Variety articles from February 1999

Variety archives from February 1999

MEDIA TAPS INTO ZIT-GEIST.(teen movies best moneymakers)(Abstract)
February 22, 1999... Juve groove moves movie biz Across the country these days, it's definitely the Stridex-set at the plex. As Hollywood worries itself sick over skyrocketing production costs, teen pics -- which are as cheap as birdseed for studios --...

Ads aim at young guns.(advertisers target young men aged 15-24)(Abstract)
February 22, 1999... Breasts. Blood. Flatulence. Welcome to the Holy Trinity of the elusive but lusted-after demographic: young men aged 15-24, who are flush with disposable income from their parents or a first job. Advertisers, desperate to pitch products...

Diller's CitySearch clicks with Spielberg.(Steven Spielberg owns 5.8% of Barry Diller's online services )(Brief Article)
February 22, 1999... Steven Spielberg is apparently bullish on the Internet, disclosing Feb. 19 that he owns 5.8% of Barry Diller's Internet offshoot Ticketmaster Online CitySearch. Spielberg is in good company. While Diller's USA Networks works controls...

LIVENT MESS LEAVES LONG TRAIL OF LOSSES.(Livent bankruptcy)(Brief Article)
February 22, 1999... Michael Ovitz and Boston investor Tom Lee are undoubtedly the biggest financial losers to emerge from the smoking ruin of bankrupt Livent, although both will live to invest another day. Garth Drabinsky, the man accused of multiple criminal...

Hollywood's mind meld.(copy cat mentality is overtaking Hollywood motion picture development)(Brief Article)
February 22, 1999... The showbiz community is displaying an ominous incestuousness and copy-cat mentality both in terms of styles and story ideas. Several years ago, the Ford Foundation dispatched me to a particularly dismal corner of Appalachia on a mission...

B.O. BOUNCE FOR BEST PIC NOMS.
February 22, 1999... E VERAMENTE BELLA "Life is Beautiful" has passed its Italian rival "Il Postino" as the highest-grossing foreign-lingo pic of all time in North America, with $22 million in B.O. receipts. ITS A ROUT "Saving Private Ryan" has...

UMG, DEF JAM YET TO MAKE SWEET MUSIC.(Universal Music Group and Def Jam Music Group may merge)(Brief Article)
February 22, 1999... Universal Music Group chieftains and Def Jam Records founder Russell Simmons may have agreed on a $100 million sale price for the 60% of the powerful rap label the conglom doesn't already own, but they still might not have a deal. On...

Persians carpet over differences.(Iran is undergoing social change)(Brief Article)
February 22, 1999... TEHRAN Iran is a land of astonishing things, particularly if you haven't been there for seven years. Take Hollywood, for instance. Considering that American films aren't released in theaters, it is surprising to see the face of Leonardo...

LACHLAN MOVES WITH MURDOCH'S BLESSING.
February 22, 1999... Media mogul Rupert Murdoch's son Lachlan is making his presence felt much more widely throughout News Corp. than the company intimated would be the case when the 27-year-old was promoted Feb. 8. At that time, News Corp. said Lachlan was...

TRIP OUT WEST IS A RUNAWAY DISASTER.
February 22, 1999... It was a wild wild trip west for Barry Sonnenfeld last week. The "Wild, Wild West" helmer was the lone passenger aboard a Gulfstream II jet that crashlanded at Van Nuys, Calif., airport. Sonnenfeld was not injured in the Feb. 16...

RUSSO LEADER SET FOR OSCAR PARTY.
February 22, 1999... Call Beverly Hills "Moscow on the Pacific." Gov. Alexander Lebed of the Siberian region of Krasnoyarsk, who currently tops Russian opinion polls as the candidate most likely to succeed president Boris Yeltsin, is scheduled to attend an...

BBC IN DOG HOUSE.
February 22, 1999... LONDON BSkyB has come to the rescue of "One Man and His Dog," picking up the venerable TV series in the wake of a public outcry over the BBC's decision to ax the show. The 23-year-old program, which covers an annual competition to find...

CLEARER PICTURE FOR O'SEAS VID.(DVD market overseas)
February 22, 1999... DVD, revenue-sharing invigorate business After a year on rewind, the international video biz may be on fast forward again. The market is worth more than $4 billion annually to Hollywood companies. The studios, in fact, account for 75% of...

Berlin makes some capital strides.(Berlin International Film Festival, 1999)
February 22, 1999... BERLIN The 49th edition of the Berlin Intl. Film Festival set out to fulfill a dual agenda -- to underscore that Germany has reconciled with its past and to demonstrate that it is ready to embrace the future. The consensus is that fest...

BOX OFFICE.
February 22, 1999... Percent Reported Reported Change TITLE/DISTRIBUTOR Box Office Box Office in ...

`Bug's,' `Mail' on the march o'seas.(movie receipts abroad)
February 22, 1999... While no 1999 blockbuster has anything resembling the earning power of "Titanic," which grossed a mammoth $65.3 million overseas in the corresponding week last year, the one-two punch of "A Bug's Life" and "You've Got Mail" was formidable....

DOGMA MAKING CONVERTS.(Danish filmmaker's prescriptions for how to make films, the so-called Dogma 95 manifesto, finding converts)(Brief Article)
February 22, 1999... Back-to-basics pic approach winning awards, support What may have started out as a quirky publicity stunt by a clutch of Danish directors is turning into a Eurowide commercial proposition. Consider the Berlin fest buzz film "Mifune."...

Affleck, Damon roll out `Wheel' for Tomorrow.
February 22, 1999... HOLLYWOOD Tomorrow Film Corp. will handle international sales on the romantic comedy "The Third Wheel," a co-production between Ben Affleck and Matt Damon's Pearl Street Prods. and HSI Tomorrow Film Corp. "Wheel" is set to be the first...

Malick, Pressman pact to produce for Sony.
February 22, 1999... BERLIN "The Thin Red Line" writer-director Terrence Malick and producer Edward R. Pressman have inked a development and distribution pact with Sony Pictures Classics, the arthouse unit of Sony Pictures Entertainment. The deal calls for...

RIGHTS HOLDERS EYE ISRAEL, MALAYSIA.
February 22, 1999... WASHINGTON Israeli copyright pirates are responsible for producing more than $70 million in unauthorized copies of movies and CDs, a coalition of copyright-rich businesses told the Clinton administration last week. The Intl. Intellectual...

PFE cuts 31 in first wave of layoffs.
February 22, 1999... Polygram Filmed Entertainment axed 31 staffers in marketing and distribution last week as layoffs at the beleaguered film studio got under way in earnest. The move, which was expected, is the first of a number of cutbacks that will take...

U pushes back CIC exit to November.
February 22, 1999... Universal is expected to take far longer than the originally stated 90 days to extract itself from CIC Video Intl., its international homevid co-venture with Paramount. Universal execs now say they plan to exit CIC when the current...

PLEXER BLITZING JAPAN.
February 22, 1999... TOKYO Japan's leading multiplex theater operator, Warner Mycal Corp., is planning a multiplex-opening blitz, unveiling six complexes between the end of February and the end of March. The six multiplexes will add an additional 46 screens...

`Message' well received.
February 22, 1999... The message was loud as Warner Bros. went for the heartstrings and its romantic "Message in a Bottle" led the domestic marketplace with $22.1 million. Adapted from the Nicholas Sparks bestseller, the Kevin Coster-Robin Wright Penn...

Latin preservation still a negative scene.(Latin American motion pictures not preserved due to lack of funds)(Brief Article)
February 22, 1999... MIAMI Veteran Mexican helmer Felipe Cazals got a joyful reunion with a long-lost creation last fall, when "Canoa" bowed on eight Mexico City screens. Better yet, in the capital alone, 50,000 comers bought tickets. Made in 1975, the...

Bennett takes `Cut' at horror.
February 22, 1999... SYDNEY Oz filmmaker Bill Bennett ("Kiss or Kill") has turned to horror and signed as co-writer and co-producer of "Cut," which is being touted as an Aussie "Scream." Pic features popular crooner Kylie Minogue and shoots in March with...

Fox Lorber gets Truffaut features.
February 22, 1999... BERLIN Fox Lorber Associates has acquired 11 features and two rarely seen short films by Francois Truffaut from Roissy Films of Paris. The theatrical and homevid distributor plans to release new 35mm prints for a retrospective that begins...

Thesp Roth creates prod'n banner.
February 22, 1999... BERLIN Tim Roth, who made his directorial debut with the critically acclaimed "The War Zone," has joined with producer Dixie Linder to form a new London-based production company for Roth's future directing efforts. Roth/Linder Prods. has...

DISC WARS WAGE ON.(Divx and DVD)
February 22, 1999... As Divx sells its millionth, DVD spins its own numbers With fears put to rest that Divx infiltration would leave consumers paralyzed with confusion, the limited-play videodisc format isn't going away. This week, Divx developer Digital...

Oz states set sights on `Mission' moola.
February 22, 1999... SYDNEY Fox Studios Australia has confirmed that Paramount's "Mission: Impossible 2" will begin a 20-week shoot Down Under later this month, using four of the studio's six soundstages, as well as locations in Sydney and rural sites in New...

Oz talent backs competitive fest.
February 22, 1999... SYDNEY A who's-who of Australia's film industry is throwing its weight behind the Noosa Film Festival, the nation's first competitive international film fest debuting Sept. 8. Fest's patron is "Oscar and Lucinda" helmer Gillian...

`Life' is boffo again in Italy.
February 22, 1999... ROME Despite an original domestic release date of 14 months ago and grosses of close to $40 million indicating the film had run its course in Italy, Roberto Benigni's "Life is Beautiful" is back in Italian theaters and showing surprising...

Oz film commissioner to ankle.
February 22, 1999... SYDNEY Just days after the Australian Film Commission began an extensive restructuring, chief executive Cathy Robinson announced she won't be renewing her contract beyond August. While the nine-year incumbent's plans are unclear,...

Brit Columbia sets prod'n record.
February 22, 1999... MONTREAL Film and TV production reached a record high of C$808 million ($534 million) in British Columbia last year, a 28% increase from the 1997 total of $417 million. The total economic impact of production activity was approximately...

HUNGARY APPETITES UNSATED.
February 22, 1999... Jury denies prizes in three areas, irking filmmakers BUDAPEST The jury at Hungary's national film festival, the 30th Filmszemle, has decided not to award prizes for best feature, best experimental/short and best first film prizes,...

U.S. distribs filling gap in Korean film output.
February 22, 1999... SEOUL With four Korean films figuring among the top 10 grossing titles last month, Korean cinema might appear to be in good shape. Not so. There is an alarming downturn in local production, caused by the recession and the withdrawal of...

IRANIAN FEST CELEBRATES `COLOR' OF OSCAR.
February 22, 1999... TEHRAN There was good news and some bad vibes at the 17th Fajr Intl. Film Festival, Iran's window on the world stretching Feb. 1-10. Coinciding with the 20th anniversary of the country's Islamic revolution, it marked a time to look back...

AFM PRODUCT LISTINGS.
February 22, 1999... American Film Partners 5731 Bonsall Drive Malibu, CA 90265 (310) 457-5254 Fax: (310) 457-9266 Office: 747 Attending: Andrea Miller; Aron Schifman. PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS "Voyeur," cast, Shauna O'Brien, Larissa McComis,...

Topper tips outline for Venice fest.
February 22, 1999... ROME Gearing up for his first year as director of the Venice Intl. Film Festival, recently appointed chief Alberto Barbera has outlined the principal sections for the event's 56th edition, which runs Sept. 1-11. Alongside the main...

BOX OFFICE NEWS[TM].(motion picture box office revenues)(Brief Article)
February 22, 1999... RELEASE SLATE GROWS WIDER Based on current studio release slates, the first four months of 1999 will see a net increase of four wide releases entering the domestic marketplace compared to last year, expanding from 52 to 56 titles. The...

Teller recharges with boom of Atomic Pop.
February 22, 1999... HOLLYWOOD When Al Teller ran a major record company he vowed to never let his artists' music be heard or sold online. Now, as chief of tiny Atomic Pop -- a music and lifestyle Web site -- he will release the music of his artists that way....

RECORD BIZ GETS YOUTH INJECTION.(sound recording sales )(Brief Article)
February 22, 1999... Record stores are looking healthier. Fueled by a steady flow of diverse topline releases that lured a large contingent of music buyers into stores, the domestic record industry logged $13.7 billion in 1998, a 5.7% increase over the $12.2...

8MM.(Review)
February 22, 1999... (DRAMA-THRILLER) A Sony Pictures Entertainment release of a Columbia Pictures presentation of a Hofflund/Polone production. Produced by Gavin Polone, Judy Hofflund, Joel Schumacher. Executive producer, Joseph M. Caracciolo. Co-producer,...

ANALYZE THIS.(Review)
February 22, 1999... (COMEDY) A Warner Bros. release presented in association with Village Roadshow Pictures and NPV Entertainment of a Baltimore/Spring Creek Pictures/Face/Tribeca production. Produced by Paula Weinstein, Jane Rosenthal. Executive producers,...

THE OTHER SISTER.(Review)
February 22, 1999... (ROMANTIC COMEDY) A Buena Vista Pictures release of a Touchstone Pictures presentation. Produced by Mario Iscovich, Alexandra Rose. Executive producer, David Hoberman. Co-producer, Ellen H. Schwartz. Directed by Garry Marshall....

MIFUNE.
February 22, 1999... (MIFUNES SIDSTE SANG) (COMEDY-DRAMA -- DANISH) A Sony Pictures Classics release (in U.S.) of a Nimbus Film production, in cooperation with Zentropa Entertainment, DRTV, STV Drama. (International Sales: Trust Film Sales, Hvidovre,...

EXISTENZ.(Review)
February 22, 1999... (COMEDY-THRILLER -- CANADIAN-BRITISH) A Miramax release of an Alliance Atlantis/Serendipity Point Films presentation, in association with Natural Nylon, of a Robert Lantos production. Produced by Robert Lantos, Andras Hamori, David...

BUENA VISTA SOCIAL CLUB.
February 22, 1999... (DOCU -- GERMAN-U.S.) A Road Movies Filmproduktion production, in association with Kintop Pictures, Arte, ICAIC. (International sales: Summit Entertainment, London.) Produced by Ulrich Felsberg, Deepak Nayar: Executive producer,...

IT ALL STARTS TODAY.
February 22, 1999... (CA COMMENCE AUJOURD'HUI) (DRAMA -- FRENCH) A Les Films Alain Sarde/Little Bear/TFI Films. production. (International sales: Studio Canal Plus, Paris.) Produced by Alain Sarde, Frederic Bourboulon. Directed by Bertrand...

BREAKFAST OF CHAMPIONS.(Review)
February 22, 1999... (SATIRE) A Summit Entertainment/Flying Heart Films presentation of a Sugar Creek Prods. production. (International sales: Summit, Santa Monica.) Produced by David Blocker, David Willis. Directed, written by Alan Rudolph, based on the...

BETTER THAN CHOCOLATE.
February 22, 1999... (ROMANTIC-COMEDY -- CANADIAN) An Alliance release of a Rave Film Inc. production, supported by Telefilm Canada, British Columbia Film. Produced by Sharon McGowan. Co-producer, Peggy Thompson. Directed by Anne Wheeler. Screenplay,...

KARNAVAL.
February 22, 1999... (DRAMA -- FRENCH-BELGIAN-SWISS) An MK2 release of an ADR Productions (Paris)/Compangnie Mediterraneenne du Cinema, Thelma Film (Geneva)/RTBF (Brussels) production. (International Sales: MK2 Diffusions, Paris.) Produced by Alain Rozanes,...

SET ME FREE.
February 22, 1999... (EMPORTE-MOI) (DRAMA -- CANADIAN-SWISS-FRENCH) A France Film release (in Canada) of a Cite-Amerique/Catpics/Haut et Court production, with the participation of Sodec, Canada Television Fund, Telefilm Canada, Harold Greenberg Fund,...

NIGHT SHAPES.
February 22, 1999... (NACHTGESTALTEN) (DUMA-GERMAN) A Peter Rommel Prods. production, in association with ORB, MDR, SFB, Arte. (International Sales: Bavaria Film, Geiselgasteig.) Produced by Peter Rommel. Directed, written by Andreas Dresen. Camera...

THICK AS THIEVES.(Review)
February 22, 1999... (CRIME COMEDY-DRAMA) An October Films release. Produced by Donald Zuckerman, Glenn Zoller, Jon Steingart. Executive producer, Andrew Pfeffer. Directed, written by Scott Sanders. Camera (Foto-Kem color), Christopher Walling; editor,...

THE SOURCE.(Review)
February 22, 1999... (DOCU - COLOR/B&W) A Calliope Films Inc. production. Produced by Chuck Workman. Executive producer, Hiro Yamagata. Directed, written by Chuck Workman. Camera (color/B&W docu segs), Tom Hurwitz, Don Lenzer; camera (color performance...

WHEN LOVE COMES.
February 22, 1999... (DRAMA - NEW ZEALAND) A MF Films production in association with the New Zealand Film Commission. Produced by Michele Fantl, Jonathan Dowling. Directed by Garth Maxwell. Screenplay by Garth Maxwell, Rex Pilgrim, Peter Wells; camera...

THE LORD'S LANTERN IN BUDAPEST.
February 22, 1999... (NEKEM LAMPAST ADOTT KEZEMBE AZ UR PESTEN) (COMEDY-DRAMA - HUNGARIAN) A Kreativ Media Muhely/3J+1Bt production. (International sales: Hungarofilm, Budapest.) Produced by Jozsef Bojte. Directed, written by Miklos Jancso, based on...

ONE WINTER BEHIND GOD'S BACK.
February 22, 1999... (EGY TEL AZ ISTEN HATA MOGOTT) (DRAMA -- HUNGARIAN-FRENCH-BELGIAN-SLOVAK) A Magic Media (Budapest)/47eme Paralelle (Paris)/Magellan Production (Brussels)/Nelka Films (Bratislava) co-production, in association with Magyar TV. Produced...

YOU OR ME.
February 22, 1999... (KALOZOK) (MUSICAL COMEDY -- HUNGARIAN) An Axis Plusz/MTV production. (International sales: S-media 2000/Profil-M 94, Budapest.) Produced by Gyorgy Budai. Executive producers, Peter Koltai, Zoltan Szedlacsko. Directed by Tamas...

DAUGHTERS OF LUCK.
February 22, 1999... (CORY SZCZESCIE) (EROTIC DRAMA -- POLISH-HUNGARIAN-GERMAN) A Studio Dom, TV Polski (Warsaw)/Budapest Filmstudio-Lengyei TV (Budapest)/Manfred Durniok Prods. (Berlin) co-production. (International sales: S-media 2000/Profil-M 94,...

6:3.
February 22, 1999... (COMEDY -- HUNGARIAN) A Budapest Film release (in Hungary) of a Megafilm/Slager Radio/RTL Klub production. Produced by Gabor Kalomista. Directed, written by Peter Timar. Camera (color), Peter Szatmari; editor, Timar; music, Tamas...

NORTH BY NORTH.
February 22, 1999... (DRAMA -- HUNGARIAN) A BBSA/Dolmenfilm production, in association with ORT and Duna TV. Produced by Vera Malovanyi. Directed by Csaba Bollok. Screenplay, Bollok, Szilard Podmaniczky. Camera (color), Tamas Babos; editor, Agnes Voller;...

POPCORN.
February 22, 1999... (THRILLER -- HUNGARIAN) A Film Pluss Kft production, in association with Magyar TV. Produced by Zsuzsanna G. Hollisi, Gabor Varga. Directed, written by Peter Gabon Camera (color), Tibor Nemes; editor, Erika Ozsda; music, Karoly...

HOMECOMING: LITTLE BUT TOUGH PART 2.
February 22, 1999... (DRAMA-- HUNGARIAN) A Mafilm Aktiv Studio/Duna TV, Hunnia Studio production. (International sales: S-media 2000/Profil-M 94, Budapest.) Produced by Jolan Arvai, Peter Gero, Sandor Simo. Directed, written by Ferenc Grunwalsky. Camera...

PROFESSOR ALBEIT.
February 22, 1999... (COMEDY- HUNGARIAN) A Megafilm/RTL Klub production, with the support of Hungarian TV. Produced by Gabor Kalamista. Directed by Robert Koltai. Screenplay, Koltai, Miklos Vamos, Karoly Makk. Camera (color), Janos Kende; editor, Mari...

THE ALCHEMIST AND THE VIRGIN.
February 22, 1999... (DRAMA -- HUNGARIAN-POLISH) A Magyar TV-Dialog Studio-Eurofilm Studio (Budapest) - Tor Film Studio (Warsaw) co-production. (International sales: S-media 2000/Profil-M 94, Budapest.) Produced by Jolan Arvai, Karoly Makk, Peter Miskolczi....

EUROPA EXPRESS.
February 22, 1999... (THRILLER- HUNGARIAN) A Best Hollywood production. (International sales: NBG Entertainment, Budapest.) Produced by Gyorgy Dora, Csaba Horvath. Directed by Csaba Horvath. Screenplay, Akos Takacs, Horvath, Gyorgy Dora. Camera (color),...

CHINESE DEFENSE.
February 22, 1999... (POLITICAL DRAMA -- HUNGARIAN-ROMANIAN) An Objektiv Filmstudio-Magyar TV (Budapest)-Covi Design Film (Bucharest) co-production. (International sales: S-media 2000/Profil-M 94, Budapest.) Produced by Janes Rozsa. Directed by Gabor...

CLOSE TO LOVE.
February 22, 1999... (DRAMA -- HUNGARIAN) A Hunnia Studio/Mafilm Aktiv Studio production. (International sales: S-media 2000/Profil-M 94, Budapest.) Produced by Sandor Simo. Directed, written by Andras Salamon. Camera (color), Andras Nagy; editor, Agnes...

SIMON MAGUS.
February 22, 1999... (DRAMA -- HUNGARIAN-FRENCH) A Harom Nyul Studio, MTV, Eurofilm Studio (Hungary)/Artcam Intl. (France) production. (International sales: Eurofilm, Budapest.) Produced by Ildiko Enyedi, Jolan Arvai, Joel Farges, Peter Miskolczi. ...

THE FALL.
February 22, 1999... (THRILLER -- BRITISH-CANADIAN-HUNGARIAN) An Alliance release of a Le Monde Entertainment presentation of a Movie Screen Entertainment (London)/Moxie Movie Corp. (Toronto)/TMA (Budapest) co-production. Produced by Peter Watson-Wood, Nigel...

THE HURDY-GURDY MAN.
February 22, 1999... (DRAMA -- U.S.-HUNGARIAN) A Timberlake production, in association with Magyar TV. Executive producer, Robert Shinerock. Produced by John Golden. Directed, written by Gabe Von Dettre (Gabor Dettre). Camera (color), Tiber Klopfler,...

INDEPENDENTS TRUMPET TEENS.(entertainment aimed at teenage audiences)(Brief Article)
February 22, 1999... Sometime around 1955, a new creature invaded America. It had been lying in wait for centuries, but slowly evolved into a cultural and economic phenom: teenagers. In the beachhead year of '55, James Dean embodied the "Rebel Without a...

TEEN SCREEN TIME LINE.
February 22, 1999... Key events in the life of juve pies 1955 Warner Bros. taps into contempo teen scene with Rebel Without a Cause and an instant film icon is born in James Dean. 1956 Elvis Presley makes his screen debut in Love Me Tender. Paramount...

NETS WIDEN HYPE HIGHWAY.(television sweeps periods)
February 22, 1999... Sweeps promos cover more bases... Broadcasters looking to hype their big guns for sweeps have adopted a new promo philosophy: Excess leads to success. Gone are the days when webs could find ratings success by simply cranking up the...

... But only Peacock finds the way home.(television ratings)(Illustration)
February 22, 1999... If it seems like this month's network sweeps lack a little pizzazz, it's not your imagination. By recent sweeps standards, it's been a dull month. For one thing, the races have not been particularly close--NBC's still-powerful Thursday...

Layoffs follow Fox's 3% solution.
February 22, 1999... HOLLYWOOD News Corp. has ordered a 3% across-the-board reduction in operating costs, which has already led to a handful of layoffs at the Fox Broadcasting Co., a spokesman confirmed last week. Insiders say each department at News Corp....

`Later' segments in Costas' future.
February 22, 1999... NEW YORK NBC sportscaster Bob Costas is heading back to latenight. The first host of "Later," the Peacock's 1:35 a.m. skein, has agreed to return to the program in May for several weeks of segs devoted to his most memorable interviews, an NBC...

`Guy' gains prime Fox Sunday slot.
February 22, 1999... HOLLYWOOD The upstart animated comedy "Family Guy" has defeated the new Matt Groening cartoon "Futurama" for Fox's coveted 8:30 p.m. Sunday timeslot between "The Simpsons" and "The X-Files." "Futurama" will get a two-week sneak preview...

Alphabet may make Thursday run.
February 22, 1999... HOLLYWOOD ABC may be flirting with a challenge to NBC's Thursday comedy powerhouse. It's too soon to tell whether the network really is gearing up for a bold move this fall, but ABC does plan to test reruns of two hit comedies, "The Drew...

CBS harmonizes on Grammy CD.
February 22, 1999... NEW YORK In another example of broadcasters seeking out new revenue streams, CBS has teamed up with NARAS to sell copies of the latter's "1999 Grammy Nominees" album via direct response TV spots. The Eye is now running ads hyping a...

NBC's `Nightly' nabs news lead.
February 22, 1999... NEW YORK Viewers returned to "NBC Nightly News" during the final week of the Clinton impeachment crisis, allowing the Peacock broadcast to jump back into the Nielsen lead. The Tom Brokaw-anchored newscast averaged 11.45 million viewers...

STORMY START.
February 22, 1999... It never pays to split an audience, as ABC discovered Feb. 14, when it pitched the Stephen King horror thriller "Storm of the Century" against Fox's sci-fi thriller "The X-Files." Only after "X-Files" wrapped at 10 p.m. did "Storm" pick up...