MTV premieres its latest series The Paper from MTV News & Docs April 14 at 1030p. The Paper is about the student-run newspaper The Circuit at Cypress Bay High School in Weston, FL.

NBC moved up the premiere date for its talent competition show America's Got Talent to June 17 at 9p. Two more two-hour episodes will air June 24 and July 1 at 9p, followed by hour-long episodes starting July 8. The series is from FremantleMedia North American and SYCO Television.

Fans of the daytime drama Passions will have the chance to buy props, clothing, furniture and more used on the Universal Media Studios' soap at a live auction April 5 and 6. NBC Universal Television DVD, Music and Consumer Products Group is teaming with Premiere Props for this two-day public estate sale which consists of several thousands of Passions items. The sale will be at the CBS Radford studio lot in Studio City, CA this Saturday and Sunday from 8a to 4p PST. Passions, currently airing on DIRECTV, will end this August after nine years. 

MTV's Randy Jackson Presents: America's Best Dance Crew finale last Thursday posted a 4.34 A12-34 rating and attracted 7.9 million total viewers.

SOAPnet unveils a new original series Relative Madness on May 8 at 11p, with an episode just prior to Mother's Day called "Mama Drama." The six-part series of one-hour specials counts down the top 25 TV and celebrity family stories, combining accounts of real-life celebrities with fictional characters from primetime and daytime. The series concludes the week of Father's Day with "Father Knows Less." SOAPnet also purchased five new movies from Disney ABC Domestic Television which will air in its Sunday night movie franchise, SNM. The new movies begin April 6 at 10p.

Chicago's WBBM-TV laid off staffers and did not renew other contracts yesterday, reported Crain's. A spokesperson indicated the number of those laid off equals a "single-digit percentage" of the approximately 200 total staff. A few of the on-air staff whose contracts were not renewed include anchor Diann Burns, sports reporter Mark Malone and reporter Mary Ann Childers.

Starz Entertainment launched a $25 million brand and marketing campaign that includes a new logo, new on-air branding and advertising integrating on-air and online around the moniker "Are You Ready?" This branding initiative is for the six standard definition Starz channels as well as the four HD channels. The campaign will be seen on-air, through trade marketing, national broadcast, cable television and online.

Citadel Broadcasting Corporation and Katz Media Group have expanded their working arrangement as Katz Radio Group will now represent 22 additional Citadel-owned stations in nine markets. Under this agreement, Katz Radio Group, with its three separate companies comprised of Eastman Radio, Christal Radio and Katz Radio, will represent all Citadel markets which include 223 stations in more than 50 markets.

Adult Swim will offer its client Scion an exclusive second season sponsorship opportunity in the form of a mock commercial which will be embedded in the middle of each Assy McGee episode. Season two of the original animated series about a tough-as-nails cop with a bad attitude, debuts April 6 at 1230a.

Fuse launches two new series in mid-April:

• NOFX: Backstage Passport – debuts April 15 at 10p. This eight-episode 30m program follows the punk rock band NOFX during their world tour.
• The Brooklyn Way – opens April 17 at 1030p. In six half-hour episodes, this documentary series covers The Lordz, a New York hip hop/punk band as they try for stardom.

Last year we launched Cynopsis Digital, the year before the Cynopsis Daily Video, the year before Cynopsis audio podcast, and the year before that Cynopsis International.  It seems it has become something of a trend for us to launch something new each and every year, and why should this year be anything different?  Announcing Cynopsis Media: Top Tier, our newest Executive Search Division.  An extension of our well known Classifieds section, Top Tier will use our extensive reach to help locate and screen the best person for the executive job you are looking to fill.  Whether you're looking for a new hire, or a change of scenery yourself, let us know, we can help.

Casting Call: ABC is casting in the tri-state New York area for Big Show a new reality competition series with a take-home prize of $250,000. The producers are looking for people who have big personalities, an adventurous nature and pride for their hometown. Applicants must be 21 years old and a U.S. resident. If interested, send an email to and include full name, telephone number, contact information, age, where you live, a recent photo, a list of hobbies and why you would be great on the show. Participants must also be available to audition in New York City two weeks from now.

Cindy Peltier joined Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. as Senior Director/Promotions and Marketing with Turner Entertainment Ad Sales and Marketing. Cindy will develop, supervise and implement promotions for the company with movie studios and West Coast-based clients. She will also help with new business development and to boost current client relationships. Based in Los Angeles, Cindy will report to Katherine Johnson, SVP/Turner Entertainment Promotions and Marketing.

Scripps Networks announced several new staff appointments:

• Freddy James was added as VP/Site Director of HGTV.com. Freddy moves to this position from DIY Network where he was VP/Programming and in his new role will develop and execute interactive programming strategy for HGTV.com.
• Andy Singer takes on the role of VP/Programming for DIY Network to manage all programming, production and scheduling. He joins from HGTV where he served as VP/Original Programming.
• Laura Sillars was upgraded to VP/Original Programming at HGTV. Based in Knoxville, Laura will head the original programming team and at the same time will continue to manage specific programs.

Vickie Burns was appointed VP/News and Content for WNBC/New York starting immediately. Vickie will manage the station's news efforts and the distribution of content across multiple platforms. Vickie comes to WNBC from WRC, the NBC O&O in Washington, D.C. where she held the position of VP/News since September 2003.

Casey Patterson takes on the new position as SVP/Event Production and Talent Development for Spike TV and TV Land. Casey will handle the creation and implementation of event programming and talent-led content for both networks in addition to managing talent development. Casey will also nurture relationships with major Hollywood film studios on behalf of both networks, working beside each network's national ad sales and marketing groups.

Javelin Direct, an Omnicom integrated marketing agency, tapped Richard Fisher as Associate Creative Director to lead the health care creative team. Based in New York, Richard will report to Joel Sobelson, VP/Group Creative Director.

Former Univision EVP/Sales, Judy Kenny is the new EVP/Sales for MyNetworkTV starting immediately.  Based in New York, Judy will lead on all sales efforts and report to Greg Meidel, President.

SJL Broadcast Management Corp. advanced Brian M. Lilly to President/CEO and Wade O''Hagan to VP/CFO.