What to Watch on Super Tuesday

John Barrowman Captain Jack is back! John Barrowman, best-known for playing the immortal Jack Harkness on Torchwood, has landed a leading role in ABC's Gilded Lilys pilot from Shonda Rhimes, TVGuide.com has learned exclusively. Pilot season: Get the scoop! The project is an upstairs-downstairs look at the opening of the first true luxury hotel built in NY City circa 1895. Barrowman will play Julius Ashford Lily, the golden boy of the prestigious Lily family opening the hotel. He's mama's favorite son, who's very charming, lucky and loose. As previously announced, Brian F. O'Byrne, Blythe Danner, Madeline Zima, Matt Lauria,Matt Long, Brigid Brannagh, Maury Sterlingand Sarah Bolger will also star. The pilot was written by KJ Steinberg (Gossip Girl, The Nine) with Rhimes and Betsy Beers (Grey's Anatomy, Private Practice) executive-producing.

Pilot Season: Mira Sorvino to Star in CBS' Trooper

Bristol Palin Bristol Palin can't have an sufficient quantity of the reality show spotlight. The daughter of former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin will star within their docuseries on Lifetime referred to as Bristol Palin: Life's a Tripp, the network introduced Wednesday. Since the title signifies, the series will focus on the youthful Palin like a single mother to her toddler boy Tripp as she changes to living alone in Alaska. Sarah and Bristol Palin trademark their names Palin formerly placed third inside the eleventh season of Dwts and came out on her behalf account mother's TLC docuseries, Sarah Palin's Alaska. "Within the first moment she was thrust to the public eye, Bristol and her boy are actually the subjects of lots of curiosity and misunderstanding," Lieftime's Make the most of Sharenow mentioned in the statement. "This show will advise you the particular Bristol Palin and her journey just like a daughter, a parent or gaurdian together with a young lady making her strategies by the earth.In . The Ten half-hour episodes will air later this year.

Adam Sandler Makes Well-Deserved Record-Setting 11 Razzie Nominations

Champion aren't just to ensure that the those who win of tonight's Film Independent Spirit Honours major props visit Adam Sandler to have an outstanding showing in present day Razzie nominations announcement, which found the Jack & Jill/Go By Using It star smashing the previous record for many personal Razzie nominations gained each year. (Sandler won 11 nominations, while Jack & Jill itself gained 12.) Eddie Murphy, guess you are free for that Year of Norbit. Begin to see the full listing of fairly apparent nominees competing for Golden Raspberry (dis)honors following the the jump and then leave your forecasts below. WORST PICTURE Bucky Larson: Born to become a Star Jack & Jill New Years Eve Transformers: Dark from the Moon Twilight: Breaking Beginning Part 1 WORST ACTOR Russell Brand, Arthur Nicolas Cage, Drive Angry 3-D/Season from the Witch/Trespass Rachelle Lefervre, Abduction/The Twilight Saga: Breaking Beginning Pt. 1 Adam Sandler, Jack & Jill/Go By Using It Nick Swardson, Bucky Larson: Born to become a Star WORST ACTRESS Martin Lawrence, Large Mommas: Like Father Like Boy Sarah Palin, Undefeated Nicole Kidman, I Have No Idea How She Will ItOrNew Years Eve Adam Sandler, Jack & Jill Billy Burke, The Twilight Saga: Breaking Beginning Pt. 1 WORST SUPPORTING ACTOR Patrick Dempsey, Transformers: Dark from the Moon James Franco, Your Highness Ken Jeong, Large Mommas 3, Hangover Part 2, Transformers: Dark from the Moon, Zookeeper Al Pacino, Jack & Jill Nick Swardson, Jack & Jill/Go By Using It WORST SUPPORTING ACTRESS Katie Holmes, Jack & Jill Brandon T. Jackson, Large Mommas 3 Nicole Kidman, Go By Using It David Spade, Jack & Jill Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Transformers: Dark from the Moon WORST ENSEMBLE Bucky Larson: Born to become a Star Jack & Jill New Years Eve Transformers: Dark from the Moon Breaking DawnThe Twilight Saga: Breaking Beginning Pt. 1 WORST DIRECTOR Michael Bay, Transformers: Dark from the Moon Tom Brady, Bucky Larson: Born to become a Star Bill Condon, The Twilight Saga: Breaking Beginning Pt. 1 Dennis Dugan, Jack & Jill/Go By Using It Garry Marshall, New Years Eve WORST PREQUEL, REMAKE, RIP-OFF or Follow up Arthur Bucky Larson: Born to become a Star The Hangover 2 Jack & Jill The Twilight Saga: Breaking Beginning Pt. 1 WORST SCREEN COUPLE Nicolas Cage and anybody Shia LaBeouf and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Transformers: Dark from the Moon Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston/Brooklyn Decker, Go By Using It Adam Sandler and Holmes, Pacino, or themself in Jack & Jill Billy Burke and RPattz or Rachelle Lefervre, The Twilight Saga: Breaking Beginning Pt. 1 WORST Script Bucky Larson: Born to become a Star Jack & Jill New Years Eve Transformers: Dark from the Moon The Twilight Saga: Breaking Beginning Pt. 1 The Razzies is going to be introduced on April 1. More information here.

Kim Williams, Compact disk for Cinemax and Tyler Perry, on Casting Unprivileged

Extended before Mo'Nique won the Academy Award on her behalf supporting role in "Precious," casting director Kim Williams gave the comedian her first film role, in the 2000 feature referred to as "3 Strikes." She hired Tracy Morgan for just about any recurring role round the hit sitcom "Martin" before he acquired fame on "Saturday Evening Live" and "30 Rock." And Jesse Metcalfe's only onscreen credit will be a handful of cases of the cleaning cleaning soap opera "Passions" when Williams cast him in the made-for-TV movie in 2003 the actor has since starred in films for instance "John Tucker Must Die" and also on television in "Desperate Regular folks.InchWilliams, that's been casting film and television productions for that type of Cinemax, Fox, and Tyler Perry for just two decades, states they is certainly trying to find the actor who'll become her next discovery. But she also wishes that Dvds received more recognition for creative contributions, especially throughout honours season."We really will be the unsung heroes," she states of her fellow casters. "How can makeup and wardrobe get nominations? They will not have anybody to brighten to be able to put makeup on once the casting director hadn't cast them. A writer's words wouldn't be heard by anybody, and so they wouldn't be nominated for just about any script award, whenever we hadn't found the actor to convey it."Maturing in La, Williams always understood they preferred to function in entertainment, even though she was without idea what her specific role might be. She will be a student at UCLA when she saw a posting within the career center for just about any casting office internship."In those days I'd not a clue what casting was," she confesses, "however thought, Let me go have a look. What's the worst that could occur? Whatever I finish off doing in this particular business, I probably need to know how casting works."She elevated enamored using the presence of the Hollywood casting director becoming an intern at Reuben Cannon & Affiliate marketers. Compact disk Reuben Cannon increased to become buddy and mentor his guidance over the following few years aided her advance from his casting assistant to have an agent's assistant at William Morris after which it to Cinemax, first as manager of casting after which as director of casting. She's labored with with Cannon since.InchI wouldn't function as casting director I am, producer I am, or perhaps the person I am whether or not this weren't for Reuben," Williams states.Her friendship getting a young comedian named Martin Lawrence introduced having a of Williams' most important credits. She cast Lawrence's sitcom "Martin" at the begining of 1990's and lastly done more television comedies, for instance "The Bernie Mac Show," "Cedric the Artist Presents," and Damon Wayans' "My Partner and kids.InchMost from the projects Williams casts for film and tv feature mainly African-American ensembles. She states that although she will get a duty to make sure unprivileged convey more screen time, her real goal is always to precisely represent an progressively diverse global population."Have a typical day, walking lower the streets of L.A.," Williams states. "You'll probably see and encounter all kinds, shapes, dimensions, colors, and age groups. But you ought to be alert to this. In my opinion people need to see themselves represented round the suggests that they're watching. Clearly, you'll find occasions each time a character develops from a particular ethnic group or possibly a particular region, but typically, doctors, killings, and teachers could be anybody."Author-director-producer Tyler Perry has produced a multimillion-dollar brand by speaking having a crowd that's frequently overlooked in Hollywood, and Williams remains responsible for crafting his casts since 2005. When casting a Perry film for instance "Diary from the Mad Black Lady" or possibly a tv show for instance "House of Payne," she sees that she will not need to fight getting a studio or network executive to find out a wider choice of skin colors onscreen. Despite Perry's success, it seems that nobody is resembling his proper strategic business plan, in addition to trying to entertain other underserved ethnic or religious groups."It's funny, since it's just like Tyler is seen being an exception rather than one,Inch William states.Williams is starting to individually produce film, television, and web projects, but she's also merging with Cannon to make a production company, that she'll both cast and create. Production round the first film from Reuben Cannon Entertainment is scheduled to begin in May.

Oscar Chat: Best Film Editing Nominee Kevin Tent on Cutting for Tone in The Descendants

Kevin Tent had been nominated for three ACE Eddies before winning this month for The Descendants, which the American Cinema Editors deemed Best Edited Feature (Drama). Tents work in the cutting room played an important role in placing The Descendants firmly in the drama category. The longtime collaborator with Alexander Payne Tent's other Eddie nods were for Sideways, About Schmidt and Election says that much more comedy from the King family was shot than what we see onscreen and that removing it just felt right. In a few days, Tent will vie for the Best Film Editing Oscar for the first time. Movieline spoke with him about how the movies dramatic story came together, the attention from the Academy and his plans for Oscar night and beyond. How has awards season been treating you? TENT: It's been a blast. And also a little odd and strange because, especially being an editor, you don't usually find yourself in the spotlight. I can't imagine what it must be like for actors like George [Clooney]. But for me, it's all good and just like they say, after the initial shock wears off you start to think, Wow this is really an honor. And it is. What was the collaborative process like on this film? TENT: Alexander [Payne] and I work very close with each other. He loves the cutting room. As he likes to say, "I shoot so I can edit." He's very collaborative. There's a lot of back and forth between us. People often ask how we work with each other. It's hard to describe. Editing is such and abstract exercise and I don't really like to analyze our process, but what I can say is we shut the door, put our heads down and go to work. We just keep looking at the footage and trying different options. We usually agree on what are strongest performances are and build scenes around them. If something sucks we try to fix it or cut it out or do something to mitigate its suckiness. What specific decisions did you make early on to set the tone of the film? TENT: It became pretty clear to me early on that it was going to be more of a drama than a comedy. The script was written with much more humor, and much of it was shot. But as we began cutting the humor, in many cases felt forced and insensitive to the tragedy that the King family was going through. It's not like from Day 1 we thought let's dump the humor. It was a slow process. As the film evolved it became evident that the humor was becoming less important. We still needed it, of course. Otherwise we'd have an incredibly bleak movie. But we had to work to get to a sort of organic or natural balance between the two big elements of the movie the humor and the drama. So we just kept cutting and trimming till we got to the place that is now the movie. Was there a scene or storytelling device that stood out for you as the most difficult or challenging on this film? TENT: I think as I said above getting the tone right was really a big challenge. And as always pace was an issue, especially the last third of the movie. The scene in which Matt King confronts Brian Speers at the beach house feels (to the audience) like the climax of the movie. But there was still a whole big chunk of the movie to finish. Plus we had a two story lines moving along at the same time: the mother's death and the sale of the family's land. The sale was much more than a subplot, and we had to keep it alive for the audience. So all that being said, keeping the pace moving was very challenging. And also making sure it didn't move too quickly. We wanted to make sure the audience had time to absorb what was happening from an emotional perspective. I mean, they understood what was happening from a story perspective that wasn't complicated but allowing them to actually feel was what we were protective of. Who is accompanying you to the ceremony? TENT: My wife and 14-year-old son are going. My wife is beside herself. She's so excited. My son's a little dubious about the whole thing, but I know he's going to have a good time. How are you following this film? Whats your next project? TENT: Mr. Payne is due to start his next movie in April. Hopefully that will be our next outing. I can't wait. MORE 2012 OSCAR ROUNDTABLES AND CHATS Best Cinematography Best Costume Design Best Documentary Feature Best Foreign-Language Feature Best Animated Feature

How 'Ringer' Struck a Chord For Ioan Gruffudd

Inside the CW drama, "Ringer," Welsh actor Ioan Gruffudd stars as Andrew Martin, a self-made uniform who struggles to balance his work and family existence along with his wife and daughter. In solid existence, Gruffudd is content to own put lower roots in La along with his wife, British actor Alice Evans (who he met round the number of "102 Dalmatians"), in addition to their three-year-old daughter. Gruffudd, who's famous for playing figures like Hortatio Hornblower inside the "Hornblower" TV movie series, Mr. Fantastic in "The Truly Amazing Four" and "Fantastic Four 2," Tony Blair in "W," and Lancelot in "King Arthur," confesses any time traveling around the globe to shoot various films, it absolutely was very appealing to pay a job in the series that shot in La. "I loved the level of smoothness of Andrew which i loved the entire concept - all the tasty elements," according to him. "Also the fact it absolutely was Sarah Michelle Gellar's comeback to television, that was incredibly attractive." The now-official Angelino sitting lower with Back Stage to talk about acting, character, and why you ought to persevere. Back Stage: Simply how much did the designers of "Ringer" inform you of the arc from the character prior to deciding to shot the pilot? Ioan Gruffudd: They described Andrew Martin would substantially more interesting than he was round the page inside the pilot, but no specifics. Will still be incredibly exciting. I have my heart throughout my throat and my give my mouth once i see the scripts. It's surprising what's happening next. It's a real evidence of how strong the writing is around the program.Again Stage: Where would you like to see Andrew go? Gruffudd: The actor inside me want to look at this guy go to a very dark place, however think with lots of great villains we must love them, you understand? We must understand why they increased being the way they increased being. At this time, we're exploring a couple of from the dark areas of his psyche, forcing him to produce options pressurized, that's exciting. But ultimately, I'm one of the primary figures, and then we don't want him being hated. Back Stage: What made you have to be an actress? Gruffudd: Once I was nine, [casting people] found my junior school trying to find somebody to see the boy in the Welsh language drama on BBC2 in Wales which i acquired the part. I didn't define a few things i was doing, however understood that we loved it. I wasn't excellent, however ongoing to carry out a cleaning cleaning soap opera in Wales once i was 12. Therefore I fell deeply deeply in love with acting through physically carrying it out inside a top end in the very youthful age. It absolutely was part of my upbringing creating, really. I've been carrying it out for 20 5 years.Back again again Stage: Will you have a specific acting method? Gruffudd: Way is only there if you're fighting to destroy into or search for a personality. In television, especially, you don't frequently achieve punch above undesirable weight. You're essentially playing not not even close to what you're. I'd say a bit of Stanislavski relies throughout my method, but it's nothing I intentionally sit lower making formulations religiously for. Back Stage: Possibly you've stood a favorite role? Gruffudd: All that you should love. This is when we live this is when we exist as stars. Essentially required to choose, it's probably a toss up between "Amazing Sophistication," directed by Michael Apted and put together by Steven Dark evening, which required it's origin in the level of smoothness of William Wilberforce who removed the slave trade, together with a task referred to as "Peacekeepers" which was a couple-part drama Used related to director Peter Kosminsky for your BBC in the past. Matthew Macfadyen, Damian Lewis, and several other great stars were within it. Essentially, it absolutely was in regards to the conflict in Bosnia as well as the British troops that went in just like a peacekeeping pressure. Back Stage: Any words of understanding for stars that are just beginning out? Gruffudd: Persevere. When you're beginning out, you never know, you may conquer somebody then they'll remember you in seven years time. Me, I've met producers and company company directors and many years later they've referred to as me for just about any project that i'm appropriate for in individuals days. I realize you anxiously need to get all you're going up for, nevertheless it just is most likely not necessarily good for you. Function the most effective that can be done. It's from control. Rather than think you've learned everything. Your entire day you stop learning might be your day that we think you quit acting. New challenges make you stay going. That's what keeps me going. I truly figure all this out from watching myself, things i am trying to complete. Most most likely and be aware and don't think you understand everything.

Sales flow to 'Amazonia'

Announcing early business in the European Film Market, Jean Labadie's Paris-based Le Pacte has clinched a swath of worldwide sales around the 15 million ($19.7 million ) three dimensional Amazon . com jungle adventure, "Amazonia."Areas closed include Germany (Polyband), Belgium (Cineart), Europe (Filmcoopi), former Yugoslavia (MCF) and Canada (Seville).Directed by "Whitened Planet" helmer Thierry Ragobert, "Amazonia," stated to become the greatest-allocated take up to now around the Amazon . com, has additionally offered to Russia (Luxor), the Czech Republic (Hollywood CE), China (Hualu) and India (Picture Works).Le Pacte will release "Amazonia" in France. Delivery is skedded for spring 2013.Presently in the center of its shoot, "Amazon . com" follows the fictionalized journey of the capuchin monkey who was raised in captivity and all of a sudden finds themself launched within the wilds from the Amazon . com jungle following the plane he's being moved on crashes.His fight for survival also demonstrates the huge natural insightful the Amazon . com jungle."Amazonia" is created by France's Biloba Films and Gullane Filmes in South america. Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com

Garrett to experience Paganini

David Garrett will have his hero, violin virtuoso Paganini, whom he calls the very first rock celebrity.Celebrity violinist David Garrett can make his feature debut in Bernard Rose's "The Devil's Violinist," a historic biopic about 19th-century Italian violin virtuoso Niccolo Paganini.Rose is writing and pointing the pic, concerning the imagined Faustian pact Paganini designed to get to be the world's first celebrity artist.Allocated at between $15 millilon-$20 million, the film is slated to start lensing in August throughout Europe. Garrett will have the violinist and perform his music within the film.The parallels are apparent within the casting of Garrett, certainly one of Europe's greatest music stars along with a artist who bridges the mobile phone industry's of rock and classical music. Indeed, Garrett calls Paganini "the very first rock star -- an eccentric genius with lots of defects.""It's been a long term ambition to engage in a movie about my hero Niccolo Paganini," stated Garrett. "He's a unique devote my heart and to achieve the chance to create him to existence around the bigscreen is definitely an very exciting experience for me personally.InchSummerstorm Entertainment, a subsidiary of Berlin-based Film House Germany, will make the film, that will get into production this season. It's certainly one of a slew of projects within the works at Film House, certainly one of Germany's latest gamers.Released this year by Frankfurt-based financial services and investment outfit ABL Group, Film House has acquired numerous high-profile production clothes, including Summerstorm, the Berlin-based firm founded by Marco Kreuzpaintner and Fabian Wolfart, and Jens Meurer and Judy Tossell's Egoli Tossell Film.Additionally, it became a member of forces with Nederlander giant Lemming Film this past year to produce Hamster Film, a household entertainment label.Headed by Boss Christian Angermayer, Film House runs development, financing, production and co-manufacture of films for local and worldwide auds. Additionally to the existing equity capital in excess of 7 million ($9.3 million), Film Home is also developing private investment automobiles for retail and institutional traders, the very first that would be revealed within the other half of 2012."It's our goal to create films from Germany for that world market," stated Angermayer. "Film House combines the systems and know-how from both industries -- film and finance -- in one place.InchAnd in production at Summerstorm is Kreuzpaintner's "Arriving," a London-based romantic comedy in regards to a gay hairstylist who suddenly falls deeply in love with a supermarket checkout girl.Egoli Tossell, meanwhile, is co-creating Ron Howard's F1 drama "Hurry" Paul Andrew Williams' "Tunes for Marion," starring Vanessa Redgrave, Terence Stamp and Gemma Arterton Jon Baird's "Filth," with James McAvoy and Jamie Bell and Kweku Mandela's documentary "Mandela's Children."The shingle's approaching projects include Peter Chelsom's "Hector and the quest for Happiness" and Iain Softley's medieval epic "Ivanhoe."Among Hamster's slate of projects are "Sputnik," a journey tale around three kids set from the backdrop of nov the Berlin Wall, and "Boy 7," referred to like a teen-skewed "Bourne Identity" and in line with the best-selling novel by Mirjam Mous. Hamster can also be spinning the wheel on "Beneficiaries from the Evening: Nosferas," a co-production with Bavaria Pictures, the very first in a number of an organized franchise in line with the children's book series by Ulrike Schweikert.The organization, headed by Leontine Petit and Joost p Vries, is showing "Beneficiaries from the Evening" in the Berlinale Co-Production Market. Contact Erectile dysfunction Meza at erectile dysfunction.meza@mannaa.de

Grey's Anatomy's Sandra Oh: Cristina and Owen Mind to Couples Therapy!

Sandra Oh Grey's Anatomy's Cristina and Owen have experienced tough occasions: A quickie marriage, bouts of Post traumatic stress disorder, an abortion, Owen's omission about Henry. Everything arrived at the breaking point a week ago inside a devastating fight that, regrettably for that couple, the majority of Dallas Sophistication overheard. Grey's Anatomy Scoop: MerDer happiness, a Cristina-Owen explosion and also the alt-reality It might appear like Cristina (Sandra Oh) and Owen (Kevin McKidd) are moments from divorce, but Sandra Oh informs TVGuide.com that they'll create a real effort to fix the connection beginning February. 16, once the couple stays the whole episode having a counselor. "If you've ever visited couples therapy it is, really challenging," Oh states, adding that they hopes the Owen-Cristina explosion doesn't spell the finish of the marriage. "Every marriage needs to visit a edge," she states. "Are both deeply hurt for his or her various reasons." "The thing is a married relationship at risk and that we take our time exploring that quite honestly," Oh continues. "I am very happy with the story because lots of occasions people meet up, and split up or whatever, and it is fast. The authors are actually taking their time for you to see when individuals are in loggerheads, and each side from the argument could be understood. This is where it will get really, really tricky." Obtain the exclusive particulars around the Grey's Anatomy-Private Practice crossover The strain between your couple will even start to affect Cristina's other associations. Uncharacteristically, Cristina will not even use Meredith (Ellen Pompeo) for comfort. States Pompeo: "Cristina does not want her help. She's coping with it solo and pushing Meredith away. Certainly, it is going to worsen before it will get better." Search for a sneak look of the week's Grey's Anatomy, which airs Thursday at 9/8c on ABC.

FremantleMedia pacts with Purveyors prod'n shingle

Bravos Bethenny Ever After, featuring Bethenny Frankel, is professional produced by Matt Anderson and Nate Eco-friendly of Purveyors of Pop. FremantleMedia The U . s . States and production shingle Purveyors of Pop ("Real Regular folks of Atlanta") have made the decision to some general deal to develop and provide unscripted programming. POP cake cake toppers Matt Anderson and Nate Eco-friendly also professional produce Bravo's "Real Regular folksInch series occur Nj and NY, additionally to spinoff "Bethenny Ever After," which ranked as Bravo's finest-rated series debut ever. Also on Anderson's resume are MTV's "A Couple of Days in Rock" and "Wedding couple: Nick and Jessica." Eco-friendly has offered just like a producer on "Project Runway." "As Fremantle develops inside the cable landscape, you need to partner while using best program makers in the market,In . mentioned Julie Uribe, FremantleMedia The U . s . States senior veep of nonscripted development. "Matt and Nate are near the top of their game, and therefore it's time to supply them the assets to create their unique distinctive and various shows." In related news, Cooper Eco-friendly has grew to become part of POP becasue it is development V . p .. He was formerly director of development at Arena of Question. His TV credits include Bravo's "Big Listing: NY," VH1's "Fantasia LegitimateInch and Sundance's "Ladies Who Choose Boys That Like Boys." Anderson recognized Cooper Eco-friendly that he known to as his "laser-like radar to discover and develop the most effective figures, cell phone industry's and trends." Contact Jon Weisman at jon.weisman@variety.com

New shows, optimism enliven NATPE confab

Couric LakeProbst HarveyThe range from the NATPE confab a year ago to Miami Beach will be a hit with station managers and syndie distribs. The sunny new setting allows industryites to acquire a break from cooler places, rub shoulders with pals and clients in most cases proceed and take temperature in the niche for their wares. Since the National Assn. of Television Program Professionals conference returns now to the Fontainebleau Hotel, there's a feeling among distribs the syndie biz has leave the dark amount of the ultimate few years, and station customers fiare ready to embrace new firstrun shows -- especially people fronted by familiar faces like Katie Couric, Ricki Lake, Rob Probst and Steve Harvey. Part of the optimism is fueled because voids and flaws emerged throughout your day lineups of several top stations which were relatively stable for any very long time, for many years sometimes. And station managers and distribs continue being sorting the options spurred through the famous host the famous host oprah Winfrey's exit from first-run distribution a year ago. "The famous host the famous host oprah certainly produced a void when her show stopped the atmosphere, which we view becoming an chance," mentioned CBS TV Distribution prexy John Nogawski. "There has been plenty of good timeslots available, and stations are readily implementing (talkshows)." Paul Franklin, Twentieth Television's professional veep and general sales director, signifies openings in daytime beyond the The famous host the famous host oprah factor. "Regis (Philbin), who was simply on for 2-and-a-half decades, is completed,In . he mentioned, "as well as the soaps Are going in the air one at a time.Inch Both Franklin and Nogawski are flogging new yakkers for your fall: CBS TV Distribution's "Rob Probst," fronted with the longtime host in the Eye's "Survivor" plus an all-new "Ricki Lake Show" from Twentieth. NBCUniversal Domestic has "Steve Harvey," and Disney-ABC Domestic features its own high-profile Katie Couric talker "Katie" (removed at 93% of U.S. TV houses). As people shows near their airdates, it is necessary for distribution firms to produce friendly connections while using stations buying their skeins, whether it's a meal with Lake or coffee with "Katie" professional producer Rob Zucker. Disney-ABC Domestic TV prexy Janice Marinelli mentioned the face area-to-face reference to customers supplied by NATPE is invaluable. "It is necessary, simply because they stations create a large acquisition of Katie and Rob," she mentioned. "They'll can request questions and start to produce a relationship with Katie." Twentieth will probably be departing somewhat in the rivals -- it's searching not only to showcase Lake and sea food for fascination with approaching offnet characteristics like Fox's hot frosh sitcom "New Girl," but to create its gossip newsmag "Dish Nation," too. The fall show is taken away in 55% of the united states so far. Franklin calls the series a sizable priority for Twentieth at NATPE. It's the first time shortly the major distrib has looked for to take advantage from the confab just like a springboard for just about any new show. The finish outcome is that there are money obtainable in Miami Beach now, or otherwise the idea of it. While using syndie upfronts coming as well as the market largely retrieved within the ad slump that adopted the financial crisis, many do more business at NATPE 2012, which runs through Wednesday, in comparison to previous years. Contact Mike Thielman at mike.thielman@variety.com

Japan's Sono uncovers new project

Tokyo, japan -- Japanese helmer Sion Sono, a festival popular with "Cold Seafood," "Responsible for Romance" and "Himizu," is focusing on a brand new pic, "Kibo no kuni" (The Land of Hope). Occur Japan's northern Tohoko region, devastated within the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, pic will concentrate on three couples whose life is torn apart through the disaster. "The storyline represents the bonds between couple, between parent and child and between enthusiasts," Sono described in a Thursday presser. Shooting began on Jan. 13 and it is skedded to wrap early Feb. A release date and distributor haven't yet been made the decision. Sono's newest pic, "Himizu," seemed to be occur the disaster zone carrying out a publish-March-11 rewrite through the helmer. It tested competing in Venice, using its leads, Shota Sometani and Fumi Nikaido, discussing the Marcello Mastroianni Award for the best youthful actor and actress. Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com

R&B 'godfather' Johnny Otis dies at 90

By ASSOCIATED PRESS Johnny Otis, the "godfather of rhythm and blues" who wrote and recorded the R&B classic "Willie and the Hand Jive" and for decades evangelized black music to white audiences as a bandleader and radio host, died at his home in the Los Angeles foothill suburb of Altadena on Tuesday. He was 90 and had been in poor health for several years. Otis, who was white, was born John Veliotes to Greek immigrants and grew up in a black section of Berkeley, where he said he identified far more with black culture than his own. As a teenager, he changed his name because he thought Johnny Otis sounded more black. "As a kid, I decided that if our society dictated that one had to be black or white, I would be black," he once explained. His musical tastes clearly reflected that adopted culture and even after he became famous, his dark skin and hair often led audiences and club promoters to assume he was black like his bandmates. Otis was leading his own band in 1945 when he scored his first big hit, "Harlem Nocturne." In 1950, 10 of his songs made Billboard magazine's R&B chart. His "Willie and the Hand Jive" sold more than 1.5 million copies and was covered years later by Eric Clapton. He later wrote "Every Beat of My Heart," which was a hit for Gladys Knight & the Pips. But the influence of Otis was felt most through his ability to recognize and promote talent. He wove into his bands such diverse and legendary R&B vocalists as Etta James, Hank Ballard, Big Mama Thornton and the Robins, the last a group that would evolve into the Coasters. He produced Thornton's original recording of "Hound Dog," a song that would later become an even bigger hit for Elvis Presley. "His band shows a different style on pretty much every new recording," said Piero Scaruffi, author of "A History of Rock Music, 1951-2000." "The reason is that Otis did not force his personality on others but worked with the personality of the others. He may not have been a great composer or performer himself, but he was an impressive conductor." Otis launched his professional music career as an 18-year-old drummer for bawdy barrelhouse pianist Count Otis Matthews, although he had never played the drums until then. Matthews instructed him to simply pound out the syncopated "shave and a haircut, six bits" beat that would become the backbone of early rock 'n' roll. His mastery of it soon proved his ticket to other bands and eventually to headlining his own group. Otis saw himself as curator of black popular music, which for him represented much more than a diversion or livelihood. His cross-country R&B reviews and his radio and television appearances were dedicated to delivering black music to white audiences. "The music isn't just the notes, it's the culture -- the way grandma cooked, the way grandpa told stories, the way the kids walked and talked," he once said. In later years he toured with his sons Shuggie and Nicky and spent much of his time painting and sculpting. He also opened an organic grocery store in Sebastopol in the early 1990s to sell his son Nicky's vegetables, decorating the store with his own colorful murals. Although he had little success selling groceries, he did draw large crowds to the market every Friday and Saturday night when he performed there with his band. Otis also had a regular show playing records on the nonprofit Pacifica Radio Network's stations until failing health prompted him to retire in 2005. In addition to his sons, Otis is survived by his wife, Phyllis, whom he married in 1941; daughters Janet and Laura; and several grandchildren.__ Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

Dimension nabs heist laffer 'The Black Marks'

Dimension Films has acquired U.S. distribution privileges to heist comedy "The Black Marks" from Darius Films. Pic, compiled by "A Beginner's Help guide to Being" scribe Jonathan Sobol, stars Kurt Russell, Matt Dillon and Jay Baruchel. Story centers around another rate motorcycle daredevil and semi-cool art crook who concurs to obtain into the disadvantage game and accomplish only one more profitable art thievery together with his untrustworthy brother. The program goes awry, however, because it works out that both siblings get their own agendas. Darius Films principal Nicholas Tabarrok is creating the film with Shaun Sackman as executive producer. "Marks" starts production this month. Dimension business and legal matters prexy Andrew Kramer discussed the offer with respect to the organization while Sackman discussed with respect to the filmmakers. Contact Rachel Abrams at Rachel.Abrams@variety.com