Tuesday, May 8, 2012

The Hunger Games Pages

The Hunger Games can be a 2012 National sci-fi measures video focused by Grettle Ross, in line with the new of the brand by Suzanne Collins. The video was generated by Nina Jacobson and also Jon Kilik, by using a screenplay by Ross, Collins, and also Billy Beam. That celebrities Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, Age Banking institutions, and also Bob Sutherland. The story plot develops in the dystopian post-apocalyptic upcoming inside united states of Panem, featuring its a new rich metropolis, called the Capitol, enclosed by 12 much less well-off districts. As penalties for any previous rebellion contrary to the authorities, your Capitol began the Hunger Games-a public twelve-monthly occasion where a single youngster and one female coming from all of the 12 districts are usually picked in the sweepstakes while "tributes" and they are essential to battle to your dying within the world right up until there is a single remaining winner. Once the protagonist Katniss Everdeen (Lawrence) hears the woman more youthful sister's brand called as the female gratitude for their section, the girl volunteers to use the woman placed in purchase just to save the woman coming from needing to engage. Accompanied by the woman district's masculine gratitude Peeta Mellark (Hutcherson), Katniss vacations for the Capitol to teach regarding the Hunger Games beneath the instruction of ex- winner Haymitch Abernathy (Harrelson). The video was already released in April Twenty-one, 2012, inside Portugal along with international locations and also around the world in April 3, 2012, within traditional moviehouses and also a digital IMAX moviehouses. At the time of launch, your video arranged your record for your finally most effective beginning saturday and sunday pack office product sales associated with a motion picture ($152.Several mil) inside The usa behind Harry Knitter along with the Deathly Hallows * Component 2 ($169 mil) as well as Dimly lit Soldier ($158 mil) and was the most significant pack office be released for any non-sequel. It will be the 1st video since Avatar to stay in first place in the pack office regarding 4 sequential days off. The Hunger Games was celebrated by most experts, whom lauded it is designs and also messages, and also Lawrence's effectiveness while Katniss. Such as new, your video offers enticed grievance because of its resemblances to other operates, such as the Japanese people new Struggle Royale and its video difference, together with the National shorter tale "The Lottery". It really is mentioned, nonetheless, this Collins' new and also screenplay possess key variations by applying types of enthusiasm such as the fable of Theseus, Roman gladiatorial games, actuality television set, along with the Iraq Conflict. Watch The Hunger Games has been the main topics various understanding, like allusions to be able to feminist, politics, and also non secular allegory. The media of Panem, formed at a post-apocalyptic The usa, has a rich Capitol and also an even dozen lesser surrounding districts. Like a penalties for any preceding rebellion contrary to the Capitol from the districts, a single youngster and one female between the ages of 12 and also 20 coming from every single section are usually picked by a yearly sweepstakes (the "Reaping") to sign up inside the Hunger Games. The people (or "tributes") of the Hunger Games must attack within the world handled from the Capitol right up until just one remains full of life; your winner is usually honored along with recognition and also money. Katniss Everdeen, a new 16-year-old female coming from Center 12, volunteers for your 74th twelve-monthly Hunger Games, to accept host to the woman more youthful aunt Primrose, who had been picked from the sweepstakes. Peeta Mellark, a new baker's kid whom once afforded Katniss a loaf of bread if the woman loved ones was hungry, is additionally picked. Katniss and also Peeta are usually taken up to your Capitol, wherever his or her drunken advisor, ex- Games winner Haymitch Abernathy, teaches them to check out and also discover the advantages on the some other tributes, specially the "Careers", who had been educated coming from delivery to be able to participate inside Games. Within a pre-Games meet with along with Television for computer personality Caesar Flickerman, Peeta unexpectedly discloses the romance regarding Katniss. Nancy to begin with very angry, thinking that it is trick to get crowd help, while "sponsors" may supply in-Games items of food, drugs, and also gear. The Games focus on half your tributes wiped out around the 1st day time, although Katniss relies on the woman well-practiced looking and also backyard ability to outlive. Peeta sorts a annoyed alliance with all the Professions, like Cato, Clove, Miracle, and also Glimmer, together with his or her pursuing support they will spot Katniss inside woods. Katniss builds up a new relationship along with Center 13 gratitude Are sorry for when the litttle lady highlights a new monitor jacker nest, which often Katniss lowers around the Professions, hurting Glimmer. Are sorry for cares about you regarding Katniss while the girl recuperates coming from monitor jacker toxic body, however the relationship comes to an end if Are sorry for is usually fatally wounded by Miracle, with whom Katniss eliminates for their immunity. Katniss remains along with Are sorry for while the girl passes away, after that arises blossoms in excess of the woman physique like a manifestation of regard. When this is usually public, that cause a new huge range inside Center 13. Having Katniss and also Peeta given to the public while "star-crossed lovers" * along with the Gamemakers wanting to steer clear of inciting more riots * a rule adjust is usually released half way throughout the Games, on the grounds that a pair of tributes from the same section can certainly succeed your Games like a set. In hearing this specific, Katniss pursuit of Peeta and also detects your ex, wounded by Cato by using a sword. As Katniss nurses Peeta here we are at wellness, the girl offers she is while obsessed about your ex to get crowd like and also sponsorship. Whenever the girl attempts to recover drugs regarding Peeta, Clove violence the woman. Thresh would seem and also eliminates Clove, sparing Katniss inside recollection of Are sorry for. "Foxface" passes away coming from consuming nightlock blueberries and other berries compromised coming from Peeta, whom would never know we were holding extremely deadly. Any package of vicious hound-like creatures are let go of, hurting Thresh and also pushing Katniss and also Peeta into the Cornucopia, wherever they will knowledge Cato. After a challenging attack, Katniss sets Cato with an arrow just to save Peeta's daily life. Cato comes for the creatures, and also Katniss sets your ex to be able to sacrifice your ex a prolonged dying. Having Peeta and also Katniss apparently triumphant together, your Gamemakers abruptly turnaround for the concept adjust allowing for a pair of victors, setting up these folks nearly the multiple 1 another for the dying. As an alternative, Katniss has a cache of nightlock blueberries and other berries and also hands and fingers 1 / 2 to be able to Peeta. Realizing that his or her suicide would probably deprive the public associated with a winner, your Gamemakers quickly publicize both of them while victors on the 74th Hunger Games. Though they are usually dealt with into a hero's encouraged inside Capitol, Katniss is usually cautioned by Haymitch she has turn into politics attacker immediately after such a public defiance of the woman society's authoritarian frontrunners. As Katniss and also Peeta resume Center 12, Web design manager Snow considers purchasing your mutual victors along with the sensations of rebellion they will get empowered.

Thursday, March 8, 2012

Raven-Symon to Star in Broadway's 'Sister Act'

Raven-Symon will need inside the leading role of Deloris Van Cartier inside the Broadway musical "Sister Act." Tony and Olivier Award nominee Patina Burns, who presently plays Van Cartier, can provide her final performance on Sunday, March 18. Symon will begin starring inside the production on Tuesday, March 27."Finding an actress who is able to play Deloris in Sister Act is not any easy task," mentioned producer Whoopi Goldberg in the news release. "Fortunately for people, Raven is a lot more than around the job but audiences is going to be astounded by her performancewe couldn't be excited that she's joining the business.InchSymon most recently starred round the Emmy-nominated Disney Funnel Tv program "That's So Raven" and ABC Family's "Condition of Georgia." She also came out on NBC's extended-running hit "The Cosby Show" and contains recorded several music albums. This is actually the 26-year-old's Broadway debut. She is not the only real former Disney Funnel star being taking up the fantastic White-colored Way this season. Nick Jonas of "Jonas L.A." is presently headlining the revival of "How you can achieve Business Without Really Trying." "Undertaking on Broadway is an aspiration of mine and i am beyond thrilled being making my debut using this role within this fantastic show," mentioned Symon in the news release. "I am unable to wait to acquire onstage and share her story with audiences eight occasions each week.InchInchSibling Act" can be a musical adaptation in the 1992 film of the title, which starred Goldberg just like a lounge singer hiding inside a convent while on the go within the mob. The expansion will celebrate its first anniversary on Broadway on April 20.

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Comic Impressionist Steve Bridges Dies in LA

LOS ANGELES (AP) Impressionist Steve Bridges, who used prosthetics and wigs to turn into presidents and laughs to make a living, was found dead at his home, his manager said Monday. He was 48.Bridges returned from China on Feb. 23 and complained to friends of "super jet lag," manager Randy Nolen said.Bridges' maid found the comic dead about 9:30 a.m. Saturday in his Los Angeles home, Nolen said.It appeared that he died of natural causes, but an autopsy will be conducted, said Craig Harvey, chief of operations for the Los Angeles County coroner's office.Bridges' George W. Bush impression made him a regular on "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno" and earned him an invitation to the White House in 2003.In 2006, Bridges joined Bush in a comic routine at the 2006 White House Correspondents' Association dinner in Washington, D.C., and at a Ford's Theatre benefit.Nolen said Bush called Bridges' brother, Phillip, on Monday and offered condolences."Steve was not only a funny man, but a kind and decent human being. My heartfelt sympathies go out to his parents, his siblings, and his entire family," Bush told The Associated Press through spokesman Freddy Ford."We had a great 10-year run," Nolen said. "He went to the White House, the Oval Office, toured with Barbra Streisand and was a regular on the 'Tonight Show' for almost eight years."Bridges became Barack Obama, Bill Clinton or Bush for his most popular shows.The makeup and prosthetics used for Bush and Clinton were designed by Kevin Haney, who won an Academy Award for aging Dan Aykroyd in "Driving Miss Daisy." Obama was done by Kazu Tsuji, who designed Jim Carrey's Grinch in "How the Grinch Stole Christmas."Mari Enyart was Bridges' makeup artist."From the neck up, everything but his teeth was covered in a prosthetic piece of some sort," Nolen said about the impersonations of presidents. "It was as extensive, as good and as complicated as anything you would see in a motion picture."It took nearly four hours to apply the Obama makeup and nearly three hours to do Bush and Clinton. Close attention was paid to age marks and freckles on his hands because they were so visible, especially if a skit was being filmed.Bridges had been scheduled to do three free shows on March 13, 14 and 15 for the Indian Wells Rotary Club to help raise money for students who wanted to go to college. Because of the time it took to get ready, he was going to be a different president each night.Sometimes, Bridges would do shows without makeup that were titled "Steve As Steve" and showcased his 200 voices from Bill O'Reilly to Rush Limbaugh to Tom Brokaw and all the presidents from Kennedy to Obama, Nolen said.Born in Dallas, Bridges loved football and was a big Cowboys fan."He was courteous, kind, soft-spoken, reserved and respectful. He loved being on stage. He was a master at ad-libbing and improv comedy," Nolen said.Bridges is survived by his parents, Thomas and Margaret Bridges, brothers Phillip and Jon, and sister Elizabeth Bridges.A service will likely be held in the next few days near the family's Northern California home, with a memorial service to follow in Los Angeles.Copyright 2012 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. By Sue Manning March 6, 2012 George Bush (Left) and Steve Bridges PHOTO CREDIT AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari LOS ANGELES (AP) Impressionist Steve Bridges, who used prosthetics and wigs to turn into presidents and laughs to make a living, was found dead at his home, his manager said Monday. He was 48.Bridges returned from China on Feb. 23 and complained to friends of "super jet lag," manager Randy Nolen said.Bridges' maid found the comic dead about 9:30 a.m. Saturday in his Los Angeles home, Nolen said.It appeared that he died of natural causes, but an autopsy will be conducted, said Craig Harvey, chief of operations for the Los Angeles County coroner's office.Bridges' George W. Bush impression made him a regular on "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno" and earned him an invitation to the White House in 2003.In 2006, Bridges joined Bush in a comic routine at the 2006 White House Correspondents' Association dinner in Washington, D.C., and at a Ford's Theatre benefit.Nolen said Bush called Bridges' brother, Phillip, on Monday and offered condolences."Steve was not only a funny man, but a kind and decent human being. My heartfelt sympathies go out to his parents, his siblings, and his entire family," Bush told The Associated Press through spokesman Freddy Ford."We had a great 10-year run," Nolen said. "He went to the White House, the Oval Office, toured with Barbra Streisand and was a regular on the 'Tonight Show' for almost eight years."Bridges became Barack Obama, Bill Clinton or Bush for his most popular shows.The makeup and prosthetics used for Bush and Clinton were designed by Kevin Haney, who won an Academy Award for aging Dan Aykroyd in "Driving Miss Daisy." Obama was done by Kazu Tsuji, who designed Jim Carrey's Grinch in "How the Grinch Stole Christmas."Mari Enyart was Bridges' makeup artist."From the neck up, everything but his teeth was covered in a prosthetic piece of some sort," Nolen said about the impersonations of presidents. "It was as extensive, as good and as complicated as anything you would see in a motion picture."It took nearly four hours to apply the Obama makeup and nearly three hours to do Bush and Clinton. Close attention was paid to age marks and freckles on his hands because they were so visible, especially if a skit was being filmed.Bridges had been scheduled to do three free shows on March 13, 14 and 15 for the Indian Wells Rotary Club to help raise money for students who wanted to go to college. Because of the time it took to get ready, he was going to be a different president each night.Sometimes, Bridges would do shows without makeup that were titled "Steve As Steve" and showcased his 200 voices from Bill O'Reilly to Rush Limbaugh to Tom Brokaw and all the presidents from Kennedy to Obama, Nolen said.Born in Dallas, Bridges loved football and was a big Cowboys fan."He was courteous, kind, soft-spoken, reserved and respectful. He loved being on stage. He was a master at ad-libbing and improv comedy," Nolen said.Bridges is survived by his parents, Thomas and Margaret Bridges, brothers Phillip and Jon, and sister Elizabeth Bridges.A service will likely be held in the next few days near the family's Northern California home, with a memorial service to follow in Los Angeles.Copyright 2012 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Saturday, February 25, 2012

Moonbot flies across platforms

IPad application and Oscar-nommed short 'The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore' arrives out like a book. William Joyce, left, co-founding father of Moonbot, and Brandon Oldenberg co-directed the companys Oscar-nominated animated short. Moonbot Galleries is nominally an animation house, but that is a restricting description if this involves telling the storyline of these two-year-old shingle co-founded by award-winning children's author and animated-feature veteran William Joyce. "Our qualities our tales -- we do not discover their whereabouts as only one factor in a single medium," states Joyce, who began the studio in the home town of Shreveport, La., with Reel Forex Creative Services co-founder Brandon Oldenburg and producer Lampton Enochs. "We kind of wallow in it and go: 'Is mtss is a great movie? 'Is mtss is a great book?' And when the solutions are 'yes,' only then do we think about them in whatever different (form is relevant)." Moonbot's first project, "The Great Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore," has borne out that approach. It first showed being an iPad application (selling a lot more than 120,000 downloads since last summer time). Which was then an animated video clip which has been nommed to have an Oscar -- along with a book version arrives from Simon & Shuster later this season. Follow-up project "The Numberlys," manufactured to fit the iPad's vertical orientation, has offered 20,000 downloads because it preemed recently. The approaching short-film version -- named by Moonbot as "the highest video clip on the planetInch -- will support the iPad's vertical aspect ratio as well as is going to be then a magazine version. Joyce states the application for "Lessmore" came into being almost accidentally, well into production around the video clip and book, once the iPad was introduced, and filled a formerly unarticulated void. "It had not been a magazine also it wasn't a film -- it had been something among. We'd wanted that, although not understanding what which was.Inch But not only porting content in one medium to another, Moonbot tailors the job to every platform. The storyline application blends facets of the film and also the book, offers minigames and explorable conditions, and sways on computer interaction. Rapid has met with apparent success, along with the book featuring original illustrations, each version of "Lessmore" stands by itself, Oldenburg states. "All of them justify their very own existence, and you want to make certain (of) that.". Digital distribution assisted "Lessmore" and Moonbot achieve a far wider audience than the usual book or short would typically achieve alone. "It's not necessary to create a distribution deal it's not necessary to court 5 or 6 different companies," Enochs states. "You press a few buttons, and also the world can easily see it." Nearly all purchasers are parents, although the application has been a success with teens, and emails came in from classes, Enochs states. (Cost to create all of the areas of "Lessmore" is tough to find out, Enochs states, thinking about the application wasn't area of the original plan -- which meant there is a learning curve for designers to cope with -- and also the final a part of project, it, is not going to be out until late this season.) Author in excess of 50 children's books, Joyce has created or led ideas, designs and animation to features from "Toy Story" to "Robots" and "Satisfy the Robinsons," and it is professional-creating the approaching DreamWorks Animation feature "Rise from the Parents" according to his "Parents of Childhood" book series. He sees in Moonbot's approach the liberty to produce new projects -- as well as the opportunity to simply have fun. "I seem like people expect, or are visiting expect, different encounters in storytelling," states Joyce, who dismisses as "overdramatic" the concept that books will die, but confesses focusing on applications is much more instinctive and timely. "We are capable of being almost live-action filmmakers in ways, that is a fascinating factor to create to animation." "The Numberlys" is really a prime example. The storyline application is made with off-the-shelf software and cameras, and carried out four several weeks, permitting Moonbot an opportunity to rapidly take advantage of its growing brand, Oldenburg states. Additionally to projects for clients, Moonbot plans another short/application/book project, tentatively entitled "Mr. Junk e-mail Will get a brand new Hat" along with a feature being coded in which another entertainment platform figures conspicuously -- by getting a brand new Orleans puppet troupe carry out the story live before audiences. "We discovered that to become a real very cost-efficient way to determine if your scene is working," Joyce states, "by carrying out it theatrically." Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Jim Caviezel joins The Tomb

The Tomb might find Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sly Stallone reunited around the giant screen, but oddly enough, the following bit of casting hasn't involved another musclebound beefcake, but character actor Jim Caviezel.The film is occur a maximum security jail, created by Stallone's wrongly-jailed architect. Using his understanding from the building's inner workings, Stallone sets about attempting to escape, assisted and abetted by fellow inmate Schwarzenegger.Caviezel will have the prison warden the 2 will need to evade, so odds are he'll be practicing his sneering and snarling in readiness for that role. Meanwhile, producer Mark Canton has spoken in the cast, and what don't be surprised in the movie."For me personally, The Tomb is really a large deal," he states, " because I always aspired to have Sly and Arnold together. The Expendables is fantastic but [here] they are really mano a mano, as with Warmth, or perhaps a movie of this quality."Set up finished product works out to become of comparable quality to Michael Mann's masterpiece remains to appear, however for fans of old-school action, this reunion should obtain the adrenaline moving once again. The Tomb will open in 2013, having a full release date to become confirmed.

Thursday, February 16, 2012

New image of Jaden Smith in After Earth

A glut of on-set images have recently emerged from the Costa Rican shoot of M Night Shyamalan's After Earth, but up until now, they've mainly featured Will Smith and son Jaden lounging about in their civvies.However, a new image has now been released featuring Jaden Smith in his full costume, and it's starting to give us some idea of the kind of visual aesthetic we can expect from the film.Set some thousand years in the future, After Earth tells the story of a young boy and his estranged father attempting to navigate a desolate and dangerous Earth when their ship crashes and maroons them.That's about as much as we know plot-wise, but this new image reveals that our heroes will be sporting some sort of second-skin, presumably designed to help them survive this newly inhospitable Earth.Co-starring Zoe Kravitz, Sophie Okonedo, and Isabelle Fuhrman, After Earth is slated to open in the UK on 7 June 2013. Will this be the film that kick-starts Shyamalan's career? Put it this way, it can't be any worse than The Last Airbender...

Monday, February 13, 2012

Michael Bay to direct 'Transfomers 4'

Bay Paramount's signed director Michael Bay to some two-picture deal for "Discomfort and Gain" and "Tranformers 4."Studio, which introduced the pact Monday evening, stated Bay will commence shooting this spring on "Discomfort and Gain," then follow using the next installment within the "Transformers" franchise, to become launched within the summer time of 2014.With different true story, "Discomfort and Gain" follows several bodybuilders who involved in an offer of kidnapping, extortion and murder in Florida. Mark Wahlberg, lengthy mounted on topline, is going to be became a member of by Dwayne "The Rock" Manley.Producers include Bay, Jesse P Line and Ian Bryce.Componen gave no particulars regarding the plot of "Transformers 4," in line with the Hasbro toyline. The 3rd installment, "Transformers: Dark from the Moon," required in $1.12 billion.Producers are Lorenzo di Bonaventura, Don Murphy, Tom DeSanto and Ian Bryce and executive producers are Steven Spielberg, Bay, John Goldner and Mark Vahradian. Vital Pictures will release the film on June 29th, 2014."Michael continues to be focusing on 'Paid and Gain' for several years but has with patience anxiously waited for that perfect casting to trigger a start," stated Adam Goodman, Leader of Paramount's Film Group. "Clearly his persistence has compensated off once we could not become more looking forward to this combo." Contact Dork McNary at dork.mcnary@variety.com

Friday, February 10, 2012

Naomi W Cast to see Princess Diana in Silver Screen Biopic

Naomi Wattshas signed to see British icon Princess Dianain Oliver Hirschbiegel's silver screen portrait "Caught Flying."The film continues to be suggested to customers in Berlin by producers Ecosse Films, the U.K. production and finance banner behind numerous movies including "Charlotte now now Gray," "Becoming Jane"and "Brideshead Revisited."Tim Haslam, the prior Hanway Films leader, is handling worldwide sales under his upstart company Embankment Films.Hirschbiegel directs W using the script byStephen Jeffreys, with production set to begin inside the U.K. later this year.Billed just like a compelling portrait of Diana, Princess of Wales through the final couple of years of her existence, the script charts her search for personal happiness as she converted to a significant worldwide campaigner and humanitarian.W, who'll next be seen starring in "The Impossible"opposite Ewan McGregor, known to her casting as "an recognition to be capable of play this legendary role - Princess Diana was loved around the world, which i anticipate rising for the challenge of playing her on-screen.InchHirschbiegel mentioned W has enough in their acting armoury to embody "the warmth, humanity and empathy of those an international icon as Princess Diana." The Hollywood Reporter

Thursday, February 9, 2012

Arnold Schwarzenegger And Sylvester Stallone Are Siamese Warriors (Or Something)!

In a move three decades in the making, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone finally followed through on the promise of their intersecting action-movie careers and had their bodies surgically fused together for their upcoming 3-D sequel, "Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot a Siamese Warrior." At least that's what we hoped was going on in the above photo. That, or confirmation that while Arnie and Sly's cyborg doppelgangers have been out making movies and governing California for years, the two men have in fact been holed up in side-by-side hospital beds, recounting the glory of a time when a "Batman" movie villain could actually utter the line, "Ice to see you!" But: no. None of this is true. Instead what we're seeing is two sexagenarians having the time of their lives while getting their creaky bodies fixed up. "After all the action, stunts & physical abuse shooting 'The Expendables 2' and 'The Last Stand,' it was time for a little tune up on my shoulder," Schwarzenegger wrote in a post on his WhoSay page. "Look who was coincidentally waiting in line behind me for his shoulder surgery. Now we're ready for another round of great times and action when we shoot 'The Tomb.'" The surgeons better bring their A games, because these two despite their arthritic limbs and the fact that they really are far too rich to still be doing their own stunts don't seem to be backing away from any sort of challenge. Just peep Arnie's forehead at the end of what we assume was a fairly typical day on the "Expendables 2" set. "Got a little banged up on set today," he wrote on Twitter as the proud owner of a fresh scar. "Thanks to the medical staff who got me back in action an hour later!" Yeah, so as excited as we are about their upcoming collaborations, we're also a little worried about these two gentlemen. When we look at the hospital photo, we're wondering why 64-year-old Schwarzenegger looks oddly like a newborn fetus. We're wondering how long Sly's pain meds have been dripping into his veins, 'cause that dude is looking happier than Newt Gingrich at an all-you-can-eat strip club. We're wondering if Arnold is saying to his buddy, "One, I'm so high right now. And two, we have the best f---king lives ever, bro!" Tell us what you think of the photo in the comments and on Twitter!

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Ratings: Smash Opens Strong, The Voice Doesn't Falter

Smash Smash lived up to its title, winning the final hour of Monday's prime time, and fresh off The Voice's Season 2 debut after the Super Bowl, it posted formidable numbers, making for a huge night for NBC. Read our recap of The Voice Smash pulled in an audience three-and-a-half times bigger than its time slot predecessor, Rock Center with Brian Williams. (It's good news for NBC, which has been particularly snake-bitten in that slot, quickly cancelling The Playboy Club after its premiere.) Nielsen overnight data indicates that The Voice grew its rating in the coveted 18-to-49 demo during each half-hour that it aired. Decoding Mount McPhee: Is it a Smash spoiler? NBC's solid showing throughout Monday took a toll on almost all the competition. Fox's two shows, House and Alcatraz, were each down nearly 20 percent, while CBS' sitcoms sustained their viewership numbers, but suffered decreases in the demo. Against Smash, Castle and Hawaii Five-0 fell 13 percent and 9 percent, respectively. ABC's The Bachelor, however, remained remarkably constant. Check out the rest of the day's news on TVGuide.com 8 p.m.CBS: How I Met Your Mother 9.99 million viewers (4.0 demo rating); 2 Broke Girls 11.42 million (4.3)ABC: The Bachelor 8.24 million (2.6) {8-10 p.m.}Fox: House 7.16 million (2.4)NBC: The Voice {8-10 p.m.} 17.69 million (6.6)CW: Gossip Girl 1.28 million (0.6) 9 p.m.CBS: Two and a Half Men 12.90 million viewers (4.2 demo rating); Mike & Molly 11.02 million (2.3) {9:30 p.m.}Fox: Alcatraz 6.78 million (2.2)CW: Hart of Dixie 1.50 million (0.6) 10 p.m.CBS: Hawaii Five-0 9.80 million viewers (2.7 demo rating)ABC: Castle 8.72 million (2.0)NBC: Smash 11.50 million (3.8)

Friday, January 27, 2012

Kobalt Music taps Sanders as prexy

Richard Sanders remains named prexy of Kobalt Group, the independent music author introduced Friday. Inside the lately created position, Sanders is dependent in NY and therefore are accountable to Kobalt founder-Boss Willard Ahdritz. Rapid-growing indie author recently acquired digital distributor Artists Without any Label, and launched new divisions in neighboring rights and artist and label services. A 3-decade industry vet, Sanders was most recently chairman from the new the new sony Music Intl. additionally to leader of worldwide marketing. Contact the number newsroom at news@variety.com

Friday, January 20, 2012

Netflix searching for new CMO

Netflix is searching outside the company for a new chief marketing officer, the streaming service announced Friday.Leslie Kilgore, who held the position for the past 12 years, is being elevated to the Netflix board as a non-executive director. Jessie Becker, currently VP of marketing, will step in as interim CMO."Leslie has been instrumental in our long-term success and our recent return to solid growth," said Netflix CEO Reed Hastings. "We are delighted she is joining our board of directors and will continue to be a key part of Netflix."The search for a replacement for Kilgore comes as Netflix shakes off the most turbulent period in the company's history. Disastrous decisions involving its pricing and DVD business left many on Wall Street with the impression the company was tone deaf to the marketplace--a problem bringing in fresh blood to a consumer-facing executive position could help rectify.Before joining Netflix, both Kilgore and Becker are veterans of Amazon; Becker has been with the compny almost as long as Kilgore.In addition, Netflix made a change on the corporate communications side, elevating Jonathan Friedland from senior VP to chief communications officer. Friedland joined Netflix nearly a year ago from Disney. Both Becker and Friedland report to Hastings. Netflix will announce its fourth-quarter earnings on Jan. 25. Contact Andrew Wallenstein at andrew.wallenstein@variety.com

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Swinton, Bell in talks for 'Snow Piercer'

SwintonBellTilda Swinton and Jamie Bell have been in foretells join Chris Evans within the indie drama "Snow Piercer."Bong Joon-ho is helming from the script he composed with Park Chan-wook creating.Occur a global covered in ice and snow, the storyline follows a train filled with vacationers who find it difficult to co-exist.Park is creating through Moho Films. Production is anticipated to begin in March, though no distributor is yet in position.The pic marks Bong's domestic directorial debut and other alike to fit, who also just wrapped production on his first U.S. film, the Korean helmer is drawing notable thesps due to his history overseas.Bell was most lately observed in "The Adventures of Tintin" and is visible next in Summit's "Guy on the Ledge." Swinton is visible next in Wes Anderson's "Moonrise Kingdom." On Tuesday, she snagged a BAFTA nom on her operate in "We have to Discuss Kevin." Bell is repped by WME and Vanessa Pereira at Artists Independent Management. Swinton is repped by WME and London agent Christian Hodell. Contact Justin Kroll at justin.kroll@variety.com

Sunday, January 8, 2012

Report: Beyonc and Jay-Z Welcome a Daughter

Beyonce and Jay-Z The most recent princess of stylish-hop has turned up. Beyoncé and Jay-Z welcomed a daughter late Saturday in NY, E! Online reviews. The 30-year-old singer and 42-year-old rapper have apparently named the newborn Blue Ivy Carter. The couple's famous pals were already tweeting their champion late Saturday and early Sunday. Beyoncé pregnancy: Is she ready to give birth? "Welcome all over the world princess Carter! Love Aunty Rih," Beyonce tweeted late Saturday. "Welcome all over the world Blue! We love to you already," Gwyneth Paltrow written early Sunday. Blue Ivy Carter's arrival comes each week after several media shops reported the previous Destiny's Child lead singer had already given birth. Perry wins top recognition at VMAs Beyoncé announces pregnancy Initially due to give birth in February, Beyoncé checked into Lennox Hill Hospital on Friday beneath the alias "Ingrid Jackson," in line with the NY Daily News. The happy couple leased an entire floor in the hospital - apparently for the tune of $1.3 million - and video cameras were recorded to make certain the couple's privacy. Beyoncé introduced having a baby in the finish of August within the MTV Video Music Honours, when she revealed her growing belly within a performance. She and Jay-Z, who've labored with on hit singles for instance "03 Bonnie & Clyde" and "Crazy In Love With One Another,Inch married in April 2008 after dating for approximately six years. This really is really the very first child for.