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 5 of 10)Previous 15 Comments | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | Most Recent | Next 15 Comments

61. Stop the madness. WTF? How come Howie is not in jail already?

Helloooo anyone in any official capacity? We are not laughing even though we should be.

Posted at 4:31PM on Mar 10th 2008 by Cantankerous One

62. By the way #47, the previous poster also has modeling spelled wrong. She or he has molding. I take it they mean m o d e l i n g. Go figure!

Posted at 4:35PM on Mar 10th 2008 by maureen

63. Uh, this is just another set up for the next show. It's all BS. Yawn

Posted at 4:38PM on Mar 10th 2008 by Sheeez

64. Like your nic, Sperm and Stern, Inc. LLC

I am looking forward to Dr Death being held accountable for her disgusting "Treatment" of Anna. I'm afraid Stern will walk, but Karma will follow him.

Posted at 5:06PM on Mar 10th 2008 by chalkoutline

65. For you idiots out there that can not think on your own, Howard will not have to sue but the Writer's Guild will and can.

As we can see it was Anna's idea and why should she not get the credit. It is in black and white.

I would say this is a good law suit and any of you would do the same thing if this was you.

http://www.screenwritersfederation.org/copyright.asp#12

Posted at 5:19PM on Mar 10th 2008 by Shame on the Antinoids

66. i think this is part of the show...and you are falling for it again!! RIP Anna, but i really can't picture coming up with an idea like this one.

Posted at 5:47PM on Mar 10th 2008 by Andrea

67. #68 but it is not us....and it is not HKS......like you said it is/was ANS's idea and once again this schmuck is presenting/representing himself as the all powerful, all concerning, all caring person that we ALL know (well at least anyone with half a brain) is a murdering bastard who only cares about himself and what is in it for him. Not ANS's name, not Dannilyn's future, but HIM and his yes man sidekick just as greedy "friend" Larry.
Like you said "Shame" it WAS ANS's idea...so what gives him the right to still, even in her death, try to appear as if he is not going to allow anyone to "burn" ANS, when in actuality he is again only making an attempt to keep his finances in the black.....at the expense and LIFE of another.
HKS (H)orrific (K)illing (S)chmuck, will hopefully have his day and I pray it is soon. It has been long enough for those of us who have been here since the beginning (Daniel) waiting for something, someone to hold this jackass accountable, which may of prevented the same fate happening to ANS!! We all talk about karma, but when will HKS and others have to answer to what he did to BOTH Anna and her son!!! It simply amazes me with all the time that has passed and all the signs that point to......yes HKS, and yet he still walks free and has the balls to be sueing once again in the supposed name of ANS. Sick sick sick and more sick is all I can say.

Posted at 6:05PM on Mar 10th 2008 by Kikoke

68. Did any of you happen to catch last night's episode of Pop Fiction? It turns out the show, which is produced by Ashton Kutcher, is a carbon copy of a show that Anna Nicole Smith pitched to E! back in 2004.

Anna's treatment read: "...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."

The show was originally pitched to E! networks, so our conspiracy theory is that the execs at E! approached Ashton with the concept since he's the Punk'd dude and he jumped at the opportunity.

Posted at 6:13PM on Mar 10th 2008 by Shame on the Antinoids

69. Looks like Howard & Bonnie's bloggers are on here trying to help poor Howard again but it's useless.

Posted at 6:38PM on Mar 10th 2008 by Janice

70.

New Thread about Dannielynn with Sperm looking like maybe he's thinking he didn't win the lottery --- motherhood is a B !!!

Posted at 6:47PM on Mar 10th 2008 by Sperm & Stern Inc. LLc

71. I understand that a lot of you hate Howard, but come on! E should NOT be allowed to just steal Anna's idea and profit from it. Howard has every right in the world to go and fight for what is rightfully Dannielynn's! Hate him or not!

Posted at 7:14PM on Mar 10th 2008 by Peppermint

72. Spell cops out again.
No mistakes allowed lol, where is your humanity?

Posted at 7:14PM on Mar 10th 2008 by Blog Patrol

73. Poor Howard trying so hard to market his new blond bimbo, I guess ET is the only place you can make a buck with this one Howie. NO one wants him for a reality show or any show. He is nothing but a man who got a drug addict pregnant.
Better off working on the Marshall case, if you lose that even Dannielynn's marketability will be zero.

Posted at 7:15PM on Mar 10th 2008 by Howards new Bimbo

74. Sorry #68 Andrea, the numbers must have changed cuz that was to #67 Shame on the Antinoids. Not directed to you or your comment. Peace

Posted at 7:21PM on Mar 10th 2008 by Kikoke

75. 59. 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

A person that is in recovery and happens to be in a country that doesn't have a Methadone Maintenance program. At least she was on Methadone and not Oxycontin or Vicodin.

Posted at 7:21PM on Mar 10th 2008 by Peppermint

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