Gotham hunkers lower for Irene

A few braves Occasions Square on Sunday morning, August. 28. Hurricane Irene was downgraded to some tropical storm. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)As Hurricane Irene bore lower on New You are able to City over the past weekend, Gothamites effectively closed up shop, eliminating subway service, shuttering Broadway venues and cinemas and delivering newsies scrambling to pay for the unparalleled formulations. The Mayor's Office of Film, Theater and Broadcasting suspended all filming permits for that weekend (the MOFTB released a terse statement via its website). Productions presently filming apparently include Isla Fisher starrer "Bachelorette" and reality shows "Hoarders" and "House Clean.InchThe evacuation area for that city incorporated parts of all five boroughs, most abundant in severe flooding in Staten Island and Battery Park City. The elements is for certain to affect this weekend's box office, as most of the major theater chains have previously made the decision to shut Saturday or sunday (see separate story).All Broadway cancelled Saturday or sunday performances (see separate story), as did the brand new You are able to Intl. Fringe Festival, Off Broadway theaterplexes " New World " Stages and 59E59, and sundry other venues. It's rarely desireable to shut the theater about the weekend, especially on Broadway (Saturday evening is nearly always the performance that packs the home smallest), and also the multi-billion-dollar damage estimations for that storm include a great deal of lost revenue.With sustained winds as high as 85 miles per hour forecasted, the whole city battened lower the hatches beginning Friday. Hotels downtown closed off elevator service from night time on Saturday to ensure that nobody could be trapped in case of an outage, and flat-fee-only cab service shut lower at 10 p.m., with people needed to talk about taxi seats with any stragglers requiring a good start.Sunday daytime would be a mad dash towards the grocery, or at best the benefit store, for something that wasn't nailed lower. "The scene at our bodega appears like something from 'Under the Dome,'" stated one Brooklynite, "that we guess I'm going to be reading through a few days ago.InchThe majority of the storm's damage was ton-related. Waters in Battery Park City arrived at five ft throughout the storm surge, on Sunday morning, and seven ft in Staten Island. Flooding taken across both FDR Drive and West Side Highway, the 2 streets that permit quick travel in the east and west sides of Manhattan. Standing water three ft deep was apparently obstructing all lanes on area of the Jackie Robinson Parkway in Queens by Sunday ayem.New Yorkers understood in early stages that last weekend will be a lengthy one: Mayor Michael Bloomberg on Friday introduced the evacuation of low-laying areas across the Large Apple's waterfront areas -- a Gotham first -- and also the Metropolitan Transit Authority shut lower the whole subway system from noon on Saturday, effectively limiting citizens and vacationers to shelter. (The subway has not been shut lower since 2005's transit strike, a move that gained incarceration for Transit Employees Union prexy Roger Toussaint.) By Sunday mid-day, the rain and wind had passed within the city and also the metro area, Irene herself have been demoted to some tropical storm, and many local people were primarily worried about once the subways would be in service. But It Is not searching great for Monday ayem subway service. The MTA is counseling persistence, because the Metro North flooded throughout the storm and initial assessments revealed flooded tracks and fallen trees through the system.Newsies drawn out all of the stops throughout the storm: NBC News started into high gear with corporate brother or sister the elements Funnel assets, while CBS added a unique hourlong Sunday broadcast known as "Irene Strikes" with Scott Pelley anchoring from 11 a.m. -- likely time once the storm is going to be farthest inland. Sunday's "Hello America" broadened to 3 hrs with George Stephanopoulos and Robin Roberts anchoring from Occasions Square beginning at 7 each morning.Cablers, too, joined the fray: CNN extended coverage for Saturday mid-day and evening, while MSNBC covered with the weekend instead of likely to tape and Fox News preempted programming for storm coverage.Through the finish from the weekend, most Gothamites were searching to wash in the fallen branches, clean up the dirty water, and start it. Within Gotham, your house is is his sleeping box - his clients are his castle. Take Brooklyn's River Coffee shop, a tony DUMBO restaurant located on the spacious boat docked near the Water Taxi station. "I rested here last evening," stated one manager happily, because he lugged a pump along with a period of hose with the flower-petal-thrown entrance. "I was up through the night moving water, and that we endured it simply fine. Buzzy (Michael O'Keeffe, the restaurant's proprietor), too. He's a classic guy, but he got just like dirty because the relaxation people.Inch Contact Mike Thielman at mike.thielman@variety.com

HAMMOND: Can Indies Steal Oscars Again?

Previously in Pete Hammond’s 3-part series: Woody Allen, Brad Pitt, ‘The Help’ Among Early 2011Oscar Contenders Clooney, Clint, And Spielberg Put Major Studios Back Into Oscar Race After looking last weekat the potential awards landscape for the first eight months of 2011, and then at what Oscar-pedigreed filmsthe major studios have in store for fall and holiday slots, it’s time to turn to the independent world, which has become such a key force in the season. For the majors, Oscars are nice but not vital. For the indies, award strategies are key and could mean the difference between a hit filmor amiss. With little-pictures-that-could Best Picture triumphs in recent years like Crash, The Hurt Locker and last year’s The King’s Speech, indies have proven that with less money to spend,a savvy campaign and a little luck, the right film at the right time can grab the gold. Ever since the advent of screeners evened the playing field to some extent, it’s been a different ballgame. And the indies use the fall festival circuit (starting next weekat Venice, followed by Telluride and Toronto) tostart up the awards buzz.Already this year, indies likeWoody Allen’s Midnight In Parisand Terrence Malick’s Cannes Film Festival winner The Tree of Life are seriously in the hunt for those prized Best Picture slots and, as detailed by the soon-to-be-released contenders from thecompanies below, they may not be alone among upstart pictures this year. Here’s a look at what possible award contendersfrom the indie sector will be coming our way in the last four — and most crucial — months of the year. The Weinstein Company With The King’s Speech last year, the Weinsteins scored their first Best Picture triumph since the heady days of Miramax. Can they do it two years in a row with another British bio, The Iron Lady? Just about everyone agrees Meryl Streep’s still-unseen portrait of Margaret Thatcher in this Dec. 16 release will put her in strong contention to finally win that thrd Oscar, but can the movie score too? Time will tell, although it would seem to be a better shot in the Actress category. Harvey Weinstein had a big Cannes triumph with the crowd-pleasing black-and-white French-producedsilent pictureThe Artist (Nov 23),and it could have the same effect on the Academy audience that it did with the French, therebyleading to one of those Best Picture slots, even though the movie maynot have enough “gravitas”to sneak in. The Weinsteins will get a good ideawhen it launchesin the English-speaking world next week on the fest circuit. Certainly Cannes Best Actor Jean Dujardin is a great bet for a nomination no matter what. With a busy fall, thecompany is hoping Michelle Williams and Kenneth Branagh — who play Marilyn Monroe and Laurence Olivier in My Week With Marilyn (Nov. 4) — will land actingkudosalongwith Ralph Fiennes (who also directed) in the title role of the contemporary Shakespeare adaptationCoriolanus (Dec. 2).As his mother, Vanessa Redgrave isextraordinary in a beefy supporting turn.She should start getting the gowns for the awards circuitready now. Awards prospects are anybody’s guess for Madonna’s latestdirectorial stab,W.E. (Dec 9), which with its storyline involving Wallis Simpson is certainly different for the pop star. And I hear there is the possibility of a late-season qualifying run for the Jennifer Garner filmButter that has been described as a Capra-esque comedy/drama set in the cutthroat world of competitive butter carving. Fest auds will see this first, and their reaction will probably weigh heavily in Weinstein’s decision to enter that other cutthroat competition. Focus Features With a sterling cast including Gary Oldman as British spy George Smiley and newly minted Oscar winner Colin Firth, this latest adaptation of John Le Carre’s novel, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, could be butter itself for Oscar voters.There’s lots of buzz already around Oldman’s performance, which the world will see when it premieres at the Venice Film Festival in early September, followed closely by its Sept. 16 opening in England. American audiences will have to wait much longer as I have just learned Focus has switched its statesidedebut from the previously announced date of Nov. 18 to the heart of the holiday (and Oscar) season Dec. 9. Focus will also have its Sundance winnerPariah entering the fray in December and is fully committed to campaigning it as well, particularly for its 17-year-old star Adepero Oduye, who plays a Brooklyn high school student who isn’t exactly what she seems, at least to her more conservative parents. Certainly the success of Precious with Academy votersshould giveFocus hope this can follow a Sundance path to Oscar attention, and definitely Indie Spirits. Fox Searchlight The Fox specialty division has enjoyed consistent success with its awards campaigns, landing eight Academy Awards for Slumdog Millionaire and lots of acting awards, most recently Natalie Portman for Black Swan. Searchlight’s two big upcoming fall hopefuls include another Sundance pickup, Martha Marcy May Marlene (Oct. 21),with a breakout performance from Olsen twin sister Elizabeth Olsen, who they hope will be the Jennifer Lawrence of this year. Then Oscar winner Alexander Payne (for Searchlight’s Sideways) is back with the George Clooney Hawaiian-set family dramaThe Descendants (Nov. 23), which along with Sony’sThe Ides Of March gives Clooney a one-two punch. Buzz is strong and we’ll see how it plays in Toronto, and before that almost certainly I would guessin Telluride, where Payne is a favorite and frequent visitor. Searchlight also finally has Kenneth Lonergan’s (You Can Count on Me) 2006 dramaMargaret in a limited opening Sept. 30 after years of legal battles reportedly over an initial three-hour running time. With a cast including Oscar winners and nominees like Anna Paquin, Matt Damon and Mark Ruffalo you don’t want to discount it, but no one seems to be whispering Oscar Oscar on this one. Sony Pictures Classics Fall is always prime time for the now-20-year-old SPC, and co-presidents Michael Barker and Tom Bernard seem to be banking on world-class directors to put them back in the Oscar race, where they seem to be every year. There’s Pedro Almodovar’s creepy but terrificThe Skin I Live In (Oct 14), which should have won him something at Cannes but didn’t (you made a mistake, jury). There’s David Cronenberg’s period dramaA Dangerous Method (Dec 9), a filmwith tremendous buzz that premieres in Venice on its way to just about every other fall fest. And there’s Roman Polanski’s adaptation of the Tony winning comedyGod of Carnage, now simply renamed Carnage, with a cast including Jodie Foster, Kate Winslet, John O’Reilly and Christoph Waltz. With superstar directors like that on your slate, who needs Woody? (Oh wait, they have him too). Another SPC film, Take Shelter, which was a Grand Prize winner during Critics Week in Cannes, comes from director Jeff Nichols, whose only previous feature was Shotgun Stories. But it is just as accomplished as some of the best work from any of SPC’s other directors this year and could figure heavily in the Indie Spirits this year if not beyond. Summit With one Best Picture (The Hurt Locker) already in its young history, Summit’s big fall play is of course The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1 (Nov 18), the beginning of the end for the Twilight series. While not an Oscar contender unless director Bill Condon is a miracle worker, it should figure heavily just like its predecesors did in the Teen Choice, People’s Choice and MTV Movie Awards if that is any consolation. But in addition to their summer releaseA Better Life, Summit could find serious awards traction in the honest,touching and surprisingly funny cancer drama50/50 (Sept. 30),which offers award-level work from Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Anjelica Huston among others. It should play well in Toronto and could be on its way to a niceawards-season run if audiences aren’t turned off by the subject matter. Roadside Attractions With their first Best Pic nominee Winter’s Bone and Foreign-Language and Best Actor nominee Biutiful, Roadside announced last year it was a major new indie force in the Oscar race (it also won Best Documentary Feature for The Cove two years ago). This year its hopes are pinned on the Sundance pickup Margin Call (Oct 21), starring some terrific actors including Kevin Spacey and Jeremy Irons in a riveting dramathat may hit too close to home for stock market investors. Their ace player though could be recent pickup Albert Nobbs, in which Glenn Close reportedly hits it out of the park as a woman who must disguise herself as a man in order to survive in 19th century Ireland. The five-time nominee looks to be back in the race for the first time since 1988, especially if the performance turns out to be as good as the advance buzz among pundits who still haven’t seen it. Toronto is likely their first opportunity. Lionsgate Still a true indie, Lionsgate hasn’t been able to replicate its 2005 Best Picture heist with Crash, one of the all-time great Oscar-campaignsuccess stories. Last year they made a buy of Rabbit Hole at Toronto and turned it around quickly to get Nicole Kidman a Best Actress nod. Failing that kind of quick step again, their hopes seem to ride on the Sept. 9 release of Warrior, an emotional drama from director Gavin O’Connor set in the world of mixed martial arts that has been getting lots of traction in early screenings. Some are comparing it favorably, even more so,to The Fighter.Whether the distrib finds it profitable enough to goon an all-out campaign remains to be seen, but stars Joel Edgerton and Tom Hardy are great and Nick Nolte as their n’er-do-well father could land a supporting nod no matter what happens to the film, which will undoubtedly draw strong word-of-mouth. Film District Graham King’s new FilmDistrict boasts Peter Schlessel and Bob Berney on its executive team, some early boxoffice successes like Insidious and Soul Surfer, and now could have the stuff for a few Oscar nominations. With its Cannes-winning (Best Director for Nicolas Winding Refn) noirDrive (Sept 16), Ryan Gosling (who is also in Ides Of March) is great and Albert Brooks is definite supporting fodder as he isuncharacteristically cast as a heavy. Critics will continue to love it, and that could keep it going through the season. Their other contender comes from Angelina Jolie, who makes her directorial and writingdebut with the Bosnian War-set drama In The Land ofBlood and Honey, and Berney tells me she is the real deal and says he was very impressedwhen he saw the film.But we’ll have to wait until Dec. 23 to find out as the film is not currently set to hit the fest circuit. Certainly Oscar voters have rewarded actors-turned-directors, before from Warren Beatty and Robert Redford to Kevin Costner, Clint Eastwood and Mel Gibson. Could Jolie be the first female actingsuperstar to pull off a nomination? Oscilloscope Theboutique company landed a couple of nominations for The Messenger in 2009 and now have their Cannes competition pickupWe Need To Talk About Kevin (Dec. 2) to carry their banner this year. Oscar winner Tilda Swinton’s performance was critically praised, although the filmdeals with heavy subject matter (her son goes on a high school shooting rampage) and got mixed reaction. It won no prizes, although Swinton was certainly deserving.With her serious credin the Academy’s actors branch, she could turn up in a very competitive Best Actress race. Magnolia Magnolia is charging ahead with its beautifully shotend-of-days drama Melancholia evendespite the unfortunate Hitler and Nazi rantings of its director Lars von Trierat his Cannes press conference.Inspite ofhis being banned from the festival, the film still went on to win Best Actress there for star Kirsten Dunst and Magnolia plans at the very leastto make sureawards voters rememberher and not the words of her director. Magnolia quietly qualified the film already in a one-week run deep in the San Fernando Valley. Relativity When Lionsgate said they couldn’t release the film this year, Relativity came to the rescue of Machine Gun Preacher(Sept 23) and are planning their Torontounveiling ofthe true story of a former drug addict turned Christian who helps save orphans in East Sudan. Relativity is hoping to gain traction for star Gerard Butler’s fine performanceina filmthat is much more subtle and affecting than its title might indicate.

Christian Bale may join Oldboy

With filming on The Dark Knight Rises coming to a close in the autumn, Christian Bale is on the lookout for his next big project. And from the sound of things, he won't be stuck for options.Variety reports that top of Bale's list of options is the role of the villain in Spike Lee's Oldboy remake. To clarify, that's the chap who locks up the film's hero in a hotel room for a soul-sapping 15 years.If the film is anything like the Korean original, the character will be a fiend the like of which Bale has never played before, and might make for a good change-up from his recent cape-clad heroics.However, there are plenty of alternatives for him to choose from. Clint Eastwood's Beyoncé-starring remake of A Star Is Born is also believed to have tickled his fancy, as is Michael Mann's treasure-hunt thriller Gold.On top of that, Bale has been linked to Out Of The Furnace, the latest film from Crazy Heart's Scott Cooper, and Darren Aronofsky's biblical epic Noah. As we mentioned before, Bale is a man in demand.One project he won't be involved in however is Zack Snyder's The Last Photograph. Bale had been said to be starring in the Afghanistan-set war thriller, but is no longer attached to the project.The next confirmed film on his slate will be Terrence Malick's next picture, which currently remains unnamed.

Playboy Celebrity Photographers Vol. 2

Join Miss May 1998 Deanna Brooks as she takes you through some of the best moments when celebrities and playmates meet. See William Shatner Rob Schnieder Flava Flav Joe Don Rooney Pharrell Williams and Jenny McCarthy get behind the lens to test their skills with some of the world's most beautiful women including Playmate of the Year 2005 Tiffany Fallon

TV Ratings: Rollercoaster Stock Market Delivers Boost for CNBC

NEW YORK - Financial news networks, led by NBCUniversal's CNBC, have seen ratings gains amid the recent stock market turmoil and U.S. debt downgrade, the New York Times reported.our editor recommendsCNBC in fourth year of profit growthApple Most Valuable U.S. Company on Stock Market as Thursday Trading Starts As is typically the case when stock markets crash or volatility threatens 401k plans, the largest business news channel has benefited from consumers' interest in the markets, but so have News Corp.'s Fox Business Network and Bloomberg Television. CNBC seems to have benefitted the most this month, the paper said. Through the first two weeks of August, CNBC had 378,000 at-home viewers on average during market hours, up from 224,000 in July, the Times said. The network has long argued that Nielsen data doesn't capture significant out-of-home viewing though. Still, the paper said that CNBC's at-home audience has not been this large since May 2010. Fox Business had an average of 107,000 viewers, up from 76,000 in July, according to the Times. News Corp. executives said on their quarterly earnings call last week that Fox Business broke even for the first time in the conglomerate's fiscal year that ended June 30. Kevin Magee, who is in charge of the Fox Business Network, which launched late in 2007, said that periods of major financial news tend to boost "the new guy." Once new viewers find the network, "they have a tendency to stay with us after that," he told the Times. Bloomberg Television is part of privately held Bloomberg and is not publicly rated. But the Times said it has also seen a ratings increase. The Times said that wild market swings are not necessarily profit generators for financial networks as advertisers typically buy ad spots well in advance. Related Topics News Corp. NBCUniversal CNBC Fox Business Channel

ROLL CALL: Is Paula Abdul Asking Staffers To Call Her Warrior & Gift?

by Jesse SperoLOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Your Everyday Dispatch of Celebrity Shenanigans Forever Our Gift!: Paula Abdul has returned plus some say shes a present and that we couldnt agree more! Based on Us Weekly, a couple of interesting information have appeared about alleged demands The X-Factor judge has lately been making from her staffers. The mag claims that Paula asks that they be known as warrior, survivor and gift. She also apparently wants all her conversations recorded because she does not trust her very own conversations. A mag source also stated, She also means they are look into the TiVo for just about any reference to her and use it a DVD. We might don't know if these claims are true, but there is no denying that Paula is really a present regardless! Lil Lohan Gives Good Face!: Ali Lohan is walking in the spotlight. Lindsay Lohans 17-year-old sister has become one. The very first photos of Alis campaign for PRVCY Premium jeans has appeared. Browse the shots HERE! Supermodel or still just Lilos lil sis? Lil Schwarzenegger Gives Good Chest: Patrick Schwarzenegger, boy of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver, can also be basking the main attraction shirtless. The 17-year-old is featured inside a billboard ad for Hudson jeans, that is conspicuously shown on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood. Based on Radar, Patrick is wishing to land more use Rob Lauren and Armani. See his billboard, HERE! Depp? Mayer?: A guy, who TMZ claims is John Mayer, appeared yesterday searching nearly the same as The Actor-brad Pitt. Following a detailed analysis and repeated viewings, remained as unsure who it's! Browse the mystery guy, HERE! Copyright 2011 by NBC Universal, Corporation. All privileges reserved.These components might not be released, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Island

Based on 'Jane Rogers' acclaimed novel, "Island" is a tale of yearning and retribution. Abandoned at birth, Nikki Black has spent most of her life in care sustained only by fairy-stories. Incapable of love, fearful and desperate for revenge, she decides to find her birth mother, confront her, and bitter enough to consider murder. She travels incognito to a remote Hebridean island where Phyllis now lives as a recluse with Calum, her son.

Tomorrows Joe

The youthful orphan Joe Yabuki (Tomohisa Yamashita) is confused and rushes from the orphanage. He's former boxing trainer Danpei Tange (Teruyuki Kagawa), who takes him under his care. Later, when Joe imprisonment, he will get the opportunity to cope with winning boxing matches from prison to battle. There he meets also the Boxer Toru Chikaraishi (Yusuke Iseya). Progressively, however, there's competition between Joe and Toru.

Box Office Update: 'Rise of the Planet of the Apes' Opening Weekend Rises to $54.8 Mil

The apes continue to defy expectations.our editor recommends'Rise of the Planet of the Apes' First Look: The Many Faces of Andy SerkisRise of the Planet of the Apes: Film Review Final domestic box office numbers show 20th Century Fox's Rise of the Planet of the Apes grossing more for the weekend at than estimated on Sunday--$54.8 million, versus $54 million. That means Rise of the Apes has narrowly edged past Paramount's G.I. Joe: The Rise of the Cobra to score the fourth best August opening of all time at the domestic box office. Universal's The Bourne Ultimatum is No. 1 ($69.3 million), followed by Rush Hour 2 ($67.4 million) and Signs ($60.1 million). Directed by Rupert Wyatt and the first title from Chernin Entertainment, Rise of the Apes is one the summer's biggest box office surprises, and nearly matched the $55.1 million opening of X-Men: First Class, Fox's other 2011 summer tentpole. Overseas, Rise of the Apes is off to an equally strong start, grossing $23.8 million as it rolled out in 25 territories, of which only four were major markets-Australia, Spain, Russia and Taiwan. This puts the movie's worldwide opening at $78.6 million. The $93 million pic was co-financed by Fox, Dune Entertainment and Ingenious. Related Topics

Rob Stevenson back at UMG

Rob Stevenson, most recently president of Virgin Records U.S., has returned to his longtime home, Universal Music Group, as exec VP of A&R at Universal Republic Records. Based in New York and charged with expanding the label's A&R activities, Stevenson will report to Universal Republic prexy-CEO Monte Lipman and co-president/chief operating officer Avery Lipman. A&R-intensive move is the latest under the purview of recently installed Universal Motown Republic chairman-CEO Barry Weiss, whose roots lie in talent development. Before joining Virgin in 2010, Stevenson was veepee of A&R at UMG's Island Records, where he signed such top acts as the Killer, Fall Out Boy, the Bravery, Sum 41 and Thrice. He previously served as an A&R exec at Mercury Records. Monte Lipman said in a statement, "Rob is a brilliant music executive with a strong track record of success. And we are fortunate to have someone of his stature joining Universal Republic as we continue to expand the services we offer our artists." Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

Your Government Recap: Eviction 4

Julie looks very Valley from the Dolls (large hair, front-zip-up powder blue dress) as she informs us that the very first time this year, an experienced is going to be sent packing. Evel Dick does not count, I suppose? Or did he send themself packing? Already I am feeling oppressed by Julie's semantics. However: It's Day 34 within the Your Government house and every one of Daniele's Your Government dreams came true. She thinks Brendon is departing. Though Jordan is on the market, she's broadly considered a pawn by individuals knowledgable. Jordan states that she's confident of the too which she bought an eviction dress and she'd be really mad if she were kicked out without dealing with put on it. This is a whitened-girl problem when there is one. Rachel provides the to begin what's going to clearly be considered a string of teary confessionals as her guy is about the edge of bye-bye. Hearing her whine is annoying, but hearing her punctuate every sentence with nervous laughter is worse and thus I only say: suffer little veteran. She adopts the Have-Nots room and cries. She knows Brendon's departing. He isn't so sure. Who's worse? Of course, this is an impossible call. He's still so happy with themself he "dropped the explosive device" of taking Rachel from the block rather than themself, as though everybody did not observe that future ago. Well i guess, we ought to be so lucky regarding love ourselves much - especially Rachel, who's now in perpetual will need a pep talk. There's a lot more assessing from the situation. Including Shaun freely fearing the extent of Rachel's whining sans Brendon and Daniele's threatening demand that Kalia win HOH. Oh, and much more wallowing on Rachel's part. How novel. Brendon knows he needs to keep your newcomers on his side. Porsche appears to become there. Rachel promises Elf Adam that he'll be secure all summer time if he keeps in Brendon. Shelly, meanwhile, is "riding each side of the homeInch just like a Harley. Individuals last three aren't her words, however i can't imagine Shelly traveling in every other way. That's a compliment, when i truly enjoy her making-up-for-lost-Rock-of-Love-time swag. Daniele foretells Adam, however the metal elf is up to now undecided. Then, she hosts Porsche within the HOH room. Porsche really wants to be there for Rachel like a friend. Good idea. Which will certainly exercise to ensure that everyone's happy. Daniele describes just as much to Porsche regarding Rachel and Brendon's chance to manipulate. After which Rachel walks in and interrupts and makes things awkward in ways that's signature Rachel. After which she leaves to visit spend time with Brendon. And turn into out! Rachel screams in confessional that the thought of Porsche, her nearest friend in the home, switching sides and voting out Brendon drives her insane. She should say, "More insane," but she does not because she's insane, clearly. Outdoors, Porsche informs Rachel to prevent using the sad factor since it is making people uncomfortable. That's an understatement. Her madness is contagious. Brendon jumps in and Rachel runs off because she does not like hearing...anything, I suppose? "I am likely to lay within the hammock!" she complains as Brendon attempts to stop her. Brendon reprimands Porsche. Brendon really doesn't have bones about getting lippy with females when Rachel is involved. It's troubling. Rachel cries within the hammock, "Nobody likes you anybody within this game but themselves!" Could it be irony or stupidity that she's saying this with regard to self-pity? I am using a little from Column A, just a little from Column B. I truly believe that Rachel may be the worst part of a brief history of reality TV. She's an associate of the extremely modern club of villainy that despises villainy. During my day, a-------s possessed their s---. Brendon asks her if he earned an error if you take themself from the block. She states he did which he also designed a mistake by asking her to marry him. Oh, look! A minute of clearness. Whoops. She did not imply that whatsoever. She maybe backpedals or breast strokes or something like that and states she messes up everything after which complains that after she will get away from home, everyone's likely to hate her more. I guarantee you, they previously do. ' '! "I am not likely to find yourself getting employment! I am not really that wise! Brendon, you cannot marry me. I am crazy!" she complains. Ugh, go back home, or at best go not even close to a microphone that's being beamed into living spaces round the country, lady. Brendon is extremely encouraging and reassuring. Normally, this could lead him to seem like suuuuch a great guy, however it only makes him seem like suuuuch a chump. He's being faced together with his hysterical future and he's patting its hair. Julie interviews the participants. She asks Adam if he'll ever have the ability to live lower dressing as an elf among his metal-mind buddies. Yes, because he'll say, "Used to do it for $500,000," and everybody will understand. But he does not state that. Rather, he music-brainiacs about protecting the tradition of Ronnie James Dio, who had been inside a band known as Elf, after which he is doing an elf dance. It's not funny and particularly not metal. Not really using the publish-dance "Rawwr!" Julie asks Rachel what Brendon's gesture of salvation way to her. Rachel states NOTHING when using the words "special," "priceless" and "this means a lot.Inch But does it in three days? No. It won't. However, a note from Evel Dick. He states things might have gone in a different way were he still in the home. To begin with, he never might have let Daniele play the overall game this badly. That's presuming they'd have damaged their supposed stony silence, though. I never really bought they were not speaking upon entering this year, for that record. Appeared like an excessive amount of an position. We have seen a montage from the previous Dick-Daniele alliance. Only then do we expensive forward to the current to listen to Dick ragging on his daughter more. He criticizes her showmance with Dom and states she's repeating what she did in Season 8. Another montage verifies this. Dick states she might have anxiously waited till the ultimate 8 to begin splitting up the couples. Dick does concede that Daniele is really a competitor which she comes with a go at winning, but without him it will likely be very difficult. Well, which was self-serving in each and every way. Character from the animal, I suppose. Julie foretells Daniele within the HOH room independently by Closed-circuit television. Does she regret attempting to break the couples up? Daniele just thinks it had been two days early. She's here to create large moves and she's here to consider risks. This will make her probably the most easy-to-watch player in the overall game, legitimate! Daniele is excitement inside a petite frame! Julie asks Daniele what she thinks her father would say about her action and Daniele precisely forecasts that he'd say she was insane. But he's insane to ensure that cancels his critique out. Daniele is clearly a long term sifter of Dick's garbage. Can you really mend fences with Rachel? No. Rachel's taking everything personally and can continue doing so. Forever and ever, amen. We reduce towards the family room. Brendon's final test is clogged through tears. He makes use of the saying "Your Government husband" the industry good way of explaining the character and purpose of his relationship with Rachel. Jordan urges individuals to election for whomever can get them further in the overall game. This really is proof that does not everybody in the home thinks on their own ... or perhaps is it? Shaun expires first. He votes to evict Brendon. Rachel tearily votes to evict Jordan. Kalia votes to evict Brendon, obviously. Adam votes to evict Brendon. Porsche "regretfully" votes to evict Jordan. Lawon votes to evict Brendon. Brendon's going home! But let's wait and watch how Shelly votes: it's to evict Brendon. Turn on that Harley! It's introduced that Brendon is certainly going home. "I have got an attractive finacee," he states. Rachel clings to him like among individuals little plush apes using the clip since it's arms that you would you should get some bookbag whenever you were in first grade. Indoors, Rachel is consoled by some and chuckled at by all (internally). Brendon's exit interview is stated through tears. It's so boring and never whatsoever lighting. He loves Rachel, that's his story and he's adhering into it. Take that because you will. Brendon's goodbye package begins out hilariously with Kalia telling him, "You will find several things simpler than brain surgery. Apparently, getting you using this house is one.Inch Is show known as Your Government or Large Zinger? I have momentarily forgotten. Jordan states Brendon gets a great wedding gift from Jeff's $10,000. Daniele states that what circles appears. Rachel complains and wails. "Our babies will invariably see our love story on DVD," she states, as though that's something to are proud of. Their babies can also get their parents' sex existence at their tips of the fingers using a simple Search on the internet. Awww! However: A brand new twist. Julie gathers the houseguests in to the family room and states the next kicked out houseguest will are able to obtain back to the overall game. See, exactly what the houseguests have no idea would be that the four formerly removed participants happen to be locked in isolation. One of these will fight next week's kicked out houseguest live. The champion will get into the house. And that we reach election. Used to do. For Dominic. He's cute and that i want Daniele to win. It had been the simplest decision I have made all seasons. Then: The HOH competition. It's known as "Check Mate," also it involves responding to questions in line with the first three kicked out houseguests. Two face off and whomever solutions improperly is removed until they get lower towards the Final 2. They are before a huge chessboard, which does not seem sensible, but it is a pleasant decoration and invocative of Alice's adventures in wonderland so whatever. Kalia will get the initial question before Julie may even request it. Rachel will get the 2nd. Kalia will get the 3rd. Porsche will get the 4th because Rachel solutions it wrong after which curses on live television ("Houseguests let us ensure that it stays clean!" scolds Julie). Shelly will get the next. Kalia and Porsche face off. Kalia will get it. The ultimate real question is here: Shelly versus. Kalia. Kalia will get it and she or he may be the new HOH. Yes! She cries although not harder than I actually do! Situations are searching great for Daniele at this time and that is the only goal in my experience during my existence. Sad, but hey, it is the summer time offseason. What can i do, really feel strongly about Shark Week? Have you been glad Brendon's gone? Happy Kalia won HOH? Which evictee would you hope returns? Share your ideas within the comments. show less

Big Brother Recap: Eviction 4

Julie looks very Valley of the Dolls (big hair, front-zip-up powder blue dress) as she tells us that for the first time this season, a veteran will be sent packing. Evel Dick doesn't count, I guess? Or did he send himself packing? Already I'm feeling oppressed by Julie's semantics. But first: It's Day 34 in the Big Brother house and all of Daniele's Big Brother dreams have come true. She thinks Brendon is leaving. Though Jordan is on the block, she's widely considered a pawn by those in the know. Jordan says that she's confident of this as well and that she bought an eviction dress and she'd be really mad if she were evicted without getting to wear it. That's a white-girl problem if ever there was one. Rachel gives the first of what will obviously be a string of teary confessionals as her man is on the brink of bye-bye. Hearing her whine is annoying, but hearing her punctuate every sentence with nervous laughter is worse and so I say: suffer little veteran. She goes into the Have-Nots room and cries. She knows Brendon's leaving. He's not so sure. Who's worse? As always, it's an impossible call. He's still so proud of himself that he "dropped the bomb" of taking Rachel off the block instead of himself, as if everyone didn't see that coming days ago. Oh well, we should all be so lucky as to love ourselves that much - especially Rachel, who's now in perpetual need of a pep talk. There's much more assessing of the situation. This includes Jeff openly fearing the extent of Rachel's whining sans Brendon and Daniele's threatening demand that Kalia win HOH. Oh, and more wallowing on Rachel's part. How novel. Brendon knows he has to keep the newbies on his side. Porsche seems to be there. Rachel promises Elf Adam that he'll be safe all summer if he keeps in Brendon. Shelly, meanwhile, is "riding both sides of the house" like a Harley. Those last three are not her words, but I can't imagine Shelly riding in any other way. That is a compliment, as I genuinely enjoy her making-up-for-lost-Rock-of-Love-time swag. Daniele talks to Adam, but the metal elf is as yet undecided. Then, she hosts Porsche in the HOH room. Porsche wants to be there for Rachel as a friend. Great idea. That will definitely work out so that everyone's happy. Daniele explains as much to Porsche regarding Rachel and Brendon's capacity to manipulate. And then Rachel walks in and interrupts and makes things awkward in a way that is signature Rachel. And then she leaves to go hang out with Brendon. And stay out! Rachel screams in confessional that the idea of Porsche, her closest friend in the house, switching sides and voting out Brendon drives her insane. She should say, "More insane," but she doesn't because she's insane, obviously. Outside, Porsche tells Rachel to stop with the sad thing because it's making people uncomfortable. That's an understatement. Her insanity is contagious. Brendon jumps in and Rachel runs off because she doesn't like hearing...anything, I guess? "I'm going to lay in the hammock!" she whines as Brendon tries to stop her. Brendon reprimands Porsche. Brendon really has no bones about getting lippy with women when Rachel is involved. It's troubling. Rachel cries in the hammock, "Nobody cares about anybody in this game but themselves!" Is it irony or stupidity that she's saying this for the sake of self-pity? I'm going with a little from Column A, a little from Column B. I really think that Rachel is the worst person in the history of reality TV. She's a member of the very modern club of villainy that despises villainy. In my day, a-------s owned their s---. Brendon asks her if he made a mistake by taking himself off the block. She says he did and that he also made a mistake by asking her to marry him. Oh, look! A moment of clarity. Whoops. She didn't mean that at all. She maybe backpedals or breast strokes or something and says she messes up everything and then whines that when she gets out of the house, everyone's going to hate her more. I guarantee you, they already do. Ha ha! "I'm not going to ever get a job! I'm not even that smart! Brendon, you can't marry me. I'm crazy!" she whines. Ugh, go home, or at least go far from a microphone that's being beamed into living rooms around the country, lady. Brendon is very supportive and reassuring. Normally, this would make him look like suuuuch a good guy, but it really only makes him look like suuuuch a chump. He's being confronted with his hysterical future and he's stroking its hair. Julie interviews the contestants. She asks Adam if he'll ever be able to live down dressing like an elf amongst his metal-head friends. Yes, because he'll say, "I did it for $500,000," and everyone will understand. But he doesn't say that. Instead, he music-nerds about preserving the tradition of Ronnie James Dio, who was in a band called Elf, and then he does an elf dance. It is not funny and particularly not metal. Not even with the post-dance "Rawwr!" Julie asks Rachel what Brendon's gesture of salvation means to her. Rachel says NOTHING while using the words "special," "priceless" and "it means so much." But will it in three weeks? No. It will not. But then, a message from Evel Dick. He says things would have gone differently were he still in the house. For one thing, he never would have let Daniele play the game this badly. That's assuming they would have broken their supposed stony silence, though. I never really bought that they weren't talking upon entering this season, for the record. Seemed like too much of an angle. We see a montage of the previous Dick-Daniele alliance. Then we flash forward to the present to hear Dick ragging on his daughter more. He criticizes her showmance with Dom and says she's repeating what she did in Season 8. Another montage confirms this. Dick says she could have waited till the Final 8 to start breaking up the couples. Dick does concede that Daniele is a competitor and that she does have a shot at winning, but without him it will be very hard. Well, that was self-serving in every way. Nature of the beast, I guess. Julie talks to Daniele in the HOH room privately by CCTV. Does she regret trying to break the couples up? Daniele just thinks it was two weeks early. She's here to make big moves and she's here to take risks. This makes her the most easy-to-watch player in the game, for real! Daniele is excitement in a petite frame! Julie asks Daniele what she thinks her father would say about her game play and Daniele accurately predicts that he'd say she was insane. But he's insane so that cancels his criticism out. Daniele is clearly a lifelong sifter of Dick's crap. Is it possible to mend fences with Rachel? No. Rachel's taking everything personally and will continue to do so. Forever and ever, amen. We cut back to the living room. Brendon's final words are choked through tears. He uses the phrase "Big Brother husband" which is a great way of describing the nature and function of his relationship with Rachel. Jordan urges people to vote for whoever will get them further in the game. This is proof that not everyone in the house thinks for themselves ... or is it? Jeff is up first. He votes to evict Brendon. Rachel tearily votes to evict Jordan. Kalia votes to evict Brendon, of course. Adam votes to evict Brendon. Porsche "regretfully" votes to evict Jordan. Lawon votes to evict Brendon. Brendon's going home! But let's see how Shelly votes: it's to evict Brendon. Fire up that Harley! It's announced that Brendon is going home. "I've got a gorgeous finacee," he says. Rachel clings to him like one of those little plush monkeys with the clip as its arms that you'd put on your bookbag when you were in first grade. Inside the house, Rachel is consoled by some and laughed at by all (internally). Brendon's exit interview is said through tears. It is so boring and not at all illuminating. He loves Rachel, that's his story and he's sticking to it. Take that as you will. Brendon's goodbye package starts out hilariously with Kalia telling him, "There are a lot of things easier than rocket science. Apparently, getting you out of this house is one of them." Is this show called Big Brother or Big Zinger? I've momentarily forgotten. Jordan says Brendon is getting a good wedding gift from Jeff's $10,000. Daniele says that what goes around comes around. Rachel whines and wails. "Our babies will always see our love story on DVD," she says, as if that's something to be proud of. Their babies will also have their parents' sex life at their fingertips via a simple Internet search. Awww! But then: A new twist. Julie gathers the houseguests into the living room and says that the next evicted houseguest will have a chance to get back into the game. See, what the houseguests don't know is that the four previously eliminated contestants have been held in isolation. One of them will battle next week's evicted houseguest live. The winner gets back into the house. And we get to vote. I did. For Dominic. He's cute and I want Daniele to win. It was the easiest decision I've made all year. Then: The HOH competition. It's called "Check Mate," and it involves answering questions based on the first three evicted houseguests. Two face off and whoever answers incorrectly is eliminated until they get down to the Final 2. They're in front of a giant chessboard, which doesn't make sense, but it's a nice decoration and invocative of Alice in Wonderland so whatever. Kalia gets the first question right before Julie can even ask it. Rachel gets the second. Kalia gets the third. Porsche gets the fourth because Rachel answers it wrong and then curses on live television ("Houseguests let's keep it clean!" scolds Julie). Shelly gets the next one. Kalia and Porsche face off. Kalia gets it. The final question is upon us: Shelly vs. Kalia. Kalia gets it and she is the new HOH. Yes! She cries but not harder than I do! Things are looking really good for Daniele right now and that's all that matters to me in my life. Sad, but hey, it's the summer offseason. What am I going to do, feel really strongly about Shark Week? Are you glad Brendon's gone? Happy Kalia won HOH? Which evictee do you hope comes back? Share your thoughts in the comments. show less

Two Snow Whites, Two Linda Lovelace Biopics: The Dueling Movies Trend Continues

A few years ago I explored the phenomenon of dueling movies -- a pair of flicks with the same subject matter that are developed and released by different studios almost simultaneously. By that time, penguins, pigs, bugs, volcanoes, magicians, Scottish heroes and Truman Capote had all gotten the dueling movie treatment. Since then there have been more double-takes on screen: notable examples include films about shopping mall security guards (Paul Blart: Mall Cop and Observe and Report in 2009) and films about pals who have sex (No Strings Attached and Friends With Benefits in 2011). And the trend continues. Universal Pictures and Relativity Media have been engaged in a wicked witch-style battle over little people lover Snow White. On the other end of the character spectrum, infamous porn star Linda Lovelace now has two teams fighting for her honor as well, with Malin Ackerman starring in one biopic scheduled for release in 2012 and Olivia Wilde expressing interest in another. Given Hollywoods appetite for the reheated and recycled, I assume more dueling movies are on the horizon. So whats next two films about earth-threatening comets? Wait thats already been done! What do you think of the dueling movie trend? Do you see it as a sign that Hollywood is running out of ideas? Are you more intrigued by the idea of competing "Snow White" movies, or turned off at the prospect of two remarkably similar films opening within the same year? Give us your thoughts on the two Snow White films, the two Linda Lovelace biopics and other dueling movies in the comments section and on Twitter!

Ryan Gosling's 'Drive' Poster Is Pretty In Pink

"Drive," from director Nicolas Winding Refn and leading man Ryan Gosling, is easily one of my most anticipated movies coming out in the next few months. A thriller about a Hollywood stunt driver by day, getaway wheelman by night, featuring an all-star cast with guys like Bryan Cranston and Ron Perlman? Yeah, I'm on board. But the new official poster for "Drive" sells something that's well, a bit prettier than what I'd been led to believe about the movie. For a fierce, hard R-rated flick, this "Drive" poster is a little bit ah pink, I guess. Check it out for yourself past the jump and see what you think. Keep reading for a full synopsis for "Drive," courtesy of Collider, but warning -- it's spoilery! Driver (RYAN GOSLING) is a stunt driver by day and a getaway driver by night. Doesnt matter what job he does, Driver is most comfortable behind the wheel of a car. Shannon (BRYAN CRANSTON) is part mentor, part manager for Driver. Since he knows what a great talent Driver is behind the wheel, he either peddles him to film and television directors in the entertainment business or thieves who need an accomplished getaway driver, taking a cut for his own pockets. Always looking to make a buck, Shannons current plan is funding a stock car that Driver can race on the professional circuit. Since Bernie Rose (ALBERT BROOKS) is the wealthiest guy he knows, even if the sources of his money are questionable, Shannon proposes he be their investor. After seeing Driver in action at the speedway, Bernie Rose insists Nino (RON PERLMAN) partners with them as well. Primarily a loner and ambivalent about the deals Shannon makes for him, Drivers world changes the day he shares an elevator ride at his apartment building with Irene (CAREY MULLIGAN). When he sees her again at the grocery store with her young son, Benicio (KADEN LEOS), he is transfixed, and willingly offers help when they are stranded in the parking lot because Irenes car wont start. Soon Driver settles into a routine of driving Irene to her waitress job and watching Benicio, entangled in their lives while her car is fixed. This interlude in Drivers life abruptly stops when Standard (OSCAR ISAAC), Irenes husband, is let out early from prison for good behavior. Even though nothing has happened between Driver and Irene, Standard is threatened by another mans presence in his familys life. Driver backs off, respectful of Irenes desire to keep her family together, but when he finds Standard bloodied and lying in the garage with a scared Benicio standing next to his father, Driver is embroiled even further in Irenes life. Then trouble begins Tell us what you think of the "Drive" poster in the comments section and on Twitter!

NBC Boss: SVU's Hargitay Will Stay in "Every Episode," Voice Returns Publish-Super Bowl

Mariska Hargitay, Carson Daly Mariska Hargitay is going to be amazing her workload throughout the following season of Law & Order: SVU, but NBC boss Robert Greenblatt states audiences will not have the ability to tell. "You won't notice anything," Greenblatt stated Monday, while talking with reporters throughout NBC's fall TV preview session. He added that although the actress, who lately adopted a young child, is going to be "amazing her load when it comes to shooting days," her alter ego Olivia Benson will not be any a lesser presence on-screen. (Benson is going to be marketed to some supervisor position within the thirteenth season, a change that motivated head lines captured recommending Hargitay could be coming back in just a lower capacity.) "I do not think anything will change on the watch's screen,Inch Greenblatt stated, adding that his goal would be to have Hargitay remain on the program well beyond next season. "She is going to maintain every episode." (Simultaneously, Christopher Meloni, who performed Benson's partner Elliot Stabler, leaves the series and new detectives happen to be introduced in. They will be performed by Kelli Giddish and Danny Pino.) Greenblatt also introduced the second season of singing competition The Voice - "an extremely welcome and unpredicted hit" for that network - has arrived TV's most coveted launch pad. It'll return following the Super Bowl on February. 5. New series Smash, a musical starring Debra Playing, Anjelica Huston and The American Idol Show runner-up Katharine McPhee, will premiere at 10/9c on February. 6, following a second episode from the Voice. Elsewhere in news of NBC's more effective franchises, Greenblatt stated he'd just attended a table reading through for that new Steve Carell-less season from the Office and left certain that James Spader, who'll play a brand new mind of Dunder-Mifflin, could carry the banner, although another. "He an ideal easily fit in this mixture... I believe he's different than Steve. He's got their own iconoclastic acting style," Greenblatt stated. "It will likely be a small adjustment for that relaxation from the cast as things move about,Inch however the transition has produced a "refocused" authors room. When it comes to rankings anticipation, Greenblatt stated he'd be "thrilled" when the show maintained its current amounts of viewership. Searching forward at NBC, Greenblatt layed out what's approaching, his desires a bit of the animation game and why he isn't concerned about The Playboy Club: Sean Hayes, Michael Buble, Dick Wolf and can Ferrell, have projects within the pipeline. Hayes is focusing on a comedy pilot by which he'll star. "It's beginning, but we are pinpointing a concept,Inch Greenblatt stated. "Sean is a great friend and i believe it's the perfect time he returned" while watching camera. (Hayes has stored busy like a producer on NBC's approaching Grimm and TV Land's Hot in Cleveland.) Pop star Michael Buble, meanwhile, will star inside a holiday special created by Saturday Evening Live maestro Lorne Michaels. Wolf is creating a firemen drama for that network, and Ferrell and Adam McKay's Gary Sanchez Prods. (HBO's Eastbound and Lower) have signed an offer to build up comedies. NBC wants its hit animated series. Hoping of having that, the network and Universal Media Galleries have signed Office creator Greg Daniels - whom Greenblatt known to as "among the founding fathers in our Thursday evening comedy selection" - to some development and production deal with him to build up shows in a number of genres, but particularly in animation. Prior To The Office, Daniels produced and executive created Fox's King from the Hill. Playboy problems? Recently, NBC's Salt Lake City affiliate KSL-TV stated it wouldn't carry NBC's approaching drama The Playboy Club. The show has since laded a brand new home on KMYU, however the Parents Television Council continues to be advocating other affiliate marketers to decrease the show. Greenblatt stated he is not worried. "Almost every other affiliate is going to be airing the show," he stated, saying KSL-TV's decision did not surprise him. "They do not program Saturday Evening Live" either. And so far as the evaluations to Mad Males, Greenblatt stated the confusing both period dramas is not likely. Playboy Club is "really an vitalized cleaning soap opera... I do not think it'll seem like Mad Males whenever you ultimately view it,Inch he stated. "It is a fun cleaning soap having a mob element, a criminal offense element..." What's next for NBC? Take a look at Prime Suspect and Smash. Greenblatt pointed towards the approaching remake of Prime Suspect, starring Maria Bello like a tough detective attempting to thrive within the boys of club from the police department, as among the sorts of shows he's searching to use NBC. (Greenblatt spent yesteryear many years running programming for cable network Showtime.) "It is a large genre show, however it feels fresh," he stated, explaining it's a cop drama driven with a strong "iconoclastic" female lead in Bello's character. Another example is Smash, a mid-season drama from executive producer Steven Spielberg set from the mounting of the new Broadway show. It'll feature original music (unlike the most popular Top 40 fare present in Glee). "Smash might be probably the most adventurous show we all do, also it might be probably the most narrow show we all do,Inch he stated. NBC is grateful for that Voice and also the Sing-Off and also the Greatest Loser, but... The network wants more scripted hits. While tipping his hat to America's Got Talent, that is in the center of its most powerful season ever, and also the Voice, Greenblatt stated "there is no negative towards the reality stuff," but he would like to "rebalance" the schedule with "scripted implies that become lengthy lasting hits. We are centered on that pretty extensively."

NBC's Robert Greenblatt: 'It's My Schedule for Better or Worse'