Daily Variety articles from May 2006

Daily Variety archives from May 2006

'Mission' friction in China.
May 1, 2006... Ethan Hunt has been given new orders in China. Senior Chinese government officials have shot down hopes that "Mission: Impossible III," which opens across Asia on Wednesday, would get a day-and-date or near-simultaneous release in China....

'United' flies after all: 9/11 drama tops forecasts, land at no. 2.
May 1, 2006... "United 93," Paul Greengrass' depiction of one of the Sept. 11 hijackings, did better than expected at the weekend box office, while Lionsgate's "Akeelah and the Bee" fell a bit under the radar despite a high-profile promotion by Starbucks. ...

... But Gotham auds remain divided.(United 93)
May 1, 2006... Audiences in Gotham were polarized by "United 93" over the weekend. Moviegoers lingered uncertainly in front of theater box offices, boyfriends pleaded with girlfriends, and the city felt torn between embrace and skepticism. "We had...

Starbucks perks to WMA.(William Morris Agency)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Starbucks is going even more Hollywood. Coffee chain has signed with the William Morris Agency to help it identify music, movies and--in a new twist--books that it can market and distribute in its stores. Move comes as the first film...

FBI leaks raise flags.
May 1, 2006... The sideshow is expected to be the main show at today's Anthony Pellicano wiretap hearing when federal prosecutors will probe leaks of FBI reports, information from which showed up in a series of New York Times articles over the past two weeks....

Burkle left holding bag in Page Six mess.(Ron Burkle)
May 1, 2006... Memo to: Ron Burkle From: Peter Bart YOU MAY KNOW A LOT about supermarkets, Ron, but when it comes to dealing with the press you're still a bag boy. As evidence, consider the upshot of your battle with the New York Post's Page Six....

'Guiding' lights up Emmy kudos.(33rd annual Daytime Emmy Awards)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... "Guiding Light" snagged the most statuettes, four, at the 33rd annual Daytime Emmy Awards on Friday, but "General Hospital" snared the top prize, the drama series gong. Ellen DeGeneres picked up the first nod of the night and her second...

Disney Theatrical ups Eldon to touring veep.(Disney Theatrical Productions)(Jack Eldon promoted as vice president)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Jack Eldon has been upped to VP of touring at Disney Theatrical Prods. Exec, who marketed company's road productions of "The Lion King," "Beauty and the Beast" and "Aida," has been with Disney for 10 years. Eldon will oversee...

Netflix cues stock sale as it mulls next steps.(Netflix Inc. announces secondary public offering)
May 1, 2006... Netflix wants a new supply of subscribers, but first it wants a chunk of change. Online vidtailer on Friday announced a secondary public offering that will seek to raise $105 million through the sale of 3.5 million additional shares. ...

Scribe goes to head of 'Clash' at Warners.(Travis Beacham writes scripts for Warner Bros. Pictures's Clash of the Titans)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Warner Bros. Pictures is once again trying to scale Mount Olympus, hiring scribe Travis Beacham to pen a remake of the 1981 cult classic "Clash of the Titans." Basil Iwanyk's Thunder Road is producing. It's the first activity the project...

Col enlists hero helmer.(Gabriele Muccino will direct for Columbia Pictures)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Gabriele Muccino will direct the Columbia Pictures drama "Tonight He Comes," which Will Smith is toplining and producing with Akiva Goldsman, Michael Mann and James Lassiter. Muccino replaces Jonathan Mostow, who ankled the project in March...

MGM mints marketer.(Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc.)(Perry Stahman named as supervisor of theatrical marketing)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... MGM has named Perry Stahman prexy of domestic theatrical marketing. Stahman will supervise all theatrical marketing activities for MGM's theatrical distrib unit. Theatrical distribution is part of the Lion's recently announced...

'Code' crackdown: Catholic Church denounces 'Da Vinci'.(religious controversies of The Da Vinci Code)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... With the premiere of Sony's "The Da Vinci Code" less than a month away, the Catholic Church is upping its offensive against the bigscreen adaptation of Dan Brown's bestselling book. On Friday, papal insider Archbishop Angelo Amato denounced...

WB spies IRA drama.(Warner Bros. develops, "The Infiltrator," a drama)(Irish Republican Army)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Warner Bros. will develop "The Infiltrator," a drama based on a Matthew Teague article in April's Atlantic Monthly that the studio has optioned. Article concerns the campaign by British intelligence to under mine the Irish Republican Army...

Touchstone TV programs Platt for laffers.(Touchstone Television Inc. has shuffled its comedy department)(Jodie Platt)(Alex Weinberger)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Touchstone TV has shuffled its comedy department, naming Jodie Platt to oversee its laffer operations. Platt, who will now serve as head of comedy at Touchstone TV, replaces Alex Weinberger. Weinberger remains with the studio but has opted...

Helmer flips on 'Power'.(product development of Stopping Power)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Jan De Bont is set to direct action thriller "Stopping Power" for Intermedia, Bill Block's QED Intl. and German f/x house Action Concept, which are together producing and co-financing the pic. Richard Shepard ("The Matador") is revising...

Hot Feet.(dance review)(Dance review)
May 1, 2006... (Hilton Theater, 1,813 seats; $101.25 top) A Transamerica presentation of a Rudy Durand production in association with Kalimba Entertainment, Meir A & Eli, Polymer Global Holdings, Godley Morris Group of a dance musical in two acts with...

cul-de-sac.(theater review)(Theater review)
May 1, 2006... (Connelly Theater; 74 seats: $19 top) A Transport Group presentation of a play in one act by John Cariani. Directed by Jack Cummmings III. Sets, Sandra Goldmark: costumes, Kathryn Rohe; lighting, R. Lee Kennedy; original music, Tom Kochan;...

All's Well That Ends Well.(theater review)(Theater review)
May 1, 2006... (Yale Repertory Theater, New Haven, Conn; 480 seats; $50 top) A Yale Repertory Theater presentation of a play in two acts by William Shakespeare. Directed by James Bundy and Mark Rucker. Sets, Zane Pihlstrom; costumes, Mike Floyd; lighting,...

Peacock's mellow drama: skein trio renewed.(television shows of National Broadcasting Company Inc.)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... NBC has given early renewals to three more of its staple dramas, bringing back "Medium," "Crossing Jordan" and "Las Vegas" for next season. The shows join the previously renewed NBC skeins "My Name Is Earl," "The Office" and the "Law &...

Nets get a 'CSI' eyeful.(market shares of broadcasting industry)
May 1, 2006... ABC's Sunday and Fox's Tuesday may be the hotter lineups, but CBS' Thursday sked flexed its muscles last week, kicking off the May sweep with a dominant ratings victory. "Survivor," "CSI" and "Without a Trace"--together on the night for a...

HD blooms at Magnolia.(release of high definition digital video disks)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Mark Cuban and Todd Wagner will join the high-def DVD fray this month, when their Magnolia homevid label releases its first wave of HD DVD titles. The five debut titles include "Bubble," the first pic released simultaneously in theaters,...

Virgin spins new strategy.(Virgin Records establishes strategic marketing department )(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Virgin Records has established a strategic marketing department and tapped Aric Webb of Dennis Publishing to run it as senior VP. Department will be responsible for developing and executing integrated cross-promotional marketing strategies...

Cooper storming Kingdom'.(Chris Cooper stars with Jamie Foxx in Universal Pictures's drama)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Chris Cooper has been set to star alongside Jamie Foxx in "The Kingdom," the Peter Berg-directed drama for Universal Pictures. Cooper and Foxx play part of an FBI team that goes into a Middle Eastern country to investigate a terrorist...

Singers on sked at E!(reality shows of E! Entertainment Television)
May 1, 2006... E! Entertainment Television is bringing Backstreet Boy Nick Carter into the fold, greenlighting reality show "The Carters," about the domestic life of the pop star and his four siblings. Skein will center on Carter, younger brother and...

Travis Van Winkle.(contracts of Travis Van Winkle)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Travis Van Winkle has signed on for a role in Michael Bay's "Transformers: The Movie" for Paramount and DreamWorks. He will play the boyfriend of the lead female character. Van Winkle can next be seen in Universal's "Accepted," due out in...

Kurupt.(Rapper Kurupt joins the cast of Arcview Entertainment's, Vice)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Rapper Kurupt has joined the cast of Arcview Entertainment's "Vice." Pic, which stars Michael Madsen, Daryl Hannah and Mykelti Williamson, began lensing April 10 in Vancouver. Thriller is written and directed by Raul Sanchez Inglis. ...

Cloud 9.(theater review)(Theater review)
May 1, 2006... Cloud 9 (Wilma Theater, Philadelphia: 302 seals: $49 top) A Wilma Theater presentation of a play in two acts by Caryl Churchill. Directed by Blanka Zizka. Sets. Mimi Lien; costumes Janus Stefanowicz: lighting John Stephen Hoey;...

FTC warns media on ads.(Federal Trade Commission )(advertisement)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Broadcasters and caners beware: Federal Trade Commission topper Deborah Platt Majoras has threatened media companies with bad publicity if they're even suspected of airing deceptive advertising. In a speech last week to the Electronic...

Nick ups 'Josh' order.(Nickelodeon adds seven more episodes to its television show, Drake and Josh)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Nickelodeon has beefed up its fourth-season order of buddy comedy "Drake & Josh," the No. 1 live-action television show among kids 2-11. Kids network has greenlit an additional seven episodes, bringing the total commitment for season four...

Tropfest prize lands in 'Hole'.(The Watering Hole recieves top prize Tropfest@Tribeca)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Helmer Matthew Bonifacio's short "The Watering Hole" took the top prize over the weekend at Tropfest@Tribeca. Pic beat out seven other in-competish shorts. Event is a partnership between the Tribeca Film Festival and helmer John Poison's...

FX fires up 'Rescue' on demand.(firefighter drama, "Rescue Me" from FX Networks L.L.C.)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... FX will promote the upcoming third season of the Denis Leary firefighter drama "Rescue Me" with an original 15-minute short that will be distributed exclusively across video-on-demand and broadband platforms. Exec producers Leary and Peter...

TKTS moves to new site.(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... The TKTS discount ticket booth, a 33-year fixture in Gotham's Duffy Square, moves across the street and a block south today to allow for the construction of a new facility on the original site. In its location in Duffy Square (situated at...

Nadia Bjorlin.(Nadia Bjorlin in Chicago Pictures thriller)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Nadia Bjorlin ("Days of Our Lives") has been cast as a lead in Chicago Pictures thriller "Redline." Pic, directed by Andy Cheng, also stars Eddie Griffin and Nathan Phillips. Bjorlin recently completed "If I Had Known I Was a Genius," with...

Powers Boothe.(David Evans, contract)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Powers Boothe ("Deadwood") will star in indie "The Final Season." Directed by David Evans, the fact, based film depicts the last season of a legendary Iowa high school baseball team be: fore the school was shut down in 1992. Shooting begins...

James Black.(Fox Broadcasting Co., contract)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... James Black ("Six Feet Under") has been added to the cast of "Fashion House" for Fox as a series regular. His credits include a recurring role on ABC Family's "Lincoln Heights" and HBO's "Don King: Only in America."

Patrick J. Adams.(ABC Inc., contract)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Patrick J. Adams ("Old School") has booked a recurring role on ABC's "Commander in Chief," playing an intern for House Speaker Nathan Templeton (Donald Sutherland). Thesp also recently wrapped a role in the CBS Par pilot "Orpheus."

Gervais smells like rose.(Ricky Gervais received award)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... British comedy wunderkind Ricky Gervais, recently depicted in a much-hyped episode of "The Simpsons," pocketed two Golden Rose gongs at the Rose d'Or festival in Switzerland that wrapped over the weekend. "Extras," Gervais' U.K. follow-up...

'Ice Age' still hot o'seas.(Ice Age: The Meltdown)
May 1, 2006... "Ice Age: The Meltdown" just won't cool off, dominating the international box office for the fifth straight weekend with $25.3 million at 8,396 playdates. Fox's CG toon declined 37% from the previous frame to reach $373.6 million in...

'Missing' gone from Lifetime.(Lifetime Television Network)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Lifetime is erasing "Missing" from the lineup. Women's network has decided not to order a fourth season of the procedural, starring Vivica A. Fox as an FB1 agent whose partner has psychic abilities. Cancellation comes despite ratings...

Fortissimo goes it 'Alone'.('I Don't Want to Sleep Alone')(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Fortissimo Films has acquired international sales rights to "I Don't Want To Sleep Alone" by Yaiwanese arthouse helmet Tsai Ming-liang. Pic, starring Lee Kang-sheng and Chen Shiang-chyi, is a Malaysian-set tragicomedy that riffs on the...

Lopez trades ICM for WMA.(Jennifer Lopez signs WMA)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Jennifer Lopez has been signed by WMA, which will rep her in all areas, including music. Lopez, who continues to be managed by the Firm, has made numerous agency moves over the years and ended her third stint at ICM. ICM most recently...

Fox 2000 on 'Sea' voyage.(Brief article)
May 2, 2006... Ridley and Tony Scott's Scott Free Prods. shingle will produce "The Killing Sea," based on Richard Lewis' up coming novel, for Fox 2000. Ridley Scott is eyeing the director's chair. Book, to be published by Simon & Schuster in December,...

Let the games begin: ABC, Fox ink with Endemol for quizzer formats.
May 2, 2006... The success of "Deal or No Deal" has sparked a case of gameshow lever at the networks, with new quizzers now in the works at each of the Big Four. Capitalizing on the craze: "Deal" producer Endemol USA, which late Friday snagged series...

Fans can click for 'Idol' solos.
May 2, 2006... "American Idol" could finally be coming to a computer near you. After months of speculation over such plans, Fox is poised to announce it will sell digital downloads from the massively popular show. Under the proposed arrangement,...

Fortnight big on Euro fare.(2006 Directors Fortnight)
May 2, 2006... William Friedkin's "Bug" is one of five new pics repping the U.S. in an otherwise Europe-heavy Directors Fortnight, the Cannes Film Festival sidebar laced this year with beaucoup Gallic fare. First films are more numerous than in recent...

Times in the crosshairs.(New York Times Co.)
May 2, 2006... It may be time for the New York Times reporters on the Anthony Pellicano beat to lawyer up. At a hearing on the case in federal court Monday, lead prosecutor, Assistant U.S. Attorney Dan Saunders, complained about several Times stories...

'Spring' will bloom anew.(Richard Gere and Terrence Howard to star in "Spring Break in Bosnia " )(Brief article)
May 2, 2006... Richard Gere and Terrence Howard are in talks to star in "Spring Break in Bosnia," for which the Weinstein Co. has acquired North American, Australian and New Zealand distribution rights. Richard Shepard will direct. Shepard wrote the...

'Snakes' fans rattle marketing landscape.(Hard Sell)
May 2, 2006... THE MOVIES that shatter Hollywood's marketing conventions are never the ones that people remember 50 years later. They're feckless genre movies that come crawling up from the bowels of the studio system and somehow take up residence in the...

The Drowsy Chaperone.(Theater review)
May 2, 2006... (Marquis Theater, 1,611 seats; $110 top) A Kevin McCollum, Roy Miller. Boyett Ostar Prods., Stephanie McClelland, Barbara Freitag, Jill Furman presentation of a musical in one act with music and lyrics by Lisa Lambert and Greg Morrison,...

Sony lifts distrib exec.(Ralph Alexander joined Sony Pictures Releasing Intl.)(Brief article)
May 2, 2006... Sony Pictures Releasing Intl. has upped Ralph Alexander to exec VP of distribution, with expanded duties for Europe. The two-decade veteran of Columbia TriStar will continue to report to Mark Zucker, prexy of distribution at SPRI. ...

'Jersey' jumpin' as 'Spamalot' stumbles.(plays)(Brief article)
May 2, 2006... After two big-money weeks, Broadway biz fell off a bit for the weekend ended Sunday--but its $19,302,216 tally still came out ahead of last year's strong showing for the same sesh. Biggest surprise came from "Jersey Boys" ($1,002,341),...

Rupe adds two dot-coms.(The News Corporation Ltd. acquired Newroo and kSolo)(Brief article)
May 2, 2006... News Corp. has made good on its promise to buy more startups, announcing Monday the acquisition of two early-stage companies. The firms, Newroo and kSolo, are media tools as much as destinations. Newroo is a search engine that combs...

Java jones for Newsreel.(Seattle Film Festival)(Brief article)
May 2, 2006... Nonprofit film and video production and distribution unit California Newsreel has picked up domestic theatrical and DVD rights to "Black Gold," the docu about the world coffee trade that preemed in competition at Sundance. Pic was directed...

Dynamic duo rolls: ABC lineup wins demos.
May 2, 2006... "Grey's Anatomy" and "Desperate Housewives" dominated their timeslots Sunday, as ABC rolled to its 14th straight demo victory on the night. This may be their final sweep as skedmates, though, as speculation has Alphabet programmers...

Focus Int'l is 'Kind' to Gondry.(Alison Thompson)(Brief article)
May 2, 2006... Focus Features Intl.--headed by U.K.-based Alison Thompson has scooped up overseas sales and distrib rights to writer-helmer Michel Gondry's upcoming "Be Kind Rewind" starring Jack Black. Pics stars Black as a man who becomes accidentally...

'Sonja' to fight again.(sword-and-sorcery comicbook heroine)(Brief article)
May 2, 2006... Millennium Films and Emmett/Furla Films are bringing sword-and-sorcery comicbook heroine "Red Sonja" back to the bigscreen. Avi Lerner and Danny Dimbort's Millennium will finance and produce the pic with Emmett/Furla. Project's budget is...

New Regency goes Greek.(Greek mythology into movie)(Brief article)
May 2, 2006... McG and Matt Cirulnick have sold an untitled pitch to New Regency, with Cirulnick to pen the script and McG's Wonderland Sound and Vision to produce. Cirulnick's original idea is a modern retelling of a classic Greek myth. McG is...

Sore Throats.(Theater review)
May 2, 2006... (Duke on 42nd Street; 199 seats; $60 top) A Theater for a New Audience presentation of a play in two acts by Howard Brenton. Directed by Evan Yionoulis. Sets, Adam Stockhausen; costumes, Katherine Roth; lighting, Donald Holder; original...

Desperate Networks.(Book review)
May 2, 2006... Bill Carter (Doubleday: 404 pgs.; $26.95) Like much reporting about the entertainment industry, Bill Carter's meticulous deconstruction of TV's hit-making apparatus labors to be inclusive but doesn't establish why anybody whose name isn't...

Damn Yankees.(Theater review)
May 2, 2006... (North Shore Music Theater, Beverly, Mass.; 1,500 seats, $75 top) A North Shore Music Theater presentation of a musical in two acts, with music by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross, book by George Abbott and Douglass Wallop, adapted by Joe...

Film box office wrap: for the weekend of April 28-30.(markets)(Table)
May 2, 2006... Film Box Office Wrap FOR THE WEEKEND OF APRIL 28-30 Ranking Reported This Last Weekend Pct. Week Week Title (Distributor) Boxoffice ...

Weekend stats.(movies)(Table)
May 2, 2006... Weekend Stats Domestic Box Office $102.1 million April 28-30, 2006 vs. last week -7% vs. last year +13% Daily Breakdown (in million of $) FRI. ...

Exclusives report: for the weekend of April 28-30, 2006.(movies)(Table)
May 2, 2006... Exclusive Report For the weekend of April 28-30, 2006 NEW YORK NEW THIS WEEK Film (distributor) Circuit Theater, city Weekend B.O. gross Water (Fox Local Engmnts.: 2 Wknd. total for N.Y. area: $32,872...

Stardust: The Bette Davis Story.(Movie review)
May 2, 2006... (Documental; TCM, Wed. May 3, 8 p.m.) Produced by Peter Jones Prods. Executive producers, Tom Brown, George Feltenstein; supervising producer, Brian Tessler; producer-writer-director, Jones; co-director, editor, Mark Catalena; camera,...

Top 10 films in Manhattan: for the weekend of April 28-30, 2006.(markets)(Table)(Brief article)
May 2, 2006... Top 10 Films In Manhattan For the weekend of April 28-30, 2006 % change Wknd. vs. last Week Rank B.O. Film (distributor) wknd. No. ...

Broadway top 10: April 24-30.(theater)(Table)
May 2, 2006... Broadway Top 10: April 24-30 Week's Show Net Receipts (Theater) Potential Prev Week's (Prod. Category) (Seats) Net Receipts Net Receipts ...

New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.
May 2, 2006... (Fair Grounds Race Course; New Orleans; $40) Presented by New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation, Festival Prods. and Shell Oil. Opened and reviewed April 29, 30 and May 1; continues May 5-7. The first weekend of the first post-Katrina...

China, Russia remain havens for piracy.(intellectual property rights protection)(Brief article)
May 2, 2006... China continues to account for more piracy than any other country, followed closely by Russia. But the U.S. is promising new measures--including a possible complaint to the World Trade Organization--to bring China to heel on intellectual...

Showbiz stocks: Monday, May 1, 2006.(Stock Market)(Table)
May 2, 2006... Showbiz Stocks Monday, May 1, 2006 YTD Name Tkr PE Last Chg %Chg AccessIT AIXD ... 13.47 +.07 ...

Street Thief.(Video recording review)
May 2, 2006... A True Grit Prods. presentation of a Bader Brothers Films production. Produced by Sam Bader, Derrick Grahn. Directed by Malik Bader. Co-director, Miles Harrison. Camera (color, Super 16mm-to-HD), Ken Seng; editor, Nadav Kurtz; music,...

Cinema Expo lauds WB duo.(annual achievement award)(Brief article)
May 2, 2006... Cinema Expo Intl. has tapped Warner Bros. Intl.'s exec veep of European distribution, Monique Esclavissat, and the studio's exec veep of European marketing, Con Gornell, to jointly receive its annual achievement award in distribution and...

From The Army Archerd Archive: May 2, 1955.
May 2, 2006... James Dean's tired of "mumbling and shuffling" roles--he wants to do "Romeo and Juliet." Recuping from laryngitis, Dean balked at doing makeup and wardrobe tests for "Giant" on Saturday, his one day off from "Rebel Without a Cause"... One...

There goes the neighborhood.(V)(Brief article)
May 2, 2006... Helmer M. Night Shyamalan hit Tribeca over the weekend to read from his upcoming tome "Lady in the Water: A Bedtime Story." "We just locked the picture ("Lady in the Water") yesterday," he said at Tribeca Grand set was modeled after the...

Biz falls hard for 'The One'.(book launch)(Brief article)
May 2, 2006... HOLLYWOOD -- Jim and Elizabeth Wiatt and Arianna Huffington hosted a book party Friday night for Kathy Freston at Huffington's Brentwood home, offering a rare mix of media world High Church and Low Church. Huffington said she wanted "the...

Tuner reeling in the years.(New Line Cinema Corp. partners with Margo Lion )(Brief article)
May 2, 2006... With producer Margo Lion and New Line Cinema reteaming to present their second new tuner after the hit "Hairspray," it's only natural that John Waters and Marissa Jaret Winoknr should turn out to cheer on "The Wedding Singer." Based on the...

"Over the Hedge" voice talent Bruce Willis, Garry Shandling, Catherine O'Hara, Steve Carell and Wanda Sykes arrive at the toon pic's preem.
May 2, 2006... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: "Over the Hedge" voice talent Bruce Willis, Garry Shandling, Catherine O'Hara, Steve Carell and Wanda Sykes arrive at the toon pic's preem Sunday in Westwood Village.

'Rounders' dispute stirs pitch pot.(copyright infringement case against Miramax Film Corporation)
May 3, 2006... An upcoming trial in Los Angeles may give Hollywood screenwriters the upper hand in disputes over whether their ideas have been stolen. The case stems from Miramax's 1998 film "Rounders" and Jeff Grosso's suit alleging the mini-major ripped...

'Jetsons' redo relaunched.(Warner Brother's television adaptation of, The Jetsons)(Brief article)
May 3, 2006... Warner Bros. is putting a bigscreen version of "The Jetsons" back on the launch pad, bringing in Donald De Line to produce and Adam F. Goldberg to pen a new screenplay. De Line will produce the live-action feature with Denise Di Novi, who...

A stern stinger: Sirius loss creates debate on jock's value.
May 3, 2006... It's hard to make money without Howard Stern--and it's hard with him. Sirius Satellite Radio posted a sizable $459 million loss on Tues day, mainly because of a one-time stock payment worth $220 million it made to the shock jock during the...

Turner riding VOD rush.(video on demand, Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc., Turner Broadcasting System Inc.)
May 3, 2006... In a first-of-its-kind deal, Turner Broadcasting has bought a five-pic package from Sony that includes exclusive video-on-demand rights to "The Pink Panther" and upcoming Will Ferrell starrer "Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby." ...

Zoo zippy for DreamWorks.(sales and revenue of DreamWorks Animation PLC.)
May 3, 2006... Coming a year after a homevideo shortfall rocked their faith in the company, investors seemed pleased by what prexy Lew Coleman called a "relatively quiet" first quarter for DreamWorks Animation, driven by the solid performance of "Madagascar"...

Quaid quits 'Cowboy' suit.(Randy Quaid drops lawsuit against Focus Features.)(Brief article)
May 3, 2006... The battle between Randy Quaid and Focus has taken a strange turn. Quaid has dropped his lawsuit on Tuesday against Focus Features, withdrawing allegations that the specialty arm duped him into deferring payment for his supporting role in...

Graduates learn the harsh realities of H'wood.(Tuning In)(career oppurtunities in Hollywood)(Column)
May 3, 2006... ASIDE FROM ENVIABLE INCOMES and an addiction to handheld gizmos, many Daily Variety subscribers share another common trait: having overcome the lottery-like odds against gaining admission to the show-business club. How did they get there?...