TV movies blowing their comeback bid

Q'orianka Kilcher and Charlie Rowe star in Syfy's upcoming original movie "Neverland," inspired by Peter Pan. The preview screener for "Downton Abbey" is due shortly, and from a critical perspective, the follow-up to PBS' Emmy-winning miniseries can't arrive a moment too soon.Because despite a recent mini-resurgence in longform projects -- on an alphabet soup of cable venues not regularly associated with them, including TNT, Syfy, A&E, MTV, USA and CMT -- there has been one rather disheartening common thread.Where is it written, exactly, that these movies and miniseries must be so consistently lousy?However uncharitable that sounds, watching a multitude of these productions (and that's a job requirement, not a recommendation) reflects a "comeback" in volume only. Most of the movies not only have a decidedly dated feel but appear to have been stripped of all flavor -- if not outright lobotomized -- for easy consumption.Even the normally reliable "Hallmark Hall of Fame" -- one of TV's most storied franchises despite an uneven track record in recent years -- just inaugurated its new ABC deal with one of its worst efforts in memory, the self-aggrandizing, painfully sappy "Mitch Albom's Have a Little Faith."For those seeking signs of a higher power, "Faith's" mediocre ratings at least say something moderately reassuring about the card-buying audience.Admittedly, those who have remained active in TV movies throughout its downturn -- outlets like the Hallmark Channel and Lifetime -- seldom challenge their viewers, content to return to a formula meant to be as snuggly as a winter blanket.In terms of quality, it's been left to HBO -- which has the luxury of strategically offering a handful of high-profile titles for maximum publicity and awards impact, not ratings -- and PBS' "Masterpiece" to vie for attention, with the pubcaster's classy British dramas having been especially strong the last few seasons.On the one hand, strictly from a humanitarian/employment standpoint, it's tempting to not look a gift horse in the mouth. After all, there's been understandable lamentation in many quarters -- including this one -- about jobs lost as the made-for-TV movie business dwindled from 200 to 250 titles a year during old three-network "Sunday night movie" days to perhaps several dozen. It's nice to see actors, writers and crews working, even if it's on schlock.Nevertheless, it's difficult to understand why reviving a genre associated with the 1980s and '90s means looking so retro. And in terms of attracting younger viewers -- a high hurdle even under ideal circumstances -- trotting out a parade of such stale concepts is likely to become a self-fulfilling prophecy. About all that's missing from the current wave is a trashy update featuring infamous TV-movie fave Amy Fisher, the one-time "Long Island Lolita" who -- now a cougar-ish 37 -- recently participated in a celebrity boxing match and could probably use the money.Indeed, beyond this month's numbing onslaught of Christmas-themed movies (among them Syfy's "Snowmageddon," about a killer snow globe), the marquee titles are all retreads, aping stuff that drew big ratings on the major networks ages ago. Examples range from the Albom pic (think "Tuesdays With Morrie") to A&E's Stephen King miniseries "Bag of Bones" and Syfy's Peter Pan-inspired "Neverland," RHI Entertainment's latest bastardization of a beloved classic.Then again, those productions underscore how dramatically the telefilm landscape has shifted. And while the audiences they deliver will surely be puny compared to the mass appeal of Robert Halmi Sr.'s fantasy epics and King adaptations in their broadcasting heyday, the numbers ought to be good enough judged by their new cable homes' lower standards to allow them to declare victory.The producers who have survived in this sphere certainly deserve some sympathy, and whatever their ambitions, they're ultimately only as good as what the networks -- seemingly content to rehash the not-so-good old days -- are willing to buy.There are ways to help limited production dollars go farther, from the crapshoot of allowing stars to dabble in passion projects to movies that double as backdoor pilots.Either way, if the TV movie's return is going to amount to more than a flash in the pan, this is no time to party like it's 1995. And speaking of parties, a raucous bash contained in another movie comes to mind -- only in this case, let's not do the time warp again. Contact Brian Lowry at brian.lowry@variety.com

'Twilight' tops Friday B.O.

'The Twilight Saga: Breaking Beginning -- Part 1'Stateside auds continue being smitten with Summit's bloodsuckers. "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Beginning -- Part 1" made $16.9 million yesterday.Since its opening last Friday, "Breaking Beginning -- Part 1" has acquired a domestic cume of $220.2 million, $37.2 million of that's been acquired since Wednesday. "Twilight's" second installment "New Moon" made $66.3 million in this Thanksgiving five-day window this past year, which B.O. affiliates expect the penultimate installment to emulate. By today, pic is $3.9 million behind "New Moon's" extended weekend.Disney's "The Muppets" needed second last evening with $12.3 million, up 86% in the Wednesday opening and nearly doubling its cume to $24.8 million in your area."Muppets" leads individuals of family fare this holiday weekend then Warner Bros.' "Happy Foot Two" with $5.millions of. Sony's "Arthur Christmas" showed up around $4.6 000 0000 yesterday, with Paramount's "Hugo" on its heels at $4.5 million.Around the Wednesday openings, "Arthur" edged out "Hugo" at $2.4 million to $1.7 million, correspondingly. However, fathers and moms since, "Hugo" has stiffened the area with a domestic cume of $8.5 million to "Arthur's" $8.8 million. Whether or not this may sustain its momentum and beat "Arthur" is tough to convey, however, as family auds are infamously tough to predict. Contact the number newsroom at news@variety.com

Alison Sweeney on Hollywood Moms Night: "Nothing's Off Limits"

Alison Sweeney Have you ever wondered what some of Hollywood's famous females talk about when they get together? TVGuide Network is now giving viewers a peek with the upcoming special Hollywood Moms Night (Sunday at 8). "There are things that all women have in common when they get together with their girlfriends and this is a fun opportunity to share that and show a different side of us to our fans," Alison Sweeney says. Sweeney, who stars on Days of Our Lives and hosts The Biggest Loser, and her best friend Ali Landry invite Denise Richards, Niecy Nash and La La Anthony for one of their famous dinner parties and it doesn't take long before the conversation heads south - literally. (Watch the clip below.) "Nothing is off limits," Sweeney says. "There were certain topics I was extremely uncomfortable with, but if Niecy wants to talk about it, I'm OK with it -- I can hang. It's more fun to let people go where they want to go and if there's a boundary they feel comfortable with, that's OK too." Speaking of the Dancing With the Stars and Reno 911 alum, Sweeney says Nash will be the celeb that surprises viewers the most. "Even people who know and love Niecy know that ... she will surprise or shock you every time she opens her mouth." Hollywood Moms Night airs Sunday at 8/7c on TV Guide Network.

Parenthood's Joy Bryant: Jasmine Will Always Have Feelings For Crosby

Joy Bryant Sure, he cheated on her (and lied about it), but Parenthood fans have been secretly rooting for Jasmine (Joy Bryant) and Crosby (Dax Shepard) to get back together... until the arrival of Jasmine's new boyfriend, Dr. Joe (D.B. Woodside). "People either say, 'When are you two getting back together?!' or 'Stay with the doctor, girl. He's hot. He's a doctor,'" Bryant tells TVGuide.com with a laugh. "It goes both ways." On Tuesday's episode (10/9c, NBC), Crosby and Jasmine must finally face the facts and tell their young son that mommy and daddy aren't together anymore now that there's a new man in the picture. Bryant talked with TVGuide.com about how they'll break the news, Jasmine's ability to move on and whether she thinks Jasmine and Crosby will ever get back together (brace yourself, fans, it's not pretty!). Watch full episodes of Parenthood Did you know going into this season that Crosby and Jasmine would still be split up for such a long period of time?Joy Bryant: I had a sense of that. I didn't really know where it was going or for how long - if it was going to be forever. But when last season ended, I kind of expected it. "Oh, they're going to do a little twist, and we're not going to be together." I guess that's kind of how it has to be on TV, giving them a little bit of drama. Beyond the TV reasons for keeping them apart, do you feel it's natural for Crosby and Jasmine not to be together at this point? Bryant: Even though I'd love for Jasmine and Crosby to be together, I'm psyched that we're showing a relationship where the parents aren't married and raising a kid. It gives us a lot to do. It reflects a lot of parents out there with a similar dynamic. I'm psyched for us to explore that type of interaction when you're living apart and dating and how that comes into play with your kids. It's funny because when I go through stuff on the show, I don't tell anybody what's going on, but I have a couple friends going through that same dynamic. It's always weird that whatever I'm filming is what some of my friends are going through. True Blood's Courtney Ford to romance Crosby on Parenthood Tomorrow night's episode deals with how Jasmine and Crosby tell Jabbar about their split. How do they handle it? Bryant: Crosby and Jasmine kind of assumed that Jabbar kind of just got it. The fact that they're not living in the same house means they're not getting married. But what we're going to see is that they assume too much from this little kid. You still have to break things down. He's not a teenager, he's a child. There are some things that go over his head. Since they're not in the same household dealing with an issue with their child, the question is how do they deal with that together in a united front? How do you give him the truth without breaking his heart? You have to be honest. You don't want him living in a fairy tale world. Why do you think Jasmine has been able to move on more quickly than Crosby? Bryant: I think because of what transpired between them and the reason that they broke up. Whenever you're the one that's in the wrong, it's easy for you to say let's forgive and forget. But he was the one that was in the wrong back then, so for Jasmine - after she got over the shock and the sadness of that - she was able to just pick up and keep it moving. But I'm sure there's guilt and a lot of other things tied up with Crosby. It wasn't easy for her. She still has feelings for him. There's a time when you just have to move on with your life. Crosby will always be in her life because of Jabbar. Parenthood: Can Sarah and Mark's relationship go the distance? Do you think Jasmine will ever be able to move on completely and ignore those feelings or is there a part of her that is still hopeful for them to reunite? Bryant: I'm not sure if it's a part of her that hopes they can come get together, but there's always going to be a part of her that is going to have feelings for him. Does that mean Jasmine and Crosby will end up together at some point? Honestly, I really don't know. But there's always going to be a place in her heart for him. That doesn't mean you're going to get back together, but when you love someone, you kind of always love them. You may not like them or like what they do, but you still love them. Especially because they are raising a child together, there has to be a mutual respect between the two of them so that their child isn't picking up on some weird energy and so they can raise him in a healthy environment. He's always going to have a place in her heart, as I'm sure there will be a place in his heart for her. Down the road, do you want Jasmine and Crosby back together? Bryant: Honestly, I can kind of go either way. It would be great for them to be together, but then there's also so many things to explore with them not being together. There's still a connection between them, so that's great to examine when they're both dating other people and how do they raise this kid together even though they're apart? There's still a lot of meat there. Life doesn't always end up with a bow wrapped around it. I love this show. I love the path that we've been on so I'm down to continue down that road, be ever it so blindly, because I don't know what the end result is going to be. Parenthood airs on Tuesday at 10/9c on NBC. Who do you want Jasmine to end up with - Dr. Joe or Crosby?

DirecTV takes 'Slap' in U.S.

LONDON -- Provocative Oz drama "The Slap," based on the international best selling novel, is to bow in the U.S. and Canada. DCD Rights has sold the eight-part series to paybox DirecTV. Show will air on the Audience Network channel. In Canada, "The Slap" will bow on Ontario-based pubcaster TVO. The drama is derived from Christos Tsiolkas' novel and was launched in Oz via ABC1 last month. Show is gaining plaudits and ratings in the U.K., where it is shown on upscale web BBC4. In Blighty, "The Slap" has won an average audience of 830,500 (4% share), which is three times the slot average for the BBC web. "The Slap" follows the fall-out from a dispute at a family barbecue when a man hits a child who is not his son. Produced by Matchbox Pictures for ABC Television, the skein features British thesp Sophie Okonedo. Cast also includes Melissa George, Essie Davis and Jonathan LaPaglia. "The Slap" made its international debut at last month's Mipcom sales mart in Cannes. Show has previously been sold to Spain, Portugal, the Far East, Eastern Europe, Greece and Turkey. Matchbox is majority owned by NBCU. Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

Aaron Tveit To Star In USAs Jeff Eastin Pilot, 2 Join Showtimes Masters & Johnson

EXCLUSIVE: Aaron Tveit is set to star in USA Networks untitled hourlong pilot from White Collar creator Jeff Eastin. The project, from Fox TV Studios, follows agents from various federal and local agencies (DEA, FBI, LAPD) who all live at an undercover house in Southern California. Tveit will play Mike Warren, a freshly minted FBI agent just out of the Academy and dripping wet behind the ears. Like White Collar, Eastins new project has two main leads, with Tveit playing one of them. The cast-contingency on the project will be lifted when both key roles are cast. Tveit is best known for his roles in the Broadway productions of Next To Normal and Catch Me If You Can and his recurring part on Gossip Girl. His feature credits include Ghost Town and Howl. Raising The Bar alum Teddy Sears and Nick DAgosto (Heroes) have joined Paul Bettany in Showtimes pilot Masters & Johnson. The project, from Sony Pictures TV, is an adaptation of Thomas Maiers book Masters of Sex: The Life And Times Of William Masters And Virginia Johnson, The Couple Who Taught America How To Love. It chronicles the lives, romance and pop culture trajectory of 1960s human sexuality pioneers Masters (Bettany) and Johnson, whose research touched off the sexual revolution. Sears and D’Agosto will play doctors who work with the pair. Sears, repped by APA and manager Sandy Erickson, is recurring on FX’s American Horror Story opposite Zachary Quinto and on CBS’ Blue Bloods.

Reporter Lives Broadway Fantasy in 'Mary Poppins'

Reporter Lives Broadway Fantasy in 'Mary Poppins' By Alicia Quarles November 14, 2011 Photo by AP Photo/John Carucci Alicia Quarles NY (AP) For the days, I imagined of my Broadway debut in " Mary Poppins."There's the excitement of costume fittings, your time and effort of rehearsals as well as the anticipation to become on stage inside a premier New You'll be able to theater. I woke up every day, counting lower the occasions I possibly could not wait for moment.It absolutely was inside a blink.Time the primary attraction just like a chimney sweeper inside the Disney musical ended much like quickly since it had begun.Due to its fifth anniversary, "Mary Poppins" requested me to become chimney sweep for just about any day to determine particulars in the production within the New Amsterdam Theatre.I understood it may be fun, but a few things i thought might be easy wasn't. When you're watching a show, you'll be able to relax and, you hope, see an beneficial, entertaining performance. But also for this "actress," likely to become on stage was sheer exhaustion.No surprise, mentioned Anthony Lyn, the show's connect director. He described that being worn-out wasn't whatsoever unforeseen for just about any newcomer. "It is similar to going to a fitness center. When you start, it's difficult, nevertheless the more you train, the more it'll get," he mentioned, watching his professional cast has trained for any very long time for your theater.Well, clearly I used to be a novice. I came across myself sweating as if I'd run miles after practicing for your "A part of Time" scene. ("Never need a reason, Won't ever require a rhyme/Kick the knees up, a part of time.") The chimney sweeps the professional stars, that's tap dance utilizing their extended brooms and skitter within the London roof set very easily and.Planning began 2 days before once i was fitted for my costume having a team dedicated to creating sure things are perfection on just of clothing. Ultimately, Mary Poppins is "practically perfect in every single way." To my delight, I discovered that besides wearing black jeans, a newsboy hat, short hairpiece and dark makeup for my chimney sweeper outfit, I'd go for fitted Edwardian style lace mitts, buttoned up shirt, hat, boots, particularly made hairpiece, the entire shebang to brighten as Mary for entertainment. I used to be also educated to use my very own sweeper makeup to make sure that round the evening in the performance, I really could quickly increase the risk for transformation.Finally, the morning in the show, I learned and practiced the choreography for your two moments I used to be in as well as the curtain call. Geoffrey Goldberg, an connect choreographer, was encouraging because he shown me the best way to jump towards the set and dance within the roof, hop inside the rail and dance in the stage. For "A part of Time," he trained me the choreography for interlocking my arms with another actor, dancing in the circle, running to bop around the desk after which it shuffling within the stairs in your home. Once I got accustomed to it, the moves made an appearance later on naturally.I turned up 30 minutes before the start of the show around the wet Friday evening. I used to be really capable of watch the initial act inside the audience since my moments were not until Act 2. Actress Kelly Jacobs was my chaperone throughout rehearsals as well as the performance, literally holding my hands, yanking me along sometimes. She shared her story about touring (she spent couple of years on the road with "Mary Poppins" as dance captain and came out in "Mame" within the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., too as with "Camelot" at Tokyo, japan, japan Disney) and discussed her husband, Adam, who's presently starring as Simba in "The Lion King."Backstage, there's a sense of organized chaos since most of the heavens, aside from the principals, did their unique makeup they'd only turned up about half an hour before the start of the show. Between moments, the climate was festive, with chimney sweepers laughing and offering support.As the start of the "A part of Time" loomed, I felt well-prepared, due to my two guides: Goldberg and Jacobs. And before happening stage for my "large" performance, I saved replaying Goldberg's advice over and over throughout my thoughts: "Just smile and luxuriate in it." To ensure that is exactly what I did so. I put a sizable smile on, clicked up my fellow chimney sweeper's hands and ongoing stage for my Broadway debut.I made certain I used to be synchronized while using other stars after i balanced across the roof set and leaped inside the rail to bop. I am pleased to report, when i looked in the crowd, I really could not create faces. I only saw blackness together with a sea of streaming lights. After twirling, accumulating the steps of the house, kicking my foot and missing, I felt being an old professional. There is a hurry of adrenaline, a complete high that can within the body after completely eating to some personality, for the audience. Now I recognize why stars and stars sacrifice their sleep, existence as well as sanity, for that craft.I may have been nervous before I stepped onto that stage, but there truly was one feeling that changed others: a sense of camaraderie. This didn't matter how nervous, anxious or confused I felt, one of the stars was immediately with me at night, pushing me to go to on and encouraging me to relish the understanding. Your evening, I learned this communal feeling is why Broadway and "Mary Poppins" stick out.The moment the show ended, I ongoing stage for curtain call also to bow while using relaxation in the cast. When I did obviously ruin my steps, I didn't care! I used to be a Broadway star, baby. However when i left happens in my personal high, I used to be abruptly stopped having a stagehand."Are they all not letting me move? Must i return out?" I wondered.Then, just like a sea of stars separated the hallway as well as the elevator opened up up up, Steffanie Leigh, the current Mary Poppins, walked to consider her bow, which reporter was quickly reduce to reality.No, I am not really a singer, dancer, or actress. But also for one evening, I used to be capable of participate the question and miracle in the Great White-colored Way.Copyright 2011 Connected Press. All rights reserved. These elements is probably not launched, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Reporter Lives Broadway Fantasy in 'Mary Poppins' By Alicia Quarles November 14, 2011 Alicia Quarles PHOTO CREDIT AP Photo/John Carucci NY (AP) For the days, I imagined of my Broadway debut in "Mary Poppins."There's the excitement of costume fittings, your time and effort of rehearsals as well as the anticipation to become on stage inside a premier NY theater. I woke up every day, counting lower the occasions I really could hardly wait for moment.It absolutely was inside a blink.Time the primary attraction just like a chimney sweeper inside the Disney musical ended much like quickly since it had begun.Due to its fifth anniversary, "Mary Poppins" requested me to become chimney sweep for just about any day to determine particulars in the production at the completely new Amsterdam Theatre.I understood it may be fun, but a few things i thought might be easy wasn't. When you're watching a show, you'll be able to relax and, you hope, see an beneficial, entertaining performance. But also for this "actress," likely to become on stage was sheer exhaustion.No surprise, mentioned Anthony Lyn, the show's connect director. He described that being worn-out wasn't whatsoever unforeseen for just about any newcomer. "It is similar to going to a fitness center. When you start, it's difficult, nevertheless the more you train, the more it'll get," he mentioned, watching his professional cast has trained for any very long time for your theater.Well, clearly I used to be a novice. I came across myself sweating as if I'd run miles after practicing for your "A part of Time" scene. ("Won't ever need grounds, Won't ever require a rhyme/Kick the knees up, a part of time.") The chimney sweeps the professional stars, that's tap dance utilizing their extended brooms and skitter within the London roof set very easily and.Planning began 2 days before once i was fitted for my costume having a team dedicated to creating sure things are perfection on just of clothing. Ultimately, Mary Poppins is "practically perfect in every single way." To my delight, I discovered that besides wearing black jeans, a newsboy hat, short hairpiece and dark makeup for my chimney sweeper outfit, I'd go for fitted Edwardian style lace mitts, buttoned up shirt, hat, boots, particularly made hairpiece, the entire shebang to brighten as Mary for entertainment. I used to be also educated to use my own, personal sweeper makeup to make sure that round the evening in the performance, I really could quickly increase the risk for transformation.Finally, the morning in the show, I learned and practiced the choreography for your two moments I used to be in as well as the curtain call. Geoffrey Goldberg, an connect choreographer, was encouraging while he shown me the best way to jump towards the set and dance within the roof, hop inside the rail and dance in the stage. For "A part of Time," he trained me the choreography for interlocking my arms with another actor, dancing in the circle, running to bop around the desk after which it shuffling within the stairs in your home. Once I got accustomed to it, the moves made an appearance later on naturally.I turned up 30 minutes before the start of the show around the wet Friday evening. I used to be really capable of watch the initial act inside the audience since my moments were not until Act 2. Actress Kelly Jacobs was my chaperone throughout rehearsals as well as the performance, literally holding my hands, yanking me along sometimes. She shared her story about touring (she spent couple of years on the road with "Mary Poppins" as dance captain and came out in "Mame" within the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., too as with "Camelot" at Tokyo, japan, japan Disney) and discussed her husband, Adam, who's presently starring as Simba in "The Lion King."Backstage, there's a sense of organized chaos since most of the heavens, aside from the principals, did their unique makeup they'd only turned up about half an hour before the start of the show. Between moments, the climate was festive, with chimney sweepers laughing and offering support.As the start of the "A part of Time" loomed, I felt well-prepared, due to my two guides: Goldberg and Jacobs. And before happening stage for my "large" performance, I saved replaying Goldberg's advice over and over throughout my thoughts: "Just smile and luxuriate in it." To ensure that is exactly what I did so. I put a sizable smile on, clicked up my fellow chimney sweeper's hands and ongoing stage for my Broadway debut.I made certain I used to be synchronized while using other stars after i balanced over the roof set and leaped inside the rail to bop. I am pleased to report, after i looked in the crowd, I really could not create faces. I only saw blackness together with a sea of streaming lights. After twirling, accumulating the steps of the house, kicking my foot and missing, I felt being an old professional. There is a hurry of adrenaline, a complete high that can within the body after completely eating to some personality, for the audience. Now I recognize why stars and stars sacrifice their sleep, existence as well as sanity, for your craft.I may have been nervous before I stepped onto that stage, but there truly was one feeling that changed others: a sense of camaraderie. This didn't matter how nervous, anxious or confused I felt, one of the stars was immediately with me at night, pushing me to consider and encouraging me to relish the understanding. Your evening, I learned this communal feeling is why Broadway and "Mary Poppins" stick out.The moment the show ended, I ongoing stage for curtain call also to bow while using relaxation in the cast. When I did obviously ruin my steps, I didn't care! I used to be a Broadway star, baby. However when i left happens in my personal high, I used to be abruptly stopped having a stagehand."Are they all not letting me move? Must i return out?" I wondered.Then, just like a sea of stars separated the hallway as well as the elevator opened up up up, Steffanie Leigh, the current Mary Poppins, walked to consider her bow, which reporter was quickly reduce to reality.No, I am not really a singer, dancer, or actress. But also for one evening, I possibly could participate the question and miracle in the Great White-colored Way.Copyright 2011 Connected Press. All rights reserved. These elements is probably not launched, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

The Westbridge

Chetna Pandya and Fraser Ayres find love in the ethnically mixed southeast London neighborhood of Peckham in The Westbridge. A Royal Court Theater presentation of a play in one act written by Rachel De-lahay. Directed by Clint Dyer.Soriya - Chetna Pandya Marcus - Fraser Ayres Georgina - Daisy Lewis Saghir - Paul BhattacharjeeThe world preem of "The Westbridge" brings the Royal Court Theater's production activity out of its tony Chelsea headquarters to the economically less privileged, ethnically mixed southeast London neighborhood of Peckham. Initiative, billed as Theater Local, establishes a context of cultures meeting and blending -- or perhaps not -- extended by the substance of Rachel De-lahay's first play, in which a group of ethnically mixed characters face mounting tensions in and around a rough London housing estate. De-lahay writes with verve, but Clint Dyer's production, which places auds literally in the middle of the action, puts too much strain on an already complex narrative. Production is set on a deserted warehouse floor, with runways around the periphery where the action takes place and auds seated in chairs facing many different directions. This creates a suitably resonant pre-show atmosphere, as spectators are compelled to regard their neighbors. The plot concerns an alleged gang rape of a South Asian girl by young black men on the Westbridge estate. This kicks off several nights of unrest, and triggers disruption in the microcosm of play's central relationship, between ambitious young Cambridge grad Soriya (Chetna Pandya), who is half-Pakistani and half white, and her enterprising, half-black, half-white boyfriend Marcus (Fraser Ayres). Adding complications is their white flatmate Georgina (Daisy Lewis), an out-of-work model who leans on Soriya financially and emotionally and is in love with Soriya's brother Ibi (Ray Panthaki), whose is newly in an arranged marriage. Marcus is negotiating his own entanglements with Andre (Ryan Calais Cameron), a young black friend from the estate who may have been involved in the rape. Play feels most in its stride in its depiction of the central trio, for whom the navigation of cultural boundaries and movement between worlds is an everyday reality. They don't live on the estate, but it functions as their metaphorical shadow, and the tensions seething there increasingly infect their lives as Soriya (rather implausibly, given how confidently she otherwise presents herself) takes to heart an elderly neighbor's chiding that "Asian girls should be for Asian men." While the cast take on their roles with intensity and integrity, there is a disconnect between the naturalism required of the dialogue and the staging of whole scenes with characters speaking -- or, more accurately, shouting -- to each other from opposite sides of the room over aud members' heads. Playing the action at various corners of the room, and interspersing domestic scenes with loud, frightening moments of anonymous violence creates an atmosphere of immersion and unease, but further weighs down the already laden plotting, making it hard to stay engaged in the eventual resolution of the rape story. Play will likely be better served by the intimacy of the Royal Court's Space Upstairs, where it transfers later in November. The lack of synergy between play and environment here parallels concerns about the Theater Local initiative: Does bringing off West End theater to neighborhoods less served by the funded arts positively address social inequities, or does it underline them? And is this promising young writer best served by a production that adds so many layers of attempted relevance that it nearly stifles the fresh voice emerging from it?Sets, and costumes, Ultz; lighting, Katharine Williams; sound, Emma Laxton; production manager, Tariq Rifaat. Opened, reviewed Nov. 8, 2011. Running time: 1 HOUR, 40 MIN.With: Ryan Calais Cameron, Samuel Foray, Jo Martin, Ray Panthaki, Adlyn Ross, Shavani Seth. Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

Ratings Pit Of Debt: Fringe Hits Series Low, Grimm Slips Again

The short good for last evening were postponed by Nielsen today … or possibly it had been sabotage consequently of Fringe fans trying to obstruct unhealthy ratings news? The Fox sci-fi drama (1.1/3 in grownups 18-49) was lower 15% from the other day to write a collection low. That was despite its lead-in, Kitchen Bad dreams or nightmares (1.6/5), rising a tenth. You'll be able to’t blame slot rival NBC’s Grimm (1.5/5) for Fringe‘s misfortune — the fairytale-designed NBC drama ongoing its slide carrying out a strong premiere 72 hours ago, lower 17% from last Friday. At 8 PM, NBC’s Chuck (.9/3) was up a tenth from the other day’s fast national, flat while using final. Dateline (1.4/4, 4.9 million) was up 17%. CBS’ A Gifted Guy (1.2/4, 8.3 million) matched up up its soft performance previously day or two. CSI: NY (1.7/5, 10.2 million) was up a tenth and beat Grimm inside the demo after losing for the rookie inside their first face-off the other day. Blue Bloods (1.7/5, 11.2 million) was lower 19% in 18-49 from last Friday’s season high. CBS (1.5/5, 9.9 million) won the evening in 18-49 and total audiences. It edged inside the demo Fox (1.4/4, 3.5 million), which finished second NBC (1.3/4, 4.4 million) and ABC (1.1/3, 5.2 million). ABC switched from two several hours of Extreme Transformation: Home Edition then one hour of 20/20 the other day to have an hour of Extreme Transformation (.8/3) and a pair of several hours of 20/20 (1.1/3, 1.4/4). At 8 PM, Extreme Transformation was lower 33% from the other day. The CWs Nikita and Supernatural held steady.

Clint Eastwoods J. Edgar Opens Strong

Early estimates from Warner Bros has J. Edgar bowing to alow-key but healthymidweek $53,000 inlimited runs Wednesday in 7 theatres in 5 cities LA, NY, Chicago, Washington DC, and San Francisco. That was good enough for 12th place at the slow North American box office, besting movies playing in thousands of locations. The Oscar-buzzed biopic starring LeonardDoCaprio opens nationwide on Friday in 1,910 locations. Tracking has been strong for weeks,especially among adults.

X-Males: Top Class Follow up Includes A Author

It's X3's Simon KinbergIt was simple to be about Thor and Captain America this summer time, within the lead-as much as The Avengers. But lest we forget, there is another, separate Marvel property that did rather well this year, along with a follow up to X-Males: Top Class has become formally going ahead, with Simon Kinberg penning his first draft these days.Who he? Well most immediately relevant is the fact that he was one of many authors on X3: The Final Stand, Brett Ratner's appropriation from the reigns from Bryan Singer. He's also got writing credits on Mr and Mrs Cruz, Jumper and A Virtual Detective, and it is a author and producer around the forthcoming What This Means Is War and Abe Lincoln subsequently: Vampire Hunter.There is no solid apple on which shape the further adventures of Charles Xavier, Erik Lensherr and also the Junior Mutants will require. Top Class director Matthew Vaughn told HItfix captured that "I figured it might be fun to spread out using the Kennedy Murder, and demonstrate that the 'magic bullet' was controlled by Magneto. That will explain the physics from it, and that we observe that he's pissed off because Kennedy required all of the credit to save the planet and mutants were not even pointed out..."Bryan Singer meanwhile (still a producer around the series) has stated he'd want to see much more about the Civil Privileges Movement and Vietnam.All just musing right now though, without any confirmed crew or coming back cast, with no start date. We'll help you stay published.

AFM 2011: Jason Statham and IM Global Team on 'Hummingbird'

Stuart Ford's IM Global and Jason Statham are re-joining on action-drama Hummingbird, which Oscar nominated film writer Steven Dark night will direct in the feature directorial debut.our editor recommendsJason Statham Buys Ben Stiller, Christine Taylor's 10-Bed room Estate IM Global will fully finance the $20 milion project, which Ford will shop to foreign purchasers in the American Film Market, which will get going ahead Wednesday in Santa Monica. Dark night will shoot on location working in london at the begining of 2012. Oscar nominated producers Paul Webster (Atonement, Fish Fishing in Yemen) and Tracey Seaward (The Full, War Equine) are creating Hummingbird with IM Global. "We'd an excellent experience making Safe with Jason and that we're excited to team him having a director/producer team as sophisticated as Steven, Paul and Tracey," Ford stated. In Hummingbird, Statham will star like a broken ex-special forces soldier held in London's criminal underworld who's changed into an avenging angel when an unpredicted chance enables him to visualize another identity. Once thinking he was beyond redemption, lucrative seeks out their own version of justice. "This can be a perfect work for Shoebox Films. Thanks to Stuart Ford and also the IM Global team for his or her tremendous support for Steve and Jason. I can not watch for this brilliant script to dive right in from page to screen," Webster stated. The image was pre-emptively acquired by a number of major worldwide marketers just before its AFM launch now, including Lionsgate within the U.K Universum in Germany Impuls in Europe Scanbox in Scandinavia and Hoyts around australia. Related Subjects AFM AFM 2011 IM Global

McCourt agrees to sell Dodgers

Los Angeles Dodgers owner Frank McCourt has agreed to sell the franchise and Dodger Stadium properties at a court-supervised auction, bringing to an imminent conclusion a saga that threw the franchise into bankruptcy and created chaos that spilled over into the team's valuable television rights. Blackstone Group will manage the sale process, which will be supervised by the federal bankruptcy court that has controlled the Dodgers' fate since June, when McCourt filed in a last-ditch effort to preserve his ownership of the franchise. Throughout this year, McCourt had hoped that he gain approval on a new deal for local TV rights (currently held by Fox Sports through 2013) that would solve his financial woes. But MLB commissioner Bud Selig, whose approval had allowed McCourt to buy the Dodgers from Fox seven years earlier, refused McCourt on the grounds that it undervalued the Dodgers' rights, harming the rest of baseball. McCourt then went to a strategy that involved getting the bankruptcy court's blessing to break his contract with Fox and immediately sell the TV rights without Selig's approval. A key hearing on the matter was originally scheduled to begin this week, though most observers felt a series of preliminary rulings seemed to bring more hurdles for McCourt to overcome. Fox, which early in the year made a personal loan to keep McCourt afloat, turned against him in recent months to oppose in court his bid to break the current contract. When, days before it was to begin, that TV rights hearing was delayed a month, speculation increased that McCourt was possibly eyeing an exit strategy. With this agreement, it is believed that the Dodgers could have new ownership in place by the start of the 2012 season. No party is considered a frontrunner, though the Los Angeles Times reported earlier Tuesday that Mark Cuban remains interested but balked earlier this year at the asking price of at least $1 billion that he said McCourt had laid out. New ownership could bring happy tidings to Fox Sports, which according to its contract with the Dodgers has an exclusive negotiating window through November 2012 for the post-2013 local TV rights. Given that Fox Sports has lost the Los Angeles Lakers to Time Warner Cable (which plans to create separate English- and Spanish-language Laker channels before the 2012-13 season), the Dodgers are the centerpiece to Fox Sports' Southern California sports endeavors , even more so in probability with McCourt no longer complicating their future. Contact Jon Weisman at jon.weisman@variety.com