Kristin Chenoweth Responds to ABC's 'GCB' Controversy

Despite going through a title overhaul, ABC's new "GCB" has been shrouded in controversy over how it depicts Christians.The show originally was titled "Good Christian Bitches," after the Kim Gatlin novel that inspired it, then renamed to "Good Christian Belles" and finally to the text-friendly acronym. But its over-the-top depiction of Dallas society and its church ladies still might worry detractors."I think people should give it a chance," Kristin Chenoweth, who plays high school outcast-turned-queen bee Carlene Cockburn, tells "The Hollywood Reporter." "You just can't judge a book by its cover. I certainly wouldn't do anything that would make fun of my own faith. This is just chocolate cake, and it's actually a love letter to Dallas."Having grown up Christian in Oklahoma, the Tony-winning actress and singer says she relates to the series' portrayals."I think it's really funny," she says. "I remember growing up, it was always the same woman who got the solos in the church choir. And there's always the woman at the bake sale or the church dinner who wanted to outcook everyone. The thing is, just because you're a Christian doesn't mean you're perfect.""We all are human," she goes on to say. "And so this show shows the humanity of it, and I love it. I'm one of them. I grew up in that world. It could take place in a temple, in a community, but we just set ours in a church." The Hollywood Reporter

With So Many On the Bubble, Can Smart Comedies Survive?

American Idol's ladies weren't too far off of the boys' performance - ratings-wise, that is.Idol's female semifinalists performance show won Wednesday for Fox with 17 million viewers and a 4.9 in the adults 18-to-49 demo - a tenth below Tuesday's rating. The ladies, however, managed to lure about a million more viewers than the guys did. Compared to last week, the demo was also down slightly, but viewership ... Read More > Other Links From TVGuide.com America's Next Top ModelAmerican IdolCSI: Crime Scene InvestigationLaw & Order: Special Victims UnitOne Tree HillCriminal MindsThe MiddleModern FamilyHappy EndingsAre You There, Chelsea?RevengeSuburgatoryWhitneyRock Center With Brian WilliamsSurvivor: One World

Christopher Lloyd Among Pilot Additions

Veteran Christpher Lloyd continues to be drawn on to star opposite John Leguizamo and Dustin Ybarra in Basic steps multicamera comedy pilot Only Fools And Horses. In line with the British format, the multicamera comedy stories the misadventures of two streetwise siblings, Del (Leguizamo) and Rodney (Ybarra), as well as their aging grandfather (Lloyd) because they concoct crazy, morally questionable get-wealthy-quick schemes within their mission being riches. Also cast within the pilot isBJ Bales (Happy Being) as Trigger, a ghetto-speaking disadvantage guy who's Del and Rodney’s perpetual enemy. Lloyd is by using Gersh and Freedman Management Bales is by using APA and Principato-Youthful, Majandra Delfino (The Truly Amazing Condition Of Georgia) continues to be cast in ABC’s single-camera pilot starring Mandy Moore and directed by Shawn Levy. The project, compiled by Bob Fisher and Stacy Traub, focuses on bride and groom Annie (Moore) and Ben, who obtain the chance a person can have to operate a stylish, new restaurant in Annies home town getting her nearer to her desperate and-maintenance family. APA-repped Delfino will have certainly one of Annie’s siblings, who's divorced and living in your own home. twentieth century Fox TV is creating with Shawn Levy and Marty Adelsteins studio-based banner. Nikita alumna Tiffany Hines continues to be put into Basic steps drama pilot Americana, a cleaning soap in regards to a famous fashion industry clan. It focuses on legendary designer Robert Soulter (Anthony LaPaglia), the patriarch of the sprawling family who just welcomed a brand new member, Alice Clarke (Ashley Greene), a youthful designer whose shocking arrival turns the household and also the legendary label thoroughly. Hines, repped by Medavoy Management and also the Corsa Agency, will have Shane, an attractive medical student and Alices closest friend. Employed by Alice to model inside a fashion show, Shanediscovers that her existence is going to changeand not always for that better. Actress-author Liz Cackowski (Failing to remember Sarah Marshall) has became a member of CBS single-camera comedy pilot from feature author-director Nick Stoller. The twentysomething ensemble comedy focuses on Mike (Michael Angarano), dedication-phobic ad agency professional who, after you have left by his longtime girlfriend Laura (Brie Larson), realizes he needs to continue dealing with her one cubicle away. Cackowski, repped by UTA and three Arts, will have Ingrid. Chernin Entertainment and twentieth century Fox TV are creating.

Buffini to script 'Night Circus'

Moira Buffini continues to be hired to create the script for Summit Entertainment's romancer "The Evening Circus," annually following the minimajor acquired feature privileges to Erin Morgenstern's novel. Buffini's writing credits include "Jane Eyre," "Tamara Drewe" and also the approaching "Byzantium." "The Evening Circus" was released by Knopf Doubleday Posting Group in October. David Heyman and Shaun Clifford will make the film through the Heyday Films banner. Richard Pine will executive produce. Story's dedicated to two youthful illusionists fighting out their fathers' age-old competition amongst an enchanted circus, bound with a fated love, and determined to modify the lives of around them. Erik Feig, leader of manufacture of the Lionsgate Movie Group, and Summit professional Jeyun Choi will oversee the work for the studio. Buffini is symbolized by CAA. Contact Dork McNary at dork.mcnary@variety.com

Activision CEO joins Coca-Cola board

The Coca-Cola Co. has elected Activision Blizzard president and CEO Bobby Kotick to the company's board of directors. As part of the move, Kotick was appointed to the Atlanta-based company's management development committee. "Bobby brings an entrepreneurial mindset and a high level of financial literacy and digital knowledge to our company," said Muhtar Kent, chairman-CEO of the Coca-Cola Co. "His global brand expertise and insight will be invaluable as we continue to grow our business and invest in enhancing our digital engagement with consumers and customers around the world." Activision Blizzard, the world's largest videogame publisher, is behind such franchises as "World of Warcraft," "StarCraft" and "Call of Duty," the top-selling title for the last several years, breaking sales records with each release. Kotick has served as CEO of Activision since 1991. From 2003-08, Kotick also served as a director of Yahoo. Contact Marc Graser at marc.graser@variety.com

Keck's Exclusive: Sarah Michelle Gellar Strips on Ringer

Sarah Michelle Gellar "Stripper Bridget is coming back!" Ringer's Sarah Michelle Gellar described within the Golden Globes. Now this exclusive Start Searching photo proves it. TheMarch 6 episode in the CW thriller flashes to Bridget's Wyoming strip club years, as she going for a person for just about any lap dance. Executive producer Pam Veasey states Sarah loves coping with showcase this sexy side of her character. And merely just in case any obsessive SMG fans wonder, yes, Pam states the authors truly will probably eventually show Bridget on stage working her pole. Subscribe to TV Guide Magazine now!

Philip Bruns dies at 80

Philip Bruns, who co-starred within the seventies comedy series "Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman," died in La on Wednesday, February. 8, of natural causes. He was 80.Bruns made an appearance on two seasons from the series, playing Mary's father around the cleaning soap-opera parody. Younger crowd spent 3 years with Jackie Gleason on his comedy-variety show within the mid-sixties.Born in Pipestone, Minn., Bruns attended Yale University's drama school, then started his career in NY around the stage so that as an abundant actor in TV advertisements.He later visited La, showing up in additional than 40 movies, including "Flashdance," "The Stunt Guy" and "My Personal Favorite Year."Bruns is made it by his wife, actress Laurie Hot dogs. Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com

DC Comics Launches Smallville Season 11

Smallville Season 11 comic book In one of the closing scenes of last May's Smallville series finale, Chloe Sullivan tells her Superman-worshipping son, "There will always be more adventures for another day." That day is about to arrive, thanks to a new comic-book series that picks up where the long-running show left off. On April 13, DC Comics launches Smallville Season 11 in digital format (and later in print collections).Season 11 begins six months after Clark Kent defeated Darkseid and stopped the planet Apokolips from crashing into Earth. He's now settling into life as the Man of Steel while continuing to carry on his dual identity as a mild-mannered reporter at the Daily Planet. "It's Clark's first year as Superman," says writer Bryan Q. Miller, who was also a writer on the TV show and has previously scripted DC's Teen Titans and Batgirl comics. "He's riding the high of everything working out so far. And he enjoys that he can stop and shake hands with folks after he saves them."Don't expect the good times to last forever. Lex Luthor - brought back from the dead as Smallville ended but wiped of his memories, including that Clark is super-powered alien - will be one of Superman's main adversaries in the series. "Most people are thrilled that Superman saved the world by moving a planet out of the way," Miller says, "but Lex and a handful of others are concerned that there's a guy out there who can move planets."Fans of the TV show will no doubt be thrilled to see many of the supporting cast featured prominently in the story. "It's a continuation of the lives of characters seen weekly over the course of 10 years," Miller says. "It's an ensemble book with Clark Kent at the core. Clark just so happens to now be Superman." That ensemble includes Lois Lane, his fiancé and fellow reporter; his childhood best friend, Chloe; and Oliver Queen, aka the Green Arrow. As was teased in the finale, Chloe and Ollie are now married. (In fact, she's going by the name Chloe Sullivan-Queen.)The first arc of Smallville Season 11 is scheduled to include 12 chapters, which will be available via the DC Comics app on Apple, Android and Windows mobile devices, as well as online at read.dccomics.com. The first print edition goes on sale May 16 and will collect the opening four chapters, along with an episode guide to the TV show. The digital covers (including the one pictured above) are the work of artist Cat Staggs, while Gary Frank will handle the print covers. Pere Pérez, who worked with Miller on the Batgirl comic, will handle the interior art.UPDATE: Here's an exclusive look at the first print edition cover, by artist Gary Frank. Subscribe to TV Guide Magazine now!

'War Horse' Star Among Hollywood's Equine Elite

ACTON, Calif. (AP) One star of Steven Spielberg's latest epic likes to finish his workday by getting around inside the muck, kicking his legs in mid-air and flaring his nostrils.Finder, a 12-year-old thoroughbred, is a type of greater than 150 equine artists featured inside the Oscar-nominated "War Equine," then one of 14 who play in the scene-stealing Joey. He endures a ranch about 45 miles northeast of Hollywood with veteran equine trainer Bobby Lovgren, who oversaw all the equine action on "War Equine.""Plowing, riding, chasing after after choose, it's inside,Inch mentioned Lovgren, who calls "War Equine" ''the finest equine movie available.Inch Lovgren might be the protg of legendary Hollywood horseman Glenn Randall, who trained Roy Rogers' Trigger.Due to the lengthy lasting advantage of horses on-screen, Lovgren, Finder and "War Equine" continue a longtime tradition of Hollywood horses that began while using earliest movies."Bobby and also the team literally completed miracles while using horses about this film," Spielberg mentioned. "I desired it to appear such as the horses were undertaking their parts around (stars) Emily Watson or Peter Mullan, which is what happened. There has been occasions throughout production when the horses responded in manners I'd never imagined a equine could react. You just relax and thank your lucky stars these horses are very conscious that they might give everything with a moment."People moments needed several days of training together with a 22-member team of shoes, handlers company, equine makeup artists.Occur England through the First World War, "War Equine" concentrates on the lengthy lasting relationship between Joey as well as the farm boy who trained him. When Joey is provided to soldiers heading into fight, the equine begins a trip that can bring him through various fighting factions and to the lives of soldiers and regular people that are moved by his strength and spirit.The film remains nominated for six Academy awards, including cinematography and greatest picture.Since the film's "equine master," Lovgren oversaw everything equine-related. His team prepared the equine stars for various duties. Some increased being expert jumpers, others learned to stumble or feign difficult. There has been horses for riding and horses for yanking, in addition to stand-inches for your star horses while shots were being set. Lovgren's team appeared to become responsible for teaching the heavens the best way to ride and take proper care of the animals."Most of us increased being incredibly attached to the horses," mentioned cast member Patrick Kennedy. "Coping with know these horses and seeking to ride them was the best privilege I've ever suffered.InchNo horses are credited by title inside the film, as well as the filmmakers wouldn't say why. Lovgren mentioned it is not uncommon: "Sometimes they'll put a few in the horses' names, however, you realize, reasonably, it's difficult to condition that there's one hero Joey."The trainer, whose many credits include last summer's "Cowboys & Aliens," typically stays three several days planning his equine stars for just about any film shoot. He is experienced in "liberty" work, meaning the horses aren't restrained at all and learn to respond to hands signals and the body gestures.The 46-year-old horseman was elevated inside an equestrian family in Nigeria that runs a substantial jumping and dressage barn. Lovgren mentioned he didn't much enjoy the public dealings that really work needed, so he headed to Hollywood to know a completely new type of equine training. The 23 years he's spent used in movies prepared him for your challenges of "War Equine.""All the moments that individuals required to do had really all been done before in other films that I'd done, but never all-in-one. This needed everything and hang all things in one basket," he mentioned. "I'm happy with my other films, like 'Zorro' and 'Seabiscuit,' nevertheless it merely has a little inside. The equine isn't the focus. In 'War Horse' it's, which is constantly.InchAlthough Lovgren doesn't typically use their very own horses on set (he has three, including Finder), he mentioned he was lucky relating to this film that Finder was the very best color. (Finder as well as the other horses playing Joey relied on makeup to be look identical, with four white-colored socks together with a white-colored star by themselves heads.)Lovgren met Finder while keeping focused on "Seabiscuit" and loved him a lot he bought him. The thoroughbred is a lot more significant than most horses, Lovgren mentioned, making them an ideal superstar.Plus, they can play both genders. Finder carried out mother inside an early scene inside the film showing the birth of Joey. That sequence and taking advantage of a foal was probably the most difficult, Lovgren mentioned. "They're very youthful, so you don't have lots of time to coach them."Nearly my way through "War Equine" was shot with real horses, aside from any handful of moments which will have triggered injuries for the animals. Lovgren recognized Spielberg's team for sincere approach to the horses.Probably the most difficult part of Lovgren's job isn't coping with the animals, but getting together with filmmakers together with other employees on go about what the horses need and whatever they can and cannot do. Once filming begins, "it's a little more about communication capabilities than about training. That's something I've required to really learn," he mentioned. "Clearly, I started coping with animals because I don't fully trust people (laughs), so that has been very vital that you understand to accomplish this.InchViewing Lovgren with Finder, you can start to see the mutual respect and love involving the two. Lovgren boosts his arm as well as the effective animal rears up. He comprises a backward motion getting a whip as well as the equine supports. He strikes the whip on the ground and Finder bangs his hoof to the muck. Lovgren throws wood 24 yards away, and Finder incurs it and stands on his mark.Lovgren doesn't train with treats, because "in the event you continue set and someone walks by by getting an apple, what's he prone to do then?"Rather, the animal's reward is "I leave him alone," Lovgren mentioned. Still, Finder stands with full confidence by his side.So using the challenges of "War Equine," can it be harder dealing with four-legged artists or two-legged Hollywood types?"I'm not prone to answer that!" Lovgren mentioned getting a grin. "Most of us understand that answer, but I'm not prone to answer that."Copyright 2012 Connected Press. All rights reserved. These elements may not be launched, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. By Sandy Cohen The month of the month of january 25, 2012 PHOTO CREDIT AP Photo/Matt Sayles ACTON, Calif. (AP) One star of Steven Spielberg's latest epic likes to finish his workday by getting around inside the muck, kicking his legs in mid-air and flaring his nostrils.Finder, a 12-year-old thoroughbred, is a type of greater than 150 equine artists featured inside the Oscar-nominated "War Equine," then one of 14 who play in the scene-stealing Joey. He endures a ranch about 45 miles northeast of Hollywood with veteran equine trainer Bobby Lovgren, who oversaw all the equine action on "War Equine.""Plowing, riding, chasing after after choose, it's inside,Inch mentioned Lovgren, who calls "War Equine" ''the finest equine movie available.Inch Lovgren might be the protg of legendary Hollywood horseman Glenn Randall, who trained Roy Rogers' Trigger.Due to the lengthy lasting advantage of horses on-screen, Lovgren, Finder and "War Equine" continue a longtime tradition of Hollywood horses that began while using earliest movies."Bobby and also the team literally completed miracles while using horses relating to this film," Spielberg mentioned. "I desired it to appear such as the horses were undertaking their parts around (stars) Emily Watson or Peter Mullan, which is what happened. There has been occasions throughout production when the horses responded in manners I'd never imagined a equine could react. You just relax and thank your lucky stars these horses are very conscious that they might give everything with a moment."People moments needed several days of training together with a 22-member team of footwear, handlers company, equine makeup artists.Occur England through the First World War, "War Equine" concentrates on the lengthy lasting relationship between Joey as well as the farm boy who trained him. When Joey is provided to soldiers heading into fight, the equine begins a trip that can bring him through various fighting factions and to the lives of soldiers and regular people that are moved by his strength and spirit.The film remains nominated for six Academy awards, including cinematography and greatest picture.Since the film's "equine master," Lovgren oversaw everything equine-related. His team prepared the equine stars for various duties. Some increased being expert jumpers, others learned to stumble or feign difficult. There has been horses for riding and horses for yanking, in addition to stand-inches for your star horses while shots were being set. Lovgren's team appeared to become responsible for teaching the heavens the best way to ride and take proper care of the animals."Most of us increased being incredibly attached to the horses," mentioned cast member Patrick Kennedy. "Coping with know these horses and seeking to ride them was the best privilege I've ever suffered.InchNo horses are credited by title inside the film, as well as the filmmakers wouldn't say why. Lovgren mentioned it is not uncommon: "Sometimes they'll put a few in the horses' names, however, you realize, reasonably, it's difficult to condition that there's one hero Joey."The trainer, whose many credits include last summer's "Cowboys & Aliens," typically stays three several days planning his equine stars for just about any film shoot. He is experienced in "liberty" work, meaning the horses aren't restrained at all and learn to resolve hands signals and the body gestures.The 46-year-old horseman was elevated inside an equestrian family in Nigeria that runs a substantial jumping and dressage barn. Lovgren mentioned he didn't much enjoy the public dealings that really work needed, so he headed to Hollywood to know a completely new type of equine training. The 23 years he's spent used in movies prepared him for your challenges of "War Equine.""All the moments that individuals required to do had really all been done before in other films that I'd done, but never all-in-one. This needed everything and hang all things in one basket," he mentioned. "I'm happy with my other films, like 'Zorro' and 'Seabiscuit,' nevertheless it basically has a little inside. The equine isn't the focus. In 'War Horse' it's, which is constantly.InchAlthough Lovgren doesn't typically use their very own horses on set (he has three, including Finder), he mentioned he was lucky relating to this film that Finder was the very best color. (Finder as well as the other horses playing Joey relied on makeup to be look identical, with four white-colored socks together with a white-colored star by themselves heads.)Lovgren met Finder while keeping focused on "Seabiscuit" and loved him a great deal he bought him. The thoroughbred is a lot more significant than most horses, Lovgren mentioned, making them an ideal celebrity.Plus, they can play both genders. Finder carried out mother inside an early scene inside the film showing the birth of Joey. That sequence and taking advantage of a foal was probably the most difficult, Lovgren mentioned. "They're very youthful, so you don't have lots of time to coach them."Nearly my way through "War Equine" was shot with real horses, apart from a few moments which will have triggered injuries for the animals. Lovgren recognized Spielberg's team for sincere approach to the horses.Probably the most difficult part of Lovgren's job isn't coping with the animals, but getting together with filmmakers together with other employees on go about what the horses need and whatever they can and cannot do. Once filming begins, "it's a little more about communication capabilities than about training. That's something I've required to really learn," he mentioned. "Clearly, I started coping with animals because I don't deal with people (laughs), so that has been very vital that you understand to accomplish this.InchViewing Lovgren with Finder, you can start to see the mutual respect and love involving the two. Lovgren boosts his arm as well as the effective animal rears up. He comprises a backward motion getting a whip as well as the equine supports. He strikes the whip on the ground and Finder bangs his hoof to the muck. Lovgren throws wood 24 yards away, and Finder incurs it and stands on his mark.Lovgren doesn't train with treats, because "in the event you continue set and someone walks by by getting an apple, what's he prone to do then?"Rather, the animal's reward is "I leave him alone," Lovgren mentioned. Still, Finder stands with full confidence by his side.So using the challenges of "War Equine," can it be harder coping with four-legged artists or two-legged Hollywood types?"I'm not prone to answer that!" Lovgren mentioned getting a grin. "Everybody recognizes that answer, but I'm not prone to answer that."Copyright 2012 Connected Press. All rights reserved. These elements may not be launched, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Healthy Hollywood: Great Food Friday Take Preventative Action Against Diabetes!

First Launched: The month of the month of january 20, 2012 2:19 PM EST Credit: Getty Premium NY, N.Y. -- Caption Paula Deen sometimes seems the Accept Kelly tape within the ABC Lincoln subsequently subsequently Center Art galleries on December 5, 2011 in NY CityButter-loving celebrity chef Paula Deen trigger a hailstorm of dialogue after she introduced her diabetes diagnosis. Deens Southern-style kitchen is renowned for its fatty, decadent quality quality recipes hardly the sun and rain to cook specifically if you are diabetic. While Deen has yet to supply particulars when and how spend overhaul her show and make preparations up much healthier meals/more diabetic-friendly meals, there's an positive to think about using this food debacle. People are talking about diabetes and thinking about techniques to alter bad consumer habits to think about preventative action. Over 25 million Us citizens have diabetes type 2 symptoms and nearly one fourth from the populace are believed to own prediabetes an condition of slightly elevated blood stream sugar levels that frequently evolves into diabetes within 10 years. Yet, only four percent of people folks know. Frightening amounts, indeed! So, its essential for people to obtain additional educated! To start with, its good to bear in mind, diabetes is not a culinary dying sentence. Yes, it's time to nix rapid foods and sugar junk (but shouldnt perform that anyway)! An effective diet regime for individuals who've diabetes is generally much like balanced and healthy diet for anyone reduced body body fat (especially saturated and trans body body fat), moderate in salt and sugar, with meals based on wholemeal foods, vegetables and fruits, unveils dietary expert Keri Glassman of NY Citys Healthy Existence. Keri describes to Healthy Hollywood 10 suggestions to help diabetes-proof your existence! 1. A vegetarian diet may help lower the risk of diabetes type 2 symptoms. 2. Include peas (like kidney or pinto beans) and peas for your meals. 3. Reduce high calorie snack foods and desserts like chips, snacks, cakes and full-body body fat frozen goodies. 4. Choose non-body body fat dairy, for instance skim milk, non-body body fat yogurt and non-body body fat cheese. 5. Choose liquid oils to prepare instead of solid fats that might be filled with saturated and trans body body fat. 6. Provide a little vinegar to daily menu, for instance vinegar-based salad dressing. Vinegar helps slow the rate where body soaks in sugar from food. 7. Cinnamon together with other spices or herbs or herbal treatments and herbal remedies make the perfect choice to using butter, salt, and processed meat to incorporate flavor to food. 8. Select a high soluble fiber cereal, for instance steel-cut oatmeal, which supports to produce blood stream sugar happy because fiber is digested progressively. 9. Attempt to substitute hearty veggies, like eggplant, eco-friendly green spinach, portabella mushrooms, and zucchini for your meat within your favorite meat-based quality quality recipes. 10. Overeating of even healthy foods can lead to wearing weight. Make your portion dimensions. For further diet tips, have a look at internet.nutritiouslife.com. Copyright 2012 by NBC Universal, Corporation. All rights reserved. These elements is probably not launched, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Sycamore builds up 'Storm'

'The Eye in the Storm 'Newly minted Sycamore Entertainment Group has acquired U.S. rights to Fred Schepisi's family drama "The Interest in the Storm," starring Geoffrey Hurry, Charlotte now now Rampling and Judy Davis. Sycamore, which launched through the American Film Market, made the announcement Tuesday. It plans an April 20 theatrical release in La, NY and San Francisco Bay Area. "Eye" is funded with the Australia Broadcasting Corp., Screen Australia, Film Victoria, Ingenious and Omnilab and produced by Antony Waddington, Gregory Read and Schepisi. Professional producers are Jonathan Shteinman, Edward Simpson, Bob Marcs and James Vernon. Judy Morris composed the script using the 1973 novel by Australian author Patrick White-colored, who won the Nobel Prize for Literature the identical year. Story's dedicated to the effective matriarch from the family -- referred to by Rampling -- and people who showed up at bid her farewell at her deathbed. Helen Morse and Alexandra Schepisi also star. "Eye" won age Critics' Award within the Melbourne Film Festival as well as the Premiere Special Jury Prize within the Rome Film Festival. It received twelve noms for your Australian Academy of Cinema and television Arts Honours, that is introduced Jan. 31. Sycamore Boss Edward Sylvan talked about the sale with Robbie Little in the Little Film Co., which handles world sales for your film. Sycamore became a member of the distribution game in November, acquiring U.S. rights to Tammi Sutton's horror film "Isle of Dogs." Contact Dork McNary at dork.mcnary@variety.com

CBS making drama pilot orders

CBS is beginning to create its drama pilot pick-ups, handing orders to legal-designed drama "Baby Large Shot" along with a modern-day undertake A Virtual Detective. The new sony Pictures TV/CBS Television Studios' "Large Shot," composed by scribe Dana Calvo, is professional created by Jamie Tarses, Julia Franz and Kevin Falls, through Tarses' The new sony-based Fanfare banner. Falls assists as showrunner around the project in regards to a lady from the blue-collar background who uses her street inteligence to really make it the whitened-shoe realm of Manhattan lawyer. "Elementary," from CBS TV Galleries, finds the famous detective now residing in NY City. Robert Doherty composed the pilot and professional produces with Sarah Timberman and Carl Beverly. CBS is anticipated to create a couple of other drama orders today. One of the heatseekers would be the "Rifleman" redo, the procedural drama in regards to a genetic researcher from scribes Shawn Ryan and Simon Mirren and "Golden Boy," a task in regards to a youthful officer from Greg Berlanti and Nick Wootton. Also producing good buzz is "Mother Track Mysteries," in line with the number of books by Ayelet Waldman, and "The Widow Detective," from scribe Dork Hubbard and Carol Mendelsohn Prods. Contact Cynthia Littleton at cynthia.littleton@variety.com

Fox Sports and Dodgers reach settlement

Fox Sports and the Los Angeles Dodgers have settled their legal differences, enabling Fox to retain exclusive cable rights to the Dodgers for the remaining two seasons of their contract and removing the final impediment to the sale of the baseball franchise.The settlement comes 2 1/2 weeks after Fox earned a favorable ruling from a U.S. District Court, overturning a federal bankruptcy court decision that would have accelerated the sale of the Dodgers' post-2013 cable rights.''We are pleased that these matters between our two organizations have been resolved,'' Fox said in a statement. ''We were never in favor of litigation, but it was imperative that we protect our exclusive media rights. Under the terms of the settlement, Fox's media rights remain in place and we look forward to working with new ownership on future television rights discussions.''Fox will now have an exclusive window to negotiate for a rights extension with the Dodgers through Nov. 30, well past the sale of the team by Dodger owner Frank McCourt that has a stipulated April 30 deadline. ''This agreement is a significant step towards a successful sale of the Los Angeles Dodgers,'' the bankrupt baseball team said in its statement. ''It resolves all of the parties' differences relating to the telecast rights agreement with Fox. This consensual resolution of all disputes between the debtors and Fox will enable the sale of the Dodgers to proceed forward, free of any uncertainty relating to the various issues under dispute, with the continued objective of maximizing value for the debtors and their estates.''Given the extreme rise in sports rights valuations, those of the Dodgers are expected to go for $150 million to $200 million per year on average over 20 years. The new owners can lock up a deal with Fox before next winter, or they can wait things out and try to create a bidding war between Fox and Time Warner Cable. Both media companies have a pressing need for the Dodgers in the wake of Time Warner Cable nabbing the rights to the Los Angeles Lakers from Fox, effective next NBA season, to create new dedicated English- and Spanish-language cable sports networks. That being said, Tuesday's settlement might increase speculation that Time Warner Cable itself will try to purchase the Dodgers, though whether they want to burden themselves with the high cost of operating the franchise remains to be seen. Fox has said categorically it is not interested in reacquiring the Dodgers, which it sold to the McCourt family eight years ago this month.The Los Angeles Times reported that Fox has retained the right to challenge the sale of any portion of the team to Time Warner Cable, per a provision in the current Fox-Dodgers rights agreement that was designed to ward off another network creating or co-creating a rival Dodger cable channel. That could lead to another legal skirmish down the road, this one between the media giants, centered on whether Time Warner Cable's new networks fit that definition. Contact Jon Weisman at jon.weisman@variety.com

Hanks, Yahoo team for 'Electric City'

HanksTom Hanks is joining with Yahoo and Reliance Entertainment with an animated sci-fi program he produced."Electric City" is going to be revealed Tuesday in the Electronic Devices Show in Vegas, with Hanks scheduled to look to advertise the project, that they continues to be developing for pretty much eight years through his Playtone Prods. banner. He'll also voice the title character.With Hanks attached as both producer and talent, "Electric" marks probably the most prominent efforts yet for original programming in digital entertainment. As the medium has not matched up the prominence of TV or film, the astounding development of connected products worldwide makes the marketplace too robust to disregard.InchElectrical City" signifies probably the most ambitious foray yet from Yahoo, that is betting on the large title to boost awareness because of its first-ever scripted project. The organization is striving to goose its ad revenues with bigger programming endeavors of computer has attempted years back. In October it released an accumulation of unscripted shortform series targeted at female audiences -- the very first in a number of entertainment slates. It joined a week ago with comedy video site Funny or Die on the mock GOP debate. And then month it'll launch a slate of comedy programming moored with a standup special featuring Bill Maher."Within the this past year approximately, we have attempted to construct a notion that Yahoo could be a place to go for creative projects for nice storytellers for large occasions," stated Ross Levinsohn, professional Vice president of Yahoo Americas.Still, "Electric" comes at any given time of uncertainty for Yahoo, which a week ago named a brand new Boss, former PayPal leader Scott Thompson, who's evaluating new proper directions for that unhappy company. Yahoo's previous Boss, Carol Bartz, was ousted in September, and also the tech company continues to be the topic of speculation that it might be set up available. Recent buzz has additionally focused on the chance that it could proceed to acquire another hard-hit company, Netflix."Electric" is going to be composed of 20 episodes which are 3 to 5 minutes lengthy. The shortform format is normal for consumption on PC and wireless products, however the episodes may also be sewn together available like a longform enter in worldwide marketplaces.Additionally, the recording element of the project is going to be compounded with nonlinear elements varying from deep integration with social networking to some three dimensional interactive map.Yahoo can get the very first ad-supported window on "Electric" to have an extended time period with an exclusive basis, however the production may also be available for sale on transactional digital platforms like iTunes. The episodes is going to be readily available for free on Yahoo, which has not yet signed sponsors but is within discussions on that front, based on Levinsohn. The organization is handling global distribution of "Electric," although it will not be folded out concurrently across regions. The U.S. bow is anticipated later this spring.Just how much individuals involved with "Electric" allocated for production is unknown, however the total is thought to become a great deal more compared to amount typically allocated to original digital productions though this is not on componen with this for any theatrical film or full season of TV episodes."Electric" is really a advanced adventure occur a publish-apocalyptic world where a totalitarian regime keeps tight treatments for the energy power grid. Hanks' character is really a government operative billed with safeguarding the power grid who involves understand the bandits siphoning electricity.Hanks and Gary Goetzman, his longtime co-principal at Playtone, made the models with "Electric" nearly about ten years ago using the usual suspects in TV and film but never found the best fit. With Yahoo, these were made certain creative control, though Playtone has not exactly been challenged on that front in Hollywood, because of the many theatricals and television projects the organization has effectively created.Yahoo needed to bid against others to secure the project, based on Levinsohn, who'd not identify the competing firms.Yahoo executives referred to the project like a dark, complex drama reminiscent in tone from the ABC series "Lost," that ought to attract the Comic-Disadvantage crowd. "We are pursuing an industry that's niche-y but extremely passionate if this will get behind something," stated Erin McPherson, Vice president and mind of originals and video programming at Yahoo.While financing an electronic project may appear like small taters for an organization as large as Reliance, taking an possession stake in low-cost original intellectual property will pay huge returns whether it becomes the very first in a number of projects that set happens for bigger moves in film and television.The emboldened entertainment strategy is not new at Yahoo. The organization tried to increase programming as soon as 2005 with former ABC Entertainment leader Lloyd Braun but later retreated on individuals ambitions. And Yahoo has become among numerous Internet titans -- including America online, Hulu and Sony's Crackle -- which are putting growing focus on original programming to stick out in the pack. Nevertheless, the Hanks project still will not put the amount of Yahoo's investment on componen with Netflix, that has ponied up a lot of money to produce full-length TV series such as the return from the Fox comedy "Arrested Development."Word of "Electric" was initially made known at the end of 2010 when Reliance signed to the make the project. But while reviews at that time recommended the development would launch at the begining of 2011, "Electric" disappeared. Contact Andrew Wallenstein at andrew.wallenstein@variety.com

'Artist' helmer continues 'Search'

Rome-- French helmer Michel Hazanavicius ("The Artist") has introduced that his next project is a drama inspired through the 1948 Fred Zinnemann film "The Search," but occur contempo war-torn Chechnya."The Search" is all about a displaced mother's tireless look for her boy, a youthful Auschwitz survivor, as a direct consequence of WW2."Within the original film, the storyline revolved around a youthful boy who made it a concentration camping," stated Hazanavicius, speaking in the Capri, Hollywood fest in Italia, where he was feted."During my film, the main focus is going to be around the special relationship from a lady along with a youthful boy too.InchHazanavicius has attached his wife and "The Artist" co-star Berenice Bejo because the femme lead who works best for an NGO in present-day Chechnya, an area in tatters after many years of fighting for independence from Russia."The Artist" producer Thomas Langmann will make the pic, that is at the begining of development.Announcing the project in the informal pre-honours shindig around the isle of Capri, Hazanavicius stated the pic come in color with dialogue, "completely different from 'The Artist,' " that was quiet as well as in black and whitened."The Artist" is nominated for six Golden Globes, including director and already tops many critics' list.After "The Artist," Hazanavicius shot a segment of omnibus sex comedy "L'ensemble des Infidels," scheduled for release the following month in Gaul via Mars Distribution.Bejo will next shoot Gallic helmer Nicolas Bary's adaptation of Daniel Pennac's book, "The Scapegoat" (Au bonheur des ogres), also starring Emir Kusturica. Contact Nick Vivarelli at nvivarelli@gmail.com

Gaul TV ad gold coin increases 7%

Gaul's TV ad revenue rose 7% to some record 8.6 billion ($11 billion) this year, based on media monitoring company Yacast. France's dynamic digital terrestrial TV market, second simply to the U.K. when it comes to maturity, paid for for that TV sector's rise in ad investing, based on Francois Lienard, mind of Yacast's advertising monitoring. "The figures underscore a very compared French TV landscape: while DTT channels happen to be bringing in bigger marketers and much more revenue, the image is less rosy for older terrestrial channels -- particularly TF1 and M6," Lienard stated. Ad revenue at DTT nets increased 23% to $4.19 billion while ad time rose 1%. Ad revenue in the older channels, particularly TF1 and M6, went lower 1% to $6.8 billion and ad time fell 4%. "These channels happen to be hurt through the economic decline, that has degraded prices discussions, along with the audience fragmentation produced by DTT channels, and also the competition along with other media for example radio and also the Internet," Lienard stated. Paybox Canal Plus produced more ad gold coin this year: up 8% to $222 million or more 1% in ad time. American skeins came the biggest ad revenue, with "The Mentalist," "Grey's Anatomy," "Criminal Minds" and "CSI" leading on TF1. Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com

Russian Avengers trailer discloses new footage

A brand new trailer for that Avengers has arrived online.OK, therefore it is in Russian, there is however still lots of super hero goodness to savor if you do not mind a little of Russian dubbing.There isn't a great deal of new footage, though bald eagle-eyed Avengers obsessives will place a couple of little goodies littered throughout.Essentially, if you are as enthusiastic about seeing The Avengers once we are, this'll give a little relief in front of the four-month hold back until the film's release.Take a look below:And, if you are not averse to spoilers, continue reading...Plaything producers possess a method of ruining large super hero movies, with collectible figurines frequently revealing key figures prior to the movie marketing does (the number of occasions shall we be likely to see Spider-Man's Lizard in toy-form before we obtain a peek at the actual factor?)Well, based on MovieWeb, the HeroClix type of Avengers toys might have distributed another from the film's large baddies.Based on a pr release, Thor and Captain America is going to be fighting Loki and... the Red-colored Skull.The scarlet-visaged Nazi evaporated in the finish of Captain America: The Very First Avenger, so based on where he wound up, the correct answer is possible he or she is returning (did he get teleported to Asgard?)Or, could it be basically a ploy through the toy company to really make it a far more fairly matched up fight between heroes and villains? Hugo Weaving hasn't formally been from the Avengers, therefore it is all speculation right now.The Avengers opens on 27 April 2012.