Daily Variety articles from August 2004

Daily Variety archives from August 2004

New line falls for 'Domino'.(movies)(Brief Article)
August 2, 2004... HOLLYWOOD -- Tony Scott will direct and Keira Knightley will star in "Domino" for New Line. Penned by "Donnie Darko" writer-director Richard Kelly, "Domino" is based on the true story of Domino Harvey, daughter of actor Laurence Harvey. A...

Globe in gear with 'Robot'.(World Watch)
August 2, 2004... "I, Robot" conquered the B.O. in various offshore territories over the weekend in a frame that saw terrific weather in Europe squash ticket sales, especially in the U.K. And judging by its sturdy openings and resilient holds, "King Arthur"...

Downtown L.A. reels 'em back in.
August 2, 2004... HOLLYWOOD -- Almost a century has passed since Hollywood staged its biggest premieres in the urban heart of Los Angeles. But tonight's preem of DreamWorks and Paramount's "Collateral" at the 2,000-seat Orpheum Theater could be a turning point...

Night's fright ignites: 'The Village' is the victor with $51 mil.
August 2, 2004... M. Night Shyamalan gave Disney its first big opening of the year, as "The Village" bowed with a bang, grossing $50.8 million from 3,730 theaters. Overall box office, however, expanded only slightly, and with four films opening wide over...

SAG nat'l board affirms Pisano.(Screen Actors Guild)
August 2, 2004... HOLLYWOOD -- If you think the U.S. electorate is polarized and fractious, consider the split at the Screen Actors Guild. On Saturday, the union's national board passed a resolution 68% to 31% reaffirming its faith in Bob Pisano, repudiating...

Studios try to cope with the new 'geek chic': a growing paranoia grips Hollywood as it tries to capture the nerd herds.(Hollywood Studios)(annual carnival)
August 2, 2004... THE ANNUAL CARNIVAL at Comic-Con reminds us that, while Internet geeks don't yet rule the world, they sure scare the hell out of Hollywood. Anyone surveying the promotional frenzy at the San Diego gathering last week would conclude that...

CNN wins aud vote at confab.(Cable News Network)(Brief Article)
August 2, 2004... The balloons may not have conic down on cue, but CNN won the Democratic National Convention last week on the cable news side and picked up almost as many viewers as the broadcast nets daring John Kerry's acceptance speech Thursday night. ...

AMMI spotlights Nair pix.(American Museum of Moving Image)(Calendar)
August 2, 2004... The American Museum of Moving Image will unspool a retrospective of Indian-born film-maker Mira Nair's features, documentaries and shorts Aug. 21-29. "Vanity Fair," Nair's upcoming feature adaptation of William Makepeace Thackeray's novel,...

Deauville slates Zanuck career nod.(Brief Article)
August 2, 2004... HOLLYWOOD -- Oscar-winning producer Richard D. Zanuck will be honored with the lifetime achievement award for producing at the 30th annual Deauville Film Festival. Morgan Freeman will present the nod at the fest's awards gala Sept. 7 in...

'Family Guy' carries Fox torch vs. Olympics.(Inside Moves)
August 2, 2004... Fox is turning to "Family Guy" to keep the Nielsen flame burning during the Olympics. Net will air two mini-marathons of the twisted toon as part of its laffer-heavy Olympics counterprogramming sked, finned up last week. Creator Seth...

WB creating a 'Monster'.(Brief Article)
August 2, 2004... HOLLYWOOD -- Warner Bros. Pictures and Basil Iwanyk's Thunder Road Prods. will produce a live-action feature adaptation of the 1967 Rankin & Bass animated special "Mud Monster Party." John Pardee and Joey Murphy will write the script, in...

'Band' apes monkees idea.(Brief Article)
August 2, 2004... HOLLYWOOD -- With an eye toward creating a modern-day Monkees, Michel Shane and Anthony Romano will produce teen comedy "Band on the Run." Pic should begin production early next year. London born musicvid and commercials helmer Nick Quested...

Their day in court: cabler to adapt Off B'way hit 'Exonerated'.
August 2, 2004... Court TV has signed Susan Sarandon, Danny Glover and Brian Dennehy to star in a TV adaptation of "The Exonerated," a play about six real-life people wrongly accused of crimes that put them on death row. "This is the most important project...

'Love' evolving as UA, Single Cell renew deal.(United Artists)(Brief Article)
August 2, 2004... After scoring an arthouse hit with United Artists comedy "Saved!," Single Cell Pictures partners Michael Stipe and Sandy Stern have reupped their first-look deal with the studio. And the group is getting back in business with the "Saved!"...

Ex-TV exec charged in wiretapping.(Brief Article)
August 2, 2004... HOLLYWOOD -- A former TV exec has been charged with felony wiretapping of his ex-employer while he was working for two other TV production companies. The Los Angeles County District Attorney's office announced that Steve Webster, 38,...

Theaters get 'Outfoxed'.(Film)(Brief Article)
August 2, 2004... HOLLYWOOD -- Robert Greenwald's "Outfoxed--Rupert Murdoch's War on Journalism" will receive a domestic theatrical release Friday through Philippe Diaz's Cinema Libre, opening in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Washington, D.C. Further...

Collateral.(directed by Michael Mann)(Movie Review)
August 2, 2004... Collateral A DreamWorks (in U.S )/Paramount (international) release of a DreamWorks Pictures and Paramount Pictures presentation of a Parkes/MacDonald, Edge City production. Produced by Michael Mann, Julie Richardson. Executive producers,...

k.d. lang; Rufus Wainwright.(Concert Review)
August 2, 2004... Presented by the Los Angeles Philharmonic Assn. Accompanied by the L.A. Philharmonic, conducted by Charles Floyd. Band: Teddy Borowiecki, David Piltch, Greg Leisz, Danny Frankel. Opened reviewed July 30, 2004; closed July 31. On his first...

Little Black Book.(directed by Nick Hurrah)(Movie Review)
August 2, 2004... A Sony Pictures Entertainment release of a Revolution Studios presentation of a Blue Star Pictures production. Produced by Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas, Deborah Schindler, William Sherak, Jason Shuman. Executive producers, Herbert W. Gains, Rachael...

'Blue' collars auds: WB hits paydirt with bow of sketch comedy.(Brief Article)
August 2, 2004... Pass the pork rinds and gravy boat: The WB's "Blue Collar TV" is a ratings winner. Sketch comedy show, starring Jeff Foxworthy, Bill Engvall and Larry the Cable Guy, drew more than 5 million viewers Thursday arid placed second in its...

Indie shingle gets moving on 'Murder'.(Brief Article)
August 2, 2004... HOLLYWOOD -- New production shingle Stuart Boyd has optioned Jason Kersten's true-crime book "Journal of the Dead: A Story of Friendship and Murder in the New Mexico Desert." Stuart Boyd plans to develop and fund pics budgeted around $3...

Dagmara Dominczyk.(Players)(Brief Article)
August 2, 2004... Dagmara Dominczyk ("The Count of Monte Cristo") has been cast in Stephen Gaghan's "Syriana" for Warner Bros. Thesp joins George Clooney, Matt Damon, Amanda Peet and Chris Cooper in the Section Eight political thriller about a privatized...

Rachel Nichols.(Players)(Brief Article)
August 2, 2004... Rachel Nichols, star of Fox midseason drama "The Inside," has signed to co-star in MGM and Dimension Films' remake of "The Amityville Horror." Musicvid and commercials helmer Andrew Douglas is making his feature-helming bow on the redo of...

Kelli Garner.(Players)(Brief Article)
August 2, 2004... Kelli Garner has been added to the cast of "Dreamland" starring Rosanna Arquette, Agnes Bruckner and Justin Long. Pic, about a love triangle in the New Mexico desert, will be directed by first-timer Jason Matzner through Echo Lake Prods....

'Scrooge' goes on the road.(Brief Article)
August 2, 2004... Richard Chamberlain will headline the U.S. premiere of Leslie Bricusse's "Scrooge." The stage musical kicks off its multicity national tour Oct. 26 at Chi's Oriental Theater. Producer Ben Kenwright said the "Christmas Carol" redux also...

'Wind' breezes back with new extras.(Brief Article)
August 2, 2004... HOLLY WOOD -- Warner Home Video will release the latest special edition of "Gone With the Wind" on Nov. 9. The four-disc set features five hours of old and new documentaries, interviews and other bonus features new to DVD. Pic has been...

Aud spending spike: surprise hits help push film revenues up 10%.(Business)(Brief Article)
August 2, 2004... HOLLYWOOD -- Consumer spending on filmed entertainment in the U.S. will climb nearly 10% to $78 billion in 2004 thanks to a log-jam of franchise sequels and surprise hits like "The Passion of the Christ" and "Fahrenheit 9/11." The industry...

Semel pockets $21 mil from Yahoo stock sale.(Business)(Brief Article)
August 2, 2004... HOLLYWOOD -- Terry Semel is cashing in. Yahoo's CEO exercised options on 1 million shares of the online media company last Tuesday, netting more than $21 million in profit. It's the latest sale in a series of option exercises that have...

Cablevision fine-tunes spinoff plan.(Business)(Brief Article)
August 2, 2004... Cablevision may soon have its financing ducks sufficiently in line to proceed with the spinoff of its Rainbow Media satellite and cable programming division. Company on Friday filed updated listing documents with the Securities and...

NBC U plucks Cotton again.(Business)(NBC Universal)(Brief Article)
August 2, 2004... NBC Universal has named Richard Cotton exec vice president and general counsel. Longtime NBC exec Cotton had spent the last four years as president and managing director of CNBC Europe. Prior to that he was exec vice president and general...

Moviefone transfers online sales to rival.(Business)(Brief Article)
August 2, 2004... HOLLYWOOD -- The online film ticketing biz is down to two players as America Online-owned Moviefone has signed a deal to transfer its ticketing operations to competitor Movietickets.com. Moviefone will turn into a provider of movie info and...

Showbiz stocks: Friday, July 30, 2004.(Business)(Illustration)
August 2, 2004... SHOWBIZ STOCKS Friday, July 30, 2004 YTD Name Tkr PE Last Chg % Chg AMC AEN ... 19.09 -.01 +25.5 AcmeGm ACME ... 6.50 ...

Teuton Titan pads bankroll.(Brief Article)
August 2, 2004... BERLIN -- German film group Internationalmedia has expanded a financing agreement with an unnamed U.S. investment group, increasing its existing credit line to $30 million. Deal, announced Saturday, boosts company's liquidity and...

Warner dolls up Trollz DVD.(Brief Article)
August 2, 2004... HOLLYWOOD -- The Trollz are coming back, this time in movies from DIC Entertainment that will be distributed by Warner Home Video. Warner is partnering with DIC for the first time on licensing rights to the troy dolls with brightly-colored...

Growing Up Gotti.
August 2, 2004... (Series: A&E Network, Mon., Aug. 2, 9:30p.m.) Produced by GRB Entertainment for A&E Network. Executive producers, Gary R. Benz. Michael Branton, Victoria Gotti, Judith Regan and Bill Stanton Supervising producer, director. Ken Druckerman....

EOS seals Beta Film deal.( EOS Distribution )(Brief Article)
August 2, 2004... BERLIN -- Jan Mojto's EOS Distribution on Thursday finalized its takeover of Beta Film, the international sales division of insolvent Kirch Media, as well as a major portion of the company's vast film library. In a dramatic upset in...

Alanis Morissette; Barenaked Ladies.(Concert Review)
August 2, 2004... (Greek, Theater: Hollywood: 6,162 seats; $59.50 top) Presented by Nederlander. Bands: (AM) Alanis Morissette, Blair Sinta. Zac Rae Eric Avery. Jason Orme, David Levitta: (BNL) Steven Page, Jim Creegan, Ed Robertson. Kevin Hearn, Tyler...

Euro pix bloom during Venice Days.(61st Venice Intl. Film Festival)
August 2, 2004... ROME -- While Hollywood will hold court at the upcoming 61st Venice Intl. Film Festival, European pies rule the roost at the fest's new Venice Days section, unveiled by artistic director Giorgio Gosetii. Section's 12 entries include seven first...

Senator losing focus as bank, buyers vie.(Brief Article)
August 2, 2004... BERLIN -- The future of bankrupt Senator Entertainment looks increasingly nebulous as potential investors face off with the company's main creditor, Deutsche Bank London. Deutsche Bank is said to be driving a hard bargain since it recently...

Mutual Admiration Society.(Concert Review)
August 2, 2004... (The Roxy, West Hollywood: 500 capacity: $25) Presented inhouse, Band: Glen Phillips, Sara Watkins, Sean Watkins. Chris Thile. John Paul Jones, Pete Thomas Guest: Jon Brion. Reviewed July 31, 2004 It sounds like a recipe for disaster:...

U.S., China smash piracy ring.(Brief Article)
August 2, 2004... SYDNEY -- The first joint investigation by U.S. and Chinese authorities into video piracy has resulted in the smashing of a worldwide piracy ring in China. Six people, including a U.S. citizen, were arrested and some 210,000 counterfeit...

Births.(Brief Article)
August 2, 2004... April and Brett Loncar, a boy, Owen Charles Loncar, April 13, Los Angeles. Mother's non-pro; father's a television agent at CAA. Cristina and Thomas Gibson, a girl, Agatha Marie Gibson, April 28, Los Angeles. Mother's non-pro; father's an...

Mike's revenge? APG suit could cost Schulman $3.6 mil.(Michael Ovitz)(Cathy Schulman)(Artists Production Group)
August 3, 2004... HOLLYWOOD -- Bringing suit against Michael Ovitz can be an expensive proposition. Cathy Schulman, former prexy of Ovitz's now-defunct Artists Production Group, was slapped with a $3.6 million judgment in losing an arbitration proceeding...

Lucas will animate Singapore's toon biz.(Brief Article)
August 3, 2004... HOLLYWOOD -- Lucasfilm is moving forward with plans to develop its own slate of computer-animated projects, announcing today the formation of an animation facility in Singapore. Lucasfilm Animation Singapore becomes George Lucas' second...

Double team to the rescue.(Brief Article)
August 3, 2004... Universal-based Double Features partners Michael Shamberg and Stacey Sher have teamed with producer Debra Hill to mount an untitled feature about the rescue of two Port Authority cops from the World Trade Center rubble. Andrea Berloff,...

Warners gets Smart.(Brief Article)
August 3, 2004... Warner Bros. has finally found a star to anchor its bigscreen version of the sitcom classic "Get Smart." Steve Carell--formerly a field reporter on Comedy Central's "The Daily Show" and a supporting player in such films as "Bruce Almighty"...

Oscar braces for Cuban missile.
August 3, 2004... HOLLYWOOD -- Could Fidel Castro affect this year's Oscar race? "Fahrenheit 9/11" was apparently shown last week on Cuban state-run TV. According to Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences rules, a feature is disqualified for a documentary...

ABC moves to 'Westside'.
August 3, 2004... HOLLYWOOD -- ABC has cornered the market on "Westside," a sort of "Nip/Tuck" meets "L.A. Law" set in the cutthroat world of real estate. Project from scribe Silvio Horta ("Jake 2.0") marks the first big sale for Steve Pearlman's Warner...

Just for Variety.
August 3, 2004... GOOD MORNING: Good to the last frame. Bob Altman's "Tanner on Tanner" troupe captured so much celeb-political footage the final night of the Demconvention, Sundance Channel's mini may have to expand to four segs. I broke the story of...

Letting freedom ring: AFTRA backs journos' 1st Amendment rights.
August 3, 2004... HOLLYWOOD - Leaders of the American Federation of Television & Radio Artists have pledged support of their journalist members in the exercise of First Amendments rights, approving a four-part resolution on a unanimous vote. The union...

Horvitz back to helm Emmys for 11th time.(Brief Article)
August 3, 2004... HOLLYWOOD -- Louis J. Horvitz will return for his 11th year as director of the Primetime Emmy Awards, helming the kudofest's 56th edition which will air Sunday, Sept. 19, on ABC. Horvitz recently completed his eighth year as director of the...

Correction.(Correction Notice)
August 3, 2004... Lions Gate and IFC Films' fee for distributing "Fahrenheit 9/11" in the U.S. for Fellowship Adventure Group is a percentage (thought to be around 15%) of box office proceeds after exhibitor take out their share, which is often 50% or more of...

Cable on the table: sibs seek to take Cox private in $7.9 bil bid.
August 3, 2004... Cox Enterprises, a private, Atlanta-based media company owned by two elderly sisters, has launched a buyout bid for Cox Communications, hoping to take the nation's third largest cable company private. The $7.9 billion buyout offer values...

Fox beefs up drama unit by upping Levison, Wax.(New Fox )(Brief Article)
August 3, 2004... HOLLYWOOD -- New Fox drama development topper Ted Gold is firming up his exec team, upping Susan Levison to VP of the department. In addition, Jon Wax has been tapped director of drama development. He and Levison will report to Gold, who...

Exec pictures gig at NBC U.(Brief Article)
August 3, 2004... HOLLYWOOD -- ABC/Touchstone photo guru Ray Slay is joining NBC, where he'll head up photography and new media. As VP of the department, Slay will be responsible for meeting all of the Peacock's photo needs and oversee the net's...

Bush pushes through FTC appointees.(Brief Article)
August 3, 2004... WASHINGTON -- President Bush pulled a fast one late last week as Democrats were still nursing their convention hangovers. Late Friday Bush announced his intention to make 20 appointments during the August congressional recess, including two...

B'way B.O. divided into haves, have nots.(The Classic Stage Company)
August 3, 2004... Paralleling the notion of two Americas, there are two Broadways. Shows at the top of the B.O. chart increased their receipts while those at the bottom continued to wilt in the summer heat. Last week, 27 productions brought in $15,168,615, up a...

Close's dad has novel idea.(Glenn Close father Dr. William T. Close novel is coming as a movie)(Brief Article)
August 3, 2004... Glenn Close's father is making his own entrance into showbiz, with ABC Television's movie and miniseries division picking up the rights to his award-winning first novel, "Subversion of Trust." Project is in development, with Ron Raley...

Balaban's upscale reality 'Dream' comes true.(Bob Balaban will act in 'Bob Builds His Dream House')(Brief Article)
August 3, 2004... Bob Balaban will be playing himself on "Bob Builds His Dream House," a reality series that will air on Plum TV, the upstart network that programs to the upscale vacation markets in the Hamptons, Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard. The...

Saddle for Pegasus: DirecTV buys subs in $875 mil horse trade.(Business)(Brief Article)
August 3, 2004... DirecTV took control of 1 million rural subscribers Monday via an agreement to buy out ailing Pegasus Satellite Communications. DirecTV will pay $875 million in cash for all of Pegasus' satellite television subscribers in a deal that ends...

Hallyday scores songs in U lawsuit.(Business)(Universal Music)(Brief Article)
August 3, 2004... PARIS -- Gallic rocker Johnny Hallyday won his 860-title back catalog flora his ex-record label, Universal Music, on Monday in a high-profile legal wrangle. But Hallyday, who left U earlier this year after 43 years, did not gel the 50...

EuroDisney delays debt.(finance)(Brief Article)
August 3, 2004... PARIS -- Almost a year after saying it could no longer meet its repayments, troubled EuroDisney has again pushed back the deadline to restructure its $2.41 billion in debt. Company failed to make a Saturday restructuring deadline, already...

Firm Sirius about exec.(Business)(Doug Kaplan promoted to senior vp of Sirius Satellite Radio)(Brief Article)
August 3, 2004... HOLLYWOOD -- Doug Kaplan is tuning in a promotion to senior VP of business affairs/business development for the entertainment and sports division of Sirius Satellite Radio. Kaplan, who had been VP of biz affairs, will oversee all...

Birds may come to aid of Mets fans.(Business)
August 3, 2004... New York Mets fans deprived of the games on cable may get rescued by the satellite distribs DirecTV and Echostar. Today's contest between the Mets and Milwaukee Brewers on the MSG cable network is the first game that will disappear from the...

Showbiz stocks: Monday, August 2, 2004.(Business)(Illustration)
August 3, 2004... SHOWBIZ STOCKS Monday, August 2, 2004 YTD Name Tkr PE Last Chg %Chg AMC AEN 19.11 +.02 +25.6 AcmeCm ACME ...

Bet Your Life.(directed by Louis Morneau)(Television Program Review)
August 3, 2004... Bet Your Life (Movie: NBC, Wed., Aug. 4, 8 p.m.) Filmed in Cleveland by GRB Entertainment, Zinc Entertainment and Silver Pictures Television. Executive producers, Gary Benz, Joel Silver; producer, Alan Schechter, director, Louis Morneau;...

Al Green.(Al Green Tony Smith)(Concert Review)
August 3, 2004... Al Green (Greek Theater; Hollywood: 6,187 seats; $70.50) Presented by Nederlander. Band: Al Green Tony Smith, James Elps, Robert Summers, Terick Verges, Kenneth Dewalt, Stacey Wade, Daryl Wells, Ivy Joe Barton, John Sangster, Wayne Tucker,...

Design for Living.(directed by Gregory Boyd Sets and Hugh Landwehr)(Theater Review)
August 3, 2004... Design for Living (Adams Memorial Theater, Williamstown, Mass.; 520 seats; $55 top) A Williamstown Theater Festival presentation of a play in three acts by Noel Coward. Directed by Gregory Boyd Sets, Hugh Landwehr; costumes, Candice...

Broadway top 10: July 26-August 1, 2004.(Illustration)
August 3, 2004... Show Week's Net Receipts Prev Week's (Theater)(Prod. Category) Potential Net Receipts Net Receipts (Seats) Wicked $1,174,985 $1,172,927...

TNT will relaunch HBO 'Moon' mini for $6 mil.(Turner Network Television, Home Box Office Inc.)(Brief Article)
August 3, 2004... TNT has ponied up $6 million for basic-cable rights to HBO's 12-hour "From the Earth to the Moon" which won the Emmy for best miniseries in 1998. Produced by Tom Hanks, Ron Howard and Brian Grazer, mini will blanket TNT's primetime...

Lakers lead NBA coverage.(National Basketball Association)(Brief Article)
August 3, 2004... Even without Shaquille O'Neal, the Los Angeles Lakers are still showtime when it comes to national TV coverage. The National Basketball Assn. has drawn up its TV schedule for the 2004-05 regular season, and the Lakers have 24 slots in the...

The Pornographer (a Love Story).(directed, written by Alan Wade)(Movie Review)
August 3, 2004... The Pornographer (A Love Story) A Blow Up Pictures production. (International sales: Blow Up Pictures, New York.) Produced by Jason Kliot, Joana Vicente. Executive producer, Charles Rusbasan. Co-executive producers, Judith Zarin, Michael...

Jackson Beck.(Obituaries)(Brief Article)(Obituary)
August 3, 2004... Jackson Beck, who declared, "Faster than a speeding bullet!" to announce the "Superman" radio show and was one of the most familiar voices from the heyday of drama radio, died Wednesday in Manhattan from complications of old age. He was 92. ...

Megan Anne Bevan.(Obituaries)(Brief Article)(Obituary)
August 3, 2004... Former National Geographic vice president Megan Bevan died of cancer Thursday in Silver Spring, Md. She was 46. Upon graduating from Swarthmore College, Bevan moved to Washington where she joined the staff of National Geographic as a scribe...

Irvin S. Yeaworth Jr.(Obituaries)(Brief Article)(Obituary)
August 3, 2004... Director Irvin S. "Shorty" Yeaworth Jr., best known for helming 1958 sci-fi cult pic "The Blob," died in a car accident July 19 in Amman, Jordan. He was 78. Besides "The Blob" he directed sci-fiers "4D Man" and "Dinosaurus!," both for...

Saban net ad rates rising in recovery.(World News)(Brief Article)
August 3, 2004... BERLIN -- Haim Saban's ProSiebenSat 1 broadcasting group will raise advertising rates on its four channels by as much as 5.7% next year as the ad market begins to recover. Company, which presented its fall schedule last week, said its new...

Rough 'River' run: illness of lead thesp Morton halts Kiwi shoot.(World News)(Samantha Morton)(Brief Article)
August 3, 2004... AUCKLAND -- Filming has been suspended on Kiwi pic "River Queen" as thesp Samantha Morton struggles to recover from illness, producers announced Monday. The schedule had already been rejigged to move forward scenes without Morton, and...

Meek inherits drama at Aussie ABC.(World News)(Scott Meek, Stuart Menzies, Denise Eriksen appointed)(Brief Article)
August 3, 2004... SYDNEY -- Scottish film-TV producer Scott Meek is moving to Oz as head of drama for pubcaster the Australian Broadcasting Corp. Meek, who will start in October, is joint chief exec of Deep Indigo Prods. With Aussie producers he has...

Kuwait bans 'Fahrenheit'.(World News)(Brief Article)
August 3, 2004... Kuwait has banned Michael Moore's "Fahrenheit 9/11" because it doesn't want to offend Saudi Arabia. "We have a law that prohibits insulting friendly nations, and ties between Kuwait and Saudi Arabia are special," said Abdul-Aziz Bou...

Lewinsky to mull interview ethics.(United Kingdom)(Brief Article)
August 3, 2004... Monica Lewinsky will appear at the Edinburgh Intl. Television Festival to discuss the ethics of being paid for TV and newspaper interviews. Lewinsky was paid a reported $680,000 for an interview in 1999 with Channel 4 News, widely regarded...

Duo gain Momentum.(Momentum Pictures appoints Lara Thompson)(Brief Article)
August 3, 2004... U.K. distrib Momentum Pictures has promoted Lara Thompson to head of acquisitions and Andy Leyshon to head of sales. Thompson replaces Sally Caplan, who left to join Icon earlier this year. Thompson worked under Caplan, having joined the...

Euros at home on TV.(Europe)(Brief Article)
August 3, 2004... The European Commission said that more homegrown shows are being made and broadcast than required by the EU's "Television Without Frontiers" regulation. It stipulates that half of all airtime must go to Euro shows, with 10% of airtime or...

Kidvidder expanding.(Germany)(DeAgostini)(DeAPlaneta)(Brief Article)
August 3, 2004... German license trader EMTV and Spain's DeAPlancta are expanding their joint tyke programming venture, Planeta Junior, into Italy via Italo media group DeAgostini. DeAgostini and Spain's Planeta Group are shareholders in DeAPlaneta....

'Sperm' may be spurned in Holland.(World News)(Endemol Entertainment N.V. program in controversy)(Brief Article)
August 3, 2004... AMSTERDAM -- Endemol's controversial new reality skeins "Sperm Race," where men compete for the title of most virile man, and "Make Me a Mum," in which the winner is likely to provide sperm for a childless woman, may run afoul of Dutch law. ...