DID ABC TALK TOO SOON?
Television sources say that ABC has canceled its plans to run a story on underage fashion models based on a much-publicized BBC documentary. The move came after ABC learned of this month’s Talk magazine story questioning the veracity of British “reality” shows, and of the modeling exposé in particular. ABC won the rights to the BBC’s film — which skewered Elite models executive Gerald Marie for his reported penchant for trysts with underage models — after a heated U.S. bidding war. But sources say that after ABC senior producer Ira Rosen got a look at the Talk piece, the network’s program was shelved. Media insiders note that while ABC claims to have had no signed contract, the BBC was stunned by ABC’s sudden defection, believing they had a “handshake deal.” “They’re fuming,” says one veteran newsman. BBC spokesperson Diane Santall would say only a terse “To our knowledge, ABC is not running the piece.” 1 TOO MANY CHORES FOR REPORTERS Journalist Annika Pergament has left New York 1 f
