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Signs of the Apocalypse Roundup – August 2009 – Week 3

Tony Danza eyes Philly teaching gig
Actor would lead classroom for reality program
The former talk show host and star of the sitcoms “Taxi” and “Who’s the Boss?” is planning to star in a new reality show called “Teach.” If approved by Philadelphia education officials, cameras would roll at Northeast High School as Danza co-teaches a 10th-grade English class.

Comedy Central wants more ‘Tosh.0′
Network orders six more episodes of the new series
Comedy Central has ordered six additional episodes of the weekly freshman series “Tosh.0.” The show will return with new episodes at 10 p.m. Oct. 8. Hosted by comedian Daniel Tosh, the show mocks the online world. “Tosh.0″ has garnered a sold Internet following. During the show’s hiatus, the “Tosh.0″ blog will continue to offer original content and interaction with Tosh.

‘White Chicks’ sequel in works
Wayans Brothers on board to star, write and direct
The Wayans Brothers and Sony are developing a sequel to the 2004 comedy “White Chicks,” which will see Marlon and Shawn Wayans reprise their roles as sibling FBI agents posing as a pair of white ladies. Keenen Ivory Wayans is on board to direct the sequel, which all three Wayans are writing and producing. The logline for the new entry is being kept under wraps. The original was a surprise hit, grossing almost $70 million domestically from a budget of around $37 million.

TV host accused of ordering killings
Brazilian show may be responsible for deaths
The host of a Brazilian TV crime show is suspected of taking part in the ultimate of ratings zeal: He’s accused of ordering at least five killings to boost his show’s popularity. Wallace Souza, who also is a state representative and former police officer, has been host of the popular “Canal Livre,” which has thrived in showing police raids and arrests. But police in the rainforest city of Manaus say their suspicions come in part from the speed with which the show’s reporters would arrive at a crime scene. In a long piece on the case, TV Globo newsmag “Fantistico” showed footage in which one reporter arrives first at a crime scene and smoke is coming out of a body.

Stars lineup for ‘Dancing’ spotlight
Reality show announces new cast
Former Republican Majority Leader Tom DeLay will join 15 celebrities from the worlds of entertainment and sports in kicking up their heels on the new season of “Dancing With the Stars. Other hopefuls include entertainer Donny Osmond; singers Mya, Macy Gray and Aaron Carter; actors Melissa Joan Hart, Debi Mazar and Ashley Hamilton (son of George); models Joanna Krupa and Kathy Ireland; reality stars Kelly Osbourne and Mark Dacascos (“the Chairman” on Food Network’s “Iron Chef America”); mixed martial artist Chuck Liddell; professional snowboarder Louie Vito; Olympic swimmer Natalie Coughlin; former Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Michael Irvin and the 62-year-old former congressman from Texas.

Business of the Business

Fox News’ ‘Glenn Beck’ loses advertisers
Geico among those pulling ads after host’s Obama remark
Geico has pulled its ads from Fox News Channel’s “The Glenn Beck Program.” Lawyers.com, which is owned by LexisNexis, also has vowed not to advertise during the program, according to Color of Change, an African-American online political organization that has been spurring advertisers to stop supporting the show. Additionally, Procter & Gamble, Progressive Insurance and SC Johnson all said their ad placements during the broadcast were made in error and that they would correct the mistake. The controversy stems from Beck’s comment that President Obama is a “racist” with “a deep-seated hatred for white people.”

Judge rules against Real
DVD software determined to circumvent copyright
A federal judge in San Francisco sided with the majors Tuesday and issued a preliminary injunction barring RealNetworks from selling its DVD copying software and a set-top device in development that could also copy DVDs. U.S. District Court Judge Marilyn Hall Patel said in her ruling that the RealDVD software and the Facet device in development circumvent CSS, the copyright protection used on commercial DVDs, in violation of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act.

Appeals court clips DVD copying
Ruling clouds Kaleidescape’s plans
A California appeals court on Wednesday tossed a trial judge’s ruling in favor of Kaleidescape Inc., a company that makes high-end home theater servers that copy and store movies from DVDs for later playback, handing a victory to the DVD Copy Control Assn. and putting the future of Kaleidescape’s entertainment servers in doubt. The Kaleidescape system lets consumers copy any DVD to their home server for playback without the disc, potentially allowing consumers to rent, rip and return movies, the studios have argued.

U.S. video game sales down 29% in July
Equipment and software sales drop to $848.9 mil
U.S. video game equipment and software sales fell 29% in July to $848.9 million, research group NPD said on Thursday, as the gaming industry limps through the economic downturn. Hardware sales fell 37% from a year ago, while software sales slid 26%, NPD said. Sales of video game accessories declined 12%.Nintendo’s Wii was again the top-selling home console in July, though sales fell from last year. Microsoft’s Xbox 360 was No. 2. NPD said it is the only console showing a unit sales increase year-to-date. Sony’s PlayStation 3 was in third place, followed by the PlayStation 2.

TV execs build fall buzz through social media
Word of mouth campaign to supplement promotional spots
According to network execs, word of mouth is the second most-effective driver of program sampling (the first is the on-air promotional spot). This year, they’ve stepped up their use of online advertising, grassroots events and out-of-home venues and stunts. NBC is using Facebook to stream a full episode, pre-launch, of its upcoming Thursday comedy “Community,” about the quirky characters at a community college. CBS is tapping nail salons in major markets, among other stunts, to promote Monday comedy “Accidentally on Purpose”. The salons are equipped with nail dryers embedded with video screens playing a clip of the show, and branded nail files.

Planet of the Odd

Twyla Tharp working on Frank Sinatra musical
‘Come Fly With Me’ to use more than a dozen Sinatra vocals
Atlanta’s Alliance Theatre says it will present “Come Fly With Me” — a new musical conceived, directed and choreographed by Tharp. The show, which concerns four couples who fall in and out of love, uses more than a dozen classic Sinatra vocals backed by an onstage 17-piece band.

Miley Cyrus criticized for dance moves
‘Teen Choice’ performance featured pole dance
Three days after her performance of new single “Party in the U.S.A.” at the “Teen Choice” awards, Miley Cyrus is still facing controversy over the risque number, which featured a prominent pole and some questionable dance moves. Cyrus appeared at the Sunday night awards show, to perform “Party in the U.S.A.”. The 16-year-old singer emerged onstage wearing a tank top, hip-hugging shorts and boots and at one point straddled what resembled a stripper pole protruding from an ice cream cart.

Aerosmith cancels summer tour
Steven Tyler says he’s grateful he didn’t break neck in fall
n a statement issued late Thursday, the band’s publicist MSO said “it is with great regret” that the band is canceling the rest of its tour because of injuries that frontman Steven Tyler suffered when he fell off the stage during an Aug. 5 performance in South Dakota. Tyler broke his left shoulder and needed 20 stitches in his head. The statement said doctors have advised Tyler to take the time to properly recuperate from his injuries.

Swine flu video game launches
‘The Great Flu’ created by Dutch researchers
In an effort to further raise awareness, Dutch researchers have created a game that challenges players to control a new pandemic. The game can only be played online and it is free. A World Health Organization spokesman said Monday the agency was not familiar with the game and had not had time to play it.

Bollywood star held at U.S. airport
Fans outraged as Shah Rukh Khan is detained, questioned
Khan, 43, one of India’s best-known actors, was en route to Chicago for a parade to mark the Indian independence day on Saturday when he was pulled aside at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey on Friday, he said. After a couple of hours’ interrogation, he was allowed to make a call, he said, and he got in touch with the Indian consulate who vouched for him and secured his release. “Absolutely uncalled for, I think. I felt angry and humiliated,” said Khan, who had just finished a monthlong shoot in the U.S. for his film “My Name Is Khan,” which is about a Muslim man’s experience with racial profiling.

The Fine Print

This is by no means meant to be a comprehensive roundup of the entire weeks’ news. All stories are chosen by me for no other reason than that they got my attention and might capture yours. If something you think is more important chime in on the feedback; we’d love to hear comments and have a conversation about it.

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About The Author

Scott From LA

Scott is an art director, writer and comics creator living in Los Angeles. He has been a pop culture maven from a very young age. His very first job was as a manager of a comic book store. He spent several years working in a video store, and yes, we are talking VHS tapes. A student of literature and Writing, he brings his obsessive love of comic book trivia, movie history and science fiction/fantasy writing to bear on the work he does for CoolShite.

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