The Oscars will go on, but maybe not in the usual form.
Amid the pervasive uncertainty created by the WGA strike, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences is forging ahead with plans for the Feb. 24 Oscar ceremony. But the Academy is also planning two different shows -- the usual kudocast and an alternative event if the scribes are still out.
Oscarcast producer Gil Cates supplied few details as to what form the alternative show would take, simply saying at a meeting at Acad headquarters that they'd have to "play it by ear," according to one attendee.
But it's likely that the altenative show would rely on industry heavyweights penning their own speeches and presenting the awards.
Disclosure of the Academy's contingency plans came Tuesday as the DGA and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers met for a fourth straight day of formal contract negotiations. With a news blackout in effect, no details emerged, although both sides are expected to continue meeting today.
OPRAH WINFREY GETS OWN NETWORK
Oprah Winfrey is adding a major piece of real estate to her media empire, teaming with Discovery Communications to create an Oprah-branded TV net.
OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network will bow in the second half of 2009. OWN will take over the Discovery Health Channel distribution platform, which guarantees it a strong subscriber base of 67.7 million cable and satellite homes, according to Nielsen. Winfrey will be chair of the network.
Deal between Winfrey and Discovery was described as a "cashless transaction" for a 50-50 joint venture that will be considered an entity independent of other Discovery channel holdings. Winfrey will have full editorial control of OWN and oversee its programming, branding and creative thrust.
OWN will dive deeper into the lifestyle, self-help, entertainment and spiritual themes Winfrey mines on her daily show, which has been daytime's top syndicated yakker for 20 years, and in her successful monthly magazine O: the Oprah Magazine, a joint venture with Hearst Magazines.
"We'll deal with topics such as money, health and relationships. I want to create a niche, a place where people can go to feel better about their lives," Winfrey said during a conference call with reporters Tuesday. She said it's too early in the process for her to discuss specific shows or programming ideas.
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