Interest growing in CBS drama 'Person'

CBS' rookie drama 'Person of Interest' came 14.4 million audiences Thursday, up 10% from a week ago.Cbs television studios rookie drama ''Person of Interest'' continues to be obtaining steam in the rookie season, tying ABC's ''Grey's Anatomy'' for Thursday's demo lead within the 9 o'clock hour and enhancing the internet go ahead and take evening. Fox's ''American Idol,'' meanwhile, fell further but was still being the night's No. 2 show.Fox won just one half-hour but gained a tie for that evening with CBS in grown ups 18-49 as the Eye won easily in grown ups 25-54 and total audiences.Based on preliminary national estimations from Nielsen, ''Person of Interest'' averaged a 3.1 rating/8 be part of grown ups 18-49 and 14.4 million audiences overall, rising 10% from a week ago if this faced atypical competition from ''American Idol.'' ''Person'' tied ABC's ''Grey's Anatomy'' for that middle hour's lead among teenagers , its best finish up to now (even when ''Grey's'' edges as much as beat ''Person'' within the excellent). ''Person'' also held a tenPercent edge on the ABC drama in grown ups 25-54 (4.2/10 to three.8/9).CBS continued to be strong starting off the evening with ''The Large Bang Theory'' (5.2/15 in 18-49, 16.a million audiences overall), that was up a little week to week and opened up up its greatest advantage yet over ''American Idol'' (5.two to four. in 18-49, 6.6 to five.3 in grown ups 25-54 and 16.a million to 14. million as a whole audiences). It had been then ''Rob'' (3./8 in 18-49, 10.six million audiences overall), which published its cheapest score up to now but nonetheless gained a good second-place finish to Fox's ''Idol.''The night's 10 o'clock hour was won overall, a minimum of around the broadcast side, by CBS' ''The Mentalist'' (2.5/7 in 18-49, 13.two million audiences overall), that was lower a little week to week. It capped ABC's ''Private Practice'' (2.2/6 in 18-49, 6.4 million audiences overall), that was also lower, and NBC's special off-evening repeat of ''Grimm'' (.9/3 in 18-49, 2.two million audiences overall).At Fox, ''American Idol'' (4.4/13 in 18-49, 15.4 million audiences overall) was lower a lot more than 10% week to week for any season lower in its other half-hour, its 4.9 demo score beat the combined shipping from the next two nearest tv stations (CBS and NBC). Following ''Idol,'' first-year drama ''The Finder'' had another soft showing (2./5 in 18-49, 6.two million audiences overall).NBC was on componen using its week-earlier scores within the night's opening hour with ''30 Rock'' (1.5/4 in 18-49, 3.7 million audiences overall) and ''Parks and Recreation'' (1.7/5 in 18-49, 3.4 million audiences overall). And from 9 to 10, ''The Office'' (2.6/7 in 18-49, 5. million audiences overall) and ''Up All Night'' (1.8/4 in 18-49, 3.5 million audiences overall) returned back using their lows of a week ago opposite ''American Idol'' as well as were up a tick versus. two days ago once they faced exactly the same competition as last evening.ABC opened up decently with ''Wipeout'' (1.5/4 in 18-49, 5. million audiences overall) after which acquired at 9 with ''Grey's Anatomy'' (3.1/8 in 18-49, 8.9 million audiences overall), that was around the low finish but nonetheless tied with ''Person of Interest'' as Thursday's No. 1 drama in 18-49. CW broadcast repeats of ''The Vampire Diaries'' (.5/one in 18-49, 1.3 million audiences overall) and ''Supernatural'' (.3/one in 18-49, .9 million audiences overall).Additionally to MTV's tough ''Jersey Shore'' at 10, Thursday's cable competition earlier at night incorporated a buzzed-about National basketball association the game of basketball on TNT between your Miami Warmth and NY Knicks, that was viewed in 3.4% of U.S. homes, based on preliminary Nielsen data from TNT. The overall game (roughly 7-9:30 p.m. ET) would be a large draw from our marketplaces, scoring a 9.4 household rating in Miami along with a 15.3 in Miami-Foot. Lauderdale.Preliminary 18-49 earnings for that evening: CBS and Fox, 3.2/9 ABC, 2.3/6 NBC, 1.6/4 Univision, 1.3/4 CW, .4/1.As a whole audiences: CBS, 13.7 million Fox, 10.8 million ABC, 6.8 million Univision, 3.5 million NBC, 3.3 million CW, 1.a million. Contact Ron Kissell at ron.kissell@variety.com

But his heart goes to Shaw

Scribe John Logan states despite the fact that his 'Hugo' arrived on the scene this season, he favors tragediesMelissa McCarthyMichelle WilliamsToday, playwright-film writer John Logan will get the Oscar Wilde Award -- which recognizes the accomplishments of Irish-People in america in Hollywood -- in a ceremony in Santa Monica located through the U.S.-Ireland Alliance.Logan has already established a great run previously year approximately: Recent credits include "Hugo," that he's Oscar-nommed "Rango," that is nommed within the Oscars' toonpic category and also the film adaptation of "Coriolanus," which Rob Fiennes helmed.The Wilde Award recognizes an appearance of labor which includes "Gladiator," that Logan was Oscar-nommed alongside David Franzoni and William Nicholson "The Final Samurai," "The Aviator" which gained Logan another Oscar nom, and Tim Burton's "Sweeney Todd."After which there's his stage work, including his 2010 Tony Award-winning play about Mark Rothko, "Red-colored."Final results has proven no manifestation of slacking. He co-authored Mission Impossible pic "Skyfall," which Mike Mendes is lensing now, he's adapting tuner "Jersey Boys" for that bigscreen, and it is working together with Patti Cruz on the film adaptation of her memoir, "Just Kids."Logan treasures his Irish heritage -- his parents were both emigrants from Ulster, and that he has numerous relatives there -- but he sees it as being just a little ironic that he'll be a person receiving an award bearing Wilde's title. Although Logan loves many Irish authors, he isn't that keen on Wilde, like a playwright a minimum of.InchHe's a playwright I never warmed to," Logan states. "In individuals kind of bi-polar choices you are making along the way through existence, where you need to decide 'Am I attracted to Ibsen or Strindberg?' you become so terrible in which you say, 'Am I attracted to Wilde or Shaw?' I am attracted to Shaw."Within an onstage interview at BAFTA last fall, Logan spoke of his "Irish attraction for that melancholy." He concedes that he's attracted towards the more dark side of existence."Well, whether or not this has something related to my Irishness or something like that else, you never know?, but Ireland is really a land of bleak moors and crags and tors and cold Irish ocean, and -- even though this season I have 'Rango' and 'Hugo' emerge -- I am attracted toward more dark material, and that i probably always will be. You arrived at that time like a playwright in which you think, Am I a tragedian or perhaps a comedian?, and that i will always be a tragedian, when it comes to things I am thinking about. Therefore the tales I select to create about, whether it's Mark Rothko during my play 'Red,' or everything from 'Gladiator' to 'Coriolanus' to 'The Aviator' to 'Sweeney Todd,' have very murky and morally complex and dark protagonists, as well as something similar to 'Hugo' I usually considered a really serious story."Logan recommends budding screenwriters to review the whole shebang from the great playwrights, in the ancient Greeks to the current day, taking in most of Shakespeare's plays, and also the works of Ibsen, Chekhov and Strindberg."The important thing as to the we all do as screenwriters and playwrights is we're dramatists. We're not writers, we're not poets, which means we perform a very specific factor: we write lines for stars, and that we write moments for company directors and producers and lighting designers, which is concerning the engagement along with other artists. But that area of the way you learn that -- maybe the only method to learn that -- is to check out the continuum from the talent, see what you could learn and become inspired by individuals who've come before you decide to. I believe that's equally true for screenwriting: should you take a look at great scripts in the past it'll assist you to, but it is a lot more important to return 1000's of years and check out Aristotle, when it comes to the bedrock of dramatic literature, instead of prose, instead of poetry."And subsequently factor I'll always say," he concludes, "is once you have experienced yourself within the classics of drama start reading through poetry because poetry will train you about language, and area of the job from the playwright and also the film writer would be to create arresting language." And Michelle & Melissa allow it to be threeReceiving Oscar Wilde Honours alongside John Logan is going to be thesps Melissa McCarthy and Michelle Williams.Both stars happen to be nommed for Oscars this year: McCarthy on her supporting role in "Bridesmaids," and Williams for that leading role in "My Week With Marilyn," that she won a Golden Globe.McCarthy, who won an Emmy this past year for CBS comedy series "Mike & Molly," has lately completed writing feature pic "Tammy."Williams, whose representative is U.S.-Ireland Alliance advisory board member Hylda Queally, will next be observed in Mike Raimi's "Oz, the truly amazing and Effective." Contact Leo Barraclough at leo.barraclough@variety.com

Oscar Countdown: Sherak On Kodak Theatres New Name, Show Ratings And Star Power

Word is CIM, the landlord for the Hollywood and Highland complex where the Oscars are held has asked the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences NOT to announce on air that the awards are coming from the Kodak Theatre. Instead the Academy opening announcement will say it is being broadcast live from Hollywood and Highland Center in Hollywood, California. “That is what the landlord has asked us to do and we are gonna do it,” said Academy PresidentTom Sherakduring a pre-taping of KABC’s local public affairs show,Eyewitness Newsmakers (airing thisSunday). CIM has been trying to find a replacement for Kodak which won the rightlast week to back out of theirmulti-million dollar naming agreement for the theatre in which the Oscars and other events such as Cirque Du Soleil’s Iris take place. When I spoke to Sherakover the weekend to discussprogress for this year’s showhere-emphasized the Academy has nothing to do with who will take overthe name of the theatre except for veto rights . He told me they would never hold back approval as long as it’s not some completely inappropiate name that would clashwith the Academy’simage. In other words don’t expect to hear , “Live from the Hooters Theatre , welcome to the Academy Awards”. Sherakalso reiterated his previous statement that as of now the Academy is onlycurrently negotiating with CIMregarding where the Oscars will be held after next year’s show, but is in no hurry to decide. Clearly they have a lot of leverage now that Kodak has pulled out of its deal.”You can imagine we have a lot of interestfrom other venues but right now we are only talking to CIM,” he says. Sherak says he is quite pleased with the direction this year’s Oscarcast, under producers Brian Grazer and Don Mischer, is taking so far but I asked if he was worried that they could conceivably come in second in the ratingsto the Grammy Awards for the first time ever.The Academy Awards are routinely the highest rated entertainment special of the year usually drawing an audience second only to the Super Bowl. They have never been usurped by another awards show but on February 12ththe Grammys drew nearly 40 million viewers (second highest ever for the music show) due to interest sparked by Whitney Houston’s sudden death the day before. That’s higher than several Oscar broadcasts of the last decade including last year’s critically drubbed show. And since having a rooting interest in the movies nominated is often key to ratings, it’s a warning sign that only one of the nine nominated Best Pictures (The Help) grossed more than $100 million at the box office. Sherak was sanguine about it. “It’s true we don’t have any $300 million movies but there are some real horse races. Look the Grammys was the best concert show I have seen in a long time. I watched it and I am not the audience. It was a great concert. We are an awards show,” he said confidently predicting a large tune-in thanks to host Billy Crystal andthose tightraces in high profile acting categories. “We are going to do the best show possible. And I can tell you our research indicates there is a lot of interest in seeing Billy host. I have seen some of the show so far and it’s smart and funny and our new writers have made a big difference.” He’s confident viewers will definitely tune in for Billy’s opening and their mission is to keep them there for the whole show. One way they will do that is with comedy, just as Grazer promised when I spoke to him right after the nominations announcement. Among thepresentersnamed so far are Will Ferrell, Zach Galfianakis, Tina Fey, Ben Stiller , Chris Rock, Kermit and Miss Piggy and of course the host, Crystal all designed to keep the laughs coming. There’s also a high quotient of star power among presenters too including Tom Cruise, Angelina Jolie , Tom Hanks , Jennifer Lopez and Michael Douglas among others. And with high profile superstar nominees like Brad Pitt , George Clooney and Meryl Streep in the”Hollywood and Highland Center” theatre Sherak is happy. “One thing is certain. We are not gonna have a problem figuring out who to cut to in the audience,” he says. And he’s also promising some strong musical elements even as I pointed out the producers have decided not to let the two song nominees, Real In Rio and Man Or Muppet be performed on the show, a decision that caused a big outcry on the internet. “It is true we won’t be performing the song nominees but that is not the first time that’s happened,” he says . That’s true but one of the two times the songs were jettisoned was the infamous Allan Carr-produced Oscars , generally considered the worst in history. Sherak says conductor Hans Zimmer has created a great sound for the show and that there will be a big orchestra pit for the first time in a few years. He is also excited that Cirque Du Soleil is creating a special “one time only” performance for the show with the largest number of Cirque performers ever gathered together. Since Cirque also has a long running show , Iris at Hollywood and Highland I asked if this appearance was a tie-in and attempt to cross plug that show but he says one has nothing to do with the other. For Sherak it’s full steam ahead and ABC is heavily promoting the big night. In fact every night this week, Uggie the dog star of Best Picture front runner , The Artist is appearing on the network’s Jimmy Kimmel late night show to pick the winners of the top categories (he’s also taped a bit with Crystal for the Oscars). On Tuesday’s show the photos of the five nominees for Best Actor were placed on the floorwith hot dogs on top of each one. Uggie went straight for George Clooney without hesitation , even bypassing his own co-star Jean Dujardin. Is that a sign? Hey, maybe the ratings would go through the roof if we let dogs decidethe winners instead of the Academy.

Brian Taylor Finds Twisted Metal

He'll direct the video game adaptationWe knew it could happen one day, but we didn't know exactly when. But the psychotic, symbiotic organism that is Neveldine Taylor (aka Crank duo Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor) has torn itself apart and released Taylor dripping vital fluids to strike out on his own for a film. He's just locked in a deal with Sony to write and direct a movie based on video game Twisted Metal.The game, which not so coincidentally also happens to be a Sony property, is one of the best-selling titles. It features a Death Race-style underground tournament where warriors in pimped out cars compete and fight to the death. It's all run by a guy named Calypso, who has a driving (pun intended) obsession with the human condition and wants to explore such ideas as what makes peaceful men turn violent and who is willing to do what to walk away with their bodies intact.Among the drivers are Sweet Tooth, a homicidal clown piloting an ice cream truck and Doll Face, a masked young woman who steers a huge truck. So pretty much firmly in Taylor's wheelhouse, then. Especially given that twisted metal is usually what remains when he and his regular cohort finish shooting.Talking of, before Crank heads start panicking, we doubt this means the end for the prime chaos of Neveldine & Taylor working together. The pair is ready to unleash Ghost Rider: Spirit Of Vengeance both here and across the pond on Friday and they've been talking up the idea of a sequel if it's a success. Plus, there are plenty of other joint ideas bubbling about in their crazed craniums...

Why the glut of showbiz southpaws?

Director John Madden, above with Tena Desae, states left-handed individuals are very conscious of the entire, from the large picture. Within an election year, you'll frequently hear political figures declare that showbiz is really a hotbed of lefties.In a single sense, they are wrong: The conglomerates that own the galleries and systems are usually right-leaning. However in another sense, the leftie accusations are accurate: Showbiz is overrun with southpaws.If left-handed people comprise only 10% from the population, why were 50% from the Beatles left-handed (Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr)? And lefties are disproportionate in groups like executives (Jeffrey Katzenberg, Kaira Gray, The famous host oprah Winfrey, Bill Gates), filmmakers (James Cameron, Spike Lee, Ken Burns), top female stars (Julia Roberts, Jennifer Aniston, Nicole Kidman, Jennifer Lawrence, Scarlett Johansson), and late-evening comedy hosts (Jon Stewart, Jay Leno).The roster of southpaws is eclectic, including Matt Groening, Hugh Jackman, Patrick Whitesell, Julianne Moore, Matt Lauer, Adam Venit, Keanu Reeves, Morgan Freeman, Hilary Swank, Will Ferrell, Jerry Seinfeld, Sid Ganis, Steven Bochco, Lisa Kudrow, Henry Selick, Jesse P Line, Eminem and Seth Rogen.So, could it be safe to visualize that left-handed individuals are more creative and in some way superior? We lefties would love you to think that, however the rollcall includes Billy the little one, Jack the Ripper, John Dillinger and also the Boston Strangler.Clearly, it isn't dependent on better or worse, just ... different.Before he discovered his pointing talents, John Madden would be a thesp. He explained, "Being an actor, I figured 'Oh, no, this (career) will not do for any left-handed person.' Left-handed individuals are very conscious of the entire, from the large picture."The director of "Shakespeare for each otherInch and "The Very Best Exotic Marigold Hotel" (which in fact had its world premiere working in london now) states he analyzed the bond between your brain and hands when focusing on Arthur Kopit's play "Wings," in regards to a woman's stroke and it is aftermath. Right-handed individuals are controlled through the left hemisphere from the brain, which handles speech and logic -- "crucial activities to cope with existence," states Madden.Lefties, however, are ruled through the right hemisphere, "that has all of the intuitive, whole, overview functions."That may explain the amount of entertainers who work in other areas like writing and creating: Whoopi Goldberg, Tina Fey, Ben Stiller, Griffin Dunne, Tony Goldwyn, Emma Thompson, et al.After which you will find nuances. Christopher Nolan explained he creates together with his left hands, but brushes his teeth together with his right. Ambidextrous? That term appears a tad too prosaic for him. Like most of the other names here, the guy behind "Beginning," "Reminder" and also the approaching "The Dark Dark night Increases" is clearly too original and inventive to become limited by easy classifications.Five from the last six Presidents happen to be left-handed: Gerald Ford, Taxation, George Rose bush, Bill Clinton and today Obama. The best-handed Commander in Chief: George W. Rose bush. (And, yes, politics counts as showbiz. With no, we will not create a cheap joke at the fee for righties here.)Left-handed sports athletes? We do not have space to get involved with that.The late, lamented listing of southpaws include Cole Porter, Lana Turner, Judy Garland, Kurt Cobain, Jimi Hendrix and 2 individuals who were answer to the development of showbiz as you may know it: Thomas Edison and Charlie Chaplin.So might be there disadvantages to being left-handed? Within the book "Left-Hander Syndrome," Stanley Coren cites medical studies saying lefties "appear to become more anxious about nearly everything," which as being a southpaw is "associated with numerous factors that could be connected with reduced survivability" -- sleep issues, possible nerve damage, some types of diabetes, epilepsy, alcoholism, and "certain psychopathological conditions, for example schizophrenia."Regardless of the stellar sports athletes, research has shown that lefties are usually clumsy. (The truth is that, guilty as billed.)And southpaws possess a inclination to accomplish 90% of the job after which abandon it -- for instance, doing the bathroom, but departing two glasses within the sink, filthy, for not good reason. (Again, guilty.)OK, dirty dishes, high anxiety and Jack the Ripper: Clearly, leftism isn't always a positive thing. Still, they are offset by Thomas Edison, half the Beatles and Bart Simpson (did we point out that Bart is really a lefty?). So standing on that lefty list feels so ... right. Contact Timothy M. Grey at tim.grey@variety.com

FilmNation launches sales on 'All Is Lost'

Glen Basner's FilmNation Entertainment is beginning sales on Robert Redford starrer ''All Is Lost'' this year within the Berlinale, which Lionsgate is delivering inside the U.S.Pic, the following feature from ''Margin Call'' author/helmer J.C. Chandor, can be a guy versus character drama that occurs round the water. Story is positioned entirely at sea and contains just one cast member. Just Before The Doorway Pictures' Neal Dodson and Black Bear Pictures' Teddy Schwartzman are likely to result in the pic with Justin Nappi from Treehouse Pictures, that are fully financing the project. Just Before The Doorway may even produce with Anna Gerb and Joshua Blum from Washington Square Films, who've been their partners on ''Margin Call.''Before The Door's Zachary Quinto and Corey Moosa, Cassian Elwes, Laura Rister and Treehouse's Kevin Turen will professional produce. Pic is skedded to lense this summer season in Mexico. FilmNation features a hefty slate beginning the EFM this year: the outfit are pre-selling Steven Soderberg's next project ''Bitter Pill,'' toplining Rooney Mara and Anton Corbijn's latest effort ''A Popular Guy,'' toplining Philip Seymour Hoffman.Cassian Elwes and Laura Rister talked about the financing deals regarding the film, along with Alexis Garcia from WME. Redford is repped by lawyer Craig Tyerman and CAA, while Chandor is repped by Make the most of Carlson and Simon Faber at WME. Contact Diana Lodderhose at diana.lodderhose@variety.com

Tate Taylor draws WGAW's Selvin Award

Tate Taylor is placed to get the Authors Guild of America West's Paul Selvin Award for his modified script for that civil privileges-era drama "The Assistance.Inch The Selvin Award "recognizes written work which brings together the spirit of constitutional privileges and civil protections." Taylor, who also directed, is going to be honored in the guild's West Coast ceremony on February. 19 in the Hollywood Palladium. He's been nommed for that WGA modified script award. "Tate Taylor's modified script for 'The Help' artfully distills the strengthening essence and core emotional facts of Kathryn Stockwell's novel, converting it right into a film that vigorously demonstrates how regular people could affect positive telecomutting saves gas. Evoking a particular some time and place, the film's message is ultimately universal and stays relevant today," stated WGAW leader Christopher Keyser. Taylor's script "does Paul Selvin's legacy proud by offerring the ongoing energy from the written word." Taylor stated he was acutely aware of the numerous heroes in the fight for civil privileges as he composed the script. "But in my experience, regular heroes for example Aibileen and Minny are frequently those we discover most relatable and empowered by," he stated. "In the end, the regular hero hiding in everyone is frequently probably the most effective catalyst for change." Contact Dork McNary at dork.mcnary@variety.com