Just for Laughs making move south of the border

From Wednesday’s Globe and Mail

February 21, 2008 at 3:39 AM EST

Toronto — Just for Laughs, the hugely successful 25-year-old Montreal-based comedy festival, is taking the plunge into the United States.

In an announcement yesterday, JFL said it will launch Just for Laughs: A Very Funny Festival in Chicago, in the summer of 2009.

No SpongeBob, Scooby Doo for children in China

The Chinese government has expanded its ban on foreign cartoons, such as SpongeBob SquarePants, Pokemon and Scooby Doo, and will not allow them to be shown during prime time hours.

The country’s State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT) says it will be instituting new rules starting May 1, which will ban foreign cartoons from all domestic cartoon and children’s channels between 5 p.m. and 9 p.m.

Plan to keep stores open on holidays gets approval

Toronto councillors have given preliminary approval to a proposal that would allow retailers in the downtown core to open on all statutory holidays, except Christmas Day.

After listening to deputations, the city’s Economic Development Committee voted on Wednesday afternoon in favour of the motion, which also allows pharmacies across the city to open on designated holidays.

Under Ontario’s Retail Business Holidays Act, most stores have to close on holidays or face fines of up to $50,000. However, the City of Toronto Act, passed in January 2007, gave the city power to make its own shopping rules.

All Hollywood studios now lined up behind Blu-Ray

By Thomas K. Arnold

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) – All six major Hollywood studios are now in the Blu-ray DVD camp, a day after Toshiba pulled the plug on HD DVD and Blu-ray became effectively the only next-generation game in town.

Paramount Home Entertainment quietly came onboard via a statement issued Wednesday to The Hollywood Reporter: “We are pleased that the industry is moving to a single high-definition format, as we believe it is in the best interest of the consumer,” the statement read. “As we look to (begin) releasing our titles on Blu-ray, we will monitor consumer adoption and determine our release plans accordingly.”

No further details were given.

Kung Fu Chickens Kick Into Cartoon Network

Cartoon Network Germany has acquired all TV rights to CHOP SOCKY CHOOKS, a DECODE Entertainment co-production with Aardman Animations, the companies announced today.

The Chooks are a crack team of Kung Fu chickens: Chuckie Chan, Chick P and KO Joe.