Biz

  • New Graphic Novels
  • Industry/Business Moves
  • Labor Issues
  • Legal
    • Monday, January 30th, 2012

    Those “Pretty Little Liars” Just Got Some Regular Hunky Company

    ABC Family wants Tyler Blackburn in its family fold permanently. The “Pretty Little Liars” recurring guest star has been upped to series regular. The actor who plays badboy Caleb Rivers on the Lucy Hale, Ashley Benson, Troian Bellisario and Shay Mitchell series will officially become a regular during season three, which kicks off in the summer. Blackburn’s Caleb, a fan favorite, was first introduced as a foster child whom Hanna (Benson) sought out for help with hacking into “A’s” phone. In the Feb. 13 installment, titled “CTRL:A,” Detectives Wilden and Garrett are now circling Caleb on bogus hacking charges and in possession of his computer, wondering what “A” could have planted.

    http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/pretty-little-liars-tyler-blackburn-caleb-285956

    Tags: , , , , , ,
    Comments Off

    Monday, January 30th, 2012

    Kirk Kerkorian Is 94 And Just Getting Warmed Up

    Former multiple-time MGM owner Kirk Kerkorian is on the prowl for a new Hollywood deal, looking to buy a studio, production firm or technology firm playing in the entertainment industry, according to reports. 

Jay Rakow, an executive at Kerkorian’s investment vehicle Tracinda Corp., told the paper that the 94-year-old investor who has stayed away from Hollywood since selling MGM in 2005 just before U.S. DVD sales peaked sees opportunities in new forms of online distribution and in emerging markets, such as China, India and Latin America, but wouldn’t name potential targets.

    http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/kirk-kerkorian-acquisitions-hollywood-mgm-tracinda-285757

    Tags: , , ,
    Comments Off

    Monday, January 30th, 2012

    In This Life, Shirley Maclaine Joins “Downtown Abbey” (In A Previous One, Too!)

    Another American is setting up residence at “Downton Abbey.” ITV and Carnival films announced Monday that Shirley MacLaine is joining the U.K. series for its upcoming third season. The Oscar winner’s addition makes her the second American cast member (and character) on the British period drama. She’s set to play Martha Levinson, the American mother of Lady Grantham (Elizabeth McGovern), and joins the cast as they begin shooting the new season next month. The third season, which reportedly takes the narrative into the 1920s, is expected to premiere in the U.K. in September, with a U.S. premiere to follow. “Downtown Abbey” is currently in its second stateside season on Masterpiece Classic.

    http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/downton-abbey-shirley-maclaine-elizabeth-mcgovern-285812

     

    Tags: , , , , , , ,
    Comments Off

    Monday, January 30th, 2012

    Susan Sarandon Steps Up To “The Big C”

    Oscar winner Susan Sarandon has booked a multiepisode arc on Season 3 of Showtime’s “The Big C.” On the dark comedy, created by Darlene Hunt, Laura Linney stars as Cathy, a woman diagnosed with cancer who is determined to make the most out of her life. Idris Elba starred in Season 1 as Lenny, a painter with whom Cathy had an affair; Hugh Dancy had a major arc last season as Lee, a fellow clinical trial patient whom Cathy befriended and whose death had a great impact on her.

    http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/big-c-susan-sarandon-guest-star-season-three-280896

     

    Tags: , , , , , ,
    Comments Off

    Monday, January 30th, 2012

    John Cleese Drops By “Whitney” On Wednesday (Insert Snarky Comment Here)

    The doctor is in on Wednesday’s episode of NBC’s “Whitney”: “Monty Python’s” and “A Fish Called Wanda’s” John Cleese enters the fold to hand out some relationship advice. Set that DVR!!!

    http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/whitney-nbc-john-cleese-guest-star-preview-285777

    Tags: , , , ,
    Comments Off

    Monday, January 30th, 2012

    The Multi-Talented Trisha Yearwood Brings A Little Southern Hospitality To The Food Network

    Grammy winner Trisha Yearwood is cooking up something new. The best-selling author of two cookbooks has inked a deal to star in a six-episode daytime cooking show for the Food Network. In the as-yet-untitled series, Yearwood will share food traditions and display her Southern hospitality, sharing recipes with friends and family and preparing Sunday dinners to planning family reunion barbecues. Each of the six themed episodes will invite viewers into Yearwood’s kitchen for her favorite meals and family stories. Ellen Rakieten Entertainment and RelativityREAL will produce the series, which is in now in production in Nashville and set to bow in April.

    http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/trisha-yearwood-food-network-cooking-series-285374

    Tags: , , , , , ,
    Comments Off

    Monday, January 30th, 2012

    CW Vet Jumps Aboard The “Vampire” Bandwagon

    “The Vampire Diaries” is bulking up. “Pretty Little Liars” and “The Nine Lives of Chloe King”‘s Chris Grismer has joined the creative team behind the CW vampire drama as a producer and director. The gig reteams Grismer with “Vampire Diaries” showrunners Kevin Williamson and Julie Plec, for whom he’s directed episodes of “The Secret Circle” and “Kyle XY,” respectively.

    http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/vampire-diaries-producer-director-chris-grismer-pretty-little-liars-285850

    Tags: , , , , , , , ,
    Comments Off

    Monday, January 30th, 2012

    Y’Know Those Short Films Nominated For Oscars? You Can See Them In The Theater!

    ShortsHD working with Magnolia Pictures will release The Oscar Nominated Short Films 2012 in over 200 theatres across the United States and Canada on February 10th, 2012. Three theatrical programs will give audiences around the country an opportunity to watch the nominated shorts in the Animation, Live Action and Documentary categories prior to the 84th Academy Awards ceremony on February 26th. This year will mark the second theatrical outing for the nominated Documentary shorts, after an enthusiastic reception from audiences for last year’s inaugural run.

    http://theoscarshorts.shorts.tv/

    Tags: , , , ,
    Comments Off

    Monday, January 30th, 2012

    Fox Really Wants To Keep Emma Watts Around A While Longer

    Emma Watts has re-upped as president of production for 20th Century Fox through 2015. She’s held the top post since 2009 and is credited for restoring the patina to marquee franchises “Planet of the Apes” and “X-Men” via “The Rise of the Planet of the Apes” and “X-Men: First Class,” both of which were released last year to critical acclaim and box office success. Watts served as co-president of production for Fox from 2007 and 2009, and became the sole president of production in 2009.

    http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/emma-watts-fox-president-production-285810

    Tags: , , , , ,
    Comments Off

    Monday, January 30th, 2012

    Warner UK Makes Itself A New PR Hire

    News Corp. exec Alex Lewis has been brought in to ramp up activities at Warner Bros. Pictures International in the U.K. Lewis has been named vp and director of marketing for Warner Bros. Pictures International, U.K. WBUK svp and group marketing director Polly Cochrane announced the appointment Monday, to whom Lewis will report. Lewis joins from News Corp. in the U.K. where she is currently director of strategy and marketing initiatives, Europe and Asia. She will tasked with consumer and trade marketing for all Warner Bros. Pictures International’s movie releases in the U.K.

    http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/news-international-alex-lewis-warner-bros-uk-285771

    Tags: , , , ,
    Comments Off

    Sunday, January 29th, 2012

    FremantleMedia Likes Those “Real Housewives” Folks A Lot

    FremantleMedia North America and “Real Housewives” producer Purveyors of Pop have inked an overall deal to develop and produce unscripted programming. Purveyors of Pop principals Matt Anderson and Nate Green serve as executive producers on Bravo’s “Real Housewives” franchise, including the Atlanta, New Jersey and New York installments, as well as “Bethenny Ever After.”

    http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/fremantlemedia-north-america-real-housewives-producers-285315

    Tags: , , , , ,
    Comments Off

    Sunday, January 29th, 2012

    Ben Silverman’s New Company Gets Into Bed With Nat Geo

    Ben Silverman’s Electus has sealed a development deal with National Geographic Channel, the companies announced Friday. The deal, a so-called three-for-one pact, includes one series green light. That project is described as an “immersive reality series” that recreates the arduous 66-day journey of the Mayflower. The other two projects were not disclosed.

    http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/ben-silverman-electus-national-geographic-channel-deal-285284

    Tags: , , , ,
    Comments Off

    Sunday, January 29th, 2012

    Peacock Hires A Talented Guy To Run Talent Development

    Chuck LaBella is settling down at NBC. The producer and longtime NBC consultant has joined the network’s alternative department as vp of talent development. The position, more common in cable, is designed to focus on luring celebrities and handling talent relations. In making the announcement, NBC stressed LaBella’s expertise in bringing key talent to series and specials, ticking off past accomplishments such as talent producing for Bill Maher’s “Politically Incorrect” and booking musical guests for Craig Kilborn’s late night show.

    http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/nbc-talent-development-chuck-labella-285261

    Tags: , , , ,
    Comments Off

    Sunday, January 29th, 2012

    That SAG-AFTRA Merger Just Got A Little Closer To Fruition

    The SAG board of directors Friday approved a proposed merger with AFTRA, bringing the two unions a step closer to uniting, eight decades after they were founded on opposite coasts and during very different times. The move was expected, as was the new union’s name: SAG-AFTRA. The proposal, which includes a Merger Agreement and Constitution, was approved 87.1% to 12.9%. According to a SAG statement, these documents outline the merger plan, dues and finance structure, membership requirements, and other basic attributes of the successor union. On Saturday, the AFTRA board of directors also approved the measure, triggering a membership vote that could unite the unions by the end of March into a single union, to be called SAG-AFTRA. The proposal, which includes a Merger Agreement and Constitution, was approved 94% to 6%.

    http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/screen-actors-guild-aftra-merger-plan-285439

    Tags: , , ,
    Comments Off

    Sunday, January 29th, 2012

    Fired Disney Exec Takes Things To The Next Level, Legally Speaking

    Glen Lajeski, a former executive vice president involved in movie music marketing at Walt Disney Pictures, filed a lawsuit against the studio in state court on Friday that alleges his contract was breached when he was fired by the company in June. The suit says that Lajeski was fired on or about June 15 “without specifying any cause for the termination and providing no opportunity to cure.” The suit says that Lajeski’s employment contract was not set to expire until Jan. 1, 2013.

    http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/fired-disney-exec-sues-studio-285422

    Tags: ,
    Comments Off

    Sunday, January 29th, 2012

    Lionsgate Stock Takes A Licking

    Miller Tabak analyst David Joyce on Friday downgraded his recommendation on shares of Lionsgate to “neutral,” from “buy,” after a recent dramatic run-up in the share price for the mini-major post-Summit takeover. Stock in Lionsgate is up sharply so far in 2012 after the leveraged buyout of Summit Entertainment, and ahead of the March 23 theatrical release of “The Hunger Games.”

    http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/analyst-downgrades-lionsgate-stock-rapid-285294

    Tags: , , , ,
    Comments Off

    Sunday, January 29th, 2012

    Matt Bomer, David Arquette And Other Juicy Bits Of TV Guest Spot Announcements

    Matt Bomer is heading from “White Collar” to “Glee.” Bomer is in talks to appear on “Glee” as Blaine’s (Darren Criss) brother. Meanwhile, David Arquette is heading to “Cougar Town.” The estranged husband to “Cougar Town” star Courteney Cox will play a hotel concierge who offers Jules and the Cul-de-Sac crew anything they need in the Season 3 finale. “Hostel” star and former “Scream Queens” host Shawnee Smith has joined the cast of “Anger Management.” Smith will star opposite Charlie Sheen in the FX sitcom as Sheen’s character’s ex-wife, and Eddie Marsan and Dash Mihok will co-star in “Ray Donovan.” The two will play brothers to Liev Schreiber’s title character. Paula Malcomson has been tapped to play Ray’s wife, Abby.

    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/27/matt-bomer-glee_n_1236992.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+weblogsinc%2Ftvsquad+%28TV+Squad%29

    Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
    Comments Off

    Sunday, January 29th, 2012

    Adult Swim Will Not Be Left Out Of The Talk Show Bidness

    Move over, Space Ghost: Adult Swim has announced production of “The Eric Andre Show,” a late night talk show that will play with the conventions of a normal talk show, showcasing the talents of stand-up comedian Eric Andre. Fellow comic Hannibal Buress will be Andre’s “apathetic co-host.” The show will premiere June 24, 2012. According to a press release from Cartoon Network, whose programming bloc Adult Swim has made hits of the unlikeliest of programs, the talk show will take place “on a dingy public-access TV channel within an alternate reality, The Eric Andre Show creates its own distorted pop culture universe by conducting interviews with an unpredictable mix of actual celebrities, ‘fake’ celebrities and extreme real-life weirdos.” The show will be produced by Abso Lutely Productions, known for making Adult Swim’s “Tim & Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!”

    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/27/adult-swim-announces-the-eric-andre-show-hannibal-buress_n_1237236.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+weblogsinc%2Ftvsquad+%28TV+Squad%29

    Tags: , , , , , , ,
    Comments Off

    Sunday, January 29th, 2012

    Mamie Gummer’s Heading Back To “The Good Wife”

    Mamie Gummer is returning to “The Good Wife.” The recurring guest star will appear in an upcoming episode of the hit legal drama, Robert and Michelle King, “Good Wife” co-creators and executive producers, confirmed. Gummer has appeared on “The Good Wife” three other times as the cunning Nancy Crozier. The last time she popped up was in the Season 2 episode titled “Getting Off.”

    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/27/the-good-wife-mamie-gummer_n_1237605.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+weblogsinc%2Ftvsquad+%28TV+Squad%29

    Tags: , ,
    Comments Off

    Sunday, January 29th, 2012

    Idris Elba Fans Can Relax, There Will Be A Third Season of “Luther”

    Following Idris Elba’s best actor win at the 2012 Golden Globes®, BBC America confirmed it is to co-produce the next installment of the critically-acclaimed drama, “Luther,” starring Idris Elba. The four-part mini-series will premiere in 2012 as part of BBC America’s Dramaville.

    http://blogs.indiewire.com/shadowandact/bbc-america-to-co-produce-third-series-of-luther

    Tags: , , , , ,
    Comments Off

    « Older Entries