NBC Win$ Battle to Chat Up Paris

(NEWSER) - Nobody else wanted her. So Larry King got the honor of being the first to interview Paris Hilton following her release from jail next week. After being spurned by the three major networks who were asked for large sums of money for the interview, Hilton finally got a deal done with King. Total price: $0. More»

Zucker trumpets new model; Moonves aims for hit shows

(NEWSER) - America’s oldest TV broadcasters see very different roads ahead as they navigate today’s world of splintering audiences, Advertising Age reports. NBC is carving a new path, dropping five hours of potential scripted shows a week for a nightly Jay Leno show, and banking on its cable channels. CBS, meanwhile, is committed to big broadcast hits to keep viewers watching. More»

Whoopi Goldberg and Sherri Shepherd get in on the girltalk

(NEWSER) - Whoopi Goldberg and comedian Sherri Shepherd will be adding their views to daytime television this fall. "The View” will announce the new additions next week, the LA Times reports, two months after Rosie O’Donnell’s acrimonious departure. More»

Network renegs on Paris interview; Walters won't do it for free

(NEWSER) - Paris Hilton got jilted by NBC yesterday, the New York Post reports. The peacock network reneged on its reported $1-million offer for her first apres-jail interview after executives got cold feet. Then they decided they didn't even want the "Today" show interview for free. And none of the other networks would touch the heiress on the rebound. More»

Mr. LeAnn Rimes is out of a job ... and the oh-so-sexy Brian Williams swoops in

(NEWSER) - Who do you find sexier: Playboy bunnies or Brian Williams? If you went with the former you're out of luck, because NBC's 10pm EDT Monday time slot is about to be filled by the latter. The Playboy Club has officially become the first cancellation of the fall season. A slim three episodes aired, the last of which drew a paltry 3.5 million viewers. Rock Center will air in its place, and no, that's not a show about rock-hard bodies. The Williams-helmed newsmagazine will debut on Halloween night, and will feature Harry Smith and Kate Snow as correspondents, along with Meredith Vieira, Matt Lauer, and Ann Curry. Prime Suspect reruns will air in the meantime, notes the AP . More»