Wolfgang Puck gets cooking! Sony unveils new PlayStation.
After the coffee. Before ordering my limo for Sunday night.
The Skinny: I’m starting to watch the Netflix series “House of Cards” It’s my first foray into the world of Netflix, so if you don’t see me for a few days (or weeks) you’ll know why. Thursday’s stories include a look at all the work Wolfgang Puck has to do as the chef for the Governors Ball, which follows the Academy Awards. Also, Walt Disney Co. has struck a deal with British Sky Broadcasting for a new channel and Sony unveiled its latest version of the PlayStation.
Daily Dose: Comcast says it won’t carry any gun advertising on its cable systems. It is a policy similar to the one Comcast’s NBCUniversal unit has for its local TV stations. But Comcast-owned cable channel NBC Sports Network will continue to carry gun ads for rifles and other weapons used for hunting. NBC Sports Network, which dropped some TV shows that focused on handguns and assault weapons, is keeping other hunting shows.
I’ll take mine medium rare. The busiest man on Oscar night will be Wolfgang Puck. The famed chef is in charge of the Governors Ball where 1,600 people will descend ready to eat after a three-hour Oscar ceremony. Those 1,600 people are picky eaters who are accustomed to getting what they want when they want it. In other words, they’re spoiled. “It’s bigger than the inauguration of the president,” Puck tells the Los Angeles Times.
Not playing around. Sony unveiled its PlayStation 4 video game console Wednesday night in New York. It’s been about seven years since the last new console was launched and a lot has changed in the gaming world. The Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times and Variety detail Sony’s latest offering and whether it can live in the tablet world.
Big gig. Late-night host Conan O’Brien has been tapped to perform at the White House Correspondents’ Assn., dinner which is D.C.’s version of hosting the Oscars. Hope O’Brien drops the tired jokes about how tough it’s been moving from NBC to cable channel TBS. It’s been a few years now, dude, get over it. More on the gig from the Associated Press.
Mickey Mouse meets Big Ben. Walt Disney Co. has signed an agreement with British Sky Broadcasting (BSkyB) to create a new pay-TV movie channel. Bloomberg on the new deal and what it means for Disney and BSkyB, which is gearing up for increased competition from Vigin’s rival pay-TV company.
She’s back. Where’s Matt? Robin Roberts returned to her role as co-host of ABC’s “Good Morning America” Wednesday, which will no doubt provide a ratings bump for the show. Roberts has been out after having a bone marrow transplant. Meanwhile, “Today” anchor Matt Lauer apparently decided this would be a good week to take some time off. I guess you have to know when to show them and when to fold them. More on Roberts’ return from the New York Times.
Assembling his crew. Jeff Berg has tapped a few of his ICM pals to join him at his new agency shop Resolution. Deadline Hollywood writes that ICM agents David Unger and Robert Lazar are headed to Resolution. Also joining the start-up is manager and ex-CAA agent Isabella Brewster.
About time. Nielsen, the folks who measure who watches what on TV, is finally gearing up to unveil plans to more accurately measure viewing done away from television, says the Hollywood Reporter. One of the biggest gripes about Nielsen is that it has not done a good job tracking viewing done on computers, tablets and other devices.
Inside the Los Angeles Times: Tyler Perry’s “For Better or Worse” is moving from TBS to OWN.
Follow me on Twitter before I get bored with it. @JBFlint
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