Drugmaker GlaxoSmithKline is set to consolidate its North American consumer health media account at WPP Group's MediaCom, according to insiders. And that could leave Havas' MPG and others on the company's current agency roster out in the cold. Glaxo, with products including Nicorette, Breathe Right, weight-loss treatment Alli and Aquafresh and Sensodyne toothpastes, is the No. 2 drug company with sales of $6.3 billion last year. If WPP has indeed snared the business, it would follow two big wins for the holding company, which also recently got work from computer manufacturer Dell and South Korea's LG Electronics.

Two Representatives -- one Democrat and one Republican -- have already introduced a bill that would a annul a Federal Communications Commission move to loosen cross-ownership rules. And they are both from the same state. Jay Inslee, (D-Wash.) and Dave Reichert (R-Wash.) rolled out the Media Ownership Act of 2007, companion to a Senate bill, and tailored to block a recent FCC vote in such a way to "apply to any attempt by the commission to modify, revise, or amend its regulations related to broadcast and newspaper ownership made after Oct. 1, 2007." The bill would require …

As the writers' strike drags on, late-night talk shows in reruns are showing surprising ratings resilience as a dearth of new content does not seem to hurting late-night TV viewing patterns -- at least according to a study by Integrated Media Measurement. Pre-strike, regular late-night talk-show viewers saw an average of 21.7 minutes of late-night tube; the average so far during the strike period was "statistically identical" at 20.8 minutes. But viewing-frequency-per-person data also shows that after the strike began, watchers upped program sampling, with Leno and Letterman sampled more, an indication of viewers on the hunt for …

The Motion Picture Association of America has rejected an ad for documentary "Taxi to the Dark Side," a film that traces a pattern of American-sponsored torture from Afghanistan to Abu Ghraib to Guantanamo. The movie, already on the Oscar shortlist, opens Jan. 11. At issue is a poster with a news photo of U.S. soldiers walking away with a hooded detainee. An MPAA spokesman says the organization treats all films the same and if "advertising is not suitable for all audiences it will not be approved by the advertising administration." But distributor ThinkFilm believes the MPAA's stated …

Presidential hopeful Bill Richardson has rolled out a new ad campaign that puts the war in Iraq front and center. The spot aims to set the Democratic governor of New Mexico governor apart from rivals by calling for a complete withdrawal of U.S. troops from the battered Middle Eastern nation within a year. "We believe that this debate isn't happening right now, and it needs to happen," says campaign manager David Contarino. "The governor is concerned that the media has forgotten about Iraq and so, perhaps, have some of the other candidates in this race. He still believes …

Actor Will Ferrell, a staple of current sports comedies, could be on his way to starring in the Big Game as insiders say he is talking to Anheuser-Busch about being in one of their ads during the Feb. 6 Super Bowl. If he makes the cut, he would appear as his character from the upcoming 1970s basketball comedy "Semi-Pro," set to open Feb. 9. In the film, he plays the player-coach-owner of a fictional losing team in the American Basketball Association. Ferrell has also played a soccer coach, a Nascar driver and an ice skater in other movies. Anheuser-Busch …

Rachael Ray has a new two-year deal with the Food Network that will have her fronting a new prime-time series called "Rachael's Vacation," while continuing to host "30 Minute Meals." The new show will premiere Jan. 12 and chronicles Ray's trips to cities where she explores local foods and lifestyles. "Rachael is the quintessential example of the homegrown stars we create at Food Network," says Food Network president Brooke Johnson. "She has been with us since 2001, and we have built a strong partnership that will continue for years to come and bring more new and exciting …

Two of Hollywood's glitziest events are at risk, as the result of the ongoing writers strike with the Writers Guild of America. It won't allow its members to write for the Golden Globes on Jan. 13, nor the Academy Awards on Feb. 24. According to one insider, the Guild's board of directors decided this week not to give the shows interim agreements -- essentially waivers -- for writing services. The move added fuel to the fire in the nasty contract dispute as talks broke down Dec. 7. So now the guild is ready to take on the …

Lifetime Television has obtained exclusive off-network rights for ABC's unscripted "Wife Swap" and is looking to begin running the first of 64 produced episodes next October. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but Lifetime has reportedly invested about a quarter of a million per episode. The deal for "Wife Swap" runs through 2012 and includes rights for the upcoming fourth season. Since debuting to 11.3 million viewers in 2004, the show has been a reliable ratings winner, putting up big numbers among women 18-34, 18-49 and 25-54. "In so many ways, "Wife Swap" embodies the …

Nissan Motor Co. is considering a spot buy that puts the automaker's ads on various Fox TV stations and affiliates during the Super Bowl, according to insiders. Although a Nissan spokeswoman declines to confirm anything, one person says the company is planning to advertise its Murano vehicle, a midsize crossover that supposedly mixes the driving experience of a regular car with some features of a sport utility vehicle. The strategy is designed to avoid the sky-high price tag of national Super Bowl time as ads on the locals would be far cheaper, while still reaching a goodly …