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The late Steve Irwin's final show, about deadly sea creatures, will not show footage filmed on his last day, says his manager. The tape of the "Crocodile Hunter's" death after being stabbed in the chest by a poisonous stingray's tail was used in the coroner's examination and has now been returned to Irwin's widow Terri. Irwin's last show, "Ocean's Deadliest," will air in the U.S. on Jan. 21.

Actor Thomas Haden Church and director Walter Hill, who paired for AMC's highly successful "Broken Trail," are teaming up with the network again on two new development deals. Hill will be writing, directing and executive producing a one-hour Western-themed pilot while Church will write and executive produce a four-hour Western miniseries called "Last Horseman," along with writer David Denny.


MTV Networks has made a number of appointments to a new global digital media team. Denmark West will be executive vice president of operations; Nicholas Lehman will be executive vice president and general manager of the MTVN Games and Interactive Media Group; Kenny Miller will be executive vice president and creative director; Nick Rockwell will be senior vice president and chief technology officer; Greg Clayman will be senior vice president of MTVN mobile media; and Jason Witt will be senior vice president of online distribution and partnerships.




NBC Universal Domestic Television Distribution has named Donna Kerin vice president of advertising and media sales. Reporting to senior vice president Barbara Argentino, Kerin will head up national advertising sales for NBC Universal's first-run syndicated programming, including shows such as "Access Hollywood" and "The Jerry Springer Show."

Actress Elizabeth Reaser is joining the cast of hit medical drama "Grey's Anatomy," playing the role of a psychiatrist at Seattle General, according to TVGuide.com. Reaser, who most recently starred in the cable drama "Saved," has been signed for a few episodes but may end up sticking around full time.

Bindi Irwin, the poised 8-year-old daughter of the late Steve Irwin, is beginning her run of U.S. television appearances by addressing the National Press Club in Washington as well as appearing on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" and "The Late Show with David Letterman" this month. Bindi Irwin is starring in the new Discovery Kids show "Bindi, the Jungle Girl," and will also join Australian actors Russell Crowe and Naomi Watts for a gala dinner as part of an Australian government promotion.


David Iseman, managing editor of the Wilkes-Barre (Pa.) Times, has left the paper. Iseman, who has been with the paper since the mid-90s, has not said whether he was fired or whether he quit. Joe Butkiewicz will act as interim managing editor until a replacement is hired.


Advertising agency Ad Partners has upped Phylis Avoy from media director to vice president and media director. Avoy had been an associate media director for JA&G advertising before joining Ad Partners.

Debmar-Mercury, a global media production and distribution company, has hired Darren Doyle as vice president of sales in New York to oversee the Eastern region. For the Western region, Debmar-Mercury has added James Kramer as vice president of sales, based in L.A.


Viacom has promoted Robert M. Bakish to president of MTV Networks International, reporting to global MTV chairman William H. Roedy. Bakish, who had been executive vice president of strategic planning and business development, will now work to improve programming in European markets such as Great Britain and Germany. Viacom has also appointed Wade Davis vice president of strategy mergers and acquisitions.

Crossroads Television and Headlight Design + Visual Effects has hired David Seeley as creative director. Seeley will work to build brands within the company's creative services portfolio.

Chris Kattan, formerly a cast member on NBC's "Saturday Night Live," recently proposed to model Sunshine Tutt. The couple, who have been dating since the spring of 2005, got engaged on Christmas Eve at Tutt's grandparents' home.

Cole Campbell, a firm supporter of civic journalism and former editor of two big papers, died Friday in a car accident at the age of 53. Campbell was on his way to the University of Nevada, where he had been dean of the Donald W. Reynolds School of Journalism since 2004. Campbell was editor of The Virginian-Pilot newspaper until 1996, when he became editor of The St. Louis Post-Dispatch.


2007 Media Life