LAT In 90 Seconds - Posted July 28, 2008
Funny Pages: A Kansas legislative hopeful (and political novice) raised $95,162.76 by launching an online comic strip -- at www.seantevis.com/3000. Liberal Bias? According to James Rainey: "The Center for Media and Public Affairs at George Mason University, where researchers have tracked network news content for two decades, found that ABC, NBC... [FishBowlLA]

LAT In 90 Seconds - Posted July 28, 2008
Funny Pages: A Kansas legislative hopeful (and political novice) raised $95,162.76 by launching an online comic strip -- at www.seantevis.com/3000. Liberal Bias? According to James Rainey: "The Center for Media and Public Affairs at George Mason University, where researchers have tracked network news content for two decades, found that ABC, NBC... [FishBowlLA]

FBLA Exclusive: What Does the 'Wardrobe Malfunction' Ruling Ultimately Mean? - Posted July 23, 2008
In light of all the news about the federal appeals court's decision to throw out the FFC's $550,000 fine against CBS over the infamous Janet Jackson "wardrobe malfunction," we talked to Paige Gold, who helped write the Media Access Project's friend-of-the-court brief in the case. Gold tells us that what we kinda... [FishBowlLA]

Will Keck Moves to TV Guide - Posted July 9, 2008
Longtime USA Today entertainment columnist Will Keck makes his move to TV Guide to become the senior editor of the mag's Hollywood bureau. Keck's first assignment for the mag will be to cover the TCAs. Press release follows: Congrats, Will! ... [FishBowlLA]

LAT In 90 Seconds -- Afternoon Edition - Posted April 10, 2008
Kareem Abdul-Jablogger's Eating Tips: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar wants people over 40 to eat better. We want to know how much the LAT is paying this guy. Couric Isn't Leaving: Katie Couric isn't leaving CBS. In related news, we're not watching CBS. Ovitz Testified Yesterday: If you don't already know that, you can read about... [FishBowlLA]

Breaking: Dan Rather Ruling: Let the Spin Begin! - Posted April 10, 2008
A judge has issued a ruling on CBS's motion to dismiss Dan Rather's $70 million lawsuit. In short, some aspects (and defendants) of the suit were thrown out, but the suit will proceed. Sounds like, in essence, not a lot has changed -- but that hasn't stopped both sides from proclaiming victory: "We... [FishBowlLA]

Deadline Hollywood Daily: AFTRA Ratifies Network News Contract - Posted March 19, 2008
AFTRA ratified contracts with ABC and CBS that include pay increases for network staff newspersons and fee increases for network freelance correspondents. The new two-year deal takes effect on May 16. More here.... [FishBowlLA]

Christina McLarty Makes Vegas Magic For CBS - Posted March 6, 2008
Christina McLarty--it's always sweeps at CBS! See what hanging around a sleazebag like Joe Francis will do to a girl? ... [FishBowlLA]

WGA 08 Strike: Too Fat or Too Fit ? - Posted January 29, 2008
When (not if) the WGA strike is resolved, (as Ray Richmond sounds a note of cautious optimism) will there be a replay of the NBA strike, when players came back too fat and too lazy? We asked around: Nina Bargiel It's not like the strike hit and I slapped my ass to... [FishBowlLA]

WGA 08 Strike: Reax to the DGA Deal-a-rama - Posted January 21, 2008
Nikki Finke is back, and her commenters are happy. She leads off with the provocative headline: That Shitty DGA Deal is at Least a Start which will be great to remember if the WGA signs on for that same deal. United Hollywood strike captains say: The DGA deal, as we understand it, is neither... [FishBowlLA]

Watch the Box: New Tricks, Old Pets - Posted January 14, 2008
ABC orders a reality series, Dance Machine, with newly-named host Jason Kennedy. CBS orders: America's Top Dog: reality competition for the best trained dog. Game Show in My Head: contestants receive instructions via an ear piece they wear to perform a series of often embarrassing and outrageous things in public. Secret Talent... [FishBowlLA]

WGA 08 Strike - Posted January 9, 2008
Ray Bradbury pickets FOX. In an amusing twist on the WGA strike theme, Craig Mazin reports: WGAE Executive Director Mona Mangan has somehow managed to enrage her own employees so much...they're now threatening to go on strike This is the woman who has had CBS newswriters working without a contract for years now. John... [FishBowlLA]

LAT In 90 Seconds - Posted December 3, 2007
"Dick Cheney Is Still A War Criminal, Hilary Clinton Is Still Satan And I'm Back On the Radio": Shock-Jock Don Imus tried to say little has changed in the time between his firing from CBS eight months ago to his return to the air, on ABC, today. But that would give... [FishBowlLA]

LAT In 90 Seconds - Posted November 21, 2007
The Price Of Taking A Stand: If the WGA strike continues into next month, it will cost L.A.'s economy an estimated $21.3 million a day in direct production spending. Good Night And Good Luck: This obit caught out eye: "Milo Radulovich, an Air Force reservist caught in the net of 1950s communist... [FishBowlLA]

LAT In 90 Seconds - Posted November 20, 2007
New Hyphenate On The Block: The ever-entertaining columnist-reporter Patrick Goldstein suggests that out-of-work/striking writers seek a new hyphenate to secure their would-be futures: the writer-entrepreneur. Who's Gonna Write Up the Story? Writers, graphic artists and other staffers who work for CBS news operations voted "by a wide margin" to authorize a strike,... [FishBowlLA]

Watch the Box: Above and Below - Posted October 23, 2007
CBS canceled Viva Laughlin after two episodes. Just because it's on British TV doesn't mean it good. The BBC just bought Dragons' Den a reality series with aspiring entrepreneurs pitching their ideas to various millionaires. See above. Donald Trump is in talks with Reville and Fox for a daytime syndicated show. The... [FishBowlLA]

Docs on the Box: Dr. Phil/ Dr. G/Dr. Headless - Posted October 9, 2007
So as politicians wrangle about health care, television picks up the slack by offering more real TV doctors, and killing off fictional ones. Dr. Phil, who's not an MD, is looking for telegenic medicos who can spin off for CBS. The Doctors will features a panel of five medical experts who will... [FishBowlLA]

Media Exec Looks At Gathering Storm Clouds And Sees Bright Future - Posted September 19, 2007
Research analysts show that ad spending has been down for two consecutive quarters, but CBS CEO Leslie Moonves and his rivals don't seem to care. CNNMoney.com reports out of the Merrill Lynch media and entertainment conference, quoting Moonves as saying: "We are not seeing any trends that say people are pulling back... [FishBowlLA]

Kid Nation: The Ugliness Continues - Posted September 18, 2007
Nikki Finke says TV critics weren't the only ones who didn't receive screeners of the controversial Kid Nation reality/kidsploitation show. The CBS board of directors hasn't had the opportunity to see the show in advance, either. Nikki writes, "Instead, the directors will wind up watching the show along with the rest... [FishBowlLA]

Racist Student Journo Wins In Court - Posted September 14, 2007
The California Supreme Court this week let stand an appeals court ruling that high schools can't censor their students in student media. Even if those students are stunningly, ridiculously stupid. Former Novato High School student journalist Andrew Smith filed a suit against the Novato Unified School District for publicly condemning two columns... [FishBowlLA]

LAT In 90 Seconds - Posted September 4, 2007
"Flip That House" Flips The Housing Market The Bird: That bursting bubble isn't bursting cable TV's bubble one bit. How many cutesy play-on-words can we come up with? None. Let's move on. What Would Katie Couric Do? The anchor commemorates her first year in the anchor's seat by putting herself in the... [FishBowlLA]

LAT In 90 Seconds - Posted August 24, 2007
Funny Or Offensive? Online critics praise and skewer BET's "Read a F@&%ing Book" campaign. Greg Braxton does a nice job of pointing out that the campaign's coarse langauge is "bleeped out when it is broadcast on BET, which is part of Viacom, the owner of CBS, which earlier this year fired... [FishBowlLA]

Dog Days of Sumner - Posted July 23, 2007
Following a NYT story last week about Sumner Redstone's squabbles with his daughter Shari (and everyone else on the planet, really), the LAT hits the ol' man with a profile that leads with the ageist and jaw-droppingly presumptuous sentence: "In his twilight years, Sumner Redstone should be relaxed, fulfilled and enjoying the... [FishBowlLA]

CBS: C U L8R QT! - Posted July 20, 2007
TV Guide.com reports that CBS is launching a service called "Eye-lert," that will text viewers when a prime-time show is delayed because of a sports or news event. We can't explain it, but a little part of our soul died upon reading that.... [FishBowlLA]

Sundown on Sunset - Posted May 4, 2007
The Gilmore Girls is finally canceled, two years too late. If Paris Hilton goes to jail for parole violation, can the DA's office win the Phil Spector murder case? Speaking of court, is CBS going to settle up with Don Imus? So, did Ron Paul really win the debate?... [FishBowlLA]

Is CBS A Cuckold? More Comcast Online Video News - Posted April 16, 2007
Looks like CBS isn't the only network partnering with Comcast in an online video venture. NBC announced it's partnering News Corp. and the cable giant to establish a "YouTube-esque Web site" for NBC and Fox content. As far as we're concerned CBS, NBC and Fox can all keep their silly reality/sitcom... [FishBowlLA]

CBS Plays the Game--Orders Game Show Pilots - Posted April 16, 2007
CBS has more game show pilots than anyone, anywhere with five in the pipeline: Life as a Song: Wannabes perform an important event in their lives (marriage, birth, shopping) as a musical. Life is a Cabaret. The Wizard: Hosted by Craig Ferguson,game show uses improv and scripted comedy routines. Game Show in My... [FishBowlLA]

In The Trades: All Bucked Up! - Posted March 21, 2007
CMT's must-see TeeVee:Ty Murray's Celebrity Bull Riding Challenge. CMT has ordered up 6 episodes for an August premiere. The show follows 8 celebrities as they attempt the wild world of bull riding. Who'll get bucked first? Tom Cruise loves to dress up in uniform, and thus will star in a... [FishBowlLA]

In The Trades: Playas, Games, Stars - Posted March 13, 2007
ABC believes in the power of celebrity and cash to do good, having signed Ice Cube for Good in the Hood, a reality pilot, in which a reformed gang member, drug dealer or robber agrees to help someone in similar circumstances (a relative, friend or even a stranger) turn their lives... [FishBowlLA]

In The Trades: He's My Buddy - Posted February 13, 2007
Tom Cruise and Ben Stiller ARE The Hardy Boys, er, Men. Cruise and Stiller will star in a comedy based on the mystery series. Stiller will produce, Shawn Levy will direct and get this: Cruise and Stiller have been friends for years--an alliance that grew out of Cruise's admiration for Stiller's penchant... [FishBowlLA]

In The Trades: He's My Buddy - Posted February 13, 2007
Tom Cruise and Ben Stiller ARE The Hardy Boys, er, Men. Cruise and Stiller will star in a comedy based on the mystery series. Stiller will produce, Shawn Levy will direct and get this: Cruise and Stiller have been friends for years--an alliance that grew out of Cruise's admiration for Stiller's penchant... [FishBowlLA]

Media Events: 02.09.07 - Posted February 8, 2007
If Music be the food of love, play on. SATURDAY 02.10.07 WHAT: How I Wrote that Song panel WHO: Cee-lo, Butch Walker, Ann Powers WHEN: 2:00PM WHERE: Key Club, 9039 Sunset Blvd. WHY: Get an inside look at the songwriting process, featuring performances of hit songs by each panelist and a Q&A session on the business... [FishBowlLA]

Media Events: 02.09.07 - Posted February 8, 2007
If Music be the food of love, play on. SATURDAY 02.10.07 WHAT: How I Wrote that Song panel WHO: Cee-lo, Butch Walker, Ann Powers WHEN: 2:00PM WHERE: Key Club, 9039 Sunset Blvd. WHY: Get an inside look at the songwriting process, featuring performances of hit songs by each panelist and a Q&A session on the business... [FishBowlLA]

In The Trades: Everyone Wants to Direct - Posted February 8, 2007
ABC ordered three new comedy pilots Traveling in Packs a group of three women who live together and hang out together. The Thick of It based on a BBC series, a workplace comedy set in a low-level US Senator's office. The News is set in the newsroom of a Phoenix television station. CBS... [FishBowlLA]

In The Trades: Everyone Wants to Direct - Posted February 8, 2007
ABC ordered three new comedy pilots Traveling in Packs a group of three women who live together and hang out together. The Thick of It based on a BBC series, a workplace comedy set in a low-level US Senator's office. The News is set in the newsroom of a Phoenix television station. CBS... [FishBowlLA]

A New Blog Introduces Itself to FBLA -- And, So Far, We Like It - Posted February 6, 2007
M2tv, the brainchild of Mary McNamara dropped us a line to introduce themselves to you, our readers (Hi, Mom!), and tell us that CBS is full of preening cowards who should have their eyelids pried open with toothpicks and be forced to watch their own violent, misogynistic programming until they disintegrate... [FishBowlLA]

Rising Star Finalists - Posted February 6, 2007
After the jump, you'll find the finalists for FishbowlDC's Rising Star competition. Congrats to everyone for being nominated and making it into the 2nd round in our first "Rising Star" competition. The winners will accompany mediabistro.com and FishbowlDC to the National Press Foundation Dinner, with a seat next to a high-profile... [FishBowlDC]

Pilot Season, and All the World is Young: Nets Throw Stuff at Wall, Pray Something Sticks - Posted January 9, 2007
Pilot season is that magical period when networks and basic cable alike feel a renewed sense of hope. Let's take a peek: CBS Skip Tracer Stephen Dorff as a charming finder of people in LA's darker corners. If they were in the bright, sunny spots, they wouldn't be lost. Viva Laughlin A guy opens... [FishBowlLA]

Pilot Season, and All the World is Young: Nets Throw Stuff at Wall, Pray Something Sticks - Posted January 9, 2007
Pilot season is that magical period when networks and basic cable alike feel a renewed sense of hope. Let's take a peek: CBS Skip Tracer Stephen Dorff as a charming finder of people in LA's darker corners. If they were in the bright, sunny spots, they wouldn't be lost. Viva Laughlin A guy opens... [FishBowlLA]