Daily Variety articles from February 2006

Daily Variety archives from February 2006

Oscar's western union: a major identity crisis.
February 1, 2006... Execs at the major studios must be experiencing mixed emotions. Their niche arms did great. Universal's Focus was a star with "Brokeback Mountain," Sony Pictures Classics scored with loads of "Capote" noms and Warner Independent is glowing...

Oscar's western union: big day for 'Brokeback,' Clooney, somber films.(Oscar nominations)
February 1, 2006... Racism, homophobia, terrorism, government prying and media glory-hogs--what's not to like? Voters of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences have nominated five small, sober dramas for best picture at the 78th annual Academy Awards,...

'Flight' lands A&E record.(A and E Home Video gets high ratings for "Flight 93")
February 1, 2006... A&E scored the largest aud in its 22-year history--5.9 million viewers--for Monday's premiere of the 9/11 telepic "Flight 93." Two-hour movie posted A&E highs in the key demos of adults 25-54 (2.9 million), 18-49 (2.7 million), and 18-34...

Roadshow on a bank roll.(Village Roadshow Pictures Group increases financing )
February 1, 2006... Village Roadshow Pictures Group has increased its financing facility from $900 million to $1.4 billion, aiming to significantly increase the number of films it turns out with longtime partner Warner Bros. and other studios. As part of its...

God's messengers didn't smite 'Daniel'.(National Broadcasting Company Inc. to drop 'The Book of Daniel')
February 1, 2006... EVERY PICTURE tells a story, and every TV series cancellation sends a message. At least, that's what the folks at the Traditional Values Coalition would have you believe, gloating over NBC's decision to drop its low-rated drama "The Book...

It's time again for pinkslips.(Time Inc., Time Warner Inc. announces layoffs and bonuses)
February 1, 2006... Less than two months after a round of exec-level cuts, Time Inc. has made a round of mid-level layoffs on both the business and editorial sides of the company. Country's largest mag publisher has laid off 66 employees, about 25 of them...

Pair of thrillers catch Mideast heat wave.(De Line Pictures partners with Ridley Scott to produce the sequel)
February 1, 2006... Ridley Scott, producer Donald De Line and novelist David Ignatius are teaming on a pair of thrillers set in the Middle East. Warner Bros. has acquired "Penetration," a spy novel by Ignatius about a CIA operative's attempt to track a...

Muppets 'power' up: 'Crystal' sequel gels with animator.(Genndy Tartakovsky to direct the sequel for 'Power of the Dark Crystal' for Jim Henson Co.)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2006... The Jim Henson Co. has set Genndy Tartakovsky to direct "Power of the Dark Crystal," sequel to 1982 fantasy film "The Dark Crystal." Tartakovsky, who created the animated series hits "Samurai Jack," "Dexter's Laboratory" and "Star Wars:...

Short seeks more 'Fame'.(LEGIT BITS)
February 1, 2006... Broadway becomes him, too: "Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me" is set to open at a yet-to-be-determined Shubert theater Aug. 10. Conceived by Short and the "Hairspray" composer-lyricist team Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, the musical...

Duo ring in 'New Years'.(Twentieth Century Fox Film Corp. signs deal with Hyde Park Entertainment for 'New Years Steve')(Brief Article)
February 1, 2006... Twentieth Century Fox has preemptively bought the spec script "New Years Steve" by tyros Josh Herman and Adam Schwartz for Fox-based Hyde Park Entertainment. Project marks the second pic put in development under Hyde Park's new five-year...

Warner punches library card for new DVDs.(Warner Home Video's Digital videodisks)
February 1, 2006... Warner Home Video will dust off more than 200 catalog titles for debut on DVD this year, with some to bow on next-generation high-def discs simultaneously. The DVD newbies run the gamut from vintage Astaire and Rogers danceathons to Busby...

Spike hones 'Blade' with 13-hour deal.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2006... Spike TV is sinking its teeth into a small-screen adaptation of "Blade," greenlighting 13 hours of the vampire drama from New Line TV. "Batman Begins" scribe David Goyer, who also wrote the "Blade" trilogy, will exec produce alongside...

Fox locks 'Arrested' scribe.(Twentieth Century Fox Television taps Abraham Higginbotham )(Brief Article)
February 1, 2006... Former "Arrested Development" scribe Abraham Higginbotham is returning to the 20th Century Fox TV fold. Higginbotham, now a producer on "Will & Grace," has inked a seven-figure, multiyear overall deal to develop and produce series...

APA adds 4 Gotham agents.(Agency for the Performing Arts appoints Mike Berkowitz, Avi Gilbert, Christine Barkley and Fred Hansen)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2006... The Agency for the Performing Arts has tapped a quartet of agents--Mike Berkowitz, Avi Gilbert, Christine Barkley and Fred Hansen--to bolster its newly opened New York office. Berkowitz, recently at Relevant Entertainment, specializes in...

FTC won't oppose Adelphia buyout.(Federal Trade Commission, Time Warner Cable to acquire Comcast Corp., Adelphia Communications Corp.)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2006... The Federal Trade Commission concluded that Time Warner Cable and Comcast's proposed acquisition of bankrupt caner Adelphia will not be anti-competitive and has therefore closed its seven-month investigation into the pending deal. Writing...

'Idol' sweeps demos: Fox's hit shoots up 15%.("American Idol")
February 1, 2006... It was almost too easy for Fox last week, as the revitalized net rode more huge "American Idol" ratings to a sweep of the key demo categories. Viewers ate up three more hours of "Idol" auditions on Tuesday and Wednesday, with the megahit...

Emmerich's 'B.C.' in Warner's future.(Roland Emmerich's '10,000 B.C.')(Brief Article)
February 1, 2006... Warner Bros. Pictures has picked up Roland Emmerich's big-budget "10,000 B.C." out of quick turnaround from Sony. Aggressive move gives Warners its first chance to work with Emmerich--and a 2007 summer tentpole. Emmerich is set to begin...

NBC U hikes exec quartet.(NBC Universal Inc. appoints Liz Fischer, Hilary Smith, Chris Steib and Courtney Davis)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2006... NBC Universal promoted four execs in its corporate communications department, including Liz Fischer and Hilary Smith, both named VP of corporate communications. Chris Steib was named manager of executive communications and Courtney Davis...

MPAA reels in pair for L.A.(Motion Picture Association of America appoints Lisa M. Pierozzi, Michael Robinson )(Brief Article)
February 1, 2006... The Motion Picture Assn. of America has filled two top positions in its Los Angeles office. Lisa M. Pierozzi is the org's new chief financial officer as well as exec VP of finance and administration; she starts on Feb. 6. New director of...

Showbiz stocks.(entertainment industry)(Illustration)
February 1, 2006... Showbiz Stocks Thursday, February 2, 2006 YTD Name Tkr PE Last Chg %Chg AccessIT AIX ... 13.15 -.60 +26.7 AcmeCm ACME ... 3.65 ...

Nielsen ratings report.(television programs)(Illustration)
February 1, 2006... TOP 25 SHOWS IN 18-49 1. American Idol--Tue. (Fox) 15.1/35 2. American Idol--Wed. (Fox) 13.0/32 3. CSI (CBS) 8.3/20 3. Grey's Anatomy (ABC) 8.3/20 5. Lost...

Cargo.(Movie Review)
February 1, 2006... (Spain-U.K.- Sweden) A Trauma and Wild Bunch presentation of a Morena Films and Slate Films production, co-produced by Hepp Film, Film i Vast, Oberon Cinematografica and Vaca Films, in association with Matador Pictures and Regent Capital....

In the Pit.(Movie Review)
February 1, 2006... (EN EL HOYO) (Docu-Mexico) A La Media Luna Producciones production. Producer, Juan Carlos Rulfo. Executive producer, Eugenia Montiel, Directed by Juan Carlos Rulfo. Camera (New Art Lab color, DV), Ralfo; editor, Valentina Leduc; music,...

Madeinusa.(Movie Review)
February 1, 2006... (Peru-Spain) A Nirvana release (in Spain) of an Oberon Cinematografica/Wanda Vision/Vela Producciones. (International sales: The Match Factory, Munich.) Produced by Jose Maria Morales, Antonio Chavarrias, Claudia Llosa. Directed,...

Wassup Rockers.(Movie Review)
February 1, 2006... A First Look Pictures release of a Henry Winterstern presentation of a Glass Key production. Produced by Larry Clark, Kevin Turen, Henry Winterstern. Executive producers, Patrick Meehan, Sharon Stone. Co-producer, Richard Shore. Directed,...

The Sasquatch Dumpling Gang.(Movie Review)
February 1, 2006... A Jeremy Coon and Trigger Street production in association with Trigger Street Independent and (Crazy Dreams Entertainment. Produced by Jeremy Coon. Adam Kassen, Mark Kassen, Randy Holleschau, Kevin Spacey, Dana Brunetti. Co-producer, Craig...

Femme pair log 'E-Girl'.(Alliance Filmworks plan on 'E-Gift' penned by Carrie Fisher, Heather Robinson)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2006... Carrie Fisher and scribe Heather Robinson, who penned the original treatment for Universal's "The Perfect Man," are writing "E-Gift" for Gregory Zanfardino's Alliance Filmworks. Semiautobiographical story is based on Robinson's transition...

New Line puts wind beneath 'Wings' pic.('Paper Wings' to produce by New Line Cinema Corp.)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2006... New Line's riding with "Paper Wings," snapping up Les Bohem's spec set in the worlds of rodeo and country music and setting it up with newly minted producer Marty Bowen. Story centers on a young rodeo champion struggling between his career...

Madrid's in spotlight at new confab.(Madrid de Cine to be held )(Brief Article)
February 1, 2006... Madrid will host a new event, Madrid de Cine, or the Spanish Film Screenings, to promote export sales on local productions and to tubthump the capital as a shooting locale. Event will run June 18-20 and replaces the Lanzarote Winter Spanish...

Micro pix hot in microwave.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2006... LONDON -- Film London has joined forces with the BBC to launch a micro-budget film production scheme dubbed Microwave. It will award 75,000 [pounds sterling] ($133,000) apiece to 10 features from London-based production companies. Org...

Gallic pix get leg up: Cochman handed Unifrance promo gig.(John Cochman)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2006... As StudioCanal's long-serving deputy head of international sales, American John Cochman has done much to enhance the exposure of French pics in the U.S. He'll be doing even more when he becomes head of Unifrance's New York bureau in April....

Gaumont gets 'Cashback'.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2006... Gaumont looks set to get its money's worth out of "Cashback." Gallic major took worldwide rights to the edgy Brit feature-length comedy helmed by Sean Ellis, and also pacted to finance the first-time director's next feature. Then on...

Czech exec in hot water.(Vladimir Zelezny sued for smuggling paintings, custom fees and taxes evasion)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2006... Vladimir Zelezny, the TV exec who cost the Czech Republic $500 million in reparations to U.S.-backed Central European Media Enterprises after he stole control of its Nova TV station in the mid-1990s, is back in court. This time he's...

Fans flood Hong Kong Disneyland.(Hong Kong Disneyland Management Ltd.)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2006... Hong Kong Disneyland locked its doors two days running after selling out over the Chinese New Year holiday. Park reached its 30,000-visitor capacity on Monday and Tuesdaythanks to a combination of good weather and an influx of mainland...

MoonScooo touts Taffy.(World News)(Taffy Entertainment)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2006... Four months after taking a 51% stake in L.A.-based animation studio Mike Young Prods. (MYP), French kidvid outfit MoonScoop is bringing together distribution and licensing under the Taffy Entertainment banner. Taffy will have more than...

Noms stir dreams, screams.(Oscar Nominations)
February 1, 2006... For "Brokeback Mountain" helmer Ang Lee, the news of eight nominations for the picture sent him into a state of relief. "I was anxious because I did not want anyone to be left out," he explained. "Everyone worked in harmony as a chorus....

Sound guys know how to mix it up.(Oscar Nominations)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2006... MEMO TO: SOUND MIXERS I've only met a few of you during my various tours duty in the movie business, but I've always found you a very good-spirited bunch of people. In fact, I wish you'd put me on your screening list. Mixing a film...

Oscar buzz payoff: smaller contenders widening release.(Oscar Nominations)
February 1, 2006... With the Academy favoring so many small pics in its nominations--four of the best picture contenders cost less than $14 million to produce--more pics this year have the opportunity to capitalize on Oscar buzz at the box office, and make already...

Acad's playing a new tune.(Oscar Nominations)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2006... HOLLYWOOD -- And the award for most confusing new rules goes to... the song category. Academy holds a "bake-off" (though it doesn't like to call it that) in which 40 or so songs are shown in three-minute clips. Everyone in the music...

Oscar oddities.(Oscar Nominations)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2006... The noms provided some notable facts. * George Clooney is a triple nominee--the first person to ever be nominated as director and actor for separate films in the same year, and also scored as co-writen * Other multiple nominees include...

Topical typical this year.(Oscar Nominations)
February 1, 2006... For years, Hollywood has avoided hot-button topics, but this year, Oscar pushed all of those buttons. Steven Spielberg, a double nominee for "Munich," said, "This is a wakeup call to all studios: We need to stop worrying only about making...

Oscar nominations.
February 1, 2006... Picture "Brokeback Mountain"--Diana Ossana, James Schamus, producers; a River Road Entertainment production (Focus) "Capote"--Caroline Baron, William Vince, Michael Ohoven, producers; an A-Line Pictures/Cooper's Town/Infinity Media...

'Grind' gets going with double vision.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2006... In a move of marketing magic, Harvey and Bob Weinstein sliced Quentin Tarantino's three-hour "Kill Bill" into two pics, but now their bid to create two pics in one, via the Tarantino-Robert Rodriguez collaboration "Grind House," is taking...

Par-D'works deal sealed.(Paramount Pictures Corp. to acquire DreamWorks L.L.C.)
February 2, 2006... Paramount has made it official, completing its $1.6 billion acquisition of DreamWorks for cash and assumption of debt. Now comes the tough part--integrating the operations of Par and DreamWorks, with pinkslips issued on Wednesday to 50...

Conglom crusade: Parsons hits back at raider's ploy.
February 2, 2006... Time Warner chairman-CEO Richard Parsons insisted Wednesday that "no one can run these businesses better than the current management is running them." He implied corporate raider Carl Icahn's push to split TW up is a reckless strategy to turn a...

Next 'Narnia' shapes up.(Walt Disney Pictures and Television signs Andrew Adamson to direct the 'Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian')
February 2, 2006... Andrew Adamson has signed to direct "Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian," the sequel to the Walt Disney Pictures and Walden Media holiday hit "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe." The sequel was made official Wednesday by Walt Disney...

Peacock has Webbed feat.(Net-based reality programming)
February 2, 2006... NBC is jumping into the world of Net-based reality programming, pacting with Tommy Mottola and the producers of "Thc Biggest Loser" for an "American Idol"-like music competition skein. Project, dubbed "StarTomorrow," reps the first time...

Night shift for 'GMA' duo.(ABC News Inc., Charlie Gibson, Diane Sawyer )
February 2, 2006... ABC "Good Morning America" co-hosts Charlie Gibson and Diane Sawyer will fill in for the injured Bob Woodruff on an interim basis, allowing "World News Tonight" to stick with its dual-anchor strategy in his absence. Gibson and Sawyer will...

'Fearless' scares up distrib: Li pic to get Rogue rollout.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2006... "Fearless," which is being billed as Jet Li's final martial-arts pic, has found a U.S. distrib in Focus Features genre banner Rogue Pictures. Pickup comes just as "Fearless" posts boffo B.O. numbers across various Asian territories,...

Lifetime books telepics.(Peter Guber, Stephanie Germain are teaming on television movie)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2006... Lifetime, Peter Guber and Stephanie Germain are teaming on a series of original movies based on the bestselling books of romance novelist Nora Roberts. The women's network plans to roll out four telepics over the course of next year: "Blue...

Third time charms Il Divo.
February 2, 2006... The third album from Il Divo, the pop-opera group created by "American Idol" judge Simon Cowell, debuted at No. 1 on the album sales chart as five rookies entered the top 10. "Ancora" (Syco/Columbia) sold 156,000 copies in the week ended...

WB taps PR maven sr. VP.(Scott Rowe promoted at Warner Bros.)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2006... Longtime Warner Bros. Entertainment exec Scott Rowe has been upped to senior VP of corporate communications, solidifying his role as Susan Fleishman's No. 2. Rowe previously served as VP of corporate communications, a post to which he was...

Millennium gets Gersh agent Gatta.(Joe Gatta joins Millennium Films)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2006... Lit agent Joe Gatta has ankled the Gersh Agency to serve as exec VP-head of Avi Lerner's Millennium Films, filling a post unoccupied since the departure of Brad Jenkel two years ago. Although Jenkel's title was prexy, Gatta will largely...

CNN nabs Eye anchor.(Cable News Network appoints John Roberts)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2006... John Roberts, once considered the most likely heir to Dan Rather and one of the network's most recognizable correspondents, is jumping from CBS to CNN. Roberts had the inside track to replace the outgoing Rather as anchor of "CBS Evening...

Abigail Breslin.(to act in "Mostly Martha" )(Brief Article)
February 2, 2006... Abigail Breslin ("Little Miss Sunshine") has booked a role alongside Catherine Zeta-Jones in Warner Bros.' "Mostly Martha." Thesp will play the niece who enters Zeta-Jones' life and turns it upside down. Breslin's credits include "Signs"...

Rosamund Pike ("Pride & Prejudice"), and Embeth Davidtz ("Junebug"), have been added to the cast.(New Line Cinema Corp. )(Brief Article)
February 2, 2006... Rosamund Pike ("Pride & Prejudice"), right, and Embeth Davidtz ("Junebug"), far right, have been added to the cast of New Line's "Fracture." Thriller starring Ryan Gosling as a young D.A. and An thony Hopkins as a murder suspect is slated...

Intrepid hooks CFO, development veep.(Jonathan Fischer, Katherine Brown appointed at Intrepid Pictures)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2006... In its first major staffing move, Trevor Macy and Marc Evans' newly formed Intrepid Pictures has named former Universal exec Jonathan Fischer as chief financial officer and Katherine Brown as VP of development. Intrepid, which has a...

'Fate' tempts pair: Moore, McAvoy set for turn in 'Twist'.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2006... Mandy Moore and James McAvoy are in final talks to star in thriller "Twist of Fate" for Mark Damon's production and financing company Foresight Unlimited. Jennifer Elster ("Particles of Truth") is set to direct. Story, from a screenplay by...

Springer gives up ProSieben bid.(Axel Springer Verlag AG, ProSiebenSat.1 Media AG)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2006... Germany's biggest broadcasting group may be going back on the block. Facing an increasingly thorny struggle to buy ProSiebenSat 1, Axel Springer on Wednesday threw in the towel and withdrew its bid. Company said it had come to a mutual...

WGA honors 'Enron' scribe.(Writers Guild of America awards Alex Gibney )(Brief Article)
February 2, 2006... The Writers Guild of America has named Alex Gibney as winner of its documentary writing award for "Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room." Kudo was presented Wednesday night by James Woods in ceremonies at the Hollywood Roosevelt. ...

Lifetime still on Dish menu.(EchoStar Communications Corp. reach an agreement with Lifetime Cable Network)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2006... HOLLYWOOD -- Lifetime and EchoStar have resolved their monthlong dispute, reaching a multiyear carriage agreement. Both Lifetime and sister channel Lifetime Movie Network have been restored to the Dish lineup. EchoStar had yanked both...

Showbiz stocks: Wednesday, February 1, 2006.(entertainment industry)(Illustration)
February 2, 2006... Showbiz Stocks Wednesday, February 1, 2006 YTD Name Tkr PE Last Chg %Chg AccessIT AIX ... 13.45 +.30 +29.6 AcmeCm ACME ... 3.65 ...

The Tenants.(Movie Review)
February 2, 2006... A Millennium Films presentation of a Tau Production S.A. de C.V production in association with Randall Emmett/George Furla Films for Equity Pictures Medienfonds GmbH & Co. KG III. Produced by Chris Bongirne, Heidi Jo Markel, Lati Grobman, Holly...

Small Town Gay Bar.(Movie Review)
February 2, 2006... (Docu) A View Askew, First Light production. Produced by Andre Canaparo, Sarah Gibson. Executive producer, Kevin Smith. Co-producers, Matt Gissing, Jill Canaparo. Directed, written by Malcolm Ingram. Camera (color, HD), Jonathon...

Lewis Taylor.(Concert Review)
February 2, 2006... (Bowery Ballroom; 500 capacity; $15) Presented inhouse. Band: Lewis Taylor, Lee Pomeroy, Ash Soan, John Crawford. Reviewed Jan. 26, 2006. On paper, Lewis Taylor's musical formula looks like a surefire recipe for disaster. But when the...

So Much So Fast.(Movie Review)
February 2, 2006... (Docu) A West City Films production in association with WGBH, ZDF/ARTE, BBC Storyville and TV2/Danmark. Produced, directed, written by Steve Ascher, Jeanne Jordan. Camera (color, HD), Ascher; editor, Jordan; music, Sheldon Mirowitz; sound,...

Roller-coaster subs: BSkyB braces for letdown after Q4 jump.(British Sky Broadcasting Group PLC)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2006... BSkyB, Europe's leading paybox, has reported its best increase in subscriber numbers in three years, but it also warned that the first half of 2006 is likely to be tough. The satcaster added 215,000 subs in the three months leading up to...

U Music U.K. seeks 8% workforce cut.(Universal Music UK)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2006... Universal Music has begun talks with its U.K. employees in a bid to cut up to 8% of its 1.100-plus workforce. As part of the world's biggest record company group, Universal U.K. contributes a healthy chunk of revenues to the global purse....

Teuton orgs fund 'Catherine'.(World News)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2006... German film funding bodies have slated more than $1.5 million in production aid for historical drama "Catherine." Biopic, starring Chloe Sevigny as Russian empress Catherine the Great, will be helmed by Agnieszka Holland and shot on...

Lynch takes lid off Lodz arts center.(David Lynch)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2006... David Lynch--who last month finished shooting footage for his latest film, "Inland Empire," in Lodz, Poland--has established the Art of the World Foundation in Lodz, with the aim of creating a modern art center to host art-related events. ...

Al-Jazeera takes aim at Pakistan, India.(World News)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2006... Al-Jazeera is going global. Qatar-based satcaster is launching an Urdu-language service aimed at the lucrative TV market in Pakistan and India. Its English-language service will bow in spring, and it's mulling Spanish, French and...

Canada's Globemedia boasts boosted revs.(Bell Globemedia Interactive Inc.)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2006... Canuck broadcaster Bell Globemedia reported Wednesday that revenue and operating income were up this past year, mainly due to continued boffo performance by the CTV Network, which is owned by Bell Globemedia. Full-year revenue at Bell...

Pix feted with Arte France awards.(World News)
February 2, 2006... The Arte France Cinema awards--given to the outstanding projects in Rotterdam's co-production forum CineMart--went to Arturo Aristakisian for "A Mexican Story" and Wang Bing for "Black Iron Days." Both projects received 10,000 [euro]...

TV & cable production chart.
February 2, 2006... 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-Co-producer(s); DIR-Director(s);...

WMA skates with the NHL.(William Morris Agency Inc., National Hockey League)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2006... The William Morris Agency has signed to rep the National Hockey League. It's the second sports league alliance for the agency, which also reps the National Football League. While hockey will be hardpressed to draw the Hollywood crowd that...

Fox nets record aud for Prez speech.(Fox News Channel)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2006... Fox News Channel rang in a broadcast-like 6.46 million viewers for the president's State of the Union address Tuesday. The cable net's coverage, anchored by Brit Hume, drew a slightly higher aud than last year's 5.97 million, but the net...

'Paul' treks to Mandalay.(Rabbi Paul, Prelude Pictures)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2006... Mandalay Integrated Media Entertainment, Prelude Pictures and Alan and Peter Riche have acquired the feature rights and will produce a film version of "Rabbi Paul," Bruce Chilton's biography of Saint Paul. Chilton's bio tells the life...

EchoStar family tier not retailer-friendly.(EchoStar Communications Corp.)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2006... When EchoStar announced its family tier two weeks ago, the satcaster pitched it as more customer-friendly than rival plans from Time Warner and Comcast. with more channels and a lower pricetag. But just how friendly is it? A fine-print...

Gabriel Mann.(stars in two indie films)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2006... Gabriel Mann ("The Bourne Supremacy") is set to star in two indie features. First, he'll take to "Dark Streets," with Elias Koteas and Bijou Phillips. Film noir is lensing in Los Angeles. Next, Mann stars in writer-director Elizabeth Harrison's...

Kathleen Chalfant.(joins cast of "Perfect Stranger")(Brief Article)
February 2, 2006... Kathleen Chalfant has joined the cast of Revolution Studios' "Perfect Stranger." Thriller starring Halle Berry and Bruce Willis is lensing in New York City. Chalfant also will appear in upcoming features "First Born" and "The Last New...

Legit goes public.(Public Theater celebrates its half-century )(Brief Article)
February 2, 2006... The Public Theater celebrated its half-century on Monday night with a theatrical romp through five decades of its musical history. The evening at Gotham's City Center played to a packed house of legiters, whose reaction was, in the words of...

Coixet dishes on her 'Secret'.(Isabel Coixet, "The Secret Life of Words")(Brief Article)
February 2, 2006... Barcelona director Isabel Coixet ("My Life Without Me") really wanted to make her new pic, "The Secret Life of Words," in her native tongue, but star Tim Robbins got in the way. "He tried to learn Catalan, but it was a nightmare, so the...

Brit legit crix pick 'Billy' and 'Harvest'.(Billy Elliot The Musical, Blighty's Critics' Circle Theater Awards )(Brief Article)
February 2, 2006... "Billy Elliot The Musical" continued its winning ways, tapped as top tuner at Blighty's Critics' Circle Theater Awards on Tuesday. while Richard Bean's "Harvest" was named best new play. Michael Grandage, announced earlier that day as the...

Steppenwolf steps in.(Steppenwolf Theater Co.)(The Pillowman, August: Osage County)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2006... "The Pillowman" and the world preem of a play by Tracy Letts ("Bug") are among the offerings of the 2006-07 season at the Steppenwolf Theater in Chi. Company's 31st season kicks off with "Pillowman," the Martin McDonagh chiller nommed for...