The Korea Herald

Titanic centenary grips global TV market

Apr 3, 2012

CANNES, France (AFP) ― From documentaries to high-end costume dramas, the centenary of the sinking of the RMS Titanic has sparked a tidal wave of TV shows, up for grabs at this week’s MIPTV international trade show.Episode one of the mini-series “Titanic,” penned by Oscar and Emmy-winning scriptwriter Julian Fellowes and distributed by Britain’s ITV Studios, was given a gala screening at the fair opening night Sunday, in presence of cast and crew.ITV’s take on the tragedy, which claimed some 1,5
Busan to become multimedia content center in May

Apr 2, 2012

Busan will become a marketplace for multimedia content including TV dramas and smartphone apps from around the world in May.From May 10-12, the city hosts Busan Contents Market at BEXCO, a convention center in Haeundae, with more than 600 media companies and buyers from 47 countries participating, the organizing committee said. The committee expects to have companies signing deals worth $54 million this year, up from $48 million last year.In its sixth year, the committee plans to open the market
‘The Voice’ adds Facebook app for voting

Apr 1, 2012

LOS ANGELES (AP) ― NBC’s talent show “The Voice” is jumping on Facebook’s “timeline” app bandwagon to give fans another way to vote for their favorite contestantsThe new application allows viewers to cast votes for “Voice” singers and connect with friends and others watching the show, NBC and Facebook said Friday. Voting on live performances begins Monday. The Facebook app for “The Voice” is intended to create “a fully social online voting experience,” said Vivi Zigler, president of NBC Universa
Stars on show for Potter studio tour launch

Apr 1, 2012

LONDON (AFP) ― Stars and hardcore fans of the “Harry Potter” movies turned up Saturday at the red carpet launch of a studio tour featuring the sets where the boy wizard’s adventures were filmed.Rupert Grint, who played Potter’s friend Ron Weasley, and Tom Felton, who played bully Draco Malfoy, were among the actors at Warner Bros.’ Leavesden studios in Watford, northwest of London, for the grand opening.All eight of the movies based on J. K. Rowling’s books were shot at Leavesden, which is hopin
Bieber and Berry slimed at Kids Choice Awards

Apr 1, 2012

LOS ANGELES (AP) ― At the 25th annual Kids’ Choice Awards, the slime runneth over.Host Will Smith opened the 25th annual Kids’ Choice Awards promising a record amount of the show’s trademark green gunk. Though some 20 awards are presented at the KCAs, the real suspense isn’t who will take home a “Blimp” (the show’s Oscar), it’s when and on whom the slime will spill.It’s like a baptism into kid-dome that can come at any moment: from a hidden bucket, dumped from the rafters or exploded from little
Another finalist booted from ‘American Idol’

Mar 30, 2012

In this March 1, 2012 image released by Fox, the remaining 13 contestants from the singing competition series, "American Idol," are shown in Los Angeles. (AP)It wasn’t a laughing matter for Heejun Han on “American Idol.’’The goofy 22-year-old nonprofit organizer from New York who found his way back
Ko Hyeon-jeong says hosting own show not a cakewalk

Mar 28, 2012

Actress’ stint as MC for new SBS talk show ‘not easy’The overriding question overshadowing veteran actress Ko Hyeon-jeong’s new SBS talk show ― whose title “GO Show” takes its cue from her last name ― is whether or not this accomplished thespian has the verve, the wit and the quick-thinking ability to helm her own program. If the highlight reel that ran at the show’s press conference in Mokdong, Seoul Wednesday is an indication of Ko’s potential as an MC, then the answer is, “Yes.” Having alread
Not just another rom-com for Jang Keun-suk

Mar 23, 2012

Jang Keun-suk’s meteoric rise to stardom has been swift and marked by a string of rom-com’s that could pigeonhole him as a singing-acting double threat ideal for lighthearted fare. After gaining a huge overseas fandom as an arrogant boy band leader in SBS’ “He’s Beautiful!” in 2009, the 24-year-old went on to sing and romance his way through “Marry Me, Mary!” and “You’re My Pet.” But Jang is determined to break out of what might be becoming a pattern. “The rom-com genre is fun but I think this d
Kang Ho-dong to start project to help children in South Sudan

Mar 22, 2012

Former comedian and TV show host Kang Ho-dong will start a special project in South Sudan to help vulnerable children in the African country.According to ChildFund Korea, which is in charge of Kang’s Sudan project, the former comedian has been supporting a Korean child through the organization since 2005. Kang is said to have decided to start the project in Africa, as he recently became interested in supporting children overseas as well.The new project consists of building a special village in S
Tyson to debut show in Vegas, eyes Broadway

Mar 22, 2012

LOS ANGELES (AFP) ― Boxing legend Mike Tyson will debut a one-man show in Las Vegas next month, and could take it to Broadway and London’s West End, according to the show’s co-writer.The former heavyweight world champion, infamous for ear-biting and a rape conviction before mounting a showbiz-tinged comeback in recent years, will play six nights in Vegas April 13-18.The 45-year-old is already in rehearsal for “Mike Tyson: Undisputed Truth, Live on Stage,” to be staged at the Hollywood Theatre of
‘CSI’ creator making movie for small screen

Mar 22, 2012

LOS ANGELES (AP) ― “CSI’’ creator Anthony Zuiker is making a movie destined for the small screen.The creator of the hit CBS television show plans to debut the as-yet-unfinished feature, “Cybergeddon,’’ on Yahoo in installments this fall. His latest foray into online storytelling follows his partnership on a horror series for YouTube.It also marks Yahoo’s second stab at tapping Hollywood talent to create original online video. In January, Yahoo said a series of 20 animated webisodes developed by
Kang Ho-dong to help children in Sudan

Mar 22, 2012

Former comedian and TV show host Kang Ho-dong will start a special project in southern Sudan to help vulnerable children in the African country.Kang Ho-dongAccording to ChildFund Korea, which is in charge of Kang’s Sudan project, the former comedian has been supporting a Korean child through t
Retro fans rejoice as ‘Mad Men’ set to return

Mar 21, 2012

Retro fans are rejoicing as cult TV series “Mad Men” finally returns to U.S. screens next weekend, following an 18-month gap due to an off-air battle which almost scuppered the whole show.The beautifully-stylized series about 1960s New York advertising executives, which has triggered a wave of cultural copycats, will kick off its fifth season with a special two-hour episode on Sunday.Fans deprived of their Madison Avenue fix since October 2010 will welcome back philandering boss Don Draper (Jon
Oprah Winfrey Network lays off one-fifth of staff

Mar 20, 2012

LOS ANGELES (AP) ― Oprah Winfrey’s struggling cable television network, OWN, said Monday it is laying off one-fifth of its workers and restructuring its operations in New York and Los Angeles.The decision to let 30 employees go is a “tough’’ one, but the economics of a start-up cable network didn’t fit with OWN’s cost structure, Winfrey said in a statement.“As CEO, I have a responsibility to chart the course for long-term success for the network. To wholly achieve that long-term success, this wa
Dustin Hoffman TV show canceled over deaths of horses

Mar 15, 2012

LOS ANGELES (AFP) ― A hit U.S. television series starring Dustin Hoffman has been canceled after three horses died during filming, the channel which makes the show announced Wednesday.“Luck,” about thoroughbred racing and also starring Nick Nolte, launched in January and had already been picked up for a second season, with production mostly at a horsetrack east of Los Angeles.But a first horse died on the set in 2010 and another died last year. Then a third animal had to be put down on Tuesday a