The Dark Dark night Increases cinematographer to direct first feature

The Dark Dark night Increases cinematographer Wally Pfister, longtime cinematographer to Christopher Nolan would be to walk into the director's chair the very first time with an up to now untitled debut feature.The Oscar winning cinematographer has labored with Nolan since 1999, as well as their collaboration has incorporated significant films Reminder, The Prestige, and Beginning, that they won the Oscar for the best Achievement In Cinematography.Getting lately wrapped The Dark Dark night Increases Pfister continues to be looking for his next project, and based on Collider the untitled script by relative newcomer Jack Paglen was the correct one.The particulars are presently shrouded in mystery, similar to this year's hotly anticipated final installment to Nolan's Batman trilogy, but when his directorial debut looks anything like his signature dark style, we are in luck.

Desperate Housewives Exclusive Sneak Peek: Lynette and Susan Battle Over Baby Names!

Jason Isaacs Awake didn't open to huge numbers for NBC, but it wasn't a complete nightmare.The long-awaited drama's series premiere bowed to 6.2 million viewers and a 1.9 ratings in the adults 18-to-49 demo on Thursday. That's a massive 44 percent and 58 percent improvement on NBC's season average audience (4.3 million) and rating (1.2), respectively, in the 10 o'clock hour. It is also the network's best debut in the slot all season, following the short-lived Prime Suspect and The Firm. The caveat, though, is that CBS and ABC aired reruns.Idol: Meet the Top 13With nemesis and recent conquerer The Big Bang Theory in repeats, American Idol took advantage, pulling in its biggest Thursday audience all season for its two-hour-long unveiling of the Top 13: 18.3 million, along with a 5.3 rating - both up about 18 percent versus last week.8 p.m.CBS: The Big Bang Theory (R) 11.1 million viewers (3.2 demo rating); Rob 9 million (2.6)ABC: Wipeout (R) 4.5 million (1.3)Fox: American Idol 18.3 million (5.3) [8-10 p.m.]NBC: 30 Rock 3.77 million (1.4); Parks & Recreation 3.77 million (1.7)CW: The Vampire Diaries (R) 1.1 million (0.4)9 p.m.CBS: Person of Interest(R) 9.5 million (1.8)ABC: Grey's Anatomy (R) 3.4 million (1.1)NBC: The Office 5 million (2.5); Up All Night 3.5 million (1.6)CW: Supernatural (R) .9 million (0.3)10 p.m.CBS: The Mentalist (R) 8.9 million (1.7)ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live! (R) 3 million (1.0)NBC: Awake 6.2 million (1.9)

Terence Davies Has Sorrows

Mother Of Sorrows, that isGiven how he seems to be ramping up his output since making The Deep Blue Sea, we're beginning to wonder whether someone has slipped a dose of 5-hour energy boost drink into Terence Davies' tea. Because hot on the heels of him finally getting passion project Sunset Song inching once more towards cinemas comes word that he's also developing a film based on Richard McCann's Mother Of Sorrows.McCann's 2005 debut nabbed the Stonewall Book Award for gay fiction and the John C Zacharis First Book Award. It interweaves 10 stories about two brothers who must deal with the death of their father and the overriding influence of their strong, complicated mother."This is an important story because it touches the humanity in all of us," Davies tells Variety. "I love the delicacy of the book and its gentle odyssey from post-World War II optimism for the American Utopia to a deeper understanding of both maternal and filial love and an acceptance of mortality by surrendering to the light."There's no word yet on when he'll get to actually shoot Sorrows, since Sunset Song is currently his active project. But maybe he'll take a leaf out of Terrence's Malick's book and go for two movies shot in one year...

Academy awards on ABC draw 39.3 million

ABC came 39.3 million audiences viewed 'The Artist' win top honors at Sunday's 84th Oscars.Despite the possible lack of a blockbuster film to usher in the public, ABC's telecast from the Oscars on Sunday came a remarkable audience of 39.3 million Up from last year's 37.9 million in addition to a bigger crowd compared to 2009 and 2008 shows.Also, based on Nielsen, the show came an 11.7 rating among grown ups 18-49, on componen with last year's 11.8 but much better than just the 2008 kudocast (10.7 rating). Little-viewed films like "The Artist" and "Hugo" were one of the large those who win Sunday, however the Academy awards most likely achieved positive results from the concerted effort through the Academy and ABC to create the honours show more highly relevant to more youthful audiences via social networking. Also, the return of popular host Billy Very likely introduced many audiences to the show.Though an enormous audience, both demo score and total viewer count lag this month's Grammy Honours telecast on CBS (14.1 rating in 18-49, 39.9 million audiences overall). The final time the Grammy Honours outdrew the Oscars is at 1984 when Michael Jackson moonwalked his method to a sweep from the top groups before an audience of 43.8 million audiences, adopted per month later through the Academy awards, which came 42.a million for any telecast assigned by "Relation to Endearment" winning named best picture. The greatest-ranked local marketplaces for that Oscars were NY (36.9 rating), Chicago (33.8 rating), Palm Beach Gardens (32.5 rating), and La and Boston (both having a 31.9 rating). In the other finish from the spectrum, the cheapest scores among Nielsen's 56 metered marketplaces were Greensboro (14.3), Memphis (15.), The city of jacksonville (15.6), Dayton (16.4) and Greenville (17.2).The 2010 Academy awards did face more direct competition from high-profile original programming, however the greatest of these - the National basketball association All-Star Game on TNT and hot zombie drama "The Walking Dead" on AMC - figured to skew more youthful plus much more male compared to honours show. The the game of basketball, airing later in Feb than normal and opposite the Academy awards the very first time, averaged a great 5.4 household rating in Nielsen's metered marketplaces, the 2nd best because the 2005 exhibition did a 5.9. Around the broadcast side, CBS plastic box the night's top youthful-adult series score with "The Astonishing Race" (2.1 rating/5 be part of grown ups 18-49, 7.six million audiences overall) from 8 to 9. And also over the ultimate two hrs of primetime, NBC's "Celebrity Apprentice" was top dog having a 1.8/4 in 18-49 and 5. million audiences overall. These two serialized reality show contests were below their shipping of last week's premieres, however their particular nets saw them as decent counter-programming and did not wish to preempt them only one week once they bowed.Fox did Comfortable with encores of their male-skewing animated comedies "The Simpsons" (1.6/4 in 18-49, 3.9 million audiences overall), "Napoleon Dynamite" (1.6/4 in 18-49, 3.six million audiences overall), "Family Guy" (1.6/3 in 18-49, 3.5 million audiences overall) and "American Father" (1.5/3 in 18-49, 3.3 million audiences overall).Preliminary 18-49 earnings for that evening: ABC, 8.8/21 CBS, 1.4/3 Fox and NBC, 1.3/3 Univision, .9/2.As a whole audiences: ABC, 30.5 million CBS, 6.two million NBC, 4.4 million Fox, 3.a million Univision, 2.4 million. Contact Ron Kissell at ron.kissell@variety.com

Acad is about greater than honours

Sundays Oscars are merely the finish in the iceberg for your Academy. Acad COO Ric Robertson and Boss Beginning Hudson within the Scientific and Technical Achievement Honours The need for the Oscars if this involves box office bumps, career-making techniques and general ego-patting remains so hyperanalyzed this season -- frequently incorrectly -- that you will find little left to convey. Yet for that intense scrutiny the Academy awards generate, the ceremony itself signifies a part of just what the Academy of motion Picture Arts & does each year. Ultimately the pomp and prognosticating finishes -- no less than until Cannes starts in May -- AMPAS can go back to your entire day-to-day business of educating the town about filmmaking through its media outreach program, safeguarding and archiving film history within the Pickford Center, chronicling movie arts within the Herrick Library and delivering grants or loans or financial loans to up-and-coming screenwriters using the Nicholl Fellowship.Lately installed Boss Beginning Hudson, whose 2 decades with Film Independent made her no stranger for the business, recently told Variety they remains amazed and overcome with the magnitude of assets and programs the Academy wields outdoors honours season.The majority of it's funded with the roughly $80 million AMPAS makes every year for certification the Oscars to ABC. The Oscars represent the commercial action movie an actress typically takes for your large payday to have the ability to spend the comfort of year practicing his craft on arty indie films.There's another ambitious project which will most likely be near the top of the agenda when the Academy's governors obtain first board meeting of year on March 6: the Academy Museum of Movies, which will display the Acad's thorough range of movie memorabilia and film products. The museum -- the finest-profile consumer-facing endeavor the Academy has outdoors in the Oscars -- will require the nonprofit to enhance funds the first time.The concept from the museum remains on-again off-again for several years, however, if the org introduced in October a partnership while using La County Museum of Art to lease the prior May Co. building for everybody since the museum's home, plans made an appearance being finally on course. Disney chief and fund-raising chair Bob Iger is rumored to experience a target in excess of $100 million the Academy will endow the museum with $50 million.While fund-raising is well outdoors AMPAS' rut, re-using existing structures inside the city is not. Both Pickford Center as well as the Herrick Library were historic structures broken just before the Academy introduced rid of it to existence inside their particular towns. Obtaining the Academy make its museum mark round the May Co. building, that's been an legendary part of the Miracle Mile since 1940, will preserve yesteryear in the city whilst getting the industry's history for the community.The museum project comes at any time of incredible change for your 85-year-old organization. Challenges for next season include improving all of the ongoing programs, settling-in new leadership (furthermore to Hudson, Ric Robertson was promoted a year ago to chief operating officer) and continual handwringing inside the no real surprise but headline-getting L.A. Occasions study finding that the majority voters have left 50 and Whitened.Nevertheless the easiest method to handle the turmoil is always to address it mind on.As soon as the Oscars conclude, the Academy need to announce a staffing request the museum. Once the time involves examine the recommendations for next year's honours, the org must have a chilly, hard think about the music and foreign-language rules -- the identical examination the documentary rules received lately.When the report on new membership visitors are introduced within this summer time, for Pete's sake, ensure it's multicultural and skewing youthful.And, most significantly, you should not panic from the inevitable critique. Search through it without emotion to know what's crucial that you the town, the and individuals who're heavily devoted to your finest assets. Contact Christy Grosz at christy.grosz@variety.com

Sundance Grand Jury Prize Champion Monsters in the Southern Wild Will Debut This June

Film fanatics, bear in mind: Benh Zeitlin's highly famous Sundance '12 favorite Monsters in the Southern Wild will theaters. Fox Searchlight, which acquired first-time feature director Zeitlin's pic in the fest, will release the film in limited release on June 29 hit the jump for just about any full synopsis and appear within the festival award champion. The bayou-set film was the indie discovery to depart Park City this year, and acquired the fest's Grand Jury Prize for drama. The magical realism-flavored drama should lead to great counter-programming throughout blockbuster season -- no less than, you can be positive Fox Searchlight's wanting so. The synopsis: In the forgotten but defiant bayou community stay in the comfort around the world having a sprawling levee, a six-year-old girl can be obtained round the fringe of orphanhood. Buoyed by her childish optimism and amazing imagination, she thinks natural world is at balance while using world until a fierce storm changes her reality. Wanting to repair the dwelling of her world to have the ability to save her ailing father and sinking home, this small hero must learn to survive easy catastrophes of epic proportions. Below: From Sundance, a meet-the-filmmakers vid with Zeitlin explaining his project and youthful star, Quvenzhan Wallis. Expect the state trailer later on from Fox.

Merger rivals release statement

Rivals in the SAG-AFTRA merger are stating twelve problem areas inside their official opposition statement. (See full text of document below.) "The current merger plan solves alongside nothing and addes lots of natural problems," in conclusion mentioned. "Election no and demand our union leaders conduct the needed research to create an agrement that will not harm stars." The statement is out Feb. 27 incorporated within the ballot materials shipped to 120,000 people in the Screen Stars Guild. Another opposition statement is predicted being delivered to the 70,000 people in the American Federation of Television & Radio Artists. Ballots will probably be tabulated March 30 and 60% of people voting in unions must approve for your merger to endure.Report was signed by eight SAG national board people -- Scott Bakula, Joe d'Angerio, Elliott Gould, Valerie Harper, Erection dysfunction Harris, Anne-Marie Manley, David Jolliffe and Martin Sheen. Lawyers for your rivals released the document Sunday. Problem areas reported inside the opposition document, which received approval Friday from SAG lawyers, include claims in the merger plan's flaws in the dozen areas: pension and health split earnings on pension and health contributions dues structure "preferential" control over tv producers the three-voucher system for background stars "bloated" documents a convention structure of governance selected leaders capacity to get pay majority voting rules for Hollywood reps exchange of information agent rules and settling strength. Inclusion in the document -- limited to 1,000 words -- wasn't needed incorporated within the ballot materials nevertheless the SAG and AFTRA boards OK'd its inclusion lately. Professional-merger forces have contended that SAG and AFTRA might have more clout just like a combined union. The unions have asserted in the feasibility study that 100s of multi-employer pensions have merged within the last 25 years or so, and there is no legal obstacle to merging the SAG and AFTRA pension and health plans. The study has furthermore mentioned multi-employer plan mergers don't pose any elevated possibility of insufficient benefits. Merger backers contend that mixing SAG and AFTRA makes it better to mix the plans just like a foundation fixing the problem that artists face to make contributions for the separate plans after which it not meeting the earnings qualifications. The professional-merger reps round the SAG board have centered elections lately. SAG people switched lower merger plans in 1999 and 2003 while AFTRA people supported both combinations. Complete statement of opposition to SAG-AFTRA merger:SAG ACTORSHAVE YOU Examined THE IMPACT From The MERGER?Otherwise, Listed Below Are CRITICAL Particulars You Need To Know:(Limited to what allotted to us)PENSION & HEALTHSAG uses a "Feasibility Review." Even though it found the final outcome the merger might be legal, nobody ever doubted Mergers are legal. What about our benefits?SAG did not request any actuarial the study into whether a merger might be financially safe.Why? They understand, like the AFTRA Trustees, that "the merger of pension and health funds aslarge and divergent since the AFTRA and SAG plans boosts complex and various financial, legaland benefit issues that could just be addressed using a comprehensive analysis performedby the funds."No matter the express claims in Appendix I for the SAG Metabolism, and Board Resolutions,no study was completed to judge the financial impact from the merger of Pension or Health Plans.Would be the benefits safe? The SAG and AFTRA P&H&R Plans are extremely different. Considermerging these factors: SAG pension accrual rate: 2% of earnings: AFTRA: under 1% of earnings. SAG early retirement penalty: 3% every year. AFTRA: DOUBLE: 6% every year. SAG Plan 2 annual premium (number of four): $1,620: AFTRA Individual Plan annual premium(number of 4): $17,260The merger plan does not even try to reconcile these together with other versions. Expertsaddressing the financial impact issues believe SAG individuals will most likely sufferdiminished future benefits.Highly respected pension and health experts Brucker & Morra have found the final outcome:InchTill an entire and formal ERISA Impact Report of techniques to cope with andquantify these issues is completed, nobody, not necessarily pensionexperts, can smartly evaluate or assess the probable negativeimpact round the members' pension and health improvements. The unionmerger is actually inextricably interconnected while using plan merger thatmembers can not be asked for to evaluate and election round the Union Merger untilissues relevant for the Plan Merger are actually resolved and concreteproposals developed and so the people might make informed options."The issue is actually the result on SAG member benefits, when merged with lowerAFTRA benefits. Once the merger of unions qualifies, SAG people will not have anyright to election to guard their benefits by preventing merger in the Pension or Health Plans.In the event you election to merge the unions, you are eliminating a substantial hurdle to later merger of people plans.Once the unions are incorporated, individual people might have no election without any option regarding amerger of Pension and Health Plans.SPLIT EARNINGSThe merger Plan does not even address, a more compact amount solve our split earnings issues. Rather, it willcodify the problem. If merger qualifies, the pointed out plan's to hold onto separate yourearnings, similar to through the final 12 several days. Once the recommended merger qualifies, withoutsignatures from 15% in the roughly 158,000 people, you will have no further rightto election relating to this problem either.NEW DUES STRUCTUREIf merger qualifies, over 70,000 SAG-only members' base dues increases from $116 to$198.Tv producers - Preferential TreatmentBroadcasters inside the merged union could work NON-UNION on fundamental cable systems (ESPN,MSNBC, CNN, CNBC, FOX NEWS, etc.), with drastically reduced dues compared to stars.Broadcaster work dues from $ to $100,000 will be the much like stars at 1.575%. Broadcasterwork dues from $100,000 to $250,000 might be drastically reduced to .274% (and designated at$250,000) with maximum dues of $2,184.Stars, however, pays 1.575% on ALL earnings around $500,000, with maximum dues almost400% greater: $8,073.BACKGROUND Stars - THREE VOUCHER SYSTEMThe much maligned and poorly controlled Three Voucher entry dependence on SAG willcontinue.Merging unions does not guarantee more Background jobs. It might only result in morecompetition for a similar covered jobs.BLOATED BUREAUCRACYThere is not any plan to streamline or eliminate replicated services publish merger. The completely new union willkeep all 635 SAG and AFTRA employees. Nor you'll be able to plan to equalize the current SAGstaff (3.5%) and SAG member (2%) pension accrual rates.CONVENTIONConvention will be the finest controlling body inside the merged union - greater in comparison to Board ofDirectors. Convention might have the right to MERGE with elevated unions, set policy, controlthe Metabolism, without giving the membership any direct election on such matters.8 from 10 National authorities will probably be Selected at Convention not by direct member election.The Selected Leader will have a way to delegate authority for the Executive V . p ., also selected bythe Convention, ultimately by people.Selected LEADERS MAY RECEIVE PAYThe SAG Metabolism prohibits needing to pay selected authorities and board people. The completely new unionConstitution makes way for obligations, presently not permitted.MAJORITY Forget About RULESHollywood signifies almost all SAG people, and a number of of revenue. If merged,when Hollywood features a majority, it needs to secure yet another 5% off their Residents,regardless of its majority election.Typically, seats on settling committees were based on Division/Local earnings. Thatwould forget about be true. The Best Choice can certainly choose individuals with National Boardapproval. People producing almost all revenue on specific contracts won' more beguaranteed majority say on people settling committees.EXCHANGE OF INFORMATIONThe unions haven't exchanged actor contract particulars. We have not a clue how-what-when-whyAFTRA provides residuals in made-for-fundamental cable shows or other credits tomanagement.AGENTSIf merged, the Board, without any member election, can alone decide whether agents can own or beowned by production organizations. The SAG membership rejected the ultimate agent agreementbecause from the potential conflict of curiosity.Deciding STRENGTHSAG and AFTRA are actually settling with each other since 1981. How has that accomplished good results SAGmembers? AFTRA has routinely undercut SAG interests. A merger of stars is the fact that isnecessary. This merger essentially handcuffs SAG.CONCLUSIONThe current merger plan solves alongside nothing and adds lots of natural problems. Election NOand demand our union leaders conduct the needed research to create an agreementwhich will not harm stars.To acquire more information http://internet.sagminorityreport.com/internet.sagaftraminorityreport.comIn Solidarity:Scott Bakula Erection dysfunction HarrisJoe d'Angerio Anne-Marie JohnsonElliott Gould David JolliffeValerie Harper Martin Sheen Contact Dork McNary at dork.mcnary@variety.com

Exclusive: Law & Order: SVU Books Big Love's Chloe Sevigny

Chloe Sevigny Former Big Love star Chloe Sevigny is returning to TV with a guest role on NBC's Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, TVGuide.com has learned exclusively. Law & Order: SVU: Will Benson's new relationship last?Sources tell us that Sevigny will play a stay-at-home mom who is attacked and kidnapped while video-chatting with her husband, who's halfway around the world. She is slated to start shooting the episode next week. NBC declined to comment on the casting.Sevigny is the latest big-name actor to visit SVU this season following Andre Braugher and Harry Connick Jr., the latter of whom is currently appearing in a four-episode arc as the love interest of Mariska Hargitay's Olivia Benson.Get more scoop on your favorite shows in our Winter TV previewBefore her Golden Globe-winning role as sister wife Nicollette Grant on HBO's Big Love, Sevigny made her television debut on Will & Grace in 2004. On the big screen, she is best known for Oscar-nominated role opposite Hilary Swank in Boys Don't Cry. She has also appeared in such films as American Psycho, Shattered Glass, and Zodiac and is reportedly attached to the upcoming biopic of porn star Linda Lovelace. SVU airs Wednesdays at 10/9c on NBC.

First Look: American Dad's Roger Smith Goes to Washington

American Dad The 2012 race for the presidency just got zanier as Roger Smith, resident alien on Fox's American Dad, has thrown his interstellar hat into the ring. He offers his views on the pressing issues he'll face in the campaign! TV Guide Magazine: What's your plan for stimulating the economy?Smith: My stimulation plan normally involves alligator clamps, a car battery, a bucket of Wesson oil, two free-range chickens, a Swedish tourist and the third season of Mr. Belvedere. TV Guide Magazine: Boxers or briefs?Smith: Boxers. No, briefs! Actually, either one as long as they're edible. TV Guide Magazine: Who's the first entertainer you'd invite to the White House?Smith: Justin Timberlake. He's pretty much the reason I'm running. For the last several years, I've been having a dickens of a time getting ahold of him. But he can't keep ignoring me if I'm president, right? TV Guide Magazine: You're a connoisseur of great wigs. Which candidate's hair do you admire most?Smith: It's not a level playing field. Rick Santorum's the only candidate who is obviously not wearing a hairpiece. Some might find Santorum's follicular honesty admirable, but my question is: How do you vote for a guy who is so clearly antitechnology? Subscribe to TV Guide Magazine now!

ABC orders Portia p Rossi pilot

ABC has bought multicam comedy pilot "The Smart One," starring Portia p Rossi and professional produced by Ellen DeGeneres and Lauren Corrao. P Rossi ("Best Ted") may have a effective lady who needs to utilize her less intelligent but popular sister, a classic beauty full that is mayor from the major city. Jesse Todd written the pilot in addition to professional produce. "Smart One" arises from P Generes' A Great Production in colaboration with Warner Bros. TV. The project initially stood a put-pilot commitment from NBC. Contact Jon Weisman at jon.weisman@variety.com

Vin Diesel Posts First Riddick Set Pic

He's back in costume...We've been treated to months of Vin Diesel posting artwork and updates about the still-untitled sequel to The Chronicles Of Riddick on to his Facebook page. But now that the film has been shooting for a little while, he's finally able to raise the stakes and has put up a picture of himself in full Riddick regalia, which was first spotted by the gang at Collider. You can take a gander below.Now that the movie's financial issues finally seem to be a thing of the past, writer/director David Twohy and his team have been hard at work getting the thing made. The plot finds Richard B. Riddick betrayed by his own kind and left for dead on an inhospitable planet swarming with alien predators. But, as we all know, that's where the man tends to thrive and he's soon turning the tables on a group of bounty hunters and forming an elaborate revenge scheme. And once he's had his vengeance, he plans to return to his home planet of Furya to save it from destruction. Then it'll be time for cucumber sandwiches and a pot of t... Okay, the last bit might not be quite true.Along with Mr Vin himself, the cast includes the likes of Katee Sackhoff (still best known as Starbuck from the rebooted Battlestar Galactica), Noland Gerard Funk, Jordi Molla and, reprising the role of Vaako, Karl Urban.We've yet to learn when Universal will release the movie, but it'll most likely be some time next year.

Desperate Regular folks: Can Lynette and Tom Get It Together By Series' Finish?

Felicity Huffman and Doug Savant Will among Wisteria Lane's most beloved couples be capable of reconcile before time expires? For seven seasons of Desperate Regular folks, Lynette (Felicity Huffman) and Tom Scavo (Doug Savant) were one of the show's handful of stable associations. While Gaby and Carlos, and Susan and Mike were busy separating and fixing the relationship, and Bree had her hands full bedding half the block, the Scavos always made an appearance to become together. But after separating in the start of the summer season, things aren't searching good. "We're worried," Huffman notifies TVGuide.com. "We just keep getting farther and farther apart." The way in which Desperate Regular folks finish? Marc Cherry teases a distinctive cameo That gap only will widen relating to this Sunday's episode, airing at 9/8c on ABC, when Lynette starts dating again. Tom already features a girlfriend, Jane (Andrea Parker), but that doesn't mean he'll proceed and take news well. "When I was in the set, James [Denton] needed a picture of Felicity in bed mattress with another actor and sent it in my opinion which i mentioned, 'That's it. I'd like the divorce,AInch Savant states getting fun. "I don't anticipate Tom reacting a lot better than I already did, that's poorly." Savant is hardly the only real person getting trouble accepting the couple's break-up this season. "Used to do formerly finish track of good reactions all the time. People loved Tom and thought he was funny. Now I hear 'You're stupid,'" Savant states. ("Do they really say you're stupid?" Huffman asks. "Could it have been me?" No less than they still carry out the old couple banter off-screen.) Watch full cases of Desperate Regular folks Huffman anticipates more tough feedback since Lynette is playing the region again, and he or she empathizes with fans. "People are shocked. People don't appreciate it. Someone said several things about people disliking Jane, but I've been dating so I am certain stuff will emerge relating to this,In . Huffman states. "People are attached, similar to we, for the marriage plus they want these to reconcile.Inch Taking into consideration the numerous struggles their marriage has experienced over time -- the invention from the extended-lost love child, cancer, miscarriage, money troubles, the supermarket shoot-out, the tornado as well as the plane crash -- simply how much will it take to make sure that they are apart permanently? "They usually are meant to be together. There's an in-depth and abiding love," Huffman states. "Like plenty of close ties, they've permit the bad stuff overtake the truly amazing stuff." A cheerful ending for Lynette and Tom is in order to Savant sees fit to depart behind Desperate Regular folks. "I so carefully relate this complete experience towards the personal friendship and dealing relationship because she's my partner around the program. She's the primary reason I exist around the program,Inch Savant states. "I am unable to think about the show going to an finish and us not together."

Sony VOD titles coming to Latin America

'The Smurfs'"The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo," "Moneyball" and "The Smurfs" will soon be available on VOD in Latin America thanks to a pact between Sony Pictures Television and giant Spanish telco Telefonica.Agreement includes all new Sony Pictures releases over an unspecified number of years, including the upcoming "Men in Black III" and "The Amazing Spider-Man" as well as catalog titles and TV skeins.Move comes in the wake of Netflix's launch in Latin America in September as various providers boost their content. Digital TV Research reports that 71% of the region's TV households -- 93 million -- will have digital TV by 2016, triple the end-2010 total. Pay TV households rose 19% in 2011 to 34.4 million, per Screen Digest estimates.Content will be available on online TV, tablets, PCs, smartphones and game consoles and will build on the content offered on Telefonica's virtual videoclub platform.The pair have agreements already in place in Spain, the Czech Republic and Germany. Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

ESPN Reporter Forges "Feud" With Make the most of Lowe

Make the most of Lowe Twitter was buzzing after Parks and Recreation's Make the most of Lowe tweeted that Indiana Colts quarterback Peyton Manning was prone to retire - news that came just like a huge surprise to fans especially to some single reporter because the Nfl. In the passive-aggressive (although funny) try to zing Lowe for encroaching on his territory with false reviews, ESPN's Adam Schefter tweeted, "Growing chatter that Parks and Entertainment will get canceled."Watch full cases of Parks and Entertainment Lowe has yet to fire place responding to Schefter's "rumor," but he did retweet his son's feelings round the matter: "@MatthewELowe @RobLowe It's okay father, Johnny which i still thank you even if you most likely did awaken the twittersphere... even round the blackout. #SOPA #Faceplam"Lowe's repetition did not immediately respond to a request comment.Watch Schefter enter his on-air injections at Lowe and also the show:

Will Golden Globes pave way for Oscar?

Host Ricky Gervais.True Grit was overlooked by the Globes, but got 10 Oscar noms. 'Winter's Bone'When there's little consensus during awards season, every minor announcement seems major. And with Oscar nomination ballots due at PricewaterhouseCoopers on Friday, all eyes will be on the results of Sunday's Golden Globes. But despite the proximity of the two dates, the gap between the Hollywood Foreign Press Assn.'s honors and the Academy Awards is wide, and has gotten even wider in the last few years.Since the Oscarcast moved from March to February in 2004, the Globes have become less of a precursor to Oscar and more of a complementary event.For best picture, the Globes -- even with two categories -- have lined up with the Oscars just twice in the last decade, when "Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King" swept nearly every award Hollywood was willing to bestow for 2003 and "Slumdog Millionaire" took home multiple Oscars in 2008.The disparity is good news for "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy," "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close," "The Tree of Life" and other films shut out in the Globe nominations. The gap is true in other categories as well. The Globes were more of an accurate bellwether when the Oscar ceremony took place in March and the balloting period was longer, giving Oscar voters more impetus to check out many of the Globes winners that they may not have seen.Some overlap between Globes and Oscar nominees is inevitable, particularly when the HFPA can tap 10-14 films between the drama and musical/comedy categories, but there remains a distinct disconnect that makes the Globes a tenuous indicator. The perceived snubs for some pics don't mean awards campaigners rein in their efforts after Globe announcements. If anything, they target Oscar voters more intensely up until polls close.For example, when "The King's Speech" and "The Social Network" were dominating the conversation last year, the Coen brothers' "True Grit" didn't get a single Globe nomination. But it went on to collect 10 Oscar noms, including the prestigious picture and director. "Biutiful" star Javier Bardem didn't get a nom from SAG or the Globes, and he earned a lead actor Oscar nom. "Another Day" was an Oscar original screenplay nominee but didn't get any Globes attention. Two best picture nominees, "Winter's Bone" and "127 Hours," earned Globe noms for their leads but nothing for the pictures or directors. "Winter's Bone" received a single Globe nom for star Jennifer Lawrence but ultimately racked up four Oscar noms, including best picture. And Oscar nominee "127 Hours" didn't get Globe recognition in the picture category, though it did get nommed for score, screenplay and actor. Going back another year, the contrast is more stark because the Academy had five slots for best picture. Not a single film that earned a Globe nom in the musical/comedy picture category -- "(500) Days of Summer," winner "The Hangover," "It's Complicated," "Julie & Julia" and "Nine" -- went on to get a best picture nom from the Academy. Of those films, only "Julie & Julia" and "Nine" got any Oscar noms. In fact, the Academy rounded out its 10 best picture nominees with "The Blind Side," "District 9," "An Education" and "A Serious Man," none of which earned picture Globe noms, though a few received acting noms.In 2008, among the five musical/comedy Globe nominees, there were only three Oscar nominations -- not one for picture.However, in the animation race, the Globes and Oscar choices line up nicely. Both groups have chosen the same film for the past four years, diverging only in the first year the HFPA added an animated category, 2006. The HFPA chose "Cars," and the Academy feted "Happy Feet." Contact Christy Grosz at christy.grosz@variety.com

On-set images of Gemma Arterton in Byzantium

Up to now in their career, Gemma Arterton has carried out plenty of upper-class glimmering gems for example Tamara Drewe and Quantum Of Solace, but to date as everyone knows, she's not received the chance to rupture many arterial bloodstream ships along with her bare teeth.That's soon to change however, as Neil Jordan's vampire flick Byzantium will dsicover Arterton flex her bloodletting muscles just like a toothy creature in the evening.As well as in the looks in the latest on-set pictures within the film's Dublin-based shoot, Jordan is really not skimping round the splatter front. Indeed, we barely recognised Miss Arterton from behind that crimson mask!The film sees Arterton star alongside Saiorse Ronan just like a mother and daughter team of vampires of the underworld from the underworld, who every once in awhile pose as brothers and sisters when the situation requires this. Abroad for murder, the pair try to lie reduced an British seaside town, nevertheless it soon becomes apparent it isn't just a persons government physiques that are after them...It might seem a significant fascinating premise to us, with Arterton's character fatigued by greater than 220 years of existence, and torn between the call to safeguard Ronan and her need to finally settle lower. Byzantium is pencilled straight into arrive Stateside later this year, getting a Uk release date not been confirmed.

Glees Jonathan Groff Lands Guest Spot on The Good Wife

Jonathan Groff Glee's Jonathan Groff will guest-star on an episode of The Good Wife, TVLine reports. Groff will appear on an episode scheduled to air during sweeps in February. He'll take on the role of Jimmy, the brother of a woman who goes missing while protesting in Syria. In the episode, Groff will head to court in an attempt to sue a software company. Glee Scoop: Jonathan Groff returns as Jesse St. JamesThe actor will also return to Glee later this season as the new coach of Vocal Adrenaline.The Good Wife airs on Sundays at 9/8c on CBS.

Some Academy Members Befuddled by New Oscar Ballots

Most Academy members have now received their Oscar nominations ballots, which were mailed out on Tuesday, and THR is beginning to hear from some of them who are profoundly confused by the new voting system. The primary area of concern is over the number of best picture nominees.Back on June 14, the Academy announced that, as part of an effort "to add a new twist to the 2011 Best Picture competition and a new element of surprise to its annual nominations announcement," it would no longer guarantee spots for 10 films in the category, but would instead have anywhere from five to 10 depending on how many attain first place votes on at least five percent of submitted ballots.The Oscar ballots that are arriving in voters' mailboxes, however, contain only five spaces in which a voter can nominate a film for best picture, which some voters are concerned is an error on the part of the Academy, since they -- understandably enough -- expected 10 spaces. (Nomination ballots in 2009 and 2010 -- the two years in which the Academy guaranteed spots for 10 films in the category -- featured 10 spaces and asked for voters to list their nominees in order of preference.)Academy members should rest assured that nothing is awry. Indeed, as the Academy announced in June -- and as THR's Gregg Kilday reported at the time -- "This time around, in the case of the best picture ballot, each member will be given a ballot with five open slots, which they will be asked to fill in with five movies, again ranked by preference."The reason that voters are only being asked to name five films instead of 10 is that the current "preferential" voting system rewards films that appear highly on the most ballots, not films that merely appear somewhere on the most ballots. In other words, it seeks to identify films that many people love, not that most people like.Consequently, as Kilday wrote in June, "On most ballots, the number one movie carries the real weight, although second and third choices could well come into play. Fourth and fifth choices will play a much more minimal role in the selection process." Sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, and tenth choices, had they been sought, would not have impacted the results at all.Oscar nomination ballots are due back to the Academy January 13. Hopefully this addresses voters' questions. The Hollywood Reporter

Helmers war for future of toons

While 'The Adventures of Tintin' and 'Rango,' were made by director-driven teams, 'Puss in Boots' emerged from Dreamworks' established culture.This year's animated feature race is a culture clash.Live-action helmers Steven Spielberg and Gore Verbinski, working outside established animation studios, built unique creative cultures tailored to their movies.Those established companies -- Disney, Pixar, DreamWorks -- and their entrenched creative cultures have long been the backbone of the animation business. This year, though, those entrenched cultures have evolved, perhaps reflecting a maturation of the feature animation industry.At DreamWorks Animation, for example, "Puss in Boots" director Chris Miller describes the studio culture as more filmmaker-driven than it has ever been. "In the early days of DreamWorks, Jeffrey Katzenberg was really hands-on," says Miller. "Now he's allowing us to find our own way, and even to fall on our faces -- whatever it takes."Miller cites his "Shrek" spinoff "Puss in Boots" as a good example. "There was a willingness to give this character his own world apart from 'Shrek,' and let the comedy be driven by character, not by satire. Jeffrey let us do that."Verbinski and his "Rango" team went anti-corporate, creating a cloistered workspace at Verbinski's old house in the hills above Los Angeles. The goal was to insulate those artists from studio or producer notes, and liberate them to take risks. It was a high-wire act from day one."None of us had any animation experience," designer Mark "Crash" McCreery admits. "We were under the radar, working in a home, and nobody stopped us."Verbinski's team spent a year creating a "story reel" -- an early version of the entire picture, albeit with simple art and temporary sound. It fell to Industrial Light & Magic, which had never done an animated feature before, to bring that story reel to life in CG animation. "Gore talked to ILM's animators as if they were actors. He let them embrace a character and own it." ILM learned to think in terms of entire sequences, not just individual shots, but in the end, says McCreery, "nothing changed from the animatic Blind Wink had done to the final product."Spielberg, who usually works with ILM, instead teamed with Peter Jackson's Weta Digital for the first time on "The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn." Each side helped the other.Spielberg had never had to capture actors in a blank "volume" before, and Weta helped him by providing him with rough CG reference imagery on monitors."That at least grounded me," Spielberg has remarked (Daily Variety, Nov. 16). "I was hoping that I could bring some of the filmmaking tools of my trade to a medium that I had never explored before, and that really did the trick."Weta, on the other hand, had never done stylized characters, and Spielberg wanted to keep the graphic style of Herge's original books. Says Weta partner Joe Letteri: "We had to find a way to honor the source material and still create a unique look on film."Letteri credits Jackson with getting heavily involved early on. Jackson, whose pictures built New Zealand-based Weta into a world-class vfx studio, eased the path for both Weta and Spielberg."He (Jackson) understood the challenge of taking a character design and turning it into a 3D character that you want to see onscreen," Letteri says. Letteri notes that while Spielberg lived a half world away from Weta, he collaborated constantly via videoconferencing. "It was a surprisingly easy way to work."Arguably the most unusual blended culture this year paired the stop-motion animators at Aardman with the 3D-CG artists at Sony Animation and Imageworks for "Arthur Christmas."To mesh such different studio cultures, Sony artists worked at Aardman in Britain during story development, and "Aardman West" was set up in L.A. during production."We wanted to feel like a joined-up studio and not a vendor," explains director Sarah Smith. "In a small studio like Aardman, you think of the totality of a project. You're always -- in your head -- trading one part of the process against another, in terms of what's important to you."It can be hard for people from a visual effects pipeline like Sony's to do that kind of holistic thinking. Had it been a classic 'vendor' relationship, you can imagine all sorts of horse-trading. But having our teams related to each other all the way through, we could to keep that 'big picture' thinking." nPixar's story-driven culture is guided by its famous "brain trust" of collaborators and its policy of inviting comments from everyone in the studio's rank and file. Even John Lasseter, who built that culture, and who could almost certainly ignore such notes with impunity if he so desired, heeded their critiques of "Cars 2," recalls producer Denise Ream."There were uncomfortable times when issues were brought up by crew members -- like several instances where people felt that the movie bordered on violence. It's a spy movie, so we definitely had to have stakes. It would not have been believable if we didn't. But John definitely heard what Pixar people had to say, and made changes."RELATED LINKS: Seeds of genius Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com