The Morning Fix: Universal’s no sequel strategy; a producer’s rant; Bing product placement craziness and no more digital extensions!
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After the coffee. Before reliving Kobe’s game one performance.
Is this allowed? Universal Pictures is going sequel free for the summer. The Los Angeles Time explains the unconventional strategy that will be put to the test this weekend with the opening of Will Ferrell’s ‘Land of the Lost.’ It’s comedy weekend at the box office, but ‘Up’ will still be on top come Sunday, says Variety.
There’s burning bridges and then there’s blowing them sky high. Josh Friedman, the show runner for the canceled Fox series ‘Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles’ cuts loose on the network, studio Warner Bros. and even producer Chuck Lorre on his blog.Tell us how you really feel, Josh.
Working `Bing’ into the script. Microsoft has struck several product placement deals for its new search engine Bing and created an hour-long commercial for Hulu, reports New York Times advertising columnist Stuart Elliott. NBC’s Jimmy Fallon will hawk Bing on his show and it will also pop up on the network’s summer drama ‘The Philanthropist’ as well as on several Viacom properties including Jon Stewart’s ‘Daily Show.’
This is your final warning! President Obama said there will be no further extensions for the switch to digital television, which is set for a week from today. There are still about three million homes that have not gotten new cable boxes or converter boxes, according to Nielsen. Broadcasting & Cable
The trickle-down effect. Jon and Kate Gosselin’s marriage woes may be bad for them and their kids, but its ratings gold for TLC and the tabloids. The Wrap looks at how the ratings surge for ‘Jon & Kate Plus 8’
is lifting the rest of the network.
Welcome back. Apple czar Steve Jobs is set to return to work later this month, says The Wall Street Journal. He may even pop up at Apple’s software dog and pony show next week.
In today’s Los Angeles Times: An appreciation for David Carradine. Betsy Sharkey likes ‘The Hangover.’
And don’t forget, send your links and what comes after your coffee to Joe.Flint@LATimes.com
-- Joe Flint
