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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46. Why doesn't HKStern get a friggin job already. All he seems to be doing is threatening to sue the pants off anyone that looks at him the wrong way. What is his problem! I don't trust him one bit and I never did!!!!! Howard.........get a real job!!

Posted at 3:36PM on Mar 10th 2008 by maureen

47. Anna Nicole Smith was an addicted golddigger who used old man Marshall to get his money & look what happened to her, Howard & Larry used her to get her money. Her greed & drugs cost her & her son their lives.

Watch out Howard & Larry because your destiny awaits you! You get out of life what you put into it & so far all you bums did was take. Two young people dead within a six-month period & Howard was present both times. I'd hate to be in the shoes of either Howard or Larry because I don't think life will treat either of you kindly.

Posted at 3:38PM on Mar 10th 2008 by Paybacks are tough

48. people , we realize anna is dead,but it looks like the show is her's so as is , our anna lives on :)

Posted at 3:41PM on Mar 10th 2008 by aka

49. The story says Anna registered the idea with the Writers Guild but since she is dead, is that valid anymore? I don't think they have a case with Ashton unless it is stealing her idea of acting dumb.

Posted at 3:43PM on Mar 10th 2008 by Marty Morgan

50. BIG BOYS????? HAHAHAH ASHTON?????????? that kid is just a baby......married to his grandmother

Posted at 3:44PM on Mar 10th 2008 by what a laugh

51. harvey, i think they are punking you again. haha punking the punk. all part of the game. will it ever end??

Posted at 3:46PM on Mar 10th 2008 by tmzlol

52. Like most of Anna friends the ture ones know she was not a drugged up 24/7 like O'Quinn and Virgie want you all to think. Talk about being PUNKED. I hope Howard sues the crap out of them. Anna had the idea and her estate should be paid. As for some of you that think Howard should get a job, he has one protecting Anna from all the money grabbers. He will make sure Dannielynn will recieve the money that should have gone to Anna. And not let people tak advanage of Anna in death. So, you all go and bash Howard BUT he is the only one that is making sure Dannielynn will have a good life.

Posted at 3:48PM on Mar 10th 2008 by Time to pay up

53. Howard controlled Anna in life & thinks he can control everything about her in death. I'd hate to know my life depended on what money I made living off the image of another person. Howard & Larry are worthless bums & a show that they were even remotely involved in would be a complete flop.

Posted at 3:53PM on Mar 10th 2008 by Laura

54. Time to pay up,

Oh yes, we know who Howard is looking out for & it's certainly not Dannielynn! He is lining his own pockets with Dannielynn's money the same way he lined his pockets with Anna's money. The creep never had a job, he's a bum & you are a sucker who's too stupid to know the difference between a con artist & a decent human being.

Posted at 4:00PM on Mar 10th 2008 by Rose

55. #55 Pay up....he is making sure "people' don't take advantage of Anna in her death.....and making sure the the baby will have a good life!!!!! Are you Effing kidding me. The only thing he is making sure of is that his greedy pockets are lined, along with Larry. Two very sick schmucks, who are constantly taking every opportunity possible to make a buck off of ANS and or the baby. To protect Anna and provide for the baby's future....I think not. If anyone cannot smell that something is and has been fishy since the death of Daniel, then perhaps you should do everything possible to escape the Twilight Zone.

Posted at 4:01PM on Mar 10th 2008 by Kikoke

56. E should have let Larry have the opportunity. That would have been cool!

Get 'em guys!!

NOT NICE E!!

Posted at 4:10PM on Mar 10th 2008 by butterfly

57. 55. Like most of Anna friends the ture ones know she was not a drugged up 24/7 like O'Quinn and Virgie want you all to think. Talk about being PUNKED. I hope Howard sues the crap out of them. Anna had the idea and her estate should be paid. As for some of you that think Howard should get a job, he has one protecting Anna from all the money grabbers. He will make sure Dannielynn will recieve the money that should have gone to Anna. And not let people tak advanage of Anna in death. So, you all go and bash Howard BUT he is the only one that is making sure Dannielynn will have a good life.

Posted at 3:48PM on Mar 10th 2008 by Time to pay up

Guess the only made sure she was drugged when she was in front of the camera, during interviews and at award shows.
Who keeps pharmacy sizes methodone in their refrigerator?

Posted at 4:13PM on Mar 10th 2008 by She was an addict - face it

58.

Oh yeah , right ! How much money can replace DL's mommy ?

A real, good life , growing up under the shadow of scandal , motherless, grandmotherless, do you pathetic sternies think everything can be solved by throwing money at it ? (well, almost everything can , except losing your mom, &and brother as an infant) DL will grow up with the feeling of abandonment , for her entire life, she will always feel as if someone is missing in her heart ) )

Posted at 4:14PM on Mar 10th 2008 by Sperm & Stern Inc. LLc

59.

Breaking News : Butterfly is Swims . . Fly or Swim away little pest ! lol

Posted at 4:18PM on Mar 10th 2008 by Sperm & Stern Inc. LLc

60. The show was stupid anyway. Of all the people to choose from they chose paris hilton, who is a paparazzi slut. maybe the paparazzi show prank her and ignore her for a week. what a hypocite.

Posted at 4:27PM on Mar 10th 2008 by lkjhgfdsa

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