Avengers Unleashed, Samuel L. Jackson's Twitter Fight, Clooney's Big Obama Fundraiser: Biz Break

This weekend belongs to The Avengers, which brought out crowds for midnight screenings overnight and sparked a Twitter backlash by Samuel L. Jackson against a NY Times reviewer. Those are among Friday morning's highlights in Biz Break along with a BBC denial it's banning Sacha Baron Cohen from its airwaves, a Clooney cash windfall for Obama and more.

Avengers at Midnight! Is This Hollywood's Next Record-Breaker?
The U.S. debut follows the incredible success of The Avengers overseas in 41 countries with grosses totaling $281.1 million through its first eight days. In the U.S. no other big movie dared to open Friday against this mega-blockbuster which could spee past $160 million during its first 3 days of release through Sunday. Deadline reports.

Samuel L. Jackson Slams NY Times Critic for Avengers Review
Jackson picked a Twitter fight with A.O. Scott at the New York Times over his review of The Avengers, suggesting that Scott should find a new job. "Let's help him find one! One he can actually do!" The Wrap reports.

Sacha Baron Cohen 'Not Banned' by BBC
The actor, who is promoting new film The Dictator, had asked to appear in character on a number of BBC shows - including The Graham Norton Show. But the BBC said they would prefer to interview Sacha "as himself". Speaking in character, as fictional dictator Admiral General Aladeen, Baron Cohen called the rejection "an outrage." The BBC itself gives its take.

Clooney Fundraiser Expected to Fetch $12 Million for Obama
The May 10 event has sold out and the expected $12 million raised for the president's reelection coffers would be the largest in history. 150 are paying $40,000 each to dine with the president and George Clooney at his Studio City home, THR reports.

O-Scope President David Finkel Steps Aside for Consulting Role
Fenkel co-founded the specialty distributor Oscilloscope Laboratories with Beastie Boys member Adam Yauch four years ago. Dan Berger and David Laub have been promoted to jointly oversee marketing, distribution and acquisitions. Upcoming releases include the LCD Soundsystem pic Shut Up And Play The Hits and the Baraka follow-up Samsara, Deadline reports.

Cannes High-Rolling Hotel to Close for 2013
The beach front Carlton Hotel in Cannes, one of the centers of wheeling-dealing-schmoozing activity each year at the Cannes Film Festival (as well as Mipcom and MipTV) will undergo an 18 month renovation starting August, Deadline reports.