Tuesday, August 23, 2011

5 thesps start 'Sleeping Around'

Thinkfactory Films has completed the cast of ensemble comedy "Sleeping Around" with Michael McKean, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Bill Bellamy, Chris Marquette and Bryan Callen. Principal photography is under means by Charlotte now, N.C. "Sleeping" is written and directed by Thinkfactory Media Founder and Boss Leslie Greif ("Funny Money"). Occur the social realm of New York's Hamptons wealthy and playful, two couples test the ten rules of the happy and healthy open relationship. Greif also can serve as producer, together with Plant Nanas, Harry Tulsi and Vince Maggio. Professional producers include Mohammed Gohar, Shaun Sine, Doc McGhee, Bart Blatstein, Ray Cooney and Giancarlo Arduini. Formerly introduced cast include Tammin Sursok, Virginia Williams and Jesse Bradford. "Sleeping" also stars Reid Ewing, Lucila Sola, Molly McCook and Jamie Renee Cruz. McLendon-Covey is symbolized by John Carrabino Management. Bellamy is symbolized by New Wave Entertainment and APA. McKean is symbolized by Harriet Sternberg Management and APA. Callen is symbolized by Levity Entertainment Group and Innovative Artists. Marquette is symbolized through the Collective and UTA. Contact Dork McNary at dork.mcnary@variety.com

Monday, August 22, 2011

Start Looking: Carol Burnett Returns to any or all The Kids

Carol Burnett Here comes trouble! Full of comedy Carol Burnett has returned on her behalf fave cleaning soap, ABC's My Children, on her fifth stint (airing September 6 and 7) - and she's before the Pine Valley Senior High School reunion! Burnett's much-loved character, conniver Verla Grubbs (last observed in 2005), is set on getting her hooks into old flame Mike Brady (Jason Kincaid) and wishes to make certain her rival Opal (Jill Larson) does not land him first. Not really the mighty Erica Kane (Susan Lucci) can stop her!Sign up for TV Guide Magazine now!

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Enjoy Shaun Bridges's 7 Finest Guitar Faces

Shaun Bridges is really a busy dude. (Groan!) Additionally to his planned appearance in the cast reunion from the Large Lebowski in New You are able to on Tuesday evening included in Lebowski Fest (return to Movieline for coverage from the event), the Oscar-champion launched his self-entitled country album on Tuesday. Bridges celebrated that event by carrying out choices in the record on SiriusXM’s ‘Outlaw Country’ funnel on Monday mid-day, which meant just one factor: awesome Shaun Bridges guitar faces! Click through for any look. Launch the felt-melting gallery here. [Photos: Getty Images]

Monday, August 15, 2011

More 'Warehouse 13' for Syfy

Syfy has given a fourth season renewal to scripted drama "Warehouse 13." Series about government agents who work for a top secret org in South Dakota investigating paranormal activity ranks as the cabler's most-watched skein. Through the first five episodes of its third season, "Warehouse" is averaging about 3.1 million viewers. Syfy original content chief Mark Stern praised "Warehouse" exec producer Jack Kenny's leadership and the show's "superlative team of writers, cast and crew" for the success of the series. After wrapping its current season in the fall, the Universal Cable Prods. drama will return in 2012. Contact Cynthia Littleton at cynthia.littleton@variety.com

Friday, August 12, 2011

Two vets make first series bids

The Emmy comedy race offers support for the argument that good things come to those who wait. Fourth-year laffer "The Big Bang Theory" and third-year "Parks and Recreation" each received their first Emmy nominations in 2011, long after critics had gotten on board with the shows. That could mean hope over the long haul for such shows as FX's acclaimed, edgy freshman "Louie" and NBC's "Community," which developed a cult following in its lauded, meta-imaginative second season. In the meantime, "Big Bang" and "Parks" will try to top each other as well as four Emmy vets. NBC has annual entries "30 Rock" and "The Office," while Fox hit "Glee" seeks its first win after getting a look last year. Also coming back is "Modern Family," an Emmy winner in its first season, offering support for the argument that, um, good things come right away. "30 Rock"NBC Emmy pedigree: Nommed in 2007 (win), 2008 (win), 2009 (win) and 2010.Highlight: Cheerful Kenneth becomes Liz's therapist in an episode that also saw Jenna's relationship with cross-dressing Paul (Will Forte) take an unexpected turn -- having to meet his parents. Why it may win: Has that Emmy pedigree and a just-completed season full of choice moments and sparkling cameos. Maybe not: Won three times already and, as with last year, some critics felt season five uneven. Both those things could be, as Liz Lemon would say, "a dealbreaker!""The Big Bang Theory"CBS Emmy pedigree: First nomHighlight: "The Justice League Recombination" was one of show's funniest episodes, in which the guys torment Penny's not especially smart boyfriend in a comicbook store and a costume contest: nerd heaven. And the season finale ended with a bang of a cliffhanger -- a love (or sex) triangle between Penny, Raj and Leonard -- that was a bit shameless, but certainly had fans talking.Why it may win: It's a show that mixes in sharp satire with big laughs while drawing excellent ratings.Maybe not: Show took a long time to reach Emmy status, so perhaps there isn't as much love from the kudo community as there is from critics."Glee"Fox Emmy pedigree: Nommed in 2010.Highlight: "Silly Love Songs" saw the blooming courtship between the svelte Puck and the zaftig Lauren (Mark Salling and Ashley Fink displaying good chemistry), including his rendition of Queen's "Fat Bottomed Girls." And "Duets" (directed by Eric Stoltz), which proved how "Glee" hits fewer false notes when working smaller, had Mercedes and Santana (Amber Riley and Naya Rivera) climbing the scales for "River Deep, Mountain High."Why it may win: The songful show gave its loyal fanbase many stellar moments and numbers and remains popular despite slight ratings dip.Maybe not: An undeniably erratic sophomore season hit many false notes as well (the strained "Rocky Horror" homage ep was one nadir), as character development was sometimes lost in a sea of gimmicks. Emmy voters may want to see more consistency before officially joining the "Glee" club."Modern Family"ABC Emmy pedigree: Nommed in 2010 (win).Highlight: The penultimate episode "See You Next Fall" felt more like the perfect wrap than the official finale, dealing with issues of aging, moving on and letting go but also heavy on the ace physical comedy the show does so well.Why it may win: This defending champion is too young to be over the hill. The six nominations for thesp awards reflect the breadth of support for the show.Maybe not: After a rookie win, expectations might have been higher for a second season some considered not quite on the same level -- still strong but without taking any great leaps forward. Voters may not want to reward two years in a row."The Office"NBC Emmy pedigree: Nommed in 2006 (won), 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010.Highlight: An episode penned by Jon Vitti and directed by star Steve Carell saw Michael proposing to Amy Ryan's Holly in suitably goofy fashion. Also memorable: Carell's teary and funny farewell, followed by James Spader's intriguing intro into the Dunder-Mifflin/Sabre world.Why it may win: Could nab tribute votes for Michael's final season, buoyed by quite a few meaningful moments. It's been on a long losing streak after winning in its first season.Maybe not: The perception is that the show has slipped a bit; last year had its share of letdowns, including not really knowing what to do with the temporary boss character played by the usually hilarious Will Ferrell."Parks and Recreation"NBC Emmy pedigree: First nomHighlight: The "Harvest Festival," which finally goes off without a hitch -- except for a Native American curse and missing miniature horse; after many fits and starts, Leslie (Emmy-nommed Amy Poehler) and Ben (Adam Scott) finally get romantic after Leslie first neurotically tries online dating; deadpan Ron Swanson has another madness bender with his ex, which somehow managed to outdo the previous madness bender. ("It rubbed off from friction.")Why it may win: A real up-and-comer this season, generating a mix of good reviews and publicity.Maybe not: While ratings were better (especially in 18-49 bracket), the show is still not considered a hit; if that sways voters, a first Emmy here is no walk in the park.ROAD TO THE EMMYS: COMEDYSingle-cam's ascendancy continues | Old toon comedies remain Emmy-freshThe nominees Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Large week for cable in primetime

"Phineas and Ferb"Season finale of "Falling Skies," above, along with a "Phineas and Ferb" telepic saw impressive rankings on fundamental cable. The very first week of August would be a noisy one for cable, including a powerful return for MTV's "Jersey Shoreline," a large tune-set for a "Phineas and Ferb" movie on Disney Funnel as well as an impressive first-season finale for TNT's "Falling Skies."The TNT drama starring Noah Wyle has emerged because the summer's top-ranked scripted enter in both grown ups 18-49 and 25-54, based on Nielsen, and it has seen its amounts jump by a lot more than 50% when all same-week Digital recording device playback is incorporated. Its finale Sunday, the 2nd of back-to-back episodes, averaged single.9 rating/6 be part of grown ups 18-49 and 5.54 million audiences overall.At MTV, "Jersey Shoreline" demonstrated no signs and symptoms of slowing down lower because it began its 4th season in Italia and tallied up the week's No. 1 score in 18-49 (4.3/13) while drawing an archive overall audience of 8.79 million. In the core demo of femmes 12-34, the truth show came an enormous 8.9/25.Disney Channel's "Phineas and Ferb: Over the second Dimension" averaged 7.64 million audiences Friday, rating as TV's No. 1 program for that week in kids 6-11 and tweens 9-14 and cable's most-viewed scripted telecast.Overall for that week of August. 1-7, unscripted fare paid for for that week's top 16 ad-supported primetime programs in grown ups 18-49. NBC's two-hour Tuesday seg of "America's Got Talent" rated second in 18-49 (3.1/9) and first as a whole audiences (11.92 million).Within the fight for network supremacy, Fox brought in grown ups 18-49 having a 1.5 rating/5 share, then ABC (1.4/5) and Univision (1.4/4), CBS (1.3/4) and top cabler USA (1./3).ABC and CBS tied in grown ups 25-54 (1.8/5), while Univision published an uncommon triumph in grown ups 18-34 (1.4/5 to at least one.3/5 for Fox) and also the Eye been with them as a whole audiences for any fifth straight week (5.9 million). Fox's victory was paced by culinary contests "Hell's Kitchen" and "MasterChef," with two models of every ranking one of the week's top 15 in 18-49.Net's Sunday's telecast of "The Teenager Choice Honours" (1.1/3 in 18-49, 3.22m) hit a minimal in 18-49 but had its best score in 3 years among teens 12-17 (2.9/11).ABC, which in fact had its top-ranked summer time week because the finish from the National basketball association Finals in mid-June, was brought through the finale of "The Bachelorette" (2.8/8, 9.75m) and postgame "Following the Final Rose" spec (2.8/8, 9.31m). Though lower substantially from last year's especially strong showing, this year was the 2nd greatest-ranked "Bachelorette" summer time edition up to now. Also, the net's new "Go ahead and take Money and Run" had an excellent bow on Tuesday (1.9/5, 5.28m).It had been a lot of same at CBS, where "Your Government" placed the 3 of their hrs within the top ten, including Sunday's edition (2.9/9. 7.84m), that was tied for third. Internet also saw gains for that new reveal that follows "Brother" on Sunday, "Same Title" (1.6/4, 5.00m), which brought among tv stations in the timeslot.NBC's weekly average was pulled lower by low-ranked originals like "It's Worth What" (1.2/4, 4.87m) and "Marriage Ref" (1./3, 2.72m). And burnoff Friday comedy "Buddies With Benefits" opened up to predictably weak results (.7/3, 2.34m).Other cable highlights incorporated ESPN's "Sunday Evening Baseball" drawing the net's biggest audience for any baseball game (4.72 million) in 4 years using its Red-colored Sox-Yankees game Sunday also saw E!'s "Ice Loves Coco" hit a set high using its second-season finale (2.05 million) while Oxygen's "The Glee Project" hit a higher too (912,000 audiences). Contact Ron Kissell at ron.kissell@variety.com

Monday, August 8, 2011

The Hunger Games Follow up Catching Fire hitting Theaters Thanksgiving 2013

The Hunger Games Prior To The Hunger Games have even begun, the follow up has already been coming. Catching Fire, the 2nd film within the trilogy depending on Suzanne Collins' books, will hit theaters November 22, 2013. Probably the most buzzed-about film series since Harry Potter bid its farewell, The Hunger Games is occur a dystopian future in which a cruel government holds an annual public fight towards the dying. The film's heroine, Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) takes her sister's devote your competition against 23 other children, including fellow District 12 resident, Peeta (Josh Hutcherson). The film, also starring Liam Hemsworth, is presently in production and will also be releasedon March 23, 2012. Start looking: Satisfy the males from the Hunger Games Catching Fire continues the storyline, following what transpires within the dramatic finish from the 74th Hunger Games that could have sparked a rebellion among the districts. "The magical factor concerning the Hunger Games trilogy would be that the books have this type of greatly broad appeal," stated Joe Drake, co-COO of Lionsgate, inside a statement."The tales truly offer something for everybody, and also the period round the Thanksgiving weekend is really an chance for families and buddies to create a celebration of visiting the movies."