Oprah campaign threatened

Fans of Oprah Winfrey hoping that she’ll run for president have experienced the first hiccup in their campaign.

The talk show host is trying to put a stop to a Web site, book and toll free phone number that support the proposed 2008 Winfrey presidential bid.

According to a letter found on TheSmokingGun.com, retired Kansas City teacher Patrick Crowe is comitting copyright and trademark infringement by using Oprah’s image as well as her name and the name Harpo, Inc. on his Web site oprah08.net, in his book “Oprah for President” and for the phone number 1-866-OPRAH08.

The Aug. 22 letter from The Entertainment & Intellectual Property Group, LLC attorney Jerry Glover states that the unauthorized use of Winfrey’s name and likeness “fairly implies” that she and her company endorse or sponsor the campaign. The letter points to links to the sale of the book, buttons, bumper stickers and T-shirts as evidence of the site’s commercial use. The law firm requested that Crowe to remove any images from the book and site, change the site’s domain name and stop the use of the phone number and future numbers that would contain the name “OPRAH” or else legal action would be pursued.

‘Entourage’ keeps rolling

The Hollywood adventures of Vincent Chase will continue into 2007 and beyond.

HBO has picked up a fourth season of its comedy “Entourage,” which scored its first Emmy win (for supporting actor Jeremy Piven) this year and also enjoyed its best ratings in three seasons over the summer. The network has ordered 12 new episodes of the show.

“‘Entourage’ is a standout hit for HBO,” HBO Entertainment President Carolyn Strauss says. “Thanks to a terrific cast and razor-sharp writing and directing, this smart, funny show has become a genuine phenomenon.”

‘SNL’ cuts back for 32nd season

Some of the rumors surrounding comings and goings on “Saturday Night Live” have turned out to be true.

The cast of the venerable NBC late-night show will feature only 11 regulars for 2006-07, down from 16 last season. In addition to the previously announced departures of Tina Fey and Rachel Dratch – who are working on NBC’s prime-time comedy “30 Rock” – eight-year veterans Chris Parnell and Horatio Sanz have been let go, as has Finesse Mitchell, who’s been with “SNL” since 2003.

The cast for the coming season will be made up of Fred Armisen, Will Forte, Bill Hader, Darrell Hammond, Seth Meyers, Amy Poehler, Maya Rudolph, Andy Samberg, Jason Sudeikis, Kenan Thompson and Kristen Wiig. Meyers will also serve as head writer, along with Andrew Steele and Paula Pell.

About a month ago, a spate of rumors about who might be leaving the show swirled through the media. Sanz and Parnell were mentioned in several stories; others had Rudolph, Forte and Thompson on their way out. Neither NBC nor “SNL” producer Lorne Michaels made any comment at the time.

Poehler, who has co-anchored “Weekend Update” with Fey for the past two seasons, will remain at the fake-news desk this season with a partner to be announced later.

The 32nd season of “Saturday Night Live” debuts Sept. 30, with comedian Dane Cook hosting and The Killers as the musical guest.