The Morning Fix: Miley’s sultry moves make news; Redbox is red hot; ‘Millionaire’ not so hot; Abdul goes ‘Ugly’
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After the coffee. Before explaining Miley Cyrus’ dancing to your kids.
Oops she did it again. Miley Cyrus’ performance on the ‘Teen Choice Awards’ in which the 16 year-old gyrated out of a trailer and danced while holding on to a pole (if not quite doing a pole dance), set off a firestorm of debate over whether it was appropriate for her or the young audience watching. For Cyrus, an important Disney Co. asset, this is not the first time she’s risked her wholesome TV image. Dawn Chmielewski reports on the blow-back for the Los Angeles Times.
Redbox is red hot. With Lions Gate becoming the latest studio to sign a deal, video-kiosk operator Redbox, is showing there’s still a little life left in the DVD business. USA Today weighs in with a profile of the company and the controversy it is generating in Hollywood and with rivals such as Blockbuster.
Studios win over RealNetworks. The six big studios won a preliminary injunction against RealNetworks RealDVD software, an application that makes it easy to copy DVDs to a computer hard drive. ‘This is a victory for the creators,’ said MPAA chief Dan Glickman. The Los Angeles Times, paidContent.
Fewer want to be millionaires. The return of ‘Who Wants to Be a Millioinaire’ didn’t generate the big ratings ABC was hoping for, and this summer in general has been tough on new shows. Analysis from USA Today, the Wrap and the New York Times.
Was it ‘show me the money’ or ‘show me the love’? The New York Times goes into (over-)analysis mode on Paula Abdul’s exit from Fox’s ‘American Idol.’ Meanwhile, Abdul already has landed a new gig on ABC’s ‘Ugly Betty,’ details from our Show Tracker blog.
Rupert’s big dream. Time looks at News Corp. Chairman Rupert Murdoch’s love for print -- it’s lasted longer than his marriages, the magazine notes -- and whether he can succeed at building digital revenue streams.
Lings shop book. Recently freed reporter Laura Ling is shopping a book with her sister Lisa about their bonds and the strength of their relationship as well as Laura’s recent stint in a North Korean prison. The Wall Street Journal.
Inside the Los Angeles Times: The Writers Guild of America cleared Jay Leno of violating the guild’s rules during the writers strike. John Hughes is given a low-profile funeral.
-- Joe Flint
