Guaraldi heirs sue Concord Music

The children of the late jazz pianist Vince Guaraldi, creator of the enduring holiday album "A Charlie Brown Christmas," have sued Concord Music Group, claiming the label has shortchanged them on more than $2 million in royalties. David and Dia Guaraldi's breach of contract action filed Dec. 23 in Alameda County Superior Court -- alleges that Concord and Fantasy Records, which was purchased by Concord in 2004, underpaid royalties "for years and perhaps decades." Echoing allegations of several recent actions -- the most recent of them filed last week by Peter Frampton and the heir of the Knack's drummer Bruce Gary (Daily Variety, Dec. 27) -- the suit also claims Concord "has impermissibly and without justification reduced the royalty paid on sales of digital downloadsby third parties." The filing states, "Particularly with regard to the 'Charlie Brown Christmas' albumFantasy Records issued statements containing false or deceptive representations and underpaid plaintiffs based on those inaccurate and incomplete accountings." "A Charlie Brown Christmas," which contains the yuletide hit "Christmas Time is Here" and several recurring "Peanuts" cartoon themes, remains among the perennial holiday bestsellers. It stands at No. 37 on this week's U.S. album chart; according to Nielsen SoundScan, the collection has sold more than 3.1 million copies since the company began tracking sales in 1991. San Francisco native Vince Guaraldi, who died in 1976, spent his career at Berkeley-based Fantasy. His 1962 trio recording "Cast Your Fate to the Wind" was a top 25 pop hit and won a 1963 Grammy for best original jazz composition. Producer Lee Mendelson heard the hit song on a San Francisco radio station and hired Guaraldi in 1965 to score the first animated special based on Charles Schulz's "Peanuts" comic strip, a Christmas-themed program. Guaraldi went on to score an additional 17 "Peanuts" specials and a theatrical feature. Guaraldi and his children received ongoing royalty statements from Fantasy and Concord over the years. The suit claims that the statements "presented information in a manner which made it impossible for a reader, even on experienced in analyzing record company royalty accounting (which plaintiff were and are not), to determine from the face of the statements that they were false or deceptive." Action claims that royalty rates on record sales were "inaccurately low (at times, by as much as 70%)." Guaraldi was typically paid 50% of label receipts from third-party licensees. But, the suit says, "In calculating royalty rates on third party digital downloads, (Concord) has reduced by an additional 25% the already much lower royalty rate that would be payable on records sold by Concord Music's distributors." Action says Guaraldi's children were alerted to the alleged "unlawful" underpayments by a newly formatted royalty statement in 2008, and in November 2010 they undertook an audit of Concord's records. The label did not fully cooperate with the audit, according to the suit. Nonetheless, the suit claims that the audit uncovered underreported sales of physical goods, unreported digital sales, and drastically reduced royalty payments. The auditor concluded that Guaraldi's children were owed approximately $2 million, before interest. A Concord spokesman could not be reached for comment. Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

It's OK to love 'The Artist'

It's OK to love 'The Artist.' Really. Odds are, you have not even seen 'The Artist' yet, however the general consensus in the Oscar cognoscenti (lately marketed from Colonel Consensus) has switched sour around the film. In the beginning, General Consensus praised 'The Artist' because the bees' knees. "Hooray, 'The Artist,' you are so different. We love to you!" But, alas, General Consensus is really a finicky fellow. Because, lately -- despite the fact that will still be the favourite to consider home an Oscar for the best Picture -- acknowledging that you want 'The Artist' will enable you to get comparable reaction as acknowledging that you simply think the Gin Blossoms' 'New Miserable Experience' is among the best albums from the early 1990's. Yes, 'The Artist' offers quite a bit more that is similar to the Gin Blossoms than you may think. Last evening I had been speaking on the telephone to some friend, Steve, who lives in St. Louis. Steve has two youthful kids, so he needs to be, let us say, selective together with his movie choices, given all of the spare time he does not have. After I told him he'd like 'The Artist,' his less-than-thrilled reaction was, "The black and whitened quiet movie? Unsure that's my bag.Inch There lies the issue with 'The Artist': there is a perception it's highbrow fare. It isn't. 'The Artist' could have a highbrow concept, nevertheless its story is decidedly middlebrow. The expectation that's leading to Steve to not need to see 'The Artist' is possibly exactly the same expectation that's fueling the backlash against 'The Artist.' Individuals who critique movies as a living really are a passionate bunch. Whenever a movie like 'The Artist' arrives -- a film that apparently promises highbrow pleasures -- these folks get excited. But 'The Artist' is really a regular old story in regards to a quiet film actor attempting to remain relevant inside a altering world. Oh, and that he includes a cute dog. Place it by doing this: The man who performed Dauber on 'Coach' is within 'The Artist.' This is the way backlash happens. I have now heard people of honours-voting organizations apologizing for 'The Artist' winning, that is strange because ale 'The Artist' to provide this type of mainstream, middlebrow story, despite its highfalutin concept, is what I admire a lot about this. You will find four albums that defined my newcomer year attending college: Gem Jam's 'Ten' (despite the fact that it had been launched annually before), R.E.M's 'Automatic for anyone,A U2's 'Achtung Baby' and Gin Blossoms' 'New Miserable Experience.' Typically 'New Miserable Experience' found critical success too, in the beginning, receiving solid reviews from shops like Moving Stone. I have 'New Miserable Experience' on my small ipod device and, almost two decades later, every song on that album continues to be good. (Some much better than others, obviously I actually do find myself hearing '29,' 'Cajun Song,' 'Cheatin'' and, yes, 'Hey Jealousy,' a lot more than I actually do 'Hold Me Down'.) This Year, Gin Blossoms are forgotten with no you might ever consider them being an influential band in the the nineteen nineties. If there's a middlebrow blemish somewhere around the Earth's crust, its oozing puss is certain to at some point erupt towards the tune of 'Found out In Regards To You.A The Gin Blossoms define middlebrow success and, really, individuals don't have trouble with that -- but, obviously, the Gin Blossoms were rapidly thrown away. 'The Artist' is pretending to become highbrow using its concept when, the truth is, its just like middlebrow because the Gin Blossoms. Only 'The Artist' does not desire to be thrown away, it really wants to be appreciated forever because the best movie of 2011. For this reason individuals are angry. Our Planet is really a cynical place nowadays. I'm cynical and that is one reason I've this task. I have a problem with this quite frequently. I watch a film like 'War Equine,' 'Hugo' or 'The Artist,' and that i feel this knee-jerk response to in some way attempt to discredit the earnestness I see before me. It's similar to we have been designed like a society to become skeptical of something that seems to become serious -- and 'The Artist' is actually serious. But individuals are predisposed to keep in mind stuff that have a little much more of an advantage. The Gin Blossoms had zero edge. The earnestness of 'The Artist' is its edge. And it is OK to love that. One common argument is the fact that 'The Artist' just does not seem like a Best Picture champion that people will not be speaking about 'The Artist' in 10 years. I do not accept this sentiment, but I am available to the chance. My real trouble with the argument is the fact that there is no realistic alternative offered. The argument against 'The Artist' is beginning to seem such as the argument against virtually something that Obama does. Quite simply: "That plan sucks, however i do not have a much better one. However it still sucks." The truth is, searching back, very couple of Best Picture those who win really deserve the title of "Best Picture." In the last two decades, there's, maybe, six films which have that-important "Best Picture" feel for them. I'd argue outdoors of 'Unforgiven,' 'Schindler's List,' 'Braveheart,' 'Titanic,' 'The The almighty from the Rings: Return from the King' and 'No Country For Old Males,' the relaxation just been launched throughout an inadequate year or got incredibly lucky. Yes, I'm going to be the first one to admit that 2011 is really a relatively weak year for movies -- good, but... -- but that is definitely not the responsibility of 'The Artist.' Yet, because the current leader, it's using the blame. 'The Artist' is not the very first film to disguise itself as highbrow, it is simply the first one to make its intentions this apparent and open. That is precisely why it's brilliant. According to past those who win, 'The Artist' is unquestionably a deserving candidate. (You are saying 'The Artist' does not meet the "excellent" standards of 'American Beauty'? Oh, puh-leeze.) But that is not necessarily even my point. I am not particularly quarrelling that 'The Artist' should win the Oscar for the best Picture any longer than I am quarrelling that 'New Miserable Experience' must have won a Grammy (U2's Auchtung Baby ought to have won over Eric Clapton Unplugged). I'm stating that I completely loved 'The Artist' and, yes, the correct answer is OK to believe way without having to be ashamed for liking something that's serious and middlebrow -- cynics like myself be damned. You are able to contact Mike Ryan on Twitter [Photo: TWC] The Very Best Movies of 2011 The Very Best Movies of 201150. 'Breaking Beginning཭. 'Transformers: Dark from the Moonཬ. 'The Tripཫ. 'Warriorཪ. 'Cave of Forgotten Dreamsཀྵ. 'The Iron Ladyཨ. 'We Purchased a Zooཧ. 'Mission: Impossible -- Ghost Protocolས. 'Horrible Bossesཥ. 'Contagionཤ. 'Winnie the Poohལ. 'Win Winཡ. 'Tinker Tailor Soldier Spyར. 'Hannaའ. 'Extremely Noisy and extremely Closeཟ. 'The Interruptersཞ. 'Crazy, Stupid, Loveཝ. 'The Guardཛྷ. 'Captain America: The Very First Avengerཛ. 'The Ides of Marchཚ. 'Beginnersཙ. 'Martha Marcy May Marlene''A Harmful Methodབྷ. 'The Adventures of Tintinབ. 'Bill Cunningham NYཕ. 'We Have to Discuss Kevinཔ. 'Young Adultན. 'My Week With Marilynདྷ. 'Margin Callད. 'X-Males: Top Classཐ. 'Attack the Blockཏ. 'Shameཎ. 'Super 8ཌྷ. 'Melancholiaཌ. 'The Muppetsཋ. 'Rise from the Planet from the Apesཊ. 'Tree of Existenceཉ. 'Rango཈. 'The Helpཇ. 'Moneyballཆ. ཮/50Ə. 'DriveƎ. 'The Girl Using the Dragon Tattooƍ. 'Harry Potter and also the Deathly Hallows, Part IIƌ. 'Midnight in ParisƋ. 'BridesmaidsƊ. 'The DescendantsƉ. 'War Equineƈ. 'The ArtistƇ. 'Hugo' See All Moviefone Art galleries » Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook

Our TV Holiday Wish List Exactly Give Me An Idea?

Parks and Entertainment 'Tis the summer season for holiday miracles, why can't hopefully the identical for television? Santa, please give Cougar Town a premiere date. Hanukkah Harry, all we request is always that Steve Carell get honours recognition for his Office role. Harvest gods of Kwanzaa, let Castle and Beckett finally get together. And please, Winter Solstice Fairy, stop all the incest on tv! You would like: -For Jimmy Fallon and Justin Timberlake to reprise "A History of Rap" with "A History of Pop." -For old Lily to come back on Modern Family. Nobody does a deadpan face a lot better than the Hiller twins. -For essentially the the ultimate 20 seconds of Dexter's sixth season being taken off your memory. -For Nicole Scherzinger being removed just like a judge round the X Factor and be transformed by Madonna (we could dream, right?) -For Your Office to complete. It is time. -For Ryan Murphy to think about a desire to have Glee again. We love to American Horror Story too, but it's pretty apparent among his TV babies continues to be neglected. -For Sammi and Ronnie to experience a shotgun wedding and quit Jersey Shoreline permanently. -For Parks and Entertainment to hold onto kill it each week. Never change, Pawnee! See the best Tv shows of 2011 -For your cable systems to unwind by helping cover their the incest (apart from Wager on Thrones' twincest, clearly) because we don't need that being mainstream. -For your ghost of Magazines Bennett to haunt Justified for seasons later on. Ditto for Gus on Breaking Bad. -Depending On How I Met Your Mother's wardrobe and hair departments to brighten and magnificence Cobie Smulders better. Girlfriend is searching tragic. -For everyone to know that Happy Being is, really, as being a contented ending. -For Your Vampire Diaries' Damon and Elena to finally surrender to each other. -For Chris Noth being series regular round the Good Wife. -For Boardwalk Empire not have access to destroyed in the drama's best character inside the season finale. (Guess this wish can't be realized though...) -For Steve Carell to win the SAG for playing Michael Scott since that's his last chance to gather an award for the role. What were the worst TV moments of 2011? -For everyone to recognize - and bow lower to - The Particular Regular folks of Atlanta's new star, and her formidable donkey booty, Phaedra Parks. (Nene, who?) -For everyone to recognize - and bow lower to - King Goffrey. Tyrion Shmyrion. Now it's time we acknowledge Wager on Thrones' real scene stealer... also, he'll behead you otherwise. -For Cougar Town to finally get yourself a premiere date together with a complete season. -For Howard Stern to produce America's Got Talent a watchable show. -For NBC's Smash to become hit. -For Castle and Beckett to merely sleep together already. -For your presidential debates to acquire even wackier, keeping Real-time, The Colbert Report, The Daily Show and Saturday Evening Live well-full of material. -For your planned prime-time return of Person to person use a worthy reprise of Edward R. Murrow's program. -For people to check out the cruel and sober drama Awake when NBC finally agendas it to make sure that it's not insta-canceled. -For Physician Who's next season to achieve soon! No less than set returning date for people Yanks! Who've been the breakout stars of 2011? -For Bravo to resume the little-seen Factor of beauty for just about any third season, as it is unlike other activities on tv, the idol idol judges still dazzle, which is the primary one reality show we don't feel gross watching. -For Downton Abbey to go to the American route if the involves production and deliver us 22 weekly episodes yearly. When we're advertising online: ditto Sherlock. -For Your Bachelor to cast a new person to star. -For your Pretty Little Liars to actually catch A and acquire vindicated. -With an angel later on toward finance Ebert Presents: Within the Movies, since Roger Ebert and also the wife are drained of money. -For Two Main Broke Women to keep its combination of edge and question while showing that the part of the one percent and someone within the ninety-nine percent can forge a rock-solid, loving and loyal friendship. People are our holiday wishes for TV. Exactly what are yours?

ABC News changes 'Picture'

Among ABC News prexy Ben Sherwood's top projects is going to fruition: The entire division is beginning a substantial rebranding initiative beginning Monday. What is the news division's motto is becoming "Start to see the Whole Picture," a slogan that seems tailor-made to invite audiences anxious for a lot of clearness through the 2012 election season -- and after, clearly. There's the brand new tagline additionally to a different leading picture from the net's entire on-air staff posed together in the yearbook-style photo, with Barbara Walters within the forefront, in red-colored-colored, flanked by Katie Couric and Diane Sawyer.The completely new campaign will stress ABC News' capacity to create tales about far-reaching occasions strongly related American audiences, and puts major concentrate on the Alphabet's roster of personas.ABC's prepaid calling card remains the claim "More Us citizens obtain news from ABC News" since no less than 1988 (it's been around this type of very long time, reps for your network couldn't remember getting been without one), and so the change is major. Sherwood told journos in October the "more Us citizensInch statement was literally true, now more than ever before before, because the organization became a member of with Yahoo to provide wider distribution due to its content.Throughout that deal, too, ABC suggested its bench of anchors and correspondents. Sherwood, who grew to become an associate from the internet just at least a year ago, has focued on talent moves within the newbie at the office, sometimes compromising exclusivity to nab or possess a major newsperson. Katie Couric grew to become an associate from the Alphabet after her departure from CBS, and may report for ABC News as she produces her new syndie yakker for ABC/Disney Domestic TV. And basically the other day, ABC and CNN talked about an unequalled deal to discuss Christiane Amanpour, to whom ABC's typically domestic-politics-heavy "NowInch made an appearance an uncomfortable fit ("NowInch saw models situated both in Libya and Egypt this year). Amanpour might have several special deals yearly on ABC and may report for CNN.Since the campaign arrives through 2012, it'll stress that versatility whilst the division's achieve develops via Yahoo. The promotions look on all ABC News broadcasts to begin with, and may land on ABC News Radio, on abcnews.com and also on Yahoo! in 2012. Contact Mike Thielman at mike.thielman@variety.com

Cablevision's Rutledge resigns

Cablevision COO Tom Rutledge resigned from his publish after 10 years while using New You are able to, N.Y.-based MSO. Conditions of his departure were not apparent but he launched a disagreement with the organization searching back fondly on his years at Cablevision. "I am pleased with our record of success, along with the strong leadership team that is still in place to continue the job,In . mentioned Rutledge in the statement. Rutledge hasn't indicated what his next move, if any, might be. He's a cable-industry veteran of 34 years, credited with just as one innovator for Cablevision. Cablevision Boss James Dolan wanted him well. "Tom Rutledge has carried out an important role in driving and shaping Cablevision's success throughout the final decade, utilizing an uncommon combination of technological vision and operational excellence that has shipped results. We are enormously grateful for his time here." Contact the number newsroom at news@variety.com

Demi Lovato & Selena Gomez To Ring In MTV Year

First Released: December 12, 2011 9:59 AM EST Credit: Getty Images NY, N.Y. -- Caption Demi Lovato and Selena Gomez laugh up in the 2011 Teen Choice Honours held in the Gibson Amphitheatre in Universal City, Calif. on August 7, 2011 Hey Attacking Young Boys Selena Gomez already has plans for brand new Years Eve. Gomez is going to be ringing within the Year in NY Citys Occasions Square with fellow star Demi Lovato for MTVs live special. MTV stated Monday that both of them are because of perform, together with singer Jason Derulo and emcees J Cole and Mac Burns. The nights festivities is going to be located by Lovato and Tyler Posey of MTVs Teen Wolf. The show will air from MTVs Occasions Square galleries. Fans can bid to participate the crowd. Proceeds goes to FWD, to assist using the crisis in East Africa. The show will air live at 11 p.m. EST. Copyright 2011 through the Connected Press. All privileges reserved. These components might not be released, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

American Horror Story Exclusive Sneak Peek: Find Out What the House Really Wants

Sarah Paulson Only two episodes of American Horror Story to go! It's time to find out what Murder House is really after. Billie Dean, who last week gave Constance the impression that Tate and Vivien's growing bundle of evil might be the Antichrist, senses that the house has an agenda of its own - over and above the desires of all the dead people dwelling in it. American Horror Story's Taissa Farmiga dishes on Violet's fate and what's next "The force here in this house is larger than the many individual traumas, and it has a need," she says. "It wants to break through." Check out TVGuide.com's exclusive sneak peek at this week's new episode, "Birth," to find out what else the house wants - and which dead spirit Billie doesn't want around! "Birth" airs Wednesday at 10/9c on FX. What do you think Vivien will give birth to? Why does Billie Dean get disturbed by this one specific spirit but has no problem with Violet? Could Billie Dean be a fake? Or could Violet be trapped in a different way than the other house ghosts? Tell us your theories in the comments below.

The 9 Most Scathing Critical Responses to New Year's Eve

We may remember this as the week David Fincher and Scott Rudin went to war on movie critics, but think of it this way: If critics couldn’t get an early look at Garry Marshall’s New Year’s Eve, then how would any of us ever know what a soul-rending atrocity it is? I mean, even Pete Hammond hated this movie! He was in some fine company, too: 9. · “Lately Garry Marshall has shown a certain genius for turning miserable holidays into terrible movies. With Valentine’s Day he showed how that celebration of masochism can be a vehicle for smarmy sentiments, musty jokes, and rickety contrivances. Here the eponymous feast of forced fun takes a beating, not to mention some Oscar winners who might add firing their agents to their list of resolutions.” — Peter Keough, Boston Phoenix 8. · “Put together [with Valentine’s Day], these movies represent the most expensive and arguably worst-written Love Boat sweeps month ever created.” — Alonso Duralde, The Wrap 7. · “Other filmmakers might have too much respect for Michelle Pfeiffer […] to ask her to deliver a line like ‘I’m pathetic, dude’ to rocking teen heartthrob Zac Efron. Not Marshall. It’s safe to say that no idea was nixed on the set of New Year’s Eve for being too cheesy or sentimental; if anything, ideas were nixed for not being sentimental or cheesy enough.” — Nathan Rabin, AV Club 6. · “These characters are so nominal that when, say, Lea Michele gets stuck in an elevator with Ashton Kutcher, that’s exactly how you think of the set-up, and when the doors finally open you half expect them to scurry off to the sets of Glee and Two and a Half Men, where they may be contractually fined for their tardiness.” — Alison Willmore, Movieline 5. · “If I say I don’t much care for New Year’s Eve, I risk sounding like a curmudgeon. But I have zero reservations about telling you how much I loathed New Year’s Eve, a soul-sucking monument to Hollywood greed and saccharine holiday culture.” — Sara Stewart, NY Post 4. · “I’m not even going to begin to summarize the paltry series of subplots the all-star cast is trapped in. I like you too much.” — Roger Ebert, RogerEbert.com 3. · “Like the stroke of midnight, New Year’s Eve disappears almost instantly, leaving little behind but limp streamers and the sense that, surely, there was a better party going on somewhere else.” — Moira Macdonald, Seattle Times 2. · “Offering around a dozen barely there, aggressively agreeable mini-stories spliced together and spit out with lawnmower-style eloquence, the film is pushed to punishing lengths by the engorged cast list, which prevents any individual plot from deepening beyond single-sentence character descriptions and dilemmas. The overall effect is like being crushed under an avalanche of throw pillows.” — Andrew Barker, Variety 1. · “It is so bad that if Chechnya President Ramzan Kadyrov ever sees it, he will make a statement that begins ‘Had I known about this film at the time…’” — Peter Sobczynski, eFilmCritic [Reviews via Rotten Tomatoes]

Cheers & Jeers: American Horror Story Denis the Menace

Denis OHare, American Horror Story Cheers to Denis O'Hare for his scorching turn on American Horror Story. Want more Cheers & Jeers? Subscribe to TV Guide Magazine now! True Blood's ex-vampire king has scared up another juicy role as vengeful burn victim Larry Harvey on FX's certifiably insane shocker. In this week's episode, we learned the true origins of Larry's scars - bitter stepson Tate (Evan Peters) set him ablaze. Larry also falsely confessed to killing the boy-toy of ex-wife Constance (Jessica Lange), who murdered her previous husband (Eric Close) and his mistress. Confused yet? Somehow, Tony winner O'Hare grounds AHS' outlandish plot twists in a genuinely emotional reality. In the process, he joins Boardwalk Empire's Jack Huston and Breaking Bad's Giancarlo Esposito as one of TV's most three-dimensional two-faced killers. Just don't get on their bad sides! What did you think of last night's American Horror Story? Subscribe to TV Guide Magazine now!

Bradley Cooper Certifies 'Hangover 3,' Confesses Ryan Gosling Is Much More sexy

Everyone's favorite blackout crew is coming back -- probably. Inside an interview with Graham Norton, 'Hangover' star Bradley Cooper (type of) confirmed that 'Hangover III' will begin filming next fall, and (possibly) be occur La. "Personally, if only to complete it. I am hoping we'll start shooting in September. I realize Todd Philips is concentrating on the script" mentioned the recently crowned Hottest Guy Alive. Speaking about which, there is a bit of the backlash over Bradley being granted probably the most sexy title. Many felt Ryan Gosling was more deserving than Cooper, but Bradley doesn't mind -- he even confesses that Gosling is much more sexy. A paparazzi photo of Gosling "literally seems like he's in the photo shoot, like he just originated from the runway ... After which it there's ones of me, which i literally appear such as the neighbor who never arrives of his house," confesses Cooper. For an additional 'Hangover' follow-up, don't get worried: if there is a 'Hangover III,' it will not "stick to the structure" in the latter, meaning Philips will have to develop not-recycled jokes this time around around around. [via Vulture] [Photo: GF/bauergriffinonline.com] Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook

Zoe Kravitz Up For 1000 A.E.

She's in talks for Will Smith's latestIt's been a while since we now have heard much about development on M Evening Shyamalan's latest project, the need Cruz-starring sci-fi 1000 A.E. (it's apparently getting a numeral title now). But fresh word arises from the heat Vision blog, which reviews that Zoe Kravitz and Sophie Okonedo are usually now noisy . predicts join the film. More particulars also provide progressively been leaking out in regards to the plot, that's occur the following where Earth has become an inhospitable nightmare and mankind has handled to maneuver on. The primary focus is on Will Cruz just like a heroic type and also the boy (carried out by real-existence sprog Jaden), who's considered a bit of the failure. However, if the pair crash gets to the destroyed planet, Will's character in badly hurt which is around Jaden to prove his mettle and help his father.Kravitz, who last came out in X-Males: Top Quality is circling the role of Smith's other child. Hotel Rwanda's Okonedo, that's been trading more hours round the small screen in comparison to large one recently, would play Smith's wife. Neither actress features a offer place yet.Shyamalan has been doing the script with Book Of Eli author Gary Whitta and Syriana's Stephen Gaghan, striving to start shooting early next season. The brand new the new sony is presently planning to obtain the film in cinemas with this summer time 2013.

Nigel Lythgoe Weighs In On Howard Sterns Possible Americas Got Talent Move

First Published: December 1, 2011 11:03 AM EST Credit: Getty Images LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Caption Nigel Lythgoe attends the after party for Les Pauls 95th Birthday at Iridium Jazz Club in NY City on June 9, 2010 As an executive producer of American Idol and So You Think You Can Dance, Nigel Lythgoe knows a thing or two about reality TV competitions and the outspoken Brit says hes not sure Howard Stern is the right fit for the vacant judges seat left by Piers Morgan at Americas Got Talent. Its going to be very interesting. Piers is obviously very successful in other areas now [he] doesnt want anything to get in the way of that, Nigel told Access Hollywood at the BAFTA Awards in Los Angeles on Wednesday, when asked about Piers exit from the NBC hit. Stern, I dont know. I dont know what hes going to be like as a judge. Nigel said that while the shock jock has a gift for speaking his mind, his actual knowledge of what it takes to be a successful entertainer may not be extensive enough for the job. I think hell be honest, Nigel said. But what he actually knows about show business and talent and acts, I dont know. As previously reported on AccessHollywood.com, last week, Simon Cowell AGTs executive producer told Access hes a fan of Stern, but that signing the SiriusXM radio host was dependent on a host of factors. I like him, Simon said. Theres a lot of people who make decisions on this stuff. Moneys got to work, schedules [have] got to work. There might be a few twists and turns still. Copyright 2011 by NBC Universal, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Kristin Cavallari Is Engaged... Again!

Kristin Cavallari Kristin Cavallari might have experienced a damaged engagement captured, but all is mended. The first kind Hillsides star and her boyfriend Jay Cutler got re-engaged over the past weekend. On Wednesday, Cavallari tweeted this news, "This time around it's official... Jay and that i are engaged again :)" Report: Kristin Cavallari and Jay Cutler finish their engagement The truth TV star, who also taken part on Dwts, and Chicago Bears quarterback were formerly engaged, but he known as if off in This summer. Do you consider they'll place it out this time around?