The WB announced it has cancelled the BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER spin-off ANGEL after five seasons on the air. With nine episodes left in the season, the announcement was released early to allow "the show's creators time to wrap up the season appropriately." The cancellation doesn't spell the complete end of the character, which the network might give special movie events to next year.
Upon the success of the networks mini-series, SCI FI Channel has given the go ahead for the production of a new BATTLESTAR GALATICA TV series. Based on the top-rated December miniseries, which was based on the 1970s TV series, the one-hour drama is scheduled to begin production on 13 episodes in Vancouver next month.
FINDING NEMO cast no doubt that Pixar Animation Studios (Walt Disney Pictures) continues to ride the biggest wave in animation as it won in nine out of the nine categories it was nominated in at the 2003 Annie Awards held Feb. 7, 2004 at the Alex Theater in Glendale, California, culminating in the big kahuna, Best Feature. While it competed against 2D entries, including the beloved TRIPLETS OF BELLEVILLE, animation professionals and fans, who comprise the voting membership of ASIFA-Hollywood that doles out the awards, favored the 3D production.
Nickelodeon has announced the nominees for 17th Annual Kids' Choice Awards, which will be hosted by previous Kids' Choice winners Mike Myers and Cameron Diaz. The event will take place April 3, 2004 from 8:00 - 9:30 pm. Topping the list of nominees was FINDING NEMO with three nods for Favorite Movie, Favorite Voice from an Animated Movie (Ellen DeGeneres) and Favorite Video Game.
FX has hired former Jersey Television president and partner John Landgraf as president of entertainment. At FX, he will oversee of all development and production for original programming including series, films and new media.
Peter Liguori, president and ceo, FX Networks, said, "John Landgraf is the perfect fit for FX and a great addition to the network. I'm excited about working with someone of John's impeccable reputation and great programming instincts, and I'm confident that he will be an excellent creative partner."
Sci Fi Channel and Tribune Ent. Co. have entered into a program license agreement for the GENE RODDENBERRY'S ANDROMEDA, starring Kevin Sorbo. In addition to presenting the fifth and final season of ANDROMEDA (with VFX by Northwest Imaging & FX, Rainmaker Digital Pictures and Lost Boys Studios) next fall as an original series, Sci Fi will also have the television rights to the series' first four seasons. The Tribune deal also includes all 66 episodes of BEASTMASTER, starring Daniel Goddard and Monika Schnarre, which will begin airing sometime in 2004 exclusively on Sci Fi.
Steven A. Hobbs will join Hearst-Argyle Television Inc. in the newly created position of svp/chief legal and development officer, effective January 21, 2004, reporting to Hearst-Argyle TV president/ceo David J. Barrett.
Reference links to help ASIFA voters make more informed decisions
Reference links to help ASIFA voters make more informed decisions.
Cyma Zarghami, who has been instrumental in making Nickelodeon the highest-rated basic cable network in total day ratings for more than eight straight years, has been promoted to the newly created position of President, Nickelodeon Television. In her new role, Zarghami will oversee all of Nickelodeon's television businesses, adding the digital channel Noggin/The N, which is now in 40 million homes, to her responsibilities, while continuing to oversee Nickelodeon Games & Sports (GAS) and Nicktoons.
ASIFA-Hollywood has announced the nominees for the 2003 Annie Awards, which will be held Feb. 7, 2004 in Glendale, California. Leading the features was FINDING NEMO with 12 nods, followed by BROTHER BEAR with eight. International sensations MILLENNIUM ACTRESS and TRIPLETS OF BELLEVILLE took home four and three nominations respectively.
Fox Television Ent. Group chairman Sandy Grushow announced on Jan. 5, 2004 he had resigned his post effective immediately to launch a Twentieth Century Fox-based production company called Phase Two. His contract was set to expire in summer 2004.
Fans of the animated Nickelodeon series, THE WILD THORNBERRYS, can now join Eliza Thornberry and her family on their cross-continental adventures with an exclusive offer through National Geographic. The two VHS sets follow the Thornberrys as they trek through Africa and Australia filming wildlife documentaries and getting mixed up in their crazy adventures along the way. Available exclusively through National Geographic, the two video sets can be purchased by calling 1-800-627-5162 or by ordering online at www.nationalgeographic.com.
Tiger Aspect Productions has signed a raft of broadcast and licensing agreements with international partners who for animated MR BEAN, extending the popular character and his outlandish adventures to new markets around the world.
The propertys U.S. and Canadian licensing agent The Sharpe Company has negotiated a deal with Toy Play to launch an innovative figural toy range to the mass and specialty retail market. Cinder Block, a well-known adult/youth apparel vendor, has signed for T-shirts and sweatshirts.
SCI FI Channel has signed Academy Award-winner F. Murray Abraham (AMADEUS) and Sean Patrick Flanery (YOUNG INDIANA JONES) to star in the hour-long pilot for the drama series DEAD LAWYERS. A Zanuck Co. production in association with Sony Pictures Television, LAWYERS begins filming in Toronto in early December. Paris Barclay (THE SHIELD, NYPD BLUE) directs.
ValCom and O Atlas Enterprises will be turning their NEW ZOO REVUE into a new 3D TV series and feature. The original people-in-suits series debuted in syndication in the U.S. in 1971. The new film is budgeted at $3 million and production on both the telefilm and 26-part series should wrap in January 2005. ValCom plans to unveil the project at NATPE.
On November 24, 2003 in New York City, the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences announced the winners of the 31st Annual International Emmy Awards. The BBC was the big winner of the night taking home three awards, including the Children & Young People Award for the newest Robbie the Reindeer adventure, LEGEND OF THE LOST TRIBE. The project was co-production between BBC Bristol and Comic Relief.
The U.S. Congress, under Republican leadership, and the White House agreed late Nov. 24, 2003 in Washington DC to a new limit on the number of television stations one company can own, a compromise reached to help make way for approval of a massive spending bill that will keep the government running for a year.
TELEVISION BUSINESS SCHOOL
Raven Moon Entertainment has announced it will launch a nationwide contest to promote it's GINA D'S CUDDLE BUG CHRISTMAS SPECIAL, which is scheduled to air Dec. 21, 2003 on PAX Television. The contest will give 20 kids a Free Christmas Cuddle Bug and one grand prize winner and their family a trip to Orlando, Florida to watch a filming of an episode of GINA D'S KIDS CLUB.
Framestore CFC has received the Best Digital Effects prize at this years Royal Television Society Craft & Design Awards. At the Nov. 17, 2003 event, the company won for its work on the two WALKING WITH DINOSAURS specials THE GIANT CLAW and LAND OF GIANTS. The award was accepted on behalf of Framestore CFC by DINOSAURS team members Tim Greenwood, Darren Byford, George Roper and Sarah Tosh.
Veteran industry executives Margaret Loesch and Bruce Stein have teamed to create The Hatchery, LLC, a new entertainment and marketing firm. Loesch, an Emmy Award-winning producer, was most recently president/ceo of Crown Media U.S./Hallmark Channel. Stein was formerly president/coo of Mattel Inc. Also a partner in the new production house is Emmy and Peabody Award-winning producer/writer Dan Angel.
Last call for entries in the Barcelona International Television Festival 2003 (Children
Abbey Home Media Group presented the multimedia launch of the WIDE EYE television series at this years MIPCOM. Co-produced with the BBC and made by the BAFTA award-winning King Rollo Films, the 26x10 2D animation series is due to air on CBeebies and CBeebies on BBC Two this fall. The educational preschool series features animal characters and music plus voiceovers from actors such as Jane Horrocks (LITTLE VOICE).
ASIFA-Hollywood has put out a call for volunteers interested in serving on the nomination committees for the 2003 Annie Awards. The categories include home entertainment, short subject, television commercial, television production, television production produced for children, character animation, character design (feature and TV), directing (feature and TV), effects animation, music (feature and TV), production design (feature and TV), storyboarding (feature and TV), voice acting (feature and TV) and writing (feature and TV).
