TV Hot Spot: News

The WB Revived Online!

Post by: Sal


Source: Zap2It


The WB lives on.

Eighteen months after shutting down its TV network that captured the youth zeitgeist with such shows as "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "Dawson's Creek," Warner Bros. Television said Monday that it was resurrecting The WB vibe and moniker on the Internet.

The studio, part of the Time Warner Inc. empire, has been experimenting with ways to parlay its strength in TV programming onto the Web. Although earlier efforts sputtered, Warner Bros. now believes that targeting younger audiences with advertiser-friendly online communities is the most promising strategy.

"I see ourselves as being in the storytelling business, and this is just a different platform to tell stories," says Bruce Rosenblum, president of the Warner Bros. Television Group. "We are developing targeted niche destinations that will fulfill advertisers' appetites."

Its website, TheWB.com, is scheduled to debut in August and will feature episodes of such popular Warner Bros.-produced series as "Friends," "The O.C." and "Gilmore Girls." However, Rosenblum believes that original programming created specifically for the Internet ultimately will be a bigger hit among the under-35 audience that advertisers seek.

Warner Bros. has recruited several producers to develop content for the site, including Josh Schwartz, creator of "The O.C." and McG, director of the "Charlie's Angels" movies. McG plans to team with the producers of the digital series "Prom Queen" for a new show called "Sorority Forever."

The site will feature an application that permits users of Facebook to grab Warner Bros. images to decorate their profile pages without violating the studio's copyright.

Warner Bros. said it would provide its programs to Fancast, the video site of television programming owned by Comcast Corp.

In addition, Warner Bros. is relaunching its children's site, now named KidsWB.com, with Comcast as a distribution partner. Mattel Inc. and McDonald's Corp. have agreed to participate in the venture, which will target children 6 to 12 and draw upon the studio's cartoon characters.


Take care,

Sal

TV Hot Spot: News

ABC Lands Nathan Fillion, Alyssa Milano!

Post by: Sal


Source: Zap2It


Nathan Fillion has apparently enjoyed his time working at ABC, because he's signed on to a pilot at the network.

Alyssa Milano and Aunjanue Ellis have also joined ABC projects, while Tom Hollander is booked on a CBS dramedy.

Fillion, who's had a recurring role on "Desperate Housewives" this season as Dana Delany's husband, will star in a presentation called "Castle," according to The Hollywood Reporter. The "Drive" and "Firefly" star will play a mystery novelist who consults with the NYPD on difficult cases.

His credits also include "Waitress," "Miss Match" and "Buffy the Vampire Slayer."

Milano, meanwhile, is attached to a comedy from writer Kristin Newman ("That '70s Show," "How I Met Your Mother"). She'll play a woman who's trying to break free of her dysfunctional family, toxic friends and annoying boss. The former "Charmed" star is currently in a recurring part on NBC's "My Name Is Earl" and starring in the feature film "Pathology," which is in limited release.

Also at ABC, Ellis ("Ray," "Justice") will co-star in "Prince of Motor City," a "Hamlet"-inspired drama co-written by "Old Christine's" Hamish Linklater. She'll play a board member of the car company at the center of the series.

Over at CBS, Hollander has joined "The Meant to Be's," about a dead woman (Amy Smart) who must return to Earth and help people get their lives back on track before she can escape limbo. Hollander ("Gosford Park," "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End") will play the rule-bending head of heaven's Fate office.



Take care,

Sal

TV Hot Spot: News

Gossip Girl: Barton OUT..Trachtenberg IN!

Post by: Sal


Source: The Hollywood Reporter

Michelle Trachtenberg has snagged a multiepisode arc on the CW's buzzworthy freshman drama "Gossip Girl."

Trachtenberg will play Georgina Sparks, a character who appears in the novels on which the series is based. Georgina rolls into Manhattan from rehab, shaking up and torturing the life of Serena van der Woodsen (Blake Lively).

Mischa Barton was rumored to have been up for the role.

The arc will air for the May sweep.

Trachtenberg, repped by CAA and Framework, recently wrapped the New Line comedy "Seventeen Again," in which she stars opposite Zac Efron. She next appears alongside Topher Grace and Anna Faris in Universal/Imagine's ensemble comedy "Kids in America."


Take care,

Sal

TV Hot Spot: News

'Buffy' Actress Splits From Husband!

Post by: Sal


Charisma Carpenter, who will tempt a married man on an upcoming episode of "Big Shots," is having problems with her real-life marriage.

The "Buffy the Vampire Slayer"and "Angel" star has split from Damian Hardy, her husband of four years, reports People.

"They are separated and now living separately," Carpenter's rep Jeff Raymond confirmed Tuesday, Nov. 27.

Carpenter, 37, and Hardy tied the knot in October 2002. The following March, they had their first child together, son Donovan Charles.

According to ABC, Carpenter will guest star on "Big Shots" on Dec. 13 as Heather, whose sexy charms the character Brody (Christopher Titus) finds "increasing irrestistible."

Carpenter is best known as playing Cordelia Chase on "Buffy" and "Angel." More recently, she was seen meeting a fiery death on "Veronica Mars" and as a national sorority representative on ABC Family's "Greek."

Take Care,

Sal