John Goodman has joined the cast of Fox's new comedy pilot The Station, Variety reports.
Produced by Ben Stiller, Station centers on a group of covert CIA operatives in South America who are tasked with installing a new dictator. Goodman will play Ted Gannon, a CIA vet who's in charge of the Altamara Station.
The Emmy-winning Roseanne alum joins Justin Bartha, Whitney Cummings, Rob Huebel and Julio Oscar Mechoso on the series. Goodman's last television gig was a two-episode arc on Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip in 2006.
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Ratings for Dark Blue, Leverage, Big Brother and More
Some recent ratings highlights:
Wednesday
• America's Got Talent topped the night with 11.38 million total viewers, up 9 percent over last week. Lead-out The Philanthropist dropped another 15 percent, to 4.34 mil.
• The premiere of TNT's Dark Blue copped 3.5 million viewers, retaining an impressive 90 percent of its Leverage lead-in. Leverage's Season 2 premiere garnered 3.8 mil, a 24 percent gain over its series debut.
Thursday
• Big Brother 11 won the 8 o'clock hour with 5.57 million viewers, down 17 percent from last week. ABC News' special on Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling placed third (behind a Bones repeat) with 4.38 mil.
• So You Think You Can Dance's results show drew 7 mil, down 750K from last week. NBC's The Listener (3.86 mil), in its second-to-last broadcast airing, gained 620 thou. (Following the July 23 airing, NBC.com will stream the final five episodes in August.)
Wednesday
• America's Got Talent topped the night with 11.38 million total viewers, up 9 percent over last week. Lead-out The Philanthropist dropped another 15 percent, to 4.34 mil.
• The premiere of TNT's Dark Blue copped 3.5 million viewers, retaining an impressive 90 percent of its Leverage lead-in. Leverage's Season 2 premiere garnered 3.8 mil, a 24 percent gain over its series debut.
Thursday
• Big Brother 11 won the 8 o'clock hour with 5.57 million viewers, down 17 percent from last week. ABC News' special on Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling placed third (behind a Bones repeat) with 4.38 mil.
• So You Think You Can Dance's results show drew 7 mil, down 750K from last week. NBC's The Listener (3.86 mil), in its second-to-last broadcast airing, gained 620 thou. (Following the July 23 airing, NBC.com will stream the final five episodes in August.)
Friday, July 17, 2009
Russell Crowe Pursuing More Master & Commander?
An AP story that I caught via USAToday says that Russell Crowe is looking to reprise his role from Master & Commander. He says a script has been completed based on The Reverse of the Medal, which is novel number eleven in the twenty-volume series by Patrick O’Brian. Speculation has long run rampant that Crowe was pursuing another film, but this is the first real confirmation we’ve had. The report doesn’t name the screenwriter.
Given that the film has been a favorite among Crowe fans and that another seventeen novels remain unadapted (the first film drew from three books), sequel talk has cropped up occasionally in the years since Peter Wier’s film appeared in 2003. But in 2005 Weir said he didn’t think it was likely, which isn’t a huge surprise. Making a big nautical adventure is expensive, and Master & Commander isn’t the sort of film that sets the box office on fire. Doing another $150m adult adventure picture at sea seems like a risky move. It’s not the sort of movie Fox makes now. Crowe isn’t even signed for another film, though Paul Bettany and other cast members were signed to multiple pictures at one time. That was six, seven years ago, however, and probably doesn’t mean anything now.
Indeed, Crowe is quoted saying “there’s still a long way to go,” in the process to getting another film made. I won’t pretend to have read the books, but following is a block quote of synopsis from Amazon. Regardless, I’d love to see another film in this series. As the AV Club has noted, this could easily have been the beginning of a great franchise, and one with some hilariously memorable sequences: “Fox should green-light an adaptation of the second novel, Post Captain, solely for the sequence where Russell Crowe sneaks across the Spanish border in a bear costume.”
Brief synopsis:
Ashore between cruises, Captain Jack Aubrey is persuaded to sink some money into an investment scheme. Soon this innocent decision enmeshes him in various criminal and even treasonous enterprises, which threaten to destroy his entire career. Bad luck? A deliberate plot?
Given that the film has been a favorite among Crowe fans and that another seventeen novels remain unadapted (the first film drew from three books), sequel talk has cropped up occasionally in the years since Peter Wier’s film appeared in 2003. But in 2005 Weir said he didn’t think it was likely, which isn’t a huge surprise. Making a big nautical adventure is expensive, and Master & Commander isn’t the sort of film that sets the box office on fire. Doing another $150m adult adventure picture at sea seems like a risky move. It’s not the sort of movie Fox makes now. Crowe isn’t even signed for another film, though Paul Bettany and other cast members were signed to multiple pictures at one time. That was six, seven years ago, however, and probably doesn’t mean anything now.
Indeed, Crowe is quoted saying “there’s still a long way to go,” in the process to getting another film made. I won’t pretend to have read the books, but following is a block quote of synopsis from Amazon. Regardless, I’d love to see another film in this series. As the AV Club has noted, this could easily have been the beginning of a great franchise, and one with some hilariously memorable sequences: “Fox should green-light an adaptation of the second novel, Post Captain, solely for the sequence where Russell Crowe sneaks across the Spanish border in a bear costume.”
Brief synopsis:
Ashore between cruises, Captain Jack Aubrey is persuaded to sink some money into an investment scheme. Soon this innocent decision enmeshes him in various criminal and even treasonous enterprises, which threaten to destroy his entire career. Bad luck? A deliberate plot?
Ed Helms Heads for Cedar Rapids
Ed Helms will follow The Hangover with Cedar Rapids, an Alexander Payne-produced comedy to be directed by Miguel Arteta, reports Variety.
Shooting will begin in October, when Helms is on hiatus from NBC sitcom "The Office."
Helms will play a sad-sack insurance agent who goes to an industry convention to try to save the jobs of his colleagues.
The script was written by Phil Johnston, who developed it with Helms. Fox Searchlight will likely distribute the film.
Shooting will begin in October, when Helms is on hiatus from NBC sitcom "The Office."
Helms will play a sad-sack insurance agent who goes to an industry convention to try to save the jobs of his colleagues.
The script was written by Phil Johnston, who developed it with Helms. Fox Searchlight will likely distribute the film.
Harry Potter 6 Sets One-Day Worldwide Record
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince earned $104 million worldwide during its first day in theaters on Wednesday, setting a new record.
The film grossed $58.18 million in North America and $45.85 million overseas on Wednesday.
"Quite simply, we owe this record-breaking opening to the remarkable fans who have stood by us and who stood in line to be among the first to see 'Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince,'" Warner Bros President and Chief Operating Officer Alan Horn said in a statement.
The previous "Harry Potter" movie, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, earned $937 million worldwide total.
The film grossed $58.18 million in North America and $45.85 million overseas on Wednesday.
"Quite simply, we owe this record-breaking opening to the remarkable fans who have stood by us and who stood in line to be among the first to see 'Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince,'" Warner Bros President and Chief Operating Officer Alan Horn said in a statement.
The previous "Harry Potter" movie, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, earned $937 million worldwide total.
Resident Evil: Afterlife Starts Shooting in September
ShockTillYouDrop.com broke the news to you earlier this month that Screen Gems was gearing up for Resident Evil: Afterlife.
A release date's been set (September 17, 2010), Milla Jovovich is back and Paul W.S. Anderson has penned the script. No word on a director yet, however, Production Weekly reports the fourth entry has locked in an 8-week shooting schedule at Cinespace Film Studios in Toronto. Shooting begins on September 28th.
This bring the "Resident Evil" franchise back to Canada after 2004's Resident Evil: Apocalypse. The last entry, "Extinction," lensed in Mexico.
A release date's been set (September 17, 2010), Milla Jovovich is back and Paul W.S. Anderson has penned the script. No word on a director yet, however, Production Weekly reports the fourth entry has locked in an 8-week shooting schedule at Cinespace Film Studios in Toronto. Shooting begins on September 28th.
This bring the "Resident Evil" franchise back to Canada after 2004's Resident Evil: Apocalypse. The last entry, "Extinction," lensed in Mexico.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Rakim Ready To Release 'The Seventh Seal'
"The Seventh Seal," the long-anticipated album by rap legend Rakim, is slated for release in the fall, Billboard has learned exclusively. The project's first single, "Holy Are You," will drop July 28.
The album is being released on Rakim's Ra Records label in a joint venture with Tuscan Villa Entertainment, headed by industry veterans Ron Kyle and Lennie Petze. In turn, Tuscan Villa is entered in a joint venture pact with SMC Recordings whose principals are Ralph Tashjian and Will Bronson. Handling distribution for Rakim's album is Fontana/Universal Music Group. The rapper is managed by Matthew Kemp.
The rapper signed with Dr. Dre's Aftermath label in 2001. Featured on the 2002 top 10 R&B single "Addictive" by Aftermath labelmate Truth Hurts, Rakim later parted ways with Dre and Aftermath and his album was never released. Rakim - best known as one-half of the rap duo Eric B. & Rakim - has not released a new studio album save for 2008's mostly live set, "The Archive: Live, Lost & Found," which included four previously unreleased songs.
The rapper tells Billboard the new album is fueled by consciousness and spirituality:
BB: What's the story behind the title, "The Seventh Seal"?
RAKIM: The seals are from the Bible- Revelations and the coming of the Apocalypse. But Islam, Judaism, Christianity: all have a version of the same events. The Lion of Judah breaks the seven seals one by one, each imparting knowledge and inflicting catastrophe, ending with seven trumpets announcing the end of Times. After the Apocalypse, God rises from the ashes to recreate the Kingdom, taking only the greatest elements from the past with them.
When you look at Hip-Hop, I want to do that: to spit fire and take our best from the ashes to build our kingdom; to recognize all the regional styles, conscious lyrics, the tracks, underground, mainstream, the way we treat each other. Lose the garbage and rebuild our scene. I've always tried to insert consciousness and spirituality in my records, interpreting the writings of all cultures and religions and how they apply to life in modern times.
BB: Does this album contain any material from the unreleased album you did with Dr. Dre or is it all new music?
RAKIM: No, that's locked down in the lab for now. This is me live from New York City, everything brand new.
BB: Who produced the album? Are there any guest features?
RAKIM: I'm going to keep that cat in the bag for one more minute. But you'll see names you know and names you don't recognize yet but will after this drops. We've got our New York dudes on there, but we reached out to everybody. We have some features too; special cats in the right places but not everywhere.
BB: Are you concerned at all about reaching the new generation of hip-hop fans who aren't necessarily familiar with your music?
RAKIM: I don't accept that the new generation is looking for anything different than what we've always been looking for. Depending on the moment, they want bangers that make them crack their neck, they want tracks that put them in a zone where they can sit back and chill. The ladies want something that makes them feel sexy and loved. And everyone wants something that makes them think a little bit-at least sometimes. Every generation wants that real hip-hop. And I've always been able to bring that.
BB: Is there a chance that you and Dr. Dre may work together again in the future?
RAKIM: No doubt if the project and the timing are right. He's got his thing going on and I got mine. But I know our camps will look for ways to mix things up.
The album is being released on Rakim's Ra Records label in a joint venture with Tuscan Villa Entertainment, headed by industry veterans Ron Kyle and Lennie Petze. In turn, Tuscan Villa is entered in a joint venture pact with SMC Recordings whose principals are Ralph Tashjian and Will Bronson. Handling distribution for Rakim's album is Fontana/Universal Music Group. The rapper is managed by Matthew Kemp.
The rapper signed with Dr. Dre's Aftermath label in 2001. Featured on the 2002 top 10 R&B single "Addictive" by Aftermath labelmate Truth Hurts, Rakim later parted ways with Dre and Aftermath and his album was never released. Rakim - best known as one-half of the rap duo Eric B. & Rakim - has not released a new studio album save for 2008's mostly live set, "The Archive: Live, Lost & Found," which included four previously unreleased songs.
The rapper tells Billboard the new album is fueled by consciousness and spirituality:
BB: What's the story behind the title, "The Seventh Seal"?
RAKIM: The seals are from the Bible- Revelations and the coming of the Apocalypse. But Islam, Judaism, Christianity: all have a version of the same events. The Lion of Judah breaks the seven seals one by one, each imparting knowledge and inflicting catastrophe, ending with seven trumpets announcing the end of Times. After the Apocalypse, God rises from the ashes to recreate the Kingdom, taking only the greatest elements from the past with them.
When you look at Hip-Hop, I want to do that: to spit fire and take our best from the ashes to build our kingdom; to recognize all the regional styles, conscious lyrics, the tracks, underground, mainstream, the way we treat each other. Lose the garbage and rebuild our scene. I've always tried to insert consciousness and spirituality in my records, interpreting the writings of all cultures and religions and how they apply to life in modern times.
BB: Does this album contain any material from the unreleased album you did with Dr. Dre or is it all new music?
RAKIM: No, that's locked down in the lab for now. This is me live from New York City, everything brand new.
BB: Who produced the album? Are there any guest features?
RAKIM: I'm going to keep that cat in the bag for one more minute. But you'll see names you know and names you don't recognize yet but will after this drops. We've got our New York dudes on there, but we reached out to everybody. We have some features too; special cats in the right places but not everywhere.
BB: Are you concerned at all about reaching the new generation of hip-hop fans who aren't necessarily familiar with your music?
RAKIM: I don't accept that the new generation is looking for anything different than what we've always been looking for. Depending on the moment, they want bangers that make them crack their neck, they want tracks that put them in a zone where they can sit back and chill. The ladies want something that makes them feel sexy and loved. And everyone wants something that makes them think a little bit-at least sometimes. Every generation wants that real hip-hop. And I've always been able to bring that.
BB: Is there a chance that you and Dr. Dre may work together again in the future?
RAKIM: No doubt if the project and the timing are right. He's got his thing going on and I got mine. But I know our camps will look for ways to mix things up.
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince Conjures Up $58.4M Day One
Warner Bros. Pictures' Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince earned a massive $58.4 million from 4,275 theaters domestically on Wednesday, including a record-setting $22.2 million from midnight shows.
The opening is the second-best Wednesday ever, trailing only the $62 million Michael Bay's Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen made on June 24. The biggest day ever for a film was set by The Dark Knight with $67.2 million last year on July 18.
"Half-Blood Prince's" tally bested the $44 million earned by Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix on its opening Wednesday two years ago. It went on to earn $139.7 million domestically its first five days.
The opening is the second-best Wednesday ever, trailing only the $62 million Michael Bay's Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen made on June 24. The biggest day ever for a film was set by The Dark Knight with $67.2 million last year on July 18.
"Half-Blood Prince's" tally bested the $44 million earned by Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix on its opening Wednesday two years ago. It went on to earn $139.7 million domestically its first five days.
TBS Orders Are We There Yet? Series; Crews Takes Cube Role
TBS has ordered 10 episodes of a new series based on the big-screen comedy Are We There Yet?
A breakout hit in 2005, Are We There Yet? starred Ice Cube as Nick, a player who tries to woo a divorcee by shuttling around her two hard-to-handle kids. Having grossed $82 million, the comedy begat the 2007 sequel Are We Done Yet? — and apparently the answer was no!
TBS' Are We There Yet? series has Terry Crews (Everybody Hates Chris' dad) stepping in as Nick. Ice Cube, however, will have a recurring role, and he'll be executive-producing the show as well. A June 2010 premiere is being eyed.
TBS has experience in adapting films to series, having done so with Tyler Perry's House of Payne (spun off of the Madea movies) and Meet the Browns (based on the 2008 feature).
A breakout hit in 2005, Are We There Yet? starred Ice Cube as Nick, a player who tries to woo a divorcee by shuttling around her two hard-to-handle kids. Having grossed $82 million, the comedy begat the 2007 sequel Are We Done Yet? — and apparently the answer was no!
TBS' Are We There Yet? series has Terry Crews (Everybody Hates Chris' dad) stepping in as Nick. Ice Cube, however, will have a recurring role, and he'll be executive-producing the show as well. A June 2010 premiere is being eyed.
TBS has experience in adapting films to series, having done so with Tyler Perry's House of Payne (spun off of the Madea movies) and Meet the Browns (based on the 2008 feature).
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Harry Potter 6 Pulls in Record $22.2M From Midnights!
Warner Bros. Pictures' Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince earned an estimated $22.2 million for its 3,003 midnight screenings, beating the $18.5 million midnight runs by the studio's own The Dark Knight and the $16.9 million earned by Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith.
The sixth installment continues its first day of release in 4,275 domestic locations and will expand to 4,350 theaters on Friday.
Last month, Michael Bay's Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen grossed $16 million in midnight runs, also on a Wednesday.
"Half-Blood Prince" opened in the same Wednesday slot that Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix did in 2007. "Order of the Phoenix" grossed $12 million in midnight runs on its way to a $139.7 million five-day debut.
The sixth installment continues its first day of release in 4,275 domestic locations and will expand to 4,350 theaters on Friday.
Last month, Michael Bay's Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen grossed $16 million in midnight runs, also on a Wednesday.
"Half-Blood Prince" opened in the same Wednesday slot that Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix did in 2007. "Order of the Phoenix" grossed $12 million in midnight runs on its way to a $139.7 million five-day debut.
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