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TLC Orders 'Mall Cops' Series

Lisa Horowitz — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:26:37 -0600

By Lisa Horowitz

If you liked "Paul Blart, Mall Cop," TLC has a show for you.

The cable network said Friday that it has started production on 12 half-hour episodes of new series "Mall Cops: Mall of America."

TLC aired a one-hour special of the same name earlier in the fall. It averaged 1.2 million viewers among persons 2+ and an average household rating of 1.0. That ratings success led to the series pickup, TLC said in a statement.

Produced by Septem...

Academy: 'Tyson' Extortion Charge Is False

Steve Pond — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:11:21 -0600

By Steve Pond

So much for that “extortion” plot that director James Toback said kept his film “Tyson” off the Oscar shortlist.

In Friday’s New York Times, the director charged that during the voting process for the documentary feature award, he encountered an incident “which I fully put in the category of extortion.” He stood behind his comments in a statement released this morning:

"I regret that I didn’t bring my concerns to the attention of the Academy sooner but I have now done so and I have been reassured that they are looking into ...

'Project Runway' Ends Season on High Note

Lisa Horowitz — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:53:30 -0600

By Lisa Horowitz

Thursday night's season-six finale of "Project Runway" was the highest-rated episode of the season among key demos, Lifetime Television said.

In its first season on Lifetime after five on Bravo, "Runway" is cable's highest-rated reality show among women and households this year, as well as most watched, the network said.

For Thursday's finale, in which 27-year-old New York native Irina Shabayeva was crowned the winner, the show earned a 3.2 rating among women...

Tim Russert Exhibit at the Newseum Just Plain Creepy (video)

Dylan Stableford — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:39:38 -0600

By Dylan Stableford

I’m going to reserve my final judgment until I see it in person. But, from afar, this new exhibit at the Newseum in Washington, D.C. – in which the late Tim Russert’s office at NBC is re-created exactly the way it was on June 14, 2008, the day he died from a massive heart attack – is unbelievably creepy.

Just how creepy?

It leads to awkward “Today” show segments on the exhibit where former colleagues like Al Roker point out Russert’s love of Jelly Bellys. Like this one:

The Newseum says the exhibit &...

Pamm Fair to Leave SAG Position Dec. 31

Lisa Horowitz — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:37:12 -0600

By Wrap Staff

Screen Actors Guild deputy national executive director Pamm Fair is resigning her position effective Dec. 31.

No immediate replacement was named.

Fair, who joined the SAG staff in 2002, will remain with SAG through the end of this year to oversee the transition.

In a statement, SAG national president Ken Howard said, “On behalf of the guild, I want to thank Pamm for her contributions and service to SAG members and wish her the best in her future endeavors.”

David White, the guild's national executive director, said in a statement: “During her ti...

Oprah's Network Sets Yet Another Launch Date

Lew Harris — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:36:58 -0600

By Daniel Frankel

A day after setting an end date to her landmark syndicated daytime show, Oprah Winfrey set a new launch target for the new cable channel she’s launching in partnership with Discovery Communications: January 2011.

It’s only the latest new launch date for the Oprah Winfrey Network, which was announced early last year, originally with an end-of-2009 target. While presenting the channel to advertisers at a full-fledged upfront meeting in New York last spring, OWN officials said the launch would occur sometime in 2010. With “The Oprah Winfrey Show” winding down ...

Palin Boosts Ratings for Oprah, Hannity

Dylan Stableford — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:04:33 -0600

By Dylan Stableford

Quick update to this post. Sarah Palin’s Wednesday appearance on Sean Hannity’s show was his second highest-rated this year, according to Nielsen Media Research. The Fox News host pulled in more than 4 million viewers, beating his top-rated colleague Bill O’Reilly (ouch) and everyone else on cable for one night.

Hannity had roughly 4,200,000 viewers, according to Nielsen, including 1,149,000 viewers in the coveted 25-to-54-year-old demo. (On election night, Hannity’s show...

IFC, Netflix Partner for Streaming Deal

Lisa Horowitz — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:52:11 -0600

By Wrap Staff

IFC Entertainment announced a partnership with Netflix that gives the online movie rental service U.S. rights to 53 unique IFC titles.

Under the agreement, announced Friday, select titles from IFC Entertainment's library of independent films will become available for instant streaming to televisions and computers via Netflix's download service.

Among the 53 films under the deal are John Sayles’ "The Brother From Another Planet" and "Return of the Secaucus Seven"; the first film from Christopher Nolan, "Following"; James Toback's "W...

Miley Cyrus Racial Insult Suit Tossed

Steven Mikulan — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:11:33 -0600

By Steven Mikulan
Superior Court Judge Ronald Sohigian Friday tossed out a civil suit filed against Miley Cyrus that accused the teen singer of delivering a racial insult. Last February a photo appeared on the internet of Cyrus slanting her eyes in apparent parody of Asians. The image showed Cyrus and several Caucasian friends Caucasians surrounding a young Asian man while either narrowing or -- like Cyrus -- stretching their eyelids. Some saw plaintiff Lucie Kim's suit as political corr...

River Road Lands $65 Million Credit Facility

Lisa Horowitz — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:02:47 -0600

By Wrap Staff

River Road Pictures said Friday it has entered into a senior secured revolving credit facility that provides for up to a total commitment amount of $65 million. Union Bank arranged the transaction.

RRP is a wholly owned subsidiary of independent film production company River Road Entertainment.

RRP plans to use the money available under the credit facility to enhance its production funding and for general corporate purposes.

“We’re grateful to Union Bank for their support of our mission to make quality films,” Bill Pohlad, founder of River Road Enterta...