Advertisement

The Morning Fix: Law but no order at NBC! ‘Iron Man 2’ poised to rule ‘Robin Hood.’ MGM gets more breathing room

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 the 7 a.m. to New York. Why do I keep doing this to myself?

Crying Wolf. There will still be ‘Law & Order’ on NBC next fall, just maybe not the ‘Law & Order.’ The show’s creator, Dick Wolf, appears to be at an impasse with NBC on a deal for what would be the 21st season of the show. Late word Thursday was that the show was dead, but NBC refuses to comment, and people at the network say there are still some talks going on. The network makes its fall schedule announcement on Monday, so we’ll know soon enough. TNT, which still airs plenty of ‘Law & Order’ reruns made it clear that it’s not interested in picking the show up if NBC does pass. And if NBC says it can’t afford the high-priced show, how the heck would TNT swing it with the money its parent, Turner Broadcasting, is already spending on Conan O’Brien and the NCAA? Coverage from Deadline Hollywood and Vulture. As for me, heck, I stopped watching years ago and would kill to see an old one with Michael Moriarty.

Advertisement

‘Robin Hood’ won’t rob from ‘Iron Man 2.’ This weekend’s box office battle will see a hero of the past battle a hero of today as ‘Robin Hood’ takes on ‘Iron Man 2.’ Doesn’t look like Ridley Scott’s historical epic will be able to put an arrow into Tony Stark. The box office preview from the Los Angeles Times.

Pay us back when you can. MGM’s lenders once again gave the struggling studio some breathing room, telling it to hold off until July on any interest and principal payments on its heavy debt. As the Los Angeles Times notes, MGM has now had more sequels than ‘Rocky.’ Also stuck writing this one was the New York Times.

Finding an Idol. Simon Cowell is nearing the end of his run as king of Fox’s ‘American Idol,’ and no replacement is expected to be named when Fox unveils its new 2010-11 programming plans on Monday. The Daily Beast’s Richard Rushfield, who has made a career out of tracking the talent show, weighs in on potential replacements.

Gaspin’s chatting ... again. The ‘We Like the Press’ tour that NBC executives have been on for the last few months continues with NBC Universal entertainment chief Jeff Gaspin doing a Q & A with Variety’s Mike Schneider. Unfortunately, the interview took place before Thursday’s ‘Law & Order’ explosion, but Gaspin was asked what was going on with the talks and said that ‘we’re still working on some details.’ Yeah, like figuring out a deal. In the meantime, ‘Chuck’ fans can chill. NBC has picked up the show for next season. I’d say go have a beer to celebrate but we all know you’re far to geeky for that.

Defending the title. Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski came to the cable show to defend his controversial broadband plan to an industry that is very wary about it. In a nutshell, Genachowski wants to put some more regulations on how Internet traffic flows, and to do so he has to treat the business like a phone company. During an interview with Kyle McSlarrow, the head of the National Cable & Telecommunications Assn., Genachowski was asked that if the FCC is so concerned about how companies are treated on the Internet, what about Google? ‘A search algorithm is just a fancy name for discrimination,’ McSlarrow said. Genachowski replied, ‘This isn’t about Google.’ More from the Wall Street Journal and New York Post. I’m still waiting for any reporter to clearly explain the difference between Title I regulations and Title II regulations.

Ready for her close-up. At almost 90, Betty White is having a career renaissance that would make Brett Favre jealous. The Wrap looks at what is driving her sudden mass appeal.

Advertisement

Inside the Los Angeles Times: TV critic Mary McNamara loves her some ‘Modern Family’ and ‘The Good Wife.’

-- Joe Flint

Come on, you know you want to. Follow me on Twitter at: twitter.com/JBFlint

Advertisement