Daily Variety articles from June 2009

Daily Variety archives from June 2009

Toon's a B.O. balloon: 3-D helps lift 'Up' to $68.2; 'Museum' hangs tough.
June 1, 2009... Boosted by terrific 3-D results, "Up" maintained the Disney-Pixar winning streak as it soared to an estimated $68.2 million at 3,766 playdates. The pic posted a stellar $18,110 per-location average. The Mouse House reported 31% of the...

Sony hopes PS3 gets Blu-ray boost.
June 1, 2009... When Sony launched Blu-ray in 2006, it hoped its PlayStation 3 would be the high-end homevideo format's biggest cheerleader. But consumers are still struggling with the PS3's high pricetag, especially during the recession--and Sony is now...

Col makes 'Swift' move.
June 1, 2009... Columbia Pictures has nabbed "Swift," a pitch by Barry Sonnenfeld and BenDavid Grabinski that is described as a reimagining of the Tom Swift adventure novels. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Project is being developed as a Sonnenfeld directing...

Tuner team toying with U's monster.
June 1, 2009... Universal Pictures has made a big-bucks deal to acquire an untitled Mattel toy property for a live-action musical film to be produced by Craig Zadan and Neil Meron. The duo will reunite with the "Hairspray" team of Marc Shaiman and Scott...

Agency takeover stirs H'w'd fears.
June 1, 2009... IT WAS PABLO PICASSO WHO famously said, "I like to live like a poor man--but with lots of money." Talent agents are the mirror opposites. They like to live like rich men--but without lots of money. Their "money" stems from the prospective...

Talks delayed AOL download.
June 1, 2009... Time Warner CEO Jeff Bewkes said Friday that plans to unload AOL were forestalled last year by ongoing discussions with potential partners in pursuit of a strategic merger. "We thought about it last year. (But) there were a lot of things...

Primetime greetings.(The Office, 30 Rock and Battlestar Galactica)(Brief article)
June 1, 2009... "The Office," "30 Rock" and "Battlestar Galactica" are coming soon to a greeting card near you. NBC Universal has sealed a new licensing deal with Hallmark Cards that includes the use of the company's film and TV content. [ILLUSTRATION...

Spector gets 19 years for 2003 murder.
June 1, 2009... Phil Spector was sentenced to 19 years to life in prison on Friday for the murder of actress kana Clarkson. Move comes a month after the famed music producer was convicted for the 2003 death of the thesp. Spector's attorneys maintain...

Peaceful transition: smooth talking for 'Tonight' host shuffle.
June 1, 2009... Like Jay Leno did 17 years ago, Conan O'Brien takes over a "Tonight Show" franchise that dominates latenight. But O'Brien must also now compete in a TV landscape dramatically different from the one Leno faced when he inherited "Tonight" in...

Berry gets back to biz.
June 1, 2009... Halle Berry is in talks to star in thriller "The Surrogate" for 20th Century Fox. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Helmer Paul Verhoeven is onboard to develop the project, which revolves around a couple who hire a surrogate to carry their child...

Woody pic packs a Punch.(Woody Allen and Lucy Pun)(Brief article)
June 1, 2009... Woody Allen has tapped British actress Lucy Punch to join the cast of his upcoming untitled film. She replaces Nicole Kidman. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Allen does not disclose Punch details on plot, characters or even his titles, but...

A royal role for Portman.
June 1, 2009... Natalie Portman will star with Danny McBride and James Franco in "Your Highness," a Universal Pictures comedy that begins production in July in Ireland. David Gordon Green ("Pineapple Express") is directing. Scott Stuber produces through...

Leno's farewell sets Friday record.
June 1, 2009... Jay Leno signed off "The Tonight Show" on a high note, delivering the best ratings of his 17-year run for a Friday night telecast. Leno's swan song averaged an 8.8 household rating/20 share in Nielsen's 56 overnight metered markets, which...

Stars tubthumping for thumbs up on SAG deal.(Screen Actors Guild)
June 1, 2009... The heavy hitters have come out in favor of ratifying SAG's contract with the majors--including Alec Baldwin, George Clooney, Sally Field and Tom Hanks. The stars are some of the more than 500 SAG members who have endorsed ratification of...

Cat gets second act.
June 1, 2009... Irascible orange housecat Heathcliff will be getting a second life on the screen courtesy of a joint venture between family toon studio Magic Lantern Entertainment and rights holder FitzRoy Media. The two companies have pacted to develop a...

Brillstein TV taps Kaplan.
June 1, 2009... Former BermanBraun and Warner Bros. TV exec Rachel Kaplan has joined the TV wing of Brillstein Entertainment Partners as exec veep. Kaplan will work with Brillstein Entertainment Partners TV prexy Peter Traugott in developing a range of...

The Little Foxes.(Theater review)
June 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] (Pasadena Playhouse. Pasadena, Calif.: 654 seats; $67 top) A Pasadena Playhouse presentation of a play in two acts by Lillian Hellman. Directed by Damaso Rodriguez. Sets, Gary Wissman; costumes, Mary Vogt;...

Atari's new players: publisher to refocus on casual gaming.
June 1, 2009... Atari is going back to its roots. The French-owned videogame publisher that has been operating as Infogrames Atari is reverting back to the original moniker that launched the company back in the 1980s. Going forward, Atari will focus...

WGA grabbing cable turf.(Writers Guild of America West )
June 1, 2009... Writers Guild of America West president Patric Verrone has issued an upbeat assessment of the guild's organizing efforts, citing gains in cable and new media. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "Defending and expanding our jurisdiction do not take...

All's Well That Ends Well.(Theater review)
June 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] (National Theater/Olivier, London; 1,167 seats: 30 [pounds sterling] ($48) top) A National Theater presentation of a play in two acts by William Shakespeare. Directed by Marianne Elliott. Sets and costumes, Rae...

Make Me.(Theater review)
June 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] (Atlantic Stage 2; 86 seats: $45 top) An Atlantic Theater presentation of a play in one act by Leslie Ayvazian. Directed by Christian Parker. Sets, Anna Louizos; costumes, Theresa Squire; lighting, Josh Bradford;...

Aid for Atlanta troupes.(Legit Bits)(Metropolitan Atlanta Arts Fund)(Brief article)
June 1, 2009... The Metropolitan Atlanta Arts Fund has launched a two-year program called the Atlanta Arts Recovery initiative to help sustain area arts orgs including several legit troupes. The $2.5 million program, benefiting companies with annual...

Enter the Void.(Movie review)
June 1, 2009... (SOUDAIN LE VIDE) (France) A Fidelite, BUF, Wild Bunch presentation, with the participation of Canal Plus, Eurimages, Ministere de la Culture et de la Communication (CNC), Filmforderungsanstalt (FFA). (International sales: Wild Bunch,...

China's Gung Ho B.O.: biz is booming despite global woes.(World News)
June 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] China's film industry shook off global financial crisis woes last year and is on a fast track for more healthy growth this year, the country's top regulator said in its annual review of the biz. A record 406...

Rome TV fest sets sked.(World News)
June 1, 2009... The third Rome Fiction Fest devoted to TV fiction has unveiled a varied international lineup, with a fair sprinkling of Hollywood product. Steve Della Casa, artistic topper for the second year, said the Rome Film Fest's sister event was...

BSkyB makes hefty play for Virgin webs.(World News)
June 1, 2009... Blighty's biggest paybox BSkyB has weighed in with a 160 million [pounds sterling] ($258 million) bid to buy the channels business of rival Virgin Media, the debt-laden Nasdaq-quoted U.K. cable giant. The offer for digital webs Living,...

Mexico to mine 'Millionaire'.(World News)(Who Wants to Be a Millionaire)(Brief article)
June 1, 2009... "Slumdog Millionaire's" box office triumph around the world has convinced Mexico's No. 2 net TV Azteca to make the quiz show "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire." Azteca has inked with Disney Media Networks for the show, which features in the...

Mark Brokaw, David Esbjornson and Sarah Benson are among the directors who will helm new plays at this summer's National Playwrights Conference at the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center.(Legit Bits)(Conference news)
June 1, 2009... Mark Brokaw, David Esbjornson and Sarah Benson are among the directors who will helm new plays at this summer's National Playwrights Conference at the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center. Brokaw ("Distracted") directs the latest by Julia Cho...

The major players in the cast of the Royal Shakespeare Company's 2008 production of "Hamlet" including David Tenant and Patrick Stewart, have been reassembled for a screen version that will air on UK Channel BBC Two later this year and in the U.S. and Japan in 2010.(Legit Bits)(Brief article)
June 1, 2009... The major players in the cast of the Royal Shakespeare Company's 2008 production of "Hamlet" including David Tenant and Patrick Stewart, have been reassembled for a screen version that will air on UK Channel BBC Two later this year and in the...

The launch of a new Broadway-centric TV skein includes interviews with Sutton Foster (Shrek the Musical"), Christine Ebersole ("Grey Gardens") and Julie Taymor talking about "Spider-Man, Turn Off the Dark.".(Legit Bits)
June 1, 2009... The launch of a new Broadway-centric TV skein includes interviews with Sutton Foster (Shrek the Musical"), Christine Ebersole ("Grey Gardens") and Julie Taymor talking about "Spider-Man, Turn Off the Dark." [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ...

Labyrinth A.D. trio ankle.(LAByrinth Theater Company's Philip Seymour Hoffman, John Ortiz and John Gould Rubin )(Brief article)
June 1, 2009... The three artistic directors of Gotham's LAByrinth Theater Company, including Philip Seymour Hoffman and John Ortiz, have stepped down from their posts, citing growing professional and family commitments. Three LAB members--playwright...

Outside the Xbox: Microsoft ups ante with h'w'd play.
June 2, 2009... Microsoft is ready to challenge Nintendo at its own game. The software giant is putting the finishing touches on a motion control system that will essentially turn its Xbox 360 into a Wii on steroids. Dubbed Project Natal, the system...

Emmys punted by pigskin priorities.
June 2, 2009... Folks in the TV biz began readjusting their calendars Monday thanks to CBS' announcement that the 61st annual Primetime Emmy Awards will be moving one week earlier to Sept. 13. The Eye had been set to televise the kudocast on Sept. 20. But...

Paris pursues Mideast 'BFF'.(Paris Hilton's television show, "Paris Hilton's My New BFF-Dubai")
June 2, 2009... Paris Hilton is taking her search for a best friend to the Middle East, where Lionsgate and Ish Entertainment have stuck a deal with a Dubai-based shingle to produce a new version of "Paris Hilton's My New BFF." Dubai-based Uniqon is...

Scribe takes U'S 'Creed'.(Todd Field to adapt "The Creed of Violence")(Brief article)
June 2, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Universal has set Todd Field to adapt "The Creed of Violence," the Boston Teran novel that the studio acquired last fall in a significant preemptive deal made when the book was being shopped to publishers. ...

Will Rupe Carey on?
June 2, 2009... Execs on the Fox lot were scratching their heads Monday, wondering when and how Chase Carey may be returning to the News Corp. fold--and what it means for them. Given Carey's lengthy experience at News Corp., he had been discussed as the...

Illumination, U find Waldo.
June 2, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Several studios were in on the search, but Universal and Illumination Entertainment were the ones who found "Where's Waldo?" U and Chris Meledandri's family film unit have acquired screen rights to turn the...

Vidgame players.(VARIETY.COM)
June 2, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Keep up with the news and buzz out of the E3 confab this week at Variety.com/ the custscene and Variety.com/ technotainment

The Listener.(Movie review)
June 2, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] (Series; NBC, Thurs. June 4, 9p.m.) Filmed in Toronto by Shaftesbury Films and CTV. Executive producers, Christina Jennings, Scott Garvie, Michael Amo, Tom Chehak, Clement Virgo; supervising producers, Laura...

Royal Pains.(Movie review)
June 2, 2009... (Series; USA, Thurs. June 4, 10 p.m.) Filmed in New York by Prospect Park and Universal Cable Prods. Executive producers, Paul Frank, Rich Frank, Jeff Kwatinetz, Michael Rauch; co-executive producers, Andrew Lenchewski, Jace Alexander, John...

Liz Smith.
June 2, 2009... NOW WE KNOW! Barbra Streisand has written a book titled "A Passion for Design," which focuses on her well, her passion for design. Her taste, inspirations and collections of this'n'that. Barbra says, "I have always searched for beauty." ...

Cyrus returns for more 'Montana'.
June 2, 2009... Disney Channel is getting more miles out of Miley. The caner has ordered a fourth season of "Hannah Montana," ending speculation that teenage sensation Miley Cyrus would be saying farewell to the youth-targeted skein. Disney has also...

IFP sets up 10 lab projects.(GOTHAM FILM CLIPS)(Independent Feature Project)(Brief article)
June 2, 2009... The Independent Feature Project announced Monday the 10 narrative features selected as part of its fifth annual Independent Filmmaker Lab, a yearlong fellowship seeking to connect emerging filmmakers with industry mentors. Producers Scott...

VH1 heading back to 'Rehab'.(Celebrity Rehab With Dr. Drew)(Brief article)
June 2, 2009... "Celebrity Rehab With Dr. Drew" is coming back for a third season on VH1 in early 2010, with Tom Sizemore and Heidi Fleiss among the coming edition's would-be rescuees. Eight episodes will air during the third season of "Rehab," covering...

Lionsgate revs roar: but full year sees losses.(Financial report)
June 2, 2009... Driven by strong box office, homevid and library sales, Lionsgate has reported its second-highest quarterly revenue of $463.2 million for its fourth quarter ended March 31. The mini-major, which made the announcement after the market closed...

'Moon' man digs 'Deep'.(Duncan Jones' Escape From the Deep)(Brief article)
June 2, 2009... Helmer Duncan Jones--whose "Moon" played at Sundance and Tribeca this year--is swapping outer space for the sea with "Escape From the Deep." [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Project is an adaptation of Alex Kershaw's book about the real-life...

'Group' think for duo.(Victor Kubicek and Derek Anderson on The True Story of the Bilderberg Group)(Brief article)
June 2, 2009... Halcyon co-toppers Victor Kubicek and Derek Anderson have acquired the pic rights to journalist Daniel Estulin's book "The True Story of the Bilderberg Group." [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Book details the exploits of the ultra-exclusive,...

Zucker draws UJA kudos.(Jeff Zucker honored by the United Jewish Appeal)(Brief article)
June 2, 2009... Jewish social agency the UJA Federation of New York will honor NBC Universal prexy-CEO Jeff Zucker at its leadership awards dinner June 9. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The event, to be held Zucker at Manhattan's Pier Sixty space, will be...

B.O. come and gone: post-holiday frame drops.(LEGIT)
June 2, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The slight sales boost that Memorial Day weekend brought to Broadway mostly evaporated last week, with Rialto cume off about $850,000. Overall slippage was likely offset somewhat by the fact that the Broadway...

Nonprofits ladle out legit funding.(LEGIT)(Shubert Foundation and Tony Randall Theatrical Fund )(Statistical data)
June 2, 2009... Two arts-focused nonprofits are spreading grant money around to legit orgs, many of which are struggling amid the economic downturn. The Shubert Foundation is doling out more coin than it did last year, while the Tony Randall Theatrical...

Coraline.(Theater review)
June 2, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] (Lucille Lortel Theater; 198 seats; $95.top) An MCC Theater presentation, in association with True Love Prods. and by special arrangement with the Lucille Lortel Theater Foundation, of a musical in one act with...

Samson & Delilah.
June 2, 2009... (Australia) A Footprint Films release of a Screen Australia, New South Wales Film & Television Office, Australian Broadcasting Corp. presentation of a Scarlett Pictures, Central Australian Aboriginal Media Assn. production, in association...

Weekend at the B.O.
June 2, 2009... Weekend at the B.O. $166.1 million May 29-31, 2009 vs. last weekend -6% vs. last year -2% Screen scene The weekend's top 10 engagements: Theater, city (circuit) Gross 1 Up ...

Film box office wrap: for the weekend of May 29-31.
June 2, 2009... Film Box Office Wrap FOR THE WEEKEND OF MAY 29-31 Ranking This Last Week Week Title (Distributor/Financier) 1 -- Up (Disney) 2 1 Night at the Museum: Battle... (20th) 3 2 Terminator...

Friars heats up laff fest.(GOTHAM FILM CLIPS)
June 2, 2009... The Friars Club is launching the first annual Friars Club Comedy Film Festival, taking place Sep. 2427 at movie theaters in Gotham. Pies in the fest will fall into three categories: a selection of curated films, submission-based movies and a...

The Brooklyn Academy of Music's fifth annual Afro-Punk Festival will feature an all-day Spike Lee program on July 5.(GOTHAM FILM CLIPS)
June 2, 2009... The Brooklyn Academy of Music's fifth annual Afro-Punk Festival will feature an all-day Spike Lee program on July 5. Screenings will include rarities like "Joe's Bed-Stuy Barbershop: We Cut Heads" --the 1983 pic Lee filmed for his NYU...

The Hola Mexico Film Festival USA '09 will screen Gotham preems of Guillermo del Toro-produced pic "Cosas significantes," helmed by Andrea Martinez, as well as Mexican B.O. hit "Tear This Heart Out.".(GOTHAM FILM CLIPS)
June 2, 2009... The Hola Mexico Film Festival USA '09 will screen Gotham preems of Guillermo del Toro-produced pic "Cosas significantes," helmed by Andrea Martinez, as well as Mexican B.O. hit "Tear This Heart Out." Fest will run June 23-28 at the Quad...

'Shrek's' ducat deals.(Legit Bits)(Brief article)
June 2, 2009... The producers of "Shrek the Musical," never shy about touting discounts to drum up sales, have put together an unusually thorough package of summer deals, including an offer of up to three half-price ducats with the purchase of a single...

Jaunt in the jungle.(V)('Land of the Lost' premiere)(Brief article)
June 2, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Universal's bigscreen reincarnation of classic sci-fi series "Land of -the Lost," starring Will Ferrell and Danny McBride, preemed to a packed Grauman's Chinese Theater Saturday followed by a lavish after-party at...

Boys will be boys.(V)
June 2, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Add a little vulgarity, some shameless self-promotion and a whole lot of star power and you get Saturday's Spike TV Guys Choice Awards. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Mel Gibson kicked off the lively kudocast on the...

Robert Evans and Ben Stiller stick together at an MTV Movie Awards pre-party Friday.(V)
June 2, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Robert Evans and Ben Stiller stick together at an MTV Movie Awards pre-party Friday at the Sunset Tower Hotel in Hollywood.

Curtis Hanson and Paula Wagner flank Robert Rosen at Friday's tribute to Rosen toasting his tenure.(V)
June 2, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Curtis Hanson and Paula Wagner flank Robert Rosen at Friday's tribute to Rosen toasting his tenure as dean of the School of Theater, Film and Television at UCLA.

Rita Wilson, helmer Donald Petrie, Nia Vardalos and Fox's Jim Gianopules arrive for Friday's "My Life In Ruins" premiere.(V)
June 2, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Rita Wilson, helmer Donald Petrie, Nia Vardalos and Fox's Jim Gianopules arrive for Friday's "My Life In Ruins" premiere at the Zanuck Theater on The Fox lot.

Power pair: Fox duo share prexy title.
June 3, 2009... After helping to steer the specialty label through its lengthy hot streak, Stephen Gilula and Nancy Utley have been rewarded with promotions to the prexy post at Fox Searchlight. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Move had been expected since...

Gem of a pic pact for Bynes.
June 3, 2009... Screen Gems has made a two-picture deal with Amanda Bynes. The thesp will first co-star in the Will Gluck-directed comedy "Easy A," and she and Screen Gems president Clint Culpepper will then craft a star vehicle for her second project. ...

'Tonight' heir-raising.
June 3, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Conan O'Brien got off to a running start at the helm of "The Tonight Show." Three nights after Jay Leno averaged a big 8.8 household rating/20 share in Nielsen s metered-market overnights, The Tonight Show With...

Games in replay mode.
June 3, 2009... The vidgame biz has caught sequelitis. Nintendo and Sony will rely mostly on new installments of proven franchises rather than launching new properties to drive their videogame businesses through the end of next year. Much attention...

Jack's back with Brooks.
June 3, 2009... Jack Nicholson is closing in on a deal to reteam with James L. Brooks on the helmer's untitled romantic comedy at Columbia Pictures. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Nicholson is the last piece of casting to come together on the ensemble...

Quality trumps the sophomore slump.(television programs)(Brief article)
June 3, 2009... WHAT'S THE OPPOSITE of the sophomore jinx? Whatever one might call it, this happy condition has spread across TV thanks to the admirable creative performance of several programs. This year's honor roll includes "Damages," "Breaking Bad,"...

In the modern age, TV operates within a media culture possessing the attention span of a hyperactive moth.(Brief article)
June 3, 2009... IN THE MODERN AGE, TV operates within a media culture possessing the attention span of a hyperactive moth. As a consequence, hits are exhausted faster than ever--with everyone parasitically demanding a taste, then just as quickly accusing the...

Despite how diverse these series are, a few common threads exist, at least in regard to the dramas.('Big Love', 'Lost', '24')(Brief article)
June 3, 2009... DESPITE HOW DIVERSE these series are, a few common threads exist, at least in regard to the dramas. Each airs on cable, which not only allows for more complex storytelling but, more significantly, shorter episodic runs. Let's face it, when you...

Humanitas prizes a prod'n arm.(Brief article)
June 3, 2009... The Humanitas Prize is looking to raise its profile by expanding into original production. The org has tapped film and TV vet Ronnie Clemmer to run the newly created Humanitas Prods. wing. The plan is for a panel of Humanitas Prize...

Discovery parks new 'Garage' in Detroit.
June 3, 2009... After ending its run in 2006, "Monster Garage" is gearing up for a second life. Back on Discovery Channel but with a new title, "MG: Motor City," this edition will be based in Detroit and premiere in the fall. With seven days and...

Leno gets early launch.('The Jay Leno Show')(Brief article)
June 3, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Jay Leno will get a one-week jump on the fall season in September. NBC, which had hinted that Leno would launch a week before the season start, made it official on Tuesday: "The Jay Leno Show" will bow on Monday,...

Ruben Guthrie.(Theater review)
June 3, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] (Belvoir St. Theater, Sydney: 351 seats; tickets $A56 ($46) top) Company B presentation of a play in two acts by Brendan Cowell. Directed by Wayne Blair. Set, costumes Jacob Nash; lighting, Luiz Pampolha;...

'Carnage' cues cast: stars of the hit show reup to Nov. 15.(LEGIT)('God of Carnage' actors extend contracts)(Brief article)
June 3, 2009... All four members of the starry cast of hit Broadway play "God of Carnage" have extended their contracts to appear in the show through Nov. 15--after a six-week hiatus during which the production will go temporarily dark. Jeff Daniels, Hope...

Next Wave Fest sets sked at BAM.(LEGIT)(Brooklyn Academy of Music)
June 3, 2009... A U.S. staging of Juliette Binoche starrer "In-I," a show from the dance troupe of Tony-nommed "Hair" choreographer Karole Armitage, a new opera by Philip Glass and outings from arty legit helmers Robert Lepage and Robert Wilson are among the...

Tonycast adds Poison to lineup.(Legit Bits)(Tony Awards)(Brief article)
June 3, 2009... The 1980s hair-metal band Poison will perform during the Tony telecast--as will more usual legit suspects Liza Minnelli, Elton John and Stockard Channing. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] As expected, Dolly Parton, the nominated...

Sanaa Lathan will round out the London cast of the all-black production of "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, bowing on the West End in the fall.(Legit Bits)(Brief article)
June 3, 2009... Sanaa Lathan will round out the London cast of the all-black production of "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, bowing on the West End in the fall. Lathan ("A Raisin in the Sun") will play central character Maggie the Cat in the Tennessee Williams...

Fox has this 'Dance': net twirls to top in demo; 'Kate' rates.
June 3, 2009... Scripted skeins took a back seat during the first full frame of television's summer season, as hoops and hoofers--as well as cable's favorite tabloid couple--dominated in demos. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] With the hot "So You Think You Can...

Carroll flips for Reiner.(Madeline Carroll to star in "Flipped")(Brief article)
June 3, 2009... Madeline Carroll ("Swing Vote") has been cast in the lead role of Rob Reiner's coming-of-age comedy "Flipped" for Castle Rock prods. East of Doheny topper Kelly Gonda is producing along with Reiner and producing partner Alan Greisman for...

More 'Martin' for comedy.(Comedy Central plans 'Important Things With Demetri Martin' second season)(Brief article)
June 3, 2009... Comedy Central has picked up a second season of "Important Things With Demetri Martin," ordering 10 episodes. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Produced by Jon Stewart's Busboy Prods. shingle, the sketch comedy skein has scored for the cabler in...

Ripa caters to TLC show.(Kelly Ripa produces 'Masters of Reception')(Brief article)
June 3, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos are among the producers of TLC nonscripted series "Masters of Reception," which will be sneak previewed June 12 before airing five hourlong episodes in the...

Lionsgate, Haggis book 'Three Days'.
June 3, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Lionsgate is teaming with filmmaker Paul Haggis on the thriller "The Next Three Days," an adaptation of the French film "Pour elle." The mini-major said Tuesday that it has acquired remake rights to "Pour elle"...