Scott Greczkowski
03-16-03, 11:52 PM
http://www.radioink.com/HeadlineEntry.asp?hid=104185&pt=Ink+Headlines
ABC-TV Show Gets Stern Hot Enough To Sue
Syndicated morning personality Howard Stern is seeking $100 million in damages from ABC-TV and the producers of the reality series “Are You Hot.?” Stern claims the show is based on his ideas and the TV show has ruined chances for his own TV deal.
The lawsuit, filed Thursday in Superior Court, accuses ABC-TV of copying the “unique aspects” of a Stern radio segment in which Stern’s crew members and guests evaluate the bodies of in-studio contestants.
Stern claims that some tactics used on his show were duplicated by ABC's version. Some of the alleged similarities include blunt criticism of contestants and the use of a laser pointer to highlight areas of the contestant's body.
“Are You Hot?” is produced by Scott Einziger, a former executive producer of Stern's E! cable show. Former Stern sidekick and head writer Jackie "The Joke Man" Martling is listed as a consultant for the show.
Before the ABC show debuted, Stern was in talks to develop a television series based on his radio segment, according to the suit. He planned to broadcast the show possibly on a pay-cable channel that wouldn't be subject to censorship.
The lawsuit also says that, when ABC aired “Are You Hot,?” talks for a Stern TV show collapsed.
According to the lawsuit, Stern warned the network that the series would be a "misappropriation," but that ABC disregarded him.
ABC-TV Show Gets Stern Hot Enough To Sue
Syndicated morning personality Howard Stern is seeking $100 million in damages from ABC-TV and the producers of the reality series “Are You Hot.?” Stern claims the show is based on his ideas and the TV show has ruined chances for his own TV deal.
The lawsuit, filed Thursday in Superior Court, accuses ABC-TV of copying the “unique aspects” of a Stern radio segment in which Stern’s crew members and guests evaluate the bodies of in-studio contestants.
Stern claims that some tactics used on his show were duplicated by ABC's version. Some of the alleged similarities include blunt criticism of contestants and the use of a laser pointer to highlight areas of the contestant's body.
“Are You Hot?” is produced by Scott Einziger, a former executive producer of Stern's E! cable show. Former Stern sidekick and head writer Jackie "The Joke Man" Martling is listed as a consultant for the show.
Before the ABC show debuted, Stern was in talks to develop a television series based on his radio segment, according to the suit. He planned to broadcast the show possibly on a pay-cable channel that wouldn't be subject to censorship.
The lawsuit also says that, when ABC aired “Are You Hot,?” talks for a Stern TV show collapsed.
According to the lawsuit, Stern warned the network that the series would be a "misappropriation," but that ABC disregarded him.