Anna Nicole to E!: You Screwed Me

Posted Mar 10th 2008 2:09PM by TMZ Staff

The new E! show "Pop Fiction" sounds like a complete rip off of another pitch -- "Celebrities Strike Back." Oh, by the way -- it was pitched by Anna Nicole Smith more than three years ago and there could be a lawsuit.

"Pop Fiction," produced by Ashton Kutcher's Katalyst Television, debuted last night. It seems identical to a treatment obtained by TMZ that Anna Nicole registered with the Writers Guild in 2004. Now get this -- in 2004, Anna Nicole and Howard K. Stern met with Jeff Shore and Jay James, both programming execs for E!. They pitched the show and sent Shore the treatment.

We're also told Anna Nicole and Howard K. met with then E! Prez Ted Harbert in 2004 and also raised the show.

Ashton's show sounds like a carbon of Anna's treatment -- "...what happens if Anna Nicole Smith and other celebrities turn the tables and capitalize off of the overzealous media? What if the next big supposed scandal is not a scandal at all? What if everything is staged, but the media (and the public) don't know it?" It continues, Anna Nicole and other celebrity guests take aim at the media and push all the limits."

That's Ashton Kutcher's show and we're told Howard K. has already threatened suit. What is really pissing him off is that he and Anna had multiple meetings with E!. Two months ago, Stern spoke with E! again on behalf of the estate and the network seemed intrigued by making Larry Birkhead the celeb to do the first prank and then host the show. Ultimately Jay James said it just wouldn't work. Oh really?

UPDATE: A rep for E! tells us, "'Pop Fiction' is a program independently created and developed by Ashton Kutcher's company, Katalyst. 'Pop Fiction' is not based on any idea or concept that may have been pitched to E! by any other party."

Filed under: Celebrity Justice, TV, Anna Nicole Smith

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(Page 2 of 10)Previous 15 Comments | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Most Recent | Next 15 Comments

16. What if the next big supposed scandal is not a scandal at all? What if everything is staged, but the media (and the public) don't know it?"

Not shocking....that's probably what the whole paternity thing was......a fricken scam! No wonder Birkhead and Howie are buddies. Disgusting SOB's....and a 20 year old kid and his 39 year old mother are dead because of it.
Poor Dannielynn...that's all I have to say.

Posted at 2:20PM on Mar 10th 2008 by Things that make u go hmmm...

17. Oh TMZ what will you do. It will be fun watching Pop Fiction to see what was real or fiction and what your part was in exploding the story.

I'm kind of disappointed that this is the only story about the show.

Posted at 2:21PM on Mar 10th 2008 by ha ha

18. They didn't discover the cure for cancer, for crying out loud! It's a garden variety, dumb television show concept. It's not even remotely original. This baseless lawsuit is a perfect example of how ridiculous our litigious legal system is.

Posted at 2:21PM on Mar 10th 2008 by ck

19. Nobody wants to watch a show hosted by dirty looking Larry Birkhead. He and stern are the biggest slimeballs on the planet. Still trying to live off dead Anna. Disgusting.

Posted at 2:22PM on Mar 10th 2008 by sick of stern

20. Two months ago, Stern spoke with E! again on behalf of the estate and the network seemed intrigued by making Larry Birkhead the celeb to do the first prank and then host the show.

Stern's pimping out Birkhead now....pathetic.....look out Dannielynn.
Someone save that baby.

Posted at 2:26PM on Mar 10th 2008 by Things that make u go hmmm...

21. i think you're being popped (fictioned) again TMZ.......................

Posted at 2:27PM on Mar 10th 2008 by anonymous

22. God is wondering why He hasn't been sued yet by Howard and Larry.

Posted at 2:29PM on Mar 10th 2008 by scotty lass

23. Has Kutcher ever had an original idea?

Posted at 2:30PM on Mar 10th 2008 by Moose

24. Two months ago, Stern spoke with E! again on behalf of the estate and the network seemed intrigued by making Larry Birkhead the celeb to do the first prank and then host the show.

Was this part of infamous "The Deal"???
$tern probably promised this to Larry in exchange for staying on as executor. lol
Birkhead is such a sucker.

Posted at 2:31PM on Mar 10th 2008 by Things that make u go hmmm...

25. My vote is for Ashton.

Posted at 2:31PM on Mar 10th 2008 by Ms. Kitty

26. Didn't Ashton have a show called "punked" or something along those lines that was about pulling pranks on celebs?

Posted at 2:33PM on Mar 10th 2008 by Ms. Kitty

27. I think it is poetic justice that E! would not allow Birkhead (the NON “celeb”) to do the first prank or host the show! E! is smart enough to know that the public does NOT want to see Birkhead on any kind of E! show (not a Daddy does diapers reality show or any show).

Oh how Birkhead has been enticed by fantasies of STARDOM by his buddy Stern, which are not coming true. WAKE UP Birkhead. The public hates Stern. Anything you do that is associated with him will be a dismal failure financially and for your public image.

Birkhead got PUNKED by Kutcher! Delightfully funny!

Posted at 2:36PM on Mar 10th 2008 by All that glitters aint gold

28. C'mon guys. You would be pissed too if you had pitched the idea for this show to E! years ago, and they let dumb Ashton produce it....

Posted at 2:37PM on Mar 10th 2008 by HappyMonday

29. Newsflash for HKS - You're not liked by much of the general public. We hope you fail in all of your ventures and endeavors.
Here's a hint - why not use your law degree for what it was intended for and get a real job with real clientele.

Posted at 2:42PM on Mar 10th 2008 by he's a scam artist

30. ANNA was en easy target. everyone seemed to use ANNA, what a shame noone cared enough to help her and her son. what a shame.

Posted at 2:46PM on Mar 10th 2008 by pattie

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