Comedy Central is breathing new life into the iconic 1970s variety program “The Gong Show.” The network has greenlighted “The Gong Show With Dave Attell,” the comedian-star of the network’s “Insomniac” series. The new “Gong Show,” set to premiere July…
Broadcast television networks’ upfront advertising sales will be down this year, posting a drop of between 2% and 14%, a leading Wall Street analyst said. A “material decline is probable given ratings declines, the disruption in the development cycle due…
MTV Networks, which holds its upfront presentation for ad buyers tonight, is focusing on commercials it is creating that look like programming in order to keep viewers tuned in during breaks, the New York Times reports. With ad sales now…
When the broadcast networks unveil their fall schedules next week there will be fewer new shows in the lineup because the Writers Guild of America strike delayed the development process, USA Today says. The networks are considering 70 new series,…
AFTRA denied a request from the Screen Actors Guide to continue its talks with the studios even though it insists it is within a few hours of reaching a deal, Daily Variety reports. The two unions are negotiating separately and…
TV political pundits including Tim Russert, George Stephanopoulos and Bob Schieffer basically declared that the race for the Democratic presidential nomination is over, the New York Times says. Despite what seems to be an insurmountable lead by Senator Barack Obama,…
Former CBS Anchor Dan Rather filed an amended lawsuit against the network claiming that the damage it did to his reputation kept other outlets from hiring him, the Associated Press reports. The suit says Mr. Rather met with CNN, ABC…
The “Ugly Betty” production crew will run an ad in Friday”s Hollywood Reporter asking local and state governments to enact financial incentives to keep entertainment production in California, Web site DeadlineHollywoodDaily reports. “Ugly Betty” producers said this week that the…
ABC signed Morena Baccarin, whose credits include “Heartland,” as the female lead for its untitled law-drama pilot created by Dave Hemingson, the Hollywood Reporter says. Steve Howey and Lee Thompson Young joined the network’s “Five Year Plan” and Ruben Santiago-Hudson…
Satellite operator DirecTV will try to raise $2.5 billion for share repurchases, the Wall Street Journal reports. As part of the buyback plan, leading shareholder John Malone’s Liberty Media will limit is voting stake in DirecTV to 48%, the Journal…