Before “American Idol” created singing sensations for the nation, NBC introduced America to the Monkees. The Monkees began life as a fictional band created by Bob Rafelson and Bert Schneider for a television pilot. They figured they could capitalize on…
Kelly Clark is working on something new and different. After running GroupM’s Europe business, Mr. Clark has returned to the U.S. as worldwide CEO of Maxus, the WPP unit’s fourth media agency network. Maxus is designed to help the company…
As the digital video recorder becomes a more important force affecting television programming and advertising, understanding how consumers use the gadget is becoming a bigger priority for media companies and media buyers. A new piece of research into DVR behavior…
New York Magazine talks about Chuck Lorre, the man behind two of TV’s most successful sitcoms, CBS’ “The Big Bang Theory” and “Two and a Half Men.” The story takes issue with Entertainment Weekly putting Lorre in 20th place on…
The New York Times returns from a visit to the set of “Damages” with notes on the FX drama’s second season. Behind the scenes, the show’s stars “crack bawdy jokes (that won’t be reproduced here), catch up on Henry James,…
Comedy actor Bob Odenkirk will guest star on AMC’s “Breaking Bad” as an ambulance-chasing lawyer, Entertainment Weekly says. He’ll be on the series for five episodes. —Aimee Picchi
A questionable selection of guest stars and a couple of “dreadful” songs can’t ruin a new Muppet Chirstmas special airing on NBC Wednesday night, the Washington Post says. “Who among us, after all, can really resist a pink pig in…
Apparel maker Weatherproof Garment Co. took out an ad offering to share a $3 million, 30-second Super Bowl spot with 10 other advertisers, the Wall Street Journal reports. In a bid to get attention, the company earlier this year said…
Peter Falk, star of the long-running detective series “Columbo,” is suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, the Associated Press reports. The 81-year-old actor’s condition was disclosed in court papers filed by his daughter. —Jon Lafayette
A Manhattan federal court judge threw out a case filed by Turkish television producers against NBC’s “Momma’s Boys,” a reality program produced by Ryan Seacrest, the New York Post reports. The judge said the Turkish producers, who claimed the show…