SNL: She Plays Pretty, Pretty Princess Jon Hamm Knocked Up Snooki!

She, Saturday Evening Live She drawn on into her Disney roots to host Saturday Evening Love the 3rd time. Within The Real Average women of Disney, Lohan performed Rapunzel, who's prepared to come lower in the tower and in the spotlight. Like the rest of the Real Average women, there is a reasonable share of cash troubles (Jasmine and her husband consumed almost all their wishes), marital problems ("never marry a guy who likes footwear," Cinderella alerts, once we meet her effete Prince Charming) along with a horrible Auto-Updated dance track, thanks to Belle: In her own monologue, She thanked the cast and crew at SNL for having faith in her enough to allow her return, simply to have her eyes checked by Kenan Thompson and also to get patted lower by Kristen Wiig. Alum Jimmy Fallon, however, was a little more reassuring. "This can be done, and when unconditionally you cannot, Jon Hamm is on standby as back-up host." Hamm was sitting right in front row: She: I am while showing myself Lohan made fun of her troubled past, particularly her amount of time in the slammer, to discourage several youthful delinquents from downloading copyrighted movies and winding up in jail. Bad she did not quite have her lines commited to memory: Hamm, or we shouldn't let say "Johnnnnyyy," stopped by Weekend Update to experience the purported father of Snooki's rumored bundle of pleasure. When requested if she thought to ask as being a mother, Snooki responded: "Honestly, Seth, never once during my existence did I remember when i think.": That which was your preferred sketch?

Once Upon a Time Bosses on Breaking Up Snow White, Prince Charming and More Burning Questions

Another member of Cougar Town's cul-de-sac crew may fly the coop. Dan Byrd, who plays Courteney Cox's son on the ABC comedy, has signed on to star in Louis C.K.'s untitled CBS comedy, Deadline reports. The pilot tells the story of a group of young people trying to follow... Read More > Other Links From TVGuide.com Dan ByrdLouis C.K.Courteney CoxJosh HopkinsCougar Town

Nicollette Sheridan Can get Emotional on Stand Throughout Desperate Regular folks Trial

On Friday's Spartacus: Vengeance, we view that Glaber has fully recognized his inner depraved villain, which does not bode well for your rebels. After their recent success, Spartacus and also the males desire to take lower Rome's giant arena next. To have the ability to accomplish this, however, they start training to employ a bow and arrow then plan to visit Neapolis to enable them to recruit the strong slaves entering port. Meanwhile, poor Naevia is traumatized ultimately the rape, so her reunion with Crixus is bittersweet simply because they can't consummate their love. Also, Spartacus isn't capable of sway Gannicus for his or her cause, and before he leaves them, he's billed with stealing their map to Neapolis. Although popular fight involving the two males evolves, it calculates the blonde slave girl Chadara -- whom Mira shoots along with her recently found archery capabilities -- might be the main reason and was trying to sneak offered through the map. Discover More > Other Links From TVGuide.com Spartacus

Will Ferrell Describes the Roots of Casa p mi Padre, His The spanish language Telenovela Comedy

Will Ferrell movies usually can be summarized as Will Ferrell like a and also you have it. Will Ferrell like a reporter? Thats funny. Will Ferrell like a Dale earnhardt jr . driver? Also funny. And Can Ferrell like a The spanish language cleaning soap opera action hero? Casa p mi Padre is really a The spanish language language film starring Ferrell like a ranchers boy who would go to war with drug sellers to safeguard his siblings girl (Genesis Rodriguez). Where, exactly, did he develop this concept? In the films press junket today, Ferrell stated hed had this concept for 5 to 7 years. The muse struck him, as a result ideas do, throughout a couple:00 a.m. funnel surfing session. Im most likely like a lot of people, activating the tv studying the channels at two each morning and landing on the telenovela going, What's this? What makes them so outrageous? This really is amazing, Ferrell stated. Thats my contact with them. Id always had this concept of thats this type of increased, funny world that it might be really funny to determine myself for the reason that world. I figured God, youve never witnessed a united states comic inside a language film and also have them invest in it in ways thats credible. I figured thats something should you could accomplish it, that might be an authentic movie. The Television dramas that pop on Univision or Telemundo in the usa go ahead and take drama pretty seriously. You are able to tell Ferrell thinks its funny by all of the intentional mistakes (continuity errors, visible boom mics, stuffed animatronic creatures and mannequin stand-inches) deliberately put into Casa p mi Padre, that is compiled by Andrew Steele and directed by Matt Piedmont, both alumni of Saturday Evening Live and Funny or Die. It technically really is not an homage to telenovelas, Ferrell stated. Telenovela is type of the broad description for this nevertheless its an homage to that particular, its an homage towards the Mexican spaghetti western. Its an homage to bad moviemaking, continuity mistakes. Its an homage to overacting. Its an homage to stuffed wildlife. After we began writing the script and speaking about how exactly we would shoot the film, we had it was a genuine chance to adjust a lot of different elements. The script by Steele was designed in British, then your dialogue converted into The spanish language. Ferrell only talks en espanol only a united states character provides a couple of lines of British. Obviously, now Ferrell only takes note of the naughty words. Chingado is a great one, he stated. I really like that word. Chinga this, chinga that. Thats a great word, but thats generally used. Chinga may be the F word. Ferrell got within the language barrier on his first day's filming. For whatever reason the schedule exercised to where I literally had just like a two page monologue in The spanish language on the very first day. After I got the very first couple takes under my belt, and I saw watching people behind the monitors going, His The spanish language is ok. Its not too bad. I Quickly thought oh, okay. Im will make all things in this. Had I maintained using the The spanish language, Id be great at this time. However I didnt. I possibly could make my way in a resort. In the Four Seasons in Mexico Id most likely be okay. Fulfilling his imagine starring inside a The spanish language language melodrama, Ferrell was proud to make use of his box office clout to obtain an crazy film made. This ranks available online for among the things Ive reached do which you'll simply be so lucky to become capable of take risks such as this. Casa p mi Padre opens March 16. Watch a clip here. Follow Fred Topel on Twitter. Follow Movieline on Twitter.

Live Nation tallies rev, earnings gains

Live Nation Entertainment published a 6.3% rise in revenue along with a 20.7% grow in modified operating earnings for that fiscal year ended 12 ,. 31, the organization reported Thursday. In the 4th fiscal quarter -- typically a somewhat slow period for that concert biz -- revenue dropped 4.2% and modified operating earnings slowed down by 10.7%. Within the last fiscal year, LNE's revenue rose to $5.38 billion, up from $5.06 billion this year. Modified operating earnings rose to just about $438 million from $362.8 million the year before. Modified earnings in the company's concert business increased nearly 97% this year, to $30.3 million from $15.4 million the prior fiscal year. Ticketing rose 17.6% to $272.a million, up from $231.3 million this year. The Artist Nation management division rose a slim 1.5% to $47.two million, from $46.5 million the last year. Q4 concert revenue rejected 12.1% to $694.4 million, while ticketing revenue elevated 6% to $323.4 million. Despite flattening 4th-quarter revenue and earnings, LNE leader-Boss Michael Rapino stated inside a statement, "The concert clients are off and away to an excellent begin in 2012, driven with a solid early selection of artists and healthy ticketing demand. We feel the industry has stable and expect the general market atmosphere to become very similar this year, using the fans' adoration for our items mitigating any ongoing economic uncertainty." The organization also introduced Thursday it was entering japan market using the formation of Live Nation Japan, a partnership with Tokyo, japan promotion firm Creativeman. Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com

Pat Buchanan Formally Out At MSNBC

Pat Buchanan and MSNBC have formally separated ways. The veteran conservative commentator had not came out round the network since October because he began marketing his book Suicide from the Superpower: Will America Survive to 2025?. An MSNBC representative mentioned, “After 10 years, we’ve separated ways … You would like him well.” Buchanan grew to become part of MSNBC in 2002 after 20 years just like a rotating host of CNN’s Crossfire. Inside the years ever since then MSNBC has moved much further left. Within The month of the month of january MSNBC leader Phil Griffin mentioned the minds expressed in Buchanan’s book assist with “arent really suitable for national dialogue, a more compact amount the dialogue on MSNBC. Buchanan written today inside an essay online for your American Conservative magazine, they co-founded: Inside the 10 years I have been at MSNBC, the network has already established warmth that I have written, and faithfully honored our contract. Yet my four several days absence from MSNBC now my departure represent an indisputable victory for your blacklisters.

China sea food story hooks Canada firm

'Back for the Sea,' is co-produced by Vancouver's IndustryWorks, with animation carried out China. Vancouver-based indie production company IndustryWorks' leader Evan Tylor never apt to be co-creating an animated feature, as well as one with China. However, if he was handed the opportunity to leap onboard "Towards the Sea," which was already being created, he hopped within the chance. Operating with China discloses an enormous, rapidly growing business and employ of financing. Despite the fact that China features a limit of just 20 foreign photos yearly that are allowed being released theatrically, photos getting a Chinese production company involved are believed domestic, and so are exempt using this limitation. "This woke me up to whole other possibility," Tylor states of IndustryWorks' first co-production with China, via partners with Glory & Dream Digital Animation as well as the Jiangsu Broadcast Co., the second-greatest broadcaster in China. Helmed by Glory & Dream co-founder Thom Lu, "Towards the Sea" follows Kevin, an adventurous youthful flying sea food within the NY Harbor who's taken having a fishing ship and shipped right to the aquarium from the restaurant in NY's Chinatown. There, he meets a fundamental Chinese boy which has the identical desiring excitement and adventure as his finned friend. The Two manage a pursuit to return Kevin towards the sea. The voice cast includes Christian Slater, Tim Curry, Mark Hamill and Tom Kenny ("SpongeBob SquarePants"). Pic opened up up wide across Canada in 2D and 3d on Jan. 27. You'll find plans ultimately to create the film around the wider scale inside the U.S. Jiangsu will distribute and broadcast the named version in China. Despite the fact that pic (allotted at $8 million-$tens of millions of) already had funding from Jiangsu, producers were keen to acquire a U . s . States company involved to have the ability to help breech that market. Just like a partner, IndustryWorks oversaw finishing deliverables, publish-production, distribution, marketing, and contracts with SAG to complete casting, hooking up up Slater and Currey. As a swap, they now own worldwide ancillary rights outdoors China. Tylor thinks the pic will discover a crowd within the U . s . States market additionally to China, due to its mix-cultural story. "They created an account that's very Western," Tylor states. Lu confesses that Glory & Dream considered industry when plotting the pic. "We feel NY Chinatown gets the perfect combination of Eastern and Western culture," according to him, "this background will not be too Chinese for U . s . States audiences in addition to a smaller amount American for Chinese audiences." Since the Chinese creative industry grows and are equipped for branching out to the world market, Lu sees more co-productions with Canada and/or perhaps the U.S. "Within the artistic side, The U . s . States helps to make the best animated films in the world plus it sets the traditional,In . according to him. "Audiences are actually familiar with this standard, so it can benefit us uncover the guidelines in the U . s . States market sooner." Since the animation industry in China is just getting started, there's inadequacies in professional talent and situations are compressed, Lu states. "In the event you have a look at our credits simply because they roll, you will observe what they're known as repeating over and over." Despite the fact that actual animation for "Towards the Sea" was carried out China, with U . s . States partners like IndieWorks, Trigger Music, Technicolor, together with a identifiable voice cast, Lu hopes china animation industry can overcome association concurrently it finds a completely new export market. In several ways, Vancouver seems to become natural fit for China-Canada co-productions. It hosts a substantial Chinese population and contains extensive existing companies ties to China. Several official visits from Chinese delegations to Bc within the last few years have specific collaboration. The China Canada Script Competition was revealed within the 2011 Whistler Film Festival in December. The initiative is headed by Telefilm Canada and China Film Group, China's greatest and several influential condition-run film enterprise, as well as the sole importer of foreign films. "Iron Road" (2009), was the initial co-produced Canada-China film in 22 years within treaty established inside the sixties. Ever since then, there's been miniseries' for instance "Marco Polo" and "Boy in the Dragon," several features and documentaries, additionally to some volume of feature film projects presently being developed. And although IndustryWorks doesn't have anything inside the pipeline at this time around, it's already exploring future options to co-produce with China. "Culturally they were very eager, very accommodating, sincere, and incredibly polite to make use of -- I have rarely when encounter that in U . s . States areas," according to him getting fun, "It absolutely was a enjoyable change." Contact the number newsroom at news@variety.com

Emma Thompson joins 'Beautiful Creatures'

Emma Thompson, is at final discussions to participate the cast of Alcon's supernatural love story "Beautiful Creatures." She'll join Jack O'Connell and Alice Englert since the leads and Viola Davis in the supporting tole. Thompson may have the twin role from the and surrounding suburbs religious firebrand as well as the dark witch who offers her. Project's based on first novel from the series put together by Kami Carcia and Margaret Stohl. The film will probably be released by Warner Bros via Alcon's output deal. Alcon has film rights to all or any three books inside the series launched by Little Brown Books, including ''Beautiful Darkness,'' and ''Beautiful Chaos.'' Erwin Stoff (''Water for Tigers,'' ''I Am Legend'') will produce along with Alcon co-founders and co-CEOs Broderick Manley and Andrew Kosove. The transitional phase story will start shooting in April in New Orleans. Story is occur the South about two star-joined teenage fanatics -- a close boy, together with unknown new girl who uncover dark secrets regarding families, their background their town. Thompson will next be viewed in Sony's "MIB3." Contact Dork McNary at dork.mcnary@variety.com

Samantha Barks Is L'ensemble des Mis' Eponine

From stage to screen...Using the planned shoot start date now looking him hard, director Tom Hooper has locked within the couple of remaining major roles for L'ensemble des Miserables. And it is somebody that, though she's limited screen experience, has stayed playing the smoothness on the watch's screen: Samantha Barks is Eponine.Barks, that has been dancing since age three and acting since four, pinged lots of theatre radars when she came third in TV competition I'd Do Anything Whatsoever, which searched for a youthful lady to experience Nancy within the latest revival of Oliver! Despite not winning, she still continued to experience the role within the touring manufacture of the show, where L'ensemble des Mis stage producer Cameron Mackintosh stepped onto stage in Manchester yesterday to announce that she'd won the Eponine role within the film. Barks had formerly performed the part within the London manufacture of the show, as well as the 25th anniversary concert for Miserables last October.She's joining a cast which includes Hugh Jackman (Valjean), Russell Crowe (Javert), Amanda Seyfried (Cosette), Hathaway As Catwoman (Fantine) and Eddie Redmayne (Marius). Eponine may be the daughter from the greedy Thenardiers (Helena Bonham Carter and Sacha Baron Cohen, presuming they have kept in deals), who indulge her while bullying adopted daughter Cosette. But Eponine works out to possess a far better heart than her parents...Hooper ought to be starting off production in a few days. The film's looking for release here on The month of january 11, 2013.

Marvel unveils five new Avengers images

[brightcove]1213024251001[/brightcove]Marvel has thrown a bone to all or any people Avengers obsessives counting lower the occasions prior to the film's April release by unveiling numerous new images.The completely new shots include a close look at Samuel L Jackson's Nick Fury than we've formerly known, and what seems just like a reasonably intimate encounter between Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) and Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner).See the images entirely below:The Avengers aren't showing any signs and signs and symptoms of vanishing soon, as this week Captain America actor Neal McDonough pointed out that Thor 2 will probably be immediately then Captain America 2 together with a Nick Fury movie.The Avengers opens on 27 April 2012.

Report: The CW Orders Pilots For Carrie Diaries, Beauty & The Beast

First Published: January 18, 2012 6:51 PM EST Credit: Warner Bros. LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Caption Sarah Jessica Parker as Carrie Bradshaw in Sex and The CityCarrie Bradshaw could be heading back to television. The CW has ordered a pilot for The Carrie Diaries, Access Hollywood has confirmed. The Carrie Diaries book series from Candace Bushnell focus on a younger, late teenaged Carrie, who is finishing her last year of high school. It was not clear if the new show would feature Carries later-in-life Sex and The City best friends, including Samantha Jones, who was featured in Summer and the City: A Carrie Diaries Novel, or Miranda Hobbes, who was also in the book, which was released in April 2011. In related news, The CW also confirmed a pilot order for Beauty and the Beast. The 1980s-90s television series originally starred Linda Hamilton and Sons of Anarchys Ron Perlman. Entertainment Weekly first reported the news. Copyright 2012 by NBC Universal, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Press agent Bill Schelble dies

Former theatrical press agent Bill Schelble, who represented numerous shows in NY and on the road, died of natural causes in Milwaukee on Jan. 9. He was 81. Schelble began his showbiz career as personal assistant to writer-director Burt Shevelove, a job that involved work on TV musical productions as well as on Shevelove-helmed Broadway productions including "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum." Schelble became a press agent in 1970, first representing shows staged at Lincoln Center Theater including productions of "Playboy of the Western World," "Twelfth Night" and "A Streetcar Named Desire." Later he repped Broadway productions including "A Chorus Line" and "Amadeus." Often called "Smilin' Broadway Bill" and well known for his encyclopedic knowledge of theater history, Schelble ended his career as a Tony Award nominator. Edward William Schelble was born in Milwaukee and was first drawn to the theater through a childhood encounter with Katharine Hepburn. He performed in summer stock in the Midwest, encountering Geraldine Page, who encouraged the budding actor; studied for two years at Marquette U.; and moved to Los Angeles, where he studied at the Pasadena Playhouse and made it into "Singin' in the Rain" as a background dancer. During the Korean War he served in the Army Stateside. Schelble relocated to NY City in 1955 in further pursuit of an acting career but eventually became a press agent. He is survived by two sisters and numerous nephews and nieces. Donations may be made to Broadway Cares, 165 W. 46th St., Suite 1300, NY, NY 10036 (attention: Care Cards) or online at Broadwaycares.org or to the Alzheimer's Assn., 620 S. 76th St., Suite 160, Milwaukee, WI 53214. Contact Variety Staff at news@variety.com

New you are able to city: Casting Multiple Roles for CBS TV Series 'A Gifted Man'

Back Stage is becoming running two casting notices for your hit CBS TV series "A Gifted Guy" starring Patrick Wilson, Jennifer Ehle, and Margo Martindale. The show stars concentrates on an ambitious surgeon whose ex-wife dies and, within the afterlife, shows him what existence is all about. Listed below are the roles, available nowadays exclusively through Back Stage casting. (Subscription needed.) 'A GIFTED Guy,' Masters of miracle & CLOWNS Casting approaching cases of "A Gifted Guy." CBS Television Art galleries, push. Ali Merhi, senior casting dir. Shoots on or between. Jan. 26-Feb. 6, 2012 round the New you are able to city area.SeekingSAG Talent to Portray Masters of miracle, Magicians' Assistants, and Clowns: males and ladies.To make use of, click the "Submit Online" option your submission must include photos and make contact with info and note "Masters of miracle/Asst" or "Clowns" since the role you're using for. Indicate what your height of experience is, so when you've your individual wardrobe also indicate for individuals who've a tuxedo. Don't call or send unwanted emails. Professional pay provided (SAG scale background rates). SAG Background Stars Contract.'A GIFTED Guy,' FEMALE PIANIST Casting approaching cases of "A Gifted Guy." CBS Television Art galleries, push. Ali Merhi, senior casting dir. Shoots on or btwn. Jan. 16-25, 2012 round the New you are able to city area.SeekingSAG Female to Portray Pianist: 18-45, Whitened, seeking women with experience playing piano.To make use of, click the "Submit Online" option your submission must include photos and make contact with info and note "Pianist" since the role you're using for. Indicate what your height of experience is, and whether read music. Don't call or send unwanted emails. Professional pay provided (SAG scale background rates). SAG Background Stars Contract.

Louise Locklear Come To Hospital Following 911 Call

First Released: The month of january 12, 2012 9:52 PM EST Credit: WireImage La, Calif. -- Caption Louise Locklear searching good in LA on March 19, 2010Heather Locklear was come to a hospital on Thursday after her sister known as 911 on the reported medical emergency, KNBC confirmed. Ventura County Sheriffs Department Captain Mike Aranda confirmed to KNBC that at 2:05 PM PST on Thursday, Locklears sister known as 911 in the actress home for any medical emergency including the previous Melrose Place star. Once the VCSD showed up, paramedics were giving help to Locklear, the Capt. told KNBC. Locklear was come to Los Robles Hospital and Clinic in 1000 Trees. TMZ stated un named police force sources told the web site Locklear mixed prescription medications and alcohol. Furthermore, Radar Online also reported a resource told the web site that Locklears sister was worried for that actress safety. She was afraid Louise would harm herself due to her consuming combined with medication, the origin stated to Radar. A repetition for Locklear wasnt immediately readily available for comment when approached by Access Hollywood on Thursday evening. After revealing their engagement last summer time, Access confirmed in November the star and her former Melrose Place co-star Jack Wagner were no more engaged. As formerly reported on AccessHollywood.com, in The month of january 2009, Locklear pleaded no contest to some misdemeanor control of reckless driving. Consequently, her 2008 driving while impaired situation was ignored. Consequently of her plea, the actress was needed to go to a 12-hour drug education program and was positioned on 3 years probation. In This summer 2008, Locklear made Arizona facility where she was undergoing treatment for anxiety and depression, People formerly reported. The actress, who checked herself in to the facility mid June 2008, spent four days in the center. Copyright 2012 by NBC Universal, Corporation. All privileges reserved. These components might not be released, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Will Apple's iTV shake biz to core?

An Apple-produced TV set will likely follow the Apple TV set-top box that Steve Jobs introduced in 2006 and updated in 2010. The most-talked about device at CES isn't in Las Vegas. It actually may not exist at all.That won't, however, stop the tidal wave of hype building for the so-called iTV -- Apple's pending entry into the connected-TV market -- from washing over the Las Vegas Convention Center's show floor, where many TV manufacturers will be touting similar products.Never mind that Apple hasn't confirmed such a product is even in development. Ever since Apple founder Steve Jobs was quoted in his posthumous biography late last yearas having "finally cracked" TV, an endless number of anonymously sourced scoops and reams of speculation regarding iTV have appeared, with the result that its existence is doubted by few. There's too much smoke for there not to be fire.In the absence of known facts about the product, iTV has become a bogeyman of sorts -- a mythical creature onto which the industry can project all its fears and fantasies about just what a TV set of game-changing proportions might look like.That Apple is its maker only feeds this frenzy because the company has proved time and again that its offerings can dominate markets seemingly overnight, as it did most recently in the tablet space with iPad. And Apple manages to cast a perennial shadow over CES despite the fact that the company doesn't even bother to show up there.If there's a market vulnerable to an outsider of outsize influence, it's the smallscreen. Global TV shipment revenue growth has sunk to single digits in recent years, according to IHS iSuppli Market Intelligence, which projects a decline in shipments will begin in 2014.Regardless, analysts are bullish on iTV. Barclays Capital has already forecast sales of $19 billion for the product in 2013, yet there's no consensus as to when exactly iTV will be available, with estimates ranging from the second quarter of 2012 to sometime next year. Apple analyst Gene Munster -- who predicted an Apple-produced TV years before Jobs went public with it -- has projected it could cost $1,600, not a small sum coming off a holiday season where manufacturers were slashing prices.Like Bigfoot, the iTV has been lavished with varying awestruck descriptions from sources who have no proof they've actually seen it. The size of its presumed liquid-crystal-display screen has been estimated to be anywhere from 32-50 inches. There may be more than one size model. ITV has been described by some as not a TV set at all but a set-top addition to existing models.But size and shape aren't what will set iTV apart from the rest of the field; it's the bells and whistles built into the set. The obvious additions would be iTunes, the App Store, a Wi-Fi connection and AirPlay, the Apple devices that could bring iTV into a connected ecosystem with its other wireless devices. The iCloud service could make iTV devoid of storage.What really gets tech enthusiasts excited is the possibility that Siri, the voice-activated technology currently running on iPhone 4S, will be part of the product, potentially rendering useless the remote control that has been TV's primary navigation tool for decades. Microsoft doesn't manufacture TVs, but its Xbox videogame console has drawn raves for Kinect, a voice and motion recognition system that has become an integral piece of the service's multimedia strategy -- and major revenue generator.TV manufacturers have a well-grounded fear that Apple will do to them what the iPhone did to wireless handheld makers like RIM, Motorola and Nokia. Cowen & Co. analyst Jim Friedland foresees widespread embrace for Google TV precisely because of the iTV. "We think the threat of market entry by Apple will force television manufacturers to incorporate Google TV into their products, especially given the success of Android," he wrote.But while plenty of speculation has given the tech industry a good idea of what iTV will look like, one crucial aspect of the product remains a mystery: Apple's content strategy. Apple is expected to attempt to secure firstrun programming or entire channels on an a la carte basis.Programmers haven't been persuaded so easily in prior negotiations with Apple, which has tried and failed on the a la carte front. Of course, if there's a company sitting on enough cash -- $80 billion at last count -- to change some minds, it's Apple. Contact Andrew Wallenstein at andrew.wallenstein@variety.com

Alcatraz's J.J. Abrams: New Fox Drama Is With an Island, But It Is Not Lost

Alcatraz J.J. Abrams is heading to a tropical, simply not the area. "Theoretically, any land mass is definitely an island, which means you could reason that every show available [is much like Lost]," Abrams told reporters in the winter TV previews. "The Mary Tyler Moore Show was similar to Lost!" Nevertheless, the guy who introduced ABC's island mystery to existence has set his sights on another land mass for Fox's Alcatraz. Alcatraz concentrates on each day in 1963 in the well known Bay Area prison when a lot more than 300 pads and criminals disappeared into nothing. In each episode, one of these simple hardened crooks, named "the '63s," will come back in 2012 without getting aged. Bay Area cop Rebecca Madsen (Sarah Johnson), Dr. Diego Soto (Lost alum Jorge Garcia) - who literally authored it around the Rock - federal agent Emerson Hauser (Mike Neill) and the mysterious connect Lucy (Parminder Nagra) synergy to locate them before they are able to enact their anachronistic justice. Exclusive: Eric Manley, Michael Eklund mind to Alcatraz Eventually, the show will try to let you know that the '63s disappeared and why they have came back. But Abrams states he's learned his lesson from his previous serialized, mythological series - Alias, Lost and Fringe - to not keep audiences awaiting solutions. "You cannot expect audiences to sit down there asking fundamental questions for a long time,Inch he states. "It's unfair and it is wrong. We will make certain people aren't always banging their heads from the wall, but when we answer everything in the finish of Season 1, that's never a positive thing for just about any show." The 2-hour series premiere is on Monday, Jan. 16 at 8/7c on Fox.Are you going to stay tuned? Hit your comments ought to together with your ideas below.

Sean Bonniwell dies at 71

Sean Bonniwell, lead singer from the sixties La garage-rock-band Music Machine, died of cancer of the lung on 12 ,. 20 in Visalia, Calif. He was 71. This guitar rock band had the hit single "Talk Talk" in 1966. Music Machine was considered probably the most original bands from the garage era and was an essential precursor from the punk bands that will follow within the seventies. This guitar rock band began out because the Ragamuffins in 1965 but soon grew to become referred to as Music Machine due to its energetic carrying out style. By 1967, the audience started to interrupt up. They launched one album "(Switch On) The Background Music Machine," which featured "Talk Talk." Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com