Genesis Entertainment

Genesis Entertainment, a private Agoura Hills company that produces and distributes television shows, said Four Star International Inc. has acquired a 50% equity interest in the firm. Genesis did not disclose the purchase price. But as part of the agreement, Genesis said it would acquire television distribution rights to Four Star's library, which includes more than 160 feature films as well as television series.

Genesis Entertainment, a private Agoura Hills company that produces and distributes television shows, said Four Star International Inc. has acquired a 50% equity interest in the firm. Genesis did not disclose the purchase price. But as part of the agreement, Genesis said it would acquire television distribution rights to Four Star's library, which includes more than 160 feature films as well as television series.

Andrews Group Acquires 50% Stake in Genesis Entertainment: New York-based Andrews Group, acting through subsidiary Four Star International, has acquired a 50% stake in Agoura Hills-based Genesis Entertainment, the company that produces and distributes "The Whoopi Goldberg Show." The Andrews Group, controlled by investor Ronald O. Perelman, also owns stakes in Marvel Entertainment Group and New World Entertainment.

Andrews Group Acquires 50% Stake in Genesis Entertainment: New York-based Andrews Group, acting through subsidiary Four Star International, has acquired a 50% stake in Agoura Hills-based Genesis Entertainment, the company that produces and distributes "The Whoopi Goldberg Show." The Andrews Group, controlled by investor Ronald O. Perelman, also owns stakes in Marvel Entertainment Group and New World Entertainment.

Whoopin' It Up: Oscar and Grammy winner Whoopi Goldberg will be joining the pool of late-night TV talk show hosts next fall. "The Whoopi Goldberg Show" generally will focus on a single entertainment personality or newsmaker rather than the usual "tell-an-amusing-story-and-then-identify-your-latest-project" format. The syndicated nightly half-hour program will be produced through Goldberg's Whoop Inc., and distributed by Genesis Entertainment.

Perelman Invests in TV Infomercial Producer: Financier Ronald Perelman has bought a one-third stake for $25 million in Palm Desert-based infomercial TV producer Guthy-Renker Corp. Guthy-Renker, which had revenue of more than $70 million last year, has produced about a dozen leading infomercials. Perelman's other major interests include a controlling stake in the SCI Television Inc. group of TV stations, New World Entertainment, Genesis Entertainment and Marvel Entertainment.

Leslie Maskin has joined the TV literary department of United Talent Agency, where she will package TV projects and individually represent writers and producers. Maskin previously worked as vice president of business affairs at NBC, after beginning her career as a program attorney at ABC in 1986. She holds a law degree from Fordham University. Greg Peck is the new vice president of promotion and black music marketing at Qwest Records. He will oversee its urban marketing and promotion efforts.

At the company known for colorizing movies, color Dennis A. Miller unhappy. Sources say Miller, who is supposed to oversee all original entertainment production for Turner, is angry about being passed over for the job of chief of Turner Pictures. Cable mogul Ted Turner is in discussion with producer Dawn Steel about heading Turner Pictures, which will produce about six films a year.

CBS Inc. has named James A. Warner president of CBS Television Network, succeeding Peter Lund, who was recently named president of CBS/Broadcast Group. Warner had been president of CBS Enterprises. Before joining the network in 1989, he was an executive at Home Box Office and HBO Enterprises. He moves into a position that was vacated when Lund was named to succeed Howard Stringer, who left CBS for a new video venture backed by three regional phone companies. CBS also named Joseph D.