Oscar Forecasts: Who'll Win?

Bill Pullman Bill Pullman is playing the leader - again. The Independence Day actor, who lately starred in Torchwood: Miracle Day, will portray the Leader from the U . s . States in NBC's 1600 Penn pilot. The comedy focuses on probably the most regular family on the planet - who so happen to reside in the Whitened House. Pilot Season: Obtain the scoop! As formerly introduced, Brittany Snow will have the oldest daughter, Becca, while Book of Mormon's Josh Gad will have Skip, her gregarious and clumsy older brother. Gad will even write and executive-make the pilot with Modern Family's Jason Winer.

Private Practice's Caterina Scorsone Expecting First Child

It might not be September, but Degrassi has returned for any new school year. Once the show last broadcast (really in September), we bid an unfortunate farewell to Sav, Carol J and Anya, amongst others, who graduated. For individuals within the cast adhering around, the midseason finale wasn't too wondrous. Adam was shot with a party-crashes gang member, Clare was left by Mike making peace together with her ex Eli (Munro Chambers). Because the year begins, TVGuide.com requested Chambers and newbie Alex Steele, who plays overachiever Tori, by what new calamities don't be surprised. Find Out More > Other Links From TVGuide.com DegrassiMunro ChambersAlex SteeleChloe RoseJordan TodoseyMelinda ShankarAnnie ClarkJahmil FrenchCristine Prosperi

Walden Media makes book on 'Rex Libris'

'Rex Libris'Walden Media is moving ahead on development of "Rex Libris," tapping Ben Zazove to adapt the humorous sci-fi graphic novel.Walden acquired feature rights to "Rex" last year, which follows the zombie-slaying adventures of librarian Rex Libris as he protects the books of the Middleton Public Library and guards the world's literary treasures from a host of supernatural foes. The graphic novel is written and drawn by James Turner, and published quarterly by Slave Labor Graphics. Warner Bros. had announced in 2007 that "Rex Libris" was in development with Mosaic Media producing.Evan Turner and Michael Bostick are handling the project for Walden, with Brent Lilley handling for Slave Labor Graphics.Walden just released the family adventure "Journey 2: The Mysterious Island" through Warner Bros.Zazove wrote "Tooth Fairy 2" for Walden and Fox Home Entertainment. He's repped by Kaplan-Perrone. Contact Dave McNary at dave.mcnary@variety.com

Starz sales rise 8% to $432 million

John Malone's Liberty Media Thursday reported greater revenue and earnings from Starz, its finest holding. The pay net's sales rose 8% to $432 million for your fourth quarter, largely on greater home video revenue in the 2011 distribution agreement while using Weinstein Company.Operating profit rose 24% to $87 million. The network had 19.6 000 0000 clients at year-finish, up from 18.2 million the last year.Boss Chris Albrecht suggested original programming and new pacts. ''We could not are more pleased with the performance of ''Spartacus: Vengeance,'' which is constantly set record new viewership marks for just about any Starz original series,'' he mentioned. ''The anticipation for April's 'Magic City' grows which we're heartened with the strong demand received inside the global marketplace.'' He mentioned recent deals, affiliation with ATandT U-verse and movie certification with Lionsgate, have elevated the net's distribution business and extended-term content pipeline. Parent Liberty Media mentioned its quarterly revenue elevated 96% to $1 billion inside the fourth quarter and operating earnings hopped 241% to $293 million, mostly connected using the primary one-time recognition of formerly deferred revenue and expenses at division TruePosition.Malone, who constantly tinkers along with his holdings, also introduced a completely new structure for Liberty Media's sister company, Liberty Interactive Corp.Liberty Interactive can make two new monitoring stocks to greater stay with the businesses it holds.One monitoring stock, still referred to as Liberty Interactive, covers QVC, the e-commerce companies, Liberty's 34% of HSN, $500 million in cash and a number of opportunities. The second new stock, Liberty Endeavors, will track interests in Expedia, TripAdvisor, Time Warner, Time Warner Cable, America online, Interval Leisure Group, Tree.com, Liberty's eco-friendly energy possibilities, $1.25 billion in cash.Liberty's status becoming an investment company, no operating company, has brought to waves of spinoffs and monitoring stocks that appear and vanish over time while he tries to align his companies for traders and tax efficiencies. Contact the number newsroom at news@variety.com

Honours put spotlight around the TV helmers

'Dexter''Treme''Sons of Anarchy'The NAACP Image Honours have nommed no less than five dramatic Tv show ("Broadway Empire," "The Great Wife," "Grey's Anatomy," "Law & Order: Special Victims' Unit" and "Treme") and five comedy series ("The Overall Game," "Love That Girl!," "Modern Family," "Reed Between your Lines" and "Tyler Perry's House of Payne") as the very best of 2011.Remarkably, just one of individuals series -- "Treme" -- can also be honored having a pointing nom.How come one episode of the Tv show appeal to the NAACP Image Honours honchos? And never another?The next helmers, each nommed for his or her focus on a specific episode, offer ideas on why they won the interest from the nominators.Paris Barclay critiques the "Out" episode of "Sons of Anarchy" (Forex Network)."The outlet first 5 minutes of 'Out' has hardly any dialogue," he states. "So exactly what a director does gets to be more pronounced. That lack of dialogue really shows exactly what a director can perform having a camera, with performances, and just how shots are presented. That episode is really a psychological ride. It's wedding ceremonies. It's killings. And often they are intercut. It's similar to 'The Godfather.' "He continues: "After Jack's back from killing the Russian, he hugs his wife and states, 'It's all likely to be okay.A Psychologically, that scene is really a tornado. That's concerning the best will be able to do."Everything ran perfectly for Miguel Arteta if this found his pointing the "Monfongo" episode of "Steps to make It in the usaInch (Cinemax)."The show is at a groove," Arteta recalls. "The writing was great. The stars were excited. The cinematographer had his moments in check."This can be a show about getting around in NY City. Kids meet up during the night, sometimes through the 100s, and go biking round the city, taking it over."Arteta desired to give "Monfongo" lots of style, showing the Brooklyn Bridge, the Manhattan Bridge, the subways."It provides extensive energy," he states. "You felt the town during the night and also the discharge of being free, on the bike. It had been a minute the producers thought about, plus they were prepared to produce the financial backup."The "Do Watcha Wanna" episode of "Treme" (Cinemax) is all about another city."New Orleans is really a major character," Ernest Dickerson states. "It's filled with light and it is the sunshine of those. The show handles the lives of those who find it difficult to keep your soul of recent Orleans alive. The town and it is workings is a component of the items helps make the show work. There is not anyone special scene. It's hopefully the conglomeration of all of the moments. The buildup."For Kevin Hooks, the "A Birthday" episode of "Drop Dead Diva" (Lifetime) was an attempt to create depth as to the is otherwise regarded as an easy show."There have been numerous layers to that particular script," Hooks highlights. "It had not been only a straight comedy. There is some real nuance. This episode was an chance to obtain within the mind and heart of Jane/Deb's character."Helmer Jay Chandrasekhar states: "There is a goal with 'Happy Endings' (ABC), by my eyes, to become publish-racial and publish-sexual preference." In the "The Lady Using the David Tattoo" episode, Chandrasekhar got the opportunity to show a oft-overlooked character type on television: a wealthy Black.InchAnd race isn't the centrally determining element in his character," he states. "Authors could make changes in how individuals are perceived in society when you are around the front fringe of social actions."Seith Mann's goal using the "Get Geller" episode from "Dexter" (Showtime) was to own audience exactly the same jolt he experienced upon reading through the script."This episode revealed a significant development that I didn't see coming," states Mann. "Within the closed-door concept meeting, once the producers described the items in the unregistered script pages, I had been floored. I needed to own audience that same connection with surprise and danger," regarding Dexter's sister's discovery that he's a murderer.And reality is exactly what helmer Ken Whittingham wanted for that "Opening Evening" episode of "Being a parent" (NBC)."I needed to help keep it real," he states. "In 'Parenthood,' using the dialogue, we talk over one another, like the majority of families do. Within this episode, we have modified a voyeuristic type of type of considering this family's existence. Things I introduced for this show was this lengthy lensy look, peeking into this family."Leonard R. Garner Junior. needed to cope with three distinct story lines in the "The SetupInch episode of "Rules of Engagement" (CBS)."Each scene was clearly associated with the smoothness,Inch according to him. "And it is the kind of episode, that even when you were not acquainted with the show, each one of the three tales is really character-driven it gives good understanding of the figures and also the show too.InchUsing the "Tell-All" episode of "NCIS" (CBS), Kevin Sullivan acknowledged the show's brew of procedure, action and comedy."The task of the director within an episodic would be to deliver exactly what the show does perfectly inside a consistent way," he states. "You do not are available in to reinvent the wheel."In Sullivan's episode, Mark Harmon and Joe Spano's figures uncover these were both married once towards the same lady. And today she's marriage for any third time. They have been asked towards the wedding. They choose to have pizza rather."There is a very tender moment, where Harmon's character states to Spano, 'You got an excellent daughter using this.A That scene lifted it from what have been comedy and edgy, completely through, to something tender and wise."Also nommed for any NAACP TV director award is Salim Akil, who helmed the "Parachutes/Beach Chairs" episode of "The Overall Game" (Wager).RELATED LINKS: Start with an aspiration Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com

Rankings: Grammys Soar to Second-Greatest Audience Ever The Walking Dead Sets Records

Jennifer Hudson The 54th Annual Grammy Honours obtained its second-greatest rankings ever Sunday because the music business compensated tribute to Whitney Houston, as the midseason premiere from the Walking Dead scared up large amounts too.Browse the Grammys fashion hits and missesThe three-and-a-half-hour broadcast nearly bending last year's viewership having a staggering 39 million audiences - second simply to the 51 million who updated to the 1984 telecast, throughout which Michael Jackson won an archive eight honours.In comparison to last year's ceremony, the show was up 40 % within the grown ups 18-to-49 demo, nabbing a 14.1. The rating may be the greatest since 1990, when Milli Vanilli won Best New Artist (that was later suspended).Grammys: The very best and worst performancesThe surge is probably because of Houston's unpredicted dying on Saturday. Throughout the show, Jennifer Hudson carried out "I'll Always Adore YouInch within the six-time Grammy winner's recognition.On cable, The Walking Dead's winter premiere came 8.a million audiences Up in the 7.3 million who viewed the autumn opener. Additionally, it obtained 5.4 million audiences within the demo and 4.4 million audiences within the grown ups 25-to-54 demo, which makes it the most powerful telecast for just about any drama in fundamental cable history. The series premiere of Kevin Smith's Comic Males adopted the zombie hit with two million audiences along with a 1.3 rating.8 p.m.CBS: 54th Annual Grammy Honours 39 million audiences (14.1 demo rating) [8-11:30 p.m.]ABC: Not so long ago 8.64 million audiences (3.)Fox: The Simpsons 4.3 million audiences (2.) Napoleon Dynamite 3.8 million audiences (1.7)NBC: Dateline 2.05 million (1.6) [7-9 p.m.] 9 p.m.ABC: Desperate Average women 6.3 million audiences (1.7)Fox: Family Guy 5 million audiences (2.5) American Father! 3.5 million audiences (1.7)NBC: Fear Factor 3.7 million audiences (1.5) [9-11 p.m.]10 p.m.ABC: Pan Am 2.7 million (.7)