It took nearly 15 months, one devastating late night disaster and Jeff Zucker's retirement, but Ben Silverman has finally wormed his way back into NBC with a new comedy series. Called Party People, the ensemble project will center on a group of under-employed entertainers who work the children's birthday party circuit. Sound vaguely familiar? Let's take a look at three projects from which Silverman, who famously brought NBC The Office and Knight Rider 2.0, may have drawn inspiration.
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It's no secret that the adult-film industry has withstood a long succession of blows (ahem) from the pervy, perennial amateur hour that is the Internet. Far less-known, however, is the man whose vision and taste may yet help restore porn to its rightful place in the cowgirl position of modern culture: Terry Rossio. Yes, that Terry Rossio.
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Despite the behind-the-scenes fights and acrimonious nature of The Bourne Identity shoot, director Doug Liman has absolutely no hard feelings toward Jason Bourne himself, Matt Damon. The director -- who was famously barred from directing any Bourne sequels by Universal -- was so pleased with Damon that he'd even consider working with him again on The Bourne Legacy. "I would definitely do something with Matt, whether it's Bourne or something else," Liman said at the New York premiere of Fair Game last night. Sounds good, though perhaps he should be concentrating on the "something else."
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· One step down for Katherine Heigl! While doing the press rounds for Life as We Know It, the embattled star admitted that her perceived image problem is real and something that she hopes to fix. First idea: Don't star in things like Life as We Know It. Watch Heigl spill her guts ahead and strap in for more Buzz Break.
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Knowing about the easy money that awaits actors and actresses in the land of animation (Renee Zellweger, get back on this), there isn't anything very out of the ordinary about the Vulture report that Mike Myers will voice Pepé Le Pew. After all, Myers has made untold millions doing similar duties on the four Shrek films, and hopping -- or slinking, as Pepé does -- into the world of Looney Tunes for Warner Bros. will at least give him some extra spending money. And, hey, that Le Pew is part of an iconic group of cartoon characters probably doesn't hurt Myers' interest either. Though about that last part...
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During a recent interview, Bruce Willis let the cat out of the bag that a script for a fifth Die Hard film is complete. Considering that the fourth film, Live Free or Die Hard -- a play on New Hampshire's state motto coined by General John Stark -- broke free of the template forged by the two earlier sequels, Die Harder and Die Hard with a Vengeance, the fifth film could really be called, well, anything. Ahead, Movieline offers Fox 20 title suggestions for the fifth Die Hard film. You're welcome.
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To help recover money owed to a PR firm, Real Housewives of DC stars (and infamous White House Gatecrashers) Michaele and Tareq Salahi are trying to auction off 200 signed photos of themselves on eBay. After the photos failed to receive a single bid their first week on the block, they were marked down from $100 each to $50. At the time of this posting, only two have been purchased. As for the rest? "We might use them for wallpaper," said publicist Kenny Fried. [Yahoo]
And you thought the short list of Superman directors was weird. Rumors say that the script for Tales From the Gangster Squad (an ensemble piece based on a series of LA Times articles that examine the efforts of the LAPD to crack down on organized crime in the '40s) is every bit as awesome as the title, but this director short list is pretty...strange. Choices range from TV producers to mavericks to blockbuster savants. What gives? Ahead Movieline ranks the directors from most interesting to least after the jump.
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Every now and then real life provides stories and circumstances that seem like they could only happen in a movie. I'm not talking about killers or heists, necessarily, but rather things like epic-scale riots and, now, the latest environmental crisis to befall the planet. For instance: When the New York Times publishes headlines that could just as easily have been plucked from the Troma back catalog, you know we've entered some pretty cinematic territory. Well, not "pretty," but you get the idea.
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Forget those forced comparisons to The Blind Side; perhaps Secretariat owes another movie a tip of its cap. "I enjoyed it immensely, flat-footed dialogue and implausible situations and all," writes Salon critic Andrew O'Hehir. "Which doesn't stop me from believing that in its totality Secretariat is a work of creepy, half-hilarious master-race propaganda almost worthy of Leni Riefenstahl, and all the more effective because it presents as a family-friendly yarn about a nice lady and her horse." Somehow I don't think that will go on the poster. [Salon]
It's a busy day in The Broadsheet, including news of Johnny Depp's possible date with Kathryn Bigelow... rare good news for film criticism... a recent Oscar-winner faces a remake... Emily Blunt and Rachel Weisz will be siblings for Lynn Shelton... and more...
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Just after Natalie Portman backed out of Alfonso Cuarón's 3-D sci-fi casting nightmare Gravity, the studio is apparently offering the role to America's sweetheart Sandra Bullock. Seems like a good choice if she wants to avoid the Academy Award curse that seems to find Best Actress winners in non-stop D.O.A. films after their win. Gravity would be her next project to hit theaters. [THR]
· Jane Lynch's place in SNL history may already be secured: The final promo in her SNL preview package is so weird and funny that I'd call it the best one of the past two seasons. Ready to dream big with Sue Sylvester? [Zap2It]
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Looks like Alfonso Curaon will have to find another another leading lady for his 3-D science-fiction epic, Gravity. Deadline reports that Natalie Portman, like Angelina Jolie before her, has passed on the film, meaning Warner Bros. will now try to cast Gravity with Plan-C. Agents for Naomi Watts, Marion Cotillard, Carey Mulligan, Scarlett Johansson, Sienna Miller, Abbie Cornish, Rebecca Hall, Olivia Wilde and Blake Lively should expect a phone call. [Deadline]
Congratulations, Raising Hope! In a fall season already littered with failures, the Fox comedy is a bright spot (nearly 7 million tuned in last night) and it has been rewarded with a full season order. To further instill confidence, Fox is planning to air back-to-back episodes of Raising Hope on Oct. 26, following the Glee tribute to The Rocky Horror Picture Show. In other news: Start writing those Running Wilde obituaries now. [Deadline]
