Nick at Night Loves ‘Chris’ (Daily Variety)
Nick at Night acquired cable rights for “Everybody Hates Chris” from CBS for as much as $250,000 an episode, Daily Variety reports. The series, which will generate at least $36 million for CBS in the deal, will earn the network more in cable rights than for first-run syndication, the newspaper says.
Hillary Clinton Makes ‘SNL’ Appearance (Hollywood Reporter)
Before dropping in on Jon Stewart tonight, presidential candidate Hillary Clinton appeared on “Saturday Night Live,” the Hollywood Reporter says. After a skit in which reporters asked Clinton tough questions while asking Barack Obama easy ones, Ms. Clinton provided an “editorial response,” joking with cast member Amy Poehler, who portrays the former First Lady on the program.
Strike May Not Hit Upfront Spending (Wall Street Journal)
Sales executives at the networks say they don’t expect an ad sales slowdown in this year’s upfront despite the Writers Guild of America strike, the Wall Street Journal reports. The urge to spend in the upfront is bolstered because prices of ads bought closer to airtime are up as much as 40%.
ABC Buys Pilot From Comedian Thune (Daily Variety)
ABC bought a yet-to-be titled pilot from comedian Nick Thune, who appeared in “Knocked Up,” Daily Variety reports. Mr. Thune will co-write the show with fellow “Rob & Big” co-creator Ruben Fleischer and “Wedding Crashers” writer Bob Fisher, the newspaper says.
‘Tila Tequila’ Developer Takes a Shot at MTV’s Tappon (Hollywood Reporter)
MTV programming executive Drew Tappon was hired by reality television show developer 495 as its head of development, the Hollywood Reporter says. Mr. Tappon worked with 495 President Sally Ann Salsano on developing MTV’s “A Shot at Love With Tila Tequila,” whose December season finale drew a record number of viewers for an MTV series, the newspaper says.
Fans Want Gay Couple to Kiss on Soap (Associated Press)
Some fans of “As the World Turns” have started a letter-writing and online campaign protesting the lack of kissing scenes between the soap opera’s two gay characters, the Associated Press reports. The campaign started after a Valentine’s Day episode in which every couple on the show was shown smooching except for the gay couple, who hugged, the wire service says. The characters, which performed the first gay kissing scene in daytime TV history last August, haven’t kissed since September, AP says.
‘Indiana Jones’ Trailer Viewed 200 Million Times Online (Associated Press)
The trailer for “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” was viewed more than 200 million times online since being posted on the Web after the preview premiered on “Good Morning America” Feb. 14, the Associated Press reports, citing Viacom’s Paramount Pictures. The three prior “Indiana Jones” films grossed a combined $1.2 billion at the box office.
—Danny King