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Hollywood Notes

Jun 11, 2001  •  Post A Comment

Mainframe taps Novak as CEO
Mainframe Entertainment’s board of directors has tapped Lou Novak as the company’s new CEO. Mr. Novak, who has held senior management positions at Galoob, Mattel and Coleco, assumes the position at the animation studio effective immediately. Additionally, Ian Pearson, Mainframe’s former CEO, will assume the newly created position of chief creative officer. In his new role, Mr. Novak will provide strategic direction to the company and oversee all business and operational aspects of Mainframe.
Povich to lead NATAS New York chapter
Talk show host Maury Povich has been elected as the new president of the New York Chapter of The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Mr. Povich, who was elected at a recent Board of Governors meeting, will serve a two-year term. Mr. Povich succeeds William Baker, president of WNET-TV, New York, who served from 1998-2001. In making the announcement, NATAS Executive Director Bill Hanaue said, “Maury Povich’s multifaceted background and outstanding career made him a superb choice [to be] our next president.”
NBC plans sneak preview of `Spy TV’
NBC is taking “sneak peek” literally with its new hidden-camera reality series “Spy TV,” which will be getting a special preview three weeks earlier than originally planned. Initially set to bow July 10, “Spy TV”-which is hosted by Michael Ian Black (of NBC’s “Ed”) will get a special preview at 8:30 p.m. (ET) Thursday, June 21, coming out of a repeat episode of “Friends.” The reality show, which is co-produced by Endemol Entertainment USA and Next Entertainment, will shift to an 8 p.m. Tuesday run on June 26, serving as lead-in to the summer replacement comedy “Go Fish” (from Touchstone Television). NBC plans to air “Spy TV” in half-hour and hour-long versions throughout July.
`Jack’ slated for summer run on ABC
“You Don’t Know Jack,” a high-energy comedy and trivia show based on the hit CD-ROM and Internet game, is set to premiere on ABC in back-to-back episodes Wednesday, June 20 (8 p.m. to 9 p.m. ET). Comedian Paul Reubens returns to television in the persona of Troy Stevens, the fictitious host of “You Don’t Know Jack.” The show has been in development for more than two years. Following the premiere, the game show will regularly air at 8:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesdays. “You Don’t Know Jack” is a Carsey-Werner-Mandabach production. The show had been previously in development at Warner Bros., but the studio opted out of its deal after being unable to develop the show for the broadcast networks or syndication.
Stringfield scrubs for `ER’ return
Sherry Stringfield, an original cast member of “ER” who departed the NBC hit after its first three seasons, has signed a new three-year deal to return to the Thursday night staple. Ms. Stringfield, who will reprise her role as Dr. Susan Lewis, left the Warner Bros. Television series long before the studio scored a record $13 million-per-episode license fee from NBC in 1998, placing some of her original castmates among the highest-paid dramatic actors in television.
`Ally McBeal’s’ revolving door
“Ally McBeal’s” Cage & Fish law firm is going to bring in new partners and say goodbye to some old ones. Going into its fifth season, “Ally McBeal” is bidding adieus to cast members James LeGros and Lisa Nicole Carson. Actors Josh Hopkins (“The Perfect Storm”), Regina Hall (“Scary Movie”), James Marsden (“X-Men”) and Julianne Nicholson (“The Love Letter”) are all said be in final negotiations to join the series. Ms. Carson may have a recurring role in the show, said an “Ally McBeal” publicist. Ms. Hall will reprise her role from last season, when she appeared in several episodes as Robert Downey Jr.’s character’s associate. Peter MacNicol and Lucy Liu are both committed to returning to the show, but perhaps in a reduced number of appearances.