Not That Jeff Zucker...
Following up on some emailers asking why NBCU CEO Jeff Zucker was involved in the making of a somewhat-creepy video featuring children singing about Sen. Barack Obama and "change," here's your answer — he's not. The video is by the independent group Sing for Change, and the about us page lists a Jeff Zucker as someone who helped make the video. An NBC News spokesperson tells TVNewser, "It was a different Jeff Zucker." For a while yesterday, Drudge picked up the video and the NBCU CEO news p

Local TV Profoundly Affected by Downturn, NBC Says
The U.S. economic downturn has had a severe effect on broadcaster NBC’s local television stations but the company has not yet seen an advertising slowdown at a national level, its chief executive said. “It’s had a profound effect on our local TV stations, which were highly dependent on auto and retail advertising,” NBC Universal CEO Jeff Zucker told a conference of Britain’s Royal Television Society in London on Friday. “We haven’t seen an advertising slowdown on

Jeff Zucker stresses GE commitment to NBCU
NBC Universal president and CEO Jeff Zucker reiterated the strength of parent General Electric’s commitment to the media company, which he said was “profound,” despite the financial turmoil of the past weeks and the profits warning issued Thursday by GE.

Economy has ‘profound effect’ on local TV
It’s not every day that you hear the head of a media company characterize the economic impact on a business division as “profound,” but these aren’t usual times. “(The economy has) had a profound effect on our local TV stations, which were highly dependent on auto and retail advertising,” NBC Universal CEO Jeff Zucker said in London on Friday. “We haven’t seen an advertising slowdown on a national level yet in the United States but obviously we’re conc

Jeff Zucker Keeps Harvey Weinstein From Moving Project Runway to Lifetime
Says NBC Uni in a just-delivered statement: "NBC Universal is pleased that the court granted our motion for a preliminary injunction against The Weinstein Company. The overwhelming evidence demonstrated that The Weinstein Company violated NBC Universal's right of first refusal to future cycles of Project Runway. After hearing all of the evidence, the court issued an order prohibiting The Weinstein Company from taking the show or any spin-off to Lifetime." Sep 26, 2008 ·

NATAS Boss Announces Departure
Peter Price’s tumultuous and aggressive reign as president and CEO of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences will come to an early conclusion at the end of the year. He will continue to advise and to head up the NATAS Foundation, which raises money for scholarships, education and other initiatives, he said in an interview with TelevisionWeek. He’ll perform the NATAS Foundation duties without compensation—“church work,” as he called it. The trustees of NATAS, which runs TV awards pro

Zucker ramps up production in U.K.
International News: NBC U chief says cost issues driving shift -- NBC Universal topper Jeff Zucker has signaled his intention to shift some TV production away from the U.S. and move it to Europe as cost pressures escalate.

Local TV Profoundly Affected by Downturn, NBC Says
The U.S. economic downturn has had a severe effect on broadcaster NBC’s local television stations but the company has not yet seen an advertising slowdown at a national level, its chief executive said. “It’s had a profound effect on our local TV stations, which were highly dependent on auto and retail advertising,” NBC Universal CEO Jeff Zucker told a conference of Britain’s Royal Television Society in London on Friday. “We haven’t seen an advertising slowdown on

Jeff Zucker says GE committed to NBC Uni
NBC Universal president and CEO Jeff Zucker reiterated the strength of parent GE’s commitment to the media company Friday, calling it “profound” despite the recent financial turmoil and the profit warning issued Thursday by GE. “I think it’s looking at it backwards,” he said, when asked whether GE was under renewed pressure to sell NBC because of the tightening of liquidity in financial markets. “NBC’s significance only increases if there is less coming from

Jack Cafferty: Palin's "Pathetic" Video Doesn't Deserve an Excuse
Jack Cafferty is one harsh bitch: After the CNN commenter made some vaguely racist remarks towards the Chinese during the Olympics, he is now prepping for a comeback by launching not-so-vague insults in Sarah Palin's direction. Here's Cafferty on the Palin/Couric interviews:   "That is one of the most pathetic pieces of tape I have ever seen from someone aspiring to one of the highest offices in this country," he continued. When Blitzer tried to be diplomatic, Cafferty shot back

Gervais, Whoopi Set to Stand Up for Heroes
Comics Ricky Gervais, John Pinette and Whoopi Goldberg are scheduled to appear for an event benefiting the Bob Woodruff Foundation. The second annual “Stand Up for Heroes: A Benefit for the Bob Woodruff Foundation,” presented by the foundation and the New York Comedy Festival, is scheduled for Nov. 5 at New York City’s Town Hall. Stand Up for Heroes will honor and raise money for the United States’ injured servicemen and –women, with all proceeds going to the Bob Woodruff Foundation, named after

The Ticker: Couric, Lehrer, Logan...
> The New York Times' Steven McElroy reports Katie Couric will be participating in the upcoming roast of Matt Lauer. Other roasters include Meredith Vieira, Jeff Zucker and Brian Williams. > The Huffington Post's Sam Stein talks to PBS' Jim Lehrer about his upcoming moderating duties. "This has the potential for being one of the most exhilarating experiences a person can have and I've had it at times. But it also has the potential for being a negative experience too if you blow it," says Lehrer. > Broa

Katie Couric to roast old pal Matt Lauer
Matt Lauer is a glutton for punishment. That's got to be the only possible reason he agreed to be the subject of this year’s Friars Club Annual Celebrity Roast Luncheon, to be held Oct. 24 at the Hilton Hotel in New York. Lining up to tease him: Katie Couric, Meredith Vieira, Brian Williams and NBC honcho Jeff Zucker. Posted at 04:42 PM/ET, September 22, 2008 in Yikes! | Permalink Like this story? Share it with Yahoo! Buzz By posting a comment, you affirm th

Helen Mirren, Nazi Huntress [Trade Roundup]
· Helen Mirren will trade in her two-piece for a gun in The Debt, a remake of an Israeli hit about a Mossad agent who comes out of retirement to track down a war criminal. [Variety] · TNT fell for the old "Buy a Bruckheimer, Get a Wahlberg For Free" trick, not realizing it negotiated for Donnie's new Boston cop procedural Bunker Hill. Gotta read those contracts, gang. [THR] After the jump: Salma Hayek storms Fox, Jeff Zucker reassures nobody, Earl's preem crashes. · Completel

David Blaine Central Park!
PHOTO! Here’s a “picture” of David Blaine in Central Park right side up and Donald Trump hanging upside down. (Now that would be a tv show!) David Blaine hangs upside down for your ratings in TV’s “Dive of Death”. Dive of Death is also the affectionate nickname of the Emmy Awards’ ratings. David will hang upside for 60 hours in New York. Doctors say he will live, and “might” go blind. The above picture is during a press conference last week with D

Bill's delicious bag of bad apples
"Do you think that was the right strategy, to let your guys wander off like a Wanderly Wagon?" Bill Cullen asked the men's team leader, Mark O'Rourke, near the end of the inaugural episode of TV3's The Apprentice. Ah, yes: this is very much The Apprentice Cullen-style, complete with the man's trademark colourful relationship with language, which sometimes makes Bertie Ahern's more bizarre Dail speeches sound like the oratory of Barack Obama. But, do you know something? It works fantasticall

David Blaine Upside Down (Photos)
David Blaine Upside Down!  Illusionist David Blaine is performing his latest body endurance challenge hanging upside down at Wollmann Rink in New York Central Park since Monday September 22. David Blaine Upside Down at Press Conference on September 18 (Image credit: Donna Ward/PR Photos) According to the reports, the 35-year-old David Blaine is being hoisted 44 feet into the air by his electromagnetic heels without safety net or airbag prepared beneath. He will remain there for 60 hours until

A Minute With Donald Trump, Jr., Who Has Some Answers
You'd have to be living under a rock not to notice the incredibly chaotic state of the nation these days, and even if you are living under a rock you're going to find out about it soon enough when people whose homes have been foreclosed on move into the space under the rock next to yours. In times like these we turn to experts to help us make sense of it all. Radar sought reassurance from real estate developer Donald Trump, Jr., who was happy to discuss such of-the-moment issues as Sarah Palin and Joe Biden

NBC Comes Up Rosie With Variety Special
Showbiz feuds may come and go, but Rosie O'Donnell and TV hosting gigs are here for the long run. The erstwhile Queen of Nice—or piggishness, if you're Donald Trump or...

NBC to Air Rosie O'Donnell Variety Special
The erstwhile Queen of Nice-or piggishness, if you're Donald Trump or perhaps Elisabeth Hasselbeck-is returning to the airwaves just in time for the holidays, signing on to host Rosie's Variety Show as a one-off special for NBC.

News Bites: Jessica Simpson Mobbed By Paps
-It sounds like Australians are over Beverly Hills already. 90210 has been canceled down under after just four episodes due to poor ratings. Maybe if the girls on the show would start eating more Bloomin' Onions, more people would be compelled to watch. Photo Credit: WENN Website: photo.wenn.com Tags: 90210, AnnaLynne McCord, Australia, Cacee Cobb, Donald Trump, Elisabeth Hasselbeck, Jessica Simpson, Jessica Stroup, Paparazzi, Photographers, Rosie O'Donnell, Shenae Grimes

The Scandalist Scoop: Friday, Oct. 3
THE long-awaited wedding of Howard Stern and Beth Ostrosky is finally happening tonight at Le Cirque. The shock jock and his leggy lady have booked the whole restaurant (the first time anyone has ever taken over the entire place) for a sit-down dinner for 180 guests, including Donald Trump. Beth’s wedding gown was designed by Georgina Chapman. And guess who’s going to perform the ceremony? Mark Consuelos, husband of Kelly Ripa, is “certified” to supervise their vows. MELANIE Brown

The long-awaited wedding of Howard Stern and Beth Ostrosky is finally happening tonight at Le Cirque!
The shock jock and his leggy lady have booked the whole restaurant (the first time anyone has ever taken over the entire place) for a sit-down dinner for 180 guests, including Donald Trump. Beth’s wedding gown was designed by Georgina Chapman. And guess who’s going to perform the ceremony? Mark Consuelos, husband of Kelly Ripa, is “certified” to supervise their vows. (source) Friday, October 3rd, 2008 | Beth Ostrosky, Howard Stern | RSS

Paris Hilton's My New BFF debuts tonight
More than a year after the cancellation of The Simple Life, Paris Hilton returns to reality TV tonight with Paris Hilton’s My New BFF, a competition to become Paris’ new best friend. It debuts at 10 p.m. ET on MTV. Because Paris is about as genuine in her search for a new best friend as Donald Trump was in his search for an actual apprentice, she’s now searching for a British best friend for a version of the show that will air on ITV2. In the totally bullshit press release quote that som