***
Who Wants to Pay for Free Samples?
According to an article from Electronista, music royalty groups such as ASCAP and BMI are pressuring online music stores including iTunes to pay the same performance fees that they pay for song downloads when you purchase music for videos and 30-second music preview samples. This is more of an FYI and an outraged yet skeptical WTF because I sincerely, highly doubt that this movement will ever be successful. Mostly because it would cause a severe Napster-sized spike in illegal downloading again as frugal consumers and music connoisseurs will be forced to look elsewhere to preview music before they buy it if these online music retailers are forced to limit or remove preview samples from their sites. Once again, the music industry shows its age by trying to fight a media movement that has been ten years in the making. Figure out a different way to make money, friends. It’s that simple.
***
The ‘Friends’ Might Be There For You on the Silver Screen
In an effort to capitalize on the success of television reunion movies such as Sex & the City and Arrested Development (vow: one day I will be able to add Veronica Mars to this list), studio execs are putting their heads together to get a Friends movie script going. Actor James Michael Tyler, who played Central Perk’s Gunther on the series, stated to the press that the film currently has a 2011 target release although representatives for many main cast members have claimed that this news story is speculative. Regardless, a Friends movie?! Really??! A movie for a show that aired for ten years—the last two years of which, in my opinion, were phoned in at best?? (Let’s be real: You hated Ross, too, by the end of the show.) Meanwhile, there are countless shows that were yanked before their time that would benefit from being given some sort of theatrical follow-up to wrap up loose ends and give fans a sense of closure. I’m glad that Hollywood seems to be open to the idea of carrying small screen stories over to the big screen because it is exciting and blissful to be reunited with beloved characters, but pick something that’s worth it not only at the box office, but to the people who will be spending the ten bucks on a ticket.
***
Seth MacFarlane Gets Cut So Deep By Tina Fey
At this year’s Emmy Awards, Tina Fey made a crack at Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane during her presenter speech, saying, “Let's linger on this magical time at the beginning of the evening when everyone is still a winner. And Seth MacFarlane is only pretty drunk.” That was September 20. On October 3, two weeks later, Seth MacFarlane stated to the press that he was unhappy and shocked by Fey’s comment and claimed that he worries now everyone will think he has a drinking problem. Dude, let’s talk. First, Tina Fey is a funny lady. She makes jokes. No one thinks you have a drinking problem. Mostly because Tina Fey, as I just stated, is a funny lady and people know when she is joking. Second, you make a living and have gained notoriety by making fun of sensitive issues like abortion in the form of a cartoon sitcom that airs on Fox. Learn how to take a joke. And if you’re going to take issue with something, don’t wait two weeks to do it.
***
Beyonce Defends Kanye’s VMA Actions
In an interview with Gayle King (yes, that Gayle King), Beyonce delivered the following comments in reference to Kanye West interrupting Taylor Swift’s VMA acceptance speech and claiming that Beyonce was robbed of the award for Best Female Video. Beyonce said, “I knew his intentions and I knew he was standing up for art. When they didn't call my name, he was completely shocked. When he walked on the stage, I was like ‘No, no, no!’ He spoke and I'm like, ‘Oh, no, no, no!’” Standing up for art? Really? Hmm. That sounds like you are implying that Taylor Swift’s music is not art. I’d reconsider since Swift has won countless awards and been nominated for a Grammy before she was even allowed to by beer—many of them before she was allowed to vote. Don’t detract from the gracious presentation you made by allowing Swift to make her speech in place of you winning Video of the Year by saying things like that and this other gem from the King interview: “In the end, it ended up being a great night. Taylor Swift did get her moment and I didn't have to make an acceptance speech.” Don’t do that, Bey. As the great Kelly Clarkson once said, “Just walk away.”
***
NBC Cancels ‘Southland’ Before Its Second Season Premiere
Last night, NBC rocked the TV industry when it announced that it was pulling popular, critically and publicly acclaimed rookie cop drama Southland BEFORE its October 23rd second season premiere. The network had already pushed the premiere date back from a September 25 air date. NBC plans to leave Dateline airing in the would-be Southland timeslot of Friday nights at 9. Meanwhile, Jay Leno continues to suck up five primetime slots a week on NBC with his not-so-late night yet cheap-to-produce talk show. It appears that NBC has decided to give in to the downward spiral that has been pulling it down since 2005. Also, this just in: NBC hates television.
And THAT was the Week in WTF!
UPDATE 9:02pm:
This is a really, really good interview from EW with Southland star Michael Cudlitz. He talks about what the cancellation means to him, Southland's prospects for being picked up somewhere else and some other good, solid truths about the state of television and NBC's fuck-all attitude.
UPDATE 6:31am 13 October 2009:
It looks like TNT might be able to play the hero here. The cable network is currently in talks to pick up Southland. Most likely, if the deal goes through, they will air the six episodes that have been fully produced and then decide (based on how well the show does for them) whether or not to order a full season (which for a cable network usually means 10-15 episodes, not a full 22).
UPDATE 8:15am 24 October 2009:
The Hollywood Reporter says that TNT is very close to closing a deal with Warner Brothers TV to get Southland on their network. Reports say that the tentative plan would be to air a 13 episode season comprised of the original 7 season one episodes (that aired on NBC last spring) and the 6 unaired episodes that were produced before NBC cancelled the show and shutting down production on the series.
UPDATE 10:56am 29 October 2009:
Still no signed deal from TNT and Warner Brothers, but the LA Times Blog reports that the two parties are very, very close to finalizing negotiations to get Southland a new home. Reports are consistent that should TNT officially acquire Southland the network will air the first season and six unaired episodes of the second season before deciding whether or not to renew the show and start production again. I'm pretty excited about this plan because I never got around to watching Southland last summer anyway, so this will be an easy way to catch up. Plus, the fact that other networks took immediate interest in the series once NBC cut it from their schedule is a good start to attracting new viewers. Reports also note that even though the close of the deal is apparently not far off, Southland will probably not return until 2010.
UPDATE 10:29am 2 November 2009:
Entertainment Weekly's Michael Ausiello reports that TNT has officially picked-up Southland!!! The show has a home! Rest easy now, friends. According to the official press release from TNT, Southland's first season on TNT will begin airing Tuesdays at 10pm starting January 12. As previously reported, the season will consist of seven NBC season one episodes and six unaired would-be NBC season two episodes for a total of 13 TNT season one episodes (did you follow that? If so, props.). Congratulations to the cast and crew of Southland! Looking forward to seeing you back on the air in 2010.
UPDATE 4:48am 3 November 2009:
Last and final Southland update for this post. Ausiello talked with Southland star Michael Cudlitz yesterday. Cudlitz said that because the show will have a longer run time on TNT that they are going to add bonus footage that was previously edited out of the season one episodes when the show reairs on TNT in January. Longer, more substantive episodes can only help retain new and old fans alike, so this is just another good move for the Cinderella TV show of the year. Good for you, Southland Coco!
0 comments:
Post a Comment