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Broadcast networks and studios continue to make tweaks to their newly picked-up series, changing and recasting some of the roles. NBC’s highest-profile new drama, J.J. Abrams-Eric Kripke’s Revolution, is reconceiving one character and phasing out another. The action drama follows a group of people struggling to survive in a world where all forms of energy have ceased to exist. The character of Rachel, mother of two of the leads, is being reworked, leading to the departure of Andrea Roth who played it in the pilot. Meanwhile, the character played in the pilot by Anna Lise Phillips, a doctor, will no longer be regular. Phillips is expected to do several episodes to wrap the character’s storyline. It’s been a busy recasting season at NBC, which made the first two major casting changes heading into the upfronts, opting to replace Julian Lawson on new drama Infamous and Amy Huberman on comedy Animal Kingdom. Additionally, the option on Khary Payton from the pilot for new comedy Go On is not being picked up. The role will not be recast. The role played by Lamman Rucker in the pilot for NBC’s comedy Save Me will be recast. There is no decision yet how the network will proceed with the regular role in another NBC comedy pilot, Guys With Kids, played as a guest star by Sara Sue who is departing as her ... Read More »

Viacom was “due for an increase,” Wells Fargo Securities analyst Marci Ryvicker says — although she expected a 20% bump. The company raised its dividend on May 25, 2011, and June 9, 2010. Also, it’s generating cash and has a healthy balance sheet. She figures that Viacom will make $560M in dividend payments over the next 12 months, equal to about 20% of its free cash flow. CEO Philippe Dauman says that “returning value to our shareholders is a priority for Viacom.”