Daily Variety back issues from November 2008:
O'Seas stirred: 007 breaks Blighty B.O. record.
Nov 03, 2008; ... James Bond returned with a record-setting blast at the international box office as Sony/MGM's "Quantum of Solace" gunned down a socko $38.6 million at 2,123 playdates in the U.K., France and Sweden, two weeks ahead of the domestic launch. British biz for the pic dazzled on ...
'MNF' hikes ESPN ratings.
Nov 03, 2008; ... Americans will turn their attention to Washington Tuesday, but on election eve, more than 10 million also will be transfixed by what's transpiring in the nation's capital ... on ESPN. Tonight's Pittsburgh Steelers-Washington Redskins contest--a matchup pitting two of the top ...
Hyde Park digs Abu Dhabi pics.
Nov 03, 2008; ... Abu Dhabi production banner Imagenation has inked a $250 million deal with Ashok Amritraj's Hyde Park Entertainment to develop, produce and distribute up to 20 feature films over seven years. The joint venture will fund English-language fare with global appeal. There also will ...
U hot for 'Inferno'.
Nov 03, 2008; ... Universal Pictures won a bidding battle for an unreleased Electronic Arts videogame that sources said will be called "Dante's Inferno" by the time it hits the marketplace next year. Agreement is the second the studio has made in recent weeks for an EA vidgame property. ...
'Tintin' now a team effort.
Nov 03, 2008; ... Sony Pictures Entertainment and Paramount Pictures are in talks to co-finance "Tintin," Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson's digital 3-D pic based on the Belgian "Tintin" comics. After resolving the Paramount-DreamWorks divorce, putting together a studio deal for "Tintin" was ...
'School' rules second frame.(High School Musical 3: Senior Year)
Nov 03, 2008; ... Disney's "High School Musical 3: Senior Year" enjoyed a massive rebound from Halloween to place No. 1 at the North American box office for the second weekend in a row and push its worldwide total to an estimated $146.8 million after 10 days in release. Theater traffic slows down ...
SAG to meet mediator again.(Screen Actors Guild and Juan Carlos Gonzalez)
Nov 03, 2008; ... SAG's taken another small step toward possible resumption of its long-stalled negotiations, agreeing to meet for a second session with a federal mediator on Wednesday. No date's been set for restarting talks between the Screen Actors Guild and the majors, but that announcement ...
Ruling on expletives could set new standard.
Nov 03, 2008; ... The Supreme Court is about to hear arguments on a case that could have the most profound effect on federal regulation of broadcasting in 30 years. A decision in the so-called fleeting expletives case of Fox v. FCC, skedded for oral arguments Tuesday morning, could sharply cut ...
Laff net provides N.Y. a showcase stage.(Comedy Central )(Brief article)
Nov 03, 2008; ... Comedy Central has established a New York showcase for funny talent, similar to its Comedy Central Stage in Los Angeles. Comedy Central at Crash Mansion--located at the BLVD/Crash Mansion nightclub and event space at 199 Bowery--will feature standup and sketch acts, screenings ...
The battle hum of the republic.
Nov 03, 2008; ... THANK GOD IT'S OVER. The presidential election initially seemed like great political theater, but it turned out to be interminable--repetitive and nasty. The ultimate irony: We don't really know our candidates any better now than we did before the conventions. John ...
Dreyfuss reports to Old Vic.(Richard Dreyfuss at London's Old Vic Theater )(Brief article)
Nov 03, 2008; ... Richard Dreyfuss will topline the Kevin Spacey-helmed production of "Complicit" at London's Old Vic Theater this winter. Dreyfuss plays a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist brought before the Supreme Court, where he is torn between protecting his family and defending freedom of ...
Milk.(Movie review)
Nov 03, 2008; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A Focus Features release, presented in association with Axon Films, of a Groundswell and Jinks/Cohen Co. production. Produced by Dan Jinks, Bruce Cohen. Executive producers, Michael London, Dustin Lance Black, Bruna Papandrea, Barbara A. Hall, William ...
Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa.(Movie review)
Nov 03, 2008; ... (Animated) A Paramount release of a DreamWorks presentation of a PDI/DreamWorks Animation production. Produced by Mirelle Sofia, Mark Swift. Directed by Eric Darnell, Tom McGrath. Screenplay, Etan Cohen, Darnell, McGrath. (color); editor, H. Lee Peterson; music and ...
Rousselet revs up feature banner.(Philippe Rousselet )
Nov 03, 2008; ... Producer Philippe Rousselet ("Lord of War") has launched Vendome Pictures as a development, production and financing banner with plans to produce at least a dozen features in the next five years. Vendome's aiming at internationally driven projects in multiple genres with budgets ...
NBC crazy for 'Kath & Kim'.
Nov 03, 2008; ... NBC's "Kath & Kim" has become the latest frosh skein to score a full-season pickup. The Peacock announced the back nine order Friday afternoon. Reveille and Universal Media Studios are behind the skein, which stars Molly Shannon and Selma Blair. "Kath & Kim" is based on the ...
Terkel was people's voice.(Studs Terkel )(Obituary)
Nov 03, 2008 ... Pulitzer Prize-winning author and activist Studs Terkel died Friday in Chicago. He was 96. He had been suffering since a fall earlier in October and had undergone open-heart surgery in 2005. Terkel is best known for his streetwise portrayals of the working class. He ...
Daly produced Oscar winners.(John Daly)(Obituary)(Brief article)
Nov 03, 2008 ... John Daly, the British-born producer of 13 Oscar-winning movies including "Platoon" and "The Last Emperor" who helped launch the careers of many top directors and actors, has died. He was 71. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Daly, who was chairman of Film and Music ...
'Rock' solid opening: NBC laffer sees best numbers.
Nov 03, 2008; ... The buzz surrounding Tina Fey paid off for NBC on Thursday as "30 Rock" opened to series-best ratings behind hot laffer "The Office." And two nights later, her appearance as Gov. Sarah Palin alongside Sen. John McCain on the Peacock's "Saturday Night Live" drove the show to its ...
Eye invites Fleiss to the neighborhood.(CBS and Mike Fleiss)(Brief article)
Nov 03, 2008; ... CBS has given a seven-episode commitment to a new reality gamer from "The Bachelor's" Mike Fleiss. Untitled project reps the first major series order by new Eye reality chief Jennifer Bresnan, who replaced Ghen Maynard in the summer. Skein will follow a neighborhood of families ...
ABC cues more 'Who'.
Nov 03, 2008; ... ABC has given a full-season order to sophomore comedy "Samantha Who?" That would normally mean a "back nine" order--but ABC has shortened the pickup to seven segs. In shortening the full-season order, the net cited its deep midseason bench: Half-hours set to bow include ...
'Godot' bows in Blighty.(LEGIT)(Waiting for Godot)(Brief article)
Nov 03, 2008; ... The West End is getting a "Godot" next season to match the one on Broadway. Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart will topline a Brit production of "Waiting for Godot" that will launch a U.K. tour in March before an April bow at the Theater Royal Haymarket. [ILLUSTRATION ...
Theaters elect perks for audiences.(LEGIT)
Nov 03, 2008; ... The theater community doesn't always relish sharing the spotlight, but it has made an exception for Tuesday. Various legiters are gearing up to mark the presidential election, including Tony Kushner, the Upright Citizens Brigade and the Chicago production of "Dirty Dancing." ...
B'way waits for FCC vote.(LEGIT)
Nov 03, 2008; ... The FCC will vote Tuesday on the use of "spectrum-sensing devices"--and the potential outcome has the Broadway League worried. The League, the trade association of legit producers and presenters, has stepped up a public campaign to sway the imminent vote on potential rules for ...
Two reading for 'Eve'.(LEGIT)(Zoe Caldwell and Joel Grey in All About Eve)(Brief article)
Nov 03, 2008; ... Zoe Caldwell and Joel Grey have signed on for the Actors Fund one-night reading of "All About Eve" joining a starry cast that already includes Annette Bening, Angela Lansbury, Cynthia Nixon, Peter Gallagher and John Slattery. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ...
Happy Now?(Theater review)
Nov 03, 2008; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] (Yale Repertory Theater, New Haven, Conn.; 480 seats; $65 top) A Yale Repertory Theater presentation of a play in two acts by Lucinda Coxon. Directed by Liz Diamond. Sets, Sarah Pearline; costumes, Heidi Hanson; lighting, Matt Frey; sound, David ...
Angry Black White Boy.(Theater review)
Nov 03, 2008; ... (Intersection, San Francisco; 65 seats: $25 top) An Intersection for the Arts, Hybrid Project, Campo Santo presentation of a play by Dan Wolf, adapted from the novel by Adam Mansbach. Directed by Sean San Jose. Set, Joshua McDermott; costumes, Mia Baxter; lighting, Christopher ...
Soul Men.(Movie review)
Nov 03, 2008; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] An MGM release of a Dimension Films presentation of a Friendly Films production. Produced by David T. Friendly, Charles Castaldi, Steve Greener. Executive producers, Harvey Weinstein, Bob Weinstein, Mark McNair. Directed by Malcolm D. Lee ....
Criss Angel Believe.(Theater review)
Nov 03, 2008; ... (Luxor Theater, Las Vegas; 1,200 seats; $150 top) Cirque du Soleil presents a magic-themed show in one act written by Criss Angel and Serge Denoncourt. Director, Denoncourt. Director of creation, Pierre Phaneuf; director of illusions, John Farrell. Choreographer, Wade Robson; ...
Man with the Midas touch: Barry's five Oscars reflect his elegant simplicity.(GOOD AS GOLD)
Nov 03, 2008; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] John Barry turns 75 today. The composer of "Out of Africa," "Dances With Wolves," "Born Free," "Midnight Cowboy" and "The Lion in Winter"--as well as such iconic James Bond themes as "Goldfinger," "You Only Live Twice" and "Diamonds Are Forever"--is ...
Bond scores establish superspy template.(SHAKEN AND STIRRING)(James Bond score)
Nov 03, 2008; ... Very few composers can be said to have created a new style of film music," says David Arnold. "John Barry single-handedly created the spy genre." Arnold, who recently completed scoring "Quantum of Solace" (his fifth James Bond score), has a long way to go to catch up to Barry's ...
Words from the wise.(V PLUS: BILLION-DOLLAR COMPOSER: JOHN BARRY)
Nov 03, 2008; ... Variety chose 10 of Barry's best-known scores and asked the composer to reflect on them. "GOLDFINGER" (1964) "By the time I did 'Goldfinger,' the Bond series was in full stride. Everything came together--the song, the score, the style. I liked the title; it was a ...
Fanfare for the uncommon man: Barry's collaborators reflect on a harmonic convergence.(V PLUS: BILLION-DOLLAR COMPOSER: JOHN BARRY)
Nov 03, 2008; ... When Sydney Pollack started editing "Out of Africa," he assembled a temporary score that consisted entirely of excerpts from earlier scores by John Barry: "Somewhere in Time," "Robin and Marian," even "Mary, Queen of Scots." "Barry's scores were so clearly movie scores," the ...
Stage and TV work exercise other muscles: tuner versions of 'Billy Liar,' 'Lolita' are relatively obscure but no less ambitious than Barry's pic commissions.(HORS D'OEUVRE)
Nov 03, 2008; ... With five Oscars on his mantelpiece, it's easy to forget that John Barry has enjoyed success in other musical realms, notably the London stage and in both American and British television. In fact, a revival of Barry's 1974 musical "Billy" is now in the discussion stages. Based ...
The Haunting of Molly Hartley.(Movie review)
Nov 03, 2008; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A Freestyle Releasing release of a Liddell Entertainment production. Produced by Jennifer Hilton, Mickey Liddell. Executive producer, Stephen Kay. Co-producer, Jerry P. Jacobs. Directed by Mickey Liddell. Screenplay, Rebecca Sonnenshine, John ...
The Other End of the Line.(Movie review)
Nov 03, 2008; ... An MGM release, presented with Hyde Park Entertainment, in association with Adlabs Films, of an Ashok Amritraj production. Produced by Amritraj. Executive producers, Nick Hamson, Lars Sylvest. Directed by James Dodson. Screenplay, Tracey Jackson. Camera (Deluxe color), Harlan ...
First Class All the Way.(Television program review)
Nov 03, 2008; ... (Series; Bravo, Mon. Nov. 3, 9 p.m.) Produced by Stone & Co. Entertainment and Valentine TV. Executive producers, Scott A. Stone, Lori Kaye, David Osper;, co-executive producer, Omid Kahangi; producers, Amy Elkins, Jennifer Herschko, Cam Casey; story producers, David Cortez, ...
Fuse rocks Hall of Fame.
Nov 03, 2008; ... Music net Fuse has inked a three-year deal to be the exclusive broadcast and online partner of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Centerpiece of the pact is Fuse's airing of the Hall of Fame's annual induction ceremony, which next takes place on April 4, live from Cleveland's ...
Showbiz Stocks: Friday, October 31, 2008.
Nov 03, 2008 ... <Pre> Showbiz Stocks Friday, October 31, 2008 YTD Name Tkr PE Last Chg %Chg AccessIT AIXD ... 1.19 -.02 -73.4 AcmeCm ACME ... .50 +.09 -81.7 Avid...
Closing the deal: frenzied campaigns seek strong finish.
Nov 04, 2008; ... With just hours left in the presidential race, Barack Obama and John McCain put out their final appeals to voters as their industry supporters nervously worked phones, canvassed precincts or stumped to get out votes. Both candidates made election-eve appearances in an unusual ...
B'way lures Fonda back.(Jane Fonda )(Brief article)
Nov 04, 2008; ... Jane Fonda will topline an upcoming Broadway production of "33 Variations" the latest play written and directed by Moises Kaufman. Planned for early 2009, show will mark Fonda's first Rialto appearance since "Strange Interlude" in 1963. Production joins a season in ...
NBC asks Kring to renew Heroes' focus.(Inside Moves)
Nov 04, 2008; ... Two years ago, the out-of-the-box success of "Heroes" and the online fandemonium that it engendered made series creator and exec producer Tim Kring one of the most sought-after speakers at industry events and confabs. Kring has since traveled far and wide to tubthump the ...
MGM sucks up to the Stooges.
Nov 04, 2008; ... MGM has revived the long-gestating Peter and Bobby Farrelly Three Stooges project. The siblings will renew their quest to channel the comic mayhem of the Three Stooges into a contemporary comedy for the studio. Project marks an MGM homecoming for the Stooges as well ...
Ad ills hit Viacom!
Nov 04, 2008; ... Viacom blamed the lack of a "Transformers"-sized hit at Paramount Pictures and a declining ad market for a 37% drop in third-quarter profits. Earnings announced Monday for the quarter ended Sept. 30 shrunk to $401 million from $641 million a year earlier. Total revenue gained 4% ...
Disney fairies: Pixie Hollow.(VARIETY.COM)
Nov 04, 2008 ... Disney Fairies: Pixie Hollow outshines most other virtual worlds ...
No treats for B'way: auds distracted by Halloween, marathon.(LEGIT)
Nov 04, 2008; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Broadway sales took a tumble last week, with Halloween on Friday, the Gotham marathon on Sunday and the imminent presidential election all conspiring to distract potential ands from the box office. Legiters had seen the perfect storm of ...
Rialto revives 'Brighton,' 'Broadway'.(LEGIT)
Nov 04, 2008; ... Preparations are under way for Rialto revivals of Ned Simon semi--autobtographical comedies "Brighton Beach Memoirs" and "Broadway Bound," to play in rep at the same theater next season. According to producer Emanuel Azenberg, auditions will be held next month to find an actor ...
Broadway top 10: Oct. 27 - Nov. 2.(LEGIT)
Nov 04, 2008 ... <Pre> Broadway Top 10: Oct. 27 - Nov. 2 Week's Net Receipts Show Potential Net Prev Week's (Theater)(Prod. Category)(Seats)Receipts Net Receipts Wicked $1,403,819 ...
Things to Ruin: the songs of Joe Iconis.(Theater review)
Nov 04, 2008; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] (The Zipper Factory Theater; 225 seats; $20 top) A Sara Katz presentation of a cabaret show in one act by Joe Iconis. Directed by John Simpkins. Set, Michael Schweikardt; costumes, Michelle Eden Humphrey; lighting, Chris Dallos; sound, Craig ...
Starz license spree: cabler nabs pics from seven distribs.
Nov 04, 2008; ... Starz Entertainment has inked a flurry of licensing deals, locking up first-run and library pics from Summit, Lionsgate, Hallmark, IFC, Samuel Goldwyn Co., First Look and Fremantle. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] First-run pics include Samuel Goldwyn's "Goya's Ghost" ...
Arthouse plants 'Herb'.(Arthouse Films nabbed rights to Herb and Dorothy)(Brief article)
Nov 04, 2008; ... Gotham-based Arthouse Films has nabbed worldwide rights to Megumi Sasaki's docu "Herb and Dorothy" for an early 2009 theatrical release. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Pic concerns a postal clerk and a librarian who slowly amassed a large contemporary art collection over 30 ...
Liberty lightens debt.
Nov 04, 2008; ... John Malone's Liberty Media is drawing on its large cash reserves to lighten its debt load through a complicated series of related moves. The media conglom is spending $197.3 million to exit a credit swap deal that threatened to trigger certain debt covenants due to ongoing ...
Biz Emmys wink at Eye.
Nov 04, 2008; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] CBS News led the field of nominees for the sixth annual Emmy awards for business and financial reporting with 12 nods. CBS' tally included multiple nominations for "The CBS Evening News With Katie Couric," "CBS News Sunday Morning" and "60 ...
Miami Film Fest taps Finzi.
Nov 04, 2008; ... The Miami Film Festival has hired Tiziana Finzi as director in a move to expand its international profile. Festival vet replaces Paris-born marketing exec Patrick de Bokay, whose contract was not renewed earlier this year. ...
Spooky 'Simpsons' has auds up a tree.(The Simpsons)
Nov 04, 2008; ... The annual "Treehouse of Horror" episode of Fox's "The Simpsons" generated the show's best demo score in nearly five years on Sunday, a night that also saw good numbers for ABC's "Desperate Housewives" and NBC's "Sunday Night Football." Now in its 20th season, "The Simpsons" ...
Douglas gets PGA plaudit.(Producers Guild of America to honor Michael Douglas )(Brief article)
Nov 04, 2008; ... Michael Douglas will receive the 2009 David O. Selznick Achievement award from the Producers Guild of America on Jan. 24 at the Hollywood Palladium. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Douglas has produced more than 20 films in the ...
Weekend at the B.O.(box office)
Nov 04, 2008 ... <Pre> Weekend at the B.O. October 31-November 2, 2008$88.1 million vs. last year -35% vs. last weekend -35% Screen scene Theweekend's top 10 engagements: Theater, city (circuit)Gross 1 High ...
Film box office wrap: for the weekend of Oct. 31-Nov. 2.
Nov 04, 2008 ... <Pre> Film Box Office Wrap FOR THE WEEKEND OF OCT. 31-NOV. 2RankingReported This LastWeekend Week Week Box Office 1 1High School ...
Rock icons bridge generation gap.
Nov 04, 2008; ... THE BEATLES, Zeppelin, Hendrix--rock n' roll's three icons with three strongly safeguarded legacies--returned to the news pages last month with different projects but a common theme. Years of maintaining a distance from the contemporary marketplace are giving way to efforts to take ...
Eden Lake.
Nov 04, 2008; ... (U.K.) A Weinstein Co. (in U.S.) release of a Pathe Intl. and Rollercoaster Films presentation, in association with Aramid Entertainment, of a Rollercoaster Films production. Produced by Christian Colson, Richard Holmes. Executive producers, Simon Fawcett, Conor McCaughan ....
Showbiz stocks: Monday, November 3, 2008.
Nov 04, 2008 ... <Pre> Showbiz Stocks Monday, November 3, 2008 YTD NameTkrPE Last Chg%Chg AccessIT AIXD ... 1.02-.17 -77.2 Avid AVID ...14.77-.06 -47.9 ...
New York's top pics.
Nov 04, 2008 ... <Pre> New York's top pics (based on location average for the weekend of Oct. 31-Nov. 2, 2008)Nat'l # N.Y. # N.Y. Title (dist) Week of locs of locs avg/loc 1. Noah's Arc: Jumping ...2 5 ...
New York Cabaret Convention.(Theater review)
Nov 04, 2008; ... (Rose Theater, Frederick P. Rose Hall. Lincoln Center; 1,231 seats; $100 top) A presentation of the Mabel Mercer Foundation. Produced and hosted by Donald Smith. Reviewed Oct. 29, 2008. With: Karen Akers, Adam Alexander, Anna Bergman, Judy Butterfield, Matt ...
Basner bows sales shingle.
Nov 04, 2008; ... Former Weinstein Co. sales chief Glen Basner resurfaces this week in Santa Monica with FilmNation, a new foreign sales outfit that boasts deals with Media Rights Capital, financier and producer Endgame Entertainment and Samuels Media. Gotham-based label's first pic to market is ...
The screening room.
Nov 04, 2008 ... <Pre> The Screening Room The Screening Room runs Tuesdays and Fridays. Send schedules at least five days prior to the screening date to jeffrey.sneider@variety.com. Screenings are open to Academy and guild members. New York Adam Resurrected...
Teen dream for 'Spring'.(V)
Nov 04, 2008; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] HOLLYWOOD--A "rock show with a great story" about 19th-century German teens is drawing a new young demographic of "harmonically charged" auds to see "Spring Awakening," said cast member Kyle Riabko. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The tuner ...