CW Shakes up Programming, Marketing (TV Week)
The CW consolidated its current and drama development departments into one unit and its executive VP of comedy development is leaving, TV Week reports. The network is also making changes in its marketing operation.
Food Network Cuts Chef for Cooking Resume (AP)
The star of Food Network’s “Dinner: Impossible” is being dropped after admitting fabricating parts of his resume, including having cooked for the British Royal Family and several U.S. Presidents, the Associated Press reports. Remaining episodes of the series will air on the channel.
Cablevision Falls Climbing onto Concert Stage (NY Post)
Shares of Cablevision Systems fell as an analyst criticized the company’s plans to make acquisitions to get into the live music business, the New York Post reports. Cablevision announced a deal to get a stake in AEG Live, and analyst Richard Greenfield said he believes other acquisitions are in the works.
Sorvino to Star in NBC Miniseries (Variety)
An NBC miniseries based on Raymond Khoury’s bestseller “The Last Templar” will star Oscar winner Mira Sorvino, Daily Variety reports. The series, which will also feature Victor Garber, will air later this year after shooting in Morocco and Montreal, the newspaper says.
FCC May Probe Alabama Station for Lost ‘Minutes’ (WSJ)
The Federal Communications Commission’s Democratic members requested that the agency investigate a CBS affiliate in Alabama after part of a Feb. 24 segment of “60 Minutes” was blacked out, the Wall Street Journal reports. The blackout occurred during the part of the show that examined whether Karl Rove was involved in the conviction of one of the state’s ex-governors, the Journal says.
ABC Wants Better ‘View’ of Cindy Crawford (Variety)
ABC may ask Cindy Crawford to join “Good Morning America” and “The View” as a regular host based on her strong performance during guest slots on the shows last week, Daily Variety reports.
TNT Wants Three Original Nights by 2010 (Variety)
TNT has 14 series in various stages of development with a goal to have original programming for all primetime hours from Monday to Wednesday by 2010, Daily Variety reports. Producers of the proposed shows, some of which will be unveiled in May, include Robert Redford and Ridley Scott, the newspaper says.
ESPN Kicks Off Film Fest (The Hollywood Reporter)
ESPN will celebrate its 30th anniversary by collaborating with filmmakers to produce 30 hour-long sports-themed films. While the Walt Disney-owned company didn’t disclose collaborators, filmmakers will include Spike Lee and Richard Linklater, the Hollywood Reporter says.
NBC Lines Up Directors for Summer Scare Series (Hollywood Reporter)
NBC has brought on directors such as John Landis and Darren Bousman to direct episodes of its summer horror series “Fear Itself,” the Hollywood Reporter says. The series will be produced by Lionsgate, which specializes in the horror genre, the newspaper reports.
Kenwith, Director on ‘Diff’rent Strokes,’ ‘Facts of Life,’ Dies at 90 (Daily Variety)
Herbert Kenwith, who directed episodes of “Diff’rent Strokes” and “The Facts of Life” for producers Norman Lear and Bud Yorkin, died of prostate cancer at age 90, Daily Variety reports. Kenwith produced and directed 65 plays at Princeton University’s McCarter Theatre before moving on to television, the newspaper says.
‘Riches’ Producer MaverickTV Splits the Purse (Daily Variety)
MaverickTV, which produces FX’s “The Riches,” shut down as one of its partners took all of the company’s projects to Blueprint Entertainment, Daily Variety reports. MaverickTV partners Michael Rosenberg, named Blueprint’s senior vice president of creative affairs, and Guy Oseary split “amicably,” the newspaper reports.
CBS Orders ‘Single White Millionaire’ Pilot (Daily Variety)
CBS ordered the pilot “Single White Millionaire,” the comedy led by “The Winner” creator Ricky Blitt, Daily Variety reports. Blitt has also worked on “Family Guy,” the newspaper reports.
— Danny King
(Editors: Lafayette, Baumann)