U2 tops 2011 concert biz

In concert tracker Pollstar's wrap of the 2011 concert biz, U2's 360 tour was the dominant road show internationally, grossing $156 million in North America and $231 million worldwide. The top 25 North American tours grossed $1.19 billion collectively, off about 4% from $1.24 billion in 2010. The top 25 worldwide tours brought in a $2.1 billion gross, virtually flat compared to last year. U2 sold 1.7 million tickets, at an average cost of $91.67, in North America during the year, for an average of 81,000 tickets per show. The elaborate stadium tour mounted 25 shows in 21 markets. Domestically, country was hot this year, with Taylor Swift (grossing $97.7 million) and Kenny Chesney ($84.6 million) occupying the No. 2 and No. 3 slots respectively among North American attractions. Other top North American live acts included Lady Gaga ($63.7 million), Bon Jovi ($57.1 million), Elton John ($51.8 million), Sade ($48.6 million), Kanye West and Jay-Z ($48.3 million), Lil Wayne ($44.4 million) and Celine Dion ($41.2 million). Dion is something of an anomaly in the top 10, since the Canadian thrush did not actually tour: Her gross was produced by 57 shows at Las Vegas' Caesars Palace. The singer boasted the highest average ticket price in the top 10 at $166.71 per ducat. Worldwide, the British boy band Take That, whose reunited lineup includes U.K. solo superstar Robbie Williams, ranked No. 2 behind U2, taking in $224 million off 34 appearances. Other top international acts included Bon Jovi, Swift, Roger Waters, John, Rihanna, Chesney, Sade and Paul McCartney. Pollstar editor Gary Bongiovanni said the touring outlook for 2012 looks positive, with reunion jaunts by the Beach Boys, Fleetwood Mac, Black Sabbath and Van Halen, dates by top attractions like Madonna and Bruce Springsteen and a possible Rolling Stones 50th anniversary trek in the offing. Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

'Wrath in the Titans' Trailer: There Is No Kraken Being Released

When the new badass trailer for 'The Dark Dark evening Rises' was released today, another action follow-up -- 'Wrath in the Titans' -- showed up in this area and among a unique. While you'll find virtually no anticipation for 'Wrath' to compete on one level as Batman, the clip for your new 'Titans' film no less than has comparable graphics, plus a handful of fight sequences with Perseus (Mike Worthington) and a lot of ugly creatures (sorry folks, no Kraken here he -- SPOILER ALERT -- died in 2010's 'Clash in the Titans'). In 'Wrath,' Perseus tries to stop Hades (Take advantage of Fiennes), the God in the Underworld, and Ares (Edgar Ramirez), the God of War, inside their try to capture Zeus (Liam Neeson). Exciting (mythological) stuff! You can examine the reduced-quality version in the trailer below. The HD (plus much more awesome) version is finished on Apple. 'Wrath in the Titans' hits theaters March 30, 2012. [via Apple] Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook

Serralles will get 'Inside Llewyn Davis'

SerrallesStage veteran Jeanine Serralles, who formerly made an appearance in James Gray's "Two Enthusiasts" and Julie Taymor's "Over the World," has became a member of the cast of Joel and Ethan Coen's folk music pic "Inside Llewyn Davis."Set among the sixties Greenwich Village folk music scene, story follows a protagonist loosely according to singer Dork Van Ronk, a buddy of Bob Dylan's, along with other famous music artists.Oscar Isaac ("Drive," "Sucker Punch") stars because the title character, a battling music performer from Queens who, despite as being a gifted singer and guitarist, can't pay the bills. Justin Timberlake co-stars as the second folk music performer, while his wife is going to be performed by Carey Mulligan, who showcases her vocal chops singing "NY, NY" in Steve McQueen's "Shame."John Goodman is placed to experience a jazz music performer who requires a journey using the protag, while "Amadeus" star F. Murray Abraham is circling the role of Bud Grossman, popular manager. Abraham formerly starred in Ethan Coen's off-Broadway show "Almost a night time.InchStudioCanal is placed to co-finance the Scott Rudin-created pic, which is made with no domestic distribution partner. Robert Graf ("True Grit") is professional creating and production is skedded for early the coming year in Gotham.Serrales, who trained in the Yale School of Drama and lately made an appearance on CBS' "The Great Wife," is repped by Don Buchwald & Affiliates. Abraham is repped by Innovative Artists and Untitled Entertainment. Contact Shaun Sneider at shaun.sneider@variety.com

Steven Spielberg's Longtime Below-the-Line Collaborators Discuss the Legendary Director, Making 'War Horse' (Exclusive Video)

A few days ago, I'd the privilege of moderating a Q&A in NY with seven incredibly gifted people whose names and faces aren't recognized to everyone, but whose contributions were necessary to the building of a number of our most valued films in the last couple of decades -- including and particularly individuals directed by Steven Spielberg, with whom all have carefully worked with on numerous motion picture endeavors, most lately throughout the building of the epic Oscar contender War Equine.our editor recommends'The Artist,' 'War Horse' Among Challengers Nominated for Satellite Awards'War Horse': The building of Steven Spielberg's WWI Epic'War Horse': Latest Trailer Heavy on Orchestration, Heartstring Tugging (Video) PHOTOS: Steven Spielberg on Set These were ... producer Kathleen Kennedy, that has created or executive created the huge most of Spielberg's films since her first, E.T. (1982), and that has created a great total of six films that received best picture Oscar nominations: E.T., The Colour Crimson (1985), The Sixth Sense (1999), Seabiscuit (2003), Munich (2005), and also the Curious Situation of Benjamin Button (2008) production designer Ron Carter, that has done eight films that Spielberg has directed dating back Empire from the Sun (1987), and that has two times been nominated for top art direction Oscar, for Forrest Gump (1994) and Avatar (2010) -- he won for that latter first assistant director Adam Somner, that has offered for the reason that capacity on Spielberg's last five films, in addition to Gladiator (2000), Black Hawk Lower (2001), Seabiscuit (2003), You Will See Bloodstream (2007), and several other memorable films costume designer Joanna Johnston, that has done five Spielberg films since 1989, in addition to Forrest Gump (1994), The Sixth Sense (1999), Cast Away (2000), and several other memorable films makeup artist Lois Burwell, that has done four films that Spielberg has directed dating back Saving Private Ryan (1998), and that has two times been nominated for top makeup Oscar, for Braveheart (1995) and Saving Private Ryan -- she won for that former cinematographer Janusz Kaminski, that has shot all the films that Spielberg has directed dating back Schindler's List (1993), and that has two times won the very best cinematography Oscar, for Schindler's List and Saving Private Ryan (1998) -- he seemed to be nominated but didn't win for Amistad (1997) and also the Diving Bell and also the Butterfly (2007) film editor Michael Kahn, that has done almost all of Spielberg's films dating back Close Encounters from the Third Kind (1977), and that has received seven best film editing Oscar nominations, winning for 3, all Spielberg films -- Raiders from the Lost Ark (1981), Schindler's List (1993), and Saving Private Ryan (1998) Hopefully you'll take a look at our conversation, by which I learned a good deal about all these artists, Spielberg, and the building of most of the films which they've worked with, especially War Equine. PHOTO GALLERY: View Gallery The building of Steven Spielberg's 'War Horse' Steven Spielberg War Equine

Camera Operators set lifetime nods

Paul Babin and Zoran Veselic are some of the readers from the Society of Camera Operators' 2012 Lifetime Acheivement Honours. Babin is going to be recognzed for his act as camera operator on photos including "Terminator 2: Judgment Day" and "Magnolia." Veselic is going to be honored within the specialist category with creds such as the blockbuster "Spider-Guy" and honours contender "Moneyball." Other career kudos readers are dolly grip Harry Rez as mobile camera platform operator and Andrew E. Cooper as film stills digital photographer. The SOC will show an award for distinguished plan to the film industry to Sol Negrin, that has labored like a lenser along with a professor. The SOC is devoted to evolving the contributions of camera deck hands. The kudos ceremony will raise funds for that Vision Center of Children's Hospital La. Honors will be provided Sunday, February. 12 in the ATAS Goldenson Theater in North Hollywood. Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com

The Descendants, Moneyball Among Los Angeles and Boston Film Critics Winners

Brad Pitt, Jessica Chastain The Descendants and The Artist were among the big winners from a group of film critics circles, which announced their selections Sunday. The Los Angeles Film Critics Association named The Descendants the Best Picture of the Year and awarded The Tree of Life's Terrence Malick the Best Director. The film's star Brad Pitt was recognized as Best Actor by the Boston Society of Film Critics, but for his performance in Moneyball. That group also selected The Artist as Best Picture, and Martin Scorsese Best Director for Hugo. Homeland, Breaking Bad and Game of Thrones top WGA and PGA nods The Descendants, The Tree of Life, Moneyball and Hugo were also all among the American Film Institute's movies of the year. (The group doesn't rank them.) The Artist was given a special award, as was the Harry Potter series, which wrapped earlier this year. See a partial list of the winners below. Click here, here and here for the full lists. Los Angeles Film Critics: Best picture - The Descendants Best director- Terrence Malick, The Tree of Life Best actor - Michael Fassbender, A Dangerous Method, Jane Eyre, Shame and X-Men: First Class Best actress -Yun Jung-hee, Poetry Best supporting actor - Christopher Plummer, Beginners Best supporting actress - Jessica Chastain, Coriolanus, The Debt, The Help, Take Shelter, Texas Killing Fields and The Tree of Life Boston Film Critics: Best picture - The Artist Best director- Martin Scorsese, Hugo Best actor - Brad Pitt, Moneyball Best actress - Michelle Williams, My Week with Marilyn Best supporting actor - Albert Brooks, Drive Best supporting actress - Melissa McCarthy, Bridesmaids AFI Bridesmaids The Descendants The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo The Help Hugo J. Edgar Midnight in Paris Moneyball The Tree of Life War Horse

Coker cast as Larry Bird in new play

Tug Coker has been cast as Boston Celtics great Larry Bird in the upcoming Broadway play "Magic Bird." Actor has guest starred in a handful of TV series, including "Torchwood," "CSI" and "Community." The role of Los Angeles Lakers icon Magic Johnson has yet to be filled. Legit production, from producers Fran Kirmser and Tony Ponturo and in association with the NBA, is set to open in Gotham in the spring. Thomas Kali is directing, with Eric Simonson ("Lombardi") on board as playwright. The play will examine the relationship between Bird and Johnson, who were bitter rivals in both college and professional basketball but then formed an endearing friendship. Said Bird of Coker's casting: "I look forward to experiencing Tug's portrayal of me during that fun and exciting time in my life." Contact Stuart Levine at stuart.levine@variety.com

Steve Jobs Bio Tops iTunes and Amazon Bestseller Lists for 2011

More than three years after the situation came to light, ESPN reporter Erin Andrews has filed a lawsuit against several parties involved in the 2008 incident in which she was videotaped nude through the peephole of a Nashville hotel room.our editor recommendsDid a Former ESPN Exec Make a Big Mistake Suing Over a Crude Erin Andrews Story? (Analysis)Man pleads not guilty in Erin Andrews case She's seeking $10 million for invasion of privacy, asking $6 million of the West End Marriott where the incident took place and another $4 million from the man who taped her. Michael Barrett, who was sentenced to 2 1/2 years in prison in 2010 after pleading guilty to stalking Andrews, followed the TV personality to at least three cities where he shot footage of her through hotel peephole doors. Reuters reports that Andrews filed the suit in 2010, but her attorney recently refiled so it would move forward before the statute of limitations runs out. The bulk of the damages sought come from the West End Marriott, where the leaked video was shot. Andrews reportedly claims the hotel is guilty of allowing Barrett to know that she was staying in the hotel and then allowing him to book a room next to her own. And though no parties are commenting on the suit, it reportedly claimed the stalking, videotaping and ensuing leak of the footage has caused the ESPN host "great emotional distress and embarrassment." In addition to hosting ESPN's College GameDay and appearing on season 10 of Dancing With the Stars, Andrews also works as a Good Morning America contributor. Related Topics Erin Andrews ESPN

Bonnie Hammer Reveals E! Rebranding Plans; Wants Up to Four New Kardashian Spinoffs

Jane Fonda has lived so many lives in Hollywood, even she admits it's hard to keep track. She burst onto the silver screen in 1960 the shy, beautiful daughter of acting royalty Henry Fonda, then transformed over the next decade into a controversial antiwar activist, earning the less-than-desirable moniker "Hanoi Jane." She became an aggressive producer and Oscar-winning actor (Coming Home, Klute) before assuming her throne as a 1980s fitness guru who made it fun to "feel the burn." Here the 74-year-old actress, philanthropist and author reflects on her gradual reentry into acting over the past decade, her philosophy on aging (yes, it includes plastic surgery) and how women in Hollywood harness the most power when they simply accept who they are.our editor recommendsTHR's 2011 Women in Entertainment Power 100 Jane Fonda, THR's Sherry Lansing Leadership Award Recipient, on Her Role Models (Video) Jane Fonda to be Honored at THR's Women in Entertainment BreakfastJane Fonda on Discovering, Losing and Re-Discovering Love for Acting (Audio)Bonnie Hammer Reveals E! Rebranding Plans; Wants Up to Four New Kardashian Spinoffs The Hollywood Reporter: Looking back on your 51 years in the business, what is your proudest moment? Jane Fonda: Certainly producing On Golden Pond and giving the Oscar to my father five months before he died was very special. Also, it took me 12 years to get the script rights for the only television movie I did, and for which I won an Emmy, The Dollmaker. But honestly, the fact that I've even had a career, in spite of the fact I have not lived in such a way that would lend itself to a successful career, is in itself amazing. COMPLETE LIST: 2011 Women in Entertainment Power 100 THR: In what way specifically? Fonda: Well, just as I was becoming an important movie star, I left the United States and lived in an attic in Paris with my French husband for eight years. And then I came back occasionally to make a movie, but ... I left the business for almost 16 years when I was in my 50s and early 60s. THR: Yes, there is a very large gap in your résumé between 1989 and 2005. Fonda: (Laughs.) Yes, a big gap. My last husband, Ted Turner, once asked me, "Who are you? I don't mean what you do, but who are you?" I said, "I'm an actress, it's what I do, but it's not who I am." I have many other things in my life besides acting. As I've grown older, this has helped me be a better actress because the palette from which I can paint my life, and my understanding of people and the world, is experientially very broad. I've done many, many different things. I left acting for 15 years partly because I was married to Ted -- although I'd decided to do it before I met him -- but it was mostly because I was very unhappy as a person during that time and just couldn't be creative. I've realized now that I've come back and I've started making movies again that it's just so much easier than it used to be. THR: Do you think being happy is imperative to being a good artist? Fonda: I don't know -- I thought a lot about that. It's certainly not like people who are good actors are all happy. But all the doors to my creativity, the energy that flows through you that leads to creativity, clang shut when I feel reduced as a woman, as I have been in my life. When I feel good about myself, I can become different people with greater ease. PHOTOS: 2011 Women in Entertainment Power 100 THR: What phases from your career have you found are the most resonant with your fans when you meet them? Fonda: I'm most aware of all the lives I've had when I go on a book tour. One woman will come up to me and say, "My favorite movie of yours was Cat Ballou." The next one will say, "Remember when we marched together in '71 in San Diego?" and another will say, "You saved my life with that exercise tape you did." I just got a letter from a woman who finished reading my new book, and she said that it's completely changed her life. That has nothing to do with politics or movies or anything. You know how happy that makes me? Then another person will say that it changed her life when I marched in Las Vegas in the '70s for welfare rights and she was a maid at the time and that gave her courage. And I've had veterans tell me that their sex life vastly improved after Coming Home came out. THR: Is there a part you're still dying to play or a project you'd like to tackle at this point in your career? Fonda: I'd like to do a TV comedy series. I love Nurse Jackie. But that's taken! And I love what Laura Linney does on The Big C. First of all, I like the idea of a regular job and second, I like the idea of comedy about an older woman. STORY: Jane Fonda to be Honored at THR's Women in Entertainment Breakfast THR: Well, this is a good opportunity for you to get that message out there. Fonda: It's out there, it's out there! THR: What do you like to do when you're not acting? Fonda: I just finished another fitness book, Prime Time. And my nonprofit work deals with adolescents, boys and girls, adolescents and sexuality and gender identity. So I went to Random House four years ago and I said, "I want to write a book for boys, a book for girls and a book for their parents." And Random House said, "We'll publish that if you first write a book about aging." So I took four years, wrote that one, which just came out, and now I've finished my book on girls, finished my book for boys and I'm working on the one for parents. And then after that, I'm going to do a cookbook for older people. I'm also going to take tap-dancing lessons, and I've started taking tennis lessons. There's a lot I want to do in life. THR: Speaking of which, you've been a fitness icon for 30 years. How do you take care of yourself at age 74? Fonda: I work out every day when I'm home. I do 30 to 40 minutes of aerobics and lift weights to maintain muscle mass, keep my bones strong and my joints strong -- more for functional reasons than anything else. I'm very careful about what I eat too. But I think that far more important than any of this is your attitude. If you are happy, feel that your life has meaning and all the people you love are doing OK and you feel good about yourself, I think that shows. That's what makes a difference. THR: But you've also been open about having plastic surgery. How does that figure into your aging philosophy? Fonda: Yes, I've talked about having had a little plastic surgery. I know plenty of people who have had a lot of plastic surgery and they have great figures, but they don't look good. It has to do with their attitude about life and about themselves. I would really like to see the media helping older women feel -- not that they're not over the hill, I'm over the hill -- but that there's a whole landscape on the other side of that hill that has more depth and meaning. THR: Whom do you most admire in Hollywood? Fonda: Interestingly enough, one of the women I've always admired is Sherry Lansing. I got to know her when I was at Columbia Pictures working on a film about nuclear energy that Michael Douglas produced, The China Syndrome. Her grace on the job, her kindness, the generosity of her spirit -- they all really, really struck me, which is one of the reasons that I'm so excited about getting this award. I also very much admire Helen Mirren, Vanessa Redgrave and Meryl Streep, who did her first movie, Julia, with me. I'm probably one of the very first people who ever saw her onscreen. I just am in total awe of her! She's beyond anything one could ever imagine an actor to be. There's so much talent out there -- female talent of all ages, and I just love watching them all work. Whether it's Reese Witherspoon or one of my favorites, Annette Bening. THR: What great advice were you given about Hollywood that has stuck with you? For example, did your father impart any wisdom to you early on that you continue to draw from? Fonda: No. THR: Really? Fonda: No, he didn't. I wish he had! See, my father was a loner. He was not a Hollywood insider and he never talked about the business with us, so I never learned or understood that this business is built on relationships. I did my first screen test with Warren Beatty, and he knew this from the get-go. Warren had a long list of directors he'd worked with -- I didn't have anything. I was just glad that anyone asked me to work. I didn't know how to say no. Part of me wishes I'd known about all that; that someone had taken me under their wing, even though I was very shy. But part of me is glad I didn't. If I had, I would have stayed here in Hollywood and built relationships and not lived all over the world. THR: What guidance do you wish someone had given you? Fonda: I think the best advice a mentor could have given me was, "Jane, you know you can say no if the script isn't good." I was just so surprised anybody ever wanted me in anything! I didn't pay enough attention. I think the only actor who ever taught me much about life, more than acting, was Katharine Hepburn in On Golden Pond. Even though I did the movie for my dad, I produced it, who I learned from was Hepburn. I was 45 when I made that movie, and it was she who taught me to be self-conscious. I used to think that was a bad thing, but that means being conscious of the self you project to the public; having a persona, a style, a presence. I had none of that. I didn't know how to dress! When I went onstage for my father at the Oscars, because he was too sick, I couldn't believe how I looked and how I was dressed. I never paid attention. Hepburn taught me to pay attention and that style is important. THR: Your son, Troy Garity, has followed in your footsteps to become an actor and has had many acclaimed roles, including on the new Starz drama Boss. What does it mean to you to see him thrive in the business? Fonda: Isn't he wonderful? My second husband, Tom Hayden, Troy's father, and I had a children's performing camp up near Santa Barbara. When Troy was 13, he did a play where he played a gay tango dancer. He blew me away! What I saw was so different from me and my father. Troy had so much physical courage, a tremendous Kevin Kline-ish ability for theatrics. My father never encouraged my brother and me to go into the business. And I decided I was going to be different and I went to my little boy and I said, "Troy, let me tell you something. You are talented. You may not want to do this when you grow up, but if you want to be an actor when you grow up, I will support you." That's exactly what happened. All I can say is that it's a terrifying thing to have a child who wants to be an actor. There's so much competition and it's very, very hard, so to have him excel, it just makes me kvell. That's Yiddish for "explode with happiness." THR: Do you have any regrets, professionally or personally? Fonda: No. Why waste time? See, when you get older, you want to spend time thinking about what you're going to regret between now and when you die. So when you die, you have a minimum number of regrets. THR: What does being a powerful woman in Hollywood mean to you now? Fonda: Well, sadly, with very few exceptions, women are still not very powerful in the movie business. But Meryl Streep, bless her heart, is this huge exception. She's a woman over 60 and she makes movies that make money. That is true power! But for me personally, any power I have isn't as an actor, but as a woman who is authentic and owns her skin. It's taken me a very long time to get here. FONDA ON FONDA: The Hollywood Icon Reflects on Her Films Barefoot in the Park (1967) "All I remember is falling in love with Bob Redford. I had a mad crush. I couldn't wait for those cuddling scenes in bed!" Barbarella (1968) "I enjoy it now, but I didn't enjoy making it. No special effects were available, so everything was done on a spit and a prayer. No one had a clue about the cult film it would become." Klute (1971) "This was a turning point. I'd left my first husband, moved back to the U.S., was becoming a feminist. Working with [director] Alan Pakula was like dancing a great waltz. And that shag haircut! I went to my husband's barber and said, 'Do something.' It was a hair epiphany that everyone started to copy. " Fun With Dick and Jane (1977) "This was my comeback film after six years away. People could see I still looked good, and that I could be funny." Coming Home (1978) "I'd spent three years interviewing Vietnam vets. I wanted to make a film about these men who'd risked their lives and came home in wheelchairs. [Activist] Ron Kovic told me at an antiwar rally, 'I may have lost my body, but I've gained my mind.' I thought, 'That could be a beautiful movie.' " The China Syndrome (1979) "Richard Dreyfuss originally had my part, but dropped out. Sherry [Lansing] said, 'Uh, Jane?' I worked with writer-director Jim Bridges on the journalist character so the film wasn't just about nuclear power-plant corruption, but also sexism in newscasting." 9 to 5 (1980) "I wanted to make a movie about secretaries. I fell in love with Lily Tomlin when I saw her one-woman show. Then I heard 'Two Doors Down' on the radio and thought, 'Dolly Parton as a secretary? Perfect!' " On Golden Pond (1981) "Imagine a woman with a difficult relationship with her father finds a play in which the father and daughter so paralleled real life. And I was able to buy the rights!" Stanley & Iris (1989) "This was the last movie I made for 15 years. I regret that I was in such a bad place when I worked with Robert De Niro. I didn't think I'd ever come back." Monster-in-Law (2005) "Critics hated it. 'Why did she choose a popcorn movie for her comeback?' But it was a blast . Young people saw it for Jennifer Lopez and maybe saw me for the first time." Peace, Love, & Misunderstanding (2011) "I loved playing a stoned grand-mother. I was their first choice!" PHOTO GALLERY: View Gallery THR's 2011 Women in Entertainment Power 100 Related Topics Jane Fonda Warren Beatty Women in Entertainment Women in Entertainment 2011

'Corman's World' Clip: Martin Scorsese Reveals Early Movie Mistakes (Exclusive)

Before he became an award-winning and world-renowned director, 'Hugo's' Martin Scorsese had slightly more humble film beginnings. Actually, a lot more humble. One of those early efforts was 'Boxcar Bertha,' a gritty crime exploitation film set along the railroads of Depression-era America. To the young and naive Scorsese, the film was a big deal, but it was just another B-movie in a long list of B-movies for its producer Roger Corman. Corman, one of the most prolific filmmakers in history, also served as a mentor to directing powerhouses like James Cameron and Francis Ford Coppola; before they became the talent behind the biggest movies in history, Corman put them through his patented "cheap and fast" school of film production. In this new clip from the upcoming documentary 'Corman's World: Exploits of a Hollywood Rebel,' Martin Scorsese reveals just how little he actually knew when it came to making a movie with Roger Corman. 'Corman's World: Exploits of a Hollywood Rebel' will arrive in select theaters on December 16. [Photo: Getty] Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook

Write a Haiku, Win Tickets to the L.A. Premiere of Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy

Attention all spy genre enthusiasts, Cold War buffs and Gary Oldman fans: Movieline is giving away three (3) pairs of VIP tickets to the Los Angeles premiere of Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy to the trio of readers who come up with the most clever haiku poems dedicated to one of the film’s stars. The thriller from director Tomas Alfredson (Let the Right One In) is set in 1973 and stars Gary Oldman as an espionage veteran forced out of semi-retirement to uncover a Soviet agent who has infiltrated Britain’s Secret Intelligence Service. Colin Firth, Stephen Graham, Tom Hardy, John Hurt, Toby Jones and Simon McBurney co-star. You have 24 hours to write a haiku in ode to any of the film’s stars to officially enter the contest. Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy’s L.A. premiere will take place in Hollywood on Tuesday, December 6 at 7:00 p.m. Winners will have to pick up their tickets at will-call before 6:00 p.m. that day. Lastly, since Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy is rated R, only readers that are 18 and older can win. The official synopsis: The long-awaited feature film version of John le Carr’s classic bestselling novel. The time is 1973. The Cold War of the mid-20th Century continues to damage international relations. Britain’s Secret Intelligence Service (SIS), a.k.a. MI6 and code-named the Circus, is striving to keep pace with other countries’ espionage efforts and to keep the U.K. secure. The head of the Circus, known as Control (John Hurt), personally sends dedicated operative Jim Prideaux (Mark Strong) into Hungary. But Jim’s mission goes bloodily awry, and Control is forced out of the Circus - as is his top lieutenant, George Smiley (Gary Oldman), a career spy with razor-sharp senses. Estranged from his absent wife Ann, Smiley is soon called in to see undersecretary Oliver Lacon (Simon McBurney); he is to be rehired in secret at the government’s behest, as there is a gnawing fear that the Circus has long been compromised by a double agent, or mole, working for the Soviets and jeopardizing England. Supported by younger agent Peter Guillam (Benedict Cumberbatch), Smiley parses Circus activities past and present. In trying to track and identify the mole, Smiley is haunted by his decades-earlier interaction with the shadowy Russian spy master Karla. The mole’s trail remains cold until maverick field agent Ricki Tarr (Tom Hardy) unexpectedly contacts Lacon. While undercover in Turkey, Ricki has fallen for a betrayed married woman, Irina (Svetlana Khodchenkova), who claims to possess crucial intelligence. Separately, Smiley learns that Control narrowed down the list of mole suspects to five men. They are the ambitious Percy Alleline (Toby Jones), whom he had code-named Tinker; suavely confident Bill Haydon (Colin Firth), dubbed Tailor; stalwart Roy Bland (Ciarn Hinds), called Soldier; officious Toby Esterhase (David Dencik), dubbed Poor Man; and - Smiley himself. Even before the startling truth is revealed, the emotional and physical tolls on the players enmeshed in the deadly international spy game will escalate… Entries must be received along with your name and an email address where you can be reached. You may enter in the comment section below or on Movieline’s Facebook or Twitter pages. Contest ends Friday, December 2 at 2:00 p.m. PT/5:00 p.m. ET.

General Hospital Announces New Showrunner

General Hospital Longtime General Hospital showrunner Jill Farren Phelps has been replaced with One Life to Live executive producer Frank Valentini, ABC announced Thursday.The network also said One Life to Live head writer Ron Carlivati is taking the same position on Hospital.Exclusive: Jonathan Jackson quits General Hospital"Frank and Ron's creativity, passion and outstanding leadership will be a welcome addition to the cast and crew, as well as viewers and longtime fans," said Brian Frons ABC's president of daytime programming. "As creative leaders in the industry, I am very excited for their arrival to General Hospital, and their dedication to the genre will certainly invigorate the daytime drama that has been part of pop culture and the TV landscape for many years."A little background on these two: Valentini has been the executive producer of One Life to Live since 2002, but he's been with the show for more than 26 years. Carlivati has worked for 15 years on the soon-to-be-defunct soap and served as the show's head writer since 2007.Kimberly McCullough leaving General HospitalThe daytime drama has suffered two major blows of late - series regulars Kimberly McCullough and Jonathan Jackson both announced last month that they would be leaving the show.What do you think the reorganization means for General Hospital?

Bad Movies We Love: O

Ralph Fiennes’s sweeping Coriolanus arrives this weekend. See that shit. Fiennes whips up a batch of thundering personal conflict, the kind that made Quiz Show so awesome, and Vanessa Redgrave gives a supporting performance far worthier of an Oscar than her work in Julia. She is angst and fury. She’s like Coriolanus Morissette up there. But if Shakespearean seriousness isn’t your thing, please circle back to 2001 when Mekhi Phifer, Julia Stiles and Josh Hartnett served up a Shakespearean telenovela in O, based on Othello. Hope you like hip-hop, opera and Josh Hartnett’s “evil” face, because this movie is a green-eyed monster that’s trying so hard not to be funny. Famously, O was filmed in 1999 but not released until 2001; the Columbine shootings made high school violence an unsavory topic for a couple years. Fact is, we could’ve used the chuckle that O provides. It is such an unyielding, self-serious melodrama that I deemed it appropriate to laugh randomly as the scenes progressed. It’s like reading a high school sophomore’s handwritten summary of Othello, one he wrote while listening to his favorite 2Pac album and doing his darnedest not to transcribe some of the lyrics on accident. In this retelling, Othello is a star basketball player named Odin or “O” (Mekhi Phifer), the only black student at his southern high school. He loves his girlfriend Desi (Julia Stiles), but his envious teammate Hugo (Josh Hartnett) starts to manipulate him into believing she’s duplicitous. You know Othello. Jealousy takes over, O loses control, and the story ends in tragedy. Fine, great. But the torrid basketballing has to be seen to be believed. Like all Bad Movies We Love, O breaks down into five lovable attributes. Let’s count ‘em down like hip-hop moves in Julia Stiles’s repertoire. 5. Martin Sheen loves Odin like a son, but not like his horrible son Hugo. Martin Sheen, one of our best presidents, plays a bulldog basketball coach who thinks O will lead the team to its 20th state victory. During an assembly he proclaims, “I’m not ashamed to say I love him like a son!” Now, that’s weird, because Martin Sheen has another son in this movie, and it’s the nefarious Hugo —- who plays on the fucking team. That slight really gets Hugo riled and scheme-y! Here, we see some of the merciless grit that marks Sheen’s performance. We also see John Heard (AKA Macaulay Culkin’s father in Home Alone) fight with his daughter about her personal affairs. 4. Modern-day Shakespearean translations are sometimes… dumb. Othello is filled with literary iconography: the “green-eyed monster,” Othello’s c-section scar, Desdemona’s dropped handkerchief. Sinister stuff. Too bad O proves that these items can seem awfully dull when revived in a moody hip-hopera. If the names “Odin” (for Othello), “Desi” (for Desdemona), and “Hugo” (for Iago) didn’t feel like Malt-O-Meal versions of the real things, check out other dubious updates: The “monster” lurking over the proceedings is a hawk that acts as the school mascot, and a major scene in which Othello overhears Iago’s manipulated conversation about Desdemona’s alleged wrongdoings is played here like an average episode of I Love Lucy’s mistaken identities — and with no studio audience to provide the right guffaws. 3. O cordially welcomes you to the space jam. Yes, O is an Othello retelling, but it doubles as an unofficial Space Jam sequel too. Here, Odin’s crazed energy culminates in a massive slam dunk that ruins a backboard. This is a man who’s ready to do something really serious — like star in a Gatorade commercial or befuddle Wayne Knight. 2. Julia Stiles as you’ve never seen her before: emoting Loved her on Dexter, loathed her onstage in David Mamet’s Oleanna, and on the big screen, I find that Julia Stiles is often — uninspired? Or just aloof? In O, the 10 Things I Hate About You’s titular hater surprises us all with a fresh, even harrowing performance. In one partially disturbing (but mostly over-the-top) scene, Othello’s rising rage and suspicions bubble over in a sexual assault. She looks pained here. Not to defend Odin, but the floating image of Andrew Keegan in flagrante delicto might inspire me to do sex a little faster too. Likely for a very different reason. 1. Josh Hartnett, super-villain The most lame/fantastic parts of O belong to the man who spooked us in Halloween H20, glowered at us in The Virgin Suicides, and shocked us with samurai-western credibility in Bunraku: Gen Y figurehead Josh Hartnett. It’s just inconceivable that a man as doe-eyed and baggy-sweatered as Hartnett would be so jealous of a teammate that he’d drive him to suicide. It’s even more inconceivable that he’d spout the following dialogue to Odin: “LIsten, I know you grew up in the hood, so you’ve seen a lot of hustlers, but the one thing I do know better than you is white girls.” That was real. Hartnett can’t handle the profound villainy of Iago or the slangy dialogue of O, so there’s no telling why he was cast here. All I know is I love that Iago’s most damning trait is his adorableness; it makes his lines like, “The point is, I’m the MVP on this piece of shit team!” seem cute — and true. You are the MVP, Mr. Hartnett. Even though your performance here makes Ryan Philippe’s in Cruel Intentions seem like dramatic masterwork. Follow Louis Virtel on Twitter. Follow Movieline on Twitter.

Jim Parsons befriends 'Harvey'

ParsonsJim Parsons has nailed lower his next legit gig, toplining an approaching Broadway revival of "Harvey." "The Big Bang Theory" Emmy champion, who made his Primary Stem bow last season inside the revival of "The Conventional Heart," look in the Roundabout Theater Company production helmed by Scott Ellis, the connect a.d. in the Gotham nonprofit. Parsons may have the man who pals around getting a huge invisible rabbit inside the 1944 follow Mary Chase. Cast will even include Jessica Hecht and Charles Kimbrough. Title, most broadly known in the 1950 film version starring James Stewart, was formerly elevated on Broadway in the short 1970 stint. New limited engagement -- produced by Roundabout in colaboration with Don Gregory, who holds rights for the play -- will begin following a Tony qualifications cutoff for your 2011-12 season, beginning previews May 18 before a June 14 opening at Studio 54, one of the Roundabout's Broadway venues. Full casting particulars be introduced. Contact Gordon Cox at gordon.cox@variety.com

Lellouche, Lindon, Scamarcio join 'Informant'

PARIS -- Gilles Lellouche ("Point Blank"), Vincent Lindon ("Anything on herInch) and Riccardo Scamarcio ("Romanzo Criminale") have grew to become part of the cast of crime thriller "The Informant" (L'Aviseur), composed by Abdel Raouf Dafri ("A Prophet"). Julien Leclercq, who formerly helmed "The Assault," is pointing the 18.9 million ($25 million) pic, which is founded on French undercover agent Marc Fievet's autobiographical book "Dans la peau d'un narco: Infiltre au coeur p la mafia" (a href="http://internet.selection.orgOrpostOrVR1118015361" target="_new">Variety, Feb. 13, 2010/a>). "'The Informant' might be the storyline from the regular guy who'll get in to a mean game -- the border patrols' cruel war against Gibraltar's drug-runners -- lacking the knowledge of the cardinal rule: Just like poker, in the event you spend some time in a table and you also can't tell who the sucker is, what this means is it's you," mentioned Dafri. Fievet spent more than ten years jail time we now have spent becoming an informant for your French border patrol, which introduced for the taking apart of key drug rings. "It's a performance-driven film inside the vein of classic crime movies like 'Donnie Brasco' and Michael Mann's films," mentioned producer Dimitri Rassam at Chapter 2. A French-The the spanish language language-Canadian co-production, "The Informant" will lense in Gibraltar, Montreal and Tangier, Morocco mole. Gaul's Studio 37 is co-creating with Canadian shingle Transfilm and Spain's Iberrota Films. Rassam mentioned Chapter 2 reaches discussions getting a French company that will handle distribution in France and worldwide sales. Contact the number newsroom at news@variety.com

Here's your Existence

Stars are Hollywood. One cannot survive with no other. Throughout my research for "The Storyline of Hollywood: An Highlighted History," I recognized why stars should worry about that old structures in Hollywood. It's their history. As we understood all of the tales of the stars during these structures, every story would transfix us.When working stars first showed up in 1909, Hollywood would be a sleepy town inside a natural paradise. There have been a couple of grain farms, plenty of lemon orchards, along with a street of humble business structures (Hollywood Boulevard) for everyone its citizens. Hollywood am remote, a nearby businessman closed his old fashion candy store to spread out a telegraph office, the only real way of communication between movies as well as their NY headquarters.The citizens of Hollywood did not greet thespians with open arms. Actually, they hated them. Mostly upon the market Midwestern abolitionists, they'd bought their land to subdivide particularly for teetotalers. That transformed whenever a national craze for those things Hollywood sent their home values soaring.As hordes of individuals, mostly entertainers, showed up, landowners built hotels and apartment structures in-front and meters to accommodate them. For vagabond stars, Hollywood offered an opportunity for any permanent home and work. Landowners happily subdivided areas into cozy bungalows on their behalf. In 1909, Hollywood had already commenced experimentation with exotic European-affected houses, German forts and French chateaus, all built from wood and stucco. These made perfect starter houses for any new film elite filled with false grandeur.The greatest stars were traders within the redevelopment of Hollywood from bucolic suburb to self-announced entertainment capital from the world. Office and retail structures put their hands up throughout the roaring '20s, offering lots of pharmacies full of shades and theatrical makeup.New structures given the Hollywood machine for the following 40 years. First-time site visitors Bette Davis and her mother checked into Vine Street's Plaza Hotel. Ava Gardner remained together with her sister in the Wilcox Hotel. Mel Blanc and Stan Freberg walked into Hollywood Boulevard office structures and began their careers. Sonny first saw Cher in a restaurant at Hollywood and Cahuenga. You will find 1000's and 1000's of those tales, millions should you count the ones which go nowhere.Many stars had companies during these structures, beginning with Henry Bergman, an actress in Charlie Chaplin's films, who opened up a well known restaurant on Hollywood Boulevard. Rudolph Valentino were built with a short-resided nightclub near the Roosevelt Hotel. Reginald Denny were built with a local hobby look for decades. Alan Reed Businesses, an import shop on Gardner north of Sunset, offered the first transistor radios from Fred Flintstone.Entertainers also had private social clubs. Previously, there have been a lot of ex-vaudevillians in Hollywood, you can learn the skill of the artist by chilling out in the Ontra Cafeteria at Hollywood and Vine. The theater towards the north (the Avalon) located a 1939 WPA smash-hit show built around them known as "Two each day.Inch Variety artists had their very own private club for many years known as Troupers. Its last location, at 1627 N. La Brea Ave., was a classic Victorian orchard house by having an auditorium within the backyard. Two blocks east on Sycamore, film stars had the Masquers Club inside a large house, the same as any NY theatrical club. Both places and also the Ontra building were destroyed in the present redevelopment.It wounds when these places disappear. The best old-Hollywood restaurantsthe Vine Street Brown Derby, Al Levy's, Rental property Capri, Martoni's, Don the Beachcomb erhave been destroyed since 1986.Within the nineteen thirties, Gertrude Stein visited her childhood home in Concord, Calif., throughout a lecture tour. When she couldn't find her house, she stated from the West Coast, "There's no there there." This is exactly why you should preserve old structures, especially inside the Hollywood Entertainment District. Therefore we will keep our here here. Greg Williams' book "The Storyline of Hollywood: An Highlighted History" is recently launched in softcover. By Greg Williams November 23, 2011 Stars are Hollywood. One cannot survive with no other. Throughout my research for "The Storyline of Hollywood: An Highlighted History," I recognized why stars should worry about that old structures in Hollywood. It's their history. As we understood all of the tales of all of the stars during these structures, every story would transfix us.When working stars first showed up in 1909, Hollywood would be a sleepy town inside a natural paradise. There have been a couple of grain farms, plenty of lemon orchards, along with a street of humble business structures (Hollywood Boulevard) for everyone its citizens. Hollywood am remote, a nearby businessman closed his old fashion candy store to spread out a telegraph office, the only real way of communication between movies as well as their NY headquarters.The citizens of Hollywood did not greet thespians with open arms. Actually, they hated them. Mostly upon the market Midwestern abolitionists, they'd bought their land to subdivide particularly for teetotalers. That transformed whenever a national craze for those things Hollywood sent their home values soaring.As hordes of individuals, mostly entertainers, showed up, landowners built hotels and apartment structures in-front and meters to accommodate them. For vagabond stars, Hollywood offered an opportunity for any permanent home and work. Landowners happily subdivided areas into cozy bungalows on their behalf. In 1909, Hollywood had already commenced experimentation with exotic European-affected houses, German forts and French chateaus, all built from wood and stucco. These made perfect starter houses for any new film elite filled with false grandeur.The greatest stars were traders within the redevelopment of Hollywood from bucolic suburb to self-announced entertainment capital around the globe. Office and retail structures put their hands up throughout the roaring '20s, offering lots of pharmacies full of shades and theatrical makeup.New structures given the Hollywood machine for the following 40 years. First-time site visitors Bette Davis and her mother checked into Vine Street's Plaza Hotel. Ava Gardner remained together with her sister in the Wilcox Hotel. Mel Blanc and Stan Freberg walked into Hollywood Boulevard office structures and began their careers. Sonny first saw Cher in a restaurant at Hollywood and Cahuenga. You will find 1000's and 1000's of those tales, millions should you count those that go nowhere.Many stars had companies during these structures, beginning with Henry Bergman, an actress in Charlie Chaplin's films, who opened up a well known restaurant on Hollywood Boulevard. Rudolph Valentino were built with a short-resided nightclub near the Roosevelt Hotel. Reginald Denny were built with a local hobby look for decades. Alan Reed Businesses, an import shop on Gardner north of Sunset, offered the first transistor radios from Fred Flintstone.Entertainers also had private social clubs. Previously, there have been a lot of ex-vaudevillians in Hollywood, you can learn the skill of the artist by chilling out in the Ontra Cafeteria at Hollywood and Vine. The theater towards the north (the Avalon) located a 1939 WPA smash-hit show built around them known as "Two each day.Inch Variety artists had their very own private club for many years known as Troupers. Its last location, at 1627 N. La Brea Ave., was a classic Victorian orchard house by having an auditorium within the backyard. Two blocks east on Sycamore, film stars had the Masquers Club inside a large house, the same as any NY theatrical club. Both places and also the Ontra building were destroyed in the present redevelopment.It wounds when these places disappear. The best old-Hollywood restaurantsthe Vine Street Brown Derby, Al Levy's, Rental property Capri, Martoni's, Don the Beachcomb erhave been destroyed since 1986.Within the nineteen thirties, Gertrude Stein visited her childhood home in Concord, Calif., throughout a lecture tour. When she couldn't find her house, she stated from the West Coast, "There's no there there." This is exactly why you should preserve old structures, especially inside the Hollywood Entertainment District. Therefore we will keep our here here. Greg Williams' book "The Storyline of Hollywood: An Highlighted History" is recently launched in softcover.

Lawyers For Jackson Physician Request For Probation

First Released: November 23, 2011 7:21 PM EST Credit: Getty Images Caption Dr. Conrad Murray gets to the Airport terminal Courthouse for his arraignment, La, Feb 8, 2010LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Lawyers for Michael Jacksons physician have requested he receive probation for his involuntary wrongful death conviction, while prosecutors have advised a sentence of 4 years imprisonment. Inside a sentencing memorandum filed Wednesday prior to sentencing Tuesday, district attorney David Walgren stated Dr. Conrad Murray has proven no remorse for Jacksons dying and it has placed blame on others. He requested that Murray be also purchased to pay for restitution to Jacksons children. Defense attorney Nareg Gourjian, stating letters of praise from Murrays former patients, stated the physician is serving an eternity sentence of self-punishment and requested probation and community service within the medical area. The 2 recommendations were filed with Superior Court Judge Michael Pastor. Murray was charged November. 7 following a six-week trial. Copyright 2011 through the Connected Press. All privileges reserved. These components might not be released, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

REVIEW: Fassbender and Mortensen Duke It Out, Amicably, in A Dangerous Method

David Cronenberg’s A Dangerous Method is probably the most fun you’ll ever have watching a movie about Carl Jung and Sigmund Freud duking it out — and nurturing a deep-rooted but fragile friendship — in early 20th century Austria and Switzerland. In fact, when I first saw Viggo Mortensen done up in his trim little Freud beard, I nearly laughed out loud — not because he looked ridiculous, but because he looked so right. Mortensen has become one of Cronenberg’s go-to guys in recent years, and you can see why: Even in a period film like this one — a picture that runs the heavy risk of being ponderous and stiff — he can slip himself into the scenery with a “Don’t mind me, here in my Sigmund Freud getup” naturalness. That’s not true of everyone in the picture, particularly Keira Knightley, who has to navigate a particularly difficult entrance: Knightley plays Sabina Spielrein, a young Russian woman who would go on to become a renowned psychoanalyst herself, but when we first see her, she’s a hysterical creature being carted off to a hospital, kicking and screaming, in a horse-drawn carriage. Michael Fassbender’s Jung is the doctor in charge of treating her, and she’s in the midst of a fit when he first sits her down: Her neck is drawn long and tight, her eyes pop, her jaw juts out so far it looks as if it might detach from her face. It’s a lot of acting — maybe not good acting — but it sure gets the point across. Knightley gets better scene by scene, and the movie does too: Cronenberg is working from a script by Christopher Hampton (the movie is based on his play, The Talking Cure, as well as on John Kerr’s book A Most Dangerous Method), and his control over the material is both masterful and confident in its lightness. The picture is handsome — it was shot by Peter Suschitzky — but not stately in the deadly way. Turn-of-the-century Vienna looks like a happening place here, bustling with horse-drawn carriages and men and ladies walking briskly in, respectively, their dark homburgs and fluted skirts. Somehow, Suschitzky makes it look alive and not like a 3-D souvenir postcard. In short, Cronenberg has made an elegant film, with spanking. There’s some mildly kinky sex in A Dangerous Method, but Cronenberg makes it neither exploitive nor so tasteful that it loses its charge. He’s hip to the allure of the forbidden, but he doesn’t get carried away by it, nor does he assess any judgment — kind of like your therapist, come to think of it. (One of the movie’s jauntiest sections involves Jung’s “treatment” of Dr. Otto Gross, a hedonist sex maniac played by a terrifically scruffy Vincent Cassel.) Nor does Cronenberg make the mistake of thinking he’s writing a term paper. He’s a skilled and astute filmmaker, but he has an unfortunate tendency to take himself too seriously. His disciplined offhandedness is key here, and his actors thrive in the atmosphere he’s created for them. Fassbender has the great gift of being able to forget how good-looking he is: His Jung is gentlemanly, thoughtful, dutiful, as upstanding as the starched white collar he wears. It all goes kerflooey when he’s tempted by forbidden fruit, and Fassbender works that transition beautifully: His facial features are so classically composed — he looks so preternaturally stable and trustworthy — that when you see him play a character torn between intellect and the sexual impulse, you understand the costs involved. Through the course of the movie Knightley, as the woman who most challenges Jung both in and out of the bedroom — he clearly doesn’t get the same kick in the pants from his aristocratic wife, played very prettily by Sarah Gadon — turns her stilted, phony-Russian diction from a liability to a strength. By the end, she’s believable as a woman whose intelligence is inextricably bound with her awkwardness: Her Sabina Spielrein is never quite at home in the world, which gives her a better perch from which to observe it. But the exchanges between Fassbender’s Jung and Mortensen’s Freud are the movie’s greatest pleasures. Fassbender is the straight man to Mortensen’s sly jokester. At their first meeting, Freud listens patiently as Jung outlines Spielrein’s symptoms in great detail. He offers one observation, which Jung rejects; he offers another that Jung also pooh-poohs. “Well,” he says, after waiting one patient beat, “perhaps it’s a Russian thing.” In A Dangerous Method, Cronenberg takes this meeting of minds and finds the crackle in the connection. It’s never dull for a moment, which is an achievement for a movie about two guys who built whole therapeutic disciplines around the acts of talking and listening. Cronenberg is attuned to the inherent drama, and the pitfalls, in what these men did. As a filmmaker, he’s as good a listener as he is a talker. [Editor’s note: This review appeared earlier, in a slightly different form, in Stephanie Zacharek’s Venice Film Festival coverage.] Follow Stephanie Zacharek on Twitter. Follow Movieline on Twitter.

R.I.P. Jack Elinson

TV comedy author Jack Elinson, whose career extended 50 plus years, died Thursday at his home in Santa Monica. He was 89. His numerous credits as author throughout the 1950sincluded the series All-Star Revue, The Colgate Comedy Hour, The Duke, The Jimmy Durante Show, Hey, Jeannie!, The Johnny Carson Show, andThe Real McCoys. Throughout the sixties, The Danny Thomas Show (akaMake Room for Dad),The Andy Griffith Show, Hogans Heroes, Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. (producer),Run, Buddy, Run (producer), andThat Girl (producer). He authored and offered as producer on many series within the 70s, such asGood Occasions (producer), andOne Trip to Time (executive producer), too asThe Doris Day Show (producer),Arnie and also the animated sitcomWait Till Your Father Will get Home. Throughout the 80s, his work incorporated The Details of Existence (executive producer) and227, the Marla Gibbs-starring comedy series which Elinson developed (produced by C.J. Banks and Bill Boulware, in line with the abide by Christine Houston) and executive created for many seasons. <!–more–> The NY City nativelaunched his comedy writing career penning jokes for Walter Winchells newspaper column. Radio stints rapidly adopted, then Elinson segued to TV like a gag author throughout its early many became a member of the writing writing team forThe Colgate Comedy Hour. Contributing to making sketches The Erectile dysfunction Wynn Show, The Jimmy Durante Show, The Garry Moore Show, as well as the originalJohnny Carson Show,lengthy before Carson grew to become the legendary host from the Tonight Show.His first wife Katie preceded him in dying. He's made it by his second wife Estelle, seven children along with a dozen grandchildren. Monday’s memorial was private.

WME Signs New Girls Max Greenfield

EXCLUSIVE: Max Greenfield, one of the male leads opposite Zooey Deschanel on Fox’s breakout new comedy series New Girl, has signed with WME. He was at TalentWorks. On New Girl, Greenfield plays Schmidt, one of Jessica (Deschanel)’s 3 male roommates, a self-proclaimed ladies man and the group’s designated “douche bag.” Greenfield, who previously had major recurring roles on Ugly Betty, Veronica Mars and Greek, is managed by Adena Chawke and Lisa Wright.

Billy Burke Sticks Out in Roberto Cavalli on London's Whitened Carpet (Video)

Dork Hogan/Getty Images Twilight'sQueenof the Evening Billy Burke almost capped her sexy slit crimson J. Mendel gown in the La premiere together with her shimmery sexy black lace beadedRoberto Cavalli gownat the London premiere.Kristen -- in other words her skilled stylist, Tara Swennen-- accessorized the elegant sexy dress by having an Alexander McQueen wide leatherbelt and two Jimmy Choo 'Vibe' platform sandals.our editor recommendsKristen Stewart Comes with an Offer to Star in 'Akira,' Will She Accept? 'Breaking Dawn's' Taylor Lautner Talks Sex Scene Edits on 'Ellen' PHOTOS:'The Twilight Saga: Breaking Beginning -- Part 1' Black Carpet Premiere Arrivals BothRobert PattinsonandTaylor Lautnerwore Emporio Armani suits. And also the London red-colored carpet -- that was fundamental black in LA -- was transformed to pure whitened. But yes, the heavens still needed to answer reporter's questions regarding the sex moments. Several things never change. PHOTOS: 'Twilight: Breaking Beginning': New Images Pattinson told MTV: "It had been kinda strange - you've reached type of blank out the truth that everyone's considering it otherwise it's an excessive amount of pressure to do. It wasn't bad, it had been type of easy. It is a really sweet nice scene and so i hope everybody wants it.Inch Lautner stated fans won't be disappointed through the movie's bed room romance: "It's steamy! I believe the fans is going to be happy."We're just happy the Twi-couple no more appears to be uncomfortable because they accustomed to appearing together around the red-colored carpet. PHOTO GALLERY: View Gallery Red-colored Carpet's Top Ten: Twilight: Breaking Beginning Premiere Taylor Lautner Rachelle Lefervre Red-colored Carpet Billy Burke Tara Swennen Roberto Cavalli

Tuner chimes in

Ted Turner, left James M. Nederlander, chair of Nederlander Org James L. Nederlander, prexy of Nederlander Org and Thomas Schumacher, prexy of Disney Theatrical Group No charitable organization will show you that you can get people taking into consideration the under developed, but Chris Helfrich may have found a likely solution for Africa-centric initiative Only Nets: Request within the finish of "The Lion King." "For people, 'The Lion King' designed a lot sense," mentioned Helfrich, who runs the initiative for your U.N. Foundation. In cooperation while using Nederlander organization (which has "Lion King" theater the Minskoff), Disney Theatricals, and Broadway Cares/ Equity Fights Helps, the cast in the show will petition the aud to guide for the charitable organization. Helfrich mentioned $10 batches might be best -- it's 10 dollars to deliver an African child a internet to keep over his bed mattress that will safeguard him within the mosquitoes and other that spread malaria. "It's all about engaging audiences around African styles and dealing with large issues, in fun and straightforward-to-grasp ways," mentioned Helfrich in the Julie Taymor/Elton John musical. "Which is precisely what our campaign is about, too. It comes down lower to connecting up Us citizens with people in Africa by delivering nets and saving lives." Tom Viola, of Broadway Cares, mentioned his charitable organization was "attempting to assist" if the heard Disney as well as the Nederlanders were striving to enhance the $40 million that Only Nets has elevated up to now. "Situation the cast of 'The Lion King,' particularly, asking people to become listed on them in something that's crucial that you them," Viola mentioned. Fund-raising remains limited to the show's Broadway version and may come through the spring appeal, beginning April 25 -- also World Malaria Day. The pitches take possibly about a minute to produce, but because minute, a youthful child dies of malaria around the Horn of Africa. "If the campaign started, a youthful child was dying every a few seconds, now it's every 45 seconds," Helfrich mentioned. "We're making progress, there's however still a lot of deaths." Contact Mike Thielman at mike.thielman@variety.com

Contender: 'Warrior'

Boxing photos have lengthy resonated for Oscar, and now you have to ascertain if mma will fare too.InchSoldier,Inch though disappointing in the box office (just below $14 million), was well-examined following its September release. Though it may be in comparison to last year's "The Fighter" in the logline -- both of them are concerning the inner turmoil of the family attempting to pay the bills having a brother searching to create a financial score within the ring -- "Warrior" never received the interest from the Mark Wahlberg film.Best chances for Oscar consideration for "Warrior" likely sits with supporting player Nick Nolte, who plays a once-absusive father searching for another chance. Nolte, who switched 70 captured, has two times been Oscar nominated, both occasions as lead actor: "Affliction" (1997) and "The Prince of Tides" (1991).As Nolte's tough but unforgiving kids, both Edgerton and Sturdy offer memorable and challenging perfs, but it may be difficult to allow them to break through inside a competitive lead actor area.Below-the-line jobs are all solid, especially throughout your dream moments that comprise probably the most dramatic moments from the film.Release date: Sept. 9LionsgateRead the range review Contact Stuart Levine at stuart.levine@variety.com

Housewives Star Kim Zolciak & Kroy Biermann Wed

First Published: November 11, 2011 6:49 PM EST Credit: Getty Images ATLANTA, Ga. -- Caption Kim Zolciak and Kroy Biermann attend Perez Hiltons One Night in Jersey during OUT in AC weekend at The House of Blues at Showboat on in Atlantic City, New Jersey October 29, 2010Real Housewives of Atlanta star Kim Zolciak has wed her Atlanta Falcons football player, Kroy Biermann. Thank you everyone for your early congrats and best wishes!!! @Kimzolciak has made me the happiest man alive!!! 11.11.11, Kroy Tweeted early Friday, a popular day for weddings. I love u, Kim Tweeted back. Kim Tweeted that her wedding, which was held in Atlanta, was simply, beautiful all around. Beautiful weather! Beautiful day!! Im walking on a cloud and Im so grateful! she wrote. Bravo Executive Andy Cohen didnt attend the event, but sent his best wishes via Tweet. Mazel to @Kimzolciak and @biermann71 on their wedding day! Wish I could be there. #LoveByBravo, he wrote. Kim announced her engagement to Kroy back in October. The couple welcomed their first child together Kroy Jagger back in May. Kim has two daughters, Brielle and Ariana, from a previous marriage. Life & Style first reported the wedding news. Copyright 2011 by NBC Universal, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Freestyle Digital Media nabs 'Deadheads'

Freestyle Digital Media has acquired the domestic rights to horror comedy ''Deadheads.'' Deal was introduced Monday within the American Film Market. Pic won honours within the Traverse City Film Festival 2011 as well as the Newport Beach Film Festival 2011. The film is slated for just about any domestic release inside the first quarter. ''Deadheads'' starring Michael McKiddy and Ross Kidder, follows two zombie slackers who finish up remarkably reborn within the dead among a disastrous zombie outbreak. After finding an gem within the coat pocket, one enlists his new found zombie friend to try a mission searching for his lost love. The sale was talked about by FDM's Boss Susan Jackson, Producer Andy Drummond and Director Brett Pierce. ''Deadheads has created great press together with an enormous number of fans in the amazing worldwide horror festival run which we feel the film gets the makings from the cult classic inside the comedy horror market.'' Jackson mentioned. Worldwide sales are increasingly being handled by Cinema Management Group (CMG). Contact Dork McNary at dork.mcnary@variety.com

Oz academy links up with G'Day USA

SYDNEY -- The Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts, which launched in August, has announced it will work with G'Day USA, a Los Angeles event that promotes all things Australian, to boost its kudocast in January. AACTA will use the G'Day USA black tie gala, held on Jan. 14 at the Grand Ballroom in L.A., as a platform to announce the noms for its AACTA International Awards, which will bow for the first time at the Sydney Opera House on Jan. 31. The international section of the kudos will honor the best practitioners worldwide in four categories: film, acting, writing and direction. "Australia's film and television industries play an important role in forming our cultural identity, in influencing tourism and in contributing to our export market, and we look forward to working alongside G'Day USA to raise the profile of our screen industry internationally," said AACTA topper Damian Trewhella. "The Australian public has thrown its support behind some great Australian stories this year, with 'Red Dog' catapulting its way into the top 10 highest grossing Australian films, and the popular documentary, 'Mrs Carey's Concert,' making box office history as just two examples." AACTA, which replaced the Australian Film Institute, aims to lift the local industry's international profile. Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

J. Edgar

Leonardo DiCaprio plays J. Edgar Hoover in Clint Eastwoods biographical drama. A Warner Bros. release and presentation of an Imagine Entertainment, Malpaso production. Produced by Brian Grazer, Robert Lorenz. Executive producers, Tim Moore, Erica Huggins. Directed by Clint Eastwood. Screenplay, Dustin Lance Black.J. Edgar Hoover - Leonardo DiCaprio Helen Gandy - Naomi Watts Clyde Tolson - Armie Hammer Charles Lindbergh - Josh Lucas Annie Hoover - Judi DenchJ. Edgar Hoover's mystique lies in the fact that while he kept meticulous files with compromising details on some of America's most powerful figures, nobody knew the man's own secrets. Therefore, any movie in which the longtime FBI honcho features as the central character must supply some insight into what made him tick, or suffer from the reality that the Bureau's exploits were far more interesting than the bureaucrat who ran it -- a dilemma "J. Edgar" never rises above. With Leonardo DiCaprio bringing empathy to the controversial Washington power-monger, Clint Eastwood's old-school biopic should do solid midrange business. In 1993, Anthony Summers published a tawdry expose titled "Official and Confidential, the Secret Life of J. Edgar Hoover," which aired Susan Rosenstiel's claim that she had witnessed Hoover, a lifelong bachelor who was seldom seen without trusted deputy Clyde Tolson, wearing a cocktail dress at a gay orgy in NY. Though never corroborated, the claim stuck, and the legacy of this much-feared public figure -- who served as FBI director under eight presidents, across 48 years and through some of the most trying cases of the 20th century -- is now dominated by associations with cross-dressing. If the assumptions about his sex life are true, that would make "J. Edgar" the story of the highest-ranking homosexual in American history, produced by a major Hollywood studio and directed by one of the industry's most venerable directors -- hardly insignificant in an industry that goes to great lengths to obfuscate the sexuality of its own stars. While not exactly coy, Eastwood's classically styled look at Hoover's life takes a long time to arrive at questions of the character's proclivities. When it does get there, however, this new dimension of the character so enlivens what has been a mostly dry portrayal of one man's crusade to reform law enforcement that it becomes the pic's focus. True to Eastwood's understated nature, "J. Edgar" offers the "tasteful" treatment of such potentially salacious subject matter, though a more outre Oliver Stone-like approach might have made for a livelier film. With the exception of a few profanities (enough to land the pic an audience-limiting R rating) and a lone homoerotic wrestling scene so tame that Ken Russell's "Women in Love" feels like an X by comparison, the film could pass for something Warners would have released in an earlier era -- earlier even than many of the events depicted onscreen, as suggested by Tom Stern's cinematography, desaturated nearly to black-and-white. Eastwood's restraint applies to not only the kid-gloves depiction of how Hoover slyly manipulated politicos and press, including a loathsome attempt to blackmail Martin Luther King Jr. into declining the Nobel Peace Prize, but also to his oddly nonjudgmental approach to Hoover's sexual identity, depicting him as a man too Puritanical to pursue intimacy with someone of either gender. As he did with "Milk," screenwriter Dustin Lance Black follows the print-the-legend philosophy, building to what could have been the ultimate tragic love story between two men: Johnny and Clyde (as Truman Capote dubbed Hoover and Tolson), companions for the better part of five decades who never had the chance to express their affection -- a consequence of Hoover's insistence that FBI employees live up to the strictest code of conduct (he wouldn't even allow them to drink coffee on the job). The opening reel establishes both the scope of the story, which ranges from Hoover's 20s to his final days overseeing the FBI at age 77, and DiCaprio's remarkable ability to play the character at any point along that timeline. Aided by a convincing combination of facial appliances, makeup and wigs, the thesp draws auds past that gimmick and into the character within a matter of a few scenes. There's an innate kindliness to DiCaprio that makes for a more likable protagonist than Hoover as the tempestuous monster so many biographers describe, which is good news for the film's commercial prospects but seemingly at odds with reality. Surely this can't be the glory hound who collaborated with Sen. Joseph McCarthy on his anti-communist witch hunt and called King "the most notorious liar in the country," nor the same FBI chief accused of racism (the Bureau antagonized civil-rights leaders and employed few blacks), homophobia (gays were dismissed from service) and sexism (women were allowed to serve as secretaries and assistants, but never agents). Rather than seriously engaging with any of these common accusations, Black's script skips back and forth through Hoover's CV, alternating public grandstanding with invented insights into his private life. Annie Hoover (Judi Dench) exerts enormous control over her son's personality, telling him, "I'd rather have a dead son than a daffodil for a son," in the film's most chilling scene. Tolson (Armie Hammer), whose prissiness accounts for the film's scant laughs, also surfaces early, lurking behind the frosted-glass door to an adjoining office while Hoover dictates a self-aggrandizing book. Considering how critical any other character's perspective might be, allowing Hoover to narrate his own story comes as a generous gift from Black. Hoover's voiceover gives form to a story that starts out as an institutionally approved version of how the FBI came to be, punctuated every so often by a high-profile arrest or newfangled forensic development (an investigation into the kidnapping of Charles Lindbergh's son supplies the sort of procedural intrigue that comes comfortably to Eastwood). As the pic progresses, however, Hoover's words grow increasingly defensive, and the episodes drift into far more personal territory. Since you can't put a face on the love interest in a workaholic's story, Black must manufacture romance on the margins. In the first act, Hoover briefly courts Helen Gandy (Naomi Watts), an office girl who declines his marriage proposal on their third date, but agrees to become his secretary. A short time later, Hoover meets Tolson in a scene staged to suggest love at first sight. As written, Tolson's character is clearly gay, but Eastwood seems noncommittal about Hoover. Certainly there are clues in nearly every aspect of the production, from Deborah Hopper's ever-dapper wardrobe to the meticulously appointed sets overseen by James Murakami and decorated by Gary Fettis. At one point, auds catch a glimpse of the entry stairwell to Hoover's home, where a framed portrait of his mother hangs alone. What's missing from this picture? Why, the famous nude photo of Marilyn Monroe that hung in the real-life Hoover's hallway.Camera (Technicolor/B&W, Panavision widescreen), Tom Stern; editors, Joel Cox, Gary D. Roach; music, Eastwood; production designer, James Murakami; supervising art director, Patrick M. Sullivan; art director, Greg Berry; set decorator, Gary Fettis; costume designer, Deborah Hopper; sound (Dolby Digital/SDDS/Datasat), Jose Antonio Garcia; supervising sound editors, Alan Robert Murray; re-recording mixers, John Reitz, Gregg Rudloff; special effects supervisor, Steven Riley; visual effects supervisor, Michael Owens; visual effects, Method Studios Vancouver, Lola Visual Effects; stunt coordinator, Buddy Van Horn; assistant director, David M. Bernstein; casting, Fiona Weir. Reviewed at Warner Bros. Studios, Burbank, Nov. 2, 2011. (In AFI Film Festival -- opener.) MPAA Rating: R. Running time: 136 MIN.With: Jeffrey Donovan, Miles Fisher, Damon Herriman, Ary Katz, Dermot Mulroney, Geoff Pierson, Michael Rady, Stephen Root, Ed Westwick. Contact Peter Debruge at peter.debruge@variety.com

Canuck TV revs rise

Total operating revenues in Canada's TV sector hit C$7.1 billion ($7 billion) this season, up 8% from 2009.This really is really the greatest annual increase since 2003, with different study released Tuesday by government bodies agency Statistics Canada.Overall, TV advertising revenues elevated 9.2% to $3.34 billion a year ago this past year the whole was $3.05 billion, 8.3% lower on 2008, the initial decrease in 15 years.ten years back, ad revs taken care of for pretty much 60% in the TV sector's total operating revenues. This Season, that proportion was at 48.2%, a little upswing from 47.7% this past year.Complete operating revs for commercial free-to-air TV rose 8.8% to $2.12 billion this season, well below the 2007 peak.The segment released an earnings margin, before interest and taxes, of $5.31 million this season. This reverses a $111.6 000 0000 decrease in 2009, the initial decrease in thirty years.Cable tv and pay TV ongoing to build up this season by getting an 11.1% hike in operating revs to $3.44 billion. While subscription revs remain an important base for cablers, their share in the TV ad market was 32.6% this season, a substantial alternation in the 17.1% in 2001. Contact Variety Staff at news@variety.com

Amanda Seyfried, Peter Sarsgaard Reportedly in Negotiations to Star in Lovelace

Lovelace, the Linda Lovelace biopic that both Olivia Wilde and Kate Hudson were rumored to topline (as opposed to the other Lovelace biopic, which traded in Lindsay Lohan for Malin Akerman), may have new leads in Amanda Seyfried and Peter Sarsgaard. The legendary porn actress Lovelace would mark a shift for the In Time/Mean Girls star, and Sarsgaard’s potential role as her husband/pimp Chuck Traynor is just as dramatic a turn. Can we just agree to make this thing and stop recasting it for the next five years? Thanks. [Variety]

'Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol' Trailer: Tom Cruise On The Run!

Ethan Hunt's mission, should he choose to accept it, is to go rogue. The latest -- and most insightful -- "Mission: Impossible -- Ghost Protocol" trailer hit the web courtesy of Yahoo! Trailers. And, for those of us who are excited for this movie for its whole cast instead of just Tom Cruise's continued participation, this teaser also gives the best look at the IMF team yet. It looks like they're going to have some interesting chemistry. It was obvious from earlier trailers that Jeremy Renner's character Brandt is more than meets the eye (this isn't a stretch: they have an exchange where Hunt asks him who he is really and Brandt replies, "We all have our secrets"), but this preview of the movie gives a better sense of the tension between the two IMF agents. Simon Pegg's Benji and Paula Patton's Jane are clearly on the side of Team Hunt, but Brandt looks like he's likely to cause a good deal of trouble for the group. And Josh Holloway's Trevor Hanaway looks like he's up to absolutely no good in "Ghost Protocol." So who can Hunt trust this time around? In case you missed the previous trailer for this film, Hunt and the rest of the IMF unit are set up on a mission in Moscow, and the Russian government considers the unexpected attack an act of war. The President initiates a black operation called "ghost protocol" and disavows the entire IMF force. It's up to Hunt to organize his team and find Brij Nath (Anil Kapoor), an intelligence agent with knowledge of the Moscow attack and the targeting of IMF. Also, let's take a brief moment of silence for Tom Wilkinson's seemingly deceased IMF leader, may he rest in peace away from all the craziness of a secret agent's lifestyle. Are you looking forward to "Mission: Impossible: Ghost Protocol"? Tell us in the comments section below or on Twitter!

The 15 Worst Movie Mistakes ever

The combined plan for 'Titanic,' 'Matrix Reloaded' and 'Ocean's 11' involves nearly half-billion dollars. Regrettably, regardless of how much cash you throw in a film, there's certain to be considered a couple of mistakes. Sometimes production people accidentally show up on screen or objects that were not over night at random display in the next. You'd think these moments would end up taken care of within an editing suite throughout publish-production, but that does not always happen. Meaning a couple of things if you are the filmmaker: the mistake will get plastered on screens across the nation, and also you finish track of a Moviefone publish entitled the 15 Worst Mistakes Available. (A large because of MovieMistakes.com, who additionally to helping us with this particular publish, possess a database filled with, well, mistakes produced in movies.) The 15 Worst Movie Mistakes ever 'Pirates from the Caribbean''Spider-Guy''Ocean's 11''Speed''Star Wars''Titanic''The Return from the King''Jurassic Park''Pulp Fiction''The Matrix Reloaded''Raiders from the Lost Ark''Harry Potter'''Goonies''Gladiator''Raiders from the Lost Ark' See All Moviefone Art galleries » [Photos: MovieMistakes.com] Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook

Has Dark Tower Found A TV Home?

Well, maybe it’s not official, but John Grazer stated throughout a job interview with MTV News the TV part of Imagine Entertainment’s adaptation from the Dark Tower will air on Cinemax. “We’ll perform the TV with Cinemax and also the movie with … to become determined,” Grazer stated throughout a job interview to advertise Tower Heist. That will cover the 2 limited-run TV series that might be done alongside a movie trilogy to inform Stephen King’s epic story, that was initially setup at Universal prior to the studio passed due to cost concerns. (Grazer’s Imagine partner Ron Howard was set to direct and Akiva Goldsman was writing.) Grazer also told MTV that Javier Bardem looks good to stay because the lead, gunslinger Roland Deschain, which $45 million continues to be cut in the film budget. But don’t set your Digital recording device at this time: While a possible Time Warner tie-up — Cinemax and, say, Warner Bros — is sensible for that ambitious project, we’ve found that as the series happen to be pitched to Cinemax, there's no deal.We hear that there's been no decision made about in which a potential Dark Tower series would land or whether or not this would get managed to get all.

E! taps Plunkett for new scripted division

PlunkettE! has made a key hire in its bid to create scripted entertainment, tapping former ABC Entertainment exec Kevin Plunkett as senior veep of scripted programming. Plunkett most recently spent 6 1/2 years as SVP of comedy development at ABC Studios and previously topped current comedy at the Alphabet net. He has also had development and programming positions with Paramount TV, ABC Family and Disney Channel. "It is very exciting for all of us at E! to enter this new programming genre, and we know that Kevin is the right person to lead the charge," said E! programming prexy Lisa Berger, to whom Plunkett will report. "He has both the experience and the creative vision that will help us establish and build a great scripted programming initiative that is uniquely tailored to appeal to the E! audience." Suzanne Kolb, who was officially named president of E! in July, told Variety at the time that E! would seek to add scripted shows to the network, not as "an abrupt left turn" but as an evolution. Contact Jon Weisman at jon.weisman@variety.com

Aisha Tyler Joins The Talk As Co-Host

EXCLUSIVE: Actress-comedian Aisha Tyler is joining The Talk like a new co-host. Tyler, who formerly guest located the CBS daytime talk show for any week, begins tomorrow when she'll have a place round the table alongside Sara Gilbert, Julie Chen, Sharon Osbourne and Sheryl Underwood. Together with Underwood, Tyler may be the second new co-host drawn on for that talk show following a recent departure of Leah Remini and Carol Robinson Peete. Within the last 2 several weeks, The Talk employed numerous recurring guest hosts, including Kris Jenner and Molly Shannon, as Osbourne too takes a while off this fall. Tyler, who grew to become the very first black actor to land a significant role on NBC’s megahit Buddies, has talk show hosting experience. Additionally to guest hosting The Talk, she seemed to be one of many guest hosts on CBS’ Late Late Show within the transitional period between Craig Kilborn and Craig Ferguson. Tyler also did a stint as host of E!’s Talk Soup, as well as in 2009, she shot an airplane pilot on her own talk show with ABC. Furthermore, earlier this summer time Tyler released the talk show podcast Girl on Guy. Tyler, repped by UTA and ROAR, still does comedy tours and voices among the leads on Forex’s animated comedy Archer.

New Tower Heist Clip

Eddie Murphy talks safe crackingIf you are among the 99%, you are likely to enjoy Tower Heist, in which a lot of blue-collar Joes choose to take advantage of a thieving, greedy banker that has stolen their pension funds. But it is very difficult project for a lot of essentially honest types to organize a robbery, so that they recruit ex-disadvantage Eddie Murphy to assist them to - which clip shows their working process.The film's all-star cast includesBenStiller,these Murphy, Gabourey Sidibe, CaseyAffleck, Michael Pena, Tea Leoni, Matthew Broderick, Judd Hirsch and Alan Alda. Brett Ratner's pointing it, following a four-year hiatus from feature film pointing.Tower Heist has gone out on November 2.

The Avengers Trailer Has Been Downloaded 10 Million Times

This pat in the back just in from Marvel Studios: The first trailer for The Avengers was “downloaded over 10 million times in its first 24 hours” from iTunes alone upon its debut this week. 10 million downloads. In a day. That’s got to also be the record for the most people listening to Nine Inch Nails (whose musical stylings played under shots of ScarJo pondering the tightness of her Black Widow costume, etc.) at the same time. Congrats! Now, to convert those 10 million trailer-watchers into opening day ticket-buyers… [Press release]

The Lone Ranger Sets February 6 Start Date; Giddyap!

EXCLUSIVE UPDATE: I’m hearing that Disney has set The Lone Ranger to start production February 6, 2012. That re-establishes one of the most intriguing examples of a star-driven film that was unplugged because of high budget and was put back together in a way that gives the studio a chance to recoup its costs. Though The Lone Ranger has arguably the world’s most bankable movie star in Johnny Depp, it also is a Western, which (as evidenced by the lackluster performance of Cowboys & Aliens), doesn’t as a genre do strong business overseas. I expect this to be formalized by tomorrow. EARLIER EXCLUSIVE, October 11, 4:38 PM: Well, it took a week longer than I thought it would, but Disney has finally reached a meeting of the minds on The Lone Ranger with director Gore Verbinski, Johnny Depp and producer Jerry Bruckheimer. The studio is expected to formalize a new start date imminently and announce it is moving forward and putting Depp back in the saddle as Tonto, with Armie Hammer as the title character. It looked like the studio was going to announce last week when the picture brightened for the film, but it will be this week’s business instead. I don’t think Disney was able to salvage its December 21 release date because production won’t start in New Mexico until early next year. The original plan was to begin shooting this fall. That was until, as Deadline revealed on August 12, the studio shockingly pulled the plug on a project it feared could come in at between $250 million-$275 million. The risk of such a figure on a Western became more glaring after Cowboys & Aliens had just turned in a severely disappointing domestic gross, to be followed by an even worse offshore performance, proving the adage that most Westerns don’t travel well. Cowboys & Aliens will be a costly money-loser, 50% shouldered by DreamWorks and the other half split between Universal and Relativity Media. On Lone Ranger, there has been a lot of behind-the-scenes drama as the three principal players made concessions in their deals, and worked on the script to salvage the spectacle that made the movie worth making in the first place while bringing the budget down to a more manageable figure in the $215 million range. It wasn’t pleasant, but Disney now has its original team behind the first three Pirates of the Caribbean blockbusters back together for a movie that’s expensive but at least will allow production chiefs Sean Bailey and Rich Ross the opportunity to sleep at night. Developing…

Maya Rudolph: My Up Through The Night Character Isn't According To The famous host oprah

First Released: October 12, 2011 4:51 PM EDT Credit: Access Hollywood Caption Maya Rudolph stops by Access Hollywood Survive October 12, 2011LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Comedy genius or more Through The Night star Maya Rudolph may have poked fun at The famous host oprah throughout her days on Saturday Evening Live, however the actress states her current role on her behalf new NBC comedy isn't in line with the media mogul. Maya stopped by Access Hollywood Survive Wednesday, where she described that her Ava character, an eccentric daytime talk show host, isn't having to pay homage towards the Full of OWN. People always think Im doing The famous host oprah, I suppose because Used to do The famous host oprah on the program, Maya stated of Ava, who within the shows newest episode blows off reading through a magazine around the financial crisis to chop loose in Vegas in a foam party. You certainly need to have [gumption] to become a talk show host. I dont think I possibly could personally accomplish it being myself, she ongoing. Im kind of infusing Ava with this particular regalness which i think is fun to experience. Maya also had high praise for recent SNL host and longtime friend Melissa McCarthy. I had been in the Groundlings with Melissa, Ive known the key of Melissa McCarthy for any very long time, she stated from the Emmy champion. You saw on SNL, she ought to be a cast member without a doubt. Shes among the funniest people I've ever known and labored with. Up Through The Night, that also stars Christina Applegate and can Arnett, airs Wednesdays at 8 PM on NBC. Copyright 2011 by NBC Universal, Corporation. All privileges reserved. These components might not be released, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory

"Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory," the final outcome from the 18-years-in-the-making trilogy around the West Memphis 3 and also the 1994 triple murder that these were charged, was initially examined by Variety on Sept. 12 in the Toronto Film Festival. That review requested if the ending yet in the future -- connected to the film because it premieres March. 10 in the NY Film Festival -- would alter the viewing experience. The reply is yes. Whereas the Toronto-opened version ended having a simple title announcing that Damion Echols, Jason Baldwin and Jessie Misskelly have been freed after 18 many 78 days in jail (with Echols on dying row), the epilogue fashioned by helmers Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky provides particulars from the tortured political and prosecutorial efforts produced by Arkansas to safeguard itself from lawsuit. Additionally, it is definitely the final court appearance from the three no-longer-teenagers, who have been pushed into pleading guilty having a profession of innocence (the so-known as Alford plea). Broadly, the film's ending is unchanged in regards to the fates from the three. But like its forerunners, "Purgatory" is rich in righteous indignation, a feeling of turned away justice and training gone unlearned. The Toronto fadeout perhaps let auds off easy the brand new ending does not. "Some are pleased, some are angry plus some are perplexed," states Arkansas district attorney Scott Ellington, "and that is the situation in the finish of each and every trial. This a person's exactly the same.Inch For audiences who might believe the accused to become guilty, Ellington's statement creates chilling cinema. According to their usual m.o., Berlinger and Sinofksy don't comment they simply let people bury themselves using their words -- and, to some extent, their votes: Even though it goes almost unmentioned, the situation was came to the conclusion with no original judge, David Burnett, who for a long time refused retrials and declined new evidence that will have freed the males. Judicial misconduct? No. Burnett was simply not available, getting been chosen towards the Arkansas Condition Senate. Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com

Bridget Manley Seeks New Director

Ought to be British professional with GSOHSomewhere over the line, another Bridget Manley film has apparently gone from like a vaguely mooted development-hell project, to have an positively going concern entering production at Universal. Deadline are verifying that Bridesmaids director Paul Feig just withdrawn within the movie, meaning Universal and dealing Title will need a completely new helmer As quickly as possible once the plan's really to start shooting Bridget Manley 3 within the month of the month of january.Despite Bridget being carried out by Renee Zellweger inside the Diary (2001) as well as the Side of Reason (2004), the series seems being viewed as quintessentially British in Hollywood, the issue Feig reported for his departure: he apparently feels he's the wrong comedy sensibility.The material he was dealing with is not apparent: there is no third Helen Fielding book which to base a script, although Fielding didcontinue Bridget's posts inside the Independent beyond the two books, and extra developments saw Bridget getting pregnant a young child while using dastardly Daniel Cleaver, without ever controlling quite to ditch lovely Mark Darcy.Deadline report that Zellweger, Colin Firth and Hugh Grant are "attempting to return". We're not able to speak for Zellweger and Grant, but Firth did appear amenable a year ago, telling Mark Lawson that "Another film is certainly an step-up from another,Inch which, using the principle cast now 10 years older than when the story began, "The idea of Mark and Daniel and Bridget in advanced stages of degeneration may be quite fun..."

Exclusive: Suburgatory Casts Promenade Star as Love Interest for Tessa

Thomas McDonnell Appears like Tessa will discover something to like concerning the and surrounding suburbs in the end! Promenade star Thomas McDonell has reserved a 2-episode stint on ABC's Suburgatory, TVGuide.com has learned solely. Cheryl Hines on mocking, adopting the and surrounding suburbs in Suburgatory He'll play Scott Strauss, a remarkably handsome guy who both Tessa (Jane Levy) and Dalia (Carly Chaikin) go gaga for. Catfight, anybody? The role reunites McDonell, 25, with Levy the 2 starred opposite one another in Josh Schwartz' approaching feature Fun Size. McDonell also stars because the youthful Barnabas Collins (the older version is going to be performed The Actor-brad Pitt) in Tim Burton's film adaptation of Dark Shadows.