Cynopsis

02.23.09

Good morning. It’s Monday, February 23, 2009, and this is your first early morning briefing. 

Tonight’s Finales:
Discovery Channel: Man vs. Wild at 9p
TNT: The Closer at 9p
ABC: True Beauty at 10p

And the Oscars go to:

Best Picture: Slumdog Millionaire / Fox Searchlight

Best Director: Danny Boyle / Slumdog Millionaire

Outstanding Performance by an Actor: Sean Penn / Milk

Outstanding Performance by an Actress: Kate Winslet / The Reader

Outstanding Performance by an Supporting Actor: Heath Ledger / The Dark Knight

Outstanding Performance by an Supporting Actress: Penelope Cruz / Vicky Cristina Barcelona

Cynopsis favorites for the night go to —

Hugh Jackman’s budget cut version of the big Opening Number

Favorites lines include:  “It’s not easy being a nun”; “Seymour Phillip Hoffman”; “This is no shampoo bottle”; “You commie homo-loving sons of guns”

Favorite Moments include:  Announcing the Nominations for Supporting Actress and Actor and Best Actor and Actress, Steve Martin/Tina Fey, Ben Stiller, Return of the Musical, Philippe Petit, Dad! Whistle something so I’ll know you’re there!

All in all, this was the most entertaining – and fun – award show in memory.  

Over the weekend, the Screen Actors Guild National Board of Directors with a vote of 73% to 27%, SAG voted against the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers’ “last, best and final offer dated February 19, 2009.” SAG’s Board admitted they entered the negotiations last week with AMPTP by “sending an unmistakably clear message that we were ready to make a deal” and basing negotiations on the terms of the previous contract offer from AMPTP dated June 30, 2008. According to SAG, the AMPTP brought in a last-minute, surprise by adding a new term of agreement extending the contract to 2012, or in other words, the new contract would take effect on the date of ratification and not retroactively from the previous June 30, 2008 contract date. SAG’s Board described the new term of agreement as “regressive and damaging and clearly signals the employers’ unwillingness to agree to the deal they established with other entertainment unions.” SAG further stated it intends to “successfully complete these negotiations and get the industry back to work as soon as possible. The AMPTP has clearly stated their need and desire for financial certainty and industry peace. This new proposal does the exact opposite and will only result in constant negotiating cycles and continued labor unrest.”

The AMPTP sent forth this statement following SAG’s statement:

“The producers’ offer is strong and fair — and has been judged to be strong and fair by all of Hollywood’s other major guilds and unions. We have kept our offer on the table — and even enhanced it — despite the historically unprecedented economic crisis that has clobbered our nation and our industry. The producers have always sought a full three-year deal with SAG, just as we negotiated with all the other unions and guilds, and have offered SAG a way to achieve an earlier expiration date without contributing to further labor uncertainty. We simply cannot offer SAG a better deal than the rest of the industry achieved under far better economic conditions than those now confronting our industry.”

Time Warner Inc. and Time Warner Cable Inc. are parting ways as Time Warner elected to spin-off a pro rata dividend of all TWC common stock it held to Time Warner stockholders. The two entities expect the separation will be finalized by the end of this current quarter. 

NBC is selling individual thirty-second commercials in the finale episode of ER at a reported $425,000 each, cites B&C. The two-hour final episode, slated for April 2 at 9p, reunites several former cast members including George Clooney, Noah Wyle and Anthony Edwards and will be preceded by a 60m retrospective of the 15-year old series. Based on information obtained from TNS Media Intelligence, thirty-second spots in this season’s ER have been priced at $135,000 each.

MIP TV Program Call: If your company will be attending and showcasing programming at MIP TV 2009 in Cannes, France, at the end of next month, Cynopsis will send out a special MIP TV Shopping Guide edition the Wednesday before the conference. To have your programming included, please send only the following info for your top 5 shows: title, availability date, number of episodes, length, type (i.e., movie, series, special, etc.), genre, your terms (barter, cash, etc.) and names and contact info of those attending from your company. If your company is interested in being included in this free guide, please send the details to
by Friday, March 20, 2009.

Top 10 Weekend Box Office Estimates: February 20-22, 2009
Tyler Perry’s Madea Goes to Jail (Lionsgate)    $41.1 million – opening weekend
Taken (20^th Century Fox)                            $11.4 million – 4 wk total $95.2m
Coraline (Focus Features)                            $11.0 million – 3 wk total $53.4m
He’s Just Not That Into You (Warner Bros.)    $8.5 million – 3 wk total $70.1m
Slumdog Millionaire (Fox Searchlight)             $8.1 million – 15 wk total $98.0m
Friday the 13^th (Warner Bros.)                      $7.8 million – 2 wk total $55.0m
Confessions of a Shopaholic (Disney)             $7.0 million – 2 wk total $27.7m
Paul Blart Mall Cop (Sony)                            $7.0 million – 6 wk total $121.4m
Fired Up (Sony)                                          $6.0 million – opening weekend
The International (Sony)                              $4.5 million – 2 wk total $17.0m
Source: Rentrak

More Pilot News:

• CBS picked up a new comedy pilot called Ace in the Hole starring actor/comedian Adam Carolla as a husband/father who is also a driving instructor. Carolla created the concept and penned the pilot with Kevin Hench; CBC Paramount Network Television, BermanBraun and Jackhole Productions are producing. Carolla and Hench will executive produce along with Gail Berman, Lloyd Braun, Jimmy Kimmel, Daniel Kellison and James Dixon. This pilot gig is good timing for Carolla as his Los Angeles-based morning radio show was just eliminated due to a format change at KLSX-FM, where the syndicated The Adam Carolla Show was based.
• CBS decided to put the drama pilot Confessions of a Contractor on hold and ABC follows suit with two comedy pilots, Funny in Farsi and Planet Lucy. All three projects, based on books, were pushed back as contingencies attached to each could not be met by last Friday’s deadline. Confessions of a Contractor is from 20th Television; Funny in Farsi is from ABC Studios; and Planet Lucy is from ABC Studios and Sony.
• Jenna Elfman tries television again as she headlines CBS’ comedy pilot Accidentally on Purpose. Elfman, seen back in 2006 on the short-lived CBS comedy Courting Alex and in recent guest spots on ABC’s Brothers & Sisters and NBC’s My Name Is Earl, will portray a movie critic who gets pregnant following a one-night tryst. Set in San Francisco, Accidentally on Purpose is from BermanBraun and CBS Paramount Network Television.

Casting Call: Optomen Productions (Most Evil, Evolve, God v. Satan) is searching for people who have been laid off from their jobs between the election and the inauguration to appear on a new online series/documentary. Applicants should send an email to
and include full name, phone number, recent photo, age and a brief description about former employer, when the layoff occurred and their future plans. More information can be found at mylaidofflife.net .       

CYNOPSIS DIGITAL – TODAY’S TOP STORY:  Looks like it’s back to the drawing board for actors and producers who are battling to reach a new contract to cover provisions for payment of work appearing online and on multiple platforms. On the eve of The Oscars, the Screen Actors Guild voted 73% to 27% to reject the “ last, best and final offer” for a new contract with Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. The deal fell apart after the AMPTP switched the terms of the agreement from two to three years, according to statement issued by SAG. For its part, producers claimed they had always sought a three-year deal and suggested that actors should be happy with the offer given the “unprecedented economic crisis.” “We simply cannot offer SAG a better deal than the rest of the industry achieved under far better economic conditions than those now confronting our industry,” stated the AMPTP.  Full edition: CYN DIGITAL.

CYNOPSIS KIDS – TODAY’S TOP STORY:  The Dark Knight hit another milestone as the Warner Bros. feature film officially made its way past $1 billion in worldwide box office revenue on Friday.  As of Friday, February 20, Warner Bros. reported the movie had earned $1,001,082,160 to date, that is, according to Box Office Mojo, a combined total of approximately $533 million/domestically and $567/internationally.  The Dark Knight is just the fourth movie to break the $1 billion mark behind Titanic, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King and Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest.  Full edition: CYN KIDS.

Thursday – A18-49 Analysis: ABC remained in the lead Thursday night with 4.2/11 A18-49, according to final national ratings from Nielsen Media Research. Starting out, CBS took control during 8p with Survivor at 4.5/12 with FOX’s Bones next at 2.9/8. ABC ranked #1 at 9p with Grey’s Anatomy at 5.9/15 with CBS in second with CSI at 4.4/11. Then at 10p, ABC held firm in first place with Private Practice at 4.4/12 followed by NBC’s ER at 2.7/7 and CBS’ Eleventh Hour at 2.6/7.

Live + Same Day Household Ratings: Thursday, February 19, 2009 time period averages. Source: NTI Galaxy, as dated. Live+SD.

CBS: 8.5/14        Survivor: Tocantins 7.8/12, CSI 10.4/16, Eleventh Hour 7.3/12

ABC: 7.5/12        Ugly Betty 5.1/8, Grey’s Anatomy 10.0/15, Private Practice 7.3/12

FOX: 5.0/8           Bones 5.9/9, Hell’s Kitchen 4.0/6

NBC: 4.0/6          My Name Is Earl 4.1/7, Kath & Kim 3.3/5, The Office [r] 3.6/6, 30 Rock [r] 3.0/5, ER 4.9/8

UNIV: 2.4/4          Cuidado con el Angel 2.5/4, Fuego en la Sangre 2.8/4, La Rosa de Guadalupe 1.9/3

CW: 1.3/2            Smallville [r] 1.4/2, Supernatural [r] 1.2/2

MNT: 0.8/1           My Thursday Night Movie: River’s Edge 0.8/1

TELE: 0.7/1          Dona Barbara 0.7/1, El Rostro de Analia 0.7/1, Sin Senos No Hay Paraiso 0.8/1, Cartel R 0.7/1

A18-49: ABC 4.2/11, CBS 3.9/10, FOX 3.0/8, NBC 2.5/7, UNIV 2.0/5, CW 0.8/2, TELE 0.6/2, MNT 0.3/1

A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE FROM HOROWITZ ASSOCIATES

  .

This day in History:  1985 – Breaking tradition, the TV series, Gimme a Break, was broadcast live before a studio audience, making it the first sitcom seen live since the 1950s.

Answer to Yesterday’s Trivia Question:   On the Golden Girls, Rose, played by Betty White, often told bizarre stories about growing up in her hometown which Dorothy referred to as “the cradle of idiocy.” What was the name of this town?  ST. OLAF Kudos to: Kendra Painter-MARC USA/Pittsburgh; Nicole Egidio-Berklee College of Music/Boston; Adam Bain-Scollon Productions Inc./Columbia, SC; Erica Mole-Mada Design, Inc./NY; Stephanie Brom-Petry International/Dallas; Kathy Carlson-Cuneo Advertising/Bloomington, MN; Joanna Kuebel-Kelly,Scott & Madison/Chicago; Jim Gray-FrogLight Pdns/Missoula, MT; Angela Molloy-Co-Op Ent./Burbank; Matt Stevens-Script Partners/Burbank; Nicole Velasco-Dick Clark Productions/Santa Monica, CA; John Amato-“Good Day L.A.”/L A; Jessica Schmiedchen/Toronto

Today’s Trivia Question: In what daytime soap did Millette Alexander play three different roles at different times: Gail Armstrong, Laura Hillyer, and Julie Jamison? (Email
with your answer and be sure to include your name, company, city and time zone. Unofficial rules: Only the second four correct answers from each time zone will be mentioned; and once you’ve been mentioned in any of the Cynopsis editions, you can’t be mentioned again that calendar week.)

Later — Cyn
02.23.09

Cynopsis Ad Sales:
Chuck Bolkcom – 646-468-6180 /

Mark Bohn- 203-583-1224 /

Classifieds – Trish Pihonak- 203-926-9878 /

To subscribe to any Cynopsis edition(s) click here . 
To unsubscribe , click here or click the button at the end of this email.

Cyn opsis CLASSIFIEDS – For More classifieds, visit the Cynopsis.com classifieds page here    .

JOB OPENING:  POST SCHEDULER/ATLANTA, GA: Seeking experienced post production scheduler with proven client service skills. APPLY: 
(2/28)

JOB OPENING:  PR MGR/WE tv/NYC: Dvlp & imp effective PR campaigns for net prgrmng & online initiatives. 5+ yrs hands-on comm/media relations exp incl. digital outreach. Work pref in TV/agency envir. Res: www.cablevision.jobs   #8180BR(2/28)

JOB OPENING:  SALES DIRECTOR/Little Pim/NYC:  3+ yrs exp w/Content-based goods. Increase sales w/Large Markets, manage sales cycle, demo product. Exp w/Youth mkt a +.  Apply:  http://www.littlepim.com/about/salesdirector/ (2/28)

JOB OPENING:  SR GRAPHIC DESIGNER/BBC/NY: Plan create & code web designs & flash pieces to spprt chnnl prgrmng/enhance user exp. Write code & build own design. Strong comm & collaboration. Resume to www.bbcamerica.com/employment.jsp (2/28)

JOB OPENING:  ACCT EXEC/MediaPlace/NY & CHI:  Out of Home TV, creative “out of box” thinking, media & promotion sales/ planning exp. Please email Res/CL to:
  “AE” in subj. (2/28)

JOB OPENING:  DIR, BUS AFFAIRS/ABC Daytime/SOAPNet/LA: Structure, negotiate, oversee wide variety of deals/prods; top analytic skills.  JD+ min 5yrs exp in TV. Netwk/cable strongly pref’d. Apply www.disneycareers.com, Req ID# 188120 (2/28)

JOB OPENING: CONSUMER PRODUCT LICENSING LAWYER/Cookie Jar Ent/CA: Draft & negotiate contracts and handle contract admin; Manage CPL Paralegals; manage disputes; negotiate; supervise litigation. Apply: www.thecookiejarcompany.com (2/27)

JOB OPENING: INTERACTIVE MKTG MGR/National CineMedia/NY: Resp for creating/executing overall strategic mktg plan. 5-8 yrs exp consumer mktg & strategic dvlpmnt @leading internet co/agency Apply: www.nationalcinemedia.com Job Tab (2/27)

JOB OPENING: DIR, BUS PLNG & DEVL/Disney Channel Worldwide/LA:Work w/Sr mgmt to devlp growth strat for int’l Kid’s media; fin/bus modeling, proj mgmt; 5+ yrs media exp; MBA; exp TV/prod pref’d. www.disneycareers.com , Req ID#186360 (2/27)

INTERNSHIPS – These positions are for credit only – nobody gets paid here. These ads are always posted for free , and students work for school credit only. For more information on the specs for posting an Internship ad, email Trish at
.

SPRING/SUMMER INTERNSHIP/CREDITS ONLY: 2 PROD INTERNS: Needed for NY Production Co. Interns will help develop new shows and existing projects. Great networking opportunities. If interested, please send your resume to
(2/27)

SITUATION WANTED ADS, POSTED BY THOSE LOOKING TO BE HIRED …  There is no charge for placing your Situation Wanted ad … for more information contact Trish Pihonak at

SITUATION WANTED: CASTING PRODUCER or ASSOCIATE /Reality/Ent/Docs. NBC; CBS; Spike; Dis; TLC; E!; VH1; MTV; Specializing in the hard to find, runs on Batteries. (LA based)
   (2/28)

SITUATION WANTED:   Award winning ON-AIR/OFF-AIR CREATIVE DIRECTOR:  20 years network / cable experience.  Innovative promotion, design, branding and strategy.  Hard working, detail oriented, motivated. 
(2/28)

SITUATION WANTED: MEDIA BUYER: Based in Dallas/Fort Worth with over 12 years experience, available for FT/PT/Freelance media buying. Contact:
(2/28)

SITUATION WANTED: RESEARCH DIRECTOR – network experience (ad sales/prog/mktg), sales estimate expert, all Nielsen software, MRI, MS suite, supervisory exp., references. Full-time or consulting.
(2/28)

SITUATION WANTED: NON-FICTION PRODUCER/Reality/Ent/Docs. Prism Award; Field and Post; NBC; CBS; Dis; TLC; E!; Story Driven,Runs on Batteries. LA based.
(2/27)

SITUATION WANTED: ASSOCIATE/FIELD/SEGMENT PRODUCER seeking position with a show or network in NYC. Additional experience as a Coordinator/AD/Art Director.
(2/27)

SITUATION WANTED: Veteran AFFILIATE SALES PROFESSIONAL: 20+years experience in cable TV/media sales. Home office based, Start-up network/company specialist. Seeking full-time or consulting opp. Contact
(2/27)

SITUATION WANTED: TRAFFIC MANAGER/SPECIALIST: Exp Traffic professional with over 6 years of experience in both cable and broadcast television. Exp with various traffic programs.
(2/27)

SITUATION WANTED:  COMMERCIAL OPS/TRAFFIC EXPERT: 12+ years experience, knowledge of multiple traffic systems and much more. Recently returned to NYC and ready to start work immediately. Please contact me at
(2/26)

SITUATION WANTED: I’ve delivered proposals dressed as Sparky the dragon, and had my life threatened by an 11 year old while dressed up as Santa. Looking for MARKETING work. Resume available. Contact:
(2/25)

SITUATION WANTED: NEW MEDIA/GAMING EXECUTIVE Cross-Functional Skills in Marketing and Product Development. Experience from Start-ups to Microsoft and Yahoo!
(2/25)

SITUATION WANTED: GOT RESEARCH? Ph.D. AND ex-Professor seeking P/T research work from my home. I can find and report on almost anything! Contact me @
(2/25)

SITUATION WANTED: Experienced LOGGER seeking transcription work. Can transcribe interview, B-Roll, and show footage. Will come to you to pick up media. Email
(2/25)

SITUATION WANTED: EXECUTIVE/ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT for 30 plus years. Worked in Production for Executive Producers, Writers, Directors and high level executives. Excellent skills … email:
  (2/24)

SITUATION WANTED: FREELANCE DP/SHOOTER (NE Corridor, NY based): HD, Betacam or DV. Full Production Services. 20+ year pro. From sports, magazines, and docs to testimonials, no job is more important than yours.
(2/24)

SITUATION WANTED: FREELANCE DEVELOPMENT PRODUCER (LA): creative exec in reality/doc seeks development gig for creating, developing, or expanding series proposals, formats, and materials. all genres.
(2/24)

SITUATION WANTED: CAREER COACHING for media professionals seeking to make a job change or to reposition their career. 15+ years exp in industry working with execs. contact:
(2/24)

SITUATION WANTED: LA Based, AWARD WINNING “PREDITOR” From cutting edge promos to breakthrough reality, I do it all. Specializing in Story Producing/Editing, I can make the AVID sing! Freelance or Permanent gig.
(2/24)

E-mail
or call Trish Pihonak at 203.926.9878 for rates and specs for Job Openings.

Are you looking for a job? Post your Situation Wanted Ad here — Email
for specs.

WHAT’S ON TONIGHT –  MONDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2009

ABC: The Bachelor: The Women Tell All, True Beauty [f ]
AZTECA: Los Que Callamos Las Mujeres Edicion Especial, Historia Detras del Mito, Al Extremo
CBS: The Big Bang Theory [r], How I Met Your Mother [r], Two and a Half Men [r], The New Adventures of Old Christine [r], CSI: Miami [r]
CW: Gossip Girl [r], One Tree Hill [r]
FOX: House, 24
ION: ER, NCIS, NCIS
MNT: Twilight Zone [r], Twilight Zone [r], Masters of Illusion [r]
NBC: Chuck, Heroes, Medium
PBS: Antiques Roadshow, American Experience , History Detectives
TELE: Dona Barbara, El Rostro de Analia, Sin Senos No Hay Paraiso
UNIV: Cuidado con el Angel, Fuego on la Sangre, Cristina

Cynopsis Media LLC
One Corporate Drive, Suite 724
Shelton, CT 06484
203.926.9878

All outgoing e-mails are scanned and sent out virus free. Copyright Cynopsis 2009