New production diary for The Hobbit

At the end of last week, we drew your attention to a potential extra Christmas present being teased by The Hobbit director Peter Jackson. Well hooray and hurrah, that present did indeed arrive, and turned out to be a new production diary from the set of the fantasy epic.Whilst the more eagle-eyed of you will have spotted this on Jackson's Facebook page a few days ago, the small matter of gift-giving and turkey-snaffling may have distracted you somewhat, so we thought we'd give it a push to the top of your post-Christmas agenda.The new diary focuses upon the unique challenges of filming in remote parts of New Zealand, and explains how exactly the logistics work on bringing such a huge production together.There's also a wonderfully nostalgic segment detailing how the crew rebuilt the town of Hobbiton on the very same farm that was used a decade or so earlier on The Fellowship Of The Ring. It had us reaching for the box-set all over again!Take a look at the new diary, below... Yes, just as the excitement of the trailer was beginning to wane, Jackson has stoked the fires of anticipation all over again. It's going to be quite the adventure when the film finally arrives on 14 December 2012...

Jennifer Aniston Hints Shes Tried Injectables

First Published: December 16, 2011 2:30 PM EST Credit: Getty Premium LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Caption Jennifer Aniston arrives at the 18th Annual ELLE Women In Hollywood Tribute at The Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif. on October 17, 2011 Jennifer Aniston was recently named Hottest Woman of All Time, and the actress appears to have had a little bit of help keeping up her good looks. The 42-year-old opened up about her beauty regime in InStyles January issue. People think that I do a lot of injections, but I dont. Im not saying that I havent tried it but I see how its a slippery slope, she told the mag. All that cosmetic stuff looks ridiculous on me. The actress, known for her rocking bikini body, has also revealed that when she hits the beach, she now has to up her SPF. Ive started getting those little sun spots, she explained. Things are beginning to pop out. Even the texture [of my skin] is changing. So Ive recently started zapping the spots and getting spray tans whenever I can. And Ive graduated to using SPF 60 sunblock when Im on the beach. And possibly the healthiest lifestyle change Jen has made in recent months might spark a rumor or two. I quit smoking a few months ago and I put on a couple of pounds, she revealed. Normally Id be like, Oh my god, I gained weight! Everyone is going to think Im pregnant! Now, I just dont care. Copyright 2011 by NBC Universal, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Nominee responses: Berenice Bejo, "The Artist"

Berenice Bejo in 'The Artist'"I am within the moon. I possibly could haven't expected this type of great a reaction to the film within America. There is no noise inside it. Individuals are just concentrating on the pictures plus they like the things they see. It requires you to definitely places in which you never opt for a film. It is a love story as well as about Hollywood and fame. Everybody really wants to dream."

Google acquires RightsFlow

Striving to streamline obligations to music artists and marketers, YouTube parent Google has acquired certification and royalty confirming service RightsFlow.RightsFlow, released in 2007, utilizes a 30-million-song database and proprietary technology to complement tunes to marketers and manage payment.Though featuring countless musicvideos on its site, YouTube has from time to time were built with a contentious relationship with marketers over royalty obligations, disbursement which can often be a Byzantine process."By mixing RightsFlow's expertise and technology with YouTube's platform, hopefully to more quickly and effectively license music online,Inch authored YouTube product manager David King around the company's blog, "meaning more music for you personally all to savor and much more money for that gifted people creating the background music.InchThe deal weren't revealed. Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com

Ailes' crowning moment?

Fox News has been the prime media platform for GOP presidential candidates, giving the net an edge over rivals in coverage of the party's primary; here Sean Hannity interviews Newt Gingrich.While their politics might be polar opposites, Fox News shares one trait with the Cold War-era Kremlin. Always a source of fascination among media watchers, the channel is inspiring a flurry of analysis and a sifting for clues regarding policy shifts by imperious leaders and chinks in its iron wall.Two themes have emerged simultaneously. Under the heading the "Murdoch primary," some have surmised that the Republican presidential nomination runs directly through Fox News and News Corp. CEO Rupert Murdoch, with the treatment afforded candidates offering signs as to his king-making preferences. Josh Marshall at Talkingpointsmemo.com has articulated this point, which has been picked up by others, such as MSNBC's Rachel Maddow.The second impression states that the channel -- as much a political operation as a media one -- is behaving like a general-election candidate with "plans to tack toward the center," as NY magazine's Gabriel Sherman put it. The Daily Beast's Howard Kurtz has also discussed this "course correction," which received renewed attention when FNC granted a "liberal media" representative -- from the NY Times! -- backstage access to a GOP debate.Both theories appear flawed, with some basic misunderstandings of Fox News and its principal architect, CEO Roger Ailes.There's no question Fox wields enormous influence over the Republican Party. But Ailes is the main sounding board for politicians, not his boss Murdoch, who has probably been distracted in part by the hacking scandal endangering his family succession plans.Ailes made headlines with the "course correction" comment after the network's prolonged detour into conspiracy-minded lunacy with Glenn Beck, prompting Kurtz to report, post Beck, that Fox is "edging back toward the mainstream."Still, there are multiple forces at work here, balancing Ailes' desire to maximize ratings with a goal of playing a significant role in the electoral process.In a May profile, Sherman wrote Ailes "wanted to elect a president." While 2012 is far from his last hurrah, at 71, he's doubtless aware there are only so many more campaigns he can help sway. However, as competitive as Ailes is, such a prospect could be considerably more enticing than the familiar thrill of kicking CNN to the curb.What most coverage has missed, too, is how being cozy with Republicans so neatly dovetails with Fox News' ratings success. Throughout the campaign, GOP candidates have treated Fox as a safe (or safer) haven to disseminate their messages. This forces other outlets -- especially those the hopefuls shun -- to rely on Fox News video, magnifying the brand's impact and helping it echo through the mediasphere.It's to Fox's benefit, then, to enjoy its relationship with the GOP as the party's primary media platform.Despite all that, Fox News' critics tend to underestimate Fox's vulnerability to the impulses governing all news in today's rough-and-tumble media world.Like any other organization, much of Fox's bias is toward whatever constitutes the sexiest story. Indeed, the irony in how freely FNC brandishes the "liberal media" charge involves self-servingly choosing to overlook this apolitical inclination in rivals, whose "what a story" bias so obviously trumps all else.Similarly, Fox needn't relish reporting on Herman Cain's alleged improprieties to see a story combining infidelity and politics as irresistible.Finally, any political analogy only goes so far. In a fragmented TV universe, Fox has an advantage the eventual Republican nominee doesn't: Strictly in terms of cable ratings, it can "win" without expanding its loyal base.If all this indicates gravitational forces pulling in different directions, we won't know how the stars truly align until the GOP settles on a standard-bearer, but this much is clear: Accusing Fox of edging anywhere prior to the general election -- when there finally won't be multiple Republicans from which to choose -- seems premature at best. And as the network's orchestrated outrage over a new "War on Christmas" demonstrates, if there's any tacking being done, it can be measured in inches. In other words, once the race boils down to President Obama versus whoever's still standing, will there be stories about Fox News' pursuit of the "mainstream" and tough treatment of Republicans?Like the Kremlin (or the Shadow), only Ailes knows for sure. Yet however Fox News looks now, the channel's true colors ought to show the closer we get to Labor Day. Contact Brian Lowry at brian.lowry@variety.com

New Movie Reviews: 'New Year's Eve,' 'Young Adult,' Madonna's 'W.E.' Hitting Theaters

Warner Bros. PicturesTom Hardy as Bane The blogosphere was abuzz Thursday night with reactions to an eight-minute preview of The Dark Knight Rises that was unveiled to press by Warner Bros. and Christopher Nolan.our editor recommendsChristopher Nolan Debuts 8-Minute 'Dark Knight Rises' Preview'Dark Knight Rises' Prologue Screening at 42 IMAX Theaters Before 'Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol''The Dark Knight Rises' Marks the End of Christian Bale's Batman EraChristian Bale Rates His 'The Dark Knight Rises' Co-Stars'Dark Knight Rises' Director Christopher Nolan Reveals New Details About the Plot, Villain Bane The preview, which will be seen later this month in select IMAX theaters before Mission: Impossible -- Ghost Protocol, introduced Bane, the Batman movie's major villain, played by a masked Tom Hardy. The footage revolved around a heist involving a plane. PHOTOS: The Christian Bale Directors Posse: 6 Auteurs Won Over By the Actor Those in the audience at Universal City's AMC IMAX theater applauded after the video ended and soon after hit the Internet to post their first reactions to the footage. The Hollywood Reporter's Borys Kit noted that the crowd was "definitely impressed" with the sequence, which was "grand in scope" and "filled with a lot of tension and dread." Some attendees "did point out one pickle, however: the sound," he added. "It may be early in the sound mixing process, but a lot of key dialogue, particularly that of Bane, who speaks via a mask, was unintelligible." STORY: First 'Dark Knight Rises' Villain Photo Released Empire's James White, meanwhile, was one of those who left the theater amazed at the footage. "A miniature thrill ride in and of itself, the prologue features some stunning camera work (clearly Nolan felt like applying some of the tricks and style he mastered on Inception) and the opening sequence, which gives us our first look at Bane (Tom Hardy), comes off like a cross between a Bond movie and everything we've come to love about Nolan's Bat-universe," he wrote, adding: "The major feeling we were left with is that we want to see more, and we want to see it right now." SuperHeroHype's Silas Lesnick echoed those sentiments, writing that the preview ended with a "rapid montage of shots" that "feature a lot to excite fans." "Think less The Dark Knight and more Inception or, even closer, an IMAX version of a James Bond film," he wrote of the footage. VIDEO: 'Dark Knight Rises' Fight Scene Hits Web But he also noted the sound issues. "Though the response from the crowd was overwhelmingly positive, there was much discussion about Bane's voice," he added. "Muffled by his mask and featuring a British accent, it's difficult to fully understand exactly what he is saying (but likely intentionally)." Alex Billington of FirstShowing.net tweeted his thoughts on the preview. He also wrote that he couldn't understand Hardy "half the time," but was enthusiastic about what he saw. "TDKR IMAX prologue was amazing," he tweeted. "I didn't think he could, but I think Nolan has done it, he's made a movie to top TDK. Holy s--- so good!!" COVER STORY: Christian Bale on Why He's Starring in a $100 Mil Chinese Movie He then added: "There is Catwoman, Bane, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, it looks like everything I could've wished for and more. Nolan, such a brilliant filmmaker." The movie marks Nolan's final film in his Batman trilogy, which stars Christian Bale in the title role. The Dark Knight Rises -- which also stars franchise newcomers Anne Hathaway as Catwoman along with Gordon-Levitt, Marion Cotillard and Josh Pence -- opens July 20. PHOTO GALLERY: View Gallery 'The Dark Knight Rises' First Look: On the Set Anne Hathaway Christopher Nolan Joseph Gordon-Levitt Christian Bale The Dark Knight Rises Gary Oldman

'American Psycho' Remake in the Works

Government regulation isn't the only thing Wall Street should be worrying about. According to Variety, writer Noble Jones has been hired to re-adapt the Bret Easton Ellis novel, 'American Psycho.' The book was originally brought to life in the 1998 movie starring Christian Bale as Patrick Batemen, a wealthy investment banker masquerading as a serial killer. With the current anti-Wall Street vibe going on, a movie about a murdering one-percenter makes total sense (also, the story is set during the 1980s Wall Street boom, so expect Jones to play up that culture of excess to the max). Whoever steps into the role of Batemen will have some big shoes to fill: Bale's performance in the original movie is terrific. Hopefully the director will keep all Huey Lewis and the News references. Hey, Paul! [via Variety] Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook

Not so long ago Bosses how Lost Affected Their Fairytale World

Not so long ago From Lost to Not so long ago, executive producers Adam Horowitz and Edward Kitsis sure understand how to create an entangled mystery which will keep audiences itching their heads. The duo started the footwork at least eight years back, however it required focusing on Lost to actually hone their idea. "I was really youthful and that we did not learn how to execute the concept we'd. We known as it our eight-year writer's block," Kitsis states having a laugh. Exclusive: Not so long ago casts Lost's Emilie p Ravin as Belle The end result? A set by which familiar fairytale figures happen to be ripped using their world with a curse the Evil Full (Lana Parrilla) unleashed expecting wrecking everyone's happy being and acquiring among her very own. They are moved to Storybrooke, an urban area by which time stands still, without any reminiscences of the previous fairytale details. Enter Emma (Jennifer Morrison), a genuine-existence fugitive hunter who in some way must break the curse. Although the series is ripe with mythos popping in the original magical stories and exactly what the Once authors also have produced, the producers believe the actual strength and benefit of the series lies elsewhere. "We i never thought about Lost or Once really as mythology shows, despite the fact that mythology clearly is part of [both]," Horowitz states. "They're character shows to us. Which was the finest lesson on Lost: Really finding out how to approach the storyline through character." Kitsis notes that Lost bosses Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse worked to place character first around the island mystery series. "On Lost, we began to understand the best way to tell these character tales using the background the mythology and hopefully try to weave it together." Horowitz and Kitsis also have pieced together their very own "bible" to keep an eye on the Once timelines and character histories, like the main one utilized by the Lost authors. "It is simply to help keep ourselves straight in regards to what we are doing," Horowitz states. "But we are permitting ourselves freedom. It isn't like we stated, 'Here's what the 3 seasons could be, or five seasons.' We have got a bit of goal posts, but we are permitting ourselves to produce a freedom to alter our minds." Not so long ago Tales: When Snow Whitened met her Prince Charming Freedom implies that the producers mostly are centered on the present season, instead of searching too much ahead as to the their endgame might be - though they notice that Lost fans depended on knowing there is an finish around the corner, however remote that might be. "You want to make certain that 5 years from now, whatever ideas we now have, they are still relevant," Kitsis states. "There is a curse that should be damaged, which figures have experienced their happy being ripped from their store. Emma [Jennifer Morrison] is available in there trying to assist them to find their happy being. Ultimately, the final happy ending is perfect for Emma." Before that may happen, Emma, who also just is actually the daughter of Prince Charming (Josh Dallas) and Snow Whitened (Ginnifer Goodwin), must truly get to be the hero from the story - a mission the authors find exciting because she never was area of the fairytale canon. "Emma is basically a brand new fairytale character," Kitsis notes. "Emma's journey is simply beginning also it has not been written yet." "We have heard people talking about: Will [Emma] break the curse? The way she break the curse? When will she break the curse?" Horowitz states. "The curse, in lots of ways, may be the tip from the iceberg. Even when you need to do know what you are, that does not mean everything immediately returns to only you get a happy ending." Adds Kitsis, "Actually, in many ways, it could just worsen it.Inch Regrettably, what this means is Prince Charming and Snow Whitened possess a lengthy approach to take before their tale becomes the love story we all know so that it is. "Anytime you've got a love story on the Television show, it certainly is hard to ensure that they're apart," Kitsis notes. "In fairytale land, we realize that both of these belong together. Now, in Storybrooke, both of these are separated by [David's] wife, so that they can not be together. You're able to really observe that the curse makes good on its promise, which is it will rip all you love out of your existence." ABC orders full seasons of Not so long ago, Last Guy Standing, Happy Being Getting her parents the happy ending they deserve would be the finest challenge for Emma. Though she's gone foot-to-foot with Storybrooke's mayor Regina, who adopted Henry (Jared Gilmore), the boy Emma threw in the towel for adoption ten years ago, she'll need to face the best antagonist from the story: Regina's fairytale counterpart, The Evil Full. "The Evil Full isn't somebody whose bad side you need to access it, but when anybody may take her on, it's Emma," Kitsis states. Are you adhering around to determine the best showdown? Not so long ago airs Sundays at 8/7c on ABC.

ICM Imploding, Part 2: Chris Silbermann Forces Decision By Largest Investor And Calls ICM Board Meeting Friday; Secretly Relying On Mike Ovitzs Advice And Help

ICM Imploding! Chris Silbermann & Jeff Berg Battle For Control: Rizvi Sits On Sidelines; How Long Will Warring Last? BREAKING … ICM president Chris Silbermann and ICM Chief Business Development Officer & General Counsel Rick Levy took the red-eye from L.A. last night and arrived in NY this morning to confront the agency’s investor Suhail Rizvi and demand a management buyout as soon as possible that would eliminate the tenpercentery of majority shareholder Rizvi Traverse Management. This follows a 13-day-old demand by Silbermann and Levy to Rizvi to allow the management buyout. At that time, Rizvi said he would make a decision by Christmas. But that was not soon enough for Silbermann and Levy, who today tried to force Rizvi to make his decision sooner. Rizvi told the executive pair that he would have an answer for them tomorrow. Also tomorrow, Silbermann and Levy have demanded an ICM board meeting so they can present the management buyout proposal. At this point, however, sources tell me that the pair have not submitted a written proposal in advance to the board. Whether they can present a cohesive written proposal tomorrow remains to be seen. Both Silbermann and Levy are on their way back from NY to L.A. tonight for tomorrow’s board meeting. But what is really startling about ICM and Silbermann right now is that he has involved none other than Michael Ovitz in his plans to take control of the agency. When I first heard about this several months ago, I asked Silbermann and Ovitz separately if they were speaking, planning, or at all involved together in ICM activities. Both Silbermann and Ovitz privately denied it. But I can confirm that Silbermann has been talking almost daily to Ovitz about the management buyout plan, as often as four times a day recently. My sources have seen the phone logs. Insiders tell me that Silbermann went to Ovitz for help in obtaining the necessary financial backing to accomplish the management buyout. I’m told that Ovitz is not interested at putting his own money into the agency at this point, but has been trying to introduce Silbermann to various financial backers. The fact that Silbermann has asked and is receiving Ovitz’s advice and help in this ICM matter will become a hot-button issue not just inside ICM but in Hollywood in general. Ovitz remains one of Hollywood’s most controversial and disliked business personalities ever to achieve success in this town. His reputation was further tarnished recently when he made a move on giant sports and fashion management and production firm IMG when its owner and Ovitz’s longtime pal Teddy Forstmann was in the final stages of dying from brain cancer. (See Michael Ovitz And IMG World And Teddy Forstmanns Brain Cancer: The Real Story, And Also What Ovitz Told Me About It.) Ovitz’s maneuvering as a member of IMG’s advisory board after he was placed there by Forstmann attempted to dislodge Teddy’s hand-picked successor from running the company. After his maneuvering was discovered and publicized, Ovitz was kicked off the board. Shortly after, Forstmann died. But IMG is now in the hands of his hand-picked successor. Hollywood responded with outrage to news of Ovitz’s maneuvering: there’s every reason to believe that Hollywood will be equally outraged that Silbermann is involving him in the ICM implosion. This is especially the case because for decades Ovitz was a key competitor to ICM chairman and CEO Jeff Berg, whom Silbermann wants to remove from controlling the agency. Berg in turn has been fighting back. The infighting has torn apart ICM internally to the point where agents are being forced to choose sides between the two men. MORE

The CW's Marketing Chief Ron Haskins Remaining Put With Extended Duties

The CW's marketing chief Wealthy Haskins will probably be remaining put ultimately.our editor recommendsCW Nabs Female Treasure Hunter Drama ScriptThe CW Sets Midseason LineupThe CW Ink Five-Year Deal With Hulu The network's longtime marketing chief will remain while using network inside the lately created position of executive v . p . of promoting and digital programs, where his duties includes developing and creating original content it is the network's digital platforms additionally to his controlling the network's marketing efforts. After news broke last spring the network veteran might be departing his publish this summer season, he spent several days exploring other available options. Ultimately, according to him he found nothing as compelling since the chance that CW offered. The CW cheif executive Mark Pedowitz handled to obtain a lot more desirable by addingcreative responsibilities to his purview. Particularly,Haskins works while using creative community to develop and convey new entertainment content personalized for your network's other platforms, including online, mobile and social media. "I really like the crowd, I really like the programming which i like the attitude that individuals have that you would like to become first in the marketplace in trying new as well as other things," states Haskins. "We've been around exploring what's next, also to me that's exciting." To ensure that because he sees it, the options are plenty. "In my opinion, what's awesome could it be might be extended form or short form it might be daiy or weekly," he adds, watching he's considered such things as a five-minute daily show, a thing that a regular TV platform wouldn't allow. Furthermore to creating new digital programming, he'll work carefully while using CW's creative professionals and producers to develop digital extensions in the network's series including Gossip Girl and Vampire Journals, because both versions involve some ten million Facebook fans.He'll also still lead every part in the network's marketing and digital initiatives, while he is doing since the network's beginning. "Under his creative direction and leadership, his team has created a apparent, distinct brand for your CW inside an incredibly competitive media landscape, which we're thrilled he it's still some the CW family for several years,In . states Pedowitz. "Ron may also be our foremost authority inside the digital space, helping us extend The CW's presence across different digital platforms, so that it only is smart he oversee our foray into creating and creating original CW content for online, mobile and social media.Inch Related Subjects The CW

'The Artist,' 'Take Shelter' Dominate Spirit Award Nominations

With five nominations each, the silent movie "The Artist" and the apocalyptic drama "Take Shelter" dominated the nominations for Film Independent's Spirit Awards, which were announced Tuesday.Nominated for best screenplay were Joseph Cedar for "FootNote," Michel Hazanavicius for "The Artist," Tom McCarthy for "Win, Win,"Mike Mills for "Beginners,"Phil Johnstonfor "Cedar Rapids" and Will Reiser for "50/50."In the documentary category, noms went to "An African Selection," "Bill Cunningham NY," "The Interrupters," "The Redemption of General Butt Naked" and "We Were Here."The Spirit Award focus on American-made features made with what it calls "an economy of means," generally budgets under $20 million.The 27th annual awards ceremony will be held Feb. 25 at the beach in Santa Monica and broadcast by IFC.For more on this story, read Back Stage's Behind the Scenes blog. The Hollywood Reporter

AMC Movie theaters To Vacate Westwood 4-Plex

AMC Movie theaters as well as the building’s owner, Avco Corp, couldn’t choose new terms so that it’s exiting the Avco Four-plex in Westwood on December 4th. AMC features a newer, cushier, bigger, and much more busy theater in nearby Century City. Butthe entrepreneurs intend to usher inside a”really high-finish cinema” inside the space next season.

Layoffs Follow Happy Feet Two Flopping

It’s bad enough that Happy Feet Two wentover budget by $50 million. Or that my sources say Warner Bros plugged it figuring the sequel to the smash hit2006 Best Animation Oscar winner wouldbe another big earner. But it’s not. The holiday pic is tanking. Now comes even worse Christmas news.According to an online article today in IF magazine, the Australian digital productioncompany behind Happy Feet Two islaying off600 staffers in early December. Sydney-based Dr D Studios is the 2007 joint venturebetween filmmaker George Miller’s and producer Doug Mitchell’s Kennedy Miller Mitchell, which isAustralia’s most successful production company, in partnership with The Mapp family’s Omnilab Media Group, which is Australia’s largest film services company.Dr D Studios was intended to rival Peter Jacksons Weta Digital in New Zealand as a home for high-end effects and digital feature film production.The IF article says some employees were also offered positions at a new company that KMM plans to set up early next year. Now, a retrenchment like this usually follows the end of a big budget film like Happy Feet Two, and KMMs Doug Mitchell recently said the business was restructuring as it faced a production gap before the Dr D’s next production, the 4th Mad Max film titledFury Road.

'Boil Japan': Watch Yoda Shill for Instant Noodles in Japanese Commercial

“Believe in your own power, you must.” Words of wisdom from Star Wars guru Yoda have finally found their true purpose: Instructing a nation of instant noodle-eaters to activate their inborn power… to boil water! Seriously. You thought Vader’s “Nooooo!” was blasphemous? Where’s your god now, nerds? To be fair, I’m sure the whole of Star Wars fandom has done its part to keep the instant ramen industry alive through the generations. And the Japanese love Star Wars. Maybe Yoda and noodles were always two great tastes that taste great together? I’ll admit, I understand the Nissin marketing team’s choice of tagline even less: “Boil Japan.” Boil Japan? I hardly know Japan! (groan) Anyways, sure. Eat some Cup Noodles while wearing your new Tauntaun Nikes or whatever. George Lucas will really sign off on anything, won’t he? [via @MartiniShark]

Cameron Crowe Returns With 'We Bought a Zoo'

When Cameron Crowe was courting Matt Damon to star in "We Bought a Zoo," he traveled to the set of the Coen brothers' "True Grit" in Austin and presented Damon with a script, a CD of songs that he'd burned and a copy of "Local Hero" -- a perfect little 1983 movie in which Peter Riegert played an oil-company executive sent to buy a remote village in Scotland."My instructions were to not just read the script and make a decision," Damon says.Crowe had brought all the tools in his kit -- music, film and words -- not only to convey what he had in mind for this movie but to envelop Damon in the world he meant to create. "He said: 'I know what you're going to be afraid of; the bad version of this movie is really a movie you don't want to be in. That's what I'm afraid of too,'" Damon says. And that told Damon two things: that Crowe wanted to avoid making the bad movie and that he intended to fight against it with Damon as his brother-in-arms.Crowe was right: Damon didn't want to make what he calls "the Disney version" of the story about a grieving widower with two children who makes the unlikely decision to buy and restore a dilapidated zoo. "It might be popular, but it wouldn't be something that I'd be proud to be a part of," Damon says.As he listened to Crowe's music on a run through Central Park, though, he got a very different vibe. "There were all these songs I know but live versions that he got from sound boards," Damon says. "A song like, 'I'm Open' by Eddie Vedder -- he gave me a particularly moving version that I've never heard. I kind of finished that run and went, 'That's a really good feeling.' "Then Damon watched "Local Hero" and found it to be "a masterpiece."Still, Crowe, 54, hadn't directed a feature since the poorly received "Elizabethtown" in 2005. Damon says he wasn't thinking about that film but rather about Crowe's 1996 hit "Jerry Maguire." "I kept coming back to, this is the guy who did, 'You complete me,' " Damon says. "This is a guy who could aim for that small bull's-eye and hit it."So he signed on to do "We Bought a Zoo," happily succumbing like many before him to the delights of a Cameron Crowe seduction.As for Crowe, he says it was the other way around. Fox was imagining a shortlist of candidates for the lead, but Crowe says it was all over for him halfway through his meeting with Damon. What lured him was the actor's obvious appetite to play the emotion in the film."He's, like, wide open to a thrilling new peak and searching for it," Crowe says. "There's nothing, 'Kid, this is how we did it with Clint' about it." So "it was purely him seducing me because halfway through our meeting, I was like, 'I can't do this without Matt Damon.' And I declared it.""We Bought a Zoo" is a movie that defies easy categorization, so it might seem an unlikely project to come from Fox, which has not established a reputation for taking creative risks (unless you happen to be James Cameron). Damon plays the father who buys the zoo to begin an adventure and console his motherless children. Scarlett Johansson is the scrappy zookeeper. The film is a comedy and a drama; Tom Rothman, co-chairman and CEO of Fox Filmed Entertainment, calls it "an emotional event" and says no one should be surprised that the studio backed the project. (The film opens Dec. 23, but Fox is so high on it that the studio scheduled sneaks around the country during Thanksgiving weekend hoping to generate strong word-of-mouth.)"We do a lot of things around here that don't fit neatly into a niche, and this movie was one of them," Rothman says. "That's what's kind of great about it. You say, 'What movie does this remind you of?' and no one can give you a movie."That's why many in the industry say they are rooting for "Zoo" even if they have nothing to do with the film. "Cameron works from a truly, deeply creative place," says Paula Wagner, a producer on Crowe's "Vanilla Sky" (2001) and "Elizabethtown." "And I don't know that our business right now allows that. Our business became very focused on the business of it all. The buzzwords became about numbers, brands. But the word 'original' is coming back into our vocabulary. That's what I would say about Cameron: original, original, original."Says Crowe's former mentor, James L. Brooks: "He's singular -- that's the big deal about Cameron. There's one guy like that."Crowe was never a director to crank out one film after another: There were generally gaps of about four years from "Say Anything" (1989) to "Singles" (1992) to "Jerry Maguire" (1996) to "Almost Famous" (2000). But with a longer break than usual, it has been natural for some of Crowe's old associates in the industry to surmise that he had not made a film since 2005 because of disappointment. His 14-year marriage to Nancy Wilson of the rock band Heart ended in divorce in 2010. And "Elizabethtown," a $45 million film pairing Kirsten Dunst and Orlando Bloom, had fizzled at the box office and brought unaccustomed wrath from critics.Crowe had taken some knocks for "Vanilla Sky," his adaptation of the Spanish film "Open Your Eyes," but the long knives really came out for "Elizabethtown." "The Village Voice" panned it under the headline "Almost Shameless," while "The NY Times" dismissed it as "a strange, messy stew of a movie."But Crowe seems baffled and a bit dismayed by the supposition that he was in a funk or somehow affected by the chilly reception of his most recent film. "Elizabethtown" was a movie made for all the right reasons, and people who connect with the movie really connect to it," he says. "It's not the biggest group of people ever, but I still really believe in 'Elizabethtown.' It wasn't, like, a savage blow."Instead, Crowe says he simply got engaged in writing scripts, including a long and ultimately frustrating effort to make a Marvin Gaye biopic with Will Smith. "We had many meetings where we talked about it," Crowe says. "And at the end, he couldn't say yes. It's a tough thing to play Marvin Gaye. He's a towering figure. Who would want to be the guy who played Marvin and didn't nail it? Will isn't wrong; the guy who plays it should be a guy who tears into it and knows it's the right thing, and I don't think he ever came around the corner on it."While working on that and other ideas -- and hanging out with his twin boys, now 11 -- Crowe says, "I got into such a script-writing mode that I lost sight of the joy of directing." Then Fox production president Emma Watts came to him with a draft for "We Bought a Zoo" by Aline Brosh McKenna ("27 Dresses," "The Devil Wears Prada"). The script was based on the 2008 book by Benjamin Mee, the man who actually bought the zoo. Watts found herself pitching the project to Crowe on her phone in the Neiman Marcus parking lot, and she says her hopes weren't high. After all, Crowe had written pretty much every film he had directed, and most felt very personal to him. "I don't get nervous very often, but I actually did," she says. "I thought for sure I was dead because he was being so polite to me."But Watts was thrilled when Crowe said he would try a rewrite to see if he could find his version of the movie. "There's nothing quite like a turn through his typewriter," Watts says. There are so many lines from Crowe movies that stick in the popular psyche: "You complete me." "You had me at hello." "Show me the money." "The guy just writes lines that you think of your whole life," Watts says."I knew talking on the phone to Emma that Benjamin Mee's real-life story had all the elements I love in storytelling: humor, great characters, love and an impossible dream," Crowe says. "I could already hear the music too. That story came knocking in a big way, and it didn't go away. You wait for the zing, and the zing happened on 'We Bought a Zoo.'"Crowe's website is called The Uncool, which is funny, of course, because Crowe has been the King of Cool for a generation that believes it really knows cool. His gift for making those around him feel included in his cool world is part of his magic. "I was incredibly susceptible to that because I was never cool," says one executive who has worked with Crowe. It's a quote that could come from many in Hollywood.Crowe came by his cool honestly. He was born in Palm Springs to a realtor father and a mother who taught English and sociology, demonstrated for peace and farm-workers' rights and recognized that her son was gifted. Crowe skipped kindergarten and two grades in elementary school. "It wasn't that I was a tiger mom and wanted to push my son," says his mother, Alice, now 90. "He was sort of bored."By the time he was in high school in San Diego, he was very obviously younger than his classmates, and he was battling a kidney disease, nephritis, which Crowe says he eventually outgrew. Crowe's mother says he was so out of place that he felt more secure hanging out in the school's newspaper offices. Crowe says the kidney condition gave him "permission to be a geek. You're weak, you go the doctors' offices a lot, and you're not on the teams at school so much. All of that opened the door for the arts because my mom was like, 'I'm taking you to the movies.' "If he felt uncool then, that didn't last long. At 13, Crowe started writing rock reviews for a local alternative paper, "The San Diego Door," even though his parents didn't allow rock music in the house. ("I wasn't that strict," his mother says. "It's just the lyrics bothered me. I thought they were very demeaning to women, especially.")The rest, as they say, is history. Crowe started corresponding with Lester Bangs, who had left the "Door" to become editor of the rock magazine "Creem." Crowe graduated from high school at 15 and on a trip to L.A., met "Rolling Stone" editor Ben Fong-Torres, who made him the youngest correspondent ever at the magazine. Crowe went on the road with the Allman Brothers Band at 18, and his work profiling such legendary rockers as Eric Clapton, Neil Young and members of Led Zeppelin not only enveloped him in permafrost cool but became fodder for "Almost Famous." His mother's dream -- that he would go to law school, or even college -- was doomed.On an assignment on the set of the 1978 movie "American Hot Wax," Crowe met producer Art Linson, who gave him a tiny cameo in the film. ("Whoever was there got to walk in," Linson says.) The following year, Crowe enrolled in Clairemont High School in San Diego as a young-looking 22-year-old and wrote the book "Fast Times at Ridgemont High." Linson optioned it before it was published. Crowe wrote the screenplay, and Amy Heckerling directed the film, which featured a cast of unknowns including Sean Penn, Jennifer Jason Leigh and Nicolas Cage (credited as Nicolas Coppola). The film was not only a sleeper hit, grossing $27.1 million, but became a pop culture touchstone."It was Cameron's voice," says Linson. "Half the things that were said out of people's mouths in that movie are part of the culture. Cameron has a wonderful ear. He listens and he's smart, so the details you hear are authentic."Crowe next teamed up with Brooks, who first produced "Say Anything," in which John Cusack courted Ione Skye. He then drove Crowe hard through many rewrites of "Jerry Maguire." "He's somebody who was successful at a weirdly young age," says Brooks. "He was successful in an amazing era when it was happening in the big time. There's an enormous sophistication to that, but he never became cynical." Crowe is "as sharp an observer as there is," Brooks continues, but "his heart is still true. His emotion is genuine. He loves all his characters."Crowe says Brooks -- who made him write out the manifesto that Tom Cruise's character announces, but never reads, in Jerry Maguire -- taught him to be even truer to his own voice. The film was not only Crowe's biggest commercial hit, with a gross of $274 million worldwide, but led to a close friendship and partnership with Cruise, who was a producer on "Vanilla Sky" and "Elizabethtown."Throughout his career, Crowe has seemed to operate on executives and producers almost like a drug. John Goldwyn, who was president of Paramount when Crowe made "Vanilla Sky" there, says the filmmaker's charm is unsurpassed. "There's nothing aggressive about him, nothing that makes you bristle," he says. "He makes you his friend. You can see why he was such a seductive interviewer."Says an executive who oversaw one of Crowe's films: "I really can't describe how he makes you feel that you can't question his choices. He is charming, cool, warm -- and you let down your guard as the boss." That paved the way for Crowe to make his particular brand of personal movie, some with budgets that seem surprisingly big, especially in retrospect: $60 million for "Almost Famous," $68 million for "Vanilla Sky" (though that one included Cruise in his heyday), $45 million for "Elizabethtown" (with no big star)."Cameron doesn't want to hear that something can't happen exactly the way he'd like it to happen," says a producer who has worked with him. "That's why some of his movies have been overpriced. There's a way to look at that as uncompromising. The other way to look at it is being a brat." (In the case of "We Bought a Zoo," Watts says Crowe came in under budget -- at about $50 million -- and ahead of schedule. And Rothman says the production "was one of the easiest and sweetest experiences I've had in a long time.")One area where Crowe very much wants his way is when it comes to preparation. Before shooting Zoo, he rented space in the Hyatt Westlake Plaza in the San Fernando Valley to plan and rehearse. He taped off areas that were the same size as rooms would be on the set and even brought in furniture. Crowe and cinematographer Rodrigo Prieto blocked scenes, the cast rehearsed, and Damon says by the time the cameras were rolling, "It felt like executing a game plan; there were literally no surprises." All the more remarkable when you consider that the cast included lions and tigers and bears, literally.Exactly how seriously Crowe takes that commitment to preparation and rehearsal became clear when he cast Ashton Kutcher in "Elizabethtown." Kutcher was then still part of "That 70's Show," and Crowe told him he had to set aside a few weeks to focus only on the film. But sources involved with the project say Kutcher didn't heed Crowe's words. Although he promised he would deliver when the cameras were rolling, Crowe lost faith. "The thing about Cameron is, he never gets angry," says one involved in the production. He simply dropped Kutcher and, despite Paramount's resistance, cast Bloom."I'll spend months working with an actor, and I think I spent four months with Ashton," Crowe says. "At a certain point, it's like, 'This is not meant to be.' " And though the film didn't succeed with Bloom, Crowe says, "It felt like a noble crusade."Given actors and crew who are committed and prepared, it's hard to imagine any director who could create a more generous and inclusive environment. "He has a strong vision, but he has a sense of collaboration that is embracing of other people," says producer Wagner. "He likes to listen to people's thoughts. It's a special gift, really, that he has."Says Damon: "Everybody's respected, and their work is respected. When you're working with a benevolent dictator who wants to hear your opinion and the opinion of the entire crew, automatically you have this electric environment. Everyone comes to work with their ideas."Johansson felt it, too. "Cameron doesn't just direct his actors, he conducts them," she says in an e-mail from Scotland, where she's filming "Under the Skin" with director Jonathan Glazer ("Sexy Beast"). "On any given take, he might be playing a song and throwing out impromptu dialogue, all the while motioning enthusiastically by the monitor. You can actually hear him chuckling and gasping from behind the video screen during each take. He creates his own little world and invites everyone to live there for the run of production. Nothing is too over-the-top or too subtle to take a shot at. He's willing to try everything once on the chance he might steal one precious moment."Says Crowe of the filmmaking process: "It's gossamer. The best stuff is invisible. There's no formula. You have to cross your fingers and leap."Music weaves throughout Crowe's life and movies. "Singles," which followed friends in their 20s in Seattle, featured a song from Nirvana before the band got big. The track had to be dropped because by the time the film was done because the song had become too expensive to license. ("Kurt and Courtney snuck into the premiere at Grauman's and watched the movie anyway," Crowe says.) He also brought in pre-famous members of Pearl Jam to portray Matt Dillon's band in the film.Crowe keeps current: He thinks this is "one of the greatest times for music in decades. I'm talking about bands like the Civil Wars, Frightened Rabbit, the Belle Brigade, Dawes, Avey Tare, Sigur Ros, Radiohead, and Thom Yorke's latest electronic phase." Bob Dylan is Crowe's favorite DJ; his "Theme Time Radio Hour" is "the best thing on satellite radio. There are 100 episodes, and each one is a classic. I listen incessantly."For "We Bought a Zoo," Crowe got Jonsi of Sigur Ros to create a soundtrack. "He is very private, very picky about the projects he does, so we're honored he did this score," Crowe says. "The soundtrack -- a first for us -- is pure score, with two new songs, a 52-minute soundscape that is a complete musical journey, meant to be listened to from beginning to end. It ends with the movie's end-title track, which Jonsi asked me to help write lyrics for. It was a surreal experience after only writing tongue-in-cheek songs for fake movie bands in our movies." (The song is called "Gathering Stories.")Damon says Crowe played music on the set of "We Bought a Zoo," which was enormously helpful to him in preparing to play emotionally charged scenes. "It was a technique I've never seen before," Damon says. Sometimes the music overlapped with dialogue and lines had to be looped later, but in other cases, Crowe just played a part of a song before the scene was shot. It particularly illuminated a scene in which Damon is looking a photographs of his deceased wife."Music changes your mood and can bring you places that a lot of analysis and talking can't," Damon says.Fox executive Watts says she saw that when she visited the set. "He was directing Scarlett and Matt in this one scene, and there was this moment he was trying to get. I was thinking, 'I don't know if he's going to get it.' And he plays a piece of music right before the next take -- a piece of a particular song -- and they started the scene, and there it is. He's a national treasure, Mr. Cameron Crowe."For Crowe, the tactic produced the performance that he had to have. "What Matt does in the movie is that rarest of things: comedy and drama and real emotion," he says. "The list of people who can do that is the shortest list in acting, and it's the easiest thing to miss because he makes it look effortless. But it's not. It's the toughest. And for me, it makes the movie."Now that he's gotten back in the chair on "We Bought a Zoo" with such happy results, Crowe says he's eager to direct again. Not that he has any shortage of other projects. He's still doing journalism and has recently done an interview with Neil Young that is scheduled to run in "Rolling Stone" next year. He's also working on a compilation of his reporting on rock. "It's called 'Hamburgers for the Apocalypse' and includes new interviews with the artists I profiled in the day, from Zeppelin to Bowie to Joni Mitchell," he says.Crowe, who lives in Pacific Palisades, is also spending time with his sons, sharing custody with his former wife. "We go to the Pacific Dining Car in Santa Monica and have steaks and talk about girls," he says. "I get most of my pointers from them these days. We are fishing nuts and go sportfishing whenever we have time on the weekend. They're great fishermen, and we all fish together and then eat all we catch in a big fish cook-off, usually while watching Food Network." (Crowe's other cable passion: Chris Matthews.)But Crowe says he has scripts that he wrote in the past few years and hopes one of them will turn into his next directing gig. (He's just sent out a spec script which he says is Preston Sturges-influenced.)Although some in the industry observe that the business has changed since the days when studios were willing and able to lay wagers on the type of original material that has flowed from Crowe's pen, he believes that the audience is waiting for just such films."Character comedy-drama is really hard to get made right now, and I think that's a statement that feeds on itself," Crowe says. "But it's not necessarily true. It's the nourishing thing that people crave. People are going to go where they get characters that they remember. I don't think people are ever going to a place where they're like, 'I'm over stories about character and love.'"Crowe recalls a recent conversation his mother, Alice. "I can't help but write about love," he told her."What else is there?" she replied.Crowe's Five Favorite Films "Quadrophenia" (1979)"Local Hero" (1983)"Stolen Kisses" (1968)"The Rules of the Game" (1939)"The Royal Tenenbaums" (2001)MIX FOR MATT: No director knows music like Cameron Crowe. To woo Damon to do "We Bought a Zoo," Crowe burned a CD for him. "Even if it's not music that ends up in the movie, it's the feeling that counts," Damon says. Crowe played music on the set, too. By then, "Matt was emotionally DJ'ing and asking for songs."Save It for Later Pete TownshendI'm Open (Live) Eddie VedderWar of Man (Live) Neil YoungSoul Boy The Blue NileMohammed's Radio Jackson BrowneSanganichi Shugo TokumaruAirline to Heaven WilcoBuckets of Rain Bob DylanThe Heart of the Matter (Live) Don HenleyI Will Be There When You Die My Morning JacketAin't No Sunshine Tom Petty And The HeartbreakersChild of the Moon Rolling StonesIf I Am a Stranger Ryan AdamsConcrete Sky Beth OrtonHelpless (Live) Neil YoungDon't Be Shy (no piano) Cat StevensNerstrand Woods Mark Olson And The CreekdippersWhy It's So Hard to Find a Copy of "Fast Times at Ridgemont High" The first time Cameron Crowe based a movie on a true story was nearly 30 years ago, when he wrote a screenplay from his first book, "Fast Times at Ridgemont High: A True Story." The Amy Heckerling-directed film became a sleeper hit and a cult classic. At 22, Crowe had spent a year as a senior at Clairemont High School in suburban San Diego, chronicling the experiences of his "classmates." Typical of Crowe, the book played both funny and sweet. But if you want to read that book, be prepared to open your wallet: Fast Times has been out of print since the early '80s, and copies can be found on eBay and other sites at prices ranging from $125 to $345. And Crowe tells "THR" he likes it that way:Why hasn't "Fast Times" been republished? It's the one thing that I still have the rights to, and I like that there's one thing that's not readily available. I like knowing that if you really want it, you can find it, but nobody's pushing it in your face. I have been approached about republishing, but I haven't done it. I like it too much as a kind of bootleg.Are you surprised about the prices? I like those prices.How do you feel about the book now? I love the book. It's one of my favorite things that I've ever written. The book opens the door where all the stuff I learned as a journalist can be applied to a non-celebrity and it's just as interesting. You can interview a kid sitting in his room, and it's more interesting than Rod Stewart. It very much opened a door to being a screenwriter because it let you know that it was a level playing field, story-wise. The Hollywood Reporter

John Landis on Eddie Murphy: 'I Have No Idea If He's Thinking about Being Really Funny Anymore'

With credits which include, 'Animal House,' 'Blues Siblings,' 'Three Amigos,' 'Trading Places' and 'Coming to America,' it's little of the stretch to call director John Landis a comedy genius. In addition, Landis continues to be given -- because of individuals latter films out there -- a distinctive understanding of your brain of Eddie Murphy. This post is particularly helpful now, thinking about Murphy has developed in the news lately, since you may have observed. (He's funny again in 'Tower Heist'! He will host the Academy awards! He isn't likely to host the Academy awards! He isn't funny any longer in 'A 1000 Words'!) Because the mid-1990's, Murphy has faced critique regarding his selection of roles. Landis lately spoke towards the NY Occasions about his career like a filmmaker and the ideas on Murphy. After I made 'Trading Places,' Eddie was 19 or 20 and bouncing off the beaten track with talent and would be a happy guy. After I made 'Coming to America,' it had been a couple of years later, Eddie became an worldwide star and wasn't as happy. It had been awkward on that film while he was type of a jerk, and that we were built with a real receding. But nonetheless we labored together perfectly... Eddie's really funny within this movie. He can be very funny when he really wants to be. I'm not sure if he's thinking about being really funny any longer, honestly. Ouch. Regrettably, Landis isn't alone within this. Even though some of Murphy's recent films -- 'Norbit,' 'Daddy Day Care' -- made money, they have been panned by experts, who clamor for that return from the "old Murphy." Here's a concept: an Eddie Muprhy/John Landis reunion! Although, if history informs us anything about Eddie, he might nothing like that pitch, especially after reading through the Landis comments. You should check out the whole John Landis interview, where he talks about 'An American Werewolf in London' and Jheri curl jokes, over on NYT. [via NYT] [Photo: Getty Images] Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook

NBC Hands Out Full-Season Order To Grimm, Makes Thursday 10 PM Tryout

Undertaking a couple-script pickup the other day, NBC has given new drama series Grimm an entire-season pickup getting a Back 9 order. The move uses the rookie released single.6 adult 18-49 rating the 2009 Friday, regardless of the prior week to avoid the show’s publish-premiere slide. In addition, NBC, which chosen to keep Grimm within the original low-trafficked Friday 9 PM slot round the recently released midseason schedule, is giving the fairytale procedural a tryout inside the Thursday 10 PM slot. A completely new Grimm episode will air on Thursday 12 ,. 8, then another original inside the series’ regular Friday 9 PM berth the following evening. These acer notebook computers turning the conventional procedural drama on its mind which is getting inside a loyal following for people on Friday nights,” NBC chairman Bob Greenblatt mentioned. “We love where its going creatively and were excited to supply more episodes towards the audience. Grimm exceeded anticipation having its debut, which released a few.1 demo rating on Friday airing against Game 7 around the world Series. Season-to-date, it's averaged a few.3/7 in grownups 18-49 and 6.9 million audiences overall in “most current” earnings and contains enhanced NBC’s Friday 9 PM time period by 50% in grownups 18-49 versus. a year ago in “live+round-the-clock.” Grimm also provides proven a sizable Digital video recorder draw, growing 47% in 18-49 in Live+7, greater than any new drama this fall. It's the main newcomer NBC drama to acquire a full-season order, joining comedies Up With The Evening and Whitney. Inspired with the classic Grimms Favorite Anecdotes, Grimm concentrates on Tigard homicide Detective Nick Burkhardt (David Giuntoli) who discovers he's descended from the top-notch kind of criminal profilers known to as Grimms, charged with keeping balance between humanity as well as the mythological creatures around the world.Grimm is produced by Universal Television with Hazy Mills Prods. and GK Prods. It absolutely was created byStephen Contractor, David Greenwalt and Jim Kouf. Sean Hayes, Todd Milliner, David Greenwalt, Jim Kouf, Naren Shankar and Norberto Barba will be the executive producers.

Ted Forstmann dies at 71

ForstmannTed Forstmann, a prominent financier who made lots of his most high-profile possibilities on television sector, died Sunday at his home in NY. He was 71.The reason behind dying was brain cancer, with different representative at Forstmann Little. Forstmann introduced he was fighting the problem taken.Although famous for his impact on various industries through equity finance, Forstmann will be a pending estimate media business within the last 3 decades, most recently as Boss of IMG, a company he acquired in 2004 to have the ability to gather the cell phone industry's of sports and entertainment. Beneath the IMG banner, Forstmann acquired production companies including Tiger Aspect and Darlow Smithson, they offered again to Endemol this past year, three years after buying them. Forstmann even handled to lure former Cinemax Boss Chris Albrecht to the fold for a while beginning in 2007 while using intent of making proper possibilities within the media landscape, but Albrecht left in 2008.Michael Ovitz recently left the board at IMG carrying out a struggle for control of the firm. Ovitz will be a longtime connect of Forstmann who teamed with him inside the eighties to produce a run at record label Polygram, which was eventually agreed to Seagram.Forstmann also made his imprint inside the radio business, buying Citadel Communications for $2 billion in 2001. He teamed with Cablevision in 1999 to back Broadway musical "The Scarlet Pimpernel."Forstmann leads to two sons two brothers and sisters and a pair of brothers and sisters. A memorial mass is scheduled occur at St. Patrick's Cathedral on Tuesday, November. 29. Contact Andrew Wallenstein at andrew.wallenstein@variety.com

You Deserve It

Chris Harrison hosts ABCs new gameshow You Deserve It. Produced by Kinetic Content. Executive producers, Chris Coelen, Dick de Rijk, Matilda Zoltowski, Jeff Krask; supervising producers, John Quinn, Aaron Solomon; director, Ron de Moraes; head writer, Solomon;With: Chris Harrison, Brooke BurnsCredit ABC with perseverance, if not necessarily originality, in its commitment to feel-good reality TV, despite middling performers like "Secret Millionaire." A producer of that show, Chris Coelen, is part of the team behind "You Deserve It," a hodgepodge of other gameshows that culminates with the cash being handed over to a needy (and yes, deserving) individual, a la "Queen for a Day." The money-raising procedure is sort of a Frankenshow -- stitched together from old used parts -- but as do-gooder holiday filler goes, ABC could do worse. "The Bachelor's" Chris Harrison is as much cheerleader as host in this context, as each episode opens by introducing a person, who can certainly use a sizable chunk of cash, being secretly lauded by their friends and relatives. One of those altruistic souls will play for the money, which the unsuspecting beneficiary will be presented -- Surprise! Publisher's Clearinghouse giveaway-style -- at the conclusion. The game itself is basically a modest twist on Twenty Questions, with each brief clue subtracting from the starting total by luck-of-the-draw increments, a la "Deal or No Deal." The more clues -- and they're especially cryptic, blunting the play-along element -- the more the prize drops in each round, with a final puzzle that starts at $250,000. Even with dumb players, it's a pretty good prescription for sizable purses. And given the waterworks that flow in the previewed episodes, if ABC doesn't have a tissue sponsor tie-in, it's missing a real opportunity. The premiere features a friend playing for a widowed mother of two, while another hour has a daughter competing for her mom, who has done many good works in South Central L.A. If there's one truly off-putting note, it's a hyper-caffeinated Brooke Burns, who gets to deliver the good news to the understandably overwhelmed recipient. Although there has been much speculation about whether viewers will gravitate toward uplifting material as a balm for the moribund economy, since ABC scored with "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition," there's been scant evidence to buttress such notions other than CBS' "Undercover Boss." Nevertheless, ABC seems committed to keep tugging at the heartstrings, eventually hoping to play a happy tune. Based on its merits "You Deserve It" probably isn't the show to do it, but a kickstart behind "Dancing With the Stars" ought to give the series a fighting chance -- at least to return as a utility player. If so, it would mark a break from the perception that no good-deed-doing show goes unpunished.camera, Don Mann; production designer: John Ivo Gilles; lead editor, Ryan Ely; music, Vanacore Music, Nathan DeVore; casting, Paul Gordon. 60 MIN. Contact Brian Lowry at brian.lowry@variety.com

CBS Renews Survivor For Two Main More Seasons, Sets February Premiere Date For Next Cycle

CBS has bought Seasons 25 and 26 ofTV’s longest-running reality competition, Survivor. In addition, the network has set a premiere date for your series’ approaching 24th cycle, which will debut on Feb. 15. Four-time Emmy champion Rob Probst will return as host and executive producer for your three approaching cycles of Survivor. He'll juggle his duties round the reality series along with his new syndicated daily talk show, which launches next September, as CBS and sister CBS TV Distribution, which produces the talk show, make organizing plans. Seasons 25 and 26 of Survivor will film back-to-back this spring, and Probst will segue into pre-output of the talk show. Within the 23rd edition, Survivor: South Off-shoreline is calculating 12.3 million audiences, and 3.8/11 in grownups 18-49 inside the Wednesday 8 PM slot. The series is produced by SEG, Corporation. Mark Burnett, Rob Probst and David Burris are executive producers.

Heather Locklear & Jack Wagner No Longer Engaged

First Published: November 15, 2011 3:36 PM EST Credit: Getty Images LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Caption Heather Locklear arrives at The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1 premiere at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live, Los Angeles on November 14, 2011Heather Locklear is back on the market. On Tuesday, a rep for the actress confirmed she and Jack Wagner are no longer set to walk down the aisle. Heather and Jack are no longer engaged, the actress rep told Access Hollywood. On Monday night, Heather was spotted solo on the red carpet at The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1 premiere. Heather and her former Melrose Place co-star, Jack Wagner, confirmed their engagement in August, after dating for four years. Copyright 2011 by NBC Universal, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Emma Stone on 'SNL': What the Critics Are Saying

Emma Stone was back on the Saturday Night Live stage this weekend, serving her second stint as host of NBC's late-night variety show.our editor recommends'Saturday Night Live' Ratings Down With Emma Stone, Coldplay'Saturday Night Live' Promos Showcase Emma Stone's Comedic Wizardry (Video)'Saturday Night Live' sets Emma Stone, Charlie Day and Jason Segel as November hosts'Saturday Night Live': Emma Stone, Coldplay, Penn St. and the Devil (Video) The actress, who next appears in July's The Amazing Spider-Man, among other movies, performed a monologue with Andy Samberg that poked fun the last name of at her Spider-Man co-star -- and reported boyfriend -- Andrew Garfield, who made an appearance onstage. Meanwhile, skits included one titled "Bridal Shower Gifts," in which Stone played the co-worker of a bride-to-be (Kristen Wiig) who inappropriately at a bridal shower, giving the guest of honor anal lubricant as a present and springing for a "human toilet" as live entertainment. [Watch the video below.] VIDEO: 'Star Wars' Parody Features Emma Stone, Seth Rogen, Andy Samberg So what did the critics think of her return engagement on the show? The Houston Chronicle's Therese Odell was mixed in her assessment. "Last night's Saturday Night Live was neither a wild success nor an abject failure, but instead a weird mix of reheated sketches and dirty jokes," she wrote. "It was as if the writers didn't quite trust Emma Stone with new material, and so they surrounded her with safe bits that they knew would work, and a couple of very raunchy ones that they knew would at least shock, if not amuse." The Orlando Sentinel's Hal Boedeker was a fan of the host's performance, if not as enthusiastic about the episode. STORY:Saturday Night Live' Ratings Down With Emma Stone, Coldplay "Host Emma Stone was lovely and game in an average episode of the NBC show," he wrote. "Shewas funniest as a dense guest who presented inappropriate gifts at a bridal shower. Stone was a cheerful host in the racy final sketch, 'We're Going to Make Technology Hump,' which featured devices (such as a video game controller and an iPad) getting it on." Elsewhere, Hitfix.com's Ryan McGee graded the various segments, writing that some fared better than others. He gave the monologue a C. "Rather than let Stone drive the monologue, SNL sends Andy Samberg to drop in (literally) and audition for the role of Spider-Man," he wrote. "Many a joke is made at the expense of Andrew Garfield's last name, which prompts Garfield himself to come onstage. "'He's BRITISH?' Samberg cries. Not much for Stone to do in this besides stare at Samberg trying to flip while strapped into a flying harness. Um...this show won't be this weak for the next 80 minutes, right?" VIDEO:'Saturday Night Live': Emma Stone, Coldplay, Penn St. and the Devil The Examiner's Scott Wampler, meanwhile, gave the monologue a B-, praising Stone for her efforts. "The punchlines don't land all that well, but Stone's delivery makes it seem better than it is," he wrote. "This sets a precedent for the entire night, by the way." Related Topics Emma Stone NBC Saturday Night Live

EMI Models being Agreed to Universal Music, The brand new the new sony for $4.1 Billion

NY - By 50 Percent deals worth $4.1 billion overall, Vivendi's Universal Group is positioned to obtain EMI Group's recorded music division, while a business introduced through the new the new sony Corp.'s music unit will leave with EMI's music posting arm, barring last-minute problems, the Wall Street Journal reported Friday. Citigroup, which presently has the U.K. music company, looks to acquire a better-than-expected cost inside the planned purchase, that may be introduced later on Friday or in the last weekend, in line with the paper. EMI artists are the Beatles, Norah Manley and Robbie Williams. EMI's recorded music arm will probably be agreed to Universal Music for $1.9 billion, because the The brand new the new sony-introduced group pays $2.2 billion for your music posting business, in line with the Journal. Universal Music was formerly seen as needing to pay around $1.5 billion after Warner Music withdrew a $1.5 billion offer after talks eliminate with Citigroup. The posting arm was seen as choosing for approximately $2 billion, with BMG Rights Management an important competitor for that new the new sony inside the investing in an offer process. Email: Georg.Szalai@thr.com Twitter: @georgszalai Related Subjects The brand new the new sony Vivendi Universal Group EMI The brand new the new sony Music

Eddie Murphy is Back Already in A Thousand Words Trailer

So this whole Eddie Murphy dropping out of the Academy Awards thing has to be good for someone, right? Maybe even for Eddie Murphy and DreamWorks, who have cleverly unveiled a trailer for the long-postponed Murphy comedy A Thousand Words today, hoping that a little publicity will go a long way for what appears to be a knock-off of one of your favorite Jim Carrey titles. A Thousand Words, shot all the way back in 2008, stars Eddie Murphy as a fast-talking businessman who uses a steady stream of meaningless words to close deals and avoid long lines at Starbucks. (Think Jim Carrey in Liar Liar, only black.) And then everything changes when a wronged client casts a spell on Murphy’s character dictating that he will die after speaking 1,000 more words. Yikes! If only Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences president Tom Sherak had thought of this treatment for Brett Ratner. There is still no release date for A Thousand Words, which the trailer promises is “coming soon.” The smart money would be on a release close to the February Academy Awards, right? VERDICT: Could have used a fat suit. [via FirstShowing.net]

Nia Extended Gives Birth To Selecting

First Launched: November 9, 2011 6:58 PM EST Credit: La, Calif. -- Caption Nia Extended reaches 2010's Wager Honours locked in the Shrine Auditorium on June 27, 2010 in La, California.Its another boy for Nia Extended. A real estate agent for your 41-year-old actress states Extended gave birth Monday to boy Kez Sunday Udoka. Speaker Priscilla Moralez states both mother and child are pleased and healthy being home. Kez might be the very first child for Extended and Ime Udoka. Extended features a 10-year-old boy, Massai, in the previous relationship. Longs credits are the films Soul Food, 'Love Manley and enormous Mommas House and tv shows for instance Boston Legal, 'Judging Amy as well as the Fresh Prince of Bel Air. Copyright 2011 with the Connected Press. All rights reserved. These elements is probably not launched, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Exclusive: Science Sets Premiere Date for Ough Gervais' An Idiot Abroad 2

Ough Gervais U.S. audiences may ultimately see where Ough Gervais and Stephen Merchant sent their dimwitted friend Karl Pilkington for just about any second trip around the globe. Science channel's An Idiot Abroad 2: The Bucket List is positioned to premiere on Saturday, The month of the month of january 21 at 10 p.m.For Season Two, Pilkington was designated by Gervais and Merchant to tackle a "bucket list" of steps you can take prior to deciding to die.This is a start searching at Gervais, Merchant and Pilkington simply because they promote the premiere date in the new Science place:

'Wonka' Actor Who Performed Violet's Father Dies at 87

ENCINITAS, California (AP) Leonard Stone, who performed the daddy who supported chronic gum-chewer Purple Beauregarde on the tour via a far-out chocolate structure in "Willy Wonka and also the Chocolate Factory," has died.Daughter Lindsey Fryman-Borchard informs The Connected Press that Stone died of cancer Wednesday in Encinitas, California, each day before his 88th birthday.He was most widely known as quickly-speaking father Mike Beauregarde within the 1971 film that starred Gene Wilder as Willy Wonka. Stone watches in horror as his daughter becomes a huge blueberry and utters the famous line "Purple, you are turning purple, Purple!"The Or native continued to experience recurring figures in lots of television series including "Barney Burns," ''Hill Street Blues" and "L.A. Law." In 2005, he performed Warren Buffett within the Arnold Schwarzenegger TV biopic, "See Arnold Run."Copyright 2011 Connected Press. All privileges reserved. These components might not be released, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Leonard Stone PHOTO CREDIT AP Photo/Lindsey Borchard ENCINITAS, California (AP) Leonard Stone, who performed the daddy who supported chronic gum-chewer Purple Beauregarde on the tour via a far-out chocolate structure in "Willy Wonka and also the Chocolate Factory," has died.Daughter Lindsey Fryman-Borchard informs The Connected Press that Stone died of cancer Wednesday in Encinitas, California, each day before his 88th birthday.He was most widely known as quickly-speaking father Mike Beauregarde within the 1971 film that starred Gene Wilder as Willy Wonka. Stone watches in horror as his daughter becomes a huge blueberry and utters the famous line "Purple, you are turning purple, Purple!"The Or native continued to experience recurring figures in lots of television series including "Barney Burns," ''Hill Street Blues" and "L.A. Law." In 2005, he performed Warren Buffett within the Arnold Schwarzenegger TV biopic, "See Arnold Run."Copyright 2011 Connected Press. All privileges reserved. These components might not be released, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Taylor Lautner Describes What Really Happened For The Reason That Breaking Beginning Bed room Scene

First Released: November 3, 2011 10:47 PM EDT Credit: Access Hollywood Caption Access Hollywoods Rob Robinson interviews Taylor Lautner in the junket for that Twilight Saga: Breaking Beginning Part 1, La, November. 3, 2011LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Taylor Lautner is accusing Billy Burke for that wedding evening scene that, prior to being re-edited, nearly gained The Twilight Saga: Breaking Beginning Part 1 an R rating. What had you been doing? Access Hollywoods Rob Robinson requested the Brit on Thursday mid-day because he marketed the November 18-due film. Strange stuff It had been gross, Robert chuckled. Nobody wants to determine that type of stuff. When Rob requested what director Bill Condon left around the cutting room floor, Robert recommended it had been things made by his leading lady K-Stew. It had been more the noises. It had been Kristens fault, really. I had been just doing standard stuff, Robert responded, trying to not look such as the guilty party. I had been just type of studying the motions smashing the head board, I simply stored smashing the head board frequently, he transported on, laughing. Kristen only agreed to be outrageous. It had been too much Her hairpiece [was] falling. PHOTOS: All Access The Twilight Saga: Breaking Beginning Part 1 junket Prior to the bed room scene between Roberts A Vampire Named Edward and Kristens Jacob Black-switched-Cullen, the 2 figures needed to marry and also the Brit stated filming the giant wedding would be a day hell remember for any very long time. It had been really sweet. There is a large build [up] of pleasure because there have been lots of new cast too who arrived and everybody understood it had been a large deal, Robert stated. There have been each one of these paparazzi helis floating, so everybody was type of excited. But, it appears a great deal more attractive within the movie of computer is at reality. And Robert is constantly on the insist despite the fact that none of his cast mates support him around the matter the guy who married Edward and Bella on the watch's screen was the real thing. [He] would be a real priest and Kristens on offer saying it was not a genuine priest, Robert stated. It had been a genuine priest. These were wrong, they werent having to pay attention, these were just considering themselves. While a huge, on-screen wedding can sway an stars feelings in tangible existence, Robert is fairly firm on his values about walking lower the aisle. I dont seem like marriage is the fact that large an offer, he told Rob. It simply appears quite simple Its like getting a large birthday celebration. Its like, should you wanna throw a very elaborate birthday celebration for the girlfriend, its type of exactly the same deal. Copyright 2011 by NBC Universal, Corporation. All privileges reserved. These components might not be released, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Viacom, Time Warner Cable iPad Dispute Will get Warmer

The dispute between Viacom and Time Warnerover streamed content of cable channels including MTV and Comedy Central on iPads is not over. Not by any stretch in the imagination.our editor recommendsTime Warner Cable Third-Quarter Profit Lower 1%, Video Subs Keep falling Inside the summer season, the conflictseemed being heading towards resolution following a parties showed up in a "dead stop agreement" to pause suit to be able to showed up at funds, but talks eliminate. Really, the dispute has become so heated that time Warner Cable is becoming threatening to cancel its affiliation agreement with Viacom, pull channels in the system, and cease needing to pay significant license costs. Here's how this debate, which made an appearance round the side of peace, has out of the blue taken a obvious, crisp turn for your ugly. In April, the two companies filed dueling law suits against each other afterTWC launched an iPad application enabling its clients to check out TV around the mobile device. TWC attracted Viacom channels once you have a cease-and-desist letter, but visited NY federal court to locate a declaration that copyright law permitted a small, simpler way of its clients to relish television in your house by themselves iPad items. Viacom mentioned within the own suit that TWC had broken a contract and committed copyright breach. STORY: Wally Disney, Viacom, Time Warner Shares Below 2010 Closing Prices as fourth Quarter Starts For a lot of several days, the dispute was fought against as much in public areas just like a courtroom. TWC contended that by enabling clients to take advantage of their iPad device inside the home, the cable company was saving its clients the charge for leasing pricey cable boxes. Viacom's top professionals spoke up about concern that enabling fans to check out shows likeJersey Shoreon their iPad device was "cannibalizing" audiences on traditional platforms. The business maintained it needed compensation. In June, things started being less heated. The Two parties showed up at its "dead stop agreement." Then, in August, Viacom and also the other giant cable distributor, Cablevision, showed up at funds to resolve the same suit. The sale paved the means by which for Viacom programming to appear onCablevision's Optimum application for your iPad. The settlement agreement between Viacom and Cablevision might have suggested helpful information for Viacom and TWC to resolve their unique versions, nevertheless the opposite seems to own happened. The parties found no settlement, and lately, TWC filed new papers in the courtroom. STORY: Time Warner Cable Third-Quarter Profit Lower 1%, Video Subs Keep falling According to an amended reaction to Viacom's suit, TWC states thatViacom is required "to supply TWC identical rights to distribute the Viacom Services regarding Internet or online services as Viacom has decided to organizations.Inch TWC is constantly on the condition that "Viacom's grant of those rights to Cablevision without offering identical rights to TWC comprises a breach of obvious around the Viacom Affiliation Contracts, and enables TWC to terminate its distribution of obvious around the Viacom Services and accordingly cease needing to pay significant license costs for people services." Now, TWC is giving a NY federal judge something to think about. TWC remains seeking a declaration that disseminating Viacom programming round the TWCable TV iPad Application doesn't constitute copyright breach.. However when the judge confirms with Viacom, then TWC states the Cablevision deal (and a lot more like a certification arrangement with DISH Network) comprises a breach of numerous contracts, like the "Suite Services Agreement" (MTV, VH1, MTV2, VH1 Classic...), the "Core Services Agreement," as well as the "Comedy Agreement" (Comedy Central). TWC states it may be entitled to terminate people contracts or demand identical Internet distribution rights. Furthermore to new counterclaims for smashing the above pointed out contracts, TWC also seeking a declaration it completed its obligations within contract to distribute New Bands Television -- a Viacom station. The move seems to remain in reaction to alawsuitfiled by Viacom in June that TWC breached a distribution contract and tortiously interferedwith New Bands Television's relationship with entrepreneurs. On Wednesday, Viacom responded in the courtroom. For the moment, Viacom largely ignores TWC's new claims it breached its obligations by considering making iPad certification contracts with organizations and focuses heavily why a judge should eliminate the dispute over New Bands Television. According to Viacom, this counterclaim needs to be overlooked since it does not share "an average nucleus of operative fact" while using iPad dispute. We've showed up at to Viacom whether systems such asComedy Central and MTV quickly Warner Cable are threatened with the suit, which we'll update once we hear anything. E-mail: eriqgardner@yahoo.com Twitter: @eriqgardner Viacom Time Warner Cable

Sons Of Anarchy Mayhem Welcome In LA

Fans of Forex’s Sons of Anarchy who're also customers to DirecTV made very obvious in Deadline comments their feelings concerning the satcaster threatening to decrease Forex along with other Fox programming November 1 when the two sides unsuccessful to achieve a contract on elevated carriage costs. Obviously they joined together within the nick of your time on Halloween. Not just may be the show vital that you Forex fans, it’s great for L.A. Occur the ficticious San Francisco Bay Area burg of Charming,SOA is shot throughout La County — “from Simi Valley towards the arts district in downtown La” — the LATimes noted within an update on location shooting round the city. Employing 150 crew people, the show’s $two million-$2.5 million per episode budget accumulates to some healthy sum. With location shoots for TV dramas lower 20% within the third quarter in comparison to this past year — and production shifting to NY, New York and elsewhere –Sons of Anarchy remains a proper staple of L.A.’s production economy because of Forex’s recent renewal for any fifth season of 13 episodes.

'Glee' Star's Father Murdered in the Philippines

Police say the estranged father of singer Charice Pempengco of the hit TV show Glee has been stabbed to death in her hometown of Laguna in the Philippines.our editor recommendsCharice Back to 'Glee,' Sings 'All by Myself' (Video)Charice: 'Glee' Is Vital for Internet Artists Police Senior Supt. Gilbert Cruz said Tuesday that Ricky Pempengco, 40, was at a store in San Pedro township when he accidentally brushed against a drunk man. Cruz says the angry suspect stabbed Pempengco with an ice pick in the chest and back, killing him instantly late Monday. He says investigation revealed no old grudges between the two and the killing appeared random. "I loved him and I will still love him. He's still my Dad after all," the singer said on her Twitter account. A manhunt has been launched for the suspect. Cruz has offered a 20,000 pesos ($470) reward. Pempengco was estranged from his daughter, Charice, a 19-year-old songstress who is famed in Asia and had a recurring role on the second season of Glee. Related Topics Glee International Asia

Voiceover and out

Though the new toon show "Allen Gregory" is about the "world's most pretentious 7-year-old," as voiced by Jonah Hill, there was nothing pretentious about the crowd or fare at Fox's Monday night party and screening.Though the new toon show "Allen Gregory" is about the "world's most pretentious 7-year-old," as voiced by Jonah Hill, there was nothing pretentious about the crowd or fare at Fox's Monday night party and screening. Thesps including Leslie Mann and French Stewart flocked to the intimate Smog Shoppe in Culver City where mini corn dogs and grilled cheeses were munched on with the evening's cocktail of choice, a bottle of spiked Orangina served with a straw. While staff offered snacks to patrons, Renee Taylor, who provides the pipes for the abrasive Principal Gottlieb, discussed her strategy in the V.O. booth: "My character is very crazy, very outrageous, and I thought, I'm going to be crazier than the character -- that's what I'm going to do. So actually I came in and did a man's voice I came in an just imitated B.S. Pully in a very low voice, and told them dirty jokes!"

Miramax expands app

"Spy Kids" Miramax launched its Miramax eXperience app on Facebook for Qatar, UAE and Egypt at the Doha Tribeca Film Festival on Wednesday. Some 15 million Facebook users will be able to rent films, watch Miramax clips and play with various social media features integrated into the app, which is similar to one available in the U.S., Blighty and Turkey. The first six titles available are all three pics from the "Spy Kids" franchise, "Shall We Dance?" and "Good Will Hunting," with more titles from Miramax's library expected to be available soon. Rentals cost 30 Facebook credits, are available for 30 days and expire 48 hours after viewing has commenced. The app is available on iPads and Google TV televisions. Marking his first visit to Qatar, Miramax CEO Michael Lang said he was "blown away by the energy and potential" of the region. "The announcement is about how important we at Miramax view the region to be -- not only for our company interests, but for film and media businesses of the future," he said. "It's tough not to get incredibly optimistic about this part of the world." Miramax first began streaming titles via its Facebook app in the U.S. in August. Contact Diana Lodderhose at diana.lodderhose@variety.com

'Fifth' will open AFI-EU fest

Polish-born helmer Pawel Pawlikowski's "The Lady within the Fifth," starring Ethan Hawke and Kristin Scott Thomas, will open the 24th AFI-EU Film Showcase on November 3. in the historic AFI Silver Theater and Cultural Center in Silver Spring, Md. The American Film Institute is definitely the fest in collabration using the EU delegation towards the U.S. and EU member states. Other highlights one of the a lot more than 40 scheduled photos include seven distribution for that language film Oscar. Swedish director Tomas Alfredson's "Mess Tailor Soldier Spy," starring Gary Oldman, Colin Firth and John Hurt, will close the big event on November. 22. "The Eu Film Showcase provides People in america by having an chance to determine a few of the best European films," stated Ambassador Joao Vale p Almeida, mind from the EU Delegation towards the U.S. To learn more concerning the EU Film Festival, visit world wide web.afi.com/silver. Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com

From Elton John for the Pixies: 21 Great Movie Music Cues

As Radiohead and Nine Inch Nails have shown in recent days, nothing comprises a film look appear as being a wonderfully placed pop song. In recognition in the new that has been enhanced America online Radio (operated by Slacker) which is Movie Tracks station -- additionally to Cameron's Crowe's recent report on his most treasured movie-music recollections -- listed below are 21 of Moviefone's favorite movie music cues. You are able to disagree and/or add your individual faves inside the comments section below! 21 Favorite Movie Music Cues See All Moviefone Galleries » [Top Photo: Everett Collection] Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook RELATED

'Happy Days' Cast Suffers Setback in $10 Million Lawsuit Against CBS

Courtesy Everett Collection Cast members of Happy Days have suffered a setback in their $10 million lawsuit over merchandising revenue from the hit sitcom. A Los Angeles judge on Wednesday threw out a claim that CBS committed fraud by shortchanging them money from slot machines featuring their faces and other consumer products that have been licensed over the years.our editor recommends'Happy Days' Cast Sues CBS, Paramount for $10 Million'Happy Days' alum dies at 58 The decision by Judge Elizabeth Allen White means the actors- Marion Ross, Don Most, Anson Williams, Erin Moran and the widow of Tom Bosley (he died last year) - cannot receive punitive damages at the trial, which is scheduled for June 2012. "We are thrilled that the court has thrown out all claims for punitive damages and significantly narrowed this to a case of contract interpretation," CBS tells The Hollywood Reporter in statement. Jon Pfeiffer, attorney for the actors, told CNN his clients intend to press forward with the suit. In April, the group sued CBS for $10 million claiming they never received revenue statements related to merchandising from the 1974-1984 series, and that CBS never intended to pay them. The actors say their contracts granted them 5% of net proceeds, or 2 1/2% if their images were used in a group. CBS, represented by attorneys Andrew White and Keri E. Campbell, responded with a motion to dismiss several claims in the suit, and the judge has now granted that request with respect to the fraud, concealment and conversion claims. The breach of contract case will continue. Email: Matthew.Belloni@thr.com Twitter: @THRMattBelloni CBS Happy Days

Bryan Entertainers Excalibur remake canned

As interested in John Boorman's bloody epic Excalibur, TF was interested to find out precisely what a contemporary-day retelling in the King Arthur legend would appear like.Sadly, Bryan Singer's update in the 1981 film remains shelved by Warner Bros. towards another Arthurian tale. "Yeah, sadly it's really no more likely to occur,Inch Singer told SFX within the annual Sitges Film Festival. "I used to be really excited to make it happen. I'm a fan of John Boorman's movie plus it was my intention to be going after Jack The Giant Killer was completed.""The project was with Warner Bros and what went lower is always that another King Arthur project was introduced on their behalf throughout that time. Basically, it absolutely was just more ready to enter production than ours was. This is exactly why our version of Excalibur ended up being negated."Singer isn't letting the disappointment achieve him, mind."When that happened, it allowed me to go to straight into developing Battlestar Galactica - that people think will probably be really exciting."

Who Will Replace Robert Iger as Disney's CEO?

This story first appeared in the Oct. 21 issue of The Hollywood Reporter.our editor recommends9 Highest Paid Entertainment CEOsThe Philanthropy Issue: The Industry's Protectors of the Environment, Arts and EducationWalt Disney Extends Robert Iger's Contract Through June 2016 Even before Disney announced that Robert Iger, current CEO and soon-to-be chairman, will be departing in June 2016, many within the Magic Kingdom assumed that veteran executive Thomas Staggs was the designated favorite to succeed him. But some high-level observers outside the company aren't entirely convinced that Staggs is the man for the job. PHOTOS: Hollywood Reporter's Philanthropy Issue: The Photographs Disney announced Oct. 7 that Iger, 60, will add the chairman's title in March. Then, in 2015, he'll step down as CEO, remaining as chairman through June 2016. Outgoing chairman John Pepper said the move was designed to ensure "a smooth transition to the next generation of leadership." And that presumably means Staggs, 49, who has been chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts since January 2010. Before that, he had served as CFO since 1998, playing a role in Disney's acquisitions of Capital Cities/ABC, Pixar and Marvel Entertainment. But in a surprise move nearly two years ago, Iger shuffled his executive deck by having Staggs exchange places with Jay Rasulo, who had been running the theme parks since 2002. The move to give Staggs more experience in the company's operations cemented the perception that he was the lead candidate in the succession derby as Rasulo was downgraded to dark horse. "I really don't know who else it could be other than Tom," says one Disney veteran. "The board knows him. He presents nearly as well as Bob." COMMENT: Does Disney's 9/11 Video Hint at Bob Iger's Political Aspirations? Wall Street analyst Harold Vogel says Staggs, who has been with Disney since 1990, is a strong exec with a depth of knowledge, calling him a "predictable, capable" choice. BTIG analyst Richard Greenfield concurs. "Staggs will get the nod, and investors will love it," he says. But a major media investor familiar with Staggs and Disney disagrees. "In my opinion, he's not a CEO," he says. "He's a chief financial officer who they've now given line responsibility to. I don't picture Tom sitting down with the premier of China or a Steve Jobs. I just don't know that he has that kind of gravitas." A top executive at another media company calls Staggs "a solid citizen" but says "his personality doesn't fill the room." STORY: Walt Disney Extends Robert Iger's Contract Through June 2016 Of course, Staggs had to be careful not to outshine his boss if he wanted to remain as front-runner. And he'll have time to grow in the public perception. Something of a mystery to many is why Disney is telegraphing Iger's future so far in advance. "Why are they announcing today what Bob Iger is doing four years from now?" asks a rival at another studio. "He looks great. You'd never know he was 60." Though he'll only be 65 when he leaves Disney, one associate says Iger has said that he feels he'll have been in the job long enough by then. And, this person notes, the timetable could give him time to "ramp up to the next phase" -- whatever that might be. Related Topics Robert Iger Disney Channel

ABC Buys 'Late Bloomer's Revolution,' Laura Solon Comedy

ABC continues its relationship with Gossip Girl producer Alloy Entertainment with two comedy orders. The Disney-possessed network has bought Late Bloomer's Revolution and untitled half-hour family comedy from British comedian Laura Solon, both from Alloy in colaboration with Warner Bros. Television. PHOTOS: 'The Vampire Journals': Sneak Take a look at Season 3 The first sort, good memoir using it . title, can be a multi-camera comedy from author Amy Cohen. It'll focus on a parent or gaurdian and daughter that are both trying to navigate the singles singles dating world concurrently following a passing in the particular wife and mother. Cohen(Caroline inside the City, Spin City)will write and executive produce with Michelle Nader (King of Queens, Two Broke Women), Alloy's Leslie Morgenstein and Gina Girolamo. (Sooner or later, Nicole Kidman was installed on a film version at Cinemax.) PHOTOS: ABC's Year Tv Shows A script plus penalty was bought for your latter, from supervisory producer and writerSolon. The untitled project concentrates on three adult siblings and siblings whose dynamic is unsetltled when their loving, but interfering mother Nancy decides to move for the city where these live and become a reactivated presence inside their lives. Alloy's Morgenstein and Girolamo are attaced as executive producers. What is the news comes mere days following a network clicked on up 666 Park,good book series byGabriella Pierce.If ultimately bought, the completely new crop will join Alloy's growing roster, like the CW'sGossip Girl, Vampire DiariesandThe Secret Circleas well as ABC Family'sPretty Little Liarsand the recently uppedThe Lounging Game. They'll also reuniteABC entertainment chiefPaul Leeand Alloy professionals, who labored together when Lee was at ABC Family. Alloy is repped by WME. Related Subjects ABC The Vampire Journals Gossip Girl TV Development

VIDEO: Is Vampire Diaries' Bonnie a Goner? Watch Our Season 3 Forecasts

Kat Graham around the Vampire Journals May Be The Vampire Diaries' Bonnie a defunct witch walking? The Vampire Journals casts Alice Evans as original mother ClevverTV asked us to talk about our Season 3 forecasts for that CW series, and one of the subjects talked about was whether Bonnie (Kat Graham) may be the next major character to die. When Bonnie saved boyfriend Jeremy in last season's finale, she lost her capability to ask her dead witch forefathers. Will her destabilized forces that leave her more susceptible? The Vampire Journals Bite: Will Jeremy come clean to Bonnie? Browse the video below for additional around the return of Anna and Vicki, bumps within the road for Tyler and Caroline, and why Klaus is not going anywhere soon. Plus: Will Damon and Elena ever connect?

Dredd Director Denies Firing

Pete Travis is still the lawRumblings started coming from the LA Times last week that director Pete Travis was facing some issues in the Dredd editing room and had been "asked to step aside". The news was leapt upon with glee by the fanboys who are perversely desperate for the film to fail, but Travis and screenwriter Alex Garland have now released a joint statement scotching the reports of Dredd's demise. Nothing to see here, perps. Move along.Anonymous LA Times sources "close to the production" had reported that there were tensions and "creative disagreements" between the producers and executives in charge of rescuing Joe Dredd from the ignominy of the Stallone film. According to the story, writer/producer Garland (28 Days Later, Sunshine) was running post-production alone, and seeking a co-director credit for his efforts. Potential reshoots were also mentioned, with a question mark over who'd man the cameras for them.But, say Travis and Garland now, "During all stages of the filmmaking, Dredd has been a collaboration between a number of dedicated creative parties. From the outset we decided on an unorthodox collaboration to make the film. This situation has been misinterpreted. To set the record straight, Pete was not fired and remains a central part of the collaboration, and Alex is not seeking a co-director credit. We are all extremely proud of the film we have made, and respectfully suggest that it is judged on viewing when it's released next year."The truth, or damage limitation? Are Travis and Garland the Reynolds and Costner of the 21st Century, or are they really the best of pals being misrepresented? We'll keep you updated on the drama.Dredd, starring Karl Urban and Olivia Thirlby, shot in the Mega-City of Cape Town, and is out next September.

Hayden Panettiere on Fireflies in the Garden, Battling Typecasting, and the Amanda Knox Aftermath

Opening this weekend in limited release, Fireflies in the Garden isn’t exactly Hayden Panettiere’s “new” film. It’s more like her embattled, shelved, revisited and re-revisited film — shot in 2007, a festival curio in early 2008 and thought lost to the indie-film ages until recently, when plans were finally made for its theatrical distribution. At least she’s in pretty phenomenal company, starring alongside Julia Roberts, Ryan Reynolds, Willem Dafoe and playing a young Emily Watson in the tale of a family grappling with generations of guilt, misunderstanding, tragedy and maybe — just maybe — a future. Panettiere co-stars as Jane, the teenage aunt to Michael Waecther (played in their ’80s era flashbacks by Cayden Boyd, who grows up into Reynolds’s disaffected present-day romance novelist). Gone to stay with her older sister Lisa (Roberts) and her domineering husband Charlie (Dafoe) one summer, she and Michael form a bond that carries over to the tense aftermath of Lisa’s sudden death. Movieline spoke with Panettiere recently about Fireflies’s scenic route to the screen, how both she and the film have changed along the way, plotting her own careful path forward, and her latest thoughts on Amanda Knox, the American student (and TV biopic subject, played by Panettiere) recently released from custody in Italy after her conviction for murdering her roommate. Wow, you look great. Are you off to somewhere after this? No, I just didn’t learn until I got here that it wasn’t going to be on camera! I see. I can totally get my camera if you’d like. Where’s my phone? I feel more relaxed not on camera. Do you really? I do! I do with these interviews. For some reason when the camera comes up, I’ve been doing it for so long that you have this internal instinct to “turn it on.” And when you’re just chatting with someone, you don’t feel as much of a need to do that. That’s interesting. You have spent most of your life working in front of the camera; it seems like it would be natural for you. But you’d say you feel more apprehensive? I have as I’ve gotten older. It’s not that I’m uncomfortable, but I noticed when I was younger that there such an innocence and freedom; you just don’t examine yourself quite as much. I didn’t have myself under quite as much of a microscope. I wasn’t concerned with the things that would come out of my mouth or the way they would sound or the expression on my face, which are all things that you’re not supposed to pay attention to when you’re acting. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve found myself paying a little more attention to it and second-guessing myself and questioning myself. You just have this freedom when you’re younger — this lack of concern to fail or do anything wrong. It comes with an ease that I’ve found has kind of deteriorated over time. I have my moments where I feel really good about it, but it’s all a mindset. If I’m thinking of it that way, then I’m tripping myself out. Fireflies in the Garden has been in limbo for a while. How many times have you actually talked about this film before today? None. Well, you’re the fifth today, but it’s only been today. It shot over four years ago. What’s your remembrance of the film from those days, and how is talking about it today affecting your perspective of it? Well, I rewatched the film last night. It’s interesting, because while I was filming it, there are certain things my character was going through that the audience is not aware of. So it’s interesting to try to describe exactly what my character was going through and the problems she was having in overcoming this big obstacle in her life and why she was at her sister’s house when it’s not something that the audience can see in the film. And I was closer to a teenager back then as well; I was a lot closer to the actual age that this girl was, and that teenage angst, and that feeling of showing up to a house and being handed a list of rules and thinking, “Is this a joke? You’re not my parents. I’ve never had rules like this.” And there’s this odd relationship between her and the family because she holds the title, almost, of an adult, but she’s young. She’s the aunt of this kid and the sister of [Julia Roberts’s character], where it feels like she should be the cousin of, or the daughter of, or something like that. Was your character’s background actually shot, and it’s just not in there? That’s what I was trying to remember. I was trying to remember back to whether or not it was ever mentioned in the film, or whether it was just an underlying issue that the character was going through but the audience wasn’t ever supposed to really know. Or if they were supposed to know that something was going on but were not sure what, or the slim chance of somebody in the audience putting two and two together and going, “OK, I think I understand what’s going on.” Originally I was sent to my sister’s house because I had gotten pregnant. Ooohhhh. Now I get it. That’s what they did back then: send them away to a family member’s house so that they would get an abortion and take care of the kid. There are a couple scenes toward the end where you can see she’s kind of sitting tenderly in this kind of robe, and that’s the inner turmoil that’s going on with her. She’s not in a good place when she gets there, and frankly, neither is anybody else. She takes this kid under her wing — this nephew of hers, who’s more like a best friend — and comes to his rescue and promises that she won’t let anything happen to him.