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Monthly Archives : April 2008

Pyle on ‘This Might Hurt’

ABC has signed Missi Pyle to appear in comedy pilot “This Might Hurt,” the Hollywood Reporter says. Also, NBC has signed Susanna Thompson to play Ian McShane’s wife on the drama “Kings,” the Hollywood Reporter says. — Danny King

James Day, Public TV Pioneer, 89

James Day, who created San Francisco’s Public Broadcasting Service station KQED-TV in 1954, died of respiratory failure in New York at age 89, Daily Variety reports. The station, which Mr. Day ran for 16 years, was one of the first…

FX Orders ‘Anarchy’ for Fall

FX has given a 13-episode order to “Sons of Anarchy” from “The Shield” writer-executive producer Kurt Sutter, says the Hollywood Reporter. Set in the world of motorcycle clubs, the drama follows a multigenerational family centered around Jack (Charlie Hunnam), a…

‘90210’ Zip Code Filling Out

“Arrested Development” matriarch Jessica Walter has joined the cast of The CW’s “Beverly Hills, 90210” remake, says the Hollywood Reporter. She will play Tabitha Mills, a former Hollywood starlet and alcoholic who is grandmother to the show’s two main characters….

CBS and NBC Fight to Control Weather

In a second round of bidding due to close May 8, CBS Corp. and GE’s NBC Universal are expected to make a play for the Weather Channel, reports Reuters. The channel has been put up for sale by privately held…

‘Ghost Whisperer’ to Haunt Ion in Syndication

Ion Television has obtained the broadcast syndication rights to CBS’ “Ghost Whisperer,” reports Multichannel News. The program will make its syndication debut in prime time on Ion TV beginning in 2009. Ion also recently acquired syndication rights to “Criminal Minds”…

Clinton Goes One-On-One With O’Reilly

Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton is scheduled to make her first appearance on Fox’s “The O’Reilly Factor,” reports Daily Variety. The two-part interview with host Bill O’Reilly is set to air Wednesday and Thursday. The one-on-one discussion will take…

Study Ranks Cable Nets’ Ability to Motivate Purchases

With the upfronts just around the corner, ad buyers might want to know which networks inspire their viewers to go out and buy the products advertised on that channel. Topping the list are two Scripps-owned networks, Food Network and HGTV,…

Airey Leaves ITV for Rival RTL

Dawn Airey has left ITV for rival RTL Group, reports Daily Variety. Airey will chair RTL’s U.K. terrestrial web Five, which she helped launch more than a decade ago. The surprise move comes as a blow to ITV Executive Chairman…

Public Philly Station Plays to YouTube Generation

Philadelphia-based public TV station WYBE-35 is giving viewers the opportunity to contribute five-minute shorts to the station in return for a membership fee, reports Philly.com. The short-form programming, which is featured on the station’s Web site and broadcast, not only…