Variety

Christiane Amanpour|THR, Variety Plan Changes|GalleyCat Correctly Predicts Oprah's Book Club Selection|WSJ Reveals Pricey Mobile App Pay Structure|Diller Will Use Cash To Reinvest - Posted September 17, 2009
TVNewser: CNN correspondent Christiane Amanpour celebrated the launch of her new show "Amanpour" at Michael's yesterday, and chatted with Kevin Allocca. Says Kevin: "After the interview, Amanpour remarked, 'That's the tiniest lens I've every looked into.'" FishbowlLA/Folio: Nikki Finke reports that The Hollywood Reporter will be going online only next year, while... [FishBowlNY]

Breaking: Reed Elsevier To Sell Part Of U.S. Business - Posted July 30, 2009
In a memo to staffers today, Reed Business Information Global CEO Keith Jones revealed a plan to divest a bulk of the company's U.S. publications. RBI will hold on to Reed Construction Data US & Canada, RS Means, Variety, Marketcast, LA411 and Buyerzone, Jones said. The rest of the U.S. titles... [FishBowlNY]

Bart Becomes A Softie Re: Will Smith - Posted December 30, 2008
Variety editor Peter Bart, who has had his share of those nasty little "Memo to" columns over the years has certainly turned his naysaying around with the latest. Suddenly, Bart is puckering up and smacking one on Will Smith's very wealthy behind. Whether Smith actually needs such accolades is a question for the... [FishBowlLA]

Clint For Best Actor: Do You Feel Lucky? Well, Do Ya, Punk? - Posted December 30, 2008
As the Oscar ballots were just sent out to hungry voters for those pesky gold statuettes, the pressing question hovers around Dirty Harry and whether he'll get the acting nod, the L.A. Times predicts. The critics, well faux critics or columnists or whatever you want to call them, are in disarray as... [FishBowlLA]

NY Times Banned In China -- On The Internet - Posted December 22, 2008
If you happen to be in China and are looking for the New York Times on the Internet, think again. The grey lady has been banned on the Chinese Internet just a few days after the Chinese government gave itself the right to censor content it deems illegal, Variety Asia reported today. Attempts... [FishBowlLA]

Variety Was On The Block, Or Was It? - Posted December 10, 2008
Variety, owned by London's Reed Elsevier, looked to be the target of overall billion-dollar buyout by British firm Bain Capital, the Independent said on Sunday. That was then. Four days later, all bets are off. Reed Elsevier seems to be saying no dice to any and all offers. Citing the poor economy (what else... [FishBowlLA]

WGA Awards Want 'Simpsons,' 'Breaking Bad' And Tina's '30 Rock' - Posted December 8, 2008
Tina Fey is likely to be lauded for more than just impersonating Sarah Palin with the Writers Guild of America awards nominations already announced, Variety reports. Fey, "Breaking Bad" and "The Simpsons" led the nominations that were announced today. Winners will be announced Feb. 7 in simultaneous ceremonies in L.A. and New York. Nominations... [FishBowlLA]

Variety At Least Can Laugh At Itself - Posted November 20, 2008
Variety, the long-standing Hollywood trade that never likes to admit it is a trade, at least admitted being amused by a colorful vid produced by Will Ferrell's funnyordie.com circulating the Internet. The paper actually published the vid and seemed to encourage people to take a look. If you haven't seen it... [FishBowlLA]

Alas Poor Yorick, er Thor - Posted September 29, 2008
The latest version of a Marvel comic to hit screens may now by the illustrious "Thor," directed by no less than Shakespearean expert Kenneth Branagh. The director is apparently, according to Variety, in talks to handle the project. The closest Branagh has ever come to this type of material was his... [FishBowlLA]

Alas Poor Yorick, er Thor - Posted September 29, 2008
The latest version of a Marvel comic to hit screens may now by the illustrious "Thor," directed by no less than Shakespearean expert Kenneth Branagh. The director is apparently, according to Variety, in talks to handle the project. The closest Branagh has ever come to this type of material was his... [FishBowlLA]

KCBS Cuts Back--Greene and Martin Leaving - Posted April 1, 2008
KCBS has decided to let Harold Greene (LAObserved has Harold Levine in the text, but Greene in the hed) and Ann Martin walk away when their contracts expire. EP Matt Kallinger reporters Jennifer Sabih, Jaime Garza, Jennifer Davis, and Greg Phillips are also signing off. Kallinger's the guy who... [FishBowlLA]

Variety Launches Social Networking Site For Entertainment-Types - Posted February 20, 2008
Variety gives social networking the business. Ever think to yourself: If a giant media company was looking for a way to hemorrhage money, why not just give it to me? Yeah. Us, too.... [FishBowlLA]

Anne Thompson: Golden Globes May Not Be Televised - Posted December 28, 2007
Variety says it has been hearing rumblings that the on-going writers' strike means the Golden Globes will not be televised. Others concur. Our guess? It won't matter. Nobody watches the shows for the shows -- they watch them for the gowns. So if the awards themselves aren't televised, you can bet there'll... [FishBowlLA]

LA Times Serves Up H'wood's New Dining Rules - Posted August 20, 2007
People who know the entertainment biz are well aware that making it in Tinseltown means you understand the inside politics and well as the savvy social skills required to successfully navigate through Hollywood. So it's no surprise that there are oh-so-important rules even when it comes to lunch. However, those rules... [FishBowlLA]

LA Times Serves Up H'wood's New Dining Rules - Posted August 20, 2007
People who know the entertainment biz are well aware that making it in Tinseltown means you understand the inside politics and well as the savvy social skills required to successfully navigate through Hollywood. So it's no surprise that there are oh-so-important rules even when it comes to lunch. However, those rules... [FishBowlLA]

Variety.com Launches Digital Variety -- It's Like Paper, Without The Paper - Posted February 7, 2007
Taking a page from, oh, every newspaper in the country, Variety today announced it is launching Digital Variety, "an online reproduction of Daily Variety." And it's doing it for free -- so long as you're already a subscriber to the paper mag. According to Variety: Web users can turn electronic "pages" and see... [FishBowlLA]

In the Trades: Remakes, Remakes, Remakes - Posted February 1, 2007
Russell Crowe will star as the not-as-bad-as-we've-been-led-to-believe Sheriff of Nottingham, based on a spec script from Ethan Reiff and Cyris Voris of Sleeper Cell. Imagine's Brian Glazer will produce for Universal. Jennifer Garner will star in a remake of the perfect-the-way-it-is-now, so-why-mess-it-up? 1945 film Christmas in Connecticut. Barbara Stanwyck was... [FishBowlLA]

In the Trades: Remakes, Remakes, Remakes - Posted February 1, 2007
Russell Crowe will star as the not-as-bad-as-we've-been-led-to-believe Sheriff of Nottingham, based on a spec script from Ethan Reiff and Cyris Voris of Sleeper Cell. Imagine's Brian Glazer will produce for Universal. Jennifer Garner will star in a remake of the perfect-the-way-it-is-now, so-why-mess-it-up? 1945 film Christmas in Connecticut. Barbara Stanwyck was... [FishBowlLA]

FBLA EXCLUSIVE: Peter Bart Disses LA Times in Internal Memo - Posted January 31, 2007
FBLA found this interesting item in our tip box: To: Editorial Staff From: Peter Bart Dana Harris will assume her new duties as editor of Variety.com, effective January 29. She has done an outstanding job in several roles here at Variety and I am delighted to welcome her to her new position. She joins... [FishBowlLA]

FBLA EXCLUSIVE: Peter Bart Disses LA Times in Internal Memo - Posted January 31, 2007
FBLA found this interesting item in our tip box: To: Editorial Staff From: Peter Bart Dana Harris will assume her new duties as editor of Variety.com, effective January 29. She has done an outstanding job in several roles here at Variety and I am delighted to welcome her to her new position. She joins... [FishBowlLA]

In The Trades - Posted January 31, 2007
Variety Scott Rudin has offered one of his former development guys, Craig Perry, a first-look deal, thus gaining an opportunity to "generate mainstream comedies and family films." Perry produced the American Pie and Final Destination movies. Sidney Sheldon, the prolific author and producer, has died. During his extensive career he wrote several Broadway... [FishBowlLA]

In The Trades - Posted January 31, 2007
Variety Scott Rudin has offered one of his former development guys, Craig Perry, a first-look deal, thus gaining an opportunity to "generate mainstream comedies and family films." Perry produced the American Pie and Final Destination movies. Sidney Sheldon, the prolific author and producer, has died. During his extensive career he wrote several Broadway... [FishBowlLA]

In The Trades - Posted January 30, 2007
Variety: Kiss has launched a comic book company. The first title, Kiss 4K, will debut at the Wizard World convention in Los Angeles in March. The second title is expected to be Kiss Girls, which features four teenagers who talk about shopping and are about as dysfunctional as anyone until something happens... [FishBowlLA]

In The Trades - Posted January 30, 2007
Variety: Kiss has launched a comic book company. The first title, Kiss 4K, will debut at the Wizard World convention in Los Angeles in March. The second title is expected to be Kiss Girls, which features four teenagers who talk about shopping and are about as dysfunctional as anyone until something happens... [FishBowlLA]

Variety to Provide On-Camera Talent for Reelz Channel - Posted January 24, 2007
Variety, the show-biz bible, has struck a deal with Reelz Channel--writers appear as correspondents and analysts on the Dailies show and Reelz puts a camera in the newsroom. Rod Perth, head of the cable channel, said The goal for this network is to become for movie fans what the Food Network is for... [FishBowlLA]

Variety to Provide On-Camera Talent for Reelz Channel - Posted January 24, 2007
Variety, the show-biz bible, has struck a deal with Reelz Channel--writers appear as correspondents and analysts on the Dailies show and Reelz puts a camera in the newsroom. Rod Perth, head of the cable channel, said The goal for this network is to become for movie fans what the Food Network is for... [FishBowlLA]