Coda
by Staff -- Multichannel News, 3/30/2009 2:00:00 AM
Pythons Make IFC’s 'Cut’
New York — And now for something completely different: A new documentary about legendary British comedy troupe Monty Python, celebrating its 40th anniversary, will debut exclusively in the U.S. on IFC this fall.
The six-part series titled Monty Python: Almost the Truth (The Lawyer’s Cut) will air Oct. 4 to 10 as part of the network’s “Python Week,” which will also include showings of the group’s feature films Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Monty Python’s Life of Brian and Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl.
Cutting-room-floor footage and teasers will be available on demand on IFC Free and online at www.IFC.com prior to the series premiere.
“The Pythons changed the face of comedy, and continue to inspire new generations of comedians,” said IFC executive vice president and general manager Jennifer Caserta. The series will feature interviews with surviving Python members John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, Michael Palin, archival footage of late Pythoner Graham Chapman and dozens of guest interviews.
Caserta described the docu as “the grand finale of an entire year of original comedy” on the network. IFC has made comedy a pillar of its brand with such shows as the sketch comedy series The Whitest Kids U’Know, the semi-scripted original Z Rock and the upcoming Bollywood Hero starring Chris Kattan.
“This is the first time the Pythons have come together for a project since 1983’s Monty Python’s Meaning of Life,” said IFC and Sundance Channel senior vice president of acquisitions, scheduling and operations George Lentz. “This documentary series is a final opportunity for them to chronicle the Python phenomenon on record as they approach their 40th anniversary, and leave it at that.”
Monty Python: Almost the Truth (The Lawyer’s Cut) is an Eagle Rock Entertainment production in association with IFC and is produced by U.K. production company Bill & Ben Productions. Following IFC’s U.S. television premiere, Eagle Rock will release the documentary series worldwide on DVD.
— George Vernadakis
Cablevision Ads Questioned
New York — The National Advertising Division of the Council of Better Business Bureaus has recommended that Cablevision Systems modify or discontinue certain advertising claims for its Optimum Online service, after a challenge by Verizon Communications.
NAD noted in its decision, announced last Thursday, that Cablevision voluntarily discontinued certain claims prior to or during the course of the ad group’s investigation, including “best HD picture,” “sharpest HD picture and sound,” “No. 1 for Speed,” “America’s Fastest Home Internet Access,” and the use of the “five times faster” claim in direct marketing to Verizon FiOS customers.
However, following its review, NAD recommended that Cablevision stop claiming its broadband service is the “fastest around” and that “everything else is stuck in the past.”
In addition, while NAD found that the claim that Optimum Online is “5x faster” was accurate at the time of Verizon’s challenge, it recommended that Cablevision clearly distinguish between the telco’s digital subscriber line service and the FiOS server.
“Advertisers must take steps to ensure that their claims remain accurate, particularly in a market … where the technology evolves so quickly,” NAD said.
NAD recommended that the claim “most advanced fiber-optic network” be discontinued, but noted Cablevision can characterize itself as an “advanced hybrid fiber-optic network.”
Finally, NAD determined that the references to “110%” pixel performance and generates “bluer” blues and “greener” greens in the context of the revised broadcast advertising did not convey objectively provable superiority claims requiring substantiation.
In a statement, Cablevision said it “appreciates NAD’s careful consideration of the issues in this matter” and “agrees to take into account NAD’s findings in this inquiry in future advertising.”
The findings on Cablevision’s ads and marketing come after the NAD last November issued a recommendation that Verizon alter or stop claiming that its FiOS service offers superior sound and picture quality — after Cablevision complained.
— Todd Spangler
Justice Calls In Suit Against Dish
Washington — The Justice Department, seeking civil penalties, has filed suit against Dish Network, charging it with multiple violations of its Do Not Call Registry.
The action came at the request of the Federal Trade Commission, which said that Dish directly and through dealers had called consumers on the do-not-call list.
In addition, the No. 2 direct-broadcast satellite provider was charged with violating the Telemarketing Sales Rule by supporting dealer robo-calls.
The suit was joined by the attorneys general of California, Ohio, Illinois and North Carolina.
“We respectfully disagree with the allegations made today by the Federal Trade Commission and certain states that Dish Network has engaged in 'do-not-call’ violations and that Dish Network should be held responsible for 'do-not-call’ violations by independent retailers,” said the company in a statement.
— John Eggerton
Rutledge, Blank, Beales Head Hall Of Fame List
Denver — The Cable Center has named its newest class of Hall of Fame inductees, which includes a current and former association head, programmers and arguably cable’s answer to Walter Cronkite.
The seven inductees are Cable & Telecommunciations Association for Marketing president Char Beales; Showtime chairman Matt Blank; Heritage Communications co-founder Jim Cownie; Prime II Investments chairman Bob Hughes; Cablevision chief operating officer Tom Rutledge; CNN anchor emeritus Bernard Shaw; and Tom Wheeler, managing director of Core Capital Partners and former National Cable Television Association president.
The 12th annual Cable Hall of Fame celebration will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 27 at the Colorado Convention Center as part of Cable Connections Fall, from Oct. 25 through Oct. 30.
— John Eggerton
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