Advertisement

The Morning Fix: ‘Green Hornet’ ready to roll! Comcast’s iPad headache. ‘The Kennedys’ still looking for a home.

Share

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

After the coffee. Before deciding if I am willing to gamble that Sony got ‘The Green Hornet’ right.

The Skinny: After three days off Dan Patrick is back to work on his radio show, which means I’m in a much better mood doing this. Today, NBC is holding press events to promote its midseason programs but won’t offer up a session with executives to talk about the shows because Comcast Corp. hasn’t closed on its deal to take control of NBC Universal, so no one at the network is sure what to say.

Advertisement

Let’s roll, Kato! After making lots of adjustments to both the film and the marketing campaign, Sony thinks it has a winner in its version of ‘The Green Hornet’ starring Seth Rogen as Britt Reid and Jay Chou as Kato. ‘The Green Hornet’ was always more of a thinking man’s superhero. Reid is a rich newspaper publisher (these days that sounds like an oxymoron) whose alter-ego the Green Hornet is a crime-fighter who is seen by many as a criminal himself. Kato is his sidekick. From the start there have been concerns from true fans of ‘The Green Hornet’ about the movie, including whether Rogen, who has great comic chops, can deliver the action. And since there are not that many true fans around, the other challenge would be getting people into the theater to see the movie in the first place. The Los Angeles Times on what adjustments Sony and the producers made on the film and why they think it will work.

Really, it’s a form of flattery. The new movie ‘Every Day,’ about a TV writer wrestling with work, his family and a hot, new writing partner, features a character somewhat inspired by Ryan Murphy, the creator of ‘Nip/Tuck’ and ‘Glee.’ Eddie Izzard plays the character who is something of an egomaniac who relishes on making those around him slightly uncomfortable. The movie was written by former ‘Nip/Tuck’ writer Richard Levine, who tells the New York Times, “Ryan has a great sense of humor about himself. But, still, it’s tricky.”

Call in the lawyers. The other week, Comcast Corp. announced plans to stream content on iPads. Of course, now the battle will start between Comcast and programmers, some of whom are grumbling that the cable operator folks better check themselves before they wreck themselves (yes, I really just wrote that). The issue is whether Comcast’s contracts with programmers allow it the right to stream it on iPads. For now, Comcast’s plan is just to offer the streaming within the homes of Comcast subscribers. That, to me, seems as if it has limited appeal. What, I’m going to turn off the TV and turn on the iPad when I have to go to the bathroom? Anyway, more on the issues from the New York Post, which had the great line that Comcast has a pain in the app, and the Hollywood Reporter.

Showtime passes on Kennedy miniseries. The search is still on for a buyer for ‘The Kennedys,’ an eight-part series about the political dynasty starring Greg Kinnear and Katie Holmes, as pay-channel Showtime said no thanks. History Channel was going to air the special but pulled out at the last minute, saying it was because the program didn’t meet its historical standards. That doesn’t explain why History’s parent company doesn’t move it to sister channels Lifetime or Lifetime Movie Network, and others close to the project say the company, which is owned by Disney, NBC Universal and Hearst Corp., pulled the plug after getting pressure from the Kennedys and their friends. Latest from Entertainment Weekly.

Keep waiting. It looks as if government approval for Comcast Corp.’s deal to take control of NBC Universal won’t come this week. Next week likely. Check back then. More from the Washington Post.

Inside the Los Angeles Times: John Horn on whether we’ll be asking what the dilemma was with ‘The Dilemma’ after its opening weekend. Eileen O’Neill, the boss of TLC, which brought us the Gosselins and Sarah Palin, has been promoted and now has oversight over Discovery Channel too. BET’s ‘The Game’ showed some game in the ratings.

Advertisement

-- Joe Flint

Why fight it? Follow me on Twitter. Twitter.com/JBFlint

Advertisement