DVD Sales Are Hurting the Budgets of Hollywood Comedies

It's hard to believe that Hollywood studios are reluctant to make comedies anymore -- after all, three have already been released this summer to big box office -- but that's apparently the case. Citing falling DVD revenues and flagging international grosses, the Los Angeles Times reports that comedy budgets are being slashed around town. "Because of the weakening DVD market, even when we love the material it doesn't make sense for us to make a creatively risky or daring comedy for much more than $25 million," Columbia Pictures president Doug Belgrad said. Comedy writers currently building a set piece around 3-D robots from space, get back to the drawing board. [LAT]