Monitor

DEATHS

Emmy-winning producer Robert Colesberry (cocreator of The Wire), 57, of complications from heart surgery, Feb. 9, in NYC. Colesberry, who was Oscar nominated for Mississippi Burning, also played homicide detective Ray Cole on The Wire.... Robert W. Selig, 93, cofounder of ShoWest, the Las Vegas convention for theater owners, of complications from a fall, Dec. 31, in L.A.... Cartoonist Norman Thelwell, 80, who created 1,500 illustrations for the British satire magazine Punch, Feb. 7, in Romsey, England. Although he suffered from Alzheimer's, no cause of death was announced.... Prolific author Edward Jablonski, 81, champion of American popular music who wrote biographies of and befriended composers like Ira Gershwin and Irving Berlin, of heart failure, Feb. 10, in NYC.... Although most recognizable as Palmolive lady ''Madge,'' Jan Miner, 86, who died after a long illness, Feb. 15, in Bethel, Conn., also had extensive stage credits, with roles in Broadway's The Women and Watch on the Rhine.... Esther ''Kitty'' Buhler Bradley, 81, a writer for the TV series My Three Sons and of the film China Doll, of pneumonia, Feb. 3, in Rancho Mirage, Calif.... Larry Kamm, 64, who won 13 Emmys as a director for ABC Sports (Monday Night Football), of lung cancer, Feb. 13, in NYC.... Martin Jurow, 92, a talent agent, theater producer, studio exec, and film producer (Breakfast at Tiffany's, above; The Pink Panther), after suffering from Parkinson's disease, Feb. 12, in Dallas.

PREMIERE

On the red carpet Feb. 11, first-time feature-film director Charles S. Dutton (who costars with Meg Ryan, above) likened his behind-the-camera experience on the boxing flick Against the Ropes to ''washing a battleship with a Q-tip.''

CONTROVERSY

EMI won't let it be. The British label, home of the Beatles, had its U.S. lawyers issue cease and desist letters to DJ Danger Mouse (a.k.a. Brian Burton), eBay sellers, and record-store owners to prevent them from distributing The Grey Album, Burton's blend of the Beatles' White Album and Jay-Z's Black Album. Burton has said that he never intended for the downloadable recording to be sold. He could not be reached for comment.