15 actors sue for LOTR profits
LOS ANGELES (AP) - Fifteen actors from the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy are suing New Line Cinema for breach of contract, claiming they're still owed a percentage of an estimated US$100 million in profits from the sales of movie merchandise, their lawyer said Wednesday.
The New Zealand actors were supposed to split five per cent of the revenue after expenses from sales of caps, video games, mugs and other merchandise, said the lawsuit filed May 30 in Los Angeles County Superior Court. But the suit contends New Line breached the contract by taking distribution and "gross participation" fees to which it wasn't entitled
The fees weren't in the contract and they ate up all the profits owed to the actors, said their lawyer, Henry Gradstein of Los Angeles.
With those fees, "the expenses will always be approximately 104 per cent. It's Hollywood accounting," Gradstein said.
The merchandise has created $100 million in net profits, including $22 million alone for items associated with Paul Norell, who played the "King of the Dead," the lawyer estimated.
New Line does not comment on pending litigation, spokesman Robert Pini said Wednesday.
It's not the first suit against New Line stemming from the hugely successful movie series.
Director Peter Jackson's production company sued the distributor two years ago, claiming it was shortchanged on profits, including revenue from DVD sales, for 2001's "The Fellowship of the Ring."
Also, in 2005 New Line reached an out-of-court settlement with Hollywood producer Saul Zaentz, who claimed he was owed an additional $20 million in royalties from the "Lord of the Rings" films. Terms were not disclosed.
Priceless Bob Barker ends record TV run
LOS ANGELES - Bob Barker maintained a smile on his face throughout the final show as he bid goodbye after 35 years as host of "The Price Is Right" and 50 years of daytime TV. But he got misty-eyed afterward while speaking to reporters.
"The thing that surprises me most is that I got through the whole (show) without crying," the 83-year-old icon said, still holding his trademark microphone with the old-fashioned cord.
During the post-show press conference, Barker said he spent the morning of his last day on the job reminiscing about his five decades on national TV.
"I really had myself worked up into an emotional state," he said. "And I thought, `I've really got to get over there and do this show. Straighten yourself out, Barker.'"
That he did, ending his record tenure by blowing kisses and working in the same low-key, genial fashion that made him one of daytime TV's biggest stars. As the off-air light loomed, he closed with his usual, "Help control the pet population, have your pets spayed or neutered. Goodbye everybody."
After the cameras stopped rolling he told the studio audience, "I thank you, thank you, thank you for inviting me into your home for more than 50 years. I'm truly grateful and I hope that all of you have enjoyed your visit to `The Price Is Right.'"
Barker was humble when asked what qualities have made him an American favorite for half a century.
"Hosts of shows are like pie," he said. "Some people like lemon, some like cherry, some like apple, and fortunately a lot of them like the Barker kind."
He said the key to his success is listening.
"When I talk with someone, I listen. And I think if you do, you're going to find little nuggets of gold to go with."
The show's hour-long taping began with its host entering the studio to a standing ovation from an adoring public and a giant shower of colorful confetti from his colleagues. The program is scheduled to air on June 15.
The warm reception was "humbling," Barker said: "This whole experience has just been overwhelming."
Fans felt it too.
"This is over-the-top amazing. It's like a piece of Americana," said Terry Baldwin, 55, of Pebble Beach, Calif., who had camped out overnight to ensure she got a seat in the audience. "You could feel the electricity all day long."
Barker answered questions from the audience during commercial breaks in the taping. "Someone asked, will I spend my mornings watching `The Price Is Right'? In as few words as possible, no," he quipped. He quickly conceded, however, that curiosity might get the better of him.
Barker said before the show he is looking forward to retirement, but added, "I know that I will miss the show terribly and miss the people on the show terribly. I know that I will have periods after I'm once retired when I'll think, `Boy I wish I was going over there to do `The Price Is Right.'"
Barker said the only souvenir he planned to take with him was the sign from his dressing-room door. "The guys put up a sign that (says) WGMC, world's greatest master of ceremonies."
Barker began his national television career in 1956 as the host of "Truth or Consequences." He first appeared on CBS' "The Price Is Right" on Sept. 4, 1972, and has been the face of the show ever since.
For 35 years, he has played the same games with contestants and filmed from the same spot — Studio 33, aka the Bob Barker Studio — at CBS Television City.
"The only thing that's changed on `The Price Is Right' is the color of my hair," Barker said during a CBS prime-time tribute show that aired last month.
Barker has influenced the show's prizes over the years, said longtime producer Roger Dobkowitz.
"Because he's a vegetarian, we respect his wishes and we don't advertise meat products on the show," he said. At Barker's request, they also stopped giving away fur coats.
The silver-haired host's long reign has also inspired fan traditions. Most female contestants — and even some men — kiss him on the cheek. Members of the military wear their uniforms. College students wear their university sweat shirts and groups of fans come in matching custom-made T-shirts.
As the legendary host counted down his last days on the air, fans from around the country made pilgrimages to Los Angeles to see him. Dozens camped out overnight near CBS studios for a chance to say goodbye during Barker's final week of shows.
"He's part of American culture," said Mark Dub, a NASA engineer who flew from Houston to attend the last show.
Barker's long tenure was checkered by lawsuits brought by past "Barker's Beauties," the gown-wearing hostesses who present prizes such as microwaves, pinball machines and brand-new cars. Some sued him for sexual harassment and wrongful termination over the years. Most received out-of-court financial settlements.
Barker said he has no regrets — yet — about retiring: "Isn't that strange? I expected to have second thoughts."
He plans to fill his free time with travel, exercise and working with his animal charity, the DJ&T Foundation, named for his late wife, Dorothy Jo, and mother, Matilda ("Everybody called her Tilly," he said).
But he will miss the show, he said: "How many 83-year-old men get up every morning knowing that they're going to have a standing ovation sometime during the day?"
Though Barker joked that "all of television is going to end" when he retires, "The Price Is Right" will continue in the fall with a new host, who has yet to be named. Among those reportedly in the running are Todd Newton of the E! network, Mark Steines of "Entertainment Tonight," George Hamilton and John O'Hurley.
"You're never going to be able to find somebody who's just like Bob Barker," said Cecile Frot-Coutaz, chief executive of FremantleMedia North America, which produces "The Price Is Right." "They're very large shoes to fill."
Canadian journalist says "Knocked Up" a knock-off
TORONTO (Reuters) - A Canadian journalist is suing the director and the studio of the new hit comedy "Knocked Up," arguing that she's the rightful parent of the tale behind the movie.
In a suit filed against writer-director Judd Apatow, and against Universal Studios, Calgary-based Rebecca Eckler says there are too many similarities between the movie and her book about her accidental pregnancy to be a coincidence.
"I don't doubt, purely based on the screenplay, that he (Apatow) had a copy in his office somehow of the book," Eckler told Reuters.
"A lot of people, I'm sure, will say, 'Well, getting drunk and knocked up, it could happen to everybody.' Well, the fact is, it doesn't happen to everybody, and no one had written about it before I did. And he (Apatow) didn't sell the screenplay until after I did."
Eckler's book, "Knocked Up: Confessions of a Hip Mother-to-Be," was published in the United States in 2005, and Eckler said she wants credit and compensation.
The story of an up-and-coming reporter who gets drunk and pregnant is the premise behind both the film and Eckler's book. She said other similarities include the fact that both fathers are Jewish-Canadians, and both mothers took a huge number of pregnancy tests to confirm a baby was on the way.
Apatow contends the two stories are very different.
"The book is about a woman who gets pregnant by the fiance that she loves on the night of her engagement party," he said in a statement. "The film is about a one-night stand between a pot smoking slacker and an ambitious young woman that leads to a pregnancy and their attempts to get to know each other.
"Anyone who reads the book and sees the movie will instantly know that they are two very different stories about a common experience."
Eckler said she filed her copyright infringement lawsuit in January. The trial is set to begin in March 2008.
The movie opened in North America on June 1 and stars Seth Rogen as pot-smoking daddy Ben Stone and Katherine Heigl as the mom-to-be, Alison Scott. It earned an impressive $30.7 million in its first weekend.
"I can see why the movie's successful. It's funny," said Eckler.
Jim Henson’s masterpieces return to DVD
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has just unveiled details about DVD re-releases of Jim Henson’s feature film master pieces The Dark Crystal and Labyrinth, scheduled for August as Special Editions.
In another time, the Dark Crystal was the Balance and Truth in the Universe, but it was destroyed and the world split into two factions led by the wicked Skeksis and the peaceful Mystics. Now as the convergence of the three suns approaches, the Crystal must be healed or darkness will reign forever. It is up to Jen, the last of his race, to carry out the prophecy that a Gelfing will return the missing chard of crystal and destroy the Skeksis’ evil Empire. But will Jen be up to the challenge of battling the unknown?
The 2-disc 25th Anniversary Special Edition DVD will feature a brand new transfer of the film with 5.1 channel Dolby Digital audio. As extras the release will also include Rediscovered Footage from Jim Henson’s home in England as well as the Multi-part Featurette “Reflections on The Dark Crystal” featuring including all-new interviews with the writers and performers behind the magic including David O’Dell, Dave Goelz and Katheryn Mullen, Brian Froud, Brian Henson, Jane Gootnick, and Mira Velimorivic.
“Labyrinth” tells the story of Sarah (Jennifer Connolly), a young teenager with an active imagination, who, when frustrated with babysitting her baby brother, summons the goblins to take him away. Be careful what you wish for, because when little Toby disappears, Sarah must follow him into a puzzling fantasy world to rescue him from the Goblin King (David Bowie). Guarding the castle is the Labyrith itself: a complex and twisted maze of trickery, including outrageous characters and inexplicable dangers that Sarah must get through in time to save Toby.
The Special Edition features a brand new transfer of the film also, combined with a 5.1 channel Dolby Digital audio track. It will also include newly Rediscovered Footage recovered from Jim Henson’s home in England as well as 60 minutes worth of featurettes with new interviews of the writers and performers behind the magic including, executive producer George Lucas, Brian Henson, Brian Froud, Karen Prell, Dave Goelz, Mira Velimorivic, Gates McFadden, Toby Froud and Jane Gootnick.
Both releases will be in stores on August 14 with a $24.96 suggested retail price. While not yet announced we believe Blu-Ray versions of these films are also on their way some time in the foreseeable future, which would make these films even more spectacular, no doubt.
Miller steps up to bat as "Grand Slam" host
LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Dennis Miller has signed on to host his first game show, GSN's "Grand Slam," in which top game show contestants compete against one another.
"Grand Slam" features 16 former game show contestants vying for top honors in a single-elimination tournament. They will be tested on their general knowledge, math and logic skills, ability with words and letters and grasp of pop culture and current events, with one winner taking home a $100,000 grand prize.
Among the contestants are "Jeopardy!" champs Ken Jennings and Brad Rutter, along with "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" top prize winners Kevin Olmstead and John Carpenter.
Amanda Byram ("The Swan," "Paradise Hotel") will serve as co-host on the eight-episode series. "Grand Slam" is set to debut on August 7.
Miller, best known for his years on NBC's "Saturday Night Live," hosts the nationally syndicated Westwood One Radio talk show "The Dennis Miller Show." The Emmy winner also hosted a talker on HBO and was an analyst for two seasons of ABC's "Monday Night Football."