Cameron Crowe Talks Favorite Bands, Return to 'Rolling Stone'

GettyWoody Allen Some food for thought about the 2011-12 awards season to go along with your Thanksgiving leftovers ...our editor recommendsBrett Ratner Breaks Twitter Silence Following Oscars ExitBilly Crystal Replaces Eddie Murphy for Oscars: What Hollywood is SayingRicky Gervais Offers to Host Oscars Following Eddie Murphy, Brett Ratner Exits A best actress Oscar nomination might well be rewarded to ... an Olsen sister. An Oscar nomination might be awarded to Steve McQueen for the first time since 1966 ... only now he's British and black. Woody Allen wrote and directed a movie that made over $133 million worldwide ... yes, in this century. Francis Ford Coppola, Werner Herzog, Martin Scorsese, Steven Spielberg, and Wim Wenders -- all of whom are in their sixties or seventies -- directed 3D films, while Michel Hazanavicius, a 44-year-old Frenchman, wrote and directed a black-and-white silent film. Glenn Close may finally win an Oscar for dressing up as a man, and Leonardo DiCaprio may finally win an Oscar for dressing up as a woman. Albert Brooks may score his first Oscar nom in 24 years... for playing a Jewish mobster ... in a drama. Jonah Hill may score an Oscar nod ... period. Clint Eastwood, the 81-year-old who is best known for his work on-screen as a gun-toting tough guy and off-screen as a conservative mayor of Carmel, California, just directed his latest film using a script by -- and working in close collaboration with -- Dustin Lance Black, a 37-year-old gay screenwriter. Angelina Jolie has directed a movie, while Werner Herzog is now acting in one. The famously reclusive Terrence Malick has not only been seen in public, but has even had off-the-record conversations with journalists. Carey Mulligan gets nude in a movie ... while Kate Winslet does not. Woody Harrelson, one of the most notorious potheads and anti-authority figures of his time, may score his first best actor Oscar nod in 15 years ... for playing a cop. Michelle Yeoh, who is Asia's most famous female action star and a former Bond girl, may score her first Oscar nod for playing Aung San Suu Kyi, Asia's most famously demure and soft-spoken leader. Documentary filmmaker Steve James was screwed by the Academy's documentary branch ... again. The Academy, which is supposedly so liberal, has fallen head-over-heels for a film about Margaret Thatcher, but not for a film about George Harrison. A Harry Potter film has a shot -- a long shot, but a shot -- at scoring a best picture Oscar nod. Jessica Chastain has given a half-dozen memorable supporting performances this year -- any one of which is arguably Oscar-worthy -- but consequently may wind up without a nomination for even one of them. The Academy is allowing studios to ply journalists with food, alcohol, and parties before nominations are announced ... but has essentially banned them from breathing during phase two. Ricky Gervais insulted the famously sensitive HFPA to their faces on national television less than a year ago ... and was asked to host the Golden Globes again. Billy Crystal, who virtually nobody under the age of 25 has even heard of (he himself basically acknowledged as much), was asked to host the Oscars again. Am I forgetting others? Feel free to add to the list in the comments section below! PHOTO GALLERY: View Gallery 'J. Edgar' Premiere Red Carpet Arrivals Oscars

Idol Producer: No Major Changes For Completely New Season

First Launched: November 24, 2011 3:27 PM EST Credit: Access Hollywood Caption Nigel Lythgoe chats with Access inside a BritWeek event in La on April 26, 2011NY, N.Y. -- The The American Idol Show Show executive producer Nigel Lythgoe states dont expect any major changes when the hit Fox Tv program returns within the month of the month of january after dealing with an extensive transformation last season. Lythgoe, who aided transform Britains Pop Idol to the American TV juggernaut in2002, returned as executive producer last season to usher inside the publish-Simon Cowell era. That ended a couple-year hiatus that allowed him to give consideration to And That Means You Think You'll Be Able To Dance, they produces helping judge. For your tenth The The American Idol Show Show season, Lythgoe introduced new idol idol judges, Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler, to participate holdover Randy Jackson. Veteran music producer Jimmy Iovine, chairman of Interscope-Geffen-A&M, has been around since becoming an in-house mentor for your participants. Each one is back for Season 11, Lythgoe mentioned. In my opinion we made plenty of tweaks a year ago, Lythgoe mentioned. I'm not certain you need to make lots of more tweaks this year. Lythgoe mentioned the most crucial change introduced a year ago had nothing associated with the idol idol judges: It absolutely was an option to avoid people sea food-out-of-water moments that forced very gifted entertainers to sing in styles that didnt suit them. The finest change we made a year ago wound up being to express, OK, if you're a rustic singer you'll be able to sing these genres within your country style, Lythgoe mentioned. Were not prone to pressure you to definitely certainly do rock or anything you no more can perform. You'll be able to possess a Michael Jackson song and change it country. That brought to entertainers for instance Casey Abrams and Haley Reinhart changing so much much deeper to the competition in comparison as to the they might have previously years. The Two teenage runners up, Scotty McCreery and Lauren Alaina, were country entertainers. McCreery, the initial pure country Idol champion since Barbara Underwood in 2005, saw his October release, Apparent As Day, cause him to the initial country act to debut at No. 1 having its first studio album round the Billboard 200 chart. At 18, he increased being the youngest guy to start near the top of the chart along with his debut release. More youthful crowd was the initial Idol champion to start his publish-Idol career getting a No. 1 album since Ruben Studdard in 2003. Lythgoe mentioned a year ago the show found some incredible talent, plus it am diverse. We have got this phenomenal jazz singer in Casey, we have got a soft jazz singer in Haley, as well as the two country kids (inside the finals) probably previously years wouldnt are actually as effective since they might have been asked for to sing inside the versions that individuals used to then, he mentioned the other day. Lythgoe needs similar results in Season 11. The kids that have auditioned this year that might be taking to Hollywood in December are again really gifted and very diverse, he mentioned. Hopefully theyll deal with one of the most difficult auditions, the Hollywood week, and acquire themselves to the top 20. Lythgoe mentioned he thinks Idol needs to be totally in regards to the talent as well as the recent changes promote that. Personally, he mentioned, its really showing the talent that's here and not trying to consider somebody whos gifted, beat them across the bucket and turn them out. Copyright 2011 with the Connected Press. All rights reserved. These elements is probably not launched, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Rankings: Dancing Finale Lower Dramatically

Dwts Dwts determined the champion of their Mirrorball trophy for an audience of 19.45 million, nevertheless its 4.1 rating among 18-to-49-year-olds, lower some 20 % from last year, was its cheapest-ranked fall finale ever, based on Nielsen overnights. Read our Dwts finale recap Last year, when Jennifer Gray won, the 2-hour finale averaged 24.a million audiences and 5.3 demo rating. Browse the relaxation from the day's news on TVGuide.com 8 p.m.CBS: NCIS 18.45 million audiences (3.5 demo rating)ABC: Last Guy Standing 9.33 million (2.7) Guy Up! 6.79 million (1.9)Fox: The X Factor 9.34 million (3.2) NBC: The Greatest Loser 5.56 million (2.) CW: 90210 1.25 million (.6) 9 p.m.CBS: NCIS: La 14.03 million audiences (3. demo rating)ABC: Dwts 19.45 million (4.1) CW: Heart of Dixie (rerun) 944,000 (.4) 10 p.m.CBS: Memorable 10.33 million audiences (2.2 demo rating)NBC: Being a parent 4.54 million (.9)

Trey Parker & Matt Stone: Duo's fan-friendly spirit rules 'Book'

Parker & Stone'The Book of Mormon'After 15 seasons on Comedy Central, "South Park" designers Trey Parker and Matt Stone required Broadway by storm this season after some show known as "It of Mormon," which taken the Tonys and grew to become a box office juggernaut.Through the years, Parker and Stone established a repetition as particularly fan-mindful designers, heading out of the method to focus on the large, broad demo this is the first step toward their success. This season that's evidenced in "The Entire Year from the Fan," a "South Park" initiative which has incorporated such enthusiast-bait like a pop-up version of South Park (the city) at Comic- Disadvantage, plus an unheard-of, one-time-only free perf of "Mormon" to have an audience of lottery-selected fans.The duo also offers secured out a powerful online presence for that show's content, delivering "South Park" episodes right after they air via ad-supported streaming video. "It comes down to creating content that fans will enjoy and ensuring it's at hand on all of the platforms they would like to watch it on," states Comedy Central prexy Michele Ganeless. "You want to make certain our fans get 'South Park' from us, and never from another person." Contact Gordon Cox at gordon.cox@variety.com

David Finchers Se7en Scribe Andrew Kevin Master Joins 20,000 Leagues Beneath The Sea

EXCLUSIVE: They really developed a lasting impression with Se7en. Now, film author Andrew Kevin Master originates aboard to use on the20,000 League Beneath the Sea script for director David Fincher. Disney remains searching for a compelling approach to restore the Jules Verne story of Captain Nemo while he produces his warship Nautilus. Given their previous dark collaboration, it'll be interesting to find out their vision for just about any Disney film good initial live action picture created by Wally Disney in 1954. Disney infamously wager his studio around the film best appreciated for your giant squid scene. It increased being the second finest grossing film that year, won three Oscars and increased being the building blocks for just about any Disney theme park attraction. Master, whose scripting credits have Sleepy Hollow as well as the Wolfman, is repped by CAA. Fincher, who next releases The Woman while using Dragon Tattoo, has several potential next projects, which he's extended been installed on Nefertiti in the new the new sony with Jennifer Aniston and producer Scott Rudin.

Top Video Game Agent Leaves CAA for UTA

Ophir Lupu, the former co-head of CAA's video game department and an agent there, has joined UTA.He will head UTA's video games practice. At CAA, Lupu represented video game designers and creators such asKen Levine (BioShock), Patrice Desilets (Assassin's Creed) and Cliff Bleszinski (Gears of War). He also represented gaming companiesValhalla Studios (Devil's Third),Crytek (Homefront 2) and Klei Entertainment (Shank). In January, Lupu orchestrated the acquisition of indie video game studio Area/Code by Zynga, the creator of hits FarmVille and CityVille. "Ophir's accomplishments are tremendous, and his vision of where the games business is going makes this a very exciting opportunity for UTA," said Jeremy Zimmer, UTA co-founder and managing director in a statement. "We believe he and his clients will thrive in our collaborative culture." UTA's video game department represents game developers, publishers such as Electronic Arts, and technology companies including Nyko and Playcast. Email: Daniel.Miller@THR.com Twitter: @DanielNMiller CAA UTA Video Games

The Song of Lunch

Shot working in london by BBC/Masterpiece: Executive producers, Rebecca Eaton, Sarah Brown, Greg Smart producer, Pier Wilkie director, Niall MacCormick author, Christopher ReidHe - Alan Rickman She - Emma Thompson Waiter - Andi Soric Waitress - Siubhan Harrison Massimo - Frederick LongEddie Izzard been with them in "Dress to Kill" concerning the distinction between British and American movies. Britain is renowned for making more compact, subdued films, the type you will never eat popcorn to. Masterpiece Contemporary's "An Audio Lesson of Lunch" is simply that type of project -- nuanced storytelling, doting camerawork and tremendous acting. Popcorn certainly will not do, but a pleasant glass of Chianti or Grappa provides an ideal pairing. Modified from Christopher Reid's poem of lost love, longing and liquor, this excellent project consists of aspects of "The Key Existence of Walter Mitty" and "My Dinner With Andre." Reid's poem was allegedly inspired through the pub scene in James Joyce's "Ulysses." If Joyce captures slice-of-existence Dublin, Reid captures slice-of-pizza Soho London with equal parts lachrymosity, cynicism and folly. Underneath the Masterpiece Contemporary banner, this BBC production is a component of the proceed to p-stodgify the stalwart series and explore new ideas inside a timely way. While modern London may be the setting, "An Audio Lesson of Lunch" covers old styles of affection and unfaithfulness. The experience is mainly verbal, with a large amount of the storyline happening within the "leafy literary" mind of Alan Rickman's character, simply known as "he." A magazine copy editor that has arranged a lunch by having an old flame (simply "she" performed by Emma Thompson), he's apprehensive concerning the rendezvous at among their old haunts. The restaurant has transformed its look, the enthusiasts are fifteen years older, however the arguments, that old wounds and also the familiarity continues to be very fresh. "He" however, is stuck in the own mind, interacting reminiscences, findings and longing. No movement, no action is they cannot narrate, comment upon or examine. Wines are put inside a "splashy gabble," and discussing snacks or a little the hands assumes startling closeness. The interior dialogue is entertainingly place-on, both pompous and amusing, using the colorful description of the pepper grinder and it is application through the waitress one for that age range. Director Niall MacCormick combines extreme close-ups, hazy reminiscences and slow motion to provide purpose to Rickman's inner voice. His visual connect to Rickman's poetic play-by-play produces an in-depth portrait of small moments. Thompson is the best antidote to "he's" self-indulgent wistfulness and, despite less screen time, matches his level. Sharp, equally observant and intuitive, she precisely diagnoses her lunch partner as you who atmosphere poetry with therapy. Rickman reaches once funny, sad and unbearable, his thick voice and slow drawl an ideal match for this type of complex monologue.camera, Jan Jonaeus editor, Chris Barwell production designer Simon Beresford casting, Julia Crampsie. Running time: 60 MIN. Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com