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Americans Continue to Use Televisions for Grand Theft Auto IV, Not Primetime
Talk all you want – and people like David Bauder will – about how television viewership since the strike is down, across the board. “ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC had nearly 9 percent fewer viewers in April and May so far than during the same period a year ago” [AP] Then again, the networks have been losing audiences year-over-year, so why blame Hollywood scribes’ neediness for a few digital dollars?
But how about some real sobering news? You know, the type that will feed the gossip chamber?
Katie Couric set a new record low!
“The [CBS Evening News] averaged 5.34 million viewers last week, breaking a record low for CBS News’ flagship show that had been set the week before, according to Nielsen Media Research. The CBS Evening News - No. 3 in a three-way competition - had nearly 2.5 million fewer viewers than No. 2.
“NBC’s Nightly News led with 8.02 million viewers last week (5.5 rating, 12 share), with ABC’s World News averaging 7.79 million (5.4, 12). CBS had a 3.7 rating and 8 share.” [AP]
Zev Shalev Named Early Show EP, Shelley Ross' Former Deputy Laurye Blackford Quits in Protest JOSSIP REPORTS
Laurye Blackford, one of Shelley Ross’ hires and one of the notorious “mean girls” at The Early Show, told bosses yesterday that she’s quitting. She submitted her two weeks notice, Jossip hears, in protest of Zev Shalev being named executive producer of the A.M. show, following Rick Kaplan’s exit, which we were the first to tell you about this week. (Interesting, because David Shenfeld, the senior producer who stopped showing up for work last week, is said to have left the show because he lost all power to Blackford.)
Blackford was only supposed to be with the show through January, but stayed on because she thought she might be named to Ross’ top spot, says a source.
Oh, and in case you missed it in there: Shalev is officially replacing Kaplan.
Blogtard Buzz Bissinger's Backhanded Apology
“I do sincerely regret the way in which Leitch was treated because it did undermine the valid points that I was trying to make.” So you’re sorry you were an ass because it kept the focus away from your very valid points? [VF]
Some Drummed Up Scandal From Last Night's Time 100
A Fox News production assistant, identified as Jennifer Locke, was axed when, on the red carpet, she blurted out to John McCain, “I voted for you in the primary, you’re going to win.” Replied the Republican candidate: “You’re not supposed to reveal that.” The entire incident was recorded on video. [TVN] Meanwhile, media baron Rupert Murdoch was seated two seats away from McCain, with just Time managing editor Rick Stengel between them. While McCain was named to the Time 100 list along with Hillary and Barack, how come he was the only one to show? Because he wanted to “bend” Murdoch’s powerful ear, natch. [NYO] Such power bestowed a gentleman who, in fact, has never even been invited to the White House. [Gawker] [Photo: Time]
The Theme Music to Justin Timberlake's Reality Show Will Also Be Available as a Ringtone
Justin Timberlake’s new reality show for MTV, The Phone, which he’s producing but not starring in, explains his reason for being at the network’s upfronts in New York today. But what the hell is this new show?
Like most decent American television, it’s a foreign rip off, this time from the Dutch. Debuting this fall, it’s a “real-life Bourne Identity,” in so much as two cell phones on opposite ends of a city will ring at the same time, and whoever answers has five seconds to agree to the terms of the game, before being sent on various missions around town, “guided by a mysterious voice and followed by a helicopter.” [E!]
In case this sounds familiar: Yes, this was also the plot to The Devil Wears Prada.
[Photo: MTV]
Who Gains By Re-Attaching Jeff Zucker to Katie Couric?
Though a Page Six spy spotted NBC chief Jeff Zucker “climbing out of his black SUV” in front of Katie Couric’s East Side apartment, a Couric “friend” is preemptively shooting down any rumors that Zucker wants his prized lady back, saying “Jeff and Katie have been friends for 20 years. He asked her to get a Mother’s Day gift for his wife, Caryn, and picked it up on the way to his daughter’s play.” [NYP]
Uh huh.
More curious, beside the terrible and transparent excuse given, though, is who “spots” Zucker exiting his car and walking into Katie’s building, except, perhaps, Zucker or Katie themselves.
Zucker has always been rumored to be a serial New York Post leaker, especially when he’s got a takedown agenda, like he did with Beth Comstock in September, floating a rumor that Comstock was leaving NBC U and heading back upstairs to GE. (The news panned out.)
So what would either have to gain?
If Couric and Zucker really have remained friends, then he could be throwing her a bone in offering some leverage to get out of her CBS Evening News deal, which even Les Moonves has to admit is the best option for everyone. But then it comes down to how much CBS must pay Katie to get rid of her contract and, theoretically, bring a Bob Scheiffer type back to the news desk.
It’s unlikely Zucker would bring Katie back into the NBC fold, especially with a role at Today; his ego is too big for that, and so is Katie’s. So what was the meeting about? Options, perhaps, but those type of meetings can happen on the sly, without Page Six spotting them. So be sure, there’s an agenda here. But whose?
Chanel Dumps Nicole Kidman, Chooses Someone Younger and Paler
Nicole Kidman, with child, was dumped this week as the face of Chanel [MC], though she still holds on to the Guinness record for earning the most money per minute, with her 30-second $3.71 million Chanel No. 5 advertisement. Replacing Kidman is someone 11 years her junior: the twenty-nine-year-old Audrey Tautou, who is French, like the fashion house, and an Oscar nominee, to her predecessor’s Oscar winner status. Tatou’s deal is rumored to be worth over $8 million [DM], which is nearly what Kidman’s standard $20 million movie price tag has been reduced to, thanks to The Stepford Wives, The Invasion, and The Interpreter.
John Edwards May Have Accidentally Endorsed Obama On MSNBC
Tricky pronouns might have done John Edwards in on MSNBC this morning. After Edwards told the hosts at Morning Joe that whoever got his vote would get his endorsement, they were trying desperately to get Edwards to tell them who he voted for in North Carolina’s primary. He attempted to play coy, until he accidentally spilled the beans by saying, “I just voted for him Tuesday.”
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Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon Bequeath Their Relationship Buzz to Time Inc.
Perhaps the most eventful part of last night’s Time 100 gala was the presence of newlyweds Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon, choosing Jazz at Lincoln Center to make their first public appearance together. Though she performed last night, she was also an honoree on the list, giving Rick Stengel the good fortune of naming her to the Time 100, and holding the event last night, to pick up the PR boon. How convenient, then, that Mariah and Nick also “gave” their exclusive wedding pics and interview to People, a Time Inc. cousin. Below, some red carpet video.
Oh, sorry, it’s here.
[Photo: Time]
ABC Quite Possibly a Gayer Network Than Bravo
OMFG there’s so much gay stuff on TV right now. And we don’t even mean American Idol or Dancing With the Stars. Over on ABC’s excellent Brothers & Sisters, (straight-in-real-life) Matthew Rhys’ character Kevin will wed (gay-in-real-life) Luke Macfarlane’s Scotty, on Sunday’s episode, in what’s being billed as network’s first-ever gay wedding between two series regulars. [USAT] Not that those two haven’t been making out in primetime forevs already. And then, on ABC Family’s Greek, that show about frats, Paul James’ character Kevin will smooch Michael, played by Max Greenfield, on the May 26 episode. [AfterElton]
As if you had to wonder why Disney bosses wanted ABC chief Stephen McPherson to stick around.
[Photo: ABC]
The Gay James Bond
Robert Gant’s a rarity in Hollywood. First of all, he went to law school. Second, he’s openly gay. And, as testament to our changing times, continues to get work.
The handsome 39-year old will soon appear in the here! network’s Kiss Me Deadly, on which Gant plays the first gay spy whose post-espionage life goes haywire after the return of an old friend, Shannen Doherty. The movie will hopefully be the first in a series, but Gant’s not sitting on his honches. He’s also just wrapped Special Delivery, a Lifetime movie in which Lisa Edelstein plays his love interest. Yes, a gay man’s playing straight: a growing - and welcome - in Hollywood.
Gant recently sat down with our editor to discuss the ins-and-outs of being homo in Hollywood, not being perfect and why Gant loves his life.
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The CW Won't Even Try to Compete With Desperate Housewives
It’s a poorly kept secret that networks like CNBC make much of their cash from trafficking in infomercials, selling weekend and early morning timeslots to debt reduction services and work-from-home come-ons. Now The CW, which is struggling for ratings, even for Gossip Girl, plans to do something similar on Sunday nights for a 3-hour block beginning at 7pm. But rather than slap a few 30-minute ad spots on the air, instead the network is selling the programming block to a media buyer, who will be the one responsible for developing programming and selling ad time. [Variety] (UPN actually just did this with WWE Smackdown, selling the time to World Wrestling Entertainment as an ad buy, not a programming license. And the morning hours on broadcast networks are usually sold off in chunks.) That this is taking place during primetime is a relatively new phenomenon, and since they haven’t yet named the buyer, may we suggest someone who will stuff it with all those cutesy viral videos?
Parents Television Council Will Criticze Anything Once
The Parents Television Council, which has nothing better to do than complain about what the letter “F” might represent, is also showing itself to not even have a clue about what it’s criticizing anymore. Moving beyond TV, the PTC also has its stake on video games, namely the awesomely violent Grand Theft Auto IV.
PTC public policy director Dan Isett claimed to have played the game, which made him an expert on decrying it.
In a conversation with a reporter, who begins:
Have you played the game?
“I’ve actually played ‘Grand Theft Auto IV,’ and it’s right in keeping with previous versions. The series continues to lower the bar and this is the first game that has an alcohol content warning. You get points for driving drunk in this game.”
You know that’s not true, right? The game doesn’t have points.
“If nothing else, it’s a rewarded activity. Necessary for advancement.”
I don’t think so.
“But there’s an alcohol content warning and a scene of drunk driving, correct?”
Dove Totally Didn't Photo Those Women to Look 'Real'
Megacorp Unileaver is fighting back against claims that its ads for Dove’s “Real Beauty” campaign were retouched, despite what professional photo retoucher Pascal Dangin told The New Yorker. They’re in full-court defense mode, which means, of course, they’re issuing a statement with their side of things. It reads in part: “There was an understanding between Dove and Ms Leibovitz that the photos would not be retouched - the only actions taken were the removal of dust from the film and minor color correction.” Not cellulite, freckles, fat rolls, hair stubble, vericose veins, or oily skin.
Dove’s mission is to make more women feel beautiful every day by widening the definition of beauty and inspiring them to take great care of themselves. Dove strives to portray women by accurately depicting their shape, size, skin color and age.
‘The ‘real women’ ad referenced in recent media coverage was created and produced entirely by Ogilvy, the Dove brand’s advertising agency, from start to finish and the women’s bodies were not digitally altered.
‘Pascal Dangin worked with photographer Annie Leibovitz (Ogilvy has never employed Mr Dangin on the Dove Campaign for Real Beauty), who did the photography for the launch of the Dove ProAge campaign, a new campaign within the Campaign for Real Beauty.
There was an understanding between Dove and Ms Leibovitz that the photos would not be retouched - the only actions taken were the removal of dust from the film and minor color correction.’
Leibovitz herself, meanwhile, has added: ‘Let’s be perfectly clear - Pascal does all kinds of work - but he is primarily a printer - and only does retouching when asked to. The idea for Dove was very clear at the beginning. There was to be NO retouching and there was not.
Why We Should Support Advertisers' Funny Viral Advertisements
So what if that ridiculous video of those guys effortlessly jumping into a pair of jeans was merely a viral ad concocted by an ad agency that’s been doing this time and time again? [Gawker] We’re in the middle of an era where even two-year-olds are bombarded with thousands of marketing messages every day. Shouldn’t we at least enjoy the ones being shoved down our throats? The ad in question is one for Levi’s jeans, replicated from a Ray-Ban ad from last year. It’s racking up millions of views on YouTube and elsewhere. And you know what? God damn good for them!
It’s actually quite difficult to come up with a viral ad concept. Sit in on any marketing meeting, no matter how big or small the brand, and all they can talk about is “going viral.” Those kids with the Mentos and Diet Coke probably didn’t know what they were sitting on when they created the exploding video, and that wasn’t even an actual commercial. And for good reason: There’s no exact science. Ad agencies don’t know what’s going to make a certain spot spread across the Interwebs, even though they’ll spend $3 million this year on Super Bowl spots that they hope will be revisited on YouTube.
And if MTV plans on turning its commercial breaks into “podbusting” segments, where advertisers air commercials that very much resemble actual programming, shouldn’t we be encouraging them to head in this direction?
Listen, we don’t mind where a funny video clip comes from. It’s going to end up on CollegeHumor.com either way, and if advertisers are going to waste millions of dollars coming up with these things, shouldn’t we at least applaud their efforts when they get one through the fray?
Celebrities Come Out to Support Their Franchises
Want to know how MTV secures massive ad buys in this unfriendly recession-laden climate? We’ll give you a hint:
Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert, Samuel L. Jackson, Justin Timberlake, Sarah Silverman, and Chris Rock all showed up during the network’s upfront presentation yesterday, entertaining ad buyers usually stuck in conference rooms and on BlackBerrys with star-power shtick. Celebrities don’t just draw in banal viewerships; they also attract big spenders!
[Photo: MTV]
Fabian Basabe Arrested For Pulling Out His Dong In Back Alley
Because he was clearly not invited to Jenna Bush’s wedding tomorrow in Texas, New York City refugee Fabian Basabe found himself in Los Angeles, at the nightspot Crown Room, being arrested for peeing in an alley behind the club. [P6] His attorney blames Basabe’s “bladder problem” and the fact that the “entry way [to the club] was very congested.” And not because he had drank too much before arriving and found trouble being let into the venue.
Maybe Good Morning America's Tom Cibrowski Is An Awesome Exec Producer?!!
Might Good Morning America exec producer (and former Early Show producer) Tom Cibrowski – whose name we heard yesterday as one being floated around to take over The Early Show – not be as terrible a guy we said he was? One source told us his contract wasn’t being renewed when it’s up this summer, because it might have something to do with his temper.
But someone has come to his defense!
“Your … post on Tom Cibrowski could not be farther from the truth. Tom is in the control room more than two days a week - and does not have a temper! Tom is one of the best executive producers GMA has ever had!! He listens to all ideas, comments and even criticisms from the staff at GMA.”
To be sure, that response did come from ABC News publicist Bridgette Maney. Who is pretty (she’s on the left). So you should trust her.
MSNBC Dye Jobs
One thing we missed while cringing at Chris Matthews last night: fella has a new ‘do. [HP] Or at least a new hair color. This is interesting because it reminds us of somebody else at MSNBC. Somebody else who Chris Matthews is said not to get along with.
None other than David Gregory, whose own hair has gone through a series of shade changes itself.
Is this the new way to get in with Phil Griffin, by making every attempt to appeal to younger audiences?
Man-Focused Network Spike TV Unleashes Slate of Really Really Gay Sounding Programming
If Lifetime is intent on gaying up its programming shelf, then Spike TV is going on a testosterone binge. They’re launching three unscripted pilots, plus signing deals with wrestling champ and former Olympic gold medalist Kurt Angle, who will host Caught in the Action, a hidden-camera show, while Cade Courtley, the actor and former Navy SEAL officer, gets behind “Surviving Terror.” [MP] Sound man enough to you? It sounds a little something else to us.
That is: Spike TV is about to be home to the gayest programming on TV.
Caught in the Act? Really? This is basically the fantasy title of every gay high school boy’s dream. It makes him think of lockerroom shower scenes that involve his coach and the quarterback.
And Surviving Terror, while not as overtly homoerotic, is being hosted by Cade Courtley, whose name is.
Plus there’s Tank and Cobra, which could not carry a more overt homothethual name, for it brings to mind military men flashing their manmeat, but is actually about a bounty-hunting twosome.
Alas, there are some heterosexual-sounding series, like Human Predators (”a firsthand look at those who take lives, either professionally or criminally”) and Idiot Hall of Fame (the everyday man’s jackass).
More Awkward Chace Crawford Hedging
Chace Crawford, the heterosexual actor who plays a heterosexual heartthrob on teen sensation Gossip Girl, yet again, explains an ideal date: “The ideal, I think, when you’re starting out, is something low-key, like playing the [Nintendo] Wii, ordering in pizza and then grabbing a beer. … [But come time to step out, the actor says he’d take off] “to a concert in Central Park or an NBA basketball game, if she likes sports.” [People] If she likes sports! Oh that’s a good one.
Also: “Part of me being single is focusing on my work right now. I’ve been dating my gym bag for a while now.” Because it’s so easy to meet ladies in the locker room.
Is Indiana Jones 4 Bad, Geriatric Fluff?
The Vanity Fair cover. The Entertainment Weekly cover. Can nothing save Harrison Ford’s Indiana Jones from being universally panned? “I’m told by other AICN staff members (don’t know if he wants his name formally associated with this info) that other people have contacted him from the same screening & that their feedback has been “uniformly rough”. It’s safe to assume more reviews will arrive in the coming days.” [AICN] Just please don’t hate it as much as Sex and the City!
In short, this is the Indiana Movie that you were dreading. I remember seeing the two trailers and though I was excited to see the old man in action again, I was kind of worried that they seemed to be missing ’something’. That something was tension. During the whole of the movie, there was not a single moment that I thought our hero Mr. Jones (actually Colonel Jones as he was a hero in WWII now) was in any sort of peril or even significant inconvenience. In most cases, you were so many steps ahead of the characters that it was really just an arduous wait for them to get through it.
ABC's Vote of Confidence in Stephen McPherson
The Walt Disney Co. has, after months of back and forth dealmaking, resigned ABC president Stephen McPherson’s contract for an “unspecified” number of years. [NYT] This is significant because McPherson has turned the network into America’s most favoriteist channel, where all the shows worth watching (Lost, Ugly Betty, Desperate Housewives, Dancing with the Stars, Grey’s Anatomy) are housed, bringing the channel’s ratings to the No. 2 spot, while a guy like Jeff Zucker keeps getting re-upped at NBC despite dragging the network from No. 1 to No. 4, and then to No. 3.
Chris Matthews Is Officially Failing At Debate
Is Chris Matthews, officially, a tool? Despite that back room reports we’ve issued, we have a general liking for the fellow. But seeing him on last night’s show try to battle Howard Wolfson on including Puerto Rico’s Democratic delegates in Hillary Clinton’s delegate count, when the Democratic party has chosen to give the island a say in choosing the party’s nominee, doesn’t just strike us as overzealous Obamamania, but illegitimate logic. And people like that shouldn’t have a platform.
(If you listen carefully, Matthews crosses over from counting PR’s votes toward the popular vote to PR’s primary delegate votes, which decide whether she’ll be the party’s nominee. Whether he can’t follow his own train of thought, or forgot the difference between the two, is for you to judge.)
[Video: The Page]
Nina Garcia Ditches Elle, Hops Aboard Marie Claire's Project Runway Deal
Nina Garcia has finally made her decision: She’s not sticking aroundElle to be Joe Zee’s playtoy. She’s heading to Marie Claire, which, not so surprisingly, has stole the lucrative Project Runway magazine contract away from the Hachette title. [P6] She probably won’t even have a real office over there at Hearst; simply a place to stash her handbag while running to PR tapings.
Facebook Takes Privacy Concerns to a Whole New Negligible Level
In an effort to placate parents who watch Dateline: To Catch a Predator and privacy advocates whose No. 1 goal in life is to make the Internet safe for kids to upload photos of their puppies, Facebook is implementing new privacy safeguards for minors.
None of which can’t be completely fudged, of course.
The company will now require users under 18 to affirm they have read Facebook’s safety tips when they sign up; it will also more prominently offer safety tips and an unsubtle “report abuse” icon, devised by the New Jersey Attorney General.
Facebook will also no longer let people change their ages from over 18 to under 18 without review and have agreed to take down within 24 hours any material flagged as inappropriate.
To prove people are as old as they say they are on the service, the company is developing behavioral technology to weed out the fibbers, says Chris Kelly, Facebook’s privacy czar. Such technology could, for example, identify when someone is friends with people of a significantly different age — an indication something is amiss. [NYT]
So, Facebook users will:
• Have to check a box to assure they’re 18
• Have a new button to push, other than “Deny Friend Request,” to flag inappropriate content
• Not be able to change their ages from over 18 to under 18, which should be a red flag already, since PEOPLE DO NOT MAGICALLY CHANGE AGE
• Be susceptible to special-ops level behavioral targeting, which will flag something as amiss if, say, all your friends are 20 years older than you
This will certainly keep the Horace Mann teacher-student feuding to a minimum.
