HBO has gone ape crazy over the idea that anyone would assert ownership of a nickname. The pay cable network is in a New York court this week trying to stop MTV reality star John Devenanzio’s lawsuit over the use of “Johnny Bananas” in the TV series Entourage.
Devananzio, who appeared as a cast member on MTV’s The Real World Key West and several other MTV reality shows, sued HBO, parent Time Warner and Entourage creator Doug Ellin in October, claiming that he is popularly known in the entertainment world as “Johnny Bananas” and that a plot line during the final two seasons of the series violated his publicity and privacy rights, defamed him and caused him emotional distress.
Full story: HBO asks judge to toss MTV star’s lawsuit over “Entourage” character “Johnny Bananas”