http://www.showbizsandbox.com Showbiz Sandbox is a podcast featuring industry professionals J. Sperling Reich, Karen Woodward and Michael Giltz’s humorous viewpoints, insightful analysis and insider opinions on the latest entertainment news headlines. The weekly podcast features renowned industry guests, as well as phone calls and emails from listeners who voice their own opinions on the child’s play of the entertainment business. Thu, 29 Jul 2010 01:48:02 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9 en hourly 1 Showbiz Sandbox is a podcast featuring industry professionals J. Sperling Reich, Karen Woodward and Michael Giltz’s humorous viewpoints, insightful analysis and insider opinions on the latest entertainment news headlines. The weekly podcast features renowned industry guests, as well as phone calls and emails from listeners who voice their own opinions on the child’s play of the entertainment business. J. Sperling Reich, Karen Woodward & Michael Giltz no J. Sperling Reich, Karen Woodward & Michael Giltz sperling@showbizsandbox.com sperling@showbizsandbox.com (J. Sperling Reich, Karen Woodward & Michael Giltz) 2009 The podcast that brings you all the dirt on the news making headlines around the entertainment world. Entertainment, Movies, Film, Television, TV, Music, Theater, Broadway http://www.showbizsandbox.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/showbiz-sandbox-podcast-artwork-with-photos.png http://www.showbizsandbox.com http://www.showbizsandbox.com/2010/07/12/showbiz-sandbox-62-the-secret-behind-hollywoods-accounting-practices/ http://www.showbizsandbox.com/2010/07/12/showbiz-sandbox-62-the-secret-behind-hollywoods-accounting-practices/#comments Tue, 13 Jul 2010 05:55:49 +0000 J. Sperling Reich http://www.showbizsandbox.com/?p=919 http://www.showbizsandbox.com/2010/07/12/showbiz-sandbox-62-the-secret-behind-hollywoods-accounting-practices/feed/ 0 "Avatar","Nash Bridges","Nightline","The Avengers","The Little Mermaid","Who Wants To Be A Millionaire",American Idol,Carl Icahn,Conan O'Brien,Daniel Craig,David Letterman,Disney How is it the last Harry Potter film can gross $938 million but still lose $130 million? Journalist and author Edward Jay Epstein joins us to unravel some of Hollywood’s quirky accounting practices. He’s written two books on the subject; The Hollywoo... How is it the last Harry Potter film can gross $938 million but still lose $130 million? Journalist and author Edward Jay Epstein (http://www.edwardjayepstein.com/) joins us to unravel some of Hollywood’s quirky accounting practices. He’s written two books on the subject; The Hollywood Economist: The Hidden Financial Reality Behind the Movies (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1933633840?ie=UTF8&tag=showbsandb-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1933633840)(http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=showbsandb-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1933633840) and The Big Picture: Money and Power in Hollywood (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0812973828?ie=UTF8&tag=showbsandb-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0812973828)(http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=showbsandb-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0812973828). “Despicable Me” topped the box office though the amount it took in from 3D screens was rather low. Could audiences be tiring of paying exorbitant 3D ticket prices? Meanwhile, Miramax finally seems to have found a buyer and Lions Gate is trying to make piece with activist investor Carl Icahn. The Emmy nominations were announced last week and we’ll fill you in on whose up for the television’s big awards. Over in the world of music Pollstar announced that concert ticket sales are down 15% for the first half of the year. During our Big Deal or Big Whoop segment we race through a number of top entertainment headlines, including Roman Polanski’s release, Lindsay Lohan’s jail time and Mel Gibson getting dumped by his agency. Maybe Gibson can find some work on YouTube, which plans to offer $5 million in grants to select content partners. ‘Despicable Me’ Dominates http://www.boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=2858&p=.htm (http://www.boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=2858&p=.htm) Lions Gate and Icahn Sign 10-Day Truce To Work On Deals http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/entertainmentnewsbuzz/2010/07/lions-gate.... (http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/entertainmentnewsbuzz/2010/07/lions-gate-and-icahn-sign-10-day-truce-to-work-on-acquisitions.html) Miramax Sold To Ronald Tutor, Colony Capital http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/film/news/e3i76b4.... (http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/film/news/e3i76b408899045994dd63fe6c004c2c183) Emmy Nominations 2010: Your Water Cooler Cheat Sheet http://popwatch.ew.com/2010/07/08/emmy-nominations-2010-snubs-trends-facts/ (http://popwatch.ew.com/2010/07/08/emmy-nominations-2010-snubs-trends-facts/) Emmy Snubs! Master Grouse List http://livefeed.hollywoodreporter.com/2010/07/emmy-snubs-master-grouse-list.htm (http://livefeed.hollywoodreporter.com/2010/07/emmy-snubs-master-grouse-list.htm) ABC News Nightline Is #1 Among Total Viewers http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/07/09/abc-news-nightline-is-1-among.... (http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/07/09/abc-news-nightline-is-1-among-total-viewers/56634) Saturday Night Live Breaks An Emmy Record http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/07/08/saturday-night-live-breaks.... (http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/07/08/saturday-night-live-breaks-an-emmy-record-and-lorne-michaels-is-cool-with-that/) Concert Tickets Down 15% in First Half of 2010 http://www.pollstar.com/blogs/news/archive/2010/07/09/731238.aspx (http://www.pollstar.com/blogs/news/archive/2010/07/09/731238.aspx) ‘American Idol’ Eliminates Seven Tour Dates and Reshuffles Others http://www.hitfix.com/blogs/2008-12-6-the-beat-goes-on/posts/american.... (http://www.hitfix.com/blogs/2008-12-6-the-beat-goes-on/posts/american-idol-eliminates-seven-tour-dates-and-reshuffles-others) YouTube Announces Partner Grants Program, Support For 4K Video Resolution http://techcrunch.com/2010/07/09/youtube-partner-program-4k (http://techcrunch.com/2010/07/09/youtube-partner-program-4k) YouTube Leanback Launches, Takes Aim At Your Television Set http://techcrunch.com/2010/07/07/youtube-leanback-tv/ (http://techcrunch.com/2010/07/07/youtube-leanback-tv/) J. Sperling Reich, Karen Woodward & Michael Giltz no 1:05:16 http://www.showbizsandbox.com/2010/05/03/showbiz-sandbox-52-recruiting-sandra-bullocks-baby/ http://www.showbizsandbox.com/2010/05/03/showbiz-sandbox-52-recruiting-sandra-bullocks-baby/#comments Tue, 04 May 2010 01:52:25 +0000 J. Sperling Reich http://www.showbizsandbox.com/?p=804 http://www.showbizsandbox.com/2010/05/03/showbiz-sandbox-52-recruiting-sandra-bullocks-baby/feed/ 0 "60 Minutes","A Nightmare On Elm Street","Batman 3","Breaking Dawn","Chuck","Iron Man 2","Law & Order","Other Side","The Last Airbender",Bill Condon,Conan O'Brien,Courtney Love Things could have gone better this past week for the hosts of Showbiz Sandbox.  J. Sperling Reich couldn't connect to the Internet, Michael Giltz was almost washed away by a flood in Nashville, Tennessee and Karen Woodward showed up at her 20-year high... Things could have gone better this past week for the hosts of Showbiz Sandbox.  J. Sperling Reich (http://www.twitter.com/sperling) couldn't connect to the Internet, Michael Giltz (http://www.michaelgiltz.com) was almost washed away by a flood in Nashville, Tennessee and Karen Woodward (http://www.karenwoodwardonline.com) showed up at her 20-year high school reunion only to find out that her high school crush was happily married. Thankfully there was plenty of entertainment news to discuss. The remake of "A Nightmare On Elm Street" topped the box office, scooping up $32.2 million in North America, more than the first, second, fifth and seventh installments of the original franchise. "How To Train Your Dragon" continues to perform strongly and came in second. Oversees "Iron Man 2" opened to just over $100 million in 53 territories. The only question now is how much money will it make in North America, and will poor advance reviews affect the gross. (Don't bet on it). Lots of big names broke their silence this week. Director Roman Polansky blogged about being arrested in Switzerland. NBC programming chief Jeff Gaspin, told the New York Times Conan O'Brien was no longer a problem or a threat to his late-night lineup since he's moving to cable. O'Brien gave his first televised interview since departing "The Tonight Show" to "60 Minutes". Actress Sandra Bullock gave an exclusive to People magazine about her personal life and the adoption of her son.  Apparently musician Courtney Love is also speaking out, maybe a little too much. As her band Hole releases a new album she lets loose about past loves and past drug use. Finally during Inside Baseball we discuss Apple's decision to shut down web streaming music service Lala. What does this mean for a subscription version of iTunes? While Sharing 'Iron Man' Revenue, Disney Tightens Grip On Franchise http://online.wsj.com/article/SB20001424052748703.... (http://online.wsj.com/article/SB20001424052748703969204575220470717132954.html) Actress Lynn Redgrave Dies At 67 http://www.cnn.com/2010/SHOWBIZ/Movies/05/03/lynn.redgrave.obit/?hpt=T3 (http://www.cnn.com/2010/SHOWBIZ/Movies/05/03/lynn.redgrave.obit/?hpt=T3) I Can Remain Silent No Longer! http://www.bernard-henri-levy.com/i-can-remain-silent-no-longer-5380.html (http://www.bernard-henri-levy.com/i-can-remain-silent-no-longer-5380.html) 'Chuck' Fans Plan SOS Flash Mob http://popwatch.ew.com/2010/04/30/chuck-flashmobs-save-show-nbc/ (http://popwatch.ew.com/2010/04/30/chuck-flashmobs-save-show-nbc/) Save Our Shows Verdict: Give 'Law & Order' A Reprieve http://www.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2010-05-03-SOSstrip03.... (http://www.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2010-05-03-SOSstrip03_ST_N.htm) NBC Opens Up Its Wallet To Build Prime Time http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/03/business/media/03nbc.html (http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/03/business/media/03nbc.html) Courtney Love Addresses Sex, Drugs and Rock 'N' Roll http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/gossip/2010/04/courtney-love-addresses.... (http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/gossip/2010/04/courtney-love-addresses-sex-drugs-and-rock-n-roll.html) Bill Condon To Directo 'Breaking Dawn' http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1637985/20100428/story.jhtml (http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1637985/20100428/story.jhtml) Casting Of "Last Airbender" Stirs Controversy http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/la-ca-air-bender-201.... (http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/la-ca-air-bender-20100502,0,434688.story) Lindsay Lohan Not Bankable "Other Side" Director Says http://www.mtv.com/movies/news/articles/1637801/story.jhtml (http://www.mtv.com/movies/news/articles/1637801/story.jhtml) Disney Theatrical Looking To Disney Films For Future Productions http://www.stitchkingdom.com/disney-news/theatre-disney/disney.... (http://www.stitchkingdom.com/disney-news/theatre-disney/disney-theatrical-tap-films-disney-miramax-burton-beatles-inspiration/) J. Sperling Reich, Karen Woodward & Michael Giltz no 57:54 http://www.showbizsandbox.com/2010/04/26/showbiz-sandbox-51-ridley-scott-believes-3d-is-an-alien-concept/ http://www.showbizsandbox.com/2010/04/26/showbiz-sandbox-51-ridley-scott-believes-3d-is-an-alien-concept/#comments Tue, 27 Apr 2010 04:51:45 +0000 J. Sperling Reich http://www.showbizsandbox.com/?p=793 http://www.showbizsandbox.com/2010/04/26/showbiz-sandbox-51-ridley-scott-believes-3d-is-an-alien-concept/feed/ 0 "Alien","Avatar","Shrek Forever After","Song Sung Blue","South Park","The Green Hornet","The Last Airbender",3D,Bret Michaels,Brooks & Dunn,Cantor Exchange,Conan O'Brien Hollywood just won't stop talking about 3D movies, so unfortunately we can't either. It's hard to argue against 3D when films like "How To Train Your Dragon" keep coming in first at the box office, even after five weeks in theaters. Hollywood just won't stop talking about 3D movies, so unfortunately we can't either. It's hard to argue against 3D when films like "How To Train Your Dragon" keep coming in first at the box office, even after five weeks in theaters. With the announce... J. Sperling Reich, Karen Woodward & Michael Giltz no 1:05:35 http://www.showbizsandbox.com/2010/04/12/showbiz-sandbox-49-hollywood-experiences-premature-sequalization/ http://www.showbizsandbox.com/2010/04/12/showbiz-sandbox-49-hollywood-experiences-premature-sequalization/#comments Tue, 13 Apr 2010 05:31:52 +0000 J. Sperling Reich http://www.showbizsandbox.com/?p=771 http://www.showbizsandbox.com/2010/04/12/showbiz-sandbox-49-hollywood-experiences-premature-sequalization/feed/ 0 "Clash of the Titans","Date Night","Desperate Housewives","Mission Impossible IV","The Tonight Show",Bob Dylan,Brad Bird,Conan O'Brien,Erykah Badu,Harrison Ford,Jenny McCarthy,Jim Carrey Have you ever wondered why movie studios love to make sequels of hit films? Well, these studios don't even wait for a film to be released before announcing its sequel. Steve Zeitchik of the Los Angeles Times fills us in on the sequel culture that has ... Have you ever wondered why movie studios love to make sequels of hit films? Well, these studios don't even wait for a film to be released before announcing its sequel. Steve Zeitchik (http://twitter.com/zeitchikLAT) of the Los Angeles Times (http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/movies/2009/12/steven-zeitchik.html) fills us in on the sequel culture that has taken over Hollywood. Meanwhile, the king and queen of television, Steve Carell and Tina Fey, nudged "Clash of the Titans" out of first place at the box office with their new release "Date Night". While Fey may be making a move to the silver screen, the big news of the week was happening in television - cable television no less. Oprah Winfrey announced five new shows that will air on her cable network starting next January, a lineup that left some industry-watchers befuddled. Another TV personality following Oprah onto a cable network is Conan O'Brien. He surprised just about everyone by announcing he would be starting his own late night talk show this fall on TBS. While analyzing the week's top entertainment news stories including how celebrities are using Twitter these days. We finish off with a little Inside Baseball in which we try and understand why anyone would want to buy Miramax or MGM.  Premature Sequalization: Sequel Culture Runs Amok http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/movies/2010/04/tron-legacy-sequel.... (http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/movies/2010/04/tron-legacy-sequel-sherlock-holmes.html) Conan O'Brien Will Do A Late Night Show On TBS http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/04/12/conan-obrien-will.... (http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/04/12/conan-obrien-will-do-a-late-night-show-on-tbs/?hp) Winfrey Network Details Programming Plans http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118017455.html?categoryid=.... (http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118017455.html?categoryid=14&cs=1&ref=bd_tv) NBC Attempts To Edit Around Slash's Team Coco Pin http://tv.gawker.com/5511584/nbc-attempts-to-edit-around-slashs-team-coco-pin (http://tv.gawker.com/5511584/nbc-attempts-to-edit-around-slashs-team-coco-pin) Tiger Woods' Nike Commercial Just Doesn't Do It http://www.suntimes.com/sports/2148012,tiger-woods-nike-commercial-08.article (http://www.suntimes.com/sports/2148012,tiger-woods-nike-commercial-08.article) Usher Overtakes Justin Bieber In Top Spot On Billboard's Charts http://www.hitfix.com/articles/2010-4-7-usher-overtakes-justin-bieber.... (http://www.hitfix.com/articles/2010-4-7-usher-overtakes-justin-bieber-at-no-1-on-the-billboard-200) Jim Carrey and Jenny McCarthy Break Up Via Twitter http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/gossip/2010/04/jim-carrey-jenny-mccarthy.... (http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/gossip/2010/04/jim-carrey-jenny-mccarthy-split-via-twitter.html) Harrison Ford Joins 'Cowboys and Aliens', Tweets Favreau http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/2010/04/07/harrison_ford.... (http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/2010/04/07/harrison_ford_joins_cowboys_aliens_tweets_favreau/) Producers Guild of America Agrees on New Credit: Transmedia Producer http://www.deadline.com/2010/04/producers-guild-of-america-vote-on-creation.... (http://www.deadline.com/2010/04/producers-guild-of-america-vote-on-creation-of-new-credit-transmedia-producer/) Nicolette Sheridan Sues 'Housewives' Producer http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/07/arts/television/07arts-NICOLLETTESH_BRF.html (http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/07/arts/television/07arts-NICOLLETTESH_BRF.html) Erykah Badu Charged With Disorderly Conduct For Music Video http://music-mix.ew.com/2010/04/02/erykah-badu-charged-police/ (http://music-mix.ew.com/2010/04/02/erykah-badu-charged-police/) Nic Cage's House Too Weird To Sell http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/2010/04/08/cages_house.... (http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/2010/04/08/cages_house_too_weird_to_sell) Brad Bird In Final Negotiations To Direct 'MI:4 http://www.firstshowing. J. Sperling Reich, Karen Woodward & Michael Giltz no 51:01 http://www.showbizsandbox.com/2010/03/22/showbiz-sandbox-46-hollywoods-latest-meme-is-3d/ http://www.showbizsandbox.com/2010/03/22/showbiz-sandbox-46-hollywoods-latest-meme-is-3d/#comments Mon, 22 Mar 2010 23:29:30 +0000 J. Sperling Reich http://www.showbizsandbox.com/?p=737 http://www.showbizsandbox.com/2010/03/22/showbiz-sandbox-46-hollywoods-latest-meme-is-3d/feed/ 0 "Alice In Wonderland","Avatar","Captain America","Clash of the Titans","Diary of a Wimpy Kid","How To Train Your Dragon",3D,Ben Folds,Chris Evans,Christian Slater,Conan O'Brien,James Cameron A "Wimpy Kid" couldn't beat "Alice In Wonderland" at the box office this weekend. The higher price for 3D tickets has turned "Alice" into Tim Burton's most successful film. And Hollywood studios have definitely noticed how well audiences are respondi... A "Wimpy Kid" couldn't beat "Alice In Wonderland" at the box office this weekend. The higher price for 3D tickets has turned "Alice" into Tim Burton's most successful film. And Hollywood studios have definitely noticed how well audiences are responding to 3D. The new format is so hot that, much to the annoyance of James Cameron, they have gone back to convert some upcoming releases to 3D, such as "Clash of the Titans". With thirty three 3D films presently slated for release in 2010 this has managed to create a bottle neck at movie theaters where there is usually only enough room to show one 3D film at a time.  It's gotten so competitive that Paramount has told theater owners that if they don't play "How to Train Your Dragon" on their 3D enabled screen, they won't send them a 2D print. But that means "Alice's" engagement will be cut short. Beginning to see the problem? While movie theaters don't have enough 3D screens and too much content, the exact opposite is true in the home. Television manufacturers are selling 3D enabled televisions but there is nothing to watch. Have no fear though, Major League Baseball, NCAA basketball and the PGA Masters all have plans for 3D broadcasts.   You can even see talk show host Conan O'Brien in 3D. Granted, you'll have to come to see him in person at one of the 30 live stage shows he's performing this summer around the U.S. Rumors are beginning to surface that O'Brien is edging closer to a deal with Fox for his own late-night laugher. Over in the world of music, two musicians (one professional, one not) use a new website, Chatroulette! (http://www.chatroulette.com/), to create some improvised viral videos.  Finally we touch on some Viacom-YouTube news and Rosie O'Donnell's return to TV in Big Deal or Big Whoop before spending some time trying to understand why Spotify (http://www.spotify.com/int/), Europe's successful music service, is having trouble launching in North America. 'Dragon' Versus 'Titans' Versus 'Alice' In Fight Over 3-D Screens http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-ct-dragons18-2010mar18,0,3786136.story (http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-ct-dragons18-2010mar18,0,3786136.story) 'Avatar' Director James Cameron: 3D Promising But Caution Needed http://content.usatoday.com/communities/technologylive/post/2010/03/james.... (http://content.usatoday.com/communities/technologylive/post/2010/03/james-cameron/1) 'Avatar' Will Hit Blu-Ray and DVD On Earth Day April 22 http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/herocomplex/2010/03/avatar-.html (http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/herocomplex/2010/03/avatar-.html) Masters and Final Four In 3D Next Month http://hollywoodinhidef.com/2010/03/masters-and-final-four-in-3d-next-month/ (http://hollywoodinhidef.com/2010/03/masters-and-final-four-in-3d-next-month/) 3D MLB Coming Sooner http://hollywoodinhidef.com/2010/03/3d-mlb-coming-sooner/ (http://hollywoodinhidef.com/2010/03/3d-mlb-coming-sooner/) As Conan-Fox Heats Up A Syndie Scenario Emerges http://www.thewrap.com/ind-column/conan-fox-talks-heat-syndie-scenario.... (http://www.thewrap.com/ind-column/conan-fox-talks-heat-syndie-scenario-emerges-15357) Conan O'Brien Plots A Movie Maneuver http://www.deadline.com/2010/03/conan-obrien-plots-a-movie-maneuver/ (http://www.deadline.com/2010/03/conan-obrien-plots-a-movie-maneuver/) Idol Album Sales: Danny Gokey, Daughtry, Kelly Clarkson, Etc. http://content.usatoday.com/communities/idolchatter/post/2010/03/idol-album.... (http://content.usatoday.com/communities/idolchatter/post/2010/03/idol-album-sales-danny-gokey-daughtry-kelly-clarkson-etc/1) American Idol Airplay: Adam Lambert Climbs, Kris Allen Start To Slip http://www.examiner.com/x-11363-TV-Examiner~y2010m3d22-American-Idol.... (http://www.examiner.com/x-11363-TV-Examiner~y2010m3d22-American-Idol-airplay-Adam-Lambert-climbs-Kris-Allen-starts-to-slip) Chat Roulette Funny Improve #1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32vpgNiAH60 (http://www.youtube. J. Sperling Reich, Karen Woodward & Michael Giltz no 1:03:27 http://www.showbizsandbox.com/2010/03/08/showbiz-sandbox-44-and-the-six-oscars-go-to-hurt-locker/ http://www.showbizsandbox.com/2010/03/08/showbiz-sandbox-44-and-the-six-oscars-go-to-hurt-locker/#comments Tue, 09 Mar 2010 03:14:21 +0000 J. Sperling Reich http://www.showbizsandbox.com/?p=715 http://www.showbizsandbox.com/2010/03/08/showbiz-sandbox-44-and-the-six-oscars-go-to-hurt-locker/feed/ 0 "Alice In Wonderland","Avatar","Precious","The Colbert Report","The Daily Show","The Hurt Locker",Academy Awards,Cablevision,Christolph Waltz,Conan O'Brien,Disney,Hulu The ballots have been counted, the envelopes have been opened and the nominees have undoubtedly returned their ball gowns and tuxes. Finally, after all the news coverage and public speculation about who would this year's Oscars, The ballots have been counted, the envelopes have been opened and the nominees have undoubtedly returned their ball gowns and tuxes. Finally, after all the news coverage and public speculation about who would this year's Oscars, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences put us out of our misery on Sunday during their annual awards ceremony. The proceedings lasted more than three hours as usual and provided very few surprises. Katheryn Bigelow made history by being the first woman to win the Best Director Oscar for "The Hurt Locker", which won six awards in total including Best Screenplay and Best Picture. Jim Cameron's "Avatar" won three technical awards for art direction, cinematography and visual effects. One of the night's biggest surprises was when Geoffrey Fletcher walked off with the Best Adapted Screenplay Oscar for "Precious", upsetting Jason Reitman's "Up In The Air". As we predicted on last week's episode, Jeff Bridges won Best Actor for "Crazy Heart", Sandra Bullock won Best Actress for "The Blind Side", Mo'Nique won Best Supporting Actress for "Precious" and Christolph Waltz won Best Supporting Actor for "Inglorious Basterds". Damien Bona, co-author of the book Inside Oscar (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0345400534?ie=UTF8&tag=showbsandb-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0345400534)(http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=showbsandb-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0345400534), stops by to help us analyze this year's Oscar results. Believe it or not, there were a few other entertainment news stories this week besides the Oscars. In fact, the Oscars weren't even the only awards show. The Spirit Awards were handed out the day before the Academy Awards and "Precious" walked of with. . . well, just about every top prize. At movie theatres, Tim Burton's 3D adaptation of "Alice In Wonderland" opened to over $210 million worldwide, setting records for a March debut. Over in the world of television, Conan O'Brien may no longer have a talk show, but he does have a Twitter account. Maybe he can use it to promote his upcoming live stage tour. Viacom has pulled "The Daily Show" and "The Colbert Report" off of Hulu (for now). Is the move just a negotiating tactic for Viacom to get an ownership stake in Hulu? Meanwhile Disney was getting into scuffles of its own. It pulled the entire ABC network off of Cablevision over a retransmission fee dispute with the cable operator. If you don't know what retransmission is all about, make sure to listen to this week's Inside Baseball segment to get caught up on a topic you are sure to hear more about in the months ahead. 'The Hurt Locker' Wins Big At Oscars http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/08/movies/awardsseason/08oscars.html (http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/08/movies/awardsseason/08oscars.html) "Precious" Tops Spirit Awards http://www.indiewire.com/article/list_of_spirit_award_winners_in_progress/pem (http://www.indiewire.com/article/list_of_spirit_award_winners_in_progress/pem) Indie Spirits: "Precious" Sweeps, Izzard and LA Live Fizzle http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/2010/03/06/indie_spirits.... (http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/2010/03/06/indie_spirits_precious_sweeps_izzard_and_la_live_fizzle/pem) Conan O'Brien Live Tour Confirmed http://showbiz411.blogs.thr.com/2010/03/05/conan-obrien-live-tour-confirmed/ (http://showbiz411.blogs.thr.com/2010/03/05/conan-obrien-live-tour-confirmed/) Conan Twitter Tracker: How Conan Met Sarah http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/showtracker/2010/03/conan-twitter-tracker.... (http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/showtracker/2010/03/conan-twitter-tracker-how-conan-met-sarah.html) Joaquin Phoenix says he's ready to act; just looking for good script http://showbiz411.blogs.thr.com/2010/03/06/joaquin-phoenix-says-hell-come.... (http://showbiz411.blogs.thr.com/2010/03/06/joaquin-phoenix-says-hell-come-back-to-movies/) Viacom Pulls Daily Show/Colbert Report from Hulu J. Sperling Reich, Karen Woodward & Michael Giltz no 1:04:25 http://www.showbizsandbox.com/2010/01/25/showbiz-sandbox-39-chez-sundance/ http://www.showbizsandbox.com/2010/01/25/showbiz-sandbox-39-chez-sundance/#comments Tue, 26 Jan 2010 01:56:50 +0000 J. Sperling Reich http://www.showbizsandbox.com/?p=635 http://www.showbizsandbox.com/2010/01/25/showbiz-sandbox-39-chez-sundance/feed/ 0 "Avatar","The Tonight Show",Aerosmith,Angelina Jolie,Brad Pitt,Conan O'Brien,Jay Leno,MPAA,NBC,Quincy Jones,Roman Polanski,SAG Awards Co-host Karen Woodward puts a moratorium on any more talk of “Avatar”, James Cameron’s 3D sci-fi epic which continues to break box office records. So instead, we skip straight to Sundance, where the atmosphere has gone from recession (last year) to de... Co-host Karen Woodward (http://www.karenwoodwardonline.com) puts a moratorium on any more talk of “Avatar”, James Cameron’s 3D sci-fi epic which continues to break box office records. So instead, we skip straight to Sundance, where the atmosphere has gone from recession (last year) to depression (this year). J. Sperling Reich is in the snowy, cold ski town and fills us in on the movies everyone in Park City is buzzing about. If you can’t make it to Sundance this year, no worries, you’ll be able to catch a few of the festival’s selections on YouTube. Also in movie news, anti-smoking activists are claiming that Sigourney Weaver’s line “Where’s my damn cigarette” in “Avatar” should have earned the film an R rating. What set of rules is the MPAA going by when they come up with some of their absurd ratings? After a brief fly by of the SAG Awards, we head over to television land.  Things have calmed down in the Conan vs. Leno vs. NBC war, but Michael Giltz (http://www.michaelgiltz.com) and Karen must not have gotten the memo. They argue over who was wronged more by the whole debacle. Meanwhile, Conan O’Brien hosted his last “Tonight Show” on Friday.  During our Big Deal or Big Whoop segment we learn that the rumors of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie’s split are indeed, just rumors, however the rumors that Aerosmith might be replacing lead singer Steven Tyler seem to be true. Also, Quincy Jones will revisit “We Are The World” and Roman Polanski will have to revisit the United States if he wants to be sentenced for his rape conviction. During Inside Baseball, Michael and Karen lock horns once again over “transmedia storytelling.” Don’t know what it is? Listen to this episode and you’ll learn all about it! Chez Betty http://www.chezbetty.com (http://www.chezbetty.com) YouTube to Sundance: Independent Filmmakers Wanted http://youtube-global.blogspot.com/2010/01/youtube-to-sundance-independent.html (http://youtube-global.blogspot.com/2010/01/youtube-to-sundance-independent.html) Johnny Depp Sets Sail On Fourth Pirate Movie http://movies.yahoo.com/feature/movie-talk-pirates-4.html (http://movies.yahoo.com/feature/movie-talk-pirates-4.html) This Article Is Not Yet Rated http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/24/movies/24scott.html?hpw (http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/24/movies/24scott.html?hpw) ‘Clash of Titans’ 3D Decision Coming Soon http://www.heatvisionblog.com/2010/01/clash-of-titans-in-3d-decision.... (http://www.heatvisionblog.com/2010/01/clash-of-titans-in-3d-decision-coming-soon.html) Conan Gets A big Sendoff http://weblogs.variety.com/on_the_air/2010/01/conan-gets-a-big.... (http://weblogs.variety.com/on_the_air/2010/01/conan-gets-a-big-sendoff-his-tonight-farewell-) Jay Leno's Point of View http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/01/18/leno-deconstructs.... (http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/01/18/leno-deconstructs-his-own-predicament/?hp) Falling Late-Night Ad Prices Will Shape Conan's and Leno's Futures http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/tv/la-fi-ct-latenight25.... (http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/tv/la-fi-ct-latenight25-2010jan25,0,879701.story) Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie Break-Up Rumors False http://news-briefs.ew.com/2010/01/24/brad-pitt-and-angelina-jolie.... (http://news-briefs.ew.com/2010/01/24/brad-pitt-and-angelina-jolie-break-up-rumors-false/) Joe Perry Says Aerosmith Is Auditioning New Lead Singer http://www.thewrap.com/article/joe-perry-says-aerosmith.... (http://www.thewrap.com/article/joe-perry-says-aerosmith-auditioning-lead-singers-13407) New Study: People Don’t Watch Commercials on DVRs http://www.mediaweek.com/mw/content_display/special-reports/digital-hot-list.... (http://www.mediaweek.com/mw/content_display/special-reports/digital-hot-list/e3id3e0b71b5f1a6df4adcce747dc0ee4d4) 8-18 year Olds Consuming More Media than Ever http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6715693.html?nid=2286&rid.... (http://www. J. Sperling Reich, Karen Woodward & Michael Giltz no 1:06:51 http://www.showbizsandbox.com/2010/01/18/showbiz-sandbox-38-gender-matters-in-hollywood/ http://www.showbizsandbox.com/2010/01/18/showbiz-sandbox-38-gender-matters-in-hollywood/#comments Tue, 19 Jan 2010 05:13:36 +0000 J. Sperling Reich http://www.showbizsandbox.com/?p=623 http://www.showbizsandbox.com/2010/01/18/showbiz-sandbox-38-gender-matters-in-hollywood/feed/ 0 "Avatar","Spider-Man 4","The Hurt Locker",Academy Awards,Ann Hornaday,Conan O'Brien,David Letterman,Dylan Stableford,Golden Globes,Guy Lodge,In Contention,IndieWire The New Year may have started off slow, but 2010 is heating up! “Avatar” is on track to top “Titanic” as the highest grossing film of all time, The Golden Globes were handed out on Sunday and of course the late night talk show war has really taken some... The New Year may have started off slow, but 2010 is heating up! “Avatar” is on track to top “Titanic” as the highest grossing film of all time, The Golden Globes were handed out on Sunday and of course the late night talk show war has really taken some interesting turns. Dylan Stableford (http://twitter.com/stableford) who writes The Wrap’s Media Alley (http://www.thewrap.com/column/media-alley) column joins us to talk about his post, “The Vilification of Leno: Loud, Nasty and Fleeting (http://www.thewrap.com/ind-column/vilification-jay-leno-does-it-matter-12930).” Will audiences warm up to Jay Leno again? Who was the bad guy in all this fracas? Leno, Conan O’Brien, or NBC? In movie news, director Sam Raimi and star Tobey Maguire dropped out of “Spider-Man 4” and Sony now says it plans to reboot the franchise with a younger actor. Finally, though she didn’t win a Golden Globe, director Kathryn Bigelow is earning critical praise for her film “The Hurt Locker.” Academy Award nominations have yet to be announced, but she appears to have a lock on one, and may be the first woman to win the best director Oscar in the history of the awards show. Women in Hollywood and the film industry is a topic we discuss frequently here on Showbiz Sandbox thanks in part to Karen Woodward. Joining us to discuss the issue today is Matthew Hammett Knott a London-based writer and guest columnist at indieWIRE who wrote a post titled, “Is Kathryn Bigelow a Female Director? (http://www.indiewire.com/article/for_your_consideration_is_kathryn_bigelow_a_female_director/)” Picking up where Matthew left off is Guy Lodge, a freelance writer and screenwriter based in London, who is a contributor to the In Contention Blog, which covers the awards season. He wrote a post recently on In Contention titled “How Relevant is Kathryn Bigelow's Gender? (http://incontention.com/?p=20468)” Finally, we are joined by Ann Hornaday (http://projects.washingtonpost.com/staff/articles/ann+hornaday/), film critic for the Washington Post, whose article on women in film (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/23/AR2009102300194.html?sid=ST2009102204685) we discussed a few weeks ago on Showbiz Sandbox. Let the debates begin. Spider-Man Gets A Reboot http://www.sonypictures.com/corp/press_releases/2010/01_10/011220.... (http://www.sonypictures.com/corp/press_releases/2010/01_10/01122010_spm4.html) It's Over! NBC To Pay Conan $30 Million http://www.thewrap.com/article/breaking-nbc-pay-conan-30m-13048 (http://www.thewrap.com/article/breaking-nbc-pay-conan-30m-13048) Tallying The NBC Damage http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2010-01-15/.... (http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2010-01-15/tallying-the-nbc-damage/) The Vilification of Leno: Loud, Nasty and Fleeting http://www.thewrap.com/ind-column/vilification-jay-leno-does-it-matter-12930 (http://www.thewrap.com/ind-column/vilification-jay-leno-does-it-matter-12930) Guess Who Said It? Late Night Edition http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/01/15/guess-who-said-it-late-night-edition/ (http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/01/15/guess-who-said-it-late-night-edition/ ) Did TMZ gain glory or did they lose face by jumping gun before it was actually settled? http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news.... (http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3ia62d19a7acb838db6035b952fde09415) Beyonce Performs for Gadaffi http://www.thedailyswarm.com/headlines/beyonce-performing-gaddafi-photos-surface/ (http://www.thedailyswarm.com/headlines/beyonce-performing-gaddafi-photos-surface/) Glee's Matthew Morrison Signs To Mercury Records http://www.hitfix.com/blogs/2008-12-6-the-beat-goes-on/posts/glee-s.... (http://www.hitfix.com/blogs/2008-12-6-the-beat-goes-on/posts/glee-s-matthew-morrison-signs-to-mercury-records) For Your Consideration: Is Kathryn Bigelow A Female Director? http://www.indiewire. J. Sperling Reich, Karen Woodward & Michael Giltz no 1:18:26 http://www.showbizsandbox.com/2010/01/11/showbiz-sandbox-37-conan-and-lenos-late-shift-shrift/ http://www.showbizsandbox.com/2010/01/11/showbiz-sandbox-37-conan-and-lenos-late-shift-shrift/#comments Tue, 12 Jan 2010 04:18:59 +0000 J. Sperling Reich http://www.showbizsandbox.com/?p=615 http://www.showbizsandbox.com/2010/01/11/showbiz-sandbox-37-conan-and-lenos-late-shift-shrift/feed/ 0 "Avatar","Lost","X Factor",American Idol,Ben Silverman,CES,Conan O'Brien,David Colker,Fox News,Jay Leno,Jeffrey Gaspin,Los Angeles Times It's official: Simon Cowell will be leaving "American Idol" this season and NBC (finally!) admits that airing "The Jay Leno Show" in primetime five nights a week was a mistake. Cowell is headed off to start a new reality talent show, "X Factor", It's official: Simon Cowell will be leaving "American Idol" this season and NBC (finally!) admits that airing "The Jay Leno Show" in primetime five nights a week was a mistake. Cowell is headed off to start a new reality talent show, "X Factor", while Jay Leno is headed back to his old late night time slot, at least for a half-hour. But where will Conan O'Brien's tonight show end up? Right now NBC wants to push him back a half hour. In theaters, "Avatar" just will not go away. It stays firm at the top of the box office again this week. “Daybreakers” staring Ethan Hawke, also did well in its debut, but the Amy Adams vehicle “Leap Year” didn’t leap anywhere. Meanwhile, the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) tries to sell us on 3D television and video rental service Netflix reaches an important agreement with Warner Bros. David Colker (http://www.twitter.com/davidcolker), a business reporter covering technology for the Los Angeles Times (http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/technology) gives us the low down on CES, espcially all the 3D televisions announced at the show (which aren’t even available for sale yet). Do consumers even want 3D television? More importantly, how are we prepared to wear those funny 3D glasses at home? As for Netflix, Will Richmond (http://www.twitter.com/videonuze), president of Broadband Directions and editor of VideoNuze.com (http://www.videonuze.com/), helps us decipher their deal with Warner Bros. The agreement delays the studio's DVD releases to Netflix customers by 28 days while increasing the number of Warner films that are available for digital streaming. In addition, Warner Bros. will lower the per-disc price it charges Netflix to purchase DVDs. That alone could save Netflix millions. Richmond explains why the deal is a win for everyone: Netflix, Warner Brothers, and the consumer. Simon Cowell Leaving Idol http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/01/11/cowell-to-leave-idol/?hp (http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/01/11/cowell-to-leave-idol/?hp) 'X Factor' Debut Could Mean A Simon Cowell-less 'American Idol' http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/la-et-cowell11-2010jan11,0,2968814.story (http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/la-et-cowell11-2010jan11,0,2968814.story) NBC Kicks Jay Leno Out Of Prime Time http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118013563.html?categoryid=1292&cs=1 (http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118013563.html?categoryid=1292&cs=1) NBC Greenlights Six Drama Pilots http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3i936d3d2c48ddaeb1a2d9ead12d47b795 (http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3i936d3d2c48ddaeb1a2d9ead12d47b795) First 3D Dedicated Networks Coming To TV http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-10425553-93.html (http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-10425553-93.html) DirecTV to Offer All 3D Satellite TV Channels To Home Viewers http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/technology/2010/01/panasonic-directv.html (http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/technology/2010/01/panasonic-directv.html) Do Consumers Really Want 3D TV? http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/01/05/do-consumers-really-want-3d-tvs/ (http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/01/05/do-consumers-really-want-3d-tvs/) Ben Silverman's Electus Strikes Deal With Yahoo! http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3if944e88734e00aa3e05308366dedea44 (http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3if944e88734e00aa3e05308366dedea44) Lost - Is TV Show A Franchise That Will Live On? http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118013523.html?categoryid=14&cs=1&ref=bd_tv (http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118013523.html?categoryid=14&cs=1&ref=bd_tv) Avatar Gets Best Screenplay Nod From WGA http://movies.insidepulse.com/2010/01/12/writers-guild-awards-nominations/ (http://movies.insidepulse.com/2010/01/12/writers-guild-awards-nominations/) Roman Polanski Asks To Be Sentenced In Absentia http://latimesblogs.latimes. J. Sperling Reich, Karen Woodward & Michael Giltz no 1:00:46 http://www.showbizsandbox.com/2009/06/12/showbiz-sandbox-7-talkin-tonys-and-trailers/ http://www.showbizsandbox.com/2009/06/12/showbiz-sandbox-7-talkin-tonys-and-trailers/#comments Fri, 12 Jun 2009 08:59:26 +0000 J. Sperling Reich http://www.showbizsandbox.com/?p=131 http://www.showbizsandbox.com/2009/06/12/showbiz-sandbox-7-talkin-tonys-and-trailers/feed/ 0 "The Tonight Show","Up",Conan O'Brien,David Carradine,Eminem,Golden Trailer Awards,Grizzly Bear,Hulu,Michael Giltz,MTV,Rupert Murdoch,Sacha Baron Cohen Michael Giltz of the New York Daily News, Huffington Post and The Advocate joins us to discuss all the winners (and losers) of this year's Tony Awards. Stephen Garrett, the co-founder of Kinetic Trailerworks also shows up to talk about picking up a fe... Michael Giltz (http://www.michaelgiltz.com) of the New York Daily News, Huffington Post and The Advocate joins us to discuss all the winners (and losers) of this year's Tony Awards. Stephen Garrett (http://www.kinetictrailers.com), the co-founder of K... J. Sperling Reich, Karen Woodward & Michael Giltz no http://www.showbizsandbox.com/2009/06/01/showbiz-sandbox-6-down-with-up-and-other-contrarian-opinions/ http://www.showbizsandbox.com/2009/06/01/showbiz-sandbox-6-down-with-up-and-other-contrarian-opinions/#comments Mon, 01 Jun 2009 19:36:57 +0000 J. Sperling Reich http://www.showbizsandbox.com/?p=113 http://www.showbizsandbox.com/2009/06/01/showbiz-sandbox-6-down-with-up-and-other-contrarian-opinions/feed/ 0 "A Christmas Carol","Reel Talk","The Hangover","The Tonight Show","Up",American Idol,Anne Thompson,AOL,Ashton Kutcher,Conan O'Brien,Jay Leno,Jim Carrey We are excited to be joined by journalist Anne Thompson of Thompson On Hollywood who recently returned to the United States after covering the Cannes Film Festival. You may remember Anne as the West Coast Editor for Premiere Magazine and Film Comment, We are excited to be joined by journalist Anne Thompson (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anne_Thompson) of Thompson On Hollywood (http://www.thompsononhollywood.com) who recently returned to the United States after covering the Cannes Film Festival. You may remember Anne as the West Coast Editor for Premiere Magazine and Film Comment, not to mention her stint as the Deputy Film Editor at The Hollywood Reporter. She's also written for a plethora of media outlets including, The New York Times, Washington Post, Wired and LA Weekly. Anne fills us in on who scored big at this past year's festival and who wound up spinning their wheels. There was plenty to talk about this week with Pixar's tenth animated film "Up" winning praise from both critics and audiences. The film earned $68.2 million during it's opening weekend in North America, but not a dime from Karen Woodward who's not a fan of animated films (or as she calls them. . . cartoons). "Up" may just give "The Hangover" a run for its money when it opens next week. The comedy flick from director Todd Philips has been receiving a lot of buzz as a potential sleeper hit. Another animated film trying to capture people's attention is Robert Zemeckis' take on "A Christmas Carol". Though it's not due out until November of this year, Disney has launched a promotional tour which will have clips of the film visiting 40 cities over the next six months by train.  Actor Jim Carrey tells us why another version of the classic tale is being made. The Fox Network's "American Idol" stayed in the news thanks to a potential controversy that AT&T may have skewed the votes for winner Kris Allen. Runner-up Adam Lambert doesn't seem phased by the flap over the voting or by criticism from singer Clay Aiken. In the United Kingdom, YouTube sensation Susan Boyle lost her temper and reality show "Britain's Got Talent", but she'll probably still have a career in showbiz. Reality star Kate Gosselin has also been making headlines, but J. Sperling Reich wants to know who she is and what show she's on. Jay Leno's final episode as host of "The Tonight Show" is now over, but did anybody really care. All eyes are now on Conan O'Brien who takes over hosting duties, but may be too good to be popular according to Variety columnist Brian Lowry. Ashton Kutcher may stop using Twitter over a proposed show based on the social networking phenomenon and NBC cancels movie review program "Reel Talk". Finally Time Warner and AOL are going their separate ways as are some of the William Morris Agency's clients who have been let go by the firm in preparation for their merger with Endeavor. You can follow Anne Thompson on Twitter @akstanwyck (http://twitter.com/akstanwyck). Cannes: Winners & Losers http://weblogs.variety.com/thompsononhollywood/2009/05/cannes-winners-and-losers-.html (http://weblogs.variety.com/thompsononhollywood/2009/05/cannes-winners-and-losers-.html) "Up" Rises Above http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3ic0507728e66c92e383679d2a60a0bc5f (http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3ic0507728e66c92e383679d2a60a0bc5f) Dreamworks Plans To Boost Its Picture Production (Five Films Every Two Years) http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/dreamworks-boosts-its-pic-production-plans-to-release-5-films-every-2-years/ (http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/dreamworks-boosts-its-pic-production-plans-to-release-5-films-every-2-years/) The Hangover Isn't Any Headache For Warner Bros. http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/movies/la-et-word28-2009may28,0,27759.story (http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/movies/la-et-word28-2009may28,0,27759.story) http://weblogs.variety.com/thompsononhollywood/2009/05/the-hangover-red-band-trailer.html?ref=ssp (http://weblogs.variety.com/thompsononhollywood/2009/05/the-hangover-red-band-trailer.html?ref=ssp) All Aboard For "Carol" http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/la-et-train25-2009may25,0,4987790. J. Sperling Reich, Karen Woodward & Michael Giltz no