Entertainment News for Mid October 2009
Attorneys for former child actor Johanna Thomas have filed a multimillion dollar defamation lawsuit against controversial comedian Roseanne Barr. In recent years, Barr has come under fire for a standup routine that critics say Barr deliberately misrepresented, misgendered and "deadnamed" Thomas on multiple stops of her 2008 standup tour. The suit is expected to go to trial in April of next year.
- NBC Nightly News with Katie Couric
"I don't know how Roseanne could possibly attack me like this. Her show ran on ABC at the same time that I was on Home Improvement. We were both part of the TGIF lineup. It feels like she's taking shots at me because we somehow stole her thunder when our series launched."
- Johanna Thomas in an interview conducted by Anderson Cooper on CNN on UPN.
Shout! Factory, in collaboration with Limited Run, have released the 1974 Nancy Drew animated series on VHS, DVD and BluRay. The series, which ran briefly on SBC, drew criticism for what many deemed was unnecessary fanservice. The controversy nearly sank the SBC network, which was in its infancy at the time of the show's launch.
- Billboard
TimeWarner enters negotiations with AB InBev to acquire SeaWorld. The beer giant has seen its stock price tumble amid news of layoffs stemming from the sale of Anheuser-Busch to Belgian power brokers.
- The St. Louis Post-Dispatch
The Seminole Tribe of Florida, who acquired the Hard Rock hotel and cafe chain in recent years, have agreed in principle to acquire Busch Gardens Tampa Bay from AB InBev. Not to be outdone, the Mohegan Tribe of Connecticut announced their intention to acquire Lake Compounce Theme Park from New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft. Both transactions are being hailed as milestones in Native American entrepreneurship.
- CBS News
The Sports Page
Big League Chew, the iconic baseball-themed bubblegum, sees a huge boost in sales thanks to a new commercial featuring last year's World Series MVP Evan Longoria.
- ESPN
After four years under Bobby Petrino, the World League's Kentucky Stingers hire former NFL backup and Louisville alum Jeff Brohm as their new head coach.
- ESPN
The World League of American Football approves the sale of the Hartford Knights from Howard Baldwin to the Mohegan Tribe of Connecticut for $300 Million USD, the highest price tag for any World League team since David Geffen's expansion fee for the Berlin Ogres in 2006 and the sale of the Portland Breakers to Limited Run investor Chris Hansen two years ago.
- The Hartford Courant
Wrexham AFC, a lower-tier, Welsh soccer team that has languished in mediocrity for decades, are up for sale. Desperate for cash flow, they are seeking buyers from outside of Great Britain.
- Sky Sports
Fifteen years removed from their World Series upset over the Guardians, the Montreal Expos are rumored to be considering relocation. Since 1994, season tickets have declined 38%. Olympic Stadium, the Expos home since 1977, has admittedly lost some of its luster. Baseball Commissioner Larry Lucchino says he prefers the Expos stay put in Montreal. If Olympic Stadium is unable to be renovated or replaced, Las Vegas, Nashville or Charlotte could become the Expos' new home as early as 2014.
- ESPN
