At one point very early on, the duo were talking about starting another New Line (and Ted Turner offered to put up some money), but I've since been assured they have given up on that dream/nightmare. Since they pocketed an extremely generous payout from [Jeff] Bewkes (unlike all those other axed NL'ers penny-pinched by Time Warner), that's what is being used to fund the new operation for the moment. But even though Bob and Michael are centi-millionaires, they're still intent on using that tried and true Hollywood formula to fund their new operation: Other People's Money.

OK, we're listening. But what's the catch?

They are looking for some outside financing so they can produce third party product. I hear Lynne is trying to raise the money through his "New York Cipriani" circuit. Tipsters tell me that he may even relocate to Los Angeles — for obvious reasons. As one insider explained to me, "Unless he's there watching the store, no one's giving him money to send out to Bob."

Yes, obviously! Anyway, to the extent any of this is actually true, here's a vital chance to be a part of history, like playing rhythm guitar with your favorite weekend-warrior bar band or — quite literally, perhaps — buying your very own John Waters movie, executive produced by [YOUR NAME HERE]. Don't expect anything in return, like a meeting with "Bob's pal" Peter Jackson or, you know, profit, but really, what price can you put on working with a pair of the industry's last true mavericks? Come to think of it, don't answer that — Shaye will have that figure for you when you meet. Just remember the magic words: Unmarked bills. Let's make a deal!

• Bob Shaye and Michael Lynne Set Up Shingle [DHD]

"EXTRA'S" OPEN INVITATION TO BRITNEY SPEARS (Los Angeles - September 10, 2007) - "Extra" is opening its doors to Britney Spears for a second chance at a comeback. We made the call to Spears this morning, inviting her to perform at "Extra" on our stage in Los Angeles or in Las Vegas at the Extra Lounge in Planet Hollywood's Hotel and Resort. Britney, come perform "Gimme More" and show the world what you've got. Our stage is yours....the deal is on the table.

Britney would be in good company in "Extra's" Los Angeles studio where musicians like Lionel Richie, Seal, Lifehouse, The Goo Goo Dolls, Chris Isaak, Hall and Oates, Nelly Furtado, Outkast and Earth, Wind & Fire have all come to perform in the Extra Lounge.

We know it's incredibly cynical of us to raise doubts about the TV newsmagazine's motives, but we fear a trap. Even though we realize our words will probably never reach the exceptionally bright chihuahua Spears recently purchased to plan her comeback, we still feel the need to warn her that Extra probably plans on dosing her rider-mandated backstage bowl of Cheetos with a powerful sedative, hoping that in her pharmaceutically altered state, she won't notice that the leather bra-and-panty set they've provided her is three sizes smaller than the one MTV tricked her into wearing, negating the weeks of punishing workouts she'll endure to be better prepared for her do-over performance. And we genuinely hope that Team Spears needs no such advance warning to turn down TMZ TV's forthcoming offer to repeatedly stun-gun her in the neck while she tries to perform an a cappella version of "Gimme More" in their new studio.

• Exclusive Video: Britney Leaves Stage After Disastrous Performance [Extra]
• Previously: Britney Spears Gives The People What They Want: A Nationally Televised VMA Trainwreck [Defamer]

Washington will guest-star on the network's high-profile remake of 1970s drama Bionic Woman this fall, and has signed a development deal to star in a potential action drama he pitched to the network for the 2008-09 TV season. [...]

Katherine Pope, president of NBC's Universal Media Studios, says that despite the public baggage, Washington is "a brilliant actor," and she believes viewers will re-embrace him. "I think people watch characters on TV, not personalities" in the news, she says. [...]

The Washington deal marks the first stamp of new NBC co-chairman Ben Silverman, who also is an executive producer of The Office and Ugly Betty.

"He's a totally awesome actor," Silverman says. "He did a great job for Grey's and he's got a fan base." As for Washington's offscreen drama, "He's put that behind him. Let's give him a chance to do what he does."

While we have no doubt Silverman's decision comes from a true place—the party executive probably reasoned there's no workplace hostility that can't be smoothed over by a couple of rounds of Tequila Slammers at the Burbank Chevy's—we're still unconvinced that Washington is completely over his legendary rage issues after one brief stint in fake gayhab. The last thing Bionic Woman needs as it finds its early footing is for Washington to loudly confront Oscar Goldman for showing up to set 15 minutes late, to say nothing of having failed to equip the new Jaime Sommers with the latest in BlueTooth technology.

• Washington to return to network TV [USAToday.com]

"Wow! Over the past few weeks you have put forth an impressive and probably unprecedented display of passion in support of a prime time television series," CBS Entertainment President Nina Tassler said in a letter to "Jericho" boosters. [...]

"You got our attention; your emails and collective voice have been heard," Tassler wrote, and seven episodes have been ordered for midseason 2007-08. "In success, there is the potential for more. But, for there to be more `Jericho,' we will need more viewers."

Fans must do their part to rally interest while the network does its job, she said. [...]

Another positive outcome of the fan campaign: CBS is donating the protest peanuts to charities, including one that sends care packages to troops overseas.

We're having difficulty remembering a network-audience dialogue as universally beneficial as this one: Jericho fans get additional episodes and the impression that CBS actually listens to them, CBS gets some good P.R. and a new revenue source by repackaging the first season DVD set with the bonus episodes as Jericho: The Ultimate Saved From Cancellation Collection, and our soldiers get many, many, many boxes of salted peanuts, just the snack you first want to reach for in 110° Iraq summer weather.

• CBS reverses decision to ax 'Jericho' [Yahoo/AP]