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Dec26
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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.”
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Dec26
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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....
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Dec23
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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...
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Dec22
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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....
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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...
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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...
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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...
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Dec21
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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,...
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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...
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Dec20
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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,...
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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...
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Dec19
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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...
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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...
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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,...
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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...
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Dec18
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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Dec17
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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...
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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),...
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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...
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Dec16
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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...
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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,...
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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...
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Dec15
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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Dec14
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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Dec13
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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:...
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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...
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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...
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Dec12
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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Dec11
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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Dec10
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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Dec 9
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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...
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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...
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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....
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Dec 8
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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,...
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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,...
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Dec 7
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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...
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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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Elin Woods, wife of golf great, Tiger Woods, has made a settlement with the Dubliner magazine from Ireland, which had published fake nude photos of her last year. Woods has sued the paper for libel, when the fake photos were...
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You can't think of Pearl Harbor and World War II, without thinking of the old Hollywood that had those among them that cared about their country. Some examples of past big stars that didn't hesitate to join the armed forces...
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Dec 6
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San Francisco-based liberal talk show host Bernie Ward was indicted by federal authorities on child pornography charges. He faces two charges for using the internet to download child pornography on his computer.After finding out he was indicted on the two...
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Under the auspices of Mixed Martial Arts, the Ultimate Fighting Championship for SpikeTV (VIA-B), along with its competitors, has been drawing a surprisingly strong, young male audience. The partnership between SpikeTV and Ultimate Fighting Championship owner Zuffa, is the undisputed...
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The ratings record set by Disney Channel's "High School Musical 2" in August didn't last long, as the ESPN (DIS) coverage of the New England Patriots-Baltimore Ravens game drew 17.5 million viewers, besting Musical's 17.2 million viewers. Of course Disney...
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While Kiefer Sutherland could have waited until February 12 to start serving his 48-day jail sentence, he decided to start serving it right away. Evidently the writers' strike probably had some influence on that decision, as it was surmised that...
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The list of Grammy Awards nominees was released today, and Kanye West headed the list, being nominated for eight awards. West, who doesn't like to lose when nominated, and let's people know about it, had a great professional year, selling...
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While the media industry in the U.S. has struggled because it is now mature, worldwide it is booming, according to GroupM, a media and advertising firm.The company sees global ad growth increasing by 7 percent in 2008, up from the...
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Dec 5
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It looks like Mel Gibson wants to be the jefe of his own film production company in Costa Rica, as has been in talks with a number of government officials for that purpose.He met with ministers of commerce, tourism and...
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The lone gunman who shot and killed eight people in Nebraska's largest mall, before taking his own life, left a suicide note saying he wanted to "go out in style." As of this writing, five other people were known to...
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After several attempts through the years, fashion maven Isabella Blow finally achieved it by drinking about 20 times the fatal dose of a weedkiller, an inquest was told today. In the past she attempted suicide through jumping off a bridge,...
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It didn't take long for Teri Hatcher to respond to the lawsuit filed by skin care company Hydroderm, which asserted the actress had broken her contract with the company be fattening up her lips with a competitor's product. They allege...
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After the mixup at the Baxter Healthcare Corp. in Illinois resulted in the twin newborns of actor Dennis Quaid and wife Kimberly Buffington to overdose from a blood thinner, the couple filed a lawsuit citing negligence.The babies received a massive...
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Just when you think the LPGA couldn't get any more boring, it's been given a boost by Australian beauty Anna Rawson, who has now earned her LPGA card. Rawson is unique it that she not only plays a good game...
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Dec 4
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In a case regarding a Chinese man charged with counterfeiting Disney (DIS) and Warner Bros. products, Tweety, Donald Duck, Daisy and Mickey Mouse were summoned to an Italian court to testify in the case. They're supposed to show up in...
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Led by Brian Williams, NBC Nightly News (GE) won the November sweeps, edging out ABC World News (DIS) and Charles Gibson.Nightly News won in overall viewers and in the key news demo of people aged 25-54. The race was the...
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Debra Lafave is the Florida teacher who plead guilty for having sex with a 14-year-old by while she was a teacher.Now she was arrested again for interacting with a underage female co-worker at Danny Boy's restaurant.Terms of Lafave's probation are...
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For the creators of "Borat," the stream of lawsuits don't seem to stop, as another bit player in the film has sued, saying he was deceived into taking part in the film, when it was described to him as a...
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Chad Butler, otherwise known as "Pimp C," half of the rap duo Underground Kingz (UGK), was found dead in a Mondrian Hotel room in Hollywood. Butler was 33.Butler first emerged on the rap scene with a group called Mission Impossible...
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For the first time since DVDs became a part of our entertainment experience, sales may be dropping, putting pressure on profits in the entertainment industry.While some movie releases make some money for media companies, it's been the DVD that has...
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Pat Robertson made an announcement on "The 700 Club" that his son Gordon was taking over leadership of the Christian Broadcasting Network, or CBN.Gordon said he was surprised by the whole affair, "It was a big surprise. I got called by...
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Dec 3
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Gurbaksh Chahal, who sold his first Internet business at the age of 18 for $40 million in stock, and then followed that up by the age of 25 with selling his Internet ad business BlueLithium Network to Yahoo! (YHOO), is...
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Among the attendants at the funeral of NFL player Sean Taylor was actor Andy Garcia, who credited Taylor with saving the life of his niece and her 18-month-old daughter, who was in the house when broken into, and resulted in...
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The reintroduction of Don Imus for his new show includes black comedians Karith Foster and Tony Powell. Also returning is his longtime colleague and pal Bernard McQuirk.Karith Foster has worked as a reporter for ABC, was part of the production...
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If Tim Roth had accepted the original role offered him, he would have been the character Severus Snape in the Harry Potter franchise, played by Alan Rickman. Instead, he refused the original role six years ago for the original film.Now...
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Dec 2
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For the 30th time, the Kennedy Center honored a group of people from the performing arts for their contributions to American culture. This years list included Martin Scorsese, Brian Wilson, Diana Ross, Steve Martin and Leon Fleisher. The honorees visited...
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The newest twist on reality shows is an offering called "Who Wants to Marry a U.S. Citizen," which is built around the concerns about illegal immigration in the U.S.Morusa Media is the producer of the show, and has been shopping...
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Using the recent presidential debate on CNN as a backdrop, LA Times' writer Tim Rutten called CNN corrupt and called for leaders of both the Republican and Democratic party to abandon the network from participating in our electoral affairs.Rutten questioned...
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The notoriously slow weekend after Thanksgiving followed in its predecessors' footsteps, as it performed as expected with a very slow weekend box office take.Leading for the second week in a row is Disney's (DIS) "Enchanted," earning another $17 million, a...
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Dec 1
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Workers for NBC's "Tonight Show with Jay Leno" are the latest casualities of the Writers Guild of America union, as their strike continues to hurt regular people working in the industry.Even though they work less and get paid far more...
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Only two weeks after pleading no contest to charges of cocaine possession and battery, Jessica Sierra continues her self destructive behavior as she's in jail early Saturday after being charged with resisting arrest, felony battery, possession of cocaine and disorderly...
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