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/2010/06/21/showbiz-sandbox-59-movie-piracy-becomes-unthinkable/ http://www.showbizsandbox.com/2010/06/21/showbiz-sandbox-59-movie-piracy-becomes-unthinkable/#comments Tue, 22 Jun 2010 05:26:32 +0000 J. Sperling Reich http://www.showbizsandbox.com/?p=884 http://www.showbizsandbox.com/2010/06/21/showbiz-sandbox-59-movie-piracy-becomes-unthinkable/feed/ 0 "Glee","The Hobbit","This Is It","Unthinkable",Amanda Bynes,Amazon,Cotty Chubb,Danny Boyle,Guitar Hero,IMDB,iPad,Kindle On the weekend of June 11th the film "Unthinkable" starring Samuel L. Jackson and Michael Sheen rocketed up the Internet Movie Database's MovieMeter. It wound up at number three beating out such new releases as "Get Him To The Greek" and "Shrek Foreve... On the weekend of June 11th the film "Unthinkable" starring Samuel L. Jackson and Michael Sheen rocketed up the Internet Movie Database's MovieMeter. It wound up at number three beating out such new releases as "Get Him To The Greek" and "Shrek Forever After". The funny thing is, this film wasn't playing in theaters and at the time hadn't even been released on DVD. A pristine pirated version however did leak online. Cotty Chubb (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0160941/), the producer of "Unthinkable", joins us to discuss the film, whether the illegal version helped its recent release and ultimately how movie piracy is affecting the entertainment industry. "Toy Story 3" didn't have to worry about being pirated when it opened this weekend since most theaters were showing it in 3D. The film earned debuted in first place with a whopping $109 million. That makes it the most successful Pixar opening ever. Piracy doesn't seem to be affecting Michael Jackson's estate either. In the year since the performer's death his music and film work has earned nearly a billion dollars according to Billboard magazine. During Big Deal or Big Whoop we review the week's top entertainment headlines including one about a potential director for 'The Hobbit' and a story about why some folks in Hollywood think IMDB is ageist. This week's Inside Baseball segment covers movie tracking; what it's all about and why it seems to be unreliable this summer. 'Toy Story 3' Is Pixar's Biggest Opening, But Will It Be Pixar's Most Successful Movie? http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/entertainmentnewsbuzz/2010/06/toy-story-3.... (http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/entertainmentnewsbuzz/2010/06/toy-story-3-box-office.html) Is 'Unthinkable' the Hottest New Movie You've Never Heard Of http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/the_big_picture/2010/06/is-unthinkable.... (http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/the_big_picture/2010/06/is-unthinkable-the-hottest-new-movie-that-you-have-never-heard-of.html) IMDB's "Unthinkable" Message Board http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0914863/board (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0914863/board) Cotty Chubb On Twitter http://twitter.com/chubbco (http://twitter.com/chubbco) Seize The Power: A Marketing and (DIY)stribution Symposium http://www.lafilmfest.com/tixSYS/2010/xslguide/eventnote.php?EventNumber=9117 (http://www.lafilmfest.com/tixSYS/2010/xslguide/eventnote.php?EventNumber=9117) Ted Hope's Blog - Truly Free Film http://trulyfreefilm.hopeforfilm.com/ (http://trulyfreefilm.hopeforfilm.com/) Michael Jackson A Billion Dollar Man http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment_and_arts/10373358.stm (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment_and_arts/10373358.stm) AP Timeline Details Michael Jackson's Last Day http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100620/ap_en_mu/us_michael_jackson.... (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100620/ap_en_mu/us_michael_jackson_final_hours_abridged) Amazon Drops Kindle Price to $189 http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/06/21/amazon-drops-kindle-price-to-189/ (http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/06/21/amazon-drops-kindle-price-to-189/) Two Film Directors To Lead London Olympics http://www.deadline.com/2010/06/daldry-and-boyle-to-lead-london-olympics/ (http://www.deadline.com/2010/06/daldry-and-boyle-to-lead-london-olympics/) Neill Blomkamp Is 'The Hobbit' Director - Maybe http://www.theonering.net/torwp/2010/06/18/37113-is-neill-blomkamp-the.... (http://www.theonering.net/torwp/2010/06/18/37113-is-neill-blomkamp-the-next-hobbit-director-maybe/) No Regrets For Perez Hilton Over Miley Cyrus Upskirt Pic http://www.cnn.com/2010/SHOWBIZ/celebrity.news.gossip/06/17/perez.hilton.... (http://www.cnn.com/2010/SHOWBIZ/celebrity.news.gossip/06/17/perez.hilton.photo.controversy/) Unreleased Soundgarden Track Due On 'Guitar Hero' http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/17386/117166 (http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/17386/117166) Amanda Bynes to retire. http://www.eonline. J. Sperling Reich, Karen Woodward & Michael Giltz no 1:03:00 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/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/2009/10/12/showbiz-sandbox-episode-24-how-to-get-a-hero-complex/ http://www.showbizsandbox.com/2009/10/12/showbiz-sandbox-episode-24-how-to-get-a-hero-complex/#comments Tue, 13 Oct 2009 05:04:41 +0000 J. Sperling Reich http://www.showbizsandbox.com/?p=425 http://www.showbizsandbox.com/2009/10/12/showbiz-sandbox-episode-24-how-to-get-a-hero-complex/feed/ 0 "Couples Retreat","Fantastic Mr. Fox","Flash Forward","Pirates of the Caribbean","The Hobbit","Wes Anderson","Where The Wild Things Are","X-Men",Barbara Streisand,Geoff Boucher,Hero Complex,Jimmy Kimmel Our special guest this week is Geoff Boucher, full time entertainment writer for the Los Angeles Times and part time Wookiee. Geoff began the popular L.A. Times blog, Hero Complex, devoted to caped crusaders, zombies, wizards and all things superhero. Our special guest this week is Geoff Boucher (http://twitter.com/latherocomplex), full time entertainment writer for the Los Angeles Times (http://www.latimes.com) and part time Wookiee. Geoff began the popular L.A. Times blog, Hero Complex (http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/herocomplex/), devoted to caped crusaders, zombies, wizards and all things superhero. With a tag line that reads "for your inner fanboy", Hero Complex has quietly become a huge hit and recently won the award for best online commentary among large websites from the Online News Association. Over the last week, Geoff wrote a series of posts on the blog that look at film franchises entering their fourth turn on the silver screen, including "Lord Of The Rings", "Pirates of the Caribbean", "Spider-Man", and "X-Men". (Check out the reader poll: 'The Hobbit' Will Triumph But 'X-Men' and 'Pirates' Franchises Should Quit Now (http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/herocomplex/2009/10/reader-poll-the-hobbit-will-triumph-but-xmen-and-pirates-should-quit-now.html)) Meanwhile, at this weekend's North American box office, moviegoers made "Couples Retreat" the number one film, followed by "Zombieland" and "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs". The big surprise of the weekend was the little indie film "Paranormal Activity". Made for peanuts, the film is now raking in millions based solely off a social networking marketing campaign. That might be why Michael Giltz (http://www.michaelgiltz.com) and Karen Woodward (http://www.twitter.com/kwoody3939) are dying to see the movie. . . no pun intended. (See the movie, you'll get the joke).  In other movie news, the fur is flying at Fox (both the studio and its upcoming release "Fantastic Mr. Fox"). Writing about the film and its maker, Los Angeles Times writer Chris Lee notes, “To be clear, Wes Anderson did not set out to direct his new movie via email.” Does a filmmaker actually need to show up on set to get a director credit? Clearly that’s debatable. A little less unbelievable is director Mike Nichols being tapped by the American Film Institute to receive the AFI Life Achievement Award. Nor is the news that Roman Polanski is feeling “tired and depressed” in jail according to his lawyer. Swiss officials have said they believe there is a very high risk of Polanski fleeing if he is released on bail. Really?! What would ever give you that idea? Over in the land of TV, ABC has picked up "Flash Forward", "The Middle", "Modern Family" and "Cougar Town", proving that Karen and Michael are going strong in the “Hiatus or Back 9 (http://www.showbizsandbox.com/2009/09/28/showbiz-sandbox-22-the-trouble-with-indie-films-roman-polanski-and-hollywood-guilds/)” challenge.  New DVR numbers show "Flash Forward" has picked up two million viewers including later playback. Raise your hand if you know what “Live + 7” is. (Hint: It’s the ratings for the number people who watched a show both when it aired and on DVR within a week of its original broadcast). In music news, Barbara Streisand's new album, "Love Is The Answer", tops the music charts both in the U.S. and U.K. Stop rolling your eyes. Yes, we don’t care that much about Babs either. Except she’s auctioning off some of her personal belongings on Saturday. See ya there. Nor do we care that much about the late Michael Jackson's posthumous song release, "This Is It". If you want to know what we do care about, we finish off with “Big Deal or Big Whoop”, our new weekly segment where we assess the entertainment world's top headlines. Do we care? Do we not care? Should we care but don’t? Finally, stay tuned later this week for a special installment of Showbiz Sandbox which expands on this episode's Inside Baseball topic; should bloggers be allowed to break journalistic rules. Indiewire's Anne Thompson (http://www.thompsononhollywood.com) and entertainment journalist James Rocchi (http://rocchireport.com/) join our hosts to argue (and we do mean argue) both sides of the issue. 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/2009/08/03/showbiz-sandbox-14-zooey-deschanel-proves-its-twee-to-be-you-and-me/ http://www.showbizsandbox.com/2009/08/03/showbiz-sandbox-14-zooey-deschanel-proves-its-twee-to-be-you-and-me/#comments Tue, 04 Aug 2009 06:28:01 +0000 J. Sperling Reich http://www.showbizsandbox.com/?p=278 http://www.showbizsandbox.com/2009/08/03/showbiz-sandbox-14-zooey-deschanel-proves-its-twee-to-be-you-and-me/feed/ 0 "(500) Days Of Summer","101 Must-See Movies For Gay Men","Harvey","Pirates of the Caribbean",Alonso Duralde,American Idol,Amy Winehouse,Ben Stiller,Emmys,Michael Jackson,Paula Abdul,Ridley Scott First off, we took care of a little internal business by welcoming entertainment journalist Michael Giltz as an official co-host. - Alonso Duralde joins us this week. Alonso is the film critic at MSNBC.com and the author of "101 Must-See Movies for Gay... First off, we took care of a little internal business by welcoming entertainment journalist Michael Giltz (http://www.michaelgiltz.com/) as an official co-host. Alonso Duralde (http://www.alonsoduralde.com/) joins us this week. Alonso is the film critic at MSNBC.com and the author of "101 Must-See Movies for Gay Men (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1555838669?ie=UTF8&tag=showbsandb-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1555838669)(http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=showbsandb-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1555838669)". His reviews are featured regularly on The Rotten Tomatoes Show. A member of the Los Angeles Film Critics Association, Alonso spent six years as Arts & Entertainment editor at The Advocate where he is still a contributing writer. His work has also appeared in such publications as the Village Voice, Movieline, Detour among many others. This month Alonso will be curating a the series "So Bad They're Brilliant (http://www.americancinematheque.com/archive1999/2009/Egyptian/So_Bad_ET2009.htm)" at the American Cinematheque (http://www.americancinematheque.com/). You can follow him on Twitter at @MSNBCalonso (http://www.twitter.com/MSNBCalonso). We asked Alonso to join us because of a story he wrote for msnbc.com called "Do You See What I Twee?", as it related to the latest movies. He described the essence of twee as "avoiding the fashionable, the obvious, the predictable, the mundane in an attempt to be, for lack of a better phrase, showily unshowy...It’s about replacing one calculated technique of visual and cultural cues with another." It's an apt description of one of the more popular movies out this summer, "(500) Days of Summer," and its lead, Zooey Deschanel. We also just love saying the word "twee."There was some interesting movie news this week, including the recasting of Rachelle LeFevre in "Twilight: Eclipse" - was she wronged, or is she an uncooperative diva? (A correction from the podcast: the actress' name is pronounced "Rashelle LeFevv.") Ridley Scott is set to direct a prequel to his hit 1979 film "Alien", but without Sigourney Weaver, will anyone care? It looks as if Disney is chasing Rob Marshall ("Chicago," "Nine,") to direct the fourth installment of "Pirates of the Caribbean," which leads us to wonder if there will be singing and dancing in this one! And Steven Spielberg is hopping on the remake wagon with an adaptation of the 1950 film "Harvey," which originally starred Jimmy Stewart. (Quick - get Tom Hanks's agent on the phone!) In television news, the Emmys will be revamped to show almost no Emmys, Kara DioGuardi will definitely return to "American Idol," but Paula Adbul will only return "if a deal is fair" (e.g. she gets the $20 million contract she's looking for). A cute wedding video viewed more than 15 million times on YouTube is making money for singer Chris Brown, his record label, and iTunes. Who said YouTube would never find a way to monetize itself? In Michael Jackson news, Sony has purchased his concert rehearsal footage for $60 Million. The next question is, will it be worth it? It was certainly worth it for Amy Winehouse's father to fake a heart attack to help get the young singer off drugs. Her father reports Winehouse has been drug free since December. . . that is if you don't count all the alcohol she now seems to consume. Finally, Ben Stiller put together a "secret" short film that pokes fun at Twentieth Century Fox, it's chairman Tom Rothman and mogul Rupert Murdoch. No, Stiller isn't not angry with them, in fact he just moved his production company to Fox, though we'd hate to see the video the multi-hyphenate would make if he were upset. Do You See What I Twee? http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31048866/ns/entertainment-movies/ (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31048866/ns/entertainment-movies/) Twilight Saga - Rachelle Lefevre: Wronged or uncooperative? http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118006674.html?categoryId=3565&cs=1 (http://www.variety. J. Sperling Reich, Karen Woodward & Michael Giltz no http://www.showbizsandbox.com/2009/07/24/showbiz-sandbox-special-episode-a-look-inside-tmzs-michael-jackson-scoop/ http://www.showbizsandbox.com/2009/07/24/showbiz-sandbox-special-episode-a-look-inside-tmzs-michael-jackson-scoop/#comments Fri, 24 Jul 2009 16:02:21 +0000 J. Sperling Reich http://www.showbizsandbox.com/?p=208 http://www.showbizsandbox.com/2009/07/24/showbiz-sandbox-special-episode-a-look-inside-tmzs-michael-jackson-scoop/feed/ 0 Guardian,MediaGuardian,Michael Jackson,Stephen Brook,TMZ When pop singer Michael Jackson died unexpectedly at the end of June news organizations all over the world frantically tried to keep up with the story. What was noteworthy, and what will surely be a historical footnote to Jackson's death, When pop singer Michael Jackson died unexpectedly at the end of June news organizations all over the world frantically tried to keep up with the story. What was noteworthy, and what will surely be a historical footnote to Jackson's death, is that mainstream media such as newspapers and cable news networks were not the outlets breaking the story. That privilege belonged to the upstart celebrity news site TMZ.com (http://www.tmz.com). Before it broke the Jackson story, TMZ was primarily thought of as an online version of the National Enquirer and was better known for running stories about Christian Bale's profanity laden temper tantrums. However Stephen Brook (http://twitter.com/sdbrook), a press correspondent for London's Guardian newspaper and deputy editor MediaGuardian, believes that it is precisely the salacious content TMZ has a reputation for running that gives the site its power. Less than 24 hours after the event, Brook wrote an article for the Guardian which detailed how TMZ managed to be the first media outlet to correctly report the story of Jackson's death, possibly six minutes before he was officially pronounced dead. Brook's article was reprinted all over the world in dozens of newspapers and websites. In this special episode of Showbiz Sandbox, Brook explains how he put the story together and discusses some of the highlights from his piece. For instance, Brook learned that media behemoth TimeWarner is part owner of TMZ, though does not interfere when the site runs negative stories that could adversly affect Warner Bros.' films or television shows. Brook's story is a fascinating read and a rare peak into the inner-workings of TMZ at a moment when the site, once considered the scource of Hollywood, is becoming a trusted source of entertainment news. Michael Jackson: How Celebrity Gossip Site TMZ Got Scoop Of The Decade http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/jun/26/michael-jackson-tmz-scoop (http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/jun/26/michael-jackson-tmz-scoop) Stephen Brook's Articles http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/stephenbrook (http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/stephenbrook) Media Guardian 100 2009 http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/mediaguardian-100-2009 (http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/mediaguardian-100-2009) J. Sperling Reich, Karen Woodward & Michael Giltz no http://www.showbizsandbox.com/2009/07/13/wild-about-michael-jackson-and-neil-diamond/ http://www.showbizsandbox.com/2009/07/13/wild-about-michael-jackson-and-neil-diamond/#comments Tue, 14 Jul 2009 00:02:03 +0000 J. Sperling Reich http://www.showbizsandbox.com/?p=184 http://www.showbizsandbox.com/2009/07/13/wild-about-michael-jackson-and-neil-diamond/feed/ 0 "Parenthood","The Green Lantern",Anne Thompson,David Wild,Maura Tierney,Michael Giltz,Michael Jackson,Neil Diamond,Nikki Finke,Ryan Reynolds Rolling Stone contributing editor David Wild joins us this week to discuss the Michael Jackson memorial.  Wild is an Emmy-nominated television writer and a best selling author. on top of his work with Rolling Stone. Rolling Stone contributing editor David Wild joins us this week to discuss the Michael Jackson memorial.  Wild is an Emmy-nominated television writer and a best selling author. on top of his work with Rolling Stone.  He recently worked on the magazine's Michael Jackson tribute, and was also instrumental in putting together the pop star's memorial at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.  He explains some of the realities and feelings taking place behind the scenes at the event.  He also has a new book out titled He Is... I Say: How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love Neil Diamond (http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html?ie=UTF8&location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FHe-Say-Learned-Worrying-Diamond%2Fdp%2F0306817845%3Fie%3DUTF8%26s%3Dbooks%26qid%3D1247441520%26sr%3D1-1&tag=showbsandb-20&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=9325)(http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=showbsandb-20&l=ur2&o=1), currently available on Amazon and other retailers.  You can follow David on Twitter at twitter.com/wildaboutmusic (http://www.twitter.com/wildaboutmusic). Audiences weren't wild about "Bruno," which won the weekend box office race, but didn't perform as expected. Ryan Reynolds and Sandra Bullock's "The Proposal" continues to perform well - well enough that Reynolds has been offered the role of The Green Lantern in Warner Bros's upcoming movie. Was he a better choice over Bradley Cooper and Justin Timberlake?  Does anyone even care about "The Green Lantern"?  Anne Thompson addresses that, and the future of film criticism in her blog Thompson On Hollywood (http://www.thompsononhollywood.com). Also joining us this week is Michael Giltz (http://www.michaelgiltz.com), freelance writer for The Huffington Post, New York Daily News, and The Advocate, among other publications. Michael is becoming a series regular at Showbiz Sandbox, and we always welcome his insight into the week's top entertaiment news. Remembering Michael Jackson: The Service Is A Thriller http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/music_blog/2009/07/remembering-michael-jackson-the-service-is-a-thriller.html (http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/music_blog/2009/07/remembering-michael-jackson-the-service-is-a-thriller.html) Sending Off Somebody's Brother - Thoughts From Backstage At The Staples Center http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-wild/sending-off-somebodys-bro_b_227372.html (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-wild/sending-off-somebodys-bro_b_227372.html) Michael Jackson: The Wounds The Broken Heart http://theenvelope.latimes.com/news/la-me-jackson-hilburn27-2009jun27,0,3030811.story (http://theenvelope.latimes.com/news/la-me-jackson-hilburn27-2009jun27,0,3030811.story) Nikki Finke Says Enough! http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/enough/ (http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/enough/) Neil Diamond's Hot August Night Tour Telecast http://neildiamond.com/pages/news/684 (http://neildiamond.com/pages/news/684) Ryan Reynolds Is 'The Green Lantern' http://weblogs.variety.com/thompsononhollywood/2009/07/weekend-read-green-lantern-3-moneyball-2.html (http://weblogs.variety.com/thompsononhollywood/2009/07/weekend-read-green-lantern-3-moneyball-2.html) Anne Thompson On The Green Lantern And Film Criticism http://weblogs.variety.com/thompsononhollywood/2009/07/weekend-read-green-lantern-3-moneyball-2.html (http://weblogs.variety.com/thompsononhollywood/2009/07/weekend-read-green-lantern-3-moneyball-2.html) Maura Tierney Illness Delays 'Parenthood' http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3i4c5798b5271bede48df96f089f507be5 (http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3i4c5798b5271bede48df96f089f507be5) 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