Hollywood’s current “go to” guy for big screen romantic fiction is WILL FETTERS, who’s already struck it big with the screenplay to REMEMBER ME (starring ROBERT PATTINSON) and has just adapted NICHOLAS SPARKS’ bestselling novel THE LUCKY ONE, starring ZAC EFRON and set to open later this month. In addition to those, FETTERS has just turned in his script to director CLINT EASTWOOD for the planned remake of the classic show biz love story A STAR IS BORN. Internet rumors have been around for months that BEYONCE and TOM CRUISE are in talks for the leads but, so far, no announcement has been made. As for his part, FETTERS tells us that he’s taking the story in a whole new direction. During our interview over the weekend, FETTERS hinted that this version could be something unexpected. (CLICK ON THE MEDIA BAR FOR AUDIO)
In a stunning turn of events, on Tuesday Katie Couric will take the anchor chair of ABC’s “Good Morning America” in a morning show ratings competition against Sarah Palin, who will guest host on rival NBC’s “Today” show.
The A.M. TV battle places the two public figures as guest hosts in the same time slot and will be the first time that their names appear in the media together since Couric’s infamous interview of then-GOP vice presidential candidate Palin.
Couric had been criticized by Palin and fellow conservatives for her line of questioning during the interview, charging that Couric was unfair, biased, and employed “gotcha” tactics. Following the dustup, Palin stated that there would be no further interviews with Couric.
The opportunity to go up against Couric in the TV arena was perhaps a motivating factor for the former Alaska governor. The back-story behind the morning show contest revolves around the major small screen measuring stick of success—television ratings.
ABC announced that the network would bring in Couric for a weeklong guest hosting assignment to fill in for vacationing “GMA” host Robin Roberts.
“Serious pressure filling in for the fab @RobinRoberts !” Couric tweeted. “Rise + shine! Excited to be back on morning TV next wk, guest hosting @GMA w/ @GStephanopoulos.”
A ratings war has been raging for decades between NBC’s first place “Today” show and ABC’s second place “Good Morning America” program. The ABC executives had hopes of Couric taking “GMA” to the number one position, since the ABC show, according to the network, is the closest ratings-wise that it has been to NBC in five years. There are only 137,000 viewers separating “GMA” from the “Today” show.
However, NBC made the decision to counter Couric’s hosting stint on the opposing show with a surprise host of its own, which materialized in the form of Palin.
“She’ll reveal a different side of her than you’ve seen before,” NBC Universal spokeswoman Megan Kopf said of Palin on the “Today” show’s website.
For years Hollywood insiders have talked about the possibility of Palin becoming a daytime television personality. For TV producers, Palin’s performance may be the equivalent of a daytime TV screen test.
As for Palin’s thoughts on her guest hosting duties, the former vice presidential candidate let it be known that she intends to use the show as a platform for her message.
“I see this as a good opportunity to bring an independent, common-sense conservative perspective to NBC. We’re ‘going rogue’ and infiltrating some turf for a day,” Palin told Breitbart News.
When asked specifically about Couric hosting on another network during the exact same time slot, Palin offered a pointed response.
“Game on,” she said.
Airing tonight on HBO, the second season of the surprise hit fantasy GAME OF THRONES promises to deliver another round of epic fantasy propelled as much by great performances as it is great premises. Created by DAVID BENIOFF and D.B. WEISS and based on the stories of GEORGE R.R. MARTIN, the series stars LENA HEADEY, JACK GLEESON, SEAN BEAN, PETER DINKLAGE, EMILLIA CLARKE and SOPHIE TURNER.
The Hunger Games stayed atop the box office roost, beating out newcomers Wrath of the Titans (#2, $34.2 million) and Mirror Mirror (#3, $19 million) with a $61.1 million showing. Starring Jennifer Lawrence as strong willed archer Katniss Everdeen, The Hunger Games has amassed over $251 million domestically. Here’s this weekend’s top 10:
1. The Hunger Games - $61.1 million
2. Wrath of the Titans - $34.2 million
3. Mirror Mirror - - $19 million
4. 21 Jump Street - $15 million
5. Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax - $8 million
6. John Carter - $2.005 million
7. Salmon Fishing in the Yemen - $1.274 million
8. Act of Valor - $1 million
9. A Thousand Words - $915,000
10. Journey 2: The Mysterious Island - $835,000
Jennifer Lawrence talks about how The Hunger Games, directed by Seabiscuit filmmaker Gary Ross, is a movie that was made for “real fans” of Suzanne Collins’ franchise:
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posted by Greg Srisavasdi
GABRIELLE UNION SEES THE LOGIC BEHIND ‘THINK LIKE A MAN’
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Think Like A Man, based on the bestselling book by Steve Harvey (Act Like A Lady, Think Like A Man), centers on four guys who each see their love life take hit after the women in their lives read Harvey’s book. During the Think Like A Man press junket, co-star Gabrille Union was asked what keeps her looking young and beautiful (she’s 39).
“You know what the biggest thing is - I drink like a gallon of water a day,” says Union. “But I’ve only been doing that for a few years. I don’t know. My mom will be 65 this year and…I think she might have just got wrinkles. It could be just genetics with our skin. I don’t know.”
Union explains why people with “common sense” will truly understand Harvey’s book:
Think Like A Man, co-starring Californication vets Michael Ealy and Meagan Good, opens April 20th.
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posted by Greg Srisavasdi (Twitter: @gsrisavasdi )
Returning to the role he created in the 2010 adventure CLASH OF THE TITANS, actor LIAM NEESON once again plays the Greek god Zeus in WRATH OF THE TITANS, which opens in theaters today. Directed by JONATHAN LIEBESMAN, the cast also includes SAM WORTHINGTON, RALPH FIENNES, ROSAMUND PIKE, BILL NIGHY, DANNY HUSTON and LILY JAMES.Canadian Box Office Fave ‘Goon’ Hits U.S. Theaters Today
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Already a box office smash in its native Canada, GOON tells the story of a gentle-hearted bar bouncer who gets drafted into a hockey farm team because of an uncanny ability to kick the bejeezus out of players on the opposite teams. Inspired by the true story of hockey pro DOUG SMITH, the film could be dismissed as just a raunchy version of SLAPSHOT if it weren’t for the tremendous amount of heart imbued in the script. Co-written (with EVAN GOLDBERG) and starring JAY BARUCHEL, GOON is directed by MICHAEL DOWSE and features SEANN WILLIAM SCOTT in the titular role.‘AMERICAN IDOL’ SAYS GOODBYE TO JOKESTER HEEJUN HAN
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Parting is such sweet sorrow, especially since Heejun Han and his one-liners are gone from American Idol (until at least the finale), as he was this week’s eliminated singer.
Han endeared himself to viewers with his dry wit (the “mostly water” comment to Ryan Seacrest is my personal favorite), his rivalry with “cowboy” Richie Law, and his close knit friendship with Phillip Phillps, who’s one of the remaining Top 8 Idols.
Drawing the ire of Jimmy Iovine and even Steven Tyler also was amusing, but after his highly bashed rendition of Billy Joel’s “My Life” last week, the writing was on the wall. Even Wednesday night’s heartfelt performance of Donny Hathaway’s “A Song for You,” which Elliott Yamin absolutely killed during his season, couldn’t reverse the inevitable. If only Han switched out “My Life” and performed a Joel song more suitable to his voice (”Lullabye - Goodnight My Angel” would have been perfect), maybe Hollie Cavanagh or Skylar Laine (they joined Han as this week’s bottom three) would have packed their bags.
Still a novice singer, Han may not have the most talented voice of the bunch (that honor goes to Jessica Sanchez), but his sense of humor and overall unpredictability will serve him well in the entertainment industry. Plus, he’s part of the American Idol summer tour, so it’s definitely not the end of his Idol world. Heck, I’d love some a Heejun Han/Phillip Phillips reality show about two guys making it post-American Idol. Maybe even throw in the “cowboy” for good measure.
On Wednesday, April 4th, the top eight finalists will perform songs from the 1980s.
Click on the media bar and listen to Randy Jackson and Steven Tyler talk about Heejun’s elimination:
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posted by Greg Srisavasdi (Twitter: @gsrisavasdi)
Coming to theaters this summer, THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN is the highly anticipated (despite seeming a tad early) reboot of the Marvel Comics superstar last seen in the trilogy of films directed by SAM RAIMI. This time around, MARC WEBB is at the helm and ANDREW GARFIELD steps in to replace TOBEY MAGUIRE as Peter Parker and his titular altar-ego.
Arriving in theaters today, MIRROR MIRROR retells and completely reimagines the classic GRIMM BROTHERS’ SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS fairy tale. Aimed at the ‘pre-teen’ and ‘family’ set, the film nowhere near captures the dark, gothic atmosphere of its source material. Directed by TARSEM SINGH, the cast includes JULIA ROBERTS, LILY COLLINS, ARMIE HAMMER, NATHAN LANE and a bastion of great (and very game) little people character actors.
