Another Cablevision Exec Leaves As Analysts Question Jim Dolans Game Plan

Marketing EVP Jonathan Hargis, who has been with the company since 2000, is the latest high level exec to bolt — and that’s sure to leave investors even more baffled than they were before about CEO Jim Dolan’s plans forCablevision. The official word is that Hargis will resign this month “to pursue other opportunities.” But the company release didn’t name a replacement,which suggests that Jim’s wifeKristin — who’s senior executive vice president of product management and marketing, and a member of the Cablevision board– will play a bigger role.Analysts who have tried to determine how broad a mandate she has, and how Jim plans to manage things, say that they’ve yet to hear satisfying answers. Prior to Hargis’ departure, BTIG’s Rich Greenfield urged management explain how Kristin fits in. “We believe she has been taking the marketing reins (unclear whether John Hargis is still with the company and what is role is) and is currently leading the companys efforts to re-orient the marketing message for all of Cablevisionscable products,” Greenfield wrote.He isn’t the only one who’s concerned: The Street was stunned late last year when John Bickman resigned as president of cable communications, closely followedby respected COO Tom Rutledge (now CEO of Charter). That left Cablevision’s management team with “big holes,” Bernstein Research analyst Craig Moffett said before the latest departure. Last week Jim Dolan declined to tell analysts on an earnings call why Rutledge left.

'Kyle XY' Actor Joins ABC Family Comedy 'Baby Daddy

ABC Family is keeping it, well, in the family."Kyle XY" actor Jean-Luc Bilodeau has been cast in the cable network's new comedy series, "Baby Daddy," set to premiere this summer.Additionally, "Reba" alumna Melissa Peterman has been upped to series regular. Cast members include Chelsea Kane, Derek Theler and Tahj Mowry.In the half-hour multicamera series, Bilodeau will play Ben, who suddenly becomes a father to a baby girl when she is left at his doorstep by an ex-girlfriend. Ben decides to raise the baby with the help of his mother Bonnie (Peterman), his brother Danny (Theler) and his friends Tucker (Mowry) and Riley (Kane), who has a secret crush on him."Baby Daddy," which begins production in the spring and will be filmed in front of a live audience in Los Angeles, comes from Dan Berendsen ("The Nine Lives of Chloe King").Bilodeau played Josh Trager on "Kyle XY." He also has appeared on "No Ordinary Family" and can be seen on the big screen in "LOL" and "Piranha 3DD." The Hollywood Reporter

Fox moves 'Finder' to Fridays

Fox is moving "The Finder" to Fridays at 8 p.m. beginning April 8. The rookie series is making room for the next newcomer drama, "Touch," the network moved the other day to "Finder's" current time slot, Thursdays at 9 p.m., after initially organizing the Kiefer Sutherland starrer on Monday. "Finder" will enter time slot presently held by "Kitchen Bad dreams or nightmares.Inch Last Thursday episode of "Finder" is March 8. Contact Andrew Wallenstein at andrew.wallenstein@variety.com

Who's Playing Booth and Brennan inside the Bones Movie?

Scott Bakula remains approached for just about any recurring role on Desperate Regular folks, TVGuide.com has confirmed. As first reported by TVLine, Bakula would play Bree's yet-to-be-named new lawyer. Inside the original casting call, the level of smoothness is known to love a... Discover More > Other Links From TVGuide.com Desperate HousewivesQuantum LeapStar Trek: EnterpriseScott BakulaChuckMen from the Certain Age

SAG-AFTRA Pro- and Anti-Merger Websites

The SAG-AFTRA anti-merger camp has set up its own website: http://www.sagaftraminorityreport.com/. This is because SAG leadership won’t let the anti-merger grouppost on the official Screen Actors Guild website or on the SAG-AFTRA pro-merger website http://www.sagaftra.org/. Naturally there are dueling videos: anti-merger SAG National Board member and movie actor Ed Harris vs pro-merger TV actors from Modern Family, for instance:

Netflix to get rid of share of top movies

Losing the Netflix-Starz agreement may well be more acutely felt one of the 2010 records, including Disney's 'Toy Story 3.'The impending expiration of Netflix's movie cope with Starz in the finish from the month will reduce its share of the market of top movies available among subscription VOD services, based on new data put together by investment firm Piper Jaffray.Netflix continues to have 17% from the greatest grossing movies within the U.S. of history 2 yrs, probably the most associated with a service. But in the finish of Feb that 17% figure drops to 11% when Netflix's distribution cope with Starz expires. That's still a large number in comparison with zero at Netflix rivals Amazon . com Prime Instant Videos and Hulu Plus, that has always situated itself weight loss of the hub for catch-up viewing of Tv show than films. While only among the top 50 movies of 2011, Disney's "Gnomeo and Juliet," was based on the pact, losing that agreement may well be more acutely felt one of the 2010 records, where three from the top 12 box-office draws of this year all originated from Disney including No. one inchPlaything Story 3," in addition to "Twisted" and "Tron Legacy." Two more Disney films, "Prince of Persia: The Sands of your timeInch and "The Sorcerer's Apprentice," have been in the very best 50 too. Another studio covered within the Starz deal, The new sony Pictures, doesn't have records within the top 50 from either year because high-grossing game titles like "The Karate Kid" were already taken off Netflix because of another contractual dispute between Starz and The new sony.The Starz films -- licensed for less than $20-$ 30 million in 2008 -- were viewed as instrumental to Netflix' rapid growth through the years. But founder Reed Hastings suggested for his letter to traders recently associated 4th-quarter earnings the 15 Disney movies incorporated within the deal only constituted 2% of total viewing. Netflix formerly believed that all the content covered within the Starz deal symbolized 8% of total viewing, however the streaming service has since re-licensed a few of the content too.Whilst total top game titles might not be the most crucial indicator of the subscription VOD service's value, given they typically tout the effectiveness of their lengthy-tail catalog, Netflix has put growing focus on being able to obtain programming within the pay-TV window through handles Relativity, EPIX and Open Road. The brand new data provides a glimpse in to the comparative talents from the rival subscription VOD services. While both companies get noticed for every deal they create with galleries as well as their total amount of game titles, gauging the amount of most widely used game titles supplies a obvious approach to comparison. However, box-office receipts and television rankings does not always mean these game titles retain their relative recognition online.However the research also found Netflix is finding more momentum around the TV side, where it's closing the space on Hulu Also in the supply of top Television shows. Hulu Plus presently provides 49% from the greatest ranked Tv show in the last 2 yrs in comparison to 44% for Netflix on a single measure. When Piper Jaffray experts checked in on companies last August, Netflix what food was in 32% while Hulu Plus what food was in 53%. While Netflix continues to be referred to as a film-centric service, chief content officer Ted Sarandos indicated late this past year that 50-60% of their total viewing originates from TV programming.Amazon . com paid for for just 6% of top Television shows, up from 1% last August. Amazon . com introduced the 2009 week that it is Prime library had arrived at 15,000 game titles after twelve months running a business. Contact Andrew Wallenstein at andrew.wallenstein@variety.com

Oscar venue: Hollywood & Highland Center

A Wednesday news release announcing Meryl Streep just like a presenter means venue since the Hollywood & Highland Center.When the Oscar telecast is broadcast worldwide over a couple of days, it'll derive from the Hollywood and Highland Center, not the Kodak Theater -- nor will the theater possess a new sponsor's title. It's unclear whether CIM Group, the entrepreneurs in the venue, will get rid of the Kodak title in the prominent place within the red-colored-colored carpet and fan bleachers by Sunday. But CIM has asked for the Academy to produce no further mention of the Kodak, and AMPAS has complied: A Wednesday news release announcing Meryl Streep just like a presenter means venue since the Hollywood and Highland Center. Incorporated in the personal personal bankruptcy proceedings this month, Kodak received court approval to avoid obligations to CIM and possess its title taken lower. The judge's ruling didn't specify a period-frame, leading to each week of speculation when the theater could be referred to as Kodak come Oscar time. Meanwhile, Hollywood and Highland owner CIM Group is positively pursuing a sponsor to relabel the theater. Variety learned the other day that three suitors were interested, however it doesn't appear a deal could possibly get carried out time to provide a status for that 2010 show. Heading within the talks for CIM is Santa Monica-based naming rights and speaking to firm Premier Partners, that's settling with entrepreneurs. CIM was approached by a few interested companies right after Eastman Kodak first petitioned an individual personal bankruptcy court to void its naming-rights offer the conclusion from the month of the month of january, including Dell Computer, which sooner or later presented a deal. Even though Academy of motion Picture Arts and Sciences is not positively mixed up in process, it'll hold the energy to veto any sponsor it deems unacceptable. Planners would prefer to a brand name getting a hyperlink using the film biz or by getting an trendy pedigree. Kodak has held the rights since the theater opened up up in 2002. Its exit coincides while using Academy of motion Picture Arts and Sciences exercising its to buy another venue. Academy prexy Tom Sherak told Variety the other day the Academy remains approached by other venues, but CIM is presently really the only group it's presently settling. Contact Christy Grosz at christy.grosz@variety.com

Take advantage of Golenberg Joins Evolution, Launches Company With Alon Aranya

EXCLUSIVE: Take advantage of Golenberg, former Gersh Mind of TV Literary and Packaging who left the company in November among a restructuring, is moving towards the management side, joining Evolution Entertainment like a manager and producer. Furthermore, Golenberg has teamed with longtime client Alon Aranya to produce a brand new production company, Scripted World. This year, Golenberg and author-producer Aranya, who is an expert to get privileges to worldwide formats and getting these to the U.S., offered 5 projects, three of these according to Israeli formats, and 2 on European ones. A couple of them, ABC’s Penoza, with different Nederlander format, and NBC’s Night time Sun, according to an Israeli series, were lately purchased to pilot with Aranya executive creating. The brand new company will concentrate on scripted foreign formats. As the U.K. continues to be America’s greatest supply of scripted formats through the years, Aranya sees the relaxation of Europe because the next hotbed. “In yesteryear couple of years we’ve been visiting a tremendous creative development in European scripted shows leading to outstanding drama series for example (Danish) The Killing and Penoza that have been setup for remakes in america,” Aranya stated. In my opinion that following the prosperity of Penoza at ABC we will have more European TV drama modified for all of us remakes. At Evolution, Golenberg re-teams the organization leader Michael Menchel with whom he labored at AMG. Save for that 4-month stint in the ill-fated AMG, Gelenberg spent the final 22 years being an agent at Triad, Paradigm, WMA and many lately at Gersh where she was for 9.five years. He brings with him in regards to a dozen of his clients, including Charlie Craig (professional producer showrunner of Eureka), Scott Williams (co-executive producer of NCIS), Melissa Carter (Jane By Design). “For yesteryear couple of years, I saw the company business becoming mainly about Share of the market, and am much interested in start up business models, and your creative position with my clients,” Golenberg stated.

Ruffalo joins Johansson in 'Song'

Ruffalo JohanssonMark Ruffalo has grew to become part of Scarlett Johansson inside the pic "Can A Sound Lesson Keep Your Existence?," which Exclusive Media is shopping to customers in Berlin inside a couple of days. Pic, that's helmed and composed by John Carney ("Once"), will probably be produced and funded by Exclusive Media. Story sees a young female singer, which has just gone after NY City to pursue operate in music, get left by her boyfriend. Her world takes a turn for your better each time a lower-on-his luck record producer discovers her as well as the two forge a romance and turn each others' lives around. Likely Story's Anthony Bregman is installed on produce with Judd Apatow. Exclusive Media professional produces with Exclusive's mind of production Tobin Armburst controlling production. Ruffalo is repped UTA, Brillstein Entertainment Partners and Keith Klevan. Johansson is repped by CAA. Contact Diana Lodderhose at diana.lodderhose@variety.com

Nominee reaction: Thelma Schoonmaker

For "Hugo" editor Thelma Schoonmaker, Martin Scorsese resurrecting the story of George Melies was similar to the preservation work Scorsese has done on pics by her late husband Michael Powell.Schoonmaker recalled that her husband once wrote that because of Scorsese, " 'The blood started to flow in my veins again.' It's the same story with George Melies."Although she has three Oscar wins already, Schoonmaker said her nom this time around is even more of an honor because "the film is such a celebration of the things that taught us how to be filmmakers." Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

Steady pace of deals as Sundance bows

Actress Emily Blunt leaves the Getty portrait studio in Park City as shes blanketed by snow and a flurry of fans.The Queen of Versailles In the Sundance Film Festival's opening weekend, deals and offers have blanketed the event, though no one is expecting a blizzard of activity equal to last year's. Buyers tell Variety that while deals are getting done, last year's feeding frenzy has given way to caution.The first deal was struck Friday, when Sony Pictures Classics bought North American rights to "Searching for Sugar Man," a documentary about unsung 1960s music phenom Rodriguez.The three most well-received pics thus far -- "Beasts of the Southern Wild," "Compliance" and "Robot and Frank" -- were still up for grabs, with a feverish scramble under way for "Beasts." WME Global is selling the story of a 6-year-old girl named Hushpuppy who lives in a southern Delta community during quasi-apocalyptic events that cause the seas to rise. Critics, bloggers and audiences were sparking to the magical-realist pic, and as of Sunday afternoon, there were still several buyers in the mix, with Fox Searchlight looking like the strongest contender."I'm pretty optimistic. We're getting great response to our films and figuring out deals with the right partners quickly," said Submarine Entertainment's Josh Braun, who has already sold three films. "Talking to buyers and other reps, it feels like a pressure cooker about to blow. There are a ton of films buyers are interested in, but most are waiting for the right price. I would predict a lot of deals in the next 48 hours."Other early fest pickups included the following: "Black Rock," the thriller on which David Dinerstein and Mickey Liddell's LD Distribution was finishing up a North American theatrical distrib deal for something close to seven figures; "The Words," the Bradley Cooper-Zoe Saldana drama that screened for buyers ahead of its closing-night preem and attracted a sight-unseen offer from Open Road, which eventually lost out to CBS Films' $2 million upfront and $1.5 million P&A commitment offer during an all-night negotiation; "The Queen of Versailles," the docu about a Florida real-estate mogul who sets out to build his family the largest house in the U.S. (and is suing the filmmakers and the Sundance Institute for characterizing him as broke); Magnolia Pictures picked up all North American rights.Other big premieres at the Eccles Theater included Friday night's "Red Lights," whose producers are entertaining three separate offers and expecting others. The psychological thriller stars Cillian Murphy, last year's Sundance it-girl Elizabeth Olsen (who's also here with "Liberal Arts"), Sigourney Weaver and Robert De Niro, who returns to the fest for the first time since "What Just Happened" four years ago.Major studios haven't yet been in the buying mix, though bizzers tell Variety that more than one is showing interest in "Filly Brown," the "Hustle and Flow"-esque story of a young hip-hop artist starring Gina Rodriguez."I think buyers are hungry for product but looking to make the right deal," one studio buyer told Variety. "Everything that has sold has had multiple offers, which shows that it's an active market -- but distribs are cautious after big acquisitions last year did not perform."A steady snowfall gummed up the roads and slowed Sundance shuttles to an agonizing crawl -- but was a welcome relief for locals, many of whom said they'd been waiting all year for snow.Tough economic times and deep, slushy snow couldn't dampen the vibrant party scene, as festivalgoers shivered outside dozens of Main Street bashes on the fest's opening weekend. The official Sundance kickoff party Thursday night at Legacy Lodge at the foot of the mountain drew a line several hundred people deep, though the industry crowd stayed away, opting instead for intimate filmmaker dinners, private affairs and, much later into the night, Tao, where stars ranging from Chris Hemsworth to Mary J. Blige made the pulsating scene.A heavy industry crowd turned out Saturday night at the Bing Bar on Main to see rapper Drake do a five-song set that threw the room into a gyrating frenzy -- despite being almost two hours later than expected."Imagine that, the rapper is late," said Aziz Ansari, who did a short standup to introduce the hip-hop star.Besides "Beasts of the Southern Wild," easily the most admired film of the fest so far, early buzz awards went to "Robot and Frank," starring Frank Langella as a curmudgeonly retiree whose children buy him a caretaker robot; and "Compliance," the based-on-a-true-story tale of a man who calls fast-food restaurants posing as a cop to accuse employees of stealing.As far as the rest of the fest -- with more deep snow in the forecast -- bizzers and auds were looking most forward to Spike Lee's "Red Hook Summer," which unspools Sunday night; the young alcoholics drama "Smashed," starring Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Aaron Paul and Octavia Spencer, which also preeems Sunday; and "Bachelorette," the wedding-centric comedy by Leslye Headland that opens Monday at the Eccles. Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

Beyonce Repetition States Entertainers First Interview Since Pregnancy Is Completely Composed, Magazine Stands By Story

First Launched: The month of the month of january 17, 2012 6:55 PM EST Credit: WireImage Caption Beyonce hosts the screening of Live at Roseland: Sun And Rain of 4 within the Paris Theatre, NY City, on November 20, 2011LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Beyonce did not give the interview to British gossip magazine Star, in regards to the birth of her baby, Blue Ivy, a repetition for your celebrity told Access Hollywood. Despite the fact that British publication was broadly stated on the internet on Tuesday, in colaboration with quotes about motherhood credited for the new mother, her repetition demands it's not an authentic interview. Completely composed, the repetition told Access. When asked for once the interview was legitimate, the repetition responded, certainly not. However, when showed up at by Access Hollywood on Tuesday, an editor for your magazine mentioned the publication stands by their story. It isn't composed or pretend whatsoever. We bought the interview in the reporter inside the U.S. who completed the interview with Beyonce just before the birth. The reporter then acquired the most effective-up info following a birth, which we're feeling to own been signed served by a woman on her behalf account LSM team, the Star Uk editor told Access Hollywood. Star UKs online article could not make any reference to the two interviews one before then one after getting happened. The headline round the story online reads, Beyonce WORLD EXCLUSIVE first interview and Beyonce unveils to Star how she felt following giving birth to Blue Ivy. Really, the initial kind of the story appears to suggest the quotes came from in one interview following a birth of Blue Ivy. Speaking exclusively to Star in their first interview since getting an infant, Beyonce Knowles told us she'd an instantaneous mention of the her daughter Blue Ivy, the information states. Beyonce and husband Jay-Z are actually infamously private regarding personal lives, rarely speaking about their particular relationship in public areas. The singer was several several days pregnant before she broke what is the news herself about her impending arrival finally falls MTV Video Music Honours. Copyright 2012 by NBC Universal, Corporation. All rights reserved. These elements is probably not launched, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

'Magic/Bird' snags Longacre

Incoming basketball bio play "Miracle/Bird" has slam-dunked its just right Broadway, nabbing the Longacre Theater to have an April opening. Production also offers arranged a cast which includes Peter Scolari, Off Broadway vet Deirdre O'Connell, Take advantage of Ray Manning Junior. and Francois Battiste, showing up alongside formerly introduced topliners Kevin Daniels and Tug Coker. "Miracle/Bird" pounces around the Rialto vacancy left by "Chinglish," whose producers introduced its closing the 2009 week. Show verifies its slot inside a new play selection this year which includes "Seminar," "Venus in Fur," "Stick Fly," "The Mountaintop" and approaching excursions "The Writer" and "One Guy, Two Guvnors." Story of "Miracle/Bird" follows the hoops competition of Miracle Manley and Ray Bird, having a script developed from interviews using the two gamers. Show may be the second sports-centric stage outing from producers Fran Kirmser and Tony Ponturo, who mounted pigskin play "Lombardi" last season. "Miracle/Bird" reunites the creative team of this show, including author Eric Simonson and helmer Thomas Kail ("Within the Levels"). "Miracle/Bird" starts previews March 21 in front of an April 11 opening in the Longacre. Contact Gordon Cox at gordon.cox@variety.com

'Young Adult,' 'I, Anna' to unspool in Berlinale Special

BERLIN -- Jason Reitman's "Youthful Adult" and Barnaby Southcombe's "I, Anna" are the latest worldwide photos selected with this particular year's Berlin Film Festival. "Youthful Adult," with Charlize Theron and Patton Oswalt, and "I, Anna," a noir thriller starring Charlotte now now Rampling, Gabriel Byrne and Hayley Atwell that got a substantial increase in the fest's Co-production Market this season, will screen incorporated within the Berlinale Special sidebar. Also unspooling inside the section is Doris Doerrie's "Bliss," an appreciation story with various short story by best-selling author and Berlin defense attorney Ferdinand von Schirach that follows a young prostitute and her punk boyfriend abroad. The Berlinale Special is featuring 18 features and documentaries, including U.S. records "Alongside,Inch by Chris Kenneally, and Alison Klayman's "Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry." Also showing are Bassam Mortada's Egyptian doc "Verifying A Revolution" Nederlander helmer Klaartje Quirijns' "Anton Corbijn ThoroughlyInch and Alvaro Longoria's The the spanish language language doc "Sons in the Clouds, the ultimate Colony." To celebrate the 60th anniversary of French film journal Positif, the Berlinale Special may even present Volker Schloendorff's 1975 drama "Coup p sophistication" and many types of 15 hourlong cases of Mark Cousins' documentary "The Story of Film: An Journey." The sidebar may even unspool Ulrike Schamoni's docu "Farewell for the Frogs" in recognition in the 50th anniversary in the Oberhausen Manifesto that introduced in the new trend in German film. Additional screeners add a restored version of Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger's 1943 British drama "The Existence and Dying of Colonel Blimp." Incorporated in Berlinale Retrospective, the Berlinale Special may even unspool a lately restored version of Sergei Eisenstein's 1928 Soviet classic "October," supported with the Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra undertaking the first score by Edmund Meisel. This Year's Retrospective, named The Red-colored-colored Dream Factory, examines early Soviet socialist cinema. Meanwhile, the Berlinale's Co-production Market will showcase 39 projects including three within the Rotterdam-Berlinale Express initiative with Rotterdam's CineMart and 11 within the Berlinale's Talent Campus program. The producers and company company directors in the projects, which range in budget between $1.25 million and $9 million, will see having a couple of 450 potential co-production and financing partners. The Berlin Film Festival runs Feb. 9-19. Contact Erection dysfunction Meza at staff@variety.com

'Porgy' can get an unlikely Spike

Suzan-Lori Parks along with her Bess, Audra McDonald A debate fomented by Stephen Sondheim couldn't stop "The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess" from opening on Broadway. Reviews the very next day were all over the map, but Thursday's opening evening crowd within the Richard Rodgers Theater gave it a hearty thumbs-up. Including some aud people that are infamously demanding.Consider Spike Lee, one of the well-wishers to congratulate scribe Suzan-Lori Parks, who written the show's new book."Spike wants it!Inch she cried happily right after their intermission tete-a-tete. "I written a film for him" -- that'd function as 1996 pic "Girl 6" -- "which he never just states he wants it!Inch

New poster for The Paperboy

A new poster has been released for The Paperboy, Lee Daniels' thriller in which Zac Efron finds himself falling for a distinctly cougarish Nicole Kidman.Efron plays the brother of Matthew McConaughey's investigative journalist, with both men working in tandem to prove the innocence of John Cusack's death row inhabitant.Things are complicated however by the presence of Kidman's character (a long-standing correspondent of the accused) and it isn't long before she and Efron find themselves embarking upon an ill-advised affair.The poster doesn't give us much more to go upon beyond that, suffice to say that Efron has clearly been putting a lot of hours in at the gym to get those biceps sufficiently pumped.Adapted from the novel by Pete Dexter, The Paperboy has yet to receive an official release date, but is expected to arrive at some point in 2012. Check out the poster in full, below...

Ghost Protocol Takes Quiet Christmas With $26.5M Mission

First Published: December 26, 2011 12:07 PM EST Credit: Getty Images Caption Paula Patton and actor Tom Cruise attend a photocall ahead of the Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol Press Conference during the 8th Annual Dubai International Film Festival held on the 124th floor of the Burj Khalifa on December 7, 2011LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Tom Cruises latest mission has won a holiday weekend thats shaping up with some silent nights at movie theaters as business continues to lag. Studio estimates Sunday placed Cruises Mission: Impossible Ghost Protocol a solid No. 1 with $26.5 million domestically over its first weekend in full release. The movie raised its total to $59 million since it started a week earlier in huge-screen cinemas and expanded nationwide last Wednesday, and distributor Paramount estimated that revenues will reach $72.7 million by Monday. Cruises fourth Mission flick was a bright spot over a Christmas weekend filled with so-so tidings for Hollywood, whose usually busy holiday stretch since Thanksgiving has been a bust. Generally well-reviewed movies from Steven Spielberg (The Adventures of Tintin), David Fincher (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo) and Cameron Crowe (We Bought a Zoo) with casts that include Matt Damon,Scarlett Johansson and Daniel Craig opened with modest to weak results. Despite predictions from studio executives that 2011 could be a record-setter that would finish with a bang, domestic revenues remained stuck at a sluggish pace that has lingered all year. Hollywood should finish the year with $10.1 billion domestically, down 4.5 percent from 2010, according to box-office tracker Hollywood.com. The picture gets worse taking into account higher ticket prices, which mean Hollywood brings in fewer fans for each dollar spent. Actual domestic attendance for 2011 will close out at about 1.27 billion, down 5.3 percent from the previous years and the lowest head count since 1995, when admissions totaled 1.26 billion. Thank God 2011 is almost over, because weve had a real rough run here at the end of the year, said Hollywood.com analyst Paul Dergarabedian. We always count on the holiday season to give us a big boost at the end of the year, and it just didnt happen. These admission numbers this year just tell me that we maybe have to set our sights a little lower in terms of attendance every year. Since peaking at a modern high of 1.6 billion in 2002, domestic movie admissions have been on a general decline since. Studio executives always insist that slow times result from weak films, but on paper, the strong lineup Hollywood presented this year should have had fans lining up in huge numbers. Pretty good films are out there this holiday season, yet blockbuster expectations fizzled, a sign that people might be skipping a trip to the theater in favor of home-viewing, video games or the countless other entertainment options their gadgets now offer. Rising ticket prices, particularly the extra few dollars it costs to see 3-D films, also could be causing a backlash among fans. With Ghost Protocol climbing toward the$100 million mark, its a return to box-office form for Cruise, who had been Hollywoods most-dependable earner for two decades until he turned off fans with odd antics in his personal life six years ago. Ghost Protocol will be Cruises first top-billed $100 million hit since 2006s Mission: Impossible III. He had a supporting role in 2008s $100 million comedy hit Tropic Thunder, which was headlined by Ben Stiller, Robert Downey Jr. and Jack Black. Even with a No. 1 debut, Ghost Protocol still was a shadow of its predecessors. The first three Mission: Impossible movies ranged from $45 million to $58 million over opening weekend, but those installments opened at the start of the busy summer season. As of Friday, Ghost Protocol also had brought in a healthy $118 million overseas. Downeys Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows fell from No., 1 to No. 2 in its second weekend with $17.8 million. The family sequel Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked dropped from second to third with $13.3 million. Both sequels trail well behind the business their predecessors did. A Game of Shadows, from Warner Bros., lifted its domestic haul to $76.6 million, while 20th Century Foxs Chipwrecked pushed its receipts to $50.3 million. The weekends newcomers failed to light up the box office, too. Fincher and Craigs The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo from Sony was No. 4 with $13 million, Spielbergs The Adventures of Tintin from Paramount was No. 5 with $9.1 million and Crowe, Damon and Johanssons We Bought a Zoo from 20th Century Fox was No. 6 with $7.8 million. Dragon Tattoo raised its total to $21.4 million since opening Tuesday night, while Tintin lifted its take to $17.1 million since debuting Wednesday. European literary exports Dragon Tattoo, adapted from Stieg Larssons Swedish best-seller, and Tintin, based on Belgian artist Herges storybook classics, are finding a lukewarm reception among U.S. crowds. Dragon Tattoo has been a sensation among U.S. readers yet failed to challenge Mission: Impossible and the other established franchises at the top of the box office. Beloved by generations of readers overseas, Tintin launched internationally two months ahead of its U.S. release. But the blockbuster global attention, with nearly $250 million already in the bank from foreign markets, did not translate to crowds in the United States. The calendar made it a tough weekend for Hollywood, with Christmas Eve always a slow night for movie-going falling on Saturday, usually the best day of the week at theaters. Christmas Day typically is a strong one for movies, as fans squeeze in a film between unwrapping presents and sitting down to family dinners. Two big holiday releases Spielbergs World War I epic War Horse and Tom Hanks and Sandra Bullocks Sept. 11 drama Extremely Loud&Incredibly Close opened Christmas Day, but estimates on their revenues will not be available until Monday. Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Hollywood.com. Where available, latest international numbers are also included. Final domestic figures will be released Monday. 1. Mission: Impossible Ghost Protocol, $26.5 million. 2. Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows, $17.8 million. 3. Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked, $13.3 million ($20.1 million international). 4. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, $13 million. 5. The Adventures of Tintin, $9.1 million. 6. We Bought a Zoo, $7.8 million ($1.1 million international). 7. New Years Eve, $3 million. 8. Arthur Christmas, $2.7 million ($9.7 million international). 9. Hugo, $2.03 million. 10. The Muppets, $2 million ($500,000 international). Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Nominations reaction: Jonah Hill, actor, "Moneyball"

Jonah Hill in 'Moneyball'"Everything relevant for this movie been something special personally. Someone said it and understood the best way to play this character. It assisted me appear like I used to be negligence something. Days like today feel good. Undertaking a drama didn't feel different personally because it was something I used to be trained for. It felt different in other people eyes. Honestly, I appear like I'm in a few type of an aspiration. It really feels so nice being so pleased with something too for people to celebrate it now."

X Factor's Nicole Scherzinger: I Feel Like I Let Rachel Crow Down

Nicole Scherzinger, X Factor The X Factor's Nicole Scherzinger really is heartbroken over Rachel Crow's ouster. After Crow's shocking elimination on Thursday night, where she broke down on stage, Scherzinger was booed by the audience. "My heart comes from the right place so I get really sensitive when people are negative," Scherzinger told reporters after the show, according to People. "I'm like, 'Don't they know I only want the best for every single person? ... I want them to be the best they can be.' Ultimately America made the choice." X Factor's Rachel Crow: "No one should blame" Nicole Scherzinger defends her decision, saying that she expected America to send Marcus Canty home, and the choice was really out of her hands. "I wasn't going to be the one to send anyone home," she said. "Did I think America probably would have chosen Rachel? The probability was that they would have sent Marcus home." Unfortunately, the 13-year-old powerhouse was sent packing, but not before Scherzinger sat her down backstage for a good cry session. It was just Scherzinger doing the crying. "When I saw that look on her face, [I felt] that I had let her down, like I dropped her," she said. "I could have been holding on and I dropped her. She is the sunshine of our show, so it's hard to see her cry." Do you think Rachel Crow could've won The X Factor?

Viacom Boss Talks Nickelodeon Ratings Issues, Ads, 'Paranormal Activity,' Investor Returns

NY - Viacom is constantly on the give consideration to growing without major purchases and return an thought $20 billion to traders over the following five years via returns and stock buybacks, leader and Boss Philippe Dauman mentioned here Monday inside a UBS media investor conference.our editor recommendsWall Street Weighs in at in at Viacom's Outlook Among Ad, Nickelodeon Ratings ChallengesViacom Boss: Vital Developing Recommendations for 'Paranormal Activity 4,' 'Transformers 4' In the keynote lunch interview within the UBS Global Media and Communications Conference, Dauman mentioned he feels excellent about Viacom's outlook, including more effective advertising rise in early 2012, and mentioned it's "a great platform for future growth." The conglomerate is a much more multi-platform and global company in five years, he mentioned. Asked for in regards to the recent ratings challenges of babies funnel Nickelodeon, which Dauman formerly mentioned were "inexplicable" and is an error, he mentioned that there are no real news on that front and vowed that his systems unit's advertising trends would improve inside the first quarter of 2012. "There's not new,Inch he mentioned. "Nobody is a lot more annoyed with that than myself." The Wall Street Journal had reported earlier inside the day that Nielsen still thinks its ratings data for Nickelodeon is correct. "Right now, however imperfect Nielsen is, it is the only game around,Inch Dauman told the UBS conference. "We'll proceed.In . Nevertheless the ratings issue is "an problem which will be alleviated" due to more new shows on Nickelodeon in comparison to network ever suffered soon. Plus, advertising sales from Nickelodeon could make up a considerably smaller sized part of the organization's total beginning next quarter. More youthful crowd layed out that Nickelodeon is constantly hold its lead over ad-driven competitor Cartoon Network. For next quarter, all which means that he needs more effective ad growth due to a far more effective content pipeline together with a "better tone" available on the market in comparison to a current slowness in scatter ad market sales in recent days. "We are feeling excellent,Inch Dauman mentioned, repeating the Nickelodeon problem will use you need to be a "blip." Dauman once again acknowledged although the current quarter's ad revenue momentum will probably be drawn lower with the Nickelodeon problem and "some soft qualities generally scatter demand" throughout the final a few days. But he vowed that his firm's cable systems unit margins would grow this quarter. On more upbeat notes, Dauman once again famous such TV hits as Jersey Shoreline which is stars, additionally to film franchise Paranormal Activity. He mentioned the Vital studio, which will next season start praising its a hundred years in operation, expects to to create new Paranormal film every year thinking about the truth that it's developed a Halloween franchise from this that's "very lucrative." Meanwhile, Epix, the premium TV venture of Viacom, MGM and Lionsgate, sees an exclusivity window in the digital distribution deal with Netflix expire in September, interviewer and top UBS banker Aryeh Bourkoff mentioned. The initial a few the sale's five years were exclusive. Adked if Epix must boost the exclusivity, Dauman mentioned that "the requirement for our content has elevated" since the deal. The firm could extend the exclusivity for "valueInch or look for added handles other online entrepreneurs following a exclusivity period finishes. Highlighting an 11 percent compound annual rate of development in affiliate fee revenue since he needed over as Boss five years ago, Dauman on Monday mentioned he needs high single digit to low double digit gains in this particular area afterwards. Dauman mentioned he sees no go to a la carte options of cable systems afterwards. However when this might happen, Viacom can do well even if this might be a trend due to very good of the channels. Asked for about competition from YouTube's original content funnel strategy, he mentioned his firm stays billions yearly on content, so that it won't the simple for Google's movie site to deal with that. Speaking about Vital as well as the performance of Viacom's film unit, Dauman mentioned the studio would carry on growing margins in later on, which is new animation unit might be "arrivedInch in five years. Asked for about key challenges over the following five years, Dauman reported film piracy just like a key concern. But social media is constantly on the supply upside, Dauman predicted, pointing to how Beyonce's baby bump drove Twitter traffic through the MTV Video Music Honours. That aided ratings, and the organization knows how you can "use social media to market new shows we placed onInch too, he mentioned. Speaking about worldwide options, Dauman spoke of upside inside the BRI nations - South usa, Russia and India. He stressed he didn't take advantage from the more widespread term BRIC "because China remains a very tough market." Email: Georg.Szalai@thr.com Twitter: @georgszalai Related Subjects Viacom Philippe Dauman