Archives 2004

Monday, January 5, 2004

Overnights
Snoozer Sugar Bowl,  even with flapdoodle
Early #s hint at record low viewing for ABC. Must ease past 2002's 14.3 household rating, lowest in BCS title history.

New media
A new year and lots less downloading
Music industry suits chop figures more than half. Pew study finds especially dramatic declines among 18-29 year-olds and students.

Television
That Jacko, no Christmas Grinch he
Gifts CBS with huge #s for two holiday shows, '60 Minutes' and Jackson special. Plus other catch-up tidbits you may have missed.

Television
The big TV stories of 2003, and the busts
Readers vote: John Ritter dies, Rush fumbles. Best new show: 'Queer Eye.' Worst: 'Are You Hot?' 'Angels' is top miniseries. Really dumb idea of 2004: 'Joey.'  

Feature
A nod to those no longer among us
Saying good-bye again to Mr. Rogers and others, including Michael Kelly, David Bloom, David Brinkley, Donna Salvatore . . .

Out of home
Your client hosting a Super tailgate party
As in Bowl. Hand out samples during the game at an event just miles from Houston's Reliant Center. Hey, and watch the play while you're at it.

This week in television
A camera's eye in not so friendly skies
Yo, stewardess! From the cockpit at Southwest. Tonight, A&E's new series shows us what pilots and attendants put up with daily.

News Shorts
Wildcard playoffs dominate Saturday for ABC
Out at In Touch: Editors LeGrice and Bender
Clark disses shoot-'em-up games
Judge orders gagging of Martha jury
NPR hosts debate for Democratic hopefuls
It's official: TNT is top cable net of 2003
Correction: 'Twas the Globe, not Star

Web Shorts
Holiday e-spending hits new high of $11.72B
Rotten Apples? Mac users threatening lawsuit
Beware holiday worm sent via MSN Messenger 
Queen knights net creator (that's Sir Berners-Lee) 

People
Kenneth Novack exits as vice chairman of Time Warner
Rob Walker debuts new New York Times Magazine column
Greg Norman joins Travel + Leisure Golf magazine as a contributing writer
Vince Van Pattern developing new poker-based reality series
Dick Kurlander named television program development executive of AARP
Michael Cascio resigns as EVP/GM of Animal Planet
Allyson Taylor becomes manager of public relations for Starz Corporate Communications
Jacko tops Amiannoying.com's most annoying personalities of 2003
Brendan Fraser and Tara Reid return to 'Scrubs'
Paul Sorvino plays daddy on CBS' 'Still Standing'
Actress Erin Cottrell joins ABC's updated 'Little House on the Prairie'
Whoopi Goldberg starts pitching Slim-Fast
Crocodile hunter Steve Irwin's baby dangle freaks out fans
'Home Improvement' actor Earl Hindman dies at 61

Tuesday, January 6, 2004

Television
At Fox, risen star who's Gail Berman 
Sandy Grushow departs, leaving behind a very different network. Tough dame. Her challenge: Building muscle on those bones.

Magazines
Savoy and Honey to resume publishing
Resurrecting urban titles from Vanguarde collapse for later sale.
Heart & Soul will not be revived. Vital titles tumbled by high costs.

Magazines
A better year for magazines, but dicier
Rising tide in ad dollars will swamp as it lifts. Many titles will founder and fail. Also an issue: Tougher times at newsstands.

New media
The browser, its rise and rapid fall
Factoid: Majority access web by different means. Three-fourths of internet users now  rely on instant messaging and media players. 

Sports TV
Growing chill for pro ice skating
Steady ratings decline going into contract talks. Will ABC renew? Guess is not. Ratings for weekend's championship may say loads.

This week in television
Everybody loves Martha (right?) Not.
As jury selection starts, two looks at Stewart's past. (A good time to sequester jurors?)

News Shorts
'Joe' bows low as NBC and CBS share Monday
Snoozer Sugar Bowl, even with flapdoodle
Judge: Hands off Rush's records, for now 
Canadian networks leave Martha out in the cold 
Report: Budget Living looking for a buyer already
Time Inc. sells Time-Life to Zelnick's group
Saudi Arabia: A nation of young TV junkies

Web Shorts
Mars' big red rocks really popular online
Europeans file anti-piracy suit vs. RIAA ...
While MPAA drops theirs against DVD Jon
Psst! Load up on ephedra before it's illegal

People
Samantha Treston joins Einson Freeman, Inc. as senior account executive
John Lansing appointed EVP of Scripps Networks
Conrad Black puts his London townhouse on the market
'Crocodile Hunter' Steve Irwin on the defensive
Martha MacCallum and Janice Dean join Fox News
Jane's Eric Nicholson judging 'America's Next Top Model'
Vincent Pastore, formerly of 'Sopranos,' is back on the airwaves
Michael J. Fox guest starring on 'Scrubs'
Executive producer Bruce McKay cut from 'Living It Up'


Wednesday, January 7, 2004

Television
WB's Petrick: I guess I'll just mosey on
Goosed aside with Ancier's return. Third wheel on a careening bike. Little network that could isn't this season. Ratings freefall.

Magazines
Next big thing: Men's weeklies. Or not.
Two launching in UK, but U.S. prospects dim for newsstand titles featuring sports and jokes. We lack Britain's newsstand networks.

Television
Out on a limb with Fox's 'Obnoxious Fianc'
Risky ploy: If it cracks, network's going to tumble.  Less accessible show than hit 'Joe Millionaire.'

Broadcast recap
A colder January for ABC, post-football
Great games--and a schedule needing much repair. Great hope:  'Stephen King's Kingdom Hospital' bowing sometime in March.

Cable recap
For 2003 cable, ESPN's lopsided win
Forget makeover madness. Takes seven of top 10 shows in  total viewers, adults 18-49 and 25-54. No. 1: Cowboys versus Patriots.

This week in television
So bad it's still bad, 'Celebrity Mole'
ABC's cheesefest returns with Bernsen & Baldwin, has-been never-wases. Never mind finding the mole, where are their careers?

News Shorts
Anemic 'Fire' puts ABC behind NBC Tuesday
'Joe' bows low as NBC and CBS share Monday
Rumor: Observer editor eying New York job 
'S*e*x's' appeal falters in season premiere
Ogilvy & Mather suits may have bilked gov't 
Report: Radio ad $s down 4% in November 
TNT rolling out hi-def channel for NBA finals
Correction: Gatorade's a no-go for Super Bowl

Web Shorts
New from Microsoft, watch mini movies
Hey, EchoStar, you stole our ideas, says TiVo  
Selling on eBay just got more expensive
Second opinion: Report says holiday sales hit $18.5B
Republicans bent about Bush-is-Hitler ad

People
Rolling Stone publisher Rob Gregory hops to Maxim
With Sandy Grushow gone, Gail Berman reups at Fox Entertainment
Ben Bradlee Jr. exits Boston Globe after 24 years
Cyma Zarghami named president of Nickelodeon Television
Dan Rather undergoes precautionary surgery for basal cells on face
Timothy A. Franklin replacing William K. Marimow as editor of Baltimore Sun
Fired reporter Henry Norr reaches settlement with San Francisco Chronicle
Mike DeBartolo rises to Fairchild EVP of B2B division
Cara Ferragamo Murray becomes Ivy League Magazine Network marketing director
Noah Levine joins Draft New York as VP and the Bank of America team as account director
Jeff DeRome named communications consultant for NBC Entertainment
George Steinbrenner loses title of Sporting News' most powerful person in sports
Britney Spears marriage photo snapper gets $100,000 from Star
John Staffen becoming top creative officer at Arnold Worldwide, New York
Mel Gibson and Aaron Spelling send 'Clubhouse' pilot to CBS
Radio DJs Russ Parr and Alfredas join TV One as dating show hosts
Brad Garrett hosting second annual TV Land Awards
Universal cancels 'Crossing Over with John Edward' after three seasons
Crooner Beyonce Knowles belting the national anthem before Super Bowl
Marv Albert, Boomer Esiason, Bonnie Bernstein, Jim Gray, John Riggins, John Dockery and Beasley Reese calling Super Bowl on Westwood One
Former New Republic publisher and editor Michael Straight dies at 87

Thursday, January 8, 2004

Television
For ailing 'Friends,' NBC turns to fans
Staging vote for fave reruns to flesh out lineup leading to finale. Will splice in top vote-getters from AOL poll. Steep ratings slide.

Magazines
The new Star, the old Bonnie
Redesign is so, well, Us-like. Are we surprised? We shouldn't be, since she invented the formula. Celebmania with a tawdry edge.

Television
'The Apprentice,' in the spirit of capitalism
But will it work as TV? Dueling lemonade stands and The Donald. Thinking person's reality show. No bumps, grinds, swinging vines.

Research
'To be young, rich and watching O.C.'
Ranking the shows that draw America's wealthy. Fox soaper ranks No. 1 among  adults 18-34 with household incomes over $100K.

Feature
Media folks speak: Show me the money
Top concern in media departments is getting that overdue raise, readers tell us. 

This week in television
The Rose knows: Hey, bettor, bettor!
Ex-baller spills the truth on ABC, finally admitting to gambling.

News Shorts
It's a wonderful Wednesday 'Life' for Fox
Anemic 'Fire' puts ABC behind NBC Tuesday
As scandal widens, O&M suit steps down
Kutcher punk'ing targets with faux cancellation?
It's official: Lowe's 'Lyon's Den' is history
NFL Network finally expands beyond DirecTV
A visit to netherland for Us & 'Top Model'

Web Shorts
Harder try vs. spy: AOL adds spyware slayer
Women cut ahead of men at online stores
RealNetworks, pro choice for music fans
Dust flies as Microsoft kicks at Linux (again)
RIAA settles 10 more uploading suits

People
Jack Kelley leaves USA Today after fabrication charges
Report: Canadian Suzanne Boyd will edit Essence's new That
Stephen Bromberg rises to FoxNews.com executive editor 
Courtney Cox of 'Friends' pregnant with her first child
Hef thinks Britney is great gal pal material
WB funny guy Steve Harvey lends his style to a new line of suits
Film and TV director Brian Gibson dies at 59
'Jeopardy' writer Steven Dorfman dies at 48

Friday, January 9, 2004

Television
Final death kiss for 'The Sopranos'
This is it. No more fooling around, says Tony. The hit is in. After season five and a mini-season six, no more. Done. Over.

New media
Dramatic rise in high-speed access
Ten million homes sign up from May to November of 2003. That's a 27 percent increase. Broadband in two-fifths of all wired homes.

Younger viewers 2003
Cable news's hot new viewers: Kids
Fox News sees a 100 percent growth in 6-11s over the year. Plopping down next to mom and pop for the day's big stories.

Younger viewers
The WB's sway with Saturday's kids
The potion: 'Yu-Gi-Oh!: Enter the Shadow Realm.' 'Pokemon' too.Well ahead of ABC, its nearest competitor, in 2-11s and 6-11s.

Interview
Five questions with Jim Spanfeller
Forbes.com's CEO on the internet in year 2004. Trend to watch: Increasing role of video. Less spam to worry about.

In television this week
Best tube bets this weekend
Friday: Sci Fi's 'SG-1;' Saturday: Titans at Patriots on CBS; Sunday: 'The Division' on Lifetime 

News Shorts
NBC's 'Apprentice' debuts strong on Thursday
It's a wonderful Wednesday 'Life' for Fox
CBS chops order for Joey Pants' 'Handler'
Proper Martha rally gear: Aprons & spatulas 
Trump whines: Moonves is a big meanie
Coming soon, take a gay cruise with Rosie

Web Shorts
AOL marketing head out after six months
New: See Yahoo Personals hook-ups in real time
Or give Match.com $ for other singles' phone #s
Dirt-cheap dial-up from AOL and Netscape
Sweep your mailbox clean with new germinator 

People
Bob Pittman and Strauss Zelnick buy OTX
Sarah Bailey named Harper's Bazaar deputy editor in chief
Joy Taylor rises to editor in chief of Better Homes and Gardens Special Interest Publications' Family Food Collection
Ruth Gaviria named director of Hispanic ventures for Meredith Magazine Group
GQ adds creative services and advertising staff
Chuck Shaw named ID Media VP and account director
Corey Weiss appointed VP of integrated marketing and promotions for Palisades Media Group
Michael Weisman becomes executive producer of NBC Enterprises' 'The Jane Pauley Show'
Michael Hart, Chris Lange and Jim Scott open branding and advertising agency
Court TV's Diane Dimond becomes special 'Today' Jacko correspondent
'Simple Life' stars Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie return to Arkansas for reunion
Memorial service for ABC Family's Linda Mancuso set for LA

Monday, January 12, 2004

Television
Alas, NBC saying good-bye to 'Frasier'
Kibosh to talk of extending long-toothed sitcom. Too many $s. Will leave Tuesday lineup in near shambles. Grief counselor, please.

Sports TV
This Super Bowl, with the $s back
Big issue for CBS: What it gets for those last eight spots.  Average price up almost 10 percent, to $2.25 million apiece.

Newspapers
Big mystery behind USA Today stink
Reporter quits over story. What's really going on? Anonymous letter leads to probe over cooked reporting. Paper vows to fill in blanks.

Sports TV
Good for Eagles, even better for Fox
Expect ratings jump with return to NFC championship. Repeating teams average more than 11 percent increases in viewership.

Out of home
Get wild & clingy with your client
Guerrilla signage that comes down without a trace. No glue or messy run-ins with the litter cops. Let static work for you.

This week in television
Couples counseling through 'Fear Factor'
Tonight on NBC, twosomes square off for $1M. Moral  of story: Those who eat worms together stay together.

News Shorts
Overtime playoff game lifts Fox Sunday
Playoffs score Saturday touchdown for CBS
Oprah & 'Raymond' top People's Choices
NBC Trumping up Thursdays once again
Linguistic lessons learned from our 'Friends'
'Daily Show' & 'SNL,' only news that's fit for young
Former NYTer: Oops, I didn't graduate after all
Correction: Wrong chart for young $ied viewers

Web Shorts
Spam slam? Not quite, it may actually be up
XM traffic updates spark radio debate
Nearly half of moneyed households have high-speed 
Study: Brit workers avoid Big Brother with IM

People
Report: WSJ's Larry Ingrassia offered business editor slot at New York Times
Adam Ritt named acting editor of Better Investing magazine
Steven Cojocaru leaves People to pursue a TV career
Michelle Trachtenberg moves from 'Buffy' to HBO's 'Six Feet Under'
Ashton Kutcher stays on at MTV with 'My New Best Friend'
Jay McInerney may replace William Grimes as New York Times restaurant critic
New York Observer's Peter Kaplan and New York's Lisa Chase expecting a baby
'Sopranos' star James Gandolfini engaged to Lora Somoza
Actress Heather Graham guest starring on 'Arrested Development'
NASCAR drivers Casey Atwood, Kasey Kahne, Tim Fedewa and Randy LaJoie featured in a new reality series
Ryan Sutter returns to fighting fires after six-month 'Bachelorette' break
WETA founder Elizabeth Pfohl Campbell dies at 101
Former 'Rambling With Gambling' host John A. Gambling dies at 73
Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Philip L. Geyelin dies at 80

Tuesday, January 13, 2004

Magazines
Florio scoots in Cond Nast power shift
Wants to chill. Moving up to vice chairman.  COO Charles Townsend takes over as CEO of Si's house of magazines.

Magazines
As her trial looms, a sweeter Martha
Freshens web site with new appeals to fans as part of PR push to win public support. Vows to update site with trial transcripts.

Television
Study: Syndication's deep downside
New episodes of hit shows often see ratings dip in first year, rather than gain viewers because of increased exposure from reruns

Newspapers
Fallen star: How they got Jack Kelley
USA Today probe into reporter's suspect stories. Lengthy story today reveals writer's elaborate efforts to thwart investigation.

New media
The very hot web thing: Mars of course
Great traffic surge as NASA hunts for signs of life so far away from earth. Hundreds of millions of hits to web site each day.

This week in television
'Model' behavior: Thin and catty 
UPN summer hit 'America's Next Top Model' returns with new gorgeous gals. See Tyra teach them to strut on the runway. Meow!

News Shorts
CBS and NBC share Monday leadership again
Overtime playoff game lifts Fox Sunday
'Friends' reunion already being filmed? Maybe.
Martha's lawyers weeding out the jury pool
Letterman: I think I'll stick around for a bit
NBC & E! off to court over 'SNL' clips show
CNBC tells staffers, dump stock or we'll dump you 

Web Shorts

A dot.com rescue for sponsorless Lingerie Bowl
Beware faux Citibank email asking for info
New technology = British kiddie porn boom
That a potato in your computer or are you just lying?

People
MGM Television president Jim Griffiths leaves for Playboy
Amy Elkins named account director for Attick
Andy Cowles becomes IPC Media group creative director
Steve Crane named midwestern manager of the James G. Elliott Company in Chicago
John Harper named executive vice president of sales and client service for Ocean Bridge International Advertising Group
Peter Chrisanthopoulos resigns as president/ COO of Pappas Telecasting
Judy Girard named president of Shop At Home Network
Julie Ottmar named McKee Wallwork Henderson media coordinator
Adrienne Byrd joins Comcast Cable as senior counsel in the cable law department
Bret Perkins rises to Comcast Cable VP of government affairs
Rolling Stone founder Jann Wenner being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
NAPTE announces 2004 co-chairmen and board nominations
Donald Trump hires a contestant with a softcore past
Ted Nugent gets VH1 reality show
Rebecca Budig de-bachelorizing 'Bachelor' Bob?
Former Bill Communications president Morgan T. Browne dies at 84
Belo Corp.'s Marty Haag dies at 69


Wednesday, January 14, 2004

Television
ABC and HBO tops in director noms
'8 Simple Rules' is up for high-rated death episode. Other Directors Guild picks: 'Six Feet Under,' 'Sex and the City,' '24.'

Newspapers
Doo deepens for USA Today's Kelley
Newspaper reveals new allegation: Plagiarism. Story in 1998 appears to have lifted language from Washington Post report. 

Television
WB: Here's how we'll revive primetime
In a nutshell: Reality shows and made-for-TV flicks. Network's consolation: With fewer programming hours, less work to repair. 

Broadcast recap
Actually, fewer and fewer love 'Raymond'
Big ratings slide could dampen renewal talks. Fear factor: How at risk is Monday night?

Cable recap
Yikes! Big #s from croc-pot baby stunt
Animal Planet show's viewers rise nearly 20 percent after crocodile tamer dangles newborn. Global stink, great press.

This week in television
Rejected by Bob, Meredith tries again
'Bachelor' castoff makes the choices in ABC's 'The Bachelorette,' premiering tonight. True love or truly revolting?

News Shorts
'Life' reunion boosts Fox to No. 1 Tuesday
NBC and CBS share Monday leadership again
Unholy union: ACLU files brief supporting Rush
Cond Nast slides Bellando to replace Townsend
F*$@ the former rules, FCC wants swear ban
Rosie's $10M miss, 'Taboo,' closing early
CNBC firms 'Miller' slot but unsure on 'News'

Web Shorts
Bush bashers want to buy Super Bowl spot
Forget music, who's monitoring copyrighted porn? 
'Something' screener hits net, angers MPAA
Phew! Microsoft won't end Windows support

People
Bill Katz stepping down as president and CEO of BBDO Worldwide
Sean Murphy named editorial director at Hearst Custom Publishing
Nathalie Lubensky named VP of affiliate marketing at ABC Cable Networks Group
Newtype USA appoints Gary Steinman editor in chief
Laura Santos named VP of news for Telemundo Stations group
Maureen FitzPatrick and Cordelia Bowe named executive producer and supervising producer of 'Living it Up! With Ali & Jack'
Andy Cohn joins The Fader as associate publisher
Actress Laura Linney guest-starring on 'Frasier'
Paris Hilton tops Mr. Blackwell's worst dressed list
Tom Walsh nabs seventh 'Jeopardy!' win, setting record
Christopher Reeve returning to 'Smallville' in April

Thursday, January 15, 2004

Television
NBC: Our season will begin in August
Early rollout of new shows tied to the Olympics. Another blow to notion of fall through spring TV year. 

Television
Earlier finales for 'Friends' and 'Frasier'
Avoiding the glut of hoopla at end of season. A May 6 end set for 'Friends,' with 'Frasier' finishing up the following Thursday. 

Research
A further graying of network television
Study: Median ages up, even with younger shows. ABC viewer ages two years, at 45.3, while CBS is up 1.6. Only NBC is flat.

New media
Hot and hotter: Paid search advertising
Study: Driving surge in web $s. Rose 300 percent in first-half 2003. Growth will slow, but it now accounts for third of internet spending.

Reader survey
Tell us what Berman must do to fix Fox
Network has a slew of problems going into midseason. Give us your ideas on what must be done to get the network back on track.

This week in television
Tonight, Kobe on a different Court
Court TV, that is. 'Hollywood Justice' spotlights Laker's rape case. Did he do it? Is she lying? All questions a nation ponders.

News Shorts
Wednesday reality gives Fox & ABC a tie
'Life' reunion boosts Fox to No. 1 Tuesday
Jann & Adobe help dig out Salon with $800K
Papers bag USA Weekend with accidental n-word
Osama the Grouch? Al-Jazeera targets kids
WSJ's Ingrassia jumps to Times business editor

Web Shorts
Report: Spam spikes to 62% of mail last month
Internet geek? Nah, a well-read TV disdainer
Angry Brits threaten RIAA-like swapper suits
Rings lord over more than $3.5 billion in sales
New Japanese device guarantees sweet dreams 

People
Michael J. Kelly rises to head of AOL networks
John McEnroe gets CNBC talk show
Meredith Corp. names Scott A. Rundall VP of human resources
Evan Shapiro joins Independent Film Channel as senior VP of network marketing
Microsoft veteran Ed Fries exits after 18 years
Former USA Today comptroller Wade Beck gets a 12-year prison sentence
Paris Hilton returns to TV on 'Las Vegas'

Friday, January 16, 2004

Newspapers
Big merger in Span-lang newspapers
Allowing one-stop buying for national advertisers. LA's La Opinin weds NYC's El Diario/La Prensa. Plan to add papers.

Television
Fox's worry: Not such an 'Idol' threat
Reality warbler will likely do well. But well enough? With network's ratings swimming in the basement, it needs a real screamer hit. 

Television
'Gail, hey, tighten up or beat it'
Reader poll: Fox's Berman needs to get cracking to fix schedule. Weighing in with what she needs to do, what works and doesn't.

Younger viewers
How fleeting is (was) 'The Simple Life'
Teen-wise, it was fast headed for a tumble in ratings. That may explain why talks between Fox and Paris for a redo have cooled.

Rachel speaks!
'Rachel, help me get that raise I need'
Sound advice on how to prepare for the big moment when you approach your boss for an increase in salary. How not to blow it.

In television this week
Best tube bets this weekend
Friday: USA's 'Monk;' Saturday: 'Star Search' on CBS; Sunday: NFL on CBS & Fox

News Shorts
Reality Wednesday gives Fox & ABC a tie
ABC tries new limited-run drama strategy
'Apprentice' crosses over to CNBC
Are Fairchild staffers stealing designer stuff?
'Early Show' nabs best ratings since 1999
Bushwhacked! CBS won't run MoveOn ad
'Angels' & NBC lead SAG nominations

Web Shorts
Study says online political burnout is possible
Court says Hef can keep playmates to himself
Yo, RIAA, target Hong Kong (lotsa swapping)
Zooming Yahoo boasts big $ boost over 2002
Gender bender: Italian men go online more

People
Jonathan Dahl becomes executive editor of Smart Money
Toni Nevitt rises to VNU Business Media president of eMedia and information marketing
Vahan Janjigian named Forbes VP and executive director
John Landgraf named president of entertainment at FX Networks
Steven Males becomes vice president for affiliate marketing at Univision Networks
ABC orders wedding planner pilot from David E. Kelley
NBC eyes pilot for Rob Reiner comedy improv show
Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey will host ABC variety special
David Spade turns guest spot into regular character on '8 Simple Rules'
Savannah Guthrie becomes daytime trial correspondent for Court TV
Bloomberg News plans to transfer 160 journalists to new Manhattan headquarters
MTV producing spate of new celebrity-based projects

Tuesday, January 20, 2004

Magazines
Brewster getting boot as G+J U.S. chief
Report: Done in by Rosie flap and other woes. German bosses expected to give walking papers this week. Move long expected.

TV review
'Obnoxious Fianc,' deft manipulation
Fox spoof goofs on reality TV and human greed. Well-handled if squirmy to watch. Will audiences appreciate bigger messages?

New feature
What's popcult  hot: Pete's confessions
New episodes of hit shows often see ratings dip in first year, rather than gain viewers because of increased exposure from reruns

Sports TV
With Serena out, a sinking Aussie Open
Expect ratings dip with no Williams faceoff in cards. Best hope: Agassi and Roddick in semis after making opposite sides of draw.

Out of home
Your client's face on dollar bills
Stickers with an ad message on your change. Get consumers to notice your message when they are counting their money.

This week in television
'Eddie,' booted by Fox, gets Bravo encore
Likable limited-run summer series 'Keen Eddie' returns with six unseen episodes. Watch it instead of doze-worthy State of the Union.

News Shorts
Eagles-Panthers game lifts Fox Sunday
Survey: Most Americans wouldn't let Martha free
'Friends' finale spots selling for record $2M
Buggy down with UPN's new Amish reality show
CBS re-ups 'Survivor' and four new shows
Ex-Times ME Boyd surfacing at Columbia
Booted from La Opinion, Tribune starts LA Hoy
'Simpsons' and 'L&O' still among WGA favorites

Web Shorts

Doggone virus: Rabid Beagle foams at inboxes
Survey says music swapping zooming up again
U.S. big offender in swell of online kiddie porn 
Seneca Nation wants NY to lift internet tobacco ban

People
Barri Stern named Lucky Magazine account director
Bob Woodward writing another book on the Bush White House
McDonald's the latest in cutting ties with Kobe Bryant
Former Sex Pistol Johnny Rotten appearing on British 'I'm a Celebrity'

Wednesday, January 21, 2004

Magazines
For magazines, a much stronger 2003
Overall ad pages ended flat but many titles saw big gains. Most categories up, with totals dragged down by one or two names.

Television
Fox's 'Fianc' stumbles at the altar
Premiere sees deep audience loss from 'Idol.' A third of lead-in's viewers tune out prank-within-a-prank wedding show.

Television
It's a  $#%* good-bye to 'Sharon Osbourne'
One of many syndicated shows facing cancellation. Trend: Potty talk is out.

Television
Better day for 'Good Morning America'
Gibson/Sawyer taking chomp out of 'Today's' lead. Show's total viewers have risen 37 percent over the past five years.

Interview
Five quick questions for Jack Myers
Of the Myers Report: On ad spending, new media technologies, the near-term future of television, and his run-in with Fox News 

This week in television
Todd turns his life over to America
New FX show lets viewers vote on Todd's dinner or his love life. Yikes, if no one watches, Todd will have to make own decisions.

News Shorts
Great debut for Fox's 'Idol,' but so-so for 'Fiance'
Martha: Pleads not guilty but fashionable
American Media pecks into shelter category
Partisan debate stalls FCC cap bill in Senate
MSNBC editor Nachman dies of cancer at 57
HBO's little-watched 'Carnivale' cops ASC nods 

Web Shorts
Europeans download 3M songs (legally) in '03
Where to get political poop? Online, of course. 
Sensitive Microsoft doesn't get Mike Rowe's joke
Next generation of NASCAR: Nextel web treats

People
Anthony White named SVP/futures director at Initiative
Tony Romando moves from Men's Fitness to Sync
Bill O'Reilly's 'Radio Factor' will continue on Westwood One
TV Guide Channel announces new staff appointments
Former Screw publisher Al Goldstein weds much-younger bride
Beyonc and Janet Jackson fight for center stage on Essence cover 

Thursday, January 22, 2004

Ratings recap
Comely 'Apprentice' shows it's got legs
Despite high dork factor, viewers return for second airing in higher numbers. The Donald and warring lemonade stands. 'Idol' fodder?

Research
Television and the web, better together
Study: Internet component boosts ad awareness. Sponsorship and message association grew markedly when online element added.

Cable recap
The darling of cable that's 'Monk'
Returning detective series is week's top show. USA airing of original pulls in bigger audience than rerun on ABC. Coming in No. 2:  'Gracie's Choice.'

New media
And away we go, using the internet
Great growth in traffic to travel sites looking for deals. But a threesome of Travelocity, Expedia and Orbitz pulling the crowds.

This week in television
No 'Idol' tonight, but there's still Simon
Bitter Brit Simon Cowell receives the 'Biography' treatment. See Paula and Randy and Ryan dish on their nasty castmate. 

News Shorts
Another night of 'Idol' gives Fox Tuesday boost
'Fianc' star booted from Catholic school job
Permanent recess for Fox's 'Boston Public'?
NBC: We never offered Jacko $ for interview
New face of NASCAR is on a magazine

Web Shorts
RIAA courts uploaders with 532 more lawsuits
Bagle name game confuses virus watchers
Two screens better than one for new Nintendo
New phone uses your bones to make calls
Saying a prayer for Jewish porn enthusiasts

People
Stuart Zakin appointed SVP of corporate communications at American Media, Inc.
Mark Marshall named VP of Turner Sports Sales' Western Region
Betsy Swanson tapped as EVP/CFO of Fox Television Stations
Steve Davidson rejoins HBO as EVP of affiliate sales
Sara Gill rises to CFM Direct VP and strategic team leader
Elaine Garza named PR director for Vibe and Spin
Carey Witmer named Country Home associate publisher
Victoria Gotti named editor in chief of Red Carpet
Cosmopolitan names Matthew Perry and Alicia Silverstone Fun, Fearless People of the Year
Picabo Street hosting winter sports show on Outdoor Life Network
ABC orders pilot for J.J. Abrams drama 'Lost'
NBC developing Mark Burnett desert island project
USA orders pilot for Dean Koontz 'Frankenstein' project
NY Giants quarterback Jesse Palmer will be next 'Bachelor' on ABC
'Saturday Night Live' clay character Mr. Bill returns for education spots
'Walker, Texas Ranger's' Noble Willingham dies at 72

Friday, January 23, 2004

Television
Oops! NBC shifts Trump to Thursdays
Promising 'Apprentice' smashed by Fox's 'Idol' on Wednesday. Network also shuffles its Tuesday lineup, moving 'Scrubs' there.

Magazines
Axel axes: Brewster booted from G+J
German chieftain taking over troubled U.S. unit while leading hunt for replacement. Rosie's revenge? Hubris hath its own fury.

Interview
On why the ACLU is siding with Rush
Five questions for Howard Simon on why the group's Florida chapter is fighting to keep the talker's medical records private.

Younger viewers
For UPN, bevy of long-stemmed roses
Great returning #s for 'America's Next Top Model,' especially among teens, as summer hit goes against 'Frasier' and 'Jim'

Rachel speaks!
'Rachel, how do I ask for that raise?'
You're in the boss's office: What to say--and not. Savvy advice from our career girl on selling yourself. Hint: Don't lose your cool.

In television this week
Best tube bets this weekend
Friday: 'Hot Rod' on Discovery; Saturday: ABC Family movie; Sunday: Golden Globes on E! and NBC

News Shorts
NBC an easy No. 1 on repeat-heavy Thursday
Make it three nights straight for Fox & 'Idol'
TV ownership cap finally passes Senate
Martha primer: It's cover-up, not trading, charge
Move over, Babs, Stern's shaking up ABC News
'Newlyweds' stays hot in second-season bow
Look out! Magazine pushes readers off a cliff

Web Shorts
Report: Illegal music files dip by 20 percent 
Online votes could equal stuffed ballot boxes
AOL experiments with email ID-ing device
Colorado conservatives claim bias via new blog

People
Isobel McKenzie-Price and Sara Pates will edit Time Inc.'s new women's magazine
Thom Calandra resigns as chief commentator for CBS MarketWatch
Christina Norman appointed president of VH1
Suman Dubey named editor of new Indian version of The Wall Street Journal
Joe Iuliano joins Interep Interactive as senior advertising sales account executive
Mary Clare Baquet rises to VP of marketing for Discovery Channel
Michela Giorelli named director of production and development for Discovery Networks Latin America/Iberia
Janice Arouh named SVP of network distribution and service for Hallmark Channel
Warren Sapp returns to the Super Bowl as NFL reporter
Paris Hilton penning a book: 'Tongue in Chic: Confessions of an Heiress'
No child endangerment charges against 'Crocodile Hunter' Steve Irwin
Ivan Sergei and Sharif Atkins to star in NBC pilot for 'Pearl City'
Fox orders pilot for teenage quintuplet comedy 'Quints'
FX places order for 13 episodes of Denis Leary firefighter drama 'Rescue Me'
California woman sues CBS and '48 Hours' over Andrew Luster videotape scandal
Former WGN children's show host Ray Rayner dies at 84

Monday, January 26, 2004

Television
Barbara Walters is quitting ABC's '20/20'
Will cut back workload to specials and 'The View.' Why now? At 74, she says she wants more time for friends and her family.

Television
HBO again wins big at Golden Globes
Takes seven of 11 awards. Surprise winner: BBC's 'The Office,' netting two. 'Angels in  America' dominates the night, winning five. 

Popcult
What's hot: Ashton Kutcher's 'Butterfly'
Debuts as No.1 movie over the weekend, clocking $17.1 million at the box office. Also, top-selling albums and books and movie rentals.

Sports TV
Don't bet against the Panthers & Patriots
Just yet. The game's the thing, not who's playing. A good close Super Bowl will pull viewers, regardless of the teams.

Out of home
Your client on Times Square trash kiosks
Make a splash with the hordes of visiting tourists. Eye-catching posters on state-of-the-art receptacles 

This week in television
Paris is returning in a bonus 'Life'
Fox scrapes through the archives to come up with one final 'Simple Life.' Ding! Just when you thought Hilton's 15 minutes were over.

News Shorts
Fox tops with 'Cops' and 'Wanted' on Saturday
Stewart opening arguments could start tomorrow
ABC sprinkles 'Millionaire' pixie dust on sweeps
Cops pass on Limbaugh's plea bargain attempt
More bad news for reporter Kelley: Witness balks

Web Shorts
Purchase political pundits on Amazon.com
eBay punishes users posting false positives
European legit download sites snared in red tape 
Great screener mystery solved: Electrician did it

People
Lori Powell joins Ladies' Home Journal as food/entertaining director
CNN replaces Washington bureau chief Kathryn Kross with David Bohrman
Joe Johns tapped as Capitol Hill reporter for CNN
Lauren Holly and Kim Delaney starring in Lifetime original movies
Pang-ni Landrum pens pilots for ABC and Sony Pictures TV
Ruben Studdard croons tagline for TV Guide Channel's 'What's On'
Jane Krakowski will make guest appearance on CBS's 'Hack'
Bob Keeshan of 'Captain Kangaroo' fame dies at 76

Tuesday, January 27, 2004

Magazines
Readers: Martha's guilty but she'll walk
Believe feds won't make it stick. If she does go to prison, what will she do? Write a book revealing the side of Martha we never knew. 

Sports TV
As game nears, a greener Super Bowl
Cost of a spot now figured at $2.3 million, up from $2.25 million. Credit a better economy, less exciting alternatives--and the game.

Research
Of networks' lost youth? Off to cable.
Study: Share of 18-34 adult viewers crossed over. One cause may be increasing number of younger-skewing programs.

Interview
Five fast questions for Lloyd Grove
Daily News gossip columnist on covering New York after years as The Washington Post's "Reliable Source" dishing dirt from the Hill

New media
On the web, White House race heats up
December traffic showed Dean the more clickable, at least compared to Bush, with twice the traffic. And then there was Iowa...

This week in television
Long day's journey on '24'
Witchy woman Sherry Palmer returns tonight to Fox drama. Never a dull moment for Kiefer & Co. See them battle evil in real time.

News Shorts
Globes lift NBC to No. 1 on Sunday night
Martha jury: It's eight women and four men
For survival's sake, a scrubbed-up Penthouse 
Primedia's Rogers lands at American Media
Fox mulls 5-minute delay to squash dirty words
New on Fox, searching for the little woman

Web Shorts

MyDoom zooms to fastest-growing worm ever
Study: Half of current music download sites will fold 
French come to America's side against pirates 
AOL asks, what's your favorite Super Bowl ad?
An e-newspaper that's foldable and portable

People
Paul Fichtenbaum named managing editor of SI.com
Kim Paulsen rises to group publisher of Penton IT Media's Windows Group
Joe Kanellitsas becomes VH1 VP of on-air promotion
Greg Efird named VH1 VP of programming and production
Steve Mulderrig named Tribune EVP of domestic and cable sales
Edd Hall leaving 'Tonight Show with Jay Leno'
Microsoft's Bill Gates receives honorary knighting

Wednesday, January 28, 2004

Magazines
What feds must prove against Martha
It's a lot. They must explain this: If contending Stewart committed insider trading, why has she not been charged with doing so?

Television
Say so long to Jack Paar, funny guy
He did late-night talk only a few years but he forever changed it. (We kid you not.) Television has lost a legend with his death. 

Ratings recap
Globe award #s bode well for Oscars
Are we all movie-crazy? Best viewer numbers ever. Draws 27 million viewers, 6 million more than last year. Tops even 'Idol.'

Cable recap
True love, cable-wise, Nick and Jessica
Returning 'Newlyweds' is the top show of the week. Leads in 18-34s and 18-49s, with 4.7 million viewers tuning in. Hot stuff.

Reader survey
Come here, place your Super Bowl bets
Tell us who will win the game. Close or a blow out? What ads do you think will be a hit with viewers. Do you intend to watch?

This week in television
Stuck in 'Traffic?' You should be.
Long (six hours) USA miniseries is worth the investment. It ends tonight. If you missed it, catch up with reruns beforehand.

News Shorts
Fox rides monster 'Idol' to first on Tuesday
NBC tops on Monday with couples 'Fear Factor'
FCC indecency crackdown whaps Clear Channel
Miller and his monkey excite CNBC viewers
Cringe! UPN's sheared 'Mullets' returning in March
Wal-Mart: Fox News reports, shoppers watch
Disney's embattled Eisner got big, big raise

Web Shorts
Virus nears 10 percent of all emails sent
Twice-acquitted DVD Jon wants damages
ABC Sports sues over alleged 'MNF' piracy
What Clinton wasn't doing in Oval Office: Emailing

People
Andy Schuon resigns as president of programming at Infinity Broadcasting
Doug Herzog stepping down as president of USA Network
Kathleen Cox named president and CEO of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting
Michael Kunhenn joins Starmark International as senior art director
Lisa Chang named SVP of human resources for the Weather Channel
Ryan Partnership ups four senior executives to Partner: Shirley Bergin, Matthew Jonas, Alicia Bender and Lester Preston
Howard Bolter named senior vice president of network and production operations for E! Networks
Former 'American Idol' contestants get record deals
CNN driver and translator-producer killed outside Baghdad
Matt Lauer will trot the globe again for 'Where in the World is Matt Lauer'
MSNBC correspondent Ashleigh Banfield engaged to Howard Gould

Thursday, January 29, 2004

Television
CBS: MoveOn ought to get over it
Network defends decision to block Super Bowl ad on U.S. deficit. Reacting to stinkeroo raised by liberal groups over ad's rejection.

Television
USA's Herzog back to Comedy Central 
Taking over job of retiring Divney. Move tied to executive musical chairs as NBC closes on Vivendi deal. Programming whiz guy. 

Television
CBS's bigger Super Bowl play: post-game 'Survivor'
Spring assault against NBC's weakened Thursday. Building on popularity of reality show.

Interview
Five short questions for Trump's firee
'Apprentice's' Sam Solovey on his brief fame on the reality show. What it felt like when The Donald canned him. Why he napped.

Daypart report
'NBC Nightly News' up in election year
Leads 8 percent over ABC and 32 percent over CBS. But the
question looms: What happens after Brokaw retires--if he retires?

This week in television
Tonight, guilty until proven 'Innocent'
Court TV's 'Stories of the Innocent' showcases the exonerated after wrongful convictions. Many years wasted before DNA saved them. 

News Shorts
Fox rides monster 'Idol' to first on Tuesday
Martha prosecution sharpens its claws for Faneuil
House wants FCC indecency fines inflated  
Limbaugh attorneys say Rush is being smeared
NBC super-sizes Tuesday with special 'Friends'
Germany's extreme 'Big Brother' lasts a year

Web Shorts
On heels of MyDoom, gov't steps in with tracker
Amazon zooms on strong holiday sales season
Site clears up those odd Super Bowl legends
Beware napping next to exploding cell phones
Nurse not hookered by online job offer

People
Tom Gutteridge appointed FremantleMedia CEO
Tom Ascheim named executive VP and general manager of Nickelodeon Digital Television
CNN Chicago bureau chief Jeff Flock resigns
Jacob Bernstein leaves Women's Wear Daily
Jim Agius becomes AMC/WE director of sales
Razor Magazine hires three advertising executives for NY office
NBC and Thesmokinggun.com's William Bastone and Daniel Green team up
Aimee Golden named Hallmark Entertainment manager of new media
Amy Stevens rises to WSJ's Weekend Journal editor
Donald Trump writing book on 'The Apprentice'

Friday, January 30, 2004

Sports TV
Yo, CBS, chill. The game will be close.
Readers see 4Q white-knuckler, with a Patriots win. Majority see viewing up from last year. And 'Survivor?' Way cool numbers.

Sports TV
Actually, fewer will watch for the ads
Slide in viewers tuning in just for the commercials. Also, rise in folks watching out of habit. But, hey, still a great ad event.

Sports TV
Your cornucopia of Super Bowl facts
What you need to know going into Sunday's game. Be advised that sales of cocktail wieners double. Ditto for canned chili beans.

Younger viewers
Spongie, meet 'Dave the Barbarian'
He hopes to eat you. Disney Channel hopes he will. Premiere pulls very good numbers, especially among girls ages 6 to 11.

Rachel speaks!
'Rachel, what if I'm denied my raise?'
How to handle rejection and make it work for you. It hurts to hear 'no' but life is not over. Tips on how to prepare for the next time.

In television this week
Best tube bets this weekend
Friday: Aussie Open on ESPN; Saturday: 'High Rollers' on History; Sunday: Super Bowl on CBS (of course)

News Shorts
On Wednesday of reruns, Fox's 'Idol' rules
Star witness temporarily bumped in Martha trial
ABC zaps 'Karen;' NBC renews 'Vegas' & 'Dreams'
'Sharon Osbourne' definitely on the way out
Where do we get local news? The newspaper.
Star's Lopez quotes scoop was a hoax

Web Shorts
Microsoft pledges big bucks for virus author's head
Academy member sued by Sony & Warner Bros.
Bada bling: Organized crime sacks online bettors
Lament of a pornster: My copyrights are toast

People
Greg Dyke steps down as BBC director general amid controversy
Suzanne Samour named marketing director of National Geographic magazine
Bob Reid stepping down as SVP/GM of Discovery Health Channel
Edward Leon tapped as vice president of production for S TV
Maurico Islas enmeshed in legal dispute between Telemundo and Televista
'Sopranos' co-stars settle lawsuit with Best Buy for $1.5 million
ABC orders sitcom pilot starring Caroline Rhea
The WB eyes comedy pilot from executive producer Mark Burnett
Dennis Rodman begins stint as spokesman for herbal virility elixir

Monday, February 2, 2004

Television
Socko Super Bowl: Viewing tops 2003 
Overnight  figures: 44.2 rating with 89 million watching game. Will be best since 1998's Green Bay-Denver matchup if #s hold.

Popcult
And not a bad movie weekend either
Ticket sales off but not by as much as you'd think. Top-grossing flick: Teen-targeted "You Got Served.' Also, hot books, DVDs. etc.

Magazines
What's needed to revive Martha Stewart 
Even if she beats the rap, the title needs work. What to do? Cut back her presence, kick up the sales effort, buff up her persona.

Sports TV
Thin ice indeed for NHL all-star game
Pro hockey too. Low ratings may send it to cable. Expect ABC's Sunday game to pull a household rating near last year's 1.7.

Out of home
Your client on traffic barricades
Got a new store? Guide customers to the door. Attach eye-catching signage that directs pedestrians.

This week in television
High rollers hit 'Las Vegas'
An unlikely guest combo: 'Simple' Paris Hilton, former 'SNLer' Lovitz & '90210's' Brian A. Green. See them get chippy at slots.

News Shorts
Huge Sunday Super Bowl numbers lift CBS
Fox edges barely ahead of ABC & CBS Saturday
America meets Janet's breast during halftime 
Top Super Bowl ad? It's Budweiser, as usual.
Star prosecution witness still out in Martha case
UPN's 'Top Model' struts to two more seasons
Culinary creativity best revenge for Bonnie's staff

Web Shorts
MyDoom paralyzes SCO site, as promised
Microsoft: Actually, we won't change Explorer 
Google doesn't find Booble quite so funny 
Lecter-like online killer gets reduced sentence

People
Lorenzo Lamas joins the cast of 'The Bold and the Beautiful'
Jack Keane becomes consultant for ABC News
CBS orders sitcom pilot starring John Goodman
'Jeopardy!' host Alex Trebek narrowly escapes injury at the wheel
Michael Jackson's camp fuming over Vanity Fair expose
MTV's 'Real World' creator Mary-Ellis Bunim dies at 57

Tuesday, February 3, 2004

News Shorts
Fox sings happy tune with Monday 'Idol'
Huge Sunday Super Bowl numbers lift CBS
Janet's titillation becomes Tivo's greatest hit 
David Gest: Enquirer broke up me & Liza 
Beyer replaces Time national editor Stengel
Study: Preschoolers diss TV when bribed

Web Shorts

Super streaker ups game's crudity quotient
Good news: MyDoom may expire by next week
Let's slam spam internationally, OECD urges
Forget Jr., poor geek's kid is named Version 2.0

People
Charla Krupp named executive editor of Shop Etc.
Suzanne Kantra Kirschner rises to senior technology editor at Popular Science
Michael Wolff leaves New York magazine for Vanity Fair
Jonathan Paskowitz named Trace magazine West Coast sales representative
Michael McCann becomes Einson Freeman senior art director
Stephen Tippie takes on additional duties at Tribune Media Services
Former ABCer Alina Cho joins CNN
Geneva Overholser resigns from National Press Foundation board over Brit Hume honor
Comedy Central signs Wanda Sykes to new series
Court TV's Fred Graham asks that cameras be allowed in Blake trial
Paul Blackthorne takes roles on 'ER' and '24'
Gray Davis appearing on CBS's 'Yes Dear'
Julia Louis-Dreyfus joins Fox's 'Arrested Development'
Tony Kornheiser leaving ESPN Radio

Wednesday, February 4, 2004

Sports TV
Readers: Nipplegate was a threesome
Super Bowl halftime b-shot planned by Janet, Justin and MTV. Is it the ruin of TV's biggest event? No. Media's gone nuts.

Magazines
'Of course. You must. You've got to.'
Martha's unmaker: Peter made me break the law. Assistant stockbroker presents heart of feds' case against Stewart.

Television
CBS's sweeps plan: No wacky stuff
Riding strength of regular lineup, notably dramas. Expect a few schedule shifts and guest appearances. And it's got the Grammys.

Broadcast recap
A gaining 'Idol' bettering its debut
Numbers up in second week and above last season's average. Defying tradition of reality shows sinking in their third year.  

New media
And Super Bowl's top ad (gasp!) Cialis
Web site sees 1,868 percent growth on game day, far outpacing other advertisers' sites. Never mind that TV viewers snickered.

This week in television
Touched by 'Angel,' Cordelia awakens
The dark WB drama hits 100 episodes tonight. Charisma Carpenter returns. Will romance with Angel himself loom? 

News Shorts
'Idol'-fueled Fox takes No. 1 Tuesday night
Fox sings happy tune with Monday 'Idol'
Rep. Tauzin, big voice in media deregulation, quits
'ER's' badly timed sweeps stunt: Bared breasts
Halftime fiasco scares Grammys into delay
Crass commercials don't = viewer tune out
Do not hold your breath for Rosie's new book

Web Shorts
Microsoft escapes MyDoom with little damage
Most recognizable brand? Google, of course.
Study: Spam's a real online shopper stopper
Young & the richest well aware of on-demand

People
Maria Shriver leaves NBC News
Tom Bernadin named CEO of Leo Burnett US
Carrie Cullen added to Child sales team
Jim Lally and Jorge Colombo join Jungle Media Group
Roxanne Jones rises to senior coordinating editor at ESPN The Magazine
Neal Tiles becomes EVP of marketing for DirecTV
Barbara O'Dair leaving Time Inc.
Alice Cahn named VP of development for Cartoon Network's kids businesses
Thom Sherman becomes president of JJ Abrams' Bad Robot Television
Natalie Morales named anchor of NBC's 'Early Today'
CBS orders pilot for 'Cooking Lessons' based Amanda Hesser's novel
Heather Locklear and Blair Underwood will star in NBC's 'HUB'
Sarah Wynter making six-episode guest appearance on USA's 'Dead Zone'
William H. Macy starring in TNT's 'The Wool Cap'

Thursday, February 5, 2004

Television
Fear & Loathing: Nipplegate panic
Networks shiver and slice their schedules. Janet Jackson booted from Grammy's. NBC clips B-shot from 'ER.' 'Playmakers' axed.

Martha trial
Faneuil: I was never told to lie
Testifies to conversations with Stewart and Bacanovic. Star fed witness tells of pressure to go along with coverup of stock sale.

Television
NBC's sweeps plan: Pull out all stops
Super-sizing and sked moves to hold onto its lead in adults 18-49. Three nights that count the most: Thursday, Tuesday and Monday.

Magazines
In magazines, hope does spring eternal
Flood of new, smaller titles targeting niches. A look at four you may not know about. 'You can't be arrogant but you can be enthusiastic.'

Cable recap
In this political year, Jon Stewart's rise
Comedy Central show's audience grows with primaries, up 12 percent. Alternative to Sunday chatters for the young and the hip.

Interview
Five-plus questions for Tim Goodman
TV critic on just how bad this Super Bowl's ads were. 'If you're going to go crude, there ought to be a pay-off and there just wasn't.'

This week in television
Ready to rumble: Duke & UNC
This is men's college basketball at its best in Carolina, where rivalry week continues on ESPN. Can UNC finally win one?

News Shorts
Fox & 'Idol' make it three straight on Wednesday
'Idol'-fueled Fox takes No. 1 Tuesday night
ESPN sacks 'Playmakers' after NFL pressure
Nielsen marries TiVo, just for the ratings
Adult industry: For shame, Janet, we disapprove
NYC's ESPN Radio runs off with Knicks & Rangers
WSJ teams with Hoy for Spanish business insert

Web Shorts
AOL: Give us back our halftime sponsorship $
Jackson reaction online makes for huge traffic
Washingtonpost.com wants to know your job
For a mere $3M, own a part of 'Rocky' lore

People
Joan E. Gerberding resigns from Nassau Broadcasting Partners
Carolyn Strauss and Sheila Nevins rise to president at HBO
Eddy Ruiz joins A&E Mundo and the History Channel Latin America as SVP sales and marketing
Roy Disney thinks Steve Jobs would make dandy Disney CEO
Eric Balfour and Ivan Sergei join NBC's 'Pearl City'
Rainn Wilson, Jenna Fischer and Steve Carrell check into 'The Office'
Jerry Seinfeld & Superman pair again in online AmEx ads
Britney Spears coming up 'On Air with Ryan Seacrest'
Former MSNBCer Jesse Ventura teaching at Harvard
Multiple hosts for Sunday's Grammy Awards
Kelly Ripa's sister awarded $15 million in damages

Friday, February 5, 2004

News Shorts
'Friends'-fueled NBC takes first night of sweeps
Fox & 'Idol' make it three straight on Wednesday
Faneuil's big bombshell: Martha's a meanie
Trump bump as NBC renews 'The Apprentice'
More Janet fallout: Lawsuit & axed MTV show
At Star, Bonnie's fast-sinking circulation
Boarder seriously hurt in 'Letterman' stunt

Web Shorts
Overdue bill KOs Wash. Post email addresses
Study: Government's CAN-SPAM act isn't
Ride the rails while surfing the net with WiFi 
Rochester is second school with Napster deal
New video game reveals more than Janet did

People
Budget Living adds Marisa Mimoun and Michele Nevitt as sales reps
J.B. Sugar named SI.com director of ad sales
Monica Peixoto becomes Phelps Group VP of broadcast and video production
'Boomtown's' Neal McDonough back in NBC pilot
FX green lights NASCAR reality show with Dale Earnhardt Jr. and more
Johnny Rotten quits British reality show
Greg Dyke and Mario Cuomo set for new 'Topic A with Tina Brown'
J.C. Chasez lambasts NFL following Super Bowl halftime fallout
Sloganeer James J. Jordan Jr. dies at 73

Monday, February 16, 2004

Washington
Fear & loathing: Pols puff up their ire
Expect swift action forcing networks to clean up post-Janet.But also expect networks to scrub up primetime. Return to '50s?

Television
WB's sweeps plan: A few good shows
Riding on handful that work, with little stunting. Its best hope is to fend off a rising UPN. Still struggling to raise a laugh or two.

Television
UPN's sweeps plan: A Tyra by the tail
'America's Next Top Model' is its buzz-driving 'Idol.' With rising ratings, a chance to trod over the WB.  Lots of guest pop-ins.

Popcult
For a change, music's tops at Grammys
Winners are also artists with best-selling albums. No. 1 movie: 'Barbershop 2.' Also, what's hot in books and movie rentals.

Out of home
Your client lit up on the street
Signs on sidewalks like you see at bus shelters. On busy streets, catching business folks in the day and club-goers after it's dark.

This week in television
On WB's 'Everwood,' let's talk about s^e#x
Yikes! Teen drama tackles tough subject for sweeps. Anxious Ephram.

News Shorts
Fully dressed Grammys lift CBS Sunday
ABC & Fox split the weekend among 18-49s
Janet absent but Justin apologizes at Grammys
Bid adieu to ABC's 'Blue' after next season
Lefty Franken wrestles with Rupe's NY Post 
Time Inc.-Wal-Mart magazine moves along

Web Shorts
Paris sues Panama company over sex tape
Microsoft's teen adversary sells off on eBay
Aussies invade Kazaa offices in copyright tiff
Coming soon to Metro: High-tech video ads

People
Jay Walljasper named executive editor of Ode
Outdoor Life Network hires Brian J. Williams as VP of series production, Timothy Dempsey as VP of research and Michael Magnotta as VP and creative director
Sarah Eaton rises to Sundance Channel's SVP of public relations
Rob Word becomes SVP of program development and production for PAX TV
Sarah Wayne Callies cast as lead in ABC's 'The Secret Service'
ABC orders pilot for Ron Eldard detective drama 'Blind Justice'
NBC orders pilots from Touchstone TV and Jamie Tarses
Eva Longoria cast in NBC's pilot 'Desperate Housewives'
Donald Trump advertises 'The Apprentice' in condo lobby
David Letterman airing Beatles' 'Ed Sullivan' performance on 'Late Night' tonight
Former CBS VP Anita Addison dies at 54

Tuesday, February 17, 2004

Television
Groovy Grammys, absent Jackson
Viewer spike on late word naughty diva might show. Best numbers in three years, though a falloff when curious realized she'd skipped.

Magazines
Score a big one for Martha's defense
Establishes she didn't sell stock on insider info. Attorney raises further doubts about key government witness Faneuil's credibility. 

Sports TV
Revving up NASCAR against the NFL
New rules aim to stem flight when football begins. They may to some degree. But Sunday's Daytona will still be season's top event.

New media
Winning streak for a non-Super Bowl ad
Bare-butted runner brings spike to gambling site. TV snippet of  GoldenPalace.com stuntman drives up traffic nearly 400 percent. 

Reader survey
Give us your thoughts on the upfront 
Will advertisers get gouged again? Will there be a revolt this year? How much will it go up? Or will it be flat against last year? 

This week in television
Going blissfully to the dogs 
Sit! Beg! Roll over! Watch where you step tonight on USA Network as cute pooches vie for big prizes.  

News Shorts
Couples 'Fear Factor' gives NBC Monday boost
Mort's group contemplates Radar rescue
MTV yanks edgy videos from day lineup
Woman drops b-shot class action suit
Eisner starts firing back at Disney barbs
WB gets 'Charmed' into another season

Web Shorts

AOL to marketers: Is message getting through?
MyDoom sparks boom to anti-virus sites
Disney & Microsoft bonded by technology
Flood of Janet-related searches on the net

People
Derick Procope joins Fader as fashion director
Eric Ducker named Fader West Coast editor
Gayle Lambert joins Smithsonian as travel account manager
Dan Osheyack moves to executive marketing role with Time Inc. Women's Group
Richard Wolfe named ABC SVP of telecommunications and network origination services for broadcast operations and engineering division
Heidi Lobel becomes ABC Daytime Network and SOAPnet SVP of sales
Stanley Tucci joins 'Webster Report' pilot
D.B. Sweeney and Lisa Darr cast in Fox's 'Doing It' pilot
Felicity Huffman joins ABC's pilot 'Desperate Housewives'
Tara Dakides makes painless return to 'Late Show'
Jamie Foxx hosting ESPY Awards
NCC SVP of sales Gina Smith dies in car accident at 47

Wednesday, February 18, 2004

Magazines
Sleepy start for magazines in '04
January ad pages off slightly from a year ago, though reported revenues were up 10.4 percent. Big gains for men's titles.

Conglomerates
Heat is intensifying for Disney's Eisner
Stockholder protest and now a hostile takeover bid. Today cable giant Comcast  announces $66 billion buyout offer. 

Research
Janet, still hot after all these days
Non-shocker: More press than Super Bowl ads. Twice as many print mentions as commercials in the days after breast-baring. 

Broadcast recap
Nifty first sweeps Thursday for NBC
Stretched 'Friends' whacks 'Survivor: All-Stars.' Pairing with the Donald boosts odds for beating Fox in key 18-49 demo.

Cable recap
Bummer of a Pro Bowl for ESPN
Worst #s in years for post-season all-star game. Not helped by face-off with Grammy Awards. Clocks a 3.9 household rating 

This week in television
Come for the swimsuits, stay for the articles
Spike, the network for men, celebrates 40 years of the SI Swimsuit issue. Fun facts about this year's edition.

News Shorts
Tale of 2 Foxes: 'Idol' wins & Michael J. returns
Couples 'Fear Factor' gives NBC Monday boost
Stewart assistant: Martha altered phone record
Buh-bye, Bonnie: Two Star senior writers exit
ABC cleans up 'Blue' s#e*x scene for West
Newsday hit with federal racketeering suit

Web Shorts
Son of MyDoom again targets Microsoft
MLB plays hardball in webcast negotiations
Online advertising will overtake radio in UK
Nintendo waves off GameCube delay rumors
Build your own army with online tank auction

People
Ex-NYT ME Gerald Boyd tapped for Universal Press Syndicate column
Susan Crandell resigns as editor in chief of More
John Paskowitz becomes West Coast sales rep for Trace
Nicole Hladko and Adrienne Kolebuck named Cooking Light account managers
Paul Iaffaldano named SVP national sales and advertising at TWC
HBO promotes Meray Brooks to VP of talent relations, Cinday Tenner to Director of talent relations, Anne Reilly to VP of media relations, West Coast, and Katherine Pongracz to Director of media relations
Kristen Bell starring in UPN's 'Veronica Mars'
'Restaurant's' Rocco DiSpirito sued by restaurant's financier
Reba McEntire reportedly unhappy with salary for WB sitcom 'Reba'
Viacom Plus SVP John Irwin dies in car crash

Thursday, February 19, 2004

Magazines
Remaking New York under Adam Moss
Thoughtful advice on how to revive the sagging title. Mix it up.
Be willing to 'take risks and cause trouble and be controversial.' 

Martha trial
A case of coverup or just bad memory?
Conflicting stories to FBI from Stewart and Bacanovic knock wind out of the argument that the two plotted to mislead investigators

Reader poll
Readers: We expect a modest upfront
See only slight gains in inventory sold and prices, following two wallet-busters. Advertiser revolt? Forget about it. CBS will do best.

Television
The very latest skinny on NBC's 'Joey'
And a wrapup on the new shows coming this fall. Don't be surprised
to see the 'Friends' spinoff premiering during the May sweeps.

Daypart update
Paul, John, George, Ringo and Dave
Letterman beats Leno with old clips of Fab Four. Could be something about the Beatles. Helped too by guest Dr. Phil McGraw.

This week in television
A white wedding tonight on 'Friends'
As in, it snows. Then Phoebe & Mike get hitched. Only six more episodes of the show left. Quality of those episodes still in doubt. 

News Shorts
Fox sweeps to first Wednesday with 'Idol'
Tale of 2 Foxes: 'Idol' wins & Michael J. returns
Karmazin & Tagliabue testify on indecency
Poll finds most think nipplegate was planned
Oscar advertisers: Pepsi, Bud, P&G, AOL ...
Lights, camera, d'oh! It's a 'Simpsons' movie

Web Shorts
Surprise: Middle-aged women are gamers
AOL Latin America is bleeding deeply
Microsoft admits critical Windows flaw
Finnish judge orders damages for Alanis
Now available, the full-length Paris sex tape

People
Jeff Weitzman and Jim Widmann rise at Coupons, Inc.
Traffic Pulse Networks promotes Bill Powers, Dennis Frawley and Brett Medellin
Raymond J. Brune leaves E! to start Jagger International
Andrew Kennedy gets CBS sitcom pilot
Burr Steers gets Showtime pilot order
Bill O'Reilly apologizes for WMD gaffes

News Shorts
'Friends' wedding lifts NBC to No. 1 Thursday
Fox sweeps to first Wednesday with 'Idol'
Indecency fine hike passes subcommittee
Stewart case returns from recess with more Farmer
Desperate Disney makes eyes at Time Warner
The cost of commercial shoots: Some $3.5B
Billboard touting Post circ steams Daily News

Web Shorts
CIA expands WMD search to the web
AOL warns: Buddylinks more like Buddyjinks
Scheming spammers ordered to return $25K
On eBay, buy former 'Bachelor' Buerge's ring
S. Korea bans bum-shaped V-Day chocolate

People
Max Kellerman leaves ESPN after contract expiration
Ryan Seacrest replacing Rick Dees on the daily KIIS-FM radio show
BusinessWeek names John McShea New York regional sales director, Rik Gates VP of international and North America sales, Terri Dufore Northwestern regional sales director, John McGuire Midwest regional sales director and Tanya Brown account manager for NY sales
Shop Etc. taps Angela Matusik as deputy editor, Kimberly Gieske as home director and Clio McNicholl as photo director
Steven DeLuca named publisher of Rolling Stone
Brenda You and Mike Glynn exit Star's West Coast bureau
Andrew Amill and Mary Murcko rise at Fairchild Publications
Carrie Glaser and Allison Morgenstern join Lucky magazine
Kelly Cobiella named New York-based correspondent for CBS News
Robin Schwartz named president of Regency Television
Marlo Thomas making five-episode guest appearance on 'Law & Order: SVU'
'Wire' executive producer Robert Colesberry dies at 57
Staten Island Advance publisher Richard Edward Diamond dies at 71
California-based journalist Dean Wakefield dies at 53

Tuesday, February 17, 2004 

Television
Cleated boot for MSNBC's top guy
Upstairs for Sorenson. Ex-ABCer Kaplan steps in. His challenge: Build a cable network clearly apart from CNN and Fox News.  

Magazines
A good thing in court for Martha
Actually, more than a good thing in new rulings. Weaken feds' argument that Stewart and Bacanovic conspired to cook a coverup.

Popcult
Return to Clanton County with Grisham
Legal puzzler bumps 'Da Vinci Code' on Times hardcover list.  Mississippi boiling: Murder, rape, revenge, amid fine points of law.
Weekend's top flick: '50 First Dates.' Top rental: Gooding's 'Radio.'

Out of home
At the ballpark, your client and a dog
How to put a message on stadium snack carriers. And while you're at it, put a sample or two in with the sodas and franks.

This week in television
Women uniting against 'Violence'
Can we be serious for a moment? In support of V-Day, Lifetime airs a documentary about women & violence. And celebrities. 

News Shorts
Monday 'Fear Factor' finale feeds NBC big #s
'Shrek' lifts NBC to No. 1 Sunday night
Disney to Comcast: Takeover's a no-go
Put a stake in the WB's 'Angel,' he's done
Hef unloading Playboy shares worth $40M 
Are you Jayson Blair scholarship material?

Web Shorts

On Amazon, no such thing as impartial review
Business travelers rush to online booking
eBay has monopoly on faux jail-free cards
Mitsubishi: Our ad destiny lies online

People
Norma Taylor promoted to SVP advertising sales at Great American Country
New York Post loses Pucci Meyer McGill and Libby Callaway
It's a girl for 'Friends' star Matt LeBlanc & wife
Sherman Helmsley voicing 'Mr. Ed' on Fox
Jennifer Love Hewitt and Tim Daly join ABC pilots
Kate Walsh stars in 'Joint Custody'
Taye Diggs inherits niece on UPN's 'Kevin Hill'
Aisha Tyler and Kirsten Storms join CBS pilots
Star Jones and Al Reynolds kick off very public engagement
ABC Sports veteran Larry Kamm dies at 64
 

Wednesday, February 18, 2004

Washington
Appeals court: Do-not-call-list is legit
Rules registry doesn't violate right of free speech. Slim appeals prospects. Expect some of those telephone $s to go into media.

Dayparts update
As Democrats rumble, Russert scores
Soaring numbers for Bush chat on 'Meet the Press.' Best showing since Cheney appeared following 9/11 attack. Lots of charts.

New media
Looking for love in all the wrong places
One at least. Surge in at-work dating site traffic leading up to Valentine's Day. Also, a big bump to sites peddling flowers, etc.

Interview
Why Brother Elk is angry at Uncle Mel
Indian leader on OutKast's war dance on the Grammys. CBS erred in not chopping war paint and teepee stunt. Post-Jackson boober.

Reader survey
What do you think of Comcast-Disney?
It is a bold takeover bid for sure. But would the cable biggie make the best parent for ABC? Who would do a better job? Talk to us. 

This week in television
Saving Grace for '70s, the lovely Ms. Hannigan
Former 'Buffy' star back in primetime as a girl cop cavorting with Kelso at the academy. Spitfire spices up Fox's 'That '70s Show.'

Web Shorts
Another day, yet another internet virus
Search cuckolds: 'Sorry, Google, I'm with Yahoo'
That's 867-530-not-gonna-happen on eBay 
'Creek' kids return with special online deal

Thursday, February 19, 2004

Magazines
Min's Us is the real rising star
Sees 19 percent circ. gain in second-half '03, surpassing  Fuller's Star, which fell 12.9 percent. Chart of other gainers and losers.

Television
To a theater near you, 'S*x and . . .' 
Movie in the works to pick up storyline of HBO hit. Hinging on whether the show's four stars will sign on for a big-screen version.

Broadcast recap
NBC swoops ahead on power of 'Shrek'
Sunday's big green ogre movie carries network to its first 18-49 lead in sweeps. Strong Sunday and Friday push NBC past CBS.

Cable recap
Stunner All-Star Game, even w/o Jordan
Off from last year but still brings TNT huge numbers. Most-watched program on ad-supported cable so far this year with a 5.1 rating.

Martha trial
In the Stewart case, going gets tougher
With the recent setbacks, prosecutors face a bigger challenge in persuading jurors that Stewart lied to bolster her company's stock.

This week in television
On the couch with Dave,
Sarah J., Kim & Conan
Cattrall and Parker dish on Sunday's 'S*x' finale on late night talkers tonight. Will Big end up with Carrie? Any deaths? Any last b-shots?

Web Shorts
Yahoo gives Google search power the boot
Google's response? Who cares, we serve 6B.
Today's net worm brought to us by Netsky.B
Very big orders for Apple's new small iPod

Friday, February 20, 2004 
Magazines
Judge: Nada, zero, for Rosie or G+J
Quips: May deserve each other but no monetary damages.
Finds both sides breached agreement creating ill-fated title.   
Newspapers
A new owner for the SF Examiner
Defanged: Denver billionaire vows to pump it up. Qwest founder Phil Anschutz will take on dominant Hearst-owned Chronicle.   
Television
NBC slips past CBS to lead in sweeps
Credit super-sizing and guests but also strong numbers for some  top shows. Whither Fox? Puffing somewhere behind.   
London
Lush life: New glory for old has-beens
Offers flow in for contestants on goofy reality caper "I'm A Celebrity.Get Me Out Of Here!" Ex-whatevers in jungle romp.   
Rachel speaks!
'Rachel, help me with a career change'
'I want to stay in media but not what I'm doing.'  Our career guru's
advice on how to leverage your experience to find a better job.  
  In television this week
Best tube bets this weekend
Friday: 'SportsCentury' on ESPN2; Saturday: 'Columbine' on Showtime; Sunday: HBO's 'S*x'  
  News Shorts
Thursday's 'ER' paces sweeps leader NBC
Fox's 'Idol' power still potent enough on Wednesday
Martha friend: She said she had inside info
ESPN & Cox end spat with smaller rate hike
'Topic A' with Tina B tanking on CNBC
All the juicy details from Hef's little black book
  Web Shorts
N.J. mom sues RIAA for racketeering
AOL & Earthlink step up anti-spam campaigns
Arabian online gender gap: It's mostly men
Smell ya sooner with Brits' scented email
     

People
Janet Robinson replacing retiring NY Times Co. president and CEO Russell T. Lewis
Leonard P. Forman rises to EVP and CFO and Scott Heekin-Canedy rises to president and GM at NY Times Co.
Stephanie Norris joins Providence Media Services Company as associate media director
Bill Moyers leaving PBS to write book on President Johnson
Max Kellerman joins Fox Sports Net as talk show host
BET hires Heather Vincent as executive producer of 'BET Nightly News'
Byron Scott the newest studio analyst on ABC's 'GMC NBA Hangtime'
Katie Couric interviewing Jayson Blair
Edie Falco joins Chloe Sevigny and 'Crossing Over' psychic John Edward on 'Will & Grace'
Billionaire's grandson Jason Davis lands reality show on NBC
Colin Ferguson joins cast of NBC's 'Home & Hardware'

Monday, February 23, 2004

News Shorts
Solid Sunday return for ABC's 'Millionaire'
Fox fends off NBC for Saturday night
G+J exodus continues as YM's Kelly leaves
Burnett boxes NBC for record 'Contender' fee
Some Londoners kicking the tabloid habit
Showtime & PBS clean up at WGA Awards

Web Shorts
Want Pepsi's free tunes? Hack the cap.
Microsoft upgrades Xbox Live with new features
Hollywood happy ending: Court bans DVD copies
Study predicts e-commerce will hit $100B

People
Dawn Curtis Hanley named executive director of marketing for Boston magazine
Doreen A. Toben nominated to The New York Times Company board of directors
CBS drama pilots land David Krumholtz and Bobby Cannavale
UPN expands casts for 'Veronica Mars' and 'Nikki & Nora'
Lewis Black and A.J. Langer join ABC pilots
NBC comedy pilots add Tom Conti and Dave Foley
Rachel Nichols and Jennifer Morrison join pilot casts at Fox
Bangkok Post editor Veera Prateepchaikul booted for criticizing prime minister
John Laraio sues MTV over Wade Robson dance show

Tuesday, February 24, 2004

News Shorts
Monday 'Millionaire' falters but 'Fianc' soars
Solid Sunday return for ABC's 'Millionaire'
Judge considering Martha dismissal motion
Keller blasts Blair book in internal NYT memo
CBS orders guts cuts for 'Helter Skelter'
Stern rips Leno for 'stealing' Stuttering John 
Swimsuit issue no SI for kids at Ohio school

Web Shorts

Hilton sex tape director none other than Paris?
Cheaper high-speed boosts Bells in Q4
Report: E-commerce hits biggest share ever
Spice things up with half-naked Mel B. pic

People
Steve Siskind named Paramount Pictures EVP of worldwide marketing and advertising
Marc Z. Kramer rises to New York Times SVP of circulation
Thomas P. Lombardo rises to New York Times SVP of production
Pat Dignan and Gregory Myrick join Forbes.com sales team
Robert Eisenhardt joins Primedia as consumer automotive director of business development
Shira Berk named VP of media relations at TV Guide Publishing Group
Richard Cusick upped to SVP of business development and strategic planning at Gemstar-TV Guide International
Norb Garrett hired as editorial director of Tennis and Where
Bernard Gershon named SVP/ GM of ABC News Digital Media Group
Doris Casap rises to HBO SVP of film programming
Carolyn Cassidy moves up to NBC Entertainment director of current series
Rob Solomon named Home Shopping Network SVP of customer care
John T. Tippit joins Clear Channel as SVP of strategic development
Diane Sawyer reportedly lands Janet Jackson interview in March
Colin Hanks starring in ABC's Joel Stein project
Scott Glenn cast in CBS' 'Wanted'
Reporter Jill Arrington jumps from CBS to ESPN

Wednesday, February 25, 2004

Cable recap
Hot finale indeed for 'S$x and the City'
Tops networks in key demos. At 10.6 million viewers, randy comedy's much-hyped end bests season average by 74 percent.

Television
Expect to see viewers return to Oscars
Big factor: Buzz over 'Lord of the Rings' saga. Also, less concern
over war, which hurt last year's telecast. Ratings likely to match '02.

Broadcast recap
Growing strength of 'Without a Trace'
Though well behind 'ER,' a sweeps booster for CBS. Gaining in key demographics as NBC hospital drama experiences slides.

Magazines
Martha's very bold defense strategy
Or is it? Its very simplicity could be its genius. By not overloading the jury, and not putting her on the stand, the job becomes easier.

This week in television
Who wants to be Meredith's mate?
Tonight ABC's 'Bachelorette' makes her final choice. Will she choose country dude or New Yorker? Will they marry next sweeps? 

News Shorts
UPN's 'Top Model' shows muscle on Tuesday
Monday 'Millionaire' falters but 'Fianc' soars
Dow Jones union organizes protest walkout
Angry editor charges O'Reilly with plagiarism 
Clear Channel dries out Bubba the Love Sponge
Study finds that TV can = childhood obesity
At Miami Herald, it's 'Survivor: Comic Strip'

Web Shorts
Eminem raps Apple for using his song
Study: 66 percent OK with email marketing
Brit companies lose billions to cybercrime
Super-secure cell reads your fingerprints
Gossip to go for the busy tabloid reader

People
Alex Mironovich steps down as CEO of Vibe/Spin Ventures and acting publisher of Spin
Larry Jones upped to president of TV Land and Nick at Nite
Gavin Harvey named president of Outdoor Life Network
Michelle Rice becomes VP of distribution strategy and operations for TV One
Evan Messinger returns to TBS as SVP/strategic integration sales manager of news
Jan Guszynski rises to Tribune Media Services marketing director
Jerome Fitzgibbons joins Forbes.com as VP audience development
Lauren Stein named director of primetime series at NBC
Jean Smart joins cast of CBS's John Goodman comedy pilot
Oliver Hudson starring in WB drama pilot 'The Mountain'
'American Idol's' Donnie Williams arrested on suspicion of drunk driving
Janet Jackson backs out of upcoming ABC Lena Horne biopic
George Eads playing Evel Knievel in Mel Gibson-produced TNT epic

Thursday, February 26, 2004

Radio
Clear Channel 86's Howard Stern
Could this be an election year? Bar of soap for dirty-talker. Ousted from stations in six markets. Slap at Infinity and Karmazin.

Television
Where the real money is for sexy HBO
Not in new subscribers but in DVDs and syndie. Subs are actually flat, even with the popularity of 'Sex and the City' and 'Sopranos.'

New media
Contagious anger over pop-up ads
Study: Resentment spreads to sites running them. 'Everyone we tested spontaneously said something derogatory about pop-ups.'

Daypart reports
Of fire and passion on 'General Hospital'
Hotel blaze heats up ratings to push show to No. 1 tie with NBC's 'Days of Our Lives. ('Maxie begs a badly burned Mac not to die.') 

Interview
Five questions for the Times' biz editor
Larry Ingrassia on its coverage of the big stories. 'These stories cut to the heart of corporate ethics and touch a lot of people's lives.' 

This week in television
Mel Gibson talks religion with Jay
On NBC, yaks with Leno about this little movie he made, 'The Passion of the Christ.' $60M opening weekend projected.

News Shorts
Wednesday 'Idol' trumps 'Bachelorette' for Fox
UPN's 'Top Model' shows muscle on Tuesday
After one witness, defense rests in Martha trial
Things look even more grim for Disney's Eisner
Fox adds Monday 'Idol' in final sweeps days
G+J taps Parents deputy Fears as YM editor
NY Post's Kelly jumping to WWD job?

Web Shorts
Gamers gotta wait for Sony's new PSP
Beware latest MyDoom, deleter of files
eBay flirts with failed local auctions again
Trend: Thin is in for computer screens

People
Kenneth Chandler named new editorial director at the Boston Herald
Bill Margol named VP of production for the Travel Channel
Valerie Masterson joins the WB as VP of human resources
Marjorie Cohn upped to EVP of development and original programming at Nickelodeon
Chloe Sevigny added to HBO drama 'Big Love'
Laura Leighton and Milo Ventimiglia among new ABC pilot casts
Rob Estes joins Fox's 'Oahu'
'Idol' wannabe Donnie Williams booted from show after arrest
Court orders former G+J head Dan Brewster to cut his wine habit

Friday, February 26, 2004

News Shorts
'Idol' trumps 'Bachelorette' for Fox Wednesday
Martha judge still undecided on fraud motion
Blair book has booze, drugs & a tortured soul
Dirty-talkin' Stern: I'm a modern-day Jesus 
Gates stays comfy atop Forbes billionaire list
New producer tweaks CNBC's 'Dennis Miller'
Rosie ties the knot in San Francisco

Web Shorts
For a price, it's Yahoo without the ads
Gates: Passwords will go the way of Pong
Sony invites you to shake your groove thing
Britain: A broadband leader by 2008?

People
Andy Raskin rises to senior editor of Business 2.0
Craig Gugel becomes EVP of worldwide analytics and strategy for Interactive Market Systems, Inc.
John Wagner joins Spike TV as director of Midwest ad sales
Alan Grabelsky named VP of production management for Discovery Communications Inc.
Shari Dalconzo rises to VP of print design at Hallmark Channel
Samaire Armstrong joins cast of ABC's 'Gramercy Park'

Monday, March 1, 2004

News Shorts
Big Academy Awards boost for ABC Sunday
ABC sweeps Saturday and Friday nights
Super 'Millionaire' will return in May sweeps
President Bush endorses 'D.H.S.' pilot
'Big Brother Bahrain' sparks Muslim protests
Hoy & Telemundo reach content sharing deal
After long delay, 'Seinfeld' DVDs on the way

Web Shorts
AOL quietly cans broadband access plan
Study: U.S. internet users surpass 150M
Worried Microsoft wants caller ID for email
Spanish building $87M supercomputer

People
Isaac Mizrahi signs development deal with NBC Enterprises
Jimmy Smits drama series 'City of Dreams' put on hold by NBC
Marcia Cross cast as latest suburban housewife in ABC's 'Wives'
Producer J. Lo taps Robert Verdi as co-host of new morning chatfest
First-year 'Ellen DeGeneres Show' receives pickups

Tuesday, March 2, 2004

News Shorts
Special Monday 'Idol' lifts Fox past NBC
Big Academy Awards boost for ABC Sunday
Prosecutors rest their case against Martha
Blair's publisher: We're coming after NYT
No January bounce for radio revenues
New indecency proposal would plump fines
Premature static for 'Big Brother Bahrain'

Web Shorts

Now clogging your inbox: New virus Netsky-D
DMA endorses controversial email rules
Microsoft & eBay team for auction tools
Arbitron abandons internet radio ratings

People
Robert Wilson hired as new AARP Bulletin Editor
Marilu Henner and Joe Lawrence join ABC Family's 'The Rules of Engagement'
Linda Tullio rises to home furnishings director at Metropolitan Home
Alan Dannenbaum rises to Comcast Cable SVP programming
Edward Cortese named Robb Report director of marketing
Robyn Stone appointed Health consumer products manager
Kathy Trumbull and Tom Garris rise to VP at Sun-Sentinel
Spencer Breslin added to cast of CBS' 'Center of the Universe'
A&E Television Networks restructures national ad sales group
Jos Antonio Hidalgo named Telemundo director of business development
Carolyn Cassidy moves up to NBC Entertainment director of current series
IMG hires Greg Simon and Tom Worcester
Rob Lowe nabs lead in CBS's 'Dr. Vegas'
Michael Jackson launches personal web site
Time's Sandra Burton dies at age 62

Wednesday, March 3, 2004

Magazines
Just how dumb was Martha Stewart?
That's a key question facing jurors as they ponder her fate. If she conspired to lie, why didn't she do a better job of it? 

Television
Younger-thinking CBS as sweeps ends And why not, being so close in 25-54s and 18-49s behind NBC? 
Moonves: Yes, we plan to pay more attention to these demos.

Broadcast recap
'Bachelorette': Romance ain't like it was
Faltering finale, off from last year, adds to ABC woes. Takes week with Oscars but, oh, what might have been with strong 'Millionaire.' 

Cable recap
Laughs and more from Dave Chappelle
Comedy Central show is its new ratings booster. Network gains 10 percent in 18-49s in February, with much credit going to witster.

This week in television
Cable's new darling: Poker
Second season of 'World Tour' on Travel Channel begins tonight. It has sparked many imitators, from Bravo to NBC. No bluffing.

News Shorts
Second 'Eden' helps Fox to No. 1 Tuesday
Special Monday 'Idol' lifts Fox past NBC
Embattled Eisner's day of reckoning arrives
ABC talks spinoff with 'Practice' creator Kelley
Vanguarde buyer won't be Essence or Simmons
New NBCer USA gets Olympian programming
At Dow Jones, protest & loss of spell check

Web Shorts
Study: U.S. accounts for 57 percent of spam
Blogs not as common as they might seem
Once-flailing GameCube nears U.S. sellout 
Russian candidate stages virtual debate

People
Lee Gaither named EVP of programming and production at TV One
Kelly Shacklett becomes MPH Entertainment's host of Limelight programs
Rumor: New York's Adam Moss recruiting NYT's Frank Rich
Fox picks up pilots from Chris Rock and Steve Martin
Mykelti Williamson joins the cast of ABC's 'The Secret Service'
Ageless Dick Clark being sued for age discrimination
'Idol' runner-up Clay Aiken's dad dies

Thursday, March 4, 2004

Magazines
Dan sues G+J: Stop dissing me
Rosie shade of red: Brewster tears over smears. Says German chiefs are scapegoating him for circulation scandal.

Television
Whither ABC with Eisner's demotion? 
Good question. Answer: It can only help things. Network needs a real television whiz leading it. Is there a Peter in the house? 

Television
Sweeps wrapup: Winners and losers
NBC finishing No. 1, helped by a faltering Fox. Network by network tally of ratings and what shows helped or hurt their performances.

Daypart reports
Conan, bow northward in thanks
'Late Night' ratings record following Quebec flap. (Blame Triumph the Insult Comic Dog for saying such nasty things about French.)

Interview
Down Under, a quote-cooker uncovered
A quip that was too perfect to be real wasn't. How a blogger (named Blair) smoked out a Chicago Tribune writer's fabrication. 

This week in television
Princess Diana, in her own words
NBC plays never-before-heard tapes of the late royal tonight. Everything Di touches turns to ratings gold. Bumps 'ER' off sked.

News Shorts
Wednesday debut fit for a 'King' lifts ABC
Second 'Eden' helps Fox to No. 1 Tuesday 
House panel OKs indecency fine hike to $500K
Stewart jury requests Faneuil transcript
Nielsen fast-tracking PVR measurement
New Penthouse plan: Save Guc's house
Bum rap for fired 'Guiding Light' producer?

Web Shorts
One-third of Oscar viewers were also online
U.N. warns of major web drug trafficking 
Feds post anonymous pornsters' pictures
Up for auction, California's Minkler village

People
Jack Christiansen named senior account executive for Wood magazine
Michael Cohen joins Outside magazine as account manager
Joe Gallo becomes Draft Chicago SVP
Cindy Cunningham joins Corbis as director of cataloging
Hugo Lindgren named New York magazine deputy editor
Lauren Tabach-Bank named West Coast editor at Teen People
Matthew Gould becomes TLC executive producer
NYC Mayor Bloomberg's a small-screen star
BBC broadcaster Alistair Cooke retires
Marla Sokoloff rejoins the cast of 'The Practice'
Miami Herald advertising executive Matthew Fine dies at 42

Friday, March 5, 2004

News Shorts
Wednesday debut fit for a 'King' lifts ABC 
MSLO has conviction contingency plan
ESPN leads Sports Emmys nominations
Stern fights back with Million Moron March
Who may be back for 'Angel' series finale?
National Geographic upfront: Five new shows

Web Shorts
'Potter' author's web chat bewitches 16K
Aussie court: Kazaa can't delay copyright case
Europeans will have to wait for iTunes arrival
Singles looking for love fall for Match.com

People
Debora Wilson succeeds Weather Channel CEO Bill Burke
Public radio commentator Sandra Tsing Loh fired for obscene language
Jill Arrington joins ESPN's 'College GameDay'
Hugh Jackman tapped as host of Tony Awards
'Buffy' creator Joss Whedon developing film based on 'Firefly'
Tony winner Marissa Jaret Winokur starring in ABC Family's 'Furst Family'
Vivica A. Fox replaces Gloria Reuben in Lifetime's '1-800-MISSING'
Daniel Baldwin and Sam Trammel cast as leads in Sci Fi original movie
Bill Pullman and Natascha McElhone will star in NBC's Bible-based 'Revelations'
Janet Jackson making first post-Super Bowl TV appearance as host of 'SNL'
Omarosa the latest contestant booted from NBC's 'The Apprentice'
Kim Delaney may star in CBS drama pilot 'Sudbury'

Monday, March 9, 2004

News Shorts
Crime dramas boost NBC on slow Sunday
NBC & Fox split weekend leadership 
After prodding, NBC nixes 'Charlie's' scene
More NBC: Judges complain about 'Last Comic'
Study finds gamers play during peak TV time
WB weds 'Rings' to three November sweeps
Al Sharpton, Fox's next 'American Idol'?

Web Shorts
Bob Vila, home repair guru & alleged spammer
Man claims Streisand is ducking his bills
AT&T and Microsoft broker patent suit deal
Finnish webbies love reporting crime online

People
Back in Boston: Former Globe columnist Mike Barnicle joins Herald
Reta J. Peery named Weather Channel VP and legal deputy general counsel
Ann Ivancie rises to Starz Encore VP of marketing campaign management
'SATC's' Willie Garson joins ABC pilot 'Plan B'
Rumor: Gary Sinise could headline 'CSI: New York'

Tuesday, March 9, 2004

News Shorts
Monday movies: 'Angels' tops 'Judas' among 18-49s
Crime dramas boost NBC on slow Sunday 
EchoStar drops Viacom and CBS O&O stations
Study: Young men flee but old men favor TV
Martha verdict gooses Fox News ratings
Dear Abby, how can I leave Homer? -Marge
Boston Herald staff protests Barnicle's hiring

Web Shorts

PayPal a bit too zealous in fighting fraud?
Yahoo: Online ads boost offline branding
EU crackdown on web copyright infringement
Quarter of surfers log on outside home or work

People
Nancy Hallberg named group VP of marketing at Time Inc.'s Parenting Group
Heather Noel Roach and Greg Licciardi join Travel + Leisure as senior account managers
Tom Cotton becomes president of Aspect Group
Ari M. Brandt rises to SmartMoney associate publisher for marketing
Jennifer Buzzelli named Court TV senior director of international distribution and co-production
Carolyn Everson becomes MTVu director of advertising sales
Kristin Brown rises to Discovery VP of talent relations, strategy and development
John Harran named Turner Network Sales director of new business development
Is O.J. stealing satellite service?
William Hung might become America's 'Idol' after all
Actor Paul Winfield dies of a heart attack at 62
Body of actor/author Spalding Gray, 62, found in East River

Wednesday, March 10, 2004

Television
EchoStar gamble: Yank Viacom's chain
Will it work? (Up against the wall, Moneybags.) Dropping CBS in 16 markets and cable content for entire 9.4 million subscribers.

Cable recap
'Sopranos,' once more with feeling
N.J. love story: Crowds flock back, if a tad smaller. Debuts as the night's top show after 'L&O,' with 12M+ viewers. But then it's HBO.

Television
Sumner stunner: Boob's a boob
Oops. Viacom's old rascal lets rip on Janetgate as broadcast executives promise Washington to clean up their smutty ways. 

Broadcast recap
ABC spike from King spooker 'Hospital'
Best debut of season among adult 18-49 viewers. Actually, the best in a couple of years, and on a network that sorely needs it.

Research
Hark! Beware of those screen mice.
You know, those promos that pop up during a show. Fearing TiVo, networks are upping their use, adding further to ad clutter.

This week in television
It's 'Game' on tonight for UPN
All-CGI show with Lucy Liu and that 'Seinfeld' guy. Premieres at 8, minus controversial skin shot (no kidding, faux butt is cut).

News Shorts
'Cracking' loses 'Idol's' momentum Tuesday
Monday movies: 'Angels' tops 'Judas' in 18-49s 
King World won't drop Stewart's 'Living' (yet)
Star: Us got snookered; Us: Oh no we didn't
Swish! NBA TV scores Comcast deal
Farmer Ron: Mr. Big bids farewell to the city

Web Shorts
Yahoo targets local ads with new tools
Catch 22: Illegal gambling sites being extorted 
'Survivor' Sue's post-tantrum chat draws 25K
20-hour gaming binge kills Chinese man

People
John H. Grant promoted to VP/ publisher of Home Magazine
Jennifer Melin named Eastern advertising manager at Health Magazine
Kenneth Cassar appointed Nielsen//NetRatings director of strategic analysis
Stacey Staaterman named corporate sales development director at American Express Publishing Corp.
Judith McNale becomes Discovery Communications CEO
Jennifer Bowen and Heather McVicar rise to VP at HBO
Derek Medinarises to VP of news planning and business affairs at ABC News
Sidney Blumenthal named D.C. bureau chief at Salon.com
CBS aims at casting Peter MacNicol in 'Numbers'
Patrick Dempsey is ABC's new 'Surgeon'
J. Lo gives Fox first dibs at her projects
Joan Van Ark is home again at CBS
'Murphy Brown's' Robert Pastorelli dies at 49

Thursday, March 11, 2004

Television
EchoStar and Viacom end blackout
Full satellite service is back for nearly 10 million subscribers. Who really won? Terms are secret but bet it was Mel's crew.

Magazines
Lucky, now Cargo, next a shelter title
Cond Nast  planning a magalogue for the home. Tossing concept out early as the leading player in shopping guides. More to come.

New media
Ideally, a grand swat at spamsters
Top ISPs file suits targeting internet's worst offenders under new federal law. But winning and closing them down will be a toughie.

Television
End and new beginning for 'Practice'
ABC spinoff for fall built around Spader's character. Kelley legal drama bounced back from near death for a respectable season.

Dayparts update
Best of suds on 'Young and Restless'
CBS daytime soaper extends its lead in total viewers. (Sharon comes clean about what happened to Cameron. She killed him.)

This week in television
I'm a celebrity ...Get me on 'Will & Grace'
A new week, a new famous face. Tonight it's Edie Falco, taking a break from the mob. Last week it was John Cleese. Will still single.

News Shorts
'Kingdom' crumbles in second outing Wednesday
'Cracking' loses 'Idol's' momentum Tuesday
FX's 'Shield' returns to smaller audience 
Liberal radio network sets March 31 launch
Post's page-one plunging co-ed draws boos
Yet more Janet fallout: 'Top Model' orgy yanked 
Former BETer Johnson starting Carolina sports net

Web Shorts
RealNetworks claims MLB webcasting foul
Study: Sky's blue, grass's green, undergrads drink
'Alias' star Garner helps recruit future spooks
Wham! All George Michael's music, for free

People
Warren Siddall named VP of sales development and marketing at ABC
Sam Tanenhaus named New York Times Book Review editor
Alex Ward named New York Times editorial director of book development
National Geography Adventure promotes Brigitte Baron and hires Bryan Kinkade
Jerry Maglio named executive VP of marketing for Starz Encore 
Ted Ryan named VP of advertising sales at Nationalgeographic.com
Donald Trump hosting 'Saturday Night Live'
Actor Robert Pastorelli's death from a heart attack, not drugs

Friday, March 12, 2004

News Shorts
CBS originals scoot ahead of NBC Thursday
'Kingdom' crumbles in second outing Wednesday
House approves $500K indecency fine hike
Stern muses: Maybe I'll jump to satellite radio
New Penthouse deal would kick Gucc to curb
Ousted Omarosa lobs racially charged grenade
Bud will continue as Olympians' beer of choice

Web Shorts
NYT has zero tolerance for online spoof
Starbucks trots out the tunes for latte sippers
'Game Over' apt title for UPN gamer show
Study: Rise in STDs for gays who meet on web
The Flexibot, for those mindless household tasks

People
Philip Whitney and Mark Orwoll join American Express Publishing
Phyllis Calvano named VP and controller at New York Times
Rob Smith named Xbox Magazine editor in chief
Francesca Reyes rises to Xbox Magazine executive editor
Dan Morris rises to PC Gamer editor in chief
Researcher Andrew Fessel files suit against ABC
Janet Jackson appearing on 'GMA' (with five-second delay)
Bubba The Love Sponge: President Bush had me fired
'Wallace' biographer Marshall Frady dies at 64

Monday, March 15, 2004

News Shorts
Sunday's 'Law & Order: CI' lifts NBC to No. 1
Fox tops with 'Cops' on Saturday night
Survey: Martha readers stand by her name
Another Pepsi Smash special caffeinates WB
Study says traditional news sources down
Into our daily vocabulary, 'wardrobe malfunction'

Web Shorts
Web abuzz with 'Idol's' odds-on favorites
Listing for Vietnamese women gets eBay boot
Europeans plan to protect kids from web predators
FCC considers best way to slam cell spam

People
Einson Freeman, Inc. names Jeffrey Rubin associate creative and director partner, Carrie Spinelli Faeth production artist, Tracy Drelich senior account executive and Kelsey Woods account executive
John Pasmore named CEO and publisher of Trace magazine
Music critic Neil Strauss leaves New York Times
Tom Scocca replaces media critic Sridhar Pappu at the New York Observer
The WB adds Barbara Hershey and Anson Mount to 'Mountain' cast
CBS signs Christa Miller and Julia Duffy for untitled pilot
Ed Glavin becomes executive producer of 'The Larry Elder Show'

Tuesday, March 16, 2004

News Shorts
Originals boost NBC past CBS reruns Monday
Sunday's 'Law & Order: CI' lifts NBC to No. 1 
Primetime producer exits over contract flap
Coming soon to on-demand, Hustler TV?
#@$%! Wal-Mart boots alt-weekly over f-word
MTV signs another Simpson for reality show

Web Shorts

Apple: 50M iTunes served in first 11 months
Judge shuts down Interior internet (for Indians' sake)
PayPal: Uh, some private info's on the loose
19% of opt-in email being blocked by filters

People
Robert Davis joins IFC as VP of technology and production
At Boston Magazine Publications, Jamie Swartz LeBlanc rises to publisher, Alana Connolly rises to sales manager and Katherine Ozment becomes senior editor
John Harran becomes Turner Network Sales director of new business development
Robert Carl appointed director of investor relations at Gemstar-TV Guide International
Girls Inc. honors ESPN's Christine Driessen
Susan Ritchie named VP of communications at Discovery
TLC's 'Clean Sweep' sweeps in new host Tava Smiley
It's a girl for Denise Richards and CBS's Charlie Sheen
Animated Phil Rosenthal pilot 'Vinyl Caf' snapped up by CBS
Olympia Dukakis joins cast of CBS' 'Center of the Universe'
Eddie McClintock becomes one of 'The Robinson Brothers'
Sugar Ray Leonard steps back into the ring for NBC's 'The Contender'

Wednesday, March 17, 2004

Washington
Uncle Mel's Irish up over dirty-talk radio 
Karmazin: FCC standards on decency are goofy. Defends Howard Stern to senator. Suggests agency waffles on what's okay on radio. 

Magazines
Alexis: My mom Martha's a good lady
Stewart's daughter speaks out about the trial, chatting it up tonight with Larry King. Martha's big flaw: She gives too much.

Broadcast recap
Returning 'Crossing Jordan' delivers 
For NBC. After a year of rest, bettering ratings of flopped 'Lyon's Den' and its own earlier performance. Takes Sunday 10 p.m. slot. 

Cable recap
After 'Monk,' USA's most noble effort
But short of a kingly debut for 'Touching Evil.' Another quirky copper with promise, this with Bruce Willis as executive  producer.

Remembering
Name's Kelly, quite a few of them, too
This being St. Patty's Day, and himself being Michael, the late esteemed  journalist, a great horde, not all Irish, will tilt a few 

Reader survey
Is this decency thing now out of hand? 
Has America lost its senses over Janet and Howard? Or is it the pols and media stirring things up for votes and ratings. You tell us.

This week in television
Head on down to 'South Park'
Stan, Kyle, Kenny & Cartman return for their eighth season. Have you ever heard a fourth-grader curse this much? You bet your @#$.

News Shorts
Super-sized 'Idol' lifts Fox Tuesday night
Originals boost NBC past CBS reruns Monday 
MSLO: Lotsa bucks ($4.4M) on Martha's defense 
ESPN women's b-ball show sets record
Nick's new schedule includes 'Dora' spinoff
Islamists file FCC complaint vs. Clear Channel

Web Shorts
The next legit download market? Europe.
Now on AOL, pay your bills altogether online
NYT locates funny bone, allowing satire to stay
Get 'Star Search' winner's single at Napster
A daily ABC soap fix through text message

People
Doug Herzog officially joins Comedy Central as president
Tracey Marshak becomes account executive for PIC-TV's New York office
Jim Houran named New York sales director for Sports Illustrated
Forbes.com names Anne Toal regional sales manager for New York
Lamar Graham rises to general manager of Parade Publications
CEO John Perriss exiting ZenithOptimedia Group
Robert Balmaseda named Carat Interactive VP of internet services
Amy Galleazzi becomes American Media executive director of PR
Richard Goldschmidt joins Millsport as VP of business development
Kate Dimmock becomes Shop Etc. fashion director
Ian V. Rowe named VP of public affairs and strategic partnerships for MTV
Ethan Embry and John Ross Bowie cast in Fox pilot 'Lucky Us'
Jeri Ryan added to CBS drama pilot 'Sudbury'
Henry Winkler, Jeffrey Nordling and Darryl Bell cast in NBC comedy pilot 'Beverly Hills SUV'
ABC interested in DDJ pilot starring Univision's Sofia Vergera
TelAmerica Media/Admax VP of station relations Lee Rudnick dies

Monday, March 22, 2004

News Shorts
Fox's revamped Sunday boosts it to first
CBS shoots to No. 1 on Friday & Saturday
USA Today: Eight Kelley stories were fakes
UPN bumps bruised 'Game' to Friday night
Radio smut stunt backfires on Atlanta DJs
'Angel' fans trying to fight off WB's stake
Hilton hurt by horse while filming 'Simple 2'

Web Shorts
AOL puts fight to spammers by blocking sites
Witty worm whittles through firewall to attack
Top news sites on the web belong to papers
Did your neighbor give to Bush? Check online.

People
It's official: Cosmo advice columnist Irma Kurtz jumps to Glamour
Keith Whelan joins Progressive Farmer as advertising account manager
Kathy Gordon rises to group publisher of Discover, Disney Adventures and Disney Magazine
Famke Janssen joins 'Nip/Tuck' for 12 episodes
Rashaan Nall cast in UPN's 'One on One' spinoff pilot
Latest 'Osbournes' controversy: California company sues MTV Networks Enterprises and Telepictures Productions
George Hamilton replaces Robin Leach as host of ABC's 'Life With Luxury' specials
'NewsRadio' star Dave Foley hosting Bravo's 'Celebrity Poker Showdown'

 
Tuesday, March 23, 2004

News Shorts
'CSI: Miami' pushes CBS past NBC Monday
Fox's revamped Sunday boosts it to first
History Channel's new sked: Tech and Westerns
Mr. Williams, you can put your pants back on (J/K)
NBC aims at X-Games crowd with new tour
Emap is losing Face, that hip '80s British magazine
Metro International launching a NYC edition in May

Web Shorts

If you're searching for s*x, head for .xxx
Virginia prof sez he didn't lampoon Laura 
$-seeking lesbian sells her virginity online
Harry hoax: Email tricks Potter fan into long trip

People
Jeffrey Hinson rises to EVP/ CFO of Univision
James O'Hara named VNU Media Measurement and Information Group SVP/CFO
Ronald Plante appointed Lifetime Entertainment Services VP of strategic planning and scheduling
William Marimow named managing editor at NPR
Michael McLaren named McCann Worldgroup EVP and director of global accounts
Casey Jones named McCann Worldgroup EVP and global strategy director
Eric Markgraf upped to EVP at Fox Sports Marketing
Ahmed al-Shaikh named editor in chief of Al-Jazeera
Parker Posey playing cop on USA's 'Frankenstein'
CBS' 'Cooking Lessons' adds Gil Bellows
'Alice's' Linda Lavin guests on Passover episode of 'The O.C.'
John Kruk becomes 'Baseball Tonight' analyst
Mo'Nique hosts Lifetime's 'Queen For A Day'

 Wednesday, March 24, 2004 

Television
Passing the crown to Fox's 'Idol'
Tonight, second matchup against CBS's 'Survivor.' Look for an easy victory. Power of reality warbler seems only to grow with age.

Radio
Mix it up at National Public Radio 
Boot to most-listened-to morning host in America, Bob Edwards. Hires top editor for national news. Change simmers in Kroc pot.

Research
Our wayward press, and shallow to boot
Study: Reader flight may reflect less substance, as newspapers lighten up on real news for celeb fluff in desperation to attract young.

Broadcast recap
Midseason report card: Mostly Ds & Fs
Few new shows are rousing viewers. Amend that. None. Don't expect any back next season, except perhaps 'Kingdom Hospital.'

Cable recap
A court of first resort for non-b'ballers
Big bump for Court TV's premieres in NCAA faceoff : 'The System' and  'Body of Evidence.' Most-watched night of original shows ever.

This week in television
'D-List' and proud of it
On Bravo, Kathy Griffin dishes on her fellow semi-celebs, often hilariously and harshly so. Join her in baking Ms. Britney.

News Shorts
Fox zooms ahead Tuesday on supersized 'Idol'
'CSI: Miami' pushes CBS past NBC Monday
Discovery upfront: More 'Chopper' & poker 
Philly a go after MTV cuddles with Teamsters 
Boyd: Blair's still at it with tall tale about my mom
Cable blockers pop up for worried parents
On ESPN's 'Dream Job,' viewers decide

Web Shorts
Wal-Mart expands its dirt-cheap download list
Study: Cost-conscious consumers skip b-band
Viruses jack up disaster recovery $ 23 percent
New Opera browser lets you sing your sites

People
Mary Ann Norbom named Star West Coast bureau chief
Carolyn Sollis named Home & Garden names style director
Eileen Diskin rises to senior director of communications at Comcast Cable
James Miller resigns as senior executive producer at CNN following suspension
Sharon Byrens named first VP of sponsored films for TNT
Univision Communications Inc. names Sandi Stretch VP of marketing and business development, Western Region, and Matt Chandler VP of marketing and business development, Eastern Region
Martin Savidge joins NBC News as correspondent
Mo'Nique hosting BET Awards again
The WB casts Fran Drescher in sitcom pilot 'Shaking Up'
CBS adds Melina Kanakaredes to the cast of 'CSI: New York'
Newlyweds Nick and Jessica launching ABC variety show
Comedy Central president and CEO Larry Divney getting roasted
Don Imus rails against CBS's Lesley Stahl following interview cancellation
Yoanna House takes the crown on 'America's Next Top Model'

Thursday, March 25, 2004

Sports TV
Win for George in fight with Jimmy
Panel: Cablevision must offer YES as basic service. Tosses Dolan argument that Yankee games should be subscriber option.

Newspapers
Hoot and Howell: Raines in a rampage
Booted editor: I tried to save the NY Times from itself. Atlantic bullyrag: Younger Sulzberger lacks the stuffing of leadership.

Research
A silo of their own for the lost boys
In this age of media-multitasking, there's one notable exception:
video games. The young men who play them are not TV watchers.

Radio
But a wee peep from liberal network
Starts next week with affiliates in just three markets. Its best hope may be leftie wit Al Franken's Bush-jabbing into elections.

Dayparts update
Watching 'Ellen' behind Oprah & Phil
Syndie talker's audience grows by a third since November sweeps. Growth bolsters faltering talk genre as sitcoms take hit in viewers.

This week in television
Brandon's back, tonight on Fox
Former 'Beverly Hills, 90210' pretty boy Jason Priestley guest stars on 'Tru Calling.' Ah, so far from the Peach Pit he's traveled.

News Shorts
'Idol' wins ho-hum face-off with 'Survivor'
Fox zooms ahead Tuesday on supersized 'Idol'
'Idol' judge: Why, I'd never use my finger like that
It's alive! Canceled 'Guy' gets Cartoon revival.
Nickelodeon & Nick at Nite go under Nielsen knife
NY Times piggybacks on Britain's Telegraph

Web Shorts
Microsoft's European Commission fine: $613M
RIAA files yet more suits, some on campuses
Jacko says internet wacko's selling his stuff
TiVo reaches out to advertisers with new toy
Chinese gov't says web bad for kids' heads

People
John Muszynski rises to Starcom USA managing director of investment
Steven Fueling becomes Starcom USA chief marketing officer
Mary Jo Romeo and Tammy Palazzo join Working Mother Media
Activist Danny J. Bakewell's family buys LA Sentinel controlling interest
Dan Ragone named associate publisher of Elle magazine
Guy D. Holliday becomes New York Times VP of advertising sales
Hillary Andrews joins The Weather Channel as on-camera meteorologist and host
Christine Merrifield-Wehrle named MediaVest SVP and group director
NBC casts Beverly D'Angelo in untitled sitcom
Seth Green developing animated series for Cartoon Network
Richard Simmons slaps man in Phoenix airport
VH1 working on movie of Michael Jackson's life
Victoria Gotti gets her own A&E reality series

Friday, March 26, 2004

News Shorts
'Idol' wins ho-hum face-off with 'Survivor' Wednesday
Game over for TechTV, merging with G4
Fox carting off 'Cracking Up' until summer
At the Times, a new error scarer (sans Blair!)
Gancing: Not the hot trend but Stuff's little hoax
Brothers launch new stand-up comedy net 

Web Shorts
Study: 22 percent of oldsters are on the web
AOL claims CAN-SPAM is starting to work 
Brits tell file sharers they jolly well better quit it
Taking a bite out of Apple's iPod Europe launch
Interior Dept. back on the net after appeals ruling

People
Robin Domeniconi promoted to president of Real Simple
OK's Nicola McCarthy joins Us Weekly as executive editor
Michael Browner tapped as consultant for American Media
Kim Komando joins CNNfn as a consumer technology contributor
Sabine Feldmann named Child associate publisher
Sarah Michelle Gellar a no-show for the last episode of 'Angel'
Crooner Frankie Valli turns mobster on 'The Sopranos'
Barry Watson and David Gallagher to return to '7th Heaven' for the final episodes
Obscenity-slinging radio commentator Sandra Tsing Loh hired at KPCC-FM
Michael Rosen resigns as senior broadcast producer of 'Paula Zahn Now' and 'Anderson Cooper 360'
James Spader, Rhona Mitra and William Shatner confirmed for cast of 'The Practice' spinoff
Jerry Orbach rumored to be leaving 'Law & Order' for spinoff
Mia Maestro joining 'Alias' as Jennifer Garner's sister
Controversial reporter Ashleigh Banfield leaves NBC News
USA Network developing series based on MacKinlay Kantor's 'If the South Had Won the Civil War'

Monday, March 29, 2004

News Shorts
NBC & Fox split leadership on slow weekend
NY assembly calls for Nielsen LPM inquiry
CBS to 'Survivor' columnist: Stop telling secrets!
U.S. closes Iraqi paper accused of lie-mongering 
Longtime 'L&O' fixture heads for the door
Fox boots 'Wonderfalls' to Thursday slot

Web Shorts
Prince's royal new online download venture
Microsoft jumps into search fray vs. Google
Yahoo: Major portals will be duking it out
Don King gives Kerry a virtual one-two punch

People
Jacqui Gold Grunfeld named NBC Studios VP of business affairs
Matt Mattox rises to Technology Review VP of business development
NBC casts Drea De Matteo as Joey's little sister in 'Joey'
Wyclef Jean playing Curtis Mayfield in the season finale of 'American Dreams'
ABC adds Nick Lachey to the cast of 'Hot Mama'
UPN in negotiations with Jenny McCarthy for 'Bad Girl's Guide'

Tuesday, March 30, 2004

News Shorts
On Monday of repeats, NBC & CBS stay ahead
Fox ties with NBC for Sunday lead 
Court TV's new sked has investigatory overload 
NBC renews rejuvenated 'Crossing Jordan'
Southern Living: Uh, icebox rolls are fire hazard
USA Today may pursue criminal case vs. Kelley

Web Shorts
Study: Working women are webbie women
Microsoft slashes Xbox price by $30 
From WB to AOL, 'Everwood' available online
RIAA goes global with song-swapper suits

People
Frances A. Largeman named Health food and nutrition editor
Louis Gutierrez and Andrew T. Martin named ABC's HR Business Partners VP of human resources
Clark Bunting rises to Discovery Networks EVP
David E. Kelley wants another 'Practice' spinoff
Halle Berry drops out of HBO's 'Lackawanna Blues'
Richard Kind joins Aisha Tyler's CBS show
Former Newsweek writer Richard Manning dies at 53

Wednesday, March 31, 2004

Research
New York to Nielsen: Hold off on meter
Hillary Clinton joins protest over rollout of LPM. Senator, joining chorus, contends new system will undercount Hispanics and blacks.

Television
Networks: Let's talk about the V-chip
Big Four joining Ad Council to promote screener for use by parents. Will run public service messages and set up web sites on their use. 

Broadcast recap
Growing pull of 'Two and a Half Men'
Building smartly on 'Everybody Loves Raymond.' Ties for first in time slot among 18-49s and retains 92 percent of lead-in. 

Cable recap
Right happy March Madness for ESPN
Sockeroo viewer boost for women's basketball. Best ratings since 1999 for NCAA tournament, up 33 percent over last year so far.

Obit
A fond good night to Alistair Cooke
He explained America to the world and to itself. A Brit by birth and the voice of the BBC's 'Letter from America' for 58 years.

Obit
Remembering John Sack, war reporter
Gifted writer and a longtime Esquire contributor, he covered combat in Vietnam and other conflicts with a storyteller's eye. 

This week in television
Slam dunk competition's gender bender
Guess who won the high school McDonald's All-American contest? A soaring 6-foot-3 girl. Watch it on ESPN tonight.

News Shorts
'Idol' and '24's' return lift Fox to No. 1 Tuesday
On Monday of repeats, NBC & CBS share lead 
HBO lassos 'Deadwood' for second season
Pregnant Messing missing final four 'W&G' shows  
New liberal network gets XM Radio carriage 
Clear Channel OKs Jesse Jackson show 
Coming soon after long delay, the Gore network
After fog of war, CNN and FNC take Q1 dip

Web Shorts
AOL joins the online pay-for-play fray
French follow U.S. lead against alleged pirates
Study: Asian-Americans lead b-band access
New Opera tool lets you tape far from home
Enter to win spammer's ride (a Porsche)

People
Charlotte Hall named editor of the Orlando Sentinel
Judy E. Gross named New York Times vice president of publishing operations
Lisabeth Hayes and Cliff Brown join TV One as regional vice presidents
Angie O'Keefe named TV One New York account executive
Starz promotes Sheryl Anderson, John Beyler, Bill Myers and Tom Southwick
Adam Farkas named VP of information technology, Patricia Folgar named art director and Kristen Robert named VP of pricing and planning for advertising sales at Hallmark Channel
CBS talking with Kirstie Alley about comedy project
NBC adds Shelley Long to untitled Marsh McCall comedy project
ABC casts Keith Carradine in new sitcom 'The Savages'
Sela Ward signs on for CBS TV movie about murderous Texas wife

Thursday, April 1, 2004

Magazines
Martha: That juror's a liar and a bum
Appeals conviction over failure to disclose arrest. Papers allege guy roughed up girlfriend and stole from Little League. Ugh.

Television
Yet another honor for BBC's 'Office'
Peabody for TV excellence, actually quite the big deal.  Also, winners for documentaries on corruption, racism and AIDS.

TV review
'The Big House,' an even bigger mistake
New ABC sitcom stumbles under lack of weight.  Jewel: 'It's a bad sign when viewers pray for the main character to be killed off.'

Research
Reality steals from scripted TV. (Not.)
Real losers: Newsmags, movies and game shows. Study: Dramas and comedies actually taking a larger share of primetime.

Dayparts update
Network news is holding up decently
Off only slightly from a year ago and the Iraq attack, even as all-news cable networks see viewer numbers take a steep plunge.

This week in television
On Showtime: 'Penn & Teller: Bleep'
Actually, it's 'Penn & Teller: Bull&^%$,' the anti-magic show premiering tonight. Sorry, Mike Powell, you can't touch that title.

News Shorts
Fox eases to No. 1 Wednesday with 'Idol' & 'O.C.'
'Idol' and '24's' return lift Fox to No. 1 Tuesday 
Nielsen LPM protesters form Don't Count Us Out
Trouble in Springfield? 'Simpsons' strike rumored.
Food Network & Hallmark set new schedules
Yankees opener draws early-rising crowd
Make her smile and she'll sit through your ad

Web Shorts
Study: Most won't file taxes online this year
Revlon films star-studded mini-movie for net
Microsoft suspends sports game releases
Nifty new gadget puts washers & dryers online 
On April Fool's, a WMD goof courtesy of Google

People
Senior art director Jill Groeber and columnist Susan Spungen leave Martha Stewart Living for Lifetime
Herb Greenberg joins CBS MarketWatch as senior columnist
Kevin Noonan named director of new business development
Mike Stopper joins Ryan Partnership as managing director
CNN adds Betty Nguyen as an Atlanta-based anchor and Ed Henry as Washington correspondent
Rachel Newell named ATTIK new business manager
Mike Antinoro and Will Staeger promoted to executive producers of ESPN Original Entertainment
Chris Ender named SVP of communications for CBS
Anthony Baston rises to senior producer of '48 Hours Investigates'
Jo Sweby named director of acquisitions for Cartoon Network, Boomerang and Toonami
Ex-GE head Jack Welch headed to Fox?
Oscar Leon Walker named accounts director by Ethnic Print Media Group
ABC adds Orlando Jones to 'The Catch' and Lindsay Price to pilot 'Hot Momma'

Friday, April 2, 2004

News Shorts
A Thursday first: 'Apprentice' betters 'CSI' in 18-49s
Fox eases to No. 1 Wednesday with 'Idol' & 'O.C.' 
More on Martha's (allegedly) mendacious juror
At NYDN, executive editor scooted to op-ed
Kutcher departure a ruse? MTV gets re-'Punk'd'
April fools! Stern's not really off the air ... yet
NBC grabs expensive CGI 'Pride' by the tail

Web Shorts
From email to gmail, Google's new thing
EU orders members to pass spam legislation
Netflix numbers on rise during first quarter
Prank: Web site declares Kobe trial KO'd

People
Michael Grade becoming new BBC chairman
Anna Perez named chief communications executive for NBC
Peggy Northrop becomes More magazine editor in chief
Daniel Wilkins rises to Wilkins Media Co. account supervisor
Jeffrey Weiss named Adlink director of account planning
Susan Unger named BusinessWeek Online account manager
Niels Schuurmans named SVP and creative director for Spike TV
Philippe Bernard becomes president/EMEA for Initiative Worldwide
NBC adds Connie Britton to cast of comedy project 'My 11:30'
Ed O'Neill co-starring opposite Jennifer Love Hewitt in ABC comedy project
The WB taps Blair Brown to star in 'Dark Shadows' remake
Warner Bros. releasing Rosie O'Donnell's memoirs after all

Monday, April 5, 2004

News Shorts
Final Four games lift CBS to No. 1 Saturday
MSL asks readers: Where do we go from here?
Poor Gore! Numbers may not add up for new net.
Harper's bizarre? Brown Q&A gets dummy byline.
Worshipping at the house of 'The Simpsons' 
Ozzy says doctor's orders made him goofy

Web Shorts
MarketWatch partners with Thomson Financial
Study: Young men prefer games to newspapers
Chinese report big web site boom since '02
DA candidates say porn isn't really theirs

People
John Rhys-Davis joins Bill Pullman and Natascha McElhone on NBC's 'Revelations'
Michael Boatman joins Lewis Black on untitled ABC comedy project
Kelly Osbourne follows in brother's footsteps and checks into rehab
Sports broadcaster Pat Summerall awaits a liver transplant in Florida
Screw publisher Al Goldstein's wife No. 5 takes off
Joan Richman, CBS Emmy-winning producer, dies at 64

Tuesday, April 6, 2004

News Shorts
No b-ball bounce for CBS as NBC wins Monday
'Ten Commandments' still strong for ABC Sunday
Fox waves goodbye to critical fave 'Wonderfalls' 
'Farscape' miniseries highlights new Sci Fi sked
Forget 'Sopranos,' Nick has most violent shows 
Study: Lots of TV = low attention span for kids
Microsoft Mets? MLB ponders ads on uniforms. 
Rocker's fake boober shakes up Canada

Web Shorts

Brightmail says spam hit all-time high in March
Could G-mail violate users' privacy rights?
Bet on this: Sites start canning casino ads
New from Nintendo, a Game Boy-video viewer

People
Leo Hindery Jr. leaves YES for Kerry campaign
Michael Dugan retires from EchoStar
Tom Cosgrove and Stacy Jolna named GMs and SVPs at TV Guide Television Group
Loretta Devine joins Lifetime's 'Wild Card'
J.K. Simmons and Elizabeth Mitchell join Barry Pepper on ESPN's Dale Earnhardt bio
Rebecca de Mornay appearing on 'The Practice'
WB nets Alec Newman for 'Dark Shadows'

Wednesday, April 7, 2004

Research
Nielsen blinks: Halts New York rollout
Bows to politics over racial makeup of viewer sample for people meter. Latest delay raises big questions about fate of LPM rollout.

Sports TV
Pssst! Final deflate for college b'ballers
Nifty season windup ends in ratings whimper with UConn blowout. Viewer #s for game were actually down from last year's worst-ever.

Broadcast recap
CBS's sudden Thursday night blues
'CSI,' including various kin, was unstoppable. Then it got stopped by The Donald, throwing into doubt its competitive position this fall.

Cable recap
Roasting Mel in his own juices
Hot #s for 'South Park's' 'The Passion of the Jew.' With 'Chappelle,' Gibson sendup drove Comedy Central to second-best hour ever. 

Radio
Readers: Not much hope for lib radio
Survey: But gabber Franken is hot stuff. Opining on launch of Air America, rank leftie witster as No. 2 interesting talk personality.

This week in television
Hike! Giants QB looks for love on ABC
The fifth edition of 'The Bachelor' launches tonight. In with all the women, a ringer to report back to our misty-eyed jock, Jesse.

News Shorts
Tuesday's Elton John night on 'Idol' lifts Fox
No b-ball bounce as NBC passes CBS Monday
Rupe: We're coming home to America 
It's the graveyard for 'Stones' & 'Cracking Up'
Attn. Trump rejects: You've got a job at KFC  
New Essence fashion launch gets a title, Suede
WB's 'Gilmores' gone wild? Rory's all-girl kiss.

Web Shorts
Study: First timers have better conversion rates
Microsoft gives out source code info
All things monitored in the house of the future 
Christie's mysteries, coming soon for gamers

People
Gregg H. Liebman becomes vice president of CNN ad sales research
Kellie Watt named marketing services manager at DJG Marketing
Frank DiGiacomo leaving the New York Observer for Vanity Fair
Charlotte Ross exits 'NYPD Blue' following birth of son
Tammy Laspalakis named consumer marketing director at The Parenting Group
Rachel Campos and Florence Henderson named hosts of 'Lifetime's Speaking of Women's Health'
Pam Oliver joins TNT for NBA playoffs

Thursday, April 8, 2004

Magazines
A spring-back for investor magazines
Strong ad page gains through March for top titles, 21 percent for Barron's, 11.3 percent for Money and 8.7 percent for Smart Money

Television
At Augusta, it's a game of waiting
The elite golf match could go ad-free for more years still. CBS surely misses the revenue but what matters is the relationship.

TV review
'Homeland Security,' duck, run for it
Unreal NBC drama of saintly sorts out to save us. This movie, sprung from a series pilot, should have remained in the can.

Dayparts update
Banking on a few laughs with Trump
Delivers for NBC as host of 'Saturday Night Live.' Quite nicely, too. Third best numbers for the season for the comedy show. 

Rachel speaks!
'Rachel, how do I educate my clients?'
Tips on passing on the basics of media planning. They may think they know them. It's worth the effort to explain what they don't  know.

This week in television
The mystery of 'Kurt and Courtney' 
Tonight, with the 10th anniversary of his suicide, Trio wonders, was the Nirvana lead singer murdered? Smells like a conspiracy.

News Shorts
Tuesday's Elton John night on 'Idol' lifts Fox
Prosecution objects to Martha's juror furor
New Nielsen service will track video games
Limbaugh lawyers: Protect Rush's records
'Queer Eye' turns to gals on new Bravo sked
Stern-free Clear Channel still gets FCC fine
Indecency vote pushed till after spring break?

Web Shorts
Study: Satellite way up & wired cable way down
Is broadband stealing viewers from TV? Perhaps.
Surgeons who do this make better cuts
Beer-swilling Brits enjoy high-speed kicks

People
Deborah Needleman named editor in chief of new Cond Nast home-focused shopping magazine
Scott Verel hired as the Los Angeles account manager of Departures magazine
Fernando Acosta rises to Pappas Telecasting Companies VP and Azteca America group manager
Christian Drobnyk rises to TLC VP of programming
Richard Garcia rises to Paxson Communications CFO
Ashton Kutcher and Dr. Phil appearing on 'The Bernie Mac Show'
Christopher Reeve returns to 'Smallville'
Carson Daly receiving MTV 'TRL Awards' lifetime achievement honor
George Segal and Susan Sullivan join CBS pilot 'The Amazing Westerbergs'
'Apprentice's' Ereka: Oprah wouldn't let me talk
Former ABC News correspondent Jack Smith dies at 58

News Shorts
'Nick & Jessica' give ABC a Sunday boost
Fox and NBC split weekend leadership
Clear Channel cans two for mic malfunction
WB gives early nods to 'Everwood' & 'Smallville' 
Jackson exposes breast and funny bone on 'SNL'
Shaq attack: More on-air swearing from Laker

Web Shorts
Air America sets Real Networks streaming record
Does the RIAA know? Netsky targets Kazaa.
AOL opens walled garden to non-subscribers
IRS says e-filing up 12 percent over last year

People
Liz Daney named SVP and chief media officer at Fitzgerald & Company
Jared Paul Stern named editor at large for Star magazine
Paul M. Moore named public editor of The Baltimore Sun
Steve Aaron appointed group publishing director of Future Network USA's music division
Frank Bruni and Eric Asimov become The New York Times food and wine writers
Tim Koorbusch named New York sales manager at Sunset magazine
R. Michael Leo appointed CEO of Trafficmac
The WB orders Drew Carey sketch comedy pilot
UPN considering sitcom with Charisma Carpenter and Tyler Labine
'Will & Grace' co-star Debra Messing has a new baby boy
Brigette L. Parise, NATPE VP of member marketing, dies at 44
Actress Carrie Snodgrass dies at 57

Tuesday, April 13, 2004

News Shorts
A fine-looking Monday for NBC & Miss USA
'Nick & Jessica' give ABC a Sunday boost
ABC renews eight & brings back 'Nick & Jess' 
Bush bumps schedules with tonight's speech
Pre-Stern return, a bit of archives editing
EchoStar threatens to drop Turner networks

Web Shorts
Senator: There oughta be a law against Gmail
Asian portal sues Microsoft for anti-trust breach
New e-prank crowns Kerry king of waffles
Yikes! Spam may hit 142B in four years.

People
Carat's Robin Steinberg jumps to MediaVest to head print ad-buying unit
Robert Troutbeck elected Audit Bureau of Circulations president
Matthew Purdue appointed executive editor of Worth
Jamie Mark named creative team publications art director and Annemarie Healy named assistant account manager at Starmark International
Lifetime drama 'Strong Medicine' adds Tamera Mowry
CNN editor Tomas Etzler wounded in Fallujah
Donald Trump doubles his dough for next 'Apprentice'
Babs getting $6 million to write memoirs?

Wednesday, April 14, 2004

Television
The inevitability of a gay TV channel
A once unthinkable idea is becoming a lot less so. Launching in the fall: here! TV, offering satellite subscribers 24/7 gay programming.

Research
A truer measure of viewer loyalty
Index melds networks' length and frequency of viewing. No. 1 among adults 18-49 is SOAPnet but coming in at No. 2 is ESPN. 

Broadcast recap
Fox's 'The Swan,' no ugly ducking
Strong numbers in first two outings of reality show. Plain Janes made over to compete in beauty pageant.  The scalpel, please.

Cable recap
Bright cable morning with Condoleezza
America turns to all-news networks for Rice's live testimony. Fox News leads, averaging 1.92 million viewers to CNN's 1.23 million.

Commentary
A little common sense regarding TiVo
Don't sweat the technology. Create better ads. Stop talking at your customers. Start communicating with them. We owe it to them.

This week in television
That's no bird or plane, it's Chris Reeve
Original 'Superman' flies back to WB's 'Smallville' to talk to the young Clark Kent. Exploring the mythology of kryptonite and all that.

News Shorts
NBC leads Tuesday's Bush speech coverage
A fine-looking Monday for NBC & Miss USA
Glamour's Grimes out, Details publisher in
Spears wants reality show ('Newly annuleds'?) 
Smoking Gun: The Source isn't paying the bills
NBC nixes earlier pick-up of Smits drama 
Poll: Singles sigh, 'I want a guy like Chandler'

Web Shorts
Microsoft: Beware these critical Windows flaws
Hackers attack college & research machines
On the rise, those easy-order cyber catalogs 
'Pig Brother,' the days and nights of swine

People
Gary Wenstrup rises to Midwest sales director of Better Homes and Gardens
Pete Macheska named lead producer of MLB on Fox
Peter Mathes becomes chairman of the board of AsianMedia Group
Charles Gasparino leaving The Wall Street Journal for Newsweek
NBC in final talks with Donna Murphy for pilot 'My 11:30'
The WB adds Kelly Hu to the cast of 'Dark Shadows'

Thursday, April 15, 2004

Radio
Yikes! Is it curtains for Air America? 
Money squabble shuts down liberal network in LA and Chicago. Words most nasty fly about. Rush gloats over leftie chatter woes.

Research
Clutter's in the eyes of beholders
Study: Viewers perceive fewer ads on favorite networks, regardless of number of messages they may actually sit through.

TV review
BBC's 'State of Play,' simply stunning
Debuting Sunday, it's the year's best new show, a thriller drama. But take a pass on tonight's 'Trailer Park Boys.' Canadian humor.

Dayparts update
Promising nudge for 'Face the Nation'
Climbing on 'Meet the Press' among older viewers, even as it
lags far behind in total audience. Could be the guest gas factor. 

This week in television
Finally, the Donald says 'You're hired'
On tax day, the winner of "The Apprentice" is about to move into a very different tax bracket. But who will it be, Bill or Kwame?

News Shorts
NBC leads Tuesday's Bush speech coverage
Martha juror charges: He lied about even more
President's speech draws a crowd on cable
Forget indecency, Fox revs up lingerie league
ABC boots 'GMA's' Ross to 'Primetime'
How much marketing is okay aimed at kids?
New book savages Vogue editrix Wintour

Web Shorts
Amazon sneaks into cut-throat search field
Rotten Apple? Critics decry iPod mini static.
Yahoo broadband offers movies on the cheap
Dirty-talkin' spammers now need a warning label

People
Jody Quon becomes New York Magazine photography director
Luke Hayman joins New York Magazine as design director
Elizabeth Ritzcovan named luxury sales director of House & Garden
Joel Cheatwood hired as senior executive producer at CNN Headline News
Gary De Sanctis rises to Time4 Media's Marine Group VP of sales
Sean O' Leary rises to Eastern advertising director for the Time4 Media Marine Group
Andrea Fahy named Time4 Media's Marine Group Western advertising director
Publisher and editor of Salt Water Sportsman Rip Cunningham, retires
Tanya Van Court joins ESPN broadband and interactive television as VP and general manager
Robert Spodek named MSNBC VP and CFO
Three suspects arrested in murder of Memphis DJ Rebecca Glahn
FX working on deal with Andre Braugher for new drama 'Thief'
Ashley Scott playing Matt LeBlanc's neighbor in NBC's 'Joey'
Actor Christopher Plummer starring in Showtime's 'Our Fathers'
NBC adds Christopher Moynihan to 'Foster Hall'
Fox seeking Rob Estes' replacement for drama 'The North Shore'
Where do all the failed 'Apprentices' go? A dotcom for two.
Bill D'Elia named showrunner for ABC's 'The Practice' spinoff
Independent Film Channel pays tribute to Spalding Gray
Rudolph Giuliani joins Spike TV to launch a national men's health campaign

Friday, April 16, 2004

Radio
Air America back on the air in Chicago
Liberal network wins court order forcing station to broadcast it. But it's still dark in Los Angeles in bitter squabble over money.

Newspapers
Newsday to famed scribe: You don't say
Slaps bar bard Jimmy Breslin for cooked quotes. What's12 years? Writer cracks wise: 'It looks like I failed a quiz in journalism school.'

Younger viewers
Under the knife with the under-aged
Teens flocking to MTV's 'I Want a Famous Face.' (Hmmm, this week, let me look like J. Lo. You'll need to pad the butt just a bit.)

In their own words
Radio's Howard Stern: 'We are at war'
Self-confessed king of all media and famed dirty taker rants on air about the coming fight over indecency. He vows to be at center. 

Rachel speaks!
'Rachel, what's a good Chicago wage?'
A look at Windy City salaries for media people. Obviously, there are huge variations, and then you toss in bonuses and benefits . . .

This week in television
Best tube bets this weekend
Friday: Yanks-Red Sox on Fox; Saturday: NBA playoffs on ESPN; Sunday: VH1's 'Divas 2004' with Jessica Simpson & more.

News Shorts
'Idol' boosts Fox past NBC & ABC Wednesday
Bill wins 'Apprentice,' but many wouldn't stay
Tarantino gives censors f-ing good time on 'Idol'
Lifetime's schedule: Movies & miniseries
Newspapers: A much improved first quarter
NRA will take a shot at media ownership

Web Shorts
Lindows no more: Linux makes a name change
Google launches local advertising service
You draw potato, this engine goes and finds it
AT&T Wireless helps users name that tune

People
Stephanie Miller named VP of strategic services at Return Path, Inc.
Joel Schwartzberg becomes Nemours Center for Children's Health Media editorial director
Alison Lowery named Tacoda Systems director of engineering
Fox News producer Eric Spinato picked up by Star
Patrice Adcroft joins Marie Claire as No. 2 editor
Fox adds Brooke Burns to the cast of 'The North Shore'

Monday, April 19, 2004

News Shorts
NBC's cops and doctors dramas win Sunday
Friday Yanks-Red Sox game no hit for Fox
ABC readies Mindshare show for summer start
Can Gutfeld be British Maxim's laddie savior?
Dirty-talkin' C-Span considers instituting delay
A new look for NY Times business section

Web Shorts
Study: 55 percent of web surfers use b-band
Apple to RealNetworks: No alliance, thanks
For the indecent-wary, a new DVD player 
Headless cat email = big headache for Ford

People
NBC News' Tom Brokaw sets Dec. 1 retirement date
Dana Deighton named National Geographic Kids magazine promotion director
UPN signs Tori Spelling to star in comedy pilot 'Me Me Me'

Tuesday, April 20, 2004

News Shorts
Weak 'Restaurant' no match for CBS Monday
NBC's cops and doctors dramas win Sunday
Disney workers' vote revealed: Big no for Eisner
Moonie properties get the axe and the pump
NBC ponders Bill-centric 'Apprentice' spinoff 
TV Land goes semi-dark for 'Friends' finale

Web Shorts

RIAA wipes out clean slate amnesty program
Privacy zealots file complaints over Gmail
Spam down, spyware still to go for feds
Fastest-growing group on the web: the wealthy
Coming soon: Watch movies on paper DVDs

People
Charles G. McCurdy, co-founder of Primedia, forms Apprise Media
Ben Sherwood named 'GMA' executive producer
David Watt named publisher of SI for Kids
Beverly Smith becomes Rolling Stone senior director of fashion advertising
James Remar replaces Rob Estes on Fox's 'North Shore'
Josh Randall added to cast of CBS's Ricki Lake show
Aron Kader joins Henry Winkler on NBC's 'Beverly Hills SUV'

Wednesday, April 21, 2004

Television 
Clean sweep of ABC's top executives 
Lyne canned with Braun. McPherson takes over. Disney double-whack, with just weeks to go before network's upfront presentation.

Newspapers
Scandal boots top pencil at USA Today
Answering the question: Who will take the fall? Karen Jurgensen leaving ahead of harsh report on story-cooking by errant reporter.

Radio
For now, call Air America Air New York
Silent again in Chicago and still off the air in LA. Liberal network must find new stations in both markets. Down to NYC and burgs.

Broacast recap
As sweeps nears, a much stronger NBC 
A fizzled Fox looking into May, thanks to the Donald. Peacock takes six out of the top 10 shows among adult viewers ages 18-49.

Cable recap
Kobe effect? NBA viewing up smartly. 
Playoff games in top 10 after regular season rise. ESPN sees 14 percent rise in average households to 1.19 million from 1.04 million.

New media
An internet nod to Dean and Stewart
Sure, they lost but their sites are up for Webbys. Among scads of nominees in eighth annual vote for most creative, amusing, etc.

This week in television
Real world drama for 'College Hill'
First season of BET reality skein ends at the hospital. Follows the lives of college students. A solid show without the fake drama.

News Shorts
Manilow-themed Tuesday 'Idol' puts Fox in front
Weak 'Restaurant' no match for CBS Monday
FCC's Powell eyes satellite & cable regulation
Survey: Two-thirds say too much smut on TV
Latinos' primetime presence up, but not much
Doonesbury tackles serious Iraqi war issue

Web Shorts
Great Danes way ahead of world in e-commerce
World shows vulnerabilities to eager hackers
Sprint and AT&T agree to share the hot spots
Jacko web master shut down in New Jersey

People
Michael Boodro named Elle Decor features director
Pat Walters named PROMAX&BDA VP/CFO
Sumithra Barry promoted to director of program research at NBC Entertainment
Shannon Hebert named VP of integrated marketing at National Geographic Television & Film
Josh Feldman becomes sales manager for Adult Swim at Cartoon Network Sales and Marketing
Scott Perlmutter promoted to VP of distribution at GSN
Peter Agiovlassitis named VP and director of media services at Rockett, Burkhead & Winslow
WB adds Billy Campbell to cast of 'Rocky Point'
ABC adds Don Rickles to cast of 'The Catch'
USA names Adam Goldberg as star of modern-day 'Frankenstein'