Cheers & Jeers: Michelle Trachtenberg Gets Lost in Weeds

Michelle Trachtenberg Jeers to Michelle Trachtenberg for going to seed on Weeds. Want more Cheers & Jeers? Subscribe to TV Guide Magazine now! As Emma, the temptress who turned the Botwins' bicycle shop upside-down - literally - and stole their pot business, the Buffy the Vampire Slayer alum is a real buzz kill. With her Lolita-like looks and too-cool-for-school attitude, her character feels like a warmed-over version of Gossip Girl's Georgina Sparks. And somehow she's even more annoying than the perpetually perky (and aptly surnamed) nurse Chloe Payne on NBC's mercifully short-lived Mercy. Weeds has been allowed to grow unchecked for far too long, and Season 7's guest stars, including a low-energy Aidan Quinn as a crooked hedge-fund manager and an underused Martin Short as a lawyer, haven't been able to bring it new life. What are you waiting for, Showtime? Yank Weeds! Do you think it's time for Showtime to kill Weeds? Subscribe to TV Guide Magazine now!

Source Code author Ben Ripley getting Flatliners to existence

Source Code author Ben Ripley continues to be hired to rewrite 1990 thriller Flatliners for Columbia Pictures.The initial saw a lot of medical students (performed by a lot of potential megastars including Jennifer Aniston, Kiefer Sutherland and Kevin Sausage) experimentation on the physiques if you take themselves towards the edge of dying.Understandably, their playing-God tomfoolery will get them into trouble, plus they all begin to experience bizarre phenomena within their waking lives. Seriously, how about we they provide student researchers a duplicate of Frankenstein on the first day?Laurence Mark (Julie & Julia, The Lookout) will produce, there is however not sure on the director at this time (Joel Schumacher known as the shots very first time round).Ripley's Source Code was probably the most refreshingly intelligent sci-fiers since, well, Moon. He'd done little of note before that though, with a few Species sequels along with a TV movie to his title.Is he going to develop a searingly intelligent new undertake Flatliners that'll launch the following wave of the-list stars? Or perhaps is this only a lame make an effort to resuscitate a classic idea with the hope of scoring a brand new franchise to exchange Final Destination?Can be, but we are wishing this'll considerably more Source Code than Species: The Awakening...

Watch Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows 2010

Powder

A Soda Pictures release of a Red Union Films production. (International sales: MultiVisionnaire Media, Alhambra.) Produced by David A. Hughes. Executive producers, Kevin Sampson, David Moores Jr., Simon Moran. Directed, edited by Mark Elliott. Screenplay, Kevin Sampson, adapted from a novel by Sampson.With: Liam Boyle, Alfie Allen, Jefferson Hall, AL Weaver, Vinette Robinson, Stephen Martin Walters, Ralf Little, Oliver Lee.Reminiscent of the sort of teen rock-star fantasies best left in the bedroom, "Powder" tritely depicts the rivalry between two bands. Crudely adapted by Kevin Sampson from his own, better novel, and poorly helmed by Mark Elliott (who collaborated with Sampson on "Awaydays"), this cringe-inducing drama makes many missteps, the worst of which is to constantly overhype as brilliant the mediocre music its protagonists produce. Opening in very limited release domestically Aug. 26, pic will blow away as quickly as dust on a dry day. The frontman of struggling beat combo the Grams, Keva (wooden Liam Boyle) is supposedly fuming because rival group Transbad Saints has stolen a song he wrote and become successful. The Grams sign with a label owned by Guy (Jefferson Hall) and start an album, but Keva must suffer some clunky flashbacks and take some drugs before he can move forward. Musician James Walsh sings Keva's vocals and contributes music, which should ensure that at least fans of Walsh's own outfit, Starsailor, will show some interest. Tech credits are shaky, although the festival performance scenes nearly convince.Camera (color, HD), Mark Waters; music, David A. Hughes; music supervisor, David Moores Jr.; production designer, Malcolm Smith; art director, Colin Taylor; costume designer, Nicky Barron Orange. Reviewed at Soho Screening Rooms, London, Aug. 22, 2011. Running time: 105 MIN. Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

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Child Actress Sybil Jason Dead at 83

Sybil Jason Sybil Jason, Warner Bros.' response to Fox's Shirley Temple within the '30s died Tuesday in Northridge, Calif., of chronic obstructive lung disease, based on the Washington Publish. See other stars we lost this season Jason was created in Nigeria and performed the British vaudeville circuit before her amount of time in Hollywood. Her film credits include 1935's The Singing Kid, by which she carried out alongside Al Jolson, and Little Large Shot (also 1935). Though her recognition never surpassed her supposed rival's, she did appear complete opposite of Temple in 2 pictures: 1939's The Small Princess and 1940's Nowhere Bird, which switched to be Jason's final film. The kid stars continued to be buddies despite departing the motion-picture industry. Catch on present day news Jason's children incorporate a daughter, Toni Rossi, along with a grand son. Her husband of 59 years, Anthony Drake, died in 2006.

Charlie Sheen 'Anger Management' Showrunner Search Narrows to 3 Large Names (Exclusive)

The search for any showrunner to supervise Charlie Sheen's comeback comedy Anger Management continues to be simplified lower to 3 candidates.our editor recommendsCharlie Sheen's 'Anger Management' Sitcom about the Search for ShowrunnerIt's Official: Charlie Sheen's 'Anger Management' Comedy Progresses Charlie Sheen's Craziest TV InterviewsCTV Acquires Comedy Central's Charlie Sheen Roast Multiple sources tell The Hollywood Reporter the three challengers are experienced comedy author-producers Tom Hay, Bruce Helford and Chris Situation. Sources say all these candidates has met withSheen, in addition to Jon Feltheimer, cheif executive of Lionsgate, that is creating the show. Lionsgate didn't immediately return a request comment. PHOTOS: Charlie Sheen Tour Hay brings towards the show - loosely in line with the 2003 film of the identical title - strong comedy experience. His resume includes author or producer credits on Cosby, Evening Court, Parker Lewis and Sophistication Under Fire, amongst others. More lately, he is a author on CBS' The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson. Situation, too, offers his great amount of comedy experience, from his focus on Mad In Regards To You to Spin City to Reba. Captured, he released aGeorge Segal, Jessica Waltercomedy, Upon the market at 35, on television Land. PHOTOS: Charlie Sheen's Colorful Career For Helford, he's stayed on an accumulation of hit sitcoms, including Roseanne, George Lopez and also the Came Carey Show. Acquiring a showrunner is really a necessary part of obtaining the comedy off the floor. Once among the candidates will get hired to do the job, the comedy is going to be formally looked to systems. As THR formerly reported, the program would be to consume a variation about the "90-10" path developed by Debmar-Mercury co-presidents Mort Marcus and Ira Bernstein, who came from the model for Tyler Perry's TV projects. PHOTOS: Charlie Sheen's Craziest TV Interviews They, that also includes Sheen's manager Mark Burgand producer Joe Roth, will produce six to 12 episodes with Sheen for any test operate on a cable network, station group or perhaps a digital service like Netflix. If individuals airings meet a particular rankings threshold, as much as 90 more could be purchased and created. Despite fears of Sheen's troubled past becoming potentially problematic about this project, several agents tell THR they're prepared to take their showrunners up to do the job. As you place it, "it's employment, and potentially a lengthy-running one." Lionsgate rejected to comment. Email: Lacey.Rose@THR.com Twitter: @LaceyVRose Related Subjects Charlie Sheen Lionsgate

Mark and Donnie Wahlberg Opening Restaurant Called Wahlburgers

Mark and Donnie Wahlberg are opening up a new burger restaurant named Wahlburgers, the Boston Herald reports.our editor recommends'Entourage' Producer Mark Wahlberg Offers to Finance Feature Film Version of SeriesDavid O. Russell, Vince Vaughn Drop Out of Universal's '2 Guns' As Mark Wahlberg Joins The name, Wahlburgers, was the hardest obstacle for the duo's older brother Paul, who will serve as the restaurant's chef, to get over because it had been previously trademarked. COVER STORY: 'Entourage' Secrets From the Boys of Summer "It just works," Ed St. Croix, Wahlberg's business partner, told the Herald. "It's a good-sounding brand so we could put out the product with, a great name people could relate to." VIDEO: 'Entourage' Roundtable The Wahlbergs secured "full spectrum" use of the name, St. Croix said, but he wouldn't disclose financial terms of the deal or any other details. The brothers did have some backups in mind just in case they couldn't secure the Wahlburgers name, though St. Croix wouldn't reveal them. STORY: Mark Wahlberg, Justin Bieber in Talks to Co-Star in Movie for Paramount The 4,300-sq. ft. Wahlburgers is set to open at the Hingham Shipyard in Boston, near the brothers' Italian restaurant Alma Nove. Wahlburgers will seat about 80 inside and 40 on an outdoor patio. The brothers are also planning to open a pizza restaurant next spring. Related Topics Donnie Wahlberg Mark Wahlberg

'Real Steel' Robots Were Trained By Sugar Ray Leonard

"Real Steel" will probably be the best robot boxing movie which has been launched (since, well, title another robot boxing movie), and also the latest featurette for that film really wants to let you know about why it will likely be an enjoyable adventure to look at. Perhaps the greatest draw for audiences may be the boxing within the flick, and also the new featurette showcases the way the filmmakers used motion-capture technology to create their fighting robots appear credible. Individuals behind "Real Steel" hired real-existence boxers, choreographed by Sugar Ray Leonard, to face set for the robots, meaning the experience fans see about the giant screen will probably be legit. Obviously, there is the human component of the film to anticipate too, but I've got a feeling Hugh Jackman may be a little upstaged by his electronic counterpart in "Real Steel." Browse the relaxation of present day film news following the jump! A Brand New "Underworld: Awakening" Poster Hits The Net Kate Beckinsale invites you directly into see "Underworld: Awakening." A poster for that flick, thanks to FilmWeb, focuses exclusively about the celebrity in her own legendary Selene get-up. In true "Underworld" tradition, the poster is really a cleaned-out blue that is symbolic of the franchise. The poster cast off the title for that film, choosing rather to pay attention to Beckinsale because the lead and also the 2012 release date. "The fight continues in three dimensional," the poster teases. An initial trailer for "Underworld: Awakening" hit the net a week ago. "The Truly Amazing Gatsby" To Start Filming Soon Collider had an opportunity to sit lower with "Great Gatsby" star Joel Edgerton, and that he had positive things to say of the lengthy-in-production project. "We've been kind of in pre-production where we did a very great type of exploration workshop in New You are able to. Im off on Monday and to Australia where things are getting prepared and ready," Edgerton stated. "We will continue rehearsals therefore we start shooting inside a couple of days. Then its all systems go until Christmas. "The Final Exorcism" Less Than So Final Filmmakers have to be a little more careful once they develop game titles like "The Final Exorcism" if they are likely to wish to develop sequels for their movies. The producers of "The Final Exorcism" have to face that dilemma at this time because they hire Damien Chazelle to create a follow-as much as this years hit. The Hollywood Reporter does not understand what the follow up is going to be about (or what clever title it'll have) but did learn that it's set to enter production within the fall. "The WomanInch Teaser Trailer A clip for Luc Besson's latest, "The Woman,Inch has hit the net finally. Starring Michelle Yeoh and David Thewlis, the biopic informs the storyline of professional-democracy activist Aung San Suu Kyi and her romance with academic and author Michael Aris, set from the backdrop of political turmoil. Inform us your ideas on present day Dailies within the comments section below or on Twitter!

Sursok cast in 'Sleeping Around'

SursokEXCLUSIVE: Tammin Sursok ("Pretty Little Liars") has became a member of the indie romantic comedy "Sleeping Around" opposite Virginia Williams and Jesse Bradford.Plant Nanas and M. Gohar are creating with Leslie Greif ("Funny Money") pointing from their own script. Project's shooting in New York and New You are able to City.Sursok plays the role of the obvious headed romantic attempting to stop her closest friend from creating a huge mistake, while she suspects her very own fiance' of getting an affair -- and tries with an affair of her very own to obtain even.Sursok is repped by UTA, Principato-Youthful Entertainment and attorney Todd Rubensten. Contact Dork McNary at dork.mcnary@variety.com

Analyst: Google's Motorola Deal Good for Media Giants, TiVo, Bad for Netflix

NEW YORK - A day after Google unveiled a $12.5 billion deal to acquire Motorola Mobility, Wall Street on Tuesday continued to discuss its possible fallout.our editor recommendsGoogle to Buy Mobile Handset Maker Motorola Mobility for $12.5 BillionWhy Google Is Spending $12.5 Billion to Acquire Motorola Mobility In first reactions on Monday, observers had said that the planned acquisition could, among other things, help strengthen the Internet giant's Google TV platform, which allows TV viewers to access online video, but which has seen slow consumer adoption. Janney Montgomery Scott analyst Tony Wible said that Google's largest deal ever along with other recent investments are "an incremental positive for TiVo and big media names (Disney, Viacom, Time Warner, DreamWorks Animation) and a negative for Netflix." As far as entertainment giants go, the planned Motorola acquisition and the recent purchase of SageTV, whose software offers DVR and place-shifting features that could enhance Google TV, "signal that Google is more committed to the TV market," Wible argued. "Investments in compression technology, new IPTV ad models and recent hires also suggest the company is looking to build a sizable TV operation." Google could also look to become more of a video play - and challenger to Netflix - with content licensed from sector biggies. Wible said that in that scenario the company could "be a substantial new buyer of content looking to leverage Motorola Mobility distribution, but will need to balance the tension between buying content directly that could be seen as a threat to Motorola's current multichannel video programming distributor (MVPD) customers." Wible's conclusion: "Google's entrance is an incremental positive for content owners, as added competition should improve the value of content." Meanwhile, the acquisition of Motorola Mobility could also set TiVo up as an acquisition candidate, according to the analyst. "Motorola Mobility has a large liability exposure to TiVo's patents in the rapidly approaching DVR infringement trial - TiVo has high probability of winning," he said. In that context, Google could see strategic value in owning the company's DVR patents, he explained. Even if Google doesn't look at buying TiVo, the latter could benefit. Given Google's recent moves, some MVPDs could feel threatened and "opt to move to more benign IPTV platforms like TiVo," Wible argued. However, streaming video powerhouse Netflix could see yet another challenger emerge in Google. "We see the Motorola Mobility deal as a commitment to the TV market and continue to see Amazon, Google and Apple as emerging players in the IPTV business," Wible said. "We believe the aforementioned names can run [their] IPTV business as a loss leader to grow and/or protect their core operations." Email: Georg.Szalai@thr.com Twitter: @georgszalai Related Topics Google Time Warner Viacom The Walt Disney Company Netflix

Who Has the Oscar-Worthiest Anger in These New Carnage Pics?

The four-actor cast of Roman Polanski’s Carnage (Jodie Foster, John C. Reilly, Kate Winslet, and Christoph Waltz) is an Oscar-friendly bunch: Together they’ve acquired 12 nominations in their collective careers, four wins, and enough actorly cred to warrant accolades for the rest of their lives. In new stills from Carnage — which is based on Yasmina Reza’s Tony award winning play — the esteemed quartet grimaces and smirks like their director just made an off-color joke about Valley of the Dolls. Who’s facial expressions deserve the Oscar most? Christoph Waltz is nice and chilling, wouldn’t you say? Jodie Foster’s dishing the same Panic Room fury that raised Kristen Stewart, Kate Winslet’s emitting emotionally bereft Mildred Pierce face, and John C. Reilly appears to have a real personality. Well! Since he’s the only one here without an Oscar, I’ll say his face is the best. Though I bet the face Tony-winner Marcia Gay Harden makes at her computer screen when she sees these amateurs is the real award-earner. [via Slashfilm]

Reality rules Wednesday

On a night when Fox's ''So You Think You Can Dance'' posted only so-so numbers for its season's performance finale, it was CBS' ''Big Brother'' and NBC's ''America's Got Talent'' that racked up the best scores Wednesday. According to preliminary national estimates from Nielsen, ''Big Brother'' continues to impress this summer, gaining again this week and standing as the evening's top-rated program in adults 18-49 (2.7/9) and 25-54 (3.2/10) while drawing 7.2 million viewers overall; in all key demos, the show matched or set Wednesday season highs. The Eye then fell off from there as usual with repeats of ''Criminal Minds'' (1.3/4 in 18-49, 5.6 million viewers overall) and ''CSI'' (1.4/4 in 18-49, 7.2 million viewers overall) but it won the night in adults 25-54 and total viewers. At Fox, the top four contestants performed on ''So You Think You Can Dance'' in advance of tonight's finale, with the two-hour episode averaging a 1.9/6 in 18-49 and 5.7 million viewers overall , up a bit vs. last week. As it has in recent weeks, Fox won the night in 18-49 even though it didn't win either of its two hours, as the averages for ABC, CBS and NBC were all dragged down by their lower-rated performances in the 10 o'clock hour. NBC opened with another soft showing by gameshow ''Minute to Win It'' (1.2/4 in 18-49, 4.8 million viewers overall) before rising to the timeslot lead at 9 with ''America's Got Talent'' (2.4/7 in 18-49, 9.3 million viewers overall), which was again on the low side but still topped the night in total viewers. And at 10, the penultimate episode of ''Love in the Wild'' (1.5/4 in 18-49, 4.6 million viewers overall) again led its major-network competition in 18-49. ABC lagged its rivals on the night with repeats of comedies ''The Middle'' (0.9/3 in 18-49, 4.2 million viewers overall), ''Modern Family'' (1.3/4 in 18-49, 4.5 million viewers overall in a special 8:30 p.m. airing and 1.6/5 in 18-49, 4.8 million at 9 p.m.) and ''Happy Endings'' (1.0/3 in 18-49, 3.0 million viewers overall). Closing out the night was ''Primetime Nightline'' (1.3/4 in 18-49, 4.2 million viewers overall), an hour from the ABC News department devoted to celebrity secrets. Univision moved up to a third-place tie with NBC on the night thanks to its friendly soccer match between USA and Mexico, which averaged a 1.7/5 in 18-49 and 3.8 million viewers overall from 8:30 to 11 p.m., with these numbers more tentative than most preliminaries due to the nature of live sports. Preliminary 18-49 averages for the night: Fox, 1.9/6; CBS, 1.8/5; NBC and Univision, 1.7/5; ABC, 1.3/4; CW, 0.4/1. In total viewers: CBS, 6.7 million; NBC, 6.3 million; Fox, 5.7 million; ABC, 4.1 million; Univision, 3.7 million; CW, 1.1 million. Contact Rick Kissell at rick.kissell@variety.com

Glee Project Sneak Look: Damian's "Dancing Eye brows" Rear Their Ugly Mind, Zach Mocks Them

Damian Understand what can definitely get rid of the mood? Dancing eye brows.Nervous about filming the background music video for "The Only Real Exception" on Sunday's Glee Project (9/8c, Oxygen), Damian allows his non-stop restless eye brows get into overdrive - much towards the judges' dismay... and entertainment.Take a look at photos in the Glee Project"Making this what's happening: 'You... are...,'" Zach Woodlee states, mocking Damian's elevated 'brows with every beat. (Someone create a .Presen of this now!)But Damian's performance is not alone that the idol judges take problem. Watch the clip below to determine who must add "a bit more twinkle."

Amazing Spider-Man 2 Release Set

The sequel is already dated for 2014.... Remember this little story from back in March, where we reported on Amazing Spider-Man writer James Vanderbilt being hired to start writing the sequel. And we snarked that it was only a matter of time - likely just after the film comes out - before Sony announced a release date? Turns out we didn't even need to exaggerate! Why? The studio has announced a date for the sequel while the first movie is still months away from arriving. In what appears to be a huge vote of confidence in Vanderbilt, Mark Webb, Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone and the rest of the Spider-cast and crew, The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (or whatever it ends up being called) will hit cinemas on May 2, 2014. That's less than two years after the original arrives. And while there wasn't much of a press release about the date, a Sony spokesbod did say that it "speaks volumes" of Webb's effort. Having got a look at some footage at Comic-Con, we have to admit that we thought it looked pretty nifty, though the real test will come with the finished film. With Garfield, Stone, Rhys Ifans, Martin Sheen, Sally Field, Irrfan Kahn, Campbell Scott, and Julianne Nicholson among the cast, The Amazing Spider-Man will arrive on July 6 next year. Expect the third and fourth films - to be shot together, no doubt - to be announced next week. And the second reboot? Next year. Kidding!*. *Or are we?

FilmDistrict taps Buman as professional Vice president

BumanLia Buman continues to be named professional Vice president of purchases at recently minted distributor FilmDistrict.She'll report straight to Adrian Alperovich, prexy of purchases and procedures.Buman would be a Vice president at The new sony Pictures Worldwide Purchases and was involved with obtaining FilmDistrict's "Insidious" and "Moon" in addition to worldwide privileges to "Males Who Stare at Goat's," "Machete" and "Hanna." She began her career at IBM and would be a business development executive for FilmDistrct Boss Peter Schlessel at his talking to company before moving to SPWA.FilmDistrict, founded by Graham King and Tim Headington's GK Films together with Schlessel, released captured having a concentrate on mid-range pictures and saw success with "Insidious" and "Soul Surfer," which made a combined $95 million. Approaching releases include "You Shouldn't Be Scared of the Dark" on August. 26, "Drive" on Sept. 16, "The Rum Diary" on March. 28 and "Within the Land of Bloodstream and Honey" on 12 ,. 23. Contact Dork McNary at dork.mcnary@variety.com

Kylie & Kendall Jenner On Kim Kardashians Wedding Plans

LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Kendall and Kylie Jenner say things inside the home of the Keeping Up With the Kardashians clan is buzzing with excitement over Kim Kardashians upcoming nuptials to NBA star Kris Humphries. [Its] crazy, Kendall told Access Hollywood as she took part in The Spirit Consultants cheer camp on Monday. [There is] non stop talk about the wedding at my house. The two younger sisters of Kim, Kourtney and Khloe, confirmed they will be bridesmaids as Kim walks down the aisle and their big sister is picking out their dresses. She does [the choosing] for us, Kylie said. Its cool to all be matching. Like, if I was a bride, Id want to pick my own [bridesmaids dresses] so everyone is matching. Although they are in their teens, the two say they have no qualms over Kims taste in dresses. Not with her, Kendall said when Access asked if they were worried about style. Not with Kim, come on! Kylie added. Everyone will look amazing with her, Kendall added. The teens said they have yet to learn what color their gowns will be. I think its going to be a surprise, she said. Beyond talk of bridesmaids dresses, the two sisters said they have a lot of love for their soon-to-be brother-in-law. We love him, Kendall said. Hes a jokester, hes funny Hes like a little kid sometimes like a big kid. We have a very brother sister relationship, Kylie added. Its cool, I really like him. No one ever had a problem with him. Its really cool. Recently, Kardashian matriarch Kris Jenner, underwent a mini facelift, reportedly to be fresh faced by the time Kims wedding rolls around and the girls updated Access on their moms progress. Shes doing great, Kendall said. It wasnt like a problem to us. We just said she didnt need it. People go through that stage when theyre older but I know thats been something shes always wanted to do so she did it, Kylie added. Im sure when Im who knows how old Ill like desire to do it. I dont know. Im not that age, but maybe. Copyright 2011 by NBC Universal, Inc. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.