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	<title><![CDATA[Television ]]></title>
	<copyright>Copyright 2010 Copyright © 2009  The Los Angles Independent.  All rights reserved.</copyright>
	<link>http://www.laindependent.com/entertainment/television</link>
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	<pubDate>Tue, 7 Sep 2010 18:29:57 PDT</pubDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[The Daily Beast: The Tranny Situation]]></title>
															<link>http://www.laindependent.com/entertainment/television/Video-Jersey-Shore-The-Tranny-Situation-102176304.html</link>
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			<pubDate>Fri, 3 Sep 2010 13:12:54 PDT</pubDate>
			<category><![CDATA[Entertainment]]></category>																	

	
											
																															
													



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																																																			<description><![CDATA[















"She had blonde hair. Her favorite sign was Cancer. In the 'Jersey Shore's' Situation's eyes, she was a winner. What his eyes failed to realize, however, was that she was a man."
Video via The Daily Beast]]></description>
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			<title><![CDATA[At Emmys, winning streaks continue and end]]></title>
															<link>http://www.laindependent.com/entertainment/television/At-Emmys-winning-streaks-continue-and-end-101776963.html</link>
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			<pubDate>Sun, 29 Aug 2010 23:31:08 PDT</pubDate>
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																										<description><![CDATA[

The AMC series &quot;Mad Men'' won the best drama Emmy for the third consecutive time Sunday night, while ABC's ensemble series &quot;Modern Family'' ended &quot;30 Rock's'' three-year winning streak to win the prize for best comedy.

&quot;I can't believe we're here,'' said Matt Weiner, creator and executive producer of &quot;Mad Men.'' &quot;I want to thank the academy for recognizing us again and our incredible cast, this incredible assemblage of actors. I can't believe I get to work with them all the time.

&quot;We're now in our fourth season,'' he said. &quot;I didn't even think we'd get through half of one. And I just feel very, very honored to be here.''

The HBO made-for-television movie &quot;Temple Grandin,'' the true-life story of an autistic woman who becomes an expert in animal husbandry, led all winners at the 62nd Primetime Emmy Awards with five statuettes.

Bryan Cranston collected his third consecutive Emmy for best actor in a drama series for &quot;Breaking Bad,'' while Kyra Sedgwick won her first prize as best drama actress for her role as a hard-nosed police detective in &quot;The Closer.''

&quot;First thought, during the time it took me to walk up here, I'm venturing there were 200 text messages to my fellow nominees saying you were robbed. And I cannot argue with that,'' Cranston said during the 62nd Primetime Emmy Awards ceremony at the Nokia Theatre in downtown Los Angeles. &quot;I am so humbled and amazed to be in your company. You're only as good as the company you keep and I'm honored to be there with you guys.''

Cranston won the award over &quot;Mad Men'' star Jon Hamm; Hugh Laurie of Fox's &quot;House''; Kyle Chandler of DirecTV and NBC's &quot;Friday Night Lights''; Michael C. Hall of &quot;Dexter''; and first-time nominee Matthew Fox of &quot;Lost.''

Cranston also praised series creator and writer Vince Gilligan.

&quot;It feels like all I have to do is hold on tight and you'll take us where we need to go,'' he said.

Sedgwick thanked the people behind the scenes on &quot;The Closer'' for helping her win the award for best drama actress.

&quot;There are so many people who work so incredibly hard without a thought of being singled out and for those people I am so incredibly grateful,'' she said. &quot;Obviously that means the crew and everybody behind the scenes.''

She also thanked the cast and her husband, Kevin Bacon.

&quot;And to quote him, let's all be good to each other,'' she said. &quot;Thank you so, so much.''

Sedgwick, who has been nominated for five consecutive years, won the award over Glenn Close of FX's &quot;Damages,'' who had won the past two years. The other hopefuls were first-time nominees Connie Britton from &quot;Friday Night Lights'' and January Jones of &quot;Mad Men''; Mariska Hargitay of &quot;Law &amp; Order' Special Victims Unit,'' a nominee for seven consecutive years and the 2006 winner; and Julianna Margulies of &quot;The Good Wife.''

&quot;Breaking Bad's'' Aaron Paul received the Emmy for best supporting actor in a drama series, and he also heaped praise on Gilligan.

&quot;What he does and what the rest of our brilliant staff of writers do every week is mind-blowing, so I thank you so much,'' he said. &quot;To my family, my God, I know you're crying at home watching, so mom, it's ok, I love you.

&quot;Bryan Cranston, to work with you every single day, it's a dream. I love you, brother. You have no idea.''

The Emmy for supporting actress in a drama went to Archie Panjabi of &quot;The Good Wife.'' She thanked the show's cast and crew, and added with a smile, &quot;This is just amazing for my career, thank you so much.''

&quot;Modern Family'' won three Emmys, taking home not only the best comedy prize but also a supporting-actor Emmy for Eric Stonestreet and outstanding writing award for series creators Steven Levitan and Christopher Lloyd.

&quot;I want to thank this amazing cast who makes us forget how much we hate writing every day,'' Levitan said while accepting the best-comedy Emmy. &quot;Speaking of which, I want to thank our incredible writing staff. You know, Chris and I get so much credit for what is often their amazing work, and I just want to say, that's Hollywood, dudes.

&quot;... To our fans, we are so grateful, we are so thrilled that families are sitting down together to watch a television show,'' he said. &quot;And we just wanted to say we're so happy that you have let us into your families. Thank you very very much.''

Edie Falco was named best actress in a comedy series for &quot;Nurse Jackie,'' while Jim Parsons of CBS' &quot;Big Bang Theory'' won best actor in a comedy. Jane Lynch of &quot;Glee'' took home the Emmy for supporting comedy actress.

&quot;This is just the most ridiculous thing that has ever, ever happened in the history of this lovely awards show. I'm not funny,'' Falco joked. &quot;I love this job. I am so grateful. ... Thank you so much. I am beyond speechless.''

Parsons thanked his fellow cast members, hailing them as &quot;wonderful people.''

&quot;You're so talented, but you're just such darn hard workers, and I find that so inspiring,'' he said.

Parsons also praised the writers behind the show.

&quot;Thank you for stories that are so worth working on and God bless you for giving me a character to work on that I -- I feel so lucky to be working at all, but to get to work on this character is really beyond fortunate,'' he said.

Comedy Central's &quot;The Daily Show with Jon Stewart'' won its eighth consecutive Emmy as outstanding variety, music or comedy series, beating out NBC's short-lived &quot;The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien''; Comedy Central's &quot;The Colbert Report,'' NBC's &quot;Saturday Night Live,'' the winner in the category in 1976, for its first season, and 1993; and HBO's &quot;Real Time with Bill Maher.''

For the second consecutive year, there were just two nominees for outstanding miniseries, with the HBO World War II saga &quot;The Pacific'' beating out the Public Broadcasting Service's &quot;Return to Cranford'' to win the award. Academy rules forbid the number of nominations to exceed one-third of the submissions in the category.

HBO dominated the made-for-television movie categories, with &quot;Temple Grandin'' taking home Emmys for outstanding television movie, best actress for Claire Danes, director for Mick Jackson and supporting actor and actress for David Strathairn and Julia Ormond.

&quot;Autism has reached epidemic proportions, so on behalf of all the parents like myself who have a child  with autism, Temple Grandin, you are our hero,'' executive producer Emily Gerson Saines said, earning her a hug from Grandin, who stood beside her on stage.

Al Pacino took home the Emmy for best actor in a miniseries or television movie for his portrayal of Jack Kevorkian in HBO's &quot;You Don't Know Jack.''

CBS' &quot;The Amazing Race,'' which had won the Emmy for outstanding reality-competition program in each of the seven years the award has been presented, finally lost in the category, as Bravo's &quot;Top Chef'' claimed the prize.

The awards covered programs that initially aired between June 1, 2009 and May 31.

Including awards presented at the Creative Arts Emmy ceremony on Aug. 21, the 10-part miniseries &quot;The Pacific'' was the top winner overall, claiming eight overall. &quot;Temple Grandin'' won a total of seven between the two ceremonies, while &quot;Modern Family'' won six.

HBO was easily the top winner between the two ceremonies, earning 25 Emmys overall. Powered by &quot;Modern Family,'' ABC finished second with 18, while Fox won 11, CBS earned 10 and NBC won eight.

Sunday night's Emmy ceremony was aired on NBC and shown live coast-to-coast for the first time since 1976.

The ceremony usually is held in mid-September, one day before the start of the official television season, except when it is televised on NBC.

The Emmy ceremony airs in August when it is carried on NBC because of its contract to carry &quot;Sunday Night Football.'' The ceremony rotates among the four major broadcast networks.]]></description>
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			<title><![CDATA[Ex-Playboy employee's sexual harassment suit goes to jury]]></title>
															<link>http://www.laindependent.com/entertainment/television/Ex-Playboy-employees-sexual-harassment-suit-goes-to-jury-100311064.html</link>
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			<pubDate>Mon, 9 Aug 2010 17:43:38 PDT</pubDate>
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A woman is entitled to a seven-figure damage award for severe emotional distress she endured from being sexually harassed and belittled by a male colleague while both worked for Playboy's cable television network, her attorney told a jury Monday.

Lawyer Mark J. Valencia, who represents former Playboy Entertainment Group Inc. master control operator Julie Crouch, said his client tried and failed to get help concerning her problems with Charles Dorn from their joint supervisor, Chere Johnson, who she also sued.

As a result of her experience at Playboy, Couch suffers from post- traumatic stress disorder, Valencia said in closing arguments of the trial of her Los Angeles Superior Court lawsuit, which went to the jury this afternoon.

But Jason Mills, an attorney for Playboy, said her entire story is a &quot;revision of history.'' He said her case is about a woman who wants to &quot;get some money and extract a little vengeance. Ms. Crouch is not entitled to anything for this lawsuit.''

He said she came forward with many of her complaints 10 months after she was laid off in March 2008, when her unit of Playboy was bought out by Broadcast Facilities Inc., which has since been renamed Encompass Digital Media Inc.

Crouch, a married mother of four, joined Playboy in September 2002. Her job was to monitor the Playboy cable channels to make sure blackouts did not occur during broadcasts.

Crouch and Johnson knew each other from a previous job, and Johnson supervised her and Dorn for a while before moving up in management at Playboy, Valencia said.

Dorn frequently used the &quot;F'' word if he was mad about something and his attitude toward Crouch took a dramatic turn for the worse in late 2003, when she received an employee recognition award that he had been given the year before and thought he was entitled to again, according to Valencia.

When Crouch returned to the control room, Dorn was throwing things around and kicking trash cans, all the while repeating the &quot;F'' word, Valencia said.

After almost a year of alleged harassment, Crouch wrote a letter to Johnson in September 2004, airing her grievances concerning Dorn, Valencia said. Among her complaints were that Dorn insisted men were superior to women; that Dorn had called her an epithet in German; and that he berated her so aggressively once that she was inadvertently spit on.

Although an internal investigation into Crouch's complaints brought an apology from Dorn, he later began harassing her again, using such terms as &quot;slut,'' &quot;whore'' and &quot;prostitute,'' Valencia said.

Crouch, who had complications from breast implants and also underwent back surgery, was chastised by Dorn for her leaves of absence, Valencia said. Dorn sarcastically asked her when she was going on her next vacation, according to the attorney.

Valencia said his client returned to work early after one of her leaves of absence even though she still had severe back pain. Johnson belittled Crouch, saying, &quot;You remind me of last Halloween when you came dressed as an old lady,'' according to Valencia.

Crouch's experience at Playboy has &quot;taken a toll'' on her 14-year marriage, Valencia said.

In addition to Johnson and some of the other supervisors at Playboy -- who he said were aware of Dorn's alleged misconduct -- Valencia also chastised Brenda Villa, a top human resources official at the company. He said Villa's investigation into Dorn's conduct found it was inappropriate, but did not amount to harassment.

&quot;Brenda Villa completely failed because the harassment continued,'' Valencia said. &quot;She was supposed to prevent these incidents and nothing happened.''

Villa testified Dorn was reprimanded even though Crouch did not want him to be warned or fired. She also said Crouch was given all the time off she requested for medical leave.

Mills told jurors that Valencia's criticisms of Villa were &quot;really outrageous'' and that Playboy &quot;is serious about prohibiting harassment.'' He also said Dorn's use of foul language did not amount to &quot;unlawful conduct.''

Valencia played clips of Dorn's testimony to the jury, in which the defendant denied any wrongdoing and said Playboy had not disciplined him for his alleged mistreatment of Crouch.]]></description>
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			<title><![CDATA[DeGeneres to leave 'American Idol,' cites 'a difficult decision']]></title>
															<link>http://www.laindependent.com/entertainment/television/Ellen-DeGeneres-American-Idol-99600129.html</link>
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			<pubDate>Thu, 29 Jul 2010 20:24:51 PDT</pubDate>
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																																																			<description><![CDATA[(CNN) -- Ellen DeGeneres is calling it quits after spending one season with the Fox hit "American Idol," according to a statement from the star and the network.

         DeGeneres said she notified Fox and "American Idol" producers a "couple months ago" that the show wasn't the right fit for her.

         "It was a difficult decision to make, but my work schedule became more than I bargained for. I also realized this season that while I love discovering, supporting and nurturing young talent, it was hard for me to judge people and sometimes hurt their feelings," she said. "I loved the experience ... and I am very grateful for the year I had. I am a huge fan of the show and will continue to be."

         Fox and "Idol" executives said DeGeneres' presence will be missed on the show.

         "I loved Ellen's passion for the artists and her nurturing skills," said "Idol" creator Simon Fuller. "She brought honesty and optimism to our judging panel and I will miss her greatly."

         The 51-year-old comedian replaced Paula Abdul when the singing competition resumed for a ninth year in January. Abdul left the show after eight years over contract disagreements.

         DeGeneres, who continued to host her syndicated daily talk show, loves music and is a huge fan of "Idol." When she took the job she said she aimed to bring compassion and empathy to the show, qualities Abdul was known for.

         "I'm not going to be mean. I hate when Simon [Cowell] is that mean," DeGeneres said, referring to the notorious judge.

         "You can be constructive and criticize somebody. That's helpful, instead of mean-spirited."

         Earlier this year, Cowell said he'll be leaving the popular talent show at the end of the season.

         In a March interview with TV Guide Magazine, DeGeneres talked about her role on the show and the part she'll play in picking Cowell's successor.

         "Oh yeah," DeGeneres said in response to a question as to whether she gets a vote on who replaces Cowell. "That was part of [what was discussed] when I came in. Cause we all had a suspicion that Simon might leave. Nobody knew for sure, but we made sure that I'd have a big [say] because that's important to me."

         DeGeneres first gained fame in stand-up comedy and acting roles in several movies and television sitcoms. She also has hosted the prime-time Emmy Awards and the Academy Awards.

         The show added Kara DioGuardi, a songwriter and music industry executive, as a judge during the eighth season.

         In May, Katherine L. Meizel, author of the forthcoming book "Idolized' Music, Media, and Identity in 'American Idol' " and a writer for Slate's "Idolatry" column, said there is a sense that people are "abandoning ship" on the show with the departure of Abdul, as well as music director Ricky Minor and Cowell at the end of this season.

         "When things start changing drastically, it right away makes people feel less connected," Meizel said.

         Since its premiere in 2002, "Idol" has been an entertainment phenomenon, regularly ranking as TV's top show, creating several musical stars and pulling in millions more viewers than its closest competition.]]></description>
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			<title><![CDATA[Obama has no idea who Snooki is]]></title>
															<link>http://www.laindependent.com/entertainment/television/Obama-The-View-Snooki-99502184.html</link>
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			<pubDate>Wed, 28 Jul 2010 20:58:07 PDT</pubDate>
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																										<description><![CDATA[(CNN) -- Jersey Shore cast member Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi may have bashed President Obama earlier this year over a new federal tax on tanning salons, but Obama made clear Thursday he knows little about the infamous reality star.

         "I've got to admit, I don't know who Snooki is. I'm sorry," Obama said on ABC's The View when asked if the pop-culture sensation should consider a run for Mayor of Wasilla, Alaska - the post Sarah Palin once held.

         Though Obama says he isn't familiar with Snooki, that hasn't stopped him from making light of the Jersey Shore cast member in the past. At this year's White House Correspondents Dinner, the president joked the new ten percent tax on tanning salons had a "Jersey Shore-Up" provision.

         "The following individuals shall be excluded from the indoor tanning tax within this bill -- Snooki, J-WOWW, the Situation, and House Minority Leader John Boehner," Obama joked.

         But Snooki herself wasn't laughing over the tax that took effect in July, saying "I don't go tanning anymore because Obama put a 10% tax on tanning," she said. "And I feel like he did that intentionally for us."]]></description>
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			<title><![CDATA[Excelsior! Stan Lee conquers Comic-Con, again]]></title>
															<link>http://www.laindependent.com/entertainment/television/Stan-Lee-Comic-Con.html</link>
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			<pubDate>Mon, 26 Jul 2010 18:34:41 PDT</pubDate>
			<category><![CDATA[Entertainment]]></category>																	


																																						<description><![CDATA[Stan Lee has always been a draw at San Diego Comic-Con, even before Hollywood came calling.

         This year, Lee was busier than ever at the age of 87, promoting his new partnership with BOOM! Studios, signing autographs on the convention floor and speaking on a panel following the world premiere of the documentary, "With Great Power' The Stan Lee Story."

         When Lee was told that there would be a documentary made about him, he said, "I thought they were kidding. When they finally convinced me, I thought, 'Well, it will be a little 12 minute thing.' It's incredible, they've been filming it for over two years."

         Lee continues to keep busy with his company, POW! Entertainment, including a motion comic with Disney and several projects in Japan.

         The panel on the upcoming trio of Marvel "Avengers" movies was extremely well-received at Comic-Con, and, as usual, Lee will be making appearances in them.

         "I have a cameo in 'Thor,' and I haven't done my cameo for 'Captain America' yet," he said. "They're shooting it in England, but they said they'll probably shoot something in L.A. so that I can have a cameo."

         Regarding his acting work in previous movies like "Iron Man," he joked, "I'm amazed that there wasn't some award given out."]]></description>
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			<title><![CDATA[Comics still have a place at Comic-Con]]></title>
															<link>http://www.laindependent.com/entertainment/television/Comics-still-have-a-place-at-Comic-Con-99219344.html</link>
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			<pubDate>Mon, 26 Jul 2010 01:52:32 PDT</pubDate>
			<category><![CDATA[Entertainment]]></category>																	


																																						<description><![CDATA[San Diego, California (CNN) -- While the latest movie releases might be the most visible part of the annual San Diego Comic-Con, the comic books themselves certainly haven't been lost in the shuffle.

         The two titans of the industry, DC Comics and Marvel, have huge booths on the convention floor, and even less well-known publishers have some impressive displays.

         Just about every one of them put out pieces of news at Comic-Con for their fanbase'

         -- Marvel has "Ultimate Thor" and "Captain America' Man Out of Time" on the horizon (in time for the movie releases of both).

         -- DC has a new "Batman" title, "Batman, Inc.," written by Grant Morrison, continuing his work on that character. (DC Comics is owned by Time Warner, which also owns CNN).

         -- Vertigo's John Constantine character (as portrayed by Keanu Reeves in a movie a few years ago) will be getting married.

         -- Dark Horse Comics (of "Hellboy" fame) will have a graphic novel by author Janet Evanovich and will adapt the Steven Spielberg series "Falling Skies" into comic book form.

         -- IDW has already made a big splash with news of a "True Blood" series.

         Boom! Studios, for its part, had Stan "The Man" Lee, probably the most famous comic book creator of all time, working with them on three new characters, "Soldier Zero," "Starborn" and "The Traveler."

         When asked about what Lee brought to these series, Boom!'s chief creative officer, Mark Waid, said, "What comics have become is like WWE wrestling matches, with good guys and bad guys, but the humanity gets lost." He said that Lee's characters always have to make a sacrifice to be a hero. "With [Lee], you get to embrace the best parts of humanity, instead of getting caught in a cynical world."

         "Too often, writers think, 'I think that [readers] will like this,'" Lee said, emphasizing the importance of "writing from the heart." "If you do something you will like, chances are the readers will like it also."

         Ask anyone here about the current state of comic books, and you'll get widely varying answers.

         Marvel Comics' executive vice president and head of television, Jeph Loeb, a longtime comic book writer in his own right, said, "As an art form, it's still very similar to the way it was done back when those two 17-year-olds from Cleveland came up with Superman. Today, what you see is that they are better, in terms of the production values, certainly the kinds of stories that are being told." Loeb mentioned the wide variety of different publishers present at Comic-Con as an example.

         Kevin Pereira, co-host of G4's "Attack of the Show," noted, "There's the independent alley here [at Comic-Con] and independent artists are still doing what they love and plying their wares."

         For comic book writer, artist and now director Kaare Andrews, digital comics on devices like the iPad are one of the most exciting things to happen to comics in years, but, "There are too many events right now, too many crossover events."

         Blair Butler, the comic book guru for G4, also has a positive view of comics today' "Every topic under the sun is being covered in comics," she said, pointing to "Fun Home," Alison Bechtel's autobiography about growing up in a funeral home. "There is so much diversity in the comic book world and it's just this wellspring of creative ideas."

         Felicia Day, whose "The Guild" web series is also a comic book, would like to see more female writers writing superhero-oriented stories' "There's really a resurgence in women authors in the paranormal and romance section, but I'd love to see more strong woman voices in comics."

         Writer-director Joss Whedon -- who has dabbled in comics on several occasions and will be directing "The Avengers" -- said, "Sometimes a trend gets squeezed out, between nihilism or zombie ... whatever the latest thing is, or rebooting something you already loved. I do feel like comics need to make a big step and blow it up in a big way like Warren Ellis did in the '90s."

         Whether one thinks that comic books these days are great or have much room for improvement, there's no doubt that the massive event that is San Diego Comic-Con will ensure that this art form will continue to endure.]]></description>
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			<title><![CDATA[Hollywood Teamsters approve new contract, avoid strike]]></title>
															<link>http://www.laindependent.com/entertainment/television/Hollywood-Teamsters-approve-new-contract-avoid-strike-99209928.html</link>
				<guid isPermaLink="false">99209928</guid>		
			<pubDate>Sun, 25 Jul 2010 19:54:34 PDT</pubDate>
			<category><![CDATA[Entertainment]]></category>																	


																																						<description><![CDATA[BURBANK -- About 97 percent of the drivers represented by Teamsters Union Hollywood Local 399 voted Sunday to accept a new contract from movie and TV producers, averting the possibility of a strike.

Voting this morning at a membership meeting in Burbank, the drivers overwhelmingly approved an offer from producers that includes a 2 percent pay hike and increased contributions from the workers towards their health insurance costs, according to Variety and the Los Angeles Times.

The main issue had been pay raises for more than 3,000 Teamsters
drivers. The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, which represents the major studios, had offered annual raises of 2 percent, while the Teamsters sought 3 percent, the same as the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees received.

Studio executives argued the IATSE contract was negotiated in the spring of 2008, before the recession. They have argued that other unions, including the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, accepted 2 percent raises in more recent talks.

The impasse was resolved during bargaining Saturday night, when the producers sweetened their offer by agreeing to pay some travel expenses for the drivers.

The last time the Teamsters struck in Hollywood was in 1988. They stayed away from work for 24 days in a dispute over pay and changes in overtime rules.

Writers went on strike for 100 days in 2007-08, and the Screen Actors
Guild had a yearlong dispute with the studios, hindering productions.]]></description>
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			<title><![CDATA[Don Johnson awarded $23.2 million in 'Nash Bridges' suit]]></title>
															<link>http://www.laindependent.com/entertainment/television/Don-Johnson-award-Nash-Bridges-lawsuit-98086284.html</link>
				<guid isPermaLink="false">98086284</guid>		
			<pubDate>Thu, 8 Jul 2010 21:33:36 PDT</pubDate>
			<category><![CDATA[Entertainment]]></category>																	


																																						<description><![CDATA[A production company was ordered by a Los Angeles jury Wednesday to pay Don Johnson $23.2 million for the actor's work on the television series "Nash Bridges.''

Johnson contended he was owed as much as $105 million for his work on the series through co-ownership of the show's copyright, but attorneys for Rysher Entertainment Inc. said the program actually had a multimillion-dollar deficit.

The Los Angeles Superior Court jury deliberated a total of about three to four hours late Tuesday afternoon and this morning. As they left the courtroom, the 60-year-old actor personally thanked each of them.

"I'm very happy with the verdict and that my copyright was recognized,'' Johnson said.

Johnson's lawyer, Mark Holscher, said the verdict means the actor could be entitled to another $25 million in future copyright earnings.

Juror Rodrigo Rodriguez said he was not persuaded by the defense raised by Rysher Entertainment, but found Johnson believable.

"He was very good,'' Rodriguez said.

Another male juror said the jury reached its decision to award $23.2 million based on deductions for production, distribution and other costs incurred by Rysher.

During closing arguments Tuesday in the trial of Johnson's breach-of- contract lawsuit, Holscher argued that the actor only had to complete 66 episodes in order for his copyright ownership to vest. The show ended up running for 122 episodes from March 1996 to May 2001, Holscher said.

Rysher attorney Bart H. Williams issued a statement saying the company "is extremely disappointed ... and will aggressively pursue all legal recourse.''

"While we respect the jury's right to their judgment, there are several matters of law that will form the basis of Rysher's appeal,'' he said. "We are ready to undergo the appeals process and are confident that in the end, today's outcome will be reversed.''

Williams said during his final argument that Johnson made about $40 million from the show, mostly from his acting and producing services. He said Johnson was not entitled to anything more until "Nash Bridges'' gets out from under a deficit that accountants on both sides agreed at one point was about $75 million.

"This case is about cash in, cash out,'' Williams told jurors. "Are there profits to split from `Nash Bridges?' The answer is no.''

When Johnson and Rysher entered into the contract in 1995, Johnson was still a hot commodity based on his earlier fame from starring in the 1984-90 NBC detective drama "Miami Vice,'' Holscher said, while  Rysher "was dying to get into prime-time TV.''

"Don was on top of the world, one of the biggest stars in the United States,'' Holscher said.

Lawyers for Rysher's co-defendants, 2929 Entertainment -- co-founded by Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban -- and Qualia Capital told jurors that neither company should be in the case because, contrary to Johnson's assertions, neither has ever owned Rysher Entertainment.

Judge Michael L. Stern did not allow the jury to decide whether 2929 Entertainment and Qualia Capital have any unity of interest and joint liability with Rysher to Johnson. He will make that decision himself later.

The lawsuit Johnson filed in February 2009 alleged that because he was a co-owner of the copyright -- producing with the Don Johnson Co. and Carlton Cuse Productions in association with Rysher Entertainment and later Paramount Television -- he was entitled to half of the show's profits.

The series that ran six seasons earned more than $300 million in revenues and more than $150 million from syndication, according to Johnson's court papers.

When asked whether he had any film or television projects lined up, Johnson replied, "I'm just going to go home and hug my kids.'']]></description>
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			<title><![CDATA[Is Prince Harry a Gleek?]]></title>
															<link>http://www.laindependent.com/entertainment/television/97829954.html</link>
				<guid isPermaLink="false">97829954</guid>		
			<pubDate>Mon, 5 Jul 2010 22:30:02 PDT</pubDate>
			<category><![CDATA[Entertainment]]></category>																	

	
											
																															
													



															<enclosure url="http://media.laindependent.com/images/320*213/prince+harry+480px.jpg" length="44033" type="image/jpeg" />
																																																			<description><![CDATA[(CNN) -- His grandmother met Lady Gaga, so it wouldn't be a surprise if Prince Harry was a Gleek.

         At the Wireless Festival in London's Hyde Park on Friday, the 25-year-old royal posed for a photo with "Glee" star Cory Monteith.

         While Harry hasn't publicly said he is a fan of the hit Fox show, it's clear that 28-year-old Monteith, who plays quarterback/glee club member Finn Hudson, was excited to meet the prince. Singing his praises via Twitter that day, Monteith posted a photo of himself with his new pal, writing, "Look who I bumped into in London."

         Monteith has been in England promoting "Glee" and told the Daily Mail he would love for Coldplay to appear on the show. "There were talks -- at first they didn't want us to do one of their songs, which is understandable because at that time no one knew what 'Glee' was," he said, "but thankfully we think they've changed their mind."

         Snoop Dogg, however, seems to be a done deal. "I am pretty sure he is going to do 'Glee,'" Monteith reportedly told the News of the World." That would be really cool."]]></description>
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			<title><![CDATA[Son, let’s have a talk]]></title>
															<link>http://www.laindependent.com/entertainment/television/97039614.html</link>
				<guid isPermaLink="false">97039614</guid>		
			<pubDate>Wed, 23 Jun 2010 21:58:43 PDT</pubDate>
			<category><![CDATA[Entertainment]]></category>																	

	
											
																															
													



															<enclosure url="http://media.laindependent.com/images/320*213/Bill+Cosby_0080.jpg" length="85071" type="image/jpeg" />
																																																			<description><![CDATA[Launching the California African American Museum's Duets & Dialogues series, television legend Bill Cosby and his TV son, Malcolm-Jamal Warner, came together recently for an unforgettable night of laughs, memories and words of wisdom.

'Our program is designed to pair African-American celebrities of note and accomplishment in a setting that allows the easy flow of memories and thoughtful examinations of the present and the future,' said CAAM executive Charmaine Jefferson. 'For so many of us, [Bill] Cosby is a pivotal role model within the African American community and beyond. His television role as father to Theo … continues to speak volumes to generations of sons and fathers, and Mr. Cosby regularly uses his celebrity to keep asking our young people to be all that they can be.'

Cosby (wearing his iconic Playboy Jazz Festival T-shirt with his signature yellow-gold Greek Omega Psi Phi fraternity baseball cap) and Warner (stylishly dressed in a peach-colored dress shirt and a black pinstriped dress coat) kept the audience of about 100 guests riveted for about two hours, with a meandering discussion that included poignant reflections of their journeys through pop cultural history, race and education, 'The Cosby Show's' longevity and the importance of self-empowerment.

Warner, who credits his work ethic to watching Cosby for eight seasons, turned to the man who played his father for nearly a decade and told him, 'No one could have done that show, but Mr. Cosby.' 

It wasn't really until the run of his own show, the UPN sitcom 'Malcolm & Eddie,' that Warner said he understood who Cosby was and what he did to keep 'The Cosby Show' running for so long.

'I figured I was a graduate student of the school of Bill Cosby,' said Warner about putting his own show together. 'But then I realized that I was fighting a big machine … a monster that was so much bigger than I ever imagined, and that was when I realized that no one could have done 'The Cosby Show,' other than Mr. Cosby.'

Though the show was — and continues to be — widely praised for its lack of stereotypical imagery, Warner said the writers do not deserve the credit. 'There was none of that not because the writers weren't having it — it was because Mr. Cosby wasn't having it,' he said.

That was the fun part about doing the show, Cosby interrupted Warner. 'To be able to grab a writer and say, 'Come here!' [when they would write something I didn't like],' he said signaling out to the audience. ''No one is going to do this And they would say, 'But I think…,' and I would say 'I don't care what you think.' And they would go back and redo it. … Then they would try to put it in again later, and it still wouldn't happen,' Cosby recalled. It got even more entertaining, Cosby joked, when the writers started telling on one another.

Unfortunately, being a graduate of Cosby U wasn't enough for  Warner during the development of 'Malcolm & Eddie.' 

'That's when you develop another appreciation for the work that this man did for this show,' Warner said. 'Mr. Cosby always made everyone ultra-aware of the images of people of color being put on the airwaves.' And now as an adult, Warner said, he can look back and say that for eight years, he remembers 'watching this man fighting for the integrity of this show.' In essence, Warner said, during 'Malcolm & Eddie' he was told in so many words, 'Hmmm? You're not Bill Cosby.'

'I found myself fighting all of the time, and the monster that I was fighting was so much bigger than me,' Warner said. 'I couldn't do it … I couldn't make those changes [like Mr. Cosby] did, so I started playing music.'

Cosby told the audience that it was a pleasure to have worked alongside Warner for all of those years and even today, he is very proud of his TV son's accomplishments. It's an absolute pleasure to take Warner's calls, Cosby joked, because 'he doesn't call me to ask for money.'

With Father's Day still near, Cosby told the audience that they needed to celebrate every single 'hands-on' father they knew, because they are rare, he said.

The dialogue between the men and their audience ricocheted between topics like the importance of fatherhood, good parenting skills and education, to the devastating effects of some rap music, distasteful comedians, today's child-on-child violence, teen pregnancy, and why if people don't stop and say 'That's enough,' things will never change.

'Parents have to stop giving their children money to pay for music that these ignoramuses and poverty pimps put out just to get your money. …  You have to just say this stuff has to stop,' Cosby said. 'No one can stand tall when you're talking about the mistreatment of your women.'

Another stereotype that irks Cosby is the label put on kids from inner cities.

'They call them disadvantaged kids or at-risk kids,' Cosby said. 'But you know what color those kids are. … You've just got to say, I've seen this movie before, it's gotta stop.'

Parenting was another hot topic for Cosby. 

Parents nowadays confuse parenting with being a friend, he said. When children are already growing up in a densely populated, lower-income communities, 'sho'nuffically' they are in harms way, every second of every day. The first thing parents need to do, Cosby said, is to 'turn the TV off.'

Cosby talked about his own childhood and his own father's parenting style. 'Back in my day, there was real parenting going on — when parenting was, 'Where is your homework and I want to see it,'' he said, referring to how parents today wonder why their children are falling back. Cosby talked about how his father was drunk when he would get home from school. 'I knew, but I knew I had to listen in class, because I knew when I got home, he was going to ask me.' He didn't care, Cosby said, but he asked.

Warner was asked how he was able to continue his art after the landmark show ended. 'I have to say it started off with good parenting,' Warner said looking over at Cosby, who got up and jokingly started walking away. 'When you're working with Mr. Cosby, you can't help but think about longevity. We worked three-and-a-half day weeks and the rest of the days Mr. Cosby would go to Vegas or Tahoe to do his stand-up. And he was right back to work on Monday morning, always on time, and he never missed a day of work because he was tired. For us, for me, that set a precedent — that no matter how big this show was, you had to think about life after the show.'

Plus, Warner said, he had this maniacal obsession with not wanting to grow up to be one of those 'Where are they now kids … I never wanted this show to be my end-all.'

Warner, who is a poet, spoken-word artist and composer, has indeed carved out his own niche as an adult, including garnering critical acclaim for his one-man show, 'Love and Other Social Issues.' Warner talked about how he will not do any work that will cause his people embarrassment. And that when he does music, he doesn't dumb it down, he said.

'That's credited to a consciousness Cosby created and instilled in me … and in everybody on the show,' Warner said. 

Cosby shared with the audience a bit of history straight out of Warner's audition for the part of Theo. 'Malcolm was the consummate son to Cliff and Claire,' Cosby said, adding that Warner's real-life respect for his own mother was what got him the role. Cosby told the audience that when Warner auditioned, he did it was a bit of an attitude. 'Do you speak to your mother like this,' Cosby said he asked Warner, who had a hand on his hip. 'No sir,' Warner told Cosby. 'Then go back out the door and come back in,' Cosby said he told Warner. 'Well, he went out there to talk to his mother and he came back in and he got the part. … I don't know what she did, but she did something to him when he went out there.'

Asked how parents could best cultivate creativity in their children, Cosby said, 'By listening to them when they're 7. And take away that thing they press buttons on all day long and give them a cardboard box. Put them in a room with a cardboard box and you'll see what they come up with.'

Children should also be allowed to run around and play in the dirt, he said. 'And turn the TV off,' he repeated. 'When your child says that he or she is bored, then that's because you haven't given them anything to do.' Cosby also the audience that parents need to whatever it takes to get their kids off the streets. As for the popular video game 'Grand Theft Auto,' he said, 'it has this thing called a reset button and they [kids] keep resetting it … well, take it out of their hands, because they're just resetting their way to prison.'

Topping the evening off was a question from Kiya Roberts, an aspiring actress who asked what she could do to portray positive images of African-Americans through her work in an industry that too often devalues such content. 

Warner told the young actress to just make sure she has a back-up plan, because acting means long periods of unemployment between jobs. 'It's the reality,' he said.

The void of actors of color in Hollywood is hard to miss. And while he may have been the last lucky one, Cosby praised individuals who came after him — like Robert Townsend and Tyler Perry — for not sitting around and waiting for others to give them work. 'Whether you agree with it or not, they're doing it,' Cosby said. 'Copy it and do it.'

Being lectured by Cosby was just like being lectured by her own father back at home in Washington, D.C., said Roberts. 

While some kids wished they had a dad like Cliff Huxtable, Roberts said she was lucky to have one at home while growing up. Still, she said, it was calming to hear Cosby's words of encouragement. 

'It can be hard,' she said about working as an actress. 'There's no process for us. If you want to be a doctor or a lawyer, there's a succession of steps. But with art, there is no right or wrong … and the rejection can become too much sometimes. … Being here today, reminded me that I have to learn to make my own dreams come true, instead of waiting for someone to hand them to me.'

She said she knows what the reality is, 'It's just so hard to try to bring to your craft the integrity you learned from watching Claire Huxtable.']]></description>
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			<title><![CDATA[Defense lawyer: Former 'Survivor' producer charged in wife's death]]></title>
															<link>http://www.laindependent.com/entertainment/television/95281844.html</link>
				<guid isPermaLink="false">95281844</guid>		
			<pubDate>Mon, 31 May 2010 16:40:49 PDT</pubDate>
			<category><![CDATA[Entertainment]]></category>																	

	
											
																															
													



															<enclosure url="http://media.laindependent.com/images/320*240/Cancun+Mexico+Murder+policetruck022.JPG" length="80524" type="image/jpeg" />
																																																			<description><![CDATA[(CNN) -- A Mexican judge has issued an arrest warrant for reality TV producer Bruce Beresford-Redman in the death of his wife at a Cancun resort in April, his lawyer said Monday.

         "We have been advised that Mexican authorities have issued a warrant for the arrest of Bruce Beresford-Redman in connection with the murder of his wife, Monica," defense lawyer Richard Hirsch said Monday. "This news, if true, is extremely disturbing since it appears that this case is being handled in a manner outside the normal procedures in Mexico."

         The prosecutor in Mexico had said earlier Monday he had developed a "very concrete, very specific" case that was sent to a judge Friday for consideration of charges.

         Quintana Roo Attorney General Francisco Alor said through a spokesman that the investigation file, with recommended charges, was sent to the judge on Friday.

         "It is our understanding that the issuance of an arrest warrant normally entails a detailed judicial review that takes anywhere from several weeks to several months," Hirsch said. "It appears that the way this matter is being handled constitutes a rush to judgment."

         Bruce Beresford-Redman was briefly detained after Monica Beresford-Redman's body was found in a sewer at the Moon Palace Resort on April 8. His passport was taken by investigators and he was told not to leave Mexico until the probe was concluded.

         The former producer on TV's "Survivor" recently returned to his Los Angeles, California, home, to take care of family business and see his two young children, his lawyer said.

         His lawyer issued a statement from Beresford-Redman Monday after learning of the arrest warrant.

         "I am devastated at her loss," Beresford-Redman said in the statement, "and I am incensed at the suggestion that I could have had anything to do with her death. I am innocent. My children have had one parent taken from them by a senseless act of violence. I implore the Mexican authorities not to take their remaining parent by a miscarriage of justice and to do what is right, not just what is expedient."

         Hirsch said Friday that there should not be "a rush to judgment," adding that there have been other unsolved deaths and an attack at the resort.

         He cited the death of an elderly Scottish woman, who was found in a swamp weeks after leaving a pool for a walk, and a Canadian man who allegedly fell from a hotel balcony.

         Jeff Toews, a Canadian, was found dead in May 2007. Investigators decided he died from a drunken fall from a balcony, but his family did not accept that explanation.

         Julia Howard, a 77-year-old woman from Scotland, was found dead in a dense swamp six weeks after disappearing from a pool area last summer. Her family also rejected the police conclusion that her death was an accident.

         A woman reported an attempted rape in her hotel room "several days after Mrs. Beresford-Redman's body was discovered," Hirsch said.

         "We have brought this to the attention of the authorities and, in particular, to the attorney general in Cancun and asked them to pursue all leads before making a decision whether of not to charge our client," Hirsch said. "We feel that this case should not be a rush to judgment."

         "There are strange things going on -- I think that need to be pursued," he said.

         A spokeswoman for the resort directed CNN to a Mexican news report that quoted the prosecutor saying there was no connection between other deaths and the Beresford-Redman case.

         The initial investigation suggested Monica Beresford-Redman "died of strangulation, because of the bruising," Mexican regional police spokesman Adrian Cardena said.

         A source close to the wife has told CNN that she cleaned out the family bank account and took her two children to Hawaii because she was upset about her husband's extramarital affair. The couple later traveled to Cancun in an effort to repair their marriage, the source said.

         A Los Angeles judge decided Friday that the children, ages 3 and 5, could not attend a memorial service organized Sunday by Monica Beresford-Redman's sisters because a therapist said it might be emotionally harmful to them.

         "We respect the decision of the court, but we are very disappointed the fact that the children were denied to participate in the celebration of their mother's life," Jeane Burgos said. The sisters are fighting Beresford-Redman for custody of the children.

         Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Mitchell Beckloff delayed any decision on changing the current custody arrangement. Beresford-Redman's parents were given temporary custody in April after he was told by Mexican police to remain in the country while they investigated. He filed papers for custody to be returned to him last week.

         Bruce Beresford-Redman built his career as a Hollywood reality television show producer. He worked for several seasons on the popular CBS show "Survivor," in which contestants compete against each other in a variety of extreme outdoor scenarios. He was nominated for three Emmy Awards as a producer on the show and was last credited as a producer in 2004.

         He also worked on NBC's "The Contender" and "The Restaurant," as well as MTV's "Pimp My Ride," according to entertainment media company IMG.

         Monica Beresford-Redman, a native of Brazil, owned a restaurant in Los Angeles.

CNN's Rosalina Nieves contributed to this report.]]></description>
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			<title><![CDATA[ABC announces fall schedule]]></title>
															<link>http://www.laindependent.com/entertainment/television/94214914.html</link>
				<guid isPermaLink="false">94214914</guid>		
			<pubDate>Tue, 18 May 2010 18:36:51 PDT</pubDate>
			<category><![CDATA[Entertainment]]></category>																	


																																						<description><![CDATA[ABC announced Tuesday that it will have five new dramas on its fall schedule, featuring such stars as Dana Delany, Michael Chiklis, Michael Imperioli and Rob Morrow, along with one new comedy.

Series not returning include "The Deep End,'' "FlashForward'' and "Romantically Challenged,'' which all ran for one season, "Scrubs'' and "Better Off Ted.''

ABC previously announced that "Lost'' and "Ugly Betty'' would be ending their runs this season.

ABC's new fall dramas are'

-- "Body of Proof,'' which stars Delany ("Desperate Housewives,'' "China Beach'') as a medical examiner who has "developed a reputation for graying the lines of where her job ends and where the police department's begins,'' evoking memories of the 1976-83 NBC drama "Quincy, M.E.'' which starred Jack Klugman as a medical examiner who solved crimes;

-- "No Ordinary Family,'' which stars Chiklis ("The Comish,'' "The Shield'') departing from his usual police roles as the patriarch of a family that gets unique and distinct superpowers after their plane crashes into the Amazon River;

-- "Detroit 1-8-7,'' which stars Imperioli, best known for his role on "The Sopranos,'' as part of a squad of homicide detectives;

-- "The Whole Truth,'' starring Morrow ("Northern Exposure,'' "Num3ers'') as a defense attorney in a legal drama chronicling how a case is built from both the perspective of the prosecution and defense. Joely Richardson portrays the prosecutor; and

-- "My Generation,'' about high school classmates marking 10 years since their graduation.

ABC's new comedy is "Better Together,'' a look at the romantic relationships of two sisters (Jennifer Finnigan and JoAnna Garcia) and their parents (Kurt Fuller and Debra Jo Rupp).

ABC's fall schedule will also include first-run episodes of the unscripted series "Secret Millionaire,'' which aired on Fox Broadcasting in 2008.

ABC's new midseason shows include "Off The Map,'' a medical drama set in a tiny town in a South American jungle, produced by "Grey's Anatomy'' and "Private Practice'' producer Shonda Rhimes, and the comedies "Mr. Sunshine,'' starring "Friends'' alumnus Matthew Perry, and "Happy Endings,'' about how friends of a couple will respond to their breakup.

"V,'' "The Bachelor'' and "SuperNanny'' will return at midseason.

ABC also announced Vanessa Williams from "Ugly Betty'' will join the cast of "Desperate Housewives.''

Here is the fall ABC schedule'

-- Sunday' "America's Funniest Home Videos''; "Extreme Makeover' Home Edition''; "Desperate Housewives''; "Brothers & Sisters'';

-- Monday' "Dancing with the Stars''; "Castle'';

-- Tuesday' "No Ordinary Family''; "Dancing with the Stars the Results Show''; "Detroit 1-8-7'';

-- Wednesday' "The Middle''; "Better Together,'' "Modern Family''; "Cougar Town''; "The Whole Truth'';

-- Thursday' "My Generation''; "Grey's Anatomy''; "Private Practice'';

-- Friday' "Secret Millionaire; "Body of Proof''; "20/20'';

-- Saturday' "Saturday Night College Football.'']]></description>
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			<title><![CDATA[L.A. version of 'Law & Order' among NBC's fall TV lineup]]></title>
															<link>http://www.laindependent.com/entertainment/television/93907504.html</link>
				<guid isPermaLink="false">93907504</guid>		
			<pubDate>Mon, 17 May 2010 16:39:13 PDT</pubDate>
			<category><![CDATA[Entertainment]]></category>																	


																																						<description><![CDATA[NBC will air new dramas from producers J.J. Abrams and Jerry Bruckheimer, a Los Angeles-based version of the "Law & Order'' franchise, two new comedies and a new unscripted series this fall, the network announced Sunday.

The first-year dramas "Mercy'' and "Trauma'' were canceled, along with the science fiction series "Heroes,'' which ran four seasons. NBC announced on Friday that it had canceled "Law & Order'' following a record-tying 20- season run.

NBC is in discussions with "Law & Order'' creator Dick Wolf and "Heroes'' creator Tim Kring about making "farewell'' editions of both shows to be aired during the 2010-11 season, Angela Bromstad, NBC and Universal Media Studios' president of primetime entertainment, told reporters on a conference call.

NBC's new fall dramas are'

-- "Chase,'' a look at the U.S. Marshals Service's searches for the nation's most dangerous fugitives, produced by Bruckheimer, the producer of CBS' "CSI'' franchise and "Cold Case'' and the films "Top Gun,'' "Beverly Hills Cop,'' and the "Pirates of the Caribbean'' and "National Treasure'' franchises. It stars Kelli Giddish, Cole Hauser, Amaury Nolasco, Rose Rollins and Jesse Metcalfe;

-- "The Event" which stars Jason Ritter, whose investigation into the mysterious disappearance of his fiancee (Sarah Roemer) unwittingly begins to expose the biggest cover-up in American history. The cast also includes Blair Underwood as the newly elected U.S. president and "ER'' alumnus Laura Innes as the leader of a mysterious group of detainees.

-- "Law & Order' Los Angeles'' which will be produced by Wolf and Blake Masters, whose credits include the Showtime crime drama "Brotherhood.'' An announcement on casting is expected in two weeks, according to Bromstad.

-- "Outlaw,'' which stars Emmy winner Jimmy Smits as a Supreme Court justice who resigns to return to private practice, determined to represent "the little guy" and use his inside knowledge of the justice system to take on the biggest legal cases. Its producers include former "Tonight Show'' host Conan O'Brien.

-- "Undercovers,'' which stars Boris Kodjoe and Gugu Mbatha-Raw as husband-and-wife spies who return to the CIA after former colleague (Carter MacIntyre) goes missing on the trail of a Russian arms dealer. It is produced by Abrams, who created or co-created "Lost,'' "Alias'' and "Felicity,'' and whose movie credits include directing and co-writing "Mission' Impossible III'' and directing the 2009 release of "Star Trek.''

The new fall comedies ordered by NBC are "Outsourced,'' which stars Ben Rappaport as a manager of a Midwestern company transferred to India to run its outsourced call center, and "Love Bites," an hourlong romantic anthology featuring three loosely connected, modern stories of love, sex, marriage and dating. It is produced by Cindy Chupack, a writer and producer of "Sex and the City.''

The unscripted series is "School Pride,'' a look at communities renovating aging public schools. Its producers include "Curb Your Enthusiasm'' star Cheryl Hines.

"This new schedule brings NBC back to basics with its commitment to quality scripted programming,'' NBC Universal Television Chairman Jeff Gaspin said. "Our new shows are distinctive and feature a combination of the biggest talent, the brightest new stars and the strongest auspices in television.

"With this new schedule, we're poised to take the next step toward our long-term goals with a lineup that has stabilized and has been building solid momentum through the second half of the season.''

Of the five series that premiered on NBC last fall, only the comedy "Community'' was renewed for a second season.

Four series that premiered at midseason were also renewed -- the drama "Parenthood''; the Jerry Seinfeld-produced comedy panel series "The Marriage Ref''; the documentary series about celebrities' family histories "Who Do You Think You Are?'' and the game show "Minute to Win It.''

The comedy "Parks and Recreation,'' will return to NBC's lineup at midseason, as will "The Marriage Ref.'' NBC will air the news magazine "Dateline NBC,'' "Minute to Win It,'' and a two-hour version of "The Celebrity Apprentice'' on Sundays beginning in March following the end of the NFL season.

NBC also announced it had ordered the dramas "The Cape" and "Harry's Law'' for midseason, along with the comedies "Perfect Couples,'' "Friends With Benefits,'' "The Paul Reiser Show'' and the competition series "America's Next Great Restaurant'' for midseason.

A remake of the 1974-80 detective drama "The Rockford Files'' is being "reworked'' for either midseason or next fall, Bromstad said. Dermot Mulroney was cast in the title role originally portrayed by James Garner.

"We had a very strong pilot,'' Bromstad said. "However, to put this new title out there, it has to be A-plus plus. and I think we had an A-minus/B- plus pilot and we just want to get it right.''

Here is NBC's fall schedule'

Sunday' "Football Night in America''; "NBC Sunday Night Football'';

Monday' "Chuck"; "The Event''; "Chase'';

Tuesday' "The Biggest Loser''; "Parenthood'';

Wednesday' "Undercovers''; "Law & Order' Special Victims Unit''; "Law & Order' Los Angeles'';

Thursday' "Community''; "30 Rock"; "The Office''; "Outsourced''; "Love Bites'';

Friday' "Who Do You Think You Are?''/"School Pride''; "Dateline NBC''; "Outlaw'';

Saturday' Reruns.]]></description>
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			<title><![CDATA[NBC orders 'Law & Order: Los Angeles']]></title>
															<link>http://www.laindependent.com/entertainment/television/93794854.html</link>
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			<pubDate>Fri, 14 May 2010 11:42:53 PDT</pubDate>
			<category><![CDATA[Entertainment]]></category>																	


																																						<description><![CDATA[UNIVERSAL CITY -- NBC announced Friday it has canceled "Law & Order'' after a record-tying 20 seasons and ordered a new element of the franchise, "Law & Order' Los Angeles,'' for the 2010-20 season.

The final original episode of "Law & Order'' will air May 24. It matches the CBS Western "Gunsmoke,'' which ran from 1955-75, as prime-time television's longest-running drama.
   
"Law & Order'' received a record 11 consecutive best drama series nominations, winning in 1997.
   
"The full measure of the collective contributions made by Dick Wolf and his 'Law & Order' franchise over the last two decades to the success of NBC and Universal Media Studios cannot be overstated,'' NBC Universal Television Entertainment Chairman Jeff Gaspin said, referring to its creator and producer.

"The legacy of his original 'Law & Order' series will continue to make an impact like no other series before."

"Law & Order' Los Angeles,'' will be produced by Wolf and Blake Masters, whose credits include the Showtime crime drama "Brotherhood.'' No announcement was made about its casting.

NBC also announced the renewal of "Law & Order' Special Victims Unit.''

NBC will announce its programming plans for the 2010-11 season Sunday.]]></description>
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			<title><![CDATA[White House to get preview of HBO series]]></title>
															<link>http://www.laindependent.com/entertainment/television/87404667.html</link>
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			<pubDate>Thu, 11 Mar 2010 17:33:18 PDT</pubDate>
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																																																			<description><![CDATA[WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A group of Hollywood heavyweights and military veterans will attend a preview of HBO's new mini-series "The Pacific" at the White House Thursday.

         The president, the first lady and the producers of the series, Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg, are expected to be at the viewing in the White House screening room.

         The miniseries which debuts on March 14 follows three U.S. Marines through their battles during the war, HBO says. HBO is owned by Time Warner, which is also the parent company of CNN.

          Also expected to attend the event are the Joint Chiefs of Staff, National Security Advisor Gen. Jim Jones and members of Congress.

         The screening Thursday will come after a ceremony at the National WWII Memorial. The ceremony will be a tribute to about 250 World War II veterans.







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			<title><![CDATA[Charlie Sheen seeks 'preventative' rehab]]></title>
															<link>http://www.laindependent.com/entertainment/television/85156602.html</link>
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			<pubDate>Tue, 23 Feb 2010 21:19:30 PDT</pubDate>
			<category><![CDATA[Entertainment]]></category>																	


																																						<description><![CDATA[(CNN) -- Actor Charlie Sheen checked into a rehab clinic "as a preventative measure," his publicist said Tuesday.

         The announcement comes a day after a lawyer for his wife, Brooke Mueller, confirmed she had switched rehab facilities in her battle with substance abuse.

         There was no information given about who was caring for the couple's twin infant boys.

         Sheen, 44, and Mueller, 32, were allegedly involved in a domestic dispute in Aspen, Colorado, on Christmas Day that resulted in a felony assault charge against Sheen.

         Sheen will "take some time off" from his acting job on the CBS series "Two and a Half Men" while he undergoes rehabilitation, publicist Stan Rosenfield said.

         In a joint statement, executives from CBS and Warner Bros. Television and "Two and a Half Men" creator/producer Chuck Lorre said they "support Charlie Sheen in his decision today to begin voluntary in-patient care at a treatment center. We wish him nothing but the best as he deals with this personal matter. Production on 'Two and a Half Men' will be temporarily suspended."

         Rosenfield's statement did not say what issue Sheen needed to address with rehabilitation.

         Mueller's lawyer told CNN Monday that she pulled out of a Malibu, California, rehab center over the weekend after a "major breach of her privacy."

         She immediately checked into "a private, secure facility" to continue her substance-abuse rehab so she can be "the best mother" to her children, attorney Yale Galanter said.

         Galanter said he was planning a lawsuit against The Canyon -- the rehab center -- after confidential details of her treatment there were given to journalists over the weekend.

         "I am going to make them pay like you can't believe for screwing over my client," Galanter said. "You can quote me on that."

         A call to The Canyon by CNN was not immediately returned.

         Mueller voluntarily entered rehab in the wake of the Christmas Day incident with Sheen, Galanter said.

         Aspen police charged Sheen with felony second-degree assault, felony menacing and a misdemeanor charge of criminal mischief. He was booked under his birth name, Carlos Irwin Estevez.

         Sheen and Mueller married in 2008. Their twin sons -- Max and Bob -- will have their first birthday next month.

         Separately, a Los Angeles county social worker visited Sheen's home Sunday to check on his children, Sheen's publicist said.

         "The visit from DCFS was routine and procedural," Rosenfield said.

         The Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services was asked by Pitkin County, Colorado, child protection officials to check on the family as part of a follow up to Sheen's arrest in Aspen, Rosenfield said.

         Agency officials declined to confirm or comment on the visit because of privacy laws.

         Sheen's long history of questionable behavior began in 1990 when he was dating actress Kelly Preston. Reports surfaced then that Preston had been shot in the arm. In 2001 Sheen explained to Playboy magazine that it was a "complete accident. I wasn't even in the room. She picked up a pair of my pants. ... A little revolver fell out of my back pocket, hit the bathroom floor and went off. It shot a hole through the toilet and she got hit in the leg with shrapnel."

         The couple split soon after the incident and Preston married actor John Travolta in 1991.

         In 1994 Sheen was the only celebrity client whose name was publicly released during the trial of "Hollywood Madam" Heidi Fleiss.

         In 1996 adult film actress Brittany Ashland accused Sheen of throwing her on the floor and splitting her lip. Sheen pleaded no contest to battery charges and was fined $2,800. He entered rehab in 1998 after an alleged drug overdose.

         During the course of his divorce from model-turned-actress Denise Richards in 2006, Richards filed a restraining order against Sheen, claiming he tried to kill her.

         Sheen released a statement at the time saying' "Obviously, what has taken place is vile, is unconscionable, is without merit, is a transparent and immature smear campaign. She's claiming certain things. It's baseless."

         CNN's Alan Duke, Brittany Kaplan, Marc Balinsky and journalist Jo Piazza contributed to this report.]]></description>
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			<title><![CDATA[Tracy Morgan credits teen son with saving him]]></title>
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			<pubDate>Fri, 19 Feb 2010 00:57:21 PDT</pubDate>
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																																																			<description><![CDATA[(CNN) -- Actor Tracy Morgan's riding high, but the actor-comedian said that -- thanks to his teenage son -- he's not driving high.

         Morgan, arrested twice for drunken driving four years ago, said he sobered up after his son confronted him.

         "My son said, 'What if I start driving drunk and kill somebody?' That right there just made me look into the mirror, like, I got to step up my game," Morgan said Tuesday on PBS' "Tavis Smiley."

         Morgan, whose role on NBC's "30 Rock" earned him an Emmy nomination last year, stars with Bruce Willis in "Cop Out." The action-comedy film hits theaters this month.

         It was the "worse drug known to mankind" -- fame -- that led Morgan down a path of "partying and hanging out" that only ended two years ago, he said.

         "I started to even hurt people that I love," he said. "I was changing and I'm glad that I caught it in time." Morgan told CNN last October that it had been a year and a half since he had a drink.

         "All the drinking and the craziness, I had fun," he told Smiley. "Nobody got hurt, but I hurt me."

         The drunkenness brought an end to his marriage of 21 years, he said.

         But it was the conversation with his son, now 18, that opened his eyes, he said. It happened in 2007 when Morgan was wearing a bracelet to detect alcohol vapors. A Los Angeles judge had ordered him to wear it for six months because of his drunken driving arrests.

         "I'm walking around with a bracelet on my ankle and my son looking at me like I'm Kunta Kinte, like, 'What you doing Dad? What if I start driving and drinking? Would that be cool?' And that was it for me. That was the end of it," Morgan told Smiley.

         Morgan said his father, who died of AIDS when Morgan was just 17, taught him the key to survival was to learn from your mistakes.

         "Rock bottom for some people is death," Morgan said. "Some people never learn from their mistakes. They don't learn from other people's mistakes."

         Morgan was a regular cast member on NBC's "Saturday Night Live" for seven years before getting his own series -- "The Tracy Morgan Show" -- which was canceled after one season.

         His "30 Rock" role earned him an Emmy nomination for best supporting actor in a comedy last year.

         He also published an autobiography last year titled "I Am the New Black." ]]></description>
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			<title><![CDATA[The Advocate: 'Jersey Shore's' Ronnie a homophobe?]]></title>
															<link>http://www.laindependent.com/entertainment/television/84433507.html</link>
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			<pubDate>Tue, 16 Feb 2010 00:01:53 PDT</pubDate>
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																																																			<description><![CDATA[A homophobic rant by 'Jersey Shore's' Ronnie Magro that was left on the cutting room floor by editors has now seen the light of day.

Read it at The Advocate







]]></description>
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			<title><![CDATA[NBC decides Leno not ready for prime time     ]]></title>
															<link>http://www.laindependent.com/entertainment/television/81097637.html</link>
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			<pubDate>Sun, 10 Jan 2010 14:24:29 PDT</pubDate>
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																																																			<description><![CDATA[















PASADENA -- "The Jay Leno Show'' will no longer air weeknights at 10 p.m. after the Olympic games start Feb. 12, NBC Universal Television Entertainment Chairman Jeff Gaspin said on Sunday.    

Gaspin said he has proposed that a half-hour version of the Leno show to air at 11'35 p.m., followed by "The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien'' at 12'05 a.m. and "Later with Jimmy Fallon at 1'05 a.m., but an agreement has not been reached.    

"As much as I would like to say we have a done deal, I cannot say that now,'' Gaspin said during NBC's portion of the Winter Television Critics Association Press Tour in Pasadena.    

"In November, we started hearing from our affiliates that our local news is being impacted more than we expected,'' Gaspin said  "At the end of November, they told us it's not really getting much better for us -- in some cases we had a No.1 newscast, now we're No. 3    

"Towards the middle of December, they made it clear they would be more vocal about their displeasure. I realized this would not go well if we kept this and I made the tough call.''    

Importantly, O'Brien has not yet signed on, and has dropped hints about finding an alternative network, such as the Fox network.    

Leno also has pulled the so-called "Fox card,'' joking last week that if his NBC gig was cancelled, it would allow Leno time to travel, and the weather at Fox "is beautiful at this time of year.''    

In Pasadena on Sunday, NBC announced it had greenlighted a large slate of dramas for the 2010-2011 season, including a remake of "The Rockford Files,'' produced by David Shore ("House'') and Steve Carell ("The Office''). Other new NBC dramas include'    

-- "Prime Suspect,'' a remake of a BBC series about a courageous female police detective who works complex cases in a politically-charged city;    

-- "Chase,'' a series about a fugitive apprehension team of U.S. Marshals based in the Southwest, from producer Jerry Bruckheimer; and    

-- "Kindreds,'' a legal drama from David E. Kelley ("L.A. Law,'' "Boston Legal'').    

A Los Angeles-based version of "Law & Order'' is also in development, said Angela Bromstad, NBC and Universal Media Studios president of primetime entertaintment. NBC also has commissioned a comedy project from Adam Carolla.    

But the February reshuffle leaves a temporary, massive programming vacuum at NBC after it finishes airing the 2010 Winter Olympics.

Following the Olympics, to fill the five hours on its prime-time schedule that had been devoted to Leno, NBC may add two new hours of drama and an unscripted series and extend the news magazine "Dateline NBC'' to two hours. A rerun may fill the fifth hour, Gaspin said.   The new programming would not necessarily air at 10 p.m., Gaspin said. ABC and Fox have aired reruns on Fridays this season.    

The shuffle is being driven in large part by complaints from NBC affiliates across the country who have lost viewers and advertising revenue because of Leno's performance in the 10 p.m. slot. Ratings for the NBC Baltimore affiliate's 11 p.m. news have shrunk 50 percent, and the station's early morning news has also suffered significant audience erosion, the trade journal Broadcasting and Cablecasting has reported.    

The once-dominant "Peacock Network'' has seen its ratings languish in recent years, and the move of bringing Leno to the 10 p.m. hour was seen by TV critics as a plan by NBC to replace high-cost dramas with the comparatively- cheap Leno production.    

The matter has even surfaced in Washington, where regulators are examining a proposed sale of NBC from General Electric to Comcast. Because the Leno move to 10 p.m. saved GE money but severely hurt NBC affiliates owned by other companies, NBC affiliates were pressuring the network to reverse the move.]]></description>
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			<title><![CDATA[The Advocate: Letterman insults Obama's transgender appointee]]></title>
															<link>http://www.laindependent.com/entertainment/television/80775482.html</link>
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			<pubDate>Wed, 6 Jan 2010 01:36:08 PDT</pubDate>
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																																																			<description><![CDATA[

David Letterman on Obama appointee Amanda Simpson' The first transgender woman appointed by a president &quot;used to be a dude.&quot;

Read it at The Advocate]]></description>
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			<title><![CDATA[Cooking up a new specialty]]></title>
															<link>http://www.laindependent.com/entertainment/television/78931372.html</link>
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			<pubDate>Wed, 9 Dec 2009 21:14:46 PDT</pubDate>
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																																																			<description><![CDATA[When one thinks of Tony Luke Jr., food — specifically, cheese steaks, roast pork, chicken cutlets and hoagies — may come to mind. 

But in his latest endeavor, Luke is putting aside his delectable sandwiches for a taste of the big screen.

In the independent feature 'The Nail,' for which he co-wrote the screenplay and soundtrack as well as taking the leading role, Luke plays Joey Nardone — a promising boxer who, through a series of unfortunate circumstances, loses the opportunity after being jailed for manslaughter. 

Upon being released, he finds shelter in a rundown apartment building for ex-cons, only to befriend scrawny 14-year-old Jesus (Paul Orrantia), who has a desire to learn how to fight. That goal, however, is inspired by the boy's wish to settle a score with a group of bullies and to protect himself and his mother from physical abuse at the hands of his father. Together, they form a useful bond that is ultimately tested by tragedy.

'It was a reach,' Luke said of his accepting the film's starring role. 'I did a lot of small parts before, but doing a lead is a big jump from doing smaller roles, they don't really prepare you for a lead. And to … do a lead in a film like this and shoot the film in 18 days, just adds to the pressure of doing it.'

He also had the opportunity to show off another skill, singing the movie's gospel-inflected theme song, 'Coach.'

Despite his success as a culinary entrepreneur, Luke has long had a passion for acting, singing and songwriting. Those interests date back to his days as a student at the acclaimed Philadelphia High School for the Creative and Performing Arts. But marrying at the age of 18, then fathering three children, Luke had a choice to make' pursue an acting career or raise a family. He chose the latter.

It took working two to three jobs at a time — that is, before his sandwich stand took off — and more than 20 years of playing small roles before he could fully commit to his love of performing. And he did so with vigor, breaking through with a loosely-based interpretation of his own experiences and those of his family and friends. 

'The little boy Jesus is loosely based on my father, and stories that my father told me growing up, because his father was a drinker and was from the old country and beat him and his mother a lot. Whenever he was in a bad mood, they took a beating and surprisingly my father never hit me,' said Luke. 'And Joey's character was a little bit of me and other people that I knew growing up in South Philly. I was very connected to the story.'

His father, who viewed the film prior to its recent release on Showtime and The Movie Channel, was astounded, only saying 'I never got beat that bad,' according to Luke. 

Though they both knew it to be true, Luke's intention was to overemphasize 'the last beating that Jesus takes from his dad,' he said. 'It is very overstated, it is very dramatic, it is very brutal. What I wanted to do, and what the director [James Quattrochi] wanted to do, was let you feel that terror from the young boy's point of view. To a child, everything is bigger — it's much bigger than an adult would look at it. So, I wanted the beating on film to strike the same kind of terror and horribleness that the boy was feeling ... I overplayed the beating to let the people feel what [he] must have felt like as a child.' 

Luke will soon appear in three upcoming feature films' 'Our Lady of Victory,' 'The Mighty Macs,' and 'Mafioso II,' as well as Food Network's Guy Fieri's national live stage show tour. In addition, he has written a comedy and horror film, which he hopes to release once funding is available, and has plans to release an autobiography detailing a troubled childhood.

The latter, however, will be his most personal work, illustrating what it took for him to survive the rough streets of South Philly and overcome drug addiction and a temper that led to altercations that ended with him being stabbed, shot at and even beaten with pipes.

'Now, people are looking at me other than the sandwich guy, they are looking at me again as an actor, which was my dream,' said Luke. 'All my life I've been told that I'm not good enough, I'm too fat, I'm not cute enough, I'm not handsome enough, to stop being a dreamer, accept the life that you have. Just go get a job like everybody else. I never listened to it — it only fueled me to do more and I never gave up. Finally, after 30 years things are starting to come together.']]></description>
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			<title><![CDATA[Pee-Wee Herman eyes comeback]]></title>
															<link>http://www.laindependent.com/entertainment/television/78798412.html</link>
				<guid isPermaLink="false">78798412</guid>		
			<pubDate>Tue, 8 Dec 2009 13:14:15 PDT</pubDate>
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																																																			<description><![CDATA[ Pee-Wee Herman's ready for a comeback — and he's starting with a stage play.

 'I'm opening a big show in January — the Pee-Wee Herman Show — based on my original stage production, but completely new and rewritten,' Herman, played by creator Paul Reubens, said.

The play could lead to a national tour and maybe another Pee-Wee Herman movie, show producer Scott Sanders told CNN.

'I'm crossing all my fingers and toes that after Los Angeles, I'll get Pee-Wee to say yes, that he'll go and do this elsewhere,' Sanders said.

The stage show will include all the characters from 'Pee-Wee's Playhouse' — his CBS television series — including Chairry, Genie, Conky, Magic Screen, Miss Yvonne and Cowboy Curtis, Herman said.

'People are going to see a brand new show, full of incredible, incredible puppets, characters, live action, costumes, a plot, music, Club Nokia,' he said.

Club Nokia is the downtown Los Angeles venue where the show will run for four weeks, starting Jan. 12.

Reubens has rarely appeared in his child-like Pee-Wee persona since 1991, when he was arrested on an indecent exposure charge in a Florida theater.

The character, initially created for an adult alternative comedy audience in 1980, became a big hit with kids because of two movies and a Saturday-morning CBS show that ran for six years. It was canceled after his arrest.

Director Alex Timbers, who grew up watching Pee-Wee Herman, thinks the new show will appeal to all ages.

He's the impulsive character who will do what you're feeling inside,' Timbers said.

Sanders suggested parents could safely bring children 10 and older to see Pee-Wee. 'It would be rated PG if it were a movie,' he said.

'Pee-Wee's got a lot of mischief in him and he's subversive, but he's also kind and warm and loving,' Sanders said.

All of the original actors from the TV show will reprise their roles for the stage play, except for Laurence Fishburne, who played Cowboy Curtis.

Fishburne, who has won Emmys and was nominated for an Oscar since his 'Pee-Wee's Playhouse' days, is busy portraying Dr. Raymond Langston in the 'CSI' TV series, Sanders said. But Herman did call Fishburne to get his approval to hire another actor for the part, he said.

'Just before he hung up, Laurence said to Pee Wee, 'But listen, if you decide you're going to do another movie, I'll get that Jheri curl out and I'll be there for Cowboy Curtis,' Sanders said.

In fact, a new movie has been rumored, but Pee Wee Herman was coy when asked about it.

'A movie could be in the cards,' Herman said. 'Do you know something I don't know?'

But there is no question he has high expectations for his show.

'I hope the whole world, and people on the moon, and Mars and all over the universe get to see me, not just the people on Earth,' Herman said. 'I don't want to be limited to just Earth.'
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			<title><![CDATA[Oprah confirms end of show]]></title>
															<link>http://www.laindependent.com/entertainment/television/70655342.html</link>
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			<pubDate>Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:13:14 PDT</pubDate>
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																																																			<description><![CDATA[         CHICAGO, Illinois (CNN) -- Oprah Winfrey told viewers Friday that she plans to end her long-running show in 2011.

         "You, the viewers, have enriched my life beyond measure," she said. "You have graciously invited me into your kitchens, living rooms and lives.

         "Some of you have literally grown up with me; we've grown up together.'

         "The Oprah Winfrey Show" will end on September 9, 2011, as its 25th season draws to a close, according to a letter from Harpo Inc. President Tim Bennett.

         Winfrey said she made her decision after prayer and careful thought.

         "I love this show, this show is my life, and I love it enough to know when it's time to say goodbye," she said. "It's the perfect number, the exact right time."

         The show has been the highest-rated talk show for 23 consecutive seasons, according to the Oprah.com. It is seen by an estimated 42 million viewers a week in the United States and is broadcast to 145 countries.

         The talk show host confirmed plans to end her show in a national broadcast on Friday morning.

         "The countdown to the end of the Oprah Winfrey show starts now," she said.

         "Whether you've been there in the beginning or just started last week. I hold it dear," she said. "Your trust in me, the sharing of your precious time, has brought me the greatest joy that I have ever known."

         Winfrey plans to forge ahead with plans for a cable network to be called OWN' The Oprah Winfrey Network.

         It will be "a multi-platform media company designed to entertain, inform and inspire people to live their best lives," according to Oprah.com. OWN is to make its cable premier in January 2011, according to a senior executive with the cable channel. 



Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy]]></description>
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			<title><![CDATA[N.Y. Times: The Octomom and her babies prepare for prime time]]></title>
															<link>http://www.laindependent.com/entertainment/television/69908777.html</link>
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			<pubDate>Thu, 12 Nov 2009 15:58:37 PDT</pubDate>
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																																																			<description><![CDATA[

The true-life tale of the true-life tale of the making of the Nadya Suleman story.

Read it at The New York Times]]></description>
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			<title><![CDATA[Madame Tussauds unveils statue of 'ET's' Mary Hart]]></title>
															<link>http://www.laindependent.com/entertainment/television/69634732.html</link>
				<guid isPermaLink="false">69634732</guid>		
			<pubDate>Tue, 10 Nov 2009 00:22:08 PDT</pubDate>
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																																																						<video>stream.tribeca.vidavee.com:80/vidad/tribeca.vidavee.com/bim/lawave/273BB9AE0A69E6F1D07B20D3F246BFF0.flv</video>
																										<description><![CDATA["Entertainment Tonight" veteran host Mary Hart attended an unveiling of her wax statue at Madame Tussauds Hollywood on Monday.

Among the celebrities who joined Hart at the event were Kelsey Grammer, Tim Allen, and Kevin Frazier and Linda Bell Blue of "ET." 

Video by Gary McCarthy]]></description>
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			<title><![CDATA[Atlanta 'Housewife' Burruss is still flying above]]></title>
															<link>http://www.laindependent.com/entertainment/television/69487617.html</link>
				<guid isPermaLink="false">69487617</guid>		
			<pubDate>Sat, 7 Nov 2009 17:57:28 PDT</pubDate>
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																																																			<description><![CDATA[         (CNN) -- Not many people have had to grieve as publicly as Kandi Burruss.

         The "Real Housewives of Atlanta" cast member said she appreciates all the love and support she's received from fans since the death of her former fiancé, Ashley "A.J." Jewell, though it's been hard for her to deal with having her emotions aired so publicly.

         "That was super difficult," Burruss said in a telephone interview Friday. "Everybody wants to grieve with you. Everybody feels like you should be breaking down in tears."

         "It's hard dealing with all of that stuff and everybody knows," she added. "When it comes to stuff like that, I don't like being sad and being all emotional in front of people."

         The singer-songwriter shed some tears during the two-part reunion of the hit Bravo show as she recalled learning that Jewell had died after a fight at a club.

         The moment was one of few in the finale that some fans felt actually demonstrated any emotion, given the subdued manner of the other Atlanta "Housewives."

         There were even a few times that some cast members chose to be silent rather than answer uncomfortable questions.

         Burruss said she believes cast mates Kim Zolciak and NeNe Leakes had decided before the reunion to not get dramatic on the show despite the best efforts of host Andy Cohen to draw them out.

         "Housewives" producers were not thrilled with the more reserved atmosphere, Burruss said.

         "[The producers] were really kind of upset because they felt that even though nobody wanted to be dramafied, at least you can answer the questions honestly," she said. "You don't have to be overly negative to answer a question.

         "People want to know how you felt at the time that it happened, even if you aren't feeling that way now," Burruss continued. "You can't just go from being over the top to being a nun."

         Burruss said she's happy with both the way she was portrayed on the show and the response fans have had to her.

         She was initially concerned, she said, that fans might turn on her because she and Leakes did not get along.

         "I knew she had so many fans from last year, I was feeling like a lot of people were not going to like me because I got into it with their favorite [cast member]," Burruss said. "I'm glad it turned out the way it did, because I was really scared."

         Burruss' mother, however, was not as pleased with her portrayal. Viewers witnessed a great deal of friction between her and Jewell because she disapproved of his match with her daughter.

         "My mom didn't like the fact that a lot of people blamed her for the breakup," Burruss said. "She felt like there was a lot of things that people didn't get to see or maybe didn't know about our relationship that may have contributed to the breakup."

         Despite the pressures of being on reality television, Burruss said she has no regrets.

         She has forged a friendship with Zolciak, for whom she produced the single "Tardy for the Party."

         "I watched the show last season, so I knew what everyone felt about her voice," Burruss said. "I felt that doing a song with her, either it could go really, really great, or really, really bad, but I am definitely happy that the song turned out great."

         The success of that song has allowed Burruss -- a former member of the successful group Xscape and a Grammy-winning songwriter -- to display another layer of her musical talent, she said.

         "This was the perfect opportunity to show people what I can do, what I'm capable of," she said. "A lot of people didn't really know what I was doing behind the scenes, and I felt this show definitely gave me the stage to show people everything I can do, even with acting."

         Burruss said she is in negotiations to return for a possible new season of "Housewives."]]></description>
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			<title><![CDATA[Video: Mario Lopez a drag on 'Ellen']]></title>
															<link>http://www.laindependent.com/entertainment/television/65440252.html</link>
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			<pubDate>Sat, 24 Oct 2009 00:00:44 PDT</pubDate>
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																																																			<description><![CDATA[















Mario Lopez was on "Ellen" Wednesday promoting his new children's book, but things took a turn for the decidedly-adult when Ellen whipped out a pic of Lopez's dragtastic look for an upcoming episode of "Nip/Tuck."]]></description>
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			<title><![CDATA[Actor Peter Graves to receive Walk of Fame star]]></title>
															<link>http://www.laindependent.com/entertainment/television/65890187.html</link>
				<guid isPermaLink="false">65890187</guid>		
			<pubDate>Fri, 23 Oct 2009 23:42:48 PDT</pubDate>
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																																																			<description><![CDATA[HOLLYWOOD -- Actor Peter Graves will receive the 2,391st star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Oct. 30, honoring a career best known for starring in "Mission' Impossible" and "Airplane!" and hosting "Biography."    

Graves' star will be in front of the venerable Musso & Frank Restaurant on Hollywood Boulevard, the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, which administers the Walk of Fame, announced Friday.    

The location was chosen because it is near where Graves and his then- fiancee Joan Endress, rented apartments across the street from each other before they were married in 1950, Hollywood Chamber of Commerce vice president of media relations Ana Martinez-Holler. The couple will celebrate its 60th wedding anniversary next year.    

The ceremony will be held four days before the release of all seven seasons of the original "Mission' Impossible" in a DVD box set.    

Graves gained international fame for his role as Jim Phelps, the leader of the Impossible Missions Force on the 1966-73 CBS spy drama "Mission' Impossible," who would get receive instructions for his team's next mission via a tape that would memorably self-destruct in five seconds.    

Graves reprised the role on a 1988-90 revival on ABC.    

In a departure from most of his dramatic roles, Graves starred as Capt. Clarence Oveur in the classic 1980 spoof of disaster movies "Airplane!"    

According to the Internet Movie Database, Graves said he was astounded when his agent sent him the script, feeling it was "the worst piece of junk" he had ever read, but changed his mind after meeting with its writers, Jerry Zucker and David Zucker.    

Graves parlayed his portrayal of authority figures on "Mission' Impossible" and "Airplane!" (video, below) into the hosting role on A&E's "Biography" from 1994-2006.    

Born Peter Aurness on March 18, 1926 in Minneapolis, Graves joined the announcing staff of the Minneapolis radio station WMIN when he was 16 years old. He later attended the University of Minnesota, majoring in drama.    

Graves made his film debut in the 1951 crime drama "Rouge River." Two years later, he portrayed a German spy placed among allied prisoners of war in "Stalag 17."    

Graves' other movie credits include "The Court-Martial of Billy Mitchell"; "A Rage to Live"; "The Raid"; "The Ballad of Josie"; "The Long Grey Line"; "Texas Across the River"; "Five Man Army"; "Spree"; "Number One with a Gun"; "Savannah Smiles"; "Survival Run" "Cruise Missile"; "Black Tuesday" and "Fort Defiance."    

On television, Graves also starred in the 1955-60 NBC Western "Fury"; the 1960-61 syndicated Australian Western "Whiplash"; and the 1966 ABC military legal drama "Court-Martial."    

Graves also appeared in the miniseries "The Winds of War" and its sequel, "War and Remembrance."    

Graves is the younger brother "Gunsmoke" star James Arness.







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			<title><![CDATA[The sweet life of Daniel Curtis Lee]]></title>
															<link>http://www.laindependent.com/entertainment/television/63815317.html</link>
				<guid isPermaLink="false">63815317</guid>		
			<pubDate>Fri, 9 Oct 2009 18:11:21 PDT</pubDate>
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																																																			<description><![CDATA[An actor and aspiring hip-hop artist, Daniel Curtis Lee is living the Hollywood dream right now — especially since being signed to the omnipotent Disney brand.

But in that uncertain way of showbiz he could also have been back home in his native-Mississippi right now possibly playing on another big stage.

Lee, 18, stars as Kojo in 'Zeke and Luther,' a skateboard comedy on the 10-year-old Disney XD Channel (formerly Toon Disney). Kojo is a bit of a rival to his neighbors, Zeke and Luther, who dream of becoming world-class skateboarders.

According to Lee, the role came out of the blue having wrapped an earlier sitcom, 'Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide,' on Nickelodeon where he played a character called Cookie.

'It's crazy to me that I'm in the show,' said Lee, who lives with his musical sibling in Long Beach. 'One of the directors on 'Zeke' liked the [Nickelodeon] show and got in touch. I didn't really think too much about it. I was actually thinking of moving back to Mississippi. 

I love music and athletics. I played football on and off through high school. I started off playing linebacker, but got smaller and faster and played outside linebacker in my senior year.'

In the show, Lee plays the egotistical kid who likes to think he's all that.
'Yeah, he's a bit of an antagonist,' said Lee. 'He just jars at people and likes to push them to the edge. But he's just trying to fit in.'

The show features some action-packed skating, although stunt doubles are used for the more dangerous stuff. It's a world that Lee loves to be in.

'I didn't start skating until I was 11, but I became better than most of my friends,' he recalled. 'One of my biggest highlights is that recently we filmed at Tony Hawks' house. We bring in pros like Jimmy Gorecki and they're all supercool, chill guys. The world would have fewer problems if more people were like that.'

Outside the show, Lee is happy to lead a low-key, non-Hollywood life where he can concentrate on his music.

'Me and my brother have a hip-hop production team,' he said. 'I write the lyrics and he does the beats. Our stuff is not hard-core, we just like having fun. I mean rappers say these things, but most of them have never shot anyone. We have a catalogue of songs, but we're holding off on a CD [until we're ready]. We have the utmost respect for the fans.']]></description>
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