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NBC’s ‘Grimm’ Renewed For Second Season

Posted by gkoen

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I’ve learned that NBC’s has renewed freshman drama Grimmfor a second season in what may be be the first of several early pickups of existing series at the network. However, despite rumors circulating out there, nothing else is expected to come down today. A low-key addition to the schedule on Friday, Grimm has held its own, even growing when given a chance to run uninterrupted for several weeks. Created by David Greenwalt, Jim Kouf and Stephen Carpenter, Grimm stars David Giuntoli as a homicide detective who is also a Grimm, hunting supernatural baddies. It is produced by Universal TV and…

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Summit’s Erik Feig To Be Named President Of Production Of Lionsgate Motion Picture Group

Posted by NIKKI FINKE

There’s more movement on the Summit Entertainment and Lionsgate film front now that the two companies have become one. I’ve just learned that Summit Entertainment’s President of Worldwide Production and Acquisitions Erik Feig will be named President Of Production of the Lionsgate Motion Picture Group. Feig has worked at Summit for the past 11 years. Then 2 years ago Walt Disney Studios boss Rich Ross tried to woo the billions-dollar-franchise Twilight Saga guru away from Summit. But Feig stayed loyal and, besides, he was still under contract and has been a partner at Summit since 2007.…

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Sacha Baron Cohen Punks Ryan Seacrest: ‘The Dictator’ Spills “Kim Jong Il’s Ashes” All Over Red Carpet Host! (Ryan Unamused)

Posted by gkoen

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(See video below) Sacha Baron Cohen just strolled onto the Red Carpet wearing The Dictator‘s full military white uniform in character as General Alladeen from the Middle East Republic of Wadiya. Flanked by two gorgeous women in military mini-skirts, Baron Cohen appears to be holding a funereal urn. (Maybe containing the ashes of the Academy’s integrity?) Ryan Seacrest of E! played along and addressed Baron Cohen as “Dictator” to which sacha responded, “Hello. Death to the West!” Seacrest asked whom he is wearing. “I’m wearing John Galliano but the socks are from KMart. Saddam Hussein once said…

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Lionsgate-Summit Laying Off 12% Of Staff: Film And Home Entertainment Hit Hardest

Posted by NIKKI FINKE

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Inside The Summit And Lionsgate Merger: Layoffs Are The Order Of The Day I’ve just learned that Lionsgate is laying off about 80 staff today from the merged company with Summit, including executives as high up as EVP. “Please don’t characterize it as a bloodbath,” one insider tells me. “Enough people are freaked out already.” The integration of  Lionsgate and Summit is ongoing and this move was expected to eliminate duplication. But it’s still horrible when it happens. Lionsgate is reducing the combined workforce of the two companies by approximately 12%. It’s unclear how many employees are actually being notified today. Lionsgate had about…

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Rocket Pictures Plots ‘Gnomeo & Juliet’ Sequel, With New Tunes By Elton John

Posted by gkoen

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EXCLUSIVE: Elton John’s Rocket Pictures has set up the 3D animated Gnomeo & Juliet: Sherlock Gnomes, a sequel to the 2011 Disney hit that grossed $194 million worldwide. Andy Riley and Kevin Cecil, who wrote the original, are writing the sequel script. Elton John is currently composing new songs for the film. Rocket Pictures’ principals Steve Hamilton Shaw and David Furnish are producing, and John is exec producer. The plan is to begin production in the fall, and they are talking to directors. Gnomeo & Juliet director Kelly Asbury will act as a creative consultant on the sequel.…

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Amy Poehler Joins ‘Parks And Recreation’ Cohort Adam Scott In Feature ‘A.C.O.D.’

Posted by gkoen

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EXCLUSIVE: Amy Poehler is in final negotiations to join the Black Bear Pictures comedy A.C.O.D. She will star in the film alongside herParks and Recreation co-star Adam Scott. Directed by Stu Zicherman, the comedy focuses on a young man (Scott) who discovers that he was enlisted in a study about divorced children many years ago. When he’s ushered into a present-day follow-up study, it creates new havoc for his family. Script was written by Zicherman and Ben Karlin. Poehler will play Richard Jenkins’ new wife, who is enemies with his first wife (played by Catherine O’Hara). Poehler…

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CBS’ ‘The Talk’ Renewed For Third Season

Posted by gkoen

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CBS has renewed daytime talk show The Talk for the 2012-13 season. The daily talker – hosted by Julie Chen, Sara Gilbert, Sharon Osbourne, Sheryl Underwood and Aisha Tyler – will return for its third year in September. “We are thrilled with the evolution and growth of The Talk,” said Nina Tassler, President, CBS Entertainment. After a slew of major changes on the show in front and behind the camera last year, including the exits of co-hosts Leah Remini and Holly Robinson Peete, things have been quiet on the personnel front for the last several months. Nationally, the second…

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Will Feds Challenge Apple And Publishers’ E-Book Pricing Arrangement?

Posted by gkoen

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It could be a fascinating anti-trust case according the details reported by The Wall Street Journal. The paper says that the Justice Department is gearing up to sue Apple and five top publishers — Simon & Schuster, Hachette, Penguin Group, Macmillan, and HarperCollins — for conspiring to fix e-book prices around 2010 when the tech company introduced its iPad. The group allegedly wanted to end Amazon’s practice of selling e-books for a deeply discounted $9.99, part of the company’s strategy to promote sales of its Kindle e-readers. Hoping to loosen Amazon’s grip on the market, and help its new…

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Series ‘Harry’s Law’, ‘Banshee’ & ‘The Secret Life Of American Teenager’ Add Regulars

Posted by gkoen

Up-and-comer Justine Lupe, who recently joined the cast of NBC’s sophomore dramedy Harry’s Law as a recurring guest star, has been quickly promoted to regular on David E. Kelley’s sophomore legal dramedy. Lupe, repped by Gersh and Authentic Talent, plays Phoebe, the firm’s newest hire who is vivacious but unprepared for the rigors of life at a law firm. Another young actress, Cierra Ramirez (The Suite Life Of Zach And Cody), has joined the cast of veteran ABC Family drama series The Secret Life of the American Teenager as a new regular. It is unclear what the 16-year-old’s character is. Ramirez, repped…

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Shawn Christensen To Write ‘The Man From Nowhere’ Redo For Dimension Films

Posted by gkoen

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EXCLUSIVE: Bob Weinstein and SVP Matthew Signer acquired rights to the South Korean action thriller The Man From Nowhere this year and will supervise development of their English-language take. Weinstein personally sought out Shawn Christensen after reading the spec draft of the writer’s Abduction, which was sold last year in a bidding war to Lionsgate. Directed by Lee Jeong-beom, the original Nowhere follows a quiet pawnshop keeper with a violent past who takes on a drug- and organ-trafficking ring to save the child who is his only friend. The film opened No. 1 at the Korean box office in August 2010 and held…

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