On the defensive

The Netflix docuseries "Making a Murderer" has inspired a wave of support for the central figure, Steven Avery, including a petition with more than 100,000 signatures asking President Obama to pardon him. But the prosecutor in the case is fighting back: The series "really presents misinformation," Ken Kratz said. He accused filmmakers Laura Ricciardi and Moira Demos of intentionally withholding facts that would lead viewers to see Avery's guilt. Ricciardi responded that "Our opinion is that we included the state's most compelling evidence."

Stone in spots

Emma Stone is in talks to play Cruella de Vil in the live-action "101 Dalmatians." … Ryan Coogler ("Creed") will direct Marvel's "Black Panther."

'True' confessions

HBO's president of programming, Michael Lombardo, is taking the blame for the second season of "True Detective," which was, well, disappointing. He says he rushed creator Nic Pizzolatto after the resounding success of Season 1, resulting in a half-baked product. … Guillermo del Toro will create the animated "Trollhunters" for Netflix. … Louis C.K. and Albert Brooks are teaming up for an animated comedy on FX. … "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" has been renewed through 2020. … E! will bring back "The Royals" for a third season. … Hugh Laurie is back on the medical beat, starring as a forensic neuropsychiatrist in the Hulu series "Chance."

Retiring 'Rambo'

Sylvester Stallone is riding high again as Rocky Balboa, but says his "Rambo" days are over. "You know when you realize there's nothing more to pull out?" he said of the fourth movie in the series, 2008's "Rambo." He says he thought at the time, " 'This is probably going to be the last decent film of this genre that I'm going to do as a solo act.' When that was accomplished, I never felt the same willingness to do it again."

Mike and Spike

To coincide with the 35th-anniversary reissue on Feb. 26 of Michael Jackson's "Off the Wall," the new Spike Lee documentary "Michael Jackson's Journey From Motown to 'Off the Wall' " will be broadcast Feb. 5 on Showtime.

CYNTHIA DICKISON