Archive for November, 2007

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CABLE | Red Hot Chili Peppers sue Showtime over ‘Californication’

In Cable, Californication, David Duchovny, Legal Issues, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Showtime on November 20, 2007 by thetvmanifesto

The band, who had success with a 1999 song, video, and album with the name, are suing Showtime over its David Duchovny comedy.

From the Associated Press:

 The lawsuit alleges unfair competition, dilution of the value of the name and unjust enrichment, claiming the title is “inherently distinctive, famous … and immediately associated in the mind of the consumer” with the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

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WEEDS | A thought on the season finale

In Grey's Anatomy, Jenji Kohan, Shonda Rhimes, Weeds on November 19, 2007 by thetvmanifesto

Spoilers after the jump… Read More »

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BB9 | Grodner: “We’ve never done something like this before”

In Allison Grodner, Big Brother, CBS, Casting, Reality TV on November 17, 2007 by thetvmanifesto

Not much new to report in this article about casting for a new season in the Big Brother house. Returning executive producer Allison Grodner says CBS has told her to be ready for anything with respect to a return date.

She makes big promises about season nine being “different from any other Big Brother you’ve ever seen.” They want this in-season edition to be special, but not America’s Player special. Expect the unexpected, right? This is what they tell us every year.

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STRIKE WATCH | Hope going into the holiday season

In Strike Watch on November 17, 2007 by thetvmanifesto

Best. News. Ever? First, Nikki Finke reports that talks between the WGA and the AMPTP are set to officially resume the Monday after Thanksgiving, November 26. And this morning, she adds an account of a secret meeting yesterday in which a Hollywood agent successfully got the two sides together.

While this is far from definitive good news or even a deal, it’s a step in the right direction. Nothing like a glimmer of hope going into Thanksgiving week.

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META | Check me out

In Elsewhere, Meta on November 15, 2007 by thetvmanifesto

I’m a finalist in this semester’s Cynopsis Weekender College Edition. You can read my essay along with essays from the three other finalists. The essays are here; mine is the third one on the page, “Strike Strategies Take Center Stage as Everyone Settles in for The Long Haul.”

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CABLE | Imus to RFD

In Cable, Don Imus, MSNBC, RFD on November 14, 2007 by thetvmanifesto

Confirmed, effective Dec. 3.

PREVIOUSLY | MSNBC has wormed its way into my life

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STRIKE WATCH | The BB9 cattle call begins

In Big Brother, CBS, Casting, Reality TV, Strike Watch on November 14, 2007 by thetvmanifesto

As a direct result of the strike, here are the casting locations for CBS’ forthcoming Big Brother 9:

(CBS AFFILIATE ) WLTX Studios
6027 Garners Ferry Road
Columbia, SC
Saturday, November 17th
10am to 2pm

EXCLUSIVE CASTING STUDIOS
7700 Sunset Blvd
Ste. 200
Los Angeles, CA 90046
Saturday November 17th
12-3pm

NY Castings
243 W. 30th St., 3rd Floor
(Between 7th and 8th Ave)
Sunday, November 18th
12:00pm – 8:00pm

ONTOURAGE
157 W. Ontario St.
Chicago, IL 60610
Saturday Dec 1st
10pm -12am

DUFF’S BROOKLYN
N. 3rd St. & Kent Ave.
Brooklyn, NY 11211
www.duffsbrooklyn.com
Saturday, December 1st
7:00pm – 10:00pm

SCREENLAND CROSSROADS THEATER
1656 Washington St.
Kansas City, MO 64108
Saturday December 1st
From 1PM to 4PM

CANS
500 W. 5th St.
Charlotte, NC. 28202
Saturday December 1st
12PM to 3PM

THE STREETS OF TANASBOURNE
19350 NW Emma Way
Hillsboro, OR 97124
Saturday December 1st
12PM to 3PM

AMERICAS MART
1st Floor Meeting Room A
240 Peachtree St.
Atlanta, GA. 30303
Saturday, December 1st
12PM to 3PM

SPICE Bar
491 N. Park St.
Columbus, OH 43215
www.spicebar.net
Friday December 7th
10pm-12am

SUEDE LOUNGE
7333 E. Indian Plaza
Scottsdale, AZ 85251
Friday December 7th
12PM to 3PM

FELT
533 Washington St. (3rd & 4th Floor)
Boston, MA 02111
www.feltclubboston.com
Saturday, December 8th
12:00pm – 3:00pm

FlatIron Crossing
1 West FlatIron Crossing Dr.
Broomfield, CO 80021
In the Dillard’s Court
Saturday December 8th
10AM to 1PM

PARK STREET PATIO
533 Park St.
Columbus, OH
Saturday, December 8th.
2PM to 5PM

THE DUBLINER IRISH PUB
2307 W. Azeele St.
Tampa, FL. 33609
www.thedublineririshpub.com
Saturday December 8th
12PM to 3PM

To find out more and download an application, go to CBS.com.

MEANWHILE, IN CHICAGO | BB8 Dustin describes what he’s looking for in a mate

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STRIKE WATCH | Pencils, keyboards down in solidarity

In Strike Watch on November 13, 2007 by thetvmanifesto

TV bloggers all over the Internet are going on strike tomorrow in solidarity with the WGA, as this strike continues into its second week.

Here’s the mission statement, via Glowy Box:

On November 13th, this blog and the blogs listed below will be on strike for the day in solidarity with the Writers Guild of America. As fellow writers and as TV fans, we are coming together to express our strong support for the writers and their goals. We believe that when a writer’s work makes money for a company, that writer deserves to be paid.

Many writers depend on residuals for a stable income, and that income shouldn’t be based on an outdated formula which ignores the existence of new media and all but a tiny percentage of DVD sales. The talented writers responsible for so much of what we love about television should and must be paid fairly and equitably, and we will stand with them until they reach that goal. For everyone’s sake, and for the sake of television, we hope both sides can come to an agreement quickly.

To further that goal, we are calling on our readers to sign this petition and to contact the following television networks, voicing support for the writers and for a return to the negotiating table:

ABC
500 South Buena Vista Street
Burbank, CA 91521
(818) 460-7777

FOX
10201 W. Pico Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90035
(310) 369-1000

CBS
7800 Beverly Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90036
(323) 575-2345

NBC / Universal
100 Universal City Plaza
Universal City, CA 91608
(818) 777-1000

After the blackout, we intend to continue our campaign to support the WGA until the dispute has been resolved fairly. Since we will not be posting any new content on the 13th, we encourage our readers to visit United Hollywood instead for frequent updates about the strike.

In solidarity-

The TV Manifesto and a host of other TV blogs

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GREY’S | ‘Anatomy’ stars support strikers; Rhimes and others refuse to work

In Grey's Anatomy, James Pickens Jr., Private Practice, Shonda Rhimes, Strike Watch on November 8, 2007 by thetvmanifesto

The cast of Grey’s Anatomy spent some time on the picket lines this week. Check out this AP caption which mistakenly identifies Grey’s co-star James Pickens, Jr., as his character, Richard Webber.

Meanwhile, Anatomy and Private Practice creator/executive producer Shonda Rhimes is one of many showrunners refusing to perform any production duties on their shows, in support of the striking writers.

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STRIKE WATCH | O ‘Brother,’ where art thou: CBS pulls out ‘Big’ guns for strike

In Big Brother, CBS, Strike Watch, The Chenbot on November 7, 2007 by thetvmanifesto

Could The Chenbot be back so soon? With the writers strike in full swing and both sides digging in for a long fight, CBS is gearing up for an earlier-than-usual Big Brother 9. Reality shows are likely to become ubiquitous as the strike goes on because they don’t rely on union writers.

Various reports this week have the show returning as early as January or as late as March; at any rate, it looks like a whole new pack of houseguests could be competing in time for February sweeps.

But what of a twist for season nine? Rumors are swirling that this upcoming season may be the long-awaited celebrity edition. No comment, of course, from CBS.

The shorter the strike, the better off everyone will be. With that said, if being happy about the early return of one of my favorite summer shows is wrong, I don’t want to be right.