Television

- A Franchise Extension Of ABC's Top Rated Daytime Drama "General Hospital"
- New Head Writer And Executive Producer Join Series For Season Two, Which Will Be Shot In High Definition

May 27, 2008 -- Brian Frons, president, Daytime, Disney ABC Television Group, today announced that SOAPnet has ordered Season Two of its top-rated original scripted drama, “General Hospital: Night Shift.” Thirteen episodes, to be taped in HD, have been ordered. Production will begin in June 2008, and the series will premiere in July and air Tuesdays at 11:00 p.m. The series, which is the network’s most-watched of all time, is a storyline extension about the lives and loves of “General Hospital’s” favorite characters during the nigh shift at the hospital.    » read more »

A Sudden Tragedy Turns The World Of The Mustangs' Hockey Team & Their Wives Upside Down—On And Off The Ice

May 19, 2008 -- Episode 101 ("Game On") – When team captain Adam McBride falls to his death at a season-opening party in his lavish home, the widowed Evelyn and her daughter Molly are left financially destitute. Team owner Malcolm LeBlanc wastes no time in diverting Adam's insurance policy into paying for the number one draft pick, Trevor Lemonde, an up-and-coming athlete with a brilliant future future...and girlfriend Tabbi in a rural community.    » read more »

Airing in HDTV, Film Features Academy Award-Winning Original Song By Randy Newman, "If I Didn't Have You"

Friday, May 23, 2008 -- The critically acclaimed hit animated feature film from Walt Disney Pictures and Pixar Animation Studios ("Toy Story" franchise, "Finding Nemo," "The Incredibles"), "Monsters, Inc.," will air in HDTV with 5.1-channel surround sound and Spanish audio as a presentations of "The Wonderful World of Disney," SATURDAY, JUNE 14 (8:00-11:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network. (Rebroadcast. OAD: 10/30/04)    » read more »

The First Annual Elmo Talent Show Gets Underway With Unlikely Displays Of Talent, Marin Gets A Hefty Advance Check And Wants To Spend Some Of It On Jack, Jane Is Frustrated By Sam's Budget-Friendly Ways, And Sara Has Fantasies About Other Men, On The Season Finale Of ABC's "Men In Trees"

Disney-ABC Television Group's Emmy And Webby Award-Winning Abc.Com Full Episode Player To Add New Customization And Enhanced Viewing Features This Fall

Thursday, May 2008 -- Dedicated to expanding its network and channel brands across multiple platforms and connecting viewers with their favorite shows anytime and anywhere, Disney-ABC Television Group announced today that this fall it will unveil a new version of the award-winning ABC.com full episode player. The new player will feature a completely redesigned user interface and will incorporate several enhancements to allow for user customization, interactivity and improved viewing capabilities.    » read more »

Production Has Begun On ABC's Summer Series "Wipeout," Where Fearless Contestants Compete On The Wildest Obstacle Course Ever Seen On TV

Thursday, May 22, 2008 -- Production has begun in Los Angeles on "Wipeout," a painfully funny new reality series featuring 24 thrill-seekers who will compete in the world's largest extreme obstacle course designed to provide the most spills, face plants and wipeouts even seen on television. "Wipeout" premieres TUESDAY, JUNE 24 (8:00-9:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network.    » read more »

The Bachelors Kick Up Their Heels At A Dude Ranch And Talk Show Host Ellen Degeneres Helps In Deanna's Rose Selection, As The Pressure Mounts For The Men To Show How Sincere Their Feelings Are For "The Bachelorette," Monday, June 2, On ABC

Tuesday, May 27, 2008 -- "Episode 403" - DeAnna turns up the heat with a romantic one-on-one dinner date overlooking Los Angeles and another under the stars at the historic Mt. Wilson Observatory, with both rendezvous having a high-stakes rose on the line - if the bachelor doesn't receive a rose, he goes home. The Bachelorette takes the remaining men on a "ride 'em cowboy" visit to a bona fide dude ranch with another rose at stake.    » read more »

SOAPnet's Original Series "MVP" to Air on ABC Immediately Following the Awards    » read more »

Thursday, May 22, 2008 -- Five-time Emmy® Award recipient Louis J. Horvitz will direct "The 60th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards," it was announced today by executive producer Ken Ehrlich. The show will air SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 21 (8:00-11:00 p.m., live ET/delayed PT) on ABC Television Network from the NOKIA Live.

Five-time Emmy(r) Award recipient Louis J. Horvitz will direct "The 60th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards," it was announced today by executive producer Ken Ehrlich. The show will air SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 21 (8:00-11:00 p.m., live ET/delayed PT) on ABC Television Network from the NOKIA Live.    » read more »

Coverage Begins May 29

May 27, 2008 -- ESPN’s coverage of the entire Women’s College World Series – up to 17 games on ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPN360.com beginning Thursday, May 29 – will feature ESPN’s John Kruk as a game analyst on 10 games, including the best-of-three Championship. Kruk, an analyst on ESPN’s Baseball Tonight studio show and select MLB games, will work with Beth Mowins and analyst Jessica Mendoza, a 2004 Olympic Gold Medalist and member of the U.S. team headed for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.    » read more »

Record-Breaking Agreement Requires Company to Submit Ads to FDA Prior to Airing

May 20, 2008 -- Chicago - Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan today announced a landmark financial settlement with Merck and Company, Inc., that also requires the pharmaceutical manufacturer to submit television drug advertisements to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for review before their broadcast.    » read more »

Boise – The State of Idaho will receive more than $1.1 million as a result of a consent judgment with Merck and Company, Inc., Attorney General Lawrence Wasden announced today. Wasden’s office filed a consent judgment resolving a three-year investigation by 30 states concerning the company’s deceptive promotion of the drug Vioxx.

The judgment, filed Tuesday in Fourth District Court in Ada County, will largely restrict Merck’s ability to deceptively promote any Merck product.    » read more »

Company was under investigation for marketing of anti-inflammatory drug

May 20, 2008 -- TALLAHASSEE, FL - Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum today filed a stipulated consent judgment with Merck and Company, Inc. resolving a three-year investigation that targeted the company’s promotion of the prescription drug Vioxx.

Merck Vioxx

The agreement provides $58 million to the 30 participating states, of which Florida’s share will be more than $3.5 million. The judgment, filed today in the Broward County Circuit Court and pending court approval, will largely restrict Merck’s ability to promote any Merck product in a manner that may be deceptive.    » read more »

May 20, 2008 -- SAN DIEGO -- California Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. today announced a “groundbreaking settlement” with Merck & Co. which requires the pharmaceutical manufacturer to obtain Federal Drug Administration approval before running any television drug advertisements for new pain medications.

“Merck’s aggressive television advertising convinced hundreds of thousands of consumers to seek Vioxx prescriptions before the drug’s risk were fully understood,” Attorney General Brown said. “Today’s groundbreaking settlement prevents Merck from releasing new television drug advertisements without obtaining federal approval.”    » read more »

ABC Studios Ranks First Among Studios in Number Of Returning Broadcast Series, with 14

May 2008 -- ABC Studios ushers in another record season with 16 returning series, maintaining its stronghold as the No. 1 studio in returning broadcast series (14, tied with Paramount). ABC Studios productions, including five new series, are scheduled on six networks and in first-run syndication.

Highlights:
- Five New ABC Studios Series Scheduled to Premiere
- Studio in Development on 11 Additional Pilots For Consideration in the 2008/09 Season    » read more »