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Signs of the Apocalypse Roundup – October 2009 – Week 4

Bravo develops ‘Thintervention with Jackie Warner’
Bravo is developing a new reality series with “Work Out” star Jackie Warner where the fitness expects whips overweight clients into shape. In “Thintervention with Jackie Warner,” Warner subjects her clients to a “grueling workout with Warner pushing her clients to their emotional and physical limits, a therapy session to get to the root of their weight issues, and a life lesson in nutrition such as grocery shopping or surprise raids of their home kitchens.”

Carrie Underwood stars in Fox variety show
Adam Shankman and Nigel Lythgoe are on board to direct and executive produce the two-hour show, tentatively titled “Carrie Underwood: An All-Star Holiday Special,” which will air Dec. 7. Underwood will perform previous hits, holiday classics and songs from her upcoming album and participate in comedy bits. Musical guests signed so far to join her on stage include Dolly Parton, Brad Paisley — her co-host at the 2008 and the upcoming 2009 CMA Awards — and David Cook, last year’s “Idol” winner.

TLC sues Jon Gosselin for breach of morals clause, exclusivity
The plaintiff cites various breaches of this contract, including photographs and stories of Gosselin intoxicated and in the company of women other than his wife, Gosselin selling his services to other media outlets including a “lucrative arrangement” to appear on “Entertainment Tonight,” and Gosselin issuing his own press releases about the show.

‘Battle of the Blades’ picks up speed
CBC hockey player ice dancing series a ratings hit
“Battle of the Blades,” a new reality competition series that has hockey heroes mastering graceful ice dance routines with figure skating champs, has become a ratings winner for the Canadian Broadcasting Corp.

Concerns over Blagojevich on ‘Apprentice’
Judge worried that former governor may complicate his trial
Prosecutors said Monday that they are worried about what ousted Gov. Rod Blagojevich might say on Donald Trump’s “Celebrity Apprentice” TV show that could taint the jury pool for his federal corruption trial. The show is likely to air just as jurors are being qualified for the trial, which is scheduled to start June 3, and anything Blagojevich might say about the evidence could cause complications, prosecutors told U.S. District Judge James B. Zagel.

More Horsemen

Business of the Business

Time Spent Viewing Video Online Up 25% per Viewer
The Nielsen Company today reported overall online video usage and top online brands ranked by video streams for September 2009. Year-over-year, unique viewers, total streams, streams per viewer and time per viewer were up, led by 25 percent growths in total streams and time per viewer.

Disney’s Retail Plan Is a Theme Park in Its Stores
Disney Stores, which the media giant is considering rebranding Imagination Park, will become more akin to cozy entertainment hubs. The chain’s traditional approach will be given a high-tech makeover and incorporated into a new array of recreational activities. Over the next five years, analysts estimate that Disney will spend about $1 million a store to redecorate, reorganize and install interactive technology. Disney board member Steve Jobs’s fingerprints can be seen on Disney strategy, in the same way that he influenced the look and feel of Apple’s own immensely popular retail chain. He pushed Disney tomove far past a refurbishment. “Dream bigger — that was Steve’s message,” said Andy Mooney, chairman of Disney Consumer Products.

Hey, showbiz folks: Check your contract before your next tweet
There’s a growing number of studio deals with new language aimed specifically at curbing usage of social-media outlets by actors, execs and other creatives. A recent talent contract from Disney includes a new clause forbidding confidentiality breaches via “interactive media such as Facebook, Twitter, or any other interactive social network or personal blog.”

‘Rise of Cobra,’ ‘Transformers’ boost Hasbro profit
Toys tied to summer blockbusters “G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra” and “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen” helped boost Hasbro’s third-quarter profit 8.8%, beating Wall Street expectations. Revenue in Hasbro’s boys’ unit jumped 12%, driven by the movie properties. But that was offset by a 6% decline in the girls’ unit, which includes such properties as My Little Pony and Strawberry Shortcake, and a 10% drop in the games and puzzles business, headlined by such titles as Monopoly and Trivial Pursuit.

Viacom CEO doesn’t back free content
Philippe Dauman says Americans falling behind in education
Viacom CEO Philippe Dauman on Tuesday took issue with “Wired” editor Chris Anderson’s assertion that in the digital age the most effective price for content is none at all, highlighting the cost of production. “The ‘free is the right price’ position has a fundamental blind spot,” Dauman said in a speech at the Executives’ Club of Chicago Global Leaders Luncheon Tuesday in a reference to Anderson’s book “Free: The Future of a Radical Price.” “It emphasizes the falling cost of distributing intellectual property, but ignores the high cost of producing it — not to mention the fact that its creators have a right to earn a living.”

Minutae

Planet of the Odd

2nd woman sues Dr. Phil for false imprisonment, brainwashing
A second woman has come forward, filing an equally crazy-sounding lawsuit today in Los Angeles Superior Court. She says she too was “brainwashed” and required to sit in Dr. Phil’s production office with a naked man “who was exposing his entire naked body, genitals and all.”

Megan Fox to model Armani underwear
Will be worldwide face for Armani Jeans in 2010
Fox, who starred in the “Transformers” films, follows in the footsteps of “Posh Spice” Victoria Beckham who along with her soccer-playing husband David heads the Emporio Armani autumn/winter underwear campaign. Fox will also be the new official worldwide face for Armani Jeans for next year.

Captain Lou Albano Passes Away
Wrestling loses another legend…
Legendary wrestler and manager Captain Lou Albano has passed away. Albano had fallen ill and was under hospice care. Wrestler’s Rescue is collecting donations to be forwarded to the Albano family for medical expenses.

Calabasas man charged with breaking into homes of Lindsay Lohan, Audrina Patridge
An 18-year-old Calabasas man was charged today in connection with break-ins at the Hollywood Hills homes of actresses Audrina Patridge and Lindsay Lohan. Nicholas Frank Prugo faces two counts of first-degree residential burglary in the February and August burglaries in which he allegedly stole more than $170,000 worth of jewelry and designer clothes

Madonna: Made Over $100 Mil, Gave Only $500K to Charity
Madonna gave away a total of $459,000 last year. Forbes, on the other hand, placed her annual take at $110 million and put her at number 3 on its celebrity earners list. Her last tour grossed $280 million. Her Ray of Light Foundation has cut down to just a handful of charities, too. Madonna gave most of that money to Kabbalah or its associated causes. In the year, 2008, that Madonna was special guest at AmFar’s Cinema Against AIDS in Cannes, the singer donated no money from Ray of Light to that charity or to any other conducting AIDS research.

Bits and Pieces

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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