Don Was named CCO of Blue Note

Marking Blue Note Records' continuing evolution as a pop label, super-producer Don Was has been named chief creative officer at the EMI imprint. Was will sign and develop creative talent for Blue Note, working closely with Capitol & Virgin Labels Group prexy Dan McCarroll and Blue Note & Manhattan prexy Ian Ralfini, who jointly announced the appointment Tuesday. Born Don Fagenson in Detroit, Was rose to prominence as a producer in the late '80s, helming Bonnie Raitt's multiple Grammy winner "Nick of Time" (1989). He has served as the Rolling Stones' producer since "Voodoo Lounge" (1994), and directed studio projects by Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson, the Highwaymen, Ziggy Marley, Paul Westerberg, Kris Kristofferson and Lucinda Williams. He received a Grammy as producer of the year in 1995. A gifted bassist, he co-founded the group Was (Not Was) with musician-journalist David Weiss (aka David Was) in 1979. The act has toured and recorded sporadically into the new millennium. Was said in a statement, "We dedicate ourselves to furthering Blue Note's artistic tradition of unbridled creativity, talent, intelligence and GROOVE!" A premier jazz label since its founding in 1939, Blue Note has deeply diversified into the pop realm in the last decade; company's flagship artist is multi-platinum, Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Norah Jones. Label's current roster includes actor-vocalist Jeff Bridges, Amos Lee and Priscilla Ahn. Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

Marc Cherry: The Finish of Desperate Average women Is "Bittersweet and Lovely"

Desperate Average women "The only real factor harder than developing a hit show is understanding when you should finish it," Marc Cherry, creator of Desperate Average women, told experts Sunday at ABC's fall previews. "I'm also conscious of people overstaying their welcome. I did not want that to occur to Desperate Average women. I took it out once the network still saw us like a viable show along with a pressure to deal with. We felt from the creative perspective this was the best time. Personally i think so great about this.InchEager Average women To Finish This SeasonHis claims came just moments after network leader Paul Lee confirmed the approaching eighth season will be the show's last. "This is an legendary show and we are very happy with it," Lee stated. "I simply desired to make certain it had its victory lap."Cherry stated the ultimate season will target the Average women of Wisteria Lane uniting to maintain a secret, that they feels is definitely an appropriate full-circle story. "[It's] returning to roots of Mary Alice," he stated "This feels right." Further, Cherry says he's already brainstorming concerning the series finale. "I've a concept going back episode, by which I wish to pay homage to everybody who's been on the program,Inch he stated.Cherry stated he's spoken to over fifty percent from the cast, which conversations to date happen to be positive and emotional. "It had been bittersweet and lovely, since the women understood there is the chance,Inch he stated. "They stated some very lovely items to me about how exactly I have transformed their lives and careers. I really, truly love they all.Inch Enough to produce a spin-off for one of these? "I told [Avoi Longoria], 'I'm just likely to place you in a van and also have you solve mysteries!'" he joked. "The simple truth is, I kind of considered [a spin-off] a bit, but ... I'd rather not repeat things I have done."Take a look at photos from the Desperate Average women cast Rather, his focus is on redeveloping Hallelujah, an airplane pilot that unsuccessful to earn a set order this year. "1 / 2 of [the pilot] was terrific and 1 / 2 of it had not been,Inch Cherry stated. "Our attitude about this is, we is going to do this when it is right. You type of need to get it perfect. It is a large swing."How can you think Desperate Average women should finish?

RATINGS RAT RACE: 'Expedition: Impossible' & 'Dance' Down, 'Big Brother' Up

After rebounding last week, Mark Burnett's new reality series for ABC Expedition: Impossible (1.4/4) slipped again, down 13%. Meanwhile, its lead-in, Wipeout (1.9/7), and lead-out, Rookie Blue (1.3/4), were both even with last week. Fox's So You Think You Can Dance result show (1.6/6) was down 6% and followed by a Glee rerun. CBS' Big Brother (2.7/8, 7.3 million) at 9 PM was up a tenth from last week to once again rank as the top program of the night and lead CBS (1.8/6, 6.3 million) to a nightly victory despite featuring reruns in two of the three hours of primetime. NBC aired all repeats.