Avi Lerner, Nu Image Sued by Former Corporate Controller for Wrongful Termination

Nu Image Holdings, Millennium Films, CEO Avi Lerner and others were sued in L.A. Superior Court on Friday for wrongful termination of the company’s former corporate controller, who charges she was fired after bringing to light instances of tax fraud, violations of wage and hour laws and other illegal activity. 

The suit was filed on behalf of Jane Smith, who says she worked for Nu Image and related entities from 2008 until 2011. She charges that during her employment she discovered “numerous improprieties,” which included the executives charged in the suit taking millions of dollars in personal loans to pay personal expenses with the understanding that the loans would never be repaid. She says it was done to avoid taxes.

STORY: Producer Avi Lerner: The Most Unlikely Movie Mogul

Smith adds that the executives not only paid their own personal expenses out of company funds, but also those of their girlfriends, which she says was also a way to avoid taxes.

She says they created “sham shell companies” to shield Nu Image revenue from U.S. taxes. She alleges that they created fake debt in the off-shore companies so that when revenue came in, they could route it through a shell company as debt repayment.

Smith charges they maintained three sets of books “to allow them to defraud investors, taxing authorities and creditors."

She says they “engaged in bank fraud falsifying financial statements and other documents submitted to banks.” She also says they laundered money through Bulgarian accounts and accounts in Aruba.

She says these actions resulted in tax fraud not only against the U.S. government, but also against the states of New York, Louisiana and Michigan, “amounting to millions of dollars in checks written to the defendant entities by various state governments.”

Smith says that when she complained about these unlawful practices to CFO Trevor Short, VP of production accounting Alan Lam and others, they "reacted angrily” to her allegations, and she was soon fired.

Smith also says they created a hostile work environment for a woman through the use of foul and degrading language and depiction of violence against women in films and that they “created a work environment hostile to Jews, through the display of large anti-Semitic cartoon drawings in one of the offices.”

She says she was denied overtime compensation for duties that did not involve management functions, such as bookkeeping and clerical work. She alleges that her complaints to human resources director Barry Weiss were a “motivating factor” in her termination in January 2011.

There was no response to a request for comment made to a spokesperson for Nu Image on Friday evening.

View the full complaint here.

View the original article here

U.K. TV Giant ITV Buys 'Duck Dynasty' Company Gurney Productions For $40 million

LONDON – U.K. commercial TV network broadcaster ITV has snapped up a 61.5 per cent controlling stake in Gurney Productions, the U.S. production arm best known for cable show Duck Dynasty as well as Auction Hunters, American Digger and Haunted Collector.

ITV said Saturday (Dec. 22) it is paying $40 million for the stake, giving its U.S. production arm ITV Studios America a sizeable output boost.

ITV also said it has an option to snap up the remaining 38.5 per cent over the next three to five years.

PHOTOS: Tim Goodman's 15 Best TV Dramas of 2012

The U.K. broadcasting giant described Gurney Productions to its investors as "a high margin business with three quarters of its revenues coming from returnable series. The company’s EBITA for 2012 is forecast to be at least $10 million."

Gurney Productions will report directly to ITV Studios America president/CEO Paul Buccieri who also wears a hat as managing director of ITV Studios International.

Gurney Productions’ revenues will be included in ITV Studio’s international revenues starting in 2013.

ITV Studios America production output includes the Gordon Ramsay starrer Hell’s Kitchen and The Bill Cunningham Show.

In its release to the London stock exchange which is closed forthe weekend, ITV said "the acquisition marks a significant step forward in building a strong international content business, a key part of ITV’s Transformation Plan."

PHOTOS: Tim Goodman's 15 Best TV Comedies of 2012

Gurney Productions was founded in 2005 by Scott and Deirdre Gurney and has become a leading independent producer of large scale returning series for US cable networks.

ITV describes its Duck Dynasty show as "currently one of the biggest cable TV shows in the US."

ITV chief executive Adam Crozier said in a statement: "Growing ITV Studios is a key part of our strategy to rebalance the Group. Our studios business is already showing strong organic growth and the acquisition of Gurney is an important step forward as we continue to expand our international production capability. We see the US as a key creative market and having a sizeable presence there is central to the expansion of our global content business. ITV Studios America has been growing revenues at around 20 per cent for the last two years under the leadership of Paul Buccieri. Gurney is a great company with terrific program brands, which will add scale to our already successful US business. Over the last seven years the team at Gurney has built a strong and growing pipeline of high end factual entertainment and reality programs and I’m absolutely delighted to welcome Scott and Deirdre to the ITV fold where we believe the business can continue to develop and thrive.“

View the original article here

Demi Lovato Sings Mariah Carey Classic 'All I Want For Christmas Is You' (Video)

As Randy "Broken Record" Jackson might warn aspiring pop star wannabes on American Idol, you should never, ever, ever even begin to think about singing a Mariah Carey song in public because her voice encompasses something like eight octaves and few can measure up to her diva greatness.

Apparently Demi Lovato doesn't heed that sort of advice: The X Factor judge boldly stepped into the spotlight to pay homage to her new American Idol competition on TNT's Christmas in Washington special, broadcast Friday. In the front row: President Obama and the First Family.

Our verdict? Demi is no Mimi, but she managed a decent version of the song (on par with the finale of Love, Actually, you know the scene). Some people suspect Carey's not taking this very well.

View the original article here

Train, 'Voice' Winner to Headline NBC's Carson Daly-Hosted New Year's Eve Special

NBC's annual New Year's Eve With Carson Daly has unveiled its lineup.

The two-hour special, live from New York City's Time Square and hosted by Daly (late night's Last Call With Carson Daly), will be headlined by Train and The Voice's latest winner Cassadee Pope on Dec. 31, first from 10-11 p.m. and then 11:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. to ring in 2013. Train will perform "Mermaid" and John Lennon's "Imagine."

A music retrospective will also highlight the year's top performances, featuring Justin Bieber, Coldplay, Madonna, Psy, Beyonce, Adele, The Spice Girls and David Guetta.

Daly, who has hosted the event since 2003, will be joined by his Voice colleagues Blake Shelton, Adam Levine, Cee Lo Green and Christina Aguilera. Additionally, Amy Poehler, Donald Trump, Jay Leno, Jimmy Fallon, Nick Offerman, Adam Scott, Parenthood cast members and The Office's Angela Kinsey, who will bring live reports from the ground in Times Square, are set to appear on the program.

Train's fifth studio album, California 37, features hit singles "Drive By" and "50 Ways to Say Goodbye."

NBC's New Year's Eve With Carson Daly is executive produced by Daly and Ian Stewart through Universal Television and Done and Dusted productions. Marilyn Seabury is co-executive producer.

E-mail: Philiana.Ng@thr.com
Twitter: @insidethetube

View the original article here

NRA's Wayne LaPierre on 'Meet the Press': If It’s Crazy To Put More Guns In Schools, Then Call Me Crazy (Video)

After his controversial Friday conference where he called for immediate congressional action to put an armed police officer in every public school in the United States, National Rifle Association CEO Wayne LaPierre confirmed Sunday morning that the gun lobby will continue to oppose any new gun regulation in the wake of the mass shooting in Connecticut that left 20 elementary school children dead.

“If it’s crazy to call for putting police and armed security in our school to protect our children, then call me crazy,” LaPierre told NBC's Meet the Press host David Gregory. “I think the American people think it’s crazy not to do it.”

“I know [Newtown] wants to argue about gun control,” LaPierre said, adding, "It’s not going to work. It hasn’t worked.”

STORY: NRA Blames Video Games, Movies, Media for Gun Violence 

He called the assault weapons ban being proposed by California Senator Dianne Feinstein a “phony piece of legislation” that is “built on lies.”

“It’s not going to make any kid safer,” he said. “We’ve got to get to the real problems, the real causes, and that’s what the NRA is trying to do.”

“I don’t believe that’s going to make one difference,” LaPierre continued. “There are so many different ways to evade that even if you had that. You had that for 10 years when Dianne Feinstein passed that ban in ’94. It was on the books; Columbine occurred right in the middle of it. It didn’t make any difference.”

One of the most contentious points of the interview was when Gregory proposed regulating high-capacity magazine clips, holding up a 30-round magazine clip in his hand.

"Isn't it just possible that we could reduce the carnage in a situation like Newtown?" Gregory said, asking if LaPierre would support reducing the amount of rounds a magazine clip can hold to five or 10 bullets.

"I don't believe that's going to make one difference," LaPierre responded. 

PHOTOS: Marketing Violence: Hollywood's Posters For Early 2013 Movies 

"But this is a matter of logic, Mr. LaPierre," Gregory said. "Because anybody watching this is going to say,  'Hey, wait a minute. I just heard Mr. LaPierre say that we should try anything that might reduce the violence. And you're telling me that it's not a matter of common sense that if you don't have an ability to shoot off 30 rounds without reloading, that, just possibly, you could reduce the loss of life?"

"I don't buy your argument for a minute," LaPierre said. "There are so many different ways he could've done it."

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

View the original article here

TNT's 'Leverage' Canceled After Five Seasons

TNT is not moving forward with another season of Leverage.

Executive producer Dean Devlin relayed the news in a letter posted on a fan site on Friday, starting off by simply saying, "The Long Goodbye is our final goodbye."

"It has been decided today that this Tuesday’s episode of Leverage 'The Long Goodbye Job' will be the series finale as TNT has decided not to renew the show for a sixth season," wrote Devlin, who called next week's farewell "bittersweet."

PHOTOS: TV Swan Songs: Shows Ending During 2012-13 Season

TNT issued a statement to The Hollywood Reporter confirming the news, praising the cast (led by Timothy Hutton), Devlin and co-creators John Rogers and Chris Downey, and leaving the door open to work with them should future opportunities arise. "We also want to thank the passionately devoted fans of Leverage, who have been the driving force behind its success," the network said.

Devlin made waves when he penned a letter to Leverage viewers earlier this month revealing that the upcoming Christmas finale was the episode with which he and Rogers had always intended to end the series. When he spoke to THR, Devlin shared that it was while the writers were crafting episode 10 of the fifth season that he decided to employ the series finale plan. "We knew there were only five more [episodes] to go [in the season], and we had to make a decision," he recalled. "We decided to make the decision. We knew it was risky, so we thought, 'Let's go for it.'"

Devlin was optimistic that fans would be satisfied with the Christmas finale, now the series closer: "I hope that [fans] feel this is the right way to end it."

Leverage stars Hutton, Gina Bellman, Aldis Hodge, Beth Riesgraf and Christian Kane as a five-person team who use their skills to fight corporate and governmental injustices. The series launched in 2008 to 5 million viewers.

Read below for the network's full response:

TNT’s Leverage has thrilled audiences with its delightfully intricate plots, its "stand up for the little guy" attitude and its terrific performances from stars Timothy Hutton, Gina Bellman, Christian Kane, Beth Riesgraf and Aldis Hodge. But after five wonderful years, it's time to say goodbye. Leverage will come to a close on Christmas, Tuesday, Dec. 25, at 10 p.m. (ET/PT), with a series finale that stands as one of the show's best episodes.
We are honored to have worked with executive producer Dean Devlin, Electric Entertainment, creators John Rogers and Chris Downey, and all the cast and production crew on Leverage. We look forward to exploring new opportunities to work with them again in the future. We also want to thank the passionately devoted fans of Leverage, who have been the driving force behind its success.

E-mail: Philiana.Ng@thr.com
Twitter: @insidethetube

View the original article here

Charlie Sheen, Lindsay Lohan in 'Scary Movie 5' (Video)

And now, the footage you secretly wanted to see: Charlie Sheen and Lindsay Lohan in bed together for their much-hyped appearance in Scary Movie 5.

A new trailer for the The Weinstein Company and Dimension Films spoof, in theaters April 13, features the two tabloid trouble-magnets experiencing panic of the paranormal variety. As THR previously reported, they are left for the dead in the opening sequence of the film, which stars Ashley Tisdale, Heather Locklear and Katt Williams.

A funny meta-moment: as an unseen evil spirit pins Sheen to the wall, Lohan points and shrieks at the TV when she's shown on a cable news show going to court. A headline reads: "PROBATION REVOKED."

View the original article here

CNN's Erin Burnett Marries David Rubulotta

Erin Burnett and David Rubulotta.

Erin Burnett is officially off the market.

The CNN anchor, 36, wore a red dress to marry David Rubulotta, 42, a managing director at Citigroup, on Friday at City Hall in New York City, her representative confirms to The Hollywood Reporter.

Burnett changed into a gold gown for the reception at the Atlantic Grill in Manhattan. According to People.com, she hired a classical guitarist to play Christmas carols and remarked of the holiday nuptials: "Christmas is our favorite time of year. We thought it would be the perfect time to get married."

Burnett has hosted the primetime show Erin Burnett OutFront since October 2011.

View the original article here

'Breaking Bad' Star Tweets First Image From Final Episodes (Photo)

Fans of AMC’s Breaking Bad chomping at the bit to find out what comes next have their first clue, courtesy of Dean Norris -- better known as DEA ASAC Hank Schrader.

Be warned, there are spoilers below about Breaking Bad’s September mid-season finale.

PHOTOS: Tim Goodman's 15 Best TV Dramas of 2012

Breaking Bad ended the first half of its fifth season with Hank putting together the pieces that his dear brother-in-law, Walt (Bryan Cranston), was in fact the meth-King Heisenberg Hank had been chasing for months. The much-talked about revelation came as Hank sat on a toilet at the White home and flipped through a copy of Walt Whitman’s Leaves of Grass, which Walt received from the murdered meth cook Gale Boetticher.

On Friday, Norris tweeted a photo of himself in character on the toilet moments after his realization. Apparently Hank is presented with quite a dilemma: 

First new episode BB titled The Decision. What's Hank's next move... twitter.com/deanjnorris/st…

— dean norris (@deanjnorris) December 22, 2012

PHOTOS:  'Breaking Bad': Cooking Up Season 5 On Set With Bryan Cranston and Vince Gilligan 

Norris is new to Twitter as of Monday, and has already been tweeting funny tidbits from the Breaking Bad set. On Saturday, he posted this gem:

Cute AND creepy.Real baby Holly playing with fake baby Holly twitter.com/deanjnorris/st…

— dean norris (@deanjnorris) December 22, 2012

Look out Aaron Paul. It looks like you have some serious competition for the title of most  entertaining Breaking Bad tweeter.

Breaking Bad returns to AMC next summer for its final eight episodes.

Email: Aaron.Couch@THR.com

Twitter: @AaronCouch

View the original article here

Jackie Chan's 'Chinese Zodiac' to Hit U.S. Screens by Summer 2013

HONG KONG – Jackie Chan’s Chinese Zodiac will unspool in “a few hundred screens” in the U.S. upon its release in North America in either spring or summer next year, said Ramy Choi, director of distribution and acquisition of the Hong Kong actor’s company, Jackie & JJ International Limited.

The heist caper, revolving around a Chan-led team hunting down Chinese national treasures auctioned off to international speculators, will also be released in Europe at the same time, Choi said.

The film, which also stars Korean actor Kwon Sang-woo and young Chinese actors Zhang Lanxin and Liao Fan as the relic-hunters and Oliver Platt as a villainous tycoon, took its bow in Chinese-speaking territories and also major Southeast Asian markets on Dec. 20.

STORY: Jackie Chan Joins 'Expendables 3'

Choi declined to reveal the identity of the film’s U.S. distributors, with whom she is finalizing details of a deal, but she confirmed partners for other markets include Splendid Film (Germany and Benelux), International Movies Distribution (Russia), Italia Film International SAL (Greece, Cyprus and the Middle East) and IFI Dagitim (Turkey).

Choi said Chinese Zodiac topped box-office listings on mainland China (where the film’s co-producers, Huayi Brothers, are distributing the film) on its opening day with earnings of 43.5 million yuan (US$7 million). She said the film’s first-day gross also topped charts in Singapore (handled by Clover Films and Golden Village), Malaysia (Golden Screen Cinemas) and Thailand (Sahamongkolfilm International).

The one territory which Chinese Zodiac failed to come out on top is Chan’s hometown: in Hong Kong, the film only secured HK$0.5 million (US$64,516), trailing behind both The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part Two (HK$2.2 million; US$283,870) and Wreck-it-Ralph (HKS1.7 million; US$219,355).

View the original article here

Acting CIA Director Disputes 'Zero Dark Thirty' Accuracy in Rare Public Statement

Acting CIA Director Michael Morell waded into the controversy over Zero Dark Thirty Friday, taking the extraordinary step of making public a letter he sent to CIA personnel concerning the Oscar-contending film’s factuality.

PHOTOS: Todd McCarthy's 10 Best Movies of 2012

"What I want you to know is that Zero Dark Thirty is a dramatization, not a realistic portrayal of the facts," Morell wrote to agency employees in a letter that was posted Friday afternoon on the CIA’s public website. "CIA interacted with the filmmakers through our Office of Public Affairs but, as is true with any entertainment project with which we interact, we do not control the final product."

Zero Dark Thirty, he wrote, “takes significant artistic license, while portraying itself as being historically accurate.”

Morell's unusual letter comes two days after a bipartisan trio of senior senators -- Diane Feinstein, John McCain and Carl Levin -- sent their own letter to Sony Pictures, which is distributing Zero Dark Thirty, demanding that the studio attach a disclaimer to the film, which some say suggests that information obtained through torture led to the killing of Osama bin Laden.

The acting CIA director's intervention is bound to add weight to the lawmakers' demand, since Morell went on to remind agency employees that torture did not play a role in the locating and killing of the Al Qaeda kingpin.

PHOTOS: The 8 Studio Picks for Best Picture Oscar

"The film creates the strong impression that the enhanced interrogation techniques that were part of our former detention and interrogation program were the key to finding Bin Laden," he wrote. "That impression is false."

Morrell added, “(I)mportantly, whether enhanced interrogation techniques were the only timely and effective way to obtain information from...detainees, as the film suggests, is a matter of debate that cannot and never will be definitively resolved.”

Morell also took issue with the filmmakers’ portrayal of CIA officers, including some who were killed in the hunt for bin Laden. Zero Dark Thirty, he wrote, “takes considerable liberties in its depiction of CIA personnel and their actions, including some who died while serving our country. We cannot allow a Hollywood film to cloud our memory of them. Commentators will have much to say about this film in the weeks ahead. Through it all, I want you to remember that Zero Dark Thirty is not a documentary.”

STORY: McCain: 'Zero Dark Thirty' Gives Ammunition to Islamic Extremists

His full letter:

Message from the Acting Director: "Zero Dark Thirty"< Statement to Employees from Acting Director Michael Morell: "Zero Dark Thirty"

December 21, 2012

I would not normally comment on a Hollywood film, but I think it important to put Zero Dark Thirty, which deals with one of the most significant achievements in our history, into some context. The film, which premiered this week, addresses the successful hunt for Usama Bin Ladin that was the focus of incredibly dedicated men and women across our Agency, Intelligence Community, and military partners for many years. But in doing so, the film takes significant artistic license, while portraying itself as being historically accurate.

What I want you to know is that Zero Dark Thirty is a dramatization, not a realistic portrayal of the facts. CIA interacted with the filmmakers through our Office of Public Affairs but, as is true with any entertainment project with which we interact, we do not control the final product.

It would not be practical for me to walk through all the fiction in the film, but let me highlight a few aspects that particularly underscore the extent to which the film departs from reality.

STORY: Rule Breakers 2012: The Unorthodox Relationship Between Kathryn Bigelow and Mark Boal

First, the hunt for Usama Bin Ladin was a decade-long effort that depended on the selfless commitment of hundreds of officers. The filmmakers attributed the actions of our entire Agency—and the broader Intelligence Community—to just a few individuals. This may make for more compelling entertainment, but it does not reflect the facts. The success of the May 1st 2011 operation was a team effort—and a very large team at that.

Second, the film creates the strong impression that the enhanced interrogation techniques that were part of our former detention and interrogation program were the key to finding Bin Ladin. That impression is false. As we have said before, the truth is that multiple streams of intelligence led CIA analysts to conclude that Bin Ladin was hiding in Abbottabad. Some came from detainees subjected to enhanced techniques, but there were many other sources as well.

And, importantly, whether enhanced interrogation techniques were the only timely and effective way to obtain information from those detainees, as the film suggests, is a matter of debate that cannot and never will be definitively resolved.

Third, the film takes considerable liberties in its depiction of CIA personnel and their actions, including some who died while serving our country. We cannot allow a Hollywood film to cloud our memory of them.

Commentators will have much to say about this film in the weeks ahead. Through it all, I want you to remember that Zero Dark Thirty is not a documentary. What you should also remember is that the Bin Ladin operation was a landmark achievement by our country, by our military, by our Intelligence Community, and by our Agency.

Michael Morell

View the original article here

Ryan Gosling Flees Bradley Cooper in 'Place Beyond the Pines' Trailer (Video)

The first trailer for The Place Beyond the Pines  shows Ryan Gosling once again playing bad boy who likes to drive – but this time his character's vehicle of choice is a motorcycle.

Gosling’s Luke is a stunt motorcyclist who learns he has a son with an old flame (Eva Mendes) and takes up crime to support his newfound family. Later, a rookie cop (Bradley Cooper) attempts to foil Luke’s bank robbery, propelling the pair into a tense chase scene that is among the trailer's highlights.

TORONTO REVIEW: The Place Beyond the Pines

The gritty-looking Pines had its premiere earlier this year at the Toronoto International Film Festival, where it was acquired by Focus Features. Its story unfolds in three chunks taking place over 15 years and reunites Gosling with Blue Valentine director Derek Cianfrance.

Pines and also stars Ray Liotta and Rose Byrne. It’s slated for a March 29, 2013 release.

View the original article here

Emmy Party Diaries: Inside Friday's Events with Bryan Cranston, Conan O'Brien and Amy Poehler

Emmy Weekend kicked off Friday at Spectra at the Pacific Design Center in West Hollywood for the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences' Performers Nominee Reception. More than 25 nominees, including Breaking Bad's Bryan Cranston, Modern Family's Eric Stonestreet and American Horror Story's Connie Britton gathered to pick up their official Emmy certificate. From there, stars and execs stepped out at a well-attended WME bash at nearby Milk, where brass from NBC, Showtime and FX, among other nets, chatted up such stars as Conan O'Brien, Chris Matthews and Ginnifer Goodwin.

The Hollywood Reporter was on site to catch the highlights as they happened.

PHOTOS: 'Mad Men,' 'Downton Abbey' and More Emmy Nominees

Performers Nominee Reception:

8:32 p.m. Cranston, who directed an episode of ABC's Modern Family last season, sits down with Stonestreet's parents, for whom he doled out big hugs. Minutes later, they're joined by Stonestreet's co-star Ty Burrell.
8:45 p.m. Burrell and newly engaged Jesse Tyler Ferguson chat with Lily Tomlin by the entrance. Nearby, Stonestreet tells a gaggle that he hasn't prepared --and for that matter, won't prepare-- an acceptance speech. 
8:46 p.m. The Big Bang Theory's Mayim Bialik, clad in a mauve dress that matches the brace/bandage on her injured hand says co-star and fellow nominee Jim Parsons will "stand up and scream at the top of his lungs" if she wins. The show's Kunal Nayyar, she notes, has been adamant that this is the year that the CBS comedy wins in the series category, which would cap off a year in which Big Bang has beaten reality juggernaut American Idol in the demo and achieved huge success in syndication on TBS.
9 p.m. Former Brady Bunch star Florence Henderson stops for a drink and mingles near the bar as the nominees begin to gather for their certificates. Among the latter: Britton, Giancarlo Esposito, Damian Lewis and Julie Bowen, among others. 

9:01 p.m. New Girl's Zooey Deschanel and Glee's Dot Marie Jones meet for the first time. Says the musically inclined Deschanel: "I love your show!" 
9:06 p.m. Justified winner Jeremy Davies reunites with former Spanking the Monkey co-star Carla Gallo as he awaits to hear his name called. Davies is sporting a messy pseudo Mohawk.
9:09 p.m. Cranston garners some of the evening's biggest applause as he graces the stage to accept his certificate. There, Britton and a newly blonde Elisabeth Moss catch up and pose for pictures together from stage. 

PHOTOS: What the Emmy Nominated Stars and Execs Are Saying
9:16 p.m. Homeland's Damian Lewis gives a big cheer to Downton Abbey star Michelle Dockery shortly after her name is called. He then laughs with Moss from stage. Not long after, Giancarlo Esposito collects his certificate and shouts,"I'm so happy, thank you!" from the stage. He then makes his way over to Cranston and the duo bear hug.
9:20 p.m. Julia Ormond nearly misses her cue and jogs to the stage in very high heels. Then comes Amy Poehler, who takes over the microphone and fakes an acceptance speech, generating wides laughs from the entire patio. After crafting a beauty pageant style announcement from stage at last year's Emmys, word is Poehler has nothing up her sleeve for Sunday. At least that's what she's telling people.
9:30 p.m. Shortly after the ceremony ends, Dallas star Brenda Strong says she wants Parenthood's Jason Ritter to come to pay a visit to the TNT drama. "Can you shoot a gun?" she asks.

WME

10:32: Conan O'Brien spotted saying hello to Mandy Moore. He leaves shortly thereafter.

11:05: A&E Networks execs Abby Raven and newly promoted Nancy Dubuc, who is also nominated as an EP on miniseries Hatfield & McCoys greet well-wishers by the bar. The duo is joined by Lifetime's Rob Sharenow.

11:10: The League's Nick Kroll and FX's Nick Grad talk comedy by the bar. Nearby, Homeland showrunner Alex Gansa and EP/writer Meredith Stiehm chat over Fatburgers.

11:25: NBC's Bob Greenblatt mingles with a group that includes Glee and New Normal producer Dante Di Loreto. Jennifer Salke, Ted Harbert and Bela Bejaria are also making the rounds.

11:49: Showtime's David Nevins greets party-goers with Homeland writer-producer Chip Johannessen by the enterance. If he's nervous about Homeland's chances on Sunday evening, he isn't letting on. Inside, FX's John Landgraf, Fox's Peter Rice and stars including Kim Raver and Ginnifer Goodwin say their hellos. 

View the original article here

'SNL' Recap: Joseph Gordon-Levitt Strips; Channels Most Interesting Man in the World (Video)

Saturday Night Live host Joseph Gordon-Levitt wasted little time before giving the people what they wanted: a Magic Mike-inspired strip tease.

“You know what my favorite part of Magic Mike was?” he asked in one of the least drawn out opening monologues in SNL history. “This part.”

VIDEO: 'SNL' Uncovers More Mitt Romney 'Hidden Footage'

Gordon-Levitt then channeled Channing Tatum’s best moves to “It’s Raining Men,” doing a very different type of dance than he’d performed during his first SNL hosting gig in 2009. The bit ended with a strategically placed confetti gun blasting from his crotch.

The crowd went wild.

The briskly paced episode soon moved to Gordon-Levitt playing son to the Most Interesting Man in the World. But the son proved far less interesting than the father.

His boasts included such non-talents as owning five fedoras, “kind of” being able to break dance, claiming to have dated a model, and accidentally texting a picture of his genitals to his Chinese delivery man.

And rather than drinking Dos Equis, as his father did, the son loved Tres Equis. Jason Sudeikis made an appearance as the Most Interesting Man in the World to berate his son’s general lack of competence.

VIDEO: 'SNL' Recap: Seth MacFarlane Mocks Ryan Lochte; Clint Eastwood Takes Invisible Obama on the Road

Though the episode took place just days after SNL’s election season primetime special, there was still plenty of untapped political fodder for the show to tackle.

In an ad mocking undecided voters (and obliquely, the news networks who put them on air), people asked increasingly foolish questions that revealed their lack of basic knowledge about the American political system.

“Who is the president right now? Is he or she running,” one man asked in a tone suggesting serious contemplation. “If so, experience is maybe something we should consider.”

Another concerned citizen asked: “How long is a president’s term of office? One year? Two years? Three years? Or life?” If the answer is life, the man's wife reasoned, that’s not good because we don’t want to elect a dictator.

VIDEO: 'Looper' Clip Shows Bruce Willis Pummeling Joseph Gordon-Levitt

During Weekend Update, Seth Meyers hit President Obama, whom SNL virtually ignored in its primetime special Thursday. Meyers skewered a gaffe Obama made, in which he said Washington could not be fixed from inside DC.

Meyers questioned why Obama even needed to be out their speaking, considering some of the mistakes Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney made this week. (Meyers offered as evidence speculation that Romney spray tanned before his Univision forum, as well as his now infamous 47 percent comments.)

Back to Obama's gaffe, Meyers said: “Why are you saying anything during this Romney tailspin? You’re like the criminal who gets away with murder and starts sending the cops puzzle pieces to figure it out."

Musical guest Mumford & Sons lent their talents as a Beatles cover band for Gordon-Levitt's bachelor party, though the sketch was one of the cast's weaker efforts. 

SNL airs its second and final primetime edition of Weekend Update Thursday. Host Daniel Craig and musical guest Muse are slated for the Oct. 6 show.

View the original article here

'Real Housewives' Star Adrienne Maloof Puts Mansion on the Market for $26 Million

Adrienne Maloof and Paul Nassif, in happier times.

Adrienne Maloof of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills is putting her opulent, over-the-top mansion on the market for $26 million, THR has learned.

The Bravo reality star shared the palatial home with husband Paul Nassif, a cosmetic surgeon, who has appeared on past seasons of the Beverly Hills edition. Their marital bickering, shown on camera, appears to have not been staged: the couple is currently going through an acrimonious split, with verbal grenades being pitched on both sides.

Nassif filed for divorce Aug. 28, citing irreconcilable differences and seeking joint physical and legal custody of their three sons, Gavin, 9, and 6-year-old twins Collin and Christian.

STORY: Emmy Party Diaries: Friday Night

Last Wednesday, a judge awarded Maloof temporary custody of the boys after she alleged that Nassif had choked one of the children. She also received a restraining order against Nassif, barring him from contact with the kids.

Maloof's family owns the Sacramento Kings and the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas; she married Nassif in 2002.

Responding Friday in a post on Facebook, Nassif argued that Maloof was using their sons as "pawns" in court.

"It continues to amaze me how so much of the hoopla surrounding a reality show is in reality, unreal -- including the absurdity of the latest utterly false accusations by Adrienne's attorney which we will vigorously address in court. It is becoming a bit of a circus isn't it?" he wrote.

STORY: Aerosmith Keyboardist Recruits 'Real Housewives' Girlfriend for New Song, Girlfriend

Maloof's representative told People.com that "the court documents speak for themselves and we are not going to go into the gutter with Paul."

This weekend, the 51-year-old businesswoman-socialite held a pre-Emmys spa retreat at her estate with guests including fellow Real Housewife Alexis Bellino, Taryn Manning and Brooke Mueller.

Twitter: @ErinLCarlson

Email: erin.carlson@thr.com

View the original article here

Jerry Bruckheimer, LA Kings' Captain Advocate for Equality at Spirit of Courage Awards

The Courage Campaign hosted the 2nd Annual Spirit of Courage Awards Thursday night at the Petersen Automotive Museum in an effort to recognize advocates for equality.   

The event honored Toronto Maple Leafs president and general manager Brian Burke and Philadelphia Flyers scout Patrick Burke for their efforts to support equality, because, as the Mighty Ducks’ owners Henry and Susan Samueli put it: “There is no room for homophobia in the NHL or any other sports league.”

California Attorney General Kamala D. Harris was also recognized for her work to protect homeowners and the LGBT community at large.     

Those in attendance included L.A. Kings captain Dustin Brown, John O’Hurley, Wayne Gretzky, Lisa Ling, Jerry Bruckheimer and Sandra Fluke.  But the Burke father-son duo stole the spotlight for the night.

The pair’s You Can Play organization -- created in honor of their late son and brother Brendan Burke, a gay hockey player -- preaches acceptance for all athletes, no matter their sexual orientation or gender identity.  You Can Play ultimately strives to end homophobia in sports.   

Avid hockey fan Bruckheimer, who is on the Kings’ Hollywood Advisory Board and has been a season-ticket holder since 1988, said: “It’s wonderful that Brian and Patrick are being honored by the Courage Campaign Institute, which will further help the world to accept the simple fact that on the field or in the arena, what really matters -- and all that should matter -- is the skill and heart of the athlete.” 

The race for equality may still be a work in progress, but Rick Jacobs, Founder and Chair of the Courage Campaign, believes it’s a race that’s well on its way.

“At last night's event, both Wayne Gretzky, the best hockey player in history and Dustin Brown, the captain of the Stanley Cup-winning L.A. Kings hockey team, literally stood up for full equality in hockey and sports in general,” Jacobs said. "Dustin and his wife are under 30 years of age, they have three kids and they clearly could care less about who is gay and who is not. They care about family and hockey. This is the leading edge of what we see in the rest of professional sports."

View the original article here

Ben Affleck's 'Argo' a Hit at San Sebastian

SAN SEBASTIAN, Spain – Critics and audiences at San Sebastian Saturday applauded Ben Affleck’s  Argo, screening in the 60th San Sebastian International Film Festival’s Official competition.

At the afternoon screening, the packed Kursaal auditorium erupted in applause at pivotal moments throughout the film — unusual at Spain’s A-list festival.

Affleck, accompanied by the film’s Alan Arkin, addressed questions about the film, the relationship between the United States and Middle East and the evolution of Hollywood since the 70s in addition to what his children thought about this shaggier 'do in the movie.

REVIEW: 'Telluride'

"My kids hated the hair. I told them I have to keep the hair like this for work," he shared. "And they said, 'Yeah, what kind of work would want you to keep that kind of hair?’ Out of the mouths of babes."

Affleck said his goal in making the film, which is based on a true story linked with the Iranian hostage crisis and a covert mission to sneak U.S. diplomats out of Iran, was to stick to the facts.

"First of all, you’d never believe this story if it weren’t true," Affleck said. "But my goal was for it to be factual. I have friends that are Democrats and friends that are Republicans. I have friends that are Americans and those that live abroad. I wanted everyone to see it and be able to take something from it because it was based on facts."

San Sebastian is off to a strong start as Affleck’s film ran the same day as Pablo Berger’s Snow White, a black and white silent film starring Maribel Verdu and Angela Molina which also premiered to resounding accolades from critics.

“Snow White is a beautiful film, with beautiful images and a very well-told story. It’s only problem is coming after The Artist,” said Carlos Boyero, critic for Spanish daily El Pais.

San Sebastian runs on Spain’s picturesque Basque coast Sept. 21-29.

View the original article here

Khandi Alexander on the End of 'Treme' and Rebuilding LaDonna

The third season of Treme reintroduces LaDonna (Khandi Alexander) at her bar, Gigi's, smiling as afternoon light streams in through the dirty windows.

It's a familiar sight for anyone who caught the inaugural run of David Simon and Eric Overmyer's ode to post-Katrina New Orleans -- but entirely foreign to anyone who watched in 2011, when the character was beaten and gang-raped in that same room. LaDonna spent the subsequent episodes a shell of her former self and neutered of the spark and levity she added to a series that so often dwells on the bleak.

STORY: 'Treme' Renewed for Fourth and Final Season

"There's nothing worse than having a very strong female character and then suddenly having it go away," Alexander tells The Hollywood Reporter, echoing some of the skepticism that left critics divided on the arc. "David Simon first described her as a woman who crawled her way to the middle class, so to see her go from that to being a victim, it was not something I originally wanted to play."

LaDonna's old self is more or less intact in this new batch of episodes, allowing for a welcome dose of comedic tension with an elitist sister-in-law (Valarie Pettiford). It's a funny reunion for Alexander, who first met her onscreen nemesis dancing for Bob Fosse in the late 1970s. 

Alexander, likely best known to audiences for roles in mainstream hits like NewsRadio and CSI: Miami, recently spoke with THR about her Broadway roots, her take on Treme's new season and approaching the end of the series.

The Hollywood Reporter: You've spent so much time in New Orleans. What do the locals think of the series?
Khandi Alexander: This is what I love about people from New Orleans. They're very honest at all times, and they either really love the show or they don't. And they don't have a problem letting you know. The people who love the show, want you to know the love the show. And the people who don't, they really want you to know. They're very honest, and I appreciate that.

THR: The people who don't like the show, what are there issues?
Alexander: It's so rude. I don't think you can print any of it. [Laughter]

VIDEO: 'Treme' Returns From Year-Long Absence With Season 3 Trailer

THR: And the people who love the show?
Alexander: Season two of Treme, my character was gang-raped and beaten. And the people who love the show, they take me by the arm, take me into their restaurants and their stores. They feed me and hug me and cry.

THR: The rape arc was brutal, even by David Simon standards. What did you think of that turn for LaDonna?
Alexander: I've never played the aftermath in such an honest way, even though I have certainly played a rape victim in my career before. I never played the aftermath... the actual going to the doctor and everything that really happens. That was quite interesting for me as an actress, but what was harder for me was to see it happen to a character that I loved. I'd never seen such a strong woman with her own business and a successful marriage. David Simon first described her as a woman who crawled her way to the middle class, so to see her go from that to being a victim, it was not something I originally wanted to play.

THR: And now that it's mostly behind the character, how do you feel about it?
Alexander: I feel gratified that she's regaining a part of herself. There's nothing worse than having a very strong female character and then suddenly having it go away. There's nothing worse for an actress, because there's nowhere to go. It was nice to find her way back to some semblance of strength. I had the good fortune of speaking to some women who went through that experience in the aftermath of Katrina when there were no police or even hospitals set up. They were raped and left to deal with that. For them to be honest and let you know their experience and to play that out and to understand how you get to the other side of that. I'm just grateful for that opportunity.

THR: There's definitely a return to that humor Ladonna used to bring. You have some hilarious exchanges with the woman who plays the sister-in-law she's staying with.
Alexander: Oh, I love her! I forgot about that! Let me tell you about Valerie Pettifroe, who plays that role. She was a dancer, as I was, with Mr. Bob Fosse many years ago. We're both from New York, we both used to dance, and it was just a joy that they cast her. The actor who plays her husband, Vernel Bagneris, he is a dancer as well. So we just had a great a time. Vernel choreographed the movie Ray.

THR: You and Lance Nichols (Larry) seem to exist in your own bubble. What are your run-ins like with the rest of the cast?
Alexander: One of my biggest disappointments with that show is that I never work most of them. I didn't meet John Goodman until they killed him off. I mean, you're kidding me. I'm such a big John Goodman fan. What do you mean you're not coming back? I have my own little world. I never see people. Occasionally I'll see some of them in the makeup room. It's a long-standing joke that Wendell Pierce will walk around and go, "Hello, how are you? My name is Wendell." There are people I've never met. They tell me they're on the show, and I'm like, "Oh, that's nice."

THR: Who do you hang out with?
Alexander: I'm really good friends with Steve Zahn. We hang out together... a good deal in New Orleans. And I love Kim Dickens, but I never work with them.

THR: Have you ever even had a scene with Steve?
Alexander: That you've got to save for the audience. But I've never worked with Kim, and I love Kim.

PHOTOS: Emmy Icons: THR Photographs TV's Most Celebrated Legends

THR: You first worked with David Simon on The Corner. Did you ever talk about playing any part in The Wire?
Alexander: We hadn't even wrapped The Corner when David offered me The Wire. I was playing a woman who was so addicted. We were filming on location, and I was surrounded by the real thing. Fran [the woman Alexander's character was based on] herself was there on set with me every day. It was so hard I can't even describe the place where I had to go emotionally. When he was talking about staying, I thought oh no... oh hell no. It was one of those things where I was so deep in character, and he had no idea because it was our first time working together. He still rags me about that.

THR: You've done a lot of drama for a long time now. Do you want to go back to comedy?
Alexander: Yes, deeply. It's that Hollywood backhanded compliment. Once you do something, whatever you do, that's what they keep wanting you to do. And as much as you love it, you have to keep reminding them, "Wait a minute, you guys, I worked with Phil Hartman ... I worked with Chris Rock and Ben Stiller." I have deep comedic roots, and I want to be funny. In the case of NewsRadio, I loved that show. I loved the actors and the producers, but I was longing very much for something more to sink my teeth into me. I think it was an incredibly smart show, but I found myself on the peripheral of a lot of it. I took a big chance by asking to leave. From there, I went back to theater and did Thelma Kelly in Chicago. I wanted the opportunity to end my dancing while I still had the strength the energy and the desire to kick out eight shows a week in a leading role.

THR: There has been a lot of talk of ending Treme after four seasons. Where do you want to see the show go?
Alexander: David has made it clear that he wants a conclusion, and it is my understanding that, as of today, we're very close to being able to have a conclusion -- and I'm looking forward to that. I think, often times, it's the audience that suffers when a show isn't given the opportunity to have a beginning, middle and end. I'm thrilled to be a part of a show where the creators are prepared, and I'm very excited to be a part of a show that clearly has a beginning, middle and end. 

Treme returns to HBO on Sunday, at 10:00 p.m. ET.

Email: Michael.OConnell@THR.com; Twitter: @MikeyLikesTV

View the original article here

Justice Department Drops Fox Indecency Case Over Strippers on Reality Show

The U.S. Department of Justice on Friday dismissed a lawsuit against Fox Broadcasting and four Fox-owned TV stations over a 2003 episode of the show Married By America that featured strippers.

In a filing in federal court in Washington, D.C., the government did not reveal why it is dropping the suit, which related to four Fox-owned TV stations that refused to pay a fine for showing the sexy scene. However, the dismissal is believed to stem from a July Supreme Court decision that said the FCC did not give Fox stations “fair notice” before it took action for allowing expletives to air.

In a statement, Fox said its view, “has consistently been that the FCC’s fine had no foundation within the law, and we are grateful that the DOJ and FCC have now agreed with this position. In addition, we plan to urge the FCC to dismiss its underlying forfeiture order in this case, a move that will ensure that the Fox affiliates who paid the fine upfront do not unfairly suffer any negative consequences related to their broadcast licenses in the future.”

The Fox statement refers to TV stations affiliated with the network that did pay the fine of about $7,000 each for the 2003 broadcast. The network wants the FCC to insure that these affiliates experience no additional legal problems.

This latest move leaves open the question of how the Justice Department will handle other outstanding indecency cases in the wake of the June ruling by the Supreme Court, which found that the government did not police "fleeting expletives" correctly. The ruling hinged on procedural gaffes, which could leave the door open to re-file the case.

The FCC under chairman Julius Genachowski has not been as aggressive in going after TV stations for indecency as his predecessor. He said recently the FCC is reviewing its policy on the issue, including determining whether pursuing stations is the best use of government resources. The FCC has not brought a new indecency case since 2009, when President Obama took office.

View the original article here

India Chooses 'Barfi!' for Oscars Foreign-Language Entry

Ileana D'Cruz, Ranbir Kapoor and Priyanka Chopra in "Barfi!"

NEW DELHI – India's official entry for the 2013 Oscars is Barfi!, produced by Disney UTV Studios.

The announcement was made by the Film Federation of India. Barfi! (the name refers to an Indian sweet) stars top actor Ranbir Kapoor in the title role of a deaf and mute young man and his love for an autistic girl (top actress Priyanka Chopra) while upcoming South Indian actress Ileana D'Cruz completes the love triangle.

Kapoor's performance as a fun-filled character has shades of Charlie Chaplin with some scenes even paying tribute to gags from his comedy classics. Budgeted at an estimated $6 million (330 million rupees), the film is a departure for director Anurag Basu, whose previous films such as Life In A Metro and Gangster tackled mostly dark themes.

REVIEW: 'Heroine'

“I try and make films which are different from each other and yes, Barfi! is my first U (Universal) certificate film which is more friendly for family audiences. I wanted to make a film which talks about celebrating life,” Basu told THR in an interview.

Since its Sept. 14 release on 700 screens in India, Barfi! has grossed an estimated $10 million (550 million rupees) with the film also receiving critical acclaim. The Film Federation of India shortlisted 17 entries for the Oscars which included 11 Hindi language films along with regional titles. These included the two-part Gangs of Wasseypur (which premiered at Cannes this year), South Indian Telegu language film Eega (one of the year's biggest critical and commercial hits) and Marathi language title Deool, which shared a best feature win at India's National Awards in March.

STORY: Brad Pitt: 'I Would Love to Work in a Bollywood Film'

“We are honored that Barfi! has been selected to represent India as its official entry to the 2013 Academy Awards. Barfi! is very close to the hearts of all of us at UTV and it gives us great satisfaction that a film we have developed and nurtured from its inception has met with so much love from audiences and critics worldwide. An added source of pride is that this is the fourth UTV film in the last seven years to have been selected to represent India at the Academy Awards, our earlier selections being Rang De Basanti (2006), Harishchandrachi Factory (2009) and Peepli Live (2010),” said Disney UTV Studios MD Siddharth Roy Kapur.

Barfi! will screen at the Busan festival on Oct. 11, after which it will travel to the Marrakesh festival.

View the original article here

Box Office Report: 'End of Watch,' 'House at the End of the Street' Tie on Friday

In a surprise twist, Jake Gyllenhaal-Michael Pena's cop drama End of Watch tied with Jennifer Lawrence horror pic House at the End of the Street for No. 1 at the Friday box office, each earning $4.6 million.

Clint Eastwood's new baseball drama Trouble with the Curve followed with $4.2 million. From Warner Bros., the film is hoping for a Saturday boost as older moviegoers become available. Otherwise, it could lose the weekend race to End of Watch, which is projecting a $13.5 million debut. House at the End of the Street will likely earn $12 million for the weekend.

Heading into the weekend, Warner Bros. was expecting a $14 million debut for Trouble with the Curve. It's unclear how Eastwood's recent speech at the Republican National Convention is impacting the film's performance.

PHOTOS: Fall Movie Preview 2012

Trouble with the Curve, about an aging baseball scout who goes on one last trip with his daughter, is directed by Rob Lorenz, Eastwood's longtime producing partner. It's the first film that Eastwood has starred in, but not directed, since In the Line of Fire in 1993.

Directed by David Ayer, End of Watch received an A- CinemaScore. Open Road Films is distributing the film.

House at the End of the Street, from Relativity Media, earned a B CinemaScore.

Box office observers also are tracking Paul Thomas Anderson's The Master, which expanded into a total of 788 theaters on Friday, grossing $1.4 million.

View the original article here

Fiona Apple Speaks Out on Arrest for Hashish Possession

Two days after getting arrested for possession of hashish in Texas, Fiona Apple seized the opportunity at her Houston concert to give her side of the story.

The "Criminal" singer-songwriter's bus was stopped in the town of Sierra Blanca on Wednesday; police discovered the hash as well as a small amount of marijuana. Apple, 35, was then taken to Hudspeth County Jail, where she had a not-so-great experience.

In a verbose, rambling monologue at her Houston concert on Friday, Apple -- appearing simultaneously amused and angered by the situation -- told the audience that she wanted to apologize to "the guy who runs the jail," who she dubbed "a real decent guy," for "being attitude-y and saying that I didn't trust him. Because I didn't then but by the end of the day I did."

STORY: Fiona Apple Arrested in Texas

TMZ has posted video of Apple's mea culpa, which then turned into a rant against a quartet of other jail employees whom she alleged behaved badly toward her and did things that were "probably illegal."

"There are four of you out there, and I want you to know that I heard everything you did, I wrote it all down with your names and everything you did and said, stupidly thinking that I couldn't hear or see you," she said, adding: "I then ripped the paper up, but not before I encoded it."

Apple went on to explain that she was keeping what she knows in a pair of metaphorical "lockboxes," and, her voice rising in anger, threatened, "I'll make you f--king famous, anytime you want, and I'll open up those boxes."

Yeah.

Back in June, Apple released her fourth full-length studio album (full title: The Idler Wheel is Wiser Than the Driver of the Screw and Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Words Will Ever Do) to positive reviews. She embarked on a national tour afterward.

Twitter: @ErinLCarlson

Email: erin.carlson@thr.com

View the original article here

TV Ratings: Dipping 'Shark Tank' Wins Night, ALMA Awards Down From 2011

Though ABC's Friday lineup was down from last week's premieres, the network still pulled an easy victory with adults 18-49, averaging a 1.5 rating for the night. Shark Tank, the night's strongest performer across the board, came in two tenths of a point shy of last week's showing with 1.6 adults rating. Also down two tenths, Primetime: What Would You Do? earned a 1.5 adults rating and 20/20, taking the steepest drop, was down four tenths of a point for a 1.4 rating with 18-49-ers. ABC brought in 5.2 million viewers.

Encores of Undercover Boss, CSI: NY and Blue Bloods averaged a 0.9 adults rating and a dominant 5.4 million viewers for CBS. And repeats of Bones and The Mob Doctor both posted a 0.8 rating with adults 18-49 and averaged 3.1 million viewers for Fox.

NBC's one-hour broadcast of the Alma Awards pulled a 0.6 rating with 18-49-ers, down a tenth of a point from last year's score. Following an encore of Grimm, Dateline was up a tenth of a point from last week with a 1.0 adults rating. The network brought in a 0.7 adults rating and 2.99 million viewers.

America's Next Top Model was down from last week's cycle high, averaging a 0.6 rating with adults 18-49. The network brought in a 0.4 adults rating and 959,000 viewers for the night.

View the original article here

Ben Stiller Sells Semi-Autobiographical Comedy to ABC

Ben Stiller is bringing his life to the small screen.

The actor-writer-produce, through his Red Hour Films, has Please Knock, a single-camera comedy loosely based on his life to ABC.

COVER STORY: Why Is Funnyman Ben Stiller Not Laughing?

Kevin Napier -- who wrote Stiller's 2009 Fox drama pilot The Station, is on board to write the script and executive produce alongside Red Hour's Stuart Cornfeld, Debbie Liebling and Stiller.

The project hails from ABC Studios, where Stiller and his Red Hour inked an overall development pact in November. Universal Pictures' Liebling, who produced Stiller's Tower Heist, was brought in at the time to oversee Red Hour's new television shingle at the time.

Loosely based on Stiller's life, Please Knock revolves around Mitch Fuller, an A-list actor who realizes he's losing touch with reality and his family who moves back to the same New York building he grew up in -- where his parents still reside.

STORY: Four Big Trends of TV Development Season

For Stiller, the project marks his latest foray into television -- the medium where he started his career on MTV/Fox's sketch effort The Ben Stiller Show. Stiller and Jonathan Safran Foer have family comedy All Talk set up at HBO with the multihyphenate attached to star.

The Stiller project marks the latest in semi-autobiographical comedies to sell this development season, with Community's Donald Glover's untitled effort set up at NBC, Justin Halpern's I Suck at Girls (from his memoir) at Fox and Adam F. Goldberg's How the F--- am I Normal? in the works at ABC.

Stiller is repped by WME and Gang Tyre.

Email: Lesley.Goldberg@thr.com; Twitter: @Snoodit

View the original article here

PSY's 'Gangnam Style' Tops LMFAO for Most 'Liked' Video on YouTube

PSY has officially gone viral.

The South Korean phenom has surpassed LMFAO's "Party Rock Anthem" with his "Gangnam Style, securing the Guinness World Record for most liked video on YouTube. As of press time, "Gangnam Style" had a whopping 2,282,049 likes on the site merely three months after its July 15 release.

PHOTOS: VMAS 2012: Best and Worst Moments

PSY also surpasses Justin Bieber's "Baby" and Adele's "Rolling in the Deep" for the honor, though "Baby" still holds the record for most watched video of all time.

"Having been the 'have you seen this?!' video of the last two months across the web, it’s great to be able to award a record for this tremendously popular video," Guinness World Records Community Manager Dan Barrett said in a statement, obtained by EW. "In years past, it was unthinkable that something would be viewed a hundred million times, and now 'Gangnam Style' has achieved more than twice this figure in just three months on YouTube. PSY – your certificate is waiting here at our office, come pick it up any time!"

The news comes just a few weeks after PSY appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show to teach X Factor judge Britney Spears how to do the popular moves.

VIDEO: Pop Star PSY Joins The Wanted on Stage at VMA Pre-Party

"The mindset of this dance is dress classy and dance cheesy," he said to the pop star.

Though PSY has not made his own statement regarding the honor, he did acknowledge the news on Twitter by linking to an ABC News story on the subject.

Coincidentally, the news also comes on the heels of reports that LMFAO would be calling it quits -- temporarily, at least. The uncle-nephew duo will be taking some time to work on other projects, but are not yet closing the curtain on LMFAO for good.

View the original article here

Fox Finalizing Deal for Layoff Reality Show

Fox is in final discussions to pick up Does Someone Have To Go, a reality show in which employees at a troubled office are asked to choose whether to give a coworker the axe, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed.

PHOTOS: The 100 Fresh Faces of Fall TV

In 2009, the network floated a similar idea for a show, which would have seen a struggling business dismiss one employee every episode. That project, called Someone’s Gotta Go, was criticized as insensitive at the time, and its pilot never aired.

The revamped project is said to be gentler, with letting an employee go optional. In addition, the businesses are said not to be economically distressed, as was the case in the 2009 project.

The order is confirmed to be for four episodes.

View the original article here

'Hobbit' Poster Reveals a Sword-Wielding Bilbo (Photo)

Peter Jackson has been treating fans to new Hobbit footage this week, but this new poster has all you really need: Bilbo, Sting and the Shire’s finest overcoat.

Martin Freeman’s Bilbo looks determined enough to slay a dragon in this promo for The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, the first of three films adapting J.R.R. Tolkien's classic book.

PHOTOS: Meet 'The Hobbit's' Key Characters

The sword--which Frodo (Elijah Wood) wielded in The Lord of the Rings films, will undoubtedly come in handy on Bilbo's journey, which involves the Hobbit joining a band of Dwarves on a trek to retrieve their treasure. But it's no simple task, as that treasure is guarded by the dragon Smaug (voiced by Benedict Cumberbatch).

The film hits theaters Dec. 14. 

View the original article here

Emmys Telecast Revealed as Producer Don Mischer Takes THR Backstage

During rehearsals on Saturday, veteran producer Don Mischer gave The Hollywood Reporter a sneak peek at the 64th Prime Time Emmy Awards, which will be broadcast on ABC from the Nokia Theater on Sunday.

In an interview at the auditorium control both, Mischer -- who is leading the Emmys' production team this year — revealed that the show again is being split into "genres" — with comedy opening the evening.

PHOTOS: Emmy Icons: THR Photographs TV's Most Celebrated Legends

Social media will play its biggest role yet, said Mischer, with host Jimmy Kimmel live-tweeting the show. Some nominees will be introduced via video interviews, and the set will feature five giant, rotating video screens that flash graphics and video. "The screens will allow us to change the mood in the room electronically," Mischer said.

It's not easy to change up the format of a venerable awards show, but Mischer — a 15-time Emmy award winner himself — is trying.

"These shows can get too neat or too pat sometimes," Mischer said.  "As producers we hope we have surprise winners. We hope for really emotion heartfelt acceptance speeches."

PHOTOS: Emmys 2012: 15 of the Biggest Snubs

What's the line-up?

Mischer said the show again will be divided into five genres:  Comedy, reality, drama, variety, and miniseries/movies. "It just makes the whole thing more coherent," Mischer said. "I remember many, many years ago, we just scattershot the show. We would have supporting actress in a mini-series and then do the award for directing in a comedy. It was OK. But it was hard to get a sense of what happened in one genre in television. We are trying to celebrate the best of television."

Q&A: Jimmy Kimmel Says 'I Will Cry Like a Baby and Soil Myself' If I Win

But if you're hoping to find out early in the program which show will win best drama series or best comedy series, you'll have to wait. Those awards will still be given out last. 

What does Kimmel have planned for his monologue? 

"He's going to be very much in the moment," said Mischer, slyly avoiding the question. "When the awards are being presented, he will be back stage with his writers in a room. Everything that happens, every win that happens, they are going to try to react to it, give a point of view. He's quick on his feet." 

PHOTOS: Emmys 2012: Tim Goodman Picks Who Will Win (and Who Should)

Any political jokes? 

"No, I've said to everybody we'd like to kind of avoid that," Mischer said. "But these shows can sometimes take off in their own direction. I was sitting in the audience as a nominee once when someone went up and made a Dan Quayle joke. The evening became a Dan Quayle bashing ceremony. There may be some winners who come up and make political statements this year. That's one thing we have no control over. I can tell you there's no politics in the presenters' comments."

How will this show differ from previous shows?

"When it comes to announcing the nominations, the options are to list the names or show clips of the show," Mischer said. "This time, we've attempted to mix it up by doing little video pieces where the nominees themselves say something." 

For example, some of the nominees were asked to respond to questions like "what makes a great comic director?" or "Do you ever get writer's block?" 

"With the stars, you can show their work, but it's harder when you're trying to give the viewing audience a sense of the writers and producers," Mischer said. "We're trying to give them a little personality."

PHOTOS: Emmys 2012: 'Mad Men,' 'Downton Abbey' and More Nominees

What about the set?

"We decided we needed a screen-heavy look," Mischer said. The stage was fashioned with five giant moving screens.  "Each genre will have a particular look. The screens will allow us to change the mood in the room electronically."

And your plans for social media?

"We're trying to really engage people in the viral community to talk and tweet," he said. "Jimmy will be tweeting during the show and who knows what else. I'm afraid to think..."

ABC also is planning to broadcast hashtags where viewers can tweet their congratulations to the award winners during the show, Mischer added.

Any surprises?

 "I wish I knew," Mischer said. "Gil Cates, who did the Oscars for so many years, used to say, 'The awards show gods either smile down on you or they don't.' What he meant by that is if you have amazing wins and unpredictable wins, it makes the evening more exciting."

View the original article here

Netflix Loses Rights to Stream 800 Hours of Content From A&E Networks

Netflix confirmed that dozens of shows from A&E Networks disappeared from its streaming service on Friday.

Deals that gave Netflix the right to stream Storage Wars, Pawn Stars, Hoarders, American Pickers and several more expired Friday, insiders said.

STORY: Netflix CFO: Company Won't Need to Raise Money Near-Term Despite Content Spending

In all, about 800 hours of content is gone from A&E as well as its History channel, while 300 hours remain, at least until an agreement expires in about the middle of next year.

STORY:Netflix Stock Drops on Epix Streaming Deal With Amazon.com

"A number of titles expired today, that is true, but we have titles coming on and off all the time," Netflix spokesman Joris Evers said on Friday.

Sources close to the situation said the two negotiated over a couple of weeks and, in fact, are still talking  but so far have failed to strike an agreement. The issue isn't only money, but also that Netflix is seeking some level of exclusivity that A&E is unwilling to grant.

View the original article here

Emmy Party Diaries: Inside Saturday's Events with Edie Falco, Jason Ritter and 'Breaking Bad's Vince Gilligan

Emmy weekend continued Saturday with ICM Partners first ever Emmy brunch at West Hollywood's Fig & Olive. Breaking Bad creator Vince Gilligan greeted guests, while other bold faced names from Edie Falco, Marg Helgenberger and Busy Philipps (and daughter Birdie) made the rounds.

PHOTOS: What the Emmy Nominated Stars and Execs Are Saying

Later, Showtime celebrated its nominees with an intimate party at Sunset Tower on Saturday night. Guests included Claire Danes, Michael C. Hall and House of Lies'  Don Cheadle. Ten blocks west, NBC talent, including Matthew Perry and New Normal producer Ryan Murphy, toasted each other at Boa Steakhouse. Upstairs, Kevin Costner and the cast of mini-series Hatfields & McCoys gathered at Soho House for History's first Emmy bash.

ICM Partners:

12:15 p.m. Gilligan accepting congrats from party-goers at the entrance to Fig & Olive. Lots of talk about whether the Academy would be willing to award a show about a meth dealer. He shifts the conversation to talk about the final season, which he is busy writing now. Among the many questions: how will he keep the series finale under wraps?

STORY: Emmy Party Diaries: Friday Night

12:30 p.m. Philipps trotting young daughter Birdie around the party (a few others have brought children too), while Helgenberger and Topher Grace post up separately at tables nearby. Partners including Chris Silbermann and Ted Chervin circle the room greeting guests, including nominee Falco.

1 p.m. Book of Mormon-turned-1600 Penn star Josh Gad makes his way into the party. Parenthood's Jason Ritter is mingling with guests near the paella station.

Showtime:

7:35 p.m. House of Lies' Glynn Turman and Dexter's Hall have a long chat at a corner bar, hiding out from the rapidly growing crowd. Later, Hall finds Showtime entertainment chief David Nevins for a chat by the bar.

7:50 p.m. John Legend arrives near the main stage. He'll perform later in the evening.

PHOTOS: Emmy Icons: THR Photographs TV's Most Celebrated Legends

7:55 p.m. Homeland's Damian Lewis gets some prepping on a who's who from a Showtime publicist. His co-stars Claire Danes and Morena Baccarin find a seat on the couches in the corner.

8:00 p.m. Nevins touts Homeland's achievement as the most-nominated freshman show in his introduction of Legend. The packed room cheers loudly for the series, with the entire cast, including Mandy Patinkin, on hand to hear it.

8: 12 p.m. Legend covers Bruce Springsteen's “Dancing in the Dark” with a ballad that has most of the room entranced. Before his next song, he declares himself a big fan of Homeland. Co-creator and showrunner Alex Gansa makes his way closer to the stage.

8:15 p.m. Ben Schwartz says that his pick for best comedy series is between two shows that were overlooked and a long-ago fave:  "Tie between House of Lies, Parks and Recreation and ... Dinosaurs." CBS CEO Leslie Moonves and Lionsgate CEO, Jon Feltheimer and Homeland co-creator Howard Gordon sit on the couch and take in the performance by Legend. 

8:25 p.m. Ryan Murphy, fresh from the NBC bash at Boa 10 blocks away, arrives at the Showtime party. He and 20th Century Fox TV chairman Dana Walden weave through the crowd in seach of fellow chairman Gary Newman. Later, Murphy and Gordon catch up.

PHOTOS: Emmys 2012: Tim Goodman Picks Who Will Win (and Who Should)

8:30 p.m. Hall leaves the party, stopping to sign autographs for the small throng waiting out in front of the hotel. Nevins chats with Helen Hunt, while Cheadle makes his way toward him to say hello. Homeland co-creator Alex Gansa catches up with his young star Morgan Saylor, who "still can't believe all of this is happening."

8:45 p.m. CBS Studios chief David Stapf catches up with Showtime CEO Matthew Blank as Murphy makes his way for the exit. He's greeted by paparazzi looking for him to sign autographs.

NBC:

9:45 p.m. Go On's Matthew Perry is flanked by chairmen Bob Greenblatt and Ted Harbert, while Biggest Loser's Alison Sweeney makes small talk nearby. Over in the corner by the Sushi Roku bar, one of Parenthood's youngest stars, Savannah Paige Rae, plays with a gaggle of other children.

10:10 p.m. Parenthood's Sam Jaeger, Rae's on-screen dad, says he hopes this is the year that co-star Monica Potter earns a nomination. "Especially after Tuesday's episode, which is very intense," he said. Jaeger directed the hour.

History:

10:48 p.m. Costner is surrounded near a corner booth at Soho House, where he's been holding court for well over 30 minutes. Meanwhile, History chief Nancy Dubuc and her husband are making the rounds, while Lionsgate's Sandra Stern and A&E Networks CEO Abbe Raven both mingle nearby.

11:10 p.m: Costner and the cast of Hatfields & McCoys gather in the front corner of Soho House greeting parade of execs.

11:50 p.m.: Idris Elba, a nominee for Luther, is toasting a couple hundred friends at a private party at David Arquette's Bootsy Bellows club across the street from Soho House.

View the original article here

James Franco's Band Debuts 'Love in the Old Days' (Video)

Yes, James Franco is adding musician to his lengthy resume, and he has the music video to prove it.

Franco and musician Tim O’Keefe (a former classmate of Franco’s at the Rhode Island School of Design) are releasing an EP under the moniker Daddy. Franco directed the duo’s first video, “Love in the Old Days,” a meditation on romance in the 1960s, which features references to his parents and features their wedding photo near the end.

PHOTOS: 20 Best and Worst Music to Movie Crossovers

Franco said he knows some may scoff at his foray into music, considering the actor’s many extracurriculars already include directing and pursuing multiple graduate degrees.

“I know I do a lot of things. I'm very aware of that,” Franco told Rolling Stone. “I'm sure there are a lot of skeptical people, hearing about me doing music . . . To me, it all comes from a similar place. It's like using different tools to express things in different ways."

PHOTOS: 'Francophenia,' James Franco's 'General Hospital' Movie, Production Stills

Daddy’s debut EP, MotorCity, hits Sept. 25 and features vocal contributions from Motown’s Smokey Robinson, whom Franco met on a flight. The cover art is a photo of Franco’s Spring Breakers costars Selena Gomez, Vanessa Hudgens, Ashley Benson and Rachel Korine.

Watch the video below.

View the original article here

'Dark Knight Rises' Shooting Victims Sue Cinemark

AURORA, Colo. — Three people wounded in the shooting that killed 12 people at a Colorado theater have filed lawsuits alleging the exit door the gunman used to enter the building should have had an alarm.

Two lawsuits were filed Friday in U.S. District Court on behalf of Denise Traynom, Brandon Axelrod and Joshua Nowlan. Their attorney, former Denver judge Christina Habas, declined to comment. A spokeswoman for Cinemark USA Inc. had no immediate comment.

The lawsuits filed against the subsidiary of Cinemark Holdings Inc. are believed to be the first. They were filed the same day the company revealed plans to refurbish and reconfigure the theater and have it ready to open by the beginning of 2013.

James Holmes, 24, is accused of killing 12 people and wounding 58 others during a special midnight showing of The Dark Knight Rises.

Prosecutors allege the former University of Colorado, Denver, graduate student left the theater through a back exit, propped open the exit door and re-entered the theater to begin the shooting. The lawsuits claim Holmes was able to move his car into position after he left the theater through the back exit.

In addition to failing to have alarmed exit doors, the lawsuits claim Cinemark was negligent in failing to hire extra security for the midnight showing or generally protect patrons who were sitting in a darkened theater. They also say Cinemark failed to help evacuate the theater even after the shooting ended. The lights were either off or very low even after the gunfire stopped, according to the lawsuit.

Traynom was wounded in the buttocks, while Axelrod suffered bone injuries to his right knee and ankle. Nowlan’s right arm was nearly severed by a bullet, and he was also wounded in his left leg.

Meanwhile, Aurora Mayor Steve Hogan was celebrating the announcement that Cinemark will reopen the theater. Cinemark President and CEO Tim Warner advised Hogan of the company’s intention by letter before the lawsuits were filed.

In a statement, Hogan said there has been overwhelming support to reopen the theater.

“We will always remember those who lost their lives and the many others impacted that day. While no one will ever forget that day, this is another step in the community’s healing,” Hogan said.

In a letter to Cinemark, the mayor asked that special provisions be made for a victim and survivor visitation, memorials, and a change to the outside appearance of the building.

Details of the changes that would be made were not immediately available.

View the original article here

Michael Jackson Goes Pro-Life on 'Bad 25' Track (Audio)

Michael Jackson was famous for singing, "The kid is not my son," but on another archival track, the late King of Pop changed his tune.

"Song Groove (A/K/A Abortion Papers)," a bonus track released on this week's Bad 25 anniversary reissue, finds Jackson singing directly about abortion: "Those abortion papers/signed in your name against the words of God/Those abortion papers/Think about life, I'd like to have my child."

PHOTOS: Stage to Screen: A Brief History of Contemporary Concert Movies

Despite the serious subject matter, "Song Groove" is an upbeat dance track, in line with the rest of the Bad extras.

Bad was originally released in 1987; Jackson would become the father of three beginning with the birth of Michael Joseph "Prince" Jackson, Jr. in 1997.

View the original article here

Austin Mahone's 'Say Somethin' Video Sparks Return to Social 50 Chart

16-year-old Internet sensation Austin Mahone makes a grand re-entry at No. 19 on Billboard's Social 50 chart following the release of his video for "Say Somethin." The clip roused his massive online fan base last week, garnering over 1.5 million YouTube views for the clip during the charting period.

The Social 50 chart ranks the most popular artists on YouTube, Vevo, Facebook, Twitter and MySpace, using a formula that blends weekly additions of friends/fans/followers along with weekly artist page views and weekly song plays.

"Say Somethin," which is apparently not a part of any formal album release yet, comes on the heels of Mahone's recent signing with Chase/Universal Republic. As reported by The Hollywood Reporter, Mahone has signed a 360 deal putting him under the same umbrella of Owl City, Florence + The Machine and the late Amy Winehouse.

The jump in Mahone's YouTube viewership allowed for a 231 percent spike in weekly fan acquisition. He also gained 195,000 new Facebook fans and 25,000 new Twitter followers. The video for "Say Somethin" is the first to be uploaded to Mahone's newly minted VEVO channel, which has drawn more than 23,000 subscribers already. Simultaneously, the YouTube channel where Mahone rose to fame also experienced a 54 percent upswing in views as he continues to post behind the scenes content for his loyal followers.

Elsewhere on the Social 50, hip-hop artist Timati debuts at No. 24. Popular in Russia and nearby countries, he released the video for his single "Tattoo" last week, which has racked up more than 1.3 million views.

While the name Timati may be unfamiliar to a U.S. audience, the artists who he's worked with in the past certainly aren't. Timati has collaborated with Diddy Dirty Money on "I'm On You" and with Timbaland on "Not All About The Money" -- two singles from Timati's June 2012 album, Swagg. The video sparked a massive 184 percent gain in weekly Twitter follower acquisition during the charting week, where Timati added 236,000 new followers.

Alicia Keys has been particularly active in social media over the past few weeks promoting her upcoming album, Girl On Fire. She re-enters at No. 27 on the Social 50 after buzz generated by a feature in the New York Times and the release of two new videos to her official YouTube channel. One of those is a lyric video for the song "Not Even the King."

Also soaring on the tally because of lyric videos is P!nk, who released three of them this past week. Simple animation clips for "The Truth About Love," "Beam Me Up" and "Just Give Me A Reason" each gained between 200,000 and 400,000 views each. The attention gave way to a 15 percent increase in her overall fan base, allowing the diva to jump 43-35 in the tally.

Animated YouTube cover act Your Favorite Martian re-enters at No. 37 with a cover of Linkin Park's "High Voltage" that has so far added 800,000 views to its YouTube channel. Also experiencing jumps are the Social 50's resident X Factor judges, Demi Lovato (34-15) and Britney Spears (21-9), who have been using their social presences to promote their weekly television appearances.

As for the rest of the Top 10, PSY remains in the No. 1 spot as Taylor Swift and Rihanna holds at Nos. 2 and 3 respectively. One Direction leaps (6-4) as does Skrillex (7-5), causing Katy Perry (4-6) and Justin Bieber (5-7) to fall. Jennifer Lopez remains at No. 8, and Lady Gaga slips a spot down to No. 10.

View the original article here

Rookie's Tavi Gevinson Talks 'Bitchface,' James Franco Encounter (Video)

Tavi Gevinson is only 16 years old, and she's already a household name in the fashion world: when she was 11, she created a blog, "Style Rookie," that captured the attention of designers, editors and industry insiders in addition to a cult audience of young readers who obsessively followed the Chicago-area native's sophisticated commentary and quirky-cool wardrobe updates.

Gevinson soon received invitations to New York Fashion Week, appeared on artsy magazine covers (Pop, L'Officiel) and struck up a friendship with Kate and Laura Mulleavy, aka the Rodarte sisters. (She helped promote and inspire their 2009 collection for Target. In an interview with Style.com, the avante-garde duo described Gevinson, then 13, as "a mix between J.D. Salinger, Dorothy Parker and Cindy Sherman.")

Gevinson attended the Mulleavys' Spring 2013 runway show earlier this month and also attended a downtown bash for the hipster clothing emporium Opening Ceremony. She appeared on Jimmy Fallon's late-night show, where she effortlessly engaged in banter with the host (even showing him her patented "bitchface").

STORY: UTA Signs Web Publishing Phenom Tavi Gevinson

The main reason she in New York, however, was to celebrate the one-year anniversary of Rookie Magazine, her irreverent website geared toward young women that spans the subjects of fashion, pop culture and true-life confessionals. Gevinson is Rookie's founder-editor, and her imprint is everywhere, from a DIY tutorial on "How to Turn Your Tights Into Knee Socks" to an ode to the Bard called "Literally the Best Thing Ever: Shakespeare." Her celebrity no doubt helped lure the likes of Jon Hamm and Paul Rudd to participate in the popular video feature "Ask a Grown Man." (Her next target: President Obama, the subject of a Twitter campaign to recruit the commander-in-chief as the next famous male to answer readers' questions.)

At a school dance-themed party at the Ace Hotel on Sept. 12, Gevinson also feted the release of her first book, Rookie Yearbook One, a collection of photos and essays written by Rookie writers and celeb scribes including Miranda July. Gevinson included her amusing article on "How to Bitchface," or recreate her stone-faced expression (it could also be dubbed, "Fashionface").

"It's kind of just a face I make a lot," she said in an interview with THR, laughing while explaining that the site's editorial director came up with the idea because of "my, like, constantly looking irritated when I'm like talking about my day or whatever."

Before Rookie's launch in September 2011, Gevinson stipulated that writers would post stories during three key times of the day (including after dinner, prime Facebook-stalking time) and would avoid talking down or preaching to readers.

"Probably my favorite thing ever was my friend's little brother recently went to his first school dance, had his first kiss, and his family later told me that he was telling them about the girl and he said, 'She looks like she reads Rookie.' And that was like a good thing," she said. "And his other guy friends, they're like, 12, were like, 'Yeah, yeah, she had like shiny red shoes!' And It just made me happy that being a girl who reads Rookie was like an attractive quality to these young men."

Despite her high profile, the levelheaded, unfailingly articulate Gevinson seems to make an easy transition between her double lives as student (she lives at home with her parents in Oak Park, Illinois) and media darling (who was also just cast in her first feature film role in writer-director Nicole Holofcener's untitled new film at Fox Searchlight).

She did admit to being nervous before her Fallon sitdown, and when we put her on the spot to give her most memorable celebrity encounter, she conceded to geeking out somewhat during an encounter with James Franco.

"I did meet James Franco once and I said I was a big fan of Freaks and Geeks and he was like, 'So are you a freak or a geek?' And I was like, 'I'm kind of both' and probably went into my life story, which he probably didn't care about, and he was like, 'Yeah I feel like I'm both too sometimes.'"

Twitter: @ErinLCarlson

Email: erin.carlson@thr.com

View the original article here