Television - Page 24

Reuters - Andy Serkis, the English actor best known for playing Gollum in the "Lord of the Rings" films, will star as Albert Einstein in a TV movie about one of the greatest scientific breakthroughs of the 20th century: the creation of Einstein's theory of relativity.

Reuters - MTV's celebrity prank show "Punk'd" will end after its upcoming season, during which unsuspecting victims will include Hilary Swank, Magic Johnson, Evangeline Lilly and Nelly Furtado, the network said Monday.

Reuters - Heather Locklear has closed a deal to play the title role in ABC's comedy pilot "See Jayne Run," which revolves around an investment banker's struggles to balance career and motherhood.

Television News

AP - Sixty million consumers would lose access to baseball's television package of out-of-market games if the sport is allowed to strike an exclusive deal with DirecTV, according to Sen. John Kerry.

AP - After eight seasons of Ashton Kutcher playing pranks on his celebrity pals on MTV, his popular "Punk'd" series is coming to an end. The final season premieres April 10, but all eight new episodes will air back-to-back during a "sneak peek marathon" on April 7, MTV officials announced Monday.

AP - Hockey Night in Canada will remain on the CBC through 2014, with the broadcaster and NHL agreeing to a six-year contract extension on Monday.

AP - ESPN is changing quarterbacks. Joe Theismann will no longer be part of the network's "Monday Night Football" broadcast and will be replaced as an analyst by Ron Jaworski, the former Philadelphia Eagles quarterback, the network announced Monday.

AP - Anna Nicole Smith accidentally overdosed on at least nine prescription drugs — including a powerful sleep syrup she was known to swig right out of the bottle — after a miserable last few days in which she endured stomach flu, a 105-degree fever, pungent sweating and a pus-filled infection on her buttocks from repeated injections.

AP - The Indianapolis Colts will open the NFL season on Thursday night, Sept. 6, with a home game against the New Orleans Saints.

AP - Television's most powerful female executive sat staring at her computer, perplexed.

AP - Selected home-video releases: More Info...  

AP - Max Crumm and Laura Osnes are the ones America's television viewers want. Crumm will play Danny Zuko and Osnes will be Sandy Dumbrowski, the lead roles in the $10 million revival of "Grease," opening on Broadway this summer.

Reuters - "Full Metal Jacket" star R. Lee Ermey, host of the History Channel's "Mail Call," has signed a two-year deal that will expand his presence on the air and online. More Info...  

Reuters - Some people -- actually a whole lot of people -- thought the idea just too bizarre to ever get off the ground: a TV service for babies. Not toddlers or tweens -- babies up to 3 years old. More Info...  

Reuters - HBO and the BBC have reteamed with producers Ridley and Tony Scott for "Churchill at War," a follow-up to "The Gathering Storm," their much heralded biopic of Winston Churchill. More Info...  

Reuters - President Clinton is a big fan of "24" even though "an uber right-wing guy" produces the Emmy-winning political thriller.

Reuters - ABC News has announced that correspondent David Muir will become anchor of "World News Saturday" and co-anchor of "Primetime." More Info...  

Reuters - Cable network Bravo has given a pilot pickup to "Paycheck," a game show that challenges the cultural bias of first impressions and snap judgments. More Info...  

Television News

AP - Leeza Gibbons' dance resume consists of a tap class in grade school and another that her teenage daughter, Lexi, talked her into taking a couple years ago.

AP - The murky circumstances surrounding Anna Nicole Smith's death could become clearer Monday, when authorities are expected to release the results of the former pinup's autopsy.