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/2010/07/19/showbiz-sandbox-63-mel-gibson-wishes-it-were-all-a-dream/ http://www.showbizsandbox.com/2010/07/19/showbiz-sandbox-63-mel-gibson-wishes-it-were-all-a-dream/#comments Tue, 20 Jul 2010 06:07:19 +0000 J. Sperling Reich http://www.showbizsandbox.com/?p=930 http://www.showbizsandbox.com/2010/07/19/showbiz-sandbox-63-mel-gibson-wishes-it-were-all-a-dream/feed/ 0 "Airplanes","Captain America","Inception","Mission Impossible IV","Superman","The Avengers","The Beaver","Thor",Aaron Sorkin,Amazon,Celador,Christopher Nolan Christopher Nolan’s highly anticipated film “Inception” jumped to the top of the North American box office upon release. The follow-up to the director’s blockbuster “The Dark Knight” has some critics buzzing about a Best Picture Oscar nomination. Christopher Nolan’s highly anticipated film “Inception” jumped to the top of the North American box office upon release. The follow-up to the director’s blockbuster “The Dark Knight” has some critics buzzing about a Best Picture Oscar nomination. Academy Award nominations are the least of Mel Gibson’s problems. After being caught on tape screaming obscenities and death threats at his ex-girlfriend, the actor and filmmaker should be happy if his next film,“The Beaver”, simply makes it into theaters. A number of important court decisions were handed down this past week having to do with First Amendment rights. These include a ruling about “fleeting epithets” and whether broadcasters can be fined for airing them. An appeals court told the Federal Communications Commission their definition of “indecency” was too vague and may encroach on the freedom of speech. We go over all the week’s top entertainment headlines during Big Deal or Big Whoop, including why the R.I.A.A. has spent $17 million suing music fans only to collect $391k, whether Tom Cruise will be cast in “Mission Impossible IV” and e-book sales outpacing those of real books on Amazon. Our Inside Baseball topic focuses on CNN’s search to replace talk show host Larry King, and how they may have taken a few missteps along the way. “Inception” Incites Intense Interest http://www.boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=2862&p=.htm (http://www.boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=2862&p=.htm) Superman Starring Zachary Levi With Jonathan Nolan Directing http://gordonandthewhale.com/superman-starring-zachary-levi-with.... (http://gordonandthewhale.com/superman-starring-zachary-levi-with-jonathan-nolan-directing/) The Beaver: Mel’s Multi-Million Dollar Victim http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2010-07-14/the-beaver.... (http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2010-07-14/the-beaver-mels-multi-million-dollar-victim/) F.C.C. Indecency Policy Rejected On Appeal http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/14/business/media/14indecent.html (http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/14/business/media/14indecent.html) 2010 Best Selling Albums List - So Far http://www.hitfix.com/blogs/2008-12-6-the-beat-goes-on/posts/who-s.... (http://www.hitfix.com/blogs/2008-12-6-the-beat-goes-on/posts/who-s-had-the-best-year-in-sales-so-far-we-count-down-the-top-10-albums-and-singles) New Lil’ Wayne Album Could Be Out Before Lil’ Wayne http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/07/14/new-lil-wayne-album.... (http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/07/14/new-lil-wayne-album-could-be-out-before-lil-wayne) RIAA Needs To Hire Some Cheaper Lawyers, Spent $17.5M Recovering $391K http://recordingindustryvspeople.blogspot.com/2010/07/ha-ha-ha-ha.... (http://recordingindustryvspeople.blogspot.com/2010/07/ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-riaa-paid-its-lawyers.html) Celador May Sue William Morris Next http://www.deadline.com/2010/07/celador-may-sue-william-morris-next/ (http://www.deadline.com/2010/07/celador-may-sue-william-morris-next/) Pixar Developing Cars Spinoff - Planes http://www.movieline.com/2010/07/exclusive-pixar-developing.... (http://www.movieline.com/2010/07/exclusive-pixar-developing-cars-spinoff-planes.php) Hulu Overwhelmed By Sign Ups For $9.99 Subscription Service http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-ct-facetime-20100713,0,4609242.story (http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-ct-facetime-20100713,0,4609242.story) Tom Cruise Is Still Ethan Hunt For Now http://www.hitfix.com/articles/2010-7-14-tom-cruise-is-still-ethan-hunt-for-now (http://www.hitfix.com/articles/2010-7-14-tom-cruise-is-still-ethan-hunt-for-now) http://perezhilton.com/2010-07-15-tom-cruise-confirmed-for-mission-impossible-iv (http://perezhilton.com/2010-07-15-tom-cruise-confirmed-for-mission-impossible-iv) Justin Bieber Nabs Most Watched YouTube Video Of All Time http://mashable.com/2010/07/16/justin-bieber-lady-gaga-youtube/ (http://mashable.com/2010/07/16/justin-bieber-lady-gaga-youtube/) J. Sperling Reich, Karen Woodward & Michael Giltz no 59:17 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/2010/06/28/showbiz-sandbox-60-reality-tv-doesnt-kid-around/ http://www.showbizsandbox.com/2010/06/28/showbiz-sandbox-60-reality-tv-doesnt-kid-around/#comments Tue, 29 Jun 2010 01:00:34 +0000 J. Sperling Reich http://www.showbizsandbox.com/?p=896 http://www.showbizsandbox.com/2010/06/28/showbiz-sandbox-60-reality-tv-doesnt-kid-around/feed/ 0 "All Quiet On The Western Front","Cars 2","Catcher In The Rye","Eat Pray Love","Knight & Day","The Hobbit","The Office","The Tonight Show","Toy Story 3",Academy Awards,Box Office Futures,Bruce Cohen If you are a minor working on a reality television series it turns out there are no child labor laws that protect you. A month long investigation by the Los Angeles Times found  dozens of kids appearing on reality programs without legal safeguards due... If you are a minor working on a reality television series it turns out there are no child labor laws that protect you. A month long investigation by the Los Angeles Times found  dozens of kids appearing on reality programs without legal safeguards due to widespread uncertainty about how to classify the shows. Times staff writers Matea Gold (http://www.twitter.com/mateagold) and Richard Verrier reveal that most of the popular shows had not obtained work permits to employ minors. Gold joins us this week to provide all the details. It was good news and bad news at the box office. Good news for "Toy Story 3", which finished in first place for the second week and bad news for Tom Cruise, whose latest movie, "Knight and Day" didn't open to boffo numbers. If you'd like to place a bet on how much Cruise's next movie might make, you might never get the chance. The U.S. Congress is set to pass a financial reform bill that would prevent two box office futures exchanges from operating. The government is also getting involved in the annual Lollapalooza festival in Chicago, and not in a good way. The events promoters was subpoenaed last week for an anti-trust investigation. Turns out the "radius clause" in Lollapalooza's contract is preventing Chicago night clubs from booking musical acts. Maybe Coachella's booking rules aren't so bad after all. Google got some good legal news last week when Viacom's $1 billion lawsuit against YouTube for copyright infringement was dismissed. Of course, Viacom will appeal the decision. During Big Deal or Big Whoop we argue about all the week's top entertainment headlines, including whether Peter Jackson will direct "The Hobbit" films, the Library of Congress National Recording Registry adds some hip-hop to its archives and Sylvester Stallone as mobster John Gotti. Reality TV Kids Don't Have A Safety Net http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/tv/la-et-reality-kids-20100627.... (http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/tv/la-et-reality-kids-20100627,0,939452.story) 3D's Diminishing Box Office Returns http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118020899.html?categoryid=13&cs=1 (http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118020899.html?categoryid=13&cs=1) House Adds Movie Futures Trading Ban To Financial Reform Bill http://www.thewrap.com/movies/column-post/congress-keeps-movie-futures.... (http://www.thewrap.com/movies/column-post/congress-keeps-movie-futures-trading-ban-financial-reform-bil-18760) Bruce Cohen and Don Mischer to Produce 83rd Academy Awards Telecast http://www.oscars.org/press/pressreleases/2010/20100622a.html (http://www.oscars.org/press/pressreleases/2010/20100622a.html) Date Of Academy Awards Changing To January? http://wearemoviegeeks.com/2010/06/date-of-academy-awards-changing-to.... (http://wearemoviegeeks.com/2010/06/date-of-academy-awards-changing-to-january/) Academy Invites 135 To Membership http://www.oscars.org/press/pressreleases/2010/20100625.html (http://www.oscars.org/press/pressreleases/2010/20100625.html) Leno's 'Tonight Show' Ratings Stay Below Conan's http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/06/24/lenos-tonight-show-ratings-stay.... (http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/06/24/lenos-tonight-show-ratings-stay-below-conan%E2%80%99s-will-they-top-them/) Is Lollapalooza A Monopalooza? Subpoenas Issued For Anti-Trust Investigation http://www.hitfix.com/blogs/immaculate-noise/posts/monopolooza.... (http://www.hitfix.com/blogs/immaculate-noise/posts/monopolooza-subpoenas-issued-for-lollapalooza-anti-trust-investigation) So Maybe Coachella's Booking Rules Aren't So Egregious After All http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/music_blog/2010/06/so-maybe-coachellas.... (http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/music_blog/2010/06/so-maybe-coachellas-booking-rules-arent-so-egregious-after-all.html) Illinois Attorney General Investigating Lollapalooza For Anti-trust http://blogs.vocalo.org/jderogatis/2010/06/breaking-illinois-attorney-general.... (http://blogs.vocalo. J. Sperling Reich, Karen Woodward & Michael Giltz no 1:04:00 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/2010/01/25/showbiz-sandbox-39-chez-sundance/ http://www.showbizsandbox.com/2010/01/25/showbiz-sandbox-39-chez-sundance/#comments Tue, 26 Jan 2010 01:56:50 +0000 J. Sperling Reich http://www.showbizsandbox.com/?p=635 http://www.showbizsandbox.com/2010/01/25/showbiz-sandbox-39-chez-sundance/feed/ 0 "Avatar","The Tonight Show",Aerosmith,Angelina Jolie,Brad Pitt,Conan O'Brien,Jay Leno,MPAA,NBC,Quincy Jones,Roman Polanski,SAG Awards Co-host Karen Woodward puts a moratorium on any more talk of “Avatar”, James Cameron’s 3D sci-fi epic which continues to break box office records. So instead, we skip straight to Sundance, where the atmosphere has gone from recession (last year) to de... Co-host Karen Woodward (http://www.karenwoodwardonline.com) puts a moratorium on any more talk of “Avatar”, James Cameron’s 3D sci-fi epic which continues to break box office records. So instead, we skip straight to Sundance, where the atmosphere has gone from recession (last year) to depression (this year). J. Sperling Reich is in the snowy, cold ski town and fills us in on the movies everyone in Park City is buzzing about. If you can’t make it to Sundance this year, no worries, you’ll be able to catch a few of the festival’s selections on YouTube. Also in movie news, anti-smoking activists are claiming that Sigourney Weaver’s line “Where’s my damn cigarette” in “Avatar” should have earned the film an R rating. What set of rules is the MPAA going by when they come up with some of their absurd ratings? After a brief fly by of the SAG Awards, we head over to television land.  Things have calmed down in the Conan vs. Leno vs. NBC war, but Michael Giltz (http://www.michaelgiltz.com) and Karen must not have gotten the memo. They argue over who was wronged more by the whole debacle. Meanwhile, Conan O’Brien hosted his last “Tonight Show” on Friday.  During our Big Deal or Big Whoop segment we learn that the rumors of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie’s split are indeed, just rumors, however the rumors that Aerosmith might be replacing lead singer Steven Tyler seem to be true. Also, Quincy Jones will revisit “We Are The World” and Roman Polanski will have to revisit the United States if he wants to be sentenced for his rape conviction. During Inside Baseball, Michael and Karen lock horns once again over “transmedia storytelling.” Don’t know what it is? Listen to this episode and you’ll learn all about it! Chez Betty http://www.chezbetty.com (http://www.chezbetty.com) YouTube to Sundance: Independent Filmmakers Wanted http://youtube-global.blogspot.com/2010/01/youtube-to-sundance-independent.html (http://youtube-global.blogspot.com/2010/01/youtube-to-sundance-independent.html) Johnny Depp Sets Sail On Fourth Pirate Movie http://movies.yahoo.com/feature/movie-talk-pirates-4.html (http://movies.yahoo.com/feature/movie-talk-pirates-4.html) This Article Is Not Yet Rated http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/24/movies/24scott.html?hpw (http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/24/movies/24scott.html?hpw) ‘Clash of Titans’ 3D Decision Coming Soon http://www.heatvisionblog.com/2010/01/clash-of-titans-in-3d-decision.... (http://www.heatvisionblog.com/2010/01/clash-of-titans-in-3d-decision-coming-soon.html) Conan Gets A big Sendoff http://weblogs.variety.com/on_the_air/2010/01/conan-gets-a-big.... (http://weblogs.variety.com/on_the_air/2010/01/conan-gets-a-big-sendoff-his-tonight-farewell-) Jay Leno's Point of View http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/01/18/leno-deconstructs.... (http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/01/18/leno-deconstructs-his-own-predicament/?hp) Falling Late-Night Ad Prices Will Shape Conan's and Leno's Futures http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/tv/la-fi-ct-latenight25.... (http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/tv/la-fi-ct-latenight25-2010jan25,0,879701.story) Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie Break-Up Rumors False http://news-briefs.ew.com/2010/01/24/brad-pitt-and-angelina-jolie.... (http://news-briefs.ew.com/2010/01/24/brad-pitt-and-angelina-jolie-break-up-rumors-false/) Joe Perry Says Aerosmith Is Auditioning New Lead Singer http://www.thewrap.com/article/joe-perry-says-aerosmith.... (http://www.thewrap.com/article/joe-perry-says-aerosmith-auditioning-lead-singers-13407) New Study: People Don’t Watch Commercials on DVRs http://www.mediaweek.com/mw/content_display/special-reports/digital-hot-list.... (http://www.mediaweek.com/mw/content_display/special-reports/digital-hot-list/e3id3e0b71b5f1a6df4adcce747dc0ee4d4) 8-18 year Olds Consuming More Media than Ever http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6715693.html?nid=2286&rid.... (http://www. J. Sperling Reich, Karen Woodward & Michael Giltz no 1:06:51 http://www.showbizsandbox.com/2009/12/21/showbiz-sandbox-34-hollywoods-box-office-billions-set-new-record/ http://www.showbizsandbox.com/2009/12/21/showbiz-sandbox-34-hollywoods-box-office-billions-set-new-record/#comments Tue, 22 Dec 2009 05:55:30 +0000 J. Sperling Reich http://www.showbizsandbox.com/?p=571 http://www.showbizsandbox.com/2009/12/21/showbiz-sandbox-34-hollywoods-box-office-billions-set-new-record/feed/ 0 "Avatar","X Factor",American Idol,Amy Winehouse,Box Office,Brittany Murphy,Chris Brown,Daniel Frankel,Fox TV,Golden Globes,Hollywood.com,Nancy O'Dell We are joined this week by two of the film industry's top box office pundits, Paul Dergarabedian of Hollywood.com and Daniel Frankel of TheWrap.com. They help us understand how the North American box office surpassed $10 billion in 2009 while releasin... We are joined this week by two of the film industry's top box office pundits, Paul Dergarabedian (http://ontherun.hollywood.com/) of Hollywood.com (http://www.thewrap.com) and Daniel Frankel (http://www.thewrap.com/users/daniel-frankel) of TheWrap.com (http://www.thewrap.com). They help us understand how the North American box office surpassed $10 billion in 2009 while releasing few films during an economic recession. Of course, we also touch on "Avatar's" opening weekend box office and the worldwide spin it's distributor claims makes the film a huge hit. But we promise this week’s episode won’t be entirely about Avatar! We also discuss the untimely death of actress Brittany Murphy and the rumor mongering it set off among online tabloids. The Golden Globe nominations were announced mid week. Were there any surprises? What about snubs? Which noms will carry over to the Oscars, and what can be done to get audiences to actually watch the Oscars? There's also a ton of television and music news, such as the rumor that Simon Cowell might leave "American Idol" (oh no!), the list of next year's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees (ABBA!) and an old Rage Against The Machine song beating out this year's winner of "X Factor" on the U.K. singles charts during Christmas week (huh?!). We even have time for a little theater news. (That’s right, theater! With real live actors!). In fact, we get a proper briefing on audience participation at English holiday pantomimes, or pantos, and a lesson from singer Amy Winehouse in how not to behave at one. We finish with a special Inside Baseball Christmas card from our friends at Fox TV. And don't worry if you don't understand the studio's sentiment. It's an inside joke. 2009's Box Office Paradox: Fewer Movies, Record Revenues http://www.thewrap.com/article/domestic-bo-shatters-revenue-record-11626 (http://www.thewrap.com/article/domestic-bo-shatters-revenue-record-11626) Actress Brittany Murphy Dies at 32 http://www.tmz.com/2009/12/20/brittany-murphy-dies-cardiac-arrest/ (http://www.tmz.com/2009/12/20/brittany-murphy-dies-cardiac-arrest/) Brittany Murphy Dead; Drugs Among Rumored Causes http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2512557/brittany_murphy_dead.... (http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2512557/brittany_murphy_dead_drugs_among_rumored.html?cat=40) Perez Tells Linday Lohan, Courtney Love To Learn From Murphy's Death http://www.popeater.com/2009/12/20/perez-hilton-lindsay-lohan.... (http://www.popeater.com/2009/12/20/perez-hilton-lindsay-lohan-brittany-murphy-twitter/) Golden Globe Nominations http://www.goldenglobes.org/nominations/ (http://www.goldenglobes.org/nominations/) New Movie Trailers Could Boost Oscar Ratings http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/awards.... (http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/awards/news/e3ia0d444a2a4b3e35ac2de15bec376f641) Simon Cowell May Leave American Idol http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/tv/the_end_of_idol.... (http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/tv/the_end_of_idol_n8oVAtw5nD9N5qumfsrSmL) YouTube Video Leads To Contract http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8417789.stm?ls (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8417789.stm?ls) YouTube's Most Watched Videos Of 2009 http://www.marketingpilgrim.com/2009/12/youtubes-most-watched-videos.... (http://www.marketingpilgrim.com/2009/12/youtubes-most-watched-videos-of-2009-susan-boyle-battles-a-pitbull.html) Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame Inductees Announced http://www.billboard.com/#/news/stooges-genesis-abba-get-rock-hall-of-fame.... (http://www.billboard.com/#/news/stooges-genesis-abba-get-rock-hall-of-fame-1004053618.story) Amid The Many Bloated Musicals, Originality Sneaks In http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/arts/la-ca-mcnultyessay20.... (http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/arts/la-ca-mcnultyessay20-2009dec20,0,3623076.story) Michael Jackson's Death Voted Top Entertainment News Story http://www. 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/2009/06/12/showbiz-sandbox-7-talkin-tonys-and-trailers/ http://www.showbizsandbox.com/2009/06/12/showbiz-sandbox-7-talkin-tonys-and-trailers/#comments Fri, 12 Jun 2009 08:59:26 +0000 J. Sperling Reich http://www.showbizsandbox.com/?p=131 http://www.showbizsandbox.com/2009/06/12/showbiz-sandbox-7-talkin-tonys-and-trailers/feed/ 0 "The Tonight Show","Up",Conan O'Brien,David Carradine,Eminem,Golden Trailer Awards,Grizzly Bear,Hulu,Michael Giltz,MTV,Rupert Murdoch,Sacha Baron Cohen Michael Giltz of the New York Daily News, Huffington Post and The Advocate joins us to discuss all the winners (and losers) of this year's Tony Awards. Stephen Garrett, the co-founder of Kinetic Trailerworks also shows up to talk about picking up a fe... Michael Giltz (http://www.michaelgiltz.com) of the New York Daily News, Huffington Post and The Advocate joins us to discuss all the winners (and losers) of this year's Tony Awards. Stephen Garrett (http://www.kinetictrailers.com), the co-founder of K... J. Sperling Reich, Karen Woodward & Michael Giltz no