Daily Variety back issues from January 2006:
Peacock preening with iTunes presence.(news ANALYSIS)(National Broadcasting Company Inc.)
Jan 03, 2006; ... Happy days are here again for problem-plagued NBC--at least in the world of digital downloads. While the Peacock's still pretty much plucked in primetime, net is having a far easier go on Apple's iTunes musicstore. Just a month after launching, NBC Universal ...
Kung fu laffer kicks in.(Doug Liman and Dave Caplan to make a kung fu comedy for National Broadcasting Company Inc.)(Brief Article)
Jan 03, 2006; ... "Mr. & Mrs. Smith" helmer Doug Liman is teaming with scribe Dave Caplan for a kung fu comedy set up at NBC. Untitled half-hour revolves around a pair of brothers who find themselves taking care of their mom and her restaurant. In order to afford her dream retirement home, ...
Fur flies at B.O: 'Narnia' nips Kong in topsy-turvy frame.('The Chronicles of Narnia' does better business than 'King Kong')
Jan 03, 2006; ... Narnia proved a slightly more popular destination than Skull Island with the family trade over the four-day holiday weekend. Disney and Walden's "The Chronicles of Narnia" took first place for the first time since its debut three weeks ago, grossing $32.8 million against "King ...
Still no brakes for 'Brokeback'.('Brokeback Mountain')
Jan 03, 2006; ... "Brokeback Mountain" continues to buck trends, showing even more heat in its fourth limited frame, while "Munich" posted a second solid week on several hundred plays and "Match Point" aced its debut on a handful of courts. "Brokeback" gained an amazing 61% in its fourth frame ...
Spain woos Woody.(Woody Allen signs deal with Mediapro to shoot movie in Spain)(Brief Article)
Jan 03, 2006; ... Enjoying success with his U.K.-shot pic "Match Point," Woody Allen is now setting his sights on Spain. Allen has inked a deal to shoot an English-language pie in Spain for production house Mediapro, using international and Spanish actors, according to Mediapro prexy Jaume ...
Sony game for quizzer maven.(Sony Pictures Television signs deal with Michael Davies )
Jan 03, 2006; ... "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" exec producer Michael Davies has set up shop at Sony Pictures TV, where he'll develop a wide range of nonscripted skeins for broadcast, cable and syndication. Three-year pact reps a new phase for Davies, who parted ways with former Embassy Row ...
Changing of the guard: new toppers and tactics.(The Back Lot)
Jan 03, 2006; ... Imagine a conference room filled with the following cast of characters: On one side of the table sit the fire-eating moguls of old Hollywood: Louis B. Mayer, Harry Cohn, Jack Warner and Sam Goldwyn. Positioned across from them are Hollywood's new corporate Brahmins: Bob Iger, ...
'Lion' King o'seas: auds ring in new year in 'Narnia'.(WORLD WATCH)('The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe')
Jan 03, 2006; ... The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" easily out-roared "King Kong" at the international box office with $41.5 million at 6,584 playdates in 31 markets during the Friday-Sunday New Year's weekend. With "Narnia" tapping the potent family market and ...
Starz stirs online pic play.
Jan 03, 2006; ... Bill Gates and John Malone are steamed that people aren't watching enough movies on their computers or on portable media players, so they're doing something about it. Malone's Starz has revamped its online subscription-movie service, linking with Microsoft's Windows platform and ...
ASC lauds Wiseman.(American Society of Cinematographers to honor Frederick Wiseman )(Brief Article)
Jan 03, 2006; ... The American Society of Cinematographers has tapped documentary filmmaker Frederick Wiseman to receive its award of distinction. Kudos will be presented at the 20th annual ASC Outstanding Achievement Awards Feb. 26 at the Century Plaza. Past recipients include film ...
Loews CEO lands pioneer nod.(chief executive officer of Loews Cineplex Entertainment to be honored by the Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers Foundation)(Brief Article)
Jan 03, 2006; ... Travis Reid, prexy-CEO of Loews Cineplex Entertainment, has been tapped pioneer of the year by the Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers Foundation. Reid started his exhib career at age 20 working in a California drive-in. He'll helm the world's largest theater circuit, in terms ...
Altman resurrects 'Blues' in Blighty.(Robert Altman to direct 'Resurrection Blues' )
Jan 03, 2006; ... Robert Altman will direct Arthur Miller's satirical black comedy "Resurrection Blues" at London's Old Vie Theater. Scott Griffin is producing. Helmer has set Jane Adams, Neve Campbell, Peter McDonald, Matthew Modine, Maximilian Schell and John Wood to star in the play, which ...
Aurum angst for Alliance.(Motion Picture Distribution acquires Aurum Producionnes)
Jan 03, 2006; ... Motion Picture Distribution, an income trust controlled by Toronto-based Alliance Atlantis, has initiated arbitration proceedings to try to resolve financial issues related to the 2004 acquisition of Spanish distrib Aurum Producionnes. Alliance execs said the amounts being ...
SAG slates kudos producers.(Screen Actors Guild )(Brief Article)
Jan 03, 2006; ... The producing team for last year's SAG Awards is returning for this year's ceremonies. Jeff Margolis, exec producer since 1999, will remain in that role, while Kathy Connell will produce, as she has for the past 11 years. SAG Awards Committee founding members Yale ...
'Manchild' matures: showtime adaptation adds creative duo.(Darren Star and Michael Traeger appointed by Showtime Entertainment Inc. to adapt 'Manchild')(Brief Article)
Jan 03, 2006; ... Showtime's take on BBC hit "Manchild" is picking up steam, with Darren Star coming aboard as exec producer and feature scribe Michael Traeger set to write the pilot. Feevee cabler quietly picked up rights to the Blighty import early last year, pacting with Sony Pictures TV to ...
Fox Reality betting big on 'Nothing'.('Double or Nothing')(Brief Article)
Jan 03, 2006; ... Fox Reality is going "Double or Nothing" with LMNO Prods. Cabler has greenlit production on a two-part special from LMNO in which one player sells everything he owns in order to risk his net worth on one spin of a Las Vegas roulette wheel. Fox Reality will air the ...
Par enrolls laff scribes.(Paramount Pictures signs Lee Eisenberg and Gene Stupnitsky to to write comedy script)(Brief Article)
Jan 03, 2006; ... Paramount Pictures has tapped Lee Eisenberg and Gene Stupnitsky to pen a college comedy under its deal with Web site CollegeHumor.com and Par-based Alphaville. Scribes, who write for "The Office" are WGA-nommed for their work on the NBC laffer. Par announced the ...
Two Chans and a 'Baby'.(Jackie Chan starts shooting movie with helmer Benny Chan)(Brief Article)
Jan 03, 2006; ... Jackie Chan has started shooting his latest kung-fu comedy, tentatively titled "BB" or "Baby," in Hong Kong with local helmer Benny Chan. Production kicked off before the recent announcement of the "Rush Hour 3" project. Hot mainland thesp Gao Yuanyuan will feature ...
Televisa toons up 'Chavo'.(cable network plans 'El Chavo del ocho')
Jan 03, 2006; ... Mexico's media titan Televisa is launching its first toon in 2006 and aiming to revamp its programming with possible U.S. and Spanish co-productions. Later this month, at the National Assn. of Television Program Executives meeting in Las Vegas, Televisa will unveil for pre-sales ...
Showbiz stocks: Friday, December 30, 2005.(Illustration)
Jan 03, 2006 ... <Pre> Showbiz Stocks Friday, December 30, 2005 YTD Name Tkr PE Last Chg %Chg AccessIT AIX ... 10.38 -.52+166.8 AcmeCm ACME ... 3.55 -.10 -49.4 Actvsn ...
Four Kings.(Television Program Review)
Jan 03, 2006; ... Four Kings (Series; NBC, Thu. Jan. 5, 8:30p.m.) Filmed in Los Angeles by KoMut Entertainment and Warner Bros. Television. Executive producers, David Kohan, Max Mutchnick; producer, Tim Kaiser; director, James Burrows; writers, Kohan, Mutchnick; camera, Tony Askins; ...
Candida.(Theater Review)
Jan 03, 2006; ... Candida (Bouwerie Lane: 140 seats; $50 top) A Jean Cocteau Repertory presentation of a play in three acts by George Bernard Shaw. Directed by Michael Halberstam. Sets, Brian Sidney Bembridge; costumes, Scan Sullivan; lighting, Joel Moritz; sound, Josh Schmidt; ...
'Munich' in the mail: screeners being sent to BAFTA voters late.(World News)(Brief Article)
Jan 03, 2006; ... DVD screeners of Steven Spielberg's "Munich" will be sent to BAFTA voters after all--but they won't arrive in time for the first round of voting. DreamWorks did not originally plan to mail out screeners of "Munich," but changed its mind just before Christmas. It ...
Satcaster sale slowed.(World News)(Brief Article)
Jan 03, 2006; ... The approval process for Axel Springer's takeover of Haim Saban's ProSiebenSat 1 broadcasting group is threatening to slow down, as the tone between local media organizations becomes rougher. Germany's Commission on Concentration in the Media (KEK) confirmed Friday the demands ...
Ratings through roof for Rossiya's 'Master'.(World News)(Russian pubcaster earns good ratings due to good show of 'Master and Margarita')(Brief Article)
Jan 03, 2006; ... Russian pubcaster Rossiya is scoring an end-of-year triumph with its adaptation of Mikhail Bulgakov's novel "Master and Margarita" from helmer Vladimir Bortko. Ratings for opening double episode of the 10-parter, which aired Dec. 19, were a stellar 29.7% in Moscow and 24.2% on a ...
Britain's big on broadband.(UNITED KINGDOM)(Brief Article)
Jan 03, 2006; ... The U.K. has overtaken France to become Europe's biggest broadband nation. According to research from Internet consultancy PointTopic, the U.K. now has 9.8 million broadband homes, with 9.7 million in France and 9.1 million in Germany. Nearly 3.6 million ...
Cabler names CFO.(HONG KONG)(William Kwan appointed as chief financial officer)(I-Cable Communications)(Brief Article)
Jan 03, 2006; ... I-Cable Communications appointed William Kwan as chief financial officer. Kwan will replace Sam Wong, who ankled Friday. ...
Rowe starts 'Today'.(AUSTRALIA)(Jessica Rowe)(Brief Article)
Jan 03, 2006; ... Network Ten has failed in its legal bid to delay its former newsreader Jessica Rowe from starting work at rival Nine Network in January. Ten took the newsreader to court after she quit the network to take up a position on Nine's ailing ...
Modern times: for composers, technology giveth and technology taketh away.
Jan 03, 2006; ... Not so long ago, film composers worked in the time-honored fashion of putting little dots on score paper with a pencil--and if they were pressed for time, they would write fewer notes and leave the more detailed work to their orchestrators, who were inevitably faster, even if they spent ...
For movie musicians, home is where the art is.(EYE ON THE OSCARS: SONG & SCORE)
Jan 03, 2006; ... Gone are the days when Cecil B. DeMille, filming his remake of "The Ten Commandments," listened as composer Elmer Bernstein plunked out Egyptian and Hebraic themes on a piano. Nowadays, directors expect to hear something approximating a finished score before giving composers the go-ahead. ...
Last of the red-hot anthems: the 'Big Movie Song' seems to have been replaced by more subtle statements.
Jan 03, 2006; ... When Celine Dion sang "My Heart Will Go On" on the 70th annual Academy Awards telecast, the "Titanic" theme was on its way to becoming the all-time bestselling single from a film. On the flip side, many insiders believe the hit tearjerker might have been the last of a dying breed: the ...
Once on This Island.(Theater Review)
Jan 03, 2006; ... (Center Stage, Baltimore; 541 seats; $65 top) A Center Stage production of a musical in two acts, with book and lyrics by Lynn Ahrens, music by Stephen Flaherty, based on the novel "My Love, My Love" by Rosa Guy. Directed and choreographed by Kenneth Lee Roberson. Sets, Neil ...
The screening room.(movies)(Illustration)
Jan 03, 2006 ... <Pre> The Screening Room The Screening Room runs Tuesdays and Fridays. Screenings are open to Academy and guild members. For a complete list, visit Variety.com/screenings. NEW YORK Breakfast on Pluto (Sony Pictures Classics)RSVP: (212) 833-5752 Today ...
Vincent Schiavelli.(Brief Article)(Obituary)
Jan 03, 2006 ... Vincent Schiavelli, the droopy-eyed character actor who appeared in scores of movies, including "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" and "Ghost" died Dec. 26 of lung cancer at his home in Sicily. He was 57. Schiavelli, whose gloomy look made him perfect to play creepy or eccentric ...
Michael Vale.(Brief Article)(Obituary)
Jan 03, 2006 ... Michael Vale, the actor best known for his portrayal of a sleepy-eyed Dunkin' Donuts baker who said "Time to make the doughnuts," died Dec. 24 in New York of complications from diabetes. He was 83. Vale's long-running character, "Fred the Baker." for the doughnut maker's ad ...
Roy Stuart.(Brief Article)(Obituary)
Jan 03, 2006 ... Actor and comedian Roy Stuart died of cancer Dec. 25 in Woodland Hills. Calif. He was 78. Born in the Bronx, Stuart started his career an nightclubs and theater. He went on to play Cpl. Boyle in "Gomer Pyle" opposite Jim Nabors. He also appeared in shows including "Golden ...
Ed Hansen.(Brief Article)(Obituary)
Jan 03, 2006 ... Writer, director and editor Ed Hansen died Dec. 16 of bladder cancer in Antioch, Calif. He was 68. Born in Minnesota, Ed started his entertainment career in advertising, winning several international awards. He went on to direct "Takin' It Off," "Takin' It All Off" ...
Christmas in Miami.(Movie Review)
Jan 03, 2006; ... Christmas in Miami (NATALE A MIAMI) (Italy) A Filmauro production and release. Produced by Aurelio De Laurentiis. Executive producer, Maurizio Amati. Line producer, Luigi De Laurentiis. Directed by Neri Parenti. Screenplay by Parenti, Fausto ...
WB, Fox share year's bounty.(Warner Bros., Fox Searchlight )
Jan 04, 2006; ... It was a good year to be Warner Bros. and Fox and a grim one for Sony and DreamWorks. And among the specialty arms, Focus has reason to celebrate, while Fox Searchlight is hoping for a brighter new year. At the end of 2005, Warner Bros. came out slightly ahead of Fox ...
O'seas wickets will after hot '04.(overseas box office)
Jan 04, 2006; ... After a hearty 2004, international box office was hard-pressed to match the feat in 2005, tallying $12 billion in grosses to mark a 4% dip. Contributing to that decline, just four blockbusters topped the $300 million line abroad in 2005, compared with seven in 2004. ...
Next 'Ocean's' makes waves.(Jerry Weintraub contracts with Rob Guralnick for movie ' Ocean's Thirteen')
Jan 04, 2006; ... Jerry Weintraub has brought former Warner Bros. exec Rob Guralnick back to the lot as his producing partner and president of WB-based Jerry Weintraub Prods. Move comes as Weintraub gets a script by Brian Koppelman and David Levien for "Ocean's Thirteen." Weintraub is ...
Mild wins for Viacom twins: street greets stox warmly.
Jan 04, 2006; ... Sumner Redstone, Leslie Moonves and Tom Freston rang the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange on Tuesday, and the NYSE returned the favor by ringing up shares of CBS and Viacom on their first day as separately traded companies. With Redstone and other moguls eager to ...
ESPN to test 'Fire' power.(Entertainment and Sports Programming Network)(Brief Article)
Jan 04, 2006; ... ESPN has for the first time landed a theatrical release for one of its properties, full-length sports documentary "Through the Fire," in advance of its TV premiere on the network. Arthouse distributor Cinema Libre has signed to platform the movie beginning in New York on Feb. 10 ...
'Wicked' ways bolster B'way.(Broadway theater)(Brief Article)
Jan 04, 2006; ... New Year's week broke more records on Broadway than you could shake a noisemaker at, with "Wicked" tallying the highest weekly gross ever. The 28 shows on the boards in the frame ended Sunday raked in the highest weekly gross in Rialto history, a walloping $25,230,783. ...
GE grappling with its H'wood adventure.(General Electric Co.)
Jan 04, 2006; ... INDUSTRIAL TITAN THAT IT IS, General Electric has always seemed uncomfortable with the vagaries of the entertainment industry. Oh, sure, owning NBC was OK, so long as the network minted money the way its parent churns out hardware. But entering 2006, the company finds itself ...
Caucus nod to ABC exec: noms in four categories revealed for Jan. 15 kudos.(Caucus for Producers, Writers and Directors)(Brief Article)
Jan 04, 2006; ... ABC Entertainment prexy Stephen McPherson will receive the Executive of the Year award from the Caucus of Television Producers, Writers & Directors. Caucus also revealed noms for producer, writer, director and the newly added actor category for its 23rd annual gala. ...
Corrections.(Correction Notice)
Jan 04, 2006 ... Peter Brown will head koews Cineplex-AMC once the merger is completed. Travis Reid will assist in the transition and then leave the company. Information was incorrect in Tuesday's paper. The photo in Tuesday's Back Lot column was ...
Globes enlist quintet to present.(Leonardo DiCaprio, Harrison Ford, Jamie Foxx, Natalie Portman and Emma Thompson contract by National Broadcasting Company Inc. as presenters)(63rd annual Golden Globe Awards)(Brief Article)
Jan 04, 2006; ... HOLLYWOOD -- Leonardo DiCaprio, Harrison Ford, Jamie Foxx, Natalie Portman and Emma Thompson have been tapped ...
Touchstone TV makes Misher wish come true.(Touchstone Television Inc., Kevin Misher)(Brief Article)
Jan 04, 2006; ... Feature producer Kevin Misher ("The Interpreter") is setting his sights on the TV world, sealing a deal with Touchstone TV. Misher is in the midst of a one-year, first-look deal with the Disney-owned studio, where he'd serve as a nonwriting exec producer on projects. ...
WGA spreads the wealth with doc noms.(Writers Guild of America, documentary writers)
Jan 04, 2006; ... In its noms for feature documentary writing, the Writers Guild of America has tapped pics in an eclectic mix of genres, opting for nature, romance, corporate scandal and a pair of political investigations. The nominations, announced Tuesday, went to "Cowboy del Amor," written by ...
Actors' Equity in 'Rat Pack' spat.(Actors' Equity Association filed case against Supper Club, 'The Rat Pack Is Back!')(Brief Article)
Jan 04, 2006; ... The fur is flying over the Rat Pack. Actors' Equity has filed an unfair labor practice charge with the National Labor Relations Board against the Supper Club, the midtown venue that briefly hosted an aborted production of "The Rat Pack Is Back!" Equity alleged in a ...
Disney powers iPods: mouse uploads sports, news to iTunes.(Walt Disney Co.)
Jan 04, 2006; ... The Walt Disney Co. has turned a digital spigot into a fire hose, broadening its offerings on Apple's iTunes to include sports, news and animated shorts from the Walt Disney library. Expanded offering comes as NBC Universal trumped ABC's groundbreaking iTunes deal for "Lost" and ...
ABC football bowls over competish.(Brief Article)
Jan 04, 2006; ... ABC Sports has set the table for tonight's much-anticipated college football championship main course with good Nielsens for Monday's appetizer matchups. In metered-market household overnights, Monday's Fiesta Bowl between Ohio State and Notre Dame (4:45-8:45 p.m. ET) earned a ...
IFC in 'Holding' pattern.(IFC Films gets Distribution rights for movie 'Twelve and Holding')(Brief Article)
Jan 04, 2006; ... IFC Films has picked up U.S. distrib rights to helmer Michael Cuesta's second feature, "Twelve and Holding," and is eyeing a summer release. Pic, penned by television scribe Anthony Cipriano, returns Cuesta ("L.I.E.") to the theme of teenage suburban angst ...
Dow up on Zannino: WSJ publisher puts stock in nonjourno.(Wall Street Journal, Dow Jones and Company Inc., Richard Zannino)
Jan 04, 2006; ... Dow Jones, publisher of the Wall Street Journal, has named Richard Zannino as CEO. He becomes the first nonjournalist to lead the company in a half century. Zannino, 47, replaces the embattled Peter Kann, who will remain chairman of the company until its annual meeting in 2007, ...
D-cinema era at Century.(Technicolor Digital Cinema L.L.C. taps Century Theaters )
Jan 04, 2006; ... Continuing the heated battle for digital-cinema deployment Technicolor has signed Century Theaters as the first exhib in its corner. Midsized chain will initially get digital systems as part of Technicolor's beta test this spring. If the test goes smoothly, Technicolor will ...
News shifts Web reins.(The News Corporation Ltd. promoted Jeremy Philips )(Brief Article)
Jan 04, 2006; ... When it comes to the Internet. News Corp. is picking tip right where it left off. The company has promoted Jeremy Philips to executive VP in a move that gives the 33-year-old official oversight of all potential Internet deals and could further ratchet up the company's Net plays ....
"The Constant Gardener" and "Good Night, and Good Luck" will be released on DVD Jan. 17 and March 14.(Disc Drive)
Jan 04, 2006 ... "The Constant Gardener" and "Good Night, and Good Luck" will be released ...
Adding to the line of best-of DVDs in the "Saturday Night Live" series distributed by Lionsgate, Universal Studios Home Entertainment.(Lions Gate Home Entertainment, )(Brief Article)
Jan 04, 2006 ... Adding to the line of best-of DVDs in the "Saturday Night Live" series distributed by Lionsgate, Universal Studios Home Entertainment will release "The Best of David ...
"Doom".(Universal Studios Inc. released the disc drive for movie 'Doom')(Brief Article)
Jan 04, 2006 ... Universal's Feb. 7 release of "Doom" will be offered in an unrated extended edition for DVD and PSP that runs 12 minutes longer than the R-rated ...
"Buster Keaton Anniversary Collection.(Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc. releasing video discs )(Brief Article)
Jan 04, 2006; ... Sony will release a collection of 10 Buster Keaton shorts March 7. Two-disc "Buster Keaton Anniversary Collection" will feature a selection ...
Icelandic producer locks Scanbox stake.(Brief Article)
Jan 04, 2006; ... Los Angeles-based Icelandic film producer Sigurjon "Joni" Sighvatsson has arranged to buy 75% of Nordic distrib Scanbox Entertainment Group. Deal gives Sighvatsson ("Wild at Heart," "Arlington Road") the chance to do more business in his home country. Sighvatsson ...
Showbiz stocks: Tuesday, January 3, 2006.(Illustration)
Jan 04, 2006 ... <Pre> Showbiz Stocks Tuesday, January 3, 2006 YTD Name Tkr PE Last Chg %Chg AccessIT AIX 10.57 +.19 +1.8 AcmeCmACME 3.76 +.21 ...
Film box office wrap: for the weekend of Dec. 30-Jan. 2.(Illustration)
Jan 04, 2006; ... <Pre> Film Sox Office Wrap FOR THE WEEKEND OF DEC. 30-JAN. 2Ranking Reported This Last Weekend Week WeekTitle (Distributor) Boxoffice 1 2 The Chronicles of ...
Reel hit for Virgin: Japan nails conglom for tax on exhib sale.(Brief Article)
Jan 04, 2006; ... Japanese authorities have ordered Virgin Entertainment Japan to pay [yen] 4.3 billion ($36.7 million) in taxes due on the 2003 sale of its local theater chain to Toho Co. The Tokyo Regional Taxation Bureau also has slapped Virgin with a $12.8 million penalty for allegedly trying ...