Big to-do list for new NBCU News chairman. ‘Gatsby’ to open Cannes.
After the coffee. Before figuring out why the Vatican didn’t call me.
The Skinny: I like “Mad Men.†I hate all the hype around it. I don’t need to analyze a new poster for the show. Tuesday’s headlines include a look at the challenges facing the new boss at NBC News and who may be the next FCC chairman.
Daily Dose: Week 2 ratings for History’s “The Bible†were still strong but not as huge as Week 1. According to Nielsen, 10.8 million viewers watched Sunday’s episode, down from 13.1 million the first week. Next week’s episode brings the New Testament and Jesus!
Big job. Pat Fili-Krushel, the new chairman of NBCUniversal’s news unit, has a big to-do list. She needs to get “Today†fixed. She needs to find a replacement for Steve Capus, who just left as president of NBC News. She needs to get CNBC and NBC News to play nice with each other. Oh and she needs to prepare the unit for the digital age. The Los Angeles Times talks with Fili-Krushel about her challenges. Also, “Today†co-host Matt Lauer, whose golden boy image was tarnished during the Ann Curry fiasco, talks with the Daily Beast.
Job opening. Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski is expected to step down as head of the regulatory agency this spring, a few months prior to his term expiring. Now speculation is starting on who the Obama administration will tap to take his place. The Washington Post on who is on the short list.
Too far? A scene in HBO’s “Girls†involving male bodily fluid and violent (some may even say forced or at least coerced) sex had lots of people talking about whether the dark comedy went a little over the top. More on whether there was too much climax in the climatic scene from the Hollywood Reporter, Los Angeles Times and this take from the blog Role/Reboot.
The force is coming ... to TV. Lucasfilm, which was recently acquired by Walt Disney Co., is not only prepping another “Star Wars†movie but also wants a bigger presence in TV. Currently, Lucasfilm has one TV show, the animated program “Star Wars: The Clone Wars,†which had aired on Time Warner’s Cartoon Network but is expected to move to a Disney property. Now though there are hints that other TV projects are in the works. The New York Times on the gossip about “Star Wars†TV.
It better be great! “The Great Gatsby,†which stars Leo DiCaprio and Tobey Maguire, has been tapped to open the 66th annual Cannes Film Festival. Initially the movie was to be released in the U.S. last December but it got pushed to spring to get out of the way of “Django Unchained,†which also starred DiCaprio. More on the lineup from Variety.
Inside the Los Angeles Times: Cinedigm could be a savior for independent movies and documentaries. A look at what Los Angeles bands may make a splash at the South by Southwest festival.
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