Friday, September 30, 2011
Universal TV Sells First Projects To Outdoors Systems: Comedy To ABC & Drama To CBS
Per month after Bela Bajaria was handed the reins of NBC’s production arm using the mandate to re-establish it as being a complete-fledged, stand-alone studio, Universal Television has offered two projects to non-NBC systems, comedy Finish around the globe to ABC and untitled FBI drama to CBS. Additionally to Bajaria’s hire, the organization’s rapid transformation in the last month includes the putting together of the top executive team under her using the appointment of heads of comedy, drama and casting, in addition to a title vary from Universal Media Galleries to Universal Television along with a new logo design (above, animated version below). This marks coming back to UMS’ past, prior to being consolidated into NBC 3 years back, if this developed and created series for other systems, including Sons and Kids and finish Savages for ABC. Listed here are particulars around the first 2 non-NBC projects to leave Universal TV: Comedy Finish of theWorld for ABC — around three brilliant researchers who, determination shocking discovery, and urged by their roguish friend to reside their lives towards the maximum. WME-repped Steve Hely (Work) is writing and executive creating with Emmy-winning company directors Anthony Russo and Joe Russo who signed a general cope with Universal TV in June. Untitled FBI drama for CBS — follows intricacies from the director of theFBI because he handles both criminal cases and politics. UTA-repped Mark Goffman (Free Airline Wing) is writing and executive creating with Uni TV-based producers PeterTraugott and Rachel Kaplan. rtmp://streaming.deadline.com/ondemand/video/UT_Logo design_3sec_2011-09-30.m4v
Saturday, September 24, 2011
Jeremy Seglem On 'Cop/Cop,' Improvised Web Series at NYTVF
Jeremy Seglem On 'Cop/Cop,' Improvised Web Series at NYTVF By Daniel Lehman September 23, 2011 Jeremy Seglem Jeremy Seglem began his acting career about five years ago, in a collection of short comedic web videos called "Treading Water." Since then, in partnership with writer/director Tim Young, he's continued to produce original video content for the web -- first as the co-creator and star of the mockumentary series "Twilight with Steve Cooper" and its follow-up, "Behind the Steve," and now as the co-creator and writer of "Cop/Cop," a new improvised comedy series starring Tyler Gilmore and Rob Cuthill as two inept cops who will go to any lengths to get a confession.The first episode of "Cop/Cop," titled "Old Dogs," premiered online this week, and another episode has been selected to debut at the Channel 101 program at this year's NY Television Festival on Friday night in NYC. Channel 101 is a monthly series in which five-minute shows are screened for a live audience, who vote to "cancel" some series and "renew" others, new episodes of which are then presented as part of the new "prime time lineup" at the event the next month."I have not experienced a live situation, where people will laugh at something I've made," Seglem says. "So my goal is just to have people laugh at it. That's really all I can ask. It'd be nice to advance, but as long as people think it's funny, I don't care."WATCH VIDEOS AND READ Q&A WITH SEGLEM ON BLOG STAGE Jeremy Seglem On 'Cop/Cop,' Improvised Web Series at NYTVF By Daniel Lehman September 23, 2011 Jeremy Seglem Jeremy Seglem began his acting career about five years ago, in a collection of short comedic web videos called "Treading Water." Since then, in partnership with writer/director Tim Young, he's continued to produce original video content for the web -- first as the co-creator and star of the mockumentary series "Twilight with Steve Cooper" and its follow-up, "Behind the Steve," and now as the co-creator and writer of "Cop/Cop," a new improvised comedy series starring Tyler Gilmore and Rob Cuthill as two inept cops who will go to any lengths to get a confession.The first episode of "Cop/Cop," titled "Old Dogs," premiered online this week, and another episode has been selected to debut at the Channel 101 program at this year's NY Television Festival on Friday night in NYC. Channel 101 is a monthly series in which five-minute shows are screened for a live audience, who vote to "cancel" some series and "renew" others, new episodes of which are then presented as part of the new "prime time lineup" at the event the next month."I have not experienced a live situation, where people will laugh at something I've made," Seglem says. "So my goal is just to have people laugh at it. That's really all I can ask. It'd be nice to advance, but as long as people think it's funny, I don't care."WATCH VIDEOS AND READ Q&A WITH SEGLEM ON BLOG STAGE X-Men: First Class Watch Online Free
Friday, September 23, 2011
Dancing's Maks: Carson Is fantastic for the Show
Maksim Chmerkovskiy Hi everybody!We imagine you stood a great week! Appreciate voting for people!In my opinion Hope was amazing on Monday. It absolutely was probably a little a lot more than I had been expecting because she will be a little distracted yesteryear couple of games and her persistence for the country's team, but she attracted it together plus it was perfect. It clicked on on. I'm happy about our score. It absolutely was just what I desired. I really like the three 7s. I seriously considered in the heart of individuals, however i didn't expect 21 being second within the top, therefore it might be a enjoyable surprise.I believed the scores overall were good. In my opinion it's probably the most even first performances we now have had. We don't have a very ringer or somebody who's a specialist dancer this season as well as the idol idol judges didn't overload utilizing their scoring. In my opinion this season is anybody's to consider. I really believe that might be probably four people I see within the finish. I certainly think that Hope gets the potential. She has the capacity to go completely. I'm wanting that individuals just keep clicking and doing the very best things. In my opinion the mix of my tricky personality and her capability to accept testing "punishment" the right way and not get, I guess, upset is what will stop us in the sport.I'm honestly not hearing Bruno's comment about her shoulders. She's a goalkeeper and she's the most effective goalkeeper on the planet. To become the finest goalkeeper on the planet, you'll need the body type of a goalkeeper. For those who have Bruno tell her that she's too masculine, then that's all it'll be. We're concentrating on hiding things and making her look the most effective she might look, however i will not change her physique just like a goalkeeper. If the is finished, she'll return and defend the united states . States' Olympic gold medal and continue to get another one. She's a massive part of that team's success which i might be a fool to obtain her from goalkeeper shape. My job is always to learn to make her an amazing dancer without making her a more compact quantity of an amazing goalkeeper. We started the jive right before the premiere, so you ought to be good. I'm happy concerning the actual way it is certainly going at this time around. In my opinion the finest problem with Hope is not just learning the routine, but she must learn how to act it. I realize she's not familiar with acting and faking it - that's what acting is. I'd like her to know it's very good faking it, like you aren't consistent with yourself. It's part of a performance. If you want to become the finest advertising online, then you must do several things that will help you the most effective advertising online. Acting is a lot of it.I believed everyone did great now. I'm super happy for Val. Congratulations to him for his debut! I used to be worried about him and Elisabetta. She's awesome, but she wound up getting slightly stiff. Hopefully she'll take all the positive things by using this show and rehearse it to her advantage inside the second week. In my opinion the quickstep is really a better dance on the account and they are likely to both gain understanding in the first week. In my opinion Val features a struggle because Elisabetta is quite not used to the u . s . states. Number of fans-wise, they'll probably have a very harder time. Everybody else around the program features a following here. I ongoing a deal Monday evening to rally numerous my troops to help Val and Elisabetta out and i'm very grateful because In my opinion they did a substantial job keeping us around the program. Clearly, I'm to begin with dedicated to Hope, nevertheless the longer Val stays, the higher fun we'll have. The most effective to relish the process. In my opinion if audiences embrace her and supply her an chance, they'll uncover a lot of growth. With nevertheless, it's also determined by how well they're doing and the way they sparkle and shine. In my opinion they have potential. Val is phenomenal. I'm his finest fan. They did an amazing routine. I believed the bed mattress idea was amusing. I loved his respond to Tom Tuesday: "I merely preferred to consider my shirt off and acquire in bed mattress." I like it!Carson's performance appeared to become great. He's very awesome. He's just a little partial toward me which i gave him a shoulder rub. He's just well suited for this show. He's super funny, very witty, very clever, very entertaining, and what else would you like in the celebrity on Dwts? You will need a celebrity who's secure with themselves, is not afraid to put up a performance, has undertaking qualities, and does their unique factor. Which is him. I'm not prone to lie - that will appear as me patting myself round the back - however i am flattered because you have Nancy Sophistication going, "You aren't Maks," to Tristan and Carson talking about me, and i'm so honored with this. It will cause me to feel appear like dance is which causes it to be greater and greater. I'm still consistent with my trade. I'm not trying to become the center of attention whatsoever, but getting recognized by they like these has turned into a responsibility, but furthermore a massive recognition. I'm fortunate and becoming fun.In my opinion Tony and Chynna did a great job too. They're a perfect partnership. Chynna was incredible. She might be one of the better women around the program. Tony's an amazing teacher and i'm yanking to enable them to ensure it is completely too. I'm happy on the account.In my opinion overall the Dance with me at night family is doing amazingly. Half the troupe includes us alums. We now have absorbed the show just a little, so L.A. is a lot more fun now! I'm experiencing it!That's all for the moment. Maks
ABC Buys Mystery Drama From Paul Scheuring & Lorenzo DiBonaventura
ABC has bought Zero Hour, a mystery drama from Prison Break creator Paul Scheuring. The project hails from ABC Studios and Lorenzo DiBonaventura and Dan McDermott’s company, which is based there. Zero Hour is described as an epic adventure about a skeptical everyman who gets swept up in one of history’s greatest conspiracies. His search leads him on a dangerous journey around the world collecting clues that will unlock not only a spectacular mystery surrounding the Twelve Apostles but also questions about his own identity. DiBonaventura and McDermott are having a busy first development season with a number of high-profile sales, all to ABC. They include a crime drama from The Blind Side writer-director John Lee Hancock; a drama from Changing Lanes scribe Michael Tolkin and ER showrunner David Zabel about a complex female ADA; the comedy The Wonderful Women of Wills World, from writers David Diamond and David Weissman, about a man who juggling his two ex-wives, his new younger wife and his three children; and comedy Blondie & Clyde from writer Marisa Coughlan, about two small-town women with big-town dreams.Watch Movie
Travolta Visits Gotti Widow To Analyze New Movie
FIRST Released: September 23, 2011 9:13 AM EDT NEW You are able to, N.Y. -- Travolta Qantas Video visited the widow of mob boss John Gotti to complete research for his approaching movie role because the mafia kingpin. The NY Publish reviews that Travolta showed up Thursday in the Gotti home in NY City to satisfy with widow Victoria Gotti, her boy John Junior Gotti along with other key gamers. The Publish stated the Pulp Fiction star was welcomed with handshakes and hugs. He introduced a present bag for Victoria Gotti and remained inside in excess of two hrs. All he'd say when he emerged was he was doing research for that movie. John Gotti died imprisonment in 2002. The film Gotti: Within the Shadow of My Dad is placed to begin shooting in The month of january. Craig Levinson is pointing. Copyright 2011 by Connected Press. All privileges reserved.These components might not be released, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Debate Erupts Over Russia's Oscar Entry
MOSCOW - The Russian film community delays for the reply to a significant debate which has exploded over Russia's entry within the language Oscar race, as actor/director Vladimir Menshov, mind from the national Oscar committee, known as on Nikita Mikhalkov to drag out his film, "Burnt through the Sun 2: Citadel," approved with a majority election."I am waiting [for Mikhalkov to reply], however the film has been ready to be sent,Inch Menshov told a news conference in Moscow on Wednesday. "Formally, the process was observed."In compliance using the Russian Oscar Committee rules, Mikhalkov has until March. 1 to drag the film out. On Wednesday, he wasn't readily available for comment.The 2009 week, a lot of the Russian Oscar committee people chosen for "Citadel," but Menshov's emphatically opposed your decision. "Even when we ignore the truth that audiences and experts hated the film, 'Citadel' is a component of the series," he was cited as saying by "Moskovskiye Novosti" daily. "Just how can anybody who has run out of the context make sense at all from it?InchInchCitadel," that was launched last May, was among the year's greatest flops in the Russian box office. The $45 million second area of the "Burnt through the Sun 2" saga made only $1.5 million in local theaters. Meanwhile, in 1995, Mikhalkov's "Burnt through the Sun," that the present film is really a follow up, won the very best Language Film Oscar. The Hollywood Reporter
Bones' Emily Deschanel Welcomes First Child
Emily Deschanel and David Hornsby Emily Deschanel and husband David Hornsby welcomed their first child, baby Henry, Wednesday, People reviews. Her Bones co-star TJ Thyne first broke the happy news on Twitter: "CONGRATULATIONS EMILY D!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yay yay yay!!!" Booth and Brennan finally managed to get happen! See our report on other TV duos who should do it Deschanel, 34, first introduced having a baby in March. It absolutely was written into the Fox drama when Brennan told Booth (David Boreanaz) she was expecting after they finally connected off-camera. Bones' approaching season was scaly back because of Deschanel's pregnancy, but Fox recently bought four more episodes that will possibly air next summer season. Deschanel and Hornsby married this past year. Her youthful sister, Zooey Deschanel, is now offering two top reasons to celebrate now: as an aunt and her own Fox show New Girl premiering to robust ratings on Tuesday. Bones returns on November. 3 at 9/8c on Fox. Hornsby stars in and executive- produces the completely new comedy, How to be a Gentleman, which premieres Sept. 29 at 8:30/7:30c on CBS.
Friday, September 16, 2011
Kaira Pitt Was adament Gwyneth Paltrow's Mind Remain in this region in 'Se7en'
Kaira Pitt remains quite chatty lately (guess he i would love you to see 'Moneyball'), and he's now states he nearly bailed on 'Se7en' when the producers got cold foot and preferred to -- spoiler alert -- put something aside from Gwyneth Paltrow's mind laminator tl901 through the ultimate, shocking scene. "I can do it on one condition: Your brain stays laminator tl901,Inch the actor states he needed just before signing on. "Result in the contract your brain stays laminator tl901.Inch And also the second condition: "They need to shoot the killer ultimately. He doesn't perform the 'right' factor, he's doing the main one factor of passion." People conditions were both met, however, if test tests began, apparently some professionals got cold foot. "They are going, 'You know, he'd substantially more heroic if he didn't shoot Someone Particularly -- which is too unsettling while using mind laminator tl901. We feel maybe whether or not this was the dog's mind laminator tl901...AInch Clearly, Pitt had his way and David Fincher shipped among cinema's most memorable movie being. Revive the horror of "What's laminator tl901?Inch here. [via EW] photo because of the Everett Collection
Listen to a Folk Song Inspired By Poltergeist
Henning Ohlenbusch has more than just one of the most awesome names in contemporary music. He also now has a full-length album of songs inspired by movies. It’s quite the spectrum, too — Planes, Trains and Automobiles, The Straight Story, Amlie, Joe Versus the Volcano, Logan’s Run, Meatballs, The Year My Voice Broke, Superbad and, in an irresistible effort you can hear after the jump, a folk song inspired by that mellow, soothing cinematic bromide known as Poltergeist. The songs are compiled on Ohlenbusch’s new album Henning Goes to the Movies, which is out now. The “Poltergeist,” uh, “video” dropped today (it’s basically a Vegas water feature shot on and iPhone, but hey — “Poltergeist”!), and don’t be alarmed if it doesn’t quite jibe with your impressions or remembrances of the 1982 horror masterpiece. That’s kind of the point, according to the songwriter. “Like everything in life, movies are experienced differently by each viewer,” Ohlenbusch wrote in a statement just over the transom at ML HQ. “On this record, I tried to express in music how these nine films impacted me personally. At the outset, I established one rule: I was not allowed to revisit a film until I composed and recorded the song that it inspired me to write. In this way, I hope that each piece genuinely conveys the ways in which each movie has stuck with me throughout the years. […] It was important to me that each of these songs stands on its own merit. For most of them, the listener might have never even known what the inspiration was had the songs not been titled the way that they are.” Fair enough. You can find the album in its entirety at iTunes, Amazon and Spotify, and there are a few little gems tucked in there. I’m fond of “Superbad” — “”It’s a thought that’s as jarring as the homeroom bells / The next time you see me, I might be someone else” — but you tell me.
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Like Crazy Opens Film Independent Forum
A screening of Paramount Vantage’s Like Crazy will open the three-day Film Independent Forum on Friday, Oct. 21, at the Directors Guild. Theevent is put on by Film Independent, the non-profit organization that produces the Spirit Awards and the Los Angeles Film Festival, and presented by IndieWire. The screening of the film, directed by Drake Doremus, will be followed by a Q&A and reception with writer Ben York Jones, producers Jonathan Schwartz and Andrea Sperling, editor Jonathan Alberts and cinematographer John Guleserian. The forum will feature independent filmmakers speaking on production, distribution, documentaries and new media. Among the featured panelists are director Azazel Jacobs (Terri), producer Laura Bickford (Duplicity, Che), ICM’s Peter Trinh and Emily Verellen of The Fledgling Fund. A complete list of panelists is in the news release. Film Independent also is teaming with the Los Angeles County Museum of Arton itsfilm series. The premiere of Johnny Depp’s The Rum Diary will open the series on Oct. 13. Also featured will be some classics –Modern Times (Oct. 18) and Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner– as well as Sundance entry Martha Marcy May Marlene (Oct. 16) and a live reading of John Hughes’ script for The Breakfast Club, directed by filmmaker Jason Reitman (Oct. 20). The screenings will be held at the museum’s Bing Theater and curated by former NY Times film critic Elvis Mitchell in collaboration with LACMA film coordinator Bernardo Rondeau and Film Independent’s programming team. The NY Times is the series’ presenting sponsor. Transformers 3 Watch Online
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Chris Grant joins Electus as CEO
Reality skein "Mob Wives," which premiered last spring on VH1, is one of the shows on the front burner at Ben Silverman shingle Electus.
SilvermanGrantBen Silverman has tapped longtime lieutenant Chris Grant to serve as CEO of his fast-growing Electus production and distribution company as it prepares for a growth spurt in its content operations.Grant, who exited as prexy of Shine Intl. in May, will formally begin his new gig on Nov. 1 and will be based in Los Angeles. His mandate is to help the company scout for producer partnerships and potential company acquisitions, particularly in the U.S. and the U.K., and oversee the expansion of its TV, digital and branded entertainment operations.Grant will work closely with Electus chief operating officer Drew Buckley, who continues to report to Silverman and maintains oversight of digital, advertising, finance and M&A activities as well as management of the company's business relationships with Yahoo, Microsoft and Google.Grant said he was eager to reunite with Silverman at a moment when Electus is poised to build quickly on the foundation built during the two years since Silverman launched the company in partnership with Barry Diller's IAC."The power of owning rights and formats has never been more clear to us," Grant told Variety. "To build this company to the scale we want to build it to, it starts with rights and ownership."A decade ago Grant was among the founding execs of Silverman's Reveille banner, which was eventually bought out by Elisabeth Murdoch's Shine Group in 2008 after Silverman decamped for his turbulent two-year run as NBC Entertainment topper. Before Reveille, Grant was schooled in the art of international-rights wheeling and dealing by Silverman when both worked for the William Morris Agency in the 1990s.At Reveille and Shine, Grant's focus was on international sales and distribution. At Electus, his attention will be much more on the domestic front, where he and Silverman see ample opportunities for production company acquisitions and producer partnerships."It's a perfect time for Chris to join the company," Silverman said. "He's going to be accelerate and help us manage our growth as we build off our existing base."Although there is no shortage of competition right now among mid-sized distribution entities vying for unscripted format rights, Grant asserted that Electus has a strong selling point to prospective partners.For starters, Reveille had a strong track record as a pioneer and innovator with international format licensing, branded entertainment deals and original digital content, ranging from the U.S. adaptations of "The Office," "Ugly Betty" and "The Tudors" to the merchandising juggernaut of NBC's "Biggest Loser Franchise" to Reveille's early Web content partnership with MSN and blue-chip advertisers. With IAC's backing, Electus has the deep pockets and the partnerships to develop original content in creative ways -- like starting a show on the Internet or in an overseas market before shopping it in the U.S. market, where nets typically drive a hard bargain of demanding ownership."With the combination of Ben, Drew and myself, we can show a producer that we know how to drive value through multiple distribution channels, and we can introduce their ideas to the biggest advertisers in the world," Grant said.Electus' existing content partners include the CollegeHumor comedy website; Will Arnett and Jason Bateman's DumbDumb shingle and production companies 5x5 Media, Notional and DiGa, the latter run by MTV alums Tony DiSanto and Liz Gateley.Among Electus' active roster of unscripted skeins are VH1's "Mob Wives," NBC's upcoming "Fashion Star," hosted by Elle MacPherson; BET's "Masters of Mix"; and Spike TV's "Car Boss." Contact Cynthia Littleton at cynthia.littleton@variety.comWatch Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Online Free
Sunday, September 11, 2011
'Contagion' Advances in Theaters: Box Office Report September 9-11
The mighty housemaids of 'The Help' were finally felled having a microscopic bug. Steven Soderbergh's new all-too-plausible pandemic thriller 'Contagion' ended the three-week reign of 'The Help,' debuting at No. 1 and producing an thought $23.millions of. The all-star disaster movie beat three other new wide releases to say the most effective place laminator tl901 office. With predictions running inside the $22 to $24 million range, 'Contagion' did about additionally to expected. Improving the film coast to have an easy victory were such elements just like a star-studded cast, a director getting a good history, good reviews, a sizable release (on 3,222 screens), strong adult appeal (81 percent in the audience was over 25, according to studio polling) - and weak competition. 'Contagion' needed plenty of grown-ups from 'The Help,' which experienced a 41 percent decline a couple of days ago to have an thought $8.7 million. This can be a steeper fall than expected, as bloggers had predicted a take of roughly $hundreds of an incredible number of. Nonetheless, it absolutely was sufficient for second place together with a five-week total of $137.millions of. Probably the most effective of 'Contagion's' fellow beginners was 'Warrior,' which opened up up in third place by getting an thought $5.6 000 0000. Having its double-underdog plot, decent reviews, critiques to such brawler-with-a-heart faves as 'Rocky' and 'The Fighter' and strong word-of-mouth, the mma saga happen to be prone to go feet-to-feet with 'The Help' around $hundreds of an incredible number of. Nevertheless it opened up on just one,869 screens, too for each of their rising-star buzz, Tom Sturdy and Joel Edgerton aren't box office draws yet. Rounding the very best 5 were holdovers 'The Debt' and 'Colombiana.' In fourth place, 'The Debt,' underperformed slightly, sliding 51 percent within the second weekend to have an thought $4.9 million, for just about any two-week total of $22. million. The spy drama happen to be prone to pull around $6 000 0000 a couple of days ago, nonetheless its adult appeal led to, like 'The Help,' it absolutely was hit hard by 'Contagion.' Revenge thriller 'Colombiana,' however, did about additionally to expected, losing 46 percent of last weekend's business and producing an thought $4. million, for just about any three-week total of $29.8 million. This weekend's other two wide releases barely registered neither cracked the most effective 10. 'Bucky Larson: Born to become Star,' the newest juvenile-but-raunchy comedy from Adam Sandler's setup line, opened up on 1,500 screens but attracted in just an thought $1.4 million, debuting at No. 15. Much less anybody was expecting much, but predictions the film would earn about $3 million shown excessively generous. Weak reviews, middling promotion, as well as the untested star energy of rising comic and Sandler friend Nick Swardson inside the lead didn't help. Faring worse was 'Creature,' which loved an oddly wide opening on 1,507 screens. The horror film, a tongue-in-mouth area throwback for the days when drive-in-movie monsters were just males in rubber suits, 'Creature' opened up up in 26th place and acquired an abysmal $331,000, according to estimations, or about $220 per screen (that's about a few ticketbuyers per screening), which causes it to be the fifth-worst wide release opening ever. Just for comparison's sake, 'Laugh within my Discomfort,' Kevin Hart's chronicle of his greatly effective recent comedy tour, opened up on just 97 screens but attracted inside an thought $2. million, opening in thirteenth place. This can be a huge $20,619 per screen, nearly three occasions the per-screen average of 'Contagion.' Overall, it had been the weakest weekend of 2011 up to now, with only $82 million in general receipts. 'Contagion' - Trailer No. 1 The whole top: 1. 'Contagion,' $23.millions of (3,222 screens), era 2. 'The Help,' $8.7 million (2,935), $137.millions of total 3. 'Warrior,' $5.6 000 0000 (1,869), era 4. 'The Debt,' $4.9 million (1,874), $22. million 5. 'Colombiana,' $4. million (2,354), $29.8 million 6. 'Rise in the Planet in the Apes,' $4.9 million (2,887), $167.8 million 7. 'Shark Evening 3d,A $3.5 million (2,848), $14.8 million 8. 'Apollo 18,' $2.9 million (3,330), $15. million 9. 'Our Idiot Brother,' $2.8 million (2,396), $21.4 million 10. 'Spy Kids: Constantly in the world,A $2.5 million (2,544), $34.2 million Follow Gary Susman on Twitter: @garysusman. Photo credits: Lionsgate ('Warrior')
Friday, September 9, 2011
Rescue Me Postmortem: Creators Talk Lou's Heroism and Tommy's Happy Ending
Rescue Me After seven seasons, FX's Rescue Me concluded with its usual blend of dark plots and dark comedy before ultimately leaving tortured hero Tommy Gavin (Denis Leary) with a surprisingly sunny outlook on the future.That ending reflects the stories of a couple real-life firefighters who inspired his character, Leary says.Peter Tolan celebrates the end of Rescue Me by dropping his pants"They're definitely in a place, 10 years later, where they still love the job," he tells TVGuide.com. "They're actually as happy as you could expect them to be. They're whole. They're back to as close as they could be to the men they were before the events of 9/11 happened."Not only did they survive, but I think they survived in the best possible way you could: They are very aware of what went on that day," Leary continues. "They'll never get over it, and they're still very angry about what happened in a way, but they're still jumping on the rig and fighting fires. It's not necessarily where I thought those two guys would end up, but I think Tommy kind of reflects what happened to them."Co-creator Peter Tolan told reporters at the Television Critics Association previews in August that two other endings were considered but abandoned. One had Tommy sacrificing himself in a fire to ensure his family would be taken care of; another involved him walking out into the ocean to drown. But Tolan feels those cappers sent the wrong message.Rescue Me's final season: Can Tommy Gavin survive?"You don't want to send out a message that says human beings don't survive tragedy, because the reality is that they do," Tolan told us in an interview before Season 7 began. "You realize that laughter is the whole coping mechanism. The show was saying, on some level, 'Look: We go on, we laugh, we survive.' ... I think that's the choice we had to make - to offer some glimmer of hope."That hope was embodied by John Scurti's Lou, who, despite not surviving the harrowing fire at the end of the series' penultimate episode, is seen as a ghost at the end of the finale. But he's a far cry from the dead men who have haunted Tommy throughout the series."This is a ghost that he's comforted by," Tolan says. "It's not a contentious thing or something that takes him to a dark place. It's really Casablanca at that point with the two of them driving off. It's the continuation of a beautiful friendship."Rescue Me's John Scurti on the final episodes: "Lou steps back up"Lou's death came while he was doing what he loved - not, as the show had so heavily foreshadowed, as the result of a heart attack because of his unhealthy lifestyle. "We wanted to not trick the audience, but have this misdirect," Tolan says. "We wanted the audience to think that his heart was going to go before something else happened. It becomes a surprise when he actually dies in the line of duty. And he does die heroically.""There is that moment [in the fire]," Leary adds, "where Tommy realizes maybe we're not going to be OK. But this guy, knowing the circumstances, has chosen to land on top of the grenade. That kind of bravery is really what the show was always about."That bravery was also on display in perhaps the finale's greatest misdirect. The opening scene, which is eventually revealed to be one of Tommy's dreams, shows Lou as the fateful fire's only survivor giving a rousing eulogy for his five fallen comrades."That was something I pitched at the very beginning of the series," Tolan says. "And we just never used it. Year after year, people would die and we would go, 'Is it this person? Do we do it here?' So, we finally used it for Lou, and I was really happy with it."Photos: How does Rescue Me's series finale compare best to TV's best?Scurti, who expressed some displeasure with the amount of food-related jokes in the final season, was thrilled with Lou's heroic swan song. "When you look at Lou in that scene, he won't let the emotion in," Scurti says. "The only emotion that he'll deal with is the pride that he feels. And that could've been a big weeping, sopping mess, and it's not. It's a cry of defiance to the heavens. It's one of the most beautiful things as an actor I've even been asked to play.And as it turned out, the emotions of that scene weren't far removed from the actor's mournful feelings."Knowing that I had to march through that church and stand in front of all those coffins, I was afraid that I was going to lose it, because it happens to be the absolute last scene that we ever shot of Rescue Me," Scurti says. "When I was done with that speech, the show was over. That was it. We all got in our vans and went in separate directions. So that added something else to it. I'm not only saying goodbye to all of these people, but I'm also saying goodbye inside to the best job that I've ever had. So it was very, very difficult."What did you think of the finale? Share your favorite Rescue Me memories in the comments below!
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Tim Roth Inks Deal With 20th Century Fox TV
Lie To Me star Tim Roth is staying in business with 20th Century Fox TV, the studio behind the Fox drama series, through a talent holding/producing deal. Under the pact, 20th TV will develop a new series as an acting vehicle for Roth. Additionally, the deal includes a first-look component, allowing Roth to pitch series projects to the studio that he may or may not be attached to star in. Feature actor Roth, who made his series debut with Lie To Me, would executive produce any shows that he brings to 20th TV. The studio’s chairmen Dana Walden and Gary Newman met with Roth in New York in May, just a couple of days after Fox cancelled Lie To Me after 3 seasons, to pitch the British actor the idea of doing a new project together. Walden and Newman were in town or the broadcast network’s upfront presentations, while CAA-repped Roth was filming feature Arbitrage there. “While Lie To Me never had the opportunity to take off, Tim did a fantastic job on the show,” Walden said. “He is incredibly smart, has very good instincts and all creative executives across the board at 20th TV, Fox 21 and Fox TV Studios are excited about possibly working with him. Watch Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Movie Online
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