The Front Page: March 3, 2008

By Randee Dawn

The networks aren't the only ones who have synergy down pat: Today, THR debuts THR-Asia, an English-language Web site (THR-Asia.com, naturally) aimed at Asian audiences with exclusive content. Ni hao to the Chinese readers! (I'll work on our other languages.) Meanwhile, China correspondent Jonathan Landreth has taken up a space over here in New York for a few weeks, so all around, I'm up for some sesame tofu right about now.

Unfortunately, not everything has gone as smoothly for everyone else: Yet Another Will Ferrell Sports Comedy (aka "Semi-Pro") hit No. 1 -- with just $15.3 million this weekend, according to Gregg Kilday's piece. Maybe it's time for the comedian to try some other area of interest, because audiences clearly are losing theirs.

Speaking of sports, the game of where to place "quarterlife" gets picked up by Andrew Wallenstein today, who in his TV Reporter column suggests that it's both Internet and cable. "Demographically speaking, 'quarterlife' is a better fit for the Internet, and yet it doesn't quite fit on that medium. The problem is tonal; there simply has never been a quality scripted drama that has worked online. The internet seems more hospitable to comedy and unscripted formats." Actually, I'd add that my computer isn't designed for heavy dramas: It's easy to laugh at skateboarding cats while sitting at my desk, but serious, attention-seeking story really needs more space and less distraction, and should be seen on a screen that isn't dotted with post-it notes and a "What would Scooby Do" sticker.

But for what it's worth, never underestimate what the fans are ready for: Clips notes today that the CBS soap "As the World Turns" features two characters (Luke and Noah) who have a romantic relationship -- but just one onscreen kiss since September -- and fans are incensed. They want more man-on-man smooching, and are writing the network to complain, and have even set up a Web site that "Counts the days, hours, minutes and seconds since Luke and Noah last kissed." Five years ago it might have been the other way around (protests against homosexual displays of affection), so hooray for progress! Just as soon as CBS agrees....