Conde Nast is launching a slate of original Web series, continuing the publisher's push to expand its stable of magazines into multimedia programming.

Conde Nast will debut on Tuesday online channels on YouTube and other video destinations for Glamour and GQ. The digital programming is just the start of plans for Conde Nast to spin off video series from many, if not all, of its magazines — even, potentially, The New Yorker.

In 2011, Conde Nast launched Conde Nast Entertainment to develop and produce movies, TV shows and Internet offerings based on its magazine brands. Dawn Ostroff, formerly president of entertainment for the CW network and an executive for Lifetime Television, came aboard to spur the multimedia expansion.

"This is by far one of the most exciting parts of what we're working on at CNE because it really is the future," says Ostroff. "It extends the reach of our brands, it really allows us to tap into a new audience, and we have the opportunity to be one of the first innovators in this space."

The four Glamour series include four- or five-minute-long shows like "Elevator Makeover," in which hosts Jessica Harlow and Theodore Leaf quickly remake a girl's appearance in a long elevator ride. Among the four GQ shows are a workout guide called "Fighting Weight" and "The Ten," in which celebrities share the 10 items they can't live without.

"This is just our first step, but clearly as we go forward, video is going to be a huge part of what we do here," says Glamour editor-in-chief Cindi Leive. She also stars in one of the videos, one that tracks her during a day of covering Fashion Week. "In the future, this will be a huge part of what my staff — the brand staff — does."

Earlier this year, one of Ostroff's initiatives met some backlash after contracts with Conde Nast writers were reworked to grant the company "first-look" rights to any adaptations of published articles. Compensation rates for writers were also locked in. Some agents and writers protested that the terms were unfair.

But with steady decline throughout the industry in print magazine circulation, Ostroff and Conde Nast are intent on capitalizing from the sometimes lucrative entertainment possibilities in its magazines. The best-picture winner "Argo," for example, was partly based on an article published by Conde Nast's tech magazine Wired.

The company says that 850 of its writers have since signed the new deals. Conde Nast Entertainment has several film projects in development.

 LeBron James may consider grounding his popular dunking warm-up routine before Miami Heat games if the criticism keeps coming his way.

The league's reigning three-time MVP said Tuesday he never intended for his acrobatic dunking display in the Heat's layup line to become a potential distraction that apparently has given some critics a chance to slam him.

James has been executing contest-worthy dunks during warmups, but has been unwilling throughout his career to participate in the league's dunk contest during All-Star Weekend despite pressure from fans and former players.

"Maybe I should stop because it's making a lot of people mad about what I do," James said after he scored a season-high 40 points and had a career-high 16 assists in Tuesday's double-overtime win against Sacramento. "They're like, 'Well, if you can do it in warmups, why don't you (want to) be in the dunk contest? Stop it.' "

Videos that fans have taken of James in the layup line have gone viral on the Internet in recent days. One clip taken before Sunday's home game against Cleveland showed James whipping the ball behind his back, then between his legs before he tossed it off the backboard for a dunk over 6-foot-10 teammate Rashard Lewis.

James was in the act again before Tuesday's game, when he lobbed the ball into the air, caught it off the bounce and shifted the ball between his legs before slamming it through the rim. The Heat have a reputation for late-arriving crowds, but more fans have filled into the arena's lower bowl before games with cell phones or video recorders in hand waiting for James to take the court before games.

The Heat have started to stream video of James' pregame dunks on the team's official website, and owner Micky Arison has used Twitter to encourage fans to arrive to games early if they want to see the show James puts on.

James said Tuesday he wasn't aware of how popular the routine has grown, because it's something he's always done. More Heat players have gotten involved, including Chris Andersen, Mike Miller, Ray Allen, Norris Cole and Mario Chalmers, who has been James' stiffest competition of late.

Super Bowl commercials are an American institution. You know another American institution? Making snap, sweeping judgments on work others spent months and millions creating. We're combining both right here, with quick-hit takes on the best (and the worst, can't forget the worst) ads of Super Bowl XLVII. Winners, losers and full video ... you'll get it all right here. Here is a sampling of the commercials, followed by our winners and losers:

Budweiser, "Brotherhood"
Plot: Guy raises horse from ponyhood, horse goes on to be a Clydesdale, horse spots former owner years later ... sorry, it's a little dusty in here ...
Verdict: OH COME ON. Are you kidding me? Super Bowl commercials aren't supposed to make you cry! They're supposed to make you laugh or cringe or go reload your plate. This? This ad makes you want to call your parents, hug your kids, and maybe just buy a horse. Flat-out winner out of the gate. Going to be a lot of people dabbing their eyes with cocktail napkins when this one airs.

The NFL, "Leon Sandcastle"
Plot: Deion Sanders decides he wants back in the League, and dresses up as "Leon Sandcastle."
Verdict: Putting aside the fact that if Deion Sanders still had game there'd be no need for a "Leon" (reality! boooo!) this was a fun goof, and we foresee a future character showing up in NFL ads for awhile.

Jeep, "Whole Again"
Plot: We've still got people fighting overseas, you know.
Verdict: It's always a little sleazy when a company yokes itself to patriotism to push product, but the message here overwhelms any buy-our-vehicles shill.
Dodge Ram, "Farmer"
Plot: Talking about how awesome farmers are. That's it.
Verdict: Probably the most effective ad of the night, even if most of America doesn't even know a real farmer.

Suzy Favor Hamilton, a three-time U.S. Olympian, has revealed that she has spent much of the past year working as a $600-an-hour escort. It's a stunning admission, and a decision that Hamilton now calls a "huge mistake," according to The Smoking Gun.

Since last December, Hamilton has, according to TSG, worked with Haley Heston's Private Collection in Las Vegas, and has gone on engagements in Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Chicago and Houston. The 44-year-old married mother of one worked under the name "Kelly Lundy," but apparently revealed her true identity to several male clients.

Hamilton responded to Thursday's story with a lengthy response and apology on Twitter:

    I realize I have made highly irrational choices and I take full responsibility for them. I am not a victim here and knew what I was doing. I was drawn to escorting in large part because it provided many coping mechanisms for me when I was going through a very challenging time with my marriage and my life. It provided an escape from a life that I was struggling in. It was a double life.

    I do not expect people to understand, but the reasons for doing this made sense to me at the time and were very much related to depression. As crazy as I know it seems, I never thought I would be exposed, therefore never hurting anybody. I have been seeking the help of a psychologist for the past few weeks and will continue to do so after I have put things together. I cannot emphasize enough how sorry I am to anyone I have hurt as a result of my actions and greatly appreciate the support from family and those closest to me. I fully intend to make amends and get back to being a good mother, wife, daughter, and friend.

Sunday night's WWE TLC 2012 results have brought early championship match winners as well as some new top contenders for other championships. So far a variety of matches have taken place with at least one surprise during the latest pro wrestling Pay-Per-View event. There's still plenty of great action on the way, which could have WWE surprising its fans even more in the last PPV event of the year.

The WWE TLC results started with a live stream pre-show featuring the divas in action. The special battle royal was held to determine the latest #1 contender for Eve's Divas title. Surprisingly, Naomi, one of Brodus Clay's dancers, emerged as the winner. Many fans might not realize that she was the runner-up to Kaitlyn on a season of NXT, and actually has some athletic in-ring skills. Naomi earned the right to challenge Eve for the title, and it could be another surprise should she win the title.

Another championship contender was decided in a tag team tables match. The team of Cody Rhodes and Damien Sandow managed to outwit the team of Rey Mysterio and Sin Cara, ultimately shoving Sin Cara out of the air and down through a table. With that move, they captured the win, making them the #1 contenders for Team Hell No's tag team titles. Rhodes Scholars will get a future title shot, most likely on Raw or at another Pay-Per-View, as Daniel Bryan and Kane are in action tonight.

Two championship matches have completed with no major surprises. Both R-Truth and Wade Barrett failed in their quests to win the titles they were competing for. Barrett lost out to Kofi Kingston's Trouble in Paradise kick in the end, while R-Truth fell victim to the Neutralizer finisher from Antonio Cesaro. After his match, Cesaro talked about how when the American fans boo him, they're booing themselves since he is their US champion.

While Naomi is the major surprise so far, there was also a special moment at the start of the TLC Pay-Per-View. Prior to the event starting up, the ring bell was sounded 26 times to pay tribute to those who lost their lives at Sandy Hook Elementary School this past Friday. WWE's headquarters are stationed in Connecticut, and the pro wrestling organization made a classy move, just like many other sports professionals and entertainers, to pay respects over this tragedy.
(Post Source:  entertainment.gather)

The Big East is headed for another break up. This time, the seven prominent basketball schools that don't play FBS football are planning to break away from the ever-changing conference.

The divorce is expected to be complicated, maybe even contentious, with millions of dollars and possibly the future of the league at stake.

The Big East's non-football members decided Thursday to separate from the conference, a person familiar with the decision told The Associated Press.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity because officials from those schools are still sorting through details and trying to figure how best to split from the conference. No official announcement is imminent.

The seven schools that don't play FBS-level football are St. John's, Georgetown, Marquette, DePaul, Seton Hall, Providence and Villanova. Officials at those schools have concerns about the direction of the conference and feel as if they have little power to influence it.

Commissioner Mike Aresco conferred by phone with the leaders of those seven schools earlier in the day, according to another person familiar with the situation, also speaking on condition of anonymity.

The current Big East football membership includes only four schools – South Florida, Connecticut and Cincinnati, Temple – that are committed to the league beyond 2013. But there are 11 schools with plans to join the Big East in the next three years, including Boise State and San Diego State for football only in 2013.

Because those schools won't be members until next summer, the majority of the voting members of the Big East are basketball schools right now. Still, those schools aren't in position to dissolve the conference. That would take the votes of at least two football members, according to the Big East bylaws.

The Catholic schools can leave without financial penalty. The Big East has provisions in its bylaws that allow a group of schools to leave without exit fees.


But what they would do remains unclear, as are the legal ramifications of their actions. There has been speculation those seven basketball schools could merge with the Atlantic 10 or possibly add schools from that league to create a basketball-only conference of smaller Catholic schools.

One of the many things that will need to be sorted out is who owns the rights to the name Big East. Will it stay with new members or go with the old. Georgetown, Providence, Seton Hall and St John's were among the original members of the conference when it was formed primarily for basketball in 1979. Villanova came in a year later. Marquette and DePaul came in 2005, the Big East's last previous major expansion.

Many on the Arizona Cardinals must have been thinking about that old cliche during  a soggy Sunday afternoon at CenturyLink field, where the Seattle Seahawks defeated — or some would say destroyed — the Cardinals, 58-0.

The 58-point spread set a Seattle Seahawks franchise record for the biggest point differential in team history. It also set a Cardinals record for worst loss in franchise history.

And for an Arizona Cardinals team that came into the game 0-8 in the team’s last eight games, the Seahawks didn’t let up from the moment Steven Hauschka booted a 31-yard field goal to put the Hawks up 3-0 in the first quarter.

The Seahawks dominated in nearly every category. The team had 22 first downs to the Cardinals 10. Marshawn Lynch rushed for 128 yards and three touchdowns, compared to Arizona runningback William Powell’s 20 yards on five carries. Rookie quarterback Russell Wilson went 7-for-13 with a passer rating of 88 compared to John Skelton’s passer rating of 18.

But most stunning was the difference in turnover ratio. Skelton threw 4 interceptions, including a pick-6 to cornerback Richard Sherman in the second quarter, and the team lost four fumbles in a game were the ball certainly never bounced the Cardinals’ way. The Hawks NFC West division rivals never even made it into the Red-Zone.

After Sherman’s interception return for a touchdown, the Seahawks hardly looked threatened. The Hawks scored 28 points in the second quarter alone, including a Malcolm Smith fumble recovery for a touchdown, a Wilson TD pass and a Marshawn Lynch TD run.

Hawks fans even got their first taste of off-season free-agent signing Matt Flynn after Russell Wilson was pulled out of the game in the third quarter. Flynn went 5-for-9, passing for 68 yards and no touchdowns.

Doesn't look like Chad Henne's doing too badly after getting let go by Miami only to sit on the bench behind Blaine Gabbert in Jacksonville. Check out this cuddly little photo courtesy of the Facebook page of Henne's wife, Brittany, his girl since he was 14.

His and hers onesies? You're either throwing up or jealous right now. Either way, give it up to Chad for his perfect execution of a happy-wife-happy-life end around.

Henne could have more reasons to smile if Jacksonville figures out it's better off with him under center rather than Gabbert, who's out for the season with an arm injury. All Henne has done in the three games since taking over at quarterback for the Jaguars is throw for 817 yards and seven touchdowns.

Virginia Tech receiver Dyrell Roberts made an odd discovery on the field against North Carolina, when he found a pair of scissors on the field just before the Hokies ran a play.

As Virginia Tech was lining up, Roberts started gesturing to the sideline and the officials with something in his hand. He had found the scissors as he took his spot on the field. That's something you don't see every day. In fact, we can't remember ever seeing it before in a college football game.

Officials stopped the action and let Roberts run the scissors off to the sideline. Not only did he run with them, he didn't hold the scissors by the blades. That breaks just about every safety rule Roberts was taught in kindergarten about scissors, but at least he didn't run a pass route with them.

This brings up one interesting question: Why in the heck was there a pair of office scissors at the 45-yard line of North Carolina's field? Is there a stapler at the 30? Maybe a printer by the end zone pylon? In all seriousness, we're glad Roberts found the scissors when he did. That could have ended in a potentially serious injury for someone.

As the Colts prepare to take the field on Sunday without head coach Chuck Pagano to lead them, they’ll hear from Pagano, indirectly.

According to Mike Chappell of the Indianapolis Star, Pagano has sent an email to the team. Interim head coach Bruce Arians will read it to the players on Saturday.

“Very private,” Arians said. “He sent it to every player.  Very long. . . . When you read it by yourself, it’s very emotional.  I don’t know if I can get it out to the team.  I might assign someone to read it.”

Pagano was hospitalized on September 26 with leukemia.  Receiver Reggie Wayne, who first became acquainted with Pagano at the University of Miami 16 years ago, visited him this week.

“I sat with him a little while,” Wayne said. “He’s doing good, man.  I was kind of surprised how good he was. He’s the same. He was joking.

“He’s looking at it straight in the eyes. He understands what’s going on. He understands the tough task ahead of him. If there’s somebody that can go in and hit this out of the ballpark, it’s him.”

Six years ago, Wayne’s brother was killed in an auto accident, and Wayne had to find a way to play a week later.

“That’s how I know there’s still a game to be played no matter what the deal is,” Wayne said. “Everybody’s dealt with it their own way. We still play a kid’s game. People [are] out there making life’s decisions every day.

“Hopefully we can go out and play together, play good Colts football and come out with a ‘W’ for [Pagano].”

It won’t be easy.  The Packers, despite being 2-2, are still one of the best teams in the league.  And Arians already is bracing for a Cheesehead uprising when the Colts have the ball in their own building.

The Twenty20 cricket World Cup is being hosted by Sri Lanka from September 18 to October 7. Twelve nations are participating in the tournament. Here is the schedule for matches in the qualifying group stage.

GROUP STAGE

Match 1: Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe

Group C

Tuesday, September 18

Result: Sri Lanka beat Zimbabwe by 82 runs. Read story here

Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium, Hambantota

Match 2: Australia v Ireland

Group B

Result:: Australia beat Ireland by seven wickets. Read match report here

3:30 p.m. Wednesday, September 19

R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo

Match 3: Afghanistan v India

Group A

7:30 p.m. Wednesday, September 19

R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo

Match 4: South Africa v Zimbabwe

Group C

7:30 p.m. Thursday, September 20

Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium, Hambantota

Match 5: Bangladesh v New Zealand

Group D

3:30 p.m. Friday, September 21

Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Pallekele

Match 6: Afghanistan v England

Group A

7:30 p.m. Friday, September 21

R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo

Match 7: Sri Lanka v South Africa

Group C

3:30 p.m. Saturday, September 22

Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium, Hambantota

Match 8: Australia v West Indies

Group B

7:30 p.m. Saturday, September 22

R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo

Match 9: New Zealand v Pakistan

Group D

3:30 p.m. Sunday, September 23

Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Pallekele

Match 10: England v India

Group A

7:30 p.m. Sunday, September 23

R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo

Match 11: Ireland v West Indies \

Group B

7:30 p.m. Monday, September 24

R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo

Match 12: Bangladesh v Pakistan

Group D

7:30 p.m. Tuesday, September 25

Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Pallekele

The group stage winners battle it out in the Super Eights starting September 27.

See pictures of Team India in action at the T20 World Cup 2012 here

See pictures of players in action at the T20 World Cup 2012 here

(Source: Official T20 World Cup website www.iccworldtwenty20.com)

We learned everything we needed to know about Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler on Tuesday. During an appearance on ESPN 1000 , Cutler was asked whether there was one throw he wished he could take back from his disastrous performance in Thursday's 23-10 loss to the Green Bay Packers. Cutler's response revealed a capacity for compartmentalizing that should be the envy of anyone with aspirations for emotional and social detachment.

After pausing for a moment, Cutler chose a pass that receiver Brandon Marshall dropped in the end zone early in the third quarter as the Bears trailed 13-0.

"I wish I had that one back," Cutler said. "The picks? You can have those. The one I would take back was the one to Brandon off his hands. ... I put it up probably just a half-count quicker than I wanted to. Felt a little bit of pressure and put it up. 'B' will tell you it was a catchable ball. But I could have made it 10 times easier for him, just putting it up a little to the left and holding him up a little bit. He crushed the guy on his route, and that could have made it easier on him. ... That could have changed the complexion of the game."

The picks? You can have those.

Here you have a quarterback who turned in one of the worst performances in the past 10 years of NFL play, according to the Elias Sports Bureau, glossing over his four interceptions as if they were merely a function of the game flow. Instead, Cutler suggested his biggest regret was not fine-tuning a still-catchable touchdown pass that would have left the Bears facing a second-half deficit.

Tuesday was Cutler's first public appearance since a postgame interview Thursday night, and to me it confirmed a remarkable world view that aligns independently from ordinary human nature. Cutler can toss aside a four-interception, seven-sack performance and criticize a nuanced improvement to a play on which he had already done his job. He can suggest that "your opinion does not matter to us" when it's negative or critical, as he did Tuesday, but claim "it really meant a lot" when several fans approached him over the weekend to offer encouragement.

And, perhaps most amazing of all, Cutler can insist with an apparently straight face that he did not lose his composure at any point during what sure appeared to be a wild, but not atypical performance. That assessment apparently covered his sideline confrontation with left tackle J'Marcus Webb. Indeed, Cutler repeatedly blamed the media for escalating the issue and making it "bigger than all of us expected," adding, "That's what you have to expect from the media."

Cutler also added, "Oh, I think I had my composure. I think I had my composure the whole game. Under the circumstances, we moved the ball well at times. Obviously some mistakes on my part, and other guys derailed us at times. Penalties, interceptions, stuff like that. But I had my composure. I knew what I was doing. We were calling the plays, and everything was going smoothly."

If what we saw Thursday night was composed, I would hate to see Cutler when he is upset.

You may think that the Lingerie Football League is all about exploitation and silliness, and well ... yes it is. Let's not fool ourselves. But these ladies do love themselves some football, and if you think they don't take it seriously when they're in the arena, I give you this wallop laid by one Nikki Johnson of the Regina Rage.

I'm not sure what the formation is here, but it's a standard quarterback option, and Ms. Johnson would not be denied. Veering around the left side in the direction of the end zone, Johnson took out defender Davine Burton of the Toronto Triumph to score with a hit that Cam Newton would be proud of -- if Cam Newton ran over scantily-clad women on an indoor football field. And we're not suggesting that he would.

Ms. Johnson is quite the passer in her league -- through five games in the 2012 season, she's completed 41 of 73 passes for 384 yards, 12 touchdowns and one interception. Her hero is Peyton Manning (at least that's what her Facebook page said when she played for the Las Vegas Sin), but we doubt that Peyton could put a crusher on Darrelle Revis like Johnson did on Burton.

And for that, Ms. Johnson, we salute you.

 Two of the star quarterback’s longtime teammates from New England’s Super Bowl-winning teams — wide receiver Deion Branch (MVP of Super Bowl XXXIX) and center Dan Koppen — as well as his backup (Brian Hoyer) were cut Friday as the Patriots trimmed players to reach the NFL’s 53-man roster limit.

Branch was one of Brady’s favorite receiving targets on the 2003 and 2004 Patriots teams that captured NFL championships. Branch was traded to Seattle in 2006 following a contract dispute but re-acquired by New England during the 2010 season.

Because of his status as a vested NFL veteran, Branch was given his outright release rather than placed on the waiver wire. If he doesn’t head elsewhere, the 33-year-old Branch could be re-signed after Week 1 of the regular season when his base salary wouldn’t be guaranteed for the entire year. This would give the Patriots both roster and salary-cap flexibility in case they want to release Branch again later in the season to make another roster move.

Branch started 15 games for New England last season, catching 51 passes for 702 yards and five touchdowns. The Patriots also released veteran wideouts Jabar Gaffney and Donte’ Stallworth earlier this week and parted ways with Chad Johnson in the offseason.


Like Branch, the 32-year-old Koppen played on the Patriots squads that won Super Bowls XXXVIII and XXXIX. The nine-year veteran spent almost all of last season on injured reserve after suffering a leg injury in the Week 1 opener against Miami. Koppen was beaten out by 2011 replacement Dan Connolly for a starting spot during preseason.

Hoyer was the most surprising cut. The Patriots thought enough of Hoyer during the offseason to place a second-round tender on him as a restricted free agent. That greatly limited any potential interest Hoyer would have received from other suitors.

The Patriots, though, decided to hand the backup reins to 2011 third-round pick Ryan Mallett, who didn’t appear in an NFL game as a rookie. Mallett’s perceived upside and Hoyer’s $1.9 million base salary are believed to have figured into New England’s decision to place him on the waiver wire.


Based upon media reports and team announcements, here are some other notable veterans who are now on the market after being cut before Friday night’s 9 p.m. NFL roster deadline:

Denver cornerback Drayton Florence: When released by Buffalo post-draft, Florence drew moderate interest as a nickel cornerback candidate. Even though he couldn't stick with the Broncos, Florence should be signing elsewhere soon because of the league-wide demand for cornerbacks.