From UPI
CBS Tuesday rewarded its freshman series "Close to Home" with a full season order.
The network had moved the series starring former daytime star Jennifer Finnigan to Friday night and the shift resulted in substantially better ratings
From Fangora.com
The plot of the $1.3-million movie, directed by SHALLOW GROUND’s Sheldon Wilson, shot by that film’s John Tarver and written by Chuck Reeves, concerns a small town and its citizens who are suddenly attacked by thousands of vicious, psychotic ravens. The townsfolk (led by Sean Patrick Flanery from TV’s THE DEAD ZONE) learn that the flying killers have been infected with a mysterious new virus that is causing them to go insane. Complicating matters is a secretive Mennonite community living outside of town—people who knew about the impending threat the birds posed but said nothing to their neighbors.
From The Futon Critic and USA Network
THE DEAD ZONE/MONK (USA) - A note on "Monk's" official web site indicates the show's fourth season will resume on Friday, January 13 at 10:00/9:00c. Likewise, a similar note on "The Dead Zone's" official web site mentions new episodes will return on Sunday, June 11 at 10:00/9:00c. Both series will offer up special holiday episodes next weekend on December 2 and December 4 at 10:00/9:00c respectively.
Air Date Ep # Title
Brick covered streets along Natchitoches' Front Street, wrought iron embellishments on businesses and historic homes, various courtyards, and even the lobby of Church Street Inn provided the look and feel of New Orleans.
And that was important since "Scarlett" tells the story of a mystery writer from Chicago who visits New Orleans to do a book signing. During her time in the city, she spots a mansion for sale, buys it and moves in, which leads to changes in her life.
Hill will know by the end of January or in February if the pilot is picked up. Indications are that it will, he said.
Visit Syfy Portal for the full article
"Michael was the prospector who had a talent for finding those rare nuggets of gold in an avalanche of mud,” said Stillwell. “Over the years, Michael Piller 'discovered' and mentored dozens and dozens of young writers in Hollywood.”
Not only was he willing to hear the ideas of novice writers, he mentored them as well, helping them build strong character-based stories. “I find it interesting that the elements he stressed in his screenplays he also emphasized as he trained news writers,” said Scott Gurvey, bureau chief for Nightly Business Report, who worked with Pillar when he was a news writer/producer for WBBM-TV in Chicago, “find the humanity in the story, and write in a way that involves the viewer in a personal, emotional way.”
The Chicago-Sun Times has an article on The Brat Packers reaching middle age and talks about going through mid-life crisis. It also has a bit at the end that tells the age of all The Brat Packer's now, and what they've been up to.
DEMI MOORE
42 years old
On third marriage
Husband is 15 years younger
Once commanded a reported $12.5 million for acting in "Striptease"
Latest film role was in "Charlie's Angels 2"
ROB LOWE
41
Married to makeup artist Sherk Berkoff since 1991
Co-stared in series "The West Wing"
New series, "Dr. Vegas," was yanked after rating drop
Scandalized by sex video made with an underage woman in 1988
EMILIO ESTEVEZ
43
Once engaged to Demi Moore; divorced Paula Abdul in 1994
Played in string of "Mighty Duck" kid hockey movies.
Two children with ex-girlfriend Carey Salley.
ALLY SHEEDY
43
As a 12-year-old, wrote a best-selling book, She was Nice to Mice
Tapped her own addiction to sleeping pills in 1998 critically acclaimed film "High Art"
Married to actor David Lansbury; one daughter
Once said the term "brat pack" was "so condescending"
Quit off-Broadway play "Hedwig and the Angry Inch" in 1999 after a dressing down by producers over her ad-libbing
JUDD NELSON
45
Has made about 50 feature and TV movies since "The Breakfast Club" and was on sitcom "Suddenly Susan."
A habitue of Hugh Hefner's mansion
ANDREW MCCARTHY
42
Married college sweetheart -- 20 years after they met; son born in 2002
Starred on the short-lived TV show "Stephen King's Kingdom Hospital."
ANTHONY MICHAEL HALL
37
Was "Saturday Night Live" cast member at 17
Said he drank a quart of vodka a day as a teen before quitting booze
Played Bill Gates in 1999's "Pirates of Silicon Valley"
Stars on TV's "The Dead Zone"
MARE WINNINGHAM
46
Divorced twice; has five children
Nominated for an Academy Award in 1995 for role in "Georgia." Won Emmy in 1998 for portrayal of Alabama Gov. George Wallace's wife
Raised Catholic, converted to Judaism as an adult
MOLLY RINGWALD
38
Moved to Europe in early 1990s, made French films
Divorced French novelist Valery Lameignere in 2002; has daughter with boyfriend Panio Gianopoulos, a book editor and writer
Visit Broadway World for the full story.
San Francisco, Los Angeles and Boston will each have a White Christmas this holiday season as the Irving Berlin musical plays in three separate productions in those cities.
"The musical tells the story of two showbiz buddies putting on a show in a picturesque Vermont inn, and finding their perfect mates in the bargain," according to press notes. White Christmas, which will feature a book by David Ives (All in the Timing) and Paul Blake in addition to classic Berlin songs, will boast direction by Tony Award-winner Walter Bobbie (Chicago) and choreography by Randy Skinner (42nd Street) in its three productions.
In San Francisco, the show will star Graham Rowat as Bob Wallace, Kate Baldwin as Betty Haynes, Mark Ledbetter as Phil Davis and Shannon O'Bryan as Judy Haynes. The same roles will be played in Los Angeles by Brian d'Arcy James, Anastasia Barzee, Jeffry Denman and Meredith Patterson; Ruth Williamson and David Ogden Stiers will also be featured in that production. The cast of the Boston staging will be announced soon.
Full Report
The Company noted that it spent approximately $35 million to market and
distribute two wide release films, Lord of War and The Devil's Rejects,contributing to a $26 million loss on those films in the quarter. Lions Gate expects that both Lord of War and The Devil's Rejects will be profitable after release in their DVD and pay television windows.
Principal revenue drivers during the second quarter were the theatrical
releases Lord of War and The Devil's Rejects, the DVD titles Crash, Barbie(TM)And The Magic of Pegasus and State Property 2 along with continuing sales ofDiary of A Mad Black Woman, released late in the first quarter, international sales of The Final Cut and The Devil's Rejects and domestic deliveries of the one-hour drama series Wildfire (ABC Family), Missing (Lifetime) and The Dead Zone (USA) as well as the critically-acclaimed half-hour drama series Weeds
(Showtime).
Full articl at Poststar.com
"Aftermath" features Hall, who starred in the 1980s teen movie, "The Breakfast Club," as well as Chris Penn, who is Sean Penn's brother and who appeared in films such as "Reservoir Dogs" and "Starsky and Hutch". Also in the cast are Elizabeth Rohm, who was recently in "Miss Congeniality 2," Jamie Harrold, who appeared in "The Score" and "The Sum of All Fears," and Frank Whaley, whose credits include "Pulp Fiction."
Area resident and local builder Thomas Farone is the film's writer and director.
It is a dramatic thriller in which Hall plays the boss of a successful construction company. According to a synopsis released by the production firm, things get interesting when two of his employees get into an altercation while vying for a top spot in the company, and one of them subsequently disappears.
From Syfy Portal
A public memorial service will be held to remember Michael Piller, best known as a producer and writer for Star Trek. As announced by the Piller family, the service will take place Sunday, November 13, at 1:15 p.m. at Temple Israel of Hollywood in Los Angeles, California, according to TrekWeb.
Valet parking will be available. A reception will follow the service in the same building. The family requests that donations be made in Michael Piller's honor to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, his alma mater.
From Playbill
"Due to unexpected scheduling conflicts with their TV series' filming schedules, previously announced performers Kate Burton and Kerry O'Malley are unable to join us," according to MPTC. "We are, however, delighted and fortunate to have four-time Tony Award nominee Tovah Feldshuh and concert favorite Jennifer Rae Beck joining us, along with terrific new cast members Jonathan Hadary and David Ogden Stier
From the The Saratogian
Dozens of cast and crew members are in the Spa City this month to shoot the independent movie 'Aftermath,' under the direction of local filmmaker Thomas Farone. Among the film's cast in town are actors Anthony Michael Hall, Christopher Penn and Elizabeth Rohm.
'We have about 30 people in the cast and 35 in the crew,' said Sylvia Caminer, one of the film's producers. 'About a third of those are local people.'
Caminer was previously involved in the productions of 'The Deli,' a 1997 film featuring Ice-T, and the 2000 comedy-drama 'Blue Moon' and has worked on two television shows, 'Great Hotels' and 'Passport to Europe.'
The story of 'Aftermath' centers on New York state construction company boss Tom Fiorin and the altercations he has with some of his employees. The company boss is portrayed by Hall -- who was first noticed when he was cast as Chevy Chase's son in the 1983 film, 'National Lampoon's Vacation.' Hall's subsequent work included the popular 1980s' films 'Sixteen Candles' and 'The Breakfast Club' as well as being a cast member of Saturday Night Live.
The cast also includes Frank Whaley, veteran actor of the movies 'Pulp Fiction' and 'Swimming with Sharks
From Futon Critic
USA has pushed back its previously announced holiday episodes of "Monk" and "The Dead Zone" by one week. "Mr. Monk and the Secret Santa" will now air Friday, December 2 at 10:00/9:00c with "A Very Dead Zone Christmas" now set for Sunday, December 4 at 10:00/9:00c.
It is with great saddness that this site reports the loss of Michael Pillar. He created The Dead Zone and Wildfire among a host of other shows.
Michael Piller, who served as an executive producer for the Star Trek shows "The Next Generation," "Deep Space Nine" and "Voyager," passed away early Tuesday, November 1, according to TrekWeb.
Piller, who is survived by his wife Sandra, daughter Brent and son Shawn, died at his Los Angeles home after a long battle with cancer of the head and neck. He was 57.
In 1999, Piller launched Piller2 Inc., with his son Shawn. They developed properties including "The Dead Zone," seen on the USA Network, and the ABC Family Channel show, "Wildfire."
