Penguins TV analyst Peter Taglianetti "was officially
informed last week" that FSN Pittsburgh "no longer required
his services," but Taglianetti said he believes he had a
"verbal contract" to return for the 2000-01 season,
according to Chuck Finder of the PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE.
Taglianetti has "retained a lawyer to look into the matter"
but hopes it can be "worked out without going to
litigation." FSNP Exec Producer Paul Kosuth said in a
statement, "We had a one-year agreement with Peter
Taglianetti that expires in September. We told him in June
that we would be exploring other options" (PITTSBURGH POST-
GAZETTE, 8/30). In Pittsburgh, Joe Starkey cites Kosuth as
saying that not renewing Taglianetti's contract was a "joint
decision" made by himself and personnel at the FSN national
offices in L.A. Taglianetti, on Kosuth's statement: "Ask
(Kosuth) if he can live with himself. I guess we're going
to litigation" (Pittsburgh TRIBUNE-REVIEW, 8/30).
MILLER TIME: "MNF" announcer Al Michaels speaks with
USA TODAY's Rudy Martzke and laughs off viewer suggestions
that he is "so disgusted" with the actions of analyst Dennis
Miller that he "doesn't respond to the one-liners."
Michaels: "I'm not happy with Dennis? That's crazy. Hey,
I've been criticized for laughing too much at his lines.
Now I'm criticized for ignoring the lines. I don't respond
to that stuff. That's for people who have an agenda."
Meanwhile, "MNF" Exec Producer Don Ohlmeyer brushed off a
Drudge Report classifying a golf outing between himself,
Michaels and talk show host Rush Limbaugh as a "secret
powwow." Ohlmeyer: "That's ridiculous" (USA TODAY, 8/30).
TheMan.com's Randall Lane, on Miller: "A lot people are
going to tune in next week [for the Broncos-Rams "MNF"
opener]. ... I think [ABC] is going to get a big pop next
week and everyone's going to see if Dennis Miller's got the
right attitude. But if he doesn't deliver, I think they're
going to have a falloff" ("Biz Buzz," CNNfn, 8/29).
MORE PERSONALITIES: In N.Y., Keith Kelly reports that
Yogi Berra is writing a "book on the art of successfully
managing your life." Hyperion has paid a "mid-six-figure"
advance for "When You Come to a Fork in the Road, Take It!"
(N.Y. POST, 8/30)....The HOLLYWOOD REPORTER's Michele Greppi
reports that in the wake of CNN/U.S. President Rick Kaplan's
departure, CNN/SI President Jim Walton will reportedly be
promoted to CNN President (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 8/30).
