The Time Is NOW for Fox Protest

For Fox, “Who Wants to Marry a Multi-Millionaire?” turns out to be the unwanted gift that just keeps on giving. Not only did the red-faced network cut loose several so-called “reality” shows (some since picked up by UPN) in response to the publicity backlash from the February special, but the program contributed to the National Organization for Women’s decision to designate Fox its “Network of Shame.” NOW will call attention to that dubious honor with a demonstration Tuesday outside the 20th Century Fox lot in Century City, hoping to inspire all the networks to provide more “women-friendly shows.” Activists--who have not directly contacted the network--also say they intend to stage similar events at Fox affiliated stations. There’s some irony in the timing, since Gail Berman was last week named president of entertainment at Fox, which becomes the third broadcast network (along with CBS and the WB) where a woman holds that title. Still, NOW’s emphasis is less on who’s in charge than the kind of images being disseminated. Of course, “Marry a Multi-Millionaire?” appears to have financially benefited at least one woman, with the would-be bride, Darva Conger, recently signing what’s presumed to be a lucrative deal to pose for an upcoming issue of Playboy.

Will Eminem Join ‘Million Copy Club’?

Eminem’s new album looks like a million--but that doesn’t mean as much as it used to. The Detroit rapper’s “The Marshall Mathers LP” hits the charts Wednesday, and according to early retailer projections, the disc will debut at No. 1 with sales of about 1.5 million copies. A few years ago, that would have been big news. After all, through the end of 1998, only two albums in history had cracked the 1 million sales mark in a single week: Garth Brooks’ “Double Live” and “The Bodyguard” soundtrack. But it’s happened three times in the past year, with the Backstreet Boys (1.1 million for “Millennium”), Britney Spears (1.3 million for “Oops! . . . I Did It Again”) and ‘N Sync (2.4 million of “No Strings Attached”). Now comes Eminem, who isn’t even riding the wave of teen pop, with a chance to post the second-best week of sales ever. What’s going on? Eminem may not be a fave of, say, ‘N Sync fans, but he does tap into a very young audience, and that’s where the big money is these days. Industry observers most often cite two factors for the expanding “Million Copy Club”: first, the streamlined, concentrated marketing opportunities afforded in an era where Internet sites, MTV, Nickelodeon and Radio Disney can reach legions of youthful consumers with incredible efficiency; and second, a large demographic “bubble” of adolescents and teens, many of them flush with disposable income thanks to a healthy economy. “You have the Internet super-serving people, the good economy and the advent of the boy bands. . . . You also have music turning back to a ‘Let’s go out and have fun’ sound that creates excitement,” says Valentine, a top-rated afternoon DJ on KIIS-FM (102.7), the L.A. market’s powerhouse pop station. “It’s not just a teen thing, either. We see it spreading. The amount of fan base in women 18 to 34 is through the roof. There’s a million reasons and I don’t see it slowing down.”

Sophisticated Animation, Not Just for Kids

Terry Thoren has a prediction to make: Five years from now, says the CEO of Klasky-Csupo, the studio that produces “Rugrats,” a whole new generation of animated films geared toward older audiences will begin hitting theaters. “I think within five years, there will be 10 independently made animated films [released], each costing under $5 million and each geared for adults,” Thoren said. But he also notes that for these films to work, they will require strong writing, smart voice casting and clever soundtracks. “The industry currently is going through a major shift where many big studios are laying people off,” he said, “but the industry has historically gone through cycles.” This week, animation companies from around the world will gather at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, looking for people with ideas for animated projects geared toward the biggest area of growth today in animation--the Internet. The weeklong World Animation Celebration, which Thoren founded 15 years ago, is expected to draw thousands of artists and professionals Tuesday through Sunday. It includes daily screenings of animated films at the Egyptian Theater, animation workshops and a trade show. The conference is open to the public for a variety of ticket prices. Thoren said 78 Web companies have rented hotel rooms, and the hotel swimming pool will be decked out like the Cannes Film Festival. “They are inviting the world to come and pitch them ideas,” Thoren said. “It’s the ultimate pitch fest . . . not only for artists, but also for writers, for agents, for anybody.” Thoren believes Internet companies are giving major studios a run for their money in animation. “The lines are blurring,” he said. “All the power will no longer reside just with the majors. New majors are emerging like dotcomix.com, shockwave.com, eruptor.com and romp.com. These are the kinds of companies that are aggressively going after animated content to help brand their cutting-edge Web sites.”

--Compiled by Times Staff Writers