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Television News

• Grammy-winning composer Clare Fischer dead at 83 (AP)

  AP - Clare Fischer, a Grammy-winning composer who wrote scores for television and movies and worked with legendary musicians like Dizzy Gillespie, has died. He was 83.

• ABC picks up 3 comedy pilots (Reuters)

  Reuters - ABC beefed up its comedy stockpile Friday with orders for three pilots. "How to Live With Your Parents for the Rest of Your Life," created by Claudia Lonow ("Friends With Benefits," "Accidentally on Purpose" and, more recently, the troubled cross-dressing sitcom "Work It"), will follow the adventures of recent divorcee and single mother Polly, who moves in with her eccentric parents, Elaine and Max, who are full of life but know no boundaries.

• Golden Globes trial exposes misleading negotiating tactics (Reuters)

  Reuters - Dick Clark Productions Chief Executive Officer Mark Shapiro had to admit in Los Angeles District Court late this week that he employed bluffs and half-truths to get NBC to agree to an $150 million deal to air the Golden Globes.

• 'Anderson' executive producer Jim Murphy steps down (Reuters)

  Reuters - Jim Murphy, co-executive producer of Anderson Cooper's syndicated daytime talk show "Anderson," has stepped down.

• Sarah Jessica Parker replaces Demi Moore in 'Lovelace' (Reuters)

  Reuters - Sarah Jessica Parker will play feminist icon Gloria Steinem in the upcoming porn biopic "Lovelace."

• Gingrich-Romney GOP debate propels CNN in ratings (Reuters)

  Reuters - CNN hit the sweet spot with its GOP candidates' debate in Florida Thursday night, registering its best performance in the key demo during this election cycle and its second largest total audience.

• British film "Shadow Dancer" lifts crowd at Sundance (Reuters)

  Reuters - A tense British thriller about a mother deeply entrenched in the IRA and forced to choose between the organization and the family she loves has earned high praise among the foreign films at this week's Sundance Film festival.

• Actress' claim to be gay by choice riles activists (AP)

  AP - Cynthia Nixon learned the hard way this week that when it comes to gay civil rights, the personal is always political. Very political.

  
  

• TV show choreographer gets 10 years for rape (AP)

  AP - A salsa dance instructor who worked on the TV show "So You Think You Can Dance" has been sentenced in Los Angeles to 10 years in prison for raping one woman and assaulting another.

• HBO places a bet on horseracing drama "Luck" (Reuters)

  Reuters - David Milch first visited a horse racing track when he was six years-old. Sixty years later he is bringing his passion for the behind-the-scenes world of jockeys, gamblers, horses and trainers to television with the HBO series "Luck".

• Guest lineups for the Sunday news shows (AP)

  AP - Guest lineups for the Sunday TV news shows:

• SAG statuette has an interesting backstory (AP)

  AP - The television academy's Emmy has her wings. The motion picture academy's Oscar has his sword. But the Screen Actors Guild's statuette, known as "The Actor," may have the hottest bod of the Hollywood award season.

  
  

• HBO places its bets on horse racing drama `Luck' (AP)

  AP - David Milch had the script for a horse racing drama kicking around in his head for 30 years. The screenwriter and producer was just too busy living it to put words to paper.

  
  

• David Arquette is paying a visit to 'Cougar Town' (Reuters)

  Reuters - David Arquette and Courteney Cox are continuing their campaign to be crowned the Most Amicably Estranged Couple Ever.

• TV Ratings: "Idol" and "Bang" tie, Fox wins top rating (Reuters)

  Reuters - CBS' "Big Bang Theory" pulled up to "American Idol" for a tie in the ratings Thursday night, while Fox was the highest rated and most-watched network as its new drama "The Finder" improved by 32 percent, according to preliminary numbers.

• Robert Hegyes, played Epstein on 'Kotter,' dies (AP)

  AP - Robert Hegyes, the actor best known for playing Jewish Puerto Rican student Juan Epstein on the 1970s TV show "Welcome Back Kotter" has died. He was 60.

  
  

• In original Internet shows, hints of coming change (AP)

  AP - After years of experimenting, the top video destinations on the Web are suddenly flush with original programming: documentaries, reality shows and scripted series.

  
  

• Sajak: Vanna and I drank between 'Wheel' tapings (AP)

  AP - The "Wheel of Fortune" wasn't the only thing spinning for Pat Sajak and Vanna White back in the day.

  
  

• Spinoff for "The Office" in the works at NBC (Reuters)

  Reuters - Quirky workplace TV comedy "The Office" may be headed for greener pastures.

• SAG ensemble award: Casting a vote for perfect mix (AP)

  AP - Alexander Payne, director of "The Descendants," likens it to "inviting people to my home for dinner."