• Linda Hamilton is in negotiations to appear in Terminator: Salvation. Word is she'll provide a voiceover for the movie. Hopefully not when Christian Bale is speaking, of course.
• The child actors from Slumdog Millionaire will attend the Academy Awards on Sunday. They may not have been paid much, but they will get to meet Hugh Jackman. (Or at least, Bruce Vilanch.)
• Box office pundits predict that Tyler Perry's Madea Goes to Jail will top the box office over Oscar weekend. And sweep next year's Oscars, probably.
• Kate Winslet plans to give up doing nude scenes in movies. She'll just have to rely on her staggering talent to win awards.
• Talks between SAG and the AMPTP have broken down after only a couple of days. The AMPTP claims they have submitted their final deal to the actor's guild.
• An anonymous blog post claims to have the official list of Oscar winners. If so, they better watch their back. Those Price Waterhouse accountants can be ruthless.
• Watchmen's Jeffrey Dean Morgan will stick with comic book adaptations, starring in an adaptation of DC/Vertigo's The Losers.
• Speaking of Watchmen, the director's cut could hit theaters in New York and Los Angeles in July if the film is a hit. Meanwhile, early reviews range from gushingly glowing to "meh."
• Several Oscar presenters have backed out of Sunday's ceremony. Since the presenters are being kept secret to boost ratings, we'll never know who we missed seeing give away the award for best live-action short film.
BIZ
Cha-Ching! It's boom time at the box office in 2009
from Entertainment Weekly's Hollywood Insider by Nicole Sperling
One bumbling mall cop, a vengeful father, a cranky old racist, a group of struggling romantics, and an ax-wielding psychopath. It's not your typical band of superheroes, but in the first seven weeks of 2009, this motley crew has helped...
Movies remain recession-friendly
from Film Journal
You would hardly believe that a recession was in full swing
in the country if you attended a major multiplex in the U.S. during a recent
weekend.
The Recession That Ate The Art Films
from Forbes.com: Media News by Dorothy Pomerantz
Independent movies are getting crushed right now. Will they survive?
Comedy pilots reflect recession
from Hollywood Reporter by By James Hibberd
Networks are looking at recession-friendly ideas for their
new half-hours, with many projects embracing characters in crisis and avoiding
office settings.
Industry gets a break in California budget
from Hollywood Reporter by By Carl DiOrio
California finally is offering production incentives. That
surprising reality had industry and economic execs pinching themselves
Thursday.
Canada's tax credit rate won't go south
from Hollywood Reporter by By Etan Vlessing
The Canadian government said Thursday that it will maintain
the federal tax credit for visiting American film and TV producers at its
current level, even as cash-strapped border-U.S. states consider pulling or
reducing their own tax sweeteners.
CBS posts 52% profit drop, slashes dividend 81%
from L.A. Times - TV News
The media giant, which is highly dependent on advertising
sales, swings to a loss for the year. Analysts hadn't expected such a dramatic
dividend cut, but several say the move makes sense.
from L.A. Times - TV News
Last year a 30-second commercial could command as much as
$1.8 million. Now, just days before the broadcast, individual spots have been
selling for $1.4 million to $1.7 million.
Oscar's ad woes: Is erectile dysfunction next?
How bleak is the advertising picture for networks running awards shows like the Oscars?
What it takes to make it in Hollywood
Carsten Kurpanek bought a car. Then he and his girlfriend packed up their things and drove more than 2,000 miles to Los Angeles. Since then, it's been up and down as they've tried to succeed in the movie business.
AMC offers Oscar marathon for $30
from Entertainment News - UPI.com
KANSAS CITY, Mo., Feb. 20 (UPI) -- AMC Entertainment Inc. says it plans to screen all five films nominated for best picture as part of a special pre-Oscar movie marathon at some U.S. theaters.
Producers offer SAG 'last, best' deal
from Entertainment News - UPI.com
LOS ANGELES, Feb. 20 (UPI) -- The U.S. Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers says it has offered the Screen Actors Guild a last, best and final offer.
Broadcast pilots flying to AFTRA
from Hollywood Reporter by By Nellie Andreeva
With SAG still reeling from an internal power struggle and
engaged in protracted contract negotiations with producers, AFTRA is making big
gains on its rival actors union in primetime television.
'Star Trek': Enterprise marketing
from Hollywood Reporter by By Jay A. Fernandez
On May 8, Paramount will set out for a new and, it hopes,
not final frontier when it relaunches the iconic sci-fi franchise "Star
Trek."
FESTIVALS
Lineup Unveiled For Superfly During Jazzfest
from Billboard News - All by Katie Hasty, N.Y.
Death Cab For Cutie, Black Keys, Michael Franti and Galactic are among the artists confirmed to perform at the 2009 Superfly during Jazzfest Concert Series, which runs April 24-May 2 in New Orleans.
SXSW Schedule - Up, Running, and Still TBA
Prefixmag, NY
The scheduling wizards at SXSW recently posted the official 2009 SXSW
Music Schedule. It's organized from Wednesday through Sunday, is alphabetically
arranged by venue, and is searchable by artist. Yee-haw!
AWARDS
Nate Silver predicts an Oscar upset!
Nate Silver is the most brilliant statistical guru of our
time.
Some Oscar presenters have backed out
from Hollywood Reporter by Associated Press
Anonymity has its perks -- especially for celebrity Oscar
presenters who might need to wriggle out of the gig.
How the Bets Are Falling on the Oscars
from Entertainment Awards: News & Videos about Entertainment Awards - CNN.com
Slumdog, Rourke and Winslet and favored, but there is a spoiler
Academy has custody of some 100 orphaned Oscars
from AP Top Entertainment News At 11:05 ... by By The Associated Press
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences requires all Oscar nominees to sign a contract specifying that they will not sell their statuette without first offering it back to the academy for $1....
Oscar Winners' $1 Million Offer: Give Airtime To Airborne
from Access Hollywood - Movies
As if taking home an Academy Award isn't enough, now, some of this year's winners have a chance to earn $1 million for charity - all they have to do is give Airborne a little air time during their acceptance speech.
Is `Man on Wire' the best film of the year?
from AP Top Entertainment News At 11:05 ... by By JAKE COYLE
NEW YORK (AP) -- Seldom is one of the most crowd-pleasing films of the year an Academy Award nominee for best documentary....
`Benjamin Button': Big Oscar loser in the making?
from AP Top Entertainment News At 11:05 ... by By DAVID GERMAIN
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- The producers of "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" toiled for 18 years on their strange romantic epic, so simply bringing it to the screen - let alone grabbing a leading 13 Academy Awards nominations - was a victory....
Video:
Access Extended: The 11th Annual Costume Designers Guild Awards
from Access Hollywood - Movies
"Sex and The City" star Kristen Davis reveals details about the new "SATC" sequel. Michael Douglas talks about how costume designers have impacted him as an actor. Plus, Deborah Messing reveals what was her favorite "Starter Wife" costume.
Heath Ledger's family celebrates his Oscar nod
from AP Top Entertainment News At 11:05 ... by By SANDY COHEN
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- A dozen members of Heath Ledger's family have come to Hollywood, and though it's still not known whether any of them will accept an Oscar on his behalf, they're already celebrating the late actor's legacy....
Duffy Triumphs With Three BRIT Awards
from Billboard News - All by Andre Paine, London
Welsh vocalist Duffy was the big winner at the 2009 BRIT
Awards, taking home three trophies tonight (Feb. 18) at London's Earls Court.
from Variety.com
Spirit Awards: 2009 Spirit Award nominees
MOVIES
from Box Office Mojo - Top Stories by by Conor Bresnan
At the foreign box office last weekend, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button clung to the lead, garnering $31 million...
Box Office Preview: Tyler Perry takes on Oscar weekend
from Entertainment Weekly's Hollywood Insider by Joshua Rich
Academy Awards weekend is usually a slow one at the box office. But it's hard to gauge just how much of a pop-cultural distraction the Oscars are going to be this year, considering all the talk of low TV ratings...
Oliver Stone On Why He Was 'Lucky to Survive' Bush Biopic 'W'
from MTV Movies Blog by Eric Ditzian
He's made movies about pornographers and serial killers, tortured 'Nam soldiers and tortured 'Nam vets, assassinated presidents and disgraced presidents. But to hear Oliver Stone tell it, his last film might have been his riskiest.
from MTV Movies Blog by Larry Carroll
It's official: Ellen Ripley is the most badass female movie character of all time. So now the only question that remains is a simple one: Will we ever see her again? "You know, Fox was going to do another one," Sigourney Weaver said to us recently while accepting Ripley's honor. "They had it written. Joss Whedon wrote it."
Mickey Rourke may still be in 'Iron Man 2' (and other macho
movie news)
from Entertainment Weekly's Hollywood Insider by Nicole Sperling
When it comes to Mickey Rourke, it looks like you can't always take what he says at face value.
"Watchmen" Begins Screening This Week
from Box Office Boffo
Warner Bros. tells me it is screening Zack Snyder's "Watchmen" for theater owners this week, as well as for press. I wonder what the reaction will be.
Early Buzz: Watchmen is an Extremely Faithful Adaptation,
Possibly to a Flaw?
from /Film by orfilms@gmail.com (slashfilm.com)
Reviews of Watchmen have started to leak online, and the consensus thus far is the movie is extremely faithful to the graphic novel (with exception of the ending) and possibly to a fault.
'Watchmen': Sex! Blood! Heroes!
from EW.com: Movies
By Jeff Jensen
Sure, all superhero movies are violent. But this one revels in blood, sex, and
politics. It took 23 years to get to the big screen. Now, we're going to find
out who can handle it. Are you ready to watch ''Watchmen''?
Article: 'Watchmen' Cast Talk Graphic Novel's Influence On The
Film
from Access Hollywood - Movies
Access Hollywood's Dish of Salt, Laura Saltman (a "Watchmen" novice) and Scott "Movie" Mantz (a true fanboy) sat down with the cast of the highly anticipated film adaptation of Alan Moore's groundbreaking 1986 graphic novel on Wednesday and talked about the source material's influence on the movie.
Video:
Sarah Jessica Parker Confirms 'Sex' Sequel On 'The Billy Bush Show'
from Access Hollywood - Movies
Sarah Jessica Parker calls Billy Bush to give him news that the entire "Sex and The City" cast, along with writer-director Michael Patrick King, have officially signed on for another movie.
Fashion Doc Eleven Minutes Dresses Down Reality
In a Hurry: A superbly crafted, bargain-budget documentary that profiles a fascinating underdog--Project Runway's season-one winner, Jay McCarroll--and skillfully explores the...
Video:
Preview: 'Inglourious Basterds'
from Access Hollywood - Movies
Brad Pitt stars in Quentin Tarantino's new ultraviolent movie about a group of Jewish-American soldiers whose mission is to brutally kill Nazis.
'Wrestler' 'roid-dealer actor in steroids bust
from AP Top Entertainment News At 11:05 ... by By TOM HAYS
NEW YORK (AP) -- The actor who played a steroid dealer in the Oscar-nominated film "The Wrestler" was charged Thursday with being the real thing: Authorities arrested him in a large steroid bust that culminated in a violent chase....
'Twilight': Madonna won't appear in 'New Moon' but may provide
songs
from Entertainment Weekly's Hollywood Insider by Hollywood Insider
Widespread Internet chatter that Madonna may participate in some capacity in the Twilight sequel, New Moon, may be only partly true, a source close to the production tells EW. Summit Entertainment, the studio behind the movie series, has no plans...
Linda Hamilton in Talks For Terminator Salvation
from /Film by orfilms@gmail.com (slashfilm.com)
Terminator series star Linda Hamilton has confirmed to MTV that she is in active negotiations with Warner Bros to
reprise her role of Sarah Connor in Terminator Salvation.
WB to release Mel Gibson movie
from Entertainment News - UPI.com
LOS ANGELES, Feb. 19 (UPI) -- Warner Bros. has acquired the North American rights to the Mel Gibson movie "Edge of Darkness," a big-screen adaptation of the British miniseries.
Katherine Heigl joins Ashton Kutcher in 'Five Killers'
from Entertainment Weekly's Hollywood Insider by Nicole Sperling
Katherine Heigl's post-Grey's Anatomy career doesn't seem to be stalled at all. The actress has just signed on to play opposite Ashton Kutcher in Lionsgate's action comedy Five Killers.
TELEVISION
TV Decoder: A Gloomy Day for 'Project Runway'
By By Brian Stelter
Published: February 20, 2009
"Project Runway" filmed an awkward finale at Fashion Week in New York on Friday morning, in a room filled with uncertainty about the show's future.
from Peter Bart
There's turmoil in late-night TV. Conan O'Brian is in his last week at NBC's "Late Night" before he prepares to replace Jay Leno.
Is
'Spectacular' The New 'High School Musical'?
from Access Hollywood - Movies
The Disney Channel has a phenomenon with "High School Musical." And now, Nickelodeon hopes to match its success with their own version. Meet the "Spectacular" new stars!
De Niro, Morrison first guests for Fallon's show
from AP Top Entertainment News At 11:05 ...
NEW YORK (AP) -- If Jimmy Fallon is nervous about the premiere of his new gig as "Late Night" host, he'll have show-biz heavyweights Robert De Niro and Van Morrison to lean on. They'll be the guests for Fallon's March 2 debut hosting the NBC late-night show....
MC Hammer To Star In A&E Reality Series
from Billboard News - All by James Hibberd, The Hollywood Reporter
A&E has picked up a new series starring '90s rapper MC
Hammer. The performer, his wife and five children will be the focus of a
half-hour, 11-episode reality series set to premiere this year.
CBS working on organ transplant pilot
from Entertainment News - UPI.com
CHICAGO, Feb. 19 (UPI) -- A former Chicago journalist and aspiring film producer
has sold a television series concept to CBS about the competitive business of
organ transplantation.
Mizrahi, Rowland to host 'Fashion'
from Variety.com
Reality TV: Duo will lead panel of judges on Bravo show -- Isaac Mizrahi and Kelly Rowland have been tapped to host Bravo's upcoming reality competish series "The Fashion Show."
MUSIC
Swift Back To No. 1 As Plant/Krauss, Coldplay Soar
from Billboard News - All by Katie Hasty, N.Y.
In a chart week encompassing Grammy boosts and Valentine's
Day sales, Taylor Swift's Big Machine effort "Fearless" returns to
the top of The Billboard 200. Big news also comes from multiple winners Robert
Plant and Alison Krauss and Coldplay, whose latest albums zoom up the chart.
Diddy
Makes A Date For 'Paris' Trip
from Billboard News - All by Mariel Concepcion, N.Y.
Sean "Diddy" Combs has set a Sept. 22 release date
for his new artist album, "Last Train To Paris."
Conor
Oberst Explores The 'Outer South'
from Billboard News - All by Katie Hasty, N.Y.
Conor Oberst has wrapped his second album with his Mystic
Valley Band, "Outer South," and will release it May 5 on Merge
Records. The group debuted with an album under Oberst's name last summer.
Atlantic
Rules Hot 100 With Flo Rida, T.I.
from Billboard News - All by Jonathan Cohen, N.Y.
Two big moves on the Billboard Hot 100 give Atlantic Records
ownership of the top two positions. As reported yesterday, a 58-1 rush puts
"Right Round" by Flo Rida on top, while a 9-2 jump pushes "Dead
and Gone" by T.I. featuring Justin Timberlake into second place.
Decemberists
Studying Up Before Spring Tour
from Billboard News - All by Michael D. Ayers, N.Y.
Fans will get a double dose of the Decemberists this spring
when the band returns to the road on the "A Short Fazed Hovel" tour.
DMB
Album Due June 2, Summer Tour Announced
from Billboard News - All by Jonathan Cohen, N.Y.
Originally expected in April, Dave Matthews Band's
as-yet-untitled new RCA album will now arrive June 2. The group has also
announced its annual summer tour, beginning May 27 in Darien Center, N.Y.
Why Annie Lennox is ready to move on
Annie Lennox's Eurythmics days seem like a lifetime ago for the Scotland-born singer-songwriter, especially when you consider the successful solo career she's enjoyed since her partnership with Dave Stewart. It's that body of work -- songs like 'Why" and "No More 'I Love You's' " that are showcased on her newest album.
New INXS front man says he was fired
from Entertainment News - UPI.com
SYDNEY, Feb. 20 (UPI) -- Canadian singer J.D. Fortune, the winner of the competition reality show "Rock Star: INXS," says the Australian band has fired him and he's now homeless.
What The U2 Leak Says About Music Biz
from Forbes.com: Media News by David K. Randall
Recorded music sales continue to trip up even the most seasoned artists.
OK Go readies new material for March jaunt
from Top Stories from LiveDaily.com
(LiveDaily.com) Alt-rockers OK Go [ tickets
] will preview material from their forthcoming new studio album during a brief
coast-to-coast tour next month....
Depeche Mode makes 'Sounds' in many forms
from USATODAY.com Life - Top Stories
A new Depeche Mode album is always a big deal to fans of the iconic electro-pop band
ONLINE
On the Net: Does Google inspire sharing or not?
from AP Top Entertainment News At 11:05 ... by By JAKE COYLE
The grand vision of the Internet is as a compendium of human knowledge (rather than, say, a good resource of pet videos, pornography and will.i.am)....
from Forbes.com: Media News by Evan Hessel
Broadband users face a new choice between high prices and restricted downloading.
Journalism Challenged In A Changing Landscape
from Forbes.com: Media News by Oxford Analytica
In the developed world, broadcast and print media go head to head with online and ''citizens' journalism.''
from Peter Bart
Andrew Sullivan wrote a superb essay in the Atlantic not long ago explaining his addiction
to blogdom. "Truth is inherently transitory in blogging," he wrote.
ETC...
Hoover investigated rumors that Valenti was gay
from AP Top Entertainment News At 11:05 ...
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Longtime Hollywood lobbyist Jack Valenti was among the Washington figures whose sex lives were secretly investigated by the FBI in the 1960s....
London Fashion Week offers glitz _ in small doses
from AP Top Entertainment News At 11:05 ... by By GREGORY KATZ
LONDON (AP) -- Big time glitz is out - but a little bit is still good fun....
Bollywood-style dance classes drawing big crowds
from AP Top Entertainment News At 11:05 ... by By KRISTEN WYATT
DENVER (AP) -- Drawn to the lavish dance numbers in films from India, or just bored with their gym workouts, people are flocking to Bollywood-style dance classes that mix traditional Indian folk dances with hip-hop moves. And the U.S. exercise industry is taking notice....
Author of fake Holocaust story is not sorry
from AP Top Entertainment News At 11:05 ...
NEW YORK (AP) -- The author of a discredited Holocaust memoir is not apologizing....
Don Johnson sues over 'Nash Bridges'
from AP Top Entertainment News At 11:05 ...
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Don Johnson has sued a trio of entertainment companies, claiming he is owed millions in profits from the TV series "Nash Bridges."...
NYC museum celebrates hip-hop, serves $1 burgers (AP)
from Yahoo! News: Entertainment News
AP - There's a new museum in New York City devoted to hip-hop and it serves cheap hamburgers.
