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Phil Harris, Captain on 'Deadliest Catch,' Dies After Stroke
7 hours ago
By the Los Angeles Times
Phil Harris, captain of the Cornelia Marie on the Discovery Channel show "Deadliest Catch," has died at age 53 after suffering a stroke Jan. 30. Harris, who was based out of Seattle, was stricken during an offload of crab. He was found unconscious in a stateroom, was airlifted to Anchorage for 12 hours of surgery, then placed in a medically induced coma. Read more at the Los Angeles Times. »
- Josh Dickey
Liberty's Malone Ready to Break With Overture Films
9 hours ago
Exclusive
The future of independent distributor Overture Films hangs in the balance as corporate parent Liberty Media led by billionaire John Malone seeks to rid itself of the unit, according to individuals knowledgeable about the company.
The three-year-old film company, led by CEO Chris McGurk (pictured, at right) and COO Danny Rosett (left), has frozen all development, and this week Liberty hired an investment bank to explore options for finding a potential »
- Sharon Waxman
Leno's Sign-Off: Five Final Zingers
12 hours ago
By Josef Adalian
Jay Leno's final primetime monologue jokes below; more on the show later.
Zinger: "Guys on Viagra have had erections that lasted longer" than "The Jay Leno."
(In caps, because, quite frankly, that's how NBC sent 'em to us. Deal.)
Where Were You The Last Five Months? That’S What I Want To Know.
This Is Our Last "Jay Leno Show" Kev. The Show Was Supposed To Last Two Years. But My Sentence Was Reduced To Five Months For Good Behavior.
We Were On The Air Five Months. It Seems Like Just Yesterday I Was Telling NBC, “ »
- Adalian
H-2-Whoa! Coke's Out, Vitaminwater is in at 'Idol' (For Now)
12 hours ago
By Josef Adalian
Huge changes on "American Idol": Coke's out! Vitaminwater Zero is in!
Well, not quite. Eagle-eyed "Idol" watchers on the east coast (or those who have access to east coast feeds) are already Tweeting that the signature Coke glasses normally seen on the judges' tables have been replaced. In their stead: Refreshing bottles of Vitaminwater Zero, the new naturally sweetened agua product.
No, Coke and Idol aren't splitsville. Indeed, Coca-Cola actually owns Vitaminwater -- so it's just a corporate sibling taking over the product placement spotlight.
What »
- Adalian
Is Time on Sandy's Side, or Meryl's?
12 hours ago
By Steve Pond
One month, more or less.
From the announcement of Oscar nominees to the unveiling of the winners, 33 days. From the mailing of Oscar ballots on Wednesday to the due date for their return, 20 days.
It’s a long time for races to remain static, a long time for favorites to sustain the momentum they have now.
But in a year in which so many races already seem to have prohibitive favorites – not Best Picture, but many others, including the four acting races – I just have to wonder if, eventually, there will be some movement.
<img alt="Meryl Streep an »
- Steve Pond
Sex Change: The Rise of the Female-Driven Blockbuster
12 hours ago
Thirteen years before “Dear John” opened to $32.6 million, the New York Times concluded that women had suddenly become a powerful force at the box office. The male studio executives responded as only male studio executives knew how.
“The aim is to do action films that are more women-friendly, that is, having strong women in top roles and taking out a lot of the violence,” chimed then-Fox chairman Bill Mechanic, specifically noting the inclusion of Sandra Bullock in the “Speed” franchise.
While women were merely being invited onto Bulloc »
- Daniel Frankel
Roberts, Hanks to Reteam for 'Larry Crowne'
13 hours ago
By Lisa Horowitz
Universal Pictures has acquired domestic distribution rights to the comedy "Larry Crowne," which reteams "Charlie Wilson's War" co-stars Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts.
Hanks also will direct the movie, about a man reinventing his life, and co-wrote the script with Nia Vardalos. Her "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" was produced by Hanks' and Gary Goetzman's Playtone.
Pla »
- Lisa Horowitz
NBC Lines Up Stars for 'Parenthood' Push
13 hours ago
By Josef Adalian
NBC is trying to do good with a new promotional effort for upcoming drama "Parenthood."
The network has launched a website that lets viewers posts photos, texts and videos than answer the question, "Parenthood is...." For every submission, NBC plans to give $20 to the Boys & Girls Clubs of America (though the final sum could be capped if this thing goes way viral).
To help kick things off, NBC has recruited "Parenthood" executive producer Ron Howard to offer his take on the question, along with the stars of numerous NBC Universal series. Alrea »
- Adalian
Goodbye, Hollywood Sign ... Until Monday
13 hours ago
By Brent Lang
If the rain that blanketed Los Angeles for much of Tuesday ever stops, the iconic Hollywood sign stands to get a lot less visible.
The Trust for Public Land, a land conservation group, is scheduled to mask the Tinseltown symbol on Wednesday with a banner reading "Save the Peak" -- weather permitting.
It's part of an effort to raise awareness for its campaign to buy up 138 acres of land that surrounds the sign's location on Cahuenga Peak.
The »
- Brent Lang
Phase 4 Films Acquires 'Finding Bliss'
13 hours ago
By Wrap Staff
Phase 4 Films has acquired the film "Finding Bliss" for North American distribution. Phase 4 president-ceo Berry Meyerowitz announced the pickup Tuesday.
Julie Davis wrote and directed "Finding Bliss," which is based loosely on events in her life. A theatrical release is planned for this spring.
Starring Leelee Sobieski, Denise Richards, Jamie Kennedy, Kristen Johnston and Matt Davis, "Bliss" is a romantic comedy set in the adult film industry. Sobieski plays an aspiring filmmaker who gets a call from the head of porn company Grind Productions (Jo »
- Lisa Horowitz
Howard Stern Headed to 'Idol'? Um, No
13 hours ago
By Josef Adalian
"American Idol" historian Richard Rushfield is calling b.s. on the seemingly unkillable rumor that Howard Stern is being considered (or is "in talks," as some insist) to replace Simon Cowell.
Writing for the Daily Beast, Rushfield -- who's deeply embedded in multiple "Idol" camps -- flatly states what's been pretty obvious, and yet still widely speculated upon: "Howard Stern will not be replacing Simon Cowell."
"Two Idol insiders told The Daily Beast that no offer has been made to Stern, and that in fact, with the new season just be »
- Adalian
Palin Does It Her Way -- One Palm at a Time
14 hours ago
By Naomi Serviss
No offense to hillbillies. It’s satire, get it? Satire, according to Sara. Palin’s definition when dismissing Rush Limbaugh’s love-affair with the word “retarded.”
But that was last week. This week is all about subterfuge. Sleight of hand, like a magician.
Too bad Palin hadn’t taken any Ricky Jay classes. Let’s all agree that she hasn’t quite mastered the art of artful distraction. Doesn’t help when you study your hand like a book when formulating a thought bubble -- you have to steal furtive, quick peeks. Take it from an »
- Lew Harris
Why the Swimsuit Issue Matters
14 hours ago
By Dylan Stableford
Sports Illustrated unveiled the cover of its perennially-hyped Swimsuit Issue on CBS’ “Late Show” Monday, with Brooklyn Decker -- wife of tennis player Andy Roddick -- getting the 2010 honor.
For Si, the Swimsuit issue is a big deal, and not just because of the exhausting marketing of the franchise that surrounds it. (The magazine figures to get an even bigger bump this year from Twitter, considering the large amount of followers Roddi »
- Dylan Stableford
Summit Acquires Rogen-McAvoy Comedy
15 hours ago
By Brent Lang
Summit Entertainment has acquired North American distribution rights to an untitled comedy starring Seth Rogen and James McAvoy from Mandate Pictures, Summit announced on Tuesday. Formerly called "I'm With Cancer," the movie also stars Oscar nominee Anna Kendrick and Bryce Dallas Howard.
Jonathan Levine ("The Wackness") will direct a script penned by Will Reiser.
No word on the plot, although it's supposed to be a »
- Brent Lang
Are Last-Minute Votes Wasted?
15 hours ago
By Steve Pond
(Have an Oscars question for Steve Pond? Submit it here.)
Just Curious asks:
Is it true that voters who wait until last minute are throwing away their vote due to the new voting weights and rules?
Absolutely not. The PricewaterhouseCoopers staff does not count a single vote until the deadline has passed and all the ballots are in. It makes no difference whatsoever when they receive your ballot -- as long as PwC has it by 5 p.m. on Tuesday, March 2, your vote counts.
Besides, the new preferential system for counting final Best P »
- Steve Pond
Cruise Takes on 4th 'Mission: Impossible'
15 hours ago
By Lisa Horowitz
Paramount Pictures confirmed it has signed Tom Cruise to reprise his starring role as Ethan Hunt in "Mission: Impossible 4."
Cruise also will produce along with J.J. Abrams and Abrams' Bad Robot Productions.
The film will be released Memorial Day weekend of 2011. The "Mission: Impossible" films have grossed more than $1.4 billion globally.
“Tom and J.J. are great talents and we are excited to be working with them to relaunch this legendary franchise,” Paramount Pictures chairman-ceo Brad Grey said in a statement Tuesda »
- Lisa Horowitz
Ratings: Dave's Super Bowl/Si Bounce
16 hours ago
By Josef Adalian
CBS's Dave-Jay-Oprah promo spot helped give David Letterman a Super boost in the ratings Monday.
Oh, and the revelation of the new Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue cover model didn't hurt either.
Monday's "Late Show" averaged a 1.5 rating/6 share in the adults 18-49 demographic, according to fast national Nielsen numbers. That's up 50 percent from Dave's usual demo number, and the best for "Late Show" since President Obama visited last September.
Letterman clearly got a boost from both the Jay spot and the buzz surrounding it. According to Nielsen, »
- Adalian
Lionsgate Posts Q3 Losses, but Revenues Improve
16 hours ago
By Wrap Staff
The bottom line improved in the third quarter for Lionsgate, but it's still losing money.
Revenue increased 15 percent in the fiscal quarter that ended Dec. 31, from $324 million in the previous year to $371.8 million. Losses narrowed, too, to $65.3 million from $97.8 million in the third quarter of 2009.
Much of the improvement was attributed to a sharp rise in TV production revenue, which spiked 32 percent in the third quarter to $91.5 million, driven by orders for AMC's "Mad Men," Starz's "Crash," Showtime's "Nurse Jackie" and Spike TV's & »
- Josh Dickey
Disney's Networks, Studio Help Boost Operating Income 9%
17 hours ago
By Dylan Stableford
The Walt Disney Company’s media networks and film studio helped offset and flat parks and resorts performance to boost its earnings during the fiscal first quarter, the company announced on Tuesday
Overall, the company’s operating income grew 9 percent during the quarter, to about $1.575 billion.
Operating outcome at Walt Disney Pictures grew 30 percent to $243 million, while operating income at its media networks – including the Disney Channels and Espn -- increased 11 percent.
Advertising revenue was up mid-single digits at Espn, the company said.</p »
- Dylan Stableford
Lil Wayne's Sentencing Postponed for Dental Work
17 hours ago
By the Associated Press
Lil Wayne has gotten a temporary reprieve from jail — for dental surgery.
The Grammy Award-winning rapper's sentencing in a New York City gun case was postponed Tuesday, because he needs to finish a string of recent surgeries before he goes to jail. He is poised to spend as much as a year in jail under a plea deal, though good behavior could shave that to as little as eight months. »
- Josh Dickey
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