Thesp leaders meet on merger

HowardNot even Hurricane Irene stopped leaders of showbiz performer unions from meeting over the weekend to craft a merger plan.Despite the massive storm on the East Coast, reps of the Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television & Radio Artists met via videoconference Saturday at SAG headquarters in Los Angeles and New York. An informal planning sesh was held Sunday to set the agenda for a second videoconference on Monday.With Irene approaching Friday, the videoconferences were substituted for what had been planned as a three-day face-to-face meeting in New York starting Saturday as the second of four multiday confabs to hammer out details of the merger proposal.SAG and AFTRA spokespeople had no comment Sunday about the substance of the meetings.Last month SAG's national board approved spending $2.2 million on the merger process. Reps of SAG and AFTRA met for three days in June in Silver Spring, Md., at the National Labor College in the first of four confabs with the aim of delivering a merger plan by January to their respective national boards.No date's been set yet for the vote by the 70,000 members of the American Federation of Television & Radio Artists and the 120,000 members of the Screen Actors Guild. The unions still haven't sorted out the name of the combined union, dues structure and governance -- all of which could provide ammunition for opponents.At the June meeting, the reps established work groups on governance and structure; finance and dues; collective bargaining, pension, health and retirement; operations and staff; and member education and outreach.A member vote could take place by spring.SAG president Ken Howard, who has made merger his signature issue over the two past two years, is seeking re-election for a second two-year term as part of the Unite for Strength faction, which is running 34 candidates for Hollywood seats. The self-styled moderates have taken over the national boardin the last three elections from the now-dormant Membership First faction, which insisted SAG remain a union for actors only, without AFTRA's broadcasters and musicians -- then didn't win a single national board seat last fall.Though Membership First isn't running a slate, six candidates issued a paid email message to members Friday that accused Howard and Unite for Strength of not providing explicit answers to merger questions and asking them to trust the leadership instead."Based on two years of deficit spending, the loss of almost all new TV shows (at a cost of over $100 million to SAG members) and SAG's overall weakened condition, 'trust' is something we can no longer afford to give," the message said. "Creating a merger plan behind closed doors with AFTRA is unacceptable."The message also said the merger plan needs to answer whether the new union require its members to work only union jobs as SAG does now and whether the new union will have requirements for membership as SAG does now. The message was signed by board members Scott Bakula, David Jolliffe and William Mapother and former board members George Coe, Valerie Harper and Esai Morales.Pro-merger candidates have argued that a combined union would be stronger and resolve long-standing jurisdictional problems.Approval requires a 60% super-majority from those voting in both unions. SAG members rebuffed similar efforts in 1998 and 2003. Contact Dave McNary at dave.mcnary@variety.com

TV Ratings: Fox's 'Buried Treasure' Starts Out Soft, 'Big Brother' Slips

David Lang/FOX "Buried Treasure" Fox premiered its new reality series Buried Treasure on Wednesday -- and it didn't exactly hit with viewers. Buried Treasure (3.6 million total viewers, 1.0 rating in adults 18-49 demographic), hosted by brothers Leigh and Leslie Keno, placed fourth in the ad-coveted demo in its 8 p.m. time slot, beating only the CW's repeat of America's Next Top Model. Buried Treasure was followed by a House encore, putting Fox at No. 4 for the night among the adult demo with a 0.9 rating. NBC's America's Got Talent (10.7 million, 2.8), up 12 percent, tied with CBS' Big Brother (7.7 million, 2.8) as the top-rated program of the night, but with a strong showing of Minute to Win It (5.7 million, 1.5) at 8 p.m., up 15 percent, NBC ended up winning the night overall in the key demo with a 2.0. Though down 10 percent, Big Brother won its time slot handily. An original episode of ABC's Happy Endings at 9:30 p.m. -- its time slot come fall -- averaged 3.1 million and a 1.4 rating. The CW aired repeats. NBC -- 2.0 · Minute to Win It: 1.5, 5.7 million · America's Got Talent: 2.8, 10.7 million · Law & Order: SVU (R): 1.6, 5.4 million CBS -- 1.8 · Big Brother: 2.8, 7.7 million · Criminal Minds (R): 1.3, 5.2 million · CSI (R): 1.3, 6.1 million ABC -- 1.4 · The Middle (R): 1.2, 4.3 million · Modern Family (R): 1.5, 4.6 million · Modern Family (R): 1.9, 4.8 million · Happy Endings (R): 1.4, 3.1 million · Primetime Nightline: 1.3, 4.3 million Fox -- 0.9 · Buried Treasure: 1.0, 3.6 million · House (R): 0.8, 2.5 million CW -- 0.4 · America's Next Top Model (R): 0.4, 1.1 million · America's Next Top Model (R): 0.4, 881,000 TV Ratings America's Got Talent Big Brother

The Company Behind Kim Kardashian's TV Wedding

If reality television may be the pop-culture same as the National football league, a celebrity-reality wedding is, well, the Super Bowl. When E! star Kim Kardashian marries the Nj Nets' Kris Humphries on August. 20 in Montecito, Calif., cameras will document the wedding for that network's two-part special Kim's Fairytale Wedding: A Kardashian Event (airing March. 9 and 10).our editor recommendsE! Determining How you can Broadcast Kim Kardashian's WeddingKim Kardashian's Mother Kris Jenner Undergoes Pre-Wedding Facelift (Video)Can Kim Kardashian Win Her Multi-Billion Dollar Suit Against Old Navy? (Analysis)Kim Kardashian Wedding: Bride-to-Be Is 'Totally Calm' About Wedding, TV SpecialKim Kardashian Wedding Gown Designer Revealed: Vera WangKim Kardashian's Wedding to Air on E! as Two-Part Special PHOTOS: Inside Kardashian Corporation. E! has past benefiting on talent wedding ceremonies: Kim's sister Khloe's wedding to Lamar Odom introduced in 3.two million audiences in November 2009, which makes it probably the most-viewed broadcast within the network's history at that time. The Kendra Wilkinson-Hank Baskett affair on Kendra came 2.a million audiences in August 2009, E!'s best first-season finale since 2002. Horizon Media's Kaira Adgate forecasts that Kim's wedding could attract 5 million-plus audiences. He posits when the big event broadcast live, it might lure "a Jersey Shoreline-size audience" of 8 million. "The Kardashians have led to E!'s growth and function as a few of the network's key talent," states Lisa Berger, E! leader of entertainment programming. COVER STORY: The way the Kardashians Made $sixty five million This Past Year "Kim understood that to obtain where she wanted personally, she needed to produce a relationship together with her fans," Kris Jenner told THR this season. With three unwed kids left, Jenner includes a formula. "My women are following suit, the children." Although this wedding may not obtain the 17.a million fans who updated to ABC once the Bachelorette's Trista Rehn get married Ryan Sutter in 2003 (beating that week's Monday Evening Football game by two million audiences), reality TV has turned into a key tool for that billion-dollar wedding industry. Suppliers rarely get the mass publicity a Kardashian wedding can offer, states celebrity event producer Tony Schubert, a lot of offer free goods. Because Kim is seen among couples-to-be and bridal hopefuls like a tastemaker, connection to her is priceless. Just one tweet in the star could possibly get a brandname's title before nearly 9 million fans (dress designer Vera Wang has already been receiving frequent mentions), in comparison towards the 200,000 circulation of the wedding magazine like Brides. VIDEO: Kim Kardashian Fetes Engagement With Bridal Shower and Bachelorette Party Schubert states a marriage of the scale could easily cost $500,000-plus, but not simply will the household not spend some money, it'll likely earn money. Additionally to E! costs and gratis goods, Jenner -- the mastermind behind reality TV's $sixty five million 2010 salary and point person on all Kardashian-related deals -- discussed an astonishing $1.5 million weekly magazine deal for exclusive photos, based on associates. Even though E! doesn't get a cut, associates the network could earn nearly $13 million in ad revenue (the typical $5,000 ad place minute rates are likely to run upward of $100,000). How come all of this work? "The Kardashians represent a brand new kind of exotic subculture," states Truth Talking to's Linda Ong. "Today, when many people are just attempting to survive, seeing them thrive provides for us all hope." VIDEO: Kim Kardashian Discloses 'Ultimate Dream' Project' THE INVITATION Luxury invitationers Lehr & Black designed very-adorned black-and-whitened engraved gatefold invites for that affair (additionally they produced invites for Khloe's 2009 wedding to Odom). Having a 500-person guest list, Event Eleven's Schubert estimations the designer invites cost more than $10,000 to produce, but it's thought that in return for publicity, the organization comped the bride to be the stationery. THE FACELIFT In June, the 55-year-old mother of six went underneath the knife of Beverly Hillsides cosmetic surgeon Garth Fisher. It's uncertain just how much Jenner taken care of the process, but his "pinnacle" facelifts start at $50,000. She's freely talked about it, leading someone to believe publicity in return for goods could participate the offer. STORY: Kim Kardashian Preps for TV Wedding With Workout, Massage, Chiropractic specialist THE BACHELORETTE PARTY On the top from the seven-figure deal she inked late this past year with Tao nightclub for a number of 2011 hosting gigs at her favorite Vegas haunt, Kim discussed another $50,000 to host her bachelorette party there. After coming with family and buddies about the Palazzo hotel's private jet, the bride to be-to-be settled in to the $2,000-a-evening penthouse thanks to your accommodation. The Wedding Cake On This summer 29, the pair went cake tasting at Hansen's Cakes in La (they apparently wish to re-produce the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's royal cake). While luxury wedding cakes average about $6,000, the insider states the bakery is gifting it towards the couple. "They're getting free publicity," states Schubert. "They are able to get this to cake in 72 hours and move onto the following.Inch STORY: Annoying Superstar Voices Could Be Moderate on television With New Invention The Gown Legendary designer Vera Wang produced a $20,000-plus custom wedding dress for Kim that's receiving towards the bride-to-be together with extensive fixtures and modifications. THE RING The 20.5-carat stunner continues to be believed to possess a $two million cost, but a resource near to the family states that, like Khloe's 9-carat gemstone, the Lorraine Schwartz bauble was handed towards the couple for a small fraction of the price. VIDEO: Kim Kardashian Fetes Engagement With Bridal Shower and Bachelorette Party The Television DEAL With three shows already on E!, the Kardashian franchise is growing to incorporate both-part wedding special (the household presently splits a five-figure salary per episode). Although direct earnings in the shows is often the least lucrative slice from the Kardashian empire, they provide an unequalled platform for that brand. THE ENTERTAINMENT Based on an insider, Jenner is wishing to land a star artist like Christina Aguilera or Jennifer Lopez to serenade the bride and groom in the reception. While private concerts from all of these pop divas can start $a million, Jenner is reluctant to provide compensation. SOMETHING Lent Three several weeks might appear just like a short engagement, but in comparison with Khloe's nine-day engagement to Odom, 3 months appears just like a lifetime. In nothing more than per week before Khloe's wedding on Sept. 27, 2009, the Kardashians could secure exactly the same luxury suppliers (together with a custom Vera Wang) they're using for Kim and Humphries' large day along with a $300,000 cope with OK! Magazine for exclusive photos. Both-hour wedding special for Khloe and Odom, which broadcast as Maintaining Using the Kardashians' season-four premiere on November. 8, 2009, averaged an archive-breaking 3.two million audiences and drawn in $15,000 per 30-second ad place. Related Subjects Kim Kardashian Kris Jenner E!

SAG Report: People, See Clearly & Be sad

How much of an ignoble finish to some once great union. It has been 24 months because the Screen Stars Guild transformed leaders. So membership shouldlook for them for that current sad condition of earnings, as proven through the just launched contractreport evaluating 2010 revenue to previous years.It's really no surprise to thesmall screencommunity that SAG's TV earnings stepped -8.2% overall this year in comparison to 2009 because the current SAG leadership didn't do anything previously 2 yrs to prevent the television galleries and networksfrom using any excuse to transition from SAG to AFTRA on aircraft pilots and new shows. (Incredibly SAG leaders never uttered a peep to membership when AFTRA this year centered the broadcast development season byseizing about 90% from the aircraft pilots.) It is also shocking that Interactive earnings dove -31% total showing that SAG continues to be woefullyinadequate inthis growing biz. Also disastrous was the -21% lack of revenue for background stars both in the theatrical and TV industries.Overall theatrical for stars increased +5.7%(attributable mainly to recovery in the writer's strike) and overall commercial rose +12.7%.By having an election approaching, SAG membership would prosper toquestioncurrent SAG leaders and request when they permitted this to occur to be able to ensure a merger with AFTRA. Here's the chart:

Bravo Takes The Real Housewives on Tour

The Real Housewives of New York City Can't get enough of Bravo's The Real Housewives franchise? Now you can catch a live tour! Bravo announced the tour on Monday, saying the women will discuss the most-talked about moments from their season, reveal cast secrets and answer audience questions,. The series will begin Saturday, Oct. 1, in Atlantic City, N.J., and make stops near Chicago and in Atlanta. Are The Real Housewives on your Watchlist? Add them and your other favorites now and never miss an episode "Bravo viewers like to truly engage in the shows they are passionate about," Ellen Stone, Bravo's senior vice president of marketing, said, adding that the tour will "give our fans a unique, hands-on experience with their favorite cast members across franchises that they can't experience anywhere else." The participants, dates and locations: Caesars Circus Maximus Theater on Oct. 1 in Atlantic City, N.J.Caroline Manzo- The Real Housewives of New JerseyLuAnn de Lesseps- The Real Housewives of New York CityKyle Richards- The Real Housewives of Beverly HillsVicki Gunvalson- The Real Housewives of Orange County The Venue at Horseshoe Casino on Oct. 8 in Hammond, Ind. (outside Chicago)Sonja Morgan- The Real Housewives of New York CityGretchen Rossi - The Real Housewives of Orange CountyLisa Vanderpump- The Real Housewives of Beverly HillsPhaedra Parks- The Real Housewives of Atlanta Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre on Oct. 15 in Atlanta, Ga. Nene Leakes- The Real Housewives of AtlantaJill Zarin- The Real Housewives of New York CityMelissa Gorga - The Real Housewives of New JerseyMarysol Patton- The Real Housewives of Miami Will you see the Housewives on stage?

RATINGS RAT RACE: Most Originals Inch Up

Reality series got a ratings bump across the board last night. Fox's So You Think You Can Dance Top 4 performance show (1.9/6 in 18-49) was up 6% from last week and gave Fox a nightly win in 18-49. CBS' Big Brother (2.7/9) was up 8% and ranked as the top program of the night, leading CBS to a close second-place finish for the night in 18-49 (1.8/5) and a win in total viewers (6.7 million) despite featuring repeats in two of three hours of primetime. NBC's Minute to Win It (1.2/4) was up 9% andLove In the Wild (1/5/4) was up 7%, while the show they flanked, veteran America's Got Talent (2.4/7), was even with its fast national result last week, down a tenth from the final. (It is expected to rise again in the finals.) Univision had a strong night with the USA-Mexico soccer game, finishing tied with NBC for third place in 18-49 (1.7/5).

TCA: Kevin Williamson States 'Secret Circle' And 'Vampire Diaries' Will not Mix Over

Diane Haithmanis adding to Deadline's coverage of TCA. Based on executive producer Kevin Williamson, there will not be any guest crossover, or story crossover, between your CWs The Vampire Journals and also the network's newseries The Key Circle, making its debut Sept. 15. Despite the fact that both series derive from supernatural book series through the same teen-appeal author, L.J. Cruz, Williamson told a TCA audience today that the effort has been designed to keep your shows separate. The witch mythology of Secret Circle and also the vampire-werewolf-periodic witch mythology of Vampire Journals, he stated, just dont mix. I dont think youll observe that crossover, he stated. That will type of limit us. You want to create our very own story. And it is not nearly the mythology. Secret Circle is shot around Vancouver, B.C. and Williamson was requested whether may possibly not happen to be simpler, financially and physically, to shoot the brand new show on location in or near Atlanta, where Vampire Journals is shot, Williamson stated: I dont want the show to appear like Vampire Journals. (He acknowledged following the session that Vancouver listed out over another locations. It made sense financially, aesthetically. Williamson -- co-executive creating Secret Circles with Andrew Burns (Imaginary Bitches), Leslie Morgenstein (The Vampire Journals, Gossip Girl) and Gina Girolamo -- stated following a panel that dealing with a brand new show won't affect his participation in Vampire Journals as co-showrunner with longtime collaborator Julie Plec. We call one another every evening and cry for 2 hrs and evaluate which would do. Were became a member of in the stylish. He stated he's attempted to speak Plec into presuming creative responsibilities for that new show but to date she's opposed. Williamson -- who made an appearance about the panel with co-executives Girolamo and Burns, in addition to star Britt Robertson along with other cast people -- also stated that the field of miracle gives itself to some slightly lighter tone compared to vampire scene. Its a genuine reaction around the world around them, they're all of a sudden causeing this to be miracle. There's a particular snark to that particular, he stated. Although not too light, a la Sabrina the Teenage Witch: Its very dark, although not very difficult-edge ripping hearts out and slicing people open like Vampire Journals," he stated. Were just challenged in regards to what can ghouls do? Yes, you will see humor and frightening witchy-woo. As produce other CW panelists today, Williamson challenged the idea that either show will probably be just for your network's coveted 18-34 demographic, which would be to state that not everything occur in senior high school corridors. The vampires of the underworld are 164 years of age, he highlights. And things i love (concerning the Secret Circle) is it is multigenerational, its not only a teen show. Its an extremely adult show, and it'sgoing to obtain very adult, extremely fast. Were going more for the reason that direction.