Daily Variety articles from December 2005

Daily Variety archives from December 2005

Naughty vidgames in pols' line of fire.
December 1, 2005... Two senators are gunning for vidgames. After months of controversy stemming from a downloadable patch that opened an explicit sex scene in "Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas," Sens. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) and Joe Lieberman (D-Conn.) Wednesday...

Lion king's new world view.(Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc. chairman Harry Sloan predicts)
December 1, 2005... The European media biz is heading for an "amazing" period of mergers and acquisitions over the next few years, MGM chairman-chief exec Harry Sloan predicted Wednesday. Addressing the European Media Leaders Summit in London, Sloan said he...

Tube dominos fall: rivals sked around 'Idol'.('American Idol')
December 1, 2005... Now that Fox has decided what it's doing with "American Idol," the other nets are scrambling to finalize their midseason plans. Fox on Tuesday ended weeks of speculation about its scheduling strategy for "Idol" by deciding to do... pretty...

H'w'd dogged by blog.(hollywood, Gerard Jones creates the blog)
December 1, 2005... A new Web site is making it easy to reach everyone who's anyone in Hollywood--maybe too easy. An Oregon blogger named Gerard Jones has compiled a list of thousands of agents, producers and execs on a Web site called--what...

Weir steering 'Shantaram'.(Peter Weir to direct movie for Warner Bros.)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... Peter Weir will direct "Shantaram," the Warner Bros. adaptation of the Gregory David Roberts novel that Johnny Depp will star in. Weir will develop the script with Eric Roth. WB hopes to begin production in late 2006. Pic is being...

A sheltered 'Youth': Dimension buys comedy from Shangri-La.(Dimension Films acquires rights to 'Youth in Revolt' from Shangri-La Entertainment )(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... Dimension Films has acquired from Steve Bing's Shangri-La Entertainment the cutting-edge teen comedy "Youth in Revolt." Deal comes with rights to the C.D. Payne novel as well as a script by Gustin Nash. Dimension topper Bob Weinstein plans...

'Capote,' 'Murderball' gather Gotham kudos.(Gotham Awards)
December 1, 2005... Sony Pictures Classics and helmer Bennett Miller's "Capote" took the top honor as best pic at the Independent Feature Project's 15th annual Gotham Awards on Wednesday night. Miller walked away with the breakthrough director award. ...

It's Par for the course for Aversano.(Paramount signs Scott Aversano)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... Continuing its major foray into new producer pacts, Paramount has signed Scott Rudin Prods. prexy Scott Aversano to a first-look deal. Paramount president Gail Berman announced the deal for Aversano, who worked for seven years with Rudin,...

Miramax taps Jones sr. VP.(Kristin Jones appointed as vice president)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... Under new chief Daniel Battsek, Miramax has begun to fill out its exec ranks, naming Kristin Jones as senior veep of production, international development and acquisitions at the Disney specialty arm. Jones worked with Battsek for the past...

Col's System doubles down.(System of a Down)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... Columbia recording act System of a Down has become the first band to chart two No. 1 debuts in a single calendar year in the SoundScan era. "Hypnotize," the latest disc from the L.A. quartet, sold 320,000 copies in the week ended Sunday,...

Selected upcoming releases.(Brief Article)(Illustration)
December 1, 2005... Selected upcoming releases Artist Title Label Release date P.O.D. Testify Atlantic Jan. 24 Livingston There You Coconut Jan. 24 Taylor Are Again...

Tribute back on track.(August Wilson)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... The season of August Wilson plays at Off Broadway's Signature Theater is back on, a month after Wilson's estate yanked the skedded tribute in the wake of the playwright's Oct. 2 death. New plan is to present three plays from Wilson's...

Taraji P. Henson.(Players)(to act in 'Smokin' Aces' for )(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... Taraji P. Henson ("Hustle & Flow") has joined the cast of Universal's "Smokin' Aces," written and to be directed by Joe Carnahan. Jeremy Piven, Ryan Reynolds, Ben Affleck and Alicia Keys will star in the film about a Las Vegas...

Wilson Jermaine Heredia and Tracie Thoms have joined "Rent" co-star Rosario Dawson in the psychological thriller "Descent.".(Players)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... Wilson Jermaine Heredia and Tracie Thoms have joined "Rent" co-star Rosario Dawson in the psychological thriller "Descents," now lensing in Gotham. Pic is being financed by City Lights Media, Mega Films and Dawson's Trybe Films production...

Super Vision.(Theater Review)
December 1, 2005... (BAM Harvey Theater; 874 seats; $55 top) A Brooklyn Academy of Music presentation of a play in one act, conceived and created by the Builders Assn. and Dbox; initial story development by Jed Weintrob and Andrew Osborne, text by Constance de...

New home on right: 'Journal' is heading from PBS to Fox News.('Journal Editorial Report')(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... The "Journal Editorial Report," a show at the center of a scandal that led to the ouster of Corp. for Public Broadcasting chair Kenneth Tomlinson, is landing at Fox News Channel. The show, produced by the Wall Street Journal, aired for two...

'Loser' carries some weight for NBC.('The Biggest Loser', National Broadcasting Company Inc.)
December 1, 2005... It has hardly been a November to remember for NBC, but for one night anyway, it was the big winner--thanks to "The Biggest Loser." The final Tuesday of the sweep saw CBS drama "NCIS" and Fox drama "House" deliver more nifty Nielsens, but...

Zenkel will captain NBC Olympics team.(promotion of Gary Zenkel)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... NBC Sports has created the job of president of NBC Olympics and promoted Gary Zenkel to fill it. Calling him "our great strategic thinker," Dick Ebersol, chairman of NBC Universal Sports and Olympics, praised Zenkel for taking the lead in...

Palm debuts a DVD label.(Palm Pictures launches Arthouse Films)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... Palm Pictures has launched DVD label Arthouse Films. Label will target consumers via Palm Pictures' retail distribution network (Universal Music and Video Distribution) and through sales at museums, art galleries and universities, as well...

From the Army Archerd archive: Nov. 30, 1970.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... It's the end--and the beginning--for Marlo Thomas, who wound the five years of"That Girl" with a women's lib-themed seg and now plotting a bigscreen feature featuring femmes freedom. She's also got that "Sad Nun at Synanon" in the works. One...

Showbiz stocks: Wednesday, November 30, 2005.(Illustration)
December 1, 2005... Showbiz Stocks Wednesday, November 30, 2005 YTD Name Tkr PE Last Chg % Chg AccessIT AIX ... 8.13 +.10 +109.0 AcmeCm ACME ... 4.06 ...

Sunday in the Park with George.(Theater Review)
December 1, 2005... (Menier Chocolate Factory, London; 169 seats; 22.50 [pounds sterling] ($39) top) A Menier Chocolate Factory presentation of a musical in two acts with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, book by James Lapine. Directed by Sam Buntrock....

The Happy Elf.(by John Rice)(Television Program Review)
December 1, 2005... (Special, NBC, Fri. Dec. 2, 8p.m.) Produced by IDT Entertainment in association with HC Prods. Executive producers, Harry Connick Jr., Ann Marie Wilkins, Scott Landis, Steve Brown, Morris Berger, John W. Hyde; supervising producers, Karen...

TV & cable production chart.
December 1, 2005... PRODUCTION CHART KEY Abbreviations: SUPR EXP-Supervising executive producer(s); EXP-Executive producer(s); CO-EXP-Co-executive producer(s); SUPR PROD-Supervising producer(s); PROD-Producer(s); CO-PROD-Coproducer(s); DIR-Director(s);...

Santa Clarita maps bigscreen 'Fun'.(Location News)('Fun With Dick and Jane')
December 1, 2005... Santa Clarita, Calif., looms large on the bigscreen. Columbia Pictures found the location ideal for many of its scenes during the remake of the 1977 feature pic "Fun With Dick and Jane." Santa Clarita provided locations not found in L.A....

Donovan.(Concert Review)
December 1, 2005... (Wilshire Ebell Theater, Los Angeles; 1,200 capacity; $43 top) Presented by Goldenvoice. Band: Donovan, Lisa Mezzacappa, Eric Garland, Michael Abraham, Mitch Marcus, the Section string trio. Reviewed Nov. 29, 2005. Could the prospect...

Korn.(Concert Review)
December 1, 2005... (Hammerstein Ballroom; 3,300 capacity; $37.50) Presented by Ron Delsener Prods. Band: Jonathan Davis, James "'Munky" Shaffer, Reginald "Fieldy" Arvizu, David Silveria. Reviewed Nov. 29, 2005. Having recently been in the news more for...

Mass. OKs pic perks.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... It's taken years of discussion and months slogging through the system, but Massachusetts finally has tax incentives for film and TV producers. Just before Thanksgiving, Gov. Mitt Romney signed into law a tax package intended to encourage...

'Fire' charms China: 'Harry' rakes in $8.21 mil.(World News)('Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire')(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... The boy wizard has cast his spell on Chinese auds. "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" has taken in $8.21 million at the box office in just 10 days and looks to be the biggest imported film in China this year. "Without question, the box...

'Gardener' rakes 'em in at British Indie Awards.(World News)('The Constant Gardener' wins accolades in eighth British Independent Film Awards)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... Fernando Meirelles' "The Constant Gardener" was the big winner at the eighth British Independent Film Awards, handed out Wednesday at the Hammersmith Palais. The tense political thriller scooped the film prize, with stars Ralph Fiennes and...

Indonesia falling in 'Love' with pic.(World News)('What's the Meaning of Love?')(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... A love triangle about a young woman and two men called "What's the Meaning of Love?" and shot on location in Los Angeles is Indonesia's biggest grosser this year, having attracted 1.2 million moviegoers in its first 20 days of nationwide...

Gaul galvanizes plan for news net.(World News)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... After much delay, the creation of France's 24-hour news network has been finalized. Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin on Wednesday signed the convention with TF1 and France Televisions that creates the French Intl. Information Channel,...

Grundy TV loses lawsuit over thesp's firing.(World News)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... Grundy Television has been ordered to pay A$200,000 ($148,000) to "Neighbours" thesp Shane Connor after a judge ruled he was wrongly fired from the hit sudser in September 2003. Connor, who played Joe Scully in "Neighbours" from 1999-2003,...

Gallic 'Starsky' with a 'oui' bit of U.S. skein.(M6 and Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc. team up)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... Starsky and Hutch in a Peugeot? C'est possible, with Gallic private web M6 and the French arm of Sony Pictures expected to team up for a French remake of the 1975 TV series. Tentatively titled "Duva! and Madani," the Gallic version will be...

Big names bow at Sundance.(Sundance Film Festival)
December 1, 2005... Seventeen features will headline the Sundance Film Festival's newly streamlined Premieres section, which includes world bows of films by such directors as Terry Zwigoff, Michel Gondry and Nick Cassavetes alongside features by vets like Jonathan...

Icahn threatens TW suit.
December 1, 2005... Carl Icahn, the corporate raider who is taking on Time Warner, ratcheted up his rhetoric against the media conglom Wednesday, threatening to sue its directors if they make a deal for AOL that he finds unacceptable. Icahn, speaking at an...

Oater and out.(V)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... The long-awaited "gay cowboy movie" finally rode into town Tuesday, when Focus Features preemed "Brokeback Mountain" at the National, where most of the filmmakers seemed fairly relaxed about the ubiquitous phrase used to describe their film....

'The Kid' stays in the pic.('The Kid and I')(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... HOLLYWOOD -- Dodging would-be co-star--and next-door neighbor Eric Gores was not easy for actor-scribe Tom Arnold; hence the premiere of pic "The Kid & I" on Monday. In retrospect, Arnold joked about his initial qualms: "We gotta make this...

Matching wits with Woody.(Woody Allen)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... Woody Allen admits he doesn't like talking to actors on the set. 'Tin working with enormously gifted people, so I have nothing to add," he said Monday at the screening of his new psychodrama "Match Point" at Gotham's Lincoln Center. At the...

Change for the better.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... "Transamerica" has more in common with "The Lord of the Rings" than with "Boys Don't Cry," according to pic's writer-director Duncan Tucker. At the film's Gotham preem Tuesday at the IFC Center, Tucker explained. "This is not in any...

Opening 'Presents'.('Mrs. Henderson Presents')(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... WHAT: Monday's preem of"Mrs. Henderson Presents" WHO: Pic's Judi Dench, along with guests including Joan Collins, Kate Burton, Nora Ephron, Anna Deavere Smith and Kathleen Turner and pic's distrib Harvey Weinstein, who on the way out said,...

Playing against type.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... WHAT: Variety's Monday screening of "Syriana" WHO: Helmer-writer Stephen Gaghan WHERE: ArcLight in Hollywood CHAMELEON CLOONEY: When George Clooney said he wanted to play the part of CIA agent Bob Barnes, Gaghan didn't see him in...

"White Christmas" thesp Meredith Patterson puts in her requests with Santa.(V)
December 1, 2005... "White Christmas" thesp Meredith Patterson puts in her requests with Santa at the tuner's opening bash Monday in Hollywood.

Matthew Perry and Courteney Cox Arquette celebrate the bow of TBS series "Daisy Does America.".(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... Matthew Perry and Courteney Cox Arquette celebrate the bow of TBS series "Daisy Does America," which she produces with husband David Arquette, Tuesday in West Hollywood.

Gauls giving Gotham a go.(Bonne Pioche plans operations in New York )(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... Gallic production unit Bonne Pioche, creator of indic hit "March of the Penguins," is waddling its way to Gotham to set up a New York presence. Company--headed by Yves Darondeau, Christophe Lioud and Emmanuel Priou--has tapped former...

Jose Pablo Cantillo.(Players)(to act in Lions Gate Films and Lakeshore Entertainment's 'Crank')(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... Jose Pablo Cantillo ("After Sex") has joined th cast of Lions Gate Films and Lakeshore Entertainment's "Crank". Thriller from writer-directors Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor stars Jason Statham as a hitman who's been poisoned by...

Marc John Jeffries.(Players)(to act in 'Little Hercules in 3-D')(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... Marc John Jeffries ("Get Rich or Die Tryin") has been tapped for a role in "Little Hercules in 3-D," now in production. Robert Bris wrote and is directing the film about 13-year-old Hercules (Richard Sandrak), who runs away from...

Globes gropes with kudos glut: honors show's famed 'fun factor' seen as key to breaking out of the awards pack.(GOLDEN GLOBES PREVIEW)
December 1, 2005... No longer an industry joke, the Golden Globes suddenly finds itself facing an unexpected problem: It might have become too respectable. There's no longer any doubt the Hollywood Foreign Press Assn.'s annual kudos now stand as one of the...

Resetting the clock: kudocast pulls out of crowded Sunday sked for new Monday slot.(GOLDEN GLOBES PREVIEW)
December 1, 2005... Getting whooped by the women of Wisteria Lane might not be such a bad thing for the Golden Globes after all. Thanks to the power of "Desperate Housewives," the January 2005 edition of the kudocast snagged its smallest ratings since coming...

Packing them in: party planners deal with growing crowds, security.(GOLDEN GLOBES PREVIEW)
December 1, 2005... There are two parts to Golden Globes night. One part works; the other doesn't. The show itself has what outgoing Hollywood Foreign Press Assn. prexy Lorenzo Soria calls "a simple and successful formula... star after star after star presenting...

Same spot, same hosts, new company.(GOLDEN GLOBES PREVIEW)(Weinstein Co. to host after-party)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... If the Golden Globes still handed out a New Star of the Year kudo (famously presented in 1981 to Pia Zadora), this year's odds-on favorite would be the Weinstein Co. Harvey and Bob Weinstein's well-funded, post-Miramax shingle will have...

Songs and smiles: the Globes offer a whole new world of kudos competition for the year's top comedy and musical pictures.(GOLDEN GLOBES PREVIEW)
December 1, 2005... Casanova Studio: Disney Director: Lasse Hallstrom Cast: Heath Ledger, Sienna Miller, Jeremy irons Bow date: Dec. 25 Why it will be nominated: Pic has all the right ingredients--period piece, admired director, top-notch...

Thesp races open to a new mix of noms.(TV spotlight)
December 1, 2005... Predicting which stars will make the cut in the annual Golden Globes TV races is far from easy--and that's a good thing. Unlike the stuffy, cliquey Emmy crowd, Globe voters love to mix things up and invite new faces to the party. "They...

Discovery channelers: Globes voters hone rep for tapping hot new skeins.(TV spotligt)
December 1, 2005... Though there hasn't been a breakout show on the order of last year's ABC newbies "Desperate Housewives" or "Lost," that doesn't mean the Golden Globes won't be offering up fresh skeins for their big night. The Hollywood Foreign Press...

Global payoff: small shows get big boost from kudos attention.(TV spotlight)
December 1, 2005... Shiny gold statues look lovely on a mantel, but the real value is in the glow they bring to a winner's bottom line. The Golden Globes, coming in the middle of the TV season are in a unique position to give nommed shows a boost. "The...

More than kudos: org responds to disasters with $500,000 donation.(GOLDEN GLOBES PREVIEW)
December 1, 2005... When disaster struck in Southeast Asia and the Gulf Coast, the Hollywood Foreign Press Assn. expanded its charitable purview to lend a hand. Having donated more than $5.5 million in grants to film-related orgs and schools over the past 11...

Winners circle.(GOLDEN GLOBES PREVIEW)
December 1, 2005... 2005 FILM Picture--Drama: "The Aviator" Actor--Drama: Leonardo Dicaprio, "The Aviator" Actress--Drama: Hilary Swank, 'Million Dollar Baby" Picture--Musical or Comedy: "Sideways" Actor--Musical or Comedy: Jamie Foxx,...

Looking back.(GOLDEN GLOBES PREVIEW)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... I couldn't have been a bigger has-been." With that honest appraisal, Teri Hatcher, who won a 2005 statue fox' lead actress in a musical or comedy series, went down in Golden Globes history. She beat out her "Desperate Housewives" co-stars...

Honorary Globes.(GOLDEN GLOBES PREVIEW)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... Anthony Hopkins will join the ranks of Cecil B. DeMille Award winners this year. The actor has been nominated fox" six previous Golden Globe Awards as lead actor for "Nixon," "The Remains of the Day," "The Silence of the Lambs" and "Magic." He...

'Equalizer' in Weinsteins' equation.(Brief Article)
December 2, 2005... The Weinstein Co. said Wednesday that it has acquired the rights to develop and produce a feature pic based on '80s TV skein "The Equalizer." Created by Michael Sloan and Richard Lindheim, original "Equalizer" starred Brit thesp Edward...

Holiday B.O. in state of Flux: 'Aeon' ushers in busy season.
December 2, 2005... It's the lull before the storm. In the last weekend before a blockbuster-filled end of the year, Paramount's "Aeon Flux" is the only wide opener this weekend, hitting 2,608 playdates. Pic, which cancelled its review screenings, will mix it...

Foxx will reign in U's 'Kingdom'.(Brief Article)
December 2, 2005... Jamie Foxx will star in "The Kingdom" for Universal Pictures. Pic, which will be helmed by Peter Berg, produced by Michael Mann and penned by Matthew Michael Carnahan, is aiming for a May 2006 start date. Foxx will play the leader of...

Oscar's vintage guess of honor.(Brief Article)
December 2, 2005... For the first time the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences has selected two commemorative Oscar posters for the Academy Awards. And the stylized historic photos are sure to spawn a Hollywood guessing game. Joan Maloney's winning...

Nets find unique paths to victory.(Brief Article)
December 2, 2005... A steady CBS and a rising ABC were the big stories of the November sweep, tying for the month's young-adult demo crown and finishing well ahead of NBC and Fox. But the leaders took different paths to the winner's circle. The Alphabet...

The Color Purple.(Movie Review)
December 2, 2005... (Broadway Theater; 1,721 seats; $101.25 top) An Oprah Winfrey, Scott Sanders, Roy Furman, Quincy Jones, Creative Battery, Anna Fantaci & Cheryl Lachowicz, Independent Presenters Network, David Lowy, Stephanie P. McClelland, Gary Winnick,...

DGA to make Clint's day.
December 2, 2005... Clint Eastwood will receive the Directors Guild of America's life-time achievement award at the 58th annual DGA Awards Jan. 28 at the Century Plaza. He's the 31st recipient of the award, with previous winners including Mike Nichols, Martin...

Museum recognizes distaff pioneers.(Museum of Television and Radio)
December 2, 2005... THERE ARE A LOT of initiatives to honor women pioneers in various fields, but one of the most comprehensive in the TV and radio biz was officially unveiled Thursday in Gotham by the Museum of Television & Radio. Org is honoring 50 female...

Warner kicks heels: diskery stock spikes on higher '05 sales.
December 2, 2005... Madonna is helping Warner Music get into the groove. The company's stock price on Thursday spiked to its highest point since going public in May after it reported strong sales and robust digital growth in its fiscal fourth quarter ended...

Mills turns 'Golden' girl on tour.(LEGIT BITS)(Hayley Mills)(Brief Article)
December 2, 2005... "On Golden Pond" kicks off a 30-week national tour Sept. 5 in Fort Worth, Texas. Hayley Mills, known as a child actor for pics such as "Pollyana" and "The Parent Trap," plays a grandmother, opposite Richard Chamberlain as play's central...

WGA crowns Kasdan.(Writers Guild of America)(Lawrence Kasdan)(Brief Article)
December 2, 2005... The Writers Guild of America West has selected Lawrence Kasdan to receive this year's Screen Laurel Award. Kudos will be presented at the simultaneous WGA Awards ceremonies Feb. 4 at the Hollywood Palladium and Gotham's Waldorf-Astoria. ...

Viacom spokesman divides his duties.(Carl Folta appointed)(Brief Article)
December 2, 2005... Post-split, Viacom chief spokesman Carl Folta will have an unusual job as exec VP of the office of chairman--holding the same title at both companies and reporting directly to Sumner Redstone, not to new CEOs Tom Freston and Leslie Moonves. ...

New Yorker in 'Free Zone'.(New Yorker Films to distribute)(Brief Article)
December 2, 2005... Indie distributor New Yorker Films has picked up all domestic rights to Israeli filmmaker Amos Gitai's "Free Zone," starring Natalie Portman, from BAC Films Intl. Pic follows Portman as an American living in Jerusalem who meets two...

APA spreads out its tents.(Agency for the Performing Arts)(Brief Article)
December 2, 2005... On a growth spurt, the Agency for the Performing Arts has bought its own digs in Beverly Hills and also will open a satellite office in Gotham early next month. "We're stepping out and making a huge investment in our future. This is a...

Gersh Agency.(signs John Goodman )(Brief Article)
December 2, 2005... John Goodman has signed with the Gersh Agency for representation. Currently starring as Big Daddy in the Geffen Playhouse's production of "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof," Goodman next will be seen in writer-director Bob Meyer's "Drunkboat" and in...

ICM.(International Creative Management Inc. appoints Ashley Jensen)(Brief Article)
December 2, 2005... Ashley Jensen has inked with ICM. Jensen, who stars in HBO's "Extras," next will be seen in Michael Winterbottom's "Tristram Shandy: A Cock and Bull Story." She continues to be repped in the U.K. by Hamilton Hodell Management.

APA.
December 2, 2005... The "Scary Movie 3" thesp next will be seen in "Scary Movie 4," and recently guested on "Everwood," "Cuts" and "Summerland." Previously repped at UTA, he continues to be managed by Nine Yards Entertainment.

William Morris Agency.(Julie Ann Emery signed)(Brief Article)
December 2, 2005... Julie Ann Emery has inked with the William Morris Agency. Emery just wrapped a six-episode arc on ABC's "Commander in Chief" and next will be seen with Mary Tyler Moore in CBS tetepic "Snow Wonder." She continues to be managed by Principal...

Showbiz software firms form alliance.(Digital Art Exchange Inc. partners FilmTrack)(Brief Article)
December 2, 2005... Entertainment industry software companies DAX and FilmTrack have struck an alliance aimed at simplifying back-office tasks for film and TV. The alliance aims to simplify workflow and make high-powered tools available to smaller companies....

Giving 'Earl' a whirl: NBC bets big, moves laffer to Thurs.(National Broadcasting Company Inc.)
December 2, 2005... NBC is betting it all on a lottery ticket called "My Name Is Earl." Peacock entertainment prexy Kevin Reilly's decision to move TV's top-rated laffer to 9 p.m. Thursdays from its current Tuesday perch easily qualifies as the boldest...

IATSE contract talks on tap.(International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees and Moving Picture Machine Operators of the United States and Canada, Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers)(Brief Article)
December 2, 2005... With little fanfare, the Intl. Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees will launch negotiations with studios and networks next week for a new three-year contract covering about 25,000 West Coast, below-the-line employees and 19 West Coast...

U picks prod'n sr. veep.(Universal Studios Inc. appoints Erica Steinberg)(Brief Article)
December 2, 2005... Erica Steinberg has joined Universal Pictures as senior VP of production. Along with recently appointed production prexy Jon Gordon, Steinberg had spent the bulk of her career at Miramax. She will report to both of U's prexies, Donna...

Showbiz stocks: Thursday, December 1, 2005.(Illustration)
December 2, 2005... Showbiz Stocks Thursday, December 1, 2005 YTD Name Tkr PE Last Chg %Chg AccessIT AIX ... 8.18 +.05 +110.3 AcmeCm ACME ... 3.95 ...

Abigail's Party.(Theater Review)
December 2, 2005... (Acorn Theater; 199 seats; $51.25 top) A New Group presentation of a play in two acts by Mike Leigh. Directed by Scott Elliott. Set, Derek McLane; costumes, Eric Becker; lighting, Jason Lyons; sound, Ken Travis; production stage manager,...

First Descent: The Story of the Snowboarding Revolution.(Movie Review)
December 2, 2005... (Docu) A Universal release and presentation in association with MD Films of a Transition production in association with Embassy Row/Live Planet/Davie-Brown Entertainment. Produced by Kevin Harrison, Kemp Curley. Executive producers, Dave...