Daily Variety articles from March 2012, page 7

Daily Variety archives from March 2012

CW shortens Web wait time.
March 14, 2012... The CW will accelerate the availability of its primetime programming on its website, shortening what had been a three-day delay to just eight hours starting Thursday. The shift is aimed at curbing illegal streams and downloads that siphon...

Mouse meet pumps parks.
March 14, 2012... The media is having a field day with "John Carter," but the subject barely came up at a Disney's annual shareholders meeting in Kansas City, Mo., on Tuesday. Mouse House CEO Bob Iger outlined his plan to hire 1,000 military veterans and...

E! looks Eastwood.(Brief article)
March 14, 2012... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Clint Eastwood and family are about to make E!'s day. The NBCUniversal cabler will examine the lives of Dina Eastwood--wife of film icon Clint Eastwood--and his daughters Francesca and Morgan in "Mrs. Eastwood and...

Navel-gazing follows 'Carter's' leap.(TUNING IN)
March 14, 2012... "John Carter's" eponymous hero spends a lot of time hopping around without a shirt, which is convenient, if only to facilitate the collective navel-gazing about what went wrong with Disney's would-be blockbuster, and who deserves blame. The...

Acad honors TV with isssues.
March 14, 2012... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] NBC's "Harry's Law," FX's "Rescue Me," TNT's "Men of a Certain Age" and syndie yakker "Dr. Oz" are among the recipients of the fifth annual Television Academy Honors recognizing programs that tackle social issues. ...

Pol vault for HBO.(Brief article)
March 14, 2012... "Game Change" proved to be a winner for HBO. The pay cabler's original film. based on John Heilmann and Mark Halperin's book on the 2008 presidential race, drew 2.1 million viewers for its 8 p.m. Saturday telecast, becoming the...

'Shelley' peddles to Tricycle bow.(Mary Shelley)(Brief article)
March 14, 2012... A new drama about the author of "Frankenstein" and London premieres of plays by Alan Ayckboum and David Harrower are on on the spring/summer slate for London's Tricycle theater. "Mary Shelley," a West Yorkshire Playhouse, Shared Experience...

Edinburgh goes legit: fest also fills up its dance card.
March 14, 2012... Theater and dance figure prominently in the lineup for the 2012 Edinburgh Festival--as does a hardto-categorize nod to the Olympics. The theater program includes world preems of "Gulliver's Travels" by Romanian helmer Silviu Purcarete and the...

Tribeca sets shorts sked.
March 14, 2012... World preems from Neil LaBute and Edward Bums are among the 60 short films to be screened as part of the 2012 Tribeca Film Festival. With a roster of performers and interview subjects including Michael Fassbender, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Sting,...

Fellowes to pen 'Gypsy'.
March 14, 2012... Universal Pictures has tapped "Downton Abbey" creator Julian Fellowes to write the adaptation of the musical "Gypsy," which Joel Silver and Barbra Streisand will produce. Streisand will play the role of Mama Rose in the project, based on...

All 'Hands' on deck.(Hands on a Hardbody)(Brief article)
March 14, 2012... Keith Carradine along with Broadway regulars Jarrod Emick and Hunter Foster have joined the cast of "Hands on a Hardbody," the new tuner bowing at La Jolla Playhouse later this spring. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Thesps Allison Case, Jay...

Legit org points Way to noms.(Brian Way Award for best play for young audiences)(Brief article)
March 14, 2012... Theater Center. the U.K.'s leading youth theater, has announced the 2012 shortlist for the Brian Way Award for best play for young audiences. "Get Santa!" by Anthony Neilson, produced by the Royal Court, is up against "The Machine Gunners"...

Scripted 'Vikings' to history.(Brief article)
March 14, 2012... History has given a full-series order to "Vikings," the first scripted drama skein to come from the reality-heavy cabler. "Vikings," from international producers World 2000 and Take 5 Prods, will chronicle the ferocious world of the Norsemen,...

Dashing dramas: 'Smash,' 'GCB' show ratings spirit.
March 14, 2012... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] It's been tough for new l0 p.m. broadcast dramas to gain much traction in recent years, but a pair of first-year midseason entries, NBC's "Smash" and ABC's "GCB," improved their standing last week by posting gains. ...

Jury won't consider Cherry tap.
March 14, 2012... A Los Angeles judge will not allow jurors to consider actress Nicollette Sheridan's battery claim against "Desperate Housewives" creator Marc Cherry. Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Elizabeth Allen White will allow Sheridan's wrongful...

Lionsgate, Thunderbird set up TV joint venture.
March 14, 2012... Lionsgate has partnered with the TV arm of Thunderbird Films on a new venture for scripted smallscreen programming, Sea to Sky Entertainment. The two companies will jointly manage Sea to Sky, sharing production and distribution costs if a...

Exec tops Lido mart.(World News)(Pascal Diot appointed president)(Brief article)
March 14, 2012... The Venice Film Festival has appointed French sales agent and producer Pascal Diot as topper of its new Venice Film Market and announced changes to its Lido digs. Diot, who over the past two decades has held executive posts at companies...

AB's dishing out 'Revenge'.(World News)(AB International markets Tony's Revenge)(Brief article)
March 14, 2012... PARIS -- AB Intl. has inked a flurry of sales on Gallic gangster miniseries "Tony's Revenge," and is in advanced negotiations with an American buyer for a U.S. adaptation. "Tony's Revenge" stars Simon Abkarian ("Casino Royale") as an old-time...

Edinburgh fest's 'Brave' return to Pixar.(World News)
March 14, 2012... The 66th Edinburgh Film Festival will close with the European premiere of Disney-Pixar's Scottish-themed animation "Brave" on June 30. The announcement was made Tuesday by Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond at a conference in Perth to...

Euro drama imports led by CBS, WB.(World News)
March 14, 2012... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] CBS overtook Warner Bros. to become Europe's No. 1 distributor of U.S. drama series in 2011, thanks to fare like the "CSI" franchise. CBS drama programs filled 4,861 hours in primetime across 119 channels in 21...

MGM, La Sexta set exclusive movie deal.(World News)(Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc.)(Brief article)
March 14, 2012... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] MADRID -- MGM has inked a movie deal with Spanish broadcaster La Sexta covering exclusive rights to firstrun and library titles for three years. Movies include "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo," "G.I. Joe:...

China stay order: publicity benches death row show.(World News)
March 14, 2012... The fate of one of China's most popular reality shows, "Interviews Before Execution," where death row prisoners talk shortly before their sentence is carried out, hangs in the balance. Authorities are uncomfortable with increased...

Delicacy.(Movie review)(Brief article)
March 14, 2012... Delicacy (La Delicatesse) (France) Directed by David Foenkinos, Stephane Foenkinos. Screenplay, David Foenkinos, based on his novel. Reviewed at Cine Utopia, Luxembourg, Jan. 1, 2012. With: Audrey Tautou, Francois Damiens, Bruno...

Detachment.(Movie review)(Brief article)
March 14, 2012... Detachment Directed by Tony Kaye. Screenplay, Carl Lund. Reviewed at Tribeca Film Festival (Spotlight), April 28, 2011. With: Adrien Brody, Marcia Gay Harden, James Caan, Christina Hendricks, Lucy Liu, Blythe Danner, Tim Blake Nelson, William...

Gerhard Richter Painting.(Movie review)(Brief article)
March 14, 2012... Gerhard Richter Painting (Docu-Germany) Directed, written by Corinna Belz. Reviewed at Toronto Film Festival (Real to Reel), Sept. 11, 2011. With: Gerhard Richter, Norbert Ams, Hubert Becker, Sabine Moritz-Richter Konstanze Ell, Marian...

Jeff, Who Lives at Home.(Movie review)(Brief article)
March 14, 2012... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Jeff, Who Lives at Home Directed, written by Jay Duplass, Mark Duplass. Reviewed at Toronto Film Festival (Special Presentations), Sept. 10, 2011. With: Jason Segel, Ed Helms, Susan Sarandon, Judy Greer, Rae Dawn,...

Juan of the Dead/Juan de los muertos.(Movie review)(Brief article)
March 14, 2012... Juan of the Dead (Juan de los muertos) (Spain-Cuba) Directed, written by Alejandro Brugues. Reviewed at Toronto Film Festival (Contemporary World Cinema), Sept. 14, 2011. With: Alexis Dias de Villegas, Jorge Molino, Andrea Duro, Andros...

The Kid With a Bike/Le Gamin au velo.(Movie review)(Brief article)
March 14, 2012... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Kid With a Bike (Le Gamin au velo) (France-Belgium) Directed, written by Jean-Pierre Dardenne, Luc Dardenne. Reviewed at Cannes Film Festival (competing), May 14, 2011. With: Cecile de France, Thomas Doret,...

Natural Selection.(Movie review)(Brief article)
March 14, 2012... Natural Selection Directed, written by Robbie Pickering. Reviewed at SXSW Film Festival (competing), March 14, 2011. With: Matt O'Leary, Rachael Harris, John Diehl, Gayland Williams, Jon Gries. Winner of both the jury and audience...

Seeking Justice.(Movie review)(Brief article)
March 14, 2012... Seeking Justice Directed by Roger Donaldson. Screenplay, Robert Tannen, Yuri Zeltser, from a story by Tannen, Todd Hickey. Reviewed at Courthouse Doubletree Hotel, London, Nov. 2, 2011. With: Nicolas Cage, January Jones, Guy Pearce, Harold...

Blue Like Jazz.(Movie review)
March 14, 2012... Blue Like Jazz A Roadside Attractions release of a RuckusFilm production. Produced by J. Clarke Gallivan, Steve Taylor. Executive producers, Coke Satos, Chip Murray, Marshall Allman, Scott Lewis, Don Raines, Erick Goss. Co-producer, Dona...

Frankie Go Boom.(Movie review)
March 14, 2012... Frankie Go Boom A Defender Films production in association with K&L Prods. and the Ministry Content. Produced by Marcel Langereger, Pavlina Hatoupis, Katayonn A. Marciano. Executive producers, Elliott Lewitt, Julie Kirham. Directed,...

Nielsen primetime ratings report.(Statistical table)
March 14, 2012... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Top shows in 18-49 1. The voice (NBC) 6.2/16 2. American Idol-Wed. (Fox) 5.7/16 3. The Big Bang Theory (CBS) 5.1/15 4. American Idol-Thu. (Fox) 4.9/14 5. The Big...

Leonardo Cimino.(Obituaries)
March 14, 2012... Character actor Leonardo Cimino, who brought his signature look--long, thin face and large nose--to a large number of small but evocative roles in film and television, often playing mobsters or men of the church, died in Woodstock, N.Y., of...

Jay McMullen.(Obituaries)
March 14, 2012... Jay McMullen, an investigative reporter who was among the first to use hidden cameras and posed as a drug buyer or gambler for months to produce TV and radio documentaries during a long career with CBS, died of natural causes on Saturday in...

David J. McGrath.(Obituaries)(Obituary)(Brief article)
March 14, 2012... David J. McGrath, a former senior executive at MGM responsible for the marketing campaigns of films, including "Doctor Zhivago," "Ryan's Daughter," "2001: A Space Odyssey" and "The Dirty Dozen," died in San Diego on Feb. 29 after a long illness....

Joy Mukherjee.(Obituaries)(Obituary)(Brief article)
March 14, 2012... Indian actor and director Joy Mukherjee died in Mumbai on Friday after being admitted to a hospital with respiratory issues. He was 73. Mukherjee was bota into a film family. His father was the producer Sasadhar Mukherjee, one of the founders...

Hazel Medina.(Obituaries)
March 14, 2012... Hazel Medina, who balanced careers as an actress and a social worker, died due to complications from multiple myeloma in New York on Feb. 14. She was 74. In an acting career that ran more than four decades before her illness was diagnosed in...

'Games' begin.(V)(The Hunger Games)(Brief article)
March 14, 2012... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "The Hunger Games" preem at L.A. Live on Monday brought a feeling of deja vu to producer Nina Jacobson. "This level of excitement and anticipation takes me back to the 'Pirates of the...

Recalling his kid days.(V)(Robert Redford)(Brief article)
March 14, 2012... Robert Redford reminisced about his own rough times onstage as he spoke at the New York Theater Workshop Monday night for the Sundance Institute's inaugural Gotham benefit for its legit program. The night began with Denis O'Hare's solo show,...

Roundabout roasting.(V)(Brief article)
March 14, 2012... Plenty of stars turned out to honor Rob Marshall at the Round-about Theater Company's spring gala Monday at Gotham's Hammerstein Ballroom. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] But the most memorable appearance was made by Jiminy Glick, the alter ego of...

TV flexes ad muscle as media feels pinch.
March 13, 2012... Ad spending on network television surged last quarter while other traditional media and digital outlets were hit by year-end belt tightening, according to a study issued Monday, one of several this week that will dissect the health of the 2011...

Aereo digs in vs. b'casters.
March 13, 2012... Aereo, the startup that plans to offer Internet streams of broadcast stations, is seeking a court ruling that its service is legal. The company, which plans to start service on Wednesday in the New York area, was sued by broadcast stations...

Fuzzy forecasts: biz scrutinizes B.O. tracking as auds evolve.(box office)
March 13, 2012... Forgive Disney execs if they hoped "John Carter" would pull a "Lorax" and outrun pre-release tracking by oh, $20 million or so. It didn't. But considering the number of films that have steeply outperformed pre-release tracking so far this...

Playground scuffle: Disney capitalizes on its gains among boys as rivalry vs. Nickelodeon heats up.
March 13, 2012... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] As Disney and Nickelodeon battle it out for kidvid bragging rights, the Mouse House on Monday unveiled program lineups for Disney Channel, Disney XD and Disney Junior, which will evolve into a standalone network later...

Vid giants merge for China heft.(Tudou and Youku)
March 13, 2012... China's two biggest video websites, arch rivals Youku and Tudou, are setting aside their differences and planning a merger that will help them become the most competitive player in an industry that is growing rapidly. The news is good news...

Options from Ora: Helu startup focuses on on-demand.(Carlos Slim Helu's Ora.tv)
March 13, 2012... It's going to take a lot more than Larry King to get a new digital-only TV network off the ground. The ad-supported TV network is being launched by Carlos Slim Helu, acknowledged as the world's richest man, and on Monday CEO Jon Housman...

'Balthazar B' brought to bigscreen by indie.('The Beastly Beatitudes of Balthazar B' by Honora Prods. and Donleavy-Mitchell Prods.)(Brief article)
March 13, 2012... J.P. Donleavy's whimsical "The Beastly Beatitudes of Balthazar B" is heading for the bigscreen via Donleavy-Mitchell Prods. and Honora Prods. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The 1968 novel, which has been translated into more than 20 languages,...

Santor exits New Regency.(Louis Santor)
March 13, 2012... New Regency CO0-CFO Louis Santor has resigned after a run that spanned two decades, and will be replaced by former Groundswell productions prexy Jonathan Fischer in July. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Santor has been working with Regency chairman...

'Bel Ami' seduces Magnolia in U.S.(Film Pickups)
March 13, 2012... Magnolia Pictures has acquired Declan Donnellan and Nick Ormerod's Robert Pattinson starrer "Bel Ami" and will give the period pica theatrical release in the U.S. on June 8. Deal was made with Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions, which will...

Music Box turns on 'Lights' in N. America.(Film Pickups)(Music Box Films has bought the rights to 'Keep the Lights On')(Brief article)
March 13, 2012... Music Box Films has picked up North American rights to Ira Sachs' "Keep the Lights On," the relationship drama that bowed at Sundance earlier this year and will screen at the Tribeca Film Festival. Penned by Sachs and Mauricio Zacharias, pic...

WB courts 'Jacob' for Disruption.
March 13, 2012... Warner Bros. is acquiring feature rights to William Landay's legal drama "Defending Jacob" for Mary Parent's Disruption Entertainment to develop. "Jacob," published last month, centers on an assistant district attorney in suburban...

Indycar in gear with DWA.(DreamWorks Animation SKG Inc.'s 'Turbo')(Brief article)
March 13, 2012... IndyCar, the governing body of the Indianapolis 500, is teaming with DreamWorks Animation for the studio's 2013 toon pic "Turbo." In the film, directed by David Soren and voiced by actors including Ryan Reynolds, Samuel L. Jackson and Maya...

Correction.(Correction notice)
March 13, 2012... WME Global was the sales agent handling "Bindlestiffs." Information was incorrect in a story on the North American rights sale to Phase 4 in Monday's paper.

Tony Honors to fete Rialto luminaries.(Freddie Gershon and Artie Siccardi)(Brief article)
March 13, 2012... Music Theater Intl. topper Freddie Gershon, Broadway production supervisor Artie Siccardi and TDF's Open Doors program are set to receive the 2012 Tony Honors: A subset of the Tony Awards, the Honors are handed out every year to legiters...

Thesp has 'Dinner' plans.
March 13, 2012... Thesp Patricia Kalember has stepped into Broadway's upcoming production of "Don't Dress for Dinner," replacing Melora Hardin in a show that's currently in rehearsals. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] According to Roundabout Theater Company, which...

Discovery exec bolts for Blip.
March 13, 2012... Discovery Communications' exec VP of digital media and commerce has ankled to become CEO of online video network Blip. Kelly Day will also join Blip's board and oversee the company's next phase of growth for its advertising and distribution...

B.O. springs forward: b'way looks lively as new shows bow.
March 13, 2012... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Broadway put some spring back in its step last week, as a seasonal rise in sales helped the Main Stem recover from a tough frame the prior week. Rialto box office usually begins to gain steam at around this time of...

Broadway top 10: March 5-11, 2012.
March 13, 2012... Broadway Top 10: March 5-11, 2012 Week's gross Prev. Show receipts week's (Theater)(Prod. category) (Seats) Potential Gross ...

Skein for great Scot: STV developing series on Wallace.(STV Prods. to develop a series based on the life of William Wallace)
March 13, 2012... A drama series on the life of William Wallace--subject of Oscar best-pic winner "Braveheart"--is being developed by STV Prods. in association with Digital Rights Group, Nine/8 Entertainment and Creative Media. "Wallace" will focus on the...

Lythgoe dances over to Ovation.
March 13, 2012... Nigel Lythgoe is hoofing it again, and this time his dance partner is cable network Ovation. Hourlong "A Chance to Dance," set to premiere Aug. 17, will run for seven weeks. The show will follow U.K. "Ballet Boyz" and former Royal Ballet...

Ochocinco Returning to VH1
March 13, 2012... Chad Ochocinco, nearing the end of his NFL career, is making a TV comeback on VH1. The New England Patriots wide receiver and his fiancee, Evelyn Lozada, have signed up with the cabler for the new half-hour series "Ev and Ocho," set to...

BBC America takes immigration journey.
March 13, 2012... BBC America has inked a deal with SBS Australia--its first with a U.S. network--to adapt docuseries "Go Back to Where You Came From." The original four-episode skein, which sparked national debate when it aired Down Under last year, followed...

Showtime sets preems.(Showtime Entertainment Inc.'s 'Dexter' and 'Homeland')(Brief article)
March 13, 2012... Showtime has set Sept. 30 as the season-premiere date for both its top-rated serial killer series "Dexter" and Claire Danes starrer "Homeland." "Homeland," which closed out its freshman season on Dec. 18, drew 4.4 million viewers across all...

Bravo taps scripted veep.
March 13, 2012... Bravo has brought in Andrew Wang to fill the newly created post of VP of scripted development and production. Wang arrives from Alloy Entertainment and will be based in Los Angeles, reporting to Eli Lehrer, VP of development and original...

Boom ahead for India.(World News)
March 13, 2012... India's 728 billion rupees ($14.5 billion) media and entertainment industry is projected to double in size to $29 billion by 2016, according to a report to be released this week by KPMG and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and...

Toon time at TeamTO: Gallic firm near 'Gus' financing deal.(World News)
March 13, 2012... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] TeamTO is closing the financing on its first toon feature, "Gus 3D," and is in talks to board EuropaCorp's "The Boy With a Cuckoo-Clock Heart," which was pitched at Cartoon Movie, the Lyon-based co-production mini-mart....

Mori ramps up prod'n, tenpercentary.(World News)(Mineko Mori opens up Mori Company Talent Boutique)(Brief article)
March 13, 2012... Former Paramount exec Mineko Mori, one of Mexico's most experienced distributors, is revving up production at the Mori Co. Mori and Daniel Magana, her partner, founded Mexico City-based TMC last July, after Paramount Pictures shuttered...

Trigno sets India remake.(World News)(Trigno Media to do a remake of 'The Infidel')(Brief article)
March 13, 2012... Indian shingle Trigno Media has acquired the Hindi-language remake rights for helmet Josh Appignanesi's U.K. laffer "The Infidel." The 2010 pic was released in 22 territories and grossed some $4.5 million. It starred Omid Djalili ("Sex and...

NonStop buys 'Moonrise'.(SCANDINAVIA)(NonStop Entertainment acquires rights to 'Moonrise Kingdom')(Brief article)
March 13, 2012... NonStop Entertainment has acquired Scandinavian rights to Wes Anderson's "Moonrise Kingdom," which is set to open the Cannes Film Festival in May. "Moonrise Kingdom" stars Bruce Willis, Tilda Swinton, Bill Murray, Frances McDormand, Ed Norton...

Ubu into arthouses.(ITALY)(Officine Ubu)(Brief article)
March 13, 2012... Following a Berlin buying spree, emerging Italo film shingle Officine Ubu is branching into exhibition with a small but significant stake in nationwide specialty loop Circuito Cinema. Ubu has taken an approximately 5% stake in the exhib,...

Piracy suits rise.(CHINA)
March 13, 2012... China's top judge, Wang Shengjun, told the country's annual legislature, the National People's Congress, that last year 66,000 intellectual property rights cases went to litigation, up 38% over 2010. Protecting copyright and smashing piracy...

Nature Calls.(Movie review)
March 13, 2012... Nature Calls A Troop 21 production in association with Muskat Filmed Properties. Produced by Lisa Muskat. Executive producers, David Gordon Green, Michael B. Clark, John Hodges, David Bausch. Directed, written by Todd Rohal. Camera (Deluxe...

Casa de mi padre.(Movie review)
March 13, 2012... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Casa de mi padre A Pantelion Films release of a Nala Pantelion Films, Televisa Films and Lionsgate presentation of a Gary Sanchez, Nala Films production. Produced by Will Ferrell, Adam McKay, Emilio Diez Barroso,...

Film box office wrap: for the weekend of March 9-11.
March 13, 2012... Weekend at the B.O. $136.2 million March 9-11, 2012 +5.2% -18.8% vs. last year vs. last weekend Screen scene The weekend's top 10 engagements: Theater, city (circuit) Gross 1 John Carter ...

Sinister.(Movie review)
March 13, 2012... Sinister A Summit Entertainment release of an Alliance Films presentation in association with IM Global of a Blumhouse Prods./Automatik Entertainment/Possessed Pictures production. Produced by Jason Blum, Brian Kavanaugh-Jones. Executive...

Girls Against Boys.(Movie review)
March 13, 2012... Girls Against Boys A Floren Shieh production in association with Foco Films. (International sales: Paradigm, Los Angeles.) Produced by Clay Floren, Aimee Shieh. Co-producer, Daniel Sollinger. Directed, written by Austin Chick. Camera...

Missing.(Television program review)
March 13, 2012... Missing (Series; ABC, Thurs. March 15, 8p.m.) Filmed in Europe by Stillking Films, Little Engine Prods. and Upcountry Prods. Executive producers, Gregory Poirier, Gina Matthews, Grant Scharbo, Stephen Shill, James Parriott; co-executive...

The Do-Deca-Pentathlon.(Movie review)
March 13, 2012... The Do-Deca-Pentathlon A Red Flag Releasing release presented with Fox Searchlight Pictures. Produced by Jay Duplass, Mark Duplass, Stephanie Langhoff. Co-producer, Ross Partridge. Directed, written by Jay Duplass, Mark Duplass. Camera...

Own soars on interview.
March 13, 2012... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Oprah Winfrey's OWN network drew its largest audience to date Sunday night, as Winfrey's interview with Whitney Houston's daughter drew 3.5 million viewers. Airing as part of the "Oprah's Next Chapter" series,...

'Throne' suit dismissed.
March 13, 2012... With a settlement pending, soul singer Syl Johnson's suit against Kanye West and Jay-Z for unauthorized sampling of a Johnson track has been dismissed. In October, R&B vet Johnson filed suit in Illinois federal court against the superstar...

Christopher Backus.(Players)
March 13, 2012... Christopher Backus has booked a gueststar role on "The Mentalist." He will play a young grifter with a checkered past. Credits include "Always Sunny in Philadelphia" and "Perception." [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Katie Leclerc.(Players)
March 13, 2012... Katie Leclerc has signed on to Hallmark Channel telepic "The Confession." Pic is based on the book by Beverly Lewis with Michael Landon Jr. Leclerc stars in the ABC Family skein "Switched at Birth." [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Michael Nardelli.(Players)
March 13, 2012... Michael Nardelli is set to guest star on Lifetime series "The Client List." He most recently produced "The Giant Mechanical Man," starring Malin Akerman and Topher Grace. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]