Former Rachael Ray Employee Trims Fat, Loses Job
A former employee of Rachael Ray’s daytime talk show is suing the CBS network for $1 million, saying he was discriminated against for trimming the fat out of his dietall of it.
Aaron Ferguson, an accountant who has suffered anorexia for six years, claims he was forced out of his job because of his eating disorder.
According to papers filed in Manhattan’s State Supreme Court, Ferguson says his supervisor repeatedly exhibited “hostile behavior” and made “vile,” discriminatory and hurtful comments, including, “Anorexics are sick in the head,” and, “Anorexics should not be able to work.”
After making multiple complaints about his supervisor, Ferguson says he was forced out of his job. He was employed July through October 2007.
Rachael Ray was not named in the lawsuit.
Hawkeye and Trapper, together again
A lot of M*A*S*H fans were upset when Wayne Rogers left his role of Trapper John on the CBS show. Many thought he wouldn’t have the success he had on the show and others just missed the character (he was replaced by Mike Farrell’s B.J. Hunnicutt). He went on to many guest roles and a short-lived, 1976 private eye series I liked, City of Angels. But he actually made most of his money over the past 30 years from smart financial investments. So much so that he’s now a commentator on the FOX Business Network. His recent guest was his former co-star Alan Alda.
The two talk about several things in the first video, including Alda’s new movie (Diminished Capacity), memory loss, Alda’s award nominations, and their days on M*A*S*H. In the second video, Alda sticks around for a discussion with an expert on shows that are actually good for you, and two of those shows are shows that Alda starred in (M*A*S*H and The West Wing).
[via Tube Talk]
NBC is now telling you to “chime in”
The concept of network slogans are coming back. NBC has started a new campaign with little advance fanfare asking viewers to “Chime In” to the network. This follows a similar recent strategic move by ABC when they asked viewers to “Start Here”.
In the age of viral marketing, there has been little evidence of this move by NBC. It is not on NBC website nor are there any major campaigns promoting it.
The entire “network slogan” concept was abandoned by the networks in the 1990s. The last notable slogan used was ABC’s laughable “TV Is Good” which was abandoned in 1997. Other historical slogans include Fox’s “Just One Fox” and CBS’ “The Address Is CBS” and “It’s All Here”.
This is a case of networks trying anything to get back sagging ratings (particularly NBC, which is number four right now). What exactly does “chime in” mean anyway? Is it an attempt by NBC to make the network programming more user-interactive? Will there be telephone hotlines and Internet polls?
Could Criminal Minds be the next CSI?
After the success of the CSI franchise, it’s only natural that CBS would look at other shows on its lineup for spinoff possibilities. Oddly enough, the lucky show isn’t World’s Greatest Dog, but Criminal Minds. According to Executive Producer Ed Bernero, talks between CBS and ABC studios, who produces Minds, are currently underway, saying, “It’s safe to say there will be something soon.”
Because the Criminal Minds spinoff is still in the discussion phase, there’s no news on exactly what the new show will entail. But, since there are obviously many more specialties within the FBI besides criminal profiling, chances are the new series will focus on one of those. As is the case with most spinoffs nowadays, the new series will probably be introduced via a “backdoor pilot” in an upcoming Criminal Minds episode.
As for whether or not any current castmembers will be spun off, Bernero basically shoots down the idea while technically leaving the door open. He says that while he doesn’t think that will happen, “it’s possible characters could be on both shows… All options are open.”
So there you have it. CBS may or may not be doing a Criminal Minds spinoff, which may or may not deal with a different FBI specialty, which may or may not include current cast members. Do those of you who watch Criminal Minds think a spinoff is a good idea? Do we really have another CSI on our hands, or is the Criminal Minds franchise destined for the trash heap?