What are you watching this summer?

[Brent]

Golden Globes scheduled for Sunday cancelled. The entire event!

http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/e ... cancelled/

URGENT! I've just obtained the unofficial NBC schedule for the Golden Globes on January 13th:

"There will be a press conference this afternoon announcing that the Globes Awards ceremony will not go on. Here is the plan:
At 9 PM there will be a press conference covered by NBC News announcing the Golden Globe winners. (9pm-10pm)
At 8 PM, we are negotiating with Dick Clark Enterprises for a one-hour retrospective/clip show.
At 7 PM, we will air a Dateline with clips and interviews with nominees. (Currently scheduled to air for two hours on Saturday night.)
At 10 PM, we will broadcast an "Access Hollywood" style, Golden Globes party show...visiting the various parties in Hollywood
So the Hollywood writers strike can now claim its first awards show casualty. I'm hearing from my sources that NBC will not be broadcasting the big Golden Globes show as planned for January 13th. Nor will even a full frills unbroadcasted dinner party be held, either. Instead, a stripped down news telecast will be aired exclusively by NBC News from the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, site of what was supposed to be the big show, where the Hollywood Foreign Press Association will announce the Golden Globe winners who won't be present in the room.

Here's what will happen next: The nominees -- actors, directors, writers, producers, etc -- will have a Red Carpet event outside the Beverly Hilton. Then they'll go inside and attend all the various Golden Globes side parties already planned for each film and TV show. The winners will have the choice of swinging by an HFPA table to pick up their awards and then strolling into a press room for photos and interviews. "It'll now be a news event where the actors can still get all glammed up," a source told me.

I've not yet received any official confirmation of any of this. But insiders tell me that NBC Universal topper Jeff Zucker and the Hollywood Foreign Press Association which bestows the Golden Globes made the decision together to scale everything back into a news event.

[GalvestonDuck]

Striking Hollywood Writers Reach Deal With United Artists

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,320846,00.html

[lurkey]

Striking Hollywood Writers Reach Deal With United Artists

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,320846,00.html

Not surprising. They have been talking about doing a deal for a week and half now. . . plus the co-heads of UA are prominent SAG (and pro-WGA) members, so a deal with UA makes WGA look good and strengths ties between SAG and the WGA.

I don't think it hurts the AMPTP too much yet. It begins to hurt the AMPTP when the WGA begins to make a lot of deals with "independent" production companies that are AMPTP members. Though what does make UA deal stand out is the other partner (there are three) is MGM, a major studio. Rumor is that the MGM may be the first "major" studio to fall. The rumors say that there are financial troubles at MGM and they cannot withstand a long strike.

Besides, any deal that is made will be superseded by any deal eventually (probably when hell freezes over at this point) is made between the AMPTP and WGA.

In other news, DGA and AMPTP started preliminary talks today, mainly talks about the talks.

[lurkey]

SHOWTIME'S CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED DRAMA "DEXTER" PREMIERES SUNDAY, FEB. 17, 10:00-11:00 PM ON THE CBS TELEVISION NETWORK
Released by CBS
[NOTE: The following article is a press release issued by the aforementioned network and/or company. Any errors, typos, etc. are attributed to the original author. The release is reproduced solely for the dissemination of the enclosed information.]

SHOWTIME'S CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED DRAMA "DEXTER" PREMIERES SUNDAY, FEB. 17, 10:00-11:00 PM ON THE CBS TELEVISION NETWORK

In an Unprecedented Move, a Premium Cable Drama To Air on Network Television

DEXTER, the critically acclaimed drama series about a serial killer, which recently completed its second season on premium cable network SHOWTIME, makes an unprecedented appearance on network television when it premieres Sunday, Feb. 17 (10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.

DEXTER's move to CBS marks the first time a full season of a premium cable drama series will make the transition to network television. DEXTER's 12-episode first season will be edited for network television and will be broadcast on 12 consecutive Sundays.

[Cyclenall]

I always wondered about the show DEXTER, but the editing will change it quite a bit IMO. For some strange reason, the actor of Dexter has a smile that reminds me of Steve Irwin.

[Brent]

"The Mole" has come out of hiding.

ABC has given a 10-episode order to Stone & Co. Entertainment ("Tim Gunn's Guide to Style") to revive the reality competish, which hasn't aired in four years.

Casting and pre-production have begun on the show, which will likely start shooting later this spring. ABC is looking to run "The Mole this summer.

"This is a show we honestly love and people ask us about all the time," said ABC Entertainment alternative series senior VP John Saade, who added that plans were afoot to dig out "The Mole" even before the writers' strike.

"We were looking to bring the show back even when the writers were working," he said.

The first two editions of "The Mole," which aired in 2001 and 2002, earned ABC's top marks among adult 18-34 auds in both of those years. ABC then ran two seasons of "Celebrity Mole," in midseason 2003 and 2004.

Stone Stanley Prods., which produced all four "Mole" segs, dissolved in 2004. But principal Scott Stone said he kept a fire burning for the show, and has been looking to revive it under his new shingle for years.

"It was just about getting the timing right," Stone said.

The hiccup: Rights to "The Mole" had reverted back to Belgium company TTTI, which owns the format. Stone, who's repped by WMA, finally managed to close a new deal to license the show two months ago.

"If anyone asks me what my favorite show has been, I've answered 'The Mole,'" Stone said. "Not surprisingly, this has been a passion of mine since the option lapsed three or four years ago. In my staff meeting every week, people would say, 'Don't even bring it up.' I kept throwing it out that it was eventually going to be the right time. And it perennially ends up on lists of people's favorite reality shows. That kept the fires burning inside me."

The revived "Mole" will revert back to the original format, sans celebs.

Show features contestants traveling across a foreign country completing tasks and solving puzzles in order to add money to the winner's pot. At the same time, they're trying to figure out which of their competitors is actually "The Mole" -- a player planted to sabotage the game and limit the money won.

At the end of each episode, players take a quiz; lowest-score sends someone packing. Person who's left standing alongside the Mole wins the money pot -- which could be as much as $1 million, but ultimately came to $510,000 in season one and $636,000 in season two.

Stone said the new version has been simplified, but said he hasn't "dumbed it down."

"We simplified it to where the people at home can play along," he said. "And the quiz will be much shorter than in the past."

Anderson Cooper, who hosted the first two editions, remains at CNN and isn't available to host; Ahmad Rashad, who hosted the celeb editions, hasn't been asked to return. Stone said he's scouting for a host in Cooper's vein.

"We're looking for someone in the Anderson mode, a little mysterious but full of comedy," he said. "It could be a breakout role for someone."

"Celebrity Mole" won an Emmy in 2004 for Outstanding Achievement in Enhanced Television.

[Ptarmigan]

When was the last time Golden Globe was not aired on TV? I am awaiting the return of Prison Break and Terminator: Sarah Connor Chronicles.

[lurkey]

Warner Bros preps pink slips

Back, but winging it??

[grentz7721]

Looks like some layoffs due to the writers strike.

[lurkey]

CBS News and WGA reach an agreement. One strike resolved, one to go . . .


It's not just the below-the-line people hurt by the WGA strike, it's is all the folks whose businesses depend on entertainment industry .. .

[Miss Mary]

Reminder, tonight there are a few new episodes for 2007/08 network TV shows...

My Name is Earl.....................(Earl adjust to life after his prison term)
30 Rock..................(Kenneth gets hooked on caffeine, Liz buys real estate, etc.)
Grey's Anatomy?
ER................... (Abby's back from rehab)



If I missed one, please post it! TV Guide lists Grey's Anatomy as new but my local newspaper TV critic said it was a rerun? I dunno, not a fan but if you are, don't miss GA.

It's just so rare when we get a new episode these days, shows that premiered in 2007 I mean, you can miss the airing. A coworker missed ER last week and I didn't tape it, watched it but didn't record it.

Mary

[GalvestonDuck]

It's not just the below-the-line people hurt by the WGA strike, it's is all the folks whose businesses depend on entertainment industry .. .

It's not the strike -- it's the producer's refusal to negotiate. The strike could end if the AMPTP would sit down and talk. So far, the AMPTP's greed has cost the LA economy over $720 million.

[gtalum]

It's not the strike -- it's the producer's refusal to negotiate. The strike could end if the AMPTP would sit down and talk. So far, the AMPTP's greed has cost the LA economy over $720 million.

That's a backwards way to look at it. Strikes are solely the fault of strikers. They don't have to strike. Work is being offered at a set wage. If they want higher wages, they just need to look elsewhere. Don't force everyone else to quit working because you feel you're underpaid. I rarely have sympathy for strikers. Unions are a big part of why US manufacturing is headed overseas.

[lurkey]

DGA-AMPTP talks begin

Strike hits agencies hard

Thanks Striking Writers, Online Video Going Up, Up, Up, Up

[Brent]

Reminder, tonight there are a few new episodes for 2007/08 network TV shows...

My Name is Earl.....................(Earl adjust to life after his prison term)
30 Rock..................(Kenneth gets hooked on caffeine, Liz buys real estate, etc.)
Grey's Anatomy?
ER................... (Abby's back from rehab)



If I missed one, please post it! TV Guide lists Grey's Anatomy as new but my local newspaper TV critic said it was a rerun? I dunno, not a fan but if you are, don't miss GA.

It's just so rare when we get a new episode these days, shows that premiered in 2007 I mean, you can miss the airing. A coworker missed ER last week and I didn't tape it, watched it but didn't record it.

Mary

Grey's is new, it's the final episode produced before the strike. Ugly Betty is also new(has 2 more left after tonight)

[GalvestonDuck]

DGA-AMPTP talks begin

Strike hits agencies hard

Thanks Striking Writers, Online Video Going Up, Up, Up, Up

That last one makes no sense. The writers aren't getting paid for online video, so they aren't the ones making the price go up.

It's not the strike -- it's the producer's refusal to negotiate. The strike could end if the AMPTP would sit down and talk. So far, the AMPTP's greed has cost the LA economy over $720 million.

That's a backwards way to look at it. Strikes are solely the fault of strikers. They don't have to strike. Work is being offered at a set wage. If they want higher wages, they just need to look elsewhere. Don't force everyone else to quit working because you feel you're underpaid. I rarely have sympathy for strikers. Unions are a big part of why US manufacturing is headed overseas.

That's a non-writers understanding of it...and incorrect. Rates and residuals -- not wages.

First of all, writers don't get wages, they get rate. There are low and high rates for screenplays -- original, adapted, 120-minute, 60-minute, collaborations, 60-minute drama, 120-minute teleplay, 30-minute comedy, and so on. There are different rates for different things.

The writers are NOT fighting for higher rates. They're fighting for more residuals. Residuals are what help fund health care benefits and pension. They already get residuals for re-runs and a small share for DVD sales. They'd like to see the producers give them (as well as others) a fairer share since online video broadcasts cost next to nothing to air via the internet. They aren't asking for prices to increase...they are simply asking for their slice of the pie. The producers are getting paid more and not distributing it among those who create the product (cast, crew, and writers). How is that fair and why shouldn't the guilds fight it?

[Miss Mary]

Each time I hear what the strike is all about (what you explained Duckie), I think the writers deserve this cut. But I just wish something could be done. This season's going to be a wash if they don't settle soon!

[Pburgh]

Put this date on your calendar, I AGREE WITH gtalum.

[GalvestonDuck]

Put this date on your calendar, I AGREE WITH gtalum.

Mind if I ask why?

[lurkey]

DGA-AMPTP talks begin

Strike hits agencies hard

Thanks Striking Writers, Online Video Going Up, Up, Up, Up

That last one makes no sense. The writers aren't getting paid for online video, so they aren't the ones making the price go up.

It's not the strike -- it's the producer's refusal to negotiate. The strike could end if the AMPTP would sit down and talk. So far, the AMPTP's greed has cost the LA economy over $720 million.

That's a backwards way to look at it. Strikes are solely the fault of strikers. They don't have to strike. Work is being offered at a set wage. If they want higher wages, they just need to look elsewhere. Don't force everyone else to quit working because you feel you're underpaid. I rarely have sympathy for strikers. Unions are a big part of why US manufacturing is headed overseas.

That's a non-writers understanding of it...and incorrect. Rates and residuals -- not wages.

First of all, writers don't get wages, they get rate. There are low and high rates for screenplays -- original, adapted, 120-minute, 60-minute, collaborations, 60-minute drama, 120-minute teleplay, 30-minute comedy, and so on. There are different rates for different things.

The writers are NOT fighting for higher rates. They're fighting for more residuals. Residuals are what help fund health care benefits and pension. They already get residuals for re-runs and a small share for DVD sales. They'd like to see the producers give them (as well as others) a fairer share since online video broadcasts cost next to nothing to air via the internet. They aren't asking for prices to increase...they are simply asking for their slice of the pie. The producers are getting paid more and not distributing it among those who create the product (cast, crew, and writers). How is that fair and why shouldn't the guilds fight it?

I think they are talking about the value of online video. . .

You are also assuming the online video is just being made by the "Hollywood" establishment. We are also talking about "independent" (independent as made in Hicksville and Fly_over_country, USA) production companies or individuals. They don't belong to any unions or "Hollywood/New York" establishment. They are entrepreneurs. They often write, direct and finance their 5 - 30 minutes videos themselves. The video runs the gamet of fiction to nonfiction to how to do something to just making jacka$$es out of themselves for the world to see. Go to the Video podcast section of iTunes sometime. . look around at the video being produced that is not churned out by the bigwigs in Hollywood and New York. Check for example, The Onion News Network or Stranger Things . ..