The Morning Fix: James Murdoch out as BSkyB chair! Big paydays for big media.

After the coffee. Before finding out what happened to my $50-million pay package.

The Skinny: We've got a busy day today, so no light banter. Tuesday's headlines include the resignation of James Murdoch as chairman of BSkyB, the fight between DirecTV and Tribune going federal and a look at the big paychecks some top media executives got last year.

  Daily Dose: Keith Olbermann, who was fired from Current TV, is making the rounds this week. Not only is he still listed as appearing on David Letterman's "Late Show," he is also scheduled to be on a panel with his former ESPN co-anchor Dan Patrick at the Paley Center in New York on Thursday. If Patrick does pull out of the Paley event, it won't be the first time. Several years ago he was supposed to interview Jerry Seinfeld there as part of a tribute to humorist Jean Shepherd, only to bail three hours before it was to start. New York Times reporter Bill Carter was hustled in as a replacement.

Couldn't hack it? James Murdoch is resigning as chairman of British Sky Broadcasting, the satellite broadcaster that is 40% owned by News Corp. Less than a year ago, News Corp. was on the verge of taking over BSkyB with Murdoch, son of mogul Rupert Murdoch, calling the shots. But the hacking scandal at News Corp.'s British tabloids scuttled that deal and now has forced the exit of James Murdoch as chairman. Murdoch, who will remain on the board, is being replaced by BSkyB Deputy Chairman Nicholas Ferguson. The latest from the Los Angeles Times, BBC, Telegraph and Sky News.

Connect the dots. When it comes to animation, the Internet is no longer just a stepping stone to the big leagues of film and television. Tom Hanks is producing and starring in "Electric City," a new cartoon being made for Yahoo. "It's a great way to get into your audience's bedroom, to be able to go wherever they are and to give them an experimental and compelling story," said Hanks' producing partner Gary Goetzman. The Los Angeles Times looks at how Yahoo, YouTube and other Web giants are stepping to the plate with animation.

Call the feds! DirecTV has filed a complaint with the Federal Communications Commission against Tribune Broadcasting. The two sides have been fighting over a new deal for the satellite broadcaster to continue carrying Tribune's TV stations. In its filing, DirecTV accuses Tribune — parent of the Los Angeles Times — of acting in bad faith and reneging on an agreement. Details from the Los Angeles Times and Wall Street Journal.

Morning wars. Katie Couric is back on morning TV, guest-hosting ABC's "Good Morning America" this week. Sarah Palin is guest-hosting at NBC's "Today." Always an intense battlefield, this week the morning shows are kicking the competition up a notch. The New York Times looks at how far they'll go for the upper hand.

Didn't I see this movie? Roland Emmerich is negotiating to direct "White House Down," a movie about a military takeover of the Oval Office, according to Deadline Hollywood. Emmerich must like attacking the White House, as his previous credits include "Independence Day."

Painting a new picture. Don Ohlmeyer, the former head of NBC Entertainment and producer of "Monday Night Football" known for his gruff personality and innovative producing style, has found a new life in retirement as an artist. Sports Business Daily catches up with the outspoken Ohlmeyer.

Inside the Los Angeles Times: Big paydays for the top executives at Time Warner, Viacom, Disney and Discovery. And can "Titanic" be a massive hit the second time around?

— Joe Flint

Follow me on Twitter. It's where I mingle with the little people. Twitter.com/JBFlint

Photo: James Murdoch. Credit: Tim Anderson / Getty Images.

The Morning Fix: 'Hunger Games' wins! Tribune, DirecTV go to mattresses

After the coffee. Before deciding what interests me less, Katie Couric on "Good Morning America" or Sarah Palin on "Today."

The Skinny: I want to thank DirecTV and Tribune for making me work this weekend! It's not like I had anything better to do. Monday's headlines include box office results, Keith Olbermann's latest drama and the war brewing between Liberty Media's John Malone and Sirius XM's Mel Karmazin.

The Daily Dose: Perhaps in a sign of things to come, Fox and Time Warner Cable are fighting over a new deal for a regional sports channel in San Diego. Fox won the rights to the San Diego Padres but has been unable to get Time Warner Cable to agree to carry its new channel, meaning Padres fans will be missing a lot of games this season. Later on this year, closer to home, Fox and Time Warner Cable are expected to square off in a battle for TV rights to the Dodgers.

Big appetite."The Hunger Games" took in more than $60 million in its second weekend and easily dominated the competition. "Wrath of the Titans," the sequel to "Clash of the Titans," took in $34.2 million, which is much less than what the original opened to a few years ago and less than industry analysts had projected. "Mirror Mirror," a new take on "Snow White" starring Julia Roberts, took in $19 million. "Bully," the documentary from the Weinstein Co. that was released unrated, got off to a solid start limited release. Box office coverage in the Los Angeles Times and Movie City News.

Going to the mattresses. Los Angeles Times parent company Tribune Co. yanked its television stations off satellite broadcaster DirecTV over the weekend. The two are the latest media giants clashing over program fees. Tribune wants DirecTV to pay to carry its local stations and its national cable channel WGN America. DirecTV says it'll pay but the two sides can't agree on terms. Viewers, in the meantime, are left in the lurch. Coverage from the Los Angeles Times and Multichannel News.

That was fast. Current TV gave Keith Olbermann his walking papers just eight months after his show debuted there. Olbermann, who has clashed with bosses at just about every place he's worked (ESPN, Fox, MSNBC), has threatened to sue. Current banked on Olbermann to turn it into a serious competitor in the news/talk game and gave him a five-year, $50-million deal. More on the latest Olbermann drama from the Daily Beast.

Mel vs. Malone. Liberty Media, the holding company controlled by cable mogul John Malone, is putting the squeeze on satellite radio company Sirius XM. Liberty, already the largest stakeholder in Sirius XM, is trying to make the case that it is in defacto control and has asked the Federal Communications Commission to award it Sirius XM's radio license. Sirius XM, which is headed by Mel Karmazin, is fighting back. More on the drama from the Wall Street Journal and Los Angeles Times. 

Bubble-bursting time. USA Todaylooks at which shows are in danger of being cancelled and asks its readers to vote on which ones should be spared the death penalty. Among the programs in danger of being cancelled are NBC's critical darling "Community" and Fox's "Fringe."

Bottle, not draft. James Bond will have a Heineken in this fall's "Skyfall," according to Ad Age. Not sure if that means he has sworn off martinis or is just trying something new, but it does go to show you what money can buy!

Inside the Los Angeles Times: It was supposed to be a slam dunk, but Oprah Winfrey's OWN has had problems since Day One. Adam Sandler's "Jack and Jill" was a big winner at the Razzies, the awards that honor uniquely bad movies.

— Joe Flint

Follow me on Twitter and we can be right together. Twitter.com/JBFlint

Photo: Keith Olbermann. Credit: Mark J. Terrill/AP.

 

 

 

The Morning Fix: 'Hunger Games' to eat well! Liberty and Sirius at odds?

After the coffee. Before calling the DMV to see where my new 2013 stickers are.

The Skinny: You didn't think we could go more than two days without a photo of "The Hunger Games" did you? Friday's headlines include a preview of the weekend box office, which again will be dominated by that blockbuster; how Hollywood loves the '80s so much they want to relive them; and a potential civil war at satellite radio broadcaster Sirius XM.

Daily Dose: The NFL's new overtime rules for the regular season will have some repercussions for TV networks. Starting this season, a game that goes into overtime cannot be decided by a field goal during the first possession. In other words, if the team that wins the coin toss drives down the field and kicks a field goal, the opposing team will get the ball to try to match that or score a touchdown. That could make games longer and the NFL and networks will likely push the start time of late afternoon games, which will mean even later starts in prime time.

Still Hungry. "The Hunger Games" is expected to dominate the box office for the second weekend in a row. Last weekend, it took in $152.5 million. This weekend, analysts expect it to gross another $60 million. Neither of the two new releases -- "Wrath of the Titans" and "Mirror, Mirror" -- is expected to come anywhere near that total. "Wrath of the Titans," a sequel to "Clash of the Titans," is projected to take in $40 million. While that's nothing to sneeze at, the movie cost more than $150 million. "Mirror, Mirror," which stars Julia Roberts and Lily Collins, is likely to make $25 million. That won't make it the fairest of them all. Also, opening in limited release is "Bully," the Weinstein Co. documentary. Box office projections from the Los Angeles Times and Variety.

Everything old is new again. I loved the '80s, which is when I came of age. But that doesn't mean I want to see rehashes of every TV show I watched and every movie I sneaked into at Washington's Avalon Theater. Hollywood thinks that I do and that today's kids do as well. Sometimes it pays off, as was the case with the movie version of "21 Jump Street." But another "Vacation" movie from Chevy Chase? A new "Dirty Dancing?"  The New York Times looks at Hollywood's efforts to capture its glory days. If that's not enough, the Hollywood Reporter says Arnold Scharzenegger, Danny DeVito and Eddie Murphy are teaming up on a sequel to "Twins." Shoot me now.

Serious questions for Sirius XM. Is John Malone's Liberty Media, the biggest stakeholder in Sirius XM, trying to take over the satellite radio company? That is what Seeking Alpha suggests is behind some recent Federal Communications Commission filings by Liberty Media regarding control of Sirius XM's satellite licenses. Keep an eye on this one, it could get interesting.

King of the world again. James Cameron's "Titanic"  is being released in 3-D. It will no doubt attract everyone who loved it the first time and probably a lot of younger folks who didn't see it on the big screen. The real question is whether I can again avoid it. USA Today on the re-release of Cameron's epic.

Treading Waters. The Wall Street Journal spends some quality time with director John Waters, the original provocateur whose early films included "Desperate Living" and "Female Trouble." Waters laments today's versions of "bad taste" for trying too hard, but also knows he's not a rebel anymore. Remind me sometime to share with you my story of how I first came to see "Pink Flamingos" as a ninth-grader. It was very amusing.

Inside the Los Angeles Times: Mark Olsen on "Wrath of the Titans." Mary McNamara on the new season of HBO's "Game of Thrones." 

-- Joe Flint

Follow me on Twitter. It's really all I have going for me right now. Twitter.com/JBFlint

Photo: "The Hunger Games." Credit: Murray Close/Associated Press

The Morning Fix: Couric's back, sort of. Our cost for Dodgers deal?

After the coffee. Before another day in paradise.

The Skinny: I'm not a shill for TV shows, but NBC's "Bent" is a quirky comedy that deserved better than a Wednesday time slot opposite ABC's massive "Modern Family." I hope NBC finds a way to keep it going and let it find an audience. (OK, I'm done pitching.) Thursday's headlines include more analysis of Magic Johnson's Dodger deal, Ron Tutor's efforts to make something out of Miramax and Katie Couric's brief return to morning TV.

The Daily Dose: Los Angeles may be on the verge of cable sports overkill. The City of Angels already has two cable sports channels, News Corp.'s Fox Sports West and Prime Ticket. Later this year Time Warner Cable is launching its English- and Spanish-language sports networks (which will have the Lakers). Also coming is a channel from the Pac-12 conference. If the Dodgers start their own channel (see below), that would be six sports networks. That might be the tipping point as far as consumers and lawmakers are concerned and could lead for renewed calls to offer sports networks on an a la carte basis so customers who aren't interested in sports don't have to pay big monthly fees.

Pay ball. The stunning $2.15 billion acquisition of the Los Angeles Dodgers by an investment group that includes former Lakers great Magic Johnson continues to be the talk of the town. The price tag, far more than most industry observers thought the team would get, has many wondering just how the team will make ends meet. Here's a hint: bigger TV deals. The new owners are counting on either getting big bucks from Fox Sports or Time Warner Cable or starting their own channel. Analysis of what the Dodger deal means for the TV industry and consumers from the Los Angeles Times and Wall Street Journal. 

Just what we need. News Corp., parent of Fox Sports, is again mulling over a national cable sports channel that could rival Walt Disney Co.'s dominant ESPN. NBC already is trying to battle ESPN with its NBC Sports Network and CBS also has its own sports channel. While Bloomberg said the new service could start as early as late 2012, Fox insiders were downplaying the idea as just something that is being kicked around and may end up going nowhere. Additional coverage from the Los Angeles Times.

Welcome to Hollywood. Ron Tutor has a big house, a big boat and a big construction business. He also has Miramax, which needs some construction. The Hollywood Reporter looks at Tutor's Hollywood learning curve.

Who's the fairest of them all? Relativity Media's "Mirror, Mirror" is something of a change of pace for the production company, which is more known for action films than family comedies. Variety looks at Relativity's big bet with its retelling of the "Snow White" story.

Set the alarm clock. Katie Couric will make a brief return to morning television next week when she fills in for Robin Roberts on ABC's "Good Morning America." Couric, who was the longtime anchor of NBC's morning news show "Today" before becoming anchor of CBS' evening newscast, is launching an afternoon talk show for ABC's parent Walt Disney Co. this fall. For Couric, the brief return to the morning slot is a chance for her to promote herself and the new show. Wonder what "Good Morning America" would do if the show beat "Today" next week. I know -- highly unlikely. More on Couric's stint from TV Newser.

Welcome back. Katie Couric's not the only big news anchor making a comeback. San Diego's own legendary anchor Ron Burgundy is also returning. Will Ferrell went on Conan O'Brien's TBS show Wednesday as one of his most famous characters to announce a sequel to the 2004 hit. Details from USA Today.

Inside the Los Angeles Times: Banjo legend Earl Scruggs died at 88.

-- Joe Flint

Follow me on Twitter. It's free entertainment. Twitter.com/JBFlint

Photo: Katie Couric with friends. Credit: Philippe Cheng/Sesame Workshop.

The Morning Fix: Magic time for Dodgers! Old story for 'Modern Family'

After the coffee. Before seeing if Magic Johnson needs a first base coach.

The Skinny: I've developed a new drinking game. Take a shot every time someone says "Marilyn" on NBC's "Smash." You'll be hammered by the end of the show. Wednesday's headlines include the sale of the Dodgers to a Magic Johnson-led group, a new deal to bring back CBS's "Two and a Half Men" for a 10th season, and the cast of ABC's "Modern Family" wanting a bigger paycheck. Also, meet Vito Vincent, an actor who's trying to claw his way to the top.

The Daily Dose: Thanks to reality shows such as "Basketball Wives" and "T.I. & Tiny," cable channel VH1 has made gains among African American viewers. However, that's bad news for BET, which like VH1 is owned by Viacom. While BET is still dominant among black viewers, so far this year it has seen its ratings among its key demographic decline as VH1 has made gains.

Tough town. Like many struggling actors, he came here in search of stardom. But after some success in New York doing commercials and even a bit part on "30 Rock," Vito Vincent, an orange tabby cat, is finding it's a lot tougher in Tinseltown. The competition is stiffer and even a weight loss program hasn't paid off yet. The Los Angeles Times looks at Vito's struggles to make it big. Hey, Hollywood, I have two tuxedo cats -- one long hair and one short -- available for auditions.

Modern family, old story. The cast of ABC's hit comedy "Modern Family" wants bigger paychecks. The Hollywood Reporter says the majority of the cast makes about $65,000 per episode (Ed O'Neill makes more) and wants $200,000 in their next deal. Of course, their current deals still have a few years to go but the cast sees that 20th Century Fox Television, which makes the show for ABC, has already sold reruns to USA Networks. Typically, studios will renegotiate early in return for the cast agreeing to extend their deals for a few more seasons.

Winning! While the cast of "Modern Family" figures out how to get more money, CBS is getting closer to a new agreement with Warner Bros. to bring back the comedy "Two and a Half Men" next season. There are lots of complications having to do with Warner Bros.' rerun deals, as well as a new contract for Ashton Kutcher, who wisely signed only a one-year deal when he agreed to replace Charlie Sheen. Details from TV Guide and Variety.

All in the family. Cable operator Cablevision Systems Inc., which primarily services the New York City area, has gone through a lot of turmoil over the past several months. While many key executives have left, including Chief Operating Officer Tom Rutledge, one executive has risen up -- Kristin Dolan, wife of Chief Executive James Dolan. The Wall Street Journal looks at the drama at Cablevision and how Wall Street is reacting.

Rumble at the bike rack after school. Fans of "Twilight" and "The Hunger Games" should be able to find common ground, but instead they bicker over who's the bigger dork. I mean, they argue over which is the better franchise. It's all good for Lionsgate, the studio behind "The Hunger Games" and the new owner of Summit Entertainment, which makes the "Twilight" movies. More on the battling fan bases from USA Today.

Inside the Los Angeles Times: The Dodgers have been bought for $2 billion by a group led by former Laker great Magic Johnson. It's a lot of money until the team strikes a new TV deal. The abrupt cancellation of HBO's "Luck" is a big blow to the Los Angeles production community. Production company Legendary Entertainment ("The Dark Knight") has raised nearly $250 million in new financing.

-- Joe Flint

Follow me on Twitter. You'll learn something. Twitter.com/JBFlint

Photo: Magic Johnson. Credit: Al Seib/Los Angeles Times.

The Morning Fix: 'Bully' rejects rating. Finding next 'Games.'

After the coffee. Before deciding if I should throw my hat in the ring to coach the Saints.

The Skinny:Tuesday's headlines include Hollywood's hunt for the next teen franchise, and the Weinstein Co. deciding no rating is better than an "R" for "Bully." Also, Jimmy Kimmel has been tapped to host the Emmys on ABC this fall.

Daily Dose:Sony Pictures is trying to gin up attention for May’s long awaited sequel “Men in Black 3” with a viral campaign that mixes UFO fears with, well, legal warnings. A bus bench ad sighted in Los Angeles’ Los Feliz neighborhood encourages folks to call a toll-free number allegedly set up by a teenager with the code-name Bug Eyes. He shares his fear that “extraterrestrials live among us” and encourages people to leave messages with “any information on extraterrestrial sightings.” The sense of paranoia is dampened a bit, however, by Bug Eyes’ warning that, “By leaving a message, you grant TheMenInBlackSuitsAreReal.com permission to use your voice and anything you tell me about yourself and any portion of the content of your message in audio or text form as part of The-Men-In-Black-Suits-Are-Real experience without additional consent or compensation.”

Finding the next "Hunger Games." The success of "Twilight" and "The Hunger Games" has Hollywood studios and agencies scouring young adult fiction in the hopes of finding the next big franchise. Not only are teen books being gobbled up left and right -- regardless of whether they were bestsellers -- there is even intense bidding for movie rights to books that haven't even been published yet. "Every single studio wants to capitalize on a young-adult franchise," said ICM agent Josie Freedman. "It's what's selling on the publishing side and on the film side." The Los Angeles Times looks at Hollywood's hunt for the next big teen hit.

Weinstein won't be stymied. The Weinstein Co. has decided to release its documentary "Bully" without a rating from the Motion Picture Assn. of America. The MPAA wanted to slap "Bully" with an "R" rating because of profanity. Harvey Weinstein has argued that an "R" would make it difficult for teens -- the very people who need to see the movie -- to get into theaters. Now the risk is that some theaters may avoid carrying an unrated movie. More from the Los Angeles Times and Indie Wire.

There's a movie in here somewhere. If the folks who rush out to see Universal's "Battleship" get bored with the movie, they can start playing "count the product placements." According to Variety, Coca-Cola Co., Subway and Kraft are the big promotional partners backing "Battleship," a big summer release for the studio.

"Terra Nova" to remain extinct. Netflix is going to pass on trying to rescue "Terra Nova," the dinosaur drama that Fox canceled after just one season, according to TV Guide. The studio behind "Terra Nova," 20th Century Fox Television, has been hoping to sell the show to either another network or Netflix. But the production costs and the amount of time it takes to make episodes of the special effects-filled show, coupled with the low ratings, make "Terra Nova" too risky a bet for many.

"Mad Men" hype pays off. The return of AMC's "Mad Men" drew 3.5 million viewers Sunday night. That number pales in comparison with the network's hit "The Walking Dead," but it was a record for the drama about 1960s advertising executives. While "Mad Men" has a small audience, it is a favorite among critics, meaning that the coverage surrounding the show is way out of proportion to its ratings. More on the numbers from Bloomberg.

Inside the Los Angeles Times:ABC has tapped Jimmy Kimmel to host the Emmys this September. Tribune Co., parent of the Los Angeles Times, is threatening to pull its TV stations from satellite broadcaster DirecTV in a dispute over carriage fees, also known as retransmission fees.

-- Joe Flint

Follow me on Twitter and we'll ride the storm out together. Twitter.com/JBFlint

Photo: Harvey Weinstein. Credit: Kris Connor/Getty Images.

The Morning Fix: 'Hunger Games' devours all! Rock back in ring.

After the coffee. Before seeing what the ratings were for "Mad Men."

The Skinny:I saw "The Hunger Games." It is "Survivor" meets "The Truman Show" with a little bit of "The Bachelorette" thrown in. Still, nothing like seeing a movie in a packed theater. Monday's headlines include the big box office take for "The Hunger Games," Dwayne Johnson's return to the wrestling ring and James Cameron's long trip.

The Daily Dose: Fox Broadcasting has indicated that it would consider hiring Sean Payton -- the New Orleans Saints coach who was suspended for the season as a result of his role in the team's bounty program that encouraged defensive players to take out opposing players -- for its broadcast coverage of the NFL. Such a move would not make the network any new friends at the NFL. After all, if the NFL has decreed that Payton's behavior has made him bad for football, it seems unlikely it would look kindly on anyone giving him a job where he would seemingly be a face of the league. "Our feeling about Sean is that he’s bright, articulate and obviously contemporary,” Lou D’Ermilio, a Fox spokesman, told the New York Times. “Any network with NFL rights would have to consider it.”

Appetite fulfilled. As expected, Lionsgate's "The Hunger Games" had a massive opening weekend, taking in $155 million. That is a new box office record for a non-sequel and behind only the last "Harry Potter" movie and "The Dark Night." About 61% of the audience for "The Hunger Games" were women. That's about 20% less than what the last "Twilight" film averaged. At the screening of "The Hunger Games" I attended, there was a fair amount of chuckling when a preview for the next "Twilight" movie was screened. Box office coverage from the Los Angeles Times, Movie City News and the New York Times.

Ratings race.There is a shakeup going on in cable television viewing as many of the top-rated cable networks -- including Time Warner's TNT and Comcast's USA -- have seen their ratings take a dip this year. On the rise are the History Channel and AMC. Of course, the good thing about the cable business is that the programmers have long-term deals with distributors and often their subscriber fees are immune to fluctuations in their ratings. More on this year's cable numbers from the Wall Street Journal.

Layup for Lauer. Matt Lauer, lead anchor of NBC's morning news program "Today," appears to be in the driver's seat as he and NBC try to hammer out a new deal to keep him at the network. Lauer's contract is up at the end of the year. While ABC's "Good Morning America" has closed the gap on "Today," a loss of Lauer could easily give its No. 1 rival even more momentum. A look at Lauer's leverage from New York magazine.

Lightening his load. James Murdoch has resigned from boards affiliated with News Corp.'s British newspaper unit, which is currently under investigation for ethical abuses by lawmakers there. Next month, the Parliament committee investigating phone hacking and other wrongdoings by News Corp. tabloids is expected to release a report critical of Murdoch's handling of the situation. More from Bloomberg.

Double duty. Dwayne Johnson, who first rose to fame as the wrestler "The Rock" before leaving the WWE to become a movie star, is returning to the ring. Interestingly, Johnson is doing this when his box office star continues to rise, not because it has taken a tumble. Variety looks at Johnson's career strategy.

Can you hear me now? Director James Cameron ("Titanic," "Avatar"), best known for taking movies where no one has gone before, has now taken himself where no man has been before. Cameron dove to the deepest point on Earth in a special submarine. According to the Associated Press, Cameron reached a depth of almost 36,000 feet. Guess his favorite album is Van Halen's "Diver Down."

Inside the Los Angeles Times: Randall Roberts on Madonna's latest release. James Rainey on celebrity profiles.

-- Joe Flint

Follow me on Twitter and the odds will be ever in your favor. Twitter.com/JBFlint

Photo: "The Hunger Games." Credit: Lionsgate.

The Morning Fix: 'Hunger Games' may set record. Encore for 'Smash.'

After the coffee. Before figuring out what I'm watching versus what I'm recording on Sunday night.

The Skinny:I think "Mad Men" is back this Sunday but I'm not sure. I wish there was just a little bit of promotion from AMC about it and a little more attention to the show from the media. Yes, that's sarcasm. Friday's headlines include a look at how big "The Hunger Games" will be this weekend and a scandal at one of the nation's biggest broadcasters. Also, there is a rise in work for little people.

The Daily Dose:With religious broadcaster Trinity Broadcasting Network, one of the country's biggest owners of local television stations, embroiled in scandal (see below), it will be interesting to see if there's any fallout from the government. The Federal Communications Commission wants local broadcasters to give up some of their airwaves to boost cellphones and new digital devices. If the accusations of fraud against TBN pan out, then in theory the FCC could try to reclaim their spectrum and have it auctioned or sold to wireless companies.

TBN future TBD.Trinity Broadcasting Network, a religious broadcaster that owns more than 20 television stations around the country, has been accused of fraud by a former executive and relative of TBN co-founder Paul Crouch. Brittany Koper, who held senior positions at the Southern California-based broadcaster and is a granddaughter of Crouch, filed a lawsuit in Orange Country Superior Court accusing TBN brass of illegal financing schemes and using funds for personal purposes. Details on the suit from the Los Angeles Times.

Big weekend. Industry experts are predicting that "The Hunger Games" could take in between $125 million and $150 million this weekend. If it does meet those expectations, that would give "The Hunger Games" the biggest debut for a non-sequel movie ever. Hey, if I have a ticket, that should tell you all you need to know about how well this movie will do. Box office previews from the Los Angeles Times and Variety. Playing devil's advocate, Advertising Age columnist Seraj Bharwani predicts that "The Hunger Games" will take in only $80 million. Let's ask Monday if he had to eat those words.

Curtain call.NBC announced Thursday that it was bringing back "Smash," its musical drama about the making of a Broadway play about Marilyn Monroe. What NBC didn't say is that the show's creator, Theresa Rebeck, would not be the show runner next season. There has been concern that some of the plots in "Smash" focus too much on arcane details of interest only to theater geeks (and many of those, including my significant other, feel the show gets it wrong as much as it gets it right) and that the program needs to broaden if it wants to be more than a niche show. More on the shakeup from Deadline Hollywood.

Third time's the charm? "Hangover" director Todd Phillips is planning one more sequel to the hit movie. The Hollywood Reporter quotes Phillips saying, “We're going to surprise a lot of people with the final chapter we have planned." Maybe he means that this one will actually be funny, unlike the second "Hangover" movie.

Big jobs for little people. The Wall Street Journal looks at the growing use of little people in movies (the upcoming "Mirror) and television (HBO's "Game of Thrones" and "Life's Too Short") and how Hollywood has made gains to steer clear of cheap jokes, stereotypes and a certain "M" word that is particularly offensive.

Inside the Los Angeles Times: Robert Lloyd on the return of "Mad Men."

-- Joe Flint

Follow me on Twitter, I'm not afraid to say there's too much hype for "Mad Men." Twitter.com/JBFlint

Photo: Megan Hilty and Will Chase in the NBC musical drama "Smash. Credit: NBC

The Morning Fix: 'Hunger Games' music hot. Changes at 'The Office.'

After the coffee. Before getting my Tim Tebow Jets jersey.

The Skinny: Thursday's headlines include some executive changes at Sony Corp., a review of "The Hunger Games," plans to keep NBC's "The Office" alive for one more season despite some key cast departures, and Fox's move to give its new drama "Touch" a global premiere.

The Daily Dose: All the off-season drama in the National Football League will make figuring out the television schedule for the 2012 season even more complicated. Among the headaches for the league will be figuring out how much national television exposure the fan favorite New Orleans Saints will get in the wake of Coach Sean Payton's suspension for the season because the team had issued bounties to take out rival players. Then there are the Indianapolis Colts, who are usually a national draw but may struggle with a rookie quarterback. One plus for the league is that media phenom Tim Tebow signed with the New York Jets, who already get lots of TV time. If he'd gone to a team like the Jacksonville Jaguars, the NFL would have had to figure out how to get that squad in the national rotation along with more popular teams.

Sony shake-up. Kazuo Hirai, who will take over for Howard Stringer as chief executive of Sony Corp. in a few weeks, is expected to tap Michael Lynton as his top U.S. executive. Lynton, currently head of Sony's Hollywood operations, would add oversight over Sony's music and publishing units. Analysis of Lynton's ascent from the Los Angeles Times, the New York Times and the New York Post, which first broke the story.

Hungry for music. A true test of how powerful "The Hunger Games" is expected to be is that even its soundtrack is already doing big business on iTunes. Once considered a key component of any movie marketing effort, soundtracks lost their cool years ago. The Wall Street Journal looks at whether music from "The Hunger Games" can boost the soundtrack business.

Time to shut this down? NBC's aging sitcom "The Office" already lost Steve Carell and now is poised to lose several other cast members as well as behind-the-scenes talent. Nonetheless, NBC is scrambling to keep "The Office" around for another year, and perhaps even launch a spinoff show featuring Rainn Wilson's character, Dwight Schrute. Though a case could be made that "The Office" is past its prime, struggling NBC still gets a decent (for it) 18-49 audience from the show. Details on how "The Office" might live on for another season from TV Guide and Deadline Hollywood.

One world. Fox is making the unusual -- but not unprecedented -- move of premiering its new drama "Touch" around the world. Normally, shows premiere in the United States and then gradually pop up around the globe. Fox is going with a global scheduling approach to try to combat piracy as well as to boost advertising sales. More from Variety.

Viacom's ratings woes spread. Cable programming giant Viacom Inc. has some new headaches. With the company already reeling from a ratings drop at its kids channel, Nickelodeon, its MTV and Comedy Central are now also seeing declines in their key demographics. More from the New York Post.

Shocking discovery. A new study shows that people who are constantly updating their Facebook status are likely to be very narcissistic. And I just thought that their lives were so exciting that they were doing a service by letting the rest of us know how great things are going for them. Conversely though, someone who tweets a lot -- say, a media reporter at a West Coast newspaper -- is not narcissistic but rather a kind and giving soul. Details on the study from the Guardian.

Inside the Los Angeles Times: Kenneth Turan on "The Hunger Games." John Horn on what it took to get the movie "October Baby," which deals with the story of a woman whose birth mother tried to unsuccessfully abort her, to the big screen.

-- Joe Flint

Follow me on Twitter and you'll witness my historic 11,000th tweet. Twitter.com/JBFlint

Photo: A scene from "The Hunger Games. Credit: Murray Close / Lionsgate

The Morning Fix: 'Big Bang' lifts TBS. 'Hunger Games' boosts N.C.

After the coffee. Before getting my tickets for 'The Hunger Games.' Yes, you read that right.

The Skinny: Apparently I'm not the only one who keeps track of how many times the word "vagina" is used on the CBS sitcom "Two Broke Girls." A media watchdog group has also been keeping tabs. Wednesday's headlines also include how North Carolina is looking to capitalize on "The Hunger Games" and how reruns of "The Big Bang Theory" are paying off big time for TBS.

Daily Dose: Eagle-eyed watchers of the television spots for the upcoming "American Pie" sequel "American Reunion" have noticed that a bikini bottom in one of the commercials is actually a "green screen," which is Hollywood lingo for fake. Look closely at the girl with the red string top and green bottom that looks more like a piece of green cardboard hung over her backside. Now I'll have to see the movie just to find out what she was really wearing. Yes, it's a slow morning.

Hungry for more. With "The Hunger Games" expected to do huge business when it opens this weekend, North Carolina, the state where the movie was shot, is hoping to benefit as well.  “It shows the industry that North Carolina can handle these large films and that we have the talent and resources to make it work," said Aaron Syrett, director of the North Carolina Film Office. Before "The Hunger Games," North Carolina's biggest movie credits included "Dirty Dancing" and "The Last of the Mohicans." Currently,  Showtime's "Homeland" shoots there and later this year "Iron Man 3" will film there as well. More on North Carolina's plans to woo Hollywood from the Los Angeles Times.

Even an iPad has its limits. The new version of Apple's iPad apparently has a a big appetite when it comes to eating through wireless data. The Wall Street Journal said consumers may have to pay more to get larger data plans to watch a lot of video. The opening anecdote is about a guy named Brandon Wells who used up his monthly data plan after watching just two hours of the NCAA basketball tournament. That may sound disturbing to new iPad owners but even more disturbing was that Wells apparently attached the iPad to his car's dashboard to watch the games. Yeah, that sounds safe.

'Big Bang' getting big results. When TBS shelled out $1.5 million per episode for reruns of the CBS comedy "The Big Bang Theory," some were shaking their heads. But now "The Big Bang Theory" is helping to boost TBS' ratings and has turned into a valuable promotional platform for the network's other shows including Conan O'Brien's late night program. Vulture looks at the amazing success of "The Big Bang Theory."

Telling tales. Hollywood is embracing fairy tales. Besides the ABC series "Once Upon a Time" and NBC's "Grimm," new movies "Mirror, Mirror" and “Snow White and the Huntsman" are also looking to children's classics for material. More on the trend from the New York Times.

Yahoo lands big fish. Internet web portal Yahoo continues to make splashy deals in its efforts to build a programming powerhouse. Anthony Zuiker, creator of CBS' "CSI" franchise, has signed on with Yahoo to create a crime drama called "Cybergeddon." Previously, Yahoo landed Tom Hanks to produce an animated series called "Electric City." More on the deal from Variety.

Ellen vs. JLo. Ellen DeGeneres and Jennifer Lopez have more in common than being judges on "American Idol." Both are featured in ad campaigns getting lots of play. DeGeneres is shilling for JCPenney while Lopez has been hawking Fiats and more recently a clothing line from Kohl's. Ad Age compares the two women's marketing prowess and decides that while Lopez may be better on "American Idol," DeGeneres is stronger on Madison Avenue.

Inside the Los Angeles Times: You're not imagining things; the words penis and vagina are popping up more and more in prime time television.

-- Joe Flint

Follow me on Twitter. I won't abandon you. Twitter.com/JBFlint

Photo: "The Hunger Games." Credit: Murray Close/Lionsgate.