Daily Variety back issues from March 2005:
Lion's share to exex.(executives to gain fron Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc. sale)
Mar 01, 2005; ... HOLLYWOOD -- Kirk Kerkorian isn't the only one profiting from the sale of MGM. Top execs at the Lion will pocket multimillion-dollar severance packages, the company revealed in its annual report Monday. CEO and chairman Alex Yemenidjian is being offered a lump sum ...
SAG's CEO will ankle.(Screen Actors Guild' chief executive officer)(Brief Article)
Mar 01, 2005; ... HOLLYWOOD -- SAG CEO Bob Pisano plans to resign as head of the guild after three tumultuous years and will he replaced by AFTRA national exec director Greg Hessinger. SAG and AFTRA had no official comment, but AFTRA's national board was notified Monday that Hessinger plans to ...
Redstone's red zone: as Par ramps up, Viacom could shed other assets.(Sumner Redstone, Paramount Motion Picture )
Mar 01, 2005; ... A resolute and sometimes feisty Sumner Redstone downplayed Viacom's staggering $18.4 billion loss last quarter when addressing investors Monday, vowing that the company will shed assets and reclaim the throne of fastest-growing media titan. Turning up at the Bear Stearns 18th ...
Oscars Rock with younger aud.
Mar 01, 2005; ... In a year when the movies themselves didn't create much excitement, controversial comic Chris Rock helped the Academy Awards telecast on ABC attract a younger, more urban aud. Although overall ratings were down a bit vs. last year, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences ...
Dolans balk at doomed Voom.(Chuck Dolan changes plan of acquisition)(Brief Article)
Mar 01, 2005; ... Chuck Dolan and his son Tom appear to have ended their plan to buy the financially disastrous Voom satellite business from Cablevision Systems Corp. In a statement released late Monday, Cablevision said it would shut down the Voom programming service in the next 30 days, ...
Fuqua stands 'Alone'.(Antoine Fuqua to direct 'Under and Alone')(Brief Article)
Mar 01, 2005; ... Warner Bros. is negotiating with Antoine Fuqua to direct Mel Gibson in "Under and Alone" for Icon partners Gibson and Bruce Davey. Gibson will star in the drama as an undercover agent who infiltrates a violent motorcycle gang. Pic is slated to start production by June. ...
FX making its move on drama front.(FX Networks L.L.C.)
Mar 01, 2005; ... HOLLYWOOD -- FX has picked up the Steven Bochco war drama "Over There" and Andre Braugher starter "Thief" to series. Orders give FX five original dramas--more than any other ad-supported cable network. With a pair of adult-oriented laffers and doc-style skein from Morgan ...
AIDS on MIP agenda: U.N.'s Annan to confab with media moguls.(Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, Kofi Annan )(Brief Article)
Mar 01, 2005; ... U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan has invited honchos from leading international media companies to powwow at MIP TV as part of the U.N.-backed Global Media AIDS Initiative, April 12. Annan's guest list for the Cannes event was not made public. However, last year at a ...
'Springer' spawns B'way drama, too.('Jerry Springer--The Opera')
Mar 01, 2005; ... "Jerry Springer--The Opera" continues to spawn nearly as much drama as the TV show itself. Originally scheduled for an autumn 2005 Broadway premiere, the show ran into financing problems when producers wrangled over its budget. Producer Jon Thoday wanted to bring it to New York ...
Frank to prep luxury mag.(Sidney Frank)(Brief Article)
Mar 01, 2005; ... Liquor baron Sidney Frank, who sold the Grey Goose vodka brand to Bacardi for $2.3 billion in 2004, is getting into the media business. The mogul is planning a celebrity-focused, high-end luxury magazine in the fall that will rank the trappings of the high life--think Robb ...
Albert says yes to Nets.(Mary Albert)
Mar 01, 2005; ... Mary Albert, the voice of the New York Knicks for 36 years until he parted ways with the MSG Network last summer, is coming back to Gotham as lead play-by-play man on 50 games of the New Jersey Nets. The YES Network, which carries all the home and away games of the Nets, has ...
Broadway box office stages February high.
Mar 01, 2005; ... Finally, we have a winner. Broadway set a record for the mid-February time frame. Twenty-five shows brought in $15,092,662, up $852,925 (5.99%) over the previous session. For most weeks of 2004-05, tallies have fallen short of records set in the corresponding weeks from 2003-04 ...
Brown leading Jazz combo.(Katherine E. Brown)(Brief Article)
Mar 01, 2005; ... HOLLYWOOD -- Katherine E. Brown has taken over as executive director at Jazz at Lincoln Center. She succeeds Derek E. Gordon, who was promoted to president last month upon the retirement of Hughlyn F. Fierce. Formerly vice president for development, Brown has directed ...
'Spelling' beelines to B'way.
Mar 01, 2005; ... The Tony Award for musical just got very competitive. The much-acclaimed "Spelling Bee" at Second Stage will open at Broadway's Circle in the Square on May 2, two days before the Tony nominations cutoff date, producer David Stone announced Monday. As for making the ...
Dishing out a raise: XM Radio rate hike makes it Sirius rival.(XM Satellite Radio)(Brief Article)
Mar 01, 2005; ... XM Satellite Radio said Monday it is upping its basic monthly subscription rate to match smaller rival Sirius. Move means subs won't have to pay extra to hear shock jocks Opie & Anthony--XM's answer to Howard Stern, who will take his show to Sirius early next year. ...
Close adds ad duties for MTV's music nets.
Mar 01, 2005; ... Talk about an expanded role: MTV will add a whole batch of music networks, including MTV and VH1, to the portfolio of its advertising-sales maven Hank Close. Close starts with a change of title, from executive VP of ad sales for Comedy Central to EVP/ad sales for the music and ...
Medina heads Telefutura net.(Bert Medina)(Brief Article)
Mar 01, 2005; ... MIAMI -- Univision Communications has upped Bert Medina to senior VP and operating manager of its second broadcast network, Telefutura. Medina replaces Alina Falcon, who was promoted Feb. 22 to exec VP and operating manager of the flagship Univision network. Since ...
ShoWest gives Mac comic kudo.(Bernie Mac)(Brief Article)
Mar 01, 2005; ... HOLLYWOOD -- Bernie Mac has been named ShoWest comedy star of the year. Mac next stars in "Guess Who," Col's in-law comedy co-starring Ashton Kutcher, to be released March 25. Mac will be presented with the award at the Las Vegas confab's closing-night ceremony March ...
EMI Music taps Corbett exec VP.(Leo Corbett as vice president)(Brief Article)
Mar 01, 2005; ... HOLLYWOOD -- Leo Corbett has been appointed executive VP and chief financial officer of EMI Music Publishing, responsible for oversight of the company's financial and technological operations. Most recently managing director of a venture ...
Runaway prod'n boosting Toronto biz.(Brief Article)
Mar 01, 2005; ... TORONTO -- Buoyed by a boffo jump in runaway production, the film and TV industry in Ontario brought in some respectable business last year. According to the Ontario Media Development Corp.'s annual stats, 2004 spending in the biz was up 7% to C$935 million ($757 million) in ...
Showbiz stocks: Monday, February 28, 2005.(Illustration)
Mar 01, 2005 ... <Pre> SHOWBIZ STOCKS Monday, February 28, 2005 YTD Name Tkr PE Last Chg % Chg AcmeCmACME ... 6.00-14.4 ActvsnATVI 2421.86 -.09+8.3 AllAtlAACB...
After Ashley.(Theater Review)
Mar 01, 2005; ... (Vineyard Theater: 125 seat: $50 top) A Vineyard Theater presentation of a play in two acts by Gina Gionfriddo. Directed by Terry Kinney. Sets, Neil Patel; costumes, Laura Bauer; lighting, David Lander; original music and sound, Rob Milburn and Michael Bodeen; movement, Peter ...
Pentecost.(Theater Review)
Mar 01, 2005; ... (Barrow Group Theater; 99 seats; $40) A Barrow Group presentation of a play in two acts by David Edgar. Directed by Seth Barrish. Sets, Markas Henry; costumes, Moe Schell; lighting, Robert Cangemi; sound, Stefano Zazzera; production stage manager, Allison Deutsch. Opened Feb ....
Weekend stats.(Brief Article)(Illustration)
Mar 01, 2005 ... <Pre> Domestic Box Office $122.2 million February 25-27, 2005 vs. last week * vs. last year -8%-22% Note: Table made from bar graph. Daily Breakdown (in millions of $) vs. last year's ...
Film box office wrap: for the weekend of Feb. 25-27.(Illustration)
Mar 01, 2005 ... <Pre> FILM BOX OFFICE WRAP FOR THE WEEKEND OF FEB. 25-27Ranking Reported This Last Weekend Week Week Title (Distributor) Boxoffice 1 --Diary of a Mad ...
Film Sales clicks on 'Sherman' doc.('Guest of Cindy Sherman')(Brief Article)
Mar 01, 2005; ... Gotham-based banner Film Sales Co. has sealed a deal to rep rights on the in-production docu "Guest of Cindy Sherman," which follows the enigmatic contempo shutterbug. Pic is being helmed by Paul H-O and Tom Donahue. Plot explores the complicated relationship that ...
Legit org fetes Marshall sibs.(Kathleen Marshall and Rob Marshall get Mr. Abbott award)(Brief Article)
Mar 01, 2005; ... Kathleen Marshall and Rob Marshall have been named this year's recipients of the Mr. Abbott award. The Marshalls are brother and sister. He won the Oscar for directing "Chicago." She recently won the Tony for choreographing "Wonderful Town." The Mr ....
Lifetime investing in 'House'.(Brief Article)
Mar 01, 2005; ... Lifetime TV has renewed its weekly latenight series "How Clean Is Your House?" for another 13 half-hours. During its first 22 episodes, the series, featuring the stern, eccentric British housekeepers Kim Woodburn and Aggie MacKenzie, has easily' outrated the ...
Top 10 films in Manhattan: for the weekend of February 25-27, 2005.(Brief Article)(Illustration)
Mar 01, 2005 ... <Pre> TOP 10 FILMS IN MANHATTAN For the weekend of February 25-27, 2005% change vs. last Week Rank Wknd. B.O. Film (distributor)wknd. *No. ...
Broadway top 10: Feb. 21-27, 2005.(Illustration)
Mar 01, 2005 ... <Pre> BROADWAY TOP 10: Feb. 21-27, 2005 Week's Net Receipts Show Potential Prev Week's (Theater)(Prod. Category) (Seats) Net ReceiptsNet Receipts Wicked ...
Exclusives report: for the weekend of February 25-27, 2005.(Illustration)
Mar 01, 2005 ... <Pre> EXCLUSIVES REPORT For the weekend of February 25-27, 2005 NEW YORK NEW THIS WEEK Film Weekend (distributor) Circuit Theater, city B.O. gross Up & Down Local Engmnts.: 2 Wknd ....
Tuesdays with Andy will surely be missed.(First Person)
Mar 01, 2005; ... As it turns out, I've spent 15,840 minutes over the past 12 years watching "NYPD Blue." It was time probably better spent bonding with the family, or maybe even cleaning around the house--as I'm sure my wife would attest--but I'm not so sure. I have the Rev. Donald ...
Farewell to the 15th: Sipowicz and 'Blue' crew redefined modern police drama.(Final Episode: NYPD Blue)
Mar 01, 2005; ... The detective from the 15th Precinct sits on the witness stand, squirming inside a cheap suit that probably hasn't fit right since Dukakis rode in that tank. He's half in the bag, struggling to stay upright long enough to finish his bogus story about finding illegal cigarettes in the car ...
Precinct politics: getting at police underbelly remains show's legacy.(NYPD Blue Farewell)
Mar 01, 2005; ... Any good discussion of "NYPD Blue" starts with those early scenes that led to Dennis Franz's Andy Sipowicz getting shot. A lot of viewers sitting there in 1993 were thinking that this guy's got to die. It was hard to figure "Blue"--with all that talk of broken taboos--to be ...
Twelve years later, Wildmon admits 'wrong'.(NYPD Blue Farewell, Donald Wildmon)
Mar 01, 2005; ... The controversy swirling around "NYPD Blue" in the fall of 1993 might've been the best thing that happened to the show. Looking back, more than a decade later and with a more provocative primetime landscape, it's hard to understand what all the fuss was about. Leading the ...
Cast reflections.(NYPD Blue Farewell)
Mar 01, 2005; ... BILL BROCHTRUP as JOHN IRVIN Your character has done a lot on the show from an emotional standpoint. Was there anything left for John Irvin to do on the show? "The great thing about TV in a long-running show is that we can tell some of the stories in real time. By the ...
The best of 'Blue': trying to select the 10 best out of 261 episodes of "NYPD Blue" is nearly impossible, but these hours stand out from the pack.(NYPD Blue Farewell)
Mar 01, 2005; ... 10) Colonel Knowledge Eddie Gibson (John O'Donohue), an offbeat veteran detective whose personality clashes with and offends nearly everyone with whom he works, is promoted to sergeant and put in charge of the squad when there aren't enough higher-ranking lieutenants to go ...
Edgar G. Ulmer--the Man Off-Screen.(Movie Review)
Mar 01, 2005; ... (Docu--Austria-U.S.) A Mischief Films (Austria) / Edgar G. Ulmer Preservation Corp. (USA) production, in association with Westdeutscher Rundfunk. (International sales: Mischief Films, Vienna.) Produced by Georg Misch, Ralph Wieser, Arianne Ulmer Cipes. Directed by ...
Ushpizin.(Movie Review)
Mar 01, 2005; ... (HA'USHPIZIN) (Israel) A Gilgamesh Prods. presentation of an Eddie King Ltd., Gilgamesh Prods. production. (International sales: Eddie King Ltd., Tel Aviv.) Produced by Raft Bukaee, Gidi Dar. Directed by Gidi Dar. Screenplay, Shuli Rand. Camera (color), ...
Viacom cues change in German music TV.(World News)(Brief Article)
Mar 01, 2005; ... COLOGNE -- Viacom has announced operational changes in its Teutonic music channels now that it has swallowed up MTV's former rival Viva Media. Music TV activities will be based in Berlin while the entertainment business, which is basically Viva's successful subsidiary ...
MTV Int'l raises Gazzolo.(promotion of Pierluigi Gazzolo )(Brief Article)
Mar 01, 2005; ... MIAMI -- MTV Networks Intl. has upped Pierluigi Gazzolo to managing director for MTV Networks Latin America, filling a job that had been vacant since Antoinette Zel joined Telemundo as exec VP of cable networks and strategic planning five months ago. Based in Miami, Gazzolo ...
Mexico biz fighting piracy.(National Chamber of the Cinematographic Industry )(Brief Article)
Mar 01, 2005; ... MEXICO CITY -- Mexico's film industry players are launching the country's biggest antipiracy program this month, with a 70 million peso ($6.25 million) budget. The push is organized by the National Chamber of the Cinematographic Industry (Canacine) backed by the top two ...
'Summer' shines at shorts festival.('Australian Summer')(Brief Article)
Mar 01, 2005; ... Luke Eve's comedic drama "Australian Summer" nabbed first prize Sunday at the Sony Tropfest, Oz's top shorts film festival. Jury included helmer Bryan Singer, and thesps Geoffrey Rush, Abbie Cornish and Magda Szubanski. More than 130,000 people watched the 16 shortlisted ...
Casting org to meet.(International Network of Casting Directors)(Brief Article)
Mar 01, 2005; ... The Intl. Network of Casting Directors, launched at last month's Berlin Film Festival, will have its first meeting at the Cannes Film Festival in May. The org was established in ...
Pledging allegiance: blighty rethinks int'l pic co-prod alliances.(World News)(Brief Article)
Mar 01, 2005; ... LONDON -- The U.K. plans to negotiate film co-production treaties with South Africa, China, India, Jamaica and Morocco and drop pacts with Germany, Italy and Norway. This is part of a government review of film treaties to create a consistent strategy. "Pooling talent ...
Kirch library suitors vie.(World News)(Brief Article)
Mar 01, 2005; ... BERLIN -- Munich-based producer-distributor Jan Mojto and pubcaster ARD'S rights division Telepool reportedly are in the final round of bidding for the last 12,000 titles of the Kirch library, in a 30 million [euro] ($40 million) deal. The insolvent Kirch Media, the core TV and ...
Cesar kudos go to underdogs.(Cesar Awards )(Brief Article)
Mar 01, 2005; ... PARIS -- Gaul's prestigious Cesar Awards for film provided a series of upsets Saturday night as prizes were showered on outsiders while big favorites "The Chorus" and "A Very Long Engagement" failed to snag major awards. Kudos for film, director, screenplay and female newcomer ...
Shingle fits Glover: thesp, scribe Barnes plan Afrocentric pix.(Danny Glover, Joslyn Barnes )(Brief Article)
Mar 01, 2005; ... Danny Glover has teamed with screenwriter Joslyn Barnes to form Gotham-based Louverture Films. Their goal is to make six independently financed features and docs over the next three years, focusing on global African experiences. The venture will begin with ...
'Danza' lands timeslot upgrade in Chicago.('The Tony Danza Show')(Brief Article)
Mar 01, 2005; ... "The Tony Danza Show," a syndicated live talkshow that Buena Vista TV has renewed for a second season, has landed an upgrade in Chicago that will propel it from a post-Jimmy Kimmel time period on WLS to a noon timeslot on WMAQ, beginning in the fall. Although WLS is a sibling of ...
A Girl Called Eddy/Keren Ann.(Concert Review)
Mar 01, 2005; ... (Hotel Cafe, Hollywood: 120 capacity; $10) Presented inhouse, with KCRW. Bands: AGCE--Erin Moran, Julian Simmons, Shez Sheridan: KA--Keren Ann Zeidel, Jason Hart. Reviewed Feb. 24. 2005. It may have stopped raining in Southern California, but clouds still covered the ...
Par bounces Spring to sr. veep.(Paramount Pictures Corp. promotes Sara Spring )(Brief Article)
Mar 01, 2005; ... HOLLYWOOD -- Paramount Pictures has promoted Sara Spring to senior VP, feature production management from her current VP slot, which she has held for four years. Spring will be responsible for overseeing the day-to-day physical production of feature films, guiding films from the ...
Baby's' night out.(post Oscar celebrations)
Mar 01, 2005; ... HOLLYWOOD -- After the three-hour and 10-minute kudocast, which Oscar prexy Frank Pierson called "snappy," some 1,700 guests commenced the post-Oscar party lap around town at the time-honored Governors Ball. When emcee Chris Rock entered Hollywood & Highland's Grand Ballroom, ...
'Rings' bling ding: Jackson sues New Line over product profits.
Mar 02, 2005; ... HOLLYWOOD -- Following the success of "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy, Peter Jackson had the muscle to ink the richest directing deal in history for Universal's "King Kong." But Jackson still feels he's been shortchanged on "The Fellowship of the Rings," the first in the trilogy. ...
Parsons plugs cable plans to Wall Street.
Mar 02, 2005; ... In his usual Zen style, Time Warner topper Richard Parsons assured investors Tuesday they needn't be skittish about the conglom's avid hunt to buy up additional cable systems--i.e., Adelphia. Parsons, delivering the day's keynoter at the Bear Steams 18th annual Media Confab in ...
Fox, 'Idol' find sweeps groove.
Mar 02, 2005; ... Who needs the Super Bowl when you've got "American Idol"? Thanks to 10 nights of the blockbuster music talent show and strong perfs by dramas like "House" and "24," Fox has captured the February sweep in key demo categories--even if the year's highest-rated event is taken out ...
'Roseanne' spins discs.
Mar 02, 2005; ... HOLLYWOOD -- TV's domestic goddess is finally ready to make her DVD bow, with Anchor Bay Entertainment and Carsey-Werner pacting to release "Roseanne" on disc later this year. Laffer, which ran for nine years and ranked in Nielsen's top 10 for seven consecutive seasons, is one ...
'Baby' scribe girds for war at Warners.
Mar 02, 2005; ... "Million Dollar Baby" scribe Paul Haggis is entering the ring with Warner Bros. again on "Death and Dishonor," a drama he will write and direct. Haggis also will produce with Larry Becsey, his partner in the newly formed producing venture Blackfriars Bridge. Based on ...
It's not unpatriotic to play nail to the chief: Oscar viewers were offended when Chris Rock aimed his barbed wit at President Bush.(Tuning In)
Mar 02, 2005; ... BELIEVE IT OR NOT, a little hate mail every now and then can be quite illuminating. In this case, my thought crime involved favorable comments regarding this year's Oscar telecast, during which Chris Rock--who, all told, was on camera less than Beyonce--dared aim a few jokes at ...
Hayes praise for 'Allegro'.
Mar 02, 2005; ... WASHINGTON -- The Signature Theater's bare-bones revival last year of Rodgers & Hammerstein's "Allegro" captured seven Helen Hayes Award nominations, the D.C. area's annual recognition of professional theater. But the Hayes judges largely overlooked the Kennedy Center's high-powered ...
Corrections.(Brief Article)(Correction Notice)
Mar 02, 2005 ... NBC TV delivered the lowest ratings ever for the annual NBA All-Star Game on Feb. 11, 2001, when only 7.755 million people watched. Information in Thursday's paper ...
SAG, AFTRA ratify deal for 3 years, $200 mil.
Mar 02, 2005; ... HOLLYWOOD SAG and AFTRA members have ratified a new three-year deal covering film and primetime TV with a 76.5% endorsement that includes an estimated $200 million in gains but no advances on DVD residuals. Approval of the pact, which goes into effect July 1, had been expected ...
D.C.'s digital divide: two sides trade barbs as filesharing case looms.
Mar 02, 2005; ... WASHINGTON -- The forthcoming Supreme Court showdown over illegal Internet filesharing heated up Tuesday as each side accused the other of exaggerating claims and hiding behind misleading arguments. In what is rapidly shaping up to be a defining legal case of the digital age, ...
Turner nets turn up talent profile.(Brief Article)
Mar 02, 2005; ... HOLLYWOOD -- On the heels of greenlighting its first original dramas in four years, TNT Tuesday unveiled an aggressive series development slate that includes projects from "Million Dollar Baby" scribe Paul Haggis and Stephen King. Sister net TBS, meanwhile, announced reality ...
Stars catch 'Comet' tale.
Mar 02, 2005; ... HOLLYWOOD -- David E. Kelley has found a star for his "Comet," casting relative newcomer Audrey Marie Anderson as the lead in his new drama for the WB. Anderson ("Drop Dead Sexy") will play Halley Newell in "Halley's Comet," which Kelley is exec producing with scribe-creator ...
Thesp trio planting 'Holly'.
Mar 02, 2005; ... HOLLYWOOD -- Ron Livingston, Virginie Ledoyen and Udo Kier will co-star in "Holly," a drama that recently began production in Cambodia. Chris Penn co-stars, taking a role originally slated for Tom Sizemore. Guy Moshe directs the pic, in which an American dealer of ...