Broadcast TV Ratings for Friday, October 31, 2008 November 1, 2008 7:48 pm
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Broadcast TV Ratings for Thursday, October 30, 2008 October 31, 2008 7:09 pm
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Valkyrie Movie Trailer October 30, 2008 11:31 pm
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United Artists has released the final trailer for Valkyrie. Check it out embedded below, or click here to watch it in HD over at Yahoo! Movies.
Synopsis
At the absolute height of World War II, German generals hatch a daring plan to assassinate Adolf Hitler and effectively render the German war machine impotent. Directed by Bryan Singer (Superman Returns), Valkyrie stars Tom Cruise and was penned by writing partners Chris McQuarrie and Nathan Alexander.
Valkyrie is scheduled to hit theaters on December 26, 2008.
Fox Cancels King of the Hill October 30, 2008 11:19 pm
Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in Fox, King of the Hill, News, Television.1 comment so far
Fox has decided that they will not be renewing King of the Hill beyond the show’s current 13th season. Production is currently being wrapped on the show’s final 13 episodes.
Despite the loss of the long-running animated series, Fox remains commited to the medium as they are prepping two new animated series for midseason: Mitch Hurwitz’s Sit Down, Shut Up and the Family Guy spin-off The Cleveland Show.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
When Politics and Gaming Collide October 30, 2008 10:47 pm
Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in Mercenaries 2, Videogames.add a comment
Senator Barack Obama and Governor Sarah Palin as playable characters in the 360/PS3 game Mercenaries 2.
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Obama Ad Draws 33.55 Million Viewers October 30, 2008 9:39 pm
Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in American Stories American Solutions, Nielsen TV Ratings, Television.add a comment
Senator Barack Obama’s 30-minute informercial, which included a live segment from his Florida rally at the end, drew 33.55 million viewers Wednesday night, according to Nielsen.
The special, the first of its kind since Ross Perot ran a similar one back in 1996, aired on CBS, FOX, NBC, Univision, BET, MSNBC and TV One from 8-8:30pm ET. It easily out-drew the Perot special, which was watched by 22.68 million viewers.
Nielsen notes that on an average Wednesday, these networks draw a combined 30.3 million viewers during this time period.
You can watch the entire special, sans the live segment, below.
American Stories, American Solutions
Source: Nielsen
McCain and Obama to Appear on Monday Night Football October 30, 2008 9:21 pm
Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in ESPN, Monday Night Football, News, Television.2 comments
On the eve of the election–Monday, November 3–the Democratic and Republican presidential candidates will appear on ESPN’s Monday Night Football. Both will be interviewed, separately on tape, by half-time anchor Chris Berman. The expected time is 10:15 pm ET, but depending in the flow of the game, it could be closer to 10:30.
The game, between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Washington Redskins, actually has some historical signficance. With the exception of one election (2004) over the past 15, when the Redskins win their last home game before the election (this Monday night), the incumbent party remains in power.
Source: USA Today
Fox Puts ‘Til Death on Hold for Two Weeks October 30, 2008 9:05 pm
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Fox has pulled the low-rated Brad Garret comedy Til Death from its lineup. According to the network, the show will be off the air for at least two weeks. Repeats of House will occupy the 9pm Wednesday time slot in the short term. The third year series is expected to return to the air after November sweeps.
Source: TV Week
Angels & Demons Teaser Trailer October 30, 2008 8:42 pm
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Sony has released the first teaser trailer for Ron Howard’s The Da Vinci Code prequel Angels & Demons. Watch it embedded below.
Angels & Demons hits theaters on May 15, 2009.
Broadcast TV Ratings for Wednesday, October 29, 2008 October 30, 2008 6:28 pm
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David Tennent Leaving Doctor Who After 2009 Specials October 29, 2008 8:58 pm
Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in BBC, Doctor Who, News, Sci Fi, Television.1 comment so far
The rumors about whether or not David Tennent will be leaving Doctor Who can now cease. BBC has confirmed that the actor will indeed be leaving the series at the end of the 2009 specials.
Tennant made the announcement after winning the outstanding drama performance prize at the National Television Awards.
“When Doctor Who returns in 2010 it won’t be with me,” he said.
“Now don’t make me cry,” he added. “I love this part, and I love this show so much that if I don’t take a deep breath and move on now I never will, and you’ll be wheeling me out of the Tardis in my bath chair.”‘I’ll miss it’
In an exclusive interview with BBC,Tennant said that three years was “about the right time” to play the role.
“I think it’s better to go when there’s a chance that people might miss you, rather than to hang around and outstay your welcome,” he said.
Russel T. Davies, the show’s executive producer who will be stepping down as showrunner when the fifth season returns in 2010, said the following about Tennant stepping down:
“I’ve been lucky and honoured to work with David over the past few years – and it’s not over yet, the Tenth Doctor still has five spectacular hours left!
“After which, I might drop an anvil on his head. Or maybe a piano. A radioactive piano. But we’re planning the most enormous and spectacular ending, so keep watching.”
Steven Moffat takes over as showrunner for the fifth season in 2010. BBC has not announced who will replace Tennant, but rumors are swirling around the net that has Paterson Joseph as a possible replacement. Others rumored include David Morrisey, James Nesbitt and John Simm.
Source: BBC
New Episodes of Law & Order: Criminal Intent Pushed Back to 2009 October 29, 2008 7:45 pm
Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in Cable TV, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, News, Television, USA.add a comment
USA Network has announced that they will be pushing back the launch of new original episodes of Law & Order: Criminal Intent to the first quarter of 2009. The show was originally scheduled to return with new episodes this November 7th. The network says the move will allow for it to air the series for an uninterrupted run of 16 episodes.Source: USA Network
The CW Exploring New Version of Melrose Place October 29, 2008 7:40 pm
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I guess bringing back 90210 wasn’t enough. The CW and CBS Paramount Network Television are “exploring” the possibility of creating a new version of the successful 1990’s 90210 spinoff Melrose Place. The CBS Paramoutn spokeswoman was quick, however, to stress that talks about reviving the series are still in the early stages, with no writers or showrunners attached.
The CW’s 90210 has been a mild success for the network, becoming the first new fall show of the season to be given a full season.
Source: TV Week
Bonaventura Talks G.I. Joe October 29, 2008 7:28 pm
Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in G.I Joe: Rise of the Cobra, GI Joe, Movies, News.add a comment
G.I. Joe executive producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura tells MTV that things are “looking really good” for the Stephen Sommers directed live-action film G.I. Joe: Rise of the Cobra, which is now in post-production.
“There is going to be two or three really large sequences in it that are really going to blow people away,” revealed di Bonaventura, who also produces the “Transformers” series. “But I think that, more than anything, what differentiates it from a lot of these big movies is that there are eight or nine very well-drawn characters.”
Bonaventura adds that it will be the relationships between the various characters that will take the film into the next level:
“The cross-pollination of these relationships from the comic book is so wild that you really have fully-developed characters in a popcorn movie,” he insisted. “You don’t often get that [complexity] in the eight and ninth character down.”
He also promises that the film will be accessible both to the hard-core fans and the casual general audience that is oh so important when it comes to box office success: “I think the core fan base that read the comic book and watched the animated shows are going to feel like we really honored their experience”.
Source: MTV
G.I. Joe: Rise of the Cobra hits theaters on August 7, 2009.
24 Season Seven Trailer October 29, 2008 7:23 pm
Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in 24, Fox, Television, Trailers.add a comment
THR has gotten their hands on a two and a half minute trailer for the seventh season of the Fox hit 24. This trailer will actually be featured at the conclusion of this November’s two-hour 24 movie.
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The new season of 24 is scheduled to premiere on Fox in January 2009. Meanwhile, the two-hour movie, titled 24: Redemption, will air on November 23rd.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
Del Toro Says 3-D and IMAX are a Possibility for The Hobbit October 29, 2008 7:14 pm
Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in Movies, News, The Hobbit.add a comment
Director Guillermo Del Toro told MTV News that when it comes to The Hobbit being filmed in 3-D IMAX, he’s not ruling anything out just yet:
“IMAX is a fantastic medium. I am a shareholder. I love IMAX. I remember seeing ‘Polar Express,’ and then seeing ‘Polar Express’ in 3-D and IMAX and having my life completely transformed. I think it would be a worthy discussion. But it hasn’t arrived.”
However, the director insists that it’s still too early to be talking about it: “Right now what we have is, you don’t have two filmmakers and two screenplay writers — you have four screenplay writers. We’ll be talking about 3-D, on IMAX — but [not] right now.”
Source: MTV News
5 Minute The Day the Earth Stood Still Trailer October 29, 2008 7:00 pm
Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in Movie Trailers, Movies, The Day the Earth Stood Still.1 comment so far
20th Century Fox has released a new five-minute extended trailer for their remake of The Day The Earth Stood Still. Watch it embedded below.
Synopsis
Keanu Reeves tops this adaptation of the seminal 1951 sci-fi film The Day the Earth Stood Still with this 20th Century Fox production. Scott Derrickson (The Exorcism of Emily Rose) helms the story of an alien traveler, Klaatu (Reeves), who heads to Earth along with his bodyguard robot, Gort, to deliver a warning of planetary destruction if the people of the world fail to bring peace to their civilizations. Jennifer Connelly, Jon Hamm, and Kathy Bates co-star in the Ryne Douglas Pearson-penned film.
The Day the Earth Stood Still hits theaters on December 12, 2008.
New Valkyrie Photos; Trailer to be Released Tomorrow October 29, 2008 6:58 pm
Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in Movies, News, Photos, Valkyrie.1 comment so far
United Artists has released a batch of four new photos from the Bryan Singer-directed feature Valkyrie, starring Tom Cruise. The studio also announced that a new trailer for the film will debut tomorrow, Thursday, October 30th, at around 11PM ET.
Synopsis
At the absolute height of World War II, German generals hatch a daring plan to assassinate Adolf Hitler and effectively render the German war machine impotent. Directed by Bryan Singer (Superman Returns), Valkyrie stars Tom Cruise and was penned by writing partners Chris McQuarrie and Nathan Alexander.
Valkyrie hits theaters on December 26th.
Broadcast TV Ratings for Tuesday, October 28, 2008 October 29, 2008 5:54 pm
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New Sherlock Holmes Photos October 29, 2008 3:11 pm
Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in Movies, Photos, Sherlock Holmes.add a comment
TheBadandUgly.com has posted new photos from the set of filming (Manchester, England) on director Guy Ritchie’s Sherlock Holmes. The film stars Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law.
Click on any of the photos I’ve posted to check out the entire gallery. Sherlock Holmes hits theaters on November 20, 2009.
Source: TheBadandUgly.com
Mark Millar Talks Superman October 29, 2008 2:59 pm
Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in Movies, News, Superman.add a comment
Shortly before Warner Bros announced their intention to put the Superman Returns sequel on hold and reboot the franchise (click here for related article), comic book writer Mark Millar hinted at the Warner Bros move (read about that here) and revealed that he has a director and producer lined up for the reboot, should WB follow along with him. Now the director is talking a bit more fully about his plan. Empire Magazine scored an interview with Millar in which he talks about how he wants to create an epic 8-hour screen story that will follow the entire life of Kal-El from his birth on Krypton a thousand years ago, until he is the last being left on Earth. Here are some excerpts from the interview:
Mark has been working closely with a ‘big-Hollywood action director’ – who he refuses to name at this stage – on a pitch for what he is calling the Magnum Opus of Superman stories. His idea is for an 8-hour saga, split into 3 films to be released a year apart, in a Lord of the Rings fashion. Although several other sources have reported similar conversations with Mark, he went into further detail, fleshing out the story arc a little more.
“It’s gonna be like Michael Corleone in the Godfather films, the entire story from beginning to end, you see where he starts, how he becomes who he becomes, and where that takes him. The Dark Knight showed you can take a comic book property and make a serious film, and I think the studios are ready to listen to bigger ideas now.”
“I want to start on Krypton, a thousand years ago, and end with Superman alone on Planet Earth, the last being left on the planet, as the yellow sun turns red and starts to supernova, and he loses his powers.”
Click here to read the entire interview.
Source: Empire
Joaquin Phoenix Calls It Quits October 29, 2008 1:07 pm
Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in Movies, News, Television.1 comment so far
Actor Joaquin Phoenix tells E! Online that he is retiring from the movie business to concentrate on his music. Phoenix’s last movie is the James Gray-directed film Two Lovers, a drama co-starring Gwyneth Paltrow. Watch the video below.
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Lionsgate Searching for New Mad Men Showrunner? October 29, 2008 12:55 pm
Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in AMC, Cable, Lionsgate, Mad Men, News, Television.add a comment
It seems like a joke, no? Why would Lionsgate be looking for a new showrunner on a series which just had its best ratings ever (while admittedly still low) and became the first basic cable show to ever win an emmy for best drama? But, apparently that’s exactly what the studio is doing. According to Nikki Finke of Deadline Hollywood Daily, Lionsgate execs are calling around various Hollywood agencies looking for a showrunner to replace Mathew Weiner, the creator of AMC’s Mad Men. The reasoning, according to Finke’s sources, is that they think Weiner’s agents are asking too much money for him. CAA, the agency that represents Weiner, is reportedly asking for Weiner to be paid $10 million a year. He also wants control over promotion and advertising.
While that type of money is common place for hit shows on premium cable, the economics almost never make sense to pay some one that much for a basic cable television show and Lionsgate is balking at the asking price. From DHD:
“The ‘ask’ was insanity,” one insider tells me. “It’s preposterous. AMC is a basic cable network. The economics don’t support this. It’s why Lionsgate is throwing their arms up in the air. And, remember, they got a two-year pickup for the show with or without Matt Weiner.”
When asked by a Lionsgate source about this situation, Finke was told, “We’re negotiating with Matthew Weiner. But we want him back…” If that’s the case, then it seems very odd for them to go out and look for a new showrunner just in case.
As I prefaced earlier, Mad Men just concluded its best season. Sunday’s finale drew 1.75 million total viewers, an improvement of 89% over the first-season finale (926,000). Compared to season one, season two saw an increase of 63% among total viewers (1.5 million vs. 925,000) as well as gains among the key demos adults 18-49 (+109%–705,000 vs. 338,000) and adults 25-54 (+81%–780,000 vs. 430,000).
Source: Deadline Hollywood Daily
Robert Downey Jr. and Don Cheadle Sign On for Iron Man 2 and The Avengers October 29, 2008 12:21 am
Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in Movies, News.add a comment
Marvel Studios has announced that both Robert Downey Jr. (Tony Stark/Iron Man) and Don Cheadle (replacing Terrence Howard as Colonel James “Rhodey” Rhodes) have signed on to Iron Man 2 (May 7, 2010) and The Avengers (July 11, 2011). The studio also confirmed that Iron Man/Iron Man 2 director Jon Favreau will serve as an executive producer for The Avengers.
ROBERT DOWNEY JR. AND JON FAVREAU SUIT UP FOR MARVEL STUDIOS’ THE AVENGERS AND IRON MAN 2
As part of his four picture deal with Marvel Studios, Robert Downey Jr. is appearing as Tony Stark in THE AVENGERS motion picture, as well as reprising his starring role as the larger-than-life leading character in IRON MAN 2. Jon Favreau will return to direct the sequel to the blockbuster IRON MAN, which to date has grossed over $578 million worldwide, as well as executive produce THE AVENGERS.
Academy Award® nominee Downey was most recently seen in the summer comedy blockbuster TROPIC THUNDER starring opposite Ben Stiller and Jack Black. Before Iron Man, he was best known for his film roles in KISS KISS BANG BANG, WONDER BOYS and CHAPLIN, the film for which he was nominated for an Oscar®.
In addition to directing the first IRON MAN, Favreau has previously directed ELF, ZATHURA: A SPACE ADVENTURE and MADE. He is also well known for writing and starring in SWINGERS. He will next be seen acting in FOUR CHRISTMASES, I LOVE YOU MAN and COUPLES RETREAT.
DON CHEADLE WILL STAR AS RHODEY IN IRON MAN 2
Marvel Studios is pleased today to confirm that an agreement has been finalized with award-winning actor Don Cheadle to take on the role of Colonel James “Rhodey” Rhodes in Marvel’s IRON MAN 2 due in theaters on May 7, 2010. In casting Cheadle, Marvel replaces Terrence Howard who appeared in the role of Rhodey in IRON MAN.
Cheadle is also signed on to perform the same role in THE AVENGERS and subsequent installments of the IRON MAN franchise.
“We are very excited about working with the extraordinarily talented Don Cheadle as we expand the role of Rhodey in Iron Man 2. It has already become apparent as we prep the movie for production, that the dynamic between Robert and Don will take Iron Man 2 to new heights,” said Kevin Feige, President of Marvel Studios.
Cheadle is best known for his Oscar® nominated lead performance in HOTEL RWANDA as well as his role as Basher Tarr in the OCEAN’S franchise, CRASH and SWORDFISH.
Based on Marvel’s iconic Super Hero, IRON MAN 2 continues the story of this summer’s box office blockbuster IRON MAN, the first feature film produced independently by Marvel Studios. IRON MAN 2 will be produced by Marvel Studios’ President, Kevin Feige, and executive produced by Louis D’Esposito, Jon Favreau, Stan Lee, David Maisel and Denis Stewart.
In a movie event, THE AVENGERS will bring together the super hero team of Marvel Comics characters for the first time ever, including Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, the Hulk and more, as they are forced to band together to battle the biggest foe they’ve ever faced.
The highly anticipated sequel to IRON MAN will be released in theatres on May 7, 2010 and THE AVENGERS will be released July 15, 2011. Both films will be distributed by Paramount Pictures.
Cheadle is represented by UTA. Downey and Favreau are represented by CAA.
via ComingSoon.net
New Star Trek Photos October 28, 2008 11:58 pm
Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in Movies, Photos, Star Trek.add a comment
It looks like Paramount is finally ramping up their advertising efforts on what they hope will be next year’s hit summer film, Star Trek (May 8, 2009). A week after Entertainment Weekly’s feature on the film (click for related article), the British magazine Empire has their own cover feature. Check out the cover (click to enlarge), three new in-film photos and two new publicity stills of Zachary Quinto (Spock) and Chris Pine (Kirk), as well as an excerpt from the article.
The cover shot is actually a re-creation of a classic Kirk (Shatner)/Spock (Nimoy) pose (click to ‘energize’):
Director J.J. Abrams on the film’s wardrobe:
“For me, the costumes were a microcosm of the entire project, which was how to take something that’s kind of silly and make it feel real. But how do you make legitimate those near-primary colour costumes? How do you make legitimate the pointy ears and the bowl haircut? It’s ridiculous and as potentially cliched as it gets. How do you watch Galaxy Quest and then go make a Star Trek movie?”
And here are the pictures (click to see full size at Empire):
Kirk (Chris Pine) in an EVA suit along with Sulu (John Cho) in a shuttle. (TrekMovie notes that the actor to the left of Pine could be Greg Ellis, who plays Chief Engineer Olsen)
Spock (Zachary Quinto) in front of what appears to be a window (note the visible saucer)
Uhura (Zoe Saldana) talking with Kirk (Pine) and Chekov (Anton Yelchin) in the forefront
Spock (Quinto) and Kirk (Pine) publicity shots
Source: Empire
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