Daily Variety back issues from December 2005:
Naughty vidgames in pols' line of fire.
Dec 01, 2005; ... Two senators are gunning for vidgames. After months of controversy stemming from a downloadable patch that opened an explicit sex scene in "Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas," Sens. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) and Joe Lieberman (D-Conn.) Wednesday detailed plans for a bill banning the sale of ...
Lion king's new world view.(Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc. chairman Harry Sloan predicts)
Dec 01, 2005; ... The European media biz is heading for an "amazing" period of mergers and acquisitions over the next few years, MGM chairman-chief exec Harry Sloan predicted Wednesday. Addressing the European Media Leaders Summit in London, Sloan said he was "surprised" the American congloms ...
Tube dominos fall: rivals sked around 'Idol'.('American Idol')
Dec 01, 2005; ... Now that Fox has decided what it's doing with "American Idol," the other nets are scrambling to finalize their midseason plans. Fox on Tuesday ended weeks of speculation about its scheduling strategy for "Idol" by deciding to do ... pretty much what it said it would do in May ....
H'w'd dogged by blog.(hollywood, Gerard Jones creates the blog)
Dec 01, 2005; ... A new Web site is making it easy to reach everyone who's anyone in Hollywood--maybe too easy. An Oregon blogger named Gerard Jones has compiled a list of thousands of agents, producers and execs on a Web site called--what else?--Everyonewhosanyone.com, complete with client ...
Weir steering 'Shantaram'.(Peter Weir to direct movie for Warner Bros.)(Brief Article)
Dec 01, 2005; ... Peter Weir will direct "Shantaram," the Warner Bros. adaptation of the Gregory David Roberts novel that Johnny Depp will star in. Weir will develop the script with Eric Roth. WB hopes to begin production in late 2006. Pic is being produced by Initial Entertainment ...
A sheltered 'Youth': Dimension buys comedy from Shangri-La.(Dimension Films acquires rights to 'Youth in Revolt' from Shangri-La Entertainment )(Brief Article)
Dec 01, 2005; ... Dimension Films has acquired from Steve Bing's Shangri-La Entertainment the cutting-edge teen comedy "Youth in Revolt." Deal comes with rights to the C.D. Payne novel as well as a script by Gustin Nash. Dimension topper Bob Weinstein plans to put the film into production next ...
'Capote,' 'Murderball' gather Gotham kudos.(Gotham Awards)
Dec 01, 2005; ... Sony Pictures Classics and helmer Bennett Miller's "Capote" took the top honor as best pic at the Independent Feature Project's 15th annual Gotham Awards on Wednesday night. Miller walked away with the breakthrough director award. "Capote"--starring Philip Seymour Hoffman as ...
It's Par for the course for Aversano.(Paramount signs Scott Aversano)(Brief Article)
Dec 01, 2005; ... Continuing its major foray into new producer pacts, Paramount has signed Scott Rudin Prods. prexy Scott Aversano to a first-look deal. Paramount president Gail Berman announced the deal for Aversano, who worked for seven years with Rudin, who is still transitioning his company ...
Miramax taps Jones sr. VP.(Kristin Jones appointed as vice president)(Brief Article)
Dec 01, 2005; ... Under new chief Daniel Battsek, Miramax has begun to fill out its exec ranks, naming Kristin Jones as senior veep of production, international development and acquisitions at the Disney specialty arm. Jones worked with Battsek for the past seven years at Buena Vista Intl. in ...
Col's System doubles down.(System of a Down)(Brief Article)
Dec 01, 2005; ... Columbia recording act System of a Down has become the first band to chart two No. 1 debuts in a single calendar year in the SoundScan era. "Hypnotize," the latest disc from the L.A. quartet, sold 320,000 copies in the week ended Sunday, according to Nielsen SoundScan. Last ...
Selected upcoming releases.(Brief Article)(Illustration)
Dec 01, 2005 ... <Pre> Selected upcoming releases Artist Title LabelRelease date P.O.D. TestifyAtlantic Jan. 24 Livingston There You CoconutJan. 24 Taylor Are ...
Tribute back on track.(August Wilson)(Brief Article)
Dec 01, 2005; ... The season of August Wilson plays at Off Broadway's Signature Theater is back on, a month after Wilson's estate yanked the skedded tribute in the wake of the playwright's Oct. 2 death. New plan is to present three plays from Wilson's 10-play cycle depicting African-American life ...
Taraji P. Henson.(Players)(to act in 'Smokin' Aces' for )(Brief Article)
Dec 01, 2005; ... Taraji P. Henson ("Hustle & Flow") has joined the cast of Universal's "Smokin' Aces," written and to be directed by Joe Carnahan. Jeremy Piven, Ryan Reynolds, Ben ...
Wilson Jermaine Heredia and Tracie Thoms have joined "Rent" co-star Rosario Dawson in the psychological thriller "Descent.".(Players)(Brief Article)
Dec 01, 2005; ... Wilson Jermaine Heredia and Tracie Thoms have joined "Rent" co-star Rosario Dawson in the psychological thriller "Descents," now lensing in ...
Super Vision.(Theater Review)
Dec 01, 2005; ... (BAM Harvey Theater; 874 seats; $55 top) A Brooklyn Academy of Music presentation of a play in one act, conceived and created by the Builders Assn. and Dbox; initial story development by Jed Weintrob and Andrew Osborne, text by Constance de Jong and company members. Directed by ...
New home on right: 'Journal' is heading from PBS to Fox News.('Journal Editorial Report')(Brief Article)
Dec 01, 2005; ... The "Journal Editorial Report," a show at the center of a scandal that led to the ouster of Corp. for Public Broadcasting chair Kenneth Tomlinson, is landing at Fox News Channel. The show, produced by the Wall Street Journal, aired for two seasons on PBS even while some of the ...
'Loser' carries some weight for NBC.('The Biggest Loser', National Broadcasting Company Inc.)
Dec 01, 2005; ... It has hardly been a November to remember for NBC, but for one night anyway, it was the big winner--thanks to "The Biggest Loser." The final Tuesday of the sweep saw CBS drama "NCIS" and Fox drama "House" deliver more nifty Nielsens, but it was the two-hour conclusion of NBC's ...
Zenkel will captain NBC Olympics team.(promotion of Gary Zenkel)(Brief Article)
Dec 01, 2005; ... NBC Sports has created the job of president of NBC Olympics and promoted Gary Zenkel to fill it. Calling him "our great strategic thinker," Dick Ebersol, chairman of NBC Universal Sports and Olympics, praised Zenkel for taking the lead in grabbing all U.S. media rights to the ...
Palm debuts a DVD label.(Palm Pictures launches Arthouse Films)(Brief Article)
Dec 01, 2005; ... Palm Pictures has launched DVD label Arthouse Films. Label will target consumers via Palm Pictures' retail distribution network (Universal Music and Video Distribution) and through sales at museums, art galleries and universities, as well as special-interest and lifestyle ...
From the Army Archerd archive: Nov. 30, 1970.(Brief Article)
Dec 01, 2005 ... It's the end--and the beginning--for Marlo Thomas, who wound the five years of"That Girl" with a women's lib-themed seg and now plotting a bigscreen feature featuring femmes freedom. She's also got that "Sad Nun at Synanon" in the works. One thing's certain, says Marlo, "I don't have to ...
Showbiz stocks: Wednesday, November 30, 2005.(Illustration)
Dec 01, 2005 ... <Pre> Showbiz Stocks Wednesday, November 30, 2005 YTD Name Tkr PE Last Chg % Chg AccessIT AIX ... 8.13 +.10 +109.0 AcmeCm ACME ... 4.06 -.06-42.1 Actvsn ATVI 48...
Sunday in the Park with George.(Theater Review)
Dec 01, 2005; ... (Menier Chocolate Factory, London; 169 seats; 22.50 [pounds sterling] ($39) top) A Menier Chocolate Factory presentation of a musical in two acts with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, book by James Lapine. Directed by Sam Buntrock. Music director, Caroline Humphris. Sets ...
The Happy Elf.(by John Rice)(Television Program Review)
Dec 01, 2005; ... (Special, NBC, Fri. Dec. 2, 8p.m.) Produced by IDT Entertainment in association with HC Prods. Executive producers, Harry Connick Jr., Ann Marie Wilkins, Scott Landis, Steve Brown, Morris Berger, John W. Hyde; supervising producers, Karen Bailey, William L. Arance, Kevin ...
TV & cable production chart.
Dec 01, 2005 ... PRODUCTION CHART KEY Abbreviations: SUPR EXP-Supervising executive producer(s); EXP-Executive producer(s); CO-EXP-Co-executive producer(s); SUPR PROD-Supervising producer(s); PROD-Producer(s); CO-PROD-Coproducer(s); DIR-Director(s); CASTING-Casting director. Affiliated ...
Santa Clarita maps bigscreen 'Fun'.(Location News)('Fun With Dick and Jane')
Dec 01, 2005; ... Santa Clarita, Calif., looms large on the bigscreen. Columbia Pictures found the location ideal for many of its scenes during the remake of the 1977 feature pic "Fun With Dick and Jane." Santa Clarita provided locations not found in L.A. proper just to the south as well as ...
Donovan.(Concert Review)
Dec 01, 2005; ... (Wilshire Ebell Theater, Los Angeles; 1,200 capacity; $43 top) Presented by Goldenvoice. Band: Donovan, Lisa Mezzacappa, Eric Garland, Michael Abraham, Mitch Marcus, the Section string trio. Reviewed Nov. 29, 2005. Could the prospect of trying to cover a 40-year ...
Korn.(Concert Review)
Dec 01, 2005; ... (Hammerstein Ballroom; 3,300 capacity; $37.50) Presented by Ron Delsener Prods. Band: Jonathan Davis, James "'Munky" Shaffer, Reginald "Fieldy" Arvizu, David Silveria. Reviewed Nov. 29, 2005. Having recently been in the news more for extra-musical events--a messy ...
Mass. OKs pic perks.(Brief Article)
Dec 01, 2005; ... It's taken years of discussion and months slogging through the system, but Massachusetts finally has tax incentives for film and TV producers. Just before Thanksgiving, Gov. Mitt Romney signed into law a tax package intended to encourage film production in the Bay State. It had ...
'Fire' charms China: 'Harry' rakes in $8.21 mil.(World News)('Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire')(Brief Article)
Dec 01, 2005; ... The boy wizard has cast his spell on Chinese auds. "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" has taken in $8.21 million at the box office in just 10 days and looks to be the biggest imported film in China this year. "Without question, the box office will reach 80 million yuan ($10 ...
'Gardener' rakes 'em in at British Indie Awards.(World News)('The Constant Gardener' wins accolades in eighth British Independent Film Awards)(Brief Article)
Dec 01, 2005; ... Fernando Meirelles' "The Constant Gardener" was the big winner at the eighth British Independent Film Awards, handed out Wednesday at the Hammersmith Palais. The tense political thriller scooped the film prize, with stars Ralph Fiennes and Rachel Weisz taking thesp trophies ....
Indonesia falling in 'Love' with pic.(World News)('What's the Meaning of Love?')(Brief Article)
Dec 01, 2005; ... A love triangle about a young woman and two men called "What's the Meaning of Love?" and shot on location in Los Angeles is Indonesia's biggest grosser this year, having attracted 1.2 million moviegoers in its first 20 days of nationwide release. Pic was produced by Intercine ...
Gaul galvanizes plan for news net.(World News)(Brief Article)
Dec 01, 2005; ... After much delay, the creation of France's 24-hour news network has been finalized. Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin on Wednesday signed the convention with TF1 and France Televisions that creates the French Intl. Information Channel, or CFII. The web, which will ...
Grundy TV loses lawsuit over thesp's firing.(World News)(Brief Article)
Dec 01, 2005; ... Grundy Television has been ordered to pay A$200,000 ($148,000) to "Neighbours" thesp Shane Connor after a judge ruled he was wrongly fired from the hit sudser in September 2003. Connor, who played Joe Scully in "Neighbours" from 1999-2003, sued Grundy for wrongful termination. ...
Gallic 'Starsky' with a 'oui' bit of U.S. skein.(M6 and Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc. team up)(Brief Article)
Dec 01, 2005; ... Starsky and Hutch in a Peugeot? C'est possible, with Gallic private web M6 and the French arm of Sony Pictures expected to team up for a French remake of the 1975 TV series. Tentatively titled "Duva! and Madani," the Gallic version will be a comic cop show liberally adapted from ...
Big names bow at Sundance.(Sundance Film Festival)
Dec 01, 2005; ... Seventeen features will headline the Sundance Film Festival's newly streamlined Premieres section, which includes world bows of films by such directors as Terry Zwigoff, Michel Gondry and Nick Cassavetes alongside features by vets like Jonathan Demme and Wire Wenders. ...
Icahn threatens TW suit.
Dec 01, 2005 ... Carl Icahn, the corporate raider who is taking on Time Warner, ratcheted up his rhetoric against the media conglom Wednesday, threatening to sue its directors if they make a deal for AOL that he finds unacceptable. Icahn, speaking at an annual corporate governance conference in ...
Oater and out.(V)(Brief Article)
Dec 01, 2005; ... The long-awaited "gay cowboy movie" finally rode into town Tuesday, when Focus Features preemed "Brokeback Mountain" at the National, where most of the filmmakers seemed fairly relaxed about the ubiquitous phrase used to describe their film. Focus co-topper James Schamus said: ...
'The Kid' stays in the pic.('The Kid and I')(Brief Article)
Dec 01, 2005; ... HOLLYWOOD -- Dodging would-be co-star--and next-door neighbor Eric Gores was not easy for actor-scribe Tom Arnold; hence the premiere of pic "The Kid & I" on Monday. In retrospect, Arnold joked about his initial qualms: "We gotta make this freaking movie. (Gores is) not going to ...
Matching wits with Woody.(Woody Allen)(Brief Article)
Dec 01, 2005; ... Woody Allen admits he doesn't like talking to actors on the set. 'Tin working with enormously gifted people, so I have nothing to add," he said Monday at the screening of his new psychodrama "Match Point" at Gotham's Lincoln Center. At the rare public engagement, Allen discussed ...
Change for the better.(Brief Article)
Dec 01, 2005; ... "Transamerica" has more in common with "The Lord of the Rings" than with "Boys Don't Cry," according to pic's writer-director Duncan Tucker. At the film's Gotham preem Tuesday at the IFC Center, Tucker explained. "This is not in any way an issue movie or a political ...
Opening 'Presents'.('Mrs. Henderson Presents')(Brief Article)
Dec 01, 2005; ... WHAT: Monday's preem of"Mrs. Henderson Presents" WHO: Pic's Judi Dench, along with guests including Joan Collins, Kate Burton, Nora Ephron, Anna Deavere Smith and Kathleen Turner and pic's distrib Harvey Weinstein, who on the way out said, "This movie is a Cinderella shot ...
Playing against type.(Brief Article)
Dec 01, 2005; ... WHAT: Variety's Monday screening of "Syriana" WHO: Helmer-writer Stephen Gaghan WHERE: ArcLight in Hollywood CHAMELEON CLOONEY: When George Clooney said he wanted to play the part of CIA agent Bob Barnes, Gaghan didn't see him in the role because he feared ...
"White Christmas" thesp Meredith Patterson puts in her requests with Santa.(V)
Dec 01, 2005 ... "White Christmas" thesp Meredith Patterson puts in her ...
Matthew Perry and Courteney Cox Arquette celebrate the bow of TBS series "Daisy Does America.".(Brief Article)
Dec 01, 2005 ... Matthew Perry and Courteney Cox Arquette celebrate the bow of TBS series "Daisy Does ...
Gauls giving Gotham a go.(Bonne Pioche plans operations in New York )(Brief Article)
Dec 01, 2005; ... Gallic production unit Bonne Pioche, creator of indic hit "March of the Penguins," is waddling its way to Gotham to set up a New York presence. Company--headed by Yves Darondeau, Christophe Lioud and Emmanuel Priou--has tapped former Wellspring exec Linda Saetre to oversee its ...
Jose Pablo Cantillo.(Players)(to act in Lions Gate Films and Lakeshore Entertainment's 'Crank')(Brief Article)
Dec 01, 2005; ... Jose Pablo Cantillo ("After Sex") has joined th cast of Lions Gate Films and Lakeshore Entertainment's "Crank". Thriller from writer-directors Mark ...
Marc John Jeffries.(Players)(to act in 'Little Hercules in 3-D')(Brief Article)
Dec 01, 2005; ... Marc John Jeffries ("Get Rich or Die Tryin") has been tapped for a role in "Little Hercules in 3-D," now in production. Robert ...
Globes gropes with kudos glut: honors show's famed 'fun factor' seen as key to breaking out of the awards pack.(GOLDEN GLOBES PREVIEW)
Dec 01, 2005; ... No longer an industry joke, the Golden Globes suddenly finds itself facing an unexpected problem: It might have become too respectable. There's no longer any doubt the Hollywood Foreign Press Assn.'s annual kudos now stand as one of the most important pit stops on the road to ...
Resetting the clock: kudocast pulls out of crowded Sunday sked for new Monday slot.(GOLDEN GLOBES PREVIEW)
Dec 01, 2005; ... Getting whooped by the women of Wisteria Lane might not be such a bad thing for the Golden Globes after all. Thanks to the power of "Desperate Housewives," the January 2005 edition of the kudocast snagged its smallest ratings since coming to NBC. Not wanting to see a repeat, ...
Packing them in: party planners deal with growing crowds, security.(GOLDEN GLOBES PREVIEW)
Dec 01, 2005; ... There are two parts to Golden Globes night. One part works; the other doesn't. The show itself has what outgoing Hollywood Foreign Press Assn. prexy Lorenzo Soria calls "a simple and successful formula ... star after star after star presenting different awards without people singing songs, ...
Same spot, same hosts, new company.(GOLDEN GLOBES PREVIEW)(Weinstein Co. to host after-party)(Brief Article)
Dec 01, 2005; ... If the Golden Globes still handed out a New Star of the Year kudo (famously presented in 1981 to Pia Zadora), this year's odds-on favorite would be the Weinstein Co. Harvey and Bob Weinstein's well-funded, post-Miramax shingle will have its big coming-out party when it takes ...
Songs and smiles: the Globes offer a whole new world of kudos competition for the year's top comedy and musical pictures.(GOLDEN GLOBES PREVIEW)
Dec 01, 2005 ... Casanova Studio: Disney Director: Lasse Hallstrom Cast: Heath Ledger, Sienna Miller, Jeremy irons Bow date: Dec. 25 Why it will be nominated: Pic has all the right ingredients--period piece, admired director, top-notch cast and a ...
Thesp races open to a new mix of noms.(TV spotlight)
Dec 01, 2005; ... Predicting which stars will make the cut in the annual Golden Globes TV races is far from easy--and that's a good thing. Unlike the stuffy, cliquey Emmy crowd, Globe voters love to mix things up and invite new faces to the party. "They tend to react to the buzzometer in a way ...
Discovery channelers: Globes voters hone rep for tapping hot new skeins.(TV spotligt)
Dec 01, 2005; ... Though there hasn't been a breakout show on the order of last year's ABC newbies "Desperate Housewives" or "Lost," that doesn't mean the Golden Globes won't be offering up fresh skeins for their big night. The Hollywood Foreign Press Assn., known for setting trends rather than ...
Global payoff: small shows get big boost from kudos attention.(TV spotlight)
Dec 01, 2005; ... Shiny gold statues look lovely on a mantel, but the real value is in the glow they bring to a winner's bottom line. The Golden Globes, coming in the middle of the TV season are in a unique position to give nommed shows a boost. "The smaller a show is the more ...
More than kudos: org responds to disasters with $500,000 donation.(GOLDEN GLOBES PREVIEW)
Dec 01, 2005; ... When disaster struck in Southeast Asia and the Gulf Coast, the Hollywood Foreign Press Assn. expanded its charitable purview to lend a hand. Having donated more than $5.5 million in grants to film-related orgs and schools over the past 11 years, HFPA prexy Philip Berk says the ...
Winners circle.(GOLDEN GLOBES PREVIEW)
Dec 01, 2005 ... 2005 FILM Picture--Drama: "The Aviator" Actor--Drama: Leonardo Dicaprio, "The Aviator" Actress--Drama: Hilary Swank, 'Million Dollar Baby" Picture--Musical or Comedy: "Sideways" Actor--Musical or Comedy: Jamie Foxx, "Ray" ...
Looking back.(GOLDEN GLOBES PREVIEW)(Brief Article)
Dec 01, 2005 ... I couldn't have been a bigger has-been." With that honest appraisal, Teri Hatcher, who won a 2005 statue fox' lead actress in a musical or comedy series, went down in Golden Globes history. She beat out her "Desperate Housewives" co-stars Marcia Cross and Felicity Huffman but nevertheless ...
Honorary Globes.(GOLDEN GLOBES PREVIEW)(Brief Article)
Dec 01, 2005 ... Anthony Hopkins will join the ranks of Cecil B. DeMille Award winners this year. The actor has been nominated fox" six previous Golden Globe Awards as lead actor for "Nixon," "The Remains of the Day," "The Silence of the Lambs" and "Magic." He also has been nornmed as a supporting actor ...
'Equalizer' in Weinsteins' equation.(Brief Article)
Dec 02, 2005; ... The Weinstein Co. said Wednesday that it has acquired the rights to develop and produce a feature pic based on '80s TV skein "The Equalizer." Created by Michael Sloan and Richard Lindheim, original "Equalizer" starred Brit thesp Edward Woodward as Robert McCall, a veteran ...
Holiday B.O. in state of Flux: 'Aeon' ushers in busy season.
Dec 02, 2005; ... It's the lull before the storm. In the last weekend before a blockbuster-filled end of the year, Paramount's "Aeon Flux" is the only wide opener this weekend, hitting 2,608 playdates. Pic, which cancelled its review screenings, will mix it up with the third week of "Harry Potter ...
Foxx will reign in U's 'Kingdom'.(Brief Article)
Dec 02, 2005; ... Jamie Foxx will star in "The Kingdom" for Universal Pictures. Pic, which will be helmed by Peter Berg, produced by Michael Mann and penned by Matthew Michael Carnahan, is aiming for a May 2006 start date. Foxx will play the leader of a team of U.S. counter-terrorism ...
Oscar's vintage guess of honor.(Brief Article)
Dec 02, 2005; ... For the first time the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences has selected two commemorative Oscar posters for the Academy Awards. And the stylized historic photos are sure to spawn a Hollywood guessing game. Joan Maloney's winning concepts, "Black Tuxedo" and "White Gloves" ...
Nets find unique paths to victory.(Brief Article)
Dec 02, 2005; ... A steady CBS and a rising ABC were the big stories of the November sweep, tying for the month's young-adult demo crown and finishing well ahead of NBC and Fox. But the leaders took different paths to the winner's circle. The Alphabet rode its four smash hits and ...
The Color Purple.(Movie Review)
Dec 02, 2005; ... (Broadway Theater; 1,721 seats; $101.25 top) An Oprah Winfrey, Scott Sanders, Roy Furman, Quincy Jones, Creative Battery, Anna Fantaci & Cheryl Lachowicz, Independent Presenters Network, David Lowy, Stephanie P. McClelland, Gary Winnick, Jan Kallish, Nederlander Presentations, ...