The Los Angeles Times came weather-wrapped Thursday morning. There was more plastic than paper, or so it seemed. There wasn’t even enough paper, apparently, to run a proper obituary for Chuck Philips, the Pulitzer Prize-winning former Times reporter who died last month.
Details about Chuck’s passing have been sparse — he is said to have requested no postmortem attention. But the Times did manage to print a brief, paid death notice for three days running. Go figure.
Chuck, as is well known in these parts, lost his job after succumbing to a hoax in his long quest to untangle the deadly rap music wars. He later said that a humiliating Page 1 apology and retraction in the Times was overblown and inaccurate. Be that as it may, he never lost the love and respect of colleagues, including myself, who found him a joy to know.
Dave Robb. Cari Beauchamp. Chuck Philips.
Details about Chuck’s passing have been sparse — he is said to have requested no postmortem attention. But the Times did manage to print a brief, paid death notice for three days running. Go figure.
Chuck, as is well known in these parts, lost his job after succumbing to a hoax in his long quest to untangle the deadly rap music wars. He later said that a humiliating Page 1 apology and retraction in the Times was overblown and inaccurate. Be that as it may, he never lost the love and respect of colleagues, including myself, who found him a joy to know.
Dave Robb. Cari Beauchamp. Chuck Philips.
- 2/2/2024
- by Michael Cieply
- Deadline Film + TV
The last time WGA picket lines formed in 2007, writers didn’t have an efficient way to communicate with fellow strikers about group meet-ups, illegal productions, and all those clever placards. The only place they could turn to for regular information was this very space, in which the late Nikki Finke would post regular missives about strike action, the broken-off negotiations and the financial impact of the 100-day work stoppage.
My, have times changed. Even with the new and so-not-improved platform under Elon Musk, Twitter has become the go-to town square for writers looking for either marching orders or just plain encouragement from their fellow strikers. When writers aren’t trying to boost morale, they are posting selfies from the picket lines and sharing locations where more reinforcements are needed to battle the AMPTP, the trade association representing the entertainment companies.
“Twitter has turned into an invaluable tool in getting picketers to our lines,...
My, have times changed. Even with the new and so-not-improved platform under Elon Musk, Twitter has become the go-to town square for writers looking for either marching orders or just plain encouragement from their fellow strikers. When writers aren’t trying to boost morale, they are posting selfies from the picket lines and sharing locations where more reinforcements are needed to battle the AMPTP, the trade association representing the entertainment companies.
“Twitter has turned into an invaluable tool in getting picketers to our lines,...
- 5/22/2023
- by Lynette Rice
- Deadline Film + TV
Apple TV+ is in the awards mix for the Ryan Reynolds-Will Ferrell musical Spirited, in particular for the big song-and-dance number “Good Afternoon” that has made the Oscar shortlists. This is a rip-roaring full-blown musical number, one that tests the stars’ ability to not only sing, but dance as well. Here, Reynolds, who suggested the song, discusses pulling it off with songwriters Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, best known for La La Land and for teaming with Hugh Jackman on The Greatest Showman. The same Jackman who is publicly campaigned against the tune for fear that Reynolds will be extra insufferable when they reprise their superhero characters Deadpool and Wolverine.
Deadline: This is quite a musical number, and if you guys get the nomination, it may be the first time for a nominated song that has the lyric “ass-less chaps.”
Ryan Reynolds: That might be worthy of its 20/20 special.
Deadline: This is quite a musical number, and if you guys get the nomination, it may be the first time for a nominated song that has the lyric “ass-less chaps.”
Ryan Reynolds: That might be worthy of its 20/20 special.
- 1/16/2023
- by Mike Fleming Jr
- Deadline Film + TV
It was another difficult year in 2022, and the sadness extended to many beloved and groundbreaking people in the show business and media worlds who died during the past 12 months.
Scroll through a photo gallery above, which also includes the obituaries.
The acting world lost giants including Sidney Poitier and Angela Lansbury, along with such big names as James Caan, Anne Heche, Bob Saget, Kirstie Alley, Ray Liotta, Nichelle Nichols, William Hurt, Louise Fletcher, Robert Clary, Emilio Delgado, Sally Kellerman, Robbie Coltrane, Monica Vitti, Leslie Jordan, John Aniston, Tony Sirico, Charlbi Dean, Tony Dow, Irene Papas, Howard Hesseman and Seinfeld moms Estelle Harris and Liz Sheridan.
We also pay tribute to directors including Ivan Reitman, Peter Bogdanovich and Marvin J. Chomsky.
Musicians who left us this past year include Jerry Lee Lewis, Loretta Lynn, Olivia Newton-John, Meat Loaf, Ronnie Spector, Naomi Judd, Ramsey Lewis, Stephen “tWitch” Boss and Coolio. Many key...
Scroll through a photo gallery above, which also includes the obituaries.
The acting world lost giants including Sidney Poitier and Angela Lansbury, along with such big names as James Caan, Anne Heche, Bob Saget, Kirstie Alley, Ray Liotta, Nichelle Nichols, William Hurt, Louise Fletcher, Robert Clary, Emilio Delgado, Sally Kellerman, Robbie Coltrane, Monica Vitti, Leslie Jordan, John Aniston, Tony Sirico, Charlbi Dean, Tony Dow, Irene Papas, Howard Hesseman and Seinfeld moms Estelle Harris and Liz Sheridan.
We also pay tribute to directors including Ivan Reitman, Peter Bogdanovich and Marvin J. Chomsky.
Musicians who left us this past year include Jerry Lee Lewis, Loretta Lynn, Olivia Newton-John, Meat Loaf, Ronnie Spector, Naomi Judd, Ramsey Lewis, Stephen “tWitch” Boss and Coolio. Many key...
- 12/31/2022
- by Erik Pedersen
- Deadline Film + TV
Click here to read the full article.
In 2022, Hollywood said goodbye to many actors, singers, performers, creatives, executives and all-around industry icons who had a great impact on the entertainment world during their lifetimes.
The Hollywood Reporter is highlighting some of the most well-known names who died in 2022.
Below are this year’s most notable deaths in Hollywood.
Kirstie Alley Kirstie Alley
Kirstie Alley, the Emmy-winning comic actress known for her turns on Cheers, Veronica’s Closet and the three Look Who’s Talking films, died in December. She was 71. Full obituary.
Louie Anderson
Louie Anderson, the big-hearted everyman who rose to fame as a stand-up comic, then channeled the spirit of his late mother for his Emmy-winning turn as Christine Baskets on the FX series Baskets, died on Jan. 21. He was 68. Read his obituary.
Peter Bogdanovich Peter Bogdanovich
Peter Bogdanovich, the Oscar-nominated writer-director of The Last Picture Show whose career, which...
In 2022, Hollywood said goodbye to many actors, singers, performers, creatives, executives and all-around industry icons who had a great impact on the entertainment world during their lifetimes.
The Hollywood Reporter is highlighting some of the most well-known names who died in 2022.
Below are this year’s most notable deaths in Hollywood.
Kirstie Alley Kirstie Alley
Kirstie Alley, the Emmy-winning comic actress known for her turns on Cheers, Veronica’s Closet and the three Look Who’s Talking films, died in December. She was 71. Full obituary.
Louie Anderson
Louie Anderson, the big-hearted everyman who rose to fame as a stand-up comic, then channeled the spirit of his late mother for his Emmy-winning turn as Christine Baskets on the FX series Baskets, died on Jan. 21. He was 68. Read his obituary.
Peter Bogdanovich Peter Bogdanovich
Peter Bogdanovich, the Oscar-nominated writer-director of The Last Picture Show whose career, which...
- 12/31/2022
- by Carly Thomas, Editor
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Robert Joseph “Bob” Dowling, the former publisher and editor in chief of The Hollywood Reporter for 17 years, died December 30 after a short illness. He was 83.
Born on on September 16, 1939, on Long Island in New York, Dowling was given up by his birth mother and spent his first three years in a series of foster homes before his final adoption. Dowling believed that the sense of unease this created in him would drive his lifelong capacity to instinctively recognize motivations and quickly assess situations.
Related Story Hollywood & Media Deaths In 2022: Photo Gallery Related Story THR Hires Associated Press' Nekesa Mumbi Moody As Editorial Director Related Story Hollywood Reporter Publisher Lynne Segall Out, Trade Hit With More Layoffs From Valence Media – Update
Dowling was a natural salesman. As he described in his 2019 memoir “My Life…and Then Some,” selling became second nature to him due to his ability to empathize with...
Born on on September 16, 1939, on Long Island in New York, Dowling was given up by his birth mother and spent his first three years in a series of foster homes before his final adoption. Dowling believed that the sense of unease this created in him would drive his lifelong capacity to instinctively recognize motivations and quickly assess situations.
Related Story Hollywood & Media Deaths In 2022: Photo Gallery Related Story THR Hires Associated Press' Nekesa Mumbi Moody As Editorial Director Related Story Hollywood Reporter Publisher Lynne Segall Out, Trade Hit With More Layoffs From Valence Media – Update
Dowling was a natural salesman. As he described in his 2019 memoir “My Life…and Then Some,” selling became second nature to him due to his ability to empathize with...
- 12/30/2022
- by Lynette Rice
- Deadline Film + TV
It was fascinating to see my good colleague Valerie Complex describe, in her review of the Antoine Fuqua/Will Smith slavery drama Emancipation, having almost walked out of the film, not because it was unworthy, but because she found the depiction of Black suffering and death almost too much to watch.
In the end, Complex stuck with it. But her review ended with perhaps the most moving plea I’ve ever seen from a critic. “There has to be another way to tell these stories,” she wrote. “There has to be another way.”
Wow.
Sometimes, if you take movies seriously enough, you actually have to look away. Even the good ones—especially the good ones, perhaps—can be too intense, or too direct, or too emotionally unsettling for a thoughtful viewer.
So, very occasionally, you have to walk out. Many, I know, regard this as a crime against cinema. Every movie,...
In the end, Complex stuck with it. But her review ended with perhaps the most moving plea I’ve ever seen from a critic. “There has to be another way to tell these stories,” she wrote. “There has to be another way.”
Wow.
Sometimes, if you take movies seriously enough, you actually have to look away. Even the good ones—especially the good ones, perhaps—can be too intense, or too direct, or too emotionally unsettling for a thoughtful viewer.
So, very occasionally, you have to walk out. Many, I know, regard this as a crime against cinema. Every movie,...
- 12/2/2022
- by Michael Cieply
- Deadline Film + TV
Click here to read the full article.
The news that Nikki Finke — the cantankerous trade blogger who traumatized and entertained Hollywood in equal measure with her vendetta-based brand of entertainment journalism — died Sunday at 68 dislodged a tidal wave of not-so-fond memories in this town.
Her reign of terror kicked into high gear when she moved her column Deadline Hollywood from L.A. Weekly over to Penske Media Corporation, owner of The Hollywood Reporter, in 2009; she walked away in 2013 after clashing with the ownership. During that time, Finke had grown so legendary that she even served as inspiration for an HBO dramedy.
Tilda was co-conceived by Dreamgirls director Bill Condon and Tell Me You Love Me creator Cynthia Mort. It featured a starry cast, headlined by Diane Keaton as Tilda Watski, a character based on Finke’s persona; and Elliot Page, who played a studio assistant who gets ensnared in her web.
The news that Nikki Finke — the cantankerous trade blogger who traumatized and entertained Hollywood in equal measure with her vendetta-based brand of entertainment journalism — died Sunday at 68 dislodged a tidal wave of not-so-fond memories in this town.
Her reign of terror kicked into high gear when she moved her column Deadline Hollywood from L.A. Weekly over to Penske Media Corporation, owner of The Hollywood Reporter, in 2009; she walked away in 2013 after clashing with the ownership. During that time, Finke had grown so legendary that she even served as inspiration for an HBO dramedy.
Tilda was co-conceived by Dreamgirls director Bill Condon and Tell Me You Love Me creator Cynthia Mort. It featured a starry cast, headlined by Diane Keaton as Tilda Watski, a character based on Finke’s persona; and Elliot Page, who played a studio assistant who gets ensnared in her web.
- 10/12/2022
- by Seth Abramovitch
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Eileen Ryan, veteran actress and mother to composer and songwriter Michael Penn and actors Sean Penn and Christopher Penn, died at her home this past Sunday at the age of 94, her reps tell TheWrap.
Born in New York City in 1927, Ryan married actor and director Leo Penn in 1957 after meeting him at rehearsals for “The Iceman Cometh,” remaining together until Penn’s death in 1998. Over her nearly 60-year career in television, Ryan appeared in bit roles on episodes of various famous television shows, including the “Twilight Zone” episode “A World of Difference” where she plays the ex-wife of a businessman who discovers that his life is actually a role in a TV show, and that he is actually a failing actor on the verge of insolvency.
Also Read:
Nikki Finke, Pioneering Journalist and Scourge of Hollywood, Dies at 68
Ryan also had cameos on shows including “Bonanza,” “Little House on the Prairie,...
Born in New York City in 1927, Ryan married actor and director Leo Penn in 1957 after meeting him at rehearsals for “The Iceman Cometh,” remaining together until Penn’s death in 1998. Over her nearly 60-year career in television, Ryan appeared in bit roles on episodes of various famous television shows, including the “Twilight Zone” episode “A World of Difference” where she plays the ex-wife of a businessman who discovers that his life is actually a role in a TV show, and that he is actually a failing actor on the verge of insolvency.
Also Read:
Nikki Finke, Pioneering Journalist and Scourge of Hollywood, Dies at 68
Ryan also had cameos on shows including “Bonanza,” “Little House on the Prairie,...
- 10/10/2022
- by Jeremy Fuster
- The Wrap
Nikki Finke was terrifying.
When the late Hollywood journalist called — the phone was her weapon of choice — the most powerful players in Hollywood shivered. That’s because she could write anything, and there was nobody to call if you didn’t like what she wrote. I learned this the hard way, even though we were friendly over the years: We had lunch at Hugo’s, shared a storage unit, and spent hours together in her West Hollywood apartment as I tried in vain to get her to press “send” on her brilliant CAA chapter for Premiere Magazine, which was scheduled in two subsequent issues but never ran.
Nor did her much-touted book ever get published, as publishers hired co-writers in vain; over the years, Finke’s cogent agency reporting eventually wound up on Deadline. And Finke participated (by phone) in a 2005 meeting with David Poland, Jeffrey Wells, and me about possibly launching a website.
When the late Hollywood journalist called — the phone was her weapon of choice — the most powerful players in Hollywood shivered. That’s because she could write anything, and there was nobody to call if you didn’t like what she wrote. I learned this the hard way, even though we were friendly over the years: We had lunch at Hugo’s, shared a storage unit, and spent hours together in her West Hollywood apartment as I tried in vain to get her to press “send” on her brilliant CAA chapter for Premiere Magazine, which was scheduled in two subsequent issues but never ran.
Nor did her much-touted book ever get published, as publishers hired co-writers in vain; over the years, Finke’s cogent agency reporting eventually wound up on Deadline. And Finke participated (by phone) in a 2005 meeting with David Poland, Jeffrey Wells, and me about possibly launching a website.
- 10/9/2022
- by Anne Thompson
- Indiewire
As Hurricane Ian roared through Florida last week, I was thinking of Nikki Finke, who had moved to the state four years ago but now was living under hospice care in Boca Raton, the result of a long and involved illness that finally took her life in the early hours of Sunday at the age of 68.
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Finke founded Deadline in 2006 and eventually watched it build powerful, gale-force winds as it took on Variety and The Hollywood Reporter, 100-year-old institutions, and leveled the playing field among the entertainment trades changing forever the way Hollywood would be covered in the new digital age. Yes, Hurricane Nikki did it, forcing Variety and THR online to Deadline turf and...
Related Story Nikki Finke Dies: Deadline Founder & Longtime Entertainment Journalist Was 68 Related Story Deadline Hires Former Business Insider Journalist Zac Ntim As International Film Reporter Related Story Liz Shackleton Joins Deadline As Contributing Editor, Asia
Finke founded Deadline in 2006 and eventually watched it build powerful, gale-force winds as it took on Variety and The Hollywood Reporter, 100-year-old institutions, and leveled the playing field among the entertainment trades changing forever the way Hollywood would be covered in the new digital age. Yes, Hurricane Nikki did it, forcing Variety and THR online to Deadline turf and...
- 10/9/2022
- by Pete Hammond
- Deadline Film + TV
Nikki Finke, the longtime entertainment journalist who reshaped the business of covering Hollywood, has died at the age of 68 after a prolonged battle with an undisclosed illness. The news was confirmed by Deadline, the publication she founded.
After early stints with the Associated Press, Newsweek, the Los Angeles Times, and The New York Observer, Finke rose to prominence when she launched her Deadline Hollywood column for LA Weekly in 2002. The column was notable for Finke’s distinctive voice, unflinching coverage of Hollywood’s most powerful figures, and willingness to shatter industry norms. Finke eventually spun off the column into a blog first known as Deadline Hollywood Daily and later truncated to Deadline Hollywood, which allowed her to break stories without the rigidity of a scheduled column.
Deadline soon grew into one of Hollywood’s most-read publications, with readers relying on Finke’s well-placed sources and sarcastic commentary. Finke was one...
After early stints with the Associated Press, Newsweek, the Los Angeles Times, and The New York Observer, Finke rose to prominence when she launched her Deadline Hollywood column for LA Weekly in 2002. The column was notable for Finke’s distinctive voice, unflinching coverage of Hollywood’s most powerful figures, and willingness to shatter industry norms. Finke eventually spun off the column into a blog first known as Deadline Hollywood Daily and later truncated to Deadline Hollywood, which allowed her to break stories without the rigidity of a scheduled column.
Deadline soon grew into one of Hollywood’s most-read publications, with readers relying on Finke’s well-placed sources and sarcastic commentary. Finke was one...
- 10/9/2022
- by Christian Zilko
- Indiewire
Click here to read the full article.
Nikki Finke, the polarizing entertainment journalist who founded the website Deadline and wielded immense power by focusing an acerbic and unrelenting lens on Hollywood, has died. She was 68.
Finke died Sunday in Boca Raton, Florida, following a prolonged illness, a family spokesperson told The Hollywood Reporter.
At L.A. Weekly, Finke headed its Deadline Hollywood Daily column from 2002-09. In 2006, she launched Deadline Hollywood Daily, an around-the-clock online version, and became a key source of news surrounding the 2007 WGA strike.
That year, The New York Times‘ Brian Stelter wrote that Finke’s blog had “become a critical forum for Hollywood news and gossip, known for analyzing (in sometimes insulting terms) the behind-the-scenes maneuvering of moguls,” with her reporting on the strike ultimately solidifying “her position as a Hollywood power broker.”
Finke landed scoops with a cut-throat style that both impressed and incensed industry members.
Nikki Finke, the polarizing entertainment journalist who founded the website Deadline and wielded immense power by focusing an acerbic and unrelenting lens on Hollywood, has died. She was 68.
Finke died Sunday in Boca Raton, Florida, following a prolonged illness, a family spokesperson told The Hollywood Reporter.
At L.A. Weekly, Finke headed its Deadline Hollywood Daily column from 2002-09. In 2006, she launched Deadline Hollywood Daily, an around-the-clock online version, and became a key source of news surrounding the 2007 WGA strike.
That year, The New York Times‘ Brian Stelter wrote that Finke’s blog had “become a critical forum for Hollywood news and gossip, known for analyzing (in sometimes insulting terms) the behind-the-scenes maneuvering of moguls,” with her reporting on the strike ultimately solidifying “her position as a Hollywood power broker.”
Finke landed scoops with a cut-throat style that both impressed and incensed industry members.
- 10/9/2022
- by Abbey White
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Nikki Finke, the veteran entertainment journalist who founded Deadline in 2006 and helped grow it into a major player among Hollywood trades, died Sunday morning in Boca Raton, Fl after a prolonged illness. She was 68.
Related Story R.I.P. Nikki Finke: An Appreciation Of A Fierce Game-Changer Related Story Deadline Hires Former Business Insider Journalist Zac Ntim As International Film Reporter Related Story Liz Shackleton Joins Deadline As Contributing Editor, Asia
The famously reclusive Finke founded her site as Deadline Hollywood Daily, the 24/7 Internet version of her long-running print column “Deadline Hollywood” for LA Weekly. She posted firsthand accounts of how she saw the entertainment business and was unfazed about dressing down its biggest players. Her often biting, acerbic posts called out wrongdoing and wrongdoers as she saw fit — making her a hero to many assistants and below-the-liners while irking many in the C-suites who were not used to anything less than praise.
Related Story R.I.P. Nikki Finke: An Appreciation Of A Fierce Game-Changer Related Story Deadline Hires Former Business Insider Journalist Zac Ntim As International Film Reporter Related Story Liz Shackleton Joins Deadline As Contributing Editor, Asia
The famously reclusive Finke founded her site as Deadline Hollywood Daily, the 24/7 Internet version of her long-running print column “Deadline Hollywood” for LA Weekly. She posted firsthand accounts of how she saw the entertainment business and was unfazed about dressing down its biggest players. Her often biting, acerbic posts called out wrongdoing and wrongdoers as she saw fit — making her a hero to many assistants and below-the-liners while irking many in the C-suites who were not used to anything less than praise.
- 10/9/2022
- by Erik Pedersen
- Deadline Film + TV
Back in 2002, at a Melrose tea shop, David Poland, Jeffrey Wells, Nikki Finke (via speakerphone), and I met to discuss launching a joint online venture. We were all early online adopters who saw the future that freedom from print could bring.
We threw plenty of ideas around that afternoon, many of which wound up on our respective websites, and opted to go our separate ways. Jeff Wells is still publishing Hollywood Elsewhere; Finke wound up selling her Deadline Hollywood site to Jay Penske’s Pmc (which now owns IndieWire); I created the first blog at The Hollywood Reporter, Risky Business, followed by Thompson on Hollywood at Variety, which I took to IndieWire in 2009; and Poland founded Movie City News, which he is finally letting go.
In his Wednesday farewell The Hot Blog post, Poland tries to assess the changing media landscape that led to his desire “to work for the other team,...
We threw plenty of ideas around that afternoon, many of which wound up on our respective websites, and opted to go our separate ways. Jeff Wells is still publishing Hollywood Elsewhere; Finke wound up selling her Deadline Hollywood site to Jay Penske’s Pmc (which now owns IndieWire); I created the first blog at The Hollywood Reporter, Risky Business, followed by Thompson on Hollywood at Variety, which I took to IndieWire in 2009; and Poland founded Movie City News, which he is finally letting go.
In his Wednesday farewell The Hot Blog post, Poland tries to assess the changing media landscape that led to his desire “to work for the other team,...
- 6/21/2018
- by Anne Thompson
- Indiewire
Deadline marks its 10th anniversary as a digital news breaking enterprise with a throwback initiative: our first ever print magazine at the Cannes Film Festival. Given the formative years of this publication, it seemed a natural to celebrate the idea of disruption. From evolving distribution platforms to the growing importance of China, the film business is changing rapidly. In times like these, the world belongs to those who see past the anxiety and chaos of change, and instead see an opportunity to change the game. Our collection of disruptors includes the likes of Peter Jackson (on his career and the potential of Screening Room), Netflix’s Ted Sarandos, Amazon’s Roy Price, director and slate co-financier Brett Ratner, directors Ang Lee, Jodie Foster, Nicolas Winding Refn and Jeff Nichols; Wild Bunch co-founder Vincent Maraval, Canal Plus chairman Vincent Bollore, Bright screenwriter Max Landis, and Mario Kassar, the Carolco Pictures co-founder...
- 5/11/2016
- by Nikki Finke
- Deadline Film + TV
On Thursday, Deadline.com's Nikki Finke acquired a strongly worded email from self-employed agent Ryan Hayden, founder of Ideal Talent Agency, to his clients. In the email, which he sent late Tuesday night, Hayden admonished actors for bothering him about "small stuff" during this year's busy pilot season, and threatened to drop anyone from his roster who he felt was wasting his time with questions. Finke called Hayden's open letter the reason "why actors hate agents at pilot season."Read excerpts from Hayden's email below. (Visit Deadline.com to read the full letter.)"During the next month, if what you're calling or emailing me about does not pertain in some way to a major feature film role that you know definitively is currently casting or does not pertain to a series regular role, I do not want to know about it. Period."If you have an issue with that, I ask that you kindly find.
- 2/3/2012
- by help@backstage.com (Daniel Lehman)
- backstage.com
After Emma Roberts backed out of 'Spring Breakers,' Selena Gomez's good friend and 'Pretty Little Liars' star, Ashley Benson, was cast. How fun for them! Selena Gomez's upcoming indie film with James Franco and Vanessa Hudgens is also going to star her friend, Ashley Benson, reports our sister site, Deadline Hollywood. "Deadline has learned Pretty Little Liars co-star Ashley Benson just booked a role," Nikki Finke says. "But two weeks ago Emma Roberts fell out of the movie. So with a February 12 starting date in Florida, Spring Breakers is still looking for its fourth girl." Written by Harmony Korine, Spring Breakers is about four college girls who rob a restaurant in order to get money for their trip to the beach with “a rapping drug and arms dealer who bails them out of jail and entices them to kill his arch-rival,” who would be played by James.
- 1/30/2012
- by Kirstin Benson
- HollywoodLife
Fellow mentor Nicole Scherzinger and host Steve Jones are also out; a source tells Deadline 'none of the three left on their own accord.'
By Kara Warner
Paula Abdul
Photo: Mark Davis/ Gety Images
For any "X Factor" fans who are thinking season two of the Simon Cowell-created singing competition will be business as usual, think again, because Monday (January 30) marked a veritable bloodletting of the show's key talent and judging panel.
In addition to the losses of mentor Nicole Scherzinger and host Steve Jones, original "American Idol" diva and delightfully unpredictable judge Paula Abdul will also not be returning to the program. A source close to Cowell told Deadline.com that all three personalities were asked to leave the show.
"None of the three left on their own accord," Deadline editor Nikki Finke wrote of what her insider source told her of the mass exodus. "It was...
By Kara Warner
Paula Abdul
Photo: Mark Davis/ Gety Images
For any "X Factor" fans who are thinking season two of the Simon Cowell-created singing competition will be business as usual, think again, because Monday (January 30) marked a veritable bloodletting of the show's key talent and judging panel.
In addition to the losses of mentor Nicole Scherzinger and host Steve Jones, original "American Idol" diva and delightfully unpredictable judge Paula Abdul will also not be returning to the program. A source close to Cowell told Deadline.com that all three personalities were asked to leave the show.
"None of the three left on their own accord," Deadline editor Nikki Finke wrote of what her insider source told her of the mass exodus. "It was...
- 1/30/2012
- MTV Music News
Nikki Finke reports the auditorium was evacuated 20 minutes ago, but apparently the Red Carpet has been given the all-clear again now: The entire Shrine Auditorium, where the SAG Awards …...
- 1/29/2012
- by Ryan Adams
- AwardsDaily.com
Coverage from The Deadline Team’s Nikki Finke and Ray Richmond. Los Angeles – The Directors Guild of America tonight announced the DGA Awards for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in film, television, and commercials for the year 2011 at the 64th Annual DGA Awards Dinner in the Grand Ballroom at Hollywood & Highland. The DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film has traditionally been one of the industry’s most accurate barometers for who will win the Best Director Academy Award. Only 6 times has the DGA Award winner not won the Oscar for Best Director (1968/Carol Reed for Oliver!; 1972/Bob Fosse for Cabaret; 1985/Sydney Pollack for Out of Africa; 1995/Mel Gibson for Braveheart); 2000/Steven Soderbergh for Traffic; 2002/Roman Polanski for The Pianist). DGA President Taylor Hackford made welcoming remarks and led the room in a toast to the late Gil Cates, the celebrated director and guild leader. Master of Ceremonies Kelsey Grammer...
- 1/29/2012
- by THE DEADLINE TEAM
- Deadline TV
With female scriptwriters behind some of the biggest movies, from Juno to Kung Fu Panda 2, it seems the sexism barrier has been lifted. But has it?
Next week the Athena Film Festival will open at Barnard College in New York. The showcase, which commences on 9 February and is in its second year, is aimed at celebrating women film-makers and rewarding their art and successes. It will consist of screenings, awards and the usual parties, but with a feminist slant. Among those getting accolades will be a group of women in Hollywood known as "the Fempire".
The Fempire consists of screenwriters Diablo Cody, Dana Fox, Liz Meriwether and Lorene Scafaria, who between them have worked on films that range from the quirky indie smash hit Juno to the big mainstream Hollywood comedy Couples Retreat. According to Melissa Silverstein, co-founder of the Athena festival, and the woman behind the acclaimed Women and Hollywood blog,...
Next week the Athena Film Festival will open at Barnard College in New York. The showcase, which commences on 9 February and is in its second year, is aimed at celebrating women film-makers and rewarding their art and successes. It will consist of screenings, awards and the usual parties, but with a feminist slant. Among those getting accolades will be a group of women in Hollywood known as "the Fempire".
The Fempire consists of screenwriters Diablo Cody, Dana Fox, Liz Meriwether and Lorene Scafaria, who between them have worked on films that range from the quirky indie smash hit Juno to the big mainstream Hollywood comedy Couples Retreat. According to Melissa Silverstein, co-founder of the Athena festival, and the woman behind the acclaimed Women and Hollywood blog,...
- 1/29/2012
- by Paul Harris
- The Guardian - Film News
Freelance journalist Dominic Patten is covering the trial for Deadline. Golden Globes Courtroom Sideshow Begins 2Nd Update: Judge agreed later today that Dick Clark doesn’t have to testify in person and excerpts from his videotaped deposition will suffice. Lawyers still trying over this weekend to get Moonves out of testifying either Tuesday or Wednesday. Update:cbs mogul Les Moonves just phoned Nikki Finke to say he tried not to testify in person at the Golden Globes trial. His attorneys thought they’d gotten him out of being a plaintiff witness for the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. ”I did do a deposition on tape. But the judge didn’t allow it. So I am going to testify.” Moonves made his videotaped deposition during the summer of 2011. He’s a pivotal witness because the Hollywood Foreign Press Association would like to open up a dialogue with other networks and not just have...
- 1/27/2012
- by THE DEADLINE TEAM
- Deadline TV
"So where was I?"began Ricky Gervais during opening monologue at the 69th annual Golden Globes on Sunday night. "Nervous? Don't be. This isn't about you." And perhaps that was the problem with what had been created in the year since Gervais last hosted the Golden Globes: the ceremony became less about who Gervais would roast and more about how Gervais would do the roasting. As a result, many were disappointed.
"After weeks of media speculation about what Gervais would do at the Hollywood Foreign Press Association's annual awardsfest, Gervais' performance as host was decidedly anti-climactic and underwhelming,"wrote Huffington Post television critic Maureen Ryan. "Its general mediocrity gave the ceremony as a whole a certain deflated quality."
Ryan wasn't alone. "It's as if Ricky is playing a part of a host instead of actually taking control of the podium,"Deadline's Nikki Finke wrote during her liveblog. "Someone must have...
"After weeks of media speculation about what Gervais would do at the Hollywood Foreign Press Association's annual awardsfest, Gervais' performance as host was decidedly anti-climactic and underwhelming,"wrote Huffington Post television critic Maureen Ryan. "Its general mediocrity gave the ceremony as a whole a certain deflated quality."
Ryan wasn't alone. "It's as if Ricky is playing a part of a host instead of actually taking control of the podium,"Deadline's Nikki Finke wrote during her liveblog. "Someone must have...
- 1/16/2012
- by Christopher Rosen
- Moviefone
Nikki Finke: Why Ricky Gervais Stunk Tonight Ray Richmond is contributing to Deadline’s Golden Globes coverage. Deadline caught up with Golden Globes host Ricky Gervais at the HBO afterparty, where he was just sitting down to a post-ceremony cocktail. Deadline: So how do you think it went this time? Better than a year ago? Gervais: Oh much. The crowd was with me this time. They went where I went. It’s like they were ready for me this time and it felt pitch-perfect. Deadline: What happened when you wound up saying “Fucking” during the show. What was that all about? Was that your way of getting back at the HFPA? Gervais: Oh no no no. The censors knew it was coming. That was planned. Deadline: So do you think we’ll see you back for another year of hosting the Golden Globes? Gervais: No. I’m really done this time.
- 1/16/2012
- by THE DEADLINE TEAM
- Deadline TV
Nikki Finke: Live-Snarking Golden Globes Golden Globes Winners List All photos by Getty Images After being nominated and falling short in three categories — screenplay, drama and directing for The Ides Of March — on Sunday at the Golden Globe Awards — George Clooney finally came up a winner in best actor/drama for The Descendants. The Alexander Payne-directed film also nabbed the best motion picture-drama award. The first question lobbed at Clooney concerned Republican president candidate Mitt Romney and his anti-gay stand. “I don’t consider him a contender until he’s an actual nominee, but he’s on the wrong side of history.” Clooney was soon joined on stage by his fellow Descendants best motion picture/drama winners, director Payne and producers Jim Taylor and Jim Burke. “You have to look at Alexander and all five of his films are wonderfully made, he knows how to tell a story...
- 1/16/2012
- by BRIAN BROOKS
- Deadline TV
Full Golden Globes Coverage:
Golden Globes TV: Big Night For Freshmen, Pay Cable And 20th TV
Ricky Gervais Critiques His Own Performance As Golden Globes Host
Backstage At The Golden Globes
Golden Globes Studio/Network Scorecard
Golden Globes Winners List
Golden Globes Fashion: Who Wore What?
Update: My live-snark of the 69th Annual Golden Globes started at 5 Pm tonight based on the Hollywood Foreign Press Association’s 2012 nominations. Come for the cynicism. Stay for the subversion. Add your comment. Warning: Not for the easily offended or ridiculously naive.
—
The 2012 Golden Globes take place inside the Beverly Hilton Hotel ballroom at a star-studded dinner broadcast live by NBC and emceed for the 3rd time by Hollywood’s enfant terrible Ricky Gervais. Only this host can’t resist openly loathing everyone including the Hollywood Foreign Press Association putting on the show. Perhaps Christian Bale summed it up best when he took the...
Golden Globes TV: Big Night For Freshmen, Pay Cable And 20th TV
Ricky Gervais Critiques His Own Performance As Golden Globes Host
Backstage At The Golden Globes
Golden Globes Studio/Network Scorecard
Golden Globes Winners List
Golden Globes Fashion: Who Wore What?
Update: My live-snark of the 69th Annual Golden Globes started at 5 Pm tonight based on the Hollywood Foreign Press Association’s 2012 nominations. Come for the cynicism. Stay for the subversion. Add your comment. Warning: Not for the easily offended or ridiculously naive.
—
The 2012 Golden Globes take place inside the Beverly Hilton Hotel ballroom at a star-studded dinner broadcast live by NBC and emceed for the 3rd time by Hollywood’s enfant terrible Ricky Gervais. Only this host can’t resist openly loathing everyone including the Hollywood Foreign Press Association putting on the show. Perhaps Christian Bale summed it up best when he took the...
- 1/16/2012
- by Nikki Finke
- Deadline Film + TV
Nikki Finke: Live-Snarking Golden Globes Golden Globes: Studio/Network Scorecard Backstage At The Golden Globes Film Motion Picture-drama The Descendants Ad Hominem Enterprises; Fox Searchlight Pictures Actor-motion Picture Drama George Clooney, The Descendants Motion Picture-comedy Or Musical The Artist A La Petite Reine – Studio 37 – La Classe Americaine – Jd Prod- France3 Cinema – Jouror Production-uFilms co-production; The Weinstein Company Actress-motion Picture Drama Meryl Streep for The Iron Lady Actor-motion Picture Comedy Or Musical Jean Dujardin for The Artist Director-motion Picture Martin Scorsese for Hugo Actress-motion Picture Comedy Or Musical Michelle Williams for My Week With Marylin Supporting Actress-motion Picture Octavia Spencer for The Help Supporting Actor-motion Picture Christopher Plummer for Beginners Screenplay-motion Picture Woody Allen for Midnight In Paris Foreign Language Film A Separation The Country of Iran (Jodaeiye Nader az Simin) Asghar Farhadi; Sony Pictures Classics Animated Film The Adventures Of Tintin Paramount Pictures/Columbia Pictures/Hemisphere Capital/Amblin Entertainment...
- 1/16/2012
- by THE DEADLINE TEAM
- Deadline TV
Lionsgate appears poised to complete the long-in-the-making purchase of Summit Entertainment, which Deadline is putting at about $700M. An estimated $400M of that total would be in equity, while $300M would be made up in an assumption of debt in the form of a bank loan from Jp Morgan to Lionsgate. The two large independent studios have been maneuvering the ins and outs of a potential merger for months, but over time, the idea of a traditional .merger. has shifted, with Lionsgate likely assuming the lion.s share of control when the deal is hammered out. Deadline.s sources are divided on how much control Summit would have in a new company. In one scenario, Summit . best known as the supporter and distributor of the incredibly lucrative Twilight saga . could work .within the Lionsgate structure,. while Nikki Finke also suggests that Lionsgate has no intention of letting Summit operate as...
- 1/8/2012
- cinemablend.com
There is an inexorable, inexplicable quality about some great movies, as there is about great art in general. Sometimes, yes, we can pinpoint exactly what makes a movie work so well, why it becomes one of our favorites, why it wins awards, why critics love it, or why it makes millions of dollars at the box office. The script is insightful, the direction is incredible, the visuals are eye-popping, the performances are immense powerhouses of talent. These are easy ways to calculate what makes a movie work, but sometimes, we see a movie and we just like it. Sometimes, you can’t put your finger on one element about a movie that burrows itself under your skin, but you love it all the same.
Now, don’t get me wrong: Beauty and the Beast has a lot of clearly standout aspects to it, but I don’t know that I...
Now, don’t get me wrong: Beauty and the Beast has a lot of clearly standout aspects to it, but I don’t know that I...
- 1/6/2012
- by Josh Spiegel
- SoundOnSight
Deadline Hollywood’s ‘The Contenders event was held in Los Angeles at The Landmark theatre on Saturday and Sunday, December 10th and 11th. Click here to watch the Moguls Panels in full and excerpts from the Studio Presentations. “Deadline Hollywood has always tried to innovate while other showbiz media outlets merely imitate. So I created a two-day event completely free to participants and invitees called ‘The Contenders’. Twelve studios and distributors, both major and indie, presented their Award contender films directly to invited members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences and select Hollywood Guilds. Attendees heard from over 40 filmmakers including producers, writers, directors, actors, cinematographers, and costume designers.” – Nikki Finke Deadline Awards Columnist Pete Hammond and Deadline Film Editor Mike Fleming co-moderated two Panel Discussions With Studio Moguls: ■ Howard Cohen (Co-President, Roadside Attractions) ■ Rob Friedman (Co-Chairman and CEO, Summit Entertainment) ■ Jeffrey Katzenberg (CEO, DreamWorks Animation) ■ Ryan Kavanaugh (CEO,...
- 12/30/2011
- by NIKKI FINKE
- Deadline Hollywood
Experts explain to MTV News why the best-selling book didn't translate to a box-office #1.
By Eric Ditzian
Rooney Mara in "Girl with the Dragon Tattoo"
Photo: Sony Pictures
Stieg Larsson's "Millennium" trilogy of crime thrillers has sold about 17 million copies in the United States alone. The first novel in the series, "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo," is the first book ever to sell a million digital copies. The books have become nothing short of cultural touchstones, the collective response of devoted fans to the uninitiated being something along the lines of "You haven't read 'Dragon Tattoo'? What's wrong with you?"
That's the entertainment scene onto which David Fincher's American adaptation of "Dragon Tattoo" came last week. What's more, the movie received strong critical reviews, Sony's marketing campaign was lauded by industry insiders and MTV named it the Best Movie of 2011. Yet "Dragon Tattoo" wound up with a...
By Eric Ditzian
Rooney Mara in "Girl with the Dragon Tattoo"
Photo: Sony Pictures
Stieg Larsson's "Millennium" trilogy of crime thrillers has sold about 17 million copies in the United States alone. The first novel in the series, "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo," is the first book ever to sell a million digital copies. The books have become nothing short of cultural touchstones, the collective response of devoted fans to the uninitiated being something along the lines of "You haven't read 'Dragon Tattoo'? What's wrong with you?"
That's the entertainment scene onto which David Fincher's American adaptation of "Dragon Tattoo" came last week. What's more, the movie received strong critical reviews, Sony's marketing campaign was lauded by industry insiders and MTV named it the Best Movie of 2011. Yet "Dragon Tattoo" wound up with a...
- 12/27/2011
- MTV Movie News
Experts explain to MTV News why the best-selling book didn't translate to a box-office #1.
By Eric Ditzian
Rooney Mara in "Girl with the Dragon Tattoo"
Photo: Sony Pictures
Stieg Larsson's "Millennium" trilogy of crime thrillers has sold about 17 million copies in the United States alone. The first novel in the series, "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo," is the first book ever to sell a million digital copies. The books have become nothing short of cultural touchstones, the collective response of devoted fans to the uninitiated being something along the lines of "You haven't read 'Dragon Tattoo'? What's wrong with you?"
That's the entertainment scene onto which David Fincher's American adaptation of "Dragon Tattoo" came last week. What's more, the movie received strong critical reviews, Sony's marketing campaign was lauded by industry insiders and MTV named it the Best Movie of 2011. Yet "Dragon Tattoo" wound up with a...
By Eric Ditzian
Rooney Mara in "Girl with the Dragon Tattoo"
Photo: Sony Pictures
Stieg Larsson's "Millennium" trilogy of crime thrillers has sold about 17 million copies in the United States alone. The first novel in the series, "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo," is the first book ever to sell a million digital copies. The books have become nothing short of cultural touchstones, the collective response of devoted fans to the uninitiated being something along the lines of "You haven't read 'Dragon Tattoo'? What's wrong with you?"
That's the entertainment scene onto which David Fincher's American adaptation of "Dragon Tattoo" came last week. What's more, the movie received strong critical reviews, Sony's marketing campaign was lauded by industry insiders and MTV named it the Best Movie of 2011. Yet "Dragon Tattoo" wound up with a...
- 12/27/2011
- MTV Music News
Deadline Hollywood continues expanding staff to further position us as the primary 24/7 breaking news entertainment business website. Today we are announcing another important addition: new Los Angeles Film Editor Brian Brooks (brian@deadline.com). He will work closely with New York Editor & Film Editor Mike Fleming to cover both the major studio and indie film business and festival scene. A veteran of indiieWIRE since 1996 and Managing Editor since 2007, Brooks was integral in the execution of daily editorial news and feature content about the movie biz. He was a regular at the Sundance, Toronto, Laff, SXSW, Tribeca, Cannes, Berlin, Hamptons, Sarajevo, AFI, Idfa, Pusan, Reykjavik festivals and more. He has moderated and produced events and panels in New York, Toronto, and Austin and served on numerous festival juries. A California native and UCLA grad, Brian is relocating from NYC to Los Angeles to join Deadline in mid-January – just in time to cover Sundance with Fleming.
- 12/25/2011
- by NIKKI FINKE
- Deadline Hollywood
The entertainment industry is more than just air kisses on a red carpet. Behind the scenes, there's sabotage and backstabbing, courtesy of one's closest frenemies.
Exhibit A: "Frenemies: Round 1 - Power Lunch," a send-up of Hollywood agent culture. Written by actor Brian Henderson and directed by actor Enver Gjokaj (both of whom star in the skit), the video showcases intense agent-to-agent brinkmanship over the lowest possible stakes. From knowing the waitress's name to who can order the bloodiest meat, these agents are loathe to show even the slightest hint of weakness before their rivals.
Henderson emailed the video to Nikki Finke, saying, "It's been passing around a lot of industry offices with a lot of 'I've totally had that lunch!' "
If you want to see this showdown in real life, just drop in at any of these Beverly Hills restaurants for a weekday lunch: Grill on the Alley, Barneys Greengrass,...
Exhibit A: "Frenemies: Round 1 - Power Lunch," a send-up of Hollywood agent culture. Written by actor Brian Henderson and directed by actor Enver Gjokaj (both of whom star in the skit), the video showcases intense agent-to-agent brinkmanship over the lowest possible stakes. From knowing the waitress's name to who can order the bloodiest meat, these agents are loathe to show even the slightest hint of weakness before their rivals.
Henderson emailed the video to Nikki Finke, saying, "It's been passing around a lot of industry offices with a lot of 'I've totally had that lunch!' "
If you want to see this showdown in real life, just drop in at any of these Beverly Hills restaurants for a weekday lunch: Grill on the Alley, Barneys Greengrass,...
- 12/16/2011
- by Anna Almendrala
- Huffington Post
The Hollywood Foreign Press Association got so many things wrong with its nominees for the Golden Globes. Woody Harrelson announced the nominations for the 69th Annual Golden Globes this morning, and I'm a little bit devastated over some of the actors and movies that were left out. How could Melissa McCarthy's hilarious performance in Bridesmaids be over looked? And what's with Ryan Gosling's nominations for Ides Of March And Crazy, Stupid, Love but not Drive? Deadline's Nikki Finke calls the Golden Globes "a completely meaningless awards show from a scandal-riddled organization on a network desperate for ratings," and seeing these nominees, I'd have to agree. Melissa is arguably the breakout star of the year. Yes, she's been around since Gilmore Girls (loved her as Sookie) but it was her balls out turn in Bridesmaids that made her a household name. She's been recognized by the Screen Actors Guild...
- 12/15/2011
- by Denise Warner
- HollywoodLife
Updates Exclusive: ‘Spider-Man 4’ Officially Has No Start Date As Of Today Because Of Script Problems; Sony “Unlikely” To Make Scheduled May 5, 2011, Release Date
Breaking News! 3Rd Update: Tobey Maguire just released this statement to me: “I am so proud of what we accomplished with the Spider-Man franchise over the last decade. Beyond the films themselves I have formed some deep and lasting friendships. I am excited to see the next chapter unfold in this incredible story.”
2Nd Update: Mike Fleming and Nikki Finke have just confirmed that Sony Pictures decided today to reboot the Spider-Man franchise after franchise director Sam Raimi pulled out of Spider-Man 4 because he felt he couldn’t make its summer release date and keep the film’s creative integrity. This means that Raimi and the cast including star Tobey Maguire are out. There will be no Spider-Man 4. Instead, Mike Fleming is told, the...
Breaking News! 3Rd Update: Tobey Maguire just released this statement to me: “I am so proud of what we accomplished with the Spider-Man franchise over the last decade. Beyond the films themselves I have formed some deep and lasting friendships. I am excited to see the next chapter unfold in this incredible story.”
2Nd Update: Mike Fleming and Nikki Finke have just confirmed that Sony Pictures decided today to reboot the Spider-Man franchise after franchise director Sam Raimi pulled out of Spider-Man 4 because he felt he couldn’t make its summer release date and keep the film’s creative integrity. This means that Raimi and the cast including star Tobey Maguire are out. There will be no Spider-Man 4. Instead, Mike Fleming is told, the...
- 1/11/2010
- by Nikki Finke and Mike Fleming Jr
- Deadline Film + TV
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