News Shorts

Fox scores big with much-hyped 'Joe Millionaire'
Fox’s heavy promotion paid off big for “Joe Millionaire,” Monday’s highest-rated show in the adult 18-49 demographic. The reality show centering on an available bachelor and misinformation about his wealth averaged a 10.1 rating in the demographic. The show improved in its second half-hour by 20 percent, to an 11 rating, the best performance of any show on primetime by some four points. “Joe” easily beat the competition at 9 p.m., like CBS’s “Everybody Loves Raymond,” and pushed Fox to No. 1 for the night. Fox averaged a 7 adult 18-49 rating, based on Nielsen overnights. CBS had a 5.8 with its sitcom lineup and “CSI: Miami.” NBC had a 5.3, largely on the strength of “Fear Factor,” which won its 8 p.m. time slot. ABC had a 2.7 with the movie “Any Given Sunday.” CBS was the top network among households with a 10.8 rating and 16 share. Fox had an 8.7/13, NBC had an 8/12 and ABC had a 4.5/7.

HBO: No more 'Sex' after next season
Is it possible that HBO has said all there is to say about sex? HBO says "Sex and the City," the breast-tastic show about a group of female friends in New York, will end after its upcoming sixth season. The final episode will air sometime early next year. The last season will be extended, with 20 episodes instead of the usual 13. The longer season will probably be split into two mini-seasons, with the first 12 episodes airing in the summer and the remainder starting in January. "The Sopranos" will also be finishing its fifth and final season this year, leaving HBO looking for new shows to replace two major hits. One possible replacement is a new series tentatively titled "Good in Bed," based on Jennifer Weiner's popular book. Jenny Bicks, who worked on "Sex and the City," will develop the show about the emotional life of a plus-size woman living in Philadelphia.

Tina Brown returns in two new alt-media gigs
When Talk magazine folded a year ago, no one doubted that its celebrity editor, Tina Brown, would be back before long. Where she has turned up, however, is a bit of a surprise: in the alternative media. Next week, the internet magazine Salon.com will begin carrying a gossipy weekly column Brown writes for the Times of London, according to the New York Post's Keith Kelly. She has also promise to contribute to Radar, the not-yet-launched pop culture magazine dreamed up by Maer Roshan, formerly Brown's No. 2 at Talk. Radar is set to debut April 15. American Media boss David Pecker recently decided not to back to launch, but now it looks like peripatetic media mogul Steve Brill may come to the rescue. He tells this week's New York Observer that he is "very impressed" by what he has seen of Radar and believes the timing is right for such a launch.

Playboy poaches another Maxim pencil
Forget about Maxim vs. GQ and Maxim vs. FHM. The real rivalry these days is Maxim vs. Playboy, with the latter wooing another top editor from the 2.5 million-circulation lad title to join newly installed editorial director James Kaminsky. Kaminsky, who served as Maxim’s executive editor until September, has hired Maxim’s co-executive editor, Steven Russell, as deputy editor. Playboy has lost ground over the past few years as younger-skewing titles such as Maxim, Stuff and FHM have lured large numbers of readers with scantily clad celebrity pictures and smartass copy. Playboy also has added another new hire, former Rolling Stone managing editor Robert Love, as editor at large. Love was pushed out of Rolling Stone in June, just before the Wenner Media magazine underwent a rehaul.

Ellen and Sharon join fall syndie lineup
In the latest parade of pre-established stars to get their own talk shows, comedian Ellen DeGeneres and matriarch Sharon Osbourne have both signed deals. All 14 NBC-owned stations, including those in New York, Los Angeles and Chicago, have optioned “The Ellen DeGeneres Show,” a combination talk/variety program. The deal puts the show on in more than 30 percent of the country. It joins syndicated reality program “Starting Over” on the fall schedule. Tribune, meanwhile, has picked up “Sharon Osbourne.” The company has outlets in more than 40 percent of the country. The pickup of these two high-profile shows has stirred rumors about the fate of Caroline Rhea's rookie show. The "Rosie O'Donnell Show" replacement has fizzled in its first year, albeit partially because of unfavorable time slots. Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution insists it is sticking with the show.

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