Hugh Grant: A Non-Murdoch Tabloid Jeopardized Me In 2007

First Launched: November 21, 2011 3:49 PM EST Credit: Getty Images LONDON, U.K. -- Caption The dapper Hugh Grant inside a photo demand Have You Ever Heard In Regards To The Morgans in Berlin, Germany on December 4, 2009Hugh Grant told a London courtroom Monday in regards to the gloomy of celebrity existence, explaining mysterious break-inches, leaked medical particulars and jeopardized voice mails and relaxing blame round the entire tabloid press, not just the now-shuttered News around the world. Grants or loans or financial loans testimony with a judge-introduced media ethics inquiry designated a hard day for Britains unhappy press. Earlier, the oldsters from the wiped out schoolgirl whose phone was specific with the tabloid known to how a hacking had given them false hope their daughter had been alive. Grant mentioned he thinks his phone was jeopardized by Britains Mail on Sunday tabloid the first time he's recommended like a factor a newspaper not possessed by media mogul Rupert Murdoch inside the wrongdoing. The actor mentioned a 2007 story about his romantic existence inside the paper, possessed by Murdoch rival Connected Newspapers Ltd., might have only been acquired through eavesdropping on his voice mails. He mentioned he could not consider almost every other way the newspaper may have acquired the story alleging that his romance with Jemima Khan was round the rocks because of his conversations getting a plummy voiced lady the paper recognized just like a film studio executive. Grant mentioned there's no such lady, but he did receive voice messages within the assistant from the movie producer friend. She'd leave charming, joking messages and he or she stood a voice that could just be known to as plummy, he mentioned. Grant punished the newspaper for libel and won. Challenged about whether he'd evidence, Grant acknowledged he was going for a chance. But Id prefer to hear just what the Daily Mail or perhaps the Sunday Mails explanation from the products that source was whether or not this wasnt phone hacking, he mentioned. The Mail on Sunday mentioned in the statement mentioned it absolutely refutes Grantssuggestion it had jeopardized his phone and known to his comments as streaks. Over two and a half several hours of testimony, Grant by turns charming and censorious known to years of tabloid pursuit that began after his breakthrough hit, Four Wedding events together with a Funeral, in 1994. Occurrences incorporated a mysterious break-in at his apartment throughout which nothing was stolen. Explanations in the apartment later came out in the tabloid newspaper. More youthful crowd mentioned articles launched taken on the planet and Daily Express about his visit to a hospital er will be a gross invasion of my privacy. In my opinion nobody would expect their medical records being released to be able to be appropriated by newspapers for commercial profit, he mentioned. That's fundamental towards the British sense of decency. Which he mentioned paparazzi had hounded Tinglan Hong, mother of Grants or loans or financial loans baby daughter, no matter the heavens efforts to keep his paternity secret. He mentioned he did not attend the babys birth in the finish of September, but the very next day, I couldnt resist a quick visit. There seems to own been a leak within the hospital, Grant mentioned. They are able to understood the fake title she'd checked to the hospital under. Grant had initially rejected to ensure the newborn was his, but captured released a disagreement acknowledging it. He told the inquiry the statement intended only to rebuff claims he'd jilted Hong, with whom he remains friendly happen to be composed within a mobile call along with his publicist because they was around the film occur Germany. It had not been ideal conditions, Grant mentioned. I used to be fitted just like a cannibal in those days. Pm David Cameron setup the inquiry into media ethics responding to have an altering scandal over phone hacking in the uk. Murdoch shut lower the discredited News around the world tabloid within this summer time after evidence emerged it had routinelyeavesdropped round the voice mails of political figures, stars in addition to crime sufferers within the search for scoops. The inquiry, introduced by Judge John Leveson, expects to problem research next season and could recommend major changes to the way a media in the uk are controlled. Grant, that is a wide open campaigner against press invasion, known for any media code of ethics and harder regulation. There is an item within our press which has been allowed being toxic within the last 20 or thirty years, he mentioned, promoting Britain to get the courage to pass through tabloid bullies. Grant is among a string of high-profile witnesses, including actress Sienna Burns and author J.K. Rowling, who'll testify about how precisely they were adopted, taken photos of, entrapped and bothered by journalists from Britains tabloids, which with one another sell numerous copies every day. The initial witnesses Monday were the oldsters of wiped out teen Milly Dowler, whose mobile phone voice mails were jeopardized after she disappeared in 2002. Her mother told the inquiry they thought her missing 13 years of age had been alive once she showed up in the women formerly full voice mailbox. Sally Dowler mentioned when she could finally leave an email on Millys voicemail message days following a girl disappeared, she screamed: Shes acquired the voice mails! Shes alive! Really, messages happen to be removed by someone utilized by what is the news around the world because the Dowlers and police continued to be as looking for Milly, who was simply later found dead. The Dowlers mentioned they'd been absolutely shocked when police stated thirstily, later, that Millys phone happen to be jeopardized. Bob Dowler mentioned he recognized immediately the data was dynamite. News that tabloid journalists had specific not just stars but a wiped out girl shocked many British people and triggered a police analysis and media recriminations that are still unfolding. The Dowlers needed the stand together and spoke in quiet, composed voices in their 30 minutes of across the nation public testimony. They known for their shock and anger each time a private walk to retrace their missing kids last steps was independently taken photos of with the tabloid. It really felt such as this type of invasion in to a really, really private grief moment, Sally Dowler mentioned. The happy couple mentioned they later recognized their very own phone, additionally for their kids, happen to be jeopardized. More than twelve News around the world journalists and editors are actually arrested and several senior Murdoch professionals have resigned inside the still-altering scandal. Two top London cops also lost their jobs, along with Camerons media agent. Inside a couple of days the inquiry will pay attention to Harry Potter author Rowling, comedian Steve Coogan, actress Burns and former F1 boss Max Mosley whose taste for sadomasochism was revealed in the broadly marketed News around the world sting. Its a courtroom selection that Britains celebrity-obsessed tabloids want, if possibly they werent individuals inside the pier. Copyright 2011 with the Connected Press. All rights reserved. These elements is probably not launched, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

No-limit rule a boon for global pic parade

Belgium entries The Kid With a Bike and Bullhead are both eligible in the foreign-language film category under the HFPA rule that allows multiple films to be submitted by the same country. 'Bullhead'The Oscars may be America's preeminent film awards, but there's one category in which the Golden Globes have them beat: foreign-language cinema. That makes a certain amount of sense when you consider the makeup of the Hollywood Foreign Press Assn."We consider this category very important because it gives us the feeling that we are international journalists," says Serge Rakhlin, chairman of the Globes' foreign language category, pointing out the org's members travel to many festivals over the course of the year.Whereas the Academy adheres to a decades-old system in which a committee from each country picks one film to compete, the HFPA will consider any overseas pic submitted and screened for the org, provided it opened abroad within the prior 14 months."Unlike the Academy, we don't accept just one per country," Rakhlin says. "By our rules, they can submit as many as they want. There's no limit."That's important for countries such has France, Italy and Spain, which produce many quality features each year. The Academy forces them to choose. "Remember, the Oscar goes to the country, not the filmmaker," says Mark Johnson, chair of the Acad's foreign-language film exec committee. That is seldom easy for a country like Belgium, uniquely divided between two language factions -- French and Flemish.Belgium's committee raised eyebrows this year after picking "Bullhead," the winner of six Flanders Film Awards, over French-language Cannes grand jury winner "The Kid With a Bike," directed by Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne."The Dardenne brothers are like icons," says "Bullhead" helmer Michael R. Roskam, who fully expected the crowd-pleasing "Kid" to get Belgium's bid over his film, a thriller inspired by murder and corruption perpetrated by the country's "hormone mafia" in the '90s."It's an honor, not only to be the representative of your country, but to have such a strong film as your competitor," says Roskam, whose pic won the audience prize at AFI earlier this month.Roskam wasn't the only one surprised by Belgium's choice. The committee had previously submitted three Dardenne pics -- "Rosetta," "The Son" and "The Child," none of which was nommed -- and many consider "Kid," which features a genuine movie star in Cecile de France, to be the Dardennes' most optimistic and Oscar-friendly film yet."We believe there are people who really did not want it to be our film," confides Luc Dardenne. "We could say that our quasi-celebrity status in other countries made certain people jealous, and it can probably be pinned down to that."Whereas the HFPA will consider both "Bullhead" and "Kid" for its foreign-language prize, the Academy is at the mercy of such political maneuvers in other countries. Another 2011 scandal involves Russia's choice of "The Citadel," Nikita Mikhalkov's critically panned follow-up to his Oscar-winning 1994 pic "Burnt by the Sun," for Acad consideration. Passed over were such celebrated alternatives as "Elena" (from "The Return" director Andrei Zvyagintsev) and Aleksandr Sokurov's "Faust" (which won the Golden Lion at Venice)."Being from Russia originally, I can tell you there are people who say there are better films to represent the country," says Rakhlin, pointing out that the only Russian pic up for Globes contention this year is "Elena." "I'm glad we have this film because it was not submitted for Oscar."The HFPA's approach is also better suited to accommodate international co-productions."I sort of refer to it as 'The Motorcycle Diaries' problem," Johnson says. "We were taken to task for not having nominated the movie, but it was never submitted. For whatever reason, no country would claim it, probably because it was such an international film." The film did receive two other noms, original song and adapted screenplay, winning the former.How is that possible? With the Oscars, foreign language is the only feature category in which films do not need a one-week qualifying run on Los Angeles screens to be eligible, though doing so technically allows them to compete in other categories.That happened in 2002, when Spain selected "Mondays in the Sun" over Pedro Almodovar's "Talk to Her," which went on to win a screenwriting Oscar. Spain has taken criticism this year for choosing Agusti Villaronga's "Black Bread" instead of Almodovar's "The Skin I Live in."Such decisions are inevitably painful and potentially controversial. Films can slip through the cracks with the Globes as well, though Rakhlin and other members often go out of their way to encourage producers of quality foreign pics to submit -- the more the merrier."Theoretically, if two masterpieces come from the same country, why not consider them both?" he says.GOLDEN GLOBES PREVIEWRicky didn't lose their number | Peace for a time as org and prodco collaborate | No-limit rule a boon for global pic parade | HFPA denies being starstruck in noms process | Marketing strategies can shift at Globes time | No rest for the bleary-eyed | New kids on the block Contact Peter Debruge at peter.debruge@variety.com

La Dodgers Accuse Fox Sports of attempting to Hinder Team Purchase

The La Dodgers are accusing Fox Sports of unlawfully attempting to hinder efforts to market they and it is assets, including media privileges to future games.our editor recommendsDodgers to Re-Sign Matt Kemp for $160 Million (Report)Time Warner Cable Mulls Bid for L.A. Dodgers TV Privileges (Report)Dodgers Proprietors Frank and Jamie McCourt Achieve Divorce SettlementAmid Dodgers Chaos, Baseball Posts Attendance Rise in 2011Read the Fox Sports Suit Over Dodgers TV RightsFox Sports Chief Talks Dodgers TV Deal, National football league Coverage (Q&A) Fox Sports Talks Out Against Intend to Sell L.A. Dodgers Broadcast Privileges Dodgers lawyers filed a complaint Wednesday in U.S. Personal bankruptcy Court in Delaware, alleging that lawyers for Fox Sports Internet West, which runs the best Ticket regional sports network, sent a "cease and desist" letter towards the Dodgers' financial agent, Blackstone Advisory Partners. Fox had stated Blackstone solicited bids for TV privileges to Dodgers games. ANALYSIS: Why Hollywood Should Purchase the Dodgers Prime Ticket includes a contract to televise Dodgers games through 2013, and also the deal provides the network a unique settling period from March. 15, 2012, through November. 30, 2012. "Permitting others to bid or express interest in media privileges for that Dodgers is really a obvious breach from the letter and spirit from the exclusive settlement term," Fox lawyer Richard Stone authored within the November. 9 letter. The Dodgers, within their complaint, stated the letter "was meant to hinder the purchase from the Dodgers as well as their assets in personal bankruptcy." STORY: 10 Hollywood Gamers Who Could Purchase the La Dodgers Inside a motion filed to the court Saturday, the Dodgers requested U.S. Personal bankruptcy Judge Kevin Gross to approve permitting they to promote its media privileges for 2014 and beyond and also have the Fox exclusive 45-day settling period start whenever a legal court issues a purchase. By "acquiring firm offers, LAD can show purchasers the substantial worth of the publish-2013 telecast privileges," they authored, adding that it is agreement with Mlb requires a purchase to happen by April 30. "LAD has determined within the exercise of their business judgment that marketing the publish-2013 telecast Privileges at this time around will further the interests of LAD, in addition to its creditors." STORY:Frank McCourt to market the Dodgers Fox prosecuted the Dodgers on Sept. 27, requesting an injunction to prevent the Dodgers from acting inside a manner sporadic using the contract. "Case the most recent chapter in the present owner's ongoing plan to prevent praising his contractual obligations," Fox spokesperson Chris Bellitti stated inside a statement Wednesday. "The entire truth of the unfortunate situation will quickly become apparent to any or all.Inch Related Subjects Fox Sports Internet

New on DVD and Blu-ray, Week of November. 15: 'Beginners,' 'Larry Crowne,' 'My Fair Lady' and 'West Side Story'

A set of romantic comedies highlight the house entertainment releases now. At one finish from the spectrum may be the low-key but completely entertaining indie 'Beginners,' an interesting and sad tale of the commitment-phobic youthful guy whose father arrives from the closet in the 70s right before being identified with terminal cancer. In the other finish may be the lackluster 'Larry Crowne,' a star-studded studio production in regards to a middle-aged guy who needs to reinvent themself after losing his lengthy-time job. Small is much better. Continue reading. 'Beginners' How It Is About: Director-author Mike Mills ('Thumbsucker') includes a unique undertake existence within this lovingly told story of the father, a boy along with a dog. Chistopher Plummer plays the daddy, a guy that has hidden his homosexuality from his boy (Ewan McGregor) for many years. Since his wife has died, Plummer decides to spill the beans to McGregor, that has their own issues with women ... he can't appear to invest in one. The hook: Plummer's character is dying of cancer, so there's very little time for that pair to obtain close. But by using an even speaking dog (in subtitles), along with a clever script, father and boy look for a deep bond within this touching and continuously entertaining story. It's Kinda Like: 'Greenberg' meets 'Sideways' What We Should Say: This heartwarming story hits all of the right notes concerning the way family people might stray from one another ... after which get together before time runs out. The script offers its three-dimensional figures with lots of heart and great courage, creating personas and situations which are about just as real as fiction can desire to. Also keep in mind that speaking (and incredibly wise) pooch, who steals the show and shows because the script's humor because the humans do. This charming indie outing has great performances by Plummer and McGregor, by Goran Visnjic and Melanie Laurent because the men's particular enthusiasts. Watch it having a very good friend. &bull Extra supplies: Commentary by author-director Mills, 'A Video Clip About Creating Beginners.' Rotten Tomato plants Reviews Buy DVD Save DVD for your Netflix queue Watch a trailer: 'Larry Crowne' How It Is About: Tom Hanks and Jennifer Aniston get together for any romantic comedy about how exactly it's rarely past too far to reinvent yourself. When he all of a sudden is let go from his lengthy-standing blue-collar job, Ray Crowne (Hanks) enrolls at his local college to begin again. There, he becomes a part of an eclectic community of scholars and evolves a crush on his teacher (Roberts), whose adoration for teaching -- and her husband -- have decreased. Naturally Hanks reinvigorates Roberts while learning their own lesson about finding a person's place on the planet. It's Kinda Like: 'Last Chance Harvey' meets 'Back to School' Exactly what the Experts Say: Regardless of the mega-star energy of Hanks and Roberts, 'Larry Crowne' fizzled in the box office. And also the experts were not fascinated through the film: "If this involves unemployment-designed cinema, I'll go ahead and take greater realism of last year's 'The Company Men' or the 2010 'Everything Must Go' over Hanks's too rosy vision of existence following the pink slip," Time magazine's Mary F. Pols stated. Anthony Lane from the NYer chimed along with "To pluck romantic comedy in the jaws of the social crisis is really a laudable project, worth Preston Sturges, and it is a pity this featherlight drama -- compiled by Tom Hanks and Nia Vardalos, and directed by Hanks themself -- should falter in the task." And, lastly, Ella Taylor of NPR stated: "Neither seafood nor fowl, 'Larry Crowne' skitters between pathos and shtick, wasting abundant acting talent as the story goes.Inch However, David Edelstein of NY Magazine stated "The film may also be gentle to the stage of blandness, but it is never flimsy." And Roger Moore from the Orlando Sentinel hit his lips within the film: "It's perfectly enjoyable ... comfort food -- meatloaf, taters and apple cobbler offered as bubbly Tom Petty and ELO tunes waft in the soundtrack." &bull Extra supplies: Erased moments and behind-the-scene featurettes. Rotten Tomato plants Reviews Buy DVD Save DVD for your Netflix queue Watch a trailer: Blu-ray Debuts: 'My Fair Lady': (1964) George Cukor's classic musical version of George Bernard Shaw's 'Pygmalion' starred Katherine Hepburn -- in the peak of her career -- and Rex Harrison, whose turn as Professor Henry Higgins raised from the dead his sagging career. Though corny by present day standards, the film still stands up, with gorgeous cinematography by Harry Stradling Sr. (who captured pics of the 1939 film version of 'Pygmalion') and wonderful tunes by Lerner and Loewe. 'The Rules from the Game': (1939) One among the finest films available, Jean Renoir's classic is really a scathing critique of corrupt French society cloaked inside a comedy of manners, where a weekend in a marquis's countryside chateau lays bare some ugly facts about several haute bourgeois acquaintances. Still stunning and delightful -- and pertinent -- after seven decades. 'Three Colors: Blue, Whitened, Red': (1993-94) A strongly motion picture trio of tales about love and loss from Krzysztof Kieslowski. The flicks were named for that colors from the French flag and are a symbol of the tenets from the French Revolution -- ­liberty, equality, and fraternity -- with every film while using title symbol to look at several ambiguously interconnected people going through tragedy to comedy within their personal lives. 'Red' was Kieslowski's last film -- he died at 54 throughout open-heart surgery following heart disease in 1996. 'West Side Story': (1961) Five decades after its historic debut, the legendary musical returns inside a 50th anniversary hi-def edition. Having a record-breaking 10 Oscars including Best Picture, Best Pointing and finest Original Score, the 1961 film required home more honours than every other movie-musical within the good reputation for cinema. This monumental production not just features the timeless lyrics from master American composer Stephen Sondheim, but an excellent score from Leonard Bernstein and delightful direction by Robert Smart and co-director and choreographer Jerome Robbins. Stars Natalie Wood, Richard Beymer, Russ Tamblyn, Rita Moreno, George Chakiris, Simon Concord, Ned Glass, William Bramley and Tucker Cruz. Watch a unique Blu-ray clip: Other New November 15 Releases: 'Bellflower': (2011) Close friends Woodrow and Aiden spend all their spare time building "Mad Max"-inspired flamethrowers and muscle cars when preparing for any global apocalypse. However when Woodrow meets a charming youthful lady and falls hard for each other, he and Aiden rapidly integrate right into a new number of buddies, leaving on the journey of affection and hate, unfaithfulness, infidelity, and extreme violence. Written, directed by and starring Glodell, the film is really a sincere story of obsession, friendship, and youthful-love gone awry, featuring Glodell's real-existence masterpieces: homemade flamethrowers along with a fire-spewing 1972 Buick Skylark, Medusa. A shateringly honest and cool film 'Flypaper': (2011) A nervous bank customer attempts to thwart two gangs of thieves -- a higher-tech trio who intend to enter the vault, and 2 dumb hicks whose concept of a large score is knocking from the Automatic teller machines -- who both descend around the building, leaving a gun fight and taking everybody hostage. Stars Patrick Dempsey, Ashley Judd, Jeffrey Tambor, Mekhi Phifer, Curtis Remedy and Tim Blake Nelson. 'Griff the Invisible': (2011) Griff, a shy and awkward office manager during the day, finds avoid his regular, "invisible" existence by presuming the identity of the fantastic super hero each evening. But his secret's compromised when he meets Tune, an adorable but unconventional daydreamer who rapidly becomes intrigued by his idiosyncrasies, that are equal simply to her very own, and who takes it upon herself to save him. A warm, loving "underdog" super hero romance -- that may used tight editing -- with offbeat, engaging figures. Stars Ryan Kwanten and Maeve Dermody. Watch a unique clip: 'Highway Patrol Man': (1999) Director Alex Cox's ('Repo Man') Mexican cult film fav has finally made its method to DVD. Against his father's wishes, Pedro -- a naive kid from Mexico City -- joins the government Highway Patrol but his simple need to do good quickly makes conflict with a realistic look at police operate in a lonely rural atmosphere populated by poor maqui berry farmers, wealthy drug sellers, beautiful women, and the father's ghost. Stars Roberto Sosa, Bruno Bichir and Vanessa Bauche. 'Rio Sex Comedy': (2010) A mixed number of vacationers and site visitors on the working trip end up footloose and underneath the sway from the Brazilian city's erotic spell. Stars Charlotte now Rampling, Bill Pullman, Irene Jacob, Jean-Maric Roulot. 'Walk miles during my Pradas': (2010) Two days before his wedding, a homophobic youthful guy is switched gay -- and the made fun of gay co-worker switched straight -- with a magical Christmas tree. Stars Nathaniel Marston, Tom Archdeacon, Tom Arnold, Mike Starr, Dee Wallace and Kirsten Jum. Take a look at more November 15 DVD releases at OnVideo. Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook

George Clooney is Great

When Moviefone spoke with Shailene Woodley about her role in "The Descendants', she commented on the number of time she's been asked the question, "What was it like to work with George Clooney?" When Jason Reitman was promoting 'Up in the Air,' he created a pie chart that documented the number of times that he was asked each question. Number one? "What was it like to work with George Clooney?" Hey: People love George Clooney! Though, I was curious, what is it like to work with George Clooney? After a quick Google search for "working with George Clooney," here's your answer: apparently it's quite great! (I mean, seriously: great. People, you're just going to have to face facts: George Clooney is pretty great.) "He's great." (Anna Kendrick) "He's great." (Cate Blanchett) "He's great." (Max Minghella) "He's great." (Grant Heslov) "He's great to work with." (Catherine Zeta-Jones) "He's like a little kid" (Renee Zellweger) "George is a great guy to work for." (Max Casella) "It was great, and I heard it would be great." (Paul Giamatti) "We laughed a lot." (Ewan McGregor) "He's such a goofball" (Vera Farmiga) "He wants everyone to have a great time." (Evan Rachel Wood) "He does promise you that you'll have a good time." (Marisa Tomei) "That was a great, great experience." (Rob Huebel) [Photo: Fox Searchlight] Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook You can contact Mike Ryan directly on Twitter

Glenn Beck Talks Digital Media Revolution, Capitalism

NY - Former Fox News host Glenn Beck, who has focused on building digital media offers, said here Tuesday that his emerging multimedia empire may be several years ahead of its time, but will prove that it is on the right track. The host of The Glenn Beck Program and founder of live streaming network GBTV, which charges a subscription fee of $9.95 a month, spoke at Ad Age's ME Conference: Media Evolved in Manhattan in a keynote interview conducted by Betsy Morgan, president of Beck's companion news site The Blaze. GBTV had 230,000 paying subs when it launched, Morgan highlighted, saying that the Mercury Digital Network, which also includes the Blaze, GlennBeck.com and e-commerce site Markdown, overall gets more than 50 percent of its revenue from digital businesses. "I don't consider [ourselves] a digital company," Beck told the conference though. "I consider ourselves more a story telling company and a content company. The way we deliver it is secondary." But he emphasized that focusing on traditional media delivery would have kept him from helping pioneer new models. "We are on the verge of revolution" that is as profound as the Industrial Revolution was, but will happen much faster, Beck said. "We'll find out soon whether we're too early or not." His estimate was that his focus on a new type of media empire may be three to five years ahead of its time. But following a tipping point in the media industry, "delivery as you want it" will become the standard, he predicted. The revolution that is in the works "is all about the individual," he added. "It is so close to the American Revolution. It's about you." He told his audience that as a result, in the future, no media executive would get to tell consumers which show is on or off. "The days of 500 sat channels [are] over," Beck said. "You have to know exactly who you are" and who your audience is. After all, people these days look for myriad opinions on different sites where they know what to expect. In that context, Beck also said that he doesn't know anybody under the age of 30 who watches TV, while many members of the generation age 50-plus are not using iPads. Still, Beck emphasized he feels he must provide TV quality in his online offers. Mentioning that the Today show was just over at his studio, and the Today team was impressed, he said: "If you're going to pioneer this, you have to hit the standard - the old gold standard." That said, he predicted that in the coming years, "television is going to go completely interactive," which will allow for a personalized pace even for complicated news. For example, Beck said he wants to design a system where if he mentions the word "digital," viewers can put their mouse on that word and pull up a dumbed down or "dumbed up" explanation of the word. Asked if all this continuing personalization he expects will mean that ESPN will be available a la carte in the future, meaning that consumers can choose to get or not get it in a pay TV package, Beck said he doesn't expect that much change "for a while." Discussing the names of his online businesses, Beck said the Blaze got its name from the biblical burning bush as fire sometimes protects and sometimes destroys - just like the truth. Meanwhile, GBTV may include his initials in its name, but "I didn't want to name that with my name because what we're building is not about me and can't be about me," he said, adding that all others involved in it wanted his name on it. Comparing GBTV to a Netflix of information, he added: "It must be much bigger." Beck also made a reference to the current debate about the state of capitalism as raised by the Occupy Wall Street movement and others. "We're in an age of capitalism, not socialism," Beck argued. But capitalism has become "dirty" and "full of thieves." That means that capitalism too often has become corruption, he said. Beck also briefly mentioned a new studio that he is building in Texas. One idea for a feature in the studio is a giant screen that shows what people engaged in real-time social media conversations are interested in, he said.Discussing his policy on ads, Beck said he must either personally use a product or has his team do homework on it to decide if he can endorse it. "I guard my credibility," Beck said. For example, he canceled General Motors ads when the company was bailed out by the government. Said Beck: "I can't endorse you while railing against big government bailouts."His advice to marketers is to not discriminate between the political left and right or other distinctions. "Respect the end user[s] even if you don't agree with them," he said. The Hollywood Reporter earlier in the day had exclusively reported that GBTV was partnering with Howard Gordon's Icebox for an animated series. Email: Georg.Szalai@thr.com Twitter: @georgszalai Related Topics Glenn Beck

Ben Stiller shingle in overall deal at ABC Studios

LieblingRed Hour Films is getting into the TV business.Ben Stiller's shingle has signed an overall deal with ABC Studios and brought in Deborah Liebling, formerly president of production at Universal Pictures, to oversee its TV expansion.Pact marks a coup for ABC Studios, which has been beefing up its roster of overall deals. While financial terms were not disclosed, the deal runs through May 2013 with an option for an additional year. No specific projects have been queued up yet for development.Liebling comes to Red Hour after an 18-month stint at Universal, which she exited in May amid a restructuring that saw the elevation of Peter Cramer and Jeffrey Kirschenbaum. Prior to Universal, where she shepherded hit film "Bridesmaids," she spent seven years at 20th Century Fox, the last two of which she served as president of Fox Atomic Pictures. "Borat" and "Dodgeball" came out of the studio under her watch.But Liebling also has solid TV credentials having worked as senior VP, original programming and development, at Comedy Central, where she oversaw hits including "South Park" and "The Man Show." She's also worked in various capacities on productions for nets including MTV, HBO, NBC, Nickelodeon and FX."Debbie is an incredibly talented executive," said Stiller. "I am hoping she helps us get a show on the air that is culturally relevant, groundbreaking, and doesn't get cancelled after 12 episodes."Stiller is no stranger to TV himself, having starred and produced in his own Fox sketch comedy show, in the early 1990s, "The Ben Stiller Show." Even in failure he made a memorable mark on the medium; 1999 pilot "Heat Vision and Jack" starring Jack Black was passed on by Fox, but became a cult classic of sorts.Red Hour remains busy at 20th Century Fox on the film side, where Stiller is currently working on "Neighborhood Watch" in anticipation of a July 2012 release.(Cynthia Littleton contributed to this story.) Contact Andrew Wallenstein at andrew.wallenstein@variety.com

Showtime Renews Weeds For Season 8

After extended discussions with Lionsgate, Showtime has closed a deal with an eighth season of comedy Weeds. Production round the 13-episode eighth season will start next season for just about any 2012 launch. Weeds, created by Jenji Kohan, might be a long-running series on Showtime as well as the most seen comedy. It stars Mary-Louise Parker just like a suburban widow-switched- full-fledged marijuana queenpin. Justin Kirk, Hunter Parrish, Alexander Gould and Kevin Nealon co-star.

Puss In Boots Holds Off Tower Heist At Box Office

First Published: November 6, 2011 2:51 PM EST Credit: Getty Images Caption Salma Hayek and Antonio Banderas arrive at the premiere of Dreamworks Animations Puss In Boots at the Regency Westwood Theatre on October 23, 2011 in Westwood, California.LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Puss in Boots pounced on Tower Heist and Harold & Kumar at the box office. The DreamWorks 3-D animated film, distributed by Paramount Pictures, earned $33 million in its second weekend, according to studio estimates Sunday. The PG-rated film centering on the swashbuckling feline voiced by Antonio Banderas from the Shrek series surprisingly toppled the weekends two new releases, bringing its total haul to $75 million. Universals PG-13 revenge romp Tower Heist starring Ben Stiller and Eddie Murphy snatched $25.1million in the No. 2 spot, while the Warner Bros. R-rated sequel A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas with John Cho and Kal Penn unwrapped $13 million at No. 3. Paul Dergarabedian, box-office analyst for Hollywood.com, said family films are tough to beat out. From the re-release earlier this fall of The Lion King to Dolphin Tale and now Puss in Boots, it seems that the family audience is the one you can really count on right now, said Dergarabedian. I think the cavalry is definitely on the way though. Weve got Immortals and another Twilight coming up, as well as a bunch of big releases in December. Anne Globe, head of worldwide marketing and consumer products at DreamWorks, said the decision to move up the opening of Puss in Boots to last weekend is one reason why the film experienced just a 3-percent drop, the smallest ever for a non-holiday film, ahead of the 10-percent dip for Twister during its second weekend of release in 1996. To be No. 1 again is really extraordinary, said Globe. Its really an unparalleled hold driven by our two-weekend release strategy, which was pretty unprecedented in and of itself. That and the amazing word of mouth has given us tremendous momentum into November, which is a better play period for an event-level movie like Puss in Boots. Another animated film dominated outside of North America. The Adventures of Tintin, which is being distributed overseas by Sony Pictures and Paramount Pictures, scooped up $40.8 million as it grew from 19 to 45 international markets. The 3-D film, directed by Steven Spielberg and adapted from the Belgian comic series, opens Dec. 21 in the United States. The 20th Century Fox science-fiction thriller In Time starring Justin Timberlake fell to No. 5 in U.S. after opening at No. 3 last weekend. In Time clocked better numbers overseas, earning $16.6 million in 53 markets for a second-place finish behind The Adventures of Tintin, while Puss in Boots scratched out third place with $15 million in five international markets. ___ Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Hollywood.com. Where available, latest international numbers are also included. Final domestic figures will be released Monday. 1. Puss in Boots, $33 million. ($15 million international.) 2. Tower Heist, $25.1 million. ($9.5 million international.) 3. A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas, $13 million. 4. Paranormal Activity 3, $8.5 million. ($14.1 million international.) 5. In Time, $7.7 million. ($16.6 million international.) 6. Footloose, $4.5 million. 7. Real Steel, $3.4 million. ($10.7 million international.) 8. The Rum Diary, $2.9 million. 9. The Ides of March, $2 million. 10. Moneyball, $1.9 million. Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Bad Movies We Like: Hocus Pocus

Create a cauldron of haterade, as this week’s Bad Movie We Like is really a foray into children’s Halloween cinema. It’s a good deal bin Addams Family ripoff with spooky wind gusts beneath its wings. It’s Hocus Pocus, my pretties, Disney’s perennial Halloween favorite for those who were exactly 7 in 1993. (Present!) We’ve got yer veteran character stars in hag attire, a few winning child stars, and 2 tunes which should render you songless until Thanksgiving. No, this isn't a prequel to Sex and also the City 2. Director Kenny Ortega (!!!) includes a tale on his hands that will send chills throughout Sleepy Hollow: Three ghouls (Bette Midler, Kathy Najimy, Nicole Kidman) hanged in Salem, Massachusetts within the 1600s return 300 years later to terrorize two youngsters (Thora Birch and Omri Katz), because of a curse positioned on their physiques. There’s several business including an immortal cat, but you need to simply refer to this as flick The Excrucible, virtually. Like several Bad Movies We Like, you will find five great perks worth returning to here, and that we ask them to all totalled lower. Discuss a Ghost World — now’s selection is damn haunted! 5. At 11, Thora Birch understood how you can matter. Sure, she’s not really the little one star who functions as our primary protagonist (that recognition goes to Omri Katz, whose character hilariously needs to keep saying his virginity — though his floppy hair continues to be envy of early 󈨞s fifth graders), but Thora Birch is fairly fresh as youthful Dani. She’d achieve her true potential in American Beauty, but her performance is the fact that rare version of precociousness that doesn’t appear unbelievable on camera. She’s wise, although not a grownup hiding inside a kid’s body. Refreshing. Not creepy. Tolerable. 4. Am I purchasing discount leopard heels? Since it seems we’re at “Marshalls.” Please click to at least one:50 which are more confusing set of cameos from Garry and Cent Marshall. What's this, Lost in the usa? How are Marshall cameos even legal in 1993. They’re a husband and wife here (chills), plus they’re also pretty goddamn tired of this movie, it seems. I don’t understand what or whose favor reeled them in to the picture, however their participation is really a glamorously dada moment such pedestrian fare. Discuss Awakenings! I won’t sleep for the days. 3. Remember when Nicole Kidman ruled? I introduced this up before, but Nicole Kidman was once pretty unpredictable being an in-demand Hollywood thespian. Before Barbara Bradshaw set her up for existence like a bonily chic romcom star, SJP required on character roles that may best be referred to as “wacky.” I possibly could are in position to rewatch L.A. Story and, hell, Honeymoon in Las vegas. As well as Mars Attacks! (again). Here, as witch Sarah Sanderson, she stays the majority of her screentime working up giggles and witchy shivers throughout All Hallow’s Eve. She’s brassy! And frightening! I don’t understand how she will it, but actual witchcraft is formally not unthinkable. Just putting it available: Kim Cattrall might have stolen her Samantha Johnson laugh from SJP’s operate in this movie. 2. Remember when Nicole Kidman wooed children for their disaster? Hocus Pocus is really a genuine cult sensation, and i believe area of the reason is Nicole Kidman’s creepy, yet oddly alluring siren song “Come Small Children.” Sure, she’s caressing a broom while soothing naive children, but she makes their disaster seem as an irresistible dollop of Mint Chocolate Nick frozen treats. Benefit from the succulence of dying, sweet kids. Just watch and gawp beside me. 1. Bette Midler puts a spell you, also it’s got soul. Onetime Oscar nominee Bette Midler is really a three-layer sassafras casserole in Hocus Pocus, and her enthusiasm only multiplies as mind witch Winifred Sanderson throughout the path of the film. Some solid one-inserts from Winnie: “Oh, look. Another glorious morning. Makes me sick.” Less than Morticia Addams, but adequate. Or: “You know, I’ve always wanted a young child. And today I believe I’ll have one… on toast!” Both amusing and lame! Thanks, Hocus Pocus. But Midler’s courageous campiness culminates inside a near-unparalleled rendition of “I Put a Spell you” later within the movie. Could it be embarrassing? Not necessarily. Well, not whenever you realize the karaoke disaster it might’ve been. Nicole Kidman, how may you engage in a couple of the nuttiest karaoke segments from the cinema’s past two decades? How? It bears repeating: I. Don’t. Know. How. She. Does. It. Follow Louis Virtel on Twitter. Follow Movieline on Twitter.