« July 16 - July 22 July 30 - August 5 »

Al Gore Invented YouTube

July 28, 2006

It’s a bad joke just waiting to be uttered, but the ex-president-elect did invent Current TV, a viewer-created channel.

You just may not be paying attention because not many people watch it.

But, now that stuff like YouTube and Bravotv.com’s “video mash-ups” (and other sundry examples) are the hottest thing on the 'net, Current TV is getting attention.

“Obviously they didn't get what we were doing,” says Joel Hyatt, CEO and co-founder of San Francisco-based Current TV. “Now, just shy of our first anniversary, the entire industry is copying us -- how we are engaging our audience to contribute to the content they consume. Those executives that scoffed at us are now saying to their teams: Go figure out how to do what Current is doing.”

Indeed, in the year since the 24-hour network premiered on Aug. 1, 2005, Current TV is seeing its model readily duplicated by such major cable players as MTV and VH1, and, soon, the newly formed CW broadcast network.

Although Current is by no means the creator of the viewer-contributed genre, the channel has done much to integrate and showcase such content into both its on-air and online programming.

“We really set out to be at the cutting edge,” says Hyatt, “to be at the intersection of television and the Internet, bringing what we felt was badly needed innovation to television and doing so by borrowing much of what one could learn from the experience of the Internet. We want to be the television home page of the Internet generation.”
At the moment, Current still appears to be more of a zap-by-it channel than appointment television. And its newfangled idea of quick-hit pod programs might have to be incorporated with old-school 30-minute and hour-long series.

“What MTV and The CW are doing,” says Robert Thompson, director of the Center for the Study of Popular Television at Syracuse University in New York, “is taking this concept that Current is developing and putting it within actual programming."

“My guess is,” Thompson continues, “that Current TV is going to do exactly what virtually every other cable network has done: diversifying their schedules, diversifying their genres and depending on scheduled
series. That's the way, for over half a century, programming works on television.”

But, says David Neuman, president of programming for Current, “if you stick to the notion of half-hour and hour shows and set a schedule, you're disenfranchising all those people that may actually be able to contribute. We want to create compelling television for the audience while radically innovating and facilitating the contributions of the audience creating this product.”

Nearly a third of Current's nonfiction programming, aimed at 18- to 34-year-olds, is derived from viewer contributions. Most of these pods, which are tagged “VC2” (VC squared), are about five to nine minutes long and viewers can select their favorites online for future play on the channel.

This is by no means a unique phenomenon. On a recent sojourn to Italy, BBCancelled did an interview on All Music.

On the distribution end, Current recently signed a deal with Comcast Digital Cable that almost doubles the channel's reach from its initial 17 million U.S. households to about 30 million.

$300 Million For Stupid Parents

Television broadcasters and other entertainment providers unveiled a $300 million ad campaign Thursday to teach parents how to shield their children from objectionable television shows.

Standing in front of the television with their stomach in the way is not an option proposed.

Nor is simply turning off the television. Or throwing it away. Unplugging it. Setting a time limit. Or taking the child to the park and playing outside you know, spending "quality time" together in any old-school sense of the word.

Instead, the public service announcements urge parents to visit a web site that offers information on how to use the “v-chip” and cable set-top boxes to keep sex and violence out of their living rooms.

Oh, so really it’s about buying something new -- or at least a new TV with a V-chip inside. Ugh.

Jack Valenti, former president and CEO of the Motion Picture Association of America, and the single most ridiculous person ever allowed in charge of movie ratings (he invented NC-17, gave movies PG-13 rating for sex but not violence, because killing is better than making love) unveiled the ads to congress yesterday.

Oh great, get them involved. Because they are so useful when it comes to parenting.

Committee Chairman Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, said the campaign will work “if people listen.”

Please! Somebody! Spend $300 dollars to put Valenti and Stevens on a plane to a very small island. One way. No return. Getting rid of them and their money-wasting ideas could be the most important thing we do it.

If you’d like to contribute to the BBCancelled Stop Wasting Money campaign, email us. If you’d like to laugh at their ridiculous, useless advertisements, watch them here.

Leno Dissed by Landis

Instead of going on "The Tonight Show" as if it were "Larry King Live" -- you know, shed a tear, say you're sorry, be in Page Six tomorrow -- Floyd Landis cancelled his appearance with Jay Leno scheduled for tonight.

Not that we’re surprised. He won the Tour de France after the race was so (!) dominated by Lance Armstrong for a zillion years. He’s American. He came back from behind in the standings. It was a good race. Everyone was excited.

Well, everyone into cycling.

Now he failed a drug test. Sort of. His testosterone was elevated during at least one stage of the race. He’s under a media thunderstorm. His mom is even in hiding, supposedly. Floyd is in Europe.

So maybe it’s not such a surprise to cancel on Leno.

But if he’s super-innocent, then why wouldn’t he want to just show up and chatter on about how innocent he is and show no fear? "Take my medal," he could say. "I know that I’m clear and that I won."

Maybe that’s just wishful thinking here at BBCancelled. Then again, we are prone to outrageous fantasies.

MTV Rewinds. You Record

July 27, 2006

Clear out some space on your TiVo.

To celebrate the 25th anniversary of MTV’s launch, VH1 Classic will air the entire first day of the channel’s life in 1981. At midnight on Monday July 31st, you can catch the first-ever aired video “Video Killed the Radio Star," by the Buggles, and then just keep your déjà vu in check until midnight, Tuesday, August 1st.

This is good news for those in a certain age bracket to relive their youth, but also for those too young to remember what videos are (since they are so hard to find on MTV today).

The day-long tribute will also feature most of the original VJ’s, including Martha Quinn, Mark Goodman, and Nina Blackwood.

Microsoft Loves Arrested Development, Too

Go ahead, Bill Gates. Just try and take on BBCancelled.

Later this year, Microsoft will offer free episodes of “Arrested Development” through it’s MSN Video service.

A spokesman for the software giant said, “'Arrested Development' created an incredibly passionate and dedicated fan base, and we're thrilled to bring this series to the global MSN audience.''

Yeah no kidding.

It goes without saying that this was a show cut down WAY before it’s time. At only three years and 53 episodes of comic genius, it was one of Fox’s most phenomenal blunders. We can only hope that like “Family Guy” the newly generated interest in this show will resurrect it.

Beside the MSN showing, HDNet will begin airing ''Arrested Development'' episodes in September on its high-definition network, which is offered on some cable and satellite systems.

Okay, but we started it.

Scotty Beams Up … For Good

In what could become a trend among dead “Star Trek” cast members, the ashes of James “Scotty” Doohan will be blasted 70 miles into space.

Doohan’s deed is unique, but not rare, actually, the company has already shot-up a few dozen folks.

A Houston-based company called Space Services, Inc. will shoot your ashes into space for anywhere between $500 and $1500. No word as to what makes it more or less expensive, but it appears to be Rocket Adjacency, or something like that. According to a spokeswoman, “everyone wants to be in the same rocket as James Doohan, he was so beloved.”

The October 21st “memorial spaceflight” that Doohan’s dust will be on is also slated to carry the ashes of Gordon Cooper, one of the original seven Mercury astronauts.

Says Doohan’s widow: “It’s a way to honor something he would have loved to have done.”

Sweet. A little spooky. But sweet.

Nerd Jokes Gone Wrong, Very Wrong

Alright, here’s what happened.

Ken Jennings, former $2.5 million Jeopardy champion said on his blog that “Jeopardy” is the “Dorian Gray of Gameshows” and needs an updating.

Then he goes on to make a few suggestions: work with any other color than blue, include physical challenges, use angry bees as motivators.

And it was clearly a joke. And some if it was even a little bit funny.

Not to Michael Starr, over at the New York Post who accused (link: ) Jennings of biting the hand that fed him.

We know how the Post really hates an intellectual, but the story was picked up and run all over the place. (Damn Internet!) Headline: Obscure nerd who used to be on TV is ungrateful about a show that old people watch, and where he won A LOT of money.

Hopefully people will go to Ken Jennings blog and read the missive for themselves. Then again, this is so boring, we’d actually rather watch a rerun of “Jeopardy.”

Barney Fife Statue...Gone

July 26, 2006

We can’t believe we’re talking about this again, but it broke our jaded little hearts.

First the Mayberry town was going to get a statue of Barney Fife. Then the bastards who control the rights to Gomer Pyle's image said "No way!" Paramount yanked the rights to the actor’s likeness.

Sad, yes, but now this is become ridiculous.

Until yesterday -- when the sculptor destroyed his creation by crushing it to pieces. If nobody wanted it, then no one should see it, he figured.

Now this episode is staring to feel like a tragedy.

ABC Viewers On Hiatus. Seriously.

The network finished a distant fourth last week in the broadcast ratings among all television viewers and those aged 18 to 49, according to Nielsen.

Late July ratings are about as meaningless as they come for broadcast networks.

But hey, who wants to be in fourth place? That’s like getting a tin medal. No gold, silver, bronze…but tin.

ABC laid an egg with ''Making a Music Star,'' which drew fewer than 3.1 million viewers for its premiere last week. Even fewer people -- 2.6 million -- bothered watching the results show the next night. The network was undoubtedly hurt by Fox's ''So You Think You Can Dance,'' NBC's ''America's Got Talent'' and CBS' ''Rock Star: Supernova'' getting to the air faster.

Better? Not necessarily, but they were on faster.

ABC's two most-watched prime-time programs last week were the news shows ''Primetime'' and ''20/20.'' The most popular entertainment show was a rerun of ''America's Funniest Home Videos.''

And “they” say news magazine shows are dead!

Play Housewives Without Dressing Up

July 25, 2006

The previously-rock solid hit show has fallen on hard times (one Emmy nod and critical drubbings, as well as sliding ratings).

But the licensing juggernaut continues.

Coming this fall: Desperate Housewise PC Game “starring” Brenda Strong. Buena Vista Games, the interactive wing of Disney, will publish the “lifestyle simulation PC game.

Sounds hokey, but could be a hoot. Players get be a new housewife on Wisteria Lane and “unlock the delicious scandals hidden in the seemingly ‘perfect’ neighborhood.”

Ms. Strong will reprise her narrating voice from the series on the game. No word on whose voice “you” get to be while playing. Nor is there any word on how many male characters will waltz through the game without their shirts on.

But folks doing press on the game said they’d send a copy to BBCancelled ASAP to try out. We’ll let you know as soon as possible.

Crazy Gigantic Television Screen

Just in time for Christmas, the largest flat screen television will be available. It’s six-feet by nine-feet and weighs 450 pounds.

And it’ll set you back $70,000.

But can you imagine how AWESOME “24 will look on a screen the size of a queen-size bed?

Panasonic is behind the behemoth. They’re calling it a “103 inch television.” The resolution is 1080p, or about two million pixels.

Simpsons Family Grows Exponentially

It’s not enough to be the coolest, freshest, and brightest (color-wise) show on TV. “The Simpsons” is adding superstar guests.

Natalie Portman, Kiefer Sutherland, the White Stripes and Dr. Phil McGraw will be among the guest voices on the upcoming season of ''The Simpsons.''

Joe Mantegna will reprise his role as Springfield's infamous mob boss Fat Tony when the animated Fox show begins its 18th season Sept. 10. Joe Pantoliano and Michael Imperioli guest-star as Fat Tony's main thugs, the network announced Monday.

As David Letterman would say: “Simpsons, Sopranos. Sopranos, Simpsons.”

The White Stripes voice themselves in the Sept. 17 episode when Bart organizes a benefit concert to repair his arm that was mangled by a tiger Lisa rescued from the local pound.

McGraw, Fran Drescher and comedian Richard Lewis guest-star in a Halloween episode on Nov. 5. Sutherland voices a hard-nosed colonel when Homer lands in basic training on Nov. 12.

Also paying a visit to Springfield will be authors Tom Wolfe, Gore Vidal, Michael Chabon and Jonathan Franzen.

In May, the Emmy-winning series will air its 400th episode.

400! In TV time, that’s about a million.

Super-Size Show Reordered

July 24, 2006

Morgan Spurlock -- who created the documentary ''Super Size Me'' and the television show ''30 Days' --' says the reality TV boom has been good for documentaries.

And good for his own wallet. "30 Days" is coming back for season two.

He promised more unusual switches in the second season of his own reality show, ''30 Days,'' in which people on different sides of an issue trade lives for 30 days.

But he said one person who won't be making more switches is his wife, who last season lived with him on minimum wage for the show's debut episode.

''She said, 'you're on your own this time, pal.' In this season's finale, I get locked up in jail for 30 days. She sees me off before I go, visits me and greets me when I get out. So she makes cameos.''

Carol Burnett

“Does this mean I'll never get another bad review?'' the 73-year-old actress-comedian joked Sunday as she accepted a career achievement award from the Television Critics Association.

Burnett then recounted how ''The Carol Burnett Show,'' which aired from 1967-78, got started. A pay-or-play clause in her regular contract with CBS offered a deal for 30 hour-long variety shows—yes 30! Can you imagine a network making a commitment like that today?—was about to run out and she decided to exercise it.

The network, she said, wasn't thrilled. A CBS executive told her that variety was the proper domain of male stars like Jackie Gleason, Sid Caesar and Milton Berle and suggested she consider a proposed sitcom titled ''Here's Agnes,'' Burnett said.

''I'm so glad I didn't do 'Here's Agnes,''' she said, dryly.The variety show represented ''the greatest years of my professional life'' and the TV critics' honor rightly belongs to the show's cast and crew, she said.

Burnett, also a singer, starred in a series of musical specials with guests including Julie Andrews, Beverly Sills and Dolly Parton and in three TV adaptations of the Broadway musical ''Once Upon a Mattress,'' most recently in 2005.

Not one to rest on her laurels, Carol Burnett was a guest star on ''Desperate Housewives” last year.

Amazon.com to Launch Video Downloading

Lookout iTunes, Amazon wants your business.

Looking to replicate the success of iTunes, and Netflix, but without the snail mail and red envelopes, Amazon.com is launching “Amazon DV.”

The new program will be a combination of both, Ad Age is reporting today. Folks can buy videos outright, or they can download them, or they can subscribe, so they’d get each new episode everyweek without having to ask.

Experts are enthusiastic that Amazon.com, with a history of making their site user friendly, will be able to create a seamless interface that audiences will enjoy.

The best quote is from Rob Enderle, principle analyst at Enderle Group. "Right now we've got music services all over the place, but video is not cooked yet."

And, something we didn’t know here at BBCancelled. Yes, it’s true, there are things we don’t know. Is that Amazon owns IMDB. So they’ve already got a serious finger-on-the-pulse of the video/film/content business.