Daily Variety articles from November 2004

Daily Variety archives from November 2004

'9/11' heat rekindled with Dish.
November 1, 2004... HOLLYWOOD -- "Fahrenheit 9/11" is adding some fuel to its pre-election fire. Controversial doc will be available tonight on pay-per-view for one night only to the Dish Network's 10 million satellite subscribers and the 30 million-plus...

Hot for horror: 'Ray' joins chillers atop Halloween B.O.
November 1, 2004... Halloween weekend was a treat for horror pics. Sony's "The Grudge" stayed strong in its second sesh, claiming the weekend's top spot with $22.4 million, a decline of 42% from its opening three days. Pic has cumed $71.3 million. And opening...

Playtone warms up to 'Ember'.(Playtone Productions)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... As they prepare to leave the station on "The Polar Express," Playtone partners Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman have made a deal for another family film with tent-pole potential. They've bought Jeanne DuPrau's young adult bestseller "The City...

SAG chief staves off challenge.(Screen Actors Guild)
November 1, 2004... HOLLYWOOD -- SAG chief exec Bob Pisano has now survived more assassination attempts than Afghanistan's Hamid Karzai. Over the weekend at a SAG plenary meeting, he dodged still another bullet, offering an unapologetic defense of his three-year...

Ovitz: bonus, then the boot.(Michael Ovitz)
November 1, 2004... By fall 1996 Disney CEO Michael Eisner didn't believe Michael Ovitz could make the transition from powerhouse agent to corporate executive. In hindsight, Ovitz testified Friday, he knew this was true. And Ovitz knew Eisner had a special...

Fox bones up for drama.(Twentieth Century Fox Television)
November 1, 2004... HOLLYWOOD -- Scribe Hart Hanson ("Judging Amy") and producer Barry Josephson are digging deep with their latest project for Fox. Duo are developing an untitled hourlong drama revolving around a female forensic anthropologist who solves...

Oscar: when 'best' isn't good enough: provocative docs and toons set sights on the really big prize.(The Back Lot)(Column)
November 1, 2004... WITH OSCAR TIME upon us, a certain blur increasingly surrounds the best picture category. Though some folks are pissed about it, I don't share their indignation. While the Academy has graciously created separate categories for...

TW hunted Lion down to wire.(Time Warner)(MGM)
November 1, 2004... NEW YORK -- Time Warner informed MGM in late September that it had sweetened its offer and taken on a partner in its bid for the Lion--a full 10 days after the giant media conglom said publicly it had ended discussions with MGM, ceding victory...

Sony Classical prexy raises curtain at Met.
November 1, 2004... Peter Gelb will leave his post as prexy of Sony Classical to take over the Metropolitan Opera as general manager, succeeding Joseph Volpe. Gelb, 50, will join the Met Aug. 1 to work in tandem with Volpe during a one-year transition period....

The Incredibles.(Movie Review)
November 1, 2004... (Animated) A Buena Vista release of a Walt Disney Pictures presentation of a Pixar Animation Studios film. Produced by John Walker. Executive producer, John Lasseter. Directed, written by Brad Bird. Camera (Technicolor, PixarVision...

Bridget Jones: the Edge of Reason.(Movie Review)
November 1, 2004... (U.K.-U.S.) A UIP (in U.K.)/Universal (in U.S.) release of a Universal Pictures, StudioCanal, Miramax Films presentation of a Working Title production, in association with Little Bird. Produced by Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Jonathan...

'Swap' meet grows; Fox ditches 'Partner'.(television programs)
November 1, 2004... HOLLYWOOD -- ABC is getting hitched to more episodes of frosh reality hit "Wife Swap"--as well as two of its new laffers --while Fox is divorcing itself from "The Partner." Alphabet has given a full-season, 22-episode order to the RDF...

Linklater links with Par.(Paramount Pictures)(Richard Linklater)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... HOLLYWOOD -- Paramount Pictures has signed Richard Linklater to a two-year first-look directing deal. Helmer is prepping for a Nov. 15 start of production on Par's remake of "Bad News Bears," toplined by Billy Bob Thornton and produced by...

Harden in 'Bears' lineup.(Bad News Bears)(movie production)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... HOLLYWOOD -- Marcia Gay Harden has been penciled into the lineup for Paramount's remake of "Bad News Bears" starring Billy Bob Thornton and Greg Kinnear. The Oscar winner is in negotiations to portray an attorney who recruits Thornton's...

Electoral collage: nets prep for long night of vote coverage.
November 1, 2004... Finally--or maybe not. Appearing Saturday on CNN's "Larry King Live," Walter Cronkite said Tuesday's presidential election could come and go without the nets being able to declare an immediate winner. Most newsies agree. "I think...

Dueling Capote pics firm up casts.(Truman Capote)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Studio-based specialty houses Warner Independent Pictures and United Artists are on a collision course over rival films focusing on the bond author Truman Capote developed with murderer Perry Smith and the writing of Capote's seminal crime...

Telluride gets AMPAS coin.(Telluride Film Festival)(Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... HOLLYWOOD -- The Telluride Film Festival will receive a total of $150,000 from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences over the next three years. Telluride is the first major U.S. festival to benefit from an expansion of fest funding...

Frog kisses 'Spy Girl'.(television drama)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... HOLLYWOOD -- Producers Sarah Timberman and Carl Beverly are teaming with helmer Robert Luketic ("Legally Blonde") to bring "Spy Girl" to the WB. Frog has given a put pilot commitment to the hourlong drama from Timberman's Warner Bros....

Montreal's recall: funders ask four contenders to resubmit bids.(film funding)
November 1, 2004... MONTREAL -- Canuck film funding agencies Telefilm Canada and Sodec are still in the hunt for a winning candidate to start up a new film fest in Montreal to replace Serge Losique's Montreal World Film Festival. The two agencies announced...

AFTRA sees health care gains in deal with nets.(American Federation of Television and Radio Artists)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... HOLLYWOOD -- AFTRA has reached a tentative three-year deal with the networks on a new contract to cover its broadcast members with hikes in health care and retirement contributions. Agreement on the net code pact was reached Friday night in...

Sobini taps Warners vet as prod'n VP.(Sobini Films)(Ira Singerman appointed)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... HOLLYWOOD -- Ira Singerman has been made VP of production at indie production shingle Sobini Films. Singerman will report to production prexy Robin Schorr, with whom he will work closely in finding new projects as well as shepherding the...

Par, Melee in pic harmony.(Paramount Home Entertainment)(Melee Entertainment)(movie production)
November 1, 2004... HOLLYWOOD -- Paramount and Melee Entertainment have pacted to produce feature-length music-based movies starring recording artists. The unique deal calls for the companies to produce and release six films over three years. Budgeted at about...

Most of the cast from "The Matrix" trilogy is headed to PCs.(Players)(online games)(The Matrix Online)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Most of the cast from "The Matrix" trilogy is headed to PCs. Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, the vidgame arm of WB, and co-publisher Sega have nabbed Laurence Fishburne, Monica Bellucci, and Mary Alice for "The Matrix Online." ...

Blethyn takes mic in 'Clubland' comedy.(Brenda Blethyn)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... SYDNEY -- Brenda Blethyn is heading for "Clubland," playing a raucous English comedian who causes a stir when she entertains ands at Sydney clubs. Blethyn's character poses a dilemma for her 20-year-old son, who must choose between the...

D'Works joins 'Motorcade'.(DreamWorks)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... HOLLYWOOD -- Hans Bauer and Craig Mitchell sold the pitch "Motorcade" to DreamWorks in a low- against mid-six-figure deal. Pie is described as "In the Line of Fire" meets "Black Hawk Down" and is about an attack on the president of the...

Clear Channel slips: radio titan's profits drop 59% in 3rd quarter.(Business)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Radio giant Clear Channel sustained a 59% profit drop in the third quarter, attributable to a tough comparison with last year and flat revenues at its more than 1,200 radio stations. The San Antonio-based company posted a profit of $261.2...

Intertainment preps round 2.(Business)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... BERLIN -- Execs at German distrib Intertainment said Friday that they were upbeat about arbitration proceedings against additional companies, including Comerica Bank and bond company Film Finances, in connection with its fraud case against Elie...

The Times they are a changin' in London.(Business)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... HOLLYWOOD -- A 219-year-old tradition falls today as the Times of London drops its broadsheet format to become a tabloid. The News Corp.-owned publication has been printed since last November in both tabloid and broadsheet formats. Starting...

Vidgame publisher THQ beat guidance but still reported a net loss in the third quarter.(Biz Briefs)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Vidgame publisher THQ beat guidance but still reported a net loss in the third quarter, during which it didn't release any licensed kids games, its core strength. Instead, company's biggest sellers were military actioner Full Spectrum...

Vidgame publisher Activision generated record summer revenues.(Biz Briefs)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Vidgame publisher Activision generated record summer revenues last quarter due in large part to its top-selling game based on "Spider-Man 2." Santa Monica company reported $310.6 million in revenue last quarter, the second on its fiscal...

Lobby group rips ruling on Canuck sat reception.(Business)(satellite signal theft)
November 1, 2004... TORONTO -- A lobby group combating satellite signal theft is urging the federal government to appeal a provincial court decision last week that allows Canadians in the province of Quebec to subscribe to foreign sat services such as DirecTV. ...

Showbiz stocks: Friday, October 29, 2004.(Business)(Illustration)
November 1, 2004... SHOWBIZ STOCKS Friday, October 29, 2004 YTD Name Tkr PE Last Chg % Chg AMC AEN ... 19.21 +.01 +26.3 AcmeCm ACME ... 5.67 ...

Richard Sarkin.(Brief Article)(Obituary)
November 1, 2004... Dr. Richard Sarkin, brother of Vanity Fair features editor Jane Sarkin, died in a plane crash Oct. 19 in Kirksville, Mo. He was 54. Dr. Sarkin was an associate professor of clinical pediatrics at the U. of Buffalo and head of the newborn...

Six scribes land Acad nods, cash.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... HOLLYWOOD -- The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences has tapped six recipients for the 2004 Don and Gee Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting. Winners are Sean Mahoney ("Fenian's Trace"), Daniel Lawrence ("The Gaza Golem"), Doug...

Let Freedom Swing.(Concert Review)
November 1, 2004... (Rose Theater: 1,231 capacity; $150 top) Presented by Jazz at Lincoln Center. Featuring Morgan Freeman, Alfre Woodard, Mario Van Peebles, Glenn Close, Patricia Clarkson, Calvin Butts III, Keith David. Compositions by Toshiko Akiyoshi, Jimmy...

The Screening Room.(Illustration)
November 1, 2004... THE SCREENING ROOM The Screening Room runs Mondays and Thursdays. Screenings are open to Academy and guild members. For a complete list, visit Variety.com/screenings.. NEW YORK Alfie (Paramount) ...

'Sideways' has upward trajectory.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Fox Searchlight's "Sideways" moved upwards this week, grossing $435,731 in its second weekend from 16 screens, an expansion of 12 new playdates, giving it a strong average of $27,233 per screen. Shingle has given the Alexander Payne-helmed...

Eurovision PPV inks cable deals.(Pay Per View)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Eurovision, the 2-month-old pay-per-view service dedicated to foreign films, has lined up carriage deals with four more cable operators: Adelphia, Cablevision, Blue Ridge and Buckeye. These contracts will make Eurovision available to more...

WB, Discovery pump Alexander.(Warner Bros.)(Discovery Channel)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Warner Bros. Pictures and the Discovery Channel are attempting to transform Alexander the Great from an historical figure into a pop culture superstar. Nov. 24, the day Oliver Stone's feature "Alexander" premieres, Discovery will carry...

Gores' lair grows with 3rd agency.(Brief Article)
November 2, 2004... HOLLYWOOD -- Marking the third agency purchase of the year for Sam Gores' Paradigm literary and talent firm, the shop is acquiring Monterey Peninsula Artists, one of the nation's premiere music talent bookers. Monterey reps a diverse...

Hail to the chief? Biz braces for post-election direction.(showbiz)
November 2, 2004... On a purely visceral level, showbiz execs would likely embrace a victory by John Kerry in today's presidential election. After all, President Bush has all but spurned pop culture, seemingly proud of the fact that he doesn't read the papers,...

Arnold's amending plans for 2008.
November 2, 2004... HOLLYWOOD -- Many in Hollywood are rooting for John Kerry in today's election because of his friendly relationship with the entertainment industry. But what if someone even closer to showbiz made a bid for the White House? Some Republicans are...

'Idol' hands crafting laffs.
November 2, 2004... HOLLYWOOD -- "American Idol" producer FremantleMedia has quietly launched an inhouse production unit dedicated to dreaming up half-hour laffer ideas--and putting them on film--in as little as one week. Fremantle's Instant Comedy Project is...

NBC swallows 'Pride'.(Brief Article)
November 2, 2004... HOLLYWOOD -- NBC has silenced its lion's roar, shelving DreamWorks Animation's ultrapricey "'Father of the Pride" for the November sweeps. Move isn't the same as a flat-out cancellation, and NBC execs insist the $2 million per-episode...

Yahoo adds hot link to Hollywood.
November 2, 2004... HOLLYWOOD -- Lloyd Braun is shifting from the TV to the PC. The former ABC Entertainment TV Group chairman has been tapped by Yahoo! CEO Terry Semel to head the Netco's media and entertainment division. He'll be in charge of most of...

Ovitz: I was Santa Claus.(Michael Ovitz, OPINION)
November 2, 2004... A weary-looking Michael Ovitz concluded five days of testimony Monday insisting the generous severance clause in his Disney contract was well justified by the risks of his new job and the hefty pay of his previous one. Refusing to be cowed by...

Just for Variety.(election night, Beyond the Sea, Illusion)
November 2, 2004... GOOD MORNING and, it is hoped, a good evening in Boston for this contingent of Demo supporters who will be in Copley Square for the countdown: Jon Bon Jovi, Sheryl Crow, James Taylor and Carole King. Winging in from L.A. to Boston this morning...

Mack and Mabel.(directed by Arthur Allan Seidelman)(Theater Review)
November 2, 2004... Mack and Mabel (Goodspeed Opera House, East Haddam, Conn,: 398 seats $53 top) A Goodspeed Musicals production of a musical in two acts with music and lyrics by Jerry Herman, bank by Michael Stewart, book revised by Francine Pascal Directed...

Jury clears '20/20' in invasion-of-privacy suit.(Brief Article)
November 2, 2004... HOLLYWOOD -- A federal jury has cleared ABC in a suit accusing the net's "20/20" newsmagazine of violating invasion-of-privacy laws by using hidden cameras to videotape acting workshops. Suit, filed in May 2003 by workshop operators and...

Single Cell moves quickly on 'Slo-Mo'.(Brief Article)
November 2, 2004... Single Cell Pictures partners Michael Stipe and Sandy Stern have optioned "Slo-Mo," a spec script written and to be directed by John Krokidas. Krokidas was a former intern for Single Cell, but he became much more than that to Single Cell...

Sci Fi ups made-for maven.(Brief Article)
November 2, 2004... The Sci Fi Channel has promoted Tom Vitale to the new post of senior VP of programming and original movies, reinforcing his role of the last few years as network point man for as many as two dozen fresh made-for-cable pictures every year. ...

Second hand of 'Blackjack'.(Brief Article)
November 2, 2004... HOLLYWOOD -- "World Series of Blackjack" is headed back to the table. Cabler GSN has ordered a second round of the casino-based hit, whose first season provided the net with hefty growth in key young-adult demos. Net has upped the...

B'way B.O. no treat: earnings drop 11%; attendance dips 9%.(Brief Article)
November 2, 2004... Gotham's streets teemed with ghosts, devils and Michael Jacksons over the weekend, and you can bet they weren't headed to "Wonderful Town." Broadway box office took a big 11.07% tumble during Week 22 (Oct. 25-31), down to $11,102,206, with...

Endgame doc trails Ohio voters.
November 2, 2004... Jim Stern's Endgame Entertainment spent the weekend shooting an untitled documentary focusing on the political battleground of Ohio. Stern, a hedge fund manager-turned-producer, director and financier, usually aims at bigger game. He's a...

Thesps will 'Live' it up.(Brief Article)
November 2, 2004... Veteran "Seinfeld" scribes and co-exec producers Gregg Kavet and Andy Robin have tapped Aaron Stanford, Paul Schneider, Michael Rapaport, Kevin Dunn and Zooey Deschanel to star in their upcoming indie feature "Live Free or Die." ...

Content raises exec.(Chad Hamilton promoted at Anonymous Content)(Brief Article)
November 2, 2004... HOLLYWOOD -- Anonymous Content has promoted director of development Chad Hamilton to VP. Hamilton started at Anonymous Content in 2001. "Chad has a wonderful eye for material," said Anonymous CEO Steve Golin. "His creativity, business...

Chile pic spices up U.S.(World News)(Brief Article)
November 2, 2004... Los Angeles-based Menemsha Films has licensed U.S. rights to Andres Wood's Chilean foreign-language Oscar hopeful "Machuca" from Spanish sales consortium Latido. Coming-of-age tale turns on the friendship between two boys from different...

Teuton talker back in biz.(Brief Article)
November 2, 2004... BERLIN -- Germany's equivalent to Jay Leno is heading back to TV after a year's absence. Harald Schmidt, whose latenight yakker attracted millions of viewers during its eight-year run on commercial web Sat 1, ankled in December after...

Tokyo fest pours winning shot of 'Whisky'.(Brief Article)
November 2, 2004... TOKYO -- The 17th Tokyo Intl. Film Festival wrapped Sunday with low-budget brotherhood drama "Whisky" taking the grand prize. Pic, by Paraguayan helming duo Juan Pablo Rebella and Pablo Stoll, garnered $100,000 in award money--about a fifth...

RTVE says si to more Spanish pix.(Brief Article)
November 2, 2004... MADRID -- RTVE will hike its commitment to the Spanish film industry next year, according to Juan Menor, director of the pubcaster's TV division, TVE. This year, RTVE will co-finance almost two-thirds of the feature films produced in...

'Carandiru' set for Globo skein.(Brief Article)
November 2, 2004... RIO DE JANEIRO -- Helmer Hector Babenco's HB Filmes will produce a spinoff of his box office hit, prison drama "Carandiru," for Brazil's No. 1 net TV Globo. Globo plans to air the l0-episode skein of "Carandiru: Other Stories" in the...

Disney names Miller as global post prez.(Brief Article)
November 2, 2004... HOLLYWOOD -- Jeffrey Miller, a 21-year Disney veteran, has been promoted to president of worldwide post-production and operations for the Walt Disney Studios. Miller will continue to lead post-production, mastering and physical delivery of...

Showbiz stocks: Monday, November 1, 2004.(News)(Illustration)
November 2, 2004... SHOWBIZ STOCKS Monday, November 1, 2004 YTD Name Tkr PE Last Chg %Chg AMC AEN ... 19.25 +.04 +26.6 AcmeCm ACME ... 5.65 ...

Hitched.(Brief Article)
November 2, 2004... Amy DeRouen and Troy Nelson, Aug. 22, New York City. The bride is director of publicity at Lava Records, a subsidiary of the Warner Music Group; groom is the editor-in-chief of Guitar One, a magazine owned by Future Networks USA. ...

Who Is Floyd Stearn?(Theater Review)
November 2, 2004... (47th Street Theater; 194 seats; $45 top) A Rick Waxman and Men of the Court presentation, with executive producers Carl D. White and Tom Smedes, of a one-man show written and performed in one act by Michael Raynor. Directed by Larry Moss....

Two Brothers Who Are Not Brothers.(Theater Review)
November 2, 2004... (Players Theater; 248 seats; $45 top) An All for Two presentation of a play in three acts by Paul Rawlings. Directed by Sue Lawless. Sets, Michael Hotopp; costumes, Vanessa Leuck; lighting, Greg Hirsch; sound Michael G. Ward; production...

Weekend stats.(Brief Article)(Illustration)
November 2, 2004... Domestic Box Office $100.8 million October 29-31, 2004 vs. last week -5% vs. last year -1% Daily Breakdown (in millions of $) FRI. SAT. SUN. ...

Film box office wrap: for the weekend of Oct. 29-31.(Illustration)
November 2, 2004... FILM BOX OFFICE WRAP FOR THE WEEKEND OF OCT. 29-31 Ranking Reported This Last Weekend Week Week Title (Distributor) ...

Exclusives report: for the weekend of October 29-31, 2004.(Illustration)
November 2, 2004... EXCLUSIVES REPORT For the weekend of October 29-31, 2004 NEW YORK NEWS THIS WEEK Weekend Film (distributor) Circuit Theater, city B.O. gross Local...

Top 10 films in Manhattan: for the weekend of October 29-31, 2004.(Brief Article)(Illustration)
November 2, 2004... TOP 10 FILMS IN MANHATTAN For the weekend of October 29-31, 2004 % change vs. last Week Rank Wknd. B.0. Film (distributor) ...

Broadway top 10: Oct. 25-31, 2004.(Illustration)
November 2, 2004... BROADWAY TOP 10: Oct. 25-31, 2004 Week's Net Show Receipts (Theater)(Prod. Category) Potential Net Prev Week's $Change (Seats) Receipts Net...

Bon Jovi merits AMA laurel.(American Music Awards)(Brief Article)
November 2, 2004... HOLLYWOOD -- Jon Bon Jovi will receive the Award of Merit at the 32nd annual American Music Awards. The 31st honoree in the awards' history, Bon Jovi joins the ranks of Bing Crosby, Ella Fitzgerald and Elvis Presley, who have been...

Bill boosts Indies, shuts out studios.
November 2, 2004... In a season when anti-GOP docus have virtually flooded the indie film marketplace, President Bush seems to have inadvertently armed a whole new cadre of Michael Moore-like gadflies with his latest tax legislation. Just over a week ago,...

Sara Zahn.(cabaret)(Concert Review)
November 2, 2004... (Helen's: 65 capacity; $15) Presented inhouse. Musical director, piano, Allan Kashkin. Directed by Barry Kleinbort. Opened, reviewed Oct. 30, 2004. Runs through Nov. 28. Following a decade of self-imposed exile in Canada to raise a...

The Intelligent Design of Jenny Chow.(Theater Review)
November 2, 2004... (Yale Repertory Theater, New Haven, Conn.; 480 seats; $45 top) A Yale Repertory Theater production of a play in two acts by Rolin Jones Directed by Jackson Gay Sets, Lee Savage; costumes, Chloe Chapin; lighting, Miriam Nilofa Crowel; sound,...

The Young Visiters.(Television Program Review)
November 2, 2004... (Movie; BBC America. Wed. Nov. 3, 8 p.m.) Filmed in London, Lincolnshire and Leicestershire by the BBC. Executive producers. Jim Broadbent, Pippa Hams, Laura Mackie, David Bernath; producer, Christopher Hall; director, David Yates; writer,...

Swing states see stars.(Brief Article)
November 2, 2004... HOLLYWOOD -- Hollywood has been hitting the campaign trail in force during the election home stretch, with industryites popping up everywhere in key swing states. Besides Bruce Springsteen, who helped orchestrate the Vote for Change tour...

Belated 'Angry' preem.(Brief Article)
November 2, 2004... Reginald Rose's "Twelve Angry Men" had its Broadway preem Thursday night at the American Airlines theater, 50 years after it first aired on TV and two years after the death of the "Defenders" scribe. "I don't think Reggie thought this...

Actors' Fund puts on glitz.(Brief Article)
November 2, 2004... The Actors' Fund of America bestowed a passel of tributes Saturday during its annual gala at Gotham's Waldorf-Astoria. Johnny Depp received the org's Lee Strasburg artistic achievement award, while fellow thesp Angela Lansbury pocketed a...

Safety first: polls were packed but webs stayed wary.(presidential elections)
November 3, 2004... With the Florida fiasco of 2000 burnished in their memories, the nets kept their promise to let Tuesday's election unfold without reporting on exit polls or projecting a winner until voting had stopped in a particular state. A hint of...

A vote for Oscar to clean up America.(Election Editorial)(Brief Article)(Editorial)
November 3, 2004... The 2004 election is over. And while it's customary for pundits to do post-mortems on the dubious merits of the Electoral College, there is one other angle that is unexplored. Hollywood can teach something about democracy to the Washington...

Eye plays 'Numbers' game.(crime drama)(Brief Article)
November 3, 2004... HOLLYWOOD -- Feature helmer Ridley Scott will make his series debut later this season with the CBS drama skein "Numbers," while Rob Lowe's "Dr. Vegas" has crapped out. Eye has picked up the Paramount-produced "Numbers" for mid-season,...

Post-Sherry Par seeks pic players: topper ankling at deal's end.
November 3, 2004... HOLLYWOOD -- Who's going to succeed Sherry? Aside from the progress of the presidential election, speculation on Lansing's replacement was the hot topic in Hollywood on Tuesday. Lansing officially announced she'll step down as chief of...

ICM's Walker takes a hike over to CAA.(Creative Artists Agency)(Brief Article)
November 3, 2004... HOLLYWOOD -- Bart Walker, who has headed the motion picture division of ICM's Gotham office since 2000, is joining Creative Artists Agency. He's expected to start at the tenpercentery's New York office this week. Walker spent much of...