1. Mel Gibson’s “Apocalypto” release date has been moved from the summer blockbuster slot to the big end-of-the-year holiday month (December 8, 2006) premiere docket. Disney cited production costs as the reason for the move, but it seems more likely that the all-Mayan language film made its move to increase its audience since this year’s holiday fare appears to be quite thin, while films already set for July-August releases will probably gobble up most of Mel’s intended audience.

2. The Big Four conventional TV networks are turning the tables on the FCC and taking them to court in a challenge to the US government’s ruling which found some of their programming “indecent” due to language. The shows in question were ABC’s “NYPD Blue,” “The Early Show” on CBS, and comments made on FOX’s broadcasting of the “Billboard Music Awards.”

3. In a six-year deal FOX enters the programming download age on iTunes. Effective immediately FOX will make available for downloading such hits as “The Family Guy,” Keifer Sutherland’s “24,” and the big daddy of them all “American Idol.”

4. “Family Guy’s” Chris Sheridan has just signed a seven-figure deal with 20th Century FOX that will keep him working at FOX and NBC for another three years. Pity that FOX wasn’t smart enough to make that kind of deal with Joss Whedon for Firefly.

5. “Ice Age 2: The Meltdown” stayed in the Top Ten again this weekend grossing another $54 million worldwide adding to its very impressive totals of $397 million overall. Once this thing goes to DVD – lookout! Surprise hit “Scary Movie 4” topped at number one scooping in $41 million in US ticket sales.