As of today, HBO content is available for download at the iTunes store. Of course, the addition of the mighty HBO to iTunes is news in and of itself, but what’s more interesting here is that HBO is the first network to charge $2.99 per episode for an iTunes TV download (it should be noted, that only some, but not all of the HBO shows are priced at $2.99). In the short term, people might be happy about the addition of this high quality content to the iTunes library, but as the The Hollywood Reporter article points out, it seems like it will only be a matter of time before other networks renegotiate their pricing structure with Apple, which will invariably to higher prices across the board.

HBO will become the first TV network to charge more than the standard $1.99 per episode on Apple’s iTunes.

The network announced Tuesday that a wide range of programs would be made available on iTunes, with “The Sopranos,” “Deadwood” and “Rome” going for $2.99 per episode. “Sex and the City,” “Flight of the Conchords” and “The Wire” go for $1.99.

Forthcoming episodes of currently running series will go day-and-date with their DVD releases.

Still unknown is whether the network is getting a higher revenue split than other iTunes partners. [THR.com]

The Electric Company Season 6 Credits

I wonder if they’ll bring back the the live action “Spiderman” they used to do.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — In an updated blast from the past, PBS will air a new version of the 1970s children’s series “The Electric Company.”

Production on the 21st century model of the PBS show for 6- to 9-year-olds was set to begin Tuesday on the streets of New York City and in a New Jersey studio, according to producer Sesame Workshop.

The series, aimed at reducing the literacy gap between low- and middle-income families, will promote the idea that “reading is cool” with help from online and community-based activities, Sesame Workshop said in an announcement Monday.

“The literacy crisis today is as pervasive and alarming as it was in 1971 when we created the first version of `The Electric Company,’” said Scott Cameron, director of education and research for Sesame Workshop (which is the nonprofit educational organization behind “Sesame Street”).

Weekly episodes of “The Electric Company” are scheduled to air nationally in January 2009 on PBS Kids. [Google/AP]

“Bringing The Power Back: “The Electric Company” Returns” continued after the jump

We are currently offering the opportunity to be a Seatfiller at the Bravo “A-List Awards” - hosted by KATHY GRIFFIN, taking place at the Manhattan Center (Hammerstein Ballroom) in NYC on June 4th (to air the following week).

Bravo is dedicated to celebrating the creative process and showcasing some of the leading creative minds working today, and as the only channel to include virtually every popular field of the arts - beauty, design, fashion, food and pop culture - it’s the most logical home for an event that celebrates these disciplines. “My Life on the D-List” star Kathy Griffin hosts Bravo’s first ever “A-List Awards” honoring those people that have made an indelible mark in the arts, with a special star-studded red carpet pre-show hosted by Tim Gunn (per Bravo website). Show promises lots of celebrity presenters and honorees.

As always, this offer is FREE.

DETAILS:
Date: 6/4/08
Venue: Manhattan Center (Hammerstein Ballroom) New York, NY
Arrival Time: 6pm (to be confirmed)
Dress: Cocktail attire (strictly enforced)
Age: over 21 (strictly enforced)

For more info on what it is to be a seatfiller, please visit our web-site at www.TVaudiences.tv

You can register to be a seatfiller for the Bravo “A-List Awards” at the following link https://www.mailermailer.com/x?oid=1007787z (you may have to cut and paste).

PLEASE ONLY SIGN UP IF YOU ARE ABLE TO ATTEND.

FYI - Each time you sign up for a specific show, you are considered a “new subscriber”.

You must use the link above to sign up - we do not accept email requests.

Be sure to set your spam settings to allow for mail from Seatfillers@aol.com and BravoAudience@aol.com.

By signing up, you are NOT confirmed to attend. Those confirmed will be sent an email approximately 1 week before the show.

You may forward this offer on to others, but they MUST sign up by FIRST registering at www.TVaudiences.tv and then can use the link provided above.

3rd St in Park Slope

A new Darren Star series is coming to… Park Slope, Brooklyn.

Producers are giving Park Slope the star treatment with a pilot by the same executives who brought “Sex and the City,” starring Sarah Jessica Parker, and “Melrose Place” to TV.

According to industry sources, Darren Star, who created those smash shows, has teamed with Sony and NBC for a proposed series about a group of affluent characters who live in the upscale Brooklyn neighborhood. [NYPost.com]

-Thanks to the super cool Abbey for the tip

Sunday with The Magazine
Sunday, May 4 at The Times Center

10:00 - 11:15 a.m. - What We Eat
Michael Pollan Gerry Marzorati

New York Times Magazine editor Gerry Marzorati talks with best-selling author Michael Pollan (”In Defense of Food: An Eater’s Manifesto,” “The Omnivore’s Dilemma”) about America’s national food disorder, the dysfunction of the industrial food complex and how we can bring health and pleasure back to eating.

12:00 - 1:15 p.m. - What We Believe
Noah Feldman Christopher Hitchens Mark Lilla James Traub

Religion’s role in today’s politics comes under scrutiny by Times Magazine contributing writer James Traub (”The Best Intentions: Kofi Annan and the U.N. in the Era of American World Power”), best-selling author Christopher Hitchens (“God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything”) and Magazine contributors Noah Feldman (”Divided by God: America’s Church-State Problem”) and Mark Lilla (”The Stillborn God: Religion, Politics, and the Modern West”).

2:00 - 3:15 p.m. - What We Watch
Gail Simmons Lauren Zalaznick Tim Gunn Virginia Heffernan

Bravo TV’s president Lauren Zalaznick, “Project Runway” fashion guru Tim Gunn (also “Tim Gunn’s Guide to Style”) and “Top Chef” judge Gail Simmons talk with The Magazine media columnist, Virginia Heffernan, about the brave new world of television programming and what we are watching now.

4:00 - 5:15 p.m. - How We Govern
David A. Patterson Matt Bai

David A. Paterson — sworn in as the 55th governor of New York just a few weeks ago — discusses the social and economic challenges facing the state, the Democratic party and our country with New York Times Magazine contributing writer Matt Bai, author of “The Argument: Billionaires, Bloggers, and the Battle to Remake Democratic Politics.”

6:00 - 7:15 p.m. - What We Wear
Donatella Versace Stefano Tonchi

Acclaimed international designer Donatella Versace, one of Italy’s most powerful women, discusses fashion, design, style and celebrity with T Magazine editor Stefano Tonchi.

8:00 - 9:15 p.m. - What Makes Us Laugh
Tracey Ullman Deborah Solomon

The multiple comedic personality that is seven-time Emmy Award winner Tracey Ullman, star of Showtime’s “Tracey Ullman’s State of the Union,” talks with The New York Times Magazine’s “Questions for… ” columnist, Deborah Solomon.

The Barry Gibb Talk Show feat. Jimmy Fallon and Justin Timberlake

Jimmy Fallon, who you may remember from Saturday Night Live and you may not remember from such films as Fever Pitch (US remake) and Taxi is set to replace the venerable Conan O’Brien as host of Late Night on NBC.

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - “Saturday Night Live” veteran Jimmy Fallon has sealed a deal to succeed “Late Night” host Conan O’Brien on NBC in 2009, sources said.

O’Brien, whose show airs at 12:35 a.m., is moving to Los Angeles next year to replace Jay Leno at “The Tonight Show,” which airs an hour earlier.

NBC is expected to make the announcement on May 12 during its “upfront” presentation to advertisers in New York. The network declined comment on Thursday. [Reuters/Hollywood Reporter]

Maybe he’ll do the whole show as Barry Gibb, now that would be funny.

Photo: Gerben Pul

I usually like to report music and entertainment industry news when they happen, but I kind of fell asleep at the wheel over the last week or two, so here’s a rundown of a few stories I found interesting (that may or may not have crossed your path already).

Buzznet Acquires Stereogum and Idolator [The Daily Swarm]
Mos Def To Play Chuck Berry in Chess Records Film [Billboard.com]
Amazon Music Links Up With GTA IV [Arstechnica.com]
CBS To Stream All Radio Stations On Last.fm [Yahoo! Finance]
MySpace Unveils New Music Service [News.com]
‘Idol Gives Back’ Ratings Down 36% From Last Year [HollywoodReporter.com]
Canadian Stars Fight Against Bill C-10 [CBC.ca]
NHL Partners with Horrible Looking Mike Meyers Film [CNNMoney.com]
Court To Hear Baidu Copyright Infringement Suit [Forbes.com]
Bob Dylan Wins The Pulitzer Prize [Yahoo! News]
Mark Ronson Signs Deal with Interscope Records [CMJ.com]
The Colbert Report, 30 Rock, Mad Men, Dexter, Project Runway and Others Win Peabody Awards [AP]

HI!
Just wanted to say thanks for attending.
If you did miss the shows they were amazing!!
Very intimate & great performances.
One of a kind setting & of course, Elvis!!

IF you did make it,
OUR producers LOVED the crowd.
GREAT ENERGY, very diverse & a good vibe.
It helped make the shoot look amazing & Elvis loved the audience as
well.

FOR THOSE THAT HAVE NOT RESERVED TICKETS ALREADY,
They wanted to extend the opportunity for tickets to
The LAST 2 SHOWS till SEPTEMBER.
LET US KNOW ASAP if you want seats.
You can pass on to friend family BUT we will be out of tickets by
this weekend so pass along or respond ASAP!!

You are invited to receive
4 COMPLIMENTARY TV TICKETS AT NBC STUDIO!!
TO Both or either of the following shows…
THESE ARE OUR FINAL SHOWS UNTIL SEPTEMBER
Feel free to forward!

Date: TUESDAY April 15th, 2008
ELVIS COSTELLO with TONY BENNETT

Date: WEDNESDAY April 16th, 2008
ELVIS COSTELLO with LOU REED

Audience Arrival: 5:45pm
Taping Time: 7:00-9:00pm
Location: Studio 8-H
49 West 49th Street, NYC, NY 10020

EMAIL MIKE@GOTHAMCASTING.COM
Include name, age, phone #, how many tickets you need & guest names

More “Spectacle” taping information after the jump.

“More “Spectacle” Tapings | Tony Bennett & Lou Reed” continued after the jump

Check out the kick-ass limited edition packaging for Season 1 of AMC’s Mad Men.

Season 1 of Mad Men is set to arrive in stores on Tuesday, July 1 on DVD. The set will include all thirteen episodes from the first season of the Golden Globe winning series accompanied by feature length audio commentary tracks from series creator Matthew Weiner and the Mad Men cast. The complete DVD package will be offered in stores for $49.98 and will be packed with the special features including:

• Feature-length audio commentaries for all thirteen episodes
• “Establishing Mad Men,” a featurette exploring the world of Mad Men
• “Advertising: The American Dream,” a short video on the 1960’s media revolution
• “Pictures of Elegance,” a photo gallery with commentaries from the costume, make-up and production designers
• “Scoring Mad Men,” an interview with series composer David Carbonara
• The Mad Men Music Sampler

The Limited Edition metal “lighter” packaging displayed above is only available while supplies last. [Mad Men Blog] (Thx Drake)

Also, check out the recent profile on Bumpershine contributor Drake LeLane over on AMCTV.com.

…and Rock of Love’s Brett Michaels was on the couch.

The Human Giant season 2 finale airs April 15 at 11PM on MTV.

The “spectacle” has begun (I kind of doubt there are any tickets left now though):

Hoboken411 and Gotham Casting have teamed up to provide free tickets to local events.

Here some great showings for tomorrow (Tuesday) and Wednesday. RSVP quick! 50 tickets available.

Email mike@gothamcasting.com and include what show you’d like tickets to, how many (up to 4), guest names and ages, and contact phone number. [Hoboken411.com]

Feist at the 2008 Junos

It may not have been her year at the Grammys, but Feist swept the Junos on Sunday night and the Arcade Fire picked up their first Junos for CD/DVD packaging and “Alternative Album Of The Year”. As Grant Lawrence once asked, when an album debuts at no. 1, what is it alternative to?

2008 Juno Award Winners
• Juno Fan Choice Award — Michael Buble
• Single of the Year — 1234, Feist
• Album of the Year — The Reminder, Feist
• New Group of the Year — Wintersleep
• Group of the Year –Blue Rodeo
• Country Recording of the Year — Risk, Paul Brandt
• Pop Album of the Year — The Reminder, Feist
• International Album of the Year — Good Girl Gone Bad — Rihanna
• Artist of the Year — Feist
• New Artist of the Year — Serena Ryder
• Songwriter of the Year — Feist
• Adult Alternative Album of the Year — Small Miracles — Blue Rodeo
• Alternative Album of the Year — Neon Bible — Arcade Fire
• Rock Album of the Year — Them Vs You Vs Me — Finger Eleven
• Vocal Jazz Album of the Year — Make Someone Happy — Sophie Milman
• Contemporary Jazz Album of the Year - Almost Certainly Dreaming - The Chris Tarry Group
• Traditional Jazz Album of the Year — Debut - Brandi Disterheft
• Instrumental Album of the Year — The Utmost — Jayme Stone
• Francophone Album of the Year — L’echec du material — Daniel Belanger
• Children’s Album of the Year — Music Soup — Jen Gould
• Classical Album of the Year: Solo or Chamber Ensemble — Alkan Concerto for Solo Piano — Marc-Andre Hamelin
• Classical Album of the Year: Large Ensemble or Soloist(s) With Large Ensemble Accompaniment — Korngold, Barber Walton Violin Concertos — James Ehnes, Bramwell Tovey, Vancouver Symphony Orchestra
• Classical Album of the Year: Vocal or Choral Performance — Surprise — Measha Bruggergosman
• Classical Composition of the Year — Constantinople — Christos Hatzis
• Rap Recording of the Year — The Revolution — Belly
• Dance Recording of the Year — All U Ever Want — Billy Newton-Davis Vs. Deadmau5 • bull; R&B/Soul Recording of the Year — Revival — Jully Black
• Reggae Recording of the Year — Don’t Go Pretending — Mikey Dangerous
• Aboriginal Recording of the Year — The Dirty Looks — Derek Miller
• Roots & Traditional Album of the Year: Solo — Right of Passage — David Francey
• Roots & Traditional Album of the Year: Group — Key Principles — Nathan
• Blues Album of the Year — Building Full of Blues — FATHEAD
• Contemporary Christian/Gospel Album of the Year — Holy God — Brian Doerksen
• World Music Album of the Year — Agua Del Pozo — Alex Cuba
• Jack Richardson Producer of the Year — Joni Mitchell — Hana/Bad Dreams – Shine
• Recording Engineer of the Year — Kevin Churko — I Don’t Wanna Stop/God Bless The Almighty Dollar — Black Rain — Ozzy Osbourne
• CD/DVD Artwork Design of the Year — Tracy Maurice (Director/Designer) and Francois Miron (Photographer) — Neon Bible — Arcade Fire
• Video of the Year — C’mon — Christopher Mills (Director) — Blue Rodeo
• Music DVD of the Year — 666 Live — Pierre & Francois Lamoureux, Billy Talent, Pierre Tremblay, Steve Blair — Billy Talent

Elton John and Elvis Costello

Photo: PR Newswire

I wonder if this means Sir Elton forgives Elvis for the Vanity Fair article.

Two of the most respected musicians in the world will collaborate on an extraordinary new television series.

“Spectacle: Elvis Costello with…” will be hosted by its namesake and produced in conjunction with Sir Elton John’s Rocket Pictures. Elton John will be one of the program’s Executive Producers.

The series will air beginning later this year, on CTV in Canada, Channel 4 in the UK and Sundance Channel in the US. FremantleMedia Enterprises, will handle sales of the show to the rest of the world.

Conceived to provide a forum for in-depth discussion and performance with the most interesting and influential artists and personalities of our time, the show fuses the best of talk and music television.

“Spectacle: Elvis Costello with…” promises to be an unpredictable and unprecedented television experience. The series of 13 one-hour programs will feature everything from intimate one-on-ones with legendary performers and notable newcomers to thematic panel discussions, with a variety of performance elements including unique collaborations, acoustic and impromptu “illustrative” demonstrations of the creative process, and some original interpretations of others’ songs by Costello.

[Press Release Continued After The Jump]

“Elvis Costello and Elton John Make A Spectacle” continued after the jump

With the way Time Warner rips me off, my TV could use a new best friend.

Vudu is a new video on demand (VOD) service that offers instant access to HD films, TV shows, and approximately 5,000 movies. Rentals range from 99¢ to $3.99, HD rentals from $2.99 to $5.99, and purchased movies from $4.99 to $19.99. TV episodes are $1.99. The box itself costs $295 to purchase. I’m pretty fed up with Time Warner Cable’s exhorbitant fees, so I was strongly considering vudu as an option. The only thing is, from the website, it’s a little unclear to me as to whether they offer first run TV episodes, (which would be a deal breraker).

Death Row Records founder Suge Knight has filmed a reality show where participants compete for jobs at the new record label he is forming called Black Ball Records. Watch the obscenity laden and beat-down filled trailer for Unfinished Business below.

Suge Knight’s Unfinished Business

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the series has yet to find a distributor.