newsmakers

newsmakers

CBS threatens ABC over reality series

LOS ANGELES

CBS is hoping a legal warning shot shatters rival network ABC’s plans for its reality show “The Glass House.”

Attorneys for CBS sent ABC executives a letter Friday warning that “The Glass House” is “strikingly” similar to CBS’ show “Big Brother.” The network notes that ABC may be benefiting from the fact that 18 former “Big Brother” staffers and executives are working on the planned ABC show.

“Glass House” would feature contestants who are constantly filmed and eliminated from a home they share, and viewers will be able to influence many of their actions, according to a description of the series released Monday. “Big Brother,” which has aired on CBS since 2000, has similar features.

Attorneys for CBS noted that the former “Big Brother” staffers now working on the show, including “Glass House” Executive Producer Kenny Rosen, all signed nondisclosure agreements and likely are violating them by working on the new series.

“In the strongest possible terms, we must admonish ABC and anyone involved in the development or production of ‘Glass House’ that they will be acting at their own peril if they continue to proceed in this manner,” says the letter that was sent to ABC and later obtained by The Associated Press and other news outlets.

ABC had no comment on CBS’ allegations.

The letter states that CBS, which owns the U.S. licenses and copyrights to “Big Brother,” could sue ABC and block “Glass House” from being broadcast. Previous cases involving copycat allegations in reality television have been difficult to win in court, but judges assess their merits after reviewing both products.

Sarah Ferguson tried in absentia in Turkey

ANKARA, Turkey

Turkey’s state-run news agency says a court has begun a trial against Britain’s Duchess of York for allegedly taking part in the secret filming of orphanages in the country.

The Anadolu Agency says Sarah Ferguson, who is being tried in absentia, faces charges of going “against the law in acquiring footage and violating privacy” of five children. If convicted, she could receive a maximum sentence of 221/2 years in prison. The trial began Friday.

Ferguson, the former wife of Britain’s Prince Andrew, purportedly made an undercover trip to Turkey in 2008 during which two state-run orphanages outside Ankara were secretly filmed for the British ITV program “Duchess and Daughters: Their Secret Mission.”

Anadolu quoted Ferguson’s lawyer Cansu Sahin as saying the duchess is seeking an out-of-court settlement.

No evidence Lohan hit club manager

LOS ANGELES

Lindsay Lohan won’t face prosecution over a nightclub manager’s claims that the actress struck him with her sportscar due to lack of evidence and doubts about his credibility, prosecutors decided Friday.

Police had asked the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office to review whether Lohan should be charged with leaving the scene of an accident, but the office determined there was insufficient evidence to pursue a case. Police interviewed the manager, reviewed surveillance footage and looked at Lohan’s Porsche and found no evidence that an accident had occurred.

Thaer Kamal, manager of the Hookah Lounge in Hollywood, accused Lohan of striking him with her Porsche early on March 14, just two weeks before the actress’ supervised probation ended. A charge-evaluation worksheet noted that although Kamal called 911, he refused medical treatment at the scene and told police he had been grazed by Lohan’s car along his right leg.

He refused to cooperate on follow-up interviews until roughly two weeks later, when he gave detectives a photo of a bruised left knee and appeared for the interview with his left knee bandaged, according to the prosecutor’s summary.

“There is no direct evidence to show Lindsay Lohan or anyone else struck victim Kamal,” Deputy District Attorney John Gilligan wrote. Victim Kamal’s changed story and lack of cooperation with law enforcement make him a noncredible witness.”

Associated Press