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It’s Official! Katie Couric joining ABC News, Launching Daytime Show
It’s one of the worst kept secrets, but now it’s official. Katie Couric will join the Disney/ABC Television Group not only as a member of the ABC News team, but also as the host and producer of her own nationally syndicated talk show.
Couric will start appearing on ABC News and its programming this summer. Her daytime talk show will launch in September 2012. All 8 ABC owned stations (including ABC7 in Chicago) have committed to Katie’s show in the 3pm time slot.
“It’s tremendously exciting to have the creative freedom to develop my own show with Anne, the Disney/ABC TV Group and [EP] Jeff [Zucker] , and to contribute to such a vibrant, innovative news division,” Katie added. “I can’t wait to be part of this incredibly talented, visionary team.”
It’s Official: Ashton Kutcher replacing Sheen on “Two and a Half Men”
CBS wasn’t kidding when it said there was no way Charlie Sheen was coming back to its biggest series, “Two and a Half Men.” Deadline.com says the deal is done and Ashton Kutcher (or Mr. Demi Moore) is joining the cast. Terms haven’t been released, but it makes sense. Kutcher is likable, has a good rep in Hollywood, has done TV comedy and his more than 6 million Twitter followers can’t hurt.
Just yesterday we learned CBS was oh so close to hiring movie star Hugh Grant to replace Sheen, but Grant cut off talks over “creative differences.” CBS was reportedly offering him a million dollars an episode. Stupid decision, Hugh. When was the last time you had a hit???
As for Charlie Sheen, NOT WINNING!!!!
Charlie Sheen, You Are So Not Winning!
Charlie Sheen was fired today from his hit show, “Two and a Half Men.” No surprise there. Charlie’s lawyer and Charlie vow they will sue CBS and Warner Bros. No surprise there. Charlie Sheen still thinks he’s winning, according to his Twitter page. Uhm…no.
Sheen told TMZ that “They continue to be in breach, like so many whales.” Maybe CBS and Warner Bros. are in breach of contract. We have no clue what’s in Sheen’s contract, but almost every TV contract has a morals clause for talent and you better believe CBS has it in there somewhere. And Charlie, dude, you and that hooker breached that long, long ago. Which hooker? Nuff said. But you don’t think about that b/c you think you’re winning.
You probably also violated rules when you appeared on a competing network without permission (ABC, NBC interviews). That’s a huge no-no, but you wouldn’t know that b/c you think you’re winning.
Your high profile publicist who reportedly has lied repeatedly for you in the past quit on you b/c you wouldn’t listen to him (he was right, by the way), but you don’t care b/c you think you’re winning.
EVERYONE (and I mean EVERYONE) thinks you are in severe denial and need serious help. Your family wants to help you. I assume your friends do too. But you don’t care b/c you think you’re winning.
Charlie, wake up. Snap out of it. What the hell do you think you are winning?
You may have one of the toughest Hollywood lawyers around (Marty Singer), but so does CBS and it has an army of them. You may have millions of dollars, but CBS has billions. You may think you are tough, but CBS Chairman Les Moonves is tougher. You won’t win. He won’t let you win.
You will never get your show back. I can’t imagine who will want to hire you now (run, Mark Cuban, run). You have destroyed your career and what little reputation you had. What did you win? Oh yeah, a new catchphrase. Congratulations.
Sheen’s Publicist: “I Quit!”
Stan Rosenfield, longtime publicist to crazy Charlie Sheen, quit today. In a statement, Rosenfield said:
“I worked with Charlie Sheen for a long time and I care about him very much, however, at this time, I’m unable to work effectively as his publicist and have respectfully resigned.”
BREAKING NEWS: Charlie Sheen Gives Interview to 20/20
Now THIS will be MUST-SEE TV! Not since the Diane Sawyer/Whitney Houston “crack is wack” interview has another celebrity interview been so anticipated. Crazy Charlie Sheen spoke to ABC’s Andrea Canning in an interview that will air Tuesday, March 1 at 10pm ET as a special edition of “20/20.”
No quotes have been released but Sheen will discuss his controversial rants and public feud with the Two and a Half Men exec producer, Chuck Lorre.
For a sneak peek, check out Good Morning America on Monday and Tuesday.
OMG! I can’t wait!!!
Crazy Charlie Sheen Says He Is Still Showing Up For Work!
Despite the fact that CBS and Warner Bros. have canceled the rest of the season of the hit comedy “Two And A Half Men,” Charlie Sheen tells Good Morning America that he is still showing up for work on Tuesday. In a series of Tweets, he continued to assail his executive producer, Chuck Lorre, and went on to say that he is in talks with HBO to start in his own show. HBO flatly denies this.
Charlie, meet crazy… oh wait, you already have!!!
Charlie Sheen Clearly Off His Rocker
Dear Charlie Sheen:
YOU ARE NUTS! You are not cured. You are no where near cured. If cured was the last planet in the Universe, you would be in some far reaching nether world that has not yet been discovered. Need proof? You only have to read the letter you sent to TMZ responding to CBS and Warner Bros.’ decision to cancel the remaining episodes of your show. I have included it below for your reference.
Sincerely…
Frankly Hank
SHEEN’S LETTER READS:
What does this say about (Exec Producer Chuck Lorre) after he tried to use his words to judge and attempt to degrade me. I gracefully ignored this folly for 177 shows … I fire back once and this contaminated little maggot can’t handle my power and can’t handle the truth. I wish him nothing but pain in his silly travels especially if they wind up in my octagon. Clearly I have defeated this earthworm with my words — imagine what I would have done with my fire breathing fists. I urge all my beautiful and loyal fans who embraced this show for almost a decade to walk with me side-by-side as we march up the steps of justice to right this unconscionable wrong.
Remember these are my people … not yours…we will continue on together…
Charlie Sheen
(Frankly Hank note: YEP. NUTS.)
BREAKING NEWS: CBS & WARNER BROS. PULL THE PLUG ON “TWO AND A HALF MEN”
Deadline.com reports that CBS and Warner Bros. have decided to discontinue production of “Two And A Half Men” after Charlie Sheen went on yet another radio rant, this time slamming the show and its producers. No word yet on what this means for the future of the show, but it can’t be good.
When will you learn, Mr. Sheen? When????
Charlie Sheen, It’s You, Not Them!
Poor, poor, Charlie Sheen. He still doesn’t get the seriousness of his addiction issues. He thinks you can go to rehab for a couple of weeks and be totally clean. Sheen went on the air of “The Dan Patrick Show” and blasted CBS and Warner Bros. b/c he’s ready to get back to work and they’re not, according to Sheen.
“I was banging on the stage door — ‘Hello? Where is everybody?’ I don’t know what happened. I guess they’re closed. … They said you get ready and we’ll get ready. I got ready and went back, and nobody’s there. I don’t know what to tell you. Nobody’s there. … I’m here and I’m ready. They’re not. Bring it.”
Maybe they are not there b/c they know like we do that you are not ready to get back to work. You are not ready for anything and that includes rehab, therapy and healing. Want proof? Sheen said that he’s clean right now, but he won’t promise to stay that way. WHAT? Does that sound like a man who is ready to get back to work?
Sheen also explained that it’s in the best interest of the show to get him back to work as soon as possible. Although he’s “100% clean” right now, he won’t promise to always stay that way. Sheen adds, “I heal really quickly, but I also unravel pretty quickly. So get me right now guys; get me right now.”
No, Charlie, you don’t heal quickly, but you do fall apart quickly. Although I think the hookers and drugs help. CBS it’s time to fire your star and move on. Maybe when he is out of work and not making a million plus dollars a week, he’ll realize the error of his ways, until then, you and Warner Bros. are just supporting a very bad habit.
Get well, Charlie, you can only bounce back so many times before the man upstairs decides he’s had enough. Frankly, I’d listen to CBS.
Zucker-Couric Partnership? Let’s Hope It’s True
So the latest rumor according to the NY Post is that Jeff Zucker, former CEO of NBC Universal, is expected to start a production company now his company running duties are doe. People have been saying that Jeff wants to get back to producing and being creative again. On top of that rumor is one that he hopes to launch a daytime talker with former NBC alum, Katie Couric. Some industry insiders are saying Katie is already telling people that she is going to work with Jeff.
I have written about a Zucker-Couric talker before, only last time, it was Zucker’s attempt to keep her at NBC and because Jane Pauley failed as a talk show host, many insiders told me Katie thought she too would fail. However, having Zucker as her EP would be a whole different ball game. She truly trusts that man. He made her a star on TODAY.
I still think Katie has the chops to be the next Queen of Daytime Talk. There is no one else on the horizon who can turn on a dime like she can. It’s an incredible skill and I really do believe audience would take to the “old Katie,” the one we miss from the TODAY show.
Couric’s contract with CBS is coming to an end and there is great speculation if she will renew; stay in the same role; stay at CBS, but in a different role, or leave altogether. Katie, leave CBS and you and Jeff go create that amazing talk show that I know you can do. Here’s hoping.
