Politics aside, the Obamas and those associated with them seem destined to be media darlings. Michelle Obama's hairstylist has just landed a development deal to star in a reality show. Former Chicagoan Johnny Wright styled the first lady's coif for the Democratic National Convention, her upcoming appearance on the cover of Vogue and other occasions. He signed a deal with 44 Blue, which produces reality shows "Split Ends" and A&E's "L.A. Gang Unit." There are few minority people doing makeover and beauty shows, says 44 Blue executive vice president Stephanie Drachkovitch. "We wanted somebody with a mainstream …

Google is giving up on its two-year attempt to sell print ads for the ailing newspaper industry. The decision affects about 800 U.S. newspapers, up from the 50 publications that had initially signed up for the program. Under the program, potential advertisers were allowed to bid online to fill unsold space in the participating print newspapers, leaving it up to publishers whether to accept the offers. But Google concluded that its online expertise wasn't paying off in print, prompting management to pull the plug on the newspaper program effective Feb. 28. The retrenchment is part of a …

Executives for NBC's new franchise featuring Jimmy Fallon say they will pursue both branded integrations and live commercials for "Late Night With Jimmy Fallon" prior to its March 2 launch. Fallon is replacing Conan O'Brien, who is inheriting Jay Leno's "Tonight Show" seat. While no deals are imminent, NBC chief Rick Ludwin says the network may sell a sponsorship for the green room, where guests cool their heels before going on stage. In addition, Ludwin hopes to incorporate live commercials into the show, a long-running late-night tradition that faded until recently, but has picked up steam again. Fallon's …

Scripps Networks will offer a new licensing program for its Home and Garden Television, which will include everything from home improvement to decorating to garden products. The net selected the Beanstalk Group as the agency to represent and develop the program. Licenses will focus on the HGTV name and logo as an authority in home improvement rather than focusing on specific shows -- with the exception of "The Dream Home." Some on-air talent may also be used for the licensing program. Categories will include everything "from building materials to linens," says Michael Stone, Beanstalk CEO. First up will …

The inauguration of Barack Obama turned out to be more of an example of traditional television than a showcase for broadcast technology. Industry observers say that unlike some news events, where tech innovation can add significantly to viewers' understanding, the basic coverage of an inauguration hasn't changed much. "The technology of modern television is almost completely irrelevant to this," says Aaron Brown, former CNN anchor and current Arizona State University professor. The high camera shots that give a sense of the crowd size have hardly changed since the 1960s, he says. TV coverage of the Obama swearing-in appeared very …

Nervous TV viewers are a tough sell for clever ads trying to get their message across. There is a direct relationship between the confidence people have in the economy and the attention they pay to Super Bowl commercials, per Gallup & Robinson. When consumer confidence is weak, recall is 11% lower than average, and 36% lower than in good times, says Gallup & Robinson's study of 12 years of surveys about recall and likability of past Super Bowl ads. Marketers running 30-second Super Bowl commercials should be more cautious this year, says Scott Purvis, president of the research …

Not all newspaper publishers are watching their profits evaporate. Companies that are diversified by industry, geography or both are often able to avoid some of the pain being felt by U.S. media outlets. Thanks to the demand for educational publications, Pearson, U.K. publisher of the Financial Times, says earnings rose about 20% in 2008, exceeding analyst estimates. Key to its performance: growth in the U.S. college and international education business. That growth more than offset some weakness in the U.S. school publishing market, which was hurt by state budget cuts. CEO Marjorie Scardino also sold assets to …

The election has been kind to CNN. The network and Web site has signed on Cisco, Sprint, Exxon Mobil and Vestas Wind Systems as integrated sponsors for the inauguration coverage on CNN and CNN.com. In addition, more than 20 advertisers have purchased airtime on TV throughout the day and 18 advertisers have bought ads online. CNN executive Greg D'Alba says the total client list is the largest the network has ever had for any one- or two-day event. D'Alba expects the viewer interest to continue for several months. "We used to talk in terms of the inauguration …

After the hoopla of the inauguration has died down, the news media has an opportunity to try to restore some its influence by covering Washington politics in new ways. The Wall Street Journal, for instance, is planning -- and promoting -- two reports that blend politics and business by sharply focusing on the president's initial impact on the economy. "The new President takes office at a time of economic and political upheaval. The government is playing a more important role in the national debate and it is crucial that the implications of that role be understood," says Robert …