A federal judge ruled Monday that producers of the Golden Globe Awards acted properly when they negotiated a deal keeping the glitzy gala on NBC through 2018.
U.S. District Judge A. Howard Matz’s 89-page ruling states that the production company, dick clark productions, has a right to negotiate the deal and work on the show as long as it airs on NBC. That right was a key part of a long-running dispute between the company, known as dcp, and the Globes’ organizers, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association.
The association sued over the broadcast deal in November 2010, but the two sides have worked together on the past two awards shows. The production company has claimed it has a perpetual right to work on the show as long as it airs on NBC, but the association argued that it never agreed to those terms and it was facing the loss of its creation.
The show has become big business, with Hollywood A-listers appearing each year. The journalists’ group and producer split the multimillion-dollar annual profits evenly.
There was no immediate comment from the HFPA.
Judge Matz has said he doesn’t expect his ruling will end the dispute, but that it will likely lead to an appeal.
Judge Matz’s ruling states dcp only has a right to work with NBC, but that it does not need to receive approval for its broadcast deal directly from the HFPA anymore because of a 1993 amendment to their working relationship.
The company’s CEO, Mark Shapiro, said he wished Dick Clark, who died April 18, had lived to see the ruling.
“My only sadness is that Dick wasn’t here to see the win,” Mr. Shapiro said. “This was the brainchild of Dick Clark. It was his idea to do a long-term deal.”
Wallace’s son, colleagues speak at memorial service
Chris Wallace turned and blew a kiss to a giant portrait of his father, “60 Minutes” journalist Mike Wallace, after memorializing him Tuesday as “the best journalist I have ever known.”
The Fox News anchor also told of when his father tried to steal an interview from him and paused when his infuriated son called and said he had to choose between Chris Wallace and Chris Rock.
For nearly two hours, colleagues, friends and family members swapped stories — some flattering, some not so — about one of television news’ best-known journalists. Mike Wallace died at age 93 on April 7. Besides Chris Wallace, two of Wallace’s grandchildren, former colleagues Steve Kroft and Morley Safer, and CBS News Chairman Jeff Fager spoke.
“Let’s be honest, at some point in time not just Morley, not just Ed [Bradley], many people in this room were not speaking to my father,” Mr. Wallace said.
Despite exasperating moments, he was loved because he was not mean and had a good heart, his son said. As dementia began stripping away his intellect in his final years, “what remained of Mike Wallace was a sweet and gentle man,” he said.
MTV names nominees for annual movie awards
This year’s MTV Movie Awards will be a showdown between a bevy of bridesmaids and a cast of killer kids.
“Bridesmaids” and “The Hunger Games” top nominees at MTV’s annual film honors with eight nods apiece, including bids for best cast, breakthrough performance and movie of the year. Rounding out the best-picture contenders are “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2,” “The Help” And “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn-Part 1.”
MTV announced nominees Monday in 12 categories, including six new ones such as “best on-screen dirtbag” and “best gut-wrenching performance.” Also new this year: Nominees were selected by a panel of actors, producers, agents and industry tastemakers instead of via online vote from the public.
Fans still choose the winners, though. Online voting opened Tuesday. The 21st annual MTV Movie Awards will be presented June 3 at the Gibson Amphitheatre in Universal City and broadcast live on MTV.
HBO orders 2nd season for ’Veep,’ ’Girls’
“Veep” is getting a second term on HBO, as is the comedy “Girls.”
The pay cable network announced Monday that both of the comedies, which debuted this spring, will get second seasons. HBO ordered 10-episode seasons for each.
“Girls” has been the recipient of some rapturous reviews. It was created by Lena Dunham, who stars as one of four young women in an up-to-date coming-of-age story based in New York City.
Reviews for “Veep” were more mixed, but the star power of Julia Louis-Dreyfus initially brought in more viewers than “Girls.” Ms. Louis-Dreyfus plays Vice President Selina Meyer, forced to endure some of the ritual humiliations of being second in command.
’Swamp People’ stars involved in 5-car crash
Two stars of the reality TV show “Swamp People” are unhurt after being involved in a five-car pileup near the Arkansas-Louisiana state line.
Arkansas State Police said three people suffered serious but not life-threatening injuries in Monday’s crash on U.S. 71.
The Texarkana Gazette reported that alligator hunters Joe LaFont and Tommy Chauvin, known as Trapper Joe and Trigger Tommy, were not injured. “Swamp People” T-shirts and other merchandise from the show spilled from their truck onto the highway.
Police say four cars had stopped for a flagman directing traffic around highway maintenance work but that a fifth driver failed to halt and smashed into a tractor-trailer, causing the pileup.
The History Channel’s “Swamp People” follows a group of Louisiana alligator hunters in the Atchafalaya Swamp.
• Compiled from Web and wire reports.
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