New NBC Game Show Who's Still Standing? Gets Week-Long Launch

Ben Bailey NBC will launch its new trivia game show Who's Still Standing? as a week-long strip in December, tied to the holidays. The show, hosted by Cash Cab's Ben Bailey, will run at 8 pm Monday through Thursday the week of December 19. The show then moves to its normal Monday night slot starting December 26 at 8 pm and continues through January 30 (when The Voice takes over). The launch of Who's Still Standing? mirrors what NBC did the last two years with The Sing-Off, which succeeded as a week-long holiday event. But The Sing-Off was moved into the fall this year, opening the door for a new show to air as a December strip. Exclusive: Cash Cab Host Ben Bailey Lands New NBC Game Show Gig Based on the hit Israeli game show Still Standing, the series pits one competitor and 10 challengers in head-to-head trivia battles for a chance at winning $1 million. Players who answer questions incorrectly are dropped through trap doors - until just one is left standing. Paul Telegdy, NBC's president of alternative and late night programming, says the show marries classic trivia matches "with the attraction of physical comedy for those who do not succeed... Less fortunate contestants can literally disappear in a moment when they drop through a trap door." Subscribe to TV Guide Magazine now!

Steven Spielberg Places blame George Lucas for Indiana Johnson Aliens, But Takes Credit for Nuking the Fridge

Steven Spielberg might have hated George Lucas’s addition of aliens into Indiana Johnson and also the Kingdom from the Very Skulls, however the much-loathed refrigerator scene? All him. “What people really leaped at was Indianapolis climbing right into a refrigerator and becoming blown in to the sky by an atom-explosive device blast. Blame me. Don’t blame George. Which was my silly idea. People stopped saying ‘jump the shark.’ They now say, ‘nuked the fridge.’ I’m happy with that. I’m glad I could bring that into popular culture.” See here, fellas: Nobody will get away clean. [Empire]

Best Movie Art Ever (Now): The Universal Art galleries Monsters

As Halloween draws closer, you are available the horror movies for just about any 24/7 marathon of frightening cinema. If modern-day movies like 'Paranormal Activity 3' and 'The Thing' aren't your bag, though, you'll be able to go retro getting a vintage horror film from Hollywood's golden age: the Monsters of Universal Art galleries. From Frankenstein and Dracula for the Creature within the Black Lagoon, Universal has all your favorite creatures in the evening, and you'll obtain a fix using this incredible movie-inspired artwork. Best Movie Art Ever (Now): October 22, 2011 Bride of FrankensteinDisney Universal Monster MashThe MummyLuxury of MonstersUniversal Double BillCreature Within the Black LagoonThe WolfmanUniversal Treehouse of HorrorPhantom in the OperaDraculaThis Island EarthPoker FrightKing Kong See All Moviefone Galleries » Our sister site, ComicsAlliance, comprises an exercise of spotlighting particular artists and/or specific physiques at work, there's however a lot great attempt to observe they have began Best Art Ever (Now), a weekly depository for are are just some of the virtually numerous items of especially compelling artwork they encounter inside their travels within the digital media landscape. Numerous it's new, numerous it's old, numerous it's created by working professionals, numerous it's created by gifted fans, and several of it's endearingly stupid. And all of it's awesome. Want more? Have a look at ComicsAlliance's Best Art Ever (Now). Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook RELATED #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-153197.cke_show_edges #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-153197, #postcontentcontainer #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-153197

Social TV: Survivor Winner Parvati Shallow: Social Media Got Me Around the World For Free

Parvati Shallow In CBS' web series Around the World for Free, Parvati Shallow circumnavigated the globe for 100 days without a single dollar to her name, and she has social media to thank for her (mostly) good fortune. Around the World Productions brought the idea to CBS after the first season had aired in 2007, and the network felt that it was a perfect fit. "We thought this was such a uniquely interactive opportunity because it authentically involves an audience," says Michelle Lynch, director of original programming at CBS. "It was different for us because we were new to the original content space, so it was the perfect property for us to jump on and run with." Once CBS Interactive obtained the rights to the show, season two premiered in July 2010 with host Jeff Schroeder, an alum of CBS' Big Brother (who had an already built-in fan-base). The series was a success, and a year later, on July 8, Shallow was on a similar journey. The former Survivor winner relied on the show's online community of fans to shelter, feed, transport and guide her. Through polls, Twitter, live chats and an interactive map that followed her journey in real time, fans determined her route and activities. They even voted on which tattoo Shallow got during the show's second episode. After trekking 30,000 miles, over three continents and 12 countries, Shallow is back in her hometown of Santa Monica, Calif. We caught up with the now-professional nomad and asked her how her attitude toward social media shifted, why it was different from her time on Survivor and whether she'd ever consider doing it all again. TVGuide.com: The entire show was dictated by your interaction with fans. What was that like? Parvati Shallow: It was wild. You couldn't script it. And that's what was great about it at the same time. It's really a reality show. In most reality shows, you're put in a scripted situation. This show? It was all me. It was what I wanted to do, who I wanted to connect with. That's what was wonderful about it. The host can really make it their own. Social TV: How Survivor's Jeff Probst bridged the gap between CBS and its audience Were you at all hesitant going into it? Shallow: I didn't 100 percent understand the concept of the show. I thought, "I don't even know if I can do this. I don't know where I'm going to go, who I'm going to talk to." And I didn't like talking to people on Twitter. Relying on people you don't know online? That's weird! Not really my style. Social networking wasn't my forte, and the show is built upon social networking. So you obviously had a change of heart at some point. Shallow: I said, OK, I need to fully change my attitude about this. One of the biggest challenges I needed to overcome was to just allow these people into my life. And it turns out, the fans I connected to online and through the show are some of the most wonderful people I've ever met. I'm really glad I opened my mind. Do you think it's important for shows to be engaged with viewers? Shallow: I realized social networking is a really great tool, especially for fans who are in areas removed from Hollywood. They're more interested and excited, and if they want to talk to TV personalities, they can reach out and actually get a response. It's a cool way to connect. If you could play a part in guiding someone's journey and you could see the actual results of what you did the next day or the day after, it definitely encourages people to get more involved. Check out 9 social show integrations we're liking right now What was the most moving experience you had throughout the 100 days? Shallow: It was probably making it up to the refugee camps in Dedaab [Kenya]. I had wanted to do that for months, ever since I had heard about the famine situation in Somalia and what was happening in the refugee camps in Kenya. I made that a personal mission, and I hit so many roadblocks, but I still pushed through and made it there. To me, that was a personal victory. Which was more physically and emotionally challenging: Around the World or Survivor? Shallow: Around the World was longer - so that's more like a marathon. Survivor is more like a sprint. With this, I had so much passion and it gave me so much energy. I didn't really feel exhausted or wiped out, even when I broke my wrist and was in the hospital. I still wanted to keep going. And in Survivor, you're dying. You're starving, you're dehydrated, everyone is driving you insane. It's totally different. Any plans of traveling the world in the near future? Shallow: I would love to! This is my calling. I just love it so much. Check out Day 67 of Parvati's journey, after she broke her wrist riding a quad bike in the Namib Desert.

Charlize Theron Dips Into Zwart Water

Scott Derrickson writing & directingLooking to spread her genre wings, Charlize Theron is spearheading the introduction of horror thriller remake Zwart Water at Summit, with Scott Derrickson set to co-write and direct.Zwart Water (Black Water), also called Two Eyes Looking, came from within the Netherlands. Directed by Elbert Van Strien, the result is a youthful girl who helps make the disturbing discovery that her new friend and playmate is really A) her mother's dead twin and B) really rather harmful. Theron is searching to experience mom, a lady who is not exactly sane herself.The actress acquired the remake privileges towards the movie this past year and it has been busy setting things moving. She contacted Derrickson and also the Exorcism Of Emily Rose co-author Paul Boardman about crafting the script and pointing and today they are searching to have it made the coming year.Derrickson is presently at the office on another Summit film, Sinister, a found footage horror starring Ethan Hawke and Vincent D'Onofrio.Theron, meanwhile, will next be observed in Jason Reitman's Youthful Adult after which has Snow Whitened And Also The Huntsman looking for June 1 the coming year right here. And, unless of course among the film galleries blinks, she'll be competing against herself in Ridley Scott's Prometheus, that is due within 24 hours...

'Moneyball' Location Manager, Team Win Big at California on Location Awards

our editor recommends'Moneyball' Director Bennett Miller to Receive Honor at Hollywood Film Awards (Exclusive)'Moneyball' Author Michael Lewis to Script 'Liar's Poker' for Warner Bros. (Exclusive)'Moneyball' Premiere in OaklandColumbia's baseball drama Moneyball hit a home run at the 17thannual California on Location Awards, held Sunday at Los Angeles' Biltmore Hotel. Moneyball, starring Brad Pitt, saw its locations group, led by S. Todd Christensen, win location team of the year, while Christensen won location professional of the year.The movie beat out New Line's Horrible Bosses and Paramount's Super 8 in the team category, while Christensen elbowed out location managers from Screen Gems' Friends With Benefits, Warner Bros.'J. Edgar and Fox/New Regency's In Time. PHOTOS: 'Moneyball' Premiere in Oakland Big Sur, an indie movie directed by Michael Polish and based on a Jack Kerouac novel, took home the prize for location team of the year in the independent feature category, edging out Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer and Lincoln Lawyer. Caleb Duffy won location professional for the much-buzzed about black-and-white film The Artist, which is French made but set in Hollywood. Q&A: 'Moneyball' Author Michael Lewis on Oscar Hopes, Working With Brad Pitt and His New 'Liar's Poker' Screenplay In TV, NBC's The Event and the location group behind it took home the COLA for location team of the year (TV episodic), stepping over the teams behind Fox's Houseand HBO's Luck. Nancy Haecker won in the location professional category (TV episodic) for her work on House. Haecker beat out the location work of Gerard Averill (for Red State) and Kristi Frankenheimer (for Bummer Summer). Awards were also handed out in commercials and still categories as well as for public employees on the city, county, state and federal levels. Related Topics Brad Pitt House Moneyball The Event The Artist

Oka!

A Dada Films (in U.S.) release presented with Required Viewing of a Roland Films-James Bruce production. Produced by James Bruce, Lavinia Currier. Executive producer, Andrew Fierberg. Co-producer, Norbert Bogbeyate. Co-executive producer, Isaach de Bankole. Directed by Lavinia Currier. Screenplay, Currier, Suzanne Stroh, Louis Sarno, based on Sarno's memoir, "Last Thoughts Before Vanishing From the Face of the Earth."With: Kris Marshall, Isaach de Bankole, Mapumba, Will Yun Lee, Mbombi, Essanje, Peter Riegert. (Sango, Akka, French, English dialogue)If movies were subject to sanity tests, "Oka!" would be a crazy old man with a three-day beard and a sock full of kruggerrands under his mattress. Suggestive of Monty Python, evocative of Scots novelist William Boyd ("A Good Man in Africa") and generally disdainful of modern stereotypes and patriarchal white-man-on-the dark-continent stories, Lavinia Currier's film has the kind of freewheeling sensibility and contempt for conformity that could give it theatrical traction -- even if, as regards just about anything in the specialty arena, the current climate seems particularly hostile. It might even be as hostile as the environment Larry Whitman (Kris Marshall) finds himself in. Inspired by the real-life Louis Sarno (adapting his memoir with Currier and Suzanne Stroh), Larry is an ethnomusicologist who has been recording and preserving the music of the Bayaka pygmies of Yandombe, in the Central African Republic, and is returning home to New Jersey to raise funds. When his acerbic doctor (Peter Riegert) tells him he's dying, he opts not to wait for a liver transplant and instead presses a wealthy patron to finance another trip to Africa, so he can finish his work on the Bayaka. Larry finds a new world evolving in Yandombe. He's still the tallest, whitest guy around, but the Bayaka have been getting a hard time from the Bantu, whose mayor, Bassoun (Isaach de Bankole), has moved the pygmies into a smaller village and forbidden them from entering their sacred forest. Bassoun is hoping to sell the timber rights to a predatory Chinese businessman, Mr. Yi (Will Yun Lee). The encroachment of the modern on the ancient is a major theme, both narratively and visually, in "Oka!" (the Bayaka word for "listen"), and preservation is Currier's obvious message here. But Larry is less of a savior than a stand-in for the audience; he towers comically over the pygmies, who all make affectionate fun of him. One of the more mischievous locals is Sataka (Mapumba), the tribe's great hunter, who, with his wife, Ekadi (Essanje), has gone back into the jungle to escape the capricious rule of law. What's refreshing about "Oka!" is its aversion to any kind of cliches; the Bayaka people exhibit as much self-interest as anyone, they use Larry for all he's worth, and they have their decidedly craven side. Sataka's granddaughter, Makombe (Mbombi), on whom Larry develops a crush, plays him like a fish. Still, the Bayaka are the victims here: Bassoun wants to frame Sataka for an elephant killing and accuse the pygmies of poaching, which will enable him to move the Bayaka permanently out, and Mr. Yi in. While Larry is a hero, he's only one of several, just as the film is only partly a farcical dramedy about endangered people. It's also a nature film, the wildlife of the Central African Republic playing a prominent role in the visual storytelling, and Currier eschews the lions and tigers and bears for far more hideous and fascinating varieties of African wildlife. But virtually all the species seen in "Oka!" are given a fresh going over, including homo sapiens. Production values are generally good, d.p. Conrad W. Hall's work exceptional in capturing the character of Africa.Camera (color), Conrad W. Hall; editors, Kristina Boden, Nic Gaster; music, Chris Berry, the musicians of Yandombe; production designer, Alexandre Vivet; costume designer, Delphi Squires; sound (Dolby Digital), David Monacchi; line producer, Jean Aubert de Tregomain; casting, Lisa Hamil. Reviewed on DVD, NY, Oct. 11, 2011. (In 2010 Telluride Film Festival.) Running time: 106 MIN. Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

'Idol's' Scotty McCreery tops chart

Proving that "American Idol" can still flex some sales muscle, the Fox competish's 2011 champ Scotty McCreery took the No. 1 slot on the U.S. album chart last week. The 18-year-old singer's Mercury Nashville/19/Interscope debut "Clear as Day" shifted 197,000 units its first week, according to Nielsen SoundScan figures for the week ending Oct. 9. McCreery is the youngest male and the first country performer to arrive at No. 1 with his first album. After years of comparatively tepid sales by "Idol" winners, McCreery has become the first "Idol" to bow with a No. 1 collection since the second season's Ruben Studdard managed the feat in 2003. Of course, instant chart success has been no guarantee of career longevity for "Idol" stars. Studdard was dropped by his label, now-defunct J Records, after three albums; his last album, released independently, peaked at No. 36. Last week, RCA confirmed that it had dropped 2010 champ Lee DeWyze after just one album. Rest of the week's top five comprises familiar titles: Adele's "21" (No. 2, 112,000 sold, down just 5%), Tony Bennett's "Duets II" (No. 3, 71,000, off 22%), Lady Antebellum's "Own the Night" (No. 4, 58,000, down 23%) and previous week's No. 1, J. Cole's "Cole World: The Sideline Story" (No. 5, 54,000, off 75%). Coming in behind Lil Wayne's "Tha Carter IV: (No. 6, 53,000, off 22%) and ahead of Blink-182's "Neighborhoods" (No. 10, 31,000, off 80%), three other new releases made subdued debuts. Feist's "Metals" (Interscope) arrived at No. 7 with 38,000 sold. Canadian singer and former Broken Social Scene member Leslie Feist's first album in four years has been garnering strong print reviews. Rodney Atkins' "Take a Back Road" (Curb) entered at No. 8 with a 35,000-unit debut week. Knoxville-bred singer's fourth studio album climbed into the top 10 on the back of its like-titled No. 1 country single. Jack's Mannequin sneaked into the top 10 at No. 9 with "People and Things" (Warner Bros.), moving 31,000. Set is one slot off the Orange County band's best performance, set by 2008's No. 8 title "The Glass Passenger." The coming week's chart will likely see renewed "Idol" action: 2011 runner-up Lauren Alaina's debut album reached stores this week. Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

Theater Owners Demand A Longer Wait For Tower Heist Premium VOD Test

Comcast-Uni Testing Tower Heist At $59.99 Cinemark Threatens Boycott Of Tower Heist Over Early VOD Experiment Theater owners seem resigned to the fact that Universal will run a premium video-on-demand test of its upcoming film Tower Heist – but are determined to push back the date, now scheduled for just three weeks after November, 4 when it opens in theaters. Negotiations continue as exhibition companies link arms: Three small regional theater chains have joined Cinemark in refusing to book Brett Ratner’s caper movie starring Eddie Murphy and Ben Stiller if Universal proceeds with plans to offer it for $59.99 three weeks after the debut to roughly half a million cable homes in Atlanta and Portland, Ore.California-based Regency Theatres, Galaxy Theatres and Detroit-based Emagine Theatres as well as some small exhibitors representing some 50 screens around the country have also refused to book the movie, the LA Times reported. Exhibition companies feel that they already swallowed a bitter pill earlier this year when four studios announced a deal with satellite broadcaster DirecTV to make some movies available via VOD for $29.99 — but 60 days after their theatrical debut. Theater owners wanted to draw the line at 90 days. Anything less, they feared, would encourage many ticket buyers to wait and watch hit films in the comfort of their living rooms.

Perrette lands at Discovery

Discovery Communications is positioned to usher in former NBCUniversal digital professional Jean-Briac Perrette in your thoughts up its own digital companies, an origin near the situation certifies. What is the news was reported with the Wall Street Journal.Perrette was one of several professionals to ankle NBCU following a company's merger with Comcast. Because they was only at that company, his focus was digital distribution platforms including gaming systems an online-based retailers under TV group prexy Rob Gaspin (who left the NBCU through the sooner part of the Comcast reshuffle). Perrette also introduced NBCU throughout the introduction of Hulu.Inside the new position, Perrette will account to David Zaslav - also an NBCU cable-side vet.Perrette's CV clearly sits well with Discovery: the cable conglom was already an passionate streaming-side partner with distrib Netflix and sells its programs through Amazon . com . com Video as well as the Apple. Lately Discovery extended its contract with Netflix to include more prior-season programming and restored its nonexclusive agreement using the organization for just about any further couple of years. Contact Mike Thielman at mike.thielman@variety.com

Johnny Depp Meets Dr. Seuss, and 5 Other Stories You'll Be Talking About Today

Happy Friday! Also in this week-concluding edition of The Broadsheet: More Depp as a screenwriter joins the star’s planned Thin Man adaptation… Robert Zemeckis to get ghostly… A Weinsteins lawsuit stays alive… Why do movies suck?… and more · It’s a Johnny Depp kind of day around the film beat, with the actor reportedly attached to a Dr. Seuss biopic in development between Illumination Entertainment and Universal. The project’s future depends on a number of factors — like, say, having a script (In Treatment writer Keith Bunin will do those honors), and the estate signing off on its presentation of the celebrated author’s life. Hint: More Finding Neverland, less Ed Wood, and it’ll be fine. [THR] · More Depp! Writer-director Billy Ray will contribute the script to Depp and director Rob Marshall’s new adaptation of the classic Dashiell Hammett novel The Thin Man. Ray is the third reported screenwriter attached to the project following Jerry Stahl and David Koepp, the latter of whose “vision didn’t line up with Marshall’s.” Yes! Marshall! That visionary. Anyway, glad this is settled. [THR] · More Universal! Robert Zemeckis and his Disney-deposed Imagemovers shingle have a new first-look deal with Universal, which has yielded the planned Charles Fort. The project is based on the comic-book series about a turn-of-the-(20th) century paranormal scientist and ghost-hunter; Johnny Depp will no doubt be attached to star in 3… 2… [Heat Vision] · A nasty $50 million lawsuit claiming that the Weinstein Company sabotaged its animated project Escape From Planet Earth — and paid $500,000 in hush money to keep its producers from disrupting TWC’s Oscar campaign for The King’s Speech — is moving forward in NY. But come on: Why would the Weinsteins deliberately tank this one when they’re so good at marketing to kids? [THR Esq.] · “I’ll gladly sponsor a tenth circle of hell for anyone texting during a movie. If you talk through it you deserve your tongue stapled to Eric Pickles. Packs of teenagers are a nightmare. Selfishness abounds. These things are a given.” I don’t know who Eric Pickles is, but Danny Leigh’s point about our love/hate relationships with cinemagoing is stated persuasively, evocatively and eloquently enough. [The Guardian] · Here you’ll find a mainstream film producer explaining why movies today suck. Illuminating stuff! Also: Someone pass me a bottle of pills. [Grantland]

Chuck Collars Tim DeKay to Play Sarah's Ex-Handler

Tim DeKay White Collar star Tim DeKay is (temporarily) transferring from the FBI to the CIA for a guest appearance on Chuck, Entertainment Weekly reports. DeKay, who plays FBI Agent Peter Burke on the USA series, will appear in the eighth episode of Chuck as Kieran Ryker, Sarah's stoic former CIA handler who makes her confront her past. (If Agent Burke is busy at Buy More, who is going to make sure Neal stays out of trouble back in NY?) Fall Preview: Get scoop on your favorite returning shows DeKay, 48, joins previously announced final-season guest stars Mark Hamill, Carrie Anne Moss and Stan Lee, among others. He is also set to direct an episode of White Collar when the show returns for the second half of Season 3 this winter. Chuck's final season kicks off on Friday, Oct. 28 at 8/7c on NBC.

Mark Gordon Co. encourages professionals

The Aim Gordon Co. has promoted three professionals within the film and TV divisions. John Harvey remains promoted to senior V . p . of drama, television. He grew to become an associate of Gordon Co. a year ago from ABC Art galleries, where he aided develop ABC series including "Brothers and sisters and Brothers and sisters" and "Dirty Sexy Money." He reviews to Nick Pepper, mind of drama television. Allyson Seeger remains upped to V . p . of film. Getting been with Gordon Co. since 2005, she's presently co-creating "The To-Do List," written and directed by Maggie Carey. Shara Senderoff remains promoted to veepee of latest media and director of development for film. The projects she's developing include "Junkers" for Fox and "Hyde" for Skydance. Seeger and Senderoff account to Jennifer Todd, leader of movies for your Mark Gordon Co. Contact Andrew Wallenstein at andrew.wallenstein@variety.com

Black Eyed Peas Take Out of Michael Jackson Tribute Concert

The Black Eyed Peas are tugging using this week's planned Michael Jackson tribute concert in Wales, stating "inevitable conditions."our editor recommendsBlack Eyed Peas Raise $4 Million in New york city Fundraiser Concert The audience was set to become listed on a selection which includes Christina Aguilera, Smokey Robinson, Gladys Dark night, Leona Lewis and Cee Lo Eco-friendly at Millennium Stadium in Cardiff. Event organizer Global Live Occasions mind Chris Search told the Connected Press the Michael Forever concert will be a "fantastic evening" despite the lack of the Black Eyed Peas. VIDEO: Michael Jackson's 5 Most Genius TV Moments Formerly, the big event coordinators, who aren't associated with the Jackson estate, had rescinded a deal towards the band Hug to do over frontman Gene Simmons' critique of Jackson previously. Peas member will.i.am have been dealing with Jackson with an album of dance music prior to the singer's dying last year. Related Subjects

Adkins, Scott prove their 'Metal'

"Metal Hurlant Tales"CANNES -- Scott Adkins ("The Expendables 2") and Michael Jai White-colored ("Black Dynamite") have grew to become an associate from the worldwide cast of sci-fi TV series "Metal Hurlant Tales."Rutger Hauer ("Edge Runner"), Joe Flanigan ("Stargate Atlantis) and James Marsters ("Buffy") may even star inside the TV show's first season."Metal Hurlant Tales" is founded on french sci-fi and fantasy comics anthology that was launched inside the U.S. as "Rock.InchSkein is helmed by Guillaume Lubrano and produced by French house We Prods. and author Humanoids.Panini U.K Media, the certification arm in the Panini Group, is handling worldwide sales and shopping the series within the Mipcom TV mart, which started in Cannes on Monday.Taken, Universal Pictures Germany acquired home video and VOD rights for your initial few seasons (made up of 12 half-several hours). The brand new the new sony Pictures Television nabbed the series for distribution in a number of European areas, particularly Germany, Austria, German-speaking Europe and Luxembourg via its pay TV network.The initial season will probably be shipped in April as well as the second will bow in November 2012. Each episode will adapt tales within the original graphic books.Created by comic artists Jean Giraud (also called Moebius) and Philippe Druillet in 1974, "Metal Hurlant" increased to become sci-fi phenom inside the eighties. Contact the number newsroom at news@variety.com