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NBC wants another live musical. Is Adam Sandler overpaid?

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After the coffee. Before seeing if ‘Bonnie & Clyde’ ratings held up.

The Skinny: I was watching “Sideways” on HBO last night and remembering that when it first came out I thought it was a compelling story about two friends at the crossroads of their lives. Now I realize it’s just a movie about a couple of drunks on a road trip. Nothing special. Tuesday’s headlines include a rare interview with Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick. Also, NBC wants to do another live musical and Forbes says Adam Sandler is overpaid.

Daily Dose: Time Warner Cable plans to launch its Dodgers channel in late February, said Rob Marcus, the incoming chief executive of the pay-TV distributor. That doesn’t mean folks who are not Time Warner Cable subscribers will get to see the channel then. As was the case with the Lakers channel Time Warner Cable launched last year, expect ugly negotiations between the cable company and other distributors in the area including DirecTV and Cox. Maybe it will be on those distributors by opening day but don’t bet the farm on it. That’s my prediction.

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Game-changer. Activision Blizzard Inc. Chief Executive Bobby Kotick runs the biggest video game company in the world, but he’s no gamer. That hasn’t stopped him from overseeing a company that has many more hits than misses. One of his goals going forward is working more closely with Hollywood. In a Los Angeles Times interview, Kotick said, “the talent of Hollywood … for the first time is engaged and interested in our medium in a way where they feel like they actually can help move the art form forward.”

How about ‘Damn Yankees’? The huge success of NBC’s live-without-a-net version of “The Sound of Music” already has the network thinking about what it can do for an encore. Clearly having a big star in Carrie Underwood and doing it live made it must-see TV. Of course, TV’s roots are in live performances and it will be interesting to see if other networks try to imitate NBC’s success. My advice: Steer clear of “The Wizard of Oz.” More on NBC’s plans to capitalize on the success of “The Sound of Music” from the New York Times.

Nothing to say. Time Warner Cable’s incoming CEO Rob Marcus and Charter Communications chief Tom Rutledge both participated in an investment conference Monday. But anyone (like me) looking for headlines was disappointed as neither executive was willing to talk specifics about Charter’s interest in acquiring Time Warner Cable. But alas, reporters have to earn their paychecks nonetheless, so here’s the Wall Street Journal‘s take on the sessions as well as my piece on what Marcus said regarding improving customer service.

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Monday morning quarterbacking. Forbes has come out with its latest list on actors and actresses who are overpaid. On top of the list is Adam Sandler, whose last two movies — “Jack & Jill” and “That’s My Boy” — were big disappointments. Of course, Sandler earned those paychecks based on a career of big results. If he isn’t quite the draw he used to be, the studios will figure it out. I’d be more interested in finding out why Vanity Fair has to have Nicole Kidman on its cover all the time.

Merry Christmas. Former Fox News spokesman Brian Lewis, who left the cable network in a cloud of controversy last summer, will have a very happy holiday. According to Gawker, Lewis got a settlement check of $8 million from his former employers. Lewis had been a top aide to Fox News chief Roger Ailes, but the two had a falling out. Fox News made allegations of improper financial behavior but never provided any details. Lewis got his own high-powered attorney and settlement talks commenced. We’ll see if Fox News ever either publicly apologizes or details its claims against Lewis since in theory you don’t pay someone almost $10 million who you fired with cause.

Inside the Los Angeles Times: Gerrick Kennedy on the Grammy nominations and who got overlooked.

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Follow me on Twitter for the real deal. @JBFlint.

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