Quick Takes: Fans bid ‘Harry Potter’ goodbye

Thousands of fans braved rain and battled security restrictions in London’s Trafalgar Square on Thursday to say farewell to the boy wizard Harry Potter at the world premiere of the final movie in the record-breaking series, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows — Part 2.”

Those lucky enough to make it into the packed square — some in full regalia from the fictional Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry — screamed out the names of characters and those of stars such as Daniel Radcliffe as they walked the red carpet past a giant TV screen to a raised platform where the main cast spoke to cheering fans.

J.K. Rowling, author of the seven-book saga that began in 1997 and concluded in 2007, joked that the premiere was the closest she’s come to considering penning another Potter novel, but consoled fans with the notion that her wizard world would last forever.

“Whether you come back by page or the big screen, Hogwarts will always be there to welcome you home,” she said.

—Reuters

ABC soaps find new life online

“All My Children” and “One Life to Live” have gotten a digital reprieve.

Disney’s ABC has sold the online rights to the two canceled soap opera as part of a deal with media company Prospect Park.

As part of the deal, “All My Children” and “One Life to Live” — which are due to wrap in September and January, respectively — will pick up where they left off on a new, still untitled online TV network.

Prospect Park is lead by “Royal Pains” executive producers Jeff Kwatinetz and Rich Frank, the latter of whom is also a former Disney Studios executive.

“‘All My Children’ and ‘One Life to Live’ are television icons, and we are looking forward to providing anytime, anywhere viewing to their loyal community of millions,” the pair said.

—Yvonne Villarreal

NAACP: Black anchors a rarity

CNN’s newly announced prime-time lineup has come under fire by the NAACP, which claims the slate continues a multi-network trend that excludes African Americans as anchors and hosts in prime-time slots.

“The NAACP is deeply concerned with the lack of African American journalists in prime time, both on cable and national network news shows,” NAACP President and Chief Executive Benjamin Todd Jealous said in a statement.

Although CNN, Bloomberg News, CNBC, Fox News and MSNBC have shows scheduled every hour in prime time to discuss financial and world news, none of them is headlined or anchored by an African American.

The NAACP Hollywood Bureau will be setting up meetings with the heads of news divisions to discuss the issue, Jealous said.

—Greg Braxton

Elizabeth Smart to share insights

Elizabeth Smart captured the nation’s attention after being kidnapped and held captive by a Salt Lake City street preacher for nine months at age 14. Now, at 23, Smart is joining ABC News as a commentator focusing on missing-person and child-abduction cases.

“We expect that she can add some insightful, invaluable perspective of what families are going through and bring stories to life for viewers,” network spokeswoman Julie Townsend said Thursday. “Her contributions will be very much focused on the looking-forward aspect of these situations.”

The deal has been in the works for several months, Townsend said, and Smart is expected to be on the air within the next few weeks, contributing to such programs as “Good Morning America” and “Nightline.”

Smart was abducted from her family home in 2002 by Brian David Mitchell. The 56-year-old nomadic street preacher was convicted in December on federal charges of kidnapping and unlawful transportation of a minor across state lines for sex. He was sentenced to life in prison without parole.

—Yvonne Villarreal

Suspect in theft of Picasso caught

The case of a stolen Picasso may have been cracked — and police allege it was a New Jersey man who walked into the Weinstein Gallery in San Francisco this week, snatched the drawing and fled in a taxi.

Police said Thursday they had arrested Mark Lugo, 31, a day earlier at an apartment in Napa and found the artwork stripped from its frame but otherwise undamaged.

The 1965 pencil-on-paper drawing — titled “Tête de Femme” — was purchased at a spring auction in New York. It’s worth about $250,000. Lugo faces burglary, grand theft and drug charges and is being held in lieu of $5 million bail. Investigators believe he was working alone and likely planned to ship the artwork to an unknown party.

—Associated Press