Week of July 15, 2009

A Russian-made Iranian passenger plane carrying nearly 170 people crashed

shortly after takeoff Wednesday, smashing into a field northwest of the capital

and shattering to pieces. State television said all on board were killed.

The plane's tail burst into flames in the air and the aircraft circled as if looking for

a place to land before it crashed, an unidentified witness told the semi-official

ISNA news agency.

The Senate health committee cast a milestone vote Wednesday to approve

legislation expanding insurance coverage to nearly all Americans, becoming the

first congressional panel to act on President Barack Obama's top domestic

priority. The 13-10 party line vote advanced a $600 billion measure that would

require individuals to get health insurance and employers to contribute to the

cost. Democratic leaders are driving for floor votes in the House and Senate

before Congress goes on its August break.

Bank of America joined the nation's other big banks in reporting better than

expected earnings, posting a $2.42 billion second-quarter profit even as losses

from failed loans continued to rise. Bank of America said Friday its earnings

after payment of preferred dividends were down at 33 cents per share

compared with a profit of $3.22 billion, or 72 cents per share, a year earlier. The

earnings beat the forecasts of analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters, who

forecast Bank of America would earn 28 cents per share. Revenue rose to

$32.77 billion, slightly below analysts' forecast of $33.1 billion. Also Friday,

Citigroup Inc. said it earned $3 billion after paying preferred dividends, or 49

cents per share. Analysts had predicted the New York-based bank would post a

quarterly loss.

Indonesia - Suicide bombers who checked in as guests smuggled explosives

into American luxury hotels in Indonesia's capital and set off a pair of heavy

blasts Friday that killed eight people

and wounded more than 50,

investigators said. The near-

simultaneous bombings ended a four-

year lull in terror attacks on civilian,

Western targets in the world's most

populous Muslim nation. At least 18

foreigners were among the dead and

wounded.

Passing - Veteran CBS newsman

Week of July 15, 2009

considered by many as the greatest TV news anchor of all time.

The world's oldest man, 113-year-old World War I veteran Henry Allingham, died

Saturday after spending his final years reminding Britain about the 9 million

soldiers killed during the conflict. Allingham was the last surviving original

member of the Royal Air Force, which was formed in 1918. He made it a

personal crusade to talk about a conflict that wiped out much of a generation.

Astronauts working inside and out installed a porch for experiments on Japan's

enormous space station lab Saturday, accomplishing the major objective despite

microphone static that often drowned out the spacewalkers' voices.

Veteran spaceman David Wolf and rookie Timothy Kopra could barely make

themselves understood at times because of the loud static emanating from

Kopra's helmet microphones.

A Russian-owned civilian helicopter crashed and burst into flames shortly after

takeoff at southern Afghanistan's largest NATO base Sunday, killing 16 civilians

in the latest in a string of deadly aircraft crashes in the country.

A U.S. military helicopter also made an emergency landing in the country's east,

causing several injuries. A military spokeswoman said there was no insurgent fire

involved.

California's legislative leaders agreed

Monday on a plan to close the state's $26

billion budget shortfall, potentially getting

the state back on firm financial ground so it

can stop issuing IOUs.The governor and

leaders from both parties announced the

compromise after more than five hours of

closed-door talks. If the agreement

survives its run through both houses of the

Legislature, it would provide temporary

relief to an epic fiscal crisis that has

captured national attention, sunk the

state's credit rating and forced deep cuts in

education and social services.

Robert Redford marries - The 71-year-old

actor wed artist Sibylle Szaggars 51, last

Saturday at the luxury Louis C. Jacob

Hotel in Hamburg, Germany.

Week of July 15, 2009

British prankster Russell Brand will host the MTV Video Music Awards again this

year, MTV said on Tuesday. The flamboyant 34-year-old comedian, actor, radio

and television presenter will return as the host of the awards that will air live from

stages set up around New York, including Radio City Music Hall, on September

13, the cable channel said in a news release. Brand hosted the MTV Video Music

Awards last year, raising eyebrows by describing then U.S. President George W.

Bush as a "retarded country fella" and ridiculing oaths of virginity undertaken by

teen idols the Jonas Brothers.

Comedians earnings - Jerry Seinfeld tops the list. He earned $85 million during

the 12-month period. Syndication deals for his eponymous sitcom, which he

produced, wrote, and starred in, made up the bulk of his income. Off the air for

more than a decade, the "show about nothing" continues to mint money. The

funnyman was able to bolster his TV earnings with a pricey Microsoft campaign

and lucrative stand-up gigs. Seinfeld's next project is a reality show titled "The

Marriage Ref," which he'll produce for his former network, NBC. The premise:

Opinionated stars will comment, judge, and offer differing strategies to real-life

couples in the midst of marital disputes. Despite heavy fan interest, the General

Electric-owned network's onetime golden boy will reportedly remain behind the

scenes.

Chris Rock lands at No. 2 on the list with $42 million. Over the course of the year,

he added a slew of big-screen flicks to his resume ("Madagascar: Escape 2

Africa," the upcoming "Death at a Funeral," and "Grown Ups"), released a new

top-rated HBO comedy special ("Kill the Messenger"), and snagged another book

deal with Grand Central Publishing. Come fall, his TV show, "Everybody Hates

Chris," which he created and narrates for the CW, will kick off its syndication run.

Forty-five years after the

Beatles' American TV debut

at the Ed Sullivan Theater,

Paul McCartney got back —

with a concert on top of the

marquee.

McCartney put on an outdoor

show atop the theater's

marquee Wednesday for a

crowd estimated at between

3,500 to 4,000 people. The

performance was shown

during the former Beatle's first

appearance on CBS' "Late Show With David Letterman." On the show,

McCartney performed the Beatles hit "Get Back" and the song "Sing the

Week of July 15, 2009

Changes" from his most recent album. McCartney opens a U.S. tour Friday at

Citi Field, which is the New York Mets stadium that opened this year. Their

previous home, Shea Stadium, was also where the Beatles performed for a sold-

out crowd of screaming fans in 1965.

In what could be a positive sign for online advertising, Google said on Thursday

that its second-quarter revenue rose from a year ago as ad spending in certain

areas recovered and the company did well at managing expenses.

In what it termed "a very good quarter," Google posted revenue of $4.07 billion

for the second quarter, excluding commissions paid to advertisers, up from a

year ago and a smidge higher than analyst estimates.

counterparts continue to ink deals to

return to the series for its upcoming

ninth season, the judge's manager

says his client will ditch the FOX show

unless producers change their tune.

"Very sadly, it does not appear that

manager, David Sonenberg, who has

yet to receive a proposal for her return.

"I find it under these circumstances

particularly unusual; I think

unnecessarily hurtful," he added of the

holdup. "I find it kind of unconscionable

and certainly rude and disrespectful

Fremantle and 19 Entertainment]

haven't stepped up and said what they

want to do."

Hip TV Saturday; Night (TVS)

Week of July 15, 2009