Daily Variety articles from December 2006

Daily Variety archives from December 2006

From popcorn to plaudits: how do marketers switch from selling tasty tentpoles to fiber-rich fall films?(V PLUS: GOLDEN GLOBES PREVIEW)
December 1, 2006... For movie marketers, fall is the most transitional of seasons. Consumed in summertime by "quadrants," focus groups and quick-hitting promotional bombardment in service of wide openings of light and tasty fare, their mindsets change abruptly in...

Globes' youth brigade turns artsy: crix groups seen as becoming a major influence on HFPA's younger voters.(V PLUS: GOLDEN GLOBES PREVIEW)(Hollywood Foreign Press Association)
December 1, 2006... The influence of the Hollywood Foreign Press Assn. has rarely been questioned, but some wonder if its hardearned credibility under current president Philip Berk has been gained at the expense of the organization's cherished insouciance. ...

Kudocast endures sleepy time down South: NBC awards presentation draws big and upscale on the coasts, but soft red-state numbers are a drag.(V PLUS: GOLDEN GLOBES PREVIEW)
December 1, 2006... If a rival net wanted to effectively counterprogram the Golden Globes, it wouldn't be a bad idea to go with a NASCAR race or a college football game featuring the Southeastern Conference. A market-by-market analysis of Nielsen data confirms...

'Newcomer' makes good on promise.(Cecil B. DeMille Award)(Warren Beatty)
December 1, 2006... There's a sweet moment in "Bonnie and Clyde" when Clyde is telling his brother how one day he got so bored in prison he just shot a couple of his toes off--and the next day they gave him parole. "Ain't life grand?" says Clyde. Well, that...

So what do Globes goers get for $80 million?(V PLUS: GOLDEN GLOBES PREVIEW)(Beverly Hilton gets makeover)
December 1, 2006... Since Merv Griffin sold the Beverly Hilton in 2003 for $130 million, the new owners estimate they've spent $80 million giving Conrad Hilton's 1955 hotel a much-needed makeover. There's no question that the hotel looks better. A walk...

Parties to park in adjacent lot.(V PLUS: GOLDEN GLOBES PREVIEW)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... The remodel that might most impact a Globe partygoer isn't inside the Hilton, but rather on the adjacent former Robinsons-May complex. The eight-acre site currently lies vacant in preparation for the construction of an environmentally...

Mirth & music.(V PLUS: GOLDEN GLOBES PREVIEW)
December 1, 2006... While laffers and tuners often get overlooked amid the drama-fueled, heavyweight crush of the awards season, the Golden Globes' comedy-musical trophies offer a unique opportunity for these pics and their performers to gain recognition....

Toons' Golden age bows: five years after Oscar, Globes give animated films their own category.(V PLUS: GOLDEN GLOBES PREVIEW)
December 1, 2006... What will Lightning McQueen wear on the red carpet? Will Mumble get a dance number? How will the Beverly Hilton ballroom be able to accommodate a Monster House? These are all critical questions now that animated features get their own category...

Freshman fever: adventurous voters get behind debuting series with uncertain futures.(V PLUS: GOLDEN GLOBES PREVIEW)
December 1, 2006... Always eager to get behind a "Lost" or "Desperate Housewives" first, the Hollywood Foreign Press Assn. has a history of championing praiseworthy new shows, often before mainstream TV watchers take notice. In fact, in recent years, HFPA...

HFPA membership.(V PLUS: GOLDEN GLOBES PREVIEW)(Hollywood Foreign Press Association)
December 1, 2006... Below are the active members of the Hollywood Foreign Press Assn., who vote on the Golden Globes, and the territories they represent. Paoula Abou-Jaoude (Brazil) Vera Anderson (Bulgaria, Mexico) Ray Arco (Canada) Rocio...

Winners circle.(V PLUS: GOLDEN GLOBES PREVIEW)(Awards list)
December 1, 2006... A look at Globes winners of recent years. FILM Picture--Drama: "Brokeback Mountain" Actor--Drama: Philip Seymour Hoffman, "Capote" Actress--Drama: Felicity Huffman, "Transamerica" Picture--Musical or Comedy:...

Foreign affairs.(V PLUS: GOLDEN GLOBES PREVIEW)(Lorraine Nicholson titled Miss Golden Globes)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... Young thesp Lorraine Nicholson, daughter of Jack Nicholson and Rebecca Broussard, assumes the title of Miss Golden Globes. It's a club that calls Melanie Griffith, Anne Archer, Linda Evans and Laura Dern former members.

Miss Golden Globes.(V PLUS: GOLDEN GLOBES PREVIEW)(Lorraine Nicholson)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... Lorraine Nicholson's budding thesping career will get a shot with her appearance at the Golden Globes. The 16-year-old already won't do interviews--a savvy move for the movie star's daughter.

"Venus" star Jodie Whittaker, top, with HFPA's Lorenzo Soda at the film's AFI party.(V PLUS: GOLDEN GLOBES PREVIEW)
December 1, 2006... "Venus" star Jodie Whittaker, top, with HFPA's Lorenzo Soda at the film's AFI party; Alan Shapiro and Judy Solomon at an HFPA lunch, right; org's Yani Begakis and Erkki Kanto, above left; and HFPA's Mahfouz Doss

Working the room.(V PLUS: GOLDEN GLOBES PREVIEW)(social activitiy of Philip Berk )(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... Hollywood Foreign Press Assn. prexy Philip Berk gets good press: from top, with Geena Davis last year; in August at an HFPA installation luncheon with Munawar Hosain, Edward James Olmos and Efren Ramierez; greeting Dustin Hoffman and wife Lisa...

Santa put into turnaround.(trends of holiday gifts)
December 1, 2006... Despite a healthy boost in retail sales this holiday season, the Grinch may steal Hollywood's Christmas yet again. Goodie baskets and extravagant gifts delivered to offices around town are on the decline. "It dropped off considerably last...

Scorsese visits medieval times: par challenged to 'Duel'.("The Last Duel: A True Story of Crime, Scandal and Trial by Combat in Medieval France")(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... Basking in the glow of the biggest box office success of his career with "The Departed," Martin Scorsese is now taking on medieval France. Under his new deal at Paramount, Scorsese will develop with an eye to direct the bigscreen...

Col ready for wifely duties.(Columbia Pictures, "My Wife Hates Your Wife")(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... Columbia Pictures has acquired comic pitch "My Wife Hates Your Wife," with Gina Wendkos to script and Overbrook Entertainment partners Will Smith and James Lassiter producing. Wendkos is writing with Smith in mind, though the actor won't...

Rudin styles new Nile file.(Scott Rudin to produce "Cleopatra" )(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... Based on a 10-page proposal, Columbia Pictures has acquired screen rights to "Cleopatra," a new take on the life of the Egyptian queen that will be written by Pulitzer Prize-winning biographer Stacy Schiff. Scott Rudin will produce. Schiff...

Dreamgirls.(Movie review)
December 1, 2006... A Paramount release of a DreamWorks Pictures, Paramount Pictures presentation of a Laurence Mark production. Produced by Mark. Executive producer, Patricia Whitcher. Co-producer, Jonathan King. Directed, written by Bill Condon, based on the...

Blood Diamond.(Movie review)
December 1, 2006... A Warner Bros. release presented in association with Virtual Studios, of a Spring Creek/Bedford Fails production in association with Initial Entertainment Group. Produced by Paula Weinstein, Edward Zwick, Marshall Herskovitz, Graham King,...

The Vertical Hour.(Theater review)
December 1, 2006... (Music Box Theater: 1,009 seats: $96.25 top) A Scott Rudin, Robert Fox, Neal Street Prods., Roger Berlind, Debra Black, Shubert Organization presentation of a play in two acts by David Hare. Directed by Sam Mendes. Sets, Scott Pask;...

'Nativity' B.O. virgin: Jesus takes on holdovers.(market share of movies)
December 1, 2006... Jesus vs. James Bond. That unlikely matchup will indeed unfold this weekend at the U.S. box office as New Line preps "The Nativity Story" to do battle with Sony holdover "Casino Royale," as well as Warner Bros.' B.O. champ "Happy Feet" and...

Daytime kudos jettisoned to June.(market share of television programs)
December 1, 2006... Big changes are in store for the 2007 Daytime Emmy Awards. CBS has decided to move the annual sudser-centric kudocast to Friday, June 15. Kudos will be held outside the May sweeps frame for the first time since 1991, when the event moved to...

Tyro enrolls in 'College'.(Deb Hagan to direct "College" )(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... Deb Hagan has signed to make her feature directorial debut with the youth comedy "College," produced by Element Films in association with State Street Pictures and LIFT. Lionsgate will distribute through its output arrangement with...

Innovative.(Tenpercenteries)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... Matthew Modine has signed with Innovative. Thesp is lensing Abel Ferrara's "Go Go Tales" alongside Willem Dafoe. Recent credits include "Transporter 2" and the upcoming "West Texas Children's Story." He is managed by Untitled and was...

Paradigm.(Tenpercenteries)(Paradigm Entertainment signs deal with Cheri Oteri)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... Cheri Oteri ("Saturday Night Live") has inked with Paradigm. Thesp's credits include "Southland Tales," "The Ant Bully" and the upcoming "Shrek the Third." She was previously repped by UTA.

WMA.(Tenpercenteries)(William Morris Agency signs Nick Cannon)
December 1, 2006... Nick Cannon ("Wild N Out") has signed with WMA. Hyphenate is onscreen in "Bobby" and has a new MTV show, "Short Circuitz," due out in fall. He'll produce, direct and appear in the skein. Cannon is managed by the Collective and was...

ABC experiences a Wednesday wilt.(market share of television programs)
December 1, 2006... The combo of "Show Me the Money" and "Day Break" is hardly "Dancing With the Stars" and "Lost": ABC's current Wednesday lineup struggled on the final night of the November sweep. Alphabet's rivals pounced on the opportunity, with five...

'Money' hits TLC jackpot.("Easy Money" to be produced by Learning Channel Inc.)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... TLC has greenlit production on "Easy Money," a two-hour special exec produced by Blair Underwood and GRB Entertainment ("Growing Up Gotti"). Spec will follow a group of lottery winners in St. Louis.--co-workers at a social services office...

PGA fetes Bruckheimer.(Producers Guild of America awards Jerry Bruckheimer Norman Lear Achievement Award)
December 1, 2006... The Producers Guild of America has tapped Jerry Bruckheimer to receive the Norman Lear Achievement Award in Television. Kudos will be presented at the 18th annual PGA Awards on Jan. 20 at the Century Plaza. Org noted that Jerry...

The Good German.(Movie review)
December 1, 2006... A Warner Bros. release presented in association with Virtual Studios of a Section Eight production. Produced by Ben Cosgrove, Gregory Jacobs. Executive producers, Benjamin Waisbren. Frederic W. Brost. Directed by Steven Soderbergh....

The Holiday.(Movie review)
December 1, 2006... A Sony Pictures Entertainment release of a Columbia Pictures and Universal Pictures presentation in association with Relativity Media of a Waverly Films production. Produced by Nancy Meyers, Bruce A. Block. Executive producer, Suzanne Farwell....

The Big Voice: God or Merman?(Theater review)
December 1, 2006... (Actors Temple Theater; 199 seats; $55 top) A Murphy Cross, Paul Kreppel, Edmund Gaynes, BarBar Prods. presentation of a musical in two acts written and performed by Jim Brochu and Steve Schalchlin. Directed by Anthony Barnao. Sets and...

Non-competitive sections boast preems.(Sundance Film Festival 2007)
December 1, 2006... A diverse slate of new works pepper the noncompetitive Premieres, Spectrum, Midnight and New Frontier sections of the upcoming Sundance Film Festival. Works from filmmakers Tamara Jenkins, Craig Brewer, Antonio Banderas, Mike White, Steve...

Turistas.(Movie review)
December 1, 2006... A 20th Century Fox release of a Fox Atomic and 2929 Prods. presentation of a Stone Village Pictures/Boz Prods. production. Produced by Scott Steindorff, Bo Zenga, Marc Butan, John Stockwell. Executive producers, Todd Wagner, Mark Cuban, Elaine...

The screening room.(Statistical table)
December 1, 2006... The Screening Room The Screening Room runs Tuesdays and Fridays. Screenings are open to Academy and guild members. For a complete list, visit Variety.com/screenings New York Arthur and the Invisibles ...

Get a life.(movies and television programs calendar)(Calendar)
December 1, 2006... FRI 1 Tenacious D rocks out at Madison Square Garden. $29.50-$54.50, 8 p.m. John Fogerty performs at the Beacon Theater. $38.50-$98.50, 8 p.m. SAT 2 "Mother-of-Pearl: A Tradition in Asian Lacquer" explores a 12th century Chinese...

Filming in the future.(Film Production Chart)
December 1, 2006... PRODUCTION CHART KEY Abbreviations: EXP, Executive producer; PROD-Producer; COP-Co-producer; DIR-Director; AD-First assistant director; 2DIR-Second-unit director; SCRScreenwriter; DP-Cinematographer; ED-Editor; PD-Production designer;...

Filming in the U.S.(Film Production Chart)
December 1, 2006... ALLEN VS. PREDATOR 2 PROD, John Davis, Robbie Brenner; DIR, Greg Strause, Colin Strause; SCR, Shane Salerno. 20th Century Fox. 9/1, Los Angeles. ASYLUM Sarah Roemer, Jake Muxworthy, Cody Kasch, Ellen Hollman, Carolina Garcia,...

Filming in Gotham.(Film Production Chart)
December 1, 2006... BILL Jessica Alba, Timothy Olyphant, Aaron Eckhart, Elizabeth Banks, Logan Lerman, Marisa Coughlan, Reed Diamond EXP, Tim Williams=; PROD. John Penotti, Fisher Stevens, Matthew Roland; DIR, Melisa Wallack, Bernie Goldmann; AD, Joe...

Showbiz stocks: Thursday, November 30, 2006.(Statistical table)
December 1, 2006... Showbiz Stocks Thursday, November 30, 2006 YTD Name Tkr PE Last Chg %Chg AccessIT AIXD ... 8.95 -.04 -13.8 AcmeCm ...

Filming outside the U.S.(Film Production Chart)
December 1, 2006... ADDICTED Sarah Michelle Gellar, Lee Page, Michael Landes, Tuva Novotny EXP, Brad Jenkel, Alexander Brunner, Sonny Mallhi; PROD, Bob Yari, Nigel Sinclair, Guy East, Doug Davison, Roy Lee; DIR, Joel Bergvall, Simon Sandquist; AD, John...

Wings of Desire.(Theater review)
December 1, 2006... (Loeb Drama Center, Cambridge, Mass.; 556 seats; $76 top) An American Repertory Theater presentation in association with Toneelgroep Amsterdam of a play in one act adapted by Gideon Lester and Dirkje Houtman from the film directed by Wim...

Down under outpost: Franks to launch Lionsgate's Oz ops.(World News)(Simon Franks)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... Simon Franks, who sold his U.K. indie Redbus Film Distribution to Lionsgate a year ago, has moved Down Under to launch an Australian distribution arm for Lionsgate. The 35-year-old Londoner flew out from Blighty two weeks ago and will...

Murakami retracts Livedoor confession.(World News)(Yoshiaki Murakami guilty of alleged insider trading)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... Onetime investment guru Yoshiaki Murakami retracted an earlier admission of guilt at his trial for alleged insider trading in the Livedoor scandal got under way in Tokyo on Thursday. Speaking on the witness stand at Tokyo District Court,...

China pic back on fest's lineup.(SERBIA; "Summer Palace")(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... Serbian film festival officials Thursday reinstated a pic withdrawn at the request of the Chinese embassy after critics accused them of self-censorship. "Summer Palace," a romance by Chinese helmer Lou Ye set against the Tiananmen Square...

Microwave heats pix.(UNITED KINGDOM)("Mum and Dad ", "Shady" )(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... Microwave, Film London's ultra-low-budget production scheme in association with the BBC, has greenlit its first movies: "Mum and Dad," a horror project about a psychopath by writer-director Steven Sheil, and "Shady," a black comedy about a...

Swedish org sees shuffle.(World News)(Swedish Film Institute appoints Charlotta Denward)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... The Swedish Film Institute has tapped producer Charlotta Denward head of production support in a management restructuring unveiled Thursday that will see 20 staffers cut. New CEO Cissi Elwin said that an SFI priority will be to support...

Nordisk ramps up local distrib efforts.(World News)(Nordisk Film)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... Scandi major Nordisk Film is setting up its own distribution arm in Sweden on Jan. 1. The local industry has been speculating about Nordisk's plans for the country since July, when it said it would end its 17-year arrangement with Sony...

Sale of HK telco nixed.(World News)(Pacific Century CyberWorks Ltd. buys Richard Li's shares)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... Minority shareholders in Singapore on Thursday overwhelmingly nixed Richard Li's controversial HK$9.2 billion ($1.2 billion) sale of his 23% stake in PCCW, Hong Kong's dominant telco and NOW Broadband TV operator. The shares are held by...

Argentina shingle launched.(Pablo Bossi forms Pampa Films)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... Pablo Bossi, founder and former prexy of Disney-backed Patagonik Film Group, has launched Pampa Films in Argentina with helmer-producer Juan Pablo Buscarini ("The Hairy Tooth Fairy") and Spain's Filmax Entertainment. Bossi is prexy, while...

Cavuto dials up Fox Radio.(Neil Cavuto to anchor "The Cavuto Money Report")(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... Fox News Channel anchor Neil Cavuto is launching a financial newscast for Fox News Radio starting in January. FNC's managing editor for business news will anchor "The Cavuto Money Report" on on more than 600 stations across the country....

Hitched.(Lauren Taylor Doll and Howard Sherman getting married)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... Lauren Taylor Doll and Howard Sherman, Oct. 22, New Canaan, Conn. Bride is a theatrical producer and principal of New Time Prods. in New York; groom is exec director of the American Theater Wing.

From the Army Archerd archive.(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... June 6, 1968 It's not a GOOD MORNING in Hollywood--regardless of party or candidate affiliation. And outside showbiz no one can find fault with Hollywood's political record--it puts its money and talent where its ballots--instead of...

Cable pact for Fox News.(Fox News Network L.L.C. signs deal with National Cable Television Cooperative)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... Fox News Channel inked a carriage deal with the National Cable Television Cooperative, a consortium of rural cable operators representing 3 million cable subscribers. It's the second cable deal for Fox which is negotiating its first set of...

APA.(Tenpercenteries)(Charlotte Ross signs deal)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... Charlotte Ross ("Jake in Progress") has inked with APA. Thesp's credits include "NYPD Blue" and "Beggars and Choosers." She'll next be seen in "Searching for Mickey Fish" and Lifetime's "Montana Sky." Ross was previously repped by...

Gersh Agency.(Tenpercenteries)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... Shane McRae ("Take Me Out") has signed with the Gersh Agency. His credits include NBC's "Four Kings" and Wayne Rice's "Killer Pad." McRae is managed by TMT Entertainment.

ICM.(Tenpercenteries)(International Creative Management Inc. signs deal with Jim McKay)
December 1, 2006... ICM has pacted with helmer Jim McKay. He directed and co-wrote "Angel Rodriguez" for HBO. Credits include "Everyday People," "Our Song," and episodes of "The Wire" and "Law & Order: CI." McKay was previously repped by WMA.

Polaris Entertainment.(Tenpercenteries)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... Marina Sirtis ("Crash") has signed with Polaris Entertainment for management. Thesp's credits include "Star Trek: The Next Generation," plus guest stints on "The Closer" and "Girlfriends." She's repped by GVA.

Helmers back Web contest.(Paul Schrader, Neil LaBute and Zak Penn)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... Filmmakers such as Paul Schrader, Neil LaBute and Zak Penn are throwing their weight behind a Project Greenlight-type competition on the Web for producer Deepak Nayar and exec producer Thomas Augsberger. Duo's site, Filmaka.com, is holding...

Powell snags IDP veep post.(Nathan Powell appointed by Samuel Goldwyn Films )(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... Samuel Goldwyn Films and Roadside Attractions have named Nathan Powell veep of marketing at IDR the companies' marketing and distribution arm. Gotham-based Powell will oversee all theatrical marketing campaigns for the companies, reporting...

Weekend box office preview.(Statistical table)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... RELEASE DATES AND CHANGES ([dagger]) As of Nov. 30 Pic New date Old date BUENA VISTA Primeval April 13 Feb. 9 FOX Night at the Museum Dec. 22 Dec. 20...

'Wilton' checks in at CW.("The Wilton", The CW Television Network)
December 4, 2006... The CW is checking into "The Wilton," developing an hourlong script penned by newcomers Ben and Dan Newmark. The Newmarks are writing the comedy/drama and have been teamed with scribe Peter Lefcourt, who will be showrunner-exec producer....

Frosh frozen out: 'Nativity' bow finds no room at the inn.
December 4, 2006... In a customarily slow frame following the Thanksgiving movie feast, auds were more in the mood for second helpings of penguins, 007 and Denzel Washington than for any new fare. Warner Bros.' B.O. champ "Happy Feet" reigned for a third...

Bond holds cards o'seas.(James Bond)
December 4, 2006... James Bond remains licensed to kill at the overseas box office, as the third frame of "Casino Royale" parlayed a dominating $44.7 million at 6,770 playdates in 54 markets for the weekend. Pic has now cashed in $196.5 million internationally and...

Dual departures ding Yahoo's content push.(Brief article)
December 4, 2006... David Katz, the top Yahoo! sports and programming exec who led the company's first consistent effort at original programming, ankled late last week, at the same time that the company abruptly lost what had been billed as a major video...

Your humble opinions.(Only at Variety.com)
December 4, 2006... We've got a Pushy Question for you... and it has do wit "Apocalypto." Today Variety launches its new interactive feedback forum online.

Black-tie affair bridges cultural divide.(The Back Lot)
December 4, 2006... Washington -- I've always admired the fortitude of those brave folks who produce award shows. In dispensing honors to artists who are already smothered in public adulation, they learn to cope with voracious star handlers and posses, wobbly...

NBC looks to GE for sales chief.(NBC Universal Inc)(Brief article)
December 4, 2006... Rather than promote from within, NBC Universal today is expected to name a GE executive to replace departing sales chief Keith Turner. Turner ankled the Peacock on Friday, two weeks after his former boss, former NBC U president and chief...

Lincoln Center to fete Arkin.(Alan Arkin)(Brief article)
December 4, 2006... Alan Arkin is being given the Film Society of Lincoln Center treatment. Thesp will be spotlighted Dec. 19 at Lincoln Center's Walter Reade Theater in an event that will look back at the work of an actor an with unusual breadth of credits....

Mouse trims toon ranks.(Walt Disney Studios)(Brief article)
December 4, 2006... Disney is laying off about 160 employees, or 20% of the total staff, from its feature animation unit. Move comes as the Mouse has greenlit "American Dog" as its next feature toon to move into production, most likely for a 2008 release. ...

Bush chat to Fox News.(George W. Bush, Fox News Network L.L.C)(Brief article)
December 4, 2006... President Bush will try to get his message out tonight, giving his first interview since the midterm elections to Fox News Channel's Brit Hume. Interview, scheduled to be taped today, will air at 6 p.m. on "Special Report With Brit aume."...

Apocalypto.(Movie review)
December 4, 2006... A Buena Vista release of a Touchstone Pictures presentation in association with Icon Prods. of an Icon production. Produced by Mel Gibson, Bruce Davey. Executive producers, Ned Dowd, Vicki Christianson. Co-producer, Farhad Safinia. ...

Stock buy-up colors talks for Gray Lady.(Inside Moves)
December 4, 2006... Wall Street wants to dance with the Gray Lady. But is the lady interested? Last week, the paper lurched to the center of the stage when Maurice "Hank" Greenberg, the billionaire former head of AIG, bought enough shares of the New York...

Roundabout puckers up.(Inside Moves)(Brief article)
December 4, 2006... The Roundabout is prepping a potential revival of Craig Lucas' "Prelude to a Kiss," with a Daniel Sullivan-helmed production shaping up to be the second show of the season at the American Airlines Theater, one of the Roundabout's Broadway...

'Stewart' stewards: Bodow bumped up as Javerbaum takes reins.(Steve Bodow, David Javerbaum)(Brief article)
December 4, 2006... Steve Bodow is expected to be named head writer for "The Daily Show With Jon Stewart." Insiders say Bodow will replace David Javerbaum, who was named showrunner of the news parody show on Thursday (Daily Variety, Dec. 1) after longtime...

CW imports Brit 'Model'.(The CW Television Network, "Next Top Model: British Invasion"--)(Brief article)
December 4, 2006... "Britain's Next Top Model" will hit the colonies later this month, as the CW airs two specials featuring moments from the U.K. version of its hit "America's Next Top Model." "Next Top Model: British Invasion"--a recap of "Britain's Next...

Tyro draws 'Deadman' gig.(writer Gary Dauberman)(Brief article)
December 4, 2006... Warner Bros. has hired tyro scribe Gary Dauberman to work with director-producer Guillermo del Toro in penning the script for the bigscreen adaptation of DC Comics' "Deadman." Project is a potential directing vehicle for del Toro, who is...

'21' fills out its deck.(new movie about card-counting)(Brief article)
December 4, 2006... Kevin Spacey has found the lead for "21," his long-developed Columbia card-counting pic. Jim Sturgess will play an MIT student who heads to Vegas to beat the casinos. Spacey may play his mentor. He is producing with Dana Brunetti under...

'Lives' of the party: 'Volver' also wows Euros.("The Lives of Others")
December 4, 2006... German director Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck's "The Lives of Others" was named best pic at the 19th European Film Awards in Warsaw on Saturday, but it was Pedro Almodovar's "Volver" that took most of the top honors, including director. ...

China eases journo regs.(Brief article)
December 4, 2006... The Chinese government has issued rules for foreign reporters covering the 2008 Beijing Olympics that give journos unprecedented freedom to move around the country in the run-up to the event. New regs expire with the closing of the Games,...

Gospel sings at Lionsgate.(Kirk Franklin to star in "Church Boy")(Brief article)
December 4, 2006... By PAMELA McCLINTOCK HOLLYWOOD Lionsgate is helping gospel music star Kirk Franklin preach to the choir. Indie studio is prepping "Church Boy," a biopic in which Franklin will play himself. The top-selling gospel music artist of the...

Two Trains Running.(Theater review)
December 4, 2006... (Peter Norton Space; 160 seats; $15 top) A Signature Theater Company presentation of a play in two acts by August Wilson. Directed by Lou Bellamy. Associate artist, Costanza Romero. Set, Derek McLane; costumes, Matthew J. Lefebvre;...