PROGRAMMING
Just when you thought there was one demographic that hasn't gotten its own
reality show.... they go ahead and get one. Reality goes royal on E!, focusing
on the not-so-typical life of Princess Ann Claire. "Love is in the Heir,"
follows the heiress as she works for a record deal and searches for a suitable
suitor in L.A., and will premier at the end of November.[E! Online News]
E! Online
In other reality TV news, British TV will go where no (non pay-TV program)
has gone before. "Sex Inspectors," set to air in two weeks, will show
couples
having sex, followed by an explanation of what they are doing right and wrong
in
the boudoir. [Google News]
Google
News
HBO hit "Six Feet Under" will meet its maker after its upcoming fifth
season.
The show, which tells the tale of a family that owns and works in a funeral
parlor, has achieved massive international success. [E! Online News]
E!
Online
The U.K.'s Channel 4 is looking everywhere for a dead body. The broadcaster,
which screened an autopsy last year, will break another television taboo by
conducting a detailed examination of human decomposition. [The London Times]
The
London Times
UPN, the little network that often couldn't, seems to have two successes on
its current sched. The net has made full season orders of dramas "Kevin
Hill"
and "Veronica Mars." [E! Online News]
E!
Online
LEGAL
The court battle over Michael Ovitz's termination from Disney wages on. A
former Disney board member who negotiated Ovitz's $140 million termination
package testified that he did not seek an outside legal opinion on whether the
company could have fired Mr. Ovitz for cause. [The New York Times]
The
New York Times
BUSINESS
Last week's announcement by John C. Malone, chairman of Liberty Media, that
his company might increase its voting interest in News Corporation may have
sincerely irked News Corp's head honcho Ruport Murdoch, who plans to leave the
company to his children. The two media giants seem to be geared up for a battle
of the billionaires. [The New York Times]
The
New York Times
BIRTHDAYS
Strike up the music, release the balloons and cut into some birthday cake
because Sesame Street turns 35 today. The classic kids' show starring Big Bird,
Elmo, Bert and Ernie, was created in the U.S. by the nonprofit educational
organization, Sesame Workshop, in 1969 and has been adapted all over the world
since then. [Sesame Workshop]
Sesame Worskshop
ADVERTISING
In response to pop tart Britney Spear's demand to producers, advertisements
for the toyetic terror film "Seed of Chucky," include a disclaimer
that reads
"Britney Spears does not appear in this movie." The ad features a
scene in
which a Spears look-alike is blown to smithereens. [E! Online News]
E!
Online
BROADCASTING
The battle for cable and satellite provider dominance continues as Echostar
and Cablevision each report an increase in subscription numbers. [The Financial
Times]
The
Financial Times
CONTROVERSY
Viacom has fired back after being slapped with a huge Federal Communications
Commission fine for "boobgate," the 2004 Super Bowl half-time scandal
that
brought Janet Jackson's breast into full view. The company is claiming that
since
the FCC is unable to decide whether or not the incident really was a
"wardrobe malfunction" or a planned antic, the fine is unfair. [Google
News]
Google
News
FILM
The red carpet was rolled out in London yesterday, for the British premier of
"Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason." The sequel finds the dating-challenged
character in a whole new string of strange predicaments. [Google News]
Google
News
Real Madrid soccer star and British babe David Beckham is set to play himself
in a new $100 million trilogy devoted to the sport, called "Goal!"
[Google
News]
Google
News
It toppled box office records during its theatrical release weekend and the
powerhouse that is "Shrek 2" continued its record-breaking habit with
this
weekend's DVD release. In just three days, the film racked up 12.1 million DVD
and
video sales. [E! Online News]
E!
Online
The Film Critics Circle of Australia awarded its highest honor to
"Somersault." The FCCA is the national body of Professional Film Critics
and Reviewers.
[Google News]
Google
News
PRESS RELEASE CLIPS
All3Media has acquired new major BBC drama, "The Strange Case of Sherlock
Holmes and Arthur Conan Doyle," which explores the relationship between
the
famous detective and the man who penned him.
All3Media
BBC preschool series "Fimbles," will hit the Central and South American
airwaves, with deals inked in Mexico, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Nicaragua and Colombia.
BBC
Coral's "My Sweet Fat Valentina" is gaining momentum in Los Angeles.
The
telenovela is currently airing on U.S. network Telefutura, the sister network
of
Univision.
Coral International
GRB Entertainment has announced an agreement with Zinc Entertainment to
co-produce and distribute five television movies over the next two years. The
pair
is responsible for reality series "Next Action Star" and TV movie
"Bet Your
Life."
GRB Entertainment
On the first day of AFM, Harmony Gold acquired rights to two films: "Death
to
the Supermodels," starring Jamie Pressly and Brooke Burns and "Siblings,"
starring Alex Campbell and Sarah Polley.
Harmony Gold
IDT Entertainment's New Arc Films and Stan Lee's POW! Entertainment have
signed comic book, film and television writers Marv Wolfman and Scott Lobdell
to
write two animated features, part of a six-project deal.
IDT Entertainment
Screen Media Ventures has acquired domestic DVD/video rights to Turtle
Crossing's theatrical films "Spin" and "Fighting Tommy Riley."
The titles will hit
stores in 2005 after domestic theatrical releases.
Screen Media Ventures
Sesame Workshop is attempting to bring a little joy and compassion to
war-torn Kosovo. "Sesame Street" programs will be presented in both
Albanian and
Serbian languages.
Sesame Workshop
Sony Pictures Television International announced the creation of a sales
distribution office in Munich and appointed Moritz van Kruedener as sales director
for Germany. The company has also announced the promotion of Brendan
Fitzgerald to senior vice president of international production.
Sony
Tango Entertainment has been launched by British DVD/video veterans Paul
Levinson and Warren Goldberg. The company has already acquired the Kushner Locke
library, including feature films, TV series and miniseries, none of which has
ever been release on DVD before.
Tango Entertainment
PBS will air "They Made America," on November 15 and 22. The show,
based on a
new book by Harold Evans, features America's most extraordinary innovators -
including the inventor of the Barbie doll, CNN, the 707 jetliner and the bra.
PBS
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