Can Oprah Stay Queen With No Throne? Nov 21, 2009
While nobody's saying whether she'll have a talk show, Oprah has confirmed she will "appear on and participate in" programs on OWN. Instead of taking their Oprah straight up for an hour a day, it seems viewers are going to get a taste of her everywhere. the former co-chairman of NBC Entertainment and now CEO of new media firm Electus, is buying. (Time.com)
Winfrey to announce Friday show will end in ... "The Oprah Winfrey Show," an iconic broadcast that grew over two decades into a daytime television powerhouse and the foundation of a multibillion-dollar media ... Nov 20, 2009
"Oprah's been a force of media and there's really no person you can look to out there who you could say, `That's the heir apparent,'" said Larry Gerbrandt, an analyst for the firm Media Valuation Partners in Los Angeles. Gerbrandt noted many stations built their schedules around Winfrey's show and used it to promote other shows. (San Diego Union-Tribune)
The other Paris Nov 7, 2009
But this trend of using mostly flattering stereotypes about Frenchwomen to underscore mostly damaging stereotypes about American women is nothing but a shallow international catfight staged for readers looking to have their own biases confirmed, not challenged ... The host, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, didn't think much of firm controls of financial markets, and preferred to boost the economy with new stimulus packages. (Salon)
Sizing Up Murdoch, Redstone and Other Moguls Nov 3, 2009
And people hardly ever left the firm. Right. (Time.com)
Daily guide to television and radio Nov 3, 2009
Michael Clayton 9 p.m. (HBO2) A fixer (George Clooney) at a powerful corporate law firm faces a crisis of conscience. R (2007). (Boston Globe)
Superficial politics of distraction not limited to the U-S of A Oct 14, 2009
First train from Turkey to arrive to Mosul on Monday U.S., Iraqi businessmen take on investments JICA to continue technical support programs, soft loans for Iraq spokeswoman: IMF and Iraq aimed to conclude a loan agreement within few weeks Central Bank of Iraq dismisses Islamic Bank Director Iraq Kurdistan denies wrongdoing in DNO affair First Rumaila hurdle cleared, many remain Iraq and BP-Chinese consortium sign oil deal Shell happy with progress of Iraq natgas talks: CEO BP Says It May Spend... (Atlanta Journal-Constitution -- Opinion)
QUIET ON THE SET: In Bridgewater, no one would have guessed Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz were in town Oct 7, 2009
There, visitors were greeted by Hub Security, a private security firm hired by the production company, and a tight-lipped Bridgewater police officer who only smiled and nodded when asked how things were going. Signs also led crew members to the Bridgewater Sports Complex on Bedford Street, which is being used as a satellite parking area. (Allston Brighton TAB, MA)
Meyers Movie Blog #7 - Back To School Sep 17, 2009
The film is about a young lawyer with a tremendous amount of potential who was just promoted in his firm battling them in court over "wrongful dismissal. The company claims Andrew Beckett's (Tom Hanks) work was unsatisfactory, while Beckett claims it's due to him contracting the AIDS virus. After searching for a lawyer that would defend him in such a controversial case, he finally gets the help from an average defense attorney Joe Miller (Denzel Washington). Joe Miller find himself not just... (Umassathletics.com)
Photo Finish: Debts Close In on Leibovitz Sep 6, 2009
In 2008, a design firm that did work on one of her Greenwich Village properties claimed that she owed it $51,000. Leibovitz was also accused that year of refusing to pay $386,000 to a photo stylist during a 2007 shoot Leibovitz did for the Disney Company in 2007. (CBS News)
MGM Studio Replaces CEO, Hires Turnaround Expert Aug 19, 2009
7 billion of debt which stems from a 2005 buyout of the firm. Many Hollywood insiders have long believed MGM needs to be merged or sold to be successful. (ABC News -- Wire)
Hollywood Destroys the World; New wave of disaster movies, TV shows... Aug 1, 2009
Roger Smith, an executive editor at the research firm Global Media Intelligence and a former film executive who oversaw Terminator 2, calls this competition the film version of the Cuban Missile Crisis we have to get the edge of extinction each time. Write to John Jurgensen at and Jamin Brophy-Warren at. (The Drudge Report)
• Read more from the BFDealMemo Jul 25, 2009
Lonner, whom many expected would join an established firm, hasn't named his new company and won't have all the pieces of the new venture together until the fall ... Lonner met with several management firms, but sparked to a start-up. (Variety)
Fla. gov's office mistakenly praises Nazi film Jul 25, 2009
Visiting to screen his 1989 film "Do The Right Thing" and met with fans to discuss race relations, his career and the late Michael Jackson, Lee said he is "a firm believer in freedom of speech.". TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (Fresno Bee -- Nation)
Review: 'G-Force' Can't Recover From Nose Dive Jul 25, 2009
James Cameron originally wrote "Avatar" as a way to challenge the special-effects firm Digital Domain, where he served as chief executive. But it took technology 14 years to catch up with his vision of a faraway planet populated by otherwordly plants and animals where humans embody avatars just to brave the landscape. (KFOXTV.com, TX)
Becks named son after Tom Jul 10, 2009
who is married to actress Katie Holmes, has been very influential in many of David's decisions, including signing with the Los Angeles Galaxy and hiring the same PR firm as him, one thing he hasn't influenced is the Beckhams' religion. While Tom and Katie are devout followers of the bizarre sci-fi cult Scientology, David and Victoria prefer to stick to their own beliefs. (iAfrica.com)
Thompson on Hollywood Jul 5, 2009
The California Attorney General is aiding the police investigation into Michael Jackson's death, , which confirms a Tuesday 10 AM Memorial service at the Staples Center for Jackson ... An attorney known as the "fixer" in his law firm, comes across the biggest case of his career that could produce disastrous results for those involved; George Clooney; sydney pollack; Michael Clayton; John Rambo (Stallone) assembles a group of mercenaries and leads them up the Salween River to a Burmese village... (Variety)
Fallon Cancer Cluster Jul 5, 2009
In the span of two months in early 2001, the city of Fallon hired a public relations firm to deal with the flurry of media inquiries, U.S. Sens Harry Reid, D-Nev. and Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., held public hearings in town, and the Nevada Assembly Committee on Natural Resources, Agriculture and Mining heard three days of testimony from community members and experts. (Las Vegas Review-Journal -- Nevada News)
FACTS ABOUT OUR FOUNDING FATHERS Jul 2, 2009
The delegates voted unanimously to adopt the resolution of independence and pledge "our lives, our Fortunes and our Sacred Honor" to the cause of independence "with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence." That last phrase was courtesy of pastor Dr. John Witherspoon, president of what is today Princeton. Anyone know nice Thomas Jefferson actually insisted the Declaration be ratified July Fourth because he determined favorable astrological alignment of the planets that day. (New York Post -- Gossip)
Diageo Targets Home Bartenders Jun 28, 2009
"It's a nice idea, but it's not that easy," says David Morris, who analyzes the food and beverage industry for Mintel, a research firm. "There is some expertise needed to create a good cocktail." Not only will Diageo have to turn Americans on to mixed drinks, but it will have to teach people how to make them, too. (BusinessWeek)
"Jon & Kate" Plus Couple's Therapy? May 23, 2009
But now, for better or worse, "Jon has raised its must-see stakes. There's significantly more suspense than was ever in the show's original concept: rearing a house-full of twins and sextuplets. The suspense is surely felt at TLC. It must strike a balance between the racy new reality of its monster hit series, and holding firm to what the network stands for: family friendly fare. "Attention and big audience are desirable," said Robert Passikoff, president of the market research firm Brand Keys,... (CBS News)
Alvord: Defending the Giant, and more scientific Top 10 lists May 7, 2009
Past Month's Most Commented Stories. Wednesday, May 6, 2009 10:17 AM PDT. (Longview Daily News, WA)
Goal reached in emphatic fashion Apr 7, 2009
"They're more than that. They're what? Oh, what's the word? They're a firm -- sort of like that Tom Cruise movie from a few years back [1993's "The Firm"]. Once they get you inside [the arena], there's no getting away from 'em. You've just had it then.". More Columns by Caulton Tudor. (News & Observer -- Sports)
Interview with Robert Patterson Mar 24, 2009
Twilight: What's Next for Rob Pattinson. - Thompson On Hollywood on Variety. (Variety)
AOL names former Google executive as CEO Mar 13, 2009
Kevin Lee, chief executive of search marketing firm Didit, feels the same. If the economy and stock market improve, and Armstrong is able to shape up AOL, Lee thinks it is possible that Time Warner would spin the business off as a public company or sell it. (San Francisco Chronicle -- Technology)
A 'sorry and ashamed' Bernard Madoff pleads guilty Mar 13, 2009
Prosecutors have already said low-level employees in Madoff's New York offices participated by mailing out tens of thousands of phony monthly statements and trading confirmations to make it look as if customers were making money in the market ... Madoff also said that to fool his clients into thinking he was buying and selling stocks, he transferred money from his fraudulent operations into his wholesale stock-trading firm, which he otherwise described as an honest, legitimate business. (San Francisco Chronicle -- Crime)
Monsters vs. Watchmen Mar 7, 2009
An attorney known as the "fixer" in his law firm, comes across the biggest case of his career that could produce disastrous results for those involved; George Clooney; sydney pollack; Michael Clayton; John Rambo (Stallone) assembles a group of mercenaries and leads them up the Salween River to a Burmese village where a group of Christian aid workers allegedly went missing. Trailer to Iron Man Video Game; Trailer from video game; "Margot at the Wedding" is a circus of family neuroses and bad... (Variety)
Henry Selick on 2-D 'Coraline' Mar 2, 2009
Coraline's Selick on the Fantastic Garden - Thompson On Hollywood on Variety. Remarkably, on its fourth weekend, the is still hanging in there--it grossed more than $5 million and placed eighth on its way to some $70-million in total domestic gross--even though. (Variety)
Chinese kick Hummer tyres Feb 12, 2009
5 billion) in US loans, has attracted interest in its Hummer brand of light trucks from a Chinese company and a private-equity firm, people familiar with the talks said. The pace of negotiations has intensified in the past few weeks, said the people, who wouldn't name the suitors and asked not to be identified because the discussions are private. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Business)
Moore goes after Wall Street Feb 12, 2009
An e-mail from Moore today asked for volunteers to "step up as an American'' and shed light on the financial collapse that has resulted in almost $US1.1 trillion ($1.6 trillion) in losses and writedowns globally. "Wall Street better gird itself,'' said Howard Rubenstein, president of Rubenstein Associates Inc. a New York-based public- relations firms that advises hedge funds, private-equity firms and banks ... 6 billion in bonuses the firm distributed to employees before its takeover by Bank of... (Sydney Morning Herald -- Business)
BOOK BUZZ: New on the best-sellers list Feb 7, 2009
Shia LaBeouf is set to star as Kyle McAvoy, the young associate blackmailed into stealing documents from his law firm. All the films based on Grisham's thrillers have featured big stars, but none earned more domestically than the first, 1993's The Firm, with Tom Cruise as beleaguered lawyer Mitch McDeere. (USA Today)
