Voice of Kid's Cartoon "Dora The Explorer" Sues Viacom

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The voice behind Nickelodeon's bilingual cartoon heroine "Dora The Explorer" filed a lawsuit against the cable channel and parent media company Viacom for allegedly cheating her out of millions of promised revenue from residuals and merchandising. Kaitlin Sanchez, who lent her voice to the famed pre-school character since 2007, recently lost the role owing to the teen's changed voice according to a statement from Nickelodeon.

"We are not suing because they claim her voice changed... She is suing because they paid her nothing for residuals," Sanchez's attorney John Balestriere said. He further stated that Sanchez spent most of her time promoting the brand uncompensated "rather than performing as a paid actress."

The counter from Nickelodeon: "She was well-compensated for her work and for personal appearances."

Prior to landing the role of Dora Marquez in the cartoon series, the voice behind Dora was played by Kathleen Herles. No statement has been made regarding a replacement for Sanchez. It is expected that Viacom will fight the claim and vigorously protect one of its bankable franchises. Read more about the story from the links below.

Related articles

• Viacom Sued by 'Dora the Explorer' Actress (dailyfinance.com)
• Nickelodeon fires back at 'Dora the Explorer' teen's charges (nydailynews.com)
• Nickelodeon Screwed Dora the Explorer (thesuperficial.com)

Apple, Google Race for Internet TV Technology

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The old Apple TV will be replaced by iTV.

Top technology giants Apple and Google are both racing to get their own versions of an Internet TV appliance out to the market before the end of 2010 (if not early the following year). Apple's iTV is silently buzzing around the rumor mills while the Google TV already has a presentation preview over at their Google TV website.

These new platforms will definitely change the way people experience television. You can think of it as the latest upgrade to TV since cable or TiVo. Apple is reported to launch iTV in September with a $99 price tag while Google TV is slated for release by the fall of 2010.

Although the concept of Internet television is nothing new, competition between Apple and Google is expected to raise interest for the products going into the holiday season. This is completely different from simply hooking up your computer to the TV via HDMI cable. A rough analogy would be having Apple and Google taking the place of cable and satellite television providers through your ISPs. This also opens up fresh advertising opportunities for companies and of course, more revenue for these top tech titans.

This is going to be a wild new frontier for television in the years ahead. So, will your next TV run on Apple's iOS or Google's Android? Share your comments after the video.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Apple and Google Battle for Your Remote (thenextweb.com)
• Kevin Rose - blogg - Why Apple's iTV Will Change Everything (dccrowley.posterous.com)
• Should You Buy Google TV or Wait for the New Apple TV to Launch? (nytimes.com)

New ‘Thundercats’ Animation To Forecast Fate of Movie

I've been tracking development for the "Thundercats" movie since 2007. The latest updates on this project is that Warner Brothers may have something slated by 2011 or 2012. But before that a little experiment is on the way via the small screen.

WB is working with Cartoon Network to launch a new Thundercats animation series. This is in partnership with Studio 4C, a leading Japanese animation firm which also worked on the "Animatrix".

It's quit conceivable that the success or failure of this re-envisioning of the cartoon classic will determine whether the Thundercats movie will see the light of day. Personally, I'm looking forward to both projects.

Related Resources:
New ‘Thundercats’ Series Coming In 2011! First Image And Poster Arrive!

A Harrowing Halloween

Have you ever had sleepless nights after watching a horror movie or reading a scary story? Well, there were some news stories on the Web last Halloween week that would certainly keep some people up at night.

"WRITERS' REVENGE"
The Writers Guild of America have called for a strike as it demanded a "better share" of the revenue pie when it comes to works released on new media such as DVDs, the Internet and on mobile devices. It's certainly a nightmare for "talking heads" on television as they rely on members of the 12,000+ strong screenwriter's union to come up with the stuff that makes them "look good" on TV. The popular talk shows like those of Jay Leno, David Letterman and Jon Stewart, as well as comedy shows such as Saturday Night Live are the first ones to take a hit from the impasse as show producers refused to yield to the writers' demands stating that the issue on revenues from DVDs is a "roadblock to negotiations".

What's really scary about this situation? We're gonna be stuck with re-runs and reality shows until this whole thing boils over.

"THE MUMMY REVEALED"
Although it would be nice to see another Brendan Fraser / Rachel Wesiz team-up for another "The Mummy" movie franchise, this isn't about that. The teen pharaoh circa 1333-1324 BC, in the mummified person of Tutankhamun, will be up for public exhibit at his tomb in Egypt's Valley of the Kings for the first time since the tomb was discovered 85 years ago. The body will be placed in a climate-controlled enclosure to ensure that tourists won't contribute to further damage at the archeological site.

All I can say is... the curse - remember the curse!

"ATTACK OF THE SUPERMOUSE"
Faster and can run longer and farther than your average rodent, stronger appetite but weighs considerably less, able to give birth to what is equivalent to 80-years old in human age. It's Mickey, it's Jerry - no, it's "Supermouse"! Genetically modified mice were developed by a team of scientists at the Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio that has significantly increased ability and performance compared to regular mice. This gives rise to fears from those against transgenic experimentation of future abuse especially among athletes undergoing gene theraphy and similar human-applied scenarios.

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One noticeable side-effect of the research - the supermice were more aggressive. This early on, please ban transgenics from the UFC!

"FALLING HOUSE OF CARDS"
Now that would make a great title for a Grisham thriller. And with the past weeks' turmoil in the global banking sector it certainly serves as a grim backdrop for many a-worried investors. The credit market crisis is still in a downward spiral, as the top brass of such traditionally financial stalwarts as Merill Lynch & Co. and Citigroup, Inc. took early exits after their firms suffered "sickening" losses.

As regulators and financial companies struggle to overcome the slumping market, more heads may just roll.

Did you have a harrowing halloween too?

"Bionic Woman" Rewired on NBC

"She comes with her own webcam.. built-in."
JAMIE SOMMERS RETURNS TO THE small screen, this time with more bells and whistles (presumably) than her 70's incarnation as the "Bionic Woman". English actress Michelle Ryan will play the lead role for the remake vaunted as "the biggest television event of the year".

The NBC network seems to have radically upgraded the concept of the post-millenium Bionic Woman. No more Office of Scientific Intelligence (OSI), no more Oscar Goldman, no more bionic German Shepherd, in fact only the name Jamie Sommers seems to link the then and now. The Daily Mail quoted producers as saying that this is a "re-imagination" of the 1976 cult classic.

Lindsay Wagner played the original Jamie Sommers in "The Bionic Woman" for which she won an Emmy in 1977. It was a spin-off of the original bionic-themed show "The Six Million Dollar Man". Back then, Jamie Sommers was a professional tennis player who suffers a skydiving accident. Her old flame Steve Austin, played by Lee Majors, who happens to be wired to $6M worth (give or take) of bionic technology, pushes his secretive OSI employer to save Jamie's life. The bionic duo had since been running, albeit in familiar slow-motion style, in parallel adventures across American TV sets.

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58 episodes and 3 made-for-TV reunion movies later, NBC revives the franchise in what is perceived to be a bid to stave-off its slipping network ranking. This time around, Jamie Sommers leads a troubled life as a college dropout-slash-barkeeper and caretaker to her teenage sister Becca Sommers (played by Lucy Hale). While that doesn't paint a pretty picture, she suffers a life-threatening car accident. Jamie's life is saved through bionics and now she has to repay the bill by defeating an earlier bionic experiment gone awry.

Now, I admit that's the ugliest blurb I've ever written. So just watch the preview video at NBC.com. No more slow-motion here. This seems to be a hotter, blurier, darker, action-packed "Bionic Woman" from the producers that gave you the critically-acclaimed remake of "Battlestar Galactica".

"Bionic Woman" premieres, September 26 primetime on NBC.

The 59th Primetime Emmy Awards - "Sopranos" and "30 Rock" Win

It was Television's biggest night but ever bigger for "The Sopranos" as the cast and crew took a few coveted Emmys in what seemed to be a night of tribute for the 10-year run of the recently concluded drama series. Ryan Seacrest hosted the 2007 Emmy Awards which were held at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, Sunday night, September 16.

HBO, the home network for "The Sopranos", led over the ABC and NBC TV networks with a total of 21 honors since the Creative Arts Emmys last September 8.

This year's Emmys is also touted to be a first being an eco-friendly carbon-neutral airing of the awards show. The distinction comes as part of the "Green with Emmy" campaign aimed at reducing the carbon footprint the Primetime Emmy Awards have to the global climate. Coincidentally (or not), controversial environmental champion former VP Al Gore was present to receive an award for "Outstanding Creative Achievement in Interactive Television". Mr. Gore along with co-awardee Joel Hyatt began the Current TV cable television network, which airs produced mostly by viewers themselves.

Compared to the results of the Daily Dotventures' Choose "Your Own Emmys!" poll, only the Sopranos win echoed the 59th Primetime Emmy Awards selections. This supports what I've long suspected - that bloggers and web users don't watch television anymore. :)

So here are the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences' 59th Primetime Emmy top winners:

• Drama: "The Sopranos," HBO.
• Comedy: "30 Rock," NBC.
• Actor, Comedy Series: Ricky Gervais, "Extras," HBO.
• Actor, Drama Series: James Spader, "Boston Legal," ABC.
• Actress, Drama Series: Sally Field, "Brothers & Sisters," ABC.
• Actress, Comedy Series: America Ferrera, "Ugly Betty," ABC.

Click here for more information on the 59th Primetime Emmy Awards.

Congratulations to the winners! 'Til the next Emmys.

Choose "Your Own Emmys!"

In celebration of the 2007 Emmys this coming September, Dotventures invites everyone to make your vote count. Pick among the nominees from the key categories of the Emmys. Who among them are deserving to take home the award? Chances are your votes here would not match with the real Emmys but hey, its just for fun! Scroll down to the lower-right sidebar to post your votes.

Were your favorite shows or actors not nominated? Leave a comment on this post and explain why they should be the winners. After 15 days, that would be on September 1, we will hold a special poll for the non-nominated favorites among the comments. Who will be the winning non-nominees? You will make that choice.

Vote now!

One Month Countdown to the 2007 Primetime Emmys

Televisions' biggest night is just around the corner. The Academy of Television Arts and Sciences will be rolling out the red carpet once more next month as the stars come out for the 59th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards.

Primetime TV favorites will be pitted against each other for the honor of being distinguished for excellence in their respective categories. The nominees were announced early morning of July 19 amidst wows and woes from TV aficionados and critics. As in past years, many commentators felt that exceptional television programs were again overlooked by the Academy.

The following is a short listing of key categories of the Emmys and the respective nominees. I've indicated my first and second picks. For those who care to voice out their own choices, do participate at The Dotventures Polls (sidebar below) and cast your votes for "Your Own Emmys".

Ahem...and the nominees are...

OUTSTANDING DRAMA SERIES
"Boston Legal"
"Grey's Anatomy"
"Heroes"
"House" (1st pick)
"The Sopranos" (2nd pick)

OUTSTANDING COMEDY SERIES
"Entourage"
"The Office" (1st pick)
"30 Rock" (2nd pick)
"Ugly Betty"
"Two and a Half Men"

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
Denis Leary, "Rescue Me"
Hugh Laurie, "House" (1st pick)
James Spader, "Boston Legal"
Kiefer Sutherland, "24" (2nd pick)
James Gandolfini, "The Sopranos"

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES
Kyra Sedgwick, "The Closer" (1st pick)
Sally Field, "Brothers and Sisters"
Mariska Hargitay, "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (2nd pick)
Edie Falco, "The Sopranos"
Minnie Driver, "The Riches"
Patricia Arquette, "Medium"

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
America Ferrera, "Ugly Betty" (2nd pick)
Tina Fey, "30 Rock" (1st pick)
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, "The New Adventures of Old Christine"
Felicity Huffman, "Desperate Housewives"
Mary Louise Parker, "Weeds"

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
Tony Shalhoub, "Monk" (1st pick)
Alec Baldwin, "30 Rock" (2nd pick)
Ricky Gervais, "Extras"
Steve Carell, "The Office"
Charlie Sheen, "Two and a Half Men"

For a complete list of 2007 Emmy nominations visit the TV Academy website at emmys.tv.

Mark your calendars - the 2007 Primetime Emmys will be held on September 16, Sunday, at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California.