Current TV launches a.m. news block

Al Gore's Current TV network announced on Monday the launch of a morning news block featuring live simulcasts of the radio programs "The Bill Press Show" from 6-9 a.m. ET and "The Stephanie Miller Show" from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. ET weekdays starting in early spring. Move enhances Current's lineup of political commentary and analysis that includes "Countdown With Keith Olbermann," "The Young Turks With Cenk Uygur" and "The War Room With Jennifer Granholm." "I've followed Stephanie and Bill for years. They provide the kind of smart, insightful news analysis that our viewers want to hear," Gore said in a statement. Current TV prexy David Bohrman said this year is crucial "in the history of our country, and we felt that morning cable television programming was simply not speaking to Americans with progressive viewpoints and ideas.""Full Court Press: The Bill Press Show" on Current is a nationally syndicated radio program. "Talking Liberally: The Stephanie Miller Show" on Current is distributed on Dial-Global on SiriusXM radio. Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

Redford May Have The Lovliest Time

Diane Keaton also up for your Christmas picYou understand exactly what is a really underserved genre lately? Holiday-designed films with large ensembles. Yes, you'll be able to probably hear the sarcasm in every single strike in the secrets there. But even though latest effort, Garry Marshall's New Year's Eve, didn't enjoy the hottest critical reception, it did look at make around $142 million worldwide, and so the tide of treacly periodic comedy will not visit this time around. Especially since Robert Redford and Diane Keaton are circling the leads within the Lovliest Time.P.S. I like You/Stepmom author Steven Rogers has get the idea, which, according to Deadline he describes becoming an "Amelie-esque story about people who live money for hard times or keep yesteryear, which prevents them from dwelling in the moment, rather than appreciating what's in front of those.In . Err... Yay?Redford and Keaton are likely onto play in the leads in the plot that will feature multiple strands interlinking and a lot of heart-warming Christmas cheer. Which director Jessie Nelson will in all probability gather around the soundstage in the heart of a sweltering This summer time summer season. Nothing states Christmas like requiring to prevent the atmosphere conditioning to shoot!

Jean Dujardin May Head Back to His Roots in 'Le Petit Joueur'

He may have recently made many friends in Hollywood, but Oscar-winning actor Jean Dujardin hasn't forgotten les amis back in his native France and may be reunited with the comedy troupe that launched his career in upcoming film "Le Petit Joueur."French media reported the project on Tuesday, but a rep for the film's director Manu Joucla refused to give details on the project. Joucla and Dujardin were members of sketch comedy troupe Nous C Nous alongside actors Bruno Salomone, Eric Massot and Eric Collado who will all co-star with Dujardin in the upcoming ensemble comedy. The film also stars Dujardin's real-life wife Alexandra Lamy and her actress sister Audrey, plus Shirley Bousquet and French funnywoman Florence Foresti."Le Petit Joueur," that means "The Little Player" in French, will start shooting this summer in Tunisia. Given his hectic shooting schedule with thriller "Mobius" in pre-production, Dujardin will have a smaller role in the film than planned, but still plans to lend his talents to the project.The comedy focuses on an out-of-work guy separated from his wife who decides to compete in a poker tournament organized by a billionaire. Nous C Nous was formed in 1998 and rose to success after parodying boy bands.Thanks to its popularity among French TV viewers, Dujardin was approached by France 2 in 1999 for "A Girl and a Guy," opposite his current wife Alexandra Lamy, the show that would eventually launch his career.Before "The Little Player," Dujardin fans can catch their favorite actor in "The Players" that hits French theaters on Wednesday. The Hollywood Reporter

VIDEO: The Talk's Osbourne on Clive Davis' "Disgraceful" Party After Whitney Houston's Death

Sharon Osbourne Whitney Houston's death has brought out some strong emotions besides sorrow in her fans. On Wednesday's episode of The Talk, guest Mark Steines of Entertainment Tonight stopped by to discuss the singer's death and upcoming funeral. He brought up how some people are not happy that record producer Clive Davis continued to hold his annual pre-Grammys party Saturday night despite learning of Houston's death only hours before. Whitney Houston dies at 48 "I think it was disgraceful that the party went on," co-host Sharon Osbourne said. "I don't want to be in a hotel room when there's someone you admire who's tragically lost their life four floors up. I'm not interested in being in that environment and I think when you grieve someone, you do it privately, you do it with people who understand you. I thought it was so wrong." Check out a clip of Osbourne speaking her mind: The show also discussed plans for Houston's upcoming funeral, in which Aretha Franklin had been asked to perform. The Queen of Soul was Houston's godmother. Watch Steines announce the news: Who would you want to perform at Houston's funeral? Do you think Davis should have canceled his pre-Grammys party?

Reygadas bows edgy sales company NDM

Carlos Reygadas, the leading light of a new generation of Mexican helmers, has teamed with producer partner Jaime Romandia to launch international sales company: NDM (short for Nodream-Mantarraya).First pic on NDM's slate is Reygadas' upcoming "Post Tenebras Lux," which has completed principal photography and is in advanced post, Romandia said."Lux" was described by Reygadas as a semi-autobiographical film about "feelings, memories, dreams, things I've hoped for, fears, facts of my current life."While NDM is handling worldwide sales, the select set of prestige upscale partners now in place for "Lux" underscores the expectations "Lux" is creating.Out of Mexico, Romandia's Mantarraya produces with Reygadas' label, Nodream Cinema.Jean Labadie's Paris-based Le Pacte is co-producing. Le Pacte has also acquired distribution rights for France, Switzerland and Spain. Le Pacte will release "Lux" directly in France.Although better known as a sales agent, Germany's Match Factory is another co-producer."Lux" tapped further finance from Arte France, Mexico's Foprocine subsidy fund, France's Fonds Sud Cinema, Germany's North Rhine Westphalia Film Fund and Holland's Topaki Films.As NDM's strategic partner in Europe, Le Pacte could acquire rights for France, Spain and Switzerland on other NDM sales titles, Romandia said.NDM's launch is a logical next step for Reygadas and Romandia, the latter said, after the success of ND Mantarraya, their joint distribution company in Mexico.Betting on edgy titles, ND Mantarraya's recent pickups include Aki Kaurismaki's "Le Havre," Abbas Kiarostami's "Certified Copy," Bela Tarr's "Turin Horse" and Bruno Dumont's "Hors Satan."Le Pacte is also teaming with Mantarraya and Mexico's Tres Tunas to co-produce and handle French distribution on "De Heli," from Cannes favorite Amat Escalante ("Sangre," "The Bastards"). It goes into production late February.Many Mexican companies now look to the U.S. for co-finance or a market. Mantarraya, in contrast, is much more Eurocentric."De Heli" financing bears that out: Further coin comes from Fonds Sud, Germany's Una Films and NRW Fund, and the Netherlands Film Fund and Dutch prod company Lemming Films. Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

Pilot Season: Chuck's Zachary Levi Joins Fox's Ignore It

Zachary Levi For individuals lamenting the finish of Chuck, Zachary Levi might not be from your TV screen for very lengthy. Levi has arrived the key role in Fox's Ignore It comedy pilot, which lifts the cast-contingency around the project, TVGuide.com has confirmed. Deadline first reported this news. Pilot Season: Obtain the scoop! Ignore It is definitely an ensemble comedy in regards to a husband and wife, his closest friend and her sister because they attempt to navigate, negotiate and often manipulate society's unspoken rules. Levi, who formerly labored in two-hour comedy on Under Perfect, will portray half from the husband and wife. D.J. Nash will write and executive-make the pilot alongside Save Me's Peter Tolan and Michael Wimer.

B.O.: 'The Vow' looks to wow Valentine auds

'The Vow''Safe House'Couples acquiring a visit Valentine's should boost weekend totals for that new the new sony-Screen Gems' weeper "The Vow," leading a pack of four new records along with Universal's "Safe House," Fox's 3d reboot of "Alien: Episode I -- The Phantom Menace " and Warner Bros.-New Line's "Journey 2: The Mysterious Island.""The Vow," toplining Channing Tatum and Rachel McAdams, is ruling first-choice interest among youthful women at 40%, though over-25 femmes are forecasted to exhibit strong turnout for your pic too.Before-weekend monitoring signifies that "The Vow" could earn enough through Sunday to enhance its reported $Thirty Dollars million cost for just about any B.O. tally which will rival Screen Gems' finest Stateside opener, 2010's "Dear John," which first demonstrated to $30.5 million.Battling for second place, "Safe House" and 3d "AlienInch are both forecasted to land somewherenorth of $20 million. Warner's "Journey to the center of our planetInch follow-up, opening at 3,470 locations (including 2,750 in 3d and 282 in Imax), is a lot more from the wildcard, with anticipation beginning inside the mid-teens and stretching towards the $20 million opening. Pic's predecessor opened up up within this summer time 2008 to $21 million and cumed nearly $102 million in your area.Allotted at $79 million, "Journey 2" gets the possible ways to overperform, thinking about that families with youthful kids are actually relatively underserved by B.O. options lately. Nevertheless the 3d pic likely will deal with "AlienInch for youthful male interest.Either in situation, Warners has situated the kidpic nicely, because it is already cumed a effective $49 million by midweek overseas.Fox, meanwhile, is giving "AlienInch a substantial worldwide push a couple of days ago, debuting the 3 dimensional retrofit in 61 areas day-and-date, including Australia, South usa, France, Mexico, Russia as well as the U.K. Pic will make a play to get the best overseas positioning, dislodging current champion "Mission: Impossible -- Ghost Protocol," which has collected $420.8 million worldwide by Feb. 12.In your area, the weekend's new records face a greater bar competing against last year's top trio, which first demonstrated at north of $25 million."The Vow," from helmer Michael Sucsy (TV's "Grey Gardens"), is most sluggish with males under 25, though that doesn't always consider date crowds. In contrast, "Dear John" carried out best on Friday of the opening weekend, before sinking a little 9% in the morning.U's R-rated "Safe House" should attract mostly over-25 moviegoers, put in a effective contingency of ethnic auds based on appeal for star Denzel Washington. Twenty-six percent of African-Us citizens listed "Safe House" their first choice, as well as the pic has attracted 14% first-choice votes among Latinos."Safe House," which set you back a reported $85 million, also launches a couple of days ago in 25 overseas areas. It'll begin leaving using the relaxation around the world on Feb. 17.Among the weekend's holdovers, soph-sesh game game titles "Chronicle" and "The Woman in Black" use hold well after their solid openings. "Lady," which has made $24.3 million through Wednesday, frequently visit a steeper drop-off -- conventional most horror photos. "Chronicle" showed up at $26.6 000 0000 within the first six days.U's family repeat player, "Large Miracle," will face stiff competition a couple of days ago, searching to combine $tens of millions of in your area.Striking an important B.O. mark this year's week, Sony's "The Woman While using Dragon Tattoo" surpassed $200 million in worldwide grosses, evenly split between domestic and abroad tallies.In limited release, Millennium Entertainment's crime drama "Rampart," starring Woodsy Harrelson, launches at five U.S. locations, while an Oscar-nominated pair, The brand new the new sony Pictures Classics' "In Darkness" (for foreign-language film) and GKids' "Chico and Rita" (animated feature), also bow. Contact Andrew Stewart at andrew.stewart@variety.com