BizofShowBiz: December 2007 Archives

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Dec26	Patriots-Giants Game First to be Simulcast on Three Networks in History Gary Bourgeault December 26, 2007 Know More: Promotion CBS, General Electric, National Football League, NBC, New England Patriots, New England Patriots Undefeated, New York Giants, NFL, NFL Network, Roger Goodell, Simulcast, Super Bowl For the first time in broadcast history, a National Football League game will be simulcast across three networks. The New England Patriots drive to become the second team in NFL history to remain undefeated, has been the impetus behind the action. On December 29, the NFL Network, NBC (GE) and CBS (CBS-A) will simulcast the Patriots final game of the season versus the New York Giants. There had been a bitter battle by cable TV operators and the NFL over the issue, which centered around additional licensing fees to the cable TV operators, who didn't have rights to the game. The NFL Network had exclusive rights to this specific game. “We have taken this extraordinary step because it is in the best interest of our fans,” NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said in Wednesday’s announcement. “What we have seen for the past year is a very strong consumer demand for NFL Network. We appreciate CBS and NBC delivering the NFL Network telecast on Saturday night to the broad audience that deserves to see this potentially historic game. Our commitment to the NFL Network is stronger than ever.” Continue Reading Posted at 4:37 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Dec26	"American Idol" Premiering January 15 Gary Bourgeault December 26, 2007 Fox (NWS-A) has announced the schedule for the for the first few months of the upcoming season of "American Idol," with the season premiere airing over a two-night period on January 15 and 16, which includes four hours of coverage.... Continue Reading Posted at 3:02 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Dec23	National Treasure Leads Box Office Weekend to Gold Gary Bourgeault December 23, 2007 Studios and theater owners have been wondering if any of the magic of the summer was going to spill over into the holiday season. They don't have to wonder any longer, as they have several winners that will propel them... Continue Reading Posted at 2:48 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Dec22	Denzel Washington visits Marshall, TX - Home of "The Great Debaters" Gary Bourgeault December 22, 2007 Denzel Washington had things stirred up in Marshall, TX last week, a small northeast Texas town, and home of Wiley College, which produced the debate team the film "The Great Debaters" is based on."This is where it started," Washington said.... Continue Reading Posted at 6:12 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Melissa Joan Hart Finding Second Pregnancy a Real Kick Gary Bourgeault December 22, 2007 Melissa Joan Hart, 31, was filling in what was happening with her and husband Mark Wilkerson on her MySpace page. Hart talked about carrying the couples' second child on her blog, saying, "The new babe is kicking like a maniac... Continue Reading Posted at 5:24 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	New England Patriots Carrying NFL, Networks on their Backs This Year Gary Bourgeault December 22, 2007 The tremendous undefeated season of the New England Patriots has helped the National Football League get a lot of attention and TV networks to make a lot of advertising money.So far the Patriots are 14-0, with two games remaining in... Continue Reading Posted at 4:37 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	News Corp. Selling Eight TV Stations to Oak Hill Capital Partners Gary Bourgeault December 22, 2007 News Corp. (NWS-A) and Oak Hill Capital announced a deal on Saturday morngin where Oak Hill will be acquiring eight television stations from the conglomerate for approximately $1.1 billion. Oak Hill Capital already owns nine stations, so this will bring... Continue Reading Posted at 2:13 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Dec21	Chuck Norris Sues Publisher over Exploiting His Name Gary Bourgeault December 21, 2007 A book by publisher Penguin "The Truth About Chuck Norris: 400 facts about the World's Greatest Human," released in November, is under fire from Chuck Norris, as he's sued the publisher, author Ian Spector and two websites Spector runs to... Continue Reading Posted at 11:53 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	"Charlie's War" is Unfortunately Aaron's Lie Gary Bourgeault December 21, 2007 It's too bad that liberal Aaron Sorkin allowed his biases to enter into Charlie's War, as the film had a chance to be a really interesting and engaging look into an amazing time in American history. Now it's not worth... Continue Reading Posted at 11:05 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	ESPN Digging Deeper into Talent Pool to Differentiate Gary Bourgeault December 21, 2007 While ESPN (DIS) still commands the highest cable prices - charging over $3.26 for each monthly subscriber, which will increase to $3.65 in 2008 - it has suffered in viewership, with the average number of households tuning into the channel... Continue Reading Posted at 10:19 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Sacha Baron Cohen saying goodbye to Borat and Ali G Gary Bourgeault December 21, 2007 While Sacha Baron Cohen, the British comedian and actor, wasn't known much outside the UK when he made the faux documentary "Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan" last year, the response from Kazakh leaders,... Continue Reading Posted at 5:09 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Internet Viewers want more Professional Video Online Gary Bourgeault December 21, 2007 According to a Harris Poll, online video viewers are increasingly turning to the Web to consume video content.When asked what they would like to see more online, respondents by far preferred professional TV and movies, with 30 percent saying they... Continue Reading Posted at 4:43 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Dec20	USA Network Cancels "The Dead Zone" and "The 4400" Gary Bourgeault December 20, 2007 I was disappointed when I heard the news that not only The Dead Zone, but also "The 4400" have been cancelled by the USA network. #a#@&#. Ok I feel a little better now.Having gotten over the initial shock, it's a... Continue Reading Posted at 10:58 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Miley Cyrus Tells Oprah what keeps her Grounded Gary Bourgeault December 20, 2007 Talking with Oprah, Miley Cyrus said being a role model for her, starts with the clothes she wears. Even though she almost has an unlimited number of outfits she could wear, she always makes her decision based on if she... Continue Reading Posted at 8:59 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Race for Oscars Up in the Air as SAG Nominees Surprise Gary Bourgeault December 20, 2007 Evidently there were a lot of back-room conversations and deals taking place leading up to the announcement of nominees for the Screen Actors Guild awards, as a number of surprises emerged that make projections on who will be the Oscar... Continue Reading Posted at 7:35 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Led Zeppelin World Tour Confirmed in the Works Gary Bourgeault December 20, 2007 Ever since Led Zeppelin got together for a one-time show in early December, rumors have been rampant that they're getting ready to launch a worldwide tour based on the events' success.Now a source close to the band tells Daily Express... Continue Reading Posted at 5:58 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Stampede of Talk Show Hosts Resuming Production continues: Stewart, Colbert Coming Back Gary Bourgeault December 20, 2007 The Comedy Central network announced Thursday that "The Colbert Report" and "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart" will begin production again on January 7, without any of the striking writers.Since Jay Leno and Conan O'Brien announced they're returning to production,... Continue Reading Posted at 5:12 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Will Sam Zell Survive the Buyout of Tribune Co.? Gary Bourgeault December 20, 2007 After almost nine months, the buyout of Chicago-based Tribune Co. closed today, making it a privately owned company. The new loans needed to acquire the company will make it one of the most debt-heavy businesses in America. The question immediately... Continue Reading Posted at 2:53 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Dec19	Jimmy Kimmel Next in Line of Late-night Talk Show Hosts Returning to Air Gary Bourgeault December 19, 2007 The parade of late night talk show hosts continue to return to television, as new episodes of "Jimmy Kimmel Live" will start airing in January. We talked about this a couple days ago when Jay Leno and Conan O'Brien decided... Continue Reading Posted at 10:03 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Rachael Ray in New Prime-time Series, "Rachael's Vacation" Gary Bourgeault December 19, 2007 When you're hot you're hot, and Rachael Ray is enjoying her time in the limelight, as she's signed a new deal with the Food Network called "Rachael's Vacation."Ray has been out promoting her new book "Just in Time," and said... Continue Reading Posted at 6:41 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Peter Jackson not Going to Direct "The Hobbit" Says His Manager Gary Bourgeault December 19, 2007 While there was a short time of euphoria over the announcement the Peter Jackson had mended fences with New Line Cinema and was named as executive director of "The Hobbit," today that came crashing down, as Jackson's manager, Ken Kamins,... Continue Reading Posted at 5:34 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Vladimir Putin: A New World Celebrity? Gary Bourgeault December 19, 2007 The naming of Vladimir Putin as the Man or Person of the Year by Time magazine, made me think about the way he's built his image over the last several years. That isn't easy when you consider he's not the... Continue Reading Posted at 4:00 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Dec18	Jamie Lynn Spears Pregnant: Another Family Disaster in the Making? Gary Bourgeault December 18, 2007 While the news that the sister of Britney Spears, Jamie Lynn, was pregnant, shocked and disappointed her mother, after the initial shock she became very supportive, according to Jamie Lynn.Unfortunately for Jamie Lynn Spears, it's too late for her to... Continue Reading Posted at 9:52 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Nicole Kidman Spending Most of 2008 on Tour with Husband Keith Urban Gary Bourgeault December 18, 2007 In a trip to Australia to promote the Sydney premiere of "The Golden Compass," Nicole Kidman announced she'd be stepping out of Hollywood next year, so she can tour with husband and country singer Keith Urban.Kidman contemplated the decision as... Continue Reading Posted at 9:22 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Michael Douglas: Heeeere's Brian Gary Bourgeault December 18, 2007 Shades of Ed McMahon, Michael Douglas has been chosen to be the new announcer for Brian Williams on "Nightly News." Talk about easy money. All Douglas had to do was a one-time taping saying "This is the NBC Nightly News... Continue Reading Posted at 8:55 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	FCC Approval of New Media Ownership Rule Largely Irrelevant Gary Bourgeault December 18, 2007 A lot of old media writers and politicians from another era are making a big deal about the FCC approval of cross-ownership rules. In reality, it's not much to even be bothered with.The basic changes will allow a business or... Continue Reading Posted at 8:25 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Vanessa Hudgens: Another Top Network Story This Year Gary Bourgeault December 18, 2007 The nude photos of Vanessa Hudgens online, stirred up a lot of interest this year, and it's even possible it may have been orchestrated to increase her exposure, as mentioned at webmetricsguru. If that was the case, it sure would be... Continue Reading Posted at 5:59 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Wedding of Abhishek and Aishwarya most Popular on Know More Media Network for 2007 Gary Bourgeault December 18, 2007 A lot of people may not know that Bollywood is actually much more prolific than Hollywood in putting out films, and their celebrities there are watched as much - possibly even more - than they are in the United States... Continue Reading Posted at 5:18 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Peter Jackson Ends Legal Dispute with New Line, will Executive Produce "The Hobbit" Gary Bourgeault December 18, 2007 Fans of "The Lord of the Rings" and Peter Jackson were thrilled to hear today that all legal action in the lawsuit against New Line Cinema has been settled, and Jackson, along with business partner Fran Walsh, will be executive... Continue Reading Posted at 1:40 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Dec17	Writers Guild Refuses Waivers for Golden Globes and Oscars Gary Bourgeault December 17, 2007 Requests for waivers by television producers of the Oscars and Golden Globes were denied by the Writers Guild of America, making things even more contentious between the AMPTP and the Guild.The Golden Globes, which will air on NBC (GE) on... Continue Reading Posted at 10:37 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Jay Leno and Conan O'Brien Starting Up Again on NBC Gary Bourgeault December 17, 2007 With the writers' strike going nowhere, and negotiations at a standstill, Jay Leno and his "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," along with Conan O'Brien and his Late Night with Conan O'Brien," will start to air again on NBC (GE),... Continue Reading Posted at 10:04 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	NBC to Launch "Quarterlife" in February Gary Bourgeault December 17, 2007 The official launch of the made-for-the-Internet series "Quarterlife" on NBC (GE)will be February 18. The network picked it up from Thirtysomething creators Marshall Herskovitz and Edward Zwick through a licensing deal. Originally the series aired on MySpace (NWS-A), and one... Continue Reading Posted at 9:04 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Dec16	Michael Eisner's Strategy for Topps Continues to Unfold Gary Bourgeault December 16, 2007 The reason for the acquisition of Topps - the trading card company - by former Disney (DIS) CEO Michael Eisner and his investment company Tornante, is beginning to unfold, and it's far more ambitious than I originally thought.We've talked in... Continue Reading Posted at 9:06 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Singer-Songwriter Dan Fogelberg Dies at 56 Gary Bourgeault December 16, 2007 Dan Fogelberg, who thrived in the soft-rock era of the 1970s, died early Sunday morning from a three-year battle with prostrate cancer. Fogelberg was 56.On his website, a message from Anna Loynes of the Solters & Digney public relations agency,... Continue Reading Posted at 5:55 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Weekend Box Office Surprises - Led by Will Smith and "I Am Legend" Gary Bourgeault December 16, 2007 There were expectations that the box office was going to have a decent weekend, with "I Am Legend" starring Will Smith, and the family film Alvin and the Chipmunks poised to put up some decent numbers. I don't think anyone... Continue Reading Posted at 2:00 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Dec15	Peter Jackson Enlists Andy Serkis for "Tintin" Gary Bourgeault December 15, 2007 In what will become another venture by Peter Jackson into performance-capture technology, he is again turning to his friend Andy Serkis to play a key part in a film series, based on a Belgian cartoon character named Tintin.Serkis was used in... Continue Reading Posted at 7:35 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Former Tonya Harding Bodyguard Shawn Eric Eckardt Dead at 40 Gary Bourgeault December 15, 2007 While he changed his name to Brian Sean Griffith, it didn't change Shawn Eric Eckardt's past history as one of the participants in the plan to injure skating rival of Tonya Harding, Nancy Kerrigan.Eckardt eventually received a prison term of... Continue Reading Posted at 7:18 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Celine Dion in Final Performance of "A New Day" at Caesars Palace Gary Bourgeault December 15, 2007 Celine Dion ends her highly successful 5-year performance of "A New Day" at Ceasars Palace on Saturday, December 15. Since the show premiered in March 2003, it has grossed over an astounding $400 million over 717 performances by the entertainment... Continue Reading Posted at 6:53 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Writers Guild Leaders Trying to Create Wedge in AMPTP Gary Bourgeault December 15, 2007 The latest volley in the writers strike was fired by the Writers Guild, as they have offered up the possibility of making deals directly with studios and production companies, rather than deal directly with the Alliance of Motion Picture and... Continue Reading Posted at 6:28 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Will Arnett Voice of "Kitt" in Knight Rider Movie Gary Bourgeault December 15, 2007 Will Arnett has landed the role of the voice of Kitt in the upcoming release of the film version of Knight Rider. Reportedly he and Rainn Wilson (The Office) were the main contenders for the spot. This won't be Arnett's... Continue Reading Posted at 5:33 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Dec14	New Line Cinema Sued Again over "Lord of the Rings" Profits Gary Bourgeault December 14, 2007 For the second time, a big name in Hollywood has sued New Line Cinema in reference to disclosing its accounting for the hugely successful "Lord of the Rings" trilogy.This time Academy Award-winning producer Saul Zaentz has sued the studio, which... Continue Reading Posted at 10:39 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	British Betting on "Same Difference" in X Factor Finale Gary Bourgeault December 14, 2007 The interest in the finale of the British version of "American Idol" is surging, as bets are coming in that favorite Rhydian Roberts is vulnerable, and the brother and sister duo "Same Difference," is closing the gap.For the finale this... Continue Reading Posted at 5:15 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Entertainment Industry Continues in Upheaval as Know More Media Celebrates Second Anniversary Gary Bourgeault December 14, 2007 As media and entertainment continually migrate to the digital world, Know More Media, the business blogging network I write for, has grown strongly since its creation, and has now celebrated its second anniversary.It's amazing to see, especially in the business... Continue Reading Posted at 4:41 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Turner's Jack Wakshlag says Cable Not as Vulnerable to Strike as Broadcasters Gary Bourgeault December 14, 2007 The Chief Research Officer from Turner, Jack Wakshlag, said yesterday in New York that the strike by the Writers Guild of America will have much less impact on the cable industry, because of the nature of the content each offers viewers.The... Continue Reading Posted at 1:14 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Dec13	More with General Electric CEO Jeffrey Immelt on NBC Gary Bourgeault December 13, 2007 The input from Jeff Immelt concerning NBC (GE) on the CNBC business network, talked specifically about the need for the TV business model to change. Joe Kernen asked Immelt if the broadcast business model was still viable, here's Immelt's response:... Continue Reading Posted at 6:51 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	General Electric CEO Jeff Immelt's Thoughts on NBC Gary Bourgeault December 13, 2007 In an interview on CNBC "Squawk Box," General Electric (GE) chairman and CEO Jeff Immelt talked some on his thoughts concerning NBC and its future with the conglomerate.While he reiterated his stand that he isn't thinking of getting rid of... Continue Reading Posted at 6:07 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Golden Globes Awards List Revealed: "Atonement" Gets Seven Nods Gary Bourgeault December 13, 2007 The list for the Golden Globe Awards, which covers both film and television, was released today. Leading the nominations was "Atonement," which was named in seven categories. In the best drama film category there was also a more nominees than... Continue Reading Posted at 2:56 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Dec12	China Bans Hollywood Films Gary Bourgeault December 12, 2007 If the writers strike wasn't enough to hurt major media companies, the added problem of trade relations with China is causing some major damage as well, as films from U.S. movie companies are no longer being given permission to be... Continue Reading Posted at 6:03 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Ike Turner, One of Original Rock Stars, Dies at 76 Gary Bourgeault December 12, 2007 Ike Turner, who had expressed frustration through the years because his personal life overshadowed his professional one, died today at the age of 76. I watched a lot of Ike Turner in the early years, but I was surprised to... Continue Reading Posted at 4:52 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Britney Spears a No-Show for Deposition Gary Bourgeault December 12, 2007 It looks like Britney Spears is losing interest in her children, as another court-ordered deposition found she wasn't going to show up.According to attorney Mark Vincent Kaplan, Spears wasn't feeling good. "She's going to show at a later date," Kaplan... Continue Reading Posted at 4:33 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	CBS Awards Leslie Moonves with Contract through 2011 Gary Bourgeault December 12, 2007 Leslie Moonves is one of the few people Sumner Redstone has working for him that he holds in high esteem. That was confirmed again, as Redstone ratified a new contract for Moonves which extends through 2011.As far as his base salary... Continue Reading Posted at 4:09 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Will Banned Substance Abuse Hurt Major League Baseball on Television? Gary Bourgeault December 12, 2007 On December 13, the results of the 20-month investigation into the illegal use of streroids or other banned substances will be revealed in a press conference at 2 p.m. EST. Anywhere from 50 to 80 players, past and present, are... Continue Reading Posted at 2:56 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Dec11	Orson Welles' Working Script for "Citizen Kane" Sold for $97,000 Gary Bourgeault December 11, 2007 The personal working script of Orson Welles for "Citizen Kane" was auctioned by Sotheby's today for $97,000 to an anonymous phone bidder.The script was the last one before the final script used for shooting, and was 156 pages long. Estimates... Continue Reading Posted at 9:10 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Bear Stearns: U.S. Entertainment Sector Fundamentals to Deteriorate in 2008 Gary Bourgeault December 11, 2007 According to Bear Stearns (BSC), the entertainment sector of the U.S. market will decline from a market weight to an underweight, and the underlying fundamentals are set to deteriorate in 2008.Stearns said that so far in 2007, the sector has... Continue Reading Posted at 6:30 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	NBC Offering Advertisers Refunds: First Time in Years Gary Bourgeault December 11, 2007 The plunge in ratings by NBC (GE) has resulted in them having to offer advertisers refunds for the first time in years by any network. they are paying back about $500,000 on average to marketers.This isn't to be confused with... Continue Reading Posted at 4:29 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Jeopardy! Host Alex Trebek Suffers Mild Heart Attack Gary Bourgeault December 11, 2007 Alex Trebek, who has been a fixture on television for years throught he popular "Jeopardy!" show, has suffered a mild heart attack. Publicist for the show Jeff Ritter said about Trebek and how it will affect Jeopardy!, "He is resting... Continue Reading Posted at 2:18 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Dec10	Suspicion Confirmed: Kevin DuBrow Died of Cocaine Overdose Gary Bourgeault December 10, 2007 On the news of the death of former Quiet Riot frontman Kevin DuBrow, it was assumed there would be some revelation after an autopsy didn't reveal anything, and a toxicology test result had to be waited on. The results of... Continue Reading Posted at 10:25 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Jeanne Assam: Hero in Church Shooting Rampage Gary Bourgeault December 10, 2007 In an extraordinary show of calm and determination, Jeanne Assam, a volunteer security guard at New Life Church in Colorada Springs, gunned down an assailant on a shooting rampage, after he killed two sisters in the parking lot as they... Continue Reading Posted at 8:56 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Celebrity Craze: African Babies, Divorce and ... Israeli Bodyguards? Gary Bourgeault December 10, 2007 Mention the name of some Hollywood celebrity, and you'll find that more than likely they've at one time or another had an Israeli bodyguard as part of their contingent; especially one who trained with the Israel Defense Forces, which is... Continue Reading Posted at 5:53 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	CBS Dominates Sunday Night, New England Football Leads the Way Gary Bourgeault December 10, 2007 CBS (CBS-A) handily won the primetime Sunday night race, as they won the key 18-49 demo, along with overall viewership.The ongoing pursuit by the New England Patriots to become the second football team in league history to go through a... Continue Reading Posted at 5:06 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	CBS' Newest Concept Restaurant Venture: CBS Scene Gary Bourgeault December 10, 2007 CBS (CBS-A) is venturing into the restauarant scene for the first time, readying a new concept restaurant named CBS Scene. It'll be part of the new "Patriot Place," built around Gillette Stadium, where the New England Patriots play. The overall... Continue Reading Posted at 3:48 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Dec 9	Gunmen Open Fire on Christian Organizations: At Least 3 Killed Gary Bourgeault December 9, 2007 It's not known at this time whether the incidents are related, but in two different locations in Colorado, Christian organizations were opened fire on and people were killed. The first shooting occurred at a Youth With a Mission station, in... Continue Reading Posted at 7:02 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Syndication Genius Roger King Dies at 63 Gary Bourgeault December 9, 2007 A day after suffering a stroke, CEO of CBS Television Distribution, Roger King, passed away at the age of 63. King was considered one of the top, if not the top seller of syndication in history. King was also chairman... Continue Reading Posted at 4:09 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	The Golden Compass Leads Box Office, but Disappointing Gary Bourgeault December 9, 2007 Whether it was manufactured or real, the controversy surrounding The Golden Compass didn't do much to make it a big winner at the box office, as it was only able to draw a fair $26.1 million in its opening frame.... Continue Reading Posted at 2:37 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Dec 8	Will Smith not a "Legend" in China Gary Bourgeault December 8, 2007 The latest film project from Will Smith, "I Am Legend," won't be seen in China anytime soon, as they keep with their existing policy of only allowing a certain number of foreign film releases in the country. Smith, who has... Continue Reading Posted at 6:47 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	After Public Outcry, NBC Running Ads Thanking U.S. Troops for Sacrifice and Service Gary Bourgeault December 8, 2007 The public outcry denouncing the decision by General Electric's NBC (GE), which refused to run an ad by Freedom Watch thanking U.S troops for their sacrifice and service to the country, caused them to reverse direction and air the ad... Continue Reading Posted at 5:33 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Reba McEntire Releasing new Album "Love Revival" Exclusively Through Hallmark Gary Bourgeault December 8, 2007 Reba McEntire is the lastest music artist to offer an exclusive deal through Hallmark Gold Crown stores. The album, called "Love Revival," will be offered for $7.95 when purchased with three Hallmark cards. Her new album will be sold in... Continue Reading Posted at 4:49 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Marisa Tomei Joining Neil Rosen and Tom Calderone to Announce Critics' Choice Award Nominees Gary Bourgeault December 8, 2007 Marisa Tomei will be part of the team which will announce the nominees for the upcoming 13th annual Critic' Choice Awards on December 11. She'll be joining Neil Rosen, the New York Broadcast Film Critics Association Chairman, and Tom Calderone,... Continue Reading Posted at 4:39 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Talks Broken off in Writers Strike - Selfish Writers Overreaching Gary Bourgeault December 8, 2007 It looks like there will be no new agreement in place for a long time to come, as Hollywood studios and producers walked away from talks with the writers.The current round of talks have been going on for eight days,... Continue Reading Posted at 1:21 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Dec 7	Only Known Woody Guthrie Live Performance Recording Nominated for 2008 Grammy Gary Bourgeault December 7, 2007 While Woody Guthrie has long been known for his prolific songwriting, penning over a thousand songs throughout his life, there had never been a known performance recorded before a live audience. That has all changed now, as an unsolicited package... Continue Reading Posted at 10:52 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Rejecting Ad Thanking U.S. Troops, Another Reason NBC Continues to Fail Gary Bourgeault December 7, 2007 Does General Electric support rejection of ad encouraging people to thank and remember U.S. troops during the holidays?NBC, the network owned by General Electric (GE), has rejected an ad from Freedom Watch which simply asked people viewing it to remember...

Dec26	Patriots-Giants Game First to be Simulcast on Three Networks in History Gary Bourgeault December 26, 2007 Know More: Promotion CBS, General Electric, National Football League, NBC, New England Patriots, New England Patriots Undefeated, New York Giants, NFL, NFL Network, Roger Goodell, Simulcast, Super Bowl For the first time in broadcast history, a National Football League game will be simulcast across three networks. The New England Patriots drive to become the second team in NFL history to remain undefeated, has been the impetus behind the action. On December 29, the NFL Network, NBC (GE) and CBS (CBS-A) will simulcast the Patriots final game of the season versus the New York Giants. There had been a bitter battle by cable TV operators and the NFL over the issue, which centered around additional licensing fees to the cable TV operators, who didn't have rights to the game. The NFL Network had exclusive rights to this specific game. “We have taken this extraordinary step because it is in the best interest of our fans,” NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said in Wednesday’s announcement. “What we have seen for the past year is a very strong consumer demand for NFL Network. We appreciate CBS and NBC delivering the NFL Network telecast on Saturday night to the broad audience that deserves to see this potentially historic game. Our commitment to the NFL Network is stronger than ever.” Continue Reading Posted at 4:37 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Dec26	"American Idol" Premiering January 15 Gary Bourgeault December 26, 2007 Fox (NWS-A) has announced the schedule for the for the first few months of the upcoming season of "American Idol," with the season premiere airing over a two-night period on January 15 and 16, which includes four hours of coverage.... Continue Reading Posted at 3:02 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Dec23	National Treasure Leads Box Office Weekend to Gold Gary Bourgeault December 23, 2007 Studios and theater owners have been wondering if any of the magic of the summer was going to spill over into the holiday season. They don't have to wonder any longer, as they have several winners that will propel them... Continue Reading Posted at 2:48 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Dec22	Denzel Washington visits Marshall, TX - Home of "The Great Debaters" Gary Bourgeault December 22, 2007 Denzel Washington had things stirred up in Marshall, TX last week, a small northeast Texas town, and home of Wiley College, which produced the debate team the film "The Great Debaters" is based on."This is where it started," Washington said.... Continue Reading Posted at 6:12 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Melissa Joan Hart Finding Second Pregnancy a Real Kick Gary Bourgeault December 22, 2007 Melissa Joan Hart, 31, was filling in what was happening with her and husband Mark Wilkerson on her MySpace page. Hart talked about carrying the couples' second child on her blog, saying, "The new babe is kicking like a maniac... Continue Reading Posted at 5:24 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	New England Patriots Carrying NFL, Networks on their Backs This Year Gary Bourgeault December 22, 2007 The tremendous undefeated season of the New England Patriots has helped the National Football League get a lot of attention and TV networks to make a lot of advertising money.So far the Patriots are 14-0, with two games remaining in... Continue Reading Posted at 4:37 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	News Corp. Selling Eight TV Stations to Oak Hill Capital Partners Gary Bourgeault December 22, 2007 News Corp. (NWS-A) and Oak Hill Capital announced a deal on Saturday morngin where Oak Hill will be acquiring eight television stations from the conglomerate for approximately $1.1 billion. Oak Hill Capital already owns nine stations, so this will bring... Continue Reading Posted at 2:13 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Dec21	Chuck Norris Sues Publisher over Exploiting His Name Gary Bourgeault December 21, 2007 A book by publisher Penguin "The Truth About Chuck Norris: 400 facts about the World's Greatest Human," released in November, is under fire from Chuck Norris, as he's sued the publisher, author Ian Spector and two websites Spector runs to... Continue Reading Posted at 11:53 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	"Charlie's War" is Unfortunately Aaron's Lie Gary Bourgeault December 21, 2007 It's too bad that liberal Aaron Sorkin allowed his biases to enter into Charlie's War, as the film had a chance to be a really interesting and engaging look into an amazing time in American history. Now it's not worth... Continue Reading Posted at 11:05 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	ESPN Digging Deeper into Talent Pool to Differentiate Gary Bourgeault December 21, 2007 While ESPN (DIS) still commands the highest cable prices - charging over $3.26 for each monthly subscriber, which will increase to $3.65 in 2008 - it has suffered in viewership, with the average number of households tuning into the channel... Continue Reading Posted at 10:19 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Sacha Baron Cohen saying goodbye to Borat and Ali G Gary Bourgeault December 21, 2007 While Sacha Baron Cohen, the British comedian and actor, wasn't known much outside the UK when he made the faux documentary "Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan" last year, the response from Kazakh leaders,... Continue Reading Posted at 5:09 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Internet Viewers want more Professional Video Online Gary Bourgeault December 21, 2007 According to a Harris Poll, online video viewers are increasingly turning to the Web to consume video content.When asked what they would like to see more online, respondents by far preferred professional TV and movies, with 30 percent saying they... Continue Reading Posted at 4:43 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Dec20	USA Network Cancels "The Dead Zone" and "The 4400" Gary Bourgeault December 20, 2007 I was disappointed when I heard the news that not only The Dead Zone, but also "The 4400" have been cancelled by the USA network. #a#@&#. Ok I feel a little better now.Having gotten over the initial shock, it's a... Continue Reading Posted at 10:58 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Miley Cyrus Tells Oprah what keeps her Grounded Gary Bourgeault December 20, 2007 Talking with Oprah, Miley Cyrus said being a role model for her, starts with the clothes she wears. Even though she almost has an unlimited number of outfits she could wear, she always makes her decision based on if she... Continue Reading Posted at 8:59 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Race for Oscars Up in the Air as SAG Nominees Surprise Gary Bourgeault December 20, 2007 Evidently there were a lot of back-room conversations and deals taking place leading up to the announcement of nominees for the Screen Actors Guild awards, as a number of surprises emerged that make projections on who will be the Oscar... Continue Reading Posted at 7:35 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Led Zeppelin World Tour Confirmed in the Works Gary Bourgeault December 20, 2007 Ever since Led Zeppelin got together for a one-time show in early December, rumors have been rampant that they're getting ready to launch a worldwide tour based on the events' success.Now a source close to the band tells Daily Express... Continue Reading Posted at 5:58 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Stampede of Talk Show Hosts Resuming Production continues: Stewart, Colbert Coming Back Gary Bourgeault December 20, 2007 The Comedy Central network announced Thursday that "The Colbert Report" and "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart" will begin production again on January 7, without any of the striking writers.Since Jay Leno and Conan O'Brien announced they're returning to production,... Continue Reading Posted at 5:12 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Will Sam Zell Survive the Buyout of Tribune Co.? Gary Bourgeault December 20, 2007 After almost nine months, the buyout of Chicago-based Tribune Co. closed today, making it a privately owned company. The new loans needed to acquire the company will make it one of the most debt-heavy businesses in America. The question immediately... Continue Reading Posted at 2:53 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Dec19	Jimmy Kimmel Next in Line of Late-night Talk Show Hosts Returning to Air Gary Bourgeault December 19, 2007 The parade of late night talk show hosts continue to return to television, as new episodes of "Jimmy Kimmel Live" will start airing in January. We talked about this a couple days ago when Jay Leno and Conan O'Brien decided... Continue Reading Posted at 10:03 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Rachael Ray in New Prime-time Series, "Rachael's Vacation" Gary Bourgeault December 19, 2007 When you're hot you're hot, and Rachael Ray is enjoying her time in the limelight, as she's signed a new deal with the Food Network called "Rachael's Vacation."Ray has been out promoting her new book "Just in Time," and said... Continue Reading Posted at 6:41 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Peter Jackson not Going to Direct "The Hobbit" Says His Manager Gary Bourgeault December 19, 2007 While there was a short time of euphoria over the announcement the Peter Jackson had mended fences with New Line Cinema and was named as executive director of "The Hobbit," today that came crashing down, as Jackson's manager, Ken Kamins,... Continue Reading Posted at 5:34 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Vladimir Putin: A New World Celebrity? Gary Bourgeault December 19, 2007 The naming of Vladimir Putin as the Man or Person of the Year by Time magazine, made me think about the way he's built his image over the last several years. That isn't easy when you consider he's not the... Continue Reading Posted at 4:00 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Dec18	Jamie Lynn Spears Pregnant: Another Family Disaster in the Making? Gary Bourgeault December 18, 2007 While the news that the sister of Britney Spears, Jamie Lynn, was pregnant, shocked and disappointed her mother, after the initial shock she became very supportive, according to Jamie Lynn.Unfortunately for Jamie Lynn Spears, it's too late for her to... Continue Reading Posted at 9:52 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Nicole Kidman Spending Most of 2008 on Tour with Husband Keith Urban Gary Bourgeault December 18, 2007 In a trip to Australia to promote the Sydney premiere of "The Golden Compass," Nicole Kidman announced she'd be stepping out of Hollywood next year, so she can tour with husband and country singer Keith Urban.Kidman contemplated the decision as... Continue Reading Posted at 9:22 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Michael Douglas: Heeeere's Brian Gary Bourgeault December 18, 2007 Shades of Ed McMahon, Michael Douglas has been chosen to be the new announcer for Brian Williams on "Nightly News." Talk about easy money. All Douglas had to do was a one-time taping saying "This is the NBC Nightly News... Continue Reading Posted at 8:55 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	FCC Approval of New Media Ownership Rule Largely Irrelevant Gary Bourgeault December 18, 2007 A lot of old media writers and politicians from another era are making a big deal about the FCC approval of cross-ownership rules. In reality, it's not much to even be bothered with.The basic changes will allow a business or... Continue Reading Posted at 8:25 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Vanessa Hudgens: Another Top Network Story This Year Gary Bourgeault December 18, 2007 The nude photos of Vanessa Hudgens online, stirred up a lot of interest this year, and it's even possible it may have been orchestrated to increase her exposure, as mentioned at webmetricsguru. If that was the case, it sure would be... Continue Reading Posted at 5:59 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Wedding of Abhishek and Aishwarya most Popular on Know More Media Network for 2007 Gary Bourgeault December 18, 2007 A lot of people may not know that Bollywood is actually much more prolific than Hollywood in putting out films, and their celebrities there are watched as much - possibly even more - than they are in the United States... Continue Reading Posted at 5:18 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Peter Jackson Ends Legal Dispute with New Line, will Executive Produce "The Hobbit" Gary Bourgeault December 18, 2007 Fans of "The Lord of the Rings" and Peter Jackson were thrilled to hear today that all legal action in the lawsuit against New Line Cinema has been settled, and Jackson, along with business partner Fran Walsh, will be executive... Continue Reading Posted at 1:40 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Dec17	Writers Guild Refuses Waivers for Golden Globes and Oscars Gary Bourgeault December 17, 2007 Requests for waivers by television producers of the Oscars and Golden Globes were denied by the Writers Guild of America, making things even more contentious between the AMPTP and the Guild.The Golden Globes, which will air on NBC (GE) on... Continue Reading Posted at 10:37 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Jay Leno and Conan O'Brien Starting Up Again on NBC Gary Bourgeault December 17, 2007 With the writers' strike going nowhere, and negotiations at a standstill, Jay Leno and his "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," along with Conan O'Brien and his Late Night with Conan O'Brien," will start to air again on NBC (GE),... Continue Reading Posted at 10:04 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	NBC to Launch "Quarterlife" in February Gary Bourgeault December 17, 2007 The official launch of the made-for-the-Internet series "Quarterlife" on NBC (GE)will be February 18. The network picked it up from Thirtysomething creators Marshall Herskovitz and Edward Zwick through a licensing deal. Originally the series aired on MySpace (NWS-A), and one... Continue Reading Posted at 9:04 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Dec16	Michael Eisner's Strategy for Topps Continues to Unfold Gary Bourgeault December 16, 2007 The reason for the acquisition of Topps - the trading card company - by former Disney (DIS) CEO Michael Eisner and his investment company Tornante, is beginning to unfold, and it's far more ambitious than I originally thought.We've talked in... Continue Reading Posted at 9:06 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Singer-Songwriter Dan Fogelberg Dies at 56 Gary Bourgeault December 16, 2007 Dan Fogelberg, who thrived in the soft-rock era of the 1970s, died early Sunday morning from a three-year battle with prostrate cancer. Fogelberg was 56.On his website, a message from Anna Loynes of the Solters & Digney public relations agency,... Continue Reading Posted at 5:55 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Weekend Box Office Surprises - Led by Will Smith and "I Am Legend" Gary Bourgeault December 16, 2007 There were expectations that the box office was going to have a decent weekend, with "I Am Legend" starring Will Smith, and the family film Alvin and the Chipmunks poised to put up some decent numbers. I don't think anyone... Continue Reading Posted at 2:00 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Dec15	Peter Jackson Enlists Andy Serkis for "Tintin" Gary Bourgeault December 15, 2007 In what will become another venture by Peter Jackson into performance-capture technology, he is again turning to his friend Andy Serkis to play a key part in a film series, based on a Belgian cartoon character named Tintin.Serkis was used in... Continue Reading Posted at 7:35 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Former Tonya Harding Bodyguard Shawn Eric Eckardt Dead at 40 Gary Bourgeault December 15, 2007 While he changed his name to Brian Sean Griffith, it didn't change Shawn Eric Eckardt's past history as one of the participants in the plan to injure skating rival of Tonya Harding, Nancy Kerrigan.Eckardt eventually received a prison term of... Continue Reading Posted at 7:18 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Celine Dion in Final Performance of "A New Day" at Caesars Palace Gary Bourgeault December 15, 2007 Celine Dion ends her highly successful 5-year performance of "A New Day" at Ceasars Palace on Saturday, December 15. Since the show premiered in March 2003, it has grossed over an astounding $400 million over 717 performances by the entertainment... Continue Reading Posted at 6:53 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Writers Guild Leaders Trying to Create Wedge in AMPTP Gary Bourgeault December 15, 2007 The latest volley in the writers strike was fired by the Writers Guild, as they have offered up the possibility of making deals directly with studios and production companies, rather than deal directly with the Alliance of Motion Picture and... Continue Reading Posted at 6:28 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Will Arnett Voice of "Kitt" in Knight Rider Movie Gary Bourgeault December 15, 2007 Will Arnett has landed the role of the voice of Kitt in the upcoming release of the film version of Knight Rider. Reportedly he and Rainn Wilson (The Office) were the main contenders for the spot. This won't be Arnett's... Continue Reading Posted at 5:33 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Dec14	New Line Cinema Sued Again over "Lord of the Rings" Profits Gary Bourgeault December 14, 2007 For the second time, a big name in Hollywood has sued New Line Cinema in reference to disclosing its accounting for the hugely successful "Lord of the Rings" trilogy.This time Academy Award-winning producer Saul Zaentz has sued the studio, which... Continue Reading Posted at 10:39 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	British Betting on "Same Difference" in X Factor Finale Gary Bourgeault December 14, 2007 The interest in the finale of the British version of "American Idol" is surging, as bets are coming in that favorite Rhydian Roberts is vulnerable, and the brother and sister duo "Same Difference," is closing the gap.For the finale this... Continue Reading Posted at 5:15 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Entertainment Industry Continues in Upheaval as Know More Media Celebrates Second Anniversary Gary Bourgeault December 14, 2007 As media and entertainment continually migrate to the digital world, Know More Media, the business blogging network I write for, has grown strongly since its creation, and has now celebrated its second anniversary.It's amazing to see, especially in the business... Continue Reading Posted at 4:41 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Turner's Jack Wakshlag says Cable Not as Vulnerable to Strike as Broadcasters Gary Bourgeault December 14, 2007 The Chief Research Officer from Turner, Jack Wakshlag, said yesterday in New York that the strike by the Writers Guild of America will have much less impact on the cable industry, because of the nature of the content each offers viewers.The... Continue Reading Posted at 1:14 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Dec13	More with General Electric CEO Jeffrey Immelt on NBC Gary Bourgeault December 13, 2007 The input from Jeff Immelt concerning NBC (GE) on the CNBC business network, talked specifically about the need for the TV business model to change. Joe Kernen asked Immelt if the broadcast business model was still viable, here's Immelt's response:... Continue Reading Posted at 6:51 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	General Electric CEO Jeff Immelt's Thoughts on NBC Gary Bourgeault December 13, 2007 In an interview on CNBC "Squawk Box," General Electric (GE) chairman and CEO Jeff Immelt talked some on his thoughts concerning NBC and its future with the conglomerate.While he reiterated his stand that he isn't thinking of getting rid of... Continue Reading Posted at 6:07 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Golden Globes Awards List Revealed: "Atonement" Gets Seven Nods Gary Bourgeault December 13, 2007 The list for the Golden Globe Awards, which covers both film and television, was released today. Leading the nominations was "Atonement," which was named in seven categories. In the best drama film category there was also a more nominees than... Continue Reading Posted at 2:56 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Dec12	China Bans Hollywood Films Gary Bourgeault December 12, 2007 If the writers strike wasn't enough to hurt major media companies, the added problem of trade relations with China is causing some major damage as well, as films from U.S. movie companies are no longer being given permission to be... Continue Reading Posted at 6:03 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Ike Turner, One of Original Rock Stars, Dies at 76 Gary Bourgeault December 12, 2007 Ike Turner, who had expressed frustration through the years because his personal life overshadowed his professional one, died today at the age of 76. I watched a lot of Ike Turner in the early years, but I was surprised to... Continue Reading Posted at 4:52 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Britney Spears a No-Show for Deposition Gary Bourgeault December 12, 2007 It looks like Britney Spears is losing interest in her children, as another court-ordered deposition found she wasn't going to show up.According to attorney Mark Vincent Kaplan, Spears wasn't feeling good. "She's going to show at a later date," Kaplan... Continue Reading Posted at 4:33 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	CBS Awards Leslie Moonves with Contract through 2011 Gary Bourgeault December 12, 2007 Leslie Moonves is one of the few people Sumner Redstone has working for him that he holds in high esteem. That was confirmed again, as Redstone ratified a new contract for Moonves which extends through 2011.As far as his base salary... Continue Reading Posted at 4:09 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Will Banned Substance Abuse Hurt Major League Baseball on Television? Gary Bourgeault December 12, 2007 On December 13, the results of the 20-month investigation into the illegal use of streroids or other banned substances will be revealed in a press conference at 2 p.m. EST. Anywhere from 50 to 80 players, past and present, are... Continue Reading Posted at 2:56 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Dec11	Orson Welles' Working Script for "Citizen Kane" Sold for $97,000 Gary Bourgeault December 11, 2007 The personal working script of Orson Welles for "Citizen Kane" was auctioned by Sotheby's today for $97,000 to an anonymous phone bidder.The script was the last one before the final script used for shooting, and was 156 pages long. Estimates... Continue Reading Posted at 9:10 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Bear Stearns: U.S. Entertainment Sector Fundamentals to Deteriorate in 2008 Gary Bourgeault December 11, 2007 According to Bear Stearns (BSC), the entertainment sector of the U.S. market will decline from a market weight to an underweight, and the underlying fundamentals are set to deteriorate in 2008.Stearns said that so far in 2007, the sector has... Continue Reading Posted at 6:30 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	NBC Offering Advertisers Refunds: First Time in Years Gary Bourgeault December 11, 2007 The plunge in ratings by NBC (GE) has resulted in them having to offer advertisers refunds for the first time in years by any network. they are paying back about $500,000 on average to marketers.This isn't to be confused with... Continue Reading Posted at 4:29 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Jeopardy! Host Alex Trebek Suffers Mild Heart Attack Gary Bourgeault December 11, 2007 Alex Trebek, who has been a fixture on television for years throught he popular "Jeopardy!" show, has suffered a mild heart attack. Publicist for the show Jeff Ritter said about Trebek and how it will affect Jeopardy!, "He is resting... Continue Reading Posted at 2:18 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Dec10	Suspicion Confirmed: Kevin DuBrow Died of Cocaine Overdose Gary Bourgeault December 10, 2007 On the news of the death of former Quiet Riot frontman Kevin DuBrow, it was assumed there would be some revelation after an autopsy didn't reveal anything, and a toxicology test result had to be waited on. The results of... Continue Reading Posted at 10:25 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Jeanne Assam: Hero in Church Shooting Rampage Gary Bourgeault December 10, 2007 In an extraordinary show of calm and determination, Jeanne Assam, a volunteer security guard at New Life Church in Colorada Springs, gunned down an assailant on a shooting rampage, after he killed two sisters in the parking lot as they... Continue Reading Posted at 8:56 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Celebrity Craze: African Babies, Divorce and ... Israeli Bodyguards? Gary Bourgeault December 10, 2007 Mention the name of some Hollywood celebrity, and you'll find that more than likely they've at one time or another had an Israeli bodyguard as part of their contingent; especially one who trained with the Israel Defense Forces, which is... Continue Reading Posted at 5:53 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	CBS Dominates Sunday Night, New England Football Leads the Way Gary Bourgeault December 10, 2007 CBS (CBS-A) handily won the primetime Sunday night race, as they won the key 18-49 demo, along with overall viewership.The ongoing pursuit by the New England Patriots to become the second football team in league history to go through a... Continue Reading Posted at 5:06 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	CBS' Newest Concept Restaurant Venture: CBS Scene Gary Bourgeault December 10, 2007 CBS (CBS-A) is venturing into the restauarant scene for the first time, readying a new concept restaurant named CBS Scene. It'll be part of the new "Patriot Place," built around Gillette Stadium, where the New England Patriots play. The overall... Continue Reading Posted at 3:48 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Dec 9	Gunmen Open Fire on Christian Organizations: At Least 3 Killed Gary Bourgeault December 9, 2007 It's not known at this time whether the incidents are related, but in two different locations in Colorado, Christian organizations were opened fire on and people were killed. The first shooting occurred at a Youth With a Mission station, in... Continue Reading Posted at 7:02 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Syndication Genius Roger King Dies at 63 Gary Bourgeault December 9, 2007 A day after suffering a stroke, CEO of CBS Television Distribution, Roger King, passed away at the age of 63. King was considered one of the top, if not the top seller of syndication in history. King was also chairman... Continue Reading Posted at 4:09 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	The Golden Compass Leads Box Office, but Disappointing Gary Bourgeault December 9, 2007 Whether it was manufactured or real, the controversy surrounding The Golden Compass didn't do much to make it a big winner at the box office, as it was only able to draw a fair $26.1 million in its opening frame.... Continue Reading Posted at 2:37 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Dec 8	Will Smith not a "Legend" in China Gary Bourgeault December 8, 2007 The latest film project from Will Smith, "I Am Legend," won't be seen in China anytime soon, as they keep with their existing policy of only allowing a certain number of foreign film releases in the country. Smith, who has... Continue Reading Posted at 6:47 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	After Public Outcry, NBC Running Ads Thanking U.S. Troops for Sacrifice and Service Gary Bourgeault December 8, 2007 The public outcry denouncing the decision by General Electric's NBC (GE), which refused to run an ad by Freedom Watch thanking U.S troops for their sacrifice and service to the country, caused them to reverse direction and air the ad... Continue Reading Posted at 5:33 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Reba McEntire Releasing new Album "Love Revival" Exclusively Through Hallmark Gary Bourgeault December 8, 2007 Reba McEntire is the lastest music artist to offer an exclusive deal through Hallmark Gold Crown stores. The album, called "Love Revival," will be offered for $7.95 when purchased with three Hallmark cards. Her new album will be sold in... Continue Reading Posted at 4:49 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Marisa Tomei Joining Neil Rosen and Tom Calderone to Announce Critics' Choice Award Nominees Gary Bourgeault December 8, 2007 Marisa Tomei will be part of the team which will announce the nominees for the upcoming 13th annual Critic' Choice Awards on December 11. She'll be joining Neil Rosen, the New York Broadcast Film Critics Association Chairman, and Tom Calderone,... Continue Reading Posted at 4:39 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Talks Broken off in Writers Strike - Selfish Writers Overreaching Gary Bourgeault December 8, 2007 It looks like there will be no new agreement in place for a long time to come, as Hollywood studios and producers walked away from talks with the writers.The current round of talks have been going on for eight days,... Continue Reading Posted at 1:21 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Dec 7	Only Known Woody Guthrie Live Performance Recording Nominated for 2008 Grammy Gary Bourgeault December 7, 2007 While Woody Guthrie has long been known for his prolific songwriting, penning over a thousand songs throughout his life, there had never been a known performance recorded before a live audience. That has all changed now, as an unsolicited package... Continue Reading Posted at 10:52 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Rejecting Ad Thanking U.S. Troops, Another Reason NBC Continues to Fail Gary Bourgeault December 7, 2007 Does General Electric support rejection of ad encouraging people to thank and remember U.S. troops during the holidays?NBC, the network owned by General Electric (GE), has rejected an ad from Freedom Watch which simply asked people viewing it to remember...

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