2012 Movie Preview: Horror, From 'Halloween 3D' to 'World War Z'

With 2011 in the dying cycle, selection time for you to look forward to 2012. All of this week, Moviefone will preview the apparently endless way to obtain large-time films striking theaters throughout the following 12 several weeks -- from from 'The Demon Inside' to 'Django Unchained' and my way through between. Next: the 12 family films to look at for the coming year. 2012 Movie Preview: Horror <A href="http://world wide web.moviefone.com/movie/underworld-4/38968/primary">'Underworld Awakening'</a><a href="http://world wide web.moviefone.com/movie/the-lady-in-black/10058942/primary">'The Lady in Black'</a><a href="http://world wide web.moviefone.com/movie/the-innkeepers/10057131/primary">'The Innkeepers'</a><a href="http://world wide web.moviefone.com/movie/the-raven/10059909/primary">'The Raven'</a><a href="http://world wide web.moviefone.com/movie/quiet-house/10056456/primary">'Silent House'</a><a href="http://world wide web.moviefone.com/movie/the-cabin-in-the-forest/34946/primary">'The Cabin within the Forest'</a><a href="http://world wide web.moviefone.com/movie/warm-physiques/10058166/primary">'Warm Physiques'</a><a href="http://world wide web.moviefone.com/movie/the-apparition/10038291/primary">'The Apparition'</a><a href="http://world wide web.moviefone.com/movie/resident-evil-5/53358/primary">'Resident Evil: Retribution'</a><a href="http://world wide web.moviefone.com/movie/texas-chainsaw-massacre-three dimensional/54330/primary">'Texas Chainsaw Massacre three dimensional'</a><a href="http://world wide web.moviefone.com/movie/halloween-iii/54286/primary">'Halloween III</a><a href="http://world wide web.moviefone.com/movie/world-war-z/1422073/primary">'World War Z'</a>Dishonorable Mention: 'Sinister,' 'The Possession' and 񡂼' all being released at the end of August. See All Moviefone Art galleries » EARLIER: 2012 Movie Preview: Large Company directors 2012 Movie Preview: Blockbusters 2012 Movie Preview: Comedies 2012 Movie Preview: Family Films 2012 Movie Preview: Romance 2012 Movie Preview: Action Follow Eric Larnick on Twitter Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook

NBC bets the nest on 'Smash'

'Smash' Katharine McPhee takes on the role of a struggling singer out to achieve stardom.The creative team behind 'Smash.'"Good for them," Theresa Rebeck thought when she read in Variety that Steven Spielberg had sold a drama series at Showtime revolving around an effort to mount a Broadway musical.Rebeck, a playwright, novelist, TV and film scribe, had pitched a similar concept to various networks over the years, to no avail. When she learned in November 2009 about the project DreamWorks TV had in the early stages of development at Showtime, she felt vindicated that her idea had been a good one, and happy that someone was finally tackling an arena that she knew to be full of potential for TV.What Rebeck didn't know was that she would be the one tasked with getting the show on its feet for Spielberg and his tuner team of producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron and composers-lyricists Marc Shaiman and Scott Witt-man. Nor could anyone have predicted that the ambitious venture destined to become "Smash" would eventually migrate from Showtime to NBC along with its biggest champion, Bob Greenblatt.The NBC Entertainment chairman's faith in "Smash" is evident by just how much the network is banking on the show to make a much-needed midseason splash in its Feb. 6 premiere, the night after the Peacock's telecast of the Super Bowl.NBC desperately needs the show -- toplined by Debra Messing, Christian Borle, Katharine McPhee, Jack Davenport and Megan Hilty -- to deliver an audience, but it is also counting on "Smash" to generate the kind of qualitative raves that have been few and far between for the network's programming in recent years. The Peacock is throwing every resource it has at the "Smash" launch, starting with the decision to sked it in the Monday 10 p.m. slot behind returning reality hit "The Voice." NBC's struggles in the first half of the season have only heightened the stakes for the return of "Voice" and the bow of "Smash."Rooted in the lives of the key players developing a Rialto tuner about Marilyn Monroe, "Smash" is a high-wire act of a show-within-a-show, enhanced by at least one original song per episode, song-and-dance numbers and location lensing throughout Gotham. (Some have dubbed it "The West Wing" with music.)The show, produced by Universal TV and DreamWorks TV, costs just under $4 million per seg, according to industry sources, a hefty sum for a first-year skein. But "Smash" demands the talents of legit pros and below-the-line specialists that aren't required on the typical network crime procedural."Smash" is rooted in a world Greenblatt knows intimately. He's a lifelong theater enthusiast who produced the Broadway adaptation of the film "9 to 5" in 2009 (as a sideline to his then-day job as Showtime entertainment prexy)."There is nothing that gets people galvanized and excited quite like a musical," Greenblatt says. "Everybody involved has to be energized about it, and then you add the songs and the choreography. It's very physically demanding to do a musical, and that energy gets everybody really excited."The success of Fox's "Glee" helped take the "Cop Rock" sting out of the notion of a series incorporating musical elements. But "Smash" ups the ante with the original music designed to coalesce by the end of the season into a cohesive musical.As "Smash's" creator and showrunner, Rebeck has not only crafted the story arc for the show's 15-episode frosh season, she's also written the book for an original tuner dubbed "Marilyn.""It's very much an 'Upstairs, Downstairs' kind of world, but instead of a mansion, it's a musical," Rebeck says.The production of each episode is complex, as the musical numbers are frequently shot out of sequence at various stages in Gotham, while the scripts for each seg have to be in shape early enough to allow Shaiman and Wittman, the tunesmiths behind "Hairspray," to deliver songs that have to pass muster with producers. There's a dance unit that almost always works separately on choreography with a regular troupe of hoofers as well as day players.The show's conceit requires that Broadway-caliber production numbers be staged with theatrical authenticity, but then filmed for the smallscreen. In addition to the original songs, there's at least one cover performed in most segs. Amid all of this activity, McPhee and other key actors have to find the time for studio recording sessions for the songs that will be released via Sony Music, which has logged big sales in the past three years with its parade of "Glee" hits."Whenever you do anything musical, there are a million challenges," says Meron. "We like to think of it as producing a gigantic action film. There are so many moving parts, so many details that must be taken care of. Scheduling is the biggest challenge. We are sometime shooting more than one (dramatic) segment at a time. One day you'll be shooting a musical sequence for the second episode, and the next day you'll be working on one for the fifth episode with a different director."To pull it off, Spielberg and his top TV lieutenants, DreamWorks TV toppers Justin Falvey and Darryl Frank, recruited from a short list of creatives with the experience that bridges both mediums.The first phone call after Showtime expressed interest in Spielberg's concept went to Zadan and Meron, whose resume hit the bull's-eye thanks to their varied track record with musical TV specials such as ABC's "Annie" and "Cinderella," telepics and drama series including Lifetime's "Drop Dead Diva" and film tuners including "Hairspray" and "Chicago." If that weren't enough, the duo were then in the midst of the launching the Broadway revival of "Promises, Promises.""If you start from the theory that the most difficult thing to produce well is a one-hour weekly drama, and you add all the elements we have (on 'Smash'), this is without a doubt going to be one of the most ambitious shows the audience has ever seen," Zadan says.Shaiman and Wittman were also in from the beginning, having responded immediately to the initial overture that came in a phone call Zadan and Meron made from Spielberg's office. The tunesmiths had some experience with Spielberg from working on the stage musical rendition of his 2002 pic "Catch Me if You Can."Rebeck was also a natural choice. The prolific playwright has an extensive background in TV drama from her years as a writer-producer on such series as "Law & Order: Criminal Intent," "NYPD Blue," "Third Watch" and "L.A. Law." She also knew Greenblatt, Zadan and Meron from her professional travels over the years."It was pretty exciting when they came looking for me," she says.While Rebeck began navigating the "Smash" sked this summer, she was busy preparing for the November bow of her Broadway play, the dark comedy "Seminar," starring Alan Rickman. It was her previous Off Broadway play, the backstage Broadway drama "The Understudy," that convinced Spielberg she was the woman for the job.Beyond the exec producers, "Smash" has reached deep into Gotham's legit scene for cast and crew members. Director Michael Mayer, whose credits include "Spring Awakening" and "American Idiot," had never done any TV before he was tapped to direct the "Smash" pilot last year, as well as its second and third episodes.Mayer enlisted choreographer Joshua Bergasse (who danced in Shaiman-Whittman's "Hairspray") to conceptualize "Marilyn's" dance numbers. They tapped Bernard Telsey, the dean of legit casting in Gotham, to spearhead lining up the talent for a show that demands a high volume of guest stars and day players with legit experience. Lighting designer Donald Holder is a Rialto vet with credits ranging from "La Cage aux Folles" to "Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark.""Because so many of us who are making this show spend our lives primarily in theater, it's really important to all of us that the audience see the ways in which people dedicate their lives to this very unique art form," Mayer says. "My hope is that people will be turned on to the creative process, as well as (be given) a glimpse of what it's like to be a writer, director, choreographer or dancer watching these numbers come to life in a rehearsal space. "Like others on the "Smash" team, Mayer juggled other Broadway duties while working on the show as he prepped for the December opening of the revival of "On a Clear Day You Can See Forever" with Harry Connick Jr. Looking at musical numbers through a TV lens gave him a deeper perspective."We stage ('Smash') as though these were being done for a Broadway show, but then we get the thrill of jumping inside the heads of people and give the audience another perspective that only the medium of film can deliver. In theater, you can't be in more than one place at a time -- there's just one frame and everything happens inside it. In film, you can jump inside, outside, back and forth. It's a very visceral experience."Besides McPhee, Jim Chory, the line producer and co-exec producer, marks a rare exception to the steeped-in-stage curriculum vitae of the "Smash" principals. His job is even more challenging than usual because of all the sked juggling and cross-boarding done to accommodate the tuner aspects of the show, but his background working on vfx and action-intensive shows like "Heroes" and "The Event" was good training.Rebeck and her fellow exec producer David Marshall Grant and the writing staff also face intense pressure to go above and beyond the typically punishing sked of a weekly drama series."There are about six extra steps that you have to take on each episode," Rebeck says. "The biggest challenge is that you can't change your mind, you can't hesitate, and you have to commit to all your story (points) earlier on. That's been a trick to figure out, because the thrill of TV is that as you're on the ride, a character or a storyline will really pop. For us it's really hard to move things around, but we still need to be able to accommodate that if it happens."(Mayer notes that his assistant director on two episodes, Luis Nieves, came to "Smash" from USA Network's high-octane drama "Burn Notice." "He thought he was prepared for anything after all those explosions, and after two days he said to me 'Oh my god, singing and dancing is so much harder.' ")From the start, the creative vision for "Smash" was to ground the series in the universal themes of ambition, aspiration and drive, rooted in the colorful clutch of characters who have to come together to get a Broadway musical off the ground -- the test of wills that it takes to get it launched, and then the even longer odds that the show will have more than a fortnight in the footlights.Spielberg and Co. were committed to making it absolutely Shubert Alley-authentic, but without being so inside the proscenium as to turn off viewers who have never set foot in a Broadway theater. It's a tricky balance."We never want this show to become 'Entourage.' We never want it to be totally insular to the theater community, so that even if you have no interest in Broadway you could still love this show," Zadan says. "We've all been watchdogs on the scripts. Every time it starts to veer into the direction of being too theater-oriented, we remind ourselves to broaden the base and go to the personal stories."The show's move from Showtime to NBC wound up helping its producers keep the focus on the broader dreamers-and-schemers theme. The initial draft of the pilot that Rebeck wrote for Showtime featured the same group of characters and "Marilyn" concept, but it was darker and edgier in the way pay TV fare demands. The need to make "Smash" work for the traditional upscale NBC drama aud has helped keep the focus on the characters and their motivations."When it was Showtime, it was darker and a little bit more cynical. And honestly, it didn't need that," Greenblatt says. "I was happy to take another look at it in the broadcast venue. It's a hopeful story that portrays the power of true optimism, which I think is a very welcome (sentiment) in our country today."Although the musical is the fulcrum of the show, Rebeck has no plans for an episode that features the "Marilyn" tuner from start to finish. "What we want you to see is the musical as something that is part of the lives of the people who are creating it," she says. (It's unclear where the storyline will go if the show is renewed for a second season.)Greenblatt says he thinks the prevalence of reality shows that has created celebrities out of everyday folks in recent years sets the stage nicely for viewers to latch onto "Smash" and the quest of McPhee's struggling singer Karen Cartwright to achieve stardom via "Marilyn." It's no accident that "Smash" will air in tandem with "The Voice," which proved a surprise hit for the Peacock last spring. And of course, McPhee got her start as a contestant on Fox's "American Idol."" 'Smash' is little bit like a scripted version of 'The Voice,' where out of obscurity someone is given a platform and suddenly everyone's talking about that person," Greenblatt says. "We want to tap into that exhilaration and the highs and lows of performing. The audience may learn a little bit about how a musical is put together, but that is not the main intention. We want the audience to be carried along by the drama and the passion and the excitement of it all."Sam Thielman contributed to this report. Contact Cynthia Littleton at cynthia.littleton@variety.com

Jamie Bell on 'The Adventures of Tintin' and Andy Serkis's Oscar Campaign

You will not recognize Jamie Bell in 'The Adventures of Tintin' in the end, Bell's motion-capture character may be the titular cub reporter, a symbol of worldwide fame happening nine decades, meaning he can't perfectly seem like the little one from 'Billy Elliot.' (To not fear, Difficulties fans his villainous Sakharin looks just like the 'Dragon Tattoo' star.) But -- together with a card board dog masquerading as Snowy, and Andy Serkis as Captain Haddock -- Bell spent several weeks putting on a motion-capture suit to experience Tintin for director Steven Spielberg, and the work inhales existence right into a character that previous only resided around the funny pages. As Tintin might say, "Great snakes!" In theaters now, 'The Adventures of Tintin' concentrates on Tintin, a youthful reporter who will get thrust into an enormous amount of adventure as he stumbles onto one of the decades-old ship. Bell spoken with Moviefone concerning the new film, its motion-capture technology and whether Serkis -- who plays Haddock because the Felix Ungar to Bell's Oscar Madison -- warrants an Academy Award. For audiences, motion capture continues to be a rather difficult factor to understand. Had you been concerned whatsoever about engaging in it as being a artist? No, I do not think so. I am talking about, dealing with people like Steven Spielberg, greatly a pioneer of the technology, you realize you are likely to be taken proper care of and also the movie will look amazing ultimately. I believe for people, as filmmakers and stars and entertainers, the most crucial factor was for individuals to use towards the movie and also have an event and are available the other finish -- to your investment medium that is made. The medium is not the content, you realize. When they went inside and end up forgetting the things they were watching and merely went along for that ride, only then do we would seem like we'd been successful. I seem like the film does indeed that for you. I believe it diminishes concerning the technique and much more the experience and thrill from the movie. A few of the sequences within this movie are pretty phenomenal. You may never do it in live action and it is just type of astounding, the originality of Steven Spielberg's brain and exactly how he sees movies. He sees individuals types of sequences as fully recognized within this movie. You realize, I believe he's the next like a filmmaker. [Laughs] I understand you had been on record like a large fan from the material. How did everyone balance doing justice towards the legacy of 'Tintin,' and keep it broad enough for those who aren't acquainted with the origin? I believe there is a spirit from the character that's type of everything about the prosperity of the books. He's an excellent heart. The soul of the character is purely good, you realize? He's a beacon of excellence for kids. He's a buddy who's -- they are the odd couple, him and Captain Haddock. There's this excellent, action-adventure hero having a great natural instinct -- an excellent natural capability to do everything he must do, who's then combined track of this person who's a tragedy. Probably the most unconventional friendship in movies. It greatly turns into a buddy movie in the centre of the Indiana Johnson-like adventure. I believe, for all of us, it was vital for that fans -- especially worldwide in which the film's already opened up -- that people hit all of the guitar chords and notes of the Tintin adventure. But, simultaneously, with Steven Spielberg, I believe he has the crowd in your mind, and that he wants to really make it accessible. I believe something concerning the Tintin character is that he's readily available. You mention Captain Haddock, who's performed by Andy Serkis, perhaps the premier motion-capture artist ever. How important was your collaboration with him? I believe I had been truly distracted many of the time just due to how good that guy is. Knowing Andy before we made the film, understanding what he's able to, knowing his embodiment of character, knowing that he's just an unbelievably gifted individual, just was annoying! But, perfect casting with this type of role. When you train with an expert of things, I truly think asking them questions is wrong. I've found that, from my experience, simply to listen, to look at and learn and listen, is the greatest factor. I'd just admire watching his performance. With Andy, each time he is doing one of these simple -- which happened with 'Avatar,' too, with Zoe Saldana -- almost always there is this debate whether motion capture performances should be regarded within the same respect like a traditional performances. Do you consider there must be a strict delineation? Don't misunderstand me, I believe there should be some type of acknowledgement, in some way. I believe whether it's an invention of the new category -- because several voice and vocal performance, which is not always motion capture, can also be brilliant. I recall Robin Williams in 'Aladdin,' that amazing voice performance made that movie. I'm not sure, whether it's the invention of the new category, an inclusion in other groups I'm not sure. But there certainly must be some acknowledgement to the fact that these performances are truly moving people all over the world, acknowledging a cultural phenomenon. I believe Zoe Saldana would be a massive area of the reason the film was effective. Clearly, we have seen Andy this season in 'Rise from the Planet from the Apes' -- which, certainly, he helps make the movie. Yeah, we have to give some type of acknowledgement on these entertainers who submit excellent performances and obtain zero credit on their behalf. What have you think whenever you saw the finished film? Like a longtime fan, how have you think it arrived on the scene? For me personally, dude, it exceeded any type of expectation visually of the items it might seem like. Joe Letteri is really a magician! The man is unbelievable. I have never witnessed such photorealism within an animated film during my existence. I believe the figures are fully recognized. We actually feel exactly what they are feeling. When Andy Serkis says, "Nobody takes my ship!" which spit comes flying from his mouth and also you observe that glare in the eye, I am there. I am there using the character. I am immediately! It had been beyond any expectation but simultaneously, when you train with most of these people you're friends with it will likely be something special. For me personally, searching inside my performance, I'm able to always tell the choices I had been making on that day. You can observe the authorship you have of your performance despite the fact that it does not seem like you which ones is interesting. [Photo: WireImage] The Very Best Movies of 2011 The Very Best Movies of 201150. 'Breaking Beginning཭. 'Transformers: Dark from the Moonཬ. 'The Tripཫ. 'Warriorཪ. 'Cave of Forgotten Dreamsཀྵ. 'The Iron Ladyཨ. 'We Purchased a Zooཧ. 'Mission: Impossible -- Ghost Protocolས. 'Horrible Bossesཥ. 'Contagionཤ. 'Winnie the Poohལ. 'Win Winཡ. 'Tinker Tailor Soldier Spyར. 'Hannaའ. 'Extremely Noisy and extremely Closeཟ. 'The Interruptersཞ. 'Crazy, Stupid, Loveཝ. 'The Guardཛྷ. 'Captain America: The Very First Avengerཛ. 'The Ides of Marchཚ. 'Beginnersཙ. 'Martha Marcy May Marlene''A Harmful Methodབྷ. 'The Adventures of Tintinབ. 'Bill Cunningham NYཕ. 'We Have to Discuss Kevinཔ. 'Young Adultན. 'My Week With Marilynདྷ. 'Margin Callད. 'X-Males: Top Classཐ. 'Attack the Blockཏ. 'Shameཎ. 'Super 8ཌྷ. 'Melancholiaཌ. 'The Muppetsཋ. 'Rise from the Planet from the Apesཊ. 'Tree of Existenceཉ. 'Rango཈. 'The Helpཇ. 'Moneyballཆ. ཮/50Ə. 'DriveƎ. 'The Girl Using the Dragon Tattooƍ. 'Harry Potter and also the Deathly Hallows, Part IIƌ. 'Midnight in ParisƋ. 'BridesmaidsƊ. 'The DescendantsƉ. 'War Equineƈ. 'The ArtistƇ. 'Hugo' See All Moviefone Art galleries » Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook

Rating the Movie Santas, From Best to Worst

Sure, Santa Claus is super busy on Christmas Eve, but what does he do the rest of the year? Apparently, he makes movies. IMDb lists him as a character in more than 800 movies and TV shows. How, then, to rate all the cinematic St. Nicks from best to worst? We narrowed the list down to 21 Santas who had a prominent role in big-screen features. Some are the real Father Christmas, some are shopping mall impostors. Some are the stars of their movie, some are subordinate Clauses. Some are naughty, some are nice. And some are stellar in movies that are otherwise lumps of cinematic coal, while others offer moments of tough sledding in otherwise fine films. Read on to see if you agree with our list. Check it twice. Best (and Worst) Movie Santas (THE BEST) 1. Edmund Gwenn in 'Miracle on 34th Street' (1947)2. Edward Asner in 'Elf' (2003)3. Billy Bob Thornton in 'Bad Santa' (2003)4. Paul Giamatti in 'Fred Claus' (2007)5. Jim Broadbent in 'Arthur Christmas' (2011)6. James Cosmo in 'The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe' (2005)7. Bill Raymond in 'The Ref' (1994)8. Al 'Red Dog' Weber in 'Scrooged' (1988)9. Jan Rubes in 'One Magic Christmas' (1985)10. David Huddleston in 'Santa Claus: The Movie' (1985)11. Richard Attenborough in 'Miracle on 34th Street' (1994)12. Edward Ivory in 'The Nightmare Before Christmas' (1993)13. Tom Hanks in 'The Polar Express' (2004)14. Richard Riehle in 'A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas' (2011)15. Tim Allen in 'The Santa Clause' trilogy (1994-2006)16. Jim Belushi in 'Jingle All the Way' (1996)17. Jeff Gillen in 'A Christmas Story' (1983)18. Dean Cameron in 'Hi-Life' (1998)19. Rickey Smiley in 'Friday After Next' (2002)20. John Call in 'Santa Claus Conquers the Martians' (1964)(THE WORST) 21. 'Silent Night, Deadly Night' (1984) See All Moviefone Galleries » Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook

'Enlightened' Creator Reacts to Golden Globe Noms: 'It Would Be Nice to Celebrate With a Pickup'

Getty Images Last month,Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino from Jersey Shore sued Abercrombie & Fitch over what he saw was a less-than-amusing publicity stunt. The retailer had offered him a "substantial payment" to stop wearing its clothes, and introduced a line of clothing that seemingly aped Sorrentino's famous catch phrases. In response, MPS Entertainment, the company owned by Sorrentino and his brother, filed a $4 million lawsuit alleging trademark violations, deceptive advertising and misappropriation of his publicity rights.our editor recommendsTHR's 5 Worst Celebrity Books of 2011: Jersey Shore, More Jersey Shore and the Levi Johnston-Bristol Palin Feud'Jersey Shore' Season 5 Trailer: Keeping Security Guards Employed Since 2009 (Video)'Jersey Shore's' The Situation Sues Abercrombie & Fitch for $4 MillionAbercrombie & Fitch Offers 'The Situation' Compensation to Not Wear Its Clothes PHOTOS: 'Jersey Shore's' Quotable Situation On Monday, Abercrombie & Fitch responded in court with a very detailed motion to dismiss. The clothing company tells a slightly different story of what happened. Additionally, the defendant attacks Sorrentino for weak trademark claims and says the Jersey Shorecastmember is interfering with its First Amendment right to make light of a troubling situation. Here's A&F's side of the story, which begins on an episode of Jersey Shorethat aired on August 11. Throughout the episode, A&F says that Sorrentino wore green Abercrombie sweat pants bearing its logo. PHOTOS: The Best and Worst Moments of 'Jersey Shore' The retailer says it was concerned that "the prominent display of its A&F logo would be viewed as an endorsement by A&F of the raucous behavior on the show." Reality TV shows often blur out brand names. Not this time, allegedly. So A&F sent a letter to MTV with a request that its marks be pixilated out of future episodes.Along with the demand allegedly came an offer that MTV, Sorrentino and other castmembers would be paid money for not wearing its products. Sorrentino's camp says it never got such an offer, but here's a look at the letter to MTVco-general counselGeorge Cheeks, revealing that the "substantial" offer to stop wearing A&F clothing was for $10,000: In his lawsuit, Sorrentino says that A&F's efforts to contact MTV were all part of a "marketing ploy." Even if MTV was contacted, the star says that such an offer was never conveyed to him. A&F responds that it doesn't matter. "Whether the offer letter went directly to Sorrentino is immaterial, and does not establish the falsity of the offer that Plaintiffs allege was made," the company writes in its motion to dismiss. Sounds good. Here's the problem: Was this a sincere and timely offer? The letter above is dated August 15, yet A&F had already had put out a press release three days earlier noting that it had offered compensation to Sorrentino to cease wearing A&F products. Additionally, although one presidential candidateis getting slammed as being out-of-touch for casually offering up a $10,000 bet in a recent debate, we'll wager that "up to $10,000" wouldn't impress many Hollywood dealmakers as being very "substantial." PHOTOS: Crazy Cases! 18 of Hollywood's Outrageous Entertainment Lawsuits A&F does somewhat better in attacking Sorrentino's claims that certain A&F clothing infringed his trademarks. A&F says it had placed an order in January 2010 for two t-shirts featuring phrases that parodied Jersey Shore. The company says that Sorrentino was aware of the parody t-shirts for almost a year and never objected. The retailer goes on to dispute Sorrentino's trademark dominion over "The Situation" and "GTL," saying the evidence shows merely that the reality star has applied to register those marks. The applications have not yet been granted by the U.S. Trademark Office. Additionally, the use and "good will" of the mark is questioned. It's noted that MPS supposedly acquired rights to a stylized upside-down "Situation" mark and design from a retailer named Yak Shoes, but A&F questions the validity of this assignment since there has been no transfer of business nor evidence that the mark and design has been used. Besides, A&F points out that the asserted trademark registration and A&F's clothing aren't very similar and its products are unlikely to confuse consumers. The clothing retailer provides some good reasoning to doubt whether Sorrentino will eventually succeed in registering GTL. It's pointed out that Viacom (parent company of MTV) actually holds a trademark registration for "GYM TANNING LAUNDRY" and has been offering on its website t-shirts for sale bearing "GTL." "Based on both MTV's and other Jersey Shore castmates' use of 'GTL', Plaintiffs cannot establish that they are the single source of goods being offered under the alleged mark 'GTL', and their unfair uncompetition and false designation of origin claim under 1125(a) must fail," says the brief. Perhaps most important is the question whether A&F's use of Sorrentino and his catch-phrases is constitutionally-protected free speech. A&F says that its shirts and use of the star's likeness was parody -- clearly a joke, not intended to convey sponsorship: "A&F's t-shirt bearing the phrase 'The Fitchuation' was a pun or turn of phrase, parodying Sorrentino's nickname for himself as 'The Situation'. As Plaintiffs plead, Sorrentino has appeared on several nationally televised programs and as such is a public figure, subject to being parodied by virtue of his presence in the public eye. Additionally, the t-shirt bearing the phrase 'G.T.L. (You Know The Deal) Fitch', was poking fun at the Jersey Shore castmates self proclaimed habit of doing the 'GTL', i.e. 'gym, tanning laundry.' We have no idea what makes the average guido in Jersey laugh, and we know the old saying that the best way to kill a joke is to explain it, but was this actually humorous? Whether the judge chuckles and chucks....stay tuned. E-mail: eriqgardner@yahoo.com Twitter: @eriqgardner PHOTO GALLERY: View Gallery 'Jersey Shore': The Quotable Situation

Fincher's Dragon Tattoo Hits London

Craig, Mara as well as the relaxation walk the carpetDaniel Craig, Rooney Mara, Stellan Skarsgard as well as the relaxation walked the red-colored-colored carpet london last evening for your GirlWithThe Dragon Tattoo, the completely new film from David Fincher. The rain may have been flowing lower, nevertheless the film nevertheless received a warm reception within the crowd - and hey! A harsh climate could be a excellent fit using this film.Uk PremiereAs practically everyone knows at this time, the film is yet another adaptation of Stieg Larsson's very popular book series, withDanielCraig starring as investigative journalist Mikael Blomkvist and Rooney Mara playing hacker savant Lisbeth Salander. Stellan Skarsgard,Robin Wright, Joely Richardson, Christopher Plummer and Geraldine James also star. The Woman While Using Dragon Tattoo is going inside the UKon December 26. Only the one factor to blow away any residual Christmas spiderwebs.

Stick Fly (Cort)

'Stick Fly'Credits: A Nelle Nugent, Alicia Secrets, Samuel Nappi, Reuben Cannon, Jay H. Harris/Catherine Schreiber, Huntington Theater Company, Serta Frishwasser, Charles Salameno, Sharon A. Carr/Patricia R. Klausner/Ron Danzansky, Daveed D. Frazier/Mark Thompson presentation from the play by 50 percent operates by Lydia R. Gem. Directed by Kenny Leon. Original music, Alicia Secrets.Cheryl - Condola Rashad Taylor - Tracie Thoms Spoon (Kent) LeVay - Dule Hill Switch (Harold) - Mekhi Phifer Joe LeVay - Ruben Santiago-Hudson Kimber - Rosie BentonA comedy in the dysfunctional-family variety, "Stick Fly" provides plenty of laughter and several enjoyable performances while not much if this involves distinction. While playwright Lydia R. Gem mixes in intrigue, sex and sociology, the proceedings are not surprising and never compelling the finish result signifies another cousin of August Wilson married to Jean Kerr's stepchild. There is a crowd with this particular piece, at the very least of 5 other productions nationwide make apparent, but without ticket-selling stars, it's unclear whether they'll be capable of attract a crowd for the Cort Theater. The author sets out a typical template. A maximum-class family arrives for just about any extended weekend at their country house in Martha's Vineyard, the grown sons getting along new female buddies. Your family is black the woman one of the sons brings home is white-colored. You will discover two key figures present solely via telephone, as well as the family's basic principles are skyrocketed by among people second-act secrets that are telegraphed midway using the first. With "Stick Fly," Gem has attempted a commercial comedy with soapy overtones, but no matter the abundance of laugh lines, the initial act bogs lower with cultural anthropology talk because the second meanders through five moments. Director Kenny Leon ("Fences"), who effectively staged "Stick Fly" when it comes to Stage in Washington a year ago, has recast essentially one of the roles, but what this play cries out for can be a rewrite. David Gallo's Vineyard cottage might be the type of place you want to maneuver into immediately, with partial walls identifying three distinct playing areas you should use at the same time. Pop music giant Alicia Secrets -- the second-billed producer -- has composed scene-change music that sadly slows lower the proceedings. Ruben Santiago-Hudson ("Seven Guitars"), the primary one stage veteran inside the group, rules the knowledge getting a comical turn since the controlling patriarch in the clan. Tracie Thoms and Rosie Benton lead detailed portraits from the very different female buddies the sons, top-billed Dule Hill and Mekhi Phifer, receive less to make use of. Stealing attention is Condola Rashad, who gave an memorable performance becoming an roughed up victim in Lynn Nottage's "Destroyed," and who proves a effective comedienne here. The title arises from the play's resident entomologist to have the ability to study the wing actions of houseflies, you glue those to Pop-sicle stays watching them squirm. That's exactly what the playwright gives her figures in "Stick Fly."Sets, David Gallo costumes, Reggie Ray lights, Beverley Emmons appear, Peter Fitzgerald production stage manager, Robert Bennett. Opened up up 12 ,. 8, 2011. Examined 12 ,. 5. Running time: 2 Several hours, 30 MIN. Contact the number newsroom at news@variety.com

Hendes Zimmer and Pharrell Williams to Supervise Music for your 84th Academy awards

The entrepreneurs behind The Woman While using Dragon Tattoo got creative in the new clip that hit the net on Thursday.our editor recommends'Dragon Tattoo' Director David Fincher on NYer Embargo Fight: Stop All Experts From Early ScreeningsTrent Reznor Releases 'Girl While using Dragon Tattoo' Full Soundtrack List 'Girl While using Dragon Tattoo' Extended Trailer Released (Video) It, released within the Dragon Tattoo Tumblr site Mouth Recorded Shut, can be a nine-minute segment that focuses on the mysterious disappearance of Harriet Vanger from her family estate decades ago. The problem, that's at the center of the arrival David Fincher-directed movie and Stieg Larsson book it's modified, is what draws journalist Mikael Blomkvist (Difficulties) and hacker Lisbeth Salander (Rooney Mara) together. PHOTOS: 10 Finest Book-to-Silver Screen Adaptations in the Latter-and-a-half decades Nevertheless the entrepreneurs have selected to create back the newsmagazine Hard Copy for your segment, which causes it to be appear as an investigative report within the demonstrate that was recorded on VHS in addition to mixing in ads within the eighties. The segment really re-produces the show to probe to the disappearance by ending up in several "experts" in regards to the teen and what might have happened. VIDEOS: 'Dragon Tattoo' Co-Star Christopher Plummer in THR's Honours Season Stars Roundtable The brand new the new sony Pictures releases the film 12 ,. 21. PHOTO GALLERY: View Gallery 10 Finest Book-to-Silver Screen Adaptations in the Latter-and-a-half decades Related Subjects Rooney Mara Difficulties David Fincher The Woman While using Dragon Tattoo

American Film Market Remaining Place In Santa Monica With New Deal Through 2017

The Independent Film & Television Alliance, which runs the American Film Market, have been teasing with moving the annual market downtown towards the L.A. Live complex, and just unwillingly confirmed in September it was remaining in Santa Monica through 2012. However it's become the upgrades it wanted in the city and it has inked an offer which will keep your confab in the Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel — its home since 1991 — through 2017. Occasions will also take place at Le Merigot Beach Hotel and also the Fairmont Miramar. AFM authorities reported an approaching AMC cinema complex with 12 screens a refurbished and broadened Santa Monica Social Auditorium, that will give a venue for red-colored-carpet premieres additional rooms in hotels within the downtown area an easy-rail visit 4th Street and Colorado Boulevard set to spread out in 2015 along with a seven-acre park on Sea Avenue opposite the Loews scheduled to become carried out 2013, together with a mixed-use complex featuring restaurants and retail. Our mentioned goal in the oncoming of this method is to supply the best atmosphere, assets and value for that mobile phone industry's purchasers and retailers and, after lengthy and careful deliberations, we feel residing in Santa Monica will achieve all individuals goals, IFTA leader and Boss Jean Prewitt stated. Santa Monica authorities state that AFM will lead a lot more than $100 million towards the local economy within the next six years. Listed here are the approaching AFM dates, also introduced today: October 31-November 7, 2012 November 6-13, 2013 November 5-12, 2014 November 4-11, 2015 November 2-9, 2016 November 1-8, 2017.

NFL, Broadcast Networks Close to Eight-Year TV Deal Extension (Report)

Jason Aldean was the big winner at Monday night's American Country Awards in Las Vegas, taking home six awards, including artist of the year.our editor recommendsAMAs 2011: Taylor Swift Wins Entertainer of the Year; Adele Scores Favorite Album; Bruno Mars Upsets Justin BieberCMA Awards: Taylor Swift Wins Second Entertainer of the Year TrophyKristin Chenoweth Covers Carrie Underwoods 'Lessons Learned' (Video)Taylor Swift Wins Entertainer of the Year at ACM Awards The singer, the night's top nominee with Zac Brown Band at eight, also nabbed album of the year for My Kinda Party, touring artist of the year and single of the year by a male artist for "My Kinda Party" at the fan-voted awards. PHOTOS: Country Crossovers Meanwhile, Carrie Underwood, who was last year's top winner with six of the Fender Telecaster trophies, won female artist of the year honors as well as music video and single of the year by a female artist for "Mama's Song." Brad Paisley, who was not present at the ceremony, was named male artist of the year. Blake Shelton won video of the year by a male artist for "Who Are You When I'm Not Looking." He dedicated the win to his father, who has "been having a pretty rough couple of weeks." Dick Shelton is the hospital with pneumonia. American Idol winner Scotty McCreery was named new artist of the year. PHOTOS: 54th annual Grammy Award Nominees As expected, the show's focus was squarely on country music's youth movement, with twentysomethings taking in the early haul of Fender Telecaster trophies and performances slots. Chris Young was the show's early leader, earning breakthrough artist and single of the year for "Voices." Co-host Kristin Chenoweth, brought in to keep returning host Trace Adkins in line, added zing to the show. The diminutive Broadway star entered the MGM Grand Garden Arena in boxing gloves, a fighter's robe and impossibly tall high heels, tossing jabs at her 6-foot-6 counterpart while running circles around him. She then challenged him to a singing contest. After she required him to sing "Oklahoma," she dropped the robe to reveal an artificially enhanced posterior and launched into Adkins' hit "Honky Tonk Badonkadonk." Later, Adkins carried her on stage strapped to his chest in a baby carrier. The Associated Press contributed to this report. PHOTO GALLERY: View Gallery Country Crossovers Related Topics Carrie Underwood Kristin Chenoweth Blake Shelton Brad Paisley

Exclusive Preview: Electricity Comics Recharges Static Shock

Static Shock #4 It has been seven years because the animated Kids' WB series Static Shock signed off, however the character continues to have plenty of juice. Electricity Comics released a monthly Static Shock series in September, getting the smoothness in to the comic mainstream. In problem No. 4 (on purchase Wednesday at comic stores an internet-based) visitors will find out more about the conspiracy including Static's new opponents (including one that is not what he appears) and also the mystery surrounding his sister and her clone.Get more information at a unique preview of pages from Static Shock No. 4.The smoothness of Static (also known as teen Virgil Hawkins, who fights crime by using his electromagnetic forces) was produced in 1993 through the African-American media company Milestone. His profile skyrocketed in 2000 using the debut from the Static Shock cartoon, but following the show's cancellation in '04 his looks have been couple of and flickering.When Electricity made the decision to relaunch all of their type of 52 comics this fall (the so-known as "New 52") Static was handed a solo title, contributing to a little but growing number of racially diverse superheroes using their own series. (The business's new selection includes the African vigilante Batwing, the African-American genius Mister Terrific and also the Latino teen Blue Beetle. Within an unfortunate little bit of irony, Static's upgrade meant the disappearance of DC's other electricity-carrying African-American super hero, Black Lightning.)Among the greatest changes designed for this new book was moving Static in the imaginary town of Dakota (the setting of his Milestone Comics adventures and also the cartoon) to NY City. "The Brand New 52 should be a brand new new start for Electricity and it is visitors," states the book's editor, Harvey Richards. "NY City is awesome. It's noted for diversity. It had been a simple fit for Static and the family."NY has additionally introduced Static to a different rogues gallery. "Villains are harder, wiser, and meaner in NY, which can make Static strong," Richards states. "Heroes are just just like their villains make sure they are.InchAdditionally to their own series, Static will even come in the web pages of teenybopper Leaders No. 6 (on purchase in Feb) and also the Savage Hawkman No. 7 (in March).Sign up for TV Guide Magazine now!