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

'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

TV Hot Spot: News

'Angel' Star Acker Goes Into 'Drive'

Post by: Sal

LOS ANGELES -- Tim Minear appears to be rounding up a cast of his favorite stars for his new FOX drama.

It's being reported across the Internet that Amy Acker, one of the stars of the Minear-produced WB series "Angel," will play a key role in "Drive," set to premiere on FOX later this spring.

Acker will play the abducted wife of landscaper Alex Tully, the character played by Nathan Fillion, star of another Minear series, the short-lived "Firefly."

The series focuses on an underground race across America and is produced by Minear, Ben Queen and Greg Yaitanes. Other actors cast in the ensemble include Kristin Lehman, Melanie Lynskey, Dylan Baker and Taryn Manning.

Acker, the once-and-future Winifred "Fred" Burkle from "Angel," had a recurring role on late-era "Alias" and also made a guest appearance last season on "How I Met Your Mother."