Daily Variety articles from July 2007

Daily Variety archives from July 2007

Pixar wins B.O.'s rat race; toon, 'Die Hard' sequel fuel weekend.("Live Free or Die Hard", box office, Disney-Pixar)
July 2, 2007... Disney-Pixar's "Ratatouille" simmered its way to No. 1 at the domestic box office, taking in an estimated $47.2 million from 3,940 venues. Toon wasn't the only new pic moviegoers feasted on as they got into the July Fourth holiday spirit....

Brit biz maintains stiff upper lip.
July 2, 2007... With the U.K. terror alert lifted to critical, industry insiders predicted that West End cinemas and travel would likely be the hardest hit amid the jitters caused by the wave of bungled terror attacks that greeted Prime Minister Gordon Brown...

Prod'n chief for Film Dept..(The Film Department)(Brief article)
July 2, 2007... The Film Dept., the newly funded indie outfit run by Mark Gill and Neil Sacker, has named Robert Katz head of production. Katz worked with Sacker at Yari Film Group, where Katz served as exec VP of production, overseeing titles including...

DGA opts to keep Apted.(Directors Guild of America, Michael Apted, Paris Barclay, William M. Brady, Taylor Hackford, Gary Donatelli, Betty Thomas, Max Schindler)
July 2, 2007... Opting for continuity with contract talks looming, the Directors Guild of America has reelected Michael Apted as president for a third consecutive two-year term. The British-born helmer was tapped at the DGAs national convention Saturday...

MTV cues teen laffer pix for tube.(MTV Networks Inc.)
July 2, 2007... MTV is making a play for a familiar genre but in an unusual arena: Cabler is developing three pics in the spirit of "American Pie" and "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" that would get their first airing on MTV. Teen comedies would be partly...

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.(Movie review)
July 2, 2007... A Warner Bros. release of a Heyday Films production. Produced by David Heyman, David Barton. Executive producer, Lionel Wigram. Co-producer, John Trehy. Directed by David Yates. Screenplay, Michael Goldenberg, based on the novel by J.K....

Hairspray.(Movie review)
July 2, 2007... A New Line Cinema release presented in association with Ingenious Film Partners, of a Zadan/Meron production, in association with Off, spring Entertainment. Produced by Craig Zadan, Nell Mernn. Executive producers, Bob Shaye, Michael Lynne,...

Cable up in upfront: Turner nets leading the pack in ad sales.
July 2, 2007... Cable networks are reporting double-digit ad rate gains and estimate that a strong upfront will result in growth near 5% over last year's $7.3 billion. Stung by an expensive market for last-minute buys in the spring--the so-called scatter...

Carlyle eyes Virgin's biz.(Carlyle Group L.P., Virgin Media Group Ltd.)(Brief article)
July 2, 2007... Private equity giant Carlyle Group is in talks to buy out U.K. caner Virgin Media in a deal that would value the company at around $20 billion. Virgin Media has tapped Goldman Sachs to prepare the company for a possible auction, according...

NBC votes for Florida debate.(National Broadcasting Company Inc. NBC News)(Brief article)
July 2, 2007... NBC News will broadcast two presidential debates from Florida in January, a week before the Florida and South Carolina primaries. The Republican and Democratic debates, scheduled for Jan. 23 and 25, will air locally on NBC stations in...

Scardino takes on UA post.(United Artists Films appoints Adelaide Scardino)(Brief article)
July 2, 2007... United Artists has named Adelaide Scardino as director of development. Scardino comes to the studio from TriStar Pictures, where for the past three years she was involved with development and production on projects including "Silent Hill,"...

'Burn' bow heats USA.(USA Networks Inc., "Burn Notice")(Brief article)
July 2, 2007... USA Network's tongue-in-cheek spy melodrama "Burn Notice" rounded up a solid 3.98 million total viewers in its Thursday premiere. Paula Abdul, however, couldn't parlay her fame as one of the "American Idol" judges into big ratings for...

'GMA's' Siegel had long critical career.(Good Morning America, Joel Siegel )(Obituary)
July 2, 2007... "Good Morning America" movie critic and entertainment editor Joel Siegel died Friday in New York of colon cancer. He was 63. Siegel, who was diagnosed six years ago and then wrote a popular book as a legacy to his young son, worked up until...

'Yi yi' helmer Yang dies.(Edward Yang)(Obituary)(Brief article)
July 2, 2007... Edward Yang, touted as one of the world's best but least visible filmmakers, died Friday in Beverly Hills after a long battle with colon cancer. He was 59. Born in Shanghai, he relocated at an early age to Yaipei and is best known as a...

Imax will ad 3-D 'Beowulf' berths.(Brief article)
July 2, 2007... Imax will join the more than 1,000 digital theaters that will un-spool "Beowulf" in 3-D beginning Nov. 16. Exhib will convert Robert Zemeckis' motion-capture pie for the large-screen format. Movie, based on the 9th-century poem, also will...

Sony Classics goes skiing.(Sony Pictures Classics)(Brief article)
July 2, 2007... Sony Pictures Classics has acquired "Steep," a docu about extreme skiing produced by several ABC News vets. Pic, which played the Tribeca Film Festival this year, centers on a group that engages in a particularly dangerous form of...

L.A. fest targets helmers.(.A. Film Festival)(Brief article)
July 2, 2007... Winners of the Target Filmmakers Awards were announced at the L.A. Film Festival's Spirit of Independence event honoring Clint Eastwood on Thursday night. Chris Eska won the award for narrative feature for "August Evening," and Jennifer...

Battlefield 'Earth' Prince CD dropped in U.K. after giveaway.("Planet Earth")
July 2, 2007... Sony BMG U.K. has decided to not release Prince's next album in Britain, contending that a Sunday giveaway of the disc in national newspaper the Mail will cut too deeply into its retail potential. The Mail on Sunday, which has a circulation...

McDonald in at 'Practice'.(Audra McDonald, "Private Practice")(Brief article)
July 2, 2007... Dr. Addison Montgomery's college pal has a new face: Audra McDonald is in, and Merrin Dungey is out of, the cast of ABC's new entry "Private Practice." Dungey played Dr. Naomi Bennett, an old chum of Kate Walsh's lead character, in the...

Amazon crowns 'Queen'.("Prom Queen")(Brief article)
July 2, 2007... Michael Eisner's "Prom Queen" is going to Amazon. The Web series has been repurposed as a full-length feature and is offered for download exclusively on Unbox, Amazon.com's digital download service, for $10 to own and $4 to rent for 30...

Dowling cops 'K-Ville' duty.(Twentieth Century Fox Film Corp., Kevin Dowling)(Brief article)
July 2, 2007... Helmer Kevin Dowling has signed up to join the team of Fox's upcoming New Orleans-set drama "K-Ville." Dowling will serve as a director and supervising producer on the frosh drama. He was most recently a director and producer on CBS'...

Hot Rod.(Movie review)
July 2, 2007... A Paramount release and presentation of a Michaels/Goldwyn production. Produced by Lorne Michaels, John Goldwyn. Executive producers, Will Ferrell, Jimmy Miller, Jill Messick. Co-producer, Louise Rosner. Directed by Akiva Schaffer....

License to Wed.(Movie review)
July 2, 2007... A Warner Bros. release, presented in association with Village Roadshow Pictures, of a Robert Simonds/Phoenix Pictures production. Produced by Mike Medavoy, Arnold W. Messer, Nick Osborne, Robert Simonds. Executive producers, Bradley J. Fischer,...

Dynamite Warrior.(Movie review)
July 2, 2007... (KON FAI BIN) (Thailand) A Magnolia Pictures release (in North America) of a Sahamongkolfilm Intl. presentation of a Baa-Ram-Ewe production. Produced by Prachya Pinkaew. Executive producer, Somsak Techaratanaprasert. Directed,...

Camouflage.(Television program review)
July 2, 2007... (Series; GSN, Mon. July 2, 7 p.m.) Produced by McB Entertainment and Enjoy the Ride Prods. in association with Buena Vista Prods. Executive producers, Terrence McDonnell, Jonathan Barry; line producer, John Alexander; director, Rob George;...

Nancy Wilson's swingin' 70th birthday party.(Concert review)
July 2, 2007... (Carnegie Hall; 2,802 seats; $85 top) A presentation of JVC Jazz Festival and Carnegie Hall. Musical director-piano, Llew Mathews. Band: Roy McCordy, Rufus Reid. Guests: Regina Carter, Kurt Elling, Nnenna Freelon, Herbie Hancock, Ramsey...

Pushy questions for ... John Tartaglia, co-creator, executive producer and star of Disney Channel's tot tuner "Johnny and the Sprites" airing Saturday and Sunday mornings.(Interview)(Brief article)
July 2, 2007... Last book I bought: "Gnomes" by Wil Huygen and illustrated by Rien Poortvliet--as a gift for someone Book I'm reading: "Walt Disney: The Triumph of the American Imagination" by Neal Gabler Total number of books I own: Over 100 ...

'Shrek' on top of tentpoles at o'seas B.O.(overseas box office proceeds)
July 2, 2007... The ugly ogre's sitting pretty overseas as "Shrek the Third" dominated a robust weekend at the foreign box office with $69.6 million at 6,489 playdates in 52 markets. But there was plenty of international green for tentpoles as...

Papamichael goes 'Within'.(Phedon Papamichael, "From Within," )(Brief article)
July 2, 2007... Phedon Papamichael is set to direct "From Within," an independently financed thriller that will star Thomas Dekker ("Heroes"), Elizabeth Rice, Adam Goldberg and Jake Weber. Brad Keene ("The Gravedancers") wrote the script. Production...

Is new topper the key for b'buster? Vid chain taps 7-Eleven exec.(Blockbuster Inc. appoints Jim Keyes)
July 3, 2007... Blockbuster on Monday tapped 7-Eleven vet Jim Keyes to take the reins from embattled chairman-CEO John Antioco, who agreed to step down earlier this year. Blockbuster's new CEO comes aboard at a perilous time for the vidtail chain: It's...

Fox will father 'Dad' duo.(Twentieth Century Fox Television, "American Dad" )
July 3, 2007... "American Dad" exec producers Rick Wiener and Kenny Schwartz are cementing their bond with 20th Century Fox TV, inking a rich overall deal with the studio behind the animated hit. Pact, which runs for a guaranteed two years with an option...

Holiday toys with weekend.
July 3, 2007... Can DreamWorks and Paramount transform a toy-based vehicle into a B.O. titan? They face a daunting challenge as "Transformers" bows today on 4,011 screens, before a holiday when the public may be more interested in fireworks and picnics...

'Shrek' sees green amid red alert.("Shrek the Third")
July 3, 2007... Not even the terror alert, the heavily viewed TV "Concert for Diana" or Wimbledon could keep U.K. audiences away from moviegoing this weekend, with "Shrek the Third" breaking records in its launch. Opening was the biggest ever for an...

H'wood relishing o'seas B.O. success.(box office)
July 3, 2007... At the halfway point of the year, foreign box office for Hollywood's six majors has hit $4.65 billion--up 13% over the same period last year and 24% from the first six months of 2005. Nearly one-third of that total has come from the third...

All about amor.(Only at Variety.com)
July 3, 2007... Woody Allen and Barcelona share mutual admiration at a press conference to tout the helmer's next pic, which is shooting in the Spanish city.

Trainwreck: My Life as an Idoit.(Movie review)
July 3, 2007... A Chicago Pictures Distribution release of a This Is That Prods. production, in association with TruEntertainment. (international sales: This Is That, New York.) Produced by Anne Carey, Robert Delp, Daniel Sadek, Elie Samaha. Executive...

Namibia: The Struggle for Liberation.(Movie review)
July 3, 2007... (Namibia) A Namibian Film Commission/Pan Afrikan Center of Namibia presentation. Produced by Abius Akwaake, Steve Gukas. Executive producer, Uazuva Kaumbi. Directed, written by Charles Burnett, based on the screenplay "Nujoma: Where...

Morning Star.(Theater review)
July 3, 2007... (Bank Street Theater; 72 seats; $20 top) A Peccadillo Theater Company presentation of a play in two acts by Sylvia Regan. Directed by Dan Wackerman. Sets, Joseph Spirito; costumes, Gail Cooper-Hecht; lighting, Jeffrey E. Salzberg; sound,...

Participant warming up Live Earth docu.
July 3, 2007... Participant Prods. is planning a feature-length documentary about Saturday's Live Earth global warming concerts, with Brian Hill directing. Hill's Century Films and Katie Bailiff will produce. Participant's CEO Jim Berk also announced...

Toliver tooning into Fox.(Twentieth Century Fox Film Corp. appoints Karen Rupert Toliver)(Brief article)
July 3, 2007... Twentieth Century Fox Animation has named Karen Rupert Toliver VP of production. Toliver will report to Fox Animation prexy Vanessa Morrison. She'll focus on the development and production of animated projects, replacing John Cohen. ...

'Grey Gardens' going dark.(Brief article)
July 3, 2007... Rialto tuner "Grey Gardens" won't make it beyond July 29--despite a recent announcement stating otherwise. Producers decided over the weekend to shutter the musical when co-star Mary Louise Wilson departs the show at the end of July. Late...

B'way goes for a dip: shuttering shows rise.(Brief article)
July 3, 2007... Departing Broadway shows got a jolt of box office adrenaline last week, but overall sales were down as more than half of the productions on the boards saw receipts dip. In its final frame, the shuttering, Tony-winning revival "Company"...

Rose plucked for 'Detective Agency'.(Anika Noni Rose, "The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency")(Brief article)
July 3, 2007... "Dreamgirl" Anika Noni Rose heads a roster of thesps now set alongside multihyphenate Jill Scott for Weinstein Co. telepic "The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency." Film, helmed by Oscar winner Anthony Minghella, is expected to launch a full...

Trio of thesps want 'things'.(LEGIT BITS)("Things We Want")(Paul Dano, Peter Dinklage and Josh Hamilton)(Brief article)
July 3, 2007... Paul Dano, Peter Dinklage and Josh Hamilton are in the cast of "Things We Want" the new play Ethan Hawke will helm this fall in a production from Off Broadway's New Group. Dano recently attracted notice as the son in "Little Miss...

Jamie Lee Curtis.(Players)(casts in "South of the Border")(Brief article)
July 3, 2007... Jamie Lee Curtis has joined the cast of Disney's "South of the Border," directed by Raja Gosnell. She'll play Aunt Viv, whose pampered Chihuahua finds herself lost in Mexico. Piper Perabo also stars; voice cast includes Drew Barrymore, Salma...

Reggie Lee.(Players)(casts in "Tropic Thunder")(Brief article)
July 3, 2007... Reggie Lee ("Pirates Of the Caribbean: At World's End") has been Cast in DreamWorkS' "Tropic Thunder," helmed by Ben Stiller. Cast includes Jack Black and Robert Downey Jr. for the Comedy lensing this summer in Hawaii. Lee's credits...

Brian Krause.(Players)(stars in "The Diary")(Brief article)
July 3, 2007... Brian Krause ("Charmed") will star in Lifetime telepic "The Diary" as a priest who fights the forces of evil. Krause also will star in Sci Fi Channel telepic "Warbirds," as a soldier facing predators on a mysterious island. He'll next be...

Mirror of the Invisible World.(Theater review)
July 3, 2007... (Goodman Theater, Chicago; 856 seats; $68 top) A Goodman Theater presentation of a play in two acts written and directed by Mary Zimmerman, adapted from the epic poem "Haft Paykar" by Nizami Ganjavi. Set, Daniel Ostling; costumes, Mara...

A Walk Worthwhile.(Theater review)
July 3, 2007... (National Theater, Prague; 1,000 seats; CZK 680 ($32) top) A National Theater Prague presentation of an opera in one act with music and lyrics by Jiri Slitr and Jiri Suchy. Directed by Milos Forman and Petr Forman. Conductor and...

Dissonance.(Theater review)
July 3, 2007... (Nikos Theater, Williamstown, Mass.; 172 seats; $35 top) A Williamstown Theater Festival presentation of a play in two acts by Damian Lanigan. Directed by Amanda Charlton. Sets, Andrew Layton; costumes, Jennifer Caprio; lighting, Marcus...

Showbiz stocks: Monday, July 2, 2007.(Statistical table)
July 3, 2007... Showbiz Stocks Monday, July 2, 2007 YTD Name Tkr PE Last Chg % Chg AccessIT AIXD ... 8.12 +.03 -6.9 AcmeCm ACME ...

Exclusive report: for the weekend of June 29-July 1, 2007.(Statistical table)
July 3, 2007... Exclusives Report For the weekend of June 29-July 1, 2007 NEW YORK NEW THIS WEEK Weekend Film B.O. (distributor) Circuit ...

The Living Wake.(Movie review)
July 3, 2007... An Original Media presentation in association with Drops Entertainment, Script Pimp, MonAmi Prods. (International sales: Shoreline Entertainment, Los Angeles.) Produced by Ami Ankin, Chadwick Clough, Peter Kline, Mike O'Connell, Sol Tryon....

Top 10 films in Manhattan: for the weekend of June 29-July 1, 2007.(Statistical table)
July 3, 2007... Top 10 Films In Manhattan For the weekend of June 29-July 1, 2007 % change vs. last Week Rank Wknd. B.O. Film (distributor) ...

Broadway top 10: June 25-July 1.(Statistical table)
July 3, 2007... Broadway Top 10: June 25-July 1 Week's Net Show Receipts (Theater) Potential Prev Week's $Change (Prod. Category)(Seats) Net Receipts Net Receipts...

Weekend stats.(Statistical table)(Brief article)
July 3, 2007... Domestic Box Office $155.4 million June 29-July 1, 2007 vs. last week +18% vs. last year +1% Daily Breakdown (in millions of $) FRI. $51.0 SAT. $58.6 SUN. $45.8 ...

Theater beat: this weekend's top 10 theater engagements.(Statistical table)
July 3, 2007... Theater Beat This weekend's top 10 theater engagements Weekend Rank Film Theater, city (circuit) B.O. gross 1. Ratatouille * ...

Film box office wrap: for the weekend of June 29-July 1.(Statistical table)
July 3, 2007... Film Box Office Wrap FOR THE WEEKEND OF JUNE 29-JULY 1 Ranking Reported This Last Weekend Pct. Week Week Title (Distributor) ...

Birth.
July 3, 2007... Kirstin and David Wilder, a girl, Sophie Lynn Wilder, May 18, Los Angeles. Mother is deputy managing editor at Variety; father is a photographer-gaffer.

Dr. Bronner's Magic Soapbox.(Video recording review)
July 3, 2007... (Docu) A Balcony Releasing release of a Reckon So presentation of a Reckon So, Ghost Robot production. Produced by Sara Lamm, Zachary Mortensen, Cheri Anderson. Executive producer, Matt Aselton. Directed by Sara Lamm. Camera (color,...

Justin Hartley.(Players)(Brief article)
July 3, 2007... Justin Hartley ("Smallville") has joined the cast of the CW's midseason series "Eight Days a Week." Christina Milian and Mario Lopez star. Thesp has a lead role in indie "Red Canyon," lensing in August. Credits include Warner Bros.'...

Dianna Agron and Dominic Keating have booked recurring roles on "Heroes.".(Players)(Brief article)
July 3, 2007... Dianna Agron and Dominic Keating have booked recurring roles on "Heroes." Agron will play a cheerleader, Keating an Irish mobster. Agron s credits include Veronica Mars and "Shark." Keating will be seen in Robert Zemeckis' "Beowulf."

Total world domination continues apace for "High School Musical," the legit version of the smash Disney Channel telepic.(LEGIT BITS)(Brief article)
July 3, 2007... Total world domination continues apace for "High School Musical," the legit version of the smash Disney Channel telepic. "HSM," already repped in the States by a domestic touting production, kicks off a U.K. tour in January. Produced by...

Martha Plimpton follows up her Tony-nommed turn in "The Coast of Utopia" with the Shakespeare in the Park production of "A Mid summer Night's Dream.".(LEGIT BITS)(Brief article)
July 3, 2007... Martha Plimpton follows up her Tony-nommed turn in "The Coast of Utopia" with the Shakespeare in the Park production of "A Mid summer Night's Dream." She'll play Helena, one of the fairy-plagued lovers in the Shakespeare comedy. Also added...

Small aud for Big Ten net.( Big Ten Network)(Brief article)
July 3, 2007... A new regional sports net will soon hit the air with few cable subscribers but a more substantial number of satellite subs. The Big Ten Network said Monday that it will open for business on Aug. 30, and some estimates put the current count...

Producer takes on 'World'.(appointment of Vinnie Malhotra )(Brief article)
July 3, 2007... ABC News has appointed Vinnie Malhotra exec producer of the weekend editions of World News, replacing Chris Sheridan, who was named exec producer of ABCNews.com. Malhotra had been a senior producer at "Nightline" since 2006; he had been a...

Bots' blowout bow.(V)(Brief article)
July 3, 2007... Is there anyone in the industry who could not get tickets to the "Transformers" premiere? With more than 4,500 guests, everyone from agency interns to former studio heads filled five Westwood theaters. And to answer the rhetorical question...

Kudos make Eastwood's day.(V)(Brief article)
July 3, 2007... HOLLYWOOD -- At the Hammer Museum party following Thursday's Spirit of Independence Awards, honoree Clint Eastwood said he enjoyed the L.A. Film Festival affair because it was "low key." High praise from a man who, as many speakers noted,...

Fest's casual Friday.(V)(Karlovy Vary Film Festival)(Brief article)
July 3, 2007... KARLOVY VARY, Czech Republic -- Renee Zellweger had her own wardrobe malfunction when she opened the 42nd Karlovy Vary Film Festival in the Czech Republic's idyllic spa town on Friday. Zellweger came to present a Crystal Globe to Czech...

"Introducing the Dwights" director Cherie Nowlan with star Brenda Blethyn attend Thursday's Gotham preem.(V)
July 3, 2007... "Introducing the Dwights" director Cherie Nowlan with star Brenda Blethyn attend Thursday's Gotham preem at Clearview Chelsea West theaters. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Helmer Danny Boyle and thesp Chris Evans were at the Los Angeles Film Festival.(V)
July 3, 2007... Helmer Danny Boyle and thesp Chris Evans were at the Los Angeles Film Festival closing-night screening of "Sunshine" on Sunday in Westwood. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

New Line and HBO jumping into bed.(Home Box Office Inc., New Line Cinema Corp.)(Brief article)
July 5, 2007... New Line Cinema is partnering with HBO on "Sex and the City." After much foreplay, the feature version of the long-running HBO series is gearing for a fall start, with New Line near a deal to finance and distribute. Sarah Jessica Parker,...

Spike's sparks.(Only at variety.com)
July 5, 2007... The helmer laments how Hollywood rendered black American soldiers of WWII virtually "invisible" onscreen.

'Bots prove mettle: 'Transformers' in high gear with $27 mil.
July 5, 2007... Setting off fireworks at the box office, DreamWorks and Paramount's robot actioner "Transformers" made an estimated $27.4 million in its first full day from 4,011 screens, the best box office draw ever for a Tuesday. The pic is enjoying a...

Czechs applaud 'Maude' at fest.(Karlovy Vary Film Festival, "Harold and Maude")(Brief article)
July 5, 2007... Czech auds gave Hal Ashby's 1971 cult romancer "Harold and Maude" five minutes of sustained applause at the Karlovy Vary Film Festival on Monday, bringing a tear to the eye of thesp Bud Cort. Fest veterans reported never seeing such a...

H'w'd faces wall abroad.
July 5, 2007... Auds abroad are still keen on American pop culture, but Hollywood should brace for growing resistance to its wares in some markets--particularly those with a strong Muslim base. Twenty-seven of 47 nations surveyed--about 60%--have a...

Striking a chord on Web.(web giants' coverage of Live Earth concert)
July 5, 2007... An altruistic message hangs like an enormous green banner over the Live Earth concerts set to unfold this weekend across six continents, but for the Web giants who are beaming the 24-hour event worldwide, there's also a very specific business...

Kismet.(Theater review)
July 5, 2007... (The Coliseum, London; 2,358 seats; 83 [pounds sterling] ($166) top) An English National Opera presentation of a musical in two acts with music and lyrics by Robert Wright and George Forrest from themes of Alexander Borodin, book by...

The Art of Negative Thinking.(Movie review)
July 5, 2007... (KUNSTEN A TEHKE NEGATIVT) (Norway) A Maipo Film & TV Production presentation. (International sales: Nordisk Film Intl., Valby, Denmark.) Produced by Dag Alveberg. Directed, written by Bard Breien. Camera (color, HD-to-35mm), Gante...

American Body Shop.(Television program review)
July 5, 2007... (Series; Comedy Central, Sun. July 8, 10:30 p.m.) Produced by Chocolate Dog Prods. and Macyfilms. Executive producers, Jim Jones, Sain Greene, Joanne Toll; director, Jones; camera, Hisham Abed; editor, Steve Rasch; music, Stephen Robert...

ABC elbows past NBC in news race.(American Broadcasting Companies Inc., National Broadcasting Company Inc.)(Brief article)
July 5, 2007... ABC News' "World News" won its first quarter in more than a decade as Charles Gibson pulled ahead of NBC's Brian Williams in the evening news ratings. For the quarter, "World News With Charles Gibson" averaged 8 million viewers, NBC's...

Fox is sure-footed; 'Dance' fuels its win.(Fox Television, "So You Think You Can Dance")
July 5, 2007... Fox continues to impress with its reality shows this summer, racking up its 21st consecutive victory among young adults last week--a streak that started with the season premiere of "American Idol" in January. Univision was also a standout...

Cyrus edges out Clarkson.(Miley Cyrus, Kelly Clarkson)(Brief article)
July 5, 2007... The race for No. 1 between two singers who gained initial fame on TV was too close to call last week, but Miley Cyrus has clearly emerged the victor. Although final numbers were not available Wednesday, Nielsen SoundScan reported that the...

U.K. exhib pulls kidnap ad.(Odeon Cinemas)(Brief article)
July 5, 2007... The Odeon cinema chain in the U.K. has pulled an ad screened as part of an appeal to find missing 4-year-old Madeleine McCann after a flurry of protests from angry parents. The ad, screened before pics such as U-rated "Shrek the Third,"...