Comedy Central has ordered a pilot for a sketch comedy show from comedians Michael Ian Black and Michael Showalter, the Hollywood Reporter says. The show, “Michael and Michael Have Issues,” will be a half-hour series-within-a-series, where co-star Josh Pais plays…
BET is launching a weekly late-night news show hosted by a former activist for the NAACP, the Associated Press. The program, “The Truth with Jeff Johnson,” will be up and running in time for the Democratic National Convention. BET plans…
NBC cable news outlets MSNBC and CNBC are focusing on the Olympics, bringing in higher than normal ratings, the New York Times reports. Both channels promise to drop sports if major news breaks, the paper says.
Fox Reality Channel has renewed its original reality series “Solitary” for a third season, Daily Variety reports. The program, which features contestants confined to in extreme isolated conditions for a chance at $50,000, has been the most successful for the…
Time Warner stated in a filing with the U.S. Supreme Court that government regulation of indecency should not be extended to cable and urged the court to protect non-broadcast speech, Multichannel News reports. Time Warner’s concern stems from FCC Chairman…
TV One will celebrate top moments in African-American history and culture with “The Blacklist: 100 Greatest Power Moves,” Multichannel News reports. The weeklong five-hour special hosted by Arsenio Hall will premiere Nov. 9, the newspaper says. —Vlada Gelman
Beth Greenwald has been named vice president of original programming and series development for E! Entertainment Television. Ms. Greenwald previously was a senior development executive for New Line Television, where she oversaw production and development for the studio’s television division….
Verizon Communications is offering new subscribers a year’s free use of a high-definition digital video recorder, in addition to a free month of HBO and Cinemax, Multichannel News reports. The company is launching the offer, which is valid until Oct….
The Cable Advertising Bureau found that the number of original shows on cable during a week in April was double what it was in 2003, AdAge reports. There were 1,407 original shows during an average April 2008 week, far more…
In Demand Networks is extending its deal with Howard Stern to carry Howard TV on Demand through the end of 2010, along with expanding the franchise’s programming slate. The new deal will keep Mr. Stern on In Demand through the…