits of the 1970s and 1980s, according to The Hollywood Reporter's Hollywood, Esq. blog.

Glen Larson filed suit Tuesday in Los Angeles Superior Court alleging decades-long fraud from a studio that he claims never once sent him profit participation statements, the story says.

“Indeed, as the shows make more money for Universal, the deficit that Larson Productions must overcome continually increases,” the complaint states. “It’s Hollywood’s version of being a sharecropper.”

NBCUniversal responded by saying it was "surprised that Mr. Larson has brought this lawsuit. He has been well compensated for his work on Universal's shows. Mr. Larson did not conduct any audit or otherwise notify Universal of any claim in advance of this filing. We have not seen the lawsuit."

Larson started his relationship with Universal in 1974, the story notes. Jack Klugman, who starred in the Larson-produced "Quincy M.E.," has also sued Universal over profits, the article points out.

New iPad Rumored for Later This Year

A new iPad with a higher-resolution screen is rumored to be on Apple's release slate for later this year, reports tech blog Thisismynext.com.

The new iPad would be a "pro" device geared to people who work in video and photo production, and wouldn't be an iPad 3 but instead a complementary model of the iPad 2 line, the story notes. "Think MacBook and MacBook Pro," the story says.

The tablet would have a double resolution screen (2048 x 1536) and be called the iPad HD, the story says.

News Corp. Abandons Bid for BSkyB

News Corp. has given in to public outrage and pressure from the British Parliament over the phone-hacking scandal centered on the company’s News of the World tabloid and has withdrawn its bid to take over the U.K. satellite TV company BSkyB, The Guardian reports.

All three of Britain’s main political parties were expected to demand today in the House of Commons that Rupert Murdoch’s company drop the bid, the story says.

“It is one of the biggest setbacks the 80-year-old media mogul has ever suffered and follows 10 days of revelations about the true scale of phone hacking at The News of the World, the paper Murdoch shut down last week,” the story reports.

The report adds: “The decision to abandon the deal is also a major blow to James Murdoch, who is third in command at the company and has responsibility for News Corp.'s U.K. businesses, including its Sky stake and News International.”

News Corp.'s U.S. Broadcast TV Licenses Considered Safe Despite U.K. Hacking Scandal, But Lawmakers Are 'Keeping an Eye' on the Company

The widening U.K. phone-hacking scandal involving News Corp.-owned tabloid News of the World -- and possibly extending to other News Corp. publications -- isn't likely to result in a push by U.S. regulators to revoke any of the company’s 27 broadcast television licenses, reports Bloomberg.

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski said Tuesday that the agency won't involve itself in the U.K. probe of allegations that journalists at News of the World tapped into phones and paid police for information, the story says.

“Obviously there is a process going on in the U.K., and that is a U.K. process, and I don’t expect we will be involved with that,” Genachowski said. An FCC spokesman said the agency wouldn't comment on the licensing question.

A spokesman for U.S. Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.), chairman of the subcommittee overseeing communications policy, said he doesn't plan to take any action, but added, "We're keeping an eye on the situation," the article notes.

Nevertheless, Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Jay Rockefeller (D-W.V.) said "appropriate agencies" should look into whether News Corp. broke U.S. laws, according to B&C.

The U.K. allegations raise "serious questions about whether the company has broken U.S. law," Rockefeller said in a statement.

Ad Forecast Scaled Back Amid Global Turmoil

A global advertising forecast from ZenithOptimedia was scaled back in the face of political turmoil in the Middle East and debt issues in Europe, reports Advertising Age.

ZenithOptimedia now expects global ad spending to increase 4.1% to $471 billion this year, compared with a December forecast that 2011 ad spending would rise 4.6%, the story notes.

For U.S. ad spending, ZenithOptimedia is now forecasting a 2.1% rise to $165 billion, compared with its previous estimate of a 2.5% bump.

Among media, TV is taking the most U.S. dollars, with money shifting from network to cable. Cable is expected to see a 10% increase in ad spending. Newspapers will see an 8.5% decline, the largest decrease, the piece notes.

Viewers Return in Big Numbers to Vampire Series

A hit vampire series that saw its audience fall off for its second episode of the season enjoyed a resurgence in viewership for Episode 3, according to The Hollywood Reporter's The Live Feed blog.

The third episode of Season 4 of HBO’s “True Blood” led all cable shows Sunday evening, drawing 6.1 million viewers over two airings on the night, the story says. That's an improvement over the July 4 holiday weekend episode, which saw a dramatic drop with just 2.9 million viewers, compared with the season debut's 5.42 million total viewers.

The story points out that HBO ran a marketing promotion with Episode 2, offering it early on a number of platforms such as HBO Go and On Demand. As a result, HBO indicated it was not surprised by the lower turnout for the live telecast of Episode 2.

Soap Opera Stars Appear to Be in the Same Boat as Many U.S. Workers -- Deciding Whether to Take Big Pay Cuts to Move Online

With "All My Children" and "One Life to Live" moving from television to online, the soap operas' stars are deciding whether to continue appearing in the programs when they move to the Internet, reports FoxNews.com.

Several current cast members have reportedly been informed that their salaries will be reduced, as moving the shows online will require deep cost cuts. The stars aren't sure they want to move online for less pay, according to the story.

A rep for Prospect Park, which has licensed the rights to the soaps from ABC, said the rumors about salary cuts aren't true and that negotiations haven't officially begun, the article notes.

Susan Lucci, who reportedly makes $1 million annually on "All My Children," is among the high-priced talent on the shows. Lucci’s rep didn’t have much to report, but said: “I know Susan thinks it’s great news for the fans that it seems a deal is in the works so that 'AMC' can continue. I don’t have any information at this point on Susan’s upcoming plans.”

Syfy Has Its Most-Watched Series Debut in Two Years, as Three of the Network's Shows Open Strong

Syfy had its most-watched series debut since 2009 for a drama it premiered Monday night, according to The Hollywood Reporter's The Live Feed blog.

The new drama "Alphas" debuted to 2.5 million viewers, the story says. It was the biggest series debut for Syfy since the premiere of "Warehouse 13" on July 7, 2009, which drew 3.5 million viewers.

Meanwhile, the third-season premiere of "Warehouse 13" at 9 p.m. drew 2.3 million viewers, providing a solid lead-in for "Alphas," which aired in the 10 p.m. block.

"Eureka" drew 2 million viewers in its season debut at 8 p.m., the story says.

Numbers Are Down for Season Premieres of TNT Hits -- But Still Not Bad

The seventh and final season of TNT's "The Closer" debuted Monday night with 7.2 million viewers, down from the sixth-season premiere, according to The Hollywood Reporter's The Live Feed blog. Still, the turnout represented cable’s biggest audience of the year for a drama, TNT reported.

The episode also matched the previous season's finale. While "The Closer" will end its run with the current seventh season, a spinoff called "Major Crimes" will debut after this season ends, the story notes.

"Rizzoli & Isles," which returned for its sophomore season Monday night following "The Closer," drew 6.4 million viewers, representing a drop of 1 million from its series debut, the article points out. “Rizzoli” was last year’s top cable series launch.

Time-shifted viewing is expected to increase the numbers significantly for both shows.

TV Pioneer Who Created 'Gilligan's Island' and 'Brady Bunch' Dead at 94

A television pioneer who created two of the most enduring -- and ridiculed -- sitcoms of all time has died, The New York Times reports. The creator of “Gilligan’s Island” and “The Brady Bunch,” Sherwood Schwartz was 94.

Schwartz died this morning in Los Angeles of natural causes. The Archive of American Television announced his death.

The story reports: “Mr. Schwartz weathered painfully dismissive reviews to see his shows prosper and live on for decades in syndication. Many critics suggested that they were successful because they ran counter to the tumultuous times in which they appeared: the era of the Vietnam War and sweeping social change.”

The story quotes David Marc and Robert J. Thompson, authors of “Prime Time, Prime Movers,” who describe Schwartz as an innovator who made a “surgical strike into the national psyche.” Referring to “Gilligan’s Island,” the authors wrote: “Schwartz was pioneering a dramatic matrix built upon the emerging cultural concept of the ‘support group’: a collection of demographically diverse characters thrown together by circumstance and forced to become an ersatz ‘family’ in order to survive.”

Schwartz's other credits include "Harper Valley PTA" and "It’s About Time."

He died in his sleep, surrounded by family, including his wife of 69 years, Mildred Schwartz, and four children.

Sherwood Schwartz

Video: TNT Releases Trailer for New 'Dallas'

TNT has released a trailer for its reimagining of the prime-time soap opera “Dallas,” set to bow in summer 2012. Veterans of the original series -- Larry Hagman, Patrick Duffy and Linda Gray -- are back on board, along with a lineup of younger stars including Jordana Brewster and Jesse Metcalfe.

Here’s the clip:

Olympic Organizers Aim to Reunite Legendary Band for 2012 Games

One of the most famous musical groups in history is the focus of plans to resurrect the band for the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, The Sun reports.

The group is the Beatles, and even though only two of the four Beatles are still around, organizers hope to have an updated version of the group in the lineup for the opening ceremony.

Sir Paul McCartney has already been approached to perform at the international event, and according to an insider, McCartney is interested in appearing and performing Beatles music.

It’s less clear what Ringo Starr, the other surviving Beatle, thinks of the idea, but organizers reportedly are trying to get him.

To represent the late George Harrison and John Lennon, their sons may be drafted, the story reports.

Harry Smith Officially Joins Brian Williams Project at NBC News

Harry Smith, who has just left CBS News after 25 years, has been named a correspondent for the new NBC primetime magazine that will be anchored by Brian Williams, TVNewser reports.

Smith will begin work on July 18.

Smith follows his wife, sports correspondent Andrea Joyce, who left CBS Sports after 11 years with the Tiffany Network to join NBC Sports in 2000.

Steve Capus, president of NBC News, said in a statement: "A veteran in the industry and highly regarded journalist, we’re honored to have Harry on board as one of the correspondents of the new primetime newsmagazine show. His vast experience, covering everything from interviews with world leaders to wars and natural disasters, makes him a perfect fit for this new broadcast. Plus, Harry also brings a well-earned reputation for being a great colleague and co-worker -- something we truly value at NBC News.”

The announcement had been expected since news surfaced last week that Smith was leaving CBS.

CBS Reality Hit Finds Home for Its Off-Network Run

CBS's hit reality series "Undercover Boss" has found a cable home -- two of them, in fact -- for its off-network run, which will take place beginning in fall 2012 on OWN, the Oprah Winfrey Network, and TLC.

Scott Garner, senior vice president, scheduling and acquisitions, OWN, said in a statement, "'Undercover Boss' is a great addition to OWN’s fall lineup. The self-contained episodes will serve as strong anchors to complement OWN original programming.”

Added Scott Koondel, president, distribution, CBS Television Distribution: "TLC’s programming is focused on finding the extraordinary in the everyday, and nothing reflects that more than the journeys of the ‘bosses’ and the more than a million employees of the companies featured who have benefited from 73 companywide improvements, as well as dozens of people who have been promoted or received scholarships.”

"Undercover Boss" features real-life bosses pretending to be typical employees as they infiltrate their businesses to learn what it's like from the bottom up.

Ballplayer Known for Botched Play to Revisit the Moment in Appearance on Comedy

A baseball player known for committing an error that changed the outcome of the World Series will appear as himself on an upcoming episode of HBO’s “Curb Your Enthusiasm, The New York Times reports.

Former Boston Red Sox first baseman Bill Buckner will show up on the episode after Larry suffers the indignity of muffing a grounder in a softball game, according to the story.

In the sixth game of the 1986 World Series, Buckner let a ground ball hit by the New York Mets' Mookie Wilson get through his legs, allowing a run to score and leading to the Red Sox losing the Series.

In "Curb," Larry David’s character turns to Buckner for advice. David told The Times, "I wrote the outline and then called him. He’s a very quiet guy. It’s not like you’re talking to one of your friends. He’s quiet. He has a cowboy quality. You sense that he’s a decent guy.”

Buckner will be featured in episode nine of the 10-episode season currently running on HBO.

New Network Backed by Martin Luther King III Readying for September Rollout

A new cable network founded by Martin Luther King III and others is preparing to roll out Monday, Sept. 26, reports TheWrap.

The new network, Bounce, will broadcast seven days a week, 24 hours a day with a blend of sports, films, documentaries and original programs. The target audience is the 25 and older African-American male and female demographic.

In a statement, King said, "Sept. 26 will be an important milestone as we launch the first-ever independently owned and operated broadcast television network featuring African-Americans."

The network will air in Houston on Belo Corp.'s KHOU-TV, along with distribution in Cleveland, Akron, Charlotte, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Dayton, New Haven, Hartford, Birmingham, West Palm Beach, Memphis, Louisville and Richmond.

Time Warner Cable Names New SVP of Mobile Services

Time Warner Cable has promoted from within to fill the position of senior VP of mobile services, Multichannel News reports. The company announced that it has named Michael Roudi for the post.

Roudi was previously group VP of wireless products. He will continue reporting to Carl Rossetti, executive VP and president of Time Warner Cable Ventures.

The story reports: “In his expanded role, he will oversee business planning, partnership negotiations, product development, operations and overall product marketing for the company's mobile products -- including the 4G service offered through Clearwire -- as well as its regional Wi-Fi initiatives.”

In a statement, Rossetti said: "Mike has played a key role in leading the integration and implementation of our wireless product. His extensive leadership skills and knowledge of the industry make him the ideal candidate to take on this expanded role. His tremendous contributions will continue as he oversees our mobile strategy to ensure we serve the needs of our customers."

Fangtastic: Report Says Johnny Depp in Talks to Star in Feature Film Version of Fondly Remembered 1970s TV Movie and Series

According to the well-connected Mike Fleming at Deadline.com, Johnny Depp is in talks to star in a feature film version of a well-remembered TV movie and series of the 1970s.

Says the story, "Disney and Johnny Depp's Infinitum Nihil are teaming up on...a feature version of the '70s TV movie 'The Night Stalker' " in which Depp might star.

The article adds, "Like many, Depp [and his Infinitum Nihil partner, Christi Dembrowski] had fond memories of the ABC telepic and series 'The Night Stalker,' and they got Disney's Rich Ross and Sean Bailey sparked on a pitch for Depp to potentially play tabloid reporter Carl Kolchak. Originated by Darren McGavin, Kolchak was the dogged journalist first seen in the 1972 telepic (where he hunted a killer who was draining the blood of beautiful girls on the Las Vegas strip) and later in the ABC series 'Kolchak: The Night Stalker.' Kolchak's investigations always seemed to lead him to the doorstep of vampires, zombies, werewolves and aliens. For its time, it was pretty scary stuff. The studio will go out to writers shortly. David Kennedy will be exec producer." Dembrowski would produce, the story notes.

The TV series was created on Jeffrey Grant Rice and ran on ABC.

The story also says Depp is working on a feature film about the midnight ride of Paul Revere.

Schwarzenegger Takes On His First Acting Role Since News of Affair Broke

After putting his acting career on hold for a couple of months to let the media frenzy over his extramarital affair die down, the “Terminator” star and former California governor is back in action, TVGuide.com reports.

Arnold Schwarzenegger has signed to appear in “The Last Stand,” a feature film in which he will play a sheriff doing battle with a Mexican drug cartel, the story says. The role was expected at one point to be played by Liam Neeson.

The movie will be helmed by Korean director Jee-woon Kim, making his English-language directing debut.

When the scandal broke two months ago over Schwarzenegger’s extramarital affair and love child, the actor pulled out of some projects and was dumped by others. The status of his various potential projects, notably a “Terminator” sequel, remains in limbo.

News Corp. Loses $7 Billion in Market Value Over Four Days as Stock Plunges Amid Hacking Scandal

News Corp. has lost $7 billion in market value over four trading days, demonstrating widespread investor concerns over the company's U.K. phone hacking scandal, reports Bloomberg.

The four straight days of declines have cut News Corp.'s market value by 15%, leaving it with a valuation of $41.2 billion, the piece notes.

The plunge in value is much greater than any lost profits from the News of the World, the British tabloid that was closed amid revelations about phone hacking, or from the delay in purchasing the satellite-TV provider British Sky Broadcasting Group Plc, the article points out, citing RBC Capital Markets analyst David Bank.

“These headlines cause massive swings in sentiment and stock price, leaving a cloud of uncertainty about how deep the allegations go," Bank noted.

News Corp. competes with Bloomberg in providing financial news and information.

Glenn Beck Ready to Relocate From New York, Plans to Build Film, TV and Radio Facility

Glenn Beck said he plans to move from New York and has picked a city where he will build a film, television and radio facility, according to The Hollywood Reporter. With his Fox News Channel show off the air he no longer has to live near the network’s studios in New York and will relocate to Dallas, the story reports.

Beck, speaking on his radio show on Monday, asked the media to "leave my family alone" and said leaks about his relocation put his wife and children at risk, the story says.

Beck said he started looking for land in and around Dallas in December. He is reportedly renting a house in Dallas for $20,000 per month, according to Gawker.

Former 'Survivor' Producer, Accused of Killing His Wife, Faces Extradition Hearing

A former producer of the CBS reality show “Survivor” who is accused of killing his wife last year during a vacation in Mexico was scheduled for a court appearance today to determine whether he will be extradited to face trial in Mexico, People magazine reports. The producer is Bruce Beresford-Redman.

According to the story: “Attorneys for Beresford-Redman have indicated that they hope to call his 6-year-old daughter to the witness stand at the hearing, but federal prosecutors are expected to argue against the child's appearance, reports the Associated Press.”

The story cites an affidavit from a family therapist that quotes the daughter saying: "Mommy and Daddy did not yell at each other and never hit each other. Mommy and Daddy never hit each other anywhere, any time."

The story also reports: “At the time of her death, Monica Beresford-Redman, who owned a popular Brazilian restaurant in Los Angeles, had just discovered her husband's affair with a co-worker. As for the loud noises which erupted from the couple's room that were reported by other resort guests, the girl also told the therapist that the family was playing a loud, boisterous game.”

Prosecutors are arguing against calling the 6-year-old to the witness stand, saying it’s inappropriate, besides being unnecessary to the extradition hearing.

CBS TV Studios Executive Tapped for Role at Alloy Entertainment as Company Behind 'Vampire Diaries' and 'Gossip Girl' Expands Slate

Alloy Entertainment has tapped an executive who has been director of current programs and cable development at CBS TV Studios to be vice president of television, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Stacey Silverman’s appointment comes as Alloy prepares two new summer and fall series, "The Lying Game" for ABC Family and "The Secret Circle" for The CW.

Silverman will work with Senior Vice President of TV Gina Girolamo and Vice President of Television Andrew Wang on development and on the seven series Alloy has in production, the story adds. The slate includes CW’s “Gossip Girl” and “The Vampire Diaries” and ABC Family’s “Pretty Little Liars.”

ABC Family Renews Sitcom

ABC Family announced that it has given a second-season order to a half-hour comedy, reports EW.com's Inside TV blog. The show is "Melissa & Joey," starring Melissa Joan Hart and Joey Lawrence.

The first season will continue airing through the summer and fall with 18 new episodes, the story notes. The second season will begin in 2012.

The show debuted in 2010 as ABC Family's top comedy ever in total viewers and viewers 12 to 34, and across key 18 to 34 and 18 to 49 demos, the piece says.

Stalker Arrested at Halle Berry's Home

Los Angeles police have arrested a man who reportedly scaled the wall at the home of Oscar-winning actress Halle Berry, the L.A. Times reports.

The unemployed L.A. man, Richard A. Franco, described as a community college student in his mid-20s, is accused of stalking the actress. The incident was reportedly caught on security cameras.

According to the story: “Sources familiar with the investigation said Franco scaled a concrete wall surrounding Berry's home and was immediately confronted by security guards on the property. He did not resist and cooperated fully with officers, according to sources familiar with the investigation. They immediately called the LAPD and he was arrested on suspicion of felony stalking.”

Berry has been stalked before. In a 2004 incident involving a different man, she received a restraining order against an alleged stalker.

Berry won an Academy Award in 2002 for her leading role in “Monster’s Ball.” She received an Emmy in 2000 as lead actress in HBO's "Introducing Dorothy Dandridge.'

Good News/Bad News for Starz: 'Torchwood' Premiere on Par With 'Camelot'

Friday night’s debut of the sci-fi drama "Torchwood: Miracle Day" on Starz drew a combined audience of 1.51 million viewers for its 10 p.m. airing and its 11 p.m. rebroadcast, reports TheWrap's The Box blog, which calls it a "very encouraging" premiere.

Nevertheless, the numbers are comparable to the turnout in April for the Starz debut of "Camelot," which drew 1.57 million viewers for its initial Friday night telecast -- and despite that strong start, “Camelot” was canceled.

"Torchwood" drew 2 million viewers when Sunday night repeats are added in, the piece notes.

Station Creating Digital Library of TV Newscasts as Internet Resource

Boston's public television station has begun an effort to digitize its past television newscasts along with those from other local TV stations, the Boston Globe reports.

The goal for WGBH-TV is to build a video catalog of Boston history via the daily newscasts, and to make the library available over the Internet. TV news from WGBH's archives includes Barack Obama protesting outside Harvard University in 1990, Martin Luther King Jr. marching in the area in 1965 and Fidel Castro visiting Boston in 1959, the piece adds.

The service is being funded with $900,000 in grants from nonprofit groups and federal agencies, the story says. "The big effort is bringing together otherwise fierce rivals," the piece adds.

CEO of Interactive Ad Firm Canoe Ventures Stepping Down

The chief executive of Canoe Ventures plans to leave the interactive advertising firm when his contract ends later this year, reports MediaPost's MediaDailyNews. David Verklin has been CEO of the company since it started in 2008.

Current Chief Operating Officer Kathy Timko is interim CEO, although the story notes that no search process has been started.

Canoe, which is owned by the six largest cable operators, provides a product that helps manage interactive advertising on national cable networks.

Verklin's departure is not a sign that Canoe's backers are pulling back, according to a statement from Robert Marcus, a Canoe board member and the COO of Time Warner Cable.

Vote of Confidence for Two New Animated Series on Fox: Both Shows Get Expanded Script Orders Even Before They Premiere

Two new animated comedies that are in the works for the Fox Network have received expanded orders from the network, reports Joe Adalian at New York Magazine's Vulture blog. Neither show has premiered yet.

The shows are "Allen Gregory" and "Napoleon Dynamite." Fox bought six additional scripts for "Gregory," produced by Jonah Hill, and seven extra scripts for "Dynamite.”

The orders are an indication that the network likes the projects based on what it has seen in early production, the piece notes. "Allen Gregory" will debut Oct. 30, following "The Simpsons’” "Treehouse of Horror" episode, while "Dynamite" should debut midseason, the article notes.

The decision on whether to produce extra episodes is expected before this fall, the story adds.

ABC Sets Encore Airing for High-Rated Jaycee Dugard Special

Following the huge ratings for Diane Sawyer's special featuring Jaycee Dugard, ABC plans to rebroadcast the show on Saturday, reports TVNewser.com.

The program, “A Special Edition of Primetime With Diane Sawyer -- Jaycee Dugard: In Her Own Words,” will air Saturday at 9 p.m. ET instead of repeats of original summer programming such as "Expedition Impossible," the piece says.

As previously reported, the special drew more than 14 million viewers and easily won the Sunday night ratings.

Shareholders Sue News Corp. as Hacking Scandal Widens

As the U.K. phone-hacking scandal widens in the wake of the closure of tabloid paper News of the World, a group of News Corp. shareholders has filed a lawsuit against the company, USA Today reports.

“The lawsuit accuses News Corp. of large-scale governance failures surrounding the British hacking case,” the story reports. “News of the World employees have been accused of hacking into the phone of a missing 13-year-old girl, who was later found murdered, as well as those of other crime victims.”

The suit was filed Friday in Delaware, with Amalgamated Bank in a lead role, joined by municipal and union pension funds, among others.

According to the story: “The lawsuit is part of an amended complaint that was filed this year. The shareholders are also challenging News Corp.'s acquisition of Shine Group, founded by the daughter of News Corp. Chairman and CEO Rupert Murdoch. The suit says that Rupert Murdoch ‘habitually uses News Corp. to enrich himself and his family members at the company's and its public shareholders' expense.’"

Meanwhile, the hacking scandal is widening, with former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and members of the royal family among those who were reportedly targeted by staff members of News International, the British newspaper wing of Murdoch’s media empire, according to various reports.

Murdoch’s attempt to buy U.K. satellite company BSkyB has also been caught up in the scandal, with the acquisition being referred to Britain’s competition commission for review. U.K. Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt told Parliament that a decision on the purchase will now take at least six months.

Scotland Yard, the lead agency in the investigation into phone-hacking and corruption allegations at News of the World, also got in on the act, issuing an unusual statement today condemning what it called a deliberate attempt by the company to undermine the probe, according to reports.

Recently Retired NBA Great Shaquille O'Neal Reportedly Lands TV Job

Just weeks after announcing his retirement from the NBA, Shaquille O’Neal reportedly has a high-profile job lined up in television, according to The Huffington Post.

The TNT "Inside the NBA" team of Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith and Ernie Johnson will soon be making room for the larger-than-life basketball superstar, according to the report.

A tweet from CNBC sports business expert Darren Rovell said, "BREAKING NEWS: Sources have confirmed that @SHAQ has agreed in principle to join Turner.

But USA Today's Michael McCarthy contacted Jeff Pomeroy of TNT about the report, and Pomeroy said, "Nothing's in place at this time."

Sex Scandal Proves Costly for NBC's Chris Hansen

TV host Chris Hansen, best known for NBC's "To Catch a Predator" series but more recently in the news for being caught on video himself in an extramarital affair, has reportedly lost a promotion from the network, according to the New York Post.

Hansen was set to be named lead anchor of NBC's "Dateline," taking over for Ann Curry, according to sources cited by the Post. However, because of the bad press from his Florida fling with WPBT reporter Kristyn Caddell -- which surfaced last week after he was caught on camera by The National Enquirer -- NBC executives have rescinded the promotion.

NBC News is denying the story. A spokesperson said, "This couldn't be further from the truth. Ann Curry is the anchor of 'Dateline.' " Curry also has taken over co-hosting chores on NBC "Today" show.

Hansen, 52, is married and a father of two young sons, and reportedly has been seeing Caddell for about four months.

With TCM Movie Host Robert Osborne Taking a Break Following Surgery, Network Has All-Star Lineup Ready to Fill In

The face of Turner Classic Movies, film historian and host Robert Osborne, is taking a three-month break from his duties on TCM to recover from minor surgery and to get in a holiday, reports TCM.com.

While Osborne is off the air, the network will turn to guest hosts, including film and TV star Robert Wagner, who’s lined up for this week; MGM musical great Jane Powell, set for the week of July 18; and Hitchcock blonde Tippi Hedren, due up the week of July 25.

Other guest hosts will be announced in the weeks to come.

Osborne will return in November for his on-air duties, and will be on board as planned for the TCM Classic Cruise in December.

Iconic Character Will Return to Soap Opera

An iconic character in the world of soap operas will be making a return, reports EW.com's Inside TV blog. The character, who debuted in 1976, is Dr. Marlena Evans, played by Deidre Hall.

Hall is slated to revive Evans on "Days of Our Lives," with her return set for Sept. 26. Evans was a psychiatrist at Bayview Sanitarium and was subject to plot twists such as an evil twin sister, possession by the devil and hysterical amnesia, according to SoapCentral.com.

Fans were upset when Hall was dropped from the NBC soap in 2009 because of budget cuts, with the actress reportedly earning $60,000 per month at the time, EW.com reports.

Premium VOD Isn't Exactly Setting the World on Fire -- Yet

Theater owners' concerns over in-home premium video-on-demand appear to have been overblown, as so far consumer response to the service has been lukewarm, reports the Los Angeles Times' Company Town blog.

Four studios -- 20th Century Fox, Sony Pictures, Universal Pictures and Warner Bros. -- signed up with DirecTV to offer movie rentals in the home for $30 as early as 60 days after the movies were released in theaters. So far, 13 films have been offered, including "Water for Elephants" and "The Adjustment Bureau," to modest results, although executives at some of the studios declined to say exactly how many premium VOD rentals were ordered.

The studios want cable companies such as Comcast to join in the next premium VOD test, as Hollywood tries to come up with new business models that will replace declining DVD sales. Theater owners were initially outraged at the plan, although they are no longer publicly threatening to pull studios' trailers, the article notes.

How the 'Spoiler' Has Evolved Into a Serious Problem in the Digital Age

The so-called “spoiler” -- the revelation of a plot twist or how the story ends to those who haven't yet seen a particular television show or movie, or had a chance to read a recent book -- is no longer the relatively minor and infrequent phenomenon it was when the public generally watched TV shows on a live basis, writes Mary McNamara in the Los Angeles Times.

"But now a spoiler means having the temerity to discuss things that some people haven't gotten around to watching or reading," McNamara writes, pointing to the way technology has especially changed television, allowing viewers to watch streaming shows on Netflix years after they originally aired or via their DVRs at a later date.

"Delayed content delivery gave birth to a generation of people who are not about to schedule their lives around some TV show. Not even a Really Important episode that they don't want spoiled," she writes.

Indeed, just four years ago every blog and media outlet dissected the final scene of HBO's "The Sopranos" with almost no anger expressed over spoilers, she points out. But from now on, McNamara writes, "The TV time warp is going to get only worse, and with more and more people watching on their laptop, we may have to come up with a whole other term for 'television' (Small-screen content? The art form formerly known as TV?)."

The good news, though, is that if a show is good enough to keep you watching, "it will no doubt survive a little spoilage," she adds.

Jaycee Dugard Special Delivers a Ratings Win for ABC

On a night when the competition served up mostly repeat programming, ABC’s heavily promoted interview with kidnapping victim Jaycee Dugard helped the Alphabet Network claim an easy win in the Sunday night ratings, TVbytheNumbers.com reported.

A special two-hour ABC "Primetime," which included Diane Sawyer's interview with Dugard, was the top-rated program of the night, scoring a 3.7 average rating in adults 18-49 with more than 14 million total viewers.

For the night, ABC averaged a 2.5 in the 18-49 demo, easily topping CBS (1.4 average), Fox (1.4) and NBC (0.7). ABC averaged 10.1 million total viewers to 6.0 million for CBS, 2.9 million for NBC and 2.9 million for Fox.

At 7 p.m. CBS's "60 Minutes" netted a 1.1 in the 18-49 demographic, ahead of NBC's "Dateline" with a 0.9 in the same demo.

At 8 p.m. CBS's "Big Brother" had a 2.5 in the 18-49 demographic, against all reruns.

At 9 p.m. ABC's "Primetime" had a 3.4 in the 18-49 demographic for the first hour, airing against repeats.

The average for the ABC special grew to a 4.0 in the 18-49 demo at 10 p.m., while NBC’s "Marriage Ref" settled for a 0.8.

The Role Is Out There for Former 'X-Files' Star Gillian Anderson

Gillian Anderson, best known for her tenure as Agent Sculley on Fox's "The X-Files," will be taking on a new TV role that should be nothing like her ‘X-Files’ character, reports Reuters.

Anderson will play Miss Haversham in the latest incarnation of Charles Dickens' "Great Expectations," which is being adapted into a miniseries by the BBC, the story reports.

Anderson has experience with this type of material. She starred in 2005 in "Bleak House," also for the BBC and also penned by Dickens. That production appeared on PBS in 2006.

Also cast in "Great Expectations" are Ray Winstone, David Suchet, Mark Addy and, as the main character, Pip, Douglas Booth.

'3rd Rock From the Sun' Star Reportedly Gets Into Beef With Octomom During Flight Delay

One of the stars of "3rd Rock from the Sun" apparently got into a spat with Nadya Suleman, known as Octomom for her brood of octuplets, as they were waiting in business class for their plane to depart on a flight from New York to Los Angeles, reports TMZ.com.

Suleman was waiting to fly back with her 12 children, who took up much of the business class section, when the children kept crying during a two-hour flight delay. Kristen Johnston, who played Sally Solomon in NBC’s “Third Rock,” reportedly asked Suleman to keep her children quiet, which resulted in an unfriendly exchange of words, the story says.

The TMZ story reports: “Nadya fired back, ‘How would you like me to keep eight 2-year-olds quiet?’ To which Kristen allegedly responded, ‘Get more help!’"

Suleman then allegedly told Johnston, "Why don't you grow a baby and get a life!"

Johnston apparently stormed off the plane, and reports differ on whether she returned.

Attempts to contact Johnston's representatives were unsuccessful, the piece adds.

Contacted after she landed at LAX, Suleman reportedly said she had no idea Johnston was a celebrity, and added, “I guess there’s some people that don’t like kids.”

Court TV Founder Trashes Nancy Grace

With the conclusion of the Casey Anthony murder trial last week, Steve Brill, the creator of Court TV, was asked about the ascension of HLN's Nancy Grace because of her coverage of the trial, and he took the opportunity to blast the lawyer-turned-TV host, reports TVNewswer.com.

In an interview with the AP's David Bauder, Brill called Grace a "monster," and not in a good way. "I feel like I owe the nation community service for having hired her and put her on television. She’s a monster,” Brill said.

Brill added that the point of Court TV reporters and experts is to inform viewers and clarify the legal process, not to offer opinions about guilt or innocence.

As previously reported, Grace has given up her latest show, "Swift Justice With Nancy Grace," to spend more time with her family.

Emmy-Winning Sitcom Writer Dies; Work Included 'Dick Van Dyke Show,' 'That Girl,' 'McHale's Navy'

A writer for classic television sitcoms such as "The Dick Van Dyke Show" and "That Girl" has died, reports the Los Angeles Times. Sam Denoff was 83.

Denoff and his writing partner, Bill Persky, had written for shows such as "McHale's Navy" when they sold a script in 1963 for "The Dick Van Dyke Show," which aired on CBS from 1961 to 1966, the piece notes. Denoff and Persky later shared two Emmys for the series and went on to work on the show as story editors and producers, the story says.

"When they came upon the scene, they saved my life," said series creator Carl Reiner of Denoff and his writing partner. Van Dyke noted Denoff was "a real bon vivant. Sam knew all the best restaurants. ... They don't make guys like that anymore."

Denoff met Persky when working at radio station WNEW, for which they wrote jingles and material for a disc jockey. They moved to California in 1961 and started in TV, eventually creating the series "That Girl" for Marlo Thomas. Denoff wrote the lyrics to the show's opening theme.

"Sam was my greatest convert to feminism as part of our great adventure bringing the first single girl to television," Thomas said in a statement Sunday.

Denoff, who had Alzheimer's disease, died Friday. He is survived by his wife, their two children, and two children from his first marriage, the story notes.

'Dancing With the Stars' Winner Arrested

A winner of "Dancing with the Stars" was arrested on Saturday morning on drunken driving charges in Georgia, reports TheWrap.com.

Hines Ward, who is also a Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver, was arrested outside Atlanta and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, then released on $1,000 bond, the story says.

Ward won the 12th season of "Dancing with the Stars" in May and is a two-time Super Bowl winner.

Portrait of Iconic TV Beauty at Center of Lawsuit

A portrait of one of the icons of 1970s television by a famed U.S. artist is the subject of a lawsuit against the now-deceased actress’s longtime partner, the New York Post reports.

The silkscreen of Farrah Fawcett by Andy Warhol has spurred the University of Texas to file a lawsuit against actor Ryan O'Neal, the story says.

The university filed the lawsuit on Friday, claiming that it owns the artwork as part of a bequest Fawcett made to her alma mater before she died in 2009 at the age of 62. O'Neal claims Fawcett gave him the silkscreen, which is valued at $30 million, and that he owns it outright.

O'Neal's representative called the lawsuit "ridiculous," the piece adds.

Fawcett became a worldwide sex symbol through her role in “Charlie’s Angels” in the late 1970s.

Silkscreen of Farrah Fawcett by Andy Warhol

Drunken Man Trashes Ed Sullivan Theater, Where 'Letterman' Show Tapes

David Letterman's theater on Broadway -- the famed Ed Sullivan Theater -- was trashed by an allegedly drunken 22-year-old man early Sunday morning, reports the New York Post.

James Whittemore reportedly broke glass panes in three out of four of the theater's double-door sets, and knocked over garbage pails and velvet-rope stanchions. He was apparently unable to gain access to the studio because of padlocks on the doors.

Police apprehended Whittemore at the scene and brought him to a hospital for treatment for a cut on his head, the story says.

Letterman's production company, Worldwide Pants, and CBS said in a statement that the vandalism would not prevent Monday's taping of 'Late Show With David Letterman." The program's scheduled guests include "Harry Potter" actress Emma Watson and actor Chris Evans from "Captain America."

Show Starring Celebrity Attorney a 'Firm Go' for NBC-Owned TV Stations

Entertainment Studios announced that it has signed a deal with NBC Owned Television Stations for a new HD court show centered around a high-profile attorney.

“We the People With Gloria Allred” will be carried by the NBC-owned stations, including New York’s WNBC-TV, Los Angeles’ KNBC-TV, Chicago’s WMAQ-TV, Dallas’s KXAS-TV, San Francisco’s KNTV, San Diego’s KNSD-TV and Hartford’s WVIT-TV.

Said Allred: “I’ve always been passionate about the law, and I’m very excited about this show. I am fully committed to making ‘We The People’ a huge success, and yes, I will absolutely continue to practice law with my brilliant partners.”

Byron Allen, founder, chairman and CEO of Entertainment Studios, added: “It is unprecedented to have the biggest name in law come to television and be a part of one of its most successful genres -- the television court show. ... Quite often a Gloria Allred case is the lead story on the news across the nation. Gloria Allred is the perfect judge to be on a television court show which can serve as the ultimate news lead-in.”

Entertainment Studios is the largest independent producer and distributor of first-run syndicated television programming for broadcast television stations, and owns seven 24-hour HD television networks.

CNBC Names New Anchors for 'Squawk on the Street' Morning Show

CNBC has tapped new anchors for its morning show "Squawk on the Street," filling roles that had been vacant following the death in May of longtime anchor Mark Haines and the departure of Erin Burnett for CNN, reports TVNewser.com.

The new anchors are Melissa Lee and Carl Quintanilla, who will co-anchor with contributions from David Faber, Jim Cramer and Simon Hobbs.

The new role moves Quintanilla from "Squawk Box," while Lee will continue with "Fast Money" at 5 p.m., the story says. Cramer will continue to host "Mad Money" while also appearing in the 9 a.m. hour of "Squawk on the Street," the story notes.

Hobbs will co-anchor the 10 a.m. hour with Lee and Quintanilla.

'Torchwood' Creator Has Recommendation to Make U.S. Television Better

"Torchwood" creator Russell T. Davies says U.S. television would be wise to implement a change in how it’s programmed, the Los Angeles Times reports. Davies suggests airing shorter seasons, similar to TV in his home country of Britain.

"I've lived in America now for two years, and you get these blocks of programming that run for 23 weeks of the year. And when they all stop before the summer, it's like TV land is empty," Davies said. "I think stations should be more nimble and have 10-parters, six-parters."

Davies notes that the approach would appeal to increasingly niche audiences and would be "the smart thing to do."

For "Torchwood: Miracle Day," which is airing now on Starz, the series started with a 13-episode season but then was cut down to 10 episodes, he notes. "We really made it fly," he adds.

Comcast Discriminated Against Tennis Channel, Says FCC Arm

The FCC's Enforcement Bureau is recommending that Comcast be required to carry Tennis Channel on a "widely viewed" tier and that the cable operator receive the maximum fine, reports B&C.

The recommendations represent the bureau's opinion on a complaint following oral argument and each side's submission of a recommended decision, the story notes. The bureau's take will now provide Tennis Channel with "new ammunition," the piece says, with each side scheduled to make a presentation in the case Tuesday.

The recommendation noted that Comcast should place Tennis near either Versus or Golf, in which Comcast has financial stakes, the story says.

"Comcast engaged in discrimination in the selection, terms and conditions of carriage on the basis of affiliation and nonaffiliation," the bureau concluded in a redacted version of the recommendation obtained by B&C, the story says. The bureau recommended a fine of $375,000, the maximum allowed, the piece adds.

Jerry Springer Says He Would Never Interview Casey Anthony, Denies Report of Million-Dollar Offer

Jerry Springer is denying that a report that surfaced Friday that indicated his show had offered Casey Anthony $1 million for an appearance by Anthony and her family, TMZ.com reports.

Springer said the report, which first appeared on RadarOnline, is “absolutely, unequivocally not true.”

Springer reportedly told the publication that Anthony should not profit from what she did or didn’t do, saying, “God as my witness, I would never interview her. You could pay me the million dollars, I wouldn't do it."

TMZ also reported last week that a porn producer contacted Anthony with an offer to appear in a movie, but later thought better of it.

Steve Hirsch, head of Vivid Entertainment, cited the public outrage against Anthony in the wake of her acquittal on charges of murdering her 2-year-old daughter.

"We now believe that we underestimated the emotional response that people are having to the verdict. A movie starring Casey Anthony is not what people want to see,” Hirsch is quoted as saying.

Royal Couple Turns Down Invitation From 'The Simpsons'

Prince William and Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge, declined an invitation to a read-through of an upcoming episodes of "The Simpsons," citing a busy schedule during their Los Angeles trip, reports EW.com's Inside TV blog.

William and Kate received an invitation written by Homer Simpson, who promised to be "amusing, my wife will be gracious, my daughters will be charming, and my son will be duct-taped to the boiler in the basement.” The show invited the couple after reading that Prince William was a fan of the show as a boy, the article adds.

"The Simpsons" executive producer Al Jean said the show isn't done with royalty yet, promising to invite more to the show. "Our next choice is Prince Harry, and then we’ll go to one of Fergie’s kids,” Jean said. “We’ll work our way down.”

In the Heavyweight Championship Fight that is Rupert Murdoch's Tabloid Stratagem Vs. Rupert Murdoch's Business Strategem, It's the Middle Rounds, and the Tabloid Hack Attack Has the Business BSkyB Plan on the Ropes. But the Fight is Far From Over

It's Rupert Murdoch vs. Rupert Murdoch in the fight of his life, and he'd probably have it no other way.

The Independent in the U.K. is reporting today, Monday, July 11, 2011, that "Rupert Murdoch's takeover of BSkyB appeared to be dead in the water last night after proof emerged that executives at his British newspaper empire mounted a cover-up of the full scale of alleged criminal wrongdoing at the News of the World. In another extraordinary day in the phone-hacking scandal, Downing Street sources confirmed that Government lawyers were drawing up a strategy to halt the £9bn [$14 billion] deal which looked a certainty only a week ago."

That comes on the heels of a report at Deadline.com last Friday, July 8, 2011 that "Ofcom, the UK communications regulator, says it has concerns as to whether News Corp is a fit-and-proper owner for BSkyB in light of the worsening News of the World scandal. James Murdoch has admitted News International effectively misled the UK Parliament while he approved secret out-of-court settlements for illegal activity."

The Deadline story adds, "even Prime Minister David Cameron has distanced himself from his friend Rebekah Brooks -- the CEO of newspaper arm News International, who was editor of News of the World when the alleged phone hacking of murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler and families of London bombing victims took place. At an emergency press conference this morning, Cameron said that if Rebekah Brooks offered her resignation to him, he would have taken it. Brooks again addressed News of the World staff this afternoon, although she has not resigned."

As previously reported, News Corp. shut down the 168 year-old News of the World newspaper after yesterday's (Sunday's) edition, because of the ever-widening phone-hacking scandal at the newspaper. The idea is to--ultimately--win British government approval of the BSkyB deal.

The New York Times today has two good stories related to the scandal. One of the stories details the "Cozy Ties [that] Mark Newspaper’s Dealings With Scotland Yard," as the headline of the article says.

The other New York Times story is media columnist David Carr's "A Tabloid Shame, Exposed by Earnest Rivals,"

In that piece Carr writes, " 'After [U.K. Prime Minister]  David Cameron was elected prime minister, one of the first visitors he received at 10 Downing Street was Mr. Murdoch — discreetly through a back entrance — and Mr. Cameron spoke plainly last week about the corrosively close relationship. 'The truth is, we’ve all been in this together,' he said. 'The press, the politicians and leaders of all parties.' To which a dumb Yank like me might say, 'Duh.' "

Carr adds later in his piece, "James Murdoch regretted everything and took responsibility for almost nothing. What looked like an opportunity for him to prove his mettle as a manager of crisis might yet engulf him. Andy Coulson, the former editor of News of the World who became the chief spokesman for Mr. Cameron, has been arrested. And Rebekah Brooks, chief executive of News International and previous editor of The News of the World, responded by saying that it was 'inconceivable' that she knew of the hacking."

Carr then writes, "I’d suggest it was inconceivable she did not know, given the number of hacking targets. What editor doesn’t know where her stories come from, especially stories chock full of highly private, delicious conversations. Did Ms. Brooks think they were borne in through the window by magic fairies?"

In The New Yorker last week, longtime Rupert Murdoch watcher Ken Auletta wrote, "Rupert Murdoch is a brilliant, daring business executive. He is, sadly, a man whose newspapers too often traffic in sleaze. That is the culture he built and that his minions immersed themselves in. Even taking the dramatic step of closing the News of the World will not, I suspect, tame the controversy and allow News Corp. to deflect blame. The phone-hacking scandal is one Murdoch cannot escape, because he is culpable."

Despite all of the current negative publicity News Corp. is getting because of the scandal, it is far from clear that, ultimately, Rupert Murdoch will be unsuccessful in his goal of taking over the rest of BSkyB that News Corp. does not currently own.

Veteran Newsman Leaving CBS After 25 Years

After 25 years with CBS News, one of the most familiar faces in TV news has decided to leave the network, reports TVNewser. In his tenure with the network, Harry Smith has been the anchor of "The Early Show" and a major contributor to the CBS News division.

TVNewser reports that Smith is expected to join the new Brian Williams prime-time magazine show at NBC. Rome Hartman, a veteran CBS producer, is putting the program together for Williams.

David Rhodes, CBS News president, sent a note to the staff, saying, "Harry Smith has been a fixture here at CBS News for a generation -- he joined us in Dallas in 1986 -- but today he’s decided to move on. … Jeff Fager and I want to thank Harry for his extraordinary contribution to CBS over 25 years. If you see Harry around the newsroom in New York today, or otherwise are able to reach out, please join us in wishing him well.”

Report: Casey Anthony Gets Million-Dollar Offer From Syndicated TV Show

Casey Anthony has been offered $1 million to appear on a syndicated television show, according to RadarOnline.com. The website reported that the offer was made Friday morning to Anthony’s legal team by "The Jerry Springer Show."

The offer does come with a catch: Casey has to get her parents, Cindy and George, and her brother, Lee, to join her on the show.

Casey Anthony was found not guilty of murdering her daughter, Caylee, earlier this week. She remains in jail after being convicted of lying to authorities, but is scheduled to be freed on Sunday, July 17. Her release date was initially calculated as July 13, but jail officials recalculated her time off for good behavior and gave her an additional four days.

TNT Rolls Out Plans for 'Dallas' Reboot, With Larry Hagman, Patrick Duffy and Linda Gray Joining Next-Generation Cast

TNT announced that it has greenlighted the new version of the classic prime-time soap “Dallas,” with a number of stars from the original series reprising their roles for the reboot.

Larry Hagman, who played oil baron J.R. Ewing in the original series, is back on board, along with original stars Patrick Duffy and Linda Gray. But the new drama is built around a younger generation of characters, with the cast featuring Josh Henderson (“90210”), Jesse Metcalfe (“John Tucker Must Die”), Jordana Brewster (“Fast & Furious”), Julie Gonzalo (“Veronica Mars”) and Brenda Strong (“Desperate Housewives”).

The cable network has ordered 10 episodes, with a summer 2012 premiere date.

A special sneak peek is set for this Monday, during the season premieres of TNT’s “The Closer” at 9 p.m. ET and “Rizzoli & Isles” at 10 p.m.

The network is also unveiling a new website devoted to the new “Dallas.”

“TNT has explored the possibility of an updated version of ‘Dallas’ for several years, but it wasn’t until we read Cynthia Cidre’s outstanding pilot script that we knew we had the foundation for a great new series,” said Michael Wright, executive vice president, head of programming for TNT, TBS and Turner Classic Movies (TCM). “It is incredibly exciting to see both new and familiar characters in the hands of a dream cast under the guidance of the enormously talented Cidre and Mike Robin.”

Star Opens Up as New Season Looms for HBO's Longest-Running Scripted Series

With the eighth season of HBO’s longest-running scripted series set to premiere, the show’s star and driving force admitted that he’s anxious about having to compete with his past success, the Seattle Times reports.

Larry David, whose sitcom “Curb Your Enthusiasm” premieres Sunday, July 10, 2011, said: "In a way you are competing with yourself--and that's good. It keeps you on your toes."

The story reports a plot twist for the new season (spoiler alert): “By the season's third episode, David moves to New York City temporarily, mainly to avoid an invitation to do a charity event in Los Angeles. This opens the show to numerous guest stars such as Rosie O'Donnell, Wanda Sykes, Michael J. Fox, Ricky Gervais and Jo Anne Worley.”

David has downplayed similarities between himself and his TV character. "I'm just trying to make the fictional David funny," he has said in the past. "But I will say the real Larry is an extremely nice guy. You can ask anyone."

Video: Fox's Bill O'Reilly, Outraged by Casey Anthony Verdict, Attacks Juror

Momentum Builds for Campaign to Land Broadcasting Legend a World Series Spot--With a Key Supporter Now on Board

Support is building for a campaign to put one of the legends of sports broadcasting behind the microphone for this fall’s World Series broadcast on Fox, and one key figure is all for the idea, reports the Los Angeles Daily News.

The online campaign has amassed 7,000 cybersignatures in favor of having L.A. Dodgers announcer Vin Scully call a World Series game before he hangs up the microphone. Fox's Joe Buck, who is set to call the Series, is all for it, according to the story.

"Personally, I'd love it,” Buck said. “I'd happily step aside to hear his voice [on the World Series broadcast]. I would not fight that at all. In my dad's era, we paid a nod of tribute to the greats. And there's no one like Vin, or close to Vin. As far as I'm concerned, he could be part of it every year.”

Buck added: “I realize who the game's greats are, and I always defer to them -- my dad [longtime St. Louis Cardinals announcer Jack Buck], Ernie Harwell, Curt Gowdy, Harry Caray. There are only a handful of guys who are as identifiable with their organizations as any player is."

'Big Brother' Premiere Gives CBS a Nightly Ratings Win

On a night marked by plenty of repeat programming, CBS’s “Big Brother” had a decent turnout for its season premiere and the network managed an overall ratings win, TVbytheNumbers.com reported.

CBS averaged a 1.9 rating for the night in the 18-49 demo, better than ABC (1.7 average), Fox (1.3), Univision (1.1) and NBC (0.8). CBS also won total viewers, averaging 6.8 million to 5.9 million for ABC, 4.2 million for Fox, 2.7 million for Univision and 2.1 million for NBC.

At 8 p.m. ABC's "Wipeout" was tops with a 2.0 in the 18-49 demographic, ahead of Fox's "So You Think You Can Dance," with a 1.6 in the same demo.

The season premiere of "Big Brother" at 9 p.m. scored a 2.7 in the 18-49 demographic, better than ABC's "Expedition Impossible," which netted a 1.6.

At 10 p.m. ABC's drama "Rookie Blue" had a 1.5 in the 18-49 demographic, while NBC's "Love Bites" managed only a 0.7 in the same demo.

CNN's Just-Announced Prime-Time Lineup Comes Under Fire

CNN has drawn criticism for its prime-time lineup, which the news network has just overhauled as it tries to reverse its recent ratings woes.

The criticism is coming from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, which says CNN's prime-time lineup is too white as it doesn't feature any African-American hosts or anchors, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

CNN this week announced a new schedule that features Anderson Cooper, Erin Burnett and Piers Morgan, a lineup that the civil rights group says has a "glaring omission." The new schedule reinforces "the broader trend reflected in the overall lack of people of color as prime-time news anchors," the NAACP said.

The group's Hollywood Bureau Executive Director, Vic Bullock, plans to meet with presidents of news divisions to talk about the problem, the story adds.

Hallmark Hall of Fame, One of the Most Famous Franchises in the History of Television, Picked Up by Another Broadcast Network After Being Dropped By CBS

The "Hallmark Hall of Fame," one of the most storied franchises in the history of television, has been picked up by another broadcast network after having been dropped by CBS, according to our good friend, Variety TV Critic Brian Lowry [Variety is behind a pay-wall and may charge you to read this story].

According to the article, the "Hallmark Hall of Fame" movies will be seen on the Hallmark Channel a week after they premiere on ABC. The story adds, "ABC's deal will begin with the 244th presentation under the Hallmark banner, an adaptation of Mitch Albom's book 'Have a Little Faith,' scripted by Albom, directed by Jon Avnet and starring Laurence Fishburne, Bradley Whitford and Martin Landau."

Quoting a Hallmark executive, the story says, " 'It was a wonderful relationship with CBS,' said Brad Moore, president of Hallmark Hall of Fame Prods., who called ABC 'a very natural home for us.' Moore said he didn't anticipate a shift in the tone or style of the movies -- which are generally of a heart-warming, female-oriented nature -- but added that Hallmark would collaborate with ABC on the content, as it had with CBS."

Nancy Grace Fires Back at Her Critics in Blistering B&C Interview. Says Grace, 'This trial is not about my career....And if someone thinks that there is no place for me in our society with [my] type of show, then I believe they're very, very wrong.'

HLN's Nancy Grace, who practically single-handedly led the media coverage of the Casey Anthony trial, has fired back at her critics in a blistering interview with Andrea Morabito in B&C.

Some excerpts:

"B&C: Are you comfortable being the media figurehead of this trial?
Grace: I don't really see it that way. It's not about me or any other media related person. It's all about Caylee, and there's been a huge miscarriage of justice."

"B&C: What has this trial meant to your career?
Grace: This trial is not about my career. This trial is about a two-year-old little girl that was murdered and her body thrown out in swampy woods to rot. It's about the person that should love her the most doing that to her. That's what the trial's about. It's not about my career. I do not have ratings incentives in my contract; I don't have any incentives in my contract. I am a crime victim myself and my goal is to focus on missing children, missing people and unsolved homicides. And if someone thinks that there is no place for me in our society with that type of show, then I believe they're very, very wrong."

When asked if HLN executives have talked to her about her coverage of the case, and about the big ratings she's been getting recently, Grace replied, according to the article, "Well of course, of course (sic) HLN is always happy when we have ratings bumps. And I'm very curious that you'd be asking questions like that. When Libya, Egypt, tsunami, Bin Laden was covered, and elections, and ratings bump up for other networks, they're not held or asked questions about it the way you're asking me, so I find that very unusual."

Report: Oprah Winfrey Tops List of Candidates for a High-Profile TV Job

Oprah Winfrey is at the top of the list of candidates for a high-profile television assignment, the Chicago Sun-Times reports. The job is host of the 84th Oscars telecast, scheduled for next February.

It's a suggestion that has also come up in the past, the story notes, but the latest report cites “solid Motion Picture Academy sources.”

It's also possible there might be a separate deal for a post-Oscars show that would air only on the Oprah Winfrey Network.

ABC would continue to have exclusive rights to Oscars broadcasts, but according to the story the Academy is interested in tapping into the huge Oprah Winfrey fan base who miss her daily syndicated show.

Former Editor Arrested, Murdoch Family Member Faces Questioning in News of the World Phone-Hacking Scandal

British Prime Minister David Cameron said Friday that James Murdoch and Rebekah Brooks are likely to face police questioning over the phone-hacking scandal that led to the shutdown of the tabloid News of the World, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

At a press conference, Cameron sought to distance himself from the Murdoch family, with whom he has enjoyed a close friendship for many years, the story notes. Rupert Murdoch, the father of James Murdoch, is the chief executive officer of News Corp., which owns News of the World. Rebekah Brooks is the chief executive of News International and previously was the deputy editor of News of the World. James Murdoch is chairman and CEO of News Corp. Europe and Asia.

“I don’t know what these people at News International did know or didn’t know. Frankly, I don’t think any of us know. The key thing is that they are going to be investigated to the police," Cameron said. He noted that the investigation facing senior News International executives is of a criminal nature, the story adds.

“It won’t be a question of whether they have jobs or whether they are going to resign from those jobs, it’s a question of whether they are going to be prosecuted, whether they are going to be convicted, whether they are going to be punished. That is what is going to happen,” Cameron said.

Andy Coulson, the former News of the World editor and the former press spokesman for the prime minister, has been arrested, according to The Guardian. Scotland Yard said he was in custody and would be questioned in connection with allegations of phone hacking and corruption, the story notes.

As previously reported, the News of the World will be shut down following a final edition on Sunday, which will appear without ads.

TNT Renews Drama Series

TNT has placed a second-season order for the drama series that became cable’s top series launch this year, Deadline.com reports.

The series is the alien-invasion drama "Falling Skies," from Steven Spielberg and DreamWorks TV. The show debuted last month with 8 million total viewers. Since then, it has averaged 6.4 million total viewers in its first three episodes and is also performing well overseas, the story adds.

TNT ordered 10 episodes for the second season, which will air in the summer of 2012.

In First TV Interview, Jaycee Dugard Talks About Giving Birth at 14 Years Old

In her first television interview, Jaycee Dugard told Diane Sawyer about giving birth in her kidnapper's backyard when she was 14 years old, reports the Los Angeles Times' ShowTracker blog.

"I didn't know I was in labor," she said in the ABC News interview. "I was still ... locked at that time. Just scared." She said she was ignorant about sex when she was kidnapped, and that the Garridos, her kidnappers, told her she was pregnant when she was 13, the story says.

She watched birthing videos to prepare for labor because there wouldn't be a doctor, the piece notes. "[It was] very painful, then I saw her -- she was beautiful," Dugard said, talking about the birth of her daughter Angel. "I felt like I wasn't alone anymore. I had somebody that was mine. I wasn't alone and I knew I could never let anything happen to her. I didn't know how I was going to do that but I did. ... You just do what you have to do to survive."

HLN Not Ready to Move on From Casey Anthony Case Just Yet--Channel Rolls Out Special Programming

HLN is continuing programming based on Casey Anthony despite the end of the trial that acquitted her of killing her 2-year-old daughter Caylee, reports TVNewser.com.

On Saturday and Sunday evenings, the cable network will air "Justice for Caylee: A Nancy Grace Special" and a three-hour recap of the trial, the story adds.

As previously reported, HLN was the big ratings winner in the Anthony trial, with its coverage of the verdict marking its best performance for any hour in history in total viewers with 4.575 million.

'Twilight' Vampire Lands Regular TV Role

One of the stars of the “Twilight” vampire films has landed a role as a regular on an upcoming TV show, reports EW.com's Inside TV blog.

The CBS medical drama "A Gifted Man" has tapped "Twilight’s" Rachelle Lefevre, the story reports.

The fall series tracks a recently widowed doctor who starts seeing visions of his dead wife, the piece notes. Lefevre will play Kate, a doctor at the family "clinica" where the doctor finds himself spending more time.

Lefevre played the evil vampire Victoria in the first two "Twilight" movies.

Veteran of 'Law & Order: LA' Jumps From Crime Show to Legal Drama

An NBC legal drama has added a veteran of an NBC crime show to the lineup following the cancellation of "Law & Order: Los Angeles," reports EW.com's Inside TV blog.

Alfred Molina will have a multi-episode arc on “Harry’s Law,” playing a middle-aged man who has been accused of murdering his wife, the story says. While he admits he was unhappy in his marriage, he claims he was innocent and suffers from anxiety attacks after spending time in jail, the piece notes.

Molina’s character will be introduced in the show's season premiere on Sept. 21, and will appear in three episodes.

Jason Ritter Returning to NBC's 'Parenthood,' Signs Development Deal to Star in Project From 'Friday Night Lights' EP

Jason Ritter will return to NBC's "Parenthood" after the sci-fi thriller "The Event" was canceled, reports TVLine.com.

Ritter has also signed a development deal with NBC's production arm, Universal Media Studios, to star in a new series from "Friday Night Lights" and "Parenthood" executive producer Jason Katims, the story notes.

While details on the new project aren't yet known, it will be an hour-long drama, the story says.

Ritter will reprise his role as Mark on "Parenthood," who is a sometime love interest of Lauren Graham's Sarah, the piece notes.

Strong Season Premiere for MTV's 'Teen Mom'

MTV had strong ratings for the third-season debut of "Teen Mom," which premiered July 5, according to The Hollywood Reporter's The Live Feed blog.

The program had 3.65 million total viewers and was the top cable program Tuesday with viewers 12 to 34 years old and the top-rated program across all television with women 12 to 34 years old.

The debut represented a slight decline from the second-season average of 3.8 million viewers, but was the strongest season premiere yet for the series. The show typically builds viewers as the season progresses, with the second season finale topping 5 million viewers.

HBO's 'Game of Thrones' Casts Character Mocked for Her Looks

HBO's 'Game of Thrones' has cast a main character who is mocked for her looks and is a favorite among readers: Brienne, Maid of Tarth, according to the blog written by the series' author, George R.R. Martin.

The British actress Gwendoline Christie will play Brienne, who is mockingly called "Brienne the Beauty" but is as skilled in sword fighting as any man and wants to be a knight.

Christie, who is 6 feet, 3 inches tall, appeared in "The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus" and played in Shakespeare's "Cymbeline" at the Barbican Theatre, according to the blog post.

"This was another one of those cases where there was hardly any debate. The day the first batch of auditions went up for the role, we looked at a dozen actresses who were reading for Brienne and one actress who WAS Brienne. Gwendoline gave a great reading, and her look was just perfect," Martin wrote on his blog.

Gwendoline Christie

Apple Reports Dramatic Surge in Number of Apps Downloaded

Apple reported the total number of apps that have been downloaded from its App Store since it was founded three years ago, and the number reflects a dramatic surge since the start of the year, B&C reports.

Apple said 15 billion apps have been downloaded from the App Store by more than 200 million iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch users. At the start of the year Apple reported that 3 billion downloads had been completed, the story points out.

Apple has paid app developers more than $2.5 billion to date, the piece adds.

More Legal Problems for Casey Anthony

Casey Anthony, whose murder trial became one of the top television news events of 2011 before she was acquitted this week on all of the most serious charges, may not be out of the woods yet, CNN reports.

Anthony, who was acquitted of killing her 2-year-old daughter Caylee but was found guilty of four counts of lying to police, now faces a defamation lawsuit. She was subpoenaed in jail this week to give a deposition in a suit filed previously by Zenaida Fernandez Gonzalez, the story says.

Gonzalez was investigated in connection with the disappearance of Caylee after Casey Anthony gave authorities a story about Caylee being taken by “Zanny the Nanny.” Gonzalez has denied ever meeting the Anthonys, and the story eventually turned out to be one of a number of elaborate lies told by Casey Anthony that had authorities searching for Caylee when she was already dead.

Casey Anthony received a four-year sentence today on the false information convictions, but has already served almost three years and is expected to be released from jail July 13.

Murdoch Tabloid Shuts Down Amid Phone-Hacking Scandal

A tabloid paper owned by Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp., one of the most widely circulated newspapers in the world, will shut down after a final edition this Sunday, The New York Times reports.

The News of the World, which is based in London, is embroiled in a widening telephone-hacking scandal, which has seen advertisers abandon the publication. It will publish a final edition Sunday without ads, and then will shut down, the story reports.

James Murdoch, the son of Rupert Murdoch, issued a statement in which he acknowledged “serious problems” and “repeated wrongdoing” at the paper.

“Wrongdoers turned a good newsroom bad and this was not fully understood or adequately pursued,” James Murdoch said. He added that the newspaper and its parent company, News International, “failed to get to the bottom of repeated wrongdoing that occurred without conscience or legitimate purpose” and “wrongly maintained that these issues were confined to one reporter. We have now voluntarily given evidence to the police that I believe will prove that this was untrue and those who acted wrongly will have to face the consequences.”

The Times piece reported: “The broad and apologetic statement -- delivered so suddenly that News of the World was still advertising a subscription deal on its website -- underscored the damage to News Corp., Rubert Murdoch’s vast and powerful media company, from allegations that one of its papers, News of the World, was involved in hacking cellphones belonging to not only a 13-year-old murder victim but also relatives of fallen soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan and that it paid police bribes amounting to tens of thousands of dollars for information.”

E! Entertainment Names New President

The E! Entertainment Network announced that it has appointed a new president, promoting an exec who has played a key role in driving the growth of E! and The Style Network in recent years.

The job will go to Suzanne Kolb, who will report to Bonnie Hammer, chairman, NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment and Cable Studios. Kolb previously was president of Marketing, News and Online for E! and The Style Network.

"As a member of E!'s leadership team, Suzanne has played a pivotal role in getting the network to the great place it is today," said Hammer. "Her strong oversight of three areas key to E!'s success -- news, online and marketing -- makes her the perfect person to lead the brand through the important next phase of its evolution."

Kolb's senior management team will include veteran E! executives Steve Dolcemaschio, Chief Operating Officer; Lisa Berger, President, Entertainment Programming; and Cyndi McClellan, Executive Vice President, Research & Program Strategy.

Said Kolb: "I am incredibly grateful to Bonnie for the opportunity to lead E! during this wonderfully exciting and unique time in the brand's history and equally thrilled to do that in partnership with a management team I know and love. E! has enjoyed great success in the past but we're just getting started."

Willie Nelson May Do Jail Time in Pot Case After Judge Rejects Plea Deal

Willie Nelson is looking at possible jail time in connection with his latest pot bust after a Texas judge struck down a plea deal the country singer had worked out with prosecutors, TMZ.com reports.

Prosecutors had agreed to reduce his charge of marijuana possession to misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia, according to the story. Nelson was expected to come away wtih a $500 fine.

But the judge apparently felt Nelson was getting special treatment, and ordered that he be charged with misdemeanor possession of pot. That charge could put Nelson in jail for a year.

Willie Nelson on High Times

A&E Network, Bio Channel Name New SVP of Publicity

A&E Network and Bio Channel have named a new senior vice president of publicity, Deadline.com reports. Promoted to the position is Dan Silberman, who will continue to report to Bob DeBitetto, A&E Network and Bio Channel general manager.

As publicity SVP for a group of channels including A&E, Bio and the Crime & Investigation Network, Silberman will guide corporate and trade communication strategy for the networks and oversee all consumer press efforts for the programs, including awards campaigns and talent relations.

Fat Chefs Get a Reality Show

A casting call has gone out for fat food industry pros who are interested in participating in a new reality television show, reports AOL TV.

The producers who created "Kitchen Nightmares" and "Celebrity Fit Club" have melded the genres for a program that will emphasize good food as well as trimming down.

The advertising for participants reads as follows: "If you are 75+ pounds overweight or potentially unhealthy & have a job in the food industry, this is your chance to turn your life around!"

Interested participants are asked to send photos and an essay about why they should be chosen for the show.

Disney CEO Iger: Hulu's Owners Are 'Committed to Selling'

Hulu's owners are "committed to selling" the online streaming service, Walt Disney Chief Executive Robert Iger said at the Allen & Co. conference in Sun Valley, Idaho, according to Bloomberg.

Iger added, "There's a lot of interest." Hulu's owners include Disney, News Corp. and Comcast Corp.'s NBCUniversal. Bankers working for Hulu have met with Google, Yahoo and Microsoft, as well as AT&T, the story says.

The site could bring more than $2 billion, the story notes, citing data from Bloomberg and SNL Kagan.

Iger declined to comment on specifics of discussions related to the talks or whether television shows and movies would receive exclusive licenses for Hulu, the story adds.

Kidnap Victim Takes Job With ABC News

A woman who was abducted at age 14 and held prisoner for eight months has been hired by ABC News, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Elizabeth Smart will appear on multiple platforms as a contributor covering missing persons cases.

Said Julie Townsend, a spokesperson for ABC News: "She’ll help our viewers better understand missing person stories from someone with the perspective to know what a family experiences when a loved one goes missing."

Smart, now 23, has become an advocate for stronger laws on abduction. Townsend said Smart’s work with ABC will focus on "looking ahead, not looking back at her own story."

The story adds: “Smart's story has been well-told. Her family published a book about her ordeal. She was interviewed by former NBC News anchor Katie Couric for a ‘Dateline NBC’ special soon after she was found. She went on ‘Oprah,’ ‘Larry King Live’ and even E! for a special called ‘Young, Beautiful & Vanished: 15 Unthinkable Crimes.’ And CBS adapted Smart's book for a TV movie in 2003.”

Smart is expected to debut on ABC News in the next two weeks. However, she will reportedly not be involved in an ABC special focusing on another high-profile abduction, the Jaycee Dugard case. That special is scheduled to air this Sunday.

Elizabeth Smart

Showtime Taps Creator of 'Queer as Folk' and 'Torchwood' to Develop New Drama

Russell T Davies, who re-created "Queer as Folk" for Showtime in 2000 and is behind the Starz show "Torchwood: Miracle Day," has a drama series in development for Showtime, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Called "Cucumber," the show will focus on the lives of gay men, like "Queer as Folk," which became one of Showtime's most successful original series.

Davies is also behind the newest version of BBC's "Dr. Who," the piece notes. "Cucumber" is being developed by Davies and BBC Worldwide Productions.

Casey Anthony Sentenced to More Prison Time

Casey Anthony received her sentence today on four counts of providing false information to authorities -- the charges on which she was convicted earlier this week at the same time she was found not guilty of killing her daughter, Caylee, The New York Times reports.

Judge Belvin Perry sentenced Anthony to four years in jail. However, she has already spent almost three years in jail, and after Perry later met with lawyers involved in the case, the court revealed that Anthony will be released July 13.

Anthony was also fined $1,000 for each of the four counts of lying to the police.

Exclusive: Cable News Icon to Receive Prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award From the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences

The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences will present its prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award to a cable news icon on Sept. 26th, 2011, as part of the 32nd Annual News and Documentary Awards.

The honoree, Larry King, stepped-down at the end of last year as the host of "Larry King Live," which had a precedent-setting 25 year run on CNN.

King is in the Guinness Book of World Records for being the singular host of a program on one network and in one time slot for the most number of years.

King, who is still doing periodic specials for CNN, has interviewed an astonishing 50,000 people over his career, which spans radio as well as TV. Before joining CNN in 1985, King was the host of the popular syndicated radio program "The Larry King Show."

The News and Doc Emmy Awards presentation, during which King will be honored, will take place this year at the Frederick P. Rose Hall--home of jazz at Lincoln Center--which is located in the Time Warner Center at Columbus Square in New York City.  

In a statement NATAS says, "Larry King came into peoples’ homes every night for half a century, and for the past 25 years was a dominant force in cable news programming. With his global reach on radio and television, his unmatched roster of guests and topics, and his authentic engagement with his listeners and viewers, Larry King changed the landscape of cable television, and television news in general. King stepped down as host of Larry King Live in December of 2010, but continues to host specials for CNN. The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences is honored to pay tribute to Larry King for his remarkable, influential, and ongoing career."

The NATAS statement also notes, "King has used his program as a vehicle to help raise awareness and money for worthwhile causes, including hosting telethons for victims of Hurricane Katrina, the Gulf Coast Oil Spill and the Haiti earthquake. Off air, King has given time and money to charitable organizations. King founded the Larry King Cardiac Foundation in 1988, which has raised over $15 million, providing life-saving cardiac procedures for more than 1500 people, and 10,000 heart screenings for needy children and adults. King also established a $1 million journalism scholarship at George Washington University’s School of Media and affairs for students from disadvantaged backgrounds."

In First TV Interview, Jaycee Dugard, Who Was Kidnapped 20 Years Ago, When She Was 11, Tells What She Remembers of The Terrifying Moment She Was Taken

From a story posted on Thursday, July 7, 2011, on ABC News' website: "On June 10, 1991, as [11-year-old Jaycee] Dugard left her home wearing all pink and a kitty shirt, and thinking about her mom -- who was running late that morning and didn't kiss her goodbye--she was taken. [Kidnapper Phillip] Garrido used a stun gun to shock Dugard. She tried to scoot into the bushes."

The story, which contains excerpts of Diane Sawyer's upcoming exclusive Interview with Dugard this coming Sunday, July 10 at 9 pm ET, continues, "The last thing [Dugard] remembers touching was something sticky. After she and her daughters were freed and reunited with her family in 2009, Dugard began asking people to bring her pinecones, not realizing that it was the same sticky thing she clung to trying to maintain her freedom. 'Back then [the pinecone] was the last thing I touched. You know, the last grip on me. Now, it's—it's a symbol of hope and new beginnings. And that—there is life after something tragic,' Dugard said."

The story adds, "Dugard wears around her neck a small symbol of a pinecone to symbolize her new life and the hope she held onto during her imprisonment."

CNN Cancels Prime-Time Show, Overhauls Lineup

CNN has canceled a prime-time show and will overhaul its lineup as it continues to try to bolster its sagging ratings, reports The New York Times' Media Decoder blog.

Eliot Spitzer's political talk show "In the Arena" has been canceled after just nine months on the air, the story says. Spitzer's 8 p.m. time slot will be taken over by Anderson Cooper, whose 10 p.m. newscast will be shifted two hours earlier.

“We think it creates better flow from show to show, and we think that will improve the overall performance across the evening,” said Ken Jautz, the head of CNN U.S.

Spitzer's final broadcast was Wednesday night, although the show will remain on the air with other hosts until it ends its run in early August, the story says.

The only CNN prime-time show that won't be affected by the scheduling changes is "Piers Morgan Tonight," which airs at 9 p.m. and debuted about six months ago. Erin Burnett, who recently was hired from CNBNC, will take over the 7 p.m. hour on weekdays, replacing John King, whose show will move to 6 p.m.

"Anderson Cooper 360" will rebroadcast its 8 p.m. show at 10 p.m., making the show an even more important part of CNN's lineup, the article adds.

The cancellation is a setback for Spitzer, the former governor of New York who resigned in a prostitution scandal. The show suffered poor ratings and Spitzer's early co-host, Kathleen Parker, left the show in February.

While CNN said it's talking with Spitzer about an "alternative role," a representative for Spitzer said he is finished working for CNN, the article says. Spitzer didn't respond to an interview request.

Details of New Charlie Sheen Comedy Project Revealed--Including the Search for a Showrunner Who Can Handle the Volatile Star

Charlie Sheen has committed to working on a sitcom project based on a 2003 film, the idea of producer Joe Roth, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The film is "Anger Management," which was made by Roth's company. Roth has previously worked with Sheen on five movies, including "Major League" and "Young Guns," the story notes. Roth's company is in discussions with Lionsgate to join as financier and distributor of the show, which would next be sold to a top U.S. broadcaster, the piece says.

While Sheen has committed to the project if it comes together, the project needs to find a showrunner to write the script, form a smooth relationship with Sheen and get the pilot made, the story points out.

"After the difficulties Sheen had on 'Two and a Half Men,' Roth is said to be focusing on finding a top showrunner who could work with Sheen," the story notes.

Surprise Plot Twist in the Future for Canceled Soap Operas?

Two long-running soap operas that were recently canceled by their network appear to have a surprise plot twist in their future, reports the New York Post.

"All My Children" and "One Life to Live," scheduled to end their decades-long runs on ABC in September, will reportedly live on in a new form. Disney's ABC has sold the online rights to the two soaps as part of a deal with Prospect Park, a TV, film and music company, the story says.

The dramas are expected to pick up where they left off, moving to a TV-focused online network after their ABC run ends, the story notes.

Prospect Park is finalizing a round of funding to create the online venture, which would be similar to Hulu. Financial terms were not revealed. The soaps will be the first of a number of brand-name TV shows that will be added to the site.

According to a source, the cast, crew and talent for the two shows are expected to remain intact, as are the story lines.

Disney didn't respond to a request for comment, while Prospect Park didn't return calls, the piece adds.

Food Network Star Hassled for Keeping 'Rescue' Chickens

One of the stars of the Food Network is in trouble with local authorities over five rescue hens she houses in a luxury coop, reports SavannahNow.com.

Emmy winner Paula Deen, a celebrity chef whose Food Network projects have included “Paula’s Party,” “Paula’s Home Cooking” and “Paula’s Best Dishes,” received a violation notice from the county because of the chickens, the story reports.

The chickens live on her marshfront property on Wilmington Island, an affluent suburb of Savannah, Ga. "She was cited and given time to address the violation," said Gregori Anderson, director of Chatham County Building Safety and Regulatory Services.

Keeping backyard chickens is part of a national trend toward raising one’s own food, the story notes. Some local politicians are exploring the possibility of rewriting county rules that might allow some owners to keep backyard birds.

Deen doesn't want to give up her chickens, according to her publicist Nancy Assuncao. "It would be really sad," Assuncao said. "She truly does love her birds. It is what it is and she'll do what she needs to do."

Deen won a Daytime Emmy as outstanding lifestyle host in 2007 for “Paula’s Home Cooking.”

Fox News Goes to War With Liberal Watchdog Organization, Pushes to Strip Group's Tax-Exempt Status

After years of scrutiny by a liberal watchdog group, Fox News is pushing back and airing segments calling for the nonprofit to be stripped of its tax-exempt status, reports Politico.com.

The Fox Nation website is providing a link to pre-completed complaint forms about the group Media Matters to send to the Internal Revenue Service, the story notes.

Fox News is arguing that Media Matters has veered from an educational mission that would give it tax-free status, the story notes. Educational nonprofits must support claims with facts and stay out of engaging in politics to qualify for tax-exempt status.

“Our contention[s] about Fox News’ political operations are supported by the facts and their own actions, especially during the previous few years,” said Ari Rabin-Havt, executive vice president of Media Matters.

'SpongeBob' to Try Innovative Social Media Story Line

"SpongeBob SquarePants" is getting a social media makeover, with the Nickelodeon show planning a story line that will unfold over Twitter via tweets and images over four days, reports the New York Post.

The story line -- called "The Ice Race Cometh: A Twitter Tale" -- will start Tuesday, July 12, and run through Friday, July 15, leading in to a new episode called "Frozen Face Off," the story says. The tweets will then start up after the special and run for two more days.

"Ice Race" will include tweets from all of the show's characters, written by the show's writing staff.

"There's such a broad fan base for 'SpongeBob' -- everyone from kids to people in their 60s. ... 'SpongeBob' has 25 million fans on Facebook and we're trying to extend that magic," said Nickelodeon's Roland Poindexter, senior vice president of animation and current series.

The Twitter story will start with a tweet from Bikini Bottom Action News that a "wealthy entrepreneur" has offered $1 million to the winner of The Bikini Bottom Great Sleigh Race, prompting the show's characters to prepare for the event.

International Olympic Committee Announces Venue for 2018 Winter Games

The International Olympic Committee has decided which city will host the 2018 Winter Games, making it the first non-Japanese city to host the cold-season event, reports EW.com's Inside TV blog.

The Games will take place in the South Korean city of Pyeongchang, which will be the first Asian city outside of Japan to host the Winter Games.

The choice has implications for U.S. audiences and NBC, which recently agreed to pay $4.4 billion to broadcast the next four games, the piece notes. Pyeonchang is 14 hours ahead of the U.S. Eastern Time Zone, which could mean NBC will have no choice but to air tape-delayed competition after the results are known.

It wouldn’t be the first time. For example, NBC aired events in the 2008 Summer Games in Beijing after many of the results were known, and about 30 million viewers per night still tuned in, the story notes.

New Service Provides 'Social' Ratings System, Including Nielsen-Like Scale That Measures How Viewers Respond to Shows

A new ratings system from a company headed by an MIT professor aims to provide a new metric for advertisers: how viewers respond to TV shows, reports LostRemote.com.

The ratings from Bluefin Labs provide response levels for TV shows, representing the number of commenters for any episode of a program, shown on a 10-point scale, the story notes. Response share, meanwhile, is the program's share of social response within a daypart, which corresponds roughly to Nielsen's traditional "share" metric, the piece explains.

The 2011 Super Bowl earned a 9.2 response, while the finale of "American Idol" earned an 8.0, the story notes.

“With these contextualized metrics in hand, media and marketing executives can interpret all responses to any particular show in aggregate," notes Deb Roy, co-founder and chief executive of Bluefin. Roy is on leave from MIT, where he is an associate professor of media arts and sciences and the director of the MIT Media Lab's Cognitive Machines group.

Bluefin is the first company to try to set an industry standard for measuring social interaction around TV that's similar to Nielsen's TV rating and share system, the story says. Bluefin is selling a Web-based analytics products called Bluefin Signals, which allows programmers, marketers and ad buyers to examine details on social response to more than 3,000 shows.