CNN executives have chosen Anthony James, composer and CEO of British Company Music Candy, to write the theme music for their new flagship show ‘Piers Morgan Tonight’. Along with his writing partner Yiorgos Bellapaisiotis, Creative Director for Music Candy, they’ve created the thematic package and a powerful sonic Identity for the talk show slot previously held by Larry King. The show will be the centrepiece in primetime TV, interviewing some of the most influential people in the world.

Executives at CNN are looking to take the channel to new heights, with ‘Piers Morgan Tonight’ at the forefront, showcasing their new and fresh direction. With this in mind, Executive Producer Jonathan Wald, Emmy Award-winning former executive producer of the “Today” show and

Bristol-based independent Quickfire Media has secured Richard E Grant to front a 1 x 60-minute film about the Arabian Nights for BBC4.

Music News: Lambert takes female vocalist of the year kudo — Brad Paisley took home entertainer of the year honors at Wednesday’s Country Music Assn.’s awards, which otherwise belonged to Miranda Lambert.

TV News: Story was also a bigscreen pic and now set for West End — Graham King’s television shingle is set to give a smallscreen adaptation to classic film and legit tale “The Children’s Hour.”

Obituary: She played pivotal role in ‘When Harry Met Sally’ — Thesp Michelle Nicastro, who had a recurring role in soap “Santa Barbara,” died Nov. 4 in Los Angeles of cancer. She was 50.

Top News: Book centers on woman obsessed with celeb deaths — Producers Ralph Singleton and Joan Singleton (“Because of Winn-Dixie”) are developing a feature based on Kathy Charles’ debut novel “John Belushi is Dead.”

International News: C&R and Beijing Intl. Copyright Trade Center link up — Japanese content producer and talent agency Creek & River has inked with the Beijing Intl. Copyright Trade Center to form an in-house unit for registering and distributing copyrights for Japanese content in China.

Film News: ‘Iron Man’ helmer to develop family feature for studio — Disney has handed the keys to “The Magic Kingdom” to Jon Favreau.

Obituary: Anderson became a Hollywood fixture — Nancy Anderson, longtime West Coast editor of mag Photoplay, died Nov. 4 in Bell Buckle, Tenn., of natural causes. She was 92.

AFM News: Territories also turn out for ‘Shark Night 3D’ — Lawrence Kasdan’s Kevin Kline-Diane Keaton dramedy “Darling Companion” was one of the sweethearts of the American Film Market, closing numerous deals in its debut from Sierra Pictures.