Netflix stock surges. Sony layoffs. Cosby and NBC together again.

After the coffee. Before figuring out new passwords ... again.

The Skinny: Are you as tired of choosing new passwords for work-related software and email every three to six months as I am? There are only so many variations I can come up with on the Redskins or my cats’ names. Give Fox’s new legal drama “Rake� starring Greg Kinnear a chance tonight. No one plays smarmy better than Kinnear. Today’s headlines include a strong quarter for Netflix, layoffs at Sony and NBC’s betting on Bill Cosby again. Also, a talent agency merger involving many big TV news stars.

Daily Dose: Baseball season is a little ways a way, but Time Warner Cable and the Dodgers are already starting a hard sell for the team’s new cable channel. A website has been created urging fans to start to bug local pay-TV distributors including DirecTV and Cox to carry the network. Of course, that means shelling out a lot of money, which will then be passed back to consumers. Be careful what you wish for Dodgers fans.

Orange is the new green. Netflix added a couple of million subscribers and boosted its profits for the fourth quarter which once again sent its stock to the stars! The streaming company has been spending heavily on original content including dramas “House of Cards� and “Orange Is the New Black,� which is playing a big part in wooing new customers. It is closing in on 50 million subscribers around the world and said it is going to spend the next few months focusing on Europe and developing new subscription models. More on the numbers from the Los Angeles Times, Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg.

FULL COVERAGE: Winter TV preview

Technical difficulties. Sony Pictures Entertainment made dramatic cuts to its technology and home entertainment units. Gone are both Chris Cookson, president of the technology group and Mitch Singer, the studio’s chief digital strategy officer. The moves come as part of an overall cost-cutting effort at Sony’s entertainment operations in the wake of a tough year and pressure from activist shareholder Daniel Loeb. Coverage from the Los Angeles Times and Variety.

Think of the pudding product placement possibilities. NBC is back in business with Bill Cosby, whose sitcom in the 1980s paved the way for decades of ratings success. The network said it is developing a new comedy with Cosby. It’s the second time NBC has bet on one of its old stars. Hopefully it will work better than Michael J. Fox’s comeback. Details from Deadline Hollywood.

Making news. United Talent Agency has gobbled up N.S. Bienstock, a small but prestigious New York talent shop that counts among its clients many of the top television news personalities. Heads Richard Leibner and his wife, Carole Cooper, will remain with the firm and will report into UTA TV head and partner Jay Sures. N.S. Bienstock clients include CNN’s Anderson Cooper, Bill O’Reilly of Fox News and ABC’s Robin Roberts. More from the New York Times.

Still not satisfied. He’s 70 and has ruled the music world for almost 50 years but Mick Jagger’s not ready to slow down. Jagger, who has always flirted with movies in front of the camera, is now jumping into production and has movies and TV shows in the works. He slowed down for a few minutes to chat with the Hollywood Reporter about his entertainment plans and why he has no desire to write a tell-all.

Inside the Los Angeles Times: Mary McNamara on Fox’s new drama “Rake.�

Follow me on Twitter. It’s not a slow ride. @JBFlint.