Taylor Quick Declines Nude Photo Is Her, Intends Law Suit

Taylor Quick is the middle of some undesirable attention, having a tabloid website Superstar Jihad posting an alleged nude photo from the singer -- and due to it, she may sue.our editor recommends'American Country Honours:' Zac Brown Band, Taylor Quick Score Noms Based on TMZ, Quick and her lawyers are threatening to file a lawsuit the web site for trademark violation when the "leaked" photo isn't taken lower, by which she claims she was wrongly recognized. The look shows a topless lady who appears like Quick and also the story's headline where the picture seems is the following: "Taylor Quick Topless Private Pic Leaked?." Quick's lawyers have sent on the letter towards the website, requesting these to take lower the look and story immediately, based on the report. The letter claims the website incorporated "false pornographic images and false 'news' " about Quick. Based on another report, the web site under consideration has yet to consider lower the look. Quick is presently in the center of her United States tour, Speak Now, as well as on November. 9, Quick is going to be competing for five honours only at that year's New Bands Association Honours. Related Subjects Taylor Quick

Virgin pacts with U.K. PBS

LONDON -- Your final-minute deal remains implemented to carry the completely new U.K. version of PBS on local cable platform Virgin Media. The move suggests that PBS will probably be available to clients of both primary British payboxes -- satcaster BSkyB and Virgin -- when the service bows in Blighty on November. 1. The agreement gives Virgin the rights to provide PBS content across its on-demand services together with the funnel receiving slot number 243 round the Virgin Electronic Program Guide. The U.K. PBS funnel bow is the first time the internet has launched a funnel outdoors the U.S. Contact the number newsroom at news@variety.com

MTV's Killer Halloween: Ew, The Gross Factor!

Welcome to MTV's Killer Halloween! All week long, we're looking at ten of the greatest horror movie villains of all time, and with your help, we'll determine once and for all just how powerful these murdering psychopaths and evil masterminds really are. Our contestants: Freddy Krueger ("A Nightmare on Elm Street"), Jason Voorhees ("Friday the Thirteenth"), Michael Myers ("Halloween"), Ghostface ("Scream"), Leatherface ("The Texas Chainsaw Massacre"), Chucky ("Child's Play"), Norman Bates ("Psycho"), Pinhead ("Hellraiser"), Hannibal Lecter ("Silence of the Lambs") and Jigsaw ("Saw"). Having great style, effective weaponry and a killer personality is all well and dandy, but what really makes a horror killer so special is the gross factor. Whether it's the nausea you feel when gazing upon their faces, or the stomach-churning sensation you suffer on witnessing their grotesque acts of violence, a horror movie killer's bloodsoaked rampage is meaningless without a viewer's need to vomit. Thankfully, our competitors bring the gag reflex in spades. Vote on the Killer Halloween murderers' respective gross factors one being tame, five being impossibly revolting after the jump! Freddy Krueger After all these years of killing teenagers, it must be a point of pride for Mr. Krueger that he took out a young Johnny Depp in the first "Elm Street" movie, turning the future Captain Jack Sparrow into a fountain of blood. Jason Voorhees Check out a list of iconic horror movie kills and you'll always find one by Jason from the much-hated "Jason X." The kill involved liquid nitrogen, a steel table and a woman's head, not necessarily in that order. Michael Myers If Freddy is going to take credit for killing Johnny Depp, Michael should be noted for his love of sharp objects and putting a hockey skate through Joseph Gordon-Levitt's face in "Halloween H20." It's not quite the same, but gross nonetheless. Ghostface The "Scream" killer tends to keep things as simple as the name of the fictional movies he inspired, "Stab." Ghostface will, however, on occasion get creative, as he did in the first movie by trapping a girl in a doggie door and killing her with the garage door. Leatherface The man wears other people's skin on his face. On his face! Think about it. Then his family eats them. Chucky One of the grossest aspects about Chucky is entirely separate from how he kills people. Chucky has a tendency to get injured and reveal the human flesh beneath his doll exterior, such as when he was forced to tear his own legs off in "Child's Play 2." Norman Bates Like the rest of Hitchcock's oeuvre, the real terror is all about what you don't see. The demands of 1960s film making didn't allow for Hitch to show the gruesome details of the shower scene, but the kill becomes even more horrifying in your imagination. Pinhead For Pinhead, the name of the game is the pleasures of pain, and pain is what he brings throughout the series, pushing the limits of his victims as he tortures them in sadomasochistic ritual for all eternity. Hannibal Lecter It's hard to separate Hannibal from his most iconic on-screen kill, the murder of two security guards, one of whom he steals a face from. The scene remains one of the most graphic and iconic of the series. Oh, and there was also the time when he ate Ray Liotta's brains. That was pretty nasty. Jigsaw Jigsaw as a movie villain and "Saw" as a film series exist explicitly for the reason of the gross out. Whether you consider it torture porn or just a graphic scary movie, the series' love of gore is undeniable. Check out the results for Killer Halloween's personality poll! No surprise here: Freddy Krueger is your pick for biggest personality among our roster of horror movie killers. Hannibal Lecter makes his first major appearance on the board as the second place finisher, with Ghostface and Chucky close behind. Apparently, nobody thinks there's anything funny about Pinhead's desire to torture you for all of eternity, as he ranked lowest in personality. You just better hope he doesn't have the last laugh... Justify your votes in the comments section or hit us up on Twitter!

'X Factor' Showstopper: Paula Abdul Will get Stop by Host Steve Johnson Idol judges React

FOXSteve Johnson Possibly probably the most uncomfortable moments of X Factor's first live episode Tuesday involved midway with the two-and-a-30 minutes broadcast, once the show was managing a good two minutes behind and host Steve Joneswas instructed to stop Paula Abdul mid-sentence.our editor recommends'The X Factor' Redux: 5 Awkward Moments In the Judges' Houses (Video)'The X Factor' Redux: 5 Afterthoughts around the Shows Premiere 'New Girl,' 'Secret Circle' and 'X Factor': 10 Youngest-Skewing New Shows This Year (To Date)'American Idol's' Nigel Lythgoe Jams Twitter Fans Over 'X Factor''American Idol' Creator Sues Fox For Millions in 'X Factor' Money (Exclusive) In conclusion: The Maker Boys had been removed by their mentor once they sheepishly apologized because of not living as much as her anticipation. Fighting back tears, Abdul uttered a couple of words of encouragement but was quickly interrupted by Johnson, who was adamant they needed to move ahead. PHOTOS: 'X Factor' Top 17 Runners up: Become familiar with the performers "My producers were screaming, 'We're way over, we gotta move ahead, stop them,' " Johnson told The Hollywood Reporter following Tuesday's show. "It had been always an activity to showcase 17 functions in 2-and-a-half hrs. With 16, i was groing through, therefore it would be a huge task the production team drawn them back.Inch But at whose expense? Knowing by twitter reaction which from the studio audience, audiences were aghast in the perceived dis, after which came the inevitable question: Would Ryan Seacrest have sweated the time? PHOTOS: Behind the curtain: THR's 'X Factor' Cover Shoot "I don't wish to stop these folks quarrelling -- it's completely entertaining," stated Johnson. "But we're on short time, and so i needed to stop her from time to time." He will not make any apologies for his actions, either. "I'll never apologize for doing my job," he stated. "Paula was awesome, but she did look a bit annoyed." For his part, Simon Cowell appreciated within the drama. "I really like whenever we're around the wire such as this,Inch he stated. "I really like once the producers stop by throughout the break and go nuts. Plus they're literally going insane. And That I like because you can control might produce the tension. That's live TV. We're able to shoot this at 2 o'clock within the mid-day, but it might be probably the most boring factor on the planet. I love the truth that there's a feeling of danger." PHOTOS: An 'American Idol' to 'X Factor' Timeline For Abdul herself, a great hour following the closing credits, she clearly had not become regarding this. "It had been just a little awkward, to become completely honest," she told THR. "It had been right when Nathan Maker stated, 'I'm sorry, Miss Paula, that people didn't meet your anticipation.' I couldn't catch my breath, which's when Steve cut me off. It had been very hard that i can let visit the Maker Boys. I truly love individuals kids." Abdul stated she has been investing in extra-lengthy hrs dealing with the groups. On Tuesday, she'd been in the studio from 8 a.m. until 2 each morning. "I've been working 12-15 hrs each day nonstop," she ongoing. "They've never carried out on the television stage, to train them how you can interact with your camera, enunciate their words..." STORY: 'X Factor's' First Live Show: A View From The Inside Nicole Scherzinger and L.A. Reid are, obviously, the brand new idol judges on the market, and somewhat, they've just as much to understand because the participants. Just how did they handle pressure of the live show? "I had been afraid," stated Scherzinger. "We have never carried this out before." Added Reid: "We attempted to remain short and tight, however, you can't really be worried about it." Just how far behind was the show? At its worst, two minutes, which later simplified to 50 seconds and lastly, the episode really wrapped early, stated Johnson. "I was up and lower," he stated. "But we drawn it back and within the last chunk, we really ended under. Therefore we turned it around. I was too great for our very own good." Nicole Scherzinger Paula Abdul Simon Cowell Antonio L.A. Reid Steve Johnson The X Factor

Dwts: Chaz Bono Goes Home

Chaz Bono, Lacey Schwimmer You are able to only think of the enormity from the pressure on Chaz Bono throughout his six-week operate on Dwts: He was the kid of Cher, among the world's greatest celebs, he'd bad knees and was terribly in poor condition, and there have been gossips of dying risks because his presence on the program made him the poster boy for that transgender community. Actually, the show's impressive security presence - large, beefy men who're scattered through the ballroom - was always increased when Chaz was on stage.But he continued to be a humble, dignified, good-humored guy, holding their own when confronted with low scores, sometimes-harsh critique, and endless media questions. He only lost his awesome once, Monday evening, after judge Bruno Tonioli in comparison him to "an adorable little penguin." But even that did not get him lower for lengthy. "I had been mad last evening," states Bono. "But that is not what this really is about, not things i came on here to complete. I came here to exhibit people a powerful, proud transgender guy. I am just grateful to possess already been through it. I am not departing this show bitter or angry or anything. It had been an excellent, existence altering experience."His elimination could also happen to be wish fulfillment. Behind the curtain, the term is the fact that Bono was a lot more than prepared to remove his dancing footwear. "He really was tired," verifies one of several sources in the show. "He was worrying about this all week. He did not think he could take care of the dancing. Chaz took it home."The only real other footnote in the show is: Throughout the videotaped segment that re-written the Monday evening throw-lower between mind judge Len Goodman and professional Maksim Chmerkovskiy within the dancing of Maks' celebrity partner Hope Solo, Goodman held his hands to his temple, shielding his eyes in the screen, and searching like he was suffering an Excedrin headache. If this was over, he did not look a little sorry, just glad he did not needs to pay attention to anymore.Tonioli did not look sorry either, after hearing Bono complain on tape the judge's "little penguin" comments made Bono seem like "some body fat troll dancing with this particular beautiful lady [his professional partner, Lacey Schwimmer]." Once the show visited commercial break, Tonioli put his hands to the studio audience as though to express, "Produce a rest.InchSign up to TV Guide Magazine Today!

9 Circles

Joe Holt listens as Patrick J. Adams plays a soldier caught up in the Iraq war in Bill Cains 9 Circles at the Bootleg Theater. A Bootleg Theater presentation of a play in one act by Bill Cain. Directed by Justin Zsebe.Pvt. Daniel Reeves - Patrick J. AdamsHot on the heels of the president's announced troop withdrawals from Iraq, the Bootleg Theater offers a disturbing vision of what that nine-year war has turned us into. "Us" is the operative word, for Pvt. Daniel Edward Reeves, the protagonist of Bill Cain's "9 Circles," is all too clearly drawn as a metaphor for America's descent into hell on the banks of the Tigris and Euphrates. Happily, a tour de force from Patrick J. Adams (of TV's "Suits") ensures we always see the character clear as both individual and symbol. Justin Zsebe has helmed a great production of an essential play. From the moment we enter the arena -- and it's the literal arena, Jason Adams' circular arrangement of individual bleachers containing upper tiers for adventurous patrons -- Pvt. Reeves greets us in full battle gear: your tax dollars at work. Standing atop crates, surveying the terrain (i.e. us) through impenetrable shades, he is the very picture of the reliable sentinel, being all that he can be. That implacable air and the trappings are systematically, literally stripped away in a series of nine scenes in which the consequences of his service are revealed to bring him down, and then further down, until we recognize (as he may not) exactly what he has become in the name of defending our freedom. Giving more away is possible but undesirable. Audiences deserve to be confronted with "9 Circles" with as little softening preamble as possible, and the more you know about its given circumstances the easier it may be to dismiss as familiar, or politically suspect, what Cain is trying to do here. Suffice it to say Pvt. Reeves is more than the cliched redneck taught only to kill, and those involved in determining his fate have more on their agenda than this one individual's redemption or punishment. What can be revealed is the versatility of Paul Dillon, Joe Holt and Arlene Santana who, despite individually vivid personalities, fully embody a range of military identities at multiple points on the ideological spectrum. They are complemented by Lap Chi Chu's dramatic lighting, and a host of theatrical effects Zsebe manages with bold assurance. Cain puts Adams through a wringer, and the thesp in turn does the same to us. This undereducated, bigoted, brawling youth with angelic looks and woebegone eyes is a mass of contradictions, of which Adams never loses a master artist's control. Whatever you assume about him, prepare to have Cain and Adams change your mind -- several times, probably -- as he is buffeted by forces beyond all control. By the end, when Reeves is down to his most elemental, it's difficult not to think of the Biblical announcement "Ecce homo": behold the man. And since that sentiment was spoken by judge Pontius Pilate during another legal proceeding, involving another defendant depicted in traditional art as staring at us to compel our identification with his suffering, it seems not inappropriate as well. The shakiness felt by anyone climbing up or down the rickety ladders to get to that upper tier is nothing compared to the shakiness you are likely to feel as this remarkable work comes to its melancholy end. Either way, it's an experience not to be missed or forgotten.Sets, Jason Adams, costumes, Kathryn Poppen; lighting, Lap Chi Chu; sound, Adam Phalen. Opened, reviewed Oct. 21, 2011. Runs through Nov. 12. Running time: 1 HOUR, 35 MIN.With: Paul Dillon, Joe Holt, Arlene Santana. Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

Sony has Assassins Creed in its sights

Sony is close to landing the movie rights to Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed videogame, following a bidding war between film studios.According to Variety, Sony is in final negotiations to tackle the big screen version of a games franchise that sees assassins in the past recover items for a secret organisation in the future.Ubisoft - which launched UbiSoft Motion Pictures earlier this year - apparently wants to maintain creative control over the development of its games for other platforms and feels Sony is the studio to allow that.Sony is also currently backing a number of other projects based on games, with adaptations of Uncharted: Drake's Fortune and InFamous in development.In August, Ubisoft chief Yves Guillemot told the Gamescom conference in Germany that he also wants to produce bigscreen versions of Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell and Ghost Recon.CanAssassin's Creed pull in the crowds?Even a disappointing performance by Disney's Prince Of Persia: The Sands Of Time, which was based on a Ubisoft game, saw that film earn $335m worldwide.Surely an Assassin can take down a Prince?

'Bake Off' cooks up big ratings for BBC2

'The Great British Bake Off'LONDON -- It's been dubbed the most unlikely reality show ever, but a British baking contest is the surprise breakout hit of the U.K. TV fall season."The Great British Bake Off," produced by Love Prods., bowed last year on BBC2 with an average audience of 2.3 million.This figure more than doubled as the second season of "Bake Off" hit its stride in September and became BBC2's biggest show. By the time the series wrapped Oct. 4, an average of 4.56 million viewers (a 20 share) were tuning in, and the last 15 minutes of the final episode was watched by an audience of 5.1 million.The show pits 12 amateur bakers against each other in a weekly elimination contest to bake a cake, quiche or tart.Unlike more conventional reality fare like "The X Factor," there is little emphasis on the protagonists' emotional back stories.In other words, cooking rather than crying occupies stage center.The finished products are judged by septuagenarian U.K. food writer Mary Berry, who at 76 has published more than 70 books on cooking.Her homespun wisdom and warmth is about as far from Simon Cowell as it's possible to get."Whether it is baking a scone or a loaf of bread, 'Bake Off' is very much tied up with the idea of homeliness and cocooning," observes Janice Hadlow, head of BBC2, who sees the show as tapping in to cultural mores in the U.K. Casting for the third season is under way.Hadlow notes that auds are tuning in to brush up on their baking skills. "?'Bake Off' is nothing to do with lavish dinner parties or making an exquisite piece of patisserie. It is about the pleasure you can have in hard times. Baking at home is one way of having fun without spending a lot of money." The Independent's TV critic Tom Sutcliffe echoes Hadlow's assessment: "Yes, it's all about the technique that goes into the perfect biscotti and tense stand-off over ginger nut orthodoxy. But it's also about domestic affections: about recipes learned from much-loved grandmas and family favorites lovingly cooked for children."So could "The Great British Bake Off" emulate "MasterChef" and become an international hit with local versions rolled out globally? "The Great Barcelona Bake Off" anyone?Hadlow is skeptical. "I don't know if it would have the same cultural purchase in mainland Europe or the U.S." she says. "It taps into what baking means in the U.K. I am not sure baking has the same associations outside Britain." Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

Theater Actors to Watch 2011

Theater Actors to Watch 2011 October 21, 2011 Patti Murrin in "Lysistrata Jones" Patti Murin Where you've seen her: Patti Murin was most recently seen in an Off-Broadway production at the Judson Memorial Church, playing a determined basketball cheerleader in the Aristophanes-inspired musical "Lysistrata Jones" and garnering rave reviews. Written by Douglas Carter Beane and composer-lyricist Lewis Flinn, the show is now slated to open on Broadway at the Walter Kerr Theatre on Dec. 14. Previously, Murin understudied the roller-skating female lead in the 2007 Broadway tuner "Xanadu" and went on 40 times, she says. Prior to making her Broadway debut in that zany production, she performed at regional theaters across the country, playing leading or featured roles in close to 20 musicalssome of them revivals but most of them new works, including "Princesses," which almost made it to Broadway; "Clueless: The Musical" and "Give It Up," which morphed into "Lysistrata Jones."Upcoming projects: Besides preparing for her debut as a lead on Broadway, Murin is spending her limited free time participating in readings for various new musicals that are hoping to land backers. But her thoughts are focused on the challenges of doing eight shows a week in a lead and maintaining her physical and especially vocal health. "I never performed eight times a week; the most was seven performances," she says, adding, "I feel very strongly about not taking time off and missing performances because of vocal problems." On the other hand, she feels confident because she created the role and has had a chance to hone her acting and singing chops at the Dallas Theater Center, where the project began, and later Off-Broadway.Breaking in: Brought up in Hopewell Junction, N.Y., Murin had her sights set on a musical theater career at an early age. She majored in musical theater at Syracuse University and moved to New York City two weeks after graduation in 2002. Her career trajectory to date has been steady and workmanlike. She concedes that she was lucky to land day jobsincluding an on-and-off three-year gig with an insurance companythat allowed her to take time off for auditions, callbacks, and work in various regional productions. Other day jobs, as a guide with the "Sex and the City" bus tour and as a freelance babysitter, have been equally flexible. She's now in the enviable position of being able to focus exclusively on her true vocation without worrying about day labor.Keeping a healthy perspective: Part of her good fortune, Murin says, is having a wonderful support system that includes friends, family, and, most central, her husband, actor Curtis Holbrook. Both are committed to the marriage, she says, and don't go out of town for long periods: "My marriage now determines a lot of what I do and don't do. Being married also reminds me that there is something else beyond the next audition." Indeed, she says, it's very important to have friends outside the business for added perspective. Another aspect of a healthy outlook is to make a genuine effort to mitigate feelings of envy when an actor friend walks off with a role you auditioned for, she says. "I now feel if I don't get a part, I should be happy for an actor friend who does. We have no control over it anyway, and whether you get a role or not has nothing to do with who you are. You may be just an inch too tall. So feel good for your friend."Simi Horwitz Edward Tournier Where you've seen him: Edward Tournier, who was born in Paris and grew up in Boston, has been active in Southern California theater since he moved to L.A. five years ago. His many successful and challenging stage roles include characters in "Futura" at Theatre @ Boston Court (Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle nomination), "Supernova" at the Elephant Theatre (LA Weekly nomination for best ensemble), and "Mercury Fur" for Needtheater (Ovation nomination for best ensemble). About his portrayal of an oversexed, alcoholic teenager in "Supernova," Back Stage wrote, "The superb Tournier juggles his character's boorish behavior alongside the hurt feelings that have festered in the family, creating a compelling portrait of inner turmoil." Tournier is a dedicated member of the theater company Rogue Machine, where he appeared in "Razorback," and has enjoyed the opportunity to cut his teeth as a producer and assistant director with the troupe. "I think those jobs fell to me because I was willing to step up and take them, as often happens in theater," he says. "As I did more and more plays, I got more familiar with how it all works, more skilled and experienced, and started seeing things from a wider point of view. Directing and producing seemed like a natural growth from acting." Tournier also has TV shows to his credit, including "Without a Trace" and A&E's "The Cleaner."Current project: Tournier is playing the unusual role of a bonobo (similar to a chimpanzee) in the world premiere of Henry Murray's "Monkey Adored," at Rogue Machine through Nov. 20. "This species of ape is known primarily for its democratic sex drive, not discriminating by age, gender, or status," the actor explains. The allegorical play, which includes several humanlike animals, is set in a brutally violent world where the repressed animal characters are planning a revolt. Tournier calls his role very challenging, physically and otherwise, but says it's "an absolute blast to play." He adds, "I get to really 'monkey around' and leave my inhibitions at the door."Breaking in: The role that Tournier believes got his career rolling was that of an aspiring actor, who grows from 16 to 26 years old, in "Secrets of the Trade," Jonathan Tolins' bittersweet play, which premiered in 2008 at the Black Dahlia Theatre and was later produced Off-Broadway. Tournier's ambitious young character forges a relationship with a famous middle-aged actor-director (played by John Glover), who becomes his mentor. "That was the first play I did in L.A. that got a lot of attention," says Tournier. "It was very popular with audiences and had a sold-out run. It was a critical success, and there were a lot of good things that came out of it."His philosophy: Tournier says something that happened in his career that he never planned for was working almost exclusively on new plays. He describes it as "incredibly rewarding." Beyond that, his vision includes making a living in film or TV. "That's why I'm out here," he says. "My passion and background are on stage, but when it comes to making a living, that only seems possible if you have a film or TV thing going." Yet he would feel especially fulfilled to be able to do it all. "That's the dream," he says.Les Spindle Annaleigh Ashford Annaleigh Ashford in "Rent" (Photo by Joan Marcus) Where you've seen her: Annaleigh Ashford has been a steady presence on the NY theater scene since she graduated with a bachelor's degree in acting from Marymount Manhattan Collegeat 19. "I was on the fast track," Ashford says. Months after graduating, she landed in the NY Musical Theatre Festival production "Feeling Electric"an early version of the Pulitzer Prize winner "Next to Normal"which she considers her big break. That show got her a gig in the first national tour of "Wicked," understudying Glinda. She went on to create the role of Margot in the musical "Legally Blonde" and play Jeannie in "Hair" on Broadway last summer. She also had a bit part in the first "Sex and the City" movie and is a recurring guest star on the NYbased Web series "Submissions Only."Current projects: Ashford is currently starring as Maureen, the volatile performance artist, in the Off-Broadway revival of "Rent." While she was nervous about following in the footsteps of Idina Menzel, who originated the role on Broadway, Ashford brought her own experience to bear. "When I was in college, I knew quite a few performance artists who were working consistently downtown, so I've seen a lot of performance art," she explains of her new take on the bohemian lesbian activist. "I wanted to explore more elements of the physical. And they understood what I was going for, and it was extremely exciting." While her first love is the theater, she's excited about acting in all mediums. She'll appear in the much-anticipated midseason series "Smash" on NBC. "As an actor, I really would just love to work in any way that I can," Ashford says. "I've been given the opportunity to explore that mediumbecause it is so different from the theater, that's been exciting creatively. It's a different world. But the acting stays the same. The process stays the same. It's just a different medium. I'm partial to anything where I get to act." Endless auditioning: Like any actor, Ashford must deal with the unpredictability of the profession. "I always tell people that I have more job interviews in a week than most people have in their life," she says. "I think that's the hardest part about being an actor: You have to have the continual belief in yourself, in your craft." A self-proclaimed horrible judge of auditions, Ashford says she never knows how to feel after one: "When I auditioned for 'Legally Blonde: The Musical,' I thought I did a terrible job and there was no way I was getting a callback. And then I got a call literally the next morning saying I got the job in one audition." Always be creating: To keep her craft sharp, Ashford values her training. "Working in musical theater, it's like flexing a muscle," she says. She regularly takes dance classes and has kept up with voice lessons since she was 9. She trained in clowning with David Shiner while working on the Cirque du Soleil show "Banana Shpeel," and she has taken Bob Krakower's on-camera class and Craig Carnelia's musical theater class. "It's actually an important part of the creative process, to always be creating," she explains. Ashford's dream roles include Nina in "The Seagull" and Martha in "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" "That's not going to happen for years," she says. "As an actor, your career is your whole life, or at least it should be. You can act until the day you die."Suzy Evans Hunter Parrish (Photo by Michael Muller/CPi Syndication) Where you've seen him: Hunter Parrish has been acting since he was about 6 years old but still considers himself a student, always willing to learn from his peers and veteran co-stars. Born in Richmond, Va., and raised in Plano, Texas, Parrish has guest-starred on several TV shows, such as "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" and "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit." He has also appeared on Broadway as Melchior in the musical "Spring Awakening" and in the movies "RV," "Freedom Writers," "17 Again," and "It's Complicated." For the last six years, he has played Silas Botwin on Showtime's Emmy-winning drama "Weeds." Current project: Parrish is currently making his second appearance on Broadway, starring as Jesus in the revival of "Godspell," now in previews and scheduled to open Nov. 7. Though he's playing a biblical figure, the musical "is about love and community," he says. "People have their personal [ideas] for what or who Jesus is and what he means. I'm staying far away from that and I'm focusing on how much love he as a man had to offer and to teach other people how to spread their love as well."Breaking in: Parrish's interest in performing began at 5 years old. During a church service, he enjoyed singing alongside his family, and the next summer, he visited NY and saw "Cats" on Broadway. "I started crying," he remembers. "From watching people on stage moving, singing, dancing, I was like, 'I got to do that.' I wanted to be on stage." He soon took Peter Sklar's Beginnings workshop and starred in its end-of-term showcase, after which a manager offered to represent him. Parrish began working on stage and moved into film and television roles as he became older, though he never lost his affinity for theater. When he was about 17, he received the script for "Weeds." He was home in Texas at the time, so a friend taped his audition and he mailed it in. He heard nothing for some time and assumed the producers were not interested. Then he was told it was a choice between him and two other actors to play Silas, the son of a pot-dealing suburban mom played by Mary-Louise Parker. Parrish flew out to Los Angeles and won the role. "I guess they saw something," he says. Time leap: When he replaced Jonathan Groff as Melchior in "Spring Awakening," Parrish needed to play a character living in late-19th-century Germany. He found it an interesting challenge: "I spent a lot of time right before each show listening to music that wasn't necessarily from the time period but that took me from present day and focused me." He adds with a laugh, "I have a crazy personality, and my brain is incredibly scattered and needed that to bring myself down." What he's learned: "Trusting myself was the biggest obstacle, and still is," Parrish says. "Every time I sit down with any script, I read it closely and get into it, so I can see where to make big decisions and go for it, because that's what people respond to." Frank Nestor Andre Holland (Photo by Michael Tammaro) Where you've seen him: Andre Holland got bitten by the Shakespeare in the Park bug after his first year in NY University's MFA acting program, when he appeared in the ensemble of the Public Theater production of "Much Ado About Nothing." Last summer he returned to Central Park, playing Bertram in "All's Well That Ends Well" and Claudio in "Measure for Measure." He considers his first professional break after graduating from NYU in 2006 to have been the play "Blue Door" at Playwrights Horizons. "NY Times" critic Charles Isherwood wrote, "On the evidence of this blazingly good performance, I can confidently say that Mr. Hollandis an actor of some serious potential." In 2009, Holland made his Broadway debut in "Joe Turner's Come and Gone," and in 2011 he received rave reviews for his work in Manhattan Theatre Club's production of "The Whipping Man." (Isherwood called him "one of the most engaging young stage actors of his generation.")Upcoming projects: This fall, Holland can be seen guest-starring on the fifth season of USA's "Burn Notice." The final episode of his short-lived TV show "Friends With Benefits" aired in September, and he is taking some time out now to work on writing projects. He's writing his first full-length screenplay, something he is "dying to do," he says. "I'm having a hard time finding the parts that I want to be doing next. I think it's up to me to create those opportunities for myself. Not only do you have to be a good actor, but you also have to be a good creator and care enough about it to go out and make it yourself if you have to. That's tough. But it's also equal parts exhilarating and exciting."Mama's boy: In Alabama, where Holland grew up, his mom was a champion for him and his two sisters, and she put him in a community theater production even though he was too young. "She sort of forced them to let me be a part of it," he remembers. His mother's "you have not because you ask not" philosophy has helped him throughout his career. "Be persistent," advises Holland, who wrote letters incessantly to the Public Theater requesting an audition that first summer. "If you want to do it and you know you want to do it, then knock on every door you can find. Audition for anybody that will let you audition for them. Really go after it."Permission to act: Holland didn't always have acting on his mind. He played baseball in high school and initially studied political science at Florida State University. Walking by the college theater building one day, he saw a flyer for a black theater festival run by Woodie King Jr. of Off-Broadway's New Federal Theatre. Using more of his mother's moxie, he convinced the department to let him participate in the event. "At the end of it," he recalls, "Woodie King Jr. caught me in the hallway and he said, 'Son, I want you to go home, call your mama, and tell her Woodie King Jr. said it's okay for you to be an actor." But he still wrestled with finding his place. While studying in London, he saw Adrian Lester in Peter Brook's production of "Hamlet," which changed Holland's outlook. "In my mind, I never put together [that] a black man could be playing Hamlet well," he says. "Seeing him do it really just broadened my horizons. It gave me permission to be where I am right now. To play in Shakespeare in the Park. Had I not been in that theater, I probably never would have had the courage to risk going after it."Suzy Evans Adam Chanler-Berat (Photo by Norma Walter McBride_Retna Ltd.) Where you've seen him: Adam Chanler-Berat created the role of Henry in the Pulitzer Prizewinning musical "Next to Normal," then went on to originate the character Peter in "Peter and the Starcatcher," the much-raved-about Off-Broadway adaptation of Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson's prequel to J.M. Barrie's "Peter Pan."Current project: Chanler-Berat is now tackling one of the most iconic musical theater roles of the '90s, playing Mark Cohen in the Off-Broadway revival of "Rent" at New World Stages. The show opened in August and has been well-received by critics and audiences.Big shoes: Stepping into an established role was not easy for Chanler-Berat after creating two originals. "It was a little shocking," he says. "It's tough. There is a certain idea of the role that I wanted to honor in some way." Having worked with Anthony Rapp, the original Mark Cohen, in "Next to Normal" (Rapp was the assistant director), Chanler-Berat was especially anxious to pay tribute to the character. "But I think getting caught up in that is just asking for trouble," he says. "And I think Michael [Greif, the director] was so gracious to let us really figure out who these people are."Born this way: "As clich as this sounds, I think it's true that you are born an actor, and I was born with this bug," Chanler-Berat says. "I tried to run away from it at a couple points in my life, and I just found myself back in its loving arms again." As a young boy, he performed for friends and family every chance he got. Every time a costume could be worn, he was in one. "I made a play about the Easter Bunny, and I'm not religious," he says. "And my family is pretty much Jewish. But I made up plays for any holiday I could. I've been doing it privately. Now I just get paid for it."Emily Cegielski Theater Actors to Watch 2011 October 21, 2011 Patti Murrin in "Lysistrata Jones" Patti Murin Where you've seen her: Patti Murin was most recently seen in an Off-Broadway production at the Judson Memorial Church, playing a determined basketball cheerleader in the Aristophanes-inspired musical "Lysistrata Jones" and garnering rave reviews. Written by Douglas Carter Beane and composer-lyricist Lewis Flinn, the show is now slated to open on Broadway at the Walter Kerr Theatre on Dec. 14. Previously, Murin understudied the roller-skating female lead in the 2007 Broadway tuner "Xanadu" and went on 40 times, she says. Prior to making her Broadway debut in that zany production, she performed at regional theaters across the country, playing leading or featured roles in close to 20 musicalssome of them revivals but most of them new works, including "Princesses," which almost made it to Broadway; "Clueless: The Musical" and "Give It Up," which morphed into "Lysistrata Jones."Upcoming projects: Besides preparing for her debut as a lead on Broadway, Murin is spending her limited free time participating in readings for various new musicals that are hoping to land backers. But her thoughts are focused on the challenges of doing eight shows a week in a lead and maintaining her physical and especially vocal health. "I never performed eight times a week; the most was seven performances," she says, adding, "I feel very strongly about not taking time off and missing performances because of vocal problems." On the other hand, she feels confident because she created the role and has had a chance to hone her acting and singing chops at the Dallas Theater Center, where the project began, and later Off-Broadway.Breaking in: Brought up in Hopewell Junction, N.Y., Murin had her sights set on a musical theater career at an early age. She majored in musical theater at Syracuse University and moved to NY City two weeks after graduation in 2002. Her career trajectory to date has been steady and workmanlike. She concedes that she was lucky to land day jobsincluding an on-and-off three-year gig with an insurance companythat allowed her to take time off for auditions, callbacks, and work in various regional productions. Other day jobs, as a guide with the "Sex and the City" bus tour and as a freelance babysitter, have been equally flexible. She's now in the enviable position of being able to focus exclusively on her true vocation without worrying about day labor.Keeping a healthy perspective: Part of her good fortune, Murin says, is having a wonderful support system that includes friends, family, and, most central, her husband, actor Curtis Holbrook. Both are committed to the marriage, she says, and don't go out of town for long periods: "My marriage now determines a lot of what I do and don't do. Being married also reminds me that there is something else beyond the next audition." Indeed, she says, it's very important to have friends outside the business for added perspective. Another aspect of a healthy outlook is to make a genuine effort to mitigate feelings of envy when an actor friend walks off with a role you auditioned for, she says. "I now feel if I don't get a part, I should be happy for an actor friend who does. We have no control over it anyway, and whether you get a role or not has nothing to do with who you are. You may be just an inch too tall. So feel good for your friend."Simi Horwitz Edward Tournier Where you've seen him: Edward Tournier, who was born in Paris and grew up in Boston, has been active in Southern California theater since he moved to L.A. five years ago. His many successful and challenging stage roles include characters in "Futura" at Theatre @ Boston Court (Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle nomination), "Supernova" at the Elephant Theatre (LA Weekly nomination for best ensemble), and "Mercury Fur" for Needtheater (Ovation nomination for best ensemble). About his portrayal of an oversexed, alcoholic teenager in "Supernova," Back Stage wrote, "The superb Tournier juggles his character's boorish behavior alongside the hurt feelings that have festered in the family, creating a compelling portrait of inner turmoil." Tournier is a dedicated member of the theater company Rogue Machine, where he appeared in "Razorback," and has enjoyed the opportunity to cut his teeth as a producer and assistant director with the troupe. "I think those jobs fell to me because I was willing to step up and take them, as often happens in theater," he says. "As I did more and more plays, I got more familiar with how it all works, more skilled and experienced, and started seeing things from a wider point of view. Directing and producing seemed like a natural growth from acting." Tournier also has TV shows to his credit, including "Without a Trace" and A&E's "The Cleaner."Current project: Tournier is playing the unusual role of a bonobo (similar to a chimpanzee) in the world premiere of Henry Murray's "Monkey Adored," at Rogue Machine through Nov. 20. "This species of ape is known primarily for its democratic sex drive, not discriminating by age, gender, or status," the actor explains. The allegorical play, which includes several humanlike animals, is set in a brutally violent world where the repressed animal characters are planning a revolt. Tournier calls his role very challenging, physically and otherwise, but says it's "an absolute blast to play." He adds, "I get to really 'monkey around' and leave my inhibitions at the door."Breaking in: The role that Tournier believes got his career rolling was that of an aspiring actor, who grows from 16 to 26 years old, in "Secrets of the Trade," Jonathan Tolins' bittersweet play, which premiered in 2008 at the Black Dahlia Theatre and was later produced Off-Broadway. Tournier's ambitious young character forges a relationship with a famous middle-aged actor-director (played by John Glover), who becomes his mentor. "That was the first play I did in L.A. that got a lot of attention," says Tournier. "It was very popular with audiences and had a sold-out run. It was a critical success, and there were a lot of good things that came out of it."His philosophy: Tournier says something that happened in his career that he never planned for was working almost exclusively on new plays. He describes it as "incredibly rewarding." Beyond that, his vision includes making a living in film or TV. "That's why I'm out here," he says. "My passion and background are on stage, but when it comes to making a living, that only seems possible if you have a film or TV thing going." Yet he would feel especially fulfilled to be able to do it all. "That's the dream," he says.Les Spindle Annaleigh Ashford Annaleigh Ashford in "Rent" (Photo by Joan Marcus) Where you've seen her: Annaleigh Ashford has been a steady presence on the NY theater scene since she graduated with a bachelor's degree in acting from Marymount Manhattan Collegeat 19. "I was on the fast track," Ashford says. Months after graduating, she landed in the NY Musical Theatre Festival production "Feeling Electric"an early version of the Pulitzer Prize winner "Next to Normal"which she considers her big break. That show got her a gig in the first national tour of "Wicked," understudying Glinda. She went on to create the role of Margot in the musical "Legally Blonde" and play Jeannie in "Hair" on Broadway last summer. She also had a bit part in the first "Sex and the City" movie and is a recurring guest star on the NYbased Web series "Submissions Only."Current projects: Ashford is currently starring as Maureen, the volatile performance artist, in the Off-Broadway revival of "Rent." While she was nervous about following in the footsteps of Idina Menzel, who originated the role on Broadway, Ashford brought her own experience to bear. "When I was in college, I knew quite a few performance artists who were working consistently downtown, so I've seen a lot of performance art," she explains of her new take on the bohemian lesbian activist. "I wanted to explore more elements of the physical. And they understood what I was going for, and it was extremely exciting." While her first love is the theater, she's excited about acting in all mediums. She'll appear in the much-anticipated midseason series "Smash" on NBC. "As an actor, I really would just love to work in any way that I can," Ashford says. "I've been given the opportunity to explore that mediumbecause it is so different from the theater, that's been exciting creatively. It's a different world. But the acting stays the same. The process stays the same. It's just a different medium. I'm partial to anything where I get to act." Endless auditioning: Like any actor, Ashford must deal with the unpredictability of the profession. "I always tell people that I have more job interviews in a week than most people have in their life," she says. "I think that's the hardest part about being an actor: You have to have the continual belief in yourself, in your craft." A self-proclaimed horrible judge of auditions, Ashford says she never knows how to feel after one: "When I auditioned for 'Legally Blonde: The Musical,' I thought I did a terrible job and there was no way I was getting a callback. And then I got a call literally the next morning saying I got the job in one audition." Always be creating: To keep her craft sharp, Ashford values her training. "Working in musical theater, it's like flexing a muscle," she says. She regularly takes dance classes and has kept up with voice lessons since she was 9. She trained in clowning with David Shiner while working on the Cirque du Soleil show "Banana Shpeel," and she has taken Bob Krakower's on-camera class and Craig Carnelia's musical theater class. "It's actually an important part of the creative process, to always be creating," she explains. Ashford's dream roles include Nina in "The Seagull" and Martha in "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" "That's not going to happen for years," she says. "As an actor, your career is your whole life, or at least it should be. You can act until the day you die."Suzy Evans Hunter Parrish (Photo by Michael Muller/CPi Syndication) Where you've seen him: Hunter Parrish has been acting since he was about 6 years old but still considers himself a student, always willing to learn from his peers and veteran co-stars. Born in Richmond, Va., and raised in Plano, Texas, Parrish has guest-starred on several TV shows, such as "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" and "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit." He has also appeared on Broadway as Melchior in the musical "Spring Awakening" and in the movies "RV," "Freedom Writers," "17 Again," and "It's Complicated." For the last six years, he has played Silas Botwin on Showtime's Emmy-winning drama "Weeds." Current project: Parrish is currently making his second appearance on Broadway, starring as Jesus in the revival of "Godspell," now in previews and scheduled to open Nov. 7. Though he's playing a biblical figure, the musical "is about love and community," he says. "People have their personal [ideas] for what or who Jesus is and what he means. I'm staying far away from that and I'm focusing on how much love he as a man had to offer and to teach other people how to spread their love as well."Breaking in: Parrish's interest in performing began at 5 years old. During a church service, he enjoyed singing alongside his family, and the next summer, he visited NY and saw "Cats" on Broadway. "I started crying," he remembers. "From watching people on stage moving, singing, dancing, I was like, 'I got to do that.' I wanted to be on stage." He soon took Peter Sklar's Beginnings workshop and starred in its end-of-term showcase, after which a manager offered to represent him. Parrish began working on stage and moved into film and television roles as he became older, though he never lost his affinity for theater. When he was about 17, he received the script for "Weeds." He was home in Texas at the time, so a friend taped his audition and he mailed it in. He heard nothing for some time and assumed the producers were not interested. Then he was told it was a choice between him and two other actors to play Silas, the son of a pot-dealing suburban mom played by Mary-Louise Parker. Parrish flew out to Los Angeles and won the role. "I guess they saw something," he says. Time leap: When he replaced Jonathan Groff as Melchior in "Spring Awakening," Parrish needed to play a character living in late-19th-century Germany. He found it an interesting challenge: "I spent a lot of time right before each show listening to music that wasn't necessarily from the time period but that took me from present day and focused me." He adds with a laugh, "I have a crazy personality, and my brain is incredibly scattered and needed that to bring myself down." What he's learned: "Trusting myself was the biggest obstacle, and still is," Parrish says. "Every time I sit down with any script, I read it closely and get into it, so I can see where to make big decisions and go for it, because that's what people respond to." Frank Nestor Andre Holland (Photo by Michael Tammaro) Where you've seen him: Andre Holland got bitten by the Shakespeare in the Park bug after his first year in NY University's MFA acting program, when he appeared in the ensemble of the Public Theater production of "Much Ado About Nothing." Last summer he returned to Central Park, playing Bertram in "All's Well That Ends Well" and Claudio in "Measure for Measure." He considers his first professional break after graduating from NYU in 2006 to have been the play "Blue Door" at Playwrights Horizons. "NY Times" critic Charles Isherwood wrote, "On the evidence of this blazingly good performance, I can confidently say that Mr. Hollandis an actor of some serious potential." In 2009, Holland made his Broadway debut in "Joe Turner's Come and Gone," and in 2011 he received rave reviews for his work in Manhattan Theatre Club's production of "The Whipping Man." (Isherwood called him "one of the most engaging young stage actors of his generation.")Upcoming projects: This fall, Holland can be seen guest-starring on the fifth season of USA's "Burn Notice." The final episode of his short-lived TV show "Friends With Benefits" aired in September, and he is taking some time out now to work on writing projects. He's writing his first full-length screenplay, something he is "dying to do," he says. "I'm having a hard time finding the parts that I want to be doing next. I think it's up to me to create those opportunities for myself. Not only do you have to be a good actor, but you also have to be a good creator and care enough about it to go out and make it yourself if you have to. That's tough. But it's also equal parts exhilarating and exciting."Mama's boy: In Alabama, where Holland grew up, his mom was a champion for him and his two sisters, and she put him in a community theater production even though he was too young. "She sort of forced them to let me be a part of it," he remembers. His mother's "you have not because you ask not" philosophy has helped him throughout his career. "Be persistent," advises Holland, who wrote letters incessantly to the Public Theater requesting an audition that first summer. "If you want to do it and you know you want to do it, then knock on every door you can find. Audition for anybody that will let you audition for them. Really go after it."Permission to act: Holland didn't always have acting on his mind. He played baseball in high school and initially studied political science at Florida State University. Walking by the college theater building one day, he saw a flyer for a black theater festival run by Woodie King Jr. of Off-Broadway's New Federal Theatre. Using more of his mother's moxie, he convinced the department to let him participate in the event. "At the end of it," he recalls, "Woodie King Jr. caught me in the hallway and he said, 'Son, I want you to go home, call your mama, and tell her Woodie King Jr. said it's okay for you to be an actor." But he still wrestled with finding his place. While studying in London, he saw Adrian Lester in Peter Brook's production of "Hamlet," which changed Holland's outlook. "In my mind, I never put together [that] a black man could be playing Hamlet well," he says. "Seeing him do it really just broadened my horizons. It gave me permission to be where I am right now. To play in Shakespeare in the Park. Had I not been in that theater, I probably never would have had the courage to risk going after it."Suzy Evans Adam Chanler-Berat (Photo by Norma Walter McBride_Retna Ltd.) Where you've seen him: Adam Chanler-Berat created the role of Henry in the Pulitzer Prizewinning musical "Next to Normal," then went on to originate the character Peter in "Peter and the Starcatcher," the much-raved-about Off-Broadway adaptation of Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson's prequel to J.M. Barrie's "Peter Pan."Current project: Chanler-Berat is now tackling one of the most iconic musical theater roles of the '90s, playing Mark Cohen in the Off-Broadway revival of "Rent" at New World Stages. The show opened in August and has been well-received by critics and audiences.Big shoes: Stepping into an established role was not easy for Chanler-Berat after creating two originals. "It was a little shocking," he says. "It's tough. There is a certain idea of the role that I wanted to honor in some way." Having worked with Anthony Rapp, the original Mark Cohen, in "Next to Normal" (Rapp was the assistant director), Chanler-Berat was especially anxious to pay tribute to the character. "But I think getting caught up in that is just asking for trouble," he says. "And I think Michael [Greif, the director] was so gracious to let us really figure out who these people are."Born this way: "As clich as this sounds, I think it's true that you are born an actor, and I was born with this bug," Chanler-Berat says. "I tried to run away from it at a couple points in my life, and I just found myself back in its loving arms again." As a young boy, he performed for friends and family every chance he got. Every time a costume could be worn, he was in one. "I made a play about the Easter Bunny, and I'm not religious," he says. "And my family is pretty much Jewish. But I made up plays for any holiday I could. I've been doing it privately. Now I just get paid for it."Emily Cegielski

New 'Puss in Boots' Clip: Humpty Dumpty Has Returned Back Together Again

The 'Shrek' franchise isn't any stranger to fairytale figures -- Pinocchio, the 3 Blind Rodents and also the Gingerhead guy have made cameos within the series. Also out there may be the swashbuckling feline Puss in Boots, who, additionally to starring within the every 'Shrek' follow up, gets their own spinoff in the finish of the month. In 'Puss in Boots,' our hero will turn to take lower the murderous villains Jack and Jill. Joining the experience this time around around is going to be Humpty Dumpty, performed through the always amusing Zach Galifianakis. Within this new clip, we have seen Puss in Boots (Antonio Banderas) meet Humpty Dumpty the very first time within the movie. The 2 have the symptoms of a little of the tumultuous history, however, which Puss is extremely quick to indicate. 'Puss in Boots' hits theaters October 28. Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook

Bryan Singers Battlestar Galactica Gets Airborne With John Orloff Scripting Deal

EXCLUSIVE: Universal Pictures is closing a deal with John Orloff to write Battlestar Galactica, a feature based on the Glen Larson 1978 TV series that Bryan Singer has long wanted to direct. Orloff seems equally pumped. What is it about Battlestar Galactica that turns grown men into exuberant kids? “I have wanted to write this movie since I was 12 years old, and built a Galactica model from scratch out of balsa wood, cardboard, old model parts and LEDs,” Orloff told Deadline. “I love BSG, and I would pass on the job rather than frak it up.” Deal comes after Orloff scripted and exec produced Anonymous, the Roland Emmerich-directed film that Sony Pictures will platform, a drama that takes the position Shakespeare didn’t really write his great works. Orloff also scripted Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole and the Angelina Jolie-starrer A Mighty Heart, and was Emmy nominated for HBO’s Band of Brothers mini. He’s also attached to write Truckers for DreamWorks Animation. He’s repped by CAA. This finally gets off the ground a movie that Singer has been interested in doing for at least a decade. The fanboy sites have been going warp speed with excitement after Singer indicated that Battlestar Galactica was squarely in his future once Warner Bros killed his Excalibur remake (Deadline told you during the summer Singer’s project and another King Arthur movie Guy Ritchie developed with John Hodge were over when Warner Bros paid $2 million for David Dobkin’s Arthur & Lancelot spec). With Orloff in the fold, Battlestar Galactica can now make progress. Singer tends to wait until these projects are just right, so it remains to be seen how quickly this one goes into production. But getting an A-list writer is surely a good sign. Singer’s currently directing Jack the Giant Killer, the dark revisionist fairy tale for New Line. The original Battlestar Galactica focused on the last of a space traveling group of humans who survived a lethal surprise attack and, in one remaining warship and a ragtag group of ships, tries to navigate their way to Earth. The series was remade in 2004. Both had a big fan base.

Carl Icahn Reduces Lionsgate Stake With Block Purchase

TORONTO - Carl Icahn's stake in Lionsgate looks to become lower to some sliver.our editor recommendsCarl Icahn 'Not Looking' for additional Hollywood Opportunities Carl Icahn Concurs to market Lionsgate Stake The billionaire investor's holding within the small-major was reduced to three.1 % after Lionsgate a week ago arranged the purchase close to 19.two million shares held by funds associated with Icahn for $7 each. However the Hollywood Reporter has confirmed that the block of some other 3 million Lionsgate shares owned by Icahn offered in to the market on Wednesday, reducing his stake close to 1 %. Recent market unpredictability postponed Lionsgate from finishing the purchase as high as 44,161,971 shares within the small-major included in funds with Icahn that will begin to see the investor and boy Brett Icahn unload their 33% stake for $7 a-share. That stock purchase also ended a lengthy-running proxy fight between Lionsgate and Icahn. Related Subjects Worldwide Carl Icahn Lionsgate

DGA Reaches Tentative Deal On Ads Pact

NY The Directors Guild of America today announced that the National Board of Directors has approved a tentative new national commercial contract to be sent to the membership for ratification. The agreement covers a three-year term from December 1, 2011 through November 30, 2014 and addresses wage increases (2% per year, plus a wage increase of 15.8% for 2nd 2nd assistant directors in the first year of the contract); health coverage (including a 17.65% increase in the employer contribution rate for all members plus additional contributions for directors); and the global marketplace for commercials (provides producers with additional flexibility to compete for jobs outside of North America while preserving existing employment opportunities for 1st assistant directors). Negotiations took place during three separate periods over the past few months with the Association of Independent Commercial Producers, Inc (AICP) and were led by Associate National Executive Director/Eastern Executive Director Russ Hollander and a negotiations committee made up of DGA members. Negotiations concluded last month and the Memorandum of Agreement was signed earlier this month. The Board voted unanimously at its regularly scheduled board meeting on Saturday to send the contract to the membership. Thanks to the dedication and hard work of the Commercial Negotiations Committee, led by Russ Hollander, we have achieved a solid contract that will support our members working in commercials and will help keep this sector of our business healthy and productive, said Taylor Hackford, President of the DGA. Commercials represent one of the steadiest areas of work for our members, and we are pleased that the new agreement will keep our members working, secure their healthcare benefits and allow producers the flexibility they need to keep this industry vibrant and competitive, said Hollander. We entered into negotiations realizing that in this changing world there are challenges to the memberships of both the AICP and DGA, said Matt Miller, President and CEO of AICP who acted as Chief Negotiator for the Associations Labor Committee. Miller continued, Together we were able, through frank discussions, to reach an agreement that helps us each address issues that will benefit our mutual constituencies and in turn the industry as a whole. The ratification materials will be sent to the membership within the coming days and will be due back before the end of the year.

'The Adventures of Tintin': A Brand New Poster and extremely Good Reviews

Over the past weekend, the very first reviews for Steven Speilberg's 'The Adventures of Tintin' started appearing online with almost unanimous praise: "While luxuriating in the pre-existing world, this is a film imploring you to definitely participate in. It might have a hard heart to face up to,Inch stated Empire Magazine's Ian Nathan. "[The film] showcase[s] Spielberg's talent for creating action that's less about bullets and tanks compared to keeping things aesthetically alive," announced Jordan Mintzer from the Hollywood Reporter. It's refreshing to understand that the project presented by both Steven Spielberg and Jackson may finish up living as much as its hype. (Spielberg is pointing the very first film, with Jackson creating the 2 filmmakers will switch roles for that follow up.) 'Tintin' is dependant on the legendary Belgian comic series by Herge (and never Rin-Container-Container). Because of the recognition from the original 'Tintin' overseas, the film is placed to premiere within the United kingdom on March. 26. Regrettably, People in america will need to hold back until Christmas because of its release, however, you can at any rate browse the new poster for 'Tintin' -- which represents the titular hero and the trusty dog, Snowy -- standing tall like a ship crashes and burns in it. [via HitFix] Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook

TV Ratings: 'Revenge,' 'Happy Endings' Up; 'CSI' Hits Season Low

ABC The Detroit Tigers-Texas Rangers ACLS game pre-empted primetime on Fox, canceling X Factor -- and giving ABC's female-skewing comedies like Happy Endings and Revenge solid increases. Meanwhile the game led CSI, which enjoys more of a mixed male-female demo, to score its lowest-rated fall telecast ever. PHOTOS: Fall TV Death Pool: Will 'Charlie's Angels,' 'Whitney' or 'How to Be a Gentleman' Be Axed First? According to fast national numbers (which will chance once adjustments are made for the baseball game on Fox, which aired from 8-10:32 p.m. thanks to a rain delay), ABC won the night with a 3.4 rating in the advertiser-coveted 18-49 demo. The Middle and Modern Family were flat. Suburgatory dipped a slight 3 percent, while Happy Endings was up 18 percent and Revenge, up 13 percent. CBS came in a close second with a 3.2 rating. Survivor: South Pacific was up 3 percent. Criminal Minds was down 3 percent. CSI: was down 10 percent, its season low in addition to being its lowest-fall telecast ever. PHOTOS: ABC's New Season TV Shows: 'Pan Am,' 'Charlie's Angels' and More NBC came in third with a 1.6. Up All Night was down 13 percent and its lowest-rated telecast to date. Whitney, Harry's Law and Law & Order: SVU were all flat. Univision came in fourth spot with a 1.5. The CW rated a 0.6, barely inching it past Telemundo's 0.5. A rerun of The Ringer was up 33 percent in their 18-34 demo. Top Model was up 7 percent in viewers and flat in the key 18-49 demo. Below, networks ranked by demo: ABC - 3.4, 9.1 million - The Middle: 2.8, 8.8 million - Suburgatory: 3.0, 8.8 million - Modern Family: 5.7, 13.4, million - Happy Endings: 3.3, 7.5 million - Revenge: 2.7, 7.9 million CBS - 3.2, 11.3 million - Survivor: South Pacific: 3.2, 10.5 million - Criminal Minds: 3.7, 12.7 million - CSI: 2.6, 10.8 million NBC - 1.6, 6.5 million - Up All Night, 5.2 million - Whitney (RS): 1.3, 4 million - Harry's Law: 1.2, 7.6 million - Law & Order: SVU: 2.1, 7.2 million CW - 0.6, 1.5 million - Ringer: 0.4, 1.2 million - America's Next Top Model: 0.8, 1.9 million TV Ratings Happy Endings

'Community' Sneak Look: Good Occasions at Troy and Abed's House warming Party (Exclusive Video)

NBC New roommates, Troy (Jesse Glover) and Abed (Danny Pudi), throw a home warming party on Thursday's episode ofCommunity, titled"Remedial Chaos Theory," airing at 8 p.m. on NBC. As Well As The Hollywood Reporter posseses an exclusive preview within the episode. PHOTOS: NBC's New Fall Shows Creator and executive producer Serta Harmon told fans at Hillcrest Comic-Disadvantage the 2009 summer season the series would enjoy alternate details. That time has turned up and may foil all the preparation Troy and Abed have place in throwing a home warming party that's with the book. In THR's sneak look clip below, Troy welcomes Rob (Joel McHale) and Pierce (Chevrolet Chase) to "Chez Tro-bed mattress" and so they don't exactly react to the completely new digs while he might have wanted. Community airs Thursdays at 8 p.m. on NBC. Email: Jethro.Nededog@thr.com Twitter:@TheRealJethro RELATED: 'Community' Guest Star Michael K. Williams' First Impression On-Set: 'It's Insane' 'Community': 10 Items to anticipate from the Deeper Season 3 (Video) More 'Community' Coverage on THR Chevrolet Chase Joel McHale NBC Community Jesse Glover The brand new the new sony Pictures Television

Watercooler: Sit Lower and Shut Up, Last Guy Standing

Tim Allen So apparently Tim Taylor stood a secret family. Either that, or nobody thinks we'll realize that Last Guy Standing is Do-it-yourself with kids instead of sons. And groans, instead of laughs. Beginning off last evening no matter the fervent about TV Guide Magazine's Matt Roush, Tim Allen's new comedy tests this really is of both "new" and "comedy." While using the Improvement template just like a standard, the show casts Allen just like a macho dimwit (appear familiar?) getting a macho job (right?), a hot sensible wife (clearly!) together with a home full of smart-mouthed children. Only this time around around, it's smart-mouthed kids - which is exactly what passes with an original idea around here. Fall TV Recognition Contest: Do you want to keep Last Guy Standing company? Because ABC is depending on people who loved Improvement to eat up Standing, they presented some episodes last evening and then we could easily get an entire dose of parental doofery and "you aren't a real real guy unless of course obviously...Inch jokes. Sorry, that stuff may have flown within the 1990's when flannel would be a appropriate look and Jonathan Taylor Thomas stood a career, these days it really feels Cro-Mag. Really, whether or not this weren't this kind of indication of just one of ABC's other comedy misfires, this factor may have been referred to as Last Caveman Standing. Perhaps you have have a look at Tim Allen's return to TV? And therefore are you coming back again inside a couple of days? Subscribe to TV Guide Magazine now!

Real Steel Wins Friday & Weekend By TKO George Clooneys The Ides Of March #2

FRIDAY 10:30 PM UPDATE: Listed below are the Top10 movies within the U . s . States box office tonight. Analysis coming: 1. Real Steel (DreamWorks/Disney) NEW [3,440 Theaters] Friday $8.7M, Thought Weekend $27M 2. The Ides Of March (Smokehouse/The brand new the new sony) NEW [2,199 Theaters] Friday $3.7M, Thought Weekend $11M 3.Dolphin Tale (Alcon/Warner Bros) Week 3 [3,478 Theaters] Friday $2.4M, Thought Weekend $8.5M, Thought Cume $48.4M 4. Moneyball (The brand new the new sony) Week 3 [3,018 Theaters] Friday $2.1M, Thought Weekend $7M, Thought Cume $48.7M 5. 50/50 (Summit Entertainment) Week 2 [2,479 Theaters] Friday $1.7M (-40%), Thought Weekend $5.5M, Thought Cume $17.3M 6. Courageous (Sherwood/The brand new the new sony) Week 2 [1,161 Theaters] Friday $1.3M (-56%), Thought Weekend $4.8M, Thought Cume $16.1M 7. Dream House (Universal) Week 2 [2,664 Theaters] Friday $1.3M (-53%), Thought Weekend $4.5M, Thought Cume $14.5M 8. Lion King 3d (Disney) Week 4 [2,267 Theaters] Friday $1.1M,Thought Weekend $5M,Thought Cume $86.4M 9. Abduction (Lionsgate) Week 3 [2,591 Theaters] Friday $875K, Thought Weekend $3M, Thought Cume $23.5M 10. What’s Your Number? (Fox) Week 2 [3,011 Theaters] Friday $1M(-51%), Thought Weekend $3.2M, Thought Cume $10.5M FRIDAY NOON: They're very early estimations. But DreamWorks/Disney’sReal Steel is ruling north of manchester American box office today and looking out ata mid-$20sM weekendif not greater. Hollywood are just impressed if it seems sensible mid-$30sM because this action pic features a family overlay which is budget was $110+M. In comparison,movie director and star George Clooney’s newcomerThe Ides Of March from his Smokehouse Pictures and also the new the new sony hadonly a $12.5M production budget after rebates. But this hard-to-sell R-rated adult political thriller co-starring Ryan Gosling is #2 today. It must be in low double amounts for your weekend the modest showing that Hollywood expected. Alcon Entertainment/Warner Bros’Dolphin Tale holds well again and likely can be found in around $9M by Sunday evening. Do i think the The brand new the new sony Pictures’ baseball picMoneyball inside the $7.5M range as well as the studio’s belief-basedSherwood Pictures’ Courageous inside the $5.5M range. Summit Entertainment’s cancer dramedy 50/50 should finish off inside the $5M range. Universal’s Ideal Home isn't too dreamy getting quite a heftypercentage drop. And Disney’s Lion King 3d may be safely within the cage after its Blu-Ray release. Full analysis tonight.

ROLL CALL: Hollywood Joins Occupy Wall Street Protests

First Released: October 7, 2011 1:53 PM EDT Credit: Getty Premium La, Calif. -- Caption Penn Badgley attends Coach Mens Summer time Party Around The High Line in the High Line in NY City on June 28, 2011Your Daily Dispatch of Celebrity Shenanigans Celebrity Sit-In: NYs Occupy Wall Street protests got a bit more star energy now with the look of a Gossip guy. Penn Badgley was spotted multiple occasions in Lower Manhattan now joining the movement against corporate avarice, The Huffington Publish reported. The actor was seen having a sign, saying, Restore The Glass Stengell Act!! No To Corporate Avarice! Penn wasnt the only real star to consider a stand it the protests. The Avengers star Mark Ruffalo, director Michael Moore and former couple Susan Sarandon and Tim Robbins (who turned up on different days) were a couple of from the other stars who are also seen protesting. Take a look at Penn for action, HERE! Newly-weds Alert!: Appears like vampires of the underworld such as the taste of bots! The Twilight Sagas Ashley Greene is apparently dating Spider-Guy: Switch Off the Dark star Reeve Carney. Ashley has always were built with a crush on Reeve and that he finally was in it, a resource told Us Weekly. Based on another source, the actress who had been formerly associated with Joe Jonas continues to be following the high-flying Broadway star for a while. Ashley continues to be pining after Reeve for any very long time. Shes super close with Reeves family and loves investing time with Paris, his sister, when theyre in L.A. Here Comes The Bridal Consultant: We cant think about anybody better to cope with bridezillas than Kelly Ripa! The Live! with Regis and Kelly co-host plays bridal consultant on tonights premiere of TLCs Agree the gown. Take a look at a preview of Kelly who thinks the Kleinfeld Bridal gig was probably the toughest job in the world HERE! Kim Does Cher: Just days after Cher had some choice words for that Kardashian clan on Twitter, Kim walked on Thursday directing her best 70s Cher look. So, who Cher better Kim or Cher herself? Begin to see the take a look here! -By Jesse Spero Copyright 2011 by NBC Universal, Corporation. All privileges reserved. These components might not be released, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Chris Pratt Had a Perfectly Good Reason For Giving His Cat Away on Twitter

“Bottom line, and not that this is any of your fucking business weirdos, but my wife and I want to start a family and we ABSOLUTELY CANNOT have an animal that shits all over the house. Sorry. If you are a parent you will understand. And if not, that probably explains why you have such a hard on for cats. Just sayin’.” And that, Internet, is why Moneyball star Chris Pratt gave up his 15-year-old cat Bella for adoption on Twitter. The actor ultimately gave Bella to a Twitter user named Meghan who is a “perfectly reasonable, sweet and friendly cat lover.” Pratt’s wife is What’s My Number? star Anna Faris. [ChrisPratt.com]

Michael Jackson: The Immortal World Tour

Cirque du Soleil honors the King of Pop having its latest acrobatic production, Michael Jackson: The Immortal World Tour. A Cirque du Soleil and Estate of Michael Jackson output of a show in one act written and directed by Jamie King. Creative guide, Guy Laliberte director of creation, Chantal Tremblay music designer, Kevin Antunes.The Mime - Salah Benlemqawanassa The Fans - Laurent Bourgeois, Ray Bourgeois, Julio Alberto Santiago, Tomohiko Tsujimoto Bubble - Terrance HarrisonThe Cirque du Soleil demonstrate that takes note of Michael Jackson, "The Immortal World Tour," can be as singular since the artist themselves. Part rock concert, part aerial fantasy, part multimedia extravaganza and part surreal performance art, the show, written and directed by Jamie King, handles to capture the essence of Jackson a lot better than seems possible. Early reaction in Montreal signifies die-hard Jackson fans are ecstatic while non-fans remain so throughout, emerging more perplexed than elated. Still, the show's detractors have to concede that as spectacle, "Immortal Tour" is exclusive. A childlike Mime, more much like Marcel Marceau's Bip than Jackson themselves, is our guide using the inevitable journey from childhood to dying, although everyone connected using the show properly demands it is not a biography. Rather it's really an impressionist collage when compared to a realistic little bit of portraiture. Our prime, golden gates of Neverland part to steer us using a fantasy world where an animatronic baby Michael floats using the arena around the warmth balloon, while acrobats fitted in black float using the sky, their physiques illuminated to presenting them as constellations. An energetic band plays with energy and guts because the scanned voice of Michael sings along, grew to become an associate of by live backup entertainers. The whole effect is of presence and absence concurrently. Nobody plays Jackson, but his presence is everywhere. He's described just like a prophet of peace, somebody who wanted good in the world for everyone. In the "Ghost Tales" sequence, the gloomy in the guy arrives, with "Thriller" showing itself to become a voodoo funeral rite through which artists clothe themselves in white-colored and Haitian spirit Baron Samedi floats most importantly of these. Driving amounts like "Bad" become parables of techniques Jackson let his image dominate, as giant versions of his signature hat and glove dwarf the knowledge. Videos show Jackson driving themselves -- dancing, dancing, dancing -- while clocks spin crazily as well as the dying everybody knows is coming initially from races upon him. Tunes like his prophetic "Gone Too Soon,In . having its lines "Born to amuse, to inspire to pleaseOrRight here eventually and gone one evening," customize the edge, then when a stage full of pulsing red-colored-colored hearts finally fades into darkness, we view a vintage black and white-colored film of child Michael within the Jackson Five singing "I am Likely To Be There" while using bittersweet quality he understood all his existence. Getting a cast more than 50 ballroom ballroom dancers and acrobats, categories of choreographers plus much more technical credits than some large-scale movie spectacles, it's tough to allot praise individually. But author/director King has enforced an authentic shape onto this mass of material. Yes, it's uneven and overlong in the present format, but past produtions have outlined that Cirque knows how you can fix a show once it's on the foot. Knowing in caused by the Montreal crowd for the opening as well as the brisk ticket sales over the U . s . States, this show seems certain to have legs.Set, Mark Fisher props and hang up, Michael Curry costumes, Zaldy Goco acrobatics designer, Germain Guillemot rigging and equipment, Scott Osgood predictions, Olivier Goulet lights, Martin Labrecque appear, Francois Desjardins. Opened up up, examined March. 2, 2011. On tour indefinitely. Running time: 2 Several hours. Contact the number newsroom at news@variety.com

30 Rock Scoop: Will Arnett to come back as Devon Banks

Will Arnett Despite the fact that Will Arnett stars in a single NBC comedy and can play in the lately introduced Arrested Development reunion, that isn't preventing him from setting his sights on taking lower Jack Donaghy. Arnett will go back to 30 Rock as gay shark and Jack's enemy, Devon Banks, TVGuide.com has learned. To start dating ? for Arnett's return has not been set, however the Arrested alum formerly told us he'd like to see Banks return on the top after being a house husband having a gaggle of kids. 30 Rock returns midseason, while Up Through The Night airs Wednesdays at 8/7c on NBC.

Affiliates: Professional shuffle

Nick Manley, NBCUniversal's senior veep of digital sales, has already established over digital sales for NBC Sports Group. Manley reviews for the Peacock's professional veep of digital media sales, Peter Naylor, also to Seth Winter, who mind NBCU's Sports and Olympics sales.HGTV has upped Loren Ruch to v . p . of programming partners and special projects. Ruch remains with HGTV since 2008.Marketing agency mOcean has attracted on Make the most of Alley as digital creative director. He joins the firm from MRM Worldwide in San Francisco Bay Area, where his clients incorporated DirecTV, Fox, DreamWorks and Warner Bros.Bryan Mu has grew to become an associate of fashion Network as veep of program and primary research. He requires the NBCUniversal cabler in the new the new sony Pictures TV, where he was V . p . of cable research.Ricardo p Montreuil remains upped to V . p . and artistic director for Telemundo cabler Mun2. He grew to become an associate from the The the spanish language language-lingo outlet in 2005 from MTV Systems Latin America. Contact Variety Staff at news@variety.com

'Twilight Portrait,' 'Volcano' Honored at Reykjavik Worldwide Film Festival

REYKJAVIK, Iceland -- Russian director Angelina Nikonova's film Twilight Portrait and Iceland's expect the foreign-language Oscar race, Volcano, by Runar Runarsson, won key honours within the eighth Reykjavik Worldwide Film Festival on Saturday evening.our editor recommendsBela Tarr: 'I Shouldn't Be Described As A Stupid Filmmaker Who's Just Repeating Himself'Iceland's First-Ever Animated Feature Gears Up for Theatrical RunAki Kaurismaki's 'Le Havre' Finland's Official Oscar Entry The festival jury, introduced by Danish actor Ulrich Thomsen, selected the Russian film from the section of 12 features from first- and second-time filmmakers and honored it while using Golden Puffin Discovery Award. The winning film notifies an account of revenge from the social worker together with a militia guy in the backdrop nowadays's Russia ridden with social conflict. Special jury mentions inside the primary competition visited Italian director Andrea Segre's Shun Li as well as the Poet, which handles the issue of immigration, and Norwegian director Joachim Trier's Oslo, 31. August. Family drama Volcano, which explores questions of aging with dignity, was honored while using Worldwide Experts' Award as well as the Chapel of Iceland award. The Lick Audience Award for your festival's most broadly used film visited Finnish pointing legend Aki Kaurismaki for Le Havre, his country's admittance to the region of possible foreign-language film Oscar nominees. The film is about a young African illegal immigrant who passes using the port city on his approach to London. The Lick Atmosphere Award visited Irish director's Risteard O Domhnaill's The Pipe of a small Irish community divided with the prospect from the oil pipeline which is expected economic gains. Borkur Sigthorsson's Skadi (Showed up At Harm) won the completely new Lick recognition to find the best Icelandic online video. Festival director Hronn Marinosdottir told The Hollywood Reporter that ticketed attendance as of this year's festival, occur the primary city in the Northern European island nation, is predicted to attain a completely new lots of close to 27,000, when compared with around 24,000 a year ago. Iceland only has a population near to 320,000. "The festival has received the most effective turnout ever," the festival director mentioned. "8 percent of the united states's inhabitants are attending. We'd many offered-out tests. This started becoming an audience fest, to make sure that's exactly what it could it happen to be about.Inch The primary focus would remain on "youthful films and rising company company directors," additionally to documentaries which will make people discuss social issues, she stressed. "Reykjavik will not be Cannes," the festival director mentioned. "We've our personal focus that's good cultural way of Reykjavik, which focuses on sitting on the key edge.Inch The Golden Puffin statue is certainly a manifestation of techniques Lick differs. "Other festivals also frequently use animals inside their honours, nevertheless the puffin can be a funny and strange [seabird], then when we started, we wanted various things and humorous," referred to Marinosdottir. Beyond the honours ceremony on Saturday evening, the 2011 edition in the Reykjavik festival also honored Hungarian filmmaker Bela Tarr getting an eternity achievement award earlier inside the week. Its Creative Excellence Award -- Women in Cinema famous up-and-coming Danish director Lone Scherfig. Lick also featured a James Marsh retrospective and honored Romanian filmmaker Adrian Sitaru becoming an emerging master. Lick systems on Sunday. Next season's ninth edition in the festival will occur Sept. 27-March. 7. Email: Georg.Szalai@thr.com Twitter: @georgszalai Related Subjects Worldwide