McCartney: I didn't have angioplasty
NEW YORK - Paul McCartney says recent media reports that he had a heart procedure last year are "entirely untrue."
"People are ringing and texting me saying, `Are you OK?'" he writes in a posting on his newly redesigned Web site. "I hadn't seen the report so I was puzzled by so many enquiries about my health. So I think it's a good time to put this rumour to rest."
The 65-year-old ex-Beatle says that during a routine medical examination over a year ago, "there was a minor irregularity which I needed to have tests for and which I have now been assured is completely fine."
Recent media reports "completely distorted the story, calling it an angioplasty, which is entirely untrue, and this is why so many friends have been concerned about my health," he writes.
Angioplasty is a procedure to check and clear clogged arteries in the heart.
"I am happy to say that I feel great and I have passed my most recent medical with flying colours."
McCartney, who is nominated for a Grammy Award for his latest album, "Memory Almost Full," says he wants to assure friends and family that he's in good health.
He adds: "I have secretly been enjoying all the sympathy I've been getting!"
Bond to wed in new 007 film?
British actress Gemma Arterton has hinted that James Bond may get married in the upcoming 007 movie, "Quantum of Solace."
The 22-year-old star told a reporter that she and Daniel Craig had been filming scenes in a honeymoon suite for the film.
The surprised journalist asked: "Honeymoon suite?", prompting Arterton to reply: "I think I've said too much."
The actress plays an MI6 agent working at the British consulate in Bolivia in the new Bond film.
It would be the second marriage for Bond -- the spy got hitched in the 1969 movie "On Her Majesty's Service."
"Quantum of Solace" is scheduled to hit theatres in November.
Two Academy Awards shows in the works in case strike remains unresolved
LOS ANGELES - An Oscars contingency plan that would include history, film clips and out-of-the-ordinary concepts for the awards show is in the works, academy president Sid Ganis said Wednesday.
With the writers strike dragging dangerously close to the Feb. 24 telecast, the film academy is planning two Oscar shows: "The show we would love to do and . . . a show that we would prefer not to do," Ganis said.
The traditional, star-studded glamour-fest is in the works in case an agreement is reached. If not, organizers are working on a second show that will include "history and packages of film and concepts that are not normally ones that we would have for the show if we were moving straight ahead."
The show will go on regardless of talks status, he said.
"We have an obligation to the art form to present the Oscars, so we have to deal with the possibility of not being able to do the show because of pickets or agreements not being concluded," Ganis said.
Meanwhile, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is talking with striking writers, said spokeswoman Leslie Unger. She declined to provide details.
"We have made contact with the guild," Unger said. "We want to be able to do the kind of Oscar show that we always do, and we want to create the circumstances that will allow us to do that."
Whether or not the strike is resolved by showtime Feb. 24, producer Gil Cates hopes writers will decide not to picket the Academy Awards.
"This show, in my view, is really above politics," he said.
"It is wrong to treat the show as anything other than a gift from all the people who work in this business, really, to the exceptional talent and the community and the country."
He noted the writers guild has said its members will not picket next month's Grammy or Image awards.
"It's hard for me to believe that they would picket a show that really honours their own," Cates said.
Nominations for the 80th Academy Awards were announced last week. In past years, presenters were announced one-by-one before or shortly after the nominations, but none have been named so far this year.
Final ballots were mailed Wednesday to the 5,829 voting members of the academy. They are due back Feb. 19.
“Once” Again, a Legit Nominee
At the 11th hour, members of the executive committee of the music branch of the Academy met and decided that in spite of some questions about the validity of “Falling Slowly,” a nominee for best song from the movie “Once”, the song was eligible and would be on ballots that shipped tomorrow morning. Charles Bernstein, chairman of the music branch executive committee, speaking to the Bagger by phone, read part of the committee’s statement on the matter:
The Academy’s music branch executive committee has met and endorsed the validity of “Falling Slowly” as a nominated achievement. The committee relied on written assurances and detailed chronologies provided by songwriter of “Falling Slowly,” the writer-director of “Once” and Fox Searchlight.
The genesis of the picture was unusually protracted, but director John Carney and songwriter Glen Hansard were working closely together in 2002 when the project that became ‘Once’ was discussed. ‘Falling Slowly’ began to be composed, but the actual script and financing for the picture was delayed for several years, during which time Mr. Hansard and his collaborator Marketa Irglova played the song in some venues that were deemed inconsequential enough to not change the song’s eligibility.
Mr. Bernstein said he had called Mr. Hansard in Dublin with the news and described him as “delighted.” Mr. Bernstein said that various parties had raised questions about whether the song had been performed and/or recorded before it became part of the movie, but said that the committee was satisfied that it was written for the film and as such represented a song writing achievement worthy of inclusion in the nominees.
“We needed to address whether the song was written specifically for the film and the second issue was whether it had been played prior to the inclusion in the film — did this constitute a reason to ineligible-ize it,” said Mr. Bernstein. “The first issue was satisfied by a sworn statements attesting to the fact that it was written for the film along with a chronology, and the second issue was settled by the fact that it had only been performed in Europe and the Czech Republic and not in a way that would have given it advantage or influence here.”
Mr. Bernstein said he was happy the issue was resolved and that he was proud of the fact that the Academy and his committee were willing to work up to the last minute to see that any outstanding issues were addressed before the ballots were shipped.
Haggis takes Hwy61 to United Artists
LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Filmmaker Paul Haggis has inked an overall deal with United Artists that will have the Oscar winner writing, producing and possibly directing projects with the studio through his newly created Hwy61 production shingle.
Under the terms of the pact, which is nonexclusive and leaves Haggis free to collaborate elsewhere, the "Crash" director is expected to produce two films a year with his producing partner Michael Nozik.
First up for Hwy61 -- the name is taken from the Bob Dylan song "Highway 61 Revisited" -- will be an adaptation of the children's literature series "Ranger's Apprentice," with Haggis writing the screenplay with his daughter Alissa and possibly directing. UA optioned the rights to the fantasy series by Australian author John Flanagan this month.
Also under the newly struck partnership, the Santa Monica-based Hwy61 and the Paula Wagner/Tom Cruise-helmed studio have optioned the rights to the Joseph Weisberg novel "An Ordinary Spy."
Haggis, who co-wrote and directed the Oscar-winning "Crash" and the recent Iraq War drama "In the Valley of Elah" and wrote the screenplay for the Oscar-winning "Million Dollar Baby," said he hopes to create a home for writers and directors.
This latest venture marks more movement for the independently run UA, which this month picked up the remake rights to the Spanish film "Los Cronocrimenes," to be produced by Steve Zaillian. That deal marked the first the studio has made since signing an interim agreement with the striking Writers Guild of America.
The Muppet Show Season 3 arrives May 20
It's time to play the music. It's time to light the lights. It's time to mark your calendars!
Buena Vista Home Entertainment has just announced the release of the highly anticipated "The Muppet Show: Season Three" DVD box set. The four-disc "special edition" set will include all 24 episodes from the third season of "The Muppet Show" along with an impressive collection of bonus features. The fully-loaded DVD box set of the complete third season is planned to hit store shelves on May 20, 2008. That's less than 117 days away.
Below is a full list of the DVD features which include the classic 1968 documentary "The Muppets on Puppets" (hosted by Jim Henson and Rowlf the Dog), plus a new documentary entitled "The Making of The Muppets". Disney has also released an early glimpse at the cover art for the set, featuring the face of Fozzie Bear. Like the first two seasons, the set will feature collectible fuzzy packaging.
Episode Listing:
• Kris Kristofferson & Rita Coolidge
• Leo Sayer
• Roy Clark
• Gilda Radner
• Pearl Bailey
• Jean Stapleton
• Alice Cooper
• Loretta Lynn
• Liberace
• Marisa Berenson
• Raquel Welch
• James Coco
• Helen Reddy
• Harry Belafonte
• Lesley Ann Warren
• Danny Kaye
• Spike Milligan
• Leslie Uggams
• Elke Sommer
• Sylvester Stallone
• Roger Miller
• Roy Rogers & Dale Evans
• Lynn Redgrave
• Cheryl Ladd
Bonus Features:
• "The Making of The Muppets" documentary
• "The Muppets on Puppets" vintage documentary
• ...and much more!
Retail Specifications:
• 4-disc DVD collection
• $39.99 suggested retail price, pre-order here for $27.99
• Release date: May 20, 2008
"Nightmare" to haunt big screen again
LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Freddy's back. Again.
New Line is in talks with horror production company Platinum Dunes to re-launch the "Nightmare on Elm Street" movie series, the franchise that helped establish the studio.
The first "Nightmare" movie was made by Wes Craven and released in 1984. The runaway success of the film spawned a slew of sequels and created one of the most popular villains in screen history, Freddy Krueger, played by Robert Englund.
The film centered on Krueger, a serial child killer murdered by angry parents, who returns with a burned face and a razor glove to terrorize teens in their dreams.
A screenwriter will be hired once the Writers Guild of America strike ends. The producers -- Michael Bay, Brad Fuller and Andrew Form -- are hoping to focus part of the new movie on Krueger's backstory.
Platinum Dunes is prepping another re-launch, "Friday the 13th," which will be directed by Marcus Nispel for New Line, for whom it remade "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" and its sequel.
The company is remaking "Near Dark" for Rogue and "The Birds" for Universal. It is also prepping a non-remake project, an untitled David Goyer thriller.
CBS picking up CTV drama
TORONTO - American broadcaster CBS, apparently looking for options amid a prolonged Hollywood screenwriters strike, has picked up an original CTV show to be broadcast later this year in the United States.
"Flashpoint," a police drama with the working title "Sniper," is currently in pre-production. CTV says it will become the first Canadian series since "Due South" to air on both American and Canadian network TV.
CBS has picked up 13 episodes of the one-hour drama series, which was green-lit by CTV in December. Production begins in Toronto in April.
The show will star Enrico Colantoni of "Veronica Mars" fame, Hugh Dillon, the former punk rocker-turned-actor who starred in the gritty "Durham County" and David Paekau of CTV's "Whistler."
They play cops on a highly skilled tactical team.
"Today's announcement is a significant achievement for CTV's development team and Canada's independent production community," CTV's Susanne Boyce said in a statement.
Canada's oldest bookstore is closing in Halifax
Canada's oldest bookstore will close its doors for good at the end of March.
The Book Room on Barrington Street in Halifax opened for business in 1839 and survived two World Wars and the Great Depression, store president Charles Burchell said in a release.
But the retail store couldn't outlast big box bookstores, Burchell said, nor the ease of ordering books online, competition from book selling pharmacies and grocery stores or the pressure to lower prices to reflect a stronger Canadian dollar.
Burchell said The Book Room will begin "an orderly shutdown of its retail store and dispose of its inventory" over the next few weeks. The company's wholesale operation will continue.
"I am extremely disappointed to make this announcement as The Book Room has been an institution in Nova Scotia," he said. "The bookstore has survived two World Wars, the Great Depression and economic ups and downs over its 169 year history."
Burchell said that during his 42 years with the bookstore, he invited "hundreds and hundreds of local authors, authors from across Canada and around the world to come and meet their reading fans."
Before the advent of the computer, Burchell said the store received letters from "all over the world" requesting special books be sent to them.
"To fulfill their request was such a gratifying feeling for me as well as my staff," he said in the release.
BBC strategies focus on online content, adviser tells Heritage committee
The importance of making content widely available online was the frequent refrain in Ottawa Tuesday morning as the BBC's chief public policy adviser spoke at a hearing of the Canadian Heritage Committee.
"The impact of digital technology cannot be underestimated," the BBC's Wilf White, who was joined by his deputy, Daniel Wilson, told the committee at a session exploring the role of a public broadcaster.
Newer technologies such as the BBC's iPlayer — which offers web audiences the opportunity to watch its television or listen to its radio programming from the past seven days — "is radically transforming our business," White said.
Despite also struggling with problems like market fragmentation, funding constraints and increased competition from new broadcasters and other platforms facing North American counterparts, White said the BBC considers it a very exciting time and is focused on looking for new opportunities.
He praised 1990s-era BBC director-general John Birt for his foresight about the internet as an emerging technology and vision that there would one day be little distinction between radio, television and online.
Because of decisions the former chief made, "there was always a strong link between our television and radio services and our online services," White said.
"As soon as [audiences] realized there was content there … they started wanting to explore."
For instance, he said, the BBC's online service has transformed the broadcaster's ability to seek public opinion on many issues.
In the past, when trying to get the public to comment, "you'd end up with perhaps half a dozen letters," White said.
"Now we have several thousand people regularly e-mailing us, offering opinions on message boards. We are never short of comments from he public now ... Sometimes we can create so much feedback that it can become overwhelming."
Partnering with other sites
White and Wilson also spoke of deals with partners such as video-sharing site Youtube and social networking sites to show BBC content, in a no-ads environment conducive to its role as a public broadcaster.
While the broadcaster, which on average features 80 per cent European or U.K.-produced content across its services, doesn't gain revenue from these sorts of deals, savings can sometimes be found in terms of distribution, Wilson said.
"They want our content and we want their audience," White said, though he admitted that newer technologies aside, he felt there would always be a demand for live programming.
As part of this drive, the BBC chose to "pay a little bit extra" and strike "platform-neutral" rights deals with independent producers and other stakeholders in order to be able to distribute their productions by these newer methods, Wilson said.
"It was a matter of demonstrating how usage has changed, how on demand was very much more important to audiences."
Pursuing further international co-productions for pricier projects, such as its deal with the CBC for the TV show Doctor Who, and boosting coverage of and productions from its various regions — such as Wales, Scotland and Ireland — are also part of the BBC's plan going forward.
Nevertheless, despite a shifting focus on newer technologies or updating certain practices, "some things don't change" for audiences, White said, citing "quality, originality, trust.
Nintendo reveals its top selling Wii, DS games
On Monday Nintendo announced its platinum-selling first-party games, those with more than 1 million copies sold.
In their latest financial report, the company disclosed the following worldwide best-sellers in total units sold (including bundles):
Wii
Wii Sports - 17,850,000
Wii Play - 9,230,000
Super Mario Galaxy - 5,190,000
Mario Party 8 - 4,350,000
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess - 4,300,000
Super Paper Mario - 2,160,000
Big Brain Academy: Wii Degree - 2,000,000
Mario Strikers Charged - 1,650,000
Metroid Prime 3: Corruption - 1,140,000
Link's Crossbow Training - 1,070,000
Wii Fit - 1,050,000
Nintendo DS
Nintendogs - 17,790,000
Pokemon Diamond & Pearl - 14,170,000
New Super Mario Bros. - 13,140,000
Brain Age - 11,710,000
Brain Age 2 - 9,840,000
Mario Kart DS - 9,670,000
Animal Crossing Wild World - 9,200,000
Super Mario 64 DS - 5,780,000
Big Brain Academy - 4,610,000
The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass - 3,820,000
Pokemon Ranger - 2,610,000
Pokemon Mystery Dungeon - 1,540,000
The report also quietly confirmed a 2008 release for Kirby and Animal Crossing on Wii. As always, Nintendo's first-party sales are impressive. The same cannot be said of third-party sales, however.
No Country For Old Men Misses Pre-Oscar DVD Release
I’ve been rather surprised at the amount of Oscar nominated films that will be hitting DVD in the next few weeks, giving the mass public a chance to take in the movies before the Oscar ceremony. This kind of approach may not help movies win Oscars, but it will make the ceremony potentially more interesting to more people. After all, it’s hard to get excited about a ceremony for movies nobody has seen.
Unfortunately, one of the big contenders this year, nominated for eight awards, won’t be taking that approach. While No Country For Old Men will be coming to DVD and Blu-ray soon, its March 11th release date won’t give you the chance to see the movie before the Oscar ceremony. If I had to guess, that release date gives them the chance to replace that quote you see at the top of the artwork on the right with “Winner of X-Number of Oscars” should the movie perform well at the Academy Awards.
Right now the announced extras seem a little thin, particularly for a Blu-ray release (which appears to have the exact same bonus materials as the standard DVD). Here’s a look at what you can expect to find on this March 11th release:
- Working with the Coens: Reflections of Cast and Crew - Learn more about Joel and Ethan Coen from the perspective of their collaborators, cast and crew.
- The Making of No Country For Old Men - Take a journey through the Coen Brothers’ process and back to their roots as storytellers with a unique voice and vision.
- Diary of a Country Sheriff - Explore the relationship between the compassion of Sheriff Bell and the brutality of Anton Chigurh.
Martie Maguire says she's pregnant
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Martie Maguire of the Dixie Chicks and her husband, Gareth, are expecting a third daughter.
Maguire, 38, announced her pregnancy on the group's Web site Monday.
She wrote that her 3-year-old twin daughters, Eva and Katie, "are very excited to have a new baby sister."
"Three girls, what a magic number!" Maguire said.
She said the baby is due in late summer.
The report was confirmed by the Chicks' publicist.
Maguire plays fiddle and mandolin in the trio, which also includes Natalie Maines and Emily Robison. Hits by the Chicks include "Wide Open Spaces," "Without You," "Landslide" and "Travelin' Soldier."
Little buzz for top Oscar films
LOS ANGELES - One film has an oblique ending that's left some viewers dissatisfied and others floored by its profundity. The other features a slowly developing plot and a brutal, operatically violent finale.
"No Country for Old Men" and "There Will Be Blood" are both gorgeous and bold, expertly crafted and intelligently acted. But most moviegoers have seen neither of them — and they never will — even though they're the two leading contenders for best picture at the Academy Awards.
Oscar-nominated films are often small, dark and unintended for mass audiences; they're about art, after all, not commerce. But that's especially true of this year's crop, which has little mainstream buzz and among the lowest box-office totals in recent years.
(The exception, of course, is the crowd-pleasing comedy "Juno," starring the hugely appealing Ellen Page as a quick-witted, pregnant teen. It had a budget of about $2.5 million and just crossed the $100 million mark at the box office. It is far and away the most financially successful of the five.)
Four of the movies nominated last week for best picture — "Juno," "Michael Clayton," "No Country for Old Men" and "There Will Be Blood" — got the so-called "Oscar bump" that comes from audiences checking them out the following weekend. (The sweeping romance "Atonement" dropped slightly.)
Still, they've only combined to make about $246.3 million domestically. In contrast, "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King" already had grossed about $364 million all by itself by the time it won best picture in 2004.
In terms of ticket sales, about 7.3 million people have seen "No Country" (from Miramax and Paramount Vantage, a division of Viacom Inc.) and 2 million have seen "There Will Be Blood" (also from Paramount Vantage), compared with the approximately 51 million who saw the third "Rings" picture in theaters by Oscar night.
"I had someone ask me the other day, `Are academy voters out of touch in honoring these films that aren't popular with audiences?'" said Paul Dergarabedian, president of the box office tracker Media By Numbers. "But they're not supposed to be popular. They're honoring the cinematic merit of these films. (Or else) `Spider-Man 3' would have the most nominations. ...
"I always say it's either cinematic fast food or cinematic fine dining — you pick what you want," Dergarabedian added. "And Oscar tends to honor the films that give a cinematic fine dining experience."
The 2006 nominees did a bit bitter with a cumulative gross of about $297 million, thanks largely to the winner, "The Departed," which ended up with more than $132 million. "The Departed" also had a revered director in Martin Scorsese and an all-star cast including Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon and Jack Nicholson.
The nominees from 2005 combined for about $245 million with the winner, the ensemble drama "Crash," making only about $55 million. But that year had huge buzz thanks to "Brokeback Mountain," the gay cowboy romance, which had America talking regardless of their interest in art-house films. The perceived front-runner until the moment the envelope was opened, it made $83 million.
But it's not just the contenders in the best picture category that are drawing specialized crowds. "Michael Clayton" is the only film with multiple acting nominations: for its star, George Clooney, and supporting actors Tom Wilkinson and Tilda Swinton. The suspenseful corporate thriller from first-time director Tony Gilroy has made a decent $41.5 million.
"Away From Her," which has made a best-actress front-runner of Julie Christie as a wife suffering from Alzheimer's disease, made just under $16 million in limited release last year. "La Vie en Rose," the Edith Piaf biopic, has grossed only about $10 million, despite a wildly heralded performance from best-actress nominee Marion Cotillard.
The languid Western "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford," with its creepy, nuanced supporting turn from nominee Casey Affleck, hasn't even made $4 million. And the experimental "I'm Not There," which features six different people playing various incarnations of Bob Dylan — including supporting-actress nominee Cate Blanchett — made just about $3.5 million in its limited run.
"They're not simple fare," said Boo Allen, a Dallas-based film critic and historian.
"The average moviegoer might hear that Brad Pitt is playing Jesse James, then they hear from someone who's seen it that it's two and a half hours long and very slow, it's more of a character study than a shoot 'em up, and it just doesn't touch a nerve," said Allen, who chose "La Vie en Rose" as his favorite film this season. "Something like `Juno,' that touches a nerve. You hear people say it's funny, it's about a teenager who gets pregnant. Jennifer Garner's in it, Jason Bateman's in it, the little girl's really funny. That lends itself to word of mouth and draws people in."
While they haven't exactly been boffo in terms of box office, this year's awards contenders are undeniably strong in terms of art. Veteran cinematographer Roger Deakins, who's up for two Oscars for "No Country" and "Jesse James," compared the nominees to the kinds of films that pushed boundaries in the 1970s.
"It's one of the best years because there's so many intelligent films that are provocative. They're actually about something as well as being entertaining," said Deakins, the longtime Coen brothers collaborator, who's also been nominated for the more mainstream "The Shawshank Redemption."
"It really makes you feel part of a real cinema," he added. "There's brilliant, brilliant people out there."
New CD Releases, January 29: Willie Nelson, Hannah Montana, Andrea Bocelli
Willie Nelson "Moment of Forever"
The country music legend returns with a follow-up to 2007's "It's Magic," a collection that featured "What a Wonderful World" and 11 other classic compositions.
Produced by--and this is not a typo--country superstar Kenny Chesney, "Moment of Forever" features a few Nelson originals, along with covers of songs by Kris Kristofferson, Bob Dylan, Randy Newman and others, as well as a pair of Chesney-penned tracks, "I'm Alive" and "Worry B Gone." The first single from the album is a rendition of Dave Matthews' "Gravedigger."
This tireless road warrior is, of course, supporting "Moment of Forever" on tour. His itinerary currently includes dates through the end of June.
* * *
Hannah Montana "Hannah Montana 2: Non-Stop Dance Party"
The kiddie-pop juggernaut keeps right on charging along. Having conquered the album charts, the TV ratings and the concert stage, the girl with the double life and dual career--she's also made a mark under her real name, Miley Cyrus--now returns with "Hannah Montana 2: Non-Stop Dance Party."
The disc includes newly remixed versions of 10 fan favorites (including "Nobody's Perfect," "Rock Star" and "We Got the Party") that are strung together in a continuous party mix. It's a tween's dream--or a parent's nightmare--as the listener gets non-stop Hannah. The set also includes a slide show, music video and printable party invitations.
* * *
Andrea Bocelli "Vivere: Live in Tuscany"
Having recently put out a greatest-hits package, "The Best of Andrea Bocelli: Vivere," the multi-platinum pop-opera star is ready to tempt fans with a concert disc.
The 2-disc "Vivere: Live in Tuscany" features all of the crooner's best-known tunes, including "Time to Say Goodbye," as well as guest appearances by the likes of Kenny G, Chris Botti and Sarah Brightman. It's being offered both on CD and on DVD.
* * *
The Mars Volta "The Bedlam in Goliath"
The psychedelic prog-rockers return with their fourth studio album. "The Bedlam in Goliath" is a concept record that tells the tale of a Ouija board nicknamed "Soothsayer" owned by band member Cedric Bixler-Zavala, "and its mutation from a source of amusement during the tour supporting the band's 'Amputechture' album into a malevolent psycho-spiritual force that nearly tore the group apart, collectively and individually," according to a press release.
* * *
Sarah Brightman "Symphony"
The Broadway/pop diva--a woman still best known for originating the role of Christine Daaé in "The Phantom of the Opera" as well as for her marriage to the show's author, Andrew Lloyd Webber--continues to tinker with her musical image. Her new release, "Symphony," reportedly has a "goth metal" edge to it. We wonder what the Phantom would think about that.
* * *
More new releases:
Ayreon, "01011001" (Inside Out)
Bullet for My Valentine, "Scream Aim Fire" (Jive)
Dispatch, "Zimbabwe: Live at Madison Square Garden" (Republic)
Linda Eder, "Greatest Hits" (Rhino)
The Five Blind Boys of Alabama, "Down in New Orleans" (Time Life)
Joe Jackson, "Rain" (Rykodisc)
Al Jarreau, "Love Songs" (Rhino)
Shelby Lynne, "Just a Little Lovin'" (Lost Highway)
Idina Menzel, "I Stand" (Warner Bros.)
Pat Metheny Trio, "Day Trip" (Nonesuch)
Van Morrison, "It's Too Late To Stop Now" (Polydor)
Van Morrison, "Tupelo Honey" (Polydor)
Vampire Weekend, "Vampire Weekend" (Beggars XL)
Various Artists, "2008 Grammy Nominees" (Hip-O)
Grammy organizers reach deal with striking writers
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Hollywood's striking writers said on Monday they will grant an "interim agreement" to organizers of the Grammy awards allowing the ceremony honoring musicians to be written by union members.
Last week, the Writers Guild of America, which represents some 10,500 striking film and television writers, said it would not picket the music event, so Monday's announcement further ensures the show will continue in its traditional format of presenters giving awards and musicians performing hit songs.
"Professional musicians face many of the same issues that we do concerning fair compensation for the use of their work in new media," the Writers Guild said in a statement, adding that it made the decision "in the interest of advancing our goal of achieving a fair contract."
The Recording Academy, which puts on the Grammy Awards, responded by saying it was "gratified" to reach the deal.
"Having our talented writers on the team further ensures the highest level of creativity and innovation," said Neil Portnow, Recording Academy president and chief executive.
Writers launched their strike against major film and TV studios in November, and informal talks between the parties restarted only last week. The key dispute centers on pay for writers' work when it appears on the Internet.
The strike has caused several Hollywood awards shows, including the Golden Globes, to be canceled or changed because stars have refused to cross picket lines or work on shows that do not have an "interim agreement."
The Grammys, which are the top U.S. honors in the music industry, are scheduled to take place on February 10, in a program to be televised by CBS.
Cronenberg thriller, Dallaire drama vie for Genie Awards
Mafia thriller Eastern Promises and Shake Hands With the Devil, a dramatic adaptation of retired Canadian general Roméo Dallaire's experiences in Rwanda, lead a strong group of nominees for Canada's top film honour.
Organizers announced Monday the contenders for the 28th annual Genie Awards, organized each year by the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television.
David Cronenberg's Eastern Promises and Shake Hands With the Devil, directed by Roger Spottiswoode, tied with 12 Genie nods each, including for the coveted best motion picture trophy.
Also nominated for that top honour are L'Âge des ténèbres (Days of Darkness), Away From Her and Continental, un film sans fusil.
Cronenberg and Spottiswoode will also face off for the achievement in direction Genie against Quebec superstar Denys Arcand (L'Âge des ténèbres), Sarah Polley (Away From Her) and Bruce McDonald (The Tracey Fragments).
British acting icon Julie Christie, who on Sunday night won best lead actress at the Screen Actors Guild Awards in Los Angeles for her turn in Away From Her, is up for the same honour at the Genies.
Ellen Page is also a nominee for her starring role in The Tracey Fragments. Rounding out the category are Molly Parker (Who Loves the Sun), Anne-Marie Cadieux (Toi) and Béatrice Picard (Ma tante Aline).
Vying for the best lead actor Genie are Roy Dupuis (Shake Hands With the Devil), Marc LaBrèche, (L'Âge des ténèbres), Claude Legault (Les 3 P'tits Cochons), Viggo Mortensen (Eastern Promises) and Gordon Pinsent (Away From Her).
The Genie Awards will be presented March 3 and here are all the nominees for the 2008 Genie Awards honouring the best in Canadian film:
BEST MOTION PICTURE
"L'Age des tenebres" ("Days of Darkness") - Denise Robert, Daniel Louis
"Away From Her" - Daniel Iron, Simone Urdl, Jennifer Weiss
"Continental, un film sans fusil" ("Continental, a Film Without Guns")-Luc Dery, Kim McCraw
"Eastern Promises" - Robert Lantos, Paul Webster
"Shake Hands With The Devil" - Laszlo Barna, Michael Donovan
ACHIEVEMENT IN ART DIRECTION/PRODUCTION DESIGN
Andre Line Beauparlant, "Continental, un film sans fusil" ("Continental, a Film Without Guns")
Lindsey Hermer-Bell, Justin S.B. Craig, "Shake Hands With The Devil"
Rob Gray, James Willcock, "Fido"
Francois Seguin, "Silk"
Carol Spier, "Eastern Promises"
ACHIEVEMENT IN COSTUME DESIGN
Dolly Ahluwallia, "Partition"
Denise Cronenberg, "Eastern Promises"
Carlo Poggioli, Kazuko Kurosawa, "Silk"
Mary E. McLeod, "Fido"
Joyce Schure, "Shake Hands With The Devil"
ACHIEVEMENT IN CINEMATOGRAPHY
Miroslaw Baszak, "Shake Hands With the Devil"
Bruce Chun, "Nitro"
Alain Dostie, "Silk"
Vic Sarin, "Partition"
Peter Suschitzky, "Eastern Promises"
ACHIEVEMENT IN DIRECTION
Denys Arcand, "Days of Darkness"
Sarah Polley, "Away From Her"
David Cronenberg, "Eastern Promises"
Roger Spottiswoode, "Shake Hands With the Devil"
Bruce McDonald, "The Tracey Fragments"
ACHIEVEMENT IN EDITING
Jean-Francois Bergeron, "Les 3 P'tits Cochons" ("The 3 Little Pigs")
Susan Maggi, "Poor Boy's Game"
Jeremiah Munce, Gareth C. Scales, "The Tracey Fragments"
Ronald Sanders, "Eastern Promises"
David Wharnsby, "Away From Her"
ACHIEVEMENT IN MUSIC - ORIGINAL SCORE
David Hirschfelder, "Shake Hands With the Devil"
Steve London, "That Beautiful Somewhere"
Don MacDonald, "Fido"
Ryuichi Sakamoto, "Silk"
Howard Shore, "Eastern Promises"
ACHIEVEMENT IN MUSIC - ORIGINAL SONG
Alan Doyle, "Young Triffie's Been Made Away With" - "Young Triffie's Been Made Away With"
Valanga Khoza, David Hirschfelder - "Shake Hands With the Devil" - "Kaya"
Byron Wong, Luke Nicholson - "Poor Boy's Game" - "Breathe"
PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE
Roy Dupuis, "Shake Hands With The Devil"
Marc LaBreche, "L'Age des tenebres" ("Days of Darkness") - Denise Robert, Daniel Louis
Claude Legault, "Les 3 P'tits Cochons" ("The 3 Little Pigs")
Viggo Mortensen, "Eastern Promises"
Gordon Pinsent, "Away From Her"
PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Danny Glover, "Poor Boy's Game"
Guillaume Lemay-Thivierge, "Les 3 P'tits Cochons" ("The 3 Little Pigs")
Armin Mueller-Stahl, "Eastern Promises"
Michel Ange Nzojibwami, "Shake Hands With the Devil"
Gilbert Sicotte, "Continental, un film sans fusil" ("Continental, a Film Without Guns")
PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE
Anne-Marie Cadieux, "Toi," ("You")
Julie Christie, "Away From Her"
Ellen Page, "The Tracey Fragments"
Molly Parker, "Who Loves the Sun"
Beatrice Picard, "Ma tante Aline" ("My Aunt Aline")
PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Marie-Ginette Guay, "Continental, un film sans fusil" ("Continental, a Film Without Guns")
Veronique Le Flaguais, "Comment survivre a sa mere" ("Surviving My Mother")
Laurence LeBoeuf, "Ma fille mon ange"
Fanny Mallette, "Continental, un film sans fusil" ("Continental, a Film Without Guns")
Kristen Thompson, "Away From Her"
ACHIEVEMENT IN OVERALL SOUND
Claude La Haye, Olivier Calvert, Hans Peter Strobl, Bernard Gariepy Strob - "Silk"
Eric Fitz, Jo Caron, Gavin Fernandes, Benoit Leduc - "Shake Hands With the Devil"
John J. Thomson, Stephan Carrier, Martin Lee - "Citizen Duane"
John Hazen, Matt Chan, Brad Dawe - "The Tracey Fragments"
Stuart Wilson, Christian Cooke, Orest Sushko, Mark Zsifkovits - "Eastern Promises"
ACHIEVEMENT IN SOUND EDITING
Martin Pinsonnault, Pierre-Jules Audet, Michelle Cloutier, Simon Meilleur, Louis Molinas - "Nitro"
Wayne Griffin, Robert Bertola, Tony Currie, Andy Malcolm, Michael O'Farrell - "Eastern Promises"
Marie-Claude Gagne, Diane Boucher, Guy Francoeur, Claire Pochon, Jean-Philippe Savard - "Romeo et Juliette"
Marcel Pothier, Guy Francoeur, Antoine Morin, Guy Pelletier, Francois Senneville - "Shake Hands With the Devil"
Steven Munro, John Sievert, David Drainie Taylor, "The Tracey Fragments"
ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Pierre Lamothe, Claude Lalonde, "Les 3 P'tits Cochons" ("The 3 Little Pigs")
Denys Arcand, "L'Age des tenebres" ("Days of Darkness")
Marc-Andre Lavoie, Simon Olivier Fecteau, David Gauthier, "Bluff"
Steve Knight, "Eastern Promises"
Douglas Coupland, "Everything's Gone Green"
ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
Sarah Polley, "Away From Her"
Michael Donovan, "Shake Hands With the Devil"
Maureen Medved, "The Tracey Fragments"
BEST DOCUMENTARY
Panache/Antlers - Andre-Line Beauparlant, Danielle Leblanc
Radiant City - Gary Burns, Jim Brown, Bonnie Thompson, Shirley Vercruysse
Sharkwater - Robert Stewart
BEST LIVE ACTION SHORT DRAMA
"Apres Tout," Alexis Fortier Gauthier, Elaine Hebert
"Faire Chaluim Mhic Leid" ("The Wake Of Calum Macleod") - Marc Almon, Nona MacDermid
"Regarding Sarah," Michelle Porter, Amy Belling
"Screening," Anthony Green, Philip Svoboda
"The Tragic Story Of Nling," Jeffrey St. Jules, Larissa Giroux
BEST ANIMATED SHORT
"Here And There," Diane Obomsawin, Marc Bertrand
"Jeu," Georges Schwizgebel, Michele Belanger, Marcel Jean
"Madame Tutli-Putli," Maciek Szczerbowski, Chris Lavis, Marcy Page
Van Halen keeps rolling with 2008 tour
After logging one of last year's most successful tours, classic rockers Van Halen are back on the road to tackle a new leg of shows.
The group, which returned to the tour trail with a Monday (1/22) concert in Oklahoma City, has dates lined up through early April. Since first unveiling the 2008 itinerary late last year, the band has tucked into its schedule stops in three additional cities: Des Moines, IA; Duluth, GA; and Dallas, TX. Details are shown below, and tickets for all shows are on sale now.
Last fall, Van Halen hit the road with original frontman David Lee Roth at the helm for the first time in 22 years. Despite Roth's return, the band's current roster falls short of being a full-fledged reunion of the original lineup; prior to the tour, co-founding Van Halen brothers Alex and Eddie sacked original bassist Michael Anthony and replaced him with Eddie's 16-year-old son, Wolfgang Van Halen. The father-and-son duo will appear on the cover of the April 2008 issue of Guitar World magazine.
Van Halen's 2007 tour comprised 39 shows, during which the band raked in $56.7 million. That number earned the group the No. 5 slot on concert-industry trade-magazine Pollstar's 2007 year-end list of top-grossing tours.
The tour's first leg was characterized by a number of sold-out shows and rave reviews from both fans and critics alike, who gave the group high marks for its delivery of a set list comprised entirely of songs that appeared on the band's 1978-1984 Roth-era catalog.
January 2008
22 - Oklahoma City, OK - Ford Center
24 - San Antonio, TX - AT&T Center
26 - Dallas, TX - American Airlines Center
28 - Houston, TX - Toyota Center
30 - Little Rock, AR - Alltel Arena (on sale to be announced)
February 2008
1 - Denver, CO - Pepsi Center
4 - Omaha, NE - Qwest Center
6 - Des Moines, IA - Wells Fargo Arena
8 - New Orleans, LA - New Orleans Arena
10 - Atlanta, GA - Philips Arena
12 - Ft. Lauderdale, FL - BankAtlantic Center
14 - Orlando, FL - Amway Arena
16 - Jacksonville, FL - Veterans Memorial Arena
18 - Tampa, FL - St. Pete Times Forum
20 - Ft. Lauderdale, FL - Bank Atlantic Center
22 - Charlottesville, VA - John Paul Jones Arena
25 - Duluth, GA - Gwinnett Arena
March 2008
3 - Dallas, TX - American Airlines Center
5 - Cincinnati, OH - US Bank Arena
7 - Raleigh, NC - RBC Center
9 - Baltimore, MD - 1st Mariner Arena
11 - Manchester, NH - Verizon Wireless Arena
13 - East Rutherford, NJ - Izod Arena
17 - New York, NY - Madison Square Garden
19 - Hershey, PA - Giant Center
21 - Pittsburgh, PA - Mellon Arena
24 - Providence, RI - Dunkin Donuts Center
26 - Uncasville, CT - Mohegan Sun Arena
28 - Atlantic City, NJ - Boardwalk Hall
30 - St. Louis, MO - Scottrade Center
April 2008
1 - Columbus, OH - Value City Arena
3 - Rosemont, IL - Allstate Arena
5 - Grand Rapids, MI - Van Andel Arena
7 - Milwaukee, WI - Bradley Center
'Toy Story' Films Going 3-D
The first two films will be rereleased in 2009 and 2010 before 'Toy Story 3'
In anticipation of the release of "Toy Story 3" in 2010, Pixar has announced plans to rerelease the franchise's first two films back into theaters.
With Disney-Pixar's "Toy Story 3" being produced in 3-D under the direction of studio vet Lee Unkrich, "Toy Story" and "Toy Story 2" will be converted into 3-D as well.
"We are committed to bringing moviegoers the best and most exciting 3-D movie experience, and we think they're going to love seeing Buzz Lightyear, Woody, and all the wonderful 'Toy Story' cast of characters in an eye popping and dazzling way," says Dick Cook, chairman of The Walt Disney Studios. "John Lasseter and the animation team are putting all their passion and hard work into making this the greatest 3-D experience yet, and we're excited to share their efforts with audiences everywhere."
The plan is to bring "Toy Story" out in Disney Digital 3-D on Oct. 2, 2009, followed by the Feb. 12, 2010 release of "Toy Story 3." The long-anticipated "Toy Story 3" will open on June 18, 2010.
"The 'Toy Story' films and characters will always hold a very special place in our hearts and we're so excited to be bringing this landmark film back for audiences to enjoy in a whole new way thanks to the latest in 3-D technology," says John Lasseter, director on the first two "Toy Story" films and chief creative officer for Disney and Pixar Animation Studios. "I am sure that this is going to be nothing short of fantastic and people are going to be blown away by the experience.
With 'Toy Story 3' shaping up to be another great adventure for Buzz, Woody and the gang from Andy's room, we thought it would be great to let audiences experience the first two films all over again and in a brand new way. 3-D offers lots of great new possibilities for the art of animation and we will continue to use this new technology to tell our stories in the best possible way."
In order to release "Toy Story" and "Toy Story 2" in 3-D, the original technical elements on both films will be essentially rebuilt.
First released in 1995, "Toy Story" made more than $360 million worldwide (per BoxOfficeMojo). The 1999 sequel made more than $485 million worldwide.
Del Toro doubles up to direct big-screen "Hobbit"
LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Guillermo del Toro is in talks to direct back-to-back installments of J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Hobbit," which is being co-financed by New Line and MGM.
Del Toro's name was on a short list of directors who could tackle the project, one of the most anticipated literary adaptations of the past decade. An ill-chosen director for "Hobbit" could put billions of dollars at stake for New Line and MGM and could turn off an audience that encompasses millions of passionate readers, Tolkien fans and obsessive geeks.
Few filmmakers have the cachet that del Toro has, as well as a deep love for the source material, an assured grasp of fantasy filmmaking and an understanding and command of geek culture as well as its respect. Del Toro has built that goodwill through such films as the Oscar-nominated "Pan's Labyrinth," "Hellboy," "Blade 2" (which was made by New Line) and "The Devil's Backbone."
For New Line, making "Hobbit" had become a priority in the wake of its billion-dollar success with the Oscar-winning "Lord of the Rings" movies, which were co-written and directed by Peter Jackson. Jackson wanted to adapt "Hobbit," but when he got into a dispute with the studio over profit participation, the project went into limbo; neither New Line nor MGM, both rights-holders to the film, wanted to risk alienating fans of the trilogy by making an adaptation that didn't have Jackson's involvement.
The December resolution of the Jackson suit, facilitated by MGM CEO Harry Sloan, paved the way for "Hobbit" to get back on the road to the screen. However, because of other commitments that included "The Lovely Bones" and "Tintin," Jackson could not take on writing and directing roles, opting instead to become an executive producer with approval over creative elements of the pair of films.
Because of the Writers Guild of America strike, no writer has been hired to adapt Tolkien's children's classic, though that process will be fast-tracked once the strike is resolved. Del Toro and Jackson will oversee "Hobbit's" writing.
Principal photography for the films, which will be shot simultaneously, is tentatively set for 2009. The production budget is estimated at $150 million per film. The release of the first film is slated for 2010 and the second for 2011.
"Hobbit," which Tolkien initially wrote for his children, was published in the U.K. in 1937 to wide acclaim. It centered on Bilbo Baggins, a hobbit who joins a group of dwarves and the wizard Gandalf on a quest to find the treasure of a dragon named Smaug. Tolkien went on to write "The Lord of the Rings" 17 years later.
Del Toro is putting the finishing touches on Universal's summer release "Hellboy 2: The Golden Army" and recently produced the critically acclaimed ghost story "The Orphanage."
New Kids: Back on the Block?
Los Angeles (E! Online) - They may no longer be new. They may no longer be kids. But NKOTB are out to prove they still have the right stuff.
The New Kids on the Block, the prototypical boy band of the 1980s and early '90s that preceded the Backstreet Boys and 'N Sync on the pop charts and in the pages of Tiger Beat, are reportedly on track to reunite.
The band's official Website, www.nkotb.com, is, after a long period of dormancy, once again up and running and imploring fans to keep hanging tough for a forthcoming announcement. That announcement, per People, is that Jordan Knight, Joey McIntire, Donnie Wahlberg, Jonathan Knight and Danny Wood will be making like the Spice Girls and relaunching their once chart-dominating act.
There's no word yet, however, on whether the group's resurrection will include a tour, a greatest hits album or the release of any new material.
Their site simply teases that an undoubtedly earth-shattering development is in the works, with a fuzzy television set flickering on and off on different photos of the group in their heyday.
"They rose from the streets of Boston," the site touts. "To become the biggest band in the world. They influenced a generation. They sold over 70 million albums and grossed more than one billion dollars. Five multiplatinum albums, 10 Top 10 singles, five number one singles. Then they walked away from it all. Millions of fans around the world await their return. Are you ready?"
The group eventually called it quits in 1994, after logging megasuccess with hits like "Hangin' Tough," "Step by Step," "I'll Be Loving You (Forever)" and the ever-lampooned "You Got It (The Right Stuff)."
Despite attempts by MTV to reunite the group in the past decade, the move has consistently been vetoed by one or more members of the quintet.
As it is, the "boy band" has almost certainly aged out of the High School Musical demographic t and will likely rely on the support of their former, now grown, fanbase (and their kids) to power the second coming of NKOTB.
Since splitting more than a decade ago, each member of the fivesome has achieved some degree of solo success, both inside and outside the world of entertainment.
The youngest and possibly most recognizable member of NKOTB, the perpetually fresh-faced Joey McIntyre, is now 35 years old and is best known these days for appearing on Dancing with the Stars as well as a brief stint in 2003 on Boston Public.
Donnie "brother of Mark" Wahlberg is 38 and has arguably been the most successful in Hollywood since the split, starring in HBO's Emmy-winning Band of Brothers and NBC's now defunct Boomtown and appearing in films such as The Sixth Sense and Saws II and IV.
Onetime frontman Jordan Knight, 37, continues to record solo, most notably the minor 1999 hit, "Give It To You," which was, briefly, a staple in the MTV rotation. His brother Jonathan, the oldest New Kid at nearly 40, is a real estate developer, while Donny Wood, 38, has bided his time as a music producer.
New season of `Lost' is found Thursday
NEW YORK - Are the island castaways of "Lost" mere hours from rescue? Or will their latest chance at freedom turn to dust, like all the others?
That's a no-brainer. The title of the ABC series isn't "Found." And as the long-awaited new season of "Lost" begins Thursday (9 p.m. EST), the first episode strongly suggests the castaways are about to lose again.
They're awaiting help from a rescue party from a freighter anchored offshore. But as they wait, the chilling likelihood takes hold that their potential saviors could instead spell their doom.
There are no shockers in the episode, the first of eight in the series' truncated fourth season. But this is a gripping hour involving all the principal characters that sets the stage for the season ahead. And after eight long months' absence, it's a welcome sight. (Relax: No spoilers ahead.)
From last season's finale, we already know that rock star Charlie (played by Dominic Monaghan) made a perilous quest to disable a jamming device that had prevented the group from summoning help from a just-acquired satellite telephone. He died carrying out his mission, but not before relaying a warning to his comrades to beware of the so-called freighter people.
The next step in the rescue plan was for the group to make a trek to the radio tower and shut off a tape-loop rescue plea that also was interfering with any other transmissions.
There Ben (Michael Emerson), the less-than-trustworthy overlord of the Others, implored Jack (Matthew Fox), the survivors' reluctant leader, not to place the call to the freighter people.
Jack sneered at Ben's words. The call was made, and the new episode begins, much as last season's finale did, with Jack somewhere in the future — drinking. With this recently added flash-forward storytelling feature, Jack is seen in his Los Angeles kitchen mixing a morning cocktail when his eye falls on TV coverage of police in hot pursuit of a speeding motorist.
The car crashes and the driver is arrested. Jack realizes it's one of his fellow former castaways, who is haunted by the past and sees visions of the dead. Jack, who himself is plagued by substance abuse,unrequited love for Kate (Evangeline Lily), and other demons, pays this person a visit. There is mention of a dreaded secret they share.
In a scene back on the island (and back in time), the portly Hurley (Jorge Garcia) runs into Locke (Terry O'Quinn), who long ago had "gone native" and has no desire to ever leave the island.
"It's gonna be hard to talk (Jack) into thinking they're not coming here to rescue us," says Hurley, who, with Locke, shares Ben's alarm for what the freighter people might do.
"We're just gonna have to try our best," says Locke, "because if we can't talk him out of it, then Charlie died for nothing."
By the end of the hour, the castaways are split into two factions — those aligned with Ben and Locke who believe the freighter people represent a mortal threat and Jack's group, still holding out hope for rescue, even as they start to fear the worst.
Thursday's new episode will be preceded by "`Lost': Past, Present & Future," a recap hour of the saga of the Oceanic flight 815 crash (8 p.m. EST). And Wednesday, last season's splendid two-hour finale will be repeated (9 p.m. EST) in "enhanced" form, with on-screen text containing commentary and clues.
In short, "Lost" fans should be rejoicing. And even with just eight episodes currently on tap thanks to the writers strike, ABC has promised another 40 will eventually follow, leading up to the series' finale in 2010.
Led Zeppelin guitarist wants world tour
TOKYO - Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page said Monday he was ready to take the iconic band on a world tour after burning up the stage at last month's reunion concert in London. But it probably won't be before September.
"The amount of work we put into O2 was what you would normally put into a world tour anyway," Page, 64, said of the intense rehearsing the band did for the Dec. 10 concert at London's O2 Arena.
The band's three surviving members — Page, singer Robert Plant and bassist-keyboardist John Paul Jones — were joined at the sold-out benefit show by the late John Bonham's son Jason on drums.
Page, who was in Japan to promote the new Zeppelin release, "Mothership," said the two-hour-plus concert was proof that Led Zeppelin can still perform at its best.
He said the band, which formed in 1968, was ready musically to get back together and take it out on a wider run, but it was not clear when it would go on tour as the singer had other plans.
"Robert Plant has a parallel project and he is busy with that until September," Page said.
Plant and bluegrass star Alison Krauss will begin their world tour with a run of shows in the southern U.S. this spring. The two released an album in October called "Raising Sand" that debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard chart in the U.S. The duo will tour Europe in May before returning for North American shows still to be announced for June and July.
Page said the band set their standards very high before agreeing to do the reunion, their first in 20 years. Led Zeppelin broke up in 1980 after the elder Bonham's death.
Page said they rehearsed for weeks, apprehensive that the cohesion they had in the 1970s when they were at their peak might be hard to rediscover.
"We wanted people who might not have even been alive in 1980 when we finished to understand what we were," he said.
Page said all went well until he broke a finger in three places, forcing the band to postpone the show for several weeks.
"But we did the show, and it was great," he said. "It was instant in terms of chemistry."
'No Country' wins key SAG prizes
LOS ANGELES - "No Country for Old Men" solidified its Academy Awards prospects Sunday by taking overall cast honors alongside Javier Bardem's supporting-actor prize at the Screen Actors Guild Awards, which may stand as the highlight of Hollywood's film-honors season if the writers strike undermines the Oscars.
Past Oscar winners Daniel Day-Lewis of "There Will Be Blood" and Julie Christie of "Away From Her" won the lead-acting honors, also giving them a boost to win the same trophies at the Oscars. Day-Lewis dedicated his win to Heath Ledger, the 28-year-old Australian actor who was found dead in his Manhattan loft last week.
"In `Brokeback Mountain,' he was unique, he was perfect," said Day-Lewis, already an Oscar winner for "My Left Foot." "That scene in the trailer at the end of the film is as moving as anything I think I've ever seen."
Actors bid fond farewell to one of TV's most-acclaimed series ever as "The Sopranos" swept the dramatic categories, grabbing the lead-acting honors for James Gandolfini and Edie Falco and, minutes later, the overall cast award.
The SAG show itself was generally free of labor talk, with only Christie addressing the matter openly among the winners.
"It's lovely to receive an award from your own union," she said, "especially at a time when we're being so forcefully reminded how important unions are."
Bardem had kind words for Joel and Ethan Coen, who directed "No Country" and adapted the screenplay from Cormac McCarthy's novel.
"Thank you, guys, for hiring me, and thank you for taking the hard work of choosing the good takes instead of the ones where I really sucked," said Bardem, who won for his chilling role as a relentless killer tracking a fortune in missing drug money.
Ruby Dee won supporting actress for "American Gangster." She shared fond thoughts of her late husband and frequent acting partner, Ossie Davis, who died in 2005.
"I accept it also for my husband Ossie," the 83-year-old Dee said, "because he's working on things up there."
Though its last episode aired several months ago, "The Sopranos" grabbed all three TV drama categories to open the ceremony.
"Ten years ... I wish for everybody in every walk of life, but particularly for actors, to have the opportunity to have a work experience like I have had with my family here," Falco said. "You're not supposed to get this attached because it's a transient business. I have fallen in love with these people and I don't know how you walk away from that."
Minutes before, Gandolfini took the first trophy of the night in a star-studded ceremony — something of an anomaly in this strike-hobbled awards season.
"This is our last official act as Sopranos together," Gandolfini said. "Here's to you guys. Thank you very much. It's been 10 years. It's been an honor. That's all I can say."
For comedy series, Alec Baldwin and Tina Fey were the lead-acting winners for "30 Rock," while "The Office" won for best ensemble.
Normally a lesser cousin to the Golden Globes and Oscars, the SAG Awards could end up being the biggest celebration this time around: The swanky Globes were canceled because of a strike by the Writers Guild of America, which refused to let its members work on the show, and the fate of the Oscars on Feb. 24 is in question because of the same labor quarrel.
Not so for the SAG honors. The actors union has been steadfast in support of striking writers, who in turn gave their blessing to the SAG ceremony.
Instead of the debacle for the Globes, which were curtailed to a star-free news conference after actors and filmmakers made it clear they would not cross writers' picket lines, the SAG ceremony came off with a full complement of Hollywood A-listers.
"We're really proud of the solidarity we've built with the Writers Guild," said Alan Rosenberg, SAG president. "Our members have understood that and taken it to heart. I was really moved by their decision not to go to the Golden Globes, our nominees. It's tough times, but it's been gratifying, as well."
Backstage, Fey said the writers strike leaves "30 Rock" at risk since the show is a critical success but not necessarily a huge hit with viewers.
"We are exactly the kind of show that's put in jeopardy by the strike," Fey said.
The obligatory package of clips to honor stars who died in the past year took on more immediacy, ending with a moment from "Brokeback Mountain" featuring Ledger. The cause of his death had not yet been determined.
The guild presented its life-achievement award to Charles Durning, whose credits include "The Sting," "Tootsie" and "O Brother, Where Art Thou?"
"There's nothing more gratifying than having an achievement award from one's peers," Durning said. "Over 50 years ago, I had the honor of working with some of the best actors, directors and writers in our industry. It's been a dream come true."
The guild's first-ever prizes for best stunt ensemble went to "The Bourne Ultimatum" for films and "24" for TV before the ceremony began.
On Saturday, "No Country" won top honors at the Directors Guild of America Awards for the Coen brothers; the winner there usually goes on to take home the directing Oscar.
As with the Golden Globes, the Writers Guild has made it clear that its members would not be allowed to work on the Oscars. While stars generally have said they would skip the show rather than cross picket lines, Oscar organizers insist their telecast will take place as scheduled.
Amy Ryan, a SAG and Oscar supporting-actress nominee for "Gone Baby Gone," said at the Directors Guild awards Saturday that she would not cross a picket line to attend the Oscars.
"I hope it ends but, more, I hope the writers get their due," Ryan said. "I think that, at the end of the day, is more important than a party. But I really hope it works out because I'd like to go to the party."
Complete list of SAG Award winners
Movies:
Actor: Daniel Day-Lewis, "There Will Be Blood."
Actress: Julie Christie, "Away From Her."
Supporting actor: Javier Bardem, "No Country for Old Men."
Supporting actress: Ruby Dee, "American Gangster."
Cast: "No Country for Old Men."
Stunt ensemble: "The Bourne Ultimatum."
___
Television:
Actor in a movie or miniseries: Kevin Kline, "As You Like It."
Actress in a movie or miniseries: Queen Latifah, "Life Support."
Actor in a drama series: James Gandolfini, "The Sopranos."
Actress in a drama series: Edie Falco, "The Sopranos."
Actor in a comedy series: Alec Baldwin, "30 Rock."
Actress in a comedy series: Tina Fey, "30 Rock."
Drama series cast: "The Sopranos."
Comedy series cast: "The Office."
Stunt ensemble: "24."
Jewel a "Woman" country radio can embrace
NASHVILLE (Billboard) - Singer-songwriter Jewel, who is releasing a country album this summer on Nashville-based independent Valory Music, is finding early acceptance from country radio. Her single "Stronger Woman" is the Hot Shot Debut on Hot Country Songs this week, at No. 50.
It's Jewel's second appearance on the country chart: In 1999 she peaked at No. 56 as the duet partner of Merle Haggard when the pair reprised his 1984 No. 1 "That's the Way Love Goes."
The new song, written by Jewel and Marv Green, is a midtempo, banjo-laden testament to believing in one's self. "I like a beginning, middle and end to my songs," Jewel recently told Billboard in explaining her move to country. "That's pretty much just country radio right now."
Playing Jewel on a country station is not a stretch, according to KEGA Salt Lake City program director Cody Alan. "If you listen back to old Jewel music, you realize the rootsy feel of her songs are country in nature," he said. "Her relationship with (professional bull rider/cowboy) Ty Murray helps to give her some country cred. That, along with a great female lyric on 'Stronger Woman' seem like the makings of a country hit."
The song will be available exclusively at iTunes starting February 5. Jewel's album "Perfectly Clear," which was produced by Nashville heavyweight John Rich, is due June 3.
Coens win for 'No Country for Old Men'
LOS ANGELES - Joel and Ethan Coen won the top prize from the Directors Guild of America on Saturday for "No Country for Old Men," giving them the inside track for the same honor at the Academy Awards — assuming the Oscars go on amid the writers strike.
"Oh, we get two of them," Ethan Coen said when he and his brother were presented with their trophies.
The Coens were only the second two-person team to win the Directors Guild honor, following Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins for 1961's "West Side Story."
"Ethan and I have a bookshelf in our office where we keep various plaques and such that we've gotten over the years that we call our ego corner," Joel Coen said.
When brother Ethan is having a bad day, he goes over with Windex and silver polish and "spit shines his medals for an hour or two," Joel Coen said. "It makes him feel better. This is a really big one, in every respect. It's going to keep him busy."
As with Martin Scorsese, who as last year's winner for "The Departed" presented the award to the Coens, the Directors Guild winner almost always goes on to win the same prize at the Oscars.
Adapted from Cormac McCarthy's novel, "No Country for Old Men" stars Josh Brolin as a good old Texan who makes off with loot from a drug deal gone bad, Javier Bardem as a ruthless killer on his trail, and Tommy Lee Jones as a sheriff tracking both men.
With the Directors Guild honor, "No Country" also may emerge as the favorite to win best picture at the Oscars.
The fate of the Oscars remains uncertain, though. Writers, who have been on strike for nearly three months, have refused to work on some major awards shows, among them the Golden Globes, whose ceremony was scrapped for lack of stars.
The Coens' former cinematographer, Barry Sonnenfeld, also was a guild winner. Sonnenfeld, whose films include the "Men in Black" series, won a small-screen prize, receiving the award for television comedy for directing an episode of "Pushing Daisies."
"Mad Men" earned the TV drama honor for Alan Taylor, while Yves Simoneau won the TV movie award for "Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee."
Other TV winners included Glenn P. Weiss for musical variety for "The 61st Annual Tony Awards"; Bertram Van Munster for reality programming for "The Amazing Race"; Paul Hoen for children's programs for "Jump In"; and Larry Carpenter for daytime serials for "One Life to Live."
Asger Leth won the documentary honor for "Ghosts of Cite Soleil," his portrait of two brothers who are gang leaders in a notorious Haitian slum.
Unlike other major honors, such as Sunday night's Screen Actors Guild Awards, the DGA ceremony is untelevised, making it a more laid-back gathering of Hollywood's elite and shielding it from some of the attention the industry's labor strife has brought to other ceremonies.
The Golden Globes banquet was canceled after stars made clear they would stay away in support of the Writers Guild of America strike, and the Oscars may face the same dilemma come Feb. 24.
Still, the writers' strike did cast a pall over the directors' big night, even though their guild last week negotiated a new contract after just days of meetings with producers. A fair number of Directors Guild members also belong to the writers union, whose strike has shut down TV shows and postponed movies, throwing thousands in the entertainment industry out of work.
Hal Holbrook, nominated for the supporting-actor Oscar for Directors Guild nominee Sean Penn's "Into the Wild," said before the Directors Guild awards that the "strike is becoming really dangerous. They're losing their homes. ...
"All I can hope is since we all have to share in producing anything — from the studio to the actors to the camera person to the costume lady, whatever, the set dresser — we all share," Holbrook said.
Many in Hollywood hope the Directors Guild deal will help resuscitate talks between writers and producers, whose negotiations broke down Dec. 7, a month after guild members walked off the job.
Dan Glickman — who heads the Motion Picture Association of America, Hollywood's top trade group — said before the directing awards that the union's new contract "offers a very good template for the other guilds," which could jump-start the labor impasse in time to let the Oscars go on.
"I sure hope so. The Oscars are kind of the link between the world of consumers and the world of entertainment," Glickman said. "I mean, a billion people or more watch the Oscars, and so it would be a real shame if we weren't able to keep that precedent, that history of this event going."
Winners, presenters and host Carl Reiner generally ignored Hollywood's labor problems during the Directors Guild ceremony, keeping the tone celebratory. There were only a few passing references to contract negotiations.
'Meet the Spartans' tops box office
LOS ANGELES - The epic spoof "Meet the Spartans" narrowly conquered "Rambo" to nab the top spot in the weekend box office, according to studio estimates Sunday.
The 20th Century Fox movie, which lampooned last year's epic blockbuster "300," took in an estimated $18.7 million in its weekend debut. It edged out "Rambo," a Lionsgate release starring and directed by Sylvester Stallone, which took in $18.2 million.
"This was a very tight race for the No. 1 spot," said Paul Dergarabedian, president of box office tracker Media By Numbers. "I think we tend to underestimate films like 'Meet the Spartans.' Fox has really locked onto something that's extremely popular."
"Spartans" tells the tale of hero Leonidas who leads a group of 13 Spartans to defend against the invading Persians — including Rocky Balboa, Paris Hilton and other pop culture icons. It was directed by Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer, who produced the parodies "Epic Movie" and "Date Movie."
"Spartans" was popular among teenagers and young adults, who made up about 75 percent of the audience. The film was rated PG-13, while R-rated "Rambo" was popular with older men.
"We are thrilled with the numbers," said Bert Livingston, senior vice president of distribution at Fox. "We made it for young people and they came."
Harvey Weinstein, co-chairman of the Weinstein Co., which co-distributed "Rambo," said he expected the film's mature audience to sustain its popularity at the box office.
"I think we'll have a great hold," Weinstein said.
"Rambo" is the fourth installment of the trademark franchise and stars Stallone as the eponymous Vietnam vet spending his retirement in Thailand when a group of missionaries enlists his help in aiding a village endangered by civil war in Myanmar.
The top 12 movies raked in $117.8 million, up 32 percent from the same weekend last year, when Fox's "Epic Movie" led the box office with $18.6 million.
Last weekend's monster hit, "Cloverfield," which set a January opening record with $41 million, was down steeply at No. 4 with $12.7 million, a 68 percent decline. "27 Dresses," starring Katherine Heigl as the perpetual bridesmaid was third with $13.6 million, and the new thriller "Untraceable," featuring Diane Lane as an FBI cybercrime investigator, rounded out the top five.
Here are the estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Media By Numbers LLC. Final figures will be released Monday.
1. "Meet the Spartans," $18.7 million
2. "Rambo," $18.2 million
3. "27 Dresses," $13.6 million
4. "Cloverfield," $12.7 million
5. "Untraceable," $11.2 million
6. "Juno," $10.3 million
7. "The Bucket List," $10.2 million
8. "There Will be Blood," $4.9 million
9. "National Treasure: Book of Secrets," $4.7 million
10. "Mad Money," $4.6 million
Companies banking on Super Bowl ads
NEW YORK (AP) — The story lines are unabashedly goofy. Cavemen invent the wheel to transport a beer cooler made of stone, and a car buyer enlists the help of a tribal warrior in case he needs some extra negotiating leverage at the dealership.
For most of us, Super Bowl ads make fine entertainment. But for the advertisers who make and buy them, Sunday is white-knuckle time.
The blogging boom has created crowds of armchair critics; the price for a 30-second spot is up again, to $2.7 million; and a writers strike has wiped out many other opportunities to reach mass audiences by putting scripted dramas like "Desperate Housewives" on hold.
Even against odds like these, many major marketing powers and even a few first-timers couldn't resist the opportunity of reaching more than 90 million people in a single shot — something that's increasingly hard to do in any medium.
Advertisers still love the Internet for its ability to deliver measured results from click-throughs and carve audiences into tiny segments. But only the largest of television's "events" — such as the Super Bowl, the Olympics, the Oscars and the Grammys — have the muscle to pull in tens of millions of people in real time.
"There are so few media vehicles out there that reach that size audience that there's still a big value in not only reaching so many people but in such an engaging manner," said Andy Donchin, director of national broadcast at Carat, a major buyer and planner of advertising.
Add the extra buzz created by the possibility of the New England Patriots making history with an undefeated season, and advertisers have a lot on the line. The placement is great if they have a winning ad, not so great if the ad tanks. Last year's viewership of 93.2 million was close to the all-time record of 94.1 million set in 1996, and many believe that record could be surpassed this year.
The results from online advertising often confirm the value of hitting big audiences with TV, Donchin said, because advertisers can measure the upswing in traffic to Web sites after an ad is broadcast.
The Super Bowl continues to draw new advertisers, including Planters packaged nut company, part of Kraft Foods Inc., as well as Cars.com, an online auto classified advertising company co-owned by the newspaper publishers Gannett Co., McClatchy Co., Tribune Co., Washington Post Co. and Belo Corp.
No neophyte in the advertising world, Kraft decided a Super Bowl spot was well worth the money last year as it began repositioning Planters beyond the $3 billion packaged nuts business to compete in the $20 billion market of salted snacks, which includes potato chips, pretzels and popcorn.
Those attract fairly different age and gender groups, says Allan Lindsay, senior director of marketing for salty snacks at Kraft. Nuts tend to be bought by adults 45 and older, while salty snacks tend to be bought by people ages 35-55, and men more than women — just the kind of people who watch the Super Bowl.
"If we really wanted to accelerate our growth, we needed to think bigger," Lindsay said. "We wanted the big platform to get our message out there ... and it's a natural venue to do that."
Lindsay, like many other advertisers, offered hints about his ad, but not the full story line. It will feature men being "drawn" to Planters' nuts, he said.
Tire maker Bridgestone Firestone North America, another first-timer, is jumping in with two spots and sponsorship of the halftime show. One ad features a car accelerating toward Richard Simmons as he dances on a road at night. In the other, a woman screams as the car she's riding in approaches a squirrel nibbling on an acorn.
Other big advertisers are venturing back to the Super Bowl after long absences. Audi, a subsidiary of Volkswagen AG, is coming back to the game after nearly 20 years, with a Godfather-themed spot. And Coca-Cola Co., whose main brand was back in the game last year for the first time since 1998, will have three or four spots this year.
Katie Bayne, chief marketing officer for Coca-Cola Co. in North America, declined to divulge details but said the company is currently testing 11 ads with viewers and will pick a winner to run on game day — a strategy that's also used by Anheuser-Busch Inc., traditionally the biggest advertiser in the game.
Bayne said Coke viewed TV events like the Super Bowl, big NASCAR races and the NCAA college basketball tournament as "critical" for getting the company's marketing message out.
Another theme cropping up again this year is amateur talent. The NFL itself ran a contest among fans last year to come up with ad ideas, and this year solicited league players to pitch ideas for a spot based on how they got into the sport. Likewise Doritos, which charmed viewers last year with spots made by amateur filmmakers, is running a contest where undiscovered musicians submit video performances of original songs. And Pepsico used its own employees in its Super Bowl ad.
Ratings from the game, being broadcast from Phoenix, are sure to boost News Corp.'s Fox network, which is already well-positioned thanks to football and "American Idol," a ratings powerhouse unaffected by the writers strike because it's not scripted.
Fox is getting as much as $2.7 million for a 30-second a spot, up from the $2.6 million CBS Corp.'s CBS network got last year.
The Couch Potato Report - January 26th, 2008
This week The Couch Potato Report peels three TV shows on DVD and two very entertaining movies.
Even though Canadian television networks continue to produce shows, including CBC, who have given us some great new programs, including two new shows I really like - SOPHIE and JPOD - when people speak of television these days, they are usually referencing the 11-week-old strike by screenwriters against the major studios.
So, if you are missing your regular nightly or weekly television fix due to the strike, I have three TV shows that are now on DVD that I think you should use to entertain you.
And I'll start with this week's Hot Potato, SEASON TWO of the based in Vancouver series ROBSON ARMS
ROBSON ARMS is a Canadian anthology television series that takes place in and around the Robson Arms apartment building in Vancouver and each episode of the show focuses on a different tenant of the building, although we also see the other people who live in the building in the halls, or in the store that is located in the lobby.
The show also has lots of Canadian music and references and it features a large ensemble cast of well known Canadian actors that rotates from week to week as well, but when SEASON ONE was released on DVD last May, I didn't recommend it, in fact, I said:
"Unfortunately, while ROBSON ARMS is engaging at times, most of the episodes just aren't that interesting, in fact...some of the characters are exceptionally unlikeable, and...in the end, I just didn't find the show really isn't all that entertaining."
Happily, they got rid of most of the unlikeable characters, and added a few people you could actually care about, and while I didn't completely love SEASON TWO of the show, I really did enjoy watching it, and catching up with the folks who live in the building.
I especially enjoyed the scenes with Canadian actor Leslie Nielsen who joins the ensemple for a couple of episodes.
SEASON TWO of ROBSON ARMS is not going to make you forget the shows you love that you aren't getting to see right now, but it might just entertain you enough during the void that you don't have to start reading books, or anything like that.
Another show that is now out on DVD that will definately entertain you - both now, and when the writers end their strike - is the CBC co-production TORCHWOOD - THE COMPLETE FIRST SEASON about a covert agency called the Torchwood Institute which investigates extraterrestrial incidents.
TORCHWOOD is a great BBC Science Fiction Series from the makers of DOCTOR WHO, also a CBC co-production, and it features great writing and a great cast, lead by John Barrowman as the always engaging Captain Jack Harkness...a man who can not die.
Some have referred to TORCHWOOD as a grown-up DOCTOR WHO, others have called it a British X-FILES, and as much as I enjoy the show, and I do truly enjoy this show, I don't subscribe to either of those descriptions as TORCHWOOD just isn't as consistantly good as DOCTOR WHO or THE X-FILES.
There are too many extra plot points full of character development for Captain Jack's supporting players, and none of them are as interesting as the Captain, so when the show isn't about him, or the interesting aliens and villains the team meets each week, it tends to drag and thus, get a bit boring.
However, I am pleased to report that those boring scenes don't usually go on for very long, and then the show returns to it's engaging storylines and fast pace.
Now, you don't have to know that TORCHWOOD is an anagram of DOCTOR WHO to enjoy this show...but I think it helps.
However, if you enjoy science fiction shows, then I think you will enjoy TORCHWOOD.
So there are two mostly positive reviews this week, and get ready for a third, as I also high recommend our next release.
Yes, it is the 11-DVD Box Set WONDER WOMAN - THE COMPLETE COLLECTION, featuring every episode from the television show's three year run.
Yes, if you need something to entertain you over the next few months, until summer arrives and we can go outside again, why not jump back to the 1970's television series based on the classic comic book, and starring the still gorgeous to this day - Lynda Carter - who is featured in some retrospective looks back and commentaries in this box set.
And yes, she does discuss the unforgettable Wonder Woman costume.
:)
No, WONDER WOMAN - THE COMPLETE COLLECTION isn't television's finest hour, but the show remains fun to this day, and it always has a postive attitude.
And did I mention the beautiful Lynda Carter?...I did...okay...just checking.
From the enjoyable cheese that is WONDER WOMAN, our next release is a little more serious fare, and THE HUNTING PARTY is also one of the most surprisingly entertaining films of last year.
THE HUNTING PARTY is the latest film from Richard Shepard, the writer and director who gave us the great film THE MATADOR in 2005.
This picture features Richard Gere as a discraced television reporter who goes on a quest with a young journalist and a cameraman to find "The Fox", the number one war criminal from the Bosnian conflict.
The trio find themselves in serious jeopardy when they are mistaken as a CIA hit squad and their target decides to come after them.
THE HUNTING PARTY is based on an article that originally appeared in Esquire magazine, and I really enjoyed it. For me, the film had just enough fact and fiction to entertain me, and to make me think.
If you like to see mature people in mature films, then do not miss THE HUNTING PARTY.
As I said, it is one of the most surprisingly entertaining films of last year.
Finally this week is 3:10 TO YUMA, a very interesting remake of the 1957 western classic starring Russell Crowe and Christian Bale.
In this version Bale from BATMAN BEGINS plays a small-time rancher who is desperate for money after the bank threatens to foreclose.
So he agrees to help deliver a captured outlaw - played by Oscar winner Russell Crowe - across the plains and to the train station so Crowe can take that 3:10 train to Yuma and be tried in a court of law for his crimes.
While 3:10 TO YUMA is a tried an dtrue western, the story element that really connected with me is the battle of wills that ensues as the outlaw tries to psych out the rancher.
3:10 TO YUMA is not an exceptional film, and it doesn't exactly reinvent the Western genre, but it is still very, very good, and if you would like to see it for yourself, it is available now on DVD, along side THE HUNTING PARTY, WONDER WOMAN - THE COMPLETE COLLECTION, TORCHWOOD - THE COMPLETE FIRST SEASON, and SEASON TWO of the television series ROBSON ARMS.
Oh, and don't miss Season Two of Torchwood, coming soon to CBC Television!!
Coming up on the next Couch Potato Report
SHAKE HANDS WITH THE DEVIL is the Canadian feature film adapted from Roméo Dallaire's autobiographical book "Shake Hands With the Devil: The Failure of Humanity in Rwanda" starring Roy Dupuis as Roméo Dallaire.
THE APPRENTICESHIP OF DUDDY KRAVITZ is a 1974 Canadian comedy-drama film based on the 1959 novel of the same name by Mordecai Richler, and it is now available in a new Director's Cut.
And if after this week's recommendations, you still don't have enough to get you through the ongoing writer's strike, I will also tell you about THE COMPLETE SIXTH SEASON of Larry David's classic show CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM, and VOLUME FIVE of the BBC Series MI:5.
And then there is A FISTFUL OF QUARTERS - THE KING OF KONG, a great documentary about the world's two best players - of Donkey Kong!
I'm Dan Reynish. I'll have more on those, and some other releases, in seven days.
For now, that's this week's COUCH POTATO REPORT.
Enjoy the movies and I'll see you back here next time on The Couch!
Thumbs up for Roger Ebert after latest bout of surgery, lawyer reports
Venerable film critic Roger Ebert is recovering after another bout of surgery, his lawyer said on Friday.
The 65-year-old Chicago Sun-Times critic had surgery in Houston on Thursday to address complications from previous operations, lawyer Eliot Ephraim said.
"The surgery went well, and the Eberts look forward to giving you more good news about Roger's recovery in the days to come," Ephraim said.
"Chaz and Roger Ebert are grateful to everyone for the continued prayers and concern."
No further details were released.
Over the past few years, Ebert has undergone a series of cancer surgeries, most recently in June 2006, when doctors removed a growth on the his salivary gland as well as part of his right jaw.
Two weeks later, emergency surgery was required after a blood vessel burst near the site of the earlier operation.
A tracheostomy, which opens an airway through an incision in an individual's windpipe, left Ebert unable to speak. He has previously said this would be remedied by further surgery.
Despite his ongoing medical treatments, Ebert — the first arts critic to be honoured with the Pulitzer Prize for criticism — had been continuing his work, including attending major events like the Toronto International Film Festival and penning reviews for the Sun-Times, where he has been the film critic for more than 40 years.
Live 'Buffy' Reunion Set for March
David Boreanaz and Sarah Michelle Gellar on 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer'
Expect the Hellmouth to reopen in Hollywood this March when the cast of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" gathers for a reunion.
The Paley Center for Media (formerly The Museum of Television & Radio) announced Wednesday (Jan. 23) that a "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" reunion is one of the centerpieces for the PaleyFest08, an annual pop-culture event bringing fans together with the stars and creators of both new and classic TV shows.
This year's Paley event will run from March 14-27, with the venue shifting from the Directors Guild of America to the Cinerama Dome. Except long lines regardless of the location.
No cast members or producers have yet to be announced for the "Buffy" event, celebrating the cult favorite that ran on the now-deceased WB and UPN.
The Paley Center also announced panels for current network hits "Chuck," "Dancing with the Stars" and "Dirty Sexy Money," as well as AMC's Golden Globe-winning hit "Mad Men."
Previously revealed sessions include "Gossip Girl," "Pushing Daisies," "An Evening With Judd Apatow" and a night dedicated to the 40th anniversary salute to Elvis Presley's '68 Comeback Special with Priscilla Presley in attendance.
Tickets for the PaleyFest will go on sale in Premium Ticket Packages on Monday, Feb. 4. Paley Center members can start snagging tickets on Feb. 7 and if there are any ducats left, the general public can scoop them up starting Feb. 10.
R.E.M. Rocks Hard On New 'Accelerate'
After two consecutive albums dominated by mid-tempo fare, R.E.M. gets back to its stripped-down, fast-paced rock roots on "Accelerate," due April 1 via Warner Bros. The 11-track set, which gets in and out in a lightning-quick 34 minutes and change, is led by the single "Supernatural Superserious."
Opener "Living Well's the Best Revenge" sets the tone, with a prominent lead guitar figure from Peter Buck, thumping, melodic bass lines and backing vocals from Mike Mills and a rapid stream of lyrics from frontman Michael Stipe. The track almost seems like a musical cousin to "Just a Touch" from 1986's "Life's Rich Pageant."
The up-tempo approach extends to "Supernatural Superserious," a video for which was shot earlier this week on Manhattan's Lower East Side. "You realize your fantasies are dressed up in travesties / enjoy yourself with no regrets," Stipe instructs on the track, which should hit radio sometime next month.
Elsewhere, "Hollow Man" begins as a piano ballad but quickly morphs into a revved-up chorus, while "Horse To Water" is a noisy, angular rocker with the unmistakable stamp of R.E.M.'s pre-major label days.
Among the slower departures are "Houston," which is vaguely reminiscent of the vintage "Swan Swan H," and the politically charged "Until the Day Is Done" ("The verdict is dire / the country's in ruins," Stipe sings).
A number of the "Accelerate" tracks were premiered last summer during "working rehearsal" shows in Dublin. The album was produced by Jacknife Lee, best known for his work with Snow Patrol and U2.
Here is the track list for "Accelerate":
"Living Well's the Best Revenge"
"Mansized Wreath"
"Supernatural Superserious"
"Hollow Man"
"Houston"
"Accelerate"
"Until the Day Is Done"
"Mr. Richards"
"Sing for the Submarine"
"Horse To Water"
"I'm Gonna DJ"
Will eight be enough?
Viewers will have to decide whether Lost is half-empty or half-full when the ABC adventure-drama returns for its fourth season Thursday (9 ET/PT). Because of the Hollywood writers' strike, only eight of 16 planned episodes have been produced.
Cast members say that ABC's decision to provide some Lost rather than none is smart and that they are pleased with a quickened pace and more answers to Lost's mysteries.
"We're all going to be disappointed that there are only eight instead of 16, but the eight episodes are amazing, and I think fans will be very satisfied," says Yunjin Kim, who plays Sun, the pregnant wife of Jin (Daniel Dae Kim). "I feel like this season all the episodes are self-contained. The speed of the story is faster. Each episode contains a question and an answer, finally. So there's a lot of satisfaction."
That approach may be the result of the unusual decision to set an end date for a hit series, with 48 episodes over three seasons. Knowing when the story concludes (which may be reflected in the title of the one-hour season-opener, "The Beginning of the End") has helped writers map out a faster, more focused pace, says Matthew Fox, who plays Jack Shephard, the reluctant leader of the survivors of the crash of Oceanic Flight 815.
"Lost is a story with a beginning and an end. Knowing he's got 48, (co-creator Damon Lindelof) can make each installment move the narrative forward to that conclusion with momentum," Fox says.
Based on Lost's previous production schedule, five or six more episodes likely could be produced by the end of May if the writers' strike is settled by mid-February.
Lost ended last May with a jolt, opening the door to the castaways' possible rescue while adding a twist, a first flash-forward after three seasons of signature character flashbacks.
•The island update: Hurley (Hugo Reyes) saved three survivor colleagues from the Others, a mysterious island group at odds with the Oceanic passengers. Jack contacted an offshore freighter, and he and other stranded island dwellers were waiting for its crew to rescue them. And, just before drowning, another colleague, Charlie (Dominic Monaghan), passed on the message that the boat people weren't who the islanders thought.
That leads to a big season-opening question, one that will divide the islanders as four strangers arrive: Are they coming to hurt or to help?
•The future revelation: In a surprise directional change praised by cast and TV critics, Lost's May finale looked ahead to find that Jack and Kate (Evangeline Lilly), and possibly some others from the island, made it back to civilization.
The episode ended with a bearded, substance-abusing Jack raising more questions by imploring Kate: "We were not supposed to leave. … We have to go back, Kate."
Other questions hover: Who will leave the island, and who will stay? What will become of the pregnant Sun on an island where expectant mothers die? How will the romantic possibilities play out? Of course, Lost's big questions — what and where is the island, and why are these people there? — remain. (ABC will repeat the two-hour finale Wednesday at 9 ET/PT and air a series recap Thursday at 8.)
After averaging 15.9 million and 15.4 million viewers in its first two years, Lost fell to 13.8 million last season. (Lost is the top show in time-shifted viewing, ABC says.)
A complex, serialized show such as Lost loses some of its audience via attrition, but many viewers and critics blamed a six-episode fall 2006 arc they say had too much of the Others, not enough of the first-year regulars and too little in the way of action and answers.
A longer episode allotment in the spring received a much better critical response, and the season finale (13.9 million viewers) gave Lost its largest audience in more than three months. That led to the decision to run its 16 episodes consecutively this season.
But if this season also ends up divided, cast members say, the eight episodes will stand up better because they have lots of action and all the regulars are featured. (Lost's writers would not discuss the season because of the strike; ABC execs declined to be interviewed.)
Elizabeth Mitchell, who plays Juliet, one of the Others, likens the literature-referencing series to a novel. "I'm reading this book, Orley Farm. The first 150 pages are all setup. You're like, 'Where are the people I care about?' Then, all of a sudden, the book takes off. I feel that's what happened in Season 3. The writers laid their groundwork. And it hits the ground running" this season.
Lost could benefit from the strike, too, since there is less scripted competition. With time slots available because other shows have only reruns, it was moved from Wednesday, American Idol's regular night, to Thursday, and from 10 ET/PT to 9, an hour with more viewers.
In addition to new characters from the freighter, Michael (Harold Perrineau), who left the island with son Walt earlier, will return. Some on the island, most recently Locke (Terry O'Quinn) in the season finale, have seen a vision of Walt (Malcolm David Kelley).
Michael Emerson, who plays the spooky Others leader Ben, says that this season not only keeps up last season's momentum, but that the flash-forward opens great creative opportunities. "None of us knew what was going on until we saw the broadcast. I thought 'Hallelujah! This is going to make this show.' "
The future perspective is "how they're going to spin it out to be suspenseful and dramatic. Who has gotten off the island and at what price?" he says. "Now, there are these bittersweet notes of regret and missed opportunity that will come into play. To the extent the island was some crucible in which people could hope for redemption, maybe not everyone was redeemed, at least not happily."
Can the Simpsons rise above the haters?
NEW YORK - Between them, sisters Jessica and Ashlee Simpson have had one high-profile divorce, an embarrassing lip-synch scandal, plastic surgeries both obvious and subtle, blame for a Dallas Cowboys loss, and an impresario father looming over it all.
Each shot to prominence — and up the pop charts — by taking the primrose path of MTV reality shows.
Each has had shining success at selling records, followed by abject failure.
And that's just a sampling. If you're a celeb-watcher (or football bettor), it's juicy stuff.
If you're a Simpson sister, it's beginning to look like a critical mass of negativity.
Of late, Jessica, 27, and sister Ashlee, 23, are regularly slimed in the blogosphere, which becomes more and more vicious as public interest in celebrities reaches an all-time high. Trying to nurture a career — and stay in fans' good graces — amid gleefully ruthless tabloid scrutiny can't be an easy feat.
Especially for Jessica.
The singer/actress/shoe designer will likely avoid the Dallas Cowboys stadium after fans blamed her weekend trip to Mexico with quarterback Tony Romo for the Cowboys' defeat by the New York Giants.
Eva Longoria rallied to Simpson's defense, as did ex-boyfriend John Mayer. In a post on his blog, Mayer wrote: "I have never known anyone to have more pride in their home state and their upbringing in it than Jessica Simpson has in Texas. ... It's one of her most defining traits as a person. So please don't try and take that away from her."
For Simpson, who suffered a backlash of sorts after her marriage to Nick Lachey crumbled in 2005, bad press is apparently a side effect of living under the tabloid microscope.
"Jessica's actually quite realistic about it," publicist Elizabeth Wolfe told The Associated Press. "It's part of the price of being in the public eye. She doesn't like it. And if I were her mother, I would fight tooth and nail to protect her. But you can't. She's a grown-up woman, and she's on her own and she's doing the best she can."
Wolfe is the spokeswoman for Millennium Films, which released Simpson's new comedy, "Blonde Ambition," co-starring Luke Wilson, to eight Texas theaters in December. It's now available on DVD. Simpson's upcoming films include "Major Movie Star," in which she plays an actress-turned-Marine. These films follow her big-screen debut in "The Dukes of Hazzard."
Meanwhile, Simpson's little sister recently unleashed the video for her new single, "Outta My Head (Ay Ya Ya)," to mixed reviews online. Ashlee's third solo album, "Bittersweet World," is expected to be released in the spring.
Ashlee, a media magnet for her romance with Fall Out Boy rocker Pete Wentz, positioned herself as the anti-Jessica in 2004 when she documented the making of her debut album, "Autobiography," on an MTV series. That album sold 2.9 million copies and spawned several radio-friendly hits despite the revelation that she lip-synched during a performance on NBC's "Saturday Night Live."
Her 2005 disc, "I Am Me," failed to register a hit and only sold 942,000 copies — still, that was better than the end tally (297,000) for her sister's 2006 clunker, "A Public Affair."
These days, Jessica's gone country. She's been recording a new album in Nashville, Tenn., to be released sometime this year, her publicist, Lauren Auslander, said recently. In a recent interview with Billboard.com, Jessica explained her reason for trying out a new sound: "I am a country girl. ... I always wanted to make a country album, but I wanted to wait until the time was right."
Ian Drew, editor-at-large for Us Weekly magazine, said the siblings, who are managed by their domineering father, Joe Simpson, and reportedly haven't been shy about having cosmetic procedures, could certainly prove themselves again — all they need is a surefire single or some other success that would eclipse the drama surrounding their personal lives.
"My honest opinion is neither of them really have a great deal of talent," Drew remarked. "They're manufactured pop artists. So it comes down to: Could they buy the right song or not?"
Still, unlike an artist like Madonna, who has a weak voice yet a strong point of view, "these girls don't really have anything to say," Drew said. "They're not very intelligent. They're not very insightful. ... And you can only go so far that way in the entertainment world."
Publicist Howard Bragman said Jessica needs to stop juggling so many projects and "do fewer things better."
"She's still a very beautiful girl," Bragman said. "There's still a lot of media interest. She still has potential. ... Once you've been a star, you can be a star again. That's the beauty of America."
Sales spike for Heath Ledger films
NEW YORK - Heath Ledger's death has spiked sales and interest in the late actor's films.
As often happens after the death of a famous actor or musician, many have sought to revisit or simply discover his work. Three of Ledger's movies charted among the 25 best-selling DVDs on Amazon.com as of Friday afternoon.
Most have been purchasing copies of Ledger's 1999 comedy "10 Things I Hate About You" and his 2001 period action flick "A Knight's Tale." After those films, Ledger pursued more dramatic, challenging roles, with 2005's "Brokeback Mountain" — the third most popular of his DVDs on Amazon — being roundly considered his finest achievement.
The 28-year-old Australia native died Tuesday in a Manhattan apartment. Toxicology tests to determine the cause of death will not be completed for at least a week.
Ledger's latest film to be released, the multi-persona Bob Dylan film "I'm Not There," has mostly completed its theatrical run. It played in only 61 theaters last weekend.
The lone theater it remains playing at in New York is the Film Forum, an art house and repertory theater that has been screening "I'm Not There" since it was released in November.
"The film is doing very well and as long as it does well, we'll play it," said Film Forum first-run programmer Karen Cooper. "I don't imagine that it's going to do better because of his loss. I think it's doing as well as it is because it's a very strong and interesting and unusual film."
The impact of Ledger's death on his last completed project, "The Dark Knight," remains to be seen. The latest installment in the "Batman" series, Ledger plays the Joker, and his dark, twisted take on the villain had been a focal point in the film's advance promotion.
Since Ledger's death, over seven million have flocked to YouTube to watch trailers of "The Dark Knight." Over one million have watched a clip of an interview where Ledger discusses the Joker role.
Warner Bros., the studio distributing "The Dark Knight," has not yet announced any change in schedule for the film, which is planned for a blockbuster summer release on July 18.
"Certainly `The Dark Knight' is one of the most anticipated films of the year," said Paul Dergarabedian, president of box office tracker Media By Numbers. "I think Warners is just going to stay the course and keep marketing the film."
As for its box office performance, Dergarabedian suspects the film is so big that it "kind of transcends almost anything like this that might happen." He adds that the film's release will to a certain degree honor Ledger, whose performance was already expected to impress moviegoers.
At the time of his death, Ledger was in the midst of shooting "The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus," a $30 million film directed by Terry Gilliam. The movie recently completed shooting scenes in London and was soon to resume production in Vancouver, British Columbia. Producers have not said whether the film will continue or not.
In the film, Ledger was to co-star with Christopher Plummer, Lily Cole and Tom Waits. Options open to producers — depending upon how many scenes Ledger had left to shoot — include recasting (and thus reshooting) his part, finishing it with the help of a body double (as was done after Brandon Lee died while making 1994's "The Crow") or simply canning production.
Ledger had also been preparing to make his feature directing debut by adapting Walter Tevis' novel "The Queen's Gambit."
In an interview last month with Variety, Gilliam told the trade paper: "Heath is extraordinary. He's just so good, and he's going to be a film director. He's watching everything, and he's going to be a much better director than I will ever be."
New Bond film titled `Quantum of Solace'
IVER HEATH, England - "Quantum of Solace" is the title of the new James Bond film, the 22nd Bond adventure.
The title was revealed to reporters Thursday at Pinewood Studios outside of London, where the movie is being filmed.
Daniel Craig is returning as Agent 007. He picks up where 2006's "Casino Royale" left off, with Bond contemplating revenge after his betrayal by his true love, Vesper Lynd.
Filming began at Pinewood Studios earlier this month. Location shooting is planned in Austria, Italy and Panama. Judi Dench returns as the MI-6 boss M and Mathieu Amalric ("The Diving Bell and the Butterfly") plays the villain. Additions to the cast include Ukrainian actress Olga Kurylenko as mysterious Bond girl Camille.
"Quantum of Solace" is due to open in Britain and the United States on Nov. 7.
Heath Ledger autopsy inconclusive
NEW YORK - A makeshift memorial of flowers and candles grew Wednesday outside the apartment building of Heath Ledger, whose Oscar-winning director in "Brokeback Mountain" called his death a "heartbreaking" ending to a superb acting career and life.
An autopsy on the 28-year-old actor was inconclusive, the medical examiner's office said Wednesday. It will take about 10 days to complete the investigation, said Ellen Borakove, a spokeswoman for the office.
The Australian-born actor was found dead Tuesday by his housekeeper and masseuse — lying naked and face-down at the foot of his bed, police said.
Police on Wednesday said they found bottles of prescription sleeping pills and anti-anxiety medication in his bedroom and in the bathroom; there were still pills in the bottles.
Earlier, police said the death was caused by a possible drug overdose and appeared to be accidental.
News of the death stunned family, fans and colleagues.
"Working with Heath was one of the purest joys of my life," said Ang Lee, who directed Ledger in "Brokeback Mountain."
"He brought to the role of Ennis more than any of us could have imagined — a thirst for life, for love and for truth, and a vulnerability that made everyone who knew him love him. His death is heartbreaking."
Speaking in Perth, Ledger's father called the death "tragic, untimely and accidental."
Kim Ledger called his son "down-to-earth, generous, kind-hearted, life-loving, unselfish" and "extremely inspirational to many."
"Heath has touched so many people on so many different levels during his short life," he said. "Please now respect our family's need to grieve and come to terms with our loss privately."
Khaled Ali, 41, a stage manager for a Broadway show, dropped off a candle outside Ledger's building on his way to work Wednesday morning. He said he and his fellow cast members were devastated.
"I felt a connection with him as an actor, as a fellow in the theater community," he said. "With `Brokeback Mountain' he touched me personally in telling the story of my community. It was very touching."
Ledger was known for grueling, intense roles that became his trademark after he got his start in teen movies like "10 Things I Hate About You."
He avoided the safe path in favor of roles that forced him to bury his Australian accent and downplay his leading-man looks: the tormented gay cowboy Ennis Del Mar in "Brokeback Mountain," a drug addict in "Candy," an incarnation of Bob Dylan in "I'm Not There."
In what may be his final finished performance, he took a rare role in a guaranteed summer blockbuster, playing Batman's nemesis, the Joker, in the upcoming "The Dark Knight." But the role was nothing he could phone in; it forced him to rebrand a character last played on the big screen by Jack Nicholson.
"I had such great hope for him," said Mel Gibson, who played Ledger's father in "The Patriot." "He was just taking off and to lose his life at such a young age is a tragic loss."
Ledger split last year with Michelle Williams, who played his wife in "Brokeback." The two had a daughter, the now 2-year-old Matilda, and had lived together in Brooklyn's Boerum Hill neighborhood.
Early Wednesday, Williams and Matilda left Trollhattan, Sweden, where the 27-year-old actress had been shooting scenes for the upcoming film "Mammoth," said Martin Stromberg, a spokesman for film production company Memfis Film.
"She received the news at her hotel late last night," Stromberg said, adding he had not spoken to the actress after she learned of Ledger's death.
The actor's personal strife was accompanied by professional anxiety.
Ledger said in an interview in November that "Dark Knight" and last year's "I'm Not There," took a heavy toll. He said he "stressed out a little too much" during the Dylan film, and had trouble sleeping while portraying the Joker, whom he called a "psychopathic, mass-murdering, schizophrenic clown with zero empathy."
"Last week I probably slept an average of two hours a night," Ledger told The New York Times. "I couldn't stop thinking. My body was exhausted, and my mind was still going." He said he took two Ambien pills, which only worked for an hour.
News of Ledger's death spread quickly, from the crowd of 300 people that gathered Tuesday outside his Manhattan apartment to the Sundance Film Festival in Utah, where those with close ties to the actor included Naomi Watts, who dated him after they met on the set of "Lords of Dogtown," a fictionalized story about the birth of modern skateboarding.
Ledger was born in 1979 in the western Australian city of Perth to a mining engineer and a French teacher, and got his first acting role playing Peter Pan at age 10 at a local theater company. He began acting in independent films as a 16-year-old in Sydney and played a cyclist hoping to land a spot on an Olympic team in a 1996 television show, "Seat."
After several independent films, Ledger moved to Los Angeles at age 19 and starred opposite Julia Stiles in "10 Things I Hate About You," a reworking of Shakespeare's "The Taming of the Shrew." Offers for other teen flicks came his way, but Ledger turned them down, preferring to remain idle than sign on for projects he didn't like.
"It wasn't a hard decision for me," Ledger told The Associated Press in 2001. "It was hard for everyone else around me to understand. Agents were like, `You're crazy,' my parents were like, `Come on, you have to eat.'"
He began to gravitate toward more independent films after roles in "Monster's Ball," "The Patriot" and "A Knight's Tale." His work in 2005's "Brokeback Mountain" earned him an Academy Award nomination for best actor.
In the 2006 film "Candy," Ledger played a poet wrestling with a heroin addiction along with his girlfriend. Neil Armfield, who directed Ledger in the film, said the actor had "handled his career incredibly well," steering himself toward more challenging roles.
"He made a decision about four years ago to stop being led by producers and managers and to forge his own way," Armfield told Australian Broadcasting Corp. radio.
He brought the same intensity to "Dark Knight." Glimpsed in early teaser trailers, Ledger is more depraved and dark than comical. The film's director, Christopher Nolan, said this month that Ledger's Joker would be wildly different from Nicholson's.
"It was a very great challenge for Heath," Nolan said. "He's extremely original, extremely frightening, tremendously edgy. A very young character, a very anarchic presence that taps into a lot of our basic fears and panic."
Ledger was a widely recognized figure in his SoHo neighborhood, where Michelle Vella said she frequently saw him carrying his 2-year-old daughter on his shoulders, or having ice cream with her.
"It's a shock; he's so young," said Taren Dolbashian, who also had seen Ledger with his daughter. "He always seems so happy."
Near the entrance to the building housing Ledger's loft, about two dozen bouquets and a dozen candles formed a memorial.
One note said, "I couldn't find anything bad about you."
Do your Oscar viewing at home on DVD
Several movies nominated for Oscars in the six major categories already are available on DVD. Others have been scheduled for release closer to the Feb. 24 ceremony, while still others have a way to go in their theatrical runs.
It's a volatile time of year for DVD scheduling, but here are release dates (subject to change) announced for films that received at least one nomination in the picture, actor, actress, supporting actor, supporting actress or director categories:
- American Gangster (Feb. 19; $30 and $40 editions; HD DVD, $40)
- The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (Feb. 5, $28; Blu-ray and HD DVD, $36)
- Atonement (not yet announced)
- Away From Her (available, $20)
- Charlie Wilson's War (not yet announced)
- The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (not yet announced)
- Eastern Promises (available; $30; HD DVD, $40)
- Elizabeth: the Golden Age (Feb. 5, $30; HD DVD, $40)
- Gone Baby Gone (Feb. 12, $30; Blu-ray, $35)
- I'm Not There (not yet announced)
- In the Valley of Elah (Feb. 19, $29; Blu-ray and HD DVD, $36)
- Into the Wild (March 14, $30 and $35 editions; HD DVD, $40)
- Juno (not yet announced)
- La Vie en Rose (available; $30)
- Michael Clayton (once announced for Feb. 19, but the release now appears to be in limbo, due to Friday's theatrical re-issue)
- No Country for Old Men (March 11, $30; Blu-ray, $35)
- The Savages (not yet announced)
- Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (not yet announced)
- There Will Be Blood (not yet announced)
Guild says it won't picket Grammy Awards
LOS ANGELES - The striking Hollywood writers guild said Tuesday it will refrain from picketing the upcoming Grammy Awards, possibly allowing the music ceremony to escape the fate of the wrecked Golden Globes show.
The guild's board of directors has yet to grant the music industry show a waiver that would allow union writers to work on the ceremony, but the Grammys typically depend more on performances than scripted lines or comedy.
The guild previously said it was unlikely to grant the Recording Academy a waiver for the Feb. 10 show, the music industry's most important event, set to be broadcast live on CBS from Staples Center in Los Angeles.
The writers guild refused to grant a waiver for the Golden Globes and threatened to picket, and the Screen Actors Guild encouraged its stars to stay away as well. As a result, the typically lavish three-hour televised awards extravaganza was reduced to a half-hour, celebrity-free newscast on Jan. 13.
Its audience dropped by 70 percent compared to last year, NBC lost millions in ad revenue, and Globe organizers had to forgo a reported $6 million license fee.
Recording Academy President N