Time Warner Hit With Disability Discrimination Suit Over 'Conan,' 'Dr. Drew's Lifechangers'

Time Warner Entertainment, Warner Brothers Entertainment and Warner Bros. Television Distribution were slapped with two separate lawsuits on Tuesday, filed on behalf of a man with muscular dystrophy who claims that he was denied the opportunity to attend tapings of "Dr. Drew's Lifechangers" and "Conan."

According to one suit, which names Time Warner Entertainment and Warner Bros. Television Distribution, Emmanuel Ramirez -- who is confined to a wheelchair due to his muscular dystrophy -- attempted to order eight tickets to a taping of "Dr. Drew's Lifechangers" in Oct. 2011, including one ticket for wheelchair accessible seating. The complaint claims that Ramirez was told that the taping facility, Victory Studios in Glendale, Calif., isn't wheelchair accessible.

The other suit, which names Time Warner Entertainment and Warner Bros. Entertainment, alleges that Ramirez and three friends attempted to attend a Feb. 2011 taping of "Conan" at Warner Bros. Studios but were told that Ramirez's wheelchair-accessible van would not fit in the parking structure and were directed to an outdoor lot. The suit goes on to claim that none of the vehicles used to transport audience members to the studio were wheelchair-accessible, forcing Ramirez to take a path that was not only difficult for Ramirez due to its distance, but forced him into the street at times due to narrow sidewalks.

Ramirez's suit adds that, when he and his entourage arrived at the studio, he was told that wheelchair-accessible seating was located on the second level of the audience section, accessible only by wheelchair lift. Ramirez balked, saying that the lift looked too flimsy for his heavy electric wheelchair, and asked to be seated on the lower level, but was told that he would create a fire hazard.

An individual familiar with the shows' policies told TheWrap that "Dr. Drew's Lifechangers" has regularly included audience members in wheelchairs and, in fact, has featured guests in wheelchairs on the stage, and that "Conan" accommodates wheelchair-bound guests on the second tier of audience seating, but prohibits seating on the floor of the studio due to safety concerns.

ANE Productions and Team Coco Digital are also named in the suits.

Both suits, filed by the Disability Rights Legal Center, claim violations of the Americans With Disabilities Act, California Health & Safety Code, the Unruh Civil Rights Act, and the Blind and Other Physically Disabled Persons Act.

The complaints ask that the defendants be ordered to change their allegedly discriminatory seating policies and alter their facilities to provide equal access. The suits are also asking for treble general, compensatory and statutory damages.

CBS Derides ABC's Defense of 'Big Brother'-Like 'Glass House'

Continuing to press for a temporary restraining order to keep ABC's "Glass House" from premiering Monday, CBS said Tuesday that ABC's lawyers had failed to point out any substantive differences between "Glass House" and CBS's long-running "Big Brother."

CBS asked for the order last week, arguing that "Glass House" has not only stolen the concept of "Big Brother" -- 12 to 14 people live in a house where their moves are constantly monitored -- but also poached former staffers from "Big Brother" and stolen production techniques.

ABC offered a series of defenses in a filing late Monday, but in its response Tuesday, CBS said none of them addressed its chief argument: that ABC's show had committed copyright infringement and stolen trade secrets. CBS contends that ABC has defended its show by pointing only to "trivial rule changes" that differentiate it from "Big Brother."

A judge is expected to rule ahead of the planned Monday premiere date for "Glass House."

ABC said Monday in its opposition to the request for a restraining order that CBS's effort to keep its show off the air was "wholly unprecedented," and challenged CBS' suggestion that "Big Brother" was unique.

"To begin, there is no 'secret sauce' in 'Big Brother'"s production process," ABC's lawyers said. They said "Big Brother" uses "commonly known equipment, jobs, and ways of doing things in reality television production."

ABC acknowleged that its show wasn't particularly original, either: "[N]one of the alleged similarities shared by 'Big Brother' and 'The Glass House' involve copyright protectable elements -- they are all generic staples of the reality show genre: people living in a house, competing with each other to avoid elimination, and winning a prize," ABC attorneys wrote.

CBS' filing Tuesday jumped on that contention. Quoting the ABC language in the paragraph above, it said, "That is as useful as saying that Sherlock Holmes lacks copyrightable expression because it is just 'the idea of a detective and a sidekick, who live in London, and use disguises and forensic science to solve crimes.'"

CBS's attorneys said ABC had failed to point out a single show, aside from "Big Brother," that was similar to "Glass House."

Big Brother Arron pleased with nominations results

Arron Lowe has claimed that he is happy to be up for eviction this week alongside Chris James.

The duo will face the public vote this Friday, following nominations from all the housemates yesterday.

After the housemates were informed of the results by Big Brother, Arron shouted: "Yes!" and hugged Chris.

"I think the public love you and I could do with getting out of this place," said Arron.

During an embrace with Chris, he added: "You know I love you and I did not put you up."

Despite warnings from his housemates, Arron maintained his positive spin on the events, commenting: "If I go, I'll be back in my environment, but if I stay then the public love me."

Chris was more upset about the prospect of an early eviction, claiming that he didn't fancy his chances against the model.

Big Brother Ashleigh gives Essex a bad name, says 'TOWIE' Amy Childs

Amy Childs has blasted Big Brother housemate Ashleigh Hughes for giving Essex "a bad name".

The TOWIE and Celebrity Big Brother star said that although she is "loving" this year's series, she fears that the self-confessed "naughty girl" could damage the reputation of Essex girls with her potty mouth and flirtatious antics.

"The most annoying housemate is Essex girl Ashleigh," Childs wrote in her New column. "I can't believe how much she swears.

"I hope people don't think all Essex girls are like that or she'll give us a bad name."

However, Childs did reveal herself to be a fan of doorman Chris James and his "funny, squeaky voice".

"He said he has hair like [TOWIE's] Joey Essex, but I don't think he has at all - not even close," she commented.

Childs also praised the design of the new sparkly Big Brother house, declaring: "It's been vajazzled!"

Hughes has already admitted to having a crush on fellow housemate Luke Scrase.

"I just like his muscles," she explained to Big Brother. "I think that's why I like him, don't think it's his personality, we'll see what happens."

'The Voice' UK is BBC's biggest entertainment show in a decade

The Voice UK has been declared a hit by the BBC and producers Wall to Wall, following the announcement that the show was the broadcaster's biggest entertainment launch in a decade.

The talent show, which was won by Leanne Mitchell and coach Sir Tom Jones, had a consolidated series average of 9.2 million (38.5% share) viewers.

The figures are higher than the first series launches of Strictly, X Factor and I'm A Celebrity.

Ratings for The Voice UK climbed through the Blind Auditions and Battle Rounds, but the show struggled when it reached the Live Shows. The show hit a low of 4.49 million at the semi-final stages, but it did recover for the final which was watched by 8.7 million.

BBC One controller Danny Cohen, who gambled on purchasing the rights to the John de Mol reality series, said: "The Voice has broken all records for a new entertainment show on the BBC.

"I'm really proud of the coaches, artists and producers who have achieved this. It's great for BBC viewers that we have launched a new Saturday night entertainment show that has had such a big impact and connects so well with BBC values.

"There are also inevitably things you learn in the first series of a big new show, and we are confident that The Voice will return even stronger next year."

Leanne Klein, creative director at Wall to Wall Television, said: "Wall to Wall is very proud to have produced such a successful debut series.

"The Voice is a global phenomenon and the UK version is undoubtedly one of the very best. We look forward to working with Talpa and the BBC on the second series, using what we've learnt to make it even bigger and better for 2013."

The Voice UK will return for a second series in 2013 on BBC One. Hopefuls can find information on the auditions at bbcthevoiceuk.co.uk.

Report: L.A. Still Losing Drama Pilots to Other Cities

Los Angeles remained by far the most popular location for comedy pilots this past pilot season but continues to lose drama pilots to other areas, thanks in part to production incentives and more crews and facilities available outside Hollywood, the non-profit group FilmL.A. says in a new report.

That's bad news for the L.A. economy, because drama pilots on average cost $5.5 million compared to $2 million for comedies -- and employ more people. A single drama series can create thousands of jobs and spend tens of millions of dollars, said the group, which issues permits for on-location shoots in the Los Angeles area.

Film L.A. counted 152 broadcast and cable television pilots for the 2011-12 development cycle -- the most of any year except the cycle before, which had 169. Los Angeles dominated with comedies, landing 91 percent of all comedy pilots for both network and cable, in part because it has so many of the soundstages where sitcoms are usually filmed.

But it had less than one-third of dramas, as tax incentives and improving infrastructure continued to draw pilots to New York City, Toronto, Vancouver and other locations. Six development cycles ago -- in 2006-07, L.A. had 63 percent of drama pilots.

New York and Los Angeles tied with 11 broadcast network drama pilots each this past production cycle after having 10 each the previous cycle. Canada had 10 such pilots this time out, and other locations had 11. In cable pilots, Los Angeles led with 11.

At the start of 2012-13 fall viewing season, 18 of the dramas on TV will be L.A.-based, including new and returning shows. Twenty-three dramas will be filmed outside the area. That means that for the first time in FilmL.A.'s study, less than 50 percent of dramas on the air will be shot in L.A., according to the group.

Big Brother Adam Kelly annoys Lydia over game-playing suggestion

Adam Kelly and Lydia Louisa have had a tense discussion in the Big Brother house over the suggestion that she may be game-playing.

Adam said that he would always "support" Lydia, but said that he would be annoyed if she continued to talk about how she was "going to be up again" for eviction.

"If you continue with,'I'm going to be up again this, I'm going to be up again this week', I'm going to be, 'Bleh!'," said Adam.

"If it happens all the time, 'I'm playing this card again', I will have a problem."

The 27-year-old's comments riled dancer Lydia, who replied: "I'm not playing a card, I'm voicing a stress.

"I understand what you're saying though, it could be annoying. But if you can't voice how you feel, what you can do? I can internalise it. I can do that."

A concerned Adam interjected: "Don't get upset with me."

"I'm not upset with you," said Lydia. "But you're in a different position to me. Your place in the house is great. I'm trying to tell you that this is what people are thinking. There is a consensus."

Before walking out of the discussion, the girlfriend of Andy Scott-Lee added: "If there was a game, I'm not playing a very good one. Do you think this is how my family want to see me?"