The Morning Fix: The rich and the dead. Quincy quits. Conan’s crashing. R&R Hall of Fame is in midlife crisis.
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After the coffee. Before wondering if A-Rod’s hot streak is over.
Quincy quits. CBS Interactive CEO Quincy Smith, known for flashy sneakers and fast talk, is exiting the company after three years and a few billion dollars’ worth of deals to return to the world of Silicon Valley. There has been speculation for months that Smith, who was a rare outside hire for CBS chief Leslie Moonves, would be leaving now that the company is no longer in deal mode. In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, Moonves praises Smith (who signed a consulting deal with the company) but also acknowledged the price tag for CNET was a wee bit high. PaidContent also has a thorough analysis of the Quincy years at CBS and what’s next.
The rich and the dead. Forbes has dug up its most powerful dead celebrities list, and the biggest earner is, surprise, Yves Saint Laurent. Michael Jackson is in third place; better luck next year.
Conan’s crashing. While a lot of attention has been focused on Jay Leno’s prime-time numbers and David Letterman’s little numbers in the office, NBC’s Conan O’Brien has seen his ratings tumble in his new 11:30 time slot. The New York Times looks for lots of reasons for the drop including his lead-in and all of Letterman’s foibles. Here’s what it didn’t mention: Conan was on the air for almost four months before Leno started, so that’s probably not a factor and Letterman’s growth just may have been the effect and not the cause of viewers’ disinterest in Conan.
We’re going to Santa Clarita. Walt Disney Co. is building a 56-acre production facility in Santa Clarita, home to such classic films as ‘Old Yeller.’ The move is good news for a state that has seen much of its television and movie production flee for cheaper locales. Details from the Los Angeles Times.
Epix makes quiet entrance. Epix, the new pay channel from Viacom’s Paramount, MGM and Lionsgate (otherwise known as the three movie companies without output deals at HBO or Showtime), is finally launching this weekend. Of course, the only major distributor carrying the new service is Verizon FiOS. Details on the launch and some gimmicks to try to get some momentum going from Reuters and Deadline.
‘Desperate’ deal. ‘Desperate Housewives’ creator Marc Cherry has signed a new deal to stay with the show through 2013. Only hitch now, says Variety, is getting the core cast on board for that long. Their deals are up after the 2010-11 season.
Inside the Los Angeles Times: ‘This Is It’ box-office report. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame hits 25, which in that world means midlife crisis. John Horn on ‘2012.’
-- Joe Flint
