Grammy Nom Preview: Who'll Lead The Means By Which?

First Launched: November 30, 2011 11:16 AM EST Credit: Getty Images Caption Adele works onstage throughout the 2010 MTV Video Music Honours at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live in La on August 28, 2011LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- She likely wont get 21, but Adele is poised to simply accept finest share of nods when the Grammy nominations are introduced Wednesday evening. The British singer-songwriter has received a great year, due to her sophomore album, 21. The mournful album of a not successful relationship might be time best-selling disc using more than 4.5 million copies offered. It's brought to 2 smash singles, Moving inside the Deep and also you. It Academy will most likely increase Adeles achievements. She's a effective contender to acquire bids for album of year too for song and/or record of year for your searing groove Moving inside the Deep. But shes only a few of the favorite to get the best nominations. Taylor Swifts multiplatinum Speak Now's a possible contender for album of year, as they are Tony Bennetts Duets II, which marked the 85-year-olds first album to debut at No. 1, which makes them the first artist to do this task. Lady Gagas Born Using This Method, that have time finest debut with 1.millions of albums offered within the first week, could become her third straight disc being nominated for album of year. She was reported for your Fame Monster this year too for her debut, The Fame, this season. Then theres Kanye. His My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy was most likely probably the most highly regarded as as albums of 2010, which is qualified for just about any nomination for album of year. Same goes with his collaboration with Jay-Z for Watch the Throne, another contender inside the category. Many of the nominations are scheduled being revealed through the fourth annual Grammy nominations concert special, to air reside in the Nokia Theatre in La on CBS at 10 p.m. EST. Rhianna is slated to spread out and shut the show. Other artists include Katy Perry, who could easily get accurate documentation of year nomination on her behalf hit Firework Beyonce, who could snag a few nominations, including album of year for Noisy as well as the Band Perry, the country sister trio likely to end up up for top new artist. (Another strong contender for the category, Nicki Minaj, is scheduled to become presenter round the special.) This Rock Band Perry, at rehearsals Tuesday evening, were hopeful about acquiring a nomination. Our fingers are joined. We kinda don't like to think about a lot of about this kind of stuff on nights before nominations. We should not be described as a misfortune charm. Ill let guess what happens, it may be the cherry on top of the truly wonderful year, mentioned Kimberly Perry. We actually just today got what is the news that weve been licensed platinum. Weve been high-fiving and praising all day long lengthy. Once we were honored being nominated for top new artist, we'd easily be praising a couple of days back to back. The 2010 nominations will mark the lately trimmed Grammys. Taken, among some protests, the academy cut the quantity of groups from 109 to 78. A couple of from the more niche groups, like best Zydeco or Cajun music album, were removed. Furthermore, males and girls will compete together in vocal groups for pop, R&B and country, instead of getting separate groups for each sex. Regardless of the cuts, there's an avalanche of groups, as noted by Neil Portnow, the Academys Boss and leader. Weve got 78 groups now. It could be easily unthinkable these on a lot of our shows, he mentioned Tuesday. The 54th annual Grammy Honours is going to be provided Feb. 12 in La, and you'll be telecast survive CBS. Copyright 2011 with the Connected Press. All rights reserved. These elements is probably not launched, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

American Airlines Files for Bankruptcy Protection

Getty ImagesFelicity Jones The 21st annual Gotham Independent Film Awards took place Monday night at NY's historic Cipriani Wall Street restaurant. As I cautioned when the Independent Filmmaker Project announced this year's nominees, there is little reason to believe that the results at the Gothams have any direct impact on the Oscar race -- sometimes both organizations happen to arrive at the same choice (see: The Hurt Locker), but the reality is that Gotham nods and wins are really a reflection of nothing more than the tastes of the five-person "committees" that are arbitrarily selected and assigned to the various categories by the IFP (some members of which have never worked on a film), whereas Oscar nods and wins are determined by thousands of people (virtually all of whom are filmmakers). Still, studios and talent whose work was recognized Monday night were unanimously exuberant, if only because it can't hurt to get a moment in the spotlight in front of a crowd packed with colleagues and journalists, to say nothing of the free print and online publicity that is afforded to the winners in the form of news coverage.our editor recommendsThe Scene: Inside the 21st Annual Gotham AwardsGotham Awards 2011: The Red Carpet ArrivalsGotham Awards 2011: 'Tree of Life,' 'Beginners' Tie for Best FeatureDo Gotham Awards Nominations Actually Impact Oscar Race? (Analysis)Gotham Awards 2011: Honorees Charlize Theron, Gary Oldman Reveal the Inspiration Behind Their Work PHOTOS: Gotham Awards 2011 Red Carpet Arrivals That being stipulated, what/who was perceived to have gotten a bounce last night? And what/who was perceived to have taken a hit? Here's my take... Focus Features is justifiably feeling over the moon about their night. They went 3-for-3 in competitive categories, none of which they were expected to win: Beginners, which has been regarded as a long-shot contender for best picture and best original screenplay Oscar nods, beat The Descendants, among other high-profile films, to win both of the top two categories, best feature (it tied with The Tree of Life) and best ensemble, and Pariah filmmaker Dee Rees topped several bigger names to win best breakthrough director. Moreover, they got a cherry on their cake, as Gary Oldman, who is on the bubble in the best actor race for his understated performance in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, was the subject of a glowing tribute from Alec Baldwin, a great montage of his life's work and the night's only standing ovation afforded to an individual. STORY: 'Tree of Life,' 'Beginners' Tie for Best Feature at Gotham Awards Paramount is pretty happy right now, as well. They have been campaigning aggressively on behalf of Charlize Theron (Young Adult) and Felicity Jones (Like Crazy), both of whom they'd like to sneak into the competitive best actress race, and their efforts got a big boost last night thanks to Theron's tribute (during which she and her co-star/best supporting actor hopeful Patton Oswalt stole the show) and Jones' somewhat surprising win over two other young women who have been seen as likelier bets for Oscar nods, including one of whom is competing in the same category: Elizabeth Olsen (Martha Marcy May Marlene). Fox Searchlight likely has mixed emotions. The Descendants and Martha Marcy May Marlene, which led the entire field with three nods each -- including the big two, best feature and best ensemble -- both went home empty-handed. However, their night was somewhat salvaged when The Tree of Life, their tough-sell best picture Oscar hopeful, won best feature (it tied with Beginners). Complete List of Gotham Awards Winners Roadside Attractions has to feel a little disappointed with the way things turned out for their films. IFP first denied Albert Nobbs any nominations, and then denied Margin Call -- a red-hot film at the moment -- a win in the one category in which it was nominated and really fit the bill: best ensemble. As great a film as the category's winner Beginners is, it's primarily a four-person flick (Ewan McGregor, Melanie Laurent, Christopher Plummerand Goran Visnjic), whereas its hard to even keep count of all of the impressive moving pieces in Margin Call (Zachary Quinto, Jeremy Irons, Kevin Spacey, Stanley Tucci, Paul Bettany, Demi Moore, Simon Baker, Penn Badgley, Mary McDonnelland the list goes on). Sony Pictures Classics can't be thrilled about its showing. While David Cronenberg, who directed its film A Dangerous Method, was the subject of a nice tribute, Take Shelter, its stronger Oscar contender -- which is thought to be on-the-bubble for best actor (Michael Shannon) and best original screenplay (Jeff Nichols) -- was shut out after scoring nods in the top two categories, best feature and best ensemble. STORY: The Scene Inside the 2011 Gotham Awards Oscilloscope is a small and young enough studio that it was probably happy just to have a ticket to the party. The fact that Meek's Cutoff came up short for best feature and Evan Glodell (Bellflower) didn't win best breakthrough director can't have knocked anyone's socks off. The Weinstein Co. had its Gotham hopes dashed long before Monday night -- oddly enough, its films weren't rewarded with so much as a single nomination! PHOTO GALLERY: View Gallery Gotham Awards 2011: The Red Carpet Arrivals Gotham Awards Alec Baldwin Charlize Theron David Cronenberg Patton Oswalt The Tree of Life Like Crazy Martha Marcy May Marlene Elizabeth Olsen Beginners The Descendants Felicity Jones

Piers Morgan, Wife Welcome a Daughter

Piers Morgan, Celia Walden It is a girl for Piers Morgan.The Piers Morgan Tonight host and the wife, British writer Celia Walden, have welcomed daughter Elise, he introduced Friday."It's correct. I have be a father for that 4th time, to some little girl known as Elise," Morgan tweeted. "She'sabsurdlybeautiful, and absolutely adorable."Piers Morgan expecting 4th childThis may be the first child for that couple. Morgan has three sons, Spencer, 18, Stanley, 14, and Albert, 11, together with his ex-wife, Marion Shalloe.Morgan, 46, and Walden, 34, get married this past year.

Dancing's Derek, Jerry O'Connell, Josh Groban to Guest-Host Live!

Jerry OConnell, Josh Groban Jerry O'Connell and Josh Groban are coming back to reside! With Kelly to guest-host opposite Kelly Ripa. O'Connell is slated to look on Friday, November. 25, while Groban will appear for multiple days beginning 12 ,. 7. Furthermore, Dancing using the Stars' Derek Hough and Jonah Hill can make their co-hosting debuts on Monday, 12 ,. 5 and Tuesday, 12 ,. 6, correspondingly. . 8 possible challengers to exchange Regis Philbin on Live! A lasting alternative for Regis Philbin has not yet been named, but Ryan Seacrest, Andy Cohen and Mark Consuelos - Ripa's husband - are apparently the very best three candidates. Regis Philbin announces final day on Live For now, Ripa is going to be became a member of with a slew of guest hosts, including Jerry Seinfeld, who had been the very first after Philbin left, The Way I Met Your Mother's Jason Segel and Neil Patrick Harris, Sex and also the City's Kim Cattrall, comedian Howie Mandel, chef Jamie Oliver and Miss Piggy. Who do you consider should replace Philbin?

Pereda gears up for 'Greatest Hits'

GIJON, Spain -- Mexico City-based Interior 13 Cine is producing tragic comedy "Greatest Hits," helmed by Mexican Nicolas Pereda, whose "Summer of Goliath" topped Venice Horizons in 2010.Interior 13 Cine, which produced Yulene Olaizola's Tribeca fest player "Artificial Paradises," will co-produce with Colombia's Burning Blue, run by Diana Bustamante and Jorge Ferrero. Holland's Hubert Bals Fund co-finances and has distribution rights for Benelux."Hits" toplines Gabino Rodriguez, the star of all Pereda's features, and another Pereda regular, Teresa Sanchez . It turns on a mother and street bootlegger son whose harmony is shattered by the return of the long absent father.According to Pereda, he grew up in a Mexican society where many men desert their families either out of need or sheer irresponsibility. The father figure is absent in many of his films. In "Hits," he pictures the father's return. Pereda's fifth feature, "Hits" rolls in three weeks, Interior 13 co-head Maxiliano Cruz said at Spain's Gijon festival, where "Hits" features in Puentes, a select Europe-Latin America co-production forum.Gijon's main industry event, Puentes is organized by the Media Program's Eave, a training initiative for new producers, and the Buenos Aires Festival of Independent Film's Buenos Aires Lab.It boasts an attractive bevy of projects, some from name directors, shingles or producers, at least for cognoscenti of Latin American film. Chile's Forastero, producers of Golden Globe-nominated "The Maid," is a moving woman-in-crisis drama "I'm Sorry Mum," to be helmed by Sebastian Lelio ("The Year of the Tiger").Sara Silveira's Dezenove Som e Imagens is co-producing "Rosa F.C." helmed by Michael Wahrmann and set in the immigrant neighborhood of Sao Paulo.Ex-Wild Bunch exec Lucie Kalmar is producing Niles Atallah's "Rey"; and Buenos Aires' Utopica Cine, producers of "Las Acacias," is backing Fernando Salem's "How Most Things Work," a feel-good comedic road movie with a pop-art aesthetic. Utopica is fielding multiple European co-production offers, "Things" producer Paula Massa said at Gijon. Puentes experts include UDI's Frederic Corvez ("The Colors of the Mountain"), Jean des Forets at Petit Film ("Cold Water of the Sea"), Pandora Filmproduktion's Christoph Friedel ("Medianeras") and Michel Ruben at Colombia's Dynamo ("Blind Alley"). Puentes runs Nov.22-24. Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

Hidden Hopes

A Historic Media presentation from the Jean-Pierre Delbecq-Matt Mazer production. Produced by Mazer, Steven Meyer, Christopher J. Gambale. Executive producer, Delbecq. Co-producers, Andrew Montgomery, Yaron Svoray. Directed by Steven Meyer. Put together by Douglas K. Dempsey, Matt Mazer.With: Adam Frydman, Tessie Jacob, Ella Prince, Alexander Blank, David Prince. Narrator: Laurie Anderson. (British, Polish dialogue)In Steven Meyer's overfamiliar and underwhelming docu "Hidden Hopes," several concentration-camping children return to the web site from the distressing recollections, Poland's Maidanek dying camping. They're based on an worldwide team of archeologists and scientists to look in fields where Jews hid their possessions in order to the crematorium, the hurried search plays less poignantly than intended. The docu's insistent inflation of hidden gold jewelry and watches into symbols of heroic defiance and transcendental tragedy rings hollow inside the wake more substantial Holocaust recommendations. Opening November. 18 at Gotham's Quad Cinema, "Hopes" reps a little historic footnote. Helmer Meyer never fully includes his docu's disparate elements. Yesteryear-haunted visit by troubled children, together with the intonation of Kaddish to start of dying, are actually more movingly referred to elsewhere. Little evocative use includes the strikingly oppressive appearance of Maidanek itself, which stands, virtually intact, just like a memorial to atrocity. As well as the constant sell you of the value of the search constitutes a person suspect that, definately not being along for your ride, the documentary crew comprises the driving pressure behind the whole enterprise.Camera (color, HD), Meyer editor, Dempsey music, David Van Tieghem. Examined on DVD, NY, November. 14, 2011. Running time: 81 MIN. Contact the number newsroom at news@variety.com

'J. Edgar' Movie Math: How Clint Eastwood May Have Developed His Latest Film

Audiences weren't wild about 'J. Edgar' in the last weekend. Opening on roughly 1,900 screens, the Clint Eastwood-directed biopic acquired $11.4 million, mediocre enough for fifth place. ('J. Edgar's' per-screen average was $6,005, underneath the per-screen average of 'Jack and Jill' and 'Puss in Boots,' for reference.) Experts weren't that excited either: on Rotten Tomato vegetables, 'J. Edgar' stood a forty percent Fresh rating, utilizing it componen with 'Immortals' (39 percent) and 'In Time' (38 percent). Not the type of reception an alleged Academy awards contender is suppose to obtain! Why did audiences and experts somewhat reject the newest Leonardo DiCaprio film? Possibly simply because they have experienced nearly all it before. Ahead, a brief think about the movie math behind 'J. Edgar.' [Click for bigger] Oscar Bait (twenty percent): Ahem. 'Brokeback Mountain (17 %): The forbidden romance between Hoover and also the companion Clyde Tolson (Armie Hammer) is not consummated onscreen, nevertheless it certainly recalls the unrequited moments between Ennis Del Scar and Jack Twist. Silly Putty (16 percent): As Armie Hammer told Moviefone, "It is not somewhat makeup, I'll explain how.In . Preach, Armmie! 'The Notebook' (13 percent): Toward the conclusion from the lives, Hoover and Tolson have a bit of Allie and Noah included, especially -- SPOILER -- when Tolson tearfully hugs Hoover's dead body. 'Psycho' (11 percent): Dame Judi Dench plays Hoover's domineering and repressive mother, the type of lady who casts this kind of large shadow over her son's existence he dons her dress after she dies. She wouldn't even harm a fly. 'The Aviator' (ten percent): Leo becoming an eccentric and tragic historic figure? It is the obvious method of the long run. 'Watchmen' (9 %): Within the strange pewter-y filter that Eastwood affects over everything for the absurd Richard Nixon impersonator that involves the best 20 minutes, all that's missing from 'J. Edgar' is Dr. Manhattan's giant blue penis. 'Mommie Dearest' (four percent): You will discover some high camping moments in 'J. Edgar,' possibly none more absurd than when Hoover pleads with Tolson to check out his foot following a latter guy smashes a glass in the fit of jealous rage. It's not "No wire wardrobe wardrobe hangers!" (what's?), but it's certainly inside the same realm. Cake chart created by Catarina Ferreira [Top Photo: Warner Bros.] Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook

ABC's 'Last Man Standing' to Get New Showrunner

Mere weeks after Last Man Standing was granted a full season pick-up, the Tim Allen comedy is getting a new showrunner.our editor recommendsTV Ratings: Tim Allen's 'Last Man Standing' Debuts Well, 'Parenthood' Rises'Once Upon a Time,' 'Last Man Standing' Get Full-Season Orders at ABC'Home Improvement' to 'Last Man Standing': Tim Allen Says Men Are Still Being Backed Into a Corner PHOTOS: ABC's New Season TV Shows: 'Pan Am,' 'Once Upon a Time' and More Kevin Abbott, best known for running the WB'sReba, will likely take the reins at the 20th Century Fox-produced half hour about a manly man raising three daughters in a progressive world. Abbott would replaceEmmy-winningJack Burditt,who suffered a family tragedy earlier this fall and has asked not to return to the show.In Burditt's absense, deputy executive producers Marsh McCall and Andy Gordon have been shouldering his load. For his part, Abbott's name resurfaced this development season when hesoldanother collaboration withReba McEntireto ABC. The multicamera project,Malibu Country,centers on Reba, who divorces her cheating husband and moves her family from Nashville to Malibu and tries to reignite her singing career and keep her three kids grounded in a city of excess. TV REVIEW: Last Man Standing IfMalibuends up getting ordered to series, Abbott would run both shows, joining the likes of other multi-show showrunnersSeth MacFarlaneorChuck Lorre. At present, he is negotiating to be let out of his committment at TV Land, where he serves as a consulting producer atRetired at 35. Assuming he can do so, Abbott will begin at Last Man Standing after Thanksgiving. Heading into the fall,Standing was the recipient of both hefty marketing and high expectations care of its star Allen's reemergence on TV. Proof:the show was tasked with opening up a new night of comedy and drawing more male viewers to a network that historically skews female. The series, which came out of the gate particularly strong with a 3.5 rating for its premiere in early October, has fallen in the weeks since. Still, in the first four weeks of its run, Allen's comeback vehicle has averaged 11.2 million viewers and a 3.2 rating among the coveted 18 to 49 demo, according to Nielsen. Abbott, whose other credits include The Golden Girls, Hangin' with Mr. Cooper and Roseanne, is repped by CAA. Related Topics ABC Tim Allen Last Man Standing

'Jack and Jill' On Course to Earn 0% Rotten Tomatoes Rating [UPDATE]

It might be the most important movie of our time, but not for critics. With 45 reviews counted thus far, Adam Sandler's 'Jack and Jill' has earned the rare zero-percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes, meaning it could be the worst-reviewed film of 2011. 'Jill' is currently tied with fellow Happy Madison production 'Bucky Larson: Born to Be a Star' and the Sarah Palin documentary 'The Undefeated' on the list of zero percenters, but neither of those films found such a wide critical audience: 'Bucky Larson' only had 32 total reviews, while Palin's doc received just 15. Starring Sandler, Sandler, Katie Holmes and Al Pacino (yep, this is real), 'Jack and Jill' focuses twins reconnecting after years apart. "More than 24 hours has passed since I watched the new Adam Sandler movie, and I'm still dead inside," wrote Time Magazine's Mary Pols. Even Rolling Stone critic Peter Travers, a noted film cheerleader, was disgusted. "On a scale of 1 to 10 on the laugh meter, 'Jack and Jill' is a negative 10. A total bust, a stupefyingly unfunny and shamelessly lazy farce packed with cringe-worthy jokes and overt product placement." Moviefone will keep you updated on 'Jack and Jill's' critical progression throughout the day. Fingers crossed noted contrarian Armond White loves this one! UPDATE: He did! White and Movie Mike's Mike Smith have weighed in with positive reviews for 'Jack and Jill.' Find out more here. [via Rotten Tomatoes] Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook RELATED

Rose McGowan Unveils A Little More About Her Mysterious 'Tell-Tale Heart' Character (Exclusive Video)

The haunting tale from the guy who killings a vintage guy, after which it hides his body under his floormats only to be driven insane with the appear of his still-beating heart remains modified into an approaching film starring Patrick John Flueger, Rose McGowan and Peter Bogdanovich.our editor recommendsFirst Look: Rose McGowan, Patrick John Flueger in 'The Tell-Tale Heart' (Photos)Rose McGowan to Star in Romantic Thriller 'Napa' Once of the extremely interesting areas of the arrival film is adding a completely new romance story, which McGowan's character stars in. McGowan and Flueger spoke for the Hollywood Reporter inside an exclusive interview in regards to the film, that's being produced by Daniel Zirilli through Popart Film Factory & Leverage Entertainment. Start Searching PHOTOS: Rose McGowan, Patrick John Flueger in 'The Tell-Tale Heart' "My character Ariel inside the Tell-Tale Heart is somebody that could be genuine and processes accordingly," mentioned McGowan. "Ariel suits the plot with techniques they is an element of Patrick John Flueger's imagination but she might be real too.Inch Flueger, who plays charge inside the film, most recently starred in Paramount's Footloose. "It's easy to be requested into everybody who are around you that the organization company directors is trying to create. Just taking all people things in and continue to gone by using it and hopefully it's working," mentioned Flueger. McGowan, recognized for her roles in Grindhouse, Scream, Jawbreaker, The Black Dahlia and Charmed, has received a connection for the Edgar Allan Poe story since she was very youthful, it calculates. "Someone said The Tell-Tale Heart once i was four years old which i increased being passionate about this to the level where once i was little I'd bypass anytime I saw wooden flooring in Italia where I had been elevated, I'd put my ears on the floor and scoot around listening for hearts," she told THR. "And my parents, whose fault was that we see the story to start with, were horrified and everyone made fun of those for letting me read Edgar Allan Poe but that's the way in which i felt deeply deeply in love with them." Director John La Tier's adaptation is shooting in New Orleans. "In my opinion the town is unquestionably a personality inside the Tell-Tale Heart but if there's apt to be an urban area getting a heartbeat beneath the floormats, In my opinion New Orleans will most likely whether it is,Inch added McGowan. Related Subjects Rose McGowan

Sports' struggles can train Hollywood

A sparse crowd attends a game title between your La Dodgers and also the Philadelphia Phillies this summer time at Dodger Stadium. For a long time Hollywood's leading gamers took refuge using their pursuit to entertain the planet by settling into choice seats at Opposing team and Dodgers games -- particularly when the neighborhood teams were winning titles.What exactly can the city glean in the sports world's current withdrawal leading to convulsions -- including labor strife threatening to wash the National basketball association season and also the auction from the Dodgers, following a public meltdown which will have people wondering who'll play proprietors Frank and Jamie McCourt within the movie?These situations aren't completely similar, but parallels to entertainment provide some training.Underneath the McCourts, the Dodgers handled to alienate fans of the items made an appearance to become among baseball's unshakable points of interest. Even if they was mediocre the franchise consistently came well, simply because going to Dodger Stadium was this type of enjoyable experience.It is possible, quite simply, to mismanage a beloved property right into a temporary shambles. As well as on the entertainment side, the deluge of options means such problems can wreak havoc faster than ever before.For the National basketball association, in which the lockout has stated area of the season and may endanger the entire factor, you will naturally watch charges and counter-charges flying via Twitter without hearing echoes from the last authors strike.Of course, the talent guilds are considerably not the same as professional sports, since anybody drawing an National basketball association or National football league salary nowadays is raking inside a substantial amount of cash. There's not middle-class and battling people, out of the box true for a lot of stars, authors and company directors to whom unemployment may be the norm and dealing the welcome break.You will find key common threads, though, starting with the brevity of careers (specifically in sports), which supplies management a effective little bit of leverage -- nobody really wants to throw away their prime generating years -- and may drive a wedge between legitimate "stars" and journeymen. Billionaire proprietors also perform a fair job impersonating major galleries when insisting their damaged business design really means they are the aggrieved, desperate parties.The main one component of reassurance, for Hollywood and sports, may be the public's lack of ability to keep grudges against stuff that delight and divert them.The National football league suffered its very own labor discord and quickly roared in the rankings. Past National basketball association and Mlb stoppages and scams produced foreseeable griping -- a pox on their own over-fortunate houses! -- that demonstrated toothless when the business of thrilling 2010 nfl playoffs and seven-game series started again.Many people think it is equally tough to stay mad at movies and television, if the supply of friction comes from strikes or conservatives (mainly) who insist they'll boycott shows or movies due to a star or filmmaker's politics. The same thing goes for cable-carriage fee disputes, which rarely trigger the wholesale customer flight that channels dangle to weaken a distributor's resolve throughout discussions prior to the parties inevitably achieve an agreement.Eventually, customers are animals of habit that do not like having to contemplate the folks behind the curtain if this involves their entertainment. Confront all of them with the truth that artists and sports athletes don't ply their trade strictly from devotion to craft or the overall game, and they're going to lash out temporarily their way, or at management.Take away the distraction and set out an item that like, however, and all sorts of is forgotten. Yet despite repeated demos of the dynamic, within the warmth from the moment fans and media commentators frequently seem false sensors about residual damage and unforgiving audiences.Former Dodger Steve Garvey, who's a part of an organization putting in a bid for that franchise, lately told a sports radio show, "Sports may be the memory business," which reflects an attractive feeling of nostalgia, implanted through the warming imagery of fathers passing their passions to sons.The truth is harsher than that -- and nowadays, much more likely involves father watching sports alone. In the end, the number of youthful kids stay awake until night time to look at large games almost almost always scheduled underneath the lights -- to not create shared reminiscences, but instead to increase TV revenue?For Hollywood and sports, therein lies the actual lesson: Because of its excesses, sports frequently finds itself within the amnesia business. For the pervasiveness of this condition, the National basketball association and whomever ends up possessing the Dodgers must thank their lucky stars. Contact John Lowry at john.lowry@variety.com

The Biz: Matt Lauer Talks "Where in the World"

Whrere In The World Is Matt Lauer? During the week of November 7, Today coanchor Matt Lauer will pack his bag and refill his Ambien prescription as he jets off for the 10th edition of "Where in the World Is Matt Lauer?" He explains why this jaunt to five far-flung locations in five days might be his last.TV Guide Magazine: Is this really going to be the swan song for "Where in the World?"Lauer: I think it could be. Ten is a nice round number. You never say never. It becomes more difficult on me each time. I think I was 39 when I first did one of these and I'm 53 now. I don't recover from jet lag as well as I used to. It's harder in terms of coming up with "wow" locations. We want this always to be something that people are stunned by and excited by. We've done 46 locations, and it will be 51 after this year. That's a lot.TV Guide Magazine: Has it become too expensive?Lauer: In terms of the economics of the show, it does very well. A lot of people line up to sponsor it. Yes, it's expensive and it takes a lot of resources. But it's always paid off in the past.TV Guide Magazine: ABC's Good Morning America has been touting its ratings gains. Does that put added pressure on this trip?Lauer: No. There's pressure on me every day. There's no pressure on me to do "Where in the World?" I put the pressure on myself whether the gap is X or it's X times two. So it's something you live with in this business we're in.TV Guide Magazine: Can you give us one clue about where you're going?Lauer: One of the days will take me to a location that absolutely captured my imagination when I flew over it in a previous "Where in the World?" I made a mental note, and I'm going there this time.Subscribe to TV Guide Magazine now!

Talkback: Should Studio Heads Be as Candid as Universal's Ron Meyer?

I was traveling all day as Movieline’s report from the Savannah Film Festival picked up steam around the blogosphere, but early on it was clear that two polar-opposite reactions were building in response to Universal Studios chief Ron Meyer’s comments about his studio’s well-publicized (at least, outside of the studio) recent flops. Either you love his blazing moment of candor — because we’ve all thought the same about most, if not all, of the woeful Universal films mentioned — or you despise what he stands for. But Meyer is a businessman, the President and COO of one of the largest movie studios and theme park conglomerates in the business. Should more filmmakers and studio heads follow suit? Real talk on the level of what Meyer dropped, in the form of numerous truth bombs, is so woefully rare. It’s not a surprise that a studio chief necessarily must make money to keep his company, and his own job, afloat, or that he’d make decisions to green-light projects based on potential profit, or that he’d regret putting out subpar product. (Even if awards-winners and prestige pics happen more by accident then by design.) What’s surprising — refreshingly so — is that he’d be so open about it. Meyer confessed to watching every movie that comes out, either in his home theater or at the multiplex — where he can gauge the reactions of real ticket-buyers — and, yes, he knows what’s up when a movie like The Wolfman struggles to gain a critical or commercial foothold. Admitting to the faults of releases like that failed horror reboot, the Will Ferrell vehicle Land of the Lost, and even this past summer’s Cowboys & Aliens made Meyer more human; when an employee of Wolfman producer Stratton Leopold entered the Savannah Film Festival Q&A to tell Meyer his boss was right across the street, Meyer replied, with a smile, and without skipping a beat: “Tell him I hold him responsible.” (The two shook hands and went for ice cream following their exchange, so it seems any hard feelings were forgotten in the haze of commiseration.) So it would seem Meyer might not worry so much that folks like Jon Favreau and Benicio Del Toro may get wind of the complaints he aired down in Savannah. “I wonder about the way these comments are going to affect his relationships with filmmakers,” wrote HitFix’s Drew McWeeny of Movieline’s report. “If I were Jon Favreau or Benicio Del Toro or Brad Silberling or Joe Johnston, I’d think long and hard about comments that go beyond blunt to being publicly insulting.” Meyer is, after all, their boss; and he is, by his own admission, the one ultimately responsible for Universal’s output. If said output is “mediocre” or even “crappy,” then at least the guy at the top acknowledges it. The question some folks asked, then, is how could Meyer sell product he knew was subpar while pretending it smelled like roses? It’s an idealistic question with no practical answer, since this is an industry. A movie business. Product is made, product is sold. Better product some of the time — but with many, many exceptions — earns bigger demand. Could Meyer have made said crap films better before releasing them, as Scott Weinberg points out? Sure. I looked back at images of Meyer with the cast and crew of The Wolfman at its L.A. premiere. Did Meyer’s smile that night belie a sense of worry, of fear that “one of the worst movies we ever made” was about to meet its fate? Not a chance. Maybe he was hoping that despite the film’s failings, it would still find an audience. Maybe he has an excellent poker face. Probably both. Meyer’s reputation for being the longest-sitting studio chief of contemporary times was another of the topics he addressed down in Savannah, talking to an audience filled with a number of aspiring producers and filmmakers eager for such lessons in career success and longevity. He answered, self-deprecatingly, that he considers himself “OK” at his job, but reminded the audience that he’s had 14 consecutive years in the black at Universal. Practically speaking, I’d think that record, and recent hits like Fast Five and Bridesmaids, would mean more to the folks Meyer works for than his recent truth-saying; probably less so for the filmmakers who work under him. But maybe knowing Meyer’s unafraid to unleash the real talk will force everyone around him to sharpen up, make better decisions, create less crappy — maybe even good, or great — films. And now that the conversation’s out there, maybe Meyer will think twice himself before making the next Wolfman. But here’s the thing: Meyer’s not the only studio head out there who has to think of the bottom line while churning out product of questionable and/or varying quality. If other studio chiefs ‘fessed up to their own duds, could this industry entertain an actual dialogue that improved the overall quality of the mainstream offerings released into the world? Follow Jen Yamato on Twitter. Follow Movieline on Twitter. [Top photo of (L-R) Universal Pictures co-chairs Donna Langley and Adam Fogelson, Benicio Del Toro, Ron Meyer and Wolfman producer Rick Yorn: Getty Images]

ZDF Enterprises enters 'Killing House'

BERLIN -- ZDF Enterprises, the commercial arm of German pubcaster ZDF, has boarded Mythic International Entertainment's action-thriller "The Killing House." Directed by Mythic's Jonathan English ("Ironclad), pic is set in the world of the SAS, the British Army's Special Air Service unit, and follows an officer who questions his morality after a particularly brutal mission. Mythic describes the action-packed story and conspiracy-laden plot as "reminiscent of the 'Bourne' films and classics such as 'Three Days of the Condor.'" The deal was brokered by Margrit Staerk, ZDF Enterprises' director of feature films. It's the latest acquisition for ZDF Enterprises, which has been intensifying its focus on international indies and nabbing all rights to its pick-ups. The company recently acquired Ami Canaan Mann's "Texas Killing Fields," starring Sam Worthington and Jeffrey Dean Morgan; Stephen Sommers' "Odd Thomas," with Anton Yelchin; and Rob Cohen's "I, Alex Cross," starring Tyler Perry. "The Killing House" is slated to begin filming in May in the U.K., Germany, Belgium and Hungary. Casting is currently underway on the project. Mythic International Entertainment's Andrew Curtis and Rick Benattar are producing along with English, who also helmed the company's medieval actioner "Ironclad," starring Paul Giamatti and James Purefoy. Contact Ed Meza at staff@variety.com

Other Desert Cities

'Other Desert Cities'A presentation by Lincoln Center Theater, in association with Bob Boyett, of a play in two acts by Jon Robin Baitz. Directed by Joe Mantello.Polly Wyeth - Stockard Channing Brooke Wyeth - Rachel Griffiths Lyman Wyeth - Stacy Keach Trip Wyeth - Thomas Sadoski Silda Grauman - Judith LightHelmer Joe Mantello did a savvy job of recasting "Other Desert Cities" for its Broadway transfer. When the show preemed at Lincoln Center earlier this year, it wasn't clear that Jon Robin Baitz's tightly wrapped family drama about a patrician clan of Old Guard California Republicans even had a leading character. That ensemble vibe survives in this production, but with the magnetic Rachel Griffiths ("Six Feet Under") now taking the lead in the part of the renegade daughter from NY, it's easier to overlook the artifices of the plot and surrender to the drama. A stalwart Stacy Keach and the invincible Stockard Channing reprise their respective roles as Lyman Wyeth, a former movie star who went on to become a powerful GOP bigwig, and his wife, Polly, as socially charming and politically calculating as her dear friend Nancy Reagan. Thomas Sadoski also makes a welcome return as their son, Trip, a good-natured producer of trashy reality-TV shows and the kind of attentive son who would spend Christmas Eve with his parents. (The white-and-gold artificial Christmas tree in the living room is set designer John Lee Beatty's witty way of capturing the arid holiday spirit in Palm Springs, circa 2004.) In the context of this bleached-out desert setting, it falls on the characters to supply all the color. In the original production, Linda Lavin made an especially vibrant character of Silda Grauman, Polly's free-thinking, hard-living alcoholic sister, fresh out of rehab and come to live with her sister and brother-in-law. That role, which opened up when Lavin went into Nicky Silvers' new play "The Lyons," went to Judith Light. Light (who played another straight-shooter in "Lombardi") makes sharp work here of Silda's outspoken views on politics, religion and her sister's pretensions. But because she isn't as vivid as her predecessor, the thesp makes it easier for Griffiths to claim centerstage as Brooke Wyeth, the prodigal daughter who arrives with the manuscript of a memoir that accuses her parents of driving their older son to suicide. Newly divorced and recovering from a breakdown that had her hospitalized for years, Brooke isn't the most stable person in the world. Elizabeth Marvel's provocative perf came from that vulnerable state of mental instability, making Brooke's volatile character seem dangerous. In Griffiths' deeply compassionate perf, she comes across as more rational and a lot healthier: more thoughtful than brooding, intellectually curious rather than paranoid. Neither of these insightful performances, however, can solve the improbabilities of the melodramatic plot, which hangs on a family secret long buried and implausibly never discussed. And while Baitz ("The Substance of Fire") gives his articulate characters the wit and intelligence to go to battle on any number of ideological issues that divide them, he studiously avoids bringing up anything as lively as politics.Sets, John Lee Beatty; costumes, David Zinn; lighting, Kenneth Posner; sound, Jill BC DuBoff; original music, Justin Ellington; production stage manager, James FitzSimmons. Opened Nov. 3, 2011. Reviewed Oct. 28. Running time: TWO HOURS, 20 MIN. Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

5 Terrible Moments from Five of the Fall's Best Films

We’re on the verge of a star-studded Oscar season, but before we dig into the potentially embarrassing J. Edgar, the probably overblown War Horse, or the already-cloying Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, let’s take a second look at five great films from fall and remember that they weren’t so flawless either. In fact, these films all possessed one ridiculous moment that completely took me out of the otherwise believable drama. Did you have the same problems with Moneyball, Martha Marcy May Marlene, and Drive? Click through for our rundown. Moneyball Moneyball’s critical success seemed like a statistical impossibility (guh-her!), but it’s a smartly scripted meditation on Oakland Athletics manager Billy Beane’s intuition, his successful 2002 recalibration of the team, and the almost mystically unwatchable sport of baseball. It’s successful, that is, until the movie’s conversational realism goes south when we’re introduced to Beane’s wide-eyed preteen daughter. At first she seems like a loyal, if unassuming girl, but in the most cringe-inducing minute of fall cinema, she reveals herself to be a brilliant singer-songwriter who strums a guitar and trills damning lyrics about her father’s character. When do we hear her full, perfectly composed ditty about being a loser, you ask? Why, over the closing credits after her father’s team loses! It’s a little convenient. Especially since Billy Beane has no such singer-songwriter daughter, and the song she chirps is Australian artist Lenka’s post-2002 tune “The Show.” Martha Marcy May Marlene Martha Marcy May Marlene’s glimpses into its fractured heroine’s cult past are disturbing and engrossing, but it runs into trouble when chronicling Martha’s new life squatting with her chilly sister Lucy (Sarah Paulson) and her arrogant husband Ted (Hugh Dancy) at their vacation home. The worst of it occurs when Martha, whose grasp of social norms is clearly shot to hell — she tries sleeping in bed with Lucy and Ted while they’re having sex; she swims nude in the middle of the day as neighbors abound — endures a PTSD-grade conniption during the night. As she harrumphs up the stairs in a maniacal, nocturnal fit, she kicks away Ted, who tries to restrain her. Ted’s reaction? Not to realize that Martha Marcy is exhibiting the most textbook trauma since Sybil, but to yell, “She’s crazy!” and dismiss her animalistic terrors as selfish bitchiness. Come on. I don’t care how many pontoon boats Ted owns; there’s no way he’s too rich to realize Martha’s been through a dehumanizing hell. Drive Drive is undeniably the starkest, most stylish thriller of fall. It is also undeniably pretentious. I’m ambivalent about whether College’s soundtrack contribution “A Real Hero,” which reiterates the inanely literal lyrics, “He’s a real hero and a real human being,” needs to played twice during the film, but I’m very decided that there’s no need for an inhumanely long, lingering gaze between The Driver (Ryan Gosling) and Irene (Carey Mulligan) at her apartment. The Driver is supposed to represent stoic, charitable heroism, but scenes like this squelch his pure intentions and recast him as a reticent homewrecker. He should want to help the beleaguered Irene, not bed her. Later in the film when he steals a kiss from Irene in a surreal elevator scene, the dissolution of The Driver’s saintly intentions is clear. He’s just a horndog with a decent coat and strong facestomping legs after all. 50/50 Bryce Dallas Howard’s role as Rachael in the cute, inoffensive 50/50 is mysteriously one of the most poorly treated female characters of the season. As the cancer-stricken Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s artsy girlfriend, she should be likable until Seth Rogen’s character Kyle spots her making out with an arthouse hipster. Instead, the movie is mean to Rachael right as it begins; early in the film, we’re treated to viewings of her artwork, which she assigns contrived, sophomoric titles like “Existence” and “Defiance” (the actual names are escaping me, but you get the point) — and we’re supposed to laugh at her moronic ideas. Meanwhile, her boyfriend is spending weeks working on a similarly contrived NPR segment about volcanoes for half the movie, so I can’t decide whose artistic instincts are worse. Nevertheless, Levitt is treated like a lovable everyman and she’s treated like a disposable, idiotic bitch as soon as the movie starts. The Ides of March Sure, The Ides of March skimps on deep intrigue and settles for surface-level political thrills, but it’s chockablock with great performances. One of my favorites was Marisa Tomei, who plays a roving, no-nonsense NY Times reporter whose scoops compromise the candidates’ campaigns. However, I could’ve done without learning that her name was “Ida,” and that she represents — wait for it! — the Ides of March. I haven’t experienced such a pang of punny pain since (500) Days of Summer when a girl named Autumn replaced Summer in the movie’s final moments. Joseph Gordon-Levitt, we need to have a firm discussion about your movie paramours.