Artist Makes French People in politics Slightly Less Intolerable

This might never occur in the usa: "The Two primary candidates in this particular springs presidential election needed a relaxation utilizing their mudslinging to crow. 'This can be a tremendous success for your French cinema,' introduced Leader Nicolas Sarkozy on RTL radio Monday morning. 'I respected The Artist clearly.A Franois Hollande, the Socialist challenger, mentioned on his Site, 'Bravo for the entire cast in the film, and bravo to French cinema.'" [NYT]

Amended suit vs. merger seeks trial, damages

With ballots beginning to hit members' mailboxes, opponents of the SAG-AFTRA merger have amended their lawsuit against SAG to ask for a jury trial and monetary damages. Move comes a week after the four-count civil complaint was filed in Los Angeles. Plaintiffs allege the Screen Actors Guild and its leaders are attempting to merge with the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists "without conducting the necessary due diligence." SAG has labeled the suit "a clear attempt at circumventing the will of the membership" and "a public relations stunt" and has moved to dismiss it.Plaintiffs' attorney David Casselman of Wasserman, Comden, Casselman & Esensten told Variety that SAG is spending more than $2.5 million on the merger. Ballots are being mailed to 120,000 SAG members and 70,000 AFTRA members, touting the combo as giving performers more bargaining clout. To be approved, the merger must receive at least 60% of the votes from each union.The suit is aimed at preventing SAG from counting the votes on March 30. The amended complaint alleges that the plaintiffs had requested a delay in spending until SAG fulfilled its own fiduciary rules."The individual defendants intentionally and knowingly refused to abide by the SAG constitutional requirements, board resolutions and their fiduciary obligations to the members," the complaint said. "They should now be obligated to reimburse SAG for all funds expended, whether by staff or for otherwise, for time and expense associated with this unnecessary and improper merger effort."The lawsuit, filed by more than 60 SAG members including Martin Sheen and Ed Harris, also contends that SAG is violating its own rules by not conducting a comprehensive analysis of combining the SAG and AFTRA pension and health plans -- which are operated separately from the unions and overseen by union-industry boards. The unions' summary of the feasibility study, containing opinions of seven attorneys with experience in the field, noted that several hundred multi-employer pensions have merged over the past 25 years and that there is no legal obstacle to merging the SAG and AFTRA pension and health plans.Monday's filings by the opponents included a declaration by Alex H. Brucker, an attorney with three decades of experience in employee pension and health plans, that blasted SAG for asserting that merging the unions and the plans would "only benefit" participants and that "merger is the best way to protect our benefits.""These are not supportable statements of fact," Brucker said.Merger backers contend that combining SAG and AFTRA will make it easier to combine the plans as a first step toward resolving the problem that performers face in making contributions to the separate plans and then not meeting the earnings qualifications. Brucker said in his declaration that the question of merging SAG and AFTRA is "indistinguishable" from the question of merging the plans and can't be considered separately."It is my opinion, based on my careful consideration of this issue, that a plan merger raises complex issues, could create serious problems and conflicts and could result in loss of benefits for both SAG and AFTRA members," Brucker said. "The precise impact on plan benefits (or required member and co-sponsor contributions) cannot be properly assessed without an ERISA (Employee Retirement Income Security Act) Impact Report."SAG members turned down merger proposals in 1999 and 2003 while AFTRA members supported both combos.Casselman also filed a declaration by Patrick Byrnes, president of Actuarial Consultants, who asserted that the existing SAG pension plan is "relatively richer and more beneficial" to SAG members, than the existing AFTRA plan. "Generally speaking, based on my experience, it is not possible to merge a plan with higher benefits and a plan with lower benefits and (without additional funding) produce a joint plan providing the equivalent of the higher benefit formula for all participants," Byrnes said. He also said that without a study to determine how the pension plans would be merged, there's no way to predict the precise outcome. "But, in my experience, it is likely that the combination of the existing SAG and AFTRA plans will either require additional funding or SAG benefits would have to be reduced," Byrnes added.SAG had no comment Monday about the amended complaint. Both sides asked U.S. District Court Judge James Otero for a hearing on March 26.The guild filed pleadings Monday to dismiss the suit; a pleading contending the opponents lack standing to file; and an anti-SLAPP (strategic lawsuit against public participation) motion. It also filed a declaration by SAG national exec director David White, including his assertion that the merger has been discussed on numerous websites, web pages on well-known social media sites, blogs, and other online communication vehicles devoted to internal SAG issues many of which are member driven, some of which are maintained by the Guild and AFTRA, some by pro-merger groups, some by anti-merger groups, and some that take no official position."Thus, the members of SAG and AFTRA have innumerable outlets to consider the views and information of others on the merger question, and contributetheir own to the debate," he said. Contact Dave McNary at dave.mcnary@variety.com

Dennis Quaid, Michael Chiklis set for CBS pilot

Dennis Quaid and Michael Chiklis are headed for CBS and Sin City. The pair are set to star in the untitled CBS TV Studios drama pilot based on the life of rodeo cowboy-turned-Las Vegas sheriff Ralph Lamb. Quaid stars as the title character in the 1960s-set project. Chiklis plays Johnny Savino, a Chicago mob fixer whose entrepreneurial ambitions for Vegas collies with Lamb's law-and-order mandate. Both thesps will serve as co-exec producers. Pilot was penned by Greg Walker ("Without a Trace") and feature vet Nicholas Pileggi ("Goodfellas," "Casino"). James Mangold is on board to direct the pilot and exec produce with Walker, Pileggi, Cathy Konrad and Arthur Sarkissian. If ordered to series, the project would mark Quaid's first stint as a regular in primetime skein. Chiklis was last seen in ABC's "No Ordinary Family," which followed his Emmy-winning run on FX's "The Shield." Contact Cynthia Littleton at cynthia.littleton@variety.com

Anthony Mackie Knows Discomfort & Gain

He's up for Michael Bay's new filmThe ensemble for Michael Bay's first film in age range free from giant robots bashing into one another, Discomfort And Gain, grows. Now Anthony Mackie is within foretells link up.Discomfort already features Dwayne Manley, Mark Wahlberg, Erectile dysfunction Harris and Take advantage of Corddry inside a crime story which has its roots inside a real-existence tale relayed through the Miami New Occasions.Wahlberg and Manley is going to be bodybuilders who concoct a plan including kidnapping, extortion and, ultimately murder. Naturally, nothing quite would go to plan. Harris is onto play a personal detective named Erectile dysfunction Du Bois who digs in to the situation, while Corddry is John Mese, the previous accountant who is the owner of a fitness center where Wahlberg works.Now Mackie is within line to appear as Adrian Doorbal, another bodybuilder annoyed by his progress who will get swept up in Wahlberg's plan.Having a script by Captain America authors Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely, Bay will start shooting within the next handful of several weeks.Mackie, who last made an appearance in Guy On The Ledge, is placed to possess a busy year, with roles in Gangster Squad (coming November 9) and Abraham Lincoln subsequently: Vampire Hunter (out here August 2).

Spurlock's 'Comic-Con' docu opens April 6

Wrekin Hill Entertainment as well as the National Entertainment Memorabilia Assn. will open Morgan Spurlock's documentary "Comic-Disadvantage Episode IV -- A Fan's Hope" on April 6 getting a theatrical/VOD day-and-date release. Wrekin Hill and NECA may even begin a multi-city tour in the film on April 5, beginning in Atlanta after which Orlando, Miami, Rochester, N.Y., Albany, N.Y., Philadelphia, Wallingford, Conn., Cincinnati, Chicago and Detroit. The tour stops are increasingly being planned as fan occasions designed to recreate the Comic-Disadvantage experience. Plus a screening, each stop includes exhibitor working areas, animator portfolio reviews, costumes and sections. The film was produced by Spurlock, Jeremy Chilnick, Matthew Galkin, and Thomas Tull. It put together by Spurlock and Chilnick which is being presented by Stan Lee, Joss Whedon and Harry Knowles. "Merging with NECA and including an energetic tour element for the film's release can provide audiences a multi-dimensional think about the Comic Disadvantage experience," mentioned Wrekin Hill topper Chris Ball. Wrekin Hill and NECA acquired "A Fan's Hope" in December incorporated inside a proper partnership for your companies to distribute 4 or 5 game game titles theatrically each year. Previous game game titles have incorporated "Hesher," "Individuals versus. George Lucas" and "Spork." Contact Dork McNary at dork.mcnary@variety.com

Fridays Tight Race Keeps The Vow #1, Ghost Driver Follow up #2, Safe House #3, What This Means Is War #4 Secret Arrietty #9

FRIDAYPM/SATURDAY AM, second UPDATE:Another nailbiter. All of the galleries are saying that The new sony Pictures/Screen Gems’hefty holdoverThe Vow will finish up #1 for Friday with between $7.1M and $7.5M based on whose amounts prove correct. Additionally, it should capture the lengthy holiday, which makes it the greatest Screen Gems movie ever. (Dear Johnmade $80M).But The new sony, whichis searching in a 1-2 finish Friday,is cautioning me the opening gross because of its three dimensional comic adaptationGhost Driver: Spirit Of Vengeance “could go greater because the evening continues”. Therefore the order might change by 'life was imple'.(But most likely not, approximately the relaxation of Hollywood forecasts. “Ghost Driver‘s opening is going to be 1 / 2 of the 2007 original,” an adversary studio professional informs me.Snarks another: “Oncethey began advertising it with Nic Cage, it went downhill.”) A few days ago, Universal’s action holdover Safe Home is likely to fight Ghost Driver 2 for second place all holiday lengthy. Clearly this 4-day Presidents Weekend box office is beginning out very well — maybe $180M, ongoing the ‘up’ streak. That’s +4% over this past year butshort from the 2010 Prez Day record of$238M which incorporated Valentine’s Day. What's obvious already is the fact that thosestrong Valentine’s Day sneak previewsdidn’thelp Foxdebut What This Means Is War Friday much better.Not remarkably, after days of soppy monitoring and moving off its VDay release date, it’ll fall by Saturday behind Warner Bros’ holdoverJourney 2: The Mysterious Island due to its large family matinee bump. Gotta say: when Reese Witherspoon, Chris Pine, and Tom Sturdy combined can’topen a film to $20Mover a 4-day holiday with Micrograms pointing, something is hinky. I believe the general public is fatigued with romantic comedy, even when that one had lots of action and anot-too-lame premise, andis choosingThe Vow‘s romantic drama for something new-up.Disney had really low anticipation because of its latest Studio Ghibli toon from Japan. But even ifThe Secret Realm Of Arrietty looks likethis lengthy weekend’s large flop, Fridaywill function as the greatest opening of the Ghibli film. Full analysis when thenumbers firm. Here’s the very best Ten (based on Friday’s grosses): 1. The Vow (Screen Gems/The new sony) Week 2 [2,958 Theaters] Est Friday $7.1M (-53%), Est 4-Day Holiday $29M, Est Cume $90M 1. Ghost Driver: Spirit Of Vengeance three dimensional (The new sony) NEW [3,174 Theaters] Est Friday $7M, Est 4-day Holiday $25M 3. Safe House (Universal) Week 3 [3,121 Theaters] Est Friday $6.5M (-52%), Est 4-Day Holiday $26M, Est Cume $80M 4.What This Means Is War (Fox) NEW [3,189 Theaters] Est Friday $5.1M, Est 4-Day Holiday $18M 5. Journey 2 three dimensional (Warner Bros) Week 2 [3,500 Theaters] Est Friday $4.4M (-33%), Est 4-Day Holiday $26M, Est Cume $59M 6. Chronicle (Fox) Week 3 [2,556 Theaters] Est Friday $2M,Est 4-Day Holiday $10M,Est Cume $53.5M 7. Lady In Black (CBS Films) Week 3 [2,559 Theaters] Est Friday $2M, Est 4-Day Holiday $8M, EstCume $46.6M 8. The Exorcist three dimensional(Luscafilms/Fox) Week 2 [2,655 Theaters] Est Friday $1.9M (-78%), Est 4-Day Holiday $10M, Est Cume $35.9M 9. Secret Realm Of Arrietty (Studio Ghibli/Disney) NEW [1,522 Theaters] Est Friday $1.5M, Est 4-Day Holiday $8M 10. The Gray (Open Road) Week4 [2,107 Theaters] Est Friday $800K, Est 4-Day Holiday $3.7M, Est Cume $48.6 — 1 PM: Rentrak is getting problems with hourly grosses which put a pause on examining matinee amounts. However it lookslikethis 4-day Leader’s Holiday weekend will finish up strong.At this time for today,The new sony Pictures’sequelGhostrider: Spirit Of Vengeanceis opening just pennies from Universal’s holdover Safe House and The new sony Pictures The Vow (for the reason that order).Fox newcomer What This Means Is War isahead of Warner Bros’ holdover Journey 2.Order by weekend’s finish might be same. More later.

Gary Carter, Hall of Fame Catcher for your New You'll be able to Mets, Dies at 57

Ghost Hunters' longtime co-lead investigator Grant Wilson is departing the Syfy series this may, he introduced on Wednesday's episode. "While paranormal considering is actually and may remain a real love for me, after experiencing nearly eight effective seasons on television, I have thought we would depart the series to have the ability to focus on... Discover More > Other Links From TVGuide.com Grant WilsonJason HawesGhost Potential predators

Sirius drives into profit

Sirius XM Radio thrown towards the black last quarter with profits of $71 million versus an $81 million loss last year on greater revenue, lower costs and minus several hits to earnings it required last year. Revenue rose 4% to $784 million, a little shy of Wall Street's anticipation. The shares were lower 1.83% at $2.15 in pre-market trade. The Gotham-based satellite radio group brought by Mel Karmazin added 542,966 internet customers -Up 65%. It ended the entire year with 21.9 million subs. Satellite radio is set up in 65% of recent cars with free monthly subscriptions offered for any period. Having to pay customer additions were 374,432, up 7%. Sirius stated it needs to possess 23.two million subs by year-finish 2012. It forecasted full-year revenue of $3.3 billion and funds flow of $700 million. Sirius elevated its cost this The month of january the very first time but stated it's seen modest fallout to date. ''With auto sales likely to increase in 2012, and what seems to become merely a modest rise in churn connected with this The month of january cost increase, we be prepared to grow our internet new customers by roughly 1.3 million this year, ongoing our strong multi-year history of customer growth,'' stated Karmazin inside a statement. Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com

NBC tries for marketing touchdown

Madonna and Cee Lo Eco-friendly Fox arranging guru Preston Beckman has known towards the millions who stay tuned for large sports occasions -- such as the Olympic games, Super Bowl or World Series -- as "lent audience."So using the knowning that most who viewed the Titans defeat the Patriots Sunday inside a nail-biter that went lower towards the last play will not return, how did host network NBC -- getting pointed toward this very day to assist initiate a turnaround -- do in changing this loan into having to pay returns to individuals who may be receptive to the promotion?For the short term, not too great. Oddly, NBC's shrewdest flourishes had little related to its much-ballyhooed push immediately being released of the overall game -- starting "The Voice" and "Smash" -- but instead moved more effectively toward the summer time.NBC Universal Boss Steve Burke has recommended the business's Symphony approach, made to together leverage its various assets to buttress one another. Yet in comparison to Fox, say, NBC was relatively restrained in pushing its assorted qualities, unless of course you count in-game advertisements for 2 Universal movies, "Battleship" and "The Lorax," which did not always make you need to hurry out and find out either.Granted, the network faced some apparent restrictions. It's possible to second-guess using football to produce programs which will skew so heavily toward women, but lots of women watch the Super Bowl too -- greater than catch a typical installment of "The Greatest Loser." Nonetheless, the "Smash" spots were not particularly potent -- offering the large-title people from the cast appears just a little tone-hard of hearing, and pushing Katharine McPhee's attractiveness will not generate many males -- along with a certain disconnect might be observed in the large action-oriented promo the network come up with for "The Voice," featuring the ubiquitous Betty Whitened. Sure, tee hee, however the creative appeared from sorts using the show's likely audience.While NBC has clearly put lots of eggs within the midseason basket, its best spots were really for Howard Stern joining "America's Got Talent" -- both clever and possibly probably the most direct utilisation of the showcase to achieve males -- which summer's London Olympic games, representing the network's next large chance (in addition to a more protracted platform) to market itself to some mass audience. A late-in-the-game plug because of its new drama "Awake" also did a great job of encapsulating the premise.Oddly enough, NBC limited its marketing focus -- throwing in spots for that return of "Celebrity Apprentice," a moved "Rock Center" and Jay Leno, and something generic ad because of its Thursday comedies. Typically, though, NBC made an appearance to appear forward, presuming the majority of its established goods were not worth giving such time.NBC did take advantage of "The Voice's" musical bent to sprinkle additional promotion through the festivities, from Cee Lo Eco-friendly appearing in Madonna's halftime show to Blake Shelton singing "America the gorgeous.Inch Still, the network opposed the temptation to splash graphics under individuals idol judges in mid-performance screaming "Please, by all that's holy, watch 'The Voice!"Obviously, when the network's winter plans don't yield the wished-for Symphony of advantages, maybe search for that throughout the Olympic games. Contact John Lowry at john.lowry@variety.com