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| Newsmaker: Jeff Bezos, tech pioneer to turn media baron Monday, Aug 05, 2013 08:56 PM PDT  By Bill Rigby SEATTLE (Reuters) - Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon.com Inc and soon to be the new owner of the Washington Post, is one of the few chief executives in corporate America who refuse to bow to Wall Street's quarterly profit demands. Since starting Amazon in 1994, he has frequently upset investors by spending heavily on long-term investments, even if it means missing analysts' financial targets and sending the e-commerce giant's stock price plunging. Bezos' approach makes him well-suited to own a storied but deeply troubled newspaper business like the Washington Post. ... Full Story | Top |
| Sony rejects Loeb's proposal to spin off entertainment unit Monday, Aug 05, 2013 08:26 PM PDT  By Mari Saito TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's Sony Corp on Tuesday rejected a proposal from activist shareholder Daniel Loeb to spin off part of its entertainment business, arguing it could still squeeze synergies from its marriage of content and hardware while promising greater disclosure. Sony's decision could end a three-month effort by Loeb's Third Point LLC hedge fund to convince the company to sell as much as a fifth of its money-making entertainment arm - movies, TV and music - to free up cash to revive the electronics business. ... Full Story | Top |
| Amazon's Bezos to buy the Washington Post for $250 million Monday, Aug 05, 2013 08:10 PM PDT  By Jennifer Saba (Reuters) - Amazon.com Inc founder Jeff Bezos will buy the Washington Post newspaper for $250 million in a surprise deal that ends the Graham family's 80 years of ownership and hands one of the country's most influential publications to the businessman whose Internet company has transformed retailing. Bezos, hailed by many as technology visionary, called his acquisition a personal endeavor and reassured employees and readers of the 135-year-old newspaper he will preserve its journalistic tradition, while driving innovation. ... Full Story | Top |
| For the Grahams of the Post, stewardship was the mission Monday, Aug 05, 2013 06:56 PM PDT  By Fred Barbash WASHINGTON (Reuters) - For years, the Graham family, owners of the Washington Post, would fly two dozen senior editors to a luxury resort in Puerto Rico, where they would mingle with then-chairwoman Katharine Graham and listen to her son, Donald Graham, talk about the need to cut expenses. As they headed for the hotel casino or to the golf course few editors could take Graham's warnings seriously. They also knew that when the big story broke, they would be told personally by Graham to mobilize without regard to cost. ... Full Story | Top |
| TCA: The amazing story of how MLK ad-libbed the 'I Have a Dream Speech' Monday, Aug 05, 2013 05:16 PM PDT By Tim Molloy NEW YORK (TheWrap.com) - Clarence Jones, the advisor to the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. who co-wrote an early draft of the "I Have A Dream Speech," recounted the story Monday of how King delivered the most famous part of the speech spontaneously. Jones was part of a Television Critics Association panel Monday about PBS's "The March." Denzel Washington provides the narration for director John Akomfrah's PBS film about the 1963 March on Washington. It airs on August 27, the eve of the 50th anniversary of the march. ... Full Story | Top |
| Benedict Cumberbatch, John Malkovich join 'Penguins of Madagascar' Monday, Aug 05, 2013 05:15 PM PDT By Jeff Sneider LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - In a casting coup, DreamWorks Animation has set Benedict Cumberbatch and John Malkovich to voice new characters in its spin-off "The Penguins of Madagascar," TheWrap has learned. The animated movie, which features the penguins from DWA's "Madagascar" franchise, is scheduled for release on March 27, 2015. An individual familiar with the project tells TheWrap that Malkovich will voice the film's charming villain, while Cumberbatch will voice a high-ranking animal CIA agent hot on his trail. Simon J. ... Full Story | Top |
| TCA: Denzel Washington Records 'The March' Narration Monday, Aug 05, 2013 05:14 PM PDT  By Tim Molloy NEW YORK (TheWrap.com) - Denzel Washington is providing the narration of the new PBS documentary "The March" about the 1963 March on Washington, PBS announced Monday. The Oscar-winning actor recorded his narration over the weekend for the special, which will air Tuesday, August 27. PBS made the announcement at the Television Critics Association summer press tour. Director John Akomfrah called the march one of the few "unsullied utopian moments of the 20th century." The film revisits the march and Dr. Martin Luther King's delivery of the historic "I Have a Dream" speech. ... Full Story | Top |
| Sam Rockwell in early talks to star in 'Poltergeist' Reboot Monday, Aug 05, 2013 05:13 PM PDT  By Jeff Sneider LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - After stealing every scene in "The Way Way Back," Sam Rockwell is in early talks to star opposite Rosemarie DeWitt in MGM and Fox 2000's "Poltergeist" reboot, TheWrap has learned. Rockwell is currently weighing several movie offers and hasn't officially decided to take the part, though an individual familiar with the project tells TheWrap that Rockwell is now the filmmakers' top choice - and that the actor is intrigued by the prospect of a lead role in a studio movie produced by horror maestro Sam Raimi. ... Full Story | Top |
| ABC News recognized by National Association of Black Journalists Monday, Aug 05, 2013 05:11 PM PDT By Sara Morrison LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - The National Association of Black Journalists handed out a pair of awards to ABC News at its annual "Salute to Excellence" Gala on Saturday. "World News with Diane Sawyer" won for "General Assignment - Long Form" for its reporting on the shooting of Trayvon Martin, titled "Shooting in Sanford," while "Good Morning America" won in the "Specialty" category for Robin Roberts' first-hand account of the difficulty African Americans face when looking for bone marrow donors, "Robin's Journey: Finding a Donor. ... Full Story | Top |
| 'Teen Beach Movie' is the second-most watched TV movie on cable ever Monday, Aug 05, 2013 05:11 PM PDT By Jethro Nededog LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - "Sharknado" isn't the only summer TV movie that's breaking records. Disney Channel's "Teen Beach Movie" is netting some real ratings records. Factoring in seven-day viewing, "Teen Beach Movie" gains 5 million more viewers for a total 13.5 million viewers. That makes it cable's second most-watched movie in cable history next to Disney Channel's own "High School Musical 2." It scores the No. 2 cable telecast among its demo of young viewers, as well: Kids 2-11 (7.94 million/20.0 rating), Kids 6-11 (6.37/27.0 rating) and Tweens 9-14 (5.11 million/21. ... Full Story | Top |
| Steven Spielberg exits Bradley Cooper's WB movie 'American Sniper' Monday, Aug 05, 2013 05:10 PM PDT  By Jeff Sneider LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - Steven Spielberg has exited Warner Bros.' "American Sniper" over budget issues, TheWrap has learned. Bradley Cooper remains set to star and produce via his 22nd and Indiana banner, though Spielberg's DreamWorks banner is no longer involved as a co-financier. An individual familiar with the project tells TheWrap that Spielberg had a vision in his head for the movie that didn't align with the current budget. Spielberg's next movie has not been decided. ... Full Story | Top |
| TCA: Tom Hiddleston on move from 'Avengers' to Shakespeare - Loki is 'quite a Shakespearean villain' Monday, Aug 05, 2013 05:09 PM PDT By Tim Molloy NEW YORK (TheWrap.com) - As you sat through "Thor," little did you know you were getting a dash of Shakespeare - courtesy of Tom Hiddleston. The British actor stars in the new PBS series "The Hollow Crown," an adaptation of the Bard's Henriad: "King Richard II," "King Henry IV, Part 1," King Henry IV, Part 2," and "King Henry V." Hiddleston's Prince Hal becomes King Henry V over the course of the plays. Hiddleston said in a Television Critics Association panel on Monday that he saw similarities between Hal and Loki, the Norse God of Mischief he played in "Thor" and "The Avengers. ... Full Story | Top |
| Fox announces NFL broadcast teams for upcoming season Monday, Aug 05, 2013 05:08 PM PDT By Tony Maglio LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - Fox Sports unveiled its broadcast teams Monday for the upcoming National Football League season - its 20th - of carrying NFL games. Joe Buck, Troy Aikman and Pam Oliver return for their 12th season of NFL on Fox, making them the NFL's longest-running broadcast team. This year marks Buck's 20th with FOX Sports and Aikman's 13th, while Oliver is in her 19th campaign. Fox's main has a great first regular season game in Week 1, as the defending NFC Champion 49ers host the 2012 NFC North Champion Green Bay Packers. ... Full Story | Top |
| Sony rejects Third Point's proposal to spin off entertainment unit Monday, Aug 05, 2013 04:54 PM PDT  TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's Sony Corp rejected on Tuesday a proposal from activist shareholder Daniel Loeb to spin off a part of the electronics company's entertainment business. Loeb's Third Point LLC hedge fund proposed in May that Sony sell as much as a fifth of its money-making entertainment arm -- movies, TV and music -- to free up cash to revive the electronics business. ... Full Story | Top |
| Time Warner Cable offers unconventional deal to end CBS blackout Monday, Aug 05, 2013 04:47 PM PDT  By Liana B. Baker and Sinead Carew (Reuters) - Time Warner Cable Inc Chief Executive Glenn Britt sent a letter to CBS Corp CEO Les Moonves on Monday offering a controversial new proposal to end the blackout of CBS shows in large TV markets including New York and Los Angeles. Britt proposed selling CBS to customers as a single channel on an "a la carte" basis, an idea dismissed by CBS as a "sham." The exchange was the latest development in a contentious public battle between the No. 1 rated U.S. broadcast network and the No. ... Full Story | Top |
| Detroit launches two-month review of city assets Monday, Aug 05, 2013 04:10 PM PDT  By Joseph Lichterman and Deepa Seetharaman DETROIT (Reuters) - Detroit will begin to assess the value of its assets, including parking meters, real estate, and a portion of the Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA) collection, in what the city called a "necessary part" of its restructuring efforts. The city said on Monday it has hired famed auction house Christie's to appraise the city-owned portion of the DIA's 60,000-piece collection as well as advise Detroit officials on how to realize value for the art without selling it. ... Full Story | Top |
| Graham, Bezos hashed out Washington Post deal in Sun Valley Monday, Aug 05, 2013 04:08 PM PDT  By Jennifer Saba (Reuters) - Donald Graham, the chairman and CEO of The Washington Post Co, started talking to Amazon.com's Jeff Bezos less than a month before cinching a $250 million deal to sell the flagship newspaper to the tech entrepreneur. "I asked him why he wanted to do it and his reasons are the best ones: he believes in what newspapers do and what the Post does and that it's important to the country," Graham said in a phone interview on Monday. ... Full Story | Top |
| Al Jazeera America Hires CNN, Bloomberg veterans for 'Real Money With Ali Velshi' Monday, Aug 05, 2013 04:06 PM PDT By Sara Morrison LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - Al Jazeera America continued to staff up in preparation for its August 20 launch, announcing on Monday that Patricia Sabga, Duarte Geraldino and Stacey Tisdale will join the new news channel as correspondents on "Real Money with Ali Velshi." "I'm thrilled to be working with these three experienced journalists who will help me connect the economy to the daily lives of Americans," said Velshi. All three are experienced business reporters. Sabga has appeared on various CNN shows and had a stint as a Middle East correspondent for NBC News. ... Full Story | Top |
| Nick Offerman: Rashida Jones, Rob Lowe Exits make 'Parks & Rec' '65 percent less good-looking' Monday, Aug 05, 2013 04:06 PM PDT By Sara Morrison LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - Nick Offerman is moving up the attractiveness food chain on "Parks and Recreation." As Ron Swanson - the owner of one of the most famous mustaches on television - Offerman joked that the departures of castmates Rob Lowe and Rashida Jones means that he will have less competition in the looks department. "The real bummer, and my response to the rest of the cast was, unfortunately, our show just got 65 percent less good-looking," Offerman said in an interview with the Huffington Post. "The good news is, I jumped up a couple slots ... ... Full Story | Top |
| J.J. Abrams, Jeffrey Katzenberg, Alan Horn: who Are Hollywood's biggest political donors? Monday, Aug 05, 2013 04:05 PM PDT By Ira Teinowitz LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - The next big national elections may not be for another year, but Hollywood types aren't sitting on their wallets until then - Jeffrey Katzenberg, J.J. Abrams, Alan Horn, Tom Rothman and James L. Brooks are among those already donating big bucks to political organizations and candidates of their choice. The Top 20 showbiz donors have already shelled out an estimated $1.45 million collectively this year, according to an analysis provided to TheWrap from the Center for Responsive Politics. ... Full Story | Top |
| Ryan Seacrest named host of NBC's 'Million Second Quiz' Monday, Aug 05, 2013 04:03 PM PDT  By Tony Maglio LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - Ryan Seacrest has been named host of NBC's upcoming "The Million Second Quiz" that gives contestants the opportunity to compete for the largest prize in game show history, the network announced Monday. "I'm so excited to be hosting this new live game show on NBC, as it's really a fun and different format that I believe will generate lots of fans across different platforms," said Ryan Seacrest. ... Full Story | Top |
| BAFTA Los Angeles honoring Kathryn Bigelow, Ben Kingsley at Britannia Awards Monday, Aug 05, 2013 04:00 PM PDT  By Brent Lang LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - The British Academy of Film and Television Arts, Los Angeles will honor Kathryn Bigelow and Ben Kingsley at its Britannia Awards next November. The Britannia Awards celebrate the accomplishments of men and women in the entertainment industry. Bigelow, the Oscar-winning director behind "The Hurt Locker" and "Zero Dark Thirty," will receive the John Schlesinger Britannia Award for Excellence in Directing. Kingsley, best known for his work in "Gandhi" and "Sexy Beast," will be honored with the Albert R. ... Full Story | Top |
| CBS' Les Moonves a 'bellicose broadcast CEO with a Napoleonic complex,' says Cable Assn. Chief Monday, Aug 05, 2013 03:59 PM PDT  By Ira Teinowitz LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - CBS CEO Les Moonves is playing the role of "a bellicose broadcast CEO with a Napoleonic complex," American Cable Association CEO Matthew W. Polka said on Monday And, in the heat of the network's battle with Time Warner Cable, Polka is urging Congress to step in and rewrite current retransmission rules. "The action taken by CBS to black out millions of Time Warner Cable customers validates ACA's oft-stated position that the rules governing retransmission consent are outdated and need to reflect current market conditions," Polka said in a statement. ... Full Story | Top |
| Hulu launches new original series, 'Quick Draw' Monday, Aug 05, 2013 03:56 PM PDT By Sara Morrison LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - The creators and star of the TBS sitcom "10 Items or Less" debuted their new web series "Quickdraw" on Hulu Monday. The semi-historical, semi-improvisational Western comedy stars John Lehr, Robert Clendenin and Ralph Garman. Lehr plays John Henry Hoyle, the sheriff of Great Bend, Kans. - a Harvard alum, which he seems happy to tell the generally unimpressed population. "Quickdraw" is the latest original series offering from Hulu; "The Awesomes" premiered last week. Full Story | Top |
| MTV renews 'Awkward,' names new showrunners Monday, Aug 05, 2013 03:55 PM PDT By Jethro Nededog LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - MTV has given its coming of age comedy, "Awkward," a fourth season renewal. It has also named Chris Alberghini and Mike Chessler ( "90210," "Cashmere Mafia," "Are You There, Chelsea?" and "Reba") as the comedy's new executive producers/showrunners. Season 4 is slated to air in 2014. They replace former showrunner and "Awkward's" creator Lauren Iungerich, who stepped down from the position at the end of production on Season 3. The second half of the third season will debut in October. Additionally, MTV has greenlit three new unscripted series. ... Full Story | Top |
| Kanye West set for seventh performance at MTV VMAs, will tie Madonna's record Monday, Aug 05, 2013 03:54 PM PDT  By Jethro Nededog LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - Kanye West has signed on to perform for the upcoming 2013 MTV Video Music Awards, which air live from Barclays Center on August 25 at 9 p.m./8c from Brooklyn, N.Y. He will perform his single, "BLKKK SKKKN HEAD." It will be the rapper's seventh performance at the annual event, which ties Madonna for most MTV VMA performances. To commemorate the significance of the upcoming appointment, MTV Jams and MTV Hits will feature a one hour block of the rapper's videos and performances to commemorate the performance on Monday at 4 p.m./3c. ... Full Story | Top |
| Cookie Monster to Teach Kids Self-Control Monday, Aug 05, 2013 03:50 PM PDT By Tim Molloy NEW YORK (TheWrap.com) - If Cookie Monster can hold off on eating a cookie, so can you. That's the message the Sesame Workshop hopes to share with kids in the upcoming season of "Sesame Street," in which Cookie Monster will teach children self-regulation, a set of skills that help them behave, pay attention, follow rules, and even resist the lure of cookies. Kindergarten teachers will be grateful: they consider self-regulation even more essential to school readiness than skills like reading and counting, Sesame Workshop says. ... Full Story | Top |
| Tom Cruise's 'Mission: Impossible 5' to Be Directed by Chris McQuarrie Monday, Aug 05, 2013 03:49 PM PDT  By Jeff Sneider LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - Chris McQuarrie has signed on to direct Tom Cruise in "Mission: Impossible 5." McQuarrie, who has long been rumored for the director's chair, just tweeted: "Mission: Accepted." Cruise, who is also producing "Mission: Impossible 5," just confirmed the news on his official Twitter feed. He recently worked with McQuarrie on Paramount's "Jack Reacher." David Ellison's Skydance Productions will co-finance the sequel with Paramount, and Skydance will also produce with J.J. Abrams' Bad Robot banner. ... Full Story | Top |
| 'Guiding Light' Producer Gail Kobe Dead at 82 Monday, Aug 05, 2013 03:47 PM PDT By Brent Lang LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - Gail Kobe, an executive producer on "Guiding Light" and "The Bold and the Beautiful" has died. She was 82. Kobe began her career as an actress, making guest appearances throughout the 1950s and '60s on popular television programs such as "The Twilight Zone," "Perry Mason," "Hogan's Heroes," "Gunsmoke," "Mission: Impossible" and The Untouchable." The Michigan-native was discovered by Cecil B. ... Full Story | Top |
| Amazon founder Bezos to buy the Washington Post Monday, Aug 05, 2013 03:36 PM PDT  By Jennifer Saba (Reuters) - Amazon.com Inc founder Jeff Bezos will buy the Washington Post newspaper for $250 million in a surprise deal that ends the Graham family's 80-year ownership and hands one of the country's most influential publications to the tech entrepreneur. Bezos, hailed by many as a visionary who helped transform Internet retail, called his acquisition a personal endeavor and reassured Post employees and readers he will preserve the paper's journalistic tradition, while driving innovation. ... Full Story | Top |
| Republicans threaten boycott of debates over Clinton programs Monday, Aug 05, 2013 03:23 PM PDT  By Alina Selyukh WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Republicans are threatening to boycott 2016 presidential debates sponsored by networks CNN and NBC unless the networks cancel plans for special programs on Democrat Hillary Clinton, a possible 2016 White House contender. In letters Monday to executives for NBC Entertainment and CNN Worldwide, Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus said the programs amounted to political ads for Clinton, whose long public life has included serving as first lady, U.S. senator from New York and, most recently, secretary of state. ... Full Story | Top |
| TCA: Jeff Garlin Thinks There's a 'Decent Chance' for More 'Curb Your Enthusiasm' Monday, Aug 05, 2013 02:02 PM PDT (Strong language in paragraphs 6 and 8) By Tony Maglio LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - At the ABC Television Critics Association panel on Sunday for new sitcom "The Goldbergs," star Jeff Garlin said that there is a "decent chance" for more of his other show, "Curb Your Enthusiasm." "I'm not trying to figure out Larry David, I'm just appreciating what we've," Garlin said in response to a query about the future. He added, "I think there's a decent chance we'll do more. ... Full Story | Top |
| Rapper 50 Cent pleads not guilty to domestic violence charge Monday, Aug 05, 2013 12:29 PM PDT  LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - U.S. rapper 50 Cent pleaded not guilty on Monday to allegedly kicking his ex-girlfriend and a judge ordered him to stay away from the woman and get rid of his guns. The Grammy-winning rapper, whose real name is Curtis Jackson, wore a suit and stood silently at the hearing stemming from a June incident at the condominium of his former girlfriend, model Daphne Narvaez, who is the mother of his child. Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Bernard Kamins ordered 50 Cent to have no contact with Narvaez and to turn over any firearms he might have to police or sell them. ... Full Story | Top |
| TCA: With 'Betrayal,' Are Viewers Ready for a Cheating Female Protagonist? Monday, Aug 05, 2013 12:27 PM PDT By Tim Molloy NEW YORK (TheWrap.com) - Viewers have forgiven Don Draper for endless affairs, Walter White for cooking meth, and Tony Soprano for killing people. Will they forgive Sara Hadley for cheating on her husband? Hadley, played by Hannah Ware, is the protagonist of ABC's upcoming "Betrayal," a 13-episode series that follows her affair with a man who, she soon realizes, is trying to bring down her husband. "We're not boiling anybody down to heroes or villains. ... Full Story | Top |
| E.T. triumphs as British public's favorite childhood film Monday, Aug 05, 2013 11:07 AM PDT  LONDON (Reuters) - "E.T the Extra-Terrestrial", Steven Spielberg's 1982 science fiction film, is the childhood film of choice for a nostalgic British public, who also voted the 1980s as their favorite film decade. "It might be the time fashion forgot; but it certainly made an impact on our film choices," said a statement from UK arm of Korean electronics firm Samsung Electronics Co, who commissioned the survey of 1,500 people. "E.T." surpassed competition from Walt Disney's "Bambi" and "The Lion King", as well as Pixar's "Toy Story" and adventure film "The Goonies", co-written by Spielberg. ... Full Story | Top |
| Bob Dylan to exhibit his new artwork in London gallery Monday, Aug 05, 2013 09:25 AM PDT  LONDON (Reuters) - New pastel portraits by American singer Bob Dylan will go on show for the first time at London's National Portrait Gallery next month, the gallery said on Monday. The 12 new works in the "Bob Dylan Face Value" exhibition in September represent the latest portrait studies from the "Blowin' in the Wind" singer who has sketched and drawn since childhood, but only began exhibiting six years ago. "Bob Dylan is one of the most influential cultural figures of our time," National Portrait Gallery Director Sandy Naime said in a statement. ... Full Story | Top |
| 'We're the Millers' subverts family to construct it Monday, Aug 05, 2013 08:13 AM PDT  By Luciana Lopez NEW YORK (Reuters) - The cast of "We're the Millers" didn't exactly immerse themselves in research for their roles in the new comedy. Then again, considering the characters they played, that might have been for the best. In the film, which opens on Wednesday, small-time pot dealer David finds himself in hock to his supplier, and agrees to smuggle some marijuana from Mexico to the United States to pay off the debt. David, played by Jason Sudeikis, pulls together a phony family to paint a picture of innocence before suspicious border guards. ... Full Story | Top |
| Ukraine investigates U.S. rock band's flag misuse Monday, Aug 05, 2013 07:37 AM PDT  KIEV (Reuters) - Members of American rock group Bloodhound Gang, barred from Russia after a band member shoved its flag into his underpants on stage, could face criminal charges in Ukraine after a video showed him urinating on its flag. According to a text accompanying a YouTube video, bassist Jared Hasselhoff performed the stunt during a concert in Kiev on July 30, one day before the Russian flag incident. Kiev police said in a statement they had been informed about the incident on Monday and described Hasselhoff's actions as showing disrespect for the Ukrainian people. ... Full Story | Top |
| Lollapalooza's broad appeal leads to biggest audience yet Sunday, Aug 04, 2013 11:09 PM PDT  By Michael Hirtzer CHICAGO (Reuters) - Lollapalooza, the three-day music festival in Chicago's historic Grant Park, was bigger than ever this year with a lineup that honored its alternative rock roots and broadened its appeal to fans of folk, dance, rap and even country music. A record 300,000 people took in nearly 150 bands playing on eight stages set up across the mile-long park lawn just across the street from the shores of Lake Michigan. The varieties of music were as disparate as the concert attendees. ... Full Story | Top |
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