Jim Samples, the former head of Cartoon Network, stepped down Friday in response to the extremely unpleasant and unplanned effects of a viral marketing campaign gone awry. The scare, which effectively shut down Boston for a day, was started by the discovery of battery-powered lights that formed images of a character from CN's Aqua Teen Hunger Force flipping onlookers the bird. The two individuals responsible for the placement of the boards were arrested and charged with placing a hoax device and disorderly conduct. Both free on bond, they only responded to reporters' questions that had to do with hair.

On a more serious note, Turner Broadcasting, the parent of CN, has already apologized and agreed to pay upwards of $2 million to both Boston and the commonwealth of Massachusetts, with more potential civil suits pending.

Ultimately, it does not appear that the fear-inducing, cost-incurring and legal-action-inspiring campaign has had a positive effect on its program. Aqua Teen Hunger Force's viewership was an estimated 386,000 last week, compared to a weekly average of 380,000.


Turns out Hugh Grant got a little unorthodox help in limbering up for his latest film role in Music and Lyrics.

Rather than the traditional approach of, say, learning how to dance, Grant said that he found it necessary to imbibe whiskey and tranquilizers in order to prepare for his dancing and singing scenes in Music.

A day after he agreed to the part, Grant remembers saying, "I woke up with a jolt and I thought: 'What have I done? I can't sing. I can't dance.'"

After revealing that he had turned to substances in order to improve his performance, Grant lightened the mood by saying, "It's a habit I'm finding hard to break now. I'm addicted to both."

Charming as always, Mr. Grant. It's too bad you didn't find a substance to improve your acting as well.