Daily Variety articles from February 2009

Daily Variety archives from February 2009

Male call: 'Taken' tackles Bowl B.O.
February 2, 2009... Twentieth Century Fox's Liam Neeson action-thriller "Taken" scored a touchdown at the domestic box office, proving that male-driven pics can open successfully on Super Bowl weekend. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "Taken" grossed an estimated...

Niche pix slow to grow.
February 2, 2009... While sustaining their target auds, Oscar best pic contenders "Milk" and "The Reader" did not gain B.O. momentum as they expanded nationwide over the weekend. "Frost/Nixon" saw similar results when it went wide a week earlier. So far,...

Helmers add to 'Slumdog' streak.
February 2, 2009... "Slumdog Millionaire," the longshot-turned-awards season favorite, continues on its hot streak, with director Danny Boyle taking the top honor from the Directors Guild of America. Boyle won the trophy Saturday night at the DGA Awards...

Patel floating to 'Airbender'.(Dev Patel in 'The Last Airbender')(Brief article)
February 2, 2009... "Slumdog Millionaire" star Dev Patel has joined the cast of M. Night Shyamalan's "The Last Airbender," the Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon Films live-actioner based on a Nick TV series. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Patel will be featured...

Scorsese hears sounds of 'Silence'.
February 2, 2009... Martin Scorsese is determined to make "Silence" his next movie. The helmer and Graham King's GK Films are negotiating with Daniel Day-Lewis and Benicio Del Toro to star. Gael Garcia Bernal is also circling the film, expected to begin production...

Embracing the career U-turn.(Column)
February 2, 2009... WE'VE ALL HEARD the legends, or at least their vague outlines: The CEO who drops dealmaking to become a therapist. The studio chief who abandons movies to lead the charge on stem-cell research. The agent who decides Broadway plays are more...

Giving a boost to Broadway.
February 2, 2009... New York's marketing and tourism office on Friday launched a targeted communications campaign to boost Broadway ticket sales in the wake of the economic downturn. Part of a broader campaign to stimulate the local economy by NYC and...

Goldwyn warms 'Souls'.(Samuel Goldwyn's 'Cold Souls')(Brief article)
February 2, 2009... Samuel Goldwyn has picked up U.S. rights to Sundance competition entry "Cold Souls." Writer-helmer Sophie Barthes' pic garnered favorable response at the fest. Evoking a Charlie Kaufman concept, it stars Paul Giamatti as an actor who gets...

Anchor finds 'Forgotten'.(Not Forgotten)(Brief article)
February 2, 2009... Anchor Bay Films has picked up distribution tights to the Myriad Pictures thriller "Not Forgotten" for the U.S., U.K. and Oz. Pic starting Simon Baker and Paz Vega recently screened at the Slamdance Film Festival. Anchor Bay plans to...

'Panda' packs punch; DreamWorks toon tops Annie nods.
February 2, 2009... "Kung Fu Panda" won big at this year's Annie Awards. And no one was more surprised that the DreamWorks toon pic bested Disney/Pixar's "Wall-E" for the top prize than "Panda" co-director John Stevenson, whose expletive-filled acceptance speech...

Studios open up wallets for tomes.
February 2, 2009... Two major book auctions wrapped up Friday in a sign that the comatose book-to-movie biz may be waking up. Columbia Pictures won a spirited auction late Friday for the Danielle Trussoni novel "Angelology" paying $1 million for the title....

Lee 'Passing' through SXSW.(South by Southwest and Spike Lee)(Brief article)
February 2, 2009... South by Southwest unveiled Sunday its complete lineup for this year's festival, which will be held March 13-21 in Austin, Texas. The nine-day fest and confab will feature 108 films, including 54 world premieres. Among the highlights are...

Scripter lauds 'Slumdog'.
February 2, 2009... "Slumdog Millionaire" continued its awards sweep Friday night at the 21st annual USC Libraries Scripter Awards after walking away with the org's top prize. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] In a show of appreciation for the event's unique nature...

Dramas a go at ABC: net picks up Bruckheimer, McG pilots.
February 2, 2009... ABC greenlit three more drama pilots Friday, including a Jerry Bruckheimer crime hour, a sudser from Mark Gordon's company and a high school skein from McG and music maven Pharrell Williams. "Limelight" was partly inspired by hip-hop...

Showtime sticks with exec.
February 2, 2009... Showtime has reupped Gary Levine, one of the architects of the pay cabler's recent original series success under entertainment prexy Robert Greenblatt. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Levine, exec veep of original programming, is understood to...

BET gets into 'The Game'.
February 2, 2009... CW series "The Game" is coming to BET. The cabler network has acquired off-net rights to the comedy series from CBS TV Distribution and will begin airing segs from the show's first two seasons in February. Deal also gives BET rights to the...

Show shuffle at ABC Family.
February 2, 2009... ABC Family has made major changes to its lineup, giving 10-episode orders to femme-targeted series "Ruby and the Rockits," "Perfect 10" and "10 Things I Hate About You." In addition, cabler has renewed the college-life-themed "Greek" and...

DGA nominees spread the credit.
February 2, 2009... Danny Boyle admits that directing "Slnmdog Millionaire" has not only done wonders for his career, it's altered how he feels about himself and how others perceive him. "It's kind of mystical being in India," the British helmer said Saturday...

Coraline.(Movie review)
February 2, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] (Animated) A Focus Features release and presentation of a Laika presentation, in association with Pandemonium. Produced by Bill Mechanic, Claire Jennings, Henry Selick, Mary Sandell. Executive producer, Michael...

He's Just Not That Into You.(Movie review)
February 2, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A Warner Bros. release of a New Line Cinema presentation of a Flower Films production. Produced by Nancy Juvonen. Executive producers, Drew Barrymore, Toby Emmerich, Michele Weiss, Michael Beugg. Co-producers,...

Push.(Movie review)
February 2, 2009... A Summit Entertainment release, in association with Icon Prods., of an Infinity Features Entertainment and Icon Prods. production. Produced by Bruce Davey, William Vinee, Glenn Williamson. Executive producers, Gretchen Somerfield, David Bourla,...

'Reader' renders 'Knight' fall: Daldry's post-Holocaust drama picks up a picture nom while Batman loses Acad's attention.(THE FIFTH SLOT: SELECTION ANALYSIS)
February 2, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Academy members chose a Holocaust-related movie over a comicbook story? When examined in that context, the voters' choice of "The Reader" over "The Dark Knight" in the best picture category for the Academy...

Best picture.(V PLUS: EYE ON THE OSCARS: THE NOMINEES)
February 2, 2009... 'THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON' Why it'll win: "Button" is thematically gripping, viscerally poignant, visually stunning storytelling with a literary backbone in the way of an F. Scott Fitzgerald short story that will appeal to the...

Director.(V PLUS: EYE ON THE OSCARS: THE NOMINEES)
February 2, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] DANNY BOYLE 'Slumdog Millionaire' Why he'll win: Boyle pushed himself by directing a film in which English was spoken only about half the time and which represented in stunning detail a largely foreign culture...

Documentary.(V PLUS: EYE ON THE OSCARS: THE NOMINEES)
February 2, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] 'THE BETRAYAL' Why it'll win: Renowned cinematographer Ellen Kuras spent 23 years following a Laotian family's life in Brooklyn after the Vietnam War. It's a labor of love that's gripping, lyrical and...

Foreign language.(V PLUS: EYE ON THE OSCARS: THE NOMINEES)(The Class, Departures, and The Baader Meinhoff Complex)(Movie review)
February 2, 2009... 'THE BAADER MEINHOF COMPLEX' Why it'll win: Zeitgeist elements pepper this German effort with notions of American imperialism and the motives of terrorists. Conventional storytelling makes it the most accessible of the nominees. Maybe...

Animation.(V PLUS: EYE ON THE OSCARS: THE NOMINEES)(Bolt, Wall-E, and Kung Fu Panda)(Movie review)
February 2, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] 'BOLT Why it'll win: The late-year release keeps it fresh in voters' minds, unlike the other two pics, and a split vote between "Wall-E" and "Kung Fu Panda" could help its cause. The pic is also the first 3-D...

Disfarmer.(Theater review)
February 2, 2009... (St. Ann's Warehouse; 274 seats; $42 top) A St. Ann's Warehouse presentation of a play in one act conceived, designed and directed by Dan Hurlin, created by the ensemble with text by Sally Oswald. Costumes, Anna Thomford; lighting, Tyler...

Duet for One.(Theater review)
February 2, 2009... (Almeida Theater, London; 321 seats; 29.50 [pounds sterling] ($43) top) An Almeida Theater presentation of a play in two acts by Tom Kempinski. Directed by Matthew Lloyd. Sets and costumes, Lez Brotherston; lighting, Jason Taylor; sound,...

Billy Powell.(Obituaries)(Obituary)(Brief article)
February 2, 2009... Lynyrd Skynyrd band keyboard player Billy Powell died Jan. 28 in Orange Park, Fla. He was 56. He had a history of heart problems. The Jacksonville-based band was formed in 1966 by high school students--famously, they took its name from...

Susanna Foster.(Obituaries)(Obituary)
February 2, 2009... Singer-actress Susanna Foster, who starred opposite Claude Rains and Nelson Eddy in the 1943 Universal production of "Phantom of the Opera" when she was 19, died Jan. 17 of heart failure in Englewood, N.J. She was 84. Bom Suzanne DeLee...

John Mortimer.(Obituaries)
February 2, 2009... British lawyer and writer John Mortimer, creator of the curmudgeonly criminal lawyer Rumpole of the Bailey, died Jan. 16 near London. He was 85. Mortimer combined a career as a lawyer with a large literary output that included dozens of...

Jerry Esbin.(Obituaries)
February 2, 2009... Longtime distribution exec Jerry Esbin died Jan. 9 in New York of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. He was 77. Born in Brooklyn, he served in the Navy during the Korean war. He started his career in the entertainment business in the Columbia...

Eastwood masters age.(Clint Eastwood)(Brief article)
February 2, 2009... "I'm just telling people I'm 78. I'm only 38" Clint Eastwood quipped as he took the stage to receive the aptly named Modem Master Award at the Santa Barbara Film Festival. It was lost on no one in the crowd that at an age when most stars...

'Valkyrie' mission succeeds o'seas.
February 2, 2009... Tom Cruise's "Valkyrie" scored its second straight victory at the foreign box office, hitting the target with $18.6 million at 3,900 play-dates in 26 markets. International markets also saw awards season contenders start to expand with...

Super sized: bowl draws 95 million.
February 3, 2009... Amid a steep economic downturn, American auds were in a partying mood Sunday as the Super Bowl on NBC drew one of the largest television audiences on record. Super Bowl XLIII, which the Pittsburgh Steelers won 27-23 over the Arizona...

Parisot picks up puck for U.
February 3, 2009... Universal Pictures is ready to drop the puck on its "Slap Shot" remake, setting Dean Parisot to direct the redo of the 1977 hockey comedy classic. Peter Steinfeld ("21") is penning the script; Kathleen Kennedy and Frank Marshall will...

Powerful 'Push' for pic.
February 3, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Lionsgate has acquired Sundance Film Festival winner "Push: Based on the Novel by Sapphire?' Oprah Winfrey and Tyler Perry will team to promote the film. Multimillion-dollar pact for North American distribution...

SAG pair prep suit over Allen ouster.(Screen Actors Guild's Alan Rosenberg and Anne-Marie Johnson on Doug Allen's termination)
February 3, 2009... With the Screen Actors Guild about to relaunch contract talks, guild president Alan Rosenberg and first VP Anne-Marie Johnson have disclosed plans to go to court to demand reinstatement of Doug Allen as national exec director. The duo...

Scribe up to 'Challenge'.
February 3, 2009... Warner Bros. has set Aaron Sorkin to write "The Challenge" a courtroom drama for George Clooney's Smoke House shingle. Clooney is producing with Smoke House partner Grant Heslov. Clooney may direct and hopes to play Navy lawyer Charles...

Rough Rialto winter: 'Plan' up as others sag.(LEGIT)(The American Plan)(Brief article)
February 3, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Broadway box office continued its late-January decline last week, with total sales slipping more than $750,000 to $11.9 million. Nearly every production on the boards experienced dips, although a few managed to...

'Norman' goes from Blighty to B'way.(LEGIT)
February 3, 2009... The hit London staging of Alan Ayckbourn's legit trilogy "The Norman Conquests" has confirmed a Rialto transfer with a run that opens in April at Circle in the Square. Production originated in the fall at the Old Vic Theater, the London...

The Third Story.(Theater review)
February 3, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] (Lucille Lortel Theater;199 seats; $65 top) An MCC Theater presentation, by special arrangement with the Lucille Lortel Foundation, of a play in two acts by Charles Busch. Directed by Carl Andress. Sets, David...

Rounding out Rialto.(Legit Bits)(The Philanthropist)(Brief article)
February 3, 2009... Stephen Weber and Jonathan Cake are among the thesps joining topliner Matthew Broderick in the Roundabout Theater Company revival of "The Philanthropist." [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Weber plays a friend of the academic portrayed by...

Broadway top 10: Jan. 26-Feb. 1.(LEGIT)
February 3, 2009... Broadway Top 10: Jan. 26 - Feb. 1 Show Week's Net Prev Week's $Change (Theater)(Prod. Receipts Net Receipts Avg. Tick Category) (Seats) Potential Net Receipts Wicked ...

CBS investigates new ways to use tunes.
February 3, 2009... NCIS," THE TOP-RATED DRAMA this season, has integrated music into storylines in a manner not seen on network television. While the assertion that TV has become the new radio is up for some debate, "NCIS" has fast established itself as a new...

TNT adds 'Leverage'.
February 3, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] TNT has given a second-season renewal to "Leverage." Turner has ordered another 15 episodes of the caper drama, which stars Timothy Hutton as the leader of a band of expert thieves who use their skills in a Robin...

Thesps dig funeral film.(Bill Murray and Lucas Black in Get Low)(Brief article)
February 3, 2009... Bill Murray and Lucas Black have joined the cast of the period dramatic thriller "Get Low" for the Zanuck Co. Robert Duvall and Sissy Spacek star in the Aaron Schneider-helmed pic, which is based on the true story of Felix "Bush"...

Pine fresh for ShoWest.
February 3, 2009... Chris Pine--who plays young Capt. Kirk in J.J. Abrams' "Star Trek"--will receive the Male Star of Tomorrow award at upcoming exhib confab ShoWest. Award is intended to recognize and showcase actors and actresses in the earlier parts of their...

Flyovers.(Theater review)
February 3, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] (78th St. Theater Lab; 54 seats; $18 top) An Artistic New Directions, 78th St. Theater Lab, Jeff Landsman presentation of a play in one act by Jeffrey Sweet. Directed by Sandy Shinner. Set and lighting, Roby A...

'Issue' fashions deal: Vogue doc set to get Roadside release.(The September Issue picked by Roadside Attractions)
February 3, 2009... "The September Issue," R.J. Cutler's documentary about Vogue editor Anna Wintour, has secured a pickup from Roadside Attractions. The distrib took domestic theatrical and homevid rights on the A&E IndieFilms-produced doc, which had a...

Tube helmer tries 'Plan B' with pic gig.
February 3, 2009... After two decades as a TV helmer of acclaimed dramas, Alan Poul is segueing to a bigscreen romantic comedy. Poul, who has directed series including "Big Love," "Six Feet Under," "Rome" and "Swingtown," is in final negotiations to helm the...

SPC makes it work.
February 3, 2009... Sony Pictures Classics has bought U.S. rights to Woody Allen's next film, "Whatever Works." [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Gotham-set comedy will be released in the summer. "Whatever" stars Larry David, Evan Rachel Wood, Ed Begley Jr. and...

Shingle has a new name.(GOTHAM FILM CLIPS)
February 3, 2009... Arts Alliance America, formerly known as Hart Sharp Video, is changing names again amid an ownership shuffle. Virgil Films and Entertainment will retain Arts Alliance's small theatrical slate, including February release "The Caller" with...

Stormy Weather.
February 3, 2009... (Pasadena Playhouse; 645 seats; $78 top) A Pasadena Playhouse presentation, by special arrangement with Stewart F. Lane, Bonnie Comley and Armica Prods., of a musical in two acts conceived and written by Sharleen Cooper Cohen, suggested by...

Noms eat up pre-Oscars fete.(PETER BART ... from his blog)
February 3, 2009... THE ANNUAL OSCAR nominees lunch is unique--it's the only party no one complains about attending. Even those stars who, like the fabled Garbo, "vant to be alone," relish Monday's fraternal in-gathering. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "Artists...

Over the influence: they may have directing heroes, but these helmers express their own visions.(RETROSPECTIVE: FILMMAKERS LOOK BACK)
February 3, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Whether it's making love or movies, the first time is often a bust. A few Oscar-nommed helmers see it differently--at least when it comes to their initial...

First films don't tell the artist's whole tale: critics get their shots, but not the final word.(DEBUTS)
February 3, 2009... They're lauded with Oscars noms this year, but how did those five directors fare years ago when each of them made his helmer debut? Here's a look back at what the top crix had to say about such nascent talent. Gus Van Sant may have fared...

Mismatched in movie hell: not every filmmaker is lucky enough to choose exactly the project destined to bring him or her award-season recognition. This year's five director nominees almost missed their chance for Oscar glory. Documents secretly procured by Variety testify to the less-than-stellar vehicles that got away.(V PLUS: EYE ON THE OSCARS: THE DIRECTOR)
February 3, 2009... 'HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL 3.5: SENIOR FOLLIES' Directed by Stephen Daldry Kate Winslet puts the "senior" in senior year as love-starved drama teacher Ms. Darbus, whose long-dormant desires are brought out in this threequel from the director...

Sam's still swinging in U.K.(DIRECTOR'S LEGACY UPDATE)(Sam Peckinpah's The Wild Bunch)(Brief article)
February 3, 2009... In this, the 40th anniversary of director Sam Peckinpah's "The Wild Bunch," a movie that changed the face of international cinema, it's worth noting that the maverick auteur's impact is still being felt around the world, even if the Oscars are...

IFC Films has acquired U.S. distribution rights to prison break film "The Escapist," starring Brian Cox and Joseph Fiennes and directed by tyro helmer Rupert Wyatt.(GOTHAM FILM CLIPS)
February 3, 2009... IFC Films has acquired U.S. distribution rights to prison break film "The Escapist," starring Brian Cox and Joseph Fiennes and directed by tyro helmer Rupert Wyatt. The film, which premiered Stateside at Sundance last year, will be...

Another Cannes 2008 film has found a distributor: MPI Media group has acquired domestic rights to jury prize winner "Il Divo.".(GOTHAM FILM CLIPS)
February 3, 2009... Another Cannes 2008 film has found a distributor: MPI Media group has acquired domestic rights to jury prize winner "Il Divo." The biopic, directed by Paolo Sorrentino, tracks the career of Italian Prime Minister Giulio Andreotti, whose ties to...

Film Movement has acquired domestic rights to Shane Meadows' feature "Somers Town," a British drama about a pair of teenagers--a Polish immigrant and a runaway from Nottingham--who form a friendship over the course of a summer together in London.(GOTHAM FILM CLIPS)
February 3, 2009... Film Movement has acquired domestic rights to Shane Meadows' feature "Somers Town," a British drama about a pair of teenagers--a Polish immigrant and a runaway from Nottingham--who form a friendship over the course of a summer together in...

Scribe inks comic deal.(Neal Marshall Stevens and Studio 407 on Havoc Brigade and Demon Squad)(Brief article)
February 3, 2009... Horror pic scribe Neal Marshall Stevens has inked a deal with Studio 407 to create two comicbooks, "Havoc Brigade" and "Demon Squad," which the company may adapt into features. Stevens, who penned the remake of "Thirteen Ghosts" for Joel...

Composer Adam Guettel ("The Light in the Piazza") and playwright Rajiv Joseph ("Animals Out of Paper") are among the creatives spending three weeks.(Legit Bits)
February 3, 2009... Composer Adam Guettel ("The Light in the Piazza") and playwright Rajiv Joseph ("Animals Out of Paper") are among the creatives spending three weeks in Wyoming as 2009 participants in the Sundance at Ucross Playwrights Retreat. ...

Randy Gener, the Senior editor of American Theater magazine.(Legit Bits)
February 3, 2009... Randy Gener, the Senior editor of American Theater magazine, has picked up the Nathan Award for Dramatic Criticism for the 2007-08 theatrical season. Laurel is handed out annually by Cornell U. in recognition of legit criticism, with...

U.K. theater the Mill at Sonning will preem a musical about Doris Day this spring as part of its 2009 season.(Legit Bits)
February 3, 2009... U.K. theater the Mill at Sonning will preem a musical about Doris Day this spring as part of its 2009 season. Mill a.d. Sally Hughes will play Day in the show, which will include tunes sung by Day including "Young at Heart," "Secret Love"...

Legal eagle set for RIAA.
February 3, 2009... Former Sony BMG attorney Jennifer Pariser has been named senior VP of litigation and legal affairs for the Recording Industry Assn. of America. Pariser has more than two decades of legal experience in intellectual property law. She was...

CMT, sings second 'Duet'.(Country Music Television's Can You Duet)(Brief article)
February 3, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] CMT has reupped "Can You Duet" for a second season after the music-competition series enjoyed the highest ever original-series premiere on the cabler last year. The MTV Networks channel has ordered eight episodes...

Weekend at the B.O.
February 3, 2009... Weekend at the B.O. $126.5 million Jan. 30-Feb. 1, 2009 -1% vs. last year -21% vs. last weekend Screen Scene The weekend's top 10 engagements: Theater, city (circuit) Gross 1 Taken ...

Film box office wrap: for the weekend of Jan. 30-Feb. 1.
February 3, 2009... Film Box Office Wrap FOR THE WEEKEND OF JAN. 30-FEB. 1 Ranking Title (Distribution/Financier) Reported Pct. This Last Weekend Change Week Week ...

Showbiz stocks: Monday, February 2, 2009.
February 3, 2009... Showbiz Stocks Monday, February 2, 2009 YTD Name Tkr PE Last Chg %Chg AccessIT CIDM ... .66 -.01 +78.4 Avid ...

New York's top pics.
February 3, 2009... New York's top pics (based on location average for the weekend of Jan. 30-Feb. 1, 2009) Nat'l # N.Y. # N. Y. Title (dist) Week of locs of locs avg/loc 1. The Class...

L.A.'s top pics.
February 3, 2009... L.A.'s top pics (based on location average for the weekend of Jan. 30-Feb. 1, 2009) Nat'l # L.A. # L.A. Title (dist) Week of lots of lots avg/loc 1. Taken (Fox) ...

Kudos and Kickoffs: stars hit Santa Barbara, Spain and the Super Bowl.(V)(Brief article)
February 3, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Mickey Rourke accepts the American Riviera Award presented by Francis Ford Coppola Saturday at the Santa Barbara Film Fest; Taraji P. Henson and Jake Gyllenhaal flank fest honoree David...

Katy Perry.
February 3, 2009... (Wiltern Theater; 2,200 capacity; $27.50 top) Presented by Live Nation. Band: Perry, Patrick Matera, Korel Tunador, Josh Moreau Adam Marcello. Also appearing: The Daylighters. Reviewed Jan. 31, 2009. No matter what one thinks about...

Mouse doused: economy hammers Disney's profits.
February 4, 2009... We knew it would be ugly. Now we're starting to see just how hard the economic meltdown is hitting showbiz. Disney kicked off what's likely to be a grim earnings season in the media sector by posting on Tuesday a 32% drop in net income for...

Oliviers love 'La Cage'.
February 4, 2009... The Donmar Warehouse and producer Sonia Friedman lead the pack for the Society of London Theater's 33rd annual Laurence Olivier Awards, with each scoring a total of 13 nominations for four of their respective productions. The Donmar bounty...

Col buys into brain waves.
February 4, 2009... Columbia Pictures and producer Scott Rudin have acquired fights to make a film based on the life of Henry Molaison, whose brain became the most studied gray matter in medical history. Molaison became known in medical circles as H.M., the...

TNT's 'Trust' issues.
February 4, 2009... After enjoying a string of successful series launches, TNT is struggling with its latest entry, ad agency drama "Trust Me." [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The show, which stars Eric McCormack and Tom Cavanagh, scored just 1.9 million viewers...

Lawsuit hits snag.(Screen Actors Guild)
February 4, 2009... Screen Actors Guild president Alan Rosenberg struck out Tuesday in his quixotic effort to reinstate Doug Allen as guild topper due to procedural errors with his legal filing, but his attorneys promised they'll refile shortly and try again. ...

Music man turns to TV.
February 4, 2009... Add former Epic Records president Charlie Walk to the list of media mavens who have shifted careers midstream. Walk has launched an entertainment company and simultaneously signed an exclusive overall deal with Endemol USA. Charlie...

Showbiz and the meltdown.(VARIETY.COM)
February 4, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Go to Variety.com/ economy for news analysis on how the financial crisis is taking its toll on Hollywood.

NBC's bowled over: pigskin bounce doesn't lift regular fare.
February 4, 2009... NBC drew a record audience for its coverage of Sunday's Super Bowl but got off to only a so-so start on Monday of this week with its returning dramas, which received a hefty promotional push during the game. "Chuck" and "Heroes" were both...