Quick Takes: Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert re-up

Eager to keep its edgy late-night block intact, Comedy Central has negotiated two-year contract extensions with its star comedians, Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert.

Stewart’s new deal will keep him on the network and at the helm of the “The Daily Show With Jon Stewart” at least through the middle of 2015. His previous agreement would have expired next summer.

Colbert’s new arrangement goes through the end of 2014. Colbert serves as executive producer, writer and host for “The Colbert Report.” His previous contract was set to run out at the end of this year.

INTERACTIVE: Watch Fall 2012 television shows

The two shows have become a bright light in late-night ratings. During the current TV season, both shows on theViacom Inc.network have expanded their audience in the key demographic of viewers ages 18 to 49.

That comes in contrast to the performance of broadcast stalwarts “The Tonight Show With Jay Leno” on NBC, and “Late Night With David Letterman” on CBS, which have seen younger viewers flee.

—Meg James

Actress, director sorry for affair

Kristen Stewart apologized publicly Wednesday to “Twilight” costar and boyfriend Robert Pattinson following tabloid reports she had a brief but steamy affair with her “Snow White and the Huntsman” director, Rupert Sanders.

The 22-year-old actress issued her apology to People magazine. It was quickly followed by an apology to People from the 41-year-old Sanders to his family. Sanders is married to model-actress Liberty Ross, who played Stewart’s mother in the film; they have two children.

Stewart has been in a relationship for several years with Pattinson. Stewart said her “momentary indiscretion has jeopardized the most important thing in my life, the person I love and respect the most, Rob.”

—Associated Press

Hemsley died of natural causes

Sherman Hemsley, who played George Jefferson in the television sitcom “The Jeffersons,” died of natural causes, the medical examiner’s office in El Paso said Wednesday. An autopsy will not be performed.

Coroner’s office administration manager Irene Santiago said that the 74-year-old actor had been ill. She did not elaborate.

El Paso police said that Hemsley was found dead Tuesday and that no foul play is suspected.

—Associated Press

Rhys Meyers is NBC’s Dracula

Jonathan Rhys Meyers may have recently completed roles in”The Tudors”and”Albert Nobbs,”but he’s not ready to return to the 21st century yet. His latest job will return him to the 19th century to play the coolest vampire of them all, Dracula.

In “Dracula,” a 10-episode series that will air on NBC, the count travels to London in the 1890s. He poses as an American entrepreneur seeking to introduce modern technology, but in reality he’s seeking revenge on the people who ruined his life centuries before.

Besides the NBC project, Starz recently announced its own Dracula series, “Vlad Dracula,” from”Babylon 5”creator J. Michael Straczynski, set in the 15th century.

In the feature film world, director Eli Roth is also working on a take on the Dracula story, titled “Harker” and focusing on side character Jonathan Harker. And director Neil Marshall is working on a retelling of part of the Dracula story, “Last Voyage of the Demeter.”

—Patrick Kevin Day

Nas album takes top chart spot

“Life Is Good” is the title of the new album by veteran rapper Nas, and it was certainly apt Wednesday as the work debuted on the U.S. pop charts at No. 1.

The album sold 149,000 copies in its first week, according to Nielsen SoundScan, giving Nas his sixth No. 1 album.

Last week’s Billboard chart topper, “Uncaged,” from the Zac Brown Band, slipped to No. 2.

—Todd Martens

‘Bring It On’ cites inspiration

When the cheerleading musical “Bring It On” was getting ready to begin its national tour at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles in 2011, some of the marketing material referred to it as an “original” creation.

But then screenwriter Jessica Bendinger initiated legal action, saying that the show is based on the 2000 movie of the same name that she wrote. The two parties reached an undisclosed settlement before the opening.

As it prepares for an Aug. 1 opening on Broadway, “Bring It On” now features this credit: “Inspired by the Motion Picture Bring It On Written by Jessica Bendinger.”

—David Ng

Finally

Renewed: MTV has ordered a third season of its scripted comedy series”Awkward.”