Posted on December 31st, 2008 by Princess Kitty in Television
Actually according to an alert that pops up when you visit the Comedy Central website to watch video of “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart” or “The Colbert Report”, it’s really Viacom vs. both Time Warner and Bright House. On the site (which is owned by Viacom) they are encouraging customers of the two cable companies to call and protest. What might they be protesting? Viacom wants a higher subscriber fee and the cable companies in question don’t want to do it. So, oddly enough, Viacom wants people to protest that their cable company ISN’T raising their rates. According to Viacom, this rate increase would amount to 25 cents per subscriber per month. Both sides seem to have dug in their heels as the deadline of midnight tonight approaches. If no agreement is reached, all the MTV networks (except for BET which has a separate agreement) will disappear from these cable systems. The MTV networks include Comedy Central and Nickelodeon.
There has been a lot of corporate trash-talking going on between the companies. In a statement Time Warner said, “We sympathize with the fact that Viacom’s advertising business is suffering and that their networks’ ratings have largely been declining. However, we can’t abide their attempt to make up their lost revenue on the backs of Time Warner Cable customers.” Viacom is responding with, “Time Warner Cable’s continued rhetoric and posturing is disappointing and unproductive. We remain ready and willing to engage. It’s time for serious talk — before the viewers become the victims.”
It should be interesting to see which side blinks first.
Posted on December 31st, 2008 by Princess Kitty in Biggest Loser
With the television landscape riddled with dating shows, who would have guessed that the show with the best track record for romance would be the “Biggest Loser”? So far we have two marriages (Matt & Suzy and Marty & Amy) and two babies (belonging to Matt & Suzy). Today comes news that another BL baby is on the way – this time for Marty & Amy Wolff (pictured above). Marty & Amy have lived in the world of fitness training since their BL days. They run a program called Reality Wellness: http://www.realitywellnessinc.com/That may put some additional pressure on Amy as she goes on this new journey. She doesn’t seem worried telling People Magazine, “So many friends have had to battle weight gain during pregnancy. They all have told me to watch out, it happens so quickly, and I’m like, ‘I know!’ I am cautious. I haven’t gained any weight yet. I feel like the luckiest pregnant girl ever.”
Oh, and speaking of BL, NBC now has profile videos up of the 11 teams competing in “Biggest Loser: Couples” beginning on January 5th. You can find them at the link below:
Posted on December 30th, 2008 by Princess Kitty in Television
On August 11th, the US Postal Service will release an Early TV Memories stamp set. In addition to the “I Love Lucy”, “Dragnet” and “You Bet Your Life” stamps shown above, the USPS will also honor ”Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet,” “Alfred Hitchcock Presents,” “Ed Sullivan Show,” “George Burns & Gracie Allen Show,” “Hopalong Cassidy,” “The Honeymooners,” “Howdy Doody,” “Kukla, Fran and Ollie,” “Lassie,” “The Lone Ranger,” “Perry Mason,” “Phil Silvers Show,” “Red Skelton,” “Texaco Star Theater,” “Tonight Show”, ”Twilight Zone” and “The Dinah Shore Show”.
You’ll notice that the picture above shows these as being 42 cent stamps BUT there is supposed to be another rate increase in May so the price is subject to change.
In addition to the TV show set, the USPS will also be honoring Bob Hope and Gary Cooper with stamp sets in 2009.
Posted on December 29th, 2008 by Princess Kitty in Movies
Women and older audiences were the key demographic at the movie theaters this past weekend. Now, before I go any further I should explain that in Hollywood the word “older” doesn’t mean what you might think. “Older” means anyone over the age of 25. ”Marley & Me” got the top spot with an estimated take of $51.7 million over the four day weekend. 64% of the audience was women and 62% were over the age of 25. “Bedtime Stories” and “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” basically ended up in a tie for the four days. “Button” earned $39 million while “Bedtime” earned $38.6 million. Family groups accounted for 69% of the “Bedtime” audience while “Button” attracted women (60%) and the over 25 crowd (70%). Finally, Tom Cruise’s “Valkyrie” earned a very respectable $30 million for the four days attracting slightly more men (55%) and appealing to the “older” group (66% of the audience).
When all was said and done the fifth new release, “The Spirit”, ended up in the 9th spot earning$10.4 million. It came in behind “Yes Man”, “Seven Pounds”, “The Tale of Despereaux” and “The Day the Earth Stood Still”. In another sign of sophistication amongst the Christmas viewing crowd, “Doubt” (with Meryl Streep, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Amy Adams) came in 10th.
See Hollywood. Grown-ups will go to the movies when you give them good choices.
Posted on December 28th, 2008 by Princess Kitty in Charity
Whoa. This will give you chills. Yoko Ono approved the use of John Lennon’s voice and image for a public service announcement supporting the One Laptop Per Child Foundation. For less than $200 a piece, OLPC donates tough, solar-powered XO laptop computers to the world’s poorest children.
The mission of OLPC is: To create educational opportunities for the world’s poorest children by providing each child with a rugged, low-cost, low-power, connected laptop with content and software designed for collaborative, joyful, self-empowered learning. When children have access to this type of tool they get engaged in their own education. They learn, share, create, and collaborate. They become connected to each other, to the world and to a brighter future.
People.com is reporting that “Dancing with the Stars” pro, Mark Ballas, announced at last night’s DWTS Tour performance at LA’s Staples Center that he was injured and would be sitting out for a couple of weeks. He is apparently suffering from a groin injury. He still performed during the show but apologized for not being able to go full out. He performed with Kristi Yamaguchi, with whom he won season 6, and did a hip hop number with Derek Hough and Lacey Schwimmer.
Mark is expected to be back on “Dancing with the Stars” when the show returns for season 8 on March 9th.
Posted on December 26th, 2008 by Princess Kitty in Movies
It may have appeared crazy to have five big films open on Christmas Day but it was a gamble that seems to have paid off. Variety is reporting that four out of the five had bigger opening day grosses than were predicted. “Marley & Me”, starring Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston, was the top earner bringing in $14.8 million to set a record for Christmas Day. “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”, with Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett, was second with $11.8 million for the record as the second biggest earner on Christmas. Adam Sandler’s “Bedtime Stories” was third but the thinking is that it will probably end up being in second place for the weekend once the kids get to the theaters. Tom Cruise’s “Valkyrie” came in fourth and, while at first look that might seem disappointing, it still performed better than expected. “The Spirit” was the only new film that stumbled, trailing behind “Yes Man” and “Seven Pounds”.
Based on this, my guess is that we’ll see a whole bunch of openings next Christmas too.
Posted on December 26th, 2008 by Princess Kitty in Biggest Loser
“Entertainment Tonight” has a photo gallery preview of the new “Biggest Loser: Couples” contestants. It seems to now be a tradition that the pink team is a mother/daughter duo. Following in the footsteps of Bette-Sue & Ali and Renee & Michelle are Helen & Shanon from Michigan (pictured above). After all the drama and frustration of the past season I’m really hoping to just love everyone this time around.
Click on the link below to get to know the other 10 teams.
This clip from NBC looks to be the opening of the premiere episode on January 6th and it features Bob & Jillian kicking our collective butts through the screen.
