On TV Envy: Oprah Snags Sarah Palin Interview

Project Runway to Air this Summer on Lifetime

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Prime Time, Reality, Bravo, Cable, News

Project Runway's Tim Gunn and Heidi Klum

is finally back in style.

After months of litigation between NBC Universal (owner of Bravo), The Weinstein Company and Lifetime, the hit reality show now has somewhere to go. Starting this summer, Season 6 will air on Lifetime.

The trouble began last year when the move to the new cable channel was first announced. NBCU, upset by the loss of its popular program, filed a lawsuit. That action eventually led to countersuits and a preliminary injunction.

Today’s agreement means Runway will be at its second home for at least five seasons. “The Weinstein Company will pay NBCU for the right to move Project Runway to Lifetime. All of the parties are pleased with the outcome,” NBC Universal announced in statement.

No start date yet has been announced for the next installment. The Fashion Week finale was taped back in February.

Read More | Entertainment Weekly

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Judge Rules in Favor of Family Guy

Family Guy

FOX’s animated is not guilty of copyright infringement, per court ruling, for a song parody featured in one of the episodes.

The episode offered up a new version of Disney’s “When You Wish Upon a Star,” which subsequently launched a lawsuit from the major corporation in 2007. The ditty originally appeared in the 1940 flick Pinocchio. The Family Guy version, “I Need a Jew,” was perhaps a little less family-friendly…but it wasn’t illegal.

Despite the content of the song - “anti-Semitic lyrics” - a U.S. District Judge ruled that the lyrics of the song and tone of the piece was “strikingly different” from the original version. Since winning the Academy Award for Best Original Song after its film debut, “When You Wish Upon a Star” has been recorded by more than one hundred subsequent recording artists and orchestras.

Read More | MSNBC

Project Runway’s Move to Lifetime Blocked

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Prime Time, Reality, NBC, News

Project RunwayDespite Lifetime’s plans to unveil Project Runway this January, the reality hit’s future is now a big mystery. A New York Supreme Court judge has just temporarily blocked the reality program’s move to its new network.

This ruling comes months after The Weinstein Company announced it was ending Project‘s run on Bravo after five seasons. Believing the producers had violated a “right of first refusal” agreement, NBC Universal (Bravo’s parent company) filed suit. On Friday, the judge issued the preliminary injunction barring Lifetime from any marketing of the series until after the issue is settled.

Although NBC Universal was pleased by the ruling, the Weinsteins (who have vowed to appeal) also declared a minor victory. “We are glad that the court held that NBC Universal cannot exhibit the program on Bravo and that the court required NBC Universal to post a minimum $20 million bond,” a company statement read.

The season finale of ‘s current season will air on Wednesday, October 15. Meanwhile, production on the show’s sixth installment is scheduled to continue during the ongoing dispute.

Read More | Variety

Lifetime Delays Project Runway’s Start

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Prime Time, Reality, Bravo, Cable, News

Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn on Project RunwayLifetime, the future home for Heidi Klum and crew, has just announced that the start of ‘s sixth season will be delayed.

Although Bravo is currently airing its last round of the series, another was scheduled to unfold just months from now. But Lifetime - probably realizing it had to handle this major coup with care - has decided to push their premiere until the beginning of next year.

This move will reportedly give the channel more time to promote Project. It will also allow the network a chance to overexpose the reality hit. (If that hasn’t been done already.) A spokesperson told EW the January 2009 debut will officially kick off twice a year installments of the program.

Assuming the pending lawsuit doesn’t screw up matters up altogether, production on the show’s upcoming season will be split between New York and LA.

Read More | Entertainment Weekly

American Idol Faces Lawsuit

American IdolCould there be trouble brewing behind the scenes of the world’s biggest singing stage? The American Federation of Musicians has filed a lawsuit against producers. The damages sought by the union is currently unspecified.

The suit claims that American Idol Productions Inc. and Tick Tock Productions Inc. (a subsidiary) violated a bargaining agreement by underpaying musicians. According to the terms of the contract, musicians receive royalties for re-runs.

Since 2007, however, the soundtrack for past episodes was cut out and new musicians hired to record new music for episodes of American Idol Rewind. The musicians’ union was not informed of this decision.

So, far the powers-that-be at American Idol have offered no comment on the suit.

Read More | MSNBC

Project Runway Producers Sued

Posted by K.C. Morgan Categories: Reality, Bravo, Cable, NBC, Gossip

Project Runway

was that Bravo’s hit series Project Runway (the most successful for the channel) will move to Lifetime in a new, five-year contract. Today, the fashion has really hit the fan.

is owned by NBC Universal, who has subsequently filed a lawsuit against the Weinstein Co. (which produces Runway) to prevent the switch. Citing breach of contract, the network filed suit with the New York Supreme Court. According to the suit, NBC Universal and Weinstein were in previous negotiations regarding future seasons of the show.

Click to continue reading Project Runway Producers Sued

Read More | AOL

‘Hannah Montana’ Star Sued

Posted by K.C. Morgan Categories: Kids, Music, Cable, News

Miley Cyrus/Hannah Montana, 14-year-old daughter to Achy Breaky Billy Ray Cyrus, is being sued by her fans. Yes, even the darling isn’t immune to outrage.

According to the lawsuit, fan club membership was supposed to guarantee concert tickets to the Hannah Montana tour. It didn’t, so now they’re suing. The action was started by a woman in New Jersey who has invited other jilted fans to join the cause.  The suit claims fans were deceived and “lured” into buying memberships to the Miley Cyrus Fan Club, which costs $29.95 annually.

The Hannah Montana star has been selling tickets like hotcakes; many of her engagements have sold out within minutes.

Read More | AOL

Pricey Days for Barker?

Posted by K.C. Morgan Categories: Daytime, Games, Reality, CBS, Gossip, Rumors

Bob Barker Things are dicey for the former Price is Right host, who held the position for 35 years. has been officially replaced by Drew Carey, but new episodes of Price won’t start airing until October 15. In the meantime, Barker seems to be in a bit of hot water.

This won’t be the first time Barker – and Price – have weathered a legal storm. Deborah Curling, who worked for Price for 20 years, has filed suit against Barker and the show’s producers. Curling claims the host and producers retaliated against her, forcing her to quit after she testified against Barker. It was Curling’s job to screen contestants for Price, but all that changed after her testimony in a wrongful termination lawsuit brought against Barker by a production assistant. The suit goes on to say that Curling was demoted and put into an “intolerable” working environment back stage, which forced her to leave the show last fall. Of African-American descent, Curling further claims Price is a hostile working environment where black employees and contestants are discriminated against. Those are some bold claims, and no doubt Curling will bring the entire might of CBS down around her ears.

Click to continue reading Pricey Days for Barker?

Read More | Yahoo News

CBS Facing Huge Lawsuit from Dan Rather

Posted by K.C. Morgan Categories: CBS, News

Dan RatherWell-known anchorman is suing CBS to the tune of $70 million, saying the network made him a “scapegoat.” Rather, now retired, had his last few months of TV history marred by a discredited story about President George W. Bush’s National Guard service. Now, Dan’s looking for a little payback, claiming CBS mishandled the story. Rather’s lawsuit names two CBS execs in the suit. Dan Rather was a leading anchor on CBS Evening News, which is now suffering with at the helm. A CBS spokesperson has responded to Rather by saying the suit is “without merit.” Dan Rather narrated a Sept. 2004 report that said Bush skirted some of his National Guard duties, and the former newsman still says the story is true. CBS, however, fired three news executives for airing the story, saying it was neither fair nor accurate.

Read More | CNN

Recap of Vanessa Hudgens Nude Photo Fiasco

Posted by K.C. Morgan Categories: Music, Cable, Talent, Gossip

Vanessa Hudgens has been getting her fair share (or even more) of media attention lately. That’s what happens when naked photos get “leaked” to the Internet. Something similar worked for and American Idol’s Antonella Barba (who stole the spotlight not for her singing, but for her photos). Because the photos haven’t hurt, but helped, Hudgens, some of the media is saying it might have all been some sort of master plan instigated by the young star. Disney is trying to reduce press by ordering stars of the High School Musical franchise not to talk to reporters about Hudgens, as Kaycee Stroh refused to comment to reporters at an Emmy party. Gossip says that Hudgens and on- and off-screen boyfriend Zac Efron might not be eager to take part in High School Musical 3 as it is, though has made no announcements about Hudgens in the movie either way. Hudgens is currently being sued by her own lawyer for unpaid attorney fees.

Read More | AOL News

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