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Tag: CBS

  • Court Ruling Spells the End of Locast

    Court Ruling Spells the End of Locast

    Lowcast has informed subscribers it will be ending its service following an unfavorable court ruling.

    Locast takes free, over-the-air local channel broadcasts and streams them over the internet. The solution was popular in many areas, with the company covering 55% of the US population, or more than 179 million people. Streaming service Sling even partnered with Locast to offer subscribers access to local channels, a traditionally weak point for Sling.

    While other companies have been shut down for charging a fee for similar services, Locast was free and operated as a non-profit. The company did solicit donations mid-stream, and that appears to be what caused the problem. ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC sued, alleging the donation solicitation still broke the law. Unfortunately, the court sided with the broadcasters.

    Although Locast originally planned on continuing to offer the service without the donation solicitations, it appears to have altered plans and has suspended service, effective immediately. The company notified customers in an email:

    As a non-profit, Locast was designed from the very beginning to operate in accordance with the strict letter of the law, but in response to the court’s recent rulings, with which we respectfully disagree, we are hereby suspending operations, effective immediately. 

    The court ruling and Locast’s decision is a major blow to cordcutters and is an unfortunate win for an industry that has a long reputation of ruthlessly squashing anything that challenges the status quo — including things that benefit its customers.

  • ViacomCBS Seeks Streaming Supremacy With ‘Paramount+’

    ViacomCBS Seeks Streaming Supremacy With ‘Paramount+’

    ViacomCBS is seeking streaming supremacy by leveraging both Paramount’s content and the historic Paramount brand. The company says they are rebranding CBS All Access as Paramount+ as a result of the merger of CBS and Viacom last year. The new supersized premium streaming service will include all of the original CBS content plus the huge catalog of movies and TV shows previously owned by Paramount.

    Paramount+ will also include popular new hits such as Yellowstone, Lioness, and The Offer. New pricing has not been announced but it is likely to be significantly higher than the $5.99 a month with ads or $9.99 a month without ads that CBS All Access costs.

    “Paramount is an iconic and storied brand beloved by consumers all over the world, and it is synonymous with quality, integrity and world-class storytelling,” said Bob Bakish, President and CEO, ViacomCBS. “With Paramount+, we’re excited to establish one global streaming brand in the broad-pay segment that will draw on the sheer breadth and depth of the ViacomCBS portfolio to offer an extraordinary collection of content for everyone to enjoy.”

    The company says that since the transformation of CBS All Access began in late July, the service has experienced significant growth. With the addition of content from Paramount such as UEFA, Big Brother, Star Trek: Lower Decks, and the more than 3,500 episodes from across ViacomCBS’ brands, the service broke a new record for total monthly streams in August. It experienced one of its best months ever in terms of new subscriber sign-ups. In addition, the average age of new subscribers in August was measurably younger than the service’s overall average subscriber age, due in large part to the addition of UEFA and the newly added content from various ViacomCBS brands.

    Leading up to the early 2021 rebrand to Paramount+, CBS All Access will expand its content offering to more than 30,000 episodes and movies and continue to develop additional original series across brands including BET, CBS, Comedy Central, MTV, Nickelodeon, Paramount Pictures and more. The company is positioning Paramount+ as a major competitor in the streaming world and intends to compete effectively for subscribers with Netflix, Amazon, Disney+, and all of the other services.

    “The response from consumers in just the early weeks of the service’s expansion already illustrates the tremendous opportunity ahead of us in bringing these phenomenal ViacomCBS brands together in one premium streaming home under the new Paramount+ name,” said Marc DeBevoise, Chief Digital Officer, ViacomCBS and President & Chief Executive Officer, ViacomCBS Digital. “With the addition of even more content from across the portfolio as well as the new exclusive originals we are announcing today, we look forward to the early 2021 rebrand and bringing existing and new subscribers more of the compelling, genre-spanning live sports, breaking news and mountain of entertainment ViacomCBS has to offer.”

  • ViacomCBS Sells CNET for $500 Million

    ViacomCBS Sells CNET for $500 Million

    ViacomCBS has sold legendary tech news site CNET to South Carolina based Red Ventures LLC. The company announced today that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire CNET Media Group from ViacomCBS for $500 million. Red Ventures purchased Bankrate in 2017 for $1.24 billion and Healthline Media for an undisclosed amount last year. Red Ventures CEO Ric Elias told WSJ that CNET’s value is due to the fact that digital technology has spread to many sectors of American business.

    Technology news leader CNET paved the way for CNET Media Group, a portfolio of digital media brands that advise consumers across leading consumer tech, business tech, gaming, and entertainment. Their brands include ZDNet, Gamespot,  TVGuide, Metacritic, Chowhound and several others.

    “Red Ventures believes in the power of premium content from trusted brands that help people make better life decisions,” said Ric Elias, Red Ventures CEO and Co-Founder. “Over the last 25 years CNET Media Group has built a dynamic portfolio of brands with well-earned authority on such topics as consumer tech and gaming that play an increasingly important role in people’s lives. Red Ventures is eager to invest in CNET Media Group’s growth with more personalized consumer experiences that will reinvigorate CNET Media Group’s brands and unlock unprecedented opportunity for all.”

    “I am incredibly excited about CNET Media Group’s future. I believe that the combination of Red Ventures customer experience platform and CNET Media Group’s rich content and deep editorial expertise greatly benefits both our audiences and our partners,” said Mark Larkin, Executive Vice President and GM of CNET Media Group. “Red Ventures shares our vision and is committed to realizing the full potential of our portfolio of world-class brands.”

    Red Ventures was formed in 2000 as a performance marketing startup and has since grown to include more than 100 digital brands with more than 3,000 employees across 10 US cities, the UK and Brazil. It has two sides to its business – one is a sophisticated, partner-centric platform for performance marketing, and the other is a robust, consumer-centric platform for digital brands. Red Ventures’ existing brands operate in the Home Services, Health, Finance, Travel, Education, and Entertainment verticals. The acquisition of the CNET Media Group accelerates Red Ventures’ entry into new verticals, including Consumer Tech and Gaming.

    “Every aspect of our lives – from our homes to our jobs, our income, and our well-being is impacted by the technology around us, so the content we consume and the brands we choose are highly personal,” said Marc McCollum, President of Red Ventures’ Media & Technology group. “Adding CNET Media Group to our portfolio will further advance our mission to help people make some of the most important decisions of their lives. It will be a win for our teams, for our businesses, and most of all, for visitors and fans of the CNET Media Group’s brands.”

  • Michael Weatherly Is Leaving NCIS After This Season

    On the smash hit drama NCIS, Michael Weatherly has played Special Agent Tony DiNozzo for 13 seasons.

    Now, that’s officially coming to an end.

    Weatherly will leave the show at the conclusion of this season.

    “After 13 years on NCIS, Michael Weatherly is leaving the show at the end of this season,” CBS said in a statement. “He is a valued part of the CBS family, and the immense charm and talent he brings to the screen as ‘Very’ Special Agent Tony DiNozzo has helped make NCIS what it is today — the No. 1 drama in the world. “We thank Michael for all of his contributions to this successful franchise and look forward to continuing to develop projects with him as part of our ongoing development deal.”

    “DiNozzo is a wonderful, quixotic character & I couldn’t have had more fun playing him over the past 13 seasons,” Weatherly wrote on Twitter. “Les Moonves & CBS gave me the opportunity of a lifetime. I will miss the amazing crew & cast, who are like family to me, & to the fans all over the world – THANK YOU, it’s been a fantastic ride!”

    Weatherly was arrested for DUI back in November.

  • “Supergirl” TV Series To Introduce New Characters

    Supergirl, the TV series, is set to resume on January 4th and it seems fans of the show have a lot to look forward to.

    Executive producer and series writer Andrew Kreisberg recently revealed on Kevin Smith’s “Fatman on Batman” podcast that the Supergirl TV series will be introducing a couple of new villains before the season is up.

    Henry Czerny will be playing the role of Winslow Schott, Sr., also known as Toyman, on the Supergirl TV series.

    Toyman traditionally makes toys into powerful weapons and likes to cause mass destruction with them.

    Also coming to the Supergirl TV series is a sort of evil counterpart for Supergirl.

    Known as a Bazarro character, the newcomer will likely be Bizarro-girl and will have all of the opposite powers that Supergirl has.

    During the podcast, Kreisberg casually dropped it, saying, “We’ve got the Toyman coming up, we got Bizarro.”

    What do you think about Bizarro (-Girl?) and Toyman coming up on the Supergirl TV series? Are you excited?

  • Frank Sinatra: 100th Birthday Tribute Show Features Alicia Keys, Tony Bennett

    Frank Sinatra would have been 100 years old on December 12th, and hosts of musicians are going to pay tribute to Ol’ Blue Eyes on Sunday night.

    The Frank Sinatra special, aptly titled Sinatra 100: An All-Star Grammy Concert, will feature a huge range of vocal talent from the expected, like Tony Bennett and Harry Conick, Jr., to the unexpected, like Alicia Keys, Adam Levine and Garth Brooks.

    Frank Sinatra died of a heart attack in 1998 at the age of 83.

    His influence over even the most modern musical artists will be clear as the show unfolds, but the most interesting parts could be from those that actually knew him.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJimkJIPqhQ

    Tony Bennett came on the scene about a decade after Frank Sinatra struck it big in music and by his own accounts was his biggest fan.

    In an interview before taping the Frank Sinatra special, he said of The Chairman of the Board, “He really created the greatest school of popular singing and made it possible for all of us to have a great living doing this.”

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0ySHLtJ7Rk

    He added, “He was the biggest influence on me — him and Ella [Fitzgerald] and Nat King Cole. He was my tremendous idol, and then became my best friend right through the years.”

    Hopefully this Frank Sinatra special will go over better than the fund raising gala that took place Thursday night at Lincoln Center called “Sinatra: Voice for a Century”.

    The Frank Sinatra impersonator of the night was none other than Seth McFarlane, creator of Family Guy and other juvenile fare.

    Stephen Holden from the New York Times admitted that his impression in and of itself was spot on, but also said of McFarlane’s performance, “Mr. MacFarlane ably went through the motions. For all the reverence he affected, it failed to camouflage an underlying attitude of disdain that attaches to everything Mr. MacFarlane does.”

    He added, “Between numbers featuring guests who included Sting, Sutton Foster, Bernadette Peters, Billy Porter, Kyle Dean Massey, Chris Botti and Christina Aguilera, Mr. MacFarlane also delivered a glib, running biography of Sinatra, filled with half-baked hyperbole, devoid of fresh insight and peppered with snarky remarks to show how cool and detached he is.”

    Wow. That’s harsh. But, Sunday night’s CBS Frank Sinatra special is primed to be so much more appealing and dazzling! Are you going to watch?

  • Melissa Benoist Happy to ‘Kick Some Ass’ for Full Season of Supergirl

    CBS’s new hit Supergirl has just received a full season order.

    The network announced that it has ordered seven more episodes of the show, bringing the total to 20 – a full season.

    Supergirl herself, Melissa Benoist, is pretty pumped.

    “It really is a great day when you find out you get to wear a cape/fly around/and kick some ass for a full season yay,” she tweeted out when the news broke.

    The show has averaged 11.24 million viewers and a 2.8 rating in the 18-49 demo.

    Benoist recently discussed how grateful she is for the opportunity to kick ass for a living.

    “Everything is fun. Whether it’s some kind of action sequence, like I’m throwing a lot of punches and kicks, or I’m flying on the green screen,” she said. “There’s just something every day that I get to pause and be grateful for.”

    You can catch new episodes of Supergirl on Monday night at 8pm ET on CBS.

  • New Star Trek Series Will Be a CBS Streaming Exclusive

    New Star Trek Series Will Be a CBS Streaming Exclusive

    Star Trek fans, you’re getting a new series. That’s the good news. The bad news is that it’s going to stream exclusively on a platform that you probably don’t use.

    CBS All Access, the network’s on-demand streaming platform, will be the exclusive home to the new Star Trek TV series. It’s set to debut in January, 2017.

    CBS All Access is $5.99 per month.

    No specific plot details have been announced, but CBS says “the brand-new Star Trek will introduce new characters seeking imaginative new worlds and new civilizations, while exploring the dramatic contemporary themes that have been a signature of the franchise since its inception in 1966.”

    “There is no better time to give Star Trek fans a new series than on the heels of the original show’s 50th anniversary celebration,” said David Stapf, President, CBS Television Studios. “Everyone here has great respect for this storied franchise, and we’re excited to launch its next television chapter in the creative mind and skilled hands of Alex Kurtzman, someone who knows this world and its audience intimately.”

    Kurtzman produced and co-wrote the most recent Star Trek films.

    According to CBS, the premiere episode will air on CBS, but then it’s going online-only. The rest of the series will stream exclusively on CBS All Access.

    “This new series will premiere to the national CBS audience, then boldly go where no first-run Star Trek series has gone before – directly to its millions of fans through CBS All Access,” said Marc DeBevoise, Executive Vice President/General Manager – CBS Digital Media. “We’ve experienced terrific growth for CBS All Access, expanding the service across affiliates and devices in a very short time. We now have an incredible opportunity to accelerate this growth with the iconic Star Trek, and its devoted and passionate fan base, as our first original series.”

  • NFL Inching Slowly Toward More Free Streams

    (Legally) streaming NFL games isn’t easy to do – especially if you don’t have a cable subscription. Of all the major sports, the National Football League has been the hardest to find online.

    This could be changing – ever so slowly – as CBS has announced a new NFL streaming venture that will see two regular season games streamed for free. No cable authentication required.

    The October 4th, 9:30am ET game between the New York Jets and the Miami Dolphins will be streamed live on laptops, desktops, tablets, CBSSports.com and select Connected TV devices including Xbox One, Apple TV, Chromecast, Roku, and Roku TV. Why so early? That’s one of this year’s London games.

    CBS will also stream the Thanksgiving Day game between the Carolina Panthers and the Dallas Cowboys. That kicks off at 4:30pm ET on November 26th.

    CBS will also stream the AFC playoffs – but the network did that last year. Super Bowl 50 will be streamed, as well.

    “We’re very excited to offer more NFL ON CBS streaming coverage across more digital platforms than ever before,” said Jeffrey Gerttula, Senior Vice President and General Manager of CBS Sports Digital. “All NFL fans will have access through their computers, tablets and now Connected TVs to two regular season games for the first time in addition to all of the AFC playoff action, culminating with a truly historic Super Bowl.”

    This is the first time the NFL on CBS has ever live-streamed regular season games, but it’s not the first deal made to stream a regular season game. Yahoo won that honor earlier this year, buying the rights to stream the London game between the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Buffalo Bills.

    And Yahoo reportedly paid a pretty penny for the privilege.

    Image via Thinkstock

  • Google’s Chromecast Gains Fox, CBS Support

    It’s a good day for Chromecast users hoping to get more streaming content options. Both CBS and Fox announced new support for Google’s $35 streaming device.

    CBS announced the ability to cast CBS content from CBS.com and the CBS App, including that from the CBS All Access subscription service, which costs $5.99 a month for over 7,000 on-demand episodes from the current season, previous seasons, and classic shows as well as the ability to stream local CBS stations live in over 20 markets (with more added each month).

    Variety reports that Fox’s streaming service has added Chromecast support, providing access to full episodes of current and recent shows, including Empire, American Idol, Bones, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Family Guy, The Following, Glee, Gotham, Hell’s Kitchen, The Last Man On Earth, MasterChef, The Mindy Project, New girl, The Simpsons, Sleepy Hollow, and Wayward Pines.

    Users have to subscribe to participating cable, satellite or telco pay-TV providers in order to watch the content, it says. This is fairly standard for streaming services from TV channels. The same applies to offerings from HBO, Comedy Central, etc. Variety’s Todd Spangler writes:

    To date, Fox has cut “TV Everywhere” authentication deals for its Fox Now app and Fox.com covering most pay-TV providers in the U.S. Those include Comcast, DirecTV, Dish Network, Time Warner Cable, Cox, AT&T U-verse, Verizon FiOS, Bright House Networks, Cablevision, Charter, Mediacom and Suddenlink.

    Google I/O, the company’s developer conference, is set to take place on May 28 and 29 in San Francisco. Some are speculating that the company will announce a new version of Chromecast. Michael Andronico at Tom’s Guide says:

    The Chromecast streaming stick turns two years old this summer, making it the perfect time for Google to unveil its successor. There’s an I/O session dedicated to building games for Google Cast devices, which will touch on “designing for the mobile and television experience on multiple screens.” Will the new Chromecast allow for multi-display gaming? We’ll have to wait and see. With Apple expected to revampits Apple TV later this year, Google could certainly benefit from having its miniature media player back in the spotlight.

    You can get a look at all the apps that currently support Chromecast here.

    Image via CBS

  • Showtime’s Streaming Service Launching ‘In the Coming Months’

    Still no hard timeline for CBS’s rollout of its HBO Now-like standalone streaming platform for Showtime, but it shouldn’t be too much longer.

    CBS head Les Moonves had that much to say in a recent earnings call.

    From CBS Communications’ Dana McClintock:

    Showtime first announced its intentions for a standalone, cable-free streaming option right after HBO announced theirs.

    “The days of the 500 channel universe are over,” declared Moonves at the time.

    Cord cutting isn’t a foreign concept to CBS. Last year, the network launched CBS All Access, offering full current seasons of over a dozen CBS shows and past seasons of more series. It also lets users livestream local CBS channels – for $5.99 a month.

    HBO launched HBO Now in early April. It’s already a hit.

  • Showtime to Launch a Standalone Streaming Service, Too

    Not to be outdone by those clowns over at HBO, Showtime will also offer some sort of cable-free, standalone streaming service.

    That’s according to CBS head Les Moonves, who made the announcement at the Deutsche Bank Securities 2015 Media, Internet & Telecom Conference. He said that we can expect it in “the not-too-distant future,” but didn’t provide a solid timeframe.

    From /film:

    “The days of the 500 channel universe are over,” declared Moonves. Although cable and satellite distributors have been “skeptical” of standalone streaming and a la carte offerings, he acknowledged, “there’s been a bit of interest” lately. “I think the floodgate is now open.” He added that he has already been in conversations with “the normal suspects” about standalone Showtime streaming.

    Cord cutting isn’t a foreign concept to CBS. Last October, the network launched CBS All Access, which offers full current seasons to over a dozen CBS shows and past seasons of more series. It also lets users livestream local CBS channels – all for $5.99 a month.

    You’d have to think that a standalone Showtime service would be a bit more expensive.

    HBO, of course, just made its big leap into this arena, choosing to launch its standalone streaming platform HBO NOW at the big Apple Watch event in Cupertino. That’s because Apple and HBO came to an exclusivity deal – one that will last for at least three months for new digital partners.

    Image via Showtime

  • Marg Helgenberger To Do Extended Guest Role On “Under The Dome”

    Marg Helgenberger will be joining Under the Dome for its third season beginning this summer.

    The drama, based on the Stephen King novel, will premiere June 25th with a two-hour premiere from 9-11 p.m.

    Then Under the Dome, with Marg Helgenberger on for a good part of the summer, will move to its regular slot at 10 p.m. Thursday, July 2, after Big Brother.

    The slot after Big Brother pretty much guarantees lots of viewers, as Big Brother is extremely popular in the summer and is in its 17th season.

    Marg Helgenberger will be in good company as she makes her appearance on Under the Dome.

    The show is from showrunner Neal Baer of ER and Law & Order: SVU fame.

    As a CSI: Crime Scene Investigation alum and current star on Intelligence, Marg Helgenberger is no stranger to suspenseful dramas, but Under the Dome should be an exciting new experience.

    While details on Marg Helgenberger’s role are not available yet, she is sure to be outstanding and will definitely be seen and appreciated by a large audience.

    After all, Under the Dome was last summer’s most-watched show with 11.3 million viewers. It was also the highest-rated show among adults ages 18-49.

    I mean, what’s not to love? Stephen King, Neal Baer, and Marg Helgenberger all involved in one project!

    If you haven’t watched yet, you’re missing out. The premise of the show is so interesting.

    Under the Dome is about a perfect small town that is suddenly and inexplicably sealed off from the rest of the world by an enormous transparent dome. Then human nature slowly takes over.

    This next season, the mysteries of what the dome’s purpose is and what it wants will be fully and dramatically explored. And there will be lots of Marg Helgenberger.

    What do you think? Do you watch Under the Dome?

    Do you think Marg Helgenberger will be a great addition?

  • CSI Heads to Hulu in First Streaming Deal for Show

    CSI Heads to Hulu in First Streaming Deal for Show

    Beginning in early April, you’ll be able to stream over 300 episodes of CBS’ long-running crime drama CSI: Crime Scene Investigation on Hulu Plus.

    This is the first time that CSI has ever been licensed to a streaming video on-demand service.

    “CSI is one of the most popular television franchises in the world and we could not be more thrilled to make all episodes available to Hulu subscribers,” said Craig Erwich, Senior Vice President and Head of Content, Hulu. “This deal not only represents a huge growth in our offering of premium content, but it also represents an expansion in our partnership with CBS. We look forward to working with CBS to continue making some of the best shows on television available for viewers to stream on more screens in the future.”

    Hulu will add full past seasons ahead of new series premieres.

    Hulu and CBS first partnered up in 2012, giving the SVOD company over 2,600 episodes of current and classic CBS content. Last year, the two expanded that deal.

    “The original series from the most successful franchise in television history has been licensed to the SVOD market for the first time,” said Scott Koondel, Chief Corporate Content Licensing Officer for CBS Corporation. “This agreement and previous deals with our partners at Hulu further validates how well CBS procedural dramas perform on subscription services. And, at a time when the CBS Television Network is getting ready to premiere the next generation of the CSI franchise with CSI: Cyber, it’s very exciting to make available all 14 seasons of the show that started it all to Hulu subscribers and CSI’s passionate fan base.”

    Image via CSI, Facebook

  • Cote De Pablo Returning To CBS For ‘The Dovekeepers’

    Cote De Pablo Returning To CBS For ‘The Dovekeepers’

    During the Television Critics Association’s winter tour, Cote de Pablo appeared on a panel for the upcoming miniseries The Dovekeepers. The former NCIS star talked about her new project as well as the potential return of her beloved NCIS character, ex-Mossad operative Ziva David. The actress revealed that she is open for a return visit under the right circumstances, citing the fact that the NCIS showrunners never killed off her character in the first place. Cote also said that she felt her departure was a little rushed.

    However, De Pablo added that she was pleased that her last scene was with Michael Weatherly who plays her love interest, Tony DiNozzo.

    De Pablo said, “I think, all in all, I could not be more blessed, because I got to be with my love, Michael. And, any time you have scenes with Michael and I together, there’s going to be a spark and there’s going to be real honesty. For that, I am forever grateful because there was a sense of conclusion as far as what they felt for each other.”

    Roma Downey, producer for The Dovekeepers, said that they wanted to air the miniseries after NCIS’ timeslot to capitalize on de Pablo’s fanbase. “We were thrilled to get Cote,” she said. “It’s no accident that our [premiere] date is a Tuesday night and we will come on after NCIS.” Downey hopes that de Pablo’s supporters will drum up support for the show, which is based on the bestselling novel by Alice Hoffman.

    The miniseries as well as the source material is a period piece detailing the siege of Masada by Roman Empire troops as seen from the point of view of four women. De Pablo will be playing Shirah, a single mother accused of practicing witchcraft.

    Aside from The Dovekeepers, de Pablo will also be seen on the big screen in the upcoming film The 33. The film, which is about a Chilean mining disaster, also stars Antonio Banderas and Juliette Binoche.

  • Sharyl Attkisson Sues DOJ Over Alleged Hacking

    Former CBS News correspondent Sharyl Attkisson has made her accusations against the Obama administration official, as she has sued the Justice Department over the alleged hacking of her computers. According to a press release, Attkisson has filed administrative claims under the Federal Tort Claims Act against the Department of Justice, the U.S. Postal Service, and certain unnamed employees and/or agents of the federal government.

    In June of 2013, CBS confirmed that Attkisson’s computer had indeed been “accessed by an unauthorized, external, unknown party on multiple occasions late in 2012,” but was unable to identify a culprit.

    “While no malicious code was found, forensic analysis revealed an intruder had executed commands that appeared to involve search and exfiltration of data.This party also used sophisticated methods to remove all possible indications of unauthorized activity and alter system times to cause further confusion,” said CBS at the time.

    From the beginning, Attkisson hinted that she thought the federal government could be behind the hacks. The Justice Department has denied the accusations, saying,

    “To our knowledge, the Justice Department has never compromised Ms. Attkisson’s computers, or otherwise sought any information from or concerning any telephone, computer, or other media device she may own or use.”

    “The personal rights secured by our Constitution have a long and accepted history. At the very core of those rights is the right to be free in our own homes from unreasonable governmental intrusion. Although I would have much preferred to have resolved this efficiently with dialogue and disclosure, until the government is open, honest, and fully truthful with my family about what transpired, we have chosen to use the only means available to us as citizens to try and force full disclosure and honest answers to the many questions that have been raised during the investigation conducted to date,” said Attkisson.

    According to Politico, there have been some inconsistencies in Attkisson’s story. In a book, published after the hacks occurred, Attkisson claims to know the person(s) responsible for the attack.

    From Politico:

    Yet in an interview with Huffington Post Live … Attkisson said she didn’t know who was responsible: “The forensics says that there was a government tie to this… [that] doesn’t mean I know who was on the other end or was it an organization or was it a person, a rogue person, I don’t have the answer to those questions, I just know that there’s that government tie.”

    Media Matters flagged the inconsistencies in Attkisson’s explanation … Yet when reached by email, she told POLITICO she would not address the matter because Media Matters was an unreliable, partisan organization.

    Attkisson worked for CBS until March of 2014

  • Max Baer, Jr. of ‘Beverly Hillbillies’ Suing CBS

    Max Baer, Jr. is the former actor best known as Jethro Bodine on The Beverly Hillbillies–a popular TV show that ran from 1962 to 1971. Jethro–or Max–claims CBS is undermining his plan to create a ‘restaurant empire,’ and it’s all because of one rib joint in Des Moines, Iowa.

    TMZ reports that Max Baer, Jr. previously made a deal with CBS that allowed him to develop a chain of Beverly Hillbillies themed restaurants, casinos and hotels. He claims he had the exclusive right to use the ‘Jethro’ character, as well as other themes from the show that featured a family of hillbillies who moved into a Beverly Hills mansion.

    Who doesn’t remember Granny Clampett (played by the late Irene Ryan), Jed Clampett (played by the late Buddy Ebsen), and rest of the Beverly Hillbillies characters–most especially the antics that took place throughout their mansion and in their cement (pronounced see-ment) pool? Baby boomers would no doubt love to see such a chain of restaurants serving Granny’s famous possum stew.

    Alas, CBS has thrown a wrench into Max Baer, Jr.’s plans to do just that. It seems they also cut another deal with the owners of Jethro’s–that aforementioned rib joint in Des Moines. They allegedly allowed the owner of that restaurant to use the ‘Jethro’ character. Baer says the character is ‘his and his alone’ to use.

    Bruce Gerleman owns the Jethro’s chain of restaurants. He said during a recent interview that the company isn’t named as a defendant in the lawsuit, and that his loyal customers have nothing to worry about.

    “We own the name, we own the trademark, it will always be Jethro’s BBQ in Des Moines, Iowa,” he said.

    Under the agreement between Max Baer, Jr. Baer and CBS, the actor has spent up to $1 million in efforts to develop his business, according to the lawsuit. Baer also has paid royalties to CBS for merchandise, including revenue from themed slot machines at and even a brand of BBQ sauce.

    A CBS spokeswoman told Philly.com that the network has made great efforts over the years to try to amicably resolve the issue with Baer and will continue to do so.

    If you ask fans of The Beverly Hillbillies, all would no doubt say they’d love to see Jethro Bodine succeed in this business. His character on the show never succeeded at much of anything, aside from irritating his Granny and his Uncle Jed. Yes, Jethro deserves his time to shine.

    Maybe a new Beverly Hillbillies theme song will be created about the present situation.

    “Come and listen to a story ’bout a man named Max…”

    Do you think Max Baer, Jr. stands a chance against CBS in his lawsuit?

  • Max Baer Jr Sues CBS in ‘Jethro’s BBQ’ Squabble

    Max Baer Jr. is accusing CBS of making a secret deal with a small BBQ restaurant chain to allow it to “capitalize upon and exploit virtually every element” of the series for which he’s famous.

    Baer Jr., who you probably know as Jethro Bodine on The Beverly Hillbillies, has filed a lawsuit against the network. According to Baer Jr., CBS entered into a clandestine agreement with Jethro’s BBQ, a chain restaurant located in Iowa. According to the lawsuit, Jethro’s BBQ “inextricably incorporated the elements (of the show) into their menus, food, how they prepare the food, the decor, their logos, artwork, website, public interviews, and advertising” for year before CBS found out about it in 2008.

    He alleges that when CBS found out, instead of notifying him and working out some licensing arrangement, the network simply settled with the restaurant by allowing them to operate after making some minor changes.

    Baer Jr. claims that his rights to the Jethro Bodine character have been undermined.

    From the Des Moines Register:

    Baer and CBS reached a “broad” licensing agreement in 1991 that gave the actor rights to develop motel, casino, restaurant and other properties using “Beverly Hillbillies” themes, Freis said. Jethro’s BBQ essentially dilutes the “Jethro” brand that Baer has rights to, he said.

    Under the licensing agreement, Baer has spent upwards of $1 million in efforts to develop hillbilly-themed businesses, according to the lawsuit. The actor has also paid royalties back to CBS for merchandise, including revenue from themed slot machines and a brand of BBQ sauce, the lawsuit said.

    Jethro’s BBQ fans have nothing to fear, says owner Bruce Gerleman.

    “We own the name, we own the trademark, it will always be Jethro’s BBQ in Des Moines, Iowa,” he told the Des Moines Register.

    Post by Jethro's BBQ.

    But Baer Jr.’s attorney hasn’t ruled out legal action against the restaurant itself.

    Max Baer Jr. lawsuit against CBS

  • Téa Leoni Finds New Love In Her ‘Madam Secretary’ Co-Star

    After getting divorced from X-Files star David Duchovny last August, Téa Leoni is moving on to another man in the form of her Madam Secretary co-star Tim Daly.

    The new couple is taking their on-screen romance to off-screen, the actress revealed in the new issue of Us Weekly. A source tells us that the couple’s chemistry on set “is electrifying.” The 48-year-old actress met the 58-year-old actor earlier this summer on the set of their latest series where they play husband and wife.

    Back in September, Daly was enthusiastic about his co-star in an interview with Collider. “We get along really, really well,” Daly said. “We have a really good time. I’ve gotten along with plenty of people, but the chemistry sucked. And I’ve hated people where the chemistry is great. It’s much better if you get along and the chemistry is good. That’s perfect.”

    In the interview, the actor also revealed that he and Leoni went to the same Vermont high school, albeit years apart. “She’s a person, like me and like a lot of people who have gone to that school…who can be perfectly happy sleeping in a wet sleeping bag on a stone floor, or staying in a fancy hotel.”

    Madam Secretary is a political drama series that currently airs on the CBS. On the show, Leoni plays Elizabeth McCord, a former CIA analyst who now works for the United States Secretary of State. Daly plays Lenoi’s husband, an ethics professor who had a strong past as an NSA spy and a pilot for the Marine Corps.

    Leoni was married to David Duchovny for 17 years before the divorced was finalized just four months ago. Daly has two kids and was married to actress Amy Van Nostrand until 2010. Leoni and Daly’s reps were unable to respond to requests for comment.

  • CBS Cancels ‘The Millers’ After Four Episodes

    CBS has cancelled The Millers after being only four episodes into its sophomore season.

    The comedy, which has been airing on Monday nights after being moved from Thursday nights, “stars Will Arnett as a TV-news reporter and Margo Martindale and Beau Bridges as his bickering, separated parents, according to USA Today.

    The series was created by Greg Garcia, who also created the hit comedy series My Name is Earl and Raising Hope. Sean Hayes was added to the cast this season, but the faltering ratings ultimately lead to the show being cancelled.

    According to Entertainment Weekly, production for the show will shut down after the final episode is filmed on Tuesday.

    A new episode will air on Monday, November 17, but it is not known if further episodes will be aired.

    Since the series premiere, ratings have dropped significantly. The series premiere brought in 13 million viewers, while the season premiere only brought in 8.93. The latest episode only landed 6.48 million viewers. The Millers has also been bringing down the ratings for CBS’ freshman hit series Scorpion that airs at 9:00 p.m. on Mondays.

  • Alyson Hannigan To Guest Star On The McCarthys

    Actress Alyson Hannigan is set to return to CBS.

    On Friday, CBS announced that they would be bringing the How I Met Your Mother Actress on for a guest appearance on their freshman comedy The McCarthys, according to Entertainment Weekly.

    Hannigan will appear in the show’s Christmas episode, which is set to premiere on Thursday, December 18, as Pam, Marjorie (Laurie Metcalf) and Arthur’s (Jack McGee) upstairs tenant. Pam is suffering from a recent break up and is invited by Marjorie and Arthur to join them for their Christmas festivities.

    Aside from her role as Lily Aldrin in How I Met Your Mother, Hannigan is also known for her character Willow in the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Her film credits include American Pie, American Pie 2, American Wedding, and Date Movie.

    The McCarthys is produced by Sony Pictures Television in association with Gluck’s Olive Bridge, and airs on Thursdays at 8:30 p.m. on CBS.

    I wonder if this sweater means we're shooting the X-Mas episode? First things first, #McCarthyThursdays tonight 930! pic.twitter.com/N52j3gH5pm

    — Tyler Ritter (@TylerRitter) November 13, 2014

    The comedy also stars Tyler Ritter, Joey McIntyre, Jimmy Dunn, and Kelen Coleman.