Jimmy Fallon: Got any plans in 2009?
Is the Conan O'Brien succession plan the worst-kept secret in town?
A knowledgeable source familiar with the negotiations recently told Entertainment Weekly what many in town already believe: that SNL vet Jimmy Fallon is the guy who'll replace Conan O'Brien when the latter takes over The Tonight Show in 2009.
Several publications like Broadcasting & Cable have already reported it as a strong possibility, though NBC won't confirm other than acknowledging that Fallon is at the top of its "short list" (the comedian already signed a development deal with the network earlier this year).
Alrighty then! If there are any unanswered questions left when it comes to late night, it involves Jay Leno and whether he'll take NBC up on its offer to stick around once O'Brien assumes his post. Speculation is rampant that Leno won't settle for the occasional primetime peacock special; maybe he'll bolt for another network like ABC and put Nightline out of business (or at least out of the 11:35 p.m. timeslot).
One thing's for sure: this inevitable game of musical chairs could turn out to be even juicier than the Leno-Letterman saga chronicled in Bill Carter's 1996 tome The Late Shift.
Stay tuned...
Hollywood studio rep sees 'disaster' after talks break off with writers
Negotiations have broken off again between the union representing Hollywood writers and the studios, with both sides blaming the other for the lack of movement.
"We have had six across-the-table sessions and have been met with only silence and stonewalling," said J. Nicholas Counter III, president of the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers.
"We are farther apart … than when we started, and the only outcome we see is a disaster."
The Writers Guild of America has been in talks with the alliance since July.
The two sides are scheduled to return to the bargaining table on Tuesday but it remains to be seen whether they can continue talking, as Friday's meeting lasted only one hour.
In statements released Friday, both sides accused the other of inflexibility and expressed frustration at the slow pace of negotiations.
The guild mailed ballots to its members Oct. 1, asking them to authorize a strike. The union gave members until Oct. 18 to decide. The writers' contract expires Oct. 31.
Studios and networks have hastened the filming of shows and movies while also stockpiling scripts. The last strike was in 1988 and that lasted 22 weeks, costing the industry an estimated half billion dollars.
The two sides are far apart on issues such as pay for TV reality shows and work distributed over the internet and cellphones. In addition, the studios would like to delay paying residuals on shows and movies until producers have recouped their costs.
"The entertainment industry is successful and growing like never before. Writers, whose creativity is at the heart of that success and growth, are committed to sharing in it," said the guild in a statement released on Friday.
Bryan Adams to headline peace concerts in West Bank, Israel
Canadian rocker Bryan Adams will headline two concerts for peace in the West Bank and Israel this week, according to the New York-based OneVoice organization.
"Our goal is to send a message to the world, that the Palestinian people love life, and hope for life and liberation," said Fathi Darwish from OneVoice on Sunday.
The 47-year-old musician, known for hits such as Heaven, Summer of 69 and (Everything I Do) I Do It For You, will first perform on Thursday at a football stadium in the ancient town of Jericho in the West Bank and then finish off the day with a concert in Tel Aviv.
The concerts will be broadcast via satellite to locations in Ottawa, London and Washington D.C.
OneVoice has campaigned on behalf of Israelis and Palestinians, demanding their leaders sit down to finalize an agreement on a Palestinian state living in peace with Israel.
Celebrity supporters of OneVoice will also be sending out messages during the concert via videolink. Hollywood backers of One Voice include Brad Pitt, Rhea Perlman, Danny DeVito, Jason Alexander and Jennifer Aniston.
OneVoice says it has collected more than half a million signatories to its initiative and is aiming to reach the one million mark by the end of the year.
The Oct. 18 concerts will be free but concertgoers must sign the One Voice petition to gain entrance.
Adams, who is an officer of the Order of Canada, has participated in and organized numerous charity concerts over the years. He's done Live Aid, Rock For Amnesty and Live 8, as well as special performances to aid earthquake victims in India in 2004 and in Pakistan in 2005.
Box office "Heartbreak" for Stiller comedy
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Ben Stiller's new comedy "The Heartbreak Kid" barely registered a pulse at the weekend box office in North America, in a badly-timed setback for its underappreciated studio DreamWorks.
The raunchy remake of a 1972 Neil Simon movie opened at No. 2, with an estimated $14 million during its first three days, the studio said on Sunday.
It failed to take the No. 1 spot from last weekend's champ, "The Game Plan," which earned $16.3 million. A week ago another high-profile star vehicle, "The Kingdom," also had to settle for a No. 2 opening.
Industry experts had expected a $20 million-plus start for Stiller's reunion with Peter and Bobby Farrelly, the directors of the 1998 comedy smash "There's Something About Mary."
It was the worst performer so far this year for DreamWorks, which operates with a high degree of autonomy from its parent, Paramount Pictures. The studio, owned by Viacom Inc., bought DreamWorks in 2005 for $1.6 billion.
Messages left with DreamWorks officials were not immediately returned.
While Paramount's own slate has been less-than-stellar amid a lengthy restructuring, DreamWorks has been on a roll this year, producing four consecutive chart-toppers -- "Norbit," "Blades of Glory," "Disturbia" and "Transformers."
But DreamWorks co-founders Steven Spielberg and David Geffen had dropped hints in recent weeks that they might take their filmmaking talent elsewhere.
"ROLLING ON THE FLOOR"
The two sides reached a detente, announced on Thursday, under which DreamWorks titles would henceforth be released under a new DreamWorks-Paramount banner, rather than just under the Paramount name.
Now, DreamWorks is getting some recognition, for a movie largely ignored by moviegoers and trashed by critics.
In a familiar role, Stiller plays a hapless newlywed who belatedly realizes that his spouse (Malin Akerman) is deranged and meets the real love of his life (Michelle Monaghan) on his honeymoon.
Viacom CEO Philippe Dauman told Wall Street analysts in August that the film had him "rolling on the floor with laughter."
Critics rolled around in agony, labeling "The Heartbreak Kid" misogynistic, crude and mean-spirited. Less than a third of the reviewers cited by Rotten Tomatoes (http://www.rottentomatoes.com) liked the movie.
Stiller was last in theaters with the worldwide hit "Night at the Museum," which opened to $30.4 million on the weekend before Christmas Day 2006. He headlined five movies in 2004 -- and all did considerably better, except for "Envy," another DreamWorks production.
"The Heartbreak Kid" was produced after some key personnel changes. Stiller and Akerman replaced Jason Bateman and Amy Poehler, while the Farrelly brothers came aboard in 2005 after Barry Sonnenfeld and then James Bobin exited.
The Farrellys, whose fortunes have waned in recent years with films like "Fever Pitch" and "Stuck On You," are among five credited writers.
Elsewhere, "The Game Plan," a Walt Disney Co. comedy starring former wrestler Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson as a football star saddled with a young daughter he never knew about, has earned $42.8 million after 10 days.
Universal Pictures' terrorism thriller "The Kingdom," starring Jamie Foxx, Jennifer Garner and Chris Cooper, slipped to No. 3 with $9.3 million. Its 10-day haul rose to $31.4 million.