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16 articles from 2008

8 July 2008 12:15 PM, PDT | From wenn.com | See recent WENN news

The Apprentice producer Mark Burnett is facing legal action from his former business partner in a row over unpaid profits of more than $70 million (GBP35 million).

The two-times Emmy winner, who is also the brains behind reality TV show Survivor, is accused of cheating Conrad Riggs out of profits from the programmes they pitched together to network bosses.

Riggs, who worked for Walt Disney Co., filed the suit in Los Angeles County Superior Court on Monday.

According to the legal papers, the pair produced more than 12 TV projects together, but their business relationship went sour when Burnett reneged on a long-standing agreement, which stated Riggs would receive 10 per cent of the 38-year-old's profits.

Riggs claims his advice to Burnett regarding the format of Survivor may have played a big part in helping to sell the desert island show to various networks.

The lawsuit reads, "(Riggs) encouraged Burnett to pitch 'Survivor' as if he were telling a story around a campfire - in a way that would allow network executives to visualize the feel and attraction of the show."

Riggs claims the payments stopped in February 2007 and that he was evicted from Burnett's company offices earlier this year.

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8 July 2008 10:35 AM, PDT | From Studio Briefing | See recent Studio Briefing news

Conrad Riggs has filed a $70-million lawsuit against his former partner and best friend Mark Burnett alleging that Burnett cheated him out of revenues from projects that the two jointly developed, including Survivor and The Apprentice. The suit contends that Riggs has received no payments since February 2007. Riggs' attorney, Bart Williams told today's (Tuesday) Los Angeles Times, ""We think that cutting Conrad out of the day-to-day operations and not paying him were both designed to put maximum pressure on him to give up his rights in the enterprise, and that's something that Conrad simply won't do."

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8 July 2008 12:21 AM, PDT | From wenn.com | See recent WENN news

British TV producer Mark Burnett has been accused of failing to pay his former business partner the profits he made through TV game show Survivor.

Conrad Riggs claims he helped Burnett manage his expanding business and negotiate deals with U.S. TV networks.

He also claims Burnett - who introduced Survivor and The Apprentice to the U.S. - agreed to pay him 10 per cent of all profits.

In a lawsuit filed at Los Angeles County Superior Court on Monday, Riggs claims he is entitled to $5 million (GBP2.5 million), reports TMZ.com.

A spokesman for Burnett was unavailable for comment.

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27 June 2008 10:32 AM, PDT | From Studio Briefing | See recent Studio Briefing news

Although other networks may have decided on staggered roll-outs of their shows for the fall season, CBS is planning a traditional late-September launch, beginning Sept. 22 (Survivor: Gabon will debut four days earlier, in keeping with the network's previous pattern of launching the Survivor series before the official start of the season.) Since a vice-presidential debate is scheduled for Oct. 2 and a presidential faceoff on Sept. 26, a few season debuts set for those dates are being postponed until the following week. Most industry observers believe that despite the early commencement of production on shows for next season, the season would likely be delayed in the event of an actors' strike.

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29 April 2008 7:15 AM, PDT | From PEOPLE.com | See recent PEOPLE.com news

Elisabeth Hasselbeck and her Nfl hubby stepped out together on the pink carpet at the N.Y.C. premiere of Made of Honor Monday night. "It's a date-night for us tonight," a pink-clad Hasselbeck told People, posing proudly next to her color-coordinated husband Tim. But while her own romance is still going strong, the View star offered words for comfort to her former co-host, Star Jones, who recently filed for divorce from her husband Al Reynolds. "I'm thinking of her," Hasselbeck said. The 30-year-old former Survivor star – who makes a cameo in the new Patrick Dempsey comedy – also opened up

Paul Chi and Kate Stroup

26 March 2008 9:04 AM, PDT | From buddytv.com | See recent BuddyTV news

Amid Kathleen Sleckman's disgraceful departure from Survivor.aspx" >Survivor: Micronesia last week, the most important consequence of the entire episode was overlooked: with Kathleen gone, the Fans no longer retain the power in the Airai tribe.  Before Kathy left, the Fans held a 4-3 advantage on the Favorites, and could have picked off whoever they pleased at the next tribal council.  Now that the tribe is evenly split, it's all up in the air.  If they go to tribal council before the merge (which isn't a sure thing), the vote will be an intriguing one.  But, considering what I've seen thus far from Survivor: Micronesia, I have to place my faith in the Favorites.  These Airai rankings could be two separate lists, really – Airai Fans and Airai Favorites. 

#6 - Natalie Bolton

Natalie still hasn't received enough screen time to register with me, so I feel bad about placing her last.

BuddyTV

25 March 2008 2:57 AM, PDT | From buddytv.com | See recent BuddyTV news

Two weeks in a row, two castaways have left Survivor.aspx" >Survivor: Micronesia.  That has to be a a record: four contestants gone in two episodes.  The numbers have quickly dwindled on both tribes, with the Fans taking most of the hits.  As it stands now, overall, the Favorites outnumber the Fans 7 to 4.  With the merge rapidly approaching, this advantage is an important one.  On Malakal, only one fan remains.  And he makes his living as an ice cream scooper.  I wouldn't be too frightened if I were the Favorites.  Anyways, as I'm wont to feel at this point in the Survivor season, I can't wait for the merge to happen, because that's when the real game will start and the Favorites will begin to battle it out with each other.  Until then, here's a look at Malakal's pecking order, according to a Survivor expert: me. 

#5 – Erik Reichenbach

For some reason,

BuddyTV

21 March 2008 8:55 AM, PDT | From buddytv.com | See recent BuddyTV news

If I'm correctly gaging the Big Brother fan base (and I think I am), Big Brother 9 has been something of a disappointment.  These things happen, and I don't blame CBS or Allison Grodner.  This season was something of a throw-away from the start, rushed into production thanks to the writers' strike.  Since Big Brother was playing with house money (sort of), they decided to experiment with the couples twist.  I, like many out there, thought the partners idea was a sound one.  Unfortunately, it really mucked up the game play and didn't allow for the usual strategy that Big Brother house guests are used to.  Reality show contestants generally base their game play (and overall behavior) on what they've seen on previous seasons.  Just look at Survivor – every staple of game play was set during the show's first season.  Without history to look back on and facing an entirely different set of rules,

BuddyTV

21 March 2008 6:20 AM, PDT | From buddytv.com | See recent BuddyTV news

If I'm correctly gaging the Big Brother fan base (and I think I am), Big Brother 9 has been something of a disappointment.  These things happen, and I don't blame CBS or Allison Grodner.  This season was something of a throw-away from the start, rushed into production thanks to the writers' strike.  Since Big Brother was playing with house money (sort of), they decided to experiment with the couples twist.  I, like many out there, thought the partners idea was a sound one.  Unfortunately, it really mucked up the game play and didn't allow for the usual strategy that Big Brother house guests are used to.  Reality show contestants generally base their game play (and overall behavior) on what they've seen on previous seasons.  Just look at Survivor – every staple of game play was set during the show's first season.  Without history to look back on and facing an entirely different set of rules,

BuddyTV

20 March 2008 4:31 AM, PDT | From buddytv.com | See recent BuddyTV news

Kathleen Sleckman, one of the supposed super-fans from Survivor.aspx" >Survivor: Micronesia, up and quit the game on Survivor last night.  I can't remember the last time this happened (Oh, wait – it was the first episode of this season with Jonny Fairplay), but whenever it does I get very angry.  I'm sick and tired of Survivor contestants whining about how hard it is out there.  They've seen the show, they know the elements are difficult and they know that at times it will be miserable.  I find it exceedingly hard to believe that the conditions on Survivor came as a surprise to someone like Kathleen.  Her quitting is doubly offensive when you consider the agony of Jonathan Penner just one week ago, who fought and did everything he could to try and stay in the game, yet had to leave for medical reasons.  There are thousands of people out

BuddyTV

18 March 2008 9:36 AM, PDT | From buddytv.com | See recent BuddyTV news

I hate it when people get injured on Survivor.aspx" >Survivor.  Ever since front-runner (and all around bad ass) Michael passed out into the fire on Survivor: Australia and burned his hands, the out-of-nowhere injury has been my least favorite inevitability of Survivor.  Jonathan Penner's leg injury that forced him off the show last week is not only a massive disappointment for Jonathan himself, it severely alters the course of the rest of the season.  Airai, previously an even split between Fans and Favorites, is now under the control of the four Fans.  Last week, I thought the Favorites would dominate the rest of the game – the Fans of Airai can stop that from happening. 

#7 - Eliza Orlins

Here's my rationale, both for Eliza and the rest of the rankings: The Fans will be smart enough to keep their numbers and, even though the next time they go

BuddyTV

17 March 2008 8:09 AM, PDT | From buddytv.com | See recent BuddyTV news

Now that Chet is gone, maybe Malakal can win an immunity challenge.  It's not impossible.  The tribe is still relatively weak, with only one truly strong member in Ozzy, though I wouldn't call Amanda, Cirie and Ami dead weight.  We're entering the traditional mid-season Survivor.aspx" >Survivor lull.  On Survivor, it always seems like there comes a time when the the next couple of weeks are easily predictable – I think we're going to limp into the merge on Survivor: Micronesia.  Once we get to the merge, however, things should get much better.  Having the Favorites duke it out will be fun.  So, back to ranking the Malakal tribe.  The list is a pretty static one, similar to last week's, but with a couple of minor changes. 

#6 – Erik Reichenbach

Erik is the weakest player left in the tribe, both physically and mentally.  He will almost certainly be the next castaway voted off.

BuddyTV

14 March 2008 6:16 AM, PDT | From buddytv.com | See recent BuddyTV news

Chet Welch was voted off of Survivor.aspx" >Survivor: Micronesia last night.  This was way overdue.  Chet was another in a long line of older Survivor castaways who brought absolutely nothing to the table.  He was a wet rag, a worthless pile of goo who forced others to change the way they played the game of Survivor, created unfortunate alliances and was the catalyst in three separate surprise eliminations.  It makes me sick that Chet outlasted as many castaways as he did on this season of Survivor.  It didn't have to be this way.  The blame falls squarely on one place and one place only – the CBS/Survivor casting department.

I understand the need to give the older set a chance to compete on Survivor.  That's fine. I also understand the desire to diversify the competition and cast openly gay contestants.  This is also fine.  But, that doesn't mean

BuddyTV

12 March 2008 12:08 AM, PDT | From wenn.com | See recent WENN news

Latest: American reality TV star Jon Dalton has been ordered to provide a court with more evidence over his alleged fight with former child star Danny Bonaduce before he can sue the producers of an awards show.

Dalton - aka Jonny Fairplay - is attempting to sue TV network Fox for negligence and battery after Bonaduce allegedly threw the former Survivor star over his shoulders onstage at the Fox Reality Channel Really Awards in October.

But Superior Court Judge Michael C. Solner told Dalton at a hearing on Tuesday: "I think more facts should be set forth."

Solner gave the 34-year-old 20 days to amend his complaint to explain why the show's producers were negligent and involved in the alleged battery.

Fox's lawyer Vicki Greco insist Bonaduce's actions were unplanned and the companies were not responsible for the incident.

The next hearing is scheduled for May 12.

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11 March 2008 8:14 AM, PDT | From buddytv.com | See recent BuddyTV news

Joel Anderson became a victim of his own aggressive game play last week on Survivor.aspx" >Survivor: Micronesia.  He was blind-sided at tribal council (mostly thanks to Cirie), and it made me happy.  His over-playing earlier in the season, in which he opted to keep Chet over better players like Mikey Bortone and Mary Sartain, came back to bite right when he finally targeted Chet.  Unfortunately for Malakal, this will severely weaken their tribe in future challenges.  Chet, one would assume, is the next to go from Malakal, but that's been the assumption for a few weeks and the feeble pageant coach is still (kind of) alive.  If Malakal continues to lose immunity challenges, the four favorites will be able to simply pick off the three remaining fans.  Ozzy, with his hidden immunity idol and showmance Amanda in tow, is in good shape. 

#7 - Chet Welch

I'm surprised that

BuddyTV

7 March 2008 1:37 AM, PST | From buddytv.com | See recent BuddyTV news

Did I just watch that correctly?  Did the Fans make the same mistake two episodes in a row?  Have they ever seen Survivor.aspx">Survivor played before?  After five episodes, I suspect that CBS cleverly cast second-rate castaways as the Fans, in order to make the Favorites look good.  From the second this season was concocted by Mark Burnett and the Survivor team, they knew they were going to feature the returning Favorites and not the new Fans.  They did this by casting weaker players with weaker intellect and less personality on the Fans side, therefore giving the Favorites the upper hand and giving the editors an excuse to steal screen time away from the Fans.  That's fine, though – I don't care if Survivor: Micronesia is unfair, so long as us viewers get to spend more time with the Favorites.  But, just for fun, let's examine just how unfair

BuddyTV

16 articles from 2008