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R.I.P. James Gandolfini
2 hours ago
Breaking… Refresh for latest: Actor James Gandolfini died suddenly after a suspected heart attack while on holiday in Rome to attend the Taormina Film Festival in Sicily. He was 51. Gandolfini will be forever known for his portrayal of mob boss Tony Soprano on the seminal HBO series The Sopranos, which won him three Emmy Awards. Chris Albrecht who greenlighted the crime family saga at HBO in 1999 and approved Gandolfini in the role, just emailed Deadline: “Absolutely stunned. I got the word from Lorraine Bracco and just got off with Brad Grey who had just heard from David Chase. We had all become a family. This is a tremendous loss.” (Grey was the executive producer and Chase the creator of The Sopranos.) ”It is with immense sorrow that we report our client James Gandolfini passed away today while on holiday in Rome, Italy,’ said his managers Mark Armstrong and Nancy Sanders. »
- NIKKI FINKE AND NELLIE ANDREEVA
Netflix’s ‘Hemlock Grove’ Renewed For 2nd Season, Chic Eglee Joins As Exec Producer
2 hours ago
Exclusive: Eli Roth’s thriller/horror series Hemlock Grove has received a second-season renewal by Netflix. Seasoned showrunner Charles H. (Chic) Eglee (The Walking Dead, Dexter) is joining the series, which will return with 10 original episodes next year. Based on Brian McGreevy’s gothic horror novel of the same name, Hemlock Grove, produced by Gaumont International Television, stars Famke Janssen and Bill Skarsgård and explores the strange happenings in a small Pennsylvania town. The series launched its entire 13-episode first season on April 19 to mixed reviews but strong interest from viewers, with Netflix announcing at that time that the series was “viewed by more members globally in its first weekend than was House Of Cards and has been a particular hit among young adults.” Hemlock Grove‘s popularity with the the younger set helped the show land a second-season renewal just as the options on the actors were set to expire. »
- NELLIE ANDREEVA
ReelzChannel Cancels ‘The Big Picture’ After One Taping Amid Set Friction, “Bad Chemistry”
3 hours ago
Exclusive: All it took was a single taping for ReelzChannel to pull the plug on its new weekly series The Big Picture. The entertainment talk show co-hosted by So You Think You Can Dance and Good Day La alum Lauren Sanchez and ex-Telemundo host Alex Cambert filmed June 13 at the network’s studio in Albuquerque. But things went so disastrously that execs were talking cancellation by Friday. They made the decision final on Monday. “It just didn’t play well,” Reelz CEO Stan E. Hubbard told Deadline. “We had high hopes for it.” An inside source blames co-host Cambert for causing on-set friction. According to Hubbard, there was indeed “bad chemistry” on set in what he describes as “not a good team effort.” Both Cambert and Sanchez were exec producers on the show. While Reelz’s working relationship with the duo is officially over, Hubbard thinks Sanchez will resurface on the network on another project. »
- JEN YAMATO
News Corp Spinoff Pre-Trades Glimpse Future
3 hours ago
For those into the minutae: News Corp‘s nearly separated entertainment assets to be known as 21st Century Fox are worth about $65B and the new News Corp’s publishing arm is worth about $9.1B, according to Bloomberg. That’s based on “when-issued” trading that began today on the Nasdaq that eventually will set stock prices and values for the two companies when they officially split June 28. Class A shares of 21st Century Fox finished the day at $28.35, while shares of the publishing arm (to be called News Corp) ended at $15.80. The still-trading combined News Corp stock finished up a tick at $32.34 — $11.81 less than the total of the two companies-to-be. »
- THE DEADLINE TEAM
Dish Focus On Clearwire After Deadline Passes On Sprint Counteroffer
3 hours ago
Charlie Ergen’s Dish Network has been playing two games at once with Sprint Nextel: a bidding war with SoftBank for the entire company, while also attempting to acquire Sprint’s stake in spectrum-holder Clearwire. Missing today’s Sprint-imposed deadline to counter SoftBank doesn’t mean Dish can’t still bid on the No. 2 mobile services provider, but the company says it will “focus our efforts and resources on completing the Clearwire tender offer.” Dish has offered $4.40 a share for Sprint’s Clearwire stake as the satellite provider seeks to amass spectrum rights to launch its own wireless broadband network. »
- THE DEADLINE TEAM
FX Picks Up 10/90 Kelsey Grammer-Martin Lawrence Comedy From Debmar-Mercury
3 hours ago
FX is quickly turning into the exclusive network partner of Lionsgate for its 10-90 sitcoms. The cable network has picked up a third series from Lionsgate’s Debmar-Mercury and Lionsgate TV, a buddy comedy starring Kelsey Grammer and Martin Lawrence. The marquee project, written/executive produced by comedy veterans Bob Boyett and Robert Horn, features Grammer and Lawrence as Chicago lawyers from vastly different backgrounds who develop a partnership after they unexpectedly meet in court on the worst day of their lives, forcing each other to find the balance between the ethical and the unscrupulous in both their professional and personal lives. FX has picked up 10 episodes of the untitled series which, in success, will be followed by a 90-episode back order. The Grammer-Lawrence project came together pretty quickly. Debmar-Mercury had been talking to Lawrence about headlining a 10/90 vehicle when sibling Lionsgate TV approached them about doing a comedy with Grammer, »
- NELLIE ANDREEVA
VFX Firm Prime Focus Opens China Outpost
3 hours ago
Prime Focus already has a global footprint with offices in the La, NY, Canada, the UK and India. That makes it more immune to the problems American-based Vxf firms like Rhythm & Hues have had sustaining a viable business model (Prime Focus was one of four companies in the running in the R&H bankruptcy auction eventually won by another global firm, India-based Prana Studios). In March, Prime Focus announced a Chinese joint venture with Hong Kong–based private equity group Aid Partners and local partner Zhejiang Jingqi Wenhua Chuanbo Co to invest $3M in a new operation that will provide 2D/3D conversion, VFX and postproduction services on the mainland and in Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan. Its recent credits included stereo VFX, 3D conversion and archive footage colorization work on Baz Luhrmann’s The Great Gatsby. Here’s today’s release out of the Shanghai International Film Festival announcing the Beijing opening: Mumbai, »
- THE DEADLINE TEAM
John Legend To Produce Comedy Project About Music Managers For Showtime
4 hours ago
Showtime has put in development a single-camera, half-hour comedy project executive produced by singer John Legend and his manager, Atom Factory’s Troy Carter. Written by Austin Winsberg (Gossip Girl) and produced by Universal Cable Prods., the project takes place in the world of high-profile music managers. It will draw on the music business experience of both Legend and Carter, the founder/chairman/CEO of Atom Factory, an entertainment management company where he also manages Lady Gaga. Legend, Mike Jackson and Ty Stiklorius executive produce through their Get Lifted Film Co., which has a pod deal with Ucp, along with Carter and Winsberg. Legend has a long-standing relationship with Showtime. Last year, he did a music special which was in series consideration at the pay cable network and performed at Showtime’s pre-Emmy party. Winsberg, who wrote upcoming musical First Date, is repped by CAA, Trevor Engelson at Underground, and »
- NELLIE ANDREEVA
Own Sets Summer Premiere Dates For Four Primetime Series
6 hours ago
Oprah’s Lifeclass, featuring Oprah and life coach Iyanla Vanzant, returns to Own: The Oprah Winfrey Network‘s primetime lineup with a special 90-minute episode at 9 Pm Sunday, July 7. In the first episode, Winfrey and Vanzant continue the conversation on the subject of fatherless sons in America. It will be followed by two new original episodes at 9 Pm on July 14 and July 21 in which they’ll expand the conversation to address “Daddyless Daughters”. Iyanla: Fix My Life is back at 9 Pm on July 27 with five new episodes that will address a wide range of topics impacting people from all walks of life. Welcome To Sweetie Pie’s returns Saturday, July 27 at 10 Pm with Miss Robbie and her son, Tim, debating the shutdown of their original Sweetie Pie’s soul food restaurant location and Tim facing the reality of life as a single dad. Oprah: Where Are They Now? »
- THE DEADLINE TEAM
Glenn Geller To Run Current Programming For CBS & CBS Studios, David Brownfield Segues To Development Deal At CBS Studio
6 hours ago
CBS is combining the current programming departments of the network and sibling studio CBS TV Studios. CBS veteran Glenn Geller, most recently Svp and head of current programming for CBS TV Studios, has been promoted to Evp Current Programming for the CBS Network TV Entertainment Group, overseeing the newly consolidated division reporting to both CBS TV Studios president David Stapf and CBS Entertainment president Nina Tassler. David Brownfield, who has headed CBS Entertainment’s current programming department since the 2004 reorganization following the CBS-Paramount merger when he succeeded Stapf, is segueing to producing. He is staying in the CBS fold, signing a development deal with CBS TV Studios. Before joining CBS, Brownfield was a co-producer and writer on the ABC comedy Boy Meets World. “The timing is right to make this move,” said Tassler and Stapf. “David has wanted to return to writing and producing television, and the majority of our series are now produced in-house. »
- NELLIE ANDREEVA
Ex-la Times Showbiz Czar Sallie Hofmeister Joins Sitrick And Company Public Relations
7 hours ago
The veteran newspaper editor and reporter is following Jim Bates and the late Mark Saylor from the Los Angeles Times to the Century City offices of Sitrick And Company. “Like many of my new partners who came from journalism, I didn’t think I would ever join a PR firm, but Sitrick is not exactly a traditional or ordinary public relations firm,” explained Sallie Hofmeister in her announcement. She was formerly Assistant Managing Editor directing all arts and entertainment coverage both digitally and in print until Lat Editor Davan Maharaj exited her a year ago almost to the day. “I speak for everyone at the firm when I say we are very thrilled to have Sallie join our team,” Mike Sitrick said in the announcement. “It takes a certain combination of judgment and skill to succeed in this business and I am confident Sallie has both.” If you’re going to do PR, »
- NIKKI FINKE, Editor in Chief
Shine America Boosts Marketing And Research Units With Hires
8 hours ago
Los Angeles CA—June 19, 2013—Shine America has named Rob Hughes Vice President, Marketing and Kevin Ivey, Executive Director, Research, it was announced today by Vivi Zigler, President, Shine 360˚ & Digital, Shine America. Hughes, who was formerly Executive Director, Marketing & Communications for Saban Brands, will oversee all day-to-day marketing responsibilities for Shine America including working with all network and digital partners on Shine America series initiatives, developing international marketing materials for Shine America produced series, as well as marketing Shine America itself. Ivey, who was formerly Vice President, Program Research for NBCUniversal cable network’s Syfy and Chiller, is charged with creating a new research department for Shine America and supplying strategic research data to the company’s scripted, unscripted, digital, publicity, Shine Latino and Shine 360˚ teams. Both Hughes and Ivey will work out of Shine America’s Los Angeles office and report to Zigler. »
- THE DEADLINE TEAM
FX Greenlights Comedy Pilot From Simon Rich & Broadway Video
9 hours ago
Exclusive: FX Networks has given a pilot order to Man Seeking Woman, a half-hour comedy pilot from former Saturday Night Live writer/humorist/novelist Simon Rich and Lorne Michaels’ Broadway Video. The project, based on Rich’s book The Last Girlfriend On Earth, is described as a sweet, surreal, and bitingly funny look at the life and death stakes of dating in New York City. Jonathan Krisel (Portlandia, SNL) is set to direct the pilot from a script by Rich. The two are executive producing with Broadway Video for FX Prods. If Man Seeking Woman goes to series, it will make 28-year-old Rich one of the youngest series creators ever. He already is one of the youngest writers in the history of SNL, where he spent four seasons from 2007-2011 before segueing to a writing job at Pixar Studios. Rich, son of former New York columnist Frank Rich, was still an undergraduate at Harvard, »
- NELLIE ANDREEVA
Update: Dan Abrams Named New ‘Nightline’ Anchor As Terry Moran To Move To London
9 hours ago
Update, 8:40 Am: ABC News just announced Terry Moran‘s replacement. Regular Good Morning America contributor Dan Abrams has been named a Nightline anchor and Chief Legal Affairs Anchor for ABC News. He will continue his regular legal segments on Gma, will launch a new branded Gma segment “on a wide range of topics,” and join the other Nightline anchors on ABC’s The Lookout. Previous 7:20 Am: Nightline anchor Terry Moran will be leaving the late-night newsmagazine to relocate to London later this summer, where he will serve as a London-based anchor and chief foreign correspondent for ABC News. A veteran court reporter, Moran also will continue to contribute to ABC News’ coverage of major Supreme Court decisions. Moran’s departure comes as Nightline, now airing at 12:35 Am, draws less than half its previous audience at 11:35 Pm. Moran joined Nightline after a 1999-2005 stint as a White »
- NELLIE ANDREEVA
UK Regulator To Probe BSkyB Over Withholding Claim Lodged By Rival BT
10 hours ago
The battle between BT and BSkyB continues to mount with UK regulator Ofcom opening an investigation into the News Corp.-controlled pay-tv group on the back of a complaint brought by BT. In the claim, which BT filed in late May, the group alleges that BSkyB has engaged in an abuse of dominant position by withholding its sports channels from BT’s YouView platform unless BT supplies its own sports channels to Sky for retail on Sky’s platform. Ofcom says it believes there are reasonable grounds for suspecting an infringement under the 1998 Competition Act and will consider whether Sky has abused a dominant position under UK and/or EU law. BT and Sky have become fierce competitors especially where sports, notably soccer, are concerned. BT is in the process of acquiring Espn’s UK and Ireland TV channels business and is launching a new Sport TV package this summer »
- NANCY TARTAGLIONE, International Editor
Ratings Rat Race: ‘The Voice’ Finale On Par With Last Spring Against Big NBA Game
10 hours ago
Updated: It was great news all around for ABC last night. First, the Miami Heat and San Antonio Spurs staged an overtime thriller that scored a 14.7 overnight rating, up 29% from Game 5, the second-highest-rated NBA Finals Game 6 ever on ABC behind the 2011 Heat-Mavericks decider and the fourth-highest-rated game ever on the network. Secondly, Miami prevailed, forcing a Game 7. The Heat-Spurs heroics likely affected the finale of NBC’s The Voice, which faced the big game in some parts of the country — the first time the singing competition has gone against a major sporting event for its finale. Still, The Voice from 9-11 Pm managed a 4.3/12 in adults 18-49, even with the fast national for its previous spring cycle which concluded in early May last year. (It currently runs 0.1 behind last May’s national but will likely be adjusted up later today too.) Compared with the most recent fall cycle, The Voice »
- NELLIE ANDREEVA
Joy Bryant Returns To Longtime Agent Steve Alexander At Resolution
10 hours ago
Exclusive: Joy Bryant has signed with Resolution Agency, reuniting her with a team led by her longtime CAA agent, Steve Alexander. Bryant, whose breakout came in Antwone Fisher, can currently be seen in her role as Jasmine Trussell on NBC’s Parenthood and will next be seen in the feature film About Last Night, starring opposite Kevin Hart and Paula Patton. She continues to produce and appear on the Reserve Channel’s web series Across the Board. She continues to be represented by Brian Young at Killer Moxie Management. »
- MIKE FLEMING JR
Apple TV Adds HBO Go & Watch Espn
11 hours ago
Cupertino, California—June 19, 2013—Apple today announced that HBO Go and WatchESPN are now available directly on Apple TV joining the great lineup of programming offered to customers. iTunes users have downloaded more than one billion TV episodes and 380 million movies from iTunes to date, and they are purchasing over 800,000 TV episodes and over 350,000 movies per day. “HBO Go and WatchESPN are some of the most popular iOS apps and are sure to be huge hits on Apple TV,” said Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of Internet Software and Services. “We continue to offer Apple TV users great new programming options, combined with access to all of the incredible content they can purchase from the iTunes Store.” Apple TV users can choose from an incredible selection of programming including over 60,000 movies and over 230,000 TV episodes, as well as the world’s largest collection of music on the iTunes Store »
- THE DEADLINE TEAM
Tribune Brings In New CFO
11 hours ago
Tribune Co’s new CEO Peter Liguori continues to put his stamp on the company’s top management team. Tribune has appointed Steven Berns as Evp/Chief Financial Officer. Berns, who starts next month reporting to Liguori, comes from Revlon, Inc., where he has served in a similar capacity since 2009. Berns replaces Chandler Bigelow, who, after a five-year stint as CFO, is segueing to a new role as Evp/Chief Business Strategies and Operations Officer. He will oversee the company’s equity investments and its real estate portfolio, and will help lead the ongoing transformation of Tribune’s traditional media businesses, continuing to report to Liguori. “Steven’s broad experience, financial acumen, and open management style will enable us to make a seamless transition in the leadership of our finance team,” said Liguori. “At the same time, I am excited to partner with Chandler in his new role as we »
- NELLIE ANDREEVA
Ex-Agent Jourdan Martin Launches Turkish VOD Service; Has Plans For Mexico, Russia
12 hours ago
Exclusive: Former Endeavor agent and La-based entrepreneur, Jourdan Martin, has partnered with a group of Turkish media execs to form Turkweb.tv. The ad-supported VOD service has been in soft-launch in Turkey with 11,000 hours of local content averaging 15 million video views per month. With the official launch, plans are also underway to establish similar services in Russia and Mexico, likewise with local content, although some Hollywood fare is expected to enter the frame. Turkey is a hot territory right now where the ad market is particulary strong and where homegrown TV series have increased steadily in popularity both at home and abroad in recent years. Partnered in the venture with Martin are former D-Smart exec Murat Saygi; former board member and president of Dogan TV Holding Group, Sevin Ergun Sefada; and Adnan Akdemir, founder of Turkish cinema operator Afm. Martin says, “We believe the economics are favorable for such a service in the emerging markets. »
- NANCY TARTAGLIONE, International Editor
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