CHICAGO (Dow Jones) – The Writers Guild of America said Wednesday that it has reached a tentative agreement with CBS Corp. on a new contract for CBS newswriters, editors, researchers and other Guild members who have been working under an expired contract since April 2005.

Under terms of the deal, WGA-CBS employees will get a 3.5% pay increase once the contract is ratified, and another 3.5% raise in 2009. Most regularly scheduled employees who worked 200 days or more last year and didn’t get wage increases during negotiations will receive an additional $3,700 payment. Employees who worked shorter schedules will receive pro-rated payments.
Continue Reading »

NEW YORK (Dow Jones) – The company that produces CBS’s ‘Late Show With David Letterman’, has reached a side agreement with union representing striking TV writers, The New York Times reported Friday citing several late night show executives.

The pact with World Wide Pants will allow ‘Late Show With David Letterman’ and ‘Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson’ to return to the air with new episodes Wednesday. Production on both shows as well as most U.S. shows were halted when the Writer’s Guild Of America went on strike in November. Continue Reading »

NEWPORT BEACH, California (AP) — Former child star Danielle Fishel, a teen heartthrob on ABC’s “Boy Meets World,” was arrested this week on a drunken driving warrant from Los Angeles County, police said.

Danielle Fishel, who played Topanga on “Boy Meets World,” was arrested Thursday, police said. Continue Reading »

According to the police complaint, the Emmy-winning anchor yelled at the female police officer, “I don’t give a f— who you are, I’m a f—ing TV reporter, you f—ing dy-ke,” according to Philadelphiawilldo.com, a Philadelphia Weekly blog.
Continue Reading »

Dec. 10 (Bloomberg) — Michael Pickens, son of billionaire investor Boone Pickens, was sentenced to probation and continued drug and alcohol treatment for using fake stock tips to dupe investors out of $1.2 million.

With his father watching from the courtroom gallery, the younger Pickens avoided as much as 71 months in prison after making what a Manhattan federal judge said were “tremendous strides” in a New Jersey program he just completed. Continue Reading »

In what has somehow become a major event in the life of only the loneliest and saddest, Katharine Hope McPhee has gotten engaged to Nick Cokas, also known as Grandpa Nick. Cokas, just a mere 80% older than McPhee hopes to avoid the pitfalls of Social Security dependability by attaching himself to McPhee. Continue Reading »

LOS ANGELES – Striking Hollywood writers resumed talks with the television and film industry Tuesday, one month after walking off the job over payments for new media use of their work, an official told AFP.

Asked if talks between the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers and the Writers Guild of America would restart Tuesday, AMPTP spokesman Jesse Hiestand said: “Yes, resuming at an undisclosed location at 10 a.m. PDT (Pacific Daylight Time)” or 1800 GMT. Continue Reading »

Evel Knievel, the hard-living motorcycle daredevil whose exploits made him an international icon in the 1970s, died Friday. He was 69.Knievel’s death was confirmed by his granddaughter, Krysten Knievel. He had been in failing health for years, suffering from diabetes and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, an incurable condition that scarred his lungs. Continue Reading »

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (AP) - Rodney King, whose videotaped police beating in 1991 led to deadly rioting when the officers involved were acquitted, was shot on a street corner, but his wounds were not life-threatening, police said.

King, 42, was shot two or three times from a distance by birdshot fired from a shotgun. He then bicycled about 1 1/2 miles back to his home in neighboring Rialto and called police. King was hit in the face, arms, back and torso, police said. Continue Reading »

It’s been nearly 30 years but there is finally an answer to the popular question Terry Bollea asked as Hulk Hogan  ”Whatcha gonna do when Hulkamania runs wild on you?”  The answer is going to be a little upsetting to some, but the answer is “Ask for half.” Continue Reading »