Get caught up on the latest media news with The Wire Select, a daily email newsletter.
What is it? A daily roundup of top headlines, analysis, and video covering the media and entertainment industry.
Signing up is quick and easy. Use the form below to enter your information then click the "Sign Up" button.
Please follow The Wire on Twitter and Facebook.
Join the conversation about this story »
Actor Sean Penn has made huge strides in Haiti since the country's 2010 earthquake.
His relief organization J/P HRO has helped treat more than 260,000 patients in clinics, has provided clean water to 10,000 people, and has distributed 14,500 tents to families.
To continue his efforts, Penn has signed an $8.7 million grant with the Haitian government and World Bank.
The funds will go toward a 16-month project to build new housing units or go toward rent subsidies, according to a statement from Penn's PR firm.
Currently, 347,000 people are displaced in Haiti with more than 14,000 families living in plywood shacks on the Petionville Club golf course.
With the funds, the goal is to help families move out of the camps by early 2014.
Penn launched J/P HRO two months after the earthquake to help in the rebuilding effort.
SEE ALSO: Judge rules "Storage Wars" is protected by first amendment, even if fake >
Please follow The Wire on Twitter and Facebook.
Join the conversation about this story »
Condé Nast announced today that Vogue editor Anna Wintour will take on the role of Artistic Director for the company.
The job — which was specifically created for the famous editor — could put Wintour in a prime position to take over for Condé's current chairman S.I. Newhouse, Jr.
As part of her new role, she will take over some of his company-wide duties.
Newhouse is 85 years old, and has been playing a less active role and shifting company decision-making to the board since 2009. Many insiders consider him to now have an emeritus role.
"Si Newhouse leaves a void, inevitably," Condé's CEO Charles Townsend told The New York Times. "Anna, without even having to think twice about it, is the most qualified person to pick up that torch and carry it into the future."
The new title may also be a ploy to keep Wintour at Condé, as there have been rumors recently that the magazine world's most famous woman was being considered by the Obama administration for an ambassador position (even though this later turned out to be false).
She also recently signed a three-year contract with the publisher that would have financial penalties should she choose to leave.
Wintour told the Times that the Artistic Director job would be "almost like being a one-person consulting firm" as she would advise editors and publishers about the direction of their magazines.
"Ms. Wintour will curate and cultivate the creative vision for the Company, working with the extraordinary editorial talent at Condé Nast to shape its artistic inspiration and innovation across all platforms," Condé said in a press release.
Wintour is celebrating 25 years with the company this summer, and will remain the editor of Vogue and editorial director of Teen Vogue as she assumes her new responsibilities.
DON'T MISS: The 11 Worst Looks From New York Fashion Week
Please follow The Life on Twitter and Facebook.
Join the conversation about this story »
South by Southwest is a big interactive, music and film conference that's going on right now in Austin, Texas.
Over the course of the week, more than 120,000 people are flying south to learn what the next big things are and, of course, to party.
Aside from famous Internet stars that flooded SXSW such as Foursquare's Dennis Crowley and Tesla Motors' Elon Musk, a number of Hollywood stars spent a few days in Austin.
One was even on our plane home.
Shaq kissed Brian Solis at SXSW - twitter.com/AndySplatz/sta…
— Andy Splatz (@AndySplatz) March 12, 2013
Forget Elon Musk or Al Gore. Here's the real star of #SXSW, whose fans are now lined up around the block #GrumpyCattwitter.com/cnntech/status…
— cnntech (@cnntech) March 10, 2013
Please follow SAI on Twitter and Facebook.
Celebrity endorsers have come under fire again from the feds -- and this time the issue is full disclosure when they are being paid for engaging in social media.
After an incident when Lauren Bacall showed up on “Today” promoting a drug without disclosing she was being paid, the Federal Trade Commission warned celebrities -- and the marketers that use them -- about not disclosing paid endorsements. It afterward took steps to ensure bloggers disclose when they are being compensated for their comments.
Also read: FTC Cracks Down on Celeb Endorsements
Now the FTC’s focus is social-media endorsement, most obviously through Twitter but involving any mobile message.
The commission, in an update Tuesday of its guidance on digital disclosures, is making clear that despite the short number of characters in a tweet, celebrities must still be transparent about compensations.
It also suggested that in most cases, the disclosure must be in the endorsement message itself -- not a linked website or a separate tweet.
The FTC’s guidelines are intended to suggest what behavior the FTC would view as problematic, but violations by themselves don’t carry any immediate penalty. The commission, however, could use the violation as evidence to open an enforcement case.
Most enforcement cases involving celebrities have been directed toward marketers rather than the celebrities.
The FTC cited as an example a celebrity “JuliStarz” endorsing a weight-loss product in a hypothetical tweet:
“Shooting movie beach scene. Had to lose 30lbs in 6 wks. Thanks Fat-away Pills for making it easy. Bit.ly/f56."
The FTC said the tweet would fail its disclosure rules on two counts. First, it doesn’t make clear that JuliStarz is a paid endorser. Then it fails to disclose that the weight loss isn’t average for the product.
The FTC guidance also makes clear that a separate tweet saying, “I am a paid spokesperson for Fat-away Pills. Typical weight loss 1 lb/wk” doesn’t meet the requirements because some people seeing later tweets might not notice it.
Betsy Lordan, an FTC spokesman, said there wasn’t any specific incident involving a celebrity that prompted the change.
“The means of conveying ads have changed in the 12 years since the guidelines were last issued, and we wanted to make the guidelines more relevant,” she told TheWrap.
She also said that while the latest guidelines include tweets, the changes are intended to reflect broader issues raised as marketers reach out to consumers on mobile phones and other devices with small screens.
The FTC makes clear that the small screens don’t take away marketers responsibility for disclosure. Indeed in some cases, marketers may have to offer consumers more disclosures when consumers get information are provided information on multiple screens instead of a single screen.
"The same consumer protections laws that apply to commercial activities in other media apply online, including activities in the mobile marketplace," the FTC said in its guidance. "Required disclosures must be clear and conspicuous."
SEE ALSO: Judge rules 'Storage Wars' is protected by 1st Amendement even if staged >
Please follow The Wire on Twitter and Facebook.
Join the conversation about this story »
After rumors that Jimmy Fallon may be replacing Jay Leno to compete with Jimmy Kimmel's younger audience, the NY Post quoted "insiders" as saying saying Howard Stern was being "groomed" to then replace Fallon.
But Stern — who acts as a judge on NBC show "America's Got Talent" in addition to his super successful satellite radio show — was offended by the mere insinuation that he would fill the late-night gig.
"First of all, what an insult, like, all the years of my career. I'm like, the biggest guy in radio, I've done film, I've done television," Stern exclaimed on "The Howard Stern Show." "I mean, they act like I'm some kind of f------ beginner or something. Maybe if I'm really nice to NBC they'll let me take over Carson Daly's show at like 2 o'clock in the morning."
Not only did Stern think the rumor about himself was rude, but he also didn't appreciate the notion that NBC may be replacing Leno.
"I was asking some of the [NBC] executives, when I was down there doing 'AGT' and I was like you guys don't respect Jay at all, do you? They go ‘We’re not firing him!’ That’s what they said to me, so I don’t know how any of this is true…I don't know. I want to say ‘no comment’. I want to keep it going.”
Stern then kindly pointed out that Fallon likely makes "about a tenth" of his own salary and sarcastically joked that he has also been hired to anchor "NBC Nightly News," as well as guest star on "Community," "Parks & Recreation" and "Whitney."
SEE ALSO: Leno Out, Fallon In? Rumored Change At NBC After Jimmy Kimmel Steals The Young Demo >
Please follow The Wire on Twitter and Facebook.
Join the conversation about this story »
Here you go, Xfinity TV customers who enjoy binge viewing: From March 25-31 the No. 1 cable operator will offer its “Xfinity Watchathon Week” with free VOD and streaming access to more than 3,500 episodes of 100 TV series across 30 premium, cable and broadcast networks.
It’s “the biggest catch-up ever in TV history,” says Comcast Cable VP Video Services Maggie Suniewick. Series will include Downton Abbey, Game Of Thrones, Dexter, Girls, Spartacus, Duck Dynasty, Mad Men, Revolution, The Walking Dead, Touch, Chicago Fire, Psych, Parenthood, and The Americans.
Comcast teased the event at an investment conference last week. The company is eager to promote its VOD library to viewers who like the flexibility they find with services such as Netflix to watch shows spontaneously, without having to pre-program a DVR. Comcast also wants to show networks that they can benefit from VOD; it supports Nielsen’s C3 ratings and Comcast sometimes disables fast-forwarding, which raises the number of viewers who see commercials.
Premium channels also will be able to give non-subscribers a taste: Comcast says that Watchathon will offer “almost the entire on demand TV libraries” for HBO, Showtime, and Starz including The Sopranos, Sex And The City, and The Wire. Programs will be available at Xfinity.com/tv, the Xfinity TV Player App for Apple and Android devices, and Xfinity Streampix as well as the conventional VOD service for subscribers.
Some shows won’t be available on all platforms, but Comcast says that in “virtually all cases” viewers can watch “regardless of [the] customer’s subscription level.” Comcast will introduce a Watchathon Week microsite to help customers find programming. It also will offer behind-the-scenes features and games.
The Watchathon event will be followed by an initiative called “Catch-Up of the Week”: Comcast will mix current and past seasons of different series each week for the rest of this year. It will be available to all Xfinity customers, and will include shows from premium channels including ones that a subscriber doesn’t typically receive.
More From Deadline:
Please follow The Wire on Twitter and Facebook.
Join the conversation about this story »
It's hard to believe, but "The Bachelor" has now been on the air for more than a decade.
ABC's hit reality series just wrapped up its 17th season earlier this week when entrepreneur Sean Lowe asked graphic designer Catherine Giudici to be his wife.
When "The Bachelor" launched in 2002 it was a hot watercooler discussion, critiqued for putting personal relationships so openly into the public eye and for allowing one man to date multiple women at once to find his "one true love."
Despite that, the show has become one of ABC's best-performing shows producing multiple spinoffs—"The Bachelorette" and "Bachelor Pad"—and, serving as fodder for other network series.
After 17 seasons, what has come of the many bachelors?
Shocker: the majority aren't with the winner they fell in love with over the course of a short few months.
While Lowe and Giudici are still together—for now—the show's track record for successful relationships is 3 for 24.
Rather, most have found love elsewhere, one tried love twice on "The Bachelor," and another went on to make a fake sex tape.
(Source: EW)
(Source: PRnewswire) Watch the NSFW video here.
Please follow The Wire on Twitter and Facebook.
Jonathan Taylor Thomas (born Jonathan Taylor Weiss) gained teen heartthrob status starring as Tim Allen's middle son, Randy Taylor, on "Home Improvement" from 1991-1998.
Most people probably remember JTT — as he was called in the teen fan magazines — as a young teenager on the hit ABC series.
When JTT started the show, he was just a baby-faced 10-year-old:
By the time the show ended in 1998, JTT was 17-years-old and the object of every young girl's desire:
Now age 31— after earning degrees from both Harvard and Columbia — JTT is returning to the limelight as a guest star on his former TV dad Tim Allen's ABC show "Last Man Standing" playing a successful restaurateur:
The last time the TV father/son duo appeared on-screen together it looked like this:
In the "Last Man Standing" episode airing Friday, March 22, the two now look like this:
Friday's TV cameo will be JTT's first TV role since a one-episode stint on "Veronica Mars" in 2005.
SEE ALSO: Kristen Bell raising $2M on Kickstarter to make a "Veronica Mars" movie >
Please follow The Wire on Twitter and Facebook.
Join the conversation about this story »
A few years ago, there was a TV show about a sleuthing teenager called Veronica Mars.
It got canceled, but not before becoming a cult hit.
Yesterday, the show's writer, Rob Thomas, launched a fundraising campaign on Kickstarter.
In 10 hours, he raised $2.5 million from 40,000+ fans – more than enough to fund a movie.
In order to entice donors to give, Thomas promised them perks for donating particular amounts of money.
People who donated $10 or more, for example, get a copy of the script the day it's released. 4,700+ people did this.
People who donated $25 or more, get a t-shirt.
People who donated $400 more will be followed by the movie's star, Kristen Bell, on Twitter.
And so on, all the way up to $10,000.
$10,000 – an amount one person did pay! – guarantees a donor a very minor speaking role in the film.
Here is Thomas's description of the perk:
You will get a speaking role in the movie. Here’s the scene — Veronica is eating with the man in her life. Things have gotten tense between them. You are the waiter/waitress. You approach the table, and you say, “Your check, sir.” We guarantee you will be on camera as you say the line. Unless you go all hammy and ruin the scene and we have to cut you out, but that would be a sad day for all of us. Just say the line. Don’t over-think it. You’re a waiter. Your motivation is to turn over the table. In addition to appearing in the movie, you’ll receive a framed copy of the page of the script that includes your line. You’ll get an invitation to the premiere and the after party. You are, after all, in the movie. Think of yourself as Guy Fleegman from Galaxy Quest. People will surely want autographs. You’ll also receive the signed movie poster, the Blu-Ray/DVD combo pack, the digital version of the movie, the T-shirt and a pdf of the shooting script.
Please follow SAI on Twitter and Facebook.
Join the conversation about this story »
Here's the new ad for Sims 3 University Life. It's packed with the kind of offbeat and occasionally raunchy humor we've come to expect from the Sims franchise and its past ads.
But this one uses some recognizable characters from social media: memes such as the Ermahgerd girl and the Overy Attached Girlfriend both make appearances, among others.
Please follow Advertising on Twitter and Facebook.
Join the conversation about this story »
SEE ALSO: Howard Stern Calls Rumors He's Replacing Jimmy Fallon "An Insult" >
Please follow The Wire on Twitter and Facebook.
Join the conversation about this story »
Karlie Kloss has officially joined the ranks of Victoria's Secret Angels like Miranda Kerr and Adriana Lima.
While Kloss, 20, was one of about 40 models who walked the runway in Victoria's Secret's annual fashion show, the role of Angel is only reserved for about a dozen women.
As an Angel, Kloss will be more of a brand ambassador for Victoria's Secret and will be expected to make public appearances and appear in commercials, according to the Telegraph.
She celebrated her new role with a live Twitter Q&A yesterday alongside seasoned Angels Candice Swanepoel and Alessandra Ambrosio.
In the Q&A, she revealed that she loves Jennifer Lawrence movies, watching football, and chai tea.
She also said that when she's dating, a sense of humor is a must. She's rumored to be dating tech investor Joshua Kushner.
Kloss is one of the hottest models to hit the scene over the past few years.
She walked in dozens of Fashion Week shows and appeared in a Mercedes ad. Her chopped haircut, now known as the Karlie, is expected to be one of the most popular styles this Spring.
Her commitment to Victoria's Secret is interesting because of her established career as a model. The brand usually goes for more unknown models whom it can mold into Angels.
But Kloss is one of the hottest models today, so she'll undoubtedly bring good press to Victoria's Secret.
SEE ALSO: Meet The Victoria's Secret Angel Poised To Take Over The Brand >
Please follow Retail on Twitter and Facebook.
Join the conversation about this story »
Zombie popularity is a surefire indicator of national mental health, says Clemson University professor Sarah Lauro.
Lauro, an English teacher who studied zombies while working on her doctorate, told the Associated Press that the rise of the "Zombie Walk," specifically, illustrates citizens' dissatisfaction with governments and life in general.
"We are more interested in the zombie at times when as a culture we feel disempowered," Lauro told the AP. "And the facts are there that, when we are experiencing economic crises, the vast population is feeling disempowered. ... Either playing dead themselves ... or watching a show like 'Walking Dead' provides a great variety of outlets for people."
A zombie walk is almost like a flash mob, except with zombies. Organizers send out flyers and advertisements listing the date and time to meet up, and then a whole group of people dressed as and behaving like zombies will go on a mass "walk"— more often than not in public areas.
The idea started in Toronto in 2002 and, like the dead, is on the rise.
From the AP report:
As of last year, Lauro said, zombie walks had been documented in 20 countries. The largest gathering drew more than 4,000 participants at the New Jersey Zombie Walk in Asbury Park, N.J., in October 2010, according to Guinness World Records.
Along with walks, as Lauro points out, there are several other popular venues which zombies appear. There's movies, and TV shows like The Walking Dead (which, consequently, has broken longstanding television records). There's even a whole string of fitness obstacle courses on the rise that center around zombie themes.
It's no surprise that America has jumped on to the trend — Lauro cites that it really started to spread in 2002, during the advent of America's two wars. Then there was the crash. Years later, despite the stock market ticking past its previous record highs, the vast majority of America can't seem to get ahead.
It's like they've been left behind. So maybe it's escapism, or maybe Lauro's right and the rise of zombie culture is just a symptom of the larger problems in modern society.
SEE ALSO: The military is preparing for the zombocalypse, so should you >
SEE ALSO: The Military and Defense Facebook page for updates >
Please follow Military & Defense on Twitter and Facebook.
Join the conversation about this story »
Five employees who worked at The Trinity Mirror newspaper group have now been arrested in connection with the celebrity phone-hacking scandal, Bloomberg reports.
CNN host Piers Morgan is a former editor of The Mirror, and of the News of the World, the Rupert Murdoch paper that was shuttered when the scandal first broke. To be clear, Morgan has not been accused of any wrongdoing. But Bloomberg says "a former Daily Mirror reporter later testified ... that hacking took place on a daily basis among the newspaper’s show-business reporters."
How, exactly, Morgan got one of his most famous voicemail-related scoops remains shrouded in mystery. When asked under oath at the British parliament's inquiry as to how he listened to a voicemail of Paul McCartney pleading with his former wife Heather Mills, he declined to answer, saying only: "I'm not going to start any trail that leads to the identification of a source."
Morgan has previously denied he published any story based on hacking: "I have never hacked a phone, told anyone to hack a phone, nor to my knowledge published any story obtained from the hacking of a phone."
But that denial will take some explaining in the light of these previously reported events:
Doubtless there is an innocent explanation for all of this.
Please follow Advertising on Twitter and Facebook.
Join the conversation about this story »
Michelle Obama is on the cover of this month's Vogue.
In her interview with Jonathan Van Meter, the First Lady revealed an endearing anecdote about her husband's challenged sense of style.
President Barack Obama told Van Meter that before he took office, he only had two suits. He now has dozens.
That's when Michelle Obama interjected:
"'Now, let me tell you: This is the man who still boasts about, This khaki pair of pants I’ve had since I was 20.' The president throws his head back, laughing. 'And I’m like, you don’t want to brag about that.’ Jay Carney and the young staffers from the White House press office, who are all sitting on a sofa on the other side of the room, crack up."
The Obamas also discussed how they still feel like a normal family despite living in the White House.
You can read the full cover story here >
SEE ALSO: Fashion Editor Calls Out Michelle Obama For Acting Like An 'Indulged Starlet' >
Please follow Politics on Twitter and Facebook.
Join the conversation about this story »
The cast and crew of "Big Bang Theory" opened up immensely about the series at PaleyFest.
The annual series follows panel discussions of current TV series for one week in Los Angeles.
The stars and producers of CBS' hit comedy took the opportunity to reveal secrets from the set during its panel Wednesday evening.
The Hollywood Reporter compiled a list of 15 items the cast and crew shared.
From the origins of Sheldon's get well "Soft Kitty" song to catchphrase "Bazinga!", see the top five things the stars of the show revealed.
Actress Melissa Rauch said her snappy and boisterous, yet sweet character Bernadette is inspired by her mom.
"Only without the Jersey! Tonally, it's very similar," said Rauch.
(Source: THR)
Amy (Mayim Bialik) and Sheldon (Jim Parsons) are actually playing the harp and theremin on the show. Both learned how to play the instruments after it was decided a harp would be Amy's favorite instrument.
(Source: THR)
Last October, Kaley Cuoco led the cast and crew in a giant flash mob set to Carly Rae Jepsen's "Call Me Maybe." Cuoco's sister, Brianna choreographed the entire thing.
As a result, Briana landed a cameo spot on the Valentine's Day episode of "Big Bang Theory." She also choreographed another big scene on co-creator Chuck Lorre's other show, "Two and a Half Men."
Check out the flash mob here.
(Source: THR)
Please follow The Wire on Twitter and Facebook.
Watch out Kanye, Lady Gaga has her own throne … made of solid gold.
After surgery for a torn hip joint, Mother Monster commissioned a 24-karat-gold-plated wheelchair from jewelry designer Ken Borochov.
The Daily Beast reports the glam chair was put together in a week complete with leather upholstery and canopy.
The 1.5 ounces of gold used to make the wheelchair is estimated at $2,600.
Terry Richardson posted the image of the singer at the right while the two were hanging out in New York.
The injury made the singer postpone shows in Chicago, Detroit, and Hamilton.
SEE ALSO: 5 things you didn't know about 'The Big Bang Theory' >
Please follow The Wire on Twitter and Facebook.
Join the conversation about this story »
Justin Bieber is letting the press get the best of him.
Last week, a reported two-hour concert delay, an on-stage collapse, followed by a verbal lashout at paparazzi became fodder for media outlets — ourselves included — to suggest the 19-year-old singer is having a meltdown.
Rather than lie down and let the bad press pass, Bieber is fighting it head on.
This morning, the singer took to Instagram to rant about the press, his success, and even took a biting jab at Lindsay Lohan.
Here's his original Instagram via TMZ:
And here's the text as it appeared:
"Everyone in my team has been telling me, "keep the press happy" but I'm tired of all the countless lies in the press right now. Saying I'm going to rehab and how my family is disappointed in me. My family is beyond proud, and nothing's been said by them, my grandparents wouldn't know how to reach to press even of [sic] they did want to so that was a lie and rehab con. if Anyone believes i need rehab thats their own stupidity lol I'm 19 with 5 number one albums, 19 and I've seen the whole world. 19 and I've accomplished more than I could've ever dreamed of, i'm 19 and it must be scary to some people to think that this is just the beginning. I know my talent level and i know i got my head on straight. i know who i am and i know who i'm not My messege [sic] is to to believe. My albums could be about anything but my messages have been to never say never and believe, not to believe in me, but to believe in yourself .. I honestly don't care if you don't believe in me because I believe in me, and look where that's gotten me so far.. I'm writing this with a smile on my face and love in my heart. Letting u know first hand how I feel rather than have these story linger. I'm a good person with a big heart. And don't think I deserve all of this negative press I've worked my ass off to get where I am and my hard work doesn't stop here. i'm growing up finding myself while having people watch me and criticise me everyday i think im doing pretty damn good. And to those comparing me to Lindsey Lohan look at her 2012 tax statements ;)"
Since then, Bieber deleted the post and reupped a reworked one omitting the diss at Lohan and thanking his fans:
The only bit that has changed is the ending where Bieber acknowledges he's human, he makes mistakes, and he gets angry from time to time:
"And don't think I deserve all this negative press I've worked my ass off to get where I am and my hard work doesn't stop here... All this isn't easy. I get angry sometimes. I'm human. I'm gonna make mistakes. In gonna grow and get better from them. But all the love from you guys overcomes the negativity. I love u. Thanks."
SEE ALSO: How Justin Bieber went from squeaky clean to trouble teen >
Please follow The Wire on Twitter and Facebook.
Join the conversation about this story »
After hearing rumors of "The Expendables 3" casting a few months earlier, Sylvester Stallone is talking about the upcoming third film in the series.
Stallone tweeted he's working on the script and that the team is looking for a few new men including a young "tech wizard" ... and Jackie Chan.
— Sylvester Stallone (@TheSlyStallone) March 13, 2013
Stallone hints the the next installment will be funnier:
EX3 needs NEW blood and more humor.... The films were always meant to be more on the humorous side with moments of drama
— Sylvester Stallone (@TheSlyStallone) March 13, 2013
Anyone hoping for Steven Seagal, may be disappointed, but Jackie Chan fans may be in luck:
No S. Seagal, sorry ,but maybe we get lucky with J. Chan! And some young bloods!!!
— Sylvester Stallone (@TheSlyStallone) March 13, 2013
The crew is also looking for a young actress and a nerdy, "tough" tech geek:
By young I mean 22 to 27. Not big bruisers but tech wizard, super brains and a young woman who is not a sex symbol but funny ,tough,REAL
— Sylvester Stallone (@TheSlyStallone) March 13, 2013
Last year's "The Expendables 2" earned $300.4 million worldwide.
"The Expendables 3" is set for a 2014 release.
SEE ALSO: Justin Bieber slams media and Lindsay Lohan in crazy instagram rant >
Please follow The Wire on Twitter and Facebook.
Join the conversation about this story »
