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/2010/03/08/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/2010/02/15/showbiz-sandbox-42-tom-cruise-takes-a-pay-cut-and-other-indignities/ http://www.showbizsandbox.com/2010/02/15/showbiz-sandbox-42-tom-cruise-takes-a-pay-cut-and-other-indignities/#comments Tue, 16 Feb 2010 03:32:14 +0000 J. Sperling Reich http://www.showbizsandbox.com/?p=677 http://www.showbizsandbox.com/2010/02/15/showbiz-sandbox-42-tom-cruise-takes-a-pay-cut-and-other-indignities/feed/ 0 "24","Alice In Wonderland","Avatar","Clash of the Titans","How To Train Your Dragon","Lost","Mission Impossible IV","Superman",Bob Iger,Christopher Nolan,Disney,iPad We only talk about "Avatar" for a couple of seconds in this week’s podcast, thank goodness. Instead, we focus on actors campaigning for their Oscars (and a few who aren’t). We also discuss what we call “the 3D movie brouhaha” which has made Jeffrey Ka... We only talk about "Avatar" for a couple of seconds in this week’s podcast, thank goodness. Instead, we focus on actors campaigning for their Oscars (and a few who aren’t). We also discuss what we call “the 3D movie brouhaha” which has made Jeffrey Katzenberg irate. In TV news, co-hosts Karen Woodward (http://www.karenwoodwardonline.com) and Michael Giltz (http://www.michaelgiltz.com/) are passionate about the Olympics and the absurdity of “Lost” (even recaps are confusing!) And, after 28 years, MTV is changing its logo to reflect that the channel is no longer just about “music television”. They may be about 10 years too late. Co-host J. Sperling Reich (http://www.twitter.com/sperling) jumps into one of his favorite topics – new media – and reminds us that this guy named Steve Jobs sits on the board of Disney and is one of the top shareholders. No wonder Disney CEO Robert Igor called the underwhelming iPad “a really compelling device” that could be a game changer. We’ll hold off our thoughts on the new Apple product until we see if it really will change the way entertainment is distributed.  All the top entertainment news stories of the week are rehashed in our Big Deal or Big Whoop segment before we end with some Inside Baseball, and a heated debate over journalistic plagiarism. Programming Note: Sperling is on assignment next week, so we will not be recording a podcast. It’s a good time for you to download a few of our past episodes over on iTunes (http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=315942437) or the Zune Marketplace (http://social.zune.net/podcast/Showbiz-Sandbox/106b3ff8-0b50-4577-8e9d-777626418d31)! Oscar Diva Smackdown http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2010-02-08/oscars-diva-smackdown/ (http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2010-02-08/oscars-diva-smackdown/) Alice Might Get Shorter Theatrical Run http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/film/news/e3i6c8a99.... (http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/film/news/e3i6c8a99484479c6fe23ff6a8804817a27) http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/the_big_picture/2010/02/are-movie-theater.... (http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/the_big_picture/2010/02/are-movie-theater-owners-playing-the-heavy-in-alice-in-wonderland-dvd-controversy.html) Katzenberg Angry Over Warner Bros Clash Of The Titans release http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/entertainmentnewsbuzz/2010/02/katzenberg-.html (http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/entertainmentnewsbuzz/2010/02/katzenberg-.html) Next Spider-Man Movie to be in 3-D http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2010/02/10/arts/AP-US-Film-Spider-Man-4.html (http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2010/02/10/arts/AP-US-Film-Spider-Man-4.html) Tom Cruise and Paramount Reunite For Fourth Mission http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3ie48d97.... (http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3ie48d97158d5e5659bbcad877a67320a9?imw=Y) MTV's New Logo http://adage.com/mediaworks/article?article_id=142017 (http://adage.com/mediaworks/article?article_id=142017) “Lost” Recap http://www.mediafreakblog.com/2010/02/lost-season-6-answers-answered-ep-2.html (http://www.mediafreakblog.com/2010/02/lost-season-6-answers-answered-ep-2.html) Disney's Iger Takes a Big Swig of iPad KoolAid http://paidcontent.org/article/419-disneys-iger-takes-big-swig-of-ipad-kool-aid/ (http://paidcontent.org/article/419-disneys-iger-takes-big-swig-of-ipad-kool-aid/) HBO Gets Kathryn Bigelow For Pilot http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3i2fac53d5f65010f7.... (http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3i2fac53d5f65010f7c12bdd0489f96600) 24 Headed To The Big Screen http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118014913.html?categoryId=13&cs=1 (http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118014913.html?categoryId=13&cs=1) USA Posts Sharp Drops for White Collar, Psych http://www.mediaweek.com/mw/content_display/news/cable-tv/e3ie4.... (http://www. J. Sperling Reich, Karen Woodward & Michael Giltz no 1:02:47 http://www.showbizsandbox.com/2010/01/07/showbiz-sandbox-36-can-avatar-beat-titanic-heck-no/ http://www.showbizsandbox.com/2010/01/07/showbiz-sandbox-36-can-avatar-beat-titanic-heck-no/#comments Thu, 07 Jan 2010 22:31:24 +0000 J. Sperling Reich http://www.showbizsandbox.com/?p=606 http://www.showbizsandbox.com/2010/01/07/showbiz-sandbox-36-can-avatar-beat-titanic-heck-no/feed/ 0 "Avatar","Grey's Anatomy","The Hurt Locker","Titanic",Bono,Disney,Flixter,Fox,James Bond,James Cameron,Jonathan Handel,Kathryn Bigelow “Avatar” continues its takeover of the box office, while “The Hurt Locker” appears to be taking over the awards season. James Cameron’s 3D labor of love entered the list of top 10 grossing films of all time and may be poised to become the highest gros... “Avatar” continues its takeover of the box office, while “The Hurt Locker” appears to be taking over the awards season. James Cameron’s 3D labor of love entered the list of top 10 grossing films of all time and may be poised to become the highest grossing movie ever, a title now held by another Cameron film, "Titanic". "Avatar" is now one of only five films to ever earn over a billion dollars world-wide. Now the prognostication begins about whether "Avatar" (and Cameron) will be nominated for an Academy Award? His ex-wife’s movie “The Hurt Locker” certainly seems to be headed that way. Director Kathryn Bigelow is earning raves for the film and she is being being heavily favored to be the first female to win a Best Director Oscar. Between Bigelow and Nancy Meyers (“It’s Complicated”), female directors, or at least the discussion of their recent success, is the topic du jour in Hollywood. Another favorite topic at the beginning a year is reflection and prediction. What were the top reviewed movies of the decade? Did you see any of them? What’s in store for us in the television world during 2010? What would U2's Bono do over the next ten years? Apparently, he'd police the Internet in hopes of catching intellectual property pirates. During Big Deal or Big Whoop we discuss Flixster's acqusition of Rotten Tomatoes and the potential director of the next James Bond film, among many other top entertainment headlines. Finally, entertainment attorney Jonathan Handel (http://digitalmedialaw.blogspot.com/) joins us for a little Inside Baseball discussion. He explains all the nitty gritty details of the squabble between Fox and TimeWarner cable squabble. Jonathan tells us why it happened and what it might mean for cable television (and television viewers) going forward. 'The Hurt Locker' Sweeps National Society of Film Critics Awards http://goldderby.latimes.com/awards_goldderby/2010/01/national-society-of-film-critics-best-picture-the-hurt-locker-8195362847-entertainment-news.html (http://goldderby.latimes.com/awards_goldderby/2010/01/national-society-of-film-critics-best-picture-the-hurt-locker-8195362847-entertainment-news.html) Top Women Director? Nancy Meyers http://www.the-numbers.com/people/directors/NMEYE.php (http://www.the-numbers.com/people/directors/NMEYE.php) 'Potter', 'Avatar' Spur Box Office Record In '09 http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6021IX20100103?type=filmNews (http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6021IX20100103?type=filmNews) Cinema Surpassed DVD Sales In 2009 http://online.wsj.com/article/SB20001424052748704789404574636531903626624.html (http://online.wsj.com/article/SB20001424052748704789404574636531903626624.html) Best Reviewed Movies of the Decade http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/2010/01/02/best_reviewed_movies_of_the_decade_pans_labyrinth_man_on_wire/ (http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/2010/01/02/best_reviewed_movies_of_the_decade_pans_labyrinth_man_on_wire/) Library Of Congress Adds 25 To Registry http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118013168.html?categoryid=1236&cs=1 (http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118013168.html?categoryid=1236&cs=1) Bono's Ten For The Next Ten http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/03/opinion/03bono.html (http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/03/opinion/03bono.html) Flixster Buys Rotten Tomatoes http://www.slashfilm.com/2010/01/04/flixter-to-acquire-rotten-tomatoes/ (http://www.slashfilm.com/2010/01/04/flixter-to-acquire-rotten-tomatoes/) Lenny Kravitz Says He Did Not Leak Michael Jackson Song http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/01/04/lenny-kravitz-says-he-did-not-leak-michael-jackson-video/ (http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/01/04/lenny-kravitz-says-he-did-not-leak-michael-jackson-video/) Kim Raver Joins Grey's Anatomy Full Time http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/television/news/e3ic3390a5158a31029014f3c1d1cc72acc (http://www.hollywoodreporter. J. Sperling Reich, Karen Woodward & Michael Giltz no 1:07:38 http://www.showbizsandbox.com/2009/12/28/showbiz-sandbox-35-women-in-hollywood-its-complicated/ http://www.showbizsandbox.com/2009/12/28/showbiz-sandbox-35-women-in-hollywood-its-complicated/#comments Tue, 29 Dec 2009 03:44:02 +0000 J. Sperling Reich http://www.showbizsandbox.com/?p=587 http://www.showbizsandbox.com/2009/12/28/showbiz-sandbox-35-women-in-hollywood-its-complicated/feed/ 0 "Avatar","Glee","It's Complicated","Jackass",Apple,Brittany Murphy,Charlie Sheen,DirecTV,Disney,Electronic Arts,Idina Menzel,Joe Flint You know it's a slow entertainment news week when J. Sperling Reich, Karen Woodward, and Michael Giltz wind up talking about their personal arrest records. However even during the holiday season we can find showbiz news to talk about, You know it's a slow entertainment news week when J. Sperling Reich (http://www.twitter.com/sperling), Karen Woodward (http://www.karenwoodwardonline.com), and Michael Giltz (http://www.michaelgiltz.com) wind up talking about their personal arrest records. However even during the holiday season we can find showbiz news to talk about, not to mention places to talk. Michael joins us from the boisterous Cranky Café where he was enjoying homemade mac and cheese (and free Wifi). America was sinning over the holidays, and by that we mean seeing movies on Christmas Day. Avatar set box office records with a $75 million North American gross and a $145 million international gross, but is it really a good movie? One movie that Karen and Michael agree is not at all good is "It’s Complicated", and yet it’s doing rather well at the box office – is that because women are so starved for a decent “women’s film” that they will see whatever is in theatres? Speaking of women's films, or lack thereof, Karen digs up a couple of interesting news pieces focusing on the lack of a strong female presence in Hollywood, both on screen and off. The end of a year always brings best of lists and future predictions, so we chose to focus on a Chicago Tribune blog focusing on the decade of television, and a Los Angeles Times article on what to expect from the world of big media during the next year. Get ready for a turbulent 2010! Finally, as actor Charlie Sheen gets arrested in Colorado for domestic abuse, rumors surface that Apple is busy putting together an online television subscription plan. Will such an offering change the way we watch TV? Avatar Grosses 145 Million As Fox International Sets Box Office Industry Record http://www.screendaily.com/news/distribution/avatar-grosses-145m.... (http://www.screendaily.com/news/distribution/avatar-grosses-145m-as-fox-intl-sets-bo-industry-record/5009311.article) Times Critic On Hollywood, Women & Why Romantic Comedies Suck http://jezebel.com/5426065/fuck-them-times-critic-on-hollywood-women.... (http://jezebel.com/5426065/fuck-them-times-critic-on-hollywood-women--why-romantic-comedies-suck) Women & Film http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/23/.... (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/23/AR2009102300194.html?sid=ST2009102204685) Women In The Seats But Not Behind The Camera http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/13/movies/13dargis.html?_r=3&ref=movies (http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/13/movies/13dargis.html?_r=3&ref=movies) Get Ready For A Turbulent 2010 In Media http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-ct-predictions28-2009dec28,0,2942337.story (http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-ct-predictions28-2009dec28,0,2942337.story) Thoughts on the Aughts: What made the Golden Age of TV glow? http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/entertainment_tv/2009/12/tv-influences.... (http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/entertainment_tv/2009/12/tv-influences-lost-veronica-mars-sopranos-deadwood.html) Get Ready For A Turbulent 2010 In Media http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-ct-predictions28-2009dec28,0,2942337.story (http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-ct-predictions28-2009dec28,0,2942337.story) Brittany Murphy Was Warned About Husband Simon Monjack But Did Not Listen http://www.nydailynews.com/gossip/2009/12/26/2009-12-26_director_brittany_murphy.... (http://www.nydailynews.com/gossip/2009/12/26/2009-12-26_director_brittany_murphy_was_warned_about_husband_simon_monjack_but_did_not_list.html#ixzz0ay3PleUv) Family, Friends Remember Brittany Murphy At Funeral Service http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2009/12/family-friends-remember-brittany.... (http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2009/12/family-friends-remember-brittany-murphy-at-funeral-service.htm) Singer Songwriter Vic Chestnut Has Died http://www.npr.org/blogs/allsongs/2009/12/vic_chesnutt_in_coma_1.html (http://www.npr.org/blogs/allsongs/2009/12/vic_chesnutt_in_coma_1. J. Sperling Reich, Karen Woodward & Michael Giltz no 1:08:04 http://www.showbizsandbox.com/2009/11/23/showbiz-sandbox-30-modern-warfare-stuns-hollywood/ http://www.showbizsandbox.com/2009/11/23/showbiz-sandbox-30-modern-warfare-stuns-hollywood/#comments Tue, 24 Nov 2009 04:08:57 +0000 J. Sperling Reich http://www.showbizsandbox.com/?p=513 http://www.showbizsandbox.com/2009/11/23/showbiz-sandbox-30-modern-warfare-stuns-hollywood/feed/ 0 "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2","Lost","Soapdish","The Blind Side","Twilight: New Moon",Academy Awards,Adam Lambert,Ben Fritz,Disney,Documentaries,Hulu,Jessica Bendinger As predicted, the teen vampire romance “The Twilight Saga: New Moon” opened this week and earned record breaking box office. The second installment of the "Twilight" franchise made $140 million in North America, As predicted, the teen vampire romance “The Twilight Saga: New Moon” opened this week and earned record breaking box office. The second installment of the "Twilight" franchise made $140 million in North America, making it one of the largest openings in history. The film did manage to break the record for highest grossing midnight screening when it opened Friday morning. What might be more amazing is that the Sandra Bullock vehicle "The Blind Side" came in second with an impressive $34 million. Opening so strongly against a powerhouse tent pole like "Twilight" makes Bullock one of the more bankable stars in Hollywood these days. Of course, even "Twilight's" $258 million worldwide opening pales in comparison to what the new video game "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2" raked in during its first five days in stores. Ben Fritz (http://www.twitter.com/benfritz) an entertainment business reporter for the Los Angeles Times (http://www.latimes.com) joins us to talk about the wild success of the video game. Actually, calling it a video game is almost an insult - it’s more like an interactive action movie, and one that made $550 million within five days of its November 19th launch. Fritz is a prolific journalist who this past week wrote tons of stories for the L.A. Times Company Town (http://www.latimes.com/companytown) column and blog. One such story was on the controversy over the Academy Awards’ Documentary short list. Specifically, everyone wants to know why all the documentaries people actually saw, like “Capitalism: A Love Story” and “The September Issue” were left out of the 19 films still in contention for Best Feature Documentary? Who picked the short list docs anyway? Meanwhile over in the land of television talk show host Oprah Winfrey has decided to end her successful daytime show after it's 25th season in 2011. year Maybe it could air on Oprah’s new network. After much prayer and thought, Winfrey is making the decision that she can make more money and build her brand better by launching her own cable network. The next season of “Oprah” will be her last and she will shift her focus to her new network OWN which will debut in 2011. Smart move? Who wins and who loses with Oprah's decision? Speaking of questionable moves, remember the 1991 movie “Soapdish”? Well, it’s coming to a theatre not near you. It’s headed to Broadway instead, where Michael Giltz (http://www.michaelgiltz.com) believes it will probably meet a quick death before being relegated to high school musicals. As usual our popular segment Big Deal or Big Whoop stirs lots of debate on subjects ranging from the nutritional value of movie theatre popcorn to the entertainment value of Adam Lambert’s performance at the American Music Awards (speaking of high school musicals!). Finally, we finish off by discussing Disney's new chief Rich Ross during Inside Baseball. Ross has begun to put is own plans in place at the Mouse House, and he started by ending the remake of "Captain Nemo: 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea", which had already begun preproduction. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Video Game Gets Hollywood-Scale Launch http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-ct-duty18-2009nov18,0,5238209.story (http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-ct-duty18-2009nov18,0,5238209.story) Oprah Winfrey Announces 2011 End To Her Show http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704888404574546331059957374.html?.... (http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704888404574546331059957374.html?mod=WSJ_hpp_MIDDLETopStories) http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091120/ap_on_en_tv/us_winfrey_show_ending (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091120/ap_on_en_tv/us_winfrey_show_ending) The Oprah Effect: Winners and Losers http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/entertainmentnewsbuzz/2009/11/the-oprah-effect.... (http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/entertainmentnewsbuzz/2009/11/the-oprah-effect-winners-and-losers.html) Frustration Over Oscars' Documentary Short List J. Sperling Reich, Karen Woodward & Michael Giltz no http://www.showbizsandbox.com/2009/11/16/showbiz-sandbox-29-camped-out-for-twilight-new-moon/ http://www.showbizsandbox.com/2009/11/16/showbiz-sandbox-29-camped-out-for-twilight-new-moon/#comments Tue, 17 Nov 2009 04:38:12 +0000 J. Sperling Reich http://www.showbizsandbox.com/?p=495 http://www.showbizsandbox.com/2009/11/16/showbiz-sandbox-29-camped-out-for-twilight-new-moon/feed/ 0 "Avatar","Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs","Fantastic Mr. Fox","Gossip Girl","Twilight: New Moon",Adam Lambert,AO Scott,Claudia Eller,Disney,Fandango,Hollywood Reporter,James Cameron There was a debate over titling this week’s episode "The Profanity Podcast "due to some various disagreements and the name of a new sitcom. Intrigued? Read on. - Harry Medved from Fandango.com joins us briefly to talk about next week’s number one movie... There was a debate over titling this week’s episode "The Profanity Podcast "due to some various disagreements and the name of a new sitcom. Intrigued? Read on. Harry Medved (http://twitter.com/FandangoNews) from Fandango.com (http://www.fandango.com/movieblog/) joins us briefly to talk about next week’s number one movie at the box office, “The Twilight Saga: New Moon.” (Did we get the name right? Can’t we just call it “New Moon” or “Twilight 2”?) Yes, that’s right, we’re prognosticating next week’s number one movie in North America. Hey, when women of all ages are lining up just to catch a glimpse of Robert Pattinson and/or Taylor Lautner at the premiere, you know you might have a hit on your hands. Speaking of hits, is Twentieth Century Fox taking a huge risk by bankrolling a film based on an unfamiliar story with no Hollywood superstars and a budget approaching $500 million? We’re talking about “Avatar,” and particularly Michael Cieply's article in the New York Times’ on the film directed by James Cameron. (So, is Cameron himself not a superstar?) John Horn and Claudia Eller from the Los Angeles Times write that the movie's price tag continues to climbe and that its global marketing campaign could cost as much as $150 million, "Avatar" won't have to do "Titanic" business to make money, but it will have to fill auditoriums around the world for weeks to become profitable. A genre that has proven to be very profitable is animation and family films. But how many of these are really suitable for kids? AO Scott from the New York Times points out that some of the best films are too scary for adults but kids enjoy them just fine. Maybe parents will change their mind if one of these scary animated films wins an Oscar; there are 20 animated films in contention this year for Best Animated Feature. “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs” is one of the animated titles vying for an Academy Award. Sony is using the movie as a guinea pig for a new way to distribute entertainment directly to consumers. They’re offering the film online via Internet-TVs, the Play Station 3 and specially equipped Blu-Ray players a month before it is released on DVD. This has movie theatre owners steaming. But is this really an experiment in distribution, or just a way for Sony to sell more televisions, Blu-Ray playes and video game consoles? Speaking of television, Fox cancelled Joss Whedon’s “Dollhouse” and ABC canceled the sitcom “Hank” starring Kelsey Grammer. Bet that’s the last time Whedon does a show for Fox. Also meeting their demise are some of the employees at Al Gore’s Current TV. The network recently let 80 staffers go, as it shifts away from in-house production and towards out sourcing segments, which will be done via acquisitions, co-productions, and the use of outside studios. In music news, John Mayer’s new album “Battle Studies” was leaked online, followed by a battle of his own with a reporter for New York Magazine. Karen Woodward (http://www.industrynexus.com) and Michael Giltz (http://www.michaelgiltz.com) have their own battle over who was in the right – Mayer or the newbie journalist, Christianna Ablahad (http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2009/10/john_mayer_threatens_to_sodomi.html). We cruise through our favorite segment Big Deal or Big Whoop this week covering a wide range of topics; from a new sitcom based on a Twitter poster whose crude username we won't mention here to Omarosa of "The Apprentice" returning to reality television. Finally, we discuss yet another executive shift at Disney. Mark Zoradi the president of Walt Disney Motion Pictures Group and who had been with the studio for 29 years has been ousted. It looks like new studio head Rich Ross is bringing in his own team. 'New Moon' Fans Camping Out In Westwood http://community.livejournal.com/taytay_daily/114637.html (http://community.livejournal.com/taytay_daily/114637.html) For Avatar Budget Pops From The Screen http://www.nytimes. J. Sperling Reich, Karen Woodward & Michael Giltz no http://www.showbizsandbox.com/2009/11/03/showbiz-sandbox-27-thats-it-for-this-is-it-2/ http://www.showbizsandbox.com/2009/11/03/showbiz-sandbox-27-thats-it-for-this-is-it-2/#comments Wed, 04 Nov 2009 05:28:03 +0000 J. Sperling Reich http://www.showbizsandbox.com/?p=481 http://www.showbizsandbox.com/2009/11/03/showbiz-sandbox-27-thats-it-for-this-is-it-2/feed/ 0 "Avatar","Precious","This Is It",Anthony Hopkins,Disney,Hulu,January Jones,Jeffrey Katzenberg,Keychest,Michael Jackson,Miramax,Nicolas Cage This week we begin with Michael Giltz and Karen Woodward disagreeing over “This Is It,” the Michael Jackson documentary/concert film/eulogy. Is the film recommendable? Not according to the box office numbers, This week we begin with Michael Giltz and Karen Woodward disagreeing over “This Is It,” the Michael Jackson documentary/concert film/eulogy. Is the film recommendable? Not according to the box office numbers, where the film brought in a disappointing $23 million. But since the film made $103 million worldwide J. Sperling Reich wanted to serve Michael some crow pie. If you don’t want to see “This Is It,” maybe you’ll see “Avatar”? The second trailer for the highly anticipated film was released this week, after the first one bombed. The new trailer looks like this movie is actually about something. How about “Precious”? Sperling and Michael disagree over whether this movie is a heart tugging Oscar winner or shallow drivel. Speaking of shallow, did Jeffrey Katzenberg really add anything new to the future of entertainment conversation in his recent Business Week interview? Seems more like a politician staying message then a mogul adding to the dialogue. But the folks at his old stomping grounds -- Disney -- may be adding to the debate by unveiling technology that will enable entertainment companies to adapt their business models to a new reality in which consumers increasingly rely on computers and cell phones in place of DVD players and TVs. But does anyone care? As usual there is a healthy debate in our little corner of the sandbox. One thing we do agree on is that anyone who DVRs a show and says he/she is still watching the commercials has to be lying. Who would watch the ads if they didn’t have to? Sperling for one: turns out that he uses the commercial time to multi-task. What will advertisers dream up for the rest of us who actually fast forward through brand messaging? We have some ideas. This week we also return to some old stories, such as Hulu (do they have a right to charge viewers?) and Letterman (is he a letch?); take a risk examining Scientology (thanks to filmmaker Paul Haggis); and ponder over why critics actually liked the latest Broadway revivalk of “Finian’s Rainbow.” Some of the stories we touch on in our Big Deal or Big Whoop segment include Anthony Hopkins starring in "Thor", U2's concert webcast getting 10 million streams on YouTube and Google coming up with a new way to search for music. During Inside Baseball, no we’re not talking the World Series, we’re talking the death of Miramax. What would Harvey do? 'This Is It' As His Personal Thriller http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/la-et-patterson3-2009nov03,0,5784621.story (http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/la-et-patterson3-2009nov03,0,5784621.story) Avatar trailer #2 http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi531039513/ (http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi531039513/) The Audacity of Precious http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/25/magazine/25precious-t.html (http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/25/magazine/25precious-t.html) Katzenberg: A Front Row Seat At The Movies http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/09_45/b4154013688591.htm (http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/09_45/b4154013688591.htm) Disney Touts A Way To Ditch The DVD http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703816204574485650026945222.html (http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703816204574485650026945222.html) Once Again, DVR's Not Killing TV, But Helping It http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20091101/2150456755.shtml (http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20091101/2150456755.shtml) http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/02/business/media/02ratings.html?pagewanted=all (http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/02/business/media/02ratings.html?pagewanted=all) Don't Touch That Dial http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/09_45/b4154030720509.htm (http://www.mediafreakblog.com/2009/10/pandora-hulu-what-happened-to-free.html) Hulu: What happened to free? http://www.mediafreakblog.com/2009/10/pandora-hulu-what-happened-to-free.html (http://www.mediafreakblog.com/2009/10/pandora-hulu-what-happened-to-free.html) J. Sperling Reich, Karen Woodward & Michael Giltz no http://www.showbizsandbox.com/2009/09/21/showbiz-sandbox-21-name-dropping-at-the-emmys-and-toronto/ http://www.showbizsandbox.com/2009/09/21/showbiz-sandbox-21-name-dropping-at-the-emmys-and-toronto/#comments Tue, 22 Sep 2009 05:02:57 +0000 J. Sperling Reich http://www.showbizsandbox.com/?p=397 http://www.showbizsandbox.com/2009/09/21/showbiz-sandbox-21-name-dropping-at-the-emmys-and-toronto/feed/ 0 "30 Rock","Capitalism: A Love Story","Mad Men","Precious","The Informant",Brill Bundy,David Poland,Dick Cook,Disney,Emmys,Jay Leno,Kanye West Three very special guests join us on this episode to discuss the Emmy Awards and the Toronto International Film Festival, including Brill Bundy from Zap2it.com, Noel Murray from the Onion's AV Club and David Poland from The Hot Blog and Movie City News. Three very special guests join us on this episode to discuss the Emmy Awards and the Toronto International Film Festival, including Brill Bundy (http://twitter.com/Zap2itBrill) from Zap2it.com (http://www.zap2it.com), Noel Murray (http://twitter.com/noelmu) from the Onion's AV Club (http://www.avclub.com/) and David Poland (http://twitter.com/davidpoland) from The Hot Blog (http://www.thehotblog.com/) and Movie City News (http://www.moviecietynews.com). Before we get into either of those hot topics Michael Giltz (http://www.michaelgiltz.com) and J. Sperling Reich (http://www.twitter.com/sperling) duke it out over 3D movies while discussing this week's North American box office topper, "Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs". Karen Woodward (http://www.industrynexus.com) still isn't convinced to see animated content, whether it's 3D or not. Brill wasn't all that suprised by any of the Emmy Awards handed out on Sunday, except for maybe Jon Cryer's trophy for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy. Like last year, Both "Mad Men" and "30 Rock" repeated their wins for Best Drama and Best Comedy. In the end, it was host Neil Patrick Harris who stole the show, if not an Emmy for himself, by winning rave reviews for keeping the awards program light and fast paced (even at three hours). Jay Leno began his new primetime talk show last week with enormous ratings, though Brill says it will take a few months, if not a year, before the show's success can be determined. Certainly, having Kanye West as a guest, fresh from his stage storming moment at MTV's Video Music Awards, was a major coup.     David and Noel drop by to chat about their experiences at this year's Toronto Film Festival, which Michael also attended. "Precious: Based On The Novel Push By Sapphire" took home the festival's top prize, much like it did at Sundance earlier in the year. (Is there a festival, this film isn't going to be invited to?) Noel, enjoyed the film but David and Michael think it's overrated. Speaking of overrated, that seems to be the general consensus regarding Michael Moore's latest documentary, "Capitalism: A Love Story". And, while not the concert film Noel had been hoping for "The White Stripes Under Great White Northern Lights" seemed to please everyone, as did Steven Soderbergh's "The Informant". Hopefully next year the festival won't front load the first few days with all the big films so David, Michael and Noel can see even more great movies. Back in Los Angeles, Walt Disney Studios surprised the industry on Friday by announcing topper Dick Cook would be resigning after 38 years with the company, effective immediately (read: fired). Cook was a much beloved executive and responsible for such hits as the "Pirates of the Carribean" franchise. It is believed he clashed with Disney CEO Robert Iger which led to his departure. "Mad Men" and "30 Rock" Repeat At Emmys http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/21/arts/television/21emmy.html?_r=1&hp (http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/21/arts/television/21emmy.html?_r=1&hp) Zap2it's Emmy Coverage http://www.zap2it.com/tv/emmys/zap-emmys,0,6586641.htmlstory (http://www.zap2it.com/tv/emmys/zap-emmys,0,6586641.htmlstory) Jay Leno Bow brings in 17.7 million http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118008651.html?categoryid=14&cs=1&nid=4749 (http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118008651.html?categoryid=14&cs=1&nid=4749) Jay Leno Week 1 Ratings As Good As Could've Reasonably Been Expected http://bit.ly/3N3Cx9 (http://bit.ly/3N3Cx9) Jay Leno Brings EVs Into America's Living Rooms http://www.wired.com/autopia/2009/09/leno_green_car_challenge/ (http://www.wired.com/autopia/2009/09/leno_green_car_challenge/) The Ten Biggest Buzz Films At The Toronto Film Festival http://www.cbc.ca/arts/film/story/2009/09/03/f-toronto-film-fest-buzz-films.html (http://www.cbc.ca/arts/film/story/2009/09/03/f-toronto-film-fest-buzz-films.html) Toronto: Winners, Losers, Oscar Contenders http://blogs.indiewire. J. Sperling Reich, Karen Woodward & Michael Giltz no http://www.showbizsandbox.com/2009/09/03/showbiz-sandbox-18-its-all-fun-and-games-until-celebrities-start-dyin/ http://www.showbizsandbox.com/2009/09/03/showbiz-sandbox-18-its-all-fun-and-games-until-celebrities-start-dyin/#comments Fri, 04 Sep 2009 02:12:41 +0000 J. Sperling Reich http://www.showbizsandbox.com/?p=370 http://www.showbizsandbox.com/2009/09/03/showbiz-sandbox-18-its-all-fun-and-games-until-celebrities-start-dyin/feed/ 0 "Duplicity","Halloween II","The Blob",Adam Lambert,American Idol,Disney,DJ AM,Jay Leno,Kris Allen,LACMA,Marvel Comics,Megan Fox Landing at the top of the North American box office this weekend was “The Final Destination” with “Halloween 2,” directed by Rob Zombie, coming in third. Zombie may not be part of that Old White Male club of directors that the New York Times highlighte... Landing at the top of the North American box office this weekend was “The Final Destination” with “Halloween 2,” directed by Rob Zombie, coming in third. Zombie may not be part of that Old White Male club of directors that the New York Times highlighted this week, but apparently he can make a successful film. After reviving the "Halloween" franchise, Rob Zombie will continue to advance the horror porn genre with a remake of the 1958 classic, "The Blob." The biggest story of the week was Disney’s purchase of Marvel Comics. What will this mean for "Iron Man", "Spider-Man", the "X-Men", and "Fantastic Four"? Maybe we’ll find out when Disney continues its takeover of the world with their own version of Comic-Con; the D23 Expo in Anaheim. The four day event will celebrate -- and sell -- all things Disney with celebrity appearances and slick sneak previews of upcoming films, television shows and theme park attractions. Speaking of theme park attractions, Michael Jackson’s death was ruled a homicide. (Okay it only feels like it’s becoming a theme park attraction.) What will happen now? Maybe we’ll find out if we watch the new reality show on A&E featuring the Jackson family. You read that right; the cable network will air a reality series which documents the Jackson family and how they deal with the death of their most famous member. Says Executive Producer Jodi Gomes: "Everybody wants to do a show that's very genuine. They're not shy about talking about their brother, they just want to find it a way to do it honestly." If you’re looking to escape from Michael Jackson news, try “Duplicity,” now out on DVD. Michael Giltz (http://www.michaelgiltz.com) thought it was one of the the best movies of the year so far, do you? Or are you more like Karen Woodward (http://www.industrynexus.com), who would rather watch a Jackson reality show over a Julia Roberts movie? Filed under “Is that really news?”, VH1 wants less unscripted shows about love relationships after a reality show participant on one of their shows, Ryan Jenkins, apparently killed himself after becoming the lead suspect in the murder of his ex-wife. There was plenty of geek love last Sunday when actress (and current Hollywood "It" girl) Megan Fox jumped onto Xbox Live to promote the release of the latest "Transformers" video game, which is based on the recent film she starred in. This was part of Microsoft’s ongoing “Game With Fame” promotion. More breaking news: Noel Gallagher decided to quit Oasis. We’ll report this again in two months after he's rejoined and requit the band for the umpteenth time. In music news you might actually care about, “American Idol” winner Kris Allen and runner up Adam Lambert will release their albums on the same day; November 17th. Let the stampede begin! Maybe Paula Abdul can convince them to perform on “VH1 Divas” which she is hosting on September 17th. Abdul won’t be guesting on “Ugly Betty” however, allegedly because she was too much of a diva to fly commercial. Kristen “Poor Man’s Paula Abdul” Johnston will take the role instead. Of course, no episode of Showbiz Sandbox is complete if we don’t talk about Jay Leno’s new show. (Hey did you hear that Jay Leno has his own show in primetime?) He announced the guests for his first: Tom Cruise (who will introduce a new segment called “10 at 10”, presumably while jumping off a couch), Robin Williams, Halle Berry, Miley Cyrus, Rihanna, Kanye West, and Eric Clapton. And lastly, they listened! The Hollywood Foreign Press Association (which organizes the annual Golden Globe Awards) and Time Warner Cable, in association with Ovation TV, have each agreed to put up $75,000 toward the Los Angeles County Musuem of Art's film program, which had been scheduled to close in October. The funds are enough to keep the repratoiry program alive until next June. Disney To Buy Marvel comics http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/01/business/media/01disney.html?_r=1&hp (http://www.nytimes. J. Sperling Reich, Karen Woodward & Michael Giltz no http://www.showbizsandbox.com/2009/05/11/showbiz-sandbox-3-award-season-redux-2/ http://www.showbizsandbox.com/2009/05/11/showbiz-sandbox-3-award-season-redux-2/#comments Mon, 11 May 2009 20:02:35 +0000 J. Sperling Reich http://www.showbizsandbox.com/?p=58 http://www.showbizsandbox.com/2009/05/11/showbiz-sandbox-3-award-season-redux-2/feed/ 0 "Billy Elliot","Phantom of the Opera","Spider-Man","Star Trek","Wolverine",Andrew Lloyd Weber,Bob Iger,Bono,CBS,CW,Disney,Endeavor "Star Trek" cleans up at the box office earning $76 million in North America over the weekend while "Wolverine" pulled in another $27 million. Fox sets release dates for its blockbusters in Mexico, though actors may not start kissing on telenovelas f... (http://www.showbizsandbox.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/star-trek-cropped.jpg) "Star Trek" cleans up at the box office earning $76 million in North America over the weekend while "Wolverine" pulled in another $27 million. Fox sets release dates for its blockbusters in Mexico, though actors may not start kissing on telenovelas for a while. "Billy Elliot" heads up the Tony Award nominations. Bono and the Edge are headed to Broadway with a Spider-Man musical, but Andrew Lloyd Weber is falling behind on his sequel to "Phantom of the Opera". "Slumdog Millionaire" and "Twilight" lead the MTV Movie Award nominations, but does anyone care. Big media and celebrities top the Webby awards. NBC announces its primetime schedule and there are rumors about a few CW shows. Looks like the "Gossip Girl" spinoff is a no-go. As scripted television looks to shrink their writing staffs, CBS debates whether they should bring back such game shows as "The Dating Game" and "Let's Make A Deal". A computer bug delayed nearly three days of Nielsen television ratings, however advertisers may want to start using more effective "engagement" ratings anyway. Disney CEO Bob Iger discusses Hulu and informs everyone that new media is here to stay. The MPAA teaches everyone how to pirate DVD's using a camcorder, in fact they prefer the method over the ripping of content off DVD's. Revenue at Warner Music plumets as do satellite radio subscribers at Sirius XM. Looks like Roman Polanski isn't going to return to see if a court will drop his 30-year-old rape charges. Finally, now that the William Morris/Endeavor merger has been announced, clients have started jumping ship in all directions. "Star Trek" Draws $72.5 Million http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118003414.html?categoryid=19&cs=1 (http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118003414.html?categoryid=19&cs=1) Swine Flu Curbs Telenovela Kissing http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118003390.html?categoryid=14&cs=1 (http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118003390.html?categoryid=14&cs=1) Billy Elliot Leads Tony Nominations http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/06/theater/theaterspecial/06tony.html (http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/06/theater/theaterspecial/06tony.html) Bono, The Edge Team Up For "Spider-Man" Musicalhttp://www.spin.com/articles/bono-edge-team-spider-man-musical (http://www.spin.com/articles/bono-edge-team-spider-man-musical) "Phantom" Sequel Delayed Until 2010 http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118003402.html?categoryid=15&cs=1 (http://www.spin.com/articles/bono-edge-team-spider-man-musical) "Twilight", "Slumdog" Lead MTV Kudos http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118003151.html?categoryid=16&cs=1 (http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118003151.html?categoryid=16&cs=1) MTV Movie Awards Ballot http://www.mtv.com/ontv/movieawards/2009/ (http://www.mtv.com/ontv/movieawards/2009/) Celebrities Win Madeup Webbys, Big Media Wins Some Real Ones http://weblogs.variety.com/technotainment/2009/05/celebrities-win-madeup-webbys-big-media-wins-some-real-ones.html (http://weblogs.variety.com/technotainment/2009/05/celebrities-win-madeup-webbys-big-media-wins-some-real-ones.html) NBC Announces 2009/2010 Primetime Schedule http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/nbc-announces-20092010-primetime-sked/ (http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/nbc-announces-20092010-primetime-sked/) Fox Orders Second Season of Fringe http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118003158.html?categoryId=14&cs=1 (http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118003158.html?categoryId=14&cs=1) Nikki Finke On CW Upfront Rumors http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/that-gossip-girl-spinoff-dead-at-cw/ (http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/that-gossip-girl-spinoff-dead-at-cw/) Shows To Scrimp On Scribes http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118003411.html?categoryid=14&cs=1 (http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118003411.html?categoryid=14&cs=1) Networks Fume Over Nielsen Delay (http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118003280.html? J. Sperling Reich, Karen Woodward & Michael Giltz no http://www.showbizsandbox.com/2009/05/04/showbiz-sandbox-2-disney-hearts-hulu-endeavor-hearts-william-morris/ http://www.showbizsandbox.com/2009/05/04/showbiz-sandbox-2-disney-hearts-hulu-endeavor-hearts-william-morris/#comments Mon, 04 May 2009 23:05:17 +0000 J. Sperling Reich http://www.showbizsandbox.com/?p=43 http://www.showbizsandbox.com/2009/05/04/showbiz-sandbox-2-disney-hearts-hulu-endeavor-hearts-william-morris/feed/ 0 "Drop Dead Fred","Sex and the City 2","Wall Street 2","Wolverine",Chris Noth,Crackle.com,Digital 3D,Discovery,Disney,Don Johnson,Endeavor,Hasbro "Wolverine" opens big with $87 million in North American box office, Disney joins online video site Hulu.com, meanwhile Sony streams movies on Crackle.com.  An advance look at NBC's uprfront announcement about which of their television shows are being ... (http://www.showbizsandbox.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/disney-hulu.jpg)"Wolverine" opens big with $87 million in North American box office, Disney joins online video site Hulu.com, meanwhile Sony streams movies on Crackle.com.  An advance look at NBC's uprfront announcement about which of their television shows are being picked up and which are dumped.  Scrubs may be back on ABC next season after all.  Hasbro and Discovery are putting together a cable network. Obama's ratings drop and McCain hosts a movie marathon.  Oliver Stone will make "Wall Street 2" with Shia LeBeouf, Chris Noth signs on to "Sex and the City 2", Universal remakes "Drop Dead Fred" and Don Johnson will play a porn director.  Theatre chain National Amusements is up for sale and studios stop paying for 3D glasses.  Finally, it's official - talent agencies Endeavor and William Morris will be merging. "Wolverine" A Hero At The Box Office http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/film/news/e3i06056b3e434534846b7ff5e99f2211b9 (http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/film/news/e3i06056b3e434534846b7ff5e99f2211b9) Disney's Anne Sweeney Talks Hulu: It's All About Casual Viewers http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/01/AR2009050100374.html (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/01/AR2009050100374.html) Disney's Hulu Deal Raises Question About YouTube Model http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20090430-726930.html (http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20090430-726930.html) Denis Leary goes Hulu, mocks your 'Tweety-pages' and your 'Faceyspaces' http://watching-tv.ew.com/2009/05/denis-leary-goe.html (http://watching-tv.ew.com/2009/05/denis-leary-goe.html) "TV Everywhere": Pay your cable bill, watch Entorage online http://arstechnica.com/media/news/2009/03/tv-everywhere-pay-your-cable-bill-watch-entourage-online.ars (http://arstechnica.com/media/news/2009/03/tv-everywhere-pay-your-cable-bill-watch-entourage-online.ars) Sony Offers Free Films On Crackle http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118002988.html?categoryid=13&cs=1 (http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118002988.html?categoryid=13&cs=1) NBC Gets Rolling Before Its Upfronts http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3i06056b3e43453484c9327754ccee4248 (http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3i06056b3e43453484c9327754ccee4248) NBC Exec Dies On "Parenthood" Set http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118003057.html?categoryid=14&cs=1 (http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118003057.html?categoryid=14&cs=1) Chuck Decision Delayed For A Week Or More http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/watch_with_kristin/b121695_chuck_decision_delayed_week_more.html (http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/watch_with_kristin/b121695_chuck_decision_delayed_week_more.html) Talks Continue For "Scrubs" Return http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118002915.html?categoryid=14&cs=1 (http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118002915.html?categoryid=14&cs=1) Hasbro and Discovery Plan Channel Based On Toy Brands http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/01/business/media/01hasbro.html?ref=business (http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/01/business/media/01hasbro.html?ref=business) Full Orchestra Puts "Lost" Audience On Edge http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118002951.html?categoryid=16&cs=1 (http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118002951.html?categoryid=16&cs=1) Obama Presser Audience Slides But Still Beats Idol http://blog.newsweek.com/blogs/thegaggle/archive/2009/05/01/ratings-slide-for-obama-s-presser-but-he-still-beats-idol.aspx (http://blog.newsweek.com/blogs/thegaggle/archive/2009/05/01/ratings-slide-for-obama-s-presser-but-he-still-beats-idol.aspx) McCain To Host AMC Movie Marathon http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118003028.html?categoryid=14&cs=1 (http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118003028.html?categoryid=14&cs=1) Stone To Walk "Wall Street" Again http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118002934.html?categoryId=13&cs=1 (http://www.variety. J. Sperling Reich, Karen Woodward & Michael Giltz no