Tyler Labine & Bobby Lee To Co-Star In NBC’s Comedy Pilot ‘Animal Kingdom’

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Wednesday February 22, 2012 @ 9:29am PSTTags: Animal Kingdom, Bobby Lee, NBC, Tyler Labine
Nellie Andreeva

EXCLUSIVE: Tyler Labine is set to co-star opposite Justin Kirk in NBC’s single-camera comedy pilot Animal Kingdom. Also cast in the office comedy is actor-comedian Bobby Lee (Harold & Kumar). Animal Kingdom, from Universal TV and American Work, centers on a House-like veterinarian, Dr. George Coleman (Kirk), who loves animals but usually hates their owners. Labine will play Dr. Doug Jackson, George’s fellow veterinarian and friend who is trying to get over a breakup. Lee will play Dr. Kim, another vet who loves gambling and partying. Brian Gatewood and Alex Tanaka wrote the script and are executive producing with Anthony and Joe Russo, who are directing, Scot Armstrong and Ravi Nandan. CAA-repped Labine, whose series credits include Reaper, Sons Of Tucson and Mad Love, was recently seen in Rise Of The Planet of The Apes. MadTV alum Lee, repped by CAA, will next be seen in Sacha Baron Cohen’s The Dictator.

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Ratings Rat Race: ‘Cougar Town’ Slips More, ‘River’ Bottoms Out, ‘Unforgettable’ Hits Low

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Wednesday February 22, 2012 @ 9:13am PSTTags: Cougar Town, Glee, Last Man Standing, Ratings, The River
Nellie Andreeva

In its winter finale, Fox’s Glee (2.9/8) recouped some of the 15% ratings drop last week with an 4% uptick. New Girl (3.0/8) was down a tenth, while Raising Hope (2.2/5) was up 5%. ABC’s Last Man Standing proves to be just that in the network’s Tuesday lineup. The freshman comedy (2.2/6) was flat with last week and the highest-rated ABC program on the night by a mile. Cougar Town (1.7/4) shed 6% from its low-rated premiere on Valentine’s Day last week. New drama The River (1.7/4) appears to have found a (low) bottom, even with last Tuesday. Body Of Proof (1.4/4) bucked the trend, up 17% from last week’s series low. CBS (2.9/8, 15.3 million) topped the night in both 18-49 and total viewers, but all of its series were down week-to-week. NCIS (3.8/10) was down 3%, NCIS: LA (2.9/7) down 9% to a season low and Unforgettable (1.9/5) down 17% to a series low. Meanwhile, NBC’s shows posted gains. The Biggest Loser (2.3/6) was up 10% from last week’s season low and Parenthood (1.7/5) was up 6%. The CW’s Ringer (0.5/1) was up a tenth after a steep 40% decline last week.

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IMAX Names Former Paramount Exec Andrew Cripps President Of Europe, Middle East, Africa

By NANCY TARTAGLIONE, International Editor | Wednesday February 22, 2012 @ 7:52am PSTTags: Andrew Cripps, IMAX, Paramount

New York, NY, – Feb. 22, 2012 – IMAX Corporation (NYSE:IMAX; TSX:IMX) today announced the appointment of Andrew Cripps as President, Europe, Middle East and Africa (“EMEA”). In this role, Cripps will be responsible for the expansion of IMAX’s theatre network in these regions and will work closely with the Company’s Filmed Entertainment division to identify international local-language IMAX DMR® and distribution opportunities. Cripps was also named Executive Vice President of IMAX Corp.

Cripps joins IMAX from London-based Paramount Pictures International, where he had been President since January 2007. Previously, Cripps was President and COO of UIP, a joint venture distribution company between Paramount and Universal. He joined UIP in 1986 as Executive Assistant to the General Manager, Japan, and was later promoted to the roles of Vice-President Sales, South East Asia and Senior Vice-President, International Sales. Cripps spent 19 years in Japan and speaks fluent Japanese.

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Conan O’Brien’s TBS Late-Night Talk Show Renewed Through April 2014

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Wednesday February 22, 2012 @ 7:39am PSTTags: Conan, Conan O'Brien, TBS
Nellie Andreeva

Three years after it first signed former NBC late-night talk show host Conan O’Brien, TBS has extended his late-night series Conan through April 2014. “I am excited to continue my run with TBS because they have been fantastic partners,” O’Brien said. “This means I’ll be taping episodes of Conan well into the Ron Paul presidency.” After a huge ratings start, Conan settled into a modest ratings territory, keeping its appeal to younger viewers. In announcing the show’s renewal, TBS touts a recent streak of 3 consecutive months of audience growth. Year-to-date, Conan has averaged 1.1 million viewers, with 407,000 adults 18-34 and 702,000 adults 18-49. “We are proud to be in business with Conan O’Brien for the long run,” said TNT and TBS’ head of programming Michael Wright. “Night after night, Conan and his team have put together terrific shows that draw a young and fiercely loyal audience. As if that weren’t enough, they have also built a dynamic online presence that keeps fans engaged like no other show in late night.” O’Brien has 5 million followers on Twitter, while video clips from Conan logged more than 83 million views in 2011. Last year, the show traveled to New York. In June 2012, Conan will do a week of shows in Chicago. TBS’ relationship goes beyond the talk show. O’Brien’s Warner Bros. TV-based company Conaco recently produced a comedy pilot for the network. Produced by Conaco, Conan is executive … Read More »

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Paramount President Of Animation David Stainton Resigns

By MIKE FLEMING | Wednesday February 22, 2012 @ 7:34am PSTTags: David Stainton, Paramount Pictures
Mike Fleming

(Los Angeles, CA – Feb 22, 2012) — Paramount Pictures, a unit of Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIA), announced today that David Stainton, president of Paramount Animation, has resigned for personal reasons.

Adam Goodman, president of the Paramount Motion Picture Group, said: “We are grateful for the time David spent at the studio and we wish him well in his future endeavors.” Goodman will directly oversee the animation development team moving forward.

In 2011, Paramount released Rango, the company’s first fully owned CGI animated property, which grossed more than $240 million worldwide and earned an Academy Award® nomination for Best Animated Feature. The studio also helped finance and distribute The Adventures of Tintin, an animated film from director Steven Spielberg and producer Peter Jackson, which has grossed $372 million worldwide.

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‘X Factor’s Rachel Crow Signs Talent Deal With Nickelodeon To Star In Comedy Series

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Wednesday February 22, 2012 @ 7:10am PSTTags: Fred: The Show, Nickelodeon, Rachel Crow, The X Factor
Nellie Andreeva

Fourteen year-old The X Factor finalist Rachel Crow, whose shocking elimination created one of the biggest controversies on the Fox series’ first season, has signed an overall talent deal with Nickelodeon. Under the pact, the network is developing a comedy series for Crow to star in, which will shoot a pilot. Additionally, she will recur on Nickelodeon’s upcoming short-form series Fred: The Show opposite star Lucas Cruikshank, playing Starr, an imaginative, confident but awkward teenager. “Rachel is an original,” said Nickelodeon’s EVP Paula Kaplan. “She’s funny, genuine and has raw talent and a passion for performing. On the music side, Columbia Records/Syco has exercised its option to sign her. “This girl has it,” X Factor and Syco’s Simon Cowell said. “We saw her potential at the first audition and Nickelodeon and Columbia are the right homes for her.”

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Australia’s Southern Star Names TV Industry Vet Janeen Faithfull To CEO Post

By NANCY TARTAGLIONE, International Editor | Wednesday February 22, 2012 @ 2:39am PSTTags: Big Brother, Endemol, Southern Star

Endemol owned Southern Star, one of Australia’s largest independent production companies, today announced that it has appointed Janeen Faithfull as Chief Executive Officer.

Janeen is a leading executive with 28 years international experience in television industry including 15 years at Australia’s Seven Network. She is currently Head of Content & Rights Management at Seven, responsible for the exploitation of IP across all platforms, domestically and internationally.

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‘The Hunger Games’ Sets National Mall Tour Dates With Major Talent In Tow

By THE DEADLINE TEAM | Wednesday February 22, 2012 @ 2:01am PSTTags: Jennifer Lawrence, Liam Hemsworth, The Hunger Games

SANTA MONICA, CA (February 21, 2012) – Talent from The Hunger Games will be embarking on a national tour to meet press and fans March 3rd – 10th, 2012. The tour, sponsored by the Microsoft Store, China Glaze, and h2O Spring Water will include stops in Los Angeles, Atlanta, Seattle, Phoenix, Dallas, Miami, Chicago, and Minneapolis.

Each stop will include a Q&A event where fans will have a chance to ask questions of their favorite cast members and participate in fun giveaways such as a chance to win a limited-edition Hunger Games HP Folio PC from the Microsoft Store or additional Hunger Games gear. Talent will be available for select press opportunities the morning of each tour stop. To request information regarding any of the tour stops, see media contacts below.

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Oscar Countdown: Sherak On Kodak Theatre’s New Name, Show Ratings And Star Power

By PETE HAMMOND | Wednesday February 22, 2012 @ 12:57am PSTTags: Academy Awards, Billy Crystal, George Clooney, Kodak Theatre, Tom Sherak, Uggie
Pete Hammond

Word is CIM,  the landlord for the Hollywood and Highland complex where the Oscars are held has asked the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences NOT to announce on air that the awards are coming from the Kodak Theatre. Instead the Academy opening announcement will say it is being broadcast live from Hollywood and Highland Center in Hollywood, California.  “That is what the landlord has asked us to do and we are gonna do it,”  said Academy President Tom Sherak during a pre-taping  of KABC’s local public affairs show, Eyewitness Newsmakers (airing this Sunday). CIM has been trying to find a replacement for Kodak which won the right last week to back out of their multi-million dollar naming agreement for the theatre in which the Oscars and other events such as Cirque Du Soleil’s  Iris  take place.

When I spoke to Sherak over the weekend to discuss progress for this year’s show he re-emphasized the Academy has nothing to do with who will take over the name of the theatre except for veto rights . He told me they would never hold back approval as long as it’s not some completely inappropiate name that would clash with the Academy’s image. In other words don’t expect to hear , “Live from the Hooters Theatre , welcome to the Academy Awards”.   Sherak also reiterated his previous statement that as of now the Academy is  only currently negotiating with CIM  regarding where the Oscars will be held … Read More »

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‘Skyfall’: Sam Mendes’ 1st Videoblog From Set Of 23rd James Bond Film

By NANCY TARTAGLIONE, International Editor | Wednesday February 22, 2012 @ 12:50am PSTTags: Daniel Craig, Sam Mendes, Skyfall

While not quite as revelatory as, say, Peter Jackson’s 10-minute+ digital missives from Hobbiton, Sam Mendes here presents a 90-second videoblog from the set of Skyfall. The new 007 director waxes on his own Bond nostalgia and there are even a few glimpses of filming (Daniel Craig stalking in a glass building, a baggage claim carousel, the streets of London…). Interestingly, the British veteran Mendes notes this is the first picture he’s ever shot in England. Video below:

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Alliance Bulks Up With 16 Pics Including Dustin Hoffman Directing Debut ‘Quartet’

By NANCY TARTAGLIONE, International Editor | Wednesday February 22, 2012 @ 12:49am PSTTags: Alliance Films, Dustin Hoffman, Jean Dujardin

Multi-territory distributor Alliance Films has announced the acquisition of 16 titles to go out via Alliance Films in Canada, Aurum Producciones in Spain and Momentum Pictures in the UK and Ireland. Last week, I exclusively reported from the EFM on Momentum’s acquisition of François Ozon’s In The House and Regis Roisnard’s Populaire for the UK and Ireland. Included in that report were pick-ups of other buzz titles like Anton Corbijn’s A Most Wanted Man and Steven Soderbergh’s Bitter Pill in what Alliance SVP of acquisitions and production Robert Walak told me was a better than expected market. Among the additional films Alliance has now confirmed acquiring are Jean Dujardin’s infidelity comedy The Players and Catherine Hardwicke’s erotic thriller Plush with Evan Rachel Wood for the UK and Ireland and Dustin Hoffman’s directorial debut Quartet with Maggie Smith, Read More »

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Costumers Designers Guild Awards: ‘Dragon Tattoo’, ‘W.E.’, ‘Harry Potter’, ‘Glee’, ‘Boardwalk Empire’, ‘Downton Abbey’

By THE DEADLINE TEAM | Tuesday February 21, 2012 @ 11:18pm PSTTags: Costume Designers Guild

LOS ANGELES, CA — February 21, 2012 – The winners of the 14th Annual Costume Designers Guild Awards were announced tonight at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. The event was hosted by actress, Jane Lynch. The Guild handed out competitive awards for costume design excellence in seven categories including films, television and commercials:

EXCELLENCE IN CONTEMPORARY FILM
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo – Trish Summerville

EXCELLENCE IN PERIOD FILM
W.E. – Arianne Phillips

EXCELLENCE IN FANTASY FILM
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 – Jany Temime

OUTSTANDING CONTEMPORARY TELEVISION SERIES
Glee – Lou Eyrich & Jennifer Eve

OUTSTANDING PERIOD/FANTASY TELEVISION SERIES
Boardwalk Empire – John A. Dunn, Lisa Padovani

OUTSTANDING MADE FOR TELEVISION MOVIE OR MINI SERIES
Downton Abbey – Susannah Buxton

EXCELLENCE IN COMMERCIAL COSTUME DESIGN
Swiffer: “Country Dirt Cowgirl” – Roseanne Fiedler

In addition, four honorary awards were presented at the Awards Gala: This year, the Guild honored talented screen and stage actress Kate Beckinsale with the LACOSTE SPOTLIGHT AWARD. Beckinsale was presented with the award by Columbus Short, her costar in the film Whiteout. Renowned costume designer Marlene Stewart was honored with this year’s DISARONNO CAREER ACHIEVEMENT IN FILM AWARD. A montage highlighting her extraordinary career was introduced by model and actress, Amber Valletta.

Two-time Emmy Award nominated costume designer, Lou Eyrich was honored with this year’s CAREER ACHIEVEMENT IN TELEVISION AWARD. Ryan Murphy, co-creator and executive producer of Glee, presented her with the Award.

The DISTINGUISHED COLLABORATOR AWARD was presented to Emmy award-winning costume designer, Deborah Hopper, and four-time Oscar

… Read More »

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Will Sacha Baron Cohen’s ‘The Dictator’ Character Walk The Oscar Red Carpet?

By MIKE FLEMING | Tuesday February 21, 2012 @ 7:46pm PSTTags: Academy Awards, Sacha Baron Cohen, The Dictator
Mike Fleming

BREAKING: The Academy Of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences is concerned that, on Sunday, Sacha Baron Cohen will come to the Oscars and walk the Red Carpet. While ordinarily that would be fine since he’s a big international star, the Academy is dismayed that he’ll come dressed as the title character in his upcoming Paramount comedy The Dictator. That proposal has been floated with the Academy, and I’m told that everyone involved in the ceremony is adamantly against it on the grounds that it makes a mockery of what Hollywood considers its most prestigious event.

An Oscars spokesperson acknowledges the rumors but isn’t sure if it’s actually going to happen. Said the spokesperson: “We would hope that every studio knows that this is a bad idea. The Red Carpet is not about stunting.” I’ve heard his plan is to come dressed as The Dictator and then change into a tux and attend the Oscars. He’s not scheduled to present an award, but he could certainly arrive as part of the Paramount contingent. That studio has a Best Picture nominee in the Martin Scorsese-directed Hugo. Why the subterfuge? Because at 2007′s Oscars, Baron Cohen was asked to be a presenter and said he would do it only if he could be in character as Borat. And The Powers That Be said, “No way.”

But purists feel that the Oscars is no place for such in your face promotion. The Academy hasn’t even … Read More »

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Ashley Tisdale To Star In CBS Comedy Pilot, Chris Egan In ABC’s ‘Beauty & The Beast’

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Tuesday February 21, 2012 @ 7:07pm PSTTags: Ashley Tisdale, Beauty and the Beast, Chris Egan
Nellie Andreeva

EXCLUSIVE: High School Musical alumna Ashley Tisdale has been cast as a lead in CBS’ untitled Louis CK/Spike Feresten multicamera comedy pilot, an ensemble of young people trying to achieve their creative dreams in these tough financial times. Tisdale will play Petra, the beautiful and sarcastic assistant to a vintage clothing designer struggling to carve out her niche in New York. Louis CK and Spike Feresten wrote the pilot, an update of a script the two originally penned 13 years ago. BermanBraun, Universal TV and CBS TV Studios are producing. Earlier this development season, Tisdale was attached to star in and executive produce a semi-autobiographical multicamera comedy at ABC penned by David Holden. Tisdale, repped by CAA and manager Bill Perlman, starred on the CW drama Hellcats last season.

Chris Egan (Letters To Juliet) has become the first actor cast in ABC’s drama pilot Beauty And The Beast, a fantasy re-imagining of the classic Beauty and the Beast tale wherein an embattled princess, Grace, discovers an unlikely connection with a mysterious beast. Egan, repped by WME and Anonymous Content, will play one of the leads, Grace’s fiance Gorrick, who is her father’s most trusted soldier. The casting stems from the former Kings star’s talent holding deal with ABC. Last year he toplined another drama pilot for the network, Poe. Yves Simoneau is directing Beauty And The Beast from a script by Jon … Read More »

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Oscars Scoop: George Clooney’s & Melissa McCarthy’s Moms To Be Spotlighted Pre-Show

By NIKKI FINKE | Tuesday February 21, 2012 @ 6:26pm PSTTags: 84th Annual Academy Awards, mominees, nominee mothers

EXCLUSIVE: This year’s producers Brian Grazer and Don Mischer are expanding on a good idea from last year – “Mominees” – to make Hollywood’s biggest night more relatable. Once again, during the pre-show for the 84th Academy Awards, mothers of nominees will discuss insights into their kids. Featured will be George Clooney’s mom, Melissa McCarthy’s mom, Gary Oldman’s mom, plus others. ”Great fun,” an insider tells me. (Especially if they say anything that embarrasses their kids…) Last year, the Oscars also featured the nominee’s mothers who took to Twitter in the lead up to the Oscars and during the show. That’s when the term ‘Mominees” was first coined, and moms of James Franco, Jeremy Renner, Mark Wahlberg, Mark Ruffalo and others were enlisted. Those moms, too, were interviewed on TV for the Oscar pre-show.

For years Hollywood’s marquee names have been escoorting their moms to the Academy Awards. Winners’ speeches almost always thank their parents right alongside their agents, managers, and lawyers. In 2011, the opening monologue featured both Anne Hathaway’s mother and James Franco’s grandmother in cameos from their seats. (Hathaway’s mom critiqued her daughter’s posture, while Franco’s grandma expressed glee at the sight of “Marky Mark”.)  Abbd last year’s Best Director winner Tom hooper said in his acceptance speech: “Listen to your mother.” Looks like Grazer and Mischer took that advice to heart this year.

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Dennis Quaid & Michael Chiklis In Talks To Star In CBS’ 1960s Las Vegas Drama Pilot

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Tuesday February 21, 2012 @ 6:25pm PSTTags: Dennis Quaid, Michael Chiklis, Ralph Lamb
Nellie Andreeva

Dennis Quaid is testing the series series waters. The feature actor is in negotiations for the lead in CBS’ untitled Las Vegas period drama pilot (form. Ralph Lamb). Because of the size and the complexity of the deal, things are still moving slowly after a week of talks. Also in negotiations for the project is Michael Chiklis who is eying the pilot as part of his development/talent holding deal with CBS. The show tells the true story of Ralph Lamb, the role Quaid is in talks for – rodeo cowboy turned longtime Sheriff of Las Vegas. Former Shield star Chiklis is in negotiations to play Johnny Savino, a Chicago mobster who recently moved to Las Vegas, a ruthless killer with a polished edge. Goodfellas‘ Nicholas Pileggi co-wrote the script with Greg Walker, and James Mangold is directing. The two are executive producing with Cathy Konrad and Arthur Sarkissian.

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‘Heroes’ Alum Milo Ventimiglia To Star In Frank Darabont’s TNT Pilot ‘L.A. Noir’

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Tuesday February 21, 2012 @ 4:52pm PSTTags: Frank Darabont, L.A. Noir, Milo Ventimiglia
Nellie Andreeva

EXCLUSIVE: In his first cable series gig, former Heroes star Milo Ventimiglia is set to star in Frank Darabont’s TNT drama pilot L.A. Noir,  a fast-paced crime drama set in Los Angeles during the 1940s and ’50s. He is expected to join The Walking Dead alum Jon Bernthal, who has been in negotiations for another lead. Based on John Buntin’s book L.A. Noir: The Struggle For The Soul Of America’s Most Seductive City, the show tells the true story of a decades-long conflict between the LAPD, under the determined leadership of Police Chief William Parker, and ruthless criminal elements led by mobster Mickey Cohen, a one-time boxer who rose to the top of LA’s criminal world. Ventimiglia will play Ned Stax, a former marine who served with Joe Teague (Bernthal) during WWII, now a budding lawyer groomed to be a master “fixer” for the mob. In addition to writing, former Walking Dead showrunner Darabont is directing the pilot and will executive produce with Michael De Luca and Elliot Webb for TNT Original Prods. Ventimiglia, repped by CAA and Management 360, fielded interest from broadcast pilots this season before opting to go with L.A. Noir. His series credits also include a stint on Gilmore Girls.

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CAA Signs ‘The Help’s Tate Taylor

By MIKE FLEMING | Tuesday February 21, 2012 @ 4:34pm PSTTags: CAA, Tate Taylor, The Help
Mike Fleming

EXCLUSIVE: CAA has signed The Help writer-director Tate Taylor. He has been everywhere this awards season with the film, which is up for four Oscars this Sunday including Best Picture. This past weekend he accepted the WGA’s Paul Selvin Award for his adapted screenplay of the civil rights-era drama. He was with WME.

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Spirit Awards: Colin Farrell, Willem Dafoe, John Waters To Present

By BRIAN BROOKS | Tuesday February 21, 2012 @ 4:30pm PSTTags: Anna Kendrick, Colin Farrell, John Waters, Spirit Awards, Willem Dafoe

EXCLUSIVE: Colin Farrell, Willem Dafoe, John Waters, Anna Kendrick and Olivia Wilde are on tap as presenters at this weekend’s Film Independent Spirit Awards. Anthony Mackie and Kate Beckinsale unveiled the nominees for this year’s awards in November. Seth Rogen will host the annual awards show taking place on the beach in Santa Monica on Saturday. Now in its 27th year, Film Independent’s Spirit Awards recognizes the achievements of American independent filmmakers.

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