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| Influential British comedian Mel Smith dies Saturday, Jul 20, 2013 09:28 AM PDT  LONDON (Reuters) - British comedian Mel Smith, who became a household name in Britain for a series of television sketch shows in the 1970s and 80s which colleagues said had inspired a generation of comics, has died of a heart attack, his agent said on Saturday. Smith, who died on Friday aged 60, found fame starring in hugely popular shows "Not The Nine O'clock News" and "Alas Smith and Jones" and went on to direct the films "Bean" and "The Tall Guy". "I still can't believe this has happened," said Griff Rhys Jones, his comedy partner in his best-known TV shows. ... Full Story | Top |
| Marvel's 'Agents' hope to entice Comic-Con fans to lagging ABC Friday, Jul 19, 2013 09:03 PM PDT By Piya Sinha-Roy LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Disney offered Marvel comic devotees an exclusive look at its new television series "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D" on Friday as its ABC network hopes to engage the "super fans" at Comic-Con to bounce back from a ratings decline. Banking on the huge success of Marvel's films that include 2012's "Avengers," ABC and Disney's television series tries to lure young fans of the films to a new platform for the universe created by the comic books. ... Full Story | Top |
| Farmiga fights demons in 'The Conjuring,' finds home in horror Friday, Jul 19, 2013 05:08 PM PDT  By Piya Sinha-Roy LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Actress Vera Farmiga is now a full-fledged expert in the horror genre, but for the lead role in the film "The Conjuring" she had to study hard to see the enigmatic inner workings of a clairvoyant. "The Conjuring," based on the true story of a paranormal investigation by demonologist and clairvoyant couple Ed and Lorraine Warren, follows a family tormented by supernatural phenomenon in their home, leading to the mother's possession by a demonic entity. ... Full Story | Top |
| Jackson's mother blames promoter for not helping 'sick' son Friday, Jul 19, 2013 04:59 PM PDT  By Dana Feldman LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The mother of late pop star Michael Jackson testified Friday in her wrongful death lawsuit that concert promoter AEG Live failed to get her son proper medical attention when he became sick while preparing for a comeback tour in 2009. Katherine Jackson, 83, broke down when recalling the death of her famous son and later asked to suspend her testimony after growing distressed under cross-examination. It was the first time Jackson had taken the stand in the trial in which she and Michael's children are suing AEG Live. ... Full Story | Top |
| Cory Monteith's death delays 'Glee' season 5 premiere Friday, Jul 19, 2013 04:58 PM PDT By Tin Kenneally LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - The premiere date of the upcoming season of Fox's "Glee" has been delayed following the death of series star Cory Monteith, Fox said Friday. The fifth season of "Glee" will now premiere September 26 at 9 p.m., a week after its original premiere date of September 19. The production of "Glee" has also been pushed back to early August. Monteith, who played jock-turned-glee club geek Finn Hudson on the series, died July 13 at age 31. His body was found by staff at the Fairmont Pacific Rim hotel after he missed his checkout time. ... Full Story | Top |
| 'Sharknado' encore tops its premiere by 500k viewers Friday, Jul 19, 2013 04:56 PM PDT By Tony Maglio LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - Due to popular demand - and a surge of Twitter activity - Syfy re-aired its original movie "Sharknado" on Thursday night. The rebroadcast averaged 1.9 million total viewers, 701,000 of those in the advertiser-sought 18-49 demographic. The encore was also the most tweeted program on cable Thursday, excluding sports and special events. The special encore presentation of the Ian Ziering/Tara Reid thriller hit the airwaves at 7 p.m. Anyone who missed it the first time got a chance to see what all the fuss was about - a tornado full of sharks attacking ... Full Story | Top |
| Christina Aguilera tops list of worst 'Star Spangled Banner' renditions of all time Friday, Jul 19, 2013 04:56 PM PDT  By Tony Maglio LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - America has spoken. And it does not want Christina Aguilera singing its praises. iHeartRadio Insights asked the nation of all the renditions of "The Star-Spangled Banner," which made you want to pack up for Europe the most? OK, the real question it posed was which performance was most cringe-worthy. The answer is Ms. "Genie in a Bottle" herself. Aguilera's rendition at the 2011 Super Bowl received an impressive (for futility) 35.9 percent of the vote. ... Full Story | Top |
| Movie ticket prices hit record highs thanks to popularity of 3D films Friday, Jul 19, 2013 04:52 PM PDT By Brent Lang LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - Moviegoers' wallets and pocket books got slammed during the second quarter of 2013 as a steady stream of 3D and IMAX releases drove ticket prices to record levels. The average movie ticket price hit a new high of $8.38 for the three months ending in June, according to data from the National Association of Theatre Owners. That figure eclipsed the previous record of $8.12, which occurred during the second quarter of 2012. It also represented a 5.5 percent increase from $7.94 in the first three months of the year. ... Full Story | Top |
| Elmo puppeteer Kevin Clash seeks to have 4th underage sex claim dismissed Friday, Jul 19, 2013 04:51 PM PDT By Tim Kenneally LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - Kevin Clash, the scandal-beset former puppeteer and voice of "Sesame Street" character Elmo, is seeking to have a fourth lawsuit accusing him of underage sex dismissed, after prevailing in three other similar lawsuits. In a brief filed in U.S. District Court in Pennsylvania on Thursday, Clash argues that the lawsuit brought by accuser Sheldon Stephens, on the grounds that Sheldon's claim is barred by the statute of limitations. Earlier this month, a New York judge barred three other complaints against Clash on the same grounds. ... Full Story | Top |
| 'Law & Order's' Fred Thompson to make Broadway debut in 'A Time to Kill' Friday, Jul 19, 2013 04:50 PM PDT By Tony Maglio LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - "Law & Order" actor and former U.S. Sen. Fred Thompson is trying something new. He'll make his Broadway debut in a new adaptation of John Grisham's bestseller "A Time to Kill," it was announced Friday. Rupert Holmes wrote the stage adaptation of the courtroom drama - the first of Grisham's properties to be adapted for the stage. "House of Cards" actor Sebastian Arcelus and Obie-winning John Douglas Thompson also will star. Ethan McSweeny will direct. Set to open October 20, 2013, at the John Golden Theatre, previews begin September 28. ... Full Story | Top |
| 'The Call' filmmaker Brad Anderson to direct thriller 'Restart' Friday, Jul 19, 2013 04:16 PM PDT  By Jeff Sneider LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - Brad Anderson, who recently scored a hit with "The Call," is attached to direct the intense psychological thriller "Restart" for Lotus Entertainment and Davids Canton Productions. Gregory Poirier ("National Treasure: Book of Secrets") wrote the script, which is based on Matthew Klein's novel "No Way Back." Corvus published the novel this spring. Described as "The Game" meets "Unknown," story follows an ordinary man who discovers that his entire life is being infiltrated and manipulated by a terrifying criminal network. ... Full Story | Top |
| Savannah Guthrie's 'Today' one year later: how do the ratings stack up to Ann Curry and Meredith Vieira? Friday, Jul 19, 2013 04:14 PM PDT By Tim Kenneally LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - A little more than a year ago, "Today" said goodbye to co-host Ann Curry. NBC's morning show also appears to have said goodbye to a significant chunk of its viewership in the time since it bid adieu to Curry. July 9 marked the first anniversary of Savannah Guthrie replacing Ann Curry on "Today," and the numbers suggest that the change hasn't been kind to the show, which has been losing ground to ABC counterpart "Good Morning America" lately. In the period between July 9, 2012 and July 8, 2013, "Today" averaged 4. ... Full Story | Top |
| Debra Messing to make Broadway debut in play by 'Doubt' writer Friday, Jul 19, 2013 04:13 PM PDT  By Brent Lang LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - "Will and Grace" star Debra Messing will make her Broadway debut in "Outside Mullingar," a new play by Tony and Academy Award winner John Patrick Shanley, producers said Friday. It is the first time Shanley has been back on Broadway since sweeping most of the major theatrical honors and nabbing the Pulitzer Prize for his 2005 sexual molestation drama "Doubt." In addition to Messing, the play will reunite Shanley with his "Doubt" star and director, Brian F. O'Byrne and Doug Hughes. ... Full Story | Top |
| 'Glee' star Harry Shum Jr. set for 'Moms' Night Out' Friday, Jul 19, 2013 04:11 PM PDT  By Jeff Sneider LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - "Glee" star Harry Shum Jr. has closed a deal to star in "Moms' Night Out," a family comedy that Sony's Affirm Films banner is producing, TheWrap has learned. "Mom's Night Out" follows three housewives who get bored with their suburban life and break away for a night in the city. Patricia Heaton and Sean Astin also star in the film, which Andrew and Jon Erwin are directing from a script they wrote with Andrea Gyertson Nasfell. Kevin Downes is producing. ... Full Story | Top |
| AOL Networks hires Bob Lord as new CEO Friday, Jul 19, 2013 04:10 PM PDT By Tim Kenneally LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - You've got a new CEO, AOL Networks. Bob Lord has joined AOL Networks as its new CEO, AOL said Friday. Lord, who will take over the post August 1, was most recently the Global CEO of interactive agency Razorfish and CEO of Razorfish parent company Publicis Groupe's digital technologies division. He replaces Ned Brody, who left AOL Networks in April. Networks "enables the world's top marketers and media brands to reach consumers across desktop, mobile, table and connected TVs," according to the company. ... Full Story | Top |
| Original Schindler's list up for auction on eBay for $3 million-plus Friday, Jul 19, 2013 04:09 PM PDT By Tony Maglio LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - Oskar Schindler kept a list, and now you can have it ... for $3 million-plus. One of four original copies of Schindler's famous list, which the eponymous Steven Spielberg-directed 1993 movie was based on, has been placed up for auction on eEbay. A German industrialist and member of the Nazi party, Schindler is credited with rescuing some 1,100 Jews during the Holocaust. He managed to save them from death in the concentration camps by saying they were necessary for work in his factory. ... Full Story | Top |
| 'R.I.P.D.' is D.O.A. with critics Friday, Jul 19, 2013 04:07 PM PDT By Brent Lang LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - "R.I.P.D." is D.O.A. with critics. The news is not surprising given that the big-budget, special-effects laden buddy film was not screened in advance for most reviewers. That's nearly always a sure-fire sign that a film has secured a one-way ticket to bombs-ville. However, a few critics were able to catch the film in advance of its debut on Friday. And oh what a critical evisceration was had by all. ... Full Story | Top |
| 'Daily Show:' John Oliver asks why cable news is always using a thumping rock beat Friday, Jul 19, 2013 04:07 PM PDT By Brent Lang LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - John Oliver thinks that cable news needs an education in rock. "The Daily Show" substitute host used CNN's new morning show "New Day" as exhibit A in his tutorial on when to use the word "rock" and its accompanying rhythms. He noted that the program's daily news roundup "Rock Block" featured stories that decidedly do not rock; among them tales of Pentagon layoffs and a study on Alzheimer's disease. "I think we clearly have different ideas of what rocking it means, because mine involves leather pants and chainsaws," Oliver said. ... Full Story | Top |
| How 'The Conjuring' propelled director James Wan from torture porn to Vin Diesel Friday, Jul 19, 2013 04:04 PM PDT  By Lucas Shaw NEW YORK (TheWrap.com) - When New Line Cinema first submitted James Wan's "The Conjuring" to the Motion Picture Assn. of America, executives expected the film would receive a PG-13 rating. It didn't have the excessive gore of "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" or the blunt nudity of "Wild Things" - just old-fashioned creaks and screams. The ratings board slapped an R-rating on it anyway. When New Line asked what scenes it needed to excise to earn a PG-13, the board didn't have an answer. ... Full Story | Top |
| Seth MacFarlane's 'Family Guy' hosting 'The Simpsons' in crossover episode Friday, Jul 19, 2013 04:02 PM PDT By Tony Maglio LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - Hopefully Springfield is all stocked up on beer and donuts. The Griffins and the Simpsons will finally meet face to face in fall 2014, in a special crossover episode of the two Fox "Animation Domination" cartoons. While Homer, Marge and the gang will have homefield advantage, the crossover will occur on an episode of Seth MacFarlane's "Family Guy." "Fox hasn't spent this much money since they took Simon Cowell tight t-shirt shopping," said "Family Guy" patriarch Peter Griffin in a statement from Fox. ... Full Story | Top |
| Is 3D still cool or a 'Tax' on moviegoers? Three top directors say the format's overused Friday, Jul 19, 2013 04:01 PM PDT By Lucas Shaw NEW YORK (TheWrap.com) - Alfonso Cuaron, Edgar Wright and Marc Webb discussed everything from high school teachers to Buster Keaton at Comic-Con on Thursday, but there was one subject where they were all in agreement - 3D. Even though both Cuaron and Webb's next films were shot in 3D - "Gravity" and "The Amazing Spider-Man 2," respectively - they both acknowledged there are too many 3D movies out there. "In most cases it's not necessary," Cuaron said. "In most cases with movies being released in 3D, 3D is an afterthought. ... Full Story | Top |
| Comic-Con 2013: 'Ender's Game' filmmakers 'Embrace' controversy over LGBT rights Friday, Jul 19, 2013 04:00 PM PDT By Lucas Shaw NEW YORK (TheWrap.com) - The producer and director of "Ender's Game" urged fans at Comic-Con on Thursday to support the movie for its message of empathy and inclusiveness - in spite of the anti-gay marriage views espoused by the book's author, Orson Scott Card. Card - upon whose 1985 novel "Ender's Game" is based - has been an outspoken and consistent opponent of gay marriage for years. That prompted an online protest, which Lionsgate and Summit responded to by saying the author's views were irrelevant to the film. ... Full Story | Top |
| Exclusive: CW's 'Arrow' casts 'The Pact's' Caity Lotz as Black Canary Friday, Jul 19, 2013 03:59 PM PDT By Jeff Sneider and Jethro Nededog LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - "The Pact" star Caity Lotz is set to play the Black Canary on The CW's "Arrow," TheWrap has learned. While the Black Canary will start out as a recurring role, Lotz is expected to eventually become a series regular, as her character will be groomed as a love interest for Arrow (Stephen Amell). The Black Canary is a notable character in the DC Comics franchise, and both The CW and the producers of "Arrow" are high on its potential. ... Full Story | Top |
| Alexander Payne's 'Nebraska' loses appeal of R-rating Friday, Jul 19, 2013 01:29 PM PDT  By Todd Cunningham LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - Paramount on Thursday lost its appeal of the R-rating given to director Alexander Payne's "Nebraska." The Motion Picture Assn. of America's Classification and Rating Appeals Board upheld the restricted rating assigned the black and white drama for "some language." Paramount is releasing the film, which premiered in competition at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year, on November 22. ... Full Story | Top |
| 'The Conjuring' scares up strong $3.3 million in Thursday night shows Friday, Jul 19, 2013 01:26 PM PDT By Brent Lang LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - "The Conjuring" is off to a strong start as the mid-budget haunted house film capitalized on sterling reviews and positive buzz to scare up $3.3 million during Thursday night showings. That compares favorably to the $3.4 million another summer horror film, "The Purge," generated on its first night of release. That low-budget shocker went on to gross more than $34 million during its opening weekend. "The Conjuring" is expected to put up similar opening numbers this weekend. The Warner Bros. ... Full Story | Top |
| 'R.I.P.D.' review: it's nearly epic in its mediocrity Friday, Jul 19, 2013 01:25 PM PDT By Alonso Duralde LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - In a season of retreads, reboots and adaptations, "R.I.P.D." is nearly epic in its mediocrity. When historians look back at this by-the-numbers era of studio summer blockbusters, they may well point to this film as being notably iconic in its lack of original ideas, its staggering predictability and its thorough blandness. "R.I.P.D." feels like the result of a process in which the screenplay was skipped entirely, replaced instead by a binder full of studio notes which was somehow given to the cast and crew and brought to the big screen. ... Full Story | Top |
| 'Pacific Rim's Charlie Hunnam boards crime thriller 'Triple Nine' Friday, Jul 19, 2013 01:23 PM PDT  By Jeff Sneider LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - "Pacific Rim" star Charlie Hunnam is attached to star in John Hillcoat's "Triple Nine," while Oscar winners Benicio del Toro, Christoph Waltz and Cate Blanchett are all in early discussions to join the cast of the Megan Ellison-financed crime thriller, according to individuals familiar with the project. Ellison is producing through her Annapurna Pictures banner along with Anonymous Content's Keith Redmon, Bard Dorros and Steve Golin. Hillcoat ("The Road") is directing from a script by Matt Cook. ... Full Story | Top |
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