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Monthly Archives : May 2008

Spelling, Garth to Return to ‘90210’

Tori Spelling will join Jennie Garth as “Beverly Hills, 90210” castmembers on the new spinoff “90210,” which was ordered by the CW, DeadlineHollywoodDaily.com reports. The network also ordered “How to Teach Filthy Rich Girls,” the Web site says. –Danny King

Cable May See Election Windfall

Cable networks may stand to gain in the upcoming presidential general election as candidates move toward national campaigns and away from local station buys, TelevisionWeek reports. Additionally, with Barack Obama likely to decide to not receive federal financing, the Democratic…

Farina Arrested at LAX for Gun

“Law & Order” actor Dennis Farina was arrested at Los Angeles International Airport yesterday for attempting to carry a loaded gun onto a United Airlines flight bound for Chicago, Reuters reports. Farina, a former policeman whose film roles include “Get…

DVRs, Web Dent Prime Time

About 38 million viewers on average watched TV during the May sweeps ratings period, down from about 44 million last year, the New York Times reports. While the Writers Guild of America strike caused some attrition, much of the drop…

Fox to Create Animation Incubator

News Corp. units Fox Broadcasting and 20th Century Fox Television will create an animation department along with an initiative called Fox Inkubation, TelevisionWeek reports. The companies will focus on developing animation projects through short films and eventually entire series, the…

Stoltz to Join ‘Battlestar’ Prequel

Sci Fi Channel signed Eric Stoltz for its “Battlestar Galactica” prequel “Caprica,” the Hollywood Reporter says. Stoltz will star opposite Esai Morales, the newspaper reports. –Danny King

Fewer Parties, Pilots for Upfronts

This year’s upfronts will feature fewer pilot presentations as well as fewer lavish parties as television networks recover from the affects of the Writers Guild of America strike earlier this year, the New York Times reports. Networks will also be…

Pappas Files Bankruptcy, Blames CW

Pappas Telecasting, the largest U.S. privately owned commercial-broadcasting operator, filed for Chapter 11, largely blaming the CW’s low ratings for its financial challenges, MarketWatch reports, citing Dow Jones Newswires. Pappas, which owns CW affiliates among its 30 TV stations, has…

Rove the Latest Politician to Turn Pundit

Former Republican advisor Karl Rove is joining Fox News as a pundit, making him the latest political figure to become a TV fixture for the 2008 elections, the New York Times reports. Barack Obama press secretary Bill Burton scoffed at…

Seacrest Parents NBC’s ‘Boy’

“American Idol” host Ryan Seacrest is bringing his brand of reality TV to NBC. The network has teamed with Seacrest for a new reality show dubbed “Momma’s Boy” in which mothers of eligible bachelors “help their sons pick the right…