Top Story: Sopranos May See One Last Season
Doesn’t look like Tony Soprano is going to get whacked any time soon. The Sopranos executive producer Brad Grey told The New York Times the hit cable show will continue for a sixth season, its last, giving HBO enough shows for a lucrative syndication deal. The deal would be among the biggest syndication deals for a cable program, the Times reports. There has been no official word from HBO as yet.
Paramount and Theater Chain in Feud Over Lara Croft Sequel
Paramount Pictures and theater chain Regal Entertainment Group have become embroiled in a dispute over the promotion of one of this summer’s hottest sequels, Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life, starring Angelina Jolie. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Paramount and DaimlerChrysler Jeep have created an in-lobby marketing campaign, which includes displaying the new Wrangler Rubicon featured in the movie. Regal, however, has maintained a policy of not promoting any third-party brands in its theaters without due financial compensation and as such, the two parties were unable to reach an agreement. In response, The Reporter reports Paramount has decided to release Cradle of Life to Regal’s competitors in 47 locations nationwide.
Miller Hooks Up With Fox News
If you’ve been hankering for some of Dennis Miller‘s searing social commentary since his Emmy-winning HBO show Dennis Miller Live went off the air, you’re in luck. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Miller has signed with Fox News Channel as a commentator and will have a weekly segment on Fox News’ Hannity & Colmes debate show. The comedian’s sarcastic quips will run on the Friday editions of Hannity & Colmes beginning June 27 and rerun on Weekend Live With Tony Snow on Saturdays.
ABC Falls to Third Despite Major Sport Finals
Despite airing the National Basketball Association’s championships and the National Hockey League’s finals, ABC wasn’t able to rise above third place in the ratings last week. NBC barely won the top spot with 8.36 million viewers over CBS, who had 8.35 million. ABC gathered 7.1 million, followed by Fox with 5.9 million.
Pink Takes Over Beck Song
The Associated Press reports singer/songrwriter Beck wrote in his online journal that he allowed Pink to take over his song “Feelgood Time,” which he said “was sitting around languishing,” to record for the upcoming Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle soundtrack. Although Beck admitted he was a little disappointed because he would have liked his version to get out there, he said, “Now it would just sound like I was doing karaoke to Pink.”
Lollapalooza Opening Date Canceled
The opening date of the Lollapalooza tour July 3 in Ionia, Mich., has been canceled due to “staging and technical difficulties with the event site,” AP reports, as opening act Jane’s Addiction didn’t think they could fit all their production onto the stage. Korina Haga of the Ionia Fair Association told The Grand Rapids Press she was outraged when her office found out about the cancellation from a Lansing radio station, not from the tour management. Instead, Lollapalooza will open July 4 in Noblesville, Ind.
Role Call: Affleck Set Sights on Comedies, Studdard Does Scooby
Ben Affleck must be feeling lighthearted lately, looking at two new comedies as his next projects. One is Disney’s Ghosts of Girlfriends Past, where he’ll play a guy plagued by past girlfriends à la The Christmas Carol, and New Line’s Sex Talk, playing a sports reporter who finds using sports jargon helps people’s sex lives…R’uh r’oh! American Idol‘s newest crown prince Ruben Studdard–or the Velvet Teddy Bear, as he’s affectionately known–has agreed to do a cameo in the Scooby-Doo sequel Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed, AP reports. “I’m just in at the end of the movie. I’m having a party and singing in the end. It’s cool,” Studdard said.
