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The Morning Fix: FCC tells Fox, Cablevision to grow up, Tom Bosley RIP, Where did all the great movie lines go?

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After the coffee. Before figuring out what this wet stuff is coming out of the sky.

Grow up! That was the word from Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski to Fox and Cablevision Systems Corp. The two media giants, unable to strike a deal to restore Fox’s TV stations to Cablevision subscribers in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, continue to trade shots and lobby Washington. Genachowski told both sides that the ‘petty gamesmanship’ needs to end. Neither side is budging though and with the Yankees on the verge of elimination, the leverage Fox thought it might have over Cablevision if the Bronx Bombers made the World Series could be gone. The latest on the battle from the Los Angeles Times and Variety. Separately, Fox is still getting heat for temporarily blocking Cablevision Internet subscribers from access to its websites. Although the move was legal, a Los Angeles Times editorial called the behavior thuggish.

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You can’t handle the truth. And the truth is that movies simply are not as quotable as they once were. The New York Times looks at the lack of memorable lines and ponders whether it has to do with the writing or that our culture is less literate. Hmmm. I think I know my answer. In the meantime, if you want me, just whistle. You know how to whistle don’t you?

Declining the assignment. Matt Damon is passing on the fourth installment of the ‘Jason Bourne’ franchise from Universal Pictures. That doesn’t mean he’s done with the role though. According to Deadline Hollywood, the next movie, which is being directed by Tony Gilroy, will focus on other characters and leave open the possibility of the return of the Bourne character.

Time for a replay? The Hollywood Reporter posted a story that said the NFL was investigating ESPN over whether the cable network asked one of the teams in Monday’s football game to take a timeout so the channel could get another commercial break in. It appears to be much ado about nothing. ESPN says it never made the request, and the NFL said a lighthearted remark from one of the coaches may have been misinterpreted. But hey, put NFL, ESPN and investigation in a headline and you’re sure to get lots of Web traffic.

Blog crazy! News Corp.’s Fox Sports Interactive is buying Yardbarker, a network of some 800 sports blogs. According to ClickZ, Yardbarker claims its blogs attracted more than 16 million monthly users over the last year.

And here I am wasting all this time working the phones at my desk. The Daily Beast offers up a profile of Chris Gardner, a former nightlife reporter for the Hollywood Reporter and People magazine who was able to parlay his cocaine habit into access to Hollywood big shots including actors and publicists. Of course, like any good ‘Behind the Music’ story, it ends with his career flaming out. And, like most stories, promises of tales of debauchery with stars are never delivered by Gardner or the writer of the piece.

Inside the Los Angeles Times: An appreciation of Tom Bosley, who became America’s favorite father for the 10 years that ‘Happy Days ruled the airwaves. James Rainey on the booming times for Southern California public radio. Los Angeles is debating some new tax breaks to slow runaway production.

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-- Joe Flint

Chase the clouds away by following me on twitter: Twitter.com/JBFlint

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