Susan Lucci To Co-Star In Marc Cherrys ABC Pilot Devious Service personnel

EXCLUSIVE: Daytime icon Susan Lucci is going to primetime while remaining near to her cleaning soap roots. The previous My Children star is coming back to ABC having a plum co-starring role within the network’s pilot Devious Service personnel, a primetime cleaning soap from Desperate Average women creator Marc Cherry, inside a plum co-starring role. In line with the Mexican format, Devious Service personnel follows four service personnel (Ana Ortiz, Dania Ramirez, Roselyn Sanchez, Judy Reyes) with ambition and dreams that belongs to them when they work with the wealthy and famous in Beverly Hillsides. Lucci will have among the companies, Genevieve Delacourt, an attractive, wealthy lady who's lightly crazy. Getting spent her adult existence bringing in one effective guy to another, she’s reduced to influencing the Armenian pool boy, and also the vertiginous drop in her own sexual status leaves her — well, the term is nuts. Unused to getting males walk past her as though she were as sexless like a mailbox, Genevieve is feeling suicidal. Within the last 41 years, Lucci performed her signature role of Erica Kane on ABC’s daytime drama My Children, the only real original cast member to become around the series until its finish last fall.

VH1 and TVGuide.com To Host Live Web Chat With Mob Wives' Renee Graziano

The Trammps (Jimmy Ellis, bottom right) Jimmy Ellis, the lead singer of The Trammps, the music group that popularized the 1970s anthem "Disco Inferno," has died. He was 74. Ellis died in a Rock Hill, S.C. nursing home of complications from Alzheimer's disease, his daughter told The NY Times. See other celebs we lost this year Born in South Carolina, Ellis formed The Trammps in the early 1970s. The band's first recording, a remake of "Zing! Went the Strings of My Heart," reached No. 17 on the R&B charts. Their biggest hit came in 1977 when their single "Disco Inferno" was used in the film Saturday Night Fever. The song reached No. 11 on the Billboard pop chart and the movie's soundtrack climbed to No. 1. The album later won the Grammy for album of the year in 1979. Check out more of today's news Ellis is survived by his wife, two children, three brothers, one sister, eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Yahoo offers family view in 'America'

As online leaders still push into original programming, Yahoo News will debut short-form weekly reality series "Remake America," which follows the lives of six American families, on Thursday. Skein will give you a lens to the political issues the primary factor around the 2012 elections, like the impact of unemployment, health care, veteran matters as well as the housing marketplace. Yahoo auds can join the discussion by posting advice, comments and tales round the show's conversation page, and so they can stay with the families through various social media platforms. "?'Remake America' puts real faces and names to issues Us citizens can interact with. Yahoo thinks it is crucial the voices and lives of Us citizens be heard to have the ability to start a lasting community also to influence change," mentioned Robert Barrett, V . p . of Yahoo news and finance. Inside a conference on Wednesday, Barrett known towards the Netco as dedicated to "building islands of (video) content" within its core franchises. A year ago, Yahoo inked a deal with ABC News to boost its position just before elections. It recently introduced the rollout from the comedy block. Contact the number newsroom at news@variety.com

Old Racists, Ex-Co-employees Among Harvey Weinstein's Latest Competitors

What week for Harvey Weinstein: Win a truckload of Oscars on Sunday, re-on the PR war while using MPAA on Tuesday, then today - as his company's other notable French import Intouchables prepares due to its U.S. premiere in NY City - start a trans-Atlantic flame war with France's most infamously racist old coot. It's like Linsanity, but also for Hollywood megalomaniacs! Weinsanity! And there's more. First though, here's the well-known, ultra-conservative French nationalist and political firebrand asshole Jean-Marie Le Pen striking the scales on Intouchables, the blockbuster buddy flick about (per a Weinstein Co. statement) "a wealthy, physically disabled winning player, the look of established French nobility, who lost his wife inside an accident and whose world is switched upside lower because he utilizes a young, good-humored, black Muslim ex-disadvantage as his caretaker." I am unsure how one exclaims, "Say whaaaa?" in French, nevertheless it probably sounds something such as this: That aforementioned Weinstein Company statement translates: France is similar to this handicapped person stuck in this particular mobility device, and we'll have to wait for aid of these suburb youngsters as well as the immigration generally. I don't subscribe so far of view. It's a movie, one. And that we must go by doing this rather than for example money for hard times. It may be an emergency if France would find itself inside the same situation as this poor handicapped person. On one for reds, situation Le Pen being Le Pen. Large deal. Alternatively, have a look at Harvey being Harvey - i.e. waiting an entire month following a interview broadcast (he acquired Intouchables' distribution and British-language remake rights last summer season) to set up towards the easiest, fattest target imaginable on his film's account: "It is not an unpredicted to hear this type of intolerant statement within the guy who founded and was leader in the extreme-right, xenophobic, racist National Front party. Le Pen developed a repulsive statement, representing a bigoted world view. And also at this time around, Jean-Marie's daughter, Marine Le Pen, is running for leader of France since the leader in the National Front party -- and he or she is fourth inside the polls with almost 16% in the population likely to election on her behalf. That's frightening in my opinion, but you have to speak up and speak out against Le Pen and also the ideas. This is why I'm proud to produce THE INTOUCHABLES to American audiences. This movie is founded on an authentic story, which is a fascinating, very entertaining demonstration of how simple human connection trounces socioeconomic, religious and racial divides." Perfect. I enjoy Intouchables premieres today since the Opening Evening film of Lincoln subsequently subsequently Center's exclusive Rendez-Vous with French Cinema series and opens May 25 in limited release? Ahem. Meanwhile, all Harvey's recent protesting-too-much has become among its most devastating rebuttals so far from Rob Lipsky, the prior indie professional switched filmmaker who got his come from the Weinsteins' Miramax regime. Which have created current day amazing takedown at indieWIRE, where Lipsky further uncovered Harvey's hypocritical, gratuitously self-serving and exploitative handling of his documentary Bully: I dislike bullying and then try to have. I furthermore include an abiding contempt for hypocrisy. If Harvey has, really, awesome, he must be launched and inform them freely. He or she must own his past behavior, admit to his addiction bullying is certainly a dependancy, ultimately, both to energy and dominance and pledge not to bully anybody again. If hes trying to find ink and debate (which he's really) there's forget about honest or effective way of him as well as the film to be. [...] Harvey, there is a rare chance with Bully to actually gradually slowly move the needle by leaving the earth a far greater place. For me that youd need to see bullying stop. For me that you'd like every child, parent, and educator in the united states to find out Bully, and not for your boxoffice. Consider making that incredibly high equine of yours and rehearse that bully pulpit to make certain children, parents and instructors everywhere when you are in a position to reform, anyone can. Light a fire place, Harvey, for every kid thats ever cajolled someone too for each parent who trained them how. Ouch. Your move, Harvey. Follow S.T. VanAirsdale on Twitter. Follow Movieline on Twitter.

R.J. Cutler Signs First-Look Television Deal With Lionsgate

EXCLUSIVE: R.J. Cutler keeps growing his relationship with Lionsgate Television. The Oscar-nominated filmmaker (The War Room) and Emmy-winning television producer (American High), has signed a preliminary-look television deal with Lionsgate to develop and create scripted programming for broadcast and cable. Cutler first teamed with Lionsgate TV this development season on drama project Nashville, which provided to ABC and was recently acquired to pilot with Cutler executive creating and pointing. R.J.s fascination with growing his activities in scripted programming meshed perfectly with this particular have to continue coping with him beyond Nashville, mentioned Lionsgate TV Group leader Kevin Beggs. Hes an very creative and experienced producer and were searching toward developing other projects together after we still expand our television business. Put together by Oscar champion Callie Khouri, Nashville is known to love a household cleaning cleaning soap about love, new bands, family, politics and sex set in the backdrop in the Nashville music scene. Cutler and Khouri are executive allowing the pilot with Nashville-based Gaylord Entertainment Lionsgate TV is co-creating with ABC Art galleries. Were getting such an enjoyable experience on Nashville that building round the relationship made an appearance an apparent next factor,” Cutler mentioned. “Lionsgate is the greatest home for your kind of scripted television If only to create and direct. Cutler, repped by CAA and attorney Jeanne Newman, is presently creating and pointing the feature documentary The Earth According to Dick Cheney for Showtime.

Valentine's Day Movies For Him And For Her

Deciding which romantic movie to watch on the day of romance can be enough to ruin the entire day. There's no need to sweat over a simple movie to watch together, so we took the time to list the movies you both can enjoy for different reasons. Here are the Valentine's Day movies everyone can fall in love with. "Casablanca" (1942) For her: This all-time classic, at its heart, is a love story. Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman star in one of the most beloved love affairs in the history of film and shared one of the most memorable goodbyes ever. It's sure to dampen an eye or two. For him: If any day of the year requires a positive male role model, it's Valentine's Day. Bogart will show you the ropes on how to woo women, smoke, and drink whiskey. We can't recommend the last two, but there's more than enough manliness to keep you interested if romance is not your thing. "Vertigo" (1958) For her: Could your relationship survive a maniacal plot to fake someone's death with the use of a look-alike and an ancestor's ghost? Probably not, so why not spend Valentine's Day watching the story of one that did? Jimmy Stewart and Kim Novac light up the screen as the most romantically obsessed couple of all time. Sure it's got a tragic ending, but who hasn't experienced a bad breakup? For him: Maybe you don't tell her this, but this movie gets messed up. It might not have the gore of today's movies, but it goes to dark places that only a handful of movies are willing to go today. "Princess Bride" (1987) For her: This is the storybook love story you've grown up loving. It's got a prince and a princess, a forbidden and undying love. I'm swooning just writing about it. Of course, it will make for the perfect Valentine's Day movie. Hopefully, some of Westley will rub off on your guy, and soon he'll be responding, "As you wish." For him: Despite how you may remember it from sleepovers when you were seven years-old, "The Princess Bride" is a hilarious movie. You would be hard-pressed to find someone who didn't find this movie in the least bit entertaining. "True Romance" (1993) For her: A hooker with a heart of gold takes up with a misunderstood loser, and the two quickly fall in love. What follows is a fast-paced and passionate romance, just like the rockstars from the sixties. Bonnie and Clyde have nothing on Alabama and Clarence. Plus, there's a nice little cameo from Brad Pitt. For him: Alright, so Alabama and Clarence are both insane. Clarence takes advice from the imaginary figure of Elvis, and Alabama beats the ever-loving crap out of James Gandolfini as a mob tough guy. That's to be expected from Quentin Tarantino, who wrote the screenplay. "Pride & Prejudice" (2005) For her: You may think that by watching this you'll have won the discussion. Nothing is girlier than Jane Austen, right? For him: Wrong. You may pretend to hate this one, but there is a lot for everyone to enjoy here. The 2005 adaptation with Keira Knightley features some of the cleverest dialogue in recent years, and Jane Austen wrote most of it in 1813. "Drive" (2011) For her: Ryan Gosling. For him: Ryan Gosling. And elevator face-smashing. What are you Valentine's Day movie recommendations? Let us know in the comments below and on Twitter!

Systems Plan Tributes to Recognition Whitney Houston

Whitney Houston The dying of singing legend Whitney Houston has hit Hollywood as well as the record companies hard. To recognition "The Voice," this is a roundup from the products several systems have planned: Monday, Feb 136/7c: 106 & Park honors Houston's existence and legacy (Wager) 8/7c: The Bodyguard (Lifetime) 9:30/8:30c: Whitney Houston Dying from the Diva (VH1) Tuesday, Feb 14Noon: A to Z Whitney Houston Video (VH1 Classic) 1/12c: Cinderella, also starring Brandy and Whoopi Goldberg (Wager)4:05/3:05c: Waiting to Exhale (Encore)10/9c: 100 Finest Women in Music to incorporate acknowledgment (Wager)Thursday, Feb 16Time TBD: VH1 News Presents Whitney Houston's Finest Moments (VH1) 8/7c: Whitney Houston: Symbolic Appreciated (TV Guide Network) 9/8c: Remembering Whitney: The The famous host the famous host oprah Interview (OWN)

Weighty themes, fest vets fill selections

'Sexy Sadie' helmer Matthias Glasner explores family tensions in a remote Norwegian town in 'Mercy.'Though he's weathered plenty of criticism of his programming choices in recent years, particularly in the German press, Berlinale director Dieter Kosslick appears to have made few major course adjustments with the festival's 62nd annual edition. If anything, the sheer number of Berlin alumni in this year's typically serious-minded competition lineup suggests a deliberate, if not defiant, reaffirmation of the talent Kosslick has brought to the festival over his 11-year tenure.Three Berlinale regulars will deliver a strong showing for Germany on its home turf. Christian Petzold ("Yella," last year's "Dreileben: Beats Being Dead") is returning with "Barbara," his latest collaboration with "Yella" thesp Nina Hoss; Hans-Christian Schmid ("Distant Lights," "Requiem," "Storm") is bringing his domestic drama "Home for the Weekend"; and Matthias Glasner ("Die Mediocren," "Sexy Sadie," "The Free Will") explores family tensions in a remote Norwegian town in "Mercy."The roster of non-Teuton alums vying for the Golden Bear is equally imposing. Though better known of late for stirring controversy at Cannes, Filipino helmer Brillante Mendoza (whose "Slingshot" premiered in Berlinale's 2008 Forum section) will deliver one of the fest's most buzzed-about entries, "Captive," a kidnapping drama starring Isabelle Huppert. Italy's Taviani brothers ("The Lark Farm") will be in attendance with "Caesar Must Die," centered around a Shakespeare production mounted by maximum-security prison inmates in Rome, while Benedik Fliegauf ("Forest") makes his competition debut with "Just the Wind," an account inspired by the murders of Romani families in the helmer's native Hungary.Returning to the festival that honored him with a Golden Bear for 2006's "Tuya's Marriage," Wang Quanan is back in competition with "White Deer Plain," a 188-minute Chinese epic about the Cultural Revolution. Out of competition, Wang's fellow mainlander Zhang Yimou (a frequent Berlin visitor with such films as "Hero," "A Woman, a Gun and a Noodle Shop," "Hero" and 1987 Golden Bear winner "Red Sorghum") will premiere his local B.O. smash "The Flowers of War," about the 1937-38 Nanjing massacre.All in all, it's a fairly bleak-sounding selection based on subject matter alone. It's par for the course for most festivals and certainly for Berlin, which has never shied away from challenging its audience (easily the largest of any fest, with nearly 400 films screening to roughly 500,000 attendees) with grim, confrontational and politically charged fare.Partly out of aesthetic pride, partly due to the increasing difficulty of competing with Cannes and Venice for auteur prestige or Hollywood luster, Berlin has often staked its reputation on the promise of challenging but rewarding work from lesser-known international filmmakers, such as Maren Ade's "Everyone Else" or Ulrich Koehler's "Sleeping Sickness." This year it will attempt to keep that promise with such competition debutantes as Ursula Meier ("Sister"), Miguel Gomes ("Tabu"), Frederic Videau ("Coming Home"), Antonio Chavarrias ("Childish Games"), mono-monikered Edwin ("Postcards From the Zoo") and Kim Nguyen ("War Witch").Nonetheless, Kosslick arranged a splashy start with the festival's opening-night selection, "Farewell, My Queen," a French Revolution costume drama starring Diane Kruger as Marie Antoinette. Helmer Benoit Jacquot's pic is one of two monarchy-themed historical dramas in competition, both set in roughly the same era; the other is Nikolaj Arcel's "A Royal Affair," the story of a small-town physician who rose to power in 16th-century Denmark.A very different period piece, and one of the fest's highest-profile selections, is Billy Bob Thornton's "Jayne Mansfield's Car," a tale of two rival families set in late-1960s Alabama that happens to be the sole American-directed entry in competition. The U.S./Hollywood presence is stronger in the festival's noncompeting strands, which will present screenings of Steven Soderbergh's "Haywire," Jason Reitman's "Young Adult" and Angelina Jolie's "In the Land of Blood and Honey."As usual, the Berlinale will serve as a European platform for Oscar contenders that have already played Stateside, though in terms of critical and commercial reception, the selection of "Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close" and "The Iron Lady" reps a considerable downturn from last year's sterling choices, "True Grit" and "The King's Speech." For red-carpet wattage alone, the festival's hottest ticket may well be Robert Pattinson starrer "Bel Ami," Declan Donnellan and Nick Ormerod's adaptation of Guy de Maupassant's oft-filmed novel.Striking less frivolous notes are the numerous documentaries programmed throughout the fest's sidebars. Past Berlin jury president Werner Herzog will present "Death Row," a four-part, 188-minute companion-piece to his recent "Into the Abyss" in the Berlinale Special section. Portraits of artists abound, from such world premieres as Kevin Macdonald's "Marley" and Klaartje Quirijns' "Anton Corbijn Inside Out" to Sundance-preemed titles including Matthew Akers' "Marina Abramovic the Artist Is Present" and Alison Klayman's "Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry."Roughly a month before the one-year anniversary of Japan's earthquake/tsunami disaster, the Forum will present three nonfiction efforts examining the fallout of the disaster: Shunji Iwai's "Friends After 3.11," Toshi Fujiwara's "No Man's Zone" and Atsushi Funahashi's "Nuclear Nation." It's the sort of sober, topical programming that befits a festival clearly trying hard to be taken seriously; whether the quality lives up to the promise, only the next 10 days or so will tell. Contact Justin Chang at justin.chang@variety.com

Meaghan Rath Isn't Your Typical Ghost on 'Being Human'

Were playing normal somebody that has these conditions which are supernatural," states Meaghan Rath, who plays Sally on Syfys re-imagining from the BBC series Being Human. "Thats what stand out concerning the show."The Montreal-native shows a ghost who lives having a vampire (Mike Witwer) along with a werewolf (Mike Huntington). Despite the fact that Rath continues to be acting regularly in Canada during the last decade, she's still considered a brand new face in the usa. "It certainly helps you to possess some material to exhibit before coming here," Rath states of her earlier work. "Once the show was being released this past year, I just read articles saying, 'Newcomer Meaghan Rath,' and Ive been carrying this out for a long time. However I love that. You are able to perform a lot in Canada, and it offers a superior lots of time to practice and improve."Back Stage: How have you enter into acting? Meaghan Rath: After I was more youthful, I wasnt really sure things i desired to do, however i told lots of is based on school. I told my buddies once which i was playing John Travoltas daughter inside a movie. I additionally told people who I'd this romantic affair with Jonathan Taylor Thomas on the summer time. I Quickly began these training courses for fun on saturday in the Montral School of Carrying out Arts. Once after i involved 12, a casting director arrived which was casting a schoolgirl for Lost and Delirious. My school picture, by which I had been putting on a uniform, was around the wall. She requested me to audition and that i got role. I performed Allisons Friend Number 3, my best product up to now. (Laughs) Back Stage: Did your ethnicity help your job initially or present more challenges? Rath: My fathers household is part British and Austrian, and my moms household is from Goa, which is incorporated in the south of India. I looked not the same as everybody other person, which now's this type of blessing. It had been harder at the outset of my career. There's not as numerous roles for those who seem like me, also it was always complicated if this found casting my parents. However I could not become more grateful that I've got a different look. Back Stage: How have you get brought to Being Human? Rath: I hadnt heard about the British series. I received the breakdown from my agent and that i connected immediately with Sally. I acquired the very first two scripts and that i thought, I have to do that.Back again Stage: That which was the audition process like? Rath: I auditioned a lot of occasions in Montral. They travelled me to La to screen test with potential men. The procedure involved per month. Back Stage: Did they create you put on a sheet? Rath: No. (Laughs.) I used a whitened dress and attempted to appear as haunting when i could. I did not do like arm waving or strange vocal stuff. I did not put on makeup either because were playing against type. However I am very superstitious and when I recieve it a phone call back, Ill put on exactly the same factor I used the very first time. Back Stage: How have you investigate the role? Rath: Ive been in to the horror genre, so Ive seen lots of movies with ghosts and supernatural stuff. I looked more in to the ghost lore, however i seem like Sally is really a brand new ghost at first, I had been type of learning together with her.Back again Stage: What's challenging about playing a personality that's mostly non-corporeal? Rath: At first, I never got any props, so when you speak with someone, sometimes you touch them without considering it. Individuals were habits which i needed to break, that we think assisted me being an actor. Also, after i take a seat on the couch, the pillows are constructed of concrete, and so i dont make an imprint. Thats uncomfortable. Back Stage: What advice can you share with stars who've to re-make a character? Rath: Dont watch it. I was attempting to create our very own factor which ended by staying away from another show. Should you spend considerable time thinking, I really hope ours is really as good or better, then you aren't concentrating on the job. You simply do your very best and make use of what you could offer for that role. Being Human airs Mondays at 9 p.m. EST on Syfy.

BAFTA Best Film artwork arrives

BAFTA has commissioned a series of brochure covers to accompany the Best Film nominees ahead of next Sunday's award ceremony, and rather gorgeous they are too.Designed by Eda Akaltun and StudioSmall, the five brochures present an arty take on the five big films of the night. In case you missed the earlier announcements, they are Drive, The Help, Tinker Tailor Solider Spy, The Artist and The Descendants.On balance, we'd say that the Drive cover is probably our favourite, although the image for The Artist runs it close. Sadly, the images are not currently available to buy, or else we'd have snapped them up already.The BAFTAs will be handed out at London's Royal Opera House on Sunday 12 February. Until then, take a look at the artwork in full below...

List Of 84th Annual Academy Award Nominations

First Published: January 24, 2012 9:44 AM EST Credit: Fox Searchlight Caption George Clooney and Shailene Woodley in Fox Searchlights The Descendants, 2011LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Complete list of 84th Annual Academy Award nominations announced Tuesday: 1. Best Picture: The Artist, 'The Descendants, 'Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close, 'The Help, 'Hugo, 'Midnight in Paris, 'Moneyball, 'The Tree of Life, 'War Horse. 2. Actor: Demian Bichir, A Better Life; George Clooney, The Descendants; Jean Dujardin, The Artist; Gary Oldman, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy; Brad Pitt, Moneyball. 3. Actress: Glenn Close, Albert Nobbs; Viola Davis, The Help; Rooney Mara, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo; Meryl Streep, The Iron Lady; Michelle Williams, My Week With Marilyn. 4. Supporting Actor: Kenneth Branagh, My Week With Marilyn; Jonah Hill, Moneyball; Nick Nolte, Warrior; Christopher Plummer, Beginners; Max von Sydow, Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close. 5. Supporting Actress: Berenice Bejo, The Artist; Jessica Chastain, The Help; Melissa McCarthy, Bridesmaids; Janet McTeer, Albert Nobbs; Octavia Spencer, The Help. 6. Directing: Michel Hazanavicius, The Artist; Alexander Payne, The Descendants; Martin Scorsese, Hugo; Woody Allen, Midnight in Paris; Terrence Malick, The Tree of Life. 7. Foreign Language Film: Bullhead, Belgium; Footnote, Israel; In Darkness, Poland; Monsieur Lazhar, Canada; A Separation, Iran. 8. Adapted Screenplay: Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon and Jim Rash, The Descendants; John Logan, Hugo; George Clooney, Grant Heslov and Beau Willimon, The Ides of March; Steven Zaillian, Aaron Sorkin and Stan Chervin, Moneyball; Bridget OConnor and Peter Straughan, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. 9. Original Screenplay: Michel Hazanavicius, The Artist; Annie Mumolo and Kristen Wiig, Bridesmaids; J.C. Chandor, Margin Call; Woody Allen, Midnight in Paris; Asghar Farhadi, A Separation. 10. Animated Feature Film: A Cat in Paris; Chico&Rita; Kung Fu Panda 2; Puss in Boots; Rango. 11. Art Direction: The Artist, 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2, 'Hugo, 'Midnight in Paris, 'War Horse. 12. Cinematography: The Artist, 'The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, 'Hugo, 'The Tree of Life, 'War Horse. 13. Sound Mixing: The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, 'Hugo, 'Moneyball, 'Transformers: Dark of the Moon, 'War Horse. 14. Sound Editing: Drive, 'The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, 'Hugo, 'Transformers: Dark of the Moon, 'War Horse. 15. Original Score: The Adventures of Tintin, John Williams; The Artist, Ludovic Bource; Hugo, Howard Shore; Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Alberto Iglesias; War Horse, John Williams. 16. Original Song: Man or Muppet from The Muppets, Bret McKenzie; Real in Rio from Rio, Sergio Mendes, Carlinhos Brown and Siedah Garrett. 17. Costume: Anonymous, 'The Artist, 'Hugo, 'Jane Eyre, 'W.E. 18. Documentary Feature: Hell and Back Again, 'If a Tree Falls: A Story of the Earth Liberation Front, 'Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory, 'Pina, 'Undefeated. 19. Documentary (short subject): The Barber of Birmingham: Foot Soldier of the Civil Rights Movement, 'God Is the Bigger Elvis, 'Incident in New Baghdad, 'Saving Face, 'The Tsunami and the Cherry Blossom. 20. Film Editing: The Artist, 'The Descendants, 'The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, 'Hugo, 'Moneyball. 21. Makeup: Albert Nobbs, 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2, 'The Iron Lady. 22. Animated Short Film: Dimanche/Sunday, 'The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore, 'La Luna, 'A Morning Stroll, 'Wild Life. 23. Live Action Short Film: Pentecost, 'Raju, 'The Shore, 'Time Freak, 'Tuba Atlantic. 24. Visual Effects: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2, 'Hugo, 'Real Steel, 'Rise of the Planet of the Apes, 'Transformers: Dark of the Moon. Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Sony's 'Awakening' poised for weekend B.O. win

Sony Screen Gems' fourth "Underworld" installment, "Awakening," is poised to win the weekend box office with an estimated domestic take of $23 million to $25 million. B.O. observers base that number off of early Friday grosses, which indicate that the film will likely take in $9 million-$10 million today. Twentieth Century Fox's "Red Tails" is angling to come in second, with B.O. watchers pegging the film in the mid-to-high teens through Sunday. While matinees for the pic have held strong, observers caution that the pic has been hard to estimate, in part due to the unknown quantity of group sales ahead of the pic's release. Relativity's "Haywire" also opens this weekend, with observers putting the pic's weekend earnings in the $8 million-$9 million range. That's based off of estimates that Steven Soderbergh's female-driven action pic will gross about $3 million for the day. Meanwhile Warner Bros.' "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close" expands this weekend to 2,630 theaters. Early estimates point to a Friday take of $3.5 million-$4 million, leading the way for a three-day gross of $9 million-$11 million. U's "Contraband," now in its sophomore sesh, is looking to hold well. Box office observers say the pic will likely earn between $3.5 million and $4 million today and $11.5 million-$13 million for the weekend. Contact Rachel Abrams at Rachel.Abrams@variety.com

MTV Movie Brawl 2012: 'Hunger Games' Vs. 'Woman In Black'

The MTV Movie Brawl 2012 is officially on! After the initial play-in, wild card, Sweet 16 and Elite 8 rounds, we're finally down to only four movies competing to be crowned the can't-miss movie of the year. As always, the choice remains entirely up to YOU. Which movie will win the brawl for it all? Vote at MTV Movies Blog and make your choice known! Ladies and gentlemen, your trip to Mars has been postponed all thanks to an unassuming archer named Katniss Everdeen. "John Carter's" valiant quest for MTV Movie Brawl 2012 supremacy has finally come to an end, after rounds and rounds of the Taylor Kitsch-led movie surpassing expectations and cracking into the Elite Eight. Alas, in the end, it was no match for the top-ranked "Hunger Games," which continues on its expected path towards the final round. Tributes have had an easier time in the brawl for it all than most competitors, but the "Hunger Games" may have finally met its match in the form of a former boy wizard. Indeed, "The Woman in Black" has been on a tear, unexpectedly toppling "Snow White and the Huntsman" in the Sweet 16 and "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" in the Elite 8. Daniel Radcliffe fans can hold their heads high as they march forward through the brawl. But with an epic battle between "Hunger Games" and "Woman in Black" now underway, the decision of who moves onto the final round is completely in your hands. Who continues in this competition: the fan-favorite, or the dark horse?

Exclusive: The Key Circle Casts Cassie's Mysterious Father John Blackwell

Britt Robertson, Joe Lando It is the moment The Key Circle fans happen to be awaiting because the new CW series opened: Cassie's father, the mysterious John Blackwell, is visiting Chance Harbor. Exclusive: The Key Circle lands two new bad boys Joe Lando continues to be drawn on to portray Blackwell, whose original title within the L.J. Cruz book series was Black John, an old person in the Circle hundreds of years ago who had been wiped out by their own coven after he started to dabble in dark miracle. Within the CW series, Blackwell is referred to like a commanding, enigmatic and effective witch with lots of opponents. He'll go back to Chance Harbor in Episode 15 (entitled "Return") declaring to become a transformed guy, and going to safeguard Cassie (Britt Robertson) and her Circle. The Key Circle's Britt Robertson: Cassie is prepared for love Lando is better-noted for playing Byron Sully in Dr. Quinn, Medicine Lady and starring alongside A.J. Prepare and Hayden Christensen within the short-resided series Greater Ground. His other TV credits range from the Melrose Place reboot, NCIS and ABC Family's Wildfire. The Key Circle airs Thursdays at 9/8c around the CW.

Paul Bettany talks The Avengers

When reading the above headline, you might momentarily have been confused. "Wait, Paul Bettany isn't in The Avengers," you might have thought. But you'd have been wrong.Bettany voices the computer programme known as JARVIS, a role he also played in the two Iron Man movies. Although according to Bettany, he occasionally struggles to remember that fact himself."I forgot I was in Iron Man," reveals the British star. "Someone said, 'I loved you in Iron Man'. I said, 'You've got me mixed up with someone else.' I forgot I did the voice because it was only 30 minutes in a recording studio laughing my arse off!"And as for his work on The Avengers, Bettany isn't afraid to admit that it was the easiest money he'd ever made."I have no input with [The Avengers] other than spending half an hour sitting in a studio doing the voiceover," he explains. "It's the best job I've ever had. I say the lines and they pay me money."A refreshingly honest take on one of the most hyped movies of the year, there. You can listen to Bettany's dulcet tones when the film arrives in UK cinemas on 27 April 2012.

Lorre 'grateful' for 'Men' rebirth

It was a grateful Chuck Lorre that came to TCA on Wednesday to address the rebirth of "Two and a Half Men" after the blowup last year with former star Charlie Sheen. Lorre opened the sesh by emphasizing "we are grateful to be here." He and co-creator Lee Aronsohn also stressed that they knew it was a long shot to relaunch the show with Ashton Kutcher. "It's been a fun, exciting, challenging, terrifying experience," Lorre said. "We've been laughing a lot." The questions about Sheen were kept to a minimum. Of the prospect of a reconciliation, Lorre said: "I wish him well. I'm glad he's sober, happy and healthy." Aronsohn made a point of noting that the talk of strife between Lorre and Sheen during the show's eight seasons of production was misstated. "I never saw that," he said. "All of that came up after Charlie left the show. What's been built up as a feud never really existed." Lorre mostly deferred questions about the show's future next season to CBS execs. He said he felt the show had the legs to continue creatively "based on what's going on now in the writers' room -- absolutely." Kutcher was a little coy when pressed about the question of returning, as he only signed for the current season when he was recruited last spring. He said he was viewing the postseason period as "a hiatus" and said he's "interested in coming back if we can work that out." Contact Cynthia Littleton at cynthia.littleton@variety.com

DGA Nominations 2012: Martin Scorsese, Woodsy Allen, Alexander Payne, Michel Hazanavicius and David Fincher Honored

It appears like "The Lady Using the Dragon Tattoo" is not dead from an honours perspective in the end. Under per week following the film received an unexpected nomination in the Producers Guild of America, David Fincher was designated through the Company directors Guild of America among the five best company directors of 2011 for his focus on the thriller. Fincher's inclusion likely stored Steven Spielberg around the outdoors. The director was among the assumed DGA faves for "War Equine," but his title remained from the final ballot. What this may for Spielberg's Oscar chances remains to appear, but: not great! Other DGA nominees: Michel Hazanvicius for "The Artist," Alexander Payne for "The Descendants," Martin Scorsese for "Hugo" and Woodsy Allen for "Night time in Paris." Tate Taylor -- who directed honours-favorite "The AssistanceInch -- seemed to be snubbed through the DGA, however with a PGA nomination along with an ensemble jerk from SAG, his film ought to be one of the selected ones for the best Picture once the Oscar nominees are introduced later this month. [via DGA] [Photo: Getty] Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook

Frederica Sagor Maas dies at 111

Frederica Sagor Maas, one of the last surviving screenwriters, if not the last, with credits dating back to Hollywood's silent era, died Thursday in La Mesa, Calif., of natural causes. She was 111. Maas contributed to the screenplays of 15 films from 1925-28. She was an uncredited contributor to the Greta Garbo-John Gilbert classic "Flesh and the Devil" and to the Clara Bow starrer "It," but perhaps most significantly, she earlier co-adapted "The Plastic Age," a 1925 hit film that proved a huge career break for Bow. Maas felt repeatedly misused by the film industry and detailed her unhappy experiences in the 1999 memoir "The Shocking Miss Pilgrim: A Writer in Early Hollywood," published when she was 99. In the wake of the success of "The Plastic Age," she was signed to a contract at MGM, where she claimed others took credit for her work, including "The Waning Sex"; her contract was not renewed. At Tiffany Prods. she drew credits on flapper comedies "That Model From Paris" and "The First Night." She married Fox-based producer Ernest Maas in 1927, after which they teamed on scripts, but she soon found frustration again. She scripted "Silk Legs" for Fox and worked for Paramount on Bow pictures "It," "Red Hair" and "Lula" as well as the Louise Brooks film "Rolled Stockings." But a script they wrote called "Beefsteak Joe" was, she claimed, misappropriated and made into the Victor Fleming-directed Paramount film "The Way of All Flesh" (unrelated to the novel of the same name), and Maas found that her career momentum had slowed considerably after the couple returned from an extended European vacation. She was credited on Fox's rural comedy "The Farmer's Daughter" but hated the assignment. The Maases could only get rewrite work in the early 1930s. In 1935 "Silk Legs" was remade, in Spanish, by Fox, and the couple reviewed plays for the Hollywood Reporter from 1934-37. They continued to write screenplays but couldn't get them produced; in 1941 she wrote "Miss Pilgrim's Progress," a sober treatment of women in the workplace that sold for a song and eventually became Fox's 1947 pic "The Shocking Miss Pilgrim," a lighthearted musical comedy vehicle for Betty Grable. The couple eventually considered suicide, and Frederica Sagor Maas eventually became an insurance adjuster. In her 1999 book, which film historians consider an important reference on the inner workings of early Hollywood, she was harshly critical of legendary figures including Louis B. Mayer and Irving Thalberg and of the pervasive sexism and chicanery she repeatedly encountered in the industry. Born in NY City to Russian immigrant parents, Frederica Sagor attended Columbia College, from which she was hired away in 1920 by Universal Pictures to be an assistant story editor; the job involved attending Broadway plays to determine whether the material was suitable for bigscreen adaptation. She moved to Hollywood, eventually, because she wanted to pen scripts herself. Ernest Maas died in 1986 and the couple had no children. Contact Variety Staff at news@variety.com