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Wednesday, November 7, 2007
November 7, 2007
By Alex Weprin
[A Redstone Reunion] Viacom Chairman Sumner Redstone and Daughter Shari Redstone are back on speaking terms. The two had reportedly been communicating through their respective lawyers after Shari said that she was the rightful heir to the media company’s multi-multi-billion dollar throne.
[Back to You Won’t be Back] Shows are beginning to halt production as a result of the writers strike. A number of sitcoms, including Fox’s Back to You and CBS’ Rules of Engagement have shut down. Support staff on The Tonight Show and Late Night with Conan O’Brien have been told they will be laid off in two weeks if the strike does not end.
Back to work is Ellen DeGeneres, who taped her show Tuesday after taking Monday off in support of the writers. DeGeneres is contractually obligated to do the show: "I want to say I love my writers. I love them. In honor of them today, I’m not going to do a monologue. I support them and hope that they get everything they’re asking for. And I hope it works out soon…In the meantime, people have traveled across the country. They’ve made plans. They’re here. I want to do everything I can to make your trip enjoyable and give you a show. Otherwise you’d just be wandering around and circling Bob Hope Drive.”
[Want to Ride in an Advertisement?] The History Channel is unveiling their promotional campaign for 1968 with Tom Brokaw. An Amtrak Acela train will be wrapped in images from the title year, the first such time a full Amtrak train has been put under wraps.
[Rough Times] Cable trade publication Cable World will publish its last issue in December. The company is shifting employees around to other areas of the company, including CableFax and cable360.com.
[If it Worked for Them…] MSNBC may be embracing the left. Following a ratings surge from Countdown with Keith Olbermann, the network has been rumored to be seeking a primetime show for Comedian Rosie O’Donnell, most likely in the 9PM slot currently occupied by Dan Abrams. If Rosie were to get the slot, most of the damage would be directed at Larry King, whose viewers might leave the great suspendered legend for rosier waters. Fox News’ Hannity and Colmes is unlikely to see viewers poached by O’Donnell.
[Dog Goes Into Spin Control] Speaking of Hannity and Colmes, the duo have scored the first interview with A&E star/murderer/alleged racist Duane “Dog” Chapman. Chapman will be accompanied with his pastor, because religious people can’t be racist.
[Heresy!] The Hills is not 100% real!? According to an interview with a “guest star” on the show, producers set up and organized whole scenes, and “suggested” that certain people do certain things. They also did multiple “takes” of many scenes, and shot them our of order, like an actual, scripted, show. I wonder if the writers strike applies to The Hills. Man I hope so.
[Live From New York it’s the Latest FEC Filings!] Lorne Michaels gave $2,300 to John McCain’s presidential campaign, and twice as much to Sen. Christopher Dodds’. McCain’s daughter also interned on the comedy show. Does Michaels know something we don’t? McCain and Dodd? Really?
Posted by BC Crawler on November 7, 2007 | Comments (0)
