Daily Variety articles from January 2003

Daily Variety archives from January 2003

NFL gains yardage for ESPN.(ESPN scored double digit increases in primetime viewership)
January 2, 2003... Pro football sacked the competition in basic cable for 2002, capturing nine of the 10 highest-rated slots for individual programs and propelling ESPN to double-digit gains in households and adults 25-54. ESPN led 13 other cable networks...

Next chapter for Viv: sale of book unit puts focus on future of showbiz assets.(Vivendi Universal sells off assets to focus on entertainment)
January 2, 2003... Now what? That's the question on the tip of Hollywood and Wall Street's collective tongue this new year, as Vivendi Universal finally shifts its full attention to the future of its entertainment assets. The frazzled Gallic firm on...

'Towers' reaching B.O. heights.("The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers" performs well at the box office)
January 2, 2003... HOLLYWOOD -- The new year is ringing in much the same way as the old one--with a "Lord of the Rings" movie atop the box office and showing no signs of budging. New Line's second installment in the action-fantasy trilogy is likely to...

'Sin Eater' is off menu for January.(Twentieth Century Fox delays debut of occult thriller)
January 2, 2003... HOLLYWOOD -- Twentieth Century Fox has pulled Brian Helgeland's occult thriller "Sin Eater" from its Jan. 17 berth after the filmmaker and studio brass concurred that the special visual f/x needed work. The effects, originally handled by...

'03 Outlook cloudy: forecasters fear 2nd-half slump in ad sales.
January 2, 2003... Showbiz investors are hoping New Year's Eve data aren't a harbinger of things to come in 2003, as weaker-than-expected consumer-confidence numbers and the third consecutive year of stock market losses cast a pall on Wall Street's merrymaking....

Scott, Bates top queen's honor roll.(Ridley Scott and Alan Bates knighted)
January 2, 2003... LONDON -- British entertainment figures from helmer Ridley Scott to comic Jasper Carrott (aka Robert Davis) received good news via Queen Elizabeth TI herself to ring out 2002 as the annual New Year's honors list was announced in London Tuesday....

Fox News shows ratings gain.(Brief Article)
January 2, 2003... For cable newsies, a war with Iraq may not be such a bad thing. CNN, Headline News, MSNBC and CNBC showed double-digit drops in year-end ratings versus 2001, the year that auds flocked to the television for updates on post-9/11 events. ...

SAG prexy stresses conciliatory stance.(Screen Actors Guild )
January 2, 2003... HOLLYWOOD -- SAG will make nice in 2003. Guild prexy Melissa Gilbert, in an end-of-the-year message to the 98,000 SAG members, has emphasized nonconfrontational, conciliatory approaches to key thesp issues, along with smooth relations with...

Palm Springs fetes Nolan.(International Film Festival gives Visionary Filmmaker Award to Christopher Nolan )(Brief Article)
January 2, 2003... HOLLYWOOD -- Filmmaker Christopher Nolan has been selected to receive the Visionary Filmmaker Award at the Palm Springs Intl. Film Festival, it was announced by fest exec director Mitch Levine. The 14th annual fest unspools Jan. 9-20 in the...

The Crooked E: the unshredded truth about Enron. (Television Review).(Television Program Review)
January 2, 2003... Speier, Michael (Telepic; CBS; Sun., Jan. 5; 9p.m.) Filmed in Winnipeg by Robert Green-wald Prods. Executive producer, Robert Greeen-wald; co-executive producer, Alys Shanti; producer; Robert F. Phillips; director, Penelope Spheeris;...

Lawsuits flying over new 'Peter Pan' book. (Business).(After the Rain: A New Adventure for Peter Pan by Canadian author Emily Somma)
January 2, 2003... SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- Peter Pan, the boy who wouldn't grow up, has been dragged into the adult world of federal court. Canadian author Emily Somma has filed suit in San Francisco claiming the characters in "Peter Pan," including Tinker...

Cable rates rising: customer base down for 1st time in biz history. (Business).(rate of new subscriber sign-up vs. satellite subscribers)
January 2, 2003... In its ninth annual state of the industry review, the Federal Communications Commission reported that cable rates once again grew well ahead of inflation. According to Bureau of Labor Statistics, average cable prices rose 6.3% for the year...

Supremes stay DVD copy decision. (Business).(US Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor)
January 2, 2003... WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Supreme Court has inserted itself temporarily into a DVD copying case that also holds significant implications for the jurisdiction of U.S. courts over certain Internet activities. On Dec. 24, Justice Sandra Day...

SBS sells $11 mil stake in Polish channel to ITI. (Business).(ITI TV Holdings buys stake for $11 mn)(Brief Article)
January 2, 2003... AMSTERDAM -- Pan-Euro channel launcher SBS Broadcasting has sold a 2.6% equity stake in its Polish channel TVN to ITI TV Holdings, a subsidiary of the channel's major stockholder ITI Holdings, for $11 million. The broadcaster tried to sell...

Showbiz stocks.(Brief Article)
January 2, 2003... SHOWBIZ STOCKS Tuesday, December 31, 2002 Find stock prices and news about any company at Variety.com/stocks YTD Name Tkr PE Last Chg %Chg AMC AEN --...

CBS, NBC top rerun laden week.(young-adults targeted by TV networks)
January 2, 2003... HOLLYWOOD -- NBC has captured another primetime frame in the key young-adults demo while "CSI"-powered CBS again led in total viewers in a week littered with repeats. Overall, there was lots of holiday togetherness among the nets, as...

Just Married. (Film Review).(newlyweds go to Europe)(Movie Review)
January 2, 2003... A Twentieth Century Fox release and presentation in association with Mediastream 1. Prods, of a Robert Simonds production. Produced by Robert Simonds. Executive producers, Tracey Trench, Josie Rosen, Lauren Shuler Donner. Co-producer, Ira...

'Two Towers' marketers face sequel challenge. (Countdown).("The Lord of the Rings" trilogy )
January 2, 2003... If "The Two Towers" follows its predecessor "The Fellowship of the Ring" and earns a best picture nom, Peter Jackson's "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy will achieve a first in Oscar's 75-year history: Two best pic nominees coming out of the...

Cities spawn new crix kudos. (Countdown).(San Francisco Film Critics Circle formed)(Brief Article)
January 2, 2003... When even the San Diego and the Las Vegas film critics started to hand out and publicize their own year-end awards, critics' groups in larger cities decided they weren't going to be left out. This year, both San Francisco and Seattle formed...

A new toon titan: Disney fills Schumacher's slot in animation.(David Stainton to head Walt Disney Animation )
January 3, 2003... HOLLYWOOD -- Disney is expected to announce today the elevation of TV toon unit head David Stainton to prexy of Walt Disney Animation. He replaces Thomas Schumacher, who is relocating to Gotham to head up stage theatricals for the Mouse...

Ratings are coming up roses for Alphabet web.(college bowl games increase ratings for networks)(Brief Article)
January 3, 2003... HOLLYWOOD -- Wednesday's Sugar Bowl proved to be a sweet performer for ABC, while the battle in Pasadena also came up roses for the Alphabet. According to metered-market overnights for New Year's Day, the primetime Georgia vs. Florida...

Almodovar a 'Bad' man.(Pedro Almodovar prepares his next movie)(Brief Article)
January 3, 2003... MADRID -- Helmer Pedro Almodovar's next pic will be the Spanish-lingo "La mala educacion" (Bad Education). Produced by El Deseo, the Madrid-based production shingle of Almodovar and brother Agustin Almodovar, "Educacion" will start...

Wild about 'Harry': 'Potter' puts WB on top o'seas.("Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" performs well overseas)
January 3, 2003... The world was just wild about "Harry" in 2002. Warner Bros. took top honors in the majors' overseas B.O. derby last year, thanks to a boffo run from "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets." Warner's international division amassed...

TV biz stuck in reg trenches.(debate over media ownership rules)
January 3, 2003... The TV biz rang in the New Year by declaring civil war over Washington's plan to loosen media ownership rules and allow another tidal wave of media consolidation. After weeks of huddling in secret, opposing sides revealed their battle...

State's 'Blind' trust: New Mexico to invest $4.7 mil in Kilmer pic.(state offers interest-free loan to production of "Blind Horizon" movie)
January 3, 2003... HOLLYWOOD--New Mexico looks like it's becoming a player in the movie business. The state Investment Council has voted to give a $4.7 million guaranteed interest-free loan to "Blind Horizon," a thriller toplined by Val Kilmer, and will have...

CNBC's ratings follow Wall Street's tumble.(Brief Article)
January 3, 2003... The past year has been harsh to Wall Street, and it hasn't been that kind to CNBC, either. In year-end Nielsen Media Research ratings, the financial news net suffered a 44% drop in its total-day coverage vs. the previous year. Its 7-10...

Eminem leads music biz to big '02 finale.(ranking of the music industry)
January 3, 2003... In a fitting end to the year on the music charts, the soundtrack to Eminem's blockbuster pic "8 Mile" (Interscope/Shady) reclaimed the top spot in the final week of 2002, unseating Shania Twain and scanning 3.5 million units to date. Perf...

Fellowship for 'Rings' fans.("The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers" fans hold theme parties)
January 3, 2003... LONDON -- It's a clear sign that a movie has passed from mere entertainment into the realm of cultural phenomenon when it starts spawning theme parties. Such is the case with "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy. Act two, "The Two Towers," has...

Vegas. D.C. crix spread kudos wealth.(Las Vegas Film Critics awards)
January 3, 2003... The Las Vegas Film Critics have bestowed best picture honors upon George Clooney's "Confessions of a Dangerous Mind" while "The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers," in a repeat performance this awards season, again racked up the most kudos, with...

Online DVD rent shop Netflix picks up subs. (Business).(Brief Article)
January 3, 2003... Blockbuster's woes are clearly Netflix's gain. The online mail order DVD rental shop reported that it will exceed its own subscriber targets for 2002, with subs expected to end the year up 88% in the fourth quarter to reach 857,000. Some...

Cheer in new year: showbiz stocks rise despite mixed forecast. (Business).
January 3, 2003... Walt Disney led showbiz shares higher Thursday on an analyst's upgrade for a rollicking start to the new year. Investors, facing mixed economic signals, chose a glass-half-full approach on the first trading day of 2003, egged on by glowing 2002...

Showbiz stocks. (Business).(stock statistics for various entertainment companies)(Illustration)
January 3, 2003... SHOWBIZ STOCKS Thursday, January 2, 2003 Find stock prices and news about any company at Variety.com/stocks YTD Name Tkr PE Last Chg %Chg AMC AEN ...

TVropa filing for bankruptcy. (Business).(Brief Article)
January 3, 2003... COPENHAGEN -- TVropa, the TV division of Denmark's Zentropa Entertainments, has filed for bankruptcy after failing to secure $550,000 in new investments. TVropa Holding (owned 50% by Zentropa Entertainments, 30% by two venture capitalist...

Morgan Stanley sues NTL over unpaid fees. (Business).(Brief Article)
January 3, 2003... LONDON -- Cash-strapped U.K. cable company NTL is being sued by Morgan Stanley, one of its banking advisers, for more than [pounds sterling]7 million ($9.8 million) in unpaid fees for work dating back to 1999. Morgan Stanley, one of NTL's...

Newmark Communications. (Exec Shuffle).(makes executive changes)(Brief Article)
January 3, 2003... Lewis O'Neil and Stephen Rockabrand have joined Newmark Communications as senior exec consultants. The pair were formerly with Premiere Marketing & Distribution Group, where O'Neil served as the distrib prexy. O'Neil will assist in the...

Wolf Tracer Pictures. (Exec Shuffle).(names proxy of production)(Brief Article)
January 3, 2003... Joseph Brad Kluge has been named proxy of production for Wolf Tracer Pictures. He will be responsible for the development and physical production of all original programming, including animated and live-action theatrical motion pictures, TV...

Spain's extra credit: org ups '03 feature coin 15% to $46.6 mil. (World News).(Spain's film industry gets euro45 million in funding)(Brief Article)
January 3, 2003... MADRID --ringing tidings of comfort, if not quite joy, to Spain's cash-strapped film industry, the country's Official Credit Institute (ICO) has committed [euro]45 million ($46.6 million) in low-interest credit for feature film production in...

U.S. tentpoles tough on Norway tix sales. (World News).(Norway's movie theater ticket sales)(Brief Article)
January 3, 2003... COPENHAGEN --Norway's cinema admissions dropped 3.5% to 12 million last year after 9.6% growth in 2001, according to the local film theater body. Film & Kino, the association of municipal theaters, reckons the "Lord of the Rings" and...

U.K.'s Xmas auds tune out terrestrial. (World News).(satellite, cable channels gain viewership)(Brief Article)
January 3, 2003... LONDON -- U.K. audiences are increasingly switching from terrestrial, networks to satellite and cable channels, according to Christmas viewing figures. Multi-channel viewing accounted for 22.4% of Christmas week auds, up 14% from 2001, and...

Report: digital will power Asia TV. (World News).
January 3, 2003... SYDNEY -- Digital services will help double the annual revenues of Asian cable and satellite industries to $28.9 billion in the next five years, according to a new report. The study says $30 billion was invested over the past decade in...

Free airtime for ads spells trouble at TVB. (World News).(Television Broadcasts)(Brief Article)
January 3, 2003... HONG KONG -- Dominant terrestrial broadcaster Television Broadcasts (TVB) is doubling the bonus airtime it gives advertisers who commit to keeping their spending at 2002 levels -- an indication of a grim outlook for the net this year, analysts...

Gill, Campbell topline B.C. 'Proof'. (World News).(Brief Article)
January 3, 2003... TORONTO -- Thea Gill ("Queer as Folk") and Nicholas Campbell ("Da Vinci's Inquest") will star in David Auburn's Pulitzer Prize-winning play "Proof" at the Belfry Theater in Victoria, B.C., April 8-May 4. Directed by Brian Richmond, cast...

Reed Midem taps TV chief. (World News).(Rene Peres)(Brief Article)
January 3, 2003... HOLLYWOOD -- Rene Peres rejoined Reed Midem on Thursday for a three-month term as director of the television division. He will oversee the preparation of Mip TV 2003, the television industry's largest and longest-running trade event for...

Sweeney todd. (Opera).(opera review)(Opera Review)
January 3, 2003... (Chicago Lyric Opera; 3,563 seats; $152 top) A Chicago Lyric Opera presentation of a musical in two acts with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, book by Hugh Wheeler, from an adaptation by Christopher Bond. Conductor, Paul Gemignani....

Focus features 2002.(Calendar)
January 3, 2003... FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION JANUARY SCREENINGS 8 WOMEN LOS ANGELES Monday, Jan. 6 7:30PM Universal #2, 100 Universal City Plaza Drive Monday, Jan. 13 7:30PM Clarity Screening Room, 100 N. Crescent Drive, BH NEW YORK...

Obituaries.(Obituary)
January 3, 2003... Mary Marvin Breckinridge Patterson Mary Marvin Breckinridge Patterson, a New York debutante, photojournalist and broadcaster in wartorn Europe, as well as peripatetic diplomatic spouse and philanthropist, died Dec. 11 at her home in...

Phish. (Concert Review).(Concert Review)
January 3, 2003... (Madison Square Garden: 19,456 seats; $49.50) Presented inhouse. Band: Trey Anastasio, Mike Gordon, Page McConnell, Jon Fishman; Reviewed Dec. 31, 2002. Out with the old, in with the new," may be the traditional New Year's phrase, but...

Top DVD rentals.(ranked by weekly rental revenue)(Illustration)
January 3, 2003... TOP DVD RENTALS For week ending Dec. 29 Total DVD spend: $98.9 million Week's Weekly Weeks rental revenue Title (label) ...

Top VHS rentals.(ranked by weekly rental revenue)(Illustration)
January 3, 2003... TOP VHS RENTALS For week ending Dec. 29 Total VHS spend: $109 million Week's Weekly Weeks rental revenue Title (label) ...

Preems teem in January.(television networks are introducing several new series)
January 6, 2003... HOLLYWOOD -- The calendar reads January, but it's going to feel a lot more like September in TV land this week. While networks have always used the first month of the year to begin rolling out midseason shows -- taking advantage of the cold...

Fox reality puts on dog.(Fox and LMNO Productions are developing reality specials)
January 6, 2003... HOLLYWOOD -- Fox is teaming with Eric Schotz-led reality factory LMNO Prods. for a trio of out-there reality specials -- including a doggie beauty pageant some are dubbing "Miss Bitch" and a multi-species athletic competish boasting, among...

Tolkien's still smokin': 'Towers' tops for 3rd week; 'Schmidt' solid in expansion.(The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers remains atop box office for the week)
January 6, 2003... In the absence of any wide openers this weekend, New Line's "The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers" three-peated atop box office rankings with an estimated $25.7 million. DreamWorks' "Catch Me if You Can" finished second with a skimpy drop...

Nat'l crix pick 'Pianist'.(National Society of Film Critics gives four awards to "The Pianist")
January 6, 2003... Roman Polanski's "The Pianist" received a quartet of prizes, including best picture, from the National Society of Film Critics on Saturday night. Pic's other kudos went to Polanski for direction, Ronald Harwood's screenplay and actor...

Bowie knife gets an edge.(Jason Patric to play Jim Bowie)(Brief Article)
January 6, 2003... Jason Patric, drawing critical acclaim as a tough cop in "Narc," has signed to play famed frontiersman Jim Bowie in "The Alamo." Patric joins Dennis Quaid, Billy Bob Thornton and newcomer Patrick Wilson in the pic's four meatiest roles....

Critics' year-end lists: triumph of obscurantism: looking at the top 10 lists, one wonders who drinking the Kool-Aid. (The Back Lot).(Column)
January 6, 2003... THIS IS THE TIME OF YEAR when many of us survey the maze of critics' "top 10" lists and respond, in the mode of John McEnroe, "You can't be serious." How could anyone conjure up such a mixed bag of cinematic effluvia? I've discussed these...

Oscar-winning lenser hall dies.(cinematographer Conrad L. Hall dies)(Obituary)
January 6, 2003... HOLLYWOOD -- Conrad L. Hall -- the Oscar winning cinematographer whose bold color experiments enriched such films as "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid," "Fat City," "American Beauty" and 2002's "Road to Perdition" -- died Saturday evening at...

CNBC shuffles sked, pulls Varney's 'Board'.(CNBC cancels "Wall Street Journal Editorial Board With Stuart Varney")
January 6, 2003... For the second time in six months, CNBC is changing its primetime schedule. The financial news cabler pulled its Friday 9 p.m. panel discussion, "Wall Street Journal Editorial Board With Stuart Varney," off the air last week. Beltway...

ABC 'Makeover' under knife for spring return. (Inside Moves).(ABC and Lighthearted Entertainment are negotiating for another six episodes of 'Extreme Makeover')(Brief Article)
January 6, 2003... ABC's primetime sked seems poised for an "Extreme Makeover." Nothing's official yet, but the Alphabet is in negotiations with producer Howard Schultz's Lighthearted Entertainment to order about six additional episodes of the before-and-after...

Ventura pinning down post. (Inside Moves).(outgoing Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura is in negotiations with MSNBC)(Brief Article)
January 6, 2003... Even if outgoing Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura is only in negotiations with MSNBC to have his own program, the combative former wrestler sounds as though he's jumped into the ring. Throughout last weekend's long farewell, Ventura was...

H'wd lines up vs. Lieberman. (Inside Moves).(Hollywood Democrats vow not to support Senator Joseph Lieberman's presidential campaign )(Brief Article)
January 6, 2003... Like it or not, Hollywood is betting that Sen. Joseph Lieberman (D-Conn.) will make violent entertainment and music a campaign issue when announcing his bid for presidency sometime this week. Lieberman has long accused showbiz of peddling...

Gotham goes out.(Calendar)
January 6, 2003... Monday: George A. Romero retrospective continues at the American Museum of the Moving Image. For tickets, call (718) 784-4520 or visit www.movingimage.com. Tuesday: Woodstock Film Festival and Gen Art Film Festival celebrate the new year...

AMC'S 'Wrong' turn: cabler unveils original slate aimed at young.(cable network unveils programming plans )
January 6, 2003... AMC has put together the most ambitious slate of original series, specials and documentaries in its history, led by "The Wrong Coast," a weekly animated half-hour that will make fun of movies, TV and pop culture. "Now that we've replaced...

ABC football a big winner.
January 6, 2003... HOLLYWOOD - ABC capped a big football week with boffo ratings for Friday's college championship game and Saturday's pro playoff contests. The network aired football in primetime on five of seven nights during the Dec. 30-Jan. 5 frame and...

Scherz joins Endeavor after exit from UTA.(Elyse Scherz)(Brief Article)
January 6, 2003... HOLLYWOOD -- Elyse Scherz will join Endeavor as talent agent. She ankled United Talent Agency on Dec. 20 and promptly entered into negotiations with Endeavor. Scherz, who'd worked with current Endeavor partners John Lesher and Patrick...

'Beyond' at death's doorstep.(Tribune cancels syndicated show from psychic James van Praagh )(Brief Article)
January 6, 2003... HOLLYWOOD -- He should have seen it coming: Tribune has turned out the lights on psychic James van Praagh's syndie strip "Beyond." Skein has halted production for the season and seems unlikely to return to syndication. Tribune said it...

Hero. (Film Review).(Movie Review)
January 6, 2003... (Yingxiong) (China-Hong Kong) A Beijing New Picture Film Co. (in China)/Edko Films (in H.K.)/Miramax (in U.S.) release of a Beijing New Picture Film Co. (China)/Elite Group Enterprises (H.K.) production. (Non-Asian sales: Focus...

Theater pioneer segal dies.(Benjamin H. Segal)(Obituary)
January 6, 2003... Benjamin H. Segal, 83, theatrical producer and founder of the Oakdale Theater in Wallingford, Conn., died Dec. 27 in Wallingford after a brief illness. Segal began his theatrical career as general manager of the Shubert Theater in New...

Viv U's credit rating off S&P critical list. (Business).(Vivendi Universal)(Brief Article)
January 6, 2003... Ratings agency Standard & Poor's has moved Vivendi Universal out of the intensive care unit into a regular hospital room, creditwise. S&P on Friday affirmed its "BB" long-term and "B" short-term corporate credit ratings. It also took the...

Court off DVD case: stay lifted as Supreme showdown possible. (Business).(temporary stay is vacated in case of Matthew Pavlovich versus DVD Copy Control Association )
January 6, 2003... WASHINGTON -- After flirting with the idea of intervening in a case involving DVD copying, the U.S. Supreme Court has reversed course and will stay out of the case for now. On Friday, Justice Sandra Day O'Connor vacated the temporary stay...

Spanish Broadcasting picks up Chicago trio. (Business).(from Big City Radio)(Brief Article)
January 6, 2003... Radio operator Spanish Broadcasting System got a boost to its presence in the Chicago market Friday, picking up three stations in the Windy City from broadcasting rival Big City Radio for a total of $22 million in cash. Deal, which is...

Coller cleans up at sony's SoapCity. (Business).(Mary Coller)(Brief Article)
January 6, 2003... HOLLYWOOD -- Mary Coller has been upped to senior VP and general manager of the SoapCity online site, reporting to Sony Pictures Digital's exec VP Patrick Kennedy. Coller has headed the 4-year-old site since its inception, most recently as...

Showbiz Stocks. (Business).(Illustration)
January 6, 2003... SHOWBIZ STOCKS Friday, January 3, 2003 Find stock prices and news about any company at Variety.com/stocks YTD Name Tkr PE Last Chg %Chg AMC AEN -- 9.15...

BBC1 bounces rival: web builds on 2001 ratings win over ITV. (World News).(Brief Article)
January 6, 2003... LONDON -- BBC flagship station BBC1 increased its lead over its main commercial rival, ITV1, in 2002. BBC1 achieved an all-hours audience share of 26.2% compared with ITV's 24.1%. This is only the second time the pubcaster has beaten ITV...

S. Africa net denies Al Jazeera swap. (World News).(South African Broadcasting Corp. news contract)(Brief Article)
January 6, 2003... JOHANNESBURG -- Amid a storm of political protest, the South African Broadcasting Corp. is denying reports that it is considering dropping CNN's news service in favor of news from Blighty pubcaster the BBC and Qatar-based Al Jazeera. The...

B 'w' d baubles big at auction. (World News).(Bollywood stars charity auciton )(Brief Article)
January 6, 2003... JOHANNESBURG -- A businessman spent about $16,000 on memorabilia belonging to Bollywood stars in the "Now or Never" live spectacular at a charity auction Friday. Ten of India's megastars, including "Kabhi khushi kabhie gham" co-stars...

Man paints his complaint over C4 doc. (World News).(Channel 4)(Brief Article)
January 6, 2003... Reuters LONDON -- A man was arrested on Friday for daubing white paint on broadcaster Channel 4's studios in protest against a documentary in which a Chinese artist apparently ate a dead baby. Martin Wyness, 45, drove through the night...

'All,' 'Road' drive London crix noms. (World News).(London Film Critics Circle announces nominees for 23rd annual awards )(Brief Article)
January 6, 2003... LONDON -- Mike Leigh's "All or Nothing" notched up five nominations, one ahead of Sam Mendes' "Road to Perdition," in the London Film Critics Circle's 23rd annual awards announced Friday. The pair will be up against each other, along with...

Serb TV topper to prison. (World News).(Dragoljub MIlanovic)(Brief Article)
January 6, 2003... BUDAPEST -- Former Radio Television Serbia honcho Dragoljub Milanovic is starting a 10-year prison sentence for crimes against public safety after the Serbian Supreme Court upheld the conviction on Dec. 30. Milanovic was top exec for RTS...

British script competish on. (World News).
January 6, 2003... HOLLYWOOD -- Time is running out to enter the British Short Screenplay Competition -- submissions must be postmarked by Friday. The judges this year include Academy Award-winning producers Stephen Woolley, Nik Powell and Piers Jackson and...

Here's a rude awakening: H'wood is polite. (Guest Column).(other occupations surpass Hollywood in terms of rudeness )(Column)
January 6, 2003... IN MY LITTLE MIND, I have memories of rude people. There was the astoundingly rude partner at the law firm of Reavis & McGrath in New York where I worked as a summer associate 33 years ago. I wrote a memo for him, and he threw it back at...

Abby. (Television Review).(Television Program Review)
January 6, 2003... (Series; UPN, Tues. Jan. 6, 9:30 p.m.) Filmed in Los Angeles by Katlin/Bernstein Prods, and CBS Prods. Executive producers, Mitchel Katlin, Nat Bernstein; co-executive producer, Jacque Edmonds; director, Leonard R. Garner; writers, Katlin,...

Let Me Sing. (Light Review).(Theater Review)
January 6, 2003... (George Street Playhouse; 360 seats; $60) A George Street Playhouse presentation of a musical revue in two acts created by Michael Bush, Michael Aman and Joel Silberman. Book by Aman and Bush. Additional material by Andre De Shields....

The Philadelphia Film Society has announced a call for submissions for the 2003 Philadelphia Film Festival. (Short Takes).
January 6, 2003... The Philadelphia Film Society has announced a call for submissions for the 2003 Philadelphia Film Festival, to be held April 3-17. Fest is seeking all genres -- features, shorts, animation and documentaries -- in film or video formats. ...

Center Court with Chris Myers. (Short Takes).(sportscaster wins spot at the Tennis Channel )(Brief Article)
January 6, 2003... Emmy Award-winning sportscaster Chris Myers will host half-hour chat skein "Center Court with Chris Myers" for the Tennis Channel. The former host of ESPN's "SportsCenter" and "Up Close" is the first on-air talent announced by the cabler....