The Morning Fix: Murdochs face the fire! Sheen comeback moves forward. ‘Dark Tower’ goes dark.
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After the coffee. Before watching breakfast at Parliament with the Murdochs.
The Skinny: I’m writing this in a bigger hurry than usual so I can watch News Corp. Chairman Rupert Murdoch and his son and current heir apparent, James, appear before Parliament to get raked over the coals for the News of the World phone hacking scandal. In other news, looks like Charlie Sheen has a new TV show. Now he just needs a network to carry it.
As the Rupert turns. Another day, another drama at News Corp., the media giant that has been engulfed by a phone hacking scandal. The developments are coming so fast it is hard to keep up. On Monday, another top official at Scotland Yard resigned because of ties to media mogul Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp., the parent of the now-defunct News of the World tabloid that was hacking into the voice mails of celebrities, royal family members and victims of crime and terrorism. The fiasco has not only toppled some key News Corp. executives, but it has also exposed cozy co-dependent relationships between the company and politicians and law enforcement. Late Monday, Bloomberg reported that Murdoch himself may step back as chief executive in favor of Chase Carey, the chief operating officer. However, a News Corp. board member vigorously denied that scenario to the Associated Press. That said, months ago before the flames of the scandal erupted, the Los Angeles Times reported Carey could end up chief executive if Murdoch stepped back to chairman and none of his kids was ready to assume the role as chief executive. Today, Murdoch and his son James are expected to explain themselves before Parliament. More coverage on the fallout from the debacle from the Los Angeles Times, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Reuters, Daily Beast and the Guardian.
Duh, winning! Charlie Sheen, the former star of the CBS hit ‘Two and a Half Men,’ who was fired from the show earlier this year, has landed a new gig. Sheen will star in a TV version of the movie ‘Anger Management.’ The show will be made by Lionsgate and Debmar Mercury. Talk about an odd couple. The former’s credits include such cult cable classics as AMC’s ‘Mad Men’ and Showtime’s ‘Weeds.’ The latter is behind the the TBS comedies ‘Meet the Browns’ and ‘House of Payne.’ So far, no broadcast or cable network has signed on to buy Sheen’s show. Odds are it will be a cable channel that takes a shot on the actor. Coverage from the Los Angeles Times, Wall Street Journal, Hollywood Reporter and Variety.
Five-year plan.The owners of Hulu, the popular video site with content primarily from its owner News Corp., Walt Disney Co. and Comcast, is offering potential buyers of the company a five-year deal to keep getting their content, according to Bloomberg. Pass.
‘Dark Tower’ goes dark. Universal Pictures will not go forward with ‘The Dark Tower,’ an ambitious project based on Stephen King’s series that included movies and television series. Ron Howard was to be heavily involved in the project, which apparently got reconsidered by the studio because of costs. More from Deadline Hollywood and the Wrap.
Inside the Los Angeles Times: A look at hot director Will Gluck. The Murdoch scandal gets the once-over by Patrick Goldstein.
-- Joe Flint
Follow me on Twitter. I’ll try not to let you down. Twitter.com/JBFlint
