from Boston.com

Conan O’Brien began his late-night career nearly two decades ago with a remarkable feat of reinvention, transforming himself from a writer with virtually no performing experience into one of the leading comic figures of his generation.

Now, at 47, the Brookline-born Harvard graduate has to reinvent himself again — but in an even more challenging environment.

In a surprising development, it was announced yesterday that O’Brien will launch a new late-night talk show in November not on Fox — where he had been expected to land after a bitter showdown with NBC ended with his departure in January from “The Tonight Show’’ — but on TBS, a basic-cable channel best known for movies and reruns of network sitcoms.

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Now that Ellis has met The Obama Girl he is ready for action!

“OBAMA COMEDY DUEL”

On the left: ELLIS HENICAN (Fox, Newsday, Cartoon Network)
On the right: JIM MENDRINOS (Fox, Comedy Central, Idiot’s Guide)
Moderator: Comedian LEIGHANN LORD

Standing Up for — and against — America’s 44th President

“A Fun Show for Anyone Who Likes to Laugh about Politics”

Friday, June 12, 10:30 p.m.
Bleecker Street Theatre
45 Bleecker Street (at Layayette)
Tix and info at http://tinyurl.com/ocomedy
Subway: 6 to Bleecker or B, D, F or V to Broadway-Lafayette.

Disney joins Hulu

Disney has finally confirmed that full-length programming from ABC will join the line-up of online video service Hulu and that the Mouse is taking a stake in the NBC Universal/News Corp joint venture as part of the deal.

The widely anticipated move will see The Walt Disney Company becoming a shareholder in Hulu alongside NBCU, News Corp and Providence Equity Partners, the latter having acquired a 10% stake for US$100m two years ago.

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As promised, change is coming to News Corp. Peter Liguori is out as chairman of entertainment at television unit Fox Broadcasting, to be replaced by Fox Searchlight chief Peter Rice.

The well-liked Liguori will leave behind impressive results from his 11-year tenure at the company. “Peter Liguori has been an outstanding Fox executive, not only in leading FBC for three seasons, but in his groundbreaking programming that helped build FX into a general entertainment leader,” News Corp. (nyse: NWS – news – people ) Chairman Rupert Murdoch said in a statement. “We wish him continued success.”

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For those of you who weren’t aware, our December guest speaker, NBC Universal Chief Technology Officer, George Kliavkoff is our guest speaker. George is the architect behind Hulu, website that offers free, advertiser supported streaming video of TV shows and movies from NBC, FOX and many other networks and studios.

I found the following article from today NY Times “Technology” section of special interest
YouTube Pales Next to Hulu’s Spiffy Multiplex
By Saul Hansell

There are deals for show and deals for business. So far, YouTube’s arrangements to host professional video content are more for show, to signal it intends to be serious in that market eventually.

As Brad Stone reported on Monday, the Google-owned video site has a deal to let users watch some full-length movies and old TV shows from MGM.

But after a year, Hulu.com, the joint venture between NBC and Fox, has become the most prominent site for mainstream TV shows and, increasingly, movies.

FOR THE COMPLETE STORY FROM THE NEW YORK TIMES CLICK HERE