AFI Top 10 Film and Television names announced December 11, 2006 12:28 am
Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in Battlestar Galactica, Movies, News, Television.add a comment
AFI (the American Film Institute) has announced their 7th annual list of the top 10 film and television programs for the past year.
On the television front, NBC Universal was well represented with four series from NBC (“The Office”, “The West Wing”, “Heroes” and “Friday Night Lights”) as well as one series from Sci Fi (a division of NBC Universal) the critical darling “Battlestar Galactica”.
Other television series in the list were HBO’s “Elizabeth I” and “The Wire”, Showtime’s “Dexter”, Comedy Central’s “South Park” and Fox’s “24”.
On the film front, there was a wide mix of drama and comedy led by such movies as “Borat: Cultural Learnings Of America For Make Benefit Glorious Nation Of Kazakhstan”, “Happy Feet”, “Babel”, “The Devil Wears Prada” and “United 93”.
Others in the category being honored were “Dreamgirls”, “Half Nelson”, “Inside Man”, “Letters from Iwo Jima” and “Little Miss Sunshine”.
The awards show will be held January 12th at the Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills, where the rational behind each award choice will be disclosed during a ceremony.
Source: [Variety] – AFI names top films of the year
Top DVD sales for the week ending December 3rd December 10, 2006 10:12 pm
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“Superman Returns” took the top spot in weekly dvd sales for the week ending December 3rd, taking the #1 spot away from “Ice Age: The Meltdown” which dropped to #2.
Other movies entering the top 10 charts were “The Ant Bully” at #4, “Clerks II” at #5, “See No Evil” at #7, “Molly: An American Girl” at #9 and “Cheetah Girls 2: Cheetah-Licious Edition” at #10.
Other new additions to the charts were “Superman: Ultimate Collector’s Edition” at #12 and “Robin Hood: Most Wanted Edition” at #13.
Among TV Shows on DVD, the top selling was “Family Guy: Vol. 4” at #15 followed by “Seinfeld: Season 7” at #18 and “Greys Anatomy: Season 2” at #19.
“Apocalypto” wins weekend box office December 10, 2006 9:09 pm
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Taking $14.166M from Friday to Sunday, “Apocalpyto” took the #1 spot ahead of previous openers and the other newcomers this weekend.
Opening in 2,465 theaters, the film averaged a strong $5,746/theater–the most for any wide-release this weekend.
Following in second place was another new opener, “The Holiday” (2,610 theaters-$5,172/theater) with $13.500M.
“Happy Feet” continues to to have good legs, dipping only 27.5% and grossing $12.718M at 3,650 theaters and pushing its domestic total to $137.738M.
Coming in fourth place with $8.800M from 3,161 theaters was “Casino Royale”. Its domestic total now stands at $128.894M ($195.575M from its overseas) for a total worldwide take of $324.469M.
Following then in fifth place for the week was “Blood Diamond” which opened wide to 1,910 theaters. The movie pulled in $8.515M.
The only other new wide release this weekend was “Unaccompanied Minors” which gathered up $6.205M from 2,775 theaters.
“Deja Vu” ($6.070M–$53.046M total), “The Nativity Story” ($5.575M–$15.769M total), “Deck the Halls” ($3.925M–30.076M total) and “The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause” ($3.311M–77.240M total) rounded out the top 10 for the weekend.
Source: [Box Office Mojo]: Weekend Box Office Results for December 8-10, 2006
New “TMNT” and “300” trailers December 9, 2006 5:49 pm
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New trailers for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and “300” have been released.
To view the trailer for “TMNT” go to MTV’s Trailer Park and click the poster for TMNT on the right side.
The trailer for “300”, based on the Frank Miller graphic novel, can be viewed at Yahoo! Movies.
“Apocalypto” takes early Weekend lead as it wins Friday Box Office [UPDATE] December 9, 2006 5:26 pm
Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in Box Office, Movies, News.1 comment so far
Estimates are a tad less than originally reported for Friday, but “Apocalypto” still took first place.
1. “Apocalypto” – $4.950M
2. “The Holiday” – $4.400M
3. “Happy Feet” – $3.075M
4. “Blood Diamond” – $2.675M
5. “Casino Royale” – $2.635M
“Apocalypto” takes early Weekend lead as it wins Friday Box Office December 9, 2006 12:28 pm
Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in Box Office, Movies, News.add a comment
The Mel Gibson directed Mayan epic “Apocalypto” (2,465 theaters) is expected to take the friday box office with around $6M when Friday estimates are released later in the day.
Its total weekend total should approach somewhere in the $15-16M neighborhood. That would surpase the expectations of Disney, who distributed the film, putting it over the $9.9M “Braveheart” from 1995, which is considered similar to “Apocolypto” in terms of its R-rated content.
Insiders were unsure how the general public would respond to a movie by Gibson which has no spoken english (all in Mayan), subtitled and as well as the scandal involving Gibson from his arrest a while back.
The other main openers for the weekend were “The Holiday”, the romantic comedy starring Cameron Diaz, Jude Law, Kate Winslet and Jack Black and “Blood Diamond”, the action packed thriller starring DiCaprio, Djimon Hounsou, Jennifer Connelly which revolves around the diamond trade on the African continent.
“The Holiday” (2,610 theaters) took in an estimated $4.5M friday followed by “Blood Diamond” (1,910 theaters). All three new releases are expected to have total 3-day weekends in the teens.
Mel Wins Friday: #1 ‘Apocalypto’ Bigger Opening Wkd Than ‘Braveheart’; Cam’s ‘Holiday’ #2, Leo’s ‘Diamond’ #3 [Deadline Hollywood Daily]
“Dead Man’s Chest” opens big on DVD December 9, 2006 11:00 am
Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in Movies, News.1 comment so far
The blockbuster hit of the summer continued its amazing money earning run selling an estimated 5 million copies of its recently released DVD in its first day alone.
That tally equals the previous high set by “The Goblet of Fire”, but when all is said and done Pirates is expected to sell around 10 million units in its first week and have the best selling DVD of the year.
“Harry Potter” and “Narnia” sold 7M their first week and “Cars” holds the current year record with 9M sold in its first week.
“We could not be more thrilled with the incredible success of Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest,” said Buena Vista president Bob Chapek. “This franchise is a genuine treasure for us, and we are ecstatic that the momentum generated at theatrical has continued with the DVD release. Consumers have an insatiable appetite for all things Pirates of the Caribbean.”
“Criminal Minds” gets post-Super Bowl Spot December 9, 2006 2:16 am
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CBS has decided to give the sophomore drama “Criminal Minds” the plush post-Super Bowl time-slot.
The series will air immediately following Super Bowl XLI on Sunday, February 4, 2007.
“This is an outstanding opportunity to expose a series that is young in its life cycle and on the rise to an enormous universe of potential new viewers,” said CBS entertainment president Nina Tassler.
“Criminal Minds” has performed very strongly this season against “Lost”, averaging nearly 17 million viewers a week and showing strong year-to year double-digit gains in the key adults 18-49 demo.
Another “Star Trek” Auction December 9, 2006 2:07 am
Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in Movies, News, Star Trek, Television.1 comment so far
Beginning December 15th, “Star Trek” fans will get the chance to bid on props and costumes from the franchise’s film and tv productions.
The ‘Trek’ items will be auctioned off on itsawraphollywood.com and eBay and will include itmes from all five TV series and all 10 films and some items being auctioned off include costumes from Captain Kirk and Captain Picard, Klingon “Bat-Leth’s and even certain pieces of furniture from the set of “The Next Generation”.
Click here for more details on the auction.
Spielberg and TNT team-up on a new project December 9, 2006 1:59 am
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Having last worked together on the hit 2005 limited mini-series “Into the West”, TNT and Steven Spielberg (through DreamWorks Television) are once again teaming up another limited series, “The Talisman”. The six-hour drama will premiere in the summer of 2008.
“The Talisman” is an adaption of a 1984 book by Stephen King and Peter Straub. In the novel, a boy travels into a parallel universe of good and evil in search of a talisman which can save his mothers life.
“Show Me the Money” picked up for more episodes December 9, 2006 1:55 am
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ABC has picked up six additional episodes of the William Shatner hosted game show “Show Me the Money”.
The series will also be moving to Tuesday’s at 8:00 PM beginning January 2nd.
It has averaged about 7.74M viewers a week this season thus far, with a 2.1/6 rating and share in adults 18-49.
David Letterman signs contract extension December 9, 2006 1:50 am
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David Letterman, host of the “Late Show With David Letterman” has signed a new contract with CBS to host the program through the fall of 2010.
The deal ensures Letterman will be staying on the air past Jay Leno of NBC’s “Tonight Show”, who has already signed a contract to stay with that program through 2009. At that time, Conan O’Brian will become host of the program.”I’m thrilled to be continuing on at CBS. At my age you really don’t want to have to learn a new commute,” Mr. Letterman said in the announcement by CBS this past Monday.
“Thirteen years ago, David Letterman put CBS late-night on the map and in the process became one of the defining icons of our network,” Leslie Moonves, president and CEO of CBS Corp., said. “His presence on our air is an ongoing source of pride, and the creativity and imagination that the ‘Late Show’ puts forth every night is an ongoing display of the highest-quality entertainment. We are truly honored that one of the most revered and talented entertainers of our time will continue to call CBS ‘home.'”
Letterman is expected to make a little north of $30 million a year.
“One Tree Hill” fans get chance to appear on series December 9, 2006 1:37 am
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The CW, Warner Bros. Television and Sunkist are teaming up to give fans of the CW drama “One Tree Hill” a chance to appear in an episode of the series.
The contest will begin now and run through January 7, 2007. Fans can submit 30-second videos of themselves (through the CW website here) telling the creators why you have a passion for the show, and giving a few details about you and your hometown.
The winner will then have an episode filmed in their city during February and have the possibility of making a cameo appearence in the episode.
ABC tries not to get “Lost” on Wednesday nights. December 9, 2006 1:26 am
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When “Lost” returns in February, it will be sharing the Wednesday night spotlight with the next cycle of Fox’s “American Idol”. Same night being the key phrase as ABC has decided to move “Lost” out of direct competition with the ratings juggernaut ‘Idol’.
Starting February 7, 2007, “Lost” will have a new home on Wednesday nights at 10:00 PM. The series will now be going up against “CSI: NY” on CBS and NBC’s “Medium”.
“Lost” has experienced slight declines this season as its had to hold off a surging “Criminal Minds” which is routinely beating the show in households and occasionally in viewers as well as viewer complaints with the show’s formula.
This move will allow ABC to not have to worry about any additional loss that may be caused by the return of “American Idol”.
With “Lost” being moved out of the 9:00 PM time-slot, ABC is making room for two new comedies: the long-awaited “The Knights of Prosperity” (about an aging janitor who gets along with a group of misfits to rob Mick Jagger’s home) and “In Case of Emergency” (a comedy focusing on the lives of four freinds in their 30’s who haven’t seen each other since high school).
Those two shows will premiere January 3rd of next year.
The 8:00 PM time-period will be occupied by another set of comedies: “George Lopez” (premiering January 3rd) and “According to Jim” (premiering January 24th).
It’s Ohio State/Florida for the National Title. BCS Selections Announced December 3, 2006 9:51 pm
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The BCS standings have been released and the championship title game will be played between the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Florida Gators.
The Gators barely nudged by the Wolverines for the #2 spot with both teams scoring a .940 in the computer rankings, and Florida leading Michigan in the Harris Interactive Poll (.945 to .931) and the USA Today Coaches’ Poll (.948 to .932).
Here are the official bowl game selections:
- AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic (Jan. 1, 11:30 AM EST on Fox HD):
- #9 Auburn vs. #23 Nebraska
- Rose Bowl (Jan. 1, 5:00 PM EST on ABC HD)
- #3 Michigan vs. #5 USC
- Tostitos Fiesta Bowl (Jan. 1, 8:00 PM EST on Fox HD)
- #8 Boise State vs. #10 Oklahoma
- FedEx Orange Bowl (Jan. 2, 7:30 PM EST on Fox HD)
- #6 Louisville vs. #14 Wake Forest
- Allstate Sugar Bowl (Jan. 3, 7:30 PM EST on Fox HD)
- #4 LSU vs. #11 Notre Dame
- Tostitos BCS National Championship (Jan. 8, 7:30 PM EST on Fox HD)
- #1 Ohio State vs. #2 Florida
For a great up-to-date listing of all the games during bowl season check out this post at the Hot Off The Press! thread over at AVS Forum.
Continue reading for the final BCS standings.
Happy Feet takes the Box Office for third straight week December 3, 2006 4:53 pm
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According to early studio estimates, “Happy Feet” took in $17.05M from 3,804 theaters to place ahead of “Casino Royale” for the #1 spot for the third straight week. The pics domestic gross now stands at $121M with an additional $13.70M from its overseas bow thus far for a worldwide take of $134.70M.
“Casino Royale” followed closely in second place with $15.10M from 3,386 theaters. Its total now stands at $115.86M domestically with an additional $128.76 coming from its overseas take for a total worldwide gross so far of $244.62.
The previous Bond film, “Die Another Day”, ended its run with $160.94M domestically ($271.03M – overseas, $431.97M – worldwide).
Following then in third place was “Déjà Vu”, which took in an estimated $11.03M from 3,108 theaters. Its total now stands at $44.09M domestically ($1.10M – overseas, $45.19M – worldwide).
The three new openers of the weekend were led by “The Nativity Story” with a fourth place $8.03M from 3,183 theaters, “Turistas” with an eighth place $3.54M from 1,570 theaters and “National Lampoon’s Van Wilder: The Rise of Taj” which took tenth place with an estimated $2.30M from 1,979 theaters.
Top 10 Box Office from December 1-3, 2006
1. Happy Feet – $17,045,000
2. Casino Royale – $15,100,000
3. Déjà Vu – $11,032,000
4. The Nativity Story – $8,025,000
5. Deck the Halls – $6,650,000
6. The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause – $5,006,000
7. Borat – $4,825,000
8. Turistas – $3,540,000
9. Stranger Than Fiction – $3,400,000
10. National Lampoon’s Van Wilder: The Rise of Taj – $2,295,000
Weekend Box Office Results for December 1-3, 2006 [Box Office Mojo]
Florida moves past Michigan for the #2 spot in the AP and Coaches Top 25 polls December 3, 2006 4:20 pm
Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in College Football, News, Sports, Television.2 comments
The Associated Press is reporting that Florida has passed Michigan to take the #2 spot in the AP Top 25 and the USA Today Top 25 Coaches poll.
After the USC loss last night, the final spot in the BCS Championship game against the Ohio State Buckeyes will be between the Michigan Wolverines and the Florida Gators.
Ohio State’s coach Tressel abstained this week in his voting in the USA Today Coaches Poll.
“We are excited to play in the BCS title game against a tremendous opponent,” he said in a statement. “After consultation with my director of athletics, Gene Smith, and based upon our unique position in the BCS standings, I believe it is only fair that we not participate the final poll.”
With the movement of Florida into the final spot it is expected that Florida will be the #2 team in the final BCS poll, which will be released later today.
Continue reading to see the complete AP Top 25 and USA Today Top 25 Coaches Poll.
CBS pushes Daytime Emmys to the summer December 3, 2006 1:18 am
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After winning yet another November sweeps (in households and viewers but not adults 18-49), CBS is already planning ahead as they look towards the next sweeps period; May.
The “34th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards” will be moved from April (where it has aired for the past 15 years) to June. The date announced is June 15th from 9:00 to 11:00 PM ET.
The reasoning behind the move is to stem any sort of loss of viewership leading up to May sweeps, when networks set ad rates based on the ratings data for the period. The program isn’t expected to produce much of an audience, as the most recent installment on ABC produced record low ratings.
“Fugly” pilot ordered by CBS December 3, 2006 1:10 am
Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in New Show Orders, News, Television.4 comments
CBS has ordered a pilot for a project called “Fugly”, the script was written by the creator of “My Name Is Earl”
“What I love about the show is that it’s about a family that’s always been on the outside looking in, watching other people being successful,” said creator Greg Garcia. “They ultimately decide that they need to be beautiful to achieve their dreams.”
Garcia wrote “Fugly” back during the 2004-2005 season for Fox, but they refused and it never went to any other network.
The pilot will be executive-produced by Garcia, and is scheduled to be shot in March, when production on Garcia’s current series ‘Earl’ ends for the second season.
Sci Fi and RHI Entertainment announce “Wizard of Oz” spinoff mini-series titled “Tin Man” December 3, 2006 1:01 am
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Sci Fi has teamed with RHI Entertainment to create a six-hour mini-series based on “The Wizard of Oz” tentively titled “Tin Man” set for a December 2007 premiere.
A sometimes psychedelic, often twisted and always bizarre take on ‘The Wizard of Oz,’ SCI FI’s ‘Tin Man’ is the epic tale of DG, a young woman plucked from her humdrum life and thrust into The Outer Zone (the O.Z.) – a fantastical realm rife with wonder, but oppressed by dark magic. In the adventure of a lifetime, DG discovers her true identity, battles evil winged-monkey-bats, and attempts to fulfill her destiny. Her perilous journey begins on the fabled Old Road that leads to a wizard known as the Mystic Man. Along the way, she is joined by a decidedly strange trio of companions – “Glitch,” an odd man missing half his brain; “Raw,” a quietly powerful wolverine-like creature longing for inner courage, and “Cain,” a heroic former policeman (who are known in the O.Z. as “Tin Men”) seeking vengeance for his scarred heart. Ultimately, DG’s destiny leads her to an emotional and terrifying showdown with the scintillatingly wicked sorceress Azkadellia, whose ties to DG are closer than anyone could have imagined. DG’s life, as well as the very future of the O.Z., hang in the balance.
Casting is underway for the mini which will be written by Steven Long Mitchell and Craig Van Sickle (creators of “The Pretender”).
The mini will go into production in Vancouver sometime in early 2007.
“Raines” given premiere date December 1, 2006 5:12 am
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Though it failed to make the midseason schedule, “Raines” hasn’t disappeared. NBC has set a March 2007 premiere date for the supernatural series which stars Jeff Goldblum as a detective who sees ghosts.
It will air Friday nights at 9:00 PM ET, replacing “Las Vegas” when that series ends its string of first-run episodes.
A&E orders second season of “Gene Simmons Family Jewels” December 1, 2006 5:06 am
Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in News, Renewals, Television.1 comment so far
A&E has ordered a second season of the Gene Simmons reality vehicle, signing off on a 20 episode run.
“Our viewers have really connected with Gene and his family,” says Bob DeBitetto, executive vice president and general manager at A&E. “‘Gene Simmons Family Jewels’ is a great example of A&E’s unique brand of peal-life series, presenting remarkable personal stories in an entertaining but always honest way.”
‘Family Jewels’ is the networks best original series launch since 2004 (“Dog the Bounty Hunter”) and averaged 1.3 million viewers and episode for the first season.
Gene Simmons had the following to say about the pickup: “Now that A&E has picked us up for another 20 shows, I suppose they expect me to put out. I will. “My family, Shannon, Nick and Sophie, my partners Leslie Greif and Adam Reed, the entire staff and I have a ‘take no prisoners’ approach to doing things. It’s our way or the highway and we’re proud to be back.”
Production on the second season has already begun, with the second season set to premiere sometime in 2007 (official date not yet set).
Eddie Murphy to star in new “Beverly Hills Cop” December 1, 2006 4:57 am
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According to Variety, Paramount will be bringing back Eddie Murphy in “Beverly Hills Cop IV” to reprise the role of Axel Foley. Lorenzo di Bonaventura will serve as producer of the film.
The first “Beverly Hills Cop” movie was released in 1984 and went on to become a major success, grossing more than $234.76M domestically and $81.60M overseas.
There were two other installments, with the second doing equally strong business ($153.66M domestically, plus $146.30M overseas) three years later, before the franchise fizzled out with the third installment in 1994, which failed to crack the $45M mark domestically.
“Axel Foley is one of the great action-comedy characters, a character that Eddie loves. I’m lucky enough to help bring it back,” di Bonaventura said. “This genre is missing from the landscape.”
Jerry Bruckheimer, who was part of the first two films, will not be involved with the fourth installment.
Starship Troopers 3 close to greenlight December 1, 2006 4:46 am
Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in Movies, News.1 comment so far
According to moviehole.net, it appears that Sony is close to greenlighting a third film in the Starship Tropers franchise.
“Looks like – fingers crossed – Sony is moving forward”, Neumeier, who will write & direct the film, tells Moviehole. “Plans are afoot to shoot next year. Casper Van Dien will be back as Colonel John Rico. There’ll be a new bug or two. Also draft riots. Religion makes a comeback. And the Federation has a new weapon.”
Starship Troopers began its run back in 1997 as a mild SF hit movie, which was directed by Paul Verhoeven. Neumeier, who is involved with the third film, wrote the screenplay for that film.
Neumeier was also involved with the second film, serving as the writer and co-producer of “Starship Troopers 2: Hero of the Federation, which was released as a straight-to-video production.
If Troopers 3 is indeed greenlit, it’s expected to be released direct-to-DVD.
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