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Alley Signs TV Deal With Harpo

Harpo Productions has inked actress Kirstie Alley for future television projects, including a possible daily strip, which sources say could land in syndication or on Oprah’s new cable network. “Kirstie is a tremendous talent who is incredibly relatable and a…

HBO Won’t Go Down ‘Bad Road’

Creators of “12 Miles of Bad Road,” starring Lily Tomlin, are talking to cable networks such as Lifetime after HBO decided against airing the comedy despite ordering 10 episodes, Daily Variety reports. The show’s production shut down during the Writers…

TV Birds Suffer Launch Problems

DirecTV delayed the launch of a satellite set to be sent into space yesterday in order “to study an issue,” Multichannel News reports, citing the launching system’s Web site. The delay won’t have an effect on DirecTV’s high-definition programming, Multichannel…

McCain to Appear on MSNBC Show

Republican presidential candidate John McCain next month will appear on MSNBC’s “Hardball With Chris Matthews,” Multichannel News reports. McCain, the first candidate to agree to appear on the show, will appear April 15 at Villanova University, Multichannel News says.

Strauss Steps Down as HBO Entertainment Head

HBO Entertainment President Carolyn Strauss has vacated that position after four years as the network struggles to replace hit series such as “The Sopranos,” “Deadwood” and “Sex and the City.” Ms. Strauss, who started working for the Time Warner unit…

HBO to Replace Entertainment President

HBO will replace Carolyn Strauss as president of entertainment, though Strauss is likely to stay with the network, Daily Variety reports. No successor has been chosen by HBO, whose recent series such as “John From Cincinnati” and “In Treatment” failed…

Sci Fi to Help Create Comic-Book Series

Sci Fi Channel will say at its upfront presentation this week that it’s working with Virgin Comics to develop comic-book project “The Stranded” into a TV series, Television Week reports. Sci Fi, which is attempting to create ancillary revenue from…

SAG, AFTRA Signals Cross for Cable

The Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists disagree on whether basic-cable conditions should be included in studio negotiations scheduled to start April 1, Daily Variety says. SAG has insisted basic-cable conditions be addressed while…

Directors Chosen for HBO, Showtime Pilots

Carl Franklin, who directed the pilot of FX’s “The Riches,” will do the same for HBO police-drama pilot “Last of the Ninth,” Daily Variety reports. Allen Coulter, who has directed episodes of HBO’s “The Sopranos” and “Six Feet Under,” will…

History Channel Plugs Sponsors in Shows

The History Channel will re-edit episodes of its “Modern Marvels” series and insert three-minute documentaries within show breaks as part of an advertising agreement with Cisco Systems, Television Week reports. For an episode on sports stadiums, new segments on Oakland…