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/2010/06/07/showbiz-sandbox-57-a-memo-from-james-cameron/ http://www.showbizsandbox.com/2010/06/07/showbiz-sandbox-57-a-memo-from-james-cameron/#comments Tue, 08 Jun 2010 04:37:49 +0000 J. Sperling Reich http://www.showbizsandbox.com/?p=867 http://www.showbizsandbox.com/2010/06/07/showbiz-sandbox-57-a-memo-from-james-cameron/feed/ 0 "Avengers","Big Bang Theory","Eat Pray Love","Inception","The Real Housewives of New York",American Idol,Bethenny Frankel,Box Office,Bravo,Carl DiOrio,David Bergstein,Don Cheadle It was kind of a slow news week in the entertainment world, especially when it comes to the North American box office.  Movie attendance is down 10% over last year's summer blockbuster season.  Hollywood Reporter deputy film editor Carl DiOrio stops by... It was kind of a slow news week in the entertainment world, especially when it comes to the North American box office.  Movie attendance is down 10% over last year's summer blockbuster season.  Hollywood Reporter deputy film editor Carl DiOrio stops by with his theories as to why audiences are staying away from this year's crop of Hollywood offerings. The MTV Movie Awards were held last weekend and the telecast was filled with so much profanity half of it was bleeped out. Though few take the awards seriously, we'll still fill you in on all the winners and Tom Cruise's outstanding dance performance. Over in television Bravo has been making a name for itself with a string of successful reality television shows including "The Real Housewives of New York".  The network is not shy about letting the New York Times know that they use social media and the Internet to decide which shows are working, popular storylines and which cast members are break out stars deserving their own show.  Speaking of break out stars, the cast of the popular "Big Bang Theory" wants a 285% pay raise and are presenting a unified front when negotiating with the network. In Big Deal or Big Whoop this week we discuss whether James Cameron's ideas hold any water.  We also cover a number of other top headlines including whether Ellen Degeneres' sexuality had anything to do with "American Idol's' rating slip.  Finally, during Inside Baseball we provide updates on the ownership struggles at Lions Gate Entertainment and the sale of Miramax. Are Moviegoers Tiring Of Sequels http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/film/news/e3i4811cd.... (http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/film/news/e3i4811cd742d860d93d101a0eb6ca4b9cb) 2010 MTV Movie Award Winners http://www.hitfix.com/articles/2010-6-6-2010-mtv-movie-awards-winners (http://www.hitfix.com/articles/2010-6-6-2010-mtv-movie-awards-winners) We'll Make You A Star (If The Web Agrees) http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/06/business/06bravo.html (http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/06/business/06bravo.html) 'Big Bang Theory' Stars Want A 285% Raise http://blogs.forbes.com/bizblog/2010/06/03/big-bang-theory-stars-want.... (http://blogs.forbes.com/bizblog/2010/06/03/big-bang-theory-stars-want-a-285-raise/) Why James Cameron Is Diving Deep On Gulf Oil http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/06/04/why-cameron-is-diving.... (http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/06/04/why-cameron-is-diving-deep-on-gulf-oil/) Mariah Carey drops out of the new Tyler Perry movie. http://www.cnn.com/2010/SHOWBIZ/celebrity.news.gossip/06/04/tyler.... (http://www.cnn.com/2010/SHOWBIZ/celebrity.news.gossip/06/04/tyler.perry.mariah.carey.ppl/) Producer Herskovitz Warns Of Devaluing Content http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/entertainmentnewsbuzz/2010/06/producer.... (http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/entertainmentnewsbuzz/2010/06/producer-herskovitz-warns-of-devaluing-content.html) Don Cheadle Named UN Spokesman http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/film/news/e3i6a08.... (http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/film/news/e3i6a088b54b00be8685f95ef5abf125075) Jeremy Renner Near Deal To Join Marvels 'Avengers' http://www.heatvisionblog.com/2010/06/jeremy-renner-poised-to-join.... (http://www.heatvisionblog.com/2010/06/jeremy-renner-poised-to-join-marvels-avengers.html) Claim: Ellen Being Gay Hurt 'Idol' Ratings http://livefeed.hollywoodreporter.com/2010/06/ellen-gay-idol-ratings.html (http://livefeed.hollywoodreporter.com/2010/06/ellen-gay-idol-ratings.html) Julia Roberts' "Eat Pray Love" Gets Gentler PG-13 Rating http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5ie1YNKQhBsQgLU.... (http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5ie1YNKQhBsQgLUCHCi0hNjNVlOSAD9G40QU02) No More Costumed Superheroes In Hollywood http://www.slashfilm.com/2010/06/04/no-more-costumed-superheroes.... (http://www.slashfilm.com/2010/06/04/no-more-costumed-superheroes-in-hollywood/) J. Sperling Reich, Karen Woodward & Michael Giltz no 55:06 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/2010/02/03/showbiz-sandbox-special-episode-and-the-oscar-nominations-go-to/ http://www.showbizsandbox.com/2010/02/03/showbiz-sandbox-special-episode-and-the-oscar-nominations-go-to/#comments Wed, 03 Feb 2010 21:23:00 +0000 J. Sperling Reich http://www.showbizsandbox.com/?p=656 http://www.showbizsandbox.com/2010/02/03/showbiz-sandbox-special-episode-and-the-oscar-nominations-go-to/feed/ 0 "(500) Days Of Summer","Avatar","District 9","Inglorious Basterds","The Blind Side","Up In The Air","Up",Academy Awards,James Cameron,Kathryn Bigelow,Oscars Early Tuesday morning the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences handed out their nominations for the 82nd Academy Awards. This is the first year since 1943 (when Casablanca won) that the Academy is expanding the list of Best Picture nominees to ... Early Tuesday morning the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (http://www.oscars.org/) handed out their nominations for the 82nd Academy Awards. This is the first year since 1943 (when Casablanca won) that the Academy is expanding the list of Best Picture nominees to 10, up from the traditional five. The Academy's original goal in increasing the field of nominees was that more popular films would be nominated, rather than a handful of independent films few are familiar with. It's safe to say, they got their wish. Not only were predictable entries nominated, such as "Avatar" and "The Hurt Locker", but so were a few surprises that included crowd favorites such as "The Blind Side" and "District 9". Even Pixar's "Up" was nominated, making it the second film to ever be nominated for an Oscar. Of course, this year even if the list of Best Picture nominees hadn't expanded, "Avatar", the biggest box office winner of all time, was a lock for one of the slots. If "Avatar" wins Best Picture it will be the first time in 12 years that a movie which wasn't nominated for Best Screenplay takes home the top prize. The last time that happened was when another James Cameron film won in 1997, "Titanic". You'd have to go all the way back to "The Sound of Music" to see such a win. Based on the complicated way votes will be counted for Best Picture, we could have a real surprise winner in the Best Picture category. In fact, a film that receives more second place votes may actually win. On the other hand, Michael Giltz (http://www.michaelgiltz.com) believes the acting nominees were lazy and filled with the usual suspects. He was hoping the Academy would take a few chances in selecting some performances which hadn't been chosen by the Golden Globes or the SAG Awards. That happens to be the case for Jeremy Renner, who is nominated in the Best Actor category for his performance in "Hurt Locker". As well, despite a strong crop of animated releases this year, "Up" will probably take home the Best Animated Feature trophy. That film was also nominated for Best Original Score and Best Screenplay. We'll have to wait until March 7th when the Oscars are handed out to find out who all the winners are, but before then we plan on handicapping them with your help. Please email us (mailto:dirt@showbizsandbox.com) your thoughts on who might in each category. You can also leave us a voicemail (888-567-7263) or leave a comment on this post. Your emails, comments and voicemails will be included in a future episode. Nominees for the 82nd Academy Awards http://www.oscars.org/awards/academyawards/82/nominees.html (http://www.oscars.org/awards/academyawards/82/nominees.html) J. Sperling Reich, Karen Woodward & Michael Giltz no 27:53 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/2009/11/30/showbiz-sanbox-31-blind-sided-by-adam-lamberts-double-standard/ http://www.showbizsandbox.com/2009/11/30/showbiz-sanbox-31-blind-sided-by-adam-lamberts-double-standard/#comments Tue, 01 Dec 2009 03:41:01 +0000 J. Sperling Reich http://www.showbizsandbox.com/?p=524 http://www.showbizsandbox.com/2009/11/30/showbiz-sanbox-31-blind-sided-by-adam-lamberts-double-standard/feed/ 0 "Avatar","FlashForward","The Blind Side","Twilight Saga: New Moon","Up In The Air",Adam Lambert,Eminem,George Clooney,James Cameron,Jason Reitman,Jay Leno,Lachlan Murdoch While we all still may be sluggish from all the turkey and stuffing on Thanksgiving, the North American box office sure wasn't. It set a record for the Thanksgiving holiday weekend as once again "The Blind Side" surprises everyone. While we all still may be sluggish from all the turkey and stuffing on Thanksgiving, the North American box office sure wasn't. It set a record for the Thanksgiving holiday weekend as once again "The Blind Side" surprises everyone. The Sandra Bullock m... 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/2009/07/28/showbiz-sandbox-13-hooliganism-at-comic-con-or-lack-thereof/ http://www.showbizsandbox.com/2009/07/28/showbiz-sandbox-13-hooliganism-at-comic-con-or-lack-thereof/#comments Wed, 29 Jul 2009 05:09:42 +0000 J. Sperling Reich http://www.showbizsandbox.com/?p=216 http://www.showbizsandbox.com/2009/07/28/showbiz-sandbox-13-hooliganism-at-comic-con-or-lack-thereof/feed/ 0 "Alice In Wonderland","Avatar","District 9","Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince","Iron Man 2","Kick Ass","Lost","Sherlock Holmes","Twilight: New Moon",Ben Silverman,Beth Accomando,Chris Weitz We had a plethora of panelists this week, all of whom were in San Diego over the weekend to experience Comic-Con first hand. KPBS' Cinema Junkie blogger Beth Accomando covered the event for National Public Radio, Todd Gilchrist was there for Cinematical, We had a plethora of panelists this week, all of whom were in San Diego over the weekend to experience Comic-Con first hand. KPBS' Cinema Junkie (http://www.kpbs.org/news/blogs/cinema-junkie/) blogger Beth Accomando covered the event for National Public Radio (http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=106989064), Todd Gilchrist (http://twitter.com/mtgilchrist) was there for Cinematical (http://www.cinematical.com/bloggers/todd-gilchrist/), SciFi Wire (http://scifiwire.com/)'s news editor Patrick Lee (http://twitter.com/ripleycal) made the trip, as did Phillip Nakov (http://twitter.com/VoyagerOne) from MovieSet.com (http://movieset.com/) and Harry Medved (http://twitter.com/FandangoNews), who helped out with Fandango's coverage (http://www.fandango.com/commentator_comicconcentral_255) of the event as their director of public relations.  Also joining in on this week's fun is New York Daily News writer and Huffington Post blogger, Michael Giltz (http://www.michaelgiltz.com/). If you weren’t one of the 126,000 people attending Comic-Con, this episode will fill you in on what you missed.  There was whole day devoted to 3D movies, which apparently isn't just a gimmick anymore.  The big hits of Comic-Con were "District 9", "Avatar", "Kick Ass" and "Iron Man 2" and the biggest miss was Roland Emerich's next movie "2012" which is either so bad it's good, or so bad it's just plain bad.  Irrelevant whether it wowed people at the convention or not was "Twilight: New Moon", because fans just wanted to see Robert Pattinson .  Hundreds of young girls, their moms and a bunch of sensitive men camped out overnight to get into a jam packed "Twilight" panel. The festival was “the redemption of "New Moon" director Chris Weitz, who was clearly adored by his cast. It was definitely the panel with the most security. This year marked the first appearance by Tim Burton (as a presenter), Peter Jackson and Terry Gilliam. Johnny Depp stopped by to say two words (literally) in promotion of Burton's “Alice in Wonderland."  Robert Downey Jr. also made an appearance to help tout "Iron Man 2" and "Sherlock Holmes".  "Sherlock Holmes" reminded some of our panelists of "Wild Wild West", the movie, not the television show. Speaking of television, Comic-Con had panels for several TV shows, both old and new.  The panel for "Lost" was the big draw at this year's confab. Meanwhile, back in the regular world, a bunch of guinea pigs stole Harry Potter's thunder at the box office.  "G-Force" made $32 million beating out "Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince" which was in its second week.  Finally, the other shoe dropped at NBC, as the embattled chairman Ben Silverman jumped ship to form a new company with mogul Barry Diller. Studios Bring Another Dimension To Comic-Con http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/24/business/24avatar.html?_r=1&th&emc=th (http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/24/business/24avatar.html?_r=1&th&emc=th) Comic-Con Wows Audiences, Studios http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118006516.html?categoryid=13&cs=1 (http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118006516.html?categoryid=13&cs=1) Comic-Con's Buzz Makers http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/la-et-comicwrap27-2009jul27,0,310594.story (http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/la-et-comicwrap27-2009jul27,0,310594.story) 3-D Wins The Day At Comic-Con http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118006429.html?categoryid=13&cs=1 (http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118006429.html?categoryid=13&cs=1) Comic-Con: Visionaries Jackson, Cameron Talk Future http://weblogs.variety.com/thompsononhollywood/2009/07/comiccon-visionaries-jackson-cameron-talk-future.html (http://weblogs.variety.com/thompsononhollywood/2009/07/comiccon-visionaries-jackson-cameron-talk-future.html) The Disney 3D Panel: Robert Zemeckis, Tim Burton and Special Guest Johnny Depp http://tv.msn.com/superfans/comic-con/blog/the-disney-3d-panel-zemeckis-burton-torn-and-special-guest-johnny-depp/ (http://tv.msn. J. Sperling Reich, Karen Woodward & Michael Giltz no http://www.showbizsandbox.com/2009/06/29/showbiz-sandbox-10-the-death-of-pop-pinup-girls-and-possibly-2d-movies/ http://www.showbizsandbox.com/2009/06/29/showbiz-sandbox-10-the-death-of-pop-pinup-girls-and-possibly-2d-movies/#comments Tue, 30 Jun 2009 03:54:24 +0000 J. Sperling Reich http://www.showbizsandbox.com/?p=177 http://www.showbizsandbox.com/2009/06/29/showbiz-sandbox-10-the-death-of-pop-pinup-girls-and-possibly-2d-movies/feed/ 0 "Avatar","Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen",Academy Awards,Farah Fawcett,James Cameron,Michael Giltz,Michael Jackson,Oscars,Roger Friedman,Showbiz 411,TMZ Roger Friedman, senior columnist for The Hollywood Reporter, and Showbiz411.com joins us along with writer Michael Giltz to discuss the death of Michael Jackson. Friedman has been covering Jackson since his first child molestation trial and is one of t... Roger Friedman, senior columnist for The Hollywood Reporter, and Showbiz411.com (http://www.showbiz411.com) joins us along with writer Michael Giltz (http://www.michaelgiltz.com) to discuss the death of Michael Jackson. Friedman has been covering Jackson since his first child molestation trial and is one of the trusted reporters covering the pop star’s life and death. The Academy of Motion Pictures and Sciences announced this week that the Academy Awards would now nominate ten films in the Best Picture instead of the usual five. Will this allow more deserving movies a shot at the big prize, or is this blatant pandering for higher Nielsen ratings? "Transformers 2" stormed the world-wide box office over the weekend, but that still doesn’t make it a good movie. J. Sperling Reich was lucky enough to get a peak at footage of James Cameron’s new 3D movie “Avatar” and shares as much as he thinks the studio will allow. And finally, the death of Michael Jackson promptly kicked Farrah Fawcett’s death into the sidebar. But whose death affected us more? Write to us at dirt@showbizsandbox.com (http://mailto:dirt@showbizsandbox.com) or call us at (888) 567-SAND (7263). A Star Idolized And Haunted, Michael Jackson Dies At 50 http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/26/arts/music/26jackson.html?_r=1&scp=2&sq=michael%20jackson&st=cse (http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/26/arts/music/26jackson.html?_r=1&scp=2&sq=michael%20jackson&st=cse) Roger Friedman’s Michael Jackson Coverage On Showbiz 411 http://www.showbiz411.com/tag/michael-jackson (http://www.showbiz411.com/tag/michael-jackson) TV Misses Out As Gossip Website TMZ Reports Michael Jackson’s Death First http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-jackson-media26-2009jun26,0,1993773.story (http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-jackson-media26-2009jun26,0,1993773.story) Oscar Expands Best Pic Noms To 10 http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118005322.html?categoryid=13&cs=1 (http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118005322.html?categoryid=13&cs=1) Two More Oscar Tweaks http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118005473.html?categoryid=13&cs=1 (http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118005473.html?categoryid=13&cs=1) Hollywood Studios Not Entirely Enamored With New Oscar Plan http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/24/hollywood-studios-not-entirely-enamored-with-new-oscar-plan/ (http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/24/hollywood-studios-not-entirely-enamored-with-new-oscar-plan/) “Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen” Rises With Optimal Debut http://boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=2601&p=.htm (http://boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=2601&p=.htm) “Avatar” Footage In Action At Cinema Expo http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3i0849a35b3cfeb85952ed517dddd406bf (http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3i0849a35b3cfeb85952ed517dddd406bf) “Avatar” Footage Impressions – “Everybody Just Gasped” http://marketsaw.blogspot.com/2009/06/exclusive-avatar-footage-impressions.html (http://marketsaw.blogspot.com/2009/06/exclusive-avatar-footage-impressions.html) Farah Fawcett Dies At 62 http://www.latimes.com/news/obituaries/la-me-farrah-fawcett26-2009jun26,0,4388762.story?track=rss (http://www.latimes.com/news/obituaries/la-me-farrah-fawcett26-2009jun26,0,4388762.story?track=rss) J. Sperling Reich, Karen Woodward & Michael Giltz no http://www.showbizsandbox.com/2009/06/15/showbiz-sandbox-8-everybodys-a-critic-on-the-internet/ http://www.showbizsandbox.com/2009/06/15/showbiz-sandbox-8-everybodys-a-critic-on-the-internet/#comments Mon, 15 Jun 2009 23:42:41 +0000 J. Sperling Reich http://www.showbizsandbox.com/?p=140 http://www.showbizsandbox.com/2009/06/15/showbiz-sandbox-8-everybodys-a-critic-on-the-internet/feed/ 0 "Avatar","Conan The Barbarian","G.I. Joe","The Hangover","The Taking of Pelham 123",Adam Lambert,Danny Boyle,DVDs,James Cameron,Jay Leno,Marcus Nispel,Michael Cieply This week “The Hangover” hung around, and “The Taking of Pelham 123” opened at lower numbers than expected. Was the film miscast? - James Cameron proves he’s King of the World, or at least of the digital age, This week “The Hangover” hung around, and “The Taking of Pelham 123” opened at lower numbers than expected. Was the film miscast? James Cameron proves he’s King of the World, or at least of the digital age, by pushing game publisher Ubisoft to create the videogame industry's first stereoscopic title. What does this mean for future relationships between films and videogames? In other film news, “Slumdog Millionaire” director Danny Boyle signed a three year deal with Fox Searchlight; the quasi-classic “Conan The Barbarian” will be remade; and rumors abound that the director of the summer action film “G.I. Joe” was fired. Plus, DVD fans may have to wait a little longer until movies they didn’t bother seeing in the theaters are available for viewing on the couch. Despite repeated warnings, chaos still ensued when the switch to digital TV finally happened in the United States. And though there were obvious clues about his sexual orientation, “American Idol” runner up Adam Lambert finally came out to Rolling Stone magazine. Plus, the debate rages on: Can Jay Leno survive at 10pm? Advertisers sure aren’t happy about his new time slot. And finally: How important are film critics anyway? Just ask the new online movie review aggregator Movie Review Intelligence. "Hangover", "Up" Lead Box Office Again http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3ie636164bd8df42b4e99a0ad58738f98b (http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3ie636164bd8df42b4e99a0ad58738f98b) James Cameron's Game Changer? http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118004911.html?categoryid=13&cs=1 (http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118004911.html?categoryid=13&cs=1) Danny Boyle Signs 3-Year Deal http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118004862.html?categoryid=13&cs=1 (http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118004862.html?categoryid=13&cs=1) Marcus Nispel To Remake Conan http://www.cinematical.com/2009/06/12/marcus-nispel-directing-conan-the-barbarian/ (http://www.cinematical.com/2009/06/12/marcus-nispel-directing-conan-the-barbarian/) DVD Fans Wait A Little Longer http://uk.dvd.ign.com/articles/994/994433p1.html (http://uk.dvd.ign.com/articles/994/994433p1.html) G.I. Joe Fracas http://weblogs.variety.com/thompsononhollywood/2009/06/gi-joe-fracas-2.html (http://weblogs.variety.com/thompsononhollywood/2009/06/gi-joe-fracas-2.html) The Liberation Of Adam Lambert http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2009/06/09/the-new-issue-of-rolling-stone-the-liberation-of-adam-lambert/ (http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2009/06/09/the-new-issue-of-rolling-stone-the-liberation-of-adam-lambert/) Adam Lambert Has Come Out To Rolling Stone, And Change Has Come Indeed http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/americanidoltracker/2009/06/the-days-of-dont-ask-dont-tell-are-over-for-adam-lambert-actually-this-seasons-groundbreaking-idol-never-really-subscribed.html (http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/americanidoltracker/2009/06/the-days-of-dont-ask-dont-tell-are-over-for-adam-lambert-actually-this-seasons-groundbreaking-idol-never-really-subscribed.html) Jay Leno As Adman? http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/whats-nbcus-zucker-gonna-do-now-david-letterman-tops-conan-obrien-in-last-nights-ratings/ (http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/whats-nbcus-zucker-gonna-do-now-david-letterman-tops-conan-obrien-in-last-nights-ratings/) Everybody’s a Movie Critic: New Websites and Online Readers Chime In http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/13/movies/13critics.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=michael%20cieply%20+%20rottentomatoes&st=cse (http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/13/movies/13critics.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=michael%20cieply%20+%20rottentomatoes&st=cse) Movie Review Intelligence http://moviereviewintelligence.com (http://moviereviewintelligence.com/) Homework: Michael Cieply Reading List Will Warner Grow Tired of New Line, It’s Pet Indie? http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/07/business/media/07newline.html (http://www.nytimes. J. Sperling Reich, Karen Woodward & Michael Giltz no