News Update - every minute news update
After the coffee. Before seeing if I can use Carmageddon fatigue as an excuse to call in sick.
The Skinny: I saw “Horrible Bosses” over the weekend. It was enjoyable, but Kevin Spacey played a better evil boss in “Swimming with Sharks.” While I was at the movies, top executives from News Corp. were resigning and being arrested and the commissioner of Scotland Yard also quit in the wake of the News of the World phone hacking scandal. If you weren’t reading about or staying clear of the 405, you were probably at the movies watching the latest Harry Potter.
I said I’m sorry! There was no weekend off for Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp. or anyone with ties to the phone hacking scandal that shut down the News of the World tabloid after revelations that the paper broke into the voice mail accounts of not only celebrities and royal family members but also crime and terrorism victims. On Friday, Rebekah Brooks and Les Hinton, two top executives at News Corp., resigned from the company. On Saturday, Murdoch took out ads in all the big British papers to apologize for News of the World. On Sunday, Brooks was arrested and the head of Scotland Yard also resigned because of his ties to the media conglomerate. This is the gift that keeps on giving. Coverage of the last few days from the Los Angeles Times, News York Times, Bloomberg, The New Yorker, Buzz Machine, and the Guardian. Also, an editorial from News Corp.’s Wall Street Journal defending Murdoch’s other assets that takes some shots at their competitors’ glee over the mess. Finally, this column from New York Times columnist David Carr, who notes that infiltrating phones and computers is not limited to just News Corp. reporters.
Going out with a bang. The latest and final “Harry Potter” movie from Warner Bros. took in almost $170 million at the box office. That beat the record held “The Dark Knight,” also from Warner Bros. Of course, there is a 3-D factor to consider when comparing the two movies. More than 40% of attendees saw the latest “Potter” with glasses on. Overseas, the movie took in more than $300 million. If you were wondering, I kept my word and did not see the movie. Box office analysis from the Los Angeles Times and Movie City News.
Now what? The Hollywood Reporter takes a look at what the stars of the Harry Potter franchise have in the works now that the big meal ticket is coming to an end. My advice: Save lots of money and find lives. Nobody wants to see Daniel Radcliffe on “Celebrity Rehab” in 15 years hanging out with Steven Adler.
TKO. Ross Greenburg, the longtime head of HBO Sports, is leaving the pay cable channel. He says he’s tired of dealing with boxing promoters. Boxing promoters say HBO is tired of him. HBO has lost some ground to Showtime in terms of boxing coverage, but Greenburg says he was not pushed out. Coverage from the New York Times and Boxing Scene.
Falling down on the job. Broadcasters are doing a better job than cable networks are at following rules regarding commercials in programs aimed at kids, according a recent study from the General Accounting Office. Of course, broadcasters barely program for kids anymore so it’s easier for them to keep tabs. That’s a joke but what is not is broadcasters can face more severe penalties than cable networks for not following the rules. More from the Washington Post.
These our are geeks too! Movie studios aren’t the only ones invading San Diego later this month for the Comic-Con convention. Video game companies also will be showcasing their latest releases to the fanboy crowd. I had assumed this was already the case, but apparently this is something of a new development that is picking up steam, according to Variety.
Inside the Los Angeles Times: A look at “Cowboys & Aliens,” which will either be the next big summer movie or an epic flop. Patrick Dempsey plans his big screen career.
– Joe Flint
Be the 5,000th person to follow me on Twitter and you can give me a prize! Twitter.com/JBFlint
After the coffee. Before seeing if I can use Carmageddon fatigue as an excuse to call in sick.
The Skinny: I saw “Horrible Bosses” over the weekend. It was enjoyable, but Kevin Spacey played a better evil boss in “Swimming with Sharks.” While I was at the movies, top executives from News Corp. were resigning and being arrested and the commissioner of Scotland Yard also quit in the wake of the News of the World phone hacking scandal. If you weren’t reading about or staying clear of the 405, you were probably at the movies watching the latest Harry Potter.
I said I’m sorry! There was no weekend off for Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp. or anyone with ties to the phone hacking scandal that shut down the News of the World tabloid after revelations that the paper broke into the voice mail accounts of not only celebrities and royal family members but also crime and terrorism victims. On Friday, Rebekah Brooks and Les Hinton, two top executives at News Corp., resigned from the company. On Saturday, Murdoch took out ads in all the big British papers to apologize for News of the World. On Sunday, Brooks was arrested and the head of Scotland Yard also resigned because of his ties to the media conglomerate. This is the gift that keeps on giving. Coverage of the last few days from the Los Angeles Times, News York Times, Bloomberg, The New Yorker, Buzz Machine, and the Guardian. Also, an editorial from News Corp.’s Wall Street Journal defending Murdoch’s other assets that takes some shots at their competitors’ glee over the mess. Finally, this column from New York Times columnist David Carr, who notes that infiltrating phones and computers is not limited to just News Corp. reporters.
Going out with a bang. The latest and final “Harry Potter” movie from Warner Bros. took in almost $170 million at the box office. That beat the record held “The Dark Knight,” also from Warner Bros. Of course, there is a 3-D factor to consider when comparing the two movies. More than 40% of attendees saw the latest “Potter” with glasses on. Overseas, the movie took in more than $300 million. If you were wondering, I kept my word and did not see the movie. Box office analysis from the Los Angeles Times and Movie City News.
Now what? The Hollywood Reporter takes a look at what the stars of the Harry Potter franchise have in the works now that the big meal ticket is coming to an end. My advice: Save lots of money and find lives. Nobody wants to see Daniel Radcliffe on “Celebrity Rehab” in 15 years hanging out with Steven Adler.
TKO. Ross Greenburg, the longtime head of HBO Sports, is leaving the pay cable channel. He says he’s tired of dealing with boxing promoters. Boxing promoters say HBO is tired of him. HBO has lost some ground to Showtime in terms of boxing coverage, but Greenburg says he was not pushed out. Coverage from the New York Times and Boxing Scene.
Falling down on the job. Broadcasters are doing a better job than cable networks are at following rules regarding commercials in programs aimed at kids, according a recent study from the General Accounting Office. Of course, broadcasters barely program for kids anymore so it’s easier for them to keep tabs. That’s a joke but what is not is broadcasters can face more severe penalties than cable networks for not following the rules. More from the Washington Post.
These our are geeks too! Movie studios aren’t the only ones invading San Diego later this month for the Comic-Con convention. Video game companies also will be showcasing their latest releases to the fanboy crowd. I had assumed this was already the case, but apparently this is something of a new development that is picking up steam, according to Variety.
Inside the Los Angeles Times: A look at “Cowboys & Aliens,” which will either be the next big summer movie or an epic flop. Patrick Dempsey plans his big screen career.
– Joe Flint
Be the 5,000th person to follow me on Twitter and you can give me a prize! Twitter.com/JBFlint
Drizzy explains that the sound will be more upbeat and incorporate new sounds on his new album.
Currently working on the follow-up to last year’s Thank Me Later, Drake recently chopped it up with Headkrack about what listeners can expect on Take Care. During the interview, the former Degrassi star explained that he wants to get back into acting after dropping the new LP in October, and that fans will be hearing a new side of him on the album.
“I think I finally have a grasp on who I am and who I want to be. I’m just really talking that shit, that shit I’m really saying what I feel,” he said. “The goal for me, this album, was to dig even deeper. Like somebody told me, ‘I love your lyrics, but it’s almost like I know there’s more. I feel like you’re giving circus raps and people are taking them as the deepest thoughts ever.’ So what I did for this album was to capture this moment in time at the most honest place I can. However it ends up, I’m ready for the world right now.”
He likened the sound of the new album to his tracks “Fear” 
and “9 A.M. in Dallas,” explaining that it has more oomph than Thank Me Later.
“Sonically, 40 and I started using new sounds and picking up the tempo, picking up the energy. Last album, it was sort of still the struggle with fame, still figuring it all out. And this album, man, I’m here with all my friends from Toronto. We’re living the life. I’m 24 years old and everybody’s happy. I don’t have anybody forcing anything on me, no label or nothing like that. Wayne lets me do whatever I want to do and I got really the people I grew up with here. That’s really what this album is about. It’s about really making this happen. I want people to understand this life, but not from the superficial perspective of ‘Oh it’s so good and we’re all so rich.’ It’s not all that – it’s partly that – but there’s a message behind it.”
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RELATED: Drake Cancels Show Due To Death In The Family
Robot 6
Borders
Retailing | A Sunday deadline passed without additional bidders for the bankrupt Borders Group, leaving a group of liquidators as the only suitor for the second-largest bookstore chain in the United States. However, The Wall Street Journal reports that the bookseller will likely entertain offers right up until Tuesday’s scheduled bankruptcy auction. The newspaper contends Borders was in negotiations late Sunday with Books-A-Million in hopes of striking a deal that would save what remains of the company, which once operated more than 1,000 locations. [The Wall Street Journal]
Conventions | Comic-Con International has released information on prices for the 2012 San Diego Comic-Con. Adult four-day passes will no longer be discounted compared to the prices of single-day badges; an adult four-day pass without the option to attend Preview Night will cost $150, while buying individual adult tickets for each day would cost $143. Adult four-day tickets with Preview Night will cost $175. Per the CCI website, “We hope that this change will encourage people to purchase only the days they will actually be attending, leaving additional badges for others who want to attend Comic-Con.”
Attendees at this week’s San Diego-Comic-Con can purchase 2012 tickets at the Douglas Pavilion at the Manchester Grand Hyatt; a 2011 badge will be required to purchase them. [The Beat, CCI]
Conventions | Upcoming Action Comics writer Grant Morrison shares thoughts on the San Diego Comic-Con, “a place where the boundary between fantasy and reality happily surrenders to the carnival spirit and anything can happen.” [Hero Complex]
Shel Dorf Awards
Awards | The second Shel Dorf Awards, which will be presented at Detroit Fanfare in September, have opened up voting to fans and expanded the number of categories. [Comics Worth Reading]
Creators | Megatokyo creator Fred Gallagher sits down in front of the camera for a video interview at Anime Expo, where he was one of the guests of honor. [Anime Diet]
Creators | Lynn Johnston talks about For Better or For Worse in a video of her presentation at the Charles Schulz Museum earlier this year. [The Daily Cartoonist]
Digital | Eric Burns explains, in detail, why DC is doing it wrong with their digital strategy, including the new 52. (tl;dr: As a series gets older, trades, discounts, and ultimately the secondhand market make it possible to read the story in print at a fraction of the price of the single issues in digital form. The obvious solution: Bundle them and discount them.) [Websnark]
Webcomics | Shaenon Garrity presents a short history of webcomics, from FetusX to Girls with Slingshots. [The Comics Journal]
Review | Paul Karasik reviews Joyce Farmer’s Special Exits. [The Comics Journal]
Teen Titans, by Bill Walko
Webcomics | Following a piece by ComicsAlliance on why Marvel and DC should be making superhero webcomics, Lauren Davis asks several webcomics creators what they would pitch to the two mainstream companies if given the chance. [Gamma Squad]
Newspaper comics | Creators Jim Scancarelli (Gasoline Alley), Marcus Hamilton (Dennis the Menace), Alex Saviuk (Spider-Man) and Joe Staton (Dick Tracy) discuss the challenges of taking over a legacy newspaper strip in this audio recording from a panel at HeroesCon. [The Daily Cartoonist]
History | Ken Quattro reads the FBI files on the investigation of publisher Lev Gleason (Daredevil, Crime Does Not Pay) as a suspected Communist. There’s more background in this story from The Comics Journal that ran last year. [The Comics Detective]
Movies | Sean Kleefeld recounts his experience on a casting call for extras for the upcoming Avengers movie. [Kleefeld on Comics]
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