Reveille's Chad Bennett Debuts Brand-Building Agency, Populus

Reveille's Chad Bennett Debuts Brand-Building Agency, Populus

Reveille's former head of brand development, Chad Bennett, has announced his new Populus Brands, a brand-building company that aims to build lifestyle and entertainment brands around shows and other content.

While his eight years at Reveille enabled him to brand products around the studio's shows, including "The Biggest Loser" and "MasterChef," Populus will also work with magazines, features, and other content producers, Bennett told TheWrap.

The company's first clients include Reveille, as well as Litton Entertainment, Power Music and Quepasa Corp.’s social networking sites Quepasa.com and myYearbook.com.

Bennett will continue to consult for "The Biggest Loser." He has previously helped develop the NBC show's brand to promote health bars, exercise DVDs and videogames, a 5K run, and even fitness resorts.

"Content producers have the full attention of their audience, but many do not have the time or resources to fully leverage them. There’s huge opportunity to use content to develop and build lifestyle brands that complement the viewer experience and drive a maximum number of ancillary revenue streams," said Bennett.

Bennett, also experienced in network, cable and digital programming, has also worked with brands including Subway, General Mills, USPS, Clorox, Wrigley, Rodale and Lionsgate.

'Waterloo Road' Chelsee Healey teases "big" Janeece plot

'Waterloo Road' Chelsee Healey teases "big" Janeece plot

Chelsee Healey has revealed details of a "big" storyline for her Waterloo Road character Janeece Bryant.

Recent pictures showed Janeece in a wedding dress, seemingly set to marry hapless Maths teacher Daniel Chalk.

Healey teased to TV Times: "There's a big storyline coming up. It's quite emotional and deep, but it was really good to do. It's going to be worth watching, put it that way!

"You'll also see lots of Janeece and Chalky scenes this term. I love working with Mark Benton, who plays him, as he's one of my best friends on the show."

Of her wedding scenes, the 23-year-old added: "I loved every minute! It made me realise that I do really want to get married.

"But not yet, in the future, a long time from now! It was weird wearing a wedding dress and going through the marriage scenes but nice to do.

"Janeece's dress is lovely and I could move easily in it, but it isn't as big as what I'd want on my own wedding day!"

Speaking about her stint on Strictly Come Dancing, which she completed while filming for the BBC school drama, Healey admitted: "I was so tired.

"I don't know how I got through it, but I did because I enjoyed them both so much."

AFTRA Approves Network Television Code by Huge Margin

AFTRA Approves Network Television Code by Huge Margin

American Federation of Television and Radio Artists members approved by 96 percent an agreement with the four major television broadcast networks and other producers on terms for a successor agreement to the AFTRA National Code of Fair Practice for Network Television Broadcasting, the union announced Wednesday night.

The agreement gives members a 1 percent increase in employer contributions to the AFTRA Health & Retirement Funds, bringing the total H&R contribution rate to 16.5 percent. It also increases wages by 6 percent over the term of the agreement (2 percent each year) for most categories.

The three-year agreement will run retroactively from Nov. 16, 2011, through Nov. 15, 2014, after ratification.

The Network Code generates more than $250 million a year in member earnings, according to an AFTRA statement. It covers programming in all television day parts (except for scripted primetime programs on the networks and the CW) and programming produced for digital media.

Covered programs include dramas in first-run syndication, morning news shows, talk shows, soap operas, variety, reality, sports, contest programs, award shows and promotional announcements.

The new agreement also will minimum hazard pay for dancers from $80 to $100 per day, and from $100 to $125 per program; and increase the minimum work day for stand-ins who work on primetime variety and award shows, which will increase the minimum daily rate by 20 percent to 67 percent.

In addition, the $37.50 overtime rate for singers will be paid starting at the seventh instead of the ninth hour.

It also will increase equal employment opportunities for union performers and prohibit discrimination based on a member's gender identity.

The AFTRA National Board unanimously approved the agreement on Jan. 28. Ballots were mailed to members on Jan. 30 and were returned Wednesday.

TV Tonight 24th of February 2012

TV Tonight 24th of February 2012

The daily list in alphabetical order, of all the new episodes airing.

    20/20 S34E26: "Season 34, Episode 26"
    7 Days (NZ) S04E02: "Season 4, Episode 2"
    A Gifted Man S01E15: "In Case of Letting Go"
    A.N.T. Farm S01E22: "Some EnchANTed Evening"
    Amagami SS S02E08: "Episode 8"
    America's Most Wanted S25E13: "Season 25, Episode 13"
    Ancient Aliens S04E03: "The Greys"
    Antiques Road Trip S04E10: "Series 4, Episode 10"
    Benidorm S05E01: "Series 5, Episode 1"
    Bering Sea Gold S01E05: "Captaincy"
    Big Brother Sverige S08E06: "Season 8, Episode 6"
    Black Rock Shooter S01E04: "Episode 4"
    Blade Anime S01E07: "Claws and Blades"
    Blue Bloods S02E15: "The Life We Chose"
    Coach Trip S09E20: "Series 9, Day 20"
    Come Dine With Me S18E36: "Series 18, Come Dine With Me"
    Come Dine With Me S18E35: "Series 18, Series 30"
    Coronation Street S53E40: "Fri Feb 24, 2012 [Episode 2]"
    Coronation Street S53E39: "Fri Feb 24, 2012 [Episode 1]"
    Dateline NBC S21E24: "FR2123"
    Days of our Lives S47E76: "Ep. #11786"
    Deal Or No Deal (UK) S07E168: "Episode 1848"
    Degrassi S11E33: "Underneath It All Part Two"
    Degrassi S11E32: "Underneath It All Part One"
    Dickinson's Real Deal S08E59: "Series 8, Episode 59"
    Doctors S13E206: "At Sea"
    EastEnders S28E33: "February 24, 2012"
    Emmerdale S41E47: "February 24, 2012"
    Escape To The Country S12E39: "Cotswolds"
    Flikken Maastricht S06E04: "Baby Gaga"
    Four Weddings (2010) S03E29: "...and a Power Outage"
    Fringe S04E14: "The End of All Things"
    General Hospital (US) S49E229: "#12503"
    Generator Rex S03E15: "Target: Consortium"
    Goede Tijden, Slechte Tijden S22E125: "Season 22, Episode 125"
    Gold Rush: Alaska S02E16: "Judgment Day"
    Got to Dance S03E54: "Series 3, Episode 54"
    Grimm S01E12: "Last Grimm Standing"
    Guilty Crown S01E18: "Wandering:Dear..."
    High School DxD S01E08: "Episode 8"
    Hollyoaks S18E40: "February 24, 2012"
    Home and Away (AU) S25E25: "Episode 5460"
    Homes Under the Hammer S14E177: "Series 14, Show 177"
    House Hunters S48E39
    House Hunters International S25E42: "Moving up in Paris, France"
    House of Anubis S02E61: "House of Trades"
    House of Anubis S02E68: "House of Speculations"
    House of Anubis S02E67: "House of Collections"
    House of Anubis S02E62: "House of Magic"
    I Shouldn't Be Alive S05E12: "Perfect Storm"
    Infested S02E09: "The Nastiest Battles"
    Inu x Boku SS S01E07: "Episode 7"
    Jeopardy! S28E115: "Show #6320"
    Jessie (2011) S01E13: "The Princess and the Pea Brain"
    Jimmy Kimmel Live S09E212: "TBA"
    Kill Me Baby S01E08: "Episode 8"
    Killer Trials: Judgment Day S01E07: "The Real Victims"
    Killer Trials: Judgment Day S01E08: "The Killer Next Door"
    Kitchen Nightmares S04E15: "Café Hon"
    Late Night with Jimmy Fallon S02E228
    Late Show with David Letterman S19E34
    Live From the Artists Den S04E04: "Kid Rock"
    Live with Regis and Kelly S29E129
    Mastermind (UK) S40E19: "Series 40, Show 19"
    Mastermind (UK) S40E18: "Series 40, Show 18"
    Melvyn Bragg On Class And Culture S01E01: "Episode 1"
    Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries S01E01: "Cocaine Blues"
    Moordvrouw S01E06: "Teruggefloten"
    Neighbours S28E35: "Episode 6345"
    Nytt På Nytt S26E08: "Season 26, Episode 8"
    On Freddie Roach S01E06: "TBA"
    Persona 4 The Animation S01E20: "We'll all meet at the AMAGIYA Hotel"
    Pointless S05E124: "Series 5, Episode 124"
    Popstokk S02E08: "Atle Pettersen, Rex, Jorunn Hauge og Karianne Kjærnes"
    Portlandia S02E08: "Feminist Book Store 10th Anniversary"
    Romanii au Talent S02E02: "Auditii #2"
    Room 101 S12E06: "Nick Hewer, Carol Vorderman, Rhod Gilbert"
    Safari Vet School S01E08: "Episode 8"
    Say Yes to the Dress: Atlanta S03E12: "TBA"
    Senhime Zesshou Symphogear S01E08: "Episode 8"
    Shark Tank S03E06: "Season 3, Episode 6"
    Spartacus: Blood and Sand S02E05: "Libertus"
    Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008) S04E19: "Massacre"
    Stella (UK) S01E08: "Episode 8"
    Sweet Home Alabama S03E07: "Swamped"
    The Bold and the Beautiful S25E238: "Ep. #6268"
    The Chase (2009) S05E39: "Series 5, Episode 39"
    The Culture Show S16E03: "Series 16, Episode 3"
    The Ellen DeGeneres Show S09E108: "Seth Rogen, Bethenny Frankel"
    The Graham Norton Show S10E17: "Mark Wahlberg, Minnie Driver, Jo Brand"
    The Jeremy Kyle Show S07E115: "February 24, 2012"
    The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson S08E35: "John Waters, Jennifer Carpenter"
    The Real Hustle (UK) S11E05: "Celebrity Chancers: Episode 5"
    The Tonight Show with Jay Leno S19E249
    The View S15E113: "Lori Greiner, Chris Cuomo"
    The Young and the Restless S39E236: "Ep. #9851"
    Thuis S17E130: "Season 17, Episode 130"
    Undercover Boss S03E05: "American Seafoods"
    Who Do You Think You Are? (US) S03E03: "Blair Underwood"
    World's Toughest Trucker S01E08: "Episode 8"
    Байки Митяя S01E11: "Season 1, Episode 11"
    Байки Митяя S01E10: "Season 1, Episode 10"
    Байки Митяя S01E09: "Season 1, Episode 9"
    Байки Митяя S01E12: "Season 1, Episode 12"

Development Update: 24th of February

Development Update: 24th of February

AMERICANA (ABC) - Emilie de Ravin ("Lost") is the latest to board the drama pilot, about Robert Soulter (Anthony LaPaglia), creator of the most iconic fashion brand in the world - Americana - which is celebrating its 30th anniversary. She'll play his daughter Francesca ("dressed in perfect western chic"), who handles special events for the company. Ken Olin and Natalie Mendoza also star in the ABC Studios-based hour, from writer Michael Seitzman and director Phillip Noyce. (MovieHole.net)

ANIMAL KINGDOM (NBC) - Tyler Labine and Bobby Lee are both on board the pilot, a single-camera comedy about George Coleman (Justin Kirk), a veterinarian who loves animals but usually hates their owners. They'll play fellow docs Doug ("a big, doughy, sweet natured Vet") and Kim ("a skittish vet") in the Universal Television-based hour, from co-writers Alessandro Tanaka and Brian Gatewood and co-directors Anthony Russo and Joe Russo. (Deadline.com)

FIRST CUT (The CW) - Michael Rady and Kelly McCreary are the first to be cast in the drama pilot, about Emily Barnes, "a newly-minted doctor as she discovers that life at the hospital where she works is no different than high school." Rady will play her resident, Micah Ellis ("a little bit of a nerd; the guy you never notice until suddenly you grow up and realize that he's kind of cute"), with McCreary as fellow intern Tyra Granger ("a bit of an odd duck; a little Ally Sheady in Breakfast Club"). Jennie Snyder Urman is behind the hour, which is set up at CBS Television Studios. (TVLine.com)

GOLDEN BOY (CBS) - Ryan Phillippe has exited the drama pilot, which tracks one man's (Phillippe) meteoric rise from uniform cop at age 26 to police commissioner at 34. Said departure is reported as "amicable and happened after doubts on Phillippe's part that he was ready to commit to the rigors of a network drama series." Chi McBride, Kevin Alejandro and Stella Maeve co-star in the Warner Bros. Television-based hour, from director Richard Shepard and writer Nick Wootton. (Deadline.com)

THE LIFE (ABC) - Lee Tergesen is likewise the first to land a role on the drama pilot, about the widow of an assassinated criminal who is suddenly forced to adopt her late husband's role in order to protect her family. He's set as Steven Tomlin ("the foot-soldier, not the general, prefers it that way") in the ABC Studios-based hour, from writer Melissa Rosenberg and based on the Dutch serial "Penoza." (TVLine.com)

MIDNIGHT SUN (NBC) - Michael Raymond-James ("Terriers") has joined the cast of the drama pilot, about the FBI's investigation into disappearance of a remote cult in Dugan, Alaska led by Bennett Maxwell (Titus Welliver) which taps into a grander political conspiracy. He'll play Lieutenant Sam Fuller ("has an easy, open, goofy attractiveness but don't let that fool you"), second-in-command of the Dugan Police Department. Brad Anderson is directing the Universal Television-based hour from a script by Lisa Zwerling. (Deadline.com)

NASHVILLE (ABC) - Jonathan Jackson ("General Hospital") has booked a role on the pilot, a drama set against the backdrop of the country music world in Nashville. He's on board as Avery Davis ("a dead sexy East Nashville hipster who patterns himself after Kings of Leon"), an aspiring musician/songwriter. Writer Callie Khouri and director R.J. Cutler are behind the ABC Studios/Lionsgate Television-based hour, which also stars Clare Bowen and Sam Palladio. (Deadline.com)

THE NEW NORMAL (NBC) - Justin Bartha and Georgia King have landed principal roles on the comedy pilot, about a gay couple - Bryan (Andrew Rannells) and David (Bartha) - and Goldie, the woman who becomes a surrogate to help them start a family. Bartha will play said fellow, David Murray ("30's, quietly sexy, grounded, patient"), with King as Bryan's no-nonsense six-foot blonde assistant Rocky ("seen it all/won't discuss it, Nordic blood keeps her icy cool and unflappable"). Ellen Barkin also stars as Goldie's wild grandmother. Ali Adler and Ryan Murphy are behind the 20th Century Fox Television-based half-hour, the latter of which will direct. (Deadline.com)

OH F---, IT'S YOU (CBS) - Greg Grunberg ("Love Bites") has scored a role on the comedy pilot, about Nick, a notorious womanizer who, after surviving a health scare, realizes that "the one" is his ex-turned-gal pal/business partner, Wendy (JoAnna Garcia Swisher), who's already engaged to a nice guy. He's set as Charlie ("mid-30's, beatendown looking"), Wendy's brother and Nick's best guy friend, who's in the midst of a bitter divorce. Warner Bros. Television is behind the half-hour, where Grunberg recently signed a talent holding deal. James Burrows is directing the project from a script by Greg Malins and Greg Berlanti. (Deadline.com)

PARTNERS (CBS) - Brandon Routh, Elizabeth Regen and Lucy Davis have all been cast in the comedy pilot, about two male architects - one straight, Charlie; one gay, Louis (Michael Urie) - whose relationship itself resembles a marriage. Regen will play Rosanna "Ro-Ro" Di-Giandemenico, the guys' colorful assistant; with Routh as Louis's partner Wyatt ("30's, extremely handsome; is the emotional photo negative of his partner"), a hard partying model-turned-sober, vegan nurse; and Davis as Renata ("very East Village; very good body; glummer than Eeyore"), the droll bookkeeper for Charlie's fiancé Ali (Sophia Bush). Warner Bros. Television and co-creators David Kohan and Max Mutchnick are behind the hour, to be directed by James Burrows. (Deadline.com)

UNTITLED BEN FALCONE/LARRY DORF PROJECT (CBS) - Rachael Harris has been cast in the pilot, a multi-comedy about a man (Ben Falcone) who learns that there's no place like home... unless home is your parents' house and you're 37 years old. She'll play his frazzled sister who has three kids. Falcone and Larry Dorf co-wrote the half-hour for Warner Bros. Television. (Deadline.com)

UNTITLED HILARY WINSTON PROJECT (NBC) - Mena Suvari and Kyle Howard have both been cast in the comedy pilot, about a shy, focused woman who, after being dumped by her fiancé, leans on her co-workers to help her come out of her shell and plot her revenge. They'll play two of said group: Lizzy ("sexy and seems out of place in a tight dress and high heels") and Brandon ("cocky and athletic") alongside the previously cast Aubrey Dollar. Adam Shankman is helming the Sony Pictures Television-based half-hour from a script by Hilary Winston. (Deadline.com)

UNTITLED JOSH BERMAN/ROB WRIGHT PROJECT (FOX) - James Carpinello and Jesse Lee Soffer are the first to be cast in the drama pilot, about Grace Devlin, a doctor who also works for the Chicago mob. Soffer will play Danny, Grace's likeable screw-up of a brother, with Carpinello as Franco, a sexy mobster who has a past with Grace and she's trying to move forward. Sony Pictures Television is behind the hour, which Michael Dinner is directing from a script by Josh Berman and Rob Wright. (Deadline.com)

Kathryn Hahn on 'Free Agents' cancellation: 'We saw it coming'

Kathryn Hahn on 'Free Agents' cancellation: 'We saw it coming'

Kathryn Hahn has spoken out about Free Agents' short time on television.

Hahn starred with Hank Azaria as two public relations executives who become attracted to each other on the NBC sitcom, which was cancelled in its first season.

"We all kind of saw the writing on the wall," Hahn told New York Magazine. "Tonally, it was such an interesting show and group, and it takes a second for a show to get its legs anyway. And I don't feel like, for various reasons, we could afford the time to give us that space."

When asked how she dealt with the show's cancellation changing her plans, Hahn said: "It's so hard, because I'm such a control freak. But in this business you just can't [be one]. This, and parenting. You can't control anything. It's just a game.

"As soon as you take a deep breath, you have the rug pulled out from you. Once again, bulls**t is coming out of my mouth, because it's very difficult to live this kind of life. I'd love to get to a point where I could just be independent, not care about tomorrow."

Hahn will return to NBC as a political operative in the sitcom Parks and Recreation.

'Fringe' to return for shorter fifth and final season?

'Fringe' to return for shorter fifth and final season?

Fringe could be renewed for a fifth and final season, reports suggest.

It is possible that the sci-fi drama will return to Fox for a shorter run, composed of just 15 episodes, according to TVLine.

The current fourth season of Fringe has seen the show struggle in the ratings, with midseason premiere 'Back to Where You've Never Been' pulling in just 2.87m viewers.

Last week's (February 17) instalment 'A Better Human Being' rose slightly to 3m.

Series star Joshua Jackson (Peter Bishop) recently hinted that the series could continue "off network" if Fox declines to recommission it.

"I think there's a possibility that if people just watched the show on the day and date, and if the numbers came back, [renewal] is a possibility [on Fox]," he said. "[But] the TV landscape is a different place than it used to be, so [cancellation on Fox] might not be death."

Fringe continues on Fridays at 9/8c on Fox. Sky1 airs the show on Wednesdays at 10pm in the UK.